The transition: Swift wants to move from her current position as a teen-star phenom to being a core country artist for the next decade or so. If she picks up a few crossover hits along the way, she won’t complain about that, either.

The mission: To build upon the 3.5 million fans who bought her 2006 self-titled debut. To do that, she’ll need to hold the attention of an extremely young audience while adding adult country fans. Additionally, smart alliances with other acts can ease her introduction into the music mainstream.

The ammunition: Already, she’s among country’s most popular acts; Carrie Underwood is the only woman country radio has played more often this year. Swift is one of the few country acts who intrinsically understands the value of Internet audience development. Some songs from “Fearless” already have online lives: Nearly 100 girls have recorded videos of themselves performing the title track. “Breathe” is a collaboration with Colbie Caillat; Swift also contributed a song to Kellie Pickler’s new album and sang with the Jonas Brothers for their upcoming concert movie.

Source: abcnews.go.com

Not that there isn’t plenty to keep Taylor’s fans occupied until then. For starters, her song “Change” has been adopted as a soundtrack to the daily highlights on the Olympics, and it can be downloaded via iTunes throughout the Olympics with the proceeds slated for Team USA. “Change” will be included on the Fearless CD, as will “Breathe,” a duet with pop singer Colbie Caillat.

Source

- I can’t wait for this!!

On a side note, I know updates have been really slow, my apologies. I am re-vamping the site and working on some new stuff! Watch out!

Colbie Caillat has MySpace to thank for much of her Bubbly success. But since striking a gentle chord with lovestruck listeners, the California girl hasn’t spent much time on the site that made her a buzzy breakout less than two years ago.

“Before, I was addicted, like everyone is. You’re on it hours a day: morning, when you come home from work, before you go to bed,” Caillat, 23, says. She’s calling from the road with border collie Roxy by her side.

“Now, I just go on a few times a week to update pictures, post bulletins.”

After uploading a few tunes to MySpace two years ago, fans began taking notice. It started in their toes, made them crinkle their nose — you get it — and Caillat racked up 10 million song plays. She was the site’s No. 1 unsigned artist for four months. (Today, her total plays are well past the 40-million mark.)

“I started writing songs when I was 19,” Caillat says. “But when I put my songs on MySpace, I really had no idea what could happen.”

Forgive her, then, if she hasn’t replied to your message begging for a profile shout-out or a photo comment.

Caillat’s major-label debut disc, Coco, was released a year ago and has since sold more than 1 million copies on the strength of Bubbly and Realize, the similarly breezy followup. Her next single, the reggae-tinged The Little Things, ups the tempo a bit.

It helps that Caillat is terrifically cute. She could easily pass for Jennifer Aniston’s suntanned little sister.
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First, I’m back from my vacation! More to be added a.s.a.p! Now onto the article …

‘It happened so fast,’ singer says of the overnight success of debut album Coco.
By Danielle Beavers

Rejection has never felt so good.

Before her “Bubbly” hit, Colbie Caillat was an unknown singer/songwriter hoping that “American Idol” might be her ticket to a recording contract. Unfortunately, whoever was screening contestants that day was a bit shortsighted — Colbie was turned down at the pre-auditions (that’s right, she didn’t even make it in front of Simon).

But fortunately, there was life after “Idol.” She soon found an audience on MySpace, and 42 million plays later, the labels came calling.

“It happened so fast,” Caillat remembered. “I was just writing songs and putting them up on MySpace, and then I got a record deal. Then it was like, ‘Whoa, you’re going on tour with the Goo Goo Dolls this summer.’ So it was brand-new, but now it’s been a year for me, so it’s kind of like I’m getting used to it all.”

Getting used to it is an understatement, considering Caillat is now a bona fide star. With singles “Bubbly” and “Realize” under her belt, she’s busy with the U.S. leg of her tour (a few of her stops are with John Mayer), preparing for her next album and enjoying the buzz surrounding her video for “Little Things.”
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Colbie Caillat draws opening slot for John Mayer
By TAMARA VALLEJOS
tvallejos@journalsentinel.com
Posted: July 1, 2008

Colbie Caillat, who’s opening for John Mayer at Summerfest’s Marcus Amphitheater Wednesday night, has a gig many aspiring performers would envy, and it’s all thanks to an Internet profile.

Like thousands of performers, Caillat - her name rhymes with ballet - created a MySpace page three years ago to showcase her music. At the time, she didn’t really know what the Web site was.

“My friend was like, ‘All right, there’s this thing called MySpace Music and you can hear other people’s songs.’ So he made me the page and helped me upload my music,” said Caillat, 23. “I had no idea what it could do.”

What the social networking site did was give her sweet acoustic pop music a chance to stand out. Within months, the Los Angeles native earned thousands of fans, a mention in Rolling Stone and the title of MySpace’s top unsigned artist. The buzz led to a recording contract with Universal Republic and a debut album, “Coco.”
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Country Music stars such as Miley Cyrus are racking up nominations for the 10th annual Teen Choice awards show.

Cyrus, who is hosting the show at the Gibson Amphitheatre in Universal City, Calif., is a nominee for top television actress for her role in Disney’s Hannah Montana, as well as top female music artist along with Britney Spears, Mariah Carey, Rihanna and Fergie. Her single “See You Again” is a nominee for top single.

Country Music star Taylor Swift is also a nominee for Teen Choice 2008. Swift is a nominee for breakout artist along with Colbie Caillat, Flo Rida, Jordin Sparks and Leona Lewis, according to cmt.com.

Carrie Underwood is also among the stars nominated — her category, Red Carpet Fashion Icon.

The fan-voted award show airs Aug. 4 on Fox.

Source: countryhound.com

Let’s be sure to vote for Colbie!!

Fame came fast with MySpace hit

When Universal Records dropped its lawsuit against MySpace in April, it was welcome news to many musical artists, and few more so than Colbie Caillat.

For months, the California-based singer-songwriter had to soothe angry fans with blog posts as her record label’s squabble with the social networking site forced her to replace full-length versions of songs from her major label debut, “Coco,” with 90-second snippets.

Once an agreement was reached, Caillat could repost her songs in full — but not before dozens of frustrated fans had weighed in, some demanding that the artist let them know when the songs returned.

That’s the kind of mentality that no doubt enrages those who sell records for a living, but one that Caillat has to understand. She owes much of her success to MySpace and her catchy song “Bubbly,” which garnered millions of plays on the site’s player before becoming a pop radio hit.

It’s how Rolling Stone found her, naming her one of the top female artists on the site.

Perhaps most importantly, it’s how Caillat, now 23, gained the confidence and focus to pursue music seriously.

“That was my dream when I was younger,” she said. “I wanted to be a famous singer. But I was really lazy. It took me until I was 19 to actually learn to play an instrument, and after that, I started writing songs.
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Grand Prize Package for Urban and Rock contest winners (except where specified):

* Success starts with a good plan. Business plan development with Jan Linder Koda and Tess Taylor. 2006 Winner Tim Fagan made use of this, and within months was on tour with the Goo Goo Dolls, Lifehouse, Colbie Caillat and John Mayer. $1,000 value.

Read the whole article here!

When Universal Records dropped its lawsuit against social networking site MySpace in April, it was welcome news to many musical artists, and few more so than Colbie Caillat.

For months, the California-based singer-songwriter had to soothe angry fans with blog posts as her record label’s squabble with the social networking site forced her to replace full-length versions of songs from her major label debut, “Coco,” with 90-second snippets.

Once an agreement was reached, Caillat was finally able to re-post her songs in full - but not before dozens of frustrated fans had weighed in on the matter, some demanding the artist let them know when the songs returned and wondering where they could turn to hear her music.

That’s the kind of mentality that no doubt enrages those who sell records for a living, but one that Caillat has to understand. She owes much of her success to MySpace and her inescapably catchy song “Bubbly,” which garnered millions of plays on the site’s player before becoming a pop radio hit.

It’s how Rolling Stone found her, naming her one of the top female artists on the site, and it’s how her label was assured they had a tested, surefire hit on their hands when they signed her. Perhaps most importantly, it’s how she gained the confidence and focus to pursue music seriously.

“That was my dream when I was younger,” she explained. “I wanted to be a famous singer. But I was really lazy. It took me until I was 19 to actually learn to play an instrument, and after that, I started writing songs. But even once I did that, I wouldn’t play shows, because I hated it. I was so nervous. I didn’t even have a MySpace (page). My friend had to put my songs up on MySpace for me. So I wasn’t that serious. I wanted to be, but I wasn’t doing anything to push myself.”

By the time “Bubbly” had been posted to MySpace, Caillat, now 23, said, “I had only performed live at school talent shows in high school and junior high, so I could count probably five times I’d performed live.”

That figure has ramped up considerably since “Coco” was released last summer. Caillat estimates she’s given more than 1,000 performances of “Bubbly” alone, and her onstage nerves are starting to taper off.

“If it’s a bigger crowd, I’m less nervous. If it’s teeny, I get terrified,” she said. “Usually I have to have one cocktail before I go up on stage, just to ease my nerves.

“I have to remind myself to have fun with it now, since I do get nervous and I don’t like performing all the time. Sometimes I get like, ‘Ugh, great, I have to sing “Bubbly.” ‘ I really like the song, but when I have to perform it, that’s when it becomes a job, just because I get so nervous, it’s like a lot of work for me. But it’s gotten better over the months, because now I’m actually having fun performing.”

Where the whirlwind of touring and promotion normally hinders rookie performers - writing songs for album No. 2 - it hasn’t affected Caillat. She said she has close to a dozen songs written for her next album, which is due for release in summer 2009. She’s not tinkering with the formula - she’ll be working with the same writers and producers as she did on “Coco,” and with Universal’s new MySpace Music venture, the site will play a large role in promotion. Whether sharing her songs online will continue to be profitable a year from now, however, is slightly less certain.

“It’s true, people aren’t buying music,” she said. “But for me, I also don’t just go buy an album if I only hear one good song. I don’t blame people if they don’t just go do that, because what if the rest of the album sucks? I think it’s cool that they live with it on MySpace, they get used to the song, and they realize that there are five good songs on the MySpace, and they go out and buy the album.

“That’s what people do,” she said. “And that’s what I do.”

Source: poughkeepsiejournal.com

Colbie Caillat is crazy about dogs—and not just the three lucky pups she shares her home with. She’s a sucker for all dogs.

When we met up with Colbie on her recent tour, she shared her thoughts on dogs and on what we should all be doing to take better care of animals. She also signed two peta2 tees for us to give to you, so complete the form below for your chance to enter.

Riding high on the success of her debut release, Coco, Colbie hasn’t let fame go to her head—she was as down to Earth and sweet as could be! We like that about her—a lot. We also like that she hasn’t let go of the lessons her mom instilled in her at an early age, like why buying animals from pet stores and breeders is out of the question and how important it is to spay and neuter your companion animals. Check out what else Colbie had to say in our exclusive interview.

Source: Peta2.com