Adele's "21" is top-selling U.S. iTunes album of 2012

 British singer Adele notched another accolade on Thursday as iTunes announced that her Grammy-winning album "21" was the top-selling record of 2012 in its U.S. store, extending the disc's successful run almost two years after it was released.Adele, 24, who last year became the first artist to secure three iTunes milestones with top-selling album, single and artist of the year, came in ahead...

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One Direction, Rihanna, Adele lead Billboard 2012 charts

Newcomer British boy band One Direction joined R&B diva Rihanna and British singer Adele to top Billboard's year-end music charts, released on Friday.One Direction, who topped the Billboard 200 album chart twice this year with their debut, "Up All Night" in March and their sophomore album "Take Me Home" in November, were named Billboard's top new artist/group, rounding off a stellar year of U.S....

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Pop star Kelly Clarkson announces engagement

Kelly Clarkson, who became the first contestant to win "American Idol" a decade ago and went on to several chart-topping successes, has gotten engaged to her boyfriend, the singer said in a Twitter message on Saturday.Clarkson, 30, previously revealed she had been dating talent manager Brandon Blackstock since early this year. Blackstock is the stepson of country singer Reba McEntire."I'M ENGAGED!"...

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Sirius XM to pay higher music royalty fees

Sirius XM Radio Inc will pay a bigger percentage of revenue toward music royalties for sound recordings, following a decision made by the U.S. Copyright Royalty Board, the satellite radio provider said on Monday.Judges at the U.S. Copyright Royalty Board determined last Friday that Sirius should pay higher royalty rates over the next five years to SoundExchange, the non-profit group that collects...

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The top 10 songs and albums on the iTunes Store

iTunes' Official Music Charts for the week ending Dec. 17, 2012Top Songs:1. "Locked Out of Heaven," Bruno Mars2. "I Knew You Were Trouble," Taylor Swift3. "Ho Hey," The Lumineers4. "Stupid Boy," Cassadee Pope5. "Scream & Shout (feat. Britney Spears)," will.i.am6. "Diamonds," Rihanna7. "Beauty and a Beat (feat. Nicki Minaj)," Justin Bieber8. "Thrift Shop (feat. Wanz)," Ryan Lewis,Macklemore9. "Gangnam...

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School Modesty Club Says Cover Up

High-school freshman Saige Hatch was sick of seeing her peers revealing too much skin when she came to school each day.The 15-year-old saw midriff-grazing tops, exposed cleavage, short shorts."From elementary to middle school, and then to high school, I noticed immodesty," she told ABCNews.com. "I really wanted to start a club to bring awareness to it and bring remembrance to what modesty is."Inspired...

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Australian prank call radio to donate profits to nurse's family

CANBERRA (Reuters) - The Australian radio station behind a prank call to a British hospital will donate its advertising revenue until the end of the year to a fund for the family of the nurse who apparently took her own life after the stunt, the company said on Tuesday. Southern Cross Austereo , parent company of Sydney radio station 2Day FM, said it would donate all advertising revenue,...

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Lady Gaga accused of illegal gay rights promotion in Russia

ST PETERSBURG, Russia (Reuters) - A political ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin is taking legal action against American pop star Lady Gaga for promoting gay rights to minors during a concert on Sunday. Vitaly Milonov, a member of the ruling United Russia party in the St Petersburg assembly and the architect of a city law that bans gay "propaganda", accused the singer of breaking...

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Rapper Big Boi brings electro sounds to new album

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Rapper Big Boi  is trying new sounds and styles for his highly anticipated second album out on Tuesday, carving a successful solo spotlight beyond OutKast's devoted following.Big Boi, whose real name is Antwan Andre Patton, is best-known as one-half of hip-hop duo OutKast with Andre 3000. The group, which went on indefinite hiatus in 2007, scored hits including "Ms. Jackson"...

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Jenni Rivera's family hopes Mexican-American singer still alive

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - The family of Mexican-American singer Jenni Rivera  said on Monday they are holding onto hope that she may still be alive, although U.S. officials said earlier that she died on Sunday in a plane crash in Mexico."In our eyes, we still have faith that our sister will be OK," Rivera's brother Juan told reporters outside the family house near Long Beach, California."We thank...

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