Search Results for: october

Eminem’s music publisher is suing Apple Computer Inc., claiming the computer giant wrongfully used one of the hip-hop superstar’s songs in a television advertisement. Eight Mile Style filed the copyright infringement suit in U.S. District Court in Detroit against Apple, Viacom Inc., its MTV subsidiary and the TBWA/Chiat/Day advertising agency. At issue is an ad for Apple’s iTunes pay-per-download music software, in which a 10-year-old sings Eminem’s “Lose Yourself.” The suit claims the commercial aired on MTV beginning in July 2003 and ran numerous times for at least three months. It also appeared on Apple’s Web site. “Eminem has never… Read more »

Once again, the problem of Marilyn Manson rubbing his thong-clad genitalia against unwitting concert security guards has been settled. The shock rocker reached a settlement with Detroit security guard Joshua Keasler, who sued Manson for sexual assault and emotional distress after Manson allegedly thrust his nether regions against Keasler’s visage during a July 2001 performance. Given that Manson was clad only in a skimpy thong and pantyhose at the time, Keasler’s discomfit was understandable. The two camps apparently agreed upon an appropriate settlement last month and the lawsuit was dismissed Jan. 28. Terms of the settlement remain confidential. Keasler’s civil… Read more »

Singer Courtney Love showed up as scheduled in Los Angeles Superior Court Tuesday (February 17) for a hearing, prompting a judge to throw out an arrest warrant for her, according to the Associated Press. Judge Elden Fox issued the warrant last Tuesday (February 10) when Love failed to appear for the hearing, but allowed Love a week to comply before ordering her arrest. Judge Lisa Hart Cole dismissed the warrant Tuesday and scheduled Love’s next hearing for March 16. Love, who is known for being brash and outspoken, was reportedly reserved in court, answering only, “Yes, ma’am,” when the judge… Read more »

It was a breakthrough deal that would have put the Napster kitty on millions of Hewlett-Packard computers. But in the days leading up to Napster’s re-launch in late October, HP suddenly – and without explanation – returned Napster’s $250,000 check and canceled the agreement to install a link to Napster’s online music service on its computers. Worse, in January HP announced a surprise partnership with Napster rival Apple Computer to feature the iTunes Music store on HP computers and sell Hewlett-Packard branded iPod music players. Neither HP nor Napster’s parent company, Roxio, would comment on the soured deal, whose details… Read more »

Fresh off a stint on the Big Day Out tour of Australia and New Zealand, the Strokes have unveiled plans for a six-week spring outing in the United States, with an excursion to Mexico City. Dates get underway March 9 in Washington, D.C., and are confirmed through April 25 in Minneapolis, although Strokes manager Ryan Gentles told Billboard.com the tour is expected to run through May 19. Support acts have not yet been announced. The New York rock quintet is touring in support of its sophomore RCA album, “Room on Fire,” which debuted in October at No. 5 on The… Read more »

The father of Michael Jackson’s young accuser appeared on the verge of tears Wednesday after a judge denied his request to see his children. Barred from contacting the boy and his brother and sister, the father had asked to visit his son because of rumors the boy is sick and because he hoped to determine if Jackson molested him. Although he denied the request, Superior Court Judge Richard E. Denner scheduled a Feb. 24 hearing to hear any additional evidence showing why the father should be allowed to have contact with the boy. Jackson has pleaded innocent to seven counts… Read more »

Sony Corp.’s earnings plunged 26 percent for the latest quarter as expenses for job cuts and other restructuring costs and lower profits from its electronics, moviemaking and video games business offset profit improvement in its music business. But the Japanese electronics and entertainment giant said Wednesday its sales rose for the October-December quarter and it boosted its profit forecast for the year due to a gain on a currency investment. Sony said it earned 92.6 billion yen ($875 million) in the October-December period, down from 125 billion yen a year earlier. Sales inched up 0.7 percent to 2.32 trillion yen… Read more »

On Jan. 6, San Francisco’s Moscone convention center pulses with all the energy of a rock concert. A crowd sprinkled with hip-hop teenagers, digerati, and aging hippies streams in to hear the annual state-of-the-Mac keynote from Apple Computer Inc. Chief Executive Steven P. Jobs. Every facet of the event bears the fingerprints of the obsessive Jobs – right down to the music that fills the air. This year, it’s the King himself, Elvis Presley. Later, Jobs rolls the tape of Apple’s famous “1984” ad that ran on Super Bowl Sunday that year – and hasn’t been broadcast since. Only this… Read more »

Evanescence lead singer Amy Lee has told Australia’s UndercoverNews website that former Cold guitarist Terry Balsamo is now a permanent member of Evanescence. Balsamo stepped in as a temporary replacement late last year for founding axeman Ben Moody, who abruptly departed in the middle of a European tour last October. Lee said that Balsamo and her band “just clicked” the more they played together. “[It is] better than I ever expected…Terry’s an insane guitar player with awesome stage presence. He has a good personality and he’s down to earth and on top of all that stuff, he’s a great writer… Read more »

A classic Bentley, owned by Michael Jackson and featured in a music video, will be sold at the Barrett-Jackson classic car auction this weekend unless company executives hear from the pop singer himself. Craig Jackson, president of Barrett-Jackson, said that his firm entered into a contract to sell the vehicle in October – prior to the child molestation charges leveled against the singer – but are unsure as to whether the pop icon still wants to sell it. “We just want to do what he wants us to do and we don’t know what that is,” Jackson said. Jackson, who… Read more »