BILLBOARDS HOTTEST TOURS - U2 , USHER JANET,PRINCE DID YOUR FAV MAKE THE LIST ?

Rank Artist/Event
Total Gross
Show Dates
Show Venue/City (Shows/Sellouts)
Total Attendance (Capacity)
1 U2
$60,854,813
March 25-April 13
Estadio Nacional, Santiago, Chile (1/1)
Estadio Único Ciudad de La Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina (3/3)
Estádio do Morumbi, São Paulo, Brazil (3/3)
519,285 (519,285)


2 ELTON JOHN
$4,482,658
March 16-April 8
Madison Square Garden, New York (2/2)
Spokane Arena, Spokane, Wash. (1/1)
47,942 (47,942)


3 ROD STEWART & STEVIE NICKS
$2,959,585
April 5-9
Wells Fargo Center, Philadelphia (1/1)
United Center, Chicago (1/1)
27,166 (27,166)



4 JANET JACKSON$2,717,628
March 18-April 10
Radio City Music Hall, New York (3/3)
Santa Barbara Bowl, Santa Barbara, Calif. (2/1)
26,820 (27,014)


5 OZZY OSBOURNE
$2,400,093
March 26-30
Estadio GEBA, Buenos Aires, Argentina (1/0)
Movistar Arena, Santiago, Chile (1/0)
Gigantinho, Porto Alegre, Brazil (1/0)
30,957 (46,499)


6 KID ROCK
$2,359,639
Feb. 8-March 11
CenturyTel Center, Bossier City, La. (1/0)
Verizon Arena, North Little Rock, Ark. (1/0)
KFC Yum! Center, Louisville, Ky. (1/1)
North Charleston Coliseum, North Charleston, S.C. (1/1)
B.J.C.C. Arena, Birmingham, U.K. (1/1)
Mississippi Coliseum, Jackson, Miss. (1/1)
56,252 (60,053)


7 IRON MAIDEN
$2,037,580
March 18
Foro Sol, Mexico City (1/0)
47,489 (52,036)


8 BOB SEGER & THE SILVER BULLET BAND
$1,730,330
April 2-16
Van Andel Arena, Grand Rapids, Mich. (1/1)
Atlantic City Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City, N.J. (1/1)
21,913 (21,913)


9 USHER
$1,681,740
March 26
Brisbane Entertainment Centre, Brisbane, Australia (1/1)
11,482 (11,482)


10 PRINCE
$1,649,468
Feb. 7
Madison Square Garden, New York (1/0)
16,147 (18,203)

SOURCE

USHER IS LETTING HIS WOMAN RUN HIS LIFE - AGAIN!

It appears that Usher is letting his latest lady love run his life - his WHOLE life!

We picked up the details via  NY Post  which reported that Grace Miguel urged Usher to fire his whole staff - his dancers, choreographers, tour managers, and then some so that she could replace them with her own people. 

This also includes Usher's agent, Mark Cheatham of CAA - getting axed and Usher has been with Mark since he started this business 16 years ago, he was also the one who introduced Usher to Canadian cash cow Justin Bieber. 

Why hasnt Usher learned from past experiences that letting his women (girlfriends and wives) run his ish doesnt get him anywhere?? Remember Ursh, at the request of Tameka, firing his Mama from Co-Manager a few years ago only to bring her back - guess that didnt work well for him after all! then again - either did Tameka!!

SPOTLIGHT! USHER

I just wanted to Spotlight Usher because Ive loved his music for a number of years now. Not only is he easy on the eyes he has some serious vocal ability!! 

Did you know - In 1998 People Magazine named him the sexiest R&B artist alive. In 2010, Glamour Magazine named him one of the 50 sexiest men alive!

USHER TROUBLED OVER GADHAFI CONCERT LINK

Usher said Friday he's "sincerely troubled" to learn he appeared at a  concert in St. Bart's linked to Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi's family and plans to donate his concert fee to human rights organizations.

Earlier this week, Mariah Carey, Beyonce and Nelly Furtado all renounced their performances at private concerts later revealed to be linked to the family of Gadhafi, whose country is openly revolting against him and who faces an investigation for possible war crimes.

All the singers have promised to give their fees to charity or said they have already done so.

Usher did not perform but was paid to appear at the private concert featuring Beyonce in 2009.

"I am sincerely troubled to learn about the circumstances surrounding the Nikki Beach St. Bart's event that took place on New Year's Eve 2009, " he said in a statement released to The Associated Press.

"I will be donating all of my personal proceeds from that event to various human rights organizations."

The statement said Usher made a contribution Friday to Amnesty International, which the organization confirmed. The group said Usher requested the donation amount be private.

"Amnesty International activists are working globally to press the international community to support Middle East activists ... Usher's donation will support this urgent work to counter the brutal conditions like those imposed by Gadhafi and other leaders across the Middle East," a statement from the organization said.

Since the uprising in Libya, attention has focused on entertainers paid by the Gadhafi family for private concerts. Furtado acknowledged getting $1 million which she promised to give to charity.

Beyonce said she donated her fees for to Haiti earthquake relief once she discovered the Gadhafi link.

Carey said she was unaware of whom she was performing for and "embarrassed." She announced she will donate royalties for the song "Save the Day," which she has written for her upcoming album, to charities that create awareness for human-rights issues.

NELLY FURTADO & BEYONCE DONATE MONEY EARNED FROM GADHAFI TO CHARITY

Nelly Furtado made headlines earlier this week after announcing that she would donate the $1 million she received from a private performance for Muammar Gadhafi. But Beyoncé, who also entertained the Libyan dictator in 2009, already beat her to it.

The international superstar, who has come under fire alongside Mariah Carey and Usher for being hired by Gadhafi in the past, revealed that she donated all of the money earned from the gig to helping the earthquake relief efforts in Haiti.


“All monies paid to Beyoncé for her performance at a private party at Nikki Beach St. Barts on New Year’s Eve 2009, including the commissions paid to her booking agency, were donated to the earthquake relief efforts in Haiti, over a year ago,” said the singer’s rep in a statement to CNN. “Once it became known that the third party promoter was linked to the Qaddafi family, the decision was made to put that payment to a good cause.”
SOURCE


The “Single Ladies” hitmaker did not disclose how much money she donated or which charity received the payment.

SNAPPED! Usher, Justin Bieber & Jaden Smith Rehearse For The Grammy Awards

Usher, Justin Bieber and Jaden Smith were spotted during their rehearsal for the53rd Annual Grammy Awards. The trio will be performing together at the ceremony which will air live from the Staples Center in Los Angeles via CBS tomorrow. More images are available below:

HOT SHOTS: CHRIS BROWN, USHER & OTHERS ATTENDED JUSTIN BIEBER’S ‘NEVER SAY NEVER’ PREMIERE

Chris Brown attended the premiere of ‘Justin Bieber: Never Say Never’ at theNokia Theatre in Los Angeles yesterday. Other artists at the event included Usher,Willow Smith, Will.i.am, Toni Braxton and her sister Tamar. Check out more images below:

SNAPPED! USHER PERFORMS AT PRE-SUPER BOWL GIG

A scruffy Usher rocked Dallas on the eve of Super Bowl XLV with a special performance at DIRECTV and Mark Cuban’s HDNet Super Bowl Party at Victory Park. The 32-year-old showman will pull double duty by joining the Black Eyed Peas and Slash during today’s halftime show at Cowboys Stadium and reveal a “HUGE ANNOUNCEMENT” following the game. What could it be?

SOURCE

USHER & BEP TEAM UP FOR SUPER BOWL HALFTIME PERFORMANCE!!

The Black Eyed Peas are pulling out all the stops for this Sunday’s Super Bowl XLV. The AP reports that Usher and former Guns N’ Roses guitarist Slash will join the supergroup as surprise guests during their halftime performance.


Ursh and Slash have previously collaborated with the Peas. The R&B singer linked up with will.i.am for the international smash “OMG,” while the guitarist has performed with Fergie, Taboo, will, and apl.de.ap during their recent tour and laid down the track “Beautiful Dangerous” with Fergie Ferg.


“This is the most exciting thing I’ve ever done,” tweeted will.i.am, currently in Dallas rehearsing for the big game. “Butterflys in my stomach…I feel like I’m in a dream…(We are playing the super bowl!!!).”


Details are mum on what the foursome will actually perform during the show, but will.i.am has revealed that they’ll tone it down by cutting some of their raunchier hits from the megamix. “We’re not playing ['My Humps']. It’s a club song,” he told The New York Times. “It’s like when I get around my mom, all my cuss words are deleted from my vocabulary. Automatically, they just leave. Super Bowl, yes, the words are not going to exist in my vocabulary.”


SOURCE

Usher covers Billboard…

In the latest issue of Billboard magazine,Usher’s hugely successful ‘OMG’ tour recieves that extra bit of coverage. Here, he graces their cover in which he appears to be working up a sweat whilst belting out his biggest hits. In the issue, they report all the statistics from his North American leg.

So, here’s what we’re finding out. Out of 29 shows, he sold out ALL 29! The tour has grossed $28.5 million and that is just his US stats. As of now, he has taken the tour to Europe and will bring his tour to the UK next month. The Grammy Awards ceremony is also getting closer and it has since been revealed that he’ll perform along with teen singing sensation Justin Bieber as well as Will Smith’s sonJaden Smith.

USHER, BIEBER AND JADEN SMITH ADDED TO THE GRAMMY PERFORMERS LIST!

The 53rd Annual Grammy Awards are about to get a boost of star power. Following last week’s announcement of initial performers, Usher, B.o.B, Bruno Mars, Janelle Monáe, Justin Bieber, and Jaden Smith have been added to music’s biggest night.


Ursh is slated to join his protégé Biebs and Willow’s older brother for what’s being billed as a “dynamic, energetic performance.” Mars, who has seven nominations, will team up with fellow nominees B.o.B and Janelle Monáe for a collaborative set, while Lady Antebellum and Muse take the stage as well.


The new batch of performers joins Eminem, Lady Gaga, Cee Lo Green, Katy Perry, Arcade Fire, and more during the ceremony, broadcasting live on February 13 at 8 p.m. on CBS.


SOURCE

USHER ALMOST FAINTS ON STAGE!

Usher wasn’t himself while performing last night at Berlin’s O2 World, postponed from the night before due to illness. Midway through his “OMG Tour” stop, Ursh stood at the microphone visibly dazed, spending the next few minutesmeandering across the stage before plopping down on the steps. As his backing tracks played, some fans booed and encouraged him to “go home” while he held the mic, but didn’t sing.

“After consultation with doctors, he has been advised to reschedule the upcoming dates in order to get the rest he needs to ensure a complete recovery,” said a rep for the R&B superstar.

Usher apologized to his fans who may have been disappointed. “I deeply regret having to reschedule the shows. I am truly sorry for any inconvenience I have caused my fans,” he stated. “My fans are the best in the world and I am looking forward to getting better so that I can give them the show they deserve.”

SADE, WILLOW SMITH, USHER & MORE - NOMINATED FOR AN NAACP AWARD!

Sade, Usher, Kanye West and newcomer Willow Smith are among the multiple nominees in the recording category for the upcoming NAACP Image Awards. 

Nominations for the 42nd annual ceremony were announced today (Jan. 12) during a press conference at the Paley Center for Media in Beverly Hills, Calif. The telecast will air Mar. 4 on Fox.  


Sade picked up a total of four nominations: outstanding female artist, plus outstanding song, outstanding music video and outstanding album, all for "Soldier of Love." Joining Sade in the outstanding album derby are West and Usher, who each earned two nominations. Willow Smith claimed her first major award nomination, landing a nod for best new artist (along with B.o.B., Bruno Mars, Jason DeRulo and Nicki Minaj) and outstanding music video for her debut hit single "Whip My Hair."


Other multiple nominees include Herbie Hancock, Cee Lo Green, Alicia Keys, Bobby McFerrin and John Legend and The Roots. Rapper 50 Cent and Smokey Robinson (also a nominee) were among those on hand announcing the nominations slate.

The NAACP Image Awards also recognize achievements in television, film and literature.
SOURCE

Usher,Mario to release a new albums this year.

Usher staged a successful comeback in 2010 with the release of his Raymond Vs. Raymond album, and then followed it up this August with the release of his hit mini-album Versus and an accompanying world tour. After a such a busy year you might think that Usher would take a little time off, but instead the singer is planning to keep the ball rolling with the release of another new album later this year.

“I don’t plan on taking a long time or hiatus from music after this tour,” the multi-platinum R&B singer told Billboard.com in advance his worldwide OMG trek, which kicks off Nov. 10 in Seattle and runs through late March of 2011. “I do plan on coming right back. I don’t know exactly what type of musical experience it will be, but I’ll be right back with another musical experience to keep it alive.”

There’s not too much info on the project just yet, but writer-producer Rico Love (who was behind Usher’s “Hey Daddy” and “There Goes My Baby”) dished a few details to YRB Magazine late last month.

“…We got Mario, Pleasure P, another Usher album dropping this year…”
“I just feel like Usher has a classic sound and music that doesn’t age. So it’s not about really… It doesn’t matter if his music came out this year or 10 years from now. Same thing with “U Got It Bad,” same thing with “You Make Me Wanna.” I just want to make sure we can keep that classic sound. Some artists like Nelly and Usher and Diddy, they have a classic sound. You have to stick to it.”

If Rico is crafting the R&B grooves them somebody else is most likely cooking up the radio-ready pop songs (“DJ…”, “OMG”) as we speak. Get ready to see more Usher on the charts in 2011.


source

TOP 10 PERFORMANCES OF 2010, CHRIS BROWN ,JANET JACKSON, USHER ,WILLOW SMITH ETC

2010  was a year of  of breathtaking and electrifying performances from various artists ..the following performances below were the  stand outs this year  ..this is my list of my top 10 ..tell my what you think and yours at the comment section below this post

10. FLORENCE AND THE MACHINE -DOG DAYS ARE OVER (VMAS)

this performance speaks for itself

MARIAH AND PATRICIA CAREY COME OH YE FAITHFUL

i couldn't find the performance i wanted to post but her performance on the christmas special was definitely memorable ..she showed why she is still maybe the greatest vocalist alive!! good stuff 

GLEE --DONT STOP BELIEVING (X-FACTOR LIVE)

Many watch this popular tv show glee ..and am sure many of you like myself are addicts ..now people think they are just studio acts but this performance proves that they are able to sing as good live as they do on their studio recordings ..the performance was energy filled from start to finish and their vocals were flawless..this definitely deserved to be on my list

RKELLY WHEN A WOMAN LOVES(SOUL TRAIN AWARDS)

All i will say about this performance is that..the is a reason why rkelly will always be in a league of his own..the is no new r&b act that can put on a performance as captivating as this one ..trey songz take not 

USHER OMG/DJ GOT US FALLING IN LOVE(VMAS)

Usher used to be one of my favorite artist  but this changed when he stopped putting energy in his performances..now this VMA awards performance redeemed my faith in him as a perform and it seems the public agrees with me as  his tour is  in high demand ! good stuff.

WILLOW SMITH WHIP MY HAIR (ELLEN PERFORMANCE)

Hands down the greatest superstar to breakout this year ..willow smith made a debut performance on her ellen like she had been doing this  for years!! her vocals and energy was on point .rihanna needs to take note.

PATTI LABELLE PURPLE RAIN(BET AWARDS)

her tribute to prince took me to heaven and back..had me praising jesus the whole time..simply jaw dropping

JANELLE MONAE -LETS GO CRAZY(BET AWARDS)

This is one of the best performances  i have ever seen and if it weren't for the fact that the top 2 performances were so good this would have been the performance of the year ...i had no idea who janelle  was before this .i heard about her but this really introduced me to the artist .,what a performance ..and you can see from the video that prince enjoyed the performance as much as i did as  he asked her to open for him with his recent concerts and has called her  his favorite artist of the moment ..such energy she exudes is lacking from many performers today 

JANET JACKSON-AGAIN/NOTHING /NASTY MEDLY (AMERICAN IDOL)

This performance showed miss Jackson in a Light that  this new  generation didn't know about , not only did she look AMAZING in her  cat suit but her opening line of again showed that she's as much a good vocalist as she is a dancer...her vocals was near to pitch perfect and sounded better than her cd recording and her performance of nasty  was  just jaw dropping ,her change of wardrobe was just .... from a beautiful dress to a eye popping cat suit ....definitely a highlight of this year.

CHRIS BROWN THE WAY YOU MAKE ME FEEL/REMEMBER THE TIME/BILLEJEAN MEDLY (BET AWARDS)

The best michael jackson tribute  ever..this performance was simply moving  had me and many others in tears ..if the was ever a performance that put chris brown back into prominence after the incident ..then it was this ..in my head its the performance that saved his career ...michael was definitely smiling down that  day and would be very proud!! this is hands down the performance of the year 

BILLBOARDS SOCIAL 50 - Week 4

This weeks Social 50 on Billboard.com is out!

1 - Rhianna

2 - Don Omar

3 - Justin Bieber

4 - Black Eyed Peas

5 - Eminem

6 - Lady GaGa

7 - Akon

8 - Katy Perry

9 - Michael Jackson

10 - Linkin Park

11 - Nicki Minaj

12 - Shakira

13 - Lil Wayne

14 - Taylor Swift

15 - Ke$sh

16 - Drake

17 - Ludacris

18 - Usher

19 - Green Day

20 - Avril Levigne

21 - Enrique Iglesias

22 - Glee Cast

23 - David Guetta

24 - Bruno Mars

25 - 50 Cent

Click Here To See The Full List

BILLBOARDS SOCIAL 50 - Week 3

Michael Jackson Made a Huge Leap From #18 Last Week To #10 This Week!

This weeks Social 50 Chart on Billboard is up and little has changed. Black Eyed Peas are still holding on to the #1 spot with Rihanna taking the #2 position and up one from last weeks #3 spot.


Check out this weeks chart -
1 - Black Eyed Peas
2 - Rhianna
3 - Justin Bieber
4 - Eminem
5 - Lady GaGa
6 - Katy Perry
7 - Nicki Minaj
8 - Linkin Park
9 - Shakira
10 - Michael Jackson
11 - Lil Wayne
12 - Taylor Swift
13 - Ke$ha
14 - Drake
15 - Glee Cast
16 - Akon
17 - Usher
18 - Green Day
19 - Don Omar
20 - David Guetta
21 - Avril Lavigne
22 - Beyonce
23 - Enrique Iglesias
24 - Jamie Lynn Noon
25 - Cold Play
See The Full List

USHER GETS FREAKY ON STAGE WITH A GIRL...AND SHE KICKS HIM.... IN THE FACE!!!!!

This has to be like a funny news week 

Usher may need to wrap up this tour quick, just last week we toldja he had to cancel a stop in Virginia after getting injured during a performance and now a freaky fan kicked him in the face!

During each performance, Usher calls a young lady on stage and sings to her but this chic got too dayum excited! Check out the video at the 5:20 mark! oh and the girl was very slutty ,smh

2010 IN MUSIC - THE YEAR THAT WENT POP!!! |BILLBOARD

Imagine it's Jan. 1, 2010, and a psychic has laid out the following music predictions for the year:

--Ke$ha, the self-proclaimed "sick and sexified" singer of "TiK ToK," will not fade into obscurity. Instead, she'll release two albums and rack up three more Billboard Hot 100 top 10s before the year is up, the last of which will debut at No. 1.

--Lady Gaga will wear a meat dress, flip the bird at Yankee Stadium and pull rosary beads out of her mouth, but none of this will be as entertaining or successful as her music.

--"Biebermania" will not only show no sign of letting up, it will also afflict the Recording Academy, which will nominate the teen phenom for a best new artist Grammy Award.

--The cast of Fox's hit musical series "Glee" will surpass the Beatles' record for most appearances by a non-solo act on the Hot 100.

--B.o.B, a rapper who sings and plays guitar, and Bruno Mars, a Hawaiian who specializes in modern-day doo-wop, will help each other become famous with a tenderhearted duet.

--A 12-year-old Oklahoma boy will sign with Lady Gaga's management after performing "Paparazzi" at his school's talent show. Meanwhile, a 10-year-old "America's Got Talent" finalist will take her operatic seasonal EP to No. 2 on the Billboard 200, and another 10-year-old will have grown women whipping their hair back and forth.

--A song about a mythical private jet will hit No. 1 and gift us with the year's best new party terminology: slizzard.

--Only one rock band will reach the Hot 100 top 10 -- Train, with "Hey, Soul Sister."

In a year when some of the music industry's few remaining presumptions, such as "digital sales will keep growing" and "tours can withstand a weak economy," were subverted, no one can be blamed for not foreseeing all the ways in which pop music would take over the marketplace. But a takeover it was.

Seven of the year's 20 best-selling albums were by pop artists -- that is, in Billboard parlance, acts without significant success on our genre-based charts, such as Country, R&B/Hip-Hop, Modern Rock, etc. This compares with four in 2009 and two in 2005. The 2010 top 10 includes Susan Boyle's "I Dreamed a Dream," Lady Gaga's "The Fame," Justin Bieber's "My World" and "My World 2.0" and the Black Eyed Peas' "The E.N.D." If you expand the definition of pop to include Taylor Swift and Lady Antebellum, whose mainstream-leaning country hits were embraced at pop radio, and Eminem, whose "Recovery" featured some of his most unabashedly crossover songs to date, you could argue that nine of the top 10 albums speak to pop's dominance (all but Andrea Bocelli's "My Christmas").

The fact that Billboard's top two artists of the year, Gaga and Swift, didn't chart on Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums is also telling. It's the first time that neither of the year's top two artists has graced that chart since 1997, when LeAnn Rimes and Spice Girls came in at Nos. 1 and 2, respectively.

But perhaps most striking is the way in which synth-driven, Auto-Tuned, four-on-the floor-influenced pop dominated the Hot 100. Of the 15 songs to reach No. 1 on the chart this year, just six fall outside of this descriptive: Eminem's "Not Afraid" and "Love the Way You Lie," Rihanna's "Rude Boy" and "What's My Name?", B.o.B featuring Bruno Mars' "Nothin' on You" and Mars' "Just the Way You Are." When these are the four artists delivering the closest thing to a slow jam, it's safe to say we've entered a new era.

"When you listen to radio now, it's all so much about tempo," says Barry Weiss, outgoing chairman/CEO of RCA/Jive Label Group, which can count Ke$ha, Usher and P!nk among this year's biggest success stories.

"We're in a golden spot for pop music, for sure," adds Antonio "L.A." Reid, chairman/CEO of Island Def Jam Music Group (IDJMG), whose artists Bieber, Rihanna and even Kanye West helped solidify pop's current boom. "I don't see it moving any time soon." SOURCE