LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - 'Gangnam Style,' the catchy Korean song by rapper Psy, may have danced its way into the American charts but the Korean pop industry isn't horsing around when it comes to capitalizing on the singer's phenomenal U.S. success.
With 'Gangnam Style' topping the current Billboard Digital Songs chart and becoming the most-watched video on YouTube ever with more than 800 million views, fellow Korean pop, or K-pop, artists are positioning themselves for similar U.S. breakthroughs.
Korea's pop music industry is thriving. Over the past two years, a handful of K-pop acts including girl group 2NE1, boy band Super Junior and nine-piece band Girls Generation have embarked on mini-promotional tours around the United States to build their audience.
'Psy has opened doors and is shining a spotlight on K-pop. People are paying attention to what's being done there,' Alina Moffat, general manager at YG Entertainment group, which manages Psy, told a recent entertainment industry conference in Los Angeles.
Psy's vibrant music video, featuring his invisible pony-riding dance, also featured K-pop artists Kim Hyun-a of girl band 4Minute, and Deasung and Seungri of boy band Big Bang, all of whom are attempting to crack the U.S. market.
'YouTube has really changed the awareness of K-pop. Both American kids and second-generation Korean American kids are discovering it,' Kye Kyoungbon Koo, director of the Korea Creative Content Agency, told a panel at a Billboard and Hollywood Reporter conference in Los Angeles in October.
MARKETING THE NEXT BIG THING
For U.S. companies looking to invest, K-pop is being marketed as the next big thing, boasting young, stylish and influential artists who command devoted fan followings.
Moffat said car companies and mobile phone brands were among those being courted at KCON, a convention held in October in Irvine in Southern California that showcased K-pop artists.
'Kids are coming, they're engaged, they want to spend money and sponsors saw that,' Moffat said.
Whether Psy or other K-pop artists can command a global following to rival Lady Gaga, Justin Bieber or Rihanna remains to be seen, but John Shim, senior producer at MTV World, believes it is the right genre to compete with pop music's biggest names.
'K-pop admittedly is a very niche genre but I also think it's the best equipped of Asian pop to cater to the U.S. audience,' Shim told Reuters.
Psy has helped to break down language barriers, keeping 'Gangnam Style' in its original Korean form instead of adapting it to English when it became an international hit.
The singer told Reuters he was persuaded to keep it that way by his manager Scooter Braun, the talent scout responsible for Justin Bieber's success, who signed Psy to his record label.
'I thought, 'Should I translate this or not?' because (the fans) have got to know what I'm talking about, and lyrics are a huge part,' Psy said.
CHATTING IN ENGLISH
But industry executives say at least one member of each K-Pop group is usually taught to be fluent in conversational English.
'The investment in language is costly, but effective,' said Ted Kim, president of South Korean music television channel Mnet. 'It really matters that Psy can go on the Ellen DeGeneres TV show and have a conversation.'
Psy said he was proud his song succeeded in Korean, but he now wants to branch out into English.
''Gangnam Style' is not the sort of thing that's going to happen twice. I've definitely got to make something in English so I can communicate with my fans right now,' the singer said.
In Korea, bands such as SM Entertainment's Super Junior and Girls Generation have became branding powerhouses, scoring endorsements ranging from cosmetics, fashion, video games, electronics and beverages.
In the United States, companies such as Samsung have already jumped on the K-pop train, sponsoring Korean boy band Big Bang's U.S. tour.
But while the genre is gaining steam in the charts, it has yet to spill into ticket sales for tours, according to Gary Bongiovanni, editor in chief at Pollstar.com, which tracks concert sales.
'Psy may be able to sell out arenas in Asia, but not yet here. For the American audience, he has to prove that he's more than a novelty act,' Bongiovanni said.
'K-pop has to prove itself before large companies spend money on it,' he added.
(Editing by Jill Serjeant and Eric Walsh)
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Friday, November 30, 2012
Thursday, November 29, 2012
R&B star Mary J. Blige sued for defaulting on $2.2 million loan
(Reuters) - R&B star Mary J. Blige was hit with a lawsuit on Wednesday alleging the Grammy winner and her husband defaulted on a $2.2 million bank loan.
According to court documents filed in New York State Supreme Court in Manhattan, Signature Bank is seeking to recoup the original loan plus $58,000 in interest.
Blige, 41, who has sold more than 50 million albums worldwide, and her husband Martin Isaacs took out the loan in October 2011 and defaulted in July 2012, the suit alleges.
Blige's publicist declined comment on the lawsuit. The singer's attorney did not immediately return a request to comment.
The lawsuit also names Blige's production company, Mary Jane Productions Inc.
The lawsuit is the latest financial headache for the New York City native. The 'Family Affair' singer's charity, The Mary J. Blige and Steve Stoute Foundation for the Advancement of Women Now Inc, was accused earlier in this year of mishandling funds and cheating scholarship students.
Blige acknowledged the problems in a June interview.
'The lives of young women are at stake,' the singer told Reuters when asked about the allegations. 'I feel what they feel. I don't want them to suffer. I promised them something and I'm gonna deliver. Period.'
(Reporting by Eric Kelsey, editing by Jill Serjeant and Todd Eastham)
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According to court documents filed in New York State Supreme Court in Manhattan, Signature Bank is seeking to recoup the original loan plus $58,000 in interest.
Blige, 41, who has sold more than 50 million albums worldwide, and her husband Martin Isaacs took out the loan in October 2011 and defaulted in July 2012, the suit alleges.
Blige's publicist declined comment on the lawsuit. The singer's attorney did not immediately return a request to comment.
The lawsuit also names Blige's production company, Mary Jane Productions Inc.
The lawsuit is the latest financial headache for the New York City native. The 'Family Affair' singer's charity, The Mary J. Blige and Steve Stoute Foundation for the Advancement of Women Now Inc, was accused earlier in this year of mishandling funds and cheating scholarship students.
Blige acknowledged the problems in a June interview.
'The lives of young women are at stake,' the singer told Reuters when asked about the allegations. 'I feel what they feel. I don't want them to suffer. I promised them something and I'm gonna deliver. Period.'
(Reporting by Eric Kelsey, editing by Jill Serjeant and Todd Eastham)
This article is brought to you by SEXY GIRLS.
Wednesday, November 28, 2012
Adele's "21" sells 10 million, Rihanna leads Billboard
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - British singer and Grammy darling Adele reached the 10 million sales mark in the United States on Wednesday with her heartbreak album '21' becoming the first by British woman to reach the milestone, Nielsen SoundScan said.
'21,' released in February 2011, produced the hits 'Someone Like You' and 'Rolling In The Deep' and became the top-selling album of 2011. Earlier this year, Adele swept the Grammy Awards with six, including song, record and album of the year.
'21' became the third album to cross 10 million in 2012, along with Linkin Park's 'Hybrid Theory' and Usher's 'Confessions.' But it is the only album to reach the milestone in less than two years in the last decade, Nielsen said.
'What an incredible honor,' Adele said in a statement. 'A huge, huge thank you to my American fans for embracing this record on such a massive level.'
'21' will receive the diamond certification from the Recording Industry Association of America, marking its 10 million milestone, joining the ranks of albums by artists such as Michael Jackson, The Beatles and Madonna.
'Adele's unique talent is a gift to music fans, and her success is certainly cause for a celebration of Diamond magnitude,' Cary Sherman, RIAA's chairman & CEO, said in a statement.
Adele, 24, is enjoying the success of her latest single 'Skyfall,' the official theme song for the James Bond film of the same name. It has sold more than 2 million copies worldwide. The singer also gave birth to her first child earlier this year.
On the Billboard 200 chart this week, R&B star Rihanna scored her first No. 1 album with 'Unapologetic,' selling 238,000 copies.
She held off new entries from 'American Idol' winner Phillip Phillips, who landed at No. 4 with his debut album 'The World From the Side of the Moon,' and country-rock singer Kid Rock, who rounded out the top five with his latest album 'Rebel Soul.'
(Reporting By Piya Sinha-Roy Editing by Jill Serjeant, Grant McCool and Andre Grenon)
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'21,' released in February 2011, produced the hits 'Someone Like You' and 'Rolling In The Deep' and became the top-selling album of 2011. Earlier this year, Adele swept the Grammy Awards with six, including song, record and album of the year.
'21' became the third album to cross 10 million in 2012, along with Linkin Park's 'Hybrid Theory' and Usher's 'Confessions.' But it is the only album to reach the milestone in less than two years in the last decade, Nielsen said.
'What an incredible honor,' Adele said in a statement. 'A huge, huge thank you to my American fans for embracing this record on such a massive level.'
'21' will receive the diamond certification from the Recording Industry Association of America, marking its 10 million milestone, joining the ranks of albums by artists such as Michael Jackson, The Beatles and Madonna.
'Adele's unique talent is a gift to music fans, and her success is certainly cause for a celebration of Diamond magnitude,' Cary Sherman, RIAA's chairman & CEO, said in a statement.
Adele, 24, is enjoying the success of her latest single 'Skyfall,' the official theme song for the James Bond film of the same name. It has sold more than 2 million copies worldwide. The singer also gave birth to her first child earlier this year.
On the Billboard 200 chart this week, R&B star Rihanna scored her first No. 1 album with 'Unapologetic,' selling 238,000 copies.
She held off new entries from 'American Idol' winner Phillip Phillips, who landed at No. 4 with his debut album 'The World From the Side of the Moon,' and country-rock singer Kid Rock, who rounded out the top five with his latest album 'Rebel Soul.'
(Reporting By Piya Sinha-Roy Editing by Jill Serjeant, Grant McCool and Andre Grenon)
This news article is brought to you by STOCK MARKET BLOG - where latest news are our top priority.
A Minute With: Pop star Ke$ha on new album "Warrior"
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Pop star Ke$ha made a name for herself with infectious dance-pop hits but the singer-songwriter is stepping out of her Auto-Tune comfort zone on 'Warrior', out this week.
Ke$ha, 25, stormed the charts with hit songs about drinking, partying and having a good time, such as 'TiK ToK' and 'Your Love is my Drug' from her 2010 platinum-selling album 'Animal'.
Ke$ha talked with Reuters about the pressures of following up the success of her first album and responding to her critics.
Q: Did you feel additional pressure while working on this album after the success of your debut, 'Animal'?
A: 'Everybody keeps asking me about pressure, and I think a lot of other people maybe are feeling pressure about this record, but I just want to make a good record. If I sat around trying to make a number one record, I'd just be too consumed with that. I just want to make an awesome, kick-ass record that I love and that my fans love.'
Q: Was there anything that you weren't happy with on the first album and that you wanted to change for the second?
A: 'I just wanted to make sure my entire personality was presented more accurately. I feel like people really got to know the super-wild side of me but then sometimes a more vulnerable side. I didn't really feel comfortable expressing it. So this time I kind of forced myself to express a little bit more vulnerability, less Auto-Tune, less vocal trickery. It's a little more raw.'
Q: You received a lot of criticism for your use of Auto-Tune, masking your true singing voice. Was that a valid criticism for you, when many others use it?
A: 'I remember having this conversation with my producer, and him saying, 'We're using a lot of vocal tricks,' and I said, 'People will get to know me as my career goes on, I just want it to sound really weird and cool and clubby right now, and super electronic.' I made a conscious decision to use Auto-Tune for effect, as ear candy, and vocoders and chop up my words.
'This time around, I have heard so many different people say I can't sing, it's quite frankly irritating, so I ... made a five-song acoustic EP ('Deconstructed', out on December 4) that's kind of like my middle finger to all those people that said I couldn't sing, and there's more of my voice on this record. You know, haters are going to hate, you just have to do what you want to do.'
Q: Talk us through some of the collaborations on 'Warrior'. There's quite a variety, such as with Iggy Pop and Ben Folds.
A: 'Ben Folds is a friend of mine. He gave me a giant glitter grand piano that's in my house, so that one was natural. The Flaming Lips was probably surprising for a lot of people because we're two super-different genres of music but we had the most fun and we made so many songs, it was super insane. We're like best friends, we text everyday now, so that kind of came naturally. The one that I really have been working on for years was a collaboration with Iggy Pop. He's one of my favorite musicians and artists of all time, so that was super exciting for me, because I respect him so much.'
Q: You've written tracks for Kelly Clarkson and Britney Spears, and you've written all the songs for 'Warrior'. What did you want to bring out in your lyrics this time round?
A: 'I definitely wanted to maintain the irreverence, because that's why my fans like me. It's because I'm super honest, not always PG rated ... but I didn't want to let the haters somehow cramp my style or get the best of me, so I maintain my irreverence ... I also really wanted to show the other side of my personality, which kind of is more nerve-wracking to show people, being a real person and the vulnerable side of my personality and voice. So there are tracks on this record that are super vulnerable and were hard even to write. I had to force myself to sit down and write these songs.'
Q: You've carved a distinctive image and also just launched your latest collaboration with Baby-G watches. How do you want to evolve your career in the future?
A: 'I think that with this record, I really wanted to show that there are no rules or boundaries in art, at all, like I sing and I can use crazy Auto-Tune vocoders and I can rap and I can do a song with Iggy Pop. You can do all these things that make sense. You don't have to just be one thing, like, you don't adhere to any sort of stereotype or any boundaries or any rules, so for me it's really fun to break down these boundaries.'
Q: You came in at the forefront of the electronic dance music explosion in the pop charts two years ago. Why do you think EDM is doing so well?
A: 'Dancing is one of the ways we, as adult human beings, still get to play and it's socially acceptable. Little kids play all the time, but as we grow up, we're supposed to just not play anymore, so our version of that is going out and dancing, and I think it's one way people are still visceral and animal-like.'
(Reporting by Piya Sinha-Roy; Editing by Jill Serjeant and Dale Hudson)
This article is brought to you by PHOTOS OF SEXY GIRLS.
Ke$ha, 25, stormed the charts with hit songs about drinking, partying and having a good time, such as 'TiK ToK' and 'Your Love is my Drug' from her 2010 platinum-selling album 'Animal'.
Ke$ha talked with Reuters about the pressures of following up the success of her first album and responding to her critics.
Q: Did you feel additional pressure while working on this album after the success of your debut, 'Animal'?
A: 'Everybody keeps asking me about pressure, and I think a lot of other people maybe are feeling pressure about this record, but I just want to make a good record. If I sat around trying to make a number one record, I'd just be too consumed with that. I just want to make an awesome, kick-ass record that I love and that my fans love.'
Q: Was there anything that you weren't happy with on the first album and that you wanted to change for the second?
A: 'I just wanted to make sure my entire personality was presented more accurately. I feel like people really got to know the super-wild side of me but then sometimes a more vulnerable side. I didn't really feel comfortable expressing it. So this time I kind of forced myself to express a little bit more vulnerability, less Auto-Tune, less vocal trickery. It's a little more raw.'
Q: You received a lot of criticism for your use of Auto-Tune, masking your true singing voice. Was that a valid criticism for you, when many others use it?
A: 'I remember having this conversation with my producer, and him saying, 'We're using a lot of vocal tricks,' and I said, 'People will get to know me as my career goes on, I just want it to sound really weird and cool and clubby right now, and super electronic.' I made a conscious decision to use Auto-Tune for effect, as ear candy, and vocoders and chop up my words.
'This time around, I have heard so many different people say I can't sing, it's quite frankly irritating, so I ... made a five-song acoustic EP ('Deconstructed', out on December 4) that's kind of like my middle finger to all those people that said I couldn't sing, and there's more of my voice on this record. You know, haters are going to hate, you just have to do what you want to do.'
Q: Talk us through some of the collaborations on 'Warrior'. There's quite a variety, such as with Iggy Pop and Ben Folds.
A: 'Ben Folds is a friend of mine. He gave me a giant glitter grand piano that's in my house, so that one was natural. The Flaming Lips was probably surprising for a lot of people because we're two super-different genres of music but we had the most fun and we made so many songs, it was super insane. We're like best friends, we text everyday now, so that kind of came naturally. The one that I really have been working on for years was a collaboration with Iggy Pop. He's one of my favorite musicians and artists of all time, so that was super exciting for me, because I respect him so much.'
Q: You've written tracks for Kelly Clarkson and Britney Spears, and you've written all the songs for 'Warrior'. What did you want to bring out in your lyrics this time round?
A: 'I definitely wanted to maintain the irreverence, because that's why my fans like me. It's because I'm super honest, not always PG rated ... but I didn't want to let the haters somehow cramp my style or get the best of me, so I maintain my irreverence ... I also really wanted to show the other side of my personality, which kind of is more nerve-wracking to show people, being a real person and the vulnerable side of my personality and voice. So there are tracks on this record that are super vulnerable and were hard even to write. I had to force myself to sit down and write these songs.'
Q: You've carved a distinctive image and also just launched your latest collaboration with Baby-G watches. How do you want to evolve your career in the future?
A: 'I think that with this record, I really wanted to show that there are no rules or boundaries in art, at all, like I sing and I can use crazy Auto-Tune vocoders and I can rap and I can do a song with Iggy Pop. You can do all these things that make sense. You don't have to just be one thing, like, you don't adhere to any sort of stereotype or any boundaries or any rules, so for me it's really fun to break down these boundaries.'
Q: You came in at the forefront of the electronic dance music explosion in the pop charts two years ago. Why do you think EDM is doing so well?
A: 'Dancing is one of the ways we, as adult human beings, still get to play and it's socially acceptable. Little kids play all the time, but as we grow up, we're supposed to just not play anymore, so our version of that is going out and dancing, and I think it's one way people are still visceral and animal-like.'
(Reporting by Piya Sinha-Roy; Editing by Jill Serjeant and Dale Hudson)
This article is brought to you by PHOTOS OF SEXY GIRLS.
Rihanna's "Unapologetic" tops Billboard album chart
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - R&B singer Rihanna shot straight to the top of the Billboard 200 album chart on Tuesday with her seventh record 'Unapologetic,' scoring her first No. 1 album despite mixed reviews.
'Unapologetic,' which topped iTunes charts in 43 countries just hours after its release on November19, sold 238,000 copies according to Billboard, scoring the 24-year-old singer from Barbados her best opening sales week to date.
The album's lead single 'Diamonds' landed at the top of the Billboard Hot 100 chart last week, giving Rihanna her 12th No. 1 single and tying her with Madonna and The Supremes for the fourth-most chart-topping singles in Billboard history.
'Unapologetic' left some critics unsettled by the singer's harder sound and close-to-home lyrics. One track in particular that had everyone talking is 'Nobody's Business,' Rihanna's collaboration with ex-boyfriend Chris Brown, who was charged with assaulting her three years ago.
The album has been promoted extensively by Rihanna, who embarked on a seven day tour across seven cities around the world, accompanied by a plane full of fans and journalists.
The full Billboard charts will be released on Wednesday.
(Reporting By Piya Sinha-Roy, editing by Jill Serjeant)
This news article is brought to you by STOCK MARKET BLOG - where latest news are our top priority.
'Unapologetic,' which topped iTunes charts in 43 countries just hours after its release on November19, sold 238,000 copies according to Billboard, scoring the 24-year-old singer from Barbados her best opening sales week to date.
The album's lead single 'Diamonds' landed at the top of the Billboard Hot 100 chart last week, giving Rihanna her 12th No. 1 single and tying her with Madonna and The Supremes for the fourth-most chart-topping singles in Billboard history.
'Unapologetic' left some critics unsettled by the singer's harder sound and close-to-home lyrics. One track in particular that had everyone talking is 'Nobody's Business,' Rihanna's collaboration with ex-boyfriend Chris Brown, who was charged with assaulting her three years ago.
The album has been promoted extensively by Rihanna, who embarked on a seven day tour across seven cities around the world, accompanied by a plane full of fans and journalists.
The full Billboard charts will be released on Wednesday.
(Reporting By Piya Sinha-Roy, editing by Jill Serjeant)
This news article is brought to you by STOCK MARKET BLOG - where latest news are our top priority.
Robbie Williams aims to seal solo legacy with tour
LONDON (Reuters) - Still famous as the in-again/out-again member of chart-topping boyband Take That, British singer Robbie Williams says it is time to get serious as a solo artist and prove his place at the top of the pop pile.
Williams told reporters on Monday he planned a 15-date European stadium tour kicking off in Manchester on June 19, 2013 and concluding in Tallinn, Estonia on August 20.
'I'm buzzing. I'm ready to go. I haven't done a tour of this size since 2006,' he said in London.
'I think it's legacy time, because I'm venturing into getting my handicap down at golf and all that business.
'I'm nearly 40, that's what I'm trying to say. I want to go and seal my place in pop history and go off and deliver a tour of great magnitude while I still can.'
The 38-year-old in fact enjoyed major success after leaving Take That in 1995, producing a string of hit albums and singles including 'Angels' and 'Millennium' and signing a contract with EMI in 2002 reportedly worth tens of millions.
But by the time his 2006 album 'Rudebox' came out followed by 'Reality Killed the Video Star' in 2009, he was seen as a dwindling force in British pop who had failed to break the key U.S. market.
Williams rejoined Take That in 2010 and they recorded the hit album 'Progress' before touring together in 2011, and the singer said the experience had helped give him confidence to tour large venues again as a solo artist.
'I just ran out of ideas and ran out of a bit of creativity and ran out of energy and did the textbook 'burnt out',' he said of the late 2000s.
'But I've been working really hard and I needed to do something else, and fortunately it came in the shape of my old band. A lot of demons were vanquished from the past. A lot of wrongs were put to rights.
'That tour last summer was just absolutely incredible. It kick-started my professional career.'
Earlier this month, Williams returned to the top of the album charts with 'Take the Crown'.
Asked whether he would consider rejoining Take That again, he replied: 'I haven't officially left ... What I do know is that ... if we all remain healthy then I will definitely be a part of Take That at some point. It's joyful being around them.'
Williams conceded it may be too early to talk about his legacy at 38, but added he wanted to 'put my stamp down.
'The fact that 40 is looming plays on my mind more than it does on anybody else's mind. Pop stars cease to be pop stars at 40 and start being old people singing, don't they?
'There is a forum for a male solo star to get up there in stadiums and own the place and I want that to be me, so I've kind of been lethargic for the last couple of albums.'
Williams recently became a father, and said his daughter would accompany him on tour. Olly Murs, who rose to fame on 'The X Factor' reality TV show, will support Williams on his tour.
(Reporting by Mike Collett-White, editing by Paul Casciato)
Williams told reporters on Monday he planned a 15-date European stadium tour kicking off in Manchester on June 19, 2013 and concluding in Tallinn, Estonia on August 20.
'I'm buzzing. I'm ready to go. I haven't done a tour of this size since 2006,' he said in London.
'I think it's legacy time, because I'm venturing into getting my handicap down at golf and all that business.
'I'm nearly 40, that's what I'm trying to say. I want to go and seal my place in pop history and go off and deliver a tour of great magnitude while I still can.'
The 38-year-old in fact enjoyed major success after leaving Take That in 1995, producing a string of hit albums and singles including 'Angels' and 'Millennium' and signing a contract with EMI in 2002 reportedly worth tens of millions.
But by the time his 2006 album 'Rudebox' came out followed by 'Reality Killed the Video Star' in 2009, he was seen as a dwindling force in British pop who had failed to break the key U.S. market.
Williams rejoined Take That in 2010 and they recorded the hit album 'Progress' before touring together in 2011, and the singer said the experience had helped give him confidence to tour large venues again as a solo artist.
'I just ran out of ideas and ran out of a bit of creativity and ran out of energy and did the textbook 'burnt out',' he said of the late 2000s.
'But I've been working really hard and I needed to do something else, and fortunately it came in the shape of my old band. A lot of demons were vanquished from the past. A lot of wrongs were put to rights.
'That tour last summer was just absolutely incredible. It kick-started my professional career.'
Earlier this month, Williams returned to the top of the album charts with 'Take the Crown'.
Asked whether he would consider rejoining Take That again, he replied: 'I haven't officially left ... What I do know is that ... if we all remain healthy then I will definitely be a part of Take That at some point. It's joyful being around them.'
Williams conceded it may be too early to talk about his legacy at 38, but added he wanted to 'put my stamp down.
'The fact that 40 is looming plays on my mind more than it does on anybody else's mind. Pop stars cease to be pop stars at 40 and start being old people singing, don't they?
'There is a forum for a male solo star to get up there in stadiums and own the place and I want that to be me, so I've kind of been lethargic for the last couple of albums.'
Williams recently became a father, and said his daughter would accompany him on tour. Olly Murs, who rose to fame on 'The X Factor' reality TV show, will support Williams on his tour.
(Reporting by Mike Collett-White, editing by Paul Casciato)
Monday, November 26, 2012
Rolling Stones turn back clock with hit-filled comeback
LONDON (Reuters) - The Rolling Stones turned back the clock in style on Sunday with their first concert in five years, strutting and swaggering their way through hit after familiar hit to celebrate 50 years in business.
Before a packed crowd of 20,000 at London's O2 Arena, they banished doubts that age may have slowed down one of the world's greatest rock and roll bands, as lead singer Mick Jagger launched into 'I Wanna Be Your Man'.
More than two hours of high-octane, blues-infused rock later, and they were still going strong with an impressive encore comprising 'You Can't Always Get What You Want' and 'Jumpin' Jack Flash'.
In between there were guest appearances from American R&B singer-songwriter Mary J. Blige, who delivered a rousing duet with Jagger on 'Gimme Shelter' and guitarist Jeff Beck who provided the power chords for 'I'm Going Down'.
Former Rolling Stones Bill Wyman and Mick Taylor were also back in the fold, performing with the regular quartet of Jagger, Ronnie Wood and Keith Richards on guitar and Charlie Watts on drums for the first time in 20 years.
'It took us 50 years to get from Dartford to Greenwich!' said Jagger, referring to their roots just a few miles from the venue in southeast London. 'But you know, we made it. What's even more amazing is that you're still coming to see us...we can't thank you enough.'
The Sunday night gig was the first of two at the O2 Arena before the band crosses the Atlantic to play three dates in the United States.
The mini-tour is the culmination of a busy few months of events, rehearsals and recordings to mark 50 years since the rockers first took to the stage at the Marquee Club on London's Oxford Street in July, 1962.
There has been a photo album, two new songs, a music video, a documentary film, a blitz of media appearances and a handful of warm-up gigs in Paris.
'STYLE AND PANACHE'
The reunion nearly did not happen. One factor behind the long break since their record-breaking 'A Bigger Bang' tour in 2007 has been Wood's struggle with alcohol addiction, while Jagger and Richards also fell out over comments the guitarist made about the singer in a 2010 autobiography.
But they eventually buried the hatchet, and Richards joked in a recent interview: 'We can't get divorced - we're doing it for the kids!'
Critics were fulsome in their praise of the first comeback gig.
'Keith Richards has said that the beauty of rock and roll is that every night a different band might be the world's greatest. Well, last night at the O2 Arena, it was the turn of the Rolling Stones themselves to lay claim to the title they invented,' wrote Neil McCormick of the Daily Telegraph.
'And they did it with some style and panache.'
The big question on every fan's lips is whether the five concerts lead to a world tour and even new material. The Stones sang their two new tracks 'Doom and Gloom' and 'One More Shot', which appeared on their latest greatest hits album 'GRRR!'.
Richards has hinted that the five concerts ending at the Newark Prudential Center in the United States on December 15 would not be the last.
'Once the juggernaut starts rolling, it ain't gonna stop,' he told Rolling Stone magazine. 'So without sort of saying definitely yes - yeah. We ain't doing all this for four gigs!'
The band has come in for criticism from fans about the high price of tickets to the shows - they ranged from around 95 pounds ($150) to up to 950 pounds for a VIP seat.
The flamboyant veterans, whose average age is 68, have defended the costs, saying the shows were expensive to put on, although specialist music publication Billboard reported the band would earn $25 million from the four shows initially announced. A fifth was added later.
'Everybody all right there in the cheap seats,' Jagger asked pointedly as he looked high to his left at the arena. 'They're not really cheap though are they? That's the trouble.'
Among the biggest cheers on the night were for classics including 'Wild Horses', 'It's Only Rock and Roll' and 'Start Me Up'.
There was even time for the odd reference to their advancing years.
'Good to see you all,' said Richards with a mischievous grin. 'Good to see anybody.'
(Reporting by Mike Collett-White, editing by Paul Casciato)
This news article is brought to you by TECHNOLOGY NEWS - where latest news are our top priority.
Before a packed crowd of 20,000 at London's O2 Arena, they banished doubts that age may have slowed down one of the world's greatest rock and roll bands, as lead singer Mick Jagger launched into 'I Wanna Be Your Man'.
More than two hours of high-octane, blues-infused rock later, and they were still going strong with an impressive encore comprising 'You Can't Always Get What You Want' and 'Jumpin' Jack Flash'.
In between there were guest appearances from American R&B singer-songwriter Mary J. Blige, who delivered a rousing duet with Jagger on 'Gimme Shelter' and guitarist Jeff Beck who provided the power chords for 'I'm Going Down'.
Former Rolling Stones Bill Wyman and Mick Taylor were also back in the fold, performing with the regular quartet of Jagger, Ronnie Wood and Keith Richards on guitar and Charlie Watts on drums for the first time in 20 years.
'It took us 50 years to get from Dartford to Greenwich!' said Jagger, referring to their roots just a few miles from the venue in southeast London. 'But you know, we made it. What's even more amazing is that you're still coming to see us...we can't thank you enough.'
The Sunday night gig was the first of two at the O2 Arena before the band crosses the Atlantic to play three dates in the United States.
The mini-tour is the culmination of a busy few months of events, rehearsals and recordings to mark 50 years since the rockers first took to the stage at the Marquee Club on London's Oxford Street in July, 1962.
There has been a photo album, two new songs, a music video, a documentary film, a blitz of media appearances and a handful of warm-up gigs in Paris.
'STYLE AND PANACHE'
The reunion nearly did not happen. One factor behind the long break since their record-breaking 'A Bigger Bang' tour in 2007 has been Wood's struggle with alcohol addiction, while Jagger and Richards also fell out over comments the guitarist made about the singer in a 2010 autobiography.
But they eventually buried the hatchet, and Richards joked in a recent interview: 'We can't get divorced - we're doing it for the kids!'
Critics were fulsome in their praise of the first comeback gig.
'Keith Richards has said that the beauty of rock and roll is that every night a different band might be the world's greatest. Well, last night at the O2 Arena, it was the turn of the Rolling Stones themselves to lay claim to the title they invented,' wrote Neil McCormick of the Daily Telegraph.
'And they did it with some style and panache.'
The big question on every fan's lips is whether the five concerts lead to a world tour and even new material. The Stones sang their two new tracks 'Doom and Gloom' and 'One More Shot', which appeared on their latest greatest hits album 'GRRR!'.
Richards has hinted that the five concerts ending at the Newark Prudential Center in the United States on December 15 would not be the last.
'Once the juggernaut starts rolling, it ain't gonna stop,' he told Rolling Stone magazine. 'So without sort of saying definitely yes - yeah. We ain't doing all this for four gigs!'
The band has come in for criticism from fans about the high price of tickets to the shows - they ranged from around 95 pounds ($150) to up to 950 pounds for a VIP seat.
The flamboyant veterans, whose average age is 68, have defended the costs, saying the shows were expensive to put on, although specialist music publication Billboard reported the band would earn $25 million from the four shows initially announced. A fifth was added later.
'Everybody all right there in the cheap seats,' Jagger asked pointedly as he looked high to his left at the arena. 'They're not really cheap though are they? That's the trouble.'
Among the biggest cheers on the night were for classics including 'Wild Horses', 'It's Only Rock and Roll' and 'Start Me Up'.
There was even time for the odd reference to their advancing years.
'Good to see you all,' said Richards with a mischievous grin. 'Good to see anybody.'
(Reporting by Mike Collett-White, editing by Paul Casciato)
This news article is brought to you by TECHNOLOGY NEWS - where latest news are our top priority.
Sunday, November 25, 2012
Rolling Stones pounce on early hits at London show
LONDON (Reuters) - The Rolling Stones hit the stage at London's O2 arena on Sunday with a roar of approval from a sea of silver-haired fans as they tore into old favorite 'I Wanna Be Your Man'.
A swaggering Mick Jagger dressed in sparkling silver and black rolled back the years with the 1960s hit as he bounced onto a stage shaped in the red lips logo that is the calling card for one of rock and roll's most enduring bands.
Lead singer Jagger, guitarists Keith Richards and Ronnie Wood and drummer Charlie Watts are all in their 60s and early 70s, but have promised a two-hour show that will stun the crowd and include former band members Bill Wyman and Mick Taylor as well as R&B singer Mary J. Blige and guitar great Jeff Beck.
'Everybody all right there in the cheap seats?' Jagger asked in reference to a controversy over the price of tickets. 'They're not really cheap though are they? That's the trouble.'
A sellout crowd of some 20,000 people was expected in spite of widespread complaints from fans at ticket prices that ranged from 95 pounds ($150) to up to 950 pounds for a VIP seat at the first of five concerts celebrating the band's 50th anniversary.
Costs went far higher on secondary ticketing websites, although by Friday eBay was offering several seats to Sunday's show at below face value and there were places still officially available at around 400 pounds apiece.
There has been talk of a wider tour, but for the time-being the only confirmed concerts are the five that have been announced. Two will be played at the O2 Arena in London, the first was under way on Sunday and another on Thursday with three others in the United States next month.
The flamboyant veterans behind a string of hits including '(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction', 'You Can't Always Get What You Want' and 'Jumpin' Jack Flash' have defended the prices, saying the shows are expensive to put on, although specialist music publication Billboard reported the band would earn $25 million for the four shows first announced. A fifth was added later.
BURST OF ACTIVITY
The concerts are the culmination of a busy few months of events, rehearsals and recordings to mark 50 years since the blues-infused rockers first took to the stage at the Marquee Club on London's Oxford Street in July, 1962.
There has been a photo album, two new songs, a music video, a documentary film, a blitz of media appearances and a handful of warm-up gigs in Paris.
The O2 Arena was where another top band of the 1960s and 70s, Led Zeppelin, staged an eagerly awaited one-off reunion in 2007, and while the Stones have appeared together far more regularly, it is their first arena performance in six years.
One factor behind the long break has been Wood's struggle with alcohol addition, according to Rolling Stone magazine, while Jagger and Richards also fell out over comments the guitarist made about the singer in a 2010 autobiography.
'We can't get divorced - we're doing it for the kids!' joked Richards in a recent interview after apologising to Jagger.
While the rock and roll excesses of the swinging 60s and 70s are in the past for the band, and their very best songs may be behind them, music critics praised their recent single 'Doom and Gloom' from the 'GRRR!' greatest hits album just released.
And there have been hints from the band that the five gigs which wind up at the Newark Prudential Center on December 15 may not be the end of their reunion.
'Once the juggernaut starts rolling, it ain't gonna stop,' Richards told Rolling Stone. 'So without sort of saying definitely yes - yeah. We ain't doing all this for four gigs!'
(Reporting by Mike Collett-White, editing by Paul Casciato)
This news article is brought to you by DATING ADVICE 201 - where latest news are our top priority.
A swaggering Mick Jagger dressed in sparkling silver and black rolled back the years with the 1960s hit as he bounced onto a stage shaped in the red lips logo that is the calling card for one of rock and roll's most enduring bands.
Lead singer Jagger, guitarists Keith Richards and Ronnie Wood and drummer Charlie Watts are all in their 60s and early 70s, but have promised a two-hour show that will stun the crowd and include former band members Bill Wyman and Mick Taylor as well as R&B singer Mary J. Blige and guitar great Jeff Beck.
'Everybody all right there in the cheap seats?' Jagger asked in reference to a controversy over the price of tickets. 'They're not really cheap though are they? That's the trouble.'
A sellout crowd of some 20,000 people was expected in spite of widespread complaints from fans at ticket prices that ranged from 95 pounds ($150) to up to 950 pounds for a VIP seat at the first of five concerts celebrating the band's 50th anniversary.
Costs went far higher on secondary ticketing websites, although by Friday eBay was offering several seats to Sunday's show at below face value and there were places still officially available at around 400 pounds apiece.
There has been talk of a wider tour, but for the time-being the only confirmed concerts are the five that have been announced. Two will be played at the O2 Arena in London, the first was under way on Sunday and another on Thursday with three others in the United States next month.
The flamboyant veterans behind a string of hits including '(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction', 'You Can't Always Get What You Want' and 'Jumpin' Jack Flash' have defended the prices, saying the shows are expensive to put on, although specialist music publication Billboard reported the band would earn $25 million for the four shows first announced. A fifth was added later.
BURST OF ACTIVITY
The concerts are the culmination of a busy few months of events, rehearsals and recordings to mark 50 years since the blues-infused rockers first took to the stage at the Marquee Club on London's Oxford Street in July, 1962.
There has been a photo album, two new songs, a music video, a documentary film, a blitz of media appearances and a handful of warm-up gigs in Paris.
The O2 Arena was where another top band of the 1960s and 70s, Led Zeppelin, staged an eagerly awaited one-off reunion in 2007, and while the Stones have appeared together far more regularly, it is their first arena performance in six years.
One factor behind the long break has been Wood's struggle with alcohol addition, according to Rolling Stone magazine, while Jagger and Richards also fell out over comments the guitarist made about the singer in a 2010 autobiography.
'We can't get divorced - we're doing it for the kids!' joked Richards in a recent interview after apologising to Jagger.
While the rock and roll excesses of the swinging 60s and 70s are in the past for the band, and their very best songs may be behind them, music critics praised their recent single 'Doom and Gloom' from the 'GRRR!' greatest hits album just released.
And there have been hints from the band that the five gigs which wind up at the Newark Prudential Center on December 15 may not be the end of their reunion.
'Once the juggernaut starts rolling, it ain't gonna stop,' Richards told Rolling Stone. 'So without sort of saying definitely yes - yeah. We ain't doing all this for four gigs!'
(Reporting by Mike Collett-White, editing by Paul Casciato)
This news article is brought to you by DATING ADVICE 201 - where latest news are our top priority.
Rolling Stones return to mark 50 years in music
LONDON (Reuters) - The Rolling Stones take to the stage later on Sunday after a five-year hiatus to celebrate the golden jubilee of one of the most successful and enduring bands in rock and roll history.
Now in their mid-60s to early 70s, lead singer Mick Jagger, guitarists Keith Richards and Ronnie Wood and drummer Charlie Watts will perform five concerts - two at the O2 Arena in London on November 25 and 29 and three in the United States next month.
Joining them at the O2 on Sunday will be former band members Bill Wyman and Mick Taylor, the first time the two ex-Stones have performed with the group in more than 20 years.
And in a fresh announcement on Saturday, American R&B singer-songwriter Mary J. Blige and guitar great Jeff Beck have also been added to the lineup as special guests.
The flamboyant veterans behind a string of hits including '(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction', 'You Can't Always Get What You Want' and 'Jumpin' Jack Flash' have promised a 'stunning' gig lasting more than two hours.
A sellout crowd of some 20,000 people is expected, in spite of widespread complaints from fans at ticket prices that ranged from 95 pounds ($150) to up to 950 pounds for a VIP seat.
Costs went far higher on secondary ticketing websites, although by Friday eBay was offering several seats to Sunday's show at below face value and there were places still officially available at around 400 pounds apiece.
The band has defended the prices, saying that the shows are expensive to put on, although Billboard, a specialist music publication, reported that the quartet would be paid $25 million for the four shows first announced. A fifth was added later.
BURST OF ACTIVITY
The concerts are the culmination of a busy few months of events, rehearsals and recordings to mark 50 years since the blues-infused rockers first took to the stage at the Marquee Club on London's Oxford Street in July, 1962.
There has been a photo album, two new songs, a music video, a documentary film, a blitz of media appearances and a handful of warm-up gigs in Paris.
The O2 Arena was where another top band of the 1960s and 70s, Led Zeppelin, staged an eagerly awaited one-off reunion in 2007, and while the Stones have appeared together far more regularly, it is their first arena performance in six years.
One factor behind the long break has been Wood's struggle with alcohol addition, according to Rolling Stone magazine, while Jagger and Richards also fell out over comments the guitarist made about the singer in a 2010 autobiography.
'We can't get divorced - we're doing it for the kids!' joked Richards in a recent interview after apologizing to Jagger.
While the rock and roll excesses of the swinging 60s and 70s are in the past for the band, and their very best songs may be behind them, music critics praised their recent single 'Doom and Gloom' from the 'GRRR!' greatest hits album just released.
And there have been hints from the band that the five gigs which wind up at the Newark Prudential Center on December 15 may not be the end of their reunion.
'Once the juggernaut starts rolling, it ain't gonna stop,' Richards told Rolling Stone. 'So without sort of saying definitely yes - yeah. We ain't doing all this for four gigs!'
(Reporting by Mike Collett-White, editing by Paul Casciato)
This news article is brought to you by STOCK MARKET BLOG - where latest news are our top priority.
Now in their mid-60s to early 70s, lead singer Mick Jagger, guitarists Keith Richards and Ronnie Wood and drummer Charlie Watts will perform five concerts - two at the O2 Arena in London on November 25 and 29 and three in the United States next month.
Joining them at the O2 on Sunday will be former band members Bill Wyman and Mick Taylor, the first time the two ex-Stones have performed with the group in more than 20 years.
And in a fresh announcement on Saturday, American R&B singer-songwriter Mary J. Blige and guitar great Jeff Beck have also been added to the lineup as special guests.
The flamboyant veterans behind a string of hits including '(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction', 'You Can't Always Get What You Want' and 'Jumpin' Jack Flash' have promised a 'stunning' gig lasting more than two hours.
A sellout crowd of some 20,000 people is expected, in spite of widespread complaints from fans at ticket prices that ranged from 95 pounds ($150) to up to 950 pounds for a VIP seat.
Costs went far higher on secondary ticketing websites, although by Friday eBay was offering several seats to Sunday's show at below face value and there were places still officially available at around 400 pounds apiece.
The band has defended the prices, saying that the shows are expensive to put on, although Billboard, a specialist music publication, reported that the quartet would be paid $25 million for the four shows first announced. A fifth was added later.
BURST OF ACTIVITY
The concerts are the culmination of a busy few months of events, rehearsals and recordings to mark 50 years since the blues-infused rockers first took to the stage at the Marquee Club on London's Oxford Street in July, 1962.
There has been a photo album, two new songs, a music video, a documentary film, a blitz of media appearances and a handful of warm-up gigs in Paris.
The O2 Arena was where another top band of the 1960s and 70s, Led Zeppelin, staged an eagerly awaited one-off reunion in 2007, and while the Stones have appeared together far more regularly, it is their first arena performance in six years.
One factor behind the long break has been Wood's struggle with alcohol addition, according to Rolling Stone magazine, while Jagger and Richards also fell out over comments the guitarist made about the singer in a 2010 autobiography.
'We can't get divorced - we're doing it for the kids!' joked Richards in a recent interview after apologizing to Jagger.
While the rock and roll excesses of the swinging 60s and 70s are in the past for the band, and their very best songs may be behind them, music critics praised their recent single 'Doom and Gloom' from the 'GRRR!' greatest hits album just released.
And there have been hints from the band that the five gigs which wind up at the Newark Prudential Center on December 15 may not be the end of their reunion.
'Once the juggernaut starts rolling, it ain't gonna stop,' Richards told Rolling Stone. 'So without sort of saying definitely yes - yeah. We ain't doing all this for four gigs!'
(Reporting by Mike Collett-White, editing by Paul Casciato)
This news article is brought to you by STOCK MARKET BLOG - where latest news are our top priority.
Saturday, November 24, 2012
Psy's "Gangnam Style" video becomes YouTube's most viewed
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - South Korean rap star Psy's music video 'Gangnam Style' on Saturday became the most watched item ever posted to YouTube with more than 800 million views, edging past Canadian teen star Justin Bieber's 2-year-old video for his song 'Baby.'
The milestone was the latest pop culture victory for Psy, 34, a portly rap singer known for his slicked-back hair and comic dance style who has become one of the most unlikely global stars of 2012.
Psy succeeded with a video that generated countless parodies and became a media sensation. He gained more fame outside his native country than the more polished singers in South Korea's so-called K-Pop style who have sought to win international audiences.
YouTube, in a post on its Trends blog, said 'Gangnam Style' on Saturday surpassed the site's previous record holder, Bieber's 2010 music video 'Baby,' and by mid-day 'Gangnam Style' had reached 805 million views, compared to 803 million for 'Baby.' Within a few hours, 'Gangnam Style' had gone up to more than 809 million views.
'Gangnam Style' was first posted to YouTube in July, and by the following month it began to show huge popularity on YouTube with audiences outside of South Korea.
'It's been a massive hit at a global level unlike anything we've ever seen before,' said the YouTube blog.
The blog also said the 'velocity' of the video's popularity has been unprecedented for YouTube.
In his 'Gangnam Style' video the outlandishly dressed, sunglass-wearing Psy raps in Korean and dances in the style of an upper-crust person riding an invisible horse.
The song is named after the affluent Gangnam District of Seoul and it mocks the rampant consumerism of that suburb. Psy, whose real name is Park Jai-sang, is no stranger to wealth as his father is chairman of a South Korean semiconductor company.
His parents sent him to business school in the United States but he confesses that he bought musical instruments with his tuition money. He later graduated from Berklee College of Music in Boston and won fame in South Korea with his 2001 debut album.
The viral success of 'Gangnam Style' on YouTube also has translated into strong record sales. In late September, the song jumped to the top of the British pop charts and it also has sold well in other countries.
Popular parodies of the 'Gangnam Style' video included one featuring the University of Oregon's duck mascot, and another done in the 'Star Trek' language Klingon.
The official YouTube view count for Gangnam Style represents only the figure for the original video posted to the site, but copycat versions, parodies and videos by people commenting on the song have been posted to the site and elsewhere on the Web.
Counting all those different versions, 'Gangnam Style' and its related videos have more than 2.2 billion views across the Internet, said Matt Fiorentino, spokesman for the online video tracking firm Visible Measures.
'Without the dance, I don't think it would have been as big as it is,' Fiorentino said. 'And the other thing is, Psy has a unique sense of humor which comes through in the video. He doesn't take himself too seriously.'
(Editing by Barbara Goldberg and Bill Trott)
This article is brought to you by ONLINE DATING.
The milestone was the latest pop culture victory for Psy, 34, a portly rap singer known for his slicked-back hair and comic dance style who has become one of the most unlikely global stars of 2012.
Psy succeeded with a video that generated countless parodies and became a media sensation. He gained more fame outside his native country than the more polished singers in South Korea's so-called K-Pop style who have sought to win international audiences.
YouTube, in a post on its Trends blog, said 'Gangnam Style' on Saturday surpassed the site's previous record holder, Bieber's 2010 music video 'Baby,' and by mid-day 'Gangnam Style' had reached 805 million views, compared to 803 million for 'Baby.' Within a few hours, 'Gangnam Style' had gone up to more than 809 million views.
'Gangnam Style' was first posted to YouTube in July, and by the following month it began to show huge popularity on YouTube with audiences outside of South Korea.
'It's been a massive hit at a global level unlike anything we've ever seen before,' said the YouTube blog.
The blog also said the 'velocity' of the video's popularity has been unprecedented for YouTube.
In his 'Gangnam Style' video the outlandishly dressed, sunglass-wearing Psy raps in Korean and dances in the style of an upper-crust person riding an invisible horse.
The song is named after the affluent Gangnam District of Seoul and it mocks the rampant consumerism of that suburb. Psy, whose real name is Park Jai-sang, is no stranger to wealth as his father is chairman of a South Korean semiconductor company.
His parents sent him to business school in the United States but he confesses that he bought musical instruments with his tuition money. He later graduated from Berklee College of Music in Boston and won fame in South Korea with his 2001 debut album.
The viral success of 'Gangnam Style' on YouTube also has translated into strong record sales. In late September, the song jumped to the top of the British pop charts and it also has sold well in other countries.
Popular parodies of the 'Gangnam Style' video included one featuring the University of Oregon's duck mascot, and another done in the 'Star Trek' language Klingon.
The official YouTube view count for Gangnam Style represents only the figure for the original video posted to the site, but copycat versions, parodies and videos by people commenting on the song have been posted to the site and elsewhere on the Web.
Counting all those different versions, 'Gangnam Style' and its related videos have more than 2.2 billion views across the Internet, said Matt Fiorentino, spokesman for the online video tracking firm Visible Measures.
'Without the dance, I don't think it would have been as big as it is,' Fiorentino said. 'And the other thing is, Psy has a unique sense of humor which comes through in the video. He doesn't take himself too seriously.'
(Editing by Barbara Goldberg and Bill Trott)
This article is brought to you by ONLINE DATING.
Friday, November 23, 2012
Pussy Riot protester alone in cell after inmate tension
MOSCOW (Reuters) - Jailed Pussy Riot punk protester Maria Alyokhina has been moved to a single-person cell for her own protection because of tension with other prisoners, her lawyer and Russia's federal penitentiary service said on Friday.
Alyokhina, 24, is serving a two-year sentence for a raucous protest against President Vladimir Putin in Moscow's main Russian Orthodox cathedral. Activists said her trial, and that of two band mates, was part of a crackdown on dissent.
'There was a conflict' between Alyokhina and other inmates and 'she was transferred to a individual cell,' her lawyer Irina Khrunova said by telephone. She said it was not yet clear what caused the conflict.
Prison authorities said Alyokhina was moved at her own request.
'Some tensions arose in relationships and, apparently to prevent this situation from escalating, she decided to submit a request to the prison leadership and they moved her to a one-person cell,' a federal prison service spokeswoman said.
The spokeswoman dismissed Russian media reports Alyokhina argued with inmates over religion at the Ural Mountains prison about 1,150 km (715 miles) northeast of Moscow. Pussy Riot's protest offended many members of Russia's Orthodox Church.
The spokeswoman also said she had no information regarding a report on the tabloid-style Life News website that Alyokhina had received violent threats from cell mates.
Alyokhina's main meal is taken to her cell and she is accompanied by a guard when she leaves it, the spokeswoman said.
Alyokhina and two band mates were convicted in August of hooliganism motivated by religious hatred for their 'punk prayer', which the dominant Russian Orthodox Church has cast as part of a concerted attack on the church and the faithful.
The women said the protest, in which they burst into Christ the Saviour Cathedral and called on the Virgin Mary to rid Russia of Putin, was not motivated by hatred and was meant to mock the church leadership's support for the longtime leader.
Putin, a former KGB officer who has cultivated close ties with the church over 13 years in power, has rejected criticism from the United States and European leaders who called the two-year sentences disproportionate.
Alyokhina, who has a young son, argued with the judge and cross-examined witnesses during her trial.
Her band mate Nadezhda Tolokonnikova, 23, is serving her sentence in a different prison. Yekaterina Samutsevich, 30, was freed last month when a court suspended her sentence on appeal.
(Additional reporting by Ludmila Danilova and Steve Gutterman; Writing by Nastassia Astrasheuskaya; editing by Jason Webb)
This news article is brought to you by GLOBAL WEATHER NEWS - where latest news are our top priority.
Alyokhina, 24, is serving a two-year sentence for a raucous protest against President Vladimir Putin in Moscow's main Russian Orthodox cathedral. Activists said her trial, and that of two band mates, was part of a crackdown on dissent.
'There was a conflict' between Alyokhina and other inmates and 'she was transferred to a individual cell,' her lawyer Irina Khrunova said by telephone. She said it was not yet clear what caused the conflict.
Prison authorities said Alyokhina was moved at her own request.
'Some tensions arose in relationships and, apparently to prevent this situation from escalating, she decided to submit a request to the prison leadership and they moved her to a one-person cell,' a federal prison service spokeswoman said.
The spokeswoman dismissed Russian media reports Alyokhina argued with inmates over religion at the Ural Mountains prison about 1,150 km (715 miles) northeast of Moscow. Pussy Riot's protest offended many members of Russia's Orthodox Church.
The spokeswoman also said she had no information regarding a report on the tabloid-style Life News website that Alyokhina had received violent threats from cell mates.
Alyokhina's main meal is taken to her cell and she is accompanied by a guard when she leaves it, the spokeswoman said.
Alyokhina and two band mates were convicted in August of hooliganism motivated by religious hatred for their 'punk prayer', which the dominant Russian Orthodox Church has cast as part of a concerted attack on the church and the faithful.
The women said the protest, in which they burst into Christ the Saviour Cathedral and called on the Virgin Mary to rid Russia of Putin, was not motivated by hatred and was meant to mock the church leadership's support for the longtime leader.
Putin, a former KGB officer who has cultivated close ties with the church over 13 years in power, has rejected criticism from the United States and European leaders who called the two-year sentences disproportionate.
Alyokhina, who has a young son, argued with the judge and cross-examined witnesses during her trial.
Her band mate Nadezhda Tolokonnikova, 23, is serving her sentence in a different prison. Yekaterina Samutsevich, 30, was freed last month when a court suspended her sentence on appeal.
(Additional reporting by Ludmila Danilova and Steve Gutterman; Writing by Nastassia Astrasheuskaya; editing by Jason Webb)
This news article is brought to you by GLOBAL WEATHER NEWS - where latest news are our top priority.
Russian female punk rock band protester alone in cell after inmate tension
MOSCOW (Reuters) - Jailed Pussy Riot punk protester Maria Alyokhina has been moved to a single-person cell at her own request because of tensions with follow prisoners, Russia's federal penitentiary service said on Friday.
Alyokhina, 24, is serving a two-year sentence for a raucous protest against President Vladimir Putin in Moscow's main Russian Orthodox cathedral. Activists said her trial, and that of two band mates, was part of a crackdown on dissent.
'Some tensions arose in relationships and, apparently to prevent this situation from escalating, she decided to submit a request to the prison leadership and they moved her to a one-person cell,' a prison service spokeswoman said.
The spokeswoman dismissed Russian media reports Alyokhina argued with inmates over religion at the Ural Mountains prison about 1,150 km (715 miles) northeast of Moscow. Pussy Riot's protest offended many members of Russia's Orthodox Church.
The spokeswoman also said she had no information regarding a report on the tabloid-style Life News website that Alyokhina had received violent threats from cell mates.
Alyokhina's main meal is taken to her cell and she is accompanied by a guard when she leaves it, the spokeswoman said.
Alyokhina and two band mates were convicted in August of hooliganism motivated by religious hatred for their 'punk prayer', which the dominant Russian Orthodox Church has cast as part of a concerted attack on the church and the faithful.
The women said the protest, in which they burst into Christ the Saviour Cathedral and called on the Virgin Mary to rid Russia of Putin, was not motivated by hatred and was meant to mock the church leadership's support for the longtime leader.
Putin, a former KGB officer who has cultivated close ties with the church over 13 years in power, has rejected criticism from the United States and European leaders who called the two-year sentences disproportionate.
Alyokhina, who has a young son, argued with the judge and cross-examined witnesses during her trial.
Her band mate Nadezhda Tolokonnikova, 23, is serving her sentence in a different prison. Yekaterina Samutsevich, 30, was freed last month when a court suspended her sentence on appeal.
(Additional reporting By Ludmila Danilova; Writing by Nastassia Astrasheuskaya; editing by Jason Webb)
This news article is brought to you by GIRLS TEACH DATING - where latest news are our top priority.
Alyokhina, 24, is serving a two-year sentence for a raucous protest against President Vladimir Putin in Moscow's main Russian Orthodox cathedral. Activists said her trial, and that of two band mates, was part of a crackdown on dissent.
'Some tensions arose in relationships and, apparently to prevent this situation from escalating, she decided to submit a request to the prison leadership and they moved her to a one-person cell,' a prison service spokeswoman said.
The spokeswoman dismissed Russian media reports Alyokhina argued with inmates over religion at the Ural Mountains prison about 1,150 km (715 miles) northeast of Moscow. Pussy Riot's protest offended many members of Russia's Orthodox Church.
The spokeswoman also said she had no information regarding a report on the tabloid-style Life News website that Alyokhina had received violent threats from cell mates.
Alyokhina's main meal is taken to her cell and she is accompanied by a guard when she leaves it, the spokeswoman said.
Alyokhina and two band mates were convicted in August of hooliganism motivated by religious hatred for their 'punk prayer', which the dominant Russian Orthodox Church has cast as part of a concerted attack on the church and the faithful.
The women said the protest, in which they burst into Christ the Saviour Cathedral and called on the Virgin Mary to rid Russia of Putin, was not motivated by hatred and was meant to mock the church leadership's support for the longtime leader.
Putin, a former KGB officer who has cultivated close ties with the church over 13 years in power, has rejected criticism from the United States and European leaders who called the two-year sentences disproportionate.
Alyokhina, who has a young son, argued with the judge and cross-examined witnesses during her trial.
Her band mate Nadezhda Tolokonnikova, 23, is serving her sentence in a different prison. Yekaterina Samutsevich, 30, was freed last month when a court suspended her sentence on appeal.
(Additional reporting By Ludmila Danilova; Writing by Nastassia Astrasheuskaya; editing by Jason Webb)
This news article is brought to you by GIRLS TEACH DATING - where latest news are our top priority.
Thursday, November 22, 2012
Russian court throws out Madonna anti-gay compensation claim
ST.PETERSBURG, Russia (Reuters) - A Russian court rejected a $10 million compensation claim against U.S. pop star Madonna on Thursday by a group of anti-gay activists who accused her hurting their feelings by promoting homosexuality at a St.Petersburg concert.
Performing in black lingerie with the words 'No Fear' scrawled on her back, Madonna attacked a city law adopted in March that imposed fines for spreading homosexual 'propaganda'. She had earlier called the law a 'ridiculous atrocity'.
The activists based their case on a video recording where they claimed Madonna could be seen trampling on an Orthodox cross and asking spectators to raise their hands with pink bracelets in support of the gay movement.
Judge Vitaly Barkovsky did not explain his decision but also ruled the activists should compensate legal expenses to companies which organized Madonna's concert. The activists said they will appeal the court ruling.
'Our position is the same. We believe there was a case of the breach of law, namely gay propaganda among minors,' said activist Darya Dedova.
Homosexuality, punished with jail terms in the Soviet Union, was decriminalized in Russia in 1993, but much of the gay community remains underground as prejudice runs deep.
(Reporting by Liza Dobkina; Editing by Jon Hemming)
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Performing in black lingerie with the words 'No Fear' scrawled on her back, Madonna attacked a city law adopted in March that imposed fines for spreading homosexual 'propaganda'. She had earlier called the law a 'ridiculous atrocity'.
The activists based their case on a video recording where they claimed Madonna could be seen trampling on an Orthodox cross and asking spectators to raise their hands with pink bracelets in support of the gay movement.
Judge Vitaly Barkovsky did not explain his decision but also ruled the activists should compensate legal expenses to companies which organized Madonna's concert. The activists said they will appeal the court ruling.
'Our position is the same. We believe there was a case of the breach of law, namely gay propaganda among minors,' said activist Darya Dedova.
Homosexuality, punished with jail terms in the Soviet Union, was decriminalized in Russia in 1993, but much of the gay community remains underground as prejudice runs deep.
(Reporting by Liza Dobkina; Editing by Jon Hemming)
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Wednesday, November 21, 2012
McCartney, Houston, Dylan lead Grammy Hall of Fame inductees
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Music by Paul McCartney, Bob Dylan, Elton John and late singers Whitney Houston and James Brown will be inducted into the 2013 Grammy Hall of Fame, The Recording Academy said on Wednesday.
Paul McCartney & Wings' 1973 album 'Band on the Run,' long credited with reigniting McCartney's career following the Beatles' split in 1970, was one of the 27 new inductees into the Grammy Hall of Fame, on display at the Grammy Museum in downtown Los Angeles.
Houston's self-titled 1985 debut album was also named an inductee, following the singer's sudden death aged 48 in February this year. Australian hard-rock band AC/DC's top-selling 1980 'Back in Black' album was also named a new entry.
The Recording Academy, which also runs the Grammy awards, picks songs and albums from all genres that are at least 25 years old, with either 'qualitative or historical significance' to be considered annually for the Grammy Hall of Fame by a committee.
'Memorable for being both culturally and historically significant, we are proud to add (the 2013 inductees) to our growing catalog of outstanding recordings that have become part of our musical, social and cultural history,' The Recording Academy President and CEO Neil Portnow said in a statement.
As well as albums, the Grammy Hall of Fame also includes songs of historic and cultural significance and the inductees for 2013 see a range of classic American songs.
Iconic Dylan song 'The Times They Are A-Changing' from 1964, R&B singer Ray Charles' 1961 tune 'Hit the Road Jack,' Rat Pack star Frank Sinatra's 1980 'Theme from 'New York, New York'', and 'Godfather of soul' James Brown's 1965 classic 'I Got You (I Feel Good)' were all honored.
Other 2013 inductees include Elton John's 1970 self-titled second album and American debut, Billy Joel's 1973 hit 'The Piano Man' and Willie Mae 'Big Mama' Thornton's 1953 R&B classic 'Hound Dog,' later covered by Elvis Presley.
(Reporting By Eric Kelsey; Editing by Piya Sinha-Roy and Andrew Hay)
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Paul McCartney & Wings' 1973 album 'Band on the Run,' long credited with reigniting McCartney's career following the Beatles' split in 1970, was one of the 27 new inductees into the Grammy Hall of Fame, on display at the Grammy Museum in downtown Los Angeles.
Houston's self-titled 1985 debut album was also named an inductee, following the singer's sudden death aged 48 in February this year. Australian hard-rock band AC/DC's top-selling 1980 'Back in Black' album was also named a new entry.
The Recording Academy, which also runs the Grammy awards, picks songs and albums from all genres that are at least 25 years old, with either 'qualitative or historical significance' to be considered annually for the Grammy Hall of Fame by a committee.
'Memorable for being both culturally and historically significant, we are proud to add (the 2013 inductees) to our growing catalog of outstanding recordings that have become part of our musical, social and cultural history,' The Recording Academy President and CEO Neil Portnow said in a statement.
As well as albums, the Grammy Hall of Fame also includes songs of historic and cultural significance and the inductees for 2013 see a range of classic American songs.
Iconic Dylan song 'The Times They Are A-Changing' from 1964, R&B singer Ray Charles' 1961 tune 'Hit the Road Jack,' Rat Pack star Frank Sinatra's 1980 'Theme from 'New York, New York'', and 'Godfather of soul' James Brown's 1965 classic 'I Got You (I Feel Good)' were all honored.
Other 2013 inductees include Elton John's 1970 self-titled second album and American debut, Billy Joel's 1973 hit 'The Piano Man' and Willie Mae 'Big Mama' Thornton's 1953 R&B classic 'Hound Dog,' later covered by Elvis Presley.
(Reporting By Eric Kelsey; Editing by Piya Sinha-Roy and Andrew Hay)
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Country singer Kristofferson looks to end of road
GENEVA (Reuters) - Kris Kristofferson -- Oxford scholar, athlete, U.S. Army helicopter pilot, country music composer, one-time roustabout, film actor, singer, lover of women, three times a husband and father of eight -- seems ready to meet his maker.
At least, that was the clear impression he left with an audience of middle-aged-and-upwards fans at a concert in Geneva this week, a message underscored by his 28th and latest album, 'Feeling Mortal' and its coffin-dark cover.
At a frail-looking 76, his ample beard more straggly than ever and his always gravel-laden voice gasping out the familiar lyrics of his great classics from 'Bobby McGee' to 'Rainbow Again', the hereafter appears at the front of his mind.
'I've begun to soon descend, like the sun into the sea,' runs the title song of the new CD.
On the stage without backing group in Geneva, the first leg of a solo European tour to promote the disc from his own record company, 'God' trips off his lips like a punctuation mark.
Even the old songs that made him -- as well as other country artists like Willy Nelson, Johnny Cash, and his one-time girl-friend Janis Joplin -- internationally famous, sound shaped by the fading voice to underscore a spiritual dimension.
'Sunday Morning Coming Down' emerges less as an ode to elderly loners facing old age without family and children and more as a call to prepare for the next life.
Religiosity was never that far from Kristofferson, son of a major-general in the U.S. Air Force, grandson of a Swedish army officer and in the 1ate 1950s a Rhodes Scholar in English Literature at England's Oxford University.
CRUCIFIXION
In the 1971 'Jesus was a Capricorn' he predicts the Christian savior would be crucified again if he came back preaching peace and love among all races and creeds.
In the new album, 'Ramblin' Jack' is semi-autobiographical -- a song about a wandering singer 'with a face like a tumbled-down shack' of 'wild and righteous, wicked ways' who 'ain't afraid of where he's goin'.'
Kristofferson is adored by many believers, probably the vast majority of U.S. country fans and performers. But his fans among the unreligious and the atheists were also happy just to relish the poetry of his lyrics and the idiosyncrasy of his voice.
In Geneva, despite its Calvinist past as secular today as any major European city, the ageing 1,000-odd audience in a theatre seating twice that number, were certainly ready to enjoy anything he gave them.
They cheered and applauded his political declaration, an aside injected after a song line: 'nobody wins.' 'But somebody has just won. Obama won, so the whole world has won!' he rasped, waving his electric guitar in the air.
SELF-MOCKERY
They loved his self-mockery when, overcome briefly by a sniffle and pulling a blue bandana -- cousin of the red one in 'Bobby McGee'? -- from his jeans pocket, he asked them if they minded having paid $100 'to watch an old fart blow his nose.'
And they laughed with him when -- in the full flood of lyrics on the pleasure of being around 'a lot of lovely girls in the best of all possible worlds -- he confided: 'I wrote this song a LONG time ago.'
His 22-year-old angel-faced daughter Kelly, a banjoist and vocalist, joined him on stage for a handful of numbers, while in the hall outside son Jesse manned a stall selling the new CD and the black 'Feeling Mortal Tour' t-shirts.
Children -- their dreams and the dreams of their parents for them -- have also long been a central theme of his music.
'I wrote this for my little girl,' he says of a father's song pledging he will be 'forever there' for a daughter through life, and after. 'Spread your wings,' he tells her.
More prosaically, he recalls a rebuke from Jesse at age five over his 1970s hit: 'The Silver-Tongued Devil': 'That's a bad song. You're blaming all your troubles on someone else.'
After the concert, the Kristofferson family left for Zurich and Vienna to continue the tour. 'This may be our last goodbye,' he sang in a final song. 'We may not pass this way again.'
'We'll miss you,' called a voice from the audience.
(Reported by Robert Evans)
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At least, that was the clear impression he left with an audience of middle-aged-and-upwards fans at a concert in Geneva this week, a message underscored by his 28th and latest album, 'Feeling Mortal' and its coffin-dark cover.
At a frail-looking 76, his ample beard more straggly than ever and his always gravel-laden voice gasping out the familiar lyrics of his great classics from 'Bobby McGee' to 'Rainbow Again', the hereafter appears at the front of his mind.
'I've begun to soon descend, like the sun into the sea,' runs the title song of the new CD.
On the stage without backing group in Geneva, the first leg of a solo European tour to promote the disc from his own record company, 'God' trips off his lips like a punctuation mark.
Even the old songs that made him -- as well as other country artists like Willy Nelson, Johnny Cash, and his one-time girl-friend Janis Joplin -- internationally famous, sound shaped by the fading voice to underscore a spiritual dimension.
'Sunday Morning Coming Down' emerges less as an ode to elderly loners facing old age without family and children and more as a call to prepare for the next life.
Religiosity was never that far from Kristofferson, son of a major-general in the U.S. Air Force, grandson of a Swedish army officer and in the 1ate 1950s a Rhodes Scholar in English Literature at England's Oxford University.
CRUCIFIXION
In the 1971 'Jesus was a Capricorn' he predicts the Christian savior would be crucified again if he came back preaching peace and love among all races and creeds.
In the new album, 'Ramblin' Jack' is semi-autobiographical -- a song about a wandering singer 'with a face like a tumbled-down shack' of 'wild and righteous, wicked ways' who 'ain't afraid of where he's goin'.'
Kristofferson is adored by many believers, probably the vast majority of U.S. country fans and performers. But his fans among the unreligious and the atheists were also happy just to relish the poetry of his lyrics and the idiosyncrasy of his voice.
In Geneva, despite its Calvinist past as secular today as any major European city, the ageing 1,000-odd audience in a theatre seating twice that number, were certainly ready to enjoy anything he gave them.
They cheered and applauded his political declaration, an aside injected after a song line: 'nobody wins.' 'But somebody has just won. Obama won, so the whole world has won!' he rasped, waving his electric guitar in the air.
SELF-MOCKERY
They loved his self-mockery when, overcome briefly by a sniffle and pulling a blue bandana -- cousin of the red one in 'Bobby McGee'? -- from his jeans pocket, he asked them if they minded having paid $100 'to watch an old fart blow his nose.'
And they laughed with him when -- in the full flood of lyrics on the pleasure of being around 'a lot of lovely girls in the best of all possible worlds -- he confided: 'I wrote this song a LONG time ago.'
His 22-year-old angel-faced daughter Kelly, a banjoist and vocalist, joined him on stage for a handful of numbers, while in the hall outside son Jesse manned a stall selling the new CD and the black 'Feeling Mortal Tour' t-shirts.
Children -- their dreams and the dreams of their parents for them -- have also long been a central theme of his music.
'I wrote this for my little girl,' he says of a father's song pledging he will be 'forever there' for a daughter through life, and after. 'Spread your wings,' he tells her.
More prosaically, he recalls a rebuke from Jesse at age five over his 1970s hit: 'The Silver-Tongued Devil': 'That's a bad song. You're blaming all your troubles on someone else.'
After the concert, the Kristofferson family left for Zurich and Vienna to continue the tour. 'This may be our last goodbye,' he sang in a final song. 'We may not pass this way again.'
'We'll miss you,' called a voice from the audience.
(Reported by Robert Evans)
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Monday, November 19, 2012
Aussie rockers AC/DC's music to be sold on iTunes
NEW YORK (Reuters) - AC/DC'S entire catalogue, including 20 studio and live albums and three compilations will be available on iTunes for the first time worldwide, Columbia Records and Apple said on Monday.
Until now the Australian heavy metal group that was formed by two brothers, Angus and Malcolm Young, in 1973, had refused to put their music on Apple Inc's online music store.
'AC/DC's thunderous and primal rock and roll has excited fans for generations with their raw and rebellious brand of music, which also resonates with millions of new fans discovering AC/DC everyday,' Columbia Records and Apple, said in a statement announcing the deal.
'Their growing legion of fans will now experience the intensity of AC/DC's music in a way that has never been heard before,' they added.
The group's 1976 debut album 'High Voltage,' its classic 'Back In Black' and 2008's 'Black Ice' are among the albums available on iTunes.
All the of music has been mastered for iTunes and fans can download entire albums or individual songs.
(Reporting by Patricia Reaney; editing by Paul Casciato)
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Until now the Australian heavy metal group that was formed by two brothers, Angus and Malcolm Young, in 1973, had refused to put their music on Apple Inc's online music store.
'AC/DC's thunderous and primal rock and roll has excited fans for generations with their raw and rebellious brand of music, which also resonates with millions of new fans discovering AC/DC everyday,' Columbia Records and Apple, said in a statement announcing the deal.
'Their growing legion of fans will now experience the intensity of AC/DC's music in a way that has never been heard before,' they added.
The group's 1976 debut album 'High Voltage,' its classic 'Back In Black' and 2008's 'Black Ice' are among the albums available on iTunes.
All the of music has been mastered for iTunes and fans can download entire albums or individual songs.
(Reporting by Patricia Reaney; editing by Paul Casciato)
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Bieber sweeps American Music Awards with big wins
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Canadian pop star Justin Bieber swept the American Music Awards on Sunday, topping strong competition from Rihanna and Nicki Minaj, and sending newcomers British boybands One Direction and The Wanted home empty-handed.
Bieber, 18, won all three categories in which he was nominated, including the night's biggest award, artist of the year, over Rihanna, Katy Perry, Maroon 5 and Drake.
'This is for all the haters who thought that maybe I was just here for one or two years, but I feel like I am going to be here for a very long time,' Bieber said on stage, dedicating his first win of the night to his mother, Pattie Mallette, who accompanied him after his widely reported split from girlfriend Selena Gomez.
'It's hard growing up with everything going on, with everyone watching me. I wanted to say that as long as you guys keep believing in me, I want to always make you proud,' Bieber said at the end of the night.
Bieber, who also won favorite pop/rock male artist and favorite pop/rock album for 'Believe,' took to a bare stage to sing an acoustic stripped-down version of his latest single 'As Long As You Love Me' before livening up the show with Nicki Minaj for 'Beauty and a Beat.'
The American Music Award nominees and winners are voted online by fans, and the awards are handed out during a live three-hour broadcast featuring performances by artists.
R&B singer Rihanna, 24, and rapper Minaj, 29, led the nominees going into Sunday's awards with four apiece.
Minaj won favorite rap/hip hop artist and rap/hip hop album of the year for 'Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded.' The singer, known for her extravagant on-stage performances, sang her latest hit 'Freedom' in a winter wonderland-themed set.
Rihanna came away with one win. She couldn't make the show because she is in Berlin, midway through a seven-day tour across seven cities around the world promoting her upcoming 'Unapologetic' album.
Canadian pop singer Carly Rae Jepsen, 26, picked up the coveted new artist-of-the-year award over One Direction, Australian artist Gotye, indie-pop band fun. and rapper J. Cole. She performed her hit 'Call Me Maybe.'
'I am floored,' the singer said, thanking Bieber along with her fans in her acceptance speech.
ELECTRONIC DANCE MUSIC AWARD
Newcomer British-Irish boy bands One Direction, which had three nominations, and The Wanted, which had one nomination, went home empty-handed, losing out in the favorite pop/rock group category to well-established Los Angeles group Maroon 5.
French DJ David Guetta won the first-ever American Music Award for electronic dance music over DJs Calvin Harris and Skrillex.
'It's wonderful also to see electronic music recognized at this level in the U.S.,' Guetta said in a taped acceptance speech.
Only 13 of the 20 awards were handed out during the live broadcast. Katy Perry was named favorite female pop/rock artist, Shakira was named favorite Latin artist, while Beyonce was voted favorite soul artist. None of the three attended the show.
Country-pop darling Taylor Swift, 22, scored the favorite female country artist award before performing her latest single 'I Knew You Were Trouble' from her chart-topping album 'Red,' on a masquerade ballroom-style stage with dancers in tuxedos, gowns and Venetian masks.
R&B star Usher kicked off the night with a medley of his hits on a laser-filled stage, while pop-rocker Pink teamed her performance of her latest single 'Try' with a dramatic interpretive dance covered in paint with a male dancer on a stage filled with burning debris.
1990s ska-punk band No Doubt performed 'Looking Hot' from their first album in a decade, 'Push & Shove,' while rockers Linkin Park performed their latest 'Burn It Down' after winning favorite alternative rock band over The Black Keys and Gotye.
Korean rapper Psy didn't score any nominations, but he was named the AMA new media honoree for his viral hit music video 'Gangnam Style,' accompanied by his trademark horse-riding dance.
The star closed out the show with his hit song, joined by surprise guest MC Hammer, one of the pioneering rappers from the 1980s, who was known for his catch phrase 'Hammer Time.'
Singer Brandy paid tribute to the late Whitney Houston, who died suddenly at age 48 on the night before the Grammy Awards in February this year from accidental drowning.
AMA founder Dick Clark, who also passed away earlier this year, was given a touching tribute by veteran soul singer Stevie Wonder, who sang a medley of hits including 'Hotter Than July' and 'My Cherie Amour,' against a backdrop of pictures of Clark. Wonder was introduced by 'American Idol' host Ryan Seacrest, who also paid homage to Clark's influence.
'Dick loved the power of music and the ability to create pure joy,' Seacrest said.
The awards show, which marked its 40th anniversary this year, treated the audience to some of its greatest moments, including R&B star Beyonce performing 'Single Ladies' at the 2008 show, Will Smith and DJ Jazzy Jeff at the 1989 awards show, and various clips of AMA regular, the late singer Michael Jackson.
(Additional reporting by Jill Serjeant, editing by Christine Kearney and Philip Barbara)
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Bieber, 18, won all three categories in which he was nominated, including the night's biggest award, artist of the year, over Rihanna, Katy Perry, Maroon 5 and Drake.
'This is for all the haters who thought that maybe I was just here for one or two years, but I feel like I am going to be here for a very long time,' Bieber said on stage, dedicating his first win of the night to his mother, Pattie Mallette, who accompanied him after his widely reported split from girlfriend Selena Gomez.
'It's hard growing up with everything going on, with everyone watching me. I wanted to say that as long as you guys keep believing in me, I want to always make you proud,' Bieber said at the end of the night.
Bieber, who also won favorite pop/rock male artist and favorite pop/rock album for 'Believe,' took to a bare stage to sing an acoustic stripped-down version of his latest single 'As Long As You Love Me' before livening up the show with Nicki Minaj for 'Beauty and a Beat.'
The American Music Award nominees and winners are voted online by fans, and the awards are handed out during a live three-hour broadcast featuring performances by artists.
R&B singer Rihanna, 24, and rapper Minaj, 29, led the nominees going into Sunday's awards with four apiece.
Minaj won favorite rap/hip hop artist and rap/hip hop album of the year for 'Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded.' The singer, known for her extravagant on-stage performances, sang her latest hit 'Freedom' in a winter wonderland-themed set.
Rihanna came away with one win. She couldn't make the show because she is in Berlin, midway through a seven-day tour across seven cities around the world promoting her upcoming 'Unapologetic' album.
Canadian pop singer Carly Rae Jepsen, 26, picked up the coveted new artist-of-the-year award over One Direction, Australian artist Gotye, indie-pop band fun. and rapper J. Cole. She performed her hit 'Call Me Maybe.'
'I am floored,' the singer said, thanking Bieber along with her fans in her acceptance speech.
ELECTRONIC DANCE MUSIC AWARD
Newcomer British-Irish boy bands One Direction, which had three nominations, and The Wanted, which had one nomination, went home empty-handed, losing out in the favorite pop/rock group category to well-established Los Angeles group Maroon 5.
French DJ David Guetta won the first-ever American Music Award for electronic dance music over DJs Calvin Harris and Skrillex.
'It's wonderful also to see electronic music recognized at this level in the U.S.,' Guetta said in a taped acceptance speech.
Only 13 of the 20 awards were handed out during the live broadcast. Katy Perry was named favorite female pop/rock artist, Shakira was named favorite Latin artist, while Beyonce was voted favorite soul artist. None of the three attended the show.
Country-pop darling Taylor Swift, 22, scored the favorite female country artist award before performing her latest single 'I Knew You Were Trouble' from her chart-topping album 'Red,' on a masquerade ballroom-style stage with dancers in tuxedos, gowns and Venetian masks.
R&B star Usher kicked off the night with a medley of his hits on a laser-filled stage, while pop-rocker Pink teamed her performance of her latest single 'Try' with a dramatic interpretive dance covered in paint with a male dancer on a stage filled with burning debris.
1990s ska-punk band No Doubt performed 'Looking Hot' from their first album in a decade, 'Push & Shove,' while rockers Linkin Park performed their latest 'Burn It Down' after winning favorite alternative rock band over The Black Keys and Gotye.
Korean rapper Psy didn't score any nominations, but he was named the AMA new media honoree for his viral hit music video 'Gangnam Style,' accompanied by his trademark horse-riding dance.
The star closed out the show with his hit song, joined by surprise guest MC Hammer, one of the pioneering rappers from the 1980s, who was known for his catch phrase 'Hammer Time.'
Singer Brandy paid tribute to the late Whitney Houston, who died suddenly at age 48 on the night before the Grammy Awards in February this year from accidental drowning.
AMA founder Dick Clark, who also passed away earlier this year, was given a touching tribute by veteran soul singer Stevie Wonder, who sang a medley of hits including 'Hotter Than July' and 'My Cherie Amour,' against a backdrop of pictures of Clark. Wonder was introduced by 'American Idol' host Ryan Seacrest, who also paid homage to Clark's influence.
'Dick loved the power of music and the ability to create pure joy,' Seacrest said.
The awards show, which marked its 40th anniversary this year, treated the audience to some of its greatest moments, including R&B star Beyonce performing 'Single Ladies' at the 2008 show, Will Smith and DJ Jazzy Jeff at the 1989 awards show, and various clips of AMA regular, the late singer Michael Jackson.
(Additional reporting by Jill Serjeant, editing by Christine Kearney and Philip Barbara)
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Sunday, November 18, 2012
One Direction top British single and album charts
LONDON (Reuters) - Boy band One Direction topped Britain's singles and album charts on Sunday, outselling new releases from rock veterans Rod Stewart and the Rolling Stones, the Official Charts Company said.
The English-Irish quintet shot to number one in the album charts with 'Take Me Home', with one of its tracks, 'Little Things', also taking first place in the singles rankings.
Singer Rod Stewart had to settle for number two for his new collection of seasonal classics 'Merry Christmas Baby', while the Rolling Stones were third with their 50th anniversary compilation 'GRRR!'.
Also new in the album lists were British tenor Alfie Boe at number six with 'Storyteller', while American punk band Green Day entered in tenth place with '¡Dos!'.
American singer Bruno Mars took second place in the singles charts with 'Locked Out Of Heaven', just ahead of 'DNA' at number three from British girl group Little Mix.
(Reporting by Tim Castle; Editing by Will Waterman)
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The English-Irish quintet shot to number one in the album charts with 'Take Me Home', with one of its tracks, 'Little Things', also taking first place in the singles rankings.
Singer Rod Stewart had to settle for number two for his new collection of seasonal classics 'Merry Christmas Baby', while the Rolling Stones were third with their 50th anniversary compilation 'GRRR!'.
Also new in the album lists were British tenor Alfie Boe at number six with 'Storyteller', while American punk band Green Day entered in tenth place with '¡Dos!'.
American singer Bruno Mars took second place in the singles charts with 'Locked Out Of Heaven', just ahead of 'DNA' at number three from British girl group Little Mix.
(Reporting by Tim Castle; Editing by Will Waterman)
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Friday, November 16, 2012
Juanes, Jesse & Joy take home top Latin Grammys
LAS VEGAS (Reuters) - Colombian rocker Juanes and the Mexican brother and sister pop duo Jesse & Joy took home the top Latin Grammys on Thursday in Las Vegas on a night in which the contemporary triumphed over the traditional.
Juanes, one of the most well known Latin American stars worldwide, won the coveted album of the year with his 'MTV Unplugged,' which also won best long-form video. Dominican singer and songwriter Juan Luis Guerra won producer of the year for Juanes' album.
'Here's to the maestro Juan Luis Guerra for making this possible,' said Juanes, 40, who now has won 19 Latin Grammys, tying him with reggaeton group Calle 13 for the most awards.
Guerra, who made the romantic Bachata music famous and is known to sweep the awards from the Latin Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences, led the nominations with six nods this year. But he lost out on the big awards for record and song of the year with his 'En El Cielo No Hay Hospital' (In Heaven There Is No Hospital).
Those two awards went to 'Corre!' (Run!) by Jesse & Joy, the duo from Mexico City who won best new artists in the same Las Vegas venue in 2007. Their third studio album Con Quien Se Queda El Perro? (Who Is The Dog Staying With?) lost out on album of the year, but won best contemporary pop vocal album.
'Viva Mexico!,' said Jesse upon accepting record of the year, a phrase repeated several times by winners at the 13th edition of the Latin Grammys Thursday night.
Like Jesse & Joy five years earlier, Mexican pop group 3BallMTY won best new artists with their musical style known as 'tribal guarachero,' a mix of Mexican cumbia and electronic dance music.
The trio, barely beyond their teenage years, found success on both sides of the U.S.-Mexico border with their debut album 'Intentalo' (Try It). They dedicated their Latin Grammy to Mexican DJs.
Mexico's Carla Morrison won best alternative music album with 'Dejenme Llorar' (Let Me Cry). Wearing a red dress and sporting multiple tattoos on her arms, she let loose an expletive on the live broadcast after crying out 'Viva Mexico!'
Among the top performances of the night were Juanes playing with veteran guitarrist Carlos Santana. The show opened with Miami-born rapper Pitbull, who sings in both English and Spanish.
Brazilian singer and songwriter Caetano Veloso was honored as the Latin Recording Academy's person of the year in a ceremony on Wednesday. A founder of the 1960s musical movement known as Tropicalia, Veloso continues to to be one of Brazil's most popular and innovative artists at 70 years of age.
(Writing by Mary Milliken; Editing by Lisa Shumaker)
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Juanes, one of the most well known Latin American stars worldwide, won the coveted album of the year with his 'MTV Unplugged,' which also won best long-form video. Dominican singer and songwriter Juan Luis Guerra won producer of the year for Juanes' album.
'Here's to the maestro Juan Luis Guerra for making this possible,' said Juanes, 40, who now has won 19 Latin Grammys, tying him with reggaeton group Calle 13 for the most awards.
Guerra, who made the romantic Bachata music famous and is known to sweep the awards from the Latin Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences, led the nominations with six nods this year. But he lost out on the big awards for record and song of the year with his 'En El Cielo No Hay Hospital' (In Heaven There Is No Hospital).
Those two awards went to 'Corre!' (Run!) by Jesse & Joy, the duo from Mexico City who won best new artists in the same Las Vegas venue in 2007. Their third studio album Con Quien Se Queda El Perro? (Who Is The Dog Staying With?) lost out on album of the year, but won best contemporary pop vocal album.
'Viva Mexico!,' said Jesse upon accepting record of the year, a phrase repeated several times by winners at the 13th edition of the Latin Grammys Thursday night.
Like Jesse & Joy five years earlier, Mexican pop group 3BallMTY won best new artists with their musical style known as 'tribal guarachero,' a mix of Mexican cumbia and electronic dance music.
The trio, barely beyond their teenage years, found success on both sides of the U.S.-Mexico border with their debut album 'Intentalo' (Try It). They dedicated their Latin Grammy to Mexican DJs.
Mexico's Carla Morrison won best alternative music album with 'Dejenme Llorar' (Let Me Cry). Wearing a red dress and sporting multiple tattoos on her arms, she let loose an expletive on the live broadcast after crying out 'Viva Mexico!'
Among the top performances of the night were Juanes playing with veteran guitarrist Carlos Santana. The show opened with Miami-born rapper Pitbull, who sings in both English and Spanish.
Brazilian singer and songwriter Caetano Veloso was honored as the Latin Recording Academy's person of the year in a ceremony on Wednesday. A founder of the 1960s musical movement known as Tropicalia, Veloso continues to to be one of Brazil's most popular and innovative artists at 70 years of age.
(Writing by Mary Milliken; Editing by Lisa Shumaker)
This news article is brought to you by FREE ROMANTIC DATING SITE BLOG - where latest news are our top priority.
Thursday, November 15, 2012
Psy, Drake, Gotye join American Music Awards birthday bash
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - The American Music Awards rings in its 40th year on Sunday, with top nominees like Rihanna and Nicki Minaj battling for the top trophies and Stevie Wonder leading a tribute to the show's late founder, Dick Clark.
Variety is the key to this year's three-hour ceremony from Los Angeles, with performers including Canadian pop star Justin Bieber, 1990s ska-punk band No Doubt, alt-rockers Linkin Park, country-pop darling Taylor Swift, Korean Internet sensation Psy and British-Irish boyband The Wanted.
'The AMAs reflects pop culture, which is all forms of music, all genres, pop, rock, country, hip hop, alternative ... all these things that normally don't together. It's our job to make it flow,' producer Larry Klein told Reuters.
R&B star Rihanna, 24, and Minaj, 29, tied for the most nominations this year, with four apiece, and will battle each other in the hotly contested female pop-rock category.
Rihanna will also face stiff competition for the top award of the night, the artist of the year accolade, where she will compete with Bieber, Katy Perry, Maroon 5 and Drake.
The new artist category is expected to be a tight race between rapper J. Cole, indie-pop band fun., Australian singer Gotye, British boyband One Direction and Canadian popstar Carly Rae Jepsen, who will also be performing on Sunday. The ceremony will be shown live on ABC Television.
Unlike the Grammy Awards, which are decided on by music producers, songwriters and others working in the industry, the American Music Awards are determined by fans.
'It's the public who watches, who decides, who votes. This is an awards show where the public decides the nominees and winners, so our shows are more about pop culture,' Klein said.
This year sees a new category for the growing electronic dance music market, which Klein said he couldn't ignore. DJs David Guetta, Skrillex and Calvin Harris will compete for the trophy.
REMEMBERING DICK CLARK
This is the first time Klein will be running the show without the input of influential music and TV producer Dick Clark, who died in April at the age of 82. Clark created the American Music Awards in 1973 as an alternative to the Grammys, and Klein said his absence felt bizarre.
'Last year, he loved the show, he was very happy. He loved LMFAO when they closed the show, it was all a fun party of music, dance music, Dick loved it,' Klein said.
Clark, who also hosted 'American Bandstand' and 'New Year's Rockin' Eve,' will be remembered on Sunday in a tribute led by Wonder and 'American Idol' host Ryan Seacrest.
'I wanted to make it classy, elegant and meaningful, with something that truly summoned the relationship that Dick had with so many people,' said Klein, who has been involved in the show since its inception.
Klein said the show will look back on its 40-year history, showcasing some of its most memorable moments. Klein's personal picks included performances from late singer Michael Jackson, funk-pop star Prince, and Jay-Z and Alicia Keys' rendition in 2009 of 'Empire State of Mind.'
'I was very close to Michael Jackson, so every time Michael was on the show, it always made me happy. The Prince number we did was outrageous, Jay-Z and Alicia Keys...it really was epic, it was just extraordinary,' Klein said.
With more than fifteen individual performances, or 'mini-shows' scheduled for Sunday, Klein said audiences can expect surprises.
'Live TV is the best, it's unpredictable. Without a doubt there will be some unpredictable moments, I promise you,' the producer said.
(Reporting By Piya Sinha-Roy, editing by Jill Serjeant)
This news article is brought to you by TECHNOLOGY NEWS - where latest news are our top priority.
Variety is the key to this year's three-hour ceremony from Los Angeles, with performers including Canadian pop star Justin Bieber, 1990s ska-punk band No Doubt, alt-rockers Linkin Park, country-pop darling Taylor Swift, Korean Internet sensation Psy and British-Irish boyband The Wanted.
'The AMAs reflects pop culture, which is all forms of music, all genres, pop, rock, country, hip hop, alternative ... all these things that normally don't together. It's our job to make it flow,' producer Larry Klein told Reuters.
R&B star Rihanna, 24, and Minaj, 29, tied for the most nominations this year, with four apiece, and will battle each other in the hotly contested female pop-rock category.
Rihanna will also face stiff competition for the top award of the night, the artist of the year accolade, where she will compete with Bieber, Katy Perry, Maroon 5 and Drake.
The new artist category is expected to be a tight race between rapper J. Cole, indie-pop band fun., Australian singer Gotye, British boyband One Direction and Canadian popstar Carly Rae Jepsen, who will also be performing on Sunday. The ceremony will be shown live on ABC Television.
Unlike the Grammy Awards, which are decided on by music producers, songwriters and others working in the industry, the American Music Awards are determined by fans.
'It's the public who watches, who decides, who votes. This is an awards show where the public decides the nominees and winners, so our shows are more about pop culture,' Klein said.
This year sees a new category for the growing electronic dance music market, which Klein said he couldn't ignore. DJs David Guetta, Skrillex and Calvin Harris will compete for the trophy.
REMEMBERING DICK CLARK
This is the first time Klein will be running the show without the input of influential music and TV producer Dick Clark, who died in April at the age of 82. Clark created the American Music Awards in 1973 as an alternative to the Grammys, and Klein said his absence felt bizarre.
'Last year, he loved the show, he was very happy. He loved LMFAO when they closed the show, it was all a fun party of music, dance music, Dick loved it,' Klein said.
Clark, who also hosted 'American Bandstand' and 'New Year's Rockin' Eve,' will be remembered on Sunday in a tribute led by Wonder and 'American Idol' host Ryan Seacrest.
'I wanted to make it classy, elegant and meaningful, with something that truly summoned the relationship that Dick had with so many people,' said Klein, who has been involved in the show since its inception.
Klein said the show will look back on its 40-year history, showcasing some of its most memorable moments. Klein's personal picks included performances from late singer Michael Jackson, funk-pop star Prince, and Jay-Z and Alicia Keys' rendition in 2009 of 'Empire State of Mind.'
'I was very close to Michael Jackson, so every time Michael was on the show, it always made me happy. The Prince number we did was outrageous, Jay-Z and Alicia Keys...it really was epic, it was just extraordinary,' Klein said.
With more than fifteen individual performances, or 'mini-shows' scheduled for Sunday, Klein said audiences can expect surprises.
'Live TV is the best, it's unpredictable. Without a doubt there will be some unpredictable moments, I promise you,' the producer said.
(Reporting By Piya Sinha-Roy, editing by Jill Serjeant)
This news article is brought to you by TECHNOLOGY NEWS - where latest news are our top priority.
Wednesday, November 14, 2012
Judge throws out Justin Bieber paparazzo chase case
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Criminal charges filed against a photographer who pursued teen pop star Justin Bieber at high speeds on a Los Angeles freeway in July were thrown out on Wednesday, striking a blow to California's crackdown on overly aggressive paparazzi.
Celebrity photographer Paul Raef was the first person to be prosecuted under the state's 2010 law that criminalizes dangerous driving when taking photos commercially.
Raef was charged in July with two counts of violating the law stemming from a July 6 incident on a freeway in Los Angeles' San Fernando Valley.
Dismissing the charges, Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Thomas Robinson called the state's anti-paparazzi law 'problematic' and 'overly inclusive.'
The law 'sweeps very widely and would increase the penalties for reckless driving' in unintended cases, Robinson said.
Robinson faulted the law's vague definition of commercial photography, saying that it could also apply to a photographer who was speeding to reach an arranged photo shoot with Bieber.
Raef could have faced up to a year in prison and $3,500 in fines, if convicted. His attorney, Brad Kaiserman, said the law is 'about protecting celebrities.'
A message left with Bieber's publicist requesting comment was not immediately returned.
Raef still faces lesser charges of misdemeanor reckless driving and failing to obey police orders after he allegedly pursued Bieber, 18, at high speeds. He will be tried on those charges at a later date.
Bieber, who was pulled over by police for driving 80 miles per hour in a 65 mph zone, told officers at the time that he was being hounded by paparazzi, and police said they noticed Raef's car following the 'Boyfriend' singer.
About 30 minutes after the traffic stop, Bieber called police to report that Raef continued to follow him. Police later found Raef and other paparazzi together in downtown Los Angeles.
The Canadian singer received a speeding ticket at the time.
(Reporting By Eric Kelsey, editing by Jill Serjeant and Sandra Maler)
This news article is brought to you by GLAMOROUS FASHION NEWS - where latest news are our top priority.
Celebrity photographer Paul Raef was the first person to be prosecuted under the state's 2010 law that criminalizes dangerous driving when taking photos commercially.
Raef was charged in July with two counts of violating the law stemming from a July 6 incident on a freeway in Los Angeles' San Fernando Valley.
Dismissing the charges, Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Thomas Robinson called the state's anti-paparazzi law 'problematic' and 'overly inclusive.'
The law 'sweeps very widely and would increase the penalties for reckless driving' in unintended cases, Robinson said.
Robinson faulted the law's vague definition of commercial photography, saying that it could also apply to a photographer who was speeding to reach an arranged photo shoot with Bieber.
Raef could have faced up to a year in prison and $3,500 in fines, if convicted. His attorney, Brad Kaiserman, said the law is 'about protecting celebrities.'
A message left with Bieber's publicist requesting comment was not immediately returned.
Raef still faces lesser charges of misdemeanor reckless driving and failing to obey police orders after he allegedly pursued Bieber, 18, at high speeds. He will be tried on those charges at a later date.
Bieber, who was pulled over by police for driving 80 miles per hour in a 65 mph zone, told officers at the time that he was being hounded by paparazzi, and police said they noticed Raef's car following the 'Boyfriend' singer.
About 30 minutes after the traffic stop, Bieber called police to report that Raef continued to follow him. Police later found Raef and other paparazzi together in downtown Los Angeles.
The Canadian singer received a speeding ticket at the time.
(Reporting By Eric Kelsey, editing by Jill Serjeant and Sandra Maler)
This news article is brought to you by GLAMOROUS FASHION NEWS - where latest news are our top priority.
Billy Joel, Rihanna fight Pandora over compensation
(Reuters) - Some of music's most notable names including Billy Joel, Rihanna and Missy Elliott have signed an open letter to Pandora Media Inc opposing the online music company's push to change how artists are compensated.
Pandora is currently lobbying lawmakers in U.S. Congress to pass the 'Internet Radio Fairness Act,' which would change regulation of how royalties are paid to artists.
A group of 125 musicians who say they are fans of Pandora argue the bill would cut by 85 percent the amount of money an artist receives when his or her songs are played over the Internet.
'Why is the company asking Congress once again to step in and gut the royalties that thousands of musicians rely upon? That's not fair and that's not how partners work together,' said the letter, to be published this weekend in Billboard, the influential music industry magazine.
A statement with an advance copy of the letter was released on Wednesday by musicFirst, a coalition of musicians and business people, and SoundExchange, a nonprofit organization that collects royalties set by Congress on behalf of musicians.
'Internet radio and the artists whose music is played and listened to on the Internet are indeed all in this together,' Tim Westergren, Pandora's founder and chief strategy officer, said in a statement.
'A sustainable Internet radio industry will benefit all artists, big and small.'
FLASHPOINT
The issue of how musicians are paid for Internet streaming of their songs has been a flashpoint for Pandora.
Pandora is a mostly advertising-supported online music company, founded more than a decade ago, that streams songs through the Internet. In October, it said its share of total U.S. radio listening was almost 7 percent, up from about 4 percent during the same period last year.
Pandora's success has been double-edged - the more customers it gains, the more money it has to pay overall for rights to stream music.
So far, that rate is set until 2015.
Pandora, along with other music services such as Clear Channel Communications, is supporting the bill on grounds that different providers, such as satellite and cable, pay different rates.
'The current law penalizes new media and is astonishingly unfair to Internet radio,' Pandora said on its website.
'We are asking for our listeners' support to help end the discrimination against internet radio. It's time for Congress to stop picking winners, level the playing field and establish a technology-neutral standard.'
The Internet Radio Fairness Act is a bipartisan bill sponsored by U.S. representatives Jason Chaffetz and Jared Polis along with Sen. Ron Wyden.
Shares of Pandora closed 4.6 percent lower at $7.31 on the New York Stock Exchange on Wednesday.
(Reporting by Jennifer Saba in New York; editing by Matthew Lewis)
This news article is brought to you by TECHNOLOGY NEWS - where latest news are our top priority.
Pandora is currently lobbying lawmakers in U.S. Congress to pass the 'Internet Radio Fairness Act,' which would change regulation of how royalties are paid to artists.
A group of 125 musicians who say they are fans of Pandora argue the bill would cut by 85 percent the amount of money an artist receives when his or her songs are played over the Internet.
'Why is the company asking Congress once again to step in and gut the royalties that thousands of musicians rely upon? That's not fair and that's not how partners work together,' said the letter, to be published this weekend in Billboard, the influential music industry magazine.
A statement with an advance copy of the letter was released on Wednesday by musicFirst, a coalition of musicians and business people, and SoundExchange, a nonprofit organization that collects royalties set by Congress on behalf of musicians.
'Internet radio and the artists whose music is played and listened to on the Internet are indeed all in this together,' Tim Westergren, Pandora's founder and chief strategy officer, said in a statement.
'A sustainable Internet radio industry will benefit all artists, big and small.'
FLASHPOINT
The issue of how musicians are paid for Internet streaming of their songs has been a flashpoint for Pandora.
Pandora is a mostly advertising-supported online music company, founded more than a decade ago, that streams songs through the Internet. In October, it said its share of total U.S. radio listening was almost 7 percent, up from about 4 percent during the same period last year.
Pandora's success has been double-edged - the more customers it gains, the more money it has to pay overall for rights to stream music.
So far, that rate is set until 2015.
Pandora, along with other music services such as Clear Channel Communications, is supporting the bill on grounds that different providers, such as satellite and cable, pay different rates.
'The current law penalizes new media and is astonishingly unfair to Internet radio,' Pandora said on its website.
'We are asking for our listeners' support to help end the discrimination against internet radio. It's time for Congress to stop picking winners, level the playing field and establish a technology-neutral standard.'
The Internet Radio Fairness Act is a bipartisan bill sponsored by U.S. representatives Jason Chaffetz and Jared Polis along with Sen. Ron Wyden.
Shares of Pandora closed 4.6 percent lower at $7.31 on the New York Stock Exchange on Wednesday.
(Reporting by Jennifer Saba in New York; editing by Matthew Lewis)
This news article is brought to you by TECHNOLOGY NEWS - where latest news are our top priority.
Wakeman reworks rock epic Journey to Centre of Earth
LONDON (Reuters) - The story behind the upcoming re-issue of Rick Wakeman's 1974 concept album 'Journey to the Center of the Earth' sounds almost as unlikely as the Jules Verne tale that inspired it.
Progressive rock veteran Wakeman had presumed the original orchestration to his chart-topping disc was lost for good when his record company MAM, where the manuscripts had been stored in boxes, was brought to its knees in the early 1980s.
Although he could have re-orchestrated the work from the original album, recorded live at the Royal Festival Hall in London in 1974, Wakeman knew it would be far from perfect.
And the original score was 55 minutes long whereas the 1974 version had to be cut to closer to 40 due to the constraints of vinyl recordings at the time.
'In about 1983 or 1984 I had an enquiry to do Journey again in America,' Wakeman recalled in a telephone interview.
'I thought 'great'. But MAM had gone, and nobody there had any idea what had happened to all the stuff of mine,' the former Yes keyboardist told Reuters.
'Up until recently I would get phone calls to do it and I said 'no, I can't', there is no music any more. You just resign yourself to disappointment.'
Everything changed about four years ago when a box of papers arrived at his doorstep - a fairly regular occurrence, he explained, for a man who had been married several times and had 'stuff in storage all over the place'.
Sifting through the contents, Wakeman found a pile of music that was not his own, but 'something told me to empty the entire box.' At the very bottom was the long-lost conductor's score of Journey, albeit so damp the pages were stuck together.
To this day Wakeman does not know where the box came from, and is amazed it reappeared nearly 30 years after going missing.
ORIGINAL SONGS
Once the music had been downloaded on to a computer, Wakeman set about reintroducing the songs and other sections he removed for the 1974 recording with the help of notes he had kept.
He decided to make a studio recording of the rock opera, and sought to replicate the sound of the original instruments.
For the narrator's voice, he could not go back to David Hemmings, who died in 2003, and so invited actor Peter Egan.
The result is a re-mastered version of Journey, complete with 20 minutes of unheard music, which hits shelves on November 20. It comes in the form of a 'fanback' comprising the music, a 132-page magazine and a replica of the program to the 1974 show.
For Wakeman it was a labor of love, but one he hopes will prove profitable.
'We did have record companies come forward,' the 63-year-old said. 'But I don't want an A&R (artists and repertoire) man coming in and saying it could do with this and that.
'The only way I can get this done as I believe it should be is to finance it and do it myself which we did. It broke the bank, there's no doubt about it.'
While the concept of a rock opera based on French author Verne's 1864 sci-fi classic may not instantly appeal to young listeners today, Wakeman believes there is a market for his latest release.
'Music audiences today don't put a date on anything, they either like it or they don't,' he said, adding that the 'prog-rock' genre for which he is best known has made something of a comeback in recent years.
PROKOFIEV FAN
The prolific musician who has made around 100 albums and sold millions of records started piano lessons when he was seven, and at about that time the seeds of his career were sown.
'Story telling to music is something I have loved since my father took me to see 'Peter and the Wolf' aged eight, and (Sergei) Prokofiev became my hero,' he recalled.
By his late teens he was an established session musician and joined the band Yes in 1971 with whom he recorded the hit album 'Fragile' and, the following year, 'Close to the Edge'.
In 1973 he released 'The Six Wives of Henry VIII' a solo concept album, and in 1974, which his official online biography calls 'probably the most significant year in Rick's career', he made Journey and toured the world with it.
Another concept album, 'The Myths and Legends of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table' followed in 1975, and Wakeman returned to Yes for spells throughout the 1990s.
Next week he plays six dates in South America, including the first concert performance of the new, full Journey and a rendition of The Six Wives.
The new 'holy grail' following the rediscovery of Journey is to track down the original music to King Arthur, which was also lost. Wakeman is orchestrating the existing recording for a show next June, but would love to find the full score.
'All of us involved hope very much that it (Journey) makes its money back, because it would then allow me to look for the King Arthur music. We are doing a version next June and it would be lovely to say we've done it from the original music.'
(Reporting by Mike Collett-White, editing by Paul Casciato)
Progressive rock veteran Wakeman had presumed the original orchestration to his chart-topping disc was lost for good when his record company MAM, where the manuscripts had been stored in boxes, was brought to its knees in the early 1980s.
Although he could have re-orchestrated the work from the original album, recorded live at the Royal Festival Hall in London in 1974, Wakeman knew it would be far from perfect.
And the original score was 55 minutes long whereas the 1974 version had to be cut to closer to 40 due to the constraints of vinyl recordings at the time.
'In about 1983 or 1984 I had an enquiry to do Journey again in America,' Wakeman recalled in a telephone interview.
'I thought 'great'. But MAM had gone, and nobody there had any idea what had happened to all the stuff of mine,' the former Yes keyboardist told Reuters.
'Up until recently I would get phone calls to do it and I said 'no, I can't', there is no music any more. You just resign yourself to disappointment.'
Everything changed about four years ago when a box of papers arrived at his doorstep - a fairly regular occurrence, he explained, for a man who had been married several times and had 'stuff in storage all over the place'.
Sifting through the contents, Wakeman found a pile of music that was not his own, but 'something told me to empty the entire box.' At the very bottom was the long-lost conductor's score of Journey, albeit so damp the pages were stuck together.
To this day Wakeman does not know where the box came from, and is amazed it reappeared nearly 30 years after going missing.
ORIGINAL SONGS
Once the music had been downloaded on to a computer, Wakeman set about reintroducing the songs and other sections he removed for the 1974 recording with the help of notes he had kept.
He decided to make a studio recording of the rock opera, and sought to replicate the sound of the original instruments.
For the narrator's voice, he could not go back to David Hemmings, who died in 2003, and so invited actor Peter Egan.
The result is a re-mastered version of Journey, complete with 20 minutes of unheard music, which hits shelves on November 20. It comes in the form of a 'fanback' comprising the music, a 132-page magazine and a replica of the program to the 1974 show.
For Wakeman it was a labor of love, but one he hopes will prove profitable.
'We did have record companies come forward,' the 63-year-old said. 'But I don't want an A&R (artists and repertoire) man coming in and saying it could do with this and that.
'The only way I can get this done as I believe it should be is to finance it and do it myself which we did. It broke the bank, there's no doubt about it.'
While the concept of a rock opera based on French author Verne's 1864 sci-fi classic may not instantly appeal to young listeners today, Wakeman believes there is a market for his latest release.
'Music audiences today don't put a date on anything, they either like it or they don't,' he said, adding that the 'prog-rock' genre for which he is best known has made something of a comeback in recent years.
PROKOFIEV FAN
The prolific musician who has made around 100 albums and sold millions of records started piano lessons when he was seven, and at about that time the seeds of his career were sown.
'Story telling to music is something I have loved since my father took me to see 'Peter and the Wolf' aged eight, and (Sergei) Prokofiev became my hero,' he recalled.
By his late teens he was an established session musician and joined the band Yes in 1971 with whom he recorded the hit album 'Fragile' and, the following year, 'Close to the Edge'.
In 1973 he released 'The Six Wives of Henry VIII' a solo concept album, and in 1974, which his official online biography calls 'probably the most significant year in Rick's career', he made Journey and toured the world with it.
Another concept album, 'The Myths and Legends of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table' followed in 1975, and Wakeman returned to Yes for spells throughout the 1990s.
Next week he plays six dates in South America, including the first concert performance of the new, full Journey and a rendition of The Six Wives.
The new 'holy grail' following the rediscovery of Journey is to track down the original music to King Arthur, which was also lost. Wakeman is orchestrating the existing recording for a show next June, but would love to find the full score.
'All of us involved hope very much that it (Journey) makes its money back, because it would then allow me to look for the King Arthur music. We are doing a version next June and it would be lovely to say we've done it from the original music.'
(Reporting by Mike Collett-White, editing by Paul Casciato)
Tuesday, November 13, 2012
She's got the voice, now Christina Aguilera looks for hits
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Christina Aguilera has the vocal chops, the look, the strut and millions of new fans thanks to her stint as a judge on TV singing contest 'The Voice.'
But can she still sell records?
The singer, who had global hits with 'Genie in a Bottle' and the female empowerment ballad 'Beautiful' more than 10 years ago, bids to reclaim her status as one of the world's biggest pop stars with her new album, 'Lotus,' released on Tuesday.
Aguilera, 31, says the title and the mixture of dance-pop, ballads and rock-tinged tracks reflect the hopes and disappointments of recent years that saw her 2010 tour for album 'Bionic' canceled, a divorce and the box-office flop of her debut feature film, the musical 'Burlesque.'
'Lotus represents the unbreakable flower that stands the test of time. No matter the roughest of weather conditions, it remains strong and continues to thrive. (The album) is a nod to my fans who have been here with me the whole journey, and a nod to myself,' she said.
'It is a record of freedom and embracing that...It is very artistic at times, it is very fun at times, it is very free. I think that's how music and life should be, away from all the negativity,' the four-time Grammy winner said in an appearance at a Billboard Film and TV Music conference in Los Angeles last month.
Aguilera will perform one of the tracks - 'Make the World Move' - with her fellow judge Cee Lo Green live on 'The Voice' this week for the show's more than 10 million viewers.
But music industry experts say Aguilera's popularity on 'The Voice' - where her powerhouse performances leave aspiring pop stars in the dust - may not guarantee huge album sales and won't give the singer a No. 1 hit.
This week also sees new releases from British boy band One Direction and singer Susan Boyle as well as the new 'Twilight' film soundtrack.
NOT A BLOCKBUSTER
'I think 'Lotus' will certainly debut in the top 10 on the Billboard 200 album chart. But we don't see it as being a blockbuster out of the gate,' said Keith Caulfield, associate director of charts at Billboard.
'It is a long road to rebuilding Christina as a brand and as a musician, after the last album didn't so very well,' said Caulfield. 'But it's not always about first week sales.'
Much like Jennifer Lopez on 'American Idol,' Aguilera has seen her star rocket in her 18 months on 'The Voice.' Just a few months before the TV show made its debut in spring 2011, Aguilera was arrested for being drunk in public in West Hollywood, and her 2010 album 'Bionic' had sold a disappointing 312,000 copies.
''The Voice' has reinvigorated her entire career. A lot of people think she is the star of 'The Voice' - the judge you tune in for,' said Lyndsey Parker, managing editor at Yahoo! Music.
Yet the first single - 'Your Body' - from the new album failed to make a big impact when it was released in September. It peaked at No. 34 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and never really caught fire on radio.
'It came and went, which surprised me because I think it is a very strong song. And pretty much everything I have heard on this album is strong. I think it's a real return to form,' said Parker.
'There are very few people in pop who can sing like her. I do think there is a renewed appreciation for great singing that can be done live and that isn't just about flash. And Christina is coming back to prove that. I think some people are looking at her to take back her crown,' Parker added.
'Lotus' includes duets with both Green and Aguilera's fellow 'Voice' judge, country singer Blake Shelton. It also features the piano-driven ballad 'Blank Page,' which is reminiscent of her 2002 hit 'Beautiful' and rock-tinged tracks like 'Army of Me.'
Aguilera says she hopes to inspire a new generation of singers who were not around in 1999 for her first big hit 'Genie in a Bottle.'
'It's so exciting for me to show them what I do as an artist,' she said. 'I've been through a lot over the past few years, going through 'Burlesque,' a divorce...having a few setbacks....Stuff happens! This is the business. It's not going to be all cute and pretty and tied up in a bow.
'All of that combined is in 'Lotus.' It embraces the woman that I've become, and embracing myself coming full circle as a pop star,' she said.
(Additional reporting by Piya Sinha-Roy; Editing by Cynthia Osterman)
This news article is brought to you by STOCK MARKET BLOG - where latest news are our top priority.
But can she still sell records?
The singer, who had global hits with 'Genie in a Bottle' and the female empowerment ballad 'Beautiful' more than 10 years ago, bids to reclaim her status as one of the world's biggest pop stars with her new album, 'Lotus,' released on Tuesday.
Aguilera, 31, says the title and the mixture of dance-pop, ballads and rock-tinged tracks reflect the hopes and disappointments of recent years that saw her 2010 tour for album 'Bionic' canceled, a divorce and the box-office flop of her debut feature film, the musical 'Burlesque.'
'Lotus represents the unbreakable flower that stands the test of time. No matter the roughest of weather conditions, it remains strong and continues to thrive. (The album) is a nod to my fans who have been here with me the whole journey, and a nod to myself,' she said.
'It is a record of freedom and embracing that...It is very artistic at times, it is very fun at times, it is very free. I think that's how music and life should be, away from all the negativity,' the four-time Grammy winner said in an appearance at a Billboard Film and TV Music conference in Los Angeles last month.
Aguilera will perform one of the tracks - 'Make the World Move' - with her fellow judge Cee Lo Green live on 'The Voice' this week for the show's more than 10 million viewers.
But music industry experts say Aguilera's popularity on 'The Voice' - where her powerhouse performances leave aspiring pop stars in the dust - may not guarantee huge album sales and won't give the singer a No. 1 hit.
This week also sees new releases from British boy band One Direction and singer Susan Boyle as well as the new 'Twilight' film soundtrack.
NOT A BLOCKBUSTER
'I think 'Lotus' will certainly debut in the top 10 on the Billboard 200 album chart. But we don't see it as being a blockbuster out of the gate,' said Keith Caulfield, associate director of charts at Billboard.
'It is a long road to rebuilding Christina as a brand and as a musician, after the last album didn't so very well,' said Caulfield. 'But it's not always about first week sales.'
Much like Jennifer Lopez on 'American Idol,' Aguilera has seen her star rocket in her 18 months on 'The Voice.' Just a few months before the TV show made its debut in spring 2011, Aguilera was arrested for being drunk in public in West Hollywood, and her 2010 album 'Bionic' had sold a disappointing 312,000 copies.
''The Voice' has reinvigorated her entire career. A lot of people think she is the star of 'The Voice' - the judge you tune in for,' said Lyndsey Parker, managing editor at Yahoo! Music.
Yet the first single - 'Your Body' - from the new album failed to make a big impact when it was released in September. It peaked at No. 34 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and never really caught fire on radio.
'It came and went, which surprised me because I think it is a very strong song. And pretty much everything I have heard on this album is strong. I think it's a real return to form,' said Parker.
'There are very few people in pop who can sing like her. I do think there is a renewed appreciation for great singing that can be done live and that isn't just about flash. And Christina is coming back to prove that. I think some people are looking at her to take back her crown,' Parker added.
'Lotus' includes duets with both Green and Aguilera's fellow 'Voice' judge, country singer Blake Shelton. It also features the piano-driven ballad 'Blank Page,' which is reminiscent of her 2002 hit 'Beautiful' and rock-tinged tracks like 'Army of Me.'
Aguilera says she hopes to inspire a new generation of singers who were not around in 1999 for her first big hit 'Genie in a Bottle.'
'It's so exciting for me to show them what I do as an artist,' she said. 'I've been through a lot over the past few years, going through 'Burlesque,' a divorce...having a few setbacks....Stuff happens! This is the business. It's not going to be all cute and pretty and tied up in a bow.
'All of that combined is in 'Lotus.' It embraces the woman that I've become, and embracing myself coming full circle as a pop star,' she said.
(Additional reporting by Piya Sinha-Roy; Editing by Cynthia Osterman)
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Australia's INXS calls it quits as touring band after 35 years
SYDNEY (Reuters) - Australian rock group INXS has called it quits as a live touring band after 35 years, thanking fans and honoring late frontman Michael Hutchence in a statement on Tuesday.
INXS, which sold more than 30 million albums worldwide, including more than 10 million alone of their 1987 breakthrough 'Kick', issued the statement after comments by band member Jon Farriss during a weekend performance sparked a frenzy on Twitter.
'We understand that this must come as a blow to everybody, but all things must eventually come to an end,' INXS members Tim, Andrew and Jon Farriss, Kirk Pengilly and Garry Beers said. 'We have been performing as a band for 35 years, it's time to step away from the touring arena.'
'Our music will of course live on and we will always be a part of that,' they added.
INXS was one of the biggest touring bands of the 1980s and 1990s, playing to 80,000 at Wembley Stadium in London and 120,000 in Rio De Janeiro.
But the death of charismatic lead singer Hutchence in 1997 was a major blow.
A U.S. TV talent show for a new frontman was won by Canadian J.D. Fortune, while Terence Trent D'Arby and Jon Stevens also had a turn at the microphone. Irishman Ciaran Gribbin was the last to take the role.
Farriss, the band's drummer, set the Internet abuzz on Sunday night after he told the audience during a support performance for U.S. band Matchbox Twenty in Perth that it was the last time INXS would perform together. Saxophone player Pengilly later told a radio station the band was not breaking up.
The group declined to comment further on Tuesday.
(Reporting By Grace Williams, editing by Elaine Lies)
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INXS, which sold more than 30 million albums worldwide, including more than 10 million alone of their 1987 breakthrough 'Kick', issued the statement after comments by band member Jon Farriss during a weekend performance sparked a frenzy on Twitter.
'We understand that this must come as a blow to everybody, but all things must eventually come to an end,' INXS members Tim, Andrew and Jon Farriss, Kirk Pengilly and Garry Beers said. 'We have been performing as a band for 35 years, it's time to step away from the touring arena.'
'Our music will of course live on and we will always be a part of that,' they added.
INXS was one of the biggest touring bands of the 1980s and 1990s, playing to 80,000 at Wembley Stadium in London and 120,000 in Rio De Janeiro.
But the death of charismatic lead singer Hutchence in 1997 was a major blow.
A U.S. TV talent show for a new frontman was won by Canadian J.D. Fortune, while Terence Trent D'Arby and Jon Stevens also had a turn at the microphone. Irishman Ciaran Gribbin was the last to take the role.
Farriss, the band's drummer, set the Internet abuzz on Sunday night after he told the audience during a support performance for U.S. band Matchbox Twenty in Perth that it was the last time INXS would perform together. Saxophone player Pengilly later told a radio station the band was not breaking up.
The group declined to comment further on Tuesday.
(Reporting By Grace Williams, editing by Elaine Lies)
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Monday, November 12, 2012
U2's Bono to urge U.S. politicians not to cut aid programs
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Irish rocker and anti-poverty campaigner Bono will appeal to Democrats and Republicans during a visit to Washington this week to spare U.S. development assistance programs from cuts as Congress tries to avert the looming 'fiscal cliff' of tax hikes and spending reductions early next year.
The U2 lead singer's visit comes as the Obama administration and congressional leaders try to forge a deal in coming weeks to avoid the economy hitting the 'fiscal cliff' - tax increases and spending cuts worth $600 billion starting in January if Congress does not act.
Analysts say the absence of a deal could shock the United States, the world's biggest economy, back into recession.
Kathy McKiernan, spokeswoman for the ONE Campaign, said Bono will hold talks with congressional lawmakers and senior Obama administration officials during the November 12-14 visit.
During meetings he will stress the effectiveness of U.S. foreign assistance programs and the need to preserve them to avoid putting at risk progress made in fighting HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria, she said.
Bono, a long-time advocate for the poor, will argue that U.S. government-funded schemes that support life-saving treatments for HIV/AIDS sufferers, nutrition programs for malnourished children, and emergency food aid make up just 1 percent of the U.S. government budget but are helping to save tens of millions of lives in impoverished nations.
The One Campaign would not elaborate which lawmakers and senior Obama administration officials Bono will meet.
On Monday, Bono will discuss the power of social movements with students at Georgetown University. He will also meet new World Bank President Jim Yong Kim for a web cast discussion on Wednesday on the challenges of eradicating poverty.
(Editing by W Simon)
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The U2 lead singer's visit comes as the Obama administration and congressional leaders try to forge a deal in coming weeks to avoid the economy hitting the 'fiscal cliff' - tax increases and spending cuts worth $600 billion starting in January if Congress does not act.
Analysts say the absence of a deal could shock the United States, the world's biggest economy, back into recession.
Kathy McKiernan, spokeswoman for the ONE Campaign, said Bono will hold talks with congressional lawmakers and senior Obama administration officials during the November 12-14 visit.
During meetings he will stress the effectiveness of U.S. foreign assistance programs and the need to preserve them to avoid putting at risk progress made in fighting HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria, she said.
Bono, a long-time advocate for the poor, will argue that U.S. government-funded schemes that support life-saving treatments for HIV/AIDS sufferers, nutrition programs for malnourished children, and emergency food aid make up just 1 percent of the U.S. government budget but are helping to save tens of millions of lives in impoverished nations.
The One Campaign would not elaborate which lawmakers and senior Obama administration officials Bono will meet.
On Monday, Bono will discuss the power of social movements with students at Georgetown University. He will also meet new World Bank President Jim Yong Kim for a web cast discussion on Wednesday on the challenges of eradicating poverty.
(Editing by W Simon)
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