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Even though the RIAA continues to go after Internet file-sharers, millions of music fans keep downloading songs. Naturally, this hurts album sales, which were down around 12 percent for the first half of 2003. To try to convince people to actually buy albums again, record companies have offered value-added packaging such as the ever-popular bonus DVD, which typically contains backstage footage, exclusive interviews, videos and maybe a live recording or two. But adding a DVD can be costly. Labels typically pay between one and two dollars per extra disc, which means as much as an additional $2 million for an… Read more »

The early buzz on the new Britney Spears album was that it would be adventurous, atmospheric and above all, adult. Two out of three ain’t bad. Sure, Britney has a bit of a trip-hop vibe on her upcoming album, just not enough to justify her love for her mentor Madonna’s latter-day direction. In the Zone is by no means Britney’s Ray of Light. Instead, Spears’ fourth album jumps stylistically all over the place, from techno to hip-hop, even to reggae, with thumping, tribal dance songs being the predominant flavor, save for a touching ballad or two. The only thematic connection… Read more »

Napster, a division of Roxio today announced the musical lineup for its October 29 celebration of the launch of the Napster 2.0 at the House of Blues in Los Angeles. Additionally, in the spirit of Napster, hundreds of music fans will receive free tickets to the exclusive event through local radio stations and fan site giveaways this week. Ahmet Zappa will be the emcee for the evening and Def Jam recording artist Ludacris will headline the event. Ludacris is the hottest musician in the country, with the number one selling album “Chicken N Beer”. Other popular new artists performing that… Read more »

Two weeks after her arrest on drug charges, Courtney Love was in Los Angeles Juvenile Court on Thursday in an attempt to regain custody of her 11-year-old daughter, Frances Bean Cobain. The custody battle came in the wake of Love’s October 2 arrest and subsequent charge for being under the influence of a controlled substance. Just hours after her arrest, Love was reportedly transported to a Century City hospital by Beverly Hills emergency services for an undisclosed drug overdose. On October 10, officials from the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) came to place Frances Bean,… Read more »

Outkast, Pharrell Williams and Kid Rock are among the initial performers announced for the VH1 Big in ’03 awards. Matchbox Twenty and Shania Twain are also slated to provide a soundtrack for the second-annual pop culture celebration, which will tape November 20 at the Universal Amphitheatre near Los Angeles. Presenters lined up so far include Beyoncé, Jessica Simpson and Nick Lachey, Paris and Nikki Hilton, David Spade, Paula Abdul, D.L. Hughley, Vivica Fox, Joe Rogan and cast members of “The OC.” The show, which will air November 30 at 9 p.m., honors the biggest noisemakers of 2003 in entertainment, news,… Read more »

Ever since The All-American Rejects jumped from independent label Doghouse Records to DreamWorks, the Oklahoma band has been experiencing the inevitable cries of “sell-out” from former supporters in the indie crowd. “I think a lot of people don’t respect us anymore,” reflects drummer Chris Gaylor. “When we were on Doghouse we were this cool indie-pop band and that was awesome. But when you sign to a major, you’re just some dumb boy-band pop group. I don’t see how that differs. We didn’t change any of ourselves or any of the music.” Originally issued in October of 2002, their self-titled debut… Read more »

Nearly a year after Microsoft Corp. agreed to end its anticompetitive conduct, the government is raising concerns the world’s largest software maker is trying to use its dominant Windows operating system to influence where customers buy their music online. If the dispute isn’t resolved by week’s end, it could become the first test of Microsoft’s landmark antitrust settlement that was approved by a federal court in October 2002. Lawyers for the Justice Department and 19 state attorneys general have formally complained to a federal judge about a design feature of Windows that compels consumers who buy music online to use… Read more »

For years, both onstage and on “The Osbournes,” we’ve witnessed legendary metal singer Ozzy Osbourne shake, stammer, stutter and shuffle around with a walk that grew increasingly hunched over and motor functions that only seemed to be getting worse. Speculation ran rampant. Were these maladies related to years of drug abuse dating back to the Black Sabbath days? Parkinson’s Disease? Muscular Dystrophy? The answer is, in fact, none of the above. Thanks to a Boston neurological specialist, Ozzy now knows the cause of the “shakes” that have plagued him for decades and with the help of a new medication, he’s… Read more »

Who says a dollar doesn’t get you anywhere these days? Come November, a buck will be enough to get you into a Blink-182 show when they embark on a rare club tour. “We’re paying for this [show] ourselves,” singer/guitarist Tom DeLonge said recently. “It’s a chance for us to just come back together because we always play gigantic stages. Mark, Travis and I are always like 30 feet away from each other so we get to come back closer and remember what it’s like. It’s so much fun to play in the smaller places.” The DollaBill Tour launches November 6… Read more »

The record industry’s trade group has warned 204 people suspected of illegally swapping music over the Internet that it plans to file lawsuits against them. The Recording Industry Association of America started mailing sternly worded warnings last week. Unlike last month’s crackdown against 261 alleged song sharers, the targets are being notified before lawsuits are filed. “In light of the comments we have heard, we want to go the extra mile and offer illegal file sharers an additional chance to work this out, short of legal action,” said RIAA president Cary Sherman. The letters give the recipients 10 days to… Read more »