| CMU Daily - on the inside 27 Nov 2002 |
|
In todays CMU Daily:
• Backstreet Boys sue their label,
• Music fans set up campaign to restore BBC London specialist shows,
• What the cool american kids think,
• Infection caused A singer to collapse on stage,
• Nas collaborates,
• Houston and Brown in court,
• Review: Snoop Dogg – Paid Tha Cost To Be The Boss,
• Suede join nobel gig line up,
• Artists awarded for online activity,
• Review: Dillinja - Live Or Die / South Manz,
• US judge backs action against Australian Napster,
• Americans vote for best DJ
------------------------------------------------
Which people are targeted in Guns ‘n’ Roses ‘Shotgun Blues’ and ‘Get In The Ring’?
Answer tomorrow
------------------------------------------------
WHATS THE BEST SINGLE AND ALBUM OF 2003
Vote now in the CMU chart of the year. Email your name, where you work / study and the name of your favourite single and album of 2003 to [email protected] – and look out for the chart of the year on 20 Dec.
------------------------------------------------
BACKSTREET BOYS SUE THEIR LABEL
The Backstreet Boys are suing their record company for $75million – they accuse Zomba label Jive (currently merging with BMG) of breach of contract, intentional interference with contract, trademark infringement and unfair competition. They want a cash pay out and to be released from their 1994 recording contract.
It seems the cause of the action is an agreement in November 1999 when the band committed to making two more albums for the label in return for a sizable advance. As part of the deal they were promised $5 million if they completed both albums before 30 Apr 2002. They missed the deadline, and the pay out, but the band claim that was down to delaying tactics on the part of the label. They say they received no support in terms of song or producer selection, and that the group's artistic suggestions were refused.
They claim one of the problems was that Jive was more concerned in releasing Nick Carter’s solo album than working with the group as a whole – something which meant Carter was "unable and unwilling" to participate in recording a new Backstreet Boys' album. Whether Carter himself resents his label concentrating on his solo projects is unclear – presumably his solo recordings will net him considerably more than his share of the $5 million.
In a statement the group said: "We are committed to the Backstreet Boys and we will protect our group from anybody or anything that tries to break us apart. We are disappointed that our longtime label Jive Records has attempted to irresponsibly exploit our group".
------------------------------------------------
MUSIC FANS SET UP CAMPAIGN TO RESTORE BBC LONDON SPECIALIST SHOWS
Music fans and independent labels in London have set up the Londumb campaign to lobby BBC London Live into restoring the popular specialist shows they have recently axed from their schedules. A string of shows essential for championing new artists, including those fronted by Ross Allen, Coldcut, Dr. Bob Jones, Kevin Le Gendre and Imran Khan, have all been or are about to be dumped, to be replaced by ubiquitous talks shows.
As part of the campaign, supporters for the axed shows will be staging a night of music (including Coldcut, Ross Allen, Dr Bob Jones and more) for the New Year, meanwhile Alison Wenham, chief executive of the Association of Independent Music is taking up the issue with BBC bosses and Culture Secretary, Tessa Jowell. Music fans who want to join the campaign will find more info at www.londumb.co.uk.
------------------------------------------------
WHAT THE COOL AMERICAN KIDS THINK
A new survey of American teenagers by US music retailer Sam Goody found that Justin is out, Avril is in, Eminem can act but Billy Bob Thornton can't sing.
In the survey of 600 teenagers 36% said that "garage punk bands" - Avril Lavigne, the Hives, White Stripes, the Strokes et al – are the next hot trend in music. Following the UK music scene, 20% reckon DJ remixes are going to be big too. 19% reckon both Eminem and Pink are here to stay. 38% reckoned Britney would have a long career, but Justin Timberlake wasn’t so popular – 72% said he should retreat to a desert island!
Those surveyed seemed to be suspicious of actors who become singers, but not of singers who go onto act. Eminem’s acting in ‘8 Mile’ got the thumbs up, Bill Bob Thornton’s music the thumbs down.
But it wasn’t all new acts who got the teenagers’ votes. When asked about classic rock 37% said they were listening to Led Zeppelin, 32 percent to the Beatles.
------------------------------------------------
INFECTION CAUSED A SINGER TO COLLAPSE ON STAGE
The official website of rockers A has confirmed that a bowel infection caused lead singer Jason Perry to collapse on stage at their Birmingham Academy gig last weekend. The infection cause an instant sever pain. After twenty minutes off stage he returned and completed the show sitting down. Up coming gig dates shouldn’t be affected.
------------------------------------------------
NAS COLLABORATES
Nas’ up coming album ‘God’s Son’ – out in the US on 17 Dec – will feature a host of the R&B and hip hop worlds’ finest. Eminem produces on ‘The Cross’, Alicia Keys sings on and co-produces ‘Warrior’ while Kelis joins in on ‘Hey Nas’. And in a collaboration from beyond the grave rapping from Tupac Shakur is included on ‘Thugz Mansion’.
The CD will come complete with access to a secure website where fans will find a number of extras, including a "freestyle" version of ‘Thugz Mansion’, an instrumental version of ‘Made You Look’ and a behind-the-scenes look at the making of the ‘Made You Look’ video and the album photo shoot.
-----------------------------------------------
HOUSTON AND BROWN IN COURT
Whitney Houston and Bobby Brown were together in court on Monday to face a number of charges against Brown. The hearing was over 1996 driving and possession charges which Brown skipped at the time, but which he was forced to reface when he was arrested for new driving offences in Atlanta earlier this month. Brown’s lawyer asked the judge to dismiss the charges stemming from the 1996 arrest, saying that since it happened so long ago no one would remember what happened. Needless to say the judge didn’t buy their case and ordered Brown to return to court on 21 Jan to face the charges.
------------------------------------------------
REVIEW: Snoop Dogg – Paid Tha cost To Be The Boss (EMI/Capitol)
Whether a contradiction, or just a display of the two sides of Snoop’s personality, this album demonstrates the aggressive bitch-slappin gangsta-killin hood, as well as the righteous monogamous new man, in Snoop. The rhymes and flows seem unremarkable, though Snoops sleazy style will always be enough to ingratiate him with the heads. The best thing about the album isn’t the collaborations with Pharrell, Latoya Williams, Redman, Nate Dogg, Redman, Ludacris or any of the other ghetto supa-stars featured; it’s production: the 20 tracks feature the Neptunes, Hi-Tek and Gangstarr’s DJ Premiere. Snoop’s own penchant for P-funk still comes through strong with George Clinton’s influence cropping up in various forms. There is also a smooth groove side to the album with tracks like ‘Ballin’ that features the Dramatics. A great hiphop album that shows a a readiness to move forward and a development in Snoop’s style. Just great. JG
Release date: 9 Dec
Press contact: [CP, CR, RR, NR]: EMI IH [RP, NP]: Zzonked
------------------------------------------------
SUEDE JOIN NOBEL GIG LINE UP
Suede are the latest act to be added to the bill of the gig to follow the awarding of the Nobel Peace Prize to former US President Jimmy Carter. According to the NME the band, who enjoy considerable popularity in Norway, have been asked to appear at the 11 Dec date in Oslo. They will appear alongside Willie Nelson, Santana and Royksopp, and speeches from the likes of Anthony Hopkins and Jessica Lange set to present.
-----------------------------------------------
ARTISTS AWARDED FOR ONLINE ACTIVITY
Another awards ceremony? Oh yes. The first ever Interactive Music Awards, which honours artists for their online activity, took place in the BT Tower yesterday. It was something of a pop fest - Westlife won the People's Choice award, Blue got artist of the year and Darius won best pop artist.
Despite the pop winners, it was Mr Chuck D, a longtime supporter of using the net for music distribution, who presented the awards.
Other winners at the awards included Supergrass, who won in the best rock/indie artist category, The Streets who picked up best urban/ dance artist, and BMG who won best label. Shazam, the service which can recognise tracks over your mobile phone, picked up a best innovation awards.
-----------------------------------------------
REVIEW: Dillinja - Live or Die / South Manz (Valve Recordings)
Dillinja and Lemon D’s label follows up from the awesome summer album project ‘Big Bad Bass’ with two new tracks. ‘Live or Die’ starts with old school style breakdown before kicking in some hard trademark beats. It’s very well done and is a club killer for sure. ‘South Manz’ is a pretty bog standard Valve cut with male vocal ‘bassline rollin’ inside the venue’ - a tightly crafted roller but nothing brilliant. PV
Release date: 9 Dec
Press contact: Valve IH @ 020 8853 4900 [all]
------------------------------------------------
US JUDGE BACKS ACTION AGAINST AUSTRALIAN NAPSTER
US District Judge Stephen Wilson looks likely to give US music and film companies the right to sue the parent company of file-swapping service Kazaa under US copyright laws, even though they’re based in Australia. “I would be inclined to find there's jurisdiction against Sharman," Wilson said, “because so many Californians took advantage of the service”.
Kazaa’s owners are pleading a similar case to Napster – that they cannot be held responsible if the public use their file swapping facilities for non-legitimate reasons. But the thought of defending that line in the US courts where Napster met its demise can’t be good news.
After the judges comments prosecution lawyer Carey Ramos added: "It shows you cannot escape US justice by setting up shop outside the United States."
------------------------------------------------
AMERICANS VOTE FOR BEST DJ
BPM Culture Magazine and www.djmixed.com are about to begin their survey for America’s favourite DJ. American music fans can vote for their favourite DJ at the website – the winners will be announced in the magazine’s March edition. Last year Paul Oakenfold topped the US poll.
------------------------------------------------
DURST SETTLES OUT OF COURT
Limp Bizkit's Fred Durst has settled his $5 million lawsuit filed by lighting technician Connie Paulson who claimed Durst hit her and broke her nose when she worked on the band’s 200 tour. No details of the settlement have been released, Paulson’s lawyer simply saying: "It's a confidential settlement, and they're going on with their lives."
In the suit Paulson claimed Durst had a "fit of rage" and threw a microphone that hit her in the face as she was dismantling lights after a concert in Birmingham, Alabama. She suffered a broken nose, two black eyes and a broken front tooth.
------------------------------------------------
Answer to Tuesday's pop quiz:
Which rocker from Stoke had previous employment as a roadie for Jimi Hendrix and Pink Floyd?
Motorhead’s Lemmy