MUSICOLOGY 101
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Big Time Rush: ‘Better With U Tour’ Begins Feb. 17

In February, pop band Big Time Rush steps away from the television cameras to launch their very first headlining tour of the United States. The boys begin their “Better With U Tour” in Las Vegas on the 17th. The quartet is selling Big Time Rush tickets to support their latest album, Elevate. There are a total of 16-dates on their touring calendar with the final Big Time Rush concert scheduled for March 9 in New York City.

Meanwhile, the second season finale of Big Time Rush the television show airs Jan. 28 on Nickelodeon. The popular sitcom has been renewed for a third season. Obviously, Big Time Rush is not the first band to have their own television series. Below, Musicology-101 chronicles eight rock/pop artists that had their own TV program. To make the list, the band or singer needed to have a television show that was music-based—we didn’t count reality shows or documentaries.

The Beatles
The Beatles had their own animated television program that aired on ABC from 1965 to 1969 (the last couple years were nothing but reruns). A total of 36 episodes were produced, each named after a different Beatles song. While none of the Beatles provided their own voice this was the first animated series about real people who were still alive.

The Monkees
Probably the most famous television show to feature a rock band, The Monkees aired on NBC from 1966 to 1968. The band was put together for the show and the series was created to capitalized on the success of the Beatles—a band The Monkees were clearly patterned after. However, the sitcom was quite inventive and won a couple of Emmy Awards.

Big Time Rush
Big Time Rush was inspired by the previous television show on our list, The Monkees. Created by Scott Fellows, Big Time Rush is about four young hockey players from Minnesota who are tapped to move to Los Angeles to become a boy band. The program earns tremendous ratings. In fact, it was the most-watched debut of a live action series in Nickelodeon history.

Glen Campbell
Stay with us, but we’re including The Glen Campbell Good Time Hour because the show’s namesake was, for a brief time in the 1960s, a member of the Beach Boys (he did some session work and filled in for Brian Wilson when the band went on tour). This well-received variety show aired on CBS from 1969 to 1972. Campbell was given his own show after he filled in for the Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour for a summer. One of Campbell’s writers was future film director Rob Reiner.

Johnny Cash
The Johnny Cash Show aired on ABC from 1969 to 1971. It was taped in Nashville at the Ryman Auditorium, which was at the time home to the Grand Ole Opry. While Cash was forced to book celebrities like Bob Hope and Kirk Douglas he also welcomed a slew of legendary musicians like Bob Dylan, Neil Young, James Taylor, and Louis Armstrong. Cash’s very first show featured a performance from folk singer Joni Mitchell.

Miley Cyrus
Hannah Montana aired on the Disney Channel for four seasons beginning in March of 2006. The show was about a young girl who lived a secret life as a pop singer. The titular role was played by pop singer Miley Cyrus. The television series, along with several soundtracks and tours, made Cyrus into one of the most successful teen stars of all-time. Her real-life father, Billy Ray Cyrus, also played her father on the show.

Barry Manilow
Okay, he didn’t have his own series, but Barry Manilow’s television specials, which aired in the late 1970s and early 1980s, were a hit with both viewers and critics. The first of his four specials featured Penny Marshall and attracted 37 million viewers. Airing on ABC, the specials also received several Emmy Award nominations.

Jools Holland
Jools Holland founded the band Squeeze in 1974, but today he’s best known as the host of “Later… With Jools Holland.” The show, which airs on the BBC and BCC America, showcases music acts from all over the world, from various genres, and at different stages notoriety. In September of 2010, the programmed celebrated its 250th episode.

Big Time Rush Itinerary
>>Feb. 17 – Big Time Rush Tickets For Las Vegas, NV @ Planet Hollywood Theater
>>Feb. 18 – Big Time Rush Tickets For Universal City, CA @ Gibson Amphitheatre
>>Feb. 19 – Big Time Rush Tickets For San Jose, CA @ San Jose State University Event Center
>>Feb. 20 – Big Time Rush Tickets For Sacramento, CA @ Sacramento Memorial Auditorium
>>Feb. 22 – Big Time Rush Tickets For Broomfield, CO @ 1stBank Center
>>Feb. 24 – Big Time Rush Tickets For Rosemont, IL @ Rosemont Theatre
>>Feb. 25 – Big Time Rush Tickets For Detroit, MI @ Fox Theatre
>>Feb. 26 – Big Time Rush Tickets For Toronto, ON @ Air Canada Centre
>>Feb. 28 – Big Time Rush Tickets For Albany, NY @ Palace Theatre Albany
>>March 1 – Big Time Rush Tickets For Mashantucket, CT @ MGM Grand Theater At Foxwoods
>>March 2 – Big Time Rush For Fairfax, VA @ Pariot Center
>>March 3 – Big Time Rush Tickets For Boston, MA @ Agganis Arena
>>March 4 – Big Time Rush Tickets For Houston, TX @ Reliant Stadium
>>March 6 – Big Time Rush Tickets For Durham, NC @ Durham Performing Arts Center
>>March 7 – Big Time Rush Tickets For Nashville, TN @ Bridgestone Arena
>>March 9 – Big Time Rush Tickets For New York, NY @ Radio City Music Hall

Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo Begins Feb. 28, Kid Rock Performs On Leap Day

Bonnaroo, Coachella, Bumbershoot, and SXSW get all the national attention when it comes to music festivals. However, there’s one annual music event that outshines them all.

Now, the event in question is technically not a “music festival” but when it comes to seeing great artists in concert who really cares about technicalities.

This mammoth madrigal function is none other than the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. It’s not a long weekend packed with live music, but it’s still pretty cool. The event lasts 20 nights and attracts some of the biggest names in the music industry.

Sure, the aforementioned music festivals attract big name artists but when we talk about the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo we mean an event that has hosted legends like Elvis Presley, George Strait, The Jackson Five, Bob Dylan, Bon Jovi, Willie Nelson, and Def Leppard.

While the Houston Rodeo books a lot of country music artists attendees should expect a wide range of performers. Non-country acts scheduled to play this year include ZZ Top, Train, John Legend, and Big Time Rush.

Before loading up the hybrid and driving off to H-Town, there are a few things you need to know about this great event. Below, Musicology-101 fills you in on four important aspects of the 2012 Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo.

It’s Big
Every year nearly two million people attend Houston’s big event. The rodeo has the richest purse of the year and the livestock show is the biggest in the world. Besides the rodeo, livestock show, and the great concerts there’s also a barbecue contest, a calf scramble, trail rides, and a carnival. So the music may not be nonstop but the fun and excitement certainly is.

To learn more about Lady Antebellum tickets for the Houston Rodeo CLICK HERE!

Show Times
All weekday performances begin at 6:45pm and all weekend performances begin at 3:45pm. Apparently, H-Town residents like to turn in early on the weekends. There is one exception, on March 18, the last night of the event, the Alan Jackson concert begins at 3:30pm.

To learn more about Alan Jackson tickets for the Houston Rodeo CLICK HERE!

Chute Seats
All concerts are held at Reliant Stadium, which is also the home to all of the exciting rodeo action. That’s what make “chute seats” so unique. You sit behind the area where the cowboys get on the bulls and broncos. After the rodeo is over, but before the music concert begins, you’ll be kindly escorted onto the dirt, the same area where the rodeo takes place. That’s where you get to watch the concert. Don’t worry, you won’t have to stand for the entire show. You’ll receive a free “chute chair” that you can not only sit on but take home as a souvenir.

To learn more about Brad Paisley tickets for the Houston Rodeo CLICK HERE!

Special Days
There are a handful of days that organizers have given special status. For example, Feb. 29, the day Kid Rock performs, is Armed Forces Appreciation Day. March 2, which culminates with a John Legend concert, is Black Heritage Day while March 9 is “Paint the Rodeo Pink Day” with the great Rebe McEntire. “Go Tejano Day” is March 11 and it will feature sets by Duelo and La Original Banda El Limon.

To learn more about Kid Rock tickets for the Houston Rodeo CLICK HERE!

2012 Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo Entertainer Lineup
Feb. 28 – Alabama
Feb. 29 – Kid Rock
March 1 – Lady Antebellum
March 2 – John Legend
March 3 – Luke Bryan
March 4 – Big Time Rush & China Anne McClain from A.N.T. Farm
March 5 – Eli Young Band
March 6 – Enrique Iglesias
March 7 – Blake Shelton
March 8 – ZZ Top
March 9 – Reba McEntire
March 10 – Chris Young
March 11 – Duelo and La Original Banda El Limon
March 12 – Zac Brown Band
March 13 – Miranda Lambert
March 14 – The Band Perry
March 15 – Jason Aldean
March 16 – Train
March 17 – Brad Paisley
March 18 – Alan Jackson

It’s a good thing Björk Guðmundsdóttir doesn’t expect anyone to use her last name. Americans, in particular, are horrible at foreign languages. (Just ask Me’shell NdegeOcello!) So wrapping our tongues and minds around Guðmundsdóttir really wouldn’t happen.

Heck, most of us have enough trouble wrapping our minds around Björk at all – the person/artist, not the name. She’s an odd little duck, that one. (Or swan, perhaps.) And she would, no doubt, offer nary a rebuttal of that point. Like Lady Gaga, Björk seems to revel in her eccentricities. Unlike Lady Gaga, though, Björk’s seem to be utterly natural rather than contrived.

Björk’s latest musical endeavor, Biophilia, is no exception to her rule of only and always coloring outside the lines. The project was originally envisioned as an IMAX movie with film/video director Michel Gondry. What emerged, however, was something more technologically hip – a series of iPad apps.

A wee bit reminiscent of Isabella Rossellini’s Green Porno project, Biophilia uses songs to explore science. Titles like “Crystalline,” “Virus,” “Dark Matter,” “Mutual Core,” and “Cosmogony” give a glimpse into the cycle therein. Each app consists of a game, an essay, animations, and more, and they all come together under the umbrella of one “mother” app.

Now, Björk’s hitting New York to bring Biophilia to life, as it were, with a six-night, in-the-round stand at the New York Hall of Science and an additional four evenings at Roseland Ballroom. Backing the Icelandic singer will be a 24-voice female choir from her homeland, as well as Max Weisel, the app developer who will man the visual feast. Other on-stage features include four 10-foot pendulum harps, twin musical Tesla coils, and a midi-controlled pipe organ.

But Björk’s not stopping there. She’s also teaming with the Hall of Science for a three-week series of workshops wherein schoolkids will get to interact with science set to music and aided by technology. The curriculum is being implemented in Reykjavik middle schools for a three-year trial.

Compared to the bulk of pop music artists, Björk’s ingenuity has few peers. And with Biohphilia, she’s actually created something that is bigger than itself, more than music. It’s a fantastic ploy that, once again, seems completely creative rather than thoroughly contrived.

Lots of subjects would benefit from being spiced up with melodies and imagery. U2 could easily do something like this with political science. Madonna could cover world religions. Johnny Cash would have been perfect to lay out American history. Somebody needs to do up economics in such a way as to make it understandable. Justin Bieber could… nah.

Engaging minds – young and old – with a combination of education and entertaiment in an interactive, technological setting is exactly what the age of ADHD ordered. So, whether or not anyone can say her name correctly, kudos to Björk Guðmundsdóttir for the big thinking on display in Biohphilia. Brava!

Maynard James Keenan and company – better known as Tool – are hitting the road again in 2012 and many of the shows are selling out in mere minutes., as is often the case with Tool gigs. It will be there first string of shows since mid-2010. The Grammy-winning Tool hasn’t had a new release since 10,000 Days in 2006.

Although he’s not terribly keen on touring, front man Keenan will follow the Tool tour with another trek beginning February 23 – that one with Puscifer, his side project, and its second album, Conditions of My Parole. He said, “If I could do something that would get the music out there and get the performances out there in a way that didn’t require me leaving home, I would for sure do it.

“Soon as they invent an affordable holographic projection of touring, I’m all over it (laughs). A simultaneous performance all across the country, one night, but you stay in one spot and it’s holographic — I’m in.”

And Keenan’s not the only band member with a cheating heart. Drummer Danny Carey sneaks out now and then to jam at the Baked Potato, a legendary jazz club in Studio City, California. (In fact, he’ll be there tonight.) He’s also been plugging away at a non-Tool album with Volto!, his jazz fusion side band.

What about guitarist Adam Jones and bassist Justin Chancellor? Are they just slacking their time away?

For his part, Jones – who ranks as Rolling Stone‘s 75^th best guitarist in rock – also works with the Melvins on occasion. When he’s feeling really feisty, he’ll step outside the music world to dabble in filmmaking, doing special effects, makeup, and/or set design on such big-budget movies as Jurassic Park, Dances with Wolves, and Terminator 2: Judgment Day.

Chancellor signed on with Tool in 1995 and has also enjoyed a variety of outside activities. Until 2008, he and his wife owned a book and record store in Topanga, California. He also started a music project with Piotr Mohammed called M.T.Void.

So, while all of the guys keep pretty busy, Keenan definitely boasts the heaviest double-duty with his Puscifer responsibilities. And that’s not changing any time soon.

Tool 2012 Tour Dates:
1/14 — Tool in Reno, NV — Reno Events Center
1/15 — Tool in Las Vegas, NV — Mandalay Bay
1/17 — Tool in Tucson, AZ — Tucson Arena
1/18 — Tool in Albuquerque, NM — Tingley Coliseum
1/20 — Tool in Grand Prairie, TX — Verizon Theatre
1/24 — Tool in Toledo, OH — Huntington Center
1/25 — Tool in Toronto, ON — Air Canada Centre
1/26 — Tool in London, ON — John Labatt Centre
1/28 — Tool in Boston, MA — TD Garden
1/29 — Tool in Camden, NJ — Susquehanna Bank Center
1/31 — Tool in Uncasville, CT — Mohegan Sun Arena
2/01 — Tool in East Rutherford, NJ — Izod Center
2/04 — Tool in Charlotte, NC — Bojangles Coliseum
2/06 — Tool in Sunrise, FL — Bank Atlantic Center
2/07 — Tool in Orlando, FL — UCF Arena
2/08 — Tool in Duluth, GA — Gwinnett Arena

Puscifer 2012 Tour Dates:
2/23 — Austin, TX — Long Center for the Performing Arts
2/25 — Baton Rouge, LA — River Center Theatre
2/26 — Memphis, TN — Orpheum Theatre
2/28 — Nashville, TN — Andrew Jackson Hall
2/29 — Louisville, KY — Brown Theatre
3/01 — Pittsburgh, PA — Byham Theatre
3/03 — Cincinnati, OH — Taft Theatre
3/04 — Indianapolis, IN — Murat Theatre
3/06 — Kansas City, KS — Kansas City Music Hall
3/07 — Omaha, NE — Omaha Civic Auditorium
3/10 — Edmonton, AB — North Alberta Jubilee Auditorium
3/11 — Calgary, AB — Southern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium
3/13 — Vancouver, BC — The Centre in Vancouver for Performing Arts
3/14 — Portland, OR — Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall
3/16 — San Francisco, CA — Palace of Fine Arts
3/17 — Riverside, CA — Fox Performing Arts Center
3/18 — Escondido, CA — California Center for the Arts

Even though the band Van Halen is named for lead guitarist Eddie Van Halen (and his brother/drummer Alex), the lead singers have – generally speaking – set the tone for the group. Originally, David Lee Roth fronted the outfit from 1972 to 1985, replaced by Sammy Hagar when he split and Gary Cherone after that.

Even after more than 25 years, Van Halen purists still miss Diamond Dave and are, no doubt, over the moon that he’ll be featured on the upcoming album. Yes, Dave was over the top in his style and antics, but it was the ’80s! Big hair and spandex were prerequisistes for the job and Dave wore both incredibly well.

He could also do the splits and had a certain je ne sais quoi that Sammy lacked. Perhaps it was Dave’s boozy swagger, maybe it was the hard rock edge. Could be a combination. As the Los Angeles Times has cited, “There was no better lead singer in all of rock in the ’80s than Roth at his peak, a funny, charismatic charmer whose onstage scissor kicks created a template for dozens of lesser hair metal singers who arrived in his wake.”

Besides, Sammy was second choice to a girl… Patty Smyth. And there’s just no way he did “Jump” justice.

Sure, “Van Hagar” was successful. They had number one albums and Grammy Awards, but… but… they just weren’t the same. And everybody knew it. Even critics have noted, “at their prime … Van Halen was one of the greatest flat-out rock bands on the planet, and that the combination of David Lee Roth, Eddie Van Halen, Michael Anthony and Alex Van Halen was a force of nature.”

Roth and the band tested the reunion waters in 1996 and again in 2006. In between, Extreme’s Cherone had a three-year stint (1996-99), as did Hagar (2003-05). When Van Halen was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2007, both Dave and Sammy were included.

The new project – replete with Roth – also features Eddie’s son Wolfgang on bass instead of longtime member Michael Anthony. Van Halen used the occasion of New Year’s Eve in Times Square to unveil the artwork for the set. The image filled a huge LED billboard that was visible by television cameras above the performers on Dick Clark’s Rockin’ New Year’s Eve. February 7 is the album’s release date.

In addition to the new record, Van Halen will be touring in 2012 with dates announced later this week and tickets on sale January 10. This news is a relative flood of information as any updates have been hardfought for the past few years.

To control the flow, the band has created the Van Halen News Desk website. There, fans can find videos of rehearsals and other behind-the-scenes moments, news bits, photos, and more. No doubt they will premiere their new music video on the site soon, as well.

At 57, it’s doubtful that Diamond Dave can still do the splits. However, he still seems to have his outlandish bravado safely intact. And that should make for some really fun concerts.

Tom Petty And The Heartbreakers Route Nine U.S. Concerts For 2012

In a recent Twitter conversation, legendary rocker Tom Petty revealed that he and his band only work three months every two years. Incidentally, that’s the same work schedule as my brother-in-law.

Obviously, Petty was kidding. He works far more than that. Unfortunately for his fans, he was talking about his touring schedule. The “Runnin’ Down A Dream” singer than went on to say that next year he and The Heartbreakers will be focused on playing Europe more than playing North America.

That’s why in 2012 there are only nine Tom Petty concerts scheduled in the United States and one in Canada.

Learn more about the Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers concert in Albuquerque!

Petty begins his string of U.S. dates on April 19 in Broomfield, Colorado at the 1stBank Center. From there, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers visit North Little Rock, Arkansas (April 21); Albuquerque, New Mexico (April 24); and Wichita, Kansas (April 26).

On April 28, Petty and his famous backing band will perform at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival.

The Big Easy is pulling out all the stops this year. In addition to welcoming Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, the world renowned festival has also booked Eagles, Foo Fighters, and John Mayer.

And yes, the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival is the same music event hosting the launch of The Beach Boys 50th Anniversary reunion trek.

Learn more about the Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers concert in Austin!

After New Orleans, Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers tour visits Alpharetta, Georgia (April 29); Estero, Florida (May 1); Orlando, Florida (May 3); and Austin, Texas (May 5).

The next North American date on the Petty’s schedule is planned for June 3 in St. John’s, Newfoundland.

With nearly a month between his last U.S. show and his only Canadian performance, speculation is high that more Tom Petty concerts are coming. However, during his conversation on Twitter the Rock and Roll Hall of Famer pretty much ignored queries about future shows in North America.

Petty launches his first tour of Europe in nearly 20 years on June 7 in Dublin, Ireland. Big time stops on the route include Hamburg, Stockholm, Oslo, and Paris.

Learn more about Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers concert in Wichita!

The pinnacle of his European excursion is of course his June 22 appearance at the famed Isle of Wight Festival.

While tickets to Tom Petty concerts will only be sold to a handful of venues in the United States in 2012 fans should be on the lookout for the band’s 13th studio album. Petty revealed during his Twitter chat that a new work is in its “early days.”

Other interesting facts revealed during his Twitter talk: there will be a seventh season of his SiriusXM radio program, his favorite sandwich is peanut butter and jelly, there’s a good chance of an expanded edition of Wildflowers (1994) hitting store shelves in 2012, he’s never seen guitarist Mike Campbell in a pair of shorts, and he’ll be tweeting more in the future.

Celtic Woman is set to play a string of dates in 2012 that will see the Irish group perform to fans all over the world during the course of the year. The all-female ensemble will play their trademark blend of traditional Celtic tunes and modern songs to their legions of fans in North America, and later in European countries, for their Believe 2012 Tour. Since the group’s formation in 2004, Celtic Woman has successfully completed three tours in the United States, with additional performances overseas. They played live in more than a dozen cities across the US after the release of their debut album in 2005, and now, years later, fans are eagerly awaiting the return of Celtic Woman to play in a city near them.

The group was conceived by Sharon Browne and David Downes in 2004. Downes, who was a former musical director of the Irish stage show Riverdance, recruited five Irish female musicians who had not previously worked together, and assembled them into the act that would be later referred to as “Riverdance for the voice.” It was due to the success of acts such as Enya and Clannad, along with the stage shows Riverdance and Lord of the Dance, that lead to the rising popularity of Celtic music outside of Ireland and Europe at that time. Downes decided that this would be a solid foundation upon which to build an all-female Celtic group – a decision that saw the group rise in success in subsequent years.

Since its formation, the group known as Celtic Woman has released six studio albums that have been distributed worldwide, selling over six million records in the process. Over the years, the group’s albums have all held true to the original style of Celtic Woman and helped establish a growing fan base with each subsequent release. The eponymous debut album reached number 1 on the World Music charts in 2005, and remained there for a record-breaking 68 weeks. The album then went on to reach Platinum status in December 2006 (for sales of 1,000,000). Celtic Woman’s second album Celtic Woman: A Christmas Celebration broke the group’s own record by surpassing the 68-week run of the original album in the World Music charts.

With the release of the group’s third studio album Celtic Woman: A New Journey, a new member was added to the group. New Zealand soprano Hayley Westenra, who has performed songs in English, Irish, Welsh, Italian, German, French, Portugese, Latin, Japanese, and more, became a strong addition to the group, and later featured on the Celtic Woman DVD, The Greatest Journey: Essential Collection, in 2008.

Later album releases from Celtic Woman saw further changes in the group’s line-up. In August 2007, Ní Mhaolchatha left the group permanently to pursue her solo career, and was replaced by Irish singer Lynn Hilary. Maternal responsibilities also lead to the change in the ensemble; Lisa Kelly left the group on maternity leave in 2008, to be replaced on the A New Journey tour by Alex Sharpe. Kelly later returned to the group, and after a couple more changes in the Celtic Woman line-up, shared her feelings about having so many new members. When asked how all the group members got along, she responded, “We get along because we’re so different. Chloë Agnew is hip, Méav Ni Mhaolchatha is rational, Orla Fallon is angelic and Mairead Nesbitt is energetic.”

The authenticity of the girls’ friendship has been the number one question on fans’ lips. Vocalist Chloë Agnew explained: “I think people are always looking for a ‘Desperate Housewives’ story, that they all hate each other and nobody actually gets along. It’s all for show. And the truth of the matter is, it’s not. The reality is we do all get along. The five of us are like sisters, best friends.” With Lisa Kelly set to leave the group once again on maternity leave during the group’s Believe 2012 tour, an as-yet unnamed replacement singer is set to be added to the group. But fans can rest assured that the Celtic Woman sound will be stronger than ever.

So where can North American fans of Celtic Woman expect to see them perform? The group will be playing at a long string of venues from early February onwards, including at the Tennessee Performing Arts Center’s Andrew Jackson Hall in Nashville for two nights on February 3 and 4. After kicking things off in Tennessee, the group will play to US concertgoers from February through April. They are set to visit the Carol Morsani Hall at The Straz Center in Tampa on February 14 (surely a wonderful Valentine’s Day gift for any couples in the area), and later Celtic Woman will perform to fans at the John Paul Jones Arena in Charlottesville on February 22, before moving on to the North Charleston Performing Arts Center on the following night.

In the revolving world of hip hop stars, one of the more popular artists of late is Drake. Now, Canada isn’t really known for spawning edgy artists in any genre – Neil Young is about as biting as they come – and Drake’s brand of hip hop is no exception to the rule. Sure, he runs with bad boys like Lil’ Wayne and Eminem; but he’s also planning to collaborate with baby-faced heartthrob Justin Bieber on the Bieb’s new album.

In response to Common’s tune “Sweet,” Drake recently puffed up his chest in defense of his non-gangsta approach to music. Basically, he threw down a gauntlet.

For his part, Common maintains that the song wasn’t directed at him, specifically: “Rap is a contact sport. So I talked about this cat that’s soft and sweet. Drake felt offended and felt it was directed towards him, so he said, ‘Man, say it to my face.’ … if he falls in that category, then so be it. I’m not going to hold my tongue.”

On a morning radio show in Atlanta, Common continued to hold his line, saying, “I’m talking about rappers out there that’s soft and doing the same thing. So if the cap fits, then that’s who it is. … I think it’s a lot of creative artists out there. I think Drake makes some good music.

“…a lot of rappers may feel it. And if they feel it, then that’s who I’m talking about.”

Common isn’t the only other rapper to have a mild scuff with Drake. Big Sean initially had some concern about Drake taking his trademark one-word flow, but eventually backed down when Drake gave him proper credit: “At first, I was like, ‘Man, this crazy! Everybody doing this!’ But then I thought about it and I was like, that’s not the way to be. … I changed the game, so I’ma keep changing the game. It is what it is.”

In the end, Big Sean recognized that Drake’s popularity brought his flow to the masses in a way he likely couldn’t.

But then there’s Ludacris who had some choice words for both Drake and Big Sean in his “Badaboom” cut saying that both of them pilfered the “Supa Dupa” flow from him and other, older rappers. Sean didn’t feel dissed, but Drake sure did.

In the track, Luda raps, “Let me explain, nothing’s been new since Big Daddy Kane / Flows been recycled passed around to different names. … Eleven years and still counting / And y’all get a couple of hit records, make some noise and have the nerve to start shouting?”

Drizzy tweeted in response: “@BigSean You awlready know. I wish they’d just let young niggas live…respect always.”

When he hits the hip hop capitals of the U.S. — Drake plays Los Angeles on March 5 and New Orleans on February 25 — he’s going to have put his talent where his mouth is.

Obviously, the hip hop world is full of posturing and grandstanding and enormous egos. But there’s also a tradition of respect for the pioneers of the genre. Luda seems to think that Drake and Big Sean have gotten a little too big for their britches, in that regard.

Maybe, though, that’s the only way Drake knows to gain himself some OG cred. Everyone knows he doesn’t have it any other way… he’s Canadian.

The Black Keys Plot Month Long Trek Of North America In 2012

I’m confused.

The Black Keys are not allowing their latest album, El Camino, to be streamed online but the band has five songs available for streaming on their Web site and on Dec. 5 they streamed a concert promoting their new release on MTV.com.

The band, drummer Patrick Carney and guitarist Dan Auerbach, have publically stated that although streaming servicers like Spotify, Rhapsody, and Rdio have become popular they still can’t replace royalties from record sales.

Immediately, one has to ask the blues-rock outfit from Akron, Ohio if they are worried about losing album sales then why steam anything at all?

Even if the band can provide a satisfactory answer to that question, confusion still reigns. That’s because streaming doesn’t cannibalize record sales.

Spotify, founded in Sweden in 2006, provides artists with the best royalties this side of iTunes. That’s despite the fact that it takes 64 full streams for an artist to make as much profit as they would with a $.99 iTunes download.

Granted, he’s not a neutral source of information, but Spotify CEO Daniel Ek has stated numerous times that markets where his service is available experience increases in album sales not decreases. Not only that but record labels have informed Billboard that streaming doesn’t negatively impact album sales.

In a recent interview with VH1, Carney said streaming is good for unknown and smaller bands but not lucrative enough for bands that make a living selling music.

What Carney fails to understand, and what music industry insiders allude to without actually saying it, is what really drives music sales is good music. That’s why streaming doesn’t hurt record sales. People hear good music on a stream and they go buy it so they can listen to it when steaming isn’t a possibility.

It’s understandable that Carney wants to protect his livelihood, but his livelihood has never been livelier. El Camino debuted at number two on the Billboard 200 after selling more than 200,000 copies. In other words, Black Keys’ album sales have never been better. They might say it’s because they’re not streaming on the internet but we say it’s because The Black Keys have never sounded better. The band is really at their peak.

Where the band should really look to make ends meet—and in the future artists will make a majority of their income this way—is by playing live. Neither Apple nor the internet will ever replace the experience of seeing a band live in concert. That’s great news for Carney and Auerbach because Black Keys tickets are always in high demand. They are one of rock’s best live acts.

Recently, the band sold out a Black Keys concert at Madison Square Garden in New York City in just 15 minutes.

That MSG show is part of the band’s upcoming North American tour. Backed by The Arctic Monkeys, The Black Keys first U.S. date of 2012 is set for March 2 in Cincinnati, Ohio. After that, look for The Black Keys in cities like Boston, Philadelphia, and Toronto.

The North American leg concludes March 20 in Norfolk, Virginia.

And by the way, the band has added a second MSG show. That show has been scheduled for March 22.

The band kicks off a string of Black Keys concerts in Europe beginning Jan. 23 in Belgium. The band is set to play all over the continent including gigs in London, Paris, Milan, and Zurich.

British rock group Coldplay released their fifth studio album Mylo Xyloto back in October of this year, and showed fans once again that they hadn’t lost any of their earlier vim and vigor. The band first rose to stardom in 1999 with the release of their debut album Parachutes, and since then have earned worldwide critical acclaim with a plethora of hit singles, albums, and awards spanning their twelve years in the business. News has now emerged that Coldplay are planning to play a string of North American dates in 2012 to promote their new album, along with dates in France, Germany, Italy, Portugal, Sweden, Switzerland, and other locations around Europe.

Tickets for Coldplay’s North American tour are due to go on sale on December 17 at 10 a.m. This run of concerts will begin in Canada on April 17 and see the band touring through Edmonton, Calgary, and Vancouver before heading to the United States on April 24. Fans fortunate enough to have already seen Coldplay perform live will remember how truly amazing their live sets are: an eclectic blend of catchy pop/rock songs, bright lights, and energy from the four band members, most notably from Coldplay’s frontman, Chris Martin.

Coldplay are no strangers to large stadium tours, and have performed year after year to millions of fans worldwide. This has helped the band reach the heights of superstardom they are at now, including a long list of awards, from their seven Grammy Awards, four MTV Video Music Awards, six Brit Awards, and countless nominations. But despite such success, the band have not let Coldplay’s success go to their heads. They have openly refused multi-million dollar product endorsements from large companies like Gatorade, Diet Coke, and Gap, and focused on providing help for various charities instead. In the band’s early years, Coldplay became known for donating ten percent of their profits to charity – a trend that they continue to do to this day – and Chris Martin is also known for being one of the most visible advocates for fair trade.

Although Coldplay has now become a household name in different parts of the world, the group came from very humble beginnings. Frontman Chris Martin and guitarist Jonny Buckland first met at University College London (UCL) during their orientation week in September 1996. They spent their first year planning out ideas for a band, and were later joined by bassist Guy Berryman and Will Champion. Many fans will still have fond memories of the group’s earlier days; hit singles like Don’t Panic, Shiver, Yellow, and Trouble were played on many radio stations in the UK. Like billowing smoke, the group’s success began to spread, and before they knew it Coldplay had become one of the biggest UK bands at that time. After the release of their second album A Rush of Blood to the Head, the band had started to gain recognition outside of the UK, and before long, songs from Coldplay’s first and second albums were appearing on hit US television shows, such as Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and in Hollywood movies.

Coldplay’s US run of shows will begin at the Rose Garden in Portland on April 24. This is sure to be a once-in-a-lifetime experience for any Coldplay fans in the Portland area, and will undoubtedly become a sell-out spectacle event. Moving on from Oregon, the band will head to venues in Seattle and San Jose, before arriving at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles on May 1. Coldplay will perform two nights at the famous amphitheater that has seen great acts such as Elton John, Simon and Garfunkel, Alicia Keys, Carrie Underwood, and Judy Garland over the years. This two-night run will give Coldplay enthusiasts every opportunity to be in attendance for a stunning gig.

After returning to the UK to play several large stadiums, Coldplay will be returning to the US, playing at venues in Texas, including at the American Airlines Center in Dallas on June 22 and the Toyota Center in Houston on June 25. After this the band will be taking their tour to venues in Tampa, Miami, Atlanta, Philadelphia, and Washington DC throughout the end of June and the start of July. On July 23, Coldplay will return to Canada for a huge performance at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto. Anybody not in attendance will be sure to miss out on some great renditions of the band’s more memorable songs, like In My Place, The Scientist, Fix You, Talk, Violet Hill, and Viva la Vida. Following this, Coldplay will continue their North American tour in Montreal, the TD Garden (Fleet Center) in Boston on July 29, East Rutherford, and the United Center in Chicago on August 7. Ending the North American string of dates, Coldplay will play at the Xcel Energy Center in Saint Paul on August 11.