Film Critic Roger Ebert Dies

"So on this day of reflection I say again, thank you for going on this journey with me. I'll see you at the movies."

Deerhunter Singer Slams Morrissey

(Radio.com) In a freewheeling new interview with Buzzfeed, Deerhunter frotnman Bradford Cox took every opportunity to bash Morrissey and the Smiths, citing a letter a young Morrissey wrote to British music magazine Melody Maker back in 1976 bashing the Ramones as evidence.

"If I ever meet that guy…whatever!," Cox seethed in the interview. "He makes me want to wear fur. There are Smiths tunes that I find more acceptable than others, but I'd rather just not hear any of them. Frankly, all it took was that one criticism of The Ramones to permanently…you know, if you want to be on that side of the fence, cool.

"This is not an article about Morrissey, as much as he'd like it to be," the controversial Deerhunter frontman continued, "as much as I'm allowing him to permeate the air with his foul and fey musk. His weird, lethargic perfumes."

Even as the interviewer attempted to shift his questions towards the band's Fallon performance and stage shows, Cox took the opportunity to light into the former Smiths frontman yet again.

"So many people try to look so cool, like Morrissey, for example. Or he even refuses to go on TV because he can't control the world, like that Kimmel thing. Because he doesn't agree with someone else, everybody else has to accommodate him," he ranted, referencing the "Meat is Murder" singer famously cancelling a scheduled performance on Jimmy Kimmel Live! in protest of the show featuring the cast of Duck Dynasty on the same night. "God, Morrissey, honestly! The idea that you're so entitled." Here's not done!

Beyonce Debuts New Song in Pepsi Ad

(Radio.com) After teasing an announcement with her six-second #BeyHereNow clip on Wednesday, Beyonce has released new music, or at least a snippet of new material, in a commercial for Pepsi.

The minute-long ad, titled "Mirrors," shows Beyonce dancing in front of a mirror, soon joined by various past incarnations of herself, including wardrobes from Destiny's Child-era material and her solo music (see: "Crazy in Love," "Single Ladies"). Soon she's joined by an array of other past Bey looks before the mirrors shatter. "Embrace your past, but live for now," she says, referencing Pepsi's current advertising slogan.

"Mirrors" features a sample of Beyonce's upcoming single, titled "Grown Woman." According to Billboard, the single will debut in fill this Monday (April 8).

Her announcement comes on April 4, continuing a tradition of the singer's fascination with the number four. It's also the date of her five-year wedding anniversary with Jay-Z. Watch the video here.

Flaming Lips Making Album With Ke$ha

(Radio.com) Flaming Lips frontman and spokesman Wayne Coyne revealed his band is working on a new album with pop "badass" Kesha.

"She is a blast on all levels," exclaimed Coyne during a Reddit Ask Me Anything session. "She's funny, she's humble. She's badass. She's everything. She's awesome." Coyne revealed the album will be aptly titled Lip$ha.

This isn't the first time Coyne has joined forces with the colorfully dressed Tennessee-raised popster. In 2011 the band released The Flaming Lips and Heady Fwends in support of Record Store Day.

The album's opening track, titled "2012 (You Must Be Upgraded)" featured Ke$ha and rapper Biz Markie. During the making of the album, Coyne went so far as to include real blood in the pressing. Ke$ha was among those that donated the life-giving liquid.

During the session, Coyne was even asked if he still had any of her blood and if so, how glittery it is? His response

Rihanna 777 TV Special Preview Goes Online

(popmusiclife) A first look at a preview of a documentary on Rihanna's 777 tour has surfaced. The special will premiere Monday, May 6 (8:00-9:00 PM ET/PT) on FOX.

Set to premiere on US television this spring, the 1-hour special "Rihanna 777" gives viewers a behind-the-scenes look at the her globetrotting concert tour that hit seven countries in seven days with seven shows to promote her seventh album.

Filling a 777 jet with 256 die-hard fans and international journalists, Rihanna began a nonstop performance tour on November 14, 2012, traveling to Mexico City, Toronto, Stockholm, Paris, Berlin, London and New York City to promote her album, "Unapologetic."

The entire tour was documented by a film crew, offering fans performances of her greatest hits. The film also provides an inside look at the singer's ambitious and often turbulent tour, from the sound of popping champagne corks on the plane, to the backstage chaos, to the singer's special worldwide appearances. Check out the preview here.

Rick Ross Rape Lyrics Twitter Apology Not Accepted By Protesters

(Radio.com) A Twitter apology was not enough to quiet the controversy surrounding Rick Ross' latest lyrics, for which he has been accused of promoting rape.

Thursday (April 4), shortly after Ross tweeted a 69-character apology, a group of impassioned women and men gathered at Reebok's flagship store in New York City to protest the sneaker company's association with the rapper. Members of Ultra Violet, the event's organizer, were holding boxes labeled with the number "72,000″

"These are 72,000 petitions signed by our members all over the country," Shaunna Thomas, co-founder of Ultra Violet, told Radio.com. "They are also comments from people about why they feel Reebok needs to drop Rick Ross over his recent lyrics about drugging and raping a girl."

The crowd of approximately 40 people cheered on two speakers, including Wagatwe Wanjuki, who offered her testimonial as a rape victim; and Sonia Ossorio, president of NOW NYC, who slammed Ross for his whimsical take on the topic. more on this story

Justin Bieber Takes A Cue From Jay-Z

(Radio.com) Justin Bieber has had his ups and downs this year but in a cover story from the May issue of Teen Vogue, he said that he takes a cue from Jay-Z when dealing with press rumors and pot-stirrers.

"I know who I am, and I'm very much in control," he said. "I don't need to address every speculation. Remember when Cam'ron dissed Jay-Z? Jay-Z didn't even respond. Why didn't he respond? He didn't need to respond because he's Jay-Z."

He went on to explain that rather take things to Twitter to go after people who insult him, he thinks twice.

"I see so much stuff on the Internet, sometimes I just want to go to Twitter and just go after people," he said. "But then I just think twice: If someone is dissing me, I'm going to make this person way more famous by tweeting them." more on this story

Beyonce and Andre 3000's Winehouse Cover In New Gatsby Trailer

(Radio.com) Earlier this week it was revealed that Beyonce and OutKast's Andre 3000 teamed up again to cover Amy Winehouse's "Back to Black" for Baz Luhrmann's film adaptation of The Great Gatsby. Now fans can get an early listen to the moody cover, thanks to a new trailer released today (April 4).

"It's a very different take on 'Back to Black,'" an unnamed source from Interscope Records reportedly told E! of the cover. They weren't lying – Bey and Andre's take is dark, slow and nearly unrecognizable from Winehouse's original.

The nearly three-minute trailer also features haunting vocals from Florence + the Machine and Lana Del Rey, who both appear on the soundtrack with new songs.

As revealed today, Bey isn't the only A-list artist featured on the soundtrack. Her husband Jay-Z, an executive producer on the film and the man behind the soundtrack, wrote an original track "100$ Bill" for the film. There's also new music from will.i.am and the xx specifically penned for the summer blockbuster, as well as contributions from Fergie, Emeli Sande, Gotye and Jack White. Watch and listen to the trailer here.

Selena Gomez Previews Come & Get It Video

(popmusiclife) Selena Gomez has issued a preview of the video for her forthcoming single, "Come & Get It." The song will debut on Ryan Seacrest's radio show on Monday, April 8.

"Come & Get It" was written by Ester Dean and Stargate, who also produced the track; the song is the lead single from Gomez's next album, slated for release later this summer.

Selena will be performing the song at the MTV Movie Awards on Sunday, April 14.

"It is my first performance back as a musician, I'm so nervous!" Gomez recently told MTV News. "I think it's really cool, 'cause I got to take a year off of music and really be a part of great movies and work with great people, so I thought it would be perfect that I kind of go into music again through MTV and then the Movie Awards. So I thought it would be appropriate. I'm so stoked!" Check out the preview.

The Band Perry, Faith Hill Added To Tim McGraw TV Concert

(Radio.com) Tim McGraw sure knows how to ring in the summer. This Monday (April 8) he will be taping the TV special ACM Presents: Tim McGraw's Superstar Summer Night alongside wife Faith Hill, John Fogerty, The Band Perry and Florida Georgia Line with Nelly. The taping takes place at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas one day after the ACM Awards.

But that's not all. Previously announced performers Lady Antebellum, Jason Aldean, Dierks Bentley, Luke Bryan, Taylor Swift, Keith Urban, Ne-Yo and Pitbull will also be joining him on stage.

The two-hour show will benefit ACM Lifting Lives, an organization that McGraw is close with, which is dedicated to improving lives through the power of music.

McGraw has won 15 ACM Awards throughout his career, while Hill took home the coveted ACM Career Achievement Award in 2006. more on this story

New Kids On The Block Reflect On Prison Gigs

(Radio.com) Remember that time the New Kids On The Block smuggled cigarettes into a prison? They do. And so, we assume, do those lucky gentlemen who requested – and received – a visit from the now classic boy band during the peak of their popularity in the late '80s/early '90s. There's no telling what stories and favors were shared over the gifts received from Danny, Donny, Jordan, Jonathan and Joey. If only the bars could talk.

When the New Kids sat down with Kim Berk at Fresh 102.7/NYC, they told their story about the strangest place they've ever been asked to perform. "Prison," said Donny Wahlberg confidently. "Mens," he clarified.

"We turned it out too.. we rocked it out," said Joey McIntyre. "Back in the day when we first got together… you kind of take whatever you can get. But we honestly always had a good spirit about it, and the prisons were… there were two!"

"Three shows in two prisons," Donny joined in.

"We smuggled cigarettes in on one of them and threw them out into the crowd," continued Joey. "That's how we won that crowd over. Nowadays we would have never been able to do that." more on this story

3OH!3 To Guest Host Weekend Top 30

3OH!3 fans are advised to tune into Weekend Top 30 this weekend as the group will filling in for in for host Hollywood Hamilton on April 6 and 7.

Sean Foreman and Nathaniel Motte will count down the top 30 songs, discuss their fourth studio album Omens, which is set for release June 18, and share personal, humorous stories about music, life, touring and fans.

3OH!3 is best known for their hit singles "Don't Trust Me," "Starstrukk" (featuring Katy Perry) and "My First Kiss" (featuring Kesha).

M83's Anthony Gonzalez Discusses Scoring Tom Cruise Movie

(Radio.com) After moving to Los Angeles to pursue his dream of soundtrack work, M83's Anthony Gonzalez finally scored… big. With the success of six albums under his belt, Gonzalez was tapped by director Joseph Kosinski to set the musical tone for Oblivion, the big budget sci-fi flick starring Tom Cruise, which opens April 19.

"I've wanted to do soundtracks for so long, and starting with such an ambitious project, especially in the sci-fi category, means a lot to me," he told The Playlist last summer. "My vision is really to have a combination of very electronic moments, very M83, and sometimes merge into something more soundtrack-y, but my kind of soundtracks."

Speaking of the challenge, Gonzalez said, "I like challenges and it excites me more than frightens me." He went on to explain that he can't wait to hear his music played by amazing musicians, and an orchestra and brass and choir. "It's a chance to create something big and I'm ready for it," he added.

According to Kosinkski, he was listening to M83 while he was conceiving Oblivion. Speaking about the small cast and film's multitude of emotions, Kosinski said "[Gonzalez's] music is able to capture all those different feelings and qualities simultaneously." more on this story

.fun Popup For One Night Exhibit

(Radio.com) 2012 was, by any measure, a massive success for fun. While last year was marked with huge TV appearances and red carpets, so far 2013 is shaping up to be the band's year of touring. Starting in July, they'll be on the road with special guests Tegan & Sara through October.

Between now and then, the guys seem to be getting some well-deserved time off to relax. February 2013 was a big month, with their first-ever GRAMMY appearance and multiple nominations that culminated in a Song of the Year win for "We Are Young." Just before that landmark event, on February 2, the guys stopped off in their hometown of New York City for another historic event: their first headlining show at Radio City Music Hall.

The band's longtime friend (and guitarist Jack Antonoff's former bandmate in Steel Train) Daniel Silbert documented the gig, from backstage to the view you never get from behind the stage, in photographs. He's curated them into an exhibit of 17 photos, in a pop up gallery on New York City's Lower East Side, for an exhibit called "One Night."

"Its interesting because even bands that can sell out Madison Square Garden or stadiums — there's just this different vibe when you play Radio City," Silbert said in an interview with Radio.com. "You could tell that it was a special day." more on this story

OneRepublic Aim For Specific Fans With Their New Album

(Radio.com) OneRepublic's new album, Native, is a hit with the general public so far–landing in the top 5 on this week's Billboard 200 chart–but the band was actually going for a very specific demographic with this record.

Ryan Tedder admitted to Radio.com that they picked "If I Lose Myself" as their first single because of the reaction it got from a bunch of dudes in their early twenties. Their engineer, without the band knowing, had played the song for his friends who thought the song was really good.

"That's kind of a good test for bands," Tedder explained. "If you can get guys in their early twenties to believe in something, and to be like, 'Yeah, I'd get that or I'd go to see that'…it's not lame."

Some bands say they just want fans and don't care who they are, but Tedder said when he looks out into the crowd he wants to see men and women. The singer said male fans tend to stick around if you hook them in when they're young. "If a guy likes a band at 15 or 18 or 21, when he's 31 he'll go see them again," he said.

For Tedder it was important that OneRepublic expand their sound with their third album and try to earn new fans. To him, it's the bands that keep pushing the boundaries that have long, prosperous careers. more on this story

Kacey Musgraves' Hit Merry Go 'Round Video Was Only A Placeholder

(Radio.com) "Okay, it's a funny story about the video," Kacey Musgraves said with a smile. "We just wanted something to put out on YouTube."

The country singer told Radio.com that the music video for her first single "Merry Go 'Round," off her recent chart-topping album, Same Trailer Different Park, was really just a first draft. Made using stock footage and an iPhone, it was meant to be a placeholder until they found time (and money) to shoot an 'official' video.

So imagine Musgraves' surprise when she found out that she was nominated not once, but twice (as both producer and artist) for Video Of The Year at this year's Academy of Country Music Awards.

"I actually made it with a friend in his kitchen one day," she said. "The footage of me we just shot on an iPhone…we just went out to the backyard and filmed some stuff and put it together piece by piece."

Musgraves added, "I had no idea that that would be the actual video and we just ran with it and people just ended up liking it. It's a little different than you're typical glamorized video or whatever and I think that's kind of fun."

The video also features a cameo from her dog along with some old stock footage and home videos that Musgraves and her friend, director Perry Bean, found online. All of which help represent the small town themes that fill the album. She said the song itself was actually about growing up in a small town in Texas. more on this story

Thompson Square Reflect on First ACM Award Win

(Radio.com) Nominated for Vocal Duo of the Year by the Academy of Country Music for the second year in a row, Keifer and Shawna Thompson of Thompson Square have much to celebrate.

Radio.com sat down with the couple recently and learned what it was like for them to win their first ACM Award last year–and what advice they have for current nominees.

"One thing we were told early on being on a small label was that we would never win anything," Keifer explained.

That all changed for the duo last year when they accepted their first ACM for Vocal Duo of the Year. But while Keifer and Shawna are grateful for the win, they said it's not something that motivates them. "It's not the awards that drives what we do. It's the music and the fans and the experience," Keifer said.

"The awards are just the cherry on top," Shawna added. more on this story

Put Your 'Pom Poms' Down For The Jonas Brothers

(Radio.com) The Jonas Brothers are all grown up and they're really interested in the ladies. But this time around, they're not talking about puppy love and school crushes – they're getting down to business.

On "Pom Poms," the first single from the band's upcoming fifth album, Kevin, Joe and not-so little Nick are getting a bit cheeky, singing, "Love it when your hands are free/Put your pom poms down for me."

The video for the horn-laden soul single features a gospel choir, a dancing brass section, some nice church folk and the line, "Want you like a kid wants a milkshake." Way to one-up 50 Cent's stellar sentiment of adoration, "I love you like a fat kid loves cake."

"And I won't let it go to waste, " Joe suggestively sings. "If I get a taste, I'm gonna drink the whole thing." more on this story

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