American Idol Season 11 Takes Off On Fox While Ryan Seacrest Launches His Own Network With Mark Cuban

January 23, 2012

American Idol

Well, it finally Happened, American Idol hit a raitings slump for its debut episode of season 11 this past Wednesday (January 18).  Normally a ratings juggernaut, the vet music competition show experienced a 27 percent drop in the 18-49 demographic for its premiere episode.  Don’t feel too bad though. Although that 27 percent hit was a likely wilting of pride for for Fox executives, American Idol was still able to maintain a sizable lead a head of last night’s competition.  According to The Hollywood Reporter, Idol still dominated over all other networks, beating out runner up ABC by 140 percent. Therefore, Fox and the AI crew probably have nothing to worry about.  If the day ever comes when Fox does decide to cancel the show, perhaps show executives will turn to its host for help.

In addition to his American Idol hosting duties last weekt, Ryan Seacres also recently officially announced that he will be partnering with billionaire Mark Cuban, CAA Creative Artist Agency, and leading Sports and Entertainment company AEG to form AXS TV.  To support this extensive joint venture, Ryan has formed Seacrest Media. Seacrest Media holds an ownership stake in AXS TV.  According to Allaccess.com, Seacrest Media will be granted ownership in return for providing the network “access to multi-media platforms, and celebrity and brand relationships, as well as assist in the corporate brand development.”

Ryan’s independent entertainment production company, Ryan Seacrest Productions will also develop content for the new network. Production facilities for AXS will will be at AEG’s L.A. Live.  As a result, that base will include venues like, The Staple Center, Nokia Theatre, and The Grammy Musium.  This will more than likely provide Axs and Ryan.

R.I.P. Etta James 1938-2012

January 20, 2012

Etta James

Today, January 20th 2012 marked the passing of classic R&B Blues singer Etta James.  Born January 25th 1938 under her birth name, Jamesetta Hawkins, James rose to fame as a 6 time Grammy winning  entertainment figure in the 1950s and 60s African American music community.  Regarded by many as a trail-blazer for women specifically in the music community,  James often bridged the genre gaps of R&B, Blues, and the then fresh sound of Rock & Roll.

For a time her personal life was also just as famous for complications related to her struggle with heroin addiction. To both fans and music history in general however, James’ musical influence out weighed her personal issues in every way. She grew to have an intense impact on the culture of American Music as a whole, by being one of the first female African American singers to be tailored into into a crossover success that charted on both Billboard’s R&B and Hot 100 chats.

Thanks to the vision of pioneering record executive Leonard Chess’s, the sheer power of James’ voice was able to be packaged into a string accompanied signature sound that helped her have one of the most diverse audiences of her time.  She was then able to later take advantage of that rare freedom after Chess’ death in 1969 to have a career that evolved to cover six different genres and span five decades.

Etta James died from terminal leukemia which was diagnosed early last year.  She was 73 years old. Her death came only three days after the death of Johnny Otis, the man credited with her discovery, and five days before her own 74th birthday.

In a related note, younger music fans can connect with the story of Etta James by checking out the Sony Music Entertainment film Cadillac Records, the biography picture about James and her then record company, Chess Rec0rds.

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“At Last”

Argo Records

Cadillac Recods (Trailer)

Sony Music Film/Parkwood Pictures/Tri Star Pictures

Facebook To Steal Vevo From YouTube?

January 20, 2012

Vevo

CNET is reporting today that Facebook is beginning to have preliminary talks about a possible future partnership with online music video channel/web site. For music fans who do not already know, Vevo is a music web site, and all around music media online network that was launched in December of 2009. It is an online platform that is considered by many to be the “Hulu of music.” This is because Hulu’s ownership partnership as a joint venture for online television content between Fox, Disney and NBC Universal is very similar to the foundation of Vevo. Vevo is an online distribution platform for content from 3 of the “Big Four” major label distributors in the world, Universal Music Group, Sony Music Entertainment and EMI. (Warner Music Group has an online partnership with MTV Networks)

Like Hulu, Vevo is a joint venture between major music distributors Sony Music Entertainment and Universal Music Group, as well as E1 Entertainment and Abu Dhabi Media. While content from the owner’s companies is obviously featured heavily, content from other major label contributors like EMI and Disney Music Group is licensed for use on Vevo. Vevo’s launch in December of 2009 was significant because it teamed up with Google and therefore the Google owned, YouTube to streamline and syndicate high quality music video content from a large majority of the music industry to the largest viewing community possible on various online platforms. In a matter of only a few years YouTube went from music industry threat to partner. The online network that was at one time sued for publishing illegal copies of music videos, is now the source for the majority of the industries videos. This was a huge plus because it is no surprise that a large majority of all videos online are now viewed on YouTube, therefore just out of user habit it would be natural to have official videos on YouTube.

However with one year left on Vevo’s agreement with Google, Facebook is interested in a similar arrangement to the one Vevo has now with Google’s YouTube. Sources told CNET that Facebook would stream Vevo’s music videos and the two companies would sell ads and share in the profits. But even with Facebook showing interest, music industry sources tell  CNET’s Greg Sandoval not to count Google and YouTube out just yet. Music industry sources say that the YouTube partnership has been a lucrative one for the labels. In addition, negotiations for the licenses YouTube needs to allow users to put music from the top labels into their videos, are going well as well.   Talks with Facebook are still new, and despite Facebook’s large social network community, Google and YouTube helped Vevo top Myspace as the number one online music source very quickly.  Therefore if Facebook really wants to take Vevo from YouTube, it would need to keep in mind that a majority of its success comes from the technology of sharing the videos combined with the large numbers of a social network. If Facebook were to successfully sway Vevo, it would need to come prepared to back it up, especially when YouTube is already the number one video site in the world, and is the natural place for people to see short form video. Good luck Facebook.

GRAMMY® NOMINEES COLDPLAY AND RIHANNA TO PERFORM LIVE TOGETHER FOR THE FIRST TIME

January 20, 2012

Coldplay Featuring Rihanna "Princess Of China "Parlophone/Capitol Records/EMI

Current GRAMMY^® nominees Coldplay and Rihanna will perform live together for the first time … as part of the stellar lineup for the 54th Annual GRAMMY Awards (www.grammy.com). Music’s Biggest Night^® — hosted by two-time GRAMMY winner LL COOL J — takes place live on Sunday, Feb. 12, at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles and will be broadcast in high definition and 5.1 surround sound on the CBS Television Network from 8 – 11:30 p.m. (ET/PT). The show also will be supported on radio worldwide via Westwood One/Dial Global, and covered online at GRAMMY.com and CBS.com, and on YouTube at www.youtube.com/thegrammys. Additional performers, presenters and special segments will be announced soon. For GRAMMY coverage, updates and breaking news, please visit The Recording Academy^®’s social networks on Twitter and Facebook: www.twitter.com/thegrammys, www.facebook.com/thegrammys.

Seven-time GRAMMY-winning group Coldplay is up for three awards: Best Pop Duo/Group Performance for “Paradise,” and Best Rock Performance and Best Rock Song for “Every Teardop Is A Waterfall.”

Previously announced performers for the 54th Annual GRAMMY Awards include current GRAMMY nominees Jason Aldean and Kelly Clarkson, Foo Fighters, Bruno Mars, Nicki Minaj, and Taylor Swift. Aldean and Minaj will perform on the GRAMMY telecast for the first time, while Clarkson, Coldplay, Foo Fighters, Mars, McCartney, Rihanna, and Swift are returning to the GRAMMY stage. LL COOL J has hosted “The GRAMMY Nominations Concert Live!! — Countdown To Music’s Biggest Night” since its inception in December 2008, and this is his first time hosting the annual GRAMMY Awards telecast.

The 54th Annual GRAMMY Awards are produced by John Cossette Productions and AEG Ehrlich Ventures for The Recording Academy. Ken Ehrlich is executive producer, Louis J. Horvitz is director, and David Wild and Ken Ehrlich are the writers.

Established in 1957, The Recording Academy is an organization of musicians, producers, engineers and recording professionals that is dedicated to improving the cultural condition and quality of life for music and its makers. Internationally known for the GRAMMY Awards — the preeminent peer-recognized award for musical excellence and the most credible brand in music — The Recording Academy is responsible for groundbreaking professional development, cultural enrichment, advocacy, education and human services programs. The Academy continues to focus on its mission of recognizing musical excellence, advocating for the well-being of music makers and ensuring music remains an indelible part of our culture. For more information about The Academy, please visit www.grammy.com. For breaking news and exclusive content, follow @TheGRAMMYs on Twitter, like “The GRAMMYs” on Facebook, and join The GRAMMYs’ social communities on YouTube, Tumblr, Foursquare, GetGlue, and Instagram.

Coldplay Featuring Rihanna

“Princess Of China”

From Mylo Xyloto

Parlophone/Capitol Records/EMI

Bruno Mars: Drug Charge Dropped And Ready For The Grammys

January 20, 2012

Bruno Mars

Las Vegas judge, Jessie Walsh agreed to dismiss a drug possession charge for Pop singer Bruno Mars this past Wednesday.  Mars, AKA Peter Gene Hernandez, was arrested after a concert at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino for possession of 2.6 grams of cocaine. He pleaded guilty, completed probation with good behavior, and served 230 hours of community service. He was ordered to pay a $2,000 fineand attend eight hours of drug counseling.

Mars’ lawyer, Blair Berk, told TMZ.com, “Bruno earned the dismissal of his charge. He exceeded the expectations of the court in both his service to the community and his counseling.”

In related news Bruno is nominated for 6 Grammys.  First on that list is his song “Grenade”. It is nominated for both record of the year, song of the year, and best Pop solo performance. His album Doo-Wop & Hooligans has also garnered the nominations of album of the year, best male pop vocal, and for his work as one of the album’s producers, producer of the year non classical.

Because Doo-Wop & Hooligans was released just after the Grammy nomination deadline for last years ceremony, Mars has already won Grammys of best male pop vocal performance, and record of the year for his debut single “Just The Way You Are”.  Check to see how he does this year when the 54th annual Grammy Awards air February 12th on CBS.

Congrats Bruno. We’ll be watching. Stay out of trouble.

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Bruno Mars

“Grenade”

From: Doo-Wop & Hooligans

Elektra/Atlantic Records

Sammy Adams Ready To ‘Blow Up’ After Performing On Conan!

January 20, 2012

Sammy Adams

 Online star turned RCA Recording artist, Sammy Adams made his nationwide television debut recently, performing his major label debut single, “Blow Up” on Conan  on TBS this past Wednesday January 18th

 ”Blow Up” is the first single off Adams’ still untitled debut RCA Records album, due out Spring 2012. “Blow Up”, which Idolator and Celebuzz exclusively premiered along with a special fan video in November, is currently available at all digital music providers.

 24 year old Sammy Adams hails originally from Cambridge, MA and currently lives in New York City. Classically trained on piano since childhood, interests grew into producing and later into singing / rapping. It was while sitting in class at Trinity College (where Adams was a political science major and captain of the soccer team) that he came up with the idea for his breakthrough single “I Hate College” — a cheeky remix of Asher’s Roth’s “I Love College,” which he recorded in his dorm room. Adams independently released album Boston’s Boy shot to the top of the iTunes Hip-Hop/Rap chart on its first day out in March 2010, selling nearly 8,000 digital copies that week and outpacing albums by Lil Wayne and DJ Khaled. His independent viral videos have garnered millions of YouTube views, including “I Hate College” (6 mil) and “Driving Me Crazy” (3.4 mil). He performed over 100 shows and sold over 100K tickets across North America in the last year including a set at Lollapalooza and a sold out headlining show at New York City’s Terminal 5.

Sammy Adams

“Blow Up”

Live On Conan

TBS

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Common Stars In “LUV” At Sundance Film Festival

January 20, 2012

Common As Uncle Vincent In "Luv"

Chicago MC Common has been hard at work lately.  He released his book One Day It’ll All Make Sense in September, made his TV debut on the AMC series Hell On Wheels, dropped his latest album The Dreamer, The Believer in December, and on Monday (1/23/12) his latest movie LUV will debut at the Sundance Film Festival.  The new film is the directorial debut of Sheldon Candis and is one of the most anticipated films at the annual Park City, Utah festival this year.

In LUV, Common plays the role of Uncle Vincent who fresh off of a recent prison bid takes his 11 year old nephew Woody (Michael Rainey Jr.) under his wing and tries to teach him how to be a man while at the same time trying to turn his own life around.  As Vincent turns back to a life of crime, Woody goes along for the ride and learns much more than most 11 year old should.  The film also stars the likes of Danny Glover, Charles S. Dutton, and Dennis Haysbert.

If LUV lives up to the hype at Sundance, We’ll be able to expect the film to have a national release sometime later on this year.  While we are waiting to see if that is going to happen or not, we can look forward to seeing Common’s putting his acting skills to work on our television for at least one more season.  At the end of December, AMC officially announced that they will be renewing their series starring Common, Hell On Wheels, for a second season.

To see exclusive Clips from the Hollywood Reporter, Click here.

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Freesol’s Sexy Sci-Fi Music Video With Justin Timberlake And Timbaland “Fascinated”

January 19, 2012

Freesol Featuring Justin Timberlake "Fascinated" Tennman/Interscope Records

Memphis Hip Hop/Rock band, Freesol have been able to do a lot of cool things since becoming the flagship band to sign to Justin Timberlake’s fledgling record label, Tennman Records. In October of last year, the group teamed up with JT to release the group’s breakthrough single and video, “Role Model,” from their forthcoming debut album No Rules. Now this time the group has not only teamed up with Justin for their new single, but it also features JT’s friend and mentor, Timbaland. That single is the song “Fascinated”, which is Freesol’s first single to be serviced to Top 40/Mainstream outlets. Buzz for the song has been growing since it was also released promotionally at the same time as the group’s online hit, “Role Model.” Now “Fascinated” is really starting to make an impact as fans are beginning to catch a glimpse of the music video for the song.

The Colin Tilley (Chris Brown, Justin Bieber, Diddy-Dirty Money and others) directed video shows the band in a futuristic lab/studio being observed by Justin Timberlake and Timbaland (very similar to Dr. Dre and Eminem’s cameo roles in 50 Cent’s 2003 video “In Da Club”) As the band plays in scenes with and without Timberlake in this sci-fi looking studio is also filled with many sexy ladies to keep them all company. Of course it wouldn’t be an Interscope video (Tennman’s distributor) without many appearances of the now well known Beats By Dr. Dre headphones.  The video was first published on Freesol’s Vevo account on Christmas Eve of last year. Since then, the video has been seen over four hundred thousand times so far. As the unique look to the video continues to get out there, it looks like Freesol has nothing but good things to look forward to in 2012!

Freesol Featuring Justin Timberlake & Timbaland

“Fascinated” (Explicit)

From No Rules

Tennman/Interscope Records

Freesol Featuring Justin Timberlake

“Role Model” (Explicit)

The Expanding Brand Of Lil Wayne: “The Reason You Kill For It”!

January 19, 2012

Lil Wayne Featuring Bruno Mars "Mirror" Cash Money/Universal Republic Records

If you are a Hip Hop fan that has ever felt like you have too much against you to accomplish your goals, all you need to do is look to Lil Wayne for more than enough inspiration to turn life’s lemons into lemonade.  That’s exactly what he plans to do with  his up coming memoir. It was first announced last week that Grand Central Publishing has inked a deal with the rapper to release Gone Till November, a compilation entries from a diary the rapper kept while he was served an  eight month prison sentence for weapons possession on Riker’s Island.It will help serve as a direct window into Wayne’s thoughts and feelings during that time.

“We are thrilled to be publishing Wayne’s prison memoir,” said Ben Greenberg, executive editor at Grand Central Publishing. “He kept detailed journals of his inner and outer life while he was on Rikers Island, and they certainly tell a story. They are revealing.”

Gone Till November is expected to have a November 28th release date, set just in time for the 2012 holiday season. Though it seems like a while away right now, Wayne’s branding momentum isn’t expected to slow down one bit during the wait for the highly anticipated book.  Following in the foot steps of mega Rap stars like Sean “Diddy” Combs, and Pharrell WIlliams, Wayne started off 2012 with the debut of his clothing line, TRUKFIT.

With the name of his new line serving as an acronym for “The Reason You Kill For It.” this new line will reportedly offer T-shirts, raglans, and snapbacks, that feature bold graphics.  According to KarenCivil.com, the blog of Wayne’s Young Money Records New Media director Karen Civil, TRUKFIT, “takes his strong passion for skate boarding in consideration”,  when deciding on the line’s  current style.  This is why it is set to be distributed through the snowboarding and skateboarding apparel store Zumiez this February.

So why does a guy like Wayne get offered so much? To answer the question all one needs to do is refer back to “TRUKFIT”. Fan’s may not literally kill, but they do seem to pay for anything he makes! We discussed the phenomenon of Wayne’s fandom with his label mate Jay Sean in a recent Clizbeats.com interview.

” I attribute that to loyal fan bases,” Jay said You gotta have to look at Wayne and how long Wayne has been going on.   For so many years oveer all those year, he aquired an army of fan an army  who is out there ready to buy his stuff when it comes out”

This was especially true when it came to the promotion of his latest hit  from  Tha Carter IV album. The album cut called “Mirror”, featuring Pop singer Bruno Mars grew by popular demand to become  the highest charting song from the record that wasn’t originally intended to be a single.  This favorable reaction for all intensive prepossess made the song a single as a result. This is remarkable because the song was originally released just as a bonus track for the deluxe version of Tha Carter IV.  Reports indicate that a music video was shot at the end of last year, and a remix featuring Rick Ross was also recently released  to take advantage of that popularity. There is no doubt  that this will  inject even more life into what has already been a mega successful album.

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“Mirror” (Explicit)

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Lil Wayne Featuring Bruno Mars & Rick Ross

“Mirror” (Remix) (Explicit)

From Tha Carter IV

Cash Money/Universal Republic Records

President Obama Shouts Out Janelle Monàe On CNN At Campaign Event In Chicago

January 18, 2012

Janelle Monae and President Obama

It’s always nice to see a Clizbeats Featured artist reach the highest hight of fame.  In some ways you can’t get any bigger than when the leader of the free world not only knows who you are, but gives you a shout out on CNN.  In this case we smile even bigger perhaps, because this time it was for Janelle Monae. We know from personal experience that not only is she super talented, but she is also a very smart and kind person that has always been very gracious with any of her many fans. She has always placed credibility, artistic vision, and quality above many of the trappings about in today’s industry.  We are sincerely pleased to continually see her reach this standard with everything she does.

Mr. Obama couldn’t be in better company.  See the shout out below.  If you need context behind Janelle’s story, please take a listen to our bio interview conducted in 2008. Enjoy!

Barack Obama Shouts out Janelle Monae On CNN