Jennifer Hudson, Alicia Keys Film Lands U.S. Distributor

ABC/RICK ROWELLThe Inevitable Defeat of Mister and Pete, an upcoming movie starring Jennifer Hudson, has just been picked up for U.S. distribution by CodeBlack Films, according to Deadline.com.  Alicia Keys is among the project's executive producers, and she also served as the film's composer.

Audiences got an early look at The Inevitable Defeat of Mister and Pete when it debuted at the Sundance Film Festival in January.  The movie follows a 13-year-old boy, Mister, and his 9-year-old friend, Pete, as they navigate life in New York City on their own.

Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio

Kinks Guitarist Dave Davies' New Album, "I Will Be Me," Streaming Online Now

Cleopatra RecordsFounding Kinks guitarist Dave Davies' new album, I Will Be Me, won't be released until June 4, but the legendary rocker is giving fans the chance to preview the collection online now.  All of the album's 13 tracks currently are streaming at Cleopatra Records' SoundCloud page.

I Will Be Me features guest appearances by an eclectic group of musicians, including veteran U.K. guitarist Chris Spedding, alt-country band The Jayhawks, punk group Anti-Flag, young stoner band Dead Meadow, Australian rock act The Art and British blues man Oli Brown.  Davies will be selling copies of the album during his upcoming U.S. tour, which kicks off with a three-night stand, May 27-29, at the City Winery in New York City.  He'll also be playing a free June 4 show at the same venue as part of the fifth annual Hudson Square Music & Wine Festival.

Here are all of Dave Davies' stateside tour dates:

5/27 -- New York, NY, City Winery
5/28 -- New York, NY, City Winery
5/29 -- New York, NY, City Winery
5/30 -- Shirley, MA, The Bull Run
5/31 -- Norfolk, CT, Infinity Hall
6/1 -- Bethlehem, PA, Musikfest Café
6/2 -- Fall River, MA, Narrows Center for the Arts
6/4 -- New York, NY, City Winery - Hudson Square Music & Wine Festival (free show)
6/6 -- Hermosa Beach, CA, Sainte Rock
6/7 -- San Juan Capistrano, CA, The Coach House
6/9 -- Agoura Hills, CA, The Canyon
6/11 -- Del Mar, CA, San Diego County Fair

Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio

Bruno Mars Says His First #1 Hit Was Rejected Because of His Race

Courtesy Entertainment WeeklyThree years ago, Bruno Mars became a worldwide superstar with a string of smash hits.  But before that, he struggled for years to make it, and reveals that one of the barriers to his becoming a pop star was his race.

Bruno is Puerto Rican, Jewish and Filipino.  In the cover story of the new issue of Entertainment Weekly, he says that when he and his songwriting partners came up with a song called "Nothin' on You," Bruno figured it was his ticket to the big time.  But when he brought it to a music industry decision-maker -- a guy he won't name -- the reaction shocked him.

"He goes, 'Oh man, oh man, what a song,'" recalls Bruno.  But then, he says the guy told him, "You know what kind of white artist we could break with this?  Blond hair, blue eyes, we could make this kid the next thing!"

"It was just kinda sad," Bruno tells EW.  "It was like, 'Man, what about the kid that played you the song and wrote it and produced it...what about that guy?'"

That experience, Bruno said, made him feel like a "mutant," and he says that was his lowest point. "Even with that song in my back pocket to seal the deal, things like that are coming out of people's mouths. It made me feel like I wasn't even in the room."

Thankfully, the story has a happy ending.  "Nothin' on You" went on to become a #1 hit for Bruno and rapper B.o.B.  It was nominated for three Grammys, and it launched Bruno on what's became one of the hottest pop careers of the decade.

Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio

Justin Bieber's "Baby" Now Highest-Certified Single in History

Image Courtesy Justin Bieber via TwitterThanks to a rule change by the Recording Industry Association of America, Justin Bieber has set a new record: His hit "Baby" is now the highest-certified single of all time.

The RIAA now takes into account on-demand streaming numbers when determining gold and platinum certifications for digital singles.  Billboard reports that as a result, Justin's "Baby," whose video is the second most-viewed in YouTube history, has now been certified 12-times platinum.  In reality, it's only sold 3.9 million downloads, but the more than 858 million views on Vevo has boosted it way, way up there.

In scoring that certification, Justin has now trumped the previous record-holder, Elton John's Princess Diana tribute "Candle in the Wind," which has been certified 11-times platinum.  That represented actual single sales, though, since the song came out in 1997, before the digital era.

As a result of the rule change, some other hits have now had their platinum totals boosted.  Eminem and Rihanna's "Love the Way You Lie," for example, is now 11-times platinum, and Lady Gaga's "Bad Romance" is now 10-times platinum.  Carly Rae Jepsen's "Call Me Maybe" is nine-times platinum.

Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio

The Black Crowes to Perform at Inaugural Interlocken Festival in September

Facebook.com/InterlockenFestivalThe Black Crowes have added another festival performance to their calendar.  The band will take the stage at the inaugural Interlocken Music Festival, scheduled for September 5-8 at Oak Ridge Farm in Arrington, Virginia.  Other acts on the initial bill include Neil Young & Crazy Horse, the Grateful Dead spinoff group Furthur, veteran jam band The String Cheese Incident, and country star Zac Brown.

The four-day event is being organized by HORDE festival founder David Frey and Peter Shapiro, the one-time owner famed New York City rock venue Wetlands Preserve.  The music extravaganza will feature fewer artists playing longer sets on two alternating stages, with no breaks in the music throughout the day.  Many of the performers are expected to play sets on multiple days during the festival, with artists encouraged to collaborate with each other on stage. 

The Interlocken Music Festival also will offer locally-sourced food and beverages, while the organizers will place a focus on keeping the festivities environmentally conscious.  Early bird general admission tickets and VIP packages will go on sale Thursday, May 23, at 10 a.m. ET.  Visit InterlockenFestival.com for more details.

Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio

Country Star Trivia

Comstock/ThinkstockWho is the reigning CMA Entertainer of the Year? ANSWER: Blake Shelton.

Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio

Jason Aldean Didn't Think Twice About Performing at Boston Strong Concert

Greenroom PRJason Aldean agreed to perform at the Boston Strong concert coming up May 30 in Beantown without even thinking about it. He just wanted to help out after seeing the aftermath of the Boston Marathon bombings.

Speaking of his invitation to perform as one of the artists at Boston Strong, Jason tells the Boston Globe, "That’s the good thing about what we do — you’re in a position to help out. I think that’s part of what we’re put here to do.”

Jason joins James Taylor, Carole King, New Kids on the Block and Jimmy Buffett among others at the Boston Strong concert.

Jason will also play two sold out shows at Boston's Fenway Park on July 12 and 13.

Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio

Lady Antebellum Not Disappearing Completely Once Hillary Scott Has Her Baby in July

Capitol NashvilleLady Antebellum will take a little time off the road while band member Hillary Scott has her baby this July, but they won't disappear from the public eye completely.  The group's new album, Golden, just came out, and Lady A's Charles Kelley tells Billboard, "We'll kind of keep ourselves out and about enough to stay in front and not let people forget about us too much."

Though the band has been working like crazy for the past few years, all three members are now married -- and "part of the next chapter" is to have children, Charles says.

"You've got to make time for life," he adds.  "That's the only way you're not going to drive yourself crazy."

Lady Antebellum's current tour continues with a show in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, on Saturday.

Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio

Guitar Played by Lennon and Harrison Fetches $408K at Auction

Darren Julien with guitar; Facebook.com/JuliensAuctionsA guitar once played by John Lennon and his Beatles band mate George Harrison sold at auction over the weekend for 408 thousand dollars.

The VOX guitar, featured in a Julien's Auctions sale in New York, was played by Lennon while recording a video for "Hello, Goodbye." Harrison used it to practice "I Am The Walrus" during the making of The Magical Mystery Tour project.

The instrument had been displayed in Ireland, the U.K. and New York prior to Saturday's sale.

Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio

Are Kelly Rowland and Paulina Rubio Joining "The X Factor"?

FOXHas Simon Cowell found two new judges for The X Factor? TMZ.com is reporting that Kelly Rowland is in final negotiations to join the panel of the Fox singing competition, which currently has two vacancies due to the departures of Britney Spears and L.A. Reid.

The one-time Destiny's Child member served as a judge on the British version of The X Factor in 2011.

The website further reports that Mexican singer Paulina Rubio is also close to joining the U.S. X Factor. Both artists reportedly will finalize their deals as early as Monday. The Hollywood Reporter adds that the two should be on board by Tuesday, when auditions will be taped in Charleston, South Carolina.

If Kelly and Paulina are indeed added to the show, they would sit alongside Simon and Demi Lovato, who's returning for her second season. The X Factor will be back on Fox this fall.

Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio

Kanye Performs Two New Songs on "SNL"; New Album "Yeezus" Gets Release Date

Dana Edelson/NBCKanye West used his appearance on Saturday Night Live over the weekend as a platform to promote two new, socially-charged songs.

One of the new tracks, "New Slaves," was actually debuted the night before, via a video projected onto the sides of 66 buildings around the world. In a YouTube clip of one such projection in Brooklyn, New York, Kanye's face is superimposed onto a building as he raps the lyrics, which include, "I know that we're the new slaves/I see the blood on the leaves."

"New Slaves" was previously teased earlier this month when a DJ played it at a festival in Poland.

Kanye performed both "New Slaves" and another new, electronic rock-sounding track, "Black Skinhead," on SNL. He later tweeted a photo of the lyrics to "Black Skinhead," written by hand.

At one point in "Black Skinhead" 'Ye quickly raps, "You see a black man with a white woman/At the top floor they gone come to kill King Kong/Middle America packed in/Came to see me in my black skin."

The songs are rumored to be part of Kanye's follow-up to 2010's My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, which, according to Kanye's baby mama Kim Kardashian, will be titled Yeezus and will be released June 18. She revealed the news on Instagram.

Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio

The Rolling Stones Joined by Dave Grohl at Anaheim Concert

Facebook.com/FooFightersThe Rolling Stones on Saturday night welcomed another special guest to their 50 and Counting tour: Foo Fighters frontman Dave Grohl.

Grohl joined the Stones at their concert in Anaheim, California, sharing vocals with Mick Jagger on "Bitch," from the Stones' 1971 album, Sticky Fingers.

The Foo Fighters' official Twitter feed spoiled the surprise earlier in the day, writing, "Hey So Cal...Guess who's making a guest appearance at the @RollingStones show in Anaheim tonight? Hint... it's Dave."

On Sunday, the band's Facebook page posted a link to fan-filmed video on YouTube of Grohl's appearance.

The collaboration came approximately one year after the Foo Fighters played with Jagger on the 2012 season finale of Saturday Night Live.

The Stones previously have invited Katy Perry, Gwen Stefani and Keith Urban onto the stage during their current tour.

Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio

"Undercover Angel" Singer-Songwriter Alan O'Day Dead at 72

Image courtesy Alan O'Day/ Stephen Paley via FacebookAlan O'Day, who wrote songs for artists such as Cher and The Righteous Brothers and recorded the 1977 chart-topping hit "Undercover Angel," has died.

O'Day died of cancer Friday at his Westwood, California, home at the age of 72.

O'Day's most notable songwriting credits include Cher's "Train of Thought," The Righteous Brothers' "Rock and Roll Heaven," and Helen Reddy's "Angie Baby," the latter of which reached number one in 1974.

O'Day also co-wrote nearly 100 songs for the 1980s animated TV series Muppet Babies.

Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio

Elton John's Songwriting Partner Arrested on Suspicion of DUI

Bernie Taupin, left; Kevin Mazur/WireImageElton John's songwriting partner, Bernie Taupin, is currently dealing with a DUI case.

The Santa Barbara Independent reports the 63-year-old Taupin was arrested May 5 on suspicion of DUI in Santa Ynez, California.

Authorities say he was arrested after striking a wooden fence while attempting to turn into a private driveway. His blood-alcohol level at the time of the accident has not been disclosed.

No court date has been set for the British-born Taupin, who lives in Santa Ynez Valley.

Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio

Beyoncé Addresses Pregnancy Rumors on Instagram

Frank Micelotta/Invision for Parkwood Entertainment/AP ImagesBeyoncé has addressed the pregnancy rumors surrounding her and her husband, Jay-Z.

After E! News on Friday reported that B and Jay are expecting their second child, she posted a note onto Instagram that scoffed at the speculation -- though she didn't quite deny it, either.

In the quickly-pulled note, a screenshot of which appears on the website of Britain's Daily Mail newspaper, Beyoncé wrote, "I can't stop the rumors from starting, and I can't really change peoples [sic] minds who believe them, all I can do is sit back and laugh at these low life people who have nothing better to do than talk about me."

Beyoncé performed in Milan, Italy, over the weekend, after postponing a recent Belgium date due to "dehydration and exhaustion."

Beyoncé and Jay-Z currently have a daughter, Blue Ivy, who was born in January 2012.

Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio

Neil Young & Crazy Horse to Headline New Interlocken Festival in September

Photo: Julie GardnerNeil Young & Crazy Horse have lined up their first U.S. concert event of 2013.  The band will be one of the headliners at the inaugural Interlocken Music Festival, scheduled for September 5-8 at Oak Ridge Farm in Arrington, Virginia.  Other acts on the initial bill include the Grateful Dead spinoff group Furthur, The Black Crowes, veteran jam band The String Cheese Incident, and country star Zac Brown.

The four-day event is being organized by HORDE festival founder David Frey and Peter Shapiro, the one-time owner famed New York City rock venue Wetlands Preserve.  The music extravaganza will feature fewer artists playing longer sets on two alternating stages, with no breaks in the music throughout the day.  Many of the performers are expected to play sets on multiple days during the festival, with artists encouraged to collaborate with each other on stage. 

The Interlocken Music Festival also will offer locally-sourced food and beverages, while the organizers will place a focus on keeping the festivities environmentally conscious.  Early bird general admission tickets and VIP packages will go on sale Thursday, May 23, at 10 a.m. ET.  Visit InterlockenFestival.com for more details.

Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio

Report: Rihanna Suing Topshop Over T-Shirt

PR NewswireIt's clear from Rihanna's Instagram updates, that she doesn't mind posing for pictures.  But it's apparent from her reported lawsuit against British retailer Topshop that the singer doesn't take kindly to having her image used without her consent.

Rih has reportedly filed a $5 million lawsuit in London, going after Topshop for selling t-shirts in the UK bearing her image without her consent, according to the New York Post.  A source tells the newspaper, "Rihanna's management asked Topshop a number of times to stop selling her image and were told, 'We do what we want.'  The source adds that, "What is most offensive for Rihanna is that they basically told her, 'Go to hell. We don’t care; we are going to continue selling you.'"

According to the Post, the retailer buys the pictures from a photographer, but the artist isn't protected under UK law and doesn't get a licensing fee.

Topshop declined comment to the Post.  However, a source tells the newspaper that Topshop is aware of Rihanna's lawsuit.  As for the $5 million Rihanna is supposedly seeking, the source points out, "The amount of damages sought has not been articulated anywhere in the claimant’s document."

Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio

Taylor Swift, 23, Already Worrying About Gray Hair and Wrinkles

Facebook.com/TaylorSwiftAt age 23, Taylor Swift is young, and most people would agree that she's beautiful as well.  But the Grammy-winning star says she's already worrying about what will happen to her when she gets old and gray, and wondering if she'll know when it's time to hang up her microphone.

Speaking to the Australian paper The Herald Sun, Taylor says, "I think about the future a lot.  That's when I start to get very confused.  Essentially, you can't make big decisions like 'When am I gonna take a break?  When am I going to start to slow down?  When is my hair going to start to go gray?  Am I going to dye it or am I going to let it go gray?  How am I going to handle wrinkles?'  You can't make those decisions until you're in that position."

She adds, "I'd like to think that in all aspects of my life I'll know the right time to leave the party.  But you can't know when to leave the party until you're in the room."

For the time being, though, Taylor's doing just fine dominating the music world.  And she tells the paper that she's fine with being pegged as the artist who's famous for her breakup anthems. 

"Breakups are hard," she says.  "And you need music to get through them.  I am happy to be your go-to breakup musician...The heartbroken are a special kind of people.  When you're in that spot, when you're going through it,  I'll be there to hold your hand."

Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio

Flaming Lips’ Wayne Coyne Says He Didn't Ask for Money for Trippy Virgin Mobile TV Ads

Skip Bolen/WireImageYou may have noticed that Wayne Coyne is starring in a series of trippy TV commercials for Virgin Mobile’s “Retrain Your Brain” ad campaign.  Now before you think The Flaming Lips frontman sold out to become a corporate shill, you should know that he didn’t get a paycheck for the commercial.

“I didn’t even ask for any money,” Coyne tells ABC News Radio.  “It was just some friends of mine that do a lot of weird advertising, and they needed a weird, older, freaky guy just at the last minute.  I didn’t even know if I was gonna be in the commercial; I was just helping them.”

Coyne adds that he was originally supposed to be on screen for just a few seconds, but when the ad hit the airwaves, the singer noticed that he was featured quite a bit in the commercial.  “In the beginning I wasn’t gonna be the focus of the commercial; I think I was just gonna sit in that brain chair,” he explains.  “There was gonna be women and elephants and all these other things, you know, but now it’s me.  But we didn’t go into it thinking I’ll be the spokesperson for this phone company.”

The Lips are currently on tour overseas, but they’ll return to kick off the next leg of their North American tour on July 11 at Time Warner Cable Pavilion in Raleigh, North Carolina.  Visit FlamingLips.com to view the full itinerary.

Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio

Christian Fundamentalists Plan to Picket Late Slayer Guitarist Jeff Hanneman’s Memorial Celebration

David Wolff-Patrick/WireImageIt appears that the upcoming event to honor late Slayer guitarist Jeff Hanneman will have some unwelcome guests. On Thursday, the Westboro Baptist Church announced via Twitter that they plan to picket Hanneman’s memorial celebration, which is scheduled to take place on Thursday, May 23 at the Hollywood Palladium in Los Angeles from 3:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. PT.

The controversial Christian fundamentalist church has become known for protesting at the funerals of everyone from U.S. soldiers to celebrities and high-profile musicians, including Michael Jackson and Black Sabbath frontman Ronnie James Dio. 

Hanneman, who had been taking time off from Slayer since 2011 after contracting the flesh-eating infection necrotizing fasciitis from a spider bite, died at age 49 on May 2 of alcohol-related cirrhosis of the liver.

Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio