July 23, Epic Records will release the latest edition of its multi-artist compilations, Now That's What I Call Music. Now That's What I Call Music 10 features hits by Jennifer Lopez, Ja Rule, Celine Dion, Kylie Minogue, Marc Anthony, 'N Sync, Nelly, and many others. U.S. sales of the nine previous installments in the series total 22 million copies.
'N Sync member Lance Bass continues his training for a chance to board a Russian space flight. That training includes an emergency splashdown test in the Black Sea and fending for himself in a Russian forest with no food or supplies. He'll also have to study Russian and space flight theory, plus take part in simulations of the launch, flight and re-entry procedures. NASA spokesperson Dwayne Brown says the Russian Space Agency has asked the International Space Station Multilateral Coordination Board for permission to launch Bass as early as its October 22 mission. To accomplish that, he'll have to complete the six-month training course in four months. No contract has been signed, but Bass' financial backers are reportedly close to working out details of the business plan to fund his $20 million flight into space.
Sean "P. Diddy" Combs has teamed with cable music channel MTV for a new reality show called Making The Band II.
"I feel like the baton has been passed to me to be this generation's star maker and that's what I wake up every morning and try to do. That's what I'm going to give the viewers of the world a chance to see," said Combs. The 30-minute program will debut on October 12 and will run for ten episodes. Auditions will take place in eight U.S. cities, beginning July 22 in Detroit, Michigan. 20 semifinalists will fly to New York City to audition for P. Diddy, then eight finalists will appear on the show.
Widespread Panic leads the contenders for the 3rd annual Jammy Awards, which recognize musicians who focus their art on spontaneous composition. The band picked up five nominations, including best live performance and best live album. This year's Jammy Awards will take place on October 2 at New York's Roseland Ballroom. In related news, Widespread Panic's lead guitarist Mike Houser announced last week that he has been diagnosed with a terminal form of cancer. He posted a message to his fans on the band's website that said, "I want to assure all of you that all that can be done has been done, and I want to thank all of you who have contributed information, medicine, and so on." Houser hasn't played with the group since its July 2 show in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
On July 23, Audium Records will release the latest album by legendary Country rocker Charlie Daniels. Redneck Fiddlin' Man includes two duets Southern Boy, a track he wrote with Travis Tritt, and Waco, which features Garth Brooks. Two patriotic songs are also featured on the collection Daniels' version of The Star Spangled Banner, and The Last Fallen Hero, which he wrote as a tribute to the September 11 victims. The Last Fallen Hero will be released as the album's first single.
NEW ALBUM RELEASES/ JULY 23:
MUSICAL EVENTS/FESTIVALS/BENEFITS:
The 4th annual "Dare To Dream A Concert For Hope" will take place July 26 and 27 in Uncasville, Connecticut. This year's lineup includes: Sara Evans, Uncle Kracker, Michelle Branch, Jars of Clay, Delbert McClinton, Darren Hayes, and Eddie Money. NBC will air the concert on September 7. Proceeds from the event will benefit the Bendheim Cancer Center at Greenwich Hospital in Greenwich, Connecticut.
LOOK WHO'S GOING ON TOUR!
Lil Bow Wow and B2K will headline the "Scream 2" tour, set to begin on July 25 in Memphis, Tennessee. Newcomers TG-4, Mario and IMX will also be featured on the 45 date tour.
July 26 - Bonnie Raitt and Lyle Lovett will kick off a U.S. summer tour in Birmingham, Alabama. The 33-city trek runs through late September. Raitt is supporting her latest album, "Silver Lining," which entered Billboard's Top 200 chart at Number 13 in April. The last time they toured together was following the release of Lovett's 1986 self-titled debut album.