Bon Jovi finds a country "Home," makes chart history (Reuters)

May 5, 2006

Bon Jovi lead singer Jon Bon Jovi performs before the running of the Daytona 500 at the Daytona International Speedway, February 19, 2006. The band has reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 four times in its hit-studded career. But recently, it notched a first -- landing atop Billboard's Hot Country Songs chart. (Marc Serota/Reuters)Reuters - Bon Jovi has reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 four times in its hit-studded career. But recently, it notched a first -- not just for the band, but for music history. The hit "Who Says You Can't Go Home" made Bon Jovi the first rock band to land atop Billboard's Hot Country Songs chart -- a position it now holds for a second week.


Album sales volume lags despite chart's busy top five (Reuters)

May 5, 2006

Bruce Springsteen performs with the Seeger Sessions Band at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival in New Orleans, April 30, 2006. The Boss rides in at No. 3 on the billboard charts this week with his mining of Pete Seeger's repertoire, 'We Shall Overcome: The Seeger Sessions.' The album has been supported by a long and well-orchestrated press campaign, its visibility aided by his performance of the album's material at the New Orleans festival. (Lee Celano/Reuters)Reuters - If you've seen "A Mighty Wind," the excellent 2003 parody film, the contrast between the Billboard 200's action-packed top 10 and the tracking week's lackluster numbers may lead you to mimic the stock line frequently exclaimed by Fred Willard's "Wind" character: "Wha' happened?"


Billboard album reviews: Chili Peppers, Gnarls Barkley (Reuters)

May 5, 2006

Red Hot Chili Peppers singer Anthony Kiedis (R) and bassist 'Flea' perform in Bilbao, April 18, 2006. Twenty-three years into their career, the Chili Peppers are distilling the ecstasy of their live shows into 24 new songs, 'Stadium Arcadium.' REUTERS/Vincent WestReuters - NEW YORK (Billboard) - "Stadium" is the word, and the message is loud and clear.


Billboard singles reviews: Anna Nalick, Toby Keith (Reuters)

May 5, 2006

Reuters - It is unfortunate that it took prime-time exposure on TV's "Grey's Anatomy" to convince radio that Anna Nalick's "Breathe (2 a.

Fats Domino Back on Stage for Jazz Fest (AP)

May 5, 2006

Hall of Fame performer Fats Domino poses for a photograph at his new post-Katrina home in Harvey, La., on Thursday, May 4, 2006, in this photo taken by family friend Colleen Kerrigan. Fats will be performing at Sunday's closing of the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival.(AP Photo/Colleen Kerrigan)AP - Sitting at a keyboard in the bedroom of his post-Katrina home in this New Orleans suburb, a smiling Fats Domino joked, laughed and tenderly sang to a handful of close friends.


Littrell goes from Backstreet to faith-based music (Reuters)

May 5, 2006

Reuters - When the term "crossover" is used in conjunction with Christian music, it usually refers to a Christian act that has won success in the mainstream market, such as Amy Grant, Switchfoot or MercyMe. With the release of "Welcome Home" this month, Backstreet Boy Brian Littrell will make something of a reverse commute as he moves from multiplatinum pop music success to newcomer in the Christian field.

Q&A: Roger Waters revisits Pink Floyd's "Dark Side" (Reuters)

May 5, 2006

Reuters - On March 17, 1973, a band in musical transition named Pink Floyd hit the Top 200 chart with the release of its new album, "Dark Side of the Moon." It entered the chart at No. 95, the top debut that week. And then a funny thing happened: It never left.

Michael Jackson Angry at GQ Magazine (AP)

May 5, 2006

Larry Feldman, left, attorney for a boy accusing Michael Jackson of molestation, and Bert Fields, an attorney for Jackson, take part in a pretrial hearing in a Santa Monica, Calif., court in this Nov. 23, 1993 file photo. When A-list stars have legal troubles or need to negotiate seven-figure movie deals, they often turn to powerhouse attorney Fields. The 77-year-old legal legend has built a reputation as one of the most feared litigators in Hollywood while working for Jackson, Tom Cruise, Steven Spielberg and other celebrities. Now, it's Fields who may need help. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)AP - A recent GQ article spoofing Michael Jackson has the singer demanding the magazine apologize and pull the issue from circulation.


Juliana Hatfield side project releasing new album (Reuters)

May 5, 2006

Reuters - Veteran indie rocker Juliana Hatfield's side project Some Girls will release its second album July 11.

Katrina Gives Ironic Boost for Musicians (AP)

May 5, 2006

AP - It's not as if New Orleans' Queen of Soul, Irma Thomas, was searching for work before Hurricane Katrina hit.

Rap Mogul Knight Details Business Woes (AP)

May 5, 2006

Rap producer Marion 'Suge' Knight  watches the 3rd annual BET Awards in Los Angeles in this June 24, 2003 file photo. (AP Photo/Kevork Djansezian, FILE)AP - Rap music mogul Suge Knight testified Friday that his Death Row Records struggled after he was jailed several times and hit with a $107 million judgment in a case by a couple claiming they helped start the label.


Celine Dion Into Working Mom Role (AP)

May 5, 2006

Celine Dion performs at Caesars Palace hotel-casino in Las Vegas on Sunday, April 30, 2006.  The singer has a more than $100 million contract to perform at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas through 2007. She will put on her 500th show at Caesars on Sunday, a benefit production that will raise $1 million for 10 local charities.  (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)AP - Celine Dion has become a working mom. She heads to work four to five times a week and explains to her son, Rene-Charles, why mommy has to leave. "I'll sing as fast as I can and I'll call you, OK?" she sometimes tells her 5 year old.


Nick Lachey Brings the Pain (AP)

May 5, 2006

AP - Nick Lachey, "What's Left of Me" (Jive)

Madonna Stars in 58-Page Photo Spread (AP)

May 5, 2006

This photo, supplied by W magazine, shows the cover of the June issue with Madonna in  equestrian-inspired garb, complete with a riding crop and fishnet stockings.  The Material Girl/Mom, who broke nine bones in a horse riding accident last year, stars with six Andalusian stallions in a 58-page photo spread by Steven Klein. (AP Photo/W magazine)AP - Madonna is back in the saddle again.


Billy Joel to release live set from MSG stand (Reuters)

May 5, 2006

Reuters - Although details are still coming together, Bill Joel is eyeing a June 13 release for "12 Gardens Live," a double-disc souvenir of his record-breaking 12-night sell-out run at New York's Madison Square Garden.

Metallica avoiding battles on new album (Reuters)

May 5, 2006

Metallica's James Hetfield (front) and his band perform at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York March 13, 2006. Five years ago, Hetfield would not have been awake or sober enough to get into the studio at 9 a.m., but that's where he's frequently found himself as work continues on Metallica's new album. But things have changed for Hetfield, who has been sober for nearly five years. (Mike Segar/Reuters)Reuters - Five years ago, James Hetfield would not have been awake or sober enough to get into the studio at 9 a.m., but that's where he's frequently found himself as work continues on Metallica's new album.


Cheap Trick set to issue first album in 3 years (Reuters)

May 5, 2006

Reuters - Cheap Trick will return on June 6 with "Rockford," an album named after the veteran rock act's Illinois hometown.

Top Five New Orleans Jazz Fest Highlights (Yahoo! Music)

May 5, 2006

Yahoo! Music - The smell of rich crawfish Monica, fried gator, and sweet rosehip iced tea wafted from the New Orleans fairgrounds, as gospel, jazz, zydeco, and funk music all blended into one.

Pearl Jam rocks New York with special shows (Reuters)

May 5, 2006

Reuters - Pearl Jam stuck around Thursday night after taping a song for CBS' "The Late Show With David Letterman" to play a 10-song set inside New York's Ed Sullivan Theater for members of its fan club. The performance was cybercast on the "Late Show" Web site and featured six tracks from Pearl Jam's just-released new self-titled album.

Fats Domino Revved Up for Jazz Fest (AP)

May 5, 2006

AP - Sitting at a keyboard in the bedroom of his post-Katrina home in this New Orleans suburb, a smiling Fats Domino joked, laughed and tenderly sang to a handful of close friends.

London Philharmonic Picks Russian Maestro (AP)

May 5, 2006

AP - Vladimir Jurowski, a fast-rising 34-year-old conductor, has been appointed principal conductor of the London Philharmonic beginning in the 2007-2008 season, succeeding Kurt Masur.

T.I. Resuming Tour Halted by Shooting (AP)

May 5, 2006

Rap artist T.I. sits courtside at the Milwaukee Bucks-Detroit Pistons Game 2 of the Eastern Conference first-round NBA playoff basketball game in Auburn Hills, Mich., in this Wednesday, April 26, 2006 file photo. T.I., whose real name is Clifford Harris, plans to resume his national tour in New Orleans on Tuesday, May 9, 2006, a week after the fatal shooting of his personal assistant and the wounding of three others in the rapper's entourage following a show in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)AP - T.I. plans to resume his national tour in New Orleans on Tuesday, a week after the fatal shooting of his personal assistant and the wounding of three others in the rapper's entourage following a show in Cincinnati.


Beatles engineer tells inside story with new book (Reuters)

May 5, 2006

A girl looks up at a portrait of John Lennon, December 8, 2005. A controversial television seance airing on Monday will claim it has reached the spirit of Lennon, but viewers will have to pay $9.95 to find out what the peace-loving Beatle has to say. (Toshiyuki Aizawa/Reuters)Reuters - There haven't been many people who can say that there was a time when they had had enough and decided to quit working for The Beatles.