Search Results for: With Confidence

At a time when some international recording artists are looking to include India in their Asian touring itineraries, the recent attacks in Mumbai could hurt the country’s emerging live entertainment business While India’s touring market remains relatively small and is hampered by inadequate infrastructure, a growing number of Western recording stars have performed there in recent years, including Beyonce 50 Cent Wyclef Jean the Rolling Stones, Shakira Aerosmith Lionel Richie and Iron Maiden “The tragic events in Mumbai will have a huge impact on the decision of artists touring in India in general,” Agency Group CEO Neil Warnock says. “This… Read more »

Barack Obama partied with Hollywood celebrities Tuesday night and with the help of Oscar-winning singer and actress Barbra Streisand raised an eye-popping $9 million for his presidential campaign and the Democratic Party. The night was split into two glitzy events, a reception and dinner costing $28,500 each at the Greystone Mansion, followed by entertainment by Streisand at the nearby Regent Beverly Wilshire Hotel. About 250-300 people were expected at the dinner and about 800 at the entertainment, which cost $2,500 a ticket. Dinner guests seen by reporters, or noted by waiters, included Will Ferrell, Jodie Foster, Leonardo DiCaprio, Jamie Lee… Read more »

While millions around the world spent Sunday watching the closing ceremony of the Beijing Olympics, 7,000 fans lucky enough to score a ticket to Radiohead’s show at the Hollywood Bowl witnessed not only a band at the top of its game but also an act that at times seemed to be the best on the planet. Certainly that’s high praise, but during its two-hour set — the first of two sold-out nights at the Bowl — the quintet from Oxford, England, managed to cast a spell over the crowd without resorting to fist-pumping anthems like U2, Bruce Springsteen, Pearl Jam… Read more »

Microsoft chairman Bill Gates announced Friday at the World Economic Forum that his foundation would give $306 million to use green technology and farming techniques to boost millions out of hunger and poverty. The announcement by Gates, who is a long-time favorite speaker at the annual meeting of business and government leaders, injected a shot of optimism into the gathering which had been weighed down the first two days by fears of a global economic downturn. Gates, who is stepping down as Microsoft chair later this year and expected to focus more on philanthropy, received a standing ovation at the… Read more »

Hannah Montana fans are getting the best of both worlds, leaving the less entertaining aspects to the show’s lawyers and publicists. A lawsuit brought against the Disney Channel by an award-winning comedy writer who claims he pitched the original idea for Hannah Montana and was never compensated for his efforts was referred Friday to mediation in the hope that the two sides can cut a deal. Buddy Sheffield sued parent company ABC Cable Networks Group on Aug. 23, alleging breach of implied contract, breach of confidence, unfair competition and unjust enrichment. He is seeking unspecified damages. ABC Cable has denied… Read more »

“Big Casino,” the bombastic first single from rock band Jimmy Eat World’s new album is the story of an aging rocker laying out his version of reality.The Vegas-circuit character is explaining to a younger musician that “rock’n’roll is not all it’s cut out to be,” frontman Jim Adkins explains. “It’s kind of a loser anthem. It’s about a guy with unearned confidence whose assumption of worth is a protective front for total failure.” But Adkins stresses that the song is not a commentary on the band or on the music industry, noting, “We’re in a very good place.” Its new… Read more »

SAN DIEGO – Most fans who held coveted tickets to Britney Spears’ first show in three years entered the House of Blues on Tuesday with the simplest of hopes – that the recently rehabbed pop star would be there with them. They heard all the rumors. They woke up to erroneous claims by gossip Web sites and local media that the not-so-secret show – billed as the M+M’s – was off. Even when Britney’s tour bus arrived at the venue, there was still the chance that she might pull the plug at the last minute, as she did at an… Read more »

Just before Sum 41 released “March of the Dogs,” a song from their upcoming Underclass Hero album, to iTunes, frontman Deryck Whibley posted a bulletin on the band’s MySpace page stating that, while the track is “lyrically … one of the more political songs on the album,” it was by no means indicative of Hero’s content, adding, “This will NOT be a political record.” And why would Whibley post such a caveat? Perhaps it has something to do with the intro to “Dogs,” a spoken-word bit in which Whibs declares: “Ladies and gentlemen of the underclass, the president of the… Read more »

Media industry executives and analysts have expressed surprise and alarm at last week’s decision by EMI, the record label, to start selling music videos without the protection of anti-piracy software. The decision was a little-noticed part of the company’s ground-breaking deal with Apple that made all of EMI’s catalogue available on iTunes in a format that can be copied and played on any digital device without restriction. That deal, announced with fanfare by EMI chief executive Eric Nicoli and Apple founder Steve Jobs, was hailed as ushering in a new digital music era. EMI is expected to begin announcing deals… Read more »

There are actors who sing and singers who act, but throughout pop history few entertainers have successfully balanced those twin careers. Neither could Hilary Duff, though not due to lack of effort. While her career as a pop diva skyrocketed – she released two platinum albums and a best-selling greatest-hits disc in just three years – the former Disney child star found her acting career stalling. Despite her considerable star wattage, Hollywood had difficulty seeing Duff beyond her past sugary sweet roles and good girl persona (no rehab or pantyless partying here). “It always shocks me the lack of openness,… Read more »