Teddy Pendergrass RIP- Lauren Hill Bandmate Murdered- Dexter Fighting Cancer- Backstreet Boy N'Syncer Team Up- Smashing Jessica Simpson and more

Despite losing so-called judge Paula Abdul, "American Idol" started its ninth season on a high note with an estimated audience of nearly 30 million. more -

Ke$ha Debuts At No 1

Ke$ha tops the Billboard Top 200 chart with her debut album "Animal" (RCA Records / Kemosabe Entertainment). "Animal", which was released on January 5th, is #1 album in the US, selling 151,942 copies.

It is also #1 on the Digital Albums Chart, setting the record for the best ever digital album sales for a new artist and is the 3rd biggest digital album debut by a female, coming in right after Taylor Swift and Britney Spears.

This also marks the biggest first week for an artist's debut album released in January in SoundScan history. Ke$ha is also the first artist since Leona Lewis' debut in 2008 to have a #1 debut album AND a #1 debut single. - more on this story

Wyclef Jean's Statement on Earthquake in Haiti

Columbia Records sent this over this morning: The following is a statement by Wyclef Jean on the magnitude 7.0 earthquake outside Port-au-Prince, Haiti:

"Haiti today faced a natural disaster of unprecedented proportion, an earthquake unlike anything the country has ever experienced. The magnitude 7.0 earthquake – and several very strong aftershocks – struck only 10 miles from Port-au-Prince. I cannot stress enough what a human disaster this is, and idle hands will only make this tragedy worse. The over 2 million people in Port-au-Prince tonight face catastrophe alone. We must act now. President Obama has already said that the U.S. stands 'ready to assist' the Haitian people. The U.S. Military is the only group trained and prepared to offer that assistance immediately. They must do so as soon as possible. The international community must also rise to the occasion and help the Haitian people in every way possible."

Many people have already reached out to see what they can do right now. We are asking those interested to please do one of two things: Either you can use your cell phone to text "Yele" to 501501, which will automatically donate $5 to the Yele Haiti Earthquake Fund (it will be charged to your cell phone bill), or you can visit www.Yele.org and click on DONATE. -

Jason Castro Tour To Include High School Stops

Jason Castro best known as the third runner-up on the 2008 season of Fox's American Idol is set to embark on a major US tour, his first full-fledged trek in support of his own music.

Jason will accompany F-Stop Music/Atlantic recording artist Matt Hires on his upcoming "State Lines Tour 2010," due to kick off on January 20th at Jacksonville, Florida's Jack Rabbits, with dates then continuing through late February (see attached itinerary).

To make the tour even more special, Castro plans to perform at local high schools in many of the markets along the way. - more on this story

Idol Music Director To Host Singing Workshop Feb 5-7

American Idol might be underway but that won't stop its vocal coach and associate music director Dorian Holley and LA Music Academy College of Music (www.lamusicacademy.edu) from hosting the first of many seminars for the college's Workshop Series.

Holley is a 20-plus year music industry veteran who joined the school's staff in November 2009. He is best known for his impressive resume including singing on each of Michael Jackson's solo tours including "This Is It," where Dorian was also the Vocal Supervisor.

The school's Twitter followers will have a chance to win a free pass to the workshop if they include "@LAmusicacademy" in tweets about why they should win. The workshop is open to the public; registration is open now. - more on this story

Dawes Announce Winter Tour

ATO Records is thrilled to announce that Dawes has confirmed a co-headlining winter tour with Cory Chisel and the Wandering Sons.

The dates will kick off on February 5th at the Crepe Place in Santa Cruz, CA, and loop around the country, culminating with a show in the band's hometown of Los Angeles, CA, on March 11th.

Dawes has spent the past several months on the road, as they've been celebrating the release of their debut record, North Hills. Musician and producer Jonathan Wilson (Elvis Costello, Jenny Lewis) produced the album, which was recorded in his cottage studio. - more on this story

Regina Spektor and Gogol Bordello Added To Tibet House Benefit

Tibet House US has added Regina Spektor and Gogol Bordello to the bill of the 20th Annual Benefit Concert at Carnegie Hall. Already confirmed in the line-up, which is brought together by the concert's artistic director Philip Glass, is Patti Smith, Jesse Smith, Michael Campbell, Baaba Maal and Pierce Turner.

For twenty years, the annual concert has assembled some of the biggest names in music and offers audiences a mix of unprecedented musical collaborations and solo offerings.

Past unforgettable concerts have featured such talents as David Bowie, Paul Simon, Sheryl Crow, Moby, Sigur Ros, Bright Eyes, R.E.M., The National, Natalie Merchant, Rufus Wainwright, Vampire Weekend, Emmylou Harris, Live, Ray Davies and Damien Rice, among many others. - more on this story

Slow Club Sets Release, American Dates

Moshi Moshi Records is proud to announce the March 30th release of Yeah, So, the debut album from the celebrated Sheffield, England duo Slow Club.

The album, previously released in the UK, will include a second disk of bonus material comprised of B-Sides and live recordings. It marks not only the first proper North American release for the band, but also their label Moshi Moshi, a well respected decade old UK based indie with an internationally established reputation as a purveyor of exquisite taste and a stalwart supporter of the music community.

In conjunction with the release of Yeah, So, Slow Club will play North American dates including an appearance at SXSW 2010. - more on this story

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