娱乐英语新闻:Britney Spears Tops Billboard 200 Chart; Nirvana Memorabilia on Display

The Library of Congress added 25 recordings to its registry on April 6.  They include voice of America radio broadcasts by the late jazz host Willis Conover, the 1908 unofficial baseball anthem “Take Me Out To The Ballgame,” Al Green’s 1971 hit “Let’s Stay Together,” Steely Dan’s 1977 single “Aja” and the late Tammy Wynette’s 1968 signature tune “Stand By Your Man.”  Recordings must be at least 10 years old to be nominated.  Nearly half of this year’s 900 nominations were submitted by the public on the Library of Congress’s website.  The number of recordings named to the registry now totals 325.

Spears'  'Femme Fatale' Tops Billboard 200 Chart

Britney Spears' "Femme Fatale" CD

Britney Spears’ new album, Femme Fatale, debuts at Number One on this week’s Billboard 200 after selling 276,000 copies its first week of release.  This is her sixth album to reach Number One.  Four other albums also enter the list in the Top 10.  At Number 2 is Wiz Khalifa’s “Rolling Papers,” Radiohead’s “The King of Limbs” at Number 6, Snoop Dogg’s “Doggumentary” at Number 8 and Mary Mary’s “Something Big” at Number 10.

Recording Academy Streamlines Grammy Awards Categories

The Recording Academy has cut more than 30 categories from its annual Grammy Awards.  The number drops from its current 108 categories to 78 for the 2012 ceremony.  Eliminations include various instrumental categories in pop, rock and Country; children’s spoken-word album; Zydeco or Cajun music album; best classical crossover album; best Native American album; and, rap performance by a duo or group.  Also being removed are separate male and female categories in the pop, R&B and Country fields.  Recording Academy President and CEO Neil Portnow issued a statement saying, “Every year, we diligently examine our awards structure to develop an overall guiding vision and ensure that it remains a balanced and viable process.  After careful and extensive review and analysis of all categories and fields, it was objectively determined that our Grammy categories be restructured to the continued competition and prestige of the highest and only peer-recognized award in music.”

EMI to Auction Artist, Songwriter Memorabilia to Benefit Japanese Red Cross

EMI Group artists and songwriters have donated more than 200 personal items and memorabilia to raise money to benefit Japanese Red Cross disaster relief efforts.  They include autographed posters, photographs and CDs, tickets to concerts and backstage meet-and-greets with artists, a six-night stay at Michael Franti’s Bali yoga retreat, a golf game with Canadian singer Anne Murray, clothing and musical instruments.  The first eBay auction runs through April 15.  A second will run from April 11 through April 21.  A complete list of the items can be viewed at www.ebay.com/EMIfamily4Japan.

Nirvana Memorabilia On Display

On April 16, Seattle, Washington’s Experience Music Project will open a Nirvana exhibit.  “Nirvana: Taking Punk to the Masses” features the world’s most extensive collection of Nirvana memorabilia.  Included are demos by the group’s late singer Kurt Cobain, handwritten notes, and pictures donated by the band, crew and their families.  The exhibit will run through April 22, 2013.

New Album Releases April 12:

“Wasting Light” by Foo Fighters
“Paper Airplane” by Alison Krauss
“So Beautiful or So What” by Paul Simon
“Who You Are” by Jessie J
“Sing It Loud” by K.D. Lang and the Siss Boom Bang
“Mississippi Mile” by John Oates
“Lollipop” by Meat Puppets

Musical Events/Festivals/Benefits:

The 2011 Coachella Music & Arts Festival will take place April 15-17 in Indio, California.  Hundreds of artists will perform at the sold-out event, including Kings of Leon, Arcade Fire, Kanye West, Cee Lo Green, Duran Duran and Wiz Khalifa.

Look Who's Going On Tour!

Greyson Chance

On April 11, YouTube sensation Greyson Chance and Australian pop singer Cody Simpson will kick off a co-headlining U.S. tour.  Their “Waiting4U” trek begins in Denver, Colorado.  The tour supports 13-year-old Chance’s debut album “Waiting Outside the Lines” and 14-year-old Simpson’s first release, “4 U.”  A YouTube video of Chance singing Lady Gaga’s “Paparazzi” was viewed 37 million times and brought him to the attention of talk show host Ellen DeGeneres.  Ellen signed him to her new label, eleveneleven Records.  Simpson was also discovered on YouTube by Grammy-winning producer Shawn Campbell, who produced Simpson’s debut album for Atlantic Records.

Legendary singer Paul Simon begins a sold-out North American theater tour on April 15 in Seattle, Washington.  He’s also added seven shows at intimate clubs in select cities.  The tour supports his first album in five years, “So Beautiful or So What,” which comes out on April 12.