Search Results for: plan b entertainment

When Guns N’ Roses announced they were going on tour this fall after a nine-year hiatus, fans of the heavy metal band snapped up tickets. Axl Rose was back and there was talk of a new album. But the comeback has been no “Paradise City.” Rose, the mercurial frontman whose disappearing acts have long irritated fans, failed to show up for the opening show Nov. 7 in Vancouver, prompting thousands of ticket holders to riot outside the venue. The band was a no-show again last week in Philadelphia, and fans got unruly. By then it became apparent that the “Chinese… Read more »

Digital media company Roxio has agreed to acquire the most substantial remaining assets of embattled Internet music provider Napster Inc. Roxio will acquire Napster’s technology patents but is not assuming any of the company’s outstanding financial liabilities. The deal is subject to a Nov. 26 Delaware bankruptcy court approval. Napster, based in Redwood City, California., filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on June 3. It listed assets of $7.9 million and liabilities of $101 million, as of April 30. The terms of the deal include a purchase offer of $5 million in cash and 100,000 warrants to purchase Roxio common… Read more »

In an industry that obsesses over first-week album sales, heavy MTV rotation and radio airplay, the Shortlist Music Prize is trying to help offbeat or niche recording artists find a wider audience. Now in its second year, the contest taps successful musicians to champion the work of peers who have yet to make an impact on the charts. Among this year’s “listmakers” are India.Arie, Alanis Morissette (news), U2’s Larry Mullen Jr., and filmmakers Baz Luhrmann (news) and Spike Jonze (news). “Most of the attention that records get as far as awards and all that stuff is based on record sales,… Read more »

Heavily indebted Vivendi Universal said Tuesday that it had secured an extension of a $1.62 billion credit line from its banks. In a statement, the company said it had received commitments from JPMorgan Chase and Bank of America to extend the credit facility from Nov. 1 to June 30, 2003. An initial short-term credit facility was put in place by the group’s media unit, Vivendi Universal Entertainment, in May 2002 as part of its acquisition of the entertainment assets of USA Networks Inc. The company indicated the extension would provide Vivendi Universal Entertainment with breathing space before it is able… Read more »

Whitney Houston is being sued for $100 million by her father’s company, and it’s not clear whose side the elder Houston is taking. John Houston Entertainment, which filed the breach of contract lawsuit August 30 in New Jersey Superior Court, accuses the singer of never paying up for services rendered when the company acted on her behalf in a managerial capacity. But the question remains – which side is Whitney’s father on? Both say theirs. Though John Houston himself isn’t named in the suit, John Houston Entertainment President Kevin Skinner says the two of them are the plaintiffs. According to… Read more »

Record labels and artists were out in force Thursday to reiterate their blunt assessment of digital piracy’s effects on their financial well-being at a state government hearing in Sacramento. “I would like to begin with a simple proposition,” said Recording Industry Assn. of America president Cary Sherman. “The one-two punch of physical and digital piracy is threatening the livelihood of the music industry.” The hearing, convened by the California State Assembly’s Committee on Arts, Entertainment, Sports, Tourism & Internet Media, was the second piracy gripefest in as many weeks for the industry, which is increasingly turning to the government for… Read more »

Garageband Records (http://www.garageband.com) demonstrated its support for Internet radio today by announcing a new turnkey service that will provide webcasters with an alternative and more affordable source of music. This announcement is part of the company’s broader plan to promote its independent artists through multiple channels including Internet, college and commercial radio. In addition, as part of the International Webcasting Association’s (IWA) “Campaign to Save Internet Radio,” Garageband announced that its artists will be showcased during a twenty-day live broadcast in Las Vegas. The broadcast begins today at 12:00pm PDT and can be accessedfrom www.SaveInternetRadio.net and www.Webcasters.org. Garageband’s service comes… Read more »

DataPlay, a company attempting to replace CDs as the music format of choice, has missed its announced release date and appears unlikely to survive. Employees were put on mandatory leave and told to call in Friday for a status update, according to a source close to the situation. Only those staff members with vacation days available will receive any payment. Zomba Recording Corp., Universal Music Group, EMI Group and BMG Entertainment in March announced plans to distribute music using DataPlay discs. DataPlay discs are about the size of a half-dollar and resemble a tiny CD encased in a translucent shell.… Read more »

“American Idol” winner Kelly Clarkson may have the magic to put RCA Records back on top. All the major record labels are pulling out their big-gun releases for the fourth quarter in hopes of hitting some high numbers to make up for the year’s extreme sales dip. RCA has been struggling overall because of a weak release schedule. The label has thus far scored hits only with Dave Matthews Band’s “Busted Stuff,” which has sold more than 1.2 million units, and critically acclaimed postpunk band the Strokes, whose “Is This It” has passed the half-million mark. Clarkson’s two-sided single release,… Read more »

Dave Williams, lead singer of Drowning Pool, was found dead on the band’s tour bus Wednesday afternoon (August 14), according to a spokesperson for the group. He was 30 years old. A cause of death has yet to be determined. The Dallas quartet was on tour with Ozzfest when Williams’ body was discovered. Ozzfest had played the Verizon Wireless Music Center in Noblesville, Indiana, on Tuesday. Wednesday was an off day for the tour. Thursday’s Ozzfest at the Nissan Pavilion in Bristow, Virginia, will go on as scheduled, according to a manager for the outing. Bolstered by the hit single… Read more »