Merry Christmas Radio

One of the best selling female groups of all time, Wilson Phillips is back together and releasing their first ever Christmas album this October 2010 on Sony MASTERWORKS / DRW Entertainment. The award-winning trio consisting of Chynna Phillips, Carnie Wilson and Wendy Wilson will be reuniting with their original music producer Glen Ballard on this Christmas-themed album, kicking-off the pop group’s overall return. Best known for co-writing Michael Jackson’s hit single Man in the Mirror and producing Alanis Morissette’s Jagged Little Pill, Glen Ballard was also the main producer behind Wilson Phillips‘ self-titled 1990 debut album, which sold over 10 million copies worldwide and included three #1 singles on the Billboard Hot 100 (”Hold On,” “Release Me,” and “You’re in Love”).

“Reuniting Wilson Phillips with the multi-talented pop producer and songwriter Glen Ballard on an album featuring Christmas favorites and newly written songs is certain to become a holiday classic,” states Alex Miller, Sr. Vice President & General Manager  of Sony MASTERWORKS.

At a different stage in all of their lives, the trio of Wilson Phillips is excited to finally be back together and musically share the joy, love and happiness of the holiday season not only with their families, but with their fans too. As one of the most popular 90’s female pop group, the Wilson Phillips Christmas album is sure to be one of the most buzzed about albums of the 2010 holiday season featuring 15 classic Christmas songs including “White Christmas,” “Santa Claus is Coming to Town,” “Winter Wonderland,” “The Christmas Song,” and many more.  There will also be a few new Holiday songs on the album that Wilson Phillips and Glen Ballard are writing together.

In anticipation for the release of their upcoming Christmas album, Wilson Phillips performed live on Wednesday, May 5th, 2010 in San Antonio, TX at Hyatt Regency Hotel and will also be announcing more upcoming tour dates in the near future.

Album Description
What if someone made a Christmas album for everybody else? That’s exactly what Melissa Etheridge has done. A NEW THOUGHT FOR CHRISTMAS: DELUXE EDITION celebrates a spiritual time of year where people can rejoice in their traditional, or non-traditional ways, and celebrate a winter solstice filled with love and peace. This ten song album has newly composed songs such as “Ring The Bells,” “Light A Light,” and “It’s Christmas Time” interspersed with traditional holiday standards such as “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas” and “Blue Christmas.”

Originally issued on CD in 2008, A NEW THOUGHT FOR CHRISTMAS will now be re-launched as a two-disc set – with a bonus live DVD of Melissa and her band performing all the songs from the album. A NEW THOUGHT FOR CHRISTMAS: DELUXE EDITION will arrive in the physical and digital marketplace October 27th on Island Records.

Melissa Etheridge has been a core Island Records artist since the release of her critically-acclaimed eponymous RIAA double-platinum debut album of 1988. For several years, Melissa’s popularity built around such memorable songs as “Bring Me Some Water” (from her debut), “No Souvenirs” (from 1989’s 1989’s Brave And Crazy) and “Ain’t It Heavy” (from 1992’s Never Enough), for which she won her first Grammy for Best Female Rock Vocal.

Melissa hit her commercial and artistic stride with her fourth album, 1993’s Yes I Am, featuring the massive hits “I’m the Only One” and “Come to My Window,” a searing song of longing that brought her second Grammy. The album went six times platinum and spent more than two and a half years on the album chart. In 1995, she issued her highest charting album, Your Little Secret (#6 on the Billboard Top 200), which included the hit single, “I Want to Come Over.” Her astounding success led Melissa to receive the Songwriter of the Year honor at the ASCAP Pop Awards in 1996, and the Academy Award© for Best Original Song for “I Need To Wake Up” in 2007.

Melissa has made a number of high profile television and public appearances in September as ambassador for “Pinktober” 2009 Breast Cancer Awareness Month. She is currently recording a new studio album planned for release early next year.

Most people don’t start thinking about Christmas in April. For Mariah Carey, though, now is as good a time as ever to prep for the holidays, and prep for her new 2010 album. Although it’s been over 15 years since her last Christmas album, released in 1994, Carey has apparently decided to get back in the studio with Jermaine Dupri, in hopes of finding that same magic that helped the ‘Merry Christmas’ album sell over 12 million copies.

News of the reunion between Dupri and Carey broke a few weeks ago, when the two engaged in a suggestive tweet exchange. The announcement came not long after Carey had decided to end work on her ‘Angel’s Advocate’ remix album, which pulled songs from her 2009 ‘Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel.’

Although it’s still to early to speculate about what the inside of the still-untitled album might sound like, we do now have a better idea of what the outside might look like. As the BoomBox reported this week, Carey is currently shooting the album cover for her new album, with the help of renowned (and controversial) photographer David LaChappelle.

In an interview with The Times, the photographer said that the new album cover will feature a graffiti skyline, a “hideous” silver tree, and fake reindeer. As LaChappelle says, “Mariah wanted real ones. Flown from Nebraska. Can you imagine, real reindeer?”

Mariah Carey’s new album of remixes for Memoirs Of An Imperfect Angel, has been shelved, but don’t fret, some of the singles from the album will get released.

The album, titled, Angels Advocate, was set for release on March 30, 2010. But her record company has reportedly pulled the plug on the album.

Even though the album won’t see a proper release, according to Mariah Daily Journal, “It won’t go to waste”.

Her team has said this in a statement, “We are looking to go possibly to another studio album or Christmas album. The decision hasn’t been totally made yet. It’s a creative process that cannot be rushed.”

Reba McEntire will sing “Blue Christmas” with singer Andrea Bocelli on his first holiday album, My Christmas, due Nov. 3 on the Philips label. The album was produced by David Foster. Other guests include Mary J. Blige (”What Child Is This”), Natalie Cole (”The Christmas Song”), Katherine Jenkins (”I Believe”), the Muppets (”Jingle Bells”) and the Mormon Tabernacle Choir (”The Lord’s Prayer”). Bocelli will launch a Christmas tour on Nov. 28 in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

My Christmas, the first-ever holiday recording from the iconic Andrea Bocelli, boasts a superstar line-up of guest artist duets including MaryJ. Blige, Natalie Cole, Reba McEntire, The Muppets, The Mormon Tabernacle Choir and Katherine Jenkins (complete tracklisting
below).

On the heels of the highly anticipated CD, Andrea is gearing up for a special string of holiday concerts in the U.S., kicking off in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida on November 28th. Additional stateside promotional activities around the release of My Christmas will also include high-profile TV appearances, as well as the stunningly beautiful Public Television special of the same name, airing nationally this holiday season.

Tour dates include:

November 28 — Bank Atlantic Center, Ft Lauderdale, FL
December 3 — Air Canada Center, Toronto, Canada
December 5 — IZOD Center, East Rutherford, NJ
December 10 — SaveMart Center, Fresno, CA
December 12 — MGM Grand, Las Vegas, NV
December 13 —  Honda Center, Anaheim, CA

Andrea’s heart-warming new CD, coupled with his special live concerts are destined to make My Christmas the ultimate holiday musical event of the year. Both will feature traditional carols and favorites in English, with a few
selections also featuring Italian and German. The lush, beautiful arrangements and Andrea’s unmistakable vocals both on disc and on stage are unmatched. With one of the world’s most recognizable voices in music, Andrea Bocelli
continues to defy categorization, age barriers and labels of all kinds. A global household name, he has sold over 60 millions albums to date.

My Christmas Tracklisting:
1. WHITE CHRISTMAS/BIANCO NATALE
2. ANGELS WE HAVE HEARD ON HIGH
3. SANTA CLAUS IS COMING TO TOWN
4. THE CHRISTMAS SONG with Natalie Cole
5. THE LORD’S PRAYER with The Mormon Tabernacle Choir
6. WHAT CHILD IS THIS with Mary J. Blige
7. ADESTE FIDELIS
8. TANNENBAUM
9. JINGLE BELLS featuring THE MUPPETS
10. SILENT NIGHT
11. BLUE CHRISTMAS with Reba McEntire
12. CANTIQUE DE NOEL
13. CARO GESU’ BAMBINO
14. I BELIEVE with Katherine Jenkins
15. GOD BLESS US EVERYONE

NEW YORK, NY–(Marketwire – August 11, 2009) – ATCO/Atlantic a cappella group Straight No Chaser has announced a 50-city tour with dates beginning in September and running through the fall. The 10-member group, who claimed the top spot last December on iTunes and Amazon.com with their debut album, “HOLIDAY SPIRITS,” will kick off the fall run with a handful of dates at the end of September, starting in Bloomington, IL on September 24. The tour will get into full swing in October and will run through December 23. Tickets go on sale August 14 unless otherwise noted in the below itinerary. Additional dates to be announced soon.

In other news, Straight No Chaser has announced plans to release “CHRISTMAS CHEERS,” a new full-length holiday album this fall. The release will feature a new batch of holiday classics reworked in Straight No Chaser’s inventive and original style. Next week, the group will perform some of these new arrangements in a live concert set to air on PBS this holiday season as part of the PBS December Pledge Drive. More details on the album and PBS concert coming soon.

Straight No Chaser recently released “SIX PACK,” an EP of six non-holiday cover songs ranging from “Rehab” to a medley of “I’m Yours” and “Over The Rainbow.” The physical and digital EP can be ordered exclusively through the group’s website, www.sncmusic.com.

Taking off from the runaway success of “The 12 Days Of Christmas,” “HOLIDAY SPIRITS” saw Straight No Chaser re-energizing holiday classics such as “The Christmas Song,” “Silent Night,” and “Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)” with their captivating and powerful vocal arrangements. Fueled by appearances on “ABC World News Tonight,” “CNN Headline News,” and the “Today” show, among others, the album spent 14 days in the #1 slot on Amazon, and 5 days at the top spot overall on iTunes. The group’s now famous version of “The 12 Days of Christmas” peaked in the top 10 on the Christmas radio chart and reached the top 15 at Hot AC. On their first-ever headline tour in December 2008, Straight No Chaser sold out shows across the country.

Founded at Indiana University in the fall of 1996, Straight No Chaser’s goal was to expand the boundaries of the traditional college a cappella group. From the start, they viewed themselves more like a local band that just happened to use their voices as their instruments. As original member Randy Stine comments, “We take the music very seriously; we just don’t take ourselves too seriously.” In the process, they are reinventing the idea of a cappella on the modern pop landscape.

The 10-man group performed at campus events and sorority functions, and soon found themselves headlining their own concerts. Within two years, Straight No Chaser was touring nationally. They opened for artists like Lou Rawls, performed at Chicago Cubs and White Sox games, and blew away a sold-out Carnegie Hall crowd at the National Championship of Collegiate A Cappella.

In 1999, the graduating members of Straight No Chaser chose their replacements, ensuring that the new tradition they had created would continue on with successive generations of IU undergrads. Then, in 2006, the unexpected happened — Indiana University decided to host a reunion concert for the original members. In honor of the event, Randy Stine posted footage from one of their 1998 concerts online.

To the group’s surprise, Straight No Chaser’s version of “The 12 Days of Christmas” — interpolating Toto’s “Africa” — became the hottest viral video of the holiday season, eventually receiving more than 10 million views online. Among those millions of viewers was Atlantic Records Chairman/CEO Craig Kallman, who tracked the group down and promptly signed them to the label.

The birth of Straight No Chaser’s second life is a story of talent, drive, and some very good luck. But their goal remains the same as it was back in their college days. As Stine says, “We want the audience to not miss the instruments, be surprised by what we’re doing, and in the end, appreciate the songs in a whole new way.”

For up-to-the-minute news and information, visit www.sncmusic.com, and www.myspace.com/sncmusic.

(ITINERARY BELOW)

STRAIGHT NO CHASER
ON TOUR FALL/WINTER 2009
Tickets on-sale Aug. 14 unless otherwise noted by *
Additional dates to be announced soon.

SEPTEMBER
24 Bloomington, IL Bloomington Center for the Performing Arts
25 Wabash, IN Honeywell Center
26 Elyria, OH Stocker Arts Center

OCTOBER
23 Klamath Falls, OR Ross Ragland Theater
25 Eugene, OR Hult Center for the Performing Arts
26 Vancouver, BC The Clutch
27 Portland, OR Aladdin Theater
29 Medford, OR Craterion Performances
30 Napa, CA Napa Valley Opera House

NOVEMBER
5 Ridgefield, CT Ridgefield Playhouse
7 Milwaukee, WI Potawatomi Casino* (on-sale date TBD)
8 Minneapolis, MN Fine Line Music Café
11 Toronto, ON Queen Elizabeth Theatre* (on-sale Aug. 21)
12 Belleville, ON Empire Theatre* (on-sale Aug. 21)
13 Montreal, PQ Cabaret Juste Pour Rire* (on-sale Aug. 21)
14 Schenectady, NY Proctors Theatre
15 Buffalo, NY University at Buffalo Arts Center
18 Atlanta, GA Center Stage
22 Bel Air, MD Amoss Center
27 Seattle, WA Nordstrom Recital Hall
28 San Francisco, CA Palace of Fine Arts Theatre* (on-sale Aug. 23)
29 Los Angeles, CA Wiltern Theatre* (on-sale Aug. 23)

DECEMBER
1 Canton, OH Palace Theatre
3 Louisville, KY Brown Theatre
4 Piqua, OH Edison Community College
5 Indianapolis, IN The Murat Centre
6 Royal Oak, MI Royal Oak Music Theatre
8 Iowa City, IA University of Iowa, Hancher Auditorium
9 Arkansas City, KS Cowley College
10 Bartlesville, OK Bartlesville Community Center
11 Junction City, KS C.L. Hoover Opera House
12 Lawrence, KS Lied Center
13 Chicago, IL Park West
15 St. Louis, MO Harrah’s VooDoo Lounge
17 New York, NY Nokia Theatre Times Square
18 Glenside, PA Keswick Theatre
19 Boston, MA Berklee Performance Theatre
21 Alexandria, VA Birchmere
22 Alexandria, VA Birchmere
23 Raleigh, NC Progress Energy Performing Arts Center

Neil Diamond’s upcoming holiday collection, available in stores and online Oct. 13, will feature remastered classics, two new originals and a cover of Adam Sandler’s comedic “The Chanukah Song,” produced by DJ Ashba, according to a press release.

The album’s title cut, “A Cherry Cherry Christmas,” reportedly is filled with references to many of Diamond’s greatest hits. The song was newly written and recorded by Diamond specifically for the 2009 holiday season.
Among the album’s classic tracks will be Diamond’s take on “Amazing Grace,” as well as his renditions of holiday standards including “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas,” “White Christmas,” “Jingle Bell Rock,” “Joy to the World” and a medley of “Deck The Halls/We Wish You A Merry Christmas.”

The Grammy Award-winning Rock and Roll Hall of Famer, who has sold more than 125 million albums worldwide, was recently named the 2009 MusiCares Person of the Year.