Michael Jackson Lenny Kravitz Leak Plugged- Lil Wayne Delayed Again- DMB and Pink Grammys- Burt Backonarack- Susan Boyle, Miley Cyrus Most Watched and more

Globally acclaimed singer-songwriter Lhasa de Sela, who grew up as a semi-nomad in a travelling school bus and ultimately made Montreal her home, has died after a battle with breast cancer at age 37. more -

Flight of the Conchords Solo Album From Arj Barker

On January 26, Warner Nashville/Degenerate Records will release Arj Barker's debut comedy album LYAO. Arj, one of America's most offbeat observational comics, has appeared on several television comedy shows in addition to his well-known and hilarious character "Dave" on the hit HBO show, Flight of the Conchords.

Warner Bros. Records/Degenerate Records comic Arj Barker releases his debut comedy album, LYAO, on Tuesday, Jan. 26, after the Comedy Central special debuts Sunday, Jan. 24. LYAO will be available on CD/DVD and standalone DVD.

In LYAO, which stands for "laugh your ass off," Arj Barker pokes fun at controversial topics ranging from gay marriages and religion to global warming and losing Pluto as a planet. Barker also points out the constant misunderstandings faced through our growing technological advancements (each track name reflects a common communication abbreviation) which can easily be remedied through fonts that convey tone, such as "Sarcastica" and "Good Times Roman." - more on this story

Muscle Shoals Gives Birth to the BoomBox Sound

Nobody snuffed the Muscle Shoals candle - it just keeps getting brighter. Once again, the otherwise understated and isolated town in Alabama finds itself in the limelight. Recognized for inspiring legendary recordings from the likes of Aretha Franklin, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Bob Dylan, Paul Simon, The Rolling Stones and Duane Allman, Muscle Shoals has played host to some of the most creative music in popular culture. Reports have recently surfaced in Rolling Stone Magazine that the platinum selling artists the Black Keys have recorded their forthcoming album in the area, leaving no doubt that a musical revival is imminent, and the locally born electronic duo BoomBox is leading the charge.

Featuring Producer/Engineer Russ Randolph and Producer/Vocalist/Guitarist Zion Rock Godchaux, BoomBox draws their inspiration from the roots of the area including elements of Motown, Folk and Rock and infuses it with modern elements of down tempo and funky house. Add in a top layer of soothing guitar and vocals with their signature psychedelia inspired poetry and the result is like nothing else on the music scene today. The concoction pays homage to the past while incorporating an infectious electronic sound that has young fans turning out to their shows in drones.

BoomBox will be releasing their sophomore album, downriverelectric, in early 2010. The album deliberately weaves a variety of samples into a musical landscape filled with soaring highs and soul shuttering low bass. - more on this story

The Friday Night Boys, Anarbor, The Bigger Lights and The Ready Set for Once It Hits Your Lips Tour

Power pop party-starters The Friday Night Boys will be headlining on the Once It Hits Your Lips Tour.

The outing will also feature Anarbor, The Bigger Lights and The Ready Set, The Friday Night Boys are touring to promote their full length, Off The Deep End.

The outing kicks off on January 22nd in Hackensack, NJ at School of Rock and will work its way down to Florida to conclude on February 13th at Swampgrass in West Palm Beach. - dates

Country Crossing Opening with Free Concerts from Tracy Lawrence, Joe Nichols, Darryl Worley, Neal Mccoy, John Anderson, Pam Tillis, The Commodores, Lorrie Morgan, Aaron Tippin, The Bellamy Brothers and others

Country Crossing announces artists to perform during its three-day grand opening event, January 15-17, 2010. Headliners for the event include Tracy Lawrence, Darryl Worley, Lorrie Morgan and John Anderson, who all have interests in the development. All live shows will be free to the public.

"As we've said all along, Country Crossing will provide first-class country music entertainment and this lineup is just the beginning," says Ronnie Gilley, president, Ronnie Gilley Entertainment and developer of Country Crossing. "Our grand opening will be nothing short of spectacular, and we are looking forward to many more great performances in the months and years to come."

The performing artists have combined record sales of more than 120 million, 66 No.1 hits and 200 top ten singles. "This is the first time in history that 20 artist, with a combined 120 million record sales and 66 No. 1 hits, will perform in three days at one venue – all free to the public," adds Gilley. "You won't have to go to a big city anymore to find high-caliber entertainment. We are bringing it right here." - more on this story

Maxwell Toots His Own Horn

Maxwell and his now-Platinum album BLACKsummers'night (Columbia) have emerged as the big winners this year in the music world, with across-the-board critical acclaim, major sales, and six GRAMMY nominations plus a confirmed slot on the Awards Ceremony January 31.

BLACKsummers'night was just named Number 1 Album of the Year in USA Today and NY Daily News, joining the New York Times (Jon Pareles) and the Washington Post, with more Best of the Year nods in the Associated Press, LA Times (Ann Powers), Boston Globe (Sarah Rodman); Philadelphia Inquirer (Dan Deluca), People Magazine (Comeback of the Year) and many more.

Maxwell was everywhere in 2009. His December television appearances alone included performances on The Jay Leno Show, The Today Show and The GRAMMY Nominations Concert Live, of which the LA Time's Ann Powers wrote "Maxwell's performance of Michael Jackson's 'The Lady in My Life' ... not only stood out, it made a quiet case for itself as one of the best televised musical performances of the year." - more on this story

Bob Blank Retrospective Set for Release

Bob Blank- The Blank Generation: Blank Tapes NYC 1975-1985 will be released on February 2nd on Strut. The first ever album retrospective of one of New York's most revered of all producers, Bob Blank, this album traces the history of his independent studio, Blank Tapes, one of the city's most important creative dens during the vibrant arts scene of the mid-'70s to mid-'80s.

Blank started out in New York in 1973 as a guitarist before producing one of the first 12" disco records in '75 – Jimmy Sabater's 'To Be With You'. He opened his own Blank Tape studios a year later. He quickly became an essential port of call for New York's diverse artistic community, honing the freeform, anarchic visions of August Darnell, Cristina and Lydia Lunch for ZE Records and, with producers Patrick Adams and Greg Carmichael, helping to shape the sound of many disco classics. Musique, Inner Life, Instant Funk and Salsoul Orchestra all recorded classics at Blank Tapes.

Arthur Russell also recorded much of his most celebrated disco-related output at the studios under pseudonyms Dinosaur L, Indian Ocean and Felix, as well as "Wax The Van" with Blank's wife, Lola. Other regulars at Blank Tapes included Latin producer Tito Rodriguez, whose Charanga 76 and Eddie Palmieri recordings with Blank would receive Grammy nominations. - more on this story

Top Ten Country Dance Club Hits of 2009

Nashville-based dance venue marketing company, Marco Club Connection, has compiled and released its sixth annual Top Ten list of 2009's most requested Country dance club songs.

A panel of more than 230 club owners, DJs and dance instructors from across the country were surveyed in December by Club Connection to compile this year's rankings.

"What strikes me about this year's list is the diversity of the artists that are releasing either dance remixes or songs that are already tailor made for the clubs," says Club Connection Venue Marketing Specialist Bobbe Morhiser. "We have new artists like Zac Brown Band, Randy Houser and Gloriana all placing in the top five, superstars like Carrie Underwood, and then we have veteran trendsetters like Reba and Brooks & Dunn still making relevant, danceable material for the younger crowd. It really goes to show how important the dance venues can be in reaching an audience."

The results of the 2009 Top Ten Country Dance Club Hits are:

1. The Zac Brown Band - "Toes"
2. Randy Houser - "Boots On"
3. Jason Aldean - "She's Country"
4. Carrie Underwood - "Cowboy Casanova"
5. Gloriana - "Wild At Heart"
6. Brooks & Dunn - "Honky Tonk Stomp"
7. Billy Currington - "People Are Crazy"
8. Reba - "I Want a Cowboy"
9. Joey + Rory - "Cheater Cheater"
10. Jack Ingram - "Barefoot & Crazy"

- more on this story

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