Chris Brown Claims He Is Blackballed- Lady Gaga Sparks BS Controversy- Taylor Swift and Kanye West Have Something in Common- Susan Boyle Bails on Canada and more

The top story from last week's Day in Pop was Barry Manilow Covers Love Songs on New Album -

Mariah Carey Announces Tour

Mariah Carey announces her first major tour itinerary in more than three years. Following a New Year's Eve kick-off at Madison Square Garden in New York City, the "Angels Advocate" Tour begins Jan. 2, 2010, at the Borgata in Atlantic City, N.J., and wraps up Feb. 27 at The Pearl Concert Theater in Las Vegas, Nev.

The 8-week, 19-city "Angels Advocate" Tour is the first major tour by Mariah Carey since The "Adventures of Mimi: The Voice, The Hits, The Tour" of August through October 2006.

The opening act on the "Angels Advocate" Tour will be RydazNrtist, a new R&B group signed to Nick Cannon's NCredible Entertainment. - more on this story

David Archuleta Live Webcast This Week

Free HD concert broadcast via BillboardLive.com featuring American Idol finalist David Archuleta live from Mashantucket, CT Thursday, December 17.

Fans can easily access the series by simply logging onto: BillboardLive.com where they will be able to safely and securely download the Microsoft Silverlight and OWL HD player onto their computer free of charge with a one-time, simple download.

One of the youngest contestants on American Idol and also a finalist, David Archuleta recently released his second studio album, Christmas from the Heart, which the titled track is already one of the most popular holiday downloads, charting on Billboard's Hot 100 Singles Chart. Archuleta's self-titled debut album landed at number 2 on the Billboard 200 chart with its release in November 2008. - more on this story

Gleeful Success for Glee

The highly anticipated Glee Fall Finale has successfully won over viewers and critics across the board. The show, which achieved its largest ratings grab ever with over 8 million viewers, proved that it's official – people can't get enough of the music. Glee, The Music: Volume 2 sits high atop the iTunes, Amazon and Barnes & Noble digital charts this week. The album is presently number # 1 at iTunes, # 2 at Amazon, and # 4 at Barnes & Noble.

With Glee, The Music: Volume 2 dominating the charts this week, Glee, The Music: Volume 1 has held its own as well, achieving Top 10 slots on iTunes (#7) and Amazon (#4) this week, which serves as a testament to the burgeoning popularity of the Glee franchise. Currently, the Glee Cast has 4 singles in the Top 20 and 15 singles in the Top 200 at iTunes. Equally astounding, individual tracks from Glee have sold in excess of 3.4 million digital downloads since Glee debuted.

Glee, The Music: Volume 2 showcases even more of music's greatest pop songs reworked in signature Glee cast style . This success comes on the heels of the debut soundtrack, Glee, The Music: Volume 1, which entered Billboard's Top 200 Album Chart at #4 when it was released on November 3, 2009. And only five weeks later, Glee, The Music: Volume 1 has been certified Gold by the RIAA, signifying sales/shipments in excess of 500,000 units. Glee: The Music, Volume 1 has also been certified Gold in Australia and Canada. -

Lindsay Lohan's Child Saving Claims Refuted

(Submitted News) A non-governmental organization (NGO) in India, which works to eradicate child labor, has reportedly contradicted Hollywood diva Lindsay Lohan's (Mean Girls) claim of saving 40 children.

She was not even in India when raid to save the children happened, this NGO reportedly said. It reportedly rescued 50 trafficked children from India's capital Delhi on December eight.

Lohan's 'tweet—"Over 40 Children saved so far...... Within one day's work...... This is what life is about..... Doing THIS is a life worth living!!!"—which was later removed, made headlines worldwide. Other sensational 'tweets' she posted while in India which are now missing, include: ""traffiking is a big issue here…", "Keep telling people about what's going on in all 2nd and 3rd world countries…" - more on this story

One For The Team Set New Album Release

Ghosts, One For The Team's third album, will be released on Afternoon Records on March 16, 2010. The disc is the greatly anticipated follow-up to the Minneapolis quartet's critically acclaimed Build It Up, which came out in August of 2008 and attracted attention from NPR, MTV, Daytrotter, and even Gossip Girl.

Ghosts was recorded in San Francisco at John Vanderslice's Tiny Telephone Studios in August and produced by singer/guitarist Ian Anderson, who made the decision to record the disc on tape.

"Recording to tape was really important to me for how the record turned out in general, Anderson says. "Nowadays you can make everything perfect during the recording process, but you can't do that on tape. The way it is is the way it is and that was really important to us as a band. A lot of the record was also done live. The sound of the tape is really warm, you can really hear the room more. There's a sense of breathing in and out." - more on this story

Iyaz's Video Replay

On his upcoming debut album, IYAZ makes lilting reggae-infused R&B melodies inspired by island shorties, wireless romance, and the anguish of unrequited love. The 22-year-old singer, songwriter, and rapper cranks out undeniably pop-friendly tunes, like his first single "Replay."

"IYAZ's songwriting style is timeless and universal," says J.R. Rotem, the in-demand songwriter and producer crafted most of the tracks on IYAZ's (whose real name is Keidran Jones) album, which will be released by Reprise Records. "IYAZ is a storyteller who paints visual scenarios that tug at the listener's heart-strings," says Rotem, who also discovered pop sensation Sean Kingston. In fact, it was Kingston who first stumbled across IYAZ's MySpace page in May 2008, liked what he heard, and recommended him to Rotem, who has also worked with 50 Cent, Britney Spears, and Rick Ross.

Iyaz's Single "Replay" is currently #4 on the Billboard Hot 100 Charts and Officially Certified Platinum! Check out the new official music video on - Yahoo! Music.

Lay Low Coming To America

Lay Low, the alter ego of Icelandic singer/songwriter Lovisa Elisabet Sigrunardottir, will make her North American debut on March 9, 2010, with the release of 'Farewell Good Night's Sleep' on her own Loo label. Recorded and produced in London by Liam Watson (White Stripes, Holly Golightly, James Hunter) at his analog mecca Toe Rag Studios, the album features eleven new songs (ten penned by Law Low, plus a Lefty Frizzell cover) with backing from the following first-call musicians: Carwyn Ellis (piano), Ed Turner (guitar), Rupert Brown (drums), Matt Radford (bass), Jason Wilson (bass) and BJ Cole (pedal steel, dobro).

At age 27, Lay Low draws inspiration from artists like Patsy Cline, Dolly Parton and Kitty Wells, while breathing new life and fresh perspective into the timeless sounds of American folk, blues and country. Her debut album, 'Please Don't Hate Me' released in 2006, topped the charts and went platinum in Iceland, and was the best-selling original album in the country that year, winning three Icelandic Music Awards in the process. It also garnered US attention with a song from the album appearing on the hit show Grey's Anatomy. In 2008, iTunes tipped Lay Low as one of the best discoveries of the year, and in 2009 Lay Low appeared on KCRW's influential 'Morning Becomes Eclectic.'

Following the impressive release of her debut Lay Low also took on the role of music director for the Pulitzer Prize winning play 'How I Learned To Drive' in Iceland, for which she not only wrote the music but also performed on-stage to sell out crowds and rave reviews. Lay Low won an Icelandic Theatre Award for the play last year. - more on this story

The Sojourners Album Coming Next Month

Black Hen Music announces a January 19 release date for the self-titled new album from The Sojourners, the classic gospel-based trio of Will Sanders, Ron Small and Marcus Mosely, whose music includes elements of soul, doo-wop, R&B, blues and country. Black Hen Music CDs are distributed in the U.S. by Burnside Distribution.

The Sojourners CD is the Vancouver-based group's second album for Black Hen, and comes four years after they formed to initially record back up vocals for label mate and Canadian blues icon Jim Byrnes on his House of Refuge album. Byrnes promptly dubbed them "The Sojourners," and a new a career was born for these men, all of whom have extensive years in the music business. The Sojourners are also featured singing back up vocals on Byrnes' most-recent celebrated album, My Walking Stick. Recently, the group has received rave reviews for "He Calls that Religion," the track The Sojourners recorded on the critically- acclaimed Mississippi Sheiks tribute CD, Things About Comin' My Way, released in October on Black Hen.

The Sojourners are all originally from the U.S.: Marcus Mosely was born in Ralls, Texas and grew up in San Jose, California; Ron Small is from Chicago, Illinois, but has been living in Vancouver since 1960; and Will Sanders was raised in Alexandria, Louisiana. All of the men spent their formative years singing in their respective churches and bring that solid bedrock classic gospel music to their foundation; but have expanded their musical palette to include influences from doo-wop, blues and soul to R&B and country. The result is a glorious sound that is sanctified, yet soulful; rootsy and blessed – all at the same time! - more on this story

Kenny Rogers Song Inspires Hallmark Movie of the Week

Country-music legend, versatile actor and respected author Kenny Rogers brings his 2002 tale of an unlikely friendship and holiday redemption to television, as the Hallmark Channel premieres the original film Christmas in Canaan on Saturday, December 12, at 8/7c.

With a screenplay written by Rogers' co-author Donald Davenport, Christmas in Canaan tells the story of two young boys—one black, one white—who overcome their racial animosity while caring for an injured dog.
Country star and actor Billy Ray Cyrus (Doc, Hannah Montana) turns in a sterling performance as Daniel Burton, the single father of DJ, a hot-headed boy who gets into a scuffle with classmate Rodney on the school bus. Burton devises an unconventional plan to help the boys learn mutual respect: DJ and Rodney will each take turns living at the other's home.

Set against the backdrop of Civil Rights Era Texas, Christmas in Canaan is just the latest television project for Grammy Award winner Rogers. He famously starred in the 1980 TV-movie The Gambler, along with its subsequent sequels, and recently appeared on the CBS hit sitcom How I Met Your Mother. An author specializing in Christmas tales, Rogers' other books include The Gift and The Toy Shoppe. - more on this story

Miley Cyrus Disqualified For Grammy

Oops, the Grammy folks jumped the gun. When they announced this year's nominations they had Miley Cyrus in the running for the Best Song written for a Soundtrack Grammy for her song "The Climb" which was released as a single for the Hannah Montana film.

The problem is the Grammy folks didn't fact check well enough because that song apparently wasn't written for the film. The Grammy people giveith and they takeith away.. and giveith to someone else.

Since Miley was disqualified, the song with the next highest vote count will get the nomination and that honor goes to Karen O and the Kids song "All is Love" from the Where the Wild Things Are soundtrack. - more on this story

3OH!3, Katy Perry, Jason Mraz, Matchbox Twenty, And The Academy Is Highlight When in Rome Soundtrack

Photo Finish/Atlantic Records has announced the release of "When In Rome: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack," the star-studded musical companion to the upcoming Touchstone Pictures film.

The collection arrives in stores and online on January 12th, while the much anticipated romantic comedy – starring Kristen Bell, Josh Duhamel, Will Arnett, Alexis Dziena, Jon Heder, Dax Shepard, and Danny DeVito – premieres in theatres across North America on January 29th.

"When In Rome: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack" is highlighted by the first single, 3OH!3's "Starstrukk (Feat. Katy Perry)." A companion video – co-directed by award-winning filmmaker Marc Klasfeld (Jay-Z, Coheed & Cambria, Foo Fighters) and Steve Jocz (Sum 41, Bowling For Soup)– can be viewed online at 3OH!3's official website, www.3oh3music.com/video. - more on this story

Fuse To Countdown The Top 40 of '09

Fuse is putting a fork in 2009 with a countdown of the top hits of the year while breaking down the biggest events in the world of music with an overstuffed recap of '09. After weeks of fans voting online at Fuse.tv, "Top 40 of '09: The Year in Music" will present this year's top hits unveiling the number one video at the end of the program. This fully loaded special hosted by Touré and Allison Hagendorf premieres Saturday, December 12th at 4pm ET. There will be an encore Sunday, December 13th at 12pm ET.

The winners from Fuse.tv's bracket-style tournament will be featured in the program, interspersed with headlines from the year. The voting ends on December 12th, so fans can keep voting at Fuse.tv for their favorite music video, as thirty-two of the year's most popular songs go head-to-head. Artists in the bracket include Paramore, Lady Gaga, Kid Cudi, JAY-Z, Kelly Clarkson, Metallica, T.I. and many more. Battling it out for the highest honor, Britney Spears' Circus faces off against Papa Roach's Lifeline in the final round. This is the second consecutive year that Britney was a fan favorite; last year Spears' Womanizer beat out Paramore's That's What You Get.

"Top 40 of '09: The Year in Music" also tackles the wildest moments of the year. From the beefs to top singles, the break ups and make ups, Fuse wraps up '09 with all the ups and downs, including Britney's triumphant return, digital download chart toppers Flo Rida, Miley Cyrus and The Black Eyed Peas, a tweetastic year in the world of celebs, and everything in-between. Don't miss Rihanna, Lady Gaga and 50 Cent talking about their reactions to the tragic death of Michael Jackson, and the cast of New Moon calling out some of their favorite bands, including Kings of Leon and Bon Iver. - For more information

Angus & Julia Stone Going Soph This Spring

Australian brother/sister duo Angus & Julia Stone are back with sophomore album Down The Way, the follow up to their 2009 critically acclaimed debut A Book Like This. The album will be available on March 30, 2010, but Angus & Julia have premiered the first new single, "And The Boys," out now in iTunes.

Down The Way highlights the endless talents of this brother and sister as musicians, songwriters and producers. The self-produced album was recorded between England, New York and Australia--from an old sawmill on the riverbanks of Fowey, Cornwall to a studio in Brooklyn, to a water tank in Coolangatta to the streets of London and back to Queens. Down The Way is comprised of 13 tracks that sail across the different realms of musical themes, from folksy charm to epic orchestral grandeur, all the while emphasizing the pair's beautifully subtle harmonies.

Angus & Julia Stone first hit North America in early 2009 with the release of their debut album A Book Like This, co-produced by Fran Healy of Travis. The duo had already captured the hearts of fans and critics alike from Australia to the UK and built a solid tour following with their intimate and bewitching live shows. Upon their arrival in North America, Paste Magazine named Angus & Julia in their "10 New Artists To Watch in 09," and they were featured in the iTunes Indie Spotlight and in other publications like WWD, Glamour, VenusZine and more. - more on this story

Straight No Chaser Extend Tour Plans

ATCO/Atlantic recording group Straight No Chaser continues to spread holiday cheer this season.

The 10-man a cappella group, originally formed by college buddies at Indiana University more than a decade ago, continues to climb the charts with their new holiday collection, CHRISTMAS CHEERS, as well as their 2008 debut, HOLIDAY SPIRITS.

As Straight No Chaser continues their nearly sold-out Fall tour, a new Spring tour has just been announced (see dates - here)

BT Announce Double Album Release

Internationally renowned artist, visionary producer, film composer and technologist BT is back with These Hopeful Machines, a double-disc opus that carries listeners through 2 hours of sweeping orchestral arrangements, pulsating electronic beats, heartfelt vocal melodies and even simple acoustic guitar. Out February 2 (Nettwerk), These Hopeful Machines embodies BT's ability to weave both his technical prowess and compositional mastery that reminds listeners why he is the composer that all other composers and producers study.

These Hopeful Machines is the follow up to 2006's This Binary Universe, an album that created an entirely new genre of evocative electro-acoustic music. Keyboard Magazine wrote in a review, "In a hundred years, it could well be studied as the first major work of the new millennium. It's that good." These Hopeful Machines continues to evolve BT's distinct technical, lyrical and compositional vision and execution, but his usual melodic complexity and bleeding-edge electronic techniques permeate the album from start to finish.

Album opener and first official single "Suddenly" (out January 12) opens to a minute's worth of glitchy breakbeats made using BT's own software, Breaktweaker, before morphing into a powerful, guitar-driven anthem that is among the album's most memorable songs. The track "The Emergency," is instantly a classic BT dance hit designed to linger long after the song ends. The album even features BT's first cover, a reinterpretation of "The Ghost in You" by The Psychedelic Furs. The song was recorded on tape, giving it a familiar and sentimental feeling while maintaining BT's distinctive style. There are also multiple collaborators on This Binary Universe, like Rob Dickinson vocals on "Always" and "The Unbreakable," Jes, (formerly of Motorcyle) on "Every Other Way" and "The Light In Things," and The Police's Stewart Copeland who lends a drum breakdown to "Every Other Way."

From an early age, BT, born Brian Transeau, demonstrated a remarkable aptitude for playing and understanding classical music. He was heavily influenced by avant-garde and romantic composers such as Stravinsky, Bartok, Debussy and Rachmaninov. His biggest influences, however, were from everyday sounds that most would take for granted, from noticing the meter of the grandfather clock in the foyer to the micro-rhythms of crickets and cicadas to the ambience of passing trains at night. - more on this story

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