EMI Music

Free Energy are one of the most buzzed-about bands who will soon descend upon Austin, TX for the famed SXSW indie music festival next week.   Check them out here and get a free download.

The band has just released their highly anticipated debut album “Stuck On Nothing,” in digital form today.  The album was produced by James Murphy (LCD Soundsystem), via DFA Records.

You can preview the record in full via stream here on Absolute Punk.

The album will also be out on CD and vinyl on May 4th.

Today you can get a free download from the band via RCRDLBL.  Check it here.

Gorillaz’ Plastic  Beach is out! 

The physical “Experience Edition” of Plastic Beach includes such bonuses as a Making of Plastic Beach DVD, ability to stream live Gorillaz performances, and a special access card unlocking a world of exclusive and interactive online content to be revealed over time.

In the US, the iTunes LP version of Plastic Beach includes the record-breaking “Stylo” video and a Making of “Stylo”  documentary;  a video collection of Gorillaz animation, Plastic Beach trailers and six exclusive films set to album tracks; a still gallery featuring original Gorillaz art and images exclusive to iTunes; a Gorillaz interactive game; and an Online Extras section providing  access to Gorillaz live concert performances and additional exclusives. The iTunes deluxe edition of the record also features the bonus tracks “Pirate’s Progress: and “Three Hearts, Seven Seas, Twelve Moons.”

iTunes LP for Plastic Beach

Plastic Beach’s first single, “Stylo,” premiered last week on YouTube  in many parts of the world and instantly became the most successful official music video premiere in YouTube Music Tuesday history, generating over 900,000 views in its first 24 hours, since breezing past the million view mark and surpassing previous record holders U2 and Weezer.

Elsewhere, the NPR Music Exclusive First Listen for Plastic Beach was the #1 most popular story on NPR.org in its first 24 hours.

Keep your eyes peeled in the ongoing Gorillaz saga here! 

And, follow the band’s own Murdoc Niccals at www.twitter.com/murdocgorillaz

Huge congratulations to EMI Music/Parlophone’s UK rapper Tinie Tempah whose massive single ‘Pass Out’ debuted at number 1 in the UK this week.

Tinie’s eagerly awaited debut album is due for release this summer; ahead of this he’ll be playing the following dates over the next few months:

50 Cent Tour
20 March 2010 @ Wembley Arena

Mr Hudson Tour
1 May 2010 @ Loughborough Students Union, Loughborough (14+)
2 May 2010 @ O2 Academy, Liverpool (14+)
3 May 2010 @ O2 Academy, Oxford (14+)
5 May 2010 @ Koko, London (14+)
7 May 2010 @ Anson Rooms, Bristol (14+)
9 May 2010 @ Ritz, Manchester (18+)
10 May 2010 @ QMU, Glasgow (14+)
11 May 2010 @ O2 Academy, Newcastle (14+)
12 May 2010 @ The Rainbow Warehouse, Birmingham (14+)
14 May 2010 @ Junction, Cambridge (14+)
16 May 2010 @ Roadmender, Northampton (14+)
17 May 2010 @ Waterfront, Norwich (14+)

Click here to visit Tinie Tempah’s website and Myspace

Or so says Interview magazine in this story just out.  The mag asks what makes this 17 year old singer/songwriter Sky Ferreira such a special case? 

“Everything, basically.  She’s a rough-around-the-edges beauty with a sterling voice, impeccably weird taste, and an almost maniacal inability to take no for an answer.”

Ferreira’s new album is out later in 2010 on EMI’s Capitol label.  Check out more here.

Last night at the Academy Awards, the French team of François Alaux and Herve de Crecy took home an Oscar for Best Animated short film.  Logorama features a world full of brand logos and corporate mascots.  See anything familiar in this trailer by the Santa Monica Pier?

Alaux and de Crecy (also known as production team, H5) have also done work on videos from artists like Massive Attack, Goldfrapp and Röyksopp.  Congrats to them!

Tonight, Friday March 5, The Bird and The Bee will performing songs from their forthcoming album Interpreting the Masters Volume 1: A Tribute to Daryl Hall and John Oates

The album will be released by Blue Note Records on March 23 but the show this Friday at the El Rey will be the only chance to see the band perform these songs live. Watch the entire show anywhere in the world streamed live at http://www.livestream.com/thebirdandthebee beginning at 8pm PST / 11pm EST.

Rising star Capitol Nashville star Luke Bryan has been nominated for the prestigious Academy of Country Music Awards‘ Top New Solo Vocalist Award. But before you cast your vote at www.voteacm.com, you might want to think twice and watch the video below, featuring a parade of famous country music stars, a guy in a leotard making like Beyonce, and even a St. Louis Cardinals fan or two.

The ACM Awards will be televised in the US on Sunday, April 18th 8 PM ET/PT on the CBS Network.

Congratulations to all of EMI Music’s winners at Germany’s top music industry awards which took place in Berlin last night (March 4).

Robbie Williams won Best international male, Depeche Mode took home Best international group and Best music DVD production went to Helene Fischer.

Robbie, who collected his award from German football legend Oliver Khan (above), performed a stunning version of his current single ‘Morning Sun’ to the live show audience of 4,000 and to the millions watching the show on television. Depeche Mode were also there to pick up their award in person.

For a list of all the winners visit the ECHO website