Search Results for: MAX

When the superstar pop vocal group ‘N Sync sat down to pick the songs for its upcoming album, the quintet found itself at odds with its record company. The Florida-based group, which has sold more than 25 million records worldwide since debuting in 1997, wanted to rock the boat with “Celebrity,” which is due in stores July 24. But Jive Records executives worried that too much change might make fans disinclined to buy, buy, buy like they have in the past. “They were like, ‘I don’t know. I don’t like that song. I don’t think you should go there. It’s… Read more »

Ben Folds fans will want to circle September 11th on their calendars. The same day the expatriate piano-man drops his solo debut, Rockin’ the Suburbs, will see an augmented reissue of his ex-outfit’s biggest record. Whatever and Ever Amen, originally released by the Ben Folds Five in 1997, is getting a fresh pressing replete with four rare gems, two from the ill-fated final BFF sessions. The album spawned the band’s biggest hit with the reflective ballad “Brick.” Those two tracks, one penned and sung by bassist Robert Sledge (“Prince Charming”) and the other written by drummer Darren Jessee but sung… Read more »

XM Satellite Radio’s second satellite, dubbed “Roll,” has been formally handed over to XM by Boeing Satellite Systems and has begun broadcasting. Roll reached its final position in geostationary orbit at 85 degrees West Longitude, roughly above Detroit. XM took possession of Roll this afternoon, after the spacecraft completed in-orbit testing. According to a company announcement, the satellite, launched May 8, is performing beyond expectations and has begun broadcasting XM’s channels as part of the preparation for XM’s commercial launch later this summer. “Roll’s” sister ship, “Rock” has been at its final position at 115 degrees West Longitude (approximately above… Read more »

It’s the kind of small moment on which rock ‘n’ roll history turns. It was Fall, 1978. The Ramones had just completed their fourth album, “Road to Ruin,” and the band felt certain it had recorded a hit single: the impossibly catchy “I Wanna Be Sedated.” But the band was overruled; label executives opted for another track, “Don’t Come Close.” That single quickly disappeared, along with the Ramones’ hit-making aspirations. “We really wanted ‘I Wanna Be Sedated,”‘ recalls guitarist Johnny Ramone. “But the record company picked the singles.” So the No. 1 hit in November 1978 instead was the fluffy… Read more »

Joe Strummer and the Mescaleros will launch a U.S. tour in October behind their second album, Global a Go-Go, which arrives in record stores on July 24th. Prior to their full-fledged tour, Strummer and Co. will do a short series of in-store performances to promote the album a little closer to its release date. “Mainly we’re back like the Thirties, because we have to rely on word of mouth,” Strummer says. “MTV is a format, because they know their format works. Radio is the same, because they want the maximum number of people to listen. So we’re working outside of… Read more »

‘NSYNC and the Backstreet Boys on the same album? No, it’s not a new edition of Now That’s What I Call Music! Both boy bands can be found on Still Standing, the forthcoming album from Full Force, the rappers/producers who worked with both pop juggernauts early in their careers. The follow-up to 1995’s Sugar on Top, scheduled for July 31 release, features a revamped version of ‘NSYNC’s “I Just Wanna Be With You” (with additional lyrics courtesy of Da Brat) and the Backstreet Boys’ “All I Have to Give.” Still Standing also contains seven new songs and a number of… Read more »

RealNetworks ®, Inc. and a host of industry leaders today announced the eXtensible Media Commerce Language (XMCL) initiative, an open XML-based language designed to establish industry-wide standards for Internet media commerce. By standardizing the language for business rules, XMCL will enable content to be played in a way that is independent of codecs, digital rights management systems, and e-commerce systems. XMCL will greatly simplify deployment and accelerate the market for digital media commerce over the Internet. RealNetworks intends to submit the XMCL proposal to the appropriate standards organization, and will work with other industry leaders to ensure the initiative evolves… Read more »

Dido, whose RIAA triple-platinum debut album NO ANGEL has just logged its 55th week on the Billboard 200 Album chart, where it remains the longest-running title inside the top 30, has embarked on her 2nd annual headlining summer tour of North America. The festival-type tour of predominately outdoor venues stars Dido, Scottish group Travis, and Icelandic songbird Emiliana Torrini on the main stage, with various others on the second stage. The itinerary began last Sunday in Vancouver and wraps at XCEL Arena in Minneapolis on July 8th. (Please see initial tour dates below, with additional dates to be announced.) While… Read more »

By all accounts, Madonna’s first world tour in eight years kicked off with a roaring success in Barcelona, Spain, on Sunday (June 10). The Material Girl continued the theme of her Scottish Highlands wedding by donning a Jean Paul Gaultier-designed kilt and sleeveless black top for the opening bars of the Drowned World Tour 2001 at the Palau Sant Jordi stadium, according to various media accounts. The 18,000-plus sold-out crowd of Spanish revelers was reportedly so loud throughout the 20-song, two-hour set that the noise drowned out the music itself, clocking in at over 120 decibels at one point, according… Read more »

Two words of advice to struggling musicians who can’t get a record contract: Don’t bother. Or rather, take a page from the book of Uncle Kracker, the 26-year-old pop singer whose debut record hit the top 10 on U.S. album charts even though he calls himself “probably the least ambitious person you’ll meet.” Many budding rock stars dream of great power and wealth in the music business. Uncle Kracker – real name Matt Shafer – dreams of a life changing tires, fishing and gardening. For the time being, though, he is playing a bemused accidental rock star and is on… Read more »