• 'American Idol' Will Ditch Results Night Episode, Downgrade to One Weekly Episode during 2015 According to Ryan Seacrest

    American Idol fans thought they would be dealing with a "huge" change in programming when it was announced earlier this year that longtime staff member Randy Jackson wouldn't be returning as a mentor, marking the first time he hans't appeared on the program. However Ryan Seacrest subtly dropped the real bombshell while being interviewed at the Z100 Jingle Ball on Friday night in New York: The show would be ditching its second "Results Night" program so that performers and viewers alike won't have to wait for another day to find out the winners (or more importantly, the losers).

  • Sydney Police Move in to Rescue Hostages Held in Café by Man Haron Monis, a Self-Styled Iranian Sheikh with Ties to ISIS

    It appears that a 15-hour standoff between a lone gunman and police has come to an end. Man Haron Monis, a self-styled Iranian sheikh, has been identified as the man who walked into a busy chocolate café in Sydney, Australia's financial district and took a number of hostages, according to AOL. The situation remains fluid, but as of now we know police stormed the cafe and, while gunshots rang out, at least some hostages were able to escape to safety.Monis already has an illustrious criminal record with various charges of sexual assault, and he also has been arrested for sending hate mail to families of Australian soldiers who have died in Afghanistan. Monis is currently free on bail after being considered an accessory to murder after his alleged girlfriend was killed and he then set his wife on fire.After taking several people hostage earlier today, said ABC News, Monis encouraged them to use social media to get his wish for an ISIS flag and a conversation with Australian political figures across to everyone listening. At times the hostages were seen pushed up against the plate-glass windows and Monis could be seen pacing wildly. After about 11 hours in captivity, five hostages were able to make a run for safety and, upon realizing it, Monis reportedly became more unstable, leading police to start to formulate their plan to go in after him.

  • Spotify Demonstrates via Slipknot That Band-Sponsored "Takeovers" Result in Huge Listening Bumps (as Do New Albums)

    Spotify has cleverly disguised its most recent self-promotion as an entry on its Insights blog, which track listening trends among members. The last entry notes how well Slipknot did as a result of its Halloween "takeover," or the band's curation of the popular "Rock Right Now" playlist. The metal band saw a distinct spike in listeners as a result...also-known-as Spotify wants you as a major label act to know that you'll reach so many new people if you host a takeover on their site (and garner them some attention in the meantime). The stats are hard to deny however.

  • Kourtney Kardashian's New Son Born on Her Oldest Son Mason's Fifth Birthday

    December 14 must officially be Kourtney Kardashian's lucky day because it is now the official birth date of two of her children. Yesterday the reality star welcomed a second son into the world, 5 years to the day after she first delivered Mason Disick. Apparently the entire Kardashian family was freaking out over the unlikely coincidence and of course they are thrilled to welcome the newest member to the family.

  • [ALBUM STREAM] D'Angelo 'Black Messiah' Is Available Now: Singer Dropped First Album Since 2000's 'Voodoo' [LISTEN]

    After a 14-year recording hiatus, soul singer D'Angelo finally put out another album. "Black Messiah" became available yesterday, Dec. 14, for fans on iTunes. Expectations are heavy for the performer's new album, "Billboard" notes, especially considering his 2000 release, "Voodoo," was a huge success.Although the release date was never formally announced, "Black Messiah" was a hotly anticipated effort. D'Angelo has been dropping hints over the past year, debuting new songs live and letting Questlove of The Roots host a listening party. He recently dropped the first single, "Sugah Daddy," as well — see the tracklist and stream the record below.As "Pitchfork" points out, the CD sleeve contains a message that promises that some of the album's tunes are political:"Not every song on this album is politically charged (though many are), but calling this album "Black Messiah" creates a landscape where these songs can live to the fullest. "Black MessiahÆ is not one man. It's a feeling that, collectively, we are all that leader.""Black Messiah" is only D'Angelo's third album. His debut, "Brown Sugar," came out in 1995. It was "Voodoo," though, that catapulted him to stardom. The album dominated the charts and, with the help of the music video for "Untitled (How Does It Feel)," made the singer a sex symbol.

  • DIIV-isive Issues: Bassist Makes Racist/Homophobic/Misogynistic Comments on 4Chan, Band Debates Whether He'll Be Cut

    Chalk in another victory for the demons of idiocy: DIIV is currently undergoing some issues related to many stupid—aka racist, homophobic and misogynist—statements made on social media by bassist Devin Ruben Perez. Although the musician has claimed that he was merely being stupid, versus being an actual racist/homophobe/misogynist, the New York-based alt band is reportedly weighing its options on whether or not to keep Perez within its lineup.

  • Watch Real Steve Aoki and Fake Steve Aoki Punk Stereosonic [WATCH]

    Steve Aoki has met his match. Photographer Jarrad Seng trolled Stereosonic Perth, Australia, by impersonating Steve Aoki and putting the video of his exploits online, which promptly went viral. Steve Aoki commented in a radio interview shortly thereafter that he had seen Seng in the crowd and was amused by the whole thing. The real Steve Aoki enjoyed the stunt so much he decided to invite Seng out to Stereosonic Melbourne to try and pull a prank together. The pair walked through the crowd as Seng pretended to be the real Steve posing for pictures with unsuspecting fans who apparently had not seen the previous prank video. Aoki pretended to be Seng, taking pictures of fake Steve with fans before removing his hood and sunglasses to reveal that the fans had been punked and taken a picture with an imposter Steve Aoki.Using the same hidden camera technique as done with the previous Seng attempt in Perth, the whole scene is documented as fans go from joy to bewilderment to sheer excitement, via "Beatport News." Some fans claimed to have seen the other prank video and were wiser to what was happening, but most fell right into the fake Steve trap. Seng even started an interview for the real Aoki, which fell apart when they reportedly heard Seng's Australian accent.They also try and get some DJ friends of Steve's — including Skrillex, who does not fall for it for one second, and then What So Not, who was totally baffled at the whole thing.

  • Kendrick Lamar Speaks on Protests and Anti-Violence Message of 'i' [WATCH]

    Kendrick Lamar is someone who understands how to use his words to convey a powerful and meaningful message, notably in his new single "i." Speaking to MTV's K.Dot, Lamar was asked about his message of anti-violence and how it applies to the current situations in Ferguson, Missouri, and Staten Island, New York, after the decisions by grand juries to not indict two police officers in the killings of two unarmed black men. He comments on the situation and how he has grown used to seeing it on the streets of Compton, California, via "Pigeons and Planes.""It's definitely frustrating ... It's something that I've been around since the beginning of time. I remember coming up in the city of Compton and [seeing] these same types of ordeals."He also mentioned that when he is making a song like "i," it is "about what's going on in real life. It's bigger then just a good tune, it's a psychological catchphrase."Growing up in a tough situation, he knew the disadvantages that were set out in front of him from Day 1. His father gave him advice on how to handle one such issue, and that was racism:

  • Classicalite Q&A with Ian Williams on Battles, American Composers Orchestra's 'Clear Image,' 'High Fidelity' Cameo and Having a Baby Girl

    Ian Williams, erstwhile guitarist in math rock pioneers Don Caballero, has been busy as of late--working on a new Battles record, writing his first piece for the American Composers Orchestra to perform at Carnegie Hall, fathering his first child. With Classicalite favorites George Manahan behind the podium, Theo Bleckmann on vocals and members of the Meredith Monk Vocal Ensemble lending support, Williams debuted his Clear Image work during the ACO's Orchestra Underground: Monk's Sphere, opening night of that storied ensemble's 38th season. We recently caught up with Williams to chat about his rocker past, the ACO collaboration, having a daughter and even his cameo in High Fidelity.

  • Barack Obama and Family Enjoy Performances from Aloe Blacc, Rita Ora, Hunter Hayes and More at "Christmas in Washington" Concert

    The hottest event in Washington D.C. last night was undoubtedly the Christmas in Washington concert, an annual event now in its 33rd year that brings big acts to perform and raise money for the Children's National Health System. Among the performers this year were Aloe Blacc, Rita Ora, Darius Rucker, Christina Perri and Hunter Hayes. Oh, and President Barack Obama brought his family to the event as well.
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