Hot Chelle Rae Heats Up With Sophomore Set, T-Swift Tour

"One of the main reasons we were getting turned down [by labels] was because we didn't have enough Myspace friends," vocalist/guitarist Ryan Follese says of the band's early days. "It was like, 'Oh, you only have 30,000 Myspace friends. That's only 30,000 albums. I'm sorry.' We knew we needed to get the attention of a label that didn't care about that."

To say that Sony's now-defunct Jive Records didn't care about Internet buzz may be a stretch, but in 2008 the label did see something in the then-unknown act, and it wasn't its Myspace friends. Three years later, Hot Chelle Rae is far from an online nobody. With the band's sophomore set, "Whatever," set to arrive Nov. 29 on RCA, the Nashville pop act has more than 60,000 Twitter followers, 300,000-plus likes on Facebook, an American Music Award (AMA) for new artist of the year and, perhaps most important, a hit. Released in March, lead single "Tonight Tonight" peaked at No. 7 on the Billboard Hot 100 in August and has sold 2.3 million copies, according to Nielsen SoundScan. The video has racked up more than 21 million views on YouTube.



"'Tonight Tonight' was really all it took to change the trajectory into something more rapidly upwardly rising," says RCA VP of marketing Dan Mackta, who has worked with the band since its 2009 Jive debut, "Lovesick Electric" (20,000 units, according to SoundScan). "We had slowly and steadily been building for three years, and then we had a massive hit record over the summer. That changes the complexion of things considerably."

Formed in 2005, Hot Chelle Rae is no stranger to the industry. Follese and his brother Jamie (drums) are sons of songwriters Keith and Adrienne Follese ( Tim McGraw's "Something Like That," Faith Hill's "The Way You Love Me"); lead guitarist/vocalist Nash Overstreet is the son of singer/songwriter Paul Overstreet ("Daddy's Come Around," the Judds' "Love Can Build a Bridge"); and bassist Ian Keaggy's father, Phil, is a Grammy Award-nominated guitarist. "We're songwriters, not just a band," Ryan Follese says. "We grew up on the radio. We've always loved pop music. It's a genre we really love, and we wanted to touch that same audience."

In addition to "Tonight Tonight" and second single "I Like It Like That," which features New Boyz and is No. 25 on Billboard's Mainstream Top 40 airplay chart, the band fully explores its pop potential on the 11-track "Whatever"-tailor-made for a young demographic at radio. Producer Emanuel Kiriakou ( Clay Aiken, Backstreet Boys), songwriter Evan "Kidd" Bogart ( Beyoncé, Rihanna) and production/songwriting team S*A*M & Sluggo (Metro Station) contributed to the project.

With radio already onboard, Hot Chelle Rae is amping up its online presence: The video for "I Like it Like That" clocked more than 1 million views in the three days following its Oct. 7 Vevo debut, and the group has been active on Spotify, with ad placement targeting specific playlists.

The band performed Nov. 20 during the AMAs' preshow (the broadcast's only live performance) and picked up the Sprint new artist of the year award. TV appearances are also lined up for "The Tonight Show With Jay Leno," "Late Night With Jimmy Fallon," "Today" and "Live! With Regis and Kelly" during release week. On Dec. 9, Hot Chelle Rae will share a bill at New York's Madison Square Garden with Lady Gaga, Pitbull, Kelly Clarkson, David Guetta and others, as part of WHTZ New York's Jingle Ball. The group will also open for Taylor Swift in March during her arena tour of Australia. "This is going to be massive for them, and it's going to have an echo effect around the world," Mackta says of the tour.

Red Hot Chili Peppers Announce First 2012 Tour Dates

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Red Hot Chili Peppers

Red Hot Chili Peppers have announced the first half-dozen dates over their 2012 world tour in support of their 10th studio album, "I'm With You."

The band's first large-scale U.S. tour since 2007 will kick off Jan. 25, 2012 in Charlotte, N.C. Tickets for the six shows go on sale on Saturday (Dec. 3).

"I'm With You," which follows the 2006 double-album "Stadium Arcadium," debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 albums chart upon its August release. Its second single, "Monarchy of Roses," rises to No. 23 on this week's Rock Songs chart.

Here are the first dates of RHCP's 2012 tour:

Jan. 25: Charlotte, N.C. (Time Warner Cable Arena)
Jan. 27: Raleigh, N.C. (RBC Center)
Jan. 28: Columbia, S.C. (ColonialLife Arena)
Jan. 30: Duluth, Ga. (Gwinnett Arena)
Jan. 31: Greensboro, N.C. (Greensboro Coliseum)
Feb. 3: Memphis, Tenn. (FedEx Forum)

Strictly smashes X Factor - again: ITV show has lost 3m viewers since last year

After feuds and fighting, the X Factor suffered another blow this weekend as it was again trounced in the ratings war by Strictly Come Dancing.
The ITV show’s quarter-final on Saturday was watched by three million fewer viewers than last year. It attracted an average audience of 10million, peaking at 11.3million.
But Strictly, its long-standing BBC rival, drew as many as 11.7million, with an average of 10.6million.

M.I.A. Confirms Collaboration with Madonna and Nicki Minaj

After releasing third album "/\/\ /\ Y /\" to mixed reviews last year, M.I.A. has been missing in action for most of 2011. However, the electro-dance artist confirmed a juicy collaboration for 2012 over the weekend by announcing that she was joining Madonna and Nicki Minaj in New York, presumably to contribute on Madge's in-the-works new album.

"Summond to NYC by bitchesses > MADONNA and @NICKIMINAJ," M.I.A. posted on Twitter on Saturday (Nov. 26). "cofffffiiiiiiieeeeeeeeee it iz a good day to get me tho trustttt bitches."

Madonna, Manager Respond to 'Give Me All Your Love' Single Leak

Earlier this month, the first taste of Madonna's follow-up to 2008's "Hard Candy," a demo of an uptempo single called "Give Me All Your Love," leaked in full online. Madonna responded to the leak by telling manager Guy Oseary, "My true fans wouldn't do this."

"The plan was for new music to come out in the new year, and yet someone leaked a demo version of a song yesterday. I'm very happy with the positive reaction to the demo, but we are very upset with whoever leaked the song!!!" Oseary posted on Twitter on Nov. 9. At that time, Oseary said that Madonna's new album would be completed "in the next month or so," and while rumors persist that the pop star will play the Super Bowl halftime show in February, the performance has yet to be confirmed.

For Minaj, a collaboration with Madonna and M.I.A. would cap off a year in which she added guest vocals to songs by David Guetta, Drake and Birdman, among others. Meanwhile, production duo the Cataracs (Far*East Movement's "Like a G6") confirmed to Billboard.com in April that they had been working with M.I.A. on new material, which they thought would be for "a mixtape, and she wants it to be like an album."

'Party Rock Anthem' Singer Lauren Bennett Joins The Pussycat Dolls

You heard Lauren Bennett with LMFAO & GoonRock on Billboard's No. 1 Song of the Summer, "Party Rock Anthem," now you're about to hear her with a new entourage: The Pussycat Dolls.

Talking to Billboard.com on the red carpet at the American Music Awards earlier this week, Bennett confirmed herself as a part of the newly regrouped recording group. This makes her the first member of a brand new lineup that creator Robin Antin confirmed to Billboard was in the process of being built.

Pussycat Dolls Creator Robin Antin: Revamped Group Will Be 'Fierce'

"We're currently figuring out who's in the group and we're working on an album," Bennett says of the Pussycat Dolls. This will not be Bennett's first girl group: She was once a part of the ill-fated Paradiso Girls under Interscope.

In the meantime, fans can hear the future Doll on her own with solo single, "I Wish I Wish," or see her as a part of the touring Pussycat Doll burlesque troupe.

Interview by Billboard's Keith Caulfield.

Grammy Nominations Concert Will Get 'The Message' Host LL Cool J, Common and Lupe Fiasco will join Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five onstage Wednesday to perform hip-hop classic.

 

LOS ANGELES — The fourth annual Grammy nominations concert Wednesday night (November 30) will include a special performance nearly three decades in the making. Rappers LL Cool J, Common and Lupe Fiasco will join Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five members Melle Mel and Scorpio for the group's classic "The Message" during "The Grammy Nominations Concert Live!! Countdown to Music's Biggest Night."



The generations-spanning ensemble hit rehearsals hard Tuesday afternoon at the Nokia Theatre, using every minute available to practice. That meant squeezing in extra rehearsal time in a lower-level lobby before they even jumped onstage. While Rick Ross had previously been announced as a performer, he was not present at Tuesday's rehearsals. Ross' absence was hardly felt however, as the cast of all-stars had plenty of energy to fill the massive theatre.

"Rehearsals [are] a lot fun," said LL Cool J, who's pulling double duty, also acting as the show's host.

"Been rehearsing with Grandmaster Flash, Melle Mel, Scorpio, Common and Lupe Fiasco working on this 'Message' thing, and it's an honor."

Lupe Fiasco seemed to have no qualms with doing another tribute performance (you know, after that VH1 Hip Hop Honors situation a few years ago), which can most likely be attributed to the confidence-boosting of the group's maestro, Grandmaster Flash.

"You'll see, my position is to make sure that everything's moving, everything's flowing," Flash said. "Make sure rappers are entertaining all sides of the room — center, left, right. Everybody got their lines: We have new rappers that are doing the lyrics to the song, to make sure that they're quite comfortable with it. I had a deep conversation with Common, and I had a deep conversation with Lupe, like, 'Are you guys comfortable? Do you really, really feel comfortable?' It's the way that I used to do it when it was Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five as a group."

Lupe Fiasco joked, "Grandmaster Flash is like a drill sergeant. He's like, 'Let's do it again, do it again, let's do it again, do it again.' He's like, 'You got it? No? Let's do it again. Hold up — let's do it again, let's do it again.' So, that was cool." For LL, who remembers first hearing "The Message" on a boombox in his neighborhood as a youngster, taking part in the performance is like reliving his childhood. "I liken it to a kid who's in a rock band in the garage and now he's onstage with [Mick] Jagger," he said. "That's what this is like for hip-hop."

While LL and his counterparts were ecstatic to be part of this special performance, Melle Mel and Scorpio, founding members of the Furious Five, were equally excited to be sharing the stage with their successors.

"They took a song that even ultimately wasn't their song, but they're so passionate about it," Scorpio said. "They wanted to keep practicing and practicing, and just to see that blew my mind because that's our natural format — Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five — practice, practice, practice. But for them to keep doing it to wanna get it right, it's an honor."

Catch the special performance — along with Lady Gaga, Rihanna, Usher, Ludacris, Sugarland and more — at 10 p.m. ET/PT Wednesday night (November 30) on CBS.

Margaret Durante To Perform at “Tunes For Tots” Fundraiser Tuesday, Dec. 6, 2011

 
On Tuesday, December 6, country’s newest sensation, Margaret Durante will be one of the many talented singer/songwriters performing at the annual “Tunes for Tots” Fundraiser, presented by the Women’s Music Business Association.  The writer’s round event will be held from 6-8p at The Listening Room Cafe (209 10th Avenue S. – Suite 200) in Nashville. Admission is free with an unwrapped toy or cash donation for Toys for Tots. All proceeds and toys will be delivered directly to the Toys for Tots foundation by members of the United States Marines, who will be present.

For the past seven years, this charitable event has packed out popular venues throughout Nashville, including Tin Roof, 3rd and Lindsley, 12th and Porter and many others. Previous performers have included other notable hit songwriters and singers such as Tim Nichols, Chris Wallin, Eric Heatherly, Ty Herndon, Wynn Varble and Erin Anderlin, to mention a few. For more information about the fundraiser visit www.wmbanashville.org.

Margaret’s debut album is scheduled for release in early 2012  on R&J Records via its Emrose Records imprint. The first single is expected to impact country radio in February. For more of the latest news and information visit www.margaretdurante.com.
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Justin Bieber Camp Waiting for Mariah Yeater to Bring in Baby for Paternity Test, Report Says

As Justin Bieber fever grips New York, sources close to the star say they doubt Mariah Yeater, who claimed he was the father of her 4-month-old baby, will do her part now that he’s taken a paternity test. 

After teen-dream Justin, who appears on “Today” this morning, took the test Friday, a source close to him said, “Now Yeater has to offer up the baby for DNA testing, which will prove once and for all that Justin is not the father. But we don’t expect her to be in a rush to do that.” 

Yeater, 21, had claimed she slept with Bieber after a concert in October 2010, that they didn’t use protection and nine months later Tristyn was born. But she dropped her lawsuit last week. 

So while Bieber’s legal team awaits Yeater’s next move, they’re plotting how to pursue her or her lawyers for making the false claim. 

While his reps declined to comment, Bieber tells David Letterman on his CBS show tonight, “I think I can smell a weasel, too, a little bit . . . I know, it’s pretty crazy . . . People make up false accusations.”