Country star Luke Bryan keeps his place at Number One on this week’s Billboard 200 chart with his new album Crash My Party. The set entered last week’s list in the top spot after selling close to 528,000 copies. Second week sales added another 159,000 to the count, enough to hold back a Number One debut for John Mayer’s new release Paradise Valley. Mayer lands on the chart at Number 2. This week’s four other Top 10 entries include Three Kings by TGT (Number 3), Songs From St. Somewhere by Jimmy Buffett (Number 4), Doris by rapper Earl Sweatshirt (Number 5) and Trap Lord by A$AP Ferg (Number 9).
James Brown Biopic Planned
James Brown Biopic Planned
Director Tate Taylor plans to make a movie about the life of late soul music legend James Brown. Filming is expected to begin in November. Taylor told the Associated Press, “Every frame will be shot in Mississippi. We’re even doing Paris, France in Mississippi …Vietnam, as well, in Mississippi.” Brown was known as the “Godfather of Soul.” The South Carolina native, 73, died of complications from pneumonia on December 25, 2006.
Paul McCartney Promotes 'New' Album
Paul McCartney Promotes 'New' Album
The release date for Paul McCartney’s new album is set for October 15. The 12-track collection, titled New, will also be released in a deluxe version with two bonus songs. New is McCartney’s first album with all original songs in six years. Its title track is the lead single.
No More Touring for George Strait
No More Touring for George Strait
Country star George Strait will retire from touring next year, but his music career is far from over. At a recent event in Nashville to honor his accomplishments during the past three decades, it was announced MCA Nashville Records has extended his recording deal for five more albums. Mike Dungan, Chairman and CEO of UMG Nashville, said, “George Strait - the artist, the performer, the personality, the man - simply defines country music, yesterday, today, and tomorrow. I can’t tell you what a pleasure and a privilege it is to work with this artist, and what an honor it is to represent the man and the music. We know the best is yet to come.”
New Album Releases / September 3:
“Love In The Future” by John Legend
“Strangers Only” by My Ticket Home
“Yours Truly” by Ariana Grande
“Hesitation Marks” by Nine Inch Nails
“Pain Is Beauty” by Chelsea Wolfe
“Strangers Only” by My Ticket Home
“Yours Truly” by Ariana Grande
“Hesitation Marks” by Nine Inch Nails
“Pain Is Beauty” by Chelsea Wolfe
Musical Events / Festivals / Benefits:
The inaugural Interlocking Music Festival takes place September 5-8 at Oak Ridge Farm in Arrington, Virginia. This year’s lineup includes John Fogerty, the Zac Brown Band, The Black Crowes, Grace Potter, Tedeschi Trucks Band, and many others. The four-day event was organized by HORDE Festival founder Dave Frey and Peter Shapiro. “Most festivals these days are trying to be everything to everyone," Shapiro said, "very eclectic with an emphasis on a large number of artists in various genres. With Lockn', we want to break away from that mold and create something more identifiable and distinct.”
Star Birthdays
September 1 - Latin pop singer Gloria Estefan celebrated her 56th birthday. She and husband Emilio Estefan formed Miami Sound Machine in 1975. The group’s hits include “Conga,” “Bad Boy,” “Words Get in the Way” and “Don’t Wanna Lose You.” While on tour to support her 1989 debut solo album Cuts Both Ways, Gloria was critically injured when her bus was struck by a tractor-trailer. Estefan returned one year later with the concept album Into the Light. Since then, she has recorded nine more collections. Her new album, Standards, will be released on September 10. Celebrating tunes from the American Songbook, the album features international classics sung in English, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese and French. Estefan has written two children’s books and she also collaborated with her husband on the cookbook Estefan Kitchen.
September 3 - Guitarist Al Jardine, a founding member of the Beach Boys, turns 71. The group’s Number One hits include “I Get Around,” “Help Me Rhonda” and “Good Vibrations.” Last year, the Beach Boys reunited to perform its 50th anniversary tour. They also recorded the new album, That’s Why God Made the Radio. A 41 song, 2-CD set, titled Live - The 50th Anniversary Tour was released this past May. Jardine is performing a U.S. tour with the Beach Boys’ Brian Wilson and British rock guitarist Jeff Beck through late October.
September 4 - R&B star Beyonce celebrates her 32nd birthday. The Houston, Texas native has sold more than 118 million records worldwide, making her one of the best-selling artists of all time. Billboard named her the Top Female Artist of the 2000s and the Artist of the Millennium. Since 2003, Beyonce has recorded four albums that produced such hits as “Crazy In Love,” “Baby Boy,” “Irreplaceable,” “If I Were a Boy,” “Single Ladies” and “Halo.” She has also appeared in many films, including “Austin Powers in Goldmember,” “Dreamgirls” and “Cadillac Records.” Beyonce and her husband Jay-Z welcomed their first child, daughter Blue Ivy Carter, in January 2012.
September 5 - Arnel Pineda, lead singer of the rock band Journey since 2007, turns 45. The Filipino singer was discovered on YouTube by Journey’s guitarist Neal Schon. At that time, Pineda was a member of The Zoo, a band that performed rock cover songs. Journey’s debut album with Pineda, 2008’s Revelation, debuted at Number 5 on the Billboard 200 chart and went on to sell one million copies. In 2011, the band released its latest studio project, Eclipse.
September 6 - British singer Max George of the English-Irish band The Wanted will celebrate his 25th birthday. Formed in 2009, the group earned its first hit in the U.S. two years later with “Glad You Came.” The song peaked at Number 3. The Wanted’s third album, Word of Mouth, drops on September 23. The album features collaborations with Pitbull, Chris Brown, LMFAO and others.
September 7 - Chrissie Hynde, lead singer of the Pretenders, turns 63. The Pretenders’ 1980s hits include “Brass In Pocket,” “Don’t Get Me Wrong” and “Back on the Chain Gang.” In 2005, the group was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. In 2008, the Pretenders recorded Break Up the Concrete, their first new studio album in seven years.
Awards Presentations / Winners:
On September 2, pop legend Elton John received the BRIT Icon Award. The six-time Grammy winner was presented with the honor during a ceremony in London hosted by British music industry trade organization BPI. “I’m really looking forward to participating in what promises to be a very special occasion," John said before the ceremony. During the event, Elton John performed some of his classic hits as well as new songs from his upcoming album The Diving Board. BPI and BRIT Awards “We’re proud to be launching our first ever BRITs Icon Award with an artist of Sir Elton’s incredible stature," Chief Executive Geoff Taylor said. "He represents the very embodiment of what the BRITs Icon is all about, having achieved a level of creativity, originality, critical acclaim and global success that few others can match.”
Kendrick Lamar leads the nominees for the 2013 BET (Black Entertainment Television) Hip Hop Awards. He picked up a total of 14 nominations, including Best Hip Hop Video for “Don’t Kill My Vibe” and Album of the Year for Good Kid, m.A.A.d. City. Other leading contenders include Drake with 13 nods and J. Cole with 10. The BET Hip Hop Awards, presented on September 28 in Atlanta, Georgia, will air on October 15.
Look Who's Going On Tour!
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame member John Fogerty kicks off a two-month U.S. tour this week. Dates begin on September 7 with an appearance at the Interlocking Music Festival in Arrington, Virginia. Fogerty will wrap up the 29-date tour with three nights at New York’s Beacon Theatre November 12, 13 and 14. The outing supports his new album Wrote A Song For Everyone, which recently became his highest debut on the Billboard 200 chart ever. The set opened at Number 3.
