Ashley Parker Angel

For The Record: Quick News On J. Lo, Britney, Nick & Jessica, Will Ferrell, Ashley Parker Angel & More

02 Jan 2007 17:39:00 EST

Lopez steps it up with dance TV show; Spears 'just tired' at New Year's bash; Lachey, Simpson split assets.
By MTV News staff

She's a film, fashion and music superstar now, but it wasn't so long ago that Jennifer Lopez was making her living as a dancer. The former "In Living Color" Fly Girl and backup dancer for New Kids on the Block told MTV Tres that with the MTV reality show "Dancelife," she's out to show the world how hard dancers work. "I really know what it is to be a dancer, and what those struggles are and what it is, day to day, to be auditioning and have your feet hurt and your legs aching," Lopez explained. "It's a real hard life, and it's really underappreciated as an art form. ... We're following different dancers and their struggles and their lives." "Dancelife" premieres January 15 on MTV. ...

She may have already ditched partying partner and best-pal-for-a-minute Paris Hilton, but despite vowing to clean up her act, Britney Spears began 2007 much as she left 2006: in a nightclub amid controversy. Spears was the host of New Year's festivities at Las Vegas' Pure club, and, according to reports on gossip sites, she collapsed shortly after midnight and was carried out by bodyguards. Spears' manager Larry Rudolph, however, told The Associated Press that the singer "was not drunk. She was just tired and falling asleep." He denied reports that she passed out or had to seek medical attention. ...

Having reached an agreement regarding how to split their assets, Jessica Simpson and Nick Lachey have taken the final step in their divorce proceedings, People magazine reports. While the couple were legally free to marry other people as of June, this resolution brings the couple's marriage to an official end. The terms of the settlement were not disclosed. ... Will Ferrell's wife Viveca Paulin gave birth to the couple's second son, Mattias, early Saturday morning, AP reports. ...

Ashley Parker Angel is joining the Broadway cast of "Hairspray," a representative for the show confirmed. In a post on his MySpace page, the singer announced that he'll be playing heartthrob Link Larkin. "At a very young age I discovered my love of performing through the experience of live theater, so I am totally thrilled to be moving to New York and getting back to my roots!" the singer wrote. "This new direction has made me feel inspired in a way that I have not felt in a long time. ... This last year has brought me much success and I expect 2007 to be even better." Parker Angel will participate in the production from January 19 through April 15. ...

Don't send a wedding gift for Kate Moss and Pete Doherty just yet. A representative for the supermodel has denied reports that Moss married the troubled rocker on New Year's Day. Britain's Daily Mail had reported that the couple married in a Buddhist ceremony in the private garden of their $11,000-a-night luxury seaside villa in Phuket, Thailand, in front of a few family members and friends. "Contrary to various entirely false media reports today, there has not been any kind of marriage ceremony in Thailand," the model's representative said in a statement. "She is on holiday." British tabloid The Sun, which also reported about the Phuket ceremony, claimed the wedding was not legally binding and named January 18 as the couple's official wedding day. ...

Deftones frontman Chino Moreno and drummer Abe Cunningham will serve as guest DJs Tuesday night (January 2) on Sirius Satellite Radio's Octane channel, beginning at 6 p.m. ... Guitarist Jason Truby has left P.O.D., according to the band's MySpace page. Truby, who replaced Marcos Curiel back in 2003, said his "decision to depart as a member is personal" and preceded last month's announcement that Curiel would rejoin the band. "I believe in P.O.D. and will be a part of P.O.D. forever," he wrote. "They are lifelong friends. Sometimes you have to follow the wind even when you don't know where it's leading." P.O.D. performed with Curiel for the first time in four years on New Year's Eve in New York as part of a "Jimmy Kimmel Live" broadcast. ... Victory Records has confirmed that frontman Mat Bruso has indeed left Massachusetts metalcore act Bury Your Dead "for personal reasons." The label claims there are "no bad feelings" over the move, but the departure has forced the band to pull off a U.K. tour with Killswitch Engage and Shadows Fall. Bury Your Dead, who have had three singers within the last five years, plan to begin their search for a replacement soon. ...

George Michael will appear in a London court January 11 to answer charges that he was operating a vehicle while unfit to drive, AP reports. The singer was arrested October 2 after being found passed out inside his car, which was blocking an intersection in north London. The singer, who was released on bail for the unfit-to-drive charges and was also cited for possessing marijuana, had previously received a warning for marijuana possession in February, and hit three parked cars in an April driving incident. ... The sons of two music legends are going at it in court. In a complaint filed last week, Lou Rawls Jr. claims four large dogs owned by Marvin Gaye III attacked him when he visited Gaye's Hollywood home in 2005, according to AP. In the suit, filed in Los Angeles Superior Court, Rawls Jr. says the dogs "bit, clawed and physically and mentally injured." He is seeking unspecified damages. ...

Hinder are stretching out their early 2007 a little longer. The band, which sets out with a January 13 show in Ketchum, Idaho, will now be on the road through March 3 in New Orleans. ... The Queers have posted two new tracks — "Houston We Have a Problem" and "I Think She's Starting to Like Me" — on the band's MySpace page. The tunes will appear on the punk act's forthcoming album, Munki Brain, due next month. ... Florida hard-rock act Endo have split due to "drama" within the band, according to frontman Gil Bitton's MySpace page. Endo performed on the second stage during Ozzfest 2003, and released their last LP, Songs for the Restless, in 2003, before being dropped by Columbia Records.

12.29.2006

Britney Spears may have dumped K-Fed, but now it's her turn to get the boot. Ruben Garay, the founder of the six-year-old Spears fan site WorldofBritney.com, has announced that he's closing up shop because "as Britney keeps losing her identity and credibility within fans and industry people, so is [WorldofBritney.com]." A disappointed Garay wrote that Britney is "done" and "no matter what anyone thinks or how they may disagree, it's very hard to maintain the respect needed to keep things going." ...

Christina Aguilera and celebrity blogger Perez Hilton are teaming up to host a New Year's Eve bash at New York's Hudson Hotel. The Sunday night celebration kicks off at 9 p.m. ... Don't expect to see Nelly Furtado at any shindigs, though — not in this country, at least. The singer will be kicking it abroad with a headlining gig at Andheri Stadium in Mumbai, India. ...

Lily Allen needs your help. In a message posted on her MySpace page Thursday, the singer wrote: "I am beside myself with worry because someone has stolen my dog Maggie May this morning. I am in Jamaica, [and] while I am here Maggie has been looked after by a friend she was stolen out of his van." She's offering a reward, and photos of the dog can be seen on MySpace.com/LilyAllen. ...

For the second year in a row, the Rolling Stones were the top concert draw in North America, according to Pollstar magazine. The hard-touring British legends sold $138.5 million worth of tickets for 39 shows across the United States and Canada, giving them the third-biggest total in Pollstar history — behind their own 2005 tour and that year's U2 outing. Second on the list was Barbra Streisand, whose first tour in a dozen years hauled in $92.5 million for 20 shows, with an average ticket price of $298. Country couple Tim McGraw and Faith Hill were #3 with $88.8 million for 73 shows, followed by Madonna with $85.9 million for 34 shows. Ticket sales for the top 100 shows rose about 13 percent to $2.3 billion, breaking last year's record of $2.1 billion, mostly thanks to an 8 percent jump in the average ticket price from $56.88 to $61.45. ...

Paul McCartney's split with Heather Mills is getting nastier. On Thursday night, Mills McCartney reported the theft of two prized paintings, after which police went to Paul McCartney's country estate, according to The Associated Press. But a police spokesperson later confirmed that, after speaking with Mills McCartney and checking the premises, the paintings had in fact not been stolen and that the issue was a civil matter. ... Mike Tyson was charged with possession of cocaine and driving under the influence of drugs in Arizona early Friday morning (December 29), Reuters reports. The former boxing champ, who is due in court Friday, almost struck a sheriff's vehicle as he drove out of a driveway. ...

Finger Eleven will release their forthcoming LP, Them Vs. You Vs. Me, March 6. Fans can catch the band next month on the road with Hinder and Black Stone Cherry; that tour kicks off January 14 in Spokane, Washington, with dates scheduled through March 3 in New Orleans. ... Aqualung has set a March 6 release date for his second Stateside album, Memory Man. The British singer (a.k.a. Matt Hales) has sold more than 250,000 copies of his debut in the United States, thanks to the single "Brighter Than Sunshine." ...

Jay Farrar, Dar Williams, the Klezmatics and others will hail the Grateful Dead as part of the American Beauty

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Ashley Parker Angel, Augustana Might Make You Regret Skipping Tour Openers

26 Jul 2006 06:00:00 EDT

Pink Spiders, Rogue Wave — in addition to veterans like Frank Black — also among those in opening slots.
By Shana Leonard

Opening musical acts are like the redheaded stepchildren of the music scene: neglected, underappreciated and designated as second-class citizens by many concertgoers.

Many fans skip the supporting act and show up for concerts right before the headliner hits the stage. But in many cases, they're missing out on seeing the "next big thing" before it's selling out arenas. Or at the very least they're missing out on discovering a great band that they might really enjoy.

This summer, many opening acts are just as good — if not better — than the bands they're supporting. And don't forget about the slew of festivals, where even more up-and-comers play before the sun goes down. Here are some worthy supporting acts you might want to head out early for:

Who: The Pink Spiders
Supporting: Vans Warped Tour
Where you might have heard them: The band's "Little Razorblade" has been rocking the airwaves, and the video premiered on "TRL" in April.
Why you should show up early: Named one of the 100 Bands You Need to Know in 2006 by Alternative Press magazine, the Pink Spiders play garage pop-rock infused with deliriously catchy hooks bound to get your head bobbing and your foot tapping. Don't be deceived by their pink outfits and oversized sunglasses: These guys know how to rock.

Who: Ashley Parker Angel
Supporting: Ashlee Simpson
Where you might have heard him:
A regular on the reality-TV circuit, Angel got his big break when he was chosen as a member of O-Town for "Making the Band." After the group disbanded, Angel's struggle to launch a solo career was documented in the MTV series "There and Back."
Why you should show up early: Angel has undergone a musical and physical makeover since his stint as O-Town's resident heartthrob. Not only has he grown out his blond locks and started sporting a more laid-back rock style, but his solo songs feature an edgier sound that proves he's more than just a pretty face. Ashlee fans might dig the other Ashley's honest, attitude-laced pop.

Who: Augustana
Supporting: The Fray
Where you might have heard them: Augustana have earned a spot in the regular rotation at many radio stations nationwide with the emotional track "Boston," and they've already hit the road opening for the Counting Crows and Goo Goo Dolls.
Why you should show up early: Only in their early 20s, the members of Augustana seem to draw from a well of life experience equivalent to that of people twice their age. The band might be on the fast track already, having also secured an opening spot for Snow Patrol in September.

Who: X-Clan
Supporting: Jurassic 5
Where you might have heard them: In the early '90s, X-Clan made a significant mark on the rap scene as a conscious hip-hop act in the vein of Public Enemy or Brand Nubian.
Why you should show up early: After breaking up almost a decade ago, the group was recently reunited by Brother J, and a new album is scheduled to drop this fall. Like headliners Jurassic 5, X-Clan are a hip-hop group that rejects the gangsta-rap persona, shuns commercialization and blends a positive message with their beats.

Who: Frank Black
Supporting: Foo Fighters
Where you might have heard him: Frank Black is regarded as an indie-rock icon owing to his turn as frontman for the Pixies, who everyone from Kurt Cobain to Death Cab for Cutie's Ben Gibbard have cited as an influence.
Why you should show up early: Black's solo music is much more subtle and toned-down than the Pixies' gritty blasts. But his engaging, mellow tunes are more fitting for the Foo Fighters' current tour, during which they're playing stripped-down, acoustic sets.

Who: Rogue Wave
Supporting: Guster and Ray LaMontagne
Where you might have heard them: Like seemingly every other just-under-the-radar indie band, Rogue Wave had a tune, "Publish My Love," that made it into an episode of "The O.C." that aired this past season.
Why you should show up early: Signed to Sub Pop, the mecca of indie labels, the band blends sing-song vocals with layers of pop-rock. They've been drawing comparisons to everyone from My Bloody Valentine to Neil Young.

Who: Norma Jean
Supporting: Ozzfest
Where you might have heard them: The "Headbangers Ball" darlings have toured incessantly over the last few years, opening for Atreyu and As I Lay Dying, and their 2005 album, O God, the Aftermath, reached #62 on the Billboard albums chart last year.
Why you should show up early: They may be a Christian band, but Norma Jean's music isn't for the gentle-hearted. With their thrashing guitars and guttural vocals, the music demands a mosh pit and gets it. In addition to high energy, they're known to bring elaborate light shows and smoke machines to the stage.

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Red Hot Chili Peppers Hold Off Cam'ron, Make It A Billboard Double

24 May 2006 10:21:00 EDT

New music from Cam, Ashley Parker Angel, Christina Milian can't touch Peppers' Stadium.
By Chris Harris

The Red Hot Chili Peppers will spend a second straight week as the Billboard albums chart's supreme beings with Stadium Arcadium, extending rock's run as retail's current genre of champions — a trend started four weeks ago by Godsmack, who passed the torch to Tool, who handed it off to the Peppers.

Stadium's second-week sales plummeted 65 percent, but not enough for Cam'ron's newest, Killa Season, to assume the throne.

The Peppers' 28-track, Rick Rubin-helmed double LP sold an imposing 442,000-plus copies during its first week in stores to debut on top of the previous Billboard albums chart, marking the first time — in a career that's spanned more than 20 years — that the Red Hots pulled #1 off. Stadium Arcadium racked up an additional 157,000 scans this time out, outselling Cam's latest by more than 40,000 copies.

Killa Season, which moved close to 114,000 units, comes in at #2; the New York rapper previously opened at #2 in 2002, after selling 226,000 copies of Come Home With Me.

Tool's 10,000 Days, which has sold more than 800,000 copies in its three weeks of release, holds the #3 spot this week with 83,000 scans, followed by the soundtrack to the Disney Channel original movie "High School Musical," which surpasses the 2 million mark with 82,000 in sales.

Nine new releases, including Cam's, cracked this week's Billboard 200, but only three made the top 10. Former O-Town singer Ashley Angel Parker's first solo effort, Soundtrack to Your Life, bows at #5 slot after selling more than 72,000 copies. Broken Boy Soldiers, the inaugural offering from White Stripes frontman Jack White's the Raconteurs, debuts at #7 with 61,000 units sold. The 21st edition of the Now That's What I Call Music! series claims the #8 spot with 60,000 sales.

Rascal Flatts' Me and My Gang holds steady at #6 with 65,000 scans. The previous chart's #2 — Nick Lachey's What's Left of Me — is down to #9, as sales of the disc plunged 66 percent. Meanwhile, Pearl Jam's latest, self-titled outing rounds out the top 10 with 54,000 scans. An honorable "close but no cigar" goes to Christina Milian and Hoobastank, whose new albums flirted with top-10 debuts this week.

Milian's third offering, So Amazin', surfaces at #11 with week-one sales of 50,000, while Every Man for Himself, Hoobastank's third LP and the band's first in nearly three years, follows at #12 with just under 50,000 units scanned. Jamie Madrox, a discovery of the Insane Clown Posse signed to the duo's Psychopathic Records imprint, scored the sixth-highest-charting debut of the week with his first album, Phatso. That disc pops up at #107 with more than 8,000 scans.

California metalcore mavens As I Lay Dying wind up in the #129 slot after selling 7,000 copies of A Long March: The First Recordings, an album's worth of unreleased tracks and demo material. Ex-Del Fuego Dan Zanes sits in the #138 spot with his his latest offering of "alt-kids" music, Catch That Train!, which moved nearly 7,000 copies. Singer/songwriter Mason Jennings' fifth LP, Boneclouds, follows at #146 with around 6,000 scans.

Check out "MTV News RAW: Red Hot Chili Peppers" in Overdrive for an inside look at the creation of Stadium Arcadium.

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New Releases: Cam'ron, Raconteurs, Christina Milian, Ashley Parker Angel, Hoobastank & More

16 May 2006 06:00:00 EDT

Also due Tuesday: Whirlwind Heat, Twilight Singers, Depeche Mode, Dinosaur Jr., Rock Kills Kid.
By Kurt Orzeck

'Tis the Season: Cam'ron fans have been waiting to hear Killa deliver on the Jay-Z disses he not-so-subtly previewed earlier this year with a press conference and video spoof for the songs "Lick It or Not" and "Wet Wipes." Cam milks the press conference for all its worth, including it on a DVD accompanying the limited-edition run of Killa Season. That version also has behind-the-scenes footage of Cam's recent movie of the same name, plus two bonus songs.

Rac-A-Fellas: Pick up your copy of the Raconteurs' Broken Boy Soldiers debut in Japan and you'll find a bonus song, "The Bane Rendition." If you're searching for Jack White's other band in Australia, you'll have to look under "S" instead, since the group has to go by the name the Saboteurs down there for copyright reasons. But if you're in the States, you'll find the record in its 10-track splendor. Songs include "Steady, As She Goes," "Store Bought Bones" and "Intimate Secretary."

Milian Dollar Baby: If you were ahead of the ball, you might have requested a copy of Christina Milian's So Amazin' over iTunes, netting you two bonus songs and a couple of unreleased mixes of the first single, "Say I." But that's OK if you didn't, since all versions of the Cool & Dre-produced record are enhanced with the "Say I" video. And the singer adds a little hustle to her flow on "Who's Gonna Ride," featuring Three Six Mafia.

Stankonia: The third whiff from Hoobastank has a seven-minute songs with flutes ("More Than a Memory") and a vocal contribution from an actual barking sergeant. But if that's not enough reason to pick up Every Man for Himself, a limited-edition version comes with a bonus tee (no, it's not scratch and sniff), and both editions are enhanced with some video treats.

Lean on Them: Hip-hop artists seek help from big-name producers on virtually every record, but this week sees a bunch of rock acts canoodling with members of other bands. Rookies Rock Kills Kid cozy up with ex-Drive Like Jehu member Mark Trombino for their major-label blast-off, Are You Nervous? (should they really be the ones asking that question?). Five albums in, Mason Jennings looks for a shot of adrenaline from Modest Mouse frontman Isaac Brock, whose Glacial Pace imprint is putting out the Minneapolis singer/songwriter's LP (which unlocks additional content on MasonJennings.com). And another singer/songwriter, Marykate O'Neil, enlisted Jill Sobule to co-write and perform on much of her new one, 1-800-Bankrupt.

Cure keyboardist Roger O'Donnell, whose The Truth in Me was made entirely on a Moog, beckoned Postal Service member Jimmy Tamborello and Notwist keyboardist Martin Gretschmann to remix two tracks from the record. O'Donnell's second record also christens his new label, 99 X Out of Ten. Run Run Run — a band that cites the Cure as a big influence — hook up with Bauhaus' David J for their debut LP, Endless Winter. J, Z Trip and Madonna producer Marcus Brown bolster the limited-edition double-disc version of the record with remixes, while the album itself huddles together some tracks from the Los Angelinos' self-released EPs.

Age Discrimination: None of the Finals are more than 25 years old, which should give their John Naclerio (My Chemical Romance, Brand New)-produced debut, Plan Your Getaway, an even younger appeal. Instrumentalist Mike Oldfield sold more than 16 million copies of his Tubular Bells record when he was still in his teens, and his performances from eight years later are captured on the DVD "Live at Montreux 1981." And singer/songwriter/super-producer T Bone Burnett — who hasn't released a solo LP in 14 years — is making up for lost time by simultaneously releasing the new DualDisc The True False Identity and the compilation Twenty Twenty: The Essential T Bone Burnett.

Song Title of the Week:

"My Electric Underwear" from Whirlwind Heat's Types of Wood

Other Notables:

Ashley Parker Angel's Soundtrack to Your Life vs. Radioinactive's Soundtrack to a Book: Where's Soundtrack of Our Lives when we need them? Surely they'd break the stalemate between this week's two soundtracks that technically aren't. The former O-Town singer's "There and Back" TV show has led him to happiness, as he plainly states on "I'm Better," "Feel So Alive" and "Perfect Now." Radioinactive, a member of avant-garde hip-hoppers the Shapeshifters, is anything but simple on his Book, for which he culled a synthesizer built in 1975, a robot from '78 and a recording made by a cult leader in '82. Radio's charming cover photo — it's a shot of him as a kid, playing with a droid — gives him even more of an advantage.

Depeche Mode's reissues vs. Dinosaur Jr.'s reissues: While they weren't exactly from the same era — DM got off to an earlier start in 1980 — both bands peaked artistically in the late '80s and reveled in the doom and gloom throughout. Now their best works are being remastered for all you fancy-pants fans: DM's Speak & Spell, Music for the Masses and Violator are being dished out again, this time with a bonus DVD of 5.1 and enhanced-stereo mixes, DVD-only B-sides and remixes, a short film about the making of the record and deluxe packaging with lyrics and hard-to-find pics. Dinosaur Jr.'s notable Green Mind and Where You Been have three bonus tracks apiece, but alas, no extra disc. Also due this week is frontman J Mascis' self-explanatory Live at CBGB's: The First Acoustic Show, an unreleased LP limited to just 5,000 copies and available only at the Coalition of Independent Music Stores. The 1993 gig — at which Mascis played a cover of Lynyrd Skynyrd's "Every Mother's Son" — clinches him the brass ring.

The Wedding Present's Search for Paradise: Three songs from last year's Take Fountain, plus a heap of remixes and B-sides, constitute the U.K. band's second release since reuniting in 2004. Tacked onto the set is a DVD containing a film that accompanies a live acoustic version of "Perfect Blue," behind-the-scenes stuff and clips for "Interstate 5," "I'm From Further North Than You," "Ringway to Seatac" and "Don't Touch That Dial."

The Twilight Singers's Powder Burns: No less than Ani DiFranco and Joseph Arthur helped Greg Dulli and his Twilight Singers with their fourth effort, Powder Burns, which they partially documented in New Orleans with Neville Brothers (and Joseph Arthur) collaborator Mike Napolitano. That location alone brings extra weight to songs like "Toward the Waves" and "Underneath the Waves."

New Releases:

Ashley Parker Angel - Soundtrack to Your Life (Universal)

Buy Now: Soundtrack to Your Life (Universal)

Bananarama - Drama (The Lab)

Buy Now: Drama (The Lab)

The Bank Robbers - Tomorrow Belongs to Me (No Milk)
Bal-Sagoth - The Chthonic Chronicles (Candlelight)
Ignacio Berroa - Codes (Blue Note)
Big 10-4 - Testing the Atmosphere (Universal)
The Blue Bloods - Death of a Salesman (I Scream)
T Bone Burnett - The True False Identity (DualDisc due same day; Columbia)
Cam'ron - Killa Season (limited-edition version with DVD and two bonus tracks due same day; Rap-a-Lot)
Read: "Mixtape Monday: LL Cool J Stays Hungry, Cam'ron Delivers A Preview"

Buy Now: Killa Season (Rap-a-Lot)

Crackjaw - Giants From the Stereo (I Scream)
Paul Di'Anno - The Living Dead (with DVD; Cleopatra)
Dir En Grey - Withering to Death (Warcon)
Dirtie Blonde - Dirtie Blonde (Jive)
Dissection - Reinkaos (The End)
Don Caballero - World Class Listening Problem (Relapse)
Tim Easton - Ammunition (New West)
The Finals - Plan Your Getaway (EP: Stab Me)
Gigi - Gold & Wax (digipak; Palm Pictures)
Hawnay Troof - Dollar and Deed (two CDs; Retard Disco)
Hillstomp - The Woman Who Ended It All (In Music We Trust)
Hoobastank - Every Man for Himself (limited-edition version due same day; Island)
Read: "Hoobastank Find Inspiration For New LP In Scott Weiland's Cold Shoulder"

Buy Now: Every Man for Himself (Island)

Ignite - Our Darkest Days (Abacus)
The iOs - In Sunday Songs (Kanine)
Mason Jennings - Boneclouds (Epic)
Lotus - The Strength of Weak Ties (Harmonized)
The Marked Men - Fix My Brain (Swami)
Mary Lee's Corvette - Love Loss & Lunacy (digipak; Western Force)
David Mead - Tangerine (Tallulah)
Melvins - Houdini Live: A Live History of Gluttony and Lust (Ipecac)
Minutes Til Midnight - Godless Regardless (EP; self rel

Related Artists
- Cam'ron
- Raconteurs
- Christina Milian
- Ashley Parker Angel
- Hoobastank

For The Record: Quick News On T.I., DMX, Green Day, John Mayer, Pussycat Dolls, Ashley Parker Angel & More

15 May 2006 19:15:00 EDT

T.I. tour to resume in California; DMX arrested in London airport; Green Day honored for creativity.
By MTV News staff report

In the wake of last Wednesday's brief detour to an Atlanta jail over an outstanding warrant in Florida, T.I. has decided to cancel a planned 10-day tour of Japan. According to a spokesperson at his label, the rapper will resume his U.S. tour on May 24 at the House of Blues in Anaheim, California. The dates in support of his latest album, King, were disrupted on May 3 when a late-night appearance at a Cincinnati club ended in a gun battle with unidentified assailants, who shot and killed T.I.'s assistant, Philant Johnson. ...

DMX's legal woes aren't just contained to the U.S. The rapper was arrested by British police on Saturday when his plane landed in London, detained for abusing the crew on his American Airlines flight. According to a Scotland Yard spokesperson, X got into a verbal confrontation with staff as the plane was approaching Heathrow Airport, reportedly refusing to fasten his seatbelt. He was cautioned and released over the incident. ...

Green Day will receive the Creative Voice Award at the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers' 23rd annual Pop Music Awards on May 22 in Beverly Hills, California. Annie Lennox is receiving the ASCAP Founders Award. ... John Mayer will headline the final night of the 13th annual Telluride Blues & Brews Festival in Telluride, Colorado, from September 15-17. Mayer is performing with the Voice of the Wetlands All-Stars, which include Louisiana music royalty like Tab Benoit and Cyril Neville. ... Aerosmith are returning to the studio on May 20 to begin recording their next album. "It's Armed Forces Day and we're going in with guns a blazing," singer Steven Tyler said in a statement. ...

Trey Anastasio will open the second leg of Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers' Highway Companion summer tour, which will begin July 29 in Portland, Oregon. Anastasio, who is also performing on many first-leg dates, will open alongside the Allman Brothers Band. Petty's Highway Companion album is due this summer. ... Pussycat Dolls fans have to wait until the end of the year to bring Nicole, Carmit, Ashley, Melody, Kimberly and Jessica home in 12-inch fashion-doll form, but now they can relax in a virtual hot tub with likeminded people as they count down the days. PCDMusicLounge.com, an online club where visitors can chat with each other, listen to club hits and create personalized avatars, is live in beta form, with the official launch set for later this month. ...

The Memphis, Tennessee, house Elvis Presley lived in before moving to Graceland sold on eBay over the weekend for a winning bid of $905,100. The new owners, psychic Uri Geller and two partners, intend to restore the home and eventually turn it into a museum. ... A Los Angeles Superior Court judge ruled Friday that a lawsuit filed by Phil Spector against former assistant Michelle Blaine — and Blaine's countersuit against Spector — will proceed as scheduled, denying the producer's bid to delay the cases until after he stands trial for the murder of actress Lana Clarkson, The Associated Press reports. Spector's attorneys sought to postpone the suits arguing that the civil cases could give prosectors information pertaining to the criminal trial, which is scheduled to begin in January. The judge advised Spector, currently free on $1 million bail, that he could dismiss his civil suit against Blaine if he wishes to avoid standard discovery procedures. A hearing is set for May 24.

Ashley Parker Angel is celebrating the release of his solo debut, Soundtrack to Your Life, Tuesday with an in-store performance/record signing at FYE's Palisades Center Mall location in Nyack, New York. The party continues at New York City nightclub Avalon, where Angel is scheduled to perform later that night. And on Thursday, he'll join Bow Wow, Fefe Dobson, "High School Musical" star Vanessa Anne Hudgens and MTV's own Susie Castillo on the runway for Teen People's "Best of Fall" fashion event at New York's Industria. Angel is also teaming up with the magazine for its Rock N Shop Tour, scheduled to hit malls in Minnesota (July 7); Dallas (July 18); Garden City, New York (August 11); and Chicago (August 18). ... Epitaph Records has retired its Punk-o-Rama compilation series after 10 releases in 10 years and will launch a new series, Unsound, June 6. The album will find Korn producer Atticus Ross remixing From First to Last, as well as tracks from Danger Doom, Matchbook Romance and Motion City Soundtrack. ...

Alien Ant Farm will release their third album and first in three years, Up in the Attic, July 25. The record was mostly produced by Jim Wirt (Incubus), although Jay Baumgardner (Coal Chamber, Papa Roach) handled the first single, "Forgive & Forget." "BUSted," the band's first DVD, is also due July 25. ... Alice Cooper was presented with the key to Alice, North Dakota, on Sunday, The Associated Press reports. The small town — home to approximately 60 people and named after the daughter of a railroad surveyor, not the rocker — handed Cooper a marble plaque and a gold-plated key. "There's not a whole lot of buildings to unlock with that key," Mayor Dan Lund said. "But Alice is a cool guy and Alice is a cool city — so it's a fun thing to do."

A suit filed by Aston "Family Man" Barrett, longtime bass player for Bob Marley's Wailers, was dismissed by London's High Court on Monday, The Associated Press reports. A British justice sided with Island-Universal Records and the Marley family, who maintained that Barrett surrendered his rights to Wailers royalties in exchange for $500,000 in a 1994 settlement. Barrett was seeking the equivalent of $115 million. ... Former Power 105 New York radio personality Star (real name Troi Torain), was arraigned in a New York court Friday night on a charge of endangering the welfare of a child and freed after posting $2,000 bail, the AP reports. Torain, who was arrested Friday, made on-air threats against the 4-year old daughter of rival DJ Envy on Wednesday. Police initially announced that Torain would also be charged with harassment. A spokesperson for the district attorney's office said prosecutors are not proceeding with that count but that the investigation will continue. Torain is scheduled to appear in court May 30.

05.12.2006

T.I. was arrested Wednesday for violating probation in Florida that stemmed from a 2003 incident in which he pleaded guilty to battery of an officer. The warrant accused T.I. of not completing at least five hours per month of his 375 community-service hours. His attorney Dwight Thomas, however, told Atlanta's WSBTV that it was nothing more than a "technical matter" between policies in Georgia and Florida. Also on Wednesday, T.I. appeared in court for an unrelated case, in which the rapper was accused of threatening several men outside an Atlanta strip club. ...

In an interview with the Detroit Free Press, D12's Kon Artis said that the Eminem-fronted hip-hop collective plans to carry on without Proof, who was killed during an April 11 nightclub shooting. Kon said that D12 will finish the album they'd been working on, and that the effort will feature verses Proof recorded before his death. "We're just taking the record to the next level," Kon Artis said. "We had some songs recorded already. We got a song called 'Holding Our Own' that we recorded, and Proof is on that song. If people think that because he's not here we're not going to keep doing what we're doing, then they're wrong." The album may include guest appearances by Dr. Dre, 50 Cent, Busta Rhymes and G-Unit, he said, adding that an album by Proof, called Time Will Tell, should also surface this year. Proof recorded the LP in 24 hours a few months back. ...

Young Jeezy and Paul Wall will perform for VIPs only at Atlanta's Fox Theater on June 16, serving it up for 3,000 local youth who have volunteered at least four hours of their time to community service through Boost Mobile RockCorps. To pitch in for your community — and possibly earn your way into an exclusive concert while you're at it — head to BoostMobileRockCorps.com. ... The ugly war of words between mixtape maven and Hot 97 DJ Envy and former Power 105 New York radio personality Star reached a new low this week. Star (real name Troi Torain) was arrested on charges of endangering the welfare of a child and harassment after he made sexually explicit comments about Envy's 4-year old daughter Wednesday morning. Star was subsequently fired from Power 105 later that night. The rivalry between Envy and Star had heated up over the past several days after Star made some racially and sexually explicit comments about Envy's part-Asian wife. In retaliation, Envy went to Power 105 and waited outside the station to fight Star, although the two wound up never crossing paths. ...

Paris Hilton, Nick Cannon, Foo Fighters' Taylor Hawkins and members of Linkin Park and Korn were on hand to preview Six Flags Magic Mountain's TATSU, touted as the world's tallest and fastest flying roller coaster. Nicole Richie ex DJ AM provided the music for the event, which doubled as a birthday party for Joe Francis, the mind behind "Girls Gone Wild." Those who missed the bash can line up for a ride on TATSU beginning Saturday, when the coaster opens to the public at the Valencia, California, theme park. ... Former Wailers frontman Elan — who is putting together

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For The Record: Quick News On Michael Jackson, Jennifer Lopez, Yellowcard, Ashley Parker Angel, Diddy, Alicia Keys & More

18 Apr 2006 17:58:00 EDT

Jacko joins with new label, manager; J. Lo follows Gwen Stefani's lead; Alicia Keys visits South Africa.
By MTV News staff report

Michael Jackson had planned to release his forever-forthcoming Hurricane Katrina charity single on a fledgling label called Two Seas Records, which was set up by his benefactor, Bahraini Prince Abdulla Hamad Al Khalifa. But now the singer's signed to the label himself, promising to record a new album for release by next year, the label announced Tuesday (April 18). British music-industry exec Guy Holmes, who has been named CEO of the label, will also take on the role of Jackson's manager. "I am incredibly excited about my new venture," Jackson said in a statement, "and I am enjoying being back in the studio making music." ...

Jennifer Lopez is putting the finishing touches on her upcoming Spanish-language album, Como Ama Una Mujer (which translates to How a Woman Loves), but she's already brainstorming her next project, she revealed to Harper's Bazaar in the magazine's May cover story (Click to see Lopez's Harper's Bazaar photos.) The singer said her follow-up will be a ska-tinged pop album and spoke highly of former ska-pop queen Gwen Stefani. "Women who've started their own trends, who don't care what other people are thinking ... I admire Gwen Stefani's style and Madonna's. Those two have blazed their own trails." Meanwhile, Lopez has revised the dates for her upcoming international tour. She's nixed shows in Mumbai, India, and Istanbul, Turkey, and has added one in Sofia, Bulgaria, on May 2. ...

Ashley Parker Angel shows off his lack of cooking skills on Tuesday's episode of Diddy's weeklong series, "Celebrity Cooking Showdown." "I do not cook," Parker Angel said. "I'm the first one to say it. Coming into this thing, I knew how to make Eggo [waffles] and ice cubes, and that was like it." Competing with the likes of Tom Arnold, Patti LaBelle and Gabrielle Reese, the former O-Town singer said he had to overcome his fear of chopping off his fingers to please his partner chef, Wolfgang Puck. "Wolf was like, 'Faster, faster,' and I play guitar, I play piano, I need my fingers, you know?" If Parker Angel makes the cut, he'll compete again on Thursday for the final cook-off. The show airs at 8 p.m. ET on NBC, and the winner will be announced live on Friday. ...

Yellowcard will hit the road this summer for a string of festival and club dates. The tour kicks off in earnest May 7 at the Beale Street Music Festival in Memphis, Tennessee, and makes stops at radio festivals in Boston, Providence and Columbia, Maryland, before hitting its stride with the first club gig June 1 at the Marquee Theatre in Tempe, Arizona. The club tour is currently scheduled to run until the end of June, but more dates are expected to be announced shortly. Matchbook Romance and Hedley will join YC for the shows. ... After visiting an AIDS clinic in Masaka, Uganda, last week, Alicia Keys was in Durban, South Africa, Tuesday to visit more Keep a Child Alive-sponsored sites, including the AIDS Healthcare Foundation's Ithembalabantu ("people's hope" in Zulu) Healthcare Center. The clinic provides free medical care and antiretroviral treatment to thousands of children and families living with HIV/AIDS. Keys and the KCA group spent two hours visiting a few hundred patients, about 50 of whom were children. ...

Hoobastank and Korean R&B singer Se7en are scheduled to perform live at MTV Japan's Video Music Awards May 27. The event — which will take place at the National Yoyogi Stadium No. 1 Gymnasium — will also feature Japanese R&B singer AI, reggae duo Def Tech and Japanese pop icon Kumi Koda, as well as Rihanna for the red-carpet show. Andrew W.K. and Pamela Anderson join previously announced Asian celebrity presenters such as Anna Tsuchiya, Melody and Soul'd Out. ... "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire" sure worked its magic on the box office — the fourth film in the franchise became the first digitally remastered 2D IMAX film to reach the milestone of grossing $20 million, Warner Bros. Pictures and IMAX announced Tuesday. "Harry Potter" also set records for IMAX with the biggest three-day opening weekend and highest per-screen average. ...

The reunited Alice in Chains will perform at the 2006 Sturgis Motorcycle Rally August 11 in Sturgis, South Dakota, according to the event's Web site. Other artists lined up to perform include Kid Rock, Alice Cooper, Lynyrd Skynyrd and Blue Öyster Cult. Alice in Chains will launch a brief U.S. club tour on May 18 in Los Angeles, with Comes With the Fall frontman William DuVall and other guest vocalists filling in for the late Layne Staley. No other dates have been revealed. ... Due to an undisclosed illness, Head Automatica have been forced to pull out of three of the dates on the band's current tour with Coheed and Cambria and Avenged Sevenfold. Head Automatica, whose frontman Daryl Palumbo battles Crohn's disease, missed a performance scheduled in Houston on Monday and will not appear at shows set for San Antonio, Texas, on Tuesday and Grand Prairie, Texas, on Wednesday. Head Automatica's new album, Popaganda, hits stores June 6. ...

Mötley Crüe drummer Tommy Lee has been suffering from tendonitis in recent weeks, impeding his ability to pound the kit. But it appears the injury hasn't impacted Tommy's skills behind the ones and twos, as he's lined up a number of DJ gigs. Lee will be manning the turntables at Boston's Avalon (April 29); Louisville, Kentucky's Atlas (May 6); Las Vegas' Ice (May 27); Atlantic City, New Jersey's Mixx (June 9); and Las Vegas' Hard Rock Hotel (July 17). ... Panic Channel, featuring former Jane's Addiction guitarist Dave Navarro and drummer Stephen Perkins, will head out on a 17-date club tour that kicks off May 16 in San Diego. Dates run through June 7 in Los Angeles. Navarro will also co-host the upcoming Erotica LA convention, set for June 23-25, with adult-film star Jenna Jameson. ... Melissa Etheridge announced on her Web site Tuesday that her partner, Tammy Lynn Michaels, is pregnant with twins. "We are thrilled to announce that Tammy is pregnant, and expecting our twins sometime around this fall," read the statement. "To answer the obvious question: We used an anonymous donor from a [sperm] bank." ...

Jimmy Tamborello, the electronic whiz kid behind the Postal Service, will release a solo album titled Mistake Mistake Mistake Mistake under the moniker James Figurine. Due July 11, the 10-track disc will include vocal collaborations with Rilo Kiley and Postal Service associate Jenny Lewis, Kings of Convenience's Erlend Øye as well as designer/animator/poet Geoff McFetridge. ... Having toured the country — twice — and sung out loud and proud against President Bush on "The Tonight Show," Conor Oberst is now hard at work on a follow-up to the two Bright Eyes albums he released last year, Digital Ash in a Digital Urn and I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning. According to the band's label, Saddle Creek, Bright Eyes — now consisting of Oberst, Saddle Creek utilityman Mike Mogis and trumpet player Nate Walcott — are writing and recording a new album right now, and they've gotten help from singer/songwriter M. Ward and Sleater-Kinney drummer Janet Weiss. The still-untitled LP is tentatively due in spring 2007. Bright Eyes will take a break from recording beginning in June to play a handful of shows in Canada, plus an appearance at the Bonnaroo Music Festival in Manchester, Tennessee. ...

Vanessa Carlton performs on an upcoming episode of "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition," in which two grandparents raising three orphaned grandchildren in Philadelphia get a renovated home. The renovation takes place over the course of two back-to-back episodes airing April 30 beginning at 7 p.m. on ABC. Since the children's late mother suffered from breast cancer, Carlton's performance takes place at a breast cancer awareness fundraising concert. ... Patti LaBelle isn't someone you'd immediately associate with country music — nevertheless, the R&B singer is going to serve as a guest judge on "Nashville Star." "So much of country music's heritage comes from rhythm and blues," the show's executive producer Jeff Boggs said. "Her advice for our contestants will be invaluable." LaBelle will give the five remaining hopefuls helpful hints during episode six, which airs live Tuesday at 10 p.m. ET on the USA network.

04.17.06

Mario Etheridge, the bouncer at Detroit's CCC Club suspected in the shooting death of D12's Proof, was arraigned on weapons charges Saturday morning in Detroit's 36th District Court. Etheridge's attorney, Randall Upshaw, entered not guilty pleas on his client's behalf during the hearing. According to the Detroit Free Press, Magistrate Steve Lockhart set Etheridge's bond at $70,000 — an amount he has yet to post. He's due in court for a preliminary hearing April 26. ...

According to Jimmy Rosemond, who manages the Game, the Compton, California, MC wasn't in court in Greensboro, North Carolina, on March 28 because an appearance summons never showed up in his mailbox. In a statement issued Monday afternoon (April 17), Rosemond said "there was a change of address in which Game did not receive his court summons." (Last week a judge issued a bench warrant for the Game's arrest after he missed his court date.) The Game still faces charges of disorderly conduct a

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Jennifer Lopez In The May 2006 Issue Of "Bazaar"

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For The Record: Quick News On Paris Hilton, Ja Rule, Kanye West, Michael Jackson, Jay Dee & More

24 Mar 2006 17:54:00 EST

Paris opens another club; Ja cooks off against Ashley Parker Angel; another Jay Dee album in the works.
By MTV News staff report

Paris Hilton is expanding her Club Paris chain. After recently opening a nightclub in Orlando, Florida, the heiress' next club opens July 1 in Jacksonville at the Jacksonville Landing. Hilton is contractually obligated to appear there at least twice a month and is expected to be at the opening. ...

From the mind of Diddy comes "Celebrity Cooking Showdown," a weeklong cooking competition highlighting the culinary talents of some of the most disparate celebrities under the sun. Ja Rule, Ashley Parker Angel and, um, Tom Arnold join host Alan Thicke in a contest to judge just who is the best chef. Diddy — who's on board as an executive producer — enthuses that "people love seeing celebrities under pressure — and with this show, if you can't stand the heat, you better get out of the kitchen." The fun gets under way April 17 on NBC. ... On April 12, former Destiny's Child songbird Kelly Rowland will kick off the 8th Wonder of the World Concert Series in the shadow of the Taj Mahal in Agra, India. The concerts — scheduled to take place over the next five years at some of the world's most famous locations, including Beijing's Forbidden City and the Parthenon in Athens — will benefit children worldwide affected by HIV and AIDS. For more information, check out EighthWonderOfTheWorld.com. ...

Kanye West has signed on to perform at the Stockholm Jazz Festival July 20, The Associated Press reported Friday (March 24). Sting was also announced to play the Swedish summer festival. ... Operation Unknown, the label releasing the late Jay Dee's Jay Love Japan May 2, will also release another finished Jay album, All I.D., in 2007. Jay Love Japan will feature guest spots from Jay's mother, Maureen "Ma Dukes" Yancey, and brother-in-law, comedian BoBo Lamb. J Dilla's The Shining is due July 11 on BBE Entertainment. ... La Toya Jackson says her brother Michael never wants to be at Neverland Ranch again. The singer's sister told "Access Hollywood" in an interview airing Friday that, "I have to tell you that when all of this was over, he said he would leave and never come back [to] Neverland." Claiming that her brother's privacy had been invaded, she said, "It's time to leave, and that's what he did." La Toya says Michael is much happier in Bahrain, where he is "content with his life at the moment." ...

"Dancing With the Stars" champion Drew Lachey and his wife, Lea, welcomed their first child Thursday, according to People magazine. There's no word yet on what name the 29-year-olds have picked for their daughter, but Drew's "Dancing" partner, Cheryl Burke, said there's no question he'll be a good poppa. "He will not spoil his child, that's for sure," she told People. "But he's so loving and he's going to love his baby like no other." ... "Dancing With the Stars" alum Master P and son Lil' Romeo will team up with R&B vocalist Michael Warren for a concert honoring some of America's troops. It'll be staged at Rose Barracks in Vilseck, Germany, March 29. The event — staged for the members of the 18th Corps Support Battalion and the 94th Engineer Combat Battalion who're returning from Iraq — will also feature games, carnival rides and a magic show. ...

The Vice-curated Intonation Music Festival is ramping up its roster. An eclectic mix of hip-hop and British grime (Lupe Fiasco, Devin the Dude, Dead Prez, Kano, Lady Sovereign), noise rock (Boredoms, the Constantines), sludge metal (High on Fire), bedroom pop (José González) and dance (Annie, Chromeo) round out a bill headlined by Bloc Party and the Streets. Other acts announced include Jon Brion, the Stills, 90 Day Men, Panthers and Tyrades. Intonation takes place June 24 and 25 at Chicago's Union Park. ... Keane have set a June 20 release date for their second record, Under the Iron Sea. The first single is "Is It Any Wonder?." ...

Having gained some recent attention with the Postal Service remix of her "Mushaboom" track, Canadian chanteuse Feist is releasing a collection of remixes, collaborations and miscellaneous material. The Canadian import Open Season will feature the aforementioned Postal tweak plus songs featuring rapper K-OS, French superstar Jane Birkin, Kings of Convenience, Chilly Gonzales and Mocky — the latter two, along with Jamie Lidell and Renaud Letang, are currently working on the follow-up to Feist's 2004 effort, Let It Die.

03.23.2006

Destiny's Child may be over, but they're still receiving accolades. The trio will collectively get a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame Tuesday near the Kodak Theatre at 6801 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood. ...

Fantasia has signed on to play herself in a movie about her life scheduled to air on Lifetime in August. The movie will be based on her memoir, "Life Is Not a Fairy Tale," which chronicled how she overcame sexual abuse, poverty and illiteracy. ... As if the skateboards, shoes, a football league, candy and Cadillac line were not enough, Snoop Dogg is lending his name to another product: dog gear. (It's about time.) The Snoop line, made by Jakks Pacific Inc., will include treats, leashes, apparel, toys and beds, according to the rapper's management. Snoop is set to tour Japan, Australia and New Zealand next month. ...

Just weeks after undergoing surgery for breast cancer, Sheryl Crow is well on her way to recovery. The 44-year-old singer told People magazine that she's a "walking poster child for mammograms. I'm just taking care of myself right now. I'm really dedicating my life to getting back on my feet, living in a very healthy way and appreciating life." Crow told the magazine that she went to see the Pretenders in Los Angeles Monday. "I haven't been out in ages," she said. "It's nice to get out and see friends." Crow is scheduled to hit the road again starting June 12 in Indianapolis. ... Shakira will be honored with the Spirit of Hope Award at the upcoming 2006 Billboard Latin Music Awards for her humanitarian work. The Colombian singer will also perform on the show, which will be broadcast live on Telemundo April 27. ...

Producer Phil Spector's murder trial was postponed until September on Wednesday after both prosecution and defense attorneys said they would be busy with other cases until then, according to Reuters. Spector, 66, was slated to stand trial in April on charges that he shot and killed actress Lana Clarkson at his Los Angeles home in February 2003, hours after meeting her at a local club. He is free on $1 million bail. ... The funeral for influential X-Clan member Professor X (a.k.a. Lumumba Carson), who died of spinal meningitis on March 17, will be held Friday from 5-9 p.m. at the Antioch Baptist Church in Brooklyn, New York. ...

Ludacris will perform at the launch party for Atlanta Peach magazine, set for March 31 at the InterContinental Hotel in Atlanta. Pamela Anderson, who will grace the cover of the inaugural issue, is hosting the party. ... Fort Minor (featuring Linkin Park MC Mike Shinoda) and Bucket of Weenies (featuring LP singer Chester Bennington) will co-headline the 11th anniversary concert for Bennington's Club Tattoo shops. The event, also featuring Story of the Year, Wicked Wisdom (Jada Pinkett Smith's rock band) and Z-Trip, is scheduled for April 22 at Acme Roadhouse in Tempe, Arizona. ... Ex-Libertines member and current Babyshambles leader Pete Doherty allegedly kicked a reporter in the arm on his way out of court Thursday (March 23), where he'd just pleaded guilty to seven drug-possession charges. The BBC radio journalist described the scene as "total chaos" as the media swarmed the 26-year-old. Last month a judge ordered Doherty to serve 12 months of community service on other drug-related charges. ...

The Killers, the Prodigy and Hot Hot Heat will headline the annual Ultra Music Festival Saturday at Miami's Bicentennial Park. Perry Farrell, Paul Van Dyk, Carl Cox, Hard-Fi, Richie Hawtin and BT are also on the bill. ... In a race that sounds more like a National Enquirer headline, Sharon Osbourne beat Kate Moss to win the Freemans Celebrity Mum of the Year title in England. "I am truly honored and speechless — which is a first!" Osbourne said of the award, according to Vogue.com. "I'm absolutely delighted, and the fact that this is a public vote makes it extra special. It has been a very tough few years and the British public have been so supportive of me and the family, and seen that I am a real, old-fashioned British girl at heart." Moss came in a distant third. ...

If you bought music at all during the first quarter of this year, chances are good you did it with a click rather than a swipe. Album sales are down 3 percent so far this year on sales of 119 million, but digital sales continue their explosive growth, with SoundScan reporting a 96 percent uptick (122.9 million tracks downloaded since January), according to USA Today. Much of the growth is attributed to the number of iPods and other MP3 players gifted during December. Thanks to the #1 soundtracks for "Curious George" (by Jack Johnson and friends) and "High School Musical," children's-music sales are up 58 percent for the year. ...

The Living Things have announced a new string of headlining West Coast dates that

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