Search Results for: 2003

Mickey Mouse’s days at Disney could be numbered and paying royalties for warbling George Gershwin tunes could become a thing of the past if the U.S. Supreme Court sides with an Internet publisher in a landmark copyright case this week. The high court will hear the case Wednesday that could plunge the earliest images of Disney’s mascot and other closely held creative property into the public domain as early as next year. If upheld, the precedent-setting challenge could cost movie studios and heirs of authors and composers millions of dollars in revenue as previously protected material becomes available free of… Read more »

Britney Spears, the U.S. pop idol who is taking a six-month sabbatical at the tender age of 20, said on Tuesday she planned to return to the recording studio after a break hosted by Italian designer Donatella Versace. “I think I may just go to Los Angeles and record a little bit. But other than that I just plan to hang out,” Spears told Reuters before taking her seat in the front row of Versace’s spring/summer 2003 fashion show. “It’s like a dream come true being here right now,” said Spears, who in August decided to take six months off… Read more »

The story of Napster, the failed online song-swapping service, always promised the kind of larger-than-life elements Hollywood thrives on – corporate intrigue, a nail-biting court battle and a young hero. Now comes Napster, the movie. Cable network MTV on Wednesday said it has reached a deal for the exclusive rights to the life story of Shawn Fanning, who created the controversial and wildly popular file-sharing program in 1999 while he was a 19-year-old student at Northeastern University in Boston. The movie, tentatively scheduled to air in 2003-2004, may even star Fanning, now 21, as himself. “Anything is possible and the… Read more »

Florida punk rockers New Found Glory are gearing up to release their first DVD, The Story So Far, next month. Due October 15th on MCA, the DVD features live footage showing the quintet’s rise from playing backyard shindigs to European tours. Also included are interviews and a number of videos including “Hit or Miss,” “Friends Over You,” and new single “Head Over You,” which features a cameo from Vandals bassist Joe Escalante. “There’s this company called Troma and they do like B-horror movies, but cheesy, almost like silly, so we got them to do the special effects on our video,”… Read more »

With many superstar acts up to their elbows in solo projects, movie roles, charity work or just on interminable hiatus, we decided to check in with some of them to determine when they might deliver their next albums. Barring gazing into a crystal ball, we did a bit of sleuthing to find out who is doing what, and when fans can expect another album (if at all). ‘NSYNC The scenario: Lance’s space mission trudges on, and Justin’s solo career looks poised to blast off. Joey’s working the Great White Way in “Rent,” Chris is trying his hand at TV work,… Read more »

The cameras were out for the final date of Eminem’s Anger Management tour on Sunday (September 8) at the Palace Of Auburn Hills in Auburn Hills, Michigan. All of the performances by Eminem and his road partners were shot for a tour home video that should be released in the first quarter of 2003. An estimated 110 hours of behind-the-scenes footage was also shot during the tour and will be woven into the video. Eminem took advantage of the cameras and expanded his show for the occasion. Although he performed the same 70-minute setlist from the rest of the tour,… Read more »

A lawsuit against Ozzy & Sharon Osbourne may have been dismissed, but the former bandmembers who filed the case say it will go on. Bob Daisley, bassist and songwriter on the first two Osbourne solo albums (1980’s Blizzard Of Ozz and 1981’s Diary Of A Madman), released this statement concerning the court’s decision: “Obviously, this is a disappointing ruling, but it’s not over yet. This case has merit-Lee and I have been struggling for two decades just to receive the correct royalties and credit that’s due us-and we are confident that we will prevail in the end.” For some 20… Read more »

LMiV today announced that effective September 30, 2002 it would cease to exist as an independent operating company. The functions and activities that had been managed by LMiV during the past two years will once again be performed by the individual founder companies and their stations. LMiV was created two years ago as an industry solution to the Internet by five media industry leaders – Bonneville International Corporation, Corus Entertainment (NYSE: CJR), Emmis Communications (NASDAQ: EMMS), Entercom Communications (NYSE: ETM), and Jefferson-Pilot Communications (NYSE: JP). “The two things that were of critical importance to the mission of LMiV – the… Read more »

Paul Simon has replaced Paul McCartney at the 25th annual Kennedy Center Honors taking place in Washington in December. Last week, the former Beatle sent his regrets to the organizers of the Kennedy Center Honors, explaining that a personal obligation would not permit him to attend the ceremony on December 7. McCartney’s name will be on the list for 2003 instead. No other details were given about McCartney’s bow out on the event and a call to his representatives were not returned at press time. Simon was named as a replacement, whom the center said would have been honored in… Read more »

He’s been equally praised and criticized for his wild tone in the studio, at home and on the streets, and now Eminem is involving himself in yet another wild and titillating venture – Slim Shady will be the host of an upcoming “Girls Gone Wild” video. A spokesperson for Eminem’s label said that “Girls Gone Wild” is filming during the Anger Management Tour, and a source on the tour said a shrink-wrapped “Girls Gone Wild” bus and film crew have been following Eminem for the past two weeks and will continue to travel with him until the end of the… Read more »