Search Results for: Refused

Former allies in the fight against music piracy, Internet access providers and the recording industry, are now headed to court in a dispute over how to target individuals who swap copyrighted material online. The recording industry wants telecommunications giant Verizon Communications to reveal the name of a customer it believes is “a hub for significant music piracy” as it pursues the Internet song-swappers it blames for declining CD sales. Verizon has refused, saying that such a move would violate customer privacy and force Internet providers to serve as the music industry’s online policeman. At issue is a 1998 digital-copyright law… Read more »

The king of rock ‘n’ roll was no businessman. When Elvis Presley died, his finances were in such sad shape that the managers of his estate considered selling Graceland. His white-columned, Georgian-style home was just too expensive to maintain. But instead the house was opened to tourists, and 25 years after his death on Aug. 16, 1977, Graceland attracts 600,000 visitors a year and has made his sole heir, daughter Lisa Marie, a very wealthy woman. Sell Graceland? Don’t be silly. “Every few months, a tabloid somewhere in the world will come out with a screaming headline that Lisa Marie… Read more »

Oasis band members Noel Gallagher, Jay Darlington and Andy Bell suffered minor injuries when the taxi they were riding in collided with another vehicle, forcing the British group to cancel a scheduled concert, authorities said on Wednesday. Indianapolis police said Gallagher and Darlington were treated at a local hospital and released following Tuesday’s accident involving another vehicle on a downtown street. Bell refused treatment, a police spokesman said. Lead singer Liam Gallagher, brother of Noel, was apparently not with his bandmates. “Three members of Oasis were involved in a car accident Tuesday afternoon in downtown Indianapolis,” said a statement from… Read more »

Take ambassador off the list of careers Britney Spears might want to pursue if she ever tires of singing. The pop star, who seems to have no problem maintaining good relations with fans at home, suffered another international incident this past week by twice angering her Mexican fans, who chanted, “Fraud!” when she cut short the final show of her world tour. It’s customary for American artists playing to international audiences – who don’t get to see certain performers as often – to go out of their way to charm fans, either by adopting local protocol, attempting the language or… Read more »

Michael Jackson’s advisors were the ones who asked Sony Music to abandon the singer’s charity single, “What More Can I Give,” after it was discovered that the song’s executive producer, F. Marc Schaffel, had ties to the gay-pornography industry, reports the Los Angeles Times. In his highly publicized dispute with Sony, Jackson claimed that the label refused to release the single. He has also accused Sony of inadequately promoting his latest album, Invincible; alleged that Sony CEO Tommy Mottola is a racist; and charged that the label has conspired to steal from African-American artists. “What More Can I Give” was… Read more »

Michael Jackson took on Sony Music chairman Tommy Mottola this past weekend, accusing the head of his record company of being a racist and part of a racist conspiracy against black artists. Though it was anticipated that Jackson would challenge standard practices of the music industry and champion artists’ rights when he spoke at the Rev. Al Sharpton’s National Action Network in New York’s Harlem neighborhood on Saturday, his personal attacks against the Sony executive came as a surprise, not least of all to Sharpton himself. Most of Jackson’s comments were constrained to the overall treatment of black artists, the… Read more »

The British Army has recalled 300 promotional videos featuring music by rock band Oasis after the songs were used without the band’s permission, the Ministry of Defense said on Saturday. The singles “Wonderwall” and “Hello” from the Gallagher brothers’ hit 1995 album “What’s the Story Morning Glory” were featured on the soundtrack to a video produced for the Highlanders regiment. An MOD spokesman said the Highlanders were unaware they needed the band’s permission to use the music until it was “brought to their attention.” Media reports said lawyers for the Britpop veterans ordered the Edinburgh-based regiment to remove the songs… Read more »

A concert in Antigua by Grammy Award winning rhythm and blues singer Alicia Keys was canceled because the concert’s promoters didn’t pay her appearance fees, her agent said. The concert, scheduled for Friday night, was advertised as the first of a Caribbean tour. The amount of the contract was reported to be $60,000. “The promoters… did not live up to their contractual obligations,” said Keys’ agent, Rob Light of the Beverly Hill-based Creative Artists Agency, in a letter sent to Antigua Junior Finance Minister Asot Michael. “Their total disregard for the agreement left us great concern as to the viability… Read more »

Within hours of surrendering to Chicago authorities, R. Kelly may have violated terms of his bond by associating with minors, a matter which could cost the singer his freedom before his impending trial on child pornography charges. On Friday morning, Kelly surrendered himself to authorities in Cook County, Illinois (see “R. Kelly Back In Chicago; June 26 Court Date Set”). After he was processed and posted a $750,000 bond, Kelly went with his lawyer Edward Genson and his spiritual advisor, Reverend James Meeks, to attend a ceremony held at the Salem Baptist Church, where Meeks is a pastor. The event… Read more »

From their earliest days in the ’80s, when radio refused to play them and they had to rely mainly on word of mouth to sell records, Metallica have always been keenly attentive to their fans. That may explain why – while the band routinely turns down press interview requests – it continues to pop online for Web chats at the Metallica Club Web site. Wednesday, following their first concert performance as a band since frontman James Hetfield exited rehab, Hetfield, drummer Lars Ulrich and guitarist Kirk Hammett logged on unannounced and fielded questions from about 20 club members for nearly… Read more »