After her new single leaked shortly after this year’s MTV VMA’s, Alicia Keys announces a release date and title for her new album.
On December 1st, Keys will release her fourth studio album, titled The Element of Freedom.
The album is being lead by the single “Doesn’t Mean Anything,” and has already been released on iTunes, but plans have already been made to release a second single, rumored to be title “Try Sleeping With A Broken Heart.”
It has been said that Alicia is releasing her album on December 1st because of World AIDS Day. As you may or may not know, Keys has work countless hours and spent many dollars on charity work for the fight against HIV/AIDS.
No more information about collaborators and special features on the album, but be sure to keep it locked to CL for more updates.
DIDDY LEAVES LABEL
It seems that Diddy’s contract with Warner Music Group/Atlantic Records is now over and he’s making plans to move over to a different label for his upcoming release.
His hotly anticipated, much-talked about release, Last Train to Paris will now be released via Interscope Records.
Implying a new Bad Boy-styled imprint may be in the offing, Combs said in a statement:
“Now that the term of the Warner deal has ended, I have elected to accept an opportunity to move my recording career and future label venture to another company.”
This is interesting, considering the much-rumored departure does not affect WMG’s joint venture with his Bad Boy Entertainment imprint and its acts, which include Cassie, Day26 and Cheri Dennis, among others. They will continue to move through Atlantic.
OMARION SIGNS WITH EMI
After being in limbo of a couple of different situations over the past couple of years, Omarion announced to MTV that he has inked a new deal with EMI Records.
Just a month after signing with Lil’ Wayne’s label, Young Money Entertainment, after a brief stint on Timbaland’s Mosley Music Group label, he signed a new deal with EMI to create his own imprint StarWorld Entertainment, where he will release his third studio album, Ollusion, due November 24.
Live Nation and BET Networks has joined forces to produce a series of U.S. tours that are set to visit Live Nation-owned House of Blues venues and other clubs and theaters across the country.
The new partnership will launch this fall with the 106 & Park Tour, which featuring co-headliners Trey Songz, who just released his third album, Ready and Mario, who is gearing up to release his fourth album, D.N.A. some time this year.
“BET is a brand that is highly respected by artists and music fans alike and they wield considerable marketing power in major markets across the U.S.,” House of Blues president of talent Michael Yerke said in a statement. “Together we hope to expand the roster of national tours playing Live Nation’s national network of clubs and theaters.” [SOURCE]
The tour begins September 29th at the House of Blues in Los Angeles, and will visit major U.S. cities through November. Accompanying the two headliners are Day 26, Sean Garrett and newcomers, RydazNRtist.
AMERIE SHOOTS NEW VIDEO
Amerie has shot a video for her second single, “Heard ‘Em All,”. A remix recently dropped, featuring Lil’ Wayne, but in this clip, he doesn’t seem to be involved with the video.
The Anthony Mandler-directed clip is supposed to drop Wednesday afternoon. The new album, In Love & War is set to hit stores November 3rd. Let’s hope this second single can give it a bigger push!
NELLY FURTADO RETEAMS WITH TIMBALAND
Pop sensation Nelly Furtado has been on the promo trail for her Spanish album, Mi Plan but recently dropped some information about her forthcoming English album, which she plans to release next year.
She has already knocked out some songs with super producer, Timbaland, with whom the “Promiscuous Girl” singer displayed wonderful chemistry with on her 2006’s pop/dance album, Loose
“Timbaland and I hooked up over spring break and we wrote about 10 songs together and we had a blast,” she told The Associated Press.
“The magic’s still there between us,” she said. “We love each other so much. We fight some times, but we really always come back to that special musical friendship that we have.”
This is exciting news. Loose was great for Nelly. She and Justin Timberlake (with FutureSex/LoveSounds) really helped to bring Timbaland to the forefront of pop music.
There appears to be a burgeoning mystery surrounding his upcoming Fame Kills tour with Lady Gaga, which was reported to go on sale this week. The full dates were first revealed on the website for industry trade Pollstar yesterday morning, but no official information from either West or Lady Gaga’s camp has followed.
This morning, however, a smattering of tour dates for the trek were listed in the Ticketmaster website. They have since been removed. As of 6 p.m. Tuesday, Ticketmaster currently lists no upcoming dates for West.
Seems as though the new Janet Jackson material that leaked Sunday night is, indeed, her new single, but from a double-disc set of her global #1 hits.
The set, according to AOL Radio Blog, will comprise of 30 of Janet’s #1 hits in the United States, as well as internationally.
The dual CD set will hit stores November 17th. In addition, Janet has already begun working heavily with Rodney “Darkchild” Jerkins on her eleventh studio album, according to Rodney at this year’s VMA. Here’s what he had to say:
“I’m working heavily with Janet,” Jerkins said, adding that her new album will have a throwback feel.
“We’ve been in the studio for the last month. We’ve been getting it in. We’re going back to basics and fundamental sounds of Janet. We’re trying to target her fans by making the records that her fans will embrace. A lot of up-tempo stuff makes you feel good. There’s so many different colors of Janet. I’m a fan, I’ve always been a fan of Janet. The Rhythm Nation, the Control, the Janet. record… those make you feel a certain way. It’s been fun. I’m excited about it.”
This could be a good thing for Janet, especially after the chemistry they created with produced D’Mile on her Discipline’s lead single, “Feedback.” The new Janet studio album is scheduled for release next year. And now that folks have seen that Janet’s performance is still up to par, hopefully she’ll be able to have another successful run this go ’round.
WALE ALBUM DELAYED + TOUR INFO
DC native Wale’s album is getting delayed, but with good reason.
His debut studio album, Attention: Deficit will now hit stores on November 3rd, but not due to label complications. Wale is will be hitting the road with none other than Jay-Z, on a tour of college campus arenas and traditional venues.
At this year’s VMA’s, fans were pleased to see that Wale performed in between performances and awards with the well-known DC go-go band, UCB. Joining him on the stage with the house band, also were Solange, Kid Cudi, Pitbull and a host of others. He is currently promoting his third single, featuring Jazmine Sullivan, “World Tour.”
Well it looks like Jermaine Jackson jumped the gun when he announced Chris Brown as a headliner of the upcoming Michael Jackson tribute concert. Chris’ people just released a statement to the media:
“Chris is not confirmed to perform or participate in any capacity for this show,” the publicist for Brown’s label tells E! News.
Below is our post prior to the statement released by Chris Brown’s publicist..
CHRIS BROWN is to make his musical comeback by headlining the upcoming tribute concert to MICHAEL JACKSON in Vienna, Austria. The R&B star was sentenced to five years probation and ordered to serve six months hard labor after pleading guilty to a vicious assault on his ex-girlfriend Rihanna last February.
The hitmaker has not performed in public since the incident, but now is ready to make his return to the stage - he has been announced as the first headline act for the star-studded Jackson tribute concert set to take place on September 26th. The news was revealed by the King of Pop’s brother Jermaine Jackson at a press conference in Vienna on Tuesday.
“Michael was his idol and he (Brown) dedicated his first number one hit in the U.S. to Michael. Chris is a very, very talented artist.”
Other artists on the bill include Mary J. Blige, Natalie Cole and Sister Sledge. The rest of the line up will be unveiled in a series of press conferences to be held over the course of this week with scheduled stops in both London and Berlin, Germany.
Adam Goldstein, better known as DJ AM was found dead on Friday August 28, in his New York apartment. Details have not been released as of yet but many reports indicate that drug paraphernalia was found near the body. He was 36 years old.
DJ AM was in the news recently after he and friend/collaborator Travis Barker survived a plane crash in South Carolina that took the life of 4 people.
Billboard announced Wednesday that multi award-winning artist and emerging icon Beyoncéwill accept its coveted Woman Of The Year Award at the 2009 Billboard Women In Music Event, taking place on October 2nd in New York City.
The award is given to a trailblazing female recording artist that has inspired the music business with her success, leadership and new ideas. The honor also acknowledges the achievements of the artist over the past 12 months.
“Beyoncé is multi-platinum artist and a multi-talented woman who clearly embodies the qualities of excellence and achievement that the Billboard Woman Of The Year Award was created to honor. She has not only influenced pop culture with her hit songs and signature dance moves, but has inspired women everywhere with her unique style, business savvy and dedication to charitable causes,” said Bill Werde, Billboard’s Editorial Director.
“It is an honor to be named Woman of The Year by Billboard,” said Beyoncé. “I am humbled by this award.”
Grammy-nominated singer, songwriter, arranger and producer, Brian McKnight is gearing up to release his 11th studio album, Evolution of A Man. The album was originally scheduled to be release on September 29th but was pushed back until October 13th.
The first single from the album is the mid-tempo groove, “What I’ve Been Waiting For,” which he produced himself. The track impacted urban and rhythmic radio officially on August 21st.
The new album, which is Brian’s follow-up to his 2006 release, Ten (although he released a Christmas album in ‘08), will contain collaborations from Jill Scott and the legendary Stevie Wonder.
After her new single leaked shortly after this year’s MTV VMA’s, Alicia Keys announces a release date and title for her new album.
It seems that Diddy’s contract with Warner Music Group/Atlantic Records is now over and he’s making plans to move over to a different label for his upcoming release.
Live Nation and BET Networks has joined forces to produce a series of U.S. tours that are set to visit Live Nation-owned House of Blues venues and other clubs and theaters across the country.
Pop sensation Nelly Furtado has been on the promo trail for her Spanish album, Mi Plan but recently dropped some information about her forthcoming English album, which she plans to release next year.
All the dates/tickets from the upcoming Kanye West and Lady Gaga ‘FAME KILLS’ tour have mysteriously been removed from 
Seems as though the new Janet Jackson material that 
DC native Wale’s album is getting delayed, but with good reason.
Well it looks like Jermaine Jackson jumped the gun when he announced Chris Brown as a headliner of the upcoming Michael Jackson tribute concert. Chris’ people just released a statement to the media:
