Daylle Deanna Schwartz

(CelebrityAccess MediaWire) -- Daylle Deanna Schwartz's latest book, "I Don't Need a Record Deal! Your Survival Guide for the Indie Music Revolution," has just been released by Billboard Books (304 pages, paperback, $19.95). The author of the best selling "Start & Run Your Own Record Label" and "The Real Deal" shows that it is possible to survive, and even thrive, without a record deal. Schwartz interviewed over 150 industryites, including former major label artists such as Clint Black, Michelle Shocked, Pat DiNizio, Speech (Arrested Development), many happily independent, successful musicians, and a variety of industry pros, to provide a comprehensive picture of every possible way to earn a musical income with details about how to tap into them to make music your day job.

"I Don't Need a Record Deal!" hopes to help musicians empower themselves by focusing on creating a business around music. While Schwartz is not against taking a record deal, she is against being desperate for one. She encourages artists to focus on making money and developing a career that creates choices--take a record deal that will advance your career or walk from one that doesn't and remain independent.

The book has a huge chapter on all the different ways to license original music, with advice from music supervisors for film, TV, advertising, ringtones, video games, etc., advice from media people on how to build a press kit, and indie artists share how to take touring to the a level that pays reasonably well. An entire chapter is devoted to all the different types of venues that pay their performers and how to reach them.

Schwartz also interviewed over 30 industry executives from international markets for advice on licensing music in Europe, Australia, Japan and the Far East and detailed instructions for setting up a tour in many of those markets.

This fall Schwartz will be on a three-month indie music national book tour. She will drive solo across the country to speak in colleges, bookstores and music industry organizations, in over 25 markets. Her new website, http://idontneedarecorddeal.com is an extension of the book with updated resources to support musicians in declaring their own declaration of musical independence.

Schwartz also founded Revenge Productions and Revenge Records. --Bob Grossweiner and Jane Cohen

Des Moines Approves Live Music Commission

DES MOINES (AP) -- An Iowa native who studies the cultural roots of music and plays blues guitar has come home to help bring more live music to this Midwestern city.

To do that, Fritz Junker won City Council support Monday to help create the Des Moines Live Music Commission. The seven-member commission, whose members will be appointed by the council, will act as an advisory board to amplify the buzz about the area's live music scene and help the local music industry clear licensing, zoning and funding hurdles.

"In order to keep this thing in line and make it effective, it needs to consist of people from the music industry that understand the business and know the constraints of the situation in Des Moines and how to improve upon that," said Junker, who will lobby for a seat on the commission.

Junker, 29, recognized around town by the rubber ducky tattoo on his right arm, arrived in Des Moines in late 2003 after traveling and studying music in Brazil for about a year. While in college, he spent about a year studying indigenous drum music in Nigeria.

He also has had stints in the film industry and in booking shows at Hoyt Sherman Place, a local concert hall.

Last year, he founded the Greater Des Moines Music Coalition, a nonprofit collaborative of about 500 musicians, promoters, venues, businesses and community leaders working to build the live music industry in Des Moines.

He then enlisted the help of the music commission in Austin, Texas, which has a thriving music scene with international renown.

The Austin commission provided him with documentation from when it formed its charter and other advice about winning community support.

It also provided data about its own success. According to a 2001 study, the economic impact of live music in Austin, which bills itself as the "live music capital of the world," was more than $616 million. Austin's music industry provided about 11,200 jobs.

Junker hopes for a noticeable impact in Iowa as well.

"A percentage of Austin's success would have a large impact here in Des Moines," he said.

Lon Bozarth, a former member of the Austin Music Commission who now heads the River Music Experience in Davenport, said having a flourishing music scene is part of what keeps people from moving away.

"Without a powerful presence of music, which gives people a source of entertainment ... it's very difficult to get people downtown, to get people to stay in your community," he said.

Former Des Moines Mayor Preston Daniels introduced Junker to City Councilman Michael Kiernan, who helped get the commission established.

Kiernan said he believes it's a progressive move for a city the size of Des Moines.

"It shows not only on a state and local level, but also on a national level, how forward thinking we are," Kiernan said.

He said a strong music scene can help build the local economy.

"Today, young people move to where they believe there are the greatest diverse recreational opportunities available," Kiernan said. "In turn, I think companies follow young people. It's creating that kind of community where young people want to live."

Junker said he wanted to see Des Moines have the basic organization to get the city's music scene on the right track.

"I saw a lot of exciting sparks in the community ... and I wanted to take those sparks and ignite them into a legitimate cultural fire," he said.

Cox Communications Enters Into Retransmission Consent Agreement with Clear Channel

(CelebrityAccess MediaWire) -- Cox Communications has signed a retransmission consent agreement for analog and digital carriage rights with Clear Channel Communications, Inc. The deal includes two NBC stations, two CBS stations, one ABC station, four Fox stations and five UPN stations. The deal involves Cox markets in Eureka, CA; Bakersfield, CA; Santa Barbara, CA; Middle America Cox/AR; Cox Gulf Coast; Tulsa, OK.; and Kansas.

"We are very pleased to have reached a mutually beneficial agreement with Clear Channel Communications for the retransmission of their broadcast signals in our markets," said Bob Wilson, senior vice president of Programming. "Along with other deals Cox has signed recently, this demonstrates our willingness to work with local broadcasters to reach terms that support the growth of the broadcaster and Cox." --Jane Cohen and Bob Grossweiner

Greenberg Traurig Forms Strategic Alliance With U.K. Firm Olswang

NEW YORK, NY (CelebrityAccess MediaWire) -- Greenberg Traurig LLP today announced it has established a strategic alliance with the nearly 300-lawyer London-based firm, Olswang, significantly strengthening its platform in the U.K. and Europe. The move follows similar announcements earlier this year with Studio Santa Maria covering Milan and Rome and with Hayabusa Kokusai Law Offices in Tokyo. Taken together, Greenberg Traurig's own offices and its international alliances represent a major move forward in the development of its global coverage.

In the most recent move, Greenberg Traurig aligns itself and its 1,400 lawyers with a well-regarded U.K. firm whose culture and practice areas well complement its own. Among the areas in which the firms are especially active are media, film, entertainment, communications, real estate, corporate, litigation and intellectual property. Together, they will be leaders in these key industries worldwide.

"By aligning with Olswang, we will be able to offer clients on both sides of the Atlantic a major platform in terms of size and resources, with a focus and understanding of core industries that are important to them," said Cesar Alvarez, President and Chief Executive Officer of Greenberg Traurig. "This follows our strategy of adding lawyers and resources for our clients without unnecessary risk to our firm culture."

"We've observed the results of others who've typically used the mega- merger or multi-mega-merger format to face the challenges of the highly competitive legal markets of the U.S. and the U.K., starting from one side or the other, but we have always followed our own instincts and found our own unique opportunities," said Richard A. Rosenbaum, the Managing Shareholder of Greenberg's 280-lawyer New York office and a National Operating Shareholder, whose role includes the firm's international development. "Just as we carefully built in New York and elsewhere, in London we patiently waited for the unique situation and structure we've found in Olswang, where we identified real cultural consistency and business synergy."

"In Olswang," Mr. Rosenbaum said, "we found a partner strikingly similar to Greenberg Traurig itself: a fast-growing, collaborative firm with business- oriented and empowered lawyers who focus on many of the same key industries as we do."

Olswang was recently recognized as a top employer in England in The Sunday Times 100 Best Companies to Work for 2005, and is the highest London law firm in that survey.

Mark Devereux, Olswang senior partner, comments, "The alliance will enable both firms to retain the individuality they both value, but in view of the striking similarities between the firms in terms of both culture and business focus, we are confident that this alliance will deliver real value to all clients."

Jonathan Goldstein, Chief Executive of Olswang, comments, "Throughout the course of discussions we found in each other like-minded business partners and look forward to the new international opportunities that we are confident will arise."

Greenberg Traurig was designated again last year as the fastest growing firm in the U.S. It now employs approximately 1,400 lawyers and governmental professionals overall, including more than 1,300 in the United States (the 4th largest U.S.-lawyer team), and maintains 31 locations overall, including 24 locations in the United States. As a result, the firm provides the broadest U.S. legal platform while also engineering a growing network of key locations around the globe. Greenberg Traurig's recent strategic expansion in the United States included new offices in Houston, Texas and Las Vegas, Nevada.

InHouse Ticketing Renamed In Ticketing

(CelebrityAccess MediaWire) -- InHouse Ticketing, Inc. has been renamed In Ticketing. The name and brand image have been updated to better express the new offerings of the start-up company and allow for future expansion. Newly enhanced online ticketing and event management services include complete box office systems and access control software critical to successful events.

"The new box office and access control software enhance event going for patrons and promoters through friendly customer service, low convenience fees and cutting edge technology," says CEO and founder Stephen Weisz. The company also has increased its technology and customer service staff to support this growth.

"In Ticketing grew out of our passion for seeing live music," adds Weisz. "Since we started in 2001, we have achieved notable success in a densely populated ticketing market." The company has provided ticket sales for events at over 2,500 venues worldwide and expects to support 10,000 individual events by year end. In Ticketing began by offering zero cost ticketing services for promoters and private label ticketing systems. --Jane Cohen and Bob Grossweiner

FCC Delays Work On Media Ownership Rules

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Crafting new rules on how many broadcast stations and newspapers one company can own is not going to be easy, since federal regulators can't even agree on how to get started.

The Federal Communications Commission was slated to discuss a rewrite of ownership rules at its monthly public meeting on Thursday, but the issue was pulled from the agenda at the last minute. The first set of rules, issued in 2003, was rejected by the courts.

FCC Chairman Kevin Martin said there were disagreements among the agency's four commissioners about the kind of public input that would be sought in writing new rules.

"The commission was trying to move very aggressively in restarting the proceeding," Martin said. "We'll be able to try to get something out as soon as we're able to reach any kind of compromise."

Martin gave no timetable on when the commission might revisit the issue, and few expect it to happen anytime soon.

The five-member commission currently has an open seat and is evenly split between two Republicans and two Democrats. So anything that may even be the least bit controversial probably won't get the required votes to pass the panel until a new commissioner is appointed.

"What happened today is the first really strong sign of what's to come until we get a third Republican commissioner in there," said Christopher Stern, an analyst at Medley Global Advisors, a New York-based financial research firm.

Some of the questions to be resolved before work on new rules begins include how many public hearings the commission would hold and how much money would be spent on independent studies.

Both Democrats on the panel said they would continue to press for public involvement.

"We need to make sure the public has sufficient time to comment on this incredibly complex issue," said Democratic commissioner Jonathan Adelstein.

After two years of study and a contentious 3-2 vote, the commission issued sweeping new ownership rules in June 2003. The day before they were to take effect, the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Philadelphia blocked them.

The appeals court later rejected many of the rules, saying the FCC did not provide sufficient justification for them. It also rebuked the agency for not providing adequate time for the public to comment on the formula the FCC used to devise the rules.

The Supreme Court last month declined to intervene on appeals from broadcast and newspaper groups.

The rules at issue would have allowed a single company to own television stations and a newspaper in the same area, and to own more TV and radio stations in a single market.

While many media companies supported the changes, the rules set off a firestorm of criticism from lawmakers in both parties as well as public interest groups, small radio stations and others. They said the changes would lead to more media consolidation that would suppress local expression and diverse voices.

Congress overturned one rule that would have allowed a single company to own TV stations reaching up to 45 percent of the nation's viewers. It was scaled back to 39 percent.

The attorney who led the lawsuit to repeal the rules says the status quo should remain.

"We think we have the best system of broadcasting in the world because of, not in spite of, rules that have protected diversity in the media and we don't want to change that," said Andrew Jay Schwartzman, president and chief executive officer of Media Access Project.

Larger media companies have argued the current restrictions are old and hinder their ability to grow and compete in a market changed by cable TV, satellite broadcasts and the Internet.

Wonka Gives Movie-Goers Their Sugar Fix

LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Willy Wonka gave movie-goers their sugar fix for the weekend. "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory," starring Johnny Depp as candyman Wonka, had a sweet debut of $55.4 million, helping Hollywood make a dent in a box-office downturn that has lingered most of the year.

Opening as a solid No. 2 was Owen Wilson and Vince Vaughn's comedy "Wedding Crashers," which took in $32.2 million, according to studio estimates Sunday.

The two new movies bumped the previous weekend's No. 1 flick, "Fantastic Four," which slipped to third place with $22.7 million, lifting its 10-day total to $100.1 million.

Overall business was up solidly, the second-straight weekend Hollywood revenues rose after a slump that had lasted since late February.

After a slight uptick at the box office the previous weekend, the top 12 movies took in $151.4 million, a rise of 7.5 percent from the same weekend last year, when "I, Robot" premiered as the No. 1 movie.

"People are just waiting for the right kinds of movies to come along, and they will show up in big numbers," said Paul Dergarabedian, president of box-office tracker Exhibitor Relations.

Director Tim Burton's "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" is the second adaptation of Roald Dahl's beloved children's book, following Gene Wilder's 1971 version "Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory."

For Depp, whose earlier collaborations with Burton include "Edward Scissorhands" and "Ed Wood," "Charlie" marked his biggest opening ever, surpassing the $46.6 million debut for his 2003 blockbuster "Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl."

The movie received high marks from critics for Burton's fanciful visuals and Depp's quirky rendition of the anti-social Wonka, backed by a roster that includes Freddie Highmore, Helena Bonham Carter, Noah Taylor and James Fox.

While "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" locked up the family audience, the R-rated "Wedding Crashers" gave adult crowds a dose of raunchier humor. The movie stars Wilson and Vaughn as men who crash strangers' weddings to pick up women.

Distributor New Line had briefly mulled whether to tone the movie down to a PG-13 rating, but test audiences gave the racy film a thumbs up, said Russell Schwartz, the studio's head of marketing.

"There's been such a move toward more sanitized movies, so I think the R rating actually helped," Schwartz said. "And it's not a hard R. I think it of more as a soft R. It's a movie that wears the R on its sleeve very proudly."

Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at North American theaters, according to Exhibitor Relations Co. Inc. Final figures will be released Monday.

1. "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory," $55.4 million.

2. "Wedding Crashers," $32.2 million.

3. "Fantastic Four," $22.7 million.

4. "War of the Worlds," $15 million.

5. "Batman Begins," $5.6 million.

6. "Mr. and Mrs. Smith," $5.05 million.

7. "Dark Water," $4.4 million.

8. "Herbie: Fully Loaded," $3.4 million.

9. "Bewitched," $2.4 million.

10. "Madagascar," $2.1 million.