Downtown Publishing

After only a mere four weeks, Katy Perry’s “California Gurls” (featuring Snoop Dogg) is #1 on Billboard’s Hot 100 Chart becoming the fastest rising single for Capitol Records in 40 years!

“California Gurls” is the first single from Perry’s forthcoming album, Teenage Dream, out August 24. The song was written by DMP’s own Bonnie McKee, along with Katy Perry, Snoop Dogg, Dr. Luke, Max Martin, and Benny Blanco.

The music video for “California Gurls” was directed by Matthew Cullen, who creates a candy wonderland setting (aptly titled “Candyfornia”) for Perry’s No. 1 hit, and true to form, there’s a dash of naughtiness mixed in with all the sweetness. Gummi Bears flip the bird, and candy canes morph into snakes. Also, Snoop Dogg wears a cupcake-patterned three piece suit.

Watch the Music Video for California Gurls

Fresh from the recent release of new album Fire Away, esteemed LA band Ozomatli will continue their ongoing mission to spread cultural diversity and progression by traveling to Mongolia and China as part of a state department trip, representing the US as cultural ambassadors. The ethnically and culturally diverse group will be spreading their love and knowledge of music and bringing their inimitable fusion of Latin, hip hop and rock to the crowds.

Extending from 2009’s state visit to Myanmar, Vietnam, and Thailand, their current trip – which runs from 21st May until 4th June – will see them playing free concerts, leading music workshops and performing community outreach throughout East Asia. The band, famed for their multi-faceted mélange of cultural influences, will be visiting a number of different areas across the countries in the hope of propagating their message.

They will be visiting the recovering area of in Dujiangyan, China which was devastated by an earthquake in 2008, where they will be extended musical education to the disabled and disadvantaged in the area.

They will also be playing a series of concerts including a landmark free gig in Sukhbaatar Square in Mongolia which will be the first concert of its kind allowed by a Western band, with over 10, 000 people expected to be in attendance. Other performances will include the USA Pavillion in Shanghai as part of the Shanghai World Expo, as well as a number of other special concerts across Wuhan, Chengdu, Xindu, and Beijing.

Watch a video of their Beijing Performance:

On May 16th Mos Def joined John Legend, Lenny Kravitz, Ani DeFranco and a slew of other local musicians including Allen Toussaint and Dr. John at Mardi Gras World in New Orleans to raise money for those affected by the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.

Mos Def debuted his cover of New Orleans favorite “It Ain’t My Fault” which he recorded with Kravitz and New Orleans’ Trombone Shorty, in response to the failure of BP to take full responsibility for the accident.

Watch Mos Def’s live performance of “It Ain’t My Fault”:

Congratulations to DMP songwriter Eric Dill on being a BMI Pop Award recipient for his contribution to Daughtry’s hit single “No Surprise”. “No Surprise” debuted at #15 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and #39 on the Adult Top 40 chart. It is Daughtry’s highest debut to date, fueled by strong first week digital sales of 103,000 (eventually reaching over 1 million copies sold), and became a #1 hit in August 2009. The 58th annual BMI Pop Awards was held on May 18th at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel in Los Angeles.

Congratulations to DMP songwriter/producer Trevor Horn on receiving the 2010 Ivor Novello Award for Outstanding Contribution to British Music. The Ivor Novello awards are considered one of the most prestigious in the music industry, with the 55th ceremony held at the Grosvenor House Hotel in London yesterday.

Katy Perry recently debuted her new single “California Gurls” via a Twitter announcement. “California Gurls” is co-written by Perry, DMP’s own Bonnie McKee, and hitmakers Dr. Luke, Max Martin and Benny Blanco.

“California Gurls” is a big, bright, decidedly beach-friendly pop tune, full of sunshiney synthesizers, starry, electronic whooshes and loose, funky, wah-wah guitar flourishes. As if all that weren’t enough to guarantee it instant summer-jam success, well, then wait until you hear the positively massive chorus, on which Perry sings about Daisy Dukes-wearing California gurls with “sun-kissed skin so hot [it’ll] melt your popsicle.” Oh, and Snoop Dogg also shows up midway through to contribute a verse dedicated to the “toned, tanned, fit and ready” Cali girls he loves. -MTV.COM

Miley Cyrus exclusively premiered the music video for new single, “Can’t Be Tamed” last week in anticipation of her upcoming album release on June 22nd.

The single “Can’t Be Tamed” is described in a Hollywood Records statement as being about “self-empowerment where Miley asserts her need to stay true to herself in her relationships and it’s sure to become an anthem among her legions of fans around the world.”

Cyrus worked with producers including John Shanks (Sheryl Crow, Celine Dion, Kelly Clarkson, Bon Jovi) and long-time song-writing collaborators Tim James and Antonina Armato on the set. James and Armato produced and co-wrote “Can’t Be Tamed” with Cyrus, and the video was directed by Robert Hales (Justin Timberlake, Gnarls Barkley, Kings of Leon).

Watch the Music Video for Can’t Be Tamed.

Drowning Pool’s first single “Feel Like I Do”, off the brand new self-titled album, is currently charting No. 22 on the Billboard Rock Chart. “Feel Like I Do” was also recently featured on ESPN during the NFL Draft broadcast on April 22nd, and Drowning Pool’s new album Drowning Pool is out today via Eleven Seven Music. For more information visit the Drowning Pool website.

Nikki Sixx, international rock icon and host of the nationally syndicated radio programs Sixx Sense with Nikki Sixx and The Side Show with Nikki Sixx, recently hosted a one-hour radio special entitled “Drowning Pool: The Album.” The special featured in-depth conversation with the all-American, anthemic rock band about the inspiration for their new self-titled album, which will be released April 27; their top-five active rock single “Feel Like I Do”; and the continued challenges the band has faced and survived, including the death of their first singer and the loss of their second one. Other than Van Halen, no other rock band has been able to have sustaining hits with three singers, and Drowning Pool addressed their success with this during the interview. In addition, listeners were able to hear unreleased songs from the new album.

Nikki Sixx stated, “Drowning Pool has overcome the odds and succeeded despite losing two lead singers since their first record. Most bands would crumble under these circumstances, but Drowning Pool emerged a better band. Their new, self-titled record is a testament to their staying power and their perseverance through hard times and tough challenges. I was proud for them to share the stage with Mötley Crüe on Crüe Fest last year and am proud to interview them for Sixx Sense.”