[NEWS] AN OPEN LETTER TO CHRISTINA AGUILERA, FROM DAVID

Dear Christina,

How I hoped to never have to go public with this, but your reluctance to embrace your true musical identity as represented by a series of misguided and utterly depressing CDs—Bionic anyone?— has really forced me to spill the beans. Let me me offer heartfelt apologies in advance for breaking your confidence and sincerely say, at the risk of sounding didactic, that I am doing this for your own good. You see, with the truth exposed you just might be forced to acknowledge that the bulk of your discography is an act of treason against the great artist you longed to be but are clearly afraid of becoming. Clearly the failure of these albums, a series of increasingly misspent efforts chasing radio trends with exponentially more lackluster results (made worse with each album’s concomitant and public announcement that the new collection “truly reflects your personal growth and authentic self,”) has not chastened you.

While I know it’s fun to be a TV star and spin around in your chair on the The Voice after six hours of hair and make-up, this strikes me as a betrayal of your tremendous early promise. For Stargayzing readers, permit me to tell the story from the beginning, which will make my motives clearer and, at the risk of sounding grandiose, might give you pause to consider that you are, in fact, standing at a creative precipice.

[VIDEO] CHRISTINA AGUILERA Q&A: FROM 'MICKEY' TO 'LOTUS' AND FINDING HER 'VOICE'

Christina Aguilera took attendees for a journey of her blockbuster career at last week's Billboard Film & TV Conference Music Conference. Feeling feisty, the "Beautiful" singer played loose with her language (f-bombs were dropped) while talking about her journey from Star Search runner-up to superstar of music and, now, the small screen on "The Voice."

"Sometimes you just know what you're placed on this earth to do," she told interviewer Bill Werde ( @bwerde), Billboard's Editorial Director, at the W Hotel in Hollywood.

In Part 1 of the lengthy chat, Aguilera talks about her early days on the set of the "Mickey Mouse Club," the challenges and friendships formed during "Burlesque" and she eviscerates tabloid "trash." Keep an eye on this page for Parts 2 and 3, where the "Your Body" star talks "The Voice," her new album "Lotus" and on working with female writers and producers.

(Watch entire interview after the jump.)

[NEWS] CHRIS MANN, #TEAMXTINA MEMBER, SIGNS ONTO MAJOR RECORD LABEL

Chris Mann, the classically trained singer who made it to the finals NBC's series "The Voice," is the first act signed to Ron Fair's new Universal Republic imprint Faircraft. His debut album is expected in the fall.

Mann is in the studio working on his debut album with producers Walter Afanasieff ( Josh Groban, Mariah Carey), Keith Thomas ( Charlotte Church), Marco Marinangeli (Groban, Il Divo), Marius de Vries ( Madonna, U2, Groban) and Bleu ( Selena Gomez, Demi Lovato).

On "The Voice," Mann worked with Christina Aguilera through the show's second-season run, performing songs such as Paul Simon's "Bridge Over Troubled Water," Coldplay's "Viva la Vida" and "The Prayer," a modest hit for Celine Dion and Andrea Bocelli.

Fair, most recently chairman of Geffen Records, has produced and engineered music by Lady Gaga, Mary J. Blige, the Black Eyed Peas, Fergie and Il Volo. He signed Christina Aguilera. Managed by Susan Markheim at Front Line Management, Mann previously toured with India.Arie and Idina Menzel and has contributed vocally to the films "Avatar," "Glee 3D," "Tangled" and others.

Source: Billboard

[VIDEO] RON FAIR TALKS CHRISTINA AGUILERA AND 'LADY MARMALADE'

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