Beatles Podcast Axed

But the plan has had to be curtailed because it breaches the broadcaster's agreement with rights holders.
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Kings Of Leon Tap The Whigs For American Tour

PR reports: The Whigs are excited to announce they'll be supporting the Kings Of Leon on their North American tour beginning January 20th in Louisville, KY.

A highlight on the run will include a performance at the legendary Madison Square Garden in New York City on January 29th.

Following three extensive tours at the end of 2008 with The Kooks, Kings Of Leon and Tokyo Police Club and a New Year's Eve show with Band Of Horses, The Whigs are thrilled to return to Georgia after the MSG date to begin writing their next album. - more on this story

Motown Teams With Hallmark

PR reports: The 50th anniversary of Motown Records, Berry Gordy's groundbreaking music company which he founded in Detroit in 1959 as "Hitsville U.S.A.," will be celebrated in conjunction with Hallmark Gold Crown stores for Valentine's Day.

January 5 marked the release of a 10-song compilation CD, HEART & SOUL – CELEBRATING 50 YEARS OF MOTOWN available for a limited time exclusively at 3,500 Hallmark Gold Crown stores nationwide. The collection, which features some of the label's most beloved artists, is Hallmark's 2009 Valentine's Day album

In addition, Recordable Cards with Sound, a variety of Motown related merchandise and gift wrap, and a "Love Machine" techno plush will also be available. - more on this story

Leona Lewis Jumps On The Let's Get My Fans To Pay For My CD Twice Bandwagon

PR reports: J Records is releasing a deluxe edition of Leona Lewis' Spirit, the Grammy nominated, chart-topping, best-selling debut from one of the breakthrough artists of the year. The deluxe version of Spirit will be in stores February 3rd, 2009.

This limited edition CD/DVD package features four new, never-before-released songs in the U.S., including Leona's #1 UK chart breaking smash hit single, "Run," originally recorded by Snow Patrol. Leona's "Run" shattered UK chart records when it entered at #1, becoming the fastest selling digital single ever in a week.

The deluxe edition will also include 7 music videos including four never-before-released music videos in the U.S. of "Bleeding Love," "Forgive Me," "Footprints in the Sand" and "Run," which is currently YouTube's most popular video globally ("Run" was watched 1.4 million times in its first 10 days live). Additionally, this deluxe version of Spirit also includes an expanded 16-page booklet featuring never-before-seen photos of Leona. - more on this story

Keaton Simons Tour

PR reports: Singer/songwriter/guitarist Keaton Simons is getting 2009 started with a major U.S. tour, a couple of special convention appearances and a brand new video. On January 27, Keaton will start a nationwide tour in San Diego, CA with Tyrone Wells in support of his critically acclaimed debut album, Can You Hear Me, which was released June 10 on CBS Records.

Before the tour starts Keaton will make two appearances at this year's NAMM Show in Anaheim, CA at the Anaheim Convention Center on Thursday, January 15. The first stop will be on the John Lennon Educational Tour Bus (at 11:00 AM PT) and second will be at the Gibson booth later that afternoon. Also, in the midst of the tour with Tyrone Wells, Keaton will make a brief detour to Austin, TX to perform as part of the Hotel Café SXSW showcase on Friday, March 20 at Ale House (310 East 6th Street).

Keaton's also kicking off the new year with the release of his latest video, "Nobody Knows," which was shot in Los Angeles by director Joe Dietsch. Special guests include Tenacious D's Kyle Gass, comedian Tom Green and actress Ivana Milicevic ("House," "Seinfeld"). The clip can be seen on his website and Myspace page. - more on this story

18 Visions Frontman Returns in Burn Halo

PR reports: When one door closes, another one opens. This couldn't be more true for former 18 Visions singer/songwriter James Hart. When the Orange County, CA band broke up in 2007 after almost a decade together, that didn't dissuade Hart and his pursuit to be a frontman once again. He's ready to get back to it with his new band, Burn Halo, who will be releasing their charismatic self-titled debut March 10 on Rawkhead Records (through Warner Music Group's Independent Label Group).

The album's first single, "Dirty Little Girl," which features a guest appearance by Avenged Sevenfold's Synyster Gates, is already getting spins on radio stations around the country, and is in regular rotation on Sirius XM Satellite Radio's "Octane" station. A video for the track was recently shot in at the Slide Bar in Orange County, CA with Nate Weaver (Against Me!, Taking Back Sunday) at the director's helm, and will hit the TV and Internet airwaves within the coming weeks. - more on this story

Rockers Blu-ray

MVD reports: MVD Visual and Blue Sun Film Company are pleased to announce the home viewing release of the Rockers for worldwide distribution on Blu-ray. Theatrically released in June of 1980, this classic reggae film has been transferred to HD from original 35mm negative and lovingly cleaned & restored.

Rockers is a Reggae triumph. By all critical standards Rockers is one of the greatest Reggae films ever. Starring Leroy "Horsemouth" Wallace and Richard "Dirty Harry" Hall, it's a Robin Hood style story of oppressed Jamaican musicians getting even with the "mafia types" in the business.

But it's the all-star musical performances, appearances, and soundtrack that sets Rockers apart, featuring acting roles and music by Burning Spear, Bunny Wailer, Third World, Peter Tosh, Jacob Miller, Gregory Isaacs, Kiddus I, Junior Murvin, Inner Circle, the Heptones, & Abyssinians. - wanna look?

Gary Husband Gets Hotwired

PR reports: British drummer Gary Husband, renowned for his stellar collaborations since the 1980s with guitar hero Allan Holdsworth as well as with guitarist John McLaughlin and the mega-selling UK jazz/funk band Level 42, introduces his new modern jazz group on his upcoming Abstract Logix debut.

Though widely regarded as one of the top fusion drummers around, the Yorkshire native concentrates on his jazzier side with Gary Husband's Drive on Hotwired, a propulsively swinging quartet outing on which a lot of his most important jazz drum influences emerge, including Tony Williams, Elvin Jones, John Von Ohlen, Jack DeJohnette and Mel Lewis. - more on this story

Archer Join Black Label Bash

PR reports: Archer, the award-winning metal trio from Santa Cruz, California, keeps the momentum of their incredible 2008 in serious overdrive with an exciting slate of concerts to launch 2009.

The band their fans love to call "Shred Zeppelin!" starts the year bringing their guitar driven, retro-new metal to Anaheim on January 17 as the opening act for Puddle of Mudd at the Hilton Pulse Room.

In March, Archer (www.myspace.com/archer) hits the road with Black Label Society, the megapopular L.A. based heavy metal band led by Zakk Wylde, and New York based nu metal band Dope for the opening Western U.S. and Canadian leg of the Black Label Bash. - more on this story

Blue Note Continues 70th Birthday With New Collection

PR reports: Blue Note Records celebrates its 70th birthday. The label was born on January 6, 1939 when a young jazz fan named Alfred Lion recorded two of his favorite boogie-woogie pianists at a New York studio. That first session (Albert Ammons and Meade Lux Lewis - The First Day) proved to be the start of an illustrious history that continues to this day.

Over the course of its seven decades in business, Blue Note has recorded virtually every major figure in modern jazz, from pioneers like Thelonious Monk and John Coltrane to contemporary masters like Wynton Marsalis and Joe Lovano.

On January 13, Blue Note Records will commemorate the label's 70th anniversary with the release of Mosaic: A Celebration of Blue Note Records; an eight-song collection of classic Blue Note repertoire re-envisioned by The Blue Note 7, an all-star septet comprising pianist, musical director, and current Blue Note recording artist Bill Charlap with trumpeter Nicholas Payton, tenor saxophonist Ravi Coltrane, alto saxophonist/flutist Steve Wilson, guitarist Peter Bernstein, bassist Peter Washington and drummer Lewis Nash. -

Eddie Jobson Comes Out of Retirement With New Supergroup

PR reports: Keyboard and electric-violin legend Eddie Jobson (U.K., Roxy Music, Frank Zappa, Jethro Tull) is returning in grand style from a self-imposed 27-year retirement to introduce UKZ, his new "Virtual Virtuoso" supergroup, with a world debut concert exclusive in New York City.

A classically trained progressive-rock icon, Jobson assembled UKZ virtually by auditioning performances on YouTube. The result is a multi-generational "dream band" of world-class improvisers from all parts of the globe whose members are: Trey Gunn (a 10-year veteran of King Crimson and the leading exponent of the Warr 10-string touch guitar), Aaron Lippert (former lead singer of Expanding Man), Alex Machacek (Austrian guitar prodigy), and Marco Minnemann (German drum sensation).

UKZ will begin and end its "One City World Tour" on Saturday, Jan. 24 at Town Hall, 123 W. 43rd St., NYC. Show time is 8 p.m. This rare concert event also will feature the U.S.debut of special guests Stick Men, featuring King Crimson's Tony Levin and Pat Mastelotto. - more on this story

. Bruce Springsteen Month: Born To Run

For all intent purposes Bruce Springsteen's third album, Born To Run, is the greatest rock n' roll record ever created. Without question, Born To Run, is one of the most essential, vital and astonishing records ever created. (5 stars) - Read the full Bruce Springsteen Month: Born To Run review

. Voetsek - Infernal Command

Although weak in an area that sticks out like transvestitism, Voetsek's keen approach towards a successful hybrid of humor, thrash, grind, and general positivity triggers new light upon these ideas, and works appropriately as an album should. - Read the full Voetsek - Infernal Command review

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