The season two premiere of Dance Showdown, a web series that pits popular YouTube acts against each other in a rhythmic showdown for $100,000, boogied its way online Friday. Judges on board this season are former NSYNC member Joey Fatone and Emmy-nominated choreographer Laurieann Gibson. YouTube famous Ryan Higa, Dave Days and Shane Dawson are guest judges. “It gives people an opportunity to be seen by the world,” Fatone, who is also on this fall’s Dancing With the Stars all-star cast, tells Mashable. “I think it’s great and there is a lot of talent out there still to be seen.” Episode one (watch above) introduces viewers to the 12 eclectic contestants, who among other things are YouTube singers, beauty vloggers, comedians and gamers: Alphacat Andrew Garcia BrittaniLouiseTaylor Chester See: Chimneyswift11 ExoticJess meghanrosette Miss Hannah Minx ONLYUSEmeBLADE PrankvsPrank StilaBabe09 Screen Team Viewers also meet the talent’s dance instructors Tessandra Chavez (choreography alum of So You Think You Can Dance, American Idol and X Factor USA), Lauren Froderman (SYTYCD season 7 winner), Mike Song (MTV’s America’s Best Dance Crew finalist), Anze Skrube (nine-time gold medalist at the Slovenian National Championship) and Brinn Nicole (dancer on Snoop Dogg’s world tour). The show, from dance entertainment network DanceOn, attracted 10 million views in season one. Viewers can vote for their favorite dancer starting in round two, which will decide who makes it to the finals. Read more: http://mashable.com/2012/10/06/dance-showdown/
Ed Sheeran performs at the Victoria’s Secret fashion show on Dec. 2 in London.Image: Samir Hussein/Getty Images Ed Sheeran has won the world over, claiming the throne as Spotify‘s most-streamed artist this year, with 860 million listens in the 58 global markets where the service is available. The English singer-songwriter held off stiff competition from Eminem, who is Spotify’s all-time most-popular musician, Coldplay, Calvin Harris and Katy Perry. Perry, next year’s Super Bowl halftime show performer, dethroned Rihanna to become the top female. On Perry’s tail were Ariana Grande, Lana Del Rey, Beyoncé and Lorde. Sheeran’s sophomore studio album, x, also earned the title of top-streamed album, with 430 million streams since debuting at no. 1 on the Billboard Hot 200 chart in June. He beat out Sam Smith, Iggy Azalea, Pharrell Williams and Grande. Meanwhile, over on rival Rhapsody, Sheeran was absent from the service’s top global artists, as Eminem, Drake, Katy Perry, Beyoncé and Rihanna came out on top in 2014. Musicians’ streaming stats have become more important than ever in terms of their success on Billboard charts. Billboard and Nielsen announced last month that they would alter the Billboard 200 albums chart to now include audio streaming data to rank the top albums, while also taking into account physical sales and paid downloads of albums and tracks. However, streaming services are also embroiled in controversy over artist royalties. Here’s a breakdown of the best of the best on Spotify: Top five global artists 1. Ed Sheeran 2. Eminem 3. Coldplay 4. Calvin Harris 5. Katy Perry Top Five Global Males 1. Ed Sheeran 2. Eminem 3. Calvin Harris 4. Avicii 5. David Guetta Top five global females 1. Katy Perry 2. Ariana Grande 3. Lana Del Rey 4. Beyoncé 5. Lorde Top five global groups 1. Coldplay 2. Imagine Dragons 3. Maroon 5 4. OneRepublic 5. One Direction Top five global tracks 1. “Happy” – Pharrell Williams 2. “Rather Be” (feat. Jess Glynne) – Clean Bandit 3. “Summer” – Calvin Harris 4. “Dark Horse” – Katy Perry 5. “All of Me” – John Legend Top five global albums 1. x – Ed Sheeran 2. In The Lonely Hour – Sam Smith 3. The New Classic – Iggy Azalea 4. Girl – Pharrell Williams 5. My Everything – Ariana Grande Top five global viral tracks 1. “Take Me To Church” – Hozier 2. “Gooey” – Glass Animals 3. “Ojos Color Sol” – Calle 13 4. “Coffee” – Sylvan Esso 5. “Hey Mami” – Sylvan Most streamed artists in the U.S. 1. Eminem 2. Drake 3. Kanye West 4. Lana del Rey 5. Ariana Grande Most streamed tracks in the U.S. 1. “Fancy” – Iggy Azalea 2. “Dark Horse” – Katy Perry 3. “Happy” – Pharrell Williams 4. “Problem” – Ariana Grande 5. “All of Me” – John Legend Most streamed albums in the U.S. 1. x – Ed Sheeran 2. The New Classic – Iggy Azalea 3. In The Lonely Hour – Sam Smith 4. Native – OneRepublic […]
A home-video of something Taylor Swift did last weekend is going viral, and you’ll understand why. She was filmed visiting a young boy battling cancer, named Jordan Lee Nickerson, at Boston Children’s Hospital. This wasn’t any ordinary drop-by. In the video, posted on Facebook by Jordan’s father on Sunday, the celebrity can be seen sitting on the floor with little Jordan and chatting to him about Spider Man and his favorite songs. She then offers to play him a tune on her guitar and encourages him to sing and dance with her. She ends up singing her song ‘We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together,’ while Jordan chimes in for the chorus and dances alongside the 24-year-old singer. It’s just too precious to handle. (Source: Jordan’s Brave Page) Despite Taylor Swift being in it, Jordan is definitely the star of this video! Share this genuinely nice moment with your friends and family below. Read more: http://viralnova.com/taylor-swift-surprise/
If there’s one takeaway from Verizon’s newest phone ad, it’s probably that Edward Norton needs to do more karaoke. The actor stars in the Droid Maxx commercial that is a mini-movie about Norton’s adventure-packed 48 hours. He sings karaoke, meets a girl, crashes a plane and almost dies at the hands of a really creepy dude. But thanks to his trusty phone, he remains unscathed — unless you count waking up in a morgue. The commercial ends with the tagline “Whatever you do in 48 hours, Droid does,” referencing the phone’s impressive battery life. The ad also showcases Google’s hands-free commands in several scenes, most notably when Norton is tied up and hanging upside (a situation Verizon probably assumed we could all relate to?) The spot aired on television Dec. 5, but was posted to YouTube a week prior. The video already has more than 9 million hits. Verizon’s recruitment of A-lister Norton comes after Robert Downey Jr. starred in a similarly odd ad for the HTC One over the summer. That campaign didn’t seem to do much for HTC’s sales. Now only one question remains: Could the Droid Maxx survive a fight club? BONUS: The Most-Shared Ads of 2013 The Most-Shared Ads of 2013 1. Dove “Real Beauty Sketches” 4.24 million shares Dove uses a clever method to make women confront misconceptions about their appearance and the result prompts some very emotional reactions. Video: YouTube, doveunitedstates 2. Geico “Hump Day” 4.03 million This ad, featuring an excitable camel, gets a spike in views every Wednesday. Video: YouTube, GEICO Insurance 3. Evian “Baby & Me” 3.34 million The sequel to the uber-successful “Roller Babies” ad does just fine on its own. Video: YouTube, EvianBabies 4. Kmart “Ship My Pants” 3.05 million A silly, off-color pun goes from mildly amusing to hilarious in 30 seconds. Video: YouTube, Kmart 5. Cornetto “Yalin Keyfi Yolunda, Aşkı Sonund” 2.91 million A Wes Anderson-esque tale of young love from Turkey. Video: YouTube, cornetto turkiye 6. Budweiser “Brotherhood” 2.72 million One of the best-received ads of this year’s Super Bowl features a sentimental trainer raising a Clydesdale. Video: YouTube, NFL TV Super Bowl Ads 7. PepsiMax “Test Drive” 2.69 million OK it was fake, but it was fun: Nascar driver Jeff Gordon goes incognito for a test drive and an actor does a great job pretending to be freaked out. Video: YouTube, Pepsi 8. MGM/Carrie “Telekinetic Coffee Shop Surprise” 2.17 million More fakery, this time in a coffee shop to promote the movie Carrie. Is it me or does everything seem fake about this? Ironically the movie was overtaken by Gravity at the box office. Video: YouTube, CarrieNYC 9. Ram Trucks “Farmer” 1.88 million Another ad that proves that you don’t have to (try to) be funny to be remembered during the Super Bowl. The ad was a rip off of an older one, but this one was much better. Video: YouTube, ram 10. Volvo Trucks “Jean-Claude Van Damme Epic Split” 1.82 million A latecomer, Jean-Claude […]
Simon Cowell all choked up? Hard to believe, but the famously hard-hearted judge got misty-eyed after watching The X Factor contestant Jillian Jensen audition on the talent show. The 20-year-old Massachusetts native sang Jessie J’s “Who You Are” during a round of auditions, which aired during Wednesday night’s season premiere. “That was incredible,” Cowell says, while holding back tears. (Go to the 8:05 mark in the YouTube video above to see his reaction). Record executive L.A. Reid, pop star Britney Spears and singer Demi Lovato, who also sit on the judges’ panel, echoed his praise. Twitter users responded to Cowell’s uncharacteristic emotional display with disbelief. DID SIMON COWELL JUST SHED A TEAR OR AM I DREAMING IVE BEEN WAITING FOR THIS MY WHOLE ENTIRE LIFE — Brrrrrrendan ♔ (@Brendan_Ryan1D) September 13, 2012 Still in shock that Simon Cowell cried lol. #XFactor — Tom M ♫ (@GuitarGuy22) September 13, 2012 Even Lovato poked fun at her fellow judge: “Awwww, you have a heart!”- @ddlovato to @simoncowell. #TearFactor — THE X FACTOR (USA) (@TheXFactorUSA) September 13, 2012 Twitter also exploded with congratulations for contestant Jensen. IF SIMON COWELL IS CRYING YOU KNOW ITS SOMETHING BIG OK — logan ~ (@wutnarry) September 13, 2012 Jillian you made Simon Cowell cry. You’ve officially conquered the world. — Kayla(@Kay_Lahhh) September 13, 2012 In response, the singer tweeted her thanks. I cant even express how touched I am right now,seriously I love you all so much, thank u 4 supporting me. u can do ANYTHING u set ur mind 2! — Jillian Jensen (@ItsJillJensen) September 13, 2012 What do you think of Cowell’s reaction and Jensen’s audition? Tell us in the comments below. window._msla=window.loadScriptAsync||function(src,id){if(document.getElementById(id))return;var js=document.createElement(‘script’);js.id=id;js.src=src;document.getElementsByTagName(‘script’)[0].parentNode.insertBefore(js,fjs);}; _msla(“//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js”,”twitter_jssdk”); Read more: http://mashable.com/2012/09/13/simon-cowell-x-factor/
The Rolling Stones, who played their first gig 50 years ago, have returned after a seven-year hiatus. The English rockers debuted a new single, “Doom and Gloom,” Thursday on BBC Radio 2. A mopey lyric video accompanies the release and draws even more attention to the band’s zombie reference: “I had a dream last night I was piloting a plane, and all the passengers were drunk and insane,” Mick Jagger belts. “I crash landed in a Louisiana swamp, shot up a horde of zombies but I come out on top.” Zombies and exploding heads aside, “Doom and Gloom” is a track from GRRR!, the group’s forthcoming three-disc greatest hits compilation due out Nov. 12. The Rolling Stones made headlines in the tech world earlier this year when a clever 404 error message on its website surfaced. Are you digging the band’s new tune? Does it make you want to watch The Walking Dead right now, too? BONUS: 9 Celebrity Zombies Show Brain-Eating Side of Fame Zombie Celebrities 1. Lady Gaga You can’t read my Zombie Face. Image used with permission, Rob Sacchetto 2. Clint Eastwood Go ahead, eat my brain. Image used with permission, Rob Sacchetto 3. Scarlett Johansson On the cover of ‘Undead Weekly.’ Image used with permission, Rob Sacchetto 4. Daniel Craig Dead. Living Dead. Image used with permission, Rob Sacchetto 5. Paul McCartney Let it feed. Image used with permission, Rob Sacchetto 6. Rihanna S.O.S. No, seriously. Image used with permission, Rob Sacchetto 7. Sylvester Stallone “The world ain’t all sunshine and rainbows. It’s also zombies.” Image used with permission, Rob Sacchetto 8. Stan Lee Superheroes can’t save you. Image used with permission, Rob Sacchetto 9. Hugh Hefner Bunnies and brains. Image used with permission, Rob Sacchetto Read more: http://mashable.com/2012/10/11/rolling-stones-doom-gloom-zombies/
English singer Conor Maynard, whose first album Contrast debuted on top of the UK Albums Chart in August, is tapping into his social media-hungry fan base to help him decide where in the United States he should perform this winter. To determine the five cities in which the 19-year-old will give free concerts, his label EMI Music has created MayniacMap. MayniacMap lets his fans (a.k.a. “Mayniacs”) earn points for their respective cities. Users rack up points by connecting their Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Foursquare, Tumblr and GetGlue accounts, and performing activities — such as following, Liking, commenting and sharing. So far, New York, San Francisco, Houston, Detroit and Tampa, Fla., have accumulated the most points so far. Maynard hails from Brighton and has experienced a similar rise to fame as Justin Bieber, having built a rabid global audience online with soulful YouTube cover videos starting in 2008 before earning a record deal. “It’s flattering to be compared to someone so big, but we have different sounds,” Maynard tells Mashable. His cover of Ne-Yo’s “Beautiful Monster” eventually caught Ne-Yo’s attention, and the two talked via Skype about Maynard’s future. The chat sparked media buzz in the UK, and EMI’s Parlophone label signed him. Maynard’s music video (watch below) for “Turn Around,” which came out in September, features Ne-Yo. Other musicians have also leveraged their online fans to propel projects. Most recently, American folk band Bon Iver asked people to remix songs from its album Bon Iver, Bon Iver; the songs are now on a Spotify album. Read more: http://mashable.com/2012/10/08/conor-maynard-mayniacmap-concerts/
Leonardo DiCaprio and Tobey Maguire want to hear what you’ve got to say. The two stars unveiled a campaign on Monday called Vote4Stuff. It urges voters to use social media to talk about what issues are most critical to them in the upcoming election. A public service announcement went online Monday, asking: “What stuff is important to you?” Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Jonah Hill, Zac Efron, Edward Norton and Ellen Degeneres — among others — also appear in the video. Anyone interested can submit their own 30-second video about their biggest concerns going into the election. Then, selected videos — in addition to tweets, photos or posts directed at Vote4Stuff — will be incorporated into the campaign later in the month. The PSA mentions several potential issues to talk about, including jobs, marriage equality, foreign policy, immigration and education. But DiCaprio and the team are encouraging people to be creative. “Hey, knock us out and we’ll put (the video) in,” Norton says in the announcement. What issues matter most to you in this election? Let us know in the comments. Image courtesy of Flickr, Tostie14. Read more: http://mashable.com/2012/10/01/dicaprio-maguire-want-you/
