Are the reports of Lady Gaga headlining the 2017 Super Bowl a ‘Perfect Illusion’?

According to an NFL rep, the answer is yes. At least for now.

Full story below…

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After achieving gargantuan success as part of K-Pop collective 2NE1, CL has her sights set on the US charts.

Last month saw the singer, real name Chaelin Lee, unleash her debut Stateside offering ‘Lifted.’

Now, she’s hitting the promotional pavement.

With Scooter Braun in her corner as manager, her first TV look wasn’t a little one. CL took over The Late Late Show With James Corden this week to jam out to her single.

Watch her in action after the jump…

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From The Vault salutes the criminally underrated Mya this week; our pick is her colorful tune ‘Free.’

In late 2000, following the success of ‘Case Of The Ex’, the singer seized the moment to re-release her sophomore album ‘Fear Of Flying’ with two new tracks. ‘Free’ comprised half of the double helping and was serviced as the album’s third single. It was also part of the soundtrack for Jamie Foxx’s ‘Bait’ movie.

Upon its arrival, the track drew many comparisons to Janet Jackson’s early work; understandable as it was produced by Jackson’s partners in rhyme Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis.

Sadly, it never lit up the charts like Janet’s early hits. Nor was it in reaching distance of ‘Case’s success. Instead, the funky cut had to settle for a #42 peak on the Billboard Hot 100 and #52 on the Hip-Hop/R&B tally.
Internationally it fared better, reaching #11 on the UK Singles Charts and the 4th position in Australia.

The ever dynamic Dave Meyers was tapped to direct the song’s video resulting in a vivaciously glossy affair.

Mya is seen transporting through different eras, which is accentuated by the fashion displayed but also the dynamite dancing throughout the visual. Special salute to the “locking” segment; the artist and her dancers went all the way off.

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Nothing irks us more than witnessing artists with the “full-package” struggle to garner recognition from record labels or radio executives. Though not a powerhouse vocalist, Mya is a more than capable singer, a skilled and versatile dancer, and a passionate performer. To this day we still ask ourselves when and where did it go wrong. Sure, she’s achieved commendable success on the indie circuit, but the reality is that her talent almost demands to be seen by the largest audience.

Anyway, we’ll keep hoping for a chart resurgence of some sort for this incredible act. She’s way overdue for another hit.

Mya, we’re ready when you are!

Your thoughts?

Lady Gaga launched herself back into the media stratosphere with comeback single ‘Perfect Illusion.’

Billed as the first taste of the singer’s fifth studio album ‘Joanne’ (due October 21st), the track topped the iTunes tally in over 60 countries upon its release last week.

In the time since, its lost a little steam – leaving some worried about her prospects. Others, however, are quick to note that the song’s video is around the corner; hence so too will be the natural lift it lends by way of VEVO streams.

The growing debate has left many wondering about the back of the campaign; what’s to come? What do the other songs sound like? Who’s calling the shots?

Interestingly, Mother Monster gave a inkling as to the latter in a new interview.

See what we mean below…

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As reported, Amber Riley will be blazing the stage in London as the centre-piece of the Dreamgirls production.

And this weekend saw the singer given a star-studded send-off in Los Angeles.

One of the notable names to take to the stage was her friend Jordin Sparks, who blew the roof off the building with a spirited rendition of Whitney Houston‘s classic ‘I Have Nothing.’

Ironically, it was everything.

Watch below…

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On the critical front Britney Spears‘ 9th album, ‘Glory,’ has certainly lived up to its titling.  Hailed by many as her best work since 2007’s groundbreaking, ‘Blackout,’ the album has certainly earned its share of glorious reviews from industry insiders and music lovers alike.

Sadly – even with a fair promotional schedule that’s seen her tackle print, radio, and television – that fanfare has not been reflected commercially.  Moving a moderate 111,000 SPS its first week, the album was blocked from the top spot by legendary diva Barbra Streisand and country group Florida Georgia Line.  But, if fans were disheartened by those first week figures,second week is singing an even worse song for the ‘Baby One More Time’ singer.

With a whopping 87% drop in sales, Spears made a beeline right out of the top 10 in just the second full week of the set’s full availability.  Keen to know where she landed on this week’s refreshed chart?

Tuck in below to find out:

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In January 2015 we reported rapstress Nicki Minaj, with 60 Hot 100 titles to her credit, was only 14 entries away from entering history books with “the most Hot 100 entries by a female in history.”

Held at bay by country darling Taylor Swift and Queen of Soul Aretha Franklin at the time, fast forwarding to September 2016 has seen little change.  Minaj, now with 68 titles to her credit, still remains 3rd in line behind Franklin and Swift.  However, with the addition of Ariana Grande‘s ‘Side to Side’ (which debuted at #31 last week), the ‘Va Va Voom‘ vixen is swiftly closing the gap between herself and her history-making competitors.

In reference to ‘Side,’ Billboard reports:

The song arrives as Minaj’s 68th Hot 100 hit, moving her to within five of Aretha Franklin‘s record for the most among women (73) and one shy of runner-up Taylor Swift’s total (69). (“Side” is Grande’s 21st Hot 100 title.)

Here is an updated look at the women with the most Hot 100 visits, dating to the chart’s Aug. 4, 1958 inception:

73, Aretha Franklin
69, Taylor Swift
68, Nicki Minaj
57, Madonna
57, Rihanna

Impressive! Tuck in below to see this week’s updated chart:

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Usher’s opening week number prediction for his new LP ‘Hard II Love’ has arrived.

How he’s set to  fare?

Find out below…

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Hillary Clinton‘s quest for the White House took a turn for the positive hours ago when she made her to the 39th Annual Symposium of BWA in Washington DC.

There, after taking some time to recover from pneumonia, the politician thanked the African-American community for supporting her political career and honoured the achievements of the electorate’s women.

That isn’t all.

For, she promised to return the favour by vowing to their place needs at the forefront of her plans should she win the election.

Watch below…

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Let some critics tell it, R&B superstar Usher‘s new album, ‘Hard II Love,’ does not live up to its title.

Noted by many-a-reviewer for its tracklist being lined with moving ballads and daring departures from mainstream R&B, the set’s lead singles –‘Crash,’ ‘No Limit’ (ft. Young Thug), and ‘Rivals’ (featuring Future) – have proven themselves a clear, yet strategic and intentional attempts to draw today’s younger listeners.

From where we (the buying public) stand in relation to the boardroom (on the outside looking in), however, it appears the strategic tactics stopped there.  For, with a surprise early release and few promotional appearances to announce its availability, the absence of buzz for the project may see ‘Hard II Love’ very ‘Hard II Find’ in the upper rankings of the Billboard 200.

An alarming fact given the high hopes many had for ‘Hard’ to help return the one-time chart champion back to his former glory…

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This week brought with it the long-awaited return of Emeli Sande, who debuted her roof-raising new single ‘Hurts.’

The haunting track is the first taste of sophomore album ‘Long Live The Angels,’ which flies into stores on November 11th.

Beyond being her first body of work since 2013’s 7x Platinum debut ‘Our Version Of Events,’ it’s her first release under the management of Jay Z’s Roc Nation.

With expectations high, Sande wasted no time hitting the stage in support of the track which is already top 5 on UK iTunes. Her first stop? BBC Radio 1 Live Lounge.

Watch her captivating performance after the jump…

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Following Rihanna’s departure from the label, Def Jam undoubtedly turned to Frank Ocean to lead the way for its promising yet commercially unfulfilled roster.

Unfortunately, it wasn’t long before he followed in the ‘ANTI’ purveyor’s footsteps and kicked the company to the curb.

Why?

A report on his feud with the label and its staff members below…

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