Early estimates predict the Boss’ Wrecking Ball will surpass 21 for top spot on week’s Billboard albums chart. By James Montgomery Bruce Springsteen Photo: Kevin Winter/ Getty Images There’s been no other #1 album in 2012 besides Adele’s unstoppable 21 — and it hasn’t even been close — though all of that might change this week as Bruce Springsteen is poised to make a run at the top spot on the Billboard albums chart. According to industry site Hits Daily Double, Springsteen’s new Wrecking Ball disc is giving 21 its toughest competition to date in the battle for #1 on next week’s Top 200. With slightly more than half of retail data compiled, Adele has sold roughly 89,000 copies of her album, while Springsteen has sold nearly 82,000. Based on those early estimates, Hits is estimating Wrecking Ball will sell approximately 200,000 copies (Springsteen’s previous studio album, 2009’s Working on a Dream, bowed at #1 with sales of more than 223,000 copies), ending Adele’s run of 10 consecutive weeks atop the Billboard albums chart. The last record to sit at #1 besides 21 was Michael Bubl
U2, Metallica, Nickelback and more battle it out in a heavyweight region. Voting in all first-round matchups is now live! By James Montgomery U2’s Bono and Dick Vitale Photo: Getty Images MTV’s third-annual Musical March Madness tournament tipped off Monday, with voting opening in all first-round matchups. But with a bracket busting with bands — 64 in all, each battling to hoist the championship trophy when the tournament ends April 3 — we realize that choosing your favorites in each contest can be a daunting task (unless your favorite happens to be Tokio Hotel — they’re having no problem racking up the votes). After all, sometimes even the selection committee has a difficult time distinguishing between AWOLNATION and Five Finger Death Punch. Vote for your favorite band, discuss and share on Facebook and Twitter in the MTV Musical March Madness interactive bracket! So with first-round voting open until Sunday (polls close at midnight ET), we’re going to spend the next few days breaking down each Musical March Madness region, starting with the mighty, meaty Midwest, a bracket loaded with meat-and-potatoes rock acts … and, uh, Bon Iver, too. Can the top-seeded Black Keys run the table? Will MMM superpowers My Chemical Romance continue their tradition of deep tournament runs? Or, like last year, will the Midwest go to an upset-minded underdog, like Chevelle or Sum 41? Read on for our picks in each opening-round tilt. #1 The Black Keys vs. #16 AWOLNATION: On the surface, the Keys should win this one with ease. Then again, as any MMM historian will surely tell you, the three-year history of the tournament is littered with jaw-dropping upsets (like #16 the Hold Steady knocking off #1 Nickelback in 2010, or 16th-seeded Sum 41 dumping #1 Arcade Fire last year). Still, with so much momentum — back-to-back breakout albums, a sold-out arena U.S. arena tour — we like Auerbach and Carney over a very game Aaron Bruno. #2 Bon Iver vs. #15 Sum 41: The pride of Eau Claire, Wisconsin, faces off against the pride of Ajax, Ontario, in this opening-round barn-burner. Bon Iver was a surprise second seed in the Midwest (geography was a determining factor, as always), while one could argue that, based on last year’s MMM run alone, Sum 41 should be way higher than a 15 seed. Bad news for the bearded one, we’re taking tourney-tested Sum 41 for the upset. #3 Pearl Jam vs. #14 Five Finger Death Punch: It’s rock legends versus fast-rising, faster-playing metallers here, and though Pearl Jam currently hold a rather-sizeable lead so far, we’re not writing off Five Finger Death Punch just yet. Hard-rock bands tend to do surprisingly well in MMM (they’re fans vote equally hard), which is why, we think by week’s end, it’ll be the Death Punch who roll to round two. #4 U2 vs. #13 Modest Mouse: Last year, U2 were a surprise early exit, losing to eventual champs Green Day in round two, while Modest Mouse have never made it out of the first round of the tourney. Based on that alone, we’re taking Bono and Co. here, though, after one day of voting, this one is still pretty close. #5 My Chemical Romance vs. #12 Death Cab for Cutie: MCR are the only band in MMM history to make the Final Four twice, including a heartbreaking championship-game loss to Coheed and Cambria in 2010. Death Cab? Uh, yeah … they’ve been to the second round. Once. This one won’t even be close: MCR are going far in this tourney. #6 Kid Rock vs. #11 Chevelle: It’s Michigan versus Illinois in this first-round barnburner, which could have been an actual NCAA tournament matchup if Illinois didn’t suck so bad this year. Kid Rock has been getting in touch with his Seger side in recent years, while Chevelle roared back in 2011 with the (actually pretty great) Hats Off to the Bull , and so far, it’s the rockers who hold a commanding lead over the Kid. Can they hold on? We’ll say they do, and advance to the second round. #7 Metallica vs. #10 Guns N’ Roses: A true clash of the titans, this one could go either way (though it hopefully won’t end like the pair’s 1992 Montreal show did, with both James Hetfield and the city set on fire). Understandably, this one is currently the closest matchup in the entire tournament, with the Gunners holding a .02 percent edge. There’s a whole week still to go, but this one might be too close to call. #8 Nickelback vs. #9 Rise Against!: A total style clash in every conceivable way, Rise Against! jumped out to an early lead, but thanks to some feverish tweeting , Nickelback have swung things in their favor. It’s still close, but we think Kroeger and Co. pull it out — if only because we suspect a Black Keys/Nickelback second-rounder will be, uh, interesting . MTV’s 2012 Musical March Madness Tournament is underway! Voting in the first round runs until midnight ET on Sunday, March 18, and winners are determined by fan votes, so if your favorite act made the cut, it’ll be up to you to guide them to glory. You can rally the troops on Twitter using the hashtag #MMM or by downloading one of our custom badges — but get ready, it’s gonna be a war. Related Videos Musical March Madness Returns! Related Photos MTV’s Musical March Madness 2012
‘God, that was a high, high bar to set,’ Lawrence said of her character Katniss’ combustible costume. By Kevin P. Sullivan, with reporting by Josh Horowitz Jennifer Lawrence attends the world premiere of “The Hunger Games” Photo: Getty Images She is the Girl on Fire. The one who won the role from a field of Hollywood’s hottest actresses. She’s Jennifer Lawrence , the center of all the attention when she walked the black carpet at the premiere of “The Hunger Games” Monday night in Los Angeles. The night was the culmination of a storied journey, and Lawrence strolled the carpet with the confidence of the Hunger Games champion, but to the disappointment of just about everyone but Lawrence, she wasn’t on fire. “Was everybody disappointed that I wasn’t set on fire? God, that was a high, high bar to set. ‘Oh, darn it, she didn’t set herself on fire,’ ” she told MTV News’ Josh Horowitz. “That’s unfair. I don’t ever want to have to put myself on fire. Why am I constantly disappointing myself when I’m not putting my life in danger? That’s not right.” Fans, or tributes as they call themselves, camped outside the Nokia Theater for hours just to get a glimpse of the stars of their most anticipated movie. As a thank you, Lawrence went to meet the fans earlier in the day. “It was incredible, such support,” Lawrence said. “It was the least I could do. It was so nice of them.” But even with all the expectations of those fans and the pressure that comes with it, Lawrence insisted that she’s kept a pretty calm head through all of this. “You know me. I never fully absorb anything. I just get through the day,” she said. A bit of a rude awakening for Lawrence, she told MTV News that she found out on the carpet from a different outlet that her training for the next film, “Catching Fire,” begins earlier than she expected. “I’ve just been told from E! that my training schedule starts in June,” she said. “I thought I had a couple months off. I guess not.” But what lethal skills she’ll be taking on for her next appearance at Katniss Everdeen, Lawrence has yet to find out. “I don’t know. I have to go ask E! if I have to brush up on my bow or if we covered that last time or if I have to do agility again,” she said. Check out everything we’ve got on “Hunger Games.” For breaking news and previews of the latest comic book movies — updated around the clock — visit SplashPage.MTV.com . Related Videos Live From ‘The Hunger Games’ Red Carpet Premiere MTV Rough Cut: Jennifer Lawrence
Madge also recalls being ‘extremely envious’ of Whitney Houston in new interview. By Jocelyn Vena Madonna Photo: Jon Furniss/ WireImage Madonna has defied the laws of pop music, sustaining her career decades after it kicked off. And it seems her sensible attitude in part explains her longevity. In an interview with The Sun, when asked about the criticism Adele received from designer Karl Lagerfeld , she had these wise words. “That’s horrible. That’s ridiculous, that’s just the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever heard. I don’t like it when anybody says anything bad about anyone — I don’t like it. Adele’s a great talent and how much she weighs has nothing to do with it,” she said. “The thing for Adele to remember is at the end of the day, whether you rise or fall, it has so much to do with how you sustain yourself and keep your integrity and your inner strength.” Her last bit of advice seems relevant not only to living pop stars, but also to two pop stars we lost in the last year. “It is all about who you surround yourself with — friends and people who really do care about you, and care about your well-being beyond being a superstar. That’s the most important thing,” she said, later addressing the losses of Amy Winehouse and Whitney Houston. “One thing I was struck by with Whitney Houston is I remember she sort of came out as a singer around the same time I did,” Madonna added . “I remember looking at her singing and hearing people talk about her, and just thinking, ‘Oh my God. She’s such a beautiful woman and my God, what an incredible voice. I wish I could sing like that.’ I just remember being extremely envious of her and also touched by her innocence.” Madonna is now focused on the upcoming release of her album MDNA, and she said, “I hope I inspire women and give them strength to deal with life no matter what comes their way.” Related Videos Adele’s ‘Magical’ Road To Success Related Artists Madonna Adele
Funds raised from car’s auction will benefit Save the Children’s efforts in East Africa. By Rob Markman The Maybach in The Throne’s video for “Otis” Photo: Universal It seems that anything Jay-Z or Kanye West touches turns to gold, even their mangled Maybach-mobile. In the most memorable scene from their 2011 “Otis” video , the Throne rode around in a one-of-a-kind Maybach, chopped and screwed to their specifications. Last week, the $350,000 remixed vehicle sold for $60,000 at Phillips de Pury & Company’s New York Contemporary Art Evening Auction. The reason for the seemingly low bid? Well, the ‘Bach isn’t exactly street-ready. The gaudy chop-shop display wasn’t for naught as the proceeds of the sale will go to Save the Children, an organization that fights battles on behalf of children around the world. “Jay-Z and Kanye West are towering figures in contemporary culture. They have greatly contributed to the artificial barriers between art, music, fashion and cinema to come down,” Simon de Pury, chairman of Phillips de Pury and Company, said in a press release . “Their video for ‘Otis’ became an instant classic. The Maybach they have transformed for it has the starring role.” DUB magazine president and co-founder Myles Kovacs estimated that the custom job cost the Throne around $150,000, but by removing the vehicle’s doors, cutting off the roof and switching the bumper and grill, Hov and Yeezy dramatically lowered the value of the car. “The thing is, the value of that car is nothing now, you couldn’t drive it on the street,” he said in an August 2011 MTV News interview . “It would start malfunctioning big time.” If you think of the “Otis” Maybach as a piece of art rather than a fully functioning car, then the $60,000 auction fetch makes more sense. If you consider where the money will be donated, then it’s a huge win. “The funds raised from auctioning off the ‘Otis’ car are greatly needed to help sustain families [in East Africa] over the next several months,” Save the Children President and CEO Carolyn Miles said in the press release. “We are grateful to Jay-Z and Kanye West for offering up pop culture history to do good for children in Africa.” Related Videos JAY Z and Kanye West: “Otis” Playlist Welcome To Jay-Z And Kanye West’s ‘Watch The Throne’ Week Related Photos Related Artists Jay-Z Kanye West
‘Our whole goal was to make something that was hater-proof,’ Mike Posner says of the upcoming single. By James Dinh Justin Bieber Photo: Ethan Miller/ Getty Images The anticipation for Justin Bieber’s brand-new single, “Boyfriend,” which invades radio airwaves March 26, is building. Not only is the track earning early raves from radio jocks, but also the song’s producer, Mike Posner . During an interview last week with radio DJ Bootleg Kev , the R&B supertalent dished about his studio session with the Biebster for “Boyfriend,” the lead single off the pop star’s highly anticipated album, Believe. “I have Bieber’s new single,” Posner said. “I wrote and produced that with him. And wait ’til you hear the beat; you’re going to flip. You’re going to want to play this song. Yes, it’s super hip-hop.” It was only a matter of time until the young Biebs also took his spitting skills to the forefront as Posner admits the 18-year-old superstar raps “a little eight bars” and offers some “crazy” singing afterward on the track. “That was our whole goal, was to make something that was hater-proof,” he continued. Asked about the star’s work ethic, Posner revealed his hesitation, saying, “He’s super talented. At first I didn’t know what to expect because he’s super young, but dude can write.” Baltimore radio host Mick Lee recently spoke about the track, noting the song’s major transition from Bieber’s previous material. “All I’m saying … is wow … so much different than his previous music,” he gushed on the station’s website. “The best way to describe it is a mix of Justin Timberlake ‘Sexy Back’ … ‘NSYNC ‘Girlfriend’ — And get this … he raps … best comparison is it sounds like ‘Wait’ by the Ying Yang Twins.” Are you excited for Bieber’s track “Boyfriend”? Tell us in the comments below! Related Artists Justin Bieber Mike Posner
Black-and-white photos show the two artists reigniting their on-screen chemistry in a ‘minimal’ way. By James Dinh Rihanna and Drake Photo: Lester Cohen/ WireImage Drake and Rihanna get close in the long-awaited clip for the MC’s single, “Take Care,” as shown in video stills that surfaced Monday (March 12). Reigniting their on-screen chemistry, the two chart-toppers are seen holding each other before a blank backdrop. Simplicity seems to be the focus, as the duo sport plain wardrobes in the black-and-white images. ThisIsRNB.com , which first leaked the images, revealed that the clip also features a “group of muscular male performers acting out tribal dance scenes” as well as shots of various animals moving in beat to the Jamie xx-produced tune. News of such a minimalistic and artsy clip isn’t all that surprising, as director Yoann Lemoine revealed to MTV News, “They seemed to be super close and that’s what I wanted for the video. Visually, it’s a very humble video. … It’s not crazy. It’s actually the most indie video I’ve done my whole life. It’s probably the most famous artists, and they were so open to a project that was so minimal.” Lemoine isn’t the only one who had a particular expectation for the visual, but also Drake himself. Back in December, Drizzy Drake admitted that he wanted the clip to be the best of his video catalog. “I want to make it perfect — the best video I’ve done to date — so I’m just taking my time,” he said. “Take Care” serves as the duo’s first video collaboration since Rihanna’s “What’s My Name?” where the pop darling takes a stroll through New York City and embarks on a flirty venture with Drake. What do you think of the “Take Care” stills? Share your comments below! Related Artists Drake Rihanna
Cudi tells MTV News joint project’s #3 chart debut is the best response to ‘naysayers and people that didn’t really believe in it.’ By James Montgomery, with reporting by Matt Elias Kid Cudi Photo: MTV News To call Kid Cudi ‘s WZRD’s a passion project would be an understatement of downright sorcerous proportions. From the moment he and producer/bandmate Dot da Genius conceived the idea of making a rock record — which recently inspired a spate of irate tweets accusing his label of failing to support said record — Cudi hasn’t exactly been shy about expressing his feelings about the band, its self-titled album or the success they’ve had in spite of pretty much everything. “We were recording the last Man on the Moon album at Cudi’s house, and we just finished ‘Trapped in my Mind,’ which is the last song on the album,” Dot explained to MTV News last week. “Cudi wanted to implement guitar. So we got a guitar in the building, he picked it up, started playing and fell in love immediately. And, like a week later, I went back to his house and he was like, ‘Yo, we got to do this.’ ” “I was like, ‘Let’s start a band,’ ” Cudi laughed. ” ‘It’s going to be called WZRD and it’s going to be awesome and it’s going to sell 70,000-plus records its first week, with no promo.’ ” And, yes, that last jab is pretty telling. Because though Cudi backtracked a bit on his previous assessments of Universal Republic’s promotional efforts for WZRD, he’s still clearly enjoying proving everyone wrong. And those first-week sales figures (and #3 debut, the highest of any new album last week ) are only adding to that enjoyment. “I think it definitely proves a point, that there was a method to my madness, that the kids are out there and they want the music. It’s just like a that’s-what-I-f—ing thought -type of thing,” he said. “Not just to the label or whatever — I’m not going to say the label had no faith in the project — just kind of to the naysayers and people that didn’t really believe in it. “It’s not Man on the Moon numbers, but, sh– man, it’s more than we thought,” he continued. “To debut at #3 on the charts, that’s dope, that’s some Man on the Moon sh–. I debuted #3 last album and #4 on the first album, so, you know, it’s dope.” What do you think of the WZRD album? Share your reviews in the comments! Related Artists Kid Cudi
Pop star is also up for three awards, including Favorite Song (“Firework”) and Favorite Female Singer. By John Mitchell Katy Perry Photo: Theo Wargo/ Getty Images Katy Perry is one of the top nominees at the 25th annual Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards , and she’s just announced that she’ll also take the stage at USC’s Galen Center to perform at the awards show on March 31. The pop star, whose Teenage Dream: The Complete Confection special edition album hits stores March 27, is enjoying yet another hit with her new single “Part of Me,” which debuted at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 last month. The song is Perry’s seventh career chart-topper. One of her biggest hits, “Firework,” is up for the Kids’ Choice Award for Favorite Song. She is also nominated for Favorite Female Singer and Favorite Voice in an Animated Movie for her role in “The Smurfs.” “Katy Perry has doubly earned her position as kid favorite — through her music, of course — but also for reveling in an outrageous sliming on the show two years ago,” Marjorie Cohn, president of Original Programming and Development at Nickelodeon, said in a statement. “She works hard and plays hard, and that’s what makes her performance on the KCAs one to look forward to.” Perry will join host Will Smith and a powerhouse roster of celebrity presenters, including Chris Rock, Emma Stone, Andrew Garfield, Zac Efron, Victoria Justice, Big Time Rush and Cee Lo Green. Red-hot boy-band sensation One Direction is also performing at the show. Fans can now vote on who takes home the famous blimp award on the KCA website and on Facebook page. New this year, fans will also be able to vote for their favorite nominees on Twitter through the use of custom hash tags. Get all the info you need to support your favorite stars on Nick.com . The Kids’ Choice Awards air on Nickelodeon on Saturday, March 31 at 8 p.m. Whom are you voting for at the Kids’ Choice Awards? Let us know in the comments section! Related Videos MTV News Extended Play: Katy Perry Related Artists Katy Perry
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