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![]() DMX GETS THREE MONTHS FOR VARIOUS CRIMES The hip hopper, who, as previously reported, has been in custody since December after being arrested for failing to make a court appearance in Phoenix, finally faced the outstanding charges against him last week. He pleaded guilty to the charges back in December, some of which stemmed from that raid on his Arizona home last May where authorities found allegedly neglected dogs, drug paraphernalia and various weapons. The rapper will have to stay a full 90 days in jail in addition to the time he's already spent inside following his court no show because, as expected, the judge refused to give him credit for time already served. The judge did, however, say the rapper could apply to serve his time in Florida if he so wished. -------------------------------------------------- SPRINGSTEEN REGRETS WAL-MART DEAL With exclusivity deals between artists and major retailers - most commonly Wal-Mart or Best Buy - increasingly common in the US, Springsteen agreed to give the supermarket chain exclusive rights to sell his greatest hits album last month. Following criticism in some quarters for doing what some consider a deal with the devil, Springsteen told the New York Times ahead of his appearance at this weekend's Superbowl: "It was a mistake. Our batting average is usually very good, but we missed that one. Fans will call you on that stuff, as it should be". Wal-Mart quickly released a statement on the matter, saying: "Millions of Springsteen fans have counted on Wal-Mart over the years to deliver his music into their lives, and we it will continue to offer those fans this 'Greatest Hits' exclusive and his other popular albums at unbeatable prices. We are proud of the good jobs, benefits and career opportunities we provide to more than 1.4 million US associates who choose to work at Wal-Mart and serve our customers every day". -------------------------------------------------- WINEHOUSE BURGLED, GIVES PARENTS CASH VETO Because, yes, with Amy Winehouse famously sunning herself in the Caribbean, and her famous Camden flat therefore unoccupied, thieves last week seized on the opportunity to nick her stuff. Neighbours called police to the property in the early hours of Thursday morning, after two men were seen kicking the door in. Police confirmed on Friday that they had been called to Winehouse's flat and had found that property had been stolen from it. A spokesman said that "a number" of items had already been recovered, but would not give further details, except to say that "the premises were secured and are now being forensically examined. The property was unoccupied". Winehouse's spokesman Chris Goodman said that the singer was "disappointed" at the break in but "relieved" that her favourite guitar was with her in St Lucia at the time. Elsewhere from the file marked 'Amy Winehouse's stuff', news that the singer has agreed to give her parents control over her estimated £15 million fortune in an arrangement that mirrors that that exists between Britney and her father (though that, of course, was originally court enforced, though Spears does seem to have since willingly supported the continuation of the set up). According to the Sunday Mirror, Amy will now not be able to spend her cash without first getting the permission off one of her parents, so mother Janis or father Mitch. The tab quotes a source thus: "Mitch convinced Amy she needs a safety valve for the money for her own good - to stop her doing anything rash or daft. She can be very impetuous and the family wanted to protect her. She cannot make a sudden decision. Everyone is pleased because it means Amy is listening to good advice. It's still her money and nobody else can touch it. It is evidence that Amy is really turning her life around". That news follows tabloid reports Winehouse was running up significant tabs in bars in St Lucia, mainly by buying loads of strangers drinks. -------------------------------------------------- KEITH MOON TO GET LONDON PLAQUE According to the Independent, the plaque will be put up by a body called the Heritage Foundation, who exist to pay tribute to entertainment greats, with the permission of Westminster City Council, after English Heritage, who normally do the plaques, seemed lukewarm to the idea of commemorating Moon, allegedly because they were concerned about being seen to celebrate the drummer's legendary hell-raising (though they say there are strict criteria for how historic you should be to get a plaque, and Moon simply doesn't fulfil them). The Heritage Foundation's David Graham told the Indie: "Keith has been overlooked but was such a character - you don't get characters like him any more. We were delighted to organise a plaque for Keith, and the Marquee is the perfect place because it was at the centre of the rock gigs in London". BRITNEY GETS RESTRAINING ORDER AGAINST FORMER MANAGER AND EX -------------------------------------------------- NEWS ORGANISATIONS JOIN CALLS FOR P2P CASE TO BE WEBCAST As previously reported, Harvard professor Charles Nesson has proposed that an upcoming court hearing relating to the RIAA's P2P filesharing lawsuit against Boston University student Joel Tenenbaum be webcast, and the judge presiding over the case has backed the proposals. The RIAA, though, is appealing that decision to let the case be webcast. But fourteen news organisations have now put their name to a document calling on the court that will hear the RIAA's appeal to allow the webcast to go ahead. Among the US news agencies and papers who are backing the proposals are the Associated Press, The New York Times and NBC Universal, the latter of which is, amusingly, part owned by Vivendi, owners of Universal Music, one of the majors the RIAA will represent in the court case. The new agencies' court paper says: "It is hard to imagine a hearing more deserving of public scrutiny through the same technological medium that is at the heart of this litigation". As previously pondered, while US copyright law in theory favours the record companies in file sharing litigation, when cases go to court the record labels' cases against illegal file sharers can get caught up in all sorts of technicalities. With the RIAA now moving away from suing individual file sharers, it could do without the PR trauma of one last high profile case. It's possible Nesson, who is advising Tenenbaum on his case, hopes the RIAA will drop their lawsuit rather than have the case considered in court in front of the whole internet. EWEN TO REPRESENT UK AT EUROVISION Ewen beat rivals Mark Evans and The Twins in the final stage of the 'Your Country Needs You' talent show this weekend. The public's choice was backed by Lloyd Webber, who added that: "The Eurovision show started Abba, it started Riverdance and it's going to start the career of this incredibly talented young woman". I'm assuming Ewen is sensible enough to realise that Eurovision has killed the careers of a great many more singers than it has helped, but who knows, she could be the next, erm, Gina G? COLDPLAY BEGIN SESSIONS SANS-MARTIN ELBOW TO RELEASE SELDOM SEEN LIVE ALBUM Pre-orders are currently being taken for copies of 'The Seldom Seen Kid Live At Abbey Road', which comes with a CD and DVD of the entire show, all wrapped up in a very nice-looking box. Only a limited number of copies of the album will be pressed and they will only ever be available from the band's website at www.elbow.co.uk. So, I'd advise you get yourself over there sharpish. NOTORIOUS WRITER TO SCRIPT RUN-DMC FILM Dallas Jackson, president of DJ Classicz, the company producing the film, told Hollywood Reporter: "It's an extraordinary rags-to-riches journey that I'm eager to bring to the screen. And I'm hoping to have Run, DMC and Russell Simmons' involvement. This will be a big movie about the 1980s hip hop movement that took over the world". MOGWAI TO HEADLINE FIELD DAY Headlining this year's event, which takes place in Victoria Park in Hackney on 1 Aug, will be Mogwai. They will be joined by Four Tet, former Arab Strap man Malcolm Middleton, James Yorkston, Apes & Androids, Errors and Skream, with more to be announced over the coming months. I can't wait. Tickets are available now and cost almost nothing. Go to www.fielddayfestivals.com for more info. -------------------------------------------------- KINGS TO HEADLINE T -------------------------------------------------- CONNECT TO TAKE YEAR OFF -------------------------------------------------- SOME GREAT ESCAPE BANDS ANNOUNCED -------------------------------------------------- COACHELLA LINE UP ANNOUNCED ALBUM REVIEW: Woodpigeon - Treasury Library Canada (End Of The Road) Buy from iTunes DYLAN TRACK TO APPEAR IN CO-OP ADVERT The Co-op Group is, of course, known for spearheading ethical trading in both the supermarket and certainly the banking sectors. Confirming they had licensed the retailer the song, the MD of Columbia Records UK, Mike Smith, told reporters: "It is rare for Bob Dylan to license his recordings to TV ads, the decision to do so with the Co-operative and 'Blowin In The Wind' shows a willingness to embrace fresh ways of reaching a new audience through an ethical and fair trade organisation". The Co-op's marketing boss Patrick Allen added: "When we put the ad together we were astounded that no-one had ever used 'Blowin In The Wind' in this context before. We felt the sentiments expressed in Dylan's masterpiece summed up the optimism we have for the Co-operative, so when Columbia Records told us Dylan had agreed we were delighted". So, well done Dylan for picking an ethical brand partner. Though he's licensed a song to Pepsi in the US. I can't remember whether they're good or evil. Though, give me a can of Pepsi over a can of Coke any day of the week. Especially Tuesdays. -------------------------------------------------- PUMPKINS' HYUNDAI SONG AVAILABLE FOR DOWNLOAD And now some nonsense about the ad campaign the song soundtracks from Hyundai US's marketing man Joel Ewanick: "The combination of Hyundai's exciting new Genesis Coupe matched with music performed by Smashing Pumpkins offers the perfect 'kick-off' to Super Bowl advertising. From rock to classical, our Genesis Coupe ads demonstrate the two personalities of the car, which was designed for all types of driving enthusiasts". EMI LOSSES DOWN IN 2008 Not sure why they've taken to now to tell us, but whatever, revenues for the major music company were up 10% to £737 million for the half year, while profits from sales before tax were up a massive 202% to £130 million, with even the major's previously loss making recordings division making a profit. Hurrah. That said, overall the Group made a loss for the period, mainly because of on going restructuring costs, though even that fact had a positive spin - overall losses were down on the previous year. The financial report doesn't offer much information on what were the big earners were in terms of artists, though both Coldplay and Katy Perry albums are name checked as "major global successes". Commenting on the results, EMI boss Elio Leoni-Sceti, who joined the major after the period in question, said: "EMI music is starting the process of recovery and has made some important strides forward on its route to success". -------------------------------------------------- AMAZON SALES UP -------------------------------------------------- AEG LIVE BOSS SAYS HE'S NOT GOING ANYWHERE -------------------------------------------------- FREEMAN LAUNCH DIGITAL DIVISION NAPSTER LAUNCH NEW VERSION, MORE WEBBY Look, here's what Napster's VP of Sales & Marketing, Thorsten Schliesche, has to say: "Napster's mission has always been to enable consumers to explore and share the world of music as simply as possible. The introduction of Napster 4.6 with its optimised user interface and exciting new features offers music fans endless possibilities to enjoy their favourite music at anytime and wherever they are". The second incarnation of Napster was, of course, one of the first legit download services, though one that primarily pushed its all-music-while-you-pay-your-monthly-fee subscription packages opposed to iTunes' pay-per-track downloads, a model which is still of niche interest. The company behind the service was bought by US retailer Best Buy last year. -------------------------------------------------- SPOTIFY INTRODUCE SOME RESTRICTIONS ON CONTENT ACCESS The newish ad-funded free streaming service that provides music via an iTunes-style player has had to put some new restrictions in place regarding track availability in different countries. Currently users in all the European countries where the Sweden-based Spotify operates can access the service's whole catalogue, but because of the confusing nature of the way music is licensed to digital services in Europe, some tracks shouldn't be accessible in some territories. Spotify have said they are switching on various restrictions to make sure they stick to the restrictions of their licence. Doing so will have an impact to a certain extent on the playlist sharing element of the service, because if users access playlists compiled by counterparts in other countries they may not be able to access all the songs selected. Confirming the new restrictions were going into place, a Spotify rep blogged last week: "Unfortunately we are going to be removing a number of songs from our catalogue and adding country restrictions to some tracks, which may make them unplayable for you. These [licensing] restrictions are a legacy from when most music was sold on tapes and CDs and they have continued over into streaming music. Our hope is that one day restrictions like this will disappear for good". ABBEY FM GOES OFF AIR CHART UPDATE Meanwhile, Alesha Dixon moves into the top ten, up to six from 13, and Jason Mraz just missed out, moving from 22 to 11. On the new entry front, the winner of Channel 4's Orange Unsigned Act, Tommy Reilly makes a commendable entry into the chart at 14 with his first single, 'Gimme A Call', and there are some more notable jumps from outside the top 40 (although none as large as Lily's), with Shontelle moving from 43 to 25 with 'T-Shirt', The Fray moving from 45 to 35 with 'You Found Me', The Pussycat Dolls hoisting themselves up to 36 from 110 with 'Whatcha Think About That' and The Airborne Toxic Event taking off from 183 and landing at 39 with 'Sometime Around Midnight'. And now, the album chart, where we have two new entries right at the very top. Franz Ferdinand go straight in at number two with their third album, 'Tonight: Franz Ferdinand', but they are kept off the top spot by old hand Bruce Springsteen, with his 472nd album, 'Working On A Dream'. Last week's number one, White Lies, slips to number eight in this week's chart, as people opt to buy the Donnie Darko soundtrack instead. Possibly. The rest of the album chart is dullness in extremis, except for a few notable movements. Alesha Dixon's second solo album (no really, she's done two), 'The Alesha Show' has reached its highest position to date, moving from 44 to 21. Rifles and Naturally 7 also make their debuts on the chart, landing at 27 and 29 respectively. And that is all. The chart is compiled like a stealthy fox by The Official Chart Company. And even when it's snowing. MORRISSEY'S RECORD MANHOOD MEASUREMENT -------------------------------------------------- 50 CENT COMES DOWN WITH A BAD CASE OF DIDDY Fiddy told New York Daily News: "When [my career] blew up, I developed the Diddy syndrome. As soon as you develop the Diddy syndrome, you put a little more grease in your hair, and soon enough, you're selling cologne". He added that he hoped to launch a new product "very soon". So, it doesn't look like he's anywhere near close to recovery at this stage. -------------------------------------------------- NO POP COMEBACK FOR GATES As you all know, the Pop Idol runner-up was signed to SonyBMG when the series finished, but was dropped following disappointing sales of his second album. He released a third album, 'Pictures Of The Other Side', through UMTV, but that faired even worse. Speaking about his pop career, Gates told The Daily Mail: "In truth, it wasn't as the artist I wanted to be for the rest of my life. I wanted to be happy with the music I was making - not feel a little bit embarrassed when it was on the radio". Gates is about to begin starring in 'Joseph And The Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat' in the West End. Asked if he would follow the role up with a new album, he said: "No. Maybe in the future I will. I'm just really pleased I've got this role. It's what I've wanted since I could sing. When I rang my dad to tell him I'd got the part, he said, 'I'm more happy about this than I was when you were in Pop Idol'. For him, it's really, really big". -------------------------------------------------- LADY GAGA TRIES TO CONFUSE MEN BY NOT BEING SEXY Anyway, she told The Daily Mail: "A girl's got to use what she's given and I'm not going to make a guy drool the way a Britney video does. So I take it to extremes. I don't say I dress sexily on stage - what I do is so extreme. It's meant to make guys think, 'I don't know if this is sexy or just weird'". |
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