Daniel Barry, Getty Images

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) says wireless resources are not infinite.

In fact, the smartphones to which we’re all so addicted are gobbling so much bandwidth that as early as next year, we could be paying more for our service — not to mention seeing slower data speeds and an increase in dropped calls.

The FCC calls the issue “spectrum crunch” and officials there are worried it could be a very real problem, with one saying, “Network traffic is increasing … [Carriers] can manage it for the next couple years, but demand is inevitably going to exceed the available spectrum.”

Rory Altman, director of technology consultancy Altman Vilandrie & Co., added, “We got into this principally because technology and demand exploded at a rate that nobody had anticipated.”

The current wireless spectrum is distributed among companies and entities unevenly, with some having more than they need and others having too little. In early March, Congress is expected to vote on an FCC plan to hold incentive auctions that would help balance things out, something FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski says would not only help to free up spectrum resources but would also greatly benefit the US Treasury.

[CNN Money]

Erika Goldring, Getty Images

Jason Aldean is on the verge of completing his highly-anticipated fifth studio album, the follow-up collection to his multi-platinum selling ‘My Kinda Party.’ While Aldean admits that the pressure was on to come up with a solid album that would outdo what ‘My Kinda Party’ did — which was spawn four consecutive No. 1 singles — he says that in the end, he stuck with music his fans love and have come to expect.

“One thing I didn’t want to go in and do was make ‘My Kinda Party II,’” Aldean tells Taste of Country. “But at the same time, and I think I said this on the last record, too, I don’t want to ever totally get away from what it is that got me to this point — that sound and hard-charging kind of thing that I’m known for, because that’s what I enjoy to play. At the same time, I think on the ‘My Kinda Party’ record we changed it up. We did the [duet] with Kelly [Clarkson], we did ‘Dirt Road Anthem’ … just little snippets of things like that that are kind of different and odd.”

“I think there’s some of that stuff on this new record,” he continues. “It’s going to be the kind of record that people are used to us making. It’s still going to be that hard-driving stuff and a couple of little surprises in there, too. It’s good … I think so, anyway.”

Fans will see some of the usual suspects behind the songs lyrics, including Neil Thrasher (‘Tattoos on This Town,’ ‘Fly Over States’), Jason Sellers (‘Don’t You Wanna Stay’), David Lee Murphy (‘Big Green Tractor’) and Wendell Mobley (‘Tattoos on This Town’), as well as some first-time writers like ASCAP’s Songwriter of the Year and Peach Picker, Ben Hayslip.

“The more success we have, the better the songs are that get pitched to us,” notes Aldean. “With every record we’re getting better and better songs. This record was no exception. We have some really great songs. I think a lot of writers are locked into what I’m doing. For whatever reason, I feel like the stuff they write is stuff that really fits what I do. They’ve gone in and wrote a lot of songs specifically for us, especially on the new album. There are certain guys who are just great writers, so when you’re looking for songs for a new album, obviously you’re going to want to go to those guys and see what they’ve got and if they’ve got anything that fits you. Those guys are kind of dialed into what I like. We’ve got a good run going with them right now.”

Aldean hopes the yet-to-be-titled new album will hit stores around October or November of this year. The hat-wearing hitmaker just released his fifth and final single from the ‘My Kinda Party’ album, ‘Fly Over States.’

Source: TasteofCountry.com

Jason Merritt / Frederick M. Brown, Getty Images

Last week, Carrie Underwood, Taylor Swift, Lady Antebellum‘s Hillary Scott and a handful of musical country femmes made it onto VH1‘s 1oo Greatest Women in Music list. The complete list debuted Feb. 13 in a one-hour special that kicked off a five-day series of similar specials. Topping the list as the greatest woman in music was Madonna, with Mariah Carey, Beyonce, Lady Gaga and Adele joining her in the top five.

Country women made quite the showing on the list as well, with Lady Antebellum’s Hillary Scott sitting at No. 89, Leann Rimes at 62, Miranda Lambert at 58, Taylor Swift landing at 43, the Dixie Chicks at 39, Faith Hill at 37, Shania Twain at 35 and Carrie Underwood as the highest-ranking country lady with a placement at No. 23.

The list features the best women in music in the past 20 years, and last week VH1 aired an hour-long segment talking about a different group of the women each night.

Underwood just released an in-studio video preview of her upcoming single ‘Good Girl’ for fans to enjoy. That single is expected to release Feb. 23, just a couple of weeks after Underwood made an appearance at the Grammys dueting with pop standard luminary Tony Bennett.

Source: TasteofCountry.com

Win McNamee, Getty Images

Last night at the White House President Barack Obama was singing the blues, but it’s not what you think. With the economy the way it is and everything else that is going on he could very well have been, but this was all about Black History Month.

A bunch of music legends, like Mick Jagger and B.B.King, were at the White House to celebrate blues music in conjunction with Black History Month.

Well everyone knows that the President sang part of an Al Green song when he visited the historic Apollo Theater earlier this year.

So some of the musicians were not going to let this night pass without the President beltin’ out the blues.

At the urging of Jagger, King and Buddy Guy, the President took the mike and sang a line from the song “Sweet Home Chicago”. Of course they sang that song. That’s President Obama’s hometown.

Now come on, you don’t think they would have done the B.B.King classic “The Thrill Is Gone” do ya?

flickr user, Epiclectric

Billy Swan got his musical influences from the early days of rock and roll and people that were playing it like Jerry Lee Lewis and Buddy Holly. But he recorded a song in the mid 70′s that everyone was playing. It would be his only hit song.

Before getting that first hit song, he worked with people like Kris Kristofferson, Kinky Friedman and Billy Joe Shaver.

Swan was well known in the music business in the 60′s as a songwriter and producer. In fact he produced a huge hit song for Tony Joe White called “Polk Salad Annie”, that reached the Top Ten in 1969.

In the mid 70′s Swan went into the studios at Monument Records, this as an artist. He recorded a song that he wrote. It wasn’t a complicated song and had great appeal.

It shot to Number One on both the pop charts and country charts in the fall of 1974. It seem like every radio station was playing it, no matter what the format was.

The song “I Can Help” from Billy Swan.

Kevin Winter, Getty Images

But who knows if it’s the member who’s actually voting? For instance, actor Denzel Washington is one of the voting members and says his wife Pauletta watches all the movies, then marks his ballot for him. He tells this site, “I’ll be honest with you. I watch some of them but she watches them all. She’s like ‘Oh no, no, no–you don’t want to put that one down’”.

We’ll find out Sunday night, February 26, on ABC TV, just how the voting turned out. Here’s an excellent video montage of those films nominated this year for Best Picture.

This song is off of his new album, ‘Songs We Wish We’d Written II,’ which is set for release in May. The original was written by West Texas hero, Joe Ely.

Here is “All Just to Get to You.”

Rick Diamond / Jason Kempin, Getty Images

There are happy days ahead for Joe Nichols. Well, happy and sleepy days ahead for both the singer and his wife. Rascal Flatts also made a big announcement on Monday, and Miranda Lambert was the recipient of more venom from Chris Brown. Sugarland, Taylor Swift and Kix Brooks also make the Taste of Country Daily Roundup today.

Scroll through to read all of the top country music news headlines and a few others from around the web, like why Conan O’Brien appeared on ‘How I Met Your Mother’ in a blink-and-you-miss-it scene last night.

Today on Taste of Country:

Joe Nichols and Wife Expecting First Child
Miranda Lambert Takes a Hit From Chris Brown Via Twitter
Rascal Flatts One Night Only ‘Changed’ Theater Event Planned for April
Keith Urban Says He Won’t Be Harsh on ‘The Voice’
Kix Brooks, ‘New to This Town’ – Song Review
Taylor Swift Squashes Zac Efron Dating Rumors, Shares Top 5 Moments of Her Life on ‘Ellen’
Ronnie Dunn vs. Thompson Square – The Showdown
Sugarland Deny Being at Fault for Indiana State Fair Stage Collapse
Can You Guess the Artist in This Yearbook Photo?
Taylor Swift Gets Cozy With ‘The Lorax’ Co-Stars at Hollywood Premiere
Nicolle Galyon Impresses ‘The Voice’ Coach Adam Levine With Kenny Chesney’s ‘You Save Me’
Bucky Covington Donates Funds for Injured Fire Fighters and Police Officers

Taste of Country Also Recommends:

Whitney Houston Clothing From ‘The Bodyguard’ on the Auction Block
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New Bruce Springsteen Song ‘Easy Money’ Revealed
Grant Gustin Teases About What Will Happen in ‘On My Way’ Episode of ‘Glee’
Was Conan O’Brien on ‘How I Met Your Mother’?

Source: TasteofCountry.com

Pascal Le Segretain, Getty Images/Jemal Countess, Getty Images/YouTube

With Oscars season upon us, it’s anyone’s guess who will take home the gold. Each year, some newcomers crash the party among veteran actors who command the red carpet at the Academy Awards. The annual event draws Hollywood’s biggest stars, and millions more around the world. The press always puts together some basic information about this year’s nominees, but how much do you actually know about the Oscars ceremony? Here’s a list of fun facts and trivia you can use to impress your friends this awards season.

Why’s it called Oscar?

Nobody knows for sure. The most commonly cited origin dates back to actress Bette Davis, who said that the backside of the statuette looked like her first husband, Harmon Oscar Nelson. According to another theory, the name came from Academy secretary Margaret Herrick who claimed it looked like her Uncle Oscar. However it came to be, the Oscar officially got its name in 1939, 10 years after the annual ceremony began. The official name of the Oscar is the Academy Award of Merit.

What are the statues made of?

Originally, they were gold-plated solid bronze. Then they moved over to Britannia metal, a pewter-like alloy that was then covered with copper, nickel silver, and 24-carat gold. But when WWII hit, and a metal shortage followed, the Academy had to make do with what materials they had available. So they resorted to painted plaster for three years. After the war ended, recipients were invited to exchange the plaster awards for gold-plated metal ones. Fun fact: Oscar statuette weighs 8 1/2 pounds and is 13 1/2 inches tall. (Watch a video on the making of an Oscar below.)

Hardly anyone attended the first Academy Awards

With what the awards have turned into today, it’s hard to imagine Hollywood’s humble beginnings. But that was the case for the first Academy Awards in May 1929, which was a small dinner held at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel for 270 guests. It cost $5 a head, and the guests dined on broiled chicken.

Oscars.org

There have only been a few sweeps of the top categories

‘Hugo’ leads this year’s Best Picture crop with 11 nominations, but only three films in the history of the awards have ever won all five of the top categories (Best Picture, Actor in a Leading Role, Actress in a Leading Role, Directing, Writing). They are: ‘It Happened One Night’ (1934), ’One Flew over the Cuckoo’s Nest’ (1975) and ‘Silence of the Lambs’ (1991). 37 other films have been nominated in all of the “Big Five” categories, but have fallen short of ultimate Oscars glory.

Vince Bucci, Getty Images

A sound mixer is the biggest loser in Oscars history

Sound mixer Kevin O’Connell has 20 nominations yet still no wins, making him “the unluckiest nominee in the history of the Academy Awards,” according to The Guardian. Basically O’Connell is the Susan Lucci of the Oscars, with nods spanning from ‘Terms of Endearment’ to ’Transformers.’ “If I ever did get an opportunity to make a speech, one of the things I’d say is to all you nominees, don’t consider yourselves losers. You guys are winners and don’t let anyone tell you differently,” he told Entertainment Weekly. O’Connell can take solace in his recognition from the Academy in other ways — he sits on the Board of Governors, representing the sound branch. (Watch an interview with O’Connell below.)

A toothbrush is Billy Crystal’s good luck charm

Expect this year’s host Billy Crystal to be armed with a toothbrush in his tuxedo pocket, but not because of a fear of bad breath. As a kid, Crystal would pretend to make an Oscar speech using his toothbrush as a microphone, and each of the eight times he’s taken the stage as the show’s host, he’s brought along his toothbrush to help ease his nerves.

Selling Oscar trophies is forbidden

Fame is fleeting, and so are Oscars apparently. Many celebrities have given their Oscars way or lost them over the years. But according to Moviefone, they can’t hock them at the pawn shop — the Academy banned the sale of the statuettes in 1950. Heirs to the statuettes must, according to the established rule, sell the trophies back to the Academy for $1. Pre-1950 Academy Awards have sold for millions.

Jemal Countess, Getty Images

Someone streaked the Oscars

During the 1974 Academy Awards, while actor David Niven was calling up Elizabeth Taylor to present the Oscar for Best Picture, a streaker emerged from the back of the stage and interrupted the festivities. Niven ad-libbed, ”Well, ladies and gentlemen, that was almost bound to happen. But isn’t it fascinating to think that probably the only laugh that man will ever get in his life is by stripping off and showing his shortcomings?” The streaker was Robert Opel, a photographer and art gallery owner who had snuck backstage posing as a journalist. You can thank him for the delay imposed on the televised broadcast. Watch the famous moment below.

Marlon Brando turned down an award

When Marlon Brando won Best Actor in a Leading Role for ‘The Godfather’ in 1972, he declined to accept the award and instead sent Native American actress Sacheen Littlefeather to represent him on the stage. Littlefeather explained that Brando didn’t appreciate the way that Native Americans were portrayed in the movies. While some didn’t like Brando’s political statement, others believe that Brando’s stand helped improve the treatment of Native Americans in Hollywood. The Academy subsequently banned the use of proxies to speak on anyone’s behalf at the ceremony.

Oscar wins raise the divorce rate

A recent study found that women who were nominated for Best Actress were more likely to get divorced sometime after their Academy Award nods. Many recent winners – including Kate Winslet, Reese Witherspoon, and Sandra Bullock – feel prey to the curse. (See a recent list of actresses here.) “Winning an Oscar can be construed as a big jump in professional status that an actor or actress has in their world and in the eyes of the broader audience…You are never the same after you’ve secured an Oscar for Best actor or Best Actress,” explained one of the scientists.

Pascal Le Segretain, Getty Images

Source: TheFW.com

Here’s a look at this year’s nominees in the major categories. Let your voice be heard and tell us who you think will win!

‘Hugo’ leads the way with 11 nominations. Will it end the evening with the most wins? You tell us:

Paramount/DreamWorks/DreamWorks

Frazer Harrison/Kevin Winter/Kevin Winter, Getty Images

Kevin Winter/Carlos Alvarez/Frazer Harrison, Getty Images

Frazer Harrison/Jason Merritt/Jason Merritt, Getty Images

Jason Merritt/Frazer Harrison/Frazer Harrison, Getty Images

Gareth Cattermole/Valerie Macon/Jamie McCarthy, Getty Images

DreamWorks/DreamWorks/Blind Wink Productions

Rick Diamond, Getty Images

The Band Perry took a break in the middle of their tour with Brad Paisley to step onto the new stage of Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium on Monday (Feb. 20). The sibling trio was the first group to take the newly-renovated historic stage after the 61-year-old blond oak stage was replaced with one made of Brazilian teak. According to the Tennessean, the band’s 85-minute set of songs included some of their crowd favorites sprinkled with a good mixture of new songs, played for the first time.

“It’s going to be a bit of a musical narrative tonight,” Perry told the audience, who came out to the 120-year-old venue to see the band perform. “We’re going to do a couple of medleys, deeper cuts on the album, but we also wanted tonight to be about the continuing story of the Band Perry.”

Leading off that story, the Perrys dove into their set with a number that Kimberly described as “a big statement from the three of us” — their song ‘End of Times.’ Speaking of the song, Kimberly said, “I feel like musically it has progressed us to a new level while still embracing everything we were on the first album. It’s a little bit of an eerie way to start the set, very Southern gothic.”

From there, the night took a turn with ‘Sweet Baby Love’ and then ‘Hip to My Heart’ from their 2010 self-titled debut. The trio also performed songs with the titles ‘It Burns for You’ — a “new one for the lovers” — ‘Back to Me Without You,’ ‘Jimmy’ and ‘A Night Gone Wasted,’ as well as several of their tried and true songs from their first record. They even threw a few covers or portions of covers into the mix, with songs like ‘Free Fallin” and Queen‘s ‘Fat Bottomed Girls,’ as well as Chris Tomlin’s ‘Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone),’ which resulted in a standing ovation.

Even when singing love songs, Kimberly assured the crowd where the siblings’ affections truly lie: “We’re hopelessly single,” she said. “But we feel like the last two years have been us trying to win your hearts. We are eternally grateful to you for changing our lives.”

Source: TasteofCountry.com

YouTube

Just days before her new single ‘Good Girl’ is scheduled to be officially released, Carrie Underwood has given fans a sample of the until now unheard track from her upcoming fourth studio album. In a video released on her official website on Tuesday, Underwood takes fans inside the studio.

“I thought I’d give you guys a little teaser, cause hey, what are they gonna do to me?” the blonde country superstar asks before swinging the mixing room door open, releasing a flood of uptempo country goodness. The song seems cut from the mold of ‘Before He Cheats’ or ‘Undo It.’ It’s the bad girl Underwood that fans will hear from first.

“I cannot wait for you to hear the whole thing. It will be coming to a radio near you very soon. I hope you like it.” The still-untitled album is due in stores May 1.

Underwood’s website says the song will be released on Feb. 23. In fact, there is a ‘Good Girl’ countdown that is pecking away the seconds to midnight ET. It may be a very late night for the singer’s most loyal fans.

Watch Carrie Underwood’s Sneak Peek of her New Song ‘Good Girl’

Source: TasteofCountry.com

Alberto E. Rodriguez, Getty Images

It’s been said that “laughter is the best medicine”. With that in mind, the Lubbock office of Komen for the Cure is holding their 4th annual Laugh for the Cure Comedy Show and Live Auction. It’s set for Thursday, February 23, at the Lubbock Memorial Civic Center. This year they are bringing in two comics to raise money in the fight against breast cancer.

Tim Wilkins, who performed as part of the “Comics on Duty” world tour entertaining the troops in Afghanistan, is one of the headliners. He’ll be joined by national touring comedian Sid Davis. Tickets are $30 for general admission and $40 for VIP, which entitles the ticket holder to a “Meet the Comedians” reception following the show.

Both live and silent auctions will be held with great items up for grabs. Among the items are a ski package, a day spa package, gift baskets and a hand painted sofa table. Go to Komenlubbock.org to find out more information and to purchase tickets.

Facebook: The Thieving Birds

The Thieving Birds are currently climbing up the Texas Music Charts with their latest single, “Stuck in Memphis.” They’re also the next set of musicians to come play in our new Conference Room Concert. You can enter to win and be a part of a private show with The Thieving Birds.

The Thieving Birds want you to be the most popular guy in Lubbock this Friday morning at one winner will be selected out of our entries to enjoy a private mini concert. The one lucky winner selected will be allowed to bring five of his or her closest friends to see the Conference Room Concert with The Thieving Birds.

Enter the contest below. Entries will be accepted until Noon on Thursday with the winner being contacted Thursday afternoon. The Conference Room Concert with The Thieving Birds is set for 10:15, Friday morning.

YouTube

Casey Donahew is riding high in 2012 thanks to his latest album ‘Double Wide Dream’ and the title track getting request after request. Even though Casey keeps a busy schedule, he was nice enough to drop by and play our Conference Room Concert.

Casey performed his current single, “Double Wide Dream,” along with classics of “Angel” and “White Trash Story” to a private crowd. The select winners were also treated to a meet and greet and got to hang with Casey for a while.

Thanks again to Casey Donahew for stopping by and playing our Conference Room Concert. The Conference Room Concert will pick up again with The Thieving Birds on Friday, February 24th. Be on the look out for the contest coming soon so you can be a part of the private show.

Until then, enjoy the Conference Room Concert with Casey Donahew.

texastech.com

These are the games you need to win. It’s a home game for the Texas Tech Lady Raiders and they know they need to protect the home court. They’ll try and do that tonight when they host the Kansas Jayhawks in the United Spirit Arena.

A win by both teams will pump up their chances of securing a spot in the NCAA Tournament.

Tech is in a three way tie for seventh place in the Big 12 with Texas and Oklahoma State, so a victory tonight would come in handy.

The Lady Raiders are 7 and 1 against the Jayhawks here at home and leads the all-time series 14-4.

The last time out the Lady Raiders held the #1 Baylor Lady Bears to their lowest point total this season losing just 56 to 51. Baylor came into that game averaging a 31 point margin of victory at home in Waco. Tech beat Baylor on the boards 38 to 37.

Tech needs a win tonight, because they have two tough road games left at Texas A&M and Kansas State. If they can get a win against one of them and they beat OKlahoma here on Wednesday, February 29th, they’LL probably get in the NCAA.

In case no one notice, #11 Penn State, who the Lady Raiders beat earlier in the season 70-66, beat #8 Ohio State 84-66 last night. So the win against the Lady Lions has got to stand for something. Just saying.

Tip off tonight is set for 7pm.

Rick Diamond, Getty Images

It must be really bad when she calls him a cheater, not once but twice. Why not, it’s a “two for Tuesday”. Today we feature a husband and wife team, Mr. and Mrs. Feek.

You know them better as Joey and Rory. They came to the attention of the country music listening audience when they placed their on CMT’s “Can You Duet”.

Rory is an accomplished songwriter, writing among other songs, one of Blake Shelton’s early hits “Some Beach”.

Joey and Rory released their first album in 2008 called “The Life Of A Song”.Off that album came the song “Cheater Cheater”.

It was the type of song that everyone was singing, but it burnt out fast, reaching only the Top 30 on the country charts.

But here’s Joey and Rory on today’s “two for Tuesday”.

Comedy Central

Stephen Colbert is back! Last week, on February 15th and 16th, fans of ‘The Colbert Report’ were surprised and concerned by an abrupt suspension of new episodes due to a “family emergency.” However, the master of news satire will be picking up where the he left off on Monday night with special guest Parnassus Books owner Ann Patchett.

When The Wall Street Journal reported the show’s hiatus, many assumed that Colbert’s 91-year-old mother, Lorena, was going through some health-related issues. Even without definitive confirmation, the Colbert nation came together, offering its thoughts and prayers to the beloved leader and his family.

The Colbert family is reportedly a very private and close-knit group, but in response to his fan’s overwhelming show of support, Stephen did have this to say on his Twitter page:

Twitter

Hopefully, this will be the only unplanned Colbert hiatus that we’ll have to endure. We certainly commend him, though, for making family his number one priority and we wish him and his loved ones the best during this tumultuous time.

Special guests for this week include Author Robert Kagen on Tuesday, former Speaker of the House Nanci Pelosi on Wednesday, and opera star Placido Domingo on Thursday.

[via PEOPLE]

Source: TheFW.com