Search Results for: GRAMMYs

Steve Jobs is pleased to have been awarded a Grammy by the recording industry last Wednesday night, for technical achievements in music for Apple Computer. But that doesn’t stop him from criticising record labels’ efforts in digital distribution. Jobs complained that the digital music services backed by the labels don’t make it easy for consumers to burn tracks from CDs they buy. “No one is going to use such services,” Jobs says. “If you legally acquire music, you need to have the right to manage it on all other devices that you own.” The lesson of Napster, which popularised unauthorised… Read more »

Virgin Records was negligent in chartering a small plane in which singer-actress Aaliyah and eight other people died last year, according to wrongful death lawsuits filed Wednesday on behalf of two victims’ families. The survivors of Aaliyah, who was among Wednesday night’s Grammy Award nominees and the star of last weekend’s top-grossing film, “Queen of the Damned,” were not among the plaintiffs. Family members of Los Angeles-based hair stylists Eric Forman, 29, and Anthony Dodd, 34, filed their respective lawsuits in Los Angeles Superior Court against Virgin Records America, affiliated music and video production units, the plane’s owner and the… Read more »

With a leading eight Grammy nominations and a history of Grammy awards, U2 might seem to be in position to sweep the awards on Wednesday. This is one of those years, however, in which no group is considered a clear favorite, neither the Irish rockers nor other multiple nominees like India.Arie or Alicia Keys. “There’s not an obviously clear-cut winner,” said Rick Krim, executive vice president of talent and programming at VH1. “I’m kind of hoping it gets spread around, because there are so many deserving nominees this year.” Some recent ceremonies have been coronations for the year’s most successful… Read more »

After all the chest-beating and back-and-forth over whether he would sing for the Grammys or the rival American Music Awards, pop star Michael Jackson will end up having performed on neither. A spokesman for the Grammy-sponsoring National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences said the “Gloved One” will not be performing on Wednesday night’s live CBS telecast of the music industry’s highest honors. Asked whether Jackson declined an offer to appear or whether he was never invited to begin with, the spokesman, Ron Roecker, said he did not know. Jackson’s manager referred queries to his label, Epic Records, but his… Read more »

Presenters and performers at the Grammys will get more than just bragging rights about being on stage. The goody bags created for the artists to take home are said to be worth $16,000 a piece. Inside are items like diamond earrings, a sports club membership, a wireless e-mail device and a bust of themselves in bronze or aluminum. Since No Doubt singer Gwen Stefani announced her engagement to Gavin Rossdale of Bush, her bag will contain $5,000 worth of dishes from an unusual housewares store. The bags also include everyday items like deodorant and Tic-Tacs.

“Songs in A Minor” may turn Alicia Keys into a major hit. Keys received four nominations for the 16th annual Soul Train Music Awards – leading soul songstresses India.Arie and the late performer Aaliyah, with three each. Veteran R&B singers the Isley Brothers, making a comeback more than 42 years after their first hit single “Shout,” also gathered three nominations Thursday. Keys also is up for six Grammys for the album “Songs in A Minor,” while India.Arie has seven Grammy nominations for her debut album “Acoustic Soul.” Aaliyah, who died in a plane crash last August at age 22, has… Read more »

“How do you get to Carnegie Hall?” Michael Stipe asked the crowd soon after R.E.M. took the stage Thursday night at the venerable venue. “Practice,” the crowd blurted in unison. “Well, we didn’t,” Stipe responded. “So if you hear a bum note or something that doesn’t sound right, I urge you to sing louder in your head.” The tour-shy Athens rockers and granola-pop folkie Jewel were among those on hand for an evening of spirited entertainment at “You Gotta Have Friends: Partners in the Fight Against AIDS,” a benefit for the Gay Men’s Health Crisis. ( from the event.) Judging… Read more »

Midem kicked off with more flash than usual Saturday with a touch of Britneymania, a surprise appearance from Virgin mogul Richard Branson and the NRJ awards, France’s answer to the Grammys. Pop icon Britney Spears, braving the chill at the 36th installment of the annual music market in a skimpy floral dress, was on hand to promote her upcoming feature film, “Crossroads,” scheduled for Valentine’s Day release in the United States, as well as her third album, “Britney,” already approaching 8 million units worldwide At a packed Carlton hotel press conference, Spears expressed her hopes for her first foray onto… Read more »

Chart-topping singer Dido had her nomination for a British best-newcomer award revoked Wednesday, after officials realized she wasn’t that new after all. The singer, who rose to stardom after rapper Eminem chose her song “Thank You” as the backing track to his chart-topper “Stan,” was nominated Monday in the category for a Brit Award, Britain’s equivalent of the Grammys. Observers pointed out that the 30-year-old Dido, whose real name is Florian Cloud De Bounevialle Armstrong, had been nominated for best female artist the previous year. The Official U.K. Charts Company, which compiled the list of eligible artists, said Wednesday it… Read more »

Gorillaz heads the list of nominees for the 2002 Brit Awards, the U.K. equivalent of the Grammys that primarily honors homegrown talent, earning six nominations for Best British Group, Newcomer, Dance Act, Album (for Gorilliaz), and Single and Video (for “Clint Eastwood”). Dido, Robbie Williams – who led the 2001 Brits with three victories – and Kylie Minogue each earned four nominations, including one shared by Williams and Minogue for their “Kids” video. The Strokes, meanwhile, led all American acts with three nominations for Best International Group, Newcomer and Album, for Is This It, which debuted in the U.K. a… Read more »