The word is starting up again at Island Def Jam Records: L.A. Reid, they say, may be on his way out.

Listen, no one criticized L.A. Reid more almost a decade ago when he took over Arista Records. He had a rocky start. that’s for sure.

But Reid’s promotion from running LaFace Records to Arista and then to Island Def Jam has shown him to be a mature, decisive record man. Losing him now would be a mistake for Island Def Jam and Universal Music Group.

The rumors emanate now because Lucian Grainge has come to the US from Universal International to run UMG. He’s a music man but he’s looking at the bottom line. And in the music biz these days, it just doesn’t look good. It doesn’t help that Grainge was described in Billboard earlier this year as a “killer shark.”

Reid, on the other hand, is a softy. He signed up Jennifer Lopez, god knows why (). His experiments with Janet Jackson and Jermaine Dupri failed. The last Mariah Carey album was a disappointment. Reid loves Lionel Richie and keeps pushing out new records. It’s admirable. But Hello? Is it Richie young kids are looking for? Not really.

So Reid has Justin Bieber, the annoying teenager (). Leave it to Bieber–he’s a hit. You can’t discount that. Reid has a hot album and promo push coming for Brandon Flowers, lead singer of the Killers, with his first solo effort. It smells like platinum. Charlize Theron stars in the video.

Reid has some other gambles about to hit, so watch out. He went to Belize and signed up rapper Jamal “Shyne” Barrow after he got out of jail. Shyne famously took the rap in the P Diddy/Sean Combs-Jennifer Lopez nightclub shooting a few years ago. Now he’s out, and mad after serving nine years of a decade long sentence.Not only that, he’s been deported to his native Belize. If Reid can turn Shyne into a cause celebre, he may have a hit on his hands. (PS This is funny–Barrow’s mother is Jewish. And frankly, as a rapper, he sounds a little like he’s been sitting around Katz’s waiting for a glass of tea.)

There’s also a new album from one half of Outkast, Big Boi. And Mariah Carey, as I’ve already reported, is hard at work on a new album for possible Christmas release. And it was Reid who “broke” Duffy, his own Dusty Springfield.

The industry wags are predicting that Home on the Grainge will look very different once he takes over in January 2011. I think not. And he’s sure to see that L.A. Reid is one of the last links to what makes the record business still run or feel like it might have a little magic left.

Source: Roger Friedman on Showbizz 411
Posted on July 13

It has been confirmed that the North American super star Mariah Carey will be performing at 55th BARRETOS RODEO, the biggest of its kind in Latin America.  the concert will take place on Saturday, August 21on the main stage of the Rodeo Arena. The rodeo will take place from August 19 - 29.

Mariah Carey has made an indelible impact on the global music industry and audiences everywhere as the best-selling female artist of all time whose eighteen #1 singles rival all but The Beatles. As a singer and songwriter, Ms. Carey has been recognized with five Grammy Awards, nine American Music Awards, Billboard's "Artist of the Decade" Award, The World Music Award for "World's Best Selling Female Artist of the Millennium," and was named one of Rolling Stone's select "100 best artists of all time" list,  to name a few accolades.

The fifty thousand capacity arena will stage Mariah's super production as it is her only scheduled show in Brazil for the year and will mark her second time performing in the country. 

TICKETS CAN BE PURCHASED HERE

International Concerts 

Mariah Carey's performance retakes a tradition of the Barretos Rodeo of having an international concert during the event, which has had Shakira (1995), Garth Brooks (1998), Alan Jackson (1999), Reba McEntire (2000) and A-HA (2001).  The event hasn't had an international concert since A-HA.

"We have been dreaming of an international concert for almost a decade and now we are returning with one of the biggest names of music in the world", says the President of the Barretos Rodeo, Marcos Murta.

In addition to Mariah Carey's concert, the Barretos Rodeo will have over 100 national concerts during the 11 days of the event, which includes a national and international rodeo.

Source: MariahCarey.com
Posted on July 12

People from all over the country are calling for infos (80 calls a day (which is not a lot) and buy their packages. Values of the tickets are expected to increase, so you better buy them now at zecks (as previously reported). 
Posted on July 9

Posted on July 9

On recording with Mariah Carey
That was insane! I mean let alone I'm a huge fan and she's a huge icon. No album out! Female. Rapper. Doesn't happen. That does not happen. I don't care how far back you look. I dare any hip-hop historian to tell me when that has ever happened. It doesn't. And I still don't know why it did. 

Source: VIBE - Bossip
Posted on July 9

Speaking of family, will his wife Mariah Carey be watching the fireworks with him? "I'm hoping she'll be there," he told Lifeline Live. "She's in the middle of finishing her next Christmas album. I think she has deadlines and stuff. She's at our house in L.A."

Source: USA Today (extract)
Posted on July 2

Wife Mariah Carey was in LA working on an album. So, he told us, “I got here today and I’ll be leaving tonight.”

Did she also stay home because of the baby on the way? ”I haven’t announced that,” he insisted, repeating the party line: “I was expecting a puppy.”

So, let’s say we believe you, does that mean you’re going to keep on trying? “I try every day!” he said.

Cannon and Carey were married in April 2008 after only dating six weeks. “When you meet your soul mate, you don’t waste time,” he explained. They renew their vows yearly in front of a close circle of friends and family.

Cannon said “love, happiness and a sense of humor” keeps their union strong. He also credited a “belief in God and the power of two spirits coming together. “

Also keeping Cannon busy: “America’s Got Talent.”

“I’ll be doing it all summer long,” he said.

Source: Explore LI (All rights reserved)
Posted on July 2

"The Fourth of July is really special to my wife and me. We love watching fireworks, especially since we saw them on our first date," Cannon tells us. 

This year, the "America's Got Talent" host will also be the emcee of the world's largest fireworks display, the 34th Annual Macy's Fourth of July Fireworks Spectacular airing on NBC. 

Cannon tells us he's excited to participate in the city's festivities. 

"This is actually the first time I'll be in New York for the Fourth. And this is going to be a great event."

Last year, the star and his wife were in Los Angeles - not far from Cannon's hometown of San Diego.

Sky lights aside, he and Mariah take the holiday pretty seriously. 

"We have Fourth of July outfits. She has a little flag bikini with stars and stripes, and I wear my Uncle Sam top hat and flag swim trunks - I'm sure there are photos of us somewhere. We celebrate our patriotism with our wardrobe." 

And, they use the nation's birthday to spend time with family. 

"My best memories of the Fourth are the past two years - being able to spend it with my wife and reflecting on how much we appreciate each other." 

When asked if she'll accompany him while hosting the Macy's spectacular, Cannon gushes, "I'm hoping so! She's diligently working on her holiday album because she has a tight deadline, but we better be together for the holiday."

Source: iStockAnalyst - NY Post
Posted on July 2