The Stars have descended upon Toronto for the 2013 MuchMusic Video Awards and while preparations are well under-way over at the Station’s Queen Street Headquarters with Soundchecks taking place throughout the day, several Guests and Performers are just now arriving. Several Fans today not only got a Sneak Peek of tomorrow night’s performances, but some were even lucky enough to meet the Performers including Co-Host PSY, who was gracious to stop for Snaps earlier today with Fans!  Others like Armin Van Buuren, Avril Lavigne, Phillip Phillips and more graced the stage today.

Meanwhile on the other end of the City, we were lucky enough to witness several of tomorrow’s Presenters arrive including the likes of Josh Bowman (Revenge), Shay Mitchell (Pretty Little Liars), Kunal Nayyar (Big Bang Theory), Naya Rivera (Glee), Lucy Hale (Pretty Little Liars), Popstar Cody Simpson and this year’s MMVAs “It Couple” Brittany Snow (Pitch Perfect, Hairspray) and Tyler Hoechlin (Teen Wolf).  Red-hot Arrow Star Stephen Amell, who hails from Toronto, already has been in town for a bit in advance of the Show.

Meanwhile, Australian Internet Sensations The Janoskians have been causing quite a rage at their Hotel, requiring their Security to step-it-up a bit as their hoards of female Fans shower them with attention.

And although simultaneously in town for her Red Tour at Rogers Centre, Taylor Swift and Tourmate Ed Sheeran are expected to grace the Queen Street Stage tomorrow and some are saying they just might perform their latest Single Everything Has Changed as a surprise.

The 2013 MuchMusic Video Awards air tomorrow night at 9:00 PM EST on both MuchMusic and Fuse.

(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)

Teen Pop Sensation Austin Mahone is back in Toronto once again and while opening for multiple GRAMMY Winner Taylor Swift on her Red Tour along with Ed Sheeran, he managed to take some time out to do a little Promo!

The Singer flew-in to the City last night, getting spotted right away upon landing! Starting earlier today at City‘s Breakfast Television, excited Fans were rewarded with a big Group Photo.  Following his City appearance, the 17-year-old from San Antonio, hopped over to Global Television‘s The Morning Show (National Edition) where he was greeted outside by hoards of female Fans, many who got Selfies with the burgeoning Star.  Surrounded by a large entourage of Security Guards to protect the Star, Autograph Seekers unfortunately were denied, despite Mahone trying his best to reach over to accommodate them!  Sorry Wongsters, I tried for you but it wasn’t happening!

Mahone performs tonight at Rogers Centre and Fans can see more of him Sunday on the MuchMusic Video Awards, which air this Sunday, June 16, 2013 at 9:00 PM on MuchMusic and Fuse.

The Singer just released the Video to latest Single What About Love earlier this week. Check it out below:

See Mahone‘s Fans (Mahomies) freaking-out below:

Mahone was last in Toronto in December for The Jingle Bell, when I had the pleasure of meeting him!  Read about it here.

(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong | Video credit: Mr. Will Wong/Universal Music)

Battle Los Angeles, Crazy.Stupid.Love, The Dark Knight Rises and Oz The Great and Powerful. At age 13, Joey King already has built a Résumé which  several Actors and Actresses might never achieve in a lifetime.  Born and raised in Los Angeles, King appears on the verge of Superstardom and a quick perusal of what’s coming next gives us every reason to be excited.

Taking  time to chat with us in advance of Oz The Great and Powerful‘s DVD release, I learned that acting is actually something that King always has wanted for herself since the age of four, first getting her start in Commercials. Older Sisters Haley and Kelli, whom she looks-up to greatly, may have paved the way for her with their own respective acting careers, but she makes it clear from the get-go that she is in charge of her own path. “People ask me all the time, ‘Were you forced into acting?” she admits. “I’m like, no. It’s something I’ve always wanted to do and I hope I get to do it for the rest of my life.”.

On how she became involved with one of 2013’s largest grossing Blockbusters landing the coveted Role of vulnerable and sweet China Girl, she recalls, “I went straight to the Screen Test, which is the final stage of the auditioning process.  I was so excited I got to meet Sam Raimi, to audition and do my lines for him.”.  She actually was immersed in work when she found out she had been cast in Oz The Great and Powerful. “I was in India filming The Dark Knight Rises and my Sister was Video Chatting with me and told me that I got the Role. It was so unforgettable!  Breathtaking.”.

King has nothing but fun memories of working with the Film’s brilliant Ensemble Cast, getting up-close and personal. “Whether it be Zach Braff, James Franco and I playing pranks on each other, to Michelle Williams asking me when I got a Cell Phone so she’d know when to do so with Matilda (Williams‘ Daughter with the late Heath Ledger),  everyone was so sweet. I had the best time filming it!”.

Although a Sequel to Oz The Great and Powerful still has yet to be confirmed, 2013 will see not one, but two more important releases from this remarkable young Talent.  “I’ve got White House Down with Channing Tatum and Jamie Foxx coming out”, she tells me.  The Montreal-filmed Action-Thriller is about a Capitol Policeman who must rescue his Daughter and save the President with the arrival of a group of Paramilitary Invaders.  “I love Montreal, it’s beautiful there.  I love the cold!”, she tells me about her experience filming in our native Canada.

In addition to being a Fan-of and Friends with Taylor Swift, having starred in her Video for Mean, King reveals to me whom she’d love most to work with in the future. “Jennifer Lawrence, Jessica Chastain is up there and Jason Bateman for sure. I love him! “.  Diplomatically, she tells me there are many more with so much amazing Talent in the Hollywood Pool and surely it won’t be long before she gets her wish.

King also particularly is excited for upcoming Horror, The Conjuring, due this July. “I play one of five Sisters and my name’s Christine. Our Family lives in this house and something’s sketchy about it”, she explains. “I saw the Film recently and oh my God, it’s so scary! I think everyone will really enjoy it and it will blow their socks off!”.

Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures Canada releases Oz The Great and Powerful on DVD and Blu-ray Combo Pack on Tuesday, June 11, 2013.  Click here to pre-order your copy.

Follow Joey King on Twitter here.

Enjoy the Audio from our Chat below:

(Photo credit: Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures Canada | Video credit: Mr. Will Wong)

The Nominees are in! The 2013 MuchMusic Video Awards are just a month away and all Contenders were confirmed earlier today. Leading the Pack this year with six nominations is Mariana’s Trench including coveted Video of the Year (Desperate Measures) and Pop Video of the Year (Stutter).

Not to be outdone, Toronto’s v. own Drake tallies in second with five nominations including Hip Hop Video of the Year and Video of the Year with his recent Single, Started from the Bottom.

Up for International Artist of the Year is a competitive field which includes: P!nk, One Direction, Taylor Swift and recently-announced Performers Demi Lovato and PSY.

Click here for a full list of Nominees!

The 2013 MuchMusic Video Awards air Sunday, June 16, 2013 at 9:00 PM EST on Fuse and MuchMusic.

(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)

The 2013 Billboard Music Awards were held in Las Vegas at the MGM Grand tonight and winning top honours tonight was Taylor Swift with a total eight awards including Top Artist and Billboard Hot 200 Album with her Disc, Red.  Poking fun at herself, Swift accepted her Award, stating, “you’re the longest and best relationship I’ve ever had!”.

Not to be outshone, Rihanna and Gotye both picked-up four awards each – the former doing extremely well in the R&B Categories winning Top Album, Song and Artist, while also nabbing Top Radio Songs Artist.  Gotye was victorious in the categories: Hot 100 Song, Rock Song, Radio Song and Streaming Song (Audio) based on the strength of his Smash with Kimbra, Somebody That I Used To Know.

Two Pop Legends were honoured also in Prince and Madonna.  The former not only performing tonight a Medley which included Let’s Go Crazy, received the Icon Award for his lasting career which has seen ten Diamond Albums and 30 Top 40 Hits.  The latter, whom we spotted in New York City last week at the Met Gala, won Top Touring Artist for her MDNA Tour.

Canada’s Carly Rae Jepsen even was recognized with the Award for Top Digital Song with Call Me Maybe.

Although the evening was highlighted by some dazzling performances from the likes of Bruno Mars, Justin Bieber, Selena Gomez, Jennifer Lopez, Christina Aguilera, Macklemore & Ryan Lewis and Pitbull, it was Miguel who stirred-up the most controversy apparently kicking two female Fans when crowdsurfing into the audience during his performance of Adorn.

Click here for a complete list of Winners.

More amazing Photos over at Zimbio!

(Photo credit: Getty Images)

Amazing!  If there was any doubt Justin Timberlake‘s back and bigger than ever, his The 20/20 Experience shakes-up the Music Industry, proving that when a Record Label wants to invest in an Album, Consumers will buy. And buy they did!

The slickly-packaged Disc released just last Tuesday has sold over 968k copies in its debut, placing at the top of the U.S. Billboard Hot 200 Chart and even more impressively, he did it without gimmicks like an array of Special Editions.  Target had an Exclusive Edition, but even that Retailer was number two to iTunes in sales. 

In contrast to his previous two Solo Efforts, 2002’s Justified sold 439k copies in his first week and 2006’s FutureSex/LoveSounds sold 684k copies.

Although impressive, Timberlake‘s The 20/20 Experience still doesn’t surpass Taylor Swift‘s Red, which sold 1.2 million its first week – last year’s biggest debut, eventually going on to sell 3.1 million copies.

(Photo credit: Sony Music)

I don’t care what anyone says, but I’ve always been a Fan of Avril Lavigne and nothing anyone says will change this.   A Snippet of her new Track, Never Growing Up was just unveiled today and the Canadian Princess of Punk-Pop is inviting Fans to be a part of the Lyric Video for the Track by uploading clips of themselves “never growing up”.

Upon initial listen, the Track is making me have a major Taylor Swift moment.  The parallels to We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together are apparent, but that Track in itself sounds like signature Avril Lavigne.

You too can be a part of the fun and hear a clip of Never Growing Up right here.

Sony Music  Canada releases Never Growing Up on Tuesday, April 9, 2013.

(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)

22-year-old Tom Odell holds a distinction which Adele, Emeli Sandé and Jessie J – he was named the Critics’ Choice at the BRIT Awards just last week! In addition, the BBC have named him on their prestigious Sound of 2013 Poll. Despite only having an EP out, Songs from Another Love, Odell already is making a splash with the Video for his latest Single, the big and sweeping Hold Me, already garnering  almost half a million views already. A full-length Disc, Long Way Down, is slated for a released this Spring.

We know Taylor Swift in the v. least is a Fan…

Check-out the Video for Hold Me below:

(Photo/video credit: Sony Music)

With just two months till the 2013 JUNO Awards, this year’s Nominees were announced today and dominating this year is Carly Rae Jepsen, who has made a big splash internationally with her Hit Call Me Maybe.   Jepsen is in the running to win: JUNO Fan Choice, Single of the Year, Album of the Year, Artist of the Year and Pop Album of the Year.

Although he was responsible for helping her Call Me Maybe become a major Hit virally, Justin Bieber was no match for Jepsen, but certainly not disgraced. He’s up for four JUNOs this year including: Album of the Year, JUNO Fan Choice, Artist of the Yearand Pop Album of the Year.

Up for International Album of the Year this year are Mumford & Sons (Babel), Rod Stewart (Merry Christmas, Baby), Taylor Swift (Red), One Direction (Up All Night) and Maroon 5 (Overexposed), the latter coincidentally in Toronto today on-tour.

In addition to Canada’s Cream of the Crop in Music being at Regina’s Brandt Centre on JUNO Day, Megastar Michael Bublé will be performing a brand new Single that day.  Fans have been hungry for non-Christmas Music from the Crooner since his Crazy Love was released in 2009.

Complete list of Nominees click here.

Also, Sony Music Canada, Universal Music Canada and Warner Music Canada are teaming together to release a Compilation Disc containing this year’s Nominees, titled The JUNO Awards 2013 Nominee Compilation, in-stores March 19, 2013.  Proceeds will go to MusiCounts, Canada’s Music Education Charity.

Tracklisting below:

1.       Carly Rae Jepsen                                 Call Me Maybe

2.       Justin Bieber                                         Boyfriend

3.       Hedley                                                   Kiss You Inside Out

4.       Marianas Trench                                 Desperate Measures

5.       Metric                                                    Breathing Underwater

6.       Billy Talent                                           Surprise Surprise

7.       The Sheepdogs                                     Feeling Good

8.       Victoria Duffield                                  Shut Up and Dance

9.       Deadmau5                                            The Veldt ft. Chris James

10.    Johnny Reid                                         Dedicated to You

11.    Serena Ryder                                        Stompa

12.    Big Wreck                                             Albatross

13.    Rush                                                       Headlong Flight

14.    Leonard Cohen                                    Darkness

15.    Celine Dion                                           Parler à Mon Père 

16.    Walk Off the Earth                             Somebody That I Used to Know

17.    Hey Ocean!                                          Big Blue Wave

The 2013 JUNO Awards air Sunday, April 21, 2013 on CTV.

(Photo credit: JUNOAwards.ca)

Nominees for the 55th annual GRAMMY Awards were announced at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville and Kanye West, Jay-Z, Frank Ocean, Dan Auerbach of The Black Keys, Mumford & Sons and fun. each tie for the lead with six nods apiece in what looks to be a wide-open year.

Pop Lovers fear not as some of the year’s biggest hits were recognized at tonight’s Nominations Concert, hosted by Taylor Swift and LL Cool J, including: Gotye‘s Somebody That I Used to Know being up for Record of the Year and our v. own Carly Rae Jepsen‘s Call Me Maybe being up for Song of the Year and Best Solo Pop Performance. In addition, Toronto was well-represented with Drake being up for three Awards including Best Rap Album for Take Care and Best Rap Song for The Motto and Best Rap Performance for HYFR. Meanwhile, Melanie Fiona is up for Best Traditional R&B Performance for Wrong Side of a Love Song.

Swift is nominated for Record of the Year with her smash Hit We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together and also Safe & Sound (w/The Civil Wars) in the Best Country/Duo Performance category. While fellow Nashville Native Kelly Clarkson also received major recognition, garnering nods for Stronger (What Doesn’t Kill You) in the important Song of the Year, Record of the Year categories, while her Disc Stronger earned nominations for Best Pop Vocal Album.

Best New Artist Nominees fun. are up for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance, Song of the Year and Record of the Year with We Are Young (ft. Janelle Monáe), while they also are in-contention for Best Pop Vocal Album and Album of the Year with Some Nights.

For a complete list of Nominees, click here.

The 55th annual GRAMMY Awards will be held February 10, 2013 in Los Angeles at Staples Center.

(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)