Kelly Clarkson’s “Stronger” Rises to Number 1

Kelly Clarkson’s “Stronger (What Doesn’t Kill You)” rises from No. 2 to No. 1 on this week’s Billboard Hot 100 songs chart.

On the Digital Songs survey, “Stronger” spends a second week at No. 1. The song sold 237,000 downloads (up 6%) in the list’s tracking week, according to Nielsen SoundScan. The sum marks Clarkson’s second-best sales week, outpaced only by the debut frame of “My Life” (280,000).

As Clarkson rises to the Hot 100′s top spot, Adele’s “Set Fire to the Rain” descends to No. 2 after two weeks at No. 1. The song pushes 4-2 on Radio Songs (127 million, up 8%) and holds at No. 2 on Digital Songs (after leading the tally three weeks ago) with 165,000 downloads sold (down 1%).

Adele’s “21,” meanwhile, logs a 19th week atop the Billboard 200 albums chart.

Both Clarkson and Adele are among the scheduled performers at the 54th Annual Grammy Awards, to be broadcast Sunday (Feb. 12) at 8 p.m. ET on CBS.

Lady Gaga Announces “The Born This Way Ball” Tour

Lady Gaga released dates today for her Born This Way Ball tour in Southeast Asia/Australia and those shows will be followed by the rest of the world including dates in Europe, Latin America and North America.

Live Nation Global Touring CEO Arthur Fogel and his team will steer the tour, as they did the bulk of the “Monster Ball” tour of 2010-2011, which grossed $188 million from 167 shows, according to Billboard Boxscore.

Gaga leaked news about the tour on Twitter.

The tour will first hit Southeast Asia and Japan through early June, mapping out 15 shows at stadiums and arenas. Gaga will then play about 15 shows in Australia, ending in July. Beyond that, current plans call for her to tour Europe in August, followed by Latin America towards the end of the year, and then North America in Q1 2013, beginning in January and running into March.

“The ‘Born This Way Ball’ will perform 110 shows around the world,” she announced on Wednesday afternoon.

Lana Del Rey Debuts at No. 2 on Billboard 200 Albums Chart

Newcomer Lana Del Rey makes her debut at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 albums chart with “Born To Die,” selling 77,000 copies according to Nielsen SoundScan. It’s the highest entry for a female artist’s full-length major label debut since Jackie Evancho’s “Dream With Me” bowed at No. 2 on July 2, 2011.

Meanwhile, Adele’s “21″ sits tight at No. 1 for a 19th nonconsecutive week (122,000; up 5%). Next week it could yield the top slot to the new Van Halen album “A Different Kind of Truth,” which was released yesterday (Feb. 7).

At No. 3 this week is Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Leonard Cohen with the debut of “Old Ideas” (41,000). It’s the icon’s highest charting album ever and best sales week since SoundScan began tracking sales in 1991. The beloved artist’s new album is his first studio effort since 2004′s “Dear Heather,” which debuted and peaked at No. 131 (9,000 in its first week).

35% of Cohen’s new album’s sales came from physical albums sold via Internet retailers. To compare, only 1% of Del Rey’s first-week came from Internet sellers. On the other hand, 74% of Del Rey’s sales were downloads, while digital sales represented 30% for Cohen.

Lana Del Rey’s “Born to Die” Tops U.K. Charts

Lana Del Rey’s debut album “Born To Die” debuted at No. 1 on the U.K. charts this weekend, with sales of 117,000, more than the rest of the top five combined.

“Born To Die” hit No. 1 on the iTunes album chart in 15 countries. In the U.K., Del Rey’s 117,000 opening sales included 50,000 digitally, and she’s in the singles top 40 with two tracks from the album: the title track climbed 14-9 yesterday and her debut hit “Video Games,” which debuted at No. 9 in October, jumped back 20-17, with total sales now standing at nearly 292,000 units, according to the Official Charts Company.

Last week’s No. 1, Ed Sheeran’s “+”, fell two places, but his latest single “Drunk” climbed 29-15. Guetta’s “Nothing But The Beat” improved 16-9 and Christina Perri’s “Lovestrong” 37-15, as her hit “Jar of Hearts” rebounded 37-22.

Bruce Springsteen to Perform at Grammys

Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band will perform at the 2012 Grammy Awards, joining the star-studded lineup of Adele, Paul McCartney, Katy Perry, Taylor Swift and Nicki Minaj.

Springsteen announced last week the release of his new album, “Wrecking Ball,” on March 6 and his first U.S. tour with the E Street Band since the death last June of saxophonist Clarence Clemons. “We Take Care of Our Own” is the first single from the album.

Also scheduled to perform are Jason Aldean and Kelly Clarkson, Glen Campbell, Coldplay, Rihanna, Bruno Mars and Blake Shelton.

The Grammys will be broadcast on CBS on February 12.

Adele Holds Number 1 Spot for 18th Week

Soulful singer Adele remained on top of the Billboard album chart with “21,” despite seven new entries vying for No. 1 this week, including stiff competition from country music singer Tim McGraw.

“21,” which has sold more than 6 million copies in the United States since its release in February 2011, notched its 18th week in the top spot of the Billboard 200 chart.

Adele, who has been resting her voice after vocal cord surgery last November, said she will be making her live comeback at the Grammy Awards in Los Angeles on February 12.

Country music star McGraw’s 11th studio album, “Emotional Traffic” debuted at No. 2, scoring the singer his 14th top 10 album in the Billboard 200 chart and 13th No. 1 in the Billboard Country Albums chart.

New albums from rock band “Lamb of God,” singer-songwriter Ingrid Michaelson, “American Idol” alumnus Kellie Pickler, Christian music singer Kari Jobe and soul singer Seal dotted the top 10, along with the “2012 Grammy Nominees” and “Kidz Bop 21″ compilation and Drake’s “Take Care.”

“21″ was the only album to cross the 100,000 copies mark, partially driven by a re-issued deluxe edition released last week in Target retail stores.

Kelly Clarkson’s “Stronger” Nears #1

Kelly Clarkson’s “Stronger” single climbs from No. 8 to No. 2, nearing the top spot, currently held by Adele’s “Set Fire to the Rain.”

On the Digital Songs survey, “Fire” remains at No. 2 after topping the chart two weeks ago. The song sold 167,000 downloads (down 10%) in the list’s tracking week, according to Nielsen SoundScan.

As announced yesterday, Adele will perform at the 54th annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles Feb. 12, marking her first live performance since undergoing vocal surgery late last year.

Clarkson’s “Stronger” is aptly titled, as the second single from her album “Stronger” vaults 8-2 with top Digital Gainer honors. The song surges by 29% to 225,000 downloads sold and ascends 3-1 on Digital Songs, marking Clarkson’s second leader on the sales ranking. Her “My Life Would Suck Without You” spent two weeks at No. 1 on Digital Songs three years ago this month.

Soul Train Host Don Cornelius Found Dead

Don Cornelius, creator of the long-running TV dance show “Soul Train,” shot himself to death Wednesday morning at his home, police said. He was 75.

He was pronounced dead of a self-inflicted gunshot wound at 4:56 a.m. at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, said Los Angeles County Assistant Chief Coroner Ed Winter.

“Soul Train” began in Chicago as a local program in 1970 and aired nationally from 1971 to 2006. It brought the best R&B, soul and later hip-hop acts to TV and had teenagers dance to them. It was one of the first shows to showcase African-Americans prominently, although the dance group was racially mixed. Cornelius was the first host and executive producer.

Madonna Releases Colorful MDNA Cover Art

Madonna released the cover art or her next studio album, MDNA. She dropped the art on her Facebook page.

Madonna recently described MDNA as “high-energy,” and this particular visual certainly fits that vibe.

Madonna releases “Give Me All Your Luvin”, the first single off the album, on Friday, along with the video. She’s set to take the stage at the Super Bowl on Sunday.

Katy Perry Steps Out With New Blue ‘Do

Katy Perry stepped out in Las Vegas this past weekend, making an appearance for the first time since news of her divorce was announced. This time, she is switching things up with a fresh electric-blue bob. is feeling a little less blue these days.

On Friday night, Katy hit a charity event dressed in a beaded frock, her razor-cut ‘do colored in a rich turquoise. The party at the Vegas outpost of nightspot 1OAK was hosted by GiveLove.org, an organization devoted to improving public health in Haiti.

Brand and Perry announced the end of their marriage on December 30, after 14 months together. The exes have been a keeping a rather low profile ever since.

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