March 14th, 2008: This day in the music history

Barack Obama in Rolling Stone

2008-03-14 00:00:13.888978
href="http://www.rollingstone.com/news/coverstory/19106326">Barack Obama's Machinery of Hope by Tim Dickinson [From RS1048 — March 20, 2007]

href="http://www.rollingstone.com/photos/gallery/19066990/barack_obama_a_photo_historyn" tar="tar" get="blank">Photo Gallery: Barack Obama, a History in Pictures [From RS1048 — March 20, 2007]

href="http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/story/19106551/a_new_hope"> An Endorsement: Barack Obama for President by Jann S. Wenner [From RS1048 — March 20, 2007]

href="http://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/17652931/obamas_moment"> Obama's Moment by Matt Taibbi [From Issue 1042/1043 — December 27, 2007-January 10, 2008]

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Cover Story: Jack Johnson - The Dude Abides

2008-03-14 11:00:16.490124
Click href="http://www.rollingstone.com/photos/gallery/18653440/jack_johnson_rocks_mellowest_sup" target="blank">here for a photo gallery of rock's mellow superstar onstage and off, style="text-decoration:none; color:#bb1111" href="http://www.rollingstone.com/rockdaily/index.php/2008/02/21/eddie-vedder-on-jack-johnson-what-hes-doing-is-real/" target="blank">here on why Eddie Vedder loves Jack Johnson, and href="http://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/18726707/jack_johnson_filmmaker" target="blank">here to hear Johnson discuss filming surf scenes, complete with footage from his film "Thicker Than Water"

When he's away from home during a long tour, Jack Johnson has anxiety dreams that wake him up in the middle of the night.

"I get completely haunted," he says. In his most vivid dream, Johnson is standing on the beach with a guitar, gazing into the...

The Machinery of Hope

2008-03-14 21:00:13.688386
href="http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/story/19106551/a_new_hope"> Click here for Rolling Stone's endorsement of Barack Obama and href="http://www.rollingstone.com/photos/gallery/19066990/barack_obama_a_photo_history" target="blank">here for a photo timeline of Obama's life.

It's Presidents day, two weeks before the Texas primary, and Adam Ukman has come to the small city of San Marcos to train precinct captains for Barack Obama. A soft-spoken native of Houston, Ukman has served on the campaign's front lines in Iowa and Utah, organizing grass-roots supporters to secure decisive victories in both states. This evening, more than eighty residents of San Marcos have crammed into a yellow clapboard recreation center on a street dotted with shacks that date from the Jim Crow era. "Our job is not to run in here to tell you how it's going to be," Ukman tells them. "This is your campaign. Not our campaign."

Anyone who has spent time around Democratic politics has heard this kind of rhetoric before. Most often, it's pure horseshit. But...

"Idol" fans sing a loud "Hallelujah" (Reuters)

2008-03-14 20:00:13.100174

By Geoff Mayfield 33 minutes ago

LOS ANGELES (Billboard) - A cover of a song written by a composer who's now 73 and performed by a singer who died more than 10 years ago may not sound like the ingredients of a top-selling download. But when the straw that stirs is "American Idol," throw out the recipes.

Contestant Jason Castro delivered "Hallelujah" on the top-rated Fox juggernaut -- not a version reminiscent of the original take by its author, new Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee Leonard Cohen, but one that paid homage to second-generation musician Jeff Buckley, who drowned in 1997.

Castro's performance obviously struck a chord with viewers,...

At trial, woman says rapper Remy Ma shot her

2008-03-14 19:00:13.373377
(Reuters) - Rapper Remy Ma discovered a wad of cash missing from her purse after a night out in New York and shot the woman she believed was the thief, the victim testified at the rapper's assault trial on Friday. The Grammy-nominated artist, whose real

At trial, woman says rapper Remy Ma shot her (Reuters)

2008-03-14 16:00:12.771872

By Edith Honan 1 hour, 4 minutes ago

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Rapper Remy Ma discovered a wad of cash missing from her purse after a night out in New York and shot the woman she believed was the thief, the victim testified at the rapper's assault trial on Friday.

The Grammy-nominated artist, whose real name is Remy Smith, is accused of assault, witness intimidation and other charges for shooting Makeda Barnes-Joseph in the abdomen after discovering $3,000 was missing from her purse.

Smith faces a maximum sentence of 25 years in prison if she is convicted.

Barnes-Joseph, a 23-year-old acquaintance of Smith's held...

Barry Adamson Goes Pop With 'Cat'

2008-03-14 18:00:13.711463
Known for his work with David Lynch films and Nick Cave's Bad Seeds, Barry Adamson will try to shake the 'noir' sound he's known for this spring with his eighth album 'Back to the Cat.' The ten song set is due April 22 via Central Control, Adamson's own

Barry Adamson Goes Pop on 'Cat'

2008-03-14 18:00:13.713145
Known for his work with David Lynch films and Nick Cave's Bad Seeds, Barry Adamson will try to shake the 'noir' sound he's known for this spring with his eighth album 'Back to the Cat.' The ten song set is due April 22 via Central Control, Adamson's own

Ben Jelen starts green foundation (AP)

2008-03-14 19:00:12.900577

By NEKESA MUMBI MOODY, AP Music Writer 11 minutes ago

AUSTIN, Texas - Besides performing at showcases, Ben Jelen came to South by Southwest to help raise money for his new environmental charity. But the singer-songwriter admits that trying to keep green while touring is harder than it seems.

"It's difficult because at the end of the day, you are putting CO2 (carbon dioxide) in the air because of your activities," Jelen told The Associated Press. "One day we will have a tour bus that doesn't run on gas."

Jelen, 27, held court Friday at the Eastport Cafe, a converted bar and gifting suite for which sponsors donated about $10,000 to his Ben Jelen Foundation. Jelen said the charity had four goals: to educate teens about environmentalism, aid those affected by climate change, to invest in alternative and clean energy sources and to finance organizations that campaign for a better climate.

Though he acknowledges that tour buses, including his, can create a lot of waste, he also said he is a big recycler.

Jelen released his second album, "Ex-Sensitive," last summer, and performed at showcases here in Austin for SXSW.

"It's random ears that might make a difference in your career," said Jelen.

But he joked that his charity may have made a bigger splash than his music.

"I can't seem to raise a penny for myself, but when it comes to a cause, it's different!" he said.

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On the Net:

http://www.benjelen.com

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Billboard CD reviews (Reuters)

2008-03-14 21:00:12.674297

48 minutes ago

NEW YORK (Billboard) - As a producer more interested in atmospheric sensibilities than technical perfection, Daniel Lanois has masterminded career-defining albums for U2, Bob Dylan and Peter Gabriel, often reinventing their sound by adding layers of mystery and depth.

Recorded with jazz drummer Brian Blade and pianist Garth Hudson, Lanois' sixth studio album is an eclectic mix of richly textured rock songs, mellow vibes and hypnotic instrumentals, interspersed with snippets from philosophical conversations with mentor Brian Eno. Ghostly fuzz guitars hover over the title track, and the haunting "Where Will I Be," previously recorded by Emmylou Harris, reveals a soulful songwriter....

Can Spitzer call girl cash in?

2008-03-14 15:00:13.84047
The collateral consequence of scandal often is newfound celebrity, and for the 22-year-old call girl involved in the Eliot Spitzer scandal, prospects are rising. The prostitute identified in court papers as Kristen is an aspiring musician named Ashley

Can Spitzer call girl cash in? (AP)

2008-03-14 14:00:12.000133

By JAKE COYLE, AP Entertainment Writer Fri Mar 14, 7:39 AM ET

NEW YORK - The collateral consequence of scandal often is newfound celebrity, and for the 22-year-old call girl involved in the Eliot Spitzer scandal, prospects are rising.

The prostitute identified in court papers as Kristen is an aspiring musician named Ashley Alexandra Dupre. Her identity was only first reported Wednesday, but already her fame is skyrocketing.

Curious about the woman so integral in the New York governor's downfall, many have flocked to MySpace to view her photos, music and biographical information. That material was removed Thursday after over more than 5 million visited her page.

Dupre's page had portrayed her as a New Jersey native who left a broken home to pursue a music career in New York. Court papers allege that Spitzer paid thousands of dollars for her services with the Emperor's Club VIP.

"I have been alone," she wrote. "I have abused drugs. I have been broke and homeless. But, I survived, on my own. I am here, in NY because of my music."

Dupre had also posted two songs at the music sharing site Aime Street, which allows musicians to earn a 70 percent cut of download fees, which are determined by their popularity. The songs, "What You Want" and "Move Ya Body" are dance-pop tunes a la Britney Spears.

On "What We Want," she sings: "I know what you need/ Can you handle me?"

As of Thursday evening, the songs had been listened to by some 200,000. Downloads were selling for 98 cents each, though "What We Want" had previously been selling for less than 20 cents. That song was also making it onto the nation's radio airwaves.

"After the first play, a lot of the reaction was negative," said Sharon Dastur, program director of New York's Z100 (WHTZ-FM). "But after the second play, it became, `Play that song again,' and `Hey, that song's not bad."

Dupre also made an appearance in a video by the rapper Mysterious, director Jonathan Ehlers told Los Angeles TV station KCAL on Tuesday. In the video, Dupre is cast as the girlfriend of Mysterious, at one point making a vulgar hand gesture while lip-synching lyrics that include an expletive.

"She was very professional," Ehlers said. "Again, she was really warm. She had a great vibe and she was really fun to be around."

He said they haven't talked in a year. When he heard the news, Ehlers said, "I was shocked. All I could think was, I wondered where she was and I hoped she was all right."

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Cash Money Superstar Lil Wayne Serving up Something New for the Taste Buds: The First Single "Lollipop" from his new album set to impact at Crossover and Urban Radio on March 25th THA CARTER III In-Stores May 13th

2008-03-14 23:00:13.200229
Money Superstar Lil Wayne Serving up Something New for the Taste Buds: The First Single from his new album set to impact at Crossover and Urban Radio on March 25th THA CARTER III In-Stores May 13th March 14, 2008 ENTERTAINMENT AND

Catching Up With Past "American Idol" Finalists

2008-03-14 21:00:13.392847
Ruben Studdard, Ace Young, Sanjaya Malakar, and Ace Young were among many former 'American Idol' contestants assembled to guest star on 'American Idol Extra,' the Fox Reality Channel series that airs Thursdays. The weekly series features an interview

China Cracks Down on Connick?!

2008-03-14 00:00:13.61161
AM, E! OnlineJosh Grossberg It had to be him. Apparently fearful of the revolutionary potential of Harry Connick Jr.'s song stylings, Chinese censors, still reeling from the recent Bjrking, brought down the hammer on the New Orleans songman. Connick

Creativity-Online : Remixing the Jingle

2008-03-14 07:00:12.082226
What began as a hallway conversation has culminated in one of the more engaging user generated experiences thanks to the minds at Goodby, Silverstein & Partners. Parlaying a prior relationship with the Radio Mercury Awards, which will take place May

Crow Says She'll Sing With Fleetwood Mac

2008-03-14 19:00:13.359321
Sheryl Crow says she'll soon be singing with Fleetwood Mac, a move sure to give new life to the classic rock band, which hasn't toured in several years. 'I don't want to make any official announcements, but I will say that we definitely have plans for

Crow Says She'll Sing With Fleetwood Mac (AP)

2008-03-14 11:00:14.288957

Fri Mar 14, 6:59 AM ET

LOS ANGELES - Sheryl Crow says she'll soon be singing with Fleetwood Mac, a move sure to give new life to the classic rock band, which hasn't toured in several years.

"I don't want to make any official announcements, but I will say that we definitely have plans for collaborating in the future, and we'll see what happens," Crow told the AOL music Web site Spinner.com in a story posted Thursday.

The 46-year-old singer didn't give a date, but said it could happen next year.

She's already thinking about what she'd like to perform. "I'd love to do `The Chain,' I'd love to do `Second Hand News,'" Crow said.

Crow said she looked forward to working with friend Stevie Nicks.

"I think the person I learned the most hands-on from is Stevie Nicks because she allowed me not only to co-write with her but also to produce her, and she's a true artist," she said.

Crow would give the band and Nicks a boost. According to Spinner.com, Nicks had said she wouldn't continue with Fleetwood Mac without keyboardist Christine McVie, who retired from touring in 1998. McVie joined Fleetwood Mac in 1970 shortly after marrying the band's bass guitarist, John McVie.

Fleetwood Mac last toured in 2004.

Crow is currently touring after the release of her latest album, "Detours."

Phone and e-mail messages left with representatives for Fleetwood Mac and Crow were not immediately returned.

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Crow says she'll sing with Fleetwood Mac (AP)

2008-03-14 03:00:12.644338

1 hour, 49 minutes ago

LOS ANGELES - Sheryl Crow says she'll soon be singing with Fleetwood Mac, a move sure to give new life to the classic rock band, which hasn't toured in several years.

The 46-year-old singer didn't give a date, but said it could happen next year.

She's already thinking about what she'd like to perform. "I'd love to do `The Chain,' I'd love to do `Second Hand News,'" Crow said.

Crow said she looked forward to working with friend Stevie Nicks.

"I think the person I learned the most hands-on from is Stevie Nicks because she allowed me not only to co-write with her but also to produce her, and she's a true artist," she said.

Fleetwood Mac last toured in 2004.

Crow is currently touring after the release of her latest album, "Detours."

Phone and e-mail messages left with representatives for Fleetwood Mac and Crow were not immediately returned.

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Exclusive: The Horrors Reveal Album Producer

2008-03-14 11:00:14.561838
Faris Rotter, The Horrors' lofty frontman, revealed that after the multi-producer helmed experience of their debut the band have placed video director Chris Cunningham in the knob-twiddler's chair. Cunningham is best known for his highly idiosyncratic

Fat Joe Vs. Prodigy, Dipset's Scarf Unravels, "Snoop Dogg Called Me Ugly," T.I. Flips Out Under House Arrest

2008-03-14 07:00:12.080585
In this week's Pulse Report the streets are buzzing about Fat Joe sparring with Prodigy, the Dipset bond unraveling even more, Snoop Dogg sending an ugly message to the ladies, Eliot Spitzer bowing out disgracefully and T.I.'s new stylo. [Editor Note:

Feist Pulls Out The Puppets For New Video

2008-03-14 01:00:22.24291
Remember that Supergrass video for 'Pumping On Your Stereo' where the band are puppets with freakishly long limbs? How about Weezer's 'Keep Fishin'' which featured Jim Henson's friends? Well, Feist is set to join their ranks with a new puppetry-filled

Flyleaf appreciates slow rise (AP)

2008-03-14 15:00:13.81404

By NEKESA MUMBI MOODY, AP Music Writer 6 minutes ago

AUSTIN, Texas - The buzz surrounding Christian-inspired metal band Flyleaf only seems to increase with each day.

Their self-titled debut CD recently went platinum, their mainstream appeal continues to grow and the Texas-based band, which played the South by Southwest music festival Thursday night, is embarking on yet another tour (this time with Seether) this spring.

All this success comes almost three years after "Flyleaf" was released — the band has yet to release a sophomore CD as interest in their debut continues to build. And the group is grateful for their gradual climb.

"I wouldn't trade the way it happened," bassist Pat Seals told The Associated Press with lead singer Lacey Mosley by his side, a bit weary after just returning from a charity trip to Rwanda. "We're in a van just touring around the country for two years, and then we got a buzz ... I think the slow build really helps you appreciate what you do get and what you have."

The hard-driving rock outfit has been compared to Evanescence, not only because of its makeup (a lone brunette female vocalist surrounded by a bunch of guys) but also because of their inspirational message. But Flyleaf is more clearly inspired by the divine: Mosley has discussed a previous addiction to drugs and alcohol and how Christ helped lift her out of depression and thoughts of suicide.

Mosley said she started the group with bandmates Sameer Bhattacharya, Jared Hartmann and James Culpepper (Seals joined later) as a way to musically express some of the thoughts she had written about her experience.

"We wanted to do whatever God wanted us to do with our lives, with our work, with our music, just every part of our lives and I guess the miracle of this we credit to that," said Mosley.

The group has a pastor that travels with them and study the Bible regularly, so they don't succumb to temptations while living the rock life. But while they are happy to share their beliefs, the are also quick to point out their music is not geared only for one audience.

"If you mean a band for Christians, no, we're for everybody," said Seals.

Mosley said debates that pop up about whether the band is a Christian act are "silly."

"We're not embarrassed ... We just want to be honest with who we are."

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French video site stakes claim to indie cool (Reuters)

2008-03-14 23:00:12.773448

By Cristina Black 1 hour, 20 minutes ago

NEW YORK (Billboard) - With its popular Take-Away Shows -- on-the-spot live music videos -- French music Web site La Blogotheque is becoming an important point of exposure for emerging North American indie bands.

Each shot in one take in an offbeat location, the videos have drawn more than 6 million views on blogotheque.net, YouTube and band Web sites.

The brand has recently expanded to include sites dedicated to local scenes in specific markets, such as One Take New York and One Shot Seattle, giving regional bands exposure on the international indie market. La Blogotheque's English and French...

Getting dumped inspired Katy Perry (AP)

2008-03-14 18:00:12.831941

By NEKESA MUMBI MOODY, AP Music Writer 45 minutes ago

AUSTIN, Texas - Katy Perry might have gotten dumped by her boyfriend, but the guy is probably having a more difficult time dealing with the aftermath of the breakup since her song about him became the buzz of the Internet.

"Ur So Gay," in which she pokes fun at her skinny-jean-wearing, guyliner-sporting emo ex, has gotten the Los Angeles-based singer-songwriter plenty of attention since it was released last fall. The caustic song contains plenty of zingers, with the refrain, "Ur so gay, and you don't even like boys."

"'Ur So Gay' was mainly written for a couple of different reasons — mainly because I got dumped, and it was a nice outlet, a way to be like, `OK, you wanna play?'" Perry told The Associated Press after one of her performances at the South by Southwest music festival Friday.

"It also takes a shot at the whole indie scene: The guys who are using the eyeliner, the straight irons, and my ex-boyfriends who would borrow my jeans and never give them back!"

And though it could come across as a politically incorrect taunt, Perry says most everyone understands the humor behind it.

"The reaction is always somewhat positive, and everybody gets the joke," Perry said, laughing. "Everyone knows what it's about and all my gay friends know what it's about too."

Though she's garnering plenty of attention these days with her "Ur So Gay" EP, Perry has been working toward her music career about five years, and was signed to two major labels before landing at Capitol Records, which plans to release her CD in June.

"I've been in these situations before, with a major label ... at each time we'd gear up to do something and it would never happen," said Perry.

Still, she didn't let those disappointments dissuade her: "Every door that shut, a bigger door opened and it was always a reason."

Perry, a Santa Barbara native who moved to Los Angeles seven years ago, has also been a face on the city's party scene, but she says she's no longer interested in hitting the bars and staying on the social circuit.

"Now it's time to take it to the next level," she said. "I can't be hungover anymore, I have to be focused. There are too many girls who are (messing) up and they are creating a nice little pathway for those people who really want to own it like myself."

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Guitarist charts success at SXSW (AP)

2008-03-14 19:00:12.34388

By NEKESA MUMBI MOODY, AP Music Writer 9 minutes ago

AUSTIN, Texas - Kaki King, the acclaimed guitarist nominated for a Golden Globe for her work on the "Into the Wild" score, is marking her fourth year at the South by Southwest music festival — and she can chart her growth in success by the number of shows she's performing over the five-day festival.

"The first time I played once or twice, I hung around for the week," she told The Associated Press after performing at the BMI & Billboard showcase Friday afternoon. "This time it's been a full week — been doing two to three shows a day, loads of interviews ... I'm definitely doing things and am in situations that I certainly didn't do the first time around."

The 26-year-old, who just released her latest album "Dreaming of Revenge," was nominated for best original score at the Golden Globes for collaborating with Eddie Vedder and Michael Brook on the music for the Sean Penn-directed film "Into the Wild."

King — who also wrote music for the film "August Rush" — said the nomination definitely raised her profile.

"Everyone knows who Eddie Vedder is, but for myself and Michael, (people might say), 'Oh wow, who are these young artists' and probably went and checked us out," she said. "It's really just kind of a nice feather in my cap."

King, who also collaborated with the Foo Fighters on their Grammy-winning album "Echoes, Silence, Patience and Grace," said her new album helped challenge her as a musician.

"I've had to learn new techniques," she said. "The thing about guitar is that you're always learning no matter what, and you never stop learning. No one has ever mastered the guitar, because you change one little thing ... there's always something totally new to learn.

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On the Net:

http://www.kakiking.com

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HomoRevolution Tour 2008: queer hip hop take over

2008-03-14 04:00:22.453947
How many gay hip-hop personalities can you name? We're guessing none. You can get to know a few on Sunday night when Great Scott and Truth Serum co-host the ' .' The lineup of male and female artists includes Melange Lavonne, who says that people who

Initial Talent Announced for CMA Music Festival's Daytime Concerts

2008-03-14 02:00:12.082331
Keith Anderson, Luke Bryan, Eric Church and Emerson Drive are among the artists scheduled to perform at the Riverfront Park stages during the 2008 CMA Music Festival in Nashville. Other performers announced Thursday (March 13) include Lonestar, Raul

Jackson considers selling Neverland (AP)

2008-03-14 20:00:13.589463

By JOHN ROGERS, Associated Press Writer 58 minutes ago

LOS ANGELES - There could be a new owner riding the merry-go-round at Michael Jackson's fabled Neverland Ranch this summer.

A public auction of the 2,500-acre spread in central California's wine country had been scheduled for next week after Jackson went into default on the $24.5 million he owes on the property. However, the auction was postponed until May 14 by "mutual agreement" of Jackson and his creditors, said Julie Wagner of Financial Title Co. of San Francisco, the firm that filed the default papers.

"That allows us to refinance or sell the property," Jackson's attorney, L. Londell McMillan, told The Associated on Friday. He added that Jackson is looking at both options.

"We expect to have this matter resolved well before May 14," McMillan said. The extended date was first reported on Foxnews.com.

Jackson, who moved out of Neverland more than two years ago, bought the property in the bucolic rolling hills of Los Olivos, 150 miles north of Los Angeles, from real estate baron William Bone in 1988 and turned it into his personal playground. He brought in more than a dozen amusement park rides, including a merry-go-round, Ferris wheel and roller coaster and installed a zoo complete with flamingos, giraffes, elephants and orangutans.

At the height of his popularity in the late 1980s and '90s, he invited children by the thousands onto the grounds, where they would spend the day playing and feasting on cotton candy and popcorn.

Once hailed as the "king of pop," Jackson saw his financial empire begin to crumble as his record sales plummeted in recent years. His image took a further hit when he was arrested in 2003, accused of molesting a 13-year-old visitor to Neverland.

He left Neverland after a jury acquitted him of the molestation charges in 2005 and is said to be living overseas.

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Jackson lawyer: Neverland auction off (AP)

2008-03-14 12:00:12.366714

By JOHN ROGERS, Associated Press Writer Fri Mar 14, 8:08 AM ET

LOS OLIVOS, Calif. - Michael Jackson still has Neverland, having cut an 11th-hour deal Thursday to keep it off the auction block.

But the magic that once made the financially troubled entertainer's 2,500-acre paradise in the rolling hills of central California's wine country one of the most talked-about places on Earth seems to have vanished along with its reclusive owner.

Jackson hasn't been seen in this bucolic area of oak-studded hills since he was acquitted in June 2005 of molesting a 13-year-old visitor to his estate, and his absence leaves the future of Neverland, a sort of Hearst Castle for 12-year-olds, in doubt.

"We're all, of course, wondering what's going to happen. We've heard rumors but we don't know anything," said Kim Morrison, one of the administrators of a private school located just across the road from Neverland.

One of those rumors has soccer star David Beckham interested in the property.

"I wouldn't mind having a new neighbor. It would be nice to have Beckham there," laughed Morrison, although she quickly added that Jackson "was always a good neighbor."

The pop star's attorney, L. Londell McMillan, told The Associated Press his client has worked out a confidential agreement with Fortress Investment Group LLC allowing him to retain ownership of the estate.

Whether he'll keep it for long, however, remains to be seen. Jackson is said to be living in various places, including overseas, and his family has said that when dozens of sheriff's deputies raided the place in 2003 they destroyed the fond feelings he once had for Neverland.

Before Thursday's deal was announced, the property was scheduled to be auctioned March 19 because Jackson had gone into default. Financial Title Co. of San Francisco said he owed $24.5 million on the former cattle ranch he bought from real estate baron William Bone in 1988.

Jackson, then just 29, was at the height of his career when he purchased Neverland, naming it after the mythical land of Peter Pan — where boys never grow up. He had become a pop superstar before his 12th birthday, and he has said he created Neverland in an effort to obtain the childhood he never had.

Soon he had installed a merry-go-round, bumper cars, a Ferris wheel, roller coaster, a game arcade and a private train to rival that of Disneyland's. He brought in a zoo that included flamingos, giraffes, elephants, orangutans and reptiles and brought in a veterinarian and snake handler to care for them.

"It's like stepping into Oz," he once said. "Once you come in the gates, the outside world does not exist."

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Jackson saves Neverland?

2008-03-14 13:00:13.605045
Michael Jackson's Neverland home has been saved from auction, it has been claimed.The pop superstar was recently reported to be on the brink of losing his infamous ranch, because of spiralling debts.However he is now said to have refinanced repayments on

Kaki King Content with Slow-Rising Fame

2008-03-14 06:00:14.155208
Even though her debut into the music industry occurred in early 2001, Katherine (or most commonly known as Kaki) King is finally breaking the ground from underground to mainstream. 2007 was a busy year for King. Not only did her talents appear in recent

Kelly, never the idle Idol

2008-03-14 09:00:12.092074
SITTING in the miserable Manchester drizzle, it's hard to empathise with the enthusiastic Kelly Clarkson as she proclaims a love for the city unrivalled even by its own residents. 'God, I love Manchester,' howls Kelly, her Texan accent still plump and

Kraftwerk Plot US Shows

2008-03-14 04:00:22.492224
German electro trailblazers Kraftwerk have announced a tinge of US shows leading up to their anticipated second appearance at this year's Coachella. With a career spanning over 35 years and a sound incessantly sampled in popular music, these Euro-techno

Mercado seemed destined for 'Idol' stage (AP)

2008-03-14 00:00:13.187461

By MITCH STACY, Associated Press Writer 1 hour, 46 minutes ago

SARASOTA, Fla. - Syesha Mercado is one of those determined "American Idol" contestants who realized her gift early, jumped on the path to stardom and didn't stop trudging until she reached television's biggest stage.

The striking 21-year-old singer, dancer and actress grew up performing in the Sarasota area before moving to Miami for college. She's been singing since she was a toddler in a musical family that included three sisters and mother Zelda, a former Motown backup singer.

As a child, Syesha — it's pronounced "sigh-EE-sha" — sang in church and grew accustomed to performing in public — she once sang the "National Anthem" at a Pittsburgh Pirates baseball game. Her turns in musicals such as "Pippin" and "Seussical: The Musical" at a Sarasota arts high school drew raves. She's acted in commercials, sang in a band, won a car in a statewide singing contest and even appeared briefly on a reality TV show.

So nobody back home is surprised that she's standing among the final 11 on the Fox TV show that has the potential to make her a household name. And, they say, it couldn't happen to a nicer person.

"When she was going to high school, she was aspiring to do that kind of thing. I remember she and her friends talking about it," said Johnnie Mnich, theater director in the elite performing arts program at Booker High School. "I think it was a matter of time before it happened. She knows what she wants, and she knows what she's good at."

Mnich recalls marveling at Mercado's talent when the she won the lead in the musical "Once on This Island" as a sophomore.

"I was just blown away," he said. "I was amazed at the level of expertise and strength and training."

Bruce Merkle, 20, spent all four years in the Booker arts program acting and singing with Mercado. They shared their first stage kiss in "Once on This Island."

"She's sounded like that since she was 14, as long as I can remember," said Merkle, now a stage actor and still close friends with Mercado. "She's the real deal. And she's genuinely a nice person. She's very grounded and knows what she wants."

While in middle school, Mercado was accepted into a program for low-income children that involved mentoring and an eventual college scholarship. Her positive attitude, big singing voice and lack of pretense won people over from the beginning. She got to meet former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush as part of the program, and he promptly asked her to sing for him.

"We were all just in awe of her singing ability, and you meet her and she's just as sweet as her voice sounds," said Lisa Bechtold, local director of the scholarship program, called "Take Stock in Children."

Bechtold said Mercado's sunny disposition never wavered, even after her family lost their house in a fire while she was in high school. In an early "American Idol" interview, she talked about her father, Jose, struggling with drug and alcohol addiction and being in and out of her life. He recently graduated from a rehab program.

...

Minnie Driver confirms she's pregnant (AP)

2008-03-14 17:00:12.464595

1 hour, 44 minutes ago

BURBANK, Calif. - Minnie Driver says she's got the bump.

The 38-year-old actress and singer confirmed during an appearance Thursday on NBC's "The Tonight Show With Jay Leno" that she's pregnant with her first child.

Leno joked that she appeared to have gained weight.

"Are you calling me fat? You've noticed my tummy, haven't you?" Driver said.

"Are you pregnant?" Leno replied.

"Yes, I am," she said.

Driver said she loves being pregnant but is frequently sick.

"I don't know why they call it morning sickness," she said. "I am sick morning, noon and night, but it's a fair trade-off."

Driver didn't reveal the name of the father.

A call to her publicists seeking comment wasn't immediately returned Friday.

Driver stars on the FX cable TV series "The Riches," which premieres Tuesday.

___

NBC is owned by the General Electric Co. FX is owned by News Corp.

...

Monk Institute bridges jazz gulf in U.S., Panama (Reuters)

2008-03-14 20:00:12.452047

By Larry Blumenfeld 13 minutes ago

NEW YORK (Billboard) - Danilo Perez stood before a blackboard at Loyola University in New Orleans in November. As a visiting instructor for the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz Performance, the pianist addressed seven masters students.

He implored them to search within themselves, not just as musicians but as people. It is the same challenge laid down, he said, by the legendary musicians he has played with: most recently, saxophonist Wayne Shorter.

Scrawled on the blackboard were complex diagrams of Afro-Caribbean rhythms: Perez was also drawing these students outward, into his world. Little did they know how far that...

Nine Inch Nails album earns $1.6 million on Web (Reuters)

2008-03-14 05:00:20.763418

27 minutes ago

DENVER (Billboard) - The online release of the new Nine Inch Nails album, "Ghosts I-IV," resulted in just under 800,000 transactions in its first week, totaling $1.6 million in revenue, the industrial-rock band has revealed.

The tally includes free and paid downloads, as well as advance orders for physical configurations like various limited-edition vinyl releases, CDs, and a boxed set.

"Ghosts I-IV," the band's first release since becoming a free agent last October, went on sale March 2 at its Web site, http://www.nin.com. Fans can receive the first nine songs from the 36-track project for free, or can pay $5 for the entire digital album.

...

Pussycat Dolls: Sex, music and lingerie (AP)

2008-03-14 14:00:11.116351

By SANDY COHEN, AP Entertainment Writer 57 minutes ago

CULVER CITY, Calif. - The Pussycat Dolls, known for their skimpy costumes and sexy moves, drew front-row guests such as Dr. Dre, Sean "Puffy" Combs and Quincy Jones at their debut fashion show.

The music moguls, along with record giant Jimmy Iovine and producer Sean Garrett, attended the unveiling of the Pussycat Dolls' "...shhh" lingerie collection Thursday at Smashbox Studios.

"I'm friends of the Pussycat Dolls, so I just came in support," Combs said backstage before the show.

Robin Antin, who developed the Pussycat Dolls from a nightclub burlesque troupe into a pop group with their own reality TV show, said their reputation brings out the big stars.

"It is the hot ticket because the Pussycat Dolls, they're just amazing," Antin said. "I think people get excited because everything we do, it's quality."

The fashion show was punctuated by an abbreviated burlesque act and a Pussycat Dolls performance.

After a brief runway display of micro-minis with corset lacing and graffiti-covered bra-and-panty sets, break dancers took the stage. They were followed by four women in short shorts and hooded jackets, who straddled chairs as they slowly stripped down to leopard-print lingerie. (Dolls' lead singer Nicole Scherzinger, wearing a black skirt and corset, provided the soundtrack.)

When a dancer tossed her jacket in the moguls' direction, Jones excitedly scooped it up.

The fashion show resumed with an array of frilly underthings, nearly all trimmed with ruffles and ribbons. There were striped, sailor-themed sets and sheer bras with barely there bottoms.

"It's feminine and it's edgy, just like the Pussycat Dolls," Antin said.

The lingerie line was inspired by punk-rock music and old-fashioned pinup girls, Antin said. She called it "shhh" because it's "our little secret."

"What we're wearing under our clothes is our little secret," she said. "It's something that every woman shares."

...

Quincy Jones' memorable moments (Reuters)

2008-03-14 04:00:21.230804

By Chuck Crisafulli 40 minutes ago

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - Plenty of celebrities are known by a single name, but Quincy Jones may be the only one instantly recognizable by a single letter.

"Q" -- as he's known to his colleagues, friends and fans -- has won 27 Grammy Awards, a tally surpassed only by late classical conductor Sir Georg Solti, with 31.

He is also an eight-time Oscar nominee, a Kennedy Center honoree, and the recipient of the Legion d'honneur, France's highest decoration.

In his work as a film and television composer and record producer, Jones has created musical moments that range from...

R.E.M. previews new album at Texas music fest (Reuters)

2008-03-14 05:00:20.332582

By Gary Graff 15 minutes ago

AUSTIN, Texas (Billboard) - R.E.M. ditched the hits and dusted off some old gems while previewing its new album during a politically charged concert at the South By Southwest music festival underway in the Texas capital.

The 22-song set at Stubb's BBQ., webcast live on NPR.org Tuesday, offered a generous 10-song sampling from the hard-rocking "Accelerate," due in stores on April 1.

New tunes included the album's opening couplet, "Living Well's the Best Revenge" and "Mansized Wreath," as well as "Mr. Richards," "Horse to Water," "Hollow Man" and the title track.

Hits were in short supply -- "Drive," "Fall on Me" and "Man...

Rocker Lou Reed takes aim at new technology (Reuters)

2008-03-14 06:00:13.629333

By Gary Graff and Jonathan Cohen 40 minutes ago

AUSTIN, Texas (Billboard) - Lou Reed is lashing out at new modes of audio technology, saying that "people have got to demand a higher standard" than current MP3 music files.

The edgy rocker delivered the keynote speech at the South By Southwest Music Festival + Conference, which is underway in Austin, Texas.

Reed was interviewed Wednesday by producer Hal Willner, who recently worked with him on the opulent "Berlin" concerts in which the musician delivered a theatricalized concert version of his under-appreciated 1973 concept album of the same name. Those shows are the subject of "Lou Reed's Berlin," a...

SNOOP DOGG INVADES DAYTIME TV: Rapper to make remix "One Life to Live" theme song and make cameo appearance for May sweeps.

2008-03-14 16:00:13.247299
*Turns out those early reports of Snoop Dogg visiting the fictional town of Llanview are true. The rapper, 36, will make an extended cameo on the ABC soap opera 'One Life to Live' to perform two songs from his new album, 'Ego Trippin',' at Llanview's

Saudi hip-hop group Dark2Men visit Dubai

2008-03-14 12:00:12.37112
Even before they stepped onstage at the MTV Arabia competition finale in Dubai, members of the Saudi hip-hop group Dark2Men knew they wouldn't win. The contestants were to be judged on their lyrics, stage presence and performance, but Dark2Men had never

Shawty Lo Releases Statement Denying He Has AIDS

2008-03-14 23:00:13.198768
Rapper rumored to have been hospitalized for two weeks The publicist for Atlanta rapper Shawty Lo has come forward and released a statement on the rappers behalf to clear recent rumors that the rapper has AIDS. Shawty Lo, real name Carlos Walker, was

Sheryl Crow Says She'll Collaborate With Fleetwood Mac, Possibly Next Year (AP)

2008-03-14 05:00:21.158419

35 minutes ago

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Sheryl Crow says she'll soon be singing with Fleetwood Mac, a move sure to give new life to the classic rock band, which hasn't toured in several years.

The 46-year-old singer didn't give a date, but said it could happen next year.

She's already thinking about what she'd like to perform. "I'd love to do `The Chain,' I'd love to do `Second Hand News,'" Crow said.

Crow said she looked forward to working with friend Stevie Nicks.

"I think the person I learned the most hands-on from is Stevie Nicks because she allowed me not only to co-write with her but also to produce her, and she's a true artist," she said.

Fleetwood Mac last toured in 2004.

Crow is currently touring after the release of her latest album, "Detours."

Phone and e-mail messages left with representatives for Fleetwood Mac and Crow were not immediately returned.

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Snoop Dogg to remix ABC soap opera theme

2008-03-14 08:00:15.572069
Snoop Dogg is bringing some street cred to 'One Life to Live.' The 36-year-old rapper will make an extended cameo on the ABC soap opera to perform two songs from his new album, 'Ego Trippin',' at the Ultra Violet club in the town of Llanview, the network

Snoop Dogg to remix ABC soap opera theme (AP)

2008-03-14 00:00:13.586016

2 hours, 2 minutes ago

NEW YORK - Snoop Dogg is bringing some street cred to "One Life to Live." The 36-year-old rapper will make an extended cameo on the ABC soap opera to perform two songs from his new album, "Ego Trippin'," at the Ultra Violet club in the town of Llanview, the network said Thursday.

Snoop's episodes will air May 8 and May 9, and feature his re-mixed version of the show's theme song. He will also act in scenes.

"I've been a fan of `One Life to Live' since I was a baby," said Snoop, who's set to perform "Sensual Seduction" and "Life of Da Party."

"My momma always had it on the tube in tha crib growing up. The opportunity to change up the theme song and give it some of my flavor will make the show the Life of The Party."

Mary J. Blige, Nelly Furtado, Chris Botti, Erykah Badu, Timbaland and Keri Hilson have also performed on the show.

___

ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Co.

___

On the Net:

ABC:

http://abc.go.com/daytime/onelifetolive/

Snoop Dogg:

http://www.snoopdogg.com/

...

Steven Parke to Create Original Art for Heroes Soundtrack

2008-03-14 16:00:13.245642
NBC Universal Television DVD , Music and Consumer Products Group has commissioned comic book icon Steven Parke to help create and illustrate the CD packaging for the the upcoming Heroes soundtrack. In addition to Parke's comic renderings of each featured

Texas film fest accomplishes historic movie deal (Reuters)

2008-03-14 04:00:22.408411

By Randee Dawn 2 hours, 55 minutes ago

AUSTIN, Texas (Hollywood Reporter) - When it kicked off March 7, the South by Southwest Film Festival wasn't necessarily in line for a watershed moment. The easygoing, jeans-and-beer atmosphere, which will come to an end Saturday, made for a casual set of films, interactive panels, a trade show and several raucous days of concerts.

But 2008 will long be marked as the year in which SXSW took a giant step forward, because it was the year an acquisition was made during the festival.

"Nights and Weekends," the sexually explicit story of a relationship breakup assembled by the so-called "mumblecore"...

Tulsa singer Cook rocks "American Idol" (AP)

2008-03-14 19:00:13.340808

By SEAN MURPHY, Associated Press Writer 35 minutes ago

OKLAHOMA CITY — Beneath the shaggy hair and mild-mannered demeanor of "American Idol" contestant David Cook is a seasoned musician who's rocked his way through the gritty club scene in America's heartland.

The 25-year-old native of Blue Springs, Mo., brought his aspiring music career to Tulsa two years ago after graduating from Central Missouri State University with a degree in graphic design. But despite a college degree and even a few career opportunities, Cook's friends and band mates from Tulsa say there's nothing Cook would rather be doing than performing and making music.

"He's the real thing," said Jeff Martinson, the owner of the Blank Slate complex of clubs in downtown Tulsa's Blue Dome district, where Cook bartended and enjoyed a flourishing musical career before landing a spot on the Fox Television program.

"He's gone out and actually played hundreds of gigs in bars in front of, sometimes, five people. He's the real deal in the sense that regardless of what happens in this competition, he'll still be out playing three nights a week."

Cook attended Blue Springs South High School, where he played baseball, showed promise in theater and debate and played with his high school band, Axium.

"He was involved in a lot of different activities, but no matter what he did, there was always music," said Susan Cooper, Cook's theater teacher. "You could tell that was his passion."

While playing the nightclub scene with Axium while in college, Cook became familiar with Tulsa's music scene after the band opened a gig for a popular Tulsa-based group, Midwest Kings.

"We all gelled and kept in touch over the years, and eventually David came down to be a guitar player for Midwest Kings," said Josh Center, a session drummer who plays with the band.

Cook's opportunity with an established band exposed him to the hardworking music scene in and around Tulsa and let him cut his teeth in various music venues. The regional touring band frequently piled into a 15-passenger van and played a mix of shows in Oklahoma cities like Oklahoma City, Tulsa, Norman, Stillwater, as well as cities in Wisconsin, Kansas, Missouri, and Nebraska, Center said.

Cook mainly played guitar and sang backup vocals for the group, but in the meantime worked on separate projects, including a solo album titled "Analog Heart."

Martinson, the club owner, said the experience Cook gained touring with Midwest Kings is proving invaluable for Cook as he works his way through "American Idol."

"He's gone places musically that some of these kids haven't even seen," Martinson said.

...

Tulsa singer Cook rocks 'American Idol' (AP)

2008-03-14 21:00:12.230104

By SEAN MURPHY, Associated Press Writer 32 minutes ago

Cook attended Blue Springs South High School, where he played baseball, showed promise in theater and debate and played with his high school band, Axium.

"He was involved in a lot of different activities, but no matter what he did, there was always music," said Susan Cooper, Cook's theater teacher. "You could tell that was his passion."

While playing the nightclub scene with Axium while in college, Cook became familiar with Tulsa's music scene after the band opened a gig for a popular Tulsa-based group, Midwest Kings.

"We all gelled and kept in touch over the years, and eventually David came down to be a guitar player for Midwest Kings," said Josh Center, a session drummer who plays with the band.

Cook mainly played guitar and sang backup vocals for the group, but in the meantime worked on separate projects, including a solo album titled "Analog Heart."

Martinson, the club owner, said the experience Cook gained touring with Midwest Kings is proving invaluable for Cook as he works his way through "American Idol."

"He's gone places musically that some of these kids haven't even seen," Martinson said.

...

US Pop Music Charts This Week - "Low" Hits 12

2008-03-14 00:00:13.594665
Britney Spears - Do Somethin'US Pop Charts 03-06-08Top 10 Pop Eye Candy 2006

Voigt leaves `Tristan' in mid-opera (AP)

2008-03-14 23:00:12.258254

By MIKE SILVERMAN, Associated Press Writer 15 minutes ago

NEW YORK - Now the soprano at "Tristan und Isolde" is sick, too.

Already missing tenor Ben Heppner because of a virus, the Metropolitan Opera lost Deborah Voigt in the middle of the second act Friday night because of a stomach ailment.

Heppner withdrew from the first four performances of the highly anticipated six-performance run and was replaced by John Mac Master in Monday's opener and by Gary Lehman on Friday.

Voigt sang the opener but didn't sound at her best Friday and had trouble with the high notes during the first act. Her stomach didn't feel quite right during the entire act, spokesman Albert Imperato said, but she tried to make it through.

She hurried offstage near the beginning of the second-act love duet, and music director James Levine kept conducting. Then the curtain came down, Lehman started singing and the orchestra stopped.

An announcement was made that Voigt suddenly had taken ill, and Janice Baird came on and replaced her about 15 minutes later. Baird and Lehman received enthusiastic applause at the end of the act.

Mac Master received mostly negative reviews following Monday's opener of the revival. Lehman made his Met debut Friday, and the Tristan for the next two performances is listed as TBA, including the March 22 matinee that is to be telecast to theaters worldwide.

Heppner and Voigt, two of the world's most acclaimed Wagnerian singers, were to be performing "Tristan" together for the first time.

___

On the Net:

http://www.metopera.org

http://www.benheppner.com

...

Yang hopes to create guitar legacy for China (Reuters)

2008-03-14 21:00:13.391095

By Hazel Davis 53 minutes ago

LONDON (Billboard) - What do you get if you cross a Chinese guitarist with Spanish repertoire and a Welsh composer? The answer lies in critically acclaimed Beijing-born, London-based classical guitarist Xuefei Yang's new album.

"40 Degrees North" (EMI Classics), Yang's second album, will arrive April 7 in the United Kingdom and elsewhere later in the year.

"I was born just after the end of the Cultural Revolution, when Western music and instruments were banned," 31-year-old Yang says.

The artist, who studied classical guitar at London's Royal...

`Tales of the City' heads to Broadway (AP)

2008-03-14 03:00:13.638572

Fri Mar 14, 12:12 AM ET

NEW YORK - First it was serialized in a San Francisco newspaper. Then came a parade of best-selling novels, followed by a popular television miniseries — and now a Broadway musical, with music by members of the glam pop band Scissor Sisters.

"Tales of the City," based on the Armistead Maupin novel, will open on Broadway during the 2009-10 season, producers Robyn Goodman, Kevin McCollum and Jeffrey Seller announced Friday.

The story focuses on a young woman from the Midwest who moves to San Francisco in 1970s and meets an unusual collection of characters while living at 28 Barbary Lane.

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