Brad Paisley defends 'Accidental Racist' duet with LL Cool J

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Country singer Brad Paisley on Tuesday defended his new duet with rapper LL Cool J, which has been criticized for its commentary on U.S. race relations.

"Accidental Racist" is a track from Paisley's ninth album, "Wheelhouse," which was released on Tuesday. The song describes a hypothetical encounter between a Confederate flag-wearing white Southern man and an urban African-American man in a coffee shop. Some critics have disparaged the song's content and artistry.

"I wouldn't change a thing," Paisley, one of country music's most popular artists, wrote on Twitter. "This is a record meant to be FAR from easy listening. But fun. Like life. Have a ball, ya'll."

In "Accidental Racist," Paisley sings: "Our generation didn't start this nation, and we're still picking up the pieces, walking on eggshells, fighting over yesterday," referring to post-Civil War race relations. "Caught between Southern pride and Southern blame."

LL Cool J, 45, responds with a rap that includes lyrics such as: "Just because my pants are sagging doesn't mean I'm up to no good. You should try to get to know me," and "I'd love to buy you a beer, conversate and clear the air, but I see that red flag and I think you wish I wasn't here."

Paisley has said he wanted the song to get people talking.

Several critics have panned it for what they described as a soft, apologetic treatment of lingering racial tension in the United States.

Industry website Billboard.com called "Accidental Racist" a "flat-footed apology for hate-induced uneasiness." The Atlantic magazine said the "assumption that there is no real difference among black people is exactly what racism is."

"Wheelhouse" is expected to land Paisley near the top of the U.S. album charts next week.

(Reporting by Chris Michaud; Editing by Eric Kelsey and Stacey Joyce)


Source : http://news.yahoo.com/brad-paisley-defends-accidental-racist-duet-ll-cool-201514862.html

Jay-Z Partners Roc Nation With Universal Music Group

Music mogul announces new deal will offer 'unique opportunity' for his label, which includes Rihanna and J. Cole.

By Rob Markman (@RobMarkman

Jay-Z's Roc Nation empire continues to flourish. Last week the shrewd music mogul announced a new venture into sports, and on Monday (April 8) Hov raised the bar once again with a new global partnership between his entertainment company and Universal Music Group.

Now Roc Nation will operate as an independent music label within Universal. "This agreement presents a unique opportunity for Roc Nation's artists — being able to continue to operate as an independent label with the strength, power and reach of the best major," Hov said in a press release. "I look forward to a long and prosperous collaboration with UMG. It feels good to be home."

Hov founded Roc Nation in 2008, years after he spilt with his Roc-A-Fella co-founders Damon Dash and Kareem "Biggs" Burke. In five years, he has positioned the brand to be more than just a record label, branching out into artist management, touring and sports among other areas. Now artists and athletes including Rihanna, J. Cole, Rita Ora, Shakira, Wale, Calvin Harris, Solange Knowles, Timbaland, deadmau5 and New York Yankee second baseman Robinson Cano all have some tie of sorts to the Roc Nation brand.

The move is likely to have an immediate impact on Rihanna, however, since she's already signed into the Universal system through her deal with Def Jam. There's no word yet on how Hov's deal will impact Roc artists like J. Cole, who signed to RN through the label's previous deal with Sony.

"All of us at UMG are thrilled that Jay and Roc Nation chose UMG as their partners, knowing we will support their artists with a level of resources, expertise and passion that is simply unmatched in the industry," UMG Chairman and CEO Lucian Grainge said in the statement.

What do you think of Jay-Z's new Roc Nation deal? Let us know in the comments!

Source : http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1705213/jay-z-roc-nation-universal-music-group.jhtml

Here Are Some Helpful Tips When Looking For Background Music For Video.

To enjoy a truly immersive, complete, and multimedia production, any produced product, be it a presentation, flash video or a full length video must effectively use background music for video. To be able to create a compelling presentation or tell a story effectively, a music library can offer an incredible wealth of sounds and music that will definitely appeal to the needs of those who like quality videos. Narrowing down your selection for quality background music for video is necessary. In certain cases, you have to produce the music on your own and pay money to have that music professionally recorded. With royalty free music, it is possible to keep your costs low but still enjoy quality music productions fit to your needs.

Before you choose background music for video, you need to know your production and the nature of production. Do you need music that evokes emption as in feature films or television dramas? Do you need background music for video that has a sense of urgency to it like in news? Choosing the right background music for video requires the producers to have in depth knowledge about the entire production, the requirements in terms of music so that if you need sounds or music beyond originally produced music, you can get through the music library.

Understand the audience. Is your production geared to a specific demographic? Are they mostly males who might be interested about skateboarding and death defying stunts? A specific type of music will be ideal for your production compared to a production thats demographic might be elder men who wish to learn about things like camping or outdoor adventure. Remember, the background music for video can evoke emotions, make the information more interesting, or create urgency. By using the right sound or music, the production will be halfway in ensuring that they receive the right message be it in tone or in pace.

If you have a target emotion or a specific goal that you want to evoke, you have to have a clear idea how it would sound. Check the pace of the music, the instruments used and overall mood that it evokes. Some music pieces are more ideal in evoking specific emotions so always take the time to review and collect background music for video. Organize your library based on how you listen to music and how you research for them. This way, when you do a new production, you will have an easier time managing your research for quality music.

Time the music. There are certain sections of the music that sound more ideal for introduction, filler music and extro or credits. Always time the music and check if it matches the pace that you want for your music. If the music is too fast for the video you want to present, the audience might find your production off-sync and not professional. You have to choose the right sounds to fit your specific tastes and interests. That way, your production will sound professional.

Source : http://www.articlesnatch.com/Article/Here-Are-Some-Helpful-Tips-When-Looking-For-Background-Music-For-Video-/4224874#.UWJHrEr5Xzo

Lambert, Bryan lead Academy of Country Music award winners

By Piya Sinha-Roy
(Reuters) - Singers Miranda Lambert and Luke Bryan led the winners at the Academy of Country Music awards on Sunday, while leading nominees Taylor Swift and Hunter Hayes came away empty-handed in a night honoring top achievers in country music.

Swift, 23, lost out on all five categories she was nominated in including Female Vocalist of the Year and the fan-voted Entertainer of the Year, a surprise for the country music favorite who won the award for the last two years.

Newcomer Hayes, 21, who was nominated in six categories, also went home empty-handed.

The night's top award Entertainer of the Year went to the show's co-host Bryan, 36, a surprise to the charismatic host who said he had only just started headlining shows.

"What I always wanted to be is just a country singer who got to ride on a tour bus and perform every night. ... This is the defining moment of my life, it means the world to me and I'll never take it for granted," Bryan said tearfully.

Lambert, 29, picked up four awards in three categories, including Female Vocalist of the Year, beating Swift, Carrie Underwood, Kacey Musgraves and Martina McBride.

Lambert also won Song of the Year for "Over You," written with husband Blake Shelton, who was co-hosting the ceremony, and thanked her peers for recognizing her song-writing talents.

"As a songwriter having your songs and your lyrics recognized by your peers is pretty much as good as it gets. ... Thank you for accepting me as a songwriter and not just as a singer, that means the world to me," Lambert said.

Shelton, who married Lambert in 2011, thanked his wife for making him a better song-writer.

"I used to think I was a decent songwriter until I started hanging out with her (Lambert) and she taught me so much," Shelton said in his acceptance speech, pulling his wife in for a big hug.

Jason Aldean bested Bryan, Shelton and one of the night's top nominees Eric Church for the Male Vocalist of the Year award, while Church picked up Album of the Year for his 2011 chart-topping record "Chief."

The Academy of Country Music is an organization of music industry professionals who aim to promote and preserve the tradition of country music, and they vote for the top country music achievers for their annual awards ceremony.

LIVELY PERFORMANCES

The three-hour show televised on CBS featured performances from old and new names in country music including Church, Dierks Bentley, Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood and Lambert, who performed "Mama's Broken Heart."

"The Voice" judge Shelton joined co-host Luke Bryan to kick off with a rendition on Shelton's "Boys 'Round Here," on which they were also joined by Sheryl Crow.

Oklahoma native and former "American Idol" winner Carrie Underwood, who was nominated for Female Vocalist of the Year, performed her single "Two Black Cadillacs" while fellow "American Idol" winner Kelly Clarkson sang "Don't Rush."

Following ACM awards tradition of pairing veteran and new artists together, Tim McGraw and Keith Urban sang with Swift on "Highway Don't Care," while Brad Paisley and John Mayer teamed up to perform "Beat This Summer," ending with a crowd-rousing guitar riff.

Hayes performed with Motown legend Stevie Wonder on Hayes' new single "I Want Crazy" and Wonder's song "Sir Duke." Wonder closed out the show with his classic track "Signed. Sealed. Delivered."

Singer Reba McEntire introduced a tribute to late television host and producer Dick Clark, with country music artists George Strait and Garth Brooks singing Brooks' "The Dance" and Strait's "Cowboy Rides Away."

Newcomer duo Florida Georgia Line, formed by Brian Kelley and Tyler Hubbard, picked up the fan-voted award for New Artist of the Year and performed their hit single "Cruise" on the show.

Husband-wife duo Thompson Square won Vocal Duo of the Year, while Alabama group Little Big Town won Vocal Group of the Year.

(Reporting By Piya Sinha-Roy in Los Angeles; Editing by Todd Eastham)


Source : http://news.yahoo.com/lambert-bryan-lead-academy-country-music-award-winners-040708698.html

Album stream: Kurt Vile – Wakin on a Pretty Daze

Be among the first to hear the new album from Kurt Vile – and let us know what you think in the comments below

 

Vile's body … Kurt Vile onstage at Koko in London last year. Photograph: Brigitte Engl/Redferns 

 

"Once you just open your mind to not knowing how it will turn out and just be like a receptor to the whole thing, eventually, hopefully, it will be OK," Kurt Vile told our own Laura Barton, talking about the music-making process. That process has resulted in his epic new album Wakin on a Pretty Daze.

Not that you should take that to mean he's careless about his music. As he also said: "There's so many ways you can play one chord progression that the repetition isn't ever exactly the same," he says. "I feel like it's more dangerous, because you could play for ever without getting bored. But eventually the tape runs out, I guess. I won't put it out if there's even one little bit of the song that's not right."

Now you can listen to Wakin on a Pretty Daze – released next Monday on Matador – and decide whether you think Mr Vile's managed a record in which not one little bit is not right. Let us know in the comments below.

Source : http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/musicblog/2013/apr/01/kurt-vile-pretty-daze-album-stream

Musical March Madness Reaches The Final Four ... Finally

After some technical difficulties, MMM's Final Four is set — and voting is underway!

By James Montgomery (@positivnegativ)

Well, it wasn't easy ... but after a tsunami of votes so huge it crushed our third-party polling service — and a resulting four hours of technical difficulties that made us want to shatter our leg like Kevin Ware — MTV's Musical March Madness tournament is moving on to the Final Four!
Defending MMM champs Tokio Hotel, upstart Ed Sheeran, perennial powerhouses Thirty Seconds To Mars and Cinderella story Walk The Moon are the last four bands standing ... and one of them is going to hoist the big gold trophy next week. Who will advance to the 2013 championship game? Well, that's up to you: voting is now open in our Final Four matchups, and polls will close on Monday, April 8 at noon ET.

Of course, before we breakdown those matchups, we figure we should address just what happened in the Elite 8 ... in particular, the hotly-contested battle between Sheeran and Paramore. To be honest, we're not sure, though we suspect it had something to do with the sheer number of votes — more than 1 million, which is a whole lot of Captcha codes to enter — from fans of both acts that came flooding in over the past 24 hours. They either crashed our polling service totally, or caused such a gigantic bottleneck that only a few votes managed to get through at a time. We tried to contact the polling site in an attempt to fix the problem, but never heard anything back from them. So, we extended voting an hour, then created a second poll in the hopes that it would alleviate some of the logjam. To an extent, that worked, and a few thousand more votes trickled in. But finally, at 1 p.m. ET, we shut down the polls. 

We know this was probably pretty frustrating to you guys, who have voted round after round, and helped make MMM 2013 an historic success. But we hope you can understand just how incredibly frustrating this was to us, too ... simply put, we love MMM, and to see it get screwed up so close to the finale, well, it sucks, pure and simple. But, we've got to move on — there's a trophy to hand out next week — and, after counting the votes from both polls, it was Sheeran that came out on top, by a final tally of 547,969 to 539,241 (here are the screen shots for proof). Oh, and at the time of this writing, we've yet to hear back from our polling service. Thanks guys!

So, for the Final Four and the MMM Championship, we're going to be using our own polling software ... and we're gonna be watching the votes to make sure there's no cheating (settle down Aliens, we've got you). So let's get back to the business at hand: Four bands are left in our 2013 tournament, and one of them is going to win it all.

Can Tokio Hotel make history as the first band to repeat as MMM champs? They'll have to get past upset-minded Ed Sheeran to do so ... and let's just say Ed's not sweating this one (shoot, he's never even heard of his Final Four opponents). And on the other side of the bracket, Thirty Seconds To Mars look to finally make good on years of tournament promise — three-straight trips to the Sweet 16 — and bring a championship to their Echelon, but they'll have to figure out a way to defeat the underdoggiest band in the land, Walk The Moon ... who have shocked us all by knocking off the likes of the Foo Fighters and Fall Out Boy to make it to this point.

We'll be bringing you in-depth analysis of those matchups over the weekend ... right now, let the games begin! We're so close to the championship, and you'll determine who reigns supreme as the baddest band in the land. Forget about technical difficulties ... It's Final Four time!

MTV's Musical March Madness tournament reaches the Final Four! Voting is now open in all matchups and polls close Monday, April 8 at noon ET, at which point we'll head to the MMM Championship Game. All winners are determined by your votes, so if your favorite act made the cut, it'll be up to you to guide them to glory! You can spread the word on Twitter using the hashtag #MMM — but get ready, it's gonna be a war.

Source : http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1705106/musical-march-madness-2013-final-four.jhtml

Beyonce and Jay Z 'rock Havana' for their anniversary

By Jeff Franks

HAVANA (Reuters) - American pop star Beyonce and rapper husband Jay Z celebrated their fifth wedding anniversary this week in Havana, where big crowds greeted them as they strolled hand in hand through the Cuban capital.

They ate at some of the city's best restaurants, danced to Cuban music, walked through historic Old Havana and posed for pictures with admiring Cubans, who recognized them despite the past half-century of ideological conflict that separates the United States and Cuba.

They were the latest and perhaps greatest big-name American stars - actors Bill Murray, Sean Penn and James Caan among them - to visit the Caribbean island in the past few years, but the first to cause such a stir everywhere they went.

Fans in the street below cried out Beyonce's name as she and Jay Z and their mothers dined at the upstairs restaurant La Guarida, famed as the location for the hit 1993 Cuban film "Strawberry and Chocolate."

A crowd of several thousand people swarmed around them in the main square of Old Havana, which prompted their security team to put a halt to their visit to the site.

"I was in the eye of the whirlpool. We had to cut it short because it got so crazy," said architect Miguel Coyula, who gave the couple a tour of the 16th century heart of the city.

They also visited a children's theater group called La Colmenita, a source close to the group said.

On Thursday night, they dined at La Fontana, one of the city's more established private restaurants, or paladares, and a favorite of visiting foreigners, but police blocked off surrounding roads to prevent onlookers.

Later, they went to El Gato Tuerto, a famous Havana nightclub, then to the Casa de la Musica in the Miramar district where the source said they "danced until dawn" to salsa and other music by the band Havana D'Primera.

On Friday, they toured Cuba's famous art school, Instituto Superior de Arte, and, according to government blogger Yohandry Fontana, Beyonce was to have lunch with "important figures of Cuban culture."

His blog ran several photographs of her and Jay Z under the headline "Beyonce Rocks Havana."

Jay Z, in shorts, a short-sleeve shirt and straw hat, looked like a typical tourist, puffing on a big Cuban cigar.

Beyonce, camera in hand, wore a colorful print mini-dress, big sunglasses, dangling ear-rings and her long braids piled high. The Grammy winner posed for a photograph with a group of smiling Cuban schoolchildren.

The couple declined to talk to the media to explain the purpose of their visit. The source close to the group said they were invited by Cuba's tourism ministry.

The longstanding U.S. trade embargo against Cuba prevents most Americans from traveling to the island without a license granted by the U.S. government, though President Barack Obama's administration has eased restrictions on travel to Cuba for academic, religious or cultural exchanges.

In Washington, the State Department said it had no prior knowledge of the visit. A spokeswoman at the U.S. Interests Section in Havana said she did not know if the two stars obtained a license for their trip, which if they did not could expose them to a fine.

Publicists for the couple did not return emails or phone calls seeking comment. The U.S. Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control, which handles licenses for travel to Cuba, said it does not comment on individual cases.

(Additional reporting by Nelson Acosta in Havana and David Adams in Miami; Editing by Will Dunham)


Source URL : http://news.yahoo.com/beyonce-jay-z-rock-havana-anniversary-220924556.html