Search Results for: against the current

Record labels have historically invested significant financial resources toward new acts’ touring efforts, whether it be $20,000 for a regional van trek or $200,000 for a national bus outing. But in today’s world of shrinking revenue and tight budgets, tour support funds – though almost always recoupable against album sales – are becoming harder to come by. “There’s not as much money at any level, whether it’s signing bonuses, (recording) albums, tour support or anything else,” says Tim DuBois, senior partner of Nashville-based record label Universal South, home of such ascts as Pat Green and Joe Nichols. “But even in… Read more »

JUST days after the European launch of Apple Computers’ online music store, a chorus of customers are voicing their complaints. The lack of songs from artists on independent record labels – which account for a quarter of the UK market – has left iTunes looking like a poorly-stocked American import store, lacking local talent such as Travis and Franz Ferdinand. “Most Scottish acts are on independent labels,” says Alison Wenham, chairman and chief executive of the Association of Independent Music (AIM), which represents the majority of the UK’s indie labels. “Celtic acts typically start off very strong in their home… Read more »

Nine Inch Nails’ former manager John Malm has shot back at Trent Reznor, who filed a suit against him earlier this week seeking millions of dollars. Not only does Malm refute Reznor’s claim that he and former business manager/accountant Richard Szekelyi ripped off the rocker, he insists that Reznor actually owes him over $2 million in unpaid commissions. After numerous attempts to procure the payments, the manager sued Reznor in April, weeks before the suit against Malm and Szekelyi was filed. “Trent Reznor’s complete lack of loyalty and integrity is astounding,” Malm said in a statement. “After 20 years of… Read more »

A Canadian man accused of stalking Britney Spears has been arrested for a second time. Daniel J. Lachance was corralled Tuesday night after entering the Louisiana property of the pop star’s father, Jamie Spears. According to published reports, Lachance was unarmed and offered no resistance. The 25-year-old Canuck was booked into the Tangipahoa Parish Jail Wednesday and charged with criminal trespassing and stalking. He’s being held on $150,000 bail. Lachance had previously been picked up by cops on Spears family property April 12 and was warned not to do it again. The alleged stalker was trying to track down the… Read more »

The attorney for Maverick Records has dismissed as “hogwash” a claim by Warner Music Group (WMG) that Madonna’s label has lost $66 million since 1999. WMG’s claim is the latest wrinkle in a spat with Maverick’s principals – Madonna and Guy Oseary – over the value of the label and who will control it after this year. WMG has an option to buy the 60% of Maverick it does not currently own when the labels’ joint-venture agreement expires Dec. 31. Maverick attorney Bert Fields says WMG is “stabbing Madonna in the back” by filing the claim in the middle of… Read more »

The Federal Bureau of Investigation is investigating a six-year-old theory that a Los Angeles Police officer orchestrated the 1997 shooting death of the Notorious B.I.G. (Christopher Wallace) on orders from Death Row label head Suge Knight. The murder took place March 9, 1997, outside the Petersen Auto Museum in Los Angeles. The Los Angeles Times reports that the FBI is investigating the theory that Amir Muhammad, an associate of imprisoned former Los Angeles Police officer David A. Mack, ambushed the Notorious B.I.G. outside the museum while the rapper was seated in the passenger seat of his SUV. Muhammad, Mack, and… Read more »

Figures. Guns N’ Roses reunites and then things go kabooey. Axl Rose reteamed with original Gun mates Slash and Duff McKagan for the purpose of a lawsuit against Geffen Records. The trio was trying to halt the label from releasing a greatest hits collection. In their lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles, the Gunners sought a preliminary injunction against Geffen, a subsidiary of Universal Music Group, accusing the company of failing to consult with the band on the tunes, artwork and remixing of Greatest Hits. But a federal judge on Monday deep-sixed Axl & Co.’s call for… Read more »

The odds are stacked against Velvet Revolver. Their singer, Scott Weiland, is currently in drug rehab for the umpteenth time. Who knows if he’ll be a free man when it’s time to tour, and judging from his past history, it could be a struggle for him to stay clean when the band hits the road. As for his bandmates – ex-Guns N’ Roses members Slash (guitar), Duff McKagan (bass) and Matt Sorum (drums), and former Suicidal Tendencies guitarist Dave Kushner – they’re ready to rock, but there’s some question whether the rock community is ready to embrace them. Over a… Read more »

This copyright showdown isn’t as clear as black and white. Today has been dubbed Grey Tuesday by the music activist group Downhill Battle, which is heading up an effort by some 200 Websites to make available the Grey Album, a controversial new remix disc by hip-hop deejay-producer Danger Mouse. In the spirit of bastard pop bootlegs or “mash-ups,” the L.A.-based Danger Mouse lifted the vocal tracks from Jay-Z’s The Black Album and dropped them over new musical tracks created by reworking the Beatles’ White Album. The resulting disc, The Grey Album, was originally distributed undergound in very limited release but… Read more »

Anyone remember the ‘80s metal band Queensryche? They were a pretty popular band at the time, but tell that to the angry fans who basically shot down and pissed on the band night after night when they opened for Metallica. Playing with a variety of big name bands can help a smaller band raise their profile. But if they can’t deliver to the fans’ interest, then it’s like sending the proverbial lamb to the slaughter. Default have had the unenviable task of catering to different types of audiences ever since they broke on to the scene, but bass player Dave… Read more »