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Taylor Swift Cleans Up at AMAs

Vanessa Baker — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 15:26:25 +0000

Country singer Taylor Swift topped the American Music Awards leader-board with five wins, including Artist of the Year, reports E! News. However, the 19-year-old was not present at Sunday’s ceremony in Los Angeles because she was rehearsing for a show at London’s Wembley Arena .

Michael Jackson received four posthumous awards, rounding out his career total to 25. His brother, Jermaine Jackson, was present to accept on his behalf.

“We love you, Michael,” said Jermaine, who sported a sequined glove for the event. “It’s not just about the winnings, the awards, it’s mainly the message. The message that Michael had will live on forever and he saw good in everyone and he wanted them to do good. To start with love and let’s love each other.”

When Swift accepted her win for Artist of the Year, she gave tribute to the King of Pop. “I just want to say that music has never been ultimately about competition and to even be mentioned in a category with Michael Jackson who we’ll miss and love forever is an unimaginable honour. And I just want to say I’m sending my love to the Jackson family and Janet.”

American Idol’s Adam Lambert, Lady Gaga and Janet Jackson were among the many artists to perform at the show.

Michael Jackson and Swift received the honours for male and female artist, respectively, while the Black Eyed Peas picked up the award for band, duo or group. Michael’s album Number Ones was named Album of the Year.

Taylor Swift Doll

Vanessa Baker — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 20:30:11 +0000

American toy company Jakks Pacific has created six Taylor Swift dolls, reports Perez Hilton. Three of the dolls sing either “Teardrops on My Guitar,” “Our Song” or “Picture to Burn.”

The other three do not sing, instead focusing on the songstress’s fashion. The “Red Carpet Ready” doll sports a dress similar to the one by Reem Acra that Swift wore to last week’s Country Music Association Awards in Nashville, Tennessee.

Justin Bieber Fans Get Rowdy

Vanessa Baker — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 19:47:13 +0000

Thousands of Justin Bieber fans nearly caused a riot at a Long Island, NY mall waiting for the 15-year-old singer, reports E! News. One girl ended up in the hospital, and a member of Bieber’s crew was arrested as a result of the frenzy.

Bieber, from Stratford, Ont., ended up not showing up because of the hectic scene.

“They are not allowing me to come into the mall,” he tweeted. “If you don’t leave, I and my fans will be arrested as the police just told us. The event at Roosevelt Mall is cancelled. Please go home. The police have already arrested one person from my camp. I don’t want anyone hurt. I’m sorry to everyone who was in Long Island at the mall today. I was just trying to come meet fans and never meant to disappoint anyone.”

His debut album, My World, was released Tuesday by Island Records.

“Unfortunately, due to circumstances beyond our control, 15-year-old pop-singing sensation Justin Bieber was forced to cancel today’s CD signing at the Justice store at Roosevelt Mall in Long Island,” the label said in a statement. “Over 10,000 screaming fans showed up and the police and fire marshall concluded it was an unsafe environment and prohibited the event from taking place. Justin made every effort to enter the mall but was turned away by the police. Justin appreciates his fans and promises to make it up to them soon.”

Beyonce And Lady Gaga Team Up For ‘Video Phone’

Joelle Tomlinson — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 06:44:44 +0000

What do you get when you mix cameras, music, video phones, and two of the biggest divas in the U.S. music industry?

A music video with Beyonce and Lady Gaga, remixing Beyonce’s original “Video Phone” score. In the newly-released video, the two larger-than-life diva’s storm around in trench coats, bathing suits and heels. It opens up with a scintillating scene of Beyonce and her all-male posse marching down a seemingly-deserted alleyway with a purpose in mind.

Gaga and Beyonce are an interesting combination that makes for a unique music video. Azcentral.com says that the director, Hype Williams, “shoots a video in his trademark electrifying colour schemes and high-shine lighting, resulting in a fantastical pop mirage.”

With a combination of Beyonce’s trademark outlandish costume choices- and Gaga’s trademark outlandish behaviour, the new music video is sure to make heads turn. The “Video Phone” collaboration debuted Monday night on MTV and VH-1.

Miley Cyrus’ Tour Bus Accident Leaves One Dead

Joelle Tomlinson — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 05:16:46 +0000

In a fatal road accident last night involving one of Miley Cyrus tour buses, it seems the show must still go on for the ‘tween popstar.

TMZ reports that the accident has left one person dead and several more injured, though Cyrus herself was not on the bus that was involved in the accident on the Virginia highway. It seems the group of people injured are the singer’s lighting crew, so it will be interesting to see how the singer will manage on her scheduled show (that is still happening) on Sunday evening.

According to dose.ca, there were eyewitness reports stating that the bus drifted off the road before being led to flip. Apparently, the roads were slippery due to a previous bout of rain, and there is an ongoing investigation into whether the bus driver died previous to, or after the crash.

Cyrus tour has not been cancelled as of yet, and she is touring through the U.S. during the first week of December.

Paul McCartney Wins Gershwin Prize

Vanessa Baker — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 17:15:27 +0000

Paul McCartney will receive the Gershwin Prize for Popular Song, reports CBC. The former Beatle, 67, is the third person to receive the honour for songwriting, administered by the U.S. Library of Congress.

“It is hard to think of another performer and composer who has had a more indelible and transformative effect on popular song and music of several different genres than Paul McCartney,” said James H. Billington, Librarian of Congress.

“As a great admirer of the Gershwins’ songs, I am highly honoured to be given the Gershwin Prize by such a great institution,” McCartney said.

He will be honoured at a tribute concert in spring 2010.

Stevie Wonder and Paul Simon are the two former recipients of the Gershwin Prize, created in 2007.

Travis McCoy Back to Business

Stephen Baldwin — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 15:49:19 +0000

Gym Class Heroes rapper Travis McCoy will be releasing several different projects over the next year, according to Billboard.com.

With an upcoming solo project, McCoy is eager to escape the image of, “That dude who sings the song about his girlfriend,” in his group’s most popular song, Cupid’s Chokehold. “With this record, I feel like people are going to take me more seriously as a rapper and hopefully, as a singer as well.”

McCoy will also be releasing a documentary on MTV December 1st. “Travis McCoy’s Unbeaten Track,” will Chronicle the artist’s experiences while travelling with MTV’s Staying Alive foundation to South Africa, India and the Philippines. It will be accompanied by his charity single, One at a Time. “since it is a charity track, I wanted to keep the cheese factor to a bare minimum and make sure it’s sincere and from the heart,” said McCoy.

His fourth solo album, The Lazarus Project, will include the rapping and singing of McCoy, along with appearances by Cee-Lo and Chester French. “I tried to keep the guest appearances at a bare minimum because this is my first effort away from Gym Class Heroes, so I didn’t want it to be super appearance-driven,” he said.

But this in no way spells the end for Gym Class Heroes. Expect the group’s fourth album late next year, after his solo drops in Spring.

Lady Gaga Gets (more) Contemporary

Emma Renda — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 15:15:29 +0000

The Museum of Contemporary Art holds a lot more than just priceless works. This weekend, the L.A. art gallery hosted a 30th anniversary gala attended by dozens of celebs, including Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, Jessica Alba, Gwen Stefani and Gavin Rossdale, and Pierce Brosnan.

Undoubtedly the biggest splash of the event was Lady Gaga, as usual. Performing in Franceso Vezzoli’s Ballets Russes Italian Style (The Shortest Musical You Will Never See Again), Lady Gaga played a pink piano covered in blue butterflies designed by artist Damien Hirst for the performance art piece.

Vezzoli is known for merging celebrity and fine art. His latest exhibition is called Greed: A New Frangrance by Francesco Vezzoli and plays with the strategy of launching a commercial fragrance like so many celebrities try.

Lady Gaga was a welcome guest at the event, donning an elaborate Japanese Geisha-like couture costume.

“I’m in love with her,” Vezzoli told the Wall Street Journal Saturday night. “She’s managed to be a powerful artists without being a product of the system.”

Lady Gaga weighed in on the contemporary art world in an interview with the Wall Street Journal at the gala, seated alongside celebrity photographer David LaChapelle and gossip blogger Perez Hilton.

“For me, art is a lie, and the artists are there to create lies we kill when we make it true. Francesco and I were like warriors on stage, trying to make a true moment,” Lady Gaga said. “Art is life, life is art – the question is what came first?”

It’s been a busy week for Lady Gaga, whose latest video for “Bad Romance” premiered with heavy rotation on the Internet, and will guest star on tonight’s Gossip Girl following much anticipation.

No Doubt Sue Activision for Band Hero Manipulation

Emma Renda — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 19:30:00 +0000

In yet another case of The Music vs. Acitivision, No Doubt are filing a lawsuit against the makers of Band Hero.

The suit contends the game “transformed No Doubt band members into a virtual karaoke circus act,” and the use of the band members’ avatars far exceeded anything agreed upon in the contract, according to the Los Angeles Times. One aspect of the game allows players to manipulate their characters into singing songs by other artists, for example having lead singer Gwen Stefani sing “Honky Tonk Woman” by the Rolling Stones.

“While No Doubt are avid fans of the Rolling Stones and even have performed in concerts with the Rolling Stones, the Character Manipulation Feature results in an unauthorized performance by the Gwen Stefani avatar in a male voice boasting about having sex with prostitutes,” the complaint reads.

The complaint also claims Activision withheld information on the Character Manipulation Feature, and allegedly told the band after they had requested to the have the function disabled that it would be too expensive to do so.

Initially, No Doubt signed on to having their likenesses used for only three of their own songs in the game, but wound up appearing in more than 60 songs either as a band or solo. The lawsuit asks for actual and punitive damages that are as yet unspecified, a temporary restraining order and a permanent injunction stopping the distribution of Band Hero, as well as a recall of any existing copies.

The complaint argues the songs No Doubt appear on “include lyrics, contained in iconic songs, which are not appropriate for No Doubt and have not been chosen by No Doubt for recordings or public performances.”

“The band [members] are bitterly disappointed that their name and likeness was taken and used without their permission,” band manager Jim Guerinot told the Los Angeles Times. “They agreed to play three No Doubt songs as a band. . . . Activision then went and put them in 62 other songs and broke the band up [and] never even asked.”

As for Activision, they must be getting used to this sort of thing after coming under fire from both Dave Grohl and Courtney Love on behalf of Kurt Cobain when his likeness was used with the same Character Manipulation Feature.

Activision is claiming No Doubt’s suit is “without merit” and the company is now exploring its own legal options with respect to No Doubt’s obligations under the agreement.”

Bravado Sues Over Rights To Major Artists

Vanessa Baker — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 15:53:02 +0000

Bravado International Group is suing Dollar Days International, Alan Shrem and Kennedy-Shrem International for millions, claiming they are illegally using the names of Michael Jackson, the Rolling Stones, the Doors, Guns N’ Roses, Led Zeppelin and the Red Hot Chili Peppers, reports TMZ.

Bravado says they have the exclusive right to merchandise related to these artists, and the other companies have violated this right by selling shirts, watches, posters and other items. They are seeking $2 million per violation.