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Acknowledging that online piracy is forcing dramatic changes in the music industry, the world’stwo largest record companies are poised to make it easy and cheap for fans to buy-rather than steal-songs off the Internet. The moves by Universal Music Group and Sony Music Entertainment accelerate the industry’s transition to an era in which music is distributed electronically. Other major labels are likely to follow as the record business grapples with the rise of online music copying through unauthorized services such as Napster, Kazaa and Morpheus and potentially billions of dollars in lost sales. Rather than trying to force consumers to… Read more »

Michael Jackson addressed his rumored dispute with Sony Music for the first time Wednesday when he aligned himself with a new artist-rights initiative and released a statement condemning the music industry and his label. At a New York press conference Jackson was named the first member of a coalition formed by the Rev. Al Sharpton and attorney Johnnie Cochran to investigate whether record companies are financially exploiting artists. “Record companies have to start treating their artists with respect, honor, and financial justice,” Jackson said in a statement. “Therefore, I am proud to join this coalition which represents all artists.” The… Read more »

Ozzy Osbourne, Tony Bennett, Paul McCartney, a handful of Hell’s Angels, a gospel choir of 5,000 and a throng of close to 1 million onlookers turned out to help England’s Queen Elizabeth celebrate 50 years on the throne over the weekend at London’s Buckingham Palace. Eric Clapton, Ricky Martin, S Club 7, Spice Girl Emma Bunton, Joe Cocker, Phil Collins, the Corrs, Aretha Franklin, Sir Elton John, Tom Jones, Annie Lennox, Mis-Teeq, Brian Wilson, Rod Stewart, Cliff Richard and Will Young also turned out for the event, which played to a global television audience of millions more over the course… Read more »

The recording and music publishing industries extended their legal pursuit of online music swapping firms Friday, suing Audiogalaxy for copyright infringement. The Recording Industry Association of America and the National Music Publishers Association accused the Austin, Texas, firm of “willfully and intentionally” encouraging and facilitating millions of users to copy and distribute copyright work of artists, ranging from Dave Mathews and Celine Dion to Alicia Keyes and the Beatles. The two industry groups claim that Audiogalaxy, with more than 15 million registered users, uses a system that is even more egregious than Napster, which the music industry effectively shut down… Read more »

England soccer captain David Beckham and his pop singer wife Victoria, also known as “Posh Spice,” threw a celebrity-studded party Sunday to raise money for a children’s charity. Dozens of stars attended the lavish Japanese-themed garden party at the couple’s mansion, nicknamed Beckingham Palace. Guests – asked to dress in “white tie and diamonds” – included many of England’s World Cup soccer squad, Sir Elton John, tennis star Greg Rusedski, designer Vivienne Westwood, actress Joan Collins and Virgin empire billionaire Sir Richard Branson. Harrods owner Mohammad al-Fayed arrived at the mansion north of London in a helicopter. The bash included… Read more »

C. Michael Greene has resigned as the head of the organization that hands out the music industry’s most prestigious award, the Grammys, following an emergency board of trustees vote to remove him from office. Greene resigned Saturday night at an emergency meeting attended by more than three dozen trustees of the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences at the Beverly Hilton Hotel. Greene, 52, had three years remaining on his contract and will receive a severance package of $8 million, much of which will be covered by insurance and includes his bonus from the CBS Grammy contract. He is… Read more »

Ted Field, Chairman and CEO of ARTISTdirect, Inc., today announced that Fredric M. Roberts, President of the investment banking firm F. M. Roberts & Company, Inc. and former Chairman of the Board of Governors of the National Association of Securities Dealers (NASD), has joined the Company’s Board of Directors, expanding membership of the Board to ten. Mr. Roberts has over 30 years of experience as an investment banker and strategic advisor. Before establishing F. M. Roberts & Company, Inc., he was a Corporate Finance Executive at Lehman Brothers, Vice President of Corporate Finance at Loeb, Rhoades & Co., Vice President… Read more »

Nick Carter of the Backstreet Boys will sing the national anthem before the American Power Boat Association Super Vee race in Daytona Beach, Florida. The race will also be the debut of Nick Carter racing. He in entering his new 43-foot powerboat in the contest. He tells the News-Journal of Daytona Beach it’s going to hard to earn respect among the racers because he is an entertainer, but he says he and his family are going out there to win, not just show off. Carter’s father will pilot the boat.

When the Florida Marlins won the 1997 World Series, it was No Good’s remix of Luke Campbell’s “Raise the Roof” that blasted from the system at Pro Player Stadium. When the Miami Hurricanes won the national college football championship earlier this year, No Good’s “Ballin’ Boy” served as their theme song. As if that wasn’t enough to cement this particular sports-and-hip-hop connection, ESPN picked up “Ballin’ Boy” to play over its March Madness spots during this year’s NCAA hoops tournament. And No Good capped things off by performing the single – already a club staple in their hometown of Miami… Read more »

Pink has signed a marketing agreement with health-and-fitness service provider Bally Total Fitness. The terms of the agreement call for a creative collaboration between the singer and Bally on a new hip-hop dance aerobics class called Get Your Body Started, and a national dance competition. In addition, Pink will be seen and heard in national and local print-and-television advertising for the fitness company, and she and her music will also be featured in a radio campaign. In return, Bally will serve as the presenting sponsor of Pink’s upcoming North American headlining tour, Pink: The Party Tour 2002, which will kick… Read more »