GONE TO THE UMS

Visit www.theums.com for all the latest news on the festival and to purchase tickets!

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In The Meantime

Since we'll be taking a short hiatus, we wanted to give you some little tidbits of some developing stories. More information to come, but here's what's on tap for the rest of the summer:

- Lady GaGa will be re-releasing her debut album, The Fame, this fall with all new songs and new remixes. The Fame Monster will feature a more urban sound from GaGa to further define her as an artist in this every changing industry of music and fame.
- Jordin Sparks will be releasing her second single from her sophomore album, Battlefield, in the coming months. "S.O.S. (Let The Music Play)" is an upbeat number that will featuring dancing and loads of cool club remixes, according to Jordin, herself. Her album is in stores as of yesterday!
- Whitney Houston will be making her triumphant return to music this fall with her new album, I Look To You, which will feature the single "Mill Dollar Bill". The new single should be hitting radio July 28th with the album due for a September 1st release date.
- Britney Spears will release a collection of her hits and singles later this year, which will also feature some new music. Britney was recently spotted at a studio in Sweden with hit makerMax Martin recording some possible tracks for that release. The box set, which will include a DVD of her hit videos, is slated to be released in October.
- There are also rumors that while touring inAustralia this fall, Britney will tape her concert for a DVD of "The Circus Starring Britney Spears Tour", so all you Britney fans can experience the show in all its glory.
- In other Britney news, this week the pop star officially became the artist with the most Top 40 hits this decade, as her new single, "Radar" is racing to the top of the charts.
- Madonna will also release a greatest hits album this fall and it will include a new single titled "Celebrate".
- Though rumors were swirling about a Destiny's Child reunion album, Kelly Rowland confirmed that no plans have been made for a reunion and that the girls are all still working on their solo projects.
- Christina Aguilera and Rihanna are both slated to release new albums this fall with singles dropping in the coming weeks.
- The promotion for MTV's VMA (Video Music Awards) is already beginning with rumors filling blogs about who will be performing. It has been confirmed that last year's host, Russell Brand, will return to hosting duties again (horrible choice), but promises to keep the purity jokes to a minimum. Also confirmed to be performing is teen, country sensation Taylor Swift. It is rumored that Christina Aguilera and Rihanna will both be on the list of performers, as well. MTV News tweeted this past week asking fans if they "want to see Britney Spears perform on this year's VMA's" causing lots of speculation that she will return for a third year as the shows biggest draw. However, camp Spears says that they have "no plans to appear or perform" this year. The summer is still young - I could see them trying to get her out to deliver ratings again, so stay tuned.
- Mariah Carey's new album, Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel, due out next month, has been pushed back to a September 15th release date.
- Kelly Clarkson's new video for the single "Already Gone" could possibly premiering online today, but if not should be debuting this week sometime. If we're able, we'll get that up asap.
- Kelly Clarkson announced yesterday her fall All I Ever Wanted Tour, but unfortunately Colorado wasn't in the initial list of dates - we're hoping for another batch of confirmed dates and places soon. Opening for her on this nationwide tour will be The Veroncias and Parachute.
- After a four year hiatus, VH1 is bringing back its hit music special Divas Live. This year the show, which will air on September 17th, will feature Leona Lewis, Miley Cyrus, Adele, and Kelly Clarkson. I'm salivating at the thought of a Kelly/Leona duet.

So, that's all for now... hope that satisfies your inquiring minds for a week or so, while we're away! But, we promise to be back and bring you even more very soon.

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A Reading By Chris Brown

Chris Brown finally broke his silence regarding the beat down he gave Rihanna in February yesterday. He posted this "apology" on his website, but unfortunately it was a little transparent - he was reading the whole thing, as not to say something sincere, we assume.



Do you forgive him? This now concludes the public service announcement portion of the day.

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Inside The Idol Insider

Hey all!

I will be taking a short break to put on the biggest indie music festival in the western region, The UMS - the ninth annual Denver Post Underground Music Showcase - over the next week. July 23rd - July 26th, over 200 bands will take over South Broadway in Denver, Colorado to rock out in a South By Southwest-style fashion! This year is the biggest the festival has been and it's only going to get bigger for it 10th Anniversary next year. Visit TheUMS.com for more information, to purchase tickets, or to check out the entire lineup.

After the festival has subsided, I will be back delivering the latest news, gossip, and celebrity dirt from all your favorite artists and bands. I will also be giving you a "first listen" to some of the best bands we saw at this year's Underground Music Showcase. Plus, we'll let you know all the dirty deets from this year's event. Last year, Issac Slade (lead singer of The Fray) stopped by for a surprise performance! Who's on tap this year? Stay tuned!

XOXO, Idol Insider

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Idol Contestant on the "Radio, Radio"

Idol Season 7 contestant, Brooke White, just released her first single, "Radio, Radio", from her debut album High Hopes & Heartbreak. The song, a catchy summery hit, will be impacting the "radio, radio" soon.

Check out the accompanied video for the single now.

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Straight OUT, Now Tell Me

While it hasn't been officially confirmed by 19 Entertainment, it looks like the future for our beloved Paula Abdul is clear. Her management released a statement regarding the rumors that the once Dance-Diva would not be returning to the ninth season of American Idol. In a statement, her manager, David Soneberg, said, "Very sadly, it does not appear that she's going to be back on Idol." At this time no contracts have been offered for renegotiation and Fremantle and 19 Entertainment have yet to reach out about a renewal.

So, with production starting on August 6th and no signatures on the dotted line, we see this as the end of Paula's era on the show. But what about Kara? No word on whether the new female judge will return to the show. However, Randy Jackson, who's contract takes him through 2011, Simon Cowell, and Ryan Seacrest will all be back. This should make for a very interesting season!

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Artist To Watch: Kristinia DeBarge

This 19 year old singer and dancer is making her way to the top with her new single, "Goodbye", tearing up radio and digital downloads. Her debut album will hit stores on July 28th and then she will be hitting the road, joining Ciara as an opening act on The Circus Starring Britney Spears Tour, when it comes back to North America.

Introducing Kristinia DeBarge:



The video for her first single, "Goodbye":

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All The Things We Wanted

Kelly Clarkson has begun her promotional tour for her new single, "Already Gone", with her first stop on David Letterman. The third single from the her incredible new album, All I Ever Wanted, is brilliant and bold. The performance, while stripped down from the album version, is brilliant at spots, but leaves me waiting for her next stop on the talk-show chain, so we can hear it even more polished.

Check it out and let me know where it rates on your K. Clarkson scale.

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Britney & Paris: Together Again

No, not that Paris!

Thankfully, Britney has left her days with partying heiress behind, but she has made her way to France, as The Circus Starring Britney Spears tour continues through Europe. Entertainment Tonight was there to catch all the backstage footage. Watch, as Britney, her dancers, and crew prepare for the big show in Paris, while chatting up the second leg of her North American tour.

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Obsessed With "Obsessed"

Mariah Carey's new video for her brand new single, "Obsessed", hit the Internet this morning. The song, which is rumored to be about her on-going feud with rapper Eminem, will be the lead single from her new album titled Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel. The video for the song pokes fun at an "Obsessed" fan that follows Mariah around in Eminem-style garb. The obsessed fan, while male, is played Mariah herself, adding to the already comedic clip.

Check it out - I love it!

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Happy Birthday, Insider!

So, it's no secret that the Idol Insider loves him some Carrie Underwood, and after years of public adoration it looks like Carrie might be reciprocating. Well, maybe not, but we'd like to think so.

After the success of her sophomore release, Carnival Ride, and sold out tours, the reigning ACM Entertainer of the Year is doing it again! Carrie, who has sold over 10 million albums worldwide and became the first country artist in history to achieve 10 #1 singles, is putting the final touches on her third, currently untitled, album. The album, which will reunite the country diva with producer Mark Bright, is slated for release on November 3rd. November 3rd! The day after the Idol Insider celebrates his 25th birthday! Coincidence? Probably, but we're going to assume she has planned this to be our very special gift!

The lead single from the new disc is scheduled for a late summer release. And judging by Carrie's first 10 singles, we're assuming this one will be racing to the top of the charts, too. Keep it here with the Idol Insider for all the latest on Underwood's new album and single! And with a new album comes another tour, so we'll be bringing you dates as they become available.

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Behind The Radar

We posted Britney Spears' new video, "Radar", recently and wrote about the bland storyline and missing dance numbers. Now, we bring you the behind the scenes video, which shows Britney on the set of the video and shooting her latest Candies ads, that will be used for the clothing line's fall campaign. She might not be doing a whole lot of dancing, but she looks awesome.

Don't you think?

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"Your Music Won't Fade Away"

While on tour, Beyonce switched up her hit, "Halo", and turned it into a special tribute to the late, great King of Pop! Check it out:

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Katy Perry Is A Long Shot

She has one of the hottest albums of the 2008/2009 season, she's penned some awesome, radio-friendly tunes, and landed two of the stand out tracks on Kelly Clarkson's latest, All I Ever Wanted. Thankfully for all of us, Kelly did a much better with the track "Long Shot" than Katy's original demo.

Here's a extremely low budget music video for the song that Katy put together before her days of kissing girls.




THOUGHTS?

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Blake's Sad Song

After his debut album failed to catch on, American Idol season 6 runner up, Blake Lewis, is stepping back up to the plate for another swing. Lewis, who was best known for his originality and beat boxing skills, will be releasing his sophomore effort, Heartbreak On Vinyl, on October 6th. He has been busy working on a new, high energy sound with mega producers Rodney Jerkins (Britney Spears, Lady GaGa) and Dave Aude, best known for his famous remixes of club hits including work with The Pussycat Dolls.

Blake's new single, "Sad Song", will be released on July 21st through People.com, and is said to be inspired by electronic beats and be music that people can dance to and "lose all inhibitions".

Will he hit a home run this time around?!?

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XOXO, You Know You Love...

Pop star and teen sensation, Hilary Duff, is all grown up and heading back to where it all began...T.V.

The former Disney star is set to join the cast of the CW series Gossip Girl this fall for multiple episodes. After NBC passed on her pilot series, Barely Legal, an updated version of about a young law prodigy who soars through school and works as a high power attorney, Duff accepted the role of Olivia for the upcoming season of Doogie Howser, M.D.GG. Her character, Olivia Burke, is a movie star who enrolls in New York University to find the "real" college experience, but when she ends up rooming with Vanessa, played by Jessica Szohr, we're assuming she'll switch her focus and major in drama.

Duff's arc on the hit series will begin four episodes into the season on October 5th; the season premieres on September 14th.

You know you love me - xoxo, Idol Insider!

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Laid To Rest

Today the King of Pop, Michael Jackson, will be laid to rest in a "private" ceremony at the Staples Center with performances by Jennifer Hudson and Mariah Carey. His closest family and friends will join over 17,000 fans in the L.A. memorial. The ceremony will also be telecast on CNN, NBC, ABC, CBS, Fox, and E!. We will update the blog with video of the ceremony after it airs.

UPDATE W/ HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE MEMORIAL:















R.I.P. Michael Jackson.

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Another One Bites The Dust

Earlier this year, Blender Magazine announced it was no longer printing any further print magazines. The publication still currently maintains a website, delivering the latest music news. But now, as a sign of the times and where the print industry is headed, Vibe, founded by Quincy Jones in 1993, will be shutting it's doors. Official news broke last Tuesday that the August issue, featuring R&B power couple, Christina Milian and The Dream, on the cover, will be its last to hit shelves.

R.I.P. Vibe Magazine - thanks for puttin' the "VIBE" out there for all these years.

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On The 'Radar'

Britney's new video for the single, "Radar", was released online this week. The song, a standout on her Blackout album and a bonus track on the Circus album, has been a long running favorite among the hardcore Britney fans...I've heard (ha!). And while Britney looks great in the video, it is missing a key element of Britney: dance. Which came as such a huge surprise because the stage version of the song is so insane. The video just doesn't translates, which is a bit unfortunate.

But, check it out and let me know your opinion - It's not our fave Brit-Brit video, but it is definitely not our least.

What are your thoughts?

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Ferosh!

Happy 4th, All!

CAUTION FIREWORKS AHEAD: As we continue to anticipate the release of Cobra Starship's album, Hot Mess, the band dropped their new video for the single "Good Girls Go Bad". Leighton Meester, our fave new "it" girl, is featured in the song (yes, she too is releasing a record later this year) and it is ferosh!

Check out the hot new video and let me know your thoughts on these rising new artists!

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Paying The Bills and Respect

Immediately after news broke that Michael Jackson, the King of Pop, had passed away work began on this tribute song, "Better On the Other Side". The song, featuring The Game, Chris Brown, Diddy, Polow Da Don, Usher, Mario Winans, and Boys II Men, will be the first of many tributes to the late music icon. The song leaked to Internet by Friday morning after the news broke - it came together awfully fast.

Check out the song's video, edited by Taydoe.

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Covering Michael Jackson

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The Next In Line

When GMTV London sat down with Justin Timberlake and Trace Alaya to talk about their clothing line, William Rast, the recent death of Michael Jackson came up and this is what J.T. had to say...

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