Carly Simon has filed a lawsuit against
Starbucks Corp. claiming that the company's Hear Music label didn't
adequately promote her 2008 album, This Kind Of Love, and that it
wasn't available in "a substantial number" of Starbucks stores during
the key early months. It is also alleged that when the disc
was finally stocked in the stores, the company slashed the price and
"doing so, Starbucks stigmatized Ms. Simon's album as an album that
could not be sold at full price." They blame the album's
lackluster performance (124,000 copies sold according to the New York
Times) on how it was handled by the now defunct label.
Starbucks issued a statement on Monday saying that they met all its
contractual obligations and even extended the amount of time it
promoted the album. "Other retailers faced the same fate with
this CD." Simon's next album, Never Been Gone, will be
released by Iris Records later this year.
It was a busy week for the Michael Jackson estate. Jackson's
first posthumous single, "This Is It," was released.
Information about the song's history slowly surfaced and included a
quick deal with co-author Paul Anka to avoid a lawsuit by granting Anka
50% of the copyright. The song was originally known as "I
Never Heard" and was a 1983 collaboration by the two that was to
surface on a future Anka album. It never surfaced but both
had the tapes. A re-recorded version of the song by Sa-Fire
would be released in 1991. Also about 1,600 sold-out U.S.
show times have been generated 2 weeks in advance of the This Is It
concert film premiere. The 112-minute film will have a
limited 2-week engagement around the world, according to the studio,
starting Oct. 28th. Meanwhile, Jackson's mother Katherine has
denied a magazine report that the singer's 3 children would appear in a
TV reality series. Us Weekly had revealed the kids may appear
on A&E's The Jacksons: A Family Dynasty.
Salt-N-Pepa's Spinderella will be honored during the 4th annual Black
Girls Rock! Awards on Oct. 17th which recognizes women of color making
strides in arts and entertainment.
Sir Paul McCartney was among those honored by the American Society of
Composers, Authors and Publishers at their ASCAP Awards in London this
week. McCartney was named songwriter of the year and was
recognized with several song awards. The Eurythmics, AC/DC,
U2, the Clash, Phil Collins, Def Leppard, Cathy Dennis, Pink Floyd and
the Rolling Stones were among the song honorees.
The nominees for the 2009 American Music Awards have been
announced. Michael Jackson is up for Artist Of The Year,
Favorite Artist - Pop/Rock, Favorite Album - Pop/Rock (for
Number Ones), Favorite Male Artist - Soul/R&B and Favorite
Album - Soul/R&B (for Number Ones.) Reba McEntire is
nominated for Favorite Female Artist - Country. Voting on the
awards is taking place at ABC.com.
The BMI have recently awarded Phil Collins' "Two Hearts," Depeche
Mode's "Enjoy The Silence" and Yes' "Owner Of A Lonely Heart" for
exceeding 3 million plays on U.K. radio.
Kiss' Sonic Boom debuted at #2 on the Billboard 200 albums chart on
sales of 108,000 copies (becoming their highest charting album
ever.) Barbra Streisand's Love Is The Answer fell 3 places to
#4 on sales of 75,000 copies. Alice In Chains' Black Gives
Way To Blue dropped 7 spots to #12. Whitney Houston's I Look
To You retains the #13 position. BeBe & CeCe Winans'
Still debuted at #14. Pearl Jam's Backspacer fell 6 places to
#16. Harry Connick, Jr.'s Your Songs dropped 4 spots to
#18. Madonna's Celebration fell 13 places to #20.
Rosanne Cash's The List debuted at #22. Lynyrd Skynyrd's God
& Guns dropped 12 spots to #30.
Michael Franti & Spearhead featuring Cherine Anderson's "Say
Hey (I Love You)" retained the #18 spot on the Billboard Hot 100
singles chart. The Glee Cast's "It's My Life / Confessions
Part II" debuted at #30. The Glee Cast's "Halo / Walking On
Sunshine" debuted at #40.
Barbra Streisand's Love is The Answer climbed 3 places to #1 on the
U.K. Albums chart. Madonna's Celebration retained the #2
spot. Cliff Richard & The Shadows' Reunited gained 3
places to #4. Vera Lynn's We'll Meet Again: The Very Best Of
Vera Lynn climbed 5 spots. Chris Rea's Still So Far To Go:
The Best Of Chris Rea debuted at #8. Andy Williams' The Very
Best Of Andy Williams debuted at #10. Madness' Total Madness
held steady at #15. Ian Brown's My Way fell 13 places to
#21. Kiss' Sonic Boom debuted at #24. The Nolans'
I'm In The Mood Again dropped 13 spots to #35. Michael
Jackson's The Essential fell 9 places to #38.
Whitney Houston's "Million Dollar Bill" debuted at #12 on the U.K.
Singles chart. Madonna's "Celebration" fell 11 places to #25.
Journey's double-DVD Live In Manila has debuted at #1 on Billboard's
Top Music Video Sales chart (their first chart-topper in this category.)
Madonna's Celebration has earned a third week at #1 on the Billboard
pan-European Album chart. She also made her 12th appearance
on the cover of Rolling Stone.
Barbra Streisand will see over 500 of her unique personal possessions
auctioned off at the Beverly Hills Hilton tomorrow (Oct.
17th.) Those unable to attend can register, view and bid in
the auction online at http://www.julienslive.com.
Garth Brooks has announced that he is ending his self-imposed
retirement he started in 2000 to spend more time with his 3 children on
Dec. 11th. He will perform 3 nights in a row per week no more
than twice a month in an extended engagement at Wynn Resort's Encore in
Las Vegas. Dates have been confirmed through February and go
on sale Oct. 24th.
Devo's 1980 album, Freedom Of Choice, will be reissued on CD and vinyl
on Nov. 3rd and include a bonus disc of live material (the 6-track
Dev-o Live EP recorded that year in San Francisco) and a remastered
version of the album.
Kreator plan to film a video for, "Destroy What Destroys You," a song
from their latest release Hordes Of Chaos to be directed by Carlos Toro.
A-ha have announced that, after 25 years, the trio will split to allow
them to pursue "other meaningful aspects of life, be it humanitarian
work, politics, or whatever else." The band recently released
their new studio album, Foot Of The Mountain, which went to #5 on the
U.K. Albums chart. The band have announced that they will
undertake a farewell tour before disbanding and hold the final date in
Oslo on Dec. 4th of next year.
Julian Lennon has entered the studio after a decade-long hiatus to
record the song, "Lucy," as a duet with James Scott Cook. The
song is due out shortly with profits from sales going to support Lupus
research. Lucy Vodden, a childhood friend of Lennon's and an
inspiration for the song "Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds" (well, a
picture Julian drew of her) had just recently passed away.
Lennon has been busy with his new company, theRevolution, that "is
focusing on turning the music business into the musicians'
business." The company assists artists in setting up their
own music companies and then invests in those companies. You
can hear the song or purchase it at www.therevolution.com.
Interscope Geffen A&M chairman Jimmy Iovine, Dr. Dre and HP
unveiled the new HP ENVY 15 Beats limited edition notebook PC on Oct.
9th. Iovine and Dre co-founded Beats Electronics LLC in 2006
which has included the Beats by Dr. Dre headphones line. The
new notebook will include state-of-the-art mixing software and retail
at Best Buy, HP direct and other retailers for $2,299.
The Myrmidons have seen their song "Clap (See The Stars)" appear on
this week's episode of Grey's Anatomy. The band include
former Book Of Love members Ted Ottaviano and Lauren Johnson.
Cherry Red plans to reissue Helen Terry's 1986 album, Blue Notes, in an
expanded edition in the U.K. on Oct. 19th.
R.E.M.'s concert documentary, This Is Not A Show, chronicling their
5-night stand in Dublin, Ireland in 2007, is now showing in select
theaters in the U.S. and Europe.
Eagle Rock Entertainment has announced the release of the Steve Morse
Band's new studio album, Out Standing In Their Field, on Nov.
17th. The album was released digitally this week.
Bon Jovi have signed a deal with NBC Universal that will essentially
make them artist in residence for the network, its affiliated cable TV
networks, news, information and digital brands. They will
perform on NBC's Today show on each Wednesday of November, music from
their new album The Circle will be featured heavily throughout
programming, Jon Bon Jovi will appear as a guest on Bravo's Inside The
Actor's Studio and be a subject of a character showcase on USA
network. Bon Jovi's The Circle will be released on Nov. 12th.
The Misfits will release a limited-edition 12-inch LP maxi-single,
"Land Of The Dead," in time for Halloween. It will also
include the song "Twilight Of The Dead" and have artwork paying homage
to the George A. Romero zombie films.
Big Country will release a CD/DVD set Peace In Our Time: Live In Moscow
1988 on Nov. 23rd. The release can be pre-ordered at
www.BigCountry.co.uk.
E Street Band saxophonist Clarence Clemons has a new memoir entitled
Big Man: Real Life & Tall Tales due out Oct. 21st via Grand
Central Publishing. The book includes an introduction from
Bruce Springsteen.
Metal Mind Productions will reissue digitally remastered versions of
Ian Gillan's 1990 album, Naked Thunder, 1991's Toolbox and the 1988 Ian
Gillan & Roger Glover album, Accidentally On Purpose, on Nov.
2nd in a limited digipak edition.
Janet Jackson has announced the release of a new double-CD
retrospective entitled Number Ones on Nov. 17th. The set will
contain 33 of her global #1 hits as well as her new single, "Make
Me." Jackson's last hits collection came out in
1995. Her next studio album is expected out next year as well
as her first book.
Mark Slaughter will appear on the season finale of DIY Network's
Disaster House. "A 30,000-pound garbage truck lands on the
house roof and 80's rock icons Slaughter trash our home." An
air date hasn't been announced.
The DailyMail.co.uk have reported that Cyndi Lauper and Poison's Bret
Michaels are among the cast members for the 3rd season of The Celebrity
Apprentice. Filming has already begun in New York and it is
scheduled to air in the spring.
Barry and Robin Gibb have announced that they will perform on the Oct.
31st episode of the BBC series Strictly Come Dancing -- their first
television performance since the death of their brother Maurice in 2003.
New York Dolls guitarist Steve Conte will release his new studio album,
Steve Conte & The Crazy Truth, in the U.K. and Europe on Nov.
30th via Varese Vintage/Colosseum Music.
Thrash metal act Defiance plan to release their first new studio album
in 17 years, The Prophecy, via Candlelight Records USA on Oct. 20th.
Dannii Minogue recently told the Daily Mirror that her sister Kylie may
be heading to Las Vegas for more than a show or two. "She has
now been asked to take the show back to Vegas and extend it as a
residency over there - I'm so proud of her."
Eagle Rock Entertainment have announced they will release Status Quo's
Pictures: Live At Montreux 2009 will be released on DVD on Oct. 27th.
The never-before-released Bob Dylan song, "California," will be among
the songs appearing on NCIS: The Official TV Soundtrack - Vol. 2 when
released by CBS Records on Nov. 3rd. Also joining the
soundtrack will be John Mellencamp's "Someday The Rains Will Fall."
Helix plan to release their new studio album, Vagabond Bones, in the
U.S. (via Perris Records) and Canada (via Universal-Fontana) on Nov.
17th.
Jello Biafra and the Guantanamo School of Medicine will release their
debut album, The Audacity Of Hype, on Oct. 20th via Alternative
Tentacles. The band includes Faith No More guitarist Billy
Gould.
Jack Bruce and Robin Trower released, Seven Moons Live, their
first-ever concert recording together in the U.S. this week via Ruf
Records.
New Kids On The Block's Donnie Wahlberg's new single, "I Got It," as
well as the bonus track "Rise & Grind" will send a portion of
its proceeds to the Susan G. Komen Foundation. Both songs can
be heard at his MySpace page.
Slayer drummer Dave Lombardo recently told Classic Rock magazine that
he can't wait to head back to the U.S. after his current tour of
Australia to finish work on an album of "world music with an edge" due
out next year. Meanwhile, vocalist Tom Araya is dealing with
severe laryngitis and was advised by doctors to not perform their date
in Adelaide but the rest of the tour will continue.
Japan's Mick Karn has self-published, Japan & Self Existence,
an autobiography that can be purchased through his www.MickKarn.net Web
site.
The Quireboys 1990 debut album, A Bit Of What You Fancy, has been
re-mastered and will be released on Nov. 9th. The album,
which contains their 1989 U.K. single, "7 O'Clock," includes the
original 12-track album and 8 bonus demo tracks. It can be
purchased at www.JerkinCrocus.com.
For a little something unusual, go check out
www.itwasthebestnightever.com to see a video extra from the cast of
CBS' How I Met Your Mother. Guitarist Nuno Bettencourt and
actor Jason Segel recreate the video for Extreme's "More Than Words."
Yep Roc Webshop plan to release a limited deluxe collector's edition of
Robyn Hitchcock's CD/DVD, I Often Dream Of Trains In New York, on Nov.
11th. Pre-orders can be made at www.store.yeproc.com.
Blue Cheer vocalist Dickie Peterson, 61, died on Monday in Germany from
liver cancer. The band recorded from 1968 until 2007 --
releasing The Beast Is Back in 1984.