Posts Tagged ‘entertainment’

Coldplay Left In The Cold?

Tuesday, March 17th, 2009

by RomBox.com

If a tree falls in the forest, and no one is there to hear it, did it make a sound?

This old teaser of a question comes to mind with the allegations of plagiarism against Coldplay. Before they became a number one selling artist, would anyone accuse them of stealing a song? Now, that almost everyone has heard of them, they sell out concerts and sell millions of albums, the lawyers come chasing like they are some sort-of ambulance.

In July of 2008, a band called Creaky Boards ironically said the Coldplay song Viva La Vida was stolen from their song The Song I Didn’t Write. Later, Creaky Boards admitted the allegations were mostly a publicity stunt.

Then, in December of 2008, Joe Satriani came out to explain why he was suing Coldplay for plagiarism saying the same song Viva La Vida was stolen from his song If I Could Fly.

“I felt like a dagger went right through my heart. It hurt so much,” Joe said. “The second I heard it, I knew it was If I Could Fly.

“Almost immediately, from the minute their song came out, my e-mail box flooded with people going, ‘Have you heard this song by Coldplay? They ripped you off man.’ I mean, I couldn’t tell you how many e-mails I received. Everybody noticed the similarities between the songs. It’s pretty obvious.”

Hmmm… I wonder if Joe stole it from Creaky Boards or Creaky Boards stole it from Joe. Of course, there are many people who would claim the white man stole the blues.

Iggy & The Stooges on the Death of Ron Asheton

Friday, February 27th, 2009

Ronald Frank Asheton July 17, 1948 - January 6, 2009

We are shocked and shaken by the news of Ron’s death. He was a great friend, brother, musician, trooper. Irreplaceable. He will be missed.

For all that knew him behind the façade of Mr Cool & Quirky, he was a kind-hearted, genuine, warm person who always believed that people meant well even if they did not.

As a musician Ron was The Guitar God, idol to follow and inspire others. That is how he will be remembered by people who had a great pleasure to work with him, learn from him and share good and bad times with him.

Iggy, Scott, Steve, Mike and Crew

—————————————–

I am in shock. He was my best friend.
– Iggy Pop

Ticketmaster Settles Springsteen Probe

Tuesday, February 24th, 2009

New Jersey — Ticketmaster has agreed to change its business practices after a suit was filed by the New Jersey Attorney General.

Springsteen had said, “We were informed that Ticketmaster was redirecting your log-in requests for tickets at face value, to their secondary site TicketsNow, which specializes in up-selling tickets at above face value. They did this even when other seats remained available at face value. We condemn this practice. We perceive this as a pure conflict of interest.”

Under the settlement, Ticketmaster will be restricted for at least one year.

“Ticketmaster will need prior approval from the Attorney General for any links between its ‘No Tickets Found’ Internet page to its TicketsNow re-sale website.”

Also, “Ticketmaster will not use paid Internet advertising that leads customers searching for “Ticketmaster” on search engines to TicketsNow.”

Ticketmaster CEO Irving Azoff offered an apology:
“While we were genuinely trying to do the right thing for fans in providing more choices when the tickets they requested from the primary on-sale were not available, we clearly missed the mark. Fans are confused and angry, which is the opposite of what we hoped to accomplish. We sincerely apologize to Bruce, his organization and, above all, his fans.”

“We recognize that we need to change our course. “We have committed to Bruce and state publicly here that we have taken down all links for Bruce’s shows directing fans from Ticketmaster to TicketsNow. This redirection only occurred as a choice when we could not satisfy fans’ specific search request for primary ticket inventory, but to make sure there is no misunderstanding in the future, we also publicly state that we will never again link to TicketsNow in a manner that can possibly create any confusion during a high-demand on-sale.

“Specifically, we will not present an option to go to TicketsNow from Ticketmaster without the consent of the artist and the venue, both of whom work together to bring the joy of live entertainment to millions of fans.”

Oscars Best Soundtrack

Monday, February 23rd, 2009

Slumdog Composer A.R. Rahman Takes Home 2 Oscars

A.R. Rahman is from India. Only twice before has an Indian won an Oscar. Rahman won two in one night for best original soundtrack and best original song. Both are from the movie “Slumdog Millionaire.”

“I was excited and terrified,” he said. “The last time I felt like that was during my marriage.”

“All my life, I had a choice of hate and love. I chose love, and I’m here.”

“I’m really happy and grateful it worked out.”

Can’t Beat The Beatles

Thursday, February 19th, 2009

A new addition of the video game Rock Band will feature the music of the Beatles. This is interesting in several ways. First of all, that the Beatles could get everyone to agree to the legal issues is amazing. Did Yoko Ono, Apple Records, Sony and Michael Jackson all have to agree? At least I think Michael Jackon is still one of the owners of the Beatles publishing rights.

Speaking of Apple Records, the have been in litigation with Apple computers for quite some time. Their agreement calls for Apple computers to stay out of the music business. But, does a Beatles computer game violate trademark law in the other direction?

In any event, it’s an amazing feat that looks like it will benefit kids in the long run. Paul McCartney was asked –

QUESTION:Can you tell me about this special Beatles edition of the Rock Band game that’s coming out this fall?
ANSWER: It will feature different periods of the band — you get early days, Liverpool, then psychedelic, and on from there. It’s very cool. And I like the idea that the game introduces kids to music, you know?

Pioneer Electronics to Cut 10,000 Jobs

Friday, February 13th, 2009

The Japanese electronics maker is facing an annual loss of $1.4 billion. After cutting 5,900 jobs last year, they plan to cut an additional 10,000 jobs.

Once a leader in the making of flat screen TVs, they announced their decision to pull out of that market.

“Since the US financial crisis and ensuing global downturn, our sales of car electronics products and flat-screen TVs plunged worldwide,” said a Pioneer spokeswoman.

“We were severely hit by battered consumer sentiment.”

Blink 182 Is Back Together!

Monday, February 9th, 2009

There have been many rumors about Blink 182. After frontman, Tom DeLonge, left to
form Angels & Airwaves and drummer, Travis Barker, was in a serious plane crash, many thought the band would never play together again. However, they have announced on their website that they are back:

“Hi. We’re Blink 182. This past week there’ve been a lot of questions about the current status of the band, and we wanted you to hear it straight from us. To put it simply, We’re back. We mean, really back. Picking up where we left off and then some. In the studio writing and recording a new album. Preparing to tour the world yet again. Friendships reformed. 17 years deep in our legacy.

Summer 2009.

Thanks and get ready….”

Attorney General Investigating Ticket Sales for Springsteen Concert

Monday, February 9th, 2009

STATEMENT FROM THE ATTORNEY GENERAL OF NEW JERSEY’S OFFICE
Division of Consumer Affairs

NEWARK - The Office of the Attorney General and the Division of Consumer Affairs are investigating Monday’s sale of Bruce Springsteen concerts tickets after consumers complained about problems they encountered during attempted online purchases.

“Consumers are questioning what transpired and if they had an equal opportunity to purchase these concert tickets. We share these concerns and are investigating this matter,” Attorney General Anne Milgram said.

More than 250 consumer complaints have been received as of midday today. The Division of Consumer Affairs has placed an icon labeled “Bruce Springsteen/Ticketmaster Complaints” on its main web page for consumers to link to an online complaint form. The Division’s web page is located at http://www.njConsumerAffairs.gov

Consumer Affairs investigators will review submitted complaints to determine how the online sales process was conducted and whether any violations of the state’s Consumer Fraud Act or ticket resale law occurred.

Bruce Springsteen Says No Bossing To Ticketmaster

Monday, February 9th, 2009

Though happy to have won a Grammy, Bruce Springsteen is not happy with the merger of Ticketmaster and Live Nation. He wrote on his website:

Last Monday, we were informed that Ticketmaster was redirecting your log-in requests for tickets at face value, to their secondary site TicketsNow, which specializes in up-selling tickets at above face value. They did this even when other seats remained available at face value. We condemn this practice.

We perceive this as a pure conflict of interest. Ticketmaster is there to ensure that we have a good, fair sale of our tickets at their face value plus normal ticketing charges. TicketsNow is supposed to be a secondary site where people who already have tickets may exchange, trade, and, unfortunately, speculate with them. We have asked this redirection from Ticketmaster to TicketsNow cease and desist immediately and Ticketmaster has agreed to do so in the future and has removed its unwanted material from their and our site.

A final point for now: the one thing that would make the current ticket situation even worse for the fan than it is now would be Ticketmaster and Live Nation coming up with a single system, thereby returning us to a near monopoly situation in music ticketing. Several newspapers are reporting on this story right now. If you, like us, oppose that idea, you should make it known to your representatives.

The abuse of our fans and our trust by Ticketmaster has made us as furious as it has made many of you. We will continue to do our utmost now and in the future to make sure that these practices are permanently curtailed on our tours.

Bruce Springsteen, Jon Landau and the entire Springsteen Tour Team

Dump AOL? Time Warner Struggles

Thursday, February 5th, 2009

TIME WARNER INC. REPORTS RESULTS FOR 2008 FULL YEAR AND FOURTH QUARTER

NEW YORK, February 4, 2009 – Time Warner Inc. (NYSE:TWX) today reported financial results for its full year and fourth quarter ended December 31, 2008.

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Jeff Bewkes said: “We’re making progress at Time Warner toward our goals of becoming a more content-focused company and delivering increasing returns to our stockholders. Last year, our priorities were to rationalize our structure and improve our operating performance. Despite the challenging economic environment, we achieved most of what we set out to do. Moving into 2009, we intend to build on these accomplishments.” Mr. Bewkes continued: “Operationally, we’ll continue to improve the efficiency of our businesses while creating even more of the compelling content that’s becoming increasingly valuable. Structurally, we’ll complete the Time Warner Cable separation soon. At the same time, we’ll strengthen our balance sheet, improve our strategic flexibility and return capital to our stockholders on a consistent
basis. Through these steps, we expect to emerge from this downturn in an even stronger competitive position.”

Full-Year Results
Revenues grew 1% over 2008 to $47.0 billion, reflecting increases at the Company’s Cable and Networks segments. Adjusted Operating Income before Depreciation and Amortization rose 1% to $13.0 billion. The growth
at the Cable, Networks and Filmed Entertainment segments more than offset declines at the Publishing and AOL segments. The Company’s Operating Loss of $16.0 billion reflected a decline of $24.9 billion compared to 2007’s Operating Income of $8.9 billion, due mainly to a $24.2 billion noncash impairment to reduce the carrying value of goodwill and intangible assets. Cash Provided by Operations totaled $10.3 billion and Free Cash Flow amounted to $6.0 billion (reflecting a 46% conversion rate of Adjusted Operating Income before Depreciation and Amortization). As of December 31, 2008, Net Debt was $33.0 billion, down $2.6 billion from $35.6
billion at the end of 2007, due primarily to the generation of Free Cash Flow, offset in part by acquisitions. Diluted Loss per Common Share from Continuing Operations was $3.74 for the year ended December 31, 2008, compared to Diluted Income per Common Share from Continuing Operations of $1.08 in
2007. The current and prior year amounts included certain items affecting comparability that are described in Note 3 to the accompanying consolidated financial statements. The net impact of such items was to decrease the current year results by $4.73 per diluted common share and to increase the prior year results by $0.12 per diluted common share.