Search Results for: The Aces

Lifehouse recorded what’s being called the most-played number on radio this year, the lovesick “Hanging by a Moment.” But the L.A.-based pop/rock band brings so little to the table in the way of originality and execution, as witnessed at the first of two sold-out El Rey gigs on Friday, that it’s unlikely the band will be able to build much on the success of that tune. Group’s melodramatic songs bear striking similarities to those of Pennsylvania’s Live and Florida’s Matchbox Twenty, though lacking the lyrical depth of the former and without the songwriting smoothness of the latter. Nearly each entry… Read more »

British music giant EMI Group Plc on Monday appointed former PolyGram president Alain Levy as the new chief of its recorded music division in a move aimed at reversing the decline at one of its main operations. EMI, home to such acts as Mariah Carey, Radiohead, the Beatles, the Rolling Stones and David Bowie, said Levy would become the new chairman and chief executive officer at EMI Recorded Music, replacing Ken Berry, who had left the group by “mutual agreement.” Levy also will take up a position on the main board. The company added in a statement its trading remained… Read more »

From a chair that looked as if it belongs on the starship Enterprise, Hugh Panero flipped a switch Tuesday and formally launched XM, the first of the nationwide satellite radio services to go on the air. While the ceremony marked XM’s official start, it will not be a national service for some months because the signal is being beamed from the company’s two satellites – “Rock” and “Roll” – to San Diego and Dallas. The company plans to roll out service to the southern half of the United States within a month and to the rest of the nation in… Read more »

The ever versatile and charismatic Elton John will perform in Detroit for one night only at 8 p.m. on Saturday, October 13, 2001, at Joe Louis Arena. This is Sir Elton’s first Detroit appearance since his unprecedented pairing with Detroit’s own Eminem at this year’s Grammy Awards. As the most popular recording artist of the ’70s, Elton John will perform his beloved music for fans hailing from many different backgrounds and ages. Elton John’s effortless melodic skills combined with his versatile style have enabled him to record a Top 40 single every year from 1970 to 1996. He’s known for… Read more »

When it comes to riding the boy-band wave in pop music, nobody has done it better than Lou Pearlman. The Backstreet Boys, ‘N Sync and O-Town are just a few of the groups the Orlando-based impresario and his company, Trans Continental Entertainment, have launched on the road to hormone-fueled success. But in the past few months, Pearlman has hit some sour notes. About 15 key executives and staffers, including company vice presidents, the chief operating officer, a tour manager, accountants and publicists, have left or been laid off. O-Town, Pearlman’s latest breakout success, recently left for a management firm run… Read more »

Rob Thomas stepped off an airplane feeling like a bona fide rock star, with nearly 12 million copies of his band’s freshman album sold and the follow-up effort following closely behind. But when he handed his passport over to a control officer, she asked: “Are you Rob Thomas of Santana? The guy who sang ‘Smooth?”‘ “I was like ‘No! I’m Rob Thomas of Matchbox Twenty,”‘ he recalled during a recent interview. Thomas’ work on 1999 smash “Smooth,” which earned Santana record and song of the year at last year’s Grammy Awards, has gained him more celebrity than the success he’s… Read more »

German media giant Bertelsmann’s shakeup of its flagging music division looks set to continue with U.S.-based subsidiary Bertelsmann Music Group (BMG) reportedly looking to lay off hundreds of employees in its efforts to cut costs and raise profits. Rumors followed the appointment last week of former BMG Germany chief Thomas Stein to head BMG’s European division. Stein replaces Richard Griffiths, who is leaving the company by mutual agreement after six months in the job. “We have a new European management team and everything is being reviewed,” said a BMG Europe spokeswoman in Munich, who confirmed that BMG’s top management would… Read more »