Morning Fix: Mariah Carey Debuts New Song, 'Boston Strong' Organizer Speaks, Rudimental Grabs Top Spot on U.K. Albums Chart
By Dan Rys, New York
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PepsiCo is cutting its ties with Lil Wayne after the rapper made a crude reference to civil rights martyr Emmett Till in a song. Lil Wayne, one of the biggest stars in pop music, had a deal to promote the company's Mountain Dew soda.
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After a bitter split from his longtime employer, former Pacha brand director Danny Whittle is striking out on his own with IBZ Entertainment, a new multi-faceted company backed by Y Entertainment Group, an arm of Ron Burkle’s powerful private equity firm Yucaipa.
Billboard.biz
Mariah Carey makes sweet music with Miguel on “#Beautiful,” the first single off her upcoming album. The pop diva and “Adorn” singer duet on the breezy guitar-driven number, perfect for the summer months ahead.
Rap-Up
'BOSTON STRONG' CONCERT ORGANIZER: THIS TOWN CAN'T BE BROUGHT DOWN
New Kids on the Block manager Jared Paul, who organized the May 30 all-star show, tells how he was able to recruit Aerosmith, Jason Aldean, James Taylor and more in under a week.
Billboard.biz
RUDIMENTAL CLAIMS U.K. ALBUMS CHART CROWN, DAFT PUNK'S 'GET LUCKY' REIGNS AGAIN ON SINGLES CHART
London drum & bass group Rudimental followed their two U.K. No. 1 singles yesterday by landing the top spot with their debut album “Home." On the singles chart, “Get Lucky” featuring Pharrell Williams started a second week at No. 1, becoming their bestselling U.K. hit.
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The Warner Music Group will not only get lower rates than previously thought for the $820 million term loan it will take on to pay for the Parlophone Label Group, but the deal will also allow WMG to reduce the rate the company is paying on its existing term loan.
Billboard.biz
RANDY ROGERS BAND AIMING FOR SECOND TOP 10 ALBUM ON BILLBOARD 200 CHART
Randy Rogers Band is on course for its second top 10 album on the Billboard 200, as the country group's new "Trouble" could sell around 20,000 to 25,000 -- so say industry sources.
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The death of Slayer's Jeff Hanneman was announced just hours before Revolver Magazine's 2013 Golden Gods Awards, so it certainly cast a somber pall over the proceedings. Performers, presenters and organizers chose to celebrate his life, lifting several glasses to the fallen "Big 4" guitarist throughout the night.
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Ahead of the opening night of its “50 and Counting” tour at Los Angeles’ Staples Center on May 3, the Rolling Stones announced that a new block of more than 1,000 seats priced at $85 would be available for last minute purchase.
Billboard.biz
Mr. Worldwide jumps 18-5 after a newsworthy week. Plus, Justin Timberlake and the late George Jones scale the ranking and P!nk finally reaches the top 10.
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Veteran Primetime Emmys producer Ken Ehrlich will return for this year's awards telecast on CBS. The network and the Television Academy made the announcement Friday.
Billboard.biz
Ahead of a sentencing date Monday, Lauryn Hill has paid the more than $900,000 she owed in back taxes, according to her lawyer. In order to help pay off the debt, she released new song "Neurotic Society" in connection with her new deal with Sony.
Billboard.com
Fans of Justin Timberlake's "20/20 Experience" may only have to wait until Sept. 30 for a second full-length "20/20" album to arrive; today Timberlake tweeted a photo of himself in the studio with a handwritten caption on the mixing board that said, "The 20/20 Experience (2 of 2) Sept. 30th."
Billboard.com
Still dealing with a "private matter," the guitarist won't join the band for the European and South African legs of the Because We Can tour, but may return this summer.
THR
The rockers were scheduled to perform May 11 before a nearly sold-out crowd of 15,000 in the capital, Jakarta.
THR
It’s not the first time the popular deejay, real name Calvin LeBrun, has been cuffed for playing with prostitutes. This time, the man he allegedly tried to solicit for sex was an undercover cop.
NY Daily News
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