Friday, February 14, 2003

Happy V-Day to all! One love! Big shout out to my main squeeze, hold'n it down in my heart, my one and only ride or die chick-- Margaret Kranyak. thanks for being my wifey, boo!

So much love, so little time. Only headlines today, but all the stories are worth taking a peak at.

• 30 Congressmen Urge FCC To Maintain Ownership Rules
  
• Viacom Set To Seek More US Acquisitions
  
• CNN-ABC News Merger Talks Declared Over (thank goodness!)
  
• Police Recover Apparent Beatles Tapes (this time from the Abbey Road and The Beatles (White Album) sessions
  
• EMI Looks to Buy Warner Music (Holy cow! Though the stocks of both AOLTW and EMI are in the crapper, so financing the deal will take some finesse.)
  
• The Dead, James Brown, The Roots, The Allman Brothers Among Acts At 2003 Bonaroo Festival
  
• Big Music's Broken Record
  The recording industry keeps repeating that file-sharing is ruining CD sales. If it looked for some other reasons, it would find lots of them
  
• RBL Posse Member Hitman Gunned Down (You youngstas should download "Don't Gimme No Bammer Weed" and pump that shit to show some respect.)
  

I'll be off on Monday and will resume publishing on Tuesday. See you then!
posted by Randy on 3:10 PM | permanent link to this entry

Thursday, February 13, 2003

• Music Industry Targets Workplace Downloaders
  The International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI), a global trade group representing the major music labels, said it had begun issuing brochures to thousands of companies spelling out the legal and technological dangers of giving employees access to online file-sharing networks. Here's the IFPI brochure, if you want to know what your company's legal department read before they cut off your access to file sharing programs. Of course, it basically says "any audio files on your company's computers are illegal"-- it doesn't even spell out that a worker could've legally ripped their CDs or downloaded MP3s with the permission of the rights holders.
  
  
• 50 Cent Slams Into Albums Chart With Record-Breaking Debut LP
  Once again shattering the music industry's contention that file trading kills sales, 50 Cent's heavily bootlegged and downloaded Get Rich or Die Trying will top the Billboard Albums Chart, according to SoundScan figures released Wednesday (February 12). He moved more than 872,000 copies.
  
  
• Music Site Will Burn Profit to Lure Subscribers
  Listen.com's Rhapsody service will begin selling downloads for 49 cents per track in an effort to get customers to sign up. though it will only last for six weeks.
  
  
• Sony Sues Incubus, Demands Four More Albums
  I sue you, you sue me, then we settle for higher royalty rates and the lawyers still get more money than either of us. The music industry is just too wack for words, I tells ya'.
  
  
• Artists Salute Dylan's Inspirational Albums
  On March 25, Columbia Records will release Gotta Serve Somebody: The Gospel Songs of Bob Dylan an 11-track tribute to two of Bob Dylan's worst albums: 1979's Slow Train Coming and 1980's Saved. Dylan himself will appear on the album, performing "Gonna Change My Way of Thinking" with Mavis Staples.
  
  
• Who Turned America's Best TV Show Into A Cartoon?
  Very good piece in Slate citing the numerous reasons why when it coems to "The Simpsons", the old grey mare just ain't what she used to be. Still, it is better than most other shows on network tv today-- but everyone knows it hasn't been truly awesome for years now. They've already released Season One and Season Two on DVD with lots of commentary, I wonder if a) they'll actually ever get around to releasing all the seasons on DVD and b) if the commentary from the latter-day seasons will recognize that the show isn't what it used to be.
  
  
• Music To Score By
  Another good piece in Slate today-- this one looking at how music is selected to play at sports events. Well worth reading, even if you're like me and don't give a darn about sports.
  
  
• Tim Alexander Selling Old Drum Kit
  Hey there Primus fans, you can now own the drum kit Tim Alexander used when recording 1996's Tales From The Punchbowl. The headline link above will take you to his eBay auction, where it currently is up to $565.00.
  
  
• Tenacious D Heading To Silver Screen
  Where they belong, of course. "The specific story line of the "Tenacious D" film is being kept under wraps, but it is said to be a "creation" story revolving around how the duo became the greatest band on Earth." If you have yet to be blessed by the D, get your late pass and pick up their debut album by clicking here
  

posted by Randy on 12:48 PM | permanent link to this entry

Wednesday, February 12, 2003

• The Village Voice Pazz & Jop Poll
  The yearly poll of rock critics is out and they've selected Wilco's Yankee Hotel Foxtrot as 2002's album of the year and Missy Elliott's "Work It" as the single of the year. In case you missed it, you can read my top 10 of 2002 by clicking here.
  
  
• 'Idol' contestant booted for working for adult Web site
  Frenchie Davis, the best singer of the whole dam lot of them, was taken out of the "American Idol" competition becuase she worked for an adult website four years ago. That's really crazy-- wasn't everyone working for an adult web site four years ago? It was the thing to do! Perhaps I've said too much. Anyway, even with the little exposure she's had, she's already made such an impression that she'l land on her feet somewhere. Another Idol finalist, Jaered Andrews, was replaced earlier for undisclosed reasons-- but word on the street was becuase he had been a member of alt-rap group Ordinary Peoples.
  
  
• Ex-Manson Bassist Twiggy Ramirez Joins A Perfect Circle
  With Paz Lenchantin now playing bass in Zwan, former Marilyn Manson bassist Twiggy Ramirez will now fill her slot in A Perfect Circle.
  
  
• Red Hot Chilli Peppers Spring/Summer 2003 Tour
  May 1-19 with Queens of the Stone Age and Mars Volta. June 2 - 21 with Snoop Dogg and Mars Volta. More dates and other acts to be announced. Maybe it's just be but, RHCP & Snoop Dogg sounds like an incredible bill-- 9 years ago. But we're coming up on a decade since that incredible mid-90s music explosion (gangsta rap & grunge), so I suppose a nostalgia trip is in order (see also, Lollapalooza's comeback.)
  

posted by Randy on 11:51 AM | permanent link to this entry

Tuesday, February 11, 2003

• Pressplay Signs Deal With Indie Labels
  You can now find recordings from Palm, Ubiquity, Rykodisc/Ryko Label Group, DreamWorks Records and Sub Pop on the PressPlay net music service. It still isn't as good as the free services, but they're getting closer.
  
  
• Lollapalooza Targets 28 Cities; Electronic Artists Not Invited
  Well, it's official. Jane's Addiction, Audioslave, Incubus, Queens of The Stone Age and Jurassic 5 will anchor this year's Lollapalooza tour. Alegedly, more main stage acts will be announced and we have yet to hear about second stage acts-- though those are supposed to be forthcoming as well.
  
  The articles above says the organizers saw the luke-warm response to Moby's "Area" festivals as a sign that electronica fans are tough to get to come out summer ampitheatre shows. When I went to "Area: Two," the DJ tents were always busy-- I can't see why Lollapalooza wouldn't do the same thing. But I am in San Francisco-- maybe places like Milwaukee and St. Louis don't get down like we do.
  
  
• Weezer Hitting Studio To Rework Old Songs, Record Covers
  Old Weezer songs done acoustically or with an orchestra? Covers of Skeeter Davis and Harry Nilsson? Sign me up! Alas, no release date set in stone, as recording has just started.
  
  
• Music Choice Celebrates Black History Month With: "The History Of Hip Hop"
  Music Choice is broadcasting audio documetaries about the history of hip-hop to celebrate black history month. I've already missd the first art, but here are the air dates for the next two parts:
  "The Pioneers of the Mid-80s" will air on Feb. 12th at 11:00pm (ET).
  "The Golden Era 1986-1989" will air on Feb. 15th at 10:00am (ET) and Feb. 19th at 11:00pm (ET).
  "The 90s" will air on Feb. 22nd at 10:00am (ET) and Feb. 26th at 11:00 pm (ET).
  All show will air on MusicChoice's "Showcase" channel.
  
  
• Pepsi Boycott Averted
  Go on, drink all the Pepsi you want. Russell Simmons, Pepsi and The Ludacris Foundation have agreed to a multi-year, multi-million dollar partnership to support music and arts initiatives by Rush Arts in underpriveledged communities. Click here to read about the original reasons behind the (almost) boycott of Pepsi.
  
  
• VH1 Greenlights Robust Slate Of Divas-in-Training, Rockin' Cars, Hip-Hop Stars, Pop Icons And Karaoke Dreamers
  Peep the above link for info about what is coming soon to VH-1 Selected highlights:
  
  -"Destination Diva: The Search for a Superstar"-- An "American Idol"- rip-off focusing exclusively on quote-unquote "divas."
  -"Karaoke Dreams"-- "[A] documentary special follows the lives of six of America's most passionate karaoke performers -- cutthroat competitors on a quest for the crooning crown of karaoke."
  -"Hip-Hop Babylon"-- Trqces the ups and downs of hip-hop history. So many interesting stories to tell, I hope it is doen well.
  -"Top 50 Hip-Hop Artists"-- My question: why only 50? All their other specials list 100 items. You could easily add another 50 to whatever VH1 comes up with, but I suppose profiles of "lesser" artists wouldn't exactly burn up the ratings.
  
  
• Grassroots Superstars O.A.R. Pacts With Lava Records
  I'm sort of amazed they did this. They've got a lot of love in the "jam band" scene and have sustained themselves through touring and tape trading. I suppose they are looking for Dave Matthews Band-level of success. I wish them the best of luck and hope they don't get screwed by associating with a major label (Lava Records is a division of Atlantic Records.
  
  
• Spiritualized Retrospective Due In Stores March 18
  Click the above link for the full tracklisting of Spiritualized's The Complete Works, Vol. 1, a 2 disc set including a few "b-side versions" and instrumentals. And then click here to pre-order it, you crazy "space rock" freak.
  
  
• Ben Harper To Release New Album Diamonds On The Inside Tuesday March 11th
  Ben Harper's fifth studio album will feature Ladysmith Black Mambazo on a song called "Pictures of Jesus" Pre-order Diamonds On The Inside by clicking here.
  

posted by Randy on 1:14 PM | permanent link to this entry

Monday, February 10, 2003

• Web Radio Royalty Debate Resumes
  Here we go again. Web radio operators and music industry representatives must brief the Copyright Office by March 5 on their efforts to hammer out a compromise on royalty payments. If the negotiations are unsuccessful, the Copyright Office will restart the process to establish the royalties that "webcasters" must pay to artists and record labels. The last deal expired at the end of last year, so that's why we're in this boat again. Contact your representatives to let 'em know that setting high webcast royalty rates and leaving broadcasting in the hands of major media corporations is cultural suicide.
  
  
• Clear Channel's Concert Unit Isn't Living Up to Its Billing
  The L.A. Times reports that Clear Channel's purchase of mega-concert promoter SFX has turned out to be not as profitable as they had hoped. Basically, they over-payed for SFX and then were hurt by the slumping economy and bad marketing choices. Right now, the y are not looking to sell, which is a bummer to those of us who want to see them go down in flames.
  
  
• Instant live CDs of a concert? Testing to begin in Boston
  Coming soon, possibly-- buy a copy of the concert you just saw on the way out the door. Nice idea, but many artists are very particular about the quality of performences they release, so there may be some severe quality control discussions to be had here.
  
  
• AOL's Jekyll and Hyde Act
  There's a lot of interesting things in this Salon story about the Digital Millennium Copyright Act and the fight by the R.I.A.A. to make ISPs turn over the identifying information of subscribers who are sharing files. th emost interesting thing to me is that the writers turns AOL Time Warner's lack of comment (as a major media company and a major ISP) into some big hullabaloo. It seems very clear to me that they're just waiting it out and seeing where the cards fall. In the super-duper long run, media will be distrubted over the internet and AOL will be situated just fine to do it leagally and for a profit. All this legal manuvering in the meantime would just be a waste of their money.
  
  
• Madonna Box Set Will Mark 20th Anniversary Of Her First LP
  There are no details available yet as to what will be on the boxed set, but I don't know what more people are gonna want aside from what is already avialbale on her already released greatest hits albums The Immaculate Collection and GHV2. Perhaps a gaggle of remixes and unreleased tracks. She also working on a new album called American Life with Music co-producer Mirwais Ahmadzai, though it does not currently have a release date.
  
  
• L.A. Rapper Makes Muslim Pilgrimage
  Napoleon, a member of gangsta rap posse Tha Outlawz has become a muslim and his headed for Mecca to make his pilgrimage. Actually, he's been a Muslim for two years-- but I still find it notable considering his career output. ' "I don't regret nothing in my past," Beale said in Saturday's Los Angeles Times. "People respect me more because of it. It shows that only God can humble someone like me." ' Cop your copy of 2Pac & The Outlawz's Still I Rise by clicking here.
  
  
• Music Industry Unveils Net Sales Tracking Tag
  The Global Release Indentifier, or GRid, is a code akin to the Universal Product Code (UPC) bar code found on a CD or cassette tape in stores. The aim is to track each time a record label, online retailer or distributor sells a song in the form of a Web stream or download-- for royalty and sales reporting purposes only.
  
  
• DJ Book for Children, "Turntable Timmy"
  Free Will Press has just released their new hip-hop children's book, Turntable Timmy It is the story of a young boy who is determined to become the youngest DJ champion in history It is illustrated by "Wavetwisters" animator, Doug Cunningham, and also feature an exclusive CD with three tracks from DJ-Q-Bert. Pick up your copy of Turntable Timmy by clicking here.
  

posted by Randy on 12:37 PM | permanent link to this entry