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Just Sign Here...
March 28, 2008
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"These [music subscription] services that are out there now are going to fail. Music Net's gonna fail, Press Play's gonna fail. Here's why: People don't want to buy their music as a subscription. They bought 45s; then they bought LPs; then they bought cassettes; then they bought 8-tracks; then they bought CDs. They're going to want to buy downloads. People want to own their music. You don't want to rent your music -- and then, one day, if you stop paying, all your music goes away."
-- Apple Head Guy, Steve Jobs in a 2003 Rolling Stone InterviewSteve Jobs was right, of course. And since that time, Yahoo's subscription service has failed, and others are struggling.
I've always had a problem with any type of subscription service. Maybe it's a throwback to those days when students rang your doorbell and told you how much money you were going to save by buying multiple magazine subscriptions from them. It was so damn easy to sign up, but incredibly hard to stop those subscriptions once you started. I think I'm still getting Time magazine from a subscription I purchased over 30 years ago. I tried to cancel my subscription well over a decade ago, and I stopped paying for it at the same time, but the magazine still comes.
Why the music subscription idea is now being resurrected by labels (as reported in my news blips below, SonyBMG is reportedly launching a digital music subscription service that will offer unlimited access to the music label's catalog across a wide selection of devices, including Apple's iPod, for a flat-rate; subscription plans that would charge customers between $9 and $12 monthly), I have no idea. Maybe it's because labels are at the point where they will try anything to generate some revenues. But now it seems that even Mr. Jobs is considering a subscription service. (Although if he is considering such a move, he has ulterior motives that have to do with iTunes and iPods)
Whatever the reason(s), in my opinion (and many others), the subscription service ideas floating around in the executive corridors at whatever labels are considering them (or possibly Apple) are probably not going to do much to attract more consumers. Here are just a couple of reasons why:
* People want to own their own music and that's why iTunes has already sold over four billion songs. Add up all the sales from other online stores (amazon.com, et al) and the number of songs sold goes upward dramatically.
* Given the choice between buying and owning their music versus renting it (which in essence, is what you are doing if you choose a subscription service), the consumers will buy it. If they wanted to "rent" their music, the subscription services would be wildly successful. That isn't the case.
* Once DRM-free music was made available from the labels (because the consumers demanded it), allowing more flexibility in transfer and use, online sales increased, while subscription services saw no spikes and floundered.
* Every effort by the labels to try and navigate consumers to purchasing something they really don't want will result in more P2P file-sharing. Translation: If you don't give them what they want, they'll get it for FREE despite the useless lawsuits the RIAA files against people who download.
* The anticipated increase in the future of advertising-supported models might let consumers have access to music for free. They will have to sit through some online ads to get that access, but it won't cost them any money to get their music. Of course, if the labels decide they won't release their music libraries to any such models, this possibility never becomes a reality.
If you know people who use a subscription service, ask them if they're happy. If they say yes, ask them if they've done the math about how much it costs over time versus just buying the music they really want to hear often and keep on their iPods. I've only known a handful of people that have tried subscription services, and they have all dropped them after a short period of time, opting instead to purchase the music they want, when they feel the music is worth purchasing at all. All complained about the problems they encountered canceling their services, and several kept getting those automatic monthly charges for the services on their credit cards.
So as they say, "Caveat emptor!" (That's Latin for "Let the buyer beware," and even though Latin is a "dead language," I took four years of it in high school to improve my vocabulary, and in case I ever wanted to become a lawyer I would know what "Habeas Corpus," "Corpus Delecti," "Mea Culpa," "Pro Bono" and a whole bunch of other legal mumbo-jumbo meant.)
It's incredibly easy to sign up for these services. But before you do so, think long and hard about it. Anytime you see the words "Just sign here..." as a preface to the latest and greatest online deals and bonus offers, remember the old adage: "If it sounds to good to be true, it probably isn't."
In the meantime, for anybody who might want to do some more homework on the subject, I recommend the following:
"Subscription Music's Future" (Story below in news items)
"College Students Shunning Free Music Subscription Services"
"Why Music Subscription Models Fail"
"Music Subscription Services -- Will They Ever Work?"
"Why (And How) I Just Canceled All My Music Subscriptions"
"Napster and the Subscription Model"
And Now This...While We're On The Subject
While UMG chief Doug Morris is being credited with coming up for part of the plan to have iPods sold pre-loaded with music to ignite a subscription service, in return for a share of hardware revenues, I am of the opinion that before Doug opens the champagne to celebrate such a deal (if it actually transpires the way everybody has talked about), he ought to wait and see the public's reaction.
As I mentioned above, the subscription model hasn't worked at all yet for anybody, and consumers en masse have all spoken loud and clear at iTunes, amazon.com and elsewhere. They want to OWN the music they buy, and they like buying it at 99 cents a song. (Or buying CDs when they are reasonably priced ala The Eagles 2-disc set that retailed for just $11.88 at Wal-Mart, less than $6 for each disc)
It's also great that Doug wants to turn UMG into a total entertainment company. A source told cnet.com that the plan is to "partner instead of just being a vendor."
Well, hooray and hallelujah.
Vertical integration and strategic alliances. Something I first talked about in the third issue of this newsletter almost five years ago in the commentary "Strategic Alliances: The Next Phase" (11/26/03)
From that commentary: "If ever there was a time for the music industry to seek symbiotic relationships, it's now." The formation of these partnerships is becoming a key component in all corporate thinking and has been talked about recently in leading business publications. This from BUSINESS WEEK: "...companies should expand beyond their existing resources through licensing arrangements, strategic alliances, and supplier relationships." From FORTUNE: "Alliances have become an integral part of contemporary strategic thinking."
There is no such thing as having too many customers and no business is safe from shifting trends and changes in the marketplace today, as consumers have more choices than ever on where to spend their disposable income. Music companies have relied on mega-selling multi-platinum albums during their fiscal year to continually drive revenues and profits. With a healthy, diverse and deep roster, that formula worked well for labels for quite sometime. Enter the Internet, technology to burn CDs, and the era of instant gratification and with it, disposable music, movies and fashion. The most beneficial type of partnering companies can engage in is partnering with other companies that can provide compelling benefits for their customers. If used properly, the partnerships can be used to gain customers, protect them from predation by competitors, and protect profit margins. Of course, opening the doors to create such alliances means "thinking outside of the box" more than ever. But the rewards can be extraordinary.
I've often wondered why the big entertainment conglomerates like Universal, Warners and SonyBMG, have not looked at the types of vertical integration other corporations have utilized to maximize revenues, customer acquisition, retention and loyalty. The possibilities seem endless to me.
And This...
Recently I was interviewed by Judyth Piazza of 'The American Perspective.'
We talked about how and why I started this newsletter almost six years ago, why I don't accept advertising, how the Internet empowers new independent artists and labels, Radiohead, Prince and Madonna, the record men I consider the best mentors I had, and other issues I frequently write about.
If you'd like to listen to the interview (it runs about 15 minutes), just go here: http://www.thesop.org/index.php?id=10306.
Scroll down the page and click on the audio button next to the microphone.
Subscription Music's Future
From cnet.comRhapsody launched the first high-profile subscription music service in December 2001, in the middle of a revolution. The first iPod had just hit the shelves, streaming Web radio sites like Live365.com were in full bloom, and the masses were just warming to the idea that they could preview and discover music online. A service like Rhapsody, which promised subscribers unlimited access to its growing music catalog, made music junkies salivate. It also pointed the way to a brave new world where people no longer needed physical or virtual media.
The future didn't go quite as planned, however. Because the illegal-but-free P2P world offered the most music, when Apple finally added an online store to their iTunes music software, Rhapsody's subscription music revolution--which has since included Yahoo Music Unlimited, MTV's Urge, Napster and Zune -- had started to lose momentum.
At the 2008 Macworld Expo in January, Steve Jobs quieted iTunes subscription service rumors by proclaiming that people don't want to rent music, they want to own it (unlike movies, which they should rent through iTunes, of course). Jobs' logic is that because people listen to a favorite song hundreds of times throughout their life, a file that might expire doesn't make sense. For companies like Rhapsody and Napster, the million-dollar question is, "Is he right?"
Read more about it by clicking here.
RIAA Defendant Asks Supreme Court For Legal Fees
From OnlineMediaDaily.comA man wrongly accused of file-sharing by the record industry is now asking the U.S. Supreme Court to consider whether the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) should have to pay his legal fees.
"This case is about the ability of an innocent defendant accused of copyright infringement to defend himself in court, litigate his defenses and, if successful, recover his attorney's fees to the same extent as a prevailing plaintiff would under the same circumstances," argued Cliff Thompson of San Antonio in his petition.
The RIAA filed a lawsuit against Thompson in 2004, but later asked to drop the case. At the time, the RIAA alleged that Thompson's adult daughter, Brigette, was the one at fault. Thompson said he spent around $7,500 to defend himself.
Read more about it by clicking here.
Why Is Universal Music Cozying Up To Apple?
Doug Morris is supposed to be the music industry's hard-liner. The Chairman and CEO of Universal Music Group, Morris yanked music videos off Yahoo and sued MySpace for copyright infringement. He threatened to pull songs from Microsoft's online music store unless Bill Gates forked over a $1 for every Zune music player sold. He seethed over Apple CEO Steve Job's refusal to let him and the other label execs set song prices on iTunes.
So why is he now offering Jobs a plum of a deal? Morris has approached Apple with an idea to offer a device that comes preprogrammed with Universal Music's entire library on it, sources told CNET News.com.
Read more about it by clicking here.
Gamers: Perfect Market for Music
From Ars TechnicaRock Band creators MTV and Harmonix are showing big music one way to save its tanking business model: sell songs to gamers. Indeed, you might not be able to get Gen Y to pay a buck for songs download on the Internet, but you could easily get Rock Band and Guitar Hero fans to pay twice the price for the privilege of adding new songs to their virtual set list.
A recent update to Rock Band has effectively turned the game into an online music store, as gamers can now buy and instantly play new songs, released weekly, directly from the game for $1 to $2. Like iTunes, users have the option of previewing each song before they buy. They can browse by song artist, song title and eventually, by album. Songs appear alongside album art and include information about how difficult they are to play on each of the game's four instruments (guitar, bass, drums, vocals).Selling songs via one or two popular video games may not sound like much--especially when you consider how painfully and rapidly CD sales are falling--but Guitar Hero is a billion dollar-and-growing franchise, and Rock Band is headed in that direction, too. The latter has already sold 6 million songs through Xbox Live, and with the new store, those numbers will only get bigger. Meanwhile, SoundScan evidence shows that Rock Band sales drive digital sales, and visa-versa. Imagine getting people to pay twice for downloading the songs they love? Suddenly, the music industry is starting to look like a brave new world.
Read more about it by clicking here.
MySpace Faces the Music
From TheMotleyFool.comMusic and MySpace go together like cheddar and macaroni, so it's not surprising to see News Corp.'s social networking site in serious negotiations with major music labels to launch a revenue-sharing platform.
The New York Post details how Warner Music Group and Sony BMG -- a partnership between Sony and Bertelsmann Music Group -- are close to signing a deal that will create new revenue channels in ad-supported music and music videos, pay-per-downloads, and mobile phone delivery. EMI and Universal are likely to follow, even if Universal is currently in a legal tussle with MySpace. They can't afford to let Sony and Warner hog up the marketing muscle that a culture-shaping powerhouse like MySpace commands.
Read more about it by clicking here.
Satellite Radio XM/Sirius Merger Gets Antitrust OK
As anticipated and as I predicted in the newsletter, despite all the spin to the contrary, the Justice Department has approved the merger of XM and Sirius satellite radio.
Read more about it by clicking here.
Back To The Future: Sony's New Handheld Audio Recorder
From cnet.comRemember when consumer audio gadgets included a record button? If you're looking for a modern update to the portable cassette recorders of yesterday, or you need a practical solution for capturing concerts or interviews, the Sony PCM-D50 handheld audio recorder ($599) is a worthwhile investment. Cnet.com reviews it for you.
Read more about it by clicking here.
Alternative Media Spending To Hit $161 Billion In 2012
From MediaPost.comSpending on so-called alternative media, including social networks, digital out-of-home networks and mobile content, will increase 20.2% to $88 billion in 2008, according to a new study. In its first report focusing on alternative media, PQ Media Research further forecasts that the fast-growing sector will hit nearly $161 billion by 2012, accounting for 26.6% of the total U.S. advertising and marketing spending.
Read more about it by clicking here.
Canadian Broadcaster Embraces P2P Distribution
From BBC NewsThe Canadian Broadcasting Corporation has raised eyebrows this week by releasing a high-resolution version of the season finale of "Canada's Next Great Prime Minister," a political reality TV program, on the peer-to-peer file-sharing network BitTorrent, hours after its broadcast, and without copy protection. The show's other interactive offerings included YouTube auditions and a Facebook group, but the BitTorrent move surprised many because most broadcasters regard P2P networks as their worst enemy.
It meant that the public could now download, copy, and share the popular program without any restrictions. BBC columnist Michael Geist, who applauded the move, points out that it also marked the first time a North American broadcaster had released a prime-time program with the intent that it be copied and distributed over the Internet without any kind of controls.
The idea comes from Scandinavia, where the Norwegian Broadcasting Corp. last month used BitTorrent to distribute "Nordkalotten 365," one of the country's most popular programs--an experiment that resulted in tens of thousands of downloads, all at almost no cost to the broadcaster. Elsewhere, the European Union has launched a research project that aims to create the "next generation Internet television distribution system" by leveraging P2P technologies. As Guinevere Orvis, one of the producers of the CBC show, said: "DRM is dead, even if a lot of broadcasters don't realize it."
Read more about it by clicking here.
Filmgoers To Get A Taste Of The Good Life At $35 A Ticket
From Variety.comA recession may be looming, but a group of investors thinks Americans are ready to pony up $35 for a movie ticket. Village Roadshow Ltd., Act III, Lambert Entertainment and the Retirement Systems of Alabama pension fund have partnered to bring the luxury cinema circuit Village Roadshow Gold Class Cinemas to the U.S.
The partners will build 50 theaters nationwide over the next five years, and each complex will sport theaters featuring 40 reclining armchair seats with footrests, digital projection and the capability to screen 2-D and 3-D movies, as well as a lounge and bar serving cocktails and appetizers, a concierge service and valet parking.
Read more about it by clicking here.
Feature: The Best USB Keys
From PCMagazine.comUSB flash drives aren't just for storing files anymore; you want speed and space to grow. Today's USB keys are all USB 2.0-ready and boast capacities as high as 32GB, but the sweet spot is 4GB. At that size, you'll find reasonably priced USB keys with worthwhile extras and all the space you need (for now). Here are a few of PC Magazine's favorites.
Read more about it by clicking here.
Getting The Music Out There...
EXPLORING THE MUSIC INDUSTRY'S FUTURE WITH KENNY KERNER, Director of the Music Business Program At Musicians Institute
This section features talks with managers, independent label people, artists, marketing professionals, hi-tech people, retailers, and others in the industry who have a worthwhile story to tell that might be of interest to you, the readers.
This week, I talk with Kenny Kerner, the Director of the Music Business Program at Musicians Institute in Los Angeles, about the institute's ongoing commitment to helping individuals find solutions for the challenges the industry faces today and in the future, and more.
SM: Thanks for taking the time to talk with us about Musicians Institute Kenny. Why don't we start with you telling us a bit about yourself and your background, and what brought you to Musicians Institute?
KK: This is my 38th year in the music business so, as you can imagine, I've done quite a few things from discovering KISS and producing 18 gold and platinum albums, to doing press for Jay Leno, to being the Sr. Editor of the Music Connection, to writing two music business books.
I came to MI about 11 years ago after teaching at UCLA Extension for some time. I started here by creating a few music business elective classes. There weren't any which I found amazing for a school that taught musicians and songwriters! The classes were pretty full and so I created more--all the time planning to create an entire business program. I researched other music business programs at about 40 different colleges before creating the MI music business program about 6 years ago.
SM: How does Musicians Institute differ in its approach than what is being taught in courses taught at UCLA, USC or elsewhere? KK: In my opinion, we're better. More unique. More cutting-edge. For example, our business program has a mandatory internship program that every student must complete to graduate. This gives the students hands-on experience and great networking opportunities -- not to mention a chance at getting hired.
Then, we have the MI talent pool consisting of over 1,200 students who sing and play instruments. The business students need only look at our students for contemporary original song CDs to market in the business program.
Also, all of the instructors in the music business program are industry pros currently working in the business. So, the instructor teaching music contracts is in fact a music business attorney! The instructor teaching personal management is a personal manager.
Our instrument programs are highly competitive, with recent musicians from MI being chosen to join bands like Korn, Nine Inch Nails, and others currently on tour with Pink, Mariah Carey and other superstars. People know that our students are well trained, professional and ready for work!
SM: Tell us more about the 'Virtual Label Program'?
KK: I wanted the music business program (MBP) to prepare the students for any eventuality that may arise in the business and to teach them as many different areas of the business as possible. So, I created this Virtual Record Company whereby the students bring CDs into the class, vote on the ones they'd like to market and we go from there. I manufacture about 250 per class and they are broken down into groups responsible for A&R, Licensing, Press, Booking, radio and marketing. The students work with the artists and do everything a label would do except make a video and record the actual CD. They experience the joys and the pains of being in the real music business. At the end of the program, they produce a record showcase with all of the artists and invite family, friends, other industry pros, etc.
SM: How can any school really prepare anyone for the "new" model, when it's yet to be created and nobody knows where the industry is really headed?
KK: We live in the Now. And right now, the industry is being driven by independent artists and labels. Students are no longer waiting around "to get signed" when they can release their own product, promote it, market it, create a web presence, build a huge fan base, sell CDs and tour. If we teach them this, they will have all of the tools they need to succeed as indie artists.
SM: The industry is changing rapidly, so I would assume the programs at the Institute change with it...correct?
KK: All of the Department Heads and Directors update their programs constantly. Many of the instructors tour with bands and are kept abreast of what's happening around the country and around the world. They bring this knowledge back with them to MI. We also have amazing clinics with guests who come to the school to specifically promote new instruments and new technology. We are always evolving.
SM: Has Musicians Institute had any success stories generated by past attendees?
KK: The music business program has recent grads working at some of the biggest record companies, management firms and publishers in the world -- at Universal Music Group, the Firm Management and Bug Music. As of this writing, American Idol Top 10 female contestant Brooke White is a graduate of our Vocal program and both Korn and Nine Inch Nails got recent band members here at the school.
SM: Why do you think major labels have been so slow to react to the digital marketplace ... it seems to me that they have placed themselves in grave danger of disappearing unless some new revenue streams are created quickly?
KK: It's too late. The music business as we knew it is over. In the future the major labels will have only their superstar acts and will function to administer P&D (Pressing and Distribution) deals with indie labels that show signs of success and the ability to make some money.
SM: One of the things I hear from readers consistently is that there are far too many people at labels today who simply do not understand how fast things are changing ... utilizing social networks like myspace.com, Facebook, etc., is something labels were way behind the curve on ... your thoughts?
KK: Obviously. By the time they figured these things out, the train left the station and they were just trying to hang on. The NEW music business is being run by young creative minds who aren't afraid to try new things even if they fail. They are innovative, hard working and do things for the love of music.
SM: The Internet has empowered the independent artist and labels to go out and create niche markets where they can connect with audiences directly. The Internet is, in essence, the world's biggest jukebox and it keeps getting bigger. Can the Institute help people maximize the Internet for better chances of success?
KK: The first basic thing we do is issue every single student and instructor an e-mail address. This immediately opens the lines of communications for listening to music, sharing web addresses and, of course, catching up on assignments. Students keep this address even after they graduate. We also have Internet Marketing classes and a course called Independent Artist Marketing that specializes in using the Internet to market the student's brand. You'd be surprised at how much our students already know!
SM: Yes, it's obvious from the e-mails I get from so many independent artists who read the newsletter, and next-gen musicians, that they are tech-savvy beyond anyone's wildest expectations. Are there technology courses at the Institute? If so, what do they cover? KK: We do have basic computer courses and many programs walk the students through building websites, but we are primarily a music school and specialize in music, business and recording. The students get plenty of tech talk in the recording programs!
SM: Any final thoughts?
KK: Yeah---buy my book. It's called "Going Pro" and it's available at fine bookstores everywhere.
SM: (I highly recommend the book for any aspiring industry people) Thanks for your time and telling us about the Musicians Institute.
KK: My pleasure, Steve.
You can check out Musicians Institute online at: http://www.mi.edu/
If you would like to contact Kenny, you can e-mail him at: kennyk@mi.edu
NEIN MIT ZA BEATLES MUSIK!
Lawyers for the Beatles and their company, Apple Corps., taking legal action against Miami-based Fuego Entertainment to stop it from releasing recordings of Ringo Starr's first performance with the band at the Star Club in Hamburg, Germany. The lawsuit, which seeks more than $15 million in damages, claims the show was taped with out the consent of the Fab Four.
MARLEY MOVIES CONFLICT
Bob Marley's family has refused to license any of his music for an upcoming Weinstein Co. film about the reggae legend, even though his widow, Rita Marley, is an executive producer on the project, per the Hollywood Reporter. Family members say they are concerned that the project, on track for a late-2009 release, will interfere with a competing Martin Scorsese documentary on Marley, slated for release in February, 2010.
SONY BMG TO LAUNCH SUBSCRIPTION SERVICE?
SonyBMG is reportedly launching a digital music subscription service that will offer unlimited access to the music label's catalog across a wide selection of devices, including Apple's iPod, for flat-rate subscription plans that would charge customers between $9 and $12 monthly.
DIVORCE COURT ... NO SURPRISE HERE
A month after Pamela Anderson decided to file, her estranged hubby, Rick Salomon, filed his own annulment petition to dissolve their five-month marriage, a whole two months of which they spent together.
DIVORCE COURT, TOO
Robin Williams's wife, Marsha Garces Williams, has filed for divorce after 19 years of marriage, citing irreconcilable differences. Ouch, that's gonna' hurt Robin's wallet big time.
ON THE ROAD AGAIN, AND IT'S BEEN AWHILE
George Michael has announced that he will tour North America for the first time in 17 years, starting June 17th in San Diego, with dates in San Jose, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Seattle, Vancouver, Minneapolis, Chicago, Dallas, Houston and New York. At the same time he will release his new album, "Twenty-Five," which comes out April 1st, a 29-song, two-CD set with several new songs (including duets with superstars Paul McCartney and Mary J. Blige) in addition to many of his old hits.
WHO FOR VH-1 ROCK HONORS
This year, only the Who will be celebrated during the two-hour broadcast, to be taped July 12th in Los Angeles and aired on the VH-1 on July 17. The group, which now consists of surviving members Roger Daltrey and Pete Townshend, is due to perform along with other acts who will pay tribute to the legendary band.
MORE SAN FRAN MUSIC
Beck, Wilco, Widespread Panic and Primus have joined the lineup for the inaugural Outside Lands Music and Arts Festival in San Francisco's Golden Gate Park on Aug. 22-24.
JUSTIN GIVES BACK TO HIS HOMETOWN
Justin Timberlake has donated $100,000 each to the Memphis Rock 'n' Soul Museum and the Memphis Music Foundation. "Music education and keeping the legacy of Memphis Music alive has always been important to me," the singer explained. "That is why I will always continue to support my hometown the same way they have always supported me."
B.B. BUYS A CLUB
B.B. King has purchased Club Ebony, a juke joint in his hometown of Indianola, Mississippi, where he and other famed musicians such as Ray Charles, James Brown, Ike Turner and Count Basie have played over the years.
TRAIN WRECK OR NOT, SHE DRAWS AUDIENCE
On Monday, a guest appearance by Britney Spears lifted the CBS sitcom "How I Met Your Mother" to its best demo ratings in its three-year run. Good news for the show. Bad news on the state of the American TV viewing audience.
GOTTA' GO BACK TO REHAB
Richie Sambora tried treatment last year and apparently it didn't work. The Bon Jovi guitarist was pulled over in Laguna Beach and arrested for DUI just after 11p Tuesday night.
TIMBERLAKE DOES ESPYS
Justin Timberlake has been tapped as host of the 2008 Espy Awards, celebrating the best and funniest moments in sports over the past year. The show is slated to take place July 20th at the Nokia Theatre L.A. Live in Los Angeles.
A VIEW TO A KILL OF A CONCERT
Duran Duran's world tour is off to a shaky start. The band kicked off their tour in Auckland, New Zealand, Wednesday, with a performance in which Simon Le Bon flubbed his lyrics during "Hungry Like the Wolf" and bassist John Taylor stormed off the stage in a rage.
NOW, IF A BEER COMPANY HAD MADE THIS OFFER, IT MIGHT HAVE MOTIVATED AXL
Dr Pepper has issued a challenge to Guns N' Roses, offering to give everyone in America, with the exception of former band members Slash and Buckethead, a free can of soda if the long-awaited album Chinese Democracy is released anytime in 2008. Lone remaining original GNR member Axl Rose responded on the band's website that he was "surprised and very happy to have the support of Dr Pepper," but offered no indication as to when the album might appear.
STING SINGS FOR THE FOREST
Sting and Trudie Styler's Rainforest Foundation Fund will hold its 15th "Some Kinda Legacy" benefit concert May 8 at New York's Carnegie Hall, featuring performances by Sting, Billy Joel. James Taylor, Brian Wilson and Feist, among others, to be followed by a dinner at the Plaza Hotel.
PASSING
Neil Aspinall, the Beatles' first road manager and head of the band's Apple Corps for four decades, passed away in New York at age 66. Aspinall was a childhood friend of George Harrison and Paul McCartney who left his job as an accountant to become the band's first roadie, driver, spotlight operator and confidante.
Quotes of the week
"Can we have sex and then go shopping?"
-- Britney Spears' first line from her cameo on the CBS' sitcom "How I Met Your Mother." Talk about typecasting!"It's kind of like finding a winning lottery ticket in the cushions of your couch."
-- 'Girls Gone Wild' honcho Joe Francis, on discovering old "Girls Gone Wild" footage of Ashley Alexandra Dupre, the woman at the center of the Eliot Spitzer call-girl scandal. It looks like Eliot will be embarrassed about this affair for a long time."You might as well show off what you have before you don't have it any more!"
-- Ashley Alexandra Dupré, in a 2003 interview with the Palm Beach Post, explaining her decision to strip for "Girls Gone Wild." As "The Producers" Max Bialystock said, "When you got it baby, flaunt it!"Let me think about it."
-- Carrie Underwood, joking after learning she would be inducted into the Grand Ole Opry."I have a deeper agenda in this life than to make people giggle at breaking bones and shoving things up my butt."
-- 'Jackass' originator Steve-O, writing on his MySpace blog while being hospitalized. Well Steve, we're waiting to see that "deeper agenda" because right now what you've shown us is pretty damn shallow."He's a creature of habit. He eats the same food every day, he wears the same clothes every day; he spends his money on cars. I don't know that he's necessarily a fashionista, no. That box-cut haircut from 1982 has been out for quite a while now."
-- Ryan Seacrest, talking about "American Idol" judge Simon Cowell, in the Washington Post."What else is there for me to conquer? Hopefully, my ego. How will I know when I've succeeded? When I stop caring what anyone thinks."
-- Madonna in the new issue of Q magazine. We've already succeeded, Madge ... we don't care what you think."Finally, the name Gibson will be synonymous with fake guitars."
-- From The Onion's 'Gibson Sues Over Guitar Hero' column
The B-Side - 'Blips'
THE ONION (www.theonion.com) STORY OF THE WEEK:
Dancer Risks Everything
CHICAGO-Although she stood to lose her friends, her family, and everything she had worked for her entire life, classically trained dancer Cassie Lisbon, 18, put it all on the line Saturday night when she performed a highly controversial ballet/hip-hop-fusion routine at the Chicago Academy for the Arts' annual spring recital.
The routine, which defied all reason and social order by combining the elegance of ballet with dangerous, never-before-seen "street" moves such as spinning on one's knees and snapping fingers, reportedly lasted four and a half minutes. According to Lisbon, the bold and provocative number was the culmination of a month of rehearsals, 18 years of feeling like she was destined for something special, and six weeks of dating a troubled, but gifted, in-your-face competitive dancer and high school dropout.
Read the rest here and laugh: http://tinyurl.com/2bsgmg.
The Blogs
Check out a great blog by Jerry Del Colliano, the Director Executive Programs, Clinical Professor Music Industry & Recording Arts, at the Thornton School of Music,University of Southern California, by clicking here: http://www.insidemusicmedia.blogspot.com.
Box Office
Check The Daily & Weekly Box Office (and more film info) at: www.boxofficemojo.com.
TinyURL
Check out www.tinyurl.com where you can make a smaller URL that will work for any webpage you wish to link to or reference. (As you can see, I'm using it in my news stories above!)
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