The pop superstar will receive the prize at the 2011 CFDA Fashion Awards on June 6 in New York City. By Jocelyn Vena Lady Gaga Photo: Noel Vasquez/ Getty Images Lady Gaga is certainly known for her eye-popping, always-evolving style, and she has shown her passion for fashion at numerous high-profile events. This hasn’t gone unnoticed by the Council of Fashion Designers of America, as the trade organization announced on Wednesday night that the pop star will be among its 2011 CFDA Fashion Awards winners, the Associated Press reports . Gaga will be presented with the style icon award at this year’s ceremony, which will take place on June 6 in New York City. CFDA president Diane von Furstenberg and executive director Steven Kolb made the announcement at the DVF Studio in the Big Apple, where all the nominations were made public for the event. Also set to be recognized at the CFDA Awards is designer Marc Jacobs, will who will receive the lifetime achievement award. According to von Furstenberg, Jacobs e-mailed her noting that he didn’t think he was old enough for the honor and that he wanted it renamed the “half-lifetime award.” She explained to the fashionistas in the room, “I told him that I’m much older than him and I’m still kicking.” In addition, Jacobs garnered a nomination for the womenswear designer of the year prize, as did Alexander Wang and the design duo Lazaro Hernandez and Jack McCollough of Proenza Schouler. The Olsen twins are also up for an award. They will be competing in the womenswear category for emerging talent for their collection The Row, going up against Prabal Gurung and Joseph Altuzarra. The International Award will go to Phoebe Philo, who designs for Celine and who gets a shout-out from Kanye West on “Dark Fantasy,” the lead cut from his My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy album. Other 2011 CFDA nominees include Wang, Phillip Lim and Robert Geller in the up-and-coming menswear designer category, and Alejandro Ingelmo, Eddie Borgo, Pamella Love and Jason Wu for accessories. Related Photos The Evolution Of: Lady Gaga Lady Gaga’s Greatest Warm Weather Outfits Related Artists Lady Gaga
Sky News became the latest News Corp ( NSDQ: NWS ) property to go gung-ho about tablets on Wednesday when it launched its first iPad app for free, but the app will be wrapped in to BSkyB’s subscription packages “at some stage in the year”. Broadcasting platform : YouTube Source : Paidcontent Discovery Date : 17/03/2011 10:56 Number of articles : 2
To raise money for earthquake relief, Mark Hoppus puts handwritten lyrics and other memorabilia up for sale. By Gil Kaufman Blink-182’s Mark Hoppus Photo: Ethan Miller/ Getty Images Blink-182 are the latest artists to get involved in trying to aid the victims of Japan’s deadly earthquake and tsunami. The reunited pop punk trio’s Mark Hoppus has set up an eBay auction site on which he’s offering up a number of rare items in an effort to raise funds for the survivors of the massive 8.9-magnitude quake that hit the country on Thursday. Singer Hoppus has donated a raft of items, from the original handwritten lyrics sheet for the group’s early hit, “Rock Show,” which is already drawing bids in excess of $17,000, to used backstage passes, the band’s dressing-room sign from the 2000 MTV Video Music Awards and the orange sweater Hoppus wore in the “Dammit” video. At press time all items had gotten significant bids, including a “What’s My Age Again” promo CD ($2,025), the VMA sign ($3,050), the orange sweater ($2,226.99), a hand-painted Blink bunny figurine ($1,000) and the backstage pass ($905). Hoppus announced his intention to raise the funds on Friday, just hours after the quake struck, tweeting , “So sad for what’s happening in Japan. Gonna dig in the bins & find some old blink-182 items to auction for the Red Cross.” He then chronicled each item as it went up and solicited fans for requests on what things they’d be interested in bidding on. Hoppus joined a growing group of artists offering their assistance in raising funds for the Japanese people , including Lady Gaga , Linkin Park’s Mike Shinoda and actor Charlie Sheen. For more information on what you can do to help with earthquake and tsunami relief efforts in Japan, head to MTV Act , or text REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation. Related Artists blink-182
‘Wayne is definitely on his grind crazy right now,’ she tells MTV News of Weezy’s next project. By Alvin Blanco, with reporting by Audrey Kim Nicki Minaj Photo: MTV News When Lil Wayne makes a request, Nicki Minaj delivers. Considering she quickly ascended to rap royalty after Weezy signed her to his Young Money roster, she owes the New Orleans rapper a debt of gratitude. Hip-hop’s Harajuku Barbie recently told MTV News that she has already recorded a verse for her mentor’s new album, Tha Carter IV, due later this year. “I recorded something for Carter IV, and I recorded something with the Birdman recently,” Nicki told MTV News. The Birdman she’s referring to is Bryan “Baby” Williams, Cash Money Records co-founder and CEO, and a recording artist in his own right. Baby’s new album, Bigger Than Life, is due this year as well. Minaj spoke confidently about Wayne’s next album, which has so far spawned a single and video in “6 Foot 7 Foot,” featuring Cory Gunz. “I think Carter IV is gonna just be exceptional, of course,” Nicki said. “I think Wayne is definitely on his grind crazy right now. But yep, my Carter IV verse has been handed in officially.” Over the weekend, “American Idol” judge Jennifer Lopez revealed that Wayne is featured on her next single “I’m Into You,” from her forthcoming Love? album. And on Monday (March 14), Wayne popped up on a rough version of Kanye West’s “All of the Lights (Remix)” that hit the Internet. As for Nicki and Weezy’s new song, fans may get a live preview soon. Minaj will be heading out on the road with Wayne, as well as Rick Ross, Mixmaster Mike and Travis Barker, for the I Am Music II Tour , which kicks off Friday in Buffalo, New York. Are you excited for a new Nicki and Wayne collabo? Let us know in the comments! Related Artists Nicki Minaj Lil Wayne
Yung LA has finally come to his senses and realized that a tattoo of a duck on his face wasn’t exactly a good idea and is having it covered up…Or was he pressured into getting it covered? The duck that was inked on the side of Yung LA’s face is also the logo for Duct Tape Records, a label that the rapper isn’t even affiliated with. AllHipHop’s rumors section is saying that the label had pressured Yung LA to “do the right thing” and get the tat covered up. So, Yung LA got the tat covered… and made a music video out of it… kinda… WARNING: EXPLICIT CONTENT RELATED: Yung LA Gets Duck Tattooed On His Face [VIDEO] RELATED: Fan Gets Ice Cream Tattoo Like Gucci Mane RELATED: Gucci Mane’s Tattoo Artist Will Not Do Big Facial Tats Anymore RELATED: Gucci Mane Gets Ice Cream Cone Tattooed On Face; Manager Denies He Was In Mental Institution
Lil Wayne’s upcoming Tha Carter IV album is one of the most anticipated albums of the year. But we don’t know if this new song that leaked, “We Back Soon,” will be on it. Take a listen! WARNING: EXPLICIT CONTENT RELATED: Lil Wayne & Drake Collab Album Could Drop By End Of 2011 [VIDEO] RELATED: Lil Wayne Feat. Cory Gunz “6’7″ [NEW VIDEO] RELATED: 10-Year-Old Girls Calls Out Lil Wayne In “Open Letter” [VIDEO]
Our 2011 tournament begins on March 14, but early favorites Linkin Park already proclaim, ‘We’re winners. That’s our motto.’ By James Montgomery Linkin Park Photo: Warner Bros. Last year, whether it was due to oversight by the selection committee or just plain bias, Linkin Park did not make the field of 65 bands that competed in MTV’s inaugural Musical March Madness tournament. In the end, after weeks of fiercely contested matchups , more than 2 million votes and precisely one accusation of cheating, it was Coheed and Cambria that ended up taking home the championship, shocking the world and inspiring this hilarious photograph in the process. And while we’re not going to discount the valiant efforts of Coheed and their fervent fanbase — after all, winners were determined by fan voting — we couldn’t help but wonder if things would’ve turned out differently had Linkin Park made the tournament in the first place. They are, after all, one of the biggest rock acts on the planet, commanding a vast (and loyal) army of fans that most certainly would’ve carried them to the Final Four … at least. So this year, we’re determined to put that claim to the test. Because while we’ll reveal our full 2011 MTV Musical March Madness bracket on Monday (March 14), we’re going to let it slip right now that not only did Linkin Park make the field this year, they’ll enter the 2011 tournament at a very high seed. This is what happens when you release a jaw-dropping, envelope-pushing album, A Thousand Suns, and then convince the entire world to listen . So, does Linkin Park have what it takes to claim the 2011 MMM Championship? We decided to ask them, and as it turns out, they’ve already got their game plan in place. “Well, I think what we’re going to have to do is, we’re going to have to be smart about our offense, we’re going to have to have a tough defense,” Chester Bennington said. “We’re going to put a lot of pressure on the other bands, to really perform at their best. Because, you know, our motto is ‘Go hard all the time.’ Whether we win or lose, we’re winners. That’s our motto.” That’s actually two mottos, but who’s counting. And though they’re already planning on bringing the pressure — Brad Delson is a master of the full-court press — Linkin Park are focused on one thing, and one thing only: hoisting the hardware on April 5. “We want to win,” Mike Shinoda smiled. “We want to win,” Bennington added. “So basically, we’ll let these guys come in and play hard, but we’re going to want to kick their asses. And that’s just how it goes.” MTV’s 2011 Musical March Madness Tournament begins on Monday, March 14, when we reveal the full field of 65 bands that will battle for the championship. 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 … but get ready, it’s gonna be a war. Related Artists Linkin Park
Our experts weigh in on the top 12 men, also naming Paul McDonald and Scotty McCreery as standouts. By Gil Kaufman Casey Abrams Photo: FOX Of course it’s too early to start handicapping who might win season 10 of “American Idol,” but that’s never stopped us before. After a lackluster first night on the big stage for the top 12 men on Tuesday, we decided to ask a few of our “Idol” experts who they thought nailed it and who appears to have what it takes to win the whole thing. First, we turned to noted producer Howard Benson (My Chemical Romance, All-American Rejects, Flyleaf), who worked with “Idol” alum Chris Daughtry on his band’s smash 2006 debut, who said he was impressed with sudden front-runner Jacob Lusk and Casey Abrams . “I think Casey’s one of the best ones left, and Jacob is amazing,” said Benson, who started watching the show intently after working with Daughtry. “Casey’s definitely got a Mumford & Sons thing going on, and there’s an opening for that quirkiness out there. I don’t know if he can write his own material, so it’s a matter of where you get him and how you produce him.” But he said he could see Lusk, who was compared to late soul icon Luther Vandross during Tuesday’s show, selling millions of albums if he did the right kind of album given the lack of a traditional gospel/soul-influenced R&B crooner on the scene at the moment. He was unimpressed with karaoke DJ Clint Jun Gamboa, whom he predicted would be gone soon, and said Brett Loewenstern’s cover of the Doors’ “Light My Fire” was horrifying. “I thought Jim Morrison would have been there he would have killed him,” he said of the late Doors singer. “I’ve never heard anything so bad in my life. He doesn’t stand a chance.” Benson, who has worked with Adam Lambert, said James Durbin looked a bit too much like the former glammy “Idol” runner-up, but didn’t live up to Adam’s vocals and was too shrieky. He also thought Jordan Dorsey blew it when he folded right away and agreed when the judges said he picked the wrong song with “OMG” by Usher. “The minute he caved in so quickly, I thought, ‘He’ll never survive.’ You can’t do that.” Two dark horses he picked as ones to watch are Tim Halperin and Paul McDonald, whom he dubbed potential stars. “They’re good-looking and have good voices, and with the right material, you could definitely make some good records with those guys.” He tagged 16-year-old country crooner Scotty McCreery as a potential wild card. Though he wondered whether S.C. could survive rounds when he had to sing something besides country, Benson said he would sign the high-schooler “tomorrow” just on his attitude, honesty and self-assured vocals. “The best thing that could happen to him is if he signed a contract tomorrow and he goes off and makes a record.” MTV’s own “Idol” impresario, Jim Cantiello, said Tuesday’s show was definitely a case of “strange vs. range.” The performances were so all-over–the-place that Cantiello said he’s starting to wonder if producers have a nefarious plan for this year’s male singers. “I wonder if producers are stacking the deck with wildly offbeat male performers so that the female singers have a chance to stand out with their vocals,” he said. “Think about it: Every highlight in the guy’s show was a left-of-center ‘Idol’ oddity.” After three years in a row of male winners, Cantiello pointed to the unusual performances on the show, including Loewenstern’s “fidgety” Doors cover, Durbin’s “shrieky” Judas Priest bit, McDonald’s Russell Brand-swaggering stage show and Abrams’ “junkyard-dog impression,” and wondered what the plan was. “At this point, I find it hard to believe that Abrams, while engaging and entertaining so far, will be able to survive all the way to the finale,” he said. “He’ll have to show new angles of his crazy before the judges and viewers turn against him.” As for Lusk, while previous gospel guys like season nine’s Jermaine Sellers and season three’s George Huff didn’t have the vocal-aerobics abilities of Lusk, Jim noted that the “Idol” voting patterns have changed quite a bit since season-three winner Fantasia’s histrionics propelled her to the top. “I won’t be surprised if mainstream viewers flee Jacob’s over-the-top dynamics and Casey’s gonzo commitment before the confetti falls,” he said. Popdust writer Maura Johnston is keeping her eye on Halperin, whom she thinks has some Josh Groban-type potential and could have really leaped into the lead if he’d picked a better song on Tuesday night. “It didn’t show off his power,” she said of his Rob Thomas cover. “And he seemed awkward onstage.” She also thought Stefano Langone showed promise by picking a contemporary song (Bruno Mars’ “Just the Way You Are”), which he dedicated to the ladies in the audience in what she dubbed a nice, savvy touch. And though she sometimes forgets that Abrams is only 19 because he comes off much older and more experienced, she said he seems to have a spark that plays well on the “Idol” stage and could work on radio. As for McCreery, she wasn’t feeling him. “He’s very one-note,” she said. “He has me lamenting that they’re doing decades and not theme nights this year. Could you imagine him on disco night?” Do you agree with our experts? Which guys do you think are killing it so far? Let us know in the comments below! Don’t miss “Idol Party Live” at 10 p.m. Thursday on MTV.com, following the “American Idol” results show, for analysis, celebrity guests and even some karaoke. In the meantime, get your “Idol” fix on MTV News’ “American Idol” page , where you’ll find all the latest news, interviews and opinions. Related Photos ‘American Idol’ Season 10 Top 24 ‘American Idol’ Season 10 Performances
Source: VEVO Judging by the above promo clip, it looks like Kanye West and friends will be returning to SXSW this year. The show goes down at midnight on March 19th at the Power Station in Austin, TX. We’ll most certainly be there during the whole week running around with cameras and t-shirts. More news Broadcasting platform : YouTube Source : illRoots Discovery Date : 28/02/2011 22:45 Number of articles : 3
‘I haven’t been hired for anything so I may hire myself to write some music,’ says ‘The Social Network’ star. By James Dinh Justin Timberlake Photo: Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images Time and time again, Justin Timberlake , busy with acting, has said that he wasn’t ready to return to the world of music . But with no forthcoming film gigs on his plate, it appears that the multi-talent is finally ready to make some new tunes. “I think I may spend some time in the studio this summer,” the 30-year-old singer/actor told E! Online ‘s Marc Malkin at this year’s Academy Awards. As for why 2011 is the year to return to his musical roots, J.T. explained that it’s all a matter of scheduling as he hasn’t signed on to any other project. “I’m unemployed right now,” he admitted. “I haven’t been hired for anything so I may hire myself to write some music. … It’s right around the corner.” While Timberlake hasn’t put out a solo album since 2006’s FutureSex/LoveSounds, the pop star has collaborated with a range of other artists, including Madonna, Rihanna and Ciara, on their material. In November, Drake also teased a possible collaboration with the pop megastar, saying, “I’ve always wanted to work with him and it’s in the works right now; me and Justin Timberlake will probably have a song soon.” Just a few months ago, Timberlake opened up about his fans’ response to his shifting career trajectory. “They’re looking at me like, ‘Why aren’t you staying with one path?’ ” he told the Los Angeles Times. “They look at me like I’m ungrateful for my music career because I want to do film.” The pop star explained that he wanted to hold off on recording new music to develop his ideas. “I want to conceptualize something a little bit more,” he said. “And it’s probably because of the experience I’m having working with directors and screenwriters and getting to play cool characters. If that means I come up with, like, my version of ‘Ziggy Stardust,’ so be it. Who knows? What I’ve learned from acting in movies, I want to apply to music and see what happens.” Who should J.T. collaborate with on his new album? Share your suggestions below! Related Artists Justin Timberlake
