Taylor’s RED US Tour went to the next level last weekend with her very first stadium show of the tour. Ford Field in Detroit, MI is an epic 50,000 seat venue which hosts the Detroit Lions NFL Team.

To give Aussie fans a feel for the Red Tour, I spent two full days with Taylor & her crew including sound check & rehearsal on the Friday

During Fridays rehearsal, Taylor and her 15 dancers had to adapt their choreography to allow for the bigger stage area as well as nail the transition from the main stage out to a B stage in the middle of Ford Field. It was an amazing opportunity to catch them rehearse and get familiar with the MASSIVE new RED TOUR set.

The other part of Fridays schedule was recording a sit down 1 on 1 interview with Taylor. You can hear it on the Fifi and Jules show  across Australia this afternoon & as part of a 1 hour Taylor Swift TakeOver across the Today Radio Network on Friday at Midday.

Saturday was show night. This is a Taylor Swift US stadium show – so there isn’t just one support act. There are 3! Fresh US talents Brett Eldredge & Austin Mahone fired up the growing crowd and by 730pm 50,000 are packed in to see Taylors good mate Ed Sheeran hold everyone’s attention …with no band and one guitar! With this support slot, Ed’s star is really starting to shine in the US (as it already does in his native UK as well as Europe and Australia)

You won’t wanna miss the opening of Taylor’s Red Tour. Deafening screams. A giant silhouette of the superstar herself…and boom! Unforgettable & engaging from the opening second,

One of the highlights of the show takes place on the B stage. I was lucky enough to be right under the stage within arms reach of it all. I took the snap above as Ed joined Taylor on stage to perform her latest single that they co-wrote “Everything Has Changed”. It was Eds first time playing with Taylor in a stadium. I was so close that I could see Taylor look Ed straight in the eye at the start of the song and say… “Oh My God”!!

During the show fans are chosen from the crowd to join Taylor at “Club Red” for an intimate backstage after party. It’s basically a chilled out pizza party with a photo booth, food & drinks. Taylor’s Mum Andrea plays an important role selecting fans from the crowd and entertaining them at the party. It was cool to hang out there and see first hand how laid back & cool Taylor is with her fans. It’s not a clinical sit down set up. She just mingles and works the room. Ed Sheeran and Austin Mahone rocked up as well. Very classy move – and something Taylor has always done for every tour.

Why is this tour so exciting? Simple. I got a selfie with Ed Sheeran. Just kidding. Real reason – With the release of Red & the 3 massive singles to date, Taylor’s career has exploded from country pop star …to all round mega music star. At one point in the Detroit show she asked the 50,000 strong crowd who had seen her before. There was a pretty loud roar. She then asked who was seeing her for the first time. The noise was deafening.

I’ll be honest. I didn’t buy any of Taylors other albums. I always admired her but I was personally into hip hop, hard rock and whatever else. But Red takes her to a new level. From the dubstep vibe of Trouble to the fresh sounds of 22 …it’s a hot album. It’s a hot show. This is an incredible entertainer at the peak of her career. Its an enormous show. I can’t wait to see it again in Australia this December.

For Taylor Swift Red Australian Tour dates / ticket info go to www.frontiertouring.com

A) Z & I were approached by the Los Angeles Lakers after an extensive search of every possible other human being on Earth as the obvious choice for a Dwight Howard Adidas billboard.

B) After narrowly missing out on selection as starting Center for the Lakers, I was offered a consolation gesture of a father/son promotional photo shoot with the man that took my place.

C) During some half court at the local park, Z & I noticed a 7 foot tall man consistently missing free throws. We offered some specialized coaching and in return he agreed to pose for a pic & promotional Adidas movie with us.

D) Zephyr was picked out of the crowd by Lakers staff at The Grove when we were shopping because he looked cute. Moments later we found ourselves being escorted through a mob of fans & on the set for a Dwight Howard Adidas promo shoot.

Submit your answer A through D below!!!!!! Oh …& feel free to express any jealousy or related emotion you feel at this moment.

The most popular US contemporary music formats are Top 40 & Rhythmic CHR. Hot AC, Urban & Alternative also add new songs to playlists on a weekly basis.

For artists with very clearly defined sounds and audiences this process works beautifully. Rihanna impacts Top 40. The Black Keys new single goes for adds on Alternative.

But what about the artists who are harder to categorize? Artists who push boundaries and break rules can find themselves homeless.

Take Tyler The Creator and his alternative hip hop collective Odd Future. Tylers “Yonkers” video posted in 2011 is currently at over 52 million views on YT.

In the “pigeon-hole” world of commercial radio, Odd Future is too “alternative” for rhythmic CHR …& too “black” for alternative. They get no commercial airplay. And unfortunately for us radio people, it doesn’t matter. They can sell out shows in minutes as a result of a buzz that’s been created way outside of the radio airplay square.

On the other side of the equation you have another brand of homeless artist – Adam Lambert. Despite his 2nd album Trespassing debuting at no.1 on the US Billboard chart this year, potential singles from his Pharrell Williams produced album can’t find a home amongst the traditional radio formats. Rolling Stone gave it rave reviews – but its too upbeat for a HOT AC station. It’s not “hip” enough for alternative. For whatever reason, its also not quite in the right slot for Top 40.

Another “homeless” radio act is Seattle’s Macklemore.

Macklemore entered the US ITunes Charts at #1 with his 2nd album and his latest video “Thrift Shop” is slowly picking up spins on three very different formats – Alternative, Rhythmic and Top 40. If he takes off, Alternative Radio will likely drop him on the basis he’s too “mainstream”. Top 40 stations love “novelty” but are unlikely to commit or step out on an artist like Macklemore out of loyalty. Important to note Macklemore sells out shows in minutes as well – without much radio.

Yes I work in commercial radio. Yes I respect the company that employs me in Australia. Our stations across the country even champion new music nationally on our Top 40 stations through RADAR. Despite that, I really want your honest feedback.

Do you think music radio is a good way to discover new music? If not, how are you finding the new music you love? Where could we do better in commercial radio? Go for it below!

In this media world of negativity, sarcasm & indifference, the helpless sobbing of Fifi Box in front of Pink reminded us all what music is actually about – connecting with people.

Take a look at the moment I simply needed Fifi to welcome her below.

Check out more of the interview below and feel free to post any comments telling me when YOU have cried for your Idol.

A Surprise for Pink…

Why Pink creates Music…

The body clock was pretty messed up. We were waking up at 2pm Aus time (5am London) & working through to around 9am the next day Aus time. As I write this I’m back in Australia and still struggling to get to sleep before 3am !! Im also readjusting to not having a GoPro strapped to my head (yep i lost a bet on facebook and was forced to wear “headcam” for the entire trip!)

Having lived in London for 2 years when I worked at XFM, it was awesome to see the city in full Olympic mode. She’s never looked better. Mad props to everyone in the city from the taxi drivers to the Olympic Volunteers to the Military personnel …it ran like clockwork.

We checked out Boxing at Excel Arena, Badminton at Wembley Arena & Beach Volleyball at Horse Guards Parade….that event was the highlight. They really put on a show for the crowd with live DJ’s, dancing girls, a hype guy and crowd interaction.

Away from the events we helped Jules run the actual Olympic Marathon circuit (he finished!), went rowing on the Thames, booked out our own double decker bus across the city (balllin) & with Fifis influence did a little too much shopping.

Massive thanks to our crew at Southern Cross Austereo for helping us bring the vibe of the olympic city back to Australia over a massive week of radio shows!

Trey was cool enough to play me some tracks from his forthcoming release “Chapter 5″ off his iPhone. The album is destined to be his biggest, with a bunch of songs that are guaranteed to drive the ladies crazy.

From there, much of my time was spent cock-blocking him from seeing my girlfriend Gabriella. Hear it in this interview

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(Source: http://twitter.com/TreySongz/status/198548404723396608)

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AFL Football is tough. Pretty birds and flowers on your nails are not. Watch below as a very serious Swans Senior Coach John Longmire spots my colourful arty nails pre-interview.

Get more on the Sydney Swans and become a member at www.sydneyswans.com.au

Do I win the “I Love You” Game? Find out tomorrow on the “Fifi and Jules” show across Australia, and worldwide on the “Fifi & Jules” podcast. It will upload at around 7pm Australian EST Monday.

In the meantime check out a behind the scenes audio grab from the very start of my interview with Adam recorded on Friday.

I Love You Adam Lambert – Preview Audio

And heres more from my recent LA interview with Adam Lambert below…we talk through “Kickin In” from his Billboard #1 album “Trespassing”

I Love You Adam Lambert – Preview Audio

I was totally shocked to get the nomination & to see my name alongside 4 of music radio’s heavy hitters is nothing short of an honour [The other 4 finalists are Zane Lowe, Chris Moyles & Steve Lamacq of the BBC as well as Triple J Australia's Richard Kingsmill]

All I ever wanted to do in radio was have fun with my audience & the music without EVER disrespecting the artists who make it. Through this blog & twitter I get the opportunity to share the experiences more personally & I seriously wanna thank you for checking in & being part of the fun.

As the Fifi & Jules show in-house radio DJ, I attempt [and almost always fail] to keep the guys focused on music. Unfortunately one Jules Lund [who prefers the “J-Lu” moniker when he’s “hangin with music types”] has a very different focus – embarrassing Fifi …& his entire team.

Watch Ronnie’s look of horror as Jules tries to convince him to do the world famous “J-Lu leg wrestle”

The J-Lu “leg wrestle”. Yep. It’s an easy target. Branding it [and him] as tacky & shameless…seems almost too obvious. Could it ACTUALLY be a genius concept? Might it take off with musical guests worldwide?

Which musical stars would you like to see have a leg wrestle with J-Lu? Comment below.