Mechanical Animal: Lady Gaga's Insane Album Wrap Is the Best Part of 'Born This Way'

Steppenwolf's "Born to Be Wild" is very closely linked with the motorcycle road movie Easy Rider. That's the main clue we're working with today in our study into why Lady Gaga decided to make her Born This Way album wrap an odd mix of a calendar hanging in a mechanic's office crossed with the roaring jaguar on the cover of Roxy Music's For Your Pleasure.

Obviously some of Gaga's fans don't care for the cover, but it's our favorite part of Born This Way yet by a long shot. Little Monsters are so upset, there's in fact a theory circulating that Gaga is revealing her fans three times, and that the cover she tweeted is a fake.

Here are their primary complaints:

It looks like it Cost $2 and a Photoshop Intern to Make: "Love you Gaga-always will but this album cover is just........cheap looking," tweeted Cristink3. "Gaga I really love u but this cover is awful, very mediocre and unprofessional...I'm in shock. Please do not dissapoint your fans," added Iotiprego.

It Lacks Certain... Je Ne Sais Quoi: "wait, is this serious? With all due respect, i expected something ... classier?" complained Cglink. "I think this looks like random fan ar," Alan_PB wrote.

It doesn’t seem to relate to the Music: "Gaga I'm so disappointed! I love u but this cover is not pop, rock or even 70's metal. It sucks. :S," sniffed Thisislordl. "No graphic designer in their right mind would approve of such an atrocious font, and not only that, It has an awful metallic- looking bevel and emboss! It is terrible," wrote bleakc.

Gaga tweeted the artwork with a note that referenced a "highway unicorn" and implored fans to "'get your hot rods ready to rumble." Make of that what you will. But the good news is plenty of people are making something out of that ludicrously incredible album cover, like Rolling Stone did when Adam Lambert released his similarly wackadoo For Your Entertainment artwork. Gawker put together a small gallery of great Born This Way parodies, and we highly recommend you check that out.

Rihanna a finalist for 18 Billboard Music Awards

Rihanna is leading the set as a finalist for the 2011 Billboard Music Awards.

The finalists were proclaimed Wednesday, and Rihanna got herself into 18 spots including Top Hot 100 Artist and Top Female Artist. Love the Way You Lie, her collaboration with Eminem, makes her a force to be reckoned in six song categories.

Eminem isn’t far behind; he’s a finalist in 16 categories. Lady Gaga is up for 12 awards and Bruno Mars and Justin Bieber are up for 11 each.

The Billboard Music Awards show will air May 22 on ABC, when winners in all 46 categories will be proclaimed. Chart-topper Rihanna will perform, as will the Black Eyed Peas, Keith Urban, Lady Antebellum and more.

The Detroit Symphony Orchestra was back.

The men and women in black and white come into view in Orchestra Hall on Saturday night for the first time after a corrosive six-month strike, having reached an agreement with management last week.

Detroiters broke up free tickets for the hastily arranged reunion. People stood in the back of the hall and a screen was set up for the run over. Dozens were turned away. Many appeared to be newcomers to the hall, and dress was a mix of ties, bandannas, pearls and T-shirts. Couples clutched hands and some in the audience teared up. Shouts of “Yeah!” and whoops and whistles sounded in the middle of the applause.

“Welcome home,” said the music director, Leonard Slatkin. “It’s been the longest six months,” a period to be and put in the past, he said. “This evening is about celebration. It’s about you.”

The moment was about amazing more than the end of a bitter labor argument. The sounds of music at the hall (along with the Tigers’ victory in their home opener on Friday) were like the chirpings of a bird in the bleak days of late winter. It finally meant some good news in a town so often explained as hollowed out, shriveled up and deserted.

The census figures in March were the latest dark development. They showed that over the past decade the population fallen by a quarter in Detroit, where a fifth of the lots are vacant, and the city’s leaders are knocking down 10,000 empty residential buildings.

At the least the orchestra stays alive, albeit with the phrase “near-death experience” repeated often. Detroiters are used to seeing businesses go bust, leaving workers — on strike or not — without jobs. The strike played out, sometimes cruelly and to a large degree over Facebook, as the governor in nearby Wisconsin sought to cut back on collective bargaining rights, fueling a national debate over the place of unions in society.

The strike ended a dispute over pay cuts that the players said would turn them into a second-class orchestra, along with changes in work rules that they said would detract from the mission of presenting top symphonic performances. Management said Detroit had simply run out of money to pay for an orchestra at its old level of spending.
A number of other major orchestras — including those in Philadelphia, New York and Boston — are facing or undergoing negotiations for new contracts, and the outcome here will be scrutinized by musicians and their employers.

Despite the Saturday night love fest serious problems remain. Even with the cost savings, the symphony is projecting a yearly deficit of $3 million and labors under a $54 million debt from the music center that was built to supplement its hall, a 1919 gem that seats 2,000 people.

Miley Cyrus and Charlie Sheen Trade Flattering Tweets

Miley Cyrus has only been back on Twitter for a few days, but she has already revealed strange obsessions with both mustaches and Charlie Sheen.

When Cyrus rejoined the service a few days ago -- she had quit in October 2009 -- she listed the factors at the back her return, which we're hoping she doesn't weight equally in meaning:

"'Do not fear...the Sheenius is here!' I'm not gonna lie. I came back to twitter for 2 reasons. My fans and to follow @charliesheen #winning," she wrote.

Well, now the Twitter love affair has urbanized.

Sheen, never missing an opportunity to self-promote, wrote the following to Cyrus:

"Dear Miley, Welcome back to Twitter! Always felt you were epic... Now you proved it! Thanks for the love! ybh c @gypsyhearttour."

Cyrus responded: "@charliesheen I always felt the same about you! You have trained me everything I know about WINNING. Duh!"

And she apparently can't get Sheen off her mind, later tweeting to a friend of hers that he had been replaced by @charliesheen as her BFF, and then writing, "Makin dinner for my fam right now. Honey sesame chicken, garlic rice & salad. There's only one thing missing & that's @charliesheen YBH!"

If we were counseling Sheen, we'd try to get Cyrus to stop by his tour, which would at least renew interest in his deteriorating pop-cultural stock for a day or two.

'The Music Never Stopped' gives the healing power of rock music its due

Music has charms to calm the savage breast. All kinds of music . . . even rock 'n' roll.

Especially rock 'n' roll. In the four-hankie "The Music Never Stopped," a father reconnects with his brain-damaged son by acceptance another generation's music.

Jim Kohlberg's straighting debut is based on a real-life case study travel around by neurologist Oliver Sacks in the essay "The Last Hippie." It's an audience-friendly drama about family, disagreement and the curative power of music.

Set in the mid-1980s in upstate New York, the film centers on Henry and Helen Sawyer (J.K. Simmons, Cara Seymour), who learn that their long-estranged son Gabriel (Lou Taylor Pucci) has been found living on the streets.

Now 35, Gabriel has a brain tumor. It's removed, but so is his ability to produce new memories. Sometimes he talks in old advertising slogans; often he's catatonic.

The one thing he reacts to is music. Henry engages a therapist (Julia Ormond), who discovers that the patient comes alive when pay attention to tunes popular before the tumor began its ugly work. True, he thinks it's still 1969, but he can recall tiny details, make jokes and talk continually and enthusiastically about his favorite songs.

The problem is that Henry, who loves the big-band sound, illogically blames rock music for his son's estrangement. The only way they can truly converse is for Henry to immerse himself in "that damn music" of the '60s. More specifically, the Grateful Dead.

"Music" isn't always the most elegant film writers Gwyn Lurie and Gary Marks sometimes falter when balancing the film's present with the many flashbacks but it has a huge heart and great acting.

Simmons, perennially one of the best behind actors in American film and TV, gets a rare leading role and deftly negotiates the divide between Henry's parental love and his almost ridiculous hatred of rock.

Watching this film, a boomer experiences the same alteration as Gabriel. Certain songs right away take us back to when we first heard them.

Once it's lodged in your brain, a good song isn't going wherever. It's there for the duration.

Rebecca Black has a holy place to Justin Bieber

Rebecca Black has a little Justin Bieber shrine in her room, she has exposed.

The singer, who factually became an overnight sensation last week with her song 'Friday’, said in an interview with People magazine ' is so dorky when it comes to Justin Bieber. I have a little holy place in my room.'

She has before admitted to trying to get Bieber's attention on twitter in an attempt to tee up a duo.

She recently said on Good Morning America that she would 'scream at the top of my lungs and perhaps not be able to sing again' if a Bieber teamwork were to happen.

Bieber's only comment on Black was in a Twitter post reading 'Sunday comes after Saturday? Weird.'

Rihanna to carry out with Sugarland at Academy of Country Music Awards

Rihanna is leaving a little bit country. The pop siren will join country pair Sugarland for a special performance at the 46th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards.

Ryan Seacrest reports that RiRi and Sugarland frontwoman Jennifer Nettles will duo on a country-tinged version of “California King Bed,” a ballad from the Barbados singer’s newest album Loud.

Fellow songbirds Beyoncé and Keri Hilson have both before performed with Sugarland at the American Music Awards and “VH1 Divas greeting the Troops.”

The ACM Awards will be broadcast live from the MGM Grand in Las Vegas on April 3 at 8 p.m. on CBS.

Other performers comprise Taylor Swift, Keith Urban, Toby Keith, Miranda Lambert, Brad Paisley, Martina McBride, Reba, Carrie Underwood, and more.

Lil Wayne Brings His 'Whole Clique' On I Am Music II Tour

Lil Wayne is a superstar act, but the New Orleans MC isn't just a solo wrap up. When he hits the stage at his I Am Music II showcase, he has his Young Money crew in tow, counting Nicki Minaj, Lil Twist, Mack Maine, Jae Millz and Shanell.

It's a lesson the Cash Money Records artist erudite from watching Bad Boy and Roc-A-Fella treks in the past.

"That's where I get my little vigor from, when I bring my whole group out there, and I want them to be heard," Wayne told. "I keep in mind when [Bad Boy] had Total, Biggie, Ma$e, Junior Mafia, all of them other people. Then you think of the Roc. We're more so like the Roc. 'Cause Jay always had artists the world didn't know, but he put them on the proper song and everyone knows the song. But this time approximately, I want you to know the song, I want you to know the person, I want you to know us. And it's no secret about it; I got the toughest team in the game right now and later."

On Wednesday, Weezy kicked off the follow-up to his winning I Am Music Tour. The show is set to run for 31 days, and all through, he'll be joined by Rick Ross and Travis Barker with DJ Mix Master Mike. Drake, Tyga and the rest of Wayne's YM family are predictable to drop in for select dates.

Wayne is touring in support of his approaching Tha Carter IV album, which he says is due in stores and online May 16.

MGMT to winner the Future Music Festival

New Yorkers MGMT are set to winner the Future Music Festival with their psychedelic sound. By Craig Mathieson.

Most days now, it's far easier to be in MGMT. The panic-stricken highs and unforeseen lows of 2008, when the New York duo of Ben Goldwasser and Andrew VanWyngarden were alternately celebrated and savaged as the future of pop music, have dissipated.

Their much-scrutinized debut, 2007's Oracular Spectacular, now has an heir, last year's gladly eccentric Congratulations, and the pair can now enjoy the prospect of a long-term career making music.

''We never determined that this is what we're going to do,'' Goldwasser says, calling from Manchester in Britain the morning after a sold-out gig. ''But something occurs and one thing leads to another and one day you realise this is your career.''

The band, who play the Future Music Festival on Saturday next last night's show at the Enmore Theatre, are comfortable in their own communal skin. Their three on the road musicians - bassist Matt Asti, drummer Will Berman and guitarist James Richardson - are now fully fledged band members, lightening the communal burden.
''We'd have driven each other wild if we hadn't added some more people to the band,'' Goldwasser sighs. ''They add to the nature of the band and we're all on the same page imaginatively.''

''One of the hardest things is that at this point in my life, I don't have that many things I feel that way about - you lose that sense of the supernatural,'' Goldwasser says.

''One of the things we do again to ourselves is that kids really do know what's going on in so many ways.

''We didn't really appreciate what Oracular meant when we put it out, or even when people started act in response. But from meeting people at shows, particularly younger people, it was clear what it meant to them.''

iTunes Unlimited Downloads May Move toward Midyear – Report

Unlimited download of previously bought music from Apple’s iTunes store may be applied by midyear, reports Bloomberg.

Citing “three people with information of the plans”, the publication says that customers may gain “easier access to music they’ve purchased across multiple devices” if the deal do well.

Kind of like cloud storage of music previously purchased, Bloomberg reports that iPads, iPods and iPhones linked to the same iTunes account will be clever to download purchased media.

According to the report, Apple is at present in talks with Universal Music Group, Sony Music Entertainment, Warner Music Group Corp., and EMI Group Ltd.

Two of the three basis of the publication had apparently said that a deal may be announced by midyear.

“A deal would give iTunes customers with a permanent backup of music purchases if the originals are damaged or lost, said the people,” Bloomberg says.

Apple, which is set to open a $1 billion North Carolina data center, is seen by analysts to move more of its armed forces to the cloud.

Hip-Hop Marketing Guru Blasts Grammys Over Bieber slight

Hip-hop marketing expert Steve Stoute took to the New York Times over the weekend to blast the Grammys for slighting artists like Justin Bieber. He also spoke out against recent losses by Kanye West and Eminem.

In a full-page ad in the newspaper, Stoute wrote "I have come to the end that the Grammy Awards have clearly lost touch with modern popular culture."

He added, "The awards show has become a series of insincerity and disagreement, leaving me to question why any contemporary popular artist would even participate."

About Bieber, Stoute wrote, "How is it that Justin Bieber, an artist that defines what it means to be a modern artist, did not win Best New Artist?" Justin Bieber lost the Best New Artist Grammy to Esperanza Spalding.

Neil Young wins first Grammy for music

A year after he won the first Grammy of his career, eclectic rocker Neil Young dual his tally on Sunday. The win marked the first recognition for his musical skills, since last year's honor was for his work as an art director on the wrapping of a boxed set.

This time he won a statue in the best rock song category for "Angry World," a tune from his album "Le Noise."

"This is my first Grammy for music, and it's valued greatly," Young said.
He lost another race to Paul McCartney, and remains in argument for best rock album.

Young, now 65, is often nominated 11 times since 2006 alone but his musicianship evidently was not forceful enough for Grammy voters, who now number about 12,000 music industry professionals.

Young, in turn, has made no secret of his scorn for the Grammys, declaring that he was "not Grammy material" in a 1987 interview told in the authorized biography "Shakey." But his look at both this year's and last year's events appears to point to a softening of his approach.

The Canadian singer-songwriter has confounded fans over the past 40 years with an idiosyncratic output spanning folk, rock, grime, soul and country. "Le Noise," his 31st studio let go since 1969, debuted at No. 2 on the Canadian albums chart and at No. 14 in the United States.

Black Eyed Peas underwhelm at halftime

On second consideration, maybe Escort should have been the headliner for the Super Bowl halftime show.
The superstar had only a brief cameo in the glass case, but his tightly choreographed moves and acrobatics marked the brief exciting moment of a surprisingly stale medley from the normally frantic headliners, the Black Eyed Peas.

The Super Bowl presentation was debatably the biggest stage yet for the quirky quartet, whose fusion of pop, dance and hip-hop have made them global superstars. But in the huge Cowboys Arena, the group appeared to be as stiff as frontman will.i.am's plastic hair hat.

It started out with a wow factor: will.i.am, Taboo, Fergie and apl.de.ap go down from atop the stadium, outfits glittering, bewildered outfits, singing (with the help of auto-tune) the party anthem "I Gotta Feeling" with hundreds of dancers channeling in step on the field.

But the Peas didn't match the energy of the song; they seemed hesitant, and tense. It didn't help that Fergie's mic didn't kick in until she was midway through her first verse.

If the clarification for the Peas' flatness was nerves, those nerves never settled, as they trudged through such songs as "Pump It" and "Boom Boom Pow." strictly, they were fine Fergie's voice soared, the raps were performed right. They didn't excite. Even former Guns 'N Roses guitarist Slash seemed bored as he joined Fergie for a short snippet of "Sweet Child O' Mine," an needless cameo that failed to add any sizzle to the set.

So it fell to Usher to breathe some life into the halftime show, and he didn't let down as he appeared in all white with a side of dancers. Although Usher seemed to dance more of his No. 1 hit "OMG" with will.i.am than sing it, his syncopated moves and flips provided the power jolt that the Peas lacked.

The Black Eyed Peas brought the youth, but little else. "I Gotta Feeling" the NFL will be looking to try and find a better balance in time for Indianapolis next year.

Don't miss the 'Kids Day Out Music Festival'

The Kids Day Out Music Festival features a line-up of some of Australia’s most popular children’s entertainers and live stage shows, as well as giving your children the chance to meet their favorite characters.

Held at Sydney Olympic Park Sports Centre on February 26, the headliners include Hi-5, Ben 10, Yo Gabba Gabba, Dorothy the Dinosaur, Bob the Builder, Go Diego Go, Nickelodeon’s Slime Time Live, SpongeBob SquarePants, The Powerpuff Girls, The Simpsons and many more.

The kids will sing and dance along with their idols in three huge stadiums, with backstage meet-and-greets included in the ticket price. There will also be action centres, workshops and rides.

We are giving away six double passes to the event. Just tell us in 25 words your child’s favorite character and why. Entries close February 8. Winners will be notified mail.               

Shania Twain named into Canadian Music Hall of Fame

Newlywed Shania Twain has one more reason to smile -- the Timmins, Ont., native has been proclaimed as the 2011 inductee to the Canadian Music Hall of Fame.

The 12-time Juno Award winner will be privileged during this year's award telecast in Toronto on March 27, marking her first return to the Junos since hosting the 2003 bash in Ottawa.

Twain married Swiss businessman Frederic Thiebaud on New Year's Day in Rincon, Puerto Rico in face of 40 family members and friends.

The 45-year-old Twain is getting ready to launch a TV show on Oprah Winfrey's cable channel, OWN, called "Why Not? With Shania Twain," and has plans to issue a memoir.

With over 80 million albums sold worldwide, the five-time Grammy-winning Twain places among the best-selling artists of all time.

The 40th Juno Awards ceremony will be hosted by 24-year-old Toronto rapper Drake. Nominations will be announced on Feb. 1.

"Shania Twain revolutionized the look and sound of country music, and truly is one of the most accomplished and famous music artists of her era," said Melanie Berry, president and CEO of Junos organizer the Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences, in a statement.

"Her authenticity as a songwriter and performer has made her a global basis of power, and we're so proud to honour her at home in the Canadian Music Hall of Fame."

Warner signs fresh publishing chief EMI signs Pink Floyd – again

Warner Music signs issuing exec behind Cee Lo’s “F*** You”

Warner Music Group has signed up a fresh publishing chief Cameron Strang as CEO of Warner/Chappell Music, its music publishing unit. The world’s No.3 music company said David Johnson, who previously held the joint title of chairman/CEO of Warner/Chappell, will carry on as chairman until July at which point Strang will take on the additional role of chairman as well.

Johnson, who was before the company’s general counsel, has led Warner/Chappell since 2006.
Strang, 44, founded New West Records and Southside Independent Music Publishing in 1995. As part of deal Warner/Chappell has obtained Strang’s Southside whose songs include 2010 hits like B.oB.’s Nothin’ on You and Cee Lo Green’s “F*** You” (pictured left) both nominated for Record of Year 2011.

Music publishing has usually been the unfashionable arm of the music industry when compared to the label side. But in recent years it has become more and more valuable part of the business because of its steady cash flow from a variety of revenue sources beyond decrease CD sales.

Song publishers are usually run by some of the veterans of the business like Marty Bandier, 70, at Sony/ATV Music Publishing who have great skill at extracting value out of songs for decades after they were first released. Strang’s knowledge of today’s hit music could put him in good stead for both short and the long-term.

When is the new Britney Spears single being free?

She’s keyed up for her new album to drop in March and in the interim Britney Spears has a hot new single on the way.

And in spite of the report from New York’s Z100 that “Hold It Against Me” was scheduled to release on January 7th, the “Baby One More Time” singer’s manager Adam Leber says nothing is in stone yet.

Leber tweeted, "Lot of misinformation out there regarding the release of Brits 1st single. Don't believe everything you read. Unless of course it's an official declaration coming in January. STAY TUNED....."

"That said, the single is absolutely coming in January. PS- happy new years people. Sorry guys, but never pay attention to unofficial announcements. Just trying to clarify. Please don't 'hold it against me.' "

Lady Gaga Publicize Release Dates For Born This Way, First Single

The clock struck midnight and fetched good news for Lady Gaga fans.

As promised, the pop superstar tweeted a big statement with regard to her forthcoming album, Born This Way. While others were tasting champagne to trumpet in the New Year, the Gaga faithful were pending news from their beloved. And at midnight, the singer tweeted that her third album will be free in stores on May 23 and the first single from it will be released on February 13.

"THE SONG 2 13 11 THE RECORD 5 23 11," is all she wrote.

Along with the statement, Gaga tweeted a new black-and-white photo in which she is nude from the waist down, with her hair blowing about, and sporting a jacket with the album's title emblazoned in what look like dazed jewels.

Before she made the statement official, she teased her Twitter followers with lyrics from Born This Way, writing, "I'm beautiful in my way, 'cause God makes no mistakes/ I'm on the right track baby, I was born this way/ Don't hide yourself in regret, just love yourself and you're set/ I'm on the right track, baby, I was born this way."

This could be one more stellar year for Gaga. Her last album, The Fame Monster, was the best-selling album of 2010 worldwide, selling nearly 6 million copies. She also has had seven successive singles that have been top 10 hits, with two of them hitting no. 1.

New Justin Timberlake Song 'Take You Down' Leaks

Justin Timberlake has said over and over again that he's not set to record a new album. However, that hasn't stopped the pop star-turned-actor from hitting the studio for collaborations with other artists and doing some recording here and there for him. His latest musical serving to mollify his hungry fans is a track called "Take You Down," which leaked online Thursday (December 30).

"I've seen my magic/ What's your looks and your religion?/ And I want you to understand that I can make you feel better/ So it's me and you, my place, sexiness all day/ I'mma do whatever you like, if you cater to me all night, girl," he sings during the second poetry.

In addition to production credits, various Internet blogs have reported that "Take You Down" may in fact be a demo as opposed to one of the 29-year-old's own songs.


Timberlake recently spoke to the Los Angeles Times about fans who feel like the star has neglected his musical calling. "They're looking at me like, 'Why aren't you waiting with one path?' “he said. "They look at me like I'm ungrateful for my music career because I want to do film."

Until JT feels ready to hit the studio to record the follow-up to 2006's FutureSex/LoveSounds, fans will have to make do with the singer's scarce musical ventures. His next offering may be a collaboration with Drake, who recently revealed, "I've always wanted to work with him, and it's in the works right now: Me and Justin Timberlake will probably have a song soon."

What do you think of "Take You Down"? Give us your review in the comments section below!

Billy Ray 'sad' about images of Miley smoking salvia

Miley Cyrus' father Billy Ray Cyrus has expressed his displeasure with her for being seen smoking a legal high.

The 'Achy Breaky Heart' hitmaker - who is currently divorcing wife Tish - took to twitter following the video of 18-year-old Miley smoking salvia from a bong.

He wrote: "Sorry guys. I had no idea. Just saw this stuff for the first time myself. I'm so sad. There is so much further than my control right now."

Anthony Adams - a former California State Assemblyman who previously tried to ban the drug in his state - believes salvia, which is legal in a number of U.S. states, can make people do "crazy" things and has annoying her for being irresponsible to her legions of young fans.

He said: "You do very crazy things. Miley is a star and young kids are going to imitate her behavior."

In the video taken of Miley smoking the drug, she is seen confusing a party guest for 'Last Song' co-star and ex-boyfriend Liam Hemsworth as well as sniggering uncontrollably.

She said: "OK, I'm about to lose it now. I'm having a little bit of a trip right now.

"Oh my God! He looks so much like him! He looks so much like Liam. Is that me tripping? He doesn't look like Liam at all? Dude, that looks just like Liam!"

American Ballet's 'Nutcracker' Opening

Just before Christmas, at the Brooklyn Academy of Music, more than 100 American Ballet Theatre supporters are there a "family friendly" pre-show gala on opening night of the company's new production of "The Nutcracker." Notable guests included David Koch, Blaine Trump, Ana Gasteyer and Veronica Webb.

Many carried their children, who were well-dressed and well- behaved. They queued for a photo-op against a fake snowed-in forest with the production's adorable scene-stealer, the three-foot tall, skinny-limbed, pot-bellied mouse, played by 10-year old Raju Sawak.

No child complained of hunger, thanks to two food stations. One featured Russian-themed snacks like blinis, pierogies and chicken soup. The other: fudge, cheesecake popsicles, wrapped chocolates, and donuts. The actress Mary-Louise Parker stacked a dozen treats on a plate and brought them to her mother sitting on a nearby couch. "I mean, who doesn't like candy?" she asked. The actress had taken dance classes from the age of 4 to 17, but, she said, "I was not very good." She makes the Nutcracker an annual tradition for her two children, who were off coloring marionette.

With New York City Ballet running its own Nutcracker at Lincoln Center, who better to sift through the dissimilarities between productions than 10-year-old Sara Rose Shannon, who last year performed with NYCB and now appears in one of the irregular casts at BAM. "This one's a little more modern," she said.

"Did she tell you she's understudy for the mouse?" asked her mother, Jennifer. "And that little mouse has a very big role." When Sara Rose was then asked if she'd ever daydream about debilitating the dancer whose role she understudied, she very sweetly and firmly said no. Apparently, she hadn't seen "Black Swan."

Michael Jackson's Greatest Non-Musical Achievements

The news of Michael Jackson's death rocked the world on June 25, 2009. Since his death all of the major television networks have aired special honors highlighting his musical legacy. Those tributes are fitting for the man who was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame twice and whose 1982 Thriller album still holds the title of all-time best selling record in the world. However, Michael Jackson also had many significant non-musical achievements that are rarely mentioned.

 The Michael Jackson Burn Center

 On January 27, 1984, Jackson suffered second degree burns on his scalp while filming a Pepsi commercial at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles. A pyrotechnics accident set his hair on fire in front of the auditorium full of fans who were there for a simulated concert. Jackson sued PepsiCo and settled out of court for $1.5 million. The settlement was donated to the Brotman Medical Center in Culver City, California, where Jackson received treatment for his burns. Using the money donated by Jackson, Brotman was able to get the best available technology for treating burn victims. The burn ward at the hospital was later named the "Michael Jackson Burn Center" to honor Jackson and his generous contribution.

Received Award from President Reagan

Michael Jackson was invited to the White House on May 14, 1984, where he received an award for his support of drug and alcohol abuse charities, presented by President Ronald Reagan.

 

The 1984 Victory Tour, headlined by the Jacksons, introduced more than two million fans to Jackson's solo material. Following the tour, Jackson donated his $5 million share from the tour's profits to charity.

We Are the World, We Are the Children

 Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie wrote the charity single "We Are the World" in 1985. Both artists were among the 39 musicians who recorded the song. The single was released around the world to and proceeds went to help the needy in Africa and the U.S. Almost 20 million copies of "We Are the World" were sold, making it one of the best-selling singles of all time. The project raised millions for famine relief.

Treated Underprivileged Children to Free Shows

During the Bad World Tour, Michael Jackson played to sold out crowds and smashed Guinness World records when 504,000 fans packed Wembley Stadium for each of the seven sold out shows and the tour grossed $125 million. During all of this, Jackson invited underprivileged children to the shows and donated to hospitals, orphanages and other charities.

100 Percent to Charity

 

 From 1985 to 1990, Jackson donated $500,000 to the United Negro College Fund.

 Honored by President George H. W. Bush

President George H. W. Bush commended Jackson for his achievements and presented him with the White House's special "Artist of the Decade" award in recognition of his musical influence during the 1980s.

Heal The World Foundation

Jackson founded the "Heal the World Foundation" in 1992. The charity organization brought underprivileged children to Jackson's Neverland ranch to ride theme park rides the singer had built on the property. Heal the World also gave millions of dollars to help children around the world who were threatened by war and illnesses.

Dangerous Profits Go to Charity 

 

Jackson started the Dangerous World Tour on June 27, 1992 and completed it on November 11, 1993, after entertaining 3.5 million people at 67 concerts. All of the profits from the concerts were donated to the Heal the World Foundation.

Publicly Pleaded for More HIV/AIDS Research

 

When Ryan White, a hemophiliac teen from Indiana was kicked out of school in 1985 because he contracted HIV from a contaminated blood treatment, Jackson became one of his advocates. After White's death in 1990, Jackson pleaded with the Clinton Administration at Bill Clinton's Inaugural Gala for more funding for HIV/AIDS charities and research.

Teamed with Luciano Pavarotti for Charity

Jackson and Pavarottii teamed up for a benefit concert in Modena, Italy in June 1999. The concert was focused on support of the non-profit organization Warchild. The artists raised a million dollars for the refugees of Kosovo and also donated money to help the children of Guatemala.

Michael Jackson and Friends Benefit Concerts 

 

Also in June 1999, Jackson organized a series of benefit concerts in Germany and Korea. He recruited Slash, The Scorpions, Boyz II Men, Luther Vandross, Mariah Carey, A. R. Rahman, Prabhu Deva Sundaram, Shobana Chandrakumar, Andrea Bocelli and Luciano Pavarotti for the Michael Jackson and Friends concerts. The proceeds were donated to the "Nelson Mandela Children's Fund", the Red Cross and UNESCO.

Guinness Record for Support of Charities

 

Jackson was listed in the 2000 book of Guinness World Records for his support more charities than any other entertainer or personality. Jackson supported 39 charities through cash donations and sponsorships.

Moonwalk

Jackson released his first autobiography, Moon Walk, in 1988. The book took four years to write and detailed alleged abuse Jackson suffered as a child and his plastic surgeries. The book topped the New York Times best seller's list.

Support After 9/11

After the 9/11 attacks, Jackson helped organize the United We Stand: What More Can I Give benefit concert at RFK Stadium in Washington, D.C., which aired on October 21, 2001. Dozens of major artists performed at the concert and Jackson sang "What More Can I Give" as the finale.

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Sony launches music streaming overhaul

Sony has launched a music streaming overhaul in a bid to break Apple's supremacy of the online music business.

The Japanese company's “Music Unlimited powered by Qriocity” is a cloud computing-based digital music service that does not engage downloading tracks like Apple's iTunes.

Instead, a subscription gives users access to a catalogue of about six million songs, which can streamed to Sony's Internet-connected devices like the PlayStation 3, personal computers and Bravia TVs. The service can be synchronized with a user's existing music files, including iTunes, Sony said.

The service began in the UK and Ireland on Wednesday and will be revolved out in Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, New Zealand and the United States next year. - Sapa-AP

Britney Spears Is A "Professional" In The Studio

A producer working with Britney Spears on her new album has admired the pop star.

Swedish hitmaker Shellback - who co-wrote her song 3 - has been collaborating with the Toxic singer on the follow-up to the Circus, and admits he's impressed by her devotion to her music.

"[Britney]'s actually damn professional," he revealed. "You read a lot on the internet that Britney is not singing and mimes, but she is actually damn professional.

"She's done it since she was 16. And just rhythmic way, she is f**king awesome!," he enthused. "And you do not have to go through and talk about the rhythms and stuff that you sometimes have to do. She's very easy in the studio."

Britney releases the album in March 2011. Other producers working on the record include Dr Luke, Max Martin, Rusko, Labrinth, Chase & Status and Fraser T Smith.

Eminem - Universal Execs Challenge Eminem Royalties Suit

Universal Music bosses are taking a legal battle with EMINEM's former publishing company to the U.S. Supreme Court after losing an plea in a long-running dispute over royalties.

Last year (09), FBT Productions executives claimed Universal owed the Stan hitmaker $1.47 million (£980,000) in compensation because label heads had failed to pay the star for music downloads.

The case was heard in a California court in March 2009, when a judge dismissed FBT's argument and ruled in favour of Universal.

The publishing firm's owners plea the decision in September (10) and won after Central District of California court Judge Silverman reversed the previous ruling, declaring Universal bosses will have to pay FBT a substantial amount in compensation.

But Universal executives are refusing to let the matter lie and they have appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court to reconsider the case again, reports CMU Daily.

Eminem is not directly involved in the legal battle.