Miley Cyrus Poses Nude For Charity

Her Twitter post included the message, "Ts are available at 9 Marc Jacobs boutiques including SanFran, LA, Chicago, New York, Boston & Savannah GA!" You can see the photo here.

Frank Ocean Injures A Vocal Chord

Frank Ocean has been forced to cancel his current tour of Australia under doctor's orders after he tore a vocal chord during the first performance on the tour, according to Billboard.

the tour's promoter Live Nation broke the bad news to fans via their Facebook blog last Thursday. They informed fans that Ocean sought medical "advice" after he had vocal issues during last Wednesday's concert in Melbourne.

The promoter said Ocean "has suffered a small tear to one of his vocal chords and has received medical advice that he must rest his voice. This makes the completion of his remaining Australian dates impossible."

Ocean has been forced to cancel the entire tour and is unable to reschedule the dates due to his busy itinerary. Live Nation did say that they "will be working to confirm a return to Australia as soon as is practical." more on this story

James Blunt Streaming New Song 'Bonfire Heart'

James Blunt has posted his new single "Bonfire Heart" online ahead of its radio premiere later today. He sent out a link to the song stream to fans that belong to his email list and says "The song is about love, life, fear and hope… and more than anything, you… and me…"

He also provided these details in the fan email, "Here's the first single from my new album…! It's called 'Bonfire Heart', and the first time it will be broadcast on the airwaves will be on BBC Radio 2 at around 11am (GMT) this morning and later today in mainland Europe…

"It'll be on iTunes from Tuesday (UK, Germany Australia & Japan have to wait a tiny bit longer - sorry.) and I'll be releasing a simple lyric-based video for it at around midday on my website, so check back there then (I'm shooting a proper video for it as we speak)." Listen to the song here.

Lady Gaga Reveals New Single Information

(popmusiclife) Lady Gaga has unveiled the cover of "Applause", the lead single from her forthcoming album, "ARTPOP," her third album which will be released on November 11.

The first single, "Applause" will be released on August 19, following which Gaga will perform the track at the MTV Video Music Awards in New York on August 25.

The project has an accompanying app, which is described as "a musical and visual engineering system that combines music, art, fashion, and technology with a new worldwide community — 'the auras.'"

Read more and check out the single's artwork here.

The Lumineers Take On Fleetwood Mac Classic

(Radio.com) Fleetwood Mac's music has inspired generations of musicians, many of whom have paid lip service to the band via cover versions. In the '1994, Smashing Pumpkins, had a #3 Modern Rock hit with their take on "Landslide."

Two years later, Hole did a roof-raising "Gold Dust Woman" for the soundtrack to The Crow: City Of Angels. In 2002, the Dixie Chicks had a #2 hit on the Country charts with their take on "Landslide." And last year, the band was a subject of a tribute album that included a number of current indie acts including Best Coast, the New Pornographers, Karen Elson, Tame Impala, the Kills and MGMT.

The Lumineers are the latest group to take a swing at a Mac classic. The cover is part of the GRAMMYS "ReImagined" series, which sees contemporary artists discussing how they were influenced by past GRAMMY-winning and/or -recognized songs and includes their own reimagined interpretations of the recording. Artists are able to select tracks that won in the General Field—which includes the Record Of The Year, Album Of The Year, Song Of The Year, and Best New Artist categories—or recordings inducted into the GRAMMY Hall Of Fame, a collection of many of the greatest recordings of all time.

Some other covers in the series include Youngblood Hawke doing Phil Collins' "Another Day In Paradise," Ivan Neville's take on Billy Joel's "Just The Way You Are" and the Brass-A-Holics cover of Paul Simon's "50 Ways To Leave Your Lover."

Watch the video for their cover of "Go Your Own Way" here.

Jay-Z Surprises Beyonce During Concert

(Radio.com) Fans are always excited when Jay Z and Beyonce share the same stage. But fans in Philadelphia got a special treat Thursday night (July 25) when Jay surprised his wife with a mid-show smooch.

In the middle of introducing her band and back-up dancers, Jay bum-rushed Beyonce, grabbing her by the waist. Bey was certainly surprised to see her hubby standing right behind her. She even did a little jump.

The fans went crazy as the two shared a quick kiss before Jay ran back off stage. This is the Mrs. Carter show after all. Watch the moment caught by a fan (via Complex) here.

Katy Perry Performs on Leno and Gives New Album Update

(popmusiclife) Katy Perry was a featured guest on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno on Friday as she stopped by to promote her role as Smurfette in the new film, "Smurfs 2", which hits theaters on Wednesday.

The singer revealed that she didn't actually have to audition for the role in the film franchise. "I heard that they heard little clips of my voice with several different people and the producers heard it, and they weren't told who the voices were," she told Leno.

"I think it was from a radio show, because my voice is different when I do Smurfette from when I sing. When I sing, I wake up, I stretch, I do my lotions and potions and crystals and prayers. When I do Smurfette, it's a lot more raw and there are a lot more cracks in her voice. It's not thoroughly warmed up."

Perry was asked for an update on a new album, which would follow-up the 2010 smash, "Teenage Dream." Without giving a date, she said "soon," adding, "It will continually be what I always do, which is connecting to my core and bringing an honest message that people can relate to. Honesty is something everyone is looking for."

Check out video of her appearance on Leno here.

Avril Lavigne Recruits Wonder Years Star For Rock N Roll Video

(popmusiclife) Avril Lavigne is sharing photos from the set of her video shoot for her new single, "Rock N Roll." The Canadian pop star co-wrote the song with husband Chad Kroeger (Nickelback), David Hodges, Richard Goransson, Jacob Hindlin and Peter Svensson.

Lavigne and co-star Danica McKellar (The Wonder Years) are in full commando gear for the video. "My partner in crime @danicamckellar on the set today of my music video for #ROCKNROLL," tweetd Lavigne, followed later by "thank you @danicamckellar for acting in my video. You are beautiful and so sweet. We kicked butt today! #ROCKNROLL."

For her part, McKellar enjoyed the shoot, tweeting, "Just had the best time shooting @AvrilLavigne's new video. And she is so sweet and fun! Made me feel like a rock star."

Produced by Max Martin, "Rock N Roll" is from Avril's yet-to-be-announced new album, which is expected to be released in September. Check out the photos and read more here.

Mean Lady Making Their Mark With Eclectic Home Town Sounds

(Radio.com) Most people wouldn't consider Newark, Delaware a musical town. But Katie Dill would beg to differ. "It's actually an oasis of music," she explained. "It's not one particular scene. There's rap and jam bands and rock 'n' roll, and psych and hip-hop and pop. It's all there." Which is a good thing for Dill whose band Mean Lady is a mix of it all and a whole lot more.

Their ability to seamlessly meld different genres from jazz to bluegrass to classical into one super genre makes the duo, also comprised of Sam Noble, rather hard to define. Though it certainly hasn't stopped anyone from trying.

Mean Lady's music has been described as tropical and psychedelic, but for the female half of the band, the most head scratching identifier has to be chillwave, a genre that has come to describe music made on a laptop that incorporates '80s-style synths, heavily processed vocals and simple melodies to make something you can, well, chill to. Though in Dill's mind, Mean Lady is just a regular pop band. "Because that's the part that's really intentional," she explained to Radio.com over the phone.

Dill first met Noble–also a Delaware native—when the two were in high school, but it wasn't until they happened to run into each other again a few years later while both attending the University of Delaware that they really formed a musical bond. The pair joined a local psych band called Diego Paulo, but soon found that they were more interested in expanding their musical horizons. "We had this idea to start doing hip-hop at a basement party we were playing," she said. "So we made one beat and then we were like, 'We should make it a band!" The duo's name–a nod to a friend's particularly unfriendly dog– followed shortly after.

Dill chalks up their genre bending ability to their diverse musical background, calling Noble the "magician" of the group. "He just waves his hand and things happen," Dill said with a laugh.

Noble is a jazz man who grew up playing the bass and listening to Miles Davis. He later picked up the guitar and then the piano and now attempts to play whatever other instruments they decide to throw into the mix, which has included a drum machine and a sitar. He handles the arrangements of the songs and recorded their debut, Love Now, using only his computer. The two-year recording process started in Noble's dorm room and was later finished in his Wilmington apartment. more on this story

Directions Lana Del Rey Could Take On Her New Album

(Radio.com) While Lana Del Rey had intimated never releasing a sophomore album, she let it slip that she's been working on a new full-length to follow-up the enormous success of Born to Die, which went on to sell more than 3.4 million copies worldwide.

"It's a little more stripped down but still cinematic and dark." the singer told BBC Newsbeat about the album back in February, adding that she has "moved on to a more spiritual place lyrically."

What sonic directions could Del Rey take with her next album? While she might be all but guaranteed continued success with more racy torch songs, her vocal styling could allow her to take a wide range of musical chances and likely get away with it.

Go Deep Into The Dance Club Scene – The dance floor loves Lana Del Rey. A simple online search for Del Rey remixes turns up dozens of different versions of practically every song she's ever released. The Cedric Gervais remix of "Summertime Sadness" (below) is a hit on the Billboard Dance/Mixshow Airplay chart, reaching No. 4. With EDM's booming popularity paving the way for more subtle forms of dance music, Del Rey could easily flirt with making a tasteful house music album with the help of producers like Disclosure, MK and Derrick Carter.

Bring Hard Rock Classics To The Orchestra – Part of Del Rey's Americana-driven persona have been plenty of faded and torn classic rock t-shirts featuring logos of bands like Guns 'N Roses and AC/DC. The shirts aren't just for show – the singer was spotted hitting up a pair of L.A. Guns 'N Roses shows and even hanging out with the Axl Rose, causing speculation that the two were dating. Much like Nouvelle Vague flipping punk and new wave songs into bossa nova style tunes, Del Rey could pluck hard rock classics and give them the orchestral treatment. Guns 'N Roses' "Patience," Black Sabbath's "Planet Caravan," even Alice Cooper's "Only Women Bleed" – with the right symphonic arrangements, Del Rey could retool classic rock for a new generation with her own signature style. Three other possible ways she can go.

Jana Kramer Learning A Lot On Blake Shelton Tour

(Radio.com) Jana Kramer is just a few dates into joining Blake Shelton on the road as part of his Ten Times Crazier Tour (which also features Easton Corbin). While the "Why Ya Wanna" singer admits the tour is still so new (the first show only took place July 19 in Virginia Beach), she's already learned so much from working alongside the chart-topping artist and Voice coach.

While in town after the tour's New York stop this past Sunday (July 21), Kramer sat down with Radio.com and filled us in on what it's like to watch Shelton, both on stage and behind the scenes.

"He's an amazing entertainer," Kramer said. "He really interacts with the crowd, and he has them his hands. He's just so good with talking to them and the way that he expresses his songs and shows his emotions."

One song in particular had Kramer tearing up. "He was singing 'Over You,' and I was crying," she said. Kramer is referring to the chart-topping, ACM award-winning song he wrote with his wife, Miranda Lambert.

"He's fantastic," Kramer continued. "He's energetic. And the way he treats his crew is very respectful. I like that."

Kramer's no stranger to singing poignant tracks of her own. Her debut single, "Why Ya Wanna" sold over 1.4 million digital downloads, which was more than any debut female artist in the past five years. Her latest single, "I Hope It Rains" is poised for similar success. Written by Jerry Flowers, Kelley Lovelace, and Rachel Proctor, Kramer said that though she didn't write the song herself, she relates to it wholeheartedly. more on this story

Beyonce Encourages Fans To Get Lost In Her Show

(Radio.com) A Beyonce show is a capital-e Event, but book her in an arena in the center of the Atlantic City Boardwalk on a Friday in the summer, and it's a tourist attraction. Borgata suites were booked, new Freakum Dresses purchased, money lost on Sex & The City slot machine.

"This ain't a show for you to be cool," Bey told the crowd at one point on Friday night (July 26) at Boardwalk Hall. "This is a show for you to get lost."

Walk through any casino in Atlantic City and you will not feel cool. Even the ones that have rebranded in an attempt to appeal more to the young and clubby, namely Harrah's, define hipness as overpriced bottle service and poolside sets from The Jersey Shore's DJ Pauly D. But traverse the game rooms and slot machines and one thing is apparent: faces lost in the experience of being there. That, too, was what Bey did to her crowd at one of the first East Coast dates of her Mrs. Carter Show World Tour.

First, though, was the advertising. For the hour leading up to Beyoncé's 9 p.m. kickoff, concertgoers were shown the strength of the Bey Brand. Her Pepsi ad, an extended version of her H&M ad, her PSA for the charitable Chime For Change initiative, a commercial touting her family's involvement with the Salvation Army; these things were applauded nearly as heartily as the Queen Bey herself.

By the time the giant "B" curtain dropped and "Run The World (Girls)" kicked off, the crowd was primed to bow down after an hour spent having Beyoncé's greatness re-affirmed to them. She could do no wrong, and in terms of her actual live performance, there's hardly a compliment that hasn't been said. Beyoncé does not sacrifice technical excellence at the expense of sheer "wow" factor. Her band of intimidatingly badass female musicians, back-up singers and dancers keep up, but is that any surprise? Those who saw her documentary from earlier this year know all too well that she demands the best of her collaborators and employees.

The setlist was a mix of old and new, as a number of more low-key cuts off 4 ("I Miss You," "I Care") mixed with early solo hits ("Baby Boy," "Crazy In Love") and Destiny's Child's "Survivor." In two hours, she covered a bit of ground within her own extensive discography, revisiting fan favorites like "Diva" and "Get Me Bodied" with a new flare that never felt overly rehearsed, despite the fact that Bey's several months into The Mrs. Carter Show. more on this story

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