MTV Video Music Awards 2012: The Nominations

Below you'll find the main nominations for this year's MTV Video Music Awards, which will be broadcast live from the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Thursday, September 6. Rihanna and Drake lead the pack with five nominations each. Drake, folks...And who the hell is still listening to M.I.A. at this point? Plus, "Wide Awake" for Video Of The Year? I guess I liked it enough... but video of the year?Alicia Keys and One Direction (who are up for Best...

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Pet Shop Boys Perform At Wimbledon: Watch

Above is a performance of "What Have I Done To Deserve This" (complete with projected Dusty Springfield) by Pet Shop Boys on Henman Hill at Wimbledon during Saturday's Olympics tennis match.They also did "Always On My Mind" and new single "Winner," but who knows when footage that doesn't look like it was shot by a 6-year-old holding an iPhone upside down will turn up....

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It's Ellie Goulding's 'Halcyon' Album Cover

Out October 9 in the States, and a day before overseas. Glad we don't have to wait a whole effing year like we did with Lights....

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UK Chart Roundup: When Conor Maynard Nixes The Timberlake Thing, He'll Be Quite Good

Aw, little Conor Maynard. I gave this Justin Timberlake wannabe a decent review in an upcoming issue of Instinct for his album Contrast. He's kind of shit now, but has potential...if he ever develops his own sound. The UK Top 10: 1. "Spectrum (Calvin Harris Remix)" - Florence + The Machine *3 weeks*2. "Payphone" - Maroon 5 feat. Wiz Khalifa 3. "Black Heart" - Stooshe4. "Vegas Girl" - Conor Maynard *new*5. "Whistle" - Flo Rida6. "Brokenhearted" -...

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Pet Shop Boys Unveil 'Elysium' Album Cover, Tracklist

The album cover and tracklist for Pet Shop Boys' 11th studio album Elysium (out September 18) were revealed on their official site today. Welcome to their "L.A. album"!The duo's site notes:"The double-CD and double-vinyl versions of Elysium will include instrumental versions of each song. The artwork was designed by Farrow and the version shown here is for the regular single-CD/digital download versions."Here's the two-disc version:I can personally...

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It's Scissor Sisters' "Let's Have A Kiki" Video (Finally)

Lost in all the London Olympics furor yesterday was the premiere of Scissor Sisters' video for third (and best) Magic Hour single "Let's Have A Kiki." If this somehow doesn't become a giant hit for the band, given that the song is one of the summer's viral breakout hits, then there is something seriously wrong with the universe.The video, shot all in one take, is pretty rad. Watch through the very end to see Jake Shears practically collapse. You...

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It's The Killers' "Runaways" Video

The Killers' "Runaways" video has premiered, and I have to say, it's a pretty kick-ass clip. The band looks downright iconic while doing not much else than jamming while surrounded by darkness in the first half, then swathed in a dazzling array of colors and camera effects in the latter part. It's amazing what the right lighting can do.Almost feels like they're pulling a bit from U2's "With Or Without You" vid. "Runaways," the band's first single...

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US Chart Roundup: The Return Of No Doubt & The Killers

Carly Rae Jepsen's "Call Me Maybe" is #1 for a seventh week, and is now just seven days shy of tying the reign of Gotye's "Somebody That I Used To Know" for longest stretch at the top of the Billboard Hot 100 in 2012. And I officially can no longer stand the song.However, Owl City and Carly Rae's "Good Time," which is at #23 in its fourth week on the chart, doesn't quite make me want to slam an axe into the radio yet. That jam, which debuted at #17...

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It's Dragonette's 'Bodyparts' Album Cover

Out September 25, same day as No Doubt's Push And Shove and Green Day's Uno, and a week after Pink's The Truth About Love, The Killers' Battle Born, Pet Shop Boys' Elysium and Nelly Furtado's The Spirit Indestructible.If you pick up the September issue of Instinct (out third week August), you'll catch a review of Dragonette's Bodyparts by Mr. Xolond...

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JoJo Scrapped 'Jumping Trains'

Last week, when JoJo premiered new single "Demonstrate," I pondered whatever happened to her five-years-in-the-making Jumping Trains LP, which was supposed to be out earlier this year. Turns out she dumped the album entirely.JoJo told Billboard the following at the Teen Choice Awards on Sunday: "It didn't feel right anymore," she says. "I've been working on it for a long time. I'm 21 now and it didn't feel like me."She added that she'll...

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It's Owl City & Carly Rae Jepsen's "Good Time" Video

I'll admit that I've been on an Owl City kick lately, mostly due to his Carly Rae Jepsen pair-up "Good Time" and Shooting Stars EP jams "Gold" and "Take It All Away." I know — I'm so uncool.The "Good Time" video has now premiered, and it features the sunny pair driving off to camp, having slushees, toasting marshmallows and dancing around a fire.They also have sex up against a tree, at which point Owl City begins hooting and spinning his head the...

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Pet Shop Boys Offer Up "Winner" Video, Single Details

Pet Shop Boys do not appear in their video for first Elysium single "Winner," but the clip is nonetheless a compelling one that thankfully avoids an obvious Olympics theme. Instead, the visual focuses on London Rollergirls, a female roller derby crew that happens to have a transgender member named Dirty Diana. Despite her name, Diana is less on stripper poles and hooking up with rock stars, and more of about fitting in with the rest of the girls...

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UK Chart Roundup: Gareth Gates Had A Hit 10 Years Ago

On this week 10 years ago, Gareth Gates, the runner-up (behind Will Young) from the very first season of Pop Idol (which spawned American Idol and a thousand imitators), saw his rather decent second single "Anyone Of Us (Stupid Mistake)" spend a second week of three atop the UK singles chart.It was Gareth's peak pop moment, alas — as the rest of his output was quite shit — and the song came courtesy of hit-making Swedes Jörgen Elofsson,...

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Lana Del Rey Is A Sepia-Toned Lesbian In "Summertime Sadness" Video

Lana Del Rey keeps her sad noir hooker trash schtick rolling with the video for "Summertime Sadness," which, if you ask me, is the best song off Born To Die. Basically it's a video made on the cheap, with flashbacks to some lipstick lezbo affair she had before the two dolls jumped off a bridge or a mountain or some shit.Just imagine if this was the video for Owl City and Carly Rae Jepsen's "Good Time"...

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US Chart Roundup: Lady Gaga And Katy Perry Can "Blow" Pink

I'm really glad Pink now has more Top 10 hits on the Hot 100 (she has 12) than either Lady Gaga (she has 11) or Katy Perry (11, also). It makes all seem right in the world. My only problem is that "Blow Me (One Last Kiss)," her latest (it's up to #9) feels sort of pedestrian. It's been several weeks now, and that song still hasn't grown on me. Call me old school, but I like my Pink with Max Martin and (really old school) Linda Perry. Oh, well. Everything...

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JoJo Gets Even Naughtier With "Demonstrate"

Just when you're sitting there wondering what happened to JoJo and her Jumping Trains album that was supposed to be out in "early 2012," along comes the saucy minx with a a new single."Demonstrate" is basically an R&B slow jam where the singer uses her body to show her man how good and naughty she can be. Sound-wise, it also kind of finds the 21-year-old venturing into Beyonce/Kelly Rowland territory."Demonstrate" was whipped up by Drake's producer...

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George Michael Cheats Death In "White Light" Video

George Michael has successfully transformed into a Silverlake daddy — and has more than enough cash to back that title up — as evidenced by his video for new single "White Light." And given that the old broad has had several run-ins with the law, and even cheated death this past winter after a bout with pneumonia, it makes sense that he'd shoot a video where he's on the brink of kicking the bucket.That's when George's guardian angel Kate Moss steps...

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No Doubt Get In Line And "Settle Down" In Their New Video

No Doubt's "Settle Down" video finds Gwen Stefani and the guys each driving a Mack truck to a party destination, where they basically throw down with a big ol' reggae-infused rave with a bunch of dancers. I already flipped my lid earlier today over the song itself. All I can add about the video is that Gwen is looking pretty flawless. I hope this fucker turns out to be a big h...

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It's Pink's 'The Truth About Love' Album Cover

Here's the cover of Pink's upcoming album The Truth About Love, which arrives September 18, the same day as new album releases from Nelly Furtado, Pet Shop Boys, The Killers, Ne-Yo and Ben Folds Five....

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No Doubt's "Settle Down" Is Everything Today

Admit it — you thought "Settle Down," the Diplo-produced lead single from No Doubt's Push And Shove (out September 25), was going to suck, didn't you?You were wro...

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It's Madonna's "Turn Up The Radio" Video

Madonna's "Turn Up The Radio" turns out to be another classic case of the music video being better than the song itself. In fact, I think this is Ye Olde Vampyre's best video of the three MDNA singles (sorry, gays who saw Jesus and spoke in tongues over that trashy "Girl Gone Wild" clip) — let alone her best one since Confessions era.Maybe the reason is because Madge is in her natural element here. No, I'm not talking about the Italian setting. I...

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UK Chart Roundup: Calvin Harris' Remix Of Florence's Vagina

Oh, good — I love Calvin Harris' remix of Florence's vagina!The UK Top 10: 1. "Spectrum (Say My Name)" - Florence + The Machine *new* *1 week*2. "Payphone" - Maroon 5 feat. Wiz Khalifa 3. "This Is Love" - will.i.am feat. Eva Simons4. "Don't Wake Me Up" - Chris Brown 5. "Black Heart" - Stooshe6. "Whistle" - Flo Rida 7. "Feel The Love" - Rudimental feat. John Newman8. "Princess Of China" - Coldplay feat. Rihanna 9. "Wide Awake" - Katy Perry10. "Pound...

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Madonna's "Turn Up The Radio" Single Art: A Lot Of Effort Went Into This

Brava, signorina....

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It's Saint Etienne's "I've Got Your Music" Video

Well, I didn't make the cut for Saint Etienne's "I've Got Your Music" video, but it's still a semi-fun watch, regardless. (Only semi.) Alas, I'm not nearly as cute as the little red-headed tyke holding a KLF 12"....

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Has Anyone Submitted Owl City To That Men Who Look Like Old Lesbians Site Yet?

Just sayin'....

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US Chart Roundup: Pink's New Single Blows, But Appears To Be A Hit

"Call Me Maybe," the eighth single to top the Billboard Hot 100 in 2012, is still on top (for a fifth week). Carly Rae Jepsen is now one week shy of tying fun.'s "We Are Young" for having the second-longest run at #1 this year — Gotye's "Somebody That I Used To Know" being in first place, with eight weeks.A bit further down the chart, Owl City and Carly Rae's "Good Time" moves up one position to #17, while Pink's "Blow Me (One Last Kiss)" debuts...

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Saint Etienne's Amy Winehouse "Just Friends" Cover

Saint Etienne have covered Amy Winehouse's 2006 Back To Black tune "Just Friends" for a special Q magazine tribute compilation. Not much to say about it other than it's pretty fucking lovely.Do you agr...

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The Killers' 'Battle Born' Out In September

The Killers' fourth album Battle Born will be out September 18, the same week as Nelly Furtado, Pink and Pet Shop Boys' new albums (and the Michael Jackson Bad re-issu...

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Ellie Goulding Offers Up Free New Song "Hanging On"

What better time for Ellie Goulding to release new music (for free) than when she's enjoying her first US Top 10 single? It seems like the English broad has been working on new material forever, and she's giving us the first taste with "Hanging On," a moody slow number that verges on dubstep but never quite has a breakdown.I like "Hanging On," but this isn't really going to keep her in the good graces of the chart gods, but hopefully it's just an...

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PWL Hit Factory Live Gig In London Canceled: They Say It's Gonna Rain

Yesterday Kylie Minogue tweeted the above pic of herself while rehearsing with Jason Donovan for their PWL Hit Factory Live reunion, but this morning brought news that the entire fest had to be called off due weather conditions (and last weekend's Wireless Festival) making the Hyde Park  grounds in London unsafe.Pete Waterman told the BBC the following:"People have come from all over the world to make this happen. We're trying to work out what...

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It's The Killers' New Single "Runaways"

The Killers' new single "Runaways" is set to debut today but has leaked online a bit early. Musically, there are slight shades reminiscent of the band's 2006 album Sam's Town, mainly in the intro. However, overall, the synthy guitar-pop jam mostly reminds me of something that would have sounded at home on 2008's Day & Age.I guess in that sense, the song doesn't indicate that Brandon Flowers and the gang have progressed much, but that's okay —...

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Here's A Tease Of No Doubt's "Settle Down" Video

If the music playing over top the tease of No Doubt's "Settle Down" video is anything, Gwen Stefani & the other guys who aren't Gwen Stefani will be serving up a Middle Eastern-tinged affair as the first single from upcoming album Push And Shove.As usual, Gwen snagged Sophie Muller to lens the "Settle Down" vid, which premieres in full next Monday (July 16). I personally can't believe No Doubt haven't released anything together since their 2003...

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U.K. Chart Post: I Think I'll Go Beat Off To My Channing Tatum Calendar

Maroon 5 return to #1 in the UK after being displaced last week by will.i.am's latest shit single "This Is Love." And that sassy Stooshe jam "Black Heart" climbs back up from #8 to #5. Meanwhile, on the album chart, Chris Brown's Fortune debuts at #1. More than enough reason to stop right here, and just sit and wonder whether or not the above pic of Adam Levine with a mustache is hot or not. Somewhere in between? Lukewarm? He never really did it...

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US Chart Roundup: Carly Rae Jepsen Now Has Two Songs In The Top 20

Yes, Carly Rae Jepsen's "Call Me Maybe" is still #1, now for a fourth week, on the Hot 100. The Canadian pop sorceress also manages to debut at #18 with her Owl City pair-up "Good Time," which climbed into the Top 10 on iTunes last week and has been nicely perched there ever since.Further down the chart, Calvin Harris and Ne-Yo's "Let's Go" gets bumped up to #31 while Cher Lloyd cracks the Top 40 (at #35) with her first US hit "Want U Back". The...

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Pink Announces 'The Truth About Love' Album

Out September 18. Too bad first single "Blow Me (One Last Kiss)" kinda blows. Oh well, maybe it'll be an I'm Not Dead and have far stronger singles to co...

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It's The Killers' Cover Art For New Single "Runaways"

"Runaways," The Killers' first Steve Lilywhite-produced single off upcoming fourth album Battle Born, is out next week (July 1...

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Pink's "Blow Me (One Last Kiss)" Contains Lots Of Shrieking

I want to like Pink's new Greg Kurstin-produced single "Blow Me (One Last Kiss)", I really do. And the intro and verses are pleasant enough. But the chorus is pretty weak, and she sounds like a shrieking hyena on it.Plus, do we really need to hear the word "shit" that much in a pop song?Oh, well. Maybe it's a grower...

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Pet Shop Boys "Winner": The Full Song/Lyric Video

Ooh, it goes up an octave. Full assessment later tod...

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UK Chart Roundup: Will.i.am Needs To Stop

Sorry, Chris Brown and William Orbit, but when will.i.am is involved, mediocrity will always, always win.The UK Top 10: 1. "This Is Love" - will.i.am feat. Eva Simons *new* *1 week*2. "Payphone" - Maroon 5 feat. Wiz Khalifa 3. "Don't Wake Me Up" - Chris Brown *new*4. "Whistle" - Flo Rida 5. "Call My Name" - Cheryl6. "Feel The Love" - Rudimental feat. John Newman 7. "Princess Of China" - Coldplay feat. Rihanna8. "Black Heart" - Stooshe 9. "We Are...

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