MGMT [5], formerly named "The Management" ("The Management" was occupied by another artist so the band shortened "The Management" to "MGMT"), is an American musical duo based in Brooklyn, New York, consisting of Ben Goldwasser and Andrew VanWyngarden. Originally with Cantora records, they signed with Columbia Records/Red Ink/Sony in 2006.
On October 5, 2007, Spin.com named MGMT "Artist of the Day".[6] On November 14, 2007, Rolling Stone pegged MGMT as a top 10 "Artist to Watch" in 2008.[7] The band was named 9th in the BBC's Sound of 2008 top 10 poll.[8] They were also named as Last.fm's most played artist of 2008 in their Best of 2008 lists.[9]
Their first album Oracular Spectacular debuted at number twelve on the UK album chart and number six on the Australian ARIA Charts, and hit number one on the Billboard Top Heatseekers chart.[10] It was named the best album of 2008 by NME.[11] MGMT also appeared prominently in Australia's Triple J Hottest 100 2008, coming in 2nd with "Electric Feel", 5th with "Kids" and 18th with "Time to Pretend."
Arctic Monkeys are a multi Brit Award winning English alternative rock band from High Green, a suburb of Sheffield. Formed in 2002, the band currently consists of Alex Turner (lead vocals, guitar), Jamie Cook (guitar), Nick O'Malley (bass guitar, backing vocals) and Matt Helders (drums, backing vocals).
Arctic Monkeys achieved chart success with their second single, "I Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor", which reached number one in the UK Singles Chart.[1] Their debut album Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not, released in January 2006, became the fastest-selling debut album in British music history, surpassing Oasis's Definitely Maybe and remaining the fastest-selling debut album for a band. It received critical acclaim, winning both the 2006 Mercury Prize[2] and the 2007 BRIT Award for Best British Album. It was also nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Alternative Music Album, but lost to Gnarls Barkley's St. Elsewhere. The band's second album, Favourite Worst Nightmare, was released on 23 April 2007, sold over 225,000 copies in its first week, and was nominated for the 2007 Mercury Prize.[3] The group also picked up the award for Best British Album and Best British Group at the 2008 BRIT Awards.
Arctic Monkeys were heralded as one of the first acts to come to the public attention via the Internet (fan-based sites rather than from the band), with commentators suggesting they represented the possibility of a change in the way in which new bands are promoted and marketed.[4] The band eventually signed to the independent record label Domino Records.
Pharrell Williams (born April 5, 1973), commonly known as Pharrell, is an American recording artist, producer, musician and fashion designer. Along with Chad Hugo, they make the record production duo The Neptunes, where they produce pop, hip hop and R&B music. He is also the lead vocalist and drummer of rock band N.E.R.D, which he formed with Hugo and childhood friend Shay Haley. He released his debut single "Frontin'" in 2003 and followed up with his debut album In My Mind in 2006.
As part of The Neptunes, Williams has produced numerous hit singles for various music artists. The Neptunes have earned three Grammy Awards amongst ten nominations. He is also the co-founder of the clothing brands Billionaire Boys Club and Ice Cream Clothing.
Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta (born March 28, 1986), better known by her stage name Lady Gaga, is an American recording artist. She began playing in clubs in the New York City area while also working at Interscope Records as a songwriter for several established acts, including Akon who, after hearing Gaga sing, convinced Interscope Records chairman Jimmy Iovine to sign her to a joint deal with the label and Akon's Kon Live Distribution label.
She began working with a collective called the Haus of Gaga in 2008, and released her debut album The Fame in August of the same year. The album went to number one in countries such as the United Kingdom and Canada, and topped the Billboard Top Electronic Albums chart in the United States. To date, the album has spawned the international number one singles "Just Dance" (nominated for Best Dance Recording at the 51st Grammy Awards) and "Poker Face." After opening for New Kids on the Block and the Pussycat Dolls, Gaga headlined her first tour, The Fame Ball Tour.
Musically, she is inspired by glam rockers such as David Bowie and Queen, as well as pop singers such as Michael Jackson and Madonna. Other influences for Gaga lies with fashion and her realtionship with the gay community.
Scott Ramon Seguro Mescudi,[1] (born January 30, 1984)[2] better known by his stage name Kid Cudi (pronounced /ˌkɪd ˈkʌdi/ - Kid Cuddy) (sometimes stylised as KiD CuDi), is an American rapper. He first gained major attention after the release of his debut mixtape A Kid Named Cudi. In 2009, his single "Day 'n' Nite" reached the top ten of the Billboard Hot 100 and Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs charts. "Day 'n' Nite" is part of Cudi's upcoming album Man on the Moon: The End of Day. Cudi has also worked with Kanye West, Common, and other artists signed to the GOOD Music label.
Mescudi was born in Cleveland, Ohio to a Mexican-Native American father and an African-American mother and lived in low-income housing in the diverse suburb of Shaker Heights.[1][3][4]. His mother was a middle-school choir teacher while his father was a house painter, substitute teacher and World War II Air Force veteran. Mescudi's father passed away from cancer when he was just eleven-years-old; his death would have a significant effect on his personality and subsequently his music.[5] Mescudi attended Roxboro Middle School and Shaker Heights High School for two years before transferring to Solon High School. It was towards the end of high school that Mescudi began rapping, inspired by hip hop groups such as The Pharcyde and A Tribe Called Quest. After earning his GED, he studied film at the University of Toledo, then dropped out after his freshman year.[6] He moved to Brooklyn, New York at the age of 20' to pursue his dreams of a music career.[1] He released his first mixtape, A Kid Named Cudi, in collaboration with New York street-wear brand 10.Deep as a free download.[7] The mixtape quickly caught the attention of Kanye West, which in turn spawned his signing to GOOD Music later that year.
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