Tag: "American Idol"

After twelve seasons of boosting the hopes and dreams of aspiring singer while simultaneously making ‘Yo dawg’ a catchphrase once more, Randy Jackson has announced he will be leaving American Idol at the end of its current season.

In a letter to fans and viewers of the show, Jackson wrote “Yo! Yo! Yo! To put all of the speculation to rest, after twelve years of judging on American Idol I have decided to leave after this season. I am very proud of how we forever changed television and the music industry. It’s been a life changing opportunity but I am looking forward to focusing on my company Dream Merchant 21 and other business ventures”

Jackson isn’t the only one on the way out. Rumors are spreading like wildfire that Mariah Carey will step down as well (and be replaced with Jennifer Lopez). We’ll update you as more information becomes available.

If only American Idol would take a cue from their own background music… Recent seasons of the hit game show and now cultural institution have THRICE featured our friends Bronze Radio Return, most recently on last week’s episode. The band have been a song placement machine lately, providing the soundtrack for a recent PGA ad on ESPN, in addition to spots for Nissan, on HBO, and on several prime-time network shows.

But their broadcast near-ubiquity is not the reason we love them so. It is of course because of the music – a positively ideal blend of classic roots music and modern rock. The key to making this formula work, as Bronze Radio Return does, is authenticity. Their sound and songs possess the burned-in feel of music unburdened by time. As individual musicians and as a functioning unit, they are apparent naturals. All reasons why we have selected them as this week’s OurStage Pro Artist of the Week.

We’ve been fans of the band for a long time, and are lucky to have caught them live several times, including a performance at last year’s South by Southwest festival. And we’ll be there when they rock the Rock Boat cruise at the end of this month. The band expects to release their new LP sometime this year, but meanwhile they have a new single called “Further On,” available on iTunes. See the video for their song “Shake, Shake, Shake” after the jump, and click here to listen to some more Bronze Radio Return on OurStage.

Continue reading ‘Bronze Radio Return: Pro Artist Of The Week’

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.

More like this:

• X Factor Confirms Khloé Kardashian Odom, Mario Lopez As Co-Hosts
• Simon Cowell And Sony Release Custom X Headphones

“I’m gonna knock you out…. I told you I’m not f**kin’ putting up with her f**kin’ highness over there!”

It’s not exactly prose worthy of Bob Dylan, or even Eminem, her sometime partner in rhyme, but with those fighting words, rapper Nicki Minaj recently helped make American Idol hot for the first time in years. She hurled them directly at Mariah Carey on October 2 in Charlotte, N.C., during the audition rounds for season 12 of Idol, which kicks off in January of 2013. Continue reading ‘Sound And Vision: Will Nicki Minaj Vs. Mariah Carey Hurt the Rapper While Helping “American Idol”?’

As if A-Pop wasn’t bad enough already. Just when one might have thought that American pop, with all its auto-tuned voices and fake plastic beats, couldn’t possibly make the eyes and ears bleed more, it’s about to get worse. Nicki Minaj is set to bombard us with more of her overexposure via a series of reality specials on E!, her new gig as a 12th-season American Idol judge, and, of course, more music, while Britney Spears, of all vocally challenged singers, is already sitting in judgment of wannabe A-Pop idols on The X Factor.

And last but not least scary, Ke$ha’s back, and going by the early success of “Die Young,” the first single from her upcoming sophomore album Warrior (out November 30), she’s here to stay—at least for the time being. Continue reading ‘PSY’s K-Pop Invasion: The Continued Decline of Western Pop Courtesy of the East’

There’s not a lot you can do to take back saying you want to murder someone, but Stevie Nicks is sure going to try.

After the entire Nicki Minaj Vs. Mariah Carey debacle a week ago, Nicks was quoted as saying that if she had been in Carey’s shoes she would have, “walked over to Nicki and strangled her to death right there.” Nicks went on to say, “I would have killed her in front of all those people and had to go to jail for it.”

It’s hard to back peddle out of that kind of threat, but after an immediate backlash, Nicks did her best by issuing an official apology. You can read her apology after the jump. Continue reading ‘Stevie Nicks Apologizes To Nicki Minaj For Strangling Comment’

There’s a lot to be said about music industry “role models” now a days. But one artist that’s managed to keep her head above water and prove stronger by the day is none other than American Idol sweetheart, Kelly Clarkson.

Winding down her international Stronger tour, Clarkson is back with a brand new single called “Catch My Breath,” off her upcoming release Greatest Hits – Chapter 1. The song is true Kelly Clarkson style all the way, with strong vocals, catchy beats, and as always, empowering messages.

“To celebrate the strength and longevity that my fans, friends, and family have supported me with I wrote this song ‘Catch my Breath’ with one of my best friends that has seen me through everything,” Clarkson shared with fans on her website. “This song represents who I’ve been, what I’ve felt, and where I’m headed as not only an artist but as a 30 year old that is now smart enough to know that it’s time to stop, catch my breath, and be proud of not only what has been accomplished but of all the people that have helped me become the woman I am today.”

Listen to “Catch My Breath” right here and keep an eye out for Greatest Hits-Chapter 1, which drops Nov. 19.

If you like Kelly Clarkson check out OurStage artist Lauren Light.

More like this:

• ‘The Voice’ Is Back: What’s New For Season 3?
• Nicki Minaj Considers Reality Show

Let’s talk about Nicki Minaj and Mariah Carey. When American Idol announced that Minaj would be joining the team, there were more than a few whispers about the future of the show and judge interaction. Now we know. Drama. Lots and lots of drama.

A new video acquired by TMZ shows Minaj and Carey at the Charlotte, NC auditions on Tuesday getting involved in a pretty heated argument. The cause of this diva-filled drama fest? Sources say the argument began after a disagreement over one of the contestants. Continue reading ‘Nicki Minaj Vs. Mariah Carey: American Idol Explosive Showdown’

The drama is getting started a bit ahead of schedule over at American Idol. Ever since Jennifer Lopez and Steven Tyler decided to bow out from their roles as judges on the popular reality singing competition (though not Randy Jackson, apparently) there has been a great deal of speculation and conjecture as who will take over their spots. About a month since Tyler and Lopez’ departure, it looks like the panel for Season 12 is finally coming together. Maybe.

Mariah Carey was one of the first names floated around as a replacement judge. Indeed, Carey was the first new face to sign on for season 12 to the tune of $18 million. But it looks like Carey might not be the only woman at AmIdol this time around; Nicki Minaj is reportedly close to signing onto the show for $8 million and an allowance for hair, makeup, and outfits. Knowing Minaj, that could easily drive her price tag into the tens of millions.

While it doesn’t sound like Carey is too pleased with having to share the spotlight with another female performer it is unlikely that she would have been the lone diva for long. Katy Perry was also in talks with Idol to judge, though $20 million apparently wasn’t enough to land her.

As for the guys it’s still unknown who is going to be bro-ing out with Jackson in season 12. Keith Urban is in talks with the show and he would certainly lend the twang to the proceedings that Idol has been lacking. It would be an easy transition for Urban, too, as he has just wrapped up his judging gig on Australia’s incarnation of The Voice. The other big hosting candidate would be rapper and living embodiment of ego Kanye West. It also sounds like West has some pretty powerful backers, namely American Idol host Ryan Seacrest and Kris Jenner, matriarch of the Kardashian clan and momager extraordinaire. So, he’s basically got it, right?

More like this:

• Sound and Vision: Why Judging a TV Star Search Is More Valuable Than Winning One
• Has American Idol Lost Its Platinum Touch?

One of the best releases of 2012 to date is Boys Don’t Cry, an album of covers recorded by Anglo-Pakistani singer-songwriter Rumer (nee Sarah Joyce). As a vocalist, Rumer is soothing and smooth, strictly middle-of-the-road enough to earn her an invitation from U.S. President Barack Obama to perform at the White House in May, the month her album came out — but that’s not to say she doesn’t have a slightly subversive streak.

After all, who chooses to release a collection of remakes for their second full-length studio album. (Rumer’s 2010 debut, Seasons of My Soul, earned her widespread acclaim, two Brit Award nominations, and a platinum certification in the U.K.)

Then there is the theme of Boys Don’t Cry (whose title was not inspired by The Cure song, which is not among the album tracks): Everything on it was written and performed by male artists in the ’70s. Somehow Rumer makes quintessentially guy songs like Ronnie Lane‘s “Just for a Moment” (about an instant of clarity in a drunken haze) and Neil Young‘s “A Man Needs a Maid” (title: self-explanatory) sound strong enough for a man but made for a woman.

Continue reading ‘Sound and Vision: Pop’s Greatest Gender Benders – Songs That Sound Better Sung By the Opposite Sex’