Natalie Merchant: TED 2010 at Long Beach California

Natalie Merchant performs at TED 2010 in Long Beach, California.

Leave Your Sleep, is the double album to be released worldwide on April 13th by Nonesuch Records.

Currently, Natalie is touring, beginning the tour in the UK and ending it in September at the Peace Center in Greenville , S.C. Click here for the full tour schedule.

Merchant's unique voice and artistic sensibilities have enraptured audiences since the 1980s. She has a rich history, heart-warming ability, and this most recent affair with obscure 19th-century poetry serves to entertain- once again. Because she's so awesome, I forgive her appearing on Jay Leno's ill-gotten slot. Nevermind, watch her on TED if you can't make the live show.

Kelly Rowland Signs with Universal Motown Records: New Single Coming Soon

*Press Release*

Kelly Rowland

Universal Motown Records has signed Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter-television host-actress Kelly Rowland as a solo artist, it was announced today by Sylvia Rhone, President of Universal Motown Records.

“I think Kelly is an immensely talented, gracious, and beautiful woman, and I am thrilled about the opportunity to work with her on what’s turning out to be an amazing album,” said Ms. Rhone. “For an artist whose career began as a member of a landmark group like Destiny’s Child, Kelly has truly come into her own and I am deeply inspired by her incredible energy.”

“I could not be happier working with Sylvia Rhone and the entire Universal Motown staff,” stated Ms. Rowland. “They have really embraced me and have set me up to succeed. I decided, after careful thought, to sign with Universal Motown not only because of their track record of success, but also because they truly put their artists first.”

Kelly Rowland first rose to prominence in 1998 as a member of Destiny’s Child, one of the most successful groups of all time. In 2002, the Texas native launched her post-Destiny’s Child solo career with the release of her RIAA-gold certified debut album, Simply Deep, which reached No. 12 on the Billboard 200 chart. That same year, Ms. Rowland teamed up with Universal Motown hip-hop sensation Nelly for a duet called “Dilemma,” which appeared on his 2002 album, Nellyville. “Dilemma” topped Billboard’s Hot 100 chart and earned two Grammy nominations, including a win for Best Rap/Sung Collaboration. In 2007, Kelly Rowland’s second solo album, Ms. Kelly, hit No. 6 on the Billboard 200 chart and sold more than 1.2 million copies worldwide.

Together with her recent move to Creative Artists Agency, a new management team in place, a new record label, and a worldwide No. 1 hit, “When Love Takes Over,” with acclaimed French dance producer David Guetta, Kelly Rowland is exerting full control over a dazzling career that has already produced millions of album sales, smash hit records, and numerous honors, including three Grammy Awards. Now hailed as the Queen of the Night, she is currently in the studio working on her hotly anticipated Universal Motown debut album, featuring the new international single “Commander,” with David Guetta, in addition to collaborations with Dr. Luke, Stargate, Salaam Remi, Ne-Yo, Rico Love, and Esther Dean.

Check out behind the scenes for the new video Commander

http://umrg.edgeboss.net/qtime/umrg/7518-kellyrowland/_video/behindthescene/behindthescenes.mov
http://umrg.edgeboss.net/wmedia/umrg/7518-kellyrowland/_video/behindthescene/behindthescenes_kelly.wvx

ALexis Jordon: Debut Album

*Press Release*

With all of the stars that fill our sky, there are very few that shine as bright as Star Roc / Roc Nation’s newest signee, Alexis Jordan. With flowing red hair, just as vibrant as her personality, 18 year old Alexis possesses an emotive, awe-inspiring voice that is packed with a power strong enough to brighten our entire world. “I only sing songs that are from my heart,” says the compassionate young woman whose music promotes positivity and self-respect. “Because if I can’t feel it, it’s not going to come out right."

"The moment Alexis walked into our studio we just got that special feeling,” says Tor of the hit making production team, Stargate. “It was a Blink-moment, ‘This girl´s got it, let´s make a record’.” We didn´t know the depths of Alexis at the time, but as we were making the record it became clear to us that not only is she a world class singer, but she is a smart, confident all round entertainer with a big future. Alexis picks records, goes through lyrics, analyzes her every performance. We feel like we found a diamond in the rough. Only it´s not so rough anymore!”

Born in Columbia, South Carolina, Alexis embodies the new spirit of America with her rich cultural background that includes her father’s Puerto Rican heritage and her mother’s African American, Native American and European ancestry. At 11, Alexis moved with her parents and three younger siblings to Santa Clarita, California to pursue a career in the arts. After performing the National Anthem at the local Air Force Academy, the extremely talented, young singing phenomenon started to attract a ton of attention. Soon, she was asked to sing at the start of various professional baseball games, which quickly gave way to bigger and better opportunities.

“When I was 12, I opened up for Smokey Robinson at a Stevie Wonder tribute,” remembers Alexis. “I sang ‘Ribbon In The Sky’ and Stevie was backstage like, ‘You didn’t think I heard you singing my song did you?’ I didn’t know how big of a legend he was but looking back on it now, I can’t believe that I did that! It was such a great experience.”

While she continued to sing at high profile events around the country, Alexis spent the next few years in school, working as a professional actor, appearing on soap operas and commercials. At 14, she entered the Simon Cowell produced T.V. competition, America’s Got Talent and made it all the way to the semi finals thanks in part to a thrilling performance of Whitney Houston’s “I Have Nothing.”

“When I got off stage after singing ‘I Have Nothing’ Simon said, ‘You are an amazing singer,’” says Alexis. “At the time I was crying, like oh my gosh, Simon Cowell! It’s a little girl’s dream to be singing for him so I was just so overwhelmed.”

With sharpened performance skills and more confidence than ever the family traveled to Atlanta for its burgeoning music scene and hotbed of talented producers. Alexis began making youtube videos in between professional appearances. Although it would be these same online clips that would eventually land her the recording deal she wanted, Alexis was never crazy about the idea of singing in front of a computer. “I was like, Mom, this is so not cool!” remembers Alexis. “Kids don’t sing in front of cameras, it’s weird. It didn’t feel natural at all! But after I did it for a little while I thought it was fun.”

In September of 2008, her most popular videos were racking up over a million views apiece. At that time, the multi-platinum, award winning, production and writing team Stargate contacted Alexis. The hit makers responsible for # 1 hits such as Rihanna’s “Take A Bow” and Ne-Yo’s “Miss Independent,” who entered into a partnership with Roc Nation forming Star Roc, made arrangements to fly the multi-talented singer out to New York for a meeting and recording session. “I thought if they didn’t love me then they wouldn’t fly me all the way out to New York,” says Alexis. “I knew I had a good chance. Once I got out there we recorded a few songs and JAY-Z came to the studio. I was so excited! And the next thing I knew I was signed to StarRoc/Roc Nation.”

Now that Alexis has had the chance to work with some of the industry’s most sought after hit makers, she is getting ready to release her debut album which is a universal collection of songs that not only displays her tremendous voice, but also conveys the constructive message she feels is missing in mainstream music today.

On the LP’s first single “Happiness” Alexis belts out a beautiful song about self-joy and empowerment over Stargate’s up-tempo track that will have listeners immediately singing along. “Good Girl” showcases Alexis sassy side as she sings, “I can be a good girl, but I’ve been bad before,” in between the upbeat, bouncing track where Alexis flexes her wide ranging and powerful vocal capability. Then on “How You Like Me Now,” Alexis struts her stuff and let’s us know that success is always within her reach and that she is better than ever.

“I want to be really positive, no cussing, none of that,” says Alexis. “I’m a young artist and I want to be a role model. A lot of songs are upbeat, and some are ballads. There’s a little bit of that country vibe in it, a little bit of that reggae vibe. My album really has everything”

With a debut as diverse as her own background, Alexis Jordan will not only impress each and every person who listens to her album, but she also hopes to inspire them as well.

“I’m bringing something fresh, something new and something positive to the world,” she says. “Something that is going to leave a mark on history and music. We are going to make this international. That’s my goal, it’s going to spread all around the world.”

Watch Alexis Jordan's video for "Happiness."

http://www.alexisjordanofficial.com/
http://www.myspace.com/alexisjordan

StarRoc / Roc Nation / Columbia

Scissor Sisters: NIGHT WORK

*Press Release*

DOWNTOWN RECORDS TO RELEASE NIGHT WORK, THE NEW ALBUM FROM NEW YORK CITY’S
SCISSOR SISTERS, ON JUNE 29TH

“more fuel for the dance floor” – spin.com
“Welcome back to the future, Sisters!” – Rolling Stone

Night Work, the third album from New York City’s Scissor Sisters, will be released in the U.S. on June 29th by Downtown Records, which is distributed by Fontana, Universal Music Group’s independent distribution division. The band, which has sold over seven million albums worldwide, recorded the album in London, the Bahamas and New York City, working for the first time with an outside producer, Stuart Price (The Killers, Madonna).

Spin.com hailed Night Work as “more fuel for the dance floor” while Rolling Stone awarded three-and-a-half stars to album closer “Invisible Light,” praising Jake Shears’ “deep-throated New Wave-y vocal about ‘the doors of Babylon’ and an ‘opiate utopia.’ Welcome back to the future, Sisters!” Praising the “throbbing disco jam,” ew.com found Shears “in fine vocal form” and Sir Ian McKellen’s spoken-word interlude “awesome.” (The Harlem Gospel Choir is also featured on the track.)

From the album cover – a spandex-covered derriere shot by Robert Mapplethorpe – to its contents, Night Work pays homage to the club scene of the 1970’s and 80’s. Additional images by the iconic New York photographer, who died in 1989, will be used as covers for each of Night Work’s singles. Fans can get a sneak preview of the euphoric “Fire With Fire,” the album’s lead single, at http://www.scissorsisters.com/. While inspired by the past, Night Work is really about an alternate future, a glorious imagining of where the music might have taken us.

“So much was progressive and being pushed and something was on fire,” says Shears of the period. “And then the party stopped in a way that couldn’t have been more dramatic. A whole generation was wiped out. Where was Sylvester, Frankie, all that heading? What if music hadn’t stopped dead in its tracks? What if you could pick up where that left off?”

In the process of answering these questions, Scissor Sisters – comprising Shears, Ana Matronic (vocals), Babydaddy (guitar/bass/keyboards) and Del Marquis (guitar) – have nailed their own sound and rekindled the magic that led Rolling Stone to christen them “one of the most improbable and endearing success stories of recent years.”

Scissor Sisters will play second to headline at the Glastonbury Festival on June 26th and will headline the iTunes Festival at The Roundhouse in London on July 1st. See below for a detailed U.K. itinerary. U.S. tour dates will be announced shortly.

The band’s self-titled first album, which allmusic.com called “one of the catchiest debuts of the new millennium,” was the best-selling album in the UK in 2004 and earned the band three BRIT awards the following year. Stateside, Scissor Sisters performed on “Saturday Night Live” and enjoyed success at pop radio with “Take Your Mama,” which was licensed by numerous TV shows. Ta-Dah, released in 2006, debuted at No. 1 on the UK album chart while lead track “I Don’t Feel Like Dancin’” simultaneously topped the UK singles chart.

Preview two tracks taken from Night Work http://www.downtownmusic.com/scissorsisters/streams/

The track listing for Night Work is as follows:

1. Night Work
2. Whole New Way
3. Fire With Fire
4. Any Which Way
5. Harder You Get
6. Running Out
7. Something Like This
8. Skin This Cat
9. Skin Tight
10. Sex and Violence
11. Night Life
12. Invisible Light

www.scissorsisters.com

Leela James: My Soul

*Press Release*

LEELA JAMES DIGS THE ROOTS OF SOUL ON HER STAX DEBUT

My Soul set for release on May 25, 2010

From the very first track on her 2005 debut album Leela James has captured the gritty, emotion-drenched essence of artists like Aretha Franklin, Stevie Wonder, Mavis Staples, Marvin Gaye and has made it her mission to bring it all back – pushing the music forward with a fresh, contemporary perspective that remains faithful to the music’s deep and powerful roots.

My Soul, set for release on May 25 , 2010, marks Leela James’ debut on Stax Records, a division of Concord Music Group. The move to Stax – the legendary home of some of the greatest soul and R&B artists of the past half-century – is a fitting destination for a vocalist who has committed herself to preserving the soul tradition.

The new album comes on the heels of high praise from soultracks.com, the online source for all things soul and R&B, who recently bestowed a 2009 Readers’ Choice Awards to James in the category of Female Vocalist of the Year. Indeed, James has come to own the music that has inspired her since her teenage years. Her commanding live performances have become can’t-miss thrillers, placing her among today’s most electrifying international concert draws.

“The title of the album pretty much says it all,” she explains. “I just wanted to go into the studio and do what moved me at the time, and not think about it too much or not allow it to be something that was too planned. That’s what great soul music has always been about from the very beginning – something very raw, very authentic and very true.”

The first single off My Soul is “Tell Me You Love Me,” a track that James co-wrote with Andrea Martin and Gordon Williams. The track was produced by rap and hip-hop producer Gerrard Baker (Toni Braxton, Billy Crawford, Masta Ace), who deftly inserts a sample of James riffing on a line from “Then You Can Tell Me Goodbye,” the classic ballad made popular among soul audiences by the Manhattans in 1978.

“This is one of my favorite tracks on the record,” says James. “It’s a song about someone who’s really trying to make love work, which is the same message you hear in ‘Then You Can Tell Me Goodbye.’ Great songs are great songs, no matter when they’re recorded, or by whom. And sometimes two great songs blend together well, like they do here.”

Other noteworthy tracks on My Soul include the churning opener, “Ain’t New To This” (also produced by Baker), a proud and defiant declaration of survival in the minefield known as the music business; and the bouncy “Party All Night,” penned by James and produced by Carl “Chucky” Thompson, who previously worked with Leela on 2005’s Change Is Gonna Come. Other notable producers on that debut record were Kanye West and Commissioner Gordon among others.

Thompson also handled the production of “Mr. Incredible, Ms. Unforgettable,” a sultry duet between James and vocalist Raheem DeVaughn. “Raheem and I are good friends, and we’d been talking for some time about doing something together,” says James. “We finally happened to be in the same place at the same time, and we just made it happen. It really wasn’t something that we planned. It was just something spontaneous that took its own course.”

Aside from Baker and Thompson, James enlists the services of a number of other producers on My Soul, including Kadis & Sean (“So Cold”), Carvin & Ivan (“It’s Over,” “If It’s Wrong”), Steven “Supe” White (“The Fact Is”), Ray Murray (“I Want It All”) and Butter (“Supa Luva”).

While James may have been surrounded by talent in the making of My Soul, the record is ultimately her personal statement – not just about the music’s rich past but about its present and its future as well. Her arrival at Stax may position her among legends, but she’s well aware that she still has much to do and say.

“To be on the premier soul label is a validation of what I’ve accomplished with my music and what I stand for,” she says. “I’ve always been a champion for this music. This album is my version of soul. It’s my experience of soul. It’s what soul means to me, and I want to share it with you.”



http://leelajames.com/
http://www.myspace.com/leelajames

Lilith 2010 Tour Compilation

*Press Release*

LILITH 2010 TOUR COMPILATION
AVAILABLE IN STORES JUNE 15, 2010

A Celebration of Women in Music, Lilith 2010 Debuts a 16 Song Collection From this Year’s Incredible Array of Female Musicians


(New York - May 17, 2010) Lilith Fair Productions/Arista Records announces today the release of LILITH 2010 TOUR COMPILATION, a collection of 16 tracks from a talented array of artists performing on Lilith 2010, in stores on June 15th, 2010.

This special collection offers an abundant selection of songs from some of Lilith 2010’s most anticipated performances including Rihanna’s “Russian Roulette,” Ke$ha’s “TiK ToK,” Court Yard Hounds’ “The Coast,” Colbie Caillat’s “Fallin' For You,” to Norah Jones’ “Chasing Pirates,” Corinne Bailey Rae’s “The Blackest Lily,” as well as Lilith co-founder Sarah McLachlan’s “One Dream,” to name a few album highlights.

“This compilation represents an amazing cross section of artists performing on Lilith in 2010. Simply great music,” comments Lilith co-founder Terry McBride.
After an 11 year hiatus, Lilith Tour 2010, a celebration of women in music, returns this summer kicking off on June 27th in Calgary and wrapping on August 16th in Dallas, TX. Visit LilithFair.com and LiveNation.com for more information and tickets in your area.
From 1997 through 1999, Lilith Fair was one of the highest grossing touring festivals in the world, with over 1.5 million fans in attendance and raised over $10 million dollars for national and local charities. Founded by Grammy-award winning recording artist Sarah McLachlan along with Dan Fraser, Marty Diamond and Terry McBride, Lilith Fair was the only tour of its kind—a celebration of women in music featuring artists like Sheryl Crow, Christina Aguilera, Erykah Badu, The Dixie Chicks, Missy Elliott, The Pretenders, Nelly Furtado, Jewel, Queen Latifah, Indigo Girls, Tegan and Sara, and of course, Sarah McLachlan.

LILITH 2010 TOUR COMPILATION
Track Listing:
1. Sarah McLachlan – One Dream
2. Court Yard Hounds - The Coast
3. Colbie Caillat - Fallin' For You
4. Kelly Clarkson - Already Gone
5. Ke$ha- TiK ToK
6. Rihanna - Russian Roulette
7. Ash Koley - Brighter at Night
8. Tegan and Sara – Hell
9. Sara Bareilles - Love Song
10. Brandi Carlile – Dreams
11. Kate Miller-Heidke - Caught in the Crowd
12. Chantal Kreviazuk – Wonderful
13. The Weepies - I Was Made for Sunny Days
14. Nneka - The Uncomfortable Truth
15. Corinne Bailey Rae - The Blackest Lily
16. Norah Jones - Chasing Pirates


Full list of artists performing on Lilith 2010 announced so far (visit LilithFair.com to view artist pages):

A Fine Frenzy, Ali Milner, Anjulie, Ann Atomic, Anya Marina, Ash Koley, The Bangles, Beth Orton, Brandi Carlile, Butterfly Boucher, Caitlin Crosby, Cara Salimando, Carly Simon, Cat Power, Ceci Bastida, Chairlift, Chantal Kreviazuk, Colbie Caillat, Corinne Bailey Rae, Court Yard Hounds, Debi Nova, Donna Delory, Elizaveta, Elisapie Isaac, Emmylou Harris, Erin McCarley, Erykah Badu, Frazey Ford, The Go-Go’s, Gossip, Grace Potter and The Nocturnals, Hannah Georgas, Heart, Ima, Indigo Girls, Ingrid Michaelson, Janelle Monae, Jenni Rivera, Jennifer Knapp, Jesca Hoop, Jill Hennessy, Jill Scott, Julia Othmer, Kate Miller-Heidke, Kate Morgan, Kate Nash Katzenjammer, Kelly Clarkson, Ke$ha, Kina, La Roux, Lights, Lissie, Loretta Lynn, Lucy Schwartz, Marina & The Diamonds, Martina McBride, Mary J. Blige, Meaghan Smith, Melissa McClelland, Metric, Miranda Lambert, Miranda Lee Richards, Missy Higgins, Nikki Jean, Nneka, Norah Jones, Priscilla Renea, Queen Latifah, The Rescues, Rihanna, Rosie Thomas, Sara Bareilles, Sarah McLachlan, Selena Gomez, Serena Ryder, Shel, Sheryl Crow, Sia, Sugarland, Susan Justice, Suzanne Vega, Tara MacLean, Tegan and Sara, Toby Lightman, Vedera, Vita Chambers, The Submarines, The Weepies, Ximena Sarinana, Zee Avi

Cyndi Lauper: Memphis Blues

**Press Release**

CYNDI LAUPER TO RELEASE MEMPHIS BLUES

Iconic Performer Re-invents Herself on New Album featuring B.B. King, Jonny Lang, Allen Toussaint and many others.

Memphis Blues out June 22nd on Downtown Records

(New York, NY – April 26, 2010) – Iconic performer and musical chameleon Cyndi Lauper will release Memphis Blues on June 22nd on Downtown Records. The collection of blues cover songs, recorded this March at Electraphonic Studios in Memphis, Tennessee, features appearances by such great artists as B.B. King, Jonny Lang, Allen Toussaint, Ann Peebles and Charlie Musselwhite.

“This is the album I’ve wanted to make for years,” said Lauper. “All of these beautiful songs, and all of the great players on the album, were carefully chosen because I’ve admired them my entire life. And I knew from the moment Alan Toussaint hit the keys in ‘Shattered Dreams’ that we were creating something really special.”

The feel of Memphis Blues is gritty and full of life. It bristles with the kind of energy that earmarked the hit singles invented on the fly at Stax Records, the historic and spiritual prototype for Electraphonic, where musicians of multiple generations work side-by-side creating soul-driven anthems for the brokenhearted, the unrequited, and the overlooked.

Lauper, who traveled from New York to Memphis to set up camp at Electraphonic Recording Studio, assembled a team of crackerjack session players to cut the way she knew this record had to be done: live, analog, with Cyndi herself calling out arrangements on the studio floor.

Produced by Scott Bomar and mixed by longtime collaborator William Wittman, Memphis Blues features appearances by a veritable dream team of blues and soul greats, including harmonica master Charlie Musselwhite, vocalist Ann “I Can’t Stand the Rain” Peebles, brilliant Crescent City organist Allen Toussaint, and hotshot guitar heroes Jonny Lang and legend B.B. King.

Memphis Blues session players include Stax veterans Lester Snell and Skip Pitts, and Hi Rhythm Section alums Leroy Hodges and Howard Grimes, studio careerists who cut their teeth recording with the likes of Isaac Hayes and Al Green. Along with the punctuating blasts provided by trumpeter Marc Franklin, baritone saxophonist Kirk Smother, and tenor saxman Derrick Williams, they provided a steadfast foundation for Lauper’s impeccable vocals.

Ranging from the harmonica blues ballad “Just Your Fool,” to “Don’t Cry No More,” originally a hit for Bobby “Blue” Bland, Cyndi starts with a slow burn and then pours on the gasoline, giving “Rollin’ And Tumblin’” an authentic hill country blues read and collaborating with the one and only B.B. King on the up-tempo Louis Jordan raver “Early in the Morning.”

As demonstrated by her scorching, tell-it-like-it-is renderings of Memphis Slim’s “Mother Earth” and Lowell Fulsom’s “Shattered Dreams,” even Cyndi’s topical themes – which, on past albums, have addressed homophobia and racism – are stripped away as she focuses on the most basic problem to plague humankind: love, and the havoc wreaked because of it.

About Cyndi Lauper
After 25 million albums sold, 13 Grammy Award nominations, two Emmy Awards, two American Music Awards, and 18 MTV Video Music Awards, Cyndi Lauper continues to lead as a singer, songwriter, musician, actress, and activist. Her most recent studio album, 2008’s dance-oriented, Grammy-nominated Bring Ya to the Brink, featured collaborations with a cadre of cutting-edge producers and spawned two No. 1 Billboard Hot Dance Club Play singles. In 2009, the long-time actress appeared on such red-hot television shows as 30 Rock, Gossip Girl, Bones, and American Idol (performing with contestant Allison Iraheta), and was a surprise guest at the resurrected concert event “VH1 Divas.” In addition to her love of performing, Lauper is unwavering in her commitment to social activism, creating the True Colors Fund as a show of solidarity against discrimination and to raise awareness about the issues facing the GLBT population. Lauper is also writing her autobiography in which she takes readers on a journey through her colorful life, to be released next year by Simon & Shuster.

Memphis Blues track listing:
1. I'm Just Your Fool (feat. Charlie Musselwhite)
2. Shattered Dreams (feat. Allen Toussaint)
3. Early in the Morning (feat. Allen Toussaint & B.B. King)
4. Romance in the Dark
5. How Blue Can You Get (feat. Jonny Lang)
6. Down Don't Bother Me (feat. Charlie Musselwhite)
7. Don't Cry No More
8. Rollin and Tumblin’ (feat. Kenny Brown and Ann Peebles)
9. Down So Low
10. Mother Earth (feat. Allen Toussaint)
11. Cross Roads (feat. Jonny Lang)
12. Wild Women Don't Get the Blues

For more information visit:
Official website: cyndilauper.com
Official Twitter: twitter.com/shebop_aka_cyn

Sarah McLachlan: New Single and Album

**Press Release**

CHECK OUT SARAH MCLACHLAN’S NEW SINGLE (AND COVER ART) “LOVING YOU IS EASY”

AVAILABLE MAY 4TH

SARAH’S HIGHLY-ANTICIPATED NEW ALBUM THE LAWS OF ILLUSION IN STORES JUNE 15TH, 2010!!!

CHECK OUT WWW.SARAHMCLACHLAN.COM FOR MORE INFO.

Marina & The Diamonds: The Family Jewels

**Press Release**

MARINA & THE DIAMONDS’ “THE FAMILY JEWELS” DEBUTS TOP 5 IN THE UK; ACCLAIMED POP SENSATION SLATES U.S. RELEASE, “THE FAMILY JEWELS” ARRIVES EVERYWHERE ON MAY 25th

Chop Shop /Atlantic Records has announced the upcoming release of “THE FAMILY JEWELS,” the dazzling debut album from Marina & The Diamonds which made a stunning chart debut this week at #5 in the U.K. The collection will arrive stateside on May 25th.

“THE FAMILY JEWELS” will be heralded by “THE AMERICAN JEWELS EP,” a three-track EP featuring the album tracks “I Am Not A Robot” and “Mowgli’s Road,” alongside the exclusive “I Am Not a Robot Flex'd Rework (Passion Pit Remix).” “THE AMERICAN JEWELS” available at all DSPs on March 23rd.

Marina & The Diamonds – the nom de musique of Marina Diamandis – has quickly become a sensation in the UK, where Diamandis was recently named the #2 artist on the BBC’s ever-prescient “Sound of 2010” ranking. Dividing her time between her birthplace of Abergavenny in rural Wales, London and later her father’s traditional family home in Greece, Diamandis developed a truly idiosyncratic aesthetic, equal parts self-deprecating songstress, unabashedly intimate lyricist, and passionate pop star-in-waiting. A sequence of ’09 singles and EPs – released on the influential UK indie label, Neon Gold (Passion Pit, Ellie Goulding, Your Twenties) – earned her a steady stream of admirers, both public and in the press, all in thrall to Marina’s extraordinarily prodigious talent.

What’s more, Marina & The Diamonds will be among the artists appearing on this summer’s 2010 Lilith Tour, joining a remarkable line-up that includes Sarah MacLachlan, Norah Jones, Mary J. Blige, Loretta Lynn, Tegan & Sara, Janelle Monáe, Colbie Caillat, and many others.
Highlighted by the UK Top 20 hit single, “Hollywood,” “THE FAMILY JEWELS” is proving an early contender for 2010’s most distinctive debut. Songs like the dramatic “Oh No!” (produced by Greg Kurstin of The Bird And The Bee), “Obsessions” and the boldly ambitious “Mowgli’s Road” see Marina gleefully melding the theatrically lavish vocal and orchestral flourishes of Kate Bush with the wonderful pop eccentricity of everyone from Sparks to the Scissor Sisters.

“Astonishing,” declared NME of “THE FAMILY JEWELS” in its nine-out-of-10 rave. “Raining down on the ears like an explosion of sonic confetti, (“Hollywood”) boasts a chorus so killer it should probably be investigated by the police.” The Times’ Pete Paphides awarded the album four-out-of-five stars, praising it for “parachuting you into the world of a singer who wants your attention but hates compartmentalization.” The Telegraph decreed “THE FAMILY JEWELS” an “arch, clever debut,” hailing Marina for having “a larger-than-life quality, coming on like a drama queen using her personal neuroses as a prism through which to view the world.”

www.marinaandthediamonds.com

Lilith Fair 2010 dates announced

7/1 - Vancouver, BC - Pitt Meadows Airport
7/2 - Portland, OR - The Amphitheater at Clark County
7/3 - Seattle, WA - The Gorge Amphitheatre
7/7 - San Diego, CA - Cricket Wireless Amphitheatre
7/10 - Los Angeles, CA - Verizon Wireless Amphitheater

She's redefining songs about coming of age, and the aftermath,
with bluntness and crafty intelligence." -The New York Times

"Marina has dance-pop hooks galore, a dramatically swooping voice, and very real magnetism.
Whether you know it yet or not, she's a star." -Entertainment Weekly

Marina And The Diamonds' debut album The Family Jewels available in the U.S. Tuesday, May 25th (Chop Shop/Atlantic)

Christina Aguilera New Album: BIONIC

**Press Release**

FIVE TIME GRAMMY AWARD WINNING RECORDING ARTIST CHRISTINA AGUILERA TO RELEASE NEW ALBUM “BIONIC” ON JUNE 8TH

FIRST SINGLE “NOT MYSELF TONIGHT” PREMIERED ON CHRISTINAAGUILERA.COM AND AVAILABLE ON iTUNES ON NOW

With 30 million albums sold worldwide and the prestigious honor of being the only artist under the age of 30 included in Rolling Stone Magazine’s list of the 100 greatest singers of all time, 5 time Grammy Award winner Christina Aguilera has already achieved an unprecedented level of success. Aguilera’s been hard at work in the studio for the past year and is pleased to announce the release of her highly anticipated 4th studio album Bionic (RCA Records) on June 8th. The first single from Bionic is the fiercely energetic anthem “Not Myself Tonight”, produced by Polow Da Don. The song premiered on ChristinaAguilera.com and available on iTunes on now.

Bionic features songs co-written by Aguilera along with her much buzzed about collaborations including Sia, Tricky Stewart, Polow Da Don, Le Tigre, Hill & Switch, and Ladytron among others. Aguilera notes, “Working on this album with so many talented artists and producers that I admire was really an amazing experience. The artists I chose to work with added so many unique sonic layers to Bionic. My intention was to step into their world and what they do combined with my own vision and sound. The results were magic.” The album also features a ballad produced and written by Linda Perry titled “Lift Me Up”. The title Bionic reflects Aguilera’s ability to take her range to new levels and use her voice in various ways never heard before.

Aguilera describes the album as a unique mix of many genres and styles of music, “I was able to explore and create a fresh, sexy feel using both electronic and organic elements with subject matter ranging from playful to introspective. I am so excited for my fans to hear the new sound. It is something I don’t think anyone will expect.”

In addition to completing the album which was all recorded from her home studio after the birth of her first son, Christina also completed production on her first film, “Burlesque.” The film, which co-stars Cher, Stanley Tucci, and Kristen Bell will be released by ScreenGems this fall.

http://www.christinaaguilera.com/

MACY GRAY RETURNS WITH: THE SELLOUT

**Press Release**

Celebrated Performer’s First New Album in 3 Years Due on June 22nd from Concord Records in US, Island Records in UK

Concord Records is proud to announce the release of Macy Gray’s new album, entitled The Sellout, on June 22, 2010.

The Sellout is the Grammy Award winning singer / songwriter's first album in more than 3 years and will be released by Concord Records in the U.S., Island Records in the U.K. and Universal Music Group, internationally.

The Sellout, featuring 12 new songs, was co-written and executive produced by Gray in Los Angeles throughout 2009. The album was mixed by four- time Grammy Award winning mixer Manny Marroquin whose credits include top 10 singles for Lady Gaga, Jay Z, Rihanna, Alicia Keyes, Kanye West and John Mayer. Collaborators on the album include Bobby Brown, The Bodyrockers’ Kaz James and Slash, Duff McKagan and Matt Sorum formerly of Guns N' Roses and Velvet Revolver.

It’s clear from opening moments of the record’s first single, the irresistibly anthemic “Beauty In The World”, that The Sellout is the work of an artist who has reconnected with the essence of her creative gifts after a long, soul-numbing journey through the music biz’s star-making machinery. "The Sellout tells the story of how I found my salvation in just being myself instead of who other people thought I should be,” said the striking singer. “I had got to a place in my career where I tried everything that was asked of me and in doing so I lost sight of who Macy Gray really is. I spent over a year making this album without any pressure or opinions and being able to choose the co-writers, producers and artists that felt good to me. As a result, it really reflects my true identity. I feel like I have finally made the album I was capable of and that my fans wanted. These are some of my favorite songs that I’ve written.”

Sparkling melodies and personal lyrical insights dazzle throughout The Sellout, an authentic and confidently delivered statement from one of contemporary music’s most skillful and creative forces. The highlights are rich and plentiful including the alluring, soul-pop groove of “Lately”, “That Man” a mouth-watering slice of Ting Ting’s inflected 80’s new-wave, the Joan Jett meets T- Rex thump and screaming Slash guitar of “Kissed It”, and the beguiling, “Still Hurts”, a vulnerable, emotion filled keep-sake ballad, just to name a few.

Macy Gray first burst onto the music scene with her debut album On How Life Is and the massive hit single “I Try" both of which went number 1 all over the world. The album went on to sell 7 million copies worldwide with Gray winning a Grammy for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance and an MTV Video Music Award for Best New Artist. Macy Gray has gone on to sell more than 15,000,000 albums worldwide and has been nominated for 5 Grammy Awards and 6 MTV Video Music Awards. She has collaborated on stage and in the recording studio with some of music’s greatest artists including Justin Timberlake, Common, Outkast, Rick Rubin, Carlos Santana, Erykah Badu, Fergie, will.i.am, John Frusciante (of Red Hot Chili Peppers), Nas, Mos Def and Natalie Cole, among many others. She has also appeared in numerous films including Training Day, Spider Man, Idlewild and the award winning HBO Film Lackawanna Blues.

Further details on The Sellout and Macy Gray's forthcoming world tour will be announced soon.

http://www.macygray.com/

http://www.myspace.com/macygray

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Hot Chip - I Feel Better

Little Boots - HANDS

SET TO RELEASE MUCH-ANTICIPATED FULL-LENGTH ALBUM: HANDS

MARCH 2nd ON ELEKTRA RECORDS

U.S. TOUR DATES TO KICK OFF WITH ALBUM RELEASE SHOW AT NYC’S HIGHLINE BALLROOM

British dance-pop sensation Little Boots will release her much- anticipated full-length album debut, “HANDS” in the U.S. and Canada March 2nd, 2010 on Elektra Records. “HANDS” which was released in June ’09 in the UK, features the hit songs “Stuck on Repeat”, “New In Town” and current single, “Remedy” which the NY Post recently praised as a “synth-pop gem” and named one of their “Top 209 songs of 2009.” Beginning today, “HANDS” will be available for preorder as CD and limited edition vinyl at: http://store.elektra.com/collections/little-boots-us-webstore

Little Boots- known to her family and friends as Victoria Hesketh- is without question the most talked-about new UK pop star of 2009. She was named one of NME’s Best New Artists of the year, won a BRITs Critic’s Choice Award and BBC’s distinguished “Sound of 2009” poll and is the first artist to have appeared on the Jools Holland show TWICE before an album release. Here in the U.S. Rolling Stone named Little Boots as one of their prestigious “Artists to Watch” and Nylon Magazine hailed, “Synth sensation Victoria Hesketh a.k.a. Little Boots is poised to reinvent pop one small dance step at a time.”

The Blackpool-born performer first captured attention as a member of electro-indie combo Dead Disco. Opting to pursue a solo career as Little Boots, she assembled an arsenal of synths and began airing her developing work on YouTube for all to see. Earlier this year Little Boots’ U.S. only “ILLUMINATIONS” EP was released and served as an ideal introduction to her acclaimed brand of futuristic electro-pop. The five-track EP featured rare and exclusive tracks including the irrepressible anthem, “Stuck on Repeat” which started it all.

Little Boots, who completed a 5-city sold-out U.S. tour in the fall, will be back to kick off a North American headlining run March 2nd at NYC’s Highline Ballroom. (See below for listing of announced dates—many more to come). Little Boots has been touring non stop around the globe for the last year playing major headline shows as well as hitting 33 of the summer festivals including the UK’s prestigious Glastonbury, Reading and Leeds’ Festivals, Scotland’s T-In The Park, Japan’s Summersonic and Denmark’s Roskilde amongst many others.

For more information please visit:
www.littlebootsmusic.net/
www.myspace.com/littlebootsmusic





Little Boots North American Tour Dates (more to be announced)

March 2 Highline Ballroom New York, NY**
March 5 Venue Vancouver, BC***
March 6 Neumos Seattle, WA*
March 7 Hawthorne Theatre Portland, OR*
March 9 The Fillmore Auditorium San Francisco,CA*
March 10 El Rey Theatre Los Angeles, CA*
March 12 The Glass House Pomona, CA*
March 13 The Casbah San Diego, CA*

* With Dragonette & Fan Death
** With Fan Death& Body Language
*** With Fan Death

Mariah Carey: New Holiday Season Remixes

MARIAH CAREY & LEGACY RECORDINGS
CELEBRATE 2009 HOLIDAY SEASON WITH NEW DANCE MIX OF "ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS IS YOU"

1) Mariah Carey "All I Want For Christmas Is You" (Mariah's New Dance Mix) - 4:59
2) Mariah Carey "All I Want For Christmas Is You" (Mariah's New Dance Mix Radio Edit) - 3:35
3) Mariah Carey "All I Want For Christmas Is You" (Mariah's New Dance Mix Extended Version) - 6:42
4) Mariah Carey "All I Want For Christmas Is You" (Original Version)


Mariah's New Mix of Perennial Holiday Classic Available Through All Major Digital Service Providers On November 23, 2009

Angie Stone: Unexpected

ANGIE STONE EXPECTS THE ‘UNEXPECTED’ ON NOVEMBER 23rd

R&B Star’s New Album is 2nd for Legendary Soul Label Stax Records

R&B/soul luminary Angie Stone has never shied away from pushing her own limits and the limits of her music. With each new recording, with each next step in her career, she has consistently hit the world with something it didn’t see coming. Her new album, Unexpected, set for release on November 24th from Stax Records (a division of Concord Music Group), encompasses a diversity of styles and influences that Stone has distilled over the years – rap, R&B, soul, funk and more – and weaves them together in a narrative that addresses life’s ups and downs, but ultimately strikes a redemptive chord.

“I wanted this album to be something different,” says Stone, whose 2007 Stax debut, The Art of Love & War, was her first album to top Billboard’s R&B/hip-hop chart. “I didn’t want to make the kind of neo-soul record I had made in the past. That would have been repetitive.”

But in the midst of mapping this new direction, Stone encountered a shock that even she didn’t see coming. Mid-way through the recording process, her father – Stone’s spiritual anchor and creative mentor since her childhood in South Carolina – passed away very suddenly. “It was totally unexpected,” she says, “and that’s where I came up with the title of the album. I really didn’t think I could finish the project, because I was so grief stricken…I had to do a lot of the vocals a second time. I had to lean on my dad’s wisdom and energy, and try to be open to what he would have wanted me to do in order to finish the songs. I can say that his spirit was literally there in the studio with me, and I’m grateful for that.”

Out of this tragedy comes Unexpected, the next step forward for Stone, a stretch beyond whatever limits – real or perceived – she might have been facing when the project began. From the get-go, the quick and funky title track – with its backbeat inspired by Sly Stone’s 1971 hit, “Family Affair” – warns the listener to “Prepare yourself for just about anything.” Equally energetic is the album’s first single, “I Ain’t Hearin’ U,” a song that decries rumor and gossip. The track is co-written by vocalist and songwriter Juanita Wynn, Stone’s collaborative partner for several years.

“I Don’t Care” is a proclamation of self-acceptance and self-assurance, based on sound spiritual advice that Stone received early on: “My dad always used to tell me, ‘Don’t worry about what people say. They can’t change anything. Whatever God wants for you is most important.” “Tell Me” settles into a techno groove wherein the dual vocals by Stone and Wynn – artfully co-produced by Kerrim “Ikon” King and Fitzroy “Art Teacher” Reid – create a wall of sound that’s augmented by an edgy delivery from rapper Dose.

“Think Sometimes” is a poignant ballad inspired in large part by Stone’s late father. “It’s funny how people can slip away so fast, and suddenly they’re in your past,” she says. “You wonder about what you could have – or should have – done differently. It’ll make you think sometimes.”

Unexpected represents a turning point for Angie Stone – not just in her career, but in her life and her world view. And while the losses that triggered the transformation may be painful, the artist and her work are stronger because of them. “This album is something that no one would have anticipated coming from me. My father always encouraged me and everyone else he knew to reach out and make a leap of faith, and that’s exactly what I’ve done.”

angiestoneonline.net

Shakira: She Wolf

SHAKIRA

"I'm a little more in touch with my desires," Shakira recently said, "and a little more empowered, or encouraged, to satisfy those desires and set them free."

One of the few truly global superstars of our time, Shakira is extending her reach with her eighth studio album, SHE WOLF. The daring, innovative project is the long-awaited follow-up to 2005's groundbreaking one-two punch comprised of Fijacion Oral, Volume 1 and Oral Fixation, Volume 2, a pair of albums which combined to sell over 12 million copies worldwide and secured the young Colombian-born singer's place among pop music royalty.

SHE WOLF reveals, however, that despite her triumphs on the charts, and her increasingly ambitious off-stage role as an activist and philanthropist, Shakira's heart has stayed close to the dance floor. Co-writing and producing this album, Shakira worked with a diverse range of superstar producers and songwriters—most notably, Pharrell Williams and the Neptunes, but also Wyclef Jean, Timbaland and John Hill —she has created an irresistible set of deceptively rich, club-ready tracks.

"My biggest motivation was to make an album that people could just have fun with, and forget about their troubles," she recently said. "Now I can use music for the purpose it's created for—to amuse and entertain people, and also express other feelings, but things that are more personal."

Her musical style can be called “pop fusion,” characterized by her eclectic tastes, from Middle Eastern beats to heavy metal guitars—and new songs like the slinky, percussive "Long Time" or the rocked-up kiss-off "Mon Amour" illustrate her commitment to remaining a sonic omnivore. It's a long way from the folk-tinged intro of "Gypsy" to the full-on disco breaks of "Men In This Town" or her work with Hossam Ramzy of Led Zeppelin’s Kashmir fame arranging the Egyptian orchestra on “Why Wait,” but Shakira's voice and attitude make it all feel cohesive. SHE WOLF's title track, with its New Wave synth-pop sound and characteristically off-center lyrics ("darling it is no joke, this is lycanthropy") is already a multi-format smash in both English and Spanish ("Loba") versions.

“This was a sonic experimental trip. I wanted to play around with electronica, beats, synthesizers and I began to research folk from other countries looking for new influences that allowed me to combine electronics with world sounds, tambourines, clarinets, oriental and Hindu music, dancehall, etc.,” she has said. “You never know the final destination of a creative project, but from the beginning I wanted to make sure that this album had a very strong foundation. I wanted it to be very bass-driven, and to make sure the kicks hit really hard.”

During her fifteen-year career, Shakira has always been fearless in blending musical genres and sounds; in concert, she moves easily from belly-dancing to shouting out covers of AC/DC and Aerosmith songs. Recording sessions for SHE WOLF circled the globe, taking Shakira from New York to Paris, from Cairo to the Bahamas, and saw her cut dozens of songs before settling on a final album.

Shakira has said that she considers both "She Wolf" and its ultra-sexy video, “symbolic of the woman of our time, who knows what she wants and defends her individual liberties with teeth and claws, who rebels against the limitations that society and our own culture places on her." Indeed, though the album is geared for dancing, and devoted largely to matters of the heart and the bedroom, a deeper theme is also apparent in many of the songs, which examine issues of identity and role-playing. "My music always reflects my state of mind," she has said. “I’m in a more liberated place right now. I feel more solid as a person, as a woman.”

This sense of artistic exploration is no surprise coming from a woman who began writing songs at the age of eight, learned to speak English by studying the work of Bob Dylan, Leonard Cohen, and Walt Whitman, and took history classes at UCLA during her break between albums. The compassionate side of Shakira is most obvious in the remarkable work of her Pies Descalzos (Barefoot) Foundation, which she started at the age of 18 and has now opened it’s fifth school. The foundation currently provides education and nutrition to over six thousand impoverished children in Colombia and is working to expand its work to other countries.

"We shouldn’t think of this as charity” she said “every child has talent to be developed and the potential to become a productive member of society. Education is a powerful tool to unlock those talents—and to break the cycle of poverty that too often traps them.” Shakira has also become a leading advocate for universal education, speaking to world leaders on the topic and advocating policy change to governments around the world.

Over the course of her career, Grammy winner Shakira has sold close to fifty million albums. Her collaborations with such stars as Beyonce and Alejandro Sanz have helped keep her audience expanding continually. She is the only artist from South America to have a Number One song in the US, and her performance was a highlight of the concert celebrating President Obama's inauguration. She has four of the twenty top-selling hits of the decade, more than any other artist—and that includes 2006's unforgettable "Hips Don't Lie," the biggest-selling single of the 21st Century, which reached the Number One spot in an astonishing 55 countries.

Renowned for her power and presence as a live performer, Shakira is gearing up for the release of a Spanish language album in the coming months, and a world tour in 2010. After dedicating some time to her concerns away from the spotlight, it's clear that Shakira's passion as an artist is as strong as ever, and SHE WOLF stands as proof that she will remain front and center on the global stage for a long time to come.

"When I look back, I can't believe the path behind me," she has said, "I always feel like I haven't really done anything. It's been 20 years, but I still care about my career. I care about the music."

Shakira “She Wolf” (EPIC RECORDS/SONY MUSIC) available Nov 23, 2009

Click here to view the video for "She Wolf"
taken from SHE WOLF (Epic/Sony Music) available Nov 23rd
www.shakira.com

Lady Gaga: The Fame Monster

LADY GAGA RETURNS WITH 8 NEW SONGS ON THE FAME MONSTER

Lady Gaga will release The Fame Monster on Nov 23rd. The album will include the 4 million-selling album The Fame, along with eight entirely new songs. The Fame Monster (Streamline/KonLive/Cherrytree/Interscope Records), deals with the seamier side of fame, as experienced by Gaga over the course of her last history-making year.

Says Lady Gaga, "On The Fame Monster, I wrote about everything I didn't write on The Fame. While traveling the world for two years, I've encountered several monsters, each represented by a different song on the new record: my ‘Fear of Sex Monster,’ my ‘Fear of Alcohol Monster,’ my ‘Fear of Love Monster,’ my ‘Fear of Death Monster,’ my ‘Fear of Loneliness Monster,’ etc.”

“I spent a lot of nights in Eastern Europe, and this album is a pop experimentation with industrial/Goth beats, 90's dance melodies, an obsession with the lyrical genius of 80's melancholic pop, and the runway. I wrote while watching muted fashion shows and I am compelled to say my music was scored for them. I also composed a ballad for the album, ‘Speechless,’ a song for my father, and it's my favorite work of all. I wrote every piece on the road - no songs about money, no songs about fame. I wrote it for my fans, so I wrote everything in between."

The Fame Monster is a two-disc set with artwork shot by renowned fashion designer and photographer Hedi Slimane. The release will see two iconic covers – one limited to an initial run of 10,000 copies. A super-deluxe magazine-style edition will release on December 15th just in time for the holidays, including extra elements and never-before-seen photos of Lady Gaga: from the artist herself and loyal fans worldwide.

“Bad Romance” is the first club-banging single produced by RedOne. Included in the eight new songs is a duet with superstar Beyonce, the Rodney Jerkins-produced “Telephone.” Other collaborators on the new tracks include Teddy Riley, Rodney Jerkins, Ron Fair and Fernando Garibay.

www.ladygaga.com

Lady Gaga The Fame Monster (Streamline/KonLive/Cherrytree/Interscope Records) available Nov 23rd
*Also available “The Fame Monster” (standard version)

Watch the video for "Bad Romance" by Lady Gaga
Taken from The Fame Monster" (Streamline/KonLive/Cherrytree/Interscope Records) available Nov 23rd

Rihanna: Rated R

THE WAIT IS OVA!!!

RIHANNA’s NEW ALBUM - RATED R - HITS MONDAY, NOV. 23rd

“Russian Roulette,” first new single pick –written by Ne-Yo – launched worldwide Oct. 20th on radio and on official Rihanna website

Long-awaited follow-up to 2007’s worldwide multi-platinum Good Girl Gone Bad

The wait is ova – for one of the most hotly anticipated new albums in recent history, as multi-platinum, award-winning Def Jam recording artist Rihanna announces the completion of her fourth original studio album, Rated R, scheduled to arrive in the physical and digital marketplace on Monday, November 23rd.

Rated R’s first single pick, “Russian Roulette” will be launched worldwide on http://rihannanow.com. The “Russian Roulette” video is directed by Anthony Mandler

“Russian Roulette” was written and produced by fellow Def Jam artist Ne-Yo, whose long track record with Rihanna includes the #1 hit “Unfaithful” (2006, from A Girl Like Me), their Top 10 duet “Hate That I Love You” (2007, from Good Girl Gone Bad), and #1 pop/ #1 R&B “Take A Bow” (2008, from Good Girl Gone Bad: Reloaded). In addition to Ne-Yo, other producers and writers on Rihanna’s new album include the team of The-Dream and Tricky Stewart, Chase & Status, Stargate, Justin Timberlake and more.

Rated R is the long-awaited follow-up to Good Girl Gone Bad (May 2007), which contained the non-stop string of hit singles that began with the MTV VMA and Grammy Award-winning global #1 hit “Umbrella” (featuring Jay-Z), then “Shut Up and Drive,” “Hate That I Love You” (featur­ing Ne-Yo), and “Don't Stop the Music.” Good Girl Gone Bad spent 98 total weeks on the Soundscan chart, earned cumulative sales of more than 36-times platinum in at least 20 territories around the world, and spun off the CD+DVD package Good Girl Gone Bad: Reloaded (January 2009) – which continued the string of hits with the #1 “Take A Bow,” and the #1 “Disturbia.”

Good Girl Gone Bad was the third album release in less than two years by the 21-year old Barbados native Rihanna. It followed-up 2006’s RIAA platinum A Girl Like Me, which contained the back-to-back hits, “S.O.S.” and “Unfaithful”; and her RIAA gold debut from 2005, Music Of the Sun, featuring the world-wide smash, “Pon De Replay.”

Check out the video for “Russian Roulette”
taken from RATED R (Def Jam Records) available Nov 23rd

Timabaland: Shock Value II

SUPER-PRODUCER TIMBALAND TO RELEASE TIMBALAND PRESENTS SHOCK VALUE II ON DECEMBER 8, 2009, ON Mosley Music Group/Blackground Records/Interscope Records

FOLLOW-UP TO 2007’S MULTI-PLATINUM SHOCK VALUE FEATURES SPECIAL GUESTS JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE, NELLY FURTADO, KATY PERRY, MILEY CYRUS, THE FRAY, CHAD KROEGER OF NICKELBACK, DRAKE, CHRIS DAUGHTRY, AND MANY OTHERS

DIGITAL SINGLE “MORNING AFTER DARK” AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE THROUGH VERIZON V CAST
BEGINNING OCTOBER 23RD AND ITUNES OCTOBER 27TH

Multi-platinum producer, prolific hit-maker, and sonic innovator Timbaland will release his third solo album, entitled Timbaland Presents Shock Value II, on December 8 , 2009, on Mosley Music Group/Blackground Records/Interscope Records. The album is the follow-up to the super-producer’s multi-platinum 2007 album Timbaland Presents Shock Value, which spawned three No. 1 pop singles, the Grammy-nominated “Give It To Me” (featuring Nelly Furtado and Justin Timberlake), “The Way I Are,” (featuring Keri Hilson and D.O.E.), and a remix of OneRepublic’s multi-platinum blockbuster “Apologize” (one of the best-selling singles of the decade).

On Shock Value II, Timbaland re-maps the pop/R&B landscape by batting away genre boundaries once again. His prodigious influence and ability to stay ahead of the curve have meant that a wide range of today’s most popular artists are eager to participate in the Shock Value series. This second iteration features guest appearances from Justin Timberlake, Katy Perry, Miley Cyrus, The Fray, Chris Daughtry, Nickelback’s Chad Kroeger, Brandy, Drake, and Keri Hilson. In addition, Timbaland asserts the wide-screen sonic adventurousness that has led the Virginia Beach native to dominate the pop charts for more than a decade.

“I’m so fortunate and blessed to be able to create a Shock Value II,” Timbaland says. “I’m really proud of the caliber of artists on this album and all the work they put into making it a success. I can promise that no one has ever heard Katy Perry, The Fray, or Brandy sound like this before. It’s exciting because not only am I giving fans the best of me on each track, I’m giving them a glimpse of their favorite artist in a completely different light. This is an album that can be listened to from start to finish every single time because each song is so unique and the range of artists so diverse. I can’t wait for my fans to hear the collaborations.”

Over the course of his career, Timbaland has made an indelible imprint on the music scene. His production has helped create career-defining hits for artists such as Aaliyah, Missy Elliott, Destiny’s Child, Madonna, Fall Out Boy, and Jay-Z, among many others. Respected beyond the genres of urban and hip-hop music, Timbaland, whose musical influences cross cultural lines, has also been sought by diverse superstars whose music similarly knows no boundaries, from pop star Justin Timberlake to avant-singer Björk. So prolific a hit-maker is he that in the span of a single year — 2006 to 2007 — Timbaland produced more than 10 international chart-toppers, including Furtado’s “Promiscuous,” Timberlake’s “Sexy Back,” and 50 Cent’s “Ayo Technology.”

Shock Value II’s first single, “Morning After Dark” premiered on KIIS FM’s “On-Air with Ryan Seacrest” on October 16th and available for purchase through Verizon V CAST and iTunes. The single features Nelly Furtado and French singer-songwriter SoShy, a new artist on Timbaland’s label Mosley Music Group.


www.timbalandmusic.com

Click onto link below to sample "MORNING AFTER DARK" feat. Nelly Furtado and SoShy

http://interscope.edgeboss.net/wmedia/interscope/timbaland/audio/morningafterdark/hi.wax