BON JOVI RECORDS ‘STAND BY ME’
TO PROMOTE PEACE IN IRAN

JON BON JOVI has recorded a new version of BEN E. KING's STAND BY ME in Farsi in a bid to promote peace and unity in Iran.

The rocker and his bandmate, Richie Sambora has teamed up with exiled Iranian singer Andy Madadian and Was (Not Was) star Don Was to record the track and an accompanying video.
A statement suggests the song, produced by Was, is "a musical message of worldwide solidarity" to the Iranian people, in the wake of violence following the country's controversial recent election.

The song was recorded in Los Angeles on June 24, after Was and pal Madadian discovered Bon Jovi and bandmate Richie Sambora eating lunch outside the studio they had hired to work on new material.

Was and Madadian were already planning to record the tune "just to send out a little message of solidarity... believing music can change things," and they asked the rockers to join them.

Was recalls, "They asked what we were doing, I told them, and Jon said, 'Look, man, if you do it right now we'll do it with you.' So we did."

Bon Jovi even sings the first verse of the song in Farsi - the first language of Iran.
Sambora plays guitar on the track and Was played bass.  The producer adds, "We just cut it and the video is the session. It took about four hours and just fell into place nicely... It is not for sale, it wasn't intended to be on the Billboard charts, it wasn't meant to be a hit record or even pressed on a CD. It's intended to be downloaded and shared by the Iranian people. The whole idea was to get it into Iran and tell them... to carry on, that the world is watching and we're with you."

NEW NEIL DIAMOND CONCERT SPECIAL:
"NEIL DIAMOND - HOT AUGUST NIGHT: NYC"

NEIL DIAMOND – HOT AUGUST NIGHT: NYC, a new concert special featuring highlights from one of Neil Diamond's most memorable recent concerts, will be broadcast Friday, Aug. 14 (8:00–9:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network.

The special features electrifying performances from Diamond's latest sold-out concerts at Madison Square Garden in New York Diamond sings several of his classic and beloved Top Ten hits including "America" "Cracklin' Rosie," "I Am…I Said," "Cherry, Cherry" and the world's greatest sing-along song, "Sweet Caroline."  In addition, Diamond reflects on a recent visit to his hometown, as he takes the audience on his journey from Brooklyn to Madison Square Garden, in an intimate look at the man behind the music.

The NEIL DIAMOND – HOT AUGUST NIGHT: NYC broadcast celebrates the simultaneous DVD release from Sony Music of the complete show recorded during Neil Diamond's historic four-night run at Madison Square Garden. Featuring over two hours of live music and 25 career-spanning hits, the DVD captures the dynamic energy that has epitomized Neil Diamond's live performances for over four decades and includes "Song Sung Blue," "Holly Holy," and the very first live release of "Pretty Amazing Grace" from his most recent #1 album, Home Before Dark.  Also included is additional footage of the exclusive bonus feature "Welcome Home Neil," a behind-the-scenes look at Diamond's pilgrimage to his childhood home in Brooklyn.  The DVD with bonus CD is available exclusively at all Wal-Mart locations and online at Walmart.com (www.walmart.com) beginning Friday, Aug. 14.

Neil Diamond's eclectic and universally beloved songs — as well as his charismatic and openhearted performances of them — continue to make him an international force both as a record maker and a live entertainer. In an impressive musical career that has spanned nearly five decades, he has released dozens of albums and sold more than 125 million records worldwide, with a remarkable track record of 15 Top Ten albums and 37 Top Ten singles.  His songs such as "Sweet Caroline," "I Am…I Said," "Cracklin' Rosie," "America," "Song Sung Blue" and "You Don't Bring Me Flowers," and the rest of his vast catalog of hits, are the reason that this Grammy-winning artist was inducted into the Songwriter's Hall of Fame and received the same organization's prestigious Sammy Cahn Lifetime Achievement Award. Among Diamond's many other notable honors, he has to date received a Golden Globe Award and 12 Grammy nominations and, in February, was named the 2009 MusiCares Person of the Year.  His latest release, the critically acclaimed Home Before Dark, his first ever #1 debut, marked one of his most successful worldwide tours ever, solidifying his status as one of the most dynamic performers of our time.

VIBE MAGAZINE SHUTS DOWN

Vibe magazine founder Quincy Jones may attempt to buy back the now-shuttered hip-hop magazine, according to a published report.
Quincy Jones speaks onstage at the Apollo Theater 75th Anniversary
Gala in June.

"I'm trying to buy my magazine back now," Jones told EbonyJet.com on Tuesday, according to an article posted on the Web site. Vibe, one of the best-selling hip-hop magazines in the country, shut down on Tuesday. Its chief executive officer, Steve Aaron, said the magazine has a debt of "several millions of dollars" and also faced a declining market and decreased advertising revenue.

Jones, a music producer, said he envisioned an online-only future for Vibe, EbonyJet.com reported. "They just messed my magazine all up, but I'm gonna get it back," he said, EbonyJet.com reported. Jones established the magazine in 1993. It had a circulation of about 600,000, according to Aaron. The closure eliminates jobs for all 48 staff members, Aaron said. The issue currently on newsstands, featuring Eminem on the cover, is Vibe's last.


Jay-Z Confirms Roc Nation Deals With Sony, Atlantic

On this release, Jay decided to working with his friends (all whom helped champion his career) with the Atlantic staff (his old pals Lyor Cohen, Julie Greenwald, Kevin Lyles). For the rest of the Roc Nation artists will be out on Sony.

Additionally, Jay-Z, released the video to his "D.O.A. (Death of Auto-tune)" video after the BET Awards on Sunday. The clip features guest appearances by Lyor Cohen, head of Warner Music Group which houses Atlantic Records, basketball player Lebron James and actor Harvey Keitel.