Simon Cowell Wants Lady Gaga To Replace Him on Idol- Shutter Island Tops Box Office- Hilary Duff Engaged to NHL Player- Miley's Last Song Video and more

Reba McEntire and Brad Paisley are booked to perform at this year's CMA Music Festival. Other performers are Martina McBride, Rascal Flatts, Darius Rucker, Keith Urban and Zac Brown Band. more
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New Sam & Ruby Release This Week

Nashville pop-folk duo Sam & Ruby will release their new six-track EP, Press On, on Ryko this week. This February 23rd digital release features two original new tracks, "I Hope You're Well" and "Taking Memories," and a new version of "Never Surrender" (previously available as an iTunes bonus track), mixed by legendary producer/engineer, Ed Stasium.

These three tunes are presented alongside live versions of "The Here And The Now," "This I Know" and "Heaven's My Home" recorded at NPR's Woodsongs Old-Time Radio Hour.
"The songs coincidentally fit so well together," states Ruby. "The lyrics encourage the listener to take the good from the bad and keep pressing on. Life and relationships can be really hard, but we seek and hope to find a blessed gift in the end."

Sam & Ruby felt that their live performance set from NPR's Woodsongs Old-Time Radio Hour was the perfect way to break down some of their songs acoustically from their debut album, The Here And The Now. "We wanted people to see the bare bones of where these songs came from --without the full sheen production--simply with lyrics, guitar and melody," Ruby adds. - more on this story

Gossip Spring Tour

Gossip will hit the road this Spring for an eight city tour of the U.S. The tour kicks off with the band taking the stage at this year's Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival on April 17th and runs through April 30th at Terminal 5 in New York City (see below for full itinerary).

The band's latest release, Music For Men, was produced by multi Grammy Award winner Rick Rubin and has received accolades on both sides of the Atlantic for it's triumphant, energetic and refreshing sound.

A video for the band's third single, "Pop Goes The World," was directed by Philip Adelman (Jay-Z, Silversun Pickups, Maxwell) and will premiere in March. - dates

House of Comedy Live from House of Blues

Comedy Central and Live Nation announced the launch of Comedy Central's House of Comedy Live from House of Blues, a monthly Comedy Central branded stand-up showcase in House of Blues venues nationwide.

Comedy Central will also tape two one-hour stand-up specials from House of Blues venues with the first special being taped in Boston on April 16.

"Since Comedy Central's launch 19 years ago, we have been approached dozens of times to partner in a comedy venue. The House of Blues venues encapsulate the Comedy Central sensibility and further extends our relationship with Live Nation," said Mitch Fried, SVP, Comedy Central Live Entertainment. "With Live Nation and its House of Blues venues, we have found the perfect companions to expand our thriving touring business and grow the Comedy Central brand outwards and off channel." - more on this story

Eoin Harrington Joining Brandi Carlile Tour for Select Dates

Eoin Harrington, known for his passionate vocal style, energetic stage presence and infectiously catchy songs, is kicking 2010 into high gear with a flurry of activity that will culminate with a string of concerts in March opening for Brandi Carlile.

Harrington has been captivating music fans in San Francisco since relocating from his native Dublin several years ago and has sold out every one of his local appearances since the release of his debut recording, STORY, last year.

A classically-trained pianist, Harrington possesses a clear vibrant tenor, and his vocals have been described as reminiscent of Maroon 5's Adam Levine, James Blunt and "a grittier Elton John." His signature "blue-eyed soul" is evident on STORY, for which he composed all of the songs. - more on this story

Tony Bennett and Don Imus Among Presenters for AFTRA AMEE Awards

The AFTRA Foundation today announced the presenters for the 2010 AFTRA Media and Entertainment Excellence Awards (The AMEES), where the spectrum of AFTRA talent will be on display.

Award-winning broadcast journalist and Radio Hall of Famer Bob Edwards will host the dinner gala benefit on Monday, Feb. 22, at the Plaza Hotel in New York City. Edwards is AFTRA National First Vice President and is a past AMEE Award recipient in broadcasting.

Award presenters were chosen by the honorees and include: Singing legend Tony Bennett and broadcast journalist Jorge Ramos (WNJU's "Noticiero 47") will present the AMEE Award in Sound Recordings to Latin music superstar Juanes.

- more on this story

Judson Claiborne Sets April Release

Following his self-released solo debut, Before Midnight Scholar, Chicago's Judson Claiborne continues to document the phenomenon of personal transformation with Time and Temperature, his new record which will be out April 6, 2010.

The distant melancholy familiar to listeners of Low Skies (Judson's previous band) has grown into emerging layers of song in the tradition of troubadours, journeymen, country-western stars and master-less wanderers.

Time and Temperature is the finest blend of indie folk with progressive abandon, as the ghosts of the Great Ones smile down on Judson Claiborne with a nod and a wink. - more on this story

Freeway & Jake One Release The Stimulus Package

Freeway & Jake One's new album The Stimulus Package was just released on Rhymesayers Entertainment. The Brent Rollins designed album packaging includes 4 Freeway bills, 4 Jake One bills, with lyrics and liner notes on the back, a wallet to stuff them into, and a free download card to grab the instrumentals.

The vinyl package includes money green marbled double vinyl, 4 Freeway Bills, 4 Jake One Bills, with lyrics and liner notes on the backsides, a gate fold sleeve, plus a download card with the Instrumentals and MP3s.

Freeway will be performing live with The Roots on the Late Night with Jimmy Fallon Monday, March 15th. His NYC Record Release Show is tonight at Highline Ballroom with Jake One, Brother Ali & Joell Ortiz. Freeway will be doing a couple east coast dates with Method Man & Redman this month and is confirmed for Paid Dues in San Bernardino, CA on April 3rd. - more on this story

Heaven Or Hell for Georgia & Declaime

In celebration of the digital release of their new LP, Georgia & Declaime are proud to release a brand new single from SomeOthaShip, "Heaven Or Hell." And to celebrate the February 23rd physical release date for SomeOthaShip, Georgia & Declaime will be performing a handful of shows, in addition to an in-store meet-and-greet at Fat Beats, New York.

Produced by Georgia Anne Muldrow, the track features Black Milk as well as the legendary Kool G Rap and Long Beach MC LMNO, each personifying one of the many layers between heaven and hell. Mello Music Group founder and owner Michael Tolle explains, "I wanted to create a track that showed two extreme perspectives - Kool G Rap doing his Gangster/Drug Lord/Pimp thing while Declaime & Georgia did their righteous preacher thing." He continues, "However, LMNO came with the most positive message out of the bunch. In the middle, Black Milk did his thing to perfection. Thus the 'Heaven Or Hell' title."

The track begins eerily with the chorus as LMNO raps, "It's a balance of life / Darkness and light / We're giving choice for you / Choose right." As the bass-heavy, unsettling background sets in, the resonating lyrics challenge what is supposedly good in the world as Kool G Rap, LMNO, Black Milk, and finally Georgia & Declaime take turns laying out their own take on heaven and hell in its various forms. Georgia defends the honor of a higher power through Africa as she raps, "She hold the world together forever / If she fall, we fall / Subject to complete and total recall." However, she continues that the world is a corrupt place, "Street soldiers used to have honor / Now they walk around hungry and listless." Declaime follows Georgia's powerful lines, and as the two trade lines over Georgia's dark production - Georgia's sultry rhymes against Declaime's unorthodox rhythms – the juxtaposition of the two vocals, both in sound and lyric, drive home the song's heaven or hell theme. - more on this story