Notes: A Weekly Music Column (4/4)

Hello everyone,

Another busy week in the music industry. I seem to have miscalculated upon my previous entry - this week's column will NOT be the last one; next week's will. In the meantime, let's get started!

RECAP:

The All Points West Music & Arts festival announced its 2009 lineup on March 30. Coldplay, Tool and the Beastie Boys will serve as headliners for the three-day event, with other artists like Echo and the Bunnymen, My Bloody Valentine, MGMT, Arctic Monkeys and the Yeah Yeah Yeahs also set to perform. Tickets went on sale April 3, with single day tickets priced at $89 and three-day passes starting at $199.

Some of the proceeds will benefit the organization, Friends of Liberty State Park, - dedicated to environmentally friendly improvements to the area.

The Billboard 200 albums chart was flooded with new arrivals this week after a relatively slow previous week. The hits compilation, Now 30, debuted atop the chart with sales of 146,000 copies, followed by another new release, the soundtrack to Hannah Montana: The Movie (139,000). Other strong debuts for the week include Keri Hilson (No. 4, 94,000), Papa Roach (No. 8, 44,000) and Mastodon (No. 11, 41,000). Overall, album sales totaled 6.77 million - a ten percent increase from last week's 6.13 million, but down 12 percent from the same week in 2008.

And finally, in some of the stranger news all year, pop-punkers Fall Out Boy announced plans to tour with rapper, 50 Cent. The rapper, real name Curtis Jackson, reportedly proposed the idea to the band, who eagerly accepted, having already toured with hip-hop acts, Gym Class Heroes and Paul Wall. Jackson will perform five shows with the band, starting April 14 at the Fillmore Auditorium in Denver. His new album, Before I Self Destruct, is due in June.

COMING UP: New releases for the week of April 7

• Doves: Kingdom of Rusto Long awaited fourth album from British indie-rock/progressive band hits shelves.• The Hold Steady: A Positive Rageo Live album recorded between 2006 and 2007 showcases band interviews, fan commentary and a plethora of tracks• Rascal Flatts: Unstoppableo Country act returns after two years with sixth studio album, co-produced by former Megadeth producer, Dann Huff• Neil Young: Fork in the Roado Canadian folk-rocker releases album inspired by his alternative energy automobile. Documentary to follow later in the year.

WORDS OF WISDOM:

"If everyone demanded peace instead of another television set, then there'd be peace."-John Lennon

That's all for this week. Check back the same time next week for the REAL last issue of Notes. Until then, enjoy the rest of TheCelebrityCafe.com!

-Dan