Glen Campbell Returns to Capitol Records for His Dynamic New Studio Album, Meet Glen Campbell

New Album to be Released August 19; Campbell to Premiere Select Songs at Stagecoach Festival on Friday, May 2

HOLLYWOOD, Calif., April 29 - In a legendary music career that spans more than five decades, Glen Campbell has achieved chart-topping, platinum-selling pop and country success singing everyday tales of life, love, work and heartache. For Meet Glen Campbell, his inspired, dynamic new studio album, the music icon has returned to his longtime label home, Capitol Records. Meet Glen Campbell will be released on August 19 on CD, limited edition vinyl and digitally.
 

The songs on the album all strike a personal and musical chord with Campbell. He has reinterpreted and re-imagined both older and contemporary songs with his own signature vocal and guitar arrangements. A true musician's musician, Campbell's distinct guitar playing, along with the clarity and emotion of his powerful vocal performance, come together to give new life to the songs he selected for Meet Glen Campbell.
 

The influential singer, guitarist and stylist, who has long made others' songs his own, is doing it again, recording high-spirited, emotionally charged versions of tracks that have personally moved and inspired him. Campbell's intimate performances convey an autobiographical and deeply personal connection to the album's songs, which include Travis' "Sing," Tom Petty's "Angel Dream" and "Walls," The Replacements' "Sadly Beautiful," U2's "All I Want Is You," The Velvet Underground's "Jesus," and Jackson Browne's "These Days," among others.
 

"I really like all of the songs and I had a great time recording them. While I didn't write these songs, this sounds like a Glen Campbell album, which is important to me," says Glen Campbell.
 

A musician at heart, Campbell has maintained a sense of truth, respect and authenticity throughout his career. The songs on his new album were written by others, but become undeniably Campbell's own as he has personally styled them for the new album. Titled evocatively by design, the album is certain to surprise and delight longtime fans and turn many new ears to the music icon's legendary career. Meet Glen Campbell welcomes discovery and re-discovery of the legend and his music.
 

Recorded in March and April at The Recording Studio and Jim Henson Studios in Los Angeles, Meet Glen Campbell is produced by Julian Raymond (Rosanne Cash, Fastball, Shawn Mullins, Wallflowers) with engineer/co-producer Howard Willing. The album features musical contributions by Campbell contemporaries as well as younger rock and alt-country artists who joined him in the studio, including Cheap Trick's Robin Zander, Roger Joseph Manning, Jr. and Jason Faulkner from Jellyfish, and Chris Chaney from Jane's Addiction. Campbell's sons and daughters, who regularly perform with their father, recorded backing vocals for the tracks, providing the album's warm family tone.
 

Conceived by Julian Raymond to honor Campbell's musical legacy while showcasing his creative versatility and vitality, Meet Glen Campbell has been long in the making since its creative inception to the recent studio sessions. Says Raymond of the new album, "I've been listening to Glen since I was nine years old, so making this record is an honor and a dream come true. I am incredibly proud of this project."
 

Meet Glen Campbell begins an exciting new chapter in the 50-year career of one of America's most beloved musical icons. This Friday, May 2, during his set at the Stagecoach Music Festival in Indio, California, Glen Campbell will be joined onstage by special guests to premiere select songs from his new album.
 

To watch a video trailer for Meet Glen Campbell, please visit Campbell's official Website, http://www.glencampbellshow.com/.
 

  Meet Glen Campbell (CD, limited edition vinyl, digital album)
  (NOT FINAL SEQUENCE)
   1.  Jesus                              (Velvet Underground)
   2.  All I Want Is You                  (U2)
   3.  Times Like These                   (Foo Fighters)
   4.  Grow Old With Me                   (John Lennon)
   5.  Angel Dream                        (Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers)
   6.  Sadly Beautiful                    (The Replacements)
   7.  Sing                               (Travis)
   8.  These Days                         (Jackson Browne)
   9.  Walls (Circus)                     (Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers)
  10.  Good Riddance (Time Of Your Life)  (Green Day)


  A Brief History

Hailing from Arkansas, Glen Campbell made his way to Los Angeles in 1961, after performing for several years as a member of his uncle's band in Albuquerque. Soon recognized for his phenomenal guitar playing and singing, he became a key member of the "Wrecking Crew," an influential group of LA studio musicians.
 

A respected and sought-after session guitarist, his playing is heard on many of America's greatest popular songs of the era, including Frank Sinatra's "Strangers In The Night," The Righteous Brothers' "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'," Elvis Presley's "Viva Las Vegas," five tracks on The Beach Boys' seminal 1966 album, Pet Sounds (Campbell also toured with The Beach Boys in 1965). Campbell also performed on recordings by Ricky Nelson, Nat King Cole, Merle Haggard, Waylon Jennings, Bobby Darin, Dean Martin, Nancy Sinatra, The Monkees, Wayne Newton, and on Phil Spector-produced hits, including Darlene Love & the Crystals' "He's A Rebel" and The Ronettes' "Be My Baby," among others.
 

When Campbell broke through as a chart-topping solo artist in 1967, his sound embodied the new American West. His pop-country style steered away from cowboy nostalgia and honed in on America's new search for balance and the preservation of classic western traditions as the suburbs encroached on rural life in a new, fast-paced sprawl of tract homes, freeways and TV dinners.
 

He made musical history in 1967 by sweeping the Grammys' song and performance awards in both the Country and Pop categories. "Gentle On My Mind" snatched the honors for Best Country & Western Recording and Best Country & Western Solo Vocal Performance, while "By The Time I Get To Phoenix" won for Pop Best Vocal Performance, Male and Best Contemporary Male Solo Vocal Performance. The songs' album source, By The Time I Get To Phoenix, was honored with the coveted Album Of The Year Grammy Award in 1968.
 

Campbell also scored his first #1 Country hit that year with "I Wanna Live." His success continued and crossed genre chart lines with the late 1968 release of his Country and Adult Contemporary #1, "Wichita Lineman." In 1969, "Galveston" revisited that crossover #1 chart success and also made the Pop chart's Top 5, and Campbell's striking good-looks and folksy charm made him an instant television success with his variety series, "The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour." Seen in millions of homes across the U.S. for more than three seasons, Glen Campbell became a household name and a true entertainment superstar. The show was also broadcasted internationally by the BBC, introducing him to an even wider audience.
 

In addition to his five Grammy Awards, Campbell has been honored with trophies for Male Vocalist Of The Year from both the Country Music Association (CMA) and the Academy Of Country Music (ACM). In addition to being inducted into the CMA's Hall Of Fame, he has been awarded its top Entertainer Of The Year honors, and the ACM has honored him with its prestigious Pioneer Award.
 

Blender magazine has inducted "Wichita Lineman" to its list of "Greatest Songs Ever," and the UK's New Musical Express ranked "Lineman" at 46 in its list of "The 100 Greatest Singles, Ever." In his 50 year career, Campbell has released more than 70 albums, which have sold in excess of 40 million copies around the world. Of his 75 charting releases, 27 have reached Billboard's Top 10.
 

Source: Capitol/EMI

Web site: http://www.glencampbellshow.com/
 

Superstar Artist Usher Announces New Album 'Here I Stand' For Worldwide Release May 27th

MTV Video Premiere For 'Love In This Club' Will Air Exclusively Across MTV, BET and VH1 Networks on April 7th

Smash single 'Love In This Club' Heats Up The Charts

NEW YORK, April 2, 2008 -- LaFace/Zomba recording artist Usher sets to release his eagerly awaited album "Here I Stand" on May 27th. Originally scheduled for a June release the highly anticipated album has been pushed up in order to satiate increasing global demand from all of his fans. The video for "Love In This Club" will make its worldwide debut on MTV April 7th and the latest smash hit sits comfortably at #2 as the weeks greatest Airplay Gainer on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart.
 

Usher's newest single, "Love In This Club," features Young Jeezy, and is co-written by Usher and produced by Polow Da Don. The smash hit currently holds the #2 position on both the Hot 100 and Hot Digital Tracks charts. The song became his eighth #1 hit and is the lead single from his forthcoming, fifth studio album, Here I Stand. The video for "Love In This Club" was directed by the rising directing tandem of the Brothers Strause and will have its worldwide debut on MTV, BET and VH1 on April 7th.
 

Slated for global release on May 27th, Here I Stand is Usher's follow-up to his history-making, 9x platinum-selling Confessions. Within the first week of the release of Confessions, Usher sold more than any other R&B artist in the history of SoundScan. The album spawned four #1 hit singles and Usher spent 40 weeks in the No. 1 position on The Billboard Hot 100- which is more than any other male artist in the nearly 50 year history of the chart. Worldwide, the multi-talented, five-time Grammy-winner, musician and actor has sold nearly 14 million copies of Confessions and it earned a multitude of honors including MTV, BET, and People's Choice awards.
 

Over the span of his 14-year career, Usher has sold close to 26 million albums worldwide and combining all of his single, album and DVD sales, he's sold in excess of 36 million units globally. With four studio albums, the eponymous first release, Usher (1994) and multi-platinum albums, the 6x- platinum My Way (1997),the 4x-platinum 8701 (2001), and the 9x-platinum Confessions (2004) and one gold-certified live album simply titled Live (1999), and a string of #1 hit singles including "U Remind Me," "U Got It Bad," "Yeah," "Burn," and "My Boo" Usher's return to the top of the charts is inevitable. The Tennessee-born, Atlanta raised performer, songwriter, producer, dancer, actor started his multi-faceted career at the age of 15- years old.
 

Usher Raymond IV has achieved what few other contemporary entertainers have ever accomplished. He most recently launched a successful line of signature fragrances, actively heads up his own charity, New Look Foundation, a camp for teens that teaches them about the entertainment business, and he is part owner of the Cleveland Cavaliers basketball team.
 

Source: Zomba Label Group

Mariah Carey's 'Touch My Body' - Her 18th #1 Single!!!

HISTORIC NEW BILLBOARD HOT 100 SINGLES CHART RECORD - SURPASSES ELVIS PRESLEY's 17 #1's - FIRST HIT FROM NEW ALBUM, 'E=MC2'

'Touch My Body' nets record-setting 286,000 debut week on Billboard hot digital songs chart - Hot 100 Airplay radio audience passes 115 million - pre-orders underway for 'E=MC2,' as customers receive 'Touch My Body' instantly with pre-order at iTunes

SAVE THE DATES:

- April 9th: Mariah joins all-star international cast on FOX's second annual Emmy-winning 'IDOL Gives Back' two-hour charitable TV special

- April 14th: Mariah special guest on The Oprah Winfrey Show

- April 15th: 'E=MC2' new album arrives in stores

- April 16th: Mariah performs on 'American Idol' as musical mentor to finalists

NEW YORK, April 2, 2008 -- International superstar Mariah Carey reaches a once-in-a-lifetime career achievement as her current single "Touch My Body" goes to #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 this week and becomes her 18th career #1 hit -- surpassing one of the most enduring chart records in Billboard Hot 100 history, Elvis Presley's 17 #1's. Mariah is now positioned as the only active recording artist in the 50 years of the Hot 100 (which began in 1958) with the potential to surpass the Beatles' all-time high of 20 #1 hits.
 

"Touch My Body" takes over #1 with an all-time record-setting 286,000 debut week at #1 on the Billboard hot digital songs chart, and a Hot 100 Airplay radio audience now over 115 million. The video, directed by feature filmmaker Brett Ratner, and featuring a cameo by Jack McBrayer (30 Rock's Kenneth Parcell), stays at #1 on the Yahoo Music Video Chart, Yahoo Launchcast and AOL. And Mariah's widget has been viewed over 4.26 million times!
 

"Touch My Body" is the first smash from Mariah's highly anticipated hot new album "E=MC2," arriving in stores April 15th. Pre-orders are now underway for "E=MC2," with iTunes customers receiving "Touch My Body" instantly with their pre-order.
 

"Touch My Body" was one of two songs Mariah performed last month on NBC's Saturday Night Live (show to be re-run on May 3rd). Last week, Mariah gave a special performance of "Touch My Body" and "We Belong Together" after the third season premiere of the MTV reality series, "The Hills." The episode set a year-to-date record as the highest rated telecast on cable TV, with 5 million viewers tuning in.
 

On April 9th, Mariah will join an all-star cast for the second annual "IDOL Gives Back" two-hour tv special, a music celebration raising awareness and benefiting various U.S. and international charities. The first special raised $76 million last year, and won a prestigious Governor's Emmy Award.
 

On Monday, April 14th, Mariah will appear as special guest on The Oprah Winfrey Show, preceding the "E=MC2" album release day on the 15th. The next night, April 16th, Mariah will perform on "American Idol" after serving as musical mentor to that week's finalists.
 

"Touch My Body" was produced by Mariah Carey, C. "Tricky" Stewart, and fellow Island Def Jam artist The-Dream. Other guest producers joining Mariah on "E=MC2" include Jermaine Dupri, DJ Toomp, Stargate, Will I Am, Bryan Michael Cox, Nate "Danjahandz" Hills and James Poyser. The album is executive produced by Mariah Carey and Antonio "LA" Reid, Chairman, Island Def Jam Music Group.
 

The 11th studio album of her career, "E=MC2" follows-up "The Emancipation Of Mimi," Mariah's worldwide 10 million selling #1 album, which generated three Grammy awards (including Best Contemporary R&B Album), two #1 singles, and countless more honors during its 18-month stay on the charts. Released April 12, 2005, "Mimi" was an industry phenomenon for the mega-platinum award-winning superstar. Soundscan's biggest-selling album of the year, it brought total sales of Mariah's albums, singles and videos to over 160 million worldwide, making her the top-selling female recording artist in history.
 

"Mimi" featured "We Belong Together" (Grammy winner for Best Female R&B Vocal and Best R&B Song) and "Don't Forget About Us," Mariah's 16th and 17th #1 singles respectively -- which tied Elvis Presley's 17 #1's. "Touch My Body" now surpasses Elvis as Mariah's 18th #1 hit, and positions her as the only active recording artist with the potential to surpass the Beatles' all-time high of 20 #1 hits. "Touch My Body" also marks Mariah's 78th cumulative career week at #1, as she closes the gap on Elvis Presley's all-time high record of 80 weeks at #1.
 

Source: Island Def Jam Music Group

Two-Disc Set Hits Stores May 6

Features 34 Smashes & New Single, 'She's A Hottie'

NASHVILLE, Tenn., April 2, 2008

- Singer, songwriter, entertainer and all around Big Dog Daddy Toby Keith tends to do things, well, big. And so the May 6 release of his latest hits collection tips the scales with two discs filled to bursting with smash singles. TOBY KEITH 35 BIGGEST HITS spans the multi-platinum performer's entire career, and adds a kicker.
 

Released on his own Show Dog Nashville label and Universal Music Enterprises, 35 BIGGEST HITS opens with his first No. 1 hit, 1993's "Should've Been A Cowboy," and runs all the way through his 2006 chart-topper "A Little Too Late." In between, the compilation serves up favorites including "Who's That Man" (1994), "How Do You Like Me Now ?!" (1999), "Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue (The Angry American)" (2002), "Who's Your Daddy?" (2002), "I Love This Bar" (2003), "American Soldier" (2003) and "As Good I Once Was" (2005). Incidentally, Keith is currently filming the major motion picture "Beer For My Horses" (which is the same title as his 2002 hit that will also be included) in New Mexico.
 

The hits collection is punctuated by a new single, "She's A Hottie," that is roaring up the charts. And with the two-disc set's availability, music fans will have the chance to own some of the high points of a career that has seen more than its share. Keith has sold more than 30 million albums, he's been deluged with critical praise and peer approval in the form of awards, and he's consistently been one of the top-drawing live performers in the nation. A track listing is below.
 

  TOBY KEITH 35 BIGGEST HITS

  Disc One:
  1.  Should've Been A Cowboy
  2.  He Ain't Worth Missing
  3.  A Little Less Talk And A Lot More Action
  4.  Wish I Didn't Know Now
  5.  Who's That Man
  6.  Upstairs Downtown
  7.  You Ain't Much Fun
  8.  Big Ol' Truck
  9.  Does That Blue Moon Ever Shine On You
  10. A Woman's Touch
  11. Me Too
  12. We Were In Love
  13. I'm So Happy I Can't Stop Crying
  14. Dream Walkin'
  15. Getcha Some
  16. How Do You Like Me Now ?!
  17. Country Comes To Town
  18. You Shouldn't Kiss Me Like This

  Disc Two:
  1.  I'm Just Talkin' About Tonight
  2.  I Wanna Talk About Me
  3.  My List
  4.  Courtesy Of The Red, White And Blue (The Angry American)
  5.  Who's Your Daddy?
  6.  Beer For My Horses
  7.  I Love This Bar
  8.  American Soldier
  9.  Whiskey Girl
  10. Stays In Mexico
  11. Mockingbird
  12. Honkytonk U
  13. As Good As I Once Was
  14. Big Blue Note
  15. Get Drunk And Be Somebody
  16. A Little Too Late
  17. She's A Hottie

ROCK THE REBEL/METAL THE DEVIL on MASCOT RECORDS USA

HOLLYWOOD (March 20, 2008) – Elvis metal ‘n’ rollers VOLBEAT, who combine ‘50s rock with modern metal, will unleash their trademark rockabilly sound on unsuspecting Americans come June 10^th via their first ever U.S. release, ROCK THE REBEL/METAL THE DEVIL on Mascot Records USA. Expect to hear the first single Sad Man’s Tongue on radio nationwide in May.

Original and different, classic and cutting edge, VOLBEAT is comprised of vocalist/guitarist Michael Poulsen, guitarist Thomas Bredahl, bassist Anders Kjølholm and drummer Jon Larsen. Already endorsed by Vans, Eastpak, Gibson, In Tune Guitar Picks, De Palma and Dean Markley, VOLBEAT is intent on earning the adoration of American fans from coast to coast.

In their native Denmark, ROCK THE REBEL/METAL THE DEVIL has been certified platinum. Further solidifying their success, VOLBEAT was nominated once at the 2007 MTV European Music Awards and four times at this year’s annual Danish Music Awards (the Danish Grammy Awards equivalent) – where ROCK THE REBEL/METAL THE DEVIL was named album of the year.

When it comes to performing live, VOLBEAT has taken the stage at numerous prestigious European festivals including, but not limited to: Wacken Open Air, Roskilde, With Full Force, Summer Breeze and Graspop. In July 2007, VOLBEAT opened for Metallica on their Sick of the Studio tour when it stopped in Denmark.

America is about to learn what Europe is already well aware of – VOLBEAT rocks! ROCK THE REBEL/METAL THE DEVIL releases June 10^th, 2008 on Mascot Records U.S.A. Expect their U.S. tour in the fall, dates TBA.

For more information visit www.volbeat.dk or www.myspace.com/volbeat or watch Volbeats new video Sad Man’s Tongue http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5mV_HHL-h6g .

Nickelodeon and Columbia Records Rock Out with The Naked Brothers Band New Album, Featuring Original Music from Second Season of Hit Nickelodeon Live-Action Series

All-New I Don't Want To Go To School Album Available Nationwide Tues., April 15 'I Don't Want To Go To School' Digital Single Available Now

The Naked Brothers Band to Perform 'I Don't Want To Go To School' Live for the First Time At NICKELODEON'S 2008 KIDS' CHOICE AWARDS, Sat., March 29

-- Nickelodeon and Columbia Records today announced the April 15, 2008 release, of I Don't Want To Go To School, the eagerly awaited second album from Nickelodeon's top-rated 'tween series The Naked Brothers Band.

I Don't Want To Go To School includes 12 original songs from the second season of The Naked Brothers Band TV series, including the first single, "I Don't Want To Go To School." As with The Naked Brothers Band self-titled debut LP, all music on this new album was written and performed by the shows stars, real-life brothers and musicians Nat Wolff and Alex Wolff, ages 13 and 10, respectively.

The Naked Brothers Band will perform their new single "I Don't Want To Go To School" live for the first time on Nickelodeon's 2008 Kids' Choice Awards, Saturday, March 29 (8-9:30p.m. ET/PT).

Not forgetting their hometown of New York City, fans can get ready for the day-of album release as The Naked Brothers Band celebrate with a live performance on NBC's Today Show on Tuesday, April 15.

The Naked Brothers Band is a kid's favorite coast-to-coast. Season one premiered February 2007 delivering Nickelodeon's highest-rated TV premiere in seven years with kids 6-11. Season two premiered January 21, 2008 with even grander success, quickly becoming the most watched program on TV with kids 6- 11 and 'tweens 9-14. The Naked Brothers Band second season continues to ignite the Nickelodeon audience with a diverse list of guest stars including, famed skateboarder Tony Hawk, comedian George Lopez, Good Charlotte's Joel Madden and Grammy award-winning artist Phil Collins.

The all-new I Don't Want To Go To School album will be available at retail in three formats, with each individual CD package using recycled paper:

All songs on the new album feature music and lyrics written by Nat Wolff, except "Why," "Three Is Enough," and "Changing" which were written by Alex Wolff. I Don't Want To Go To School is produced and arranged by Michael Wolff (Nat and Alex's real-life and television dad) and composer Michael A. Levine ("The Simpsons Movie" and "Bee Movie.")

In addition to writing, Nat Wolff sings lead, provides background vocals and plays both piano and guitar on the new album. Alex Wolff plays drums and provides lead vocals on two of the three tracks he penned for the album -- "Changing" and "Three Is Enough." Tracks from I Don't Want to Go To School include:

For fans that can't wait for the April 15 release of the new full-length album, The Naked Brothers Band I Don't Want To Go To School CD Single exclusively hits Wal-Mart shelves across the U.S. on Tuesday, March 18. The CD Single includes two new tracks, "I Don't Want To Go To School" and "Three Is Enough," plus "Beautiful Eyes" taken from The Naked Brothers Band 2007 self- titled debut. As a special treat for fans, the CD Single also includes an exclusive The Naked Brothers Band poster.

I Don't Want To Go To School is a product of the development and production partnership between Nickelodeon, the number-one entertainment brand for kids and the Sony Music Label Group and the Sony BMG Commercial Music Group.

The Naked Brothers Band TV series is created, executive produced, written and directed by Polly Draper (thirtysomething) who doubles as off-camera mom to Nat Wolff and Alex Wolff. She was recently nominated for a 2008 Writers Guild Award in the category of Children's Episodic & Specials for the episode titled "Nat is a Stand Up Guy." Celebrated jazz musician/composer Michael Wolff (The Arsenio Hall Show) who is also the stars' real-life dad and Draper's husband, keeps it all in the family but plays against type as the screen tweens' musically inept father and serves as the series' music supervisor/co-executive producer. Along with Draper, Albie Hecht (The Rugrats Movie, The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie, Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events) serves as executive producer of the series in association with Nickelodeon Television. The series, which is shot on location in Brooklyn, New York, launched internationally in spring 2007 on Nickelodeon UK. The series continues to roll out across Nick's 31 channels worldwide, concluding with Nick Holland in February 2008.

Also featured are the Wolff boys' real-life friends and band mates from preschool days: cellist Thomas (Thomas Batuello) and keyboard player David (David Levi), along with guitarist Qaasim (Qaasim Middleton) and bassist -- Nat's crush -- Rosalina (Allie DiMeco.)

About Nickelodeon: Now in its 28th year, Nickelodeon is the number-one entertainment brand for kids. It has built a diverse, global business by putting kids first in everything it does. The company includes television programming and production in the United States and around the world, plus consumer products, online, recreation, books, magazines and feature films. Nickelodeon's U.S. television network is seen in more than 96 million households and has been the number-one-rated basic cable network for 13 consecutive years. Nickelodeon and all related titles, characters and logos are trademarks of Viacom Inc. (NYSE:VIA) (NYSE:VIA.B) .

About Columbia Records: One of the oldest and most respected record labels in the world, Columbia Records traces its origins back to the late 1880s. The Columbia Records roster has boasted such superstars as Marc Anthony, Louis Armstrong, Tony Bennett, Beyonce, Cypress Hill, Miles Davis, Destiny's Child, Dixie Chicks, Bob Dylan, Duke Ellington, the Fugees, Jagged Edge, John Legend, Ricky Martin, John Mayer, Patti Smith, Bruce Springsteen, System Of A Down, Train, Wyclef Jean, Pete Yorn, and many more.

Columbia Records is a wholly-owned subsidiary of SONY BMG Music Entertainment.

About Sony Music Label Group: Sony Music Label Group, a division of SONY BMG Music Entertainment, is a global recorded music joint venture with a roster of current artists that includes a broad array of both local artists and international superstars, as well as a vast catalog that comprises some of the most important recordings in history. SONY BMG Music Entertainment is 50% owned by Bertelsmann A.G. and 50% owned by Sony Corporation of America.

Source: Nickelodeon/Columbia Records

Web site: http://www.columbiarecords.com/

Usher's Newest Single Dominates U.S. Charts: Superstar's Smash Hit 'Love In This Club' Skyrockets From #51* to #1* on Billboard's Pop Singles Chart and is the Best-Selling Digital Song in the Country

Fifth Studio Album Titled 'Here I Stand' Scheduled for Worldwide Release in June '08

 Fans of LaFace/Zomba recording artist Usher are embracing the multi-talented superstar's newest song, "Love In This Club." It is the No. 1 song in the country making an astonishing leap from #51* to the No. 1* position on Billboard's "Hot 100 Singles" chart. "Love In This Club" also claims the No. 1 spot on SoundScan's digital tracks and iTunes tracks charts during the first week of its release. This accomplishment marks Usher's eighth No. 1 single in the United States.
 

"Love In This Club," featuring Young Jeezy, co-written by Usher and produced by Polow Da Don is also being well-received by music critics; Entertainment Weekly calls it a "Must" listen, proclaiming that Usher "returns with his magnetic club groove."
 

"Love In This Club" is the first single from his eagerly-awaited fifth studio album titled Here I Stand, slated for worldwide release this June. Here I Stand is Usher's follow-up to his history-making, 9x platinum-selling Confessions. Within the first week of the release of Confessions, Usher sold more than any other R&B artist in the history of SoundScan. The album spawned four #1 hit singles and Usher spent 40 weeks in the No. 1 position on The Billboard Hot 100 -- which is more than any other male artist in the nearly 50 year history of the chart. The multi-talented, five-time Grammy-winner, musician and actor has sold nearly 14 million copies of Confessions worldwide and it earned a multitude of honors including MTV, BET, and People's Choice awards.
 

Over the span of his 14-year career, Usher has sold close to 26 million albums worldwide and combining all of his single, album and DVD sales, he's sold in excess of 36 million units globally. With four studio albums, the eponymous first release, Usher (1994) and multi-platinum albums, the 6x-platinum My Way (1997),the 4x-platinum 8701 (2001), and the 9x-platinum Confessions (2004) and one gold-certified live album simply titled Live (1999), and a string of #1 hit singles including "U Remind Me," "U Got It Bad," "Yeah," "Burn," and "My Boo" Usher's return to the top of the charts is inevitable. The Tennessee-born, Atlanta raised performer, songwriter, producer, dancer, actor started his multi-faceted career at the age of 15-years old.
 

Usher Raymond IV has achieved what few other contemporary entertainers have ever accomplished. He most recently launched a successful line of signature fragrances, actively heads up his own charity, New Look Foundation, a camp for teens that teaches them about the entertainment business, and he is part owner of the Cleveland Cavaliers basketball team.
 

He is currently gearing up to promote his forthcoming album.
 

Source: LaFace/Zomba

Hannah Montana-Miley Cyrus 'Best of Both Worlds Concert' CD+DVD Arrives March 11, Only At Wal-Mart

Wal-Mart has newest CD+DVD four weeks early with preorders now available at Walmart.com

- After a successful 70-date concert tour and 3-D movie premier, Walt Disney Records and Hollywood Records release the new Hannah Montana/Miley Cyrus "Best of Both Worlds Concert" CD+DVD for an exclusive period at Wal-Mart beginning next week, March 11 -- one month before it arrives in other stores.
 

This special CD+DVD package, featuring live hit tracks from her recent concert tour, will retail at $13.88 in all Wal-Mart stores and at Walmart.com. Eager fans can preorder their copy today at http://www.walmart.com/hannah in Wal-Mart's Hannah Montana shop online.
 

The two-disc "Best of Both Worlds Concert" CD/DVD contains 14 live hit tracks -- seven by Hannah Montana, including a duet of "We Got the Party" with the Jonas Brothers, and seven by Miley Cyrus. Also included is a bonus DVD featuring two live video performances from the "Best of Both Worlds" concert tour --"Rock Star" (Hannah Montana) and "Start All Over" (Miley Cyrus) -- as well as behind-the-scenes footage from the sold-out concert tour.
 

"We have promised to bring our customers fantastic Hannah Montana merchandise at the most affordable prices throughout the year," said Janet Bareis, marketing vice president for Wal-Mart. "This new CD/DVD will also be accompanied by new and exclusive merchandise for spring, just in time for Easter and Spring Break."
 

Last month, Wal-Mart announced its commitment as "the Hannah Montana Headquarters" to bring a variety of more than 140 Hannah Montana-inspired products to its stores and Walmart.com, including apparel and footwear, handbags, cosmetics, bedding, room decor, games, and music. The new line appeals to young girls looking for on-trend casual and athletic-inspired styles as well as accessories and decor. Free shipping through Site to Store is available on many Hannah Montana-inspired products at Walmart.com, where fans also can purchase and download the new MP3 album beginning March 11.
 

  Disc 1: CONCERT CD TRACKS
  HANNAH MONTANA
  1.  Rock Star
  2.  Life's What You Make It
  3.  Just Like You
  4.  Nobody's Perfect
  5.  Pumpin' Up the Party
  6.  I Got Nerve
  7.  We Got the Party Duet with Jonas Brothers

  MILEY CYRUS
  8.  Start All Over
  9.  Good and Broken
  10. See You Again
  11. Let's Dance
  12. East Northumberland High
  13. G.N.O. (Girl's Night Out)
  14. Best of Both Worlds

  DISC 2: BONUS DVD
  1.  Rock Star - Live Performance Video
  2.  Start All Over - Live Performance Video
  3.  Hangin' with the Rock Star on Tour - Behind the Scenes Video
  4.  Photo Slideshow


  About Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (NYSE:WMT)
  

   

Every week, millions of customers visit Wal-Mart Stores, Supercenters, Neighborhood Markets, and Sam's Club locations across America or log on to its online store at http://www.walmart.com/. The company and its Foundation are committed to a philosophy of giving back locally. Wal-Mart (NYSE:WMT) is proud to support the causes that are important to customers and associates right in their own neighborhoods, and last year gave more than $296 million to local communities in the United States. To learn more, visit http://www.walmartfacts.com/, http://www.walmartstores.com/, or http://www.walmartfoundation.org/.
 

About Hannah Montana/Miley Cyrus
 

Multi-talented Miley Cyrus has captivated kids and families on Disney Channel's smash hit comedy series "Hannah Montana," the No. 1 cable TV series for kids age 6-14. Last year, her triple platinum Hannah Montana soundtrack became the first ever TV soundtrack to debut at No. 1 on the Billboard Top 200 and Miley became the youngest artist to have two No. 1 hits in less than a year. In 2007, the 15-year old followed that record with a two-disc set, Hannah Montana 2 / Meet Miley Cyrus, which reached the No. 1 spot on the Billboard Top 200 and has since earned triple-platinum status. In late January Miley completed a 70-date sold out concert tour and by mid-February had the No. 1 film in the country with the Walt Disney Pictures 3-D release, "Hannah Montana & Miley Cyrus: Best of Both Worlds Concert." Miley is currently writing material for her forthcoming studio album due later this year on Hollywood Records. She is slated to begin production this spring on "The Hannah Montana Movie" to be followed by the taping of the third season of the "Hannah Montana" TV series.
 

Source: Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.

Web site: http://www.walmart.com/hannah
http://www.walmartstores.com/
 

DELUXE EDITION of Elvis Costello's Landmark '70s Album THIS YEAR'S MODEL Pumps it Up With Second Disc Featuring Previously Unreleased Concert

-- Elvis Costello's sophomore release, his first album with the Attractions, THIS YEAR'S MODEL was voted Album of the Year in 1978 in The Village Voice Jazz & Pop critics poll, was ranked #11 on Rolling Stone's list of the best albums of 1967-1987, and in 2003 was in the Top 100 of Rolling Stone's "500 Greatest Albums of All Time." Led by the anthemic "Pump It Up," THIS YEAR'S MODEL, celebrating its 30th anniversary this year, remains one of the most important albums of the punk/new wave era.

 

The two-CD THIS YEAR'S MODEL - DELUXE EDITION (Hip-O/UMe), available now, adds 11 b-sides, demos, live tracks, and alternate takes to the original album plus a second disc comprised of a previously unreleased concert recorded at the Warner Theater in Washington, DC, on February 28, 1978. Taped on the Starfleet mobile studio, this show was originally broadcast on WHFS in Maryland and only "Chemistry Class" has ever been issued before. Along with performances of several songs from THIS YEAR'S MODEL, including "Pump It Up," "Radio, Radio," "The Beat" and "No Action," this concert also features such Costello favorites as "Watching The Detectives," "(The Angels Wanna Wear My) Red Shoes," "Less Than Zero" and "Waiting For The End Of The World."
 

THIS YEAR'S MODEL, produced by Nick Lowe, was harder and rawer than Costello's debut album, 1977's MY AIM IS TRUE, partly thanks to the singer-songwriter-guitarist's newly recruited band of keyboardist Steve Nieve, bassist Bruce Thomas and drummer Pete Thomas (no relation). The album outcharted its predecessor by reaching #30 in the U.S. and #4 U.K. THIS YEAR'S MODEL - DELUXE EDITION includes the U.K. album-only album tracks "(I Don't Want To Go To) Chelsea" and "Night Rally" plus the U.S. album-only "Radio, Radio."
 

The added selections, subsequently issued in a 2001 two-CD package, include the b-sides "Big Tears" and "Tiny Steps"; AMERICATHON soundtrack contribution "Crawling To The USA"; demos for "Running Out Of Angels," "Greenshirt" and "Big Boys"; live "Neat Neat Neat" and "Roadette Song"; and alternate takes of "This Year's Girl" and "(I Don't Want To Go To) Chelsea."
 

Following THIS YEAR'S MODEL, Costello would crack the Top 10 in America and become a major pop culture figure. He would go on to spread his musical wings by delving into everything from country to sophisticated pop, classical to jazz, and collaborating with everyone from Paul McCartney, Burt Bacharach and Diana Krall to, most recently, R&B great Allen Toussaint. In 2004, Rolling Stone ranked him among its "100 Greatest Artists of All Time."
 

  Elvis Costello has proved that he was not just this year's model.

  ELVIS COSTELLO AND THE ATTRACTIONS:
  THIS YEAR'S MODEL

  DISC ONE:

   1  No Action
   2  This Year's Girl
   3  The Beat
   4  Pump It Up
   5  Little Triggers
   6  You Belong To Me
   7  Hand In Hand
   8  (I Don't Want To Go To) Chelsea
   9  Lip Service
  10  Living In Paradise
  11  Lipstick Vogue
  12  Night Rally
  13  Radio, Radio

  Bonus material: b-sides, demos, live tracks, alternates, etc.

  14  Big Tears
  15  Crawling To The USA
  16  Tiny Steps
  17  Running Out Of Angels (demo version)
  18  Greenshirt (demo version)
  19  Big Boys (demo version)
  20  Neat Neat Neat (live)
  21  Roadette Song (live)
  22  This Year's Girl (alternate Eden Studios version)
  23  (I Don't Want To Go To) Chelsea (alternate Basing Street Studios
      version)



  ELVIS COSTELLO AND THE ATTRACTIONS
  Live At The Warner Theater, Washington, DC, February 28, 1978

  DISC TWO:

   1  Pump It Up*
   2  Waiting For The End Of The World*
   3  No Action*
   4  Less Than Zero*
   5  The Beat*
   6  (The Angels Wanna Wear My) Red Shoes*
   7  (I Don't Want To Go To) Chelsea*
   8  Hand In Hand*
   9  Little Triggers*
  10  Radio, Radio*
  11  You Belong To Me*
  12  Lipstick Vogue*
  13  Watching The Detectives*
  14  Mystery Dance*
  15  Miracle Man*
  16  Blame It On Cain*
  17  Chemistry Class

  * Previously Unreleased

   http://www.ilovethatsong.com/
   http://www.elviscostello.com/
   http://www.shorefire.com/

Source: Universal Music Enterprises

Frank Sinatra's Best Classic Recordings for Films Collected for 'Sinatra at the Movies'

Frank Sinatra was a titan of 20th Century entertainment, with record-breaking successes in both music and film throughout his legendary career. Capitol/EMI celebrates Ol' Blue Eyes' musical contributions to many of Hollywood's most memorable classic films, in several of which he also starred, with the April 15 release of a new 20-track CD and digital collection titled Sinatra At The Movies.

Sinatra At The Movies includes title themes from The Tender Trap, From Here To Eternity, Young At Heart, Three Coins In The Fountain and Not As A Stranger, as well as "Chicago" and "All The Way" from The Joker Is Wild, "I Could Write A Book" and "The Lady Is A Tramp" from Pal Joey, "How Deep Is The Ocean" and "All Of Me" from Meet Danny Wilson, "To Love And Be Loved" from Some Came Running, and more.

Sinatra At The Movies is one of several high-profile music and DVD releases honoring the Chairman of the Board's storied career as a pioneering legend of entertainment. Other upcoming salutes to Sinatra include a commemorative U.S. postage stamp to enter circulation on May 13 and special TV programming, co-hosted by his children, through the month of May on Turner Classic Movies (TCM), including more than 30 of Sinatra's films and four of his television specials.

With a career that spanned more than six decades, Frank Sinatra was truly "The Entertainer of the 20th Century." Also known as "Ol' Blue Eyes," "The Chairman of the Board" and "The Voice," Sinatra racked up 31 gold albums, one gold single, nine platinum albums (including three that went multi-platinum), and two gold and platinum videos in the United States. He won 10 Grammy Awards(R), and when he was awarded the Grammy Legend Award in 1994 he was introduced by U2 singer Bono, who said, "His songs are his home and he lets you in, but you know that to sing like that you've got to have lost a couple of fights. To know tenderness and romance you've got to have had your heart broken."

Sinatra appeared in 58 films and won three Academy Awards(R) (including an honorary Oscar(R) for The House I Live In). He also starred in his own television show and in numerous specials, earning Emmys(R) and a Peabody Award(R), and he performed thousands of tour dates around the world. Sinatra was saluted by The Kennedy Center Honors as a cultural icon, and was awarded the Presidential Medal Of Honor and the Congressional Gold Medal (Congress' highest civilian award).

Born Francis Albert Sinatra on December 12, 1915, Frank Sinatra passed away on May 14, 1998, leaving behind an unparalleled cultural legacy that continues to thrive. Sinatra's global album sales total more than 150 million copies, and Capitol/EMI's 2002 release, Classic Sinatra, has sold approximately two million units in the U.S. alone.

Source: Capitol/EMI

-- Jon Peter Lewis called for "a little less conversation, a little more action," on his star-making 2004 American Idol turn, and today, he's heeding that advice. JPL is primed for a major pop breakthrough courtesy of sophomore album Break the Silence, slated to drop in May. The first single set to release on March 18th, is the title track, an assured, infectious mid-tempo cut that recalls equal parts Ben Folds, Duncan Sheik and vintage Beatles.

Emotionally charged and overflowing with brainy pop hooks, "Break The Silence" finds Lewis offering the offbeat wit and inviting persona that made him an Idol cult favorite. Produced by Chris Garcia (Santana, Michelle Branch) and featuring the talents of drummer Kenny Aronoff (John Mellencamp, Indigo Girls) and guitarist Nick Lashley (Alanis Morissette, Natasha Bedingfield), Break The Silence is the sound of a talented young artist on the rise.

http://myspace.com/jonpeterlewis

http://www.jonpeterlewis.com/

Source: Cockaroo Entertainment

Def Leppard: Band Returns With Brand New Studio Album 'Songs From the Sparkle Lounge' Set for Release on April 29

Album Release Kicks Off With U.S. Spring Concert Tour!

-- Def Leppard, Great Britain's premiere arena rock band, is back with a bang -- kicking off 2008 with the release of their 14th studio album and a U.S. arena concert tour scheduled for this spring. Entitled "Songs From The Sparkle Lounge" (Bludgeon Riffola/Island/UMe), the album set for release on April 29, contains 11 new songs including the highly-anticipated single "Nine Lives" featuring a groundbreaking collaboration with country music superstar Tim McGraw. The band is set to debut the single on ABC-TV's "Dancing With The Stars" on April 29 and on "Jimmy Kimmel Live" on April 30. "Songs From The Sparkle Lounge" is Def Leppard's first album of brand new material since 2002's "X" and begins yet another remarkable new chapter in the band's 30-year recording career.

Recorded last year during month-long stints at lead singer Joe Elliott's Dublin studio, the album's title refers to a backstage area called "The Sparkle Lounge" on Def Leppard's 2006 tour where the band would go to write songs. Tracks from the album have been described by the group as written in the style of "Hysteria," with the production of "High 'n' Dry. "

"The whole record's got a great '70s feel," said lead singer Joe Elliott. "By our standards, it's a very different album as we've been very adventurous, musically, on certain numbers. On the album there are classic Def Leppard songs and then there's also tracks that are very new-wave influenced while others sound like middle-to-late '70s AC/DC. There will definitely be some moments on it where anybody that's familiar with our music will go, 'Whoa! I wasn't expecting that!'"

The foundation for the album's collaboration with country music superstar Tim McGraw was laid at Def Leppard's 2006 Hollywood Bowl show where McGraw joined the band on stage for an encore performance of "Pour Some Sugar on Me." The artists stayed in touch following the performance, and when the band started writing the song "Nine Lives" they immediately thought of reaching out to McGraw to sing on it. Guitarist Phil Collen flew to Nashville to play it for McGraw who loved it and recorded the song in Nashville shortly after. Other standout tracks on the album include "Go," reminiscent of the band's classic track "Rocket" in its power and aggressive tribal beat; "Love," an emotive and moving epic song; and the anthemic "Tomorrow," a song written by guitarist Collen about the death of his father.

With more than 65 million albums sold worldwide and two prestigious Diamond Awards to their credit, Def Leppard -- Joe Elliott (vocals), Vivian Campbell (guitar), Phil Collen (guitar), Rick "Sav" Savage (bass) and Rick Allen (drums) -- continues to be one of the most important forces in rock music. Over the course of their career, the band has produced a series of classic groundbreaking albums that set the sound for generations of music fans and artists. The group's spectacular live shows, filled with powerful melodic rock anthems, have become synonymous with their name and they are an institution in the touring industry as they continue to sell out arenas worldwide.

For more information on Def Leppard, "Songs From The Sparkle Lounge," and upcoming tour news, please visit the band's web site at http://www.defleppard.com/

Source: Universal Music Enterprises

Web site: http://www.defleppard.com/

Ninemuse Announces the Release of Chantal Chamandy's 'Beladi: A Night At The Pyramids' Available on CD and DVD - March 25, 2008

-- Ninemuse Entertainment proudly announces the release date of Chantal Chamandy's studio album Beladi and the DVD performance of Beladi: A Night At The Pyramids. Both the CD and DVD will be available separately on March 25, 2008.

On the night of September 7, 2007, international singer/songwriter Chantal Chamandy, made history by becoming the first person ever to be granted permission to perform a taped concert at the base of The Pyramids on the Giza plateau in Egypt. The night was especially important for the Egyptian-born Chamandy, currently based in Montreal, as she returned to her birthplace to deliver a positive portrayal of middle-eastern culture. Chamandy performed alongside the Cairo Symphony Orchestra, dancers from the Egyptian National Ballet Company and Tanoura dancers in front of a capacity audience of 5,000 people. In addition, acclaimed director Gerard Pullicino (Beyonce, Madonna, Celine Dion), choreographer Genevieve Dorion-Coupal (The Beatles' "Love" by Cirque du Soleil) and set designer Guy St-Amour (also from Cirque du Soleil) added their unique style to this special performance.

In the current climate of negative portrayal surrounding the Middle East, Chamandy's performance is a refreshing reminder that music has always had the power to bridge differences, transcend national boundaries, and to heal and inspire. Beladi is dedicated to presenting a global vision that crosses borders, a vision that celebrates our commonality, not our differences. The Egyptian Ministry was so impressed with Chantal's mission of promoting peace through cultural exchange that they offered her access to perform and tape at this sacred site.

The filmed concert, "Chantal Live at The Pyramids," is being broadcasted nationwide on public television stations (please check your local listings) starting in March 2008. On March 25th, you can capture all the excitement, stimulation, and experience on CD (Beladi) and DVD (Beladi: A Night At The Pyramids).

Source: Ninemuse Entertainment

Web site: http://www.ninemuse.com/

TVT Records is the First Label to Distribute Music on QTRAX

-- TVT Records recently renewed its long- standing agreement with QTRAX and is the first label to launch music on the ad-supported P2P service. Fans will be able to download tracks from top TVT acts like Lil Jon, Ying Yang Twins, Pitbull, Sevendust, Just Jack, and the Cinematics for FREE. Multi-platinum and Grammy nominated hip-hop duo the Ying Yang Twins will be the first QTRAX ARTIST OF THE MONTH. The group recently released their hot new single "Drop." The track is already an online phenomenon with a record-breaking 15 million streams on their MySpace page in 8 weeks. Now fans can download it at QTRAX for FREE. The download is legal and artists, label and songwriters will be paid.

"With QTRAX our fans get to enjoy the music for free, and we get paid, that is cool with us," said D Roc of the Ying Yang Twins.

Leading independent TVT Records first signed with QTRAX in 2006 and has now renewed its deal with the world's first free and legal peer-to-peer (P2P) service. QTRAX showcases an innovative ad-supported delivery model that easily directs revenue back to artists and rights holders.

"TVT has long been a forceful advocate of the ad supported model." Said Steve Gottlieb, President of TVT Records, "When we signed almost two years ago we never imagined it would take so long for the rest of the industry to embrace the future."

Mr. Gottlieb continues, "Consumers have made it clear they want music to be free. The ad supported model is the only way to both satisfy consumer expectation that music be free and to compensate the artists and other rights holders appropriately..."

"TVT Records is a pioneer in digital music distribution and has truly been at the forefront of the evolving music market online," said Founder and Chairman of Qtrax Allan Klepfisz. "We are thrilled to be able to offer TVT's catalogue of top artists and songwriters," continued Klepfisz.

About Ying Yang Twins

Named after the Chinese symbol for light and dark (Yin and Yang), the Atlanta duo Ying Yang Twins (Kaine and D-Roc) established themselves as urban music's most dominant twosome. Ying Yang Twins have a long history of chart topping hits: from their collaboration with Lil Jon & The East Side Boyz on "Get Low" to their Grammy nominated "Wait (the Whisper Song)", the group has been a fixture on the Billboard charts, video channels, radio airwaves, clubs and fans computers since the beginning of their career. Their platinum selling albums "U.S.A. (United State of Atlanta) and "Me & My Brother" helped define the sexy, fun, Southern club sound that came to dominate hip-hop. Their look, feel and sound is unique to this singular duo who have toured the globe spreading their innovated Dirty South flava to fans on every continent.

In 2008, Ying Yang Twins teamed up with the producer Isaac "Ike Dirty" Hayes III the son of R&B legend Isaac Hayes, and released their explosive new single "Drop". The sleek electro beats and Kaine & D-Roc's signature provocative rhymes display the innovation and grittiness the group is known for. The track is already an online phenomenon with more than 15 Million streams on the group's MySpace page and Top 25 on iTunes Hip Hop chart.

The Ying Yang Twins are preparing for the release of their 6th album tentatively entitled "ATL Holes."

OFFICIAL WEBSITE: http://www.yingyangmusic.com/

TVT Records, founded in 1985, is the leading and largest independent record label in the U.S. Headquartered in New York City, TVT was launched by Steve Gottlieb and has been a leader in introducing to the world such impact artists as Nine Inch Nails, Ja Rule and Lil Jon. TVT Records was Billboard Magazine's number one independent record label for five consecutive years (2001 -- 2006). While the label filed for Reorganization earlier this year it remains active and competitive. The label's current roster includes Li Jon, Ying Yang Twins, Pitbull, Default, Ambulance LTD, Yo Gotti, Teedra Moses, Keke Wyatt, The Polyphonic Spree, The Cinematics, The Holloways, Bobaflex, New Year's Day and more.

Resource: http://www.tvtrecords.com/

About QTRAX (http://www.qtrax.com/)

QTRAX (http://www.qtrax.com/) is the world's first legal and free peer-to- peer (P2P) music service. QTRAX showcases an innovative ad-supported delivery model that easily directs revenue back to artists and rights holders. QTRAX is available for browsing now and soon will provide fans with access to a colorful and diverse catalog with millions of high-quality digital music files representing the broadest artist-based fan-directed array of products available anywhere. Based in New York City, QTRAX is a subsidiary of Brilliant Technologies Corporation , a publicly traded technology holding company.

Source: QTRAX

Web site: http://www.qtrax.com/
http://www.yingyangmusic.com/
http://www.tvtrecords.com/

Michael Jackson's Thriller 25 - The 25th Anniversary Edition of the World's Top-Selling Album of All Time - Is America's #2 Best-Selling Album This Week!!!

Thriller 25 Rockets to the Top of the Charts... All Over the World!!!

-- Thriller 25 -- the newly-expanded deluxe 25th anniversary edition of Michael Jackson's Thriller, the world's best-selling album of all-time -- is America's #2 Top-Selling Album this week, more than a quarter century after the album's original release. Already shaping up as one of the hottest albums of 2008, Thriller 25 has rocketed into the Top 5 (or better) in a variety of territories across the planet following its worldwide release the week of February 11.

With first week's sales in the United States totaling 165,805 units, Thriller 25 enters the Billboard Top Pop Catalog chart at #1. (During the past 52 week period, the average first week's sales for an album hitting #1 on the Top Pop Catalog chart has been 16.6 thousand pieces; Thriller 25 entered the chart with 10x that number. Because of a technicality in the rules of Billboard charting, Thriller 25 is ineligible to chart on the Top 200. Based on first week's sales, Thriller 25, if eligible, would have entered the Top 200 at #2, nestled between Jack Johnson at #1 and Amy Winehouse at #3.)

Michael Jackson's iconic music film for "Thriller" is currently the #1 music video download on iTunes.

With more than one million copies of Thriller 25 shipped around the world, and re-orders already flooding in, the new edition of Michael Jackson's classic collection has hit #1 in France; #1 in Belgium; #2 in Germany; #2 in Australia; #2 in the Netherlands; #2 in Norway (Thriller's highest position ever in that country); #2 in Sweden; #2 in Switzerland; #3 in the UK; #3 in Denmark; #3 in New Zealand; #4 in Spain; #5 in Austria; #5 in Ireland; #6 in the Czech Republic; and #6 in Italy.

Global response to the release of Thriller 25, the newly expanded deluxe 25th anniversary edition of Michael Jackson's Thriller, the world's top- selling album of all-time, reached a fever pitch across the planet with surprise hit singles, an ongoing 40-episode "ThrillerCast" podcast event, the premiere of the "Thrillicious" Sobe Life Water ad campaign at the Super Bowl, the presentation of a Lifetime Achievement Award to Michael Jackson at the NRJ Music Awards at Cannes and a host of upcoming events and surprises.

In one of the most groundbreaking aspects of the Thriller 25 campaign, fans will soon be able to go online and star in Michael's signature "Thriller" video. Using newly developed technology from innovative media company Big Stage, fans can create photo-realistic 3-D avatars of themselves to be inserted into Michael's role in the classic clip. (Full details TBA.)

The Michael Jackson Thriller 25th anniversary celebration runs throughout 2008 with a multi-faceted global marketing campaign featuring high-profile television, radio and online events around the world and the major re-launch of Michael's official website, www.michaeljackson.com

Originally released in the US on November 30, 1982 by Epic Records, Thriller, Michael Jackson's sixth solo album and second with producer Quincy Jones, first entered the Billboard Top 200 album chart at #11 in December 1982. The original Thriller went on to spend an astounding 80 consecutive weeks in the American Top 10, 37 of those at #1, while making history as the first and only record to be America's top-selling album two years running (1983 and 1984). Thriller has been certified 27x platinum by the RIAA, giving it Double Diamond Award status in the US. In 1985, the Guinness Book of Records named Thriller the Best Selling Album of All Time, an achievement which remains unsurpassed to this day.

http://www.michaeljackson.com/

http://www.legacyrecordings.com/

http://www.epicrecords.com/

Source: Legacy Recordings

Web site: http://www.legacyrecordings.com/
http://www.michaeljackson.com/
http://www.epicrecords.com/

'CHERISH' Is the Word: CHERISH Album 'THE TRUTH' Arrives in April 2008

-- 'THE TRUTH' is on the way, and judging from every early sign, Sho'Nuff Records/Capitol Music Group quartet CHERISH is about to prove beyond doubt that in 2008, America wants 'THE TRUTH,' the whole 'TRUTH,' and nothing but 'THE TRUTH.'

THE TRUTH, the second Sho'Nuff/Capitol album by CHERISH, will be released on April 29th, 2008. As on their first RIAA gold certified album, Unappreciated, the four sisters of CHERISH (Farrah, Neosha, Felisha and Farron King) are primary songwriters throughout, and on this new project, they also collaborate with super-hot hitmaker Terius 'The-Dream' Nash. Album track producers include such top-tier names as Don Vito ("Killa"), Jazze Pha, Adonis & K-Fam, and Eric Hudson.

Reaction to the outrageously compelling kick-off single Killa, featuring Atlanta hip-hop hero Yung Joc, has been instantaneous: it is already bulleting up the Urban and Rhythmic/Crossover radio formats nationally, and maintaining a spot among the top most-added songs at Mainstream Top 40 and Rhythmic/Crossover radio.

Killa has also been supported by its prominent use in the Touchstone Pictures film STEP UP 2 THE STREETS, which crashed into the box office charts at No. 2 upon its February 14th release. Taking a place on an uncommonly strong compilation soundtrack album, CHERISH's hit is rubbing shoulders with popular tracks by Missy Elliott, Trey Songz, Plies and the phenomenal dance smash "Low," by Flo Rida.

The Killa video, which includes footage from the STEP UP 2 film, was featured on BET's Access Granted and MTV's TRL "First Look." The video is in rotation on MTV Jams, MTV Hits and BET. CHERISH performed with Yung Joc on BET's 106th and Park on February 14. Online, the video clip of Killa is racking up tens of thousands of streams from its featured positions on Myspace's homepage and MySpaceTV, BET.com and Touchstone's official film website. The track has also been featured on sports telecasts on CBS and NBC.

The first Sho'Nuff/Capitol album by CHERISH, Unappreciated, was certified Gold by the RIAA in fall 2006, and contained the Top 10 R&B/Hip-Hop and Top 15 Hot 100 single "Do It to It," featuring the Young Bloodz' Sean P. The title track "Unappreciated" was also a Top 10 hit at Urban Radio.

http://www.cherishsisters.com/

http://www.myspace.com/cherishsisters

Source: Capitol Music Group

Web site: http://www.cherishsisters.com/
http://www.myspace.com/cherishsisters

Bobby Whitlock & CoCo Carmel to Release New CD, 'Lovers' on Valentine's Day 2008

-- Joined on the new project by a stellar group of musicians, music icon, Bobby Whitlock and wife, CoCo Carmel, are set to release a new CD, "Lovers," for Valentine's day. The ten tracks, recorded and produced mostly in Austin, TX, chronicle the life and times of one of music's truly remarkable couples. Whitlock also tips his songwriting hat to former band mate, Eric Clapton with a gripping remake of the classic Derek and the Dominos, "Layla." In an interesting twist, Whitlock also put the finishing touches on "Dear Veronica," a tribute to Veronica Lake that he and Clapton began writing, but never completed until after the "Layla" sessions, nearly thirty-eight years ago.
 

According to Carmel, "We have literally had this project in the making for the past four years-it is our story, and Layla is really a tribute. I'm proud to be part of this experience."
 

And Whitlock added, "During the course of my career I have been very fortunate to have been a part of some great historical works. 'Lovers' is the finest of them all! It is my 'Layla' and my 'All Things Must Pass'."
 

Joined on this recording by Willie Nelson, David Grissom, Eric Johnson, Stephen Bruton, Brannen Temple, and James Fenner, Bobby and CoCo weave a musical tapestry with golden threads collected during a lifetime of living the music that they write. Whitlock's powerful voice is stronger than ever, appearing to have mellowed, becoming even richer with time. The lyrics, written mostly by Whitlock and Carmel, are very nearly embarrassing in a voyeuristic way; as if the listener is eavesdropping on a couple so much in love that they glow.
 

The guitar work blended into this recording is genius, born of the classic guitar album of all time, "Layla." Whitlock's voice begs for the emotion, and counterpoint of crying guitars punctuating the lyrics, and always has; "Best Days of Our Lives" is a perfect example of this. Further, Carmel's string arrangements and sax add raw emotion to material such as "You don't know" and the charismatic remake of "Layla." And, it is hard to believe that some of the notes that Carmel plays actually live in a saxophone.
 

Whitlock and Carmel will showcase "Lovers" at the forthcoming SXSW Music Festival in Austin on March 12-16th, 2008.
 

It has been an honor and privilege to have been allowed glimpses of the creative genius that has now come to fruition with "Lovers". Their musical journey has not always been easy for Whitlock and Carmel, but it helps though, when you're lovers!

 

The 8-panel eco friendly CD has been produced on recycled paper because we care.
 

Monney Productions LLC is based in Austin, Texas, USA providing Music Entertainment Services to independent artists.
 

Source: Monney Productions LLC

Web site: http://www.monneyproductions.com/
http://www.bobbywhitlock.com/
 

Jackson Browne - Solo Acoustic, Vol. 2 Set for Release March 4, 2008 on Inside Recordings

Recorded live at concerts worldwide, the title follows up 2005's GRAMMY(R)-nominated Vol. 1; a new studio album from Browne is due in late '08

-- On March 4, 2008, singer-songwriter Jackson Browne will release JACKSON BROWNE-SOLO ACOUSTIC, VOL. 2, the second in a series of live albums recorded at recent solo concerts in the U.S., the U.K. and Australia. Building on 2005's critically acclaimed and GRAMMY(R)-nominated Jackson Browne - Solo Acoustic, Vol. 1, the album features twelve career spanning songs, with Browne alternately on both guitar and piano. Also like its predecessor, VOL. 2 features lively exchanges between Jackson and his audiences. The disc will be available on the artist's own Inside Recordings label, with distribution through ADA.

Two selections from JACKSON BROWNE - SOLO ACOUSTIC, VOL. 2, "Something Fine" and "Redneck Friend," reach back to the artist's landmark 1972 self-titled debut album, about which Rolling Stone wrote in its original review, "Jackson Browne's sensibility is romantic in the best sense of the term: his songs are capable of generating a highly charged, compelling atmosphere throughout, and -- just as important -- of sustaining that pitch in the listener's mind long after they've ended."

That rapt connection is felt throughout JACKSON BROWNE-SOLO ACOUSTIC, VOL. 2., which also features four songs from Browne's most recent studio album, 2002's The Naked Ride Home: "Never Stop," "The Night Inside Me," "My Stunning Mystery Companion" and "Casino Nation". Other highlights include "In The Shape Of A Heart," from 1987's Lives In The Balance, "Sky Blue And Black" from 1993's I'm Alive, "Alive In This World" from '96's Looking East and the 1982 Top 10 hit "Somebody's Baby," originally featured on the Fast Times At Ridgemont High soundtrack.

Throughout his career, Jackson Browne has defined a genre of songwriting and performing charged with honesty, emotion and personal politics. He's been honored with inductions into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (2004) and the Songwriter's Hall of Fame (2007). As influential and enduring as Browne's music is his legacy as an advocate for social and environmental justice. Recent humanitarian honors include the John Steinbeck Award and the Chapin-World Hunger Year Harry Chapin Humanitarian Award. In 2007, Browne re-united with his Musicians United For Safe Energy (MUSE) co-founders Graham Nash and Bonnie Raitt to oppose a revival of the nuclear energy industry.

Jackson Browne is currently at work on a studio album of new material slated for release in fall 2008. Following the March 4 release of JACKSON BROWNE-SOLO ACOUSTIC, VOL. 2., he will perform a series of solo concert dates in the U.S.

For more information, log on to http://www.jacksonbrowne.com/.

Source: Inside Recordings

Web site: http://www.jacksonbrowne.com/

Platinum Recording Artist and Singer/Songwriter Gavin DeGraw to Release Self-Titled Album April 15

Announces 10-city Headlining Tour With Support Act Landon Pigg

Tickets On Sale Now

- J Records platinum recording artist Gavin DeGraw will release his highly-anticipated sophomore album Gavin DeGraw on April 15th. The album is the long-awaited follow-up to his platinum debut Chariot, which featured the hit singles "I Don't Want To Be," "Chariot" and "Follow Through." Well known for his emotionally intense live performances, Gavin will be heading out on a 10-city tour of intimate venues to present live for the first time brand new songs from his forthcoming album with support act Landon Pigg.
 

Gavin DeGraw was produced by the famed Grammy-nominated producer Howard Benson who is known for his work with bands as varied as My Chemical Romance, Daughtry and Motorhead. The album showcases an edgy pop/rock sound evident on the first single, "In Love With A Girl." The 12 songs on Gavin DeGraw revisit the themes of love and relationships, while taking Gavin's matured songwriting in an exciting new direction.
 

Gavin's debut album, Chariot, introduced the world to a vital singer, songwriter, pianist and guitarist whose abundant talent and charisma were already well known in the New York club circuit. J Records also re-released the album bundled with a live acoustic disc entitled Chariot "Stripped." A fan driven project, Chariot "Stripped" offered Gavin the opportunity to re- record his album with the raw passion he had when he first penned these songs, as well as to showcase the growth and energy of these tracks garnered from performing them live over the years.
 

DeGraw has performed on major national television shows such as Late Show with David Letterman, Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Good Morning America, and The Ellen DeGeneres Show, among others. His songs have been featured in many television shows and feature films most notably his hit single, "I Don't Want to Be" as the theme song for the WB hit, "One Tree Hill." In addition, DeGraw wrote and recorded "We Belong Together" for the 2006 film "Tristan and Isolde" and has made appearances on the season premieres of NBC's "American Dreams," Showtime's "Dead Like Me," and on the WB's "What I Like About You."
 

  GAVIN DEGRAW TOUR DATES:

   February 26            Gainsville, FL            Common Grounds
   February 27            Atlanta, GA               Roxy Theatre
   February 29            Washington, DC            9:30 Club
   March 1                Boston, MA                Paradise Rock Club
   March 2                Philadelphia, PA          Theatre of Living Arts
   March 4                New York, NY              Bowery Ballroom
   March 6                Chicago, IL               Lakeshore Theatre
   March 7                Minneapolis, MN           Fine Line Music Cafe
   March 10               San Francisco, CA         The Independent
   March 11               Los Angeles, CA           Knitting Factory

Source: J Records

Web site: http://www.jrecords.com/

Dolly Parton Signs With INgrooves for Worldwide Digital Distribution of New Album

Backwoods Barbie, due out February 26th, is Dolly Parton's first country mainstream album in over 17 years.

- Legendary singer/songwriter, Dolly Parton, and her label, Dolly Records, have signed a digital distribution deal with INgrooves. The first release from Dolly Records will be "Backwoods Barbie", DOLLY'S first mainstream country album in over 17 years. Artist2Market, Handleman's independent distribution division, is handling the physical distribution of the album.
 

Dolly Parton's signing with INgrooves is representative of a larger shift underway in the music industry; artists are increasingly looking to create innovative structures that maximize their freedom, connection with fans, and sales. "Well it aint no surprise that the music industry is changing in a big way -- and trust me, I know big. When we started Dolly Records we knew we had to be cutting edge as well as put out great music," commented Dolly. "After looking at the choices in digital distribution, INgrooves was the perfect partner for our first release. They had tons of experience and were flexible enough to work with a crazy country girl like me and I know we'll have a ball making waves in the digital world."
 

INgrooves has had a lot of recent success in the country market with 2007 releases from Tracy Lawrence (#1 country single with "Find Out Who Your Friends Are") and newcomer Rissi Palmer (Top Ten Country Dance Song -- Club Connection).
 

"All of us at INgrooves are deeply appreciative of the opportunity to work with an iconic, legendary artist like Dolly Parton", commented INgrooves' CEO, Robb McDaniels. "Ms. Parton continues to transcend musical boundaries and delivers a fantastic new album that will increasingly resonate with each track you play."
 

DOLLY's "Backwoods Barbie World Tour 2008/2009" kicks off February 29 at the Chicago Theatre in Chicago, IL. For the tour DOLLY will perform hits from throughout her storied career -- which includes 25 #1 hits, seven Grammy Awards, 10 Country Music Association Awards, five Academy of Country Music Awards and three American Music Awards--as well as songs from "Backwoods Barbie". She wrote nine of the songs for the album including the current hit single and video "Better Get to Livin'"--and produced the CD with bandleader and guitarist Kent Wells.
 

For all the latest news, tour dates and pre-sale information check out DOLLY's first official music website: http://www.dollypartonmusic.net/
 

About INgrooves/ONE Digital
 

Parent company Isolation Network, Inc. is a digital media infrastructure company that provides various distribution and marketing services via its INgrooves and ONE Digital divisions. ONE Digital is a proprietary software platform that provides distribution and administration to large distributors, record labels and film production companies at rates far below the industry standard. INgrooves provides clients customized distribution, marketing, promotion, synch licensing and administrative support to help maximize the earnings potential of specific releases or catalogues. For more information, check out http://www.ingrooves.com/ or http://www.theonedigital.com/.
 

Source: INgrooves|ONE Digital

Web site: http://www.ingrooves.com/
http://www.theonedigital.com/
http://www.dollypartonmusic.net/
 

-- Legacy Recordings is launching a year- long celebration of Willie Nelson's 75th birthday (April 30th) with the release of ONE HELL OF A RIDE, a monumental 4-CD, 100-song retrospective covering all phases of Nelson's 50-plus years of barrier-breaking pop and country music. The set arrives in stores April 1st, 2008, on Columbia/Legacy, a division of SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT.

ONE HELL OF A RIDE makes available, for the first time in any collection, recordings and performances drawn from the entire range, and all record labels, of Willie Nelson's mythic career.

With a whopping 100 selections in all, the box set includes rare early recordings -- including "When I've Sang My Last Hillbilly Song," recorded late 1954/early 1955 at KBOP Studio in Pleasanton, Texas, and "No Place For Me," recorded in 1957 in Portland, Oregon, for Willie Nelson Records. Also featured are Willie's own early 1960s performances of "Night Life," "Funny How Time Slips Away" and "Crazy," the much-covered songs that broke down the walls between Tin Pan Alley and country music; his mid-1960s recordings for RCA Victor when he forged his own signature blend of country-rock with currents of jazz, swing and deep folk influences; his 1970s invention of "outlaw country" with the multi-platinum country/pop crossover blockbuster "Red Headed Stranger; his historic collaborations with Waylon Jennings, Chet Atkins, Roger Miller, Ray Price, Merle Haggard, Johnny Cash, Julio Iglesias, and many more; and a generous selection of Willie's classic covers including his signature interpretations of Fred Neil's "Everybody's Talkin'," Fred Rose's "Blue Eyes Crying In The Rain," Townes Van Zandt's "Pancho & Lefty," Hoagy Carmichael's "Stardust" and "Georgia On My Mind," and others.

The deluxe 4-CD box set includes liner notes by Joe Nick Patoski, who has written about Willie Nelson over the past thirty five years for Texas Monthly, Rolling Stone, Country Music, No Depression, and other publications. Patoski's biography, Willie Nelson: An Epic Life, is published this spring by Little, Brown.

In addition to ONE HELL OF RIDE, Legacy Recordings will celebrate Willie's

75th with the release of #1s, a single disk collection of Willie's #1 country and pop hits, arriving in stores April 29th. Additional Willie Nelson projects will be announced in the coming months.

Source: Legacy Recordings

Web site: http://www.legacyrecordings.com/

Anne Murray's New All-Star Collaborative Album, 'Anne Murray Duets: Friends & Legends,' Enjoys Strong Debut Across Several Billboard Charts: #8 Country; #3 Internet; #42 Top 200

New Duets Album Pairs Music Legend Anne Murray with a Who's-Who of Top Female Recording Artists, Including Martina McBride, Amy Grant, Nelly Furtado, Carole King, k.d. lang, Shelby Lynne, Olivia Newton-John, Shania Twain and More

-- Anne Murray's new all-star collaborative album, Anne Murray Duets: Friends & Legends, debuts this week at #8 on Billboard's Country chart and at #42 on Billboard's Top 200 Albums chart with first week CD and digital album sales totaling 13,091. Released by Manhattan/EMI America Records on January 15, Duets: Friends & Legends, a 17-track collection of Murray's top hits and favorites newly recorded as duets with some of the world's top female recording artists, also bows at #3 on Billboard's Internet chart, with online CD sales totaling 2,534 for the week.

Anne Murray Duets: Friends & Legends showcases a wide variety of Anne's favorite female vocalists. Among the album's tracks and collaborating artists are "Snowbird" with Sarah Brightman, "You Needed Me" with Shania Twain, "Nobody Loves Me Like You Do" with Anne's daughter Dawn Langstroth, "Danny's Song" with Martina McBride, "Another Pot O' Tea" with Emmylou Harris, "A Little Good News" with Indigo Girls, "Cotton Jenny" with Olivia Newton-John, "Could I Have This Dance" with Amy Grant, "Daydream Believer" with Nelly Furtado, "A Love Song" with k.d. lang, "Time Don't Run Out On Me" with the song's writer, Carole King, and more.

In 1979, Anne and Dusty Springfield each recorded the song "I Just Fall In Love Again." Anne's version became a hit single that garnered her Canada's Juno Award for "Single of the Year" in 1980. Anne and Dusty remained friends until Dusty's passing in 1999, and for Anne, releasing an album with this type of sisterly theme wouldn't seem complete without Dusty's inclusion. With the blessing of the Springfield family and estate, a new version pairing Dusty's original with Anne's newly recorded vocals is featured on the album.

Anne Murray Duets: Friends & Legends was produced by one of the most respected music producers in the world, Phil Ramone (Tony Bennett, Bob Dylan, Elton John, Barbra Streisand, Billy Joel), who counts 14 Grammy Awards and 32 Grammy nominations among his many honors. Together, Anne and Phil decided they would treat the songs on their own terms and not adhere rigidly to the arrangements of Anne's classic versions. While Anne had designs on how she imagined the arrangements, she gave Phil free rein to rework the songs.

"We approached the sessions as if we were just handed these songs and told to make this record," explains Ramone. "While arrangements were changed, there are also licks on some songs that I didn't mess with. We stayed true to the song."

Working with Anne for the first time, Ramone adds, was an easy task. "What I love about Anne is there are no words minced about whatever she feels," he says. "This is not a person you have to think, 'Will she tell me the truth?' When we met for a few hours in Michigan before we started, we agreed we wanted to bring some daring ideas and some freshness to this album."

"I said to Phil," joked Anne, "The only reason I asked you was that I'm the only singer left that you haven't worked with!"

"I've done duets throughout my career," Anne says. "I did duets when I started out on (CBC Television's) 'Singalong Jubilee.' I did a duets album in 1971 with Glen Campbell. Growing up I did lot of group singing at school and sang with my brothers. I've always loved singing harmony."

Music icon Anne Murray has sold more than 50 million albums in a distinguished career that spans four decades. Since releasing her debut album in 1967, Murray has been honored with a spectacular number of awards. She is the proud recipient of four Grammy Awards, three American Music Awards, three Country Music Association Awards, three Canadian Country Music Association Awards and twenty-four Juno Awards. Anne has also been honored with the Legacy Award from the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame (2006), the East Coast Music Association Directors' Special Achievement Award (2001), induction into the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame (2002), and induction into the Juno Hall of Fame (1993).

Anne Murray will tour to several U.S. cities in February and March. For updates and additional information, visit Anne Murray's official Website: www.annemurray.com.

Source: Manhattan/EMI America Records

Web site: http://www.manhattanrecords.com/
http://www.annemurray.com/

 -- Elvis Costello's sophomore release, his first album with the Attractions, THIS YEAR'S MODEL was voted Album of the Year in 1978 in The Village Voice Jazz & Pop critics poll, was ranked #11 on Rolling Stone's list of the best albums of 1967-1987, and in 2003 was in the Top 100 of Rolling Stone's "500 Greatest Albums of All Time." Led by the anthemic "Pump It Up," THIS YEAR'S MODEL, celebrating its 30th anniversary this year, remains one of the most important albums of the punk/new wave era.
 

The two-CD THIS YEAR'S MODEL -- DELUXE EDITION (Hip-O/UMe), to be released on March 4, 2008, adds 11 b-sides, demos, live tracks, and alternate takes to the original album plus a second disc comprised of a previously unreleased concert recorded at the Warner Theater in Washington, DC, on February 28, 1978. Taped on the Starfleet mobile studio, this show was originally broadcast on WHFS in Maryland and only "Chemistry Class" has ever been issued before. Along with performances of several songs from THIS YEAR'S MODEL, including "Pump It Up," "Radio, Radio," "The Beat" and "No Action," this concert also features such Costello favorites as "Watching The Detectives," "(The Angels Wanna Wear My) Red Shoes," "Less Than Zero" and "Waiting For The End Of The World."
 

THIS YEAR'S MODEL, produced by Nick Lowe, was harder and rawer than Costello's debut album, 1977's MY AIM IS TRUE, partly thanks to the singer-songwriter-guitarist's newly recruited band of keyboardist Steve Nieve, bassist Bruce Thomas and drummer Pete Thomas (no relation). The album outcharted its predecessor by reaching #30 in the U.S. and #4 U.K. THIS YEAR'S MODEL -- DELUXE EDITION includes the U.K. album-only album tracks "(I Don't Want To Go To) Chelsea" and "Night Rally" plus the U.S. album-only "Radio, Radio."
 

The added selections, subsequently issued in a 2001 two-CD package, include the b-sides "Big Tears" and "Tiny Steps"; AMERICATHON soundtrack contribution "Crawling To The USA"; demos for "Running Out Of Angels," "Greenshirt" and "Big Boys"; live "Neat Neat Neat" and "Roadette Song"; and alternate takes of "This Year's Girl" and "(I Don't Want To Go To) Chelsea."
 

Following THIS YEAR'S MODEL, Costello would crack the Top 10 in America and become a major pop culture figure. He would go on to spread his musical wings by delving into everything from country to sophisticated pop, classical to jazz, and collaborating with everyone from Paul McCartney, Burt Bacharach and Diana Krall to, most recently, R&B great Allen Toussaint. In 2004, Rolling Stone ranked him among its "100 Greatest Artists of All Time."
 

  Elvis Costello has proved that he was not just this year's model.


  ELVIS COSTELLO AND THE ATTRACTIONS:
  THIS YEAR'S MODEL

  DISC ONE:

  1   No Action
  2   This Year's Girl
  3   The Beat
  4   Pump It Up
  5   Little Triggers
  6   You Belong To Me
  7   Hand In Hand
  8   (I Don't Want To Go To) Chelsea
  9   Lip Service
  10  Living In Paradise
  11  Lipstick Vogue
  12  Night Rally
  13  Radio, Radio

  Bonus material: b-sides, demos, live tracks, alternates, etc.

  14   Big Tears
  15   Crawling To The USA
  16   Tiny Steps
  17   Running Out Of Angels (demo version)
  18   Greenshirt (demo version)
  19   Big Boys (demo version)
  20   Neat Neat Neat (live)
  21   Roadette Song (live)
  22   This Year's Girl (alternate Eden Studios version)
  23   (I Don't Want To Go To) Chelsea (alternate Basing Street Studios
       version)


  ELVIS COSTELLO AND THE ATTRACTIONS
  Live At The Warner Theater, Washington, DC, February 28, 1978

  DISC TWO:

  1   Pump It Up*
  2   Waiting For The End Of The World*
  3   No Action*
  4   Less Than Zero*
  5   The Beat*
  6   (The Angels Wanna Wear My) Red Shoes*
  7   (I Don't Want To Go To) Chelsea*
  8   Hand In Hand*
  9   Little Triggers*
  10  Radio, Radio*
  11  You Belong To Me*
  12  Lipstick Vogue*
  13  Watching The Detectives*
  14  Mystery Dance*
  15  Miracle Man*
  16  Blame It On Cain*
  17  Chemistry Class

  * Previously Unreleased

  http://www.ilovethatsong.com/
  http://www.elviscostello.com/
  http://www.shorefire.com/

-- The Rolling Stones and Universal Music Group (UMG) are delighted to announce they have signed an exclusive worldwide recording agreement for the group's next album due for release in March 2008.
 

The one album deal is for the soundtrack CD from director Martin Scorsese's film 'Shine A Light'. The movie, set for cinema release in April 2008, was shot at The Rolling Stones' acclaimed performance at New York's Beacon Theatre in the autumn of 2006. With special guests Buddy Guy, White Stripes' Jack White and Christine Aguilera joining the Stones onstage, the Oscar-winning director captures an extraordinary performance from the band. The film also integrates rarely seen archival footage of the Stones in a unique cinema experience.
 

A spokesman for The Rolling Stones said, "The band are looking forward to working with Universal Music and are excited about this new venture."
 

This new deal for the Rolling Stones comes on the back of their record breaking A Bigger Bang World Tour which ended in triumph at London's O2 Arena in August 2007.
 

The 'Shine A Light' soundtrack will receive a physical and digital release across Universal Music's labels around the world. It will be released in the US by Interscope Records.
 

About Universal Music Group
 

Universal Music Group is the world's largest music company with wholly owned record operations or licensees in 77 countries. Its businesses also include Universal Music Publishing Group, the industry's largest global music publishing operation.
 

Universal Music Group consists of record labels Decca, Deutsche Grammophon, Emarcy, Interscope Geffen A&M Records, Geffen Records, Island Def Jam Music Group, Lost Highway Records, Machete Music, MCA Nashville, Mercury Nashville, Mercury Records, Philips, Polydor Records, Universal Music Latino, Universal Motown Republic Group, Universal South Records and Verve Music Group, as well as a multitude of record labels owned or distributed by its record company subsidiaries around the world. The Universal Music Group owns the most extensive catalog of music in the industry, which is marketed through two distinct divisions, Universal Music Enterprises (in the U.S.) and Universal Strategic Marketing (outside the U.S.). Universal Music Group also includes eLabs, a new media and technologies division, and Global Digital Initiatives.
 

Universal Music Group is a unit of Vivendi, a global media and communications company.
 

Source: Universal Music Group

AC/DC'S 'Plug Me In' - the Ultimate Career-Spanning DVD Boxed Set from the World's Most Electrifying Rock & Roll Band - Certified 5x Platinum by the RIAA Following #1 Debut on US Top DVD Music Video Chart

NEW YORK, Dec. 4 -- Plug Me In -- the ultimate career- spanning DVD box set of live performances, interviews and more from AC/DC, the world's most electrifying rock & roll band -- has been certified 5x Platinum by the RIAA. Released on Tuesday, October 16, Plug Me In debuted at #1 on the Billboard Top Music Video chart and #1 on the SoundScan Top DVD Music Videos chart.

Plug Me In -- the first AC/DC release since the band came to Columbia Records earlier this year -- debuted at #1 in 12 countries around the world including the US, the UK, Australia, Canada, France, Spain, Sweden, Belgium, Denmark, Ireland, Finland, and New Zealand.

Plug Me In -- available in either a two DVD or deluxe triple DVD box set - - brings together for the very first time an astonishing five hours of definitive live concert and television performances -- many of them previously unavailable -- chronicling the on-going career (now in its fourth decade!) of a groundbreaking rock & roll powerhouse whose music transcends the test of time.

The Chicago Tribune heralded "....the live-wire energy on display here ... the Bon Scott-era performances electrify. Lead guitarist Angus Young gives hyperactivity a good name while hopping around in his schoolboy uniform. Early '80s concert clips prove Scott's death inspired the boogie-based band to further improve upon its already machinelike precision."

The first disc of Plug Me In is devoted to the band's formative years (1975-1979) with original lead singer, the late Bon Scott capturing the group in its full early glory with more than 20 performances beginning with a performance of "High Voltage" performed in October 1975 on Australia's "King of Pop Awards" and concluding with one of Bon Scott's last concerts with the band before his tragic death on February 19, 1980.

Disc Two of the AC/DC Plug Me In DVD collection covers the band's second great epoch: the Brian Johnson era which began with the release of "Back In Black" in 1980 and continues to this day. Plug Me In includes a fantastic array of bonus material including the AC/DC Donington interview on the "Old Grey Whistle Test" (August 1984) and AC/DC's in-concert performance of "Rock Me Baby" with the Rolling Stones.

The deluxe collector's edition of Plug Me In contains a third DVD of 21 additional rare performances spanning both the Bon Scot and Brian Johnson eras as well as an expanded booklet and a treasure trove of facsimile reproductions of authentic AC/DC memorabilia (ticket stubs, concert posters, backstage passes, etc.).

The AC/DC Plug Me In DVD box set is both a Holy Grail for aficionados of AC/DC as well as an ideal and comprehensive introduction to the music and history of a pioneering band that continues to define the electrifying possibilities of rock & roll.

Formed in Sydney, Australia in 1973 by brothers Angus and Malcolm Young (still the most formidable electric guitar team in rock), AC/DC released its first album, "High Voltage," in 1975. The group has gone on to sell nearly 70 million albums in the U.S. alone, making AC/DC one of the five best-selling bands in American music history. The "Back In Black" album has achieved RIAA "Double Diamond" status, for sales in excess of 21 million copies in the United States, and is the U.S.'s fifth largest-selling album ever. AC/DC was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2003.

Source: Columbia Records

.

Web site: http://www.columbiarecords.com/
http://www.acdcrocks.com/
http://www.legacyrecordings.com/

Blake Lewis to Release Debut Album 'Audio Day Dream' on 19 Recordings / Arista Records on December 4th, 2007

FIRST SINGLE 'BREAK ANOTHA' DEBUTED DIRECTLY TO FANS VIA SAY NOW

NEW YORK, Nov. 16 /Blake Lewis, the popular finalist on the sixth season of "American Idol," will release his debut album Audio Day Dream on 19 Recordings / Arista Records on December 4th, 2007. The album will feature the single "Break Anotha" co-written by OneRepublic's Ryan "Alias" Tedder, Sam Watters and Lewis and produced by Tedder (Timbaland, Leona Lewis) which will go to radio this week.

"Blake knows music, is deeply involved and connected with the process and we all had a ball making this album. The results are so gratifying. Blake comes to the fore as a totally fresh, creative, edgy and bold new artist, poised to break through right out of the gate," comments Clive Davis, Chairman and CEO BMG Label Group.

Tedder and Lewis co-wrote and Tedder produced numerous other tracks on the debut including "Gots To Get Her" (Inspired by "Puttin' On The Ritz"), "Hate 2 Love Her," "Know My Name" featuring Lupe Fiasco (co-written by Tedder, Josh Hoge and Lewis), "Surrender" (co-written by Tedder and E. Kidd Bogart), and "I Got U." In addition, Jonathan "JR" Rotem, (who worked with Rihanna on her No. 1 single "SOS") produced and co-wrote the track "What'cha Got 2 Lose?" along with Lewis and his Idol co-finalist Chris Richardson.

"This album is exactly how I wanted it to come out. It's like an '80s mix tape, with some hip-hop and electronic influences. I wanted to make a record where every song sounds like it could be on the radio, but my radio. 2000-'80s Blake radio is what I call it," Lewis says.

Lewis broke the mold by premiering his first single directly to the fans at the same time it was released to radio via Say Now. Fans that called Blake on 206-973-3082 and left him a message received a return call from Blake with a stream of "Break Anotha," so they were among the first to hear it.

Simon Fuller, creator of the popular TV series and chief executive and founder of 19 Entertainment Label Group says, "Blake is an extraordinary artist; talented, distinctive and unique. He has made a fantastic debut album, and I am so looking forward to all his fans hearing it -- they will love it."

The 26-year-old singer was born in Redmond, Washington. He started singing at age five and competed in statewide talent contests while in high school. He became a beat-boxer at 17, inspired by the then Seattle-based a cappella group M-Pact. Lewis was a member of the Pacific Northwest a cappella group Kickshaw for four years.

Source: Arista Records

Web site: http://www.jrecords.com/

NEW YORK, Nov. 15 -- With over 20 million albums sold worldwide, eight Top 5 singles, and three records that have broken the Top 5 on the Billboard 200, Counting Crows are set to release an expanded deluxe version of their seminal album, AUGUST AND EVERYTHING AFTER (UMe/Geffen), which defined them as one of the most popular and inspiring rock bands of the last 15 years.

AUGUST AND EVERYTHING AFTER, the Crows first album released in 1994, set the standard for the rock style of the mid-nineties and showcased the band as a chart-topping powerhouse. Once MTV aired the video to their top 5 track "Mr. Jones," the album jumped 40 spots on the Billboard Top 200 in one week. Most recently, their single "Accidentally In Love" from the Shrek 2 soundtrack earned them an Oscar(TM), Grammy, and Golden Globe nomination, and reached the #1 position on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

In addition to the original songs on AUGUST AND EVERYTHING AFTER, the deluxe version will include previously unreleased demos plus the entire final show from the August Tour in 1994 from Elysee Montmartre in Paris, France. Also included are liner notes written by lead singer/songwriter, Adam Duritz. On September 18th, the same day the album is set to drop, Counting Crows will perform the record in its entirety at the legendary venue Town Hall in New York City. Tickets for the show go on sale September 7th at 10am local time in all markets.

Following up the deluxe version of AUGUST AND EVERYTHING AFTER, the Crows released their long awaited new album SATURDAY NIGHTS & SUNDAY MORNINGS on November 6th. The record is the Crows' first studio album in almost 5 years, since the release of HARD CANDY in 2002.

Source: Universal Music Enterprises

Web site: http://www.countingcrows.com/

JAY-Z Releases His 10th Solo Album AMERICAN GANGSTER

AMERICAN GANGSTER Will Not Be Available on iTunes

5 City AMERICAN GANGSTER Tour Kicks Off in Los Angeles

JAY-Z VH1 'Storytellers' premieres November 8th

JAY-Z Takes Over Channel Exclusively on Sirius Radio

'Roc Boys,' Directed By Chris Robinson, Debuts on the Networks

Tuesday, November 6th, JAY-Z will release his 10th studio album. Already receiving rave reviews, AMERICAN GANGSTER, is JAY-Z's first conceptual work of art. Separate from the official motion picture soundtrack, this collection of all-new original material is a musical journey and lyrical interpretation of snapshots from the motion picture American Gangster.

The album will not be sold on iTunes to respect JAY-Z's creative vision of AMERICAN GANGSTER being experienced as a complete story. "As movies are not sold scene by scene, this collection will not be sold as individual singles," stated JAY-Z. The album is available in its entirety in traditional retail stores as well as at rocafella.com, Amazon.com and rhapsody.com.

In support of the AMERICAN GANGSTER album, JAY-Z will embark on an up close and personal 5 city tour. Each city sold out in less than a minute, Philadelphia in 30 seconds, Los Angeles in 11 seconds and Chicago in 8 seconds. The intimate performances will feature songs from the new collection.

JAY-Z Nation, launching on November 5th at 5pm (EST) will air a special live concert playback from the forthcoming performance at the House of Blues in Chicago (11/7) as well as special editions of Street Certified, DJ Green Lantern: The Invasion, and The Nation's Top 20 Hip Hop Countdown hosted by JAY-Z.

The channel will feature music from American Gangster as well as other JAY-Z songs and will include personal introductions by the artist himself. JAY-Z will also play some of his other favorite Hip Hop artists and discuss what each means to him.

Fans will be able to hear the story behind AMERICAN GANGSTER when a special edition of VH1's "Storytellers" airs on Thursday, November 8th. In a rare and intimate performance, JAY-Z performs and shares the inspirations behind each of the songs, which serve as scenes from this cautionary tale.

Also, this week, JAY-Z will debut the video for "Roc Boys," his newest visual component of the AMERICAN GANGSTER tale. This video will be an excerpt from the AMERICAN GANGSTER film currently being filmed.

Source: Roc-A-Fella Records

Web site: http://www.rocafella.com/

Anne Murray's New All-Star Collaborative Album, 'Anne Murray Duets: Friends & Legends,' to Be Released January 15 by Manhattan/EMI America

New Duets Album Pairs Music Legend Anne Murray with a Who's-Who of Top Female Recording Artists, Including Martina McBride, Amy Grant, Nelly Furtado, Carole King, k.d. lang, Shelby Lynne, Olivia Newton-John, Shania Twain and More

Music icon Anne Murray has sold more than 50 million albums in a distinguished career that spans four decades. On January 15th, Manhattan/EMI America Records will release Anne Murray Duets: Friends & Legends, an exceptional 17-track collection of her top hits and favorites, newly recorded as duets with some of the world's top female recording artists.

Anne Murray Duets: Friends & Legends showcases a wide variety of Anne's favorite female vocalists. Among the album's tracks and collaborating artists are "Snowbird" with Sarah Brightman, "You Needed Me" with Shania Twain, "Nobody Loves Me Like You Do" with Anne's daughter Dawn Langstroth, "Danny's Song" with Martina McBride, "Another Pot O' Tea" with Emmylou Harris, "A Little Good News" with Indigo Girls, "Cotton Jenny" with Olivia Newton-John, "Could I Have This Dance" with Amy Grant, "Daydream Believer" with Nelly Furtado, "A Love Song" with k.d. lang, "Time Don't Run Out On Me" with the song's writer, Carole King, and more.

In 1979, Anne and Dusty Springfield each recorded the song "I Just Fall In Love Again." Anne's version became a hit single that garnered her Canada's Juno Award for "Single of the Year" in 1980. Anne and Dusty remained friends until Dusty's passing in 1999, and for Anne, releasing an album with this type of sisterly theme wouldn't seem complete without Dusty's inclusion. With the blessing of the Springfield family and estate, a new version pairing Dusty's original with Anne's newly recorded vocals is featured on the album.

Anne Murray Duets: Friends & Legends was produced by one of the most respected music producers in the world, Phil Ramone (Tony Bennett, Bob Dylan, Elton John, Barbra Streisand, Billy Joel), who counts 14 Grammy Awards and 32 Grammy nominations among his many honors. Together, Anne and Phil decided they would treat the songs on their own terms and not adhere rigidly to the arrangements of Anne's classic versions. While Anne had designs on how she imagined the arrangements, she gave Phil free rein to rework the songs.

"We approached the sessions as if we were just handed these songs and told to make this record," explains Ramone. "While arrangements were changed, there are also licks on some songs that I didn't mess with. We stayed true to the song."

Working with Anne for the first time, Ramone adds, was an easy task. "What I love about Anne is there are no words minced about whatever she feels," he says. "This is not a person you have to think, 'Will she tell me the truth?' When we met for a few hours in Michigan before we started, we agreed we wanted to bring some daring ideas and some freshness to this album."

"I said to Phil," joked Anne, "The only reason I asked you was that I'm the only singer left that you haven't worked with!"

"I've done duets throughout my career," Anne says. "I did duets when I started out on (CBC Television's) 'Singalong Jubilee.' I did a duets album in 1971 with Glen Campbell. Growing up I did lot of group singing at school and sang with my brothers. I've always loved singing harmony."

Since releasing her debut album in 1967, Anne Murray has been honored with a spectacular number of awards. She is the proud recipient of four Grammy Awards, three American Music Awards, three Country Music Association Awards, three Canadian Country Music Association Awards and twenty-four Juno Awards. Anne has also been honored with the Legacy Award from the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame (2006), the East Coast Music Association Directors' Special Achievement Award (2001), induction into the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame (2002), and induction into the Juno Hall of Fame (1993).

Anne Murray will tour to several U.S. cities in February and March 2008 (confirmed tour dates listed below). For updates and additional information, visit Anne Murray's official Website: http://www.annemurray.com/

Source: Manhattan Records/EMI America Records

Web site: http://www.annemurray.com/

First New Solo Release with Capitol Since 1974; To Be Available On CD & Digitally

Starr to Launch Album at Liverpool Concert Event on January 12

-- On January 15 (January 14 internationally), Ringo Starr will release Liverpool 8, his first new album with Capitol/EMI since 1974's Goodnight Vienna. Liverpool 8 will be available worldwide on CD and digitally, and the album's title track will debut as a digital single on December 4. Starr will launch the album with a hometown performance on January 12 to commence Liverpool's 2008 Capital of Culture celebrations.

Liverpool 8, also the title of the album's upbeat, vibrant lead track, "refers to the section of Liverpool where I used to live," explains Ringo. "The song was actually Dave Stewart's idea, as a mini autobiographical travelogue: 'I was a sailor first ... ' and then, 'Liverpool I left you' -- because I did. 'but I never let you down,' which is true."

Although Starr and Stewart have known each other for years, this is the first time they have collaborated. It began when Dave asked Ringo to lay down some drums on a track Stewart had done with George Harrison. "After I did the drums I asked Dave to add some guitars to my album, which Mark Hudson and I were working on at Mark's Whatinthewhathe? Studio in LA. After Mark and I parted ways, Dave and I took over producing the record," Starr said. Then added in his trademark wit, "and that's why the credits say: Produced by Ringo Starr and Mark Hudson and Over-produced by Ringo Starr and Dave Stewart."

Liverpool 8's 12 original tracks were all co-written by Starr and were recorded in England and in California. "The writing of the records is always the same," Ringo explains, "it's the same group of guys and we all sit together and write about what's happening." That "group of guys" who joined Starr on the album's songwriting and recording are (in alphabetical order): Gary Burr, Steve Dudas, Mark Hudson, Sean Hurley, Zac Rae, and Dave Stewart.

Since beginning his career in the 1960s with The Beatles, Ringo Starr has been one of the world's brightest musical luminaries. Starr has enjoyed a successful and dynamic solo career as a singer, songwriter and drummer, an active musical collaborator, and as an actor. Drawing inspiration from classic blues, soul, country, honky-tonk and rock 'n' roll, Starr continues to play an important role in modern music with his solo recording and touring. His last studio album, Choose Love, was released in 2005.

Ringo has said that as time goes on there is more and more of his personality in his music, and the songs on Liverpool 8 feel personal. Starr's candor, wit and soul are evident in the lyrics and the heartbeat of every song; I always followed my heart and I never missed a beat. Peace and love are Ringo Starr's primary life beats, and Liverpool 8 propels this universal message in each of its evocative songs, which are imbued with joy, insight, reflection and wisdom from the music icon the world knows and loves simply as 'Ringo.'

For more information, visit Starr's official Website: http://www.ringostarr.com/

NEW YORK, Oct. 22 // -- Music World Music/Columbia Records will release "The Beyonce Experience LIVE!" -- a deluxe DVD capturing all the visual thrills and musical excitement of the year's most spectacular world concert tour, "The Beyonce Experience brought to you by Samsung and L'Oreal Paris" -- on Tuesday, November 20.

Recorded on September 2, 2007 during Beyonce's SRO performance at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, "The Beyonce Experience LIVE!" DVD contains Beyonce's full concert performance -- more than 2 hours of music -- and includes performances by special guest artist Jay-Z as well as that evening's historic reunion of Beyonce's R&B/pop supergroup Destiny's Child.

Superstar and cultural icon Beyonce launched her 2007 world tour in Tokyo on April 10 following the release of her latest chart-topping album, "B'Day," bringing the multi-media extravaganza stateside beginning July 6 at the Superdome in New Orleans.

The most eagerly-anticipated tour of 2007, "The Beyonce Experience brought to you by Samsung and L'Oreal Paris" showcases the international music and film star, along with her sizzling all-female band, performing musical hits, classics, and surprises in a newly-created high-tech state-of-the-art concert environment. The show's production is conceived by Beyonce. Tina Knowles is stylist for the tour and, for the House of Dereon, one of the show's wardrobe designers, along with Elie Saab, Giorgio Armani and Versace.

In conjunction with the stateside leg of "The Beyonce Experience," Music World/Columbia Records released Beyonce's B'DAY Deluxe Edition, an expanded two-CD edition of the pop icon's best-selling Grammy-winning solo album.

Web site: http://www.columbiarecords.com/
http://www.beyonceonline.com/

Trisha Yearwood's Heaven, Heartache & The Power of Love To Be Released Nov. 13 - First Studio Album in Two Years is Her Big Machine Records Debut

NASHVILLE, Tenn., Oct. 16 Three-time Grammy Award winner Trisha Yearwood re-emerges with her first studio album in two years, Heaven, Heartache and the Power of Love, on November 13th. The album is also her first for Big Machine Records and will arrive amidst appearances on The Today Show, Late Night with David Letterman, The View and more, as well as programming on CMT: Country Music Television and Great American Country, where Yearwood will be December's "Artist of the Month."

One of the most enduring female names in country music, Entertainment Weekly has called Yearwood "one of the finest interpretive singers ever." Since her 1991 debut, each of Yearwood's eleven albums have achieved gold or platinum status with over 10 million albums sold. She has had nine #1 hits and twenty Top Ten hits, including "She's in Love With the Boy," "Walkaway Joe," and "How Do I Live." Her fiery new single, "Heaven, Heartache & the Power of Love," is on its way to the top as well.

Yearwood's soaring vocals have been reenergized with a new passion. Heaven, Heartache & the Power of Love celebrates the elation that radiates when head, heart, and home are happy...and as Yearwood's songs are known to do...beautifully laments the heartbreak when it all slips away.

On the album's uptempo title-track, Trisha practically shouts out for an AMEN! when she sasses, "The preacher says when your time is up you take a chariot to the Lord...well I'm hopin' my chariot is a torch-red Thunderbird Ford." There are riveting ballads as well, such as "Nothin' Bout Memphis," and "Let The Wind Chase You" (with Keith Urban), and even a nod to the traditional, with "Cowboys Are My Weakness."

Heaven, Heartache & the Power of Love is Trisha's Big Machine Records debut -- her first since leaving her long-time major label. Under her own direction, she went into the studio with noted producer Garth Fundis, Trisha's friend and frequent producer since 1991. Another long-time friend, Scott Borchetta, soon joined the party, signing Trisha to Big Machine -- the indie powerhouse that has had breakthrough success with Taylor Swift and Jack Ingram.

"Sometimes you just need to change the ground underneath your feet," says Yearwood. "There's a real buzz in the air...the biggest difference I feel with this new music is 'energy.'"

Trisha Yearwood has come full circle. Arriving in Nashville from Monticello, GA in the late eighties, she worked as a tour guide at the Country Music Hall of Fame -- over 10 million albums later, she now sits on the board. Her earliest friends in Nashville are now her long-time team on a journey that has been all about family, friends, and music -- and it's taken her to the very top.

Trisha Yearwood is one of the highest-selling female artists in Country music history. In addition to three Grammy Awards, the Grand Ole Opry member is a three-time Country Music Award winner and a two-time Academy of Country Music Award winner. She has been honored with an American Music Award, a Pollstar Concert Industry Award and was inducted into the Georgia Music Hall of Fame in 2000. She has performed at the Olympic Summer Games, the White House, Clinton's inauguration, dueted with Pavarotti in Italy, and was named one of Redbook Magazine's Women of the Year in 2005.

Big Machine Records was founded on September 1st, 2005 by Scott Borchetta, who serves as its President & CEO. The company is headquartered in Nashville, and its artist roster includes Taylor Swift, Trisha Yearwood, Jack Ingram, Danielle Peck, Jimmy Wayne, Dusty Drake and Sunny Sweeney. In May of 2006, Big Machine celebrated its first #1 single with Jack Ingram's "Wherever You Are." At the end of that year the label's three new artist releases -- Jack Ingram, Danielle Peck and Taylor Swift -- all made the Top 10 Most-Played New Artists of 2006 as monitored by Mediabase and reported by Country Aircheck Magazine. Jack Ingram was named the Most-Played New Artist of the Year by Country Aircheck Magazine. In its 39th Week, Taylor Swift's platinum self- titled debut album began an 8-week consecutive #1 streak on the Country Charts. In March 2007, Big Machine Records shipped its one-millionth CD. The label is distributed by Universal Music Group Distribution.

Source: Big Machine Records

Natalie.Kilgore@bigmachinemail.com

Web site: http://www.bigmachinerecords.com/

Columbia Records Ready to Release Definitive 'Greatest Hits' Album From Groundbreaking Hip-Hop Icon Nas

NEW YORK, Columbia Records announces the upcoming release of Greatest Hits, the definitive collection of classic tracks and more from the pioneering hip-hop icon Nas. Nas' Greatest Hits will be available in stores and online on Tuesday, November 6.

A career-spanning retrospective which also serves as an ideal introduction to Nas' most unforgettable tracks, Greatest Hits reprises 12 essential cuts culled from the artist's monumental Columbia Records catalog -- from 1994's Illmatic, one of the most influential albums in hip-hop history, through 2004's double disc masterpiece Street Disciple -- while premiering 2 newly recorded songs: "Surviving The Times" and "Less Than An Hour," featuring Cee- Lo, new theme music created for the soundtrack for "Rush Hour 3."

Since the 1994 release of Illmatic, the blueprint album which laid the foundation for East Coast hip-hop in the 90s while establishing Nas as one of hip-hop's most electrifying and influential urban street poets, Nas continues to be one of hip-hop's most potent, provocative, and abiding forces with a string of chart-topping RIAA gold and platinum successes to his credit: Illmatic (1994); It Was Written (1996); "Street Dreams" (1997); I Am...The Autobiography (1999); Nastradamus (1999); Stillmatic (2002); The Lost Tapes (2002); God's Son (2002); Street's Disciple (2004); and Hip Hop Is Dead (2006).

More than 20 million Nas albums, singles, and digital tracks have been sold worldwide since the release of Illmatic in 1994.

Source: Columbia Records

Web site: http://www.columbiarecords.com/
http://www.nasgreatesthits.com/

10th Anniversary of John Denver's Death Marked by the Release of Unique Concert Recordings

Family Celebrates Denver's Life With Historical 1985 Soviet Union Tour

ALBANY, N.Y., Oct. 3 -- The Family of John Denver are marking the 10th anniversary of his untimely death with the release of 2 hours of rare concert recordings which have never been released to the public. The two CD set, produced by seven time Grammy(R) Winner and John's friend Roger Nichols, is scheduled for release on Tuesday, 10/25/07 - by AAO Music - The home of REALITY - in conjunction with John's brother Ron Deutschendorf.
 

John Denver's 1985 tour of the Soviet Union was historic for many reasons and also paved the way for other American artists to perform in the Soviet Union. The eleven concerts were performed at various venues throughout the country and each performance was recorded on a custom digital recorder. The tapes, re-discovered in 2002, have been restored, remixed and mastered for this CD set by seven time Grammy(R) winner Roger Nichols.
 

"It is always an exciting experience to take part in the production of what will be a classic album," said Peter G. Kuys, Chairmen of AAO Music. "This record showcases John's tremendous talent; and it is an honor for AAO Music to take part in this album."
 

With over two hours of music including John's greatest hits as well as rare versions and lesser known songs make this CD a must have for any John Denver fan. One of the highlights on the CD is a version of "Annie's Song" sung by Denver in Russian. The CDs are packaged with never before seen photos and tributes from John's mom, his brother Ron, Roger Nichols and industry veteran Mike McVay.
 

About John Denver
 

One of the world's best-known and best-loved performers, John Denver earned international acclaim as a songwriter, performer, actor, environmentalist and humanitarian. Denver's concert tours reached millions globally. The world embraced John - captivated by each new release, including 24 gold albums and 38 platinum albums in the U.S as well as numerous gold and platinum sales overseas. Today, millions of fans, old and new, enjoy the work of this extraordinary performer. 30 albums and three decades after he began, John Denver's music is as relevant as ever.
 

About The USSR Concert Tour
 

When John Denver set foot on stage in the Soviet Union it was a historical moment. These performances would be the first by an American artist since the Cold War began - an unprecedented cultural exchange between the United States and Russia. These concerts culminated in an agreement to allow other Western artists to perform in the Soviet Union. The official record reflects that this was made possible by the efforts of John Denver.
 

About AAO Music, Inc.
 

2004 marked the launch of a new music label named REALITY. REALITY was born out of a concept that music can, and should be made, for the sake of artistry and the love of music. Our concept cuts out much of the excessive glitz, glamour and expense and brings to market great music from talented, proven recording stars that is valued priced. REALITY artists are some of the most influential and successful artists in the world. The REALITY label is founded on the premise of a direct relationship between the artist and the retail stores. This translates to more aggressive pricing, better in stock positions and more artist meet & greets which ultimately benefit the music buying customer.
 

Source: AAO Music, Inc.

10/04  Papillion, NE, The Rock
10/05  Englewood, CO, Gothic Theatre
10/06  Salt Lake City, UT, Avalon Theater
10/07  Las Vegas, NV, Neonopolis at Jillians
10/08  Phoenix, AZ, The Brickhouse
10/09  San Diego, CA, Soma
10/11  Pomona, CA, The Glass House
10/12  Hollywood, CA, The Avalon
10/13  Roseville, CA, The Underground
10/14  San Francisco, CA, Slim's
10/16  Portland, OR, Hawthorne Theater
10/17  Seattle, WA, Chop Suey
10/24  St. Paul, MN, Station 4 (with Meg & Dia)

FRAGGLE ROCKIN-A COLLECTION TO BE RELEASED ON OCTOBER 30TH, 2007

NEW YORK, NY--(Marketwire - September 14, 2007) - KOCH Records announces the release of "Fraggle Rockin'-A 3 CD Collector's Edition" on October 30, 2007. This 3-Disc Collector's Edition contains all 3 original albums, wonderfully re-mastered & packed in one digi-pack set, with rarely seen photos and contributions from the original composers. Now fans and collectors of all ages can dance their cares away... down at Fraggle Rock.

Music played an important role in all of Jim Henson's work, and nowhere is that more apparent than in the world of "Fraggle Rock." Harmony, among species and within nature, is a central theme of the series, and original music enlivens each episode and helps the characters make connections and find resolutions to their conflicts. The Fraggles, Doozers and Gorgs sing and dance their cares away to all manner of songs, written in every musical style imaginable by composers Dennis Lee and Philip Balsam. Don Gillis's musical direction and scoring emphasize the joy and vitality of each performance, moving along the action and bringing each story to a satisfying conclusion. The poetry of the lyrics and the hand-clapping rhythms make the music of "Fraggle Rock" a toe-tapping delight for all who listen.

 

Disc 1 "Fraggle Rock"
1.  Fraggle Rock Theme
2.  Follow Me
3.  Convincing John
4.  Doozer Knitting Song
5.  Do It On My Own
6.  Wemblin' Fool
7.  Why?
8.  Lost and Found
9.  Catch the Tail by the Tiger
10. Brave Boy, Jump Up
11. Muck and Goo
12. Friendship Song
13. Fraggle Rock Rock
14. Beetle Song
15. Easy is the Only Way to Go
16. Our Melody

Disc 2 "Fraggle Rock: Perfect Harmony"

1.  Fraggle Rock Theme
2.  Go with the Flow
3.  Perfect Harmony
4.  Without a Hat
5.  Music Box
6.  Here to There
7.  Sail Away
8.  Workin'
9.  Dum De Dum
10. Ragtime Queen
11. I Seen Troubles
12. Dreaming of Someone
13. Pantry Chant
14. Helping Hand
15. Time to Live as One
16. Closing Theme

Disc 3 "Fraggle Rock - Music and Magic"
1.  Fraggle Rock Theme
2.  Pukka, Pukka, Pukka Squeetily Boink
3.  Let Me Be Your Song
4.  Wemblin' Fool
5.  Yes, We Can
6.  Catch the Tail by the Tiger
7.  There's a Lot I Want to Know
8.  Follow Me
9.  Friends Till the End
10. Is It True?
11. The Rock Goes On
12. Pass It On
13. Just Don't Know What Time It Is
14. Convincing John
15. Get Goin'
16. Doozer Knitting Song
17. The Way I've Got To Go
18. Only Way Home
19. Stuff Samba
20. Sweet, Sweet Little Treat
21. Closing Theme

About KOCH Entertainment

KOCH Entertainment, founded in 1987 and now in its twentieth year, is the leading and fastest-growing independent music company in the U.S. KOCH's operations encompass record and video labels as well as distribution companies in the U.S. and Canada. KOCH Entertainment is the market leader among independent labels and distributors in both the U.S. and Canada and its record label KOCH Records had the largest number of Billboard charting albums among independents for six years in a row (2001 - 2006). KOCH Entertainment is owned by Entertainment One Ltd. which is listed on the London Stock Exchange's AIM market (ticker symbol "ETO").

About HIT Entertainment

HIT Entertainment, owned by private equity investment group Apax Partners, is one of the world's leading independent children's entertainment producers and rights-owners. HIT's portfolio includes properties, such as Barney™, Bob the Builder™, Thomas & Friends™, Pingu™, Fireman Sam™, Angelina Ballerina™ and Rainbow Magic™. HIT represents Fifi and the Flowertots™ and Roary the Racing Car™ in North America and Japan and acts as a worldwide representative for The Jim Henson Company's library of classic family brands and as representative for The Wiggles® in the UK. HIT also owns the Guinness World Records™ publishing and television property. Launched in 1989, HIT's lines of business span television and video production (including studios in the US and the UK), publishing, consumer products licensing and live events. With a catalogue of more than 1,000 hours of young children's programming, HIT sells its shows to more than 240 countries worldwide, in more than 40 different languages and has operations in the UK, US, Canada, Hong Kong and Japan. In 2005, the Company joined Comcast Corporation, PBS and Sesame Workshop to launch PBS KIDS Sprout(SM), a 24-hour digital cable channel and VOD service for preschoolers. For more information, visit www.hitentertainment.com.

Alvin & The Chipmunks Get Squeaky with Expanded, Remastered Greatest Hits & Holiday Collections to be Released September 18

-- Alvin, Simon and Theodore are household names around the world as the mischievous members of a Grammy-winning ensemble that has sold more than 43 million albums. Since first scurrying into the charts in 1958, Alvin & The Chipmunks have put their trademark spin on many of music's most popular rock, pop, country and standard songs, the best of which have been digitally remastered for an expanded reissue of Greatest Hits: Still Squeaky After All These Years, to be released by Capitol/EMI on August 18. On the same date, Capitol/EMI will release the perennial holiday favorite, Christmas With The Chipmunks, also remastered and presented in a new eye-catching CD package and digitally.

As 20th Century Fox prepares for the December 14 release of The Chipmunks' new big screen adventure, Capitol/EMI's hit and holiday collections will help to get fans squeaked up and ready for the fun.

Among the 26 tracks on Greatest Hits: Still Squeaky After All These Years are The Chipmunks' versions of The Beatles' "She Loves You," "Please, Please Me" and "Can't Buy Me Love," Herman's Hermits' "I'm Henry The VIII, I Am," "Witch Doctor," "Coming 'Round The Mountain," "The Chipmunk Song (Christmas Don't Be Late)." 11 tracks have been added to the collection for this release.

Christmas With The Chipmunks includes such favorites as "Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer," "Frosty The Snowman," "Jingle Bells," the original version of the classic hit "The Chipmunk Song (Christmas Don't Be Late)," and a newly-added version of the song featuring Canned Heat. http://www.chipmunks.com/

Source: Capitol/EMI

Web site: http://www.chipmunks.com/
http://www.capitolrecords.com/

Aretha Franklin's JEWELS IN THE CROWN: ALL-STAR DUETS WITH THE QUEEN, In Stores November 13th

The queen of soul performs memorable duets with some of the biggest names in music on a must have collection that includes Keith Richards, Whitney Houston, Annie Lennox, George Michael, Mariah Carey, Frank Sinatra, Mary J Blige, John Legend and many more.

Arista recording artist Aretha Franklin, the incomparable Queen Of Soul and 17-time Grammy winner, adds another jewel to her crown with the release of a must have collection of show- stopping duets from her new album, JEWELS IN THE CROWN: ALL-STAR DUETS WITH THE QUEEN. Franklin, a Grammy Living Legend, Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award recipient, and the first woman inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, will release this stellar collection on November 13, 2007.

Franklin duets with a combination of music icons and some of the hottest voices in music today including Whitney Houston ("It Isn't, It Wasn't, It Ain't Never Gonna Be"), John Legend ("What Y'All Came To Do"), Luther Vandross ("Doctor's Orders"), Annie Lennox ("Sisters Are Doing It For Themselves"), Keith Richards ("Jumping Jack Flash"), Elton John ("Through The Storm"), Frank Sinatra ("What Now My Love"), George Michael ("I Knew You Were Waiting"), Michael McDonald ("Ever Changing Times"), George Benson ("Love All The Hurt Away"), and good friend Mary J. Blige ("Don't Waste My Time"). Aretha and Mary J. also join on a second tune, "Never Gonna Break My Faith" (with the Harlem Boys Choir). Rounding out the collection are two thrilling performances, both tributes to Aretha on her classics, "A Natural Woman (You Make Me Feel Like)" with Bonnie Raitt and Gloria Estefan; and "Chain Of Fools" with Mariah Carey.

"Put You Up On Game" with Fantasia, is the lead single from JEWELS IN THE CROWN: ALL-STAR DUETS WITH THE QUEEN, impacting radio on October 1st.

The album concludes on a historic note with Franklin's performance of "Nessum Dorma," the heroic aria from Act III of Puccini's final opera Turandot, with an all-star orchestra. Aretha originally agreed to step in at the last minute and perform the aria in place of ailing tenor Luciano Pavarotti at the Grammy awards world wide telecast in February 1998. With just eight minutes of preparation backstage, she sang it with the 72-piece orchestra in Pavarotti's key (three steps lower than her own) and stole the show.

Franklin, a true music legend, was signed in 1980 by Clive Davis, Arista founder and Chairman & CEO, BMG Label Group.

Source: Arista Records

- Sean "P. Diddy" Combs' B5 have announced the release today of their highly anticipated sophomore CD, "Don't Talk, Just Listen." The follow-up to their 2005 self-titled debut, the CD features tracks with more mature subject matter while not losing sight of the group's teen roots. "Hydrolics," the high-energy first single from the set, features Bow Wow and is heading into the top 20 on Billboard's Top R&B Airplay Chart, while the accompanying video clip has become a phenomenon on the Internet with more than 940,000 views on YouTube.com and 1.7 million MySpace views. The video was "Most Downloaded" on YouTube.com in its first week.

The B5 Dance Contest on YouTube.com has been creating further excitement on the Internet for B5, along with their being chosen as a nominee for the AOL "Breakers" Campaign. Voting for AOL Breakers ends this month.

On "Don't Talk, Just Listen," B5 try their hand at songwriting on a few tracks, with the help of super-producers such as Bryan Michael Cox, Mario Winans, Soul Diggas, Danja, Blaze, The Underdogs, Insomniax, and Mischke. The CD is executive produced by Sean "P. Diddy" Combs, Kevin Wales, and Harve Pierre.

B5's 2005 self-titled debut CD made an impressive debut at #19 in its first week of release on the Billboard 200 and also entered at #11 on the Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. The debut gave us the hit singles "All I Do" and "U Got Me," which peaked at Radio Disney at #9 and hung on the BET "106 & Park" Top 10 for weeks!

The Atlanta-based Breeding brothers -- Dustin, Kelly, Patrick, Carnell, and Bryan Breeding -- merge the old-school flair, finesse, and energy of the Jackson 5 with the modern-day pop appeal of *NSYNC. Ranging in age from 13 to 19, B5 are known for their flawless harmonies and high-energy stage shows -- complete with tight choreography and acrobatics. Further expanding their fanbase in 2006, B5 appeared on the 4x platinum "High School Musical" soundtrack with the song "Get'cha Head in The Game." "Get'cha Head in The Game" went from #100 to #23 on the Billboard Hot 100 in its second week of release.

B5 spent this summer traveling across the country on a 30-city bus tour sponsored by the Russ Parr Morning Show and packed the house in every city. The tour also featured Young Berg and Huey.

Look for B5 on BET's "106 & Park" this week performing "Hydrolics" with Bow Wow.

Songwriters and producers from Warner/Chappell Music, the publishing arm of Warner Music Group Corp. (NYSE: WMG) and one of the world's largest music publishers, took top honors at the annual BMI Urban Music Awards ceremony held on Friday, September 7th in Las Vegas. Warner/Chappell Music songwriter T.I. won his first "Songwriter of the Year" award, BMI Top Urban Producer Mike Jones received BMI's "Urban Ringtone of the Year" award for having the most downloads for his song "I'm N Luv (Wit A Stripper)" and 10 other Warner/Chappell songwriters were recognized for their chart-topping songs.

The annual award ceremony recognizes the world's premier songwriters, publishers and producers of the top BMI urban songs in the R&B, Rap and Hip-Hop genres.

"These awards are industry recognition of Warner/Chappell's continued strength and presence in urban music," said Dave Johnson, Chairman and CEO, Warner/Chappell Music. "We are extremely proud that Warner/Chappell's talented songwriters are writing many of hip-hop, rap and R&B's biggest hits and that BMI has once again recognized not only their talent but their strong presence in traditional and burgeoning digital music."

"Over the past few years, Warner/Chappell has dedicated significant energy and resources to the urban genre and has developed an impressive roster of established and developing writers who are now a dominant force in urban music," said Christopher Hicks, Senior Vice President and Head of Urban Music for Warner/Chappell Music and Atlantic Records. "We are extremely pleased with this recognition of the important progress we have made and the momentum we now have as one of the leading publishers of urban music."

Warner/Chappell Music songwriter/producer T.I. was recognized as one of BMI's Top Producers for such hits as "What You Know," "Shoulder Lean" (co-written with fellow Warner/Chappell songwriter Young Dro) and "Grillz." T.I. also won his first "Songwriter of the Year" award. Mike Jones was awarded with the "Urban Ringtone of the Year," award while the following Warner/Chappell Music songwriters were recognized among the winners for most performed songs of the year for their recent hit singles including:

Warner/Chappell's successful strategy is also reflected in its interests in numerous chart-topping songs on Billboard's urban charts, including Rihanna's "Umbrella," written by Dream, Chris Brown's "Say Goodbye," written by Kendrick Dean and Bryan-Michael Cox, Nelly Furtado's "Promiscuous Girl," written by Timbaland and Danjahandz, and Justin Timberlake's "My Love," written by Timbaland, Danjahandz and T.I. Warner/Chappell also had significant participation in a string of hit albums on the Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums Chart over the last year including albums from Mary J. Blige, Timbaland and Lloyd, among others.

Warner/Chappell's U.S. roster of talented urban writers includes: Dr. Dre, Timbaland, Bryan-Michael Cox, T.I., Jazze Pha, Kay Gee, Danjahandz, Lil Wayne, Mike Jones, Paul Wall, Fat Joe, Yung Joc, Fabo, Trillville, J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League, Rockwilder, Young Dro, Dave Young, Don Cannon, Teddy Bishop, Drumma Boy, Zak Wallace, Eric Hudson, india.arie, Don Vito, Kendrick Dean, KC, Souldiggaz, Corte Ellis and others. Warner/Chappell is proud to work closely and have cooperative relationships with Noontime Music, Dr. Dre, Timbaland, Grand Hustle Publishing, Swishahouse Publishing, First N Gold, Artist Publishing Group and Block Entertainment.

Founded in 1939, BMI is an American performing rights organization representing more than 300,000 songwriters, composers and music publishers in all genres of music. BMI collects license fees on behalf of those American creators it represents, as well as thousands of creators from around the world who chose BMI for representation in the United States. The license fees BMI collects for the "public performances" of its repertoire of more than 6.5 million compositions -- including radio airplay, broadcast and cable television carriage, Internet and live and recorded performances by all other users of music -- are distributed as royalties to the writers, composers and copyright holders it represents.

About Warner/Chappell Music

Warner/Chappell Music is WMG's award-winning global music publishing company. The Warner/Chappell Music catalog includes standards such as "Happy Birthday To You," "Rhapsody in Blue," "Winter Wonderland," the songs of Cole Porter and George and Ira Gershwin, as well as the music of Dido, Dr. Dre, Eric Clapton, Green Day, Led Zeppelin, Madonna, Nickelback, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Sheryl Crow, T.I. and others. Warner/Chappell Music is a leader in creating innovative strategies for marketing and promoting its songwriters and their music. The company's extensive catalog makes it a natural first stop for A&R executives and record producers, feature film and television production companies, and others looking to record or license some of the world's greatest music.

- September 11, 2007) -

WHO: Beyoncé Knowles, Kelly Rowland, Mathew and Tina Knowles, Solange, Pastors Rudy and Juanita Rasmus, and Houston City Officials

WHAT: The ground breaking ceremony for the "Knowles-Rowland Temenos Place Apartments," developed by Temenos Community Developed Corporation and Sponsored by The Survivor Foundation, the City of Houston, and St. John's United Methodist. The "Knowles-Rowland Temenos Place Apartments" will be a 43 unit, single room occupancy supportive housing facility for at-risk populations in the Houston area.

WHEN: September 12, 2007 from 1:00 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.

WHERE: 1719 Gray Street (Corner of Gray and Chenevert), Houston, TX

WHY: In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, efforts began to construct Phase I of the $4 million "Knowles-Rowland Temenos Place Apartments." Last month Temenos CDC received the final funding needed for construction. The housing development is the result of a collaboration with House of Deréon founders Tina Knowles and Beyonce Knowles, Survivor Foundation, Inc., the City of Houston, and St. John's Downtown (Church Home of the Knowles Family). The project is a 43 unit, single room occupancy supportive housing facility for at-risk populations designed to provide permanent living accommodations for women and men who are taking significant steps in improving their lives after the traumatic effects of personal and natural disasters. The apartments will provide "a safe place to live" for all residents. www.survivorfoundationofHouston.org

Beyoncé Knowles, Kelly Rowland, Solange, Mathew and Tina Knowles have pledged 1 million dollars to the "Knowles-Rowland Temenos Place Apartments" project. Wal-Mart and American Express are major contributors to Temenos CDC and the Survivor Foundation's overall initiatives. Giorgo Armani and Loreal have also made commitments to support this project. Thanks to a generous donation from Kelly Rowland and Beyoncé Knowles, located on the same block as the "Knowles-Rowland Temenos Place Apartments," is a 1.2 million Knowles-Rowland Center for Youth which is an exciting, multipurpose recreational complex for youth and a youth HIV education and risk reduction program called "Breaking The Silence." Immediately following the ceremony there will be a luncheon reception at the House of Deréon Media Center on 2202 Crawford ( between Hadley and Webster) Houston, TX 77002.

VMA Showstopper Chris Brown Opens Up about His New Album, Past Pain and Looking Ahead in the September 2007 Issue of GIANT Magazine

www.giantmag.com

GIANT Magazine September 2007, Featuring Chris Brown (Photo: Business Wire)

-Fresh off a show-stopping performance at last night’s MTV Video Music Awards, multi-platinum recording artist Chris Brown graces the September 2007 cover of GIANT Magazine. Brown opens up about childhood drama, his biggest celebrity crush, his desire to fill Michael Jackson’s shoes, and the pressure to stay on top.

Outlined below are select passages from GIANT contributor Laura Checkoway’s exclusive conversation with Brown entitled: “Most Likely to Succeed.”

ON HIS ABUSIVE STEPFATHER

“(I told my mother) ‘I just want you to know that I love you, but I’m gonna take a baseball bat one day while you are at work, and I’m gonna kill him.’ He used to hit my mom…He made me terrified all the time, terrified like I had to pee on myself. I remember one night he made her nose bleed. I was crying and thinking, ‘I’m just gonna go crazy on him one day…’ I hate him to this day.”

ON HIS CRUSH ON CIARA

“When Ciara came out, I looooved her. This was before her and Bow Wow and before anybody knew me at all. I met her at a show and was just really intrigued. I remember talking to her like, ‘Yo, I’m attracted to you and all that.’ But I was too young for her. I didn’t get the time of day!”

ON THE PRESSURES OF SUCCESS

“With a second album, there’s a lot of pressure to maintain status. It’s like if you’re popular in high school, you gotta keep it up – keep the fresh gear on, keep saying the right things. The whole music industry is like high school. I guess prom was the Grammy’s.”

ON MICHAEL JACKSON

“Michael Jackson sold twenty-five million albums, so I wanna get to at least twelve. Michael (Jackson) said to me, ‘being able to dance and sing; that’s rare. Nobody can do it – only you, me and a couple of others. Keep working and dream big.’ Michael Jackson told me to dream big!”

All copies of GIANT Magazine are now available online.

For interviews with GIANT Editor-In-Chief Smokey D. Fontaine, pictorial images by Miko Lim, or transcripts of the complete interview contact:

Ava DuVernay or Ellene Miles / The DuVernay Agency / 323.860.7060

ABOUT GIANT MAGAZINE

Since 2006, GIANT Magazine has published covers featuring Prince, Beyonce Knowles, Janet Jackson, Pharrell Williams, The Killers, Rihanna, Robin Thicke, Diddy, Ciara, Jennifer Hudson and Eve. GIANT Magazine is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Radio One, Inc. (www.radio-one.com) (NASDAQ:ROIAK) (NASDAQ:ROIA), the nation's seventh largest radio broadcasting company (based on 2005 net broadcast revenue) and the largest radio broadcasting company that primarily targets African-American and urban listeners. Radio One owns and/or operates 70 radio stations located in 22 urban markets in the United States and reaches approximately 14 million listeners every week. Additionally, Radio One owns interests in TV One, LLC (www.tvoneonline.com), a cable/satellite network programming primarily to African-Americans, and Reach Media, Inc. (www.blackamericaweb.com), owner of the Tom Joyner Morning Show and other businesses associated with Tom Joyner. Radio One also operates the only nationwide African-American news/talk network on free radio and programs "XM 169 The POWER," an African-American news/talk channel, on XM Satellite Radio.

Trisha Yearwood Greatest Hits to Be Released Sept. 11 on MCA Nashville

- MCA Nashville will release multi platinum-selling and Grammy-winning artist Trisha Yearwood's Greatest Hits, September 11. The 17-track, career-spanning collection includes 2 unreleased* songs and 11 #1 hits.

The Recording Industry Association of America has awarded Yearwood multiple platinum albums and five gold honors. She has been named CMA and ACM Female Vocalist two times each and has been honored with three Grammy Awards.

For more information on Trisha Yearwood's Greatest Hits, contact:

Source: MCA Nashville

Web site: http://www.mercurynashville.com/

Memories Of A Winter's Night, Dave Koz's Latest Holiday Album, Scheduled for September 18th Release

Deck the halls -- multiple Grammy nominee Dave Koz is back with a new holiday CD and the 10th anniversary edition of the Dave Koz and Friends A Smooth Jazz Christmas tour! Capitol Music Group will release Memories Of A Winter's Night, Koz's third holiday CD, on September 18th.

Memories Of A Winter's Night -- which takes its name from the Koz-penned title track, a celebration of Hanukkah -- features the contemporary pop artist interpreting 12 holiday standards. Dave is joined by 20-year old Razor & Tie recording artist Kelly Sweet on the album's first single, "White Christmas." Sweet, who scored a Top Ten hit at both Adult Contemporary and Smooth Jazz radio with "Raincoat," the first single from her 2007 debut album, was a guest on the Dave Koz and Friends At The Movies Summer 2007 tour, which recently wrapped up at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles, CA.

Elsewhere, Dave pairs up with another tour mate -- Kimberley Locke, who will be one of the special guests on the Dave Koz and Friends A Smooth Jazz Christmas 2007 tour -- for a soulful rendition of "Please Come Home for Christmas." Locke has had numerous Top 10 hits, and topped the Adult Contemporary charts the past two holiday seasons with singles "Up on the Housetop" and "Jingle Bells."

Other highlights include "Deck The Halls," "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas," "Winter Wonderland," and "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing" (all previously unreleased also) plus a few chestnuts from Dave's two earlier holiday records, 1997's December Makes Me Feel This Way and 2001's A Smooth Jazz Christmas. Brenda Russell pairs up with Koz for the rave-up "Boogie Woogie Santa Claus," which was penned by Leon Russell, and smooth jazz stars Rick Braun, Peter White and David Benoit shine on a stirring rendition of "Little Drummer Boy."

You can be certain that Dave and his special guests Jonathan Butler, Wayman Tisdale and Kimberley Locke will be playing many of the songs from the album on the Dave Koz and Friends A Smooth Jazz Christmas 2007 tour, which launches on November 23rd. In addition to holiday standards, they'll perform hits from their respective catalogues, including Koz's recent chart-topping homage to classic film music, At The Movies.

Web site: http://www.davekoz.com/
http://www.capitolrecords.com/

'Live From SNL! Music Performances From Saturday Night Live' Coming Exclusively to Target

Album Set to Debut Exclusively at Target on September 9, 2007; First SNL Album in Nearly A Decade

SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT in association with Broadway Video Entertainment and NBC Universal Video, Music & Product Development, is set to release "Live From SNL! Music Performances From Saturday Night Live" exclusively at Target stores nationwide beginning September 9, 2007.

The exclusive 11-track compilation, which is produced by NBC Universal and Broadway Video Enterprises and distributed by Sony BMG, marks the first live album from the hit NBC late night series in nearly a decade and the first-ever exclusive SNL album of its kind.

Drawing from the last four seasons (2003/04 - 2006/07) of "Saturday Night Live," the album features live performances from artists including Avril Lavigne, Foo Fighters, The Strokes, Kelly Clarkson, Arctic Monkeys and more.

"We think this is a great way to present these artist's frontline records in a unique format for our guests, "said Sue Peterson, Senior Music Buyer, Target. "By creating this exclusive CD, we're able to capture the excitement of SNL's live performances and further position Target as a true entertainment destination."

"Over the years the powerful music performances on Saturday Night Live have helped to establish the show as a central force in popular culture," commented John Ingrassia, President of SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT's Commercial Music Group. "We're pleased to be a part of this special release, which features many SONY BMG artists and offers fans a chance to continue to enjoy SNL's music highlights long after the episodes have aired."

Shelli Hill, Vice President, Video, Music, and Product Development for NBC Universal Television Distribution, added "Millions of viewers tune-in every Saturday night and watch unique and exciting performances by superstar bands. This album will prominently position their records and fans will now have a chance to own many of these great live SNL musical performances."

John Head, Executive Producer for Broadway Video, stated, "These exquisitely recorded live performances offer a unique opportunity to hear 11 great bands in a very special setting."

The album includes chart-topping singles such as Avril Lavigne's "Girlfriend," Kelly Clarkson's "Since U Been Gone," and Maroon 5's "Harder To Breathe." It also features popular hits including Foo Fighters "Best Of You" and Franz Ferdinand's "Take Me Out."

Minneapolis-based Target serves guests at 1,537 stores in 47 states nationwide by delivering today's best retail trends at affordable prices. Target is committed to providing guests with great design through innovative products, in-store experiences and community partnerships. Whether visiting a Target store or shopping online at Target.com, guests enjoy a fun and convenient shopping experience with access to thousands of unique and highly differentiated items. Target (NYSE:TGT) gives more than $3 million a week to its local communities through grants and special programs. Since opening its first store in 1962, Target has partnered with nonprofit organizations, guests and team members to help meet community needs.

About SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT

SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT's Commercial Music Group is dedicated to capitalizing on the company's strengths in catalog recordings and classical music, and to developing new opportunities in the areas of licensing, strategic marketing and television. The Commercial Music Group includes Legacy Recordings, the Strategic Marketing Group, the Custom Marketing Group, Television, and SONY BMG Masterworks.

SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT is a global recorded music joint venture with a roster of current artists that includes a broad array of both local artists and international superstars, as well as a vast catalog that comprises some of the most important recordings in history. SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT is 50% owned by Bertelsmann A.G. and 50% owned by Sony Corporation of America.

About Broadway Video Entertainment

Broadway Video Entertainment is one of New York's leading post-production services companies and a major independent producer of television and film entertainment. Founded in 1979 by Lorne Michaels, Emmy Award-winning creator and executive producer of the landmark television comedy "Saturday Night Live," its Broadway Video Enterprises division manages the company's extensive library of original and acquired entertainment content, distributing it to television and home video markets worldwide. Broadway Video Entertainment also develops and produces popular feature film and television entertainment through its motion picture division, Broadway Video Film Production, and its television production arm, Broadway Video Television. For more information visit: www.broadwayvideo.com.

NBC Universal Video, Music & Product Development

NBC Universal is a leader in providing entertainment programming to the domestic and international marketplaces. The NBC Universal Domestic Television Distribution division is responsible for the distribution of NBC Universal product to all forms of television within the U.S. and Canada. This includes distribution of current and library film and television product, including formats and non-scripted programming, in the pay, free, and basic markets, as well as the domestic syndication of first-run syndicated TV programs and theatrical and TV movie packages.

NBC Universal Video, Music & Product Development manages all ancillary television business endeavors for The NBC Universal Television Group, including third-party home video distribution, merchandising and licensing, musical soundtracks, special market projects and the NBC Universal Online Store.

Source: SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT

Web site: http://www.bmg.com/

-- Disney's Hollywood Records announced today the upcoming release of The Cheetah Girls' first studio album following 2 multi-platinum soundtracks from the Disney Channel favorites. Entitled "TCG" the album is due in stores on September 25. The CD highlights a more rhythmic side of The Cheetah Girls, with decidedly beefier rhythms and dance beats. The Cheetah Girls -- Adrienne Bailon, Sabrina Bryan, and Kiely Williams -- co-wrote six of the eleven songs on "TCG" and worked with multiple producers including JR Rotem, Matthew Gerard, and the team of Tim James & Antonina Armato. A complete track listing for "TCG" is below. The Cheetah Girls also plan on showcasing the multi-cultural make up of the group; they have committed to recording the album in Spanish for a Spring, 2008 release.

With the recording process completed, the set up is well under way. The Cheetah Girls performed at Disney Channel Summer Games' closing ceremonies which aired August 25. Their music will be featured in Disney Channel's "Twitches 2" movie this fall, and they will travel to India next year to film The Cheetah Girls 3 Movie. There are additional movie projects in the works for The Cheetah Girls. Kiely currently is filming "House Bunny" playing Lilly, a shy sorority girl. Produced by Adam Sandler, the film co-stars Katherine McPhee and Rumor Willis. Kiely also is writing a self-help book for teen girls. Sabrina has been tapped to be a celebrity dancer on this season of ABC's "Dancing With the Stars." Sabrina is penning a book as well, and working on a new edition of her BYOU dance-fitness DVD. Adrienne is recording her first solo album, which will be a mix of Spanish and English songs.

The Cheetah Girls also have been working with Disney Consumer Products on a major line that started last year with exclusive apparel, accessories, and cosmetics in all 900 North American Sears outlets. This Fall, there will be a toy launch that includes a singing poster, deluxe fashion and singing dolls, and a tour bus. Stationery products will be available at Limited Too. In addition, a second Cheetah Girls game for Nintendo DS is slated for an October release. There are also handheld and plug & play games in development.

While building their current franchise with Disney, The Cheetah Girls are widening their brand as well. This month, Kraft rolled out 50 million boxes of Macaroni & Cheese with the Cheetah Girls' image on the packaging. Kraft is launching this with a national TV campaign featuring a new Cheetah Girls' track "All In Me" and a national Radio Disney campaign. Kraft also created a sweepstakes sending winning families to a "Mac & Cheese-A-Palooza" Concert event at the House of Blues in Los Angeles on November 8.

What's next for the Cheetah Girls? They will have spot dates in the US the remainder of 2007 and a proper tour in 2008/2009.

Source: Hollywood Records

Wyclef Jean Returns to Columbia Records with 'The Carnival II: Memoirs of an Immigrant'

Wyclef Jean -- the Grammy Award-winning musician, producer, hip-hop pioneer, and humanitarian who founded the legendary ensemble the Fugees -- returns to Columbia Records with "The Carnival II: Memoirs of an Immigrant," the artist's first full-length album for the label since his third solo album, "Masquerade," entered the Billboard Top 200 at #6 in June 2002. "The Carnival II: Memoirs of an Immigrant" is slated for release this autumn.

With "The Carnival II: Memoirs of an Immigrant," his sixth full-length studio album, Wyclef Jean continues the autobiographical musical odyssey he began a decade ago with his 1997 triple-platinum debut solo album, "Wyclef Jean Presents The Carnival Featuring Refugee All-Stars" (aka "The Carnival"). Wyclef gave his fans their first taste of "The Carnival II" with the release of the album's lead-in single, "Sweetest Girl (Dollar Bill)," featuring Akon, Lil' Wayne and introducing Niia. Released in August, the single rapidly made its first Billboard chart appearance entering the Bubbling Under Hot 100 chart at #3. "Sweetest Girl (Dollar Bill)" is now available digitally.

According to Wyclef, "The Carnival II" is "a continuation of 'Gone Till November" (his 1997 Top 10 signature hit from "The Carnival"). I focus a lot on the songwriting." For his much anticipated new album, Wyclef has once again called upon his friends, showcasing his musical dexterity as he draws from an extraordinary and diverse roster of collaborating guest artists including Paul Simon (on "Fast Car"), Mary J. Blige, T.I., Norah Jones, Akon, Serj Tankian (of System Of A Down) (on "Trouble Again"), Lil' Wayne, and Shakira, to name a few. Wyclef produced the entire album with his long-time production partner, Jerry "Wonda" Duplessis, with whom he has worked since the beginning of the Fugees.

"The Carnival II: Memoirs of an Immigrant" is the first full-length album from Wyclef Jean since 2006, when the artist struck a chord in mass pop consciousness with "Hips Don't Lie," the chart-topping Grammy-nominated international smash hit duet with Shakira.

Source: Columbia Records

Web site: http://www.columbiarecords.com/
http://www.wyclef.com/

-- SCORPIONS, Germany's most successful international music export, are poised to "sting" once again and are planning a frontal attack on the musical artery of rock fans all over the globe with their new album, HUMANITY - HOUR 1 (New Door Records/UMe). Thirty-five years after the release of their debut album, LONESOME CROW, SCORPIONS believe they have reached a new creative high in their impressive career. They plan to prove it with the release of album #21 available now.

Smashing Pumpkins singer/guitarist Billy Corgan makes a special appearance on the album as a featured guest on "The Cross."

The band -- Klaus Meine (vocals), Rudolf Schenker (rhythm guitars), Matthias Jabs (lead guitars), James Kottak (drums) and Pawel Maciwoda (bass) -- enlisted acclaimed songwriter/producer Desmond Child (Aerosmith, Bon Jovi, KISS) and producer James Michael to work behind the boards on the album, which was recorded at several Los Angeles studios. "Desmond is a fabulous visionary who took us to musical levels we had never reached before," declares lead guitarist Jabs.

The fruit of this extremely productive collaboration is an album that melds the classic hard SCORPIONS sound with modern elements of today's musical style. HUMANITY - HOUR 1 is a mature concept album, with lyrics that are often provocative and deal with the dark sides of the world we live in. Such is the case with the timely first single, "Humanity," a song filled with the band's renowned melodies, big guitars and global awareness. A video for the track can be found on the band's official website (http://www.the-scorpions.com/) and on YouTube.com.

"At the same time, though, we are sending our fans a positive musical message, telling them not to let the insanity going on around us every day get them down," explains Meine, who considers HUMANITY - HOUR 1 to be the most powerful album since the global success of CRAZY WORLD in 1991. "The new album will feature the great power-rock ballads, of course, but we have been and we remain a rock band, and people who go for hard but melodic songs will love this album."

"As exciting as it is to work on new songs in the studio, when it comes right down to it, we are a die-hard live performance band that really shifts into overdrive when we hit the stage," says Schenker. "Direct contact with our fans is our biggest source of inspiration," continues Meine.

And that's one significant factor explaining why the band's calendar is already quite full for this year. "Humanity World Tour 2007/2008" will take SCORPIONS through Europe, South America, and Asia. They land in the U.S. starting September 4 in Sault Ste. Marie, MI. Dates through September 30 are being confirmed and will be posted on the band's official website in the coming days.

SCORPIONS -- who've sold more than 70 million albums worldwide -- still fill the biggest stadiums in the world each year, performing in front of hundreds of thousands of enthusiastic fans. In early March, the band returned to Moscow to give a concert in the Kremlin at the invitation of Russian President Vladimir Putin -- an honor granted to relatively few Western artists. For decades, their power-packed live shows have been among the few events that broke records for sold out shows in the USA, Canada and many European countries.

Since its release in Europe and Asia in May, HUMANITY - HOUR 1 has been a smash in various countries as well as on various album charts:

Check out SCORPIONS at any of the following stops, with more to be added in the coming weeks:

http://www.the-scorpions.com/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1w9AukcojEc

Source: Universal Music Enterprises

- KOCH Records and The Twisted Group announce the release of "The Secret Art of Science 2: Then and Now," by acclaimed DJ DB. This compilation is the follow up to his 2001 compilation "The Secret Art of Science," which critics called the "Best Chill Drum & Bass Album Ever!"

Arriving in New York from London in '89, it could be argued that no one has done more for Drum & Bass in America than DB. First with his hardcore Breakbeat club NASA (featured in the Larry Clark film "Kids"), then by launching Sm:)e communications and releasing the first Jungle singles & compilations in the U.S, as well as signing DJ Dara, thus kickstarting his career as an artist. He & Dara then opened Breakbeat Science, dedicated to Drum & Bass. It quickly became not only the most respected record store, label & street-wear clothing brand, but also the very epicenter of the jungle community in the U.S. He even designed & manufactured a toy for the brand.

He recently released an artist project with partner Stakka, under the name Ror-Shak, focusing & pushing the limits on the more musical side of the genre which, as a DJ, is what DB has become best loved for.

"Secret Art of Science 2" will be DB's 13th mix CD in as many years. This time DB takes us way back to the origins of chill drum & bass in the mid '90s with the first half of the album, then jets us into the present & future, picking from some of his favorite current producers for the second half.

DB has also established an extraordinary club night in NYC (also called the Secret Night of Science) which is celebrating its one year anniversary.

DB is also a partner in both the cutting edge men's lifestyle shop BBlessing, & the multimedia & record label Deaf Dumb & Blind Recordings. When he has a second to spare, he spends it with his wife & two small children, or tries to sleep.

The tracklisting is:

Look for DB to tour later this year!

For more information, go to:

http://djdb.com

http://myspace.com/djdbny

http://myspace.com/r0rshak

www.kochrecords.com

About KOCH Entertainment

KOCH Entertainment, founded in 1987 and now in its twentieth year, is the leading and fastest-growing independent music company in the U.S. KOCH's operations encompass record and video labels as well as distribution companies in the U.S. and Canada. KOCH Entertainment is the market leader among independent labels and distributors in both the U.S. and Canada and its record label KOCH Records had the largest number of Billboard charting albums among independents for six years in a row (2001 - 2006). KOCH Entertainment is owned by Entertainment One Ltd. which is listed on the London Stock Exchange's AIM market (ticker symbol "ETO").

 

August 27, 2007) - KOCH Records announces the release of "Da Life I Chose," the new album by Atlanta's Montana Da Mac, on October 23, 2007.

If you don't know about Montana Da Mac already, you will very soon. Hailing from Atlanta, GA, this rising star holds one of the fastest-moving singles on nationwide urban radio with "Rock On (Do The Rock Man)" feat. UNK, which is already up to 1,100 spins.

The video for "Rock On" is currently MTV2's Jam of the Week. The video can be viewed at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1aExgBgLGDM.

With the success of the Shop Boyz' smash single "Party Like a Rock Star," "Rock On" is the obvious next evolution into the "Rock Star" mentality that is sweeping the hip hop nation. But Montana Da Mac sets himself apart from his peers by incorporating the "Rock Man" dance, or what he calls an "air guitar with swag" into the track.

Even though the hit song will introduce him to the music world, it's the rest of his material that will keep him familiar. The laid back "To Live And Die in GA" adds a Southerners twist to the 2Pac track that inspired it. He goes back to the club on the bouncy "Hold Up," where he lets the ladies who like to get crunk know he likes his dancing shaken, not stirred. Then on the airy "Party Tonight," Montana shows listeners why the other half of his name is Da Mac.

With guest appearances from UNK, Gucci Mane and Juvenile and production from DJ Montay ("Walk It Out," "2 Step") and Shawty Red (Young Jeezy), "Da Life I Chose" showcases Montana Da Mac as an artist who is not afraid to be himself. So even with a hard childhood and rough background Montana doesn't aim to remind the world of his struggles, but rather enjoy the celebration of life itself.

For more on Montana Da Mac, click on www.MySpace.com/MontanaDaMac

About KOCH Entertainment

KOCH Entertainment, founded in 1987 and now in its twentieth year, is the leading and fastest-growing independent music company in the U.S. KOCH's operations encompass record and video labels as well as distribution companies in the U.S. and Canada. KOCH Entertainment is the market leader among independent labels and distributors in both the U.S. and Canada and its record label KOCH Records had the largest number of Billboard charting albums among independents for six years in a row (2001 - 2006). KOCH Entertainment is owned by Entertainment One Ltd. which has been recently listed on the London Stock Exchange's AIM market (ticker symbol "ETO").

Having already received glowing reviews from critics, "Unglamorous," the major-label debut from singer-songwriter Lori McKenna, has debuted at Number One this week on Billboard's Heatseekers chart, which tracks best-selling titles from new or developing artists.

In addition, "Unglamorous" debuted at Number 19 on the Top Country Album chart, Number 25 on the Top Internet Album chart, Number 26 on the Top Digital Album chart, and Number 109 on the Billboard 200.

Since "Unglamorous" was released on August 14th on Warner Bros. Nashville and Stylesonic Records (the label run by country superstar Tim McGraw and noted Nashville producer Byron Gallimore), critics have raved about the Stoughton, MA-born and bred McKenna, who, in addition to being a singer-songwriter, is also a plumber's wife and stay-at-home mother of five. Traversing familiar domestic territory, "Unglamorous," which was produced by McGraw and Gallimore, "lays bare the realities of small-town life while clinging to the hope of better days," as one reviewer put it.

"What really gets you is the strength of the songwriting," said People Magazine in a lead review, while the New York Times praised McKenna for her "knack for aching melodies and telling details." Entertainment Weekly raved: "the most engaging pop paeans to mature, married love you've ever heard," while USA Today called "Unglamorous" a "winning showcase for McKenna's own achy-sweet, warmly knowing voice." Finally, the Boston Herald wrote: "Modern country music doesn't get much better than this." McKenna appeared on "Good Morning America" the day the album was released, and was recently featured in an eight-minute segment on "Nightline."

McKenna first emerged on New England's vibrant singer-songwriter scene with the independently released "Paper Wings & Halo" (1998), followed by "Pieces of Me" (2001), and "The Kitchen Tapes" (2003). In 2005, she signed to Warner Bros. Nashville, which re-released her 2004 album "Bittertown." She recently completed a stint opening for McGraw and Faith Hill on the couple's hugely successful "Soul2Soul Tour 2007."

www.lorimckenna.com

- On November 13th, 2007, 'THE McCARTNEY YEARS' will hit the stores from MPL/Rhino Entertainment. This first time ever DVD includes the definitive visual collection of Paul McCartney's amazing career featuring solo music videos, career-spanning live performances, personal commentary by Paul McCartney and exclusive footage that tracks his incredible musical journey as never before.

Spanning four decades, 'THE McCARTNEY YEARS' is a three volume DVD collection, featuring some of the world's best-loved music that has become the soundtrack to all our lives.

VOLUME ONE and VOLUME TWO contain the definitive collection of McCartney music videos. Starting in the 1970s with Paul McCartney's first solo single "Maybe I'm Amazed," the DVD includes the Wings promo video for "Band On The Run" as well as hits from the 1980s such as "Say Say Say," and the 1990s with "The World Tonight." It finishes with 2005's "Fine Line." The films can be viewed either in chronological order or as play-lists that have been personally arranged by Paul featuring his exclusive voiceover commentaries.

VOLUME THREE includes live performances taken from three classic McCartney live shows; "ROCKSHOW" filmed on Wings' 1976 World Tour, new edits of Paul's seminal "UNPLUGGED" in 1991 and Paul's now legendary headlining performance at 2004's GLASTONBURY Festival.

'THE McCARTNEY YEARS' is also packed with bonus features and extra never before seen footage and performances, including "Let It Be" from LIVE AID, archive interviews with Melvyn Bragg and Michael Parkinson, alternative versions of music videos and the full-length 2005 documentary "Creating Chaos at Abbey Road." Paul has recorded exclusive commentary and personal introductions for each promo video and each live concert.

This collection has been meticulously restored and all films polished, re-graded and given a new lease on life in Widescreen format with re-mastered stereo audio and for the first time the original recordings re-mixed into 5.1 surround sound. 'THE McCARTNEY YEARS' includes over 40 promo videos and over two hours of live performances.

DISC/TRACK LISTING

DISC 1

1. Tug Of War

2. Say Say Say

3. Silly Love Songs

4. Band On The Run

5. Maybe I'm Amazed

6. Heart Of The Country

7. Mamunia

8. With A Little Luck

9. Goodnight Tonight

10. Waterfalls

11. My Love

12. C-Moon

13. Baby's Request

14. Hi Hi Hi

15. Ebony And Ivory

16. Take It Away

17. Mull Of Kintyre

18. Helen Wheels

19. I've Had Enough

20. Coming Up

21. Wonderful Christmastime

Extras

1. Juniors Farm

2. Band On The Run

3. London Town

4. Mull Of Kintyre 2

5. The Southbank Show

DISC 2

1. Pipes Of Peace

2. My Brave Face

3. Beautiful Night

4. Fine Line

5. No More Lonely Nights

6. This One

7. Little Willow

8. Pretty Little Head

9. Birthday

10. Hope Of Deliverance

11. Once Upon A Long Ago

12. All My Trials

13. Brown-Eyed Handsome Man

14. Press

15. No Other Baby

16. Off The Ground

17. Biker Like An Icon

18. Spies Like Us

19. Put It There

20. Figure Of Eight

21. C'Mon People

Extras

1. Parkinson

2. So Bad

3. Creating Chaos At Abbey Road

DISC 3

Rock Show

1. Venus And Mars

2. Rock Show

3. Jet

4. Maybe I'm Amazed

5. Lady Madonna

6. Listen To What The Man Said

7. Bluebird

MTV Unplugged

8. I Lost My Little Girl

9. Every Night

10. And I Love Her

11. That Would Be Something

Glastonbury

12. Jet

13. Flaming Pie

14. Let Me Roll It

15. Blackbird

16. Band On The Run

17. Back In The USSR

18. Live And Let Die

19. Hey Jude

20. Yesterday

21. Helter Skelter

22. Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band

Extras

1. Live Aid

2. The Superbowl XXIV

Check out www.paulmccartney.com for the latest news and information.

 - Congratulations are in order for Muse, who have just scored their fifth Top Ten single at Alternative Radio with "Supermassive Black Hole," from their latest album "Black Holes and Revelations."

Previous Top Tens are "Hysteria" and "Time Is Running Out" from the British rock trio's 2003 album "Absolution," which has been certified gold in the U.S., and "Knights of Cydonia" and "Starlight" from "Black Holes and Revelations," which debuted at Number 9 on Billboard's album chart last July and been hailed by critics on both sides of the Atlantic as Muse's best album yet.

Muse, whose current tour included a recent stop at New York City's prestigious Madison Square Garden and headlining the famed Lollapalooza festival in Chicago, will be on the road through the end of September. See for yourself what the New York Times calls "Awesome."

The Naked Brothers Band Album Available Tuesday, October 9

Release Marks the First Offering from New Global Partnership between Nickelodeon and the Sony Music Label Group

-- Nick Music and Columbia Records announced today the release of The Naked Brothers Band, the eagerly awaited debut album of all-original music from Nickelodeon's top-rated 'tween series. The album will debut on Tuesday, October 9, following the network premiere of The Naked Brothers Band, "Battle of the Bands" October 6 television movie event.

The Naked Brothers Band includes 15 original songs from the hit series, with all music written and performed by the show's stars -- Nat Wolff and Alex Wolff. The album will be offered in three retail packaging options:

All songs on the premiere album feature music and lyrics written by Nat Wolff, except "I Could Be" and "Alien Clones" which were written by Alex Wolff. The Naked Brothers Band is produced and arranged by Michael Wolff (Nat and Alex's real-life and television series dad) and composer Michael A. Levine ("Cold Case," "Close To Home").

In addition to penning most of the band's songs, Nat Wolff sings lead and background vocals and also plays both piano and guitar. Alex Wolff plays drums in addition to providing lead vocal on "I Could Be" and "Alien Clones." Tracks from The Naked Brothers Band album include:

The Naked Brothers Band album is the first product of the recently announced development and production partnership between Nickelodeon, the number-one entertainment brand for kids and the Sony Music Label Group and the Sony BMG Commercial Music Group.

To support the CD, The Naked Brothers Band's first original music video features the theme song, "If That's Not Love." The all-new video, directed by Scott Franklin is scheduled to premiere on Nickelodeon, The N and Nicktoons on September 3 at 5:00 P.M. along with a special behind-the-scenes look at the making of the video. After its premiere on Nickelodeon, the video will be available on nick.com, the-n.com. mtv.com, vh1.com in addition to other media.

The band has already had successful retail and online sales, with the digital hit "Crazy Car" selling more than 100,000 downloads. The first DVD, The Naked Brothers Band/The Movie was released in April 2007 and held a top ten position on the Nielsen VideoScan children's non-theatrical DVD charts for seven consecutive weeks. Nickelodeon recently announced plans to release a full line of consumer products including books, apparel and electronics items, beginning this fall.

Real-life brothers and musicians, Nat Wolff and Alex Wolff, age 12 and 9, star in The Naked Brothers Band which began airing on Nickelodeon in February 2007. The premiere of the series delivered Nickelodeon's highest-rated premiere in seven years with kids 6-11 and the series quickly became one of the top programs for tweens on television.

The series has also created a tween-focused on-line frenzy, with 5.3 million pages views from fans on Nick.com series message boards. Three released Naked Brothers Band online videogames have recorded nearly 24 million game plays. Fans have also downloaded over 800,000 Naked Brothers Band podcasts.

The Naked Brothers Band series creator and producer/writer/director is Nat and Alex's real-life mother, Emmy-nominated actress and writer Polly Draper ("thirtysomething"). Michael Wolff serves as music supervisor/co-executive producer while appearing in the show playing against type as Nat and Alex's' musically inept father. Nat, Alex, and Michael Wolff are recipients of the BMI 2007 Cable Award. The cast of the series also includes, Allie DiMeco as Rosalina, Thomas Matuello as cellist Thomas, David Levi as keyboard player David and Qaasim Middleton as guitarist Qaasim.

The second season of The Naked Brothers Band is now in production and will premiere in January 2008. The series recently made its international debut, premiering on Nick UK in May 2007 -- the series will continue to roll out across Nickelodeon's 28 channels across Europe, Asia and Latin America.

About Nickelodeon: Nickelodeon, in its 28th year, is the number-one entertainment brand for kids. It has built a diverse, global business by putting kids first in everything it does. The company includes television programming and production in the United States and around the world, plus consumer products, online, recreation, books, magazines and feature films. Nickelodeon's U.S. television network is seen in almost 94 million households and has been the number-one-rated basic cable network for 13 consecutive years. Nickelodeon and all related titles, characters and logos are trademarks of Viacom Inc. (NYSE:VIA) (NYSE:VIA.B) .

About Columbia Records: One of the oldest and most respected record labels in the world, Columbia Records traces its origins back to the late 1880s. The Columbia Records roster has boasted such superstars as Marc Anthony, Louis Armstrong, Tony Bennett, Beyonce, Mariah Carey, Cypress Hill, Miles Davis, Destiny's Child, Dixie Chicks, Bob Dylan, Duke Ellington, the Fugees, Jagged Edge, Ricky Martin, John Mayer, Patti Smith, Bruce Springsteen, System Of A Down, Train, Pete Yorn, and many more.

Columbia Records is a wholly-owned subsidiary of SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT.

About Sony Music Label Group: Sony Music Label Group, a division of SONY BMG Music Entertainment, is a global recorded music joint venture with a roster of current artists that includes a broad array of both local artists and international superstars, as well as a vast catalog that comprises some of the most important recordings in history. SONY BMG Music Entertainment is 50% owned by Bertelsmann A.G. and 50% owned by Sony Corporation of America.

Source: Columbia Records

Web site: http://www.columbiarecords.com/
http://nick.com/
http://the-n.com/
http://mtv.com/
http://vh1.com/

About KOCH Entertainment

KOCH Entertainment, founded in 1987 and now in its twentieth year, is the leading and fastest-growing independent music company in the U.S. KOCH's operations encompass record and video labels as well as distribution companies in the U.S. and Canada. KOCH Entertainment is the market leader among independent labels and distributors in both the U.S. and Canada and its record label KOCH Records had the largest number of Billboard charting albums among independents for six years in a row (2001 - 2006). KOCH Entertainment is owned by Entertainment One Ltd. which has been recently listed on the London Stock Exchange's AIM market (ticker symbol "ETO").

High 5 Records is a comedy label, headed by the founder of an international chain of comedy clubs opened and operated in five countries and throughout the Caribbean. High 5 offers a premier entertainment team of veteran comedy, record label and entertainment professionals who have an experienced eye for discovering and developing talent. High 5's special relationships with retailers, television, movies, casting, concert/touring and sponsors offer considerable impact to its products. High 5 Records' sole mission is to make you LAUGH OUT LOUD.

HOLLYWOOD ( August 16, 2007 ) – THE ULTIMATE DEVOTION is Marc Rizzo’s solo sophomore release on Shrapnel Records. This newly mastered work of shred-art comes on the coat-tails of his critically acclaimed debut album COLASSAL MYOPIA in 2006.

Being part of the new breed of young guitarists in contemporary bands, Rizzo has built a substantial following through his years of touring and recording with Soulfly with Metal Legend Max Cavalera. Rizzo’s raw energy combined with the talent of a new-generation shred-master is a much needed breath of fresh air to the instrumental rock genre.

THE ULTIMATE DEVOTION is a myriad of Rizzo’s amazing talent to combine flamenco and pure unadulterated shred mastery. “THE ULTIMATE DEVOTION is a total representation of where I am at musically right now,” explains Rizzo. “I feel I really pushed myself on this record to the next level of my playing. This music, for me, is the ultimate devotion.”

Rizzo is out now with Soulfly in Europe and is also shredder of choice by newly reunited Max and Igor Cavalera for their new project tentatively named INFLIKTED.

For more information click to www.shrapnelrecords.com or www.myspace.com/marcrizzo

 - Big Gates/Slip-N-Slide/Atlantic recording artist Plies has made an explosive chart debut with his debut album, "THE REAL TESTAMENT." The collection -- which features the blockbuster hit single, "Shawty (Feat. T-Pain)" -- entered the Billboard 200 at #2.

Hailed as "one of the realest you will ever know," Plies has already established a phenomenal underground and street presence on the strength of his infamous mixtapes and live show. For his major label debut, the MC relays tales of street struggle, making money, and ghetto queens -- what he refers to as "reality music." "When people get this CD, they gon' live by it," proclaims Plies. The Ft. Myers, Florida-bred rapper recently heralded the release of "THE REAL TESTAMENT" with a whirlwind promo tour of Florida, Georgia, and the Carolinas, visiting 10 cities (including Ft. Myers, Orlando, Tampa, Miami, Jacksonville, Savannah, Charlotte, and Columbia) in just four days.

"Shawty (Feat. T-Pain)" is without doubt one of the summer's biggest hip-hop smashes, now ranking at #1 with-a-bullet at Urban radio outlets nationwide, exceeding 10,000 spins. The single is also currently #2 on Billboard's "Hot Rap Tracks" chart, as well as #5 on the "Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs" tally. A true crossover hit, "Shawty" is also ascending Billboard's "Hot 100," coming in as the week's biggest "Airplay Gainer" to land at #12.

The ringtone for "Shawty" is proving equally popular, coming in this week as the #1 Ringback tone on T-Mobile's "Top 25," while climbing to #3 on Billboard's "Hot RingMasters" chart.

Furthermore, the "Shawty" companion video is a sensation, hitting #1 on BET after scoring top 10 play on both "106 & Park" and "Rap City." Last week, Plies celebrated the release of "THE REAL TESTAMENT" with a pair of visits to "106 & Park," including an explosive live performance alongside T-Pain.

Plies and "Shawty" are also blowing up across the MTV spectrum, scoring "Big 10" rotation at MTV, "Elite 8" at MTV2, "Cum Laude" at mtvU, and "Sizzlin" at MTV Jams. Plies was also among MTV's recent crop of "Discover & Download" artists. As if that weren't enough, the "Shawty" clip made its Music Choice debut in the #1 spot, entering the channel's rotation as the week's most "demanded" music video.

With "Shawty" blazing through the summer, Plies is already set to unveil his second single. "Hypnotized (Feat. Akon)" is slated to impact at multi-format radio outlets in mid-September.

Online, Plies is blowing up at MySpace, where he is currently ranked as the #6 artist overall, as well as #4 on the "Top Hip-Hop Major Artist" list. His page -- located at www.myspace.com/plies -- is among the site's most popular, with assorted tracks logging over 12 million streams thus far. Also, a devoted channel recently launched at YouTube, with a variety of videos and exclusive content available at www.youtube.com/PliesWorld.

Plies will be featured in a wide variety of national publications, including the covers of the August issue of Ozone magazine and the September/October issue of Down Magazine. In addition, "Shawty" was just named the year's "Best Rap/R&B Collaboration" at the 2nd Annual Ozone Magazine Awards, held earlier this week at 2007 TJ's DJ's Tastemaker DJ/Music Conference in Miami. Plies received further Ozone nominations for "Mixtape Monster Award" and "Most Slept-On Artist."

For more information, visit www.pliesworld.com and www.myspace.com/plies.

CONTACT:

NEW YORK, NY--(Maketwire - August 15, 2007) - Miami radio personality and Terror Squad/KOCH recording artist DJ Khaled has the #1 most added single at Urban Radio this week with 33 adds on "I'm So Hood," the 2nd single from Khaled's new album "We The Best." "I'm So Hood" features T-Pain, Trick Daddy, Rick Ross and Plies. The track is the follow up to "We Takin' Over."

Khaled comments, "I'm so hood!!!! It's the biggest record! In the club, on the radio, and the streets!!!! 'I'm So Hood' represents the people!!! We the best! For real!!!!!!!"

The video for "I'm So Hood" will World Premiere on Yahoo! on 8/24, and also Premiere on MTV's Direct Effect on 8/30. The new video was recently shot in Miami and directed by Gil Green.

The video for Khaled's first single, "We Takin' Over," won an Ozone Award this past weekend for "Video of the Year." The video was also directed by Gil Green.

To date, "We Takin' Over" has sold a combined 800,000+ Digital/Mobile units.

Both singles are available on DJ Khaled's new album, "We The Best," which hit stores on June 12th, 2007 via Terror Squad/KOCH Records and debuted at #8 on The Billboard Top 200. The album features T.I., The Game, Jadakiss, Fat Joe, Trick Daddy, Ja Rule, Rick Ross, Young Jeezy, Lil' Wayne, Akon, Birdman, Juelz Santana, Styles P. Bone Thugs, and more.

DJ Khaled, who currently has the most popular radio show in Miami (WEDR/99 Jamz), released his debut, "Listennn...The Album," last year debuting at #1 on the Billboard Independent Chart. The album spawned 3 singles/videos including "Holla At Me," "Grammy Family," and "Born N' Raised."

For more info on DJ Khaled, please click on www.MySpace.com/DjKhaled.

About KOCH Entertainment

KOCH Entertainment, founded in 1987 and now in its twentieth year, is the leading and fastest-growing independent music company in the U.S. KOCH's operations encompass record and video labels as well as distribution companies in the U.S. and Canada. KOCH Entertainment is the market leader among independent labels and distributors in both the U.S. and Canada and its record label KOCH Records had the largest number of Billboard charting albums among independents for six years in a row (2001 - 2006). KOCH Entertainment is owned by Entertainment One Ltd. which has been recently listed on the London Stock Exchange's AIM market (ticker symbol "ETO").

KOCH Records to Release New CD From Beloved Children's Character Strawberry Shortcake(TM)

"Let's Dance" to Be Released on September 25th, 2007

- KOCH Records is excited to announce the release of a brand new CD by beloved children's character Strawberry Shortcake. "Let's Dance" will be released on September 25th, 2007. "Let's Dance" is the soundtrack to accompany the latest Strawberry Shortcake DVD releases, including "Let's Dance" and "The Berry Blossom Festival," as well as an upcoming Spring 2008 DVD title. The 16-track CD features music from Strawberry Shortcake and all her friends that is sure to make little girls get up and move to the Berry-Berry beat. It is a "must have" that is sure to please all Strawberry Shortcake Fans. Fan favorite, "Strawberry Shake Sing and Dance-Along" is the first track and will be featured on an interactive dance mat that accompanies Fox's "Let's Dance" DVD, which will be released nationwide in October 2007. It can also be found on www.strawberryshortcake.com.

Tracklisting:

1. Strawberry Shake Sing and 9. How Many Different Berries

Dance-Along Can You Name?

2. Let's Dance 10. A True Friend

3. Get The Moves 11. A Little Bump In The Road

4. Friendship Is A Dance 12. Getting There Is All The Fun

5. Man Oh Man Oh Manners 13. Sailing Toward Tomorrow

6. Shortcake Swing 14. Home Is Love

7. Pass The Fun 15. On The Road

8. The Berry Blossom Festival 16. Make Some Noise

Strawberry Shortcake will make its broadcast network debut in September 2007 on the new Saturday morning children's block, "Kewlopolis" on CBS.

Strawberry Shortcake is a sweet but spunky little redhead with enough optimism to fill a strawberry field. She really believes things are growing better all the time and as the unofficial berry princess of Strawberryland, she puts her heart and soul into seeing that things improve for everyone she meets. Strawberry is also quite adventurous, so it's no surprise that she has friends from other lands both near and far.

For more info go to:

Gym Class Heroes Go Gold; "AS CRUEL AS SCHOOL CHILDREN" Certified by RIAA as Acclaimed Hip-Hop Combo Receives Pair of Noms for 2007 MTV Video Music Awards; "Clothes Off!!" Shaping Up as Anthem of Summer '07 as Video Tops TRL ChartsNEW YORK, NY--(Marketwire - August 09, 2007) - "AS CRUEL AS SCHOOL CHILDREN," the second album from Decaydance/Fueled By Ramen recording group Gym Class Heroes, has been certified gold by the RIAA, marking sales exceeding 500,000 units. The collection's breakthrough success is fuelled by a pair of hit singles, the #1 blockbuster, "Cupid's Chokehold/Breakfast in America" and the current summer smash, "Clothes Off!!"

Earlier this week, Gym Class Heroes received nominations in two of the top categories for the upcoming 2007 MTV Video Music Awards. The hugely popular alternative hip-hop outfit received the nod as both "Best New Artist" and "Best Group," with the latter category placing them alongside such top-ranked bands as the White Stripes, Linkin Park, Maroon 5, and their good friends, Decaydance's own Fall Out Boy. The 2007 MTV VMAs will be handed out in ceremonies broadcast live on MTV from Las Vegas' Palms Casino Resort on Sunday, September 9th. (check local listings)

The "Clothes Off!!" companion video is already a sensation at MTV, where it has gone to #1 on the TRL Charts and is currently in "Big 10" rotation. The clip is scoring in major rotation across the MTV spectrum, including MTV2, mtvU, and MTV.com, where Gym Class Heroes were recently spotlighted as part of the "Best of Discover & Download '07" feature. Further, the video is receiving extensive rotation play on both Fuse and Music Choice.

In addition, the band recently received a pair of top nominations for the upcoming Teen Choice 2007 extravaganza -- "Choice Music Breakout (Group)" and "Choice Music Single" (for "Cupid's Chokehold/Breakfast in America"). The awards will be presented in a live two-hour special airing Sunday, August 26th (8:00 PM ET live/PT tape-delayed) on FOX.

A Featured Artist at Verizon Wireless' V Cast Music shop, Gym Class Heroes is currently on tour in Australia and New Zealand, supporting Gwen Stefani on a series of major arena dates. From there, the band will travel the world for a number of eagerly awaited festival performances, including Japan's Summer Sonic 2007 and England's legendary Carling Weekend at Reading and Leeds. Upon their return to the U.S., GCH will rock a pair of American festies: Seattle's annual Bumbershoot extravaganza on September 1st, and Del Mar, CA's Street Scene '07 on September 22nd and 23rd. A North American headlining tour is slated for this fall, with details to be unveiled in the coming weeks. The band will tour with Fall Out Boy to close the year.

"Clothes Off!!" has also exploded online, logging over half a million streams in the past week alone, with total streams nearing 2.5 million and counting. Gym Class Heroes maintains an active Internet presence at their official site, gymclassheroes.com, as well as at their MySpace (myspace.com/gymclassheroes) and PureVolume pages (purevolume.com/gymclassheroes).

The new single's success follows the triumphant achievement of "Cupid's Chokehold/Breakfast in America," which stood tall at #1 on the CHR/Top 40 national airplay chart for five consecutive weeks earlier this year. The track -- which features the band's good friend, Patrick Stump of Fall Out Boy -- also reached the top 5 of Billboard's "Hot 100," as well as #1 on Billboard's "Hot Digital Tracks" chart. In addition, the song has proven a massive ringtone smash, hitting the top 5 on the weekly "Top Ringtones" ranking.

2007 has seen Gym Class Heroes all over MTV, with "Cupid's Chokehold/Breakfast in America" spending time atop the network's playlist. The group was also featured on such programming as Spring Break '07 Live, TRL, and MTV Live, not to mention other MTV channels such as MTV2, mtvU, MTV Hits, and MTV Tr3s. "Cupid's Chokehold/Breakfast in America" also proved a rotation favorite at VH1, Fuse, and Mun2.

Both "Cupid's Chokehold/Breakfast in America" and "Clothes Off!!" can currently be viewed online at FBR+, Fueled By Ramen's recently launched exclusive content site, located at www.fbrplus.com. The site also features three additional GCH videos, including clips for "New Friend Request," "The Queen and I," and "Shoot Down The Stars."

Recent months have seen Gym Class Heroes making a variety of TV appearances, including performances on NBC's "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," and "Late Night with Conan O'Brien," ABC's "Jimmy Kimmel Live," DirecTV's "CD USA," and the syndicated "Fearless Music TV."

A remarkably dedicated live act, Gym Class Heroes has spent much of the past two years on tour. Their recent headlining trek was met by sold-out crowds on nearly every date, including a packed-to-the-rafters MySpace Secret Show at Mr. Small's Funhouse in Millvale, Pennsylvania. For an up-to-the-minute tour itinerary, see the band's official website, www.gymclassheroes.com, or its MySpace page, www.myspace.com/gymclassheroes.

Produced by S*A*M, aka Sam Hollander (Method Man, the Sounds, and Earth, Wind & Fire), and Sluggo, the alter-ego of renowned session bassist Dave Katz (Roger Daltrey), "AS CRUEL AS SCHOOL CHILDREN" also features co-production from Fall Out Boy's Patrick Stump. The album drew rapturous praise in a number of national publications, including Alternative Press, which awarded the collection its top five-starred rating.

Gym Class Heroes first garnered critical acclaim for their unique sound and approach with their Decaydance/Fueled By Ramen debut, 2005's "THE PAPERCUT CHRONICLES." It was the band's alternative hip-hop style and use of live instruments in favor of looped samples and canned beats that caught the attention of Fall Out Boy's Pete Wentz, who immediately signed the group to his Decaydance imprint. With constant touring and a huge online presence, the band has built a large and dedicated fan base.

Named one of the MTV2's "Artists To Watch 2007," the group spent much of the past two years on the road, including sold-out headline dates in the US and the UK, support slots alongside Fall Out Boy and the All American Rejects, a number of radio-sponsored holiday shows, and a stint on Vans Warped Tour '06 which had them playing two sets a day to rapturous audiences across North America.

Gym Class Heroes are: Travis McCoy (lead vocalist), Disashi Lumumba-Kasongo (guitarist), Eric Roberts (bassist), and Matt McGinley (drummer).

For additional information, please visit www.decaydance.com and www.fueledbyramen.com.

Ice Cube's Lench Mob Records Announces the Best West Coast Hip-Hop Album of the Year

WC Solo Album, "Guilty By Affiliation," Set to Release August 14th LOS - On August 14th, Ice Cube's independent imprint Lench Mob Records, will release "GUILTY BY AFFILIATION," the new solo album from west coast icon and Westside Connection member, WC (aka Dub C).

As rap has become today's pop music many of its artists have moved away from the street-centered mentality that made the music so potent in the 1980s and 1990s. Realizing that rap has lost its edge and intensity, Los Angeles rap icon and Westside Connection member WC returns rap to its creative roots -- exemplary lyricism, conceptual greatness, bone-crushing production -- on his masterful new album, "GUILTY BY AFFILIATION."

The label boldly hails "GUILTY BY AFFILIATION" as the best west coast album of the year and as exactly what fans expect from an Ice Cube-produced project -- 100% west coast gangsta rap with no apologies. With over 1.1 million combined listens on the WC and Ice Cube myspace pages and 500,000 plays on the Internet video "This Is Los Angeles," the public has shown its approval.

WC's stellar performance on "GUILTY BY AFFILIATION" along with guest appearances by the west coast big three, Ice Cube, Snoop Dogg and The Game, support Lench Mob Record's mission to super-serve the west coast hip-hop fan with superior music via a target specific marketing approach.

Since appearing on the Ice-T-backed Rhyme Syndicate compilation in the late 1980s, WC has remained rock-solid and has established himself as one of rap's most important voices. He was the visionary behind Low Profile and the political WC And The MAAD Circle. With super-group Westside Connection (Ice Cube, Mack 10, WC), WC flexed his gangster rap heritage to the hilt.

One constant throughout his distinguished career has been his uncanny ability to draw attention to his high-octane rhymes through his varied inflection, his wide-ranging delivery patterns and his constantly shifting rhyme speed. Long-time partner-in-rhyme and childhood neighbor Ice Cube has also been a constant in WC's career and is releasing "GUILTY BY AFFILIATION" on his Lench Mob Records. "Cube's not just a feature," WC says. "He's a part of the record now."

"WC is the best MC I've ever produced. I'm lucky to have him on my label." - ICE CUBE

--  Standard Package - 2-CD set ($19.98 SRP)
--  Deluxe Edition - 2-CD/ 1-DVD featuring the premiere-version (90
    minutes) of live performance footage culled from the "Led Zeppelin DVD"
    ($24.98 SRP)
--  Collector's Edition - 2-CD/1-DVD ultra-deluxe, collectible limited
    edition ($TBA)
--  Vinyl Edition - 4 LPs, high-end, audiophile quality vinyl with
    collectible memorabilia ($74.98 SRP)
    

--  Deluxe Edition DVD - ($19.97 SRP*)
--  Deluxe Edition HD DVD and Blu-ray - ($28.99 SRP each*)
--  Limited Collector's Edition - 2-disc set includes collectible vintage
    T-shirt with original album artwork design, soundtrack CD, lobby cards,
    reproductions of original premiere invites, tour schedule, and more ($TBA*)
    

MOTHERSHIP
Track Listing:

Disc One
1. Good Times Bad Times
2. Communication Breakdown
3. Dazed And Confused
4. Babe I'm Gonna Leave You
5. Whole Lotta Love
6. Ramble On
7. Heartbreaker
8. Immigrant Song
9. Since I've Been Loving You
10. Rock And Roll
11. Black Dog
12. When The Levee Breaks
13. Stairway To Heaven

Disc Two
1. Song Remains The Same
2. Over The Hills And Far Away
3. D'Yer Maker
4. No Quarter
5. Trampled Under Foot
6. Houses Of The Holy
7. Kashmir
8. Nobody's Fault But Mine
9. Achilles Last Stand
10. In The Evening
11. All My Love


THE SONG REMAINS THE SAME
Track Listing

Disc One
1. Rock And Roll
2. Celebration Day
3. Black Dog*
4. Over The Hills*
5. Misty Mountain Hop*
6. Since I've Been Loving You*
7. No Quarter
8. The Song Remains The Same
9. Rain Song
10. The Ocean*

Disc Two
1. Dazed And Confused
2. Stairway To Heaven
3. Moby Dick
4. Heartbreaker*
5. Whole Lotta Love

 -- 50 Cent's new album, Curtis, will now be released on September 11, 2007. Because of the Labor Day holiday on Monday September 3rd, the decision was made to push the release one week so that it is available everywhere at 10am on day of release.

50 Cent will premiere his new video for "I Get Money" on http://hot97.com/ today at 4:00PM EDT.

Source: Interscope Records

Web site: http://hot97.com/

Malibu Band Whitestarr Enjoys 'The Rock Life' on Their Way to the Top of the Charts

New VH1 Series, 'The Rock Life' Chronicles The Band As They Live The Rock And Roll Dream Premiering Monday, August 6 At 10:30 PM* With Back-To-Back Episodes

First Two Episodes Available on VSPOT at VH1.com Beginning Monday, July 30 -- One Week Prior To On-Air Debut

Malibu, California. It's 27 miles of the most exclusive coastline in the country. It's also home to the rowdiest rock band you've never heard of -- WHITESTARR. They're a mixture of rock royalty and wide-eyed party animals ... five guys on a mission to live the rock n' roll dream and prevent adulthood from happening by any means possible.

"The Rock Life" premiering Monday, August 6 at 10:30PM* with back-to-back episodes will follow Whitestarr as they balance gigs, groupies, girlfriends and massive band drama. Cameras will also join Whitestarr as they face the highs and lows that accompany being part of an up-and-coming rock band dealing with the creative and personal challenges of recording and releasing an album. Beginning July 30, one week before the series' broadcast debut, the first two episodes will be available for on-demand viewing on VSPOT at VH1.com.

Whitestarr is Cisco Adler (vocals), Rainbow Jeramy (guitar), Alex Orbison (drums), Damon Webb (bass) and Tony Potato (dancer). Led by singer/songwriter Cisco Adler, son of music mogul Lou Adler, Whitestarr has become a staple in the L.A. music scene but they've been virtually ignored by the industry they hope to conquer. They've been in rehab, in the tabloids and in relationships with some of Hollywood's hottest starlets, including Mischa Barton. The only place they haven't been is the Billboard charts. But with Roy Orbison's son on drums, So-Cal rocker Damon Webb on bass and a fleshy, undersexed former lawyer named Tony Potato as backup dancer, Whitestarr is a rock and roll circus that's as much fun off-stage as they are on. Throw in an afro'd guitarist from Allentown, PA, named Rainbow, with major girlfriend drama and you've all the ingredients for the ultimate rock and roll cocktail.

From the sweet crash pad they share in Malibu, Whitestarr are living the rock life and turning every day into an adventure. A local gig finds Slash and Tommy Lee in the audience, "a few drinks" turns into a few oddly-placed tattoos, a fight with a girlfriend is front-page news and out of control egos threaten a performance at a Playboy event.

Viewers will get an insider's look at the backstage drama as these four rockers (and one dancer) fight to keep the band together and stop at nothing to realize their rock dream -- even if it means losing sleep, losing a girlfriend or losing a day job. It's going to be an uphill battle, and the band knows it's going to take more than a famous name to get there.

For additional show content including exclusive online scenes not included in the broadcast version, log onto VSPOT at VH1.com. For more information on Whitestarr visit: www.myspace.com/whitestarr.

Whitestarr is set to release their second full-length studio album, Fillith Tillith, produced by Marti Frederiksen (Aerosmith, Sheryl Crow, Pink, and Faith Hill) on August 28th on new label VH1 Classic Records.

"The Rock Life" is executive produced by George Verschoor (Jamie Kennedy's "Blowin' Up," "Nashville Star") and David Osper (MTV's "Homewrecker"), and produced by Verschoor's Hoosick Falls Productions. Jeff Olde, Damla Dogan, Jill Holmes, Alex Demyanenko and Michael Hirschorn are executive producers for VH1.

For up-to-the-minute and archival press information including releases and photographs, visit VH1's press-only Web site at www.vh1.com/press

* All times ET/PT

VH1 connects viewers to the music, artists and pop culture that matter to them most with series, specials, live events, exclusive online content and public affairs initiatives. VH1 is available in 90 million households in the U.S. VH1 also has an array of digital services including VH1 Classic, VH1 Soul and VSPOT, VH1's broadband channel. Connect with VH1 at www.VH1.com.

VH1 is a registered trademark of MTV Networks, a unit of Viacom International Inc. MTV Networks also operates and offers joint ventures, licensing agreements and syndication deals whereby its programming can be seen worldwide.

Artist's Eagerly-Awaited Third Solo Album Available Tuesday, September 4

Columbia Records is set to release "Play It As It Lays," the eagerly-anticipated new album from American singer-songwriter-musician Patti Scialfa, on Tuesday, September 4.

Patti Scialfa will make a series of rare live TV appearances the week of her album launch including both NBC-TV's "Today" and CBS-TV's "Late Show with David Letterman" on Tuesday, September 4 as well as ABC-TV's "The View" on Thursday, September 6. (Please check your local listings).

"Play It As It Lays" is the first album of new music from Patti Scialfa since the release of her critically acclaimed "23rd Street Lullaby" in 2004 and is the artist's third solo album since the release of her debut, "Rumble Doll," in 1993.

"Play It As It Lays" premieres 10 new songs, written and performed by Patti Scialfa, showcasing the artist's soulful command of melody and language in a series of expressive and intimate musical narratives incorporating elements of roots rock, folk, country, street corner doo-wop, girl groups and more into a sound and sensibility uniquely her own.

Tracks on "Play It As It Lays" include: "Looking For Elvis," "Like Any Woman Would," "Town Called Heartbreak," Play Around," "Rainy Day Man," "The Word," "Bad For You," "Run, Run, Run," "Play It As It Lays," and "Black Ladder."

The album is produced by Patti Scialfa, Ron Aniello (Lifehouse, Guster, Barenaked Ladies), and Steve Jordan (Patti's co-producer on "23rd Street Lullaby," Jordan served as musical director for the PBS series "Martin Scorsese Presents the Blues" and has produced albums by Keith Richards, John Mayer, the Jon Spencer Blues Explosion and others).

"Play It As It Lays" features Patti (vocals, acoustic guitar, banjo, Wurlitzer organ) backed by the 'Whack Brothers' Rhythm Section: Cliff Carter (keyboards), Steve Jordon (drums and percussion, acoustic guitar), Nils Lofgren (guitars, pedal steel guitar, dobro), Bruce Springsteen (Hammond B3 organ, acoustic guitars, electric guitar, harmonica) and Willie Weeks (bass). Additional players on the album include co-producer Ron Aniello (guitar, keyboards), Crusher Bennet (percussion), Jeremy Chatzky (bass), Mark Stewart (cello, guitar, banjo), Scott Tibbs (synthesized strings), and Soozie Tyrell (violin, background vocals), with whom Patti gigged back in her early musical busking days. Other background vocals are provided by Lisa Lowell, Michelle Moore, Cindy Mizelle and Curtis King.

Each of Patti Scialfa's previous solo albums -- "Rumble Doll" (1993) and "23rd Street Lullaby" (2004) -- received four-star reviews in Rolling Stone magazine who praised her " ... clear-eyed joyfulness and unpretentious appeal ... (evoking) ... a woman not haunted by her past but enriched by it."

Source: Columbia Records

CONTACT: Fran DeFeo for Columbia Records, Media, New York,

http://www.pattiscialfa.net/

Dean Martin Is Forever Cool With New All-Star Collaborative Album

New Capitol/EMI CD, Deluxe Edition CD/DVD and Digital Album Pairs Martin with Other Top Entertainment Luminaries, Including Joss Stone, Kevin Spacey, Robbie Williams, Charles Aznavour, Martina McBride, Dave Koz, Chris Botti and More!

Also Features Previously Unreleased Dean Martin Vocal Track and Witty Studio Banter

-- Around the world, entertainment superstar Dean Martin has the market cornered on charisma, easygoing charm, playful wit, and gracious humility, all of which combine to make him infinitely cool. To honor Martin's broad appeal and countless contributions to modern entertainment via his legendary music, stage, film and television career, many of the world's top artists have recorded new collaborative tracks with him for a new album titled Dean Martin: Forever Cool. To be released worldwide in CD and deluxe CD/DVD packages and digitally on August 14 by Capitol/EMI, Forever Cool's 14 tracks pair Martin's original vocals with new arrangements and an all-star group of collaborators in a salute to the unparalleled talent and charisma of the man known around the world as Dino.

Forever Cool's inspired new recordings, woven together with several rare and previously unreleased clips of Martin's witty studio banter, feature Grammy winner Joss Stone, two-time Oscar(R) winner Kevin Spacey, saxophonist Dave Koz, Grammy winner Shelby Lynne, trumpeter Chris Botti, international superstar Robbie Williams, "American Idol" finalist Paris Bennett, country music star Martina McBride, French entertainment icon Charles Aznavour, Italian chart-topper Tiziano Ferro and other music greats. The new album swings, swaggers, rocks, rolls and whispers, gently closing with a previously unreleased a cappella version of "Lullaby" sung by Martin.

More than anyone else ever has, Dean Martin personifies masculine cool. Never was an icon so relatable, never such a velvet-voiced, affable guy so Olympian. With Forever Cool, Martin's brilliant knack for collaboration is renewed, fresh and fun all over again, bringing him together with many of the world's top performers in an exuberant celebration. "It's like a cocktail party on a record," says Forever Cool executive producer Jane Ventom, "where all sorts of wonderful, unique guests get up and make music with the host."

That the Forever Cool recording party roared in Capitol's legendary Studio A in Hollywood, where almost every classic Dean Martin recording was put to tape, lent the proceedings a thrilling and electric ambiance. Song by song, spiritual and musical harmony ensued and fully enveloped each recording session. During a break in his vocal sessions, Kevin Spacey was heard to giddily mutter, "Holy ba-joley! He's in the room... He's definitely in the room..." Sax virtuoso Dave Koz politely asked the engineers to temporarily hold off the recording: "Could you just let Dean and I jam for awhile? By ourselves?"

"There was nobody cooler," said Spacey. "The thing about Dean that's always been astounding is that it just seems like it's effortless. I think some people are just born entertainers. They recognize how to relate to an audience, how to engage an audience. I also think that one of the great things Dean had was that he could relate and engage with other performers. It's a thrill to feel a link to someone like Dean Martin."

"There is that undeniable force that you can't put a name on," said Robbie Williams. "I just want to be like him in real life. Offstage, I want to be like Dean Martin -- funny, handsome, charming... I've got it nailed (laughs)."

"Dean had a swagger about him we all wish we had as entertainers," said Shelby Lynne. "He's got one of the greatest, most recognizable and smooth voices of all time. I'm not gonna lie. I'd love to be Dean Martin." Added Scotty Morris of Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, "When you hear Dean Martin, he gives you a feeling. It's a special gift. I love him and I want to do him justice, and I'd like to think that he'd be proud of me."

Forever Cool's production team includes EMI Music Marketing vice president of A&R Jane Ventom and Dean Martin's business manager Laura Lizer as executive producers and Rob Christie as producer, with recording and mixing by co- producer and 15-time Grammy winner Al Schmitt (Norah Jones, Ray Charles, Diana Krall, Quincy Jones, etc.). Select tracks were produced by 12-time Grammy winning producer Phil Ramone (Tony Bennett, Paul Simon, Ray Charles, etc.), Grammy-winning producer, arranger and conductor Patrick Williams (Frank Sinatra, B.B. King, Barbra Streisand), and Bobby Colomby (Chris Botti). The album's tracks were recorded and mixed at Capitol Studios in Hollywood.

"It's a thrill to hear such a talented and diverse array of artists collaborate with Dean and celebrate his music," said Dean Martin's business manager Laura Lizer. "All of the artists have brought unique talents, inspiration and vibrant energy to the songs, complementing Dean with their own great styles and with a lot of love and respect for him. Forever Cool is a high-spirited, brilliant new entry in Dean's recorded canon, and we're proud to share it with his fans around the world. He would get a real kick out of this."

Said Martin's daughter, Gail Martin, "It gives me a warm glow to know that everybody -- all ages, all generations -- just seem to adore him and want more of him. That's exciting, and it doesn't surprise me."

Of his first encounter with Martin, Jerry Lewis recalled, "That's what I want to be like, you think. Maybe if I hang around with him, some of that'll rub off on me." In recent years Martin's star has shone ever more brightly. In a 2004 Playboy magazine feature, writer Bill Zehme crowned Martin "the coolest man who ever lived." More than 40 years after knocking the Beatles' "A Hard Day's Night" out of the #1 chart position with "Everybody Loves Somebody" in 1964, he continues to enthrall music fans around the world. Said Phil Ramone, "I think Dean's whole re-birth, so to speak, is that young people have realized how cool he is and how funny he is... and he could sing."

"He made music that's going to stand the test of time and be around forever," said Spacey. "People will always be listening to Dean Martin."

"When he sings, you believe it," said Martina McBride. "He had a great personality that just came across and made you feel like you knew him. I feel humbled and honored and proud to be a part of this project." Echoed Lynne, "Some people are just naturally cool, and he was definitely naturally cool. It's quite an honor to be a part of this."

Martin's effortless vocalizing has become a modern shorthand for cool, as evidenced by the use of his songs in films like Goodfellas, Casino, Swingers, Out of Sight, L.A. Confidential, A Bronx Tale and Payback, as well as top- rated television programs, including "The Sopranos," "Ugly Betty" and "Dancing With The Stars." Martin's music has also been featured in major brand TV advertising for Nissan, Microsoft, Marriott Hotels, Carl's Jr., Heineken, this year's Superbowl-premiered Budweiser commercial with "Ain't That a Kick In the Head," and many others.

The phenomenal sales of Capitol/EMI's 2004 collection Dino: The Essential Dean Martin, which collects 30 of Martin's key recordings for both Capitol and Reprise on one CD, has provided the strongest signal yet of Dino's continued prominence in the pop-music firmament. As the week's highest-charting new entry, it was Billboard's "Hotshot Debut", and it has sold more briskly than any previous Martin recording, going gold within months and platinum within a year. Dino also hit the Top 5 on Apple's iTunes Music Store album chart. As Zehme observed in Playboy, "Dean provides smooth, winking succor to generations anew."

"No matter what age you're at, you kind of want to be cool," said Spacey. "And there was nobody cooler at what he did." Dean Martin's approach to life with an easy smile, a graceful melody and an aura of unflappable cool is a style that was made to last forever.

For more information, please visit Dean Martin's official Website: http://www.deanmartin.com/.

Source: Capitol/EMI

Web site: http://www.capitolrecords.com/
http://www.deanmartin.com/

EMI Music Marketing Announces Album Release From Boston Red Sox Pitcher Daisuke 'Dice-K' Matsuzaka to Debut in Stores July 17, 2007

HOLLYWOOD, Calif., June 26 /PRNewswire/ -- EMI Music Marketing announced today the upcoming album "Music From The Mound" from Red Sox pitcher Daisuke "Dice-K" Matsuzaka. EMI will distribute the album in the United States, Toshiba/EMI will distribute the album in Japan.

"Music From The Mound" features a compilation of Matsuzaka's favorite and inspirational songs from various American, English and Japanese recording artists. The album also features the new original track "Gyro Ball", which includes guest performances from former J. Geils harmonica player Magic Dick, former Extreme guitarist Nuno Bettencourt as well as Boston Red Sox television announcers Don Orsillo and Jerry Remy. Co-Executive Produced by Loren Harriet, Boras Marketing and Architect Inc., a portion of the proceeds from all albums sold, as well as the download of "Gyro Ball", will be donated to the Red Sox Foundation, the official team charity of the Boston Red Sox.

"EMI is very proud to be the vehicle to release this terrific album to Dice-K's many fans across the U.S. and Japan" said EMI Special Markets President Eli Okun. "Dice-K has done a wonderful job putting together an album filled with great selections and diverse music".

"I listen to both Japanese and English/American artists, and I enjoy a wide variety of music, especially Rock, Hip Hop and R&B" said Matsuzaka. "I am excited to share my favorite inspirational songs with everyone in Red Sox nation and beyond. I'm also thrilled to work with the Red Sox Foundation, the official team charity of the Red Sox on this project".

"We are deeply honored by Daisuke's generosity in naming the Red Sox Foundation as the beneficiary of this terrific CD. Now fans can learn another side of this extraordinary talented man through his favorite songs" said Red Sox Chairman Tom Werner. "Funds raised through this CD will help our team charity provide vital health, educational, recreational and social service programs to children in need".

Sponsors of the album include the Greater Boston Convention & Visitors Bureau, the official visitor marketing organization for the Boston and Cambridge area. The official website for "Music From The Mound" is http://www.dicekcd.com/. Included on the album is the track "The Second Coming" featured in the Nike basketball commercials.

About EMI -- Operating directly in fifty countries and with licensees in a further twenty, EMI comprises two divisions -- EMI Music, one of the top global recorded music companies and EMI Music Publishing, the world's leading music publisher. EMI's record labels include Blue Note, Capitol, EMI and Virgin.

About Red Sox Foundation -- A registered 501(c)3 charity, the Red Sox Foundation was founded in 2002, immediately after the group led by Principal Owner John Henry, Chairman Tom Werner, President/CEO Larry Lucchino and their partners purchased New England's beloved baseball team. As the funding source for the team's philanthropy, The Red Sox Foundation supports a wide variety of nonprofits and runs several of it's own programs. A substantial portion of it's efforts are focused on four Cornerstone programs, which include The Jimmy Fund, Dimock Community Health Center, Red Sox Scholars and Youth baseball programs, including RBI (Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities) and Red Sox Rookie Leagues.

Source: EMI Music Marketing

Web site: http://www.capitolrecords.com/
http://www.dicekcd.com/

Celebrating Waylon Jennings' 70th Birthday With the Essential Waylon Jennings 2-CD Set and the Never Say Die: The Final Concert Film 2CD + DVD Set

-- The level of freedom and autonomy that is taken for granted by today's contemporary Country music artists - a world of independent production deals, self-styled recording and publishing arrangements, and other advantages enjoyed by pop acts for a decade before their C&W counterparts caught up - owes an eternal debt to Waylon Jennings, the original Nashville Rebel. His one-man mutiny of 1972-73 (later joined by Willie Nelson and others), against the assembly line establishment that reigned in Nashville for a quarter-century, was a successful coup that liberated and revitalized Country music to this very day.

Waylon's saga continues with a new round of video and audio collections, beginning with Never Say Die: The Final Concert Film. This three-disc set chronicles the historic concerts at Nashville's Ryman Auditorium in January 2000 -- an event that brought his reunited legendary Waymore Blues Band back to Music City for one last all-star farewell tribute show in Waylon's honor, with special guest appearances by his wife Jessi Colter (on four songs), John Anderson, Montgomery Gentry, and Travis Tritt.

The Never Say Die package premieres the full-length concert DVD (approximately two hours), 22 performances in stereo and 5.1 mixes; plus an exclusive 30-minute featurette with never-before-seen rehearsal footage and interviews conducted in 2000 with Waylon, Jessi, Bobby Bare, Kris Kristofferson, Willie Nelson, Chet Atkins, Richie Albright and others. In addition, the full-length concert is presented on two CDs with eight previously unreleased tracks. This three-disc edition will arrive in stores July 24th on Columbia/Legacy, a division of SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT.

Arriving in stores on the same date, on RLG Nashville/Legacy, is The Essential Waylon Jennings, a 42-song two-CD collection co-produced by Waylon's son, Shooter Jennings, that spans his career from 1964 to 1987, among them a dozen #1 Country hits and another 14 that reached the Top 10. With the exception of the opening track ("Big Mamou," recorded at JD's night club in Phoenix) and closing track ("Rose In Paradise," his final #1 single, on MCA), the balance of the 40 songs celebrate Waylon's two decades on RCA Victor Records - one of the longest (and stormiest), most productive (and most combative), most gratifying (and most often frustrating), and most talked- about partnerships in Country music history.

With his extraordinary litany of signature cuts -- among them Gordon Lightfoot's "(That's What You Get) For Lovin' Me" (learned from Ian & Sylvia), "Only Daddy That'll Walk The Line," Kristofferson and Shel Silverstein's "The Taker" and Kris' "Lovin' Her Was Easier (Than Anything I'll Ever Do Again)," Lee Clayton's "Ladies Love Outlaws," Steve Young's "Lonesome, On'ry And Mean," Willie's " Pretend I Never Happened," Donnie Fritts and Troy Seals' "We Had It All," Billy Joe Shaver's "Honky Tonk Heroes," "This Time," "I'm A Ramblin' Man," "Amanda," "Good Hearted Woman" and "Luckenbach, Texas (Back To The Basics Of Love)" and "Mammas Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up To Be Cowboys" (all three with Willie Nelson), Neil Young's "Are You Ready For The Country," Rodney Crowell's "I Ain't Living Long Like This," and many others -- Waylon's place in American music history is secured forever.

Adding a small sample of Waylon's own list of original compositions -- among them "That's The Chance I'll Have To Take," "You Ask Me To" (co-written with Billy Joe Shaver), "This Time," "Rainy Day Woman," "Bob Wills Is Still the King," "Are You Sure Hank Done It This Way," "Waymore's Blues," "I've Always Been Crazy," "A Long Time Ago" (co-written with Shel Silverstein), "Don't You Think This Outlaw Bit's Done Got Out Of Hand," "Theme From The Dukes Of Hazzard (Good Ol' Boys)," and "Storms Never Last" (co-written with Jessi Colter) -- and The Essential Waylon Jennings earns its title.

Web site: http://www.legacyrecordings.com/

Bob Marley's 'EXODUS' Makes History - Limited Edition Version of the Album to be Released June 4th, 2007 on USB Memory Stick by Bob Marley's Official Artist Website

Marley to Become First Major Label Catalog Artist to Have Music Available via New Technology Format

- Bob Marley's masterpiece Exodus celebrates its 30th anniversary this summer, and will be commemorated with the release of an exclusive new version of the album. Starting today, limited edition copies of the recording will be available on USB Memory Stick via Bob Marley's official website http://www.bobmarley.com/. The event marks the very first artist-specific album to be released using this groundbreaking format.

Described by Time Magazine as "the best album of the 20th century," Exodus catches Marley at the height one of his most introspective, rebellious and creative periods, and it will now continue to make history by offering an alternative way for fans to purchase music, introducing them to the exciting technology available in today's music marketplace. In addition to the launch of this new format, the multi-layered promotion will also include a variety of added value and content to be released via Bob Marley's official site.

4000 limited edition reusable USB Memory Sticks feature not only the 10 original songs on Exodus but also audio and video content, including three video tracks recorded at London's Rainbow Theatre in June 1977. Fans that join the Bob Marley Passport Fan Club via http://www.bobmarley.com/ will receive the Exodus USB and also receive an exclusive carrying case, a 10% discount at the Bob Marley shop on the site, as well as a quarterly newsletter. Passport members will also have access to rare Bob Marley audio, video, and photos, as well as future digital media.

Also available June 4th, a variety of new and unique Bob Marley music and memorabilia never officially available before will be accessible for purchase to all Bob Marley site visitors:

Released in 1977, Marley recorded the Exodus album in exile. Having escaped an assassination attempt in Jamaica, he arrived in London during the first week of 1977 and set to work recording his fifth studio album. Exodus became the album that transformed Marley's career, a recording of extraordinary creative maturity, which resonated with audiences around the world. The album established Marley as the Third World's first superstar, a legacy that survives thirty years after the album's release.

For more information on Bob Marley and Exodus please visit http://www.bobmarley.com/

Web site: http://www.bobmarley.com/

LOS ANGELES, June 4 /PRNewswire/ -- Universal Music Publishing Group (UMPG) announced today the acquisition of the catalogue of noted songwriter, Michael Masser. The award winning composer will be inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame on June 7th in a ceremony in New York City.

David Renzer, Chairman & CEO, Universal Music Publishing Group states, "Michael Masser's songs represent some of the most enduring and instantly recognizable hits of recent pop history. His gift for melody produced numerous number one hits that we are proud to now represent in the Universal Music Publishing Group family."

Through the agreement, UMPG will acquire rights to such No. 1 Whitney Houston hits as "Saving All My Love For You," "The Greatest Love of All," and the GRAMMY nominated "Didn't We Almost Have It All." UMPG will also acquire such chart hits as the Best Original Song Golden Globe nominated "So Sad This Song" from the movie Pipedreams; "Miss You Like Crazy" recorded by Natalie Cole (No. 1 on Hot R&B/Hip Hop Singles and Tracks, No. 1 on Adult Contemporary, and Top 10 on The Billboard Hot 100); "If Ever You're In My Arms Again" recorded by Peabo Bryson and Roberta Flack (No. 5 on Hot R&B/Hip Hop Singles and Tracks and Top 20 on Billboard 100); and "Nobody Wants to Be Alone" recorded by Crystal Gayle (No. 3 on Country charts).

Other songs written by Masser include: Glen Madeiros ("Nothing's Gonna Change My Love to You"), Neil Diamond ("First You Have To Say You Love Me"), Jeffrey Osborne ("In Your Eyes"), Barry Manilow ("Jenny You're My Girl"), and Barbra Streisand ("Someone That I Used to Love").

Masser made his name in the '70s and '80s as a composer and producer, working with some of the most successful artists of our time including; Whitney Houston, Diana Ross, Dionne Warwick, Teddy Pendergrass, Peabo Bryson, Crystal Gayle, Natalie Cole, Neil Diamond, Judy Collins, Herb Alpert, Barry Manilow, Stacy Lattishaw, Barbra Streisand, Aretha Franklin and many more.

Michael is credited as a producer, arranger or composer on over 80 albums, an achievement recognized by the Songwriters Hall of Fame with the upcoming June 7th induction ceremony.

About Universal Music Publishing Group

With 47 offices in 41 countries worldwide, Universal Music Publishing Group (UMPG) is part of the Universal Music Group and is the industry's largest global music publishing operation. Owning or administering more than 1 million copyrights, UMPG's writers and catalogs include: Maroon 5, U2, Elton John, 50 Cent, Dave Grohl, Prince, Miles Davis, R.Kelly, Christina Aguilera, Ice Cube, Justin Timberlake, Mary J. Blige, Eve, Musiq, Jill Scott, No Doubt, 3 Doors Down, Beastie Boys, Fatboy Slim, Gloria and Emilio Estefan, Paul Simon, the catalog of Henry Mancini, among many others. For more information, visit: http://www.umusicpub.com/.

Web site: http://www.umusicpub.com/

The B-52's and Olympic Athlete Shaun White Added to Camp Jeep(R) 2007 Lineup

- The B-52's to close annual owner event on Saturday, July 28

- Grammy-award winning country star and Jeep owner Tim McGraw will also perform on Thursday, July 26

-- The B-52's, known as the world's greatest party band, and Shaun White, the Olympic gold-medal winning snowboarder, will join a star-studded lineup at Camp Jeep(R) 2007, the annual "owners only" three-day mix of off-road driving and other family- friendly outdoor activities, to be held July 26-28 at the Oak Ridge Estate in Nelson County, Va., near Charlottesville.

In addition to the B-52's, who will close the annual event on Saturday, July 28 with crowd favorites that include "Love Shack" and "Roam" as well as a few songs from their forthcoming album, Jeep owners will get to see performances from the high-flying skateboarder Tony Hawk and snowboarder Shaun White. Grammy-award winning country star Tim McGraw will take a break from his "Jeep Presents Soul2Soul Tour 2007" to perform at Camp Jeep on Thursday, July 26.

"Camp Jeep is one of the premier owner-loyalty events in the country, and this year we have premier entertainment to match," said John Plecha, Director - Jeep Marketing and Global Communications, Chrysler Group. "With more Jeep vehicles in the lineup this year, plus a lower registration fee and phenomenal entertainment, Camp Jeep 2007 will be better than ever."

With an all-new layout and a few other surprises, Camp Jeep 2007 will include many of the activities that have made it so popular with owners in the past. There will be more 4x4 off-road trails, larger vehicle displays including historic vehicles and the all-new seven vehicle Jeep lineup, more activities for all ages, more food and musical entertainment, and more chances for owners to meet with Jeep engineers. It will also be the owners' first chance to see the all-new 2008 Jeep Liberty.

One of the "must see" demonstrations will be on the skateboard ramp. White will trade in his snowboard for a skateboard and will make a special appearance with Hawk on Saturday, July 28 to amaze spectators with their high- flying moves.

Registration for Camp Jeep, which is open only to Jeep vehicle owners, is $295 per vehicle. Registration and additional information are available at www.jeep.com/campjeep.

This is the sixth time that Camp Jeep has been held at the Oak Ridge Estate. The first Camp Jeep was held in Camp Hale, Colo., in 1995. This will be the 14th Camp Jeep event.

About the Jeep Brand

The Jeep brand has expanded to seven nameplates in the 2007 model year, the most available to retail consumers at one time in the brand's 66-year history. With the introduction of the all-new 2008 Jeep Liberty mid-size sport-utility vehicle (SUV), Jeep offers customers the freshest, most capable and widest range of sport-utility vehicles under one brand in the industry.

At the start of 2004, the brand's trio of tough, capable, rugged SUVs included the venerable Jeep Grand Cherokee, Jeep Liberty (Cherokee outside North America) and the icon of the brand, the Jeep Wrangler. In 2005, the Jeep Commander was introduced. In 2006, the redesigned Jeep Wrangler was unveiled. Also debuting in calendar year 2006 were three more all-new Jeep vehicles: Jeep Patriot, Jeep Compass and the four-door Jeep Wrangler Unlimited.

Source: Chrysler Group

Web site: http://www.jeep.com/campjeep

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