Fatboy Slim’s “Weapon of Choice” shot up the competition by bringing home six “Moon Man” trophies – including breakthrough video and best direction – Thursday night during the 2001 MTV Video Music Awards at the Metropolitan Opera House at Lincoln Center. But “Weapon of Choice,” directed by Spike Jonze and featuring Christopher Walken dancing up a hotel’s walls, was shut out of the prestigious video of the year prize, which went to Christina Aguilera, Lil’ Kim, Mya and Pink for “Lady Marmalade.” Last year’s big winners ‘N Sync walked away with four trophies for “Pop,” including the coveted Viewer’s Choice… Read more »
Soul Train mastermind, Don Cornelius, has sent a letter to the Justice Department alleging that MTV is violating antitrust laws, according to the Los Angeles Times. Cornelius is accusing the music network of pressuring performers who appear on MTV shows not to perform on rival shows for a 30-day period. For example, Cornelius says, MTV won’t let artists booked on next month’s Video Music Awards to appear on his upcoming Soul Train Lady of Soul Awards. The veteran music-TV exec’s Lady of Soul show tapes next Tuesday and begins airing in syndication on Saturday. MTV’s Video Music Awards are September… Read more »
MTV is joining the party surrounding the hot pop song “Because I Got High,” but so far won’t inhale. After negotiating some changes with the artist Afroman’s record label, the network has agreed to play the song’s video – but only in the overnight hours and not on the popular teen show “Total Request Live.” “Because I Got High” appears on the movie soundtrack to “Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back” and has quickly become one of the most requested songs on radio across the country. It presents anagonizing dilemma for programmers and anti-drug activists. Is it an anti-drug song?… Read more »
MTV has signed up thrushes Britney Spears and Jennifer Lopez to perform at the 18th annual Video Music Awards, scheduled for Sept. 6 in Gotham. Rapper Ja Rule and rock band Staind have also been brought on board, the cable channel revealed Wednesday, bringing this year’s VMA performers tally to eight. ‘N Sync, Missy Elliott, Alicia Keys and U2 were previously announced as part of the entertainment lineup. Spears, who made waves during last year’s kudocast with her bare-it-all rendition of “Oops!… I Did It Again,” will, for the first time, perform “I’m a Slave 4 U,” the first single… Read more »
After spending more than three decades dealing with the business that is rock ‘n’ roll, Aerosmith co-founder Joe Perry dreams of a time when he can focus on nothing but playing his guitar. Dream on. With a new album and summer-long U.S. tour that kicked off earlier this month in Hartford, Conn., Perry and the Boston-based quintet has been busy – making videos, contributing to movie soundtracks, going to awards ceremonies, performing at sporting events and working with other artists. While it’s the kind of success most bands dream of, for Perry, it’s become another day at the office. “It… Read more »
MTV: Music Television and Maverick Recording Co. have announced a July 3rd release date for “MTV: 20 Years of Pop Music,” a 15-track collection featuring the greatest pop hits of the past two decades. This star-studded album of blockbuster singles accompanies the upcoming MTV special titled, “MTV20: Everybody Talk About… Pop Music!,” a one-hour event premiering July 14th at 12 noon ET/PT, celebrating seminal pop moments that occurred over the course of the network’s 20-years. This extraordinary and diverse compilation, features songs pulled from the last 20 years of MTV, from Madonna (“Borderline”) to Christina Aguilera (“Genie In A Bottle”);… Read more »
Britney Spears. Sure, Britney Spears is still huge. But does the average 3-6 year old know who Britney Spears is nowadays? My guess is definitely not. 15-20 years ago? EVERY GIRL, every dude, grandma’s, grandpa’s, priests because i’m sure they heard some confessions related to Britney, knew who Britney Spears was. Britney was HUGE. The combination of her looks, to her voice – listen to her voice, she has this sort of edgy vibrato effect she does that worked with pop music. Plus TRL. TRL was HUGE in the rise of Britney and Christina and the likes. (And you sure… Read more »
In one of the last weeks before the new season, all four major networks for the first time finished with the same share among young adults for the Sept. 3-9 period – another sign of how hotly contested the upcoming season could be. (However, Tuesday’s terrorist attacks mean the new season, scheduled to start next Monday, could be delayed.) NBC won for the 20th time in 21 weeks in the coveted adults 18-49 demographic (3.3 rating, nine share), according to Nielsen, but second-place CBS (3.1/9) and third-place ABC and Fox (who tied at 3.0/9) were all within three-tenths of the… Read more »
Linkin Park is teaming up with turntable masters the X-ecutioners both in the studio and the live setting. The pairing will first be witnessed on a nationally televised performance of Linkin Park’s “One Step Closer” on the 2001 MTV Music Video Awards September 6. Then, the fans will get to hear a studio collaboration between the groups via the rock group’s guest appearance a guest appearance on the X-ecutioners’ Loud Records full-length debut, Built From Scratch, due in January. Built From Scratch also features cameos from Everlast, the Tom Tom Club, Big Pun, Xzibit, Pharaoh Monch, Inspectah Deck, Mad Skillz,… Read more »
Nashville-based alternative pop darling Knox has had a whirlwind September. First, the artist performed at the MTV Video Music Awards Block Party and walked the red carpet. Additionally, on September 13, Knox launched a brand-new acoustic guitar-laden love song, “Invisible” via Atlantic Records. This was preceded by euphoric summer releases including “Treadmill,” “Change Your Mind,” “Me, Myself, & Your Eyes,” and more. If you need a romantic song to add to you and your S.O.’s shared playlist, consider this the one to add ASAP. “Can we pretend that we’re invisible?/For all I care, we’re the only ones/Holdin’ each other in… Read more »
