Pre-Order Chinese Democracy, Get Free Title Track

At this point, you probably don't need any more reasons to buy Guns N' Roses' Chinese Democracy. But the folks at Best Buy, iTunes and Napster are giving you one anyway: free music.

Starting this Sunday, November 9, customers who pre-order Chinese Democracy at either Best Buy, iTunes or Best Buy's own Napster will receive an immediate free download of the title track.

As everyone surely knows, Chinese Democracy has been 14 years in the making. Fan reaction to the album, based on leaks and demo-sharing, has been overwhelmingly positive. And the title track has already become Guns N' Roses' most popular radio song since 1991's "Don't Cry."

Still haven't heard the song "Chinese Democracy"? No problem. You can listen to it right here.


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Christina Aguilera Going Electro On New Album?

Christina Aguilera is lining up electronic-oriented artists such as Sia Furler, Goldfrapp and Ladytron to collaborate with her on her fourth studio album, which she'll continue to work on in 2009.

In a teleconference with reporters, Aguilera acknowledged influence on "You Are What You Are," a moody, ambient remake of her hit "Beautiful" from the upcoming "Keeps Getting Better: A Decade of Hits" and confirmed the Zero 7 associate and solo artist will be working with her on the new album.

"I'm definitely a fan of Sia's," said Aguilera, who previously told Billboard about her desire to pursue a more "futuristic" sound on the album. "I was thrilled she also wanted to work together and, in turn, was a fan of mine."

Aguilera said the two plan to hit the studio in January but are "setting the wheels in motion now ... I'm not exactly sure what we're gonna get when we get in the studio together, but (as) with all great things I'll go in and there's probably magic to be had."

Aguilera said she's been listening to "a lot" of Sia, Goldfrapp and Ladytron during the past year, which impacted not only "You Are What You Are" but also the "Genie in a Bottle" revamp "Genie 2.0" and the two new songs on "Keeps Getting Better": the title track and "Dynamite."

As for other collaborators on the album, which will follow-up 2006's "Back to Basics," Aguilera said there's "nothing I can give away now, but there's always somebody that I'm inspired by to work with. I have to keep under wraps who that would be, just 'cause I always like the element of surprise."

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Keyshia Cole Shows A New Side Of 'Me'

After chronicling her own gritty rise to fame on 2005's "The Way It Is" and 2007's "Just Like You," Keyshia Cole moves in a new direction on "A Different Me," due Dec. 16 via Imani/Geffen/Interscope.

"The first two albums were more ... painful," she tells Billboard over lunch in Los Angeles. "It's a different me this time: a young woman who's still growing and finding myself, exploring life through different routes musically and in other areas. I wrote more about other people's situations than my own. I'm moving forward."

"A Different Me" features Cole collaborating with a combination of marquee names and newcomers, including Polow Da Don, the Runners, Neffu, Kwame, Orthodox & Ransom and the Trackmasters. On her previous albums, Cole worked with such songwriter/producers as Greg Curtis, Missy Elliott, Scott Storch, Bryan-Michael Cox, Rodney Jerkins and Sean Garrett.

"When I hear something, I hear it -- it doesn't take me three, four, five times to hear a song and say, 'OK, let's write,'" Cole says about her songwriting process. "If I don't write to it right off the bat, it's not working."

And while the pain quotient is definitely lowered on "Me," the emotional realness and accessibility that fans have come to love in Cole's music remain -- as do her searing vocals.

She's reflective and coy on the melodic lead single "Playa Cardz Right" featuring a posthumous Tupac Shakur; the track originally appeared on his 2006 album "Pac's Life," but dressed up with a new verse and arrangement by Cole and producers Fair, Carvin Haggins and Ivan Barias, the song has shot to No. 25 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart after only five weeks. It's competing with Cole's last single from her sophomore album, "Heaven Sent," which is No. 14 on the chart.

A girl-talk intro colorfully sets up Cole's duet with real-life friend Monica on "Trust," while Polow Da Don taps into Cole's upbeat side on the pulsating "Make Me Over." Cole further hones her ballad skills on the track "You Complete Me" and flashes a sultry side on a cover of R. Kelly's 1992 No. 1 R&B hit, "Honey Love."

As part of a 360 deal she recently inked with Interscope, Cole is developing a movie based on her life. A screenwriter has been hired to go on the road with the artist in 2009 to begin developing the script.


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Michael Jackson Eyeing London Run?

There is credence to ongoing speculation that Michael Jackson might be booked for a long engagement at the O2 Arena in London, though no deal has been reached nor performances contracted.

But a source confirms that there is a "standing offer with no expiration" from AEG Live for Jackson to play at the O2. The 02 is operated by Anschutz Entertainment Group, and any Jackson stand at the 02 would almost certainly be promoted by AEG Live, the live entertainment arm of AEG.

AEG Live previously promoted long and hugely successful runs at the O2 by Prince and Spice Girls.

Jackson has rarely performed in public in recent years. Last week, he denied a claim by his brother Jermaine that the entire Jackson family would convene for a tour in 2009. Sources say Michael's decision not to participate may stem from his desire to do his own touring next year.

In related news, it was a banner week for Jackson's seminal 1982 album "Thriller," which jumped 41-1 on Billboard's Top Pop Catalog Albums chart after selling 31,000 copies in the United States, according to Nielsen SoundScan (a 1,000% increase).

The set is 2008's top-selling catalog album, having shifted 688,000 copies.

news source of www.billboard.com

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T.I. Replaces Himself Again Atop Hot 100

T.I. again succeeds himself at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 as "Live Your Life" featuring Rihanna, trades places 2-1 with "Whatever You Like." On Oct. 9, "Life" replaced "Like," making T.I. the ninth artist in the rock era to do this.

"Life" also returns to No. 1 on Hot Digital Songs with 184,000 downloads, while "Like" maintains the top spot for an eighth week on Hot 100 Airplay, with 162 million impressions.

There's not much other action within the top 10 of the Hot 100. Pink's "So What" rises 4-3 and Katy Perry's "Hot N Cold" moves 6-4, while Beyonce's "If I Were a Boy" slides 3-5. Britney Spears' "Womanizer" is down 5-6, with Kevin Rudolf's "Let It Rock" featuring Lil Wayne and Ne-Yo's "Miss Independent" holding at Nos. 7 and 8, respectively.

Akon's "Right Now (Na Na Na)" powers 14-9 and is the top digital gainer after selling 117,000 downloads. Jason Mraz's "I'm Yours" holds at No. 10 to round out the top portion of the Hot 100.

Right below, Taylor Swift's "You're Not Sorry" is the top debut at No. 11, narrowly missing her third top 10 debut of the year. Her sophomore album, "Fearless," arrives Tuesday (Nov. 11) from Big Machine Records.

"Miss Independent" is No. 1 for a second week on Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, where Jamie Foxx's "Just Like Me" featuring T.I. is the top debut at No. 48. Foxx's next album, "Intuition," is due Dec. 16 via J.

Carrie Underwood's "Just a Dream" starts a second week atop Hot Country Songs. Metallica's "The Day That Never Comes" is No. 1 on the Mainstream Rock chart for a sixth week, while the Offspring's "You're Gonna Go Far, Kid" leads Modern Rock for a seventh.

Additional reporting by Silvio Pietroluongo, N.Y.

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Britney, Justin To Play With Madonna In L.A.?

Madonna will get a lift from Britney Spears and Justin Timberlake at her show tonight (Nov. 6) at Los Angeles' Dodgers Stadium, according to KIIS-FM personality Ryan Seacrest.
Spears and Timberlake have rarely been in the same place, much less seen together, since their messy break up in 2002. But both have collaborated with Madonna; Spears on the song "Me Against the Music" and a short film airing as part of Madonna's stage show, Timberlake on songs from Madonna's most recent album, "Hard Candy."
There was some concern that the concert would be postponed due to technical issues with the stage, but Madonna says the show will go on.
"Even though my stage roof was damaged and some lights and effects aren't working, I want to do the show anyway because I don't want to disappoint my fans," she said in a statement to the Associated Press.
The Americas portion of Madonna's current tour wraps Nov. 30 in Mexico City. It resumes Dec. 3 with the first of four shows in Buenos Aires.

news source of www.billboard.com

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Stagecoach Snags Kid Rock, Reba, Paisley, Chesney

Kid Rock, Reba McEntire, Brad Paisley and Kenny Chesney will headline the third Stagecoach Country Music Festival, to be held April 25-26 at Empire Polo Field in Indio, Calif. Tickets for the event, which is produced by Goldenvoice, the Messina Group and Moore Entertainment Group, go on sale Nov. 14.

The initial lineup for Stagecoach also features Little Big Town, Miranda Lambert, Poco, Charlie Daniels Band, Darius Rucker, Earl Scruggs, Chris Cagle, Lady Antebellum, Reverend Horton Heat, Jerry Jeff Walker, Ricky Skaggs, Ralph Stanley, Lynn Anderson, Doyle Lawson, Peter Rowan Bluegrass Band, Danielle Peck, Dale Watson, Zac Brown Band, the Duhks, Waddie Mitchell, Randy Houser, Hot Club Of Cowtown and James Intveld.

The event is held on the same site a week after its sister festival, the Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival. Last year's headliners included the Eagles, Rascal Flatts, Tim McGraw and the reunited Judds.

Among the other on-site attractions are a BBQ competition, clinics and mechanical bull rides. Stagecoach is sponsored by Toyota Tundra and Budweiser.

news source of www.billboard.com

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Jamie Foxx Taps Into 'Intuition'

Jamie Foxx will take a break from Hollywood next month to release his third album, "Intuition."

Due Dec. 16 from J Records, the set is preceded by the single "Just Like Me" featuring T.I., which is the top debut this week at No. 48 on Billboard's Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.

The track, which was co-written and produced by the hitmaking team of the-Dream and Christopher "Tricky" Stewart, goes to digital retailers on Tuesday.

"Intuition" will also feature contributions from Timbaland, Ne-Yo, Sean Garrett, Salaam Remi and Carlos McKinney, among others. It's the follow-up to 2005's "Unpredictable," which has sold 1.98 million copies in the United States, according to Nielsen SoundScan.

Foxx next appears alongside Robert Downey Jr. in "The Soloist," which opens March 13 in U.S. theaters.

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Arrest Warrant Issued For Mos Def In Vegas

Authorities say rapper Mos Def is being sought on an arrest warrant in Las Vegas after allegedly scuffling with a photographer at a fashion trade show in August.Police say the 35-year-old artist, whose real name is Dante Terrell Smith, is wanted on a warrant charging him with felony robbery and misdemeanor malicious destruction of property.Officer Ramon Denby says police want Smith to surrender himself. The artist's publicist didn't immediately respond to messages seeking comment.Sixty-year-old photographer Volker Correl was taking photos at the Men's Apparel and Garment Industry Convention when he says Smith ripped the camera from around his neck. Correl says photos clearly show Smith reaching toward him before his camera was broken.

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We Sold Our Soles

To celebrate 100 years of outfitting sports luminaries and rock stars, Converse debuts its new Black Sabbath line of Chuck Taylor All Stars. The Black Sabbath line is inspired by the Sabbath anthem “Iron Man” and features smooth monochrome black leather uppers with metallic detailing and Sabbath-signature purple accented linings.
Metalwork and hardcore buckles combined with rich black leathers give the Jack Purcell shoe version an especially industrial look and extreme attitude. Prints on these Chucks showcase iconic Black Sabbath cover artwork.
The brand has also created Chuck Taylor All Star signature lines for the Grateful Dead, the Doors, the Who, Pink Floyd and the Ozzman himself. The Sabbath kicks range from $50-$100 (MSRP) and are available for purchase in Journeys stores and on Journeys.com.

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