Katy Perry Tops Billboard Chart
Six albums debut in the Top 10 on this week's Billboard 200 chart (week ending September 11). Katy Perry's "Teenage Dream" enters at Number One, followed by Fantasia's "Back To Me" at Number 2, Usher's "Versus" at Number 4, Little Big Town's "The Reason Why" at Number 5, the Randy Rogers Band's "Burning The Day" at Number 8, and Devil Wears Prada's EP "Zombie" at Number 10. Katy Perry's debut at Number One makes her only the second female solo artist to top the Billboard 200 this year. Ke$ha had a one-week reign with "Animal" back in January.
New Tribute to Honor Soul Train
On September 8, the Grammy Museum will host a 40th anniversary tribute to the long-running syndicated television show Soul Train." The show's creator Don Cornelius, Motown legend Smokey Robinson and R&B singer Jody Watley will share special memories of Soul Train at the Los Angeles event. The show began airing on August 17, 1970 and ran until March 25, 2006.
Zac Brown Band Campaign Targets US Troops
One of Country music's hottest new groups, the Zac Brown Band, has launched a campaign to send one million letters to U.S. military troops overseas. The online link is posted at www.call2action.com. Everyone who takes part in the "Letters For Lyrics" campaign will receive the Zac Brown Band's special three-song CD, Breaking Southern Ground. In other news, the band's sophomore album, "You Get What You Give," will be released on September 21.
Loretta Lynn's New Album Features Country All-Stars
Faith Hill, Alan Jackson, Reba McEntire, Paramore and Sheryl Crow are among the artists Country legend Loretta Lynn chose to appear on her upcoming tribute album. Sony Music will release A Coal Miner's Daughter: A Tribute to Loretta Lynn on November 9. "I am so happy that these singers wanted to do this record," Loretta said. "I love them all, and it was so great to hear all the different ways they did my hits. I hope people like it as much as I do and we sell a bunch of records!"
New Album Releases September 7:
"Kaleidoscope Heart" by Sara Bareilles
"Rust In Peace" by Megadeth
"Body Talk Pt. 2" by Robyn
"Rehab" by Young Buck
"Bachman & Turner" by Bachman & Turner
Musical Events/Festivals/Benefits
Stevie Wonder, Natasha Bedingfield, Martina McBride and Queen Latifah are among the artists taking part in the September 10 multi-network fundraiser "Stand Up To Cancer." The hour-long benefit will air on ABC, NBC, CBS, FOX, Discovery Health, Bio, E!, G4, HBO, HBO Latino, MLB Network, mun2, Showtime, Smithsonian Channel, The Style Network, TV One and VH1. Many other celebrities will appear on the show to help raise money for cancer research.
Awards Presentations/Winners
The 2010 Americana Music Awards will be presented on September 9. The Dave Rawlings Machine leads the contenders with four nominations, including Album of the Year for "A Friend of a Friend" and Song of the Year for "Ruby." Ryan Bingham and Ray Wylie Hubbard follow with three nods apiece. This year's Americana Music Association Lifetime Achievement Award will be given to John Mellencamp. Jim Lauderdale will host the awards ceremony at Nashville's Ryman Auditorium.
Nominations for the 44th annual Country Music Association (CMA) Awards were recently announced. Miranda Lambert dominates the list with nine nominations, which sets a record for most CMA nods for a female artist in a single year. Among them is the coveted Entertainer of the Year honor. Miranda shares that category with Lady Antebellum, Brad Paisley, Keith Urban and the Zac Brown Band. Other multiple nominees include Lady Antebellum with five nominations, followed by Blake Shelton and the Zac Brown Band with four each, and Easton Corbin, who's up for three. Last year, Taylor Swift swept the CMA Awards. This year, she's mentioned in only one category - Female Vocalist of the Year. (Complete list of nominations at www.cmaawards.com)
Look Who's Going On Tour!
On September 9, Country star George Strait will begin the second leg of his 2010 tour. Joining him on the 11-city outing are Reba McEntire and Lee Ann Womack. Dates begin in Columbus, Ohio and wrap up on October 22 in Fargo, North Dakota.
Guns N' Roses showed up an hour late for their September 1 concert at the 02 in Dublin. Many fans showed their disappointment by booing, yelling obscenities and throwing cans and bottles at the rock band. After playing for 20 minutes, Guns N' Roses left the stage before returning an hour later to finish the performance.
