Jennifer Lopez Sparks Controversy After Performing For Dictator

Lopez is among the few who will engage with Turkmenistan. She is thought to be the first pop star to visit the oppressed country. As Gawker pointed out, Lopez's choreographer tweeted, and has since deleted, their arrival on June 28 to no reply. The Internet and social media are heavily controlled and Twitter is actually banned in the country. more on this story

Kanye West Changes His Tune About Radio?

(Radio.com) At Governors Ball last month, Kanye West railed against the politics of promoting a new album. He specifically addressed the belief that artists need to have hit radio singles. Letting the crowd know, it was his choice to keep Yeezus off the airwaves.

"Honestly, when I listen to radio, that ain't where I wanna be no more," he said. "Honestly, at this point, I could give a f*** about selling a million records as long as I put out an album this summer that y'all can rock to all motherf***ing summer."

But it seems he's changed his mind about the whole radio promotion thing. According to Def Jam (via Billboard), "Black Skinhead" has been cleaned up and sent off to radio stations around the country. They also confirmed that a video for the song, which Kanye performed on SNL back in May, is in the works.

Jason Kidd, the Program Director at WPGC 95.5 in Washington, D.C. (a Radio.com station), told us that his station has received the edited version of the song already.

Until now, Kanye had been taking the unconventional route to promoting his latest album, which included a worldwide art project and a viral video parodying American Psycho that featured his girlfriend, Kim's Keeping Up With The Kardashian mainstays Scott Disick and Jonathan Cheban. more on this story

Taylor Swift Lyrics Get Feminist Makeover

(Radio.com) For those who feel Taylor Swift's lyrics are a little antiquated in their view of romance, a new Twitter handle is giving them a feminist upgrade. Going by the name FeministTaylorSwift (@feministtswift), the parody account started re-writing some of the singer's biggest songs on June 12th.

In just 20 days, the account (whose photo is Swift done up like Rosie The Riveter) has posted 184 tweets that attempt to break the glass ceiling by redefining a few pop songs. With nearly 111,000 followers at press time, the account seems to have struck a chord.

No longer is "Love Story" about a girl pining for a guy. Instead it's about a woman finding her own strength. One tweet reads, "You were Romeo, you were throwin' pebbles / And my daddy said "Stay away from Juliet" / But I'm a grown woman who can make her own decisions"

A new version of "Today Was A Fairytale" plays with the idea of happily ever after. " Today was a fairytale / You were the prince / I was a beautiful submissive girl with no personality / It was kind of a terrible day actually" See how 22 was tweaked and more.

Travis Release 'Moving' Music Video

(BH) Travis have released a music video for the song "Moving," which is the first single from the group's forthcoming studio album "Where You Stand."

"Where You Stand" makes the return of Travis following a five year hiatus and will be released on August 20th. You can watch the new music video for "Moving" here.

As we previously report, the new album was produced by Michael Ilbert who recorded the album on the same sound desk that was used on both "The Man Who" and Radiohead's "Ok Computer."

The album was written and recorded across London, Norway, New York and Berlin's legendary Hansa Studios and the band had the following to say about the end of their hiatus and return to making music, "When you're in a band, you're in a band forever - its a life thing," reasons lead singer Fran Healy. "For me it's family."

"It's a lovely life," reflects bassist Dougie Payne, "but when you do it relentlessly, there's a point when it snaps you. We decided to take a break to spend time with our families. You stay away as long as it takes" he says of the well-judged fallow period "so you feel that hunger and desire to get back to it same as you did at the start."

The band will also be making their live return this summer and have announced the initial dates from the globe spanning trek that will kick off in July and include performances at T In The Park and the V Festival (UK), plus shows across Europe, Russia and a North American headlining tour that begins September 19th in Philadelphia. more on this story

New Kids On The Block's Joey McIntyre Says Guilty Pleasures Are Over

(Radio.com) "I think the term "guilty pleasure" is a bygone term, if you ask me," New Kids On The Block's Joey McIntyre proclaimed when asked about the most embarrassing song to be found on his iPhone during our MIX 105.1 All Access Press Conference with NKOTB.

McIntyre went on to explain that with the current advanced availability of all music, we've learned to celebrate music which might have at one time been thought of as a "guilty pleasure." And to some people, that just may include the music of NKOTB.

"It might be because sometimes people feel like New Kids might be a guilty pleasure. It's just a term. But I don't see any reason to feel guilty about loving any kind of music if that's what you love."

And what was the "most embarrassing song" he was able to find on his iPhone? "Celine Dion…how do you like that," McIntyre announced proudly. "That girl can sing her butt off so I don't care what anybody says. And I'll punch my chest like her any day!" And he did. Take a look

Booty On Tha Floor Charity Single Tops Radio Download Chart

"Booty On Tha Floor," the charity single from Marc Mysterio featuring Flo Rida, has topped Play MPE's Adult Contemporary Download Top 10 list (dated July 1st.)

As we previously reported, the track was released as a charity single which will benefit the victims and the families of the Boston Marathon terrorist bombings.

The song actually took the two top spots on the list with the radio vocal mix claiming the top spot and the DJ from Mars remix claiming the second spot.

The track is followed by Michael Williams' "If We Had Your Eyes" at No. 3, Gavin DeGraw's "Beat I Ever Had" at No. 4, Vapor's "No More Hurting People" at No. 5, Britney Spears' "Ooh La La" (Radio edit) at No. 6, Cher's comeback single "Woman's World" at No 7, Backstreet Boys' "In A World Like This" at No. 7, Britney Spears "Ooh La La" (main mix) at No 9 and Jimmy White's "Michaela" rounds out the list at No. 10.

Performances The Big Winner At The BET Awards

(Radio.com) Performers outnumbered awards at Sunday's BET Awards, which was jam-packed with everyone from Mariah Carey to Chris Brown with Nicki Minaj to R. Kelly to JT and many more.

Chris Brown opened the show with a medley including "Fine China," "Don't Think They Know" (his Aaliyah tribute) and a surprise duet with Nicki Minaj on "Love More."

Riffing off the promoted hashtag #AnythingCanHappen, up-and-comers Kendrick Lamar and Miguel were two of the night's top winners and each took the stage three times to perform breakout hits.

-Dot took home two of the night's biggest awards, Best Male Hip Hop Artist and Best New Artist Award, but missed his acceptance speech for the latter as he was preparing to perform his breakout hit "B***h, Don't Kill My Vibe," which literally exploded on stage with a pyrotechnics show and a guest appearance by Erykah Badu.

The rapper got a chance to speak out to fans while accepting the Best Male Hip Hop Artist Award, where he reflected on his underprivileged upbringing and encouraged viewers to reach for their dreams.

"This is proof that you can do anything you put your mind to," he said. "If you keep love, god, respect and hard work in your heart, you can do anything you want in your life" More.

Jennifer Nettles Covering 80s Rock Ballad On Her Solo Debut

(Radio.com) A couple of weeks ago, Black Sabbath's reunion album, 13–produced by Rick Rubin–topped the album charts. The following week, it was knocked out of the top spot by Kanye West's Yeezus, which was executive-produced by, yes, Rubin.

As a producer, label executive, and cofounder of Def Jam Recordings, the famously bearded and often-barefoot Rubin has been a massive force in popular music over the past few decades. And with a resume that includes albums by the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Weezer, LL Cool J, Slayer, and the Dixie Chicks–not to mention Neil Diamond and Johnny Cash–Rubin seems able to work with artists in any genre.

During a recent interview with The Daily Beast, he talked about some of his recent, past, and future projects where we learn that Jennifer Nettles is covering an '80s classic on her upcoming solo debut.

Rubin is producing the first solo album from the Sugarland frontwoman. The Daily Beast's Andrew Romano reported that while he was in the studio, Rubin was adding horns to a track from the record. "The song," he writes, "is a cover of an underappreciated 1980s classic-rock ballad (I'm not allowed to disclose which), and it sounds incredible." He also made some revelations about other artists.

Jason Aldean Remembers His First Time (On Radio)

(Radio.com) Jason Aldean may be headlining stadiums this summer, but the "Night Train" and "My Kinda Party" star still vividly remembers the first time he heard one of his songs on the radio.

"I was going to a friend of mine's house," Aldean recalled during a Radio.com interview this spring in Nashville. "I stopped by the grocery store, and right about the time I went to get out of the car, I heard the kickdrum of the intro to 'Hicktown' come on the radio. I was excited, man. I jumped back in the car, shut the door, and just drove around the parking lot a little bit."

He remembers hesitating for a second, though, thinking that if people noticed that he was driving around the parking lot listening to his own song, that might be "kind of weird."

But he quickly also realized that fear was unrealistic. "I was a new artist," he said smiling, "so nobody knew who I was anyway. So it really didn't matter."

Released in 2005 and appearing on Aldean's self-titled debut album, "Hicktown" was the country superstar's first Top Ten hit. more on this story

Pink Releases True Love Video

(Radio.com) Some songwriters choose to make up characters or take inspiration from other peoples' lives. Pink and Lily Allen, however, aren't afraid to mine their own. Their songs are well known for their unvarnished nature, offering a true-life point of view on their own lives and the world as they see it.

When the two artists teamed up with GRAMMY-nominated songwriter Greg Kurstin (Kelly Clarkson, Ke$ha — but also a longtime collaborator with Pink and Allen), the result was a song that blends both the positive and negative elements of "True Love."

"Sometimes I hate every single stupid word you say," P!nk sings at the start of the song. But at the same time, she continues, "there's no one quite like you…I know life would suck without you."

Now that song has a video, in which P!nk gives us a look at her life with longtime partner Carey Hart.

The video opens on an intimate family moment featuring P!nk, Hart and their daughter Willow enjoying family playtime. The rest of the footage includes a mix of P!nk performing live, shots of her singing the song into the mirror, and a series of pop-ups done in the Pop art style of Roy Lichtenstein that feature herself or Hart acting out moments from the song.

Allen makes her first appearance in years when she cameos in the video. She sings her part of the song while angerly chopping veggies for a shake, another running joke that bookends the "healthy family" narrative in the video. Check it out here.

Ciara and Nicki Minaj Release 'I'm Out' Video

(Radio.com) Ciara is out with the break-up anthem of the 2013 and, smartly, she got Nicki Minaj to do the intro verse — Roman style. The duo released a video for the track, "I'm Out," yesterday (July 1) that opens with them together in an all-white, space ship-like environment, while they both wear skin-tight white bodysuits.

"Now which b**** run it? Cuz that b**** get it," is among the tamer rhymes Minaj drops, but it captures the tone of the whole song and video. When Ciara and Minaj make direct eye contact with the camera, staring it down while they pop and thrust, the viewer quickly gets the point of who runs things.

The prolonged and direct eye contact is unusual and creates a powerful image of two women not backing down, even while they are moving in sexually suggestive ways.

The video both subverts and courts the male gaze throughout with this same brazen tone, which is the ideal compliment to the song. Directed by Hannah Lux Davis (Lil Wayne, Cher Lloyd), the visuals flow along with the music in the same vein as Beyoncé "Single Ladies."

It's a celebration of a break up that chastises the idiot who left, while flaunting the assets that will make him sorry he did it. It's an especially female-friendly look, with the second act, after Ciara and Minaj together, featuring Ciara in a crowd of girlfriends with one male dancer who is dressed in an outfit that gives the visual cues that he's also a "girlfriend." more on this story

Singled Out: Yves Jean's Last Forever

Today Yves Jean tells us about the song "Last Forever" which is the latest single from his studio album, "Hope for the Best... But Expect Nothing". Here is the story:

"Last Forever" was one of those songs that was created by accident. It was 11:15pm, on a Thursday night. I was working at a bar as a bouncer and just finished breaking up a fight where I had to manhandle some rowdy patrons. I needed something to counter-balance the negative energy I just experienced.

Music has always been my salvation. I had my iPod connected to my earpiece and the instrumental version of the song "Last Forever" came up on my shuffle. I wrote the instrumental version of the song, kicking around for weeks--I had no idea what the theme or lyrics would be about. The song itself was rooted with an upbeat West Indian (Haitian) feel and pop rock chorus. I didn't want to make the song overly cheesy and happy. I considered that to be an easy way out in regards to songwriting. I truly wanted to have sad lyrics to contradict the happy feel of the music.

Haitian themed music has a dismal and sarcastic lyrical base, with the composition of the song being upbeat. I could have easily written lyrics about the fight at the bar. Although I knew it would not connect with a worldwide audience. I needed lyrics that came across universally. What subject is the best to get inspired for sad lyrics? Relationships. Everyone can relate to an unjustified, broken heart, when you put your best effort into something you love. Within a minute, the lyrics came to me instantly; "Jumping up and down I was beside myself..." I didn't care to even rhyme. I wanted to get the thoughts down on paper quickly. I thought of all the relationships over the years that went wrong in my life with females. I created one long scenario, rather than a bunch of verses to create stories. The song has both an optimistic and pessimistic approach to it. I'm truly happy for how it came out. However, I ended up losing my job as a bouncer because I was listening to music. I'd say that was the best choice I made to keep the earpiece in my ears that night!

Hearing is believing. Now that you know the story behind the song, listen for yourself and check out the video here and learn more about the album right here!

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