RedOne Signs Label Deal With Universal Music

Universal Music is honored to announce their joint venture with super producer RedOne and his new record label 2101 Records. The international Grammy winning hitmaker, who was recently honored as Billboard Producer of the Year and BMI Songwriter of the Year, is famed for his work with Michael Jackson, Sean Kingston, Enrique Iglesias, Akon and Lady Gaga. The venture is with Universal Music International and each artist signing to 2101/Universal will be released by a label within the UMG Group. RedOne will A&R, executive produce and produce all artists signed to 2101 Records.

“I am so privileged to be in business with the Universal Family in this new venture. We already have had so much success together; I know that this is the best home for my music and for my artists. Lucian (Grainge) and I share a common vision for creating sounds and platforms for new artists, not only writing hit songs, but building brands. We are incredibly fortunate to be launching with an artist like Mohombi, who has so much potential. He is a powerhouse talent … writing, singing, performing, and dancing … a true entertainer. Mohombi lifts my spirits and I believe he will elevate the world with his music. DANCE ON ” – RedOne

Music Week In Review Episode 2

Katy Perry unveils the cover of her upcoming album Teenage Dream, Lindsay Lohan spends time behind bars writing new music, and The Jersey Shore Soundtrack is released. Check out iMusicDaily’s Week In Review.

Chris Brown’s Tribute To Michael Jackson At 2010 BET Awards

Photo: Gene Young/Splash News

Is Chris Brown starting with the man in the mirror? He gave a weeping emotional performance at yesterday’s BET Awards Michael Jackson Tribute. When it was time for his performance of “Man in the Mirror,” he completely broke composure, tears running down his face as he struggled through the song until falling to his knees, unable to go on. The audience showed their love by loudly picking up the song, singing along. This after his dance to “Remember the Time,” “Smooth Criminal” and “Billie Jean.”

Maybe Chris Brown is starting with the man in the mirror. Since his sentencing last August for assaulting Rihanna Brown has amassed over 290 hours of community labor service and attended domestic violence classes. He still has hundreds of hours to go, however.

Michael Jackson One Year Later

Michael Jackson: A year after his death

Michael Jackson fans around the world began Friday marking the first anniversary of the music icon’s death, with events from candlelight vigils to slumber parties planned in honor of the tragic superstar.

Jackson, 50, died from a drug overdose at a rented Los Angeles mansion on June 25 last year, a seismic celebrity death that triggered a global outpouring of tributes for the eccentric genius known as “The King of Pop.”

In Hollywood, a wax likeness of Jackson has been placed on display in front of Madame Tussauds on Hollywood Boulevard, a short distance from Jackson’s star on the Walk of Fame.

In the only official memorial event planned Friday, family matriarch Katherine Jackson, 80, is slated to unveil a monument at the home where she raised her famous son and eight other children in Gary, Indiana.

Meanwhile, Billboard magazine reported Jackson’s estate has generated more than one billion dollars in revenues since the singer’s death, through the re-issue of his music, films and other commercial spin-offs.

New Details On Rihanna’s Upcoming Album; Will Be Like ‘Thriller’

Def Jam president Bu Thiam is making some pretty grand statements about Rihanna’s upcoming album. He’s comparing it to Michael Jackson’s Thriller.

“Rihanna is coming along incredibly. I’m trying to push her to where every song will be a hit from 1 to 12. I’m talking about NO album fillers. Our bar for this album is Michael Jackson’s ‘Thriller’. We got smashes from Stargate, Ester Dean, Mel & Mus and Rock City. We’re definitely going in with Ne-Yo, The-Dream and other writers and producers that have always been a part of her creative process since day one. She’s great to work with and very hands on with every song that’s being written and produced. She has visual concepts for just about every song. It’s already giving me the feel of a timeless album, and right now is her time”.[source]

Let’s just hope, for Rihanna’s sake, that it is a hit record. Rihanna’s turn to the dark side on Rated R didn’t go so well.

Stunning Jackson 5 Live Performances Discovered in Motown Vault

The Jackson 5: J5 Live @ The Forum is a new 2-CD set released June 22 that uncovers an amazing chapter from the phenomenal career of Michael Jackson and his brothers in the J5: their extraordinary performances from the Los Angeles Forum, recorded in June 1970 and August 1972–the first at the start of their rapid ascent to stardom, the second when they became established icons. These brilliant shows have not been released in any form until now, the 40th anniversary of the 1970 show.

J5 Live @ The Forum features earth-shaking live performances of the group’s best-known hits – “I Want You Back,” “ABC,” “The Love You Save,” “I’ll Be There,” “Never Can Say Goodbye” and more. Single B-sides “I Found That Girl” and “I’m So Happy” and such surprises as album cuts “Bridge Over Troubled Water” and “Zip A Dee Do Dah,” plus songs not released by the J5, including covers of James Brown’s “There Was a Time” and the Isley Brothers’ “It’s Your Thing,” are part of the shows. The 1972 show also features a fantastic, full set of Michael’s solo hits, including “Got To Be There” and “Ben,” his brand new single at the time, as well as a solo spot by Jermaine. Read more

“We Are The World 25 For Haiti” Premiers At The Olympics Opening Ceremonies

If you missed the Opening Ceremonies of the Vancouver Olympics on Friday night, chances are you missed the world premier of the ‘We Are The World 25 For Haiti’ remake.

A shortened, tightly edited version aired on NBC and there were definitely some surprises. The remake included many trends in popular music including everyone’s best friend, auto-tune. It also included rap, as well as translation into Creole, one of Haiti’s official languages. Michael Jackson posthumously appeared in the video alongside his sister, Janet. What was meant to be a touching tribute to Jackson was kind of awkward. Every other singer was filmed in front of a microphone while they were recording, however Janet was shot in front of a green screen with no microphone in sight and you couldn’t really hear her.

The song also started with Justin Bieber. I’m sure Bieber’s fans went nuts, but really? And I was surprised that Miley Cyrus wasn’t included in the shortened version. Cyrus sang on the second verse, which you can see in the extended version of the video here on iMusicDaily.

Regardless of what we think, ‘We Are The World 25 For Haiti’ is a great effort to raise money for Haiti. You can download the remake of ‘We Are The World 25 For Haiti’ and donate HERE.

Stars Unite For ‘We Are The World’ Remake [Video]

The original ‘We Are The World’, which raised at least $30 millions for African humanitarian programs 25 years ago, was updated last night as dozens of stars united at a Hollywood Studio in an effort to raise money for Haitian earthquake relief.

Young acts like Justin Bieber and The Jonas Brothers joined music legends such as Barbra Steisand and Tony Bennet in the very same studio that was used for the original recording.

The remake of ‘We Are The World’ will be premier at the Winter Olympics on February 12th.

Check out this behind the scenes look from Entertainment Tonight –

The roster of stars who reportedly participated in the recording include Carlos Santana, Orianthi, Jennifer Hudson, Jamie Foxx, Sugarland, Adam Levine, Jason Mraz, Earth Wind & Fire, Natalie Cole, The Jonas Brothers, T-Pain, Brian Wilson, Justin Bieber, Nicole Scherzinger, India.Arie, Julianne Hough, Mary Mary, Melanie Fiona, BeBe Winans, Mya, Tyrese Gibson, Anthony Hamilton, Raphael Saadiq, Gladys Knight, Keri Hilson, Joel and Benji Madden, Heart, Brandy, Pink, Musiq Soulchild, Miley Cyrus, Akon, Jordin Sparks, Celine Dion, Rob Thomas, Katharine McPhee, Jeff Bridges, Randy Jackson, Patti Austin, Kid CuDi, Usher, Will.i.am, Kanye West, LL Cool J, Issac Slade (of The Fray), Snoop Dogg, Nicole Richie, Trey Songz, Ethan Bortnick, Taryll Jackson, Taj Jackson, TJ Jackson, Vince Vaughn, Drake, Freda Payne, Faith Evans, Robin Thicke, Rashida Jones, Barbra Streisand, Jimmy Jean Louis, Enrique Iglesias, Zac Brown, Lil Wayne, Tony Bennett, Josh Groban, Sean Garrett, Harry Connick Jr., Al Jardine, Bone Thugs-n-Harmony (Bizzy Bone) and A.R.Rahman.

Michael Jackson’s Grammy Tribute

In case you missed it, check out the Grammy tribute to Michael Jackson performed by Celine Dion, Usher, Carrie Underwood, Jennifer Hudson, and Smokey Robinson.

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