Music News Net

MySpace Music Opens !!!

Myspace Music opened today, with major ad sponsorships that will give us some free album downloads, playlists and other new features. The service offers MySpace's 120 million users music streaming, and the ability to add an entire playlist of songs to their profiles,  instead of the current single song, MSM will provide links to purchase DRM-free tracks. It's a complete revamp of the music section of the social network site which brings many elements of the music biz together.  To keep the major labels happy, MySpace created a joint venture to oversee their music initiative, which is in part owned by the four major record labels (around 40% label owned). While Universal Music Group, Sony/BMG, and Warner Music Group were known to be involved for awhile now, EMI Music Group just joined the venture recently, supposedly on the eve of the service's launch.  There is though, a controversy over the lack of independent labels or digital aggregators was developing, MySpace  unveiled licensing deals with the Orchard, and independent distribution groups as ADA, Red, Fontana and Caroline.

New OASIS Album Leaked, CD Release Date Won't Change

     MUSIC NEWS-  The entire new album from British rock band OASIS has been posted on several messageboards and fan forums well ahead of the official October 6 release date.  These new leaks of the anticipated DIG OUT YOUR SOUL cd come six weeks after one album track Falling Down, was also posted online.  Despite the full album showing up online, the BBC reports that the group will not move up the official release date.  This happened previously with OASIS, their prior cd, Don't Believe the Truth made its way onto the internet a month ahead of its official release date.  And, a verison of their Heathen Chemistry cd (2002) also leaked three months in advance!! DIG OUT YOUR SOUL will be available on two separate formats for download purchasers. In addition to the full-length album, the group will be release ten-track MP3 version for approx $9.25. It will be available from numerous online stores and will not include the track "Get Off Your High Horse Lady."

The group is currently on tour but has had to cancel a number of dates after the guitarist, Noel Gallagher (see report, here) was injured by a fan who ran onstage at the V Festival in Toronto.

THE KINKS Likely to Reunite Says Ray Davies

     MUSIC NEWS-  Ray Davies of The Kinks' recently told BBC Radio 4's 'Front Row' program that the group is "three quarters of the way" towards a reunion!  Mr Davies explained: "The stumbling block is my brother [Dave] because he was seriously ill recently [he had a stroke in 2004] and whether he feels ready to do it. There is a desire to do it, but the thing that would make me decide yes or no would be whether or not we could do new songs, even if it's four or five. But I couldn't do it just for nostalgic reasons. My pitch to the other guys in the band - because I'm really for it - was what would we have written if we hadn't have had our first hit, 'You Really Got Me?' What if we put ourselves in that situation, what would have happened? So I think new work is important for artists as they mature and get older. The amazing thing is that The Kinks are the only band, of that period, where all original members are still alive". 

Davies was speaking ahead of the opening of his new London musical 'Come Dancing' at the Theatre Royal Stratford East. The show is set in the Ilford Palais of the 1950s, and features 20 new songs.

NINE INCH NAILS Needs Your Help and Will Give You a Gift

MUSIC NEWS- NIN fans recently received an email request from Trent Reznor, with a request to complete a survey (from Question Pro) for him. Nine Inch Nails (and their mgmt?) is trying to find out more about fans’ online habits and preferences for music, tix, etc.  He'll ask you number of shopping habit questions and background info.  To get you interested, they offer everyone who completes the survey a video file of a live performance from the most recent NIN tour.  Plus, additional prizes will be awarded. So if you want to help Trent get his marketing and digital direction update in the 21st century, please help him out (and let him know MUSICNEWSNET sent you).  For current NIN tour info of North and South America, click here.  While you're at it, give MNN a comment too, tells us what you're into!

World's Best-Paid Music Stars

     MUSIC NEWS- Apparently,the music business is not dead, and in case you were wondering, the top musicians/performers are still making a ton of money, despite the current world-wide economic slow down.  Actually, the top 10 stars on the list of the world's top-earning musicians brought in a combined $500 million between June 1, 2007 and June 1, 2008, more than many nations generate in revenue!    Forbes magazine released its' latest list and the usual suspects are there.  We've listed the top five below, check out the full list, here.  -

1. The Police @ $115M
2. Beyoncé Knowles @ $80M
3. Toby Keith @ $48M
4. Justin Timberlake @ $44M
5. Madonna @ $40M

UPDATE 6/26/09- see 2008 thru 2009 Top Earners' List

WILCO New Album Plans, Tour Updates

      MUSIC NEWS- Wilco will enter the recording studio in October to start work on a new album anticipated for a spring 2009 release, according to Jeff Tweedy on a recent Albany, N.Y. radio station WAMC interview!  This follow-up to their 2007 "Sky Blue Sky" will be out on Nonesuch.  No word yet on track info or album name. 

In related news, Wilco is part of the lineup for Neil Young's 2008 Bridge School Benefit concert, held this year on October 25 & 26 at the Shoreline Amphitheatre in Mountain View, CA.  School co-founder Neil Young anchors the bill that, along with Wilco, features Jack Johnson, Cat Power, Sarah McLachlan and Death Cab for Cutie.  The first day has performances from those artists and Norah Jones. ZZ Top performs only on day one, while Smashing Pumpkins and Josh Groban perform only on day two. Mr Young, who hosts the annual, mostly-acoustic event, has played every year since he launched the benefit show in 1986.  Proceeds from the event support the Bridge School's work with children that have severe physical and speech impediments.  This year's show is in the middle of Young's fall North American tour.  He has support from Death Cab For Cutie on the first leg of his tour and Wilco on the second portion.

"Rock N Roll Hall of Fame" Nominations Announced

 

     MUSIC NEWS-  Legendary rock guitarist Jeff Beck, Metallica and Run DMC (among others) are on the just released list of acts nominated for induction next year into the Rock N Roll Hall of Fame. The winning five nominees will be announced in January 2009 and enshrined at an April 4 ceremony at Cleveland's Public Hall, Cleveland, OH, USA.   This year's ballot also includes Chic, Wanda Jackson, Little Anthony and the Imperials, War, Bobby Womack and the Stooges  . Performers are not eligible for the Rock Hall of Fame until at least twenty five years have passed since the release of their first single.   This year, the 2009 ceremony will be open to the public for the first time, and held in Cleveland, the home of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Museum, for the first time since 1997.  Previously, the event was held in NYC .   Madonna, John Mellencamp, Leonard Cohen, the Ventures and the Dave Clark Five were inducted into the Rock Hall this past spring.

Stay tuned for the opening of the NYC Rock & Roll Hall of Fame annex on November 24 !!

New Music Format Announced from SanDisk

                                                      

MUSIC NEWS- A new digital music format called slotMusic has been announced today by Sandisk.  Warner Music, EMI, Sony/BMG and Universal Music have agreed to release tunes from their artists on the new, physical music format, dubbed “slotMusic™.” microSD™ cards will soon be made available with pre-loaded, high quality, DRM-free MP3 music.  A selection of slotMusic cards will first be available at stores and online throughout the U.S., including Best Buy and Wal-Mart, with Europe to follow. A complete list of slotMusic albums, availability and pricing will be announced in time for the coming holiday season. SanDisk Corporation, inventor of the ubiquitous microSD format, is leading the technology development behind slotMusic. slotMusic cards enable consumers to instantly and easily enjoy music from their favorite artists without being dependent on a PC or internet connection. Users simply insert the slotMusic card into their microSD-enabled mobile phone or MP3 player to hear the music – without passwords, downloading or digital-rightsmanagement interfering with their personal use.  slotMusic cards will be packaged with a tiny USB sleeve ensuring seamless interoperability with all computers – Windows, Linux and Mac.  Sounds like a great idea, especially for mobile phone use !  More info, here

GEORGE MICHAEL Arrested for Drug Possession, Heads Out of the UK

     MUSIC NEWS - Pop singer George Michael, 45, received a caution in London after being arrested in a public toilet for possession of drugs, which was suspected to include crack cocaine.  The multi-millionaire pop star, who last month played what he said were his last UK gigs, was arrested on Friday after he was seen loitering in subway toilets in Hampstead Heath, near his home.  "A 45-year-old man was arrested on 19 September on suspicion of possession of drugs in the Hampstead Heath area," a Metropolitan Police spokesman said.  The singer was taken to a police station and given the caution for possessing class A and class C drugs. Home Office Minister Tony McNulty said drug laws needed to be "flexible".  Asked why Mr Michael was given a mild punishment for the possession of class A drugs, Mr McNulty said he did not know the full details of the case.  The Home Office website says possession of class A drugs can result in up to seven years in prison, an unlimited fine or both.  Mr McNulty told the BBC: "The biggest message is that drugs are wrong and people will be punished, but it must be right that there is flexibility in the law."  But the government has the balance "about right" between being tough when it needs to be and providing treatment for individuals "to get off that horrible spiral of drug dependency and crime", he added.

UPDATE- 9/22/08 - To escape the intense media attention after his drug arrest, Mr Michael is reported to have hopped aboard a Harrods-owned (UK retailer) jet at a private airstrip with his partner, Kenny Goss and left the UK. Their destination had yet to be disclosed.

Former BLINK 182 Drummer Critically Injured in Plane Crash

MUSIC NEWS- A hospital spokesperson in Columbia, SC says Travis Barker, the former drummer for rock band, Blink 182 and a popular disc jockey, DJ AM,  have been critically injured in a Learjet plane crash in South Carolina.  Reports are that four people have been killed. Federal Aviation Administration spokeswoman Kathleen Bergen says the plane carrying six people was departing shortly before midnight on Friday when air traffic controllers reporting seeing sparks from the jet. She says the plane went off the runway and crashed on a nearby road. Hospital spokeswoman Beth Frits says Barker and DJ AM, whose real name is Adam Goldstein (NICOLE RICHIE’s ex-fiance), were at a burn center in Augusta, Ga. Federal officials say two crew members and two passengers have been killed. The Lexington County coroner released information today that pilot Sarah Lemmon of Anaheim Hills and co-pilot James Bland of Carlsbad died. In addition, passengers Chris Baker, 29, of Studio City, and Charles Still, 25, of Los Angeles were killed. The plane was heading to Van Nuys, CA.

We'll update as more information becomes available.

Robert Plant, Alison Kraus Win Again !

                             MUSIC NEWS - Robert Plant, Alison Kraus's critically acclaimed collaboration, "Raising Sand," was awarded top honors at the seventh annual  Americana Music Association awards on Thursday in Nashville, TN at the Ryman Auditorium. The Led Zep singer and blue grass star's cd was named album of the year, and Krauss and Plant were also chosen as duo of the year! Drummer and singer Levon Helm, formerly of The Band, was named as artist of the year.  The evening's other awards went to Buddy Miller (instrumentalist), Mike Farris (new artist) and Hayes Carll (song of the year, She Left Me for Jesus, which was written with Brian Keane). The association bestowed lifetime achievement awards to John Hiatt (songwriting), Jason & the Scorchers (performance), Tony Brown (producer/executive), Larry Brown (instrumentalist) and Terry Lickona (executive).  The Spirit of Americana free speech in music award to Joan Baez and the President's Award was bestowed posthumously to Jerry Garcia.

Reunited GRATEFUL DEAD & Allmans to Perform Live for Obama

MUSIC NEWS-  It's official, as previously reported, the much rumored Grateful Dead (and friends) reunion has announced! The Pennsylvania Campaign for Change has just released details about the Monday, October 13 concert fundraiser to benefit Obama for America featuring many Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees and other American music icons. Performing will be Bob Weir, Phil Lesh, Bill Kreutzmann, and Mickey Hart, Gregg Allman, Butch Trucks, Jaimoe, Warren Haynes, Derek Trucks, Marc Quinones, Oteil Burbridge, and Jeff Chimenti.  Tickets will be available at 12:00 p.m. EDT on Friday, Sept 19, and are $50 for the general public and $30 for University Park students with a Pennsylvania State University ID. Purchase tickets online, here.

UPDATE 01/01/09 - Dead to tour in '09!  See news report on Grateful Dead Spring 2009 reunion.

Paul McCartney Vows to Perform in Israel

    

MUSIC NEWS -  Legend Sir Paul McCartney says he’s going to perform on September 25 in Tel Aviv’s Hayarkon Park regardless of the death threats against him. “I was approached by different groups and political bodies who asked me not to come. I refused,” McCartney recently told Israeli daily newspaper Yediot Aharonoth. “I do what I think, and I have many friends who support Israel.”   Several U.K. papers have reported that McCartney's visit

08 Music Festival Listing

      MUSIC NEWS-  As summer comes to a close, remember there are still several exciting music festivals to keep you in the outdoor music mood for a little longer.  Austin, SF, and New Orleans are the places to be headed.  Get out in the fresh air, see your friends and enjoy live music.  Send us your reviews and photos! 

METALLICA New DEATH MAGNETIC cd Hits Big & Causes Complaints !!!

     MUSIC NEWS - In only three-days, Metallica with their "Death Magnetic" (Warner Bros) have made chart history in America by becoming the first group to debut five albums at number one.  Their first studio album since 2003, Death Magnetic is the heavy rockers’ latest studio release and their first since 2003’s St. Anger, has sold close to 500,000 copies. Before this latest chart addition, Metallica were tied with the Beatles, U2 and the Dave Matthews Band, who each debuted four albums at the top of the Billboard 200 chart. 

In related METALLICA news, many fans are complaining that the sound on the new cd is just too darn loud!  And it's the 'Guitar Hero' version of the album that makes fans realize the poor sound quality of the CD version.