Abba, Jimmy Cliff Among New Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Inductees
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's Class of 2010 includes ABBA, Jimmy Cliff, Genesis, the Hollies and the Stooges. Among those who didn't make the final cut were LL Cool J, Laura Nyro, KISS, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Donna Summer, Darlene Love and the Chantals. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame will hold its 25th annual induction ceremony in New York on March 15, 2010.
Boyle Still Holds Top Billboard Album Spot
Scottish singing sensation Susan Boyle holds the top spot on the Billboard 200 for the third week with her debut album I Dreamed A Dream. The album has sold 1.8 million copies in the U.S. since its release on November 23. Taylor Swift was the only other artist that spent more weeks atop the Billboard 200 in 2009. Her Fearless album logged seven weeks at Number One.
Lil Wayne Album Release Delayed
The release of rapper Lil Wayne's much-delayed new album Rebirth has been pushed back again. It was finally set to drop on December 21, but will now be out on February 1. Some 500 Amazon customers, however, already have their copy. The online company sent pre-ordered albums to customers before they were informed of the postponement. Days after customers began receiving the album, all 14 tracks were leaked onto the Internet. In other Lil Wayne news… On December 15, he pleaded guilty to a weapons possession charge. A New York judge set a February 9 sentencing date. Lil Wayne could be given a one-year prison sentence.
Seger Holds Best-Selling Catalog Album of Decade
Detroit rocker Bob Seger has the best-selling catalog album of the decade with Greatest Hits. Since its release in 1994, the collection has sold nearly nine-million copies. It remained on the Billboard 200 for two years before moving to Billboard's Catalog Albums chart, where it has stayed for 660 weeks.
Rascal Flatts Fans Get Christmas Gift
Rascal Flatts is giving their fans a Christmas gift. The Country group recorded the holiday song "Away In A Manger," which is available as a free download at www.rascalflatts.com/gift. Rascal Flatts' Jay DeMarcus says, "This song is a celebration to our fans. From the bottom of our hearts, we are so proud and grateful for all the work you put into promoting Rascal Flatts each and every day."
New Album Releases December 22:
Mudvayne's self-titled collection, "Stronger With Each Tear" by Mary J. Blige, "We Are Young Money" by Young Money, "Europe 2009" (box set) by the Dave Matthews Band and "Uni5: The World's Enemy" by Bone Thugs-N-Harmony.
Musical Events/Festivals/Benefits:
On December 20, cable channel TNT will air "Christmas In Washington." The show was taped on December 13 at the National Building Museum with President and First Lady Michelle Obama and other Washington, D.C. dignitaries in attendance. Rob Thomas, Mary J. Blige, Sugarland, Neil Diamond, Usher and Justin Bieber sing traditional and contemporary holiday songs on the program. The holiday celebration benefits the National Children's Medical Center.
Awards Presentations/Winners:
The Recording Academy announced that seven artists will receive Lifetime Achievement Grammy Awards. They include Leonard Cohen, Bobby Darin, David "Honeyboy" Edwards, Loretta Lynn, Andre Previn, Clark Terry and the late Michael Jackson. The honors will be presented on January 30 at a special ceremony in Los Angeles. The artists will be acknowledged at the 52nd annual Grammy Awards, which CBS-TV will broadcast live on January 31.
Publishing rights organization BMI recently honored Country singer-songwriter Steve Wariner with four Million-Air Awards. The award recognizes songs that have earned more than one million performances on U.S. radio and television. Wariner has received a total of 15 Million-Air Awards for such hits as "Holes in the Floor of Heaven," "Where Did I Go Wrong" and "You Can Dream of Me." Some of his Million-Air Awards have come from songs he wrote for other artists, including Keith Urban, Clint Black and Garth Brooks. Jody Williams, BMI's Vice President of Writer/Publisher Relations, says, "Steve is the quintessential combination of artist, musician, and BMI songwriter. Over the past three decades, he has continued to create a deep catalog of Country hits that remains both popular and artistically compelling, evidenced most recently by his 2010 Grammy nomination. We at BMI couldn't be prouder to represent him."
Look Who's Going On Tour!
U2 had the Number One tour of 2009 by grossing more than $311 million. The Irish rock band performed 44 sold-out shows, which drew a total attendance of three million fans. Rounding out the Top 5 tours of 2009 were Madonna, Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band, AC/DC and Pink. Kenny Chesney had the top Country tour with nearly $71 million and a total attendance of more than one million. 2009 marks the seventh consecutive year Kenny has sold more than one million-tickets.
