The Recording Industry Association of America is expanding its gold and platinum certification program to include song streams on the Internet.

The first round of 56 combined digital single awards counting both downloads and streams go to artists like Eminem, Adele, Justin Bieber and Carly Rae Jepsen.

The RIAA is the latest to recognize the popularity of streaming music over the Internet. Billboard also recently changed its chart system to include streams. The gold and platinum certifications will be based on data from on-demand streaming services like Spotify and Rhapsody and video streaming services like YouTube and Yahoo! Previously, only song sales had been recognized.

The RIAA says in a Thursday news release that 27 artists will receive multi-platinum certification, 18 platinum and 11 gold.

“American Idol” is going nuclear for Season 13.

None of the four judges on the singing competition will be asked to return next season, an individual with knowledge of Fox’s plans told The Wrap. Longtime producer Nigel Lythgoe is expected to get the boot. And despite reports to the contrary, Fox isn’t even considering bringing former judge Jennifer Lopez back as a lifesaver for next season.

Like we said: nuclear.

“All four are gone,” the insider told TheWrap. “They feel they’ve lost their core audience and they want it back.”

Driven by this belief and the need to attract younger viewers, Fox is set to make major on-air changes to “Idol,” the most notable of which will be an entirely new judging panel. New judges pop icon Mariah Carey, rapper Nicki Minaj and country star Keith Urban won’t be back. Even original judge Randy Jackson won’t survive the blood bath this time around.

A Fox spokesperson declined to comment for this story.

All four judges have options to return for another season, but Fox won’t be picking them up, according to the knowledgeable individual, who said: “No more big checks for divas.”

The network has resolved to stop paying the huge salaries it has been shoveling out for its big name talent, i.e. Carey’s reported $18 million package, Minaj’s $12 million salary and former judge Jennifer Lopez’s $15 million.

The show’s format will also change. Its look will be redesigned and the dated tribute nights will be a thing of the past. But the show’s trademark audition episodes will continue.

Fox’s meltdown has everything to do with the talent competition’s declining viewership. Its ratings are already down 22 percent this season and it hit a series low for ratings last Thursday, when it attracted only 11 million viewers and a 2.4 rating/7 share in the ad-coveted 18-49 demographic. The ratings slide is especially problematic during May Sweeps, where ratings numbers are used to dictate advertising rates.

Viewing has been in decline for several seasons now. At its height during Season 6, “Idol” attracted about 30 million viewers an episode.

So, why not just cancel the show?

“Idol” is still a huge revenue generator for Fox, bringing in $836.4 million in ad revenue last year, according to Kantar Media. Plus, it has nothing to replace it. Simon Cowell’s “The X Factor” is far from being “Idol’s” heir apparent after failing to meet ratings expectations over its first two seasons. It, too, is undergoing another round of changes for Season 3, with pop star Britney Spears and record executive L.A. Reid not returning. Read more

The Kings of A&R top 8 Emerging Artists…

Last of The Wildmen – One of Your Sons
Kylie Odetta – Wanted
Super Happy Fun Club – Way Back
The Lonely Wild – Buried in the Murder
Wolf Colony – Calling
Moon Men – Truth Hurts
Bad Suns – Cardiac Arrest
Saint Motel – Benny Goodmen

After a successful stint in rehab, Green Day frontman Billie Joe Armstrong has triumphantly returned to the stage in March and reconnecting with fans on the road without incident – until now. Taking to his Instagram account, Armstrong posted a picture of K-pop star Psy, and what he had to say about the “Gangnam Style” hit-maker was far from congratulatory. “This dude is the herpes of music,” Armstong wrote. “Once you think it’s gone, it comes back.” The Green Day singer also added a series of hashtags: #herpes, #flarup and #pleasegoaway. Posted on Tuesday (May 7), by the following day the missive has generated more than 20,000 “likes” from Instagram users, with nearly 2000 comments from fans mostly agreeing with Armstrong’s commentary.

Buzz Track: Great Big Crush

New comer Michaela Grace, a country artist has arrived on the scene. When she was eight she won her first talent competition singing Reba McIntyre’s “Why Haven’t I Heard From You”. She was invited to Nashville to co-write and record with producers and songwriters who have written for Faith Hill, Tim McGraw, and Lady Antebellum. She released her first EP titled Infinite and will perform at
the Prophet Bar on May 18th in Dallas.
Contact: frankssuzanne@yahoo.com