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FYI/TMI: Jobs Lost At Universal, Love Lost For Goulding, Swift

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UMG lets go nearly 60 staffers, Ellie Goulding, Taylor Swift report breakups, Macca says Yoko didn't break up Beatles
Crystal Larsen
GRAMMYs
Dec 2, 2014 - 4:06 pm

(In an effort to keep you fully informed, and fully entertained, below we present today's FYI and TMI — news you need and news that's, well, sometimes needless….)

FYI ...

Layoffs At Universal Music Group
Following its recent acquisition of EMI Music, Universal Music Group has let go approximately 60 employees across EMI's distribution division and Nashville office, according to sources reported by Billboard.biz. Sources say UMG is expected to let go additional staffers in the coming months. (10/29)  

TMI …

Bad Breaks: Goulding, Swift, Macca And Yoko
Whether from personal experience or from '60s crooner Neil Sedaka, we've all learned that breaking up is hard to do, even for celebrities. Pop starlet Ellie Goulding and electronica superstar Skrillex recently announced they are separating because of long distance — Goulding resides in London while Skrillex lives in Los Angeles. Taylor Swift, who's experienced her share of heartache, has reportedly parted from boyfriend Conor Kennedy. The singer is likely coping with the help of six of her favorite foods, as revealed in a recent interview: eggs, ham, orange juice, diet coke, cheese, and sugar. Fortunately for Swift, she didn't break up the Kennedy's. Yoko Ono's been living under the cloud of supposedly breaking up the Beatles for years. But in a recent interview with news network Al Jazeera, former Lennon bandmate Paul McCartney attempts to finally put those rumors to rest. has come forward to denounce those rumors. "I don't think you can blame her for anything," he said, adding that Lennon was "definitely going to leave." Yes, sometimes love is a battlefield.

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FYI/TMI: Madonna Notches Top Tour, Taylor Swift And Harry Styles Break Up

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Madonna tops Pollstar's top 200 list; are Swift and Styles never ever getting back together?
Crystal Larsen
GRAMMYs
Dec 2, 2014 - 4:06 pm

(In an effort to keep you fully informed, and fully entertained, below we present today's FYI and TMI — news you need and news that's, well, sometimes needless….)

FYI …

Madonna Earns Top North American Tour In 2012
Madonna ranked No. 1 on Pollstar's list of the top 200 North American tours in 2012 with gross revenue of $133.7 million. Placing second was Cirque du Soleil's Michael Jackson: The Immortal World Tour with gross revenue of $112.9 million. Bruce Springsteen And The E Street Band were third with $104.7 million, Kenny Chesney and Tim McGraw's Brothers of the Sun tour was fourth with $96.5 million, and Roger Waters was fifth with $90.2 million. Rounding out the top 10 tours were Coldplay, Dave Matthews Band, Van Halen, Barbra Streisand, and Elton John.

Layoffs At EMI
Following EMI Music's recent $1.9 billion acquisition by Universal Music Group, the label has let go several employees, including staffers across its international and Latin divisions, according to sources reported by Billboard.biz. Additional restructuring is expected in the coming months, according to the report.

TMI …

Swift And Styles: Never Ever Getting Back Together?
Only a week and a half into the new year, Taylor Swift already has fodder for a new hit song. The current 55th GRAMMY nominee, who has penchant for revealing her trouble in love on record, has reportedly parted ways with her latest main squeeze, One Direction's Harry Styles. According to a New York Daily News report, the couple split after a different kind of sparks flew while they were vacationing in the British Virgin Islands, leading Swift to cut the trip short and jet back to the United States. Are they never ever getting back together? Like, ever? That remains to be seen, but we'll look forward to hearing about it on Swift's next hit breakup single. 

Performers for the 58th GRAMMY Awards

Photo: Getty Images/WireImage.com

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Who's performing? Official 58th GRAMMYs lineup

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A handy guide to the performances scheduled for the 58th GRAMMY awards, airing Monday, Feb. 15 on CBS
THE GRAMMYs
GRAMMYs
May 15, 2017 - 2:36 am

Music's Biggest Night is only days ahead and set to include show-stopping and unforgettable GRAMMY Moments. The star-studded performance lineup for the 58th Annual GRAMMY Awards promise something for all music fans — including a number of first-time GRAMMY performances, a satellite performance by the Broadway cast of "Hamilton," an experiential performance by Lady Gaga in honor of the late icon David Bowie, Adele's return to the GRAMMY stage, and the best in country, pop, rock, and hip-hop. Two-time GRAMMY winner LL Cool J returns as host for the fifth consecutive year and will be joined by a stellar lineup of presenters.

Are you ready to "Witness Greatness"? The performers on the 58th GRAMMY Awards are: 

The 58th Annual GRAMMY Awards will take place on Monday, Feb. 15 at Staples Center in Los Angeles and will broadcast live in high-definition TV and 5.1 surround sound on CBS at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT.

For updates and breaking news, visit The Recording Academy's social networks on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

News

FYI/TMI: UMG Earnings Dip, Psy Joins Madonna In N.Y.

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Universal Music Group earnings down 2.5 percent; Korean pop star joins Material Girl onstage for "Gangnam Style"
Crystal Larsen
GRAMMYs
Dec 2, 2014 - 4:06 pm

FYI …

UMG Earnings Down
Universal Music Group reported a 2.5 percent decrease in earnings before interest, taxes and amortization to $302 million for the first nine months of 2012, according to Billboard.biz. Revenue increased 2.1 percent to $3.68 billion due in part to an 8.6 percent increase in digital sales and licensing income. The label is predicting a $158 million annual increase next year when figures are included from its recent acquisition of EMI Music.

TMI …

Madonna's "Gangnam Style" … And Bum
Madonna is the latest celebrity to go gaga for "Gangnam Style." The Material Girl was joined by Psy during a concert on Nov. 13 in New York to perform the Korean pop star's viral hit. Madge noted during the show that Psy flew "all the way from Frankfurt, Germany" for the performance. During an earlier concert in New York on Nov. 12, Madonna surprised her audience again as she bared her bum in an effort to raise funds for victims of Hurricane Sandy. After reportedly taking off her top to reveal the words "no fear" written across her back, the singer pulled down her bottoms and told the audience, "Get over my naked a** and give me some money." At the end of the night, Madonna's naked behind collected $3,000. Would you bare your bum for charity?

News

FYI/TMI: Adele Tops 2012, Chris Martin's Kitchen Disaster

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Adele leads Billboard's Top Artists chart; Coldplay frontman isn't safe in the kitchen
Crystal Larsen
GRAMMYs
Dec 2, 2014 - 4:06 pm

(In an effort to keep you fully informed, and fully entertained, below we present today's FYI and TMI — news you need and news that's, well, sometimes needless….)

FYI …

Billboard Releases 2012 Year-End Charts
Billboard has released its Top Artists of 2012 chart with Adele ranking No. 1, followed by Rihanna, Taylor Swift, Drake, and Justin Bieber. Adele's 21 also ranked No. 1 on the year-end Billboard 200 Albums chart, followed by Michael Bublé's Christmas, Drake's Take Care, Swift's Red, and One Direction's Up All Night. Topping 2012's Hot 100 Songs chart is Gotye's "Somebody That I Used To Know" featuring Kimbra, followed by Carly Rae Jepsen's "Call Me Maybe," Fun.'s "We Are Young" featuring Janelle Monáe, Maroon 5's "Payphone" featuring Wiz Khalifa, and Ellie Goulding's "Lights." On the iTunes year-end chart, Adele notched the top-selling album for 21 and Jepsen had the top song for "Call Me Maybe."       

Carole King To Receive Gershwin Prize
GRAMMY winner and 2013 Recording Academy Lifetime Achievement Award honoree Carole King will become the fifth recipient, and first female recipient, of the Library of Congress' Gershwin Prize for Popular Song, a lifetime achievement award recognizing artists for their contributions to pop music. King will be feted at a ceremony in the spring of 2013. Previous award recipients include Burt Bacharach and Hal David, Paul McCartney, Paul Simon, and Stevie Wonder.

TMI …

Chris Martin's Cooking Disasters
In the studio, Chris Martin and his Coldplay cohorts know how to cook up a great tune, evidenced by their six GRAMMY wins, plus two nominations for the 55th Annual GRAMMY Awards. But it seems the kitchen is a whole different story. According to a recent report, the London Fire Brigade has offered Martin a free home fire safety visit. On an episode of "Jamie And Jimmy's Food Food Fight Club," Gwyneth Paltrow revealed that the Coldplay frontman has called emergency twice after kitchen cooking disasters. "He has twice cooked a meal and this is not a joke, both times the fire brigade came," said Paltrow. PerhapsMartin should stick to the music and leave the cooking to Paltrow, who is a chef in her own right.