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Beyonce’s Album Smashes iTunes Record
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Industry News, Music Videos, The Charts, Pop, R&B / Soul, iTunes, New Releases,
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Beyonce's surprise fifth album has become the fastest-selling record in iTunes history.
The self-titled record, which was released without any warning last week, shifting 828,773 copies in just three days. The majority of those sales came from America, where it has racked up 617,213 sales since Friday.
Beyonce's own first-week sales record was also broken, after her 2006 second record B'day sold 541,000 copies in seven days.
The "Love On Top" hitmaker stealth-released the record exclusively on iTunes, shocking fans by unveiling 14 new songs and 17 videos without any promotion.
The 31-year-old said she was inspired by Michael Jackson's Thriller video premiere in 1983, which is why she made such a "visual" record: "I miss that immersive experience. Now people only listen to a few seconds of a song on their iPods and they don't really invest in the whole experience. It's all about the single, and the hype. I felt like, I don't want anybody to get the message when my record is coming out. I just want this to come out when it's ready and from me to my fans."
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Beyonce Releases New Album on iTunes
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Hip-Hop & Rap, Pop, R&B / Soul, iTunes, New Releases,
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Beyonce has surprised fans by releasing her fifth studio album on iTunes today.
The "Grown Woman" singer shocked her loyal fan base - who have been eagerly anticipating her new record for some time - by unveiling her self-titled "visual album" exclusively on iTunes in the early hours of Friday morning.
The record, which is being labelled as Part 1, features 14 songs and 17 accompanying music videos. Collaborations on the album include Beyonce's husband Jay-Z, her daughter Blue Ivy Carter, rapper Drake, Justin Timberlake, and her former Destiny's Child bandmates Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams.
Beyonce announced the album on Instagram with a teaser video, which she simply captioned, "Surprise!"
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Jay Z Leads Grammy Nominations
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Awards, Country, Dance, Electronic, Hip-Hop & Rap, Pop, R&B / Soul, Rock,
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Jay Z leads the way in the 2014 Grammy Awards shortlist with nine nominations.
The star has picked up several nods ahead of the ceremony next year including two in both the Best Music Video and Best Rap/Sung Collaboration categories. He was also nominated for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance, Best Rap Performance, Best Rap Song, Best Rap Album and Best Recording Package.
Nominations were revealing during a special live concert last night and Jay Z's collaborator Justin Timberlake is also in the running to dominate the ceremony in January. As well as being nominated alongside his friend in four categories, the "Mirrors" hitmaker is on the shortlist for Best Pop Solo Performance, Best Pop Vocal Album and Best R&B Song.
The 56th Annual Grammy Awards will take place at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on January 26, and the duo face stiff competition across all categories.
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R.Kelly: I Met My Match with Gaga
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Collaborations, Performances, Pop, R&B / Soul,
R.Kelly says he met his match when he collaborated with Lady Gaga.
The R&B star, who worked with the pop star on the track "Do What U Want" from her latest album Artpop, has gushed about the singer after their raunchy performance at the American Music Awards this month. "I met my match when I met Lady Gaga. There's no doubt about it. She's very talented, she has a vision, she has a gift to the world. Then she has balls and she's not afraid to express herself. I don't think she does things to be controversial, she's just being herself," R.Kelly told The Sun newspaper.
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Amy Winehouse’s Dad Shoots Down Biopic
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Gossip, Rumors, Jazz, Pop, R&B / Soul, Reggae,
Amy Winehouse's father would never allow a biopic to be made.
Mitch Winehouse has shot down ideas of a movie to be made about his late daughter - who died of alcohol poisoning in 2007 - but he would like a concert to be arranged in memory of the "Valerie" singer.
"I don't really want to do a biopic. A concert would be amazing, but it's actually getting it together with the [record label]. It sounds great in theory, but in practice it's not so easy. We are talking about it though," he said.
Meanwhile, Lady Gaga has vowed not to follow in the footsteps of the "Body And Soul" hitmaker - who died at the age of 27 - and is determined to curb her drug use and wild behaviour so she doesn't die young. "I want to live and I want my fans to live. I don't want them to torture themselves in the way I have. I want to show people that I will last past 27 and I will last longer, and so will you," she previously said.
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‘Forbes’ Names Madonna Highest-Paid Musician
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Artist News, Concerts / Tours, The Charts, Alternative, Country, Hip-Hop & Rap, Pop, R&B / Soul, Rock,
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Madonna has topped Forbes' list of highest-paid musicians.
The 55-year-old singer is still the queen of pop according to the magazine, earning $125 million from June 2012 to May 2013 thanks to her sell-out MDMA Tour, miles ahead of her nearest rival Lady Gaga, who raked in $80 million. Rockers Bon Jovi and country singer Toby Keith were next, with Coldplay coming in fifth place.
Despite lackluster sales of her latest album, Madonna made her fortune from fans paying $100 a ticket to see her tour - which grossed $305 million - as well as from merchandise sales, a clothing line, fragrance and investments in companies like Vita Coco. This comes as little surprise, since Madonna had already been crowned the world's highest-earning celebrity by Forbes in August, with filmmaker Steven Spielberg, author E.L. James, radio personality Howard Stern and X Factor boss Simon Cowell rounding out the top five.
However, the magazine estimates Lady Gaga could easily top the highest-paid musicians list next year because her current earnings were affected by her hip injury, which forced her to cut her Born This Way Ball tour short. Had she completed the tour, she could potentially have made $200 million.
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R. Kelly and Justin Bieber Collaborate
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Artist News, Collaborations, Music Videos, Upcoming Releases, Hip-Hop & Rap, Pop, R&B / Soul, New Releases,
Justin Bieber and R. Kelly have recorded a single together.
The "Never Say Never" singer will release the collaboration on Monday as part of his Music Mondays series. "I just did a song [with him]. [Justin] just called me to do a song, and it's hot. He wanted to go and do some R&B stuff, so we got together and did that," R. Kelly told Vibe magazine.
Justin's fans were over the moon with the news, with one tweeting, "This is too much for my weak heart."
The title of the track - the seventh in Justin's series of reveals, which have mostly been mid-tempo tracks about love and heartbreak - is yet to be announced.
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Justin Timberlake to Perform at American Music Awards
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Awards, Performances, Pop, R&B / Soul,
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Justin Timberlake will perform at the American Music Awards 2013.
The 32-year-old star will take to the stage on November 24 at the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles where he will perform for the first time as a solo artist - after last performing at the event with his band 'N Sync in 2000.
Other music legends who will entertain crowds on the night include Miley Cyrus, Florida Georgia Line, Luke Bryan, Lady Gaga, Kendrick Lamar and One Direction.
The ceremony will be hosted by 32-year-old Pitbull who is also set to perform his new single "Timber" with 26-year-old Ke$ha.
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Eminem Wins Big at MTV EMAs as Miley Cyrus Causes Controversy
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Awards, Music Videos, Performances, Hip-Hop & Rap, Pop, R&B / Soul,
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Eminem was among the big winners at the MTV Europe Music Awards last night, while Miley Cyrus caused controversy yet again.
The 41-year-old rapper won the Best Hip Hop and Global Icon prizes at the ceremony at the Ziggo Dome in Amsterdam - making him the artist with the most EMAs ever - and he celebrated his victory with a surprise performance of "Bezerk" before a scintillating rendition of "Rap God."
Miley ensured she remained in the spotlight by sparking up what appeared to be a joint on-stage and then smoking it with Will Ferrell, who was at the awards as his Anchorman alter-ego Ron Burgundy, before accepting her Best Video prize for "Wrecking Ball." The blonde star told the crowd, "I couldn't fit this award in my bag but I did find this..."
One Direction also won two accolades, Best Pop and Best UK & Ireland Act, and the band's 19-year-old hunk Harry Styles was named Best Look - beating the likes of Lady Gaga, Rihanna, Justin Timberlake and Rita Ora to the gong - however none of the boy band were at the ceremony to pick up their prizes.
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Boy George: New Culture Club Album Set for 2014
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Artist News, Reunions, Upcoming Releases, R&B / Soul, Reggae, Rock,
Boy George has revealed Culture Club are going to release new music.
The "Do You Really Want to Hurt Me" hitmakers haven't put out any new material since 1999, but the singer has confirmed they will start writing the album in January. "It will be a new record, completely new. There's no point just doing it for nostalgia ... We're certainly going to do it," he told The Sun.
The group's guitarist Roy Hay met up with Boy George last week in Los Angeles to discuss plans, and Culture Club are aiming to record the new record early next year ahead of a release later in 2014. The "Karma Chameleon" quartet - completed by Mikey Craig and Jon Moss - could end up working with Brian Eno, famous for producing music by the likes of Depeche Mode, Coldplay and U2.
"There's some interesting ideas about who we want to work with. It's got to be really good," Boy George said.
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