On October 11, Usher, Jennifer Hudson and Celine Dion will appear at the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles to tape a tribute to Whitney Houston. “We Will Always Love You: A Grammy Salute to Whitney Houston” will air as a one-hour CBS television special on November 16. According to the Recording Academy, the special will also feature some of Whitney’s most memorable performances and interviews with her peers.
This week, Mumford & Sons scores the biggest album debut of 2012 with . According to Nielsen SoundScan, the set sold 600,000 copies its first week of release. That almost doubles the former record held by Justin Bieber, whose album sold 374,000 copies its first week. Other Top 10 entries on this week’s chart include Green Day’s (Number 2), No Doubt’s (Number 3), F by Lupe Fiasco (Number 5) and (Number 6).
has announced 15 artists that will be considered for induction in 2013. They include The Paul Butterfield Blues Band, Chic, Deep Purple, Heart, Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, Albert King, Kraftwerk, The Marvelettes, The Meters, Randy Newman, N.W.A., Procol Harum, Public Enemy, Rush and Donna Summer. To be eligible for induction, artists must have released their debut album or single at least 25 years ago. Some 500 musicians, music critics and industry professionals will vote the nominee list down to five inductees. The 28th annual Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductions take place in Los Angeles on April 13, 2013.
recently issued its “Top 100 Pop Songs 1992-2012” list. Kelly Clarkson and Maroon 5 each have four songs in the Top 100. The Top 10, in ascending order, are “Since You’ve Been Gone” by Kelly Clarkson, “Slide” by the Goo Goo Girls, “Here Without You” by 3 Doors Down, “Don’t Speak” by No Doubt, “Truly Madly Deeply” by Savage Garden, “Smooth” by Santana featuring Rob Thomas, “Hanging By A Moment” by Lifehouse, “Apologize” by Timbaland featuring One Republic, “Another Night” by Real McCoy and “Iris” by the Goo Goo Dolls. The complete list is available at .
announced that he’ll end his three-year engagement at Wynn Las Vegas on November 17. “I have thoroughly enjoyed my time at Wynn. Mr. Wynn told me that the Wynn audiences were some of the best in the world and he was right,” the 50-year-old said. Next year, Garth plans to film his solo acoustic show for a future network special. In other news, Garth will be in Nashville on October 21 for his induction into the Country Music Hall of Fame.
The Dinner & Induction Ceremony takes place on October 7 in Nashville. This year’s honorees include Mary Chapin Carpenter (Songwriter/Artist category), Tony Arata and Kim Williams (Songwriter category) and Larry Henley (Veteran Songwriter category). John Van Mol, chairman of the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame Foundation’s Board of Directors, said, “Among all the great songwriters who have put the music in Music City, only a select few are elected to the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame. We are delighted to accord this honor to Tony, Kim and Mary Chapin, and pleased as well to recognize Larry as the first inductee in the Veteran Songwriter category.” During the induction ceremony, Donna Hilley will be posthumously honored with the 2012 Frances Williams Preston Mentor Award. The 71-year-old music publishing executive died from an extended illness this past June.
ABC-TV will launch the drama serieson October 10. The show stars Connie Britton, who plays the role of a legendary Country singer struggling with her fading popularity, and Hayden Panettiere, whose character finds overnight success as a pop-Country crossover artist. During the first season, Big Machine Records will release at least one song from each episode of “Nashville” on iTunes.
“Monster” by Kiss
“#3” by The Script
“Release Me” by Barbra Streisand
“Halcyon” by Ellie Goulding
“Glad All Over” by The Wallflowers
“Road To Forever” (first solo album in nearly 30 years) by former Eagles guitarist Don Felder
“Back 2 Cool” by Kenny Lattimore
“Close-Up 4: Songs of Family” by Suzanne Vega
“Long Wave” by Jeff Lynne
“Songs for the End of the World” by Rick Springfield
“Unfinished Business” by Wanda Jackson
“Amazing Grace” by Kenny Rogers
”My Christmas” by Katherine Jenkins
“Home For Christmas” by Celtic Woman
The takes place October 12-14 in Austin, Texas. Headliners include the Red Hot Chili Peppers, the Black Keys, Jack White, Florence + The Machine, the Avett Brothers, and Neil Young and Crazy Horse. Last year, the festival drew 75,000 music fans each day. Plans are already underway for next year. Organizers say the 2013 Austin City Limits Music Festival will be held over two weekends.