American Idol Fan Favorite Pia Toscano Signs With 19 Recordings/Interscope Records

American Idol Favorite Pia Toscano Signs With 19 Recordings/Interscope Records. (PRNewsFoto/Interscope Records, Andrew McLeod)

SANTA MONICA, Calif., July 6, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — Interscope Records announced that it has signed Season 10 American Idol contestant Pia Toscano to a recording contract and will release her debut single, “This Time,” via all digital retailers on July 12th. Toscano will perform “This Time” when she hits the road for the American Idols Live! 2011 Tour, which kicks off July 6th in Salt Lake City, UT, and continues through the summer before concluding on September 10th in Rochester, NY.

“I am thrilled to be joining the Interscope and 19 Recordings family,” Toscano says. “[Interscope Geffen A&M Chairman] Jimmy Iovine was an amazing mentor during my time on Idol and I’m looking forward to working with him and everyone at Interscope Records and 19 Recordings. This is a dream come true.”

A showcase for Toscano’s rich, emotionally transparent voice, “This Time” was written and co-produced by Esther Dean, who is known penning hits for such artists as Nicki Minaj, Katy Perry, Mary J. Blige, Christina Aguilera, Rihanna, Nicole Scherzinger, and many more. The acoustic guitar and beat-driven track is just a taste of what’s to come when the Queens, NY, native releases her debut album, which she is currently working on, later this year.

Widely considered one of American Idol’s Season 10 frontrunners thanks to her powerhouse vocal ability and dark-haired beauty, Toscano’s early elimination shocked and visibly upset judges Randy Jackson, Jennifer Lopez, and Steven Tyler. The latter said of the voting public: “They’re wrong. I don’t know what happened with this. She’s beautiful. When she sings, she’s a bird.”

Outraged fans took to Twitter to express their support, including celebrities such as Tom Hanks, Jennifer Hudson, Ellen DeGeneres, Alyssa Milano, Dax Shepard, Marlon Wayons, and Ashton Kutcher. Kutcher phoned in to “On Air with Ryan Seacrest” to opine: “I think she was probably the best pure singer on the show, and she’s got all the makings of what it means to be a star in my opinion, so I was just irked [when she was voted off].”

Fans can check out Pia this summer on the American Idols Live! Tour where she will be performing her debut single “This Time.” Please visit http://www.americanidol.com/tour/ for tour dates and more details.

SOURCE Interscope Records
RELATED LINKS:
http://www.interscope.com

Damian McGinty of Celtic Thunder Takes His Next Step as a Contender on “The Glee Project” Premiering June 12th on Oxygen

Damian McGinty of Celtic Thunder. (PRNewsFoto/Decca Label Group)

NEW YORK, June 6, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — With their worldwide appeal, Celtic Thunder is at the forefront of developing and showcasing the new talent coming out of Ireland and Scotland. The youngest member of Celtic Thunder, Damian McGinty has been selected as one of the Top 12 contenders out of 40,000 hopefuls who competed for a coveted spot on “The Glee Project.” The winner of the show will be cast in a seven-episode guest role in season three of hit show “Glee” on Fox. “The Glee Project” premieres Sunday, June 12th on Oxygen at 9PM ET (http://thegleeproject.oxygen.com).

After selling over one million CDs to date with his group Celtic Thunder and traveling the world, the 18-year-old McGinty is no stranger to success. He joined Celtic Thunder at the tender age of 14 in 2007 and has seen the group increasingly gain popularity in the US due to their constant touring schedule, four hit Public Television specials and multiple national television show appearances. Celtic Thunder’s rabid fan base flood their official YouTube channel, “Thunder Tube” which has received nearly 19 million upload views since its inception in 2008 while Damian has thousands of fans following his personal Facebook page and Twitter feed. Most recently Celtic Thunder’s new album, Heritage, was ranked #1 on the Billboard World Album Chart and this Fall the group will embark on a 45 city tour to support it. For more information on tour dates go to: http://www.celticthunder.com

From the message boards on “The Glee Project’s” website, the fresh-faced lad is already making girls swoon with his deep blue eyes and rich baritone. To view performances of the talented and charismatic Damian McGinty click here http://cms.celticthunder.ie/node/811003. Click here to see the first music video from “The Glee Project” kids as they give their own spin on Katy Perry’s “Firework”: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nOLiI6sE1KE

SOURCE Decca Label Group

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http://www.deccarecords-us.com

“American Idol” Winner Scotty McCreery Makes History With Debut Single, “I Love You This Big”

Scotty McCreery Makes History With Debut Single, "I Love You This Big". (PRNewsFoto/Interscope Records, John Ganun)

 

SONG IS HIGHEST DEBUT FOR A NEW ARTIST IN MORE THAN TWO DECADES

NASHVILLE, Tenn., June 3, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — Mercury Nashville/19 Recordings/Interscope artist Scotty McCreery has made country music history with his first single, “I Love You This Big,” which has the highest-charting debut for a new artist in more than two decades.

“I Love You This Big” debuts at No. 32 on Billboard’s Nielsen BDS-based Hot Country Songs chart. This is the highest debut for a new artist’s first single since the chart began using BDS data the week of Jan. 20, 1990, according to Billboard.

The song, which hit No. 1 on iTunes, reached No. 3 on the Billboard Digital Songs chart with 171,404 units sold, while a compilation album featuring 14 of his performances from American Idol, entitled American Idol Season 10: Scotty McCreery, reached No. 12 on the Billboard Top 200 all-genre albums chart and No. 3 on the country albums chart with 23,196 units sold.

“I am humbled and shocked by this news,” says Scotty. “I can’t tell you what it means to me to be on the same charts as my musical heroes. I want to thank my fans and especially country radio for their support.

“I continue to be amazed by everything that has happened to me in such a short time.”

Scotty won Season Ten of American Idol on May 25. A record-breaking 122.4 million votes were cast for Scotty and Lauren Alaina, the runner-up, and 38.6 million viewers tuned in to see the winner’s name announced.

The song was sent to radio on May 24 after Scotty debuted the song on American Idol.

“This is such a special song to me, so I am thrilled that it is getting such a great reception at country radio. What I love about ‘I Love You This Big’ is that it can mean different things to different people. It could be about the relationship between a couple in love or a parent and child.”

The 17-year-old singer is receiving big love from WQDR in Raleigh, N.C., which is located six miles north of his hometown, Garner, N.C. Not only is the station leading all Billboard panelists with more plays in the first week, but it has dubbed itself “Scotty 94.7” and incorporated the new name into an American Idol-inspired logo.

“I feel like the words ‘thank you’ aren’t enough,” he says. “I wish I could find more words to express my gratitude to everyone. I still can’t believe how people are supporting me in so many ways.”

Scotty will travel to Nashville next week to begin recording his debut album. He will present at the CMT Music Awards on Wednesday and participate in other CMA Music Festival activities, including the City of Hope Celebrity Softball Game on Saturday, June 11. He will make his Grand Ole Opry debut on Friday, June 10.

He will perform on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno on June 15. He will be featured on the American Idols Live tour that begins July 6 in Salt Lake City, Utah, and runs through September.

He will perform on ABC’s Good Morning America on Aug. 12.

SOURCE Interscope Records

BattleCam.com to Broadcast The Hard Rock 12 Hip Hop Event Live From the Hard Rock Hotel in Hollywood, Florida USA

BattleCam.com to Broadcast The Hard Rock 12 Hip Hop Event Live From the Hard Rock Hotel in Hollywood, FL. (PRNewsFoto/BattleCam.com)

Event Will Celebrate Hip Hop Weekly’s Hard Rock 12 Collector’s Edition Magazine Release

LOS ANGELES, May 26, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — Eccentric Billionaire Alki David will present Worldstarhiphop & Hip Hop Weekly’s first collaboration, “The Hard Rock 12” Celebration live on BattleCam.com from the Opium Club at the Seminole Hard Rock Cafe, Hollywood, Florida, Thursday, May 26 at 9:00 p.m. PDT.  The event will be available free at http://www.battlecam.com/hiphop, http://worldstarhiphop.com/videos or hiphopweeklylive.com 

The Hard Rock 12 event commemorates Hip Hop Weekly’s “Hard Rock 12 Collector’s Edition” issue due on newsstands nationally on May 31.  The issue  features the 12 hottest new artists in Hip Hop for 2011.  The Hard Rock 12 were selected by Hip Hop Weekly and Worldstarhiphop and include:

• Waka Flocka Flame
• French Montana
• Tyga
• Roscoe Dash
• Vado
• Gunplay
• Guyana
• Y.C.
• Machine Gun Kelly
• J Dawg
• LEP Bogus Boys
• Travis Porter

The proprietary BattleCam technology will allow for featured online guests to stream live to the online event with their webcams.  BattleCam will also facilitate live chat as the event hosts will chat with the online audience live and in real time throughout the event.

The Hard Rock 12 artists will appear at the show, which is hosted by the Ciroc Boyz DJ’s. FilmOn and BattleCam founder Alki David will also host The Hard Rock 12 remotely from Beverly Hills. The Hard Rock 12 Collector’s Edition magazine release party and show is the official kickoff event for the huge weekend of festivities in the Miami area over the long Memorial Day holiday weekend.  The Hard Rock 12 Collector’s Edition Magazine will be released nationwide on May 31, 2011.

“BattleCam continues to bring live, exciting events, such as The Hard Rock 12, to our interactive Web community of thousands,” said Alki David, founder and chairman, BattleCam.com and FilmOn.  “This partnership with Hip Hop Weekly will help introduce thousands to the BattleCam community and its unique interactive features where members with Webcams are able to broadcast to thousands of other members.”

“We are very excited to partner with Worldstarhiphop and Alki David to create such a tremendous platform for this talented group of rising Hip Hop stars,” said Dave Mays and Ray Benzino, co-founders of Hip Hop Weekly. “The Hip Hop Weekly and Worldstarhiphop brands complement each other well, and together we represent the future of urban entertainment media, delivering authentic content to the global Hip Hop Generation.”

“Worldstarhiphop has always been a proud supporter of new and upcoming artists,” said Lee “Q” O’Denat, founder and owner of Worldstarhiphop.com. “Our site was built on providing aspiring artists an opportunity to be seen and heard on a massive scale. So, when Hip Hop Weekly presented me with the opportunity to work with them on an offline event that will showcase the new acts of 2011, it was naturally appealing to me,” he said. “We are bringing the most talked about new acts you’ve seen on the pages of Worldstarhiphop and Hip Hop Weekly LIVE, you can’t beat that.”

On BattleCam.com, any registered user can broadcast live from any webcam to an audience of thousands. Audiences get to vote on whether they keep that person on or not by selecting “I like it!” or “Poop.” Returning guest appearances include personalities such as Wesley Snipes, Billy Zane, Barry Bonds, Gary Busey and Ron Jeremy to name a few.  The best BattleCam.com broadcasters develop cult fan followings and in those circles are deemed legendary for their particular brand of entertainment, whether they are a musician, break dancer or stunt actor. They have the opportunity to, earn redeemable rewards points for their efforts from anywhere in the world. Unsuccessful broadcasters are discarded after their 15 seconds expires.

Worldstarhiphop.com and Hip Hop Weekly have each vaulted to the top of their respective fields in the past 5 years, overtaking their older, longer-established competitors. Worldstarhiphop has exploded to become not only the number one urban/hip hop website, but also one of the most highly-trafficked websites in the world. Hip Hop Weekly, which has won multiple magazine awards in the past few years, last year became the #1 selling urban entertainment magazine on newsstands in America. With more than 5 years of leg work behind them, Worldstarhiphop and Hip Hop Weekly have become among the most recognized and trusted brands in hip hop media, serving a market now estimated to consist of more than 50 million members of the Millennial Generation who identify with hip hop culture.

SOURCE BattleCam.com

RELATED LINKS
http://www.battlecam.com

Music News: AC/DC Debuts at #1 in 17 Countries With AC/DC Live At River Plate

AC/DC AC/DC DEBUTS #1 IN 17 COUNTRIES WITH AC/DC LIVE AT RIVER PLATE. (PRNewsFoto/Columbia Records, Chris Jackson/WireImage for Columbia)

NEW YORK, May 20, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — AC/DC Live At River Plate, the definitive live concert DVD documenting AC/DC’s massive Black Ice World Tour, has debuted as the #1 selling DVD on charts in 17 countries, including the U.S., U.K., Germany, France, Spain, Australia, Argentina, Canada, Ireland, Belgium, Sweden, New Zealand, Austria, Chile, Hungary, Finland and Italy.  AC/DC experienced similar chart success with the release of their last studio album Black Ice, which dominated sales charts in 31 countries around the globe.  AC/DC Live At River Plate was shot in Buenos Aires in December of 2009 completely in HD using 32 cameras, which captures the rock grandeur and excitement of AC/DC’s incredible live performance.  AC/DC Live At River Plate recently had its world premiere at London’s HMV Hammersmith Apollo on May 6, 2011

Directed by David Mallet and produced by Rocky Oldham, AC/DC Live At River Plate features 19 AC/DC tracks and is available on DVD, Blu-Ray and a limited collector’s edition with exclusive t-shirt. Additionally the DVD contains a bonus feature titled “The Fan, The Roadie, The Guitar Tech & The Meat,” featuring interviews with AC/DC, their crew and fans among the excitement of the shows and the city of Buenos Aires.

AC/DC Live At River Plate track listing is as follows:

1. Rock N Roll Train
2. Hell Ain’t A Bad Place To Be
3. Back In Black
4. Big Jack
5. Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap
6. Shot Down In Flames
7. Thunderstruck
8. Black Ice
9. The Jack
10. Hells Bells
11. Shoot To Thrill
12. War Machine
13. Dog Eat Dog
14. You Shook Me All Night Long
15. T.N.T.
16. Whole Lotta Rosie
17. Let There Be Rock
18. Highway To Hell
19. For Those About To Rock (We Salute You)

SOURCE Columbia Records

Event News: Duran Duran to Perform at Cannes Film Festival European Launch of BELVEDERE PRODUCT(RED)(TM)

The creme de la creme of the entertainment and film industry are set to join Duran Duran at the Cannes Film Festival for an unforgettable evening at the legendary VIP ROOM to celebrate Belvedere's exciting collaboration with (RED)(TM) - a new special edition bottle to help raise proceeds for the Global Fund, the world's leading financer of programs to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria(TM). (PRNewsFoto/Belvedere Vodka)

LONDON, May 12, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — The creme de la creme of the entertainment and film industry are set to join Duran Duran at the Cannes Film Festival for an unforgettable evening at the legendary VIP ROOM to celebrate the European launch of (BELVEDERE)(RED).

Following in the footsteps of music icons Debbie Harry and Grace Jones, the Grammy award-winning group will entertain Cannes revellers with a memorable performance.

The Cannes Film Festival is renowned as the world’s most glamorous film festival and will be the setting for the European launch of Belvedere’s exciting collaboration with (RED)(TM) – a new special edition bottle to help raise funds for the Global Fund, the world’s leading financer of programs to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria(TM).

This exciting collaboration will see the introduction of a (BELVEDERE)(RED) Special Edition Bottle in late Summer 2011. Both (RED) and Belvedere Vodka are unanimous in their objective to empower global consumers to help eliminate HIV/AIDS.

Guests will gather at VIP ROOM to toast the launch with classic Belvedere cocktails and enjoy a set from one of the world’s most successful bands

Charles Gibb, President Belvedere and Millennium Imports states “Belvedere Vodka is delighted to join (RED) in the fight against AIDS by helping to raise funds generated from the global sales of (BELVEDERE)(RED) Special Edition Bottle. As one of the world’s leading spirit brands, we are in a unique position to harness the power of our customers to benefit the millions of people who are at risk, or are living, with HIV. We want to raise consumer awareness and incite more global action to eliminate AIDS in Africa. Our message is simple – (PRODUCT)(RED) helps saves lives.”

“(RED) harnesses the collective power of consumers and business to fight HIV/AIDS, so we are delighted to add the (BELVEDERE)(RED) Special Edition Bottle to our existing (PRODUCT)(RED)(TM) portfolio of products and services,” says Seb Bishop, CEO, (RED)(TM) International.

SOURCE Belvedere Vodka

35th Annual Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks® to Celebrate U. S. Independence Day and the 125th Anniversary of the Statue of Liberty

Macy's 4th of July Fireworks - Gift of Freedom - July 4, 2011 at 9:00 PM. (PRNewsFoto/Macy's)

NEW YORK, May 13, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — Freedom will ring, thunder and boom this summer as Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks®, the nation’s largest display of patriotic firepower returns to celebrate Independence Day. An awe-inspiring spectacle of color, light and sound will rumble over New York City on Monday, July 4th at 9:00 pm, as Macy’s dazzling celebration ends the holiday with a bang. With more than 3 million live spectators and millions tuned in nationwide, the Hudson River will be the showcase for more than 40,000 fireworks that together will ignite the sky for the nation’s 235th birthday party.

“Macy’s 35th annual fireworks display will once again dazzle millions of New Yorkers and a national television audience like never before, as a kaleidoscope of brilliant colors and jaw-dropping effects stretch for two miles across the Hudson River,” said Amy Kule, executive producer of Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks. “Building on 34 years of success, we will ignite the skies of New York City with the nation’s largest fireworks display celebrating Independence Day, as well as the 125th Anniversary of the Statue of Liberty.”

“This year especially, we are keenly aware that our freedoms are hard-won gifts that we can never take for granted,” said Mayor Michael Bloomberg. “And there’s no better way to celebrate Independence Day than with a New York tradition that’s as great as America itself – the Macy’s annual fireworks show. The pyrotechnic displays dazzle us and fill us with immense pride for our country and city. They also remind us that fireworks are best left to the professionals – so please don’t try to set your own off at home. It’s illegal and unsafe.”

Gift of Freedom, the theme of this year’s pyrotechnic spectacular will pay special tribute to the 125th Anniversary year of the Statue of Liberty that for generations has served as a beacon of hope and freedom for millions. “Since 1886, the Statue of Liberty has proudly stood in New York Harbor at the gateway to the American Dream,” said Bill Schermerhorn, creative director of Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks. “This year’s show will reflect both the united pride of our nation and the variety of our dreams, with light-hearted celebratory songs, and emotional patriotic standards. It’s a birthday celebration for all of us.”

The starting point for any Macy’s Fireworks show is the musical score to which the pyro spectacular will be choreographed. Featuring beloved Independence Day standards such as God Bless America and The Star Spangled Banner, the score this year will also feature some of the hottest pop songs of our times including hits from stars Taio Cruz, Everclear, Jennifer Hudson, Katy Perry and LeAnne Rimes. In addition, Broadway stars Anika Noni Rose and Karen Olivo will pay tribute to the “Lady in the Harbor” with a bilingual rendition of the original song Gift of Light.

The 35th Annual Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks will fire more than 40,000 pyrotechnic shells during a 25-minute synchronized display. Designed in collaboration with SOUSA Fireworks, the show will be set off from six barges positioned on the Hudson River, stretching from 20th to 55th Streets. This wide spectrum covering two miles of sky, allows Macy’s Fireworks to produce dazzling effects which reach heights of 1,000 feet, providing magnificent views to more spectators from water’s edge to towering skyscrapers. With an average of 1,600 shells launched per minute, Macy’s Fireworks are sure to draw thunderous cheers from the gathered crowds.

Independence day revelers from coast-to-coast will also have a front row view of the pyro in the sky by tuning to NBC’s national broadcast of Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks Spectacular beginning at 9:00 PM (check local listings). In addition to the pyrotechnic splendor, the 4th of July’s most popular entertainment broadcast will feature a star-studded line-up of performances by the nation’s hottest recording artists.

Viewing information and other spectator tips will be available as of June 2011 at www.macys.com/fireworks or by calling the Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks Hotline at (212) 494-4495.

SOURCE Macy’s
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http://www.macys.com/fireworks

PBS’s 2011 “NATIONAL MEMORIAL DAY CONCERT” To Air Sunday May 29 in HD

Gary Sinise and Joe Mantegna co-host PBS's 2011 National Memorial Day Concert Featuring A Special Commemoration of 9/11 Live from the U.S. Capitol on Sunday, May 29 at 8:00 p.m. (PRNewsFoto/Capital Concerts)

Gary Sinise and Joe Mantegna Co-Host A Night of Remembrance with General Colin Powell, Pia Toscano, Forest Whitaker, Kris Allen, Dianne Wiest, B.B. King, Jason Ritter, Hayley Westenra, Daniel Rodriguez, Yolanda Adams and the National Symphony Orchestra

WASHINGTON, May 9, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — Nearly 10 years after the events of 9/11 and the terrorist attacks orchestrated by Osama bin Laden, our nation is experiencing a renewed sense of national unity.  The 2011 NATIONAL MEMORIAL DAY CONCERT will open with a special segment remembering those who lost their lives that day, and their loved ones, and commemorating the heroism of the firemen and policemen who first responded.

The multi award-winning event will also continue its two decades long tradition of honoring the service and sacrifice of all our men and women in uniform who have protected us, their families at home and those who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our country.  The NATIONAL MEMORIAL DAY CONCERT will be co-hosted for the sixth year by Emmy Award-winner Gary Sinise (CSI: NEW YORK) and Tony Award-winner Joe Mantegna (CRIMINAL MINDS), two acclaimed actors who have dedicated themselves to veteran’s causes and supporting our troops in active service.  The all-star line-up of dignitaries, actors and musical artists participating in the 22nd annual broadcast includes: distinguished American leader Colin L. Powell USA (Ret.); American Idol finalist Pia Toscano; Academy, Golden Globe and Emmy Award-winning actor Forest Whitaker; American Idol winner Kris Allen; two-time Academy and Emmy Award-winning actress Dianne Wiest; King of the Blues B.B. King; acclaimed actor Jason Ritter; classical superstar Hayley Westenra; America’s beloved tenor Daniel Rodriguez, the New York city policeman who united the country after the September 11 terrorist attacks; and gospel legend Yolanda Adams.  They will perform with the National Symphony Orchestra under the direction of top pops conductor Jack Everly (additional talent to be announced).

Consistently one of the highest rated programs on PBS over the past decade, THE NATIONAL MEMORIAL DAY CONCERT became the number four top-rated program in primetime and the number two top-rated musical performance special on PBS for the 2009-2010 season.  The event, broadcast live from the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol, will air live in HD on PBS Sunday, May 29 from 8:00 to 9:30 p.m. ET (check local listings) before a concert audience of hundreds of thousands, millions more at home, as well as to our troops serving around the world on the American Forces Network.

In addition to the 9/11 commemoration, the 2011 event will include:

• A special thank you to our troops who have been serving in Iraq by General Colin Powell;
• The poignant story of a woman who lost her father in Vietnam and how her experiences are helping a new generation of children who have suffered the same loss after their parents served in Iraq and Afghanistan; and
• A tribute to our World War II veterans 70 years after the attack on Pearl Harbor.

“They are our sons and daughters, husbands, friends and sweethearts,” said General Colin Powell.  “We honor the sacrifices each of them has made for us; and we respect the deep sacrifices their families have also made.  They are the spirit – and the strength – of America.”

The U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff will also participate in the event along with The U.S. Army Herald Trumpets, The U.S. Army Chorus, The Soldiers Chorus of the U.S. Army Field Band, The U.S. Navy Sea Chanters, the U.S. Air Force Singing Sergeants, the Armed Forces Color Guard and Service Color Teams provided by the Military District of Washington, D.C.

A companion Web site at www.pbs.org/memorialdayconcert will feature a comprehensive viewer’s guide to the 2011 concert and a special remembrance area where veterans and their families can send eulogies for their loved ones and friends to be delivered to the national memorials in Washington, D.C

SOURCE Capital Concerts

Grammy Award Winning Michael Bolton Set to Release a Brand New Album Gems – The Duets Collection in Stores June 21, 2011

New Michael Bolton Album, Gems - The Duets Collection, In Stores June 21, 2011. (PRNewsFoto/Legacy Recordings)

WILL ALSO PERFORM ON ABC’S DANCING WITH THE STARS ON MAY 10 WITH DELTA GOODREM

SAN DIEGO, May 6, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — Michael Bolton, one of the music industry’s most successful and accomplished recording artists, announced today he will release his 21st studio album titled Gems – The Duets Collection on June 21, 2011. The new album, to be released on Sony Music/Legacy Recordings, will feature productions by acclaimed songwriters, producers and musicians including David Foster, Dann Huff, Rudy Perez and A.R. Rahman.  The album will be available for pre-purchase on www.michaelbolton.com.

Gems – The Duets Collection includes exciting musical collaborations with Grammy Award®-Winning Country Super Group, Rascal Flatts, Oscar Award®-Winning Composer\Producer, A.R. Rahman, International Pop Superstar, Seal, Australian singing sensation, Delta Goodrem, and the famed late vocalist Eva Cassidy.

“It was an incredibly rewarding experience recording this album,” says Bolton.  “The opportunity to work with legendary talent like David Foster, Dan Huff, A.R. Rahman and some of the absolute greatest singers and recording artists in the entire world was inspiring.  I can’t wait to share the special music we all created with the world.”

“We heard that Michael wanted to write something with us.  We all kept telling ourselves, ‘It’s like, Michael Bolton! Come on – he’s one of the greatest singers on the planet,” say Rascal Flatts.  “He wanted to get the whole band involved and make this thing really fresh and new.  It was just so cool that we had a chance to get together and write this killer song called ‘Love is Everything.'”

David Foster cooked up a duet featuring Michael singing “When a Man Loves a Woman” and Seal joining in with James Brown’s “It’s a Man’s, Man’s, Man’s World.”  Foster says, “I woke up at 6 AM one morning with the idea that these two songs could go together, with these two great voices from different genres, and they embraced it.  This is a powerful, powerful moment.  It’s a real shootout, and it’s impossible to say who wins, because they’re both so amazing.”

“When I first met Michael, we got to talking about music, philosophy, the universe, and many things that we had in common,” shares A.R. Rahman.  “I wanted Michael to do a bit of singing that he’s never done before, without compromising on his musicality.”

“He’s a very great human being and we had a lot of fun,” Chris Botti says.  “There aren’t singers like Michael anymore.  He can sing anything from classical music to jazz to something like [“You Are So Beautiful”], it’s so unbelievably soulful.”

SOURCE Legacy Recordings

RELATED LINKS
http://www.michaelbolton.com

Taylor Swift to Perform at 2011 CMA Music Festival

Taylor Swift

NASHVILLE, Tenn., May 2, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — The top-selling digital artist in music history, Taylor Swift, will give the closing performance at 2011 CMA Music Festival. The superstar, who has sold more than 20 million albums worldwide and placed singles atop the Country and pop charts, has been added to the Nightly Concert at LP Field on Sunday, June 12.

CMA Music Festival takes place Thursday through Sunday, June 9-12, in downtown Nashville. The event, which celebrates its 40th birthday since beginning as Fan Fair® in 1972, will once again be filmed for an ABC television special to air in late summer.

“Taylor has been a strong supporter of CMA Music Festival since she burst on the national scene a few years ago, and we are thrilled to welcome her back,” said Steve Moore, CMA Chief Executive Officer. “As we celebrate 40 years of CMA Music Festival, it is exciting to see Taylor and all our performers continue the legacy of Fan Fair which spotlights the unique relationship between Country Music artists and their fans.”

Swift, who has won six CMA Awards (including Entertainer of the Year in 2009) and four Grammy Awards, has participated in CMA Music Festival every year since her event debut performance on the Daily Concerts at Riverfront Park in 2006. She performed on the Nightly Concerts at LP Field in 2007-2009, and held a massive autograph signing session for her fans at the Bridgestone Arena in 2010 that lasted more than 15 consecutive hours.

Artists currently scheduled to appear at LP Field include (in alphabetical order):

Thursday, June 9:  Jason Aldean (with a special guest performance from Kelly Clarkson), Easton Corbin, Sara Evans, Brad Paisley, and Zac Brown Band (with special guest performance from Alan Jackson).

Friday, June 10: Sheryl Crow, Lady Antebellum, Reba, Ashton Shepherd, Sugarland, and Keith Urban.

Saturday, June 11: Trace Adkins, Little Big Town, Martina McBride, Rascal Flatts, Josh Turner, and Chris Young.

Sunday, June 12:  The Band Perry, the JaneDear girls, Miranda Lambert, Darius Rucker, Blake Shelton, and Taylor Swift.

Artists and schedules are subject to change.

Four-day tickets, which include all four Nightly Concerts at LP Field and daily access to the Fan Fair® Exhibit Hall, can be purchased through Ticketmaster at Ticketmaster.com or 1-(800) 745-3000. They can also purchase them through CMAfest.com or 1-(800)-CMA-FEST  (262-3378). Ticket prices are based on the level of seating at LP Field for the Nightly Concerts, and range from $115 to $325 plus handling fees.

Single night tickets to the individual Nightly Concerts can be purchased for $35 (plus applicable handling fees) for general admission in the upper deck of LP Field through the same websites and phone numbers.

In addition to enjoying the music, attendees are also providing needed instruments and music education supplies for Nashville students. CMA Music Festival is a charitable event benefitting music education in Metro Nashville Public Schools through a partnership with the Nashville Alliance for Public Education. To date, more than $4.9 million has been donated to purchase musical instruments and supplies. The total also includes an annual endowment gift for the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum’s Words & Music program.  The philanthropic program, titled “Keep the Music Playing,” was founded in 2005 as a way for the CMA Music Festival and its participating artists to give back to the community.

SOURCE Country Music Association

RELATED LINKS
http://www.CMAfest.com