Welcome to Buzzworthy's "The Week In Pop," where we round up new album releases, talk show musical guests, and TV performances by your favorite pop stars and more (so you don't have to).

This week, Lovatics rejoice as Demi Lovato releases her fourth album, Demi. Catch her on today's "The Ellen DeGeneres Show," Wednesday's "Late Night With Jimmy Fallon," and check out our exclusive interview tomorrow on "Live From MTV: Demi Lovato" at 3 p.m. ET. Also, Vampire Weekend drop their third album, Modern Vampires In The City (they hit tonight's "Late Night With Jimmy Fallon"), and Eve makes her musical return with her first album in more than a decade, Lip Lock (she's on Thursday's "The Wendy Williams Show"). Meanwhile, MS MR and Bad Rabbits release their debuts (MS MR are on Thursday's "Late Show With David Letterman", Bad Rabbits hit "Jimmy Kimmel Live" on Friday), and The Wonder Years unveil album No. 4. Over on the tube, "American Idol" reveals its Season 12 winner on Thursday, and Kanye West is "Saturday Night Live"'s season finale musical guest. The week caps off with the 2013 Billboard Music Awards, which features performances by Prince, Taylor Swift, Selena Gomez, Justin Bieber, Miguel, and many others.

Demi Lovato, Vampire Weekend, Eve, MS MR, Bad Rabbits + The Wonder Years release albums; "Live From MTV" with Demi Lovato airs Tuesday at 3 p.m. ET at MTV.com, Kanye West's on "Saturday Night Live" + Billboard Music Awards air Sunday in this edition of The Week In Pop.

NEW ALBUM RELEASES

+ Demi LovatoDemi: Actress, "X Factor" judge, overcomer of adversity, world-class belter: These are just a few titles in Demi's talent arsenal. With her fourth album, her latter gift soars through 13 songs, which showcase that she's as confident leading anthems as she is demonstrating vulnerability. In the upbeat category, "Made In The USA" lifts the mid-tempo pop melodies into swooning territory with her big sing-along chorus, and "Heart Attack" and "Fire Starter" both pulsate. She turns a kiss-off into a rallying cry on "Something That We're Not," and "Really Don't Care" featuring Cher Lloyd is a hook-filled earworm. Meanwhile, the confessional "Warrior," "In Case," and "Nightingale" are affecting, inspiring ballads. Don't miss Demi's "Live From MTV: Demi Lovato" interview on Tuesday, May 14, at 3 p.m. ET on MTV.com!

+ Vampire Weekend, Modern Vampires Of The City: For Vampire Weekend's third album, the erudite, preppy pop rockers explore the heavy subject of mortality, but that doesn't mean they've lost levity. "Even though on this record we deal with some weightier things, we always still have a sense of humor, which I think is important when you're making music," frontman Ezra Koenig told MTV News. To wit, check out the rollicking, double entendre-titled "Diane Young." The hymnal "Obvious Bicycle" opens the set before they move into the galloping trill of "Unbelievers," and check out hip-hop-influenced harpsichord-led "Step," with its quirky, freewheeling lyrics.

+ EveLip Lock: It's been more than a decade since the Philadelphia rapper dropped an album. In the time between records, she's been acting in films like the "Barbershop" series and "Whip It," and more recently as a returning character in "Glee." With Lip Lock, Eve strikes a balance between fierce MC (with songs like "She Bad Bad") and pop-minded (tracks like "Make It Out This Town" featuring Cobra Starship's Gabe Saporta). Check out her "Eve" video with Miss Kitty. Guests include Missy Elliott and Nacho ("Wanna Be"), Snoop Dogg ("Mama In The Kitchen"), Dawn Richard ("Keep Me From You"), and others.

Check out more new album releases, upcoming TV appearances, and performances after the jump.

Read More...

Tags , Justin Bieber, Taylor Swift, Missy Elliott, Snoop Dogg, Miguel, Demi Lovato, Kanye West, Cher Lloyd, Selena Gomez & The Scene, Prince, Eve, Cobra Starship, Vampire Weekend, Bad Rabbits, Dawn Richard, The Wonder Years, MS MR, Miss Kitty

Daft Punk gets interviewed by Sky Ferreira, Madonna to receive Top Touring Artist Award during Billboard Music Awards + check out Mac Miller's cover art for "Watching Movies With The Sound Off" in today's Buzz Bites.

Daft Punk talks "Random Access Memories" (out May 21) and more with Sky Ferreira!

Sky Ferreira interviewed Daft Punk (!) for CR Fashion Book. "We tried to capture robotic emotions with music, replacing this time our electronic machines by real human beings," they told Sky of their forthcoming album, Random Access Memories. Read the entire interview. (Idolator)

+ Madonna will be awarded the Top Touring Artist Award at the 2013 Billboard Music Awards, which airs May 19. Her sold-out "MDNA" tour grossed $305 million and was the top seller of 2012. (Billboard)

+ Check out the cover of Mac Miller's sophomore studio album, Watching Movies With The Sound Off, which drops June 18. The racy cover features a nude Mac with a strategically placed table and parental advisory label. (Rap-Up)

+ Snoop Dogg/Snoop Lion has launched a new photo application, aptly titled Snoopify. The app features Snoop-styled filters like "special" cigarettes, purple drink, and bucket hats, natch. (RapFix)

+ Watch Emeli Sandé perform "Next To Me" and Jason Derulo perform "The Other Side" (which features some fly dance moves) on "Dancing With The Stars." (Rap-Up)

+ While most of this season's "American Idol" drama has centered on judges Mariah Carey and Nicki Minaj's contentious relationship, there might be a new beef in town. Mariah has reportedly parted ways with her longtime manager (and fellow "AI" judge), Randy Jackson. (MTV News)

Photo credit: Columbia Records

Tags , Daft Punk, Snoop Lion, Snoop Dogg, Mac Miller, Nicki Minaj, Mariah Carey, Madonna, Jason Derulo, Emeli Sand�, Sky Ferreira

Watch will.i.am, Britney Spears + Miley Cyrus' Google Hangout, Madonna's iconic costumes to be in an L.A. pop-up exhibit + Snoop Lion and Big K.R.I.T. hit "RapFix Live" today in this edition of Buzz Bites.

Will.i.am invited album collaborators Britney Spears and Miley Cyrus to his Google+ Hangout.

+ Last night will.i.am, Britney Spears, Miley Cyrus, and others participated in a live Google+ Hangout to celebrate Will's #willpower release. "His energy is just electric. He's a charmer," Britney said. See the chat. (MTV News)

+ ATTN people of Los Angeles: Drop any plans you have tomorrow and run to Macy's Century City for Madonna's one-day-only fashion exhibit. Some of her iconic stage outfits will be on display, including the wedding dress she wore to the 1984 MTV Video Music Awards, and the cone corset she rocked on her 1990 Blonde Ambition Tour. (Billboard)

+ Today is the first official time Snoop Lion will appear on "RapFix Live," although technically Snoop Dogg has visited before. Watch Snoop's return today at 4 p.m. ET on MTV.com and MTV Jams. Big K.R.I.T. is also a guest. (MTV News)

+ Listen to Jack White's cover of Loretta Lynn's "Coal Miner's Daughter," which he recorded on Record Store Day on Saturday in his Third Man Records insta-vinyl recording booth. He also opened the booth to the public so folks could record their own vinyl on the spot. (Spin)

+ "Glee"'s Darren Criss is heading out this summer for his "Listen Up!" tour. The star hits 16 cities, beginning May 29 in San Francisco, and he wraps it up on June 30 in Silver Spring, Md. (Just Jared)

Photo credit: Getty Images

Tags , Miley Cyrus, Britney Spears, Will.I.Am, Snoop Lion, Snoop Dogg, Jack White, Big K.R.I.T., Madonna, Loretta Lynn, Darren Criss

Welcome to Buzzworthy's "The Week In Pop," where we round up new album releases, talk show musical guests, and TV performances by your favorite pop stars and more (so you don't have to).

This week, Snoop Dogg debuts his rap-to-reggae transformation album, Reincarnated, under his Snoop Lion moniker. (Catch Snoop Wednesday on "Live With Kelly And Michael" and on Thursday's "Late Show With David Letterman.") Also, will.i.am drops his fourth solo album, the Twitter hashtag-ready #willpower (see him on "The Ellen DeGeneres Show on Friday). Meanwhile, French indie electro-pop group Phoenix release their fifth album, Bankrupt!, "American Idol" alum Fantasia adds songwriting to her singing credits for her fourth record, Side Effect Of You (watch her on Wednesday's "VH1's Big Morning Buzz Live With Carrie Keagan"), and Sweden's Junip release their sophomore self-titled effort. On TV, get pumped to witness "Ke$ha: My Crazy Beautiful Life" when it premieres Tuesday at 11 p.m. ET on MTV. The week closes with Saturday's "Radio Disney Music Awards": the show will feature performances by Selena Gomez, Cher Lloyd, Cody Simpson, Austin Mahone, Mindless Behavior, and more.

Snoop Lion, will.i.am, Phoenix, Fantasia + Junip release albums; Ke$ha's "My Crazy Beautiful Life" premieres Tuesday in this edition of The Week In Pop.

NEW ALBUM RELEASES

+ Snoop LionReincarnated: "There's so much death, there's so much destruction, there's so much mayhem, and there's so much misunderstanding in music. We're losing so many great musicians and we don't love them while they're here. And I want to be loved while I'm here, and the only way to get love is to give love," Snoop Lion states at the onset of his post-Rastafarianism transformation debut, Reincarnated. For his Major Lazer-produced reggae-pop album, Snoop enlists a diverse array of artists. Watch the videos for "Here Comes The King" with Angela Hunte and "No Guns Allowed" with Drake and Snoop's daughter, Cori B., and listen to "Torn Apart" with Rita Ora and "Ashtrays And Heartbreaks" with Miley Cyrus. Also check out the unity track "Lighters Up" with dancehall artists Movado & Popcaan.

+ will.i.am#willpower: For will.i.am's fourth solo album, he makes 15 soon-to-be ubiquitous dance-pop tunes that are jam-packed with star collabs, including a British-accented (!) Britney Spears (watch the "Scream & Shout" remix video with DiddyHit-BoyWaka Flocka Flame, and Lil Wayne), Miley Cyrus ("Fall Down"), Justin Bieber (watch a hologram'd Biebs in the futuristic "#thatpower" video), and 2NE1 with his BEP bandmate apl.de.ap on the YOLO-minded "Gettin' Dumb." Will takes a break from the dance floor for the midtempo, contemplative "The World Is Crazy" with Dante Santiago, "Love Bullets" with Skylar Grey, and album closer "Ghetto Ghetto" with 7-year-old rapper Baby Kaely.

+ PhoenixBankrupt!: The French indie electro-pop band, who recently surprised fans at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival with a guest spot from R. Kelly, release the follow-up to their mainstream breakthrough album Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix. Highlights include the shimmery "SOS In Bel Air" with its infectious chorus, and their synth-laden single "Entertainment." The sprawling title track boasts lush instrumentation before the strutty, humorously titled "Drakkar Noir" ushers in back-to-back with "Chloroform," which deals with the more noxious side of love.

Check out more new album releases, upcoming TV appearances, and performances after the jump.

Read More...

Tags , Ke$ha, Mindless Behavior, Will.I.Am, Snoop Lion, Snoop Dogg, Cody Simpson, Austin Mahone, Cher Lloyd, Selena Gomez & The Scene, Phoenix, Fantasia, Junip

Hear snippets from Jay-Z produced "The Great Gatsby" soundtrack, Daft Punk reveals "Random Access Memories" track list via Vine + Jack White invites fans to record vinyl on Record Store Day in today's Buzz Bites.

Listen to snippets from "The Great Gatsby" soundtrack.

+ Listen to snippets from the "The Great Gatsby" soundtrack. Produced by Jay-Z, it features Florence + The MachineLana Del Rey, the xx, will.i.am, and more. The Beyoncé/Andre 3000 duet of the late Amy Winehouse's "Back To Black" is not available to hear just yet. It will be featured on the deluxe edition. (Rap-Up)

+ Daft Punk revealed the track list for Random Access Memories in a creative way: They shared it via Vine. Watch the 13 songs flash by in 6 seconds, and also hear their tune "Get Lucky" with Pharrell Williams and Nile Rodgers, which was featured in an ad that ran during "Saturday Night Live." (Pitchfork)

+ If you're in Nashville on Record Store Day this Saturday, Jack White invites you to cut your own record on vinyl! His Third Man Records label has a one-of-a-kind vinyl record recording booth, which he's opening to the public. Watch his Raconteurs bandmate Brendan Benson demonstrate how it works. (Rolling Stone)

+ Listen to will.i.am's bumpin' collab with K-pop phenoms 2NE1, "Gettin' Dumb." The track appears on will.i.am's forthcoming #willpower, which streets April 23. (Billboard)

+ Selena Gomez was a total pro during her MTV Movie Awards performance of "Come & Get It," but she did what most of us would do when she met Brad Pitt: She played it cool, and then hid under a table. "He was like, 'Can I have a picture with you?' I was like, 'Can I have a picture with you?'" she said. "He's so pretty." (MTV News)

+ French Montana has revealed the track listing to Excuse My French, which will be released May 21. Executive produced by Diddy and Rick Ross, it also features collabs with Nicki Minaj, Snoop Dogg, Drake, Lil Wayne, The Weeknd, and more. (Rap-Up)

Photo credit: Warner Bros/Watertower Music

Tags , Jay-Z, Rick Ross, Daft Punk, Beyonce, Will.I.Am, Snoop Dogg, Drake, Lana Del Rey, Jack White, Lil Wayne, The Weeknd, Diddy, French Montana, Nicki Minaj, The xx, Selena Gomez & The Scene, Pharrell Williams, Andre 3000, Florence + the Machine, Raconteurs, Brendan Benson, 2NE1

Laura Jane Grace of Against Me! writes My First Year As A Woman for Cosmo; Adele, Alicia Keys + Rita Ora each cover Elle's May issue + Thom Yorke gives teen relationship advice in today's Buzz Bites.

Against Me!'s Laura Jane Grace in December with Joan Smalls from MTV's "House Of Style."

+ The May 2013 issue of Cosmopolitan features Against Me! lead singer Laura Jane Grace sharing an intimate account of her first year as a woman. In December 2012, Laura Jane opened up about her transition and her new sense of fashion on  MTV's "House Of Style" (watch the episode below). In her May Cosmopolitan feature, she writes about breaking the news, transitioning, performing (her voice remains unchanged), her daughter, and more. Laura's wife Heather also opens up about their relationship. (Cosmopolitan)

+ Adele, Alicia Keys, and Rita Ora each individually appear on the rotating cover for the May edition of ELLE, which is their "Women In Music" issue. Adele also receives a tribute in the mag from fellow musicians Katy Perry, Britney Spears, John Mayer, and Barbra Streisand. (Billboard)

+ Watch Radiohead collaborators Thom Yorke and Nigel Godrich answer fan questions about relationships for Rookie's "Ask A Grown Man" series. One choice response, "If you have a crush on him... how about just write him a note?... Or throw him against the wall sometime," advises Yorke. Works every time! (Rolling Stone)

+ Justin Timberlake stopped by the White House yesterday to participate in "Soulsville USA: The History of Memphis Soul." Justin and fellow workshop musicians Ben Harper, Mavis Staples, and others also performed. Their "In Performance At The White House" will air April 16 on PBS. (E!)

+ Snoop Lion has teamed with MTV and Jewelry For A Cause to help cut down on gun violence by creating limited edition "MTV x Caliber" bracelets made from the steel of illegal guns. Proceeds from the jewelry will benefit Newark Police Department to help fund future gun buyback amnesty programs. (MTV News)

+ Speaking of Snoop Lion, or Snoop Dogg aka "Nemo Hoes," check out his latest GGN YouTube show (NSFW) where he interviews Azealia Banks. They bonded over Twitter trolls, giggles, and a shared interest in a certain illegal activity *cough*. (Rap-Up)

House of Style Episode 12: Laura Jane Grace
Photo credit: MTV Style

Tags , , Katy Perry, Britney Spears, Alicia Keys, Snoop Lion, Snoop Dogg, Rita Ora, John Mayer, Azealia Banks, Adele, Radiohead, Atoms for Peace, Thom Yorke, Nigel Godrich, Barbra Streisand, Against Me!, Ben Harper, Mavis Staples

A$AP Rocky joins list of hip-hop artists speaking for gay rights, Justin Timberlake talks music direction in Myspace Q&A + Fall Out Boy announce fall tour in today's Buzz Bites.

A$AP Rocky joined a bevy of hip-hop artists speaking out in favor of gay rights.

+ While the Supreme Court considers two potentially landmark same-sex marriage casesA$AP Rocky has joined the growing list of hip-hop artists (like Jay-Z, Snoop Dogg, and Macklemore & Ryan Lewis) to speak out in favor of gay rights. "I don't discriminate against anybody for their sexual preference, for their skin color ... That's immature," he said. (MTV News)

+ Justin Timberlake answered an array of questions for a Myspace interview, including one about his new musical direction. "With this album, I wrote a lot of songs that make me want to sing," he said. "I want to do a dance record, but not like a 120-bpm dance record. I want to do like a Marvin Gaye 'Gotta Give It Up,' Curtis Mayfield 'Move On Up.'" (Idolator)

+ Check out Fall Out Boy's clever video announcing the fall leg of their "Save Rock And Roll" arena tour, which commences Sept. 5 in Uncasville, Conn., and wraps on Sept. 29 in Tampa, Fla. The clip features audio snippets from a variety of famous folks, including Madonna, Dave Grohl, Courtney Love, and Elton John. (Rolling Stone)

+ Get a sneak peek of Beyoncé on the cover of British Vogue's May 2013 issue. While we've lost count of all the magazine covers she has graced, she continues to look absolutely gorgeous each and every time. (That Grape Juice)

+ Watch Icona Pop get the "Dancing With The Stars" audience grooving to their dancefloor jam "I Love It." (Just Jared)

+ Looks like Diddy won't be dethroned from his perch on top of Forbes' "Wealthiest Hip-Hop Musician" list, which he also topped last year. This year he netted $580 million, followed by Jay-Z's $475 million, and Dr. Dre weighed in at $350 million. (Entertainment Weekly)

Photo credit: Getty Images

Tags , Jay-Z, Justin Timberlake, Beyonce, Snoop Dogg, Fall Out Boy, Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, A$AP Rocky, Diddy, Icona Pop, Dr. Dre

Miley Cyrus drops news about her new song with Snoop Dogg on Ryan Seacrest's radio show.

Miley Cyrus dropped BIG news about new music on Ryan Seacrest's radio show. We DIE!

The most important part of this picture isn't that Miley Cyrus looks like a glammed-up porcelain doll, nor the fact that we really like Ryan Seacrest's tie/shirt combo. It's really all about how this photo is a visual celebration that Miley has officially announced her upcoming new single on Seacrest's show!! Oh, and did we mention that her new song is a collab with none other than SNOOP DOGG!? KAAAA-BOOM! (That's the sound of our minds/hearts/the internet exploding all at once.) Now, excuse us while we put on our very own unicorn onesie and TWERQUE our ish to "WOP" in celebration.

Ryan Seacrest shared Miley's celebratory moment on Instagram along with the caption "Just talked to Miley Cyrus... confirmed new music is on the way incl a song with @snoopdogg." Now we're left wondering if Miley's collabo will be similar to Katy Perry and Snoop's "California Gurls"? Orrr maybe it'll sound like nothing we've ever heard (like she said about her will.i.am track). And while we don' t know too many more deets about the new song, judging by Miley's "The One" finger, we can basically assume how her track will do on the charts. Hint: AMAZING.

Photo credit: @ryanseacrest

Tags , Miley Cyrus, Snoop Dogg

159859701.jpg

Ke$ha will perform at the 26th Annual Kids' Choice Awards on March 23!

+  Ke$ha and Pitbull have been tapped to perform during the 26th Annual Kids' Choice Awards, which airs March 23 on Nickelodeon. Christina Aguilera will also join Pitbull for their song, "Feel This Moment." Musical nominees include Taylor Swift, One Direction, Selena Gomez, and Justin Bieber. (MTV News)

+ Watch Selena Gomez and her fellow "Spring Breakers" stars Ashley Benson and Rachel Korine sing karaoke to Britney Spears' "...Baby One More Time." "Awww @selenagomez can duet with me anytime," Britney tweeted with a link to their clip. (E!)

+ Maybe Justin Timberlake's seven-year break between albums was a good thing, because now we get to see WAY more of him (talk about making up for lost time)! He's added "Target Presents the iHeartRadio Album Release Party With Justin Timberlake" TV special to his appearances. It airs on CW at 8 p.m. ET on March 19. (MTV News)

+ Watch Kelly Rowland's video for the flirty get-it-on jam "Kisses Down Low." The song appears on her forthcoming Talk A Good Game. (Rap-Up)

+ Snoop Dogg's metamorphosis into Snoop Lion comes full circle with the new song "No Guns Allowed," which he performed on "Conan." Backed by his daughter Cori B. and other young singers during the set, the former gangsta rapper's contemplative tune advocates peace. (Rap-Up)

Rihanna has canceled a second date on her "Diamonds" tour." Following Sunday's Boston cancellation, last night's concert in Baltimore was nixed, too. She's reportedly suffering from the flu and laryngitis. Get well soon, RiRi! (MTV News)

Photo credit: Getty Images

Tags , Justin Bieber, One Direction, Rihanna, Selena Gomez, Taylor Swift, Ke$ha, Britney Spears, Snoop Lion, Snoop Dogg, Kelly Rowland, Pitbull, Christina Aguilera, Ashley Benson, Cori B.

Miley Cyrus says she's done with Twitter, Drake drops "5AM in Toronto," and more in Buzz Bites.

Miley Cyrus has announced a social media hiatus. Come back soon!

+ Miley Cyrus announced a Twitter hiatus. "I am so sick of L.A. and sick of the lies that come with it. I didn't call off my wedding. Taking a break from social media. #draining," she tweeted. The break comes before Us Weekly's March 18 issue drops. The magazine claims she and Liam Hemsworth's engagement is over. (MTV News)

+ Drake premiered new NSFW track, "5AM In Toronto," via his October's Very Own blog late last night. Listen to a stream of the song, which is also available for free download. (Octobers Very Own)

+ Watch Justin Timberlake's promos with Kenan Thompson for this weekend's "Saturday Night Live," where he'll serve as host and musical guest. (MTV News)

+ Kanye West was not pleased with his No. 7 position in MTV's "Hottest MCs in the Game VIII," but amid his beef he also declared Lil Wayne the No. 1 rapper in the world. "That's the ultimate compliment, coming from a humble, great, extremely creative, & superior genius...I appreciate that Yeezy!" Weezy tweeted. (Rap-Up)

+ Selena Gomez's "Spring Breakers" is set to hit theaters on March 22, but fans in New York and Los Angeles can catch it a week earlier when it previews at Regal Union Square Stadium 14 in NYC and ArcLight Hollywood in L.A. on March 15. (Just Jared)

+ Bruno MarsUnorthodox Jukebox has earned him his first No. 1 spot on the Billboard 200 chart. Billboard reports that special $1.99 Amazon pricing contributed to the 95,000 copies sold last week. (Billboard)

+ Snoop Dogg/Snoop Lion is the star of a new video game. "Way of the Dogg," which is described as "rhythm-action, beat-matching combat experience," will be available on April 23. (Rolling Stone)

Photo credit: Getty Images

Tags , Miley Cyrus, Justin Timberlake, Snoop Lion, Snoop Dogg, Drake, Bruno Mars, Kanye West, Lil Wayne, Selena Gomez & The Scene

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