And your 2010 American Idol is...

Well, you all know it now. Lee Dewyze is the official American Idol. We, as the AFF team here, are pretty split down the middle on this one. Some wanted Crystal, some were pulling for Lee, and some were rooting for both (to the point where it didn't really matter who won anymore, I mean, we all know they are BOTH going to be recording albums). This leads me to, my question I want to pose: Is it better to win Idol or to be runner-up? Automatic album is good of course, but how much control do these Idol winners get over their own sound? It is hard to say. Many break away shortly after to do their own thing. So let's hear your thoughts on the big finale last night.

Nashville Rising: A Benefit Concert

June 22nd the stars will align, and I'm not talking about Ursa Major and Minor, I'm talking everyone's favorite country stars. Tim McGraw, Faith Hill, Toby Keith, Taylor Swift, Carrie Underwood, Brooks & Dunn and Miley Cyrus are among the artists who will perform at a benefit to assist victims of the middle Tennessee flooding. The benefit was organized by McGraw and Hill and will benefit the Community Foundation which provides philanthropic services that enhance the Middle Tennessee area. Also featured at the event at Bridgestone Arena (formerly Sommet Center (formerly Gaylord Arena)) will be artists like Luke Bryan, Amy Grant, Jason Aldean, Miranda Lambert, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Martina McBride, LeAnn Rimes and Michael W. Smith.

Tickets go on sale May 14th at 10am on ticketmaster.com and range from $25-$75. Visit nashvillerising.org for more information!

Betty White Boosts SNL

This weekend, over 510,000 facebook fans got their wish as 88 year-old Betty White hosted Saturday Night Live. It all started with a group called "Betty White to Host SNL (please?)!" on this popular social networking site and it ended in a victory for NBC and facebookers nationwide. Saturday Night Live picked up a rating of 8.8, the highest rating for the show in 18 MONTHS! The highest since the always popular pre-presidental election.

Jay-Z was brought in as the musical guest, so there was not a dull moment throughout the show. Jay even dedicated his performance of his latest hit, Young Forever to the "Most Incredible Betty White".

Betty kept the audience on the edge of their seats from the very beginning with help from an entourage of former SNL lady favorites Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, Molly Shannon, Ana Gasteyer, Rachel Dratch and Maya Rudolph.

Next week, this season closes with host Alec Baldwin and musical guest Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. We'll see if they can top last week's 8.8 rating....(I'll bet against it)

-JAI

"I Gotta Feeling" It Broke A Record

The Black Eyed Peas slide into the number one spot, declaring their hit single, " I Gotta Feeling" the #1 most digitally downloaded song of all-time. With over 5.56 million downloads, this single just slipped past Flo Rida's "Low" (5.53 million downloads) to claim the top spot.

Flo Rida has enjoyed holding down the #1 most downloaded spot since March 2008, when it passed Soulja Boy Tell'em's 2007 hit "Crank That."

The BEP are not only sitting pretty at #1, but their song "Boom Boom Pow" from the same record is in fourth place with 5.29 million downloads.

So the current top five most downloaded songs of all time are:

1. I Gotta Feeling: Black Eyed Peas (5,561,000)
2. Low: Flo Rida (5,536,000)
3. Just Dance: Lady Gaga (5,364,000)
4. Boom Boom Pow: Black Eyed Peas (5,298,000)
5. Poker Face: Lady Gaga (5,131,000)

So it looks like if you're planning on making it into the top five one of these days, you better write a song with some thumping bass, a heavy beat and a catchy, repetitive chorus.

-JAI

Can HANSON Make the Greatest Comeback Of All-Time?

They've changed their look, cut their hair and even had a few babies along the way. Most people probably don't even kow that HANSON has released four albums since their debut smash album, "Middle Of Nowhere" that featured songs like "MMMBop" and "Where's The Love". Already chalked down as the biggest one-hit-wonder ever, HANSON has a final chance to make the greatest comeback of all-time.

HANSON announced the release of their new record, Shout It Out, on June 8, 2010. It’s a fantastically infectious collection of finely crafted, R&B-flavored pop-rock -- an homage to the music that inspired the band when they started out. The album was recorded in a studio on a 2,000-acre pecan farm in El Paso, Texas, and was produced and written exclusively by HANSON, augmented with special guests: Funk Brothers bassist Bob Babbitt, who played on some of Motown’s greatest hits, as well as horn arranger Jerry Hey, who worked with Michael Jackson, Quincy Jones, Earth, Wind and Fire and many more.

They released their first music video from the upcoming album today and can be found here:

http://www.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=music.videos&videoId=104317949

And yes, that is Weird Al playing the tambourine. I'm diggin' the old school, funky motown sound and would love to see HANSON top the charts again!

-JAI

AFF Social Media Fun

We are doing some fun stuff on our Facebook and Twitter accounts: trivia prize packages, ticket giveaways, scavenger hunts, and much more! Don't miss out, only 172 days left!

Follow us on Twitter: @alltechfestival
Fan us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/alltechfestival

Get ready for this week's AFF Friday Giveaway!

Study Estimates $167 million in Economic Impact to Kentucky from Alltech World Equestrian Games..WHAT!!!!

Kentucky could realize a $167 million economic benefit from the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games, a significant increase from early projections of $150 million, organizers said.

The 2010 Games will be held for the first time in the United States at Lexington’s Kentucky Horse Park. The world championships in eight equestrian sports will be contested from September 25-October 10, with as many as 60 countries represented.

The study, conducted by Dr. Paul Coomes, Professor of Economics at the University of Louisville, shows a direct impact to state and local governments through payroll taxes and taxed purchases by spectators in regional hotels, restaurants, retailers, and car rentals.

Current ticket sale projections estimate that more than 85 percent of Games spectators will come from outside Kentucky, bringing new dollars into the region’s economy. Current ticket purchasers are averaging five days of attendance, and the lodging that comes with those visits could account for more than $20 million in spending on accommodations alone.

In addition, the study estimates significant employment opportunities, bringing employees and payroll taxes into the state and local economies.

The study also noted impacts that world-wide television exposure, branding, advertising, and media coverage would bring to Kentucky for years to come.
“An event such as the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games is extremely rare for a destination, because the Games represent a huge economic engine fueled by out-of-state and international visitors and exposure, yet are fully accessible and affordable for state and local residents,” said Hank Phillips, Deputy Commissioner of the Department of Travel. “The combination of high economic impact and affordability for the state and local community is indeed rare.”

The Games will be broadcast on NBC Sports, which has marked the largest commitment to network coverage of equestrian sport in U.S. television history. Current sponsors include Alltech, Rolex, John Deere, Ariat International, Inc., Meydan and Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital. For more information on the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games, please visit www.alltechfeigames.com.

Kentucky is indeed on its way to being a SUPERBRAND.