FreedomFest is the biggest annual conference for libertarians, held in July in Las Vegas. About 2,000 believers in free minds and free markets came out to see featured speakers such as Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.), former New Mexico governor and Republican presidential hopeful Gary Johnson, Whole Foods co-founder John Mackey, Fox Business’ Judge Andrew Napolitano, PayPal founder Peter Thiel, Broadcasting platform : YouTube Source : Big Government Discovery Date : 22/07/2011 16:32 Number of articles : 2
‘American Idol’ finalist promises MTV News upcoming debut will have ‘edgy, fun, soulful’ songs with assists from star producers. By Gil Kaufman Pia Toscano Photo: FOX When people say they’ve been waiting their whole life for a particular moment, Pia Toscano knows exactly what they mean. The 22-year-old, ninth-place finisher on season 10’s “American Idol” has been grinding away at her musical dream since she was 13, and after all those years of rejection and false starts, she’s finally feeling like things are going her way. “I can’t believe it, I really can’t believe it,” she told MTV News of her rebound from a disappointing finish on her fifth try at “Idol.” She’s now signed to a major-label deal with Interscope Records and has booked studio time with some of the most sought-after producers in the business. Though her country/pop-leaning first single, breakup tune “This Time,” seems like it encroaches a bit on the territory of teen “Idol” runner-up Lauren Alaina and maybe even winner Scotty McCreery, Toscano promises that’s not the direction she’s headed. “That song sounds kind of country, but [the album’s] not just one thing, not pop or R&B,” she said while making her way through the airport on the way to an Idols Live! tour date. “It will be pop with an R&B influence, with an edge. It will be soulful and powerful.” Had she not been bumped from the competition so shockingly early , Toscano said viewers would have realized that she had much more in her bag of tricks than the power ballads she sang on the show. “It’s funny, you’re labeled as one thing on the show … and ‘American Idol’ opened up tons of doors for me and allowed me the opportunity to be signed to Interscope, but before I got on there, I was writing my own stuff and not doing a lot of ballads,” she said, explaining that those diva numbers were what best suited her vocally on the show. And not only does she not blame the audience for seeming to get it wrong by booting her, Toscano said her early exit may have been a blessing in disguise. “If I had made it a week further, I may not have gotten signed by Interscope,” she said. “I got [to] working immediately, doing demos for [Interscope boss] Jimmy [Iovine] and I had to work for him to pick me up and sign me.” Contrary to some early erroneous reports, Toscano said she was not signed to Interscope immediately, but had to get in the studio and prove herself. Once Iovine signed off, Toscano said the dream really began to take shape as she got to work with songwriter Ester Dean, who wrote “This Time,” after giving the world such hits as Rihanna’s “Rude Boy” and “S&M” and Nicki Minaj’s “Superbass.” But more important, Toscano has logged studio time with two producers she’s dreamed of working with for years. One of the biggest is Rodney Jerkins (Michael Jackson, Brandy, Beyonc
Chris Brown performed on The Today Show this morning and set a record when 18,000 fans showed up to watch him kill the stage. Team Breezy was outside waiting for Chris Brown since yesterday, many of them camped out and held signs that said Team Breezy. Chris Brown delivered a killer performance as usual, performing several of his hits. Check out the video below! Recent Post: Are Chris Brown & Drake Beefing Over Rihanna On “Marvin’s Room”? Tyga ft. Chris Brown “Snapbacks Back” [MUSIC VIDEO]
Beyonce’s dad Mathew Knowles is blaming his daughter’s business partners for negative things said about him recently. Mathew filed papers in a Texas court this week alleging that members of her camp have made “negative comments” about him. Earlier this week, it was reported that Mathew stole money from his daughter Beyonce . However, in an interview with the Associated Press yesterday, he denied the claim, saying: “We absolutely have not taken any money from Beyonce, and all dollars will be accounted for. In no way have we stole money. Again, this [is] about the people who have made these claims — they have to come into the light.” Read more excerpts from the interview below: On his current relationship with his daughter: The relationship with Beyonce is extremely amicable. I want to make that clear. On her business partners: Where there’s concern is the people that she’s doing business with. I’m challenging all of these folks on integrity, professional integrity. The team ironically appeared to be a cross-pollination of Beyonce’s team, Roc Nation’s team, and Live Nation’s team, who ironically have the most to gain. I’ll let people come to their own conclusion. On finding a solution: The only way we will be able to understand this is through a court of law. That’s the only way either one of us will be clear if someone in our camps did something that was not correct. On if he and Beyonce have spoken since she fired him: We have not had that conversation. Beyonce’s Dad Mathew Knowles Denies Stealing Money From His Daughter Beyonce Drops Her Father As Manager, Jay-Z To Step In [RUMOR] Beyonce & Dad Mathew Knowles Announce Management Split: “Business Is Business” Michelle Williams Has Finally Dumped Matthew Knowles AKA Beyonce’s Daddy
Watch this beautiful video about Brazenhead Books, a secret bookstore that’s been tucked away in Michael Seidenberg’s apartment on the Upper East Side ever since the rent for his original retail space in Brooklyn was quadrupled. (Jonathan Lethem used to work there.) “This would have not been my ideal,” he says. “I wouldn’t have thought… Read More » Broadcasting platform : Vimeo Source : The Paris Review Discovery Date : 12/07/2011 21:26 Number of articles : 2
LONDONDERRY, N.H. (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — If you have a video on your website, your company is 50 times more likely to land on the first page of Google than websites without video, according to Dr. Sharon Livingston. Broadcasting platform : YouTube Source : Send2Press Newswire Discovery Date : 12/07/2011 21:47 Number of articles : 5
In Eastbound and Down, Kenny Powers has stood atop the worlds of baseball and pure assholery. (If that wasn’t a word, it is now.) His latest achievement is to land as king of the hill in the business of sports apparel. Kenny Powers is now the CEO of K-Swiss, and he’s going to destroy the world of product marketing and branding, the better to rebuild it in his own image. His approach to business is… Broadcasting platform : YouTube Source : /Film Discovery Date : 11/07/2011 18:15 Number of articles : 2
Essence magazine features Amar’e Stoudemire and 3 other sexy, single Black athletes in it’s latest August 2011 issue. Inside, Amar’e speaks on his biggest passion, clothing line and how he gives back to the community, as other athletes James Ihedigbo, Curtis Granderson and Kerron Clement pose for the camera, as well. On how he gives back to the community My foundation is helping to cure poverty through education, especially in the hood. Everyone needs to see the link between education and getting a better job. On what you’d be surprised to know about him I read a lot. I wanted to be a teacher when I was growing up. I still consider it after I retire. On his biggest passion (besides basketball and education, of course) ! Fashion, I love Tom Ford button-downs and his tailored suits. Whenever I’m dressed up, it gives me a positive energy. On the outfit a woman can wear to turn his head Anything from my women’s fashion line with Rachel Roy, due out this fall. Our clothes are comfortable and sexy, perfect for looking great on your way to a game. Have Amar’e & Ciara Already Broken Up? Should Ciara Be Worried About Amar’e Stoudemire’s Business Partner Rachel Roy?
‘I’m like, ‘OK, let’s keep it professional!’ ‘ the ‘Hills’ alum recalls thinking on her new VH1 show. By Jocelyn Vena, with reporting by Vanessa WhiteWolf Heidi Montag Photo: MTV News On Sunday night, Heidi Montag made her return to the reality TV world on VH1’s latest entry into the genre, “Famous Food.” On the show, Montag competes against other celebrities to open up a restaurant in Los Angeles that would be called, as the title says, Famous Food. The show’s cast includes famed call girl Ashley Dupre, Three 6 Mafia’s DJ Paul and Juicy J, “The Bachelor” star Jake Pavelka, “Sopranos” actor Vincent Pastore and feisty “Real Housewives of New Jersey” alum Danielle Staub. What may surprise viewers, though, is which of the celebs end up becoming friends … and then some. “There were some shocking alliances, a little too close for some people,” Montag dished to MTV News. “I’m like, ‘OK, let’s keep it professional!’ And really just people I would never expect [to make alliances, did].” Of course, that might sound like a pretty shocking statement coming from Montag, who while on MTV’s “The Hills” married Spencer Pratt , the hit reality show’s biggest bad guy. But that’s all history. These days, Heidi’s focused on showing fans her business savvy. “It was really important for me and very exciting to win a potential partnership at the end of the show,” she said of wanting to take the prize, which is a stake in the restaurant. “I’m very excited to be a part of the show,” she added. “And I knew it was going to be a great experience and something different, very different from anything I’ve ever done.” Did you catch “Famous Food”? Tell us what you thought in the comments!
Pioneering pop&B boy band chop it up with MTV News about their reunion. By Rebecca Thomas New Edition perform at the Essence music festival Photo: Getty Images NEW ORLEANS — Don’t let the fancy footwork fool you: Bobby Brown says it took him two years to get back enough “muscle memory” to pull off the smoove moves that earned his group, New Edition , a permanent place in the annals of boy bands. OK, maybe not two years, but Brown — whose shirtless onstage dancing once got him arrested, during his ’90s heyday, in the state of Georgia — admitted it took some time when we caught up with him and his bandmates at last weekend’s 2011 Essence Music Festival . “It didn’t take two years, but it took a little while to get back into, you know, not moving the way I used to move and get the steps and start dancing back on my toes instead of flat-footed,” the onetime R&B bad boy laughed as he demonstrated a little shuffle. “Bobby got on shoes. Let me tell you, he ain’t had shoes onstage for the last 20 years,” group heartthrob Ralph Tresvant teased the sneaker-rocking Brown. “So that’s a testament to his dedication.” “It’s a lot of things that I’m capable of doing, but New Edition steps, whether you think so or not, they’re probably one of the hardest things in dance that you could do,” Brown added. In the ’80s, those steps, paired with soulful vocals, took five young boys from a Boston ‘hood to music-industry superstardom. Now celebrating 30 years in the business, New Edition — Ronnie DeVoe, Ricky Bell, Michael Bivins, Tresvant, Brown and Johnny Gill (the only non-Bostonian brought into the fold in the ’90s to take over for Brown) — put their indelible street stamp on the boy-band hustle. And their influence rolls on — whether the bubblegum pop of their 1983 Candy Girl debut or the boys-to-men songs of their classic Heart Break album. Case in point, sought-after producer Jim Jonsin told MTV News this month that he would reference the New Edition sound for Justin Bieber ‘s next album. Backstage at the Superdome, the still-dapper guys, now in their early 40s, chatted with their arms flung around each other. In three decades, they’ve endured more than a few ups and downs — self-imposed hiatuses, label changes and infighting — and even spawned successful solo careers and subgroups like Bell Biv DeVoe. But gathered on this Fourth of July weekend in the Big Easy, they found they could recapture that magic, reducing grown women to squealing tweens. “Through the love of just being around each other for many years and trusting that we were just gonna be there for each other, we were able to let [individual projects] go for a minute and jump out that car and jump into this one,” Tresvant, in a stylish tan fedora, explained. So could an album be in the works? “We got a New Edition album in the making,” Brown revealed. “We’re thinking about it, we’re talking about it, and it all starts with us, just thinking about making some good music together. … I’m just glad to be a part of this and I’m proud to be a part of this.” Share your memories of New Edition in the comments! Related Artists New Edition
