Things continue to get better for the once-troubled Pop superstar Britney Spears. This week sees ‘3’ the lead single from her forthcoming greatest hits LP ‘The Singles Collection’ debut atop of the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Check out the report below, as well as set pics from the Diane Martel (‘Love, Sex, Magic’) directed video, which is set to premiere October 19th:

Britney Spears will become the first artist in over three years to debut at the top spot on the Billboard Hot 100 tomorrow.

The singer’s new single ‘3’, which is taken from her upcoming singles collection, has shifted over 255,000 downloads in its first week of release, according to Billboard.

The track is also expected to reach pole position on the Digital Songs countdown and debut at number 49 on the Radio Songs/Hot 100 Airplay, which is based on airplay audience on all radio formats.

The last song to debut at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 was Taylor Hicks’s American Idol winners song ‘Do I Make You Proud’ in July 2006.

Britney’s first single ‘…Baby One More Time’ spent two weeks at the top spot in 1999 and ‘Womanizer’ enjoyed one week at number one last October. {Source}

I  guess this is pretty much a testament to Britney’s staying power in today’s industry; I say this as I still feel the song is generic as hell and a far cry from some of her more career defining material. That said, I can’t hate on her game…

Your thoughts?

Your thoughts?

After publically battling her record label Blackground for the better part of a year over the release of her third studio album ‘All I Want Is Everything’ (a period which saw her also file a $500,000 lawsuit against them), JoJo has confirmed that the issue has been resolved. The 18 year old star confirmed on her Twitter page that  the album now set to be released as a joint venture between Blackground and Interscope. {Source}

As a big JoJo supporter, I’m real glad this whole mess has been mopped up, with her able to press ahead. Her last album ‘The High Road’ was the epitome of the business, so I’m definitely looking forward to what she’s gonna be serving up with this one. In an industry that today seems quite short on (successful) raw talent, I’m hoping she manages to sell well after all this drama too.

Your thoughts?

Alexandra Burke stopped by GMTV this morning for a chat, as well as perform her smash hit single ‘Bad Boys’. Peep the interview above, and the performance below:

Awesome performance! She really is giving everything and then some with these live showings; she really performs with the swagger of an older, more seasoned artist.

I must touch upon, however, the fact that she was lip-synching. No, not a big deal at all, because we all know she can sing – no questions about that. However, with the audio here sounding almost exactly the same as the X-Factor performance (aside from the new bridge – which I love, by the way), it’s pretty evident this was a pre-recorded live vocal. Anyone who watched the X-Factor the year she won will know that the beauty of her voice is that it’s raw and not necessarily a polished Pop voice – hence the odd off-note here and there as well as spontaneous adlibbing – none of which have featured in her note perfect -even though she’s dancing – performances. Not downing her at all, just stating the facts. Great performance!

What do you think of the performance?

Former Murder Inc collaborators Ashanti and Ja Rule took to the stage at VH1 Hip-Hop Honors to perform a medley of their past hits. I enjoyed this for nostalgia and that alone; that aside, it was a little lacking in energy, however it was great to see that their relationship is on good terms again.

What do you think of the performance?

Diddy and Dirty Money stopped by BET’s 106 & Park to promote their new ‘Last Train To Paris’ project. As well as that, Diddy addresses his move from Atlantic over to Interscope, as well as the future of his acts over at Bad Boy/Atlantic.

I don’t know if it was just me, but even after Diddy’s ‘explanation’ as to what’s happening with his artists, I was still very confused by what exactly he was trying to say. To be honest, I don’t even think he know’s where he was going with that one. I mean all previous reports indicated that he was starting a new label over at Interscope, with Bad Boy remaining at Atlantic; yet now (correct me if wrong) he seems to be saying his launching Bad Boy over at Interscope with some, but not all of the previous roster. Ugh…confused.com.

Kinda going a tad off-topic, I can’t help but feel Diddy even still having a rap career is nothing more than an ego-stroke. When everyone and their mother thinks you suck as an artist (and have forever), and you struggle to sell despite throwing MILLIONS at your last project (see: ‘Press Play’), why is he bothering? It sounds a bit harsh, but for a multi-million dollar mogul, you’d think he’d be a bit more business savvy than that. When has anyone ever rated Puffy as an artist? It’s 2009, it’s pretty much a joke thinking that in the world of Kanye’s and Jay-Z’s, that a Diddy rap record is gonna excite folks (see: the chart performance of ‘Last Train”s lead single ‘Angels’).

Your thoughts?

Shakira stopped by ABC’s Dancing With The Stars this week to promote her new LP ‘She Wolf’. The Colombian beauty performed her 2005 smash ‘Hips Don’t Lie’. While her live vocals left a lot to be desired (as usual), I really enjoyed this performance. You know a *star, star* when there is no one that can be compared to them. Good stuff.

What do you think of the performance?

After months of being in the limelight for every reason other than her music, Rihanna is set to return to the charts with her fourth studio album. For a while now, there has been increased speculation that the Bajan star was eyeing a November release for the as yet untitled LP; today those murmurs were confirmed as true – with the ‘singer’s’ Twitter page cryptically reading:

Am I excited about the prospect of another RiRi LP and the inevitable aggressive ‘be force fed it until you like it’ promo campaign that will accompany it? No. Am I looking forward to hearing her dying alley cat in pain vocals all over the radio? Hell no. I will say, though, that Ms. Fenty – who I legitimately believe is the Best-Worst singer to have graced the charts – definitely has my attention in that I’m interested to see if she can duplicate or even come close to the success she achieved with ‘Good Girl Gone Bad’. With her limited/non-existent talent and her place as more of tabloid fodder rather than a legit artist, Stevie Wonder could see her sell-by date. Then again, this is the music industry…. stranger things have happened (see: Madonna).

Your thoughts?

R&B starlet Mya continues to impress on Dancing With The Stars. Peep her performance of the Lambada. Loved it!

What do you think of Mya’s performance?

Oprah is killing it this season with the celeb interviews, check out her insightful talk with boxing legend Mike Tyson – which aired yesterday. Iron Mike leaves no stone unturned, opening up about the recent death of his infant daughter, his abusive nature in the past, Holyfield, his wife, seven kids……HIS LIFE. A deep watch, I must say.

Your thoughts?

According reports today, comeback queen Whitney Houston will begin a world tour next April, right here in the UK!

WHITNEY HOUSTON is embarking on her first major UK tour in more than a decade.
The diva will play five arena dates in April.

She said: “This is my first full tour since 1999.

“I cannot wait to perform songs from my new album along with favourites.”

Whitney will also sing on The X Factor on October 18.

The gigs start at Manchester’s MEN Arena on April 8 before taking in Glasgow, Birmingham, Newcastle and London’s O2 on April 25. {Source}

Like most, I too am wondering whether Whitney’s voice is capable of a world tour at this point. That said, I commend her for going out there and doing her thing. If anything, continued practice and vocal discipline may just be what she needs.

Your thoughts?

‘This Is It’, a previously unreleased Michael Jackson track, which will be used to promote the late star’s Docu-Movie of the same name,was unveiled by Sony early this morning. The record, which was interestingly recorded back 1991 during the ‘Dangerous’ studio sessions, features his brothers on backing vocals.

About whether the track is any good; though, not bad at all, it expectedly sounds a little dated, and to be honest, kinda unfinished – which leaves me a lil salty as to why as was dug out of the vault in the first place. The chorus’ seem like its building towards a rapturous, choir-style peak (see: Michael’s ‘Cry’), yet turns out to be rather repetitive, without the best diction either. With Sony having confirmed that the song WILL NOT be available to buy by itself, only as part of the ‘This Is It’ soundtrack, this is all seeming a lil ‘kaching’ in my opinion. As much I’m interested in MJ’s older material, I’m much keener on hearing the material he’d been working on in his final years (‘Invincible’ sessions and to his passing). However, I’m guessing the label are keeping that tucked away, to make more money (for themselves and the MJ estate) at a later point. For as dodgy as this is, it further reinforces the reality that this is all a business. Just the way it is, I guess. Anyway, your thoughts…

Movie out October 28th

Soundtrack out October 26th

Hit or Miss?