Archive: March 2011 (71-80 of 151)

Mar 17 2011 11:32 AM ET

Island Def Jam executive L.A. Reid officially resigns: Read his letter to the staff here

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Categories: Buzzworthy, L.A. Reid, Music Biz, Things That Make Us Go Hmm
LA-Reid

Image Credit: Jason Merritt/Getty Images

After seven years of cultivating the careers of Island Def Jam superstars like Rihanna, Kanye West, and Justin Bieber, Island Def Jam Chairman L.A. Reid resigned this morning. In a letter to his staff, Reid explains that he’s “always thrived on growth and the next great challenge, and I look forward with much enthusiasm to what the future holds.” This seemingly sets the table for the record executive to join Simon Cowell as a judge on the new singing competition series The X Factor.

Read L.A.’s full letter to his staff after the jump. READ FULL STORY »

Mar 17 2011 10:47 AM ET

Malaysia censors Lady Gaga's 'Born This Way' over gay-friendly lyrics

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Categories: Lady Gaga, Music, Things That Are Frustrating
lady-gaga-born-this-way-video

Lady Gaga is celebrating her fifth week atop the Billboard Hot 100 with gay anthem “Born This Way,” but not everyone is getting the message. Radio stations in Malaysia are preemptively garbling lyrics in the song (“No matter gay, straight or bi, lesbian, transgendered life, I’m on the right track, baby”) to avoid government fines for offending listeners with its message of acceptance. “The particular lyrics in ‘Born This Way’ may be considered as offensive when viewed against Malaysia’s social and religious observances,” AMP Radio Networks, Malaysia’s top private radio operator, said in a statement to The Associated Press. “The issue of being gay, lesbian or (bisexual) is still considered as a ‘taboo’ by general Malaysians.” Malaysian gay rights activist Pang Khee Teik tells the AP Lady Gaga should consider asking Malaysian stations not to air any of her songs in protest, Pang said. Gaga has yet to respond. On March 10, she tweeted, “The point, with ‘Born This Way,’ is to fight for something that not everyone believes in. To overcome adversity with a message.”

More Gaga on EW.com:
Lady Gaga ends exclusive partnership with Target, reportedly over the company’s anti-gay political spending
Lady Gaga debuts first ‘Born This Way’ video: Watch it here!
Lady Gaga again rules Billboard hot 100 chart with ‘Born This Way’
Lady Gaga talks early struggles, denies lip-synching, shouts-out Liza Minnelli and Marisa Tomei at Madison Square Garden

Mar 16 2011 06:40 PM ET

Joe Jonas on his new solo career: 'I wanna go play my music in a club'

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Categories: Jonas Brothers
Joe-Jonas

Image Credit: Keiny Andrade/Getty Images

The middle Jonas brother talked to Details about his first solo album and breaking away from the band that was bewitching tween girls while Justin Bieber was still churning out viral videos. “When you’re writing with three people, you wind up with a sound that might be — not average — but, you know, expected,” Joe told the magazine. “I wanted to do something you could hear in a club or something you could dance to, something that’s fun — something that’s me.”

Nick, the youngest Jo Bro, embarked on his own solo career with Nick Jonas & The Administration in 2009. The band’s debut album was released last year, but it met iffy reviews and sold fewer than 200,000 copies in the U.S. But Joe’s aiming to connect with his fans that have grown up with him. “I’m growing up, the fans are growing up,” he says. “I really have a hope for the fans that got older… [to say] ‘This is cool stuff, I’m happy listening to this, I’m not embarrassed listening to this.”

The 21-year-old told EW last month that his upcoming album is “not just a cheesy pop record.” He told Details that, now that he’s older: “I wanna go play my music in a club.”

Follow The Music Mix on Twitter: @EWMusicMix

More Joe Jonas from EW.com:
In the Studio With Joe Jonas
’90210′ Exclusive: Adrianna falls for… Joe Jonas!

Mar 16 2011 03:00 PM ET

Courtney Love wanted to snort Kurt Cobain's ashes? That's what a new book claims.

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Categories: Courtney Love, Grunge, Nirvana, Rock Stars Say the Darndest Things, Things That Make Us Go Hmm
Courtney-Love-Kurt-Cobain

Image Credit: Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images; James Crump/WireImage.com Record 20924935

Is there anything Courtney Love can do to shock us anymore? Apparently, yes: A new book claims that the grunge rock widow wanted to snort up some of her deceased husband’s ashes back in 1994. Well, that’s one way to be together for eternity.

Music journalist Neil Strauss alleges in his just-released collection of rock interviews that he was with the Hole singer in her L.A. home shortly after Cobain’s suicide when “she leaped off her bed and suddenly said, ‘Say hi to Kurt,’” proceeding to pull out the Nirvana frontman’s cremated remains.

READ FULL STORY »

Mar 16 2011 12:41 PM ET

Lupe Fiasco's Lasers beams at No. 1 on Billboard 200 albums chart

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Categories: Adele, Charts, Hip-Hop/Rap, Lupe Fiasco
Lupe-Fiasco

Surprisingly, Lupe Fiasco’s new Lasers bumps Adele’s 21 out of the No. 1 spot this week’s on the Billboard 200 albums chart. Fiasco’s third album, one we love, isn’t exactly the artist’s favorite. The animosity he has towards it is due the toll the creative process and his Atlantic record label put him through. But it seems to have been worth it, as Lasers sold 204,000 records in its debut week–the highest first week total of Lupe’s career. 21 continues its strong sales, moving 133,000 units. While Glee‘s latest soundtrack comes in third with 90,000 sets purchased.

Check out the full top to after the jump.

READ FULL STORY »

Mar 16 2011 12:02 PM ET

Nate Dogg: The hip-hop crooner's five standout collaborations

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Categories: 50 Cent, About Last Night, Dr. Dre, Hip-Hop/Rap, In Memoriam, R&B, R.I.P.
warreng-snoop-dogg

Image Credit: Vince Bucci/Getty Images

A lot of my favorite songs wouldn’t be so if it weren’t for Nate Dogg, who passed last night. He wasn’t the best singer ever. But boy, Nate was necessary. Every track he blessed with his voice—monotone, melodious, and stern—became so much more intense. When he told us to “Lay Low,” you really felt like maybe staying inside was the best idea if you’ve crossed someone. He meant it. His tone and style was essential to Dr. Dre’s G-Funk era, which blended old school funk beats with rhymes that, at times, teetered on sinister.

Though Nate was also a wonderful fit on love songs, too—able to express his feelings without coming off soft. “I wrote the chorus to ‘21 Questions’,” 50 Cent said on Twitter hours ago of their collaboration on his 2003 hit. “I needed Nate to sing it for me. He had a way of making everything feel hard.” Hip-hop has lost its greatest hook man.

Here are some of my favorite Nate Dogg collabs.

Warren G. feat Nate Dogg, “Regulate”

READ FULL STORY »

Mar 16 2011 10:15 AM ET

Foo Fighters preview new album at SXSW (yes, it rocks)

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Categories: Foo Fighters, SXSW Festival
foo-fighters

Image Credit: Tim Mosenfelder/Getty Images

“What we like to do in these kind of situations is play the new record,” said Dave Grohl. “Would you like to hear the new record?”

The South by Southwest crowd, which had mobbed Stubb’s in Austin for last night’s “secret” show, responded in a “yes-we-do-but-we-also-want-to-hear-your-hits” kind-of way and the Foo Fighters proceeded to launch into the first track, “Bridge Burning,” from their upcoming album Wasted Light (out April 12). READ FULL STORY »

Mar 16 2011 06:38 AM ET

Singer Nate Dogg dies at 41

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Categories: Hip-Hop/Rap, In Memoriam
nate-dogg

Image Credit: Kirby Lee/WireImage

Singer Nate Dogg (Nathaniel Dwayne Hale), who came to fame in the 1990s after debuting on Dr. Dre’s The Chronic, died last night at the age of 41. The singer suffered a stroke in 2008. The cause of death has not yet been released. News of his death was first reported by the Long Beach, Calif. newspaper the Press Telegram, which confirmed the news with Nate’s family.

Following his debut on The Chronic, Nate’s streetwise-smooth hooks were an integral part of the loosely defined 1990s hip-hop subgenre known as G-Funk. He appeared on records by Warren G (“Regulate”), Snoop Dogg (“B—– Please”), and several tracks by Tupac, and later sung hooks on records by Ludacris, 50 Cent, Eminem, and many others. He also released a number of solo albums, including G-Funk Classics Vol. 1 & 2, Music & Me, and Nate Dogg. READ FULL STORY »

Mar 15 2011 09:01 PM ET

Kelly Clarkson's new album delayed

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Categories: Kelly Clarkson, Music, Music Biz, Pop, Release Date
Kelly-Clarkson

Image Credit: Kevin Mazur/WireImage.com

If you’re a fan of Kelly Clarkson, friend her on Facebook. It’s worthwhile, because she posts frequently, humorously and honestly. Earlier today, she alerted her legions that her much-anticipated fifth album has been delayed till September. (There had been earlier buzz that it would drop in the first or second quarter of the year.) Explains Clarkson: “I recently found out that my album won’t be coming out until September. The album has been recorded, but I can’t release it until then. I realize that is a long time, but that’s the best time to release it apparently so I’m sorry for the wait, but I promise you it sounds great!”

Details of the album are vague-ish, but Clarkson has provided some clues as she’s been recording. She revealed that it contains a cover of Eric Hutchinson’s “Why Don’t You Try” (her favorite cut, she says) and is “influenced by Prince, Tina Turner, Sheryl Crow, Radiohead and there’s a little bit of a Country vibe/influence on a couple of songs.” Oh, and the album is definitely not called “May” as previously rumored. (“That’s the worst title ever,” according to Clarkson.)

What do you think Kelly fans? Are you excited to hear the album? Are you bummed out by the delay? At least we have her excellent duet with Jason Aldean (“Don’t You Wanna Stay”) to hold us over for a while.

Mar 15 2011 07:00 PM ET

Celine Dion opens her new Las Vegas show, 'Celine,' tonight: Will you make it to Sin City to see it?

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Categories: Buzzworthy, Celine Dion, Divas!, Ladies, Music, Pop
Celine-Dion

Image Credit: Reuters/Gary Hershorn/Landov

Musical diva extraordinaire Celine Dion officially opens her new big-event show, Celine, at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas tonight. Can you even handle your excitement?!? By several accounts, like this recent one in Newsweek that asks the question “Can Celine Dion Save Las Vegas?” in its headline, Dion’s return to Vegas is literally seen as a second coming and reason enough for a resort city that suffers from 14 percent unemployment to hope again.

READ FULL STORY »

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