Morning Music Notes – The Brit (Awards) Are Coming!

Facebook Joins the Listening Party Bandwagon; Will Hit 1 Billion Users

Similar to the popular Turntable.fm, Facebook users can now simultaneously listen to music and have a group chat session (via Hypebot). The new feature is called Listen With, and it sets up a chat room where you can, um, chat, and also share tunes with your friends. It’s like a real life listening party – but not! The service currently uses Spotify and Rdio, and will add more streaming services in the future. Now since your friends are all having a streaming party without you, it looks like you’ll need to finally get that Spotify (or Facebook!) account to get in on the action with your friends. Or pick up the phone, and you know, invite them over to your house.

It looks like resistance is futile – Facebook will soon have ONE BILLION users as of this August (via Digital Trends). This is pretty amazing, considering the world has anout 7 billion people, and not all of them are a) internet connected or b) internet saavy or c) in a respectible age bracket to actually use Facebook. There are currently 800 million users, and with new games and features (such as the aforementioned Listen With) being added all the time, why would you NOT be on Facebook (shameless, non-beneficial plug!).

The Brit Award Nominations Are Out

The Brit Awards are a pretty big deal here in England. The nominations for the 2012 Brit Awards, which take place on Feb 21 at The O2 in London, have been announced (via Brit Awards). The nominees for some of the premier categories are outlined below. The list makes you realize how well UK music did worldwide last year, especially on the Billboard charts.

Mastercard British Album of the Year

Adele – 21
Coldplay – Mylo Xyloto
Ed Sheeran – +
Florence & The Machine – Ceremonials
PJ Harvey – Let England Shake

British Group

Arctic Monkeys
Chase & Status
Coldplay
Elbow
Kasabian

If you want your favourite band to win, head over to the website and vote (and then run a scam and vote again and again).

The Decemberists to Release Live Double Album

In case you missed it on the Decemberists’ (or PeteHatesMusic’s) Twitter feed yesterday, Portland folk-rockers are releasing a double live album called We All Raise Our Voices To The Air (Live Songs 04.11-08.11) (via Chart Attack). The Decemberists are a band you should definitely see live. The banter from Colin Meloy is brilliant, as are their live portrayal of songs, and the audience engagement. Check out the track listing below:

Disc 1

01. The Infanta
02. Calamity Song
03. Rise To Me
04. The Soldiering Life
05. We Both Go Down Together
06. The Bagman’s Gambit
07. Down By The Water

08. Leslie Ann Levine
09. The Rake’s Song
10. The Crane Wife 1, 2, and 3

Disc 2
01. Oceanside
02. Billy Liar
03. Grace Cathedral Hill
04. All Arise!
05. Rox In The Box
06. June Hymn
07. Dracula’s Daughter > O Valencia!
08. This Is Why We Fight 09. The Mariner’s Revenge Song
10. I Was Meant For The Stage

Snoop Dogg Launches Marijuana Cigar Brand

Last year, Snoop continued the dog (well, “dogg”) puns going, and released an album called Doggumentary (seriously!). Now, he is releasing his own brand of cigars (?!), called Executive Brand (via NME).

Says the Doggfather: “Throughout my career I have been lucky enough to travel the world and try all different types of tobacco products. During my travels throughout South America and the Caribbean, I was fortunate to encounter this tobacco company, Executive Branch and was so impressed by their commitment to quality [far superior than all others]. In 2012, we plan on releasing new styles and flavours, in which I will be working with their team to make sure all products are up to Snoop Dogg standards.”

If you’re not yet sold, watch a video and fall victim to the Snoop Dogg charm.

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