LeAnn Rimes Cyber Divorce Declaration

In a message to her fans, Rimes wrote: "After much thoughtful mutual consideration, Deane and I have agreed to move forward with dissolving our marriage." - OMG! But who has she hooked up with now??? Inquiring minds must know

Black Eyed Peas Muslim Ban Lifted

AP reports: The Malaysian government has agreed to let Muslims attend a concert by U.S. hip-hop stars Black Eyed Peas, reversing an earlier ban imposed because the show is sponsored by an alcoholic beverage company, officials said Wednesday.

Ticket sales opened to Muslims on Wednesday for the Sept. 25 show, backed by Irish beer giant Guinness, said Bonor Seen, marketing manager for organizer Artiste World Entertainment.

A Culture Ministry official, who declined to be named citing ministry policy, said the ban was lifted late last week and a letter was sent to the organizer. - more on this story

Michael Jackson Death Certificate Now Declares Homicide

AP reports: Michael Jackson's death certificate has been amended to reflect his cause of death as a homicide, specifying "injection by another" as the fatal injury.

The designation was not a surprise — coroner's officials said last week that they believed Jackson's death on June 25 was a homicide.

Investigators have said a mix of the powerful anesthetic propofol and another sedative killed the pop singer. The new record lists "acute propofol intoxication" as the main cause of death and "benzodiazepine effect" as another significant contributor. - more on this story

Best Picture Oscar Voting Being Rerigged

antiMusic reports: Ah the Oscars! About as irrelevant to the most people as the MTV VMAs or the Grammys. Just who votes for these things and how do they vote? Does it really matter as most people disagree with the results anyway? But this year it may get worse as they are tweaking the best picture voting. BBC reports: The voting system, which will determine the winner of the best picture at this year's Oscars is being changed, it has been announced.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences said preferential voting will now be used to tally the final vote for the award. Voters will be asked to rank nominees in order of preference from 1 to 10.

In all other categories, the victory goes to the performer who earns the most votes. The new system for tallying vote for best picture is the same preferential voting system that the Academy uses in its nominating process. [And we've seen the crap results that has brought!] - more on this story

Angel And The Mambokats Think You Can Dance

PR reports: As a performer, recording artist, dancer and choreographer for more than twenty years, Angel Ferreira has grown up in the music business. He's performed with everyone from Madonna to Vanessa Williams. After a strong career as a dance artist, Angel adopted a new style and became a bandleader, fronting the Afro-Cuban soul band Angel and the Mambokats. He's recently seen one of the tracks from his self-produced and released album Horizontal Mambo break huge—on TV.

Twenty millions of viewers heard the track "Black Mambo" as the dance number for Benji and Heidi on Season Two of So You Think You Can Dance? Then, millions more saw Olympic gold medalist Misty Mae Traynor and Maksim dance to "Black Mambo" on Dancing with the Stars.

Next week, millions of viewers will see and hear Black Mambo again on So You Think You Can Dance: Top Dances Special The show airs Wednesday, September 2nd on Fox at 8:00PM Pacific/7:00PM Central Time (check local listings for precise air times) and the song has breathed new life into Angel Ferreira's career. - more on this story

George Jones Media Blitz

Webster and Assoc reports: George Jones won't be playing possum this month. Country music's living legend will be easy to spot as he launches a media tour in support of his latest release which went on sale this week.

A Collection Of My Best Recollection contains 10 of George's most memorable hits plus 2 previously unreleased songs, "I Don't Want To Know" and "I'm A Long Gone Daddy."

Jones is set to appear on CBS' Late Show with David Letterman on Wednesday, September 9th, and on Friday, September 11th will perform on NBC's Late Night with Jimmy Fallon. A live interview and performance on the Fox News Huckabee show is slated for Saturday, September 12th. - more on this story

Wanna Cruise With Brandi Carlile?

Sony reports: Brandi Carlile is offering a special pre-sale for fans wishing to order her third album, Give Up The Ghost, with vinyl in stores on September 29 and CD available on October 6.

The pre-order, only available on BrandiCarlile.com, will offer the following: - Entrance into a drawing for a free cabin for two on the Cayamo 2010 cruise where Brandi will perform. - The first 2000 pre-orders (vinyl or CD) will receive a free, limited-edition four-song EP from Brandi and the Hanseroth twins titled Ghost Demos. The EP features the original demo recordings of "If There Was No You," "Oh Dear," "Touching The Ground" and "Looking Out." The pre-order can be accessed here

Additionally, Carlile has also announced the dates for her "Give Up The Ghost Traveling Show" beginning September 10th at The Depot in Salt Lake City, UT. The tour will make stops at legendary venues across the country including Chicago's House of Blues, New York's Beacon Theatre and The Wiltern in Los Angeles. - dates

Superstars Lined Up for the American Freedom Festival

PR reports: Country superstars Montgomery Gentry, Lee Ann Womack, and Phil Vassar will headline the 6th Annual American Freedom Festival presented by the National Guard and Outback Steakhouse at The Patriot Center at George Mason University in Fairfax, VA Saturday, November 7, 2009 at 7:30pm.

"We are very excited that these great artists have agreed to join us in our efforts to help veterans and their families," said Sergeant Major of the Army Jack L. Tilley (Ret.), co-founder of the American Freedom Foundation. "They are known for their patriotism and love for our military and are a great fit for our event." - more on this story

Diana Krall Adds Third Royal Hall Show

Noble reports: Due to overwhelming public demand, Diana Krall has added a third London Royal Albert Hall concert on Friday 30th October 2009.

Krall will perform songs throughout her career with special emphasis on her recently released 12th Brazilian bossa nova influenced album "Quiet Nights."

Tickets for the concert go on sale Friday 4th September at 9am. Tickets: £65 / £60 / £50 / £45 and boxes at £75. National Credit Card Hotline: 0844 888 9991, 0844 847 1642, Book online: - www.ticketline.co.uk.

Paolo Nutini Returns To Road And Goes Late Night

PR reports: Paolo Nutini recently sold out the first leg of his North American headline tour and kicked off the second batch of dates on August 31st, at the Culture Room in Fort Lauderdale.

The tour will continue through a September 19th performance at the Showbox in Seattle (see attached itinerary). The dates celebrate the recent release of the Scottish-born troubadour's acclaimed second album, "Sunny Side Up." Joining Paolo on all dates is Chop Shop/Atlantic recording artist Anya Marina.

Nutini and his crack band have just been booked to perform "Candy" live on NBC's The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien, set for Thursday, September 10th (check local listings). A companion video for "Candy" – filmed in Cuba under the direction of Nez (Lily Allen, Kano) – is currently in "Medium" rotation at VH1, where it has been a fixture on the network's Top 20 Countdown. - more on this story

The Medders Release Party

PR reports: The Medders, are releasing their self-titled debut album today, September 1st. Their CD Release Show will be taking place on Tuesday September 9th at The Rutledge in Nashville at 8pm ($5 cover).

For the rest of the country, a Fall Tour is in the works, so keep an eye on their myspace for upcoming dates.

This band was raised by career songwriter Jule Medders, performed with Merle Haggard, just played a prison gig, and have received great local love. - Myspace link

Fly Gypsy Mix Up Vodka and Rum

Audible Treats reports: Fly Gypsy, the hip-hop duo comprised of Russian-born producer/one-man-band Alexei Jendayi and Jamaican-born emcee Kowboy Kom, is proud to announce the release of its latest project, The Vodka and Rum Mixtape, currently available via the group's own Fly Gypsy Music (FlyGypsy.com)

A classic feel-good record, Vodka & Rum connects 70's soul with 90's electronica, Lauryn Hill with The Chemical Brothers, and heavy synths with acoustic guitars, all while highlighting Kom's lyrical versatility and Alexei's production prowess. In creating The Vodka & Rum Mixtape, the Washington, D.C.-based duo set aside its usual production and writing formula. "Both of us did something on this album that our fans would not typically expect from us," says Kom. "Alexei used samples, which he doesn't usually do. I decided to not be super lyrical all the time and just have fun and write some fresh, young, and sexy songs."

While the mixtape is not necessarily representative of the Fly Gypsy sound, which is normally more guitar and minor-key driven, the mixtape showcases the duo's musical dexterity, displaying Fly Gypsy's ability to provide a range and variance of musical and lyrical emotion throughout their songs. Speaking about the group's direction for the mixtape Alexei says, "Vodka & Rum reflects a more playful side of Fly Gypsy, especially given Kom's hilarious monologues. It was easily the most fun that Kom and I have had in the studio so far." - more on this story

Wait there is more!

[an error occurred while processing this directive]

tell a friend about this article

know of a news item we should cover?

antiMUSIC News featured on RockNews.info .