Quick Hits: Madonna, H20 Music Festival, Jack White, Britney Spears / X Factor, Cody Simpson, Doobie Brothers
March 14, 2012
Madonna
Madonna will drop the video for her new single, "Girl Gone Wild," on March 20. The video will premiere Monday on the E! network, according to the singer's manager, Guy Oseary. It was directed by fashion photographers Mert and Marcus, who also did the artwork for Madonna's new album, MDNA, which is due on March 26. The danceable new single features production by Benny Benassi and it was recorded in New York and London.
Univison Radio announces its own bilingual, bicultural music festival this June in Dallas. The H20 Music Festival will feature Juanes, Snoop Dogg, Gym Class Heroes, Weezer, Paulina Rubino, Damian Marley and many others at the Cotton Bowl on June 9. An additional event will be held in another major market this summer. "As today’s bicultural, bilingual Hispanic listeners demand a more varied mix of music, Univision Radio will continue to evolve to meet the needs of its growing audience," said Jose Valle, President of Univision Radio. "Our H2O Music Festival will showcase the duality of music tastes our listeners crave."
Jack White has debuted his second solo single called "Sixteen Saltines." The song will be heard on White's forthcoming solo record, Blunderbuss, which is due on April 24 via his own Third Man Records. The song can be streamed on the Third Man website here. Meanwhile, White will headline the Third Man Records showcase at SXSW in Austin this Friday, March 16. He will headline a bill that includes Karen Elson, John C. Reilly & Friends, The Black Belles, and special guests White Rabbits, Reggie Watts, Natural Child, Electric Guest and Purling Hiss. The event begins at 7:30 p.m. at The Stage on Sixth Street.
As rumors continue to swirl that Britney Spears will join The X Factor as a new judge, producer/judge Simon Cowell continues to play coy on the matter. During an appearance on Good Day New York this week, Cowell said fans will "have to wait and see" about Spears. "I can't confirm or deny anything right now. The truth is, we are talking to a number of people," Cowell said on the show. "It changes on a daily basis to be honest with you." He added that two new names have come forth in the last 24-hours, including one "very famous singer" and one "very famous actress."
Cody Simpson has released the new single "So Listen" featuring T-Pain. The song premiered Monday on YouTube and is now available for purchase on iTunes and all digital retailers. Simpson's debut full length album will arrive this summer, and he'll also hit the road on the Big Time Summer Tour with Big Time Rush. The tour is set to kick off on July 5 in Columbus, OH.
Doobie Brothers drummer Mike Hossack has passed away from cancer at the age of 65. Hossack died peacefully on Monday at his home in Dubois, WY, manager Bruce Cohn revealed. Hossack first joined The Doobies in 1971 and was heard on early hits like "Blackwater," "Listen to the Music" and "China Grove." He left the band in 1973, worked with other musical projects and became a partner in a Hollywood recording studio. However, Hossack rejoined the Doobie Brothers in 1987 for a series of benefit concerts, and remained with them on recent albums like Brotherhood and 2010's World Gone Crazy. Founding member and guitarist Tom Johnston released a statement saying that Hossack was "an incredible musician, a studio quality drummer. The last few years, he was brave and determined to keep on playing in the face of ill health, and I will always admire him for that."