Z-100 JINGLE BALL SPORTS DIVERSE LINE-UP

New York radio station, Z-100, held their annual Christmas show, Jingle Ball, at Madison Square Garden, and performers for the event inlcuded Kanye West, Shakira, Ludacris & Bobby Valentino, Sean Paul, Backstreet Boys and pop rockers Fall Out Boy and the Click Five.

The show was more performance based than in years past, with the Backstreet Boys even donning instruments. Kanye West, one of the more popular artists on the night, was asked what advice he would give an artist who wants to be a pop or a hip-hop star.

“I would say to not…to never stop perservering and learn from your mistakes and be thankful for everything that happens bad to you because it’s a lesson that god is giving you that he’s instilling in you to make you stronger for the future.”

Natasha Beddingfield, who joined All American Rejects and Rihanna at a pre-show titled All Access Lounge, told us the difference between the pop music culture here in the U.S. and the culture in back in her native U.K. and Europe.

“Well American music seems to be leading a lot of the music world in general as I’ve gone around Europe that a bulk of what people listen to is American, but there is obviously a different flavor from every country, even from England to Germany, and what’s special is that that country keeps their flavor.”

The Z-100 Jingle ball also featured Frankie J and up-and-comer Chris Brown. In a unique charitable gesture the Backstreet Boys performed Weird World, and then asked fans to purchase a download on iTunes with all funds going to the Red Cross who are still dealing with the after-effects of hurricane Katrina.