Restart Nominated for MTV EMA Best Worldwide Act Award

Restart is representin’ Latin America in a big way…

The Brazilian happy rock band, one of the best-known bands in the country, has been named one of the finalists for an MTV European Music Award in the best Worldwide Act category

Restart

Restart – whose members include Pedro Gabriel Lanza Reis, Pedro Lucas Munhoz Convá, Lucas Henrique de Olivera Kobayashi and Thomas Alexander Machado D’Avilla – will represent Latin America. 

The other nominees vying for the honor at the upcoming MTV EMAs are Rihanna, who will represent North America, Dima Bilan, representing Europe, Han Geng from Asia and Ahmed Soultan who reps Africa/India/Middle East.

For the past six weeks, MTV has given fans around the world a chance to vote for their favorite artists from their region. More than 160 artists from every corner of the world have been in the MTV EMA spotlight as part of the Worldwide Act voting competition.

The five final artists will go head to head in one last round of voting in the Worldwide Act category, which celebrates the range and breadth of all the music that MTV has to offer across the globe.

Winners will be announced at the awards show, which will be hosted by Heidi Klum and air live from Frankfurt’s Festhalle on November 11 on MTV channels around the world.

The show will include a performance by Pitbull, a two-time nominee this year.

Carey Earns Her 16th No. 1 Song on Billboard’s Dance Chart

It’s a Sweet Sixteen for Mariah Carey

The 42-year-old part-Venezuelan singer is celebrating her sixteenth No. 1 track on Billboard’s Dance Club/Play Songs chart, as her latest single “Triumphant (Get ‘Em)” climbs to the top of the summit.

Mariah Carey

The new American Idol judge, aided by remixes of the original track, leaps 2-1 on the survey to be released on Billboard.com next Thursday (October 18).

It’s her first leader in more than three years, since “Obsessed” topped the chart the week of October 3, 2009.

With 16 No. 1s, Carey ties Kristine W for fifth-place among artists with the most leaders in the list’s 36-year history. Madonna leads the pack with 43 No. 1s, followed by Janet Jackson (19) and Beyonce and Rihanna (18 each).

On the overall Billboard Hot 100, Carey has notched 18 No. 1s, the most among women and the second-most among all artists after the Beatles‘ 20.

Here is a recap of Carey’s sweet 16 Dance/Club Play Songs to reach No. 1.

Title, Chart Date Reached No. 1

“Someday,” March 16, 1991
“Emotions,” Nov. 30, 1991
“Dreamlover,” Oct. 16, 1993
“Anytime You Need a Friend,” Aug. 27, 1994
“Fantasy,” Oct. 21, 1995 (three weeks at No. 1)
“Honey,” Oct, 18, 1997
“I Still Believe,” April 10, 1999
“Through the Rain,” Feb. 8, 2003
“It’s Like That,” May 21, 2005
“We Belong Together,” Aug. 6, 2005
“Don’t Forget About Us,” Jan. 21, 2006
“Say Somethin’ “ (featuring Snoop Dogg), May 27, 2006
“Touch My Body,” May 10, 2008
“I Stay in Love,” Feb. 14, 2009
“Obsessed,” Oct. 3, 2009
“Triumphant (Get ‘Em),” Oct. 27 2012

Pitbull Receives Two MTV EMA Award Nominations

It’s no wonder he’s the self-proclaimed Mr. Worldwide

Pitbull has picked up two MTV Europe Music Awards nominations—the only Latino artist to earn any nods this year.

Pitbull

The 31-year-old Cuban American rap superstar is nominated in the Best Male category, where he’s competing against Justin Bieber, Kanye West, Jay Z and Flo Rida.

Meanwhile, Pitbull’s dancetastic collaboration with Chris BrownInternational Love” is up for Best Song. The other contenders include Carly Rae Jepsen’s “Call Me Maybe,” Rihanna’s “We Found Love” featuring Calvin Harris, Goyte’s “Somebody That I Used to Know” and fun.’s “We Are Young” featuring Janelle Monáe.

The nominations bring Pitbull’s MTV EMA nod count to three. He was previously nominated for Best Hip Hop Artist last year, the same year that saw Selena Gomez serve as the show’s hostess.

MTV has yet to announce this year’s MTV EMA Awards host, performers and presenters.

The MTV EMAs will take place on Sunday, November 11 at the historic Festhalle Frankfurt arena in Germany, and will be broadcast on MTV channels around the world at 9 p.m. central European time.

Garcia Dazzles the Judges on “The X Factor”

It looks like The X Factor has it’s first “most promising” Hispanic act… and her name is Jennel Garcia.

The 18-year-old Rochester, Massachusetts native, who recently graduated from high school, wowed the judges during this week’s premiere episode of the Fox singing competition.

Jennel Garcia

Garcia, a sweet, soft-spoken teenager, proved to judges Simon Cowell, Demi Lovato, Britney Spears and L.A. Reid that you can’t judge a book by its cover.

She showed up on stage at her Providence, Rhode Island audition looking like a petite flower. But after telling the judges that she looked up to artists like Pat Benatar, Garcia burst into a rock-sexy rendition of Grace Potter & The Nocturnal’s “Paris (Ooh La La).” Her performance had all four judges smiling, clapping and saying “yes, yes, yes!”

“Feisty little firecracker!” declared Reid, who launched the careers of Justin Bieber and Rihanna. “I am so feeling you!”

Jennel Garcia

Lovato, who was grinning from ear to ear, declare the combination of Garcia’s voice and personality a win-win.

“What I find really, really interesting is that you have such a cute face, you are really likeable and all of a sudden you are like ‘I’m on fire,’” expressed Lovato, who called her one of the night’s most promising acts. “I literally wrote down in my notes ‘Hot.’ You are awesome.”

Meanwhile, Cowell, considered a tough judge to impress, seemed utterly impressed.

“Jennel, let me tell you sweetheart, you are on the money because right now what’s missing on the pop charts is a young Pat Benatar or someone like that,” Cowell said enthusiastically. “I love the idea of making a pop record or rock record. You are different you are exciting I really, really like you.”

So how did Garcia react to the kudos from all four judges?

“Oh My God! That was so cool!” said Garcia. “I didn’t expect them to like me that much! … I lived in a small town, in a small house, in a dead end street and life has always been really quiet,” Garcia said. “Life starts right now. Today!”

Garcia has been singing from a young age, first on American Juniors at age 10, and later in a singing troupe that performed at nursing homes. She was even featured on America’s Most Talented Kids, according to South Coast Today.

Alba: People’s Best-Dressed Women Honoree

It’s all in the jeans for Jessica Alba

Jessica Alba in Jeans

The 31-year-old half-Mexican American actress, who recently went blonde for her role in the upcoming follow-up to the cult classic Sin City, has landed a spot on People magazine’s 2012 Best-Dressed Women list.

Alba—the best-dressed Latina at this year’s oh-so-glamorous Met Ball—was honored for having the Best Jeans Style, as picked by former reality-TV-star-turned-fashion-designer Lauren Conrad.

Jessica Alba in Jeans

Meanwhile, Kate Middleton, The Duchess of Cambridge, is heralded for having the Best Classic Style, thanks to her “flawlessly elegant attires” that range from glamorous to chic numbers befitting a future queen.

Iron Man actress Gwyneth Paltrow is chosen for her “spot-on sartorial instincts” by People’s editors as the World’s Best-Dressed Woman.

Here’s a look at this year’s Best-Dressed List:

Gwyneth Paltrow – World’s Best Dressed Woman (picked by the editors of People)
Diane Kruger – Best High Fashion Style (picked by People style & beauty editor Pamela Edwards Christiani)
Kate Middleton – Best Classic Style (picked by designer Janie Bryant)
Emma Stone – Best Red Carpet Style (picked by E! News anchor Giuliana Rancic)
Jessica Alba – Best Jeans Style (picked by TV personality Lauren Conrad)
Rihanna – Best Risk-Taking Style (picked by Man Repeller blogger Leandra Medine)
Jennifer Lawrence – Best Under 25 Style (picked by College Fashion editor Zephyr Basine)
Reese Witherspoon – Best Pregnancy Style (picked by model Camila Alves McConaughey)
Miranda Kerr – Best Street Style (picked by Who What Wear editors Hillary Kerr and Katherine Power)
The Kardashians – Best Trend-Setting Style (picked by Simon Doonan)

Aguilera Reveals Brand New Single, “Your Body”

Christina Aguilera is opening up about her latest body of work…

Christina Aguilera

The 31-year-old half-Ecuadorian American singer and The Voice coach took to Twitter on Wednesday to shed light on her upcoming album.

“Album title: Lotus. Representing an unbreakable flower that survives under the hardest conditions and still thrives,” she wrote.

It’s Aguilera’s first album since 2010’s Bionic, and it fins her  exploring a variety of styles.

“Conceptually I didn’t target one particular sound/genre,” Aguilera tweeted, explaining that “a Lotus intro” will “set the tone for the whole record.”

In addition, Aguilera shared her soon-to-be-released single with her followers and expose the oh-so-revealing artwork for the highly anticipated song.

“Can’t wait for you all to hear it,” wrote Aguilera about the new track. “Friday it comes out. Here’s the single. #YourBody

Aguilera new album, titled Lotus, won’t be released until November, but “Your Body” is set for a release this Friday.

In addition, the Monday, September 17 episode of The Voice will feature a clip of the music video for “Your Body.”

Christina Aguilera's Your Body Artwork

Melina Matsoukas, who also directed Rihanna’s MTV Video Music Award-winning “We Found Love” video, directed the “Your Body” video.

While answering fans questions on Twitter, Aguilera revealed more about Lotus:

“There are some beautiful personal ballads on this album. I wouldn’t do a record without them,” she wrote.

Sanchez Debuts New Single “Fairytale”

Its full steam ahead for Jessica Sanchez as she continues on her journey to make her musical fairytale come true…

Jessica Sanchez

The 17-year-old half-Mexican singer and American Idol runner-up debuted new material at the Fox hit singing competition’s tour stop on Wednesday night in New York City.

Sanchez performed her new song “Fairytale” at a concert in New York on August 29, a radio-friendly pop song that should do well at Top 40 station’s everywhere.

The new track offers a sneak peek at what her new album with Interscope Records will sound like.

“What I did on the show was more competition mode. It was to show my vocals — ‘let’s sing some Celine Dion and Mariah Carey.’ Now it’s like, ‘I’m Jessica Sanchez and I have to do me,'” she recently told Zap2It.com. “It’s more of the urban, Rihanna kind of feel and the R&B kind of stuff. A little bit of pop. It’s just a big mixture of stuff, so it’s exciting.”

In addition, Sanchez—who will be performing in the Philippines following her Idol tour—told the crowd that she officially signed her contract with Interscope.

Gomez Receives First-Ever MTV VMA Award Nomination

Love You Like a Love Song” is one Selena Gomez’s greatest hits, with James Franco even singing along to the track… And, now the inescapable hit is getting a little love from MTV

Selena Gomez

The 20-year-old half-Mexican American singer has received her first-ever MTV VMA award nomination for Best Female Video for “Love You Like a Love Song,” which peaked at number 22 on Billboard Hot 100 and has sold more than two million copies.

Gomez’s high-style video—which finds her in an underground Japanese karaoke club and magically mixes elements of reality and fantasy—will face stiff competition from Rihanna’s “We Found Love,”
Katy Perry’s “Part of Me,”
Beyoncé’s “Love on Top”
and Nicki Minaj’s “Starships.”

Gomez’s one-time BFF Demi Lovato has been nominated in the Best Video With a Message category for her anthem “Skyscraper.” She’ll face off against Rise Against’s “Ballad of Hollis Brown,”
 Kelly Clarkson’s “Dark Side,”
Gym Class Heroes’ “The Fighter,K’Naan and Nelly Furtado’s “Is Anybody Out There?” and
 Lil Wayne’s “How to Love

Meantime, Jennifer Lopez and Pitbull’s “Dance Again” video has been nominated for Best Choreography. Other nominees in the category include:
 Chris Brown’s “Turn Up the Music,”
Rihanna’s “Where Have You Been,”
Beyoncé’s “Countdown”
and Avicii’s “Le7els

This year’s MTV VMA Awards ceremony will take place on September 6 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.

Shakira to Perform at This Year’s iHeartRadio Music Festival

Shakira is a “loca, loca, loca”… And now she’ll be demonstrating her locaness in Las Vegas.

The 35-year-old Colombian singing sensation will be performing at this fall’s iHeartRadio Music Festival, which spans all genres, including pop, rock and country.

Shakira

But Shakira isn’t the only Latin artist scheduled to take the stage during the two-day festival…

Shakira’s “Get It Started” collaborator Pitbull and Enrique Iglesias have also been confirmed as performers.  Other acts scheduled to appear include headliners Taylor Swift, Rihanna, Usher and Bon Jovi.

This year’s concert, which will be hosted by Ryan Seacrest, will take place on September 21-22 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

Tickets for iHeartRadio Fest go on sale July 14, and the show will be broadcast live on iHeartRadio, Yahoo! and Xbox.

Last year’s inaugural music festival, hosted by the Clear Channel station, featured performances by Jennifer Lopez, Bruno Mars, Lady Gaga and Nicki Minajand more. The event, intended to celebrate the launch of the new iHeartRadio, sold out 10 minutes after tickets were put on sale to the general public.

Hilton Releasing First Compilation From His Music Series

He may be the internet’s most infamous gossip columnist… But Perez Hilton may soon become a music mogul.

The 34-year-old Cuban-American web celebrity is planning to release the first compilation from his new Perez Hilton music series.

Perez Hilton

Entitled “Pop Up #1,” the collection will be released jointly with the Opus Label on August 7.

The album showcases 18 of Hilton’s favorite artists, including: Kerli, Fedez, Jesse Marco, VanJess, Chantal Claret, Alphabeat and Manufactured Superstars (featuring Scarlett Quinn).

Pop Up #1The featured tracks are described as an “eclectic, infectious mix of dance tracks.”

Along with being available on iTunes and at retail, fans can pick up the album at fashion stores through the “Perez Hilton Music Tee Series,” which allows listeners to buy music via a collection of t-shirts and tank tops with album-inspired artwork on the front and a digital hangtag that allows customers to download the compilation and artist information. The shirts are available at retailers nationwide and online.

Pop Up #1

Even though he’s best known for his celebrity blog, Hilton has always played a part in promoting music.

“Music is my passion and I consider it not just an opportunity but also a responsibility to share great new tunes with my readers,” said Hilton, who manages recording artists like CJ Baran, Kalie Shorr and MattyB among others. In 2008 he created the music event series “One Night In…” a live show he curated featuring up-and-coming musical acts. He’s also made cameo appearances in Britney SpearsCircus tour and Rihanna‘s “S&M” video.

“Through this, my first-ever compilation,” Hilton said in a statement, “I now have a new vehicle to support artists and share their music in a meaningful way with the whole world.”