Taylor Swift performs songs from her newly released album 'Red' onstage at a shopping center after switching on the Christmas lights, London, Nov. 6, 2012.
Swift Tops Billboard Album Chart; New Whitney Houston Single Released
Taylor Swift sold 344,000 copies of her new album Red its second week of release to keep hold of the Number One position on this week’s Billboard 200 chart. With total sales of 1.553 million copies, Taylor now has the second biggest-selling album of 2012. This week’s Top 10 debuts on the Billboard 200 list include rapper Meek Mill’s Dreams & Nightmares (Number 2), Merry Christmas, Baby by Rod Stewart (Number 3), Toby Keith’s Hope on the Rocks (Number 6), Psychedelic Pill by Neil Young & Crazy Horse (Number 8) and Dreams of Fireflies (On a Christmas Night) by Trans-Siberian Orchestra (Number 9).
New Whitney Houston Single Released
Musician Whitney Houston arrives at the 17th Carousel of Hope Ball benefiting the Barbara Davis Center for Childhood Diabetes in Beverly Hills, California Oct. 28, 2006.
A new Whitney Houston single, titled “Never Give Up,” appears on the November 13 release of I Will Always Love You - The Best of Whitney Houston. The compilation also contains 16 of the late singer’s biggest hits, including “I Wanna Dance With Somebody,” “Greatest Love of All,” “I’m Your Baby Tonight” and a new duet version of “I Look To You” with R. Kelly produced by Clive Davis. In other news, CBS will air the television special “We Will Always Love You: A Grammy Salute to Whitney Houston” on November 16. Taped in October, the one-hour show features performances and tributes by Britney Spears, Jennifer Hudson, Usher, Celine Dion and actress Halle Berry, and also includes memorable performances from Whitney’s career and never-before-seen footage and exclusive interviews by the six-time Grammy winner.
Grammys to Honor Brazilian Veloso
On November 14, Brazilian musician Caetano Veloso will be honored as the 2012 Latin Recording Academy Person of the Year. “Caetano Veloso has become the preeminent ambassador of Brazilian music and culture," Gabriel Abaroa Jr., President of the Latin Recording Academy said in a statement. "It is difficult to find a man with such immense talent, passion and dedication to his creative projects - whether in music, writing or activism - and it’s the Latin Recording Academy and its Board of Trustees’ great pleasure to celebrate a man of his limitless talent and commitment. By celebrating Caetano, we celebrate Brazil, and we look forward to honoring his amazing career and music.” Previous Person of the Year recipients include Placido Domingo, Gloria Estefan, Carlos Santana and Shakira, among others.
EMI to Release Remastered Beatles Album on Vinyl
The Beatles perform on the CBS "Ed Sullivan Show" in New York on Feb. 9, 1964.
On November 13, EMI Music will release 14 remastered Beatles albums for the first time in stereo on vinyl. The albums will be sold individually and also as a limited edition box set that is packaged with a 252-page hardbound book. Only 50,000 copies of the box set are available worldwide. The 14 titles include “Please Please Me,” “With The Beatles,” “A Hard Day’s Night,” “Beatles For Sale,” “Help!,” “Rubber Soul,” “Revolver,” “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band,” “Magical Mystery Tour,” “The Beatles” (double album), “Yellow Submarine,” “Abbey Road,” “Let It Be,” and “Past Masters, Volumes One & Two” (double album).
Nashville Museum Features Dottie West Exhibit
On November 9, Nashville’s Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum will open the new exhibit, “Dottie West: Country Sunshine.” The special exhibit features items from the late Country legend’s four-decade career and personal life, including stage costumes and accessories, photos and industry awards. West was only 58-years-old when she died from injuries sustained in a car accident. “Dottie West: Country Sunshine” runs through May 2, 2013.
Brooks Ends Las Vegas Show Series
Garth Brooks speaks at the Country Music Hall of Fame Inductions on Oct. 21, 2012 in Nashville, Tenn.
Newly-inducted Country Music Hall of Fame member Garth Brooks ends his three-year engagement at Wynn Las Vegas on November 17. “I have thoroughly enjoyed my time at Wynn," The 50-year-old superstar said. "Mr. Wynn told me that the Wynn audiences were some of the best in the world and he was right.” Next year, Garth plans to film his solo acoustic show for a network special.
New Album Releases November 13:
“Take Me Home” by One Direction, “Dos” by Green Day
“Lotus” by Christina Aguilera
“Standing Ovation: The Greatest Songs From the Stage” by Susan Boyle
“GRRR! Greatest Hits” by The Rolling Stones
“King Animal” by Soundgarden
“The Road” by Aaron Lewis
“Fire It Up” by Joe Cocker
“Lux” by Brian Eno, “Bears For Lunch” by Guided By Voices
“Plays the Music of Rush” by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
“Parodyziac!!” by Cledus T. Judd
“This Christmas” by John Travolta & Olivia Newton-John
“The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 2” the original motion picture soundtrack
Musical Events/Festivals/Benefits:
On November 17 and 18, the Port Paradise Music Festival will take place in the Bahamas. The first day’s lineup features Pitbull, Flo Rida and the Far East Movement performing at the Atlantis in Nassau. Day 2’s celebration on the island of Coco Cay will include appearances by Brad Paisley, All-American Rejects and Young the Giant. Tickets to the two-day event were given away to 5,000 lucky winners in a Bud Light beer sweepstakes.
NBC Raises $23 Million for Sandy Victims
NBC-TV’s November 2 Hurricane Sandy benefit concert raised nearly $23 million for American Red Cross relief efforts. The “Hurricane Sandy: Coming Together” telethon featured performances by Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band, Jon Bon Jovi, Billy Joel, Sting, Mary J. Blige, Christina Aguilera and Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler and Joe Perry. Other music stars have donated money to Hurricane Sandy relief efforts. Lady Gaga gave $1 million to the American Red Cross. The 26-year-old pop superstar said, “If it wasn’t for NYC: the Lower Eastside, Harlem, the Bronx and Brooklyn, I would not be the woman or artist that I am today. Thank you for helping me build my spirit. I will now help you rebuild yours.” And, proceeds from Rihanna’s Unapologetic album listening party will go to the Daily News Hurricane Relief Fund. Rihanna also donated $100,000 to the Food Bank for New York.
Star Birthdays
On November 12, singer-songwriter Neil Young will celebrate his 67th birthday. Young began performing as a teenager in folk clubs in his native Canada. In 1966, he formed The Buffalo Springfield with Stephen Stills. Young also recorded three albums with Crosby, Stills & Nash. In 1972, Neil scored a Number One solo hit with “Heart of Gold.” In 1994, he recorded “Sleeps with Angels,” which earned him a Grammy nomination for Best Rock Album. The title track was a tribute to Nirvana lead vocalist Kurt Cobain, who committed suicide in April of 1994. Young’s 1995 album, “Mirrorball,” was followed by two projects in 1996 - a collection of songs featured in the film “Dead Man,” and a studio album with his band Crazy Horse, called “Broken Arrow.” Young reunited with Crosby, Stills and Nash in 1999 to record “Looking Forward,” their first new studio album in ten years. They performed a world tour in support of the collection. In 2003, Neil recorded “Greendale,” a concept album set in the mythical town of Greendale, California. In early 2005, he suffered a brain aneurysm and underwent a successful neuro-radiology procedure. After a two-year delay, Young’s anthology, “The Archives: Volume One, 1963-1972,” was issued in 2009. Neil titled his 2010 album “Le Noise” after the nickname he gave his producer Daniel Lanois. Young’s brand new album with Crazy Horse, “Psychedelic Pill,” debuts on this week’s Billboard 200 chart at Number 8.
Pop singer-songwriter Stephen Bishop will turn 61 on November 14. In 1976, he made his chart debut with “Save It for a Rainy Day,” which featured Eric Clapton on guitar and Chaka Khan on background vocals. In the late 1970s and early ‘80s, Bishop recorded several other hits, including “On and On,” “Everybody Needs Love” and “It Might Be You,” the theme from the motion picture “Tootsie.” In 1986, he earned an Academy Award nomination for writing “Separate Lives,” the love theme from the film “White Nights.”
On November 15, Jack Ingram will celebrate his 42nd birthday. The Texas-based singer-songwriter released several independent albums before achieving national attention for his 2005 album, “Live: Wherever You Are.” Its title track became Ingram’s first Number One Country song. Jack’s hits since then include “Love You,” “Lips of an Angel,” “Measure of a Man” and “Barefoot and Crazy.” In 2008, Jack won the Academy of Country Music’s Top New Male Vocalist award.
Singer and guitarist Chad Kroeger, who leads the Canadian rock band Nickelback, will turn 38 on November 15. Chad formed Nickelback in 1995. Six years later, the group earned its breakthrough with the Number One single, “How You Remind Me.” The band’s other hits include “Too Bad,” “Never Again,” “Someday” and “Far Away.” Shania Twain’s ex-husband Robert “Mutt” Lange produced Nickelback’s 2008 album, “Dark Horse.” Three of its singles, “Gotta Be Somebody,” “If Today Was Your Last Day” and “I’d Come For You,” topped the U.K. rock chart. Nickelback’s new album, “Here and Now,” was released last year. This past August, Chad announced his engagement to Canadian pop singer Avril Lavigne.
On November 15, singer Petula Clark will celebrate her 80th birthday. Throughout the 1950s and 1960s, she recorded songs in English, German and French that sold more than 65 million copies worldwide. Her best known singles include “I Know A Place,” “This Is My Song,” “My Love” and “Downtown.” In October of 2001, Clark presented a one-woman show in Montreal, Canada based on her life and career. Her latest U.S. release was 2001’s “A Sign of the Times.” In 2003, Clark’s recording of “Downtown” was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame. In 2007, she recorded two albums released only the U.K., “Solitude & Sunshine: The Songs of Rod McKuen” and “In Her Own Write.” The latter features 22 of Clark’s own compositions. Last year, she was featured on the Saw Doctors’ version of “Downtown.” The song reached Number 2 on the Irish chart.
Canadian pop singer-songwriter Gordon Lightfoot will turn 74 on November 17. Lightfoot’s biggest hits include “If You Could Read My Mind,” “The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald” and his million-selling 1974 Number One song, “Sundown.” Following a long break from recording, Lightfoot signed with Reprise Records, which released his 1993 album, “Waiting For You.” In 2002, he was hospitalized for an abdominal aneurysm. After making a complete recovery, he returned to the studio in 2004 to record his latest album, “Harmony.” In 2006, Lightfoot suffered a minor stroke, which left him unable to play the guitar for a few months. He regained full use of his right hand in early 2007 and returned to touring in 2009. This past June, Lightfoot was inducted into the Songwriters’ Hall of Fame.
On November 17, guitarist Isaac Hanson of the pop/rock trio Hanson will turn 32. Hanson also features Isaac’s younger brothers Taylor and Zachary. The group emerged on the music scene in 1997 with the multi-million-selling CD, “Middle of Nowhere.” The album produced the Grammy-nominated Number One single “Mmmbop,” as well as three other chart hits. Hanson’s other collections include the holiday CD “Snowed In,” and “3 Car Garage,” a compilation of early recordings. In late 1998, Mercury Records released Hanson’s first live CD, “Live From Albertane.” Next came their 2000 studio album “This Time Around,” 2004’s “Underneath,” and their second live collection “The Best of Hanson: Live and Electric,” which was recorded in Australia and released in 2005. Hanson’s fifth album, “Shout It Out,” was released in 2010.
Awards Presentations/Winners:
On November 14, the 13th annual Latin Grammy Awards will be presented in Las Vegas. Dominican singer Juan Luis Guerra leads the nominees with six nominations, including Record of the Year for “En El Cielo No Hay Hospital.” Following close behind with five nods is Mexican pop duo Jesse & Joy. Ricardo Arjona, Edgar Barrera, Juanes, Carla Morrison, Arturo Sandoval, Ivete Sangalo and Caetano Veloso each earned four nominations. The Latin Recording Academy will honor Luz Casal, Leo Dan, Rita Moreno, Milton Nascimento, Daniela Romo, Poncho Sanchez and Toquinho with this year’s Lifetime Achievement Awards. Juan Carmona “Habichuela” and Yomo Toro will receive Trustees Awards. (Complete list of nominees available at www.latingrammy.com.)
The 2012 Billboard Touring Awards were handed out on November 7 in New York. British singer Roger Waters took home the Top Tour honor for having the year’s highest-grossing tour. The Top Draw award recognizing most tickets sold went to Bruce Springsteen. Other winners included Lady Antebellum (Breakthrough Award), Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival (Top Boxscore and Top Festival), Kenny Chesney featuring Tim McGraw, Grace Potter & the Nocturals, and Jake Owen (Top Package Tour), Kenny Chesney (Road Warrior Award), Tim McGraw and Pennzoil (Concert Marketing & Promotion Award), and Jeff Dunham (Top Comedy Tour).
Look Who's Going On Tour!
On November 17, 3 Doors Down will kick off a 20-city tour with a charity concert in Tunica, Mississippi. The show will benefit the Better Life Foundation, which the band created in 2003. The foundation has raised more than $2 million for children’s charities. Daughtry will appear at the event and also be a special guest throughout the entire tour.
R&B star Chris Brown begins the first leg of his “Carpe Diem” world tour on November 14 in Frederiksberg, Denmark. Brown will be supporting his latest album Fortune, which topped charts in the U.S., the Netherlands and the United Kingdom. The European tour is scheduled to stop in 14 cities throughout Norway, Sweden, Germany, Poland, Switzerland, Ireland, Belgium, the Netherlands and France.
