Music News: Thursday, December 8, 2015

Young's PONO player went on sale this week for $399 U.S.

Music News: Thursday, December 8, 2015

NEIL YOUNG INTRODUCES PONO PLAYER

Neil Young says he wants you to get goosebumps when you listen to music. He says you may be able to recognize a song you hear online, ``but can your soul recognize it?'' That's the drive behind his Pono Music player, which plays ultra-high quality music. Young told attendees at the International C-E-S consumer electronics show in Las Vegas this week Pono has no marketing for the player, only word of mouth. The Pono Music player went on sale this week for 399-dollars. Young wasn't the only musician at the convention. 50 Cent signed autographs at his headphone company's booth while D-J Tiesto performed at Audiofly's event space.

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PEOPLE'S CHOICE AWARDS

Iggy Azalea says winning a People's Choice Award is a great way to start the new year. She takes the trophy for favourite hip-hop artist. Lady Antebellum takes the honour for favourite country group, while Hunter Hayes wins as favourite male country artist. They all attended last night's ceremony in Los Angeles. Azalea, Lady A and Fall Out Boy also performed.

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TULSA RENAMES STREETS FOR GARTH BROOKS

The city of Tulsa, Oklahoma, is so excited to have Garth Brooks return, it's renamed four streets after his songs.

Brooks will return to his hometown for a string of concerts beginning tomorrow at the BOK Center. The Tulsa World reports the streets near the venue are now Thunder Rolls Road, Shameless Boulevard, Rodeo Drive and Low Places Lane. The BOK Center's management paid for the signs and ask the city to install them temporarily.

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TUPELO CELEBRATES ELVIS' BIRTHDAY

If Elvis Presley was still alive, he'd be 80 years old today. The city of Tupelo, Mississippi, where he was born, is planning citywide celebrations today. Dick Guyton of the Elvis Presley Birthplace says Presley's story of being born into poverty and becoming the greatest rock and roll entertainer ever rings to every generation. Guyton says they will have the original fans in their 70s and 80s come through the home today, as well as teenagers just discovering Presley's music and visitors from other countries, too.

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LES PAUL PROTOTYPE WILL BE SOLD

The prototype of the Les Paul Gibson guitar will be sold at auction. Guernsey's will offer the ``Black Beauty'' at auction February 19 in New York. It was made in 1954, and Paul modified the guitar until its last use in 1976. He often played it in concert and on the ``Les Paul and Mary Ford'' T-V show. Its market value will be determined at auction. Paul gave the guitar to his guitar technician, Tom Doyle, who is the current owner.

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BOSTON PLANS TO HONOUR GUSTER

The city of Boston will declare January 15 Guster Day. The band met at Tufts University and the city is honouring them for their commitment to the environment and public service. Guster will spend Guster Day playing as street musicians in undisclosed locations around the city. The last performance of the day will be at the Greenovate Boston 2014 Climate Action Plan Launch Celebration. Guster will release a new album, ``Evermotion,'' on January 13.

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LINEUP ANNOUNCED FOR GOVERNORS BALL

Drake, The Black Keys, ``Weird Al'' Yankovic and Florence And The Machine will headline the Governors Ball in New York. Other performers include Lana Del Ray, Ryan Adams, Bjork (BYORK), Canadian Deadmau5 (DED'-mows), Chromeo and Charli XCX. The Governors Ball will be the weekend of June 5.

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The following is HMV Canada's top 10 CDs based on national sales for the week ending Jan. 10.

CDs

1 1989 _ Taylor Swift

2 X _ Ed Sheeran

3 Sonic Highways _ Foo Fighters

4 The Pinkprint _ Nicki Minaj

5 The Endless River _ Pink Floyd

6 Rock or Bust _ AC/DC

7 No Fixed Address _ Nickelback

8 2014 Forest Hills Drive _ J. Cole

9 Shady XV _ Various Artists of Shady Records