Britney Spears Producer Dr. Luke Calls Singer 'An Amazing Vehicle'

Album's co-executive producer expects new album out by early 2011.
By James Dinh


Britney Spears
Photo: Jeremy Cowart/ WireImage

While "Glee" was spot-on in its tribute to Britney Spears in September, it's safe to say her fans are ready for the real deal. The pop princess, who has remained relatively low-key since wrapping up her Circus Tour, is currently working on her new album with a few familiar faces, including producers Dr. Luke and Max Martin.

"She's such an icon, I don't want to let anyone down," Dr. Luke said last week at the Hollywood Reporter/ Billboard Film & TV Music Conference. "But most importantly, I want to make good music."

Luke said that he is anticipating that Britney's album will see an early 2011 release, and a source told THR it would hit stores before March 31.

In addition to Dr. Luke ("Circus") and Martin ("... Baby One More Time"), Darkchild and newcomer Billboard are also said to be working with Spears.

When asked if there were anything else he could reveal about the heavily guarded project, Luke wouldn't say much. "Just that I'm excited to be co-executive producing with Max Martin, the person who kind of invented Britney, and to make good music," he said. "And she's such an amazing vehicle to getting that music out to a lot of people in every country."

With Luke and Martin helming the project, fans may expect to hear Spears sounding like the producers' frequent collaborators Katy Perry and Ke$ha. But there have also been indications that Brit will take a fresher approach. Last month, Spears' manager Adam Leber spoke to Entertainment Weekly about her next album, promising that it will introduce a "progressive" sound from the pop star.

''It'll be a departure from what you've heard,'' he added.

What producers would you like to see Britney team up with? Sound off below!

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Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1651230/20101101/spears_britney.jhtml

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Beyonce's Perfume Commercial Banned From Daytime Broadcast In U.K.

Singer's spot for Heat is not to air before 7:30 p.m. due to its 'sexually provocative' imagery.
By James Dinh


Beyonce in her ad for Heat
Photo: Coty UK

Whether through her music videos or concerts, Beyoncé has always used her sex appeal as part of her pop-star allure. But is she too sexy? The U.K.'s Advertising Standards Authority thinks so. The singer's television spot for her fragrance, Heat, was recently banned from daytime rotation due to its "sexually provocative" imagery.

In a statement posted on its website, the advertising watchdog said that it has received several complaints about the spot, which was aired throughout the day during family programming and will now only be shown after 7:30 p.m. While the organization noted that the ad was unlikely to harm an older audience, it deemed the spot unsuitable for all-ages viewing. "We considered that Beyoncé's body movements and the camera's prolonged focus on shots of her dress slipping away to partially expose her breasts created a sexually provocative ad that was unsuitable to be seen by young children," the ASA said.

In the Jake Nava-directed commercial, Beyoncé plays a seductive temptress, meandering about a steamy room. As she makes her way around the area, the singer croons Little Willie John's 1956 classic "Fever."

While she remains dressed, the star's silky red dress holds close to her curves and exposes partial cleavage.

Coty UK, the company behind the fragrance, responded to the criticism, explaining that the TV spot was in line with the singer's "sexy chic style," artistically shot and consistent with many music videos.

Last year, the pop star spoke about the perfume's advertisement in an interview with WWD. "It's called Heat, so we wanted the ads to be really steamy and dewy," said the singer. "My sexiest moments are when I'm just getting out of the tub or the shower and I'm clean, so I wanted to incorporate that in the ads. The dress was this liquid-y satin. The song 'Fever' I did years ago and always loved it. [For the commercial] I got to sing it a bit more whispery, more natural."

Do you think the Beyoncé's TV spot is too sexy? Share your opinion below!

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Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1652482/20101117/knowles_beyonce.jhtml

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Inside Golden State's Owners Box: Talking With Joe Lacob and Peter Guber

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SAN FRANCISCO -- There's really no getting around that dateline.

The new owners of the team from Oakland did almost all of their media relations work this week in the fancier city by the Bay, an unmistakable sign that they won't be adhering to any borders or boundaries in this endeavor that has officially begun. Venture capitalist Joe Lacob and entertainment entrepreneur Peter Guber made that clear even before their record purchase of $450 million was final, somehow managing to force coach Don Nelson out before the team was theirs and approving deals like the one for David Lee before the NBA's Board of Governor's had even approved their own inclusion into this elite club.

They have no time for such institutional obstacles, especially if they distract from what is a singular and sophisticated, yet simplistic, focus on the goal at hand: revive a franchise that is among the league's most dreadful with savvy use of their self-described "deep pockets," thereby rewarding a fan base that has been inexplicably loyal despite enjoying one playoff appearance in 15 years under former owner Chris Cohan.

Yet ironically enough, they are distracted on this Tuesday afternoon inside a $10,000-a-night St. Regis suite. No one can blame them, as two straight days of making the media rounds would leave most folks punchy.

Interview Highlights


Sam Amick's far-reaching conversation with new Warriors owners Joe Lacob and Peter Guber touched upon many topics, including ...

o. What being an owner means to them.

o. How they plan to turn the franchise around in the future -- and what went wrong in the past.

o. The fan experience, and whether Guber's Hollywood background will be felt in Oakland.

o. The "tricky" process of removing one coach and inserting another before owning the team -- and the "slap on the wrist" that followed.

o. The urge to make an immediate splash and the importance of patience on the trade front.

o. The transformation of Monta Ellis, and whether that makes him more likely to stay.

o. Stephen Curry, and whether he is, in fact, untouchable.

Lacob, the top money man whose recent tenure as minority owner of the Boston Celtics gives him the basketball pedigree among the pair, responds to e-mails on his phone and discusses the Lee injury situation in one room, squeezing the less public parts of his new job in while one camera crew leaves and this reporter enters. Guber, the Hollywood producer with more than 50 Academy Award nominations on his storied resume and whose bio accurately describes him as "a force in the entertainment industry for more than 30 years," makes an actual phone call, showcasing that Boston accent that Lacob (a fellow Bostonian who doesn't sound like it) will later chide him for still having.

They put the phones away and meet at the table that likely cost more than an average family's monthly mortgage. They sit on opposite sides -- call it anti-symbolism -- and explain for nearly 40 minutes why their partnership is worthy of all the promise it has sparked.

They discuss what it means to be an owner, especially the outspoken and involved sort that has the NBA convinced that they -- Lacob, specifically -- will be the next coming of Mark Cuban. They opine about the entertainment experience and how Guber can use his background to enhance it. They reveal the story behind Don Nelson's ousting, one that resulted in a "slap on the wrist" of sorts from the NBA. They shed light on the inner-workings of their new club, from whether Monta Ellis is still on the trading block to whether Stephen Curry is untouchable to the status of their relationship with incumbent general manager Larry Riley.

They're official now, this self-described "Abbott and Costello" duo that wants to make the most of this underutilized market. Yet when it comes to adding another championship banner to the 1974-75 version that hangs in the rafters at Oracle Arena, they're not joking around.

(Disclaimer: My rambling questions have been edited, if only because Lacob and Guber's ramblings are of far more interest. And even some of their ramblings were pared down because, well, this pair can ramble.)

 

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Source: http://nba.fanhouse.com/2010/11/19/golden-state-warriors-joe-lacob-and-peter-guber/

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Justin Bieber, Ke$ha, Katy Perry Pick Up Platinum Certifications

Releases by Black Eyed Peas, Rihanna, B.o.B, Bruno Mars also recognized by recording-industry organization RIAA.
By James Montgomery


Justin Bieber
Photo: Jeff Kravitz/ Getty Images

On Wednesday, the Recording Industry Association of America handed out their latest round of gold and platinum certifications ... and if your name was Ke$ha or Justin Bieber, well, then it was a very good day for you.

Ke$ha's Animal was certified gold (meaning it passed the 500,000-sales mark) and a spate of her digital singles went multiplatinum, with "Tik Tok" being downloaded more than 5 million times and "Your Love Is My Drug" racking up another 2 million. "Blah Blah Blah" and "Take It Off" both were certified gold, meaning that, all told, she's sold more than 8.5 million downloads to date.

Bieber earned his first-ever multiplatinum award, as the RIAA certified sales of his My World 2.0 album at more than 2 million copies. "Baby," his team-up with Ludacris, also was certified as double platinum.

Wednesday also was a great day to be the Black Eyed Peas, as their massive tune "I Gotta Feeling" was certified 6-times platinum (that's more than 6 million downloads) — making it the RIAA's highest-ever digital-song certification.

Following (somewhat) close behind the Peas were the likes of Katy Perry, B.o.B, Taio Cruz and Rihanna, who had their respective mega singles "California Gurls," "Airplanes," "Break Your Heart" and "Don't Stop the Music" certified as triple platinum. Perry and Rihanna also each picked up a double-platinum certification — for "Teenage Dream" and "Rude Boy," respectively — bringing their total hauls to more than 5 million units sold.

The Bruno Mars track "Just the Way You Are" was certified platinum, giving the crooner his very first solo plaque. B.o.B's "Magic" and former "American Idol" champ Kris Allen's "Live Like We're Dying" also picked up platinum certifications.

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Tony Parker Cheating Rumors Involve Erin Barry, Brent Barry's Wife

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Eva Longoria filed for divorce from Tony Parker Wednesday, beginning the end of one of sports' most high-profile couples.

While the divorce papers cite "irreconcilable differences" for the split, rumors of infidelity have surrounded Parker. "Extra" host Mario Lopez reported Wednesday that Longoria confirmed that there were hundreds of texts from another woman on Parker's phone, and that the woman was married to one of Parker's teammates.

On Thursday, it was reported that the woman was Erin Barry. Her husband, Brent Barry, played with Parker on the Spurs from 2004 to 2008 (pictured right, the two celebrate the Spurs' 2007 championship). Brent and Erin Barry are also in the middle of a divorce.

Erin's brother Casey was asked about the rumors, responding, "When we are ready to speak about this, we will contact the press."

TMZ spoke with NBA Hall of Famer Rick Barry, Brent's father.

"I feel horrible for my son. I'm in shock. I knew [Erin] was moving out of the house soon and SHE was the one that filed for divorce. This is the straw that broke the camel's back. [Brent] is going to be devastated. I can't even imagine him going through this ... the divorce was hard enough news."

 

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Source: http://nba.fanhouse.com/2010/11/18/tony-parker-cheating-rumors-involve-erin-barry-brent-barrys-wi/

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Gwyneth Paltrow Got Help From Beyonce For CMA Performance

Actress asked B and Faith Hill 'a lot of questions' while prepping for her live singing debut.
By Mawuse Ziegbe


Gwyneth Paltrow performs at the 44th annual Country Music Awards on Wednesday
Photo: Frederick Breedon/FilmMagic

On Wednesday evening, Oscar-winning actress Gwyneth Paltrow proved her vocal chops by pulling off her first live singing performance at the 44th annual CMA Awards. Although her singing skills had remained largely under wraps until the awards show, Paltrow scored rave reviews from critics and country superstars alike for her rendition of "Country Strong," which is also the title of her upcoming flick.

It turns out that Paltrow had some superstar assistance for her CMA debut. Before she hit the stage, she opened up to "Access Hollywood" about reaching out to her celebrity pals while prepping for her performance.

"I kind of asked my girl singer friends [for advice]," she said. "I asked Faith [Hill] a lot of questions ... and Beyoncé actually too."

Gwyneth added that she took some cues from B's fierce stage presence. "I studied Beyoncé a lot and her concerts for her kind of confidence," she said, adding, "And I'm lucky that I know some singers in real life."

The superstar study sessions paid off, as Paltrow won over music experts and country stars with her bold, clear vocals and ease with the guitar.

"Strumming an acoustic guitar, looking a little nervous but singing the movie's title song in an expressive, surging tone, she didn't really need the assistance of the wonderful Vince Gill, there to give a polite country-industry imprimatur to Paltrow's efforts," Entertainment Weekly's Ken Tucker wrote.

"She sounded really country, I think. She seems very genuine," CMA winner Miranda Lambert told USA Today.

What did you think of Gwyneth Paltrow's CMA performance? Let us know in the comments!

Check out everything we've got on "Country Strong."

For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com.

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Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1652098/20101111/paltrow_gwyneth.jhtml

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Usher Comes Back For His Crown: A VMA Cheat Sheet

The 'OMG' singer overcame personal drama and proved his staying power on the charts over the past year.
By Mawuse Ziegbe


Usher
Photo: Brad Barket/ Getty Images

Usher has reigned as Pop & B royalty since he hit the scene as a teen crooner in the '90s. Back when his 16-year-old protégé, Justin Bieber, was still a toddler, the ATL singer was making the ladies faint with hits like "You Make Me Wanna" and "Nice & Slow." But his early success was just a prelude to the music-world domination he's achieved with club bangers and deeply personal slow jams in the years since.

Usher's divorce from Tameka Foster was the latest personal development to fueled his 2010 chart-topping album Raymond v. Raymond. Now the singer is set to perform at the MTV Video Music Awards, and his smash "OMG" will battle it out for a Moonman in three categories: Best Male Video, Best Dance Video and Best Choreography. Here's a look at how the singer's recent success has steered him toward VMA accolades:

Following the release of the divorce-themed "Papers," his more upbeat video "Hey Daddy (Daddy's Home)" premiered in January 2010. The clip followed the romantic superstar as he tried to juggle the demands of his professional and personal life.

In March, Usher talked to MTV News about incorporating that balance into Raymond Vs. Raymond. "I think this is the one time where I'm able to put it all in, emotionally and the good times — super-freaky and then also super-emotional."

So, it wasn't a big surprise that when Raymond Vs. Raymond finally landed on shelves after several delays, it landed at #1 on the Billboard 200 with over 300,000 scans during its first week.

He went from romantic to racy, busting out his signature, fluid, hip-swiveling moves in the video for "Lil Freak," featuring Nicki Minaj. The star didn't hold back in the visuals or the lyrics, which both detail a freaky rendezvous with some very game ladies. Usher revealed that this track, like many of his other hits, was inspired by real-life experiences.

The club anthem "OMG" featured Black Eyed Peas frontman Will.I.Am and revealed the R&B kingpin's more club-friendly side. The accompanying video showcased Usher's easy swagger and ever-sharp dance skills.

Raymond was such a hit that in August the singer released Versus, an extension of the smash album featuring songs like the Jay-Z collabo "Hot Tottie."

Usher, who has a history of tearing up the VMA stage, will return to the main event this year. He recently reminded his fans that live television paired with his onstage wizardry can result in some seriously unforgettable moments. "You never know what's gonna happen on an MTV VMA stage," he said. "I look forward to making it a night to remember."

The star has also made one of the most savvy moves in recent pop music history by signing teen phenom Bieber, who has gone on to induce global tween hysteria and set YouTube records.

The 27th annual MTV Video Music Awards will be broadcast live from the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles on September 12. The party starts with MTV News' VMA Pre-Show at 8 p.m., followed by the main event at 9 p.m. ET. Fans can go to VMA.MTV.com (or text VMA to 97979 if they are Verizon subscribers) to vote for Best New Artist from now through September 12.

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Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1647127/20100903/usher.jhtml

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