Search Results for: 2003

The Future of Music Coalition (FMC) has set its third annual policy summit for Jan. 5-7, 2003, at Gaston Hall on the campus of Washington, D.C.’s Georgetown University. The FMC has designated the summit as a forum to bring together independent musicians, music-biz executives, lawyers, teachers, and politicians to discuss and debate some of today’s most pressing music-related issues, including digital technology, artists’ rights, and Webcasting. Sen. Russ Feingold (D-Wisc.) and Rep. Howard Berman (D-Calif.) will give keynote speeches during the event, which will also feature as panelists Fugazi principal/Dischord Records co-founder Ian MacKaye, musician Patti Smith, California State Senator… Read more »

For those about to rock, the Rock Hall salutes you – by inducting several heroes of metal, punk and new wave into next year’s class. AC/DC, the Clash, the Police, and Elvis Costello and the Attractions will lead the class of 2003 when they are inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on March 10, organizers announced Thursday (November 7). Other artists recognized include blue-eyed soul singers the Righteous Brothers, whose “Unchained Melody” and Phil Spector-produced “You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin’ ” remain classics. Sideman and non-performer inductees remain to be announced. AC/DC, who formed in 1973 and… Read more »

Sharon Osbourne may regret her hit MTV series, but she’s still fond of television, and reportedly has signed up as host of a syndicated talk show. The wife of rock star Ozzy Osbourne has reached a deal with Telepictures Productions for the show beginning in fall 2003, Electronic Media online reported Thursday. A spokesman for Telepictures said the company doesn’t comment on projects in development. Terms of the deal were unavailable, Electronic Media said. In an interview with ABC’s Barbara Walters that aired this week, Osbourne said she wouldn’t invite MTV’s cameras into her home for reality series “The Osbournes”… Read more »

Legendary rock ‘n roll band The Rolling Stones will be featured in a new NBA Entertainment-produced television spot as part of the NBA’s “Love it Live” campaign. The 30-second spot debuts tomorrow – NBA opening night – during the doubleheader on TNT, which begins at 7:30 pm ET with the Philadelphia 76ers taking on the Orlando Magic, followed by the San Antonio Spurs at the Los Angeles Lakers at 10:30 pm ET. The Stones’ “Love it Live” ad, which will continue to air through the 2002-03 NBA season, features footage of the band performing their hit single “Don’t Stop” from… Read more »

Former Beatle Sir Paul McCartney (news) said on Sunday he would postpone the final and biggest concert of his current world tour in Melbourne out of respect for the victims of the Bali bomb blasts. The only Australian show on November 23 in front of over 30,000 fans was to be McCartney’s first date Down Under in more than a decade, but the singer’s spokesman said a nationwide tour was now under consideration for 2003. “As a mark of respect to both the families who have lost loved ones and to the families of the injured, I have decided to… Read more »

The Vines will return to the road next month in support of their gold-certified debut album, Highly Evolved. The Australian rockers have lined up 14 shows in the Northeast and Midwestern parts of the country, beginning November 19 in Philadelphia. The dates are being packaged as the MTV2 Handpicked Tour. The Vines’ Capitol Records labelmates the Music will serve as the opening act. The British band’s debut album is due in February, 2003. The Vines’ Highly Evolved features the single, “Get Free.” Vines Tour Dates (Subject To Change): November 19 – Philadelphia, PA – TLA November 20 – Pittsburgh, PA… Read more »

Viacom Inc., owner of CBS, MTV and the Paramount movie studio, reported a solid third-quarter profit Thursday, helped by strong advertising revenues at the company’s broadcast, cable, TV and radio properties. For the three months ending Sept. 30, the media conglomerate said net earnings were $640 million, or 36 cents per share, compared with a net loss of $190 million, or 11 cents per share, a year earlier. The results beat the forecast of 32 cents a share by analysts surveyed by Thomson First Call. “We are confident in our ability to deliver on our full-year financial targets for 2002,… 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 »

A U2 album of all-new material could arrive by next summer, according to the band’s guitarist, the Edge. Speaking with Ireland’s Hot Press magazine, the guitar player, whose real name is Dave Evans, said the group plans to have a new album completed and in stores by mid-2003. He told the Dublin-based magazine that the band is on a roll in the studio, and likened the new recordings’ sound to U2’s early days, with “simple, stripped-down arrangements.” The band’s sessions at Hanover Quay studios have already resulted in two new songs, “Electrical Storm” and “The Hands That Built America,” both… Read more »

The House of Representatives on Monday approved a royalty-payment deal between the music industry and small Internet broadcasters after a last-minute change won the support of musicians. By a voice vote, the House approved a deal that would allow smaller “Webcasters” to pay a percentage of revenues or expenses to the musicians and record labels whose songs they use, rather than a flat per-song rate set by the Library of Congress in June. Smaller Webcasters had protested that the flat rate of.07 cents per listener per song could drive many of them out of business, because their royalty bills would… Read more »