“The Voice” has crowned its third-season champion, pop singer Cassadee Pope, and it’s clear from her victory, won after the most votes ever cast for a “Voice” finale, that America wants her to have a long and successful singing career. But as those who’ve followed Pope’s pre-“Voice” career know, the sweet and personable singer has been working hard to make it in the music industry for quite some time now.

The Florida native discovered her love of singing at a young age and cultivated her talent as part of her middle school’s award-winning jazz band. Things didn’t get serious until 2008, when she became lead singer of the newly formed pop punk band Hey Monday. The band was discovered by Fall Out Boy frontman Pete Wentz, and they later signed a joint record deal with Wentz’s label Decaydance and Columbia Records. Read more here

Buzz Track: Neverland

Jessica Ashley is a twenty-year-old singer, songwriter and producer from New York City. As a high school student, she posted cover songs on YouTube, quickly becoming a fan favorite, garnering millions of hits. Ashley has also used her talents as a songwriter, penning the song “Limbo”, a featured single on multi-platinum recording artist, JoJo’s, upcoming Interscope Records release “Jumping Trains.”
Contact: jesse.beer@hitsmagazine.com

With Ke$ha’s “Die Young” pulled from a number of radio stations in the wake of the shooting tragedy in Newtown, Conn., the RCA Records the singer had her own criticism for the hit song on Tuesday.

“i understand. I had my very own issue with ‘die young’ for this reason,” she wrote on Twitter on Tuesday evening. “I did NOT want to sing those lyrics and I was FORCED TO.”

The tweet was deleted not long after. An RCA rep had not returned a request for comment at press time. It was unclear at press time who she might have been claiming to have “forced” her to sing the lyrics. Ke$ha has a writing credit on the song, alongside Fun.’s Nate Reuss and producers Dr. Luke, Cirkut and Benny Blanco. Luke is also the head of Kemosabe, the label that releases her albums through RCA. She is managed by Vector Management.

She addressed the Connecticut events more directly with her next tweet, which remains published.

“I’m so so so sorry for anyone who has been effected by this tragedy.and I understand why my song is now inappropriate. words cannot express,” she tweeted. (Billboard)

Buzz Track: Second To None

Formed in 2010, a new fresh four-piece indie/ alternative pop rock band from Stockholm, Sweden is creating a buzz. The music glimmers of melancholy but never looses faith. Thoughtful but catchy! The self released album was self produced and just released in November.
Contact: matz@prettysolitude.com

Total Gross: $228,406,085     Number of Shows: 72
Total Attendance: 1,635,176   Number of Sell-Outs: 72
Artists are ranked by gross, compiled from Billboard Boxscores reported from Nov. 9, 2011, to Nov. 13, 2012. Read more here