Here is this week’s update to our running tally of upcoming album releases!

This list includes albums that are slated to come out within the next few months.

Upcoming releases:
January 31, Underworld Awakening (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
February 3, The Fray, “Scars and Stories”
February 7, Dierks Bentley, “Home”
February 7, Melanie Fiona, “The MF Life”
February 7, “Now: That’s What I Call Music 41”
February 7, Shaggy, “Summer in Kingston”
February 7, The Fray, “Scars and Stories”
February 14, Audrey Assad, “Heart”
February 28, The Cranberries, “Roses”
March 6, Idina Menzel, “Live: Barefoot at the Symphony”
March 6, Monica, “New Life”
March 6, Fireflight, “Now”
March 13, Meat Loaf, “Hell in a Handbasket”
March 20, Adam Lambert, “Trespassing”
March 20, One Direction, “Up All Night”
March 26, Leona Lewis, “Glassheart”
TBA, Big Boi, “Daddy Fat Sax: Soul Funk Crusader”
TBA, B.o.B, “Strange Clouds”
TBA, Dr. Dre, “Detox”
TBA, Estelle, “All of Me”
TBA, Mike Posner, “Sky High”
TBA, Obie Trice, “Bottoms Up”
TBA, Skylar Grey, “Invisible”
TBA, Jason Mraz, TBA
TBA, Spring 2012, Kanye West, Big Sean, Kid Cudi, CyHi, John Legend, Common, Pusha T, Mr. Hudson, “G.O.O.D. Music”
TBA Summer 2012, Big Sean, “TBA”
TBA, Kris Allen, TBA

If you have any albums we should add to this list, post them in a comment! We’ll keep this list going every Friday so y’all can be updated about what new music is coming out.

The hidden song contest is now over for this week! Hope y’all enjoyed the back to back contests this week and last!! The next one will be at it’s regularly scheduled time of Tuesday!! I think we are back to normal people :)

Anywho, here are the hidden songs:

1. “Give Your Heart A Break” by Demi Lovato

2. “Wanted” by Hunter Hayes

3. “Only Happy When It Rains” by Kat Graham

And the winners of the hidden song bonus points are: JayCoburn, bebe211, and paradise33. Congrats!!

Hear New Music First – HP

Hey y’all. This week’s Hidden Song Contest is starting up right now so jump on that bandwagon and join in on the fun!!

The rules: Report the artist name and title of the song you heard with your HitPredictor USERNAME to me on Twitter @hitpredictor or by email @ hiddensong at hitpredictor dot com by this Thursday, January 26 at 3pm EST. (I’m giving y’all lots of extra time since we got such a late go at it). 25 points are up for grabs with each correct track you report + an entry into the 250 bonus points drawing.

Four songs are HitPredictors at Mainstream Top 40 this week. Grammy Award nominated Swedish DJ and producer Avicii is one of two HitPredictors sampling the late, great Etta James’ “Something’s Got a Hold On Me” this week. His song is “Levels“, which has been a hit all over the world and is now a hit in the U.S. as well. Chris Martin of Coldplay secretly wrote a song specifically for Rihanna to be featured on, and he hoped that she would like it enough to want to lend her vocals to the track. Drummer Will Champion was originally going to sing Rihanna’s part but couldn’t sing high enough so they approached Rihanna, who said yes to “Princess of China“. New York City’s own Outasight weaves together the cadenced sounds of popular hip-hop and indie rock with the poignant sensibility of classic pop and soul music to create a fresh, new sound that is all his own. His first hit, “Tonight Is The Night” was used prominently as part of the promotion of the first iHeart Radio Music Festival in Las Vegas. “Young Wild and Free” is a hit featuring a collaboration between all-time great rapper Snoop Dogg and today’s hottest new HipHop star, Wiz Khalifa and it’s the lead single from the Mac & Devin Go to High School soundtrack.

Rihanna’s 3rd single from Talk That Talk is the title track. It features her third major collaboration with Hip Hop Mogul Jay-Z, and it’s this week’s sole Rhythmic HitPredictor.

After announcing he “Invented Sex”, Trey Songz is taking the time to tell us “Sex Ain’t Better Than Love” on his latest HitPredictor. “Love On Top” is found on Beyonce’s fourth studio album. She wowed everyone at the MTV Video Music Awards back in August with her live performance of the song and revealed that she was pregnant with her first child at the end of her performance. Both songs are Urban HitPredictors this week.

Train has been performing the song “Drive By” a lot during their 2011 Summer Tour, and they announced during their concert this December in Manila that it was the lead single from their new album set to be released this Spring. Flo Rida is the 2nd artist this week to have a hit “Good Feeling” with a sample from Etta James’ “Something’s Got a Hold On Me”, which has been a Top 10 hit in 15 countries. This week both songs are Hot AC Hitpredictors this week.

This week’s HitPredictor at Mainstream AC is from Rascal Flatt’s duet with British pop singer Natasha Bedingfield, “Easy” and the video features a retelling of the famous fairy tale, featuring Natasha as Cinderella.

Changed is the 8th album by country music superstars Rascal Flatts due out in April, while its lead-off single “Banjo” is out now. “Over You” is the new hit from Blake Shelton’s wife, former Nashville Star finalist and Grammy Award winner Miranda Lambert. It is the second single from Lambert’s fourth studio album, Four the Record. Both songs are Country HitPredictors this week.

Van Halen has released their first new David Lee Roth-sung single in 16 years with “Tattoo“. A Different Kind of Truth, out next month, will be the line-ups first album together in 28 years. The Twin Cities are very proud of their rockers New Medicine who are back with the second single and title track from their first album Race You To The Bottom. Both songs are HitPredictors at Active Rock.

Hey everyone!! Here is the end of one hidden song contest for the week! Another will start tomorrow, but let’s get to the results of this one first :)

The hidden songs were:

1. “New Favorite Memory” by Brad Paisley
2. “Fireball” by Willow Smith ft. Nicki Minaj
3. “Forever Unstoppable” by Hot Chelle Rae

And the winners of the 250 bonus points were: cuteful, bcam206, and lincolnblaze. Congrats!!

Look out for the next hidden song contest, starting at it’s regularly scheduled time on Tuesday!! Woo Hoo! Maybe we can get back to normal now?!

Hear New Music First – HP

The winner of third place on this past season’s X Factor, Chris Rene, scored himself a pretty great consolation prize when he signed a record deal with Epic Records. Epic is the same record company that signed winner, Melanie Amaro. Rene says it’s a dream come true to work with label head, L.A. Reid who mentored him through the duration of the show.

“I’ve dreamt about this moment my whole life,” said Rene to EW.com. “And now its here. Working with L.A. Reid — ‘Big Homie’ –  is a dream come true; he’s a great man.”

On the show, former garbageman Rene shared his backstory – which included a descent into drug addiction and subsequent rehab — and found a group of fans early on, eventually finishing behind winner Melanie Amaro and runner-up Josh Krajcik on the Simon Cowell-helmed singing competition, which offered a $5 million record contract to the winning finalist.

Well now we’ve got Rene’s first single “Young Homie” in the jukebox. It talks about Rene’s hard road in the past and comes up to now where he is clean and positive about life.

Listen now in the jukebox!

Hear New Music First – HP

Here is this week’s update to our running tally of upcoming album releases!

This list includes albums that are slated to come out within the next few months.

Upcoming releases:
January 24, Grammy Nominees Compilation
January 24, Ingrid Michaelson, “Human Again”
January 24, Ja Rule, “PIL 2”
January 24, Kari Jobe, “Where I Find You”
January 24, Kellie Pickler, “100 Proof”
January 24, Lacuna Coil, “Dark Adrenaline”
January 24, Seal, “Soul 2”
January 24, Kirk Franklin, “The Essential Kirk Franklin”
January 31, Fred Hammond, “God, Love and Romance”
January 31, Lana Del Rey, “Born To Die”
January 31, Los Tucanes de Tijuana, “365 Dias”
January 31, Ringo Starr, “Ringo 2012”
February 3, The Fray, “Scars and Stories”
February 7, Dierks Bentley, “Home”
February 7, Melanie Fiona, “The MF Life”
February 7, Paul McCartney, “Kisses on the Bottom”
February 7, Shaggy, “Summer in Kingston”
February 7, Van Halen, “A Different Kind of Truth”
February 21, Sleigh Bells, “Reign of Terror”
March 6, Bruce Springsteen, “Wrecking Ball”
March 6, Monica, “New Life”
March 20, Adam Lambert, “Trespassing”
March 20, One Direction, “Up All Night”
March 20, The Shins, “Port of Morrow”
March 26, Leona Lewis, “Glassheart”
TBA, Big Boi, “Daddy Fat Sax: Soul Funk Crusader”
TBA, B.o.B, “Strange Clouds”
TBA, Dr. Dre, “Detox”
TBA, Estelle, “All of Me”
TBA, Mike Posner, “Sky High”
TBA, Obie Trice, “Bottoms Up”
TBA, Skylar Grey, “Invisible”
TBA, Jason Mraz, TBA
TBA, Spring 2012, Kanye West, Big Sean, Kid Cudi, CyHi, John Legend, Common, Pusha T, Mr. Hudson, “G.O.O.D. Music”
TBA Summer 2012, Big Sean, “TBA”
TBA, Kris Allen, TBA

If you have any albums we should add to this list, post them in a comment! We’ll keep this list going every Friday so y’all can be updated about what new music is coming out.

Hear New Music First – HP

Hello all! The hidden song contest is LOADED and READY! It’s so late in the week so let’s just get down to it!

Report the artist name and title of the song you heard with your HitPredictor USERNAME to me on Twitter @hitpredictor or by email @ hiddensong at hitpredictor dot com by this MONDAY, January 23 at 3pm EST. (I’m giving y’all lots of extra time since we got such a late go at it). 25 points are up for grabs with each correct track you report + an entry into the 250 bonus points drawing.

Here are the songs:

• “America” by Glee Cast
• “Hit Me With Your Best Shot/One Way or Another” by Glee Cast
• “Fireball” by Willow Smith feat. Nicki Minaj
• “Wanted” by Hunter Hayes
• “Forever Unstoppable” by Hot Chelle Rae
• “Born To Die” by Lana Del Rey
• “Give Your Heart A Break” by Demi Lovato
• “I Do Now” by Brad Paisley
• “New Favorite Memory” by Brad Paisley
• “I Am A Seed” by David Crowder Band
• “Run This Town” by Lucy Hale
• “Honestly” by Maribelle Anes
• “Love’s Gonna Make It Alright” by George Strait
• “Powa” by Tune-Yards
• “Screaming” by James Durbin
• “Stand Up” by James Durbin
• “Pride” by Emphatic
• “Start of Something Good” by Daughtry
• “Louder Than Ever” by Daughtry

Remember the new deadline of Monday, January 23, 2012 at 3pm EST!!

Hear New Music First – HP

Hi friends! We are back after taking Martin Luther King, Jr. Day off yesterday! As a result, I am posting the HitPredictor charts today (instead of Monday) and the hidden song contest will most likely start tomorrow and end Friday! Once we get through all these holidays we can finally be back to a normal schedule!!

Anywho, here are this week’s hot HitPredictor chart songs:

Originally Drake had a superstar lineup performing on his second studio album, including Justin Timberlake, but Justin was too involved in acting roles, so leave it to Drake to top that by getting the hottest pop act today, Rihanna featured on “Take Care“, the title track of that album. The song is racing up the charts and it’s a Mainstream Top 40 and Urban HitPredictor this week.

Selena Gomez & the Scene’s “Love You Like A Love Song” is the second single from their third studio album, When the Sun Goes Down. It’s already been a hit around the world in Canada, Russia, Norway and Belgium. Selena basically describes it as “talking about how crazy you are about someone whenever it’s the beginning. It’s the honeymoon stage if you will.” This week it’s a Hot AC HitPredictor.

The video for Chris Brown’s “Strip” released in December opens with a shot of Brown standing on a mountain wearing a winter jacket, cap and shorts. It then switches to a house party where Brown is seen with his shirt off, singing in a room full of people dancing. During the second chorus, Brown and McCall are seen sitting on the edge of a hot tub with girls in bikinis. This week “Strip” is a Rhythmic HitPredictor.

Singer, songwriter and producer Miguel cites musicians Prince, David Bowie, Jimi Hendrix, Freddie Mercury, Phil Collins, Donny Hathaway, The Notorious B.I.G. and Kanye West, as well as the band Queen as his influences, in addition to expressing his admiration for Stevie Wonder, John Lennon and Diane Warren. Miguel revealed his desire to have worked with James Brown, whom he considers the “last innovator for me when it comes to soul”. This week his latest “Girls Like You” is an Urban HitPredictor this week.

This week’s HitPredictor at Mainstream AC, “Heartbeat” is the first single from Scars & Stories, the third studio album by Pop alternative rock band The Fray, which went on sale last month.

Blake Shelton is getting ready to be a judge on the sophomore season of the TV series The Voice. “Drink On It” is the 3rd single from his 6th album Red River Blue and it’s a Country HitPredictor.

Belgian-Australian Wally DeBacker, also known as the artist Gotye is finally breaking through in a big way here in the States with his 3rd album Making Mirrors, and it’s first single is “Somebody That I Used To Know“. In is already very well known in Australia, having won their equivalent to the Grammy’s, the Aria awards 5 times. Indie Pop band Fun formed in 2008 and so far their claim to fame has been opening for acts like Paramore and Jack’s Mannequin. Now with their 2nd album, Some Nights on their new label Fueled By Raman, the Fun is ready to explode as their first single “We Are Young” featuring Grammy Winner Janelle Monae hits the charts. Grouplove is back with their 2nd single “Tongue Tied All“, from their first album, Never Trust a Happy Song. All 3 songs are Alternative HitPredictors this week.

This week we have 3 songs as Active Rock HitPredictors. First off, 80s and 90s Alternative legends Jane’s Addiction made a comeback after a 10 year hiatus where its members spent time working with bands like the Red Hot Chili Peppers and Porno For Pyros. The band reformed in 2001 and “Underground” is the 3rd single from the band’s fourth studio album, The Great Escape Artist. Punk rockers Rise Against are back with their sixth studio album Endgame, and “Satellite” is the 3rd single. South Africa’s Seether debuted their current hit “No Resolution” at a live performance at the DuQuoin, IL State Fair.

Hey everyone and Happy Friday!! Who is yelling TGIF from the rooftops with me?! After my LSU Tigers took a beating in the BCS National Championship this past Monday, I’m glad this week is done!

Here are the results of the late-starting Hidden Song Contest!

The songs were:

• Brandon Rhyder’s “In The Country”
• “Coconut Tree” by Mohombi & Nicole Scherzinger
• Lana Del Rey’s “Off To The Races”

Hope y’all liked finding those hits!

Now to our lucky HitPredictor bonus point winners: yikes, saltshaker, and leahdagurl. Congrats guys :)

Have a great weekend everyone!!

Hear New Music First – HP