Michelle Williams continues to expand her brand and make a name for herself in the entertainment industry with a new reality series, My Sister’s Keeper. Produced and distributed by Entertainment One (eOne), the series will follow Williams’ journey of writing and recording her third Gospel album, and other aspects of her life.

“I am very thrilled about this opportunity, to extend into television with the eOne family as well, with this series,” she said in a release.

“Working together on my new gospel album and television series, I am excited to share with everyone a behind-the-scenes look at the inspiration and journey of recording for the album, performing, fun family times and other unforgettable experiences out together with my dear sisters.”

One of those sisters sang alongside Williams in a gospel group, United Harmony. Destiny’s Child fans may remember a mini reunion that Williams had during an interview with Ananda Lewis on MTV’s TRL. Fans will have to watch the show to see what musical surprises, if any, the Williams sisters may be cooking up.

“We’re very excited to expand upon our relationship with Michelle on this new collaboration that will provide fans with a peek into her everyday life,” said Tara Long, Senior Vice President of U.S. Alternative Programming.

“eOne’s versatility across all pillars of entertainment from music, film and television through development, production and distribution enables us to offer comprehensive multi-platform opportunities for our partners.”

Williams’ career in entertainment spawns more than a decade. She got her start as a background singer for R&B singer Monica in 1999 and joined Destiny’s Child in 2000.  Alongside Beyoncé Knowles and Kelly Rowland, Williams traveled the globe, selling out shows and collecting major music awards. In 2002, however, she branched out and forged a solo career.

On April 16, 2002 Williams released Heart to Yours via Sanctuary Records and Columbia Records. The album was well received by critics and performed marginally well on the music charts. Do You Know followed in 2004 and featured appearances by former band mates Knowles and Rowland. Knowles and younger sister Solange also wrote and produced on the album. Again, the album received positive reviews. The album did not perform as well as its predecessor though. In 2008 Williams ventured from gospel music and issued a dance/pop album titled Unexpected.  The album was a commercial disappointment. It is Williams’ lowest selling album to date.

In 2003 Williams made her Broadway debut in Aida, replacing Grammy-winning singer Toni Braxton in the lead role. The year 2007 saw Williams star in Oprah Winfrey’s The Color Purple, followed by a ground breaking, historical portrayal as Roxie Hart in Chicago in 2009. Williams is the first woman of color to take on the lead role. In 2011, Williams made a brief departure from the Broadway stage to act in a David E. Talbert play, What My Husband Doesn’t Know. Broadway fans saw Williams return to them in 2013 with a role in Fela!

In addition to being a singer, songwriter and actress, Williams is also a philanthropist, designer and a minority owner of the WNBA’s Chicago Sky.

Image Courtesy : Michelle Williams

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NEW YORK, U.S.A. – Columbia Records is proud to announce the signing of UK pop sensation Olly Murs. The X Factor UK singer will release his debut single “Heart Skips A Beat” on May 22, 2012 (listen to the track below). Olly will make his US performance debut as the special guest on One Direction’s sold out 2012 US Summer Tour (see below for full dates).

Olly Murs’ rise to fame began after he auditioned for Britain’s top singing competition show The X Factor in 2009 where he performed “Superstition” in his first audition. Simon Cowell said it inspired “the easiest yes I’ve ever given.” In a short amount of time Murs has achieved international success including two double platinum albums & three #1 singles in the UK. The British Superstar to date has sold over 4 million records internationally.

“I can’t wait to come over to the US to tour with the One Direction boys and release my first single there!” said Olly Murs. “‘Heart Skips A Beat’ is a favorite of mine and my fans, and I hope you guys will love it too.”

“Heart Skips A Beat” the debut single featuring hip hop duo Chiddy Bang will be available digitally on May 22. Listen to the single here: http://soundcloud.com/ollymurs/heart-skips-a-beat-feat-chiddy.

Olly Murs’ US debut album will be released FALL 2012.

For more info visit
http://www.ollymurs.com
http://www.columbiarecords.com/

Image Courtesy of   http://www.ollymurs.com

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New York, U.S.A. – Mariah Carey’s first decade of record-setting hit singles, remixes and fan-favorite album tracks are collected on THE ESSENTIAL MARIAH CAREY. The 28 tracks on this double CD laid the foundation for five-time Grammy Award-winner Mariah’s reign as the top-selling female recording artist in history with over 200 million albums, singles and videos sold worldwide.

THE ESSENTIAL MARIAH CAREY, which is an update of 2001′s Greatest Hits with four different tracks, will be available everywhere starting May 8th through Columbia Records, a division of SONY MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT.

“I wanted to create a collection of some of my favorite songs,” explains Mariah. ”Several of them are very big hits and some are more obscure favorites of mine as well as fan faves.”

At the core of this set is the extraordinary run of early RIAA gold, platinum and multi-platinum Billboard Hot 100 #1 hit singles that kept her phenomenal vocal artistry at the forefront of pop music consciousness for that first decade. Fourteen of those chart-toppers are included here:

• 1990: “Vision Of Love,” “Love Takes Time”
• 1991: “I Don’t Wanna Cry,” “Emotions” (included here in its 12-Inch Club Mix)
• 1992: “I’ll Be There” (featuring Trey Lorenz)
• 1993: “Dreamlover,” “Hero”
• 1995: “Fantasy,” “One Sweet Day” (Mariah Carey & Boyz II Men)
• 1996: “Always Be My Baby”
• 1997: “Honey”
• 1998: “My All”
• 1999: “Heartbreaker” (featuring Jay-Z); “Thank God I Found You” (featuring Joe & 98 Degrees)

Mariah Carey completists will appreciate that this ESSENTIAL contains four tracks newly chosen by Mariah herself for the occasion:

• “Vanishing,” Mariah’s debut as a producer, from her self-titled debut album of 1990
• “Close My Eyes,” a confessional track from the Butterfly album, evoking her new freedom as a single woman in 1997;
• “The Roof (Mobb Deep Extended Version),” also from Butterfly , Mariah’s first track with the songwriting-production duo Poke & Tone, aka the Trackmasters (Jean Claude Oliver and Samuel Barnes);
• “Bliss,” from her next album, 1998′s Rainbow , one of six tracks on that album that were co-written and co-produced by Mariah with the Flyte Tyme Productions team of Jimmy Jam, Terry Lewis, and Big Jim Wright.

In addition, Mariah has included two rare alternate remixes on this ESSENTIAL collection, both on disc one. “Emotions (12-inch Club Mix),” from 1991, the title track of Mariah’s second studio album, is a remix of her record-setting fifth consecutive #1 hit single. ”Anytime You Need A Friend (C + C Club Remix),” from her third studio album, 1993′s Music Box , was remixed by her friends Robert Clivilles and David Coleof fellow Columbia Records group C + C Music Factory, who played such a crucial role as writers and producers on Mariah’s early studio albums.

Mariah Carey’s Cinderella storybook signing to Columbia Records in 1990 is entwined with the magic of that decade. At the very outset, she accomplished what no other pop artist had done in the history of the Billboard Hot 100, sending her first five consecutive singles to the #1 spot.  Indeed, eight of her first ten singles hit the #1 spot between 1990 and 1993, and the decade would see Mariah place 15 hits at the top of the Hot 100 through 1999.

In 2005, Mariah earned her 17th #1 career single (“Don’t Forget About Us”), tying one of the most enduring chart records in Hot 100 history, Elvis Presley’s 17 #1′s.  Three years later, Mariah surpassed Elvis with her 18th #1 Hot 100 hit (“Touch My Body”). Mariah is currently positioned as the only active recording artist in the 54 years of the Hot 100 (which began in 1958) with the potential to surpass the Beatles’ all-time high of 20 #1 hits.

THE ESSENTIAL MARIAH CAREY (Columbia 88691 96808 2)

Disc One – Selections:

1. Vision Of Love • 2. Love Takes Time • 3. Vanishing • 4. I Don’t Wanna Cry • 5. Emotions (12-inch Mix) • 6. Can’t Let Go • 7. Make It Happen • 8. I’ll Be There (featuring Trey Lorenz) • 9. Dreamlover • 10. Hero • 11. Without You • 12. Anytime You Need A Friend (C + C Club Remix) • 13. Endless Love (duet with Luther Vandross) • 14. Fantasy.

Disc Two – Selections:

1. One Sweet Day (Mariah Carey & Boyz II Men) • 2. Always Be My Baby • 3. Underneath The Stars • 4. Honey • 5. Butterfly • 6. My All • 7. Close My Eyes • 8. The Roof (Mobb Deep Extended Version) • 9. When You Believe (from The Prince Of Egypt) (Mariah Carey & Whitney Houston) • 10. I Still Believe • 11. Heartbreaker (featuring Jay-Z) • 12. Bliss • 13. Thank God I Found You (featuring Joe & 98 Degrees) • 14. Can’t Take That Away (Mariah’s Theme).

Image Courtesy of   cinemafestival / Shutterstock.com

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The Grammy-winning American rock band Train will celebrate the release of California 37, the group’s feverishly-awaited new album on Columbia Records, with an unprecedented week-long residency on the Emmy-winning daytime talk show “Rachael Ray,” running from Monday, April 16, through Friday, April 20.

Train’s landmark engagement, a first for daytime television, gives the group a chance to play old favorites while introducing viewers to new songs from California 37.  The band’s “Rachael Ray” performances will include “Hey Soul Sister”/”Bruises” (Monday), “Drive By”/”Feels Good At First” (Tuesday), “Marry Me”/”This’ll Be My Year” (Wednesday), “50 Ways To Say Goodbye”/”Meet Virginia” (Thursday) and “Drops of Jupiter”/”Mermaid” (Friday).

California 37, featuring Train’s latest hit, “Drive By,” will be available in stores and online Tuesday, April 17.

Released as a digital download in January, “Drive By” has become Train’s newest bona fide international sensation with heavy chart activity in Australia (where the single is certified platinum), Austria, Belgium, Canada, Croatia, Denmark, Finland, France, Hungary, Ireland, the Netherlands, New Zealand (where it’s been certified gold), Sweden and the US (where the record’s currently #13 on the Billboard Hot 100).

“Drive By” continues to climb the radio charts and has entered the Top 10 at both the AAA and HOT AC formats, selling more than 750,000 copies since its release. The “Drive By” video premiered on February 18 on VH1, where it has gone into rotation, with support from VEVO.

Train will preface its historic “Rachael Ray” residency with the San Francisco 2012 Tour, a special hometown run of intimate club shows starting April 10 at Cafe Du Nord and finishing up April 15 at theFillmore.

The multi-platinum band Train made its mark on music history with the Grammy Award-winning song “Drops of Jupiter (Tell Me)” and chart-topping singles like “Meet Virginia” and “Calling All Angels.”  Train earned its third Grammy in 2011 for the worldwide smash “Hey Soul Sister” from Save Me, San Francisco.

The top-selling single of 2010, “Hey Soul Sister” hit #1 at radio in the US and in 15 countries abroad. Save Me, San Francisco has sold over one million albums worldwide and over ten million tracks.

In addition to taking the sales and radio worlds by storm, Train has made numerous television appearances, performing on the NFC Championship Game, American Music Awards, the Grammy Nomination Concert, Crossroads, The Today Show, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Monday Night Football, A&E Private Sessions, America’s Got Talent, The View, Dancing With The Stars, and Live With Regis and Kelly, Ellen DeGeneres Show, The Bachelor, Rachael Ray and more.

Image Courtesy of   https://www.facebook.com/Train

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Patti Smith has announced the June 5th release of her eleventh studio album, Banga . This highly-anticipated album marks Smith’s first collection of original material since 2004, when she made her Columbia Records debut with the critically-acclaimed trampin’.  ’April Fool ‘, the first single from Banga , (featuring Tom Verlaine) is now available digitally.

Banga was recorded at Electric Lady Studios in New York City and produced by Patti Smith and her band: Tony Shanahan, Jay Dee Daugherty and her long-time collaborator Lenny Kaye. Featured guests include Tom Verlaine, Jack Petruzzelli, Smith’s son Jackson and daughter Jesse Paris.

Inspired by Smith’s unique dreams and observations, Banga ‘s poetic lyrics are a reflection of our complex world – a world that is rife with chaos and beauty. Praised for her storytelling abilities, Smith has crafted an album that captures a wide range of human experience.

There is an exploratory spirit in the songs that make up Banga, including a melodic overture imagining the voyage of Amerigo Vespucci to the New World in 1497 (Amerigo), a rock song for the people of Japanin the wake of last year’s earthquake (Fuji-san), a classic ballad in memory of Amy Winehouse (This Is The Girl), an improvised meditation on art and nature (Constantine’s Dream) as well as a birthday song written for her friend Johnny Depp (Nine).

Patti Smith has received widespread recognition for her 2010 book, Just Kids, the story of her deep friendship with Robert Mapplethorpe and their effect on each other as burgeoning artists. Just Kidsearned Smith the 2010 National Book Award for nonfiction as well as an enormous new following.  Listeners of all generations will surely relate to the hope, humor, and humanity of Patti Smith’s adventurous new album.

The full track listing for Banga is as follows:

www.pattismith.net
www.columbiarecords.com

Image Courtesy of   http://www.flickr.com/photos/shamballah/

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Columbia Records is pleased to announce that ‘Born and Raised’, the next album from Grammy Award-winning singer, songwriter and musician John Mayer, will be released on May 22. The first single, “Shadow Days,” will be out on March 6 and available on iTunes.

Mayer produced Born and Raised with Don Was, who’s worked on albums for acts such as the Rolling Stones, B.B. King and Bonnie Raitt.  Rock legends David Crosby and Graham Nash provide vocals on the album’s title song.

Musicians joining Mayer on the album and on the road include highly-regarded keyboardist/pianist Chuck Leavell—who has worked with the Rolling Stones, Eric Clapton and The Allman Brothers Band—as well as previous collaborators Sean Hurley on bass and Aaron Sterling on drums.  Jim Keltner makes a special appearance on drums on “Something Like Olivia.” Rounding out the touring band are David Ryan Harris on guitar and vocals, Doug Pettibone on guitar and Michito Sanchez on percussion.

Columbia Records recently announced that Mayer will do an 18-date spring tour that kicks off April 9 in Bloomington, IN. Stops on the tour include Detroit, Providence, Buffalo, Memphis, Kansas City, Las Vegas and Phoenix. He will also be performing at South By Southwest in Austin on March 17, and the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival on April 29.

Mayer’s previous albums—Room for Squares, Heavier Things, Continuum and Battle Studies—have sold more than 12 million copies combined.  He has been honored with seven Grammy Awards and an additional 11 nominations.  He has also been included in Time Magazine’s annual Time 100 list of the most influential contemporary thinkers, leaders, artists and entertainers, and twice been featured on the cover of Rolling Stone Magazine’s annual “Guitar” issue.

John Mayer – Born and Raised – produced by John Mayer and Don Was

Image Courtesy of   http://www.flickr.com/photos/pkeigan/

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Nickelodeon has signed fourteen-year-old singing sensation Rachel Crow to an overall talent deal, it was announced February 22 by Paula Kaplan, Executive Vice President, Talent Strategy and West Coast Operations. As part of the new pact, Nickelodeon is developing a comedy series for Crow, who is best known for her buzz-worthy performances on Fox’s singing competition series The X Factor.

In addition, Crow has been signed by Columbia Records/Syco, label home to some of the world’s leading recording artists.

“It’s such an honor to be signed to Columbia Records,” said Crow. ”To think that I am signed to the same label as my idols is a dream come true. I can’t wait to get in the studio and start making music.” Added Crow, “And I am so excited to now be a part of the Nickelodeon family.  I grew up watching Nick, and I’m a huge fan.”

Simon Cowell, The X Factor judge and Rachel Crow’s mentor during the show said, “I am incredibly happy for Rachel. This girl has it. We saw her potential at the first audition and Nickelodeon and Columbia are the right homes for her.”

“Rachel is an original,” said Kaplan. ”She’s funny, genuine and has raw talent and a passion for performing.  We’re delighted to be home to her first acting project and think she is poised to join the ranks of our next generation of Nick stars.”

In addition to plans for her to star in a new pilot for the network, Crow is slated to appear in a recurring role in Nickelodeon’s new comedy series FRED: THE SHOW appearing opposite Lucas Cruikshank. Crow will play Starr, an imaginative, confident but awkward teenager.  Like Fred, Starr’s self-perception doesn’t match up with how the world sees her.  To her classmates, she seems a bit eccentric, but in her own mind, Starr is a wildly talented actress and singer and ready to break out of her boring town.  FRED: THE SHOW airs on Friday nights.

From Colorado, Rachel Crow was fostered as a young baby by Barbara and Kelly Crow. Crow sang her first song (Faith Hill’s “Breathe”) at 18 months old and first performed in public at age six as part of her school’s talent show.   Her parents brought her to Los Angeles in 2010 to support her dream of being a performer and she auditioned at age 13 for The X Factor in early 2011.

After being chosen as a contestant out of over 100,000 people who auditioned for season 1 of The X Factor (USA), she wowed audiences with her powerful voice and bubbly personality and placed fifth in the competition for the season.   A fan favorite and darling among the judges, L.A. Reid deemed her a “funky, feisty singer with soul” with Simon Cowell declaring that audiences would be “hearing a lot more about her.”

Rachel is managed by Jared Paul and Joshua Russak for Azoff, Geary, Paul, Smith Management.

Image Courtesy of   Helga Esteb / Shutterstock.com

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Grammy Award-winning band Train is gearing up for the group’s San Francisco 2012 Tour, a special hometown run of club shows, in expectation of the upcoming album CALIFORNIA 37, out April 17 on Columbia Records. The band kicks off six intimate performances in San Francisco starting April 10 at Cafe Du Nord and finishing up April 15 at the Fillmore.

A portion of the ticket sales proceeds will go to the San Francisco charity Family House, which provides temporary housing to families of seriously ill children. Train referenced their commitment to the Bay area and their fans where they began their illustrious career in 2009′s multiplatinum album, SAVE ME, SAN FRANCISCO. Full list of dates below. The band is also revealing the CALIFORNIA 37 cover art on trainline.com (and attached here).

The first single from CALIFORNIA 37, “Drive By,” continues to climb the radio charts and has already entered the Top 10 at both the AAA and HOT AC formats. It is also charting at Top 40 and moving up quickly.  “Drive By” has sold over 200,000 singles since its release in January.

The “Drive By” video premiered on VH1 on February 18 and has gone into rotation there and with support from VEVO. Internationally “Drive By” has been embraced in the UK, Canada, Japan, France, Australia, Denmark, Germany, Hungary, Netherlands, Switzerland and other countries.

Train is heading to the premiere NASCAR event, the Daytona 500, on February 26 when lead singer Pat Monahan will perform the national anthem before thousands of fans live and millions watching on television. The Daytona 500 will air at 1:00pm EST on Fox.

The multiplatinum band TRAIN made its mark on music history with their GRAMMY-Award-winning song “Drops of Jupiter (Tell Me)” and chart-topping singles “Meet Virginia” and “Calling All Angels.” Train earned their third GRAMMY in 2011 for the worldwide smash “Hey Soul Sister” from SAVE ME, SAN FRANCISCO. “Hey Soul Sister” was the biggest selling single of 2010 and hit #1 at radio in the US and in 15 countries abroad.

SAVE ME, SAN FRANCISCO has sold over one million albums worldwide and over ten million tracks.  In addition to taking the sales and radio worlds by storm, Train has been all over television.

They have performed on the NFC Championship Game, American Music Awards, the Grammy Nomination Concert, Crossroads, The Today Show, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Monday Night Football, A&E Private Sessions, America’s Got Talent, The View, Dancing With The Stars, and Live With Regis and Kelly, Ellen DeGeneres Show , The Bachelor, Rachael Ray and more.

TRAIN PRESENTS THE SAN FRANCISCO TOUR

APR 10 – Cafe Du Nord
APR 11 – Great American Music Hall
APR 12 – Bimbo’s
APR 13-  Slim’s
APR 14 - Independent
APR 15 - Fillmore

Image Courtesy of  https://www.facebook.com/Train

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Columbia Records has announced that it has signed the well-known indie band Walk Off The Earth, whose current YouTube video, a five-person, one guitar cover of “Somebody That I Used to Know,” has racked up 50 million views on YouTube in less than a month.

The powerful fan response to the video has turned the five-year-old Canadian group into a media phenomenon and propelled them onto American network television, where a posted video of their appearance on The Ellen Degeneres Show received a half-million views in less than a week.

In fact, Walk Off The Earth’s version of “Somebody That I Used To Know” saw the highest Billboard debut since April 2011, blasting onto the charts at #14 with over 70,000 singles sold to date. The viral effect has been international as well – the song hit #1 on iTunes in Sweden and Germany as well as WOTE’s native Canada, where the track has achieved digital gold status.

The band has already gotten thumbs-up from an impressive roster of show business veterans, including actor Russell Crowe, Coldplay, Mumford and Sons, Wiz Khalifa (they covered his song “Roll Up”), Justin Timberlake, Ryan Seacrest and Adele. Their version of her hit “Someone Like You” has had 3 million YouTube views.

WOTE’s presence on Facebook has grown exponentially as well since the video was first posted on Jan. 5. They now have 300,000 people who “like” them – an 85 percent jump in just three weeks; in addition, their page on Wikipedia has been averaging 10,000 page views a day.

Goyte featuring Kimbra’s original video for “Somebody That I Used to Know” was an internet sensation on its own before Walk Off The Earth’s Gianni Luminati decided it was a perfect song for his band members, known for their creative remakes of current songs. (After seeing the Walk Off The Earth version, Goyte tweeted his approval, calling the new video “hilarious and brilliant.”) In the video, the five play the same guitar simultaneously as Ryan Marshall, Luminati and Sarah Blackwood trade off on vocals. The other band members are Joel Cassady on drums/percussion and Mike Taylor on keyboard.

But the Burlington, Ontario-based Walk Off The Earth, as their loyal fans will attest, is hardly an overnight sensation. Together since 2006, the five accomplished performers have remade dozens of songs and self-released 2 full-length albums of original material, including the first single, “These Times.”

Their ability to take a familiar song and give it an innovative twist has made their YouTube channel a hit, with 280,000 subscribers and 80 million combined views of their videos of both originals and covers. ”It’s been a crazy, dream-come-true moment for us,” said Luminati. “Our fans brought us to where we are now,” said Blackwood. “We will continue to play for them for a long time to come.”

It was Luminati – a musician since childhood who specializes in layering musical sounds and beat-boxing – who first envisioned the five group members playing the same guitar.

Once he heard the Goyte tune, “I knew right away it was the perfect song for the idea,” he recalls. “I started messing around with different parts seeing if it would work.” Once he realized it could be done, he asked his bandmates to learn their individual parts before attempting to make the video.

Once reunited, he admits they had trouble getting all the pieces to fit together: “It was pretty frustrating.” And once they turned on the camera it took 30 takes until they finally succeeded at around 4 a.m., when Luminati uploaded the video to their YouTube channel. (“All of our videos are one cut because I don’t know how to edit,” he admits).

“I went to bed at five or six in the morning, and by the time I woke up around 11 a.m. it was well on its way around the world,” he remembers. “We were already getting talked about on local radio stations.”

Image Courtesy of   https://www.facebook.com/walkofftheearth

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Legacy Recordings, the catalog division of Sony Music Entertainment, has entered into a historic new record deal with American legend and innovator Willie Nelson.  The deal marks a label homecoming for Nelson, who, from 1975-1993, cut a phenomenal string of top-selling singles and albums for Columbia Records, beginning with 1975′s seminal smash Red Headed Stranger.

Forthcoming Willie Nelson titles under the Legacy imprint will include newly recorded songs and performances as well as archival releases, personally curated by the artist, drawn from all phases of his career including his recordings for RCA Records and others.

As curator of his catalog, Willie will work with label archivists to select recordings, including previously released and previously unreleased tracks, for release in newly compiled collections and as bonus material on new editions of existing titles. The newly curated Willie Nelson titles will provide fresh perspective and context to the artist’s profoundly influential and successful career.

Under the new agreement, fans can look forward to five brand-new Willie Nelson albums, with the first slated for release in spring 2012.

“I’m really happy to be back home with Sony Music. We have been partners for many years; all the way back to Pamper Music and Tree Music.  We share a great history, and I’m looking forward to many more years together,” said Willie Nelson.

“We couldn’t be more excited to have the opportunity to work with Willie on this landmark partnership,” said Adam Block, Executive Vice President and General Manager, Legacy Recordings.  “There’s a natural and organic relationship between new recording projects and catalog activity that promises to ensure the lasting importance of Willie and his music.”

With a six-decade career and a catalog of more than 200 albums to his credit, the iconic Texas singer-songwriter Willie Nelson has earned a permanent position in pop music’s pantheon with songs that combine the sophistication of Tin Pan Alley with the rough-and-tumble grit and emotional honesty of country music.

He brought pop and country together on the radio in the early 1960s with unforgettable songs like “Crazy” (Patsy Cline), “Hello Walls” (Faron Young), “Funny How Time Slips Away” (Billy Walker), “Night Life” (Ray Price) and others and, by the mid-1970s, had become a superstar in his own right as a prime mover of a revolutionary and thriving outlaw country music scene.

The Red Headed Stranger, Willie’s first album for Columbia Records in 1975, catapulted the artist to the front ranks of popularity, making his a familiar name in country and city households across America and around-the-world.

A seven-time Grammy Award winner, Willie Nelson has received numerous accolades including American Music Awards, Academy of Country Music Awards, Country Music Association Awards and others.  He is a co-founder of Farm Aid, an annual series of fundraising events which began as an all-star benefit concert in 1985 to raise money for American family farmers.

He continues to lobby against horse slaughter and produces his own blend of biodiesel fuel.  An old-school road-dog troubadour with new school wheels, Willie plays concerts year-round, tirelessly touring on Honeysuckle Rose III (he rode his first two buses into the ground), taking his music and fans to places that are always worth the ride.

Christopher Halloran / Shutterstock.com

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Beyonce’s sold-out four nights at New York’s famed Roseland Ballroom back in August was a resounding success with the first night’s tickets selling out in a record 22 seconds. “4 Intimate Nights With Beyonce” was a fan and critical favorite with Rolling Stone Magazine declaring that the club had turned into a coliseum with Beyonce’s “rafter-rattling force.”

The energy and the magic of those nights were captured forever and released last month as “Live At Roseland: The Elements Of 4″ deluxe package, a two-disc DVD concert film executive produced by Beyonce for her own Parkwood Entertainment company, in association with Columbia Records.

The global entertainer partnered with Treemo Labs to create the “Beyonce: Live At Roseland” App, which is available now. http://bit.ly/Beyonce_Roseland. This marks an alternative distribution model for long-form content that was previously only available on DVD.

The “Beyonce: Live At Roseland” App is a unique, immersive experience for Beyonce’s fans with music, concert footage and incredible photographs that tell the story of what it was like to be on stage and backstage with Beyonce during her performances at the Roseland Ballroom.

“Offering all of these materials in an App represents an industry first and demonstrates again why Beyonce is a music and entertainment industry visionary,” said Brent Brookler, CEO and founder, Treemo Labs. “We’re extremely fortunate to have been able to work with her and her team on this project.”

The App, available for iPhones and iPads, features the full Roseland concert and a photo gallery containing over 25 photos with pinch and zoom capabilities, all of which do not require an Internet connection to view. Additionally, the app enables fans to download the bonus video content — “Behind The Stage” from Roseland and “Behind The Camera” from Beyonce’s music videos. Fans can also share photos and the concert app with friends via social media or email.

Track listing for “Beyonce: Live At Roseland” App:

The Journey B “4″…

1. Intro
2. I Wanna Be Where You Are
3. No, No, No Part 1
4. No, No, No Part 2
5. Bug A Boo
6. Bills, Bills, Bills
7. Say My Name
8. Jumpin’ Jumpin’
9. Independent Women Part 1
10. Bootylicious
11. Survivor
12. Bonnie And Clyde
13. Crazy In Love
14. Dreamgirls
15. Irreplaceable
16. Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It)

“4″

1. I Care
2. I Miss You
3. Run the World (Girls)
4. 1+1
5. Party
6. Love on Top
7. Best Thing I Never Had
8. Countdown
9. Rather Die Young
10. End of Time
11. I Was Here

“Live At Roseland” concert film was directed by Beyonce, Ed Burke and Anthony Green, and executive produced by Beyonce for Parkwood Entertainment, in association with Columbia Records.

Image Courtesy of  https://www.facebook.com/beyonce

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