Fest Deny Zeppelin

Metal Underground reports: According to The Daily News Journal, the president of Big Hassle, a publicity firm for the Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival, says that reports of LED ZEPPELIN appearing at the festival in Manchester this summer are inaccurate.

The Mirror, an English newspaper, reported Dec. 31 that the rock group would headline Bonnaroo in June.

"It's still a rumor and the information in the Mirror is inaccurate," said Ken Weinstein, president of Big Hassle. "I speak on behalf of (promotor) Superfly and AC Entertainment." - more on this story

Gov Tim McGraw?

Contact Music reports: Country star TIM MCGRAW is considering following in the footsteps of actor ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER by running for governor in his native Tennessee.

The Democrat is weighing up plans to succeed Democrat Governor Phil Bredesen when his second term finishes in 2010. And his wife Faith Hill is thrilled by the idea of becoming a first lady.

She says, "Tim has talked about maybe running for office. I can't imagine what it would be like to be the first lady of Tennessee, but who knows? I don't rule it out. It's dangerous to say never." - more music news

07s Best Sellers Revealed

antiMusic reports: Nielsen Music has released their end of the year report and there are some interesting finds. Despite the labels crying about falling sales, overall music sales increased 14% in 2007, though total album sales fell 15%.

Josh Groban was the biggest selling solo artist, with sales greater than 4.8 million albums and the Eagles were the biggest selling group in 2007 with sales of 3.6 million. The good news was also on the digital front. Digital album sales increased 53% to 50 million units sold. Digital track sales increased 45% with 844.2 units sold.

Though all genres showed a drop in sales, Rap and R&B continue their decline. Rap sales dropped a staggering 30% and R&B fell 18.3%. What the labels trying to pass off as rock dropped 12.5%. It's the older releases via digital that helped fuel the industry in 07. Catalog sales jumped 64% (22.9 mill) and "deep" Catalog sales increased 63% (16.0) with "current" digital sales only increasing 46% (27.1). A lesson can be learned there. - Here some facts released with the report followed by the Top 10 Albums of 2007

Cops Draw Guns on Singer

Jam! reports: Police want the district attorney's office to prosecute two officers accused of holding country music singer Steve Holy and a friend at gunpoint during a game of foosball.

Investigators asked the prosecutor to file misdemeanour deadly conduct charges against officers Randy Anderson, 25, and Paul Loughridge, 48, who were off-duty at the time.

Prosecutor Terri Moore said the Dec. 27 confrontation is being reviewed to determine whether more serious charges should be filed. - more on this story

Jay-Z To Partner with Apple?

Gigwise reports: US rapper Jay-Z is on the verge of signing a unique record deal with Apple Inc., according to reports.

The deal would see the rapper, whose real name is Shawn Carter, release music solely through Apple's online music store.

The claims on the US blogsite, Boy Genius Report, follow confirmation last month that Carter is to step down from his role as President of Def Jam Records.
- more on this story

Amy Winehouse And Kanye To Duet at Grammys?

Gigwise reports: Amy Winehouse will make her live comeback at the Grammy Awards in America next month, according to reports.

The singer, who has not performed live since she cancelled the final dates of her UK tour last November, is nominated for six awards at the ceremony on February 10th.

Winehouse is reported to be considering a duet with US rapper Kanye West at the ceremony.
- more on this story

Blige Dethrones Groban

Contact Music reports: R+B queen MARY J. BLIGE has ended JOSH GROBAN's reign at the top of the U.S. albums chart - her GROWING PAINS disc has climbed a place to claim the first number one spot of 2008.

Crooner Groban scored a new record last month (Dec07), when his seasonal Noel collection made him the first artist to enjoy four consecutive weeks at number one with a Christmas album.

Noel falls two places to three, while Alicia Keys' As I Am climbs up a position to two on the Billboard 200 chart - more on this story

Stephen Stills Undergoes Cancer Surgery

Jam! reports: Stephen Stills is recovering after surgery for prostate cancer, his wife said Thursday.

In a statement, Stills' wife, Kristen Stills, said the "procedure went remarkably well and he couldn't be better. He will be home by noon tomorrow and the pain will be minimal."

The musician is scheduled to attend the Sundance Film Festival in Utah for the Jan. - more on this story

Mushroomhead 2007 Video Of The Year

PR reports: Mushroomhead have won the MTV Headbanger's Ball "2007 Video Of The Year" for the song "1200." MTV2's End Of Year show was voted on by over 120,000 viewers. The video was directed by horror special effects guru, House.

Mushroomhead will hit the road in March of 2008 for a full USA tour supporting their album Savior Sorrow. A new video directed by Mushroomhead for "Tattoo" was also recently released. It features hundreds of still photographs meticulously strung together creating a haunting editing technique.

Mushroomhead combine theatrics with a mixture of rock, metal and atmospheric elements. - See the winning video here

Paul Stanley Duets with Sarah Brightman

Blabbermouth reports: Undercover News reports that KISS guitarist/vocalist Paul Stanley has recorded a song with soprano Sarah Brightman.

The Stanley and Brightman duet "I Will Be With You" will be heard on her forthcoming album "Symphony", due in stores on January 29.

Sarah is the former wife of composer Andrew Lloyd Webber. It was in Webber's productions that she first made her name. Her most famous role was that of Christine Daae in "The Phantom of the Opera". - more on this story

Ra Ra Riot Tour

Filter reports: Ra Ra Riot have had a bittersweet 2007. They released their self-titled debut EP in July to much acclaim and played international tours with the likes of Editors, Tokyo Police Club and Art Brut, but also suffered the tragic loss of their drummer, John Pike.

Luckily, the band has been able to overcome such tragedy and together, will enjoy the new year right - with a tour and an album.

The New York sextet spent the end of 2007 recording their debut full-length with producer Ryan Hadlock (Stephen Malkmus, Blonde Redhead) and will hit the road for a couple weeks at the end of this month. - more on this story

My Ruin Lose Drummer

Metal Underground reports: MY RUIN frontwoman Tarrie B has issued the following update: "Matt [LeChevalier, drums] is no longer in MY RUIN. Before you think what we KNOW you must be thinking, let me explain....because there are no hard feelings.

"Matt joined MY RUIN in 2005 right after we released our last album, 'The Brutal Language'. We were coming off a very long tour in the States with someone in our band who we needed to replace immediately. Matt spent two years with us touring, recording the new album and making our new video for 'Ready For Blood'. We always knew that his time with our band was limited because he is a French citizen and there were both visa and personal issues he had to deal with which had nothing to do with our band.

"Matt is an amazing drummer. He helped us to create the most personal and powerful album we have ever made. We wish him all the best in his future endeavors and will always have a special place for him in our hearts and remember his time with MY RUIN fondly. - Find out who is taking Matt's place.

Hopesfall Break Up

Metal Underground reports: North Carolina's Hopesfall has broken up after nearly ten years as a band. Since the release of their "No Wings To Speak of" EP with Takehold Records, the group has undergone a slew of line-up changes, leaving the band without any of its original members.

According to the group, "[Hopesfall] has broken up and we have all moved on to other things in our lives. Why the break up? Well it's a long story."

The band has uploaded an unreleased (and unmastered) track titled "Saskatchewan" to their Myspace page. - more on this story

Kid 'N Play Star Injured By Police Chase

Contact Music reports: Former KID 'N PLAY rapper CHRISTOPHER 'PLAY' MARTIN was left hospitalised on Saturday (29Dec07), when his car was struck by a vehicle whose driver had been shot by police.

Martin, best known for starring in the House Party films in the early 1990s, was driving his sports utility vehicle when he was hit by a car driven by robbery suspect Raul Riva Aldama, according to officials.

Police say Aldama lost control of his car when he was shot as he drove towards a police officer. His vehicle then collided with Martin's further down the street. - more on this story

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