The Decemberists formed in 2000 when Colin Meloy left his band Tarkio in Montana and moved to Portland, Oregon.

The internet is, by its very nature, an open forum; it’s manna for aspiring music artists looking to cultivate an instant fanbase.

New York’s MIMS has taken steady steps toward a legacy; the staccato seismic “This Is Why I’m Hot” marked a big leap, topping Billboard’s Top 100 from #32 the previous

With her quirky, tongue-in-cheek lyrics, universal pop melodies and trademark curly hair, British dance floor Barbarella Lolene is a hot topic.

“If you believe in something, you’ve got to fight to see it through,” declares Little Big Town’s Jimi Westbrook. “We won’t ever give up.”

X-rated sexpert. Fall-down drunk. WAG-tagoniser. Queen of MySpace. Exhibitionist. Primadonna. Style icon. Celebrity girlfriend. Celebrity daughter. Celebrity sister. Paparazzi prey. Party starter.

Brand names are just that—enduring. The blessing of a lifelong following is tempered by the curse of past accomplishments perpetually in tow.

When Katy Perry was a fourth grader, her teacher asked the class to make a “vision board” — a collage of images cut out from magazines that represents the dreams and aspirations y