Billboard Bits serves up the best bite-sized nuggets of music news and gossip.
Kiss’ Paul Stanley Welcomes Baby No. 4
Kiss guitarist/vocalist Paul Stanley and wife, Erin, welcomed their fourth child, daughter Emily Grace Stanley yesterday (Aug. 9) in Los Angeles. “I’m not sure she can sing but her first screams let me know she’s definitely Daddy’s girl,” Stanley told People. (People)
Rebecca Black Dropped Out of School Due to Bullying
Rebecca Black withdrew from her school after teasing from her classmates over her YouTube phenomenon, “Friday,” became too pervasive to ignore. “When I walk by they’ll start singing ‘Friday’ in a really nasally voice,” the 14-year-old singer told ABC News. “Or, you know, they’ll be like, ‘Oh hey, Rebecca, guess what day it is?'” Now Black is being homeschooled by her mother, who is a teacher. (ABC News)
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Talib Kweli Becomes Turntable.fm’s First ‘Verified’ Artist
Rapper Talib Kweli has been an active participant on Turntable.fm, and today (Aug. 10), he was rewarded with the music-sharing site’s first verified account. Kweli received a customized avatar and DJed to a massive crowd in his new “Talib’s Room,” live from the Turntable.fm office. “Yo I’m turntable.fm’s 1st verified account…come join us, dj with us, we playin them joints,” he announced on Twitter. Video and photos from Kweli’s visit can be seen on the official Turntable.fm blog.
‘Footloose’ Soundtrack To Feature Blake Shelton, Cee Lo Green, Smashing Pumpkins
Atlantic Records and Warner Music Nashville have revealed the complete track listing for the film’s soundtrack, in which Blake Shelton puts a country twist on the title song, originally made famous by Kenny Loggins. Hunter Hayes joins Nickelodeon star Victoria Justice for the film’s love theme, “Almost Paradise,” while Zac Brown, Cee Lo Green and The Smashing Pumpkins also contribute to the album. The 12-track record will be released on Sept. 27, featuring eight original songs and four remakes. Read the full story at Billboard.biz.
Andrew Bird Tour Featured In Documentary
Director and violinist Xan Aranda has compiled footage from indie-rocker Andrew Birds year-long tour into a documentary called Fever Year. The film’s description, per its website, reads: “Filmed during culminating months of the acclaimed singer-songwriter’s most rigorous year of touring, Andrew Bird crosses the December finish line in his hometown of Chicago — feverish and on crutches from an onstage injury. Is he suffering hazards from chasing the ghost of inspiration? Or merely transforming into a different kind of animal ‘perfectly adapted to the music hall?'” The documentary is due to premiere September 29 at the Vancouver Film Festival. (Exclaim)
(Reporting by Alec Bojalad, Erica Thompson and The Hollywood Reporter)