Aska Yang's new album out

Taiwan singer Aska Yang released his album First Love on March 25 in Beijing.

He performed one of the new songs, Actually Nothing At All, at a news conference. The song, which was written by Yang, drew inspiration from his life after rising to fame.

Busy traveling from city to city, he says although it seemed he met new friends, when he returned he felt alone and there was nothing left behind.

The title song First Love also focuses on the themes of cities and people. He says the album is a self-analysis, which allows him to rethink his life and music.

Yang, 35, rose to fame after performing as a competitor on Taiwan TV singing contest One Million Star. With his high-pitched clean voice, he entered the final 10 and won a record contract.

So far he has released two top selling albums, Dove in 2007 and Pure in 2011, both produced by veteran Taiwan singer-songwriter Jonathan Lee.

Capsule reviews of new movie releases

Admission" — What should be a hilarious, long-overdue pairing of two hugely likable, superstar comedians ends up being a major disappointment. As much film and television work as they do individually, Tina Fey and Paul Rudd surprisingly never have worked together. In theory, her smart, zingy persona should mesh beautifully with his easygoing goofiness — or their shared dynamic should bounce, or snap, or have some sort of life to it. Instead, Paul Weitz's direction of Karen Croner's script is tonally erratic: too fast in spots and too much of a slog in others.

It certainly doesn't help that the characters feel like types without much nuance. Even reliable comic veterans like Fey and Rudd can't find much that's new or fresh in these people, and as a result they have zero chemistry with each other. Fey, as a Princeton University admissions officer, is always uptight, precise and emotionally closed-off. Rudd, as the do-gooder founder of an alternative New England high school, is always free-spirited, adventurous and open-minded. Even in the fantasy world of romantic comedies where opposites attract and sparks fly, these two have no business being together. Nat Wolff plays the odd, brilliant student who may be the son Fey's character put up for adoption as a newborn and Lily Tomlin provides the film's few moments of joy as Fey's maverick feminist mother. PG-13 for language and some sexual material. 100 minutes. One and a half stars out of four.

Sunday Kind of Love

Fran Warren, whose 1947 recording of "A Sunday Kind of Love" was one of the classic hits of the big band era, has died.

Alan Eichler, a spokesman for the singer-actress, said Tuesday that Warren died March 4 of natural causes at her home in Brookfield, Conn. She was 87.

Warren's career spanned more than 50 years with hits that included the Tony Martin duet "I Said My Pajamas (and Put On My Prayers)," the Lisa Kirk duet "Dearie" and "It's Anybody's Heart." Her films roles included "Abbott and Costello Meet Captain Kidd."

She frequently appeared and performed on the talk shows of Johnny Carson, Mike Douglas, Merv Griffin and Steve Allen.

Warren is survived by two daughters, a son-in-law and two nieces.

Jazzing it up

In 1935, the notorious Shanghai gangster Du Yuesheng ordered the composer and musician Li Jinhui to create the first all-Chinese jazz group, the Clear Wind Dance Band.

As early as 1927, Li had been experimenting with "Sinofied jazz", merging Western big-band sounds with chord and meter variations on traditional Chinese folk instruments.

Clear Wind played to boozy backroom crowds and was perceived by many as a form of cultural corruption. The music was almost immediately labeled "pornographic" and was later entirely banned in China.

Shanghai jazz had only a brief heyday, but Dave Liang, former Bad Boy Records producer and founder of the electronica group Shanghai Restoration Project, was deeply inspired when he first heard the music on a trip to Shanghai's Peace Hotel 15 years ago.

Shanghai Restoration Project is Liang's attempt to recapture that spirit, combining nostalgia for old Shanghai not with the sounds of bygone eras but au courant Western genres of hip-hop and electronica.

Jim Morrison Documentary Begins Production

Jim Morrison will be memorialized in a new independent documentary that has started production. Before the End: Jim Morrison Comes of Age will give a look into the life of the late Doors singer, examining his early years through his untimely death in July 1971 at age 27.

According to Deadline.com, Before the End will feature interviews with Morrison's family and friends, including his brother Andy Morrison and Doors roadie Gareth Blyth, as well as previously unseen home movies and photographs. Z-Machine filmmakers Jess and Jeff Finn are leading the project.

Morrison and the Doors have been the subject of numerous documentaries already. One recent example, Mr. Mojo Risin': The Story of L.A. Woman – a film about the Doors' final album with Morrison – was released in January 2012.

Alicia Keys Spreads Love

Are you in love tonight?" asked Alicia Keys of her sold-out Staples Center audience last night in Los Angeles, the fourth stop on her North American arena tour. It was early in a night of affection and uplift from the singer, as she sat alone at the piano for a delicate and emotional "Not Even the King."

The song is from last year's Girl on Fire, and it was co-written with British singer Emeli Sandé. Keys has been calling it her favorite song, and she sings its simple message of feeling over profit most nights to her two-year-old son: "What good is a castle surrounded by people/But ain't got a friend that's not on the payroll?"

At 32, Keys is already a dozen years into her career, still operating with a sensibility both hip-hop modern and rooted in the best traditions of classic American soul. She opened her two-hour performance with a few jazzy, smoldering moments of "Empire State of Mind," her collaboration with Jay-Z, which would bookend the night with endless awe and dedication for her hometown.

Rihanna Still Recovering Cancels Second Tour Date in Baltimore

Rihanna's Diamonds World Tour is off to a rough start: the singer is still dealing with the flu and laryngitis and has canceled her show tonight in Baltimore. A statement from Live Nation, reported by the Associated Press, said Rihanna is "still recovering" and suggested fans hold onto their tickets "pending rescheduling show date information."

Rihanna kicked off her Diamonds World Tour last Friday in Buffalo, New York, but canceled her show on Sunday in Boston after falling ill. "#BOSTON this is the hardest thing for me to deal with! I feel like we've been waiting on this day forever, and I'm hurt that I let you down," she tweeted at the time. "I hate disappointing people that never ever let me down!! I'm so embarrassed about this! Thank you for your prayers and well wishes!"

Rock guitarist Alvin Lee dies at 68

British rock guitarist Alvin Lee, founder of the band Ten Years After who burst to stardom with a memorable Woodstock performance, has died. He was 68.

A statement posted on Lee's official website said he died Wednesday unexpectedly from complications following a routine surgical procedure. Lee's manager, Ron Rainey, said the guitarist died in Spain.

"We have lost a wonderful, much loved father and companion," said the statement signed by his daughter Jasmin, wife Evi and former companion Suzanne. "The world has lost a truly great and gifted musician."

The Nottingham, England-born Lee founded the band Ten Years After in 1967. The group first toured the U.S. in 1967, but its popularity exploded following Lee's rousing performance of the song "I'm Going Home" at Woodstock in 1969. Lee's epic and electrifying solos on his Gibson guitar for the 11-minute performance were immortalized in the documentary film about the legendary festival.

Jepsen drops Boy Scouts event over gay rights

Carly Rae Jepsen is canceling her performance at the national Boy Scouts of America Jamboree because of the organization's exclusion of gays.

Jepsen, the Canadian pop singer best known for the inescapable hit "Call Me Maybe," made the announcement Tuesday on Twitter.

"I always have and will continue to support the LGBT community on a global level," she wrote, "... and stay informed on the ever changing landscape in the ongoing battle for gay rights in this country and across the globe."

Rock band Train also has taken a stand, but pursued a different tack in a post on its website Friday. The group asked the BSA to reconsider its policy rather than immediately pull out of the July gathering in West Virginia. The event, held once every four years, is expected to draw more than 45,000 scouts and adults.

Dave Grohl's Sound City Players to Perform at SXSW

Dave Grohl's merry band of rock superstars, the Sound City Players, will continue their string of national shows with a performance at SXSW in Austin, Texas on March 14th. The rotating cast of musicians have already played in Los Angeles, New York and the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah, to support the Foo Fighter frontman's directorial debut, Sound City, a documentary about the famed Sound City recording studio in Van Nuys, California, and its accompanying album, Sound City: Real to Reel.

Grohl's Sound City Players lineup at SXSW brings back many familiar faces: Stevie Nicks, John Fogerty, Lee Ving of Fear, Rick Nielsen, Rick Springfield, Brad Wilk of Rage Against the Machine, Corey Taylor of Slipknot and more, according to Billboard. The show will be held at the rock hall Stubbs and the Meat Puppets will open.

SXSW will be a busy week for Grohl: he will also deliver the festival's keynote address on the morning of the Sound City Players' show.

People always commented on the tall one with the glasses

Roger's cousin Claudette told the Detroit Free Press that everyone was drawn to his personality.

"People always commented on the tall one with the glasses," she said. "He was personable, approachable and he loved talking to the women, loved talking to the guys, loved to dance, loved to sing, loved to perform. That was the joy of his life."

His voice can be heard on Marvin Gaye's "What's Going On," with Rogers saying, "It's just a groovy party, man, I can dig it." Mary Wilson of the Supremes said that captured his essence.

"If people want to remember him, they should put that record on and listen to Bobby," Wilson told the newspaper. "That's who he was."

Rogers and The Miracles were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2012. He was too ill to attend the ceremony.

He shared songwriting credits with Robinson on The Temptations' "The Way You Do the Things You Do," The Contours' "First I Look at the Purse" and The Miracles' "Going to a Go-Go."

Funeral arrangements through James H. Cole Home for Funerals in Detroit were incomplete Sunday afternoon.

Brian May Speaks Out Against Badger Population Reductions in Britain

In a recent interview with the Guardian, the astrophysicist, animal rights activist and Queen guitarist Brian May expressed concern over the imminent badger culls that are set to take place in Britain this summer, despite overwhelming disapproval from the public, Parliament and scientific community.

"It's kind appealing, 'We're doing something, we're taking action, it's a kind of sexy thing, yeah, we'll go and kill the badgers,'" said May. "But this is a tragedy for Britain's wildlife and it's a tragedy for the farmers as well, I believe, because I think it will drive a wedge between the farming community and the general public, who actually will not stand for this."

May called the government-mandated population reduction "very, very sad" and added the move won't help the farmers fight the spread of bovine tuberculosis, which the badgers have been blamed

American classical pianist

Van Cliburn, the internationally celebrated pianist whose triumph at a 1958 Moscow competition helped thaw the Cold War and launched a spectacular career that made him the rare classical musician to enjoy rock-star status, died Wednesday after a fight with bone cancer. He was 78.

Cliburn died at his home in Fort Worth surrounded by loved ones, said his publicist and longtime friend Mary Lou Falcone.

The Grammy winner had made his last public appearance in September at the 50th anniversary of the prestigious piano competition in Fort Worth named in his honor. To a roaring standing ovation, he saluted many past contestants, the orchestra and the city, saying: "Never forget: I love you all from the bottom of my heart, forever."

Michael Jackson Is death

He said the case was unique and it should proceed intact with claims that AEG is liable for Murray's actions. "This has never happened before, or at least no one's been caught," Boyle said.

Putnam argued that by the time it was negotiating Murray's contract to treat Jackson while performing a series of London concerts, the doctor had already been treating the singer for some time, had relocated from Las Vegas to Los Angeles and had ordered large amounts of propofol to help Jackson sleep.

"Sadly, it appears that Michael Jackson's death would have occurred anyway," Putnam said after the hearing.

Katherine Jackson sued in September 2010 and a trial has been scheduled for early April.

MC Hammer Arrested in Northern California

According to the Dublin Police, Hammer was in a vehicle with expired registration, and he was not the registered owner. "After asking Hammer who the registered owner was he became very argumentative and refused to answer the officer's questions," police spokesman Herb Walters told CNN.

Hammer was arrested on suspicion of resisting an officer and obstructing an officer in the performance of his duties; he was booked and released on bail from Santa Rita Jail, with a court date set for next month.

Hammer concluded his tweeted account of the incident by describing it as a "teachable moment" and an "eye opener." "I will now answer his question," he wrote. "contrary to his personal beliefs, all people of color are not on parole or probation fat boy."

Soft Machine co-founder Kevin Ayers dies in France

Kevin Ayers, an influential singer-songwriter who co-founded the band Soft Machine, has died in France, his record label said Thursday. He was 68.

Ayers was an important figure in the British psychedelic movement spearheaded by the Beatles in the late 1960s. He did not achieve sustained commercial success, but his work is treasured by musicians and many fans.

Jack McLean, assistant to the managing director of Lo-Max Records in London, said Thursday that Ayers' body had been discovered in his bed at his home in the medieval village Montolieu in the south of France.

"We believe he died Feb. 18 of natural causes and was found two days later," McLean said. "He hadn't been ill, but he lived a rock 'n' roll lifestyle and everything that comes with that."

Ayers, who was raised partly in Malaysia, moved to Canterbury on his return to England and formed Soft Machine in 1966 with drummer and singer Robert Wyatt. They took the name from a novel by beat generation author William Burroughs.

Those unfamiliar with Howard

Howard, a hitherto largely-unheralded singer-songwriter who has nonetheless gone platinum in the UK with his Every Kingdom debut album, picked up British Breakthrough Act and British Male Solo Artist, looking every bit as bemused as the TV audience at home may have been.

"That's bizarre, isn't it?" he said, as he picked up the second trophy. "To win two of these things is amazing."

Those unfamiliar with Howard had the chance to discover his music later in the show when he performed an acoustic version of his song "Only Love." For that, show host, actor and TV personality James Corden got to introduce him as "a two-time BRIT Award winner…"

On a slick, well-organized night a long way away from the BRITs' one-time riotous reputation, most of the winners were as grown-up and well-behaved as their music, meaning it was often left to the live performances to inject some edge and spectacle into proceedings.

The country singer with the tumultuous personal life

The criticism of Dr. Drew Pinsky spread on the Internet almost as quickly as news of Mindy McCready's death.

The country singer with the tumultuous personal life became the fifth cast member of his "Celebrity Rehab" series to die since appearing on the show and the third from Season 3. The previous deaths stirred up rumors of a curse and a debate about the show's helpfulness, and McCready's apparent suicide upped the pitch of the reaction.

While many noted that Drew took on hard cases, others rendered stark judgment. Singer Richard Marx on Twitter compared Pinsky to Dr. Jack Kevorkian, the so-called suicide doctor: "Same results."

Marx backed off later Monday, saying the crack went too far. But he restated his thoughts in a way that summed up much of the reaction in the first 24 hours since the 37-year-old McCready's death Sunday afternoon in Heber Springs, Ark.

The crowd mid-song during a string of hit

Her return to the world stage was temporarily derailed when she admitted that she sang with a pre-recorded track of the national anthem at Obama's inauguration, but on Sunday there was no questioning her vocal skills and her live performance.

She called out to the crowd mid-song during a string of hits in her 12-minute set and reunited on stage with former Destiny's Child band members, Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams, for their hits "Bootylicious" and "Independent Woman".

"Beyonce creates these moments, these unforgettable cultural snapshots ... This is going to be a musical snapshot to remind everyone why she's here, and it's all about that voice," Tamar Anitai, MTV Buzzworthy's editor, told Reuters.

Reviews of her performance were largely positive, with hashtags :#SuperBeyonce" and "#BeyonceBowl" becoming top trending topics on Twitter.

Sales figures for the full week

The numbers mostly reflect a single night of sales increases from the prior week, predominantly digital downloads, immediately following the Grammy Awards show in Los Angeles on February 10.

Sales figures for the full week will be released as usual by Nielsen SoundScan on Wednesday and will include both digital and physical album sales.

Grammy winners were not the only ones to benefit from the annual music industry showcase.

Veteran rockers The Band saw its greatest hits package climb 203 percent after a multi-artist tribute at the show to late drummer Levon Helm.

Sales of "Take Five," the distinctive 1959 tune by jazz pianist Dave Brubeck who died in December, shot up 248 percent after a tribute by fellow jazz musicians Chick Corea, Stanley Clarke and Kenny Garrett, according to Nielsen.

Nigel Godrich Book Shows in New York

Thom Yorke and Nigel Godrich are borrowing a line from Beck and setting out for a trio of shows equipped only with two turntables and a microphone. Yorke announced on Twitter that the duo have booked three shows in London, Berlin and New York. They'll hit London on February 22nd, Berlin on March 8th and New York on March 14th, with special guests and venues to come.

The Radiohead frontman and Godrich, Radiohead's longtime producer, are also set to release their debut album with Atoms for Peace, Amok, on February 26th. Yorke and Godrich also recently composed a soundtrack to Rag and Bone's Fall 2013 menswear show, and Godrich kept busy last year with his experimental project Ultraista, which released a self-titled album in October.

America the Beautiful

Before the game, Alicia Keys performed a lounge-y, piano-tinged version of the national anthem that her publicist assured was live. The Grammy-winning singer played the piano as she sang "The Star Spangled Banner" in a long red dress with her eyes shut.

She followed Jennifer Hudson, who performed "America the Beautiful" with the 26-member Sandy Hook Elementary School chorus, a performance that had some players on the sideline on the verge of tears.

The students wore green ribbons on their shirts in honor of the 20 first-graders and six adults who were killed in a Dec. 14 shooting rampage at the school in Newton, Conn.

The students began the song softly before Hudson, whose mother, brother and 7-year-old nephew were shot to death five years ago, jumped in with her gospel-flavored vocals. She stood still in black and white as the students moved to the left and right, singing background.

When melody blooms

About 10 years ago, rock musician Su Yang was inspired by a CD of blues to begin making his own music. One of his first works, however, was an adaptation of hua'er, a kind of traditional folk song from Northwest China.

"If Western musicians can turn blues to pop and rock, we can use hua'er to create contemporary Chinese music," says Su, who is from Yinchuan, capital of Ningxia Hui autonomous region. "Hua'er is a very unique and down-to-earth kind of song that has its distinct melodic patterns, structures and rhetoric systems."

In his second album, released in 2010, Su covered a traditional hua'er titled The Night Journey (Xia Ye Chuan), which tells a man's secret rendezvous with his lover.

The song begins with depictions of the scenery from the mountain to the plain, which was later disclosed to be underlining the difficulty of the meeting.

Hua'er, which literally means flower, is said to have got its name from the image of a flower symbolizing one's beloved woman.

For local people, hua'er is an important vehicle for expressing personal feelings and a popular rural entertainment.

Randy Travis to enter drunken driving plea

Country music star Randy Travis is scheduled to appear in a North Texas court, where prosecutors say he is expected to plead guilty to driving while intoxicated.

The hearing in state district court in Sherman would end a drunken driving case that began last summer when Travis was accused of crashing his car while driving naked.

Grayson County District Attorney Joe Brown says details of the plea agreement will be released Thursday following Travis' court appearance. The misdemeanor is punishable by up to two years in jail and a $4,000 fine. However, one of Travis' attorneys, John Nix, has said he expects Travis will be sentenced to probation.

The February 24 show will be Adele Is first live performance

The theme tune to the latest James Bond movie was written by Adele and Paul Epworth. It is the first Bond theme to be nominated for the original song award at the Oscars since "For Your Eyes Only" in 1981.

The February 24 show will be Adele's first live performance since the Grammy Awards last April and the first time she will perform "Skyfall" live, as she has kept a low profile since giving birth to a son last October.

"It's an honor to be nominated and terrifyingly wonderful to be singing in front of people who have captured my imagination over and over again," Adele, 24, said in a statement.

"It's something I've never experienced and probably only ever will once!"

She was in Hollywood last month to pick up the Golden Globe for the best original song prize for "Skyfall".

Adele's album "21" scored the rare feat in December of topping all US album sales for the second straight year. She records on the indie record label XL.

Benson famously began his musical career

His band, professional to the last note, proceeded to finish the song, packed up and followed Benson. We were all feeling the love by that point. Benson is the kind of man to inspire emotions, and those emotions transfer to songs that sell like hot cakes.

Born in Pittsburgh, Benson famously began his musical career on the ukulele at the age of seven. He grew up during the golden age of Motown and at a time when records sold in the millions. Though he has been making music as diverse as jazz, adult contemporary and pop for decades, he still loves what he does and still retains a wide-eyed wonder at being able to do what he loves best.

"I never expected to do any of this stuff," he admits in the green room before his Venetian Theatre's one night only show. "I always felt like a scientist when I was a kid-I love solving problems. The song may have a good melody and good harmony, but it needs some excitement. I hear the boring parts of a song and I think, let me fix this."

Illustrating his point, he sings: "They say the neon lights are bright on Broadway," and continues speaking, "and I would change what Quincy Jones had done. I didn't want to record it because I had such great respect for his voice. But the song bored me, so I changed it from a one bar phrase to a two bar phrase, then added my improvisations."

New production of Rossini Is Cinderella a delight

While all operas stand or fall on the quality of their singers, La Cenerentola presents a particular challenge, with solos replete with florid vocalization, full-out crescendos and sustained, flowing melodic lines.

But all soloists passed the test with full honors — and then some — in the production that premiered Saturday.

As Angelina — Rossini's Cenerentola, or Cinderella — mezzo Tara Erraught unleashed an array of coloratura fireworks in a role that affords opportunities for vocal pyrotechnics like few others.

"Non piu mesta" — where Angelina, the prince by her side, announces that she forgives her cruel step-sisters and step-father — is considered one of opera's most difficult arias. No problem for Erraught. Her rendition perfectly mirrored Angelina's transition from a servant singing a simple ditty at the fireside to a princess in full embellished voice.

Snoop Dogg Skrillex Join Ultra Music Festival Lineup

Miami's 15th annual Ultra Music Festival is getting a big shot of reggae. Snoop Lion formerly Snoop Dogg has joined the EDM festival's lineup along with Skrillex (teaming with Boys Noize as Dog Blood), Azealia Banks, Sleigh Bells, the Weeknd and more.

The festival has also added a batch of electronic up-and-comers, including Benny Benassi, Steve Aoki, Dirty South, Eric Prydz, Hardwell and more. They join already announced acts Tiësto, Swedish House Mafia, David Guetta, Deadmau5, Calvin Harris, Avicii, Major Lazer, Yeasayer and Hot Chip.

The first weekend of Ultra is set for March 15th-17th and continues for a second weekend of March 22nd-24th. For more information, visit Ultra's website.

Lumineers to perform at Grammys

The Recording Academy announced Thursday that those acts will join previously announced performers including fun., The Black Keys and Taylor Swift at the Feb. 10 awards show in Los Angeles.

White is nominated for album of the year and the Lumineers are up for best new artist.

U.K. newcomer Ed Sheeran and Elton John will perform together. Sheeran's "The A Team" is nominated for song of the year.

Country singers Miranda Lambert and Dierks Bentley will also join forces onstage.

The Black Keys, Rihanna and Mumford & Sons are also set to perform.

Frank Ocean, Jay-Z, fun., Kanye West, Black Keys' Dan Auerbach and Mumford & Sons lead with six nominations each.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences

Adele will perform the James Bond theme "Skyfall" at the Oscars, her first U.S. performance since last year's Grammy Awards.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences said Wednesday that Adele will sing the Oscar-nominated song at the 85th annual Academy Awards on Feb. 24. She and producer Paul Epworth are nominated for best original song for "Skyfall."

The announcement isn't much of a surprise considering Adele's award show ubiquity. She recently won a Golden Globe for the Bond theme.

Adele hasn't previously sung "Skyfall" live for an audience. She says in a statement that she's honored to be singing in front of people who've captured her imagination. The Oscars will also present a tribute to James Bond, marking the 50th anniversary of the franchise.

Beyonce questioned on lip sync

On Tuesday, a spokeswoman for the U.S. Marine Band told news outlets that Beyonce had lip synced at President Barack Obama's inauguration. Master Sgt. Kristin duBois said the band was notified at the last minute that Beyonce would use a pre-recorded voice track.

But by late afternoon, the Marine Corps backed off that statement.

Marine Corps spokesman Capt. Gregory Wolf said that because there was no opportunity for Beyonce to rehearse with the Marine Band, it was determined that a live performance by the band was ill advised. Instead they used a pre-recorded track for the band's portion of the song.

"Regarding Ms. Knowles-Carter's vocal performance," Wolf's statement continued, "no one in the Marine Band is in a position to assess whether it was live or pre-recorded."

Beyonce Hudson do star turns at inauguration

Hudson was among the entertainment at Monday night's inaugural balls, joined by Stevie Wonder and Alicia Keys, who modified her hit "Girl on Fire" to sing "He's the president and he's on fire ... Obama's on fire. Obama's on fire."

The crowd at the official Inaugural Ball joined in with the Grammy-nominated fun. anthem "We Are Young."

And Wonder got small knots of dancers going with crowd-pleasers such as "Signed, Sealed, Delivered I'm Yours."

Earlier in the day, the applause for Beyonce started when she took her place with Jay-Z at the Capitol to watch President Barack Obama take the oath for his second term in office. The two stopped to chat with the Rev. Al Sharpton.

About the festival in Chengdu

A star-studded program, the Big Love Music Festival attracted considerable attention even before it started in late June. It was also the most talked-about festival afterward, but not entirely for good reasons.

There are two opposing opinions about the festival in Chengdu, capital of Sichuan province. Many of those who attended say it was the best ever music festival in China, but for some of those who were involved in organizing the festival, it was a nightmare.

Contracted companies, including the hotel, production team, and those who provided power and cars, claimed they did not get paid. Before the festival was completed, some of them had already gone on strike, and by the end of the festival, things were out of control.

The hotel wouldn't let some guests check out because the organizer didn't pay for their stays; and some artists, including Taiwan singer Lo Ta-yu, had to pay for their own accommodation to leave. The transportation team refused to take artists to the airport too. Staff members of the organizing company, which is based in Beijing, couldn't leave Chengdu because no one paid for their flights.

Frontier Is Group

Wang used to work for Frontier's Group, and was actively involved in the introduction of foreign musicals and other theater productions.

About four years ago, Vicencio and Wang decided to create an original musical of China.

"We saw the potential, witnessed the rise of musical theater and saw the wave building up in China," Vicencio says.

But on the other hand, there has been no fresh epic on the musical scene for a long time.

In other aspects of the entertainment world - such as the movie industry - there has been a trend of integrating Chinese elements. But in the musical industry, Asian actors' roles have been limited and appeal only to a niche market in Asia.

When the movie Ip Man was released, Vicencio and Wang found it to be the perfect subject. "It's an epic with potential," Wang says. "And it's best if it can be produced by someone with experience."

New TV series, movie sequences and other productions about Ip Man have kept the subject fresh and relevant.

Evergrande Music is chairman

The company will recruit musicians and producers with whom they've long cooperated, Wu says.

Evergrande Music's chairman Wu Xuedan says the real estate company's investment "sustains the music industry's future".

The label isn't the company's first non-real estate venture. In 2010, it bought the Guangzhou Football Team for 100 million yuan and renamed it the Guangzhou Evergrande Football Club. The soccer team is the current Chinese Super League champion.

The real estate company has 28 branches nationwide that will back up the music tours. Wu says the company's good relationship with foreign investors will help it expand overseas.

Song and Gao say they hope to diversify the music industry, which is currently lopsided toward hip-hop.

"We don't lack good music but need clever promotion plans and creative presentations," Song says.

Song and Gao have been friends since 1994, when Gao released his first collection, Collegiate Ballads 1, which was the top-selling album of the year and won almost all of that year's pop prizes. Song's record company has since released all of Gao's music.

A French promoter

In this phase, government support can play a vital role in the promotion of Chinese music. Take a look at the international musicians who tour China, and we'll see that many of their concerts would be impossible without the sponsorship of organizations like the Goethe Institute, British Council or Alliance Francaise, who in turn get support from their governments.

A French promoter I know, who brings French rock and folk musicians to China and vice versa, once complained that when French artists tour China he has to apply for support from France, and when Chinese artists go to France he also has to find money from France.

Fortunately, the situation is changing. A few years ago, the Ministry of Culture started to pay for the international travel of some Chinese rock and folk bands.

For example, the ethnic Mongolian folk rock band Hanggai, Uygur rock group Askar and Grey Wolf, and reggae band Long Shen Dao have performed at Lantern Festival in New Zealand, with the ministry's help. Recently, Chinese jazz outfit Golden Buddha also toured Croatia with governmental sponsorship.

The typical Chinese shows

This is something new for the Chinese government, which has been sending out official art troupes to tour other countries for a long time but has only recently begun to work with independent musicians. It was hard to imagine in the past that the ministry would support a band with the name "Suffocated" to represent China at an international festival.

Traditionally, the typical Chinese shows seen overseas are acrobatics and kung fu. In recent years, with the craze for classical music, many Chinese symphony orchestras have also had international tours. These are all big groups whose tours cost a lot of money. In addition, they only represent a part of the Chinese performing arts scene.

For about three decades, pop and rock music has developed rapidly in China and played an important role in contemporary Chinese culture. These, too, should be presented internationally, if China wants to create a comprehensive and healthy image of itself in the world.

Dinner was out of the question

There is a talent show in there, but actually, really what it's about is about friendship, it's about motherhood and then there is a little bit of how do you juggle between success and friendship?"

Asked about how they had got along since coming together to promote and work on the musical, Halliwell replied: "We actually do have quite a good time together when it's just us lot."

Dinner was out of the question, however, as Beckham was leaving on a flight soon after the promotion.

Brown bantered with reporters, calling their questions "crap" and asking why no one had asked why they all looked so good. She also stated on stage that at the musical workshops the performers "sing it better than us."

"Well, that's not hard," Chisholm replied to loud laughter.

Chisholm also interrupted Halliwell as she praised the other Spice Girls, referring jokingly to "Ginger Spice's" shock 1998 exit from the group amid reports of a bust up.

The other two were the French

She, which topped the UK Singles Chart in 1974 and was covered by Elvis Costello for the soundtrack of the romantic comedy Notting Hill, was one of the songs Aznavour performed at the Shanghai charity ball.

The other two were the French tune La Boheme and Yesterday When I Was Young, which was sung by Roy Clark and entered the US Billboard's Top 40 in 1969.

"Usually the (song) choice is mine, but I've never been here, so " Aznavour says, trailing off.

He has written some 1,000 songs and sold a million records in a career that has spanned seven decades.

And he has worked with some of the music industry's biggest names, including Celine Dione, Bob Dylan, Josh Groban, Elton John and Frank Sinatra. In 1998, a CNN poll named him "entertainer of the century".

Now, as a diplomat, he says his music helps open doors for Armenia.

Born to Armenian immigrants in Paris in 1924, Aznavour battled harsh criticism to establish a solo singing career from age 19.

"They said my songs were not good. My voice was terrible. Physically, I was not the type of man to be able to become a star," he says, referring to his small stature.

Adam Levine the lead singer

"I think Benny's greatest strength is his taste and his ability to know when something is amazing," said Ammar Malik, who wrote "Stereo Hearts" and "Payphone" with Mr. Blanco. "When I'm in the room with him, he inspires me to find a different sound."

Adam Levine, the lead singer and songwriter for Maroon 5, said: "It's almost as if he has the Midas touch in putting the right people together at the right time to create a musical moment. He's about the collaboration. And he's so good at nailing down who does everything best."

Mr. Blanco starts songwriting sessions at his studio in New York by playing a mixtape of tunes he finds inspiring, tracks he has harvested from the Internet to evoke the sound he wants. He then pushes the artists to play along those lines until he hears the beginnings of a song.

One of the hottest singers

The free sharing of music, on the contrary, has largely made music recording a charitable enterprise. As a result, music labels have closed down one after another in recent years.

One of the hottest singers in China at the moment, Li Daimo, released a new CD consisting entirely of covers of classic pop numbers. Like most other new Chinese pop singers, Li became famous because of his appearance in a TV talent show.

In the past, a singer's success was inseparable from his or her signature songs, but today, with few left in the business of making music, there is virtually no opportunity for a singer to shine with just a song.

There is a theory that the music industry's loss in recordings has been compensated by an increase in live performances. But music writing, which is the foundation of the music business, is not encouraged under the current system. And without it, there won't be momentum for the development of the art.

There is already progress

By not acknowledging creators of music works with their due shares, the websites are killing the music business, which will eventually have no content to profit from. It is like the Chinese idiom "draining the pond to get the fish". When there is no water, there are no fish.

There is already progress compared to five years ago, when artists and production companies got practically nothing from websites who offered free downloads. Now most major websites pay some fees to the copyright owners.

But that fee is obviously not enough to sustain the music industry. China didn't provide much original and exciting music in the last decade compared to the previous one, although cheap-sounding works made through amateur computer software are flourishing.

There is another problem with the current model of websites paying royalties with advertising proceeds, and netizens downloading music for free: In the long run, it will not be ourselves who decide what we hear, but the major websites.

The American singer-songwriter

His left arm has a tattoo of a man and a woman. Mraz says the man represents him, with his height and age written vertically, and he will fill in the woman's stats when he finds the special one.

On his right forearm is a "Be Love" tattoo, featuring a circle with a triangle inside, which symbolizes being whole in mind, body and soul.

The American singer-songwriter, who is also a Grammy winner, will bring his love tunes to China as part of his tour, Tour is a Four Letter Word.

After rocketing to international fame with his pop track I'm Yours in 2008, the singer strapped on his cowboy look and added a country flair for his fourth album, Love is a Four Letter Word.

His album cover has a primary color artwork, which features rectangles, circles, triangles and squares placed alongside one another to form the word "love".

Mraz says his latest album is about love and how love is a choice for everyone. Every song he wrote since 2009 came out of love, which he sums up in one of his new tracks, Everything is Sound, where he begins with the line, "When there is love, I can't wait to talk about it."

"I really wanted to make an album about love. That was my starting point," he says. "So, I really set out to make a love-based album about the fact that love is a choice. It's a choice that we make to see it or not, to have it or not, and I'm obviously not a master of it in anyway but I really wanted to learn more about it."

Pirates of the Caribbean

The Descendants" star Shailene Woodley picked up the breakthrough performance award. "Spiderman" actress Emma Stone was given the trailblazer trophy and Johnny Depp was honored with the generation award for a career spanning three decades.

"It's like the get-out-of-the-business award basically, when you've done too much ... There's obviously something wrong with me," Depp joked in his acceptance speech.

The "Pirates of the Caribbean" actor showed off his guitar skills, joining rockers The Black Keys for their hit singles "Gold On The Ceiling" and "Lonely Boy."

In some of the night's more irreverent categories, Jennifer Aniston picked up the best on-screen dirtbag award for her role as a foul-mouthed, blackmailing dentist in "Horrible Bosses."

The best kiss trophy was again given to "Twilight" leads Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson, who have won for their steamy on-screen clinches for the past three years.

Despite its billing an outrageous event, the show seemed more tame than in previous years with little foul language or onstage antics. Channing Tatum, Matthew McConaughey and Joe Manganiello did some spicing up with a near strip tease. The trio stars in an upcoming film, "Magic Mike," about male strippers.

When I finished all the remix

When I was asked to give a show at the Zumba Convention, I hoped to use a popular Chinese song," he told China Daily in Beijing. "But I was skeptical. I didn't know if it would work there. But I wanted to do something different."

"When I finished all the remix and designed all the dance moves, the final effect was a huge surprise to me," Wang continued. "When I saw nearly 1,000 foreigners dancing with me, clapping their hands and shaking their bodies in yangko moves, I was so proud."

After the successful show at the 2010 Zumba Convention, Wang continued to mix workout moves with traditional Chinese dances.

He not only employed fast, hard beats, but also used some soft, slow songs to mix with salsa and flamenco.

He usually experiments with remixes for hours and dances in front of the mirror to see if it's proper for exercise.

The first performances of the Moscow Soloists

Viola master Yuri Bashmet will lead the Moscow Soloists Chamber Orchestra to perform In Shanghai and Beijing on May 23 and May 24 respectively.

The first performances of the Moscow Soloists were staged in 1992, at the Big Hall of the Moscow Conservatory and the Salle Pleyel in Paris, when Yuri Bashmet gathered Moscow State Conservatory's top graduates.

Since that time, it has given more than 1,700 concerts in more than 50 countries and performed in some of the world's most prestigious concert halls, including Carnegie Hall in New York, Musikverein in Vienna and Concertgebouw in Amsterdam.

The group Is frontman Qu Zihan

"Shanren" literally means "mountain men", but the namesake band insists on using pinyin for their English name, because they believe subtle meaning is lost in the translation.

The group's frontman Qu Zihan puts it like this: "We all come from the mountains, but shanren also implies wisdom. We want to make music with Chinese characteristics."

The outfit from Yunnan province has taken their Chinese rock to South Korea, Spain, Britain, the United States, Canada and Indonesia in recent years.

Simultaneously, the band makes an annual trip to places "out there" to learn from traditional folk musicians and find inspiration.

In 2011, they traveled to Chuxiong, Nujiang, Lincang and Ximeng in Yunnan and recorded local folk music, some tracks of which are samples on their new album, which comes out next month.

"When you live in the city too long, you feel empty and need to recharge," bassist Ai Yong says. "We find the meaning of music in the mountains, where music is an organic part of life."

Shanren released its first CD Shanren Band in 2008, after performing in grassroots venues for almost 10 years. The album tells stories about ordinary people.

If more than 60 percent of the audience votes for a vocalist

Viewers will get the final say. Judges - they include composer and songwriter Gao Xiaosong and singer Cai Guoqing - are more like mentors, who offer guidance to competitors.

"Although we've replicated most aspects of the original show, we've altered the stage design," Liu says.

In the second phase, the audience will be divided onstage into three sections, with 100 people from three generations in every section, with their backs to the singers.

If more than 60 percent of the audience votes for a vocalist, their section of the stage swivels around to face the singer. The competitor can continue if all three sections turn around to face him (her).

"The stage is larger and more flexible," Liu says.

Such rules identify a singer who can cater to different age groups' tastes, he says.

The winner will be recruited by a music executive and get the chance to perform at the opening ceremony of this year's Nanning International Folk Song Art Festival.

The concept is also used by Yunnan Satellite TV's recently launched Perfect Voice.

It hopes to capitalize on the novelty and fairness of judging contestants solely on their singing.

The show's director Peng Ying insists the format wasn't inspired by foreign shows but, rather, developed out of a quest for impartiality.

Songbird flits from stage to stage

The year was 2007 when soprano Chen Xiaoduo received a phone call from leading composer Chen Qigang asking her to be part of his production. And, as the saying goes, the rest is history.

Chen was already an acclaimed soprano then, having won Beijing's 2004 National Singing Competition. But, since she started her career as a traditional opera singer, she had not stood on another stage. That phone call in 2007 propelled her from one stage to another, even beyond the country's shores.

She was the first singer of You and Me, the 2008 Beijing Olympics theme song. She was also invited to sing a romantic ballad, Ring, together with pop singer Han Geng.

In 2010, she took a dip into pop and folk singing, as well as dancing, when she performed the lead role in the opera In That Remote Place. The production tells the story of Wang Luobin (1913-96), who's known as the "Father of Chinese Folk Music".

In 2011, she sang the theme song Qin and Huai Scenery for director Zhang Yimou's movie The Flowers of War.

Those were bold and surprising moves, following her role in Chen Qigang's opera Iris Unveiled. In 2009, the opera was staged at New York's Carnegie Hall. Chen's sweet operatic voice, together with that of another Peking Opera-style soprano, Meng Meng, impressed Western audiences.

Having just wrapped up her performances of the opera at the Hong Kong Culture Center in mid-April, Chen will perform in the US in May, under the baton of Edo de Waart. The tour will include Carnegie Hall.