Pharrell Takes will.i.am Dispute To Court

Pharrell, for his part, said he was disappointed by the way will.i.am handled the case. Pharrell's lawyers issued a statement, following the denial by will.i.am, saying the Black Eyed Pea's team "obstructed every overture made by Pharrell to amicably resolve this matter and has steadfastly refused to engage in a dialogue." more on this story

Samsung Give Jay-Z Instant Platinum Album

(Radio.com) Jay-Z's upcoming Magna Carta Holy Grail isn't even out yet and it's already gone platinum. It's no surprise the rapper has pulled off another guaranteed hit, with every effort in his catalog holding platinum or multi-platinum status, but the Recording Industry Association of America's (RIAA) decision to change their certification rules in light of special circumstances surrounding Magna Carta Holy Grail is unprecedented.

Traditionally, an album cannot gain gold or platinum certification status for digital sales until 30 days after it is released. However, Jay-Z has already penned a deal with Samsung, who bought one million copies of the album ahead of its release to offer to Samsung Galaxy users for free.

While the 30-day waiting period is still applicable to physical releases, the RIAA is eager to update their system to accommodate modern sales formats, inspired by Jay-Z's move.

"For us, the move prompted a re-examination of our historic Gold & Platinum (G&P) Program award rules," wrote Liz Kennedy, the Director of the RIAA's Gold and Platinum Program, on the organization's blog. "Not only do we believe it's sensible and logical to align digital album rules with those we have maintained for digital singles since the program's inception, we also consider today's move in line with our larger efforts to modernize the [Gold and Platinum] Program to reflect the new music marketplace."

Despite the changes happening at the RIAA, Billboard has already confirmed that the Magna Carta Holy Gail Samsung sales will not count on their Billboard 200 album chart. more on this story

Keith Urban Jams With Gregg Allman

(Radio.com) Keith Urban is apparently quite popular with rock artists these days. In May he guested with the Rolling Stones during a show in Los Angeles (where he jammed with Keith Richards and Ron Wood on " Respectable"). And this past Friday (June 28), he took a turn on stage with another veteran rock artist, Gregg Allman.

And if that wasn't enough, the appearance took place the Nashville's famed Ryman Auditorium, one of the nation's most beloved live music venues and the former home of the Grand Ole Opry.

Keith played with Allman and his band (including Gregg's son Devon Allman) on a few different tunes, including T-Bone Walker's classic "Stormy Monday," "Can't Be Satisfied" (from Allman's latest album Low Country Blues), and (during the encore) the Allman Brothers Band staple "One Way Out."

Urban and Allman also both played (albeit separately) this past April as part of Eric Clapton's Crossroads festival in New York. Check out video of the jam here.

Katy Perry Working On New Songs With Bonnie McKee

Katy Perry's "California Gurls" co-writer Bonnie McKee has revealed that she and Perry have recently teamed up again and worked on several new songs together.

"We were just in Santa Barbara and we wrote three or four songs, I guess. So I have four songs with her coming out," McKee told MTV News. "I think it's a little bit more grown up and it's really interesting.

"I'm really excited for the world to hear it because she's taking a new approach. I don't want to say too much about it, but it's definitely different. It's definitely a little more mature than the 'California Gurls' of yesterday."

Marcus Mumford and Oscar Isaac Take On Folk Song For New Movie

(Radio.com) The first trailer for Inside Llewyn Davis, the forthcoming Coen Brothers film, featured a Bob Dylan cover of the old folk song "Fare Thee Well (Dink's Song)." But a new, recently released version features the same track as done by Marcus Mumford and the film's star, Oscar Isaac.

In the film Isaac plays a talented character who performs folk music in the 1960s but can't quite catch a star-making break. Also featured in the trailer is a look at a bearded Justin Timberlake, who plays a character named Jim Berkey.

Timberlake will appear alongside Mumford on the film's soundtrack, along with Dylan, Dave Van Ronk, the Punch Brothers, and Isaac's costar (and Mumford's girlfriend) Carey Mulligan. The soundtrack is being executive produced by T Bone Burnett, who helmed the multiplatinum, GRAMMY-winning soundtrack for the Coen Brothers' film O Brother, Where Art Thou?

"Dink's Song," as it is commonly known, was first recorded in Texas by musicologist John Lomax in 1908. It is a folk music staple, with famous covers from Pete Seeger, Dave Von Ronk, Jeff Buckley, Roger McGuinn, Ramblin' Jack Elliott, and Joan Baez, among many others. Check out the clip here.

Phoenix Trying To Be Cool In Bizarre New Video

(Radio.com) Phoenix's new video for "Trying To Be Cool," off of their latest album Bankrupt, is full of very bizarre non-sequiturs. The camera follows the band around a film set that includes a baboon, a cannon, and a few dancing girls in bikinis.

If that wasn't weird enough, we see vocalist Thomas Mars choosing from assorted mustaches, playing ping pong against himself (he even shows off a behind the back shot) and beating a child at chess. What are the rest of band doing? Well, playing through confetti and bubbles, of course.

The French foursome enlisted the assistance of director collective Canada, whose previous clients include Two Door Cinema Club, Justice, Scissor Sisters and an eclectic mix of controversial television ads. But this was to be no normal video shoot with the band merely standing around playing their instruments.

The music video was shot in one take using two crews, who you can sometimes spot rushing in and out of the shots. Using a countdown clock–set for only 16 seconds–the crew kept track of when they would need to switch views. One mess-up and they'd have to start all over again.

But the tricky live shoot gives the whole thing an unpredictable feel as the four guys nonchalantly traipse in and out, poking fun at the idea of cool.From the Flock of Seagulls haircut to the homage to the hipster homage to Marilyn Monroe, Phoenix also show they've got a pretty good sense of humor.

It all ends with the guys wearing matching white satin bomber jackets with the band's name embroidered on the back surrounded by a group of dancers who have choreographed a special dance specifically for their song. Yeah, we don't get it either, but we like it. Check it out here.

Chief Keef Wouldn't Take 50 Cent's Advice

(Radio.com) As part of 50 Cent Takeover at Hartford, C.T. station Hot 93.7 (a Radio.com station), the rapper discussed everything from his new venture in promoting high-profile boxing matches, his new music, and how he tried to offer words of wisdom to beleaguered Chicago rapper, Chief Keef.

"The Chief Keef project is the 50 Cent project. It's the same project," 50 Cent told DJ Jenny Boom Boom regarding the similarities between himself and Keef, whose growing rap sheet threatens to outstrip his music.

"He's completely influenced by his environment, but that's the nightmare," 50 Cent continued, comparing Keef's legal battles with ones he fought earlier in his own career.

"I actually was attracted to the Chief Keef thing because I was like, I can help him. I know what to do. He didn't listen, so I wouldn't actually offer (what was said) to the general public.

"To reach out to him and actually talk to him, I did that. He's a man, a young man. My son is a year younger than him. So when I'm talking to him, he don't have to take it. I'm not his father, that's his business.

50 Cent continued: "There are certain things I look at and go, if you play your hand this way, it could be good. If you go them other ways, you're going to have a hard time, man. Those bumps in the road are there for you. You're not exempt." More with Fiddy here.

Nicole Scherzinger Duets On The Dan Band's New Album

(Radio.com) The Dan Band, whose expletive-ridden sendups of wedding ballads found their way into movies like Old School and The Hangover, has settled down to make The Wedding Album, a covers collection for Comedy Central Records due out this December.

Already the wedding party includes some notable guests. Frontman Dan Finnerty tells Radio.com he recorded a version of Air Supply's "Making Love Out of Nothing at All" with former Pussycat Doll Nicole Scherzinger in April. Extreme guitarist Nuno Bettencourt produced the duet, which also features Rihanna's touring band.

Scherzinger will also sing on a Dan Band original, "Shake," which Finnerty vows "will be a new wedding version of the 'Macarena.'" For the music video, he'll play a restroom attendant on urinal patrol, demanding men to "shake" before they "pay to pee."

"It won't get crazy inappropriate," he said of the The Wedding Album, which will follow the progress of a wedding reception, beginning with a first-dance song, "I Hope We F**king Never Break Up." He and Rob Thomas have discussed producing The Wedding Album once Matchbox 20 wraps its summer tour, Thomas' management confirmed to Radio.com.

Also on Finnerty's registry: holding out for Questlove of the Roots to produce and play on a cover of Boyz II Men's "I'll Make Love to You." Melissa Etheridge, also on the group's radar, sang "Ave Maria" at Finnerty's wedding to actress Kathy Najimy in 1998. Meanwhile, he has yet to connect with Bonnie Tyler about collaborating on "an epic remake" of the Dan Band's best-known cover, "Total Eclipse of the Heart." more on this story

Wayne Coyne, Skylar Grey, Cold Sparks Appear on Moby's New Album

Moby's new album, Innocents, will be released on October 1st and will feature guest appearances from Wayne Coyne of The Flaming Lips, Mark Lanegan, Cold Specks, Skylar Grey and more.

"I spend most of my time alone in my studio, so for Innocents it seemed like a really nice idea to involve other people in the making of the record," Moby said.

"Working with all of these collaborators has helped me to make a record that I'm very proud of, and working this way also gave me some semblance of a social life."

Moby has picked the song "A Case For Shame," which he collaborated on with Cold Specks, as the first single from the album and has released it on iTunes and Amazon.

One Direction Share Weirdest Fan Encounters

(Radio.com) One Direction are gracing the cover of Glamour's August Music Issue where they share the spotlight with British model and actress Rosie Huntington-Whiteley (Transformers: Dark of the Moon and next year's Mad Max: Fury Road). The cover was shot in England and in the issue the guys open up about their massive following and if they have ever feared for their safety.

One Direction create a scene wherever they go and having screaming fans follow them everywhere is something they admit they still aren't used to. While Liam Payne confessed it's something they'll never fully understand he said he still tries to remain incognito as much as he can.

"We kind of try to stay under the radar and not tweet where we are," he said. "Yesterday me and Niall went out shopping in Amsterdam. And literally every single shop we went into, they had to close the shop because there were so many people outside. Some girl tried to pull my hair out. It's quite mad."

Zayne Malik, on the other hand does things differently. "I don't make CIA plans to organize myself. I just go out," he said. "I'm not too worried about 12-year-olds jumping on me. But when it comes to their safety, running in front of cars and stuff, it does get scary."

It's not just the fans that follow the band around, though. The guys have had to learn to deal with paparazzi and rumors about their relationships in the press.

"For me, it's not a massive trade-off. We've always wanted to do this, so we're not complaining," Niall Horen said. more on this story

Jack Johnson In A Happier Place On New Album

(Radio.com) As Jack Johnson gears up for the release of his sixth studio album, From Here To Now To You, he sat down with Radio.com to tell the stories behind the tracks on his upcoming LP.

While many of his songs on each album are written about his wife, Kim, he said that this time around his children played a major role in his songwriting. One track in particular, "You Remind Me of You," was written about his daughter.

But it was his wife who inspired his latest single, "I Got You," which talks about how Kim is the only person he truly needs in his life. "I got you, I got everything/I've got you, I don't need nothing more than you/ I got everything, I've got you," he sings on the chorus as he delicately strums his acoustic guitar.

Johnson explained that this particular song best represents where he is in life right now. "Even when life isn't always easy, it's just nicer when you have somebody you can share it with," he said. "The hard times and the easy times."

From Here To Now To You finds Jackson in a happier state than his previous releases. "The last few records I was losing a lot of people that were really close to me and those were hard songs to talk about," he said. more on this story

2 Chainz And Pharrell Make A Fashion Statement With 'Feds Watching'

(Radio.com) Mark this day down in your calendar, because it may well be the day 2 Chainz brought the waif back. It also may be the first video where Pharrell shows up as the worst-dressed person on set.

Pharrell's fashion faux pas aside, director Ryan Hope (Wiz Khalifa, George Michael — and New Music To Know artist Alpine) exploits a silhouette not often seen in hip-hop videos. And a look that hasn't been popular since the '90s when Kate Moss brought heroin chic to the masses.

But the look of the video, which switches off between the black & white style of a Herb Ritz photo shoot and a color-saturated Martin Scorcese drugs & gangsters film, matches the lyrics.

For the first time in his career, this artist formerly known as Tity Boi is rapping about designer clothes from Alexander Wang, Commes Des Garçones, Armani, Givenchy and Gucci. All while throwing dollar bills at strippers and dealing drugs so, don't worry, he's not completely in a new universe. Check out the video and read more here.

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