After his school-talent show performance of Lady Gaga’s “Paparazzi” becomes a hit on YouTube, 13-year-old Greyson Chance appears on multiple daytime talk shows and receives a record deal.
Weezer covers “I’m a Believer” for the Shrek Forever After soundtrack. The Neil Diamond-penned tune was originally a No. 1 hit for the Monkees, but has since been covered by at least two dozen different artists.
American Idol winner Lee DeWyze and runner-up Crystal Bowersox both receive record deals at the end of the show’s ninth season. Lee’s debut single, a cover of U2’s “Beautiful Day”, is released to radio stations in the same month.
The Jonas Brothers’ Disney Channel sitcom JONAS is relaunched as Jonas L.A.. Facing stiff competition from Nickelodeon’s iCarly, the series wasn’t renewed for a second/third season.
New album releases this month included Sea of Cowards by the Dead Weather, Treats by Sleigh Bells, Brothers by the Black Keys, Distant Relatives by Nas and Damian Marley, This Is Happening by LCD Soundsystem, Stone Temple Pilots by Stone Temple Pilots, and Iconos by Marc Anthony.
With over 60,000 people attending, the Rock on the Range festival breaks a U.S. attendance record. The two-day event featured performances from Puddle of Mudd, Papa Roach, Limp Bizkit, Rob Zombie, Mastodon, Drowing Pool, Sevendust, Godsmack, and Theory of a Deadman, among others.
Rolling Stone magazine updates their list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time in a special issue. Declaring Bob Dylan’s “Like a Rolling Stone” (coincidence?) as No.1, the list adds such newer hits as Kelly Clarkson’s “Since U Been Gone” (No. 482), M.I.A.’s “Paper Planes” (No. 236), and “Crazy” by Gnarls Barkley (No. 100).
Several musicians left us this month, including jazz great Lena Horne, guitarist Ronnie James Dio, Paul Gray of Slipknot, Dave Fisher of the Highwaymen, and country singer Judy Lynn died.