Music

Gala Under The Stars At USC — Presented By Gibson Foundation — Coincides With Launch Of GRAMMY Camp®

NEW YORK, 3 June 2008 – EMI Music Publishing has extended its long-term relationship with Grammy Award winning songwriter and performer Ben Harper, it was announced today.

A multi-instrumentalist whose blend of rock, folk, reggae, blues and soul have won him a devoted fanbase across the world, Harper first signed to EMI Music Publishing in August 1993. The new worldwide agreement will see the company represent both his existing catalogue of songs as well as future compositions.    » read more »

Proceeds to Benefit the Efforts of Multiple Charities

NEW YORK, June 2, 2008 -- For the first time ever, fans will have the opportunity to see some of the biggest names in rock together on one stage as tickets go on sale for the network's third annual "VH1 Rock Honors" event paying homage to legendary British rock band The Who. "VH1 Rock Honors: The Who" will be taped on Saturday, July 12 from the Pauley Pavilion in Los Angeles and will premiere on VH1 on Thursday, July 17 at 9pm with tribute performances by Pearl Jam, Foo Fighters and The Flaming Lips.    » read more »

Will Smith to Host Concert in London's Hyde Park

NEW YORK, June 3, 2008 -- VH1 is joining in the global birthday celebration of one the world's greatest leaders, Nelson Mandela. The music and pop culture network is the exclusive U.S. outlet televising "The 46664 Concert Honouring Nelson Mandela at 90" taking place in London's Hyde Park on Friday, June 27.

Highlights: - Amy Winehouse, Queen + Paul Rodgers, Annie Lennox, And Leona Lewis Among Many Others Invited To Perform
- VH1, VH1 Classic, VH1 Soul And Mhd: Music High Definition To Premiere Concert Highlights On Monday, June 30 At 9 PM EDT/PDT
- VH1.com To Live Stream The Event, Friday, June 27 At 1:30 PM EDT    » read more »

May 27, 2008 -- Due to overwhelming demand, the Grand Ole Opry® presented by Cracker Barrel Old Country Store® has added a second Tuesday Night Opry on June 3 at 9:30 p.m. to kick off its CMA Music Festival week of shows.

Scheduled to appear are Carrie Underwood, Montgomery Gentry, Luke Bryan and more. The night’s 7:00 p.m. show is a sell-out. A portion of that show will air as a special live Tuesday edition of Opry Live on GAC.

Adding to the Tuesday evening festivities, the Opry has extended its summer series of Opry Plaza Parties to include a special June 3 5:30 p.m. Party presented by Humana® featuring a free performance by Capitol Records recording artist Luke Bryan.

June 4 – 18th Annual City of Hope Celebrity Softball Challenge
Greer Stadium – Noon    » read more »

New Album: Með suð í eyrum við spilum endalaust (With a buzz in our ears we play endlessly)

27 May 2008 -- Sigur Rós will be releasing their fifth album, Með suð í eyrum við spilum endalaust (English translation: With a buzz in our ears we play endlessly), on June 23rd, 2008 on EMI Records. The first song from the album, entitled Gobbledigook, will be unveiled with a world exclusive first play on BBC Radio 1 tonight (May 27th) by Zane Lowe. The track will then be available worldwide for free download, via sigurros.com from 7.30pm GMT.    » read more »

05/21/08 -- “NARROW STAIRS,” the acclaimed new album from Atlantic recording group Death Cab for Cutie, has made a stunning debut atop this week’s Billboard 200 – the band’s first-ever #1 record. With sales of 143,586 this marks their greatest highest sales week in Death Cab’s 10-year history. “NARROW STAIRS”, follows 2005’s Grammy-nominated, RIAA platinum-certified “PLANS.”

Highlights:
- “Narrow Stairs” Is The Band’s First-Ever Chart-Topper, With Highest Sales Week To Date
- “I Will Possess Your Heart” Remains at #1 At Triple A, While Continuing to Draw Top 10 Play at Modern Rock
- International Tour Marches on, Including Headline Dates and Major Festival Appearances    » read more »

May 27, 2008 -- Coldplay will play a ten date UK tour in December. The group, whose new album Viva La Vida is released in the UK on June 12, play the following shows.

DECEMBER 1 BIRMINGHAM NIA
2 BIRMINGHAM NIA

5 GLASGOW SECC
6 GLASGOW SECC

7 SHEFFIELD ARENA

10 LIVERPOOL ECHO ARENA

11 MANCHESTER M.E.N. ARENA
12 MANCHESTER M.E.N. ARENA

14 LONDON O2 ARENA
15 LONDON 02 ARENA

Tickets go on sale at 9.30am on Friday May 30th.

Tickets are available from gigsandtours.com or ticketmaster.co.uk .    » read more »

"The 2008 Alma Awards'" All-Star Event Kicks Off Hispanic Heritage Month With Host Eva Longoria Parker

Monday, May 19, 2008 -- The "Alma Awards" is a showcase Highlighting Latino Contributions to Entertainment Industry Airs September 12 on ABC.

Call for Entries Open Until June 6
"The 2008 ALMA Awards®," celebrating the outstanding artistic achievements of Latinos in motion pictures, television and music, will air FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 12 (8:00-10:00 p.m., ET), on the ABC Television Network.

Television and film actress Eva Longoria Parker returns once again as executive producer and host of the telecast. "The 2008 ALMA Awards" will tape Sunday, August 17 at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium.    » read more »

Trace Adkins, Rodney Atkins, Billy Ray Cyrus, Faith Hill, Alan Jackson, Jewel, Miranda Lambert, Kellie Pickler, Sugarland, Taylor Swift, Josh Turner, Carrie Underwood and Dwight Yoakam Announced to Appear at the Festival

Monday, May 19, 2008 -- Summer heats up when ABC heads to Nashville to take you to the hottest music event, "CMA Music Festival: Country's Night to Rock." Filming June 5-8, today's most exciting Country Music sensations will hit the stage in a four-day party and music celebration for the special that will air MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 8 (9:00-11:00 p.m., ET) on the ABC Television Network.    » read more »

T-Pain Leads the Pack with Five Nominations, Chris Brown Follows Closely with Four Nods, Kanye West and Keyshia Cole with Three and Mary J. Blige, Flo Rida and Alicia Keys Hold Steady with Two Each

NEW YORK, May 17, 2008 -- BET Networks, a unit of Viacom (NYSE: VIA; VIA.B), today announced the nominees, performers and recipients of the Lifetime Achievement and Humanitarian honors for the BET AWARDS '08. The BET AWARDS '08 is raising the stakes and promises to be the "hottest ticket on television" for the eighth year running, as the biggest stars in music, sports and entertainment unite in Los Angeles' historic Shrine Auditorium for a night of explosive LIVE performances on Tuesday, June 24 at 8:00 PM ET/PT.

Highlights:    » read more »

19 May 2008 -- Kenny Chesney won Entertainer of the Year for the fourth straight time at Sunday's U.S. Academy of Country Music Awards (CMAs).

With the win, Kenny Chesney ties Garth Brooks and is only one win behind the legendary country group "Alabama" which won five of the top awards in row.

Brad Paisley took the award for Top Male Vocalist, his second in a row. Carrie Underwood won the Top Female Vocalist prize, also her second straight.

Kenny Chesney won the top prize through online voting, the first time the award was not determined by academy members.

Kenny Chesney said he disagreed with the change to online voting because this method of choosing a winner "disrespected" the artists. He said he thought fans should be included but not by pushing buttons on the Internet.    » read more »

May 16, 2008 -- Opry Plaza Parties, one of Nashville’s favorite summertime activities, are set to launch their ninth season on Memorial Day Weekend, Sat., May 24. Plaza Parties are free and will run every Saturday night through July 25 beginning at 5:30 p.m. on the Opry Plaza concert stage located in the area in front of the Opry House, the Acuff Theatre, and the Opry Museum.

Grammy®-nominated Western swing band The Time Jumpers lead the summer series with a May 24 performance. The wide range of country, alt-country, and bluegrass artists scheduled to perform throughout the summer also includes Elizabeth Cook, The John Cowan Band, John England and the Western Swingers, Jypsi, Kieran Kane with Fats Kaplin and Lucas Kane, Tift Merritt, Kim Richey, Sunny Sweeney, and 3 Fox Drive.    » read more »

New studio album, That Lucky Old Sun, to be released on September 2 on CD, deluxe CD/DVD, limited edition vinyl and digitally

Hollywood, California, May 19, 2008 -- He is one of popular music’s most deeply revered figures, a legendary writer, producer, arranger and performer of some of the most cherished music in rock history. Indeed, it is no exaggeration to call Brian Wilson one of the most gifted and influential pop composers of the last 50 years. Today, Wilson announces his return to Capitol Records/EMI, his original label home. Wilson’s new studio recording, That Lucky Old Sun, will be released by Capitol/EMI on CD, CD/DVD, limited edition vinyl and digitally on September 2 (September 1 internationally).    » read more »

Deal to Include Split Enz, Crowded House, Finn Brothers and solo works

London, May, 19, 2008 – Paul Connolly, President of Europe & UK, Universal Music Publishing Group, today announced the signing of Neil Finn to an exclusive, long-term, publishing administration deal for the World (excluding North America, Australia/New Zealand).    » read more »