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Natalie Portman has suffered the ultimate snub - the band named after her is changing its name. Indie rockers Natalie Portman's Shaved Head have ditched their quirky name and will now perform under Brite Futures. more - more on this story

Eminem, Alicia Keys, Usher and T Pain Added to BET Awards 10

Eminem, Alicia Keys, Usher and T Pain has been added to the lineup for BET Awards 10 which will take place at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles on June 27th. Here is the announcement:

BET AWARDS '10 is pleased to announce that rapper, producer and actor Eminem will take to the stage on the heels of his June 21 release of "Recovery."

In keeping with the tradition of celebrating the best of the best, platinum-recording artist and BET AWARDS '10 "Best Female R&B Artist" nominee Alicia Keys as well as R&B superstar Usher, who is nominated for "Best Male R&B Artist," will also take to the BET AWARDS '10 stage. - more on this story

Watch Miley Cyrus, Katy Perry, Justin Bieber, Adam Lambert, Ke$ha This Weekend at MuchMusic Video Awards

U.S. fans can tune in to Fuse this Sunday, June 20 at 9pm ET for the 2010 MuchMusic Video Awards live from Toronto.

The show will be co-hosted by Miley Cyrus, the awards will feature performances and appearances by Katy Perry, Justin Bieber, Adam Lambert, Ke$ha, Marianas Trench, Down With Webster, Drake and Hedley. Presenters include Kellan Lutz, Ashley Greene and Xavier Samuel (The Twilight Saga: Eclipse), Snooki and Pauly D (Jersey Shore), Shailene Woodley, Daren Kagasoff and Megan Park (The Secret Life of the American Teenager), Whitney Port and Kristin Cavallari, among many others.

Fuse, Madison Square Garden's national music television network, continues to connect fans with their favorite musicians through entertaining and engaging music programming and gives US fans a front row seat to Canada's biggest and baddest street party. - more on this story

The Cat Empire Announce Virtual Album Launch Party

The Cat Empire have announced a unique 'virtual' launch of their new album CINEMA this Sunday June 20, making them the first (known) Australian band to broadcast an Australian concert live to fans all over the world, with a one second delay.

After years of dreaming about the possibility of presenting a Global Gig, the band discovered technology, provided by local Melbourne company Rivus which would enable them to play to their global fanbase at any time. The technology was developed by a group of young entrepreneurial uni students who were friends of Felix from The Empire.

The Rivus technology is commonly used to stream sporting events, but its application to music is just about to take off. The development of a broadcasting box enables the band to broadcast shows from anywhere in the world, with surprisingly little complexity. - more on this story

Plies Goes Top 5

Plies new album, "Goon Affiliated," debuted this week at no 5 on the overall Soundscan/Billboard 200 chart.

What's more, the album – which includes the breakout hit single, "She Got It Made" – arrived at #1 on both the "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums" and "Top Rap Albums" charts, while also coming in among the week's top 15 "Top Digital Albums."

Plies' fourth full-length release sees the Fort Myers, Florida-based rap superstar teaming with such studio stars as The J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League, Polow da Don, J.R. Rotem, and Clinton Sparks. In addition to surefire hits like "Becky," "GOON AFFILIATED" also includes guest appearances from Keri Hilson ("Medicine"), Trey Songz ("Kitty Kitty"), and Young Jeezy & Fabolous ("Look Like"). - 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! - check it out here

Mehran Unleashes The Angels Of Persepolis

Flamenco guitar virtuoso Mehran unleashes The Angels Of Persepolis. Here is the announcement: There have been many fine concept albums released in recent years, but none more pertinent to today's affairs as the new CD by Iranian-born flamenco guitar virtuoso Mehran. 'Angels of Persepolis' is a concept instrumental CD that intertwines ancient Persian history, Persian mythology and Iran's current affairs. This objective was reached by usage of sound effects, insertion of actual excerpts and sounds of the recent affairs in Iran and the mood translated by the music. On this CD Mehran composed music with a unique sound that evokes a nostalgic blend of exotic worldliness. The recording of 'Angels Of Persepolis' took exactly a year and in the beginning the concept was more cultural and focused on composing Flamenco guitar music with the theme of nostalgia and romanticism with some poetry. As the summer of 2009 brought with it a new and rejuvenated movement in Iran for freedom and basic human rights, the concept of this CD changed to that of support and raising awareness. "As the world witnessed the silent and peaceful demonstrations of the Iranian people and how it was met with some of the most barbaric attacks a government can unleash on its people, it was then the concept of this CD started to get a form," explains Mehran. "The concept is freedom. I was glued to TV, news, youtube images on Iran as I was composing and recording the music for 'Angels of Persepolis'. I saw how the people rose above the limitations and hurdles the society had imposed on them and did the unthinkable. They revolted against one of the most barbaric and backward regimes ever. That inspired me. As I was making this music last year, I felt my heart was with what was going on in Iran and they inspired me so much to the point that I wanted to dedicate my work to them. I felt like that my music should be a mirror image of these events and in a way I wanted to inspire others and raise awareness here, outside of Iran."

Symbolically, Persepolis represents Iran and the angels are the men and women who have risen to ask for their rights. The news and images of these events that found their way all over the world, the bravery of the Iranian people and the manner in which they stood up to the face of tyranny were the inspiration behind most of the compositions on this CD. "Persepolis was the capital of Iran 2500 years ago," explains Mehran. "It was destroyed by Alexander. I was born in Shiraz about 50 miles from its ruins and I had visited it many times when I was growing up in Iran. To me it represented our heritage and history. The angels refers to the masses who have been rising up for their freedom." Musically the CD ranges from world, classical, jazz, flamenco, traditional Persian and even prog, with unique interludes between compositions reminiscent to Pink Floyd. "It is next to impossible to tell a story with just instrumental music and no lyrics. Being a die hard fan of Pink Floyd, I decided to use sound effects to create an ambience to help describe the intention of the Cd." One music critic felt "the music is very fresh sounding, or very international - I feel like I just travelled from Spain to France and to the Middle East and ended up in the Mediterranean after listening to Mehran's 'Angels Of Persepolis' ". - more on this story

Singled Out: Jeff Berlin's Groovin' High

Welcome to Singled Out! where we ask artists to tell us the inside story of their latest single. Today acclaimed bass player Jeff Berlin tells us about "Groovin' High" from his new album "High Standards". We now turn it over to Jeff for the story:

Groovin' High has been in my live repertoire for about three years. One of my regular choices for playing medium fast jazz bass solos, I used to play this song in every gig that, mixing it in with my original compositions. I also practiced a great deal on this tune trying to find new and hip ways to navigate through the chord changes. After a long time of apprenticing to this tune, I felt ready to solo on it offering up new melodic ideas on a bass guitar that weren't common to the electric bass instrument. On the day of the session, I recorded this song twice and kept the second take. This bass solo represented something quite special for me, a venture into melodic areas usually reserved for the higher pitched jazz saxophone or piano. Because the electric bass doesn't really have a long history of improvised virtuosity, this solo was my contribution to something unusual, a bass solo with harmonic core and melodic resolution, thanks to those geniuses on piano such as Keith Jarrett, and on saxophone such as Sonny Rollins, who taught me how to play this way.

Now that you know the story behind the song, learn more about the album and Jeff Berlin - right here!

The Chemical Brothers' New Album Streaming Online

The Chemical Brothers will release their seventh studio album, Further, next Tuesday, June 22nd.

But you don't have to wait for a listen because starting today, fans can hear the album in its entirety exclusively at NPR's First Listen!

Further is the band's most ambitious project yet, a full-on audio/visual experience with unique cutting edge visuals tailored to each of the album's eight epic tracks. The full experience will be available on the CD/DVD edition as well as the exclusive iTunes Pass. - Listen here

Pattern is Movement Headlining The Boat

Pattern is Movement, Think About Life, and Glass Ghost are among the bands slated to perform this summer on the "The BOAT" the new indie-focused music cruises that will sail the waterways of New York Harbor.

Deviating from traditional one performance gigs, The BOAT will feature each band performing two shows nightly, as part of two-hour cruises beginning at 7 p.m. and 10 p.m. (boarding at 6:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m., respectively).

The debut cruise of The BOAT, featuring headliner Pattern is Movement, with Glass Ghost as the opener, is scheduled for Friday, July 16. - more on this story

Vh1 Goes NFL with Shows Featuring Terrell Owens And Chad Ochocinco

Vh1 have announced the premiere of two shows which star NFL stars Terrell Owens and Chad Ochocinco. "Ochocinco: The Ultimate Catch" which premieres on VH1 Sunday, July 11 at 9:00 PM ET/PT* and "The T.O. Show" Season Two which premieres on Sunday, July 11 at 10:30 PM ET/PT*.

Chad Ochocinco, star wide receiver for the Cincinnati Bengals, is coming to VH1 to pursue love and happiness off the field. Giving the same passion and intensity to his love life as he brings to the football field, Chad evaluates 85 women vying for his heart at a "dating training camp" with friend Bernard Berrian, Minnesota Vikings wide receiver. Chad picks 17 women to advance to the next round of the competition and compete in his bracket style dating tournament. The winner will not only be awarded with a championship ring but the lucky lady will also win the ultimate prize, Chad Ochocinco's heart. Tune in each week to see the women compete for a "game ball" and see which ones don't have what it takes to play on Chad's team. In the end, 16 ladies will be benched and only one lucky girl will be Ochocinco's ultimate catch.

With the hectic lifestyle of the football season over, NFL superstar Terrell Owens takes some time off and settles down in Los Angeles. With his one-year Buffalo Bills contract complete, T.O. is at a crossroads trying to decide if finding another team is really where he wants to be at this point in his life. With the help of a therapist and his publicists/best friends, Mo and Kita loyally at his side, T.O. struggles to have the best of both worlds. Viewers will get an up close look as T.O. juggles to keep his successful football career going while trying to focus on his personal life by spending more time with his children and rekindling his romance with Kari. While trying to make these changes, T.O. is forced to face the facts and realize his biggest challenge isn't anyone but himself. "The T.O. Show" airs Sunday, July 11 at 10:30PM* and every Sunday following at 10:00PM*. -

Ronnie Milsap Hit Declared A Tennessee State Song

"Smoky Mountain Rain," made famous by country music star Ronnie Milsap, has won the competition to become Tennessee's new state song.

Here are the first couple of lines from the resolution: WHEREAS, made famous by country music legend Ronnie Milsap, "Smoky Mountain Rain" pays homage to the Great Smoky Mountains, which draw 2.2 million tourists annually to the State of Tennessee from around the world; and

WHEREAS, written by Nashville songwriters, Kye Fleming and Dennis Morgan, "Smoky Mountain Rain" tells the story of a special, enduring love of a Tennessee sweetheart and the storyteller's return to Tennessee and the Great Smoky Mountains in search of that which he holds most dear; and - more on this story

Jessica Jarrell Gets Up and Running

Jessica Jarrell brand new single "Up and Running" hits pop and rhythm radio formats across the country on June 21st.

On that same day the video for the single, produced by hit making duo, The Runners, will be shot in New York. News of the summer release of Jessica's debut album on Mercury Records will be announced in the months ahead.

You can catch the 15-year old Los Angeles-based Jessica Jarrell singer live this summer when she joins fellow Teen Island star Justin Bieber on his first headlining North American tour. - more on this story

The Niceguys Poke Fun at Hip Hop Cliches in New Video

The Niceguys have released their new video for the song "Not At All", the first single from their latest EP The Green Room. Filled with alcohol, girls, and even pyrotechnics, this video covers all the basic elements of a cliché hip-hop video. Luckily, The Niceguys are only poking fun at the mainstream, with over exaggerations of these clichés, clearly pointed out throughout the video. Free, one of two producers in self-contained Houston, Texas foursome, explains, "It's basically a satrical take on the art of making a hip hop video."

The concept of the video is satire, and like all good satire it's artfully done, as the song rightfully deserves. Although director Danny Ocean is clearly capable of making a mainstream hip-hop video, he chose, instead, to utilize his talents to make fun of them this time around. "I guess we wanted to show poeple that you can have fun and do you without compromising the quality of the product," says Ocean. "The beats will remain at a pristine level, and the lyrics will always amaze."

In fact, the video paints a perfect picture of what the whole song is about: making serious music, but having fun in doing so. Says Niceguys front-man, and Queens, New York native Yves Saint, "We are just poking fun at everyone who said I wasn't lyrical enough and those that act like its a crime to have fun, even if it's typical fun. People take themselves so seriously."
- watch it here

Justin Bieber, Chris Brown, Nicki Minaj and Trey Songz Battling for BET Fandemonium Award

BET Networks are getting the fans involved in the BET Awards for the first time with the announcement of the Fandemonium Award.

This award will debut at this year's BET AWARDS '10 on Sunday, June 27, 2010. Through a two-week promotion on 106 & PARK, followers of Justin Bieber, Chris Brown, Nicki Minaj and Trey Songz will undertake daily challenges to compete for their artist to win the award by partnering with the popular social aggregator, AOL Lifestream.

"Today's successful artists don't just make hits, they create movements where people can participate and connect with them in ways like never before. This award pays homage to the digitally engaged fans, and we're excited to partner with AOL to amplify our audience's voice at the BET AWARDS '10," said Denmark West, President of Digital at BET Networks. "Over the past year, BET has experienced tremendous growth across online and mobile platforms and this partnership fits perfectly with our strategy to be right at the pulse of entertainment culture and also drive it." - more on this story

Chip Wilson and Jesse Moore Side by Side

Chip Wilson and Jesse Moore's debut, Wilson & Moore: Side by Side will be released by Threadhead Records we assume next week given the events that have been announced, but the label provided no release date.

This CD presents the artistry of two New Orleans Musicians' Village neighbors, singer/songwriters Chip Wilson and Jesse Moore in their first musical collaboration.

Wilson & Moore teamed up with producer Anders Osborne at the renowned Piety Street Studios to record their unique blend of vocal harmonies, songwriting talents and Wilson's guitar wizardry. - more on this story

Sophia Fresh Enlists T-Pain For This Instant

Sophia Fresh has released a new video for her new single "This Instant" feat. Nappy Boy Commander T-Pain.

The video was shot in ATL and features a dance battle w/ Sophia Fres, T-Pain and the Nappy boy dancers. This made for the dancefloor track will be featured on the soundtrack to the upcoming summer 3D movie release "STEP UP 3D" premiering August 6.

The track is available now on iTunes and Amazon. Follow Sophia Fresh on twitter @SophiaFreshness. Watch the video now on - Myspace

Michael Feinstein's American Songbook Coming To PBS This Fall

PBS will premiere the three-part series Michael Feinstein's American Songbook on October 6th. The series, produced and directed by Amber Edwards of Hudson West Productions, embarks on a dynamic road trip through the glorious history of American song by the acclaimed musician and five-time Grammy-nominated vocalist.

Viewers accompany Feinstein on-stage and backstage, hear him interpret great standards, listen in on personal stories about the songwriters and entertainers he's known and worked with over three decades, and join him on his quest to find and preserve rare treasures of classic American music.

"When I first moved to Los Angeles," Feinstein says in the show, "I discovered that movie studios would throw away archives, music publishers would get rid of old arrangements, manuscripts would be discarded, and complete orchestrations for shows would be tossed out. Our musical heritage was literally disappearing because people didn't understand it was valuable to save it." - more on this story

West Fest Line-up Announced

This year's West Fest in Chicago's West Town will be held on Saturday, July 10th and Sunday, July 11th on Chicago Avenue between Damen and Wood, the annual two-day party features live cutting edge bands and DJs, Kid Fest, Pet Fest, an appearance by Miss Illinois and a multitude of vendors including popular neighborhood restaurants and retailers.

What makes this fest unique is that it's locally planned and managed by the West Town Chicago Chamber of Commerce, thus the emphasis is on "all-things local," from the food to the talent.

The Music: The biggest difference between West Fest and other cookie-cutter Chicago street festivals is the high quality music. West Fest is all about local artists playing original music on two stages. - more on this story