This Week's Top 10

Here are the top 10 stories from this week's Day in Pop and the top Day in Pop digest stories

Annie Lennox Goes Universal for Christmas

Sweet deals are made of this: Annie Lennox has signed with Universal Music Group (UMG), for a long-term worldwide recording agreement.. Lennox will release her brand new album, "A Christmas Cornucopia," on November 22nd through Island Records UK and Decca Records in the US and the rest of the world.

The album features Ms. Lennox's unique and personal interpretations of some of her favorite Christmas carols as well as a completely new, and wonderful, original composition entitled, "Universal Child."

"I'm absolutely delighted to be working with Island Records on my upcoming recording," stated Ms. Lennox. "This album is something I've wanted to do for many years. It's a true labour of love, and I feel very fortunate to be in partnership with such a cutting edge team, especially when I'm at a stage in my creativity when I want to diversify, and pursue my passion in my own individual way. I've never been part of a 'mold,' and Island are really supportive and appreciative of where I'm coming from. I want to make timeless music that people will love in many years to come...and I'd like to think that 'A Christmas Cornucopia' is going to be of those recordings." - more on this story

3OH!3 Double Vision

3OH!3 have released a brand new music video and behind the scenes clip for the song "Double Vision".

Fans can check out the official video here and the behind the scenes clip can be viewed here.

Fans can see the group live and in single vision when they kick off a North American headline tour on October 14th running through late November. - more on this story

Miley Cyrus Loses Virginity, Smokes Pot, Talks Sex and Kisses Girl In LOL?

It looks like Miley Cyrus hasn't learned her lesson after her racy appearances to promote her new album failed to promote it. In fact, the once big selling star's single "Can't Be Tamed" has gone AWOL from the charts according to Stop The Presses.

But apparently Cyrus plans to kick things up a notch with her next acting role in the movie LOL, which she is currently filming.

Bonnie Fuller's Hollywood Life reports that in the film Cyrus's character "loses her virginity, talks about sex incessantly, smokes marijuana, kisses one of her two best female friends on the lips, [and] gets wasted." - more on this story

Taylor Swift Premieres Mine Video

Yesterday CMT and CMT.com premiered Taylor's new video for the song "Mine" as part of an exclusive half-hour LIVE special when CMT Premiered Taylor Swift "Mine" airs Friday, August 27 at 8:00-8:30 p.m. ET/PT. MTV will retelecast the special Saturday, August 28 at 10 a.m. ET/PT; while VH1 is set to air it Saturday, August 28 at 4 p.m. ET/PT.

Swift will introduce the video for the very first time before a live audience in Cmt Premieres Taylor Swift "Mine" as she returns to the towns of Kennebunk and Kennebunkport, Maine where the video was filmed with co-star Toby Hemingway. The special includes a behind-the-scenes look as she gives CMT host Katie Cook a tour of the quaint towns, and offers personal insight into how this latest video came to life. "Mine" was co-directed by Swift and Roman White.

CMT.com, MTV.com and VH1.com, along with MTV International sites, will present Taylor's new video for the song "Mine" in an exclusive online premiere roadblock beginning at 8:30 p.m. ET. - more on this story

Eminem Added To The VMAs

Eminem has been added to the roster of live performers for the 2010 MTV Video Music Awards. Here is what MTV had to say about it:

Known for his fiery live performances and captivating lyrics, Eminem is sure to ignite a twitter storm at this year's show. With a #1 album on the Billboard charts, his #1 single "Love The Way You Lie" and 8 VMA nominations, Eminem remains unstoppable as he joins an incredible line-up of performers including Kanye West, Justin Bieber, Drake, B.o.B and Florence + The Machine. Ke$ha, Nicki Minaj, Emma Stone, Penn Badgley, Trey Songz, Ashley Greene, Selena Gomez and Ne-Yo are confirmed to present.

As previously announced, comedienne Chelsea Handler will host the show. The "2010 MTV Video Music Awards" will air live from Nokia Theater L.A. Live in Los Angeles on Sunday, September 12, 2010 at 9PM (Live ET/Tape delayed PT.) MTV will announce additional performers and presenters on a later date. -

DJ Hero 2 Tracklisting

Activision has released the full tracklisting for DJ Hero 2, which is set for release on October 19th and will include 105 tracts remixed exclusively for the game.

To coincide with the full tracklisting announcement, DJ Hero 2 has launched the "Name That Mix" challenge on the DJ Hero Facebook page, testing fans knowledge of music to discover the game's tightly held and eagerly anticipated mixes.

Every week from now until September 20, fans will be presented with a "mashup of mashups" video from which participants will need to decipher what songs were used to create each mix. - more including full tracklisting

Janet Jackson's Number Ones

A&M/Ume have selected eleven of Janet Jackson's 34 number one songs for a new collection which will also include her recent iTunes chart topper, 'Nothing.'

'Janet Jackson – Number Ones - Icon' is set for release on August 31st and the songs span more than 20 years, from 1986's gold "What Have You Done For Me Lately" spun off from her blockbuster breakthrough Control to 2009's "Make Me," a song which Jackson debuted that year in tribute to her brother Michael at the MTV Video Music Awards and which quickly shot to #1 on the Dance chart.

Also heard from Control are the gold hits "Nasty" (#1 R&B/#3 Pop) and "When I Think Of You" (#1 Pop/#1 Dance). 1989's Rhythm Nation 1814 yielded the platinum Pop #1s "Miss You Much" and "Escapade," and gold Dance #1 "Alright." From 1993's janet., Janet Jackson – Number Ones - Icon culls the platinum Pop #1 "That's The Way Love Goes." In 1997, The Velvet Rope included the platinum #1 Pop "Together Again." The title track of 2000's All For You and the album's "Doesn't Really Matter" were two more platinum #1 Pop smash hits. - more on this story

VH1 Storytellers: T.I. Announced

VH1 Storytellers: T.I. is set to premiere on VH1 on Friday, December 10th at 11:00 PM ET/PT. Here is what we were sent over:

T.I, the proclaimed "King of the South," got personal last night during VH1's Storytellers taping saying, "Even when I lose faith in myself there is something in me that speaks through and says I am not finished yet" as he hit the stage of New York City's Hammerstein Ballroom and kept the capacity crowd on their feet the whole night as he blazed through a set of career hits.

Between songs, T.I. opened up with candid stories about his redemption from the life of a drug dealer to the rap superstar he is today. He also entertained questions from the audience on topics ranging from his time in prison to his future aspirations as a musician and actor. - more on this story

Rod Stewart Expands Songbook Again

Rod Stewart is adding a fifth chapter to The Great American Songbook series with the October 19th release of 'Fly Me To The Moon …The Great American Songbook, Volume V.'

Reuniting Rod with his longtime collaborator Richard Perry, Fly Me To The Moon…The Great American Songbook, Volume V was produced by Richard Perry and was co-produced by Rod Stewart and Lauren Wild.

Fly Me To The Moon…The Great American Songbook, Volume V is the next chapter of the Grammy-Award winning Great American Songbook series which has enjoyed unprecedented success as the biggest selling ongoing series of new music recordings in history, with over seventeen million copies worldwide. With an estimated 250 million in album and single sales, Rod Stewart is indisputably one of the most successful musical performers of all time. - more on this story

Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood To Host The 44th Annual CMA Awards

It worked so well the first two times, CMA have again tapped Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood to host the CMA Awards.

The 44th Annual CMA Awards telecast airs live from the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville on Wednesday, Nov. 10 (8:00-11:00 PM/ET) on the ABC Television Network.

"The CMAs are different from any other awards night," said Brad. "You're looking at a roomful of people who love each other. And any new viewer will be pleasantly surprised at what they relate to on the Awards and what they like that they had no idea they would like. For that reason alone, this is the most important night of the year for Country Music."

"It's all about Country Music," said Underwood. "We all live here. This is our community. The CMA Awards are in Nashville, the home of Country Music. It's great to come here and celebrate that every year." - more on this story

iCarly Star Releases Country EP

iCarly star Jennette McCurdy has released her first country music EP called Not That Far Away.

The new EP has just been released digitally and is now available through iTunes. Already a successful actress with a legion of fans who know her as the sassy Sam Puckett on the Nickelodeon TV series iCarly, McCurdy is also a gifted singer/songwriter who has long wanted to launch a career in country music.

Her ability to channel a wealth of emotional experiences into song has earned her the respect of many of Nashville's top songwriters. Jennette co-wrote three of the four tracks on the EP including the title track which she wrote with Rachel Proctor and Blair Daly and all of the tracks were produced by Paul Worley (Lady Antebellum). - more on this story

Elton John and Leon Russell Together Again

Elton John and Leon Russell are teaming up for a new album called The Union which will hit stores on October 19th in the U.S. on Decca (October 25th in the U.K. on Mercury Records).

But fans can get the first taste of the project with today's release of the first single "If It Wasn't For Bad," on iTunes and all digital retailers.

The album marks the first time these iconic artists have worked together since 1970. "If It Wasn't For Bad," written by Leon Russell, features vocals by Elton John and piano and vocals by Russell along with an extraordinary band bringing a bold rock/country sound organically crafted by these true musical legends. - more on this story

Kelly Clarkson Guests on Jason Aldean's New Album

Jason Aldean had announced the release of his fourth studio album, My Kinda Party, on Nov. 2, 2010, which includes a duet with Kelly Clarkson.

"The album is named My Kinda Party because it's totally representative of what I like and what my fans have come to expect on my records and at the 'party' we throw at our shows," says Aldean. "I think the key is knowing who you are as an artist and taking it to an extreme without ripping anybody else off...it's all about knowing what it is that sets you apart."

Produced by Michael Knox, the essence of MY KINDA PARTY is the solidity of its material. By selling 3.5 million records in the first phase of his career, Aldean commanded the attention of Nashville's songwriters as he put together music for the album. As a result, MY KINDA PARTY is stacked with inviting melodies and intriguing storylines - more on this story

Yo Gabba Gabba Jack Black and Free Weezer

Jack Black teams up with Yo Gabba Gabba to say goodbye on Yo Gabba Gabba! Music Is Awesome! Volume 2 which hits shelves on August 31, 2010, timed with the launch of the live tour, Yo Gabba Gabba! Live! There's A Party In My City.

Jam-packed with Super Music Friends & all of the songs you've grown to love. A deluxe edition featuring bonus songs from the hit series will also be available on iTunes. Fans can get a sampling of the record with a free download of our favorite Super Music Friends – Weezer's track "All My Friends Are Insects" at www.yogabbagabba.com/freedownload

Yo Gabba Gabba!, created by Christian Jacobs and Scott Schultz and produced by The Magic Store and W!LDBRAIN Entertainment, infuses retro-style and beat-driven music to teach simple life lessons through music. - more on this story

Dirty Dancing For A Cure

Dirty Dancing songwriter Franke Previte is expanding his new mission to preserve Hollywood history while honoring the memory of his friend Patrick Swayze through the release of the original demo recordings of the soundtrack's most popular songs by embarking on a pilgrimage to the iconic movie's two primary filming sites while helping to boost the landmark destination that recently has fallen on hard times.

During the week between the Tuesday, Sept. 7 release of Dirty Dancing: The Original Demos (Knockout Music) and the first anniversary of Swayze's untimely passing, the co-writer of the 48 million-selling soundtrack's Oscar- and Golden Globe-winning smash "(I've Had) The Time Of My Life" and "Hungry Eyes" will be driving from his New Jersey home to the Mountain Lake Conservancy & Hotel in Pembroke, VA to survey the troubled "Kellerman's Resort" filming location with which he has now teamed to aid in its preservation. Previte's trip will extend to Lake Lure, NC for charitable appearances Sept. 17-18 at the first annual Dirty Dancing Festival.

At both stops, Previte will be raising money for the Patrick Swayze Pancreas Cancer Research Fund at Stanford Cancer Center, established by Lisa Niemi Swayze. USA Today, the Associated Press, Billboard, ABC News Radio and Premiere Radio Networks are among the top media whose coverage this summer has anticipated the release of Dirty Dancing: The Original Demos. - more on this story

Skiggy Rapz Featured On Jersey Shore

Fans of Skiggy Rapz be sure to tune in to this week's episode of Jersey Shore on MTV, at 10 p.m. EDT (9 p.m. CDT).

The track "Bang To The Boogie" from the Bang To The Boogie EP plays in episode 205 ("The Letter") and will be tagged on screen.

Previously, Skiggy Rapz's single "Today" was featured in episode 202 "The Hangover." - more on this story

Badly Drawn Boy Announce Part I of Album Trilogy

The End Records will release, It's What I'm Thinking Pt. 1 - Photographing Snowflakes, the new Badly Drawn Boy album on October 12 in North American, with a late autumn stateside tour to follow.

Penning the soundtrack to last year's Caroline Aherne film The Fattest Man in Britain sparked a period of unprecedented creativity for Badly Drawn Boy, aka Damon Gough, resulting in a wealth of great new songs. Gough decided the best way to capture this surge, and give the songs the exposure they deserved, was to release a trilogy of albums.

The trilogy is called It's What I'm Thinking and Part 1 – Photographing Snowflakes will be released on October 4 in the UK (on his own One Last Fruit label) and October 12 in North America on The End Records - more on this story

Mindless Boyband Behavior

Just when you thought the era of the boybands was finally over, comes this announcement from Interscope: On Tuesday, August 24, the future truly arrives with the release on iTunes of "My Girl," the debut single from the four talented 13-year-old boys of Mindless Behavior--Prodigy, Roc Royal, Ray Ray and Princeton.

The bubbly, infectious track, produced by Walter Millsap (Beyonce, Timbaland, Alicia Keys, J. Lo), is the first issued from the group's forthcoming Conjunction/Streamline/Interscope debut album, #1 Girl. The music video, including a special 3-D version, will premiere on AOL early next week.

#1 Girl is all about young men looking to find their number one girl, whether on explosive party tracks, fun mid-tempos or introspective ballads. Among the album's other writers & producers are Vincent Herbert, Candice Nelson (Mary J. Blige, Ciara, Britney Spears), Polow da Don (Pussycat Dolls, Ludacris, Fergie, Usher, Rich Boy), Boi-1da (Eminem, Drake), and Harold Lilly (Alicia Keys, Monica, Mario). - more on this story

Vince Gill Free Back to the Beach Gig

Seems like a fitting way to end the summer. A free show on the beach from an arena level superstar! But wait there are some strings attached to the "free" tickets. Damn little print. Here are the details: Vince Gill will headline a free outdoor "Back to the Beach" concert Saturday, Sept. 25, from the beautiful Beaches of South Walton along Florida's Northwest Gulf Coast.

Fans are invited to bring their beach blankets and low-back chairs to enjoy this casual concert amidst the relaxed and scenic setting at Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort.

"We're showing thanks to our visitors and residents with the opportunity to experience the musical talents of legendary Vince Gill," said Dawn Moliterno, executive director of the Beaches of South Walton TDC. "We hope this will entice those who have never been to our destination with an added incentive to come and see our beautiful beaches and communities, as well as welcome back our loyal visitors who may not have made it here this summer." - more on this story

Aaron Neville Returns With New Album and Tour

Aaron Neville's upcoming album I Know I've Been Changed is set for release on October 26 .

Produced by acclaimed artist and producer Joe Henry, I Know I've Been Changed features collaboration by fellow New Orleans native son and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee Allen Toussaint, who plays piano throughout the album.

The album celebrates Neville's 50th year in recorded music and brings the artist's career full circle, as Toussaint produced Neville's first recording session in 1960. Neville will be touring in support of the new album, including dates on his special holiday tour, "Christmas with Aaron Neville and his Quintet Featuring Charles Neville," beginning November 30 in Minneapolis. - more on this story