Hey folks, here are some of the headlines floating through the music world this week, and no, I’m not talking about Kanye West’s arrest.

“American Boy”…now you see it…now you don’t…now you see it again!!

Following the lead of Kid Rock, whose “Rock & Roll Jesus”album has sold 2 million copies + without any digital media services, Atlantic Records pulled British singer’s “American Boy”off of iTunes about two weeks ago,although the song had climbed into the Top Ten on the Billboard charts. This was done with the intention of spurring album sales-remember back in the days when labels would take singles out of print or not release them at all to get you to buy the album? Same premise. However, fans didn’t exactly take the bait. Estelle’s “Shine” (which is a legitimately good album) actually FELL in sales last week. Lo and behold, “American Boy” is now available digitally again. Don’t you just love the record industry?

Here’s the video for Estelle’s smokin’ new single “Pretty Please (Love Me)”

Hold On To Your Wallets, Ladies & Gentlemen…

Musical heavyweights are starting to line up new albums for the end of this year. This week alone,it was announced that country newbie Taylor Swift would be following up her smash debut, uber diva Beyonce will unleash her third album in November (with rumored production by Justin Timberlake), and the Mouth of the Midwest, Kanye West, will be releasing “808’s & Heartbreaks” in December. Kanye gave listeners a taste of the new album on Sunday’s MTV Video Music Awards with the new song “Love Lockdown”, which didn’t exactly catch my fancy on the telecast, but after a few listens, it’s grown on me a bit. Will this star-studded lineup be enough to get folks back in stores this Christmas? We’ll see…

That’ll Show Renee Zellweger…

Kenny Chesney leads the field of nominees for this year’s Country Music Association awards with seven nods. Right behind him is crossover sensation Sugarland, scoring six nominations-including a solo nomination for vocalist Jennifer Nettles. Among your more unlikely nominees are Robert Plant (who gets a nod based on his “Raising Sand” project with bluegrass singer Alison Krauss) and The Eagles, who score their first CMA nomination in 31 years, in the Vocal Group category. No word yet on whether they’ve found a hat big enough to fit on Don Henley’s swollen head. The CMAs air on ABC November 12th.

Today Was Gonna Be The Day That…Damn It, Who Hit Me???

Loudmouth Noel Gallagher of Oasis suffered a frightening attack onstage earlier this week. A fan rushed him from behind the stage and pushed the guitarist into a monitor, where he reportedly suffered a fractured rib. The assailant was tackled by security before he had the chance to go after Noel’s equally bigmouthed lead singer brother Liam. Obviously, this incident is a little frightening in light of the Dimebag Darrell incident, but what really boggles the mind is that this event happened in Toronto. Aren’t Canadians supposed to be a gentle, peace-loving people? First Steven Page with the nose candy and now this?? Next thing you know, Celine Dion and Sarah McLachlan will be making diss records about one another.

 

Y’all Gon’ Make Me Get Locked Up…Up In Here, Up In Here!!

Finally, you’ve got to hand it to DMX. Despite the fact that his last record was a flop, he’s found a novel way to keep his name in circulation. He gets arrested every freakin’ week!! X is now facing four drug-possession charges, seven animal cruelty charges (didn’t this dude learn anything from Michael Vick???), and his latest transgression was using a fake ID to go to a gym. Let’s ponder this for a second. DMX. Used a fake ID. To get into a HEALTH CLUB. Can someone explain this to me? Looks like the impersonating of a DEA agent was just the tip of the iceberg, folks…