October 2009 Archives

ABBA, one of the most popular pop music groups in history, has released only two concert films--until now. Nearly two hours in length, In Japan (Polar/Polydor/UMe), to be released November 3, 2009, joins ABBA In Concert and ABBA - The Movie as the only DVD venues for fans to experience the performance phenomenon of ABBAmania.

The DVD's centerpiece is a 54-minute show, "ABBA In Japan," taped for Japanese television in 1978. Agnetha Faltskog, Benny Andersson, Bjorn Ulvaeus and Ani-Frid Lyngstad perform 14 songs plus a bonus track of the original tape mix of "If It Wasn't For The Nights." Among the other songs are such global hits as "Take A Chance On Me," "Money, Money, Money," "SOS," "Dancing Queen," "Waterloo," "Fernando," "Knowing Me, Knowing You," "The Name Of The Game" and "Thank You For The Music."

Extras on In Japan include two exclusive behind-the-scenes documentaries with TV performances and interviews with press and radio during ABBA's 10-day visits to Japan in 1978 (24 minutes) and 1980 (37 minutes).

ABBA's recent success has been nothing short of astounding given that the group disbanded in the early '80s. ABBA has reportedly sold more than 400 million records to date around the world. Fueled partly by the enormous success of the ABBA-centric Mamma Mia! on stage and screen, sales continue to soar for releases such as 1992's ABBA Gold - Greatest Hits, six-times U.S. gold and with more than 26 million copies sold worldwide. In late 2008, the nine-disc box set ABBA - The Albums, containing all eight original studio albums plus a bonus disc of B-sides, rarities and other hits, was issued.

But the group's touring tenure was relatively short. ABBA - The Movie, directed by the award-winning Lasse Hallstrom, documented a frenetic two-week concert tour of Australia in 1977 and was released in theaters later that year. In 2006, ABBA - The Movie made its DVD debut and in 2008 premiered in its Blu-ray version. The other previously released concert film, ABBA In Concert, captured the foursome on its 1979 swing across North America and Europe, only ABBA's second major tour, and was released on DVD in 2004.

Now with In Japan, fans can once again enjoy the rarity of ABBA on stage at the height of ABBAmania.

SOURCE Universal Music Enterprises

U2 will perform in front of Berlin's Brandenburg Gate on November 5, as part of the 16th MTV Europe Music Awards (EMAs), the news was announced today by MTV Networks International (MTVNI), owned by Viacom Inc. (NYSE: VIA, VIA.B). As a prelude to the Fall of The Wall celebrations in Berlin, U2 return to the city for a free ticketed performance which will be beamed into the 2009 MTV Europe Music Awards.

U2's manager Paul McGuinness said: "It'll be an exciting spot to be in, 20 years almost to the day since the wall came down. Should be fun."

Tickets to attend MTV EMAs present U2 at the Brandenburg Gate will be free of charge and available by registering on www.u2.com or www.mtvema.com from 9pm (CET) on Wednesday 28 October 2009. Tickets, which will take the form of a bar-coded e-ticket, will be available on a first-come, first-served basis and will be restricted to a maximum of 2 per applicant. Access to the performance will be strictly via one advance, scanned e-ticket per person. Tickets will not be available on the night of the show.

Commented Antonio Campo Dall'Orto, EVP, Music Brands, MTV Networks International and Executive Producer for the MTV Europe Music Awards: "The exceptional musical heritage of this year's EMAs spans genres and generations and we are extremely proud to be bringing U2 to Berlin for this extraordinary performance. This year's Awards will be remembered as the night when the world's major music players came together against the backdrop of the fall of the Berlin Wall to celebrate music, freedom and the birth of a new age in Europe."

The MTV Europe Music Awards will take place at the 02 World, Berlin on Thursday 5 November 2009 and will be broadcast live on MTV at 9pm CET. The MTV Europe Music Awards are sponsored by Sony Ericsson, MTV Games / Harmonic's The Beatles(TM): Rock Band(TM) and Dell.

For more information on 2009 MTV Europe Music Awards artists -- and to vote -- please go to: www.mtvema.com

Or go to: www.ema.mtv.co.uk/press

 

SOURCE MTV Networks International

P!nk's dazzling live concert performance is captured on the new DVD Funhouse Tour Live In Australia plus bonus CD set due in stores Oct. 27.

The DVD features P!nk performing her enduring hits from the past decade and songs from her fifth studio album Funhouse, which has sold 5 million units worldwide. The concert was filmed entirely in HD in Australia where she sold out a record-breaking 60 shows and will also be available on Blu-ray on Dec 8. The bonus live audio CD, limited to the DVD set only, is made up of a dozen of Pink's handpicked tour favorites and a previously unreleased exclusive studio track, "Push You Away".

The Funhouse tour has received unprecedented critical acclaim:

"Even in an era of escalating pop spectacle, Pink's 'Funhouse' tour is going to be hard to top...Onstage she was a down-to-earth superwoman." - New York Times

"Pink even pulled off an impressive version of 'Bohemian Rhapsody'...Like everything in Friday's concert- like everything in Pink's career- the song was a gamble, but one that the singer made look like a piece of cake." - Los Angeles Times

"Pink knows how to challenge, titillate, lure and wow the crowd...Pink combines showmanship with her powerhouse vocals, for an evening worth the price of admission." -Chicago Tribune

"Pink imported her Funhouse tour to the states, bringing a show filled with razzle-dazzle covers and stunts ..." -Rolling Stone.com

"Pink soared through the air and rocked out Madison Square Garden...filling the huge venue with the sights and sounds of her flashy Funhouse show." - MTV.com

Since her debut in 2000, P!nk has been widely hailed as a fearlessly talented singer/songwriter. To date, the Pennsylvania native has sold 30 million albums cumulatively worldwide. Her previous albums include: her four million-unit selling debut, Can't Take Me Home (2000); her sophomore follow-up, M!ssundaztood (2001) which sold 11 million worldwide; the 2.7 million worldwide seller Try This (2003), and I'm Not Dead (2006), which sold over 5 million units globally and spawned two No. 1 hits "Who Knew" and "U + Ur Hand."

www.pinkspage.com

SOURCE JIVE Label Group

World-renowned GRAMMY® nominated pianist, composer and producer, Yanni, is set to release YANNI VOICES LIVE IN CONCERT on October 27th, his first DVD release since 2006's YANNI LIVE: THE CONCERT EVENT which sold over 100K units. Long known for his spectacular live productions YANNI VOICES LIVE IN CONCERT boasts the biggest musical production the acclaimed artist has undertaken to date. The two-hour special shot in November 2008 at the Forum at Mundo Imperial in Acapulco, features show-stopping vocal performances by four young, up-and-coming talents discovered and mentored by Yanni -- Nathan Pacheco, Chloe, Ender Thomas and Leslie Mills -- along with Latin music giants Cristian Castro, Lucero, Olga Tanon and Jose Jose, all backed by Yanni's acclaimed orchestra comprised of some of the best musicians from around the globe.

The DVD release follows the success of the YANNI VOICES CD which sold over 125K copies in the U.S. and subsequent U.S. tour which touted sold-out dates in NY and LA and garnered critical praise. "The concert was a two-hour package of majestic, wonderful music with plenty for the diehard fan and enough new material to intrigue new ones," hailed the Deseret News. While the Houston Press noted, "The vocalists take turns singing...stunning the crowd into silence." YANNI VOICES LIVE IN CONCERT which is being released by Disney Pearl Series and Yanni/Wake Entertainment also features "Epilogue: Acapulco," a behind-the-scenes documentary shot backstage at the Forum show.

One of the world's most recognizable musicians, Yanni has long distinguished himself as a top-selling adult contemporary artist, with worldwide sales of more than 25 million albums, accumulating 35 platinum and gold records globally. His prior live concert DVDs TRIBUTE and LIVE AT THE ACROPOLIS both attained multi-platinum status, while LIVE AT THE ACROPOLIS remains the second highest-selling music DVD to date.

YANNI VOICES LIVE IN CONCERT

TRACK LIST

1. Open
2. Nican (In Your Heart)
3. Unico Amore (Enchantment) Performed by Nathan Pacheco
4. Ritual De Amor (Desire) Performed by Ender Thomas
5. Before the Night Ends Performed by Leslie Mills
6. Vivi Il Tuo Sogno (Almost a Whisper) Performed by Nathan Pacheco
7. Within Attraction
8. Change Performed by Chloe
9. Bajo El Cielo De Noviembre (November Sky) Performed by Ender Thomas
10. Mi Todo Eres Tu (Until the Last Moment) Performed by Ender Thomas and Chloe
11. Duet
12. Theory of Everything Performed by Leslie Mills
13. Omaggio (Tribute) Performed by Nathan Pacheco and Chloe
14. Our Days Performed by Leslie Mills & Chloe
15. En Silencio Performed by Ender Thomas
16. Kill Me With Your Love Performed by Chloe
17. Amare Di Nuovo (Adagio in C Minor) Performed by Nathan Pacheco
18. Nei Tuoi Occhi (In the Mirror) Performed by Nathan Pacheco and Chloe
19. The Keeper Performed by Leslie Mills
20. Quedate Conmigo Performed by Ender Thomas and Chloe
21. The Storm
22. Niki Nana Performed by Chloe
23. Santorini
    

BONUS LATIN TRACKS:

1. Ni la Fuerza del Destino Performed by Cristian Castro
2. Vivire Por Ti Performed by Olga Tanon and Nathan Pacheco
3. Eterno es Este Amor Performed by Lucero
4. Volver a Creer Performed by Jose Jose
   

BONUS FEATURE:

Epilogue: Acapulco

www.yanni.com

SOURCE Hollywood Records

Bon Jovi will be the very first artist ever to appear across the many brands of NBC Universal in a unique "Artists in Residence" partnership. In the exclusive agreement, Bon Jovi's music/appearances/performances will be widely seen and heard across the multiple brands and platforms of NBC Universal. The announcement was made by Jeff Gaspin, Chairman, NBC Universal Television Entertainment. The "Artists in Residence" project coincides with the November 10th launch of the band's new studio album, The Circle.

The project offers a unique opportunity for NBCU to work with Jon Bon Jovi and the members of the band, through interviews, musical guest appearances, and guest-starring roles, to provide exclusive and compelling content across the company's many brands -- its news and cable information platforms, its cable entertainment, its broadcast network and digital assets -- and allow the band the opportunity to promote The Circle to a broad, diverse audience that can not be matched in the industry.

"By assembling a unique mix of personal appearances on a variety of its brands, NBC Universal has the ability to offer Bon Jovi the opportunity to reach a wide audience in a variety of compelling ways, while at the same time making interesting, exclusive content available to the properties of NBCU," said Gaspin.

As part of the "Artists in Residence" program, Bon Jovi has confirmed appearances on a number of NBCU platforms including the special "Bon Jovi Month" on the "Today" show in November during which they will appear live on the program on all four Wednesdays that month, capped off with a special concert performance on the plaza on Wednesday, November 25th.

Additionally, Bon Jovi will appear on several NBC Entertainment programs and be the featured guest on Bravo's "Inside the Actors' Studio." Jon Bon Jovi will be the subject of a "USA Character Showcase," which will highlight Jon as both an artist and philanthropist in an on-air and on-line campaign. He will be a featured panelist at a USA Network and Tom Brokaw-sponsored "Characters Unite National Town Hall," about overcoming social injustices, in Washington, D.C. on Wednesday, December 2. Jon will also be featured on NBC's Nightly News with Brian Williams, as well as in the company's award-winning public service campaign "The More You Know" with spots running on NBCU's cable and broadcast networks. The band's music will also be heavily integrated throughout NBC's network and cable programming.

Bon Jovi's lead single from The Circle -- "We Weren't Born To Follow" -- was written (and co-produced) by Jon Bon Jovi and Richie Sambora, and was produced by John Shanks, who worked with Bon Jovi on their last two albums, Have A Nice Day (2005), which featured the Grammy winning single, "Who Says You Can't Go Home," and Lost Highway (2007), which debuted at #1 on the Soundscan charts in the U.S. and around the world.

The resulting "Lost Highway World Tour" -- which famously started with 10 triumphant nights in New Jersey and came to a close with an historic free concert in New York City's Central Park and two sold-out nights at Madison Square Garden -- was ranked as 2008's #1 top-selling tour around the world according to Billboard.

Bon Jovi has set the standard for more than two decades as one of the most successful rock bands in the world. Globally, the Grammy Award-winning band has sold more than 120 million albums and performed more than 2,600 concerts in over 50 countries for more than 34 million fans.

SOURCE NBC Universal

Steve Wynn celebrates a relationship with Garth Brooks to present a series of special engagements at the Encore Theater at Wynn Las Vegas. Concerts begin December 11, 2009.

The Chairman of the Board and CEO of Wynn Resorts describes the first time he saw Brooks perform for friends: "Everything about Garth's performances--his artistry, the range of his voice and connection with his audience--is something that I haven't seen since the Rat Pack. In show business, for a single performer to lift an entire audience emotionally to the point where they pray it doesn't end, is an extraordinary and unique thing that only a few gifted people can do. But that is what I experienced when I saw Garth on stage, alone with his guitar, doing a history of his personal journey in music. I watched a man create instant love in real time, right before my eyes. Now we have the privilege at Wynn and Encore in Las Vegas to share this extraordinary, intimate experience with everyone," says Wynn.

"Steve Wynn has done what I thought was impossible. He has given me a chance to sing again for the people, while at the same time never missing a day with my children," says Brooks. "I am naturally nervous, but it feels good to be out from under the low ceiling of 'retirement' I put on myself."

About Garth Brooks

Certified by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) as the #1 selling solo artist in U.S. history, Garth Brooks has sold in excess of 128 million albums. He is the only solo artist in RIAA history to have six albums top the 10 million mark. His most recent release, The Ultimate Hits, has been certified five times platinum. Garth became the first artist to put out a simultaneous edition of his latest collection for a charitable cause. November 6, 2007 saw the launch of the pink edition of The Ultimate Hits available only at the Susan G. Komen Web site. His body of work--including the groundbreaking No Fences, Ropin' The Wind, The Hits, and Double Live--propelled country music as a genre to the front pages of newspapers worldwide and the covers of magazines, to the point where Forbes declared on its cover, "Country Conquers Rock," and featured Garth in a major music piece. According to RIAA, Garth is the top-selling solo artist of the 20th century.

The key to his record-setting success lies within the personality and talent of Garth Brooks. It has been said that through the 1990s, Garth's only real competition was himself. He brought daring individualism and a love of music to the table. His wide range encompasses a variety of styles which include working class blues, honky tonk, bluegrass and arena rock. His easy-going, approachable charisma was matched only by his fearless willingness to take chances and step outside the lines. He has had an unprecedented run so far, and opened the doors for many more country artists to follow.

Garth has received every accolade the recording industry can bestow on an artist, including, two Grammys, 17 American Music Awards, 11 Country Music Association Awards, 18 Academy of Country Music Awards, five World Music Awards, 12 People's Choice Awards and 36 Billboard Music Awards. He was named Artist of the '90s at the 1997 Blockbuster Entertainment Awards, received the Artist Achievement Award at the 1997 Billboard Music Awards and was named Artist of the Decade at the American Music Awards in 2000 and the Academy of Country Music Awards in 1999.

In the midst of one of the most successful careers in music history, Garth retired in 2001, delivered his last record for Capitol Records and moved back to Oklahoma to raise his children. While in retirement, when called upon by events greater than his own self-interest, he returned to the stage. The latest of these was when the President himself requested that Garth headline President Obama's Inaugural Celebration at the Lincoln Memorial. He performed as Barack and Michelle Obama, their girls, Joe and Jill Biden and a crowd of over 300,000 lined the mall from the Lincoln Memorial all the way to the Washington Monument. It was a moment in history when all did the "wave" to Garth's performance of "Shout," while the President sang along. Once again, Garth was called upon by the NBC network to perform for President Obama's very first late night TV appearance on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. When the Governor of California asked for Garth's help, he responded by performing five concerts in two days, where proceeds from 83,000 tickets sold were donated to efforts to prevent fire catastrophes. Portions of the live concerts were shown as a TV special titled, "Garth Brooks: Live in L.A," where viewers donated to the organization Fire Intervention Relief Effort (FIRE).

SOURCE Wynn Las Vegas

Lady Gaga announced today that she will release The Fame Monster, a re-package of her 4 million-selling album The Fame. The album will include the entire breakthrough 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. The new version will be released on November 24, 2009.

Says Lady Gaga, "On my re-release 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 first club-banging single, the RedOne-produced "Bad Romance," will be released in early November. Other collaborators on the new tracks include Teddy Riley, Rodney Jerkins, Ron Fair and Fernando Garibay.

Lady Gaga is also in the process of planning her next tour after her co-headlining tour with Kanye West was canceled last week.

SOURCE Interscope Records

Ice Cube Honored As This Year's "I AM HIP-HOP" Icon Award Recipient

* Hosted By Comedian and Actor Mike Epps *

BET Networks is gearing up for its fourth annual BET HIP HOP AWARDS in Atlanta, GA hosted by actor and comedian Mike Epps, the show will tape on Saturday, October 10th at the Boisfeuillet Jones Atlantic Civic Center and will premiere on the network on Tuesday, October 27 at 8:00 p.m.* This year's show is sure to have you on your feet with appearances and performances by Snoop, Jeezy, Soulja Boy, Wale, E-40, Fabolous, Gucci Mane, Goodie Mob, Lil Scrappy, Dorrough, Monica, Tiny & Toya, DJ Khalid, DJ Drama, Trina, Diddy featuring his sexy Dirty Money crew, and of course you know they'll be some surprises.

One of the most popular segments of the show are always the "hip-hop ciphers" and it promises not to disappoint this year as it features some of the true heavy weights as they battle it out, raw, uncut - for the fans.

To refresh the minds, the Hip-Hop Awards Voting Academy has nominated rapper, producer and style aficionado Kanye West for an impressive nine awards. Jay Z and Lil Wayne follow closely behind with seven nominations and T.I. rounds things off with six nominations. Additionally, BET has added two new nomination categories to this year's show - "Made-You-Look Award" (Best Hip Hop Style) which will go to the ultimate trendsetter and "Best Hip-Hop Blog Site," which will go to the online site that consistently keeps hip-hop fans in the know non-stop.

The BET HIP HOP AWARDS will showcase "Hip Hop Cares" which highlights various community organizations and foundations powered by prominent rap super stars in the industry. This year BET will feature 50 Cents' G-Unity Foundation, Busta Rhymes' affiliation with RockCorps, Jim Jones' service to Entertainers Alliance for Education Foundation and Young Jeezy's Street Dreams Foundation as they give back to major causes affecting their communities and the hip hop community at large.

BET once again teams up with Cossette Productions, the famed producers of the GRAMMY Awards® and the seven record-setting BET AWARDS shows, to handle production of the telecast. Stephen G. Hill, BET President, Music and Programming, along with Lynne Harris-Taylor, BET Vice President of Specials, are executive producers of the telecast.

For additional information, visit BET.com.

*All times ET/PT

SOURCE BET Networks