Search Results for: decade

Having played some reunion gigs last year to immense hype, the classic Duran Duran lineup (metrosexual when metrosexual wasn’t cool… or even coined) will offer up “Sunrise,” its first new song in almost two decades, on the Queer Eye for the Straight Guy soundtrack, due February 10th. The album, subtitled What’s That Sound, will actually be the first in a series of recordings tied to the hit Bravo show. In addition to the reunited DD, the set will include “Good Luck,” a new cut by the Basement Jaxx, and “Everybody Wants You to Emerge,” a new mashup that pairs Billy… Read more »

A dispute over royalty rights on copy-protected CDs and other types of music discs is helping to stall the release of some new music technology, and could result in record labels owing tens of millions of dollars in back payments to music publishers. At issue are “double session” CDs that include two versions of each song on a disc, formatted for playback on different kinds of devices. The most widely distributed type are copy-protected discs that prevent CD tracks from being copied to a hard drive, but that also include a digital version of the songs, often in Microsoft’s Windows… Read more »

Apple announced today that over two million iPods have been sold since its introduction, solidifying its position as the number one digital music player in the world. Apple also announced the immediate availability of a new 15GB model offering customers 50 percent more storage for just $299 (US). All iPods work seamlessly with the award-winning iTunes(R) digital music jukebox software and the pioneering iTunes Music Store, which has sold over 30 million songs, providing music fans with the best digital music experience on either a Mac(R) or Windows computer. “With over two million sold, iPod is unquestionably the leading digital… Read more »

Irish punk rock legend Feargal Sharkey will head a survey to examine the state of live music in Britain, which was announced by the government on Tuesday. The number of live bands and appropriate venues has declined over the past few decades, according to the Musicians Union and other critics. Complex licensing laws have also made it hard for small venues to support grassroots live acts. Partially as a result, studio-manufactured pop bands have swamped the music charts, they say. Arts Minister Estelle Morris said the survey will kick-start the Live Music Forum, a new body which will examine new… Read more »

The big question as we enter 2004 is simply “Do you want some?” The answer will come when Liam Gallagher and elder brother Noel return to the fray with the new Oasis album later this year. Although to some the Mancunian brothers’ group may be too tied up with the hangover of ’90s Britpop to ever be a potent force again, they are still undoubtedly one of the biggest rock groups in the country. They do like to tread water, however, and a much-needed change in direction may finally come with the introduction of Death In Vegas man Richard Fearless… Read more »

The future of the music industry is being held, quite literally, in the palm of a twentysomething’s hand. Not the “business” side of the music industry – you know, the folks you’ve perhaps heard weeping into their bowls of caviar over the 31 percent decrease in album sales over the course of the past year, a downturn the suits pin on the advent of digital music downloading and CD burning. No, the “art” side of music business is being forceably changed. Artists are either coming to terms with changes in the ways their music is distributed – or doggedly railing… Read more »

After 19 original albums, decades of hit singles, and a career marked by truly classic records, Joe Cocker, one of rock’s most intense and passionate performers, has chosen 20 of his favorites for his most expansive career retrospective to date. JOE COCKER: ULTIMATE COLLECTION (A&M/Hip-O Records), released January 13, 2004, offers most of his biggest hits and more from 1968 to 2000, spanning his years on A&M, MCA, Island, Capitol, Sony and Eagle Records. In addition, the package’s booklet spotlights an essay by J.P. Bean, author of the September 2003-published JOE COCKER: THE AUTHORIZED BIOGRAPHY, along with song annotations and… Read more »

The ongoing songwriting credit battle between Yoko Ono and Paul McCartney was recently rekindled when Ono once again left the former Beatles’ name off the song “Give Peace a Chance.” First released by the Plastic Ono Band in 1969, “Give Peace a Chance” appears on the new DVDLennon Legend, and, as per the arrangement the songwriting duo reached forty years ago, it was previously credited to both men, despite Lennon being its sole author. The credits to “Give Peace a Chance” have been in contention for decades. On the 1975 Lennon compilation Shaved Fish, the song was credited to Lennon/McCartney,… Read more »

Ozzy Osbourne has been many things throughout his multi-platinum career: lead singer of Black Sabbath, successful solo star and a veteran touring artist. But as Ozzy marks the 35th anniversary of his career, there is no doubt that his starring part in MTV reality series “The Osbournes” ushered in a most unlikely role for him: that of mainstream pop-culture icon. Much has already been said about Ozzy and his family in the saturation media coverage that followed the success of “The Osbournes,” which documents the lives of Ozzy; his wife/manager, Sharon; and two of their children, Kelly and Jack (the… Read more »

Kid Rock and Pamela Anderson played coy when asked if they’re back together. “What? I’m shocked,” Anderson said, smiling. “I could have met him on the corner of Hollywood and Vine.” Since calling off their engagement, the 36-year-old actress has been seen with ex-husband Tommy Lee, with whom she has two young sons. Kid Rock, 32, performed on Sunday night’s American Music Awards. Holding a lit cigarette and a beverage in a plastic cup, Kid Rock said he and Anderson were having a post-show bash. “Good company makes a good party,” he said, nodding toward Anderson. Daryl Hall and John… Read more »