PAYOLA CONTINUED: If you didn’t see Saturday’s papers, both the L.A. Times and N.Y. Times reported the FCC is negotiating with the four major radio chains, Clear Channel, CBS, Entercom and Citadel, to settle claims of taking pay for play (see hitsdailydouble.com, 4/1). Word is the companies are willing to settle for between $500k to $1 million, which is below the $1.5-$3 million sought by the agency, but that at least one FCC Commissioner, Democrat Jonathan Adelstein, wants to levy judgments up to $10 million per company.
RAP RULER: Record-wise, it was a T.I. kind of weekend, as the Atlantic Records rapper from ‘Lanta is poised to make his #1 debut on the
PUTTING THE
STERN BLASTS FANS: Howard Stern told Entertainment Weekly in a cover story that hits newsstands today that he is angry more of his fans haven't followed him to satellite radio since he moved in January. "I was just at my psychiatrist and I said, `I just got great news: We hit the 4 million mark. And I'm angry. It should be 20 million,'" Stern says. "It's insulting to me that everyone hasn't come with me. I take it personally. I want to say to my audience, `You haven't come with me yet? How dare you? We're up to wild, crazy stuff, the show has never sounded better. You cheap bastard!'"
MONKEY BUSINESS: The L.A. Times’ Bob Hilburn essayed a mostly favorable piece on the Arctic Monkeys’ current tour of
NONPROFIT PROPHETS: The N.Y. Times’ Richard Siklos writes about the new media phenomenon of companies, like craigslist.com that “leave the competition scratching their heads because they don't really aim to compete in the first place; their creators are merely taking advantage of the economics of the online medium to do something that they feel good about. They would certainly like to cover their costs and maybe make a buck or two, but really, they're not in it for the money.” Read about it here.
COLDPLAY’S
NE-YO SELLS
KURT & BARBIE: Wonder if this is what Courtney Love had in mind when it came to a tasteful legacy for her late husband. The National Entertainment Collectibles Association is developing a Kurt Cobain doll because, according to their site, "The one thing that many fans have been asking for and have never received in ANY form, official or not, is an action figure.” The doll, which is inspired by the “Smells Like Teen Spirit” video, will be available in June. Wonder if it’s anatomically correct. To see what we’re talking about, go to www.NECAOnline.com.
SWEET SMELL OF SUCCESS: P. Diddy’s Unforgivable, his fragrance for men, has been #1 in terms of sales since its national launch on Feb. 10. Estee Lauder partnered with the rapreneur and his fashion company Sean John to develop and market the scent. The beauty products company says it's the best fragrance launch it’s seen in years.
A LEFSETZIAN SPOOF: A lot of people who should know better got taken in by record industry gadfly Bob Lefsetz's annual April Fool's Day jape. This year, our intrepid pundit reported that Microsoft's Bill Gates had swooped down and acquired BMG Music from Bertelsmann to help him take over Apple's digital music business, forcing Steve Jobs back into the personal computer game. As always, it was just well-reasoned enough to be convincing, but by now, regular readers have come to expect Bob's April 1 shenanigans.
ON THIS
In 1966:
In 1969: The FBI arrested Jim Morrison for obscenity at a
In 1975: Police were called to Steve Miller’s home, where it was claimed he set fire to the clothes of his friend Benita DiOrio. By the next day, however, DiOrio asked for the charges to be dropped and Miller was set free.
In 1976: The Sex Pistols played the El Paradiso Club in
In 1984: In court, producer Jack Douglas won $3 million that he claimed was owed to him by Yoko Ono for his work on the Lennon-Ono album Double Fantasy.
In 1986: “18 and Life” singer Sebastian Bach turned 18.
In 1987: U2 kicked off the American leg of The Joshua Tree tour in
In 1989: Pepsi canned Madonna as a spokesperson after her “Like a Prayer” video was called “blasphemous” by the
In 1991: Paul McCartney recorded an episode of MTV Unplugged.
In 1996: MC Hammer filed for bankruptcy.
In 2003: The Beastie Boys’
In 2004: OutKast won Favorite Group and Best Song for "Hey Ya!" at the 17th-annual Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards. Hilary Duff won Favorite Female Singer and Nelly won Favorite Male Singer.
LIVE NATION POSTS (ANOTHER) RECORD QUARTER
More butts in seats than ever before. (5/3a)
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THE NEW UMG
Gosh, we hope there are more press releases.
TIKTOK BANNED!
Unless the Senate manages to make this whole thing go away, that is.
THE NEW HUGE COUNTRY ACT
No, not that one.
TRUMP'S CAMPAIGN PLAYLIST
Now 100% unlicensed!
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