Search Results for: grammy

A concert in Antigua by Grammy Award winning rhythm and blues singer Alicia Keys was canceled because the concert’s promoters didn’t pay her appearance fees, her agent said. The concert, scheduled for Friday night, was advertised as the first of a Caribbean tour. The amount of the contract was reported to be $60,000. “The promoters… did not live up to their contractual obligations,” said Keys’ agent, Rob Light of the Beverly Hill-based Creative Artists Agency, in a letter sent to Antigua Junior Finance Minister Asot Michael. “Their total disregard for the agreement left us great concern as to the viability… Read more »

The recording industry from artists to major labels joined on Thursday in a rare show of unity to demand tougher laws barring what they called “payola”-like promotion of music played on the radio. They also called for a sweeping government review of radio industry consolidation. Deregulation of the radio business and rampant practices that skirt 40-year-old anti-payola laws stifle competition, drive up music promotional costs and make it harder for new artists to gain attention, the artists and record labels said in a joint statement addressed to the federal regulators and Congress. The statement was endorsed by a broad coalition… Read more »

What many Hole fans have assumed for years was made official Thursday (May 23) with a statement from founding members Courtney Love and Eric Erlandson that the band is over. The flamboyant singer and her longtime bandmate announced they will no longer record or tour together as Hole, though they will work together to promote future Hole catalog releases. “I will always treasure the time we played together,” Love said in the statement. “Eric has been an important part of my family for over 10 years and he’ll continue to be a part of my life.” Added Erlandson, “We’re incredibly… Read more »

Eminem may still be on probation for brandishing a gun two years ago in a jealous rage, but the bad-boy rap artist makes clear on his latest album how close he might have come to doing time for murder. In one of the most chilling passages from “The Eminem Show,” his anxiously awaited third release, the Detroit-based rapper recounts pulling an unloaded pistol on his then-wife, Kim Mathers, and a friend he claimed she was kissing outside a suburban Detroit bar. “The smartest (thing) I did was take the bullets out of the gun, ’cause I’d’ve killed ’em/I would’ve shot… Read more »

Maverick Records and the Music & Media Group of Vivendi Universal Net USA (VUNet USA) today announced that celebrated bass phenom Meshell Ndegeocello is the first major label recording artist to offer her fans a downloadable track for sale in the MP3 format. Starting today, a special dance version of the song “Earth” remixed by Lazy Dog (Ben Watt & Jay Hannan) will be available exclusively for purchase and download for 99 cents from VUNet USA’s music and media Web sites – MP3.com, RollingStone.com, GetMusic.com and MP4.com. Additionally, the 50,000 subscribers to VUNet USA’s EMusic MP3 music service will be… Read more »

John Forté conducts all of his interviews by mail. Not because he’s shy or eccentric, but because he doesn’t have a phone. See, he’s the only Grammy-winning convict at Pennsylvania’s Lorreto Federal Penitentiary with a new album to promote. Forté, 27, was behind bars when his confessional second album, I, John, was released in April. That’s why he’s done most of the interviews about it via letters from his cell. “Spiritually, I’ve never been more free in my life,” wrote the former Fugees confidant, who was sentenced to 14 years in prison in November after being found guilty of possession… Read more »

Grammy Award-winners U2 and Celine Dion will each headline new concert specials during the 2002-3 TV season on CBS. U2’s concert from the famed Slaine Castle in Dublin, Ireland, will air later this year to coincide with the release of a new album by the band. In addition to their performance, the special will include a behind-the-scenes look at one of the world’s most successful rock bands. The special’s airing will coincide. Dion will return to CBS in a new concert special set to coincide with the opening of her new show at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, which will… Read more »

Bad-boy rap artist Eminem has lobbed a four-letter word at Vice President Dick Cheney’s wife on his upcoming album, but the second lady is hardly running away to a secure, undisclosed location. The Detroit-based recording star, a favorite target of Lynne Cheney in her criticism of the recording industry, unleashes the offensive word against her on the “White America” track to his soon-to-be released LP, “The Eminem Show.” She fired back through her spokeswoman, again condemning his lyrics as a “glorification of violence” against women and homosexuals. Eminem, whose real name is Marshall Bruce Mathers III, won three Grammys last… Read more »

Grammy gobblers U2 debuted the new song “Hands That Built America” on Monday at New York’s Tribeca Film Festival to promote the upcoming Martin Scorsese film “Gangs of New York,” which features the track. The festival’s 15,000 attendees saw a simulcast performance of the tune as the band played in Ireland. Director Maurice Linnane shot the production for an upcoming video. Scorsese and “Gangs of New York” star Robert De Niro had invited the band to contribute to the festival celebration. U2 are currently in the studio working on new tracks for an upcoming best-of album as well as possibly… Read more »

Aaliyah leads nominees for next month’s second annual BET Awards, earning recognition for both her singing and acting. The late “Queen of the Damned” star is nominated for Best Actress and Best Female R&B Artist, and her “Rock the Boat” clip is up for Video of the Year and the Viewers’ Choice Award, organizers announced at a press conference Tuesday. “Rock the Boat” was shot just hours before Aaliyah was killed in a plane crash last fall. Aaliyah and TLC’s Lisa “Left Eye” Lopes, who died in a car accident last month, will be honored in a special tribute at… Read more »