Hot Music Beat

Madonna is featured on the cover of Vanity Fair’s third annual May 2008 Green Issue. It’s not even April yet but the Queen of Pop is looking mighty fierce as usual. Unbowed, uncowed and still taking on the world! I couldn’t have said it better myself. Madonna’s on one really big promotional move for her new album ‘Hard Candy’ which will be out on April 29. She may not be doing any shows performing her single featuring Justin Timberlake ‘4 Minutes (To Save the World) but how many covers has she done? Is there any magazine left that she hasn’t been on this year?

It looks like another trip to rehab is in the future for one member of Bon Jovi. Richie Sambora has been arrested for drunk driving. The guitarist was arrested Tuesday night by Laguna Beach, California police on suspicion of DUI. Richie failed several field sobriety tests and was later brought in to get a breathalyzer test. He was cooperative but took the option to forego the breathalyzer and decided to take a blood test instead. The results of which are still pending but police are doubtful that he was on any drugs. Hopefully, this incident doesn’t land him in jail.

Kelly Clarkson recently had a concert in the UK and one might think that after reading the reviews of her concert earlier this week that you were reading a review of Avril Lavigne’s concert. The American Idol alum got slammed for her performances on the songs from her flop of a third album, the ill-advised rock album ‘My December’, but was praised pretty well for her bona fide hits in ‘Breakaway’ and ‘Since U Been Gone’. The poor thing needs a new album of good material out. We can’t let ‘My December’ follow her forever or she’ll get completely destroyed!

The Veronicas are back! The 23-year-old twin sisters from down under have a new album and a new twist to their sound. The pop-punk influences on their award-winning debut album have been updated to an electro-dance sound that is bound to get you on your feet.

Already named a “Breaker Artist” by AOL and called “Australia’s rockingest twins” by Blender, The Veronicas have proven to be at the top of their game. Hook Me Up, the girls’ sophomore release, has already sold over 130,000 albums in Australia and secured them their first # 1 single.

Lisa and Jessica’s vocal chemistry, funky style, and killer hooks make a perfect recipe for success. The Veronicas are set to
unleash their single “Untouched” in the US!

Heidi tried again, but The Hills’ star isn’t necessarily set for a hit career in music yet. Her first single, heavy on the synthesizer, bombed. This one, though, got a few more good reviews.

“No More” received a mixture of reviews. One person said, “This release is an improvement over your last. It has a catchy melody. I’m not sure music is in your niche, but you do seem persistant.” Another said, “I kind of like it.”

On the other hand, one said, “This is horrible. If I heard this while driving, I could possible drive into a wall. You can’t even tell what her real voice would sound like.”

Justin Timberlake has donated $100,000 each to the Memphis Rock ‘n’ Soul Museum and the Memphis Music Foundation on behalf of his charity, The Justin Timberlake Foundation. Both organizations will use the generous donation to enhance the music education systems for local students which is the aim of JT’s (who happens to originally hail from Memphis) charity. Of his donation, Justin says “Music education and keeping the legacy of Memphis Music alive has always been important to me. That is why I will always continue to support my home town the same way they have always supported me.” JT helping out sure counterbalances his cockiness.

Tejano singer Emilio Navaira was critically injured after his band’s bus crashed in Houston, Texas. The Grammy award winning singer and his band Rio had performed at a Houston nightclub on Saturday night. Around 5 AM on Sunday, cops say that the band’s bus slammed into traffic barrels on Interstate 610 northbound in Bellaire, a ritzy area west of downtown Houston. Navaira is currently in critical condition at Memorial Hermann Hospital. His brother Raul, along with several other members of the band, were also injured in the wreck.

The 45-year old Navaira and his band Rio have released over a dozen albums with ‘Acuerdate’ winning the 2003 Grammy for best Tejano album.

The Jonas Brothers celebrate their highly successful album with a handprint ceremony at New York City’s Planet Hollywood Times Square on Saturday night. 20-year old Kevin, 18-year old Joe and 15-year old Nick all had their handprints immortalized in plaster before they clawed their way into a celebratory kick. The party can also serve as a celebration for the success that they’re experiencing with their current ‘Look Me in the Eyes’ tour. Come the summer time, I’m sure they’ll be holding another celebration for the would-be success of their summer tour. It’s way much more than we can say for Avril Lavigne.

Jay Z was there. Jade Puget (AFI) was there. Tokio Hotel was definitely there along with hundreds of screaming girls! Now you can be there too.

Tokio Hotel has posted live video from their first ever U.S. show at the Roxy in Hollywood on their official Imeem page. See what everyone from the NY Times to Gawker to Artist Direct were ranting and raving about as Tokio Hotel rock through “Scream,” “Don’t Jump,” “Break Away,” “Rescue Me,” and “Final Day.”

tokiohotelofficial.imeem.com/

Scream, the first English full-length will be available everywhere April 29th.

Embed the LIVE video

Ashlee Simpson’s new single, “Little Miss Obsessive,” is available digitally today. The song features Tom Higgenson of Plain White Ts and will appear on Ashlee’s new album Bittersweet World due out on 4/22.

“Little Miss Obsessive” audio streams:

“Litttle Miss Obsessive” (90 secs) (Windows Media – high)

Madonna’s rep Liz Rosenberg recently went on the record to say that the Queen of Pop and her hubby Guy Ritchie are still happily married. Everyone knows not to believe anything until they see proof and Madonna is more than happy to give us that. She and her director husband arrived arm-in-arm at upscale Italian restaurant Harry’s in Mayfair, London on Tuesday. It looks like they’re still spending time together. But again, I need some hard proof first. They could just be doing this for publicity’s sake. There were a lot of momentous events that Guy could have showed up with Madonna but he didn’t yet he chooses to go out to dinner with her on some random night after a lot of rumors came out about the 2 splitting up. Suspicious.

The guy who rapper The Game allegedly assaulted on a street basketball court has filed a civil suit against the rapper, claiming assault, battery, a civil rights violation and negligence. All that because of a pick-up basketball game – wow! Court documents elaborate on what happened prior to the rapper’s arrest – from the provoking to when a gun was pulled out of the rapper’s car. The Game was arrested after the incident and eventually pleaded no contest to felony possession of a firearm in a school zone. He served just 8 days out of a possible 60 day sentence before being released. Maybe the victim is looking for justice to really be served.

Any and all the American Idol wannabes this season might want to pay close attention especially if they want to go further than Ramiele Malubay. The Idol wannabe’s Spanish teacher at Zephyrhills High School leaked out something she distinctly remembered that could knock Ramiele off the show. Shorty is extremely allergic to peanuts! This can be some vital information for the other contestants who may feel that she’s a threat. Fortunately, based on previous performances, none of them have to resort to sabotage. Ramiele may want to eat peanuts herself just to get her out of humiliating herself any further.

Craig David wants to record the theme song for the new James Bond film.

The British singer is desperate lend his voice to the opening of the latest 007 adventure ‘Quantum of Solace’, but accepts he will have to get past current favorite Amy Winehouse.

He said in an interview: “I think trying to do a themed song for a film is great, a song that encapsulates what the whole film is about. Bond would be a great one. To be honest I know Amy Winehouse is being hotly-tipped for it, which would be great if she gets to do that, but the Bond films are an institution in themselves and you’d love to, as an artist, get involved with something like that. It would be great to be involved”.

Sir Paul McCartney – whose band Wings created classic Bond theme ‘Live and Let Die’ for the movie of the same name in 1973 – recently tipped Amy for the job.

He said: “I think Amy Winehouse would do a really good job with the Bond theme. My advice to her would be not to try and rhyme ‘Solace’ with anything – that’s too hard.”

MTV has made a couple of mistakes about the premiere of Britney Spears’ new video and I’ve made fun about it because I didn’t even know she filmed for anything. Now I know why. UK’s The Sun is reporting that the fallen pop star’s video for the third single ‘Break the Ice’ off of her ‘Blackout’ album has been given the cartoon-treatment. It’s all grit in a futuristic setting. The video was made in Korea with a Japanese anime theme which is reportedly her own idea. The Sun reports “She told label bosses she wanted a cartoon version of her celebrated Toxic clip.”

Duffy may be a double chart-topper in the UK but she’s still completely unknown in the US. So much so that despite stamping her feet the pretty star was refused entry to R.E.M.’s tiny South By Southwest show in Texas.

The veteran rockers played to their smallest audience for more than a decade at Stubb’s Bar-B-Q in Austin, on Wednesday and the Welsh songbird was determined to see them. But unimpressed door staff didn’t recognise her and sent her packing despite her pleading to be let in.

In a bid to build her profile Stateside the soul star has re-shot the video to her No1 single Mercy. The original promo takes place in a 1970s northern soul club and record label bosses feared the US audience wouldn’t get the reference.

So they’ve shelled out thousands for a brand-spanking new video that should set her well on the way to stardom across the pond.

There’s Justin Timberlake the singer, songwriter, music producer, dancer, actor and model but is the world prepared for Justin Timberlake the TV producer? Mr. JT and NBC are teaming up to produce an American adaptation of the Peruvian comedy ‘My Problem with Women’. The Hollywood Reporter is saying that the series “follows the adventures of Jose, a thirty something bachelor who begins seeing a therapist in an attempt to understand why all of his romantic relationships fail.” When asked about the project, JT says that he’s very excited about it and is looking forward to bringing the hugely successful format to NBC.

After three sold out shows in the U.S. Tokio Hotel continues to set their sights on a Stateside invasion. It has just been announced that Tokio Hotel and their video for “Ready, Set, Go!” will be featured on MTV’s Discover & Download series the week of March 10th. If you’re only as good as the company you keep then Tokio Hotel is on the edge of stardom as past Discover & Download artists include Paramore, Plain White Ts and Amy Winehouse.

Check out the video for “Ready, Set, Go!” on the band’s official Imeem page. While you’re there watch the latest video added by Tokio Hotel for a brief introduction to the band and to see what they had to say on their time spent in the U.S. and their future plans for America.

The first full length from Tokio Hotel, Scream, will hit stores April 29th.

If you would like to include Tokio Hotel on your site via feature, interview, contest, etc. please let me know and we will set something up!

Tokio Hotel official video for “Ready, Set, Go!”

 

At only 21 years old, Hilary McRae is wise beyond her years. The writer/singer/pianist evokes the youth of a vibrant pop star yet her label mates include the likes of Paul McCartney and Joni Mitchell. As the first developing artist on Hear Music, McRae holds a very special spot on the label launched by Starbucks and Concord Music Group.

McRae began crafting much of the material on her debut album, Through These Walls, while attending Berklee School of Music on a songwriting scholarship. She soon realized she wanted to fuse her love for songwriting with performing and decided it was time to make a record.

While McRae’s stadium sized voice can well stand on its own, it is complemented by her own piano skills as well as an impressive backdrop of colorful horns. She has finally found her home on Hear Music and explains, “As an artist, I pour my heart out in every note I compose and sing. It is amazing to have the support of a label who works with that same passion.”

TOUR DATES:

3/07 Delray Beach, FL – City Limits
3/12 New York, NY – The Living Room
3/14 Boston, MA – The Paradise Lounge
3/16 Arlington, VA – Iota
3/18 New York, NY – The Living Room
3/19 Providence, RI – The Hi-Hat
3/21 New York, NY – Housing Works
3/22 New Haven, CT – Toad’s Place
3/23 Boston, MA – The Paradise Lounge
3/25 Ridgewood, NJ – Blend Bar
3/26 New York, NY – The Living Room

Ashlee Simpson has announced some very important dates! Her new single, “Little Miss Obsessive,” which features Tom Higgenson of Plain White Ts, will be digitally released on 3/11. Then, her full-length Bittersweet World will hit stores and be available digitally on 4/22. Ashlee collaborated with some major players on this album including Timbaland, The Neptunes’ Chad Hugo, and Kenna. She felt “very lucky to work with people who are at the top of their game.”

“Little Miss Obsessive” Audio Streams: