Search Results for: GERMANY

Apple, the US computer company behind the iTunes music service, has become the latest group to oppose the proposed deal between Sony Music and BMG, the recorded music arm of Germany’s Bertelsmann media group. The development comes as the European Commission begins an intensive second-stage investigation of the merger, a probe it is due to close by June 22. In an announcement on Thursday, the Commission said it had “decided to investigate whether the deal might create or strengthen a collective dominant position between the remaining four major record companies”. It said it would examine “the extent to which the… Read more »

R.E.M.’s July 19, 2003, concert at Bowling Green in Weisbaden, Germany, is captured in its entirety on the DVD “Perfect Square,” due March 16 from Warner Bros. The 23-song set sports such performance rarities as “Maps and Legends” from the 1985 album “Fables of the Reconstruction” and the ancient non-album track “Permanent Vacation.” Prior to the 2003 tour, the former had not been played live since 1989, while the latter hadn’t been unearthed since 1984. Also featured are “Bad Day” and “Animal,” the two new songs included on the recent best-of “In Time,” plus such R.E.M. favorites as “The One… Read more »

Justin Timberlake has signed on for two projects that’ll find him taking a good look at his roots – a memoir and a television special celebrating the music of Motown. Timberlake had been shopping his autobiography since October, when he entertained offers from international publishers at the Frankfurt Book Fair in Germany. Bidding was said to have reached seven figures, but the singer played coy when asked about it at the time. “Possibly, sure,” he said. “I have no idea. I have no clue.” He might have a better idea now that he’s sold the book’s U.K. rights. London’s Transworld… Read more »

Sony Music, home to such artists as Beyonce Knowles and Bruce Springsteen, on Monday said it plans to introduce new CD technology in Germany that prevents users from copying songs to file-sharing sites, but allows them to make copies for their personal use. The record industry blames its recent sales slump on file-sharing services like KaZaa, which it says are havens for piracy. Last year, major labels issued “copy-protected” CDs that prevent them from being played on computers. The copy-protected discs faced a backlash from customers and music fans, and several lawsuits emerged from some customers that complained these CDs… Read more »

R.E.M. made unique chart history today with “In Time: The Best Of R.E.M. 1988-2003” debuting at #8 and #16 on the Billboard Top 200 chart, the first time the same album debuts twice in the Top 20 in the same week. Released on October 28th, “In Time” is for sale as both a single compact disc and double CD featuring the same initial piece and a second disc with rarities and b-sides compiled by the band. The albums scanned 75,560 units and 51,163 units respectively with a cumulative total of 126,723 units according to Nielsen Soundscan which would put the… Read more »

There may not be something rotten in Denmark, but there must be something strange in the air when it comes to their cultural relationship with America. At least it seems that way when you look at some of the country’s most interesting exports. Just last month, Toronto was treated to a screening of Lars Von Trier’s new film, Dogville, and a concert in support of The Raveonettes’ new album, Chain Gang Of Love. Both were about America. Although The Raveonettes have admitted to being influenced by Von Trier’s Dogma 95 films, their opinions on The States couldn’t be more different.… Read more »

Radiohead are more likely to release an EP, or even several EPs, before recording another full-length album. With the release of their sixth studio disc, Hail To The Thief, the band have fulfilled their contract with their record label, and now singer Thom Yorke says they’re looking forward to not having to make another album right away. He told Billboard.com, “It’s always been album, album, album…with things like iTunes and people splitting up tracks, I kind of think that’s good. I listen to music on random all the time.” Yorke stressed the need for Radiohead to “reinvent” their sound again… Read more »

Quirky rock duo Ween has lined up a three-week European tour, kicking off Nov. 27 in Stockholm and wrapping Dec. 16 in Dublin. The group’s North American trek in support of its latest Sanctuary album, “Quebec,” hits Northampton, Mass. Oct. 28 and will run through a Nov. 7-9 stand at Chicago’s Vic Theater. While in the Windy City, Ween will also make an in-store appearance Nov. 8 at Tower Records on Clark Street. “There is a very good chance that all three nights in Chicago will be professionally filmed and recorded for a DVD to be released on Sanctuary,” guitarist… Read more »

The battle-weary music industry surveyed the wreckage of another dismal six months on Wednesday as global data showed music sales tumbled almost 11 percent, piling more pressure on music companies to do deals to survive. Despite big hits from pop queen Christina Aguilera and rapper 50 Cent, Internet downloading and CD-burning continued to ravage the industry, dragging music sales down to $12.7 billion in the first half of this year, a leading industry body said. However, the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI) indicated the rest of the year may not be so gloomy, with a strong release schedule… Read more »

Johnny Cash, “The Man in Black” who became a towering figure in American music with such hits as “Folsom Prison Blues,” “I Walk the Line,” and “A Boy Named Sue,” died Friday. He was 71. “Johnny died due to complications from diabetes, which resulted in respiratory failure,” Cash’s manager, Lou Robin, said in a statement issued by Baptist Hospital in Nashville. He said Cash died at the hospital at 1 a.m. EDT. “I hope that friends and fans of Johnny will pray for the Cash family to find comfort during this very difficult time,” Robin said. Cash had been released… Read more »