TOM CRUISE & KATIE HOLMES SPLIT

Katie Holmes in Toronto - August 2010

It's over.  Katie Holmes has filed for Divorce from Tom Cruise requesting full custody of their six-year-old Daughter, Suri.  The Couple whom married in Italy back in 2006 and have become a regular Tabloid Staple and Paparazzi Target for quite some time now.  Irreconcilable Differences are cited for the reason behind their Split, but anyone who has paid attention to the Couple can see that they both have handled the Spotlight quite different. Cruise although private, embraces his Fame whereas Katie still tends to shy away from hers. Perhaps this is one of their "Irreconcilable Differences"?

Cruise for one has continued to see his Profile rise after a string of negative Press tied to his Scientology beliefes. He has a string of six projects - including another Box Office Monster in Mission Impossible 5 - seeing a projected release in the next year or two, where as Katie has taken her role as a Mother first and foremost with two Projects on-the-go in the next year ahead.  Will we be seeing a resurgence in her Career post-Divorce a la Nicole Kidman perhaps?

If anyone knows a thing about creative insipration from Heartbreak, it's Adele who just announced today that she's expecting...

(Photo credit: Mr. Will-W.)

JUSTIN BIEBER, ADELE, DRAGONETTE, DRAKE & THE SHEEPDOGS AMONG WINNERS AT 2012 JUNO AWARDS

Justin Bieber in Toronto - December 2011

Congratulations to Justin Bieber for being voted 2012 JUNO Fan Choice Award Winner!  Taking place in Ottawa this year at Scotiabank Theatre and hosted by William Shatner, there was an eclectic mix of Winners this year especially.  The Sheepdogs lead the tally with three wins including Single of the Year (I Don't Know), New Group of the Year and Rock Album of the Year (Leave & Burn). 

Other big Winners tonight included Martin Solveig & Dragonette (Dance Recording of the Year - Hello), Drake (Rap Recording of the Year - Take Care), Hedley (Pop Album of the Year - Storms), Arkells (Group of the Year), Adele (International Album of the Year - 21), Michael Bublé (Album of the Year - Christmas) and more.  

Click here for a complete list of Winners.

(Photo credit: Mr. Will-W.)

2012 BRITS CRITICS' CHOICE AWARD WINNER EMELI SANDÉ IN TORONTO

Emeli Sandé & Mr. Will-W.

Although the UK fully has embraced her already, Med Student-turned-Singer/Songwriter Emeli Sandé is just now solidifying herself as one to look out for here in North America. Already being compared to the likes of Amy Winehouse, Norah Jones and Adele, Sandé actually shares a name with the latter, ultimately a conflict which decided her own fateful stage name.

The Singer's debut Disc, Our Version of Events, already has reached number one in the UK where also she was awarded the 2012 Critics' Choice Award at the BRITS two weeks ago.  Recent Winners of the same Award include Florence And The Machine, Adele and Jessie J.  In addition to Mogul Simon Cowell, recently naming her his favourite Songwriter, Sandé has penned tunes for the likes of Leona Lewis, Susan Boyle and Cheryl Cole.

Performing at an intimate Showcase at Drake Hotel earlier this evening before a group of Tastemakers, several industry types were buzzing about her potential.  103.9 PROUD-FM Programming Director Bob Willette tells me that his station is the first Top 40 Station nationally to add her latest Track Next to Me, to their rotation.  Above this, Sandé was in great spirits, telling me that the Showcase - her first ever in Canada - went rather well.  She will be playing a sold-out show tomorrow night at the same venue, but in the event you miss her, she will be touring with her famous Labelmates Coldplay the Summer.

Emeli Sande's Our Version of Events gets a release stateside on June 5, 2012 via EMI.  Follow her on Twitter here.

Check out Next to Me below:

WHITNEY HOUSTON, ADELE & KATY PERRY ACHIEVE CHART FEATS THIS WEEK

Whitney Houston - The Greatest Hits Artwork

Not to detract from both Adele and Katy Perry's current significant chart accomplishments - because they are major - but Whitney Houston post-humously has been resurrected ...from a commercial standpoint at least.  

Houston's The Greatest Hits released originally in 2000, sold 175k units this past sales week ending February 19, 2012, placing it in second on the current U.S. Billboard Hot 200 Albums Chart. Combined with a significant sales spike for both 2009's I Look to You and also 1996's The Preacher's Wife, Houston sold a total 247k albums last week according to Nielsen SoundScan.  And if this weren't intriguing enough, her 1992 Smash, I Will Always Love You rises to number three on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 Chart too!

Meanwhile, Adele continues to raise the bar for herself even higher with her 21 Disc selling an eye-popping 730k copies following her GRAMMY win, now making it her 21st non-consecutive week atop the Hot 200.  Industry Experts are predicting a 22nd week on-top ahead, forecasting up to 300k more copies of the Album of the Year expecting to be sold.

Katy Perry meanwhile continues to solidify herself as the new Queen of Pop with her seventh Hot 100 number one hit in Divorce-inspired Single, Part of Me debuting at the summit position.  The Track will appear on her Teenage Dream: The Complete Confection, hitting stores March 27, 2012.  According to Billboard Magazine, Perry now is behind only Mariah Carey, Madonna, Rihanna, Whitney Houston and Janet Jackson in number ones on that Chart. History.

(Photo credit: Sony Music)

ADELE WINS TOP HONOURS AT 2012 BRIT AWARDS

Adele at the 2012 BRIT Awards

Not that there ever was any doubt about it, but Adele was a big Winner yet again at the 2012 BRIT Awards yesterday, winning MasterCard British Album of the Year for her 17-million-selling 21. Above this, she was awarded British Solo Female Act of the Year also, being presented this by none other than Kylie Minogue. Jokingly, Adele told Minogue, "You look stunning. I look like a Drag Queen standing next to you!".

Other Winners include: Bruno Mars, Rihanna, Foo Fighters, Emil Sandé, One Direction and more!

Click here to read a complete list of Winners.

(Photo credit: BRITS.CO.UK)

ADELE COVERS MARCH 2012 ISSUE OF "VOGUE"

Adele - March 2012 Issue of Vogue

Adele covers the March 2012 issue of Vogue and opens up to Jonathan Van Meter about an array of personal matters. Photographed by Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott, the eight-time GRAMMY Winner is raising some concerns that the Photos might appear too enhanced and that not enough of her personality can be seen.  Perhaps some have forgotten that this is a Fashion Magazine?  

The Singer reveals that formerly a big Drinker, she now has quit Alcohol. "Don’t like drinking anymore. I think I got it out of my system. D’yaknowhaImean?", she says. We learn that upon learning that she had to undergo Surgery, she did a lot of crying, but then looked to the likes of John Mayer who also underwent a similar procedure around the same time, and felt a lot better, seeing how calmly he handled the situation.

While doing her Photoshoot, we learn that Adele's 37-year-old Boyfriend Simon Konecki (described as "bearish") was there to watch over her.  She tells Van Meter, "He’s proud of me, but he don’t care about what I do or what other people think. He looks after me. I don’t think I would have gotten through the recovery for my surgery if it hadn’t been for him.".  Sounds a lot healthier than her last relationship, which inspired Album of the Year, 21!

Adele also goes on at length about her admiration for Beyoncé and indicated that she sees at least six to seven Movies a week.  Her favourites include The Godfather, Scarface, Dog Day Afternoon, Scent of a Woman. Perhaps we'll see some acting from her in the future?

Click here to read the Interview in full. 

(Photo credit: Mert Alas & Marcus Piggott/Vogue)

ADELE SWEEPS THE 54TH ANNUAL GRAMMY AWARDS

Adele at the 54th Annual GRAMMY Awards

Making a triumphant return to the stage after recovering from her Throat Surgery last fall, fave Brit Siren Adele had the audience cheering and clapping at the 54th Annual GRAMMY Awards performing an eagerly-awaited rendition of Song of the Year/Record of the Year Winner, Rolling in the Deep. Tears were visible in her eyes following her performance as she stood and took-in a standing ovation.

Prior to this evening, Adele had collected two GRAMMY Awards in 2009 including the coveted Best New Artist.  Although many see that Award as somewhat of a career curse, she clearly is an exception garnering six more GRAMMYs to her name tonight, including top honours with her Disc 21 in the category Album of the Year.  Lifetime Achievement Award Winner Diana Ross handed the Award to the tearful 23-year-old, who thanked her Mother first and foremost even though she wasn't in attendance.

Foo Fighters also fared exceptionally well, winning six Awards tonight for their work on latest Disc, Wasting Light.  Since forming in 1994, the Band led by David Grohl have earned a whopping an impressive eleven GRAMMYs.

85-year-old Jazz Legend Tony Bennett was presented tonight with two additional GRAMMY Awards for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance with Body and Soul (ft. Amy Winehouse) and also his U.S. Billboard Hot 100 Chart-topping Duets II for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album.   Although not televised, Bennett had Winehouse's Parents join him on-stage to accept the Award on-stage.  Bennett now has now won a total 16 GRAMMYs in his celebrated Career.  Both he and Carrie Underwood presented Best New Artist to Wisconsin's own Bon Iver.  Lead Singer Justin Vernon currently is seeing Canadian Singer/Songwriter Kathleen Edwards.

LANA DEL REY DEBUTS #1 IN UK AND #2 IN U.S.

Lana Del Rey - Born to Die

After debuting atop the UK Albums Chart with 116k copies sold, Lana Del Rey impressively finds herself  in second spot back home in her native America this week with 77k copies of Born to Die tallied according to Nielsen SoundScan.  Del Rey was second only to Adele's 21 which finds itself at the summit of the U.S. Billboard Hot 200 Chart for a 19th non-consecutive week.  These results actually exceed expectations as HitsDailyDouble projected that she would sell approximately 60k copies only with fears that harsh reviews would adversely impact sales.

Congratulations, Lana Del Rey.  This is a victory!

Order Born to Die on iTunes.

(Photo credit: Universal Music)

BILLBOARD & NIELSEN REVEAL TOP-SELLING ALBUMS AND ARTISTS OF 2011

Adele in Toronto - March 2011

CNN reveals a bit of interesting news on Digital Music Sales versus Physical Music Sales based on a Billboard/Nielsen Report conducted recently.  For the first time ever, Digital Music is outselling actual Physical Music, with the former increasing 8.4% from the previous year and the latter declining 5%.  In fact, Digital Music accounts for 50.3% of all Music sold in the U.S.

Adele came out on-top in 2011 accounting for Best Selling Artist, Album and Digital Song by a landslide, besting Lady Gaga and Canada's own Michael Bublé who ranked in second despite his Album being released only in November.  Katy Perry however, beat Adele as Best Selling Digital Artist with 15.1 million units sold.

For those curious, these are your Top Ten Selling Albums of 2011:

MR. WILL-W.:POP MAVEN'S 2011 BEST-OF LISTS

Although I was always under the mindset that 2011 wasn't really a standout year in terms of Music and Film, looking back I can appreciate that even though for me there were no clear-cut, definitive favourites, overall there were many bright and memorable moments.  I have selected my Top Ten Films and Top 20 Tracks of 2011.  Let's see where my choices compare to yours!

Still from The Artist

TOP TEN FILMS:
1. The Artist
2. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
3. Shame
4. Bridesmaids
5. The Help
6. The Muppets
7. War Horse
8. My Week with Marilyn
9. Drive
10. Warrior

One of my biggest regrets this year was not seeing The Artist at TIFF in September, but better late than never as the Film which touched and uplifted me most, actually is only a recent discovery.  The Silent Film about Era-star George Valentin is a triumph and a must-see for all.  Also, despite not loving the original Swedish version of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, alas all that buzz did amount to something solid with David Fincher's Adaptation starring Rooney Mara and Daniel Craig being absolutely electrifying.  Michael Fassbender quickly has become one of my favourite Actors also with his riveting performance in Shame as a Sex Addict whose life is interrupted by the sudden arrival of his estranged Sister. Kristen Wiig's performance in Bridesmaids still sticks with me to this day as does Michelle Williams' work in My Week with Marilyn.

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)

FOSTER THE PEOPLE "LIVE AT MUCH" APPEARANCE | SIGNED PHOTO GIVEAWAY

Foster the People (L to R): Mark Foster, Mark Pontius & Cubbie Fink

Those good-lookin' Boys from California, Foster the People, flew into Toronto last night from Dublin where they just completed a whirlwind European Tour, now making their way back home for some North American dates. 

In full-on Movember mode, members Mark Foster, Mark Pontius and Cubbie Fink showed their support for Men's Health sporting some pretty nifty Moustaches.  The Trio performed an intimate set of highlights from their #1 U.S. Billboard Rock and Alternative Album Torches, as part of MuchMusic's Live at Much series.  Hundreds of screaming Fans - many who waited hours in the cold - witnessed one of Pop Music's biggest breakthrough Acts of 2011 perform tracks like Helena Beat, Call it What You Want, Life on the Nickel, I Would Do Anything For You and of course their smash hit, Pumped Up Kicks.  The latter was just nominated for a GRAMMY Award for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance earlier this evening.

Frontman Foster and Drummer Pontius showed-off their new Tattoos which they recently acquired in Dublin reading "Free Mago".  The inscription is an Homage to their Touring Guitarist, who they revealed has had some tough luck on-the-road including being drugged with "Roofies", better known as the Date Rape Drug.  Foster admits to having been really starstruck meeting Adele recently, being a huge Fan of hers.  Pontius also revealed to Host Lauren Toyota that he absolutely loves the Rom-Com Love Actually, having watched it secretly recently on-the-road. 

Following Foster the People's appearance, they came out to greet Fans out in the cold and I was lucky enough to get a Photo with both Foster and Fink. Above this, they signed a Photo for my Readers.  All three of them!  Amaze.

See more Photos of Foster the People in Toronto below:

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)

ADELE TO UNDERGO THROAT SURGERY | DVD/CD SET TO BE RELEASED LATE NOVEMBER

Official Artwork for Adele Live at The Royal Albert Hall

In case you were one of the many Fans who didn't get a chance to see Adele live this year due to the cancellation of her Tour, this is your chance.  Sorta.

Adele Live at The Royal Albert Hall will be released in-stores on November 26, 2011 via XL Recordings. The CD/DVD Set (available in Blu-ray) contains the following Tracks:

Hometown Glory

I’ll Be Waiting

Don’t You Remember

Turning Tables

Set Fire To The Rain

If It Hadn’t Been For Love

My Same

Take It All

Rumour Has It

Right As Rain

One & Only

Lovesong

Chasing Pavements

I Can’t Make You Love Me

Make You Feel My Love

Someone Like You

Rolling In The Deep

Adele completely has dominated Pop Music in 2011 and in Canada alone she has sold over 700k copies of her Sophomore Disc, 21.

It was also just announced today that the Songstress soon will be undergoing Throat Surgery to deal with some Vocal Chord Hemorrhaging which forced her to cancel her Tour altogether.  We wish you all the best Adele for a quick recovery!  Love you!

(Photo credit: XL Recordings)

INTERVIEW: GAVIN DEGRAW ON "SWEETER"

Gavin DeGraw

In the early hours of Monday, August 8, 2011, Singer-Songwriter Gavin DeGraw was heading home after a night out in New York City's East Village. DeGraw at the time been gearing-up to promote his third release through RCA Records (Sony Music Canada) - Sweeter - with a scheduled stop-off here at Toronto's Molson Amphitheatre on August 22, opening for Maroon 5.

Nobody could have foreseen what would transpire that night - an unprovoked attack by several unknown individuals, resulting in DeGraw being listed under stable condition at Manhattan's Bellevue Hospital. He suffered a broken nose, a concussion, two black eyes and lacerations to his face.   In addendum to the Assault, he had also been struck by a Taxi moments after. Now less than two-months later, he is back and ready to give it his all with the Album which he says, "shook him up".

DeGraw calls me from St. Louis, mine being among the first batch of Interviews he has done to promote Sweeter since his Recovery. Noting how quick his Comeback has taken flight, he tells me "I've been so focused on performing Music I want to play and that's what's carried me through this.". Known best for some of his earlier Hits like I Don't Want to Be and Chariot, he had been torn between making a Pop Album and the Album he truly wanted to make after two years of over-thinking. "My Record Label finally told me, 'fuck everything and just make the Album you want to make and we'll champion it'", bringing him a great sigh of relief. "Sweeter is far better than anything I could've done by myself. It feels like a real collaborative effort because I'd never co-written before it", he admits.

NEW MUSIC: JAMES MORRISON - I WON'T LET YOU GO

Still from I Won't Let You Go

Although it's in-stores already in the UK, James Morrison's third Disc The Awakening won't be surfacing Stateside until October 11, 2011 via Universal Music. Despite a modest following over here, Morrison's Music and Voice are still an undiscovered treasure and he definitely is one of my favourite Artists. 

His 2009 Disc Songs for You, Truths for Me still remains one of my most-played Albums ever.  My iTunes would agree. There is nothing ground-breaking about Morrison's brand of melodic Soul/Pop and perhaps that's a good thing, with Adele helping pave the way in North America for Artists like him who don't need to rely on extravagance and excess. Think of him even as a male Counterpart to Adele or perhaps a nicer, more soulful version of James Blunt.  I mean that in the nicest way possible.

Watch the Video for Morrison's powerful Single I Won't Let You Go below:

ADELE SCORES SECOND U.S. BILLBOARD #1 HIT WITH "SOMEONE LIKE YOU"

Congratulations to Adele who notches her second U.S. Billboard Hot 100 number one in-a-row with Someone Like You.  The success of the Ballad comes hot on the heels of her last U.S. #1, Rolling in the Deep, which has gone on to reach 4x Platinum sales in the U.S. and 5x Platinum in Canada. 

Above is a Video I captured of her performing the Track in Toronto this March when she visited MTV Canada.  She actually even posted this on her Facebook Page for her Fans!  Real Music.  Real Emotion.

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.

KATY PERRY SCORES NINE MTV VMA NOMINATIONS

Katy Perry & Mr. Will-W.

Congratulations to Katy Perry who just nabbed a total nine nominations for this year's MTV Video Music Awards, to be aired live August 28, 2011 at 8:00 PM. Among those categories for which Perry is nominated include: Best Pop Video, Best Collaboration, Best Direction, Best Special Effects and the most prestigious honour, Video of the Year.

Perry upon finding out the amazing news Tweeted, "OMG! I just got word that I'm nominated for 9 MTV VIDEO MUSIC AWARDS!!! I'm kinda speechless/nervous/turned on! NOW it's up to YOU to VOTE!". She is currently still touring in Seattle.

ADELE TOPS U.S. BILLBOARD HOT 200 FOR SIXTH WEEK

Adele in Toronto - March 2011

Congratulations, Adele! Quickly becoming a household name in North America, the British Siren achieves her sixth non-consecutive week at the top of the U.S. Billboard Hot 200 Album Chart this week. Closing in on the 1.4 million sales mark after its stateside release on February 22, 2011, she sold 124,000 copies of the sophomore Disc 21 this past week according to Nielsen SoundScan.

Her success has been duplicated north of the Border also, where she remains at number one for a second consecutive week on the Canadian Albums Chart after hovering near the top for the past ten weeks.

Doin’ it right. Rolling in the green....

(Photo credit: Mr. Will-W.)