Search Results for: The Aces

Yes, his brother is the Backstreet Boys’ Nick Carter. But that doesn’t mean 13-year-old Aaron Carter shows him a great deal of respect. “When they’re asleep, my brother and my manager, I put shaving cream in their hands and tickle their nose and they smash it into their faces,” says the younger Carter. “I know how to get away Ö fast.” Like his elder sibling, however, Carter is becoming well acquainted with the pop charts and radio playlists. After first finding international success in 1999, his first U.S. release – last fall’s relentlessly cheerful Aaron’s Party (Come Get It) –… Read more »

Napster interim CEO Hank Barry calls upon Congress to enact compulsory license laws that include direct payment to artists. Testifying before U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee, Napster’s chief executive officer said that an act of Congress is required to remedy the issues facing Internet music. Barry called on Congress to enact a compulsory license analogous to laws already in place for radio, for the delivery of music over the Internet. He urged that any such license should include language that enables direct payment to artists similar to the “writer’s share” of public performance payments that are collected by ASCAP and BMI.… Read more »

In the aftermath of his acquittal on gun-possession and bribery charges, Sean Combs doesn’t just plan to change his life – he’s going to change his name, too. In an effort to break from his past, the artist formerly known as both Puffy and Puff Daddy now wants to be known as P. Diddy, he told MTV News Wednesday morning (March 28) in his first on-camera interview since his acquittal on gun possession and bribery charges. “No more Puff Daddy – the first week in June we’re gonna have a name change ceremony,” Combs said. “I’m not doing it as… Read more »

Stuart Rubin has been promoted to senior vp worldwide marketing at BMG Entertainment. Rubin, who was managing director of BMG New Zealand, will report to executive vp worldwide marketing and A&R Thomas Stein. Rubin replaces Bill Wilson, who left the company to pursue other interests. Wilson had worked closely with former BMG CEO Strauss Zelnick and former chief marketing officer Kevin Conroy, who exited the label group late last year. Rubin will be charged with international and priority artist marketing and will oversee partnership and online marketing initiatives. “Stuart brings to his new position a strong track record in breaking… Read more »

When Kid Rock inducts never-say-die rockers Aerosmith into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on Monday, “Sweet Emotion” will be doubly apt in describing the scenario. Not only are Steven Tyler, Joe Perry, Brad Whitford, Tom Hamilton and Joey Kramer elated to be receiving such an honor, the group will perform its 1975 single with the rap-rocker at the induction ceremony, Perry, a self-confessed Rock-head, said Friday (March 16). As for Tyler’s take on being inducted, the singer modestly said, “Not bad for a bunch of guys that got kicked out of clubs for playing their own songs, right?”… Read more »

Alternatives to Napster – file-sharing software like BearShare, Mactella and other Gnutella clones, as well as services like Aimster and OpenNap – are nothing new. But with Napster under court order to screen out copyrighted music, the service’s millions of users finally have a reason to seek out new places to get MP3s. And with the introduction of BearShare and other new, easy-to-use clones, the decentralized Gnutella network – long considered the most viable alternative to Napster – may be finally ready for its moment in the spotlight. Napster’s legal vulnerability stems in large part from the way the service… Read more »

Even as Napster faces the arrival of a new court order that could force it to shut down its music-sharing service, company officials are working “in the background” to make peace with the music industry, according to founder Shawn Fanning. In October, Napster announced a pact with the parent company of major label BMG Entertainment to create a new, subscription-fee-driven version of its service. Since then, Napster has been trying to shape the new service to appeal to the other four major labels, Fanning said. “We feel really strongly there’s a big win here, not only for the consumers, but… Read more »