Nickelback, Drake and Feist lead Juno Award nominations
Nickelback, Drake and Feist are among the artists who have been nominated for more than one prize at Canada's Juno music awards.
Rapper Drake and Feist will go head-to-head for the artist of the year prize and Nickelback have been shortlisted in the best band category.
City & Colour, Dan Mangan and Justin Bieber have also received multiple nominations.
William Shatner will host the annual awards ceremony in Ottawa on 1 April.
The Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences, which administers the honours, announced the 41 categories on Tuesday.
The remaining artist of the year nominees are City and Colour, dance artist Deadmau5 and crooner Michael Buble, while group of the year includes Arkells, Down with Webster, Hedley and Sam Roberts Band.
Nickelback's track When We Stand Together was nominated for best single and the band will compete in the fan choice category.
Drake too has also been nominated for the prize, along with Arcade Fire, Avril Lavigne, City And Colour, Deadmau5, Ginette Reno, Hedley, Bieber and Michael Buble.
Drake, who hosted last year's awards ceremony, picked up a nod in the rap recording of the year category for Take Care.
The record is also in the running for best album, alongside Bieber in the album of the year category, which also includes Lavigne's Goodbye Lullabye, Nickelback's Here and Now and Buble's Christmas.
The rock band Blue Rodeo will be inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame.
Grammys set stage for Adele
With nothing more than a piano, a little black dress and a microphone, Adele rouses crowds using her emotions and her voice.
It's her modus operandi, and it's likely how viewers will see the British songstress perform at the Grammy Awards on Sunday.
The awards show will be Adele's first time taking the stage since she underwent laser microsurgery on a benign polyp on her vocal cords in November. That, in addition to the fact that she's credited with the music industry's 2011 uptick, means all eyes will certainly be on her.
Nominated for six Grammy Awards, including nods for album of the year and song of the year, Adele surprised fans when she tweeted about her impending performance.
Keith Caulfield, the associate director of charts at Billboard, said he expects the singer to captivate viewers on Sunday night, just as she did at the BRIT Awards in February 2011 and then again at the MTV Video Music Awards in August.
"On the off chance that she has a bum note, everyone has survived from a not great performance," Caulfield said. "I don't expect anything less than really good."
And still, a simple performance will be enough, he added.
"You don't see pyrotechnics and fog behind Adele," Caulfield said. "She doesn't need that. ... There are no bells and whistles. It's just her, great song writing, a beautiful voice and great charisma."
Having already spent 18 weeks atop Billboard's Hot 200, sold more than 6 million albums and spawned three chart-topping singles, Adele's ballads have also become anthems for scorned lovers everywhere.
"Every year, some album ends up at No. 1," said David Bakula, Nielsen's senior vice president of analytics for entertainment. "There's always going to be something that rises to the top. But when it's this unique and sales are this unprecedented, it's special."
Album sales rose in 2011, marking the music industry's first uptick since Usher's "Confessions" sold 8 million units in 2004. And Adele is partially to thank for the boom. Sales from her two albums -- her 2008 debut, "19," and "21," her sophomore album, released early last year -- accounted for 2% of all industry album sales in 2011.
"19" sold 460,000 units in 2009, the year Adele won two Grammys for the album. But, more than three years after its release, the singer's catalog title had its best week in December, selling 71,000 units, Bakula said. And so Adele finished out 2011 with two of the year's best-selling albums.
"It does take a very special artist, and a very special song and album release, to move the type of quantities we're talking about here," Bakula said.
According to Nielsen SoundScan, "21" is the first album to sell more than 1 million digital copies in a year.
"People say, 'How can there still be 100,000 people who don't have this album?' ... It just shows the latent demand for great music out there," Bakula said.
And there's a good chance that after Adele performs at the Grammys, the numbers will continue to grow throughout 2012, he added.
"Every day, more and more people are just discovering her, or just being convinced that they should buy her album and not be content with listening to her on Spotify or YouTube," said Caulfield, the associate director of charts at Billboard.
Speculation was heavy as to whether the British chanteuse would be able to perform at the Grammys after her surgery.
Since the debut of her sophomore album, there have been breathless reviews and almost constant praise heaped upon the single-named singer. She's even crossed over into meme territory in the form of a "S*** Adele says" video.
During her February 2011 appearance on E!'s "Chelsea Lately," Adele said she sees the constantly evolving interest in her music firsthand at her shows.
"I love seeing the way people respond to my music," she said. "I love it when, like, a husband or a partner gets dragged along who doesn't want to be there, and you've got to win them over because they're giving you the evil (eye). ... And by the end, they're hugging their girlfriend ... or crying. I love it."
Because her vocal cord issues forced her to cancel the remainder of her 2011 appearances, she wasn't able to convert the disillusioned partners that might have been present at her shows.
After falling ill, Adele stayed off the radar to rest up, Caulfield said, adding, "Meanwhile, her singles are going to No. 1, her albums continue to sell -- that's the kind of career an artist would kill for. ... Everyone else is slogging around ... doing TV shows and concert tours."
Bakula agreed, referencing artists such as Lady Gaga and Katy Perry, who made their presence known in 2011 with advertisements and various appearances.
Yet, Adele's singles are still permanent fixtures on the radio, but not in the same way that Bruno Mars and the Black Eyed Peas are, Yahoo.com music columnist Paul Grein said.
"(Some pop artists) live and die by their latest hit single," Grein said. "And Adele, even though she's having big hits, too ... you have the sense that her career probably won't always be as a big radio star."
She could be compared to someone like Sade, he said, "who has had hits, or not had hits, but has sold albums throughout a very long career."
Regardless of how we're hearing her music, Caulfield said, many people are finding it "refreshing that it isn't necessarily programmed for your enjoyment."
In fact, some people have said her music is actually programmed to play in the background while you weep. And there's a "Saturday Night Live" sketch to prove it.
One Boston Globe writer even profiled a few people brave enough to admit to crying along to Adele's "Someone Like You."
"(Adele) really struck a chord at the right time," Bakula said. "As soon as people heard it, it was gold. Well, platinum, in this case."
Jay-Z Only Donated $6k to own Charity After Making $63 Million
Rapper Jay-Z’s donations to his own charities are under fire , according to The Daily.
Many believe the rich should give back and The Daily went digging and found Jay-Z made $63 million in 2010 and only donated $6,000 to his own Shawn Carter Foundation.
Jay-Z’s representatives deny the claim and point to a benefit concert he threw last year which raised over $1 million.
“Jay, along with his family, provided office support, overhead support, [mother] Mrs. Gloria Carter’s 100% effort and time, computers, FedEx expenses, accounting, and treasury function support. This was at no cost to the charity,” Jay-Z’s publicist Jana Fleishman said in an email to The Daily.
Jay-Z reportedly gave 0.01 percent of his earning to charity while a typical American donates about 3 percent.
Coroner rules Don Cornelius death a suicide
The death of Don Cornelius, the founder of the "Soul Train" television show, has been ruled a suicide, officials said Tuesday.
Cornelius, 75, died last week of a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head, according to a statement from the Los Angeles County Coroner's Office. His autopsy was conducted Friday.
Toxicology testing has been ordered and the final report will be issued once results are analyzed, the office said.
Cornelius was found February 1 at a house on Mulholland Drive, said Los Angeles police Officer Tenesha Dodine.
In an interview last week with CNN, singer Gladys Knight said Cornelius appeared in ill health when she saw him recently.
"Last time I saw him, he was pretty sick," Knight said. "He had lost a lot of weight, but he still had that thing about him."
Cornelius created a pilot for "Soul Train" using $400 of his own money, according to the website biography.com. The show was named after a promotional event he put together in 1969.
"Soul Train" is the longest running, first-run, nationally syndicated program in television history, according to the website of Soul Train Holdings. "During its 37-year run, the show featured such staples as the Soul Train line and performers as important and diverse as Al Green, Ike & Tina Turner, Marvin Gaye, The Jackson 5, Stevie Wonder, Elton John, Whitney Houston, David Bowie, Justin Timberlake, Janet Jackson and Beyonce," according to the website.
CNN
Timbaland, Missy Elliot to Release Solo CDs in June
Longtime friends and collaborators Timbaland and Missy Elliot are both planning to release solo albums in June.
The artists – who last worked together on the 2011 track ‘Take Ur Clothes Off’ – want to drop their forthcoming records, Timbaland’s “Shock Value III” and Missy’s “Block Party,” at the same time so they don’t move “too ahead” of each other.
“Right now, we’re just preparing to get both our videos, our first singles, shot kinda at the same time,” Timbaland told MTV News. “We want to do it as a movement and spontaneously. I just don’t want to move too ahead of her, and she doesn’t want to move too ahead of me.”
Missy has recently been working as a songwriter and producer for Keyshia Cole, Monica and Jazmine Sullivan, but she hasn’t released a full-length album since 2005′s “The Cookbook.”
She will be featured on Timbaland’s star-studded album along with Justin Timberlake, Bruno Mars and Chris Brown.
HELP CHTA EDUCATION FOUNDATION RAISE $1.5 MILLION FOR CARIBBEAN YOUTH FOR TRAVEL SHOW
Having raised $1,396,150 in scholarship funds for Caribbean youth seeking to continue their education since its inception, the non-profit Caribbean Hotel & Tourism Association (CHTA) Education Foundation has put out a plea to hoteliers, airlines and other stakeholders in the region to support the initiative by donating stays for the highly visible Caribbean Auction at The New York Times Travel Show. There is only one week remaining to sign up, so please send in the donation form by Feb. 15 or contact the foundation for more info.
The Education Foundation's single largest annual fundraising activity, the Caribbean Auction attracts thousands of affluent eyeballs as New York City's most avid travelers research and bid on the Caribbean resort and tourism-related prizes available at the silent charity auction. With the support of hoteliers, airlines and tourism partners, the Education Foundation plans to increase its total contribution to the education of Caribbean nationals beyond $1.5 million.
"Supporting our human resources by participating in the Caribbean Auction ensures the future sustainability of our tourism and helps to raise living standards across the region in the long run," said Tom Pas, chairman of the Education Foundation.
"But with more than 18,000 consumers and retail agents attending The New York Times Travel Show annually, its also an impactful promotional vehicle," added Pas, noting that many tech-saavy New Yorkers research hotel websites and TripAdvisor reviews on their smart phones before bidding. "This results in brand recognition and may lead to bookings when determined travelers are outbid."
The Education Foundation expanded last year's fundraising efforts by including additional auctions items beyond Caribbean hotel and resort stays. The move resulted in a frenzy of interest from consumers who were able to bid on air tickets and attractions, as well as an air-inclusive London vacation contributed by Virgin Holidays.
"This year we're accepting donations from a wide variety of partners in order to raise as much as we can to support our beneficiaries," said Pas. Nothing is too small or insignificant. Regardless of your business model, you can become a hero to a deserving young professional."
Learn more about the foundation's mission, projects and accomplishments at www.chtaeducationfoundation.com.
Top marine officer to oversee Caribbean
United States President Barack Obama has nominated a top Marine Corps officer to lead the US military operations in Latin America and the Caribbean.
Lieutenant General John F. Kelly, who currently serves as senior military advisor to Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta, will head the Miami-based Southern Command.
Kelly will succeed Air Force General Douglas Fraser when confirmed by the US Senate.
The Pentagon said he has served multiple deployments in Iraq and also worked as a Defence Department representative on Capitol Hill.
Former T&T PM heads to US for treatment
Former Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister Patrick Manning has been flown to the United States, to seek further medical treatment amid concerns by his family about the care he was receiving in the twin-island republic.
Two weeks ago, Manning suffered a mild stroke that left him partially paralysed.
His sister, medical doctor, Petrolina Manning Alleyne, said the results of important blood tests done by the former prime minister at a public hospital, had been late and could have contributed to the stroke.
Dr. Manning-Alleyne said her brother, who had been taking the medication, warfarin, to prevent blood clots, is also questioning the source of the medication.
Manning, 66, is expected to remain at the Walter Reed Memorial Hospital in the US for at least four weeks.
Over the weekend, the Speaker of Parliament, Wade Mark, said a request on Manning's behalf for 90 days leave was granted on the grounds of illness.
Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar had confirmed that TT$600,000 was approved by the Cabinet to allow Manning to travel to Washington for treatment.
Manning is unable speak clearly or move on his own.
Defence claims ex-CFO, not Stanford behind alleged scheme
Lawyers for Texas tycoon, Allen Stanford, have claimed that it was his former chief financial officer and not their client who was the mastermind behind an alleged seven-billion-dollar Ponzi scheme.
Stanford is on trial for allegedly defrauding tens of thousands of investors at his Antigua-based Stanford International Bank through bogus certificates of deposit.
Stanford’s defence team told federal jurors yesterday that letters, emails and other documents showed that former CFO James M. Davis was the scheme’s mastermind.
The lawyers say Davis, who worked for Stanford for 21 years, was the sole person who created documents that inflated the value of the bank’s holdings to $6.3 billion when, in reality, it was about to collapse.
But Davis said Stanford instructed him to falsify the figures.
Stanford faces 14 counts, including mail and wire fraud, in the criminal case.
He faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted.
DPSU threatens to stage protest action
Public Servants on the island have given the government an ultimatum to retract statements which were made by Productivity Consultant Parry Bellot that they are unproductive-or face protest action.
The Dominica Public Service Union (DPSU) called a meeting on Tuesday with its general membership at their Valley Road office, to address concerns that they say have been affecting their livelihoods.
Chief among their gripes were statements by Bellot that 80% of them are unproductive.
General Secretary of the Dominica Public Service Union Thomas Letang says government has seven days to respond failing which the membership will take action.
“In seven days we expect a response. We will be calling on public officers to stand in solidarity with each other. We want you to encourage those who are not here to show up. We want to tell you that we will be embarking on protest action to make our position clear. We want an apology,” he added.
The PSU also wants the government to make a decision regarding pending salary increases.
“Government said the exercise will require at least nine months for completion, a period that will well take us into the next triennium 2012/2015. The union believes it would be in the best interest of all parties to confirm negotiations for the current triennium and to defer consideration of the results of the classifications,” he said.