by Mark Graham (@unclegrambo)

Ten Helpful Conversation Starters If You Missed The 2011 American Music Awards

Did you watch the 2011 American Music Awards last night? No worries whatsoever if you didn’t, because we here at VH1 Tuner have got your back. Whether you need something to discuss with Sally from Accounting about for the 20 seconds you’re awkwardly standing together in the break room waiting for your coffee to finish brewing OR you want to make sure your pop culture game is on point at the bar tonight, we put together this handy summary of the 10 most likely events from the evening that would come up in conversation. From Christina Aguilera‘s hot mess ensemble (which we kind of loved!) to Taylor Swift‘s constant state of surprise (“Who, me?”), from the correct way to pronounce Ellie Goulding (which will come in handy if you run into Robin Thicke) to the correct answer of whether that was indeed Little Pitbull that appeared in Pitbull‘s trousers while he was mock humping J.Lo, here is the story of the American Music Awards told in ten easily digestible parts. Bon appetit!

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AMAs Most Questionable Fashions: We Can’t Make Up Our Minds! [TheFABLife]
AMAs Best Fashions: From Retro Jenny McCarthy To Futuristic Justin Bieber [TheFABLife]

by Mark Graham (@unclegrambo)

The World Television Premiere Of The iHeartRadio Festival Is Coming To VH1 On November 23

VH1 is excited to announce the world television premiere of the iHeartRadio Festival, which will be airing next Wednesday, November 23. As you’ll recall, this festival took place back in late September of this year, and featured performances by the likes of Lady Gaga, Nicki Minaj and Coldplay. You’ll be able to catch all the highlights from that two-night spectacular beginning at 10 p.m. ET/PT next week.

For the complete details of our Thanksgiving Music Festival, check out this press release that just went over the wires…

VH1 GIVES VIEWERS A THANKSGIVING CORNUCOPIA OF MUSIC PROGRAMMING WITH THE WORLD PREMIERE OF “IHEARTRADIO MUSIC FESTIVAL,” MICHAEL JACKSON’S THIS IS IT, “THE ROCK & ROLL HALL OF FAME 25TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION”

AND “QUEEN ROCK MONTREAL”

New York, NY- November 17, 2011- The music harvest is bountiful at VH1 this Thanksgiving with exclusive events featuring today’s biggest artists! Beginning Wednesday, November 23 at 10 p.m. ET/PT, music lovers can begin their Thanksgiving feast with a hearty portion of music by their favorite artists with the world television premiere of Clear Channel’s “iHeartRadio Music Festival” taped September 23rd and 24th, 2011at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. This show-stopping concert, which celebrated the launch of the new iHeartRadio, Clear Channel’s free, industry-leading digital radio product, includes performances by Carrie Underwood, Coldplay, Jennifer Lopez, Lady Gaga, Steven Tyler and many more.

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by Nick Minichino

Jennifer Lopez, Lady Gaga, Nicki Minaj And A Slew Of Today’s Biggest Pop Stars Headline The iHeartRadio Festival [PHOTOS]

The MGM Grand played host to a plethora of pop stars this weekend for the Clear Channel-sponsored iHeartRadio Festival, two nights of genre-spanning, crowd-pleasing pop music. A mix of veterans and newcomers thrilled the (reportedly very drunk) crowd on both nights. The most successful performers were those who stuck to a setlist of hits, like Jay-Z, who may have performed “On To The Next One” but didn’t take its advice about his old songs, including favorites from The Blueprint and The Black Album alongside newer singles like “Empire State of Mind” (with a guest appearance by earlier performer Alicia Keys). Those whose songs were less well-known by the crowd, like Sublime with Rome, were less well-received.

Perhaps the big surprise of the weekend, according to reports, was Jennifer Lopez, who, in a set that spanned her musical career, proved supremely capable of standing among the pop titans of today (with a Pitbull feature on “On the Floor”). Saturday’s “special guest” Sting also more than pulled his weight, backing Steven Tyler on bass early in the evening, then joining Lady Gaga for performances of “Stand By Me” and his own “King of Pain.”

by Nick Minichino

Last Lap: Monday’s Odds And Ends In Music News

John Mayer Delays Album, Cancels Performances
This weekend John Mayer took to his Tumblr to announce that, as a result of a granuloma, he has been unable to sing, either to lay down the final vocal tracks for his upcoming album Born and Raised (thus delaying its release until 2012) or to perform at the iheartradio Music Festival in Las Vegas or with Tony Bennett in Los Angeles. We wish him a quick recovery. [Tumblr]

Best Coast: “Planet Rock is the best VH1 Rock Doc ever”
Straight from Best Coast‘s Twitter to your eyes. She’s not the only one raving, either. You’ve got at least one more chance to watch or DVR it: tomorrow at 11:00AM ET. And don’t miss the exclusive bonus interview clips. [Twitter]
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by Mark Graham (@unclegrambo)

Katy Perry’s “Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.)” Is The 2011 VH1 Song Of The Summer

For the last 14 weeks, we’ve been tracking the race to see which track would become this year’s Song Of The Summer. Since people consume music in so many different ways these days, our goal was to put together a democratic formula that compared how a group of over 70 songs performed across five of the primary channels that people frequently use to listen to their favorite jams: the Billboard Hot 100 (radio play & sales), the iTunes charts (pure sales), Last.fm scrobbles (listening on computer and mobile devices), the YouTube music charts (streams) and, of course, our VH1 Top 20 Video Countdown. Each week, we tracked how our group of competitors fared in each of these different platforms, and then added up the results.

So, without any further ado, we are psyched to announce that Katy Perry has taken home the first place prize in VH1′s first annual Song Of The Summer competition! When the summer began, it looked like Adele‘s “Rolling In The Deep” was going to be an unstoppable force, but as soon as Katy dropped her 80s-tastic “Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.)” video during the week of June 27th, she dominated the countdown from there on out. Katy was gracious enough to film an quick speech for us while she accepted our totally awesome Song Of The Summer trophy, which we’ve got for you above.

For you completists, here is our final Song Of The Summer countdown chart (that is, until Memorial Day 2012 rolls around!). And you’re on Spotify, you can subscribe to our VH1 Song Of The Summer 2011 playlist and re-live the summer whenever you want.


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by Nick Minichino

Marc Anthony To Appear On Nightline To Address Rumors Surrounding His Divorce From Jennifer Lopez

Ever Marc Anthony and Jennifer Lopez revealed, in a surprising July 15 statement, that they were filing for divorce, rumors have flown like wildfire as to the cause of the rift (often hinting at infidelity on the part of Anthony, and sometimes linking him with HawthoRNe co-star Jada Pinkett Smith). In response to the weeks of speculation, Marc Anthony will be appearing on Nightline to give his side of the story to ABC News’ John Quinones tonight at 11:35PM EDT. In a sneak preview posted by ABC, Anthony denies tabloid reports of infidelity, pointing to the range and improbability of the rumors as further circumstantial evidence of their falsehood. In truth, according to Anthony, “It was a realization on both our parts? It wasn’t shocking. These things happen.” He would not answer directly that he did or did not want a divorce but stated that the decision was “made jointly.” According to Anthony, the two remain friends, and will continue to jointly raise their children and support each other’s careers?or as he put it, simply, “This is not a funeral.”

In the interview he also speaks of his childhood as a Puerto Rican in East Harlem, his Kohl’s clothing line, his and Lopez’s Latin talent show Q’Viva! The Chosen, his partial ownership of the Miami Dolphins, and his longtime Long Island home. As for the newly single Anthony? When asked about romance in his future, he uses a boxing analogy:

That’s like asking a boxer in the twelfth round if he’s going to retire or not. ? He’ll always say, “I’m done. I’m done.” You know what I mean? And then two weeks later is when you ask him.

So give me two weeks.

Nevertheless, he explains, “I’ll always love Jennifer. She knows that.” The full interview airs tonight on ABC.

Marc Anthony: The Truth About His Split From Jennifer Lopez [Nightline]

by Mark Graham (@unclegrambo)

Song Of The Summer Countdown: Adam Levine Reaps The Benefits Of His TV Hosting Gig

At this time last year, hopes for Maroon 5‘s third studio album, Hands All Over, were high. The lead single, “Misery,” had hit #1 on Billboard‘s Adult Pop chart, and since the band had convinced famed superproducer Robert “Mutt” Lange to come out of semi-retirement to produce their album, everyone looked for the band to take the leap from a well-liked, fairly popular M.O.R. band to the next level and a spot among the world’s most commercially successful bands. However, once the album finally hit streets in October 2010, the masses shrugged their shoulders and largely ignored the album. The record was certified gold by the RIAA for shipping over 500,000 copies, but worldwide sales stalled out at just 529,000 total units.

Perceived failures like this have sunk many a band in the past, but thanks to charismatic frontman Adam Levine and ten weeks of national TV exposure courtesy of NBC/Universal’s The Voice (corporate synergy at its finest!), the band has totally reversed their fortunes in less than a year. Their new track, “Moves Like Jagger,” hit #1 on the iTunes chart this week, and Levine’s featured hook on Gym Class Heroes“Stereo Hearts” propelled the song to a Top 20 finish in this week’s Song Of The Summer countdown. No wonder artists like Mariah Carey (The X-Factor), Sara Bareilles (The Sing Off) and more are looking to land prime positions as judges on televised singing competition shows; it’s exactly the kind of exposure to Middle America that the flagging music business is no longer in a position to give these artists using “traditional” music channels. As Maroon 5 has proved, it’s great work if you can get it!

As for the rest of our Song Of The Summer chart —only two more weeks until we crown a champion!— kudos to Katy Perry for her ninth consecutive week in the #1 spot.


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by Mark Graham (@unclegrambo)

Song Of The Summer Countdown: Foster The People Make A Late Run For The Crown

With only three more weeks left in our 2011 Song Of The Summer Countdown, sadly, there’s little drama left as to who will take home the crown. For the eighth consecutive week, Katy Perry‘s saxoriffic “Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.)” is sitting atop our charts, closely followed by LMFAO‘s “Party Rock Anthem” (which, as we wrote last week, could make its own claim for S.O.T.S.). However, don’t count out Foster The People quite yet!

The You Oughta Know artist’s single, “Pumped Up Kicks,” has been making an impressive late summer run at the top spot. It first entered our charts back on July 11, but buoyed by a standout set at this year’s Lollapalooza festival, the first single off the band’s Torches LP seems to have really captured the attention of the nation. Will they be able to unseat either Perry or LMFAO before Labor Day rolls around?


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by Nick Minichino

Last Lap: Wednesday’s Odds And Ends In Music News

Jennifer Lopez Will Return To American Idol
So said Idol executive producer Nigel Lythgoe, in so many words, this morning on Ryan Seacrest‘s morning show: “I believe we?re still waiting for the official announcements but I am delighted to say that all three judges, along with the brilliant host of American Idol, [are] back for the next season.” [EW Inside TV]

Taylor Swift Premieres Fifth Speak Now Video
“Sparks Fly” is a pretty straightforward tour-advertisement video, but it’s a good advertisement, and anyway, what do you want? She’s already released four high-concept clips in the last year! Sidenote: we’re curious what Sara Marcus would say about Swift’s penchant for writing on her body. Is that in dialogue with riot grrrl? [Vimeo]
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by Mark Graham (@unclegrambo)

Song Of The Summer Countdown: LMFAO Puts Up An Argument That They, Not Katy Perry, Have The Song Of The Summer

Electro-sleaze goofballs LMFAO are, at this moment, the only thing standing between Katy Perry and the history books. As we told you last week, their smash single “Party Rock Anthem” is blocking “Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.)” from ascending to the top of the Billboard 100 chart (which would be Perry’s fifth Number One off her Teenage Dream LP). LMFAO is also currently besting Perry on the YouTube and iTunes charts, while Katy is maintaining dominance on Last.fm as well as airplay on our station. And our friends over at New York Magazine‘s Vulture just named “Party Rock Anthem”—a song they described as “a contrived, effective bit of nonsense about how ‘everybody?s gonna have a good time’”—as their current Song of the Summer.

Despite this onslaught from the progeny of Motown records founder Berry Gordy, our highly scientific formula still shows Perry atop our charts for the seventh consecutive week. While it will be incredibly difficult to topple her, it’s good to see Foster The People making a run at the Top Five. After a standout performance at Lollapalooza this weekend, their outstanding single “Pumped Up Kicks” is quickly climbing the charts; if the word “alternative” still carried any weight as a genre, there’s little doubt that Mark Foster could lay claim to the “alternative” Song of the Summer crown.


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