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Posted: Wed., Sep. 28, 2005 05:14:53 PM MST WASHINGTON (AP) -- The recording industry and copyright experts urged Congress on Wednesday not to intervene with legislation to curb online piracy of music or movies after a recent ruling from the Supreme Court. The unanimous decision from the high court in June cleared the way for the film and music industry to file piracy lawsuits against technology companies caught encouraging customers to steal copyrighted material. At Wednesday's hearing, Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Arlen Specter said some language in the ruling cast doubt on what the standards are for illegal use, and he asked whether legislation might be necessary. The overriding answer from the two panels representing the recording industry, copyright experts and entrepreneurs was "no" -- at least in the short term. "My own preference would be to see how courts deal with this (decision) at this point in time," Marybeth Peters, register of copyrights at the U.S. Copyright Office, told the committee. "That could better inform any legislative fix." The recording industry also encouraged lawmakers to wait. Cary Sherman, president of the Recording Industry Association of America, said the court's decision in the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios v. Grokster case has provided everyone with clarity -- from those who make the music and movies to those who make the software to access the works. Sherman said the court ruling has helped focus attention on illegal downloading of music, especially on college campuses. He said nearly 70 schools now have deals with legitimate online music services, a more than threefold increase from last year. Marty Roe of the country group Diamond Rio told the Senate committee that artists can't earn a living when makers of file-sharing software, like Grokster, allow for copyrighted music to be shared online with millions of people for free. He said estimates suggest that Nashville has lost nearly half of its songwriters because of online piracy. Prior to the Grokster ruling, entertainment companies estimated that online thieves traded 2.6 billion songs, movies and other digital files each month.
Ed Benson, CMA's executive director, will serve as chief strategic officer and associate executive director. Tammy Genovese has received a promotion and will become chief operating officer. CMA has not had those two positions previously. Genovese will take on duties as CMA's chief staff executive, supplanting the executive director position. Benson and Genovese will report directly to the CMA Executive Committee. Benson joined CMA in 1979 as its first associate executive director and was promoted to executive director in 1992. Genovese has been with CMA since 1985, first working as administrative services coordinator. Among CMA's members are more than 6,000 companies and music industry professionals from around the world.
Rosenberg will lead a famously fractious union of 100,000 actors that has been split in recent years on such issues as merging with the other major actors union and taking an aggressive stance in negotiations with producers. He beat out fellow candidates Morgan Fairchild and Robert Conrad. Rosenberg received 40 percent of the total 27,053 votes cast, according to the guild. Fairchild received 35 percent and Conrad 25 percent. "I am honored that the members of this great union have placed their confidence in me," Rosenberg said in a statement. "I ran a campaign that offered a simple and straightforward promise -- I will fight like hell to get actors their fair share." The 54-year-old actor has appeared on such television shows as "ER," "L.A. Law" and "The Guardian" as well as in TV movies. He is married to actress Marg Helgenberger. Connie Stevens was elected the new secretary-treasurer, replacing James Cromwell, who did not seek re-election. She received 68 percent of the votes over challenger Lee Garlington's 32 percent. Rosenberg and Stevens will begin serving their terms on Sunday.
Canadians will be able to access the true MTV experience in 360 degrees with customized content not just across digital, specialty and conventional television platforms, but for the first time across a comprehensive assortment of interactive assets as outlined above. The MTV brand is not only back in Canada, but it has returned in a broader, deeper way than ever before. CTV's talktv, an analogue specialty service currently available in 4.4 million Canadian households, will be re-born as a Canadian programmed and managed MTV channel, filled with dynamic, interactive, lifestyle, talk and documentary programming. The channel will continue to be fully compliant with its license condition of 68 per cent Canadian programming (71 per cent in prime time), representing one of the highest Canadian-content requirements of any Canadian service. Additionally, CTV confirmed it has filed an application with the CRTC for a new Category-2 Digital Television Service -- Canada's next music television station. This new digital television service, along with the new MTV analogue channel, will provide alternate high quality entertainment options to all Canadians, and represent a great boost to local production and culture. Finally, MTV programming will continue to air across Canada inside a newly created MTV branded block of programming on CTV. Today's announcement underscores CTV's strategic commitment to finding new opportunities for growth and success," said Ivan Fecan, President and CEO of Bell Globemedia. "Around the world, MTV is a brand that extends beyond television and we're thrilled with the opportunity to work with our new partner and worldwide innovators at MTV to build a successful business that delivers fresh, honest and relevant content to Canadians." "Canada is a very important market to MTV. As a source of dynamic debate, diversity and culture, MTV in Canada will reflect a uniquely Canadian perspective to enrich our global operation," said Bill Roedy, Vice Chairman, MTV Networks & President, MTV Networks International. "This is a tremendous milestone in our global expansion, and it's terrific to be partnering with CTV -- their passion, expertise, and credibility are inspiring. We are going to do great things together." Returning to Toronto to oversee the MTV business is Canadian Brad Schwartz, newly named general manager and senior vice president. In his previous position, Schwartz was director, International Marketing Partnerships for MTV Networks International based in New York and responsible for worldwide marketing and sponsorship initiatives. "Our focus is to build a clearly Canadian interpretation of the MTV brand--one that will engage and excite all Canadians," said Schwartz. "With the array of resources and expertise available from both the CTV and MTV families, we're going to rapidly establish our presence in Canada, and become a vital and valued member of Canada's creative and production communities." "Canadians have come to know MTV as both a leading lifestyle and entertainment brand," said Susanne Boyce, CTV president of Programming and Chair of the CTV Media Group, "The MTV philosophy has won the following of millions around the world for its leadership and vision in current affairs, offering an alternative voice and engaging viewers that the traditional mainstream media just don't reach. It's no secret that millions of Canadians--especially young Canadians--are yearning for new ways to become involved in issues that are important to them. They're ready to be challenged by the bold, unorthodox approach that MTV has pioneered." "MTV's commitment to bold, innovative and entertaining programming reflects CTV's philosophy toward building successful schedules," added Boyce. "With nation-builders like Live 8, The Juno Awards and Canadian Idol, and star vehicles like eTalk Daily to showcase them, CTV has demonstrated its commitment to developing Canadian stars. A partnership with MTV is an exciting and ideal extension of our overall program strategy."
David Lennon, president of Local 802 of the American Federation of Musicians, said Cablevision, which operates Radio City, is refusing to pay the 35-piece orchestra overtime beyond the $1,600 weekly base pay musicians earn for 12 shows a week. During the height of the Christmas season they play up to six shows a day, he said. "Cablevision is attacking one of the basic, fundamental rights of American workers, which is providing overtime pay for overtime work," Lennon said. A Radio City Entertainment spokeswoman released the following statement Wednesday: "While we typically do not comment on labor negotiations, we will say that we fully expect to reach an agreement with our musicians." The orchestra's contract expired in May, and the parties have been meeting all summer without reaching agreement, Lennon said. A strike by Local 802 shut down most Broadway musicals in 2003. But when the union struck the New York City Ballet in 2000, 13 performances of "The Nutcracker" went on as scheduled with taped music.
The band is one of many top Canadian acts, including Colin James, Jann Arden and Ron Sexsmith, who got early on-air exposure from the CBC, according to a report by Billboard. On August 15th, after talks regarding collective contract agreements collapsed, the CBC locked out 5,500 members of the CMG, which represents on-air, production, technical and administrative staff. Several issues have since been resolved, but sources say major problems still remain, including the employment status of workers, contracting out work to freelancers, hiring contract workers and employee pay. The CBC is currently relying on reruns and management-produced output on its three radio channels and television broadcasts. Canadian musicians have found themselves restricted to only a few regional community and college radio stations to get exposure, without the CBC radio outlet for promotion. The lockout “is a huge void for anyone in the arts in Canada,” Holger Petersen, president of Edmonton, Alberta-based roots label Stony Plain Records and host of the weekly “Saturday Night Blues” show on CBC Radio One told Billboard. “CBC is the national voice that carries the message of new releases, new books and festivals,” Petersen said. Without normal work, many locked-out CBC personalities have kept busy. Radio One “Metro Morning” show host Andy Barrie and lock-out staffers have been producing another daily show called “Toronto Unlocked” on the University of Toronto’s community radio station, CIUT. Shelagh Rogers, host of Radio One’s daily “Sounds Like Canada” magazine show, has been visiting CMG picket lines across the country on her Caravan Unlocked tour, delivering podcasts and blogs from shelagh.blogspot.com. The CBC is faced with a serious deadline, however, as the NHL season draws near. Unless the dispute can be settled by October 8th, the CBC management will be forced to produce coverage without standard play-by-play announces or unionized voices. --by CelebrityAccess Staff Writers
The competition is open to both amateur and professional songwriters of every level, and all musicians, artists and songwriters are invited to submit their original songs by the deadline. ISC provides the perfect opportunity for artists, bands and songwriters looking to gain recognition in the music industry and have their songs heard by some of the most influential members of the music industry, including presidents of ten record labels and legendary artists such as Loretta Lynn, Sonny Rollins and Tom Waits. “We've always been impressed with the talented songwriters who participate in the ISC. This is a great A&R source to find new artists,” said Monte Lipman, President of Universal Records in a statement. Previous ISC winners have included Tara Slone, who was one of the 15 performers on CBS TV's Rock Star: INXS; Carbon Leaf, who are signed to Vanguard Records; Amanda Palmer of Dresden Dolls, who are signed to Roadrunner Records; Chris Sernel of Escape From Earth, who was recently named the winner of the MTV/COKE "Make It Real" Contest; Michael Flynn, who is signed to J Records; Troy Verges, Blair Daily and Gordie Sampson, whose song "Paris" is featured on Faith Hill's latest album, and more. The complete list of ISC 2005 judges include: Tom Waits; Loretta Lynn; Sonny Rollins; John Scofield; Steve Vai; Macy Gray; Joss Stone; MercyMe; Amy Ray (Indigo Girls); Darryl McDaniels (Run D.M.C.); LeAnn Rimes; Isaac Brock (Modest Mouse); Jeff Stinco (Simple Plan); BeBe Winans; Peter Hook (New Order); Benji Madden (Good Charlotte); Charlie Musselwhite; The Donnas; Monte Lipman (President, Universal Records); Keith Wozencroft (President, Capitol Music UK); Glen Barros (CEO/President, Concord Records); Bruce Iglauer (Founder/President, Alligator Records); Cameron Strang (President, New West Records); Dan Storper (President, Putumayo World Music); Michael McDonald (President, ATO Records); Alexandra Patsavas (Owner, The Chop Shop Music Supervision - credits include The OC, Grey's Anatomy, Without A Trace, Carnivale, Rescue Me ); Darrale Jones (VP A&R Urban, Atlantic Records); Chris Parr (VP Music Programming & Talent Relations, CMT); Barbara Sedun (VP Creative, EMI Music Publishing Canada); Tara Griggs-Magee (Executive VP of Gospel/Urban Music, Sony Records); Leib Ostrow (CEO, Music For Little People), Thomas Brooman (Co-Founder/Artistic Director, WOMAD); Cory Robbins (Founder/President, Robbins Entertainment); Emily Wittmann (Vice-President, Nick Records); Patrick Moxey (President, Ultra Records/You Records/Sequence Records/Escondida Music/Empire Mgmt.) and Danny Epstein (Music Supervisor, Sesame Street/Sesame Workshop). Entrants can submit their songs into any of the 16 categories: Pop/Top 40; Dance/Electronica; Rock; Jazz; Instrumental; Performance; World Music; R&B/Hip-Hop; Country; AAA/Roots/Americana; Gospel/Christian; Blues; Folk/Singer-Songwriter; Children's Music; Lyrics Only; and Teen (18 yrs. Old or younger). All entries have to be postmarked on or before October 14. For entry forms or to enter online, visit the ISC website at www.songwritingcompetition.com or call 615-251-4441 for more information.
The network, acquired by media company E.W. Scripps Co. last November, "had to be in the heart of country music," said Ken Lowe, Scripps CEO and president, who made the announcement at a morning news conference at the Country Music Hall of Fame. The network's focus is on country music videos. Its programming also includes live broadcasts from Nashville's Grand Ole Opry, and president Ed Hardy said the network will introduce six shows this month. Scripps bought the network from Jones Media Networks for $140 million. It was the latest addition to Scripps Networks, which operates the national programming networks Home & Garden Television, Food Network, DIY Network and Fine Living. The country music network's move, to be complete by October, is expected to bring about 1,000 jobs to the Nashville area. ------ On the Net: E.W. Scripps: http://www.scripps.com
Tethered music downloads are digital songs available on an unlimited basis through online music subscription services. The subscription model gives consumers access to listen to an unlimited number of songs from a substantial catalog (on PC or portable music player) for a flat monthly fee. Subscriptions services have grown significantly in the past year with more than two million current subscribers. “Nielsen Music services are acknowledged as the global leader in measuring music consumption," said Rob Sisco, president of Nielsen Music. "By adding tethered download measurement to our BDS services, as a companion feature to our tracking of digital download sales in Nielsen SoundScan, we are following through on our charter to provide unparalleled information and analysis to our clients in the recorded music industry." Nielsen BDS currently measures online digital music streams and on-demand music from AOL Music and Yahoo! Music, and will be expanding this measurement by adding streams from Napster, RealNetworks’ Rhapsody and MusicNet. With these additions, Nielsen BDS projects that it will be tracking more than 100 million streams a week and estimates that it will track more than 5 million tethered plays a week by the end of 2005. Nielsen BDS currently monitors music performances from more than 1,400 radio stations, all major music video outlets in the U.S and Canada and satellite radio from XM and Sirius. --Bob Grossweiner and Jane Cohen
"As we have mentioned on numerous occasions, establishing a major presence for the 'Elvis' brand in Las Vegas is an important priority of the company," said Robert F.X. Sillerman, chairman and CEO of CKX. "The closure of the museum together with the purchase of the artifacts and memorabilia currently located there, clears the way for implementation of our plan." CKX is acquiring these assets from Chris Davidson and certain other minority partners. Davidson has been collecting Elvis memorabilia for over 10 years and is among the world's most well known private collectors of such items. As part of the purchase, CKX will grant to Davidson the right to open a licensed Elvis-themed museum in Hawaii, a location often associated with Presley. In addition to receipt of the licensing fee, CKX will retain the right to acquire a significant equity interest in the Hawaiian operations. Hawaii served as the location for three of Presley's films and perhaps most famously, was home to the 1973 concert "Elvis, Aloha from Hawaii," which was broadcast worldwide and ultimately viewed by more than 1.5 billion people around the world. --Bob Grossweiner and Jane Cohen
The weekend's other new wide release, rapper Bow Wow's rollerskating romp "Roll Bounce," opened at No. 4 with $8 million, according to studio estimates Sunday. With two movies topping $20 million at a traditionally quiet time in theaters, the box office surged. The top 12 movies took in $89.2 million, up 51 percent from the same weekend last year. The upswing extended a September rally for Hollywood, which has seen revenues slump most of the year. Receipts are running 6 percent behind 2004, and with higher ticket prices, movie admissions are down 9 percent. "This fall season has been in a word, spectacular," said Paul Dergarabedian, president of box-office tracker Exhibitor Relations. "We'd been so fixated on the box-office slump, and here we are in a fall boom. This is terrific for the industry and bodes well for a very strong holiday season." David Cronenberg's "A History of Violence," starring Viggo Mortensen as a family man whose tranquil life is shattered by intrusive mobsters (Ed Harris and William Hurt), opened strongly in limited release with $504,000 in 14 theaters. The movie expands to about 1,200 theaters Friday. Also debuting solidly was Roman Polanski's adaptation of Charles Dickens' "Oliver Twist," featuring Ben Kingsley as pickpocket mentor Fagin, which took in $69,000 at five theaters. The film will be shown in about 800 theaters Friday. "Flightplan" was the first No. 1 debut in almost five months for distributor Disney, historically one of Hollywood's steadiest hitmakers. "Long time coming. You never expect that. We're usually more consistent," said Chuck Viane, Disney head of distribution. "Flightplan" stars Foster as a widow whose 6-year-old daughter vanishes on a trans-Atlantic trip, prompting panic from the girl's mom and skepticism from the crew and passengers, who have no record or recollection the child was ever on board. After a strong premiere for "Corpse Bride" in five theaters the previous weekend, some industry observers had expected the animated tale to hold the top box-office spot this weekend. "Corpse Bride" features the voices of Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham Carter in a musical fantasy about a jittery groom whisked to the underworld after he's inadvertently wed to a decomposing cadaver. It's the second stop-motion animation flick for co-director Burton, following 1993's "The Nightmare Before Christmas." Dan Fellman, head of distribution for "Corpse Bride" backer Warner Bros., said the studio had not expected a No. 1 showing and that the movie had the best results ever for an animated film in September. "There's always those in the industry making predictions outside our company, but we knew the strength of our movie," Fellman said, "we're nothing but thrilled." Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Exhibitor Relations Co. Inc. Final figures will be released Monday. 1. "Flightplan," $24.6 million. 2. "Tim Burton's Corpse Bride," $20.1 million. 3. "Just Like Heaven," $9.8 million. 4. "Roll Bounce," $8 million. 5. "The Exorcism of Emily Rose," $7.5 million. 6. "Lord of War," $4.9 million. 7. "The 40-Year-Old Virgin," $4.3 million. 8. "The Constant Gardener," $2.2 million. 9. "Transporter 2," $2.15 million. 10. "Cry Wolf," $2.1 million. |
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CMA To Reorganize Leadership
NASHVILLE (CelebrityAccess MediaWire) -- Beginning Jan. 1, Country Music Association (CMA) will operate under a reconfigured staff leadership structure adopted by the organization's board of directors.
LOS ANGELES, California (AP) -- Alan Rosenberg was elected president of the Screen Actors Guild on Friday, replacing former "Little House on the Prairie" star Melissa Gilbert, who decided not to run for a third two-year term.
(CelebrityAccess MediaWire) -- CTV Inc and MTV Networks have entered into a new strategic alliance to build and grow the MTV brand in Canada. The announcement was made by Ivan Fecan, President and CEO of Bell Globemedia and CEO of CTV Inc. together with Bill Roedy, Vice Chairman, MTV Networks & President, MTV Networks International. The multi-layered CTV-led venture partners Canada's No. 1 television brand with the world's most valuable media brand, to create a vibrant platform for MTV in Canada, including:
NEW YORK (AP) -- Musicians at Radio City Music Hall have authorized a strike over the issue of overtime pay, possibly putting the famed Christmas Spectacular in jeopardy, the union said Wednesday. A contract negotiation session was set for Thursday.
(CelebrityAccess MediaWire) -- The Barenaked Ladies have brought their quirky pop rock to the picket line as a gesture of support for locked-out members of the Canadian Music Guild who are picketing in front of the state-funded Canadian Broadcasting Corp.
(CelebrityAccess MediaWire) – The October 14th deadline for the 2005 International Songwriting Competition, one of the largest and most prestigious songwriting competition in the world, is rapidly approaching. The competition offers entrants a chance to win over $100,000 in cash and prizes.
NASHVILLE, TN (AP) -- Great American Country, a cable and satellite television network seen in almost 40 million households, said Monday it is moving from Denver to Nashville.
(CelebrityAccess MediaWire) -- Nielsen Entertainment’s Broadcast Data Systems (BDS) will start measuring tethered digital music downloads from the Internet’s leading providers, including MusicNet (supplying tethered digital music engine for companies such as AOL, Yahoo!, Virgin Digital, Cdigix), Napster and RealNetworks’ Rhapsody. This new information will be added to programmed and on-demand streaming which is already available in Nielsen BDS. The Nielsen BDS data matrix is the exclusive source for comprehensive measurement of music performances in traditional broadcast radio, satellite radio, music video outlets, Internet streaming, and now tethered downloads. The tethered music information will identify and display the number of times U.S. consumers listen to specific song titles in the music libraries of all of the subscription services. 
(CelebrityAccess MediaWire) -- CKX, Inc.'s subsidiary, Elvis Presley Enterprises, Inc., has agreed to acquire the assets of the Elvis-A-Rama museum, located off the strip in Las Vegas, including the trademark to the name "Elvis-A-Rama," the related website and a substantial portion of the memorabilia currently on display at the Las Vegas-based establishment. The existing museum will be permanently closed and the Elvis-A-Rama name retired as part of CKX's overall plan to bring a world class Elvis-themed attraction to the Las Vegas strip.
LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Jodie Foster piloted "Flightplan" to a No. 1 debut, her airborne thriller taking in $24.6 million to land ahead of "Tim Burton's Corpse Bride," the runner-up with $20.1 million.
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