AP: So, let’s talk about the album’s first week’s sales.
Rowland: Yes, I came in at No. 6 and sold 86,000 records — in a declining market, might I add. I’m very proud of that. Not everybody’s selling records like they used to. Even the biggest artists don’t come out and go platinum in a week anymore. It’s a different day and age in the music industry.
In fairness to Kelly, she had a point about coming in at a respectable number in a rapidly changing market. However, I’m really hoping she realizes that a ‘declining’ market is neither the main or only reason for her poor sales. Put simply, Kelly isn’t in a good situation – in terms of label priority or management. The sooner she realizes that, the quicker her chances of success will materialize.
I really have to give it to Akon – the man knows how to make money. Following the controversy surrounding the ‘dry-humping’ incident involving him and a teenage girl, the Senegalese star released this track ‘Sorry, Blame It On Me’ to radio. Then, I assumed it was contrived way of easing the criticism he was receiving. However, along with this video, the song will be released as the leading single from the re-packaged version of Akon’s ‘Konvicted’ album – due August 28th. The video isn’t saying too much, yet I doubt that was the objective. Like most of his singles, this will probably be a hit…SMH.
What do you think of the song/video?
It was announced a few months back that singer Beyonce was to be the face of Emporio Armani’s new ‘Diamonds’ fragrance. Check out the commercial above – she looks and sounds great. With an upcoming campaign for American Express also, Beyonce really is doing it big. Can’t hate on the woman for getting hers.
What do you think of the commercial?
ON DIDDY:
“I’d been in an on-again, off-again relationship with Mr. Combs for about 10 years, and it came to a point where it was time for me to move on with my life. I had invested a lot of time in that relationship, and it wasn’t going where it should have been going. So it was time to [end it]. In a relationship, it’s important that the people are on the same page at the same time. And we weren’t on the same page.”ON HIS ALLEGED CHEATING
“I will never sit here and say that Puffy — or any man — is 100 percent faithful. I just don’t believe it. Some of you are, but I’m not going to sit here and say that I didn’t believe that he cheated on me. I would never say that. I’m aware that he’s cheated.”AND ON J.LO’S RELATIONSHIP WITH DIDDY
“It was an embarrassment. I never thought it was real. I knew what was going on with him. Despite what you see in print and when the cameras are flashing, what’s going on in someone’s heart may be totally different. He was still [in love] with me. I never looked at their relationship [as serious].”When asked if Sienna Miller played a part in her break up, Porter states:
“They’re just friends. That wasn’t the cause.”
The above pic will serve as the official promo shot for Mariah Carey’s new fragrance ‘M by Mariah Carey’. As with most of Mariah’s more recent photo-shoots (especially for the ‘Mimi’ CD), it looks like someone went wild with Photoshop – as the pic is obviously heavily edited. Not sure I’m feeling this one.
What do you think of the pic?
Eddie Murphy always has and will continue to honor his responsibilities as a father. Mr. Murphy and Ms. Brown dated very briefly and never made any plans of ANY sort. He acknowledges paternity of the child Angel, and has paid child support to Ms. Brown as well as covering the expenses of her pregnancy. Mr. Murphy views this as a private matter and as such, will not be making any further comments about it.”
Even if he is being genuine, this comes a little late – his image has already taken a major blow. Could the timing of this be to deflect attention from Mel’s recent showing with Eddie’s ex? LOL at him calling it a ‘private matter’. It wasn’t so ‘private’ when he publicly dumped Mel on TV.
R&B superstar Beyonce stopped by MTV’s TRL earlier this week. Amongst other things, the singer addressed her well publicized fall, her love for ‘Umbrella’ and her tour ‘The Beyonce Experience’. Granted Beyonce is a major star, it’s still funny to see grown men cry like little….{insert expletive} over her. I like her as much as the next person but by no means would I place her on the level of, say, Michael Jackson – whose fans still cry and feignt over him to this day. I immediately thought they were actors planted in the audience (I’m not hating). If genuine, I guess it’s a testament to her ever-rising level of popularity.
What do you think of the interview?