Search Results for: Jay Som

Kanye West and his Caps Lock button were back in action on the rapper’s blog yesterday in a post about the role of celebrity photographers. Just days after pleading not guilty to charges of assaulting a TMZ photographer, West applauded the skills of one paparazzo and compared some of music’s biggest names with superstars of another era in an effort to prove a point. Kanye was inspired by a candid photo of Rihanna, the muse of his new 808s & Heartbreak video “Paranoid,” as she was stepping into a yellow cab in New York City. “ Yo why can’t all… Read more »

After reuniting for its first show in more than four years, Blink-182 has announced its summer tour dates. The band’s official return comes when they play the The Late Show With Jay Leno on Tuesday, May 21st. Blink will be joined by Fall Out Boy on the road for two-thirds of their reunion jaunt, with Weezer picking up the remaining dates. Last Thursday evening, Blink-182 closed out their set with 2003’s “The Feeling” and Dude Ranch’s “Dammit.” Bassist Mark Hoppus was overjoyed following the performance, a hugely significant event for the band whose members had spent the last four years… Read more »

Recording artists may be set to receive a boost in royalty revenues from digital music sales, at least if Eminem has his way. Eminem’s two-year-old lawsuit against Universal Music Group over digital music royalties finally entered a courtroom today, the Wrap reports.  In a trial featuring star witnesses like UMG head Jimmy Iovine and Apple’s Steve Jobs, Slim Shady’s publishing company F.B.T. Productions is seeking more royalties from purchases made using digital music services like Jobs’ iTunes. Eminem is not expected to testify. If the jury sides with F.B.T. Productions, this trial could serve as a landmark case that finds… Read more »

When Ne-Yo found out about the allegations of violence between Chris Brown and Rihanna, he knew he couldn’t get the story from a third party. Concerned for both his friends, the singer wanted to speak to them personally. On Monday afternoon (Feb. 23), a still-stunned Ne-Yo offered his thoughts. “I wanted to talk to them before I made a comment,” he said about the much-publicized incident that occurred several hours before the Grammy Awards on February 8. Brown turned himself in to police during the awards show and was booked on suspicion of making criminal threats and released. “I spoke… Read more »

Kanye West is  definitely secure with his raps and with himself. On the Grammy stage on Sunday night, he laid the first verse on “Swagga Like Us,” knowing that he had three more acclaimed wordsmiths – Jay-Z, Lil Wayne and T.I. – coming after him on the track, and still felt confident that his rap held up in such strong company. Kanye does exactly what he wants to do, so it’s no surprise that he took the stage in a sparkling jacket that could have come out of Michael Jackson’s closet in 1984. Still, Kanye’s clothes have become a major… Read more »

It’s early January, and occasional downpours drench thousands of fans as they file into Nashville’s Municipal Auditorium for Sound & Speed, an annual event featuring country stars and NASCAR drivers. Camo-clad devotees and their children, some dressed in miniature racing suits, line up for an autograph and a picture. The event is the perfect mix for those who consider autographs from Dierks Bentley and Dale Earnhardt Jr to be treasured booty. NASCAR fans and country music fans are eager to rub elbows with drivers and artists alike, something both circuits are eager to take advantage of. The 2009 race season… Read more »

LOS ANGELES — Concert promoter Live Nation Inc and ticketing giant Ticketmaster Entertainment Inc. confirmed their merger plans Tuesday and got right to work addressing antitrust concerns that have taken center stage Ticketmaster Chairman Barry Diller to be chairman of the new company – which would be called Live Nation Entertainment – sought to dispel the notion that the deal would lead to higher ticket prices. “Ticketmaster does not set prices. Live Nation does not set ticket prices. Artists set the prices,” he said, without mentioning the ticket surcharges Ticketmaster relies on for much of its revenue. Under the deal… Read more »

Joel Madden isn’t giving girlfriend Nicole Richie diamonds for Christmas. Believe it or not, the Good Charlotte rocker insists, the fabulously fashionable former reality-TV star is completely OK with that. “I have no clue right now what I’m getting her, but I think it’s going to have to be creative,” Madden told me earlier today. “She appreciates more of the creative rather than something like a diamond. She’s not really into diamonds.” As for baby daughter Harlow, who turns 1 on Jan. 11, Santa’s going to be earth-friendly. “Nicole is very organic, so probably a lot of organic toys like… Read more »

LOS ANGELES — Bono’s adding to his résumé for sainthood. For today’s 20th anniversary of World AIDS Day, the U2 frontman and all-around good guy is helping launch (RED)WIRE, a music-themed site to benefit the cause.   “Through music [people] are not just celebrating their life, they are celebrating lives and the saving of them,” Bono says in a video message. And he’s getting some help from a few all-star pals. Among the featured tunes: the Dixie Chicks’ “Lucky Ones,” the Texas trio’s first new music since 2006’s Taking the Long Way; Jay-Z ‘s “Brooklyn Go Hard,” featuring Santogold ;… Read more »

Some of the biggest names in music are contributing exclusive songs to RED(WIRE), a digital music magazine that launches on World AIDS Day ( December 1). U2, Coldplay, the Killers, the Dixie Chicks, John Legend, R.E.M. and Bob Dylan are on board for the initiative, which is an outgrowth of the Bono-reared activist organization called (RED). All proceeds from subscriptions will benefit HIV-infected people in Africa; MSN.com will host a kickoff party December 1. For $5, users will receive a new issue of RED(WIRE) every Wednesday, featuring an exclusive song from a major musician, a song from a performer who… Read more »