Music Industry News

Jackson Estate Signs $200 Million Sony Deal

Source: All About Jazz
March 16, 2010

The estate of Michael Jackson has landed the late King of Pop the biggest recording deal in history: a $200 million guaranteed contract with Sony Music Entertainment for 10 projects over seven years, according to a person familiar with the deal.

The record-breaking contract could be worth up to $250 million if certain conditions are met. One of the albums will be of never-before-released Jackson recordings that will come out in November, the person said.

The person spoke on condition ...

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EMI Establishes Nashville Arm

Source: All About Jazz
March 15, 2010

EMI Music is establishing a second Music City-based label, EMI Records Nashville.

First act signed to the new imprint is Arizona-bred singer-songwriter Troy Olsen, who has crafted hits for stars Tim McGraw and Blake Shelton. Executive team is to be announced, though Capitol Nashville promotion director Angela Lange has been named vp of promotion at the new arm. Execs will report to Capitol Nashville president/chief operation officer Mike Dungan. Dungan said in a statement, “Establishing EMI Records Nashville is part ...

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Miles from the Strip Visions of Upscale Living Dim

Source: All About Jazz
March 15, 2010

Reporting from Henderson, Nev.-- At the time, it probably sounded like a can't-miss pitch:

Sunset-colored palaces. Three golf courses. Boutiques selling hand- painted silk gowns. A Ritz-Carlton. And a lake! A 2-mile-long desert lake, with marinas, an ice rink and a floating concert stage. Few plans embodied the hubris of Nevada's go-go years like Lake Las Vegas, the wannabe Tuscan village launched two decades ago 17 miles from the Las Vegas Strip. Over the years, Michael Jackson dodged paparazzi at ...

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The Strip Society

Source: Michael Ricci
March 15, 2010

Vegas entertainers take stage for ailing pal. Singer-musician Bill Fayne's recent medical and financial setbacks feel a bit more manageable after colleagues raise around $20,000 at a sold-out benefit show.

After accidentally going to the wrong casino, Excalibur headliner Louie Anderson rushed over to the Suncoast to offer a short burst of his humor to the sellout crowd of more than 500.

Backstage, Anderson said: “Vegas gets a bad rap for being shallow and not very community-minded. All the show ...

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Invested in Entertainment

Source: Michael Ricci
March 15, 2010

New York Stock Exchange bell takes celebrity turn. Corporate meets entertainment at the opening and closing of each trading day. What better place to bring KISS and Dr Pepper together?

KISS guitarist Paul Stanley fluffed his thick, shaggy hair as bassist Gene Simmons fidgeted in the background, their eyes looped in black makeup, faces painted chalky white. As the seconds counted down to 4 p.m., Stanley leaned on the green button in front of him.

“Clang, clang, clang!" went ...

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Jazz and Cultural Relevance

Source: One Working Musician by Jason Parker
March 14, 2010

The idea of the cultural relevance of art is not new. In fact, I'd argue that all art springs from the need of the artist to say something about his or her relationship to the world. Its this relationship that makes us all unique, as no two people interact with or see the world in the same way. That's why we say that art speaks to us. It's one of the few ways we have to view, react or interact ...

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Gig Advice from Dave Carpenter

Source: Goings on @ Urban Nerds
March 14, 2010

I was fortunate enough to study with the great bassist Dave Carpenter (Allan Holdsworth, Buddy Rich, Woody Herman, Boz Skaggs, Peter Erskine) for about a year-and-a-half while I was attending CalArts and I learned a lot from him about music and professionalism. I remember that he had some great, simple advice about the requirements for taking a gig.Dave's simple criteria is as follows: Who's it with? You don't want to turn down a gig to play with a ...

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Zimbalam Moves into U.S. Challenging Tunecore

Source: HypeBot
March 13, 2010

European flat fee digital distributor Zimbalam has entered the U.S. market with a product offering aimed straight at sector leader Tunecore. For $29.99, about $10 - $15 less than Tunecore, Zimbalam distributes an album to 25 key outlets including iTunes, Amazon, eMusic and Spotify. Like Tunecore, artists keep 100% of the royalties. After the intial year, there is a $19.99 charge every 12 months only if there have been enough sales to cover the fee, essentially ...

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