Real Music People

Metallica just released the second single off their upcoming album, Death Magnetic. Entitled “My Apocalypse,” the track is now available for download on iTunes. Metallica fans should check out check out iTunes where you can also purchase the riveting track “The Day That Never Comes”

Additionally, the band have recently unveiled a new widget that the band will frequently updated with news, a trailer for their MissionMetallica.com fan site, and other Death Magnetic related material. The widget can be embedded onto most social networking sites and blog applications.

Coldplay’s album Viva La Vida has to date been the No.1 selling album in 36 countries around the world, including in the U.S., where it held the top spot for two weeks, and in the U.K. where the album has been No.1 for the last four weeks.

Coldplay’s previous album, the 10 million-selling X&Y, reached No.1 in 32 countries in 2005.

In a number of countries, including the U.K., France, Germany and Japan, first week sales of Viva La Vida exceeded those of X&Y, and Viva La Vida has already been certified gold or platinum in 31 countries including platinum in the USA, Germany and Australia and double platinum in the U.K. and Canada.

In many countries Viva La Vida held the top spot on the album chart in its second week, including in the USA, U.K., Australia, Canada, Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Holland, Ireland, Italy, Norway, Portugal, Sweden, Switzerland and New Zealand.

Viva La Vida set the record for the highest first week album sales ever on the iTunes Store worldwide, in addition to being the biggest album pre-order in iTunes’ history. In the U.S., 288,000 week one sales were digital downloads, the biggest ever first week sales tally for a digital album, and with 394,000 digital albums sold in the first three weeks, Viva La Vida is the all time best selling digital album in the States. U.S. over the counter sales for Viva La Vida across all formats have now exceeded 1.1 million according to Nielsen SoundScan.

In the U.K. Viva La Vida is the fastest-selling album of the year with over the counter sales of more than 600,000 since its release on 12 June, while in Germany the album is already the biggest selling release of the year as well as the fastest.

Coldplay will launch their North American tour with two sold out dates in Los Angeles on July 14th and 15th.

It looks like things are getting serious between Katy Perry and her boyfriend Travis McCoy. The Gym Class Heroes lead singer has reportedly given her a promise ring. Travis recently opened up in an interview saying “We’re going to spend the whole summer together. She’s going to be on Warped Tour with us, she’s going to be performing. It’s going to be a good time.” He was asked what he like about Katy and he said “She’s super hot, for one. But when I first heard the song, I was like this is going to be a smash. The next thing you know it’s No. 1 on iTunes.” He likes her for her number 1 then? Travis has bought her a diamond ring already by just as a promise ring that she wears on her middle finger. He even adds that he has one too.

Radiohead was a revolutionary band by giving away its latest album for pretty much nothing. Now, we can all get our hands on all of the band’s stuff before ‘In Rainbows’ on iTunes. The band previously only allowed its record label to sell its albums digitally on music services in album form. That means that you can’t just buy singles. Apple refused to do it so Radiohead declined to sell their music on iTunes – that is until the album ‘In Rainbows’ for songs a la carte sale following its pricing-optional debut. I just want them to admit it – money almost always wins over artistry.

Oprah Winfrey says Leona Lewis is going to take the US by storm. The ‘Bleeding Love’ singer appeared on Oprah’s US talk show yesterday and blew the audience away with her amazing performance.

Afterwards, Oprah announced: “A star is born!”

Before appearing on the show, Leona - whose single ‘Bleeding Love’ is currently number one in the US iTunes singles chart - spoke of her excitement about meeting one of her idols. She said: “I can’t believe it really, I’m like, ‘Oh my God!’ ”

Leona’s debut album ‘Spirit’ is set for release in the US on April 8, complete with two new bonus tracks masterminded by Akon and Madd Scientist. Earlier this year, Leona was left “overwhelmed” when Whitney Houston said she was a “baby version” of herself.

The British star met her “all-time musical hero” at producer Clive Davis’ Annual Grammy Party in Los Angeles, but could barely speak when she was introduced to Whitney.

She said: “It was amazing, I got to meet my all-time musical hero Whitney Houston - who looked so incredible. Clive introduced us. I don’t think I managed to say much though; I was overwhelmed! I was told afterwards that when I performed she had said to a friend at the record label, ‘My God, she’s a baby me!’ Wow - what a huge compliment!”

The guy that Amy Winehouse has been spending a lot of her time with, her ex-boyfriend, the guy that’s got Blake Fielder-Civil livid, happens to be a musician as well. And he’s quite good. He can pretty much pass as the British Robin Thicke.

His name is Tyler James and you just have to love his blue-eyed soul. He’s got great songs in ‘Your Woman’, his duet with Wino ‘Best for Me’ and ‘Why Do I?’. It’s such a bummer that we can’t buy his music on iTunes over on this side of the pond. And yeah, we really get why Blake is livid right now. While he’s in jail, his wife is singing duets with her ex.