Search Results for: new years day

Jimmy Iovine, head of the West Coast operations of Universal Music Group, has signed on for another six years, sources confirmed Thursday. Iovine, the chairman of Interscope Geffen A&M Records, has been in contract negotiations since last year. The multimillion-dollar deal was finally signed late Wednesday night. A label spokeswoman declined comment. As part of the deal, Iovine has the option to partner with Universal for music-driven film projects revolving around his artists. That part of the deal is based on Iovine’s success as the producer of Interscope rap star Eminem’s Oscar-winning film “8 Mile.” Last year was a busy… Read more »

Youthful grunge-lite band the Calling call their new album Two for two reasons. First, it’s the group’s second record. More important, singer Alex Band and guitarist Aaron Kamin want fans to know the Calling are now, and always have been, a two-man band. That point was questioned in November, when former bassist Billy Mohler and drummer Nate Wood sued the group and its manager for fraud and mismanagement. The pair claimed they were owed significant song royalties and a merchandise percentage, and that they were only paid $26,000 each for two years’ touring, even though they’d been promised much more.… Read more »

On Pennywise’s self-titled debut, singer Jim Lindberg screamed about “Living for Today.” Thirteen years later, the Southern California punks still live for those days, as demonstrated by their latest single, “Yesterdays.” “As you get a little older, you get a lot more responsibilities, so it’s kinda like a retrospect of when things were easy,” bassist Randy Bradbury said of the song, a favorite of tastemakers KROQ-FM. “All you had to worry about was getting home on time, getting something to eat, not making your parents mad and getting good grades.” “Actually, all that stuff he said was a lie, because… Read more »

Michael Jackson Under Seige: Day 43: CBS and Jackson’s camp yesterday denied a published report that the network added $1 million to the license fee it paid the singer for a prime-time music special to get him to talk to “60 Minutes” about the child molestation charges he faces. “Categorically false” is how CBS News, in a statement, labeled the report, and Jackson adviser Charles Koppelman, who first brokered the music special in September, called the New York Times report “nonsense.” In other Weird and Wacky World of Michael Jackson news, the Nation of Islam held a news conference yesterday… Read more »

After 19 original albums, decades of hit singles, and a career marked by truly classic records, Joe Cocker, one of rock’s most intense and passionate performers, has chosen 20 of his favorites for his most expansive career retrospective to date. JOE COCKER: ULTIMATE COLLECTION (A&M/Hip-O Records), released January 13, 2004, offers most of his biggest hits and more from 1968 to 2000, spanning his years on A&M, MCA, Island, Capitol, Sony and Eagle Records. In addition, the package’s booklet spotlights an essay by J.P. Bean, author of the September 2003-published JOE COCKER: THE AUTHORIZED BIOGRAPHY, along with song annotations and… Read more »

Ozzy Osbourne has been many things throughout his multi-platinum career: lead singer of Black Sabbath, successful solo star and a veteran touring artist. But as Ozzy marks the 35th anniversary of his career, there is no doubt that his starring part in MTV reality series “The Osbournes” ushered in a most unlikely role for him: that of mainstream pop-culture icon. Much has already been said about Ozzy and his family in the saturation media coverage that followed the success of “The Osbournes,” which documents the lives of Ozzy; his wife/manager, Sharon; and two of their children, Kelly and Jack (the… Read more »

Tapping a hunger for positive messages in difficult times, Christian artists are appealing to a growing number of people outside of their traditional audience. The trend is reflected in an important barometer, mainstream radio, which closely follows the tastes of its listeners. “The events of the last couple of years have made people more open to spiritual things and trying to find answers,” says Stacie Orrico, a Christian artist who has made inroads on the pop charts. “After, people were just flocking to churches, which was amazing to watch,” she says. Orrico, MercyMe, Natalie Grant, Relient K and even the… Read more »

They teased the release of their third album, The Long Road, with the melodic mid-paced single “Someday,” which delivered everything their fans were used to. Now that the album is on the shelves, Nickelback hope to catch listeners with their pants down. “I like you with your pants around your feet, and I like the dirt that’s on your knees,” Chad Kroeger sings before stabbing guitars puncture the track. “Figured You Out,” one of the heavier songs on the album, will go to radio in early November. A video will be shot in the coming weeks, but a director has… Read more »

Nearly a year after software maker Roxio Inc. scooped up the Napster brand from the ashes of the pioneer file-swapping service, a revamped online music store bearing the familiar brand name debuted Thursday in limited release. The company shelved its former online music service, pressplay, and began moving subscribers to a beta, or test version, of Napster 2.0. The service will be available to all in the United States beginning Oct. 29, officials said Thursday. Napster 2.0 users will have access to more than a half-million songs from all the major music labels. They can download individual songs for 99… Read more »

Arista recording artist P!nk is in the final stages of completing her hotly expected third album, entitled TRY THIS – in stores November 11th, it was announced today by Antonio “L.A.” Reid, president and CEO, Arista Records. The first single (and opening track) on TRY THIS will be “Trouble,” co-written by P!nk with Tim Armstrong (of alt-rock heroes Rancid), who also produced the track. Impact date at radio is set for September 29th. The ‘wild west’ concept video for “Trouble” was recently shot on location in Los Angeles. It was directed by Sophie Muller, known for previous clips with P!nk… Read more »