Sting Trying to Raise $15 Million to Bring Musical to Broadway

Facebook.com/StingBack in 1989, Sting starred in a Broadway musical: a revival of The Threepenny Opera.  Now, he's trying to raise some cash to bring his own production to the Great White Way.

The New York Post reports that the former Police frontman and his producing partner are trying to raise $15 million to bring their musical, The Last Ship, to Broadway next spring.  Based on his autobiographical album The Soul Cages, the musical tells the story of a family of shipbuilders whose future looks bleak when the shipyard where they've worked for years is shut down. 

A staged reading of the piece was conducted last week for potential investors, reports the Post.  While Sting isn't going to star in the show, he did write the music and lyrics, and the tone is said to be "moody," "reflective" and "haunting."  A source told the paper that the show is reminiscent of Billy Elliot in that it's about "working-class people who maintain their dignity in the face of adversity."

According to the Post, one potential investor said he thought the show was too "arty" for Broadway, but another pointed out that the musical Once was considered to be "arty" as well, and it won the Tony.

The Post also claims that Sting's been suffering from writer's block for several years, and working on this show is what cured him.

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Frank Ocean, Robin Thicke, Mariah Compete for O Music Awards

ABC/RICK ROWELLFrank Ocean isn't a non-stop tweeter like Questlove, but both guys managed to snag nominations for this year's MTV O Music Awards, which celebrate the intersection of music and technology.  Frank and Quest are listed in the Must Follow Artist on Twitter category, joining Erykah Badu, Solange and others.

Thanks to his not-safe-for-work "Pyramids" video, Frank is also in the running for the Too Much Ass for TV award.  The category also includes Robin Thicke's "Blurred Lines" video -- the version featuring topless models, of course.

Beyonce and her Beyhive are nominated in the category of Fan Army FTW, which honors artists for just how fanatical their fans are.

Other nominees for this year's awards include Mariah Carey and Tyler, the Creator, who are up for Best Artist Instagram; Alicia Keys who's up for Most Inspiring Fan Outreach and Angel Haze, up for Best Web-Born Artist. 

Fans can vote for their favorites starting now through June 19 via Facebook, Twitter, or at OMusicAwards.com.

Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio

Watch "Amazing" Kelly Clarkson Sing About Sex in Sneak Peek of New CBS Comedy "The Crazy Ones"

Image Courtesy Robin Williams via TwitterA few weeks back, Kelly Clarkson tweeted a photo of herself with Robin Williams, posing on the set of a CBS comedy pilot called The Crazy Ones.  Turns out she made a cameo as herself in the pilot, and now that CBS has now picked up the show for the fall, we'll be able see her.  A sneak preview, however, is available online now.

The Crazy Ones is set in Chicago, and is about a father and daughter, played by Williams and Sarah Michelle Gellar, who both work in advertising.  In the pilot, they try to persuade Kelly to sing a McDonald's commercial, but she tells them she wants to change her image and "sing about sex."

"They said I wouldn't have to act, 'cause I suck at acting," says Kelly in the preview.  "They said, 'Well, you're playing yourself.' But it's not myself!"

Kelly says she "lost" it during a scene where Robin Williams and another cast member try to come up with ways that Kelly can sing about sex, and still sing about McDonald's.  Next, we see her in the studio singing a song called "It Ain't the Meat It's the Motion" -- which is a real song, by the way -- and simulating being in the throes of sexual passion.

The show's executive producers say that Kelly was "amazing" in the episode, adding, "She rocked it!"

The Crazy Ones will air on Thursdays this fall at 9 p.m.

Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio

Jana Kramer, Brett Eldredge Playing CMT Music Awards Official Fan After-Party June 5

Warner Music NashvilleThere will be no shortage of events for country fans to attend surrounding next month's CMA Music Festival, but Warner Music Nashville is offering one of the week's most star-studded shows, separate from the nightly concerts at LP Field. The 2013 CMT Music Awards Official Fan After-Party will feature performances from Jana Kramer, Brett Eldredge, The Farm and Charlie Worsham immediately following the CMT broadcast on June 5.

The Official Fan After-Party takes place at aVenue in downtown Nashville, just steps away from the Bridgestone Arena, which is hosting the CMT Music Awards again this year.

Tickets are on sale at the official store at WarnerMusic.com/Warner-Nashville.

Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio

Duff McKagan Says Walking Papers Frontman Angell Tried Out for Velvet Revolver

Duff-Loaded.comMissionary Position vocalist Jeff Angell, the frontman for Duff McKagan’s side project Walking Papers, had a chance to be lead singer for Velvet Revolver.  The former Guns N’ Roses bassist revealed that Angell got a shot to try out for the band before they chose former member Scott Weiland as their singer.

"I hoped at some point I would do something with Jeff; we're good bros and we share a similar path in certain aspects,” he tells Rolling Stone.  “Early on, when we were looking for singers for Velvet Revolver, I brought Jeff Angell down, about 2003.  I've had a relationship with him and wanted to work with him for that long."

Walking Papers self-titled debut album is due in stores on August 6.  McKagan is previewing the release by streaming one of the cuts, “I'll Stick Around," which features a guest appearance from Pearl Jam guitarist Mike McCready.  You can listen to it now on RollingStone.com.

You’ll get your chance to hear Walking Papers in action when the group hits the road as part of the Rockstar Energy Uproar Festival, which kicks off on August 9 at the Toyota Pavilion at Montage Mountain in Scranton, Pennsylvania. Other bands set to perform at the fest include Alice in Chains, Jane’s Addiction and Coheed and Cambria.  Check out RockstarUproar.com to view the full itinerary.

Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio

My Morning Jacket to Begin Recording New Album in October

Danny ClinchGood news for My Morning Jacket fans: frontman Jim James has revealed that the band will soon begin work on their follow-up to 2011’s Circuital.

"We're going to start [recording] in October," the singer tells Rolling Stone. "We're in the process of nailing down a studio. So we're going to start that in the fall, so I'm super excited about that."

James adds that the group is currently scouting unique locations to record the forthcoming release, which they hope will trump Circuital’s sessions that were recorded in a church gymnasium in their hometown of Louisville, Kentucky.

"We always try to do something a little different each time and we did that last time,” James explains. “We have a couple top-of-the-heap places we're in the process of deciding what will work best."

Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio

Nicki Minaj Dodges "American Idol" Return Question; Candice's Album Coming 7/16

FoxIs Nicki Minaj leaving American Idol?  She won't say.  She came backstage briefly after the show’s season finale Thursday and took three questions.  One she chose not to answer was, "Are you coming back?"

Nicki was first asked why she didn't perform Thursday night, since all the other judges did. She explained that she was committed to performing her song "High School" at this Sunday night's Billboard Music Awards, so she wasn't allowed to perform on Idol.  She also revealed that this season, she was supposed to premiere the song's video during American Idol, but Fox rejected it as being too risque.

Nicki then said that she felt that newly-crowned champ Candice Glover was "absolutely" the right person to win. When a publicist said the rapper would take one more question, several were shouted, and Nicki chose to take one about whether or not she was working on new music -- she begins work on her official third album in July.  But as reporters shouted, "Are you coming back?" she blinked, smiled, and walked offstage.

Meanwhile, Candice's debut album, titled Music Speaks, will be in stores July 16 and is available for pre-order now.  The newly-minted champ will perform on Live with Kelly & Michael on Monday, and will also appear on PBS’s 24th Annual National Memorial Day Concert, and on the annual special A Capitol Fourth.

Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio

Report: Usher Will Be Back on The Voice Next Spring

Saccenti/RCA RecordsThe Voice has become a game of musical swivel chairs.  Though Christina Aguilera and Cee Lo Green are expected to return to the NBC singing competition in the fall, the show isn't cutting ties with their replacements, Usher and Shakira.

There have been reports that Usher is leaving The Voice after the current season.  The same goes for Shakira, who confirmed she was moving on, leaving Christina and Cee Lo to reclaim the chairs they occupied for the show's first three seasons.

However, Entertainment Weekly states that while Christina and Cee Lo will indeed return to The Voice in the fall, NBC is finalizing deals with Shakira and Usher to rejoin Adam Levine and Blake Shelton for the spring 2014 season.  That would obviously mean that Christina and Cee Lo would go on hiatus again.

Adam, Blake and host Carson Daly will all be back for the next two seasons.

Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio

Country Star Trivia

Comstock/ThinkstockWhat is the name of the Eli Young Band's lead singer? HINT: It's not Eli Young. ANSWER: Mike Eli.

Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio

Emeli Sande, Calvin Harris Win Britain's Ivor Novello Awards

Facebook.com/EmeliSandeEmeli Sande went two for two at Thursday's Ivor Novello Awards, which annually celebrate the best in British and Irish songwriting. 

Emeli's hit "Next To Me" was named Best Song Musically and Lyrically, as well as Most Performed Work -- the latter takes into account how many times the song has been heard on the radio and on TV.   Unfortunately, she wasn't at the London ceremony to pick up her trophies -- she was in California performing on the American Idol finale -- but she sure was thrilled, as she demonstrated on Twitter.

"If you followed me 2 years ago...you might remember me day dreaming about winning an Ivor!!" Emeli tweeted. "Wish I could have been there, that would have been one excited speech!"  She called the honor "the best news."

Meanwhile, Calvin Harris, the man behind Rihanna's "Diamonds," the Florence Welch collaboration "Sweet Nothings" and his own "Feel So Close," was named Songwriter of the Year at the ceremony. 

According to the BBC, the Scottish songwriter and producer called the honor "easily the greatest achievement of my entire life," adding, "I can't believe I was even let in the door of this whole ceremony.  It feels like I shouldn't be here."

Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio

Are Taylor Swift & Lena Dunham Now Dinner Buddies?

Kevin Mazur/WireImageTaylor Swift and Lena Dunham, the creator and star of the award-winning HBO series Girls, have a mutual admiration society going on Twitter, but now it appears as though they've taken their friendship offline and into -- gasp! -- the real world.

Life & Style magazine reports that both Taylor and Dunham attended the star-studded Met Gala in New York City on May 6, and then afterwards, they grabbed a late dinner together.  According to an insider, it was Lena who made the first move, telling Taylor that there was a "really cute diner" by her house, where they could have "like, salads and stuff."

Not long ago, Taylor said she was "floored" to learn that Dunham was a fan of hers. 

"When I found out that she listens to my music...it absolutely floored me," said Taylor. "It made my day, honestly.  So, I think, to me, for there to be someone with that creative of a mind and that impressive writing talent, for someone like that to listen to my music it was a real, really good day for me."

Taylor doesn't just like Dunham and Girls; she's also a fan of Dunham's boyfriend, Jack Antonoff.  He's the guitarist in the band fun., and Taylor told Billboard that they're one of her favorite bands right now.

Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio

Sting Trying to Raise $15 Million to Bring Musical to Broadway

Facebook.com/StingBack in 1989, Sting starred in a Broadway musical: a revival of The Threepenny Opera.  Now, he's trying to raise some cash to bring his own production to the Great White Way.

The New York Post reports that Sting and his producing partner are trying to raise $15 million to bring their musical, The Last Ship, to Broadway next spring.  Based on his autobiographical album The Soul Cages, the musical tells the story of a family of shipbuilders whose future looks bleak when the shipyard where they've worked for years is shut down. 

A staged reading of the piece was conducted last week for potential investors, reports the Post.  While Sting isn't going to star in the show, he did write the music and lyrics, and the tone is said to be "moody," "reflective" and "haunting."  A source told the paper that the show is reminiscent of Billy Elliot in that it's about "working-class people who maintain their dignity in the face of adversity."

According to the Post, one potential investor said he thought the show was too "arty" for Broadway, but another pointed out that the musical Once was considered to be "arty" as well, and it won the Tony.

The Post also claims that Sting's been suffering from writer's block for several years, and working on this show is what cured him.

Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio

Beck, Jack White, Linkin Park Up for MTV’s O Music Awards

OMusicAwards.comMTV’s O Music Awards returns this year, and a number of rock acts have scored nominations.

Beck is up for two awards, the most of any rock act. He’ll be facing off against Jack White for the Analog Genius Award, while the video for his cover of David Bowie’s “Sound and Vision” will compete with Linkin Park’s “Lost in the Echo” video for Best Interactive Music Video.

Other notables who got nods include Nine Inch Nails frontman Trent Reznor, who's up for the Digital Genius Award; Andrew W.K., who's in the running for Must Follow Artist on Twitter; and Bon Iver, who is up for the honor of Best Artist Instagram. In addition, 30 Seconds to Mars and All Time Low will be competing against each other for the Fan Army FTW award, which goes to the artists with the most devoted and socially-networked fans.

You’ll be able to see who wins when the MTV O Music Awards streams live at OMusicAwards.com on June 19 at 7 p.m. ET.

Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio

Neil Young, David Bowie, Yoko Ono Among 2013 O Music Awards Nominees

OMusicAwards.comMTV's O Music Awards returns this year, and a number of veteran artists have scored nominations.  Neil Young, David Bowie and Yoko Ono each will compete for one honor at the third annual ceremony, which will stream live at OMusicAwards.com on June 19 at 7 p.m. ET.  MTV's O Music Awards honor various achievements in the arena of digital music.

Young is among the nominees for the Analog Genius Award.  The folk-rock great received his nod because of his work on the high-quality digital-music service Pono.  Bowie, meanwhile, is in the running for the Too Much Ass for TV prize, thanks to the risqué and edgy clip that was filmed to accompany his new tune "The Stars (Are Out Tonight)."

As for Ono, she's been nominated for the Digital Genius Award.  John Lennon's widow, who turned 80 in February, was cited for releasing a chart-topping dance hit, "Hold Me"; creating artistically minded apps; and sharing her innovative photography via Instagram.

Fans can vote for their favorites through June 19 via Facebook, Twitter, or at OMusicAwards.com.

Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio

John Fogerty Schedules Series of TV Appearances to Promote "Wrote a Song for Everyone"

Photo: Alan SilfenIn the days leading up to the May 28 release of his new collaborative album, Wrote a Song for Everyone, John Fogerty will be all over the TV dial.  In the next week alone, the Rock and Roll Hall of Famer has several appearances scheduled on various talk shows and specials.

On Sunday, the ex-Creedence Clearwater Revival frontman will be among the many musicians featured in the CBS concert special ACM Presents: Tim McGraw's Superstar Summer Night, which will air at 9 p.m. ET/PT.  The event, whose lineup featured mainly country stars like McGraw, Taylor Swift, Keith Urban and Faith Hill, was taped in early April at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.  Fogerty plays his Creedence classic "Born on the Bayou" on the special.

Next up for Fogerty will be an appearance on CBS This Morning that will air Monday at 7 a.m. ET/PT.  John will be interviewed on the morning show.

Then, Fogerty is scheduled to perform not once but twice on CBS' Late Show with David Letterman -- on Tuesday and Wednesday.  For his Tuesday appearance, Fogerty is listed as the sole musical guest, while the following evening, he slated to be joined by Los Angeles-based Americana group Dawes.  Fogerty and Dawes collaborated on a new version of the CCR tune "Someday Never Comes" on Wrote a Song for Everyone.  Late Show airs weeknights at 11:35 p.m. ET/10:35 p.m. CT.

Lastly, the singer/guitarist will give a performance on next Thursday's edition of ABC's The View, which airs at 11 a.m. ET.

Keep checking JohnFogerty.com to find out if additional TV appearances have been added to Fogerty's schedule.

Meanwhile, over the last few months, Fogerty has been posting preview videos for Wrote a Song for Everyone on his official YouTube channel.  Among the recent clips is a lyrics video for the song "Mystic Highway," one of two brand-new tunes featured on the upcoming album.  Also on the site is a video in which Fogerty tells the story behind how he came to write the enduring Creedence song "Fortunate Son," along with a segment of the new rendition of the tune he recorded with Foo Fighters.  In addition, there's a behind-the-scenes clip featuring Fogerty and Bob Seger working on their version of CCR's "Who'll Stop the Rain."

Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio

Tyrese, Ginuwine, Tank Release Video; Announce Tour

Photo credit: Marc BaptisteIn their fans' eyes Tyrese, Ginuwine and Tank are R&B royalty, so it makes sense that the trio has decided to title their upcoming album together 3 Kings.  The fellas, who go by TGT, just released the music video for "Sex Never Felt Better," the first single off their new set.

The clip shows the guys working the stage at the Saban Theatre in Beverly Hills, where they take turns serenading a sea of screaming fans.  The scene is just a preview of what's to come this summer when Tyrese, Ginuwine and Tank hit the road for their just-announced 3 Kings tour.  

The trek gets underway June 26, starting with a concert in Oakland, California.  The tour will swing through more than a dozen other cities, including New York City, Miami, Atlanta, as well as New Orleans, where the guys will drop in on Essence Festival.  Things wrap up July 28 in Detroit.

Concert-goers who want to get close to Tyrese, Ginuwine and Tank can purchase meet-and-greet upgrade packages starting Monday, May 20, at 12 p.m. ET from the group's website. 

TGT's 3 Kings album is due out later this year.

Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio

Nashville Notes

Burke/Triolo Productions/ThinkstockThe Eli Young Band will release their new single in July, and a new album is expected to follow later in the year.

Brad Paisley performed the song "Runaway Train" on The Late Show with David Letterman  earlier this week.

Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio

Genre Lines Get Blurry on Sunday Night's "ACM Presents: Tim McGraw's Superstar Summer Night" Special

ACMThe ACM Presents: Tim McGraw's Superstar Summer Night special airs Sunday night, and fans can expect to see top country stars like Jason Aldean, Luke Bryan and, of course, Tim McGraw, on the show.  Stars from the pop and R&B world are well-represented too with Nelly performing the "Cruise" remix with Florida Georgia Line. Tim also shares the stage with Ne-Yo and Pitbull on the show.  Luke says the resulting set list looks an awful like some of the playlists he has on his personal iTunes collection.

Says Luke, "I feel like so many country fans out there, they're rocking out to Nelly too, and Nelly's going to be here.  It's a great thing that so many genres can come together, and it's based around country.  And I think it's fun for the fans."

Tim had a big hand in selecting which stars would appear on the show with him, and Pitbull was a pop star he definitely wanted on the bill.  Tim and his wife Faith Hill first met Pitbull at the Grammy Awards earlier this year.

Tim explains, "He came up and introduced himself to me and we started talking, and when we walked away, I told Faith that, 'That's just a real guy there, a really genuine guy.'"

Tim was also really impressed with Pitbull's smooth dance moves at the show taping last month in Las Vegas.

"I'd throw something out if I tried to move like that," Tim says with a laugh, "but he brought so much energy to the stage."

Faith Hill, Lady Antebellum, Brantley Gilbert, Keith Urban, Taylor Swift and rock legend John Fogerty also perform on ACM Presents: Tim McGraw's Superstar Summer Nights, airing Sunday night at 9 ET on CBS.

Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio

Bruno Mars Can't Wait 'Til He Becomes "Huge & Bloated"

Kai Z. Feng/Atlantic RecordsRight now, Bruno Mars is a trim guy who's in great shape, as you can probably tell from his energetic onstage performances.  But the singer says he's looking forward to the day when he becomes an overweight parody of himself, sort of like his idol, Elvis Presley.

Speaking to Entertainment Weekly, Bruno, who'll launch his Moonshine Jungle tour next month, says he foresees himself performing onstage years in the future, even though he no longer looks and sounds good.

"I would love to go away for a while and then be able to write a song that I feel just as strongly about as I did with ‘Locked Out of Heaven’ or ‘When I Was Your Man," he laughs.  "I can’t wait for the reunion tour when I’m just huge and bloated, singin’ my songs seven keys down in Palm Springs.  And it's gonna happen!"

Bruno's Moonshine Jungle tour launches June 22 in Washington, D.C., and he says unlike some pop artists, he doesn't plan to go overboard on the special effects when it comes to his concert production.  You won't see him flying around the stage, for example.

"I don’t think I would feel too comfortable like, wearing a harness,” he laughs.  "I want the music and the sound to be rockin’, more important than the visual effects and tricks or whatnot.  I don’t want to get lost in that."

He adds, "I’ve definitely seen bands before they made money kind of change their thing on the next tour, and I prefer it when it’s a little more raw.  We always change it up, you know?  It’s live, and that’s a big element of the show.”

Bruno also doesn't want to look out into the audience and see people watching the show through their smartphones.  He recently tweeted, "At the shows I want to see faces. I want to be able to sing to you. I want you to dance with us world. Put the phones down and lets dance!"

Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio

Sammy Hagar Working with Journey Guitarist, Chickenfoot Members on New Recording Project

Facebook.com/SammyHagarSammy Hagar has revealed details about a new album he's been working on with Journey's Neal Schon, as well as two of the Red Rocker's Chickenfoot band mates -- bassist Michael Anthony and drummer Chad Smith.  In a new video posted on Hagar's official YouTube channel, Sammy reports that the project is basically a reincarnated version of his old supergroup HSAS, which featured Schon, journeyman bassist Kenny Aaronson and former Santana drummer Michael Shrieve.

The clip shows Hagar, Schon, Anthony and Smith jamming in the studio and also features them sitting on a couch together and discussing the collaboration.

Hagar points out that the group has just laid down three tracks, including a rendition of the unreleased Chickenfoot tune "Going Down," which he describes as the "#1 jam song" at his Cabo Wabo Cantina.

"We recorded it live as hell," adds Sammy.  "Neal burned.  It's never burned like that.  It's like 'whew!'"

The original HSAS released only one album, Through the Fire, which came out in 1984.  No word yet when the new record will hit stores.

Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio