Arch MUSIC NEWS for 11/12/12

Arch MUSIC NEWS is compiled by Jay Philpott -

Justin Timberlake and Jessica Biel are spending some of their post-honeymoon time giving back to people still suffering from the affects of Hurricane Sandy. According to PopCrush, the newlyweds spent four hours volunteering in the Rockaways in Queens on Saturday, distributing supplies and spending time with the locals. The area was one of the hardest-hit places in New York City. Timbaland also joined the couple in their afternoon of volunteering. All three stayed at the site until the truck of supplies was emptied, and also took photos with some of the residents there. One fellow volunteer tweeted the couple, thanking them for “giving the kids something to talk about besides Sandy.”

Madonna has been stirring up controversy worldwide during the course of her MDNA tour, and now she might have to pay for it. According to “The Times,” a Russian court is planning to put the Queen of Pop on trial for promoting gay rights during a show in St. Petersburg in August. The eight-point-two-million-dollar lawsuit was submitted by members of the Union of Russian Citizens, the People’s Assembly and the New Great Russia. The Russian court has ruled that there’s sufficient evidence to sue, saying the singer “crossed a line” by handing out pink anti-homophobia bracelets to the crowd. Madonna reportedly told her audience to “fight for the right to be free.” The groups claim that her actions caused “psychological stress and emotional shock.”  The onstage stunt was in response to news that the city’s annual gay pride parade would be banned as the event promoted the “propagation of homosexuality,” which is outlawed in the country. The case against Madonna is expected to go on trial within the next two weeks, and the singer is not expected to be present at any of the proceedings.

MC Hammer wants people to know that Oakland, California is “Too Legit to Quit.” According to Allhiphop.com, the rapper is promoting the city in a new video marketing campaign called “Oakland. To Know It Is To Love It.”

Taylor Swift will be headlining this year’s “Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest.” Coming off the record-breaking success of her “Red” album, the star will be performing in Times Square just before the ball drops on New Year’s Eve. The bash will be the first since Clark’s death in April at age 82. In a release, ABC has said it will be paying respect to America’s Oldest Teenager during this year’s festivities with a two-hour live tribute starting at 7:00 p.m. STL time. Fergie and Jenny McCarthy have been tapped to host the special.

In 2008, the Obama girls got the Portuguese Water Dog Beau after dad won an election, and this year they might be getting a visit from One Direction. According to “The Star,” the President and First lady have invited the British boy band to come sing for Malia and Sasha as a thank you for their help during the campaign. The magazine says a source close to the band revealed that Mrs. Obama personally reached out to them to extend an open invitation “for a date to be arranged that fits in with everyone’s schedules.”