Search Results for: the early november

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 »

Hanson, who parted ways with Island Def Jam in May, announced on Wednesday the formation of their own 3CG Records label, which will issue their new album, Underneath, in the spring. Underneath will contain several songs that Zac, Isaac and Taylor Hanson have already issued on their Underneath Acoustic EP, currently on sale via their Web site. The fresh-faced trio’s first single will be “Penny and Me,” produced by Don Henley associate Danny Kortchmar. Michelle Branch and Matthew Sweet also appear on Underneath, whose title track was co-written by Sweet. “In general, records these days tend to be overproduced,” guitarist… Read more »

Britney Spears laughs at the thought that she could’ve found time for a break recently. “[Only] if you call three weeks a hiatus,” she said. “I’ve been recording my booty off.” As her forthcoming In the Zone (formerly Get in the Zone) nears completion, the pop star is working her booty overtime, already mapping out plans for remixes galore of her first single, “Me Against the Music,” featuring Madonna. The RedZone-produced track has been sent to several producers, including Outkast and Madonna mixer Peter Rauhofer. “We’ve hooked up [again], but I’ve learned not to talk about my personal life,” Britney… Read more »

Kid Rock, Justin Timberlake, Shania Twain, Luther Vandross, Celine Dion, Toby Keith, Tim McGraw, Missy Elliott and Sean Paul are among the artists receiving multiple nominations for the American Music Awards (AMAs). “American Idol” second-season runner-up Clay Aiken also received his first awards show nod, with a nomination for favorite pop/rock male artist. The AMAs, which present 20 awards in eight musical genres, will be held Nov. 16 at Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles and televised live on ABC. Jimmy Kimmel will host the three-hour show. Winners are selected by a poll of 20,000 music fans. There are actually two… Read more »

Britney Spears is hooking up with Madonna once again – this time for the first single from her forthcoming album, now titled Get in the Zone. Though Spears was coy about what the first single would be when MTV News talked to her following her NFL Kickoff Live performance, it turns out that the song she previewed that night, “Me Against the Music,” will indeed be her first released track, featuring Madonna. The duo, of course, most recently caused controversy when they locked lips at the MTV Video Music Awards. The single – co-written by Spears and produced by RedZone… Read more »

George Harrison, Prince, John Mellencamp and Jackson Browne are among those who’ve made the list of nominees for the 2004 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame ballot, a hall of fame spokesperson confirmed Monday. Artists are eligible for induction 25 years after the release of their first record. Criteria for consideration include “the influence and significance of the artist’s contributions to the development and perpetuation of rock and roll,” according to the organization. Several names that have not made the hall before are back for another try, including the Sex Pistols, Lynyrd Skynyrd, ZZ Top, country rock legend Gram Parsons,… Read more »

The day after Dave Matthews releases his RCA solo debut, “Some Devil,” the Dave Matthews Band will play a benefit show in New York’s Central Park that is expected to draw upwards of 100,000 people. Full details of the Sept. 24 event will be announced Friday (Sept. 12). America Online is sponsoring the show and is using it to hype the newest version of its software, AOL 9.0. The concert, which RCA will tape for an immediate DVD and CD release, will be held on the park’s Great Lawn and will raise funds for the AOL Concert for the Schools!… Read more »

Punk n’ roll newcomers Simple Plan have reached an impressive milestone: the critically acclaimed five-piece punk outfit’s debut album No Pads, No Helmets…Just Balls is officially platinum, signifying sales of more than 1 million units sold. The band’s endless globetrotting tour schedule, energetic live shows and massive radio support have made Simple Plan one of the biggest success stories of the year. No Pads, No Helmets…Just Balls spawned the incredibly catchy hit singles I’d Do Anything and Addicted. I’d Do Anything peaked at # 15 on the Top 40 chart while Addicted rose to # 10. The band’s current single… Read more »

Despite an apparent cease-fire to the mudslinging between Fred Durst and Britney Spears, the Limp Bizkit frontman just can’t seem to say enough about the sexy singer. Onstage Saturday at a free concert in London’s Finsbury Park, Durst introduced the tune “Break Stuff” by taking a swipe at the pop star. At the opening of the Significant Other single with the prophetic line, “It’s all about the he said, she said bullsh-,” Durst made his proclamation. “How many people out there have had one of those f–ed-up days?” he asked the crowd. “I can remember quite a few f–ed-up days… Read more »

50 Cent’s empire continues to expand courtesy of deals for namesake shoe and clothing lines with Reebok and Ecko, but the Queens rapper is not forgetting that music is the foundation of the phenomenon. On November 4th, his Interscope imprint G-Unit Records will release the self-titled debut album by his G-Unit crew, featuring Tony Yayo, Lloyd Banks, Young Buck and 50 himself. And 50’s already recording the follow-up to his smash debut Get Rich or Die Tryin’ for release early next year. “February or early March,” he clarifies. And what about producers? “Dre and Em – absolutely,” 50 says of… Read more »