September 9, a free performance to honor the victims of the September 11 attacks will take place at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C. "A Concert For America" will be hosted by NBC news anchor Tom Brokaw and will include performances by Alan Jackson, Aretha Franklin, Al Green, Enrique Iglesias, Gloria Estefan, Josh Groban, Placido Domingo, the National Symphony Orchestra, and others. NBC-TV will air the two-hour special on September 11.
The week ending 9-14, the Dixie Chicks debut at Number One on Billboard's Country and Top 200 Albums chart with their new album Home. First week sales reached 780,000 copies, which sets a new SoundScan record for biggest first-week sales of an album by a female group. Nielsen SoundScan began tabulating record sales in 1991.
September 3, the Russian Space Agency rejected 'N Sync member Lance Bass' bid for a ride into space aboard the Russian Soyuz spacecraft. His sponsors failed to meet the payment deadlines for the $20-million adventure. However, Lance's publicist said he'll remain in Moscow while negotiations continue. Hollywood producer David Krieff, who plans to create a television mini-series on the trip, said the first big payment would be made by September 9. Stay tuned.
September 10, TMB Records will release Let's Roll: Together in Unity, Faith and Hope. The compilation pays tribute to the passengers of Flight 93, which crashed in Pennsylvania on September 11. "Let's roll" were the last words spoken by Todd Beamer, who, along with other passengers, confronted the hijackers onboard. The 18-track compilation features tracks by Wynonna Judd, Lila McCann, Yo Yo Ma, Chaka Khan, Steven Curtis Chapman, dc Talk, and others. All profits will go to the Todd M. Beamer Foundation, set up by his widow Lisa Beamer "to extend Todd Beamer's legacy of character, faith and courage."
Warner Music Latina will release a compilation of the 2002 Latin Grammy Award nominees on September 10. Included are tracks by the Record of the Year, Album of the Year, Best Salsa Album, Best Ranchero Album and Best Music Video nominees. The 3rd annual Latin Grammy Awards will be handed out on September 18 in Hollywood, California.
NEW ALBUM RELEASES / SEPTEMBER 10:
AWARDS PRESENTATIONS/WINNERS:
The Canadian Country Music Association (CCMA) awards will be presented on September 9 in Calgary. This year's leading nominees are Terri Clark, Carolyn Dawn Johnson, Paul Brandt and Emerson Drive. Each received five nominations. The awards ceremony will air live in the United States on the Country Music Television cable channel.
Nominees for the inaugural MTV Latin Video Awards have been announced. Argentinean singer Diego Torres and Colombian stars Shakira and Juanes each earned five nominations, including Artist of the Year. The awards will be handed out on October 24 at the Jackie Gleason Theater in Miami Beach, Florida.
LOOK WHO'S GOING ON TOUR:
September 12, Country star George Strait will kick off a U.S. arena tour in Auburn Hills, Michigan. One of the top touring artists of the 1990s, his shows throughout that decade grossed more than $158-million. Earlier this year, George performed his first arena show since 1997. Since then, he's staged an annual multi-artist stadium tour. Strait's latest outing is in support of his 2001 album The Road Less Traveled. Concerts are scheduled to wrap up on November 2 in San Antonio, Texas. Jo Dee Messina will open the shows.
The second Plea For Peace/Take Action Tour will begin on September 13 in Worcester, Massachusetts. Performers at the event will include Jimmy Eat World, Cave In and Promise Ring. A portion of the proceeds will go to the National Hopeline Network, which give free access to crisis counseling by routing callers to their nearest suicide prevention center.
September 13, the Indigo Girls will begin a 16-date tour in Baltimore, Maryland. The duo will be promoting its latest album, Become You. Shows will wrap up on October 3 in Ann Arbor, Michigan.