Hot Music Beat

Britney Spears was seen stopping by Conway Recording studios in Los Angeles last week. Do you remember a piece of news last year about Britney recording with her ex Justin Timberlake? I wonder if that can still be done. It would be hot if it happened. The former couple was actually supposed to work together and record a duet for her ‘Blackout’ album but the then troubled pop star failed to show up. The piece of news even said that it would be her comeback if it did happen. Well, she’s more poised to make a comeback this year. Maybe it can still happen.

Toby Keith is currently promoting his new movie ‘Beer for My Horses’ when he was asked about his position in the upcoming elections. The country artist responded with “There’s a big part of America that really believes that there is a war on terrorism, and that we need to finish up. So I thought it was beautiful the other day when Obama went to Afghanistan and got educated about Afghanistan and Iraq. He came back and said some really nice things. So as far as leadership and patriotism goes, I think it’s really important that those things have to take place. And I think he’s the best Democratic candidate we’ve had since Bill Clinton. And that’s coming from a Democrat.”

DMX’s lawyer had until 4 PM on Tuesday this week to explain to a judge in Phoenix just why his client didn’t show up for his court date. His defender told the judge that the rapper couldn’t make it to court since he had been checked into a Miami hospital the day before his hearing. There was no reason given as to why DMX was admitted into the hospital though. His public defender did say though that DMX’s team is “working towards getting him some help, and we hope that will be taken seriously by all parties in this case.”

Sabrina Bryan, Kiely Williams and Adrienne Bailon of the Cheetah Girls performed live on Good Morning America in New York City on Tuesday. The Disney starlets then headed over to Times Square where they were interviewed by ABC News to talk about their new Disney Channel movie ‘The Cheetah Girls One World’. The group also signed their soundtrack at Virgin Megastore Times Square in New York City later that day. It looks like they had a very busy day. It’s a good thing they don’t have many cat fights. Adrienne commented on their closeness saying “We’re like sisters! People don’t realize when we’re not working together we hang out together. We go on vacations together. We’re totally not that catty girl group!”

Already available on most digital retailers, Hot Topic will be carrying Finch’s new self-titled EP on Friday, August 1st. The disc was originally going to come out a few days earlier but issues at the CD plant forced the store to move it back. The band explains, “The good thing to putting out our own record is we don’t have to wait for someone from a record company to finally get around to it. The bad news is that we had a snag in manufacturing, so we have to delay it by three days…sorry everyone.” However, the band has copies of the disc available on their current tour with Scary Kids Scaring Kids.

Finch EP hits Hot Topic stores on Friday, August 1st and is already available at most digital outlets.

Check out the conclusion of NKOTB’s “Making of Summertime” video series. Watch the guys get their groove on in the Tiki Bar, film the doo-wop segment in Malibu, and end with a heartfelt finale. Their new album will drop on 9/2, and “Summertime” is available on iTunes now.

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The Veronicas have an exciting announcement, and you can find out what it is by watching their new video message! After watching the video, you should go to VMA.MTV.COM and vote for “Untouched” for Best Pop Video to help it snag a VMA nomination. Fans have from Friday, July 25th (8pm EST) to Wednesday July 30th (11am EST) to get it nominated for Best Pop Video, so be sure to keep on voting.

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If only that will actually happen, it will be one of the biggest crossover hits if you ask me. The Jonas Brothers continued Fan Week with dance pop star Lady GaGa at MTV’s Total Request Live at the MTV Times Square Studios on Tuesday in New York City. The brothers are really becoming one hot commodity as the New York Times gave a raving review about their Burnin Up concert at Madison Square Garden saying “Now they are among the most culturally important American rock bands of the last decade, reflective of the size and buying power of the children’s market, the mainstreaming of clean Christian values in pop and the evergreen ability of a few handsome kids with reedy voices to captivate all girls within eye- and earshot.”

Country star Taylor Swift announced that she’s donating $100,000 to the Cedar Rapids, Iowa branch of the Red Cross. Two month ago, Cedar Rapids suffered millions of dollars in damages and thousands of job losses due to torrential rains. A source close to the singer said “Taylor was going to cancel the concert, thinking few people could attend, but the mayor of Cedar Rapids asked her to carry on.” Taylor said of the donation “The people in this town have been through so much loss this year, and my heart goes out to them. They’ve stood by me, they gave me a sold-out show. You’ve got to pay it forward in life – that’s all I did in Cedar Rapids.”

If you’re sick of hearing spoilers about Madonna’s set list for her ‘Sticky & Sweet’ tour, then how about seeing spoilers of her tour costumes? Costume designs for the Queen of Pop’s tour have hit the web. Madonna has once again teamed up with designer Arianne Phillips whom she’s worked with for about 11 years. Phillips told Women’s Wear Daily that the new tour was a challenge saying “Normally we prep in April and May, and open in June. This time, the tour begins in August. It’s a nightmare. Everyone in Italy and France is on a beach sunning themselves.” She also revealed “Givenchy’s Riccardo Tisci designed two outfits and Tom Ford provided bespoke suits for the band. Three pairs of shoes have been custom-made by Miu Miu, there are thigh-high boots courtesy of Stella McCartney, sunglasses from Moschino, and other outfits and odds and ends from Yves Saint Laurent, Roberto Cavalli, and Jeremy Scott.”

Plain White T’s have just released the first single off their forthcoming album Big Bad World. The track, “Natural Disaster” can be previewed on the band’s MySpace page. myspace.com/plainwhitets

Plain White T’s have also just announced they will take part in the first ever Rockband Live Tour with Panic At The Disco, Dashboard Confessional and The Cab. Information and tour dates can be found at rockbandlivetour.com.

Big Bad World hits stores September 23rd.

Paris, Destinee and Ariel head to Guitar Center in Los Angeles in Episode 9 of Clique Girlz TV. Destinee’s dream of getting a Les Paul finally comes true as the girls jam on some guitars and then rock an impromptu performance in the store. Head over to cliquegirlz.com for exclusive photos, blogs and more.

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Staind have just unveiled the official video for their new single, “Believe.” The Christopher Sims (Saosin, Bleeding Through) directed clip is the first off the hard rock band’s upcoming Johnny K. (Disturbed, Black Tide) produced album, The Illusion of Progress. Staind are currently out on tour with 3 Doors Down and Hinder.

The Illusion of Progress is out on August 19th

7.29.08 Evansville, IN Roberts Stadium
7.30.08 Clarkson, MI DTE Energy Music Theater
8.1.08 Kearney, NE Firstier Arena
8.2.08 Council Bluffs, IA Westfair Amphitheatre
8.3.08 Duluth, MN Bayfront Park
8.5.08 Casper, WY Casper Event Center
8.7.08 Sioux, SD Sioux Empire Fair Expo Hall
8.8.08 Sturgis, SD Buffalo Chip Campground
8.10.08 Lubbock, TX Lone Star Arena
8.12.08 Corpus Christi, TX Concrete Street Amphitheater
8.13.08 Belton, TX Belton County Expo Center
8.15.08 New Orleans, LA Lakefront Arena
8.16.08 Tupelo, MS Bancorp South Center
8.21.08 St. Paul, MN Minnesota State Fair
8.23.08 Calgary, AB The Pengrowth Saddledome
8.24.08 Edmonton, AB Rexall Place
8.26.08 Vancover, BC General Motors Place
8.27.08 Seattle, WA WaMu Theater
8.30.08 Kelseyville, CA Konocti Field Amphitheatre
9.8.08 Cologne, Germany Cologne Arena
9.9.08 Stuttgart, Germany Schleyerhalle
9.12.08 Belfast, Ireland Odyssey Arena
9.13.08 Dublin, Ireland RDS Simmonscourt
9.15.08 Manchester, UK MEN Arena
9.16.08 Sheffield, UK Sheffield Arena
9.18.08 Birmingham, UK The NEC
9.19.08 London, UK o2 Arena
9.21.08 London, UK Wembley Arena

YouTube link:

The Gabe Dixon Band’s self titled, Fantasy Records debut will be released on 8/26 and has already become a favorite of 2008. Paste calls Dixon “the next great Pop Piano Man. More soulful than Ben Folds, and far less irritating than the Elton John of the past thirty years, Dixon will remind you of Elton when he still had hair and was making albums like Tumbleweed Connection and Madman Across the Water.” The Gabe Dixon Band’s self-titled album was recorded live at Nashville’s renowned Blackbird Studios.

See for yourself what all the hype is about and listen to the first single, “Till You’re Gone,” here. Also, you can read the band’s full bio on their Myspace page.

“Till You’re Gone” audio:

“Till You’re Gone” live at SunFest video:

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Finch have released their new, self-titled EP on iTunes and all other major digital outlets today. The 4 song collection is the first new material from the California quintet since their 2005 album, Say Hello to the Sunshine. They are currently out on tour with Scary Kids Scaring Kids, Foxy Shazam, and Tickle Me Pink.

Lisa and Jess of The Veronicas donned some crazy shades and hats to tell their fans how stoked they are that their video has made it in the top ten on TRL. They have their hearts set on “Untouched” reaching # 1 and need your help to get it there. Check out their special video message and head over to MTV.com to keep voting!
Video message:

“Untouched” Video:

Part two of New Kids On The Block’s making of the “Summertime” video is here. Follow the guys to Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu, CA while Jon shoots his driving sequence, then to Topanga Canyon for Danny’s running scene and finally to Topanga Beach where Jordan, Jon, Joey, Donnie and Danny reunite. “Summertime” is available on iTunes now and will appear on their forthcoming album due out on 9/2. Stay tuned for part 3, and in the meantime check out all of the band’s upcoming tour dates at http://nkotb.com/tour.

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Lesley Roy premiered her first ever music video for “I’m Gone, I’m Going.” on FN MTV! The Max Martin (Kelly Clarkson, Bon Jovi, NSYNC) produced track is the first single off of Unbeautiful, which is slated for release on September 30th. Roy will also chat with Pete Wentz and dish about some of her favorite videos. The 21-year-old singer/songwriter/guitarist has come a long way from working in a factory in her hometown of Balbriggan, Ireland to being on the verge of a huge breakthrough onto the American music scene. In addition to Roy’s big debut, the show will include a performance from the Jonas Brothers and video premieres from Shwayze, Slipknot and Nelly.

“I’m Gone, I’m Going” audio:

3 Doors Down recently filmed an exclusive live performance for IHeartMusic.com which features a version of the Bon Jovi staple, “Wanted Dead Or Alive” which will blow you away! The band also performs classics from their back catalog plus a few off their recently released self-titled album. The videos also include an interview with 3 Doors Down vocalist Brad Arnold.

LIVE PERFORMANCE VIDEO :