Ne-Yo preparing for big release, already busy at work writing for pop & country artists

As he prepares for his own upcoming fourth studio release Libra Scale, Ne-Yo revealed in an interview with Billboard.com that he’s been busy writing new songs for pop and country artists including Justin Bieber, Beyonce, Rihanna, Carrie Underwood, and Tim McGraw.

When pressed by Billboard as to what kind of music he’s writing for Bieber Ne-Yo said he and the teen popstar are “just writing some songs.”

He said: “I think he has the kind of talent that will carry. He just needs tangible records, the kind of records that will grow with him and allow his fans to grow with him. That’s why they came to me and that’s what I gave them… [The songs] are not so grown where it’s like, ‘He doesn’t know anything about that stuff,’ but it’s not bubblegum kiddie stuff, either.”

But, back to the point, Ne-Yo’s new album will hit store shelves next month, Nov. 22, with what is being described as three “long-form music videos” for the three singles from the album “Beautiful Monster,” “Champagne Life,” and “One in a Million” in the deluxe edition.

The videos are reportedly stripped-down versions of a script Ne-Yo wrote as a possible feature film that never made it very far based on the estimated $40 million budget!

Are you looking forward to Ne-Yo’s new release? Or, do you better appreciate his talents as a writer?

Hear new music first – HP

ACAs announce nominees, open voting forums

FOX has announced the nominees for the inaugural American Country Awards scheduled to debut Dec. 6 from the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, and airing live on local FOX networks.

All ACA winners will be determined solely through fan voting, which opened today. Fans can vote for their favorites in each category on the award show’s website here for the next few weeks (through Nov. 8) except for artist of the year, which has voting open until Dec. 4.

Country trio Lady Antebellum and newcomer Easton Corbin lead the pack with seven nods apiece, followed closely by Carrie Underwood with six and Josh Turner with five.

Here is the complete list of ACA nominees:

ARTIST AWARDS
Artist of the Year
Lady Antebellum
Miranda Lambert
Taylor Swift
Carrie Underwood
Zac Brown Band

Male Artist of the Year
Jason Aldean
Luke Bryan
Kenny Chesney
Brad Paisley
Keith Urban

Female Artist of the Year
Jewel
Miranda Lambert
Reba McEntire
Taylor Swift
Carrie Underwood

Duo/Group Artist of the Year
Lady Antebellum
Rascal Flatts
Sugarland
The Band Perry
Zac Brown Band

Breakthrough Artist of the Year
Easton Corbin
Danny Gokey
Jaron and The Long Road To Love
Jerrod Niemann
The Band Perry

Touring Artist of the Year
Brooks & Dunn
Toby Keith
Martina McBride & Trace Adkins
Tim McGraw
Brad Paisley
Rascal Flatts
George Strait & Reba McEntire
Sugarland
Taylor Swift
Carrie Underwood

ALBUM AWARD
Album of the Year
“Doin’ My Thing,” Luke Bryan
“Need You Now,” Lady Antebellum
“Revolution,” Miranda Lambert
“Haywire,” Josh Turner
“Play On,” Carrie Underwood

SINGLE AWARDS
Single of the Year
“Do I,” Luke Bryan
“A Little More Country Than That,” Easton Corbin
“Need You Now,” Lady Antebellum
“Gimme That Girl,” Joe Nichols
“Why Don’t We Just Dance,” Josh Turner

Single of the Year by a Male Artist
“Do I,” Luke Bryan
“Little More Country Than That,” Easton Corbin
“That’s How Country Boys Roll,” Billy Currington
“Gimme That Girl,” Joe Nichols
“Why Don’t We Just Dance,” Josh Turner

Single of the Year by a Female Artist
“White Liar,” Miranda Lambert
“Wrong Baby Wrong,” Martina McBride
“Consider Me Gone,” Reba McEntire
“Didn’t Know How Much I Loved You,” Kellie Pickler
“Cowboy Casanova,” Carrie Underwood

Single of the Year by a Duo or Group
“Need You Now,” Lady Antebellum
“Little White Church,” Little Big Town
“Unstoppable,” Rascal Flatts
“Keep On Lovin’ You,” Steel Magnolia
“Toes,” Zac Brown Band

Single of the Year by a Breakthrough Artist
“Little More Country Than That,” Easton Corbin
“Pray for You,” Jaron and The Long Road To Love
“Lover, Lover,” Jerrod Niemann
“Keep on Lovin’ You,” Steel Magnolia
“Beer on the Table,” Josh Thompson

VIDEO AWARDS
Music Video of the Year
“A Little More Country Than That,” Easton Corbin
“Need You Now,” Lady Antebellum
“Hillbilly Bone,” Blake Shelton with Trace Adkins
“Why Don’t We Just Dance,” Josh Turner
“The Man I Want To Be,” Chris Young

Music Video by a Male Artist
“A Little More Country Than That,” Easton Corbin
“Southern Voice,” Tim McGraw
“Hillbilly Bone,” Blake Shelton with Trace Adkins
“Why Don’t We Just Dance,” Josh Turner
“The Man I Want To Be,” Chris Young

Music Video by a Female Artist
“White Liar,” Miranda Lambert
“Consider Me Gone,” Reba McEntire
“Didn’t Know How Much I Loved You,” Kellie Pickler
“Cowboy Casanova,” Carrie Underwood
“Work Hard, Play Harder,” Gretchen Wilson

Music Video by a Duo or Group
“Need You Now,” Lady Antebellum
“American Honey,” Lady Antebellum
“Little White Church,” Little Big Town
“Keep on Lovin’ You,” Steel Magnolia
“Highway 20 Ride,” Zac Brown Band

Music Video by a Breakthrough Artist
“Giddy On Up,” Laura Bell Bundy
“A Little More Country Than That,” Easton Corbin
“Lover, Lover,” Jerrod Niemann
“Keep on Lovin’ You,” Steel Magnolia
“If I Die Young,” The Band Perry

Will you be voting for the ACAs? Or, will you be watching?

Hear new music first – HP

Justin Bieber under investigation for alleged incident at laser tag center

There are quite a few artists that have found themselves in trouble with the law recently including T.I., Lil Wayne, and Chris Brown to name a few of the most highly publicized cases.

So guess the name of the latest artist under investigation by the police – Justin Bieber you say? What???? Yes! Believe it or not the 16-year-old has also found himself on the verge of some trouble, albeit to a far smaller degree than the others.

MTV reports the teen superstar is involved in an investigation in Canada for an alleged assault at a Richmond, British Columbia laser tag arena this weekend.

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police confirmed on Sunday that an investigation is under way for an incident that took place around 5:30 p.m. on Friday involving a 12-year-old boy. The boy’s father reported that his son was assaulted by another underage male at the “Richmond entertainment facility” Friday evening, but that the boy did not require medical attention and suffered only “minimal injuries.”

While the police will not release the name of the accused attacker because the suspect is under the age of 18, MTV reports that the 16-year-old Bieber is being pegged as the assailant. However, Billboard reports RCMP Corporal Annie Linteau told the Vancouver Sun newspaper Sunday that Bieber is under the police microscope for the incident.

Bieber’s rep has not confirmed or denied any allegations and the teen star has also not acknowledged any reports this weekend.

Sources told TMZ the incident took place at Planet Lazer in Richmond. The gossip website reports that Bieber was targeted by an overzealous participant at the laser tag center who hurled an anti-gay slur at the singer before sticking his hand out towards him, which the pop star reportedly batted away before immediately leaving.

Do you think the accusations or incident details sound silly? Should we worry that Bieber is going to head down the wrong path?

Hear new music first – HP

 

Alicia Keys and Swizz Beatz thrilled with arrival of son Egypt

(Catching up on this weekend’s news!) Singer Alicia Keys has given birth to a healthy baby boy named Egypt Dauode Dean.

Keys and husband music producer/rapper Swizz Beatz welcomed their first child together Thursday night in New York. It is the first child for 29-year-old Keys, and the fourth child for the 31-year-old Beatz.

A statement released by the couple said Egypt is “welcomed by Beatz’s three other children.” Beatz has two sons Prince Nasir Dean, born in 2000, and Kasseem Dean Jr., born in December 2006, as well as a daughter born in May 2008, all from previous relationships.

Beatz announced the news on Friday through Twitter saying: “I’m so thankful for everything I been blessed with in my life wowwwwww!” He continued to show his happiness last night (Sunday) writing: “Much love for all the support everybody been showing but I want to shout out my Wife for being bigger then SUPERWOMAN!”

Alicia Keys wrote on her Twitter: “There is no word to properly describe LOVE, to describe BLISS, to express a FEELING like this!!! Thank U 4 your love, support & prayers! ;-)”

What do you think of the baby boy’s name – Egypt? Do you love it?

Hear new music first – HP