Say what you will about his personality, but there’s no denying Trey Songz’ contributions to R&B’s current revival.

Sure, while numbers boasted by Usher‘s ‘Confessions’ may make Songz’ feats look like child’s play, this year saw the sex symbol surpass all expectations when his ‘Chapter V’ debuted at #1 with 135,000 units. A figure, unfortunately unattainable by most (if not all) of his direct competition.

Shifting those numbers without the benefit of what some might call a ‘Pop smash’, he has now weighed in on those of his contemporaries he feels have strayed from the genre, only to enjoy lack luster sales once they do.

His words below…

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Ne-Yo is set to make the UK glow a shade of ‘R.E.D’ next year. For, the singer-songwriter has announced a series of live arena dates in the territory in support of his album of the same name.

The short jaunt is designed to embrace the star’s global superstar status; a status which saw him achieve his fourth UK #1 with ‘Let Me Love You’. What’s more, the feat serves as the first British chart-topper his record label Motown have had in over 20 years.

Find out how you can celebrate with the Grammy winner after the jump…

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The X Factor USA will once again see its judging panel re-jigged next year. For, L.A Reid has today announced that he will not be returning for the show’s third season.

Details below…

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Set for air on Friday, February 1, 2013, look below to see the full list of nominees for the 44th NAACP Image Awards (only on NBC).

MUSIC

Outstanding New Artist
• Elle Varner (MBK / RCA)
• Gary Clark, Jr. (Warner Bros. Records)
• Lianne La Havas (Nonesuch Records Inc. / Warner Bros. Records)
• Melanie Amaro (Epic Records)
• The OMG Girlz (Pretty Hustle / Grand Hustle / Streamline / Interscope)
Outstanding Male Artist
• Bruno Mars (Atlantic)
• Lupe Fiasco (Atlantic)
• Miguel (ByStorm / RCA)
• Trey Songz (Atlantic)
• Usher (RCA Records)
Outstanding Female Artist
• Alicia Keys (RCA Records)
• Elle Varner (MBK / RCA)
• Estelle (Atlantic)
• Missy Elliott (Atlantic)
• Tamela Mann (Tillymann Music Group)
Outstanding Duo, Group or Collaboration
• Chuck D, Johnny Juice, Will.i.am, Herbie Hancock (Iconomy Multi-Media &
Entertainment)
• fun. feat. Janelle Monae (Atlantic)
• Lupe Fiasco feat. Guy Sebastian (Atlantic)
• Mary Mary (Columbia)
• Ne-Yo, Herbie Hancock, Johnny Rzeznik, Delta Rae, Natasha Bedingfield (Forward
Song, LLC)

Outstanding Gospel Album – (Traditional or Contemporary)
• “Best Days” – Tamela Mann (Tillymann Music Group)
• “Go Get It” – Mary Mary (Columbia)
• “God, Love & Romance” – Fred Hammond (Verity Gospel Music Group)
• “I Win” – Marvin Sapp (Verity Gospel Music Group)
• “Le’Andria Johnson The Experience” – Le’Andria Johnson (Music World Gospel / Music
World)

Outstanding Music Video
• “Adorn” – Miguel (ByStorm / RCA)
• “Girl On Fire” – Alicia Keys (RCA Records)
• “Locked Out Of Heaven” – Bruno Mars (Atlantic)
• “This Christmas” – CeeLo Green (Elektra)
• “You’re On My Mind” – KEM (Universal Motown)
Outstanding Song
• “Be Mine for Christmas” – KEM (Universal Motown)
• “Glorify the King” – KEM (Universal Motown)
• “I Look To You” – Whitney Houston and R. Kelly (RCA Records)
• “Locked Out Of Heaven” – Bruno Mars (Atlantic)
• “You’re On My Mind” – KEM (Universal Motown)
Outstanding Album
• “Bad – 25th Anniversary Deluxe Edition” – Michael Jackson (Legacy / Epic)
• “Girl On Fire” – Alicia Keys (RCA Records)
• “I Will Always Love You: The Best Of Whitney Houston” – Whitney Houston (RCA
Records)
• “On the Shoulders of Giants – The Soundtrack” – Chuck D, Will.i.am, Herbie Hancock,
Nikki Yannofsky (Iconomy Multi-Media & Entertainment )
• “Perfectly Imperfect” – Elle Varner (MBK / RCA)

TELEVISION

Outstanding Comedy Series
• “Glee” (FOX)
• “Modern Family” (ABC)
• “The Game” (BET)
• “The Mindy Project” (FOX)
• “The Soul Man” (TV Land)

Outstanding Actor in a Comedy Series
• Anthony Anderson – “Guys with Kids” (NBC)
• Damon Wayans, Jr. – “Happy Endings” (ABC)
• Don Cheadle – “House Of Lies” (Showtime)
• Donald Faison – “The Exes” (TV Land)
• Hosea Chanchez – “The Game” (BET)

Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series
• Amber Riley – “Glee” (FOX)
• Cassi Davis – “Tyler Perry’s House of Payne” (TBS)
• Kellita Smith – “The First Family” (Syndicated)
• Tatyana Ali – “Love That Girl” (TV One)
• Wendy Raquel Robinson – “The Game” (BET)

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series
• Aziz Ansari – “Parks and Recreation” (NBC)
• Craig Robinson – “The Office” (NBC)
• Donald Glover – “Community” (NBC)
• Lance Gross – “Tyler Perry’s House of Payne” (TBS)
• Tracy Morgan – “30 Rock” (NBC)

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series
• Anna Deavere Smith – “Nurse Jackie” (Showtime)
• Gabourey Sidibe – “The Big C” (Showtime)
• Gladys Knight – “The First Family” (Syndicated)
• Rashida Jones – “Parks and Recreation” (NBC)
• Vanessa Williams – “Desperate Housewives” (ABC)

Outstanding Drama Series
• “Boardwalk Empire” (HBO)
• “Grey’s Anatomy” (ABC)
• “Scandal” (ABC)
• “Treme” (HBO)
• “True Blood” (HBO)

Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series
• Dulé Hill – “Psych” (USA)
• Hill Harper – “CSI: NY” (CBS)
• LL Cool J – “NCIS: Los Angeles” (CBS)
• Michael Clarke Duncan – “The Finder” (FOX)
• Wendell Pierce – “Treme” (HBO)

Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series
• Chandra Wilson – “Grey’s Anatomy” (ABC)
• Kerry Washington – “Scandal” (ABC)
• Khandi Alexander – “Treme” (HBO)
• Regina King – “SouthLAnd” (TNT)
• Sandra Oh – “Grey’s Anatomy” (ABC)

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series
• Clarke Peters – “Treme” (HBO)
• Dev Patel – “The Newsroom” (HBO)
• Omar Epps – “House M.D.” (FOX)
• Rockmond Dunbar – “Sons of Anarchy” (FX)
• Rocky Carroll – “NCIS” (CBS)

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series
• Archie Panjabi – “The Good Wife” (CBS)
• Joy Bryant – “Parenthood” (NBC)
• Loretta Devine – “Grey’s Anatomy” (ABC)
• Lucy Lui – “SouthLAnd” (TNT)
• Rutina Wesley – “True Blood” (HBO)

Outstanding Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic Special
• “Abducted: The Carlina White Story” (Lifetime)
• “Hallmark Hall of Fame’s FIRELIGHT” (ABC)
• “Raising Izzie” (GMC TV)
• “Steel Magnolias” (Lifetime)
• “Sugar Mommas” (GMC TV)

Outstanding Actor in a Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic Special
• Afemo Omilami – “Steel Magnolias” (Lifetime)
• Cuba Gooding, Jr. – “Hallmark Hall of Fame’s FIRELIGHT” (ABC)
• Michael Jai White – “Somebody’s Child” (GMC TV)
• Rockmond Dunbar – “Raising Izzie” (GMC TV)
• Tory Kittles – “Steel Magnolias” (Lifetime)

Outstanding Actress in a Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic Special
• Alfre Woodard – “Steel Magnolias” (Lifetime)
• Jill Scott – “Steel Magnolias” (Lifetime)
• Keke Palmer – “Abducted: The Carlina White Story” (Lifetime)
• Phylicia Rashad – “Steel Magnolias” (Lifetime)
• Queen Latifah – “Steel Magnolias” (Lifetime)

Outstanding Actor in a Daytime Drama Series
• Aaron D. Spears – “The Bold and the Beautiful” (CBS)
• Erik Valdez – “General Hospital” (ABC)
• James Reynolds – “Days of Our Lives” (NBC)
• Kristoff St. John – “The Young and the Restless” (CBS)
• Rodney Saulsberry – “The Bold and the Beautiful” (CBS)

Outstanding Actress in a Daytime Drama Series
• Angell Conwell – “The Young and the Restless” (CBS)
• Julia Pace Mitchell – “The Young and the Restless” (CBS)
• Kristolyn Lloyd – “The Bold and the Beautiful” (CBS)
• Shenell Edmonds – “One Life to Live” (ABC)
• Tatyana Ali – “The Young and the Restless” (CBS)

Outstanding Talk Series
• “Don’t Sleep!” (BET)
• “Oprah’s Lifeclass” (OWN)
• “Oprah’s Next Chapter” (OWN)
• “The View” (ABC)
• “Totally Biased with W. Kamau Bell” (FX)

Outstanding Reality Series
• “Dancing with the Stars” (ABC)
• “Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel” (HBO)
• “The X Factor” (FOX)
• “Tia & Tamera” (Style)
• “Welcome to Sweetie Pie’s” (OWN)

Outstanding Variety Series or Special
• “Black Girls Rock” (BET)
• “Oprah and the Legendary Cast of Roots 35 Years Later” (OWN)
• “Oprah’s Master Class” (OWN)
• “The First Graduating Class: Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls” (OWN)
• “Verses & Flow” (TV One)

MOTION PICTURE

Outstanding Motion Picture
• “Beasts of the Southern Wild” (Fox Searchlight Pictures)
• “Django Unchained” (The Weinstein Company)
• “Flight” (Paramount Pictures)
• “Red Tails” (Lucasfilm)
• “Tyler Perry’s Good Deeds” (Lionsgate)

Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture
• Denzel Washington – “Flight” (Paramount Pictures)
• Jamie Foxx – “Django Unchained” (The Weinstein Company)
• Morgan Freeman – “The Magic of Belle Isle” (Magnolia Pictures)
• Suraj Sharma – “Life of Pi” (20th Century Fox)
• Tyler Perry – “Alex Cross” (Summit Entertainment)

Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture
• Emayatzy Corinealdi – “Middle of Nowhere” (AAFRM)
• Halle Berry – “Cloud Atlas” (Warner Bros. Pictures)
• Loretta Devine – “In The Hive” (Eone Entertainment)
• Quvenzhané Wallis – “Beasts of the Southern Wild” (Fox Searchlight Pictures)
• Viola Davis – “Won’t Back Down” (20th Century Fox)

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture
• David Oyelowo – “Middle of Nowhere” (AFFRM)
• Don Cheadle – “Flight” (Paramount Pictures)
• Dwight Henry – “Beasts of the Southern Wild” (Fox Searchlight Pictures)
• Lenny Kravitz – “The Hunger Games” (Lionsgate)
• Samuel L. Jackson – “Django Unchained” (The Weinstein Company)

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture
• Amandla Stenberg – “The Hunger Games” (Lionsgate)
• Gloria Reuben – “Lincoln” (DreamWorks Pictures)
• Kerry Washington – “Django Unchained” (The Weinstein Company)
• Phylicia Rashad – “Tyler Perry’s Good Deeds” (Lionsgate)
• Taraji P. Henson – “Think Like a Man” (Screen Gems)

Your thoughts?

Well, it was good while it lasted.

Simon Cowell may have recently celebrated news of his hit show ‘X Factor US’ being picked up for a 3rd season, but now it appears that music mentor/fellow judge L.A. Reid won’t be joining him.

According to reports, Reid is looking to make an exit from the show.  And, while the fate of pop princesses Britney Spears and Demi Lovato are unknown, it is certain that Reid wants out.  The Epic mogul is said to have shared:

“Of course I will miss the show, in my opinion Simon attracts the best talent, but I’m looking forward to getting back to my core business and the responsibility of running Epic Records. “I have the utmost respect for Simon Cowell, he is the very best. I’m honored to have sat on the panel with such incredible talent.”

Your thoughts?

It may not hit theaters until December 25th, but that hasn’t stopped Quentin Tarantino‘s ‘Django Unchained‘ from nabbing multiple Golden Globe nominations today.

Starring Kerry Washington, Leonardo Dicaprio, Samuel L.Jackson and Jamie Foxx, the action flick picked up 5 nods, which include ‘Best Screenplay’ and ‘Best Motion Picture‘.

Check out the full list of nominees below:

Best movie, drama
“Argo”
“Django Unchained”
“Life of Pi”
“Lincoln”
“Zero Dark Thirty”

Best movie, comedy or musical
“Best Exotic Marigold Hotel”
“Les Miserables”
“Moonrise Kingdom”
“Salmon Fishing in the Yemen”
“Silver Linings Playbook”

Best director
Ben Affleck, “Argo”
Kathryn Bigelow, “Zero Dark Thirty”
Ang Lee, “Life of Pi”
Steven Spielberg, “Lincoln”
Quentin Tarantino, “Django Unchained”

Best actor, movie drama
Daniel Day-Lewis, “Lincoln”
Richard Gere, “Arbitrage”
John Hawkes, “The Sessions”
Joaquin Phoenix, “The Master”
Denzel Washington, “Flight”

Best actress, movie drama
Marion Cotillard, “Rust and Bone”
Jessica Chastain, “Zero Dark Thirty”
Naomi Watts, “The Impossible”
Rachel Weisz, “The Deep Blue Sea”
Helen Mirren, “Hitchcock”

Hugh Jackman, “Les Miserables”
Bradley Cooper, “Silver Linings Playbook”
Jack Black, “Bernie”
Ewan McGregor, “Salmon Fishing in the Yemen”
Bill Murray, “Hyde Park On Hudson”

Best actress, comedy or musical
Jennifer Lawrence, “Silver Linings Playbook”
Meryl Streep, “Hope Springs”
Judi Dench, “The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel”
Maggie Smith, “Quartet”
Emily Blunt, “Salmon Fishing in the Yemen”

Best TV drama
“Breaking Bad”
“Boardwalk Empire”
“Downton Abbey”
“Homeland”
“The Newsroom”

Best actor, TV drama
Steve Buscemi, “Boardwalk Empire”
Bryan Cranston, “Breaking Bad”
Jeff Daniels, “The Newsroom”
Jon Hamm, “Mad Men”
Damian Lewis, “Homeland”

Best actress, TV drama
Connie Britton, “Nashville”
Claire Danes, “Homeland”
Glenn Close, “Damages”
Michelle Dockery,” “Downton Abbey”
Julianna Margulies, “The Good Wife”

Best TV comedy or musical
“The Big Bang Theory”
“Episodes”
“Girls”
“Modern Family”
“Smash”

Best actress, TV comedy or musical
Zooey Deschanel, “New Girl”
Lena Dunham, “Girls”
Tina Fey, “30 Rock”
Amy Poehler, “Parks and Recreation”
Julia Louis-Dreyfus, “Veep”

Best actor, TV comedy or musical
Alec  Baldwin, “30 Rock”
Don Cheadle, “House of Lies”
Matt LeBlanc, “Episodes”
Louis C.K., “Louie”
Jim Parsons, “The Big Bang Theory”

The Golden Globes will air live on NBC, January 13th 2013.

Source.

Your thoughts?

‘Grenade’ hitmaker Bruno Mars has been blowing up the promo trail in support of his soon-to-be #1 album ‘Unorthodox Jukebox’ – bringing its lead single/chart-topping hit ‘Locked Out of Heaven’ to a number of major outlets.

Now, ‘X Factor US’ can add its name to the list of stages charmed by the Hawaiian crooner.  See it below:

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Despite voluntarily falling out of the public eye in recent months, ‘Skyfall’ singer Adele is still slaying charts with her sophomore effort ’21’ (released February 2011).  Featuring the hits ‘Rolling In the Deep’, ‘Someone Like You’, and ‘Set Fire To The Rain’, the chart topping set blazed through 2011’s competition with repeated record-breaking runs atop the Billboard 200.

Fast forward a year later and it appears she is still finding her name in running with 2012’s biggest sellers. For, today saw Itunes unveil its year-end chart – tallying the year’s most downloaded albums.  Guess who’s number 1….

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She has done it again with hardly any reason to say oops! For, yet again, 2012 has proven ‘Toxic’ tinwoman Britney Spears seems to have the magic potion when it comes into raking in the big bucks.

With an estimated $58 million in earnings over the past year (due to album sales, tours, ‘X Factor US’, etc), Spears has new reason to ‘Scream & Shout’ as reports have surfaced indicating the stiff songstress beat out stiff competition to be named 2012’s highest paid female musician.

 Find out what top divas she beat to the top below:

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The weekend is nigh and so too is VH1 Divas 2012!

Now a live show, this year’s festivities take place from Los Angeles’ Shrine Auditorium on Sunday.

A Dance-themed extravaganza, the 2012 instalment of the popular franchise pays homage to late singers Whitney Houston and Donna Summer – the latter of whom is being honored by Kelly Rowland.

With many observing physical and musical similarities between Summer and the Destiny’s Child star, it was almost necessary that Rowland’s involvement center around the Disco queen. A stance the show’s producers seem to agree with, as the 31 year old has been tapped to tackle two of Summer’s biggest hits.

Find out what they are (as well as what other acts will be performing) below…

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Tamar Braxton may have hit #1 on iTunes with new single ‘Love & War’, but the talented singer is touching as many stages as possible to ensure the song is a bonafide hit.

The latest stop on her promo campaign? CBS’s The Couch.

Watch below as the youngest of the Braxton clan dishes on the track’s success and performs it too…

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Tiffany Pollard, known more famously as New York, was the recent recipient of an episode of TV One’s ‘Life After’.

The renown reality star recounts her “rise” – From starting out in the church to “stealing everyone’s men at school”, to her breakthrough on VH1’s ‘Flavor Of Love’, and life after her show.

A watch as crazy as it is intriguing, it’s New York…Life After. Check it out above…

Your thoughts?