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It didn’t take long for the glitter of pop diva Mariah Carey’s new multimillion-dollar record deal with EMI Group Plc to lose its luster. Three months after the commercial flop of her first EMI release, the British-based music giant is seeking to buy out Carey’s contract by offering her a huge lump-sum payment in exchange for her departure from EMI’s Virgin Records label, the Los Angeles Times reported Wednesday. The Times put the value of Carey’s EMI contract at $80 million for four albums, although other reports have said she signed for as much as $118 million for five albums.… Read more »

Dick Clark says Michael Jackson would be on the American Music Awards, but Michael Greene won’t let him. The TV personality/producer filed a $10 million lawsuit on Wednesday (December 19) against Greene, president and CEO of the Recording Academy, claiming that Greene’s Grammy booking policy prevents top artists from appearing on Clark’s American Music Awards. Clark’s suit, filed in Los Angeles Superior Court, alleges that Greene’s policy of refusing to book artists who perform at the AMAs – which will take place seven weeks prior to the Grammy Awards – caused a breach of contract by forcing Jackson to back… Read more »

Alanis Morissette’s forthcoming album Under Rug Swept is locked in for a February 26 release. It features guest appearances from Stone Temple Pilots guitarist Dean DeLeo, former Jane’s Addiction bassist/guitarist Eric Avery, Meshell Ndegeocello, and Red Hot Chili Peppers bassist Flea, who played bass on her monster hit “You Ought To Know.” The first single from the new album, “Hands Clean,” hits radio in mid-January. “I like the idea of him ‘speaking’ to me from the past and my responding from the present,” said Morissette in a statement. “It was really healing and empowering for me to be able to… Read more »

The tension is palpable at Universal Studios as USA Networks CEO Barry Diller considers merging his media empire with the studio’s Vivendi Universal parent. “All we know for sure is that Barry Diller is going to be a helluva lot richer a week from now,” said one senior studio executive who was about to attend the Universal Christmas Party. Vivendi Universal, seeking an elusive U.S. distribution outlet for its array of television and film assets, said on Tuesday it was in talks to buy the entertainment assets of USA, which is about 40%-owned by the French company. Whatever Diller does,… Read more »

Queensbridge, New York-based rap duo Mobb Deep is set to release its fifth album, Infamy, on December 11. The set is the follow-up to the pair’s platinum-certified 1999 set, Murda Muzik. While the group is excited about the forthcoming release, they have also recently been involved in an ongoing beef with Jay-Z. The conflict rose to a new level during a Summer Jam event in New York when Jay-Z displayed on the big screen a picture of Mobb Deep member Prodigy as an adolescent dressed up in a Michael Jackson outfit while also attacking the rapper’s street credibility in a… Read more »

Loud Records extends its reach into wireless networks through a groundbreaking new partnership with mobile entertainment portal Zingy (www.zingy.com). Fans of the digitally progressive Wu-Tang Clan and Mobb Deep may now customize their cell phones with free ringtones and logos from their new albums. This marks the first time in the U.S. that music has premiered for mobile phones before an album release. “Technology is advancing so fast in this day and age, there’s no better way to get involved than through the wireless networks. Cell phones are so widely used that ringtones are one of the best ways to… Read more »

In the first of a series of significant hires to build up the Urban Promotion department, Greg Powell has been named Vice President, Urban Promotion for ARTISTdirect Records, it was announced today by Marc Benesch, Executive Vice President, Promotion for the label. Powell will be based in the Company’s Los Angeles offices, and assumes his new position immediately. “I worked with Greg at Priority,” commented Benesch, “and his ability to develop new artists at the street level, in the clubs, and moving on to the mix shows, combined with his knowledge of timing as to when to impact radio, is… Read more »

What do “Pretty Woman” Julia Roberts and “The Material Girl” Madonna have in common besides wealth, fame and beauty? They are the two lone superstars to grace this year’s Hollywood Reporter list of the 50 most influential women in show business, a ranking started 10 years ago to shine the spotlight on the women doing great work behind the scenes. Roberts and Madonna, who ranked No. 3 and 42 respectively on the list, however, were just too powerful to ignore, said officials at the Hollywood Reporter. “We try to make room for the women who have superseded the celebrity aspect… Read more »

Sean ” P. Diddy” Combs and Black Rob were on hand to help G. Dep, Bay Boy Entertainment’s latest sensation, celebrate the release of his debut set, Child Of The Ghetto, at New York nightclub Saci on Wednesday night (November 28). The album release party was hosted by Frank Jigga, with DJ Goldfinger providing the music backdrop. Combs and Black Rob joined G. Dep on stage to perform several songs, including “Let’s Get It,” “Everyday,” “Child Of The Ghetto,” and “Special Delivery.” G. Dep’s Child Of The Ghetto debuted at Number 105 on the Billboard 200 albums chart after selling… Read more »

Sirius Satellite Radio, the satellite radio broadcaster, today announced it hired consumer electronics and telecommunications veteran Joseph P. Clayton, 52, as President and Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Clayton joins Sirius from Global Crossing, the global internet and long distance services provider, where he was vice chairman. Mr. Clayton previously served as chief executive officer of Frontier Corporation, a Rochester-based national provider of local telephone, long distance, data, conferencing and wireless communications services, until its acquisition by Global Crossing in October 1999. Mr. Clayton succeeds David Margolese, Sirius’ founder and chairman, who stepped down as Chief Executive Officer in October. In… Read more »