MUSIC NEWS: TUESDAY, MAY 12, 2015
TYLER FARR IS ENGAGED
Tyler Farr had a special gig at Nashville's historic Ryman Auditorium over the weekend. He got access to it so he could propose to his girlfriend, Hannah Freeman. She said yes.
They have been dating for two and a half years. Farr calls Freeman his best friend and the woman who makes him a better person. He says he could not imagine a better church for the proposal than ``the mother church of country music.'' They have not announced a wedding date.
Tyler Farr plays Dauphin's Countryfest Sunday, June 28th at 8:30 pm.
---
''AMERICAN IDOL`` ALUMNI REFLECT ON THE SHOW'S END
Scotty McCreery says ``American Idol'' was ``a dominant force in our pop culture for almost a decade and a half, but all good things must come to an end.'' The next season of ``American Idol'' will be its last. Taylor Hicks tells Billboard magazine he was fortunate to win when he did and he looks forward to ``an entertaining final season.'' Adam Lambert thanks ``American Idol,'' because without it, he wouldn't be here, but it was a great run for the show. Kris Allen says ``Idol'' ''changed the game and changed my life.`` Kellie Pickler says ''Idol`` helped her realize her dreams as a country singer and she's sure the final season will be a memorable one. Original co-host Brian Dunkleman tweets, ''I knew American Idol would never last without me (hashtag) CANCELLED.``
---
WARRANT ISSUED FOR PUDDLE OF MUDD'S WES SCANTLIN
Puddle of Mudd singer Wes Scantlin is a wanted man for failing to show up for a court date last week. KMGH-TV reports Scantlin did not appear at a hearing last Tuesday in Denver. He was arrested last month for misdemeanour trespassing after he allegedly rode the luggage carousel at Denver International Airport.
Scantlin's manager could not be reached for comment.
---
JUSTIN BIEBER WORKING ON PROBATION FOR EGGING CASE
Justin Bieber is getting positive marks from his probation officer. A probation report filed yesterday in Los Angeles indicates Bieber has completed most of the terms of his probation in a vandalism case. Bieber caused $80,000 worth of damage by egging his neighbours' home outside Los Angeles in January 2014.
Bieber has completed 12 anger management sessions, but he still needs to complete five days of community service. He's signed up to work with a group in South Los Angeles for that. He will have an update on his case August 3.
---
WAKA FLOCKA FLAME DENIED ENTRY INTO AUSTRALIA
Waka Flocka Flame's tour of Australia has been derailed because of his criminal past. Billboard quotes tour promoter Robin Fernando as saying the Australian government denied Waka Flocka's entry into the country because of recent arrests on firearms and drug charges. Fernando says the government of New Zealand approved Waka Flocka's visa, but the tour is not worth it without the Australia dates. The concerts will be rescheduled.
---
AWOLNATION'S AARON BRUNO EXPLAINS VIDEO FOR ``HOLLOW MOON (BAD WOLF)''
If you look carefully in the video for AWOLNation's ``Hollow Moon (Bad Wolf),'' singer Aaron Bruno is nearly busting out laughing during the whole thing. Bruno says it's because videos are really fake and he's not an actor. The video is a single continuous shot, and Bruno says that's not as hard as it sounds. He says he pretty much stayed in a square and had to hit certain marks at certain times, but otherwise he could do whatever he wanted. He says they shot it maybe 15 to 17 times and they used ``lucky number 13.''
---
DIDDY HAS NO INTEREST IN BEING A POLITICIAN
Diddy wants to change the world. He just doesn't want to do that by running for office. Diddy says he doesn't like politics and isn't a big talker. He says if he promises to change the world for the positive, that's what he's going to do. He's still into music, though. Diddy is working with other acts and experimenting in the studio. He says if he comes up with something great for himself, then he will release a Diddy album.
---
DOLLY PARTON'S ``COAT OF MANY COLORS'' HEADS FOR TV
The song Dolly Parton says is the favourite one she wrote will be turned into a TV movie. NBC will develop a movie called ``Coat of Many Colours.'' Parton will serve as executive producer. No word on when the movie will run. Parton's original coat of many colours is on display at Dollywood in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee.
---
GUESS WHO APARTMENT BUILDING BURNS
An apartment building that was the backdrop for The Guess Who's ``So Long, Bannatyne'' album cover has burned down.
The fire broke out Sunday morning in a three-story building in downtown Winnipeg. No one was inside the building because it was undergoing renovations. Guess Who guitarist Kurt Winter lived there with his parents, then he moved away once The Guess Who took off.
---
GRAMMYS MOVE TO MONDAY NIGHT FOR 2016
For years, the Grammys have been on the Sunday after the Super Bowl. Next year, they're moving to that Monday instead. The Grammys are scheduled for Monday, February 15. It's the first time the Grammys have been held on a Monday. The Super Bowl will be February 7.
---
WYNONNA SITS IN WITH ``THE TALK''
Wynonna will fill in for Sara Gilbert on ``The Talk'' this week. She will be the guest co-host today and tomorrow.
---
''DANCING WITH THE STARS`` SEMIFINALISTS BRING ON THE TEARS, EMOTION
The remaining four competitors of ``Dancing with the Stars'' brought on the tears and emotion during their semifinal performances. Rumer Willis reflected on growing up as a child of two superstars and being bullied for her looks. Willis, who's performances included a dramatic Black Swan ballet piece, was cheered on by mom Demi Moore and family friend Glenn Close. Noah Galloway may have stole the show when he dropped to one knee and proposed to his girlfriend Jamie. She said yes. The final four face an elimination today.
---
MMVAs
The Weeknd, Nick Jonas and Shawn Mendes are among the first performers to be unveiled for this year's Much Music Video Awards.
This year's co-host Ed Sheeran will also take the stage for a performance, while Miami pop singer Jason Derulo rounds out the initial lineup.
Sheeran will have performed at four straight MMVAs.
Mendes, the 16-year-old Toronto-area native whose debut ``Handwritten'' topped the charts last month, is up for both Fan Fave video and artist of the year.
The Weeknd is also up for both awards, while other nominees include Drake, Justin Bieber and Nickelback.
The MMVAs will be held at CTV's Toronto headquarters on June 21.
---
Annual Canadian music award Polaris Music Prize up to$50,000
The Polaris Music Prize just got richer.
The annual award for the best Canadian album of the year has boosted its prize purse from $30,000 to $50,000 for the winner.
Slaight Music president and philanthropist Gary Slaight contributed the extra funding, while also boosting the money awarded to the rest of the annual award's shortlisted acts, from $2,000 to $3,000.
The Polaris winner is determined by a jury of Canadian music journalists, broadcasters and bloggers.
Inuk throat singer Tanya Tagaq won the most recent Polaris, while other winners include Feist, Arcade Fire and Caribou.
The initial list of contenders for this year's award will be announced June 16, with the short list being unveiled a month later.
---
