Ariana update

AIN'T LIFE GRANDE (UPDATE): Republic's Ariana Grande will perform her Zedd-produced new single, "Break Free"—which is now #1 on the iTunes singles chart—on the MTV VMAs on 8/24, the night before the street date of her forthcoming album, My Everything. She's the first artist to be announced for the 2014 VMAs. Her scheduled performance on the show was revealed on her MTV special, Total Ariana Live; after completing it, she posed for this pic with label chief Monte Lipman, President Avery Lipman, EVP Charlie Walk and manager Scooter Braun, all of whom were dripping with Varvatos. Ariana debuted "Break Free" on TAL; it zoomed to the top at iTunes within hours of the broadcast. Her intimate, rather jazzy rendition of "Problem" on the special, accompanied only by piano, showed off her dazzling pipes to great effect; that song, of course, is still Top 5 at iTunes and #1 at Pop radio.

As we recently informed you, Republic's Ariana Grande will appear on a special revival of MTV's Total Request Live—Total Ariana Live—tonight; the 30-minute show will find the siren premiering her new single, "Break Free" and performing a special acoustic rendition of chart-topper "Problem." Ariana's forthcoming sophomore set, My Everything, is already #2 at iTunes in preorder ahead of its 8/25 street date. What's more, the deluxe edition will feature "Bang Bang," her much buzzed-about collaboration with Lava/Republic's Jessie J and YMCMB/Republic's Nicki Minaj; the track, produced by Max Martin, Savan Kotecha and Ilya, is due out on 7/29. Jessie J's new album (which will of course also feature the song) is slated for a fall release. Will we be following up this story? You bet your Varvatos we will. (7/2p)