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• Miley Cyrus Calls Liam Hemsworth Her 'Hubby'
  
  
  Jan 28, 2013 5:27:53 PM
  
  (Fame Flynet) Miley Cyrus has fueled rumors that she and Liam Hemsworth have already tied the knot with her choice of words in her recent Cosmo interview. Also in music news, Cyrus thinks maybe people will hate her upcoming album, even though it's chock full of all kinds of amazing collaborations, Beyoncé kinda sorta addressed the lip-synching scandal, Frank Ocean and Chris Brown got into a brawl over a parking space, Rick Ross escaped a drive-by shooting and was subsequently teased by 50 Cent, and more.
  

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  Mrs. Hemsworth, Maybe?
  Miley Cyrus covers the upcoming issue of Cosmo, revealing in the interview that she's sometimes overwhelmed by her fiancé Liam Hemsworth's hotness. "I'll literally look at him and be like ‘You are hot, dear god!’ The other day, I turned on the pool heater and it was steaming, and he walked outside and took off his clothes and jumped in the pool. I was like, ‘I'm gonna faint--the hottest guy of my life is in a steaming pool. This looks like a Playgirl shoot.’ So I took a photo and made it the background on my phone. My best friend grabbed my phone and was like, ‘Who's that? He is so hot!’ That's my hubby!”
  
  Note the choice of words: HUBBY. Meaning Cyrus is using the weirdest, most awkward term for a husband to describe her impossibly hot significant other. This, plus the fact that they both sported special rings in a recent Christmas photo, has people wondering if she's already gotten hitched. Hmm.
  
  Miley also confessed that everyone might "f**king hate" her new record. Read more about that, her friendship with Katy Perry, and her wedding plans here.
  

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  Can Beyoncé Live?
  Beyoncé Knowles offered a sassy non-comment on her recent lip-synching scandal in the form of an Instagram photo over the weekend, posting a shot of herself shrugging in a sweatshirt that reads, "Can I live?" Meanwhile, Senator Chuck Schumer, who organized and hosted the Inaugural Ceremony, says he hasn't heard anything from Beyoncé about the performance either. Read more here.
  

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  What a Crappy Birthday
  Rapper Rick Ross survived a drive-by shooting in the early hours of his 37th birthday, but crashed his Rolls Royce into a Fort Lauderdale, Florida building while attempting to escape the gunfire. Neither he nor his girlfriend, who was in the passenger seat, were hurt. Meanwhile, Ross' longtime rival 50 Cent weighed in on the shooting via Instagram, posting a shot of Ross' car and noting, "Hahaha fat boy hit the building?lol it looks staged to me. No hole's in da car." Read more here.
  

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  Frank Ocean and Chris Brown Hate Each Other. Still.
  Frank Ocean landed on Chris Brown's bad side almost two years ago when he compared the singer to a "young Sisqo or Ike Turner." After a number of uncomfortable online interactions, the pair came to blows over a parking spot Sunday night outside a Los Angeles recording studio. Though Brown's people told TMZ that Ocean started the fight, Ocean took to Twitter to share his side of the story: "got jumped by chris and a couple guys. lol. i only wish everest [Ocean's dog] was there. cut my finger now I can't play w two hands at the grammys." Read more about the altercation here.
  

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  Britney Is Looking Hot
  Guys, do not worry about Britney. Though the singer recently called off her engagement to former manager Jason Trawick, it does not appear that the singer is wallowing in loneliness just yet. In fact, she's looking pretty happy, healthy, and more comfortable than we've seen her in a long while. See more pictures here.
  
  

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  Lady Gaga Offers Prayers
  Though Lady Gaga has an intensely close relationship with her fanbase, the so-called Little Monsters, it's still very rare that she offers them a peek at the woman beneath the makeup and the glittering headdresses. But Gaga did not bother with her normal beauty routine this week when she shared a solemn moment of prayer with her fans in response to the recent Brazilian nightclub tragedy that left 231 people dead.
  
  "My heart is with you Brazil," Gaga wrote, adding, "Sending my prayers to the families and friends who lost loved one in the fire in Brazil. Im thinking of you today during this tragedy."
  
  Three people have been arrested in connection with the fire, which broke out at the Kiss nightclub in Santa Maria in the early morning hours on Sunday. It's believed that the fire was caused by a pyrotechnic explosion during a band's set.
  

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  Justin Bieber Doesn't Look That Depressed
  Justin Bieber recently confessed to Billboard's Dan Werde that he's "not in the happiest place," having recently cut ties with his longtime girlfriend Selena Gomez. But the seasoned pop star seems to be his regular easygoing self in the new music video for an acoustic version of "All Around the World," which hits the web just before the release of Bieber's much-anticipated Believe Acoustic. It's much lighter fare than "Nothing Like Us," the droopy piano ballad Bieber wrote about his breakup with Gomez. Watch it here.
  

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  Demi Lovato: World's Most Glamorous Woman on Crutches?
  Demi Lovato tweeted a picture of her glittery hand floating above a pair of crutches on Monday morning. The singer, fresh off a photo shoot that apparently had her covered in silver, hinted that a slippery floor was to blame: "Never, ever, ever, EVER let your roommate clean your hardwood floors with Pledge...."
  
  Don't worry too much about Demi: She poked fun at herself on Twitter, linking to an old video that enumerates some of her more memorable stage falls. She's unbroken, folks! See the video here.
  

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  BREAKING: These Cats Look Like One Direction
  The next time you get down over the sheer number of jerks who regularly comment on YouTube, remember that there are people out there who work day and night to counteract the rudeness and depravity with kitty power. Like, for instance, YouTube user Barry Hilton, who merged two of the Internet's most beloved entities to create one big mega fluffy video of YES.
  
  
• Adele Outsold Taylor Swift By More Than a Million Records in 2012
  
  
  Jan 3, 2013 5:56:24 PM
  
  (Getty Images)Adele's 21 edged out Taylor Swift's Red for the title of top-selling album of 2012. Well, edged out might be misleading. Adele pretty much blew everyone else out of the water for the second year in a row. More on that below along with Kendrick Lamar's new video, details on Britney Spears' next album, and a preview of Jack White's episode of Austin City Limits.

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  Everyone Bought 21 Twice, Apparently
  Adele's 21 is offcially the top-selling album of 2012, making it the first record to top annual sales two years in a row since Michael Jackson's Thriller accomplished the feat in 1983 and '84. According to Nielsen SoundScan the album, which was released in Janurary 2011, sold 4.41 million copies in 2012 to follow the 5.82 million copies it sold in 2011. The album outshined Taylor Swift's Red, which managed to rack up an impressive 3.11 million copies sold despite a late October release date. (See the full top 10 below.)
  
  Gotye topped the list of the year's top-selling digital singles with 6.8 million copies of "Somebody That I Used to Know" sold, and Carly Rae Jepsen followed him by moving 6.47 million copies of "Call Me Maybe."
  
  Top-Selling Albums of 2012
  1. Adele, 21: 4.41 million
  2. Taylor Swift, Red: 3.11 million
  3. One Direction, Up All Night: 1.62 million
  4. Mumford & Sons, Babel: 1.46 million
  5. One Direction, Take Me Home: 1.34 million
  6. Justin Bieber, Believe: 1.3 million
  7. Carrie Underwood, Blown Away: 1.2 million
  8. Luke Bryan, Tailgates & Tanlines: 1.1 million
  9. Lionel Richie, Tuskegee: 1.07 million
  10. Jason Aldean, Night Train: 1.02 million
  

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  Britney and will.i.am Are Teaming Up Again
  Apparently "Scream & Shout" was just a preview of things to come because Britney Spears' rep says she's working with will.i.am on her new album, which Britney revealed is in the works during a Twitter Q&A earlier this week. Details are still scarce, but the rep told Entertainment Weekly Brit's hitting the studio "with some inspiring new producers."
  
  Besides will.i.am, Britney will be working with Hit-Boy, who collaborated with Kanye West and Jay-Z on "N----s in Paris," and Kendrick Lamar on "Backseat Freestyle." Not date has been set for Britney's next album, but somehow it won't surprise us if the album drop coincides with a big performance on X Factor later this year.

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  Kendrick Lamar Has a Video for "Backseat Freestyle"
  Speaking of Kendrick Lamar, his video for "Backseat Freestyle" hit the web today, and it is notable for at least two reasons. First, Kendrick actually raps in front of the Eiffel Tower. Anyone familiar with the song will understand the, uh, significance. The second reason's name is Sherane, whose booty starts shaking at the 2:31 mark and doesn't stop until 2:56. She's also the main reason you should refrain from playing this video at work.
  
  

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  Ne-Yo Was a Sia Fan Before Sia Was Cool
  Australian songstress Sia has quietly built a famous fan following over the years that led to a big 2012. She earned co-writing credits with Rihanna ("Diamonds"), David Guetta ("Titanium"), and Ne-Yo ("Let Me Love You"). But now that she's found herself enjoying a surge in popularity, Ne-Yo says everyone else is late to the game.
  
  "You know what? Well, for me personally I've been a fan of Sia for a long time," he told MTV. "From Zero 7 to Some People Have Real Problems, these are her albums and people that she worked with before she got popular, so to speak."
  
  That led him to partner up with the Aussie to write together, something he rarely does. "'Let Me Love You' is a song that means a lot to me. That's one of the very few co-writes I've ever done," he explained. "It was an opportunity for me to step out of my comfort zone for a minute and just really try something new in regards to working other writers. Shout out to Sia who also had an incredible 2012."
  

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  Psy Is Going Solo for His Next Single
  Will Psy ever be more than the "Gangnam Style" guy? He's got his work cut out for him, but he's back in the studio trying to make it happen, and the word is he's turning down some high-profile guest-star opportunities to make sure people know he can do it on his own.
  
  "I don't think I'll be doing any collaborations until my new track is done, and it's not done yet, but I'm thinking of doing it by myself, so I can prove I can do it one more time," Psy told MTV. "And I'm working hard on it, because I've got to be good with the track and the video, and I've got to be able to perform it on the stage."
  
  As for inspiration, Psy said, "I really like [Rihanna's] 'We Found Love,' and these days I've been listening to 'Scream & Shout' by will.i.am and Britney Spears," he said. "And, of course, all year, I have liked what Usher has done, too."
  

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  Remember J.Lo's Grammy Gown?
  Ready to feel old? It's been 13 years since Jennifer Lopez scandalized the Grammys' red carpet with her plunging green Versace dress. And the stylish singer says the iconic gown is still knocking around in her house.
  
  "The other day, my housekeeper put it on a mannequin in my spa, where I get my hair and makeup done," she told Harper's Bazaar. She sent me a picture. She was like, 'You like this dress?' Um, yeah, but I don't know if I like it out in the house!"
  
  
  
  
  
  

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  Watch This Preview for Jack White's Austin City Limits Episode
  Beloved and eccentric (or belovedly eccentric?) rockstar Jack White appears on Austin City Limits on PBS on Saturday. Here's the teaser.
  
• Selena Gomez Throws a Dance Party in Honor of Taylor Swift's Birthday
  
  
  Dec 13, 2012 8:34:52 AM
  
  (PacificCoastNews)In today's music news, Selena Gomez celebrated her close friend Taylor Swift's birthday in the best way possible: Throwing a super sexy dance party to her new single. Meanwhile, Demi Lovato is rallying her fans to offer love and support to Miley Cyrus, who is struggling with the recent death of her dog, that Hurricane Sandy benefit was kind of a big deal, someone wanted to kill Justin Bieber, Rihanna's the best passive aggressive tweeter, and more.
  

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  Selena Gomez Does 'Trouble' for Taylor
  As the most well-managed young ex-Disney star, Selena Gomez rarely reveals much of her personality through social network interactions — all her tweets are very clearly publicist-approved. But the star does offer glimpses of what she's really like from time to time, and honestly, she's pretty adorable. This week, she posted a homemade clip of her and her friends dancing to Taylor Swift's new single "I Knew You Were Trouble." Coincidentally, it's Swift's 23rd birthday. Happy birthday, Taylor!
  
  Also, word to Justin Bieber: You'd be an idiot to mess this up.
  

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  Saving Justin Bieber's Jubblies
  A New Mexico inmate has been accused of plotting to kill and castrate Justin Bieber. Wow. KRQE News reports that convicted murderer Dana Martin had recruited convict Mark Staake and his nephew, Tanner Ruane, to kidnap and murder Bieber and his bodyguard in New York City.
  
  Ruane was arrested in New York before anything actually happened, thankfully, although Bieber's manager Scooter Braun is confident that nothing would have happened to the Canadian pop star: "We take every precaution to protect and insure the safety of Justin and his fans."
  
  Blah, blah, blah, depressing. We'd much rather revisit all the terrible pants Bieber wore in 2012.
  

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  Demi Offers Consolation to Miley
  Miley Cyrus is still mourning her two-year-old dog Lila, who passed away unexpectedly earlier this week. "I haven't left my room... Or stopped crying," Cyrus confessed to a fan via Twitter. "I understand everyone deals with things differently but this is the worst thing that has ever happened to me. She was my best friend. I can't believe she is gone. I hope everyone understands..."
  
  Cyrus' longtime pal Demi Lovato asked her fans to send their positive vibes Miley's way. "Everyone please send your love and prayers towards @MileyCyrus. She lost one of her beautiful babies.. RIP Lila ❤" the singer tweeted Wednesday.
  
  Miley and Lil Kim: Mutual Admiration Society
  Cyrus is taking comfort in the little things, like the random celebrities among her 10.8 million Twitter followers. "@LilKim follows me. I think that's the only thing in the world that could've made me smile.... Thanks Lil Kim ❤," Miley recently tweeted. Kim was definitely feeling the love:
  

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  Rocking for Sandy Victims
  The biggest story to emerge from Wednesday evening's 12-12-12 benefit concert for Hurricane Sandy: Paul McCartney didn't know he was playing with Nirvana when Dave Grohl asked him to come jam with him and Krist Novoselic. Aw. Also, Courtney Love would have prefered John Lennon at the mic, because she's reasonable like that. And Kristen Stewart showed up in a pair of designer gym shorts.
  

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  Rihanna Is Way Passive Aggressive
  Star magazine, aka Grain of Salt News, reports this week (via Jezebel) that Rihanna has told Chris Brown she'll kill him if he leaves her. So maybe Chris Brown is going to want to beef up on security 'cause she's tweeting things like this:
  

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  Rocking the Tube
  Letterman: DIIV
  Leno: J.D. McPherson
  Conan: Ryan Adams
  Carson Daly: The Jezabels
  Jimmy Kimmel: Dan Deacon
  

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  Listen Now
    •  Stream the remix of The Presets' new single "Promises" by Finnish artist Luomo. It's featured on the "Promises" remix package, which is currently available on iTunes here.
    •  Stream the Alex Zelenka (Crystal Castles) remix of My Gold Mask's "Violet Eyes."
    •  They Might Be Giants are offering their new song "Call You Mom" as a free download through Rolling Stone this week. The band is planning to release their umpteenth album Nanobots in March 2013.
  

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  You Haven't Seen This Yet
  I'm a sucker for songs inspired by or named after celebrities. So obviously Bad Books' "Forest Whitaker" is a must-listen.
  
  
• Does Listening to Justin Bieber Make You a Better Person?
  
  
  Jan 22, 2013 11:30:52 AM
  
  (Getty Images)Beliebers may be more prone to screaming and crying in public than most other music fans, but a new study suggests they're less likely to become delinquents. So don't take their Twitter death threats too seriously. Also in today's music news and gossip, Yoko Ono is celebrating her 80th birthday with a very special Plastic Ono Band gig, Kanye West is headlining New York City's Governor's Ball Festival, the Postal Service is reuniting in the name of Coachella, and Katy Perry loves her some Aretha hat. Here's what's up.
  

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  Justin Bieber and One Direction: Juvie Repellent?
  Fans of teen pop will likely be thrilled by the results of "Early Adolescent Music Preferences and Minor Delinquency," a recent Netherlands study of 12 to 16-year-olds that suggests kids who listen to "unconventional music" are more likely to become delinquents.
  
  According to the findings, children who preferred hip-hop, gothic, punk, metal, trance, or techno music had often already begun "acting out," and were more likely to engage in vandalism or shoplifting later in their teen years. Fans of "mainstream pop," however, largely remained out of trouble.
  
  Sorry, Beliebers: This does not definitively mean that your affinity for a hairless Canadian with a taste for overalls and dropcrotch harem pants makes you a better person. It's highly unlikely that researchers paid any attention to, say, the online activity of "mainstream pop" fans. We'd be very surprised if punk kids threatened to kill people quite as often as lovestruck One Direction fans do.
  

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  You Go, Yoko
  Yoko Ono will celebrate her 80th birthday this year with a performance at Berlin's legendary Volksbühne on February 17. YOKO ONO PLASTIC ONO BAND will be fronted by her talented musician son, Sean Lennon, who recently collaborated with her on her album Between My Head and the Sky. Earlier that week, Ono will unveil a retrospective, HALF-A-WIND SHOW, at Frankfurt's Schirn Kuntshalle. Hopefully it will include this, playing on a loop:
  

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  Kanye Takes New York
  Kanye West is headlining New York City's third annual Governor's Ball Festival in June, sharing the bill with Kings of Leon (who've promised a new album this year), Nas, The xx, Cut Copy, Beach House, Kendrick Lamar, The Lumineers, Animal Collective, and so many other amazing bands we're pretty sure the tickets are going to sell out right quick. No, seriously. Our top picks this year: Twin Shadow, The Vaccines, Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs, Wild Nothing, MS MR, St. Lucia, and Haim.
  
  Also, Kanye should be on the verge of daddy-dom come June 7, when the festival kicks off at NYC's Randall Island Park.
  

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  Time to Go Postal
  The Postal Service is reemerging for the 10th anniversary of its wildly successful debut Give Up, with plans for a performance at Coachella and the promise of a special 10th anniversary re-release of their only album. Unfortunately, neither Ben Gibbard nor Jimmy Tamborello will give the public what they really, really want... read more about it here.
  

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  Katy Perry Pays Tribute To Aretha Aretha's Hat
  Eternally saucy minx Katy Perry brought her own miniature version of Aretha Franklin's oversized gray wool hat to President Obama's Inauguration ceremony on Monday. Her boyfriend John Mayer tried it on for size, but it failed to make him look any cuter.
  (All images Getty)

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  Watch This Now
  The Joy Formidable has just announced that one of our favorite bands, Guards, will support them on tour from 3/27 until 4/7, giving us another excuse to post this excellent video for their single "This Ladder Is Ours."
  
  
• Beyonce, Selena Gomez Among Stars Demanding Gun Control Plan
  
  
  Dec 24, 2012 9:00:54 AM
  
  (Getty Images) Beyoncé Knowles and Selena Gomez might have lost some of their more gun-happy fans thanks to a new video campaign, but it's unlikely that either star really cares. Also in music news, Frank Ocean shared the track he'd written for Django Unchained, an intruder tried to crash Rihanna's family time, Jennifer Lopez threw around the ol' pigskin for charity, and more.
  

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  Beyonce and Selena: Demand a Plan
  Beyoncé Knowles and Selena Gomez are among the many stars who teamed up to film a powerful new video which calls for immediate attention to gun control in the United States. Released just three days ago, the brief clip has already generated enough online controversy that comments are no longer allowed on its YouTube page.
  
  It's worth noting that nowhere in the minute-and-a-half clip does anyone call for the repeal of the second amendment or anything like that — just for immediate attention to the issue. But there are still people who are angry enough over the stars' involvement to call them out on Twitter. Of course there are.

  

  

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  Frank Ocean Believes in Himself
  Pretty much everyone agrees that Frank Ocean created the Album of the Year, so he's under absolutely no obligation to be humble. So maybe he was kind of right to post the track he composed for Quentin Tarantino's new flick Django Unchained with the caption, "django was ill without it." Listen to it here.
  

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  Rihanna: Beachin' in Barbados
  Rihanna, who recently made a $1.75 million donation to a Barbados hospital in honor of her late grandmother Clara "Dolly" Braithwaite, had to put her rest and relaxation on pause for a moment when a German man got a little too close to comfort at the private residence where she's spending the holidays in her homeland. TMZ reports that the police were called, but the guy had already learned not to mess with Rihanna and her security team by the time he arrived. Meanwhile, it's rumored that she and Chris Brown are no longer speaking. Also, she is still very hot.
  

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  Jennifer Lopez: The Next Tom Brady?
  Jennifer Lopez whipped out a pair of white short shorts for a charity football game in San Juan, Puerto Rico, where she spent some time with her family and her dancer boyfriend Casper Smart. Lopez did not appear to be completely out of her element during the match, which benefitted Superstorm Sandy victims in New York.
  
  By Monday, Lopez had returned to her hometown of New York City, tweeting a photo of the South Bronx block where she grew up. Don't be fooled by the rocks that she got, guys. See more pictures of Jenny on the field here.
  

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  Justin Bieber's Eminem Moment
  Justin Bieber is back in Stratford, Ontario, where he's presumably catching up with his half-siblings and hanging out with his pre-fame friends. He's also treating his Instagram followers to gems from his childhood, like a shot of him hanging out on the soccer field sporting platinum blond hair. Bieber wrote, "Wow why did I think I was eminem and bleach my hair blonde."
  
  
  (Instagram)
  
  
  
• Chris Brown Can't Relate to Anyone But Tupac Shakur
  
  
  Nov 27, 2012 8:38:33 AM
  
  (Getty)Today in music news, Chris Brown is feeling mighty isolated since the only person in the world he thinks he can relate to has been dead for almost 20 years, Shirley Manson cusses out her fans, Nicki Minaj accuses Steven Tyler of racism, Rihanna brushes off 777 tour criticism, and more.
  
  Chris Brown Has Taken His Act to Instagram
  Chris Brown had an existential moment on Instagram on Tuesday, when he posted a shot of Tupac Shakur flipping the bird and wrote, "That awkward moment when the only person u can relate to in the world is dead."
  
  Brown's probably feeling more isolated than usual this week as he's facing yet another round of bad press, this time sparked by the misogynistic rant he directed at a female comedy writer who made a joke at his expense. But instead of getting self-reflective, Brown's aligned himself with a hip-hop legend: No one but the greatest understands what he's going through, see!
  
  Brown (or his publicist) shut down his Twitter account on Sunday, but he's been very active on Instagram, posting shots of his creepy drawings (one is tellingly titled "Judgement Day (sic)") and his own face. He also announced that he's co-executive producing the upcoming album from Asher Monroe, the former boybander who was once Zimbio's Artist of the Week. Very interesting.
  
  Shirley Manson Had a Bad Day
  Garbage's Shirley Manson was extremely grumpy with her fans on Monday, when she not only complained about the band's "subdued" reception in Cologne, Germany, but then told fans who called her out on it to blow her. Heh. UK blogger Nessymon details the entire experience here, but this about sums it up:

  

  
  Nicki Minaj Can't Take Criticism
  On Monday, Steven Tyler told MTV he thought this season's American Idol judges would be less nurturing than he'd been, suggesting that Nicki Minaj would banish Bob Dylan to a cornfield were he to compete on the show. Nicki decided that this was racist, tweeting, "Steven Tyler said I would have sent Bob Dylan to a cornfield??? Steven, you haven't seen me judge one solitary contestant yet! I understand you really wanted to keep your job but take that up with the producers. I haven't done anything to you. That's a racist comment."
  
  There's more, of course. She dragged Barbara Walters into it.
  
  Rihanna Doesn't Feel Bad About Letting Journalists Down
  Rihanna told Radio 1's Nick Grimshaw that she couldn't help the 777 tour fiasco, 'cause she was just trying to keep it together for the sake of her fans. Though writers alleged that the Barbados-born performer lip-synced more than she actually sang, Rihanna claimed that she was inaccessible for almost the entirety of the trip because she was saving her voice.
  
  "It was different having to do your job but also have 200 guests come along with you. They all want you to host a party every time you get on the plane after a show but you really only have that time to sleep until you get to the next country. Sometimes it was a two-hour ride to the next country and that was all the sleep you would get."
  
  "I knew I had seven countries and seven shows and I had to save my voice. I didn't go crazy," she lated added. "I didn't party too hard. I did have fun though. I tried to get everybody involved but sometimes you just wish you could give more."
  
  Let's Get It On, Lenny
  Lenny Kravitz has been cast as Marvin Gaye in the upcoming Julien Temple-directed biopic about the late singer, Rolling Stone reports. The film centers on Gaye's time in Europe in the early '80s, when he was working on a comeback with promoter Freddy Cousaert. Yes: They've secured the music rights.
  
  

  Rocking the Tube
  Letterman: Dirty Projectors
  Leno: Milo Greene
  Carson Daly: Grimes
  Kimmel: Youngblood Future
  Fallon: Aimee Mann
  
  Listen! Listen!
    •  Stream London-based producer/writer/vocalist WALL's new single, a cover of Karen Dalton's "Something on Your Mind," via Soundcloud. WALL is the first artist signed to BCS Records, the just-launched Black Cab Sessions label.
    •  Finally, some of that "cock rock" Ke$ha promised way back when: "Dirty Love," the singer's duet with Iggy Pop, has leaked! And there's a line about Santorum in there. Stream it over at Idolator.
    •  Trixie Whitley's single "Breathe You in My Dreams" gives me chills. For serious. Check out the austere new video, or download it here.
    •  Wild Belle will release their debut album Isles on March 12, 2013, on Columbia Records.
  
  Watch It Now
  CeeLo's new Christmas tune "All I Need Is Love" basically sounds like a "Mambo No. 5"/"Mah Ná Mah Ná" mashup, but the music video has the Muppets in it and the French shrimp raps, so that's forgiveable.
  
  
• Justin Bieber Is Going Unplugged
  
  
  Dec 7, 2012 11:55:59 AM
  
  (Getty)Justin Bieber isn't going to let his lack of Grammys get him down: He's got teenybopper money to make! There's a new album on the way, and one of the dudes from The Wanted might be involved. Also in music news, Nicki Minaj's manager is also ticked off about her lack of Grammy nominations, Rick Ross has canceled shows — maybe over threats of gang violence, Britney Spears is the most-searched celebrity in the history of the Internet search engine era, and more.
  

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  It's Time for Bieber to Get Serious and Soulful
  Justin Bieber is comforting himself over his lack of Grammy nods this year with the thought of all the cash he'll make off his upcoming acoustic album. The singer tweeted Thursday, "been writing alot...new stuff...and yeah. the acoustic album, new arrangements, is happening... #withdankanter."
  
  For those not in the know, Dan Kanter is that long-haired dude who accompanies the Biebs on the acoustic guitar during the quiet and soulful moments of his blockbuster shows. He's also Canadian. Bieber also has a hype man in The Wanted's Nathan Sykes, who tweeted, "@justinbieber yeah man. People ain't gonna know what to think when they hear the new tunes #nextlevel see ya later bro."
  

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  Nicki Minaj's Manager Pulls a Scooter Braun
  Nicki Minaj hasn't commented on having been passed over for a Grammy this year, but her manager sure did! Cortez Bryant let it all out in two tweets on Thursday:

  

  
  Shrug. Considering that Minaj hasn't had a new hit single in a while, it's not all that surprising. Maybe when she gives the world something better than "Freedom" (sample lyric: "I'm your idol, I'm your idol, I'm your motherf**kin' idol") she'll have another shot. Or maybe the Academy just needs more time to forgive her for her 2012 Grammy Awards performance. Remember that?
  

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  Rick Ross Avoids North Carolina
  Rapper Rick Ross reportedly recieved death threats from the Gangster Disciples street gang earlier this week, supposedly over his mention of the gang's imprisoned leader, Larry Hoover, in the song "B.M.F. (Blowin' Money Fast)." After a video threatening violence at Ross' North Carolina concerts surfaced online, the rapper pulled out of shows scheduled in Greensboro and Charlotte. Ross blamed it on promoters: "North Carolina I wuz so excited to perform tomorro wit MMG Promoters cancelled show but I'll be Back ASAP. luv"
  

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  Britney Is Queen Bee
  Kim Kardashian may be the most-searched name on the Internet this year, but the all-time most interesting person on the web — in terms of popularity, anyway — is Britney Spears. The pop performer is the most-searched celebrity of the past 12 years, i.e. the modern search engine era. Britney topped Yahoo's search counts in 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, and 2008.
  

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  Rob Kardashian Will Not Be at This New Year's Bash
  Ke$ha is headlining MTV's Club NYE 2013 from Times Square this year, promising a "sweaty, drunken, dance-fueled orgy of bliss." Ne-Yo, Sean Kingston, Rita Ora, and Conor Maynard are all scheduled to perform during the bash, while Nicole "Snooki" Polizzi, Jenni "JWOWW" Farley, and "Money From Strangers" comedian Jeff Dye are set to host.
  

  ---

  Rocking the Tube
  Letterman: One Direction
  Leno: Garbage
  Kimmel: Future
  Fallon: Big Boi with Little Dragon
  

  ---

  Listen to This
    •  Stream Ivan and Alyosha's single "Running for Cover,"  the first off the band's upcoming debut full-length album, All the Times We Had, out February 26 on Missing Piece/Dualtone Music Group.
    •  Download Faded Paper Figure's "Holy Smoke," the latest single off the band's third poptronica EP The Matter, which recently jumped to No. 65 on the CMJ Top 200 charts.
  

  ---

  Relive the Glory
  The Breeders are reuniting to celebrate the 20th anniversary of their album Last Splash! They'll be performing at All Tomorrow's Parties in Camber Sands, England next June. Get excited by revisiting their biggest hit, "Cannonball," which happens to be a terrific karaoke song for anyone who wants to scream.
  
• Rihanna and Chris Brown: Still Hinting at a Relationship
  
  
  Dec 21, 2012 9:49:31 AM
  
  (Getty Images) It's unclear where Chris Brown's going to spend Christmas this year, since it appears he's still embroiled in a ridiculous love triangle with his two "exes," singer Rihanna and aspiring model Karrueche Tran. Despite recent tweets that indicated trouble in paradise for music's most controversial couple, Brown and Rihanna are still tweeting tender photos of themselves together. Because they'll love each other forever, or whatever. Also in music news, Miley Cyrus is sick of people telling her not to make out with her dogs, the non-imprisoned members of Lostprophets have issued a statement about the recent arrest of their frontman, Gunplay is a secret 9/11 truther, and more.
  

  ---

  Where's Chris Going for Christmas?
  It'll be interesting to see how Chris Brown spends his time this holiday season, as he has a trio of ladies to satisfy this Christmas: Rihanna, Karrueche Tran, and his mama, Joyce Hawkins. Rihanna appears to have retreated to an island paradise for the season, but there's still time for Brown to join her yet — and given their most recent passive aggressive tweets, that just may happen.
  
  On Thursday, Rihanna tweeted a picture of her hand clasped around Chris' hand, which rests seductively in her lap. Chris' hand is, of course, easily identifiable by its tattoos — Rihanna loves to let fans in on their open secret by refraining from posting his face, pretending to maintain some air of mystery.
  
  But Christina Milian recently told Wendy Williams that Brown is still dating her pal Karrueche Tran, which means — if it's true — that both she and Rihanna are willing to put up with ongoing competition for Brown's affections.
  
  So really the only mystery that remains is how a man who tweets about pooping in ladies' eyes has such a strong hold over not one, but two beautiful women.
  

  ---

  Miley Can Kiss Who She Wants, OK?
  Miley Cyrus will make out with her dogs if she damn well pleases. The singer regularly posts selfies co-starring her furry friends in very loving poses, which often draw criticism from fans who can't imagine puckering up for their pups.

  Well then!
  

  ---

  Lostprophets Speak Out

  Earlier this week, Lostprophets frontman Ian Watkins was arrested for allegedly conspiring with a woman to rape a 1-year-old girl. The band's other members have posted an official statement on the band's website:
  
  
  

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  Gunplay Is a Conspiracy Theorist
  On Thursday, rapper Gunplay weighed in on the Sandy Hook massacre that left 20 children dead in Newtown, Connecticut. He apparently believes that both the massacre and 9/11 were orchestrated by the government to take people's guns away. He's since deleted the following tweet:
  Say it with me now: UGHHHHHHHHH.
  

  ---

  Rocking the Tube
  Letterman: Darlene Love
  Leno: Chris Mann
  Kimmel: 2 Chainz
  Fallon: Rod Stewart
  

  ---

  Watch Now
  Behold the stunning music video for "Mirage," the lead single off Norwegian band Heyerdahl's upcoming debut album ØEN, due January 28 on Red Eye Transit.
  
• Watch Chris Martin and Gwyneth Paltrow Liven Up a Jay-Z Performance
  
  
  Jan 2, 2013 4:44:44 PM
  
  (Getty Images)In today's music news, Jay-Z and Chris Martin combined for a memorable New Year's Eve experience (this is our last NYE vid, we promise), Justin Bieber issues a statement on the bizarre accident that left a paparazzi photographer dead on Tuesday, and Green Day makes plans to get back on the road. More below.
  

  ---

  Chris Martin & Jay-Z: NYE BFFs
  Jay-Z got together with Chris Martin for the cover of Baller magazine a special performance of "Run This Town" on New Year's Eve, and while Chris kinda dropped the ball on singing that hook, he did bring the fam along to treat us all to Apple's completely fly dance moves.
  
  Coldplay and Jay-Z co-headlined a New Year's show in Brooklyn, and Gwyneth Paltrow was onhand to dance near the side of the stage with daughter Apple, and son Moses while sipping champagne. The video is pretty awesome, right down to Chris Martin completely not caring about singing the chorus. After all, which is more important: Trying to sing over a pre-recorded Rihanna? Or dancing with your daughter on New Year's Eve?
  
  Oh and another question raised by this video: When Apple is 16 will this video convince her Gwyneth Paltrow is the coolest or the dorkiest mom ever? Watch the moves and decide for yourself.
  

  ---

  Justin Bieber Sends "Thoughts and Prayers" to Photographer's Family
  A 29-year-old paparazzi photographer was struck by an SUV and killed in Los Angeles Tuesday while shooting photos of Justin Bieber being pulled over by police in his white Ferrarri. On Wednesday the singer released a statement, sending his condolences to the photographer's family. He also used the opportunity to speak out in favor of stricter paparazzi laws.
  
  "While I was not present nor directly involved with this tragic accident, my thoughts and prayers are with the family of the victim," Bieber said in a statement. "Hopefully this tragedy will finally inspire meaningful legislation and whatever other necessary steps to protect the lives and safety of celebrities, police officers, innocent public bystanders and the photographers themselves."
  
  The photographer, a freelancer named Chris Guerra, had been tailing Bieber and young rapper Lil Twist (who was driving at the time of the traffic stop) most of the day according to TMZ. After Bieber's car was pulled over by a California Highway Patrol officer, the photographer crossed busy Sepulveda Boulevard to get a better shot. Guerra was struck by an SUV while crossing back to his own car after being sent away by the officer.
  
  According to the Los Angeles Times, it's unlikely the driver of the SUV will face charges.
  

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  Green Day's Hiatus Is Coming to an End
  More than three months after blowing up onstage, heading to rehab, and putting Green Day's tour plans on hold, Billie Joe Armstrong is almost ready to get back on the road. Tickets for postponed shows will be honored on new dates. Tickets for canceled shows will be refunded, and all will be right with the world with Green Day gets back onstage starting March 28th in Chicago.
  
  “Dear friends… I just want to thank you all for the love and support you’ve shown for the past few months," Armstrong said via press release on the band's site. "Believe me, it hasn’t gone unnoticed and I’m eternally grateful to have such an amazing set of friends and family. I’m getting better everyday. So now, without further ado, the show must go on. We can’t wait to get on the road and live out load! Our passion has only grown stronger.”
  

  ---

  

  Lil Wayne's new forehead tat. (From lilwaynehq.com)

  Lil Wayne Is "Baked"
  The New Orleans rapper has a new face tattoo, and it says "BAKED" in block letters on his forehead over his right eye. Besides the obvious meaning, the block letter style looks like a nod to Baker Skateboards, whose logo looks pretty similar. Lil Wayne has been way into skateboarding recently, going so far as to build skate parks in New Orleans and Miami, and claime that when he's done with rap he wants to be a skateboard sports analyst. Surely someone can make that happen.
• Britney Spears' Next Album Might Be Her Best Yet — Here's Why
  
  
  Jan 25, 2013 10:40:32 AM
  (Getty Images)Britney Spears didn't give up all that X Factor money for nothing: She's at work on what may become her best album yet. Also in exciting music news, there's a new Pulp song on the way, Snoop might get sued for misappropriating Rasta culture, Justin Bieber "leaks" abound on the Interwebs, Michelle Williams is being kinda cagey about Destiny Child's Super Bowl plans, and more.
  

  ---

  Britney: Ready to Conquer
  Britney Spears' upcoming album is only in the early stages of production, but fans are already getting all worked up — and reasonably so. The singer has enlisted some very major songwriters and producers to help with her next effort, including Kanye West's pal Hit-Boy, best known for his work on "N***as in Paris."
  
  "I'm bringing my world to her world, so I'm infusing what I do in hip-hop and bringing pop elements to it. So it's just going to be a global sound," he told MTV News this week, adding that Spears is "nice and cool."
  
  But there are yet more reasons to get excited for Britney's next move. For example:
  
  1. Britney's returned to tried-and-true collaborators.
  Unfortunately, Britney wasn't able to properly promote her 2007 album Blackout, and the brilliance of some of its tracks was lost on the public as her personal struggles overshadowed her professional triumphs. That's why it's so exciting that Spears has re-enlisted Danja, the producer of "Gimme More" and "Break the Ice," to help her find her sound on the latest work.
  In October, Spears tellingly tweeted, "I heard Happy Birthday Blackout was trending earlier... thank u all for loving the album as much as I do. Blackout 2.0?"
  
  2. Britney's just gone through a breakup.
  Britney recently called off her engagement to Jason Trawick, which, however painful, may provide inspiration for some very personal songs. While Spears is best known for singing songs that other people wrote, she is a rather capable songsmith herself: She co-penned her strongest-ever ballad, "Everytime," just after her very public breakup with Justin Timberlake. Maybe there will even be a song in which she addresses her serious lack of personal freedom. Dare to dream.
  
  3. It's Britney, B**ch.
  The past couple of years have been an odd time for devoted Britney fans, as the singer has remained remarkably distant in interviews (never live, always brief and usually edit-approved by the Spears team) and public appearances. But with the glimpses of attitude (and amazing range of facial expressions) Britney displayed during her stint on X Factor, it feels like she may actually be getting more comfortable with living her life in the public eye again. Once again, dare to dream.
  

  ---

  Justin Bieber Is Leaking All Over the Place
  It's just a few days until Justin Bieber releases Believe Acoustic, which he promises will deliver "all the answers," whatever that means (as we've previously stated, we just want to know why he Instagrammed his crack). Naturally, a couple of Bieber leaks hit the Web this week, and while one of them is obviously a fake (there is no way "Yellow Raincoat" is actually a Bieber song), another of them seems to address his recent breakup with Selena Gomez. Check out the song — and Bieber's reaction to all his bad press of late — right here.
  

  ---

  

  We support Snoop Lion, if only because he's created opportunities for awesomeness like this. (via miabaga.com)

  Snoop Lion Is Alright with Rohan Marley
  Earlier this week, it emerged that Bob Marley's bandmate Bunny Wailer is threatening to sue Snoop Lion (née Dogg) over his "outright fraudulent use of Rastafari Community's personalities and symbolism." But Snoop's got a friend in Rohan Marley, one of Bob Marley's many sons, who told TMZ, "Our father's name should not even be mentioned in this issue because like a true Rasta, he would have embraced Snoop's reincarnation and welcomed the positivity."
  

  ---

  Pulp + James Murphy = YESSSSS
  The James Murphy-produced Pulp demo "After You," which was quietly released on the Web last month to immediate fanboy pants-peeing, will be available for download on iTunes starting on Monday. This doesn't necessarily mean there's a new album on the way. Just that you can pay money for Pulp things again.
  

  ---

  Come On, Michelle
  Michelle Williams will neither confirm nor deny rumors that she and Kelly Rowland will join Beyoncé Knowles onstage during her halftime performance at the Super Bowl in Atlanta next month.
  
  "Unfortunately, I honestly can't say," Williams told MTV News when asked about the performance. "Just thinking about it gives me a headache. It seems quite impossible because of our own individual schedules. My opening night for 'Fela!' is January 29. I've been in rehearsals for that, so I haven't had time to think about learning anything else. But who knows? Maybe sometime in the future, five or 10 years from now, we'll see."
  
  Uh huh.
  

  
  

  ---

  Rocking the Tube
  Letterman: Soundgarden
  Leno: The Grascals
  Fallon: Eli Young Band
  Kimmel: Nicki Minaj
  

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  New and Notable
    •  Dead Can Dance is the latest band to partner with Genero.tv to give independent filmmakers and fans the chance to create their upcoming music video. From now until March 4, Genero is accepting video submissions for "Children of the Sun," a track of Anastasis, the band's first studio album in 16 years.
    •  South London's Arlissa looks a bit like the late Aaliyah, but it's Shakira she channels — both vocally and physically — in the brand new music video for her debut solo single "Sticks & Stones." Check it out.
  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• Does It Matter If Beyoncé Lip-Synched the National Anthem?
  
  
  Jan 23, 2013 8:53:07 AM
  
  (Bauer Griffin | Getty Images)Yesterday, reports that Beyoncé Knowles relied on a pre-recorded version of "The Star-Spangled Banner" for her performance at President Obama's Inaugural Ceremony shocked and infuriated fans — many of whom couldn't believe that a vocal powerhouse would ever pull such a stunt. While it's still unclear whether Ms. Knowles' triumphant vocals were perfected in the studio, the incident raises interesting questions about what we actually expect from our pop stars. Also in music news, Aretha Franklin offers her opinion on Bey-gate, Justin Bieber promises "answers" with his upcoming acoustic release, The Wanted's Max George is definitely not dating Lindsay Lohan, and more.
  

  ---

  Oh Say Can You Sing?
  On Tuesday, a U.S. Marine Band spokesperson told news outlets that performer Beyoncé Knowles had pre-recorded the vocals for "The Star-Spangled Banner" at President Obama's Inaugural Ceremony. Within a matter of hours, however, the Marine Band backed away from the statement, with Marine Corps spokesperson Capt. Gregory Wolf asserting, "No one in the Marine Band is in a position to assess whether it was live or pre-recorded."
  
  Knowles has yet to make a statement on the matter, but what's perhaps more interesting than whether she sang live or not is how people are taking the news. Reactions have ranged from outrage to denial, with some viewers decrying a lack of respect for ceremony and others posting performance footage to YouTube that they believe clears Knowles' name. Others still have pointed out that the weather conditions in the Capitol were not conducive to a rip-roaring performance with temperatures below 50. Singer Claude Kelly tweeted, "If you non-singing critics knew anything about acoustics, or singing in freezing cold, you'd shut up about this Beyonce lip sync thing." Kelly Clarkson's reps, meanwhile, were quick to assure the public that the former American Idol contestant had indeed sung "My Country, 'Tis of Thee" live at the same event.
  
  So: Does it really matter if Beyoncé is too much of a perfectionist to trust her own pipes?
  
  

  Lip-synching has become an industry standard in entertainment: When Britney Spears does it, no one's the least bit shocked. But what people seem to be responding to here is its presence in a moment of national ritual: They're outraged at inauthenticity in a moment of such import. Still, it wasn't national news when Whitney Houston sang to a pre-recorded anthem track at the 1991 Super Bowl, nor when Jennifer Hudson did likewise at the same event 18 years later.
  
  So where do you stand? Place your vote in the poll above, and let us know what you think in the comments.
  

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  Aretha Franklin Has a Weird Sense of Humor
  Aretha Franklin, whose hat stole the show at Obama's last inauguration, weighed in on the lip-synching scandal too. Apparently she just thought it was funnier than monkeys in pajamas.
  
  "When I heard the news this evening that she was pre-recorded I really laughed," Franklin told ABC News. "I thought it was funny because the weather down there was about 46 or 44 degrees and for most singers that is just not good singing weather."
  

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  Max George: No Lindsay for Me
  The Wanted's Max George has been spending a heck of a lot of time with Lindsay Lohan lately — she recently skipped out on an important court appearance to hang with the boy band in England — but that doesn't mean they're dating. When a fan tweeted "If you date with Lindsay, I will die okay," Max responded, "I'm not so you're fine!:) x." 

  ---

  Justin Bieber Is Gonna Get Deep, Y'all
  

  

  Expect to see a lot of broody black and white photos of J-Biebs. (Instagram)

  It's just a matter of days until Justin Bieber explores the depths of his soul with the release of Believe Acoustic. He's promising to "answer all the questions," which is probably code for "talking smack about Selena Gomez in passive aggressive songs." Or maybe he's just planning to let the world know why he Instagrammed his butt crack.
  
  Bieber has had a good week: He got to meet one of his idols, NBA great Michael Jordan, at a recent Charlotte Bobcats game. And then he bragged about it on Twitter, because despite his soulful dance moves, he's still an 18-year-old boy.
  

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  Niall Horan Is A-OK
  The Sun got a whole bunch of 12-year-olds all worked up this week when they posted a story about One Direction's Niall Horan getting into a car crash in England. Horan quickly cleared things up for his fans, tweeting, "I was not in a crash and that is not my car."
  
  Niall and company are prepping for their international Take Me Home tour, which will see them working young women into tearful paroxysms across three continents.
  

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  Blame Madonna for 'The Artist Formerly Known as Prince'
  For several years, Prince changed his name to an unpronounceable symbol in protest against his record company, Warner Bros. He recently told Billboard that Madonna played a part in his frustration with the label, although indirectly: "She was getting paid, but at the time we were selling more records and selling out concerts on multiple nights."
  

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  Rocking the Tube
  Letterman: Conor Maynard
  Leno: Garry Allan
  Kimmel: Gin Wigmore
  Fallon: Lupe Fiasco
  Conan: Electric Guest
  

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  New and Notable
    •  Yoko Ono will mark her 80th birthday with the release of a new EDM-flavored collaboration with Dave Audé, "Hold Me." It's described as an "entirely new song" that's "tailor-made for dance floors." The song will become available February 19 via MIND TRAIN / TWISTED Records.
    •  Prince's new single does not sound like Prince, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. Check out the lyric video for "Screwdriver" here, as it may well disappear in the next couple of days.
  

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  You Haven't Seen This Yet
  Lee Fields, the man behind one of our favorite songs of 2012, has teamed up with Lady (Terri Walker and Nicole Wray) for an acoustic cover of his song "Still Hanging On." It's beautiful. You'll like it, I promise.
  
  
• Steven Tyler to Nicki Minaj: Sorry, I'm Not Racist
  
  
  Nov 28, 2012 10:20:52 AM
  
  (PacificCoastNews | Getty Images)The music news today: Steven Tyler is baffled by Nicki Minaj's racism accusations, the ex-Pussycat Dolls who aren't Nicole Scherzinger all kinda hate Nicole Scherzinger, Adele's sold more records than you've had hot dinners, Deadmau5 says more controversial stuff about EDM, there's a new Cruel album on the way and much more.
  
  Steven Tyler Is Sorry Nicki Minaj Thinks He's Racist
  Earlier this week, Nicki Minaj Twitter-raged over Steven Tyler's recent assertion that she'd likely dismiss Bob Dylan were he to compete on American Idol. "You assume that I wouldn't have liked Bob Dylan??? why? black? rapper? what? go f**k yourself and worry about yourself babe," Minaj tweeted, later adding that she wanted to make Tyler and Barbara Walters shirts that read, "No Coloreds Allowed."
  
  By Tuesday afternoon, Tyler responded to Minaj's accusations on Canadian entertainment show eTalk, expressing disbelief that Nicki had interpreted any racial undertones in his criticism. "I apologize if it was taken wrong, Nicki," the former Idol judge insisted. "But I am the farthest from [being a racist]. I am the last thing on this planet as far as being a racist. I don't know where she got that out of me saying I'm not sure how she would've judged Bob Dylan."
  
  The Dolls Dislike Scherzy
  Former Pussycat Doll Carmit Bachar says that the group could reunite someday — but they'd have to do it without Nicole Scherzinger. Carmit, known to most as The Redhead, says that Scherzinger's jealousy towards groupmate Ashley Roberts destroyed the group, which makes about zero sense when one considers that Nicole sang lead on every. Single. Song. Yet Bachar, who left the group in 2008, says, "A Pussycat Dolls reunion isn't out of the question. Five of us  — and not Nicole — could happen. But all six? Never. Too much water under the bridge.
  

  A Pussycat Dolls reunion isn't out of the question. Five of us - and not Nicole - could happen. But all six? Never. Too much water under the bridge."
  
  Read more at ONTD: http://ohnotheydidnt.livejournal.com/?skip=10#ixzz2DXkO6u2y

  
  Adele Rules the World
  British songstress Adele is the first artist in a decade to secure Diamond certification (more than 10 million copies sold) in less than two years. The singer's album 21 is, coincidentally, the 21st album to achieve this feat, joining the likes of Alanis Morissette's Jagged Little Pill and 'N Sync's No Strings Attached.
  
  Deadmau5 Likens EDM to Disco
  Deadmau5, aka Joel Zimmerman, seems pessimistic about the future of EDM, noting that there are a lot of artists who aren't putting a lot of effort into what they do. He recently told SPIN, "The way I see EDM right now, it's a healthy industry for sure — minimal work for maximum profit ... EDM is, like... Event-Driven Marketing, I think, is the acronym there. It reminds me a lot of disco. That had some hang-time, like 10, 15, 17 years tops... Not too many people are forward thinking about electronic music, they're just kinda like, 'now now now do it do it.'"
  
  Kanye Readies for Winter
  Kanye West and his G.O.O.D. music associates are preparing to release a new album titled Cruel Winter, rapper Big Sean confirmed this week. While he didn't offer too many details, he did promise that it'd be relatively soon: "I don't know about that. You gotta wait and see man, I don't know. It can't be 'Cruel Spring'. It's gotta be in a timely fashion. I know I did something for it, for 'Cruel Winter', and I was like 'Godammit, I need to cut this for my album because it's really good.'"
  
  Adam Levine, Diva Number One
  Christina Aguilera has the diva rep on The Voice, but Adam Levine appears to be vying for the title. The Maroon 5 frontman recently complained about how terribly Los Angeles venue The Roxy treated him and his bandmates way back when they opened for Michelle Branch, i.e. before they had any hits. "I remember we opened for [Branch] at the Roxy, and they didn't even give us a dressing room," Levine said on Monday's episode. "I hate the Roxy. I'll never play there again."
  
  The Roxy's response (pictured above right) was awesome.
  
  

  Rocking the Tube
  Letterman: Aerosmith
  Leno: Blake Shelton
  Conan: Alice Cooper
  Carson Daly: The Walkmen
  Fallon: Miguel
  Kimmel: Wiz Khalifa
  
  Listen! Listen!
    •  Charli XCX has just released a music video for her new single "Cloud Aura," which features Brooke Candy guesting on rap verses. Perhaps most exciting: Honey Boo Boo makes an appearance.
    •  Stream Brooklyn-based singer-songwriter Jon DeRosa's cover of Nick Charles' "Sunday Jealous" at Soundcloud. Next month, DeRosa headlines Mother West's Holiday Extravaganza at The Bowery Electric. It's free!
   
  You Haven't Seen This Yet
  On Wednesday morning, MTVu premiered the sultry new music video for AVAN LAVA's "Sisters," the latest single off their EP Flex Fantasy. It's, um, a button-pusher. If you're in NYC, catch the Brooklyn-based group at the Brooklyn Museum this Saturday evening.
  
• Tuned In: Those Ex-Disney Pop Stars Are Not As Close As You Might Think
  
  
  Nov 14, 2012 8:36:58 AM
  
  (Getty, Twitter) You might think that kids who grew up on the same network would be friends for life, but you'd be wrong: The ex-Disney trifeminate of Demi Lovato, Selena Gomez, and Miley Cyrus is no longer solid. Also in music news, Christina Aguilera gets mediocre reviews, Rihanna is not a great speller, Blink-182 is getting folksier with age, and more.
  
  Blame It on Mickey
  Years of staged photo ops and shared promo tours do not a lifelong friendship make, it turns out. This week, a rumor that Miley Cyrus had something to do with Selena Gomez's recent split from pop performer Justin Bieber is making the rounds, and while it's probably best ingested with, say, two pounds of salt, it is rather interesting.
  
  

  

  Selena, Demi, and Miley: The way they were, circa 2009. (via Blast Magazine)

  A source — anonymous, naturally — told Radar Online that last year, Selena broke up with JB because she was upset he'd been in an episode of Punk'd with Miley Cyrus. Though Selena and Justin eventually reunited, it indicates that Gomez and Cyrus are no longer friends, which isn't that surprising when you consider they both dated the same dude.
  
  Meanwhile, former Disney star Demi Lovato has not been spotted hanging out or even interacting with either Miley or Selena in months. Demi told Self earlier this year that her relationship with her childhood best friend had cooled: "Selena and I aren’t as close as we used to be, but she’ll always have a place in my heart.” Meanwhile, both Demi and Miley are slated to perform at VH1 Divas next month, which airs live December 16. Let's hope they're on good terms by then.
  
  Noel and Liam Are Still Talking Smack
  There's no brotherly love quite like the Gallaghers' brotherly love. Years after Oasis' acrimonious split, they two are still hurling insults at each other like it's 1996. Noel recently admitted in a BBC 6 Music interview (via NME) that he texted his brother on Christmas and even ran into him at a post-Olympics party: "[He] did the usual which was hurl an insult at me and walk off... nothing new there ... He's like a squeaky toy that swears a lot... in a blazer." Their poor mom.
  
  Christina Aguilera's Lotus: S' Alright
  I'd had big hopes for Christina Aguilera's new album Lotus, hoping that maybe, like Nas, she's one of those artists who produces her best work when she's going through lots of personal crap. While it's certainly more listenable than her previous album Bionic, Lotus is a little too unsteady and overdone to be considered a triumphant comeback album. Who auto-tunes Christina Aguilera?! And why does she sometimes sound like a middle school slam poet? A bunch of other outlets agree, including the NY Daily News and the A.V. Club, although Idolator was nuts for it.
  
  Rihanna Hasn't Mastered Her Album Title Yet
  Perhaps Rihanna was just too drunk for this Twitter s**t.

  

  
  Meanwhile, her "777" tour kicks off today.
  
  Blink-182 Goes Indie, Gets 'Folky'
  Blink-182 has promised a new EP by the holidays! Expect an interesting new sound now that the band has full creative control and is, you know, actually working together in person again instead of just emailing each other updates. Drummer Travis Barker told Rolling Stone that one of the five new tracks the band's been working on has a "folky" feel, and insisted, "To me already, this EP is a hundred times better than [the band's 2011 album] Neighborhoods."
  
  

  Rocking the Tube
  Letterman: Dirty Projectors
  Leno: Kylie Minogue
  Conan: Lianne LaHavas
  Jimmy Fallon: Electric Guest
  Jimmy Kimmel: Ne-Yo
  Carson Daly: Divine Fits
  
  Live! Free! Awesome!
    •  There ain't no Christmas like a Sufjan Stevens Christmas! This year's hipster holiday festivities will be a little more lush thanks to Silver and Gold: Songs for Christmas, Vols. 6 - 10. Stream the whole dang thing over at Entertainment Weekly.
    •  Old Crow Medicine Show has announced additional winter tour dates! The band's next tour kicks off November 15 in Madison, Wisconsin and wraps up December 6 in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Next year, they'll head to Europe and have confirmed a gig at the Stagecoach Music Festival in the spring. Visit the band's official website for details.
    •  JAN, aka Kim Talon of Eagle and Talon, has released a new free mp3 download in celebration of her debut self-titled LP.
    •  A project that was born out of blizzard-induced isolation, E4RTH, the new solo project from Punches' Alan Astor. It's for people who want to party. Download the debut single "It's Where We Live," which also features vocals by Amy Douglas (Treasure Fingers, Codes, SPF5000), White Lion (South African soul singer) and Amaze The Icon.
  
  Listen to This Now
  Earlier this week, singer-songwriter Carla Morrison sat down at the Red Bull Studios in Los Angeles to record a version of her song "Déjanme Llorar" with Girl in a Coma's Nina Diaz and Les Butcherettes' Teri Gender Bender. The end result is this supremely dreamy track, which will be available as a free download come Friday. Oh, it is lovely.
  
  
• The One Direction Dudes Know They're Not Cool Enough to Work With Jay-Z
  
  
  Nov 26, 2012 9:57:45 AM
  
  Harry Styles, Zayn Malik, Louis Thompson, Liam Payne and Niall Horan of 'One Direction' attend 'BAMBI Awards 2012' at the Stadthalle Duesseldorf on November 22, 2012 in Duesseldorf, Germany. (Getty Images)more pics »
  Today in music news, one of the One Direction dudes has admitted the group isn't cool enough to collaborate with their idols. Millions of preteens would disagree, however. Also, Chris Brown has quit Twitter and his fans are gross, Miley Cyrus got a one-of-a-kind birthday present from PETA, Will Smith tried to pull strings to get T.I. out of jail, an American Idol alum has lost her record deal, Bieber got booed, and more.
  
  Tough Shakes for Tweeners
  The dudes of One Direction may pull all the loveliest ladies, but that doesn't mean they've got the street cred to land a collaboration with hip-hop's heaviest hitter. In a conversation with MTV about dream collaborators, the group admitted they'd have trouble lining something up with preferred choice.
  
  "Imagine going on tour with Jay-Z," Zayn Malik offered. Louis Tomlinson countered, "Lads, I don't think there's much chance," prompting Liam Payne to add, "I would love to do a hip-hop collaboration with Jay-Z. I don't know how to talk to him, though. I think he's wicked. I love Jay-Z. It upsets me that we're not cool enough, but I wish we could."
  
  Jay-Z might seem out of reach for the UK-bred quintet right now, but they shouldn't give up so soon: In a world where Justin Bieber collaborates with Kanye West, pretty much anything can happen. In the meantime, check out our list of the weirdest musical collaborations.
  
  Chris Brown Tweets and Deletes... Again
  Chris Brown has been throwing legendary Twitter tantrums for about three years now, so no one should be surprised that he's pressed pause on his account following a massive misogynistic rant. He's done this before.
  
  Comedian Jenny Johnson set Brown off with the following tweet:
  Brown proved, once again, that he still has anger issues with his terribly eloquent response: "take them teeth out when u Sucking my d**k HOE." It got worse from there.
  
  Brown deleted his account a few hours after the exchange, prompting some of his devoted fans to throw death threats Jenny Johnson's way. Once again, no one should be surprised: They did this to model Chrissy Teigen for much less.
  
  Miley Gets Everything She Wants for Her Birthday
  Miley Cyrus' friends followed through on the ex-Hannah Montana star's desired birthday gift, presenting her with a "big booty hoe" at her birthday bash. She also got a pig, although it won't be sharing space with all of her rescued dogs.
  
  PETA celebrated the animal-loving star's 20th birthday by sponsoring a pig named Nora at the Kindred Spirits Sanctuary in Florida. PETA VP Tracy Reiman explained to E! News, "PETA knew that sponsporing a rescued pig was the perfect birthday present for a young woman who spends so much time encouraging others to help animals."
  
  T.I. Has Superstar Supporters
  When T.I. was sent back to jail for a second time in 2010, he counted on a roster of famous friends for support, including Eminem.
  
  "He was extremely supportive and inspirational during that time," T.I. recently told Billboard, adding that Busta Rhymes, Puffy, Russell Simmons, and Nelly had all been supportive as well. As was Will Smith: "Will actually went as far as getting in touch with [attorney general] Eric Holder and the Obama administration trying to see if we could get some kind of release. He was very politely told that was not possible."
  
  "He was in deep discussions about it. And he's been a huge contributor to the administration, and I mean not just in finances, I'm talking about time and other kinds of efforts, so it ain't like his words were falling on deaf ears," T.I. explained. "But I understood. I didn't even expect no help. I didn't expect nobody to be able to help me. I knew I made my bed and I knew I had to lay in it."
  
  

  Bieber Gets Booed
  Justin Bieber got a less-than-friendly reception in Toronto, Canada on Sunday, when the pop star performed a medley of his hits during the Grey Cup halftime show. Apparently football fans booed when Bieber's face appeared on the JumboTron, booed when he took the stage, and booed during his entire set. But that didn't appear to phase the Biebs, as he signed off, "Thank you so much Canada. I love you." Maybe because it wasn't his first time getting booed.
  
  Haley Reinhart Leaves Interscope
  American Idol alum Haley Reinhart is no longer signed to Interscope Records, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Though reports remain unconfirmed, a source close to the situation says that the label cut the season 10 finalist loose after her debut album Listen Up! sold just 59,000 copies in its first several months of release.
  
  Brit Brit Channels Multiplicity
  Britney Spears' publicity team has offered a sneak peek at her upcoming video with Will.i.Am, "Scream and Shout," in the form of a GIF uploaded to her Cinemagram account. It basically reveals nothing, except that the singer rocks lion hair and a crop top.
  
  Andrew W.K. Is Awesome Internationally
  Andrew W.K. is planning a trip to Bahrain on behalf of the State Department in December. Yes, really.
  
  The "Party Hard" rocker has been appointed a cultural ambassador of the United States, and plans to visit elementary schools, the University of Bahrain, music venues, and more to promote his message of positive power. Andrew stated, "This is a tremendous invitation. I'm very thankful to the Department of State for giving me the opportunity to visit a place I've never been before. And I feel very privileged and humbled by the chance to represent the United States of America and show the good people of Bahrain the power of positive partying. I can hardly wait for this adventure!"
  
  

  Rocking the Tube
  Letterman: Larry Graham
  Leno: Delta Rae
  Conan: Wild Belle
  Carson Daly: White Arrows
  Kimmel: Soundgarden
  Fallon: Sun Kill Moon
  
  Listen! Listen!
    •  Stream or Download Midnight Magic's "Walking the Midnight Streets" at KCRW. Physical copies of the band's full-length debut album Walking the Midnight Streets are available only via PledgeMusic until December 10.
    •  The Chrome Canyon remix of French Horn Rebellion's "Love Is Dangerous" feat. JPatt premiered last week via VIBE. Check it out here for a free download.
  
  You Haven't Seen This Yet
  The Mynabirds have just released their limited edition 7" vinyl Body of Work, which includes the single of the same name — a joyful, bubbly tune that now has an enchanting new music video. Check it out below.
  
• Taylor Swift May Have Written 5 New Songs About Harry Styles
  
  
  Jan 14, 2013 12:07:39 PM
  
  Pacific Coast News
  
  Word has it Taylor Swift has gotten back to doing what she knows best: writing breakup songs. The Grammy winning star has reportedly penned a few songs about a certain British boy she used to date. Also: Santigold has a new music video for HBO's Girls, and New Order has eight tracks of dance-happy awesomeness for you to hear.
  

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  Swift Vendetta
  It's no secret Taylor Swift likes singing about her ex-boyfriends. If there was a Grammy for best breakup song, "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together," reportedly written about Jake Gyllenhaal, would easily take top prize. But get this: According to The Sun, she's already penned five new songs about her latest ex, Harry Styles. But wait a second! These two broke up two weeks ago. How on earth was Swift able to write five songs about him so quickly? We'll let the tabloid's totally reliable anonymous source explain:
  
  “Harry and Taylor only dated for a short time but there were very strong feelings, so it’s been a tough comedown. Lyrics have been written, but Taylor hasn’t come close to deciding whether she’ll ever release them," said someone.
  
  Swift and Styles dated for 66 long days, before calling it splits while vacationing in the Caribbean over the holidays. But if we're to believe The Sun, their brief relationship apparently left Swift so upset that she had to write a handful of retaliatory tracks. Do you buy the story? Let us know in the comments section.
  

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  Listen: Justin Timberlake's New Song
  It's been six long years since Justin Timberlake brought sexy back, but now the wait for new music is over. The superstar released his latest single, "Suit and Tie" in the wee hours of Monday morning.
  
  The track features Jay-Z, was produced by Timbaland, and will be on Timberlake's upcoming album The 20/20 Experience. The flashy song includes lyrics like: "As long as I got my suit and tie/ I'mma leave it all on the floor tonight." And, of course, it also features JT's signature falsetto. And horns! Listen to it here.
  

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  New Year, New Order
  The British rockers have released an album of previously unused songs, and it's wonderfully (if not predictably) synth heavy, and totally '80s. You can stream the LP, titled Lost Sirens, over at Rolling Stone.
  
  All eight tracks are leftover material from their 2005 album Waiting for the Sirens' Call. And just like that cold Chinese food sitting in your fridge, these old tracks still taste great.
  

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  Watch: Santigold's 'Girls' Music Video
  We're not forcing you to watch HBO's Girls. But the show, which did just win top honors at the Golden Globes for Best Comedy Series, has a seriously sweet soundtrack. Santigold wrote an exclusive single for the hit series, and the music video is fun as hell. Girls of all ages dance and lip sync to the artist's latest track, a slightly hypnotic rap/electronica song that's basically a less impressive, slower version of M.I.A.'s "Bad Girls." But the video's adorable. So you should watch.
  
  

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  B.o.B. Is Back, B----
  Worried that B.o.B. hasn't been as prominent in the hip-hop world as he was, say, two years ago? Well, don't fret. As the artist explains in his latest music video, featuring T.I. and Juicy J, he's "Still In This B----." Which is to say, he's still making music, hitting up strip clubs, buying shots, and hoarding "pounds of ganja."
  
  
• Shakira & Usher to Bring More 'Competition' to 'The Voice'
  
  
  Jan 1, 2013 6:11:05 PM
  
  (Bauer Griffin, Getty)Here's the latest in music as 2013 gets under way: Some new insight into The Voice's new coaches, Jay-Z is scoring The Great Gatsby, there were some great musical performances last night, and Kanye is apparently making a sequel to this year's Cruel Summer called Cruel Winter.
  

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  Rolling Stone went to a blind audition to see how things are working out with the replacements for Cee Lo Green and Christina Aguilera. Apparently Usher and Shakira are bringing a new level of competition to the show. Quoth Rolling Stone:
  

  When we spoke to Usher at iHeart Radio in Las Vegas in September he promised to promote a competitive edge, but he isn’t the only one bringing that attitude. At the audition we saw some friendly competition between Usher and Shakira over one contestant, and when Usher bested Levine for another vocalist at the audition, he playfully taunted his fellow judge.

  The new coaches will be joined by incumbents Adam Levine and Blake Shelton, who are also both competition fans. "I would say the competitiveness is up," said show creator Mark Burnett. "We've replaced Cee Lo with somebody that's just that much more aggressive. And Christina was always competitive, [but] now you've got four that are just killers up here."
  
  Shakira also confirmed it: "There's a lot of competitiveness."
  
  So in summary, season four of The Voice will have more competition, which is a good direction to take a singing competition show. 
  

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  Highlights from NYE Live Performances
  Last night's NYE musical performances were pretty awesome. Taylor Swift probably stole the night, despite her voice cracking a few times.
  
  Taylor Swift
  

  
  Psy and MC Hammer do "Gangnam Style" and "2 Legit 2 Quit"
  

  
  Justin Bieber and Big Sean do "As Long as You Love Me"
  

  
  Cassadee Pope does "Stand"
  

  
  Carly Rae Jepsen does "Call Me Maybe" and "This Kiss"
  

  
  Neon Trees does "Everybody Talks"
  

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  Jay-Z to Score The Great Gatsby
  Is it just us or does it seem like The Great Gatsby has been in production forever? The movie was supposed to come out this Christmas but they've just now confirmed that Jay-Z and Jeymes Samuel of The Bullitts will be scoring the remake of the classic. Australian director Baz Luhrmann reportedly blasted Jay-Z tunes on the set as a way to loosen up the cast and crew and perhaps distract them from the fact they're still working on one of the most anticipated movies of the decade and they better not screw it up.
  
  "On my first day he had Jay-Z pumped up full, and we did the entire scene with, you know, Jay-Z in our ear on full blast while acting, and it was just so liberating," Isla Fischer told MTV.
  
  Suppose it's not a huge surprise since Luhrmann used "No Church in the Wild," a Jay-Z / Kanye collaboration, in the second Gatsby trailer. Check it out:
  

  
  Gatsby stars Fisher, Leonardo DiCaprio, Carey Mulligan, Tobey Maguire and Joel Edgerton and was supposed to come out this past Christmas, but the new release date is May 10, 2010.
  

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  Kanye Making Follow-up to Cruel Summer
  Malik Yusef, a songwriter and music producer signed to Kanye West's G.O.O.D. Music label, tweeted this pic with the caption: "after he BLESSED the land with some truth,We was up WORKING on that NEW!!!!!#cruelwinter #goodmusic #grammyfamily #Chicago." And with that many hashtags, one of which is "#cruelwinter," it's safe to assume a sequel is in the works.
  
  Cruel Summer didn't do so great relative to Kanye West albums, but it was no stinker, either. "Mercy" and "Clique" are both solid tracks and "Cold," "New God Flow," and "Don't Like" all got some radio play but it's been suggested that, due to the staggered releases of these singles, by the time the album came out for purchase, there wasn't much left on it that we hadn't already heard.
  
  Regardless, we'll take a follow-up to Cruel Summer however it's served.
• Justin Bieber Announces New Album for January
  
  
  Dec 14, 2012 11:33:08 AM
  
  (Getty Images)Happy news for Justin Bieber fans: His acoustic album is due this January. Also, he's not sweating that Grammy snub — he's got plenty of time to check that off his list. And apparently there was a bounty on his private parts. Elsewhere in music news, a man has died attempting to dance "Gangnam Style," Adele recorded the Skyfall theme song in less time than it takes to eat a bowl of cereal, Marilyn Manson got tore up, and more.
  

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  Justin Bieber Is Giving 'Em What They Want
  Justin Bieber is way too busy to focus on the awards he won't be winning next year — he's already got a new album on the way. The Canadian pop star made a surprise appearance on The Ellen DeGeneres Show on Friday, revealing that the acoustic album he casually mentioned earlier this month is actually most closer to finished than anyone expected. Justin, who supported a pair of flashy gold necklaces on the Ellen set, said he'd have it in stores by January.
  
  "It's something I think the fans really like because, you know, I started out on YouTube just playing my guitar, just singing without all the production and stuff, so I like to just put out acoustic albums," Bieber explained. "I think it's more intimate."
  
  Bieber also admitted that not being nominated for a Grammy this year was a "big bummer," but seemed to maintain a reasonable perspective on the matter: "I'm so young, so... I'm just blessed to be able to do what I love every day. The AMAs was a lot of fun for me so... hopefully, one day."
  
  Dry your tears, Beliebers. He'll get there someday. Here's a taste of what to expect from the new album:
  

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  The Bounty on Justin Bieber's Balls: $2,500 Each
  If you've ever wondered what a deranged inmate would be willing to pay for Justin Bieber's testicles, there is an answer: $2,500 each. Dana Martin allegedly offered the reward to a convict and his relative after he felt he'd been snubbed by Justin on Twitter. And they say Beliebers are mostly harmless.
  

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  Harry Styles: Karaoke All-Star
  We were hoping someone would deliver on the comedic gold that was One Direction's karaoke party — and our wishes came true! Video has surfaced of Ed Sheeran and One Direction's Harry Styles screeching their way through a duet of "Don't Go Breaking My Heart." It's hard to say what the best part of the video is: The noises these two make, or Harry's rumored girlfriend Taylor Swift awkwardly mime-dancing along to it.
  

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  "Gangnam Style" to the Grave
  A British man's attempt to replicate Psy's "Gangnam Style" dance at an office holiday party was cut short by a heart attack, the Daily Mail reports. The late reveler's wife of 23 years stated, "I want people to know how he would help anybody whether it was a life-long friend, or someone he had just met. He was a great family man and he worked so hard. Eamonn was always the life of the party and loved dancing."

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  Adele Does It Fast
  Adele doesn't waste any time in the studio: Lady knows how to git 'er done. British music producer Paul Epworth says the British singer recorded the vocals to the Skyfall theme in about 10 minutes: "Within 10 minutes, she put down most of the vocals. She had the lyrics ready in her head when she drove over. It was the most absurd thing. She's fast, but it was really quite phenomenal."
  
  Uh, yes.
  

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  It's Gonna Get Weird
  Swedish brother-sister duo The Knife have announced a release date for Shaking the Habitual, their first album since 2006's Silent Shout: April 8 internationally and April 9 in the U.S. The duo will also tour Europe in 2013. We'd put money on a New York appearance or two, too, and maybe a major festival.
  

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  The Governors Ball: Now 3 Days
  Holiday pre-sale tickets for New York City's Governors Ball Festival sold out in a couple of hours, maybe because they were the steal of the century: 3 days of music for $160. Over 60 acts will perform at the festival, which is scheduled from June 7 through June 9, 2013. It's honestly one of the most well-organized music festivals in the country, which is unbelievable considering it's in New York.
  

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  Marilyn Manson Channels Van Gogh
  Marilyn Manson had a rough week:
  
  

  

  
  There is a picture, if you are gross and want to see it (I did).
  

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  Rocking the Tube
  Letterman: Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit
  Leno: Pentatonix
  Fallon: Martha Wainwright
  

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  Listen Now
    •  The voice you absolutely must hear right now belongs to New York's Sophia Bastian, whose new single "Breaking" can be downloaded here.
    •  Too $hort created a nice little boner jam in honor of Hannukah. It's not quite as awesome as DMX's rendition of "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer," but it does the job with lines like "This ain't Rosh Hashanah, this ain't Passover / It's Hannukah baby, now move that ass over."
  

• Madonna and a Bunch of Other Oldsters Dominated This Year's Top 10 Tours
  
  
  Dec 31, 2012 1:54:46 PM
  
  (Getty Images)The year-end list of the highest-grossing tours has been released, and the average age of the top 10 is about 50 (seriously, we put it in a spreadsheet and everything). Madonna blew the competition out of the water. Also: Psy sounds ready to retire "Gangnam Style," Britney says she's working on a new album, and Lady Gaga is offering counseling to her fans because that's how much Mother Monster cares!
  

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  Madonna's Staying Power Is No Joke
  Madonna's albums don't sell like they used to, but she's still one of the biggest draws in the world. No one even came close to outearning Madge's worldwide tour this year, which brought in $296.1 million in 88 shows according to Pollstar's year-end report, published Friday. Young fans might find the list of highest-earning tours surprising considering the dearth of more contemporary artists at the top. Lady Gaga and Coldplay are two of the only more recent acts in the top 10 while Justin Bieber didn't even crack the top 20. And while Bieber put on less than half as many shows as Madonna, she outearned him more than 3-to-1 per show.
  
  A quick peak at the list reveals it was a good year to be an aging star. Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band earned the second spot with $210 million, Roger Waters came in third with $186 million, and Paul McCartney came in 11th by earning $57 million on just 16 shows! We've listed the top 10 below. Check out the full top 50 on Pollstar.
  
  1. Madonna: $296.1 million, 88 shows
  2. Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band: $210.2 million, 81 shows
  3. Roger Waters: $186.4 million, 72 shows
  4. Coldplay: $171.3 million, 67 shows
  5. Lady Gaga: $161.4 million, 80 shows
  6. Cirque du Soleil, "Michael Jackson: The Immortal": $140.2 million, 172 shows
  7. Kenny Chesney/Tim McGraw: $96.5 million, 23 shows
  8. Metallica: $86.1 million, 30 shows
  9. Elton John: $69.9 million, 95 shows
  10. Red Hot Chili Peppers: $57.8 million, 77 shows
  

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  Psy Is Ready to End the "Gangnam Style" Craze
  At this point it's pretty unlikely Psy will ever be able to shake the pigeon-holing megasuccess of "Gangnam Style" in the U.S., but he's ready to give it a try. The South Korean singer is set to perform the hit song on "Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve" tonight in Times Square, and he told MTV he's ready to try something else on his stateside fans.
  
  "Being in Times Square on New Year's Eve is already special — it's the biggest stage in the universe — plus it's my birthday, so, with all that, it may be the ending of 'Gangnam Style,'" he said. "I mean, what better way to do it? It's my biggest and most meaningful birthday."
  
  He went on: "The song became too popular, and so you start to have some concern about its life period. I'm really working hard on a new single right now, and I'm not saying ['Gangnam'] is ending on 'Dick Clark' — I still have a lot of invitations to perform it ... I'll be in Paris, and in February I got invited to perform in China, and I've still got to do promo. So let me say that in America I need a new single because 'Gangnam Style' got too popular, so I've got to write a new single."
  

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  Lady Gaga Is Getting Her Fans Some Counseling
  Mother Monster's ongoing one woman quest to raise the self esteem of the bullied, troubled, and otherwise marginalized has led her to bring counselors on tour with her. Gaga announced on her Facebook page Friday that the BornBrave Bus will be joining her on tour. It will be part of a pre-show tailgating experience where her fans can participate in "professional private or group chats about mental health, depression, bullying, school & friends." 
  
  She explained: "BornBrave Bus Is a place where mental health + depression are taken seriously w/ no judgement, FREE real help available to all. I feel like most kids don't look for help because they feel embarrassed so mom + I wanted to break the stigmas around "help" and make it fun."
  

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  Britney Is "Working Hard" on Her Next Album
  It's been nearly two years since the release of Femme Fatale, but with "Scream & Shout" sitting at number 12 on the Hot 100, Britney Spears says she's "working hard" on her next release. She told her Twitter followers Sunday night that she's "really focused" on her music, but didn't have a release date for them yet.
  
  Until we get more music from Brit-Brit, these GIFs will have to tide you over.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• Miley Cyrus Drops More Hints About New Album, Hangs With Meek Mill
  
  
  Dec 19, 2012 10:50:43 AM
  
  (Getty)Now that Miley Cyrus is channeling Billy Idol both on and off the stage, we really can't wait to see what's in store for her next album — especially given all the bold names that have been attached to the project. The latest: Meek Mill, who had to put his tour on pause over a pesky little probation violation. Also in music news and gossip, Ke$ha says she was "FORCED" to sing the lyrics to "Die Young," Lostprophets frontman Ian Watkins has been arrested on allegations of child sex abuse, Muse raised dementia awareness in typically epic fashion, and more.
  

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  Miley Returns to the Studio
  Miley Cyrus has promised her fans new music in 2013, and despite a rough week of recovery following the sudden death of her dear dog Lila, she's following through. The singer tweeted from the studio this week, revealing a new batch of collaborators: Andrew "Pop" Wansel, Warren "Oakwud" Felder, and Ronny "Flip" Colson, who have worked with the likes of Nicki Minaj, Rihanna, and Elle Varner, among others.
  
  Oh, and a certain hip-hop star was in attendance as well:

  

  It's not clear whether Meek actually recorded anything with Miley — what's the point, if the world is coming to an end?
  Given how very rock 'n' roll (read: crotch-grabby) Miley's VH1 Divas performance was a few days ago, it'll be fascinating to see how these new sounds fit her signature warble. Maybe she'll even throw down a flow of her own...
  

  
  

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  Speaking of Meek Mill
  Judge Genece Brinkley of Philadelphia ordered Meek Mill to quit touring after she found he'd violated probation restrictions related to a 2008 conviction on drug and gun-related charges. Mill reportedly told the court that performing was his way of avoiding trouble: "My best way of staying out of jail is staying out of the streets. I got bills. I take care of my family ... I just want to work and do my job." The judge revoked his travel pass anyway, so he won't be going anywhere until 2013.
  

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  Ke$ha Knows She's Inappropriate
  Ke$ha's hit single "Die Young" has been dropped from rotation by a number of radio stations throughout the country in the wake of the Newtown, Connectictut Sandy Hook massacre. The singer addressed the song's lyrics in a hasty, now-deleted tweet Tuesday, writing, "I understand. I had my very own issue with "die young" for this reason. I did NOT want to sing those lyrics and I was FORCED TO." She then added, "I'm so so so sorry for anyone who has been effected by this tragedy.and I understand why my song is now inappropriate. words cannot express."
  

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  This Is Bad
  Ian Watkins, lead singer of Welsh emo band Lostprophets, has been arrested on allegations of child sex abuse. Watkins, 35, has been charged with conspiring with a woman to rape a girl under age 13. He's also been charged with possessing, creating, and distributing indecent images of children. The band appears to have cancelled all future tour dates, although the official website is currently down. Read more about the case here.
  

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  There's Something In My Eye
  Muse invited a choir of people suffering from dementia, their carers and family members to open for them at a recent Antwerp, Belgium performance, raising awareness of the syndrome in an extremely heartwarming fashion. Watch the choir sing the band's hit "Follow Me."
  

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  Rocking the Tube
  Leno: The Voice winner
  Kimmel: Aimee Mann & James Mercer
  Fallon: Backstreet Boys (let's hope they bring the chairs)
  

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  Happy New Year — Here's Kid Rock
  Screw Christmas: Kid Rock would rather sing about that night everyone gets toasted and develops super-strength beer goggles. Keep your eyes peeled for intimate footage of the man straightening his hair, as well as a very hot supermodel cameo.
  
• Demi Lovato Thanks Her Fans for Keeping Her Alive
  
  
  Nov 21, 2012 7:59:42 AM

  
  (Getty)In today's music news roundup, ex-Disney star Demi Lovato is really thankful for her fans and has a sense of humor about her eyebrow situation, Calvin Harris is furious with a BBC journalist, Rihanna kinda sorta apologizes for the 777 tour debacle, Wayne Coyne caused a bomb scare, the Yeah Yeah Yeahs will drop a new album next year, and more.
  
  Demi Lovato Gets By With a Little Help From Her Fans
  X Factor judge Demi Lovato generally keeps it pretty tame on her Twitter these days: Rarely does she post anything remotely personal. But on Tuesday, the singer graciously opened up about how much her fans' support has meant to her over the past two years.
  
  "I love you guys so much. I'm so blessed and honored to have incredible fans like you all," Lovato wrote. "Was thinking earlier about some of my past struggles and how I got through them.. I can honestly say I wouldn't be alive today had I not had the support that you all gave me the past 2 years. A lot of celebrities say their thankful for their fans, but I can PROMISE you, there isn't one day that goes by without thinking of your unconditional love and support. And when I say I love you, I do. Forever grateful for you all.. you don't know how much you all mean to me. I'm so blessed. Thank you.. I love you."
  
  Later in the day, Demi tweeted something someone said to her about her ever-changing eyebrows:
  
  
  Calvin Harris Is Crazy Pissed, and Not in the British Sense
  Calvin Harris is threatening to take legal action against BBC Radio 1's Newsbeat, as he believes he was misquoted in a recent feature about whether it's okay for DJs to pre-record their sets.
  
  Harris was quoted as saying, "I think it's not a problem. In the club you want to hear a produced piece of music, you want to hear the bass, you want to hear it as good as it can sound. I used to perform with a band putting all sorts of work into a live show and I can tell you that the reaction was worse than it is when I'm DJ'ing." But he says he was responding to a different question entirely — one about whether it's okay to play records during performances, rather than pre-recorded sets.
  
  Harris has called for BBC to release their full recording of the interview, and thrown a bunch of nasty words around about the actual interviewer as well: "I remember this guy from @BBCNewsbeat who did the interview, he actually apologised beforehand for not being prepared + knew nothing," Harris tweeted. "Then he'll make ME look bad because HE'S shite, and play it on the biggest national radio station in the UK?!"
  
  But don't worry, the scandal didn't spoil Harris' day. He later posted a happy snap of himself on the set of an upcoming music video with a bunch of pretty ladies.
  
  Rihanna Is Sorry Her Tour Was Boring
  Apparently Rihanna doesn't really care that she got some of the worst press of her life during her 777 Tour this past week — she's game to do it all over again. Ten minutes before the flight made its final landing in New York City on Tuesday, the singer offered a halfhearted apology for never really interacting with anyone. She explained, "I had to preserve my health. Normally, I'd be back here popping bottles with y'all . . . I had to preserve my voice. I was worried about my body more than partying on the plane, so I had to just sleep whenever I could. I hope you guys had as much fun as I did."
  
  Excuse Wayne's Grenade, Guys
  The Flaming Lips' Wayne Coyne accidentally ruined a bunch of people's days when he tried to go through security at Oklahoma City Airport with a "non-explodable" grenade he'd picked up the night before at a house party. "It was an actual grenade that was now missing its explosive parts and painted gold. I just threw this gold grenade in my bag and had not quite thought about it," Coyne told Pitchfork.
  
  Don't worry, Coyne's not losing any sleep over it: "I would agree that it was stupid of me, but I don't feel wholly responsible if people missed their flights," he said. "I'm not making the rules. It's not illegal for me to have that grenade with me."
  
  Yeah! Yeah! Yeah!
  According to NME, Morning Becomes Eclectic radio host Jason Bentley says there will be a new Yeah Yeah Yeahs album out by spring of next year. It will be the band's first album since 2009's It's Blitz!
  
  Frank Ocean Opens Up
  Though he refused to answer a question about his sexuality point blank, Frank Ocean still shared some very personal insights during his interview with GQ for the magazine's "Men of the Year" issue. The brilliant singer-songwriter says that fears over how his admission of love for another man would affect his career were ultimately great motivators: "Some people said, "He's saying he fell in love with a guy for hype." As if that's the best hype you can get in hip-hop or black music. So I knew that if I was going to say what I said, it had to be in concert with one of the most brilliant pieces of art that has come out in my generation. And that's what I did. Why can I say that? Why I don't have to affect all this humility and s**t is because I worked my ass off. I worked my face off."
  
  

  Rocking the Tube
  Letterman: Gary Clark Jr
  Conan: Tenacious D
  Carson Daly: The Features
  Kimmel: Flo Rida
  Fallon: Alicia Keys
  
  Listen! Listen!
    •  Stream Antietam After Party, the awesomely named debut album from hardcore punk supegroup Regents, in full at Brooklyn Vegan.
    •  Portland quintet Radiation City premiered a new music video for "I Would Hide" this week on Team Coco. It's great for anyone who can't resist a puppet or dreamy doo-wop. Watch it here.
    •  There are still a few tickets left for Carly Simon's online benefit concert through StageIt! The living legend will perform with her children Ben and Sally Taylor live from her own home at 8 p.m. Wednesday evening. Fans can request songs, ask questions, and donate to Hurricane Sandy relief efforts.
  
  You Haven't Seen This Yet
  All the hip kids will be blasting Sufjan Stevens' new holiday compilation Silver & Gold: Songs For Christmas, Vols 6-10 over the next month in their Slayer Christmas sweaters. Here's his bleepity-bloop-bleep version of "Joy to the World."
  

  
  (Wayne Coyne photo via Getty Images)

• Lady Gaga Announces 'ARTPOP' Documentary
  
  
  Dec 26, 2012 10:10:35 AM
  
  Getty
  
  Lady Gaga's is jumping on the documentary bandwagon. Also in music news: Janet Jackson might be engaged, Rihanna goes out with Chris Brown in public with matching exposed stomachs, and more.
  

  ---

  A Christmas Surprise From Mother Monster
  

  

  Lady Gaga and Terry Richardson (Terry Richardson)

  Lady Gaga made a big announcement Tuesday: She's working with celeb photographer Terry Richardson on a documentary about herself and upcoming album, ARTPOP. Mother Monster tweeted on Christmas:  "I love you @Terry_World thank you for believing in me and my fans. I have looked up to you and your work for so long, its a dream come true!"

   

  No word yet on when the album or documentary will be released, but Gaga revealed earlier that she's already written over 50 songs the record, which will also be released as an interactive app. However, we can already bet it will contain plenty of sexy footage, if their NSFW "Cake" video and the 450 pictures in their behind-the-scenes book, Lady Gaga x Terry Richardson, are any indication.
  

  ---

  Rihanna Loves Chris Brown AND Michael Bolton
  So, Chris Brown and Rihanna decided to make their public debut as a couple (or something) Tuesday at the Lakers game. The stars sat next to each other in the front row, held hands on the way out, and even wore matching midriff-baring ensembles. Let's see how long this lasts...
  If all else fails, at least Rihanna will always have Michael Bolton.
  

  ---

  Third Wedding's a Charm?
  Janet Jackson's headed for the altar — if the rumors that billionaire boyfriend Wissam Al
  Mana popped the question are true. So-called insiders reported to Us Weekly that Al Mana proposed earlier this year with a "huge, expensive" ring, which she keeps "locked up" because "she's afraid it'll get lost." Hmm.
  
  Another source says the two have already made arrangements for a spring wedding in Quatar. It'll "cost millions" and include all of Jackson's enormous family, including over 20 nieces and nephews. They'll all head over to the country on private jets, adds the Us source.
  
  This will be the third wedding for Jackson, who was married for a few months to her childhood friend and fellow R&B artist James DeBarge in the '80s before getting an annulment. In 1991, she secretly married René Elizondo, Jr. They lasted until 1999. From 2002 to 2009, she dated Jermaine Dupri.
  

  ---

  Jennifer Lopez's Court Report
  There's been a big development in the ongoing saga between J.Lo and her ex-driver: The $20 million lawsuit she filed against Hakob Manoukian has been tossed out by a judge. The singer filed the extortion suit against her former chauffeur after he sued her for $2.8 million, claiming he was forced to resign after Lopez's manager publicly berated him.
  
  Lopez claimed she sued because, after resigning, Manoukian allegedly threatened to air all of the singer's secrets he'd overheard while driving her around A judge, however, apparently felt like J.Lo's counter suit was punishing the driver for filing a legitimate suit against his ex-employer. Stay tuned for more developments.

  ---

  Katy Perry Brings John Mayer Home for the Holidays
  After making their sort of official public debut at a NYC event earlier this month, Katy Perry finally acknowledged her boyfriend John Mayer on the Interwebs. The singer tweeted a picture of Mr. Mayer dressed up as Santa Tuesday, to her 30 million followers. Of course, the caption read "Santa Baby."
  
  Word has it Perry took her Santa home to her family for Christmas. Surely that went over well. Hopefully he wore the suit.
  
  
• Beyonce Wants You to Dance With Her at the Super Bowl
  
  
  Dec 28, 2012 9:05:28 AM
  
  (Photo: Bauer Griffin)
  
  Today in the music world, Beyonce recruits new backup dancers and shows off Blue Ivy's yacht digs. Plus: the biggest week for the music industry, Miley Cyrus going retro, and Adrien Brody's homoerotic music video.
  

  ---

  Beyonce Needs Backup for Her Pepsi Halftime Show
  Start planning your wardrobe malfunction because you could have the chance to dance with Beyonce during the Super Bowl halftime show come February. All you have to do is turn over a goofy photo of yourself to Pepsi so they can use it in a commercial. The soda giant will then select 50 winning photos, the subjects of which will be invited to do their best "Single Ladies" routine alongside Bey, and they'll even get to bring a friend. (Hopefully these guys are entering.)
  
  The Super Bowl contest is just the first in what will be many Beyonce/Pepsi cross-promotions now that she's making $50 million to be the spokeswoman for the beverage company. After the Super Bowl, expect to see a Pepsi-drinking Beyonce in a slew of new commercials, as well as her pretty face slapped on a limited edition soda can. Beyonce: putting the pop in pop star.
  

  ---

  Blue Ivy Hits the High Seas with Mom
  Beyonce and Jay-Z have done a good job at keeping their daughter out of the spotlight (unfortunately givng those crazy conspiracy theorists more ammo). Our only glimpses of little Blue Ivy have come from the couple's limited Instagrams and Tumblr posts, and they were kind enough to grace us with yet another ambiguous photo. Thanks to Bey's blog, we can see she and baby Blue are living the yacht life. Hey look, the little one's got a full head of hair now.
  

  ---

  Christmas Was Kind to Taylor Swift (and the Music Industry in General)
  Although T.I. made a big splash, debuting Trouble Man: Heavy Is the Head earlier this week and selling more than a 179,000 copies, it wasn't enough to dethrone Taylor Swift's Red. Apparently there were enough people in need of a last second Christmas gift for which Swift fit the bill. Red landed the number one spot, selling more than a quarter-million copies. The impressive numbers helped make Christmas week the best week of the year in terms of album sales. Takeaway: We can save the music industry if we just make Christmas a weekly affair.
  

  ---

  Miley Cyrus Covers Dolly Parton
  Say what you will about Miley Cyrus' Hannah Montana origins or newfound punk rock style, but she's always had an appreciation for the country greats who have come before her — as she should considering Pops is responsible for the classic, "Achy Breaky Heart." Thanks to something called "The Backyard Sessions," in which Miley performed some formative songs in the comfort of her own backyard, she had the proper opportunity to pay tribute to her favorites. Watch as as a pre-buzz cut Miley closes her eyes and sways away as she sings Dolly Parton's "Jolene."
  

  ---

  Adrien Brody Kisses a Dude Who Looks Like Adrien Brody in New PacoVolume Video
  French artist PacoVolume has employed Oscar winner Adrien Brody in his music video for "Olaf & Paul." The video follows two dudes (Brody and Mr. PacoVolume), who are keen on getting with each other but their teacher/student relationship makes it kinda a weird. What's weirder though is the fact that the two gents look like they could be brothers, right down to the trademark Body schnoz and hair.
  
• Tuned In: Chris Brown Gets Defensive About His 'Terrorist' Halloween Costume
  
  
  Nov 13, 2012 7:41:39 AM
  
  (Getty)Chris Brown may be trying really hard to rehab his image, but the dude still hasn't learned how to take criticism. He also hasn't grasped that dressing up as an imaginary character is a lot different than dressing up like a real person — one who is responsible for thousands of people's deaths, at that. Oh Breezy, you do keep it real. Also in music news, Justin Bieber is on selfie photo overload now that he and Selena Gomez have split, Rihanna finally addresses that Drake/Chris Brown club brawl, and Madonna bared her butt in the name of attention Hurricane Sandy. Here's the abbreviated music news and gossip.
  
  

  Chris Brown Defends His Right to Crappy Halloween Costumes
  It's hard not to feel sympathy pains for Chris Brown's poor, overworked publicist these days. Though the guy has been working overtime to orchestrate positive PR for the controversial performer, Breezy continually undoes whatever good will he builds up by, you know, being Chris Brown.
  
  In an interview with Power 106's Big Boy, Brown addressed the criticism he faced for his choice of Halloween costume this year, a stereotypical depiction of an Islamist terrorist. Brown issued the profanity-laden oral equivalent of an eyeroll. "It's f**king Halloween," Brown groaned. "It's a mother****ing Pagan holiday, we dress our kids up as Satan, demons, little goblins and all this other stuff. Get over it, people." Brown then clarified what his costume actually meant: "I was dressed as the mother****ing people we killed. The person [we] killed: Bin Laden. I was dressed as the people [we] killed."
  
  Brown's argument, which he clearly cribbed from his mother, sidesteps the many crucial distinctions between goblins and Bin Laden. But oh, that wasn't enough! He hates everyone who dares point out he's done something wrong: "It's nobody's mother****ing business and everybody who's really mad about it, "F*** y'all."
  
  It should be noted that Chris Brown's sometimes girlfriend Karrueche Tran dressed up in a war bonnet. But whatever, it's hard to care much what a guy who dresses like this really thinks anyway.
  
  Justin Bieber Is Bringing Back the MySpace Photo
  If you're wondering how Justin Bieber is handling the snippets of extra time he has on his hands now that he and Selena Gomez have split, here's a hint:
  
  
  (via Instagram)Bieber has been on selfie overload since calling it quits with Gomez, which kind of makes sense: Every time he feels low, he can just post a picture of his shirtless bod to get an instant shot of female attention.
  
  Rihanna Plays Demure
  Rihanna is pretty much completely nude on the cover of GQ's "Men of the Year" issue, but she still manages to retain some air of mystery in the interview. Asked about the club brawl that went down between Drake and Chris Brown over the summer, Rihanna simply replied, "There's no proof of that being for my love." More interesting is writer Jay Bulger's description of Rihanna and Chris Brown's encounter in an NYC club: "Chris Brown brashly stands on top of his bench in the neighboring booth. He and Rihanna start tossing flirtatious glances like kids passing notes in middle-school math class. The smirks and the playfulness continue until they're dancing with each other from afar. Then, out of mock frustration, Brown climbs over the top of the booth. A mischievous tingle of controversy vibrates through the club."
  
  Madge Uses Her Exhibitionism for Good
  Madonna made a very special plea to her fans at her Madison Square Garden performance in New York City on Monday night. The singer dropped trou and announced she was "showing [her] naked ass for Hurricane Sandy victims," adding, "If you are going to look at the crack of my ass, you better raise some cash." This is the most likeable thing she has said since she admitted to loathing hydrangeas.
  
  Lana Del Rey Can Make This Face
  It turns out Lana Del Rey only sounds pouty. In real life she gets really freaking excited about roses. So. Excited. She also gives out kisses that look weirdly predatory. The singer has reason to look so happy: Her new album Born to Die - Paradise Edition has been drawing better reviews than the original version.
  
  Get Ready for 1D in 3D
  One Direction broke Today show attendance records on Tuesday morning, drawing approximately 15,000 fans to NYC's Rockefeller Plaza for a performance and a special announcement: They're gonna be all up in your theaters. Niall Horan told the shrieking throng, "We are going to do our first-ever movie and it's going to be in 3-D and it's coming to cinemas near you on the 30th of August, 2013."
  
  Note to everyone over the age of 18: You do not want to go to the movies on August 30.
  
  

  Rocking the Tube
  Letterman: Mumford & Sons
  Leno: Gin Wigmore
  Jimmy Fallon: Lee Brice
  Jimmy Kimmel: Youngblood Hawke
  Carson Daly: Ceremony
  
  Live! Free! Awesome!
    •  The seventh annual M for Montreal festival kicks off tomorrow, with 100 performances on 16 stages planned for over the next four days. Check out the full lineup — which includes Of Monsters and Men — here. My personal recommendations: Blue Hawaii, Young Rival, and Mac DeMarco.
    •  They Might Be Giants have announced their tour dates for 2013! The band will play three dates in Williamsburg, Brooklyn at the end of December before embarking on a 50-date tour that will take them all over the U.S. and Australia. The band has also released a limited edition holiday bundle that would make the perfect gift for any goofy TMBG fan.
    •  Washington's Beat Connection has just released a free mixtape of rarities and demos. They only ask that you "Like" their Facebook page in return — a fair exchange, really.
  
  You Haven't Seen This Yet
  YouTube commenters unfamiliar with seapunk are baffled by Azealia Banks' new music video for "Atlantis," which is basically kind of like The Little Mermaid on PCP. Meaning, awesome.
  
• Tuned In: Carly Rae Jepsen Gets Death Threats After American Music Awards Win
  
  
  Nov 19, 2012 11:23:29 AM
  
  (Getty)Carly Rae Jepsen took home the American Music Award for New Artist of the Year on Sunday evening, making her the target of many an angry tween. But hey, now she has something in common with Taylor Swift. Also in music news, Psy and MC Hammer had the evening's most celebrated performance, Rihanna's tour plane is starting to smell, someone tried to get Alabama Shakes to do reality television, Slipknot wants to collaborate with Justin Bieber, and more.
  
  "More Like Carly Rae Kill Yourself!"
  One Direction didn't bother to attend the American Music Awards on Sunday, as they're a touch too busy promoting their new album Take Me Home in the UK. They also didn't have any reason to show up, as the quintet lost the New Artist of the Year award to "Call Me Maybe" singer Carly Rae Jepsen.
  
  Almost immediately after Carly's win, angry One Directioners took to Twitter to spew some vitriol. "carly rae jepsen more like carly rae kill yourself," one fan sniped. Another yell-tweeted, "CARLY RAE JEPSEN I'LL KILL YOU MAYBE." One fan directed her hate at everyone who dared vote for Carly: "IM SCREAMING SO LOUD WHO VOTED FOR CARLY RAE JEPSEN I WILL KILL YR FIRSTBORN."
  
  Of course, this kind of behavior is really nothing new for teenyboppers. Teen pop death threats, a tale as old as time. Just ask Taylor Swift, who's been getting her fair share of online hate over those rumors that she and Harry Styles are an item:
  

  Psy Rocks Harem Pants... With Good Reason
  Most of the performances at Sunday evening's American Music Awards were profoundly "meh," but Psy's incredible mash-up with MC Hammer brought the evening to an end on a high note. Watch at right. We're really going to miss this dude. Almost as much as we'd missed MC Hammer. Also, take note, The Wanted: One CAN sing and dance at the same time.
  
  Citizens! Is Jetting to Japan
  Our delectable artist of the week, Citizens!, have just announced a pair of dates in Tokyo next month. GET EXCITED, TOKYO. Also, check out our feature with the extremely charming London-based band.
  
  

  Well, This Is Weird
  Slipknot's Corey Taylor says he really wants to collaborate with Justin Bieber. The screamer told Revolver (via NME) that he was really impressed by a 2011 YouTube mash-up that mixed Slipknot's "Psychosocial" with with Bieber's "Baby."
  
  "I know Justin wasn't responsible for it, but I just thought it was so cool. Everybody thought I'd be pissed about it, but I was blown away... I give him respect. He's a very talented kid and he goes above and beyond for his fans. I was in Baltimore on my book tour and Justin was nearby in Washington, D.C. I tried to get him down to my reading because I wanted to try to do an acoustic version of 'Psychosocial Baby' together. But he was actually visiting children's hospitals. You can't say anything bad about a guy who's visiting children's hospitals."
  
  Alabama Shakes: No Thanks, Reality TV
  One of this year's best breakout bands, Alabama Shakes, recently opened up about the time an X Factor producer tried to recruit them for reality television magic. Singer Brittany Howard told the Independent, "They heard of us through the Internet and started sending me emails which kept going into my spam folder. One day she called me to ask and I told her, 'No I'm not going to do that.' She was like, 'Are you sure about that?' And I said 'Yeah, I'm sure. I have something going on now that I believe in and want to stick to.' She was shocked."
  
  Rihanna's Plane Smells Bad
  It was hard not to be crazy jealous of the journalists being spirited around the globe on Rihanna's "777" tour over the past couple of days, but now that news of the plane's funky smell and bad food has emerged, it's kind of nice being able to watch from the comfort of one's home office.
  
  

  Rocking the Tube
  Letterman: Phillip Phillips
  Leno: Andy Grammer
  Conan: Tennis
  Carson Daly: Shiny Toy Guns
  Kimmel: Aimee Mann & James Mercer
  Fallon: Zac Brown Band
  
  Listen! Listen!
    •  London-based quartet Rudimental is offering a free stream of their "Not Giving In" remixes through Soundcloud. The single, which features John Newman and Alex Clare, is the most soulful club banger you'll hear all year. Promise.
    •  Download a remastered version of The Faint's "Agenda Suicide," the first song off the band's 2001 album Danse Macabre, in celebration of the album's just-released deluxe edition (available here).
    •  If you're still hungry for free dance music, check out Vitalic's new Rave Age minimix, released this week as a free download in celebration of his third album's release.
  
  You Haven't Seen This Yet
  Anyone who watches this space knows I'm a sucker for a zombie video. The latest is Pearl and the Beard's strangely poignant clip for "40K," which offers a different perspective. Catch the trio on their headlining tour of the Northeast with Lucius and You Won't.
  
• Is This the New Justin Bieber?
  
  
  Jan 8, 2013 11:21:08 AM
  
  Getty Images
  
  British Internet sensation turned pop star Conor Maynard brings his debut album stateside today. Though his career arc (so far) feels very similar to Justin Bieber's, he's not so happy with the comparisons. In other music news, David Bowie has released new music for the first time in a decade, and probably should headline Coachella, and a coroner's report confirms Amy Winehouse's cause of death.
  

  ---

  Carving His Own Path
  Conor Maynard made a name for himself online, has a baby face, and loves singing R&B influenced pop. So naturally, many have compared the British singer to Justin Bieber. Which apparently bugs the hell out of Maynard.
  
  "I don't want to be the next anyone," he tells MTV News. "I want to be the first Conor Maynard. I think I want to have a successful career that is unique in its own way." Already a chart topping star in England, Maynard hopes to break into the U.S. market on the strength of his album Contrast, which drops domestically Tuesday.
  
  While Maynard has a lot in common with Bieber, he's got a long ways to go in the popularity department. At the moment, the Brit has just over 1 million Twitter followers, which is roughly 32 times less than Bieber. And though the 20-year-old scored a No. 1 album in the U.K., he's yet to achieve the same level of success abroad. But with industry vet Ne-Yo as his mentor, and millions of passionate YouTube fans on his side, Maynard looks poised to become the next big thing.
  

  ---

  Bowie Is Back
  The legendary singer turned 66 today, and celebrated by releasing a surprise single titled "Where Are We Now?" The track comes off Bowie's upcoming album The Next Day, and is the first song he's released since 2003. With the album due out in March, it's obvious Bowie has plans to headline Coachella in April, right? Might as well start the rumor now. While we wait anxiously to learn more about his currently nonexistent tour, here's the video for "Where Are We Now?" to hold you over.
  

  ---

  Report Confirms Amy Winehouse's Cause of Death
  A second coroner's inquest into the death of Amy Winehouse confirms the singer died from accidental alcohol poisoning. The Associated Press quotes coroner Shirley Radcliffe as saying Winehouse "voluntarily consumed alcohol — a deliberate act that took an unexpected turn and led to her death." The singer, who was found dead in her London home on July 23, 2011, had a blood alcohol level five times the legal driving limit.
  

  ---

  Elvis, David Bowie, and R. Kelly Share a Birthday
  The late King of Rock and Roll would have turned 78 today, while the current king of R&B songs written from the confines of a closet celebrates his 45th birthday. Yes, Elvis Presley and R. Kelly share the same birthday, as does the aforementioned David Bowie. Wild, we know. While we were tempted to post all 33 chapters of Kelly's "Trapped in the Closet," we've instead chosen to share this sweet video of Elvis rockin' out live in 1968. Happy birthday y'all.
  

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