Tingly's News Thread

[Tingly]

SNOW PATROL PULLS OFF ACOUSTIC PUB SET

Snow Patrol took acoustic guitars to their local pub this week to unveil their new compilation album Up to Now.

Gary Lightbody and Nathan Connolly left the big guitar amps at home to perform an intimate acoustic set in the King's Head, north London.

The duo opened with Crack The Shutters before playing songs such as Shut Your Eyes and new single Just Say Yes.

Snow Patrol's best known hits Run and Chasing Cars were also included in the setlist.

Commenting on their new compilation, Lightbody said: "Our record company wanted to call it Greatest Hits but one of our songs went in at Number 89 and another couple were outside the Top 100."

The acoustic set came just weeks before the start of the band's UK tour, which commences in Brighton on November 18th.

Snow Patrol will then call at cities such as Manchester, Newcastle, Glasgow and Bristol before heading over to Ireland.

Buy an acoustic guitar now

-gear4music.com

[Tingly]

SPRINGSTEEN TO PEN AUTOBIOGRAPHY?

London, Nov 6 : Singer songwriter Bruce Springsteen is set to reveal details about his life in the limelight in an autobiography, it has emerged.

Springsteen, 60, had kept diaries throughout his career and he's using his old entries as the basis for the book.

He is expected to make a lot of money from the book, and publishers are expected to start a bidding war which could reach as much as 6.25 million pounds.

"It could be the biggest rock music autobiography of all time. He could get 9 million dollars to 10 million dollars for the world rights," the Daily Express quoted a publishing industry source as telling the New York Post.

-ANI

[Tingly]

TAYLOR SWIFT APPARENTLY "OVER" KANYE INCIDENT

London, November 06 : Taylor Swift seems to have grown over the infamous MTV Video Music Awards incident involving Kanye West, as she recently recreated the episode at Saturday Night Live with a humorous edge.

In the video, Taylor announces herself as the guest presenter, after which her co-star Bill Hader pretends receiving Kanye's phone call.

Then Hader says: "Kanye West just called, he thinks Beyonce should host..."

Taylor follows it up with the exact expression she had on stage at the VMAs, reports the Mirror.

In real-life, West had interrupted Taylor at VMA during her acceptance speech for Best Female to suggest Beyonce deserved the award.

-ANI

[Tingly]

SHARON OSBOURNE PUTS DOWN SUSAN BOYLE

London, Nov 6 : Brit music manager Sharon Osbourne has in a US radio interview put down Britain's Got Talent star Susan Boyle by saying that she looked like "a hairy *********".

Osbourne, 57, made several vicious insults about the singer's appearance even saying that God had hit her with "a ******* ugly stick".

The America's Got Talent judge went on to say that Boyle, 48, was a "lovely lady" who needed a "Gillette razor".

"I like everybody to do well. Even somebody that looks like a slapped a**e. God bless her. It's like, 'You go girl'. She does look like a hairy a**ehole," the Mirror quoted her as saying.

"He [God] gave her the talent. Yes he did. [And] he hit her with the ******ing ugly stick," she added.

Sirius XM radio presenters Opie and Anthony joined in the tirade.

"I didn't realize she had facial hair - I couldn't get past the Gene Wilder," they stated.

-ANI

[Tingly]

BEYONCE TAKES THREE MTV EUROPE AWARDS

London, Nov 6 : R 'n' B singer Beyonce Knowles has taken home three MTV Europe music awards.

The event, which took place in Berlin, saw Beyonce, 28, winning the award for Best Female, Best Song for 'Halo', and Best Video for 'Single Ladies'.

Knowles, who had competed for the Best Female award with Leona Lewis, dedicated her Best Video award to rapper husband Jay-Z.

"There's only one person I want to thank and that is Jay for putting a ring on it," the BBC quoted her as saying.

-ANI

[Tingly]

US WINS BETS LIVE ACT!

Irish band U2 won the Best Live Act prize Thursday night at the 2009 MTV Europe Music Awards, after playing a sold-out free gig at Berlin's Brandenburg Gate to mark the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall, as part of the awards' return to the German capital for the first time in 15 years.

The other winners were Beyonce (Best Female), whose Single Ladies won Best Video and Halo took the prize for Best Song; Eminem (Best Male); Tokio Hotel (Best Group); Green Day (Best Rock Band); maNga (Best European Act); Lady Gaga (Best New Act); Jay-Z (Best Urban); Placebo (Best Alternative); Linkin Park (Best World Stage Performance); Pixie Lott (Best Push Artist).

The awards were inaugurated in Berlin in 1994, and Thursday's event also saw stars such as Juliette Lewis, French actor Jean Reno and Ukrainian boxer Wladimir Klitschko attend.

With the German capital currently celebrating the fall of the Wall and reunification 20 years ago, the highlight was the return of U2, who also played at the inaugural event. The band recorded their landmark album, Achtung Baby, in Berlin, between the fall of the Wall in 1989 and reunification in 1990.

The MTV Europe Music Awards is an offshoot of the original American MTV awards, but has grown to establish itself as a successful event in its own right.

-IANS

[Tingly]

JUDGE ORDERS SITE TO STOP SELLING BEATLES DISCOGRAPHY

A judge has ordered Bluebeat, the US website that had been selling the Beatles' entire discography for digital download - and which justified its doing so on the basis that the tracks were "re-recorded" using "psycho-acoustic simulation" - to stop selling the tracks at once.

According to Wired.com, "a Los Angeles federal judge set aside arguments from Hank Risan, owner of BlueBeat and other companies named as defendants in the lawsuit EMI filed on Tuesday."

EMI is understood to have the rights to publish Beatles songs digitally and in physical form in the US. Bluebeat began selling the back catalogue on Monday, at the low price of 25cents per song - a substantial discount against normal song prices almost anywhere online.

The catalogue now available - including "Love" and "Let It Be.. Naked" - is the sort of thing that appeals to collectors, but has unproven attractiveness to the general punter. And if you search the iTunes Store, although you'll find The Beatles, you won't find them singing any of their songs; just interviews.

There's also no mention of the decision - or the constraint, or why Bluebeat has suddenly decided not to sell any more of the Beatles back catalogue - on Bluebeat's news page.

But we have found some more background (courtesy Mo McRoberts in a spare moment) on Media Rights Technologies, the company that putatively owns Bluebeat.

In May 2007, according to Ars Technica, Media Rights Technologies claimed that Microsoft's Vista operating system, Adobe's Flash, Real Networks RealPlayer and Apple's iTunes were "infringing [its] products under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act" and that MRT had sent cease-and-desist letters to Microsoft, Adobe, Real, and Apple.

"Together these four companies are responsible for 98 percent of the media players in the marketplace; CNN, NPR, Clear Channel, MySpace, Yahoo, and YouTube all use these infringing devices to distribute copyrighted works," said MRT CEO Hank Risan in a statement. "We will hold the responsible parties accountable. The time of suing John Doe is over."

Risan's argument was that the companies hadn't used the correct digital rights management technology DRM (a technology which Media Rights Technologies happens to make..) to encode their streams, and that therefore they were enabling piracy by not using the correct DRM. And which DRM should they use? Why, the DRM that Media Rights Technologies made.

According to Ars Technica,

The real crime of the four targeted companies appears to be the fact that they are "actively avoiding the use of MRT's technologies," and "failure to comply with this demand could result in a federal court injunction to any of the above named parties to cease production or sale of their products.

There's no evidence that any court action actually followed. As Microsoft, Real, Adobe and Apple have all shown themselves adept at writing DRM products of their own, it's hard to see how Risan's claim could have stood up in a court.

The latter may be a feeling that he's getting used to.

-Guardian uk

[Tingly]

DOO WOP CONSIDERED A SLUR ON iTUNES

An automated censoring service has left iTunes embarrassed after it censored "doo wop" to "doo w*p", confusing consumers, including Radio 2 DJ Jeremy Vine.

When Vine mentioned in passing to fellow DJ Ken Bruce on Wednesday that he was surprised to find iTunes had censored an album he wanted, it caused an on-air stir.

A search of iTunes reveals that the asterisk substitution does not apply only to the 1950s genre, but to any track or album that mentions the racial slur wop, including Lauryn Hill and, those famously inflammatory artists, Prefab Sprout.

Doo wop was originally performed largely by African-Americans, but was later popularised by Italian-American artists. It's the latter ethnic group that has borne the brunt of the racial slur in question, so in censoring the word, iTunes is being a little over-sensitive.

Adam Howorth, Head of Music PR at iTunes, says the asterisk is imposed by an automated database that checks words against a list but can't distinguish the context. "We have an automated system which looks for potentially off words and asterisks out certain ones based on the rules, and wop is one of those," says Howorth. "In the context of this music it is an error."

While the system may go too far in one direction, it also seems to have failings in the other. Honky, a term that mocks white people, derives from honky tonk music, played in American piano bars in the early twentieth century. There are still many tracks, by acts like Jools Holland, the Rolling Stones, James Brown and the Beach Boys with honky tonk in the title. But the word honky, despite being on iTunes banned list, remains uncensored. Howorth isn't sure why honky has passed censorship when doo wop hasn't.

It's not the first time iTunes has faced criticism for unnecessary censorship. Last year "a database glitch" was deemed responsible for censoring a plethora of artists and titles including Girls Aloud's Long Hot Summer and Avril Lavinge's Hot, the problem being "hot" was too, well, h*t to handle.

-Guardian uk

[Tingly]

BRITNEY BOMBS DOWN UNDER

IT was not the triumphant return Britney Spears had hoped for.

Disgruntled fans stormed out of last night’s Australian debut of The Circus concert in Perth upset by the star’s miming and “appalling” performance on stage.

They began walking out after the first three songs, some having paid $1500 to see Spears perform.

“It was just really bad,’’ Kathy Wright,32, said.

“She has not spoken, there is no interaction.”

Friend Josh Blee said: “We are really big Britney fans but it was cr-p.”

“I thought after the music awards she would make up for it with a wicked concert, but she has let us down," he said.

Maria Carmody also left with a group of friends.

They were disappointed that the giant screens did not show any vision of Spears performing.

“She is a little dot on the stage,’’ Ms Carmody said.

Ms Carmody was also disgusted by the unruly behaviour of fans in the general admission area.

She said she was elbowed and pushed by overzealous fans.

Spears performed to over 17,000 fans at last night's concert at Perth Burswood Dome.

The screens only displayed circus images and Spears had her back to the audience for most of the show.

Several fans questioned whether the lack of vision on the giant screens was to cover up her lip synching.

-news.com.au

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AEROSMITH TO DUMP STEVE TYLER?

Aerosmith may be about to dump Steven Tyler. That's the shock news as reports persist of a wedge apppearing between the band and their frontman. Tired of the singer's focus on his solo career and "Brand Tyler", the rest of the band are reportedly choosing between a "long hiatus" and a new leader.

With Aerosmith's 40th anniversary less than a year away, things should be rosy for the rockers: after injuring himself in a fall in August, Tyler returned to the stage with Aerosmith in late October, playing massive gigs in Hawaii and Abu Dhabi. But although guitarist Joe Perry described the Abu Dhabi concert as "one of the best shows of the year", Tyler wasn't feeling the love in a post-gig interview with Classic Rock magazine. "I don't know what I'm doing [next], but it's definitely going to be something Steven Tyler, working on the brand of myself – Brand Tyler."

According to Classic Rock, the band is planning a meeting without Tyler to discuss "either the announcement of a long hiatus or carrying on with a new lead vocalist". "It would largely depend on who we could get and who would want to do it," said rhythm guitarist Brad Whitford. "[They are] big shoes to fill. Nobody could replace Steven or imitate him – he's one of a kind. But if somebody was willing to do it and the chemistry was right, why not?"

In Abu Dhabi, Tyler's dressing room was reportedly far away from the rest of the band, and his fellow musicians wouldn't see him until he walked onstage for the first song. "All I know is [Steven's] got to get his act together," Perry told Associated Press. "He and I haven't written a song together in over 10 years, so there's been some changes in what Aerosmith is."

-Guardian uk

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BIG NAMES TO PERFORM AT AMA'S

LOS ANGELES — Rihanna, Eminem, Lady Gaga, Green Day and Carrie Underwood will be among the diverse roster of performers planning to take the stage at the American Music Awards in Los Angeles, show producers said Thursday.

Producer Larry Klein said Jay-Z, Shakira, Mary J. Blige, Adam Lambert, Kelly Clarkson and Alicia Keys are also slated to perform on the 37th annual show, to be held at the Nokia Theatre on Nov. 22 and broadcast live on ABC.

He said that three more performers are yet to be announced, bringing the total to 18.

"Some of them are going back – I don't want to say old-school – but some incredible, wonderful, terrific productions that I haven't seen in a long time," Klein said.

Even though performers will play their hits, "what they do on this show you've never seen before and you'll never see again," he said. "Everything is personalized for the AMAs."

The American Music Awards honor pop/rock, country, rap/hip-hop, soul/R&B, alternative, adult contemporary, Latin and contemporary inspirational artists. Fans can vote for their favorites online in 20 categories.

-AP

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SINGER REMOVED FROM SHOW BY OPRAH WINFREY

NEW YORK — Oprah Winfrey is removing gospel singer BeBe Winans from her show's "karaoke challenge" until charges against him for allegedly pushing his ex-wife to the ground are resolved.

Winans appeared on "The Oprah Winfrey Show" last week and was seen in promos for future appearances. Now he'll be cut out of the segment, said Winfrey spokesman Don Halcombe on Thursday.

Winfrey was criticized by some bloggers this week for including Winans after she had taken a strong stand against domestic violence earlier this year. She did a show on the topic when singer Chris Brown assaulted his then-girlfriend Rihanna.

The daytime TV leader said at the time: "Domestic violence is something that I wouldn't tolerate. Period."

Halcombe would only say that the decision to eliminate Winans was made this week. It was not clear if Winfrey had been aware that Winans was charged with misdemeanor domestic assault in the Feb. 13 incident, where Winans and his ex-wife Debra were allegedly arguing about their children. Winans has a court date set for Jan. 20.

Winans' manager did not immediately return a telephone call for comment.

"Let's just not have a double standard on domestic violence or even accusations of domestic violence," said Joni Reynolds, a woman from the Baltimore area and author of a blog called Ebony Mom Politics.

She had called attention to Winans' participation and wondered if Winfrey had overlooked the charges because the Winans were friends or because there were no photos that had become public as in Rihanna's case.

Reynolds commended Winfrey for deciding to take Winans off the show.

-signonsandiego

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SHIRLEY BASSEY RELEASES FIRST ALBUM IN 20 YEARS!

London, November 16 : Singer Dame Shirley Bassey has made it to the album charts with her first album of original material in 20 years.

The 72-year-old's album, titled 'The Performance,' has entered the charts at number 20.

The Welsh singer has recorded tracks written by artists including the Kaiser Chiefs, Gary Barlow, Pet Shop Boys and Manic Street Preachers.

Meanwhile, 92-year-old Dame Vera Lynn became the oldest living artist to top the UK album chart with her album in September.

She replaced Arctic Monkeys at the top position.

Martin Talbot, from the Official UK Charts Company, believes it is the older music fans who have played a role in the increase in album sales.

"It's been a vintage year for veteran artists. The success of older acts has been growing over recent years but it has peaked in 2009," the Telegraph quoted him as telling The Guardian.

Also, Will Page, chief economist at PRs for Music, added: "With so much ambiguity around the return on an investment in a new record by an emerging band, a safer bet might be to exploit existing records from established acts."

-ANI

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SIMON COWELL ANSWERS STING RE AMERICAN IDOL

Washington, Nov 16 : Music mogul Simon Cowell has hit back at Sting for commenting that American Idol and The X Factor shows are nothing but "televised karaoke".

Sting, 58, real name Gordon Sumner, had branded the programmes as "appalling" and also accused Cowell, 50, of "humiliating" contestants and degrading the music industry.

The comments left Cowell fuming and during his November 14 appearance on The X Factor, he hit back at Sting by inviting him to impart his knowledge on the show.

"I'm probably going to get into trouble for this. If I may just mention something Sting said in the papers about these contestants and past contestants being a bunch of karaoke no-hopers... I'm going to take exception to that," Contactmusic quoted him as saying.

"I think this show and other shows have given people like Leona (Lewis) and Susan Boyle a chance. And I'm going to extend an invitation to Sting to come on the show and impart his knowledge," he added.

-ANI

[Tingly]

9 PEOPLE INJURED AFTER SHOOTING OUTSIDE CALIFORNIA CONCERT

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Police say nine people were injured in a shooting outside a concert sponsored by a San Francisco radio station.

Police say the gunfire erupted outside the Regency Center around 10:30 p.m. Sunday after two groups of people got into a fist fight following a concert sponsored by radio station KMEL.

The nine injured were taken to hospitals with non-life threatening injuries.

Police detained one person, who they say had weapons on the trunk of his car. They have not identified the person, and witnesses have reported he was not the shooter.

Police are continuing to look for suspects and have made no arrests.