Memorial Day Fun!

Shout out to Nicole and Daniel of Garner Circle PR who invited me to a wonderful cookout yesterday for Memorial Day. I had a blast and the food was great. We managed to snap this quick photo, lol!

 

Left to right: @JCouturePR, @ErikaESampson, @TheGarnerCircle, @JadeAlston and @TracieCieara 

Also follow @MrDanielDickey on GP! He was busy on the grill!

I managed to pass by my cousin @BertellYoung's crib for his memorial day get together. Shout out to my peeps who attended, in particular @Dondria, @ItsKeyzBaby, @KMichelle, @BonitaSings and @IamDJFluxPRime and everyone else who attended! Dondria threw down in the kitchen! lol

I'm thinking about hosting the 4th of July Bar B Que... I will be sending out official invites.

-J.Couture

Jhene Aiko's "2 Seconds"

 Check out this newly re-released track from Jhene Aiko. "2 Seconds" was written by Jhene and produced by Kevin Rosevelt. Her music is amazing...

LISTEN HERE

Check our Jhene's mixtape Sailing Souls right HERE on #TheJuiceBlog !

-J.Couture

Nas' "Daughters" Official Music Video

Nas is one of those who gets better with age! I'm excited about his upcoming album. Peep his latest video below, which features a cameo from his daughter Destiny Jones.

Do We Love It?!

-J.Couture

Pub V Pub Music Publishing Semars

 

 

ATTENTION ALL ATLANTA MUSICIANS!!!

It's that time again! We're bringing you Publishing vs. Publicity, bigger and better! The next music publishing seminar is scheduled for Saturday, June 16th from 2pm - 5pm! This time, it's held at the wonderful Soul Asylum Studios in Atlanta, GA!

If you are a singer, songwriter, manager, publishing administrator, entertainment attorney, entertainment tax professional or in the music business in any form or fashion, then YOU need to learn music publishing, period! We provide a one-on-one, open floor styled discussion educational environment with you and the founder and creator of Pub V Pub. We tell you what the labels, publishing companies and sometimes, in most cases, what your management won't tell you about your music publishing.

Registration is only $50 and we provide a free lunch!

"What you don't know can hurt you. Are you getting all your income?" - Peniece Le Gall, Sr. Director of SESAC-ATL and Founder of Pub V Pub Music Publishing Seminars

BE THERE!!

For questions, comments or concerns, please email us at pubvspub@gmail.com

-J.Couture

Single Ladies Season 2 Premiere on Vh1: Super Trailer [Video]

Yeeeeeesss!! I will have my girlfriends and cocktails ready on Memorial Day night at 8pm EST to watch the premiere of Single Ladies Season 2!! Watch the super trailer below!

Can not wait for this!

-J.Couture

Sparkle Releases Whitney Houston's "His Eye Is On A Sparrow" Remake

It's amazing how Whitney's very last professional performance before she passed took her back to her roots in the church.

Listen HERE to Whitney Houston's remake of "His Eye Is On A Sparrow"

SPARKLE premieres August 17th!

-J.Couture

Rotimi featured in Essence.com

New and Next: Meet R&B Singer, Actor and Model Rotimi

Essence.com "New and Next" column spotlights the brightest new talents they think we should know. This week they caught up with Rotimi to talk about his experience at Showtime at the Apollo, going to college, developing his sound in music, hanging out with the STARZ (pun intended lol) and where you'll see him next. 

Click HERE to read the article on Essence.com!

Bonus: Rotimi just released a song he featured on with singer Baiyu called "Invisible"... Pretty darn hot! Check it out..

 

-J.Couture

2012 BET AWARDS

 Samuel L. Jackson hosts this year's BET Awards on July 1st, live from the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, LA. On Tuesday, May 22nd, BET announced the nominees for their 2012 awards show and confirmed performances by Chris Brown and Nicki Minaj.

Kanye West leads the nominations with a total of seven, Beyonce with six, and Jay-Z with five. Big Sean managed three nominations this year. He's up against Drake, J. Cole, Rick Ross, Lil Wayne and Young Jeezy in the Best Male Hip Hop Artist category. Other nominees include Chris Brown, Bruno Mars, Mary J Blige, Usher, Beyonce and Rihanna. Best Group nominations include Diddy Dirty Money, Mayback Music Group, Eminem's Bad Meets Evil. Nicki Minaj is also nominated.

For the full list of nominees and categories, visit Bet.com.

Sounds like this year's show might be pretty good. I'm also interested in knowing who will be performing at this year's pre-show... Stay tuned to #TheJuiceBlog for 2012 BET Awards updates!

-J.Couture

Diggy's "4 Letter Word" Official Video Premiere

Awwwwww this video is soooo cute! Diggy is showing us his sensitive side and singing on the track while doing it! I'm so proud of Diggz.... Check it out!

If Diggy didn't already have the teens going crazy after him, he definitely has them with this video...

Also, check out the behind the scenes video of "4 Letter Word" and "Two Up"

Peep the official video for "Two Up" HERE on #TheJuiceBlog

Shout out to Phil the God and Clifton Bell.. Amazing work!

Sidebar: When Diggz turns 18, the cougars will be lurking! lol.. 

-J.Couture

Justin Bieber "Boyfriend" REMIX - 2 Chainz, Mac Miller & Asher Roth

Shout out to Bieber. He'S bringing the swagg back to R&B. I think he's officially crossed over from teeny bop to a R&B/Hip Hop mega star! Nice.

LISTEN HERE

-J.Couture

2012 BILLBOARD MUSIC AWARDS

 The 2012 Billboard Music Awards was held at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas! The winners of this year's Billboard Awards are:

Justin Bieber - Social Artsit

Katy Perry - Spotify

Wiz Khalifa - Best New Artist

Taylor Swift - Woman of the Year

LMFAO - Hot 100 Song of the Year

LMFAO - Top Duo or Group

Lil Wayne - Male Artist of the Year

Chris Brown - Top R&B Artist of the Year

WHITNEY HOUSTON - Millennium Award

STEVIEW WONDER - Billboard Icon Award

There were performances by Kelly Clarkson, The Wanted, Chris Brown, Usher Raymond, Justin Bieber, who ever the girl's name is who performed the song "Call Me Maybe," Carrie Underwood, Lincoln Park, Katy Perry, Jordin Sparks, John Legend, Cee-Lo Green and the Goodie Mob, Nelly Furtado, Alicia Keys and Stevie Wonder.

Brandy looked AMAZING! The Donna Summer tribute was a disappointment. Why they had to cut it off though and go to commercial? Chris Brown is a little too grunge for me. Usher's performance was a little bit boring. I much rathered him perform "Climax." Tameka Raymond tweeted "So how bout them Yankees" after Usher's performance. That was the highlight of the awards show for me at that point! lol... I loved Justin Bieber's performance! He delivered the swagg and the urban element that was missing in Chris Brown and Usher's performances. The kid has officially grown up! I can't believe LMFAO walked away with 2 BMA's. They beat out Cold Play, Black Eyed Peas, Lady Antebellum, etc. Really, WHO are these guys? The music is fun, for now, but I don't believe in microwave success. Now, where in the world could Lil Wayne have possibly been on this side of the hemisphere that he could not be in Las Vegas to accept his Billboard award?.. Really?... #fail

The WHITNEY TRIBUTE was performed by Jordin Sparks and John Legend! I still can't believe she's gone. I expected Whitney to join them in song. Jordin was beautiful and sounded amazing. I'm SURE she got extra vocal training to pull off that song, "I Will Always Love You." I really wished to see Brandy and Monica participate in the tribute. We all know how much they loved Whitney and the role she played in their lives.

The Beastie Boys Tribute by Cee Lo and the Goodie Mob was aight. Okay, that band who Tai Cruz "mentored" was saying something about dying on the dance floor and nobody's leaving alive.. Yea, I wasn't feeling that, at all. Nelly Furtado had a very confusing circus show performance. What she was doing with those Indian rain dancers with the hoola hoops and the women on stilts, I don't really know, and where did she get those hips from? Alicia Keys performed along side Stevie Wonder which was really nice. I finally felt the mature, sophisticated, R&B essence of the awards show that was missing through out. Stevie asked Alicia to sing "New York" for him as a birthday gift, but they were in Las Vegas. That was funny, lol. He also challenged us to "put our best love forward" to change the world.

Overall, I was a little concerned with this year's Billboard Awards, but they redeemed themselves towards the end with the Whitney Tribute and Stevie Wonder closing out the show. I'll give them a pass.

-J.Couture

Female Rappers Unite On Stage: Lil Kim, Eve & Missy Elliot

 Man, I got chills watching this because I grew up in this era. The era of the late 90's and early 2000's when female rappers had mad talent and lyrical skill. They didn't need gemicks, ridiculous costumes or had to take off all their clothes to dominate the rap game. These females coming in toady will never get this kind of respect.

I'm all for women dominating this industry. New and old.

-J.Couture

Diggy's "Two Up" Official Music Video

 Love this track and the video. Diggy is maturing very nicely as a young man and in his music. Check it out!

"The smell of money lingers. Go'head take a whiff. You gone need some Robitussin, I'mma make you sick." -Diggy

Diggz is killin this track!

-J.Couture

BET Is Looking for People to Open for the BET Awards!

 There are sooooo many opportunities flying around out there for up and coming, independent talent! Get to work!

Auditions will take place in the following locations:

FRIDAY, May 18th - 1pm - 8pm

Philadelphia, PA

Pearle Theatre (North Lot)

1600 N. Broad St.

Philadelphia, PA 19121

SUNDAY, May 20th 1pm - 8pm

Washington, D.C.

The Lincoln Theater (Back Lot)

1215 U Street, NW

Washington, D.C. 20009

FRIDAY, May 25th - 1pm - 8pm

Underground Atlanta

50 Alabama St. SW

Atlanta, GA 30303

SUNDAY, May 27th - 1pm - 8pm

Mud Island River Park (North Lot)

125 North Front Street

Memphis TN 38101

FRIDAY, June 1st - 1pm - 8pm

Moody Park

3725 Fulton St.

Houston, TX 77009

There really aren't any excuses for independent artist to get exposure on a mainstream level. When I thought I wanted to become a 106 & Park VJ, I hopped a greyhound bus over night to get to Houston, TX the same night I heard about the opportunity to audition for BET Fresh Faces. That didn't quite work out for me in the end because I've switched my focus in entertainment, but I was 17 years old back then amongst 20 - 35 years old and I was one of the only ones in my group to get to the 2 and 3 rounds. That told me that I had what it took, not to take no for an answer and to keep moving forward. Terrence J auditioned 2 or 3 times for the same opportunity but in different states before he got put on. BUST A MOVE!

-J.Couture

VOTE for Jade Alston to Open or Jill Scott!

I NEED YOUR HELP!!!!

The ever so TALENTED, Jade Alston, is in the 100.3 WRNB "Jill Scott Block Party Singer Search" contest!! The winner will open up for Jill Scott!

CLICK HERE TO VOTE NOW

-J.Couture

SPARKLE In Theaters August 17th!

 

Musical prodigy, Sparkle (Jordin Sparks), struggles to become a rising star while overcoming issues that are tearing her family apart. From an affluent Detroit area and daughter to a single mother (Whitney Houston), she tries to balance a love romance with music manager (Derek Luke) while dealing with the unexpected challenges her new life will bring as she and her two sisters (Carmen Ejojo and Tika Sumpter) strive to become a dynamic singing group during the Motown-era.

CLICK LINK TO VIEW TRAILER

Sparkle will be in theaters everywhere August 17, 2012!

I can't wait!!!

-J.Couture

Atlanta Set to Host Apollo Auditions!

The Apollo Theater and Centric present APOLLO LIVE, a new talent television competition! Apollo is looking for singers, dancers, comedians and a variety of different acts!

Atlanta Auditions: May 19th and 20th - Center Stage (Loft & Vinyl Spaces) - 1374 West Peachtree St.

You MUST be 18 years of age or older to be considered a minor in your state or residence, and a U.S. citizen or legal residence of the 50 United States and the District of Columbia to qualify.

Log onto bet.com/apollo for further audition information!

-J.Couture

Jade Alston's Performance Clip from BET's Music Matters Showcase!

 Jade recently performed at the BET Music Matters Showcase in NYC on May 8th! Check out a performance clip of Jade rocking the stage with her own acoustic guitar rendition of Lil Wayne's "How to Love," performing a Mary J Blige "Real Love" cover, and original songs "Missing You," "Searching" and "Sober".... #BOOM

www.jadealston.com

-J.Couture

Mary J Blige's "WHY?" Official Music Video

 The queen of Hip Hop/R&B Soul has done it again and is just showing us time and time again why she is and probably will remain the queen! Check out her new music video for "Why?" ft. Rick Ross from the My Life II album! #BOSS

Yuuuup. #Swagg

-J.Couture

 

Happy Mother's Day w/ Red Table Discussions!

Happy Mother's Day to all the wonderful mothers out there who are handling their business on a day to day basis, providing for their children, being the nurturer of the household and doing it ALL while maintaining a career! Salute to you!!

I recently watched Jada Pinkett Smith's "Round Table Discussions" webisode that she had with her daughter Willow and her mom Adrienne.. They tackled tough questions in a very creative platform that some mothers and daughters don't and won't ever get to discuss.. It was a very creative way to openly, and without judging, express past and present feelings, emotions and issues, good and bad. They talked about how Jada handled her mom's addiction to drugs during her developmental years of growing up, how it made her the woman she is today, and how she chose to turn that negative situation into a positive one... Willow discussed how sometimes she wishes she can give back her fame to be a regular 10 year old, and Adrienne seemed to be able to get a revelation and a release of the burden of guilt about being a drug addict while caring for Jada that she's held on to for years.

I was really inspired from watching Jada and her family interact.. Let's be real, in the black household, we don't necessarily know how to open up about certain topics such as those without it escalating to a yelling match of who's the loudest and then ultimately relationships are lost and then forgotten.. What I learned from watching this is that open communication and dialogue is ultimately the thing that builds and strengthens your relationships... We all say this, but when you're dealing with tough issues at home such as drug abuse, it's harder said than done... I have my own issues with my family that I'm still trying to learn how to verbally deal with as I get older... I wish to see more of these types of webisodes from Mrs. Smith! #SALUTE

WATCH THE FULL VIDEO HERE ON THEYBF.COM

-J.Couture

Get To Know Jhene Aiko!

I've been a fan of Jhene's since high school, back in the early 2000's, when she was introduced to the world as Lil' Fizz's cousin.. Lil Fizz was a member of the R&B/Pop boy singing group, B2K... I kind of stopped following her progress over the years and haven't really heard much from Jhene until recently.. It was like she exploded back on the scene all over again with the release of her mixtape "Sailing Souls" last year... This mixtape is one of THE HOTTEST mixtapes I've heard from a female singer in a looooong time! Jhene's voice is so sweet and if you're not up on her then you need to get to it.. She has hot features from Miguel, Drake, Gucci Mane, Kanye, Kendrick Lamar and more... This mixtape just never gets old...

Congratulations goes out to Jhene for recently signing to Def Jam Records! I'm so excited to see what's gonna come from her in the future.. Much success Jhene, You deserve it!!

Track List:

1. The Beginner

2. Stranger

3. Hoe ft. Miguel & Gucci Man

4. July ft. Drake

5. My Mine

6. Popular

7. Real NOW ft. Lite, H.O.P.E. & Rosevelt

8. Sailing NOT Selling ft. Kanye West

9. Do Better Blues ft. H.O.P.E.

10. Higher

11.You vs. Them

12. Space Jam

13. Growing Apart fr. Kendrick Lamar & H.O.P.E.

DOWNLOAD LINK

Peep this video of Jhene's raw vocals, covering John Mayor's "Stop This Rain"... Talented!

Jhene Aiko got #TheJuice !

-J.Couture

Quincy's "Stay Awhile" Official Music Video

 Man, I am truly impressed with some of the younger R&B cats who are coming out right now with new music... Not many, but one in particular is Quincy... We all know Quincy, more so from his super star status parents, Kim Porter and Al B. Sure.. and his pretty much adopted father P. Diddy... So it's kind of hard for him to lose, but I'm sure he want to gain success on his own..

Quincy first came on the music scene as a rapper but he went back in, regrouped and refocused and dropped his first R&B single "Stay Awhile" featuring Kendre'... This kid has mad swagg in this video and if I was around his age, I would have a new found crush lol.. This song is nice and smooth, us older folks can appreciate this track... I'm pretty sure that the pressure is on considering who his parents are, but I believe Quincy can definitely hold his own.. #Salute Check out the video below!

-J.Couture