Search Results for: the summer set

Music publishers on Wednesday won an important legal ruling against the world’s largest record label in a case that could set rules for streaming copyrighted songs over the Internet. New York federal Judge John S. Martin Jr. found that Universal Music Group’s Farmclub.com online music service streamed songs without obtaining licenses from music publishers. Universal had asked that the case be dismissed on the grounds that Farmclub’s service was covered by licenses its parent previously secured in the context of recording songs for sale on albums. “This decision means record companies aren’t in total control of how music will be… Read more »

Paul McCartney’s long-awaited new album, Driving Rain, is set for release on November 13, and the first single, “From A Lover To A Friend,” is due to arrive October 29. The album is the former Beatle’s first since 1997’s Flaming Pie. It was recorded in Los Angeles this summer with his new band and will feature McCartney’s son James on guitar on two of the album’s tracks. The song “From A Lover To A Friend” is a ballad McCartney penned in tribute to his late wife Linda. The song will also be featured in the upcoming film Vanilla Sky, slated… Read more »

The 18th annual MTV Video Music Awards delivered its second largest audience on Thursday, and ranked as the most-watched program on cable since January. According to Nielsen Media Research, Thursday’s show averaged 10.76 million viewers, up 9% from last year but down 10% from the record-setting pace of 1999 (11.94 million). MTV was Thursday’s most-watched primetime network, averaging about 1 million viewers more than runner-up ABC (9.80m). The huge turnout also makes the kudocast the most-watched cable program since the TNT Western “Crossfire Trail” on Jan. 21. Even with Viacom sister network UPN taking wrestling’s “WWF Smackdown!” off Thursday’s schedule… Read more »

The Beastie Boys’ Grand Royal record label shut down Friday, citing “mounting debts, decreasing assets and exceedingly harsh industry conditions.” Home to highly praised rockers At the Drive-In and Luscious Jackson – both of whom have broken up – Grand Royal was one of the most popular artist-owned labels of the last decade. “This is one of the most difficult decisions we’ve ever had to make,” Beastie Boy Mike D, who took over operations as his bandmates got involved in other projects, said in a statement. “Over the years the Grand Royal family had grown to include some of the… Read more »

By the close of business Wednesday, concert promoters across the country will know how many Internet-savvy baby boomers are hungry for the music of a generational hero, Bob Dylan. Dylan, whose “Love & Theft” album will be released Sept. 11, is taking a page from mega-sellers such as the Backstreet Boys and U2: a limited number of tickets for 32 North American concerts will go on sale Wednesday for fans who follow his activities on the Web site http://www.BobDylan.com. Although Dylan has toured relentlessly since the release four years ago of the album “Time Out of Mind,” which won three… Read more »

Wilco’s long-rumored split with Reprise Records is official, and the Chicago-based group is actively shopping their fourth, Yankee Hotel Foxtrot, in an attempt to get the record released by the end of the year. The dispute over the album began in June, when Wilco delivered a finished copy to the label and it was rejected by a pair of A&R men. When the band refused to make changes, the two sides began negotiating Wilco’s departure. “Wilco went for the side of the road instead of the middle,” says a label source, “and that’s not necessarily what the record company was… Read more »

Ozzfest 2001 drew to a close Sunday, leaving many fans wondering what the future holds for their favorite bands. Whether it’s working on a new album, heading back out on the road or prepping their next video, to cop a metal cliché from Ozzy’s 1989 solo album, there seems to be no rest for the wicked. For those who missed out on this summer’s hardest happening, the live album Ozzfest 2001: The Second Millennium, featuring live cuts from all the Ozzfest offenders, hits stores Tuesday. Black Sabbath are hoping to book more studio time to finish up their new album,… Read more »

Warped Tour 2001 closes on Sunday (August 12) in Pontiac, Michigan at the Phoenix Plaza Amphitheater. The tour has been described as a “punk rock summer camp” and this year is no exception. However, there have been a few cases of fighting between the acts on the bill. In fact, D12 and Esham were kicked off the tour a week ago for fighting. Alien Ant Farm singer Dryden Mitchell said that some bands on the tour have resorted to violence or violent threats. “It’s sad. You know why it’s sad is because it has nothing to do with music, you… Read more »

The seductive R&B star, along with fellow musicians Macy Gray, Jill Scott and Zap Mama, served up five hours of sultry, come-hither jams to a 15,000-plus capacity crowd at the DTE Energy Music Theatre in Clarkston, Michigan, Wednesday. “Ladies, women, bitches, hos, hoochie mamas,” Gray addressed the crowd, “we’re here to celebrate one of the most magnificent, most miraculous, things ever created. We want to celebrate the dick!” With many male audience members covering their faces, Gray then led the women in the house in a chant of, “Dick, dick, dick…” Unrestrained sexuality was the theme of the festival, meant… Read more »

Just standing still Monday night in Central Park, you couldn’t help but feel suffocated by the 85-degree wet heat that blanketed the city. So imagine how Erykah Badu felt as she danced around and sang her emotional ditties for the crowd at the park’s SummerStage venue. She was so hot she had to take off her dress in the middle of her set. “Thank you God for this breeze,” Badu said during a breakdown in her performance of “Didn’t Cha Know” early in the show. Dressed in a peach dress, matching headdress and gloves that came to her elbows, the… Read more »