It’s officially awards season. Sure, it can be an obnoxiously gratuitous, self-congratulatory time, but there’s always a little entertaining drama to keep things interesting. Then, of course, there are the performances to look forward to. And now, music enthusiasts, the first batch of performers for the Grammy Awards have made the rounds.

Among this year’s Grammy performers will be first timers The Black Keys and fun., along with Taylor Swift, Mumford & Sons, and Rihanna. All these performers are nominated in various categories, including fun., Mumford & Sons and the Black Keys competing for Album of the Year.

View the full list of nominees right here and don’t forget to tune in as LL Cool J returns to host the 55th Annual Grammy Awards live at 8p.m. EST Sunday, February 10th on CBS.

If you like Mumford & Sons check out OurStage artist Kory Murphy.

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Late night fans, it’s time to adjust your alarms! One year shy of its 10th anniversary on the air, ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel Live! will be moving to a new 11:35pm time slot beginning next week.

For artists who want to do more than just watch at home, you can take advantage of our latest competition, which places one artist per month on Jimmy Kimmel Live! to perform in front of millions. Another chance to compete will be coming up in just a few short weeks, so keep checking back for the latest updates.

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Dolly Parton’s “Jolene” has been covered by big name acts like The White Stripes and The Sisters Of Mercy, but for the first time, Parton’s own goddaughter, Miley Cyrus has covered the track as part of her “Backyard Sessions,” recorded this past summer.

Surprisingly true to the original, “Jolene” is the last in the series, preceded by James Shelton‘s “Lilac Wine” and Melanie Safka-Schekeryk’s “Look What They’ve Done To My Song.”

Listen to “Jolene” after the jump. Continue reading ‘Miley Cyrus Covers Dolly Parton’s “Jolene”’

New England folk rockers The Tower And The Fool have gone through a few lineup changes since their formation a few years ago. They originally started as an acoustic duo-fronted band, but have now downsized to a more electric 4-piece with Alex Correia as the one remaining frontman. Click here to check out their new song called “Let It Ride” from their live performance at Great Scott in Allston, MA last week.

Correia used to be the frontman for Boston post-hardcore band Therefore I Am before they broke up in 2010. The band will be coming together again for the first time in 2 years for two “end of the world” reunion shows tomorrow night and Saturday night at The Sinclair in Cambridge, MA. The first show is sold out, but tickets are still available for the second one. Click here to buy them online.

If you like The Tower And The Fool, then check out OurStage artist Mieka Pauley.

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This past weekend Kelly Clarkson and her boyfriend of roughly one year, Brandon Blackstone took to Twitter to share the news of their recent engagement.

“I’M ENGAGED!!!!!” Clarkson shared. “I wanted y’all to know!! Happiest night of my life last night! I am so lucky and am with the greatest man ever.”

Blackstone, the stepson of Reba McEntire, chose a yellow canary diamond for his blushing bride to be, who later told her fans:

“It’s a yellow canary diamond with diamonds around it and Brandon designed it with Johnathon Arndt! They did an amazing job! I can’t wait to make Brandon‘s ring with Johnathon as well!”

But don’t expect a grandiose southern wedding just yet. Earlier in the year, while on Ellen DeGeneres’ talk show Clarkson revealed that the two would probably elope.

“Honestly, I’ve never been the girl to plan a wedding… We will totally, probably elope.”

What do you think of the couple’s recent engagement? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.

If you like Kelly Clarkson check out OurStage artist Mieka Pauley.

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There’s been a lot of hype around the release of Taylor Swift’s latest music video, “I Knew You Were Trouble.” After MTV’s 30-second teaser Thursday morning, we finally got a peak at the video during Thursday night’s premiere.

Tattered clothes, messy hair, parties, and escapades all make an appearance in this video, which although not unique to the music scene itself, is a first for Swift.

“I had just gone through an experience that made me write this song about knowing the second you see someone like, ‘Oh, this is going to be interesting. It’s going to be dangerous, but look at me going in there anyway,” Swift told MTV News’ Sway Calloway.

Featuring Spider-Man: Turn Off The Dark star Reeve Carney as Swift’s love interest, the video is a fast-paced look into the world of troubled love.

Although the spoken word intro airs on the side of dramatic, seeing Swift outside of her element is a refreshing change. Check out the video for yourself right here and let us know your thoughts on Swift’s latest approach.

If you like Taylor Swift, check out OurStage artist Angela Everwood.

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Just as The X Factor’s second season is coming to a close, Chairman and CEO of Epic Records, L.A. Reid has chosen to step down from his spot in the judge’s chair.

Although his presence resulted in multiple contestant signings to Epic Records, Reid says of his departure, ”I have a company to run that I’ve kind of neglected.” Reid continued, “I have a huge responsibility to a roster of artists, and it’s kind of time for me to stop doing ‘the me’ show and get back to doing ‘the them’ show.”

Among Reid’s upcoming Epic Records projects will be Ciara’s next album and Avril Lavigne’s latest album.

If you like Ciara, check out OurStage artist Jasmyn Howard.

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Just the other day, we promised you a Taylor Swift video that would catch the pop country sweetheart out of her element and exploring new terrain. Wednesday night, as part of their Big & Best of 2012 live stream, MTV aired a short clip of Swift’s “I Knew You Were Trouble” music video.

The video is short, and in truth most of the 30-second clip is MTV advertising the music video premiere. However brief, the clip shows a confused Swift lying in the dirt, hair tousled and clothes ripped, while flashbacks of a party the night before flood the screen.

We had been told this video would document the more poisonous side of relationships and by the looks of it, Swift wasn’t kidding.

“We knew we wanted it to be [about] some sort of corruption — good girl is living her life, going on about her life … and all of a sudden she runs into this force. This guy is just like a force,” Swift said. “She’ll do anything to fit into his world, including change about herself.”

Check out the video right here and catch the premiere Dec. 13 at 4:40pm ET on MTV.

If you like Taylor Swift, check out OurStage artist Devin Belle.

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When describing Christmas in the Sand, Colbie Caillat expressed the desire to make an album for those who don’t live in cold areas and can’t relate to songs about classic wintertime clichés like snow, chilly weather, and huddling around the fireplace. While the album does maintain a generally sunny disposition, it can’t help but feature standards like “Baby It’s Cold Outside” and original lyrics in Caillat’s contributions such as “It’s not Christmas / If the snow don’t fall.” Even though Christmas in the Sand is meant to be a Christmas album for those who spend most of their time in the sun or on the beach, it still seems obligated to retread the same ground as past holiday releases.  Of course, listeners instinctively understand this, but it is worth noting how Caillat’s motivation for recording the album and the way in which that motivation plays out, at times, incongruously with the original intent, highlights the difficulty inherent in recording a type of album that in its very nature defies innovation. Continue reading ‘Review: Colbie Caillat’s ‘Christmas In The Sand’’

When you’re turning 23 and on top of the world, what better way is there to celebrate than by releasing your 23rd music video? For Taylor Swift, Thursday will not only mark a new age, but a brand new music video for “I Knew You Were Trouble.”

Directed by Anthony Mandler (Rihanna, fun., Lana Del Rey), and featuring Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark star, Reeve Carney as Swift’s troubled love interest, the video is a different approach for Swift, departing from her typical videos and by the looks of it giving way to a little more edge.

“As soon as I started writing this song, I knew it was different from anything else on the record, so I knew I wanted the video to be different from anything we’d done ever done,” Swift told MTV. “I wanted to tell the story of a girl who falls into a world that’s too fast for her, and suffers the consequences.”

The video will air on MTV at 4:40pm ET, Thursday, Dec. 13, 2012. Can’t wait? Check out some behind the scenes photos from the shoot over at MTV.com.

If you like Taylor Swift, check out OurStage artist Jessica Lynn.

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