Announced during a televised ceremony on Wednesday night, the nominations for the 2012 Grammy Awards have been announced, and Kanye West leads the competition with seven. West received nominations based on both his 2010 solo album, My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, and his 2011 collaboration with Jay-Z, Watch the Throne. His single “All of the Lights” was nominated for both Rap-Sung Collaboration and Best Rap Song. “Otis,” his duet with Jay-Z, also was nominated for Best Rap Song along with Best Rap Performance.

However, Adele and Bruno Mars were the top nominees for the major Grammys, with each receiving nods for the Song of the Year, Record of the Year and Album of the Year awards. For Album of the Year, Adele was nominated for her 2011 album, 21, and Mars got the nod for his 2010 album, Doo-Wops and Hooligans. Perennially popular alt-rockers Foo Fighters also landed six nominations, including Album of the Year, for their most recent record, Wasting Light. The other two artists nominated for album of the year were Lady Gaga for Born This Way and Rihanna for Loud.

In the indie world, it was Justin Vernon and his moniker Bon Iver that was on top of the heap, with four nominations. His song “Holocene,” off his self-titled sophomore album, is nominated for both Song of the Year and Record of the Year, and that album is nominated for Best Alternative Music Album. Bon Iver also is nominated for Best New Artist, though he burst onto the indie scene in 2007 with his debut album, For Emma With Love.

The Grammy Awards will be held February 12 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. The nominations ceremony was held at the Nokia Theater in Los Angeles, and featured performances by the Band Perry, Jason Aldean and Lady Gaga, who was joined in her closing performance by country duo Sugarland.

Since first announcing a tour to support their album Watch the Throne back in July, Kanye West and Jay-Z seem to have continually been modifying the itinerary. It would make sense, considering the tour consists of not one but two of top names in hip hop (or any genre, for that matter). Yesterday, the two rappers were at it again, adding more shows to the already extensive tour.

Two shows at Madison Square Garden were announced, which will take place November 7 and 8. A new Chicago concert will be held at the United Center on November 30, and a second show was announced at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on December 13. The tour kicks off on October 29 at the Philips Arena in Atlanta and runs through a Vancouver date on December 18.

In additional Kanye and Jay-Z news, today it was announced that the pair is being sued for a sample they used on Watch the Throne. Syl Johnson, a successful soul and blues musician in the 1960s and 70s, claims the song “The Joy” on Throne illegally samples his song “Different Strokes.” “The Joy” also features (and credits) R&B and soul legend Curtis Mayfield. “Different Strokes” was one of Johnson’s first and most enduring hits, released in 1967 on Chicago’s Twinight Records.

Johnson claims the sample was a knowing and willful misappropriation because West contacted him about using the sample for his solo album My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, but he never received clearances. A veteran of copyright infringement cases, Johnson has brought court cases against musicians such as Michael Jackson, Jefferson Airplane and Cypress Hill. He’s successfully forced payments for samples from both Wu-Tang Clan and Kid Rock. In addition to the two performers, the lawsuit also names their record labels, Universal Music Group and Def Jam Records.

Like the carnies who infected the countryside of yore, Big Day Out is a traveling festival that skips its way around Australia and New Zealand each year, bringing with it a fist full of musical talent for those Down Under. In its 21st year, the 2012 festival will run from January 20 (Auckland’s MI Smart Stadium) till February 5 (Perth’s Claremont Showground). Today, the first batch of musicians was unveiled, and it is a good start –- Kanye West, Soundgarden, My Chemical Romance are the standouts. The appearance by Soundgarden marks the band’s first Aussie showing in 18 years. So far only 20 of the eventual 60 bands have been announced. A full list of the current lineup is outlined below. Tickets start at $165 and go onsale October 12-14, depending on the city. For ticket information, event dates and additional band updates, visit the Big Day Out site.

2012 Big Day Out Lineup
Kanye West | Soundgarden | My Chemical Romance | Girl Talk | Kasabian | Royksopp | Foster the People | Cage the Elephant | Odd Future | Best Coast | Battles | Mariachi el Bronx | Frenzal Rhomb | The Getaway Plan | Architecture in Helsinki | Hilltop Hoods | The Living End | Boy and Bear | The Getaway Plan | Battles

Thanks to Sydney University in Australia, a musical inspired by Kanye West exists now. Brilliantly titled “Kanye: The Musical,” it tells the life story of the controversial rapper, from Kanye’s humble beginnings when he wrote beats for Jaz-Z through remixing Daft Punk and soaring to atop the pops charts. As the Facebook page of the production notes, the musical tells the story of how a man becoming a man struggles against the man. It centers around a guy who aimed for the throne and who did not miss. It’s the story of Kanye.

The musical will take place September 5-7 at Sydney University’s Cellar Theatre. The price of admission will range from $3-6. More information for the production can be found on their Facebook page.

Kanye West and Jay-Z, after altering their tour so that they could add more cities onto the itinerary of their outing “Watch The Throne” have announced these new dates. Now their trek of North America will kick off in Atlanta on October 29. New shows that were just added include visits to New Orleans, Kansas City, Pittsburgh and Fort Lauderdale. Fans purchasing tickets for the tour online will be receiving the album “Watch The Throne” in digital format. It will be available starting August 8 exclusively on iTunes. On August 12 it will become available at additional digital and physical retailers.

Jay-Z, in the meantime, has been squelching rumors that West and he have disagreed over the amount of money that should be spent on the stage production. Earlier this week there was a report in The New York Post that the two rappers were hardly speaking with one another due to the dispute. Reportedly West was pushing to have a next-level production and flashy concert, while Jay-Z’s focus was more on keeping their costs low so they could pay the long-term advance back to Live Nation, the tour promoter. On Monday Jay-Z made an appearance on Hot 97 in New York to squelch the rumors.

Jay-Z told host Angie Martinez on Hot 97, I kind of would like spending a gazillion dollars. The story is backwards. However, it’s all good. Right now we are doing something I know. When I saw all of that I thought, right now we must be very hot.

Just when you thought the hype over “Watch the Throne,” the joint LP from Jay-Z and Kanye West couldn’t get more over blown, now we are learning that the pair have established a group with plans to support their joint release with a huge tour of North America. They will perform under the name “The Throne.” These two world-renowned emcees will be launching their one month outing on September 22 in Detroit and will be visiting cities across Canada and the U.S. through early November.

Starting Thursday July 28, pre-sale tickets will be going on sale through Live Nation. On August 8, the public on-sale will follow. There are a total of 24 confirmed dates.

Jay-Z and Kanye, in addition to announcing the tour, have confirmed as well that on August 8 “Watch the Throne” is being exclusively released through iTunes. On August 12, the set will become available via additional digital and physical retailers.

At the MTV Video Music Awards next month the girl everyone will be trying to beat will be Katy Perry after she received nine nominations. Perry leads all females ahead of peers such as Beyonce, Lady Gaga and Adele.

The singer of “California Gurls” received nominations in a majority of the biggest categories on Wednesday when the announcements were made. Perry is up for Video of the Year, Best Direction, Best Collaboration and Best Pop Video for her explosive promo of Firework.

British singing sensation Adele is right behind Perry with seven nominations. She is also in the running for the award Video of the Year. Kanye West also has seven nomination. Among the prizes he is up for are Best Male Video and Best Hip-Hop Video. West has two chances as well for the award Best Collaboration for duets with Katy Perry on “E.T.” and Rihanna on “Lights.”

Gaga, who last year stole the show at the awards ceremony when she showed up in her notorious meat dress, has received three nominations. Beyonce has also been given three nods. Beyonce and Gaga will be battling in the categories Best Choreography and Best Female video. Gaga has also been nominated for Best Art Direction, while Beyonce has received the nod for Best Cinematography. Nicki Minaj, the rap newcomer, also has received three nominations.

Another main man from the nominations list is Eminem. He will be competing for a total of three Moonmen trophies- Best Cinematography, Best Direction and Best Male Video. Bruno Mars received four nominations, including Best Male Video, Best Pop Video and Video of the Year for Grenade.

Other Video of the Year contenders include Tyler, The Creator for Yonkers and the Beastie Boys for Make Some Noise.

The awards ceremony will be taking place on August 28 in New York.

The release date for the collaborative LP from Jay-Z and Kanye West “Watch the Throne” will be reportedly be three days from now.

Earlier this month, thesource.com, a hip hop news site, reported the highly anticipated album would be released on July 4.

It is more than one month later from the date first tweeted on January 23 by Kanye West. However, the initial digital release may be imminent. CyHi The Prynce, a G.O.O.D. Music client of West’s and rapper said on Rap Fix Live, the MTV program, that the album was ready to go.

All the music right now is done. But you know this guy. We’re here with Kanye. He will add a last little minute pizazz. It will ready soon for you guys.

He could put the album out tomorrow if that’s what he wanted to do. That is what you want him to do.

Jay-Z and West have worked together in the past on singles. However, “Watch The Throne” represents the first full-length set that the two have worked on together. The project was planned originally as an EP. In 2010, Jay-Z and West recorded five tracks in New York and France. However, the material that was left over sparked an announcement from West last October on MTV where he stated their effort was going to be released in full-length format.

It’s official. G.O.O.D. Music, Kayne West’s record label, and Island Def Jam Music Group have reached a worldwide, exclusive long-term label agreement, establishing West’s label as a force to be reckoned with in the music industry.

The first release from G.O.O.D. Music will be on June 28 when “Finally Famous” by Big Sean will be released, establishing the artist from Detroit as the flagship artist of G.O.O.D. Music. MC Mos Def last year signed with G.O.O.D. Music also.

Barry Weiss, COO and Chairman of IDMG and Universal Motown Republic Group said, G.O.O.D. Music represents a new and exciting chapter in Island Def Jam and Kayne West’s successful and long association. Over the last eight years as a producer and recording artist, no one has made a bigger impact than Kanye. We’re looking forward to closely working with established and new artists that Kayne brings to G.O.O.D. Music. They are off to an impressive start already with Big Sean.

West’s label is described as being a family and similar to a production company. The arrangement was clarified last year by GLC. You’re given a distribution deal. If you are an artist with G.O.O.D. Music, you come out with the distribution deal and on G.O.O.D. Music.

Although Kayne’s label is on the rise, he will continue serving sounds with Def Jam Records. Steve Bartels, COO and President of IDJMG said, the genius of Kayne’s has been proven over and over again onstage and on records. He pours it all out not only for himself, but has also made a big difference by being present on numerous projects as well as working with many other artists. Kayne’s a core and integral member of IDJ’s family. G.O.O.D Music is continuing in Kayne’s unselfish tradition to bring great new artists into the forefront.

Summerfest considers itself to be the largest music festival in the world. Back in 1999, they even got Guiness to certify that for them. The 11-day event based in Milwaukee, WI features 11 stages and more than 700 acts. Announcing the massive festival’s lineup is a multiple month process that started last winter and wrapped up on June 2 when they announced the final headliner for this year’s festival. Jason Mraz gets the honor. Other world-renowned acts scheduled to perform at the 2011 festival include The Black Keys with Florence & the Machine, Britney Spears with Nicki Minaj, Katy Perry with Marina and the Diamonds, Kid Rock with Sheryl Crow, Peter Gabriel with the New Blood Orchestra and Kanye West with Kid Cudi. They will all be headlining between June 29 and July 10 at Marcus Amphitheater.

An equally eclectic mixture of mainstream alternative, hip hop and indie acts will be featured at the remaining 10 stages, which are located in the Henry Maier Festival Park near the amphitheater. Notables include Wiz Khalifa, Stephen Marley, Taking Back Sunday, Rise Against, 311, Paul Rodgers, Matisyahu, Meat Loaf, George Clinton and the Parliament Funkadelic, Hall & Oates, Dropkick Murphys, The Flaming Lips, Ben Harper and Girl Talk.

Also performing are AWOLNATION, Civil Twilight, Funeral Party, Nicole Atkins, Old 97s, The Airborne Toxic Event, Ezra Furman & the Harpoons, Young the Giant, Alkaline Trio, Wanda Jackson, The Jayhawks, The Wailers, De La Soul, Michael Franti & Spearhead, Amos Lee, Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings, Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeroes.

For the parents, there is Blue Oyster Cult, Buddy Guy, Kansas, Peter Frampton, REO Speedwagon, Styx and Def Leppard with Heart.

For the 15 year olds at heart, there is Finger Eleven, Switchfoot, Goo Goo Dolls and Third Eyed Blind.

The complete lineup and breakdown day by day can be found at summerfest.com

Tickets for the headlining shows at Marcus Amphitheater can be purchased individually from Ticketmaster. Also available through Ticketmaster are general admissions pass that allow access to the remaining stages. They come in configurations of weekday ($6), 3 day ($33) and 1 day ($13).