Search Results for: america

Hot on the heels of new releases from such established superstars as Janet Jackson and Mariah Carey, Virgin Records America is releasing seven key albums from developing artists the label hopes will follow in those multi-platinum footsteps. Ranging an eclectic musical spectrum from Pop-R&B to Urban-Alternative Rock to World Music, these artists reflect Virgin’s commitment to unique yet accessible music for which the label has become known. Forming the all-star rookie line-up are: Nikka Costa – All ears piqued when Tommy Hilfiger’s slick commercial hit TV screens last year, featuring that funky, rhythmic bassline from Nikka’s debut single “Like A… Read more »

Dido, whose RIAA triple-platinum debut album NO ANGEL has just logged its 55th week on the Billboard 200 Album chart, where it remains the longest-running title inside the top 30, has embarked on her 2nd annual headlining summer tour of North America. The festival-type tour of predominately outdoor venues stars Dido, Scottish group Travis, and Icelandic songbird Emiliana Torrini on the main stage, with various others on the second stage. The itinerary began last Sunday in Vancouver and wraps at XCEL Arena in Minneapolis on July 8th. (Please see initial tour dates below, with additional dates to be announced.) While… Read more »

Do you have what it takes to be the next Wallflowers or Christina Aguilera? If so, your big break could be right around the corner. The American Music Awards ® (AMAs) and The Coca-Cola Company, together with dick clark communications (DCC) and The CMJ Network (CMJ), today launched “The American Music Awards presents the Coca-Cola New Music Award” competition. This brand new award category will honor the best unsigned band or artist in America and the winner will perform live on The 29th Annual American Music Awards telecast in January 2002 on ABC-TV, an unprecedented opportunity for emerging talent. To… Read more »

Haven’t seen Shaggy perform his smash single, “Angel,” yet? You can this coming Sunday night, June 10, on ABC-TV at 7 p.m. when the reggae pop star joins Sugar Ray, Dream, BBMak and Baha Men on the “Walt Disney World Summer Jam Concert” special. For his appearance on the “Summer Jam Concert,” Shaggy taped his performance at the Walt Disney World Resort earlier today, during a visit to Orlando to kick off a summer North American tour with the Backstreet Boys that begins this Friday. This year’s Jam-packed hour of entertainment and fun was filmed at three exotic ports of… Read more »

Columbia Records’ Crazy Town, Portrait/Columbia Records’ The Union Underground and American Recordings/Columbia Records’ American Head Charge have all signed on-board on what just might be the heaviest Ozzfest ever. Following a big British blow-out at the Milton Keynes Bowl in England on May 26, Ozzfest 2001 opens full-force stateside at the World Amphitheater in Chicago, Illinois. Launched by the heavy metal pioneer and visionary Ozzy Osbourne, the first Ozzfest, a multi-band festival held in 1996, hit only two markets-Los Angeles and Phoenix-but paved the way for a full-on touring extravaganza the next year. Since then, the Ozzfest has become a… Read more »

Jordan’s Queen Noor made a surprise appearance in Washington to present British rock star Sting with an award for promoting cross-cultural understanding, calling him one of “the heroes of our time.” The Arab American Institute Foundation gave Sting one of its 2001 Kahlil Gibran Spirit of Humanity awards to honor what it said was his “commitment to indigenous people and the environment, as well as his efforts to promote cross-cultural understanding.” Noor, the wife of the late King Hussein, praised Sting for his activism on issues such as saving the rain forest. “I think we can count Sting among the… Read more »

GigAmerica.com – Performing rights organization BMI said on Wednesday it formed a partnership with independent musician network GigAmerica.com to provide an online resource for artists and songwriters. BMI said songwriters will receive a 20 percent discount on GigAmerica membership when they sign up through BMI’s secure eNet, reducing the cost to $39.95. Membership includes access to “GigSwap,” an online tool for bands to preview each other’s music and calendars in order to trade shows and book tour dates; access to Gig’s database of bands, venues, records labels and other industry resources. BMI founded in 1940, is an American performing rights… Read more »

The makers of the upcoming “American Pie 2” have ordered a slice of 3 Doors Down’s debut album – with something extra on top. The Mississippi rockers are writing new lyrics for “Be Like That,” a track from their multiplatinum debut, The Better Life that will be released as the first single from the movie’s soundtrack, the band’s management said. 3 Doors Down also plan to shoot a video for the heartland-rock ballad that will feature the “American Pie 2” cast, according to the film’s music supervisor, Gary Jones. “We spoke to the guys in the band and they’re totally… Read more »

Aerosmith, those bad boys of Boston, will embark on an extensive 48-city tour in support of their latest album, Just Push Play, on June 6 in Hartford, Connecticut. Only a portion of the itinerary has been confirmed, with additional dates to be announced in the coming weeks, a label spokesperson said. Fuel, supporting last year’s effort Something Like Human, have been tapped to open the shows. Aerosmith – singer Steven Tyler, bassist Tom Hamilton, drummer Joey Kramer and guitarists Joe Perry and Brad Whitford – released their 13th studio album in early March. The LP debuted at #2 on the… Read more »

Americans love to rock, according to a music trade group report released Tuesday that found rock music led the $14.3 billion U.S. recording industry market in 2000, continuing a decade-long trend. Making up nearly 25 percent of the market, consumers clearly and consistently have chosen rock as their predominant genre of choice, the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) reported in its 2000 consumer profile report. While rock comprises more than double the market share of its closest competitor, rap/hip hop music made great strides in the past year, shooting to No. 2, the RIAA said. Driven by hits like… Read more »