Search Results for: AVOID

When her new album, Hotel Paper, hits stores June 24, Michelle Branch wants you to remember what Aaliyah said almost a decade ago: Age ain’t nothing but a number. “I just want [people] to actually listen to the record and, I guess, give me a chance,” the 19-year-old singer said recently. “I don’t know, younger artists, people kind of write us off as being this novelty kind of thing, and people forget that George Harrison was 17 when he was in the Beatles, U2 was my age… the Rolling Stones, everyone. It doesn’t matter how old you are, it shouldn’t… Read more »

A veritable who’s who of the pop music world are urging federal regulators to give the public and lawmakers a chance to review any changes made in the regulations that govern media ownership. In a letter to the Federal Communications Commission, 34 recording artists ranging from Jimmy Buffett to Michael Stipe said the changes should be fully vetted before they win final approval. “A refusal to allow Congress and the public to view and debate your specific proposal would be a tremendous disservice to the American public and the citizens who depend on these media structures for their livelihoods,” the… Read more »

Two companies behind services for sharing music and movies over the Internet are not to blame for any illegal copying conducted by the services’ users, a federal judge ruled Friday. The 34-page ruling by U.S. District Court Judge Stephen Wilson was a major blow to recording companies and movie studios, which have been aggressively filing lawsuits and pushing new laws to stem the illegal copying and distribution of their copyright works. The decision, if it survives appeal, essentially absolves Grokster Ltd. and StreamCast Networks Inc. of liability. Grokster distributes file-sharing software by that name, and StreamCast distributes Morpheus. “It’s a… Read more »

A federal judge rejected a constitutional challenge Thursday by Verizon Communications Inc., which is trying to avoid turning over the names of two of its Internet subscribers suspected of illegally offering free music for downloading. U.S. District Judge John D. Bates, who ruled against Verizon in January in the same case, determined that First Amendment protections concerning anonymous expression do not conflict with the 1998 Digital Millennium Copyright Act. The law permits music companies to force Internet providers to turn over the names of suspected music pirates upon subpoena from any U.S. District Court clerk’s office, without a judge’s signature… Read more »

Look for the next Grammy Awards and the American Music Awards (AMAs) to move from their traditional annual calendar slots. For 2004, the Grammys are switching from their usual late-February date to Sunday, Feb. 8, sources tell Billboard. The move is taking place to avoid a head-on collision with the Academy Awards, which will be moved next year from their usual late-March perch to late February. Additionally, the 2004 Grammys are expected to return to L.A. after this year’s stint in New York. The Recording Academy declined to comment. Taking a bigger leap forward are the AMAs. That show is… Read more »

File traders, Madonna has a question for you: “What the fuck do you think you’re doing?” That’s the message you’re likely to get if you try to download songs from the singer’s upcoming American Life, due April 22, on peer-to-peer networks such as Limewire or KaZaA. The spoofed file – a planted fake meant to thwart illegal downloading – recently began flooding P2P networks. Madonna’s spokesperson could not be reached for comment. Other spoofed files containing Madonna’s salty tirade appeared on KaZaA in versions of the new songs “Nobody Knows Me” and “X-Static Process.” If you don’t get the foul-mouthed… Read more »

The recording industry and Internet music broadcasters hope a new agreement will prevent a repeat of their recent battle over online music royalties, allowing them to focus instead on providing better music services for consumers. The two sides agreed Thursday on how much big webcasters like Yahoo!, America Online, Microsoft and RealNetworks must pay to broadcast songs over the Internet during 2003 and 2004. The new deal, if approved by the U.S. Copyright Office, will allow the two industries to avoid a lengthy arbitration process to set the royalty rates. “We are delighted to have reached an agreement that will… Read more »

Roxette singer Marie Fredriksson has threatened to sue a Swedish tabloid for an article alleging she could be suffering from a second tumor. Fredriksson is recovering after having had a brain tumor removed last fall. The Stockholm daily tabloid Expressen wrote last month that doctors had discovered another possible tumor. In a letter to the newspaper, Fredriksson’s lawyer, Leif Silbersky, said the report was false and violated Fredriksson’s integrity. Silbersky said Expressen could avoid a lawsuit by publishing an apology on its front page, pay Fredriksson $59,000 in damages and cover her legal fees. The 44-year-old singer would give the… Read more »

The lawyer now representing Aretha Franklin in the investigation of an arson fire that destroyed her $1.8 million mansion here says the singer has nothing to hide. Franklin fired attorney Elbert Hatchett, who had advised her not to speak to investigators, and hired former Detroit U.S. attorney Saul Green. “All she wants to do is to get a positive resolution to this,” Green said Monday. Oakland County Prosecutor David Gorcyca said there is “a new discourse” between his office and Franklin’s new attorney, who met with prosecutors Monday. Gorcyca hopes to meet with Franklin by week’s end. Franklin’s son, Edward,… Read more »

Six retail record store chains ? hurting from competition from CD burning, online music and large discount stores ? are teaming to offer consumers digital music downloads in their stores and over the Internet. The stores have formed a joint venture called Echo that will provide technology and allow them to offer individual tracks for downloading to portable devices and computers. The stores are Best Buy, Tower Records, Virgin Entertainment Group, Wherehouse Music, Hastings Entertainment Inc. and Trans World Entertainment Corp., operator of FYE, Strawberries and Coconuts stores. “We’re trying to make digital music work in a mass market way,… Read more »