Backstage Pass

So much for it being a girl's year.

The “American Idol” Powers That Be have been talking up the huge pool of female talent this season, trying to crown an “Idol” queen for the first time since Jordin Sparks in 2007. See, the female “Idols” -- Kelly Clarkson and Carrie Underwood, especially -- have been far more successful than the male ones and, let's be honest, “Idol” really does need...

The Eagles – at least the ones on solo tours – are landing at The Paramount.

Don Henley plans to make a rare solo appearance at the Huntington venue on April 3, one of only a handful of live shows the Rock and Roll Hall of Famer has on his schedule this year. Tickets for the show go on sale at 10 a.m. Friday through Ticketmaster and the Paramount box office.

Eagles guitarist Joe Walsh...

After weeks of grueling preliminary rounds (more for the audience than the contestants), Season 12 of “American Idol” begins in earnest Tuesday, as the Top 20 perform live for audience votes.

Now, there are a few things “Idol” producers clearly want us to know from the preseason: 1) They want a girl to win, y'all; 2) This is a singing competition, but the judges' comments are almost as important...

Elvis Costello headlines “The Music of Prince” at Carnegie Hall Thursday, along with D'Angelo and The Roots.

Intro brings you the week’s hottest videos and shows every Monday. To catch up on all the Intros and watch classic Long Island music scene videos, check out Newsday Music’s YouTube channel at http://www.youtube.com/newsdaymusic.

THE LIST

ELVIS COSTELLO, “Red Shoes.” Part...

Is the music industry finally starting to turn things around?

After 13 straight years of declines stemming from decreased sales and Internet piracy, the music industry saw global revenues increase 0.3 percent in 2012, according to a new report from the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry. The music industry’s revenues globally were $16.5 billion in 2012. (When Internet piracy...

Swedish House Mafia start to wrap up their “One Last Tour” with shows at Hammerstein Ballroom Thursday and Madison Square Garden Friday and Barclays Center Saturday.

Intro brings you the week’s hottest videos and shows every Monday. To catch up on all the Intros and watch classic Long Island music scene videos, check out Newsday Music’s YouTube channel at http://www.youtube.com/newsdaymusic.

THE...

Jay-Z and Justin Timberlake are taking their collaboration to the next level -- on the road.

The dynamic duo behind “Suit and Tie” announced their “Legends of the Summer” tour this morning, playing stadiums through July and August, including a stop at Yankee Stadium on July 19. The tour kicks off July 17 in Toronto and runs through Aug. 16 in Miami.

Tickets for all the shows except Yankee...

The legacies of the top British Invasion bands have solidified into their current state — the Beatles were the clever populists, Rolling Stones are bluesier and, um, more lascivious, and The Who are the belligerent rebels.

But it wasn't always this way and last night at Nassau Coliseum, The Who showed why. In playing their rock opera “Quadrophenia” in its entirety, the band offered a reminder...

Hoodie Allen is having quite the day.

The Long Island rapper, whose last album “All American” hit No. 1 on iTunes and debuted in Billboard's Top 10, released a new mixtape “Crew Cuts” this afternoon on his website and has already seen it downloaded more than 40,000 times.

Though he's offering “Crew Cuts” for free download, the clever, pop-leaning single “Fame Is for [expletive]” featuring...

“The X Factor” is looking to Long Island to find the next Tate Stevens or Carly Rose Sonenclar.

The Simon Cowell-led singing competition will be at Nassau Coliseum on April 25 to find contestants for its fall season.

Of course, who exactly will be judging the auditions remains a question since both Britney Spears and record exec L.A. Reid have left the show following last season. Maybe...