Jul 19
Prince album floods the net
[source: NME.com] Copies of Prince's Planet Earth album have flooded the internet after it came free with a UK paper on Sunday July 15.
The album is easily accessible to fans around the world, despite plans for a full commercial release in countries including the US. However, it is not being sold in record shops in the UK after a deal with distributors Sony BMG fell through.
Planet Earth was freely available to download after an estimated three million copies of the CD were distributed with the Mail On Sunday.
Hundreds of the CDs have also been put up for sale on auction site eBay.
The album is still due to be released on Tuesday July 24 in the US and Canada.
A blogger who posted the full album on the web wrote: "Seeing as it was free anyway… we decided to stick it up here for anyone who didn't get it.
"This seems to be the way forward. With music being free, the artists make their money from merchandising and touring and the digital revolution may yet be the downfall of major labels. No harm in our book!"
The move to give the CD away has angered members of the music industry.
A spokesperson for Sony BMG said: "The perception of intellectual property being 'free' is a problem we share with other business, including TV, radio, film, magazine, newspapers and gaming companies. At present, no action is being taken to remove files that I know of."
Prince is also set to give the album away to fans attending one of his 21 concerts at London's O2 Arena next month.
Prince said: "It's direct marketing and I don't have to be in the speculation business of the record industry, which is going through a lot of tumultuous times right now."
Mail On Sunday's editor Peter Wright said: "Prince has done this because he makes most of his money these days as a performing artist."
Wright confirmed the newspaper had paid to press and distribute the album, but hoped to make money by selling extra copies of the paper and extra advertising.
http://bigpondmusic.com/Artist/Prince.aspx
James Blunt in songwriting dispute
[source: NME.com] James Blunt has been caught in a songwriting dispute.
The singer faces a courtroom battle in a long running dispute over the authorship of six songs from 2005 album Back To Bedlam.
Lukas Burton, a Los Angeles producer, claims he co-wrote the tracks with Blunt. Due to the claims, royalty payments to the singer have been suspended since last year, according to The Independent.
Burton, who has worked with Paul McCartney and Dido, is seeking royalties for "Goodbye My Lover", "No Bravery", "Cry", "I Don't Believe", "I Really Want You" and "Don't Lose Yourself".
Blunt insists he wrote the songs for the huge-selling album either while serving as an officer with the British Army in Kosovo in 1999, at his flat in Bristol, or at his parents' home in Hampshire in early 1989.
The singer's publicist confirmed he and his publishing company EMI are asking the High Court to settle the dispute.
She said: "This is true. It is all a matter for the public record."
Writing on his blog, Burton said of Blunt's music: "His stuff was crude, occasionally laughably direct, and betrayed his relative lack of musicianship or discernible influence… it would probably be an overstatement to say that, in terms of his professional musical aspirations, James had nothing going on, but he definitely had next to nothing going on."
According to Burton, Blunt was ordered to sever all ties with him when he signed a new management deal.
"I simply couldn't believe that the universe was going to repay me with such abject treachery."
http://bigpondmusic.com/Artist/James-Blunt.aspx
Smashing Pumpkins discuss Paris Hilton collaboration
[source: NME.com] The Smashing Pumpkins have revealed how infamous heiress Paris Hilton appeared on the sleeve of new album Zeitgeist.
Pictures of Hilton appear on the inside cover of the reunited Pumpkins' first new album since 2000.
Frontman Billy Corgan said he took the photos of Hilton.
"The original idea was we were gonna see if Lindsay [Lohan], Britney [Spears] and Paris would all shoot… but I knew Paris personally and hung out with her a few times, and so I asked her… and God bless her, she came, she showed up at 10am on a Sunday morning, sat in the chair, got made up and I shot her," Corgan told MTV News.
http://bigpondmusic.com/Artist/The-Smashing-Pumpkins.aspx
http://bigpondmusic.com/Artist/Paris-Hilton.aspx
Gwen Stefani sues fashion label
[source: NME.com] Gwen Stefani is suing fashion label Forever 21.
The singer is at loggerheads with the company for trademark infringement of her Harajuku Lovers fashion line. She claims the clothing chain stole designs from her label.
In papers filed in Los Angeles Federal Court on Tuesday July 17, representatives for Stefanis's Harajuku Lovers claim Forever 21 is marketing, promoting and selling products featuring a design "virtually indistinguishable" from Harajuku's signature heart/box logo.
The lawsuit claims Forever 21 "changed a couple of words in the Heart Box trademark which are inconspicuous and likely to go unnoticed by a consumer".
Specifically, the lawsuit claims Forever 21 used the design but changed the word Harajuku to Forever and the word Lovers to Love.
As a result of the chain using a similar image, Harajuku has allegedly "suffered and continues to suffer damage to its business reputation".
http://bigpondmusic.com/Artist/Gwen-Stefani2.aspx
Ashlee Simpson pregnant and engaged to the Fall Out Boy?
Despite fervent denials on both sides, websites and tabloids in the US are reporting that Ashlee Simpson is pregnant and engaged to her latest boyfriend, Fall Out Boy lead singer/bassist Pete Wentz.
According to various sources, the couple reportedly decided to tie the knot shortly after the Live Earth concerts, held across the world on Saturday July 7. The same pals are reported as stating the "Boyfriend" singer is keeping mum on the subject to avoid leaking too many details to the media.
Simpson's publicist, however, claims it is "absolutely not true".
http://bigpondmusic.com/Artist/Fall-Out-Boy.aspx
http://bigpondmusic.com/Artist/Ashlee-Simpson.aspx
Shakira to battle child malnutrition
Colombian hip-shaker Shakira has teamed with Latin American organisation ALAS Foundation (Latin America in Solidarity Action) to help raise awareness for the fight against juvenile malnutrition and hunger.
The "Beautiful Liar" single will work on the AU$228million campaign and perform at concerts in Buenos Aires, Mexico City, Rio de Janeiro and New York City. "ALAS came about because of a social emergency," the singer said.
"350,000 children die each year due to avoidable causes, 40million children work and live on the streets. We want an active Latin America united for our children."
Money raised from the gigs will go towards joint initiatives with the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF).
http://bigpondmusic.com/Artist/Shakira.aspx
Mach Pelican call it quits
With more than 11 years under their belt, Japan-via-Australia punk rockers Mach Pelican have announced a farewell tour, deciding to put an end to their pop-punk history.
Starting next week, the band are about to embark on their final shows, hitting Perth, Adelaide, Sydney and Melbourne, where they'll play their adopted home, The Tote in Collingwood.
The band's final LP was 2006's Radio Action. The trio claimed personal differences and visa problems were behind the split.
Tour dates:
Friday July 27 – The Esplanade Hotel, Melbourne
Saturday July 28 – July Jive, Adelaide
Friday August 17 – Amplifier, Perth
Saturday August 18 – Hopetoun Hotel, Sydney
Monday August 27 – The Tote, Melbourne
http://bigpondmusic.com/Artist/Mach-Pelican.aspx
Spice Girls to film reunion documentary
Having recently announced their reunion show, UK supergroup Spice Girls are reportedly set to film a new documentary about their upcoming reunion shows.
According to BBC One controller Peter Fincham, Melanie Brown, Melanie Chisholm, Victoria Beckham, Emma Bunton and Geri Halliwell are working on a new song for UK charity Children In Need and will be filming rehearsals and recording for a British TV special.
"We've got full involvement from all of them," Fincham said. "They are all keen to get involved with Children In Need. They are recording two new songs and one of them might be a single."
Spice Girls are due to hit Australia with a concert taking place in Sydney on January 17.
http://bigpondmusic.com/Artist/Spice-Girls.aspx
Glenn Wheatley heading to the slammer
Glenn Wheatley, the manager of John Farnham and one-time manager of Delta Goodrem, was sentenced today to more than 15 months' prison for tax fraud.
It was during the Australia Tax Office's Operation Wickenby crack-down that Wheatley was discovered to owe over AU$300,000 in back charges, after not paying tax on the revenues earned from Farnham's Talk Of The Town tour and boxer Kostya Tszyu's 2003 fight against American Jesse James Leija in 2003 (the monies have since been paid back).
In 1968 Wheatley formed seminal rockers The Masters Apprentices, while he also managed Little River Band and created The Main Event tour, featuring Farnham, Olivia Newton-John and Anthony Warlow.
Wheatley is expected to appeal against the sentence.
http://bigpondmusic.com/Artist/John-Farnham.aspx
http://bigpondmusic.com/Artist/Olivia-Newton-John.aspx
http://bigpondmusic.com/Artist/Farnham-John-Newton-John-Olivia-Warlow-Anthony.aspx
The Stones set new record for banker gig
They've already the best paid band in the world and now legendary English rockers The Rolling Stones have earned a record AU$6.2million for a private show.
Currently touring Europe, Mick Jagger and bandmates played an 80-minute set for Deutsche Bank staff at the Catalan National Art Museum in Barcelona.
"Thank you for having us," Jagger told the crowd. "The best part is, it's coming out of your bonuses."
The Stones' current world tour has grossed more than $497million in the last 12 months, making it the most successful tour in history.
http://bigpondmusic.com/Artist/Rolling-Stones-The.aspx
[source: NME.com] Copies of Prince's Planet Earth album have flooded the internet after it came free with a UK paper on Sunday July 15.
The album is easily accessible to fans around the world, despite plans for a full commercial release in countries including the US. However, it is not being sold in record shops in the UK after a deal with distributors Sony BMG fell through.
Planet Earth was freely available to download after an estimated three million copies of the CD were distributed with the Mail On Sunday.
Hundreds of the CDs have also been put up for sale on auction site eBay.
The album is still due to be released on Tuesday July 24 in the US and Canada.
A blogger who posted the full album on the web wrote: "Seeing as it was free anyway… we decided to stick it up here for anyone who didn't get it.
"This seems to be the way forward. With music being free, the artists make their money from merchandising and touring and the digital revolution may yet be the downfall of major labels. No harm in our book!"
The move to give the CD away has angered members of the music industry.
A spokesperson for Sony BMG said: "The perception of intellectual property being 'free' is a problem we share with other business, including TV, radio, film, magazine, newspapers and gaming companies. At present, no action is being taken to remove files that I know of."
Prince is also set to give the album away to fans attending one of his 21 concerts at London's O2 Arena next month.
Prince said: "It's direct marketing and I don't have to be in the speculation business of the record industry, which is going through a lot of tumultuous times right now."
Mail On Sunday's editor Peter Wright said: "Prince has done this because he makes most of his money these days as a performing artist."
Wright confirmed the newspaper had paid to press and distribute the album, but hoped to make money by selling extra copies of the paper and extra advertising.
http://bigpondmusic.com/Artist/Prince.aspx
James Blunt in songwriting dispute
[source: NME.com] James Blunt has been caught in a songwriting dispute.
The singer faces a courtroom battle in a long running dispute over the authorship of six songs from 2005 album Back To Bedlam.
Lukas Burton, a Los Angeles producer, claims he co-wrote the tracks with Blunt. Due to the claims, royalty payments to the singer have been suspended since last year, according to The Independent.
Burton, who has worked with Paul McCartney and Dido, is seeking royalties for "Goodbye My Lover", "No Bravery", "Cry", "I Don't Believe", "I Really Want You" and "Don't Lose Yourself".
Blunt insists he wrote the songs for the huge-selling album either while serving as an officer with the British Army in Kosovo in 1999, at his flat in Bristol, or at his parents' home in Hampshire in early 1989.
The singer's publicist confirmed he and his publishing company EMI are asking the High Court to settle the dispute.
She said: "This is true. It is all a matter for the public record."
Writing on his blog, Burton said of Blunt's music: "His stuff was crude, occasionally laughably direct, and betrayed his relative lack of musicianship or discernible influence… it would probably be an overstatement to say that, in terms of his professional musical aspirations, James had nothing going on, but he definitely had next to nothing going on."
According to Burton, Blunt was ordered to sever all ties with him when he signed a new management deal.
"I simply couldn't believe that the universe was going to repay me with such abject treachery."
http://bigpondmusic.com/Artist/James-Blunt.aspx
Smashing Pumpkins discuss Paris Hilton collaboration
[source: NME.com] The Smashing Pumpkins have revealed how infamous heiress Paris Hilton appeared on the sleeve of new album Zeitgeist.
Pictures of Hilton appear on the inside cover of the reunited Pumpkins' first new album since 2000.
Frontman Billy Corgan said he took the photos of Hilton.
"The original idea was we were gonna see if Lindsay [Lohan], Britney [Spears] and Paris would all shoot… but I knew Paris personally and hung out with her a few times, and so I asked her… and God bless her, she came, she showed up at 10am on a Sunday morning, sat in the chair, got made up and I shot her," Corgan told MTV News.
http://bigpondmusic.com/Artist/The-Smashing-Pumpkins.aspx
http://bigpondmusic.com/Artist/Paris-Hilton.aspx
Gwen Stefani sues fashion label
[source: NME.com] Gwen Stefani is suing fashion label Forever 21.
The singer is at loggerheads with the company for trademark infringement of her Harajuku Lovers fashion line. She claims the clothing chain stole designs from her label.
In papers filed in Los Angeles Federal Court on Tuesday July 17, representatives for Stefanis's Harajuku Lovers claim Forever 21 is marketing, promoting and selling products featuring a design "virtually indistinguishable" from Harajuku's signature heart/box logo.
The lawsuit claims Forever 21 "changed a couple of words in the Heart Box trademark which are inconspicuous and likely to go unnoticed by a consumer".
Specifically, the lawsuit claims Forever 21 used the design but changed the word Harajuku to Forever and the word Lovers to Love.
As a result of the chain using a similar image, Harajuku has allegedly "suffered and continues to suffer damage to its business reputation".
http://bigpondmusic.com/Artist/Gwen-Stefani2.aspx
Ashlee Simpson pregnant and engaged to the Fall Out Boy?
Despite fervent denials on both sides, websites and tabloids in the US are reporting that Ashlee Simpson is pregnant and engaged to her latest boyfriend, Fall Out Boy lead singer/bassist Pete Wentz.
According to various sources, the couple reportedly decided to tie the knot shortly after the Live Earth concerts, held across the world on Saturday July 7. The same pals are reported as stating the "Boyfriend" singer is keeping mum on the subject to avoid leaking too many details to the media.
Simpson's publicist, however, claims it is "absolutely not true".
http://bigpondmusic.com/Artist/Fall-Out-Boy.aspx
http://bigpondmusic.com/Artist/Ashlee-Simpson.aspx
Shakira to battle child malnutrition
Colombian hip-shaker Shakira has teamed with Latin American organisation ALAS Foundation (Latin America in Solidarity Action) to help raise awareness for the fight against juvenile malnutrition and hunger.
The "Beautiful Liar" single will work on the AU$228million campaign and perform at concerts in Buenos Aires, Mexico City, Rio de Janeiro and New York City. "ALAS came about because of a social emergency," the singer said.
"350,000 children die each year due to avoidable causes, 40million children work and live on the streets. We want an active Latin America united for our children."
Money raised from the gigs will go towards joint initiatives with the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF).
http://bigpondmusic.com/Artist/Shakira.aspx
Mach Pelican call it quits
With more than 11 years under their belt, Japan-via-Australia punk rockers Mach Pelican have announced a farewell tour, deciding to put an end to their pop-punk history.
Starting next week, the band are about to embark on their final shows, hitting Perth, Adelaide, Sydney and Melbourne, where they'll play their adopted home, The Tote in Collingwood.
The band's final LP was 2006's Radio Action. The trio claimed personal differences and visa problems were behind the split.
Tour dates:
Friday July 27 – The Esplanade Hotel, Melbourne
Saturday July 28 – July Jive, Adelaide
Friday August 17 – Amplifier, Perth
Saturday August 18 – Hopetoun Hotel, Sydney
Monday August 27 – The Tote, Melbourne
http://bigpondmusic.com/Artist/Mach-Pelican.aspx
Spice Girls to film reunion documentary
Having recently announced their reunion show, UK supergroup Spice Girls are reportedly set to film a new documentary about their upcoming reunion shows.
According to BBC One controller Peter Fincham, Melanie Brown, Melanie Chisholm, Victoria Beckham, Emma Bunton and Geri Halliwell are working on a new song for UK charity Children In Need and will be filming rehearsals and recording for a British TV special.
"We've got full involvement from all of them," Fincham said. "They are all keen to get involved with Children In Need. They are recording two new songs and one of them might be a single."
Spice Girls are due to hit Australia with a concert taking place in Sydney on January 17.
http://bigpondmusic.com/Artist/Spice-Girls.aspx
Glenn Wheatley heading to the slammer
Glenn Wheatley, the manager of John Farnham and one-time manager of Delta Goodrem, was sentenced today to more than 15 months' prison for tax fraud.
It was during the Australia Tax Office's Operation Wickenby crack-down that Wheatley was discovered to owe over AU$300,000 in back charges, after not paying tax on the revenues earned from Farnham's Talk Of The Town tour and boxer Kostya Tszyu's 2003 fight against American Jesse James Leija in 2003 (the monies have since been paid back).
In 1968 Wheatley formed seminal rockers The Masters Apprentices, while he also managed Little River Band and created The Main Event tour, featuring Farnham, Olivia Newton-John and Anthony Warlow.
Wheatley is expected to appeal against the sentence.
http://bigpondmusic.com/Artist/John-Farnham.aspx
http://bigpondmusic.com/Artist/Olivia-Newton-John.aspx
http://bigpondmusic.com/Artist/Farnham-John-Newton-John-Olivia-Warlow-Anthony.aspx
The Stones set new record for banker gig
They've already the best paid band in the world and now legendary English rockers The Rolling Stones have earned a record AU$6.2million for a private show.
Currently touring Europe, Mick Jagger and bandmates played an 80-minute set for Deutsche Bank staff at the Catalan National Art Museum in Barcelona.
"Thank you for having us," Jagger told the crowd. "The best part is, it's coming out of your bonuses."
The Stones' current world tour has grossed more than $497million in the last 12 months, making it the most successful tour in history.
http://bigpondmusic.com/Artist/Rolling-Stones-The.aspx
posted by nick at 2:04 AM
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