Glee Cast Beats Twilight and Xtina

Glee has celebrated for invigorating both the music and television landscape with its unique style, incredible cast and innovative approach to pop music. Veteran rock icon Steve Perry, whose seen some of his hits reach new audiences praised the show by saying "Glee has opened up a international catalog of songwriting and introduced those songs to a whole new generation that would have otherwise never heard them." To date over 10 million Glee songs have been digitally downloaded and over 4 million Glee albums sold worldwide. This week all five Glee releases occupy slots within Billboard's top 50 best selling albums (Glee: The Music, Journey To Regionals at #1, Glee: The Music, Volume 3 Showstoppers at #7, Glee: The Music, Volume 1 at #37, Glee: The Music, The Power of Madonna at #46 and Glee: The Music, Volume 2 at #48).
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American Idol's Crystal Bowersox Debut Album Coming This Year

The point of winning American Idol is officially to score that coveted record contract, but as past seasons have shown, it really doesn't matter if you win or not. You are gonna get the deal, this past season's runner-up Crystal Bowersox proves this point once again. Here is the announcement:

It was announced today that "American Idol" phenom Crystal Bowersox has signed to 19 Recordings/Jive Records. Bowersox is currently gearing up for the upcoming "American Idol" tour which kicks off July 1st at the Palace of Auburn Hills in Detroit. The talented 24-year old singer/songwriter is expected to release her debut album later this year.

"I'm really grateful to be given this opportunity to make an album and let people hear my music," Crystal says, "and I'm looking forward to working with all of the folks at 19/Jive."
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American Idol's Lee Dewyze To Record Debut Album This Summer

American Idol Season 9 winner Lee Dewyze is preparing to start work on his debut album which is due for release in fall 2010 after officially being signed to 19 Recordings/RCA Records.

Lee will be recording his album over the summer while on the road with the American Idol's Live tour. The tour kicks off July 1 in Auburn Hills, Michigan and ends September 14 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

The 24 year old Mount Prospect, IL native impressed millions throughout the season taking home this year's American Idol winning title. Dewyze is a self taught musician who began singing and playing guitar in his teens. Auditioned in Chicago, Dewyze was the only male contestant never to land in the bottom three during American Idol Season 9.
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Beyonce Wins Fight

Beyonce's win for "Best Fight" from the 2009 movie, Obsessed, at the MTV Movie Awards, marked her very first win for MTV's nod to the big screen.

The fight toward the end of the film was the most talked about in years and an obvious fan favorite. Winners are determined by online voting.

The fight scene pitted Beyonce's character, Sharon, against Ali Larter's character, Lisa, in a brawl to the finish, including an audience-cheering head butt. The fight was up against Hugh Jackman and Live Schreiver's in X-Men Origins: Wolverine, Logan Lerman and Jake Abel's in Percy Jackson and The Olympians: The Lightning Thief, Robert Downey Jr. and Mark Strong's in Sherlock Holmes and Sam Worthington and Stephen Land's in Avatar. - more on this story

Destiny's Child Shoot Down Reunion Rumor

Beyonce's manager/father Mathew Knowles issued this bad news for those hoping for a Destiny's Child reunion: Contrary to rumors online of a Destiny's Child reunion, there are no plans for the group to reunite for a performance or album. The rumors are false.

Destiny's Child made an unprecedented impact in contemporary music, becoming one of the best-selling groups of all time.

Beyonce, Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams have each moved on to successful solo careers. The members remain close, but will not reunite as a group.
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Barry Manilow Named The Best Vegas Stripper

Barry Manilow received the "Best Strip Headliner" and "Best Bang for your Buck" awards from Las Vegas Weekly publisher Bruce Spotleson during Manilow's Saturday, May 29 performance at Paris Las Vegas. The awards were voted upon by readers of the publication.

Manilow's new two year engagement at Paris Las Vegas has been wildly heralded by critics and fans alike.

In celebration of the success, AEG Live and Paris Las Vegas just announced an additional 18 new performance dates from August 20th – October 24th. -

Crowded House Album and Tour in July

Crowded House return this July with a brand new album and tour. Their new album, Intriguer, is set for release on July 13th, 2010, on Fantasy Records, a division of Concord Music Group.

The internationally acclaimed group begins a nationwide tour of the U.S. and Canada in support of the new album on Monday, July 12th.

Also available that day will be the 2-disc Intriguer Deluxe Edition, featuring a special bonus live DVD. - more on this story

Adam Lambert, LeAnn Rimes and All Time Low Get Posted for MTV

MTV Music Group (MTV, VH1 and CMT) have selected Adam Lambert (VH1), LeAnn Rimes (CMT) and All Time Low (MTV) as the inaugural artists for a new digital franchise called POSTED, which will provide music fans with a singular destination to find social media updates, videos, news and photos of their favorite artists.

Each month, beginning today, CMT, MTV and VH1 will spotlight its own artist. The new franchise will live on each channel's web and mobile properties as a space that connects artists directly with their fans in real time. Other bands and artists expected to participate in the program during the coming months include Maroon 5 and Sara Bareilles.

For the program's kick-off, VH1 selected Adam Lambert, who recently filmed an episode of "Unplugged;" CMT selected Grammy award winner LeAnn Rimes; and MTV chose pop punk band, All Time Low who will be joined on "POSTED" by June tour mates Boys Like Girls, LMFAO, and Forever The Sickest Kids. - more on this story

David Guetta Says Timbaland and Rihanna Collaboration Lacked Balls

Beatportal has an interesting new interview with David Guetta where he calls out Timbaland and Rihanna's collaboration for lacking balls. Here is that part of the exchange: A lot of pop and hip-hop artists are working with electronic producers these days. Why do you think there's so much crossover right now?

I don't want to sound conceited, but I think it's very much because we did it with the Black Eyed Peas, and I did it with Akon and with Kelly Rowland—we're talking about some of the biggest selling records ever. American people are very simple, they go for what's number one, and they want to do the same thing. I'm not saying I'm the only one, because for example, there was that Crookers remix of Kid that was really influential, but that record wasn't successful in America, it was successful in Europe. It did influence me, for sure.

There were some little signs. Like what Timbaland was doing, and Rihanna, but they were being shy, they didn't have the balls to go 100%. What I respect in Will.I.Am for calling me, he was like, "We're not going to try to emulate that sound, we're just going to do it". - Read the full interview here

Justin Bieber Announces New Tour Leg

Justin Bieber announces that the second leg of dates on his headlining tour of North America which will kick off September 5 at the Maryland State Fair.

Already hitting 40+ cities in its first leg of dates, the second phase of The "My World" Tourwill hit more than 35 cities, bringing the tour to 75+ cities before wrapping up December 23 in Atlanta. (Please see complete second leg tour itinerary below.)

Additionally, $1.00 from each ticket will be donated to Pencils of Promise, a charity which works to build schools and increase educational opportunities in the developing world. Justin's goal is to build 15 schools around the world for needy children. - more on this story

Miley Denies Lesbian Kiss

Miley Cyrus is a little controversy machine. The pop singer addressed the latest scandal via her blog where she denied engaging in a lesbian kiss on British TV.

Here is what she had to say: "I performed Can't Be Tamed this week on one of my favourite shows here in the U.K., Britain's Got Talent. I had such a blast and was so honored to be on that stage. That being said during my performance I supposedly "KISSED A GIRL" and this is the newest thing to cause controversy.

"I promise you I did not kiss her and it is ridiculous that two entertainers can't even rock out with each other without the media making it some type of story. I really hope my fans are not disappointed in me because the truth is I did nothing wrong. I got up there and did my job which is to perform to the best of my ability. I just want to put an end to this right now and just say one thing to everyone out there making this performance such a big deal. GET OVER IT! NOTHING HAPPENED. THERE ARE WAYYYYYYY MORE IMPORTANT THINGS IN THE WORLD." - Watch and judge for yourself

DJ Hero 2 Coming This Fall

Activision is eyeing a Fall release for DJ Hero 2. They sent over the following announcement with more details: Picking up where the award-winning DJ Hero soundtrack left off, DJ Hero 2 spins together the hottest tracks blazing up the charts and legendary club anthems from the biggest artists in pop, dance and hip hop including Dr. Dre, The Chemical Brothers, Kanye West, Metallica, Lady Gaga, Rihanna and over 85 others.

Fueling the party will be a host of all-new social multiplayer game modes and innovative freestyle gameplay giving virtual DJ's the ability to crossfade, scratch and sample in over 70 speaker-blowing mashups from the hottest DJ's and Producers around the world, including Deadmau5 – part of dance music's elite – who will be starring as an in-game playable character.

To celebrate the announcement, DJ Hero owners and all of their friends will have the opportunity to download, spin, scratch and battle a mix from DJ Hero 2 as downloadable content. The mix features the sultry sounds of Lady Gaga's "Just Dance" Mixed With the blistering beats of Deadmau5's "Ghosts 'n' Stuff." The mix will be available for free from June 8-14 on Xbox LIVE® Marketplace for Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft and PLAYSTATION®Store for the PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system.
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The Judds: The Last Encore

The Judds played for 10,000 fans in downtown Nashville when they launched this year's 2010 CMA Music Festival setting the stage for their highly anticipated final tour, The Judds: The Last Encore. It has been over 10 years since their 2000 "Power To Change" tour, and this final reunion promises to be nothing short of spectacular.

In typical fan-friendly Judd fashion, Wynonna and Naomi recently invited dedicated "Judd Heads" and country music fans across the country to name their upcoming tour in The Judds "Name That Tour" contest. The response was overwhelming. Thousands of fans jumped at the opportunity to solidify their place in Judds HERstory and ultimately Jacqualine Budgell from Murfreesboro, TN was chosen as the lucky winner.

According to Naomi, The Last Encore tour is an opportunity to celebrate the relationship with their fans one last time. "There is nothing like music and laughter to connect people," she says. "How I've missed that encounter with the very ones who've allowed us that awesome privilege! I'm counting the days till I can be back on my bus, visiting their towns." - more on this story

Michael Jackson Turned Into a Bobblehead

Michael Jackson has been made into a Limited Edition 7.5" resin bobblehead that has been hand sculpted and painted with intricate detailing including sparkle jacket and glove.

The outfit used is the same one he performed in during his legendary performance during Motown's March 25, 1983 television spectacular where he introduced the Moon Walk while performing Billy Jean.

As the one year anniversary of his passing approaches, this is the first in a series of limited edition collectible bobbleheads that are being created to celebrate his life, fame and all that he's given, truly a must have for any Michael Jackson fan. - more on this story

Travie McCoy Hitting The Road With Rihanna and Ke$ha

Travie McCoy will join Rihanna's "Last Girl On Earth Tour" this summer. The outing which also features special guest Ke$ha is set to hit the road beginning on July 2nd at Auburn, Washington's White River Amphitheatre.

They will then wind its way across North America, culminating August 28th at the New York State Fair in Syracuse (see attached itinerary).

Travie McCoy is touring in support of his recent solo debut, "LAZARUS." Travie will mark the release of "LAZARUS" with a pair of national television appearances, both accompanied by Bruno Mars. The pair will perform on the Tuesday, June 15th installment of NBC's The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, followed next week by a June 21st visit to NBC's Late Night with Jimmy Fallon (check local listings). The latter appearance will see McCoy and Mars backed by the show's acclaimed house band – and former Travie tourmates – The Roots. - more on this story

Fantasia Sets New Album Release

After giving fans a look into the recording process on her hit VH1 reality show Fantasia For Real, Fantasia will release her third studio album, entitled Back to Me, on July 27th on J Records.

Leading the way with the official first single "Bittersweet," which is currently #9 on the Urban Adult Airplay chart, Back To Me is an emotionally charged album which features a sole guest appearance by Cee-Lo Green and songs written and/or produced by Ne-Yo, Claude Kelly, Chuck Harmony Rico Love, Jim Jonsin, KP & Malay.

Also available for the first time as a bonus track is "I'm Here," Fantasia's signature song from her acting role as "Celie" in the Broadway play The Color Purple. - more on this story

Garth Brooks Announces Fall Concerts

Garth Brooks' intimate performances at the Encore Theater at Wynn Las Vegas were such a success that a new run of dates have been added for this fall.

Concert Dates: September 10, 11, 12 ** October 1, 2, 3 ** October 22, 23, 24 ** November 5, 6, 7 ** November 19, 20, 21 ** Concert times: Fridays 8 p.m., Saturdays 8 p.m. & 10:30 p.m., Sundays 8 p.m.

Tickets for the next series of highly anticipated concerts will go on sale on Saturday, June 19 at 10 a.m. PT. Tickets are available exclusively at Ticketmaster.com or by calling 1-877-65-GARTH. Tickets are $125 plus fees and tax. See special restrictions in place for these tickets. - more on this story

Justin Bieber Invites Jessica Jarrell To His World

Justin Bieber's camp have selected Teen Island's newest star, the 15-year-old Jessica Jarrell, to support Bieber's first headlining North American tour this summer.

Mercury Records/Teen Island says Jessica Jarrell;s brand new single "Up and Running" featuring Travie McCoy (Gym Class Heroes) hits pop and rhythm radio formats across the country on June 21st.

The video for the single, produced by hit making duo, The Runners, will be shot in Los Angeles on June 21st, as her single is impacting at radio. News of the summer release of Jessica's debut album on Mercury Records will be announced in the months ahead. - more on this story

Maxwell Axes Tour Dates

Bad news for Maxwell fans, the star has axed a string of upcoming shows. That being said, several East Coast dates will go on including a two-night stand at Madison Square Garden.

Here is the official word from the Maxwell camp: Due to scheduling conflicts with the venues Maxwell's additional tour dates with Melanie Fiona (scheduled to begin June 28th in Greensboro, NC) have been postponed to 2011.

Refunds have been provided to ticket buyers. New dates will be announced later this year. - more on this story

OutKast's Big Boi Sets Solo Album Release

OutKast's Big Boi has made his solo plans official with the announcement that his new solo album will hit stores in July. Here is the news:

The world knows him as Big Boi -Antwan André Patton - one-half of multi-platinum, five-time Grammy Award-winning supergroup, whose albums and singles have sold over 25-times platinum in the U.S. alone. Now make way for SIR LUCIOUS LEFT FOOT: THE SON OF CHICO DUSTY, Big Boi's first stand-alone solo album, nearly four years in the making and finally set to arrive July 6th on Def Jam Recordings. 10 days later, Big Boi joins the lineup at the Pitchtodorks Music Festival in Chicago's Union Park, over the July 16-18th weekend.

Big Boi is already back in the picture with his Def Jam debut,"Shutterbug" featuring Cutty, produced by Scott Storch, the lead single fromSIR LUCIOUS LEFT FOOT. Writing on the Wall Street Journal's Speakeasy blog last week, Jozen Cummings elaborated on a few other tracks: "... the melodic 'Turn Me On,' produced by long-time OutKast collaborators, Organized Noize... the widely bootlegged '"Tangerine' featuring T.I.... And the Lil Jon-produced 'Hustle Blood'... complete with Jamie Foxx singing the hook." - more on this story

Macy Gray Releases New Video To Celebrate the Fifa World Cup

Macy Gray is in the soccer spirit (football for her non-American friends) as she releases a new soccer-themed video for "Beauty in the World" to celebrate the World Cup.

The video, directed by Giuliano Bekor, features leggy models hitting the turf in the Los Angeles Coliseum, where they exhibit some pretty fancy footwork, ball juggling and more than a few tricky kicks – all in high heels and tight skirts!

If watching beefy soccer stars making magic with a soccer ball takes your breath away, you better be sitting down for this one. Beauty in the World, indeed! - watch it here

Eleven-Years-Old Broadway Star Battling For Her Life, Perhaps You Can Help?

Out of adversity, comes hope. Please keep this in mind as you read the following story and perhaps you will be the one to help?: At just eleven-years-old Shannon Tavarez already had a promising Broadway career. She was performing four shows a week as young Nala in The Lion King. Everyday Shannon juggled a full day of school before rushing to the theater for an evening show at the Minskoff Theatre on Broadway-- She was living her dream.

Now, just two months later, Shannon's dream is simply to grow up. In April Shannon was diagnosed with Acute Leukemia. The talented young star was performing when the symptoms first hit. Her lower back and legs suddenly started hurting making it hard for her to perform or even walk. "When I found out, it hit me really hard, like someone was throwing a ball at me. It was shocking and I thought, why me?" said Shannon. Now she lives at Schneider Children's Hospital in Long Island where she receives daily chemotherapy treatments. A bone marrow transplant from a stranger may be her only chance at survival.

Shannon's mother is African American and her father is Dominican. Only eight percent of the seven million registered donors are African American which means that only seventeen percent of African Americans in need of a transplant will receive one. - more on this story

Charlie Daniels Band Releasing New Songs On July 4th

The Charlie Daniels Band has announced a July 4th release of a pair of digital singles, "Iraq Blues" and "(What This World Needs Is) A Few More Rednecks 2010".

The two tracks are featured on the CDB's forthcoming August 10 release, a patriotic compilation titled Land That I Love. "Iraq Blues" was written during CDB tours to Iraq, and "(What This World Needs Is) A Few More Rednecks 2010" is an updated version of a Daniels classic.

Both songs are newly recorded studio versions, and the 2010 update of "(What This World Needs Is) A Few More Rednecks 2010" also includes a brand new verse. The singles will be available at all major online retailers. - more on this story

Marc Mysterio Caught in The G20 Riots

We have a follow-up to the story about Marc Mysterio. Apparently Marc was undaunted by losing Canadian Top Model Kirsten Comerford for his video shoot (due to the riots in Toronto) and went ahead with it anyway. But he himself got to see the riots up-close and in-person as a result.

"We were just driving down the street, and a riot between cops and protesters had broken out in the street in front of us as we traveled between locations - the cops even banged on our hood with their baton threatening us even though we were boxed in by traffic - a frightening situation, to say the least" said Marc Mysterio in a statement.

"What is the real purpose of this summit? Why could it not be effectuated over Skype? It just seems very capricious and indifferent to not only hold this in the 3rd largest market in North America, but also to fence in the downtown-core, post-apocalyptic style - did they not realize that this will inflict major trauma upon the citizens of our city? Honestly, I feel traumatized and I'm sure the cops do as well and, moreover, after the G20 is over, I hope these tensions will not linger." - previous report

What Really Happened to Michael Jackson

'What Really Happened to Michael Jackson, the King of Pop: The Evil Side of the Entertainment Industry' is a new book that claims to chronicle unseemly circumstances around Michael Jackson's death. Here is the announcement:

FastPencil and Leonard Rowe today announced the availability of Rowe's book, "What Really Happened to Michael Jackson, the King of Pop: The Evil Side of the Entertainment Industry." Rowe, a legendary concert promoter and longtime friend of Michael Jackson and the Jackson family, selected FastPencil to publish the eBook version available for iPad, Kindle and all major eReaders.

"This is a story that must be told. It is a first hand account of the conspiracy and the power of the entertainment industry and I am so glad to be releasing the book on the anniversary of Michael's death," said Leonard Rowe. "It is a raw and eye-opening account of the perils of fame and about the man everyone knew as the 'King of Pop,' but whom I knew as a dear friend." - more on this story

Auto-Tune Your World With T-Pain

The king of Auto-Tune T-Pain has expanded his popular "I Am T-Pain" app by adding video just in time for the launch of the iPhone 4. You might not have much luck making phone calls with the new devise but T-Pain's new app will still allow you to have fun with it. Here is the announcement:

"I Am T-Pain", the most successful artist app in history, just got bigger. Why just record your own voice when, with Smule's new T-Pain Video feature, you can Auto-Tune your video?

Using the new front facing camera available on iPhone 4, singers can flip a switch and record themselves singing, in Auto-Tune, while song lyrics scroll up the same screen. And why stop with recording yourself? - more on this story

BET Awards '10 Recap and Winners List

Kanye West opened the BET Awards '10 show with a performance of "Power" atop a smoky crag of rocks marking his return to the Awards show spotlight and circuit.

King of the South T.I., backed by Travis Barker on drums and flaming pyrotechnics, tore the house down with his first national TV performance since being released from prison.

Just two days after the one-year anniversary of the death of Michael Jackson, Jermaine Jackson introduced Chris Brown who channeled the legendary Michael Jackson while dancing to classics like "The Way You Make Me Feel," "Remember The Time," "Billie Jean" and an out-of-this-world silhouetted-in-white-lights version of "Smooth Criminal." - more including the list of winners

Eminem and Jay-Z Add More Home And Home Tour Dates

Eminem and Jay-Z' "Home And Home" tour has been expanded due to high demand.

Another show has been added in Detroit at Comerica Park on Friday, September 3rd and in New York at Yankee Stadium on Tuesday, September 14th. This is the only time these two superstars will perform together. Tickets for all four shows, produced by Live Nation, go on sale to the public on Friday, June 25 at 10:00 am local time at LiveNation.com.

The same day that tickets go on sale, Eminem and Jay-Z take over late night television in support of the tour when they perform together on the roof of the Ed Sullivan Theater building on Late Show with David Letterman, taped Monday, June 21 to be broadcast Friday, June 25 (11:35 PM-12:37 AM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network. - more on this story

Tank Returns with Sex Music

Tank makes his Atlantic Records debut with his first new solo track in more than three years, "Sex Music".

The single is just arriving at multi-format Urban and Rhythmic radio outlets nationwide, heralding Tank's long awaited fourth album, to be entitled "NOW OR NEVER," scheduled for release later this year.

Born Durrell Babbs, Tank first attracted attention while working as one of Ginuwine's backing vocalists. In 2001, the Los Angeles-based artist released his RIAA gold-certified debut album, "FORCE OF NATURE," which included his first Top 10 R&B hit, "Maybe I Deserve." The album was also his first to make a #1 debut on Billboard's "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums" chart (coming in this time at #7 on the overall Billboard 200). - more on this story

Michael Buble Brings More Crazy Love To America

Michael Buble kicked off the second leg of "Crazy Love" tour on June 22nd in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Buble is set to play 21 markets ending August 28th in Las Vegas. Unlike a lot of tours that our out this year, this tour is expected to be a complete sell-out.

"In the current climate of summer tours, Michael Bublé is a shining star," stated 'Crazy Love's" national tour promoter Don Fox of Beaver Productions. "With Michael's following including such a wide demographic span along with the amazing reviews of this show around the world, this is surely going to become one of the biggest tours in the US this summer," he concluded. - more on this story