Wire Entertainment - Music News

Tired of grumbling about economic austerity? Maybe it's time to sing about it.

A court has ended the first week of jury selection in a civil case over Michael Jackson's death with 60 potential jurors selected.

LEXINGTON, Ky. - Throughout band's 30-plus year history, the Meat Puppets have taken great delight in throwing stylistic curve balls.

If you're upset that the Rolling Stones won't be coming to your city on their upcoming tour, don't be too stressed - the rockers say more shows may be added.

Music lovers who have seen "The Audition," the documentary about a vocal competition at the Metropolitan Opera, may remember tenor Michael Fabiano as the dark, almost brooding presence who stands out in sharp contrast to his chipper, smiling fellow contestants.

Guitarist Mark Knopfler canceled two shows in Russia in protest over what he says is a crackdown on human rights groups in the country, as President Vladimir Putin on Friday dismissed Western criticism of his government's raids on non-governmental organization.

Massachusetts child welfare officials concluded that there is no evidence of abuse and neglect in the case of a 9-year-old rapper who drew national condemnation for appearing in sexually suggestive videos.

CHICAGO - A few hours after the Rolling Stones announced their first North American tour since 2006, Mick Jagger called and answered a few quick questions.

Rick Ross has formally apologized for lyrics some have called pro-rape.

Pop diva Madonna, spending her fourth day in the southern African country of Malawi on Thursday, picked up ailing children and joked with them when she visited an overcrowded children's ward in Blantyre, the country's largest city.

The pool of potential Los Angeles jurors to hear a wrongful death lawsuit filed by Michael Jackson's mother has grown to 43 after three days of questioning.

Beyonce and Jay-Z caused a big stir in Havana as they marked their fifth wedding anniversary Thursday.

LOS ANGELES - For weeks, the Spanish-language media and bloggers have been working themselves into a lather about the sexual orientation of Daddy Yankee, the reggaeton king known for his pumped-up macho stage presence and raunchy musical declarations like "Gasolina."

A new police report says two witnesses saw a car pull alongside a Rolls Royce driven by rapper Rick Ross earlier this year in South Florida and heard numerous gunshots fired before the car crashed into a nearby building.

Nick Carter could bring his wedding to the small screen.

More than 40 years have passed since the recording of Marvin Gaye's "Save the Children," but a replay of the song in the studio where it was recorded compressed time and brought tears to the eyes of Louvain Demps.

LOS ANGELES - On Tuesday, Bon Jovi took the stage at a Calgary show missing one key member - guitarist Richie Sambora.

Hundreds of orphans welcomed Madonna and her children with song and dance on Wednesday during their visit to the orphanage where the pop star adopted one of her Malawian children.

LOS ANGELES - In the better-late-than-never department, the Rolling Stones on Wednesday announced a 2013 tour, as close to a full-fledged 50th anniversary "50 and Counting" tour as "the world's greatest rock 'n' roll band" could muster, opening in May in Los Angeles.

Taylor Swift and Justin Bieber will hit the stage at the Billboard Music Awards in Las Vegas on May 19.

Five schools in western Norway have rescheduled their midterm exams to allow students to attend upcoming Justin Bieber concerts in the capital, the country's Ministry of Education and Research said Wednesday.

A British jury convicted two men on Wednesday of plotting to rob and kill soul singer Joss Stone.

Envision rising country star Luke Bryan on stage, dressed all in black with a line of scantily clad dancers behind him shaking it for all they're worth as he paces back and forth, stopping more than occasionally to grind his hips in the direction of the camera and a national television audience of millions.

Schoolchildren joined by hundreds of villagers danced around pop diva Madonna and serenaded her with praise songs on Tuesday as she inspected school blocks she helped to construct in the central Kasungu district.

Call it satisfaction: The Rolling Stones have announced a nine-city tour.

Guitarist Richie Sambora will not be performing with Bon Jovi during the current leg of the band's Because We Can tour.

The White House is going to sway to the sounds of soul next week.

Ladies and gentlemen, the Rolling Stones.

iTunes' Official Music Charts for the week ending April 1, 2013

Jury selection began Tuesday in a lawsuit filed by Michael Jackson's mother against the promoter of the late pop star's planned comeback concerts.

Tyler, the Creator, "Wolf" (Odd Future/Sony/RED)

German authorities have given Justin Bieber four weeks to pick up his pet monkey or else it will be placed in permanent care.

"No Way Back" (William Morrow), by Andrew Gross

Elton John and his longtime songwriting partner, Bernie Taupin, will be honored at this year's Songwriters Hall of Fame induction ceremony.

LOS ANGELES - Five minutes into Justin Timberlake's new jam "Spaceship Coupe," something strange and surprising happens. The song keeps going.

Shirley Caesar used to refuse to infuse contemporary styles with her traditional gospel sound, but now the 11-time Grammy winner and pastor has changed her stance.

Steve Buscemi (boo-SHEM'-ee) will direct a live stream of a Vampire Weekend concert to debut a new season of "Unstaged."

Rilo Kiley, "RKives" (Little Record Company)

The Dear Hunter, "Migrant" (Equal Vision)

Robin Thicke's new music video is too hot for YouTube.

Cold War Kids, "Dear Miss Lonelyhearts" (Downtown Records)

Rapper Rick Ross says critics have misinterpreted his lyrics on Rocko's "U.O.E.N.O" after uproar from women's advocacy groups.

The Black Angels, "Indigo Meadow" (Blue Horizon Ventures)

Los Amigos Invisibles, "Repeat After Me" (Nacional Records)

A new concert piece about Harvey Milk by Tony Award-nominee Andrew Lippa will have its world premiere in June in San Francisco to mark the 35th anniversary of the slain gay rights leader's death.

The Cure will make their first Lollapalooza appearance in the festival's more than 20-year history this summer, joining fellow headliners Mumford and Sons, The Killers and Nine Inch Nails, Lollapalooza founder Perry Farrell announced Monday.

LIL WAYNE "I Am Not a Human Being II" (Young Money/ Cash Money/ Republic, 2 stars)

Orlando Bloom and Condola Rashad will star on Broadway this fall in a modern take on William Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet," a revival that will add an intriguing element of racial contrast to the classic tale of two star-crossed lovers.

The Band Perry, "Pioneer" (Republic Nashville)