Search Results for: extreme

American songwriters and music publishers have reached preliminary agreement with the on-line file sharing service Napster to settle the class-action lawsuit currently pending in federal court in California. The agreement includes terms under which the songwriters and music publishers will license their music to Napster’s new membership-based service. The announcement of the proposed settlement was made jointly by Edward P. Murphy, president and CEO of the National Music Publishers’ Association, Inc., Gary L. Churgin, president and CEO of The Harry Fox Agency, Inc., George David Weiss, president of The Songwriters’ Guild of America, Inc., and Napster president and CEO Konrad… Read more »

KOCH International, a leading distributor of music, video and DVD, announced today an exclusive distribution agreement with the independent punk-rock label Epitaph Records. Epitaph Records was founded in 1981 by Bad Religion guitarist Brett Gurewitz and has become one of the world’s leading independent labels specializing in punk and punk-influenced music. Since its formation, the label has developed an eclectic repertoire of imprints which include Hellcat (street punk), Anti (all styles) and Fat Possum (blues). Epitaph is located on Sunset Boulevard in Hollywood, California. Fourth quarter releases will include new titles from the (International) Noise Conspiracy ‘New Morning, Changing Weather’,… Read more »

Napster has named Claire Hough vice president of engineering. In the newly created position, Hough will manage the ongoing development of Napster’s membership service and future projects. She will report directly to Napster’s newly named chief executive officer Konrad Hilbers. “We’re all very excited about the upcoming launch of Napster’s membership service and Claire’s leadership and wide-ranging technology experience will be extremely valuable as we enter the home stretch,” Hilbers said. “She’s a seasoned engineer and manager who will be a great asset to our team.” “Napster continues to be a pioneer in peer-to-peer file-sharing applications,” said Ms. Hough. “The… Read more »

Having just reached its one-year anniversary, J Records has many reasons to celebrate. Three platinum albums have already been born – Alicia Keys, Luther Vandross and O-Town – and J artists literally govern the tops of multiple Billboard charts. And adding to this massive success, last night Alicia Keys’ #1 hit “Fallin”‘ won Best New Artist video at the MTV VMA Awards. Hence, it is with great excitement that J Records proudly unveils their long awaited online hub located at www.Jrecords.com. The site, designed by kpe, focuses on presenting the large scope of the J Records roster – now 30… Read more »

Vivendi Universal (Paris Bourse: EX FP; NYSE:V) announced that it successfully completed the acquisition of San Diego-based MP3.com, Inc. in a combined cash and stock transaction on August 28, 2001. MP3.com stockholders voted in favor of the merger transaction at a special meeting of stockholders held Monday, August 27, 2001. MP3.com was delisted from Nasdaq effective prior to opening for trading Tuesday, August 28. Of the more than 69 million shares outstanding, over 68 percent were voted. Of those voting, more than 99 percent voted in favor of the merger. The corporate offices of MP3.com will continue to be based… Read more »

The body of the late pop and soul singer Aaliyah was flown back to the United States Tuesday as safety experts examined the plane that crashed in the Bahamas, killing her and eight others. A private jet carrying the body of the 22-year-old singer and movie actress landed at Newark International Airport in New Jersey, and a hearse carried the casket away to an unknown location, according to sources. Several hours earlier, heartbroken fans gathered outside a Nassau funeral home to watch as a black hearse drove away with Aaliyah’s body. At Nassau International Airport, police stood guard while her… Read more »

Country pop trio the Dixie Chicks are suing Sony Music Entertainment, seeking to terminate their contract and accusing the Japanese recording giant of cheating the singers out of more than $4 million. The lawsuit, filed Monday in U.S. District Court in New York and made public Tuesday, charges that Sony engaged in “systematic thievery” to underpay royalties owed the Grammy-winning act since 1998 for two multiplatinum albums released by Sony’s Monument imprint. The Dixie Chicks – Natalie Maines and sisters Martie Seidel and Emily Robison – are the latest in a growing list of recording stars to rebel against the… Read more »

SyncCast, LLC, a value added streaming provider (VASP), announced today it has begun aggressively marketing an existing license agreement with the Recording Industry Association of America’s (RIAA) digital rights organization, SoundExchange, to stream on-air broadcasts. SyncCast recently completed its negotiations with RIAA’s digital rights organization and is one of a few content delivery networks with a license from SoundExchange. “Broadcasters are excited about getting back online and we have completed several deals over the past few months that allows SyncCast to provide broadcasting companies a complete and legal streaming solution,” said David Nichols, VP of Sales and Marketing for SyncCast.… Read more »

Revolution Studios has acquired an untitled comedy pitch that will star Tony Hawk, arguably the most influential skateboarder of all time. Hawk will also executive produce the project alongside producers Mark Ciardi, Gordon Gray, Ed Decter and John Strauss, the quartet behind Revolution’s upcoming Decter-directed feature “The New Guy,” which features Hawk playing himself. The pitch’s plot, to be written by Ralph Sall, is being closely guarded but is said to center on a road trip and will showcase Hawk’s skateboarding abilities in the hopes of bringing in an extreme-sports audience. Hawk’s production company 900 Films might also receive a… Read more »

Punk as an aid for getting in touch with one’s feelings has superseded the other modes evident at this year’s Warped Tour. As in their ordinary lives, these fans had too many options. Thirty bands played on eight stages, and the event also included professional skateboarding and mountain- biking displays, a wrestling ring, a Playstation tent, numerous ways to spend money or learn about political causes and of course the chance to peruse one another’s concertgoing finery. So most fans locked into a perambulatory pattern, meandering around the festival’s circular layout as the fairground grew dusty, then muddy, from the… Read more »