RightsFlow, a leading provider of bulk mechanical licensing and royalty services, recently announced a deal to provide global reporting services for Beatport, one of the world’s leading international dance and electronic music digital aggregators.

This deal offers Beatport a comprehensive solution for reporting to rights societies around the world so that they can continue to make sure that musicians and songwriters are properly paid for their work. The deal will also enable Beatport to focus on their historically challenging customer service, an area of weakness that has improved as of late, rather than the time consuming and detailed processes required in accurately reporting metrics.

Beatport is a popular international online music service, offering hi-speed, quality dance and electronic music downloads to DJs and fans alike. It is a site known for its ease of use; as a web information architect, I applaud them on their superior user interface.

This partnership is significant;  DJs and producers will feel more confident that their work will be compensated with a global reach in a timely manner. Additionally, my hope is that Beatport will continue to ramp up its customer service processes to rectify any issues in an equally timely manner.

See the full story  on Mi2n.com here.

Ovum Records celebrates 15-years with their 14th-annual Ovum Party on Wednesday, March 24th. The festivities take place at Shine nightclub in the Shelborne Beach Resort Hotel from 10 pm to 5 am. In the main room, Josh Wink vs. Steve Bug, Nic Fanciulli vs. Joris Voorn, David Squillace vs D’Julz and Luis Bacchetti. DJ Sneak, Doc Martin and Manik are in the lounge.

Josh Wink recently announced the opening of the Josh Wink store online, where you can pick up the Banana T-shirt to show your a fan of Josh’s new studio album, When A Banana Was Just A Banana.”

Follow Ovum on Facebook Page: ovumrecordings or on Twitter @ovumrecordings. Follow Josh Wink on Facebook: JoshWinkOfficial or Twitter @JoshWink1.

Take a listen to these tracks from the new album in the Beatport player below.

Josh Wink Resident Advisor Podcast

Looking for something to do on Thanksgiving Eve next week? The Bowery, Pacha NYC and Terminal 5 have teamed up to bring you and evening of hyped beats and funky sounds from everyone’s musical maestro of the moment, Deadmau5. Alongside will be U.K. funkmaster, BURNS, who’s Parisian-style funk melded with UK disco-filtered house is rocking dance floors around the world.

BURNS has been busy remixing the sounds of Ladyhawke, Jack Spalsh feat. Missy Elliot, Passion Pit, The Gossip, Kasabian, White Lies, FrankMusic, and Calvin Harris.

Take a listen to BURNS Pre Party Jamz set recently featured on NickyDigital.com.

NickyDigital_Pre_Pre_Party_Jamz_ BURNS

Now for something we didn’t know…Birmingham U.K. producer/dj, Kim Fai! He’s listed on the bill along with Sleepy & Boo. This cat is sick! We just checked out his tracks on his MySpace. What! Yo…crazy! His remix of the balearic classics Inner City Good Life and the Paul Thomas & Myke Smith remake of Atlantic Ocean Waterfall are incredible. He’s got a bunch of tracks out, including Drug Music 2009 with Mark Knight from Toolroom Knights on the vocal. We hadn’t heard his remix of Funkagenda’s “What the F*@&k.” We found the YouTube track and it’s served up in this post. Very deep, dark and certainly underground.

In this viral video, Europe’s top House music DJ, David Guetta discusses his involvement with Activision’s DJ Hero franchise. Get DJ Hero for Christmas for your aspiring DJ. Choose from the product links below. DJ Hero Renegade editions for Playstation and XBox 360 were not available for online purchase at the time of this posting.

DJ HERO Renegade Edition – Nintendo Wii – $199

DJ Hero Bundle – Wii – $119

DJ Hero Bundle – Xbox 360 – $119

DJ Hero Bundle – PS3  – $119

DJ Hero Bundle – PS2

It is said that the music genre of Hip-Hop was born the night of August 11, 1973, when a young DJ named Kool Herc organized a party in the recreation room of a housing development at 1520 Sedgwick Avenue (New York Magazine story). 36-years have passed since that seminal moment in music history and African-American culture, and various efforts along the way have tried to capture Hip-Hop’s momentous contribution in the form of a museum. No one has gotten as far as the current organizers of the movement to create the National Museum of Hip-Hop. (Facebook | Twitter).

For the past five years, the museum’s organizers have been painstakingly planning a physical, interactive museum and cultural center to cement Hip-Hop’s rightful place in history. From meetings with Hip-Hop’s early pioneers to New York City’s office of Economic Development, the NMoH team are working through the process to make the museum a reality.

Prior efforts to create a Hip-Hop institution have been dogged by lack of funds, political issues, or the absence of a qualified team to pull it all together. Many of the pioneers of Hip-Hop had been unable or unwilling to agree to participate for one reason or another. Some of the early stars of Hip-Hop, who never enjoyed the financial success of today’s rap superstars, understandably want to make sure they are compensated for their participation. On the business side, label executives see the possible financial upside of a commercial enterprise, advocate for a Hip-Hop Hall of Fame, where they can clearly monetize Hip-Hop through a flagship restaurant, merchandise and other commercial activities.

On the political side, there’s heated discussion about where the museum should be located. In the Bronx, the birthplace of Hip-Hop? Brooklyn, where Jay-Z and Biggie emanated from? Or, Queens where Run D.M.C. were born? And, Staten Island is always a long shot, because of ease of access. All signs are pointing to Manhattan for now. Hip-Hop is a global phenomenon. Although the museum would certainly benefit any borough, the political and financial realities of a Manhattan location, with possible smaller borough-based satellites makes sense economically. Tourism will be an important driver and the museum’s success depends on being accessible to visitors from around the world.

To kick off fund raising for construction of the museum and drive awareness for the museum’s cultural programs and community-based initiatives, the organizers are planning a black-tie event, slated for February 9th at M2 UltraLounge on Manhattan’s West Side. Chuck D and KRS-One will host the star-studded event. Confirmed guests include Big Daddy Kane, the Cold Crush Brothers, members of the Rock Steady Crew, MC Lyte, Rakim, DJ Red Alert, Ralph McDaniels, The Roots, and Redman. The events co-chairs include, Bill Adler, Dr. Ben Chavis, Andre Harrell, Afrika Bambaataa, Terry Stewart and Jim Fricke.

“The timing is perfect for the development of a museum that will preserve the great culture of Hip-Hop, a museum that will serve as not only a beacon for Hip-Hop’s achievements but also as a hub for community enlistment,” said NMoH President Craig Wilson.

The project’s Advisory Board includes Def Jam Records co-founder Russell Simmons; political activist Dr. Ben Chavis; Uptown Records founder Andre Harrell; Leyla Turkkan, C.E.O. and President of PR/Marketing firm The Catalyst Group; Hip-Hop curator, journalist and publicist Bill Adler; Bob Santelli, executive director of the Grammy Museum; and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s President and C.E.O. Terry Stewart.

For more information on the National Museum of Hip, please sign up on their Facebook page located at http://www.facebook.com/hiphopmuseum or follow their announcements through @NMoH on Twitter. NHoH’s proper web site is coming soon at http://www.hiphopmuseum.org.

(Disclosure: Netmix founder, Tony Zeoli, is also acting Director of Interactive for the National Museum of Hip-Hop.)

Armin Van Buuren

Every year, DJ Magazine publishes a poll of the Top 100 DJs as voted by dance music fans around the globe. We don’t really know if it’s all that scientific or not, but it’s pretty fun to watch who gets added, who moves up or down and who gets bumped. New York City’s Ultra Records, a label that has somehow survived the tragedy that has beset other labels through three economic downturns in the last 10-years, releases records from many of the artists that top the polls. With Strictly Rhythm a shell of its former self and Tommy Boy and Robbins chasing pop radio, Ultra latched onto the trance movement, while also releasing a few house records here and there. Although they do chase radio as well, they’ve been able to bridge the gap between radio cheese and quality dance music, and almost always with a vocal. Dance music producers take note: You want to make long lasting records that sell across the globe? Get yourself a vocalist−period!

Because we’re a blog and not the New York Times, we’re not going to recap history here. It’s always easier to simply publish the label’s own self-promotion. But, what we did do was link everything up for you. That, in itself, takes a good hour to complete. While you read, we’re off to have a brew and kick some beats.

Ultra Records Press Release

New York, NY – Ultra Records is proud to be the home for a staggering number of artists and DJs who have placed on this year’s annual DJMag Top 100 DJs Poll, the biggest music poll on earth. Results were announced Wednesday night from a star-studded gala event at Ministry of Sound in London.

Armin van Buuren and Tiësto, at #s 1 and 2, are non-movers this year, and with Above & Beyond (#4), Paul van Dyk (#5), deadmau5 (#6), Ferry Corsten (#7), Markus Schulz (#8), and Sander van Doorn (#10), dominate the Top 10 with eight of the total places. Three-time champ Tiësto is still celebrating the successful release of his new artist album Kaleidoscope (Ultra Records) with a multi-city North American tour scheduled to hit Chicago, San Diego, San Francisco, Phoenix, Vancouver, and LA in the coming weeks, wrapping up with a New Year’s Eve extravaganza in Las Vegas.

Above & Beyond squeak into the Top 5 at #4, just in time for their Anjunabeats Volume 7 (Ultra Records) release party at New York City’s Roseland Ballroom on Halloween. Completing the Top 5 is DJ Paul van Dyk, whose career-spanning best-of collection Volume was released by Ultra Records earlier this summer. Just missing the Top 5 at #6 is 28-year-old Canadian dance music phenomenon deadmau5, known for wearing a big mouse head, on the heels of the release of his critically-acclaimed For Lack of a Better Name (Ultra Records) album.

At #19 is Cosmic Gate, whose move up 49 places makes them the poll’s Highest Climber.

Ultra Records represents a total 20 artists who placed in the top 100 this year, including Ultra recording artist Kaskade who entered the chart for the first time at #51, as did DJ Sharam at #73, whose Get Wild album was released on Ultra earlier this year. Robbie Rivera re-enters this year’s poll just in time for the release of his new artist album, Closer to the Sun, out on Ultra November 3.

The Top 100 DJs Poll annually attracts over 350,000 voting fans from around the globe and is powered by Trackitdown.net. Artists placing on the Poll and represented by Ultra Records are listed below. For the full list, visit http://www.djmag.com/top100djs/

1. Armin van Buuren (non-mover)
2. Tiësto (non-mover)
4. Above & Beyond (non-mover)
5. Paul van Dyk (down 2)
6. deadmau5 (up 5)
7. Ferry Corsten (down 1)
8. Markus Schulz (non-mover)
10. Sander van Doorn (up 3)
14. Axwell (up 6)
19. Cosmic Gate (up 43)
26. Benny Benassi (up 13)
29. Fedde Le Grand (non-mover)
34. Eric Prydz (down 13)
49. Richard Durand (up 17)
51. Kaskade (new entry)
60. Roger Sanchez (down 3)
66. Laurent Wolf (up 1)
70. Sander Kleinenberg (down 11)
73. Sharam (new entry)
95. Robbie Rivera (re-entry)

About Ultra Records
Ultra Records is an American independent electronic dance music record label, voted Winter Music Conference’s IDMA “Best American Dance Label” (2006-2009) and Billboard’s Dance Airplay Label of the Year (2005-2008). Ultra was formed in New York City in 1995 by former Polygram and Virgin Records executive Patrick Moxey, who is still the owner. Ultra’s current roster includes American artists Markus Schulz, Steve Smooth, Kaskade, Sharam, Cedric Gervais, and international artists Tiësto, Paul Oakenfold, Above & Beyond, The Young Punx, Benny Benassi, Ferry Corsten, Armin van Buuren, Kraak & Smaak, Morcheeba, Fedde le Grand, Enur and others in North America. Ultra has featured releases from the aforementioned artists and many others such as Pitbull, Paul van Dyk, The Crystal Method, Timo Maas, Sasha & John Digweed, 4 Strings, Panjabi MC, Despina Vandi and Junkie XL. In the U.S., Ultra Records is distributed by Alternative Distribution Alliance/Warner; elsewhere, Ultra is distributed by EMI Canada and Vital UK.

Web site: www.ultrarecords.com

Google and Facebook will be adding music to their offerings through agreements with iLike.com, Lala.com and Imeem.com. According to a NY Times blog post, next Wednesday, Google will announce a new feature of its popular search engine that will return with search results music files hosted by a iLike and Lala. If a user types in a search for Tiesto or Kaskade, the search results will provide links to pop-up music players and the user may stream the tracks directly from the search engine, without having to go to the sites themselves.

Facebook will add Lala to its Gifts shop. Many Facebook users already purchase credits to send personalized messages to friends, like birthday e-cards. User will soon be able to purchase tracks for 10-cents and share them with friends to stream or simply purchase tracks for $1 and then download.

In related news, MySpace announced that videos from recently acquired, iLike.com, will appear on throughout the Facebook platform.

For more on these stories, check the following sites:

• http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/10/21/hot-on-heels-of-google-facebook-to-take-first-step-int-music/
• http://mashable.com/2009/10/21/facebook-lala/
• http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Google-MySpace-Facebook-make-apf-2162130000.html?x=0&.v=9

‘I stopped by to see my man,’ Fif says on the Irvine, California, stop on Young Money Presents: The America’s Most Wanted Music Festival.
By Shaheem Reid

Soulja Boy and 50 Cent perform in Irvine, California, on Friday

Photo: NoB Productions

IRVINE, California — 50 Cent came to the concert in full costume on Friday night (August 14) to show love to his young homie Soulja Boy Tell’em during a Young Money Presents: The America’s Most Wanted Music Festival tour stop. Fif surprised fans during Soulja Boy’s set, hitting the stage in his killer clown outfit from the “OK Alright” video. Fif took off his eerie mask and performed his latest single with Soulja, taking Tony Yayo’s place for the night as high-energy hype-man.

After that song, 50 went into one of his most popular records, the club banger “I Get Money.” “I get money, I get money, I get money,” Fif and Soulja yelled, throwing their arms in the air to excite the crowd.

After a seconds-long break, the pair stuck with the money theme, ending the set with Soulja Boy’s “Turn My Swag On.” Fif switched gears and helped SB out on the mic. The Southside Queens MC even got on top of a giant speaker to encourage the crowd to stay engaged. “Hopped up out the bed, turned my swag on, I took a look in the mirror said what’s up!” both yelled along with Soulja’s S.O.D. Money Gang. “Yeahhhh, I’m getting money. Ohh!”

Afterward, 50 told Soulja Boy TV he just wanted to come and see a friend.

“I stopped by to see my man — you know what I’m saying.”

“Shout out to 50 Cent for coming through. The show was off the chain,” Soulja Boy said.

Fif was one of the first MCs to embrace Soulja upon the youngster’s arrival on the music scene a couple of years ago. For America’s Most Wanted Music Festival, Fif gave Soulja Boy a studio tour bus to record his new LP, The DeAndre Way.

Related Photos

• America’s Most Wanted Tour Stops In L.A.
• Lil Wayne, Drake, More Kick Off ‘Young Money Presents: America’s Most Wanted’ Tour

Related Artists

• 50 Cent
• Soulja Boy Tell’em

Kanye West and Rihanna co-star in clip, which recalls ‘Mad Max.’
By Jayson Rodriguez

Kanye West, Rihanna and Jay-Z on the set of the “Run This Town” music video

Photo: Lenny S. / TheLifeFiles.net

When it comes to his music videos, Jay-Z has logged some pretty serious frequent-flier miles.

The Brooklyn wordsmith ventured up north to Toronto for the “Big Pimpin’ ” video and even trekked overseas to Monaco for his “Show Me What You Got” clip. So where could he go for his next video, “Run This Town,” featuring Kanye West and Rihanna?

Back in time, maybe? Queens, New York? In fact, both!

In a 30-second preview of “Run This Town” (the second single from Jay’s forthcoming Blueprint 3 LP), we see an angry, torch-wielded mob surrounding the trio in a post-apocalyptic setting that looks like a scene right out of “Mad Max.”

Anthony Mandler, who directed the video for Jay’s first single “D.O.A. (Death of Auto-Tune),” is the man behind the camera and brings his cinematic touch to the clip. The visuals are unlike anything we’ve come to expect from Jay-Z in the past. From “Roc Boys (And the Winner Is …)” to I Just Wanna Luv U (Give It 2 Me)”, Jay has mastered being the life of the party. But “Run This Town,” with its action sequences and cast of extras is new territory for the MC.

The video was shot in Queens, New York recently and pictures of Jay, Kanye and Rihanna on the set leaked onto the Internet last week, revealing the artists clad in all black. Sources told MTV News at the time that more than 80 extras were on set at the historic Fort Totten Park, a preserved Civil War fortress.

In the preview, a number of extras can be seen, also clad in black and acting unruly while bearing torches.

The video premieres Thursday on MTV — and don’t miss Jay’s performance at the VMAs on September 13!

The 2009 MTV Video Music Awards will take place September 13 at 9 p.m. ET. Additional celebrity presenters and performers will be announced in the coming weeks. To be the first to find out the inside scoop, follow the Inside MTV Twitter account at Twitter.com/InsideMTV.

Related Videos

• ‘Run This Town’ Music Video Preview

Related Photos

• Jay-Z’s Greatest VMA Moments
• Jay-Z And Black Eyed Peas Play Powerhouse In California

Related Artists

• Jay-Z
• Kanye West
• Rihanna

The country star will join Cobra Starship, Katy Perry, Ne-Yo and host Russell Brand on the ‘West Side Story’ song ‘Tonight.’
By Jocelyn Vena

Taylor Swift

Photo: Jeff Kravitz/ FilmMagic

Taylor Swift is joining Cobra Starship, Katy Perry, Russell Brand and Ne-Yo for a special version of the classic “West Side Story” tune “Tonight,” for a promo of the 2009 Video Music Awards‘ return to the Big Apple.

MTV News was on hand as she shot her version of the legendary song, which will then be melded together with all the other versions of the track and will air in the days preceding the September 13 show. Swift was very excited to get the chance to show the world her Broadway chops. “It’s gonna be me and a bunch of artists, and we’re shooting individual versions of the song,” she explained. “Mine is shot in a vintage old cab.”

The country superstar decided that for her part, she was going to show the world that she’s about more than the teardrops on her guitar, making this particular performance all about embracing the song’s 42nd Street roots. “My version of ‘Tonight’ was pretty theatrical, because I listened to the song and I heard the song and I’m just like, ‘There’s no way to do this and not play it up,’ ” she said.

Swift, nominated for Best Female Video for “You Belong With Me,” added that she’s a big fan of the genre. “When we were in the studio recording, it I just kind of went all out — all show tunes. I am obsessed with Broadway,” she said. “So I was pretty excited about getting to sing this song.”

The 2009 MTV Video Music Awards will take place September 13 at 9 p.m. ET. Additional celebrity presenters and performers will be announced in the coming weeks. To be the first to find out the inside scoop, follow the Inside MTV Twitter account at Twitter.com/InsideMTV.

Related Videos

• Taylor Swift Gives Us A VMA Sneak Peek

Related Photos

• 2009 VMA Performers And Presenters Announced
• 2009 VMA: Taylor Swift Promo Shoot

Related Artists

• Taylor Swift

‘I myself am not a gay woman — I am a free-spirited woman,’ she tells Out magazine.
By James Montgomery

Lady Gaga

Photo: Mark Allan/WireImage

Lady Gaga has never been one to shy away from the topic of sexuality. Whether it’s her barely there outfits, her double-entendre-laden lyrics (infer from “I’m bluffin’ with my muffin” what you will), or her onstage escapades, she’s more than willing to discuss, dissect or display sex.

And in the September issue of Out magazine, Gaga gets deep, addressing rumors about her own sexuality — specifically, her supposed preference for women — her lifelong immersion in gay culture and how both of those things have helped make her the very fabulous star she is today.

“I had a few gay piano teachers. I was in acting class and ballet from a very young age, and I remember being around a lot of gay boys in dance class. I feel intrinsically inclined toward a more gay lifestyle,” she tells the magazine. “I myself am not a gay woman — I am a free-spirited woman: I have had boyfriends, and I have hooked up with women, but it’s never been like, ‘I discovered gayness when I was dot dot dot.’ ”

She also spoke at length about her devotion to the gay community, which has supported her since she was a scruffy Lower East Side performance artist. It’s why, before she agreed to tour with Kanye West, she sat him down and told him that she intended to put on a very gay show … and nothing was going to change that.

“When I started in the mainstream, it was the gays that lifted me up,” she told the magazine. “I committed myself to them and they committed themselves to me, and because of the gay community, I’m where I am today.”

Related Photos

• Lady Gaga’s Best Looks

Related Artists

• Lady Gaga

R&B singer joins the list of celebrity replacements for Paula Abdul.
By Jocelyn Vena

Mary J. Blige

Photo: Stephen Lovekin/ Getty Images

In the wake of Paula Abdul’s departure from “American Idol” earlier this month, Victoria “Posh Spice” Beckham and Katy Perry announced they’d sit at the judges’ table alongside Simon Cowell, Randy Jackson and Kara DioGuardi during auditions. Now, the latest star to wear the judge hat this season will be Mary J. Blige.

People.com reported on Friday (August 14) that the Grammy-winning R&B singer will be a guest judge when the crew heads to Atlanta.

Beckham’s last day at the table was Friday, when she heard Boston’s “Idol” hopefuls. Sources told People.com that the former Spice Girl fit in just fine with the other judges.

“The judges and production team have been having a lot of fun with Victoria,” a show source says. “She’s had a great response so far, and has been really warm with the contestants.”

When Beckham spoke to Ryan Seacrest last week before starting the gig, she said that she wanted to be nice to the contestants, but still maintain a critical eye. “I want to be nice to people. I know how it feels to stand there and be judged, and how it can feel when nerves get the better of you. I don’t want to shatter anybody’s dream,” she said. “But at the same time, there’s nothing wrong with constructive criticism.”

The permanent solution for filling Abdul’s empty chair has yet to be announced. Earlier this month, Peter Rice, chairman of entertainment at Fox, told Reuters that they’ll be coming up with a replacement “between now and January … Obviously, there is going to be a different dynamic, [and] there is something exciting about that.”

Get your “Idol” fix on MTV News’ “American Idol” page, where you’ll find all the latest news, interviews and opinions.

Related Artists

• Mary J. Blige

‘I was just so full of adrenaline,’ MC says of Philadelphia performance where he re-injured his knee.
By Jayson Rodriguez, with reporting by Sway Calloway

Drake

Photo: MTV News

Drake’s buzz was so big that not even some blown knee ligaments could stop him. He first injured his knee days before the BET Awards in June while shooting hoops, but the young rapper not only performed at the show, he also decided a month later to honor his commitment as a part of Young Money Presents: The America’s Most Wanted Music Festival, featuring Lil Wayne, Young Jeezy and Soulja Boy.

But not even five dates in — despite a reduced set list — Drake hurt himself again at the Philadelphia stop.

While performing his breakout hit, “Best I Ever Had,” an enthusiastic Drake put a scare into the entire crowd when he suddenly collapsed as he ran across stage. His injured knee — a torn ACL, MCL and LCL — gave out on him yet again. He was writhing in pain and carried offstage.

Recalling the fall now, Drake described it as “borderline more painful than the initial tear.”

He explained that it was the adrenaline rush from the crowd that led him to get carried away. In spite of his movements not feeling right, he still ran across stage, caught up in what was going on around him.

“What the footage doesn’t show is that I actually came out of the sky that night,” he told MTV News. “I was 20 feet in the air on a little platform. Philadelphia was the only sold-out show on the tour — 25,000 people. And before they see me, I see them for about five seconds. I was staring out into the crowd and I literally … when I landed on that platform, I blacked out and really forgot I was injured. I was just so full of adrenaline, so happy to be there, it kind of set in for me. I remember on the I Am Music tour, the reaction was great. But these were my songs. These are songs people know and love and we really made this happen in a short time. I was just enjoying myself. I had the mic and I was really going. And when ‘Best I Ever Had’ came on, I felt like dancing. It was a great moment. I wanted to run across stage, I wanted to jump into the crowd.”

Before he could even make it near the crowd, though, his knee buckled.

Once the footage of his spill hit the Internet, Drake said his peers began sending him messages asking him stay off his leg. He got text messages from NBA stars LeBron James and Chris Paul, and Jamie Foxx spoke to him in person about minding his health.

He’s set to take a break soon, but the Young Money lyricist has been busy since he returned to his hometown of Toronto to recuperate. Drake just finished shooting a video for “Successful,” featuring Lil Wayne and Trey Songz. And, while he’s no longer on Young Money Presents: The America’s Most Wanted Music Festival, he had to make one last appearance before he officially left the trek. He made a cameo onstage during the Toronto stop, using a cane to move around as he performed “Successful.”

“That was the best show I ever did in my life,” he said.

Related Photos

• Lil Wayne, Drake, More Kick Off ‘Young Money Presents: America’s Most Wanted’ Tour
• Lil Wayne And Drake Rehearse For America’s Most Wanted

Related Artists

• Drake

The season-eight winner reveals his ideal talk-show lineup, his fashion taste and more.
By Jim Cantiello

Kris Allen

Photo: MTV News

“American Idol” champ Kris Allen is on a strict no-sleep schedule, what with the American Idols Live! Tour barreling on and his debut major-label album set to drop later this year. But that didn’t stop the hardworking Allen from setting aside time to answer fans’ questions, submitted via Twitter, with MTV News.

So what did the fans want to know? Aside from the expected album inquiries, several questions ended up being about pop culture, ranging from his TV preferences to his ideal talk-show lineup.

Should Kris ever land a gig hosting a talk show, his ideal lineup proved to be a little hard to decide on. After much deliberation, Allen finally settled on his dream bookings. “I would probably say Will Smith. Musical guest? Paul McCartney. And the other guest, let’s put a girl in there. Maybe Jennifer Aniston. That’s pretty good, right?”

Other decisions were easier to make. Without hesitation, Kris responded to a fan-fielded question about his #1 television show pick. “My favorite TV show ever is ‘Boy Meets World’! Topanga’s super-hot, man!” Sadly, Kris doesn’t have a TV anymore so he hasn’t been able to check out Topanga’s (Danielle Fishel’s) latest show, “The Dish,” on the Style Network.

Reporters often ask Kris about his relationship with Adam Lambert, but leave it to the Allen Nation to inquire about his fictional relationship with Adam. When the topic of fan fiction came up, however, Kris was clueless. “Fan fiction, what’s a fan fiction?” Once we explained the Internet phenomenon to him, the singer became quite intuitive. “I have a feeling that most of those do not end up very PG-rated,” he laughed.

Adam Lambert also gained headlines this week when he held a “Twitter Party” after falling too ill to attend meet and greets at a recent tour stop. During the “party,” Lambert spent an hour replying to as many Twitter followers as possible. (The singer was likely inspired by “Idol” co-star Michael Sarver, who has been holding similar Twitter Parties throughout the American Idols Live! Tour.)

Despite all the attention Adam and Kris have received thanks to their “Kradam” bromance, the most-asked question had to do with Kris’ fashion choices. Or perhaps we should say “choice,” singular, since Allen has been sporting plaid shirts almost exclusively since winning the “Idol” crown in May. When nudged about his sartorial style, Kris defended himself. “Plaid is in! Is plaid in? I don’t know. I guess my eyes are drawn to it. I like it. It’s comfortable.”

The only uncomfortable moment arose when one fan asked Kris to reveal his least favorite aspect of being an “Idol” winner. Allen sincerely appeared to struggle to come up with any negatives, before settling on an incident involving an Italian fanatic who assaulted him with an unwelcome French kiss.

Apparently when you’re an “Idol” winner, save for a stranger’s tongue, there isn’t much else you’d want to change. Plaid shirt, included.

Get your “Idol” fix on MTV News’ “American Idol” page, where you’ll find all the latest news, interviews and opinions.

Related Videos

• MTV News RAW: Kris Allen

Related Artists

• Kris Allen

Norwegian rock duo Kings Of Convenience will break a five-year silence this fall with its third studio album, “Declaration of Dependence,” due Oct. 20 from Virgin.