Wednesday, June 26, 2002
Eminem, “The Eminem Show” (Shady / Interscope)
Eminem’s now-familiar mix of egomania, self-loathing and smart-aleck charm is as compelling as ever on his third album--no small feat for an artist who still relies on shock to put his stories across.
Eminem’s now-familiar mix of egomania, self-loathing and smart-aleck charm is as compelling as ever on his third album--no small feat for an artist who still relies on shock to put his stories across.
But Eminem has learned the Tupac lesson: you’ll be a more likeable rapper if you soften your thuggery with bits of humanity. When he tells you in “Cleaning Out My Closet” (one of the disc’s highlights) that he would’ve killed his now ex-wife if he’d have put bullets in his gun, he later (in “Soldier") explains what put him in the mental state to consider such a thing, and that leaving the bullets out of the chamber was a conscious decision. It doesn’t explain away such a stupid action, but it’s the difference between good storytelling and anger for anger’s sake.
This album may represent Dr. Dre’s best production work to date. Even though it clocks in at nearly 80 minutes, “The Eminem Show” is not a tiring listen.
Bill aims to increase competition in radio, concert industries
Sen. Russell Feingold (D-Wis.) on Thursday (6/27) introduced the Competition in Radio and Concert Industries Act, which he claims will help small- and independent-radio-station owners and concert promoters to compete in a rapidly-consolidating market.
Sen. Russell Feingold (D-Wis.) on Thursday (6/27) introduced the Competition in Radio and Concert Industries Act, which he claims will help small- and independent-radio-station owners and concert promoters to compete in a rapidly-consolidating market.
Feingold said the dwindling number of locally owned radio stations, increasing ticket prices and reports of anti-competitive promotional tactics have created the need for legislation.
“Radio is one of the most important mediums we have for exchanging ideas and expressing our creativity,” he said in a statement. “I am committed to fairness and competition and to ensuring that cross-ownership of promotion services or venues is not used to hurt musicians, concert promoters, or other radio stations.”
The Feingold bill makes changes to the 1996 Telecommunications Act, which lifted caps on radio-station ownership and ushered in a remarkable period of corporate consolidation in radio.
After a lengthy buying spree, Clear Channel Communications, Inc., now owns more than 1,200 radio stations, making it by far the largest radio station owner in the country. Prior to the act’s passage, one company could own no more than 20 AM and 20 FM stations nationwide. Clear Channel is also the largest concert-promotions firm; according to Clear Channel, the company generated 70 percent of all concert-ticket revenue in the U.S. in 2001.
In recent years, independent radio stations, record labels and concert promoters have alleged that corporations like Clear Channel are using their dominance to illegally shut out competitors.
“I have been hearing from independent radio stations and concert promoters in Wisconsin who are being pushed out by anti-competitive practices that are in turn a result of concentration,” Feingold said. “The Telecommunications Act of 1996 opened the floodgates for concentration in the radio and concert industry, and that’s exactly why we are here today--because we need to repair the damage that has been done through this anti-competitive behavior.”
Feingold’s bill aims to level the playing field by, among other actions:
- revoking the license of any radio station that uses its cross-ownership of promotion services or venues to discriminate against musicians, concert promoters, or other radio stations.
- requiring the FCC to scrutinize the effect of national and local concentration on independent radio stations, concert promoters and consumers.
- preventing further increases in the number of radio stations a company can own in a single market.
- closing a loophole in FCC “Payola” (pay-for-play) regulations to cover independent record promoters, who are paid by record companies to get songs onto radio station playlists.
Clear Channel President and Chief Operating Officer Mark Mays said in a statement that his company was built honestly, and that it is delivering what listeners want. “We do not believe it is in the best interest of any of our constituencies to have the government legislate private business practices to the degree that Sen. Feingold proposes,” he said.
Mays argued that the radio business isn’t nearly as consolidated as other parts of the entertainment industry. “Five major players who control 84 percent of all album sales, for example, now dominate the record business,” he said. “And in the movie industry, the 10 largest studios account for almost 100 percent of the revenues.”
In comparison, he said, the top 10 radio-station owners account for 44 percent of industry revenues.
Mays blamed the rapid increase in concert ticket prices on the demands of artists. “The belief by some that Clear Channel charges excessive prices for concert tickets is misdirected since it is actually the artists who set ticket prices and often are demanding more money to perform than ever before,” he said. “This is typical of most entertainment industries--tickets are more expensive for sporting and other events, too. Even so, many events continue to sell out, indicating the excitement fans feel about the experience.”
Ticket Window: Creed, Korn, Jimmy Buffett
This week’s major new on-sales also include tickets for Cher, Sammy Hagar & David Lee Roth, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, and Tool.
This week’s major new on-sales also include tickets for Cher, Sammy Hagar & David Lee Roth, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, and Tool.
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Cher
Read about the tour.
- Sunrise, Fla.(8/31, National Car Rental Center), on sale 6/29 at 11 a.m. ET
- Tampa, Fla. (9/2, Ice Palace), on sale 6/29 at 10 a.m. ET
- Birmingham, Ala. (9/4, BJCC Arena), on sale 6/29 at 10 a.m. CT
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Creed
Read about the tour.
- Manchester, N.H. (8/6, Verizon Arena), on sale 6/29 at 10 a.m. ET
- Cincinnati, Ohio (8/26, Verizon Center), on sale 6/29, 10 a.m. ET
- Selma, Texas (9/20, Verizon Amphitheater), on sale 6/29 at 10 a.m. CT
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Jimmy Buffett
Read about the tour.
- Portland, Ore. (9/24, Rose Garden), on sale 6/29 at 9 a.m. PT
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Korn
Read about the tour.
- Albuquerque, N.M. (7/31, Tingley Coliseum), on sale 6/29 at noon MT
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Sammy Hagar and David Lee Roth
Read about the tour.
- Burgettstown, Pa. (8/11, Post-Gazette Pavilion), on sale 6/29 at 10 a.m. ET
- Mansfield, Mass. (8/28, Tweeter Center, on sale 6/29 at 10 a.m. ET
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Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
Read about the tour.
- Englewood, Colo. (8/21, Red Rocks), on sale 6/29, 10 a.m. MT
- Devore, Calif. (8/24, Blockbuster Pavilion, on sale 6/30 at 10 a.m. PT
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Tool
Read about the tour.
- Daytona Beach, Fla. (8/5, Ocean Center), on sale 6/29 at 10 a.m. ET
- Greenville, S.C. (8/7, BiLo Center), on sale 6/29 at 10 a.m. ET
- Huntington, W.V. (8/8, Civic Center), on sale 6/29 at noon ET
- Baltimore, Md. (8/10, Baltimore Arena), on sale 6/28 at 10 a.m. ET
- Providence, R.I. (8/17, Dunkin’ Donuts Center), on sale 6/29 at 10 a.m. ET
- Cleveland, Ohio (8/30, Gund Arena), on sale 6/28 at 10 a.m. ET
- Cincinnati, Ohio (8/31, U.S. Bank Arena), on sale 6/28 at 10 a.m. ET
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All ticket on-sale times and concert dates are subject to change without notice. Confirm with your local venue and/or ticket seller.
SoundSpike’s Ticket Window feature is updated each Thursday evening.
Tuesday, June 25, 2002
Usher, OutKast, India.Arie honored at BET Awards
Usher, India.Arie and OutKast were among the winners at the 2nd Annual BET Awards ceremony, which took place on Tuesday (6/25) at the Kodak Theatre in Los Angeles.
Usher, India.Arie and OutKast were among the winners at the 2nd Annual BET Awards ceremony, which took place on Tuesday (6/25) at the Kodak Theatre in Los Angeles.
Usher took the cable networks award for male R&B category, and India.Arie won the female R&B award. OutKast’s Big Boi dedicated his duo’s best group award to Khujo of Goodie Mob, who reportedly lost his lower leg in a car crash on Monday night (6/24).
Missy Elliott and Ja Rule won in the female and male hip-hop categories, respectively. Alicia Keys won Best New Artist, and B2K won the Viewer’s Choice Award.
The night’s performers included Yolanda Adams (who won in the gospel category), B2K, Nelly, Ja Rule, Tweet, Gerald Levert, Ludacris, and Earth Wind and Fire (which took home the Lifetime Achievement Award).
According to BET, there was a tense moment during one commercial break when rapper Snoop Dogg and Suge Knight, his former boss at Death Row Records, appeared close to blows. Knight reportedly moved to a seat directly across from Snoop Dogg, and the two exchanged words. The incident reportedly cooled down when awards show co-host Steve Harvey asked the two to respect the event.
In one of the nights lighter moments, Muhammad Ali, when presented with the Humanitarian Award by Will Smith, asked, “Is this all I get?”
A complete list of winners follows:
Bruce Springsteen sets July 30 ‘Today’ show appearance
Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band will perform several songs from their forthcoming album “The Rising” during a July 30 appearance on NBC’s “Today.”
Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band will perform several songs from their forthcoming album “The Rising” during a July 30 appearance on NBC’s “Today.”
On the morning of Springsteen’s performance, “Today” will be broadcast from the boardwalk in Asbury Park, N.J. Springsteen and band will perform at the adjacent Asbury Park Convention Hall, according Springsteen’s publicist. At press time, it wasn’t known if tickets to the performance will be issued to the public.
Brendan O’Brien (Pearl Jam, Stone Temple Pilots) produced the new Springsteen album, which hits stores on the day of the “Today” appearance. The album features 14 new songs, as well as the E Street Band’s version of “My City of Ruins.” Springsteen performed he latter track during “America: A Tribute to Heroes,” a Sept. 21, 2001 telethon that raised money for victims of the Sept. 11 attacks.
The forthcoming album is Springsteen’s first with the E Street Band since 1984’s “Born in the USA.”
Luciano Pavarotti says he’ll retire in 2005
Famed Italian tenor Luciano Pavarotti, during a Tuesday (6/25) interview on CNN’s “Connie Chung Tonight,” said that he will retire on his 70th birthday, Oct. 12, 2005.
Famed Italian tenor Luciano Pavarotti, during a Tuesday (6/25) interview on CNN’s “Connie Chung Tonight,” said that he will retire on his 70th birthday, Oct. 12, 2005.
After that date, he joked, “I never sing even in the bathroom, not even when I’m taking the shower.”
Pavarotti recently took a beating in the press for being a no-show for the May 11 season finale at New York’s Metropolitan Opera. Pavarotti told Chung that he did not show up because he was ill with laryngitis and could not talk.
“It’s stupid, absolutely stupid, to make such a big fuss,” he said.
Pavarotti also said that he plans to marry his longtime companion Nicoletta Mantovani, 32, later this year.
Two U.S. concerts are ahead for Pavarotti in 2002: Sept. 20 in Phoenix and Sept. 28 in Hartford, Conn.
R. Kelly enters not guilty plea in Chicago
R&B star R. Kelly, who has been indicted for allegedly videotaping himself having sex with a 14-year-old girl, pleaded not guilty on Wednesday (6/26) to 21 counts of child pornography.
R&B star R. Kelly, who has been indicted for allegedly videotaping himself having sex with a 14-year-old girl, pleaded not guilty on Wednesday (6/26) to 21 counts of child pornography.
According to Chicago press reports, about 100 fans gathered outside the Chicago courthouse, cheering and holding signs expressing support for the singer. According to the Sun-Times, many wore T-shirts that said, “R. Kelly, We Love You!” and “We are Praying for You!”
Kelly, who has denied that he is the man on the videotape, didn’t issue a statement or answer reporters’ questions following his arraignment. The judge ordered him to return to court on Aug. 7.
The singer was indicted on child pornography charges and arrested on June 5. If convicted, Kelly could face 15 years in prison and a fine of up to $100,000.
Earlier this week, the embattled R&B star delivered the track “Heaven, I Need a Hug” to Chicago radio station WGCI-FM. Among the song’s lyrics: “I’ve given 13 years of my life to this industry. Hit song or not, I’ve given all of me. You smile in my face and tell me you love me. But then before you know the truth you’re so quick to judge me.”
Album Chart: Papa Roach and Korn unable to rock Eminem loose
Despite the double-pronged assault of the latest from rockers Papa Roach and Korn, Eminem’s third album outsold all others for the fifth straight week, keeping it locked in the top slot of the forthcoming Billboard 200 album chart.
Despite the double-pronged assault of the latest from rockers Papa Roach and Korn, Eminem’s third album outsold all others for the fifth straight week, keeping it locked in the top slot of the forthcoming Billboard 200 album chart.
Papa Roach’s “Lovehatetragedy"--which features the hit “She Loves Me Not"--sold about 136,000 copies during its first week out, according to industry sources, earning itself a No. 2 debut and narrowly bumping Korn’s “Untouchables” down to No. 3. After debuting at No. 2 last week, “Untouchables” moved another 132,000 copies, down from its first-week total of 434,000 copies.
Outselling “Lovehatetragedy” and “Untouchables” combined, however, is “The Eminem Show,” which sold about 380,000 copies during its most recent week in stores. The album has now sold a total of about 3.3 million copies since its May 26 release.
“Totally Hits 2002"--a collection of previously released hits from acts including Pink, P.O.D., Alicia Keys, OutKast, Busta Rhymes, LeAnn Rimes and others--continues its slow descent, down one spot to No. 4. Right behind it is Avril Lavigne’s “Let Go,” which surges from No. 10 to No. 5.
Debuting at No. 6 is Wyclef Jean’s “Masquerade,” which logged first-week sales of about 81,000 copies. That pushes Ashanti’s self-titled debut down one spot to No. 7.
Dropping three spots, meanwhile, is P. Diddy & Bad Boy Records’ “We Invented the Remix,” which slips to No. 8.
Canadian rock act Our Lady Peace scores its first Top 10 debut with “Gravity,” which comes in at No. 9 after selling about 67,000 copies.
Pink’s “Missundaztood” closes out the Top 10 with a five-spot jump from No. 15, beating out “Border Girl"--Mexican pop-singer Paulina Rubio’s English-language debut--by a mere 3,000 copies, which leaves the latter album with a No. 11 debut.
This week’s most notable gainer is the soundtrack for Disney’s “Lilo & Stitch”; spurred by the successful opening week of its namesake film, the album bounds from its No. 57 debut to No. 16 this time around. Heading in the other direction, meanwhile, is New Found Glory’s “Sticks & Stones,” which dives from its No. 4 debut to No. 25.
Other debuts include Anastacia’s “Freak of Nature” at No. 27, former Alice in Chains guitarist Jerry Cantrell’s “Degradation Trip” at No. 33, A-Teens “Pop ‘Til You Drop” at No. 45, the “2002 Warped Tour Compilation” at No. 55, DJ Paul Oakenfold’s “Bunkka” at No. 65, Archie Eversole’s “Ride wit Me Dirty South Style” at No. 83 and B Rich’s “80 Dimes” at No. 100.
Monday, June 24, 2002
Online premiere planned for four new Springsteen tracks
Four new songs from Bruce Springsteen’s forthcoming album, his first with the E Street Band since 1984, will premiere online beginning on Monday (6/24).
Four new songs from Bruce Springsteen’s forthcoming album, his first with the E Street Band since 1984, will premiere online beginning on Monday (6/24).
The album’s title track, “The Rising,” will be the first song streamed exclusively by Netscape Music and, for America Online subscribers, AOL Music (keyword: First Listen).
The remaining three songs--"Lonesome Day,” “Into the Fire” and “Mary’s Place"--will premiere on July 8, 15 and 22, respectively. Netscape and AOL will stream each of the tracks for 48 hours.
Brendan O’Brien (Pearl Jam, Stone Temple Pilots) produced the new Springsteen album, which is due in stores on July 30. The album features 14 new songs, as well as the E Street Band’s version of “My City of Ruins.” Springsteen performed “My City of Ruins” during “America: A Tribute to Heroes,” a Sept. 21, 2001 telethon that raised money for victims of the Sept. 11 attacks.
According to published reports, New York radio station WPLJ-FM played the title track to “The Rising” on Friday morning (6/21), and was immediately served with a cease and desist order from Columbia Records.
Springsteen is expected to launch a tour behind the album later this year.
Seven cities added to the Who’s North American tour
The Who, which is scheduled to open a North American tour on Saturday (6/29), has added seven September dates to its itinerary.
The Who, which is scheduled to open a North American tour on Saturday (6/29), has added seven September dates to its itinerary.
New cities on the band’s itinerary are Englewood, Colo.; Dallas; St. Louis; St. Paul, Minn.; Moline, Ill.; Cleveland, Ohio; and Toronto. The outing is booked into amphitheaters, but the inaugural date takes place at the Joint, a 2,000-person-capacity club inside the Las Vegas Hard Rock Hotel and Casino.
Counting Crows are scheduled to support from June 29 through July 6, and former Led Zeppelin frontman Robert Plant opens dates from July 26 through August. The opening act for the tour’s September dates hasn’t been announced.
The Who has donated to the T.J. Martell Foundation for use in a charity auction an exclusive tour poster and two VIP tickets for shows in 18 cities on their current tour. The auction is live on eBay and will continue through July. Auction proceeds will benefit the foundation’s efforts to fund research into the cures for leukemia, cancer and AIDS.
Following the tour, the Who’s three remaining original members--bassist John Entwistle, singer Roger Daltrey and guitarist Pete Townshend--plan to head into the studio to record their first new album since 1982’s “It’s Hard” (MCA), according to management. The group also currently features drummer Zak Starkey (son of the Beatles’ Ringo Starr) and longtime keyboardist John “Rabbit” Bundrick. But in a recent VH1.com interview, Townshend tried to lower expectations.
“I’m ready to go in the studio and run the marathon, but I can’t promise to finish,” he said. “There was a time when I had to be bullied into going back to the Who, but that’s not the case today. I have the willingness to have a go at it, but I’m not optimistic. ...I wrote two final albums for the Who that critics, Who fans and even Roger slaughtered. I put my best into them at the time, but looking back, they’re not very good records.”
The Who resurfaced on the U.S. radar last October when it performed at the Concert for New York benefit at New York City’s Madison Square Garden. A two-disc audio compilation of the concert includes the Who’s performances of its classic hits “Who Are You,” “Baba O’Riley” and “Won’t Get Fooled Again.” A companion DVD release features the group’s entire four-song set, which also included “Behind Blue Eyes.”
The group has reunited a number of times during the past 18 years, and last toured the U.S. in 2000.