Legendary playback singer and songwriter Sonu Niigaam will make a rare personal appearance in the UK when he tops the bill at The Asian Awards at the Grosvenor House Hotel, Park Lane in London on October 26. The variety, emotional range and sheer power of his internationally acclaimed voice have earned Niigaam a huge global following. A Bollywood icon, his many songs for movies, as well as his award-winning Indi-Pop albums and other varied musical collaborations, have put the 36-year-old firmly among India’s most successful and endearing stars.

“Guests at this prestigious gala ceremony, including international business and community leaders, Parliamentarians, movie, music and sport stars, will witness the honouring of outstanding individuals in eleven categories – including business, philanthropy, cinema, music and sport,” said Caroline Jackson Levy, managing director of UBM Awards. “We are so thrilled Sonu Niigaam will be leading our entertainment. His pre-eminence as a popular Indian entertainer demonstrates the high quality of this great and unforgettable evening.”

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Alex James Medick, partner for the production company BlkHeart Group, announced the anticipated release of Destruction of a Rose’s first full length album American Hell on August 10, 2010. The Las Vegas-based heavy metal band with lead singer Evan Foxx received critical acclaim and saw their fan base grow exponentially following the release of their first album Suspended in Time. Following a hectic national summer tour the band began working with the Lambesis Studios, run by As I Lay Dying front man Tim Lambesis, in San Diego to produce this full length album American Hell under the BlkHeart Label.

Alex James in his announcement stated, “American Hell is the next step in the evolution of one of the hottest newcomer heavy metal bands, Destruction of a Rose.” Medick continued, “Their music rips at the heart of heavy metal with every chord and Evan Foxx’s vocals send a great chill down the spine.” Album distribution includes a unique in-store promotion by the progressive retailer Hot Topic beginning August 10th as well as via digital merchants worldwide.

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This year, BET will honor the musical legacy and genius that is Prince as the recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award, an honor bestowed to the most significant and influential individuals in music history. The ceremony will be held on June 27 at the Shrine Auditorium and mark the 10 year anniversary of the BET AWARDS. A musical legend, Prince is one of the most talented, successful and prolific musicians ever, producing ten platinum albums, thirty Top 40 singles to this point in his career. His unique, individual and stunningly original musical style broke barriers and has influenced almost every music maker of the past 30 years. Prince’s music transcends all generations.

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Music World Gospel/Son Flower Records, a division of Music World Entertainment is set to release a new EP, “The Diary of Juanita Bynum: Soul Cry (Oh, Oh, Oh),” from world-renowned gospel recording artist Juanita Bynum on June 22. The music trilogy is the first of a three-tier project that will culminate in the release of her highly-anticipated CD/DVD, THE DIARY OF JUANITA BYNUM II, scheduled for release in January 2011.

“The song ‘Soul Cry’ was not a song that was written with pad and pen,” said Bynum. “The night it came out of me, it poured from my soul during one of the worst seasons of my life. Being overwhelmed beyond tears, I laid my face on the counter and began to sing. Every word, every line flowed uninterrupted as to assure me it was an expression from the souls of many around the world. This song voices the true sentiments of those who can relate to a soul’s cry—a pain that no human hands can heal and a cry that is rooted from a hurt unimaginable to the human life. The only sound I could get out of my mouth in that season was ‘Oh, Oh, Oh, hear my cry Oh Lord!’”

The lyrics to “Soul Cry” are written by Bynum, with music by Bynum and Cory “C. James” Washington. The EP is produced by Washington, a new producer signed to Music World Entertainment. The CD is executive produced by Mathew Knowles. “The Diary of Juanita Bynum: Soul Cry (Oh, Oh, Oh),” will include the song’s main version, an instrumental, an instrumental with recitation and an extended version. Initially, the EP will be sold at Wal-mart for one month, Christian retail outlets and J&R Music World in New York City, followed by a wide release at major retail stores across the country. The EP will also be available at all digital outlets.

Bynum is set to appear at the ESSENCE Music Festival on Friday, July 2 and is scheduled to perform on Sunday, July 4 at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in New Orleans. Bynum will also appear at the Wal-mart booth on Friday, July 2, where she will be on hand to sign autograph copies of her new project. And on Saturday, July 3, she will be at the Music World/House of Dereon booth for a CD signing/meet and greet.

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429 Records is announcing the release of an innovative collection of songs newly recorded by the sons and daughters of legendary artists titled A SONG FOR MY FATHER. The 14 song set features artists such as Salvador Santana, Adam Cohen, Carnie Wilson, A.J. Croce, Ben Taylor, Sarah Lee Guthrie and others offering up moving interpretations of their fathers’ classic songs. The gifted offspring offer a unique and intimate spin on familiar material made famous by their legendary dads in fresh new performances connecting great songs between two generations. Lovingly played by their children, A SONG FOR MY FATHER offers a rare insight into the songs and the people who created them as they’ve chosen tracks with a particular meaning. A SONG FOR MY FATHER will be released on June 1, 2010.

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Ne-Yo goes into interstellar overdrive next Tuesday morning, May 25th, at 12 a.m. PDT – for the MySpace world-premiere of “Beautiful Monster,” his brand new single, and the first track from his upcoming 4th album, set for September 21st release. “Beautiful Monster” is also the first early warning shot from his upcoming new album. Untitled as of this writing, it will be his first long-player since the RIAA platinum Year Of The Gentleman debuted at #1 on the Soundscan and UK national charts in September 2008. That album spun off the triumvirate of consecutive RIAA platinum hits above: “Closer,” “Miss Independent,” and “Mad.”

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Tickets for this year’s hotly anticipated American Idol Live! Tour will go on sale in select markets beginning May 14th at LiveNation.com. The American Idol Live! Tour 2010 will feature the American Idol Season 9 top 10 contestants Didi Benami, Crystal Bowersox, Lee DeWyze, Andrew Garcia, Casey James, Aaron Kelly, Michael Lynche, Siobhan Magnus, Katie Stevens, and Tim Urban.

America’s #1 show will make 49 stops this summer at a mix of top arenas and amphitheaters across North America giving fans a chance once again to catch their favorite “Idols” performing live in a town near them. The Live Nation promoted tour begins on July 1st at the Palace of Auburn Hills in Detroit and runs through September 14th in Pittsburgh at the Consol Energy Center.

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The Public Record announced Rob Zombie as its next featured artist to launch a collaborative remix project entitled The Mix Massacre. Beginning April 27, 2010, Rob Zombie is enlisting the talent of musicians and remixers across the TPR global music community to remix his songs, “Mars Needs Women” and “Sick Bubblegum,” for a special worldwide release.

Following the kick-off of Zombie’s Mix Massacre, on April 28, 2010, hip-hop super group, The Elements, comprised of Mix Master Mike, DJ Muggs, Rahzel and JS-1, will begin accepting guest vocalist submissions for “Marching Skeletons” to be released on their self-entitled album, The Elements.

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FIFA and Sony Music Entertainment announced that Waka Waka (This Time For Africa), written and co-produced by global superstar Shakira, has been chosen as the Official Song of the upcoming 2010 FIFA World Cup™ in South Africa. The song will be performed by Shakira together with South African artist Freshlyground at the Closing Ceremony before the FIFA World Cup™ Final on July 11 in Johannesburg Soccer City Stadium. All proceeds from the song will benefit FIFA’s Official Campaign of the 2010 FIFA World Cup™ “20 Centers for 2010.”

“I am honored that Waka Waka (This Time For Africa) was chosen to be part of the excitement and the legacy of the 2010 FIFA World Cup,” said Shakira. “The FIFA World Cup is a miracle of global excitement, connecting every country, race, religion and condition around a single passion. It represents an event that has the power to unite and integrate, and that’s what this song is about.”

Shakira continued, “African music is so inspiring and is poised to take its place on the global pop culture stage. I was proud to be able to work with one of South Africa’s most acclaimed groups, Freshlyground.” The song was co-produced by Shakira’s frequent collaborator, John Hill.