Capitol Records News

Michael Franti To Host 12th Annual Power to the Peaceful Festival In San Francisco 7/29/2010 12:00:00 AM MICHAEL FRANTI TO HOST 12TH ANNUAL POWER TO THE PEACEFUL FESTIVAL IN SAN FRANCISCO September 10th, 11th and 12th Franti and Spearhead Set To Release The Sound of Sunshine Album on September 21st Musician and human rights activist, Michael Franti, will host the 12th Annual Power to the Peaceful Festival (PTTP) on Saturday, September 11th, 2010 at Speedway Meadow in San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park. PTTP is one of the nation’s largest free annual music festivals with over 50,000 attendees, featuring a variety of international musicians, visual artists and over 200 exhibitors and green vendors. Launched in 1998, the festival has grown to become one of San Francisco’s cultural traditions, which combines music, the arts, action and yoga in order to educate attendees on issues of social justice, non-violence, cultural co-existence and environmental sustainability. The three day-long event begins Friday night, September 10th, at The Fillmore with the Power to the Peaceful Pre-Party where Michael Franti will give a special acoustic performance of his new CD, The Sound of Sunshine. The album is set for release September 21st. In addition, the international humanitarian organization, CARE, for which Michael is an ambassador, will present the 2010 Global Action Forum featuring a short film on Michael’s recent journey to East Timor, a film clip of the award winning documentary “A Powerful Noise” and a short Q & A about CARE’s work to empower women around the world to overcome poverty and how people here in the US can get involved. On Saturday, September 11th, Speedway Meadow will feature main stage performances by Michael Franti & Spearhead, Rebelution, Rupa & The April Fishes, SambaDá, plus headlining the DJ Tent is Washington DC’s Fort Knox Five with more acts to be announced. The PTTP festival will also kick off with 1,000 Yogis for Peace, a morning yoga practice led by Nicki Doane and Eddie Modestini of Maya Yoga and Seane Corn. The day will end with the official PTTP Afterparty at The Fillmore in San Francisco where Michael Franti will present The Rocking Heads – see Michael and special guest musicians rock the stage performing classic Talking Heads songs. On Sunday, September 12th, The Fillmore will play host to a morning of Yoga & Brazilian Arts Workshops with yoga led by Seane Corn and Michael Franti along with Afro-Brazilian dance with Master Teacher Rosangela Silvestri. Later that afternoon, kids of all ages are welcome to the Power to the Peaceful Family Matinee featuring music, face painting, crafts, eco vendors, and Michael Franti & Friends singing songs to enlighten the hearts and minds of youth and big kids alike. Since its inception, the Power to the Peaceful foundation has gone on to gain international recognition. PTTP serves to provide funding and awareness to local, national and international charities that focus on health, education, youth and environmental causes. The foundation benefits from several music, art and action events per year, the biggest of which is The Power to the Peaceful Festival. Past artists and speakers at the event include: Ziggy Marley, Alanis Morissette, Indigo Girls, The String Cheese Incident, John Butler Trio, KRS-1, Digital Underground, Woody Harrelson, Angela Davis, Saul Williams, Blackalicious, Alice Walker, Talib Kweli, and many more. A poet, social humanitarian, activist, and musician, Michael Franti is recognized as a pioneering force in branding music as a vehicle for global social activism. Franti, along with Michael Franti & Spearhead, has organized and contributed to numerous social justice initiatives through the years as well as becoming one of music’s most exciting live concert performers. Michael Franti & Spearhead has shared the stage with a wide range of artists including U2, John Mayer, Dave Matthews Band, REM, and Ziggy Marley. The Sound of Sunshine is Michael Franti & Spearhead’s seventh studio album and the follow-up to 2008’s Top 40 hit All Rebel Rockers. Currently at #1 on the AAA chart, the album’s title track is one of AAA’s fastest moving singles. The single has also begun impacting the Hot AC charts. For more info on Michael Franti, please visit: www.michaelfranti.com
Artist Will Cotton Takes The Wraps Off A Katy Perry Portrait 7/27/2010 12:00:00 AM Artist Will Cotton Takes The Wraps Off A Katy Perry Portrait New York, NY - On Wednesday, July 21st, renowned contemporary artist Will Cotton unveiled his recently completed portrait of chart-topping recording artist, Katy Perry. Katy was present for the unveiling in the artist’s Lower East Side, Manhattan studio. The painting will also be featured as the cover of Katy’s new album, Teenage Dream, scheduled for US release on August 24th. The recording artist first contacted the painter five months ago to share her enthusiasm for his work. It was kismet or destiny as Cotton, a confirmed Katy fan, had long considered making her the subject of one of his confectionary landscape paintings. The resulting portrait was chosen by Katy to grace the cover of her newest release and it is recreated in live action as one of the scenes in her current video for “California Gurls”, which has been #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart for the last six weeks. Cotton’s work serves as the inspiration for the visuals in the hit music clip-- with his trademark cotton candy clouds, candy stick forests, and gingerbread cabins prominent features of the fantasy scenery. Teenage Dream is Katy’s much awaited follow-up to her 2008 multi-platinum release One Of The Boys which featured the hit singles “Hot N Cold”, “Waking Up In Vegas” and “I Kissed A Girl”. After her experience collaborating with the artist on her portrait, the singer-songwriter was enthusiastic to use more of his imagery as a visual component of her newest project. "California Gurls" video director Matthew Cullen and Motion Theory embraced the idea, enlisting Cotton as Artistic Director on the project, to recreate the artist’s images for the popular clip. Cotton recreated some of the work personally, including creating the board game played by Snoop Dogg in the video, and worked with set designer Teri Whittaker to create scenery based on his artwork. The video is so popular it has received over 18 million views in four weeks on YouTube. While he does not consider himself a portrait artist, Cotton has depicted a few notable figures in his paintings, such as Tom Ford and Marie-Chantal of Greece. The Katy portrait and the resulting video has focused considerable public attention on an artist long recognized by art world cognoscenti and featured in important private and public collections across the globe. Said Cotton, “My collaboration with Katy started out as a mutual admiration society. I'm delighted that my paintings are the inspiration for this video. My work is about creating a utopia where all desire is fulfilled all the time, but where pleasure and delight can turn dark and dystopic. Katy embodies the archetypes that I look for in a subject. It was thrilling to work with her and to see her inhabit my landscapes.” “The day I found Will Cotton, I knew I wanted to live in his cinematic cotton candy world. A fantastically art-directed music video and one piece of timeless album artwork later, I can proudly say I am more than a fan. Will has been a sweetheart every step of the way and always open to collaborative ideas. I'm so happy to have discovered his candy-land, and so excited about our creative future together” states Katy. Find out more about Katy Perry and her new album Teenage Dream, available in the U.S. on 8/24 and everywhere else 8/30, at KatyPerry.com
Michael Franti & Spearhead Announce "The Sound Of Sunshine Tour" This Fall 7/19/2010 12:00:00 AM MICHAEL FRANTI & SPEARHEAD ANNOUNCE “THE SOUND OF SUNSHINE TOUR” THIS FALL IN SUPPORT OF UPCOMING ALBUM “The Sound of Sunshine” Single Tops AAA Chart Michael Franti & Spearhead will spread some sunshine this fall when they embark on “The Sound of Sunshine Tour” across North America in support of Franti’s upcoming album, THE SOUND OF SUNSHINE, to be released September 21st through Capitol Records/Boo Boo Wax. The album’s title track and first single, “The Sound of Sunshine”, just hit #1 on the AAA chart. The tour will kick off September 19th in Laytonville, CA and will make stops in many cities throughout the U.S. and Canada including NYC, Chicago, Los Angeles and Toronto. To check out a video of Michael announcing the tour, head to www.michaelfranti.com. "I’m so excited to be hitting the road again this fall and sharing our new music live with our fans. To play music that makes people feel energized and passionate about life in these stressful times, is a privilege that I'm grateful to have. We've been doing a lot of acoustic street performances these days outside the venues we've been playing in and I look forward to seeing longtime fans again and meeting new ones in every city we play in," says Michael. Throughout his career, Franti has earned and maintained a reputation as one of the best live acts in the business. Playing music off of the new album, Franti & Spearhead are sure to deliver an electrically charged, and ultimately unforgettable, musical experience for fans. THE SOUND OF SUNSHINE is Michael Franti & Spearhead’s seventh studio album and the follow-up to 2008’s Top 40 hit All Rebel Rockers. At #1 on the AAA chart, the album’s title track is one of AAA’s fastest moving singles. The single has also begun impacting the Hot AC charts. Michael Franti is the creator and lead singer of Michael Franti & Spearhead. For over two decades, the Bay Area born Franti has been bringing our world exceptionally powerful, deeply felt music. Franti first formed the punk band The Beatnigs while studying at the University of San Francisco, and later the far more hip hop-inflected The Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy. In the mid-Nineties, Franti created Spearhead, and increasingly in recent years, he’s found his own voice musically and his own organic brand of popular success. Franti’s impressive series of recordings have vividly reflected his status as a musical citizen of the world. For ticket information, official Michael Franti news and to check out the latest v-blogs on FrantiV, go to www.michaelfranti.com. Fall Tour Dates: September 19 Laytonville, CA Earth Dance Festival September 22 Los Angeles, CA Club Nokia September 23 San Diego, CA House of Blues September 24 Tucson, AZ Rialto Theatre September 25 Tempe, AZ The Marquee September 26 Flagstaff, AZ Orpheum Theater September 28 Oklahoma City, OK Bricktown Events Center September 29 Austin, TX Stubb’s Waller Creek Amphitheatre September 30 Dallas, TX House of Blues October 1 Little Rock, AR Stone Hill Ranch October 2 Houston, TX House of Blues October 5 St. Louis, MO The Pageant October 6 Lincoln, NE Rococo October 7 Minneapolis, MN State Theatre October 8 Chicago, IL Riviera Theatre October 9 Madison, WI Overture Center for the Arts October 13 Nashville, TN Ryman Auditorium October 14 Birmingham, AL WorkPlay Theatre October 15 New Orleans, LA House of Blues October 16 Pensacola Beach, FL De Luna Fest October 19 Columbus, OH Newport Music Hall October 20 Bloomington, IN Bluebird Nightclub October 22 Covington, KY (Cincinnati) Madison Theatre October 23 Pittsburgh, PA Carnegie Music Hall of Homestead October 24 Buffalo, NY The Town Ballroom October 25 Albany, NY Northern Lights October 28 New York, NY Terminal 5 October 29 Montclair, NJ Wellmont Theatre October 30 Philadelphia, PA Electric Factory November 1 Northampton, MA Calvin Theatre November 2 Northampton, MA Calvin Theatre November 3 Ithaca, NY State Theatre November 5 Providence, RI Lupo’s Heartbreak Hotel November 6 Portland, ME State Theatre November 7 Concord, NH Capitol Center November 9 New Haven, CT Toad’s Place November 10 Montreal, QC Metropolis November 12 Toronto, ON Kool Haus November 13 Cleveland, OH House of Blues November 14 Detroit, MI Royal Oak **Additional dates to be announced
Katy Perry's Summer Smash Breaks Record For Number Of Spins In One Week 7/9/2010 12:00:00 AM KATY PERRY’S SUMMER SMASH “CALIFORNIA GURLS” BREAKS RECORD FOR NUMBER OF SPINS IN ONE WEEK AT BDS AND MEDIABASE TOP 40 AIRPLAY CHART “CALIFORNIA GURLS” BECOMES ALL-TIME MEDIABASE TOP 40 AIRPLAY RECORD HOLDER WITH MORE THAN 13,000 SPINS IN ONE WEEK New York, NY — After becoming the fastest-rising single at pop radio in more than four years, Katy Perry’s “California Gurls” has shattered another record by scoring more than 13,000 spins in one week for the second consecutive week on both the BDS and Mediabase charts. “California Gurls” has become the all-time Mediabase Top 40 airplay record holder with 13,167 spins in one week — an average of 92 spins per week at a pace exceeding 13 times per day. “Katy has set records and turned radio upside down,” says Greg Thompson, executive vice-president for promotion at Capitol Records. “This track has broken all-time spins records, and achieved massive Hot 100 audience numbers of historic proportion." “California Gurls,” the first single from the two-time Grammy-nominated pop sensation’s upcoming album Teenage Dream, has indisputably become the summer anthem of 2010. An irresistible, hook-filled clarion call to throw on Daisy Dukes and a bikini top, the track has spent 3 weeks at No. 1 at pop radio (setting the record for the quickest ascent to the top spot since Gwen Stefani’s “Hollaback Girl” in May 2005) and made the biggest leap to No. 1 since Mariah Carey’s “Shake It Off” in September 2005. It has also spent 8 weeks at No. 1 on the iTunes Singles chart. “California Gurls,” which features Snoop Dogg, has also set records for Perry’s label Capitol Records, enjoying the fastest ascension to No. 1 at Hot AC ever for a Capitol artist and the quickest rise to No. 1 for one of the label’s artists’ tracks since Bobbie Gentry’s “Ode to Billie Joe” in 1967. Last week, “California Gurls” reached an audience of 140 million, also the largest ever for a Capitol artist. It is expected to reach an audience of 150 million Hot 100 listeners this week. “California Gurls” is just a taste of what’s to come when Perry unleashes Teenage Dream, which will be released by Capitol Records on August 24th in the U.S. and Canada; and August 30th in the rest of the world. The album is the follow-up to Perry’s blockbuster debut One of the Boys, which has been certified platinum in the U.S. and has sold five million copies worldwide. The album spawned four smash singles, including the Grammy-nominated back-to-back No. 1’s “I Kissed A Girl” and “Hot N Cold” (both selling more than a combined eight million copies in the U.S.), “Thinking of You” (No. 1 Airplay in five countries), and “Waking Up in Vegas” (2.3 million sold in the U.S. and No. 1 Airplay in five countries). Perry has sold more than 22 million singles, digital tracks, and mobile products worldwide. The Santa Barbara, CA-born Perry has appeared on the covers of dozens of publications, including Seventeen, Cosmopolitan, and Glamour. She also served as a guest judge at the auditions on the most recent season of American Idol. Perry was voted Best New Artist in 2008 by readers of Rolling Stone and Best New Act at the 2008 Europe Music Awards. More recently, she was named one of People’s “Most Beautiful People,” one of Entertainment Weekly’s “Entertainers of the Year,” one of Esquire’s “Women We Love,” and No. 1 on Maxim’s 2010 “Hot 100” list. For more about pop’s multi-dimensional, multi-colored girl on the move, visit: www.katyperry.com www.twitter.com/katyperry www.myspace.com/katyperry www.facebook.com/katyperry
Runner Runner To Make Network Television Debut July 20 On "Jimmy Kimmel Live" 7/8/2010 12:00:00 AM RUNNER RUNNER TO MAKE NETWORK TELEVISION DEBUT JULY 20 ON "JIMMY KIMMEL LIVE" Major U.S. Summer Tour to Kick Off July 17 LOS ANGELES, CA - (THURSDAY, July 8, 2010) -- Rising pop/rock band Runner Runner will make its network television debut on Tuesday, July 20 when the band guests on ABC-TV's "Jimmy Kimmel Live." "Jimmy Kimmel Live" airs at 12:05AM/11:05 PM CT. Runner Runner - Ryan Ogren/vocals, Nick Bailey/guitar, Peter Munters/guitar and vocals, Jon Berry/bass, and James Ulrich/drums - will perform the breaking single "So Obvious," as well as the track "Paper Cuts," both from the band's self-titled debut album set for a September 28, 2010 release (EMI Music/Capitol Records/C.E. Music/MRV). "So Obvious" is on the newest "NOW Music" CD, the CD series with a half-million distribution that features what's considered the hot upcoming singles and hot new artists to watch, putting "So Obvious" alongside new tracks from The Black Eyed Peas, Ludacris, Rihanna, Boys Like Girls, and Usher with Will.I.AM. Using the house from the iconic film "Boogie Nights," the band recently shot a music video for "So Obvious" with Travis Kopach (3OH3!, Boys Like Girls, All Time Low, AFI) directing. Runner Runner will kick off a huge summer tour with Secondhand Serenade and White Tie Affair on July 17. With many more dates to be added, the itinerary is as follows: JULY 17 Thanksgiving Point, Lehi, UT 18 Marquis Theatre, Denver, CO 20 JIMMY KIMMEL LIVE 21 The Loft, Dallas, TX 23 Warehouse Live, Houston, TX 24 Scout Bar, San Antonio, TX 25 Brester Street Ice House, Corpus Christi, TX 27 Culture Room, Ft. Lauderdale, FL 28 The Social, Orlando, FL 29 The State Theatre, St. Petersburg, FL 31 Masquerade, Atlanta, GA AUGUST 1 The Mad Hatter, Lexington, KY 3 Tremont Music Hall, Charlotte, NC 4 Recher Theatre, Towson, MD 5 Chameleon Club, Lancaster, PA 6 Toad's Place, New Haven, CT 7 Royale, Boston, MA 8 Higher Ground, S. Burlington, VT 10 Gramercy Theatre, New York, NY 11 Altar Bar, Pittsburgh, PA 12 Eagle Theatre, Pontiac, MI 13 The Loft, Lansing, MI 15 Bottom Lounge, Chicago, IL 17 Majestic Theatre, Madison, WI 18 Station 4, St. Paul, MN 21 Juanita's, Little Rock, AR 27 Knitting Factory, Spokane, WA SEPTEMBER 4 House of Blues, Anaheim, CA www.helprunnerrunner.com # # #

Michael Franti To Host 12th Annual Power to the Peaceful Festival In San Francisco

7/29/2010 12:00:00 AM

MICHAEL FRANTI TO HOST 12TH ANNUAL POWER TO THE PEACEFUL FESTIVAL
IN SAN FRANCISCO September 10th, 11th and 12th

Franti and Spearhead Set To Release The Sound of Sunshine Album on September 21st

Musician and human rights activist, Michael Franti, will host the 12th Annual Power to the Peaceful Festival (PTTP) on Saturday, September 11th, 2010 at Speedway Meadow in San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park. PTTP is one of the nation’s largest free annual music festivals with over 50,000 attendees, featuring a variety of international musicians, visual artists and over 200 exhibitors and green vendors. Launched in 1998, the festival has grown to become one of San Francisco’s cultural traditions, which combines music, the arts, action and yoga in order to educate attendees on issues of social justice, non-violence, cultural co-existence and environmental sustainability.

The three day-long event begins Friday night, September 10th, at The Fillmore with the Power to the Peaceful Pre-Party where Michael Franti will give a special acoustic performance of his new CD, The Sound of Sunshine. The album is set for release September 21st. In addition, the international humanitarian organization, CARE, for which Michael is an ambassador, will present the 2010 Global Action Forum featuring a short film on Michael’s recent journey to East Timor, a film clip of the award winning documentary “A Powerful Noise” and a short Q & A about CARE’s work to empower women around the world to overcome poverty and how people here in the US can get involved.

On Saturday, September 11th, Speedway Meadow will feature main stage performances by Michael Franti & Spearhead, Rebelution, Rupa & The April Fishes, SambaDá, plus headlining the DJ Tent is Washington DC’s Fort Knox Five with more acts to be announced. The PTTP festival will also kick off with 1,000 Yogis for Peace, a morning yoga practice led by Nicki Doane and Eddie Modestini of Maya Yoga and Seane Corn. The day will end with the official PTTP Afterparty at The Fillmore in San Francisco where Michael Franti will present The Rocking Heads – see Michael and special guest musicians rock the stage performing classic Talking Heads songs.

On Sunday, September 12th, The Fillmore will play host to a morning of Yoga & Brazilian Arts Workshops with yoga led by Seane Corn and Michael Franti along with Afro-Brazilian dance with Master Teacher Rosangela Silvestri. Later that afternoon, kids of all ages are welcome to the Power to the Peaceful Family Matinee featuring music, face painting, crafts, eco vendors, and Michael Franti & Friends singing songs to enlighten the hearts and minds of youth and big kids alike.

Since its inception, the Power to the Peaceful foundation has gone on to gain international recognition. PTTP serves to provide funding and awareness to local, national and international charities that focus on health, education, youth and environmental causes. The foundation benefits from several music, art and action events per year, the biggest of which is The Power to the Peaceful Festival. Past artists and speakers at the event include: Ziggy Marley, Alanis Morissette, Indigo Girls, The String Cheese Incident, John Butler Trio, KRS-1, Digital Underground, Woody Harrelson, Angela Davis, Saul Williams, Blackalicious, Alice Walker, Talib Kweli, and many more.

A poet, social humanitarian, activist, and musician, Michael Franti is recognized as a pioneering force in branding music as a vehicle for global social activism. Franti, along with Michael Franti & Spearhead, has organized and contributed to numerous social justice initiatives through the years as well as becoming one of music’s most exciting live concert performers. Michael Franti & Spearhead has shared the stage with a wide range of artists including U2, John Mayer, Dave Matthews Band, REM, and Ziggy Marley. The Sound of Sunshine is Michael Franti & Spearhead’s seventh studio album and the follow-up to 2008’s Top 40 hit All Rebel Rockers. Currently at #1 on the AAA chart, the album’s title track is one of AAA’s fastest moving singles. The single has also begun impacting the Hot AC charts.

For more info on Michael Franti, please visit: www.michaelfranti.com

Artist Will Cotton Takes The Wraps Off A Katy Perry Portrait

7/27/2010 12:00:00 AM

Artist Will Cotton Takes The Wraps Off A Katy Perry Portrait

New York, NY - On Wednesday, July 21st, renowned contemporary artist Will Cotton unveiled his recently completed portrait of chart-topping recording artist, Katy Perry. Katy was present for the unveiling in the artist’s Lower East Side, Manhattan studio. The painting will also be featured as the cover of Katy’s new album, Teenage Dream, scheduled for US release on August 24th.

The recording artist first contacted the painter five months ago to share her enthusiasm for his work. It was kismet or destiny as Cotton, a confirmed Katy fan, had long considered making her the subject of one of his confectionary landscape paintings. The resulting portrait was chosen by Katy to grace the cover of her newest release and it is recreated in live action as one of the scenes in her current video for “California Gurls”, which has been #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart for the last six weeks. Cotton’s work serves as the inspiration for the visuals in the hit music clip-- with his trademark cotton candy clouds, candy stick forests, and gingerbread cabins prominent features of the fantasy scenery.

Teenage Dream is Katy’s much awaited follow-up to her 2008 multi-platinum release One Of The Boys which featured the hit singles “Hot N Cold”, “Waking Up In Vegas” and “I Kissed A Girl”. After her experience collaborating with the artist on her portrait, the singer-songwriter was enthusiastic to use more of his imagery as a visual component of her newest project. "California Gurls" video director Matthew Cullen and Motion Theory embraced the idea, enlisting Cotton as Artistic Director on the project, to recreate the artist’s images for the popular clip. Cotton recreated some of the work personally, including creating the board game played by Snoop Dogg in the video, and worked with set designer Teri Whittaker to create scenery based on his artwork. The video is so popular it has received over 18 million views in four weeks on YouTube.

While he does not consider himself a portrait artist, Cotton has depicted a few notable figures in his paintings, such as Tom Ford and Marie-Chantal of Greece. The Katy portrait and the resulting video has focused considerable public attention on an artist long recognized by art world cognoscenti and featured in important private and public collections across the globe. Said Cotton, “My collaboration with Katy started out as a mutual admiration society. I'm delighted that my paintings are the inspiration for this video. My work is about creating a utopia where all desire is fulfilled all the time, but where pleasure and delight can turn dark and dystopic. Katy embodies the archetypes that I look for in a subject. It was thrilling to work with her and to see her inhabit my landscapes.”

“The day I found Will Cotton, I knew I wanted to live in his cinematic cotton candy world. A fantastically art-directed music video and one piece of timeless album artwork later, I can proudly say I am more than a fan. Will has been a sweetheart every step of the way and always open to collaborative ideas. I'm so happy to have discovered his candy-land, and so excited about our creative future together” states Katy.

Find out more about Katy Perry and her new album Teenage Dream, available in the U.S. on 8/24 and everywhere else 8/30, at KatyPerry.com

Michael Franti & Spearhead Announce "The Sound Of Sunshine Tour" This Fall

7/19/2010 12:00:00 AM

MICHAEL FRANTI & SPEARHEAD ANNOUNCE
“THE SOUND OF SUNSHINE TOUR” THIS FALL IN SUPPORT OF UPCOMING ALBUM

“The Sound of Sunshine” Single Tops AAA Chart

Michael Franti & Spearhead will spread some sunshine this fall when they embark on “The Sound of Sunshine Tour” across North America in support of Franti’s upcoming album, THE SOUND OF SUNSHINE, to be released September 21st through Capitol Records/Boo Boo Wax. The album’s title track and first single, “The Sound of Sunshine”, just hit #1 on the AAA chart. The tour will kick off September 19th in Laytonville, CA and will make stops in many cities throughout the U.S. and Canada including NYC, Chicago, Los Angeles and Toronto. To check out a video of Michael announcing the tour, head to www.michaelfranti.com.

"I’m so excited to be hitting the road again this fall and sharing our new music live with our fans. To play music that makes people feel energized and passionate about life in these stressful times, is a privilege that I'm grateful to have. We've been doing a lot of acoustic street performances these days outside the venues we've been playing in and I look forward to seeing longtime fans again and meeting new ones in every city we play in," says Michael.

Throughout his career, Franti has earned and maintained a reputation as one of the best live acts in the business. Playing music off of the new album, Franti & Spearhead are sure to deliver an electrically charged, and ultimately unforgettable, musical experience for fans.

THE SOUND OF SUNSHINE is Michael Franti & Spearhead’s seventh studio album and the follow-up to 2008’s Top 40 hit All Rebel Rockers. At #1 on the AAA chart, the album’s title track is one of AAA’s fastest moving singles. The single has also begun impacting the Hot AC charts.

Michael Franti is the creator and lead singer of Michael Franti & Spearhead. For over two decades, the Bay Area born Franti has been bringing our world exceptionally powerful, deeply felt music. Franti first formed the punk band The Beatnigs while studying at the University of San Francisco, and later the far more hip hop-inflected The Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy. In the mid-Nineties, Franti created Spearhead, and increasingly in recent years, he’s found his own voice musically and his own organic brand of popular success. Franti’s impressive series of recordings have vividly reflected his status as a musical citizen of the world.

For ticket information, official Michael Franti news and to check out the latest v-blogs on FrantiV, go to www.michaelfranti.com.

Fall Tour Dates:
September 19        Laytonville, CA                          Earth Dance Festival
September 22        Los Angeles, CA                        Club Nokia
September 23        San Diego, CA                           House of Blues
September 24        Tucson, AZ                               Rialto Theatre
September 25        Tempe, AZ                                The Marquee
September 26        Flagstaff, AZ                                       Orpheum Theater
September 28        Oklahoma City, OK                             Bricktown Events Center
September 29        Austin, TX                                Stubb’s Waller Creek Amphitheatre
September 30        Dallas, TX                                House of Blues
October 1              Little Rock, AR                          Stone Hill Ranch
October 2              Houston, TX                              House of Blues
October 5              St. Louis, MO                            The Pageant
October 6              Lincoln, NE                               Rococo
October 7              Minneapolis, MN                       State Theatre
October 8              Chicago, IL                               Riviera Theatre
October 9              Madison, WI                              Overture Center for the Arts
October 13             Nashville, TN                            Ryman Auditorium
October 14             Birmingham, AL                        WorkPlay Theatre
October 15             New Orleans, LA                       House of Blues
October 16             Pensacola Beach, FL                 De Luna Fest
October 19             Columbus, OH                          Newport Music Hall
October 20             Bloomington, IN                        Bluebird Nightclub
October 22             Covington, KY (Cincinnati)        Madison Theatre
October 23             Pittsburgh, PA                           Carnegie Music Hall of Homestead
October 24             Buffalo, NY                               The Town Ballroom
October 25             Albany, NY                                Northern Lights
October 28             New York, NY                            Terminal 5
October 29             Montclair, NJ                            Wellmont Theatre
October 30             Philadelphia, PA                        Electric Factory
November 1           Northampton, MA                      Calvin Theatre
November 2           Northampton, MA                      Calvin Theatre
November 3           Ithaca, NY                                State Theatre
November 5           Providence, RI                           Lupo’s Heartbreak Hotel
November 6           Portland, ME                                      State Theatre
November 7           Concord, NH                             Capitol Center
November 9           New Haven, CT                         Toad’s Place
November 10          Montreal, QC                            Metropolis
November 12          Toronto, ON                               Kool Haus
November 13          Cleveland, OH                           House of Blues
November 14          Detroit, MI                                Royal Oak

**Additional dates to be announced

Katy Perry's Summer Smash Breaks Record For Number Of Spins In One Week

7/9/2010 12:00:00 AM

KATY PERRY’S SUMMER SMASH “CALIFORNIA GURLS” BREAKS RECORD FOR NUMBER OF SPINS IN ONE WEEK AT BDS AND MEDIABASE TOP 40 AIRPLAY CHART

“CALIFORNIA GURLS” BECOMES ALL-TIME MEDIABASE TOP 40 AIRPLAY RECORD HOLDER WITH MORE THAN 13,000 SPINS IN ONE WEEK

New York, NY — After becoming the fastest-rising single at pop radio in more than four years, Katy Perry’s “California Gurls” has shattered another record by scoring more than 13,000 spins in one week for the second consecutive week on both the BDS and Mediabase charts. “California Gurls” has become the all-time Mediabase Top 40 airplay record holder with 13,167 spins in one week — an average of 92 spins per week at a pace exceeding 13 times per day.

“Katy has set records and turned radio upside down,” says Greg Thompson, executive vice-president for promotion at Capitol Records. “This track has broken all-time spins records, and achieved massive Hot 100 audience numbers of historic proportion."

“California Gurls,” the first single from the two-time Grammy-nominated pop sensation’s upcoming album Teenage Dream, has indisputably become the summer anthem of 2010. An irresistible, hook-filled clarion call to throw on Daisy Dukes and a bikini top, the track has spent 3 weeks at No. 1 at pop radio (setting the record for the quickest ascent to the top spot since Gwen Stefani’s “Hollaback Girl” in May 2005) and made the biggest leap to No. 1 since Mariah Carey’s “Shake It Off” in September 2005. It has also spent 8 weeks at No. 1 on the iTunes Singles chart. “California Gurls,” which features Snoop Dogg, has also set records for Perry’s label Capitol Records, enjoying the fastest ascension to No. 1 at Hot AC ever for a Capitol artist and the quickest rise to No. 1 for one of the label’s artists’ tracks since Bobbie Gentry’s “Ode to Billie Joe” in 1967. Last week, “California Gurls” reached an audience of 140 million, also the largest ever for a Capitol artist. It is expected to reach an audience of 150 million Hot 100 listeners this week.

“California Gurls” is just a taste of what’s to come when Perry unleashes Teenage Dream, which will be released by Capitol Records on August 24th in the U.S. and Canada; and August 30th in the rest of the world. The album is the follow-up to Perry’s blockbuster debut One of the Boys, which has been certified platinum in the U.S. and has sold five million copies worldwide. The album spawned four smash singles, including the Grammy-nominated back-to-back No. 1’s “I Kissed A Girl” and “Hot N Cold” (both selling more than a combined eight million copies in the U.S.), “Thinking of You” (No. 1 Airplay in five countries), and “Waking Up in Vegas” (2.3 million sold in the U.S. and No. 1 Airplay in five countries). Perry has sold more than 22 million singles, digital tracks, and mobile products worldwide.

The Santa Barbara, CA-born Perry has appeared on the covers of dozens of publications, including Seventeen, Cosmopolitan, and Glamour. She also served as a guest judge at the auditions on the most recent season of American Idol. Perry was voted Best New Artist in 2008 by readers of Rolling Stone and Best New Act at the 2008 Europe Music Awards. More recently, she was named one of People’s “Most Beautiful People,” one of Entertainment Weekly’s “Entertainers of the Year,” one of Esquire’s “Women We Love,” and No. 1 on Maxim’s 2010 “Hot 100” list.

For more about pop’s multi-dimensional, multi-colored girl on the move, visit:
www.katyperry.com
www.twitter.com/katyperry
www.myspace.com/katyperry
www.facebook.com/katyperry

Runner Runner To Make Network Television Debut July 20 On "Jimmy Kimmel Live"

7/8/2010 12:00:00 AM

RUNNER RUNNER TO MAKE NETWORK TELEVISION DEBUT JULY 20 ON "JIMMY KIMMEL LIVE"
Major U.S. Summer Tour to Kick Off July 17

LOS ANGELES, CA - (THURSDAY, July 8, 2010) -- Rising pop/rock band Runner Runner will make its network television debut on Tuesday, July 20 when the band guests on ABC-TV's "Jimmy Kimmel Live." "Jimmy Kimmel Live" airs at 12:05AM/11:05 PM CT.

Runner Runner - Ryan Ogren/vocals, Nick Bailey/guitar, Peter Munters/guitar and vocals, Jon Berry/bass, and James Ulrich/drums - will perform the breaking single "So Obvious," as well as the track "Paper Cuts," both from the band's self-titled debut album set for a September 28, 2010 release (EMI Music/Capitol Records/C.E. Music/MRV).

"So Obvious" is on the newest "NOW Music" CD, the CD series with a half-million distribution that features what's considered the hot upcoming singles and hot new artists to watch, putting "So Obvious" alongside new tracks from The Black Eyed Peas, Ludacris, Rihanna, Boys Like Girls, and Usher with Will.I.AM. Using the house from the iconic film "Boogie Nights," the band recently shot a music video for "So Obvious" with Travis Kopach (3OH3!, Boys Like Girls, All Time Low, AFI) directing.

Runner Runner will kick off a huge summer tour with Secondhand Serenade and White Tie Affair on July 17. With many more dates to be added, the itinerary is as follows:

JULY
17        Thanksgiving Point, Lehi, UT
18        Marquis Theatre, Denver, CO
20        JIMMY KIMMEL LIVE
21        The Loft, Dallas, TX
23        Warehouse Live, Houston, TX
24        Scout Bar, San Antonio, TX
25        Brester Street Ice House, Corpus Christi, TX
27        Culture Room, Ft. Lauderdale, FL
28        The Social, Orlando, FL
29        The State Theatre, St. Petersburg, FL
31        Masquerade, Atlanta, GA

AUGUST
1         The Mad Hatter, Lexington, KY
3         Tremont Music Hall, Charlotte, NC
4         Recher Theatre, Towson, MD
5         Chameleon Club, Lancaster, PA
6         Toad's Place, New Haven, CT
7         Royale, Boston, MA
8         Higher Ground, S. Burlington, VT
10        Gramercy Theatre, New York, NY
11        Altar Bar, Pittsburgh, PA
12        Eagle Theatre, Pontiac, MI
13        The Loft, Lansing, MI
15        Bottom Lounge, Chicago, IL
17        Majestic Theatre, Madison, WI
18        Station 4, St. Paul, MN
21        Juanita's, Little Rock, AR
27        Knitting Factory, Spokane, WA

SEPTEMBER
4         House of Blues, Anaheim, CA

www.helprunnerrunner.com

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