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NEW YORK – This year Adele has dominated the music charts: back home in the U.K., in the U.S. and around the world.
In America, her sophomore album, "21" is platinum and spending its ninth week on top of the Billboard charts. Her single, "Rolling In the Deep," is currently No. 1 on the U.S. pop charts. And she's had even more success in Europe.
British rapper Tinie Tempah — whose debut "Disc-Overy" is multiplatinum in the U.K. — is hoping to mirror Adele's success with the U.S. release of his album.
"You know it's very, very inspiring ... and I know Adele personally so it kind of resonates a lot more," he said in an interview this week. "Her album is not moving off of the top spot, and neither is her single."
Tempah says he wants to do for British rappers what Adele has done for British singers.
"When you sing you can't really tell where you're from based on how you sing ... which is why I think that rapping and somebody being able to break out here being a rapper from a different country ... is a very, very big deal," he said.
The 22-year-old says back home most of the musicians are close. Tempah knows singers like Taio Cruz, Jessie J and Ellie Goulding, and his friendships with Jay Sean and Mr. Hudson — acts signed to Lil Wayne and Kanye West's label imprints, respectively — helped him land a recording contract.
It also helped his blog, "Milk & 2 Sugars," gain a following.
"I had the opportunity to get behind-the-scenes footage or exclusive interviews and talk about stuff they wouldn't necessarily tell anybody else in a formal interview, so that made my blog, you know, one of the go-to blogs," Tempah explained of the site he started in early 2009.
"By summer of 2009 when I kind of started making the album, I had like millions of hits on it already."
"Disc-Overy" was released in October in the U.K. There it has spawned multiple hits, including the No. 1 jams "Pass Out" and "Written In the Stars." The latter has reached platinum status in America and has peaked at No. 12 on the pop charts. But Tempah says he's still figuring out how the music industry works in America.
"Your radio formats are confusing me even now," he said. "I still don't understand what rhythmic and Top 40 is. Can someone tell me please?"
"There's a lot to fathom and there's a lot to kind of work out in America."
"Disc-Overy" debuted this week at No. 21 on the Billboard 200 charts.
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Online:
http://www.tinietempah.com/
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Mesfin Fekadu can be reached at http://twitter.com/music_mesfi  Share on Facebook ·  Bookmark on DeliciousLOS ANGELES (Reuters) – More than 29 million Americans tuned in to see teen country singer Scotty McCreery crowned as the 2011 "American Idol" -- a 21 percent increase in the audience for the big finale of the Fox TV talent show.
Fox said on Thursday that preliminary estimates showed that 29.3 million viewers watched Wednesday's finale. The audience in the 18-49 age group most coveted by advertisers rose 12 percent compared to the 2010 finale.
Fox said it was the first time in five years that "American Idol" had grown its 18-49 year old audience for the finale.
The higher numbers reflected a push by "American Idol" producers to attract younger contestants, and the introduction of new judges Jennifer Lopez and Aerosmith rocker Steven Tyler to stem a four years ratings slide.
McCreery, 17, and runner-up Lauren Alaina, 16, made for the youngest ever finale match-up in the 10 year history of the show.
Last year, just 24.2 million overall viewers watched the "American Idol" finale, which has been a lucrative source of advertising revenue for Fox for more than seven years.
(Reporting by Jill Serjeant, editing by Christine Kearney) South Beach Smoke announced today that it has been exclusively selected to be featured in the official MTV Movie Awards Gifting Lounge, which provides gifts to the nominated and attending celebrities and other high profile figures at the 2011 MTV Movie Awards. Electronic cigarettes, like those sold at South Beach Smoke, are popular with celebrities and have been used by Hollywood elite such as Leonardo DiCaprio, Katherine Heigl, Charlie Sheen and more. South Beach Smoke made the announcement through their blog and social media platform. The South Beach Smoke blog read, “We are extremely happy to be chosen as a product given to celebrities and high profile figures at the MTV Movie Awards. We hope our product brings as much joy to A-List celebrities as it does our valued clientele”.
Miami Beach, FL (PRWEB) May 26, 2011
South Beach Smoke announced today that its electronic cigarette product has been exclusively selected to be featured in the official MTV Movie Awards Gifting Lounge, which provides gifts to the nominated and attending celebrities at the 2011 MTV Movie Awards. Electronic cigarettes, like those sold at South Beach Smoke, are popular with celebrities and have been used by Hollywood elite such as Leonardo DiCaprio, Katherine Heigl, Charlie Sheen and more. South Beach Smoke made the announcement through their blog and social media platform. The South Beach Smoke blog read, “We are extremely happy to be chosen as a product given to celebrities and high profile figures at the MTV Movie Awards. We hope our product brings as much joy to A-List celebrities as it does our valued clientele”.
South Beach Smoke’s electronic cigarettes (or e-cigarettes) are hand-held devices that produce liquid vapor instead of smoke. They come in electronic cigarette starter kits which include rechargeable batteries and replaceable cartridges; e-cigarette smokers report saving money if they switch from using traditional cigarettes. Many smokers prefer e-cigarettes to traditional cigarettes because they can be used in a variety of places cigarettes cannot and are considered more hygienic.
The MTV Movie Awards show, which is hosted by Saturday Night Live cast member Jason Sudeikis, will air on MTV June 5th at 9 PM. Celebrities will receive South Beach Smoke electronic cigarettes in their gift bags from the MTV gifting lounge. Products in this gift lounge are preapproved by MTV and include some of the latest and most fashionable products on the market. Performers at the show include legendary rock band Foo Fighters, hip-hop sensation Lupe Fiasco and more. The confirmed guest list for the show includes Cameroon Diaz, Jason Segel, Ryan Reynolds, Steve Carrel and more according to the MTV website.
The MTV Movie Awards features such unique award categories as “Best Jaw Dropping Moment”, “Best Line from a Movie” and “Best Kiss”. All eyes will be focused on the main award category which is “Best Movie”; this year the nominees are Black Swan, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Inception, The Social Network and The Twilight Saga. Electronic cigarettes, like those sold at South Beach Smoke were featured in the film The Tourist starring Johnny Depp and Angelina Jolie; that film is not currently nominated for any awards at the MTV Movie Awards.
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MarketingSouth Beach Smoke1-877-408-2767Email Information ‘Pretty Boy’ Ford presents the advances in civil rights, education and his hope for more
San Francisco, CA (PRWEB) May 26, 2011
A beautiful baby who was adored by his mother’s friends and family, Wilbert Steven Ford was quickly dubbed “Pretty Boy.” As he grew up in St. Louis during the 1950’s, this moniker would foreshadow some of the more unlawful aspects of his colorful life detailed in the pages of his new autobiography, Pretty Boy: An Autobiography (published by AuthorHouse).
Full of rich detail and social commentary, Pretty Boy presents Ford’s life in the context of his family history and those of African-American children growing up on the cusp of the Civil Rights movement. Ford writes his story candidly and with brutal honesty, depicting child abuse and molestation, underage sexual encounters and an early introduction to a life of crime. Despite these events, Ford’s overriding tone belies the strength and self-sufficiency that the women in his life, especially his mother and grandmother, instilled into him. He writes of his mother, Florence:
Florence taught her children that if at any point we desired something and could get it ourselves, then we should do so rather than depend on someone else, who may not be able or might decline or wouldn’t be able, to get it for us. Florence taught her children that we should not beg anyone for anything, and we should never think or believe people owed us anything. She said that her children should, if it was at all possible, never place ourselves in any position that would allow someone to say, “If it wasn’t for me, you wouldn’t have what you got.” … Florence often stressed that, whatever her children chose to be, we should be good at it and make every effort to be the best at what we chose to be.
A true-life story full of adventure, love and family saga, Pretty Boy offers a glimpse into one man’s struggle to realize himself in the civil rights era.
About the Author: Wilbert Steven Ford has been a professional educator for over 45 years. Pretty Boy is his first book.
AuthorHouse, an Author Solutions, Inc. self-publishing provider, is a leading provider of book publishing, marketing, and bookselling services for authors around the globe and offers the industry’s only suite of Hollywood book-to-film services. For more information, visit http://www.authorhouse.com.
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Marketing ServicesAuthorHouse888-519-5121Email Information LOS ANGELES – From that initial moment when Scotty McCreery stepped in front of the "American Idol" judges and bellowed "lock the doors and turn the lights down low" in his deep-beyond-his-years register, the fresh-faced country crooner captured everyone's attention and he never let it go.
McCreery, a 17-year-old high school student from Garner, N.C., won the "American Idol" title on Wednesday night after performing nearly flawlessly throughout the 10th season of the Fox talent competition.
And he did it with an unwavering commitment to country music — even when challenged with other genres. During the show's installment of Elton John tunes, McCreery uncovered John's "Country Comfort" and made it his own.
"You have amazing instincts about performing and about what's right for you," judge Jennifer Lopez told him afterward.
Armed with an unflappable aw-shucks attitude and genuinely goofy grin, McCreery managed to outlast an array of more seasoned and outgoing finalists, such as eccentric 20-year-old jazz lover Casey Abrams of Idyllwild, Calif., wailing 22-year-old rocker James Durbin of Santa Cruz, Calif., and sultry 20-year-old vocalist Haley Reinhart of Wheeling, Ill.
In the end, McCreery's biggest adversary among the top 13 singers was the one most like him: 16-year-old fellow country darling Lauren Alaina of Rossville, Ga. Despite her vocal cord injury that needed medical treatment before their sing-off on Tuesday's finale, the judges proclaimed that Alaina overpowered McCreery with her soaring vocal spectrum.
The viewers, who cast more than 122 million votes, didn't agree. McCreery built a stronger connection with the audience than Alaina, who sometimes wilted under the lights — and pressure — of the "Idol" stage, while McCreery always sizzled. Sitting across from his parents in his dressing room after the finale, McCreery had one clue why viewers picked him.
"It's because I'm one of them," he said. "I was just a kid who was bagging groceries three months ago."
The matchup between McCreery and Alaina, who individually performed with country icon Tim McGraw and fourth season "Idol" winner Carrie Underwood on Wednesday, marked the youngest finale duel in "Idol" history. Producers lowered the minimum age requirement to 15 years old this season, which allowed Alaina the opportunity to audition last year.
McCreery's victory over Alaina was hardly a surprise to "Idol" devotees. Several online outfits predicted that McCreery would take home the top prize: the "Idol" title and a record contract. DialIdol.com, which tracks busy signals on the separate phone lines dedicated to each contestant, correctly projected him as the show's winner Wednesday morning.
The outcome punctuates the inaugural season of Lopez and Aerosmith frontman Steven Tyler as judges. The pair, who joined veteran Randy Jackson on the panel, brought a gentler attitude to the show after the departure of biting judge Simon Cowell, who left at the end of last season to transplant his British talent contest "The X Factor" to the U.S.
The new panel initially energized the 10th season of "Idol," which still reigns as No. 1 but has steadily dipped in weekly viewership and seen its audience age. Yet many "Idol" fans complained that the judges' final-round critiques quickly became repetitive. Ultimately, though, a pop diva, loudmouth rocker and old-school producer found America's next country star.
"I left Garner as Scotty, and I'm still Scotty as the `American Idol' winner," McCreery said on Wednesday.
McCreery follows in the footsteps of four previous "Idol" champions who are also charming, LOS ANGELES – Scotty McCreery won the "American Idol" battle of the fresh-faced country crooners Wednesday, pulling more of a record 122 million-plus viewer votes than competitor Lauren Alaina.
"I never in my wildest dreams," said McCreery, a 17-year-old with a strikingly deep, old-soul voice that contrasts with his youth. "I've got to thank the Lord first ... he got me here."
McCreery of Garner, N.C., and Alaina, 16, of Rossville, Ga., represent the first all-country finale and the youngest duo ever to compete on "Idol," which is in its 10th season.
The exuberant, big-voiced Alaina performed on Tuesday's final sing-off despite a vocal cord injury that needed medical treatment. She received raves from the judges, who said she won the night.
But the consistently popular McCreery, who'd never been at risk of elimination, claimed the title and a record contract.
The teenager seemed overwhelmed as he took the stage for a celebratory version of "I Love You This Big," halting to embrace his parents in the audience, Alaina and others. Then he playfully stuck his tongue out, trying to catch falling confetti.
"It felt like a dream," McCreery said backstage in his dressing room. "It still hasn't sunk in yet, and I don't think it will for a while. I'm on top of the world right now."
He expected the contest would be close after Tuesday.
"Lauren Alaina just went out there and did her thing, especially that last song," McCreery said. "I thought she took it there. It's been a nerve-wracking day, I can tell you that much."
His victory continued a recent pattern: He's the fourth male in a row to win the Fox TV contest, with 2007's Jordin Sparks, 17, the last female "Idol."
Kelly Clarkson and Carrie Underwood, two of the four female winners, have proved the winners with the most successful recording careers.
This season's vote total was more than three-quarters-of-a-billion, Seacrest announced Wednesday. For Fox, it's affirmation there's still life in the series that's had a long ratings reign as No. 1 but has steadily dipped in weekly viewership and seen its audience age — something that makes advertisers balk.
Last year's season-ender, which included Simon Cowell's farewell, drew 24 million viewers. Through 2008, the winner's crowning routinely drew more than 30 million viewers.
McCreery commented backstage Tuesday on the loyalty of country fans, and they clearly gave the show a boost. Fox didn't announce the number of votes for the much lower-key contest between winner Lee DeWyze and runner-up Crystal Bowersox in 2010.
In 2009, when winner Kris Allen and Adam Lambert duked it out, more than 100 million votes were cast.
This season, Fox dropped the minimim age for contestants to 15 — Alaina's age when she auditioned last year — which may also have brought fresh viewer interest.
The show remains a hot promotional platform, with Seacrest helping some of the visiting pop stars push either movies (Black's new "Kung Fu Panda 2") or a Las Vegas show (Gladys Knight). Lady Gaga, whose new album "Born this Way" is out this week, was another performer.
The grandest bid for attention came from Broadway's troubled "Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark," with composers Bono and The Edge performing with the musical's star, Reeve Carney.
Other high-wattage stars who performed Wednesday at the Nokia Theatre included Beyonce and Tony Bennett.
McCreery and Tim McGraw sang "Live Like You Were Dying," while Underwood returned to "Idol" to pair with Alaina on "Before H LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – Deep-voiced country singer Scotty McCreery won the tenth season of "American Idol" on Wednesday, defeating rival Lauren Alaina who had been dubbed the front-runner by the show's judges heading into the night.
McCreery, 17, hugged the other "Idol" contestants from the season and his family after host Ryan Seacrest proclaimed him the winner of the television singing competition.
"Never in my wildest dreams. I got to thank the Lord first. He got me here," McCreery said.
A grocery store clerk from Garner, North Carolina, McCreery sang "I Love You This Big," his first single, before a packed audience on the live broadcast -- and then tried to catch the confetti raining down on him in his mouth.
A record 122 million votes were cast by phone, text message and online after McCreery and Alaina -- both country singers -- each gave their final performances on Tuesday.
Alaina, 16, emerged as the judges' favorite on Tuesday after overcoming a blown out vocal chord to deliver an emotional performance dedicated to her mother. But backstage following the show, Alaina said she had expected McCreery to take home the title.
"I told him at the beginning of the episode, 'Scotty are you ready to win?'" Alaina said. "He's my best friend and I love him and I couldn't be happier for him."
Also backstage, McCreery joked that with the win under his belt he'd like to spend some time "on the couch watching some 'SportsCenter' and eating some chips."
The results were announced following a two-hour star-studded live broadcast that included performances from Lady Gaga, Beyonce, Judas Priest and even new "Idol" judges Jennifer Lopez and Aerosmith frontman Steven Tyler.
McCreery won over audiences during the season with his distinctive voice and a poise onstage that belies his youth. He is the first country music champion since Carrie Underwood took the title in 2005 and went on to become the top "Idol" earner in terms of record sales and tours.
When asked about plans for his album, McCreery said he's focused on getting good songs.
"It's all about the songs after this," he said.
McCreery's win marked the fourth straight year that a male contestant has won the competition.
As the new "American Idol," McCreery wins a record contract with a Universal Music Group record label. An album of songs McCreery performed during the season was released Tuesday, exclusively on the iTunes music store. Alaina's songs from the season are also being sold as an album on iTunes, and she has her own single, "Like My Mother Does."
Now in its 10th year, "American Idol" has been a ratings juggernaut for Fox and the nation's most-watched TV show for the last seven years.
(Editing by Jill Serjeant) LOS ANGELES – The "American Idol" contest between teenage country crooners Lauren Alaina and Scotty McCreery drew a record 122 million-plus votes, host Ryan Seacrest said during Wednesday's finale.
The Fox TV show itself attracted high-wattage stars including Beyonce, Jack Black, Tom Jones and Tony Bennett, who performed at the Nokia Theatre with the top-finishing "Idol" contestants.
Judge Jennifer Lopez even got into the act. Draped in a scanty outfit and shaking her famous booty, she took the stage to dance while husband Marc Anthony sang, briefly turning the night into a salsa-flavored family affair.
The show remains a hot promotional platform, with Seacrest helping some of the pop stars push either movies (Black's new "Kung Fu Panda 2") or a Las Vegas show (Gladys Knight). Lady Gaga, whose new album "Born this Way" is out this week, was another performer.
The grandest bid for attention came from Broadway's troubled "Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark," with composers Bono and The Edge performing with the musical's star, Reeve Carney.
Alaina, 16, and McCreery, 17, represent the first all-country finale and the youngest duo ever to compete on "Idol." Last year, by contrast, Fox didn't announce the total in the much lower-key contest between winner Lee DeWyze and runner-up Crystal Bowersox.
When winner Kris Allen and Adam Lambert duked it out in 2009, more than 100 million votes were cast.
The season's vote total was more than three-quarters-of-a-billion, Seacrest announced as the show got under way. For Fox, it's affirmation there's still life in the series that's had a long ratings reign as No. 1.
There was drama during Tuesday's performance show when Alaina of Rossville, Ga., required medical treatment for a vocal cord injury suffered during rehearsals for Tuesday's performance show. She soldiered on with three tunes, drawing high praise from the Fox TV show's judges.
"This is a very tight race tonight, but Lauren, with that song, you may have just won," Lopez said after Alaina sang an emotional "Like My Mother Does," the last of her trio of tunes.
But it was up to viewers to choose between Alaina and McCreery of Garner, N.C., an equally fresh-faced performer but one with a strikingly mature voice.
Randy Jackson said backstage Tuesday he thought Alaina's performance, not her vocal problem and a possible sympathy reaction, would count in the voting.
"I think she sang brilliantly tonight," said Jackson, who thought she outsang McCreery on two songs.
But the judge stopped short of predicting her victory.
"Going into tonight, Scotty definitely had an edge and he may still have a slight edge," Jackson said. But Alaina "was the best tonight."
Both are impressive singers for the show's "first-ever, all-country final," he said. "These kids are so young ... I just go, `Wow.' They embody what this whole show is about."
Alaina's other tunes were Carrie Underwood's "Flat on the Floor" and Pam Tillis' "Maybe It was Memphis," which was selected by former "Idol" winner Underwood.
McCreery sang his own possible future single, "I Love You This Big," Montgomery Gentry's "Gone" and George Strait's "Check Yes or No," Strait's pick for the teenager.
After the show, Alaina gave reporters the silent treatment to protect her voice, with McCreery offering his services as spokesman while she scribbled answers on a memo pad or whispered to him.
When Alaina was asked if her finale performance had been at risk, he replied, "She says, `Yes.'"
Judge Steven Tyler said it' LOS ANGELES – Ryan Seacrest says the "American Idol" contest between two teenage country singers drew a record number of votes.
More than 122 million votes were cast for Lauren Alaina and Scotty McCreery, "American Idol" host Seacrest said as the finale got under way Wednesday night.
More than three-quarters of a billion votes were cast over the course of the season, Seacrest said.
The finale vote tally may reflect interest in the show's first all-country finale. The 16-year-old Alaina and 17-year-old McCreery also are the youngest pair of finalists.
THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP's earlier story is below.
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Could the sympathy vote be a factor in the battle of the "American Idol" teenage country crooners?
Lauren Alaina, 16, of Rossville, Ga., required medical treatment for a vocal cord injury suffered during rehearsals for Tuesday's performance show. She soldiered on with three tunes, drawing high praise from the Fox TV show's judges.
"This is a very tight race tonight, but Lauren, with that song, you may have just won," Jennifer Lopez said after Alaina sang an emotional "Like My Mother Does," the last of her trio of tunes.
But it's up to viewers to choose between Alaina and Scotty McCreery, 17, of Garner, N.C., an equally fresh-faced performer but one with a strikingly mature voice.
The results will be announced on Wednesday's finale, airing 8-10:07 p.m. EDT.
Randy Jackson said backstage he thought Alaina's performance, not her vocal problem, would count in the voting.
"I think she sang brilliantly tonight," said Jackson, who thought she outsang McCreery on two songs.
But the judge stopped short of predicting her victory.
"Going into tonight, Scotty definitely had an edge and he may still have a slight edge," Jackson said. But Alaina "was the best tonight."
Both are impressive singers for the show's "first-ever, all-country final," he said. "These kids are so young ... I just go, `Wow.' They embody what this whole show is about."
Alaina's other tunes were Carrie Underwood's "Flat on the Floor" and Pam Tillis' "Maybe It was Memphis," which was selected by former "Idol" winner Underwood.
McCreery sang his own possible future single, "I Love You This Big," Montgomery Gentry's "Gone" and George Strait's "Check Yes or No," Strait's pick for the teenager.
After the show, Alaina gave reporters the silent treatment to protect her voice, with McCreery offering his services as spokesman while she scribbled answers on a memo pad or whispered to him.
When Alaina was asked if her finale performance had been at risk, he replied, "She says, `Yes.'"
Judge Steven Tyler said it's not unusual for steroids to be used for a vocal cord injury.
"You pay for it dearly the next day," he said, adding that Alaina shouldn't be affected because she was on stage briefly Tuesday.
The show started with host Ryan Seacrest bringing Dr. Shawn Nasseri on stage to explain that Alaina blew out one of her vocal cords but had been given "a lot of medicine" to be able to sing during the finale.
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Fox is a unit of News Corp.
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Online:
http://www.americanidol.com/finale |
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