Taylor Swift to Collaborate with Justin Bieber on New Song for Upcoming Album
April 12th, 2012
The girl gets around. Taylor Swift that is. Now it’s the turn of Justin Biever.
Justin Bieber has revealed that his upcoming album Believe, his third, will feature a songwriting collaboration with Taylor Swift. The U.K.s Capital FM Radio posted audio yesterday from a recent conversation with Bieber on the program Vodafone Big Top 40 in which Bieber announced the country-pop singer-songwriter will join Believes all-star guest list.
When asked whether the Swift collaboration would have a country flavor, Bieber replied in the affirmative and explained that Believe will reflect a diverse range of styles. “It doesnt stay in a box,” he explained. “Everything is so different and thats why Im so happy with this album.”
via Justin Bieber and Taylor Swift to Collaborate on New Song | Music News | Rolling Stone.
‘Hunger Games’ Soundtrack with Taylor Swift, the Civil Wars and Miranda Lambert Debuts at No. 1 on Billboard 200
March 28th, 2012
By Norm Daniels
It’s a rare moment when a film and its soundtrack debut at no. 1 at the box office and on the Billboard album chart. This time it’s with the help of 3 Nashville artists, 2 of whom not only perform, but provide writing for the track. The singer-songwriters are Taylor Swift and the Civil Wars duo. Miranda Lambert lends her vocal talents to the project.
As reported by Billboard.biz, “The Hunger Games” soundtrack debuts at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart, having sold 175,000 copies in its first week according to Nielsen SoundScan.
It’s the first theatrical film soundtrack to top the chart since “Michael Jackson’s This Is It” bowed at No. 1 on the list dated Nov. 14, 2009. “The Hunger Games” is the first multi-artist film soundtrack to reach No. 1 since one week before Jackson, when “The Twilight Saga: New Moon” rose from No. 2 to No. 1 in its second week on the tally.
All told, “The Hunger Games” is only the 16th soundtrack to debut at No. 1 in the history of the Billboard 200 chart. (Those soundtracks include film, TV and straight-to-video efforts.)
“The Hunger Games” set boasts an array of artists, including Taylor Swift, the Civil Wars, Arcade Fire, Maroon 5 and Miranda Lambert. It’s the companion album to the film of the same name, which grossed $152.5 million at the U.S. and Canada box office last weekend (March 23-25).
via ‘Hunger Games’ Soundtrack Debuts at No. 1 on Billboard 200 | Billboard.biz.
Billboard Music Awards to Air Live From Las Vegas on ABC May 20
March 13th, 2012
The 2012 Billboard Music Awards will air on ABC live from the MGM Grand in Las Vegas on May 20, in partnership with Chevrolet and the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority. Like last year, which also aired on ABC, the live broadcast will be co-executive produced by Richard Beckman and Don Mischer.
Top artists will be recognized in a variety of genres, including R&B, Rap, Pop, Country, Rock, Latin and Alternative.
Veteran rapper Eminem and teen pop sensation Justin Bieber dominated the 2011’s Billboard Music Awards, each taking home a total of six official awards. There was a six-way tie for second place between Rihanna, Lady Gaga, Usher, Taylor Swift, Mumford & Sonsand Taio Cruz, who each won three trophies.
via Billboard Music Awards to Air Live From Las Vegas on ABC May 20 | Billboard.biz.
Nashville’s Taylor Swift Leads Billboards 2012 Top Music Business Money Makers
March 9th, 2012
Hurray for Taylor Swift for topping the list of music makers in 2011. Those of us who ran into her early thought she had something special. But this special? The unknown teenager we produced a demo and provided co-writing for in 2004 has come a long way from her lyrics to an entertainment powerhouse in a very short time!
From a Billboard report: As the concert business rebounded in 2011, touring remained the biggest source of income for the top earners in the U.S. music business. Billboards sixth annual Money Makers ranking includes veteran road warriors U2, Kenny Chesney and Bon Jovi, as well as other artists emerging in recent years as A-list arena headliners, from Taylor Swift to Lady Gaga.
Country artists had another banner year, occupying 11 of the 40 slots on the list, with Swift surpassing all with U.S. earnings of $35.7 million, 17% more than the take-home pay of last year’s top-earner, Lady Gaga.
via Taylor Swift Leads Billboards 2012 Top 40 Money Makers — See the Full List | Billboard.biz.
Roy Orbison’s Widow, Barbara, Dies
December 7th, 2011
Talk about spooky! Roy Orbison’s widow Barbara Orbison died yesterday, Dec. 6–on the same date Roy passed away 23 years ago! Reports say she had been fighting pancreatic cancer since last May.
The family lived in the Nashville area for many years, and the publishing company spawned by Roy’s music is located in Nashville. It had been run by Barbara since Roy’s death. The firm is still very active, winning the 2010 BMI Song of the Year award for Taylor Swift’s “You Belong To Me,” co-written by Swift and Liz Rose.
Orbison will be buried next to her husband in Los Angeles. She is survived by their three children, Wesley Orbison, Roy Kelton Orbison Jr and Alexander Orbison.