Search Results for: phem

Britney Spears, a former Mousketeer, is at the center of an aggressive drive into the movie business by a handful of young pop stars molded by the music industry and MTV. Not since the 1960s, when singers like Elvis Presley, Frankie Avalon, Fabian and Johnny Cash crooned their way onto movie screens, have studios produced as many star vehicles to showcase the hip-shimmying musical talents of the day’s teen idols. Their holy grail is “The Bodyguard,” starring Whitney Houston, which grossed $122 million and relaunched a pop song that became a perennial hit. The soundtrack is one of the best… Read more »

The September 11th terrorist attacks pulled dozens of high-profile musicians into spirited rounds of fundraising and flag waving. But Groundwork 2001, a benefit to alleviate hunger, began Sunday night, showing that such charity existed before the attacks and will presumably continue after the furor dies down. The opening show was suitably eclectic, featuring Daniel Lanois, Philip Glass, the Blind Boys of Alabama, Emmylou Harris and Dave Matthews. After four smaller shows during the week – featuring Joe Strummer, the Wallflowers, Heart and others – next Monday’s grand finale boasts R.E.M., Pearl Jam and Alanis Morissette, with Gwyneth Paltrow as the… Read more »

After a long time out in the cold, Elektra Records has been generating some serious heat on the album charts in recent weeks. When album sales data for the week ended May 27 are released on Wednesday morning, the Warner Music label is expected to secure the No. 1 spot with “Break the Cycle,” the prophetically titled second album from white-hot metal band Staind. For the week, the disc scanned an estimated 716,000 copies, just 16,000 shy of the hottest debut week of the year (the Dave Matthews Band’s “Everyday”). The Staind release follows a No. 2 bow last week… Read more »