Search Results for: 2003

The British producer behind the hit TV show Pop Idol, which has become a hit in the U.S. as American Idol, now wants to launch a new Monkees group for television. Simon Fuller, who created the U.K. series and serves as executive producer on Fox’s TV talent show, has been talking to NBC, which aired the original series of The Monkees in the ’60s. Fuller, who was the first manager of the Spice Girls and also masterminded the British pop group S Club 7, has now bought the rights to the Monkees concept and name. Fuller’s updated show would feature… Read more »

Newly installed VH1 toppers Brian Graden and Christina Norman are moving quickly to put their stamp on the struggling music cable network, greenlighting an aggressive fall slate of series and specials aimed at building on the channel’s still-strong retro music brand. VH1 is also beefing up its “Movies That Rock” franchise, snagging the broadcast premiere of the Oscar-winning “Moulin Rouge” and several other theatricals. And rather than simply repurposing other networks’ music specials, Graden wants VH1 to sign A-level talent for original concert specials. The flurry of activity comes barely three months after Graden was named entertainment president of the… Read more »

Transcending her tumultuous teen character in “Crossroads,” a self-assured Britney Spears will live life in the fast lane for her next movie. Spears has inked a deal with NASCAR to develop and produce a feature film based on the world’s fastest sport, according to her publicist. In the film, Spears will portray the daughter of a NASCAR team owner who inspires a retired track veteran to return to the circuit. Although casting has yet to be completed, NASCAR drivers are expected to appear in the flick. James V. Hart, who has scripted the screenplays for “Contact” (1997) and “Muppets Treasure… Read more »

Nearly 40 years into their never-ending career, the Rolling Stones still know how to stage a gangbusters press conference. On Tuesday (May 7), the band announced its upcoming tour by descending into Van Cortlandt Park in the Bronx, New York, on a blimp adorned with their infamous lips logo. In 1997, the Stones plugged their tour for Bridges to Babylon by driving a red Cadillac convertible across the Brooklyn Bridge, for the Voodoo Lounge tour in 1994 they sailed into a New York pier on John F. Kennedy’s presidential yacht the Honeyfitz and in 1989 they boarded a train to… Read more »

Brian Johnson is writing music and lyrics these days, but not for AC/DC or any other rock band. He’s working with British composer Brendan Healy and Sarasota Ballet Artistic Director Robert de Warren on a musical called “Helen of Troy,” an action-filled love story based on Greek mythology. While in past years Johnson has specialized in penning naughty double-entendres in songs like “Hard as a Rock,” “Stiff Upper Lip” and “The Honey Roll,” this time he’s crafting music that’s more in line with the dramatic musical “Les Misérables.” So far, he’s written 14 songs for the production, which will debut… Read more »

XM Satellite Radio today unveiled its state-of-the-art digital sound technology, featuring customized CT-aacPlus audio encoding with Neural Audio optimization, which provides superior sound quality remarkably close to Compact Disc. “XM Satellite Radio, Fortune Magazine’s 2001 ‘Product of the Year,’ succeeds because of its superior digital sound technology, unparalleled signal coverage, proven chipset technology and outstanding programming,” said XM Executive Vice President Steve Gavenas at a news briefing today in New York. “The technologies that define XM Satellite Radio sound quality have been auditioned and endorsed by leading audio experts from around the world.” CT-aacPlus Audio Compression The superior XM sound… Read more »

XM Satellite Radio Holdings Inc. announced today that it has priced a public offering of 13,387,000 shares of its Class A Common Stock at a per share price of $11.50. The offering, expected to close next week, raises gross proceeds of $154.0 million. The proceeds will be used primarily for marketing expenses, systems, and other general corporate purposes, and are expected to fund company operations into the latter half of the first quarter of 2003. All of the securities were offered by the company. The company also granted the underwriters an option to purchase up to an additional 2,008,050 shares… Read more »

After a long re-audition process to fill the late Aaliyah’s shoes, “The Matrix: Reloaded” finally lives up to its name. Nona Gaye, the daughter of Marvin Gaye who was recently seen acting alongside Will Smith in “Ali” and heard on last fall’s “What’s Going On” benefit single, has been chosen to play Zee in the two upcoming sequels to the 1999 sci-fi thriller “The Matrix,” according to Variety. The role was originally set to be portrayed by Aaliyah, who had filmed portions of “Reloaded” before she died last summer in a plane crash. The character of Zee will be introduced… Read more »

Murder Inc. Records star Ja Rule revealed that he isn’t surprised that his labelmate Ashanti landed at Number One on the Billboard 200 albums chart, but he was shocked by how well Ashanti’s album sold. “I’m not surprised, you know? It kinda shocked, you know, the number 503 (503,000), you know, but we knew she was going to do pretty well, so we’re all very happy and she’s crushing them right now,” he said. “I really think it’s the biggest first-week debut ever for a female R&B artist, so we’re holding some weight over here right now, definitely.” Ja Rule… Read more »

Canadian singer Celine Dion will move to Belgium – not for the waffles or the beer – but to rehearse for her return to the stage next year. In an interview with Belgian television, Dion said she would be moving to La Louviere, a gritty steel town of 76,000 located 30 miles south of Brussels, for three months. “We found a small house there, that will be our home for three months,” Dion said. “I can’t wait.” The 34-year-old said she’ll move into the house sometime this fall. Dion said she was returning to live performances after two years off… Read more »