Simon Cowell:Perez Hilton ‘could work’ on ‘Idol’

Simon Cowell says neither Howard Stern nor Madonna is the right choice to take his place on American Idol.

In a press call yesterday evening, he dismissed talk about Stern and doubted Madonna would have the time, but said gossip blogger Perez Hilton, who has his own music label under Warner Music Group, might be a good fit.

“Perez would be funny,” Cowell said. “He’s got good taste in music, he’s got a personality, that could work.”

And he would love to have Lady Gaga as a mentor for the contestants. “She is the most relevant pop artist in the world right now,” said Cowell. “And she’s very smart. I like her.”

USA TODAY

Susan Boyle is a Top Seller This Season

Ms. Boyle’s album, “I Dreamed a Dream” (Syco/Columbia), sold 701,000 copies in the United States, according to Nielsen SoundScan, the biggest opening-week sales for any album this year, eclipsing superstars like Eminem and U2, and the best for a debut artist since Snoop Dogg’s “Doggystyle” in 1993.

Only 6 percent of the sales for “I Dreamed a Dream” were digital downloads, far below the industry’s overall ratio of physical to digital sales. As recently as three years ago CDs — which are more profitable for record labels than downloads are — accounted for 94 percent of the market. But by the middle of this year that share had slipped to about 77 percent. The previous week’s No. 1 release, John Mayer’s “Battle Studies” (Columbia), sold a notable 45 percent of its opening-week 286,000 copies digitally.

For many in the music industry Ms. Boyle’s sales are a reminder of a large and often forgotten audience: older listeners who, whether they are less tech-savvy than younger consumers or they simply prefer to hold purchases in their hands, favor CDs over downloads.

“The reason that this record really did what it did,” Steve Barnett, chairman of Columbia Records, said in a telephone interview on Wednesday, “was that people wanted to get it and own it, to feel like they’re a part of it.”

At Hastings Entertainment, which operates 154 large music and media stores throughout the United States, “I Dreamed a Dream” was the top seller last week, and Kevin Ball, the company’s vice president for marketing, said he expected the album to remain its No. 1 through the holiday season. “The demo of the customer for this CD in Hastings stores tends to be the adult music lovers who have traditionally purchased their music on CDs,” Mr. Ball said.

Read More at the NY Times

News Update: Brit Brit Lip-Synchs

Virginia Judge, the Minister for Fair Trading for New South Wales in Australia, has gotten on her blow horn and shouted to her fellow to think twice about dropping cash on a Brit Brit concert. Virginia, who just got back from a 15-year vacation from a Kangaroo’s pouch, wants everyone to know that Our Lady of Cheetos pulls an Ashlee Simpson at all her concerts.

According to People, Virginia issued this statement: “It is Britney’s ‘prerogative’ to lip-sync, and it is my job to make sure consumers know what they are paying for up front. Personally I would rather see a live set from a local artist, but I am sure Britney’s fans will be treated to a spectacular show.”

Virginia Judge went on to say that the organizers should put disclaimers on all promo materials and tickets.

D LISTED

More Chris Brown / Rihanna Interviews

Chris Brown has something to say about ex-girlfriend Rihanna’s revealing interview with ABC’s Diane Sawyer, in which the singer spoke frankly about the Feb. 8 incident in which he assaulted her.

“While I respect Rihanna’s right to discuss the specific events of February 8,” Brown says in a statement to MTV News, “I maintain my position that all of the details should remain a private matter between us.”

In the Diane Sawyer interview, Rihanna said that Brown, 20, put her in a headlock twice and bit her on the ear and fingers. “He had no soul in his eyes,” Rihanna, 21, told Sawyer. “He was clearly blacked out.”

And the singer — whose new album Rated R drops later this month — explained why she is speaking so publicly. “I knew I had to do this in order to move on for me and in order for my fans to move on . . . I don’t want that five years from now every time they see Rihanna, they think of Chris Brown beating me. That’s not who I am.”

She also wishes her ex well in the interview.

In his statement today, Brown continued, “I do appreciate [Rihanna's] support and wish her the best. I am extremely sorry for what I did, and I accept accountability for my actions . . . Abuse of any kind is always wrong. The rest I leave it to God.”

Brown was sentenced to five years of probation, six months of community service and one year of domestic violence counseling.

US MAGAZINE

Queen Latifah ‘Poker Face’ Rap Version (Audio)

Queen Latifah ‘Poker Face’ Freestyle Rap Video

Queen Latifa did a version of Poker Face in which she does a freestyle rap over the great Lady GaGa track.

Check it out above, it’s a little raw and unmixed sounding but the lyrics and flava are pretty good.

Beyonce ‘I Am…’ 2009 World Tour Performances: Video Footage (HQ)

Check out this Beyonce I AM Sasha Fierce World Tour 2009 video MEGA POST. The videos are all live footage of Beyonce singing on stage on her current I Am… world tour, at Seattle Key Arena 04.01.09.

(HD) AT LAST - Beyonce I AM @ Seattle Key Arena 04.01.09 (Stereo)

Beyonce - singing the Etta James classic- At Last. LIVE. She clapped at the end part when the picture of President Barack Obama appeared on the large screen. I AM Sasha Fierce World Tour 2009.

(HD) Broken Hearted Girl - Beyonce I AM @ Seattle Key Arena 04.01.09 (Stereo)

Beyonce - singing Broken Hearted Girl. LIVE. A beautiful song. I AM Sasha Fierce World Tour 2009.

Make the jump to watch the rest of the videos…

Read more

Seth Rogen In ‘Like a Boss’ Video For Incredibad

Seth Rogen appeared in the Like a Boss music video with Andy Samberg from The Lonely Island album Incredibad.

Heidi Montag ‘Look How I’m Doing’: New Single

Here is the official first single from Heidi Montag called ‘Look How I’m Doing’.

Heidi premiered the song on Ryan Seacrest’s radio show.

Rascal Flatts Love Who You Love Released - Reaching out to Gay Fans?

Rascal Flatts released “Love Who You Love” today on iTunes. The song is a reminder to show love the people closest to you. However, in an interview with CMT it seems that Rascal Flatts is specifically reaching out to and embracing their gay fans.

“We actually have some gay people that work with us, and we have a lot of friends that are gay, too, and I know that this song has inspired them,” said singer Gary LeVox during an interview at CMT earlier this month. “I know that coming out was tough on their parents and on them and the whole entire family. For a long time, some of them didn’t get to hear ‘I love you’ from their dads or be accepted in that way. … It’s helped a lot of our friends.”

“That’s what’s cool about our music,” says guitarist Joe Don Rooney. “You can interpret (it like) that. If you get that — it’s perfect. If you are someone who’s gay or someone who’s straight, you still feel something from the song, and that’s what we want.”

“We don’t judge anybody’s lives,” says bassist Jay DeMarcus.

“Love Who You Love” will be the first track on their new album, Unstoppable, which will be released in its entirety on April 7.

Is Jennifer Hudson Going to Perform on American Idol?

Jennifer Hudson is reportedly appearing on American Idol in an secret performance to be taped in an secret performance to be taped after Wednesday’s live results show. Hudson’s performance is expected to be broadcasted at a later date.

Jennifer Hudson will also be a guest on Thursday’s Ellen DeGeneres’ show promoting her upcoming tour with Robin Thicke.

We love Jennifer Hudson and hope that this performance is just another step in the healing process.

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