Archive for the ‘News’ Category

The NY Times posted a great feature on the upcoming music video from West. Here’s what they had to say:

In a coming video for his single “Power” that was created by the artist Marco Brambilla, Mr. West is seen standing imposingly with a heavy chain around his neck. As Mr. West raps the camera slowly zooms out in one continuous, unedited take to reveal him in a classical structure, surrounded by female attendants who are partly or entirely nude; some kneel before him on all fours, others wear devil horns and still others are suspended upside down from the ceiling. The Sword of Damocles hangs precariously over Mr. West’s head, and behind him an unseen executioner is preparing to strike him with a blade. (ArtsBeat was allowed to watch a portion of this video but was not permitted to post it.)

Marco Brambilla continues:

It’s kind of apocalyptic, in a very personal way. It had this very dark, personal conflict within it. Because of his own concept of celebrity and his own notoriety, he’s keenly self-aware of all these things. And it all came out in the music. It’s a very exaggerated hyper-sensational version of what the song is saying. But at the same time. It has this fallibility to it. Because built into the story is that there is an ultimate fallibility, in bringing someone back down to earth at the end of the piece. That kind of contradiction, hopefully, will create the tension within it.”

Over the weekend, M.I.A. had a show at HARD Fest here in NYC, which, apparently, wound up sucking horribly. A mix of rain and a terrible performance pretty much killed the show. Well, she tweeted that she would be throwing a free show to make up for the performance:

fuck it! im gonna do a free show in nyc when i get back, tho i dont have powers over rain! if u still have the hard ticket u free! if u do me a lil dance , ill let u in too! xxxo

If interested, I would stay tuned, because I’m sure if it actually goes down, there will be free tickets given out to a lot more people than just those who have HARD Fest stubs.

Ya know, if you wanna put a good twist on his constant convictions, at least he has something to rap about for the next like, two decades. Here’s what TMZ has to say about the newest stint in jail:

TMZ has learned X’s jail stint all stems from a 2002 reckless driving conviction. Turns out, DMX was placed on probation after he plead no contest to the crime … but has since violated his probation … and has been ordered to serve 90 days in a city jail facility.

P Diddy has been reported to owe New York City almost $1 million for illegally plastering promotional posters throughout Manhattan.

According to the New York Daily News, the mogul, who is facing a $996,000 bill, is among the thousands of “people and companies” that collectively owe $1.9 billion to the city of New York.

A graph makes everything a little bit easier to take in, doesn’t it? Billboard just posted a new article on how artists are not taking the initiative to create as much label-released music anymore.

The graph says a few things: album sales don’t necessarily correlate to people not buying music, but that actual label-signed music artists are being cut drastically – or are being signed and never dropping music via the label.

The trickle down effect extends to labels physically sending out albums to stores. The lack of shipment then affects CD stores, quality releases and actual artists putting out music then affects the stores, hence making them shut down.

But we already knew all that, right?

p.s. anyone remember The Wall cd store?

There was some intitial unfounded speculation about this, but the label’s founder has confirmed. Bizzy Bone’s upcoming album is a fusion of hip-hop and rock, featuring appearances from Danny Worsnop of Asking Alexandria, Devin Oliver of I See Stars, Jonny Craig of Emarosa and many more. I just can’t imagine Bizzy Bone’s vocals over rock-laced instrumentals…at all…

Here’s what Sumerian Records found Ash Avildsen had to say about the signing/album:

“It’s true and the album is incredible! Anyone who has closely followed the label knows that we have never been one dimensional in the bands we have signed and the records we have released. While we have been making a meaningful impact on the current state of heavy music, the true theme to Sumerian has always been about progressive music, not just metal. Bizzy Bone is one of the most progressive vocalists I have ever heard! Known in his genre for being the fastest yet the most melodic, the most technical yet the most harmonic, the marks Bizzy has left in music are something I will always love. The fact that Bizzy and Bone Thugs all booked one way Greyhound tickets to LA and lived on the streets until they were able to get discovered and signed is true artist dedication to their craft. This same spirit is something that has allowed many Sumerian bands to organically build their careers and achieve their dreams.”

Take this lightly because it hasn’t been confirmed, but E! has said their source says it’s going down in Eminem & Rihanna’s “Love the Way You Lie” video. It actually seems so random that no one would think to make it up if they didn’t have credibility, though:

Dominic Monaghan is set to appear. Plans call for some rather steamy sequences between D.M. and Megan Fox. “It gets really intense,” a source says.The source said Fox and Monaghan would shoot their scenes later this week in Los Angeles.

Via E!

It’s never a good idea to mix business with pleasure, and it looks like Swizzy is trying to get involved with Alicia’s career just days after the announcement of the parting of her long-time manager. Good luck with that right there.

Over the past few weeks, Its been pretty tense in house. Swizz Beatz has been there and has been taking a pretty active role of being a manager. He has been pitching her to people and he’s becoming very vocal in the direction of her career”.

According to another source, Alicia Keys also axed her entire glam squad. “Swizz Beatz is trying to remove anyone from the team that appears to be a threat because of his own insecurities” says the source.

The source also reveals that no one approved of Alicia’s relationship with Swizz Beatz because of the drama and baggage that revolve around the relationship. “Some are questioning his motives“. Case in point, Swizz Beatz pushed for the release of “Put It In A Love Song” featuring Beyonce even though the song received mediocre reviews.

Via NB

Not that they ever really utilized the Fergie of the group for anything substantial. At least Pharrell isn’t kicking her to the curb.

Pharrell says his rap-rock trio “experimented” with an additional band mate, singer Rhea. Says Pharrell: “She needed her own band to do the kind of music that she does, which is R&B.”

The 37-year-old Pharrell is producing Rhea’s album. He says it is “turning out incredible.” Rhea performs with her band Jealous Lover.

Via Yahoo

Looks like investors aren’t too pleased with the service, since ticket sales are down about 12% and earnings are down significantly. How about not charging rape prices for shows and then adding on absurd fees? The ticket service “promises” prices will go down in 2011.

Yesterday, Live nation’s stock tumbled more than 16 percent, bringing the share price down to $10.19, which, coincidentally, is about half the price of an order fee on a Live Nation ticket.

Via

via New York Post

Sony Corp. has quietly started a preliminary search for a new chief of its Sony Music Entertainment division, according to several industry executives.

Current CEO Rolf Schmidt-Holtz, who guided the division to an increased market share in the first half of 2010, splits his time between Germany and the US, and Sony management is said to be looking for a chief who will be based full-time in the states, sources said.

Schmidt-Holtz’ contract runs through March 2011. Sources familiar with the preliminary search said the company has not ruled out standing pat and keeping him in charge.

Sony, whose stable of artists includes Sade and Alicia Keys, posted increased profits for the year ended March 31 and managed to pump up its market share for 2010′s first half — to 28.3 percent from 26.5 percent.

But the CEO’s critics say the improvement came mostly on sales of the Michael Jackson catalog following the pop star’s death and the success of overnight reality TV star Susan Boyle — not through any grand plan.

Third week in a row at #1 and still selling more than most artists do in their first week, including, unfortunately, Big Boi. Big Boi’s solo album is a great purchase, in my opinion, so check that out! Congrats on Em going platinum, Drake going gold!

The man behind the boards crafting hits for Beyonce, Lil Wayne, T.I., Eminem, etc., Jim Jonsin gets a renewed lease on life as EMI Music Publishing announces the extension of their co-publishing agreement with the Floridian based music producer.

Big Jon first signed me without having a song out and he signed our deal off of his vision and appreciation of great music! Loyalty is important to me. A strong relationship goes a long way – and with people like Big Jon Platt, Andrew Gould, and Roger Faxon, my decision was clear.
- Jim Jonsin

We’re all really excited here to be continuing our relationship with Jim Jonsin. From a personal perspective, I’m just happy to have watched his growth as a writer, a producer and an entrepreneur over the last few years. As well as being one of the hottest hit songwriters out there at the moment, he’s also one of the nicest guys working in the business, and it’s an honor to be able to work with him.
- Jon Platt (EMI Music Publishing President of North American Creative)

(source)

- C.A.

Hey Live Nation, why don’t you make ticket prices and fees a little more accessible to the masses so they would have to stop canceling tours because no one can afford to buy tickets for them. Via Pollstar:

Our Top 100 Tours for the first six months have a combined gross of $965.5 million, down $196.8 million, or 17 percent, from the same period one year ago. If you want to find a lower number you’ll have to go back to 2005 when the mid-year gross volume was $730.9 million.

Any other reasons you think tour $$ is down? What can ticket brokers and other means of touring do to help boost revenue for the second part of 2010?

Via NY Daily News:

The plug has been pulled on another free outdoor concert featuring Drake in New York City before the superstar rapper even stepped off the tour bus, the Daily News has learned.

ABC decided not to book the 23-year-old Canadian rapper for a July 16 show in Central Park after the NYPD told the city Parks Department that Parks’ security plan wasn’t up to snuff, Parks and police sources said.

The concert was going to be part of ABC’s “Good Morning America” summer concert series, which has already featured megastars Miley Cyrus, the Jonas Brothers and Alicia Keys.

“We were interested in having Drake perform, but he was never officially booked,” an ABC spokesperson said yesterday without elaborating.

A spokesperson for Drake confirmed there was a “booking in place,” but declined to comment further.

The Parks Department could not come up with the security staffing that the NYPD thought would be necessary for such an event, police sources said.

Via Yahoo News:

The rule change allows previous Grammy nominees to be eligible, as long as the artist hasn’t released an entire album and doesn’t win.

“More and more, the first release of a new artist is as a featured artist on someone else’s album or the new artist may release a single long before the release of his/her/their entire first album,” the Academy said in a statement.

“By current rules, if the other artist’s album or the new artist’s single receives a nomination, the new artist may never have the opportunity to compete in the best new artist category. With this change, each artist will have at least one opportunity to enter in this important and highly visible category.”