Jay-Z to Perform at Swedish Music Festival

Don’t be surprised if you bump into Jay-Z on the streets of the Swedish town of Borlänge. Music festival Peace & Love has announced that the American rapper will be one of the headline acts this summer. Jay-Z performed at the Ericsson Globe Arena in Stockholm in 2008, but this is the first time he has performed at a festival in Sweden. The rapper will join Patti Smith, The Kooks, John Fogerty, The Hives and Alice In Chains.

Jay-Z won three US Grammys last fall with Blueprint 3, including a string of hits such as “Empire State of Mind,” “Run This Town” and “Young Forever.” The Peace & Love festival will take place between Jun.28 and Jul.3.

Download vol.3 of the WelcheMusic Compilation Playlist

It’s time for WelcheMusic vol.3 fresh from the oven. Ke$ha storms the charts with the new album and we think that “Take It Off” is a contender for an upcoming single release. Owl City storms the UK singles chart this week with “Fireflies.” Let’s hope that the follow-up single “Vanilla Twilight” can repeat the success. Also included, current hits from Sidney Samson and the Glee Cast’s version of “Don’t Stop Believin’.” True to form, we’ve added bonus tracks. Jay-Z recorded “History” for the More than a Game soundtrack.

• Click here to download the WelcheMusic vol.3 playlist
• Click here to download the WelcheMusic vol.2 playlist
• Just right-click on the image to download the cover art
• Click here to download the WelcheMusic vo.1 playlist

New Dance Hit Based on 2Pac Sample Hits in the UK

Iyaz’ “Replay” bows on top of the UK singles charts, published yesterday. We’ve already covered Iyaz on this blog, and this success beats his No.2 position on the Billboard Hot 100 late last year. Dutch DJ Sidney Samson bows at No.2 with “Riverside,” a track that samples the voice of Tupac Shakur from his movie Juice. The song was initially issued in the Netherlands last spring, reaching No.8 on the Dutch singles chart. The UK release also features Wizard Sleeve on vocals and has been re-named to “Riverside (Let’s Go!).” 3OH!3’s “Starstrukk,” moves 6-3 with the help of Katy Perry. Florence + the Machine is on the rise as their rendition of “You’ve Got the Love” reaches a new peak at No.5 in its 34th week. WelcheMusic included Justin Bieber on the vol.2 compilation and he enters at No.14. Alicia Keys’ “Empire State of Mind (Part II)” enters at No.35, while her duet with Jay-Z rebounds to No.18. Paolo Nutini remains at No.1 on the album chart with Sunny Side Up, with the help of a heavy discounted retail price. Florence + the Machine’s album Lungs moves 6-2, pushing Lady Gaga’s The Fame to No.3. The highest new entry comes from Elvis Presley’s compilation Elvis 75 at No.8.

Download vol.1 of the WelcheMusic Compilation Playlist

We’ve already spent hours discussing what the biggest hits of the decade were. WelcheMusic has researched the charts and release schedules to find out what will 2010’s hits be. Listen to it for free via Spotify and make sure follow these tracks as they climb the charts. Alicia Keys has already charted with the second installment of “Empire State of Mind.” Iyaz will issue his debut hit this January and “Replay” has already reached the upper reaches of the Hot 100. Usher’s back with “Hey Daddy” and the Jay-Z rendition of “Forever Young” is destined to become a hit as well.

• Download the playlist here
• Right-click ont the image above to download the cover art

Welcome to the World of Welche

Happy new year to all new readers of the WelcheMusic blog. Jan.1 marks the official start of a blog that was initiated back in December. This means that it’s already filled with all kinds of interesting content about music. This is the place for music lovers, who would like to know more about songs of the moment. As a special treat, customized Spotify playlists will be shared – always containing songs for a special reasons.

Click on the tag cloud for any favourite artist or just scroll down. Read about the Facebook campaigns that rock the charts right now or the story behind one of Janet Jackson’s largest hits. Let me know if you’re missing something. And don’t forget to pick up next year’s hits in the first volume of WelcheMusic – a compilation playlist featuring Timbaland and Katy Perry, Alicia Keys and Jay-Z.

Lady Gaga Remains in the Top 5 in the UK

Lady Gaga remains at No.3 with “Bad Romance” adding her ninth week on the UK singles chart. She’s trailed by Cheryl Cole who’s back with a follow-up to this fall’s No.1 “Fight for this Love.” Her new single features will.i.am on vocals and is titled “3 Words.” The Black Eyed Peas rise 10-6 with “Meet Me Halfway.” The highest new entry comes from Jay-Z who’s teamed up with Mr. Hudson on the Alphaville rendition “Young Forever.” Similar to recent success by T.I. and Flo Rida, the track is based on a well-known hit, this time “Forever Young.”

Michael Bublé’s Crazy Love denies Susan Boyle another week atop of the album chart. Boyle’s I Dreamed a Dream is still the Billboard 200 album No.1. Lady Gaga remains at No.4 with The Fame, a set that almost celebrates its first anniversary on the chart. The follow-up, The Fame Monster, has already fallen out of the top 40.

What about the second part?

Jay-Z and Alicia Keys spends its fifth week atop of the Billboard Hot 100 with “Empire State of Mind.” Only this December, Alicia Keys issued her latest disc The Element of Freedom. It features the ballad version “Empire State of Mind (Part II) Broken Down,” a totally breathtaking piece! I wouldn’t doubt one second that the track would easily be a hit again, in its new format. Meanwhile, I would recommend the current single “Try Sleeping with a Broken Heart.” A track that has only managed to reach No.42 on the Billboard Hot 100 to date (unfortunately it’s on its way down). Its greatest success is in Norway where it reached No.2.