MUSIC NEWS: WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2015
TAYLOR SWIFT-AMERICAN MUSIC AWARDS
Taylor Swift has a shot at surpassing Whitney Houston -- and is getting within striking distance of Michael Jackson as the most decorated artist in the history of the American Music Awards. The nominations were announced yesterday -- and Swift leads all artists with six nods. If she pulls off a sweep, she will have earned 22 A-M-As -- one more than the 21 Whitney Houston racked up in her career. And it would put her within two of Michael Jackson's 24 A-M-As -- most of any artist. The A-M-As are on Nov. 22 in Los Angeles.
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AMERICAN MUSIC AWARDS-FIRST TIMERS
While some are wondering if Taylor Swift will be earning another batch of American Music Awards, there are those artists who will be vying for their very first. Among them: Ed Sheeran and the Weeknd. They each have five nods going into this year's show. Other multiple nominees include Sam Hunt, Nicki Minaj, Sam Smith, Meghan Trainor and Walk the Moon had three nominations each.
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MUSIC-MADONNA-TICKETS-SNAFU
Two Calgary men say a Madonna concert in Edmonton turned into a humiliating experience. Travis Robertson and Guy DeBlasio were in their seats at Rexall Place Sunday night, when security asked to see their tickets -- for a third time. The electronic tickets were on one of the men's phone, but it had died during the concert. It was taking too long to log in on another phone, so the two were escorted out and met by police. They were finally able to prove they had the tickets and returned to their seats, but by that point the show was nearly over. The venue operator says it will provide the two men with tickets for another concert at the venue -- but not another Madonna show the next night.
The two men would like to see the company implement better policies for dealing with electronic tickets.
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SUGE KNIGHT-ROBBERY-TRIAL
Must be tough being on Suge (SHUG) Knight's legal team these days. Even as the former head of Death Row Records is fighting against a murder charge that could put him in prison for life, Knight is also trying to defend himself against a robbery charge. A judge in Los Angeles has ruled Knight and comedian Katt Williams should stand trial on charges of swiping a photographer's camera. Knight's attorney says the ex-rap kingpin didn't take part in the robbery -- but was upset that the photographer snapped images of his son, something the photographer denies.
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FLAVOR FLAV-PLEA BARGAIN-TRIAL
Yesterday, he reached a plea bargain in New York. And today, Flavor Flav defends himself at a trial in Las Vegas. The case sees the rapper and reality T-V star facing criminal charges stemming from an arrest in May. He faces charges of charges of misdemeanor speeding, driving under the influence of cocaine and having an open container of alcohol in his vehicle. He has pleaded not guilty. Yesterday, Flav pleaded out of a traffic stop that could have landed him in jail for up to six years. Instead, he gets sentenced to the brief time he has already served in the case -- and has to cough up more than $3,600 in fines.
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HARRY CONNICK JR.-TV HOST
Harry Connick Jr. is going to be on ``American Idol'' when its final season rolls around in a few months. And he has a little something lined that he might be able to fall back on once the show goes off the air. Connick is getting his own daytime variety show. N-B-C Universal says ``Harry'' will feature comedy, live musical performances and stunts. The show will make its debut next fall -- and so far, has been sold to Fox-own T-V stations in 17 U-S markets.
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SIA-``SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE''
Sia will be the musical guest on ``Saturday Night Live'' on Nov. 7. And even she must realize she won't be the reason so many people will tune in. The host that week: Donald Trump, the GOP presidential front-runner who has been a proven ratings winner whenever he shows up on the ol' flat-screen. It's Trump's second time on the show; he did SNL back in 2004, before his presidential aspirations manifested themselves.
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``THE VOICE''
The teams are almost complete on N-B-C's ``The Voice.'' Last night, the battle rounds continued and will wrap up next week. Each coach has a steal apiece going into next Monday.
Gwen Stefani and Blake Shelton both tried using their steals last night for 17-year-old Ivonne Acero, after she was dropped by Team Pharrell. Stefani figured Ivonne would be the perfect fit. But Shelton played the rural card. Ivonne is an Arizona farm girl and Shelton noted he plants five acres of cantaloupes in Oklahoma every year. That was enough to convince Ivonne, who now joins Team Blake.
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(The Associated Press)