Check out the first video from the CD.

Diddy and Bad Boy Records top the SoundScan/Billboard 200 album chart for the second consecutive week as Day26’s self-titled debut album explodes into the #1 spot in its first week in release.  The #1 chart entry follows last week’s top-charting debut for Danity Kane’s smash second Bad Boy album, “WELCOME TO THE DOLLHOUSE.” “DAY26” also debuts at #1 on Billboard’s “Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums” chart and #3 on SoundScan’s “Digital Albums” chart.

With total sales exceeding 190,000, “DAY26” – which features the current hit, “Got Me Going” and the upcoming single, “Since You Been Gone” – officially logged the biggest-selling debut album from a male R&B group in the 17-year history of SoundScan.

“We just want to offer love and thanks to our many fans for making this band America’s #1 group,” said Day26, a.k.a. Brian Andrews, Mike McCluney, Qwanell Mosley (a.k.a. “Q”), Robert Curry, and Willie Taylor.  “Of course, our endless gratitude goes out to our families and our friends at Bad Boy and Atlantic Records for helping us to achieve success that’s already beyond our wildest dreams.”

The blockbuster success of “DAY26” marks yet another major milestone in the storied history of Bad Boy Records.  Since the label’s 1993 inception, Diddy and Bad Boy have created a true hit machine like few others in the annals of the music industry, with total global record sales of 66 million and counting.  Over the past 15 years, no less than 10 Bad Boy artists have achieved #1 debuts, with 55 label releases appearing on the Billboard 200.  To date, 20 Bad Boy albums have been certified platinum at least once, with many of them going on to earn multi-platinum awards. 

In addition, Bad Boy has unleashed a seemingly endless stream of hit singles.  81 Bad Boy singles have hit Billboard’s “Hot 100,” 27 of which reached the Top Ten.  The label has earned RIAA gold certification for 22 of its singles thus far, with nine achieving platinum status.

Diddy has been personally responsible for a stunning array of chart successes, with five solo albums reaching the Top 5 on the Billboard 200, three of which – 1999’s “NO WAY OUT,” 2002’s “WE INVENTED THE REMIX, VOL. 1,” and 2006’s “PRESS PLAY” – reached the #1 position.  A three-time Grammy Award-winner, the label founder topped the singles chart with two now-classic hits, “I’ll Be Missing You,” which spent eleven weeks at #1; and “Can’t Nobody Hold Me Down,” which held the pole position for six weeks.  Furthermore, Diddy has been a prolific producer/executive producer, helming six albums in 2007 and three in just the first three months of 2008.  Since launching Bad Boy Records, Diddy has racked up an astonishing 80 producer credits, a prime contributing factor in the label’s extraordinary string of hits.

Executive Produced by Bad Boy CEO Sean “Diddy” Combs and Bad Boy Entertainment president Harve Pierre, “DAY26” was recorded in just three short weeks.  The five gifted performers were chosen by Diddy and MTV viewers around the world on the record-shattering Making The Band 4 season finale last August 26th - the source of the quintet’s moniker. 

“Got Me Going” – the first single from “DAY26” – looks set to continue Bad Boy’s winning streak.  The Mario Winans-produced track has bulleted its way into the Top 25 at Urban radio outlets nationwide, while also drawing serious airplay at Rhythmic, Top 40, and Urban AC.

“DAY26” is also proving a digital sensation, presently standing at #1 on the iTunes Store’s “Top R&B/Soul Albums” chart, with the iTunes Exclusive “Bonus Track Version” not far behind at #5.  “Got Me Going” continues its run as one of the week’s top 10 best-sellers on the iTunes Store’s “Top R&B/Soul Songs” chart, while the track’s companion video recently reached #1 on the “Top R&B/Soul Music Videos” tally (where it remains a Top 3 favorite).

In addition, the “Got Me Going” clip – directed by Syndrome (Danity Kane, Pretty Ricky, Lupe Fiasco, and Trey Songz) – is now in “Big 10” rotation at MTV.  The group is the #1 most-searched artist at MTV.com, where the online premiere of “DAY26” received over 350,000 streams via “The Leak” in the week leading up to its release.

Last week also saw Day26 spending quality time at BET’s 106 & Park, where “Got Me Going” recently received its “New Joint” premiere before going into network rotation.  The quintet opened and closed the week, performing “Got Me Going” on Monday and “Since You Been Gone” on Friday.  Day26 will next perform on BET’s annual Spring Bling extravaganza, set to debut on April 10th (check local listings). 

Currently featured on the cover of Right On!, Day26 also performed “Got Me Going” on last Tuesday’s installment of the nationally syndicated Tyra Banks Show.  The show is slated for rebroadcast in New York and Los Angeles on Wednesday, April 9th (check local listings for airtimes and additional markets).

Day26’s out-of-the-box triumph was further proven by the quintet’s day-of-release in-store event at New York City’s Best Buy.  The autographing session drew multitudes of screaming fans to the Fifth Avenue store, marking Best Buy’s biggest in-store event of the year by far.

Day26 kicked off the release of “DAY26” with an appearance on MTV’s TRL.  The visit also celebrated the hugely rated season finale of the latest and greatest season of Diddy and MTV’s hit reality series, Making The Band.  The blockbuster episode included the official unveiling of “P. Diddy Presents The Making The Band 4 Tour,” a major North American concert tour featuring Day26, alongside their MTB4 co-stars Danity Kane and Donnie Klang.  Slated to hit the road in May, a full itinerary and on-sale information will be announced shortly.

SUPERGRASS is back. A fantastic new album entitled Diamond Hoo Ha, a brand new home on Astralwerks, an extensive summer tour with Foo Fighters and a sixth studio album showcasing the youthful energy and witty musical stylings of these Britpop pioneers. 

After a dozen years, Supergrass (Gaz Coombes–Vocals & Guitar, Mick Quinn–Bass & Vocals, Danny Goffey-Drums & Vocals, Rob Coombes-Keyboard) have rolled back home, and rolled back the years, while marching firmly into the future. “We wanted a record where you got all of Supergrass,” says frontman Gaz. “The joy, the intensity, the darkness, the melodies. All of those have always been important to us and still are.” Hence Diamond Hoo Ha (release date: June 10th, 2008); an energetic album bristling with hooks to hang your coat off and melodies to lose your shoes to.

Recorded at Hansa Studios in Berlin and produced by Nick Launay (Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Nick Cave, PiL, Gang Of Four), Diamond Hoo Ha is the band at their exuberant best.  What other British band is still able, with seemingly effortless ease to conjure up songs and videos that crackle with breezy enthusiasm, humor and inventiveness?

During the summer of 2007, with the album completed, Supergrass supported both Arctic Monkeys and Coldplay in the UK. Two very different invitations, both indicative of the regard in which Supergrass are held by the (slightly) younger generation. Of all the British rock bands who burst through in the mid-Nineties they’re the only ones still alive, still forging ahead, still – musically speaking – Having It.

…definitely worth making a Hoo Ha over – NME

Twenty four carat stuff guaranteed – UNCUT

SUPERGRASS JULY TOUR DATES WITH FOO FIGHTERS

7/9 Seattle, WA - Key Arena @ Seattle Center
7/10 Portland, OR - Rose Garden Arena
7/12 Los Angeles, CA - Avalon (Supergass only)
7/14 Morrison, CO - Red Rocks Amphitheater
7/15 Morrison CO - Red Rocks Amphitheater
7/17 Oklahoma, City - Ford Center
7/19 Kansas City, MO - Kemper Arena
7/20 St.Louis, MO - Scottrade Center
7/22 Grand Rapids,MI - Van Andel Arena
7/23 Indianapolis, IN - Conseco Fieldhouse
7/25 Cleveland, OH - Quicken Loans Arena
7/26 Pittsburgh, PA - Peterson Events Center @ Univ of Pittsburgh
7/29 E. Rutherford, NJ - Izod Center
7/30 New York, NY - Webster Hall (Supergrass only)

Sean “Diddy” Combs has announced the signing of acclaimed new artist Janelle Monáe to Bad Boy Records, via a pact with Monáe’s Atlanta-based record label, the Wondaland Arts Society.  Monáe is an experience:  a charismatic singer, songwriter, producer, and performer whose innovative style crosses musical genres in a captivating postmodern merger of R&B, funk, and rock ‘n’ roll. 

Janelle Monáe makes her solo recording debut with the groundbreaking “METROPOLIS” project, with Antwan “Big Boi” Patton serving as Co-Executive Producer.  An epic musical journey into the future, the project will be unveiled with the release this June of the “METROPOLIS SUITE” EP – which introduces Janelle’s android alter ego, Cindi Mayweather, as she lures the listener into her sci-fi inspired world of cybersoul.  “Metropolis is the place I’ve been dreaming about all these years – a city inside your head,” says Janelle.  “It’s an adventure the music brings to life.” Monáe’s debut full-length album will follow in September. 

“Janelle Monáe is one of the most important signings of my career,” said Diddy.  “Over the years, I’ve been blessed to work with some of the most influential artists in modern music – from Jodeci to Mary J. to Biggie – and there is no doubt in my mind that Janelle is the kind of artist that changes the game.  She is a true visionary, with an original sound and a mesmerizing presence.  I can’t wait to watch the future unfold for Janelle.”

“What I love about Janelle is that she has a magical ability to bring folks together,” stated Big Boi.  “And she’s one of most inspiring performers ever.  I’m proud to be partnering with Puff and the Wondaland Arts Society to introduce her to the world.”

“As one of the founders of the Wondaland Arts Society, my goal is to inspire and help alter history by bringing people together,” said Janelle Monáe.  “In many respects, this unique partnership is a reflection of my belief that this is a new day, a new entertainment industry, and a world where the notion of what is independent and what is mainstream changes every day.  In this new, rapidly changing environment, I am thrilled that Antwan ‘Big Boi’ Patton and Sean Combs have partnered with me and the Wondaland Arts Society to promote my music and art around the world.”

Born in Kansas City, Kansas, Janelle Monáe moved to New York City after high school to attend The American Musical and Dramatic Academy, the prestigious music and theatre conservatory.  Deciding to extend her range beyond classical and Broadway, she moved to Atlanta to explore the possibility of becoming a recording artist.  Upon arrival, she garnered a huge cult following by performing for college students at the Atlanta University Center (AUC).  It was during one of these performances that Monáe met Nate “Rocket” Wonder and Chuck Lightning of Wondaland Productions and began work on the concept and music that would form “METROPOLIS.”

Having experienced the magic of Wondaland first-hand, Diddy calls the group “very innovative” and “an incredible group of people – not just producers, they’re idealists… definitely the future of music.”

While working on her own music, Janelle collaborated with Big Boi on the tracks “Call The Law” and “In Your Dreams” on OutKast’s “IDLEWILD” soundtrack, and was featured in the video for the single, “Morris Brown.” It was through Big Boi that Monáe came to the attention of Sean Combs, leading to her new pact with Bad Boy.

Monáe has quickly grown from new artist to budding phenomenon, earning widespread acclaim for her compelling, transformative approach.  “Monáe creates this futuristic world of hers by synthesizing past inspirations:  the operatic pop and hornlike sharpness of Shirley Bassey, the energetic funk of James Brown, and the breezy rock and soul of OutKast,” said Creative Loafing. 

“Metropolis is a soulful, sassy, sci-fi themed debut that busts genres – not to mention stereotypes,” proclaimed Interview, while Vibe magazine noted that “Monáe’s upcoming album is poised to bring an eclectic, urbane feel to today’s R&B.” “Janelle Monáe is honing her completely individual skills as a very exciting solo artist, not only in sound but very much in style,” said the UK’s Blag magazine.

Monáe is also drawing raves from fellow artists across the musical spectrum:  from “André 3000” Benjamin, who says that “Ms. Monáe has one of the most enchanting voices of our generation.  She’s a living, singing babydoll.  Darling… just darling.  Ha.” – to Fall Out Boy’s Pete Wentz, who describes her as being “like a female version of Prince.” Even visionary Missy Elliott is convinced of Janelle’s potential:  “Janelle is fire!  Puffy, Big Boi… I don’t care if it’s Obama!  Whoever got this girl… she is going to blow up!”

For additional information, please visit http://www.janellemonae.com and http://www.myspace.com/janellemonae.

The B-52’s “Funplex” Review

“Hollywood’s Not America” – the lead single from Capitol Music Group recording artist FERRAS’ (pronounced Fer-AHSS) debut album, Aliens & Rainbows – rockets onto the Hot AC radio chart at #33, marking the highest debut for a career-opening single by a solo male artist since John Mayer in 2002. Aliens & Rainbows, produced by The Matrix (Avril Lavigne, Jason Mraz, Korn) with Gary Clark (Natalie Imbruglia, Lloyd Cole), is available for purchase in digital format beginning today at Itunes and Walmart with the physical release to follow on April 1st.

The video for “Hollywood’s Not America,” directed by Paul Brown (Smashing Pumpkins, Death Cab for Cutie, Evanescence), was just upped to Medium rotation at VH1 after only one week on the air and has been added by MTV Hits, Nickelodeon’s The N (where it’s one of only three videos in “Love” rotation), Music Choice and LOGO’s new music show, “New Now Next.” The single, a USA Today “pick of the week,” was used by Fox’s “American Idol” for its “Hollywood Week” episodes.

Streams for “Hollywood’s Not America” video:

WM: http://www2.fanscape.com/ferras/redirects/3734.aspx

QT: http://www2.fanscape.com/ferras/redirects/3732.aspx

FERRAS, who was recently the subject of an MTV News “TRL” feature, will perform on CBS’ “The Early Show” on Saturday, March 29th. He has also been tapped for WindowsMedia.com’s “Artist of the Month” for April. And on April 1st, he’ll host an hour of his favorite videos on MTV Hits’ “Hitlist.” FERRAS made his national television debut last month on NBC’s “Today” show.

VH1.com’s “The Leak” will stream Aliens & Rainbows the week prior to its April 1st street date. FERRAS is currently on tour with Capitol Music Group label mate A FINE FRENZY. Upcoming tour dates are as follows:

3/11 Minneapolis, MN Varsity Theater
3/12 Chicago, IL Schubas
3/13 Cleveland, OH House of Blues-Cambridge Room
3/15 Austin, TX Cedar House (SXSW)
3/19 Boston, MA Paradise Rock Club
3/20 New York, NY Blender Theater at Gramercy
3/22 Northampton, MA Iron Horse Music Hall
3/23 Alexandria, VA The Birchmere

3/24 Philadelphia, PA World Café Live
3/26 Atlanta, GA Smith‚s Olde Bar
3/28 Austin, TX The Parish
3/29 Dallas, TX The Prophet Bar
3/31 Denver, CO Bluebird Theatre
4/3 West Hollywood, CA Roxy Theatre

Break the Ice

New dates go on sale this week!

Tulsa, OK – February 2008— With HANSON’s fourth studio album, The Walk, which debuted in the Top 5 on Billboard’s Independent Chart, the band has announced a 3rd leg of The Walk Tour to begin April 9, 2008.  A complete list of dates is listed below.

In addition, HANSON will head out to Austin for two special shows at the SXSW Music Festival performing on March 13 at Austin Convention Center for Direct TV’s Concert special and on March 15 at Cedar Door.

Said Taylor Hanson, “We’re excited to get back out on the road. We love playing live and interacting with our fans. This coming set of shows will be unique, with a mix of new songs and arrangements, each show will be different from the last.”

LA Times praised the CD, “”The Walk” is intelligent mainstream rock with a soulful influence. These brothers must be seen live,” and Billboard described it as “an iconic American sound.”

Co-produced with legendary producer Danny Kortchmar (Billy Joel, James Taylor, the Eagles), The Walk was inspired, in part, by HANSON’s visits to South Africa and Mozambique, where they recruited children from the local orphanage to form a choir, who are featured on three songs on the new album including the current charity single “Great Divide.” The proceeds from the song “Great Divide” have gone to fund AIDS treatment and research in South Africa. The band recently visited Africa again to deliver thousands of TOMS shoes, sold through their 48, one-mile barefoot walks with fans, coinciding with their concerts across the US. Those Walk events will continue throughout the Spring leg of the tour.

Fanclub pre-sale began February 26th at 10:00 a.m.  MySpace/Local pre-sale began February 27th at 10:00 a.m. and public on-sale begins February 29th.  Further details on purchasing tickets can be found at: http://www.hanson.net.

Here’s a list of cities/venues where you can catch HANSON perform on The Walk Tour:  Supporting HANSON on this tour will be indie rockers Stephen Kellogg and The Sixers and Kate Voegele (first artist signed to MySpace Records).
April
9 La Crosse, WI South Hall
11 Milwaukee, WI The Rave
12 Madison, WI Barrymore Theater
13 Green Bay, WI Meyer Theatre
15 Indianapolis, IN Egyptian Room
17 Covington, KY Madison Theatre
18 Bloomington, IL Cellular Coliseum
19 Royal Oak, MI Royal Oak Music Hall
22 Albany, NY Northern Lights
23 Burlington, VT Higher Ground
25 Northampton, MA Calvin Theatre
26 Hampton Beach, NH Hampton Beach Casino
29 Sayreville, NJ Starland Ballroom
May
1 Falls Church, VA State Theatre
2 Allentown, PA Crocodile Rock
3 Lancaster, PA Chameleon Club
5 Asheville, NC Orange Peel
6 Myrtle Beach, SC House of Blues
7 Durham, NC Carolina Theatre

The Walk follows the 2004 debut release on their 3CG label, Underneath, which went to #1 on the Billboard Independent chart, producing the #2 single, “Penny and Me,” a Top 10 in the U.K. as well. The band’s 1997 debut, Middle of Nowhere, sold more than 4 million albums in the U.S., thanks to the chart-topping hit, “MmmBop,” which U2’s Bono has called “one of my favorite songs of all time.” The group received three Grammy nominations that year, including Best New Artist and Record of the Year.

COUNTING CROWS Release Saturday Nights & Sunday Mornings On March 25, Counting Crows will release their fifth studio album (and their first in five years), Saturday Nights & Sunday Mornings, on Geffen/Interscope. Saturday Nights & Sunday Mornings is just your average brilliant, unsparing rock & roll song cycle about the high life and the low life, about sin and whatever the hell follows.  This is an album with two distinct yet deeply related halves:

Saturday Nights—the album’s angry, electric, dissolute opening salvo—was produced by Gil Norton (The Pixies, Foo Fighters.) The more acoustic and folk-influenced Sunday Mornings was produced by Brian Deck whose past credits include Modest Mouse and Iron & Wine.

DOWNLOAD “1492” and “WHEN I DREAM OF MICHELANGELO” from SATURDAY NIGHTS & SUNDAY MORNINGS

DOWNLOAD ”You Can Count On Me”

For Duritz, Saturday Nights & Sunday Mornings is “about dissolution and disintegration.  It’s about when Saturday night happens and you lose all sense of yourself.  And it’s about when you wake up Sunday morning and look back at the wreck you’ve made of your life and you think, ‘How can I possibly fix this? How can I ever climb out of this hole?’ And then you start to try and climb.”

Duritz says of the inspiration for the title, “When I finally realized what this record was about and that it was actually going to be two different records that fit together as one, the title popped into my head immediately.  It’s a title that’s been used before in slightly different forms more than once, but none of them were the inspiration for my title.  That came from a late night stop at a truck stop somewhere in Georgia while we were touring August and Everything After.  “One day I grabbed this bizarre looking double-cassette by Ralph Stanley called Saturday Night & Sunday Morning. After that, you had to fight me to get it out of the stereo.  It’s just an unreal record about sin and redemption with inspired song choices and unearthly performances from Stanley himself and a sea of guests.  “These days, everybody wants to tell you how different every genre of music is and how one kind is good and another isn’t.  But on Stanley’s Saturday Night and Sunday Morning, country and bluegrass find a way to effortless prove that it’s all really just music.  Our album may not have much redemption in the end but we got all the sin I could live with and at least an attempt to try for something better.”

SATURDAY NIGHTS & SUNDAY MORNINGS TRACKLISTING.