Music
News: Taylor Swift breaks records at CMA Awards!
Taylor Swift walked away from this week’s 43rd Annual CMA Awards ceremony as the history-making winner of FOUR CMA Awards, including the industry’s biggest honor – Entertainer of the Year.
A month shy of her twentieth birthday, Taylor became the youngest artist in history, and the first female artist in a decade, to win the Entertainer of the Year trophy. In the 43-year history of the CMA Awards, only six other female acts have won the coveted top prize: Loretta Lynn (1972), Dolly Parton (1978), Barbara Mandrell (1980,’81), Reba McEntire (1986), Shania Twain (1999), and the Dixie Chicks (2000).
Taylor also won CMA Awards for Female Vocalist of the Year, Album of the Year (for the critically-acclaimed and quadruple-platinum-plus Fearless – Taylor was honored as both artist and producer), and Video of the Year (for “Love Story”). Earlier in the day she was honored with the CMA’s International Artist Achievement Award. Taylor shared last night’s Album of the Year producer honors with her co-producer Nathan Chapman, and the Video of the Year Award with director Trey Fanjoy.
Accepting her Entertainer of the year award, a tearful Taylor invited her band to the stage to share the honors. “I’ll never forget this moment,” Taylor said during her acceptance speech, “Because in this moment, everything that I have ever wanted has happened to me.”
One year to the day after the release of her Fearless album, her CMA wins top a year of unparalleled success for Taylor. Released on Big Machine Records, Fearless received rave reviews from the nation’s top critics (including Rolling Stone, The New York Times, the New Yorker, the Los Angeles Times, and USA Today), and is the world’s biggest-selling album this year, in any genre. Fearless has earned Gold or Platinum sales certification in 16 countries spanning 5 continents, including achieving quadruple-platinum status in the US, and has spawned singles that have topped the Country, Pop and Adult Contemporary radio charts. Fearless was also named 2009 Album of the Year by the Academy of Country Music, and is currently nominated for 2009 American Music Awards for both Country and Pop/Rock Favorite Album.
Fearless has spent more weeks in the #1 position atop Billboard’s Top 200 all-genre CD sales chart than any other album this decade. Taylor, whose career record sales now top 10 million, holds the Billboard all-genre records for the longest charting album of this century and for most Top 20 debuts in a calendar year. Big Machine Records recently released a special CD/DVD Platinum Edition of Taylor’s Fearless album, and last week the title spent its 26th week at #1 on Billboard’s Top Country Albums Chart.
In Australia, Fearless has achieved Triple Platinum sales to date. Taylor’s latest single “Fifteen” is at radio and TV now and is the follow up to the hits “Love Story” and “You Belong To Me”. Taylor also features on Band Hero which is released November 25 on Wii, Xbox 360, PS3 and PS2.
The TAYLOR SWIFT FEARLESS 2009 TOUR was the hottest concert ticket of the year, wowing fans and critics worldwide. Capacity crowds packed arenas around the globe -- every show on the tour sold out within minutes, including one at Madison Square Garden in one minute, and one at Los Angeles’ STAPLES center in just two minutes. The blockbuster tour was chronicled in the one-hour primetime NBC network special Dateline: On Tour With Taylor Swift. Taylor is taking her show back on the road next year, with the FEARLESS 2010 TOUR playing 37 shows in 29 cities in 22 states and provinces in the US and Canada, plus seven dates in Australia.
Australian tour dates are:
February 4 - Entertainment Centre - Brisbane February 6 - Acer Arena - Sydney February 7 - Acer Arena - Sydney February 8 - Entertainment Centre - Newcastle February 10 - Rod Laver Arena - Melbourne February 11 - Rod Laver Arena - Melbourne February 12 - Entertainment Centre - Adelaide
Womadelaide 2010 The Armada, Public Opinion Afro Orchestra, Ethiopiques, Babylon Circus and Ojos de Brujo live @ Botanic Park, Adelaide, SA (5-8 March 2010)
Adelaide Big Day Out. We were staying in the same hotel as other artists and I came downstaris to go to the after party and a big crowd was surrounding Aracde Fire and Bjork at the grand piano in the restaurant of the hotel. They were doing old show tunes and everyone was singing along. The lead singer of Arcade Fire was playing piano and everyone was singing along. I recall Buddy Holly's 'Everyday It's Getting Closer', a couple of ABBA songs and some John Lennon, it was very cool. Favourite festivals moments though are just when it's a good show with good reactions, where you don't have to think too much on stage and lose yourself.
Ideal Lineup? I'd have bands that would never be seen on the same stage because they've long since broken up or died, I'd have Blur opening the festival followed by the Smiths who would reform for my music festival, and At The Drive In would finish the day just when I was drunk enough to dance like they can.
Fave artist you've seen at a Music Festival? Rage Against The Machine. Also, Brand New who are a vastly under rated band from New York that played at Big Day Out. I saw them pretty much without fail at every Big Day Out and they were astounding, and to use the the cliche, quite inspiring. I've ripped off many of their moves since then!
Tips for attending Music Festivals Don't break your neck. Don't worry too much about getting to the front for every band you want to see. It's probably better to pick 4 or so that you can really absorb as opposed to having cursory glances at every one. It's like any 'day out' it's best to pace yourself, don't go mental and try to see everything, relax and take it all in.
My Festival Experience
