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Holding its festivities for the first time in the city of skin, Sunday’s MTV Video Music Awards was sizzling, energetic and colorful – yet tame, by MTV standards. There were no wardrobe malfunctions (sorry TiVo). Britney didn’t kiss Madonna like last year – or anyone else, for that matter (neither were at the blowout affair). The most skin shown was from Usher, who preened in front of the camera barechested as simulated raindrops fell on his chiseled body during the opening performance. Even the Christina Aguilera was classy, dressed sexy yet demurely as she debuted a jazzy number, “Tilt Ya… Read more »

The trophy is a silly Moonman. Treasured memories include girl-on-girl kisses, a flying Fartman and the bobbling of a pasty-covered breast. Where other shows confer honors and respect, this one relishes gaffes, guffaws and giggles. Forget “The envelope, please.” It’s time to push the envelope. MTV’s Video Music Awards is among the most irreverent of awards shows. Which may be precisely why it matters. “It’s pop music; how seriously can you take it?” said MTV news correspondent Kurt Loder. “It’s not Martin Heidegger or something. There’s a lot of empty pomp associated with other shows, like the Oscars and even… Read more »

Hewlett-Packard on Friday unveiled its much-anticipated HP-branded iPod, a deal that instantly gives the company a popular product and greatly extends the retail reach of its partner, Apple Computer. Currently, Cupertino’s Apple has a healthy lead over its competition with its iPod digital music players and its iTunes Music Store. But competition is heating up. Other companies including Creative, Samsung and Sony have their own lineups of portable music players. Microsoft is expected to jump into the fray next week with its own online music service and an updated version of the Windows Media Player software. As for Friday’s unveiling… Read more »

Dancehall star Beenie Man, who has recorded anti-gay songs in the past, was yanked from a concert associated with the MTV Video Music Awards this weekend after gay groups planned a protest, the network said Wednesday. MTV pulled the Jamaican singer from the roster Tuesday after South Florida gay activists announced plans to protest Saturday’s concert in Miami over some of his past lyrics, including “I’m dreaming of a new Jamaica, come to execute all the gays” and “Queers must be killed.” “We don’t want anything to overshadow what will be a great weekend of music events for South Floridians,”… Read more »

Those Sum 41 goons are sure excited about their new album. As we’ve already reported, Sum 41 will release their third full-lenghter, Chuck, on October 12. Not patient enough to withstand the wait, the Summers have already released the disc’s first single via their website. If you swing by the Sum site, you can take a listen to the new song, “We’re All To Blame.” Being the tricky bastards that they are, Sum 41 are only allowing newsletter subscribers to listen to the full song, but seeing as it only takes a second to sign up (and, if you’re reading… Read more »

One of the hottest concert tours has come to an end – Civic Tour featuring Dashboard Confessional. From nightly crowd sing-a-longs to 10 fans so far winning fully customized Dashboard Confessional Honda Civics, this year’s Civic Tour has proved to be a box office and audience success, and continues to keep concertgoers involved. Fans still have one last shot at winning the final customized DC Civic through the “Drive Away With Dashboard Confessional” national online sweepstakes at http://www.civictour.com. Contest ends on September 2, 2004 and is open to licensed drivers 18 and older. “Being on this tour allowed us to… Read more »

After you’ve disrobed Janet Jackson at the Super Bowl, and presumably disrobed Cameron Diaz someplace, can you really go back to being just one of the boys? For Justin Timberlake, the answer is no, per a report in the new People magazine. Timberlake “doesn’t want any part” of a planned ‘N Sync reunion, a source says in People. “Justin said he’s not in the mood and doesn’t think it will work,” the spy tells the magazine. ‘N Sync, with the Backstreet Boys, the leading boy band of the teen-pop explosion of the late 1990s/early 2000s, has been on hiatus since… Read more »

A quarter century after Sony Corp. first shipped the legendary Walkman personal stereo, the electronics giant is launching a high-tech model that aims to topple Apple Computer Inc.’s iPod as today’s leading digital music player and status symbol. Sony has its work cut out: In less than three years, the simple white iPod has undergone four revisions, each time capturing more customers and acclaim with slick designs, clean interfaces and ever increasing versatility. For now, Apple has nothing to fear. Sony’s Network Walkman NW-HD1 is as clunky as its name. The gadget looks great, but it’s ruined by a bizarre… Read more »

The success of the Black Eyed Peas flies in the face of the conventional wisdom that the music business sacrifices long-term artist development in favor of quick hits and short-term corporate profits. Signed to Interscope Records more than six years ago by chairman Jimmy Iovine, the progressive hip-hop group’s first two albums, “Behind the Front” in 1998 and “Bridging the Gap” in 2000 earned rave reviews but failed to go gold (shipments of 500,000 copies). The first album peaked at No. 139 on the Billboard 200 with sales of 197,000 units, according Nielsen SoundScan, while the sophomore set stalled at… Read more »

It was short and sweet, but it’s something that ‘NSYNC fans had been anticipating for well over a year. All five members of the boy band reunited over the weekend to sing the national anthem at what’s become both a charitable and star-studded tradition: the group’s annual Challenge for the Children basketball tournament. The performance marked the group’s first since its Bee Gees tribute at the 45th annual Grammy Awards in February 2003. “It was good to hear them all together again,” Usher said after the performance. “Not anyone can sing the national anthem,” Good Charlotte’s Benji Madden said. “It… Read more »