Music Industry News

Phish Name That Jam Contest

Source: All About Jazz
July 19, 2008

On July 22, 1997 Phish performed the second show of their United States summer tour at Walnut Creek Amphitheater in Raleigh, NC. During the show, a thunderstorm of biblical proportion passed directly over the venue letting loose a torrential downpour of rain, thunder and lightning that accentuated the electric nature of the event.

On August 1, 2008 Phish will release Walnut Creek, a 2-DVD set featuring more than 2 1/2 hours of 5-camera footage with 5.1 Dolby Surround or optional ...

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China Bans "Threatening" Musicians Following Bjork's Tibet Outburst

Source: All About Jazz
July 18, 2008

China has banned all overseas performers that “threaten national sovereignty" following a performance by Bjork in Shanghai earlier this year.

At that concert, the Icelandic singer led the crowd in a chant of “Tibet, Tibet!" after performing her song “Declare Independence."

The ban will also fall on artists who “threaten national unity", “whip up ethnic hatred", “violate religious policy or cultural norms" or “advocate obscenity or feudalism and superstition." Plus, all performances must be approved beforehand, right down to what ...

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Natalie Cole Diagnosed w/ Hep C

Source: All About Jazz
July 17, 2008

NATALIE COLE DIAGNOSED WITH HEPATITIS C

Natalie Cole Grammy Award-winning singer Natalie Cole has been diagnosed with Hepatitis C, it was revealed today. The virus, found during a routine examination, is likely the result of her drug use many decades ago, which she fully revealed and documented in her autobiography Angel On My Shoulder (2000).

Hepatitis C is a blood-borne infectious disease often asymptomatic. The symptoms of infection can be medically managed, and ...

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EMI to Outsource U.K. Distribution

Source: All About Jazz
July 16, 2008

Music company closes distribution network

EMI Music is shuttering its distribution network in the U.K. and will start using worldwide transport and storage company Ceva to handle its CDs and DVDs, it announced Wednesday. Staffers at EMI's operation in Leamington Spa, 100 miles northwest of London, are now in a consultation about the cuts, although the company says the switch to Ceva will not take place before early next year.

EMI first partnered with Ceva to provide warehousing and distribution ...

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Natalie Cole Diagnosed with Hepatitis C

Source: All About Jazz
July 16, 2008

Singer's Publicist Pinpoints Drug Use As Likely Cause Grammy-winning singer Natalie Cole has hepatitis C.

A statement from her publicist said that the liver disease was discovered during a routine examination and likely was caused by her drug use years ago. Hepatitis C is spread through contact with infected blood. The daughter of jazz legend Nat King Cole says she's committed to meeting this latest challenge. “I've been so fortunate to have learned so much from my past experiences," said ...

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Foreign Jazz Musicians Find Niche in Tokyo's Underground Scene

Source: All About Jazz
July 16, 2008

TOKYO -- Dave Brubeck, Horace Silver, Cannonball Adderley -- just a few of the jazz legends who have been inspired by their experiences in Japan.

If there's any doubt about the country's influence, try listening to Brubeck's “Tokyo Traffic" in the middle of Shinjuku, or his “Zen is When" in Yoyogi Park. If that fails to do the job, take Horace Silver's “Too Much Sake" with you next time you go to an izakaya. In fact, for some jazz pioneers, ...

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Musicians Push for Rights Extension

Source: All About Jazz
July 16, 2008

Lobbying is intensifying as European Commissioners meet this week to consider extending the copyright term on recorded music.

This argument is not about a handful of extremely rich signed artists, it is about a huge number of highly skilled session musicians who are being short changed under the current system. -John Smith, general secretary U.K. Musicians Union The music industry is pushing for European legislators to lengthen copyright protection for recorded music from 50 to 95 years, which ...

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Lyle Lovett Sells Millions, Earns Nothing

Source: All About Jazz
July 16, 2008

Eclectic country singer says he makes money from touring, not albums

Lyle Lovett says he has “never made a dime" from album sales during his two-decade career, and hopes to rectify that situation when his contract expires. The eclectic country singer has two more albums on his deal with Curb/Universal, his home since 1985, and figures the horizons are wide open. Records are very powerful promotional tools to go out and be able to play on the road, but you ...

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