Mars to Perform at the Grammys with Rihanna and Sting

Bruno Mars is preparing to feel the sting of a massive Grammy performance…

The 27-year-old part-Puerto Rican singer will take the stage for an all-star collaboration with Rihanna and Sting at the 55th annual Grammy Awards.

Bruno Mars

Grammy officials just confirmed the special performance, but didn’t disclose any further information on the  collaboration.

Mars has previously admitted that his smash hit “Locked Out of Heaven” was influenced by Sting and the Police. Does this mean viewers could see them tackle the song, with Rihanna somehow adding her flair?

The Grammys also announced several presenters for the show: sixteen-time winner and current nominee Beyoncé, nominee Hunter Hayes, Jennifer Lopez, actor Pauley Perrette and Prince.

Others already confirmed for performances on Grammy night include Carrie Underwood, Taylor Swift, Justin Timberlake, Maroon 5 and Ed Sheeran.

The Grammys will be broadcast live on Sunday, February 10 from Los Angeles’ Staples Center on CBS from 8:00 pm to 11:30 pm EST.

Gomez to Release New Single in March

In less than two months, you’ll be hitting repeatpeatpeatpeatpeat-peat to a new Selena Gomez single

The 20-year-old half-Mexican American singer excitedly revealed plans to release a new single this March during a special UNICEF charity concert in New York.

Selena Gomez

It’ll be the first single off Gomez’s new studio album, for which she’s already recorded 18 tracks. But Gomez – who is starring in edgier fare like Spring Breakers, which will have its U.S. premiere at the SXSW Film Conference and Festival – hasn’t yet decided which of the songs will make the final cut.

“Through Spring Breakers and experiencing so much last year it will be interesting to kind of have my fans know everything I went through, through music,” Gomez said of her experiences in the last year, including her on-off relationship with Justin Bieber.

“I think for me, it was actually interesting to see that towards the middle of me recording my record, a big turn happened to me and it was incredible to see how I applied that to music because I’ve never done that before and it’s great,” Gomez said of her new song-writing approach, quite similar to that of her best friend Taylor Swift’s way of writing breakup songs after each failed romance.

Gomez covered Swift’s “I Knew You Were Trouble” during her UNICEF benefit concert, along with Britney Spears‘ “Baby One More Time” and Justin Timberlake‘s “Cry Me a River“, which incidentally, Bieber covered back in November after his first breakup with Gomez.

Following their most recent and reportedly final breakup following a string of make-ups, Gomez went back to the studios to focus on her music.

Gomez Covers Justin Timberlake’s “Cry Me a River”

It looks like Selena Gomez could be giving ex-boyfriend Justin Bieber a taste of his own medicine…

Selena Gomez

The 20-year-old half-Mexican-American  singer/actress covered Justin Timberlake’s “Cry Me a River” at her third annual UNICEF charity concert in New York over the weekend, only weeks after breaking up with the Biebs. Gomez’s ex performed the exact same song in November following the couple’s first break-up.

“I’ve been through a lot the past few months. It’s been weird and sad and cool,” Gomez told the crowd. She then confessed, “This song definitely speaks to me,” right before performing a stripped-down version of Timberlake’s smash break-up track.

Gomez followed it up with another break-up tune, her bestie Taylor Swift’s “I Knew You Were Trouble.

“It’s by my best friend in the entire world and if anybody has felt anything painful to their heart, they know who this girl is. Sing along if you know it,” said Gomez.

In addition, Gomez offered event attendees her rendition of Britney Spears‘ “Baby One More Time“, possily alluding to her upcoming film with Vanessa Hudgens and James Franco, Spring Breakers, which is reportedly  filled-with Spears covers.

Shakira Named to Forbes’ Top-Earning Women in Music List

Shakira is one of the most popular musicians on the planet… And, she’s also one of the industry’s big money-making women.

The Colombian singing sensation, who is expecting her first child with Spanish soccer star Gerard Piqué, has been named to Forbes magazine’s list of the Top-Earning Women in Music 2012.

Shakira

Shakira, the lone Latina on the list, comes in at No. 10 after earning $20 million through her many concert performances throughout the world, strong record sales and a new fragrance, Elixir.

And now that she’s signed on to replace Christina Aguilera on the next installment of NBC’s The Voice, Shakira could see her ranking improve in 2013 thanks to increased exposure.

Here’s a look at the complete list:

Forbes Top 10 Highest-Paid Women in Music 2012:

  1. Britney Spears – ($58 million)
  2. Taylor Swift – ($57 million )
  3. Rihanna – ($53 million)
  4. Lady GaGa – ($52 million)
  5. Katy Perry – ($45 million )
  6. Beyonce Knowles – ($40 million)
  7. Adele – ($35 million)
  8. Sade – ($33 million)
  9. Madonna – ($30 million)
  10. Shakira – ($20 million)

Pitbull to Perform on ABC’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve

Pitbull will be having a rockin’ New Year’s Eve next month…

The 31-year-old Cuban-American rap superstar, who recently launched his new album Global Warming, will help ring in 2013 by performing on ABC’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve on December 31.

Pitbull

The Ryan Seacrest-hosted year-end celebration will include performances by Taylor Swift, Carly Rae Jepsen and Neon Trees in Times Square.

Pitbull will join Brandy, Flo Rida, Karmin and OneRepublic on the broadcast from the West Coast.

But he won’t be the only Hispanic artist on the show…

Fergie will be pulling double-duty during the New Year’s Eve event. The 37-year-old part-Mexican singer and Black Eyed Peas member will co-host a tribute to Dick Clark, the show’s longtime host, who died at age 82 this spring.

The two-hour segment, kicking off at 8:00 pm ET., will be co-hosted by Fergie and Jenny McCarthy.

Cabello & Hernandez’s 1432 to Get New Name on “The X Factor”

Camila Cabello and Ally Brooke Hernandez’s all-girl group are playing the name game with America.

During Thursday’s results show, which saw 1432 (formerly the LYLAS), sing for the save against Sister C, the girls’ mentor Simon Cowell announced the all-girl group would be getting a new name and he invited the public to help choose it.

1432

“It was just crappy, the name. And I just couldn’t say it week after week,” Cowell said in a post show interview. “I think the public will get it right. It doesn’t have a natural flow to it. Emblem 3, Lyric 145, 1432 — just too many numbers.”

L.A. Reid was the first to announce his disapproval of the name during Wedneday night’s episode, which saw Cabello, Hernandez and their band mates tackle Taylor Swift’s “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together.” He’d later talk about his own experience in helping pick the right name for his acts.

“I had an artist I worked with and her name was Alicia Moore. She was in a band named Choice, and I talked her into leaving the band to become a solo performer, but said she also needed a name,” he said. “She came in with the name Mr. Pink. We dropped the Mr. and she became just Pink.”

Cowell claims there was method to his madness when he chose 1432 to sing for the save against against Sister C, and this all played into his strategy to pick a more fitting moniker for the group.

“I was going to save 1432, and then I got a bit tactical because I’d heard them sing ‘Skyscraper‘ and I thought, ‘If the audience can hear this before next week, they are going to appreciate them as better singers,’ ” said Cowell. “The risk was they could’ve screwed it up, and we could have lost them. So it was kind of a risky thing to do, but I think it worked.”

Simon now says the girls have a higher public profile, which could lead to an even better name.

“Now they got to know them a bit better I think it will be a help,” he said.

Pitbull to Perform at the American Music Awards

Pitbull has joined the American Music Awards lineup, according to Billboard.

The 31-year-old Cuban American hip-hop heavyweight will perform on the ceremony’s 40th anniversary broadcast next month.

Pitbull

Pitbull, nominated for two American Music Awards, just a roster of just-added acts including country queen Carrie Underwood and pop star P!nk.

Previously announced performers at the all-star show include Taylor Swift, Nicki Minaj, Linkin Park and Christina Aguilera, who has partnered with Pitbull on the new track “Feel This Moment” from his soon-to-be-released album, Global Warming.

This year’s ceremony will feature a new category, electronic dance music, as well as awards in genres including pop/rock, country, rap/hip-hop, soul/R&B, alternative, adult contemporary, Latin and contemporary inspirational.

For the sixth year, winners will be decided by online fan voting. The show will air on ABC live from Los Angeles’ Nokia Theatre at 8:00 pm ET on Saturday, November 18.

Val Heading to the Live Shows on “The Voice”

Things are definitely going Diego Val’s way on The Voice

The 25-year-old Peruvian singer battled against his fellow Team Cee Lo member Caitlin Michele in his Knockout Round during Monday’s episode of NBC’s hit singing competition.

Diego Val

Val, who advanced after defeating JR Aquino in the Battle Round, performed a high octane rendition of Lenny Kravitz’s “Are You Gonna Go My Way” while Michele took on Evanescence’s moody “Bring Me to Life.”

Coach Cee Lo Green didn’t seem impressed with Val or Michele, saying neither game their best performance. But he did have positive words for Val.

“I like you a lot,” declared Green, “and I think you’ve got a lot of personality.”

And that’s all it took for Green to keep Val and take his all-male team to the live shows.

“For a second I thought I was out,” said Val. “Cee Lo put a lot a faith in me and the next round I’m just gonna kill it.

But the news wasn’t so positive for another Latino contestant on Team Cee Lo…

Daniel Rosa battled against Mackenzie Bourg in his Knockout Round clash, performing Taylor Swift’s “Back to December.”

But Bourg’s visionary take on Carly Rae Jepsen’s inescapable hit “Call Me Maybe” seemed to impress the coaches more.

“Daniel, you are a wonderful, wonderful, wonderful singer,” said Green of Rosa, who had thoroughly impressed the coaches in the previous round. “You are better than your performance today.”

And with that, Rosa’s The Voice dreams are dashed this season.

Pitbull to Perform at the MTV European Music Awards

Pitbull will bring global warming music to this year’s MTV European Music Awards show in Frankfurt next month.

The 31-year-old Cuban American rap superstar, who will be releasing his latest album Global Warming in November, has signed on to perform along three other high-profile late additions to the lineup, including Alicia Keys, The Killers and YouTube sensation PSY.

Pitbull

The lineup for the night already includes previously announced acts Taylor Swift, Muse, No Doubt, Carly Rae Jepsen, fun. and Rita Ora.

Pitbull is nominated for two EMAs – one for best male performer and one for best song for “International Love” featuring Chris Brown.

No word on what music Pitbull will perform at the awards show, which will take place on Sunday, November 11 at the historic Festhalle Frankfurt arena.

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.