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When speaking this month to a representative from Soundscan, the company that provides much of the data for the Billboard Top 200 Chart, I learned things that would contradict reported statements by the RIAA. Mainly that US labels have had a significant reduction in sales over the past three years. Cary Sherman, president of the RIAA, responded personally, put his rebuttals on the record and in the process exposed intriguing insight into the way the RIAA calculates “losses.” Soundscan is a service owned by Nielsen, the company that computes TV ratings. Soundscan uses the barcodes on CDs to register sales… Read more »

The attorney for Maverick Records has dismissed as “hogwash” a claim by Warner Music Group (WMG) that Madonna’s label has lost $66 million since 1999. WMG’s claim is the latest wrinkle in a spat with Maverick’s principals – Madonna and Guy Oseary – over the value of the label and who will control it after this year. WMG has an option to buy the 60% of Maverick it does not currently own when the labels’ joint-venture agreement expires Dec. 31. Maverick attorney Bert Fields says WMG is “stabbing Madonna in the back” by filing the claim in the middle of… Read more »

Sad-song troubadour Elliott Smith was thought to have died by his own hand two months ago. Now, those investigating the presumed suicide of the 34-year-old folk-rocker aren’t so sure. A statement issued this week by the Los Angeles County coroner has clouded the case, saying officials have been unable to determine whether Smith was the one who initiated the two “penetrating stab wounds” in his chest. Therefore, an official cause of death has not yet been filed. “Despite a comprehensive and ongoing inquiry into the death by the LAPD detectives and coroner investigators together with a thorough examination by the… Read more »

The Lostprophets are preparing for the release of Start Something, the successor to the group’s 2001 independently released, The Fake Sound of Progress. The new Lostprophets album is produced by Eric Valentine (Queens of the Stone Age, Good Charlotte) and features the first single, “Last Train Home,” which was the unexpected #1 most added track at modern rock radio this week and #2 most added at the active rock format. The stations who have added the track include the Los Angeles based modern rock pacesetter KROQ. Start Something is scheduled to be released on February 3, 2004. The group recently… Read more »

Lots of artists recovering from severe medical ailments like to take it slow and easy. Not Linkin Park, who have numerous projects and a major tour lined up for the summer. Singer Chester Bennington was admitted to the hospital on May 30 for intense back and stomach pains and remained there for nine days. Doctors told him not to sing until at least this past Tuesday. So on Wednesday Bennington bounced out of bed and rushed to a Los Angeles studio to film a full day of scenes for the group’s next video. The band will release the clip later… Read more »

It’s a good thing “Men in Black II” is doing well at the box office, because star Will Smith has some unexpected costs to take care of. At the beginning of the year, the rapper/actor announced his New Year’s resolution was to help Los Angeles radio personality Big Boy lose weight. Smith pledged to donate $1,000 per pound to charity if the Power 106 DJ could lose 50 pounds. Big Boy, who weighed 510 pounds when he accepted the challenge, has since lost more than 100 pounds through exercise and a healthy diet. “I feel great, and I’m thrilled that… Read more »

Kelly Osbourne is right. She is not like the other kids. They don’t make music videos. Ozzy’s daughter and reality TV’s most famous 17-year-old bar-hopper is filming a clip for her cover of Madonna’s “Papa Don’t Preach” in Los Angeles this week. Kelly recorded a demo of the song last month with Incubus guitarist Mike Einziger and drummer Jose Pasillas. Executives for “The Osbournes” were impressed enough to request a studio version for inclusion on an upcoming soundtrack to the popular MTV show. The rainbow-haired teen re-recorded the song in New York recently without the members of Incubus or the… Read more »

Following the delay of Powerman 5000’s follow-up to Tonight the Stars Revolt, the band’s bass player, Dorian 27 (Dorian Heartsong) and drummer, Al 3 (Alan Pahanish) have left the group. According to a post on the band’s official Web site (www.powerman5000.com) “no replacements have been named but PM5K haven’t slowed their work on new songs.” Spider One explained his band mates’ departure saying, “This was 100% their decision, and in no way were asked to leave. I can’t really say why they made the choice that they did, that is something only they can tell you. As you know I… Read more »

As the scroll with the names of the dead from Tuesday’s terrorist outrage began to unfurl agonizingly slowly, America – and Hollywood – went into mourning for its victims of the attacks. The tight-knit entertainment community knew it could not escape the nightmare, particularly as three of the four doomed aircraft were bound for Los Angeles. And Wednesday, the full impact of the loss was beginning to be felt when the passenger manifests were released. One passenger was an Emmy-winning writer who died with his spouse, another a young cameraman who leaves behind his pregnant wife. Still another was a… Read more »

The nation’s entertainment capital shut down Tuesday as two major awards shows and a Madonna concert were canceled and most of Hollywood’s big studios closed their doors in response to horrific terrorist attacks in New York and Washington, D.C. It was the day the music died for the 2nd annual Latin Grammy Awards show, a glitzy music industry event which ironically had been moved to Los Angeles from Miami for security reasons last month. Organizers of the star-studded gala said the $4 million production, which was to have been broadcast Tuesday night in the United States and 120 other countries,… Read more »