Justin Bieber The Target Of A Bizarre Murder Plot

Martin is serving two life sentences for raping and killing a 15-year-old girl and is reportedly obsessed with Bieber and has tattoo of the pop star on his leg, according to KRQE. It was Martin who tipped off police about the murder plot, which led to a Staake and Ruane's arrest in New York. Read the TV station's report for more details.

L.A. Reid Leaving The X Factor

L.A. Reid will not be returning as a judge for the next season of The X Factor, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

The trade paper reports that Reid will return his focus on his duties as the chairman of Epic Records.

"I have the utmost respect for Simon Cowell," Reid said Thursday. "He is the very best, and I have had the opportunity to learn so much from him. Working with him on X Factor has been a once-in-a-lifetime experience. I'm honored to have sat on the panel with such incredible talent." Read the report for more details.

Carly Rae Jepson's 'Call Me Maybe' The Most Watched Video of 2012

Vevo have revealed that Carly Rae Jepson's "Call Me Maybe" was the most viewed music videos on their service in 2012.

The online video service released their Top 10 list this week with Jepson's summer hit coming out on top. "Call Me Maybe" spent nine weeks at number one on the Billboard Hot 100, and its official music video delivered over 360 million views across VEVO.

One Direction's "What Makes You Beautiful" came in second place, while Jennifer Lopez's "Dance Again" and Justin Bieber's "Boyfriend" also made the top 5. You can see the complete Top 10 list here.

Rihanna, Kelly Clarkson, Bruno Mars and The Killers For The Voice Finale

Rihanna, Kelly Clarkson, Bruno Mars and The Killers will all perform on the season finale of "The Voice."

The finale is set to air live next Tuesday, December 18 at 8 p.m. on NBC where a winner for this season the singing competition will be named.

According to TheWrap.com, Rihanna will perform her song "Diamonds," Clarkson will perform "Catch My Breath," The Killers will play "Runaways," and Mars will debut his song "When I Was Your Man" during the program.

Adele, Taylor Swift and Carly Rae Jepsen Lead iTunes Best of 2012 List

Apple's iTunes service revealed several top 5 lists for 2012 including the top songs and albums of the year.

Adele's 21 was the top album of 2012, followed by Taylor Swift's "Red," Mumford & Sons' "Babel," One Direction's "Up All Night," and ,fun's "Some Nights."

Carly Rae Jepsen scored the top song honors with her "Call Me Maybe." The song list also included Gotye's "Somebody That I Used to Know," .fun's "We Are Young" and Nicki Minaj's "Starships."

You can see the other Best of 2012 iTunes charts here.

Wiz Khalifa Day in Pittsburgh Sparks Controversy

Wednesday was declared Wiz Khalifa day in Pittsburgh, but not everyone was excited that the local rapper was being honored with his own day.

His unabashed endorsement of marijuana, including the DOPE hat he wore to City Hall, has some saying, maybe he's not the symbol the city should be endorsing.

NewsRadio 1020 KDKA's Mike Pintek spoke to Khalifa's DJ Bonics about the controversy. Listen to what he had to say here.

Adele, Taylor Swift and Keith Urban Nominated For Golden Globe Award

The Hollywood Foreign Press announced the nominees for the the 70th Golden Globe Awards on Thursday.

Steven Spielberg's film "Lincoln" is the top contender this year, earning a total of seven nominations.

In the Best Original Song category nominees include Adele's Bond theme "Skyfall," Taylor Swift's "Safe & Sound" from The Hunger Games soundtrack, Jon Bon Jovi's "Not Running Anymore" from Stand Up Guys, and Keith Urban's "For You" from Act Of Valor. You can view the full list of nominees here.

The Lumineers Shocked By Grammy Nomination

The Lumineers recently received two Grammy nominations, as Best New Artist and Best Americana Album. Before their set at KROQ's Almost Acoustic Christmasthey revealed that they didn't see the recognition coming.

Bandmate Jeremiah Fraites is still shocked. "We had no idea. We found out we were going two days before we even went," he admitted.

Meanwhile, Wesley recalled the days no one knew who they were. "We've played in front of rooms where nobody knows us. It's only up until recently that we've played for people who know anything about us," he said. more on this story

Rick Ross and John Legend Face Stiff Oscar Competition

Rick Ross, John Legend and Anthony Hamilton have been shortlisted for Best Original Song Oscar Nominations. While this increases their chances, the list is not so short.

Rick Ross' "100 Black Coffins"; John Legend's "Who Did That to You?"; Anthony Hamilton's "Freedom"; and Elisa Toffoli's "Ancora Qui" give the soundtrack to Quentin Tarantino's Django Unchained four chances to snag a nod.

But while it is called a "short list," there are seventy-five songs up for consideration, including Katy Perry's "Wide Awake" (Katy Perry: Part of Me) Adele's "Skyfall" (Skyfall); and the Black Keys' "Baddest Man Alive" from RZA's Man With The Iron Fists. more on this story

Stars Plan North American Spring Tour

Stars have added a North American spring tour to their current tour plans in support of their latest album, The North.

The tour will kick off on March 5th in Burlington, VT and will conclude on April 6th in Vancouver, BC.

The band kicked off a run of European dates this week and before the North American trek they will play a series of winter dates in Asia and Australia. more on this story

Norah Jones Tributes Her Late Father Ravi Shankar

Norah Jones has made her first public statement about the death of her father, sitar legend Ravi Shankar, who died this week at the age of 92.

"My Dad's music touched millions of people," she said in a short statement released by her record label. "He will be greatly missed by me and music lovers everywhere."

Jones also posted a video clip on her Facebook page with the caption, "Here are some great clips of my Dad playing the Sitar for anyone who never saw him perform live. He's 51 in the first clip and 92 in the second clip, and an inspiration in both. I love you and miss you, Pops." Watch the clip here.

One Direction Interviewed For Barbara Walters' Most Fascinating People

(popmusiclife) One Direction were featured on Barbara Walters' annual special featuring the 10 Most Fascinating People of the year.

Walters spoke about how the group was formed from the UK version of The X Factor, and spoke to the guys about the incredible success they've had in just two short years.

"It's amazing and we can't believe all the success and stuff that we've had so far," said Liam Payne. "It's just been a mad, wild ride really." Watch the interview here.

Tony Bennett Releasing American Songbook Classics Collection

Concord Records have set a February 5, 2013 release date for As Time Goes By: Great American Songbook Classics by Tony Bennett. We were sent these details:

In the post-WWII era of American popular music, Tony Bennett rapidly emerged as one of the most distinct and popular voices on the landscape, due in large part to a versatile and dynamic style that has enabled him to sing pop standards, jazz, show tunes and just about any other genre that has emerged in the span of his six-decade career. Indeed, any discussion of the Great American Songbook — however it may be defined — will inevitably lead to Tony Bennett.

The set showcases Bennett's unique interpretations of timeless songs by some of the most legendary of American composers: Cole Porter, Duke Ellington, Rodgers and Hart, Henry Mancini, and many others. more on this story

A Tribe Called Red Giving Away New EP

A Tribe Called Red are giving fans a free download of their new 5-song EP, which is entitled Trap Line.

The Trap Line EP takes the emerging urban-club sound of trap music while cleverly referencing the tradition of "trapping" within Aboriginal communities. A 'trap line' is the term that describes the use of the same trap location over generations by a single family. The "Trap Line" EP showcases A Tribe Called Red's skills as dance music producers and helps capture the energy of their live shows. The artwork was created by Canadian graffiti artist and graphic designer Peru Dyer Jalea.

The EP is available now as a free download and will be A Tribe Called Red's final release for 2012 before going back on the road and officially releasing their sophomore full-length album in 2013. Stream and Download it here.

Tim McGraw Discusses Forthcoming Album

Tim McGraw has revealed some details about his forthcoming album, "Two Lanes Of Freedom," which will be released on February 5, 2013.

"I feel like I've progressed in my work, and I've always strived to get better," says McGraw. "On my last album, I was discovering some new sounds and new things that I wanted to do, scratching the surface of the direction I wanted to head. This album was a way to reach a little further back, to all that I'd done throughout my career, and bring both sides together—it's a combination of that discovery, along with some rediscovery."

"When we cut 'Two Lanes of Freedom,' there was such a freshness to it," he says of the album's title song. "The track has this sort of Gaelic drive to it and really sets a palette for the whole record because it's so visual—it has that summery, hazy image and I think that made the whole record open up for me." more on this story

Lady Antebellum Release 'Need You Now' Video From New DVD

Eagle Rock are giving fans an early look at "Need You Now" from Lady Antebellum's Own The Night World Tour DVD, Blu-ray, and Digital Video.

Filmed in June of 2012, the concert features the Nashville-based band—Hillary Scott, Charles Kelley and Dave Haywood—complete with documentary footage of the tour and seven additional bonus tracks.

Lady Antebellum's headlining tour traveled across the US, Canada, Europe and Australia, where the Grammy winning trio was welcomed by over one million fans in 11 countries on three continents. Lady A sold out shows in top markets including Los Angeles, Chicago, two nights in New York City, Toronto, London, three nights at Sydney's Opera House and even had a chance to open a sold out show at London's Hard Rock Calling for one of their idols Bruce Springsteen.

The concept for the stage was simply sketched out on a paper plate while out on tour the summer of 2011 and evolved into one of the trio's proudest accomplishments as a band.

Before taking the show overseas, Lady Antebellum celebrated the final weekend of the North American leg by documenting the show from Little Rock, AR.

The 90-minute performance includes #1 hits "I Run To You," "We Owned The Night," "American Honey," "Just A Kiss," "Our Kind of Love," and, of course, the greatest selling country single of all time, "Need You Now." Among the performances are documentary excerpts depicting their lives as songwriters, musicians, and close friends. Watch the clip of Need You Now here.

Jason Aldean's Night Train Goes Platinum

Jason Aldean's latest album, Night Train, has received Platinum certification for sales of a million copies in the U.S.

The album earned the platinum status officially just four weeks after its October 16th release, according to The GreenRoom. The album also debuted at No. one on the Billboard Top 200 the week after release.

Aldean also announced that he will join the New Years Rockin' Eve 2013 lineup that includes Justin Bieber, Taylor Swift and Psy to ring in the New Year with a three song performance during the special which airs Mon., Dec 31 beginning at 10:00pm ET on ABC. more on this story

Carole King To Be Awarded The Gershwin Prize

The Library of Congress plan to award Carole King the 2013 Gershwin Prize for Popular Song.

The Library of Congress sent over these details: The iconic singer-songwriter, known for such beloved hits as "You've Got a Friend," "So Far Away," "(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman" and "I Feel the Earth Move," will receive the prize in Washington, D.C., in the spring of 2013. She will be feted with a series of events, including an honoree's luncheon and musical performance in the Library of Congress's historic Coolidge Auditorium.

The prize honors the lifetime achievement of artists whose work exemplifies the standard of excellence associated with towering songwriters George and Ira Gershwin. King joins prior recipients Paul Simon, Stevie Wonder, Sir Paul McCartney and songwriting duo Burt Bacharach and Hal David in receiving the honor. more on this story

No Doubt Reveal Member Stinks

Right before No Doubt graced the stage on night two of the 23rd Annual KROQ Almost Acoustic Christmas, the surprise guests sat down to talk about the downside of sharing a dressing room. Especially when one of the members isn't feeling so fresh.

Usually the four bandmates are able to have their own space, but in the name of Christmas, Gwen and the guys offered to share one dressing room. Naturally, they chose Gwen's artfully decorated lair, but the close quarters were causing some problems for the usually agreeable band.

"We usually don't have to talk," Tony Kanal joked. "This is bad. We've been fighting the whole day."

To make matters worse, Gwen noted that a certain drummer's sickness was making things especially rough. "Adrian looks like he smells good," she said. "But when you get close wooo." Watch the video interview here.

Kate Earl Shares Her Favorite Christmas Song

The Alaska native knows a thing or two about cold weather. Though Kate Earl has moved from Alaska to California she still shares a love for her Alaskan roots.

While in town promoting her new release Stronger, Kate revealed her favorite holiday tune is "Baby It's Cold Outside."

"I believe there's a version with Dean Martin. I really like that one," she said. But there is also another cover she's fond of. Find out which one here.

Lianne La Havas Plans North American Headline Tour

Lianne La Havas will be launching a North American headline tour on Saint Patrick's Day in Dallas, Tx.

The tour will feature 18 concerts in cities including New York, Los Angeles, Dallas, Seattle, Chicago, and Nashville.

The dates are in support of her debut album Is Your Love Big Enough?, which was roduced by Matt Hales (Aqualung), the album was recorded in Los Angeles and Brooklyn during the summer of 2011. more on this story

Christmas 4 Kids Announce Annual Tour Bus Show

Christmas 4 Kids have announced their third fundraising event of the year in their goal to spread holiday cheer to hundreds of underprivileged children throughout Middle Tennessee.

The Annual Tour Bus Show and Artist Meet & Greet will be held on Monday, December 17, at the Hendersonville Wal-Mart located at 204 North Anderson Lane from 5:00 PM – 9:00 PM.

For a small donation (ticket information below), fans can visit the tour buses of more than fifty artists and celebrities as well as meet artists who will be present signing autographs and giving fans an inside look at their mobile home-away-from-home. All proceeds from the event will go to Christmas 4 Kids, a not-for-profit organization that has been in existence for over 25 years and provides underprivileged children with the funds to shop and purchase Christmas gifts for family and loved ones – something most have never had the opportunity to do before. more on this story

Wanda Jackson, Merle Haggard and George Jones Compilations Coming

(Conqueroo) Omnivore Recordings will release definitive compilations by Wanda Jackson, Merle Haggard and George Jones on February 12, 2013.

Having released musical appetizers in the form of ten-inch vinyl EPs on Record Store Day's Back to Black Friday, Omnivore will serve the main course on compact disc in the form of Merle Haggard's The Complete '60s Capitol Singles, George Jones' The Complete United Artists Solo Singles, and Wanda Jackson's The Best of the Classic Capitol Singles. All three compilations feature A & B sides from the artists' most influential years. The vinyl EPs were companion pieces, containing rarities not found on the CDs.

Wanda Jackson's The Best of the Classic Capitol Singles contains 29 songs from her Capitol stint, which began in 1956. Each was taken from the original analog mono 45-rpm masters. Idolized by three generations of rockers, the Queen of Rockabilly made musical side-trips into country and gospel. For every A-side rave-up like "Mean Mean Man" or "Fujiyama Mama," she offers B sides of equal intrigue: a weeper like "(Every Time They Play) Our Song" or the hillbilly tragedy of "No Wedding Bells for Joe." She tore through songs that Elvis sang, and also drew from the jazz greats, R&B legends, doo-woppers and the Nashville hit machine. And she made each song her own. more on this story

One Direction Taking Camryn Back On The Road

One Direction has once again recruited Camryn to be their opening act, this time for their 2013 European tour.

The sold out 63-date trek will begin Saturday February 23rd at London's 02 Arena and continue through May.

The tour will mark Camryn's second run with One Direction, the first being on the band's 2012 US "Up All Night" tour. more on this story