Remember This!

Anyone can give up, it's the easiest thing in the world to do, but to hold it together when everyone doubts you, that's true Strength & Faith..much Peace ~Bruce Avery~

SALT!

Yay moviegoers! You are rewarding the best-reviewed movies of the summer with your pocketbooks. While Angelina Jolie earned an estimated $36.5 million of your money this weekend for her taut actioner Salt, Inception was also a huge recipient of your cash falling only 31 percent its second weekend in theaters. In fact the $43.5 million the movie earned put its total at $143.6 million for its first ten days in theaters. (In IMAX alone the film grossed $4.8 million.) Despicable Me also benefited from your discerning tastes, falling only 26 percent its third weekend in theaters for a total box office take of $161 million.

Unfortunately Ramona and Beezus did not connect with audiences. The weekend’s other new wide release generated only $8 million and landed in sixth place for its opening frame. Those who did see the movie liked it, with audiences giving the film an A- according to CinemaScore but it wasn’t enough of a crowd to push the grosses past $10 million. That’s in contrast to the B+ that Salt earned from moviegoers. Directed by Philip Noyce, the action-thriller scored equally well with men and women, though women made up a larger component of the audience with 59 percent of the audience over 25. Of course Jolie was the primary draw to the film. With Ramona, which starred newcomer Joey King and tween pop star Selena Gomez, the G-rated flick was received best by young girls and their grandmothers.

Spot four and five for the weekend went to Disney movies. Despite a weak beginning, The Sorcerer’s Apprentice held in fairly well its second weekend in theaters, losing 45 percent of its value. Grossing another $9.7 million, the PG-rated actioner has grossed $42.6 million. Toy Story 3 also earned another $9 million its sixth weekend in theaters. The monster hit of the summer lost only 25 percent of its value putting its total gross at an impressive $379 million.

Grown Ups took the seventh slot. The Adam Sandler-starrer also held up remarkably well, losing only 23 percent of its value in its fifth weekend in theaters. With an additional $7.6 million, the film’s total stands at $142 million. The Twilight Saga: Eclipse is still in the top ten. The PG-13 rated romance lost 48 percent of its value its fourth weekend in release, for an additional $7 million and a total cume of close to $280 million. M. Night Shyamalan’s The Last Airbender grabbed the ninth slot while Predators took spot ten. Airbender earned an additional $4 milion putting its total gross at $123 million while Predators fell an additional 59 percent for another $2.8 million and has only grossed $46.5 million after three weekend in release.

The strong performances of the top three releases helped propel the box office to 8 percent above last year at this time when G-Force, The Ugly Truth and Orphan opened.

In limited release, The Kids Are All Right continues to do great business. The Julianne Moore, Annette Bening-starrer grossed $2.6 million in only 201 theaters. It’s per theater average of $13,000 has propelled its two-week limited gross to close to $5 million.

Blu Cantrell...New album in works!

To all Blu Cantrell fans I came across some information i'm sure you guys would be happy to know. Blu is working on a new album not sure who she has signed a deal with, but lets hope all goes well for her.

Blu Cantrell teamed up with Providence based photographer, Gregory Shumchenia.
Gregory Shumchenia was taken on as photographer to provide new images of Blu for her upcoming album, new website and press pack. So far the shoots have taken place at two locations in Providence. 3 Steeple Street, in downtown Providence, followed by NYLO Hotels. The album cover itself has yet to be taken.

Alicia Keys Recommits to Contract With EMI Publishing

While Alicia Keys may have recently parted ways with Jeff Robinson–her manager since she was just a talented 14-year-old with a budding career–she has recommitted to a long-standing relationship with EMI Music Publishing. Keys first signed with EMI to handle her publishing when she was only 15. The new expanded deal will give the company representation of Keys’ deep catalog of songs for years to come.

“EMI and I have formed an incredible partnership over the years,” Keys said in a press statement. “It’s wonderful to have a home here that supports my artistry.”

That artistry has paid huge dividends for EMI on publishing deals. Keys’ catalog includes hits such as ‘A Woman’s Worth,’ ‘Fallin’,’ ‘Like You’ll Never See Me Again,’ ‘Superwoman’ and her recent sequel to ‘Empire State of Mind.’ Needless to say, the embattled company is pretty excited that Keys decided not to ditch them, too.

“Alicia Keys is without doubt one of the most important and accomplished songwriters of her generation, writing music that connects with fans across the world,” added Jon Platt, the president of North American creative at EMI Music Publishing. “We’re proud to have worked with her throughout her career to date, and to continue to represent such an incredible catalog of songs.”

American Idol - Top Money Earners

Forbes has announced its latest list of Top 10 American Idol money earners for the past year and, once again, the two most successful winners remain atop the list. No real surprise there. Daughtry, the most popular non-winner, also remains toward the top.

Surprises? Perhaps Kellie Pickler ranking so high (No. 4) though she writes her songs and has toured frequently and Kris Allen making the cut at 10 and the far higher profile Adam Lambert missing out.

The reasons? Though Adam's album sold more than twice as many copies as Kris' there is little money to be made through CD sales, especially if you're just the performer. Songwriters and producers get their cut first. Once you subtract the label's grab there's little left for the artist unless the album sells in the millions and few artists manage that these days.

Adam's income would come largely from touring and merchandising and his tour just started, or is soon to get underway. Kris' income would likely be the result of those Ford commercials he's landed. One would expect Adam to make the list next year if the tour does well. The one season to fail to make the list this year: Season 3, Fantasia's year. Ruben Studdard, Season 2 winner, and Taylor Hicks, Season 5 victor, also missed.

1. Kelly Clarkson -- $8 million

2. Carrie Underwood -- $7 million

3. Chris Daughtry -- $5.4 million

4. Kellie Pickler -- $4.3 million

5. David Cook -- $2.3 million

6. Jennifer Hudson -- $2 million

7. Jordin Sparks -- $1.8 million

8. David Archuleta -- $1.4 million

9. Clay Aiken -- $800,000

10. Kris Allen -- $672,000


Fantasia Barrino didn't make the Top 10 I see. She's still one of the Best Winners. Luv Ya Fantasia!

Top debut album sales weeks for 2010

Sales weeks for the year over 100K for a single album:

1. EMINEM---RECOVERY (debut, BB 7/10/2010 issue): 741,413
2. SADE---SOLDIER OF LOVE (debut, BB 2/27/2010 issue): 501,665
3. LADY ANTEBELLUM---NEED YOU NOW (debut, BB 2/13/2010 issue): 480,922
4. DRAKE---THANK ME LATER (debut, BB 7/3/2010 issue) : 446,680
5. USHER---RAYMOND V RAYMOND (debut, BB 4/17/2010 issue): 329,107
6. EMINEM---RECOVERY (week 2, BB 7/17/2010 issue): 313,292
7. JUSTIN BIEBER---MY WORLD 2.0 (week 2, BB 4/17/2010 issue): 290,903
8. JUSTIN BIEBER---MY WORLD 2.0 (debut, BB 4/10/2010 issue): 282,672
9. JACK JOHNSON---TO THE SEA (debut, BB 6/19/2010 issue): 242,630
10. LADY ANTEBELLUM---NEED YOU NOW (week 2, BB 2/20/2010 issue): 208,828
11. LADY ANTEBELLUM---NEED YOU NOW (week 3, BB 2/27/2010 issue): 207,507
12. SADE---SOLDIER OF LOVE (week 2, BB 3/6/3010 issue): 190,492
13. MONICA---STILL STANDING (debut, BB 4/10/2010): 183,766
14. LIL WAYNE---REBIRTH (debut, BB 2/20/2010 issue): 175,620
15. VARIOUS---HOPE FOR HAITI (debut, BB 2/6/2010 issue): 171,026
16. DRAKE---THANK ME LATER (week 2, BB 7/10/2010 issue): 156,694
17. GLEE CAST---GLEE: THE MUSIC - JOURNEY TO REGIONALS [EP] (debut, BB 6/26/2010): 151,976
18. KE$HA---ANIMAL (debut, BB 1/23/2010 issue): 151,942
19. LADY ANTEBELLUM---NEED YOU NOW (week 4, BB 3/6/3010 issue): 144,117
20. TWILIGHT SAGA: ECLIPSE SOUNDTRACK (debut, BB 6/26/2010 issue): 144,073
21. VARIOUS---HOPE FOR HAITI (week 2, BB 2/13/2010 issue): 142,890
22. LUDACRIS---BATTLE OF THE SEXES (debut, 3/27/2010 issue): 136,950
23. GLEE CAST---GLEE: THE MUSIC, VOLUME 3 SHOWSTOPPERS (debut, BB 6/5/2010 issue): 135,748
24. VARIOUS---NOW 33 (debut, BB 4/10/2010 issue): 135,121
25. SADE---SOLDIER OF LOVE (week 3, BB 3/13/2010 issue): 126,629
26. LADY ANTEBELLUM---NEED YOU NOW (week 6, BB 3/20/2010 issue): 125,595
27. TOM PETTY & THE HEARTBREAKERS---MOJO (debut, BB 7/3/2010 issue): 125,126
28. VAMPIRE WEEKEND---CONTRA (debut, BB 1/30/2010 issue): 123,597
29. VARIOUS---NOW 33 (week 2, BB 4/17/2010 issue): 122,778
30. LADY ANTEBELLUM---NEED YOU NOW (week 5, BB 3/13/2010 issue): 118,041
31. GODSMACK---ORACLE (debut, BB 5/22/2010 issue): 117,481
32. GORILLAZ---PLASTIC BEACH (debut, BB 3/27/2010 issue): 112,011
33. JAHEIM---ANOTHER ROUND (debut, BB 2/27/2010 issue): 111,940
34. CHRISTINA AGUILERA---BIONIC (debut, BB 6/26/2010 issue): 110,168
35. ERYKAH BADU---NEW AMERYKAH PART TWO (debut, BB 4/17/2010 issue): 110,082
36. DRAKE---THANK ME LATER (week 3, BB 7/17/2010 issue): 104,865
37. LADY ANTEBELLUM---NEED YOU NOW (week 7, BB 3/27/2010 issue): 104,597
38. MILEY CYRUS---CAN'T TAME ME (debut, BB 7/10/2010 issue): 102,389
39. JUSTIN BIEBER---MY WORLD 2.0 (week 3, BB 4/24/2010 issue): 102,115

Reality Today!

You can't lift yourself up by putting other people down. And you will never impress everyone by stepping on anyone. In fact, there really is no need to try to impress people at all. Those who really care about you don't have to be impressed. Those who don't care about you never can be. Everybody loves a star, but that doesn't mean they love you. What they love is the image of you, the makeup you wear in public, the glitz, the glitter. At the end of the day, after the curtain goes down and the lights go up, after you've wiped off the makeup and you sit there staring in the mirror at the real you, you know what really matters most. It is Unconditional Love of Family and True Friends & Lovers. A Love that doesn't start with a Hit or end with a Flop. A Love some don't appreciate until it's to late.