KATY PERRY IS THE PEOPLE'S CHOICE!

Mr. Will-W. & 2 Broke Girls

Although Katy Perry swept the People's Choice Awards this year, unfortunately she was absent from all the fun tonight due much in part to the recent circumstances surrounding her Marriage to Russell Brand.  Perry won five Awards tonight including Favourite Female Artist, Favourite Song of the Year (E.T.), Favourite Music Video (Last Friday Night), Favourite Tour Headliner and Favourite TV Guest Star (How I Met Your Mother). 

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 finished a close second, garnering four Awards also including: Favourite Movie, Favourite Ensemble Cast, Favourite Book and Favourite Action Movie.

Emma Stone and Johnny Depp also each picked-up two awards each and perhaps a bit surprising was CBS' 2 Broke Girls winning Favourite New TV Comedy, beating out Whitney, Up All Night, Surburgatory, New Girl and more!  Way to go, Beth Behrs and Kat Dennings!

For a complete list of Winners, click  here.

54TH GRAMMY AWARD NOMINEES ANNOUNCED

Bruno Mars at 2011 GRAMMY Nominations Concert Live!!

Congratulations to two of my Favourites Adele and Bruno Mars, who are both nominated for six GRAMMY Awards as announced at the GRAMMY Nominations Concert Live!! held earlier tonight at Club Nokia in Los Angeles. Foo Fighters also receives six nods this year. If you ask me, six is not enough for Adele who should sweep in some of the more major categories like Song, Record and Album of the Year.

Leading the Nominees this year is Kanye West for his work on Disc My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy and Jay-Z collaboration Watch the Throne, with seven nominations.  West's Solo Disc however, failed to garner a nomination for Album of the Year.

Lady Gaga surprisingly only received one nomination for Album of the Year with Born this Way and meanwhile Taylor Swift, a GRAMMY Darling, also only received two nominations with her Track Mean which is up for Country Song and Solo Performance.

The coveted Best New Artist category is an interesting one this year pitting commercially-successful Nicki Minaj against Bon Iver, The Band Perry, Skillrex and J. Cole.

The 54th GRAMMY Awards will take place on Sunday, February 12, 2012 at Staples Center in Los Angeles.

Read more on this year's Nominees here.

(Photo credit: GRAMMY.COM)

TAYLOR SWIFT TOPS AT 2011 "AMERICAN MUSIC AWARDS"

Taylor Swift at 2011 American Music Awards

Taylor Swift was the Queen of the 2011 American Music Awards tonight, taking home top honour of Artist of the Year, as voted by the Fans.  She also won Favourite Country Album for Speak Now and Favourite Country Female Artist.  In total, Swift has now won a total ten AMAs in her brief rise to the top.

Adele, a Brit, was awarded Favourite Pop/Rock Album for her top-selling 21 although unfortunately she couldn't as she is currently recovering from Throat Surgery.  Meanwhile, Bruno Mars was awarded Favourite Pop/Rock Male Artist, while a pink-haired Star Trek-esque Katy Perry was named Favourite Pop/Rock Female Artist.  Favourite Pop/Rock Band went to Maroon 5 who performed Moves Like Jagger  (ft. Christina Aguilera) and also Stereo Hearts alongside Gym Class Heroes. A teary-eyed Nicki Minaj fared v. well this evening, taking home Favourite Rap/Hip-Hop Artist and Favourite Rap/Hip-Hop Album for her debut Disc, Pink Friday.

A now-single Jennifer Lopez stunned the audience in a progressively barely-there outfit, although forgetting Lyrics to her Track Until it Beats No More, followed by Papi (from her latest FIAT Commercial) before being joined on-stage by Pitbull for On the Floor.  Pitbull later performed with Lopez's Ex-Husband Marc Anthony on Rain Over Me.

Click here for more from the American Music Awards.

(Photo credit: ABC)

COCO LEE WEDS CANADIAN BUSINESSMAN BRUCE ROCKOWITZ

CoCo Lee, Bruce Rockowitz & Ne-Yo

Congratulations to one of Asia's biggest Superstars CoCo Lee, who just wedded Canadian Billionaire Businessman Bruce Rockowitz.  Festivities took place in Hong Kong at The Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Kowloon.  Lee, a Singer-Songwriter who was raised in San Francisco and is based out of Taiwan, met Rockowitz in Hong Kong eight years ago.  For those who were wondering, Vera Wang custom-designed her Wedding Dress.

The lavish Ceremony, witnessed by 300 of the Couple's Friends and Family,  was followed by a lavish Reception where guests dined on Italian fare including Wagyu Beef Cheek & Sole, Burrata Cheese Ravioli, Tiramisu, Vanilla Panna Cotta and much more. A private Jewish Ceremony also took place yesterday.

Although there was much extravagance at the Rockowitz-Lee Wedding, the Entertainment perhaps was the biggest thing they had in-store.  Major Stars Bruno Mars, The Black Eyed Peas, Alicia Keys, Ne-Yo performed before the intimate audience, with Lee joining them on-stage at points.  It is said also that Oprah Winfrey and Jennifer Lopez (some are saying Beyoncé too!) were flown-in privately for the occasion too... still awaiting Photos to confirm this. All this rang-in at a whopping total $20 million US!

NEW MUSIC: BRUNO MARS - IT WILL RAIN FROM "THE TWILIGHT SAGA: BREAKING DAWN PT. 1"

Official Artwork for It Will Rain

"If you walk away, every day it will rain".

Bruno Mars shows a bit of edge of this new Theme Song from The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Pt. 1, which just might be the biggest Song to ever come out of that wildly-popular Franchise. Mars just doesn't stop with eight Top 20 U.S. Billboard Hot 100 hits to his name and possibly his fourth U.S. Billboard Hot 100 number one here in a short but meteoric rise to the Pop Top.  I actually quite like the Track, which is quite moodier than anything else he's done.

The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Pt. 1 Original Soundtrack will be in stores November 8, 2011.

Listen to It Will Rain in full below:

2011 MTV VIDEO MUSIC AWARDS RECAP

Lady Gaga at 2011 MTV VMAs

Lady Gaga made sure she was the talk of the 2011 MTV VMAs held this evening, arriving in Drag dressed as her male Alter-ego, Jo Calderone.  "Gaga isn't here", soon became a Mantra as it was drilled into our Psyche over and over.

Where it became a little grating though was in a scheduled Tribute honouring Britney Spears, where Calderone/Gaga was to present the Award to Spears, he/she repeatedly interrupted that Pop Legend's one shining moment....  the one shining moment all her hard work in all these years as an Entertainer would culminate to.  Spears and Gaga both collected some of the Evening's more important Awards: the former nabbed Best Pop Video for Till the World Ends and the latter won Best Female Pop Video for Born this Way.

Adele not be outshone, charmed the Audience to a Standing Ovation with her rendition of Someone Like You from her top-selling 21 Disc, proving maybe we don't need over-the-top costumes and make-up to keep an audience entertained.  Less is more sometimes.

BRUNO MARS IN TORONTO FOR MUCHMUSIC VIDEO AWARDS

Bruno Mars in Toronto - June 2011

One of the biggest names in Pop Music right now undeniably is Bruno Mars and the talented Singer/Songwriter made a second visit to Toronto this evening, this time to perform at Sunday's MuchMusic Video Awards. Click here to read about his last visit last November.

With his Entourage occupying two Vans - requiring two Bodyguards - Mars greeted some Fans from the front seat of his Vehicle.  His Handler made it clear to Fans, "No Photos!", quickly blocking Cameras from snapping Photos of him.  The Singer did however sign one Autograph per Fan, looking fatigued as he had just wrapped-up his sold-out Hooligans in Wondaland Tour with Janelle Monáe last night in Las Vegas.  

Mars does have a bit a of a reputation as being difficult with Fans, mostly due to his Handlers, although he did put-in that extra bit of effort tonight for them which is somewhat commendable.

(Photo credit: Mr. Will-W.)

2011 MMVAs NOMINEES ANNOUNCED

Down with Webster at Bell Celebrity Gala - November 2010

Nominees for the 2011 MuchMusic Video Awards have been announced and tying for the most number of nominations this year are Canadians Fefe Dobson, Down with Webster and Shawn Desman.

With the festivities looming quickly on Sunday, June 19, 2011, several big names also are up for International Awards in categories such as International Video of the Year (Artist), International Video of the Year (Group) and UR Fave International Artist. Eminem, Lady Gaga, Britney Spears, Selena Gomez & The Scene and Bruno Mars each are tied with two nominations apiece in these categories.

For a full list of Nominees, click here.

(Photo credit: Mr. Will-W.)

BRUNO MARS, AVRIL LAVIGNE & THE BLACK KEYS JOIN 2011 MMVAs LINE-UP

Bruno Mars in Toronto - November 2010

This year's MuchMusic Video Awards just got that much more amazing in one of the best line-ups we've seen in years!  It has just been confirmed that Bruno Mars, The Black Keys, City and Colour and Avril Lavigne will be taking the stage as performers, joining Lady Gaga who was confirmed last month for the Show. Selena Gomez will be serving hosting duties.

The MMVAs air Sunday, June 19, 2011 at 9:00 PM EST on MuchMusic and Fuse.

Nominees will be announced Tuesday, May 17, 2011 at 5:00 PM EST on New.Music.Live.

(Photo credit: Mr. Will-W.)

TIME MAGAZINE REVEALS ITS MOST INFLUENCIAL PEOPLE OF 2011

May 2011 issue of TIME

TIME Magazine has announced its annual TIME 100, honouring the most influencial People in the World. whose ideas have sparked dialogue and even revolution.  Included on the list this year are Arianna Huffington, Bruno Mars, Chris Colfer, Blake Lively,  Justin Bieber, Hillary Clinton, Oprah Winfrey, Matt Damon, Mark Zuckerberg, Colin Firth, Sting, Amy Poehler, Michelle Obama and more!

Check out the complete list here.

(Photo credit: TIME)

JANELLE MONÁE PEFORMS AT 2011 CANADIAN MUSIC WEEK

Janelle Monáe at the 2011 Indies

Atlanta's Janelle Monáe after much Blog buzz is finally reaping the recognition that she deserves and Toronto clearly has fallen for her. The Future-obsessed Singer/Songwriter only recently received a much-needed profile boost with a performance on the Grammys alongside Bruno Mars and B.o.B., for many a highlight of the evening.

Monáe had the distinction of being this evening's headlining act at the eleventh annual Independent Music Awards (The Indies), capping off Canadian Music Week festivities at the historic Royal York Hotel. Slotted in at 11:00 PM, anticipation reached a feverish pitch with guests Tweeting their excitement for the Bad Boy Entertainment Artist and she did not disappoint, delivering an hour-long set which had her crowd-surfing as far as 50 ft into the audience by the end of it all.

Following her performance, Monáe peered from her Dressing Room (The Toronto Room), taking pictures with a few lucky Fans and signing Autographs. "I can only do one per person" she told us, before she shut the door quickly, wishing everyone a good night. She was scheduled to appear at The Revival for an After-party later in the evening.  Of course, I got a Photo with her!  How could I resist?

GWYNETH PALTROW INKS $900K RECORD DEAL

Gwyneth Paltrow on Glee

So obvious! Gwyneth Paltrow just inked a record deal yesterday with Atlantic Records (distributed via Warner Music).  It it said the deal was worth $900,000 US, making her a label mate of Cee Lo Green, whom she has been seen performing Forget You with on-stage much of late.

The news comes hot on the heels of her second ever apperance on Glee last night where her character Holly Holiday appears to be in a looming romance with Matthew Morrison`s Will Schuester.

We can almost expect a proper duet between her and Green, maybe on a track penned by Warner`s Bruno Mars, maybe?  Hmm.

(Photo credit: Fox)

EMINEM, KATY PERRY, BRUNO MARS AND LADY GAGA AMONG NOMINEES FOR 53RD GRAMMYS

Bruno Mars at Kool Haus,
November 2010

A big congratulations goes out to my Boy Bruno Mars who exceeded all expectations with a total seven Grammy nominations, as announced last night at Club Nokia in Los Angeles.  Although he was ommited from the category of Best New Artist seeing that his album Doo-Wops & Hooligans was released just after the September 30, 2010 qualifying deadline, he more than made-up ground.  Mars scored nominations for Record of the Year for his collaboration with B.o.B. Nothin' on You, his Writing on Cee Lo's Forget You and his own singing on Best Male Pop Vocal for Just the Way You Are.  He also performed a quiet Acoustic version of that number one smash hit early on in last night's televised Concert.

Eminem was King of the Night with a total eleven nominations, including nods in the Grammys' most coveted categories: Record, Album and Song of the Year for both his album Recovery and mega-hit Love the Way You Lie (ft. Rihanna).  Rihanna also scored a nomination for Best Dance Recording with chart-topper Only Girl (in the World).

Other notable nominees include Country Act Lady Antebellum, which gained a lot of recognition with their Ballad Need You Now.  The group garnered six nominations also for Record, Album and Song of the Year alongside Rapper Jay-Z, who also had the distinction of six nods including Record of the Year for Empire State of Mind (ft. Alicia Keys).  Lady Gaga too received six nominations including Album of the Year with The Fame Monster, although what  arguably could be considered its biggest track Bad Romance, failed to receive nominations for Record and Song of the Year. 

Katy Perry who performed too at the Grammy Nominations Concert raised a few eyebrows when it was learned that her hits California Gurls and Teenage Dream, both among 2010's biggest hits, were overlooked for Record and Song of the Year.  Her album Teenage Dream however, earned a nomination for Album of the Year despite mixed reviews.  She is a strong contender for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance for that album's title track.

BRUNO MARS IN TORONTO FOR "DOO-WOPS & HOOLIGANS TOUR" AT KOOL HAUS (PICS & VIDEO)

Mr. Will-W. & Bruno Mars

Ladies and Gentleman, I'd like to introduce you to your 2011 Grammy Winner for Best New Artist. Or the most deserving Artist at least.  In such a short period of time, we've seen Bruno Mars' star rise like no other Arti$t, and with two number one hits - Just the Way You Are (solo) and Nothin' on You (collaboration with B.o.B.) - and a Top Five collaboration in Travie McCoy's Billionaire already under his belt, equally  big things are expected of his next solo single Grenade.

Making his first ever appearance in Canada at Toronto's Kool Haus tonight, Bruno Mars was showcased as the headliner of KISS 92.5's Haus Party. The evening featured a variety of new Canadian talent like Aleesia, Blake McGrath and Danny Fernandes, but the act everybody was there to see finally arrived on-stage at 10:00 PM sharp.  Fronting a five  man-Band and playing both the Guitar and Ukulele, Bruno Mars showed that he is equally adept a Performer as he is a bona fide Musician not unlike a young Prince. And that voice is a reminder of the deep imprint Michael Jackson has left on even the newest generation of talent.

Zipping through a rather short Set, the Hawaii native delivered energetic, ramped-up renditions highlighting his debut album Doo-Wops & Hooligans. Grenade translated well live as did the sultry Reggae-infused Our First Time featuring his touring MC, which featured the 23 year-old well in his element. Count on Me had the ladies in the audience singing along in unison, while his Mash-up of Nirvana's Smells Like Teen Spirit/Michael Jackson's Billie Jean/The White Stripes' Seven Nation Army was a pleasant surprise, livening up the audience which had already been standing for four hours. The performance we all were waiting for was his set-closing Billboard Hot 100 Chart-topping Just the Way You Are. Fans who filled the venue to capacity were ecstatic and did much of the singing.

The night had only just begun at that point for Bruno Mars and his Band as they were to trek up north to Vaughan's Luxy Night Club for yet another appearance right after the Concert for Z103.5.

I got to meet the incredibly down-to-earth Artist after the show and despite being in a hurry, he still took Photos with Fans and signed a couple albums; his Security Guard advisied him against it. My only complaint to him was that his Set was far too short despite being wonderful, to which he replied "What? Really?? You wanted it even longer?!". Of course, I did. And I suppose that is expected of an Artist with only one ten-track Disc in his Discography. Always leave them wanting more, right?

WIN A PAIR OF TICKETS TO SEE BRUNO MARS LIVE AT KOOL KAUS

You Mavenati, are the luckiest.  Warner Music's hottest new act Bruno Mars wants to offer you a pair of tickets to see the Singer/Songwriter live at Toronto's Kool Haus on Saturday, September 13, 2010.   The Just the Way You Are singer will be appearing with very special guests on his Doo-Wops & Hooligans Tour presented by LiveNation and Kiss 92.5.

Even if you can't win the prize, everybody wins because v. affordable tickets can be purchased at Ticketmaster. 

To qualify for the win all you have to do is Tweet or ReTweet the following message in full: 

MR. WILL-W. wants you to see BRUNO MARS LIVE IN TORONTO. RT to win. @mrwillw http://fb.me/xL2pelZ7

A winner will be picked at random Sunday, November 7, 2010 midnight.  Good luck!  Tell me, which Blog again gives it to you best?

JANE LYNCH AND BRUNO MARS ON SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE

Bruno Mars, Jane Lynch 
& Kristen Wiig on Saturday Night Live

Glee's Jane Lynch made her long-awaited appearance as host of Saturday Night Live last night and as expected, she delivered the laughs.  The episode however, is a testament to how incredibly funny and talented Kristen Wiig is, as she stole the show repeatedly in skits like Password.  The skit had both Wiig and Lynch playing sassy stars paired with contestants on a game show where they were to give clues to a password to be guessed correctly.  Hilariously, Lynch kept giving away the answers repeatedly in a jumbled sentence which included the word "almost 50 times!".   Wiig also did a hilarious parody of CNN's Budgeting Expert Suze Orman, constantly eluding to a Lesbian relationship she had many years ago with her guest, played by Lynch.

Another highlight of the show was a skit where Lynch played a woman trying to return a bag at the Customer Service Desk of a store with Denzel Washington (Jay Pharoah) as the Clerk.  Pharoah's imitation of the Oscar-winning actor was perfect, accosting Lynch for returning the Bag and then accusing her of being Racist because the bag's brown colour was not to her liking.  Too good.

Lynch also delivered in a parody of Faith Hill singing the theme song to NBC's Sunday Night Football show, showing off her singing chops and proving that she can still sound good without all the production behind Glee.  The song would just not end, entrancing the show's anchors in boredom.

WIN 1 of 3 COPIES OF BRUNO MARS' DEBUT ALBUM "DOO-WOPS & HOOLIGANS"

Hey Mavenati!  Warner Music Canada and Mr. Will-W.:Pop Maven are teaming up to offer you 1 of 3 copies of Bruno Mars' superb debut album Doo-Wops & Hooligans.  Headlined by U.S. and Canada Billboard Hot 100 Chart-topping hit Just The Way You Are and chalk-full of potential hits, this album is the promise of a new King of Pop.

Read my review of the album here.

To qualify for the win, leave a comment with your lyric in Just the Way You Are before Friday, October 22, 2010 midnight. Three winners will be picked at random. Contest is open to all internationally.  One comment per reader, please.  Doo-Wops & Hooligans is now in-stores.

CHARICE, ENRIQUE IGLESIAS, FAR EAST MOVEMENT AND BRUNO MARS' BILLBOARD HOT 100 ASIAN INVASION

Far East Movement

I never thought I'd live to see the day it happened, but four acts of Asian descent are in the Billboard Hot 100's Top 30 positions this week and I couldn't be prouder.  Better, yet three of these acts are actually in the Top Ten.  

Glee's Lea Michele ft. Philippines' Charice is at number 23 on the Billboard Hot 100, thanks to their cover of Lady Gaga ft. Beyoncé's Telephone which was heard on last week's season premiere of the Musical Sitcom.  Enrique Iglesias, who not many of us realize is actually half-Filipino, sits at number eight this week with Jersey Shore's I Like It ft. Pitbull.  Far East Movement, who have the distinction of being the Greatest Airplay Gainer this week, rocket up to number six with Like a G6; the track is also sitting at number one right now on the U.S. iTunes Singles Chart. 

At number one though, is hot new act Bruno Mars, who hails from Hawaii boasting his half-Puerto Rican and Filipino heritage. Our friends at Warner Music Canada dropped me a line today to let me know that we'll be seeing him this November in Toronto.  Can't wait!  

Now who said we Asians are only good at Math, huh?

BRUNO MARS - DOO-WOPS & HOOLIGANS REVIEW

Honolulu native Bruno Mars (né Peter Hernandez) has showered the galaxy of Pop Music like a Meteor with debut single Just the Way You Are reaching the top of the Billboard Hot 100 Chart only recently - impressive by any measure for a new artist. His debut album Doo-Wops & Hooligans although bizarre sounding, is v. fitting of the sound he has helmed for himself along with the likes of Claude Kelly (Kelly Clarkson, Britney Spears) and Needlz (Drake, Young Jeezy). It is one part Hip-Hop Swagger and one part Melodic Crooner.

It would be redundant to reflect on the strength of that chart-topping debut single, but does Bruno Mars deliver on this concise ten-song collection? The answer is YES.  In this day and age of forgettable Autotune-heavy releases, everything is there on this disc. A cut-above vocals, strong hooks, infectious rhythms and just enough production so that the audience never fails to lose focus of the star. If you think Just the Way You Are is solid, wait til you hear follow-up worthy Talking to the Moon, which should have the likes of Ryan Tedder (OneRepublic) and Adam Levine (Maroon 5) feeling just a bit of that healthy competitive envy.

Doo-Wops & Hooligans is stuck perpetually in Summertime, heavy on the Island influence with tracks like Liquor Store Blues (ft. Damian Marley) and the sensually nostalgic Our First Time. And what is most wonderful is that Mars is proud of his roots and we can hear him pay homage to this on tracks like Count on Me. The excellent Cee-Lo and red-hot B.o.B. drop by even for a visit on the album's closer The Other Side, adding a bit of substance to the big picture.

Bruno Mars' Doo Wops & Hooligans from Warner Music is in stores October 5, 2010 and it's more than just your average R&B/Urban-Pop romp. Freshness. Grade: A-