Madonna, Celine Dion top worldwide tours in 2008 (Reuters)

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – Madonna and Celine Dion were the biggest worldwide concert draws in 2008, each selling more than $200 million worth of tickets to their slickly produced shows, trade publication Pollstar said on Tuesday.

The pop singers also took the top two spots in North America, which accounts for an estimated 40 percent of the concert business, Pollstar said.

Madonna's "Sticky & Sweet" world tour, which finished in Brazil last week, tallied $281.6 million from 17 countries. North American fans ponied up $105.3 million.

French-Canadian balladeer Dion, launching her first world tour in more than eight years, earned $236.6 million from 24 countries, with North America contributing $94 million.

This year marks the first time that Pollstar has compiled foreign data. Among the all-time North American tours, Madonna's ranks at No. 8 and Dion's at No. 12. The Rolling Stones hold the record with $162 million from their 2005 trek.

Dion, 40, might well be the hardest working woman in show business, having made Pollstar's list of top 10 acts every year since 2003. That year she began a 700-plus show residency at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, and grossed more than $385 million by the time it wrapped last December.

Rounding out the top five of Pollstar's worldwide list were Bon Jovi ($176.3 million), Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band ($165.8 million), and last year's North American champs the Police ($120.6 million).

Pollstar said fewer people went to concerts in North America this year, and despite the incipient recession those who went were prepared to sharply pay more for their tickets.

"We've had a better year than we really should have expected given the economic environment," said Gary Bongiovanni, editor of the Fresno, California-based publication.

Ticket sales for the top 100 acts in North America rose 4.3 percent to $2.38 billion. The number of tickets sold fell three percent to 35.59 million, and the average ticket price rose nearly eight percent to a record $66.90.

Timing played a part. Acts that hit the road earlier in the year escaped the deepening economic abyss in the fall. Top-tier artists are also fairly recession-proof. Bongiovanni said tickets have sold briskly for Britney Spears' comeback tour, which begins next March, and he predicted sales would be strong for as-yet-unannounced treks by U2 and Springsteen.

Ticket sales data do not include revenue from merchandise, such as T-shirts, which can make up a sizable chunk of tour earnings.

(Reporting by Dean Goodman, editing by Jackie Frank)

Madonna biggest 2008 N. American tour attraction
(Reuters)
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Jazz trumpeter Freddie Hubbard dies in L.A. (Reuters)

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – Influential jazz trumpeter Freddie Hubbard, who played on hundreds of recordings during a career spanning 50 years, died in a Los Angeles hospital on Monday, his manager said. He was 70.

The Grammy Award-winning musician had been a patient at Sherman Oaks Hospital since suffering a heart attack a month ago, manager David Weiss said.

Famed for his fiery style, Hubbard played with such jazz icons as Thelonius Monk, Miles Davis, Cannonball Adderley, Sonny Rollins and John Coltrane.

Two years after moving to New York from his native Indianapolis in 1958, Hubbard recorded his first album, "Open Sesame," and enjoyed a meteoric rise in jazz circles.

By August 1961, he was onto his fourth album, "Ready for Freddie," a collaboration with Wayne Shorter considered by many to be his masterpiece.

Throughout the decade, he played both at the helm of his own small group and with bands led by others. He was also featured on such iconic albums as Coltrane's "Ascension" and Ornette Coleman's "Free Jazz."

Hubbard won his sole Grammy in 1972 with "First Light," one of a series of crossover albums that brought him mainstream recognition. He later returned to his hard-bop roots, thrilling audiences with his dazzling speed and impassioned blues lines.

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Madonna biggest 2008 N. American tour attraction (Reuters)

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – Madonna's "Sticky & Sweet" concert tour was the biggest-grossing music tour of 2008 in North America, raking in $105.3 million, concert tracking magazine Pollstar said on Monday.

The Material Girl, whose 58-show world tour finished in Brazil last week, was closely followed by another solo diva -- Canadian-born Celine Dion, who made $94 million in North America from her first tour since ending an almost five-year residency in Las Vegas a year ago.

Rock veterans The Eagles were third on Pollstar's list, grossing $73.4 million for their tour to support possibly their last studio album "Long Road out of Eden".

Country music starKenny Chesney ($72.2 million) and rock band Bon Jovi ($70.4 million) came in fourth and fifth.

The Top 10 grossing tours of North America were rounded out by Bruce Springsteen and the E street band ($69.3 million), Neil Diamond ($59.8 million), Rascal Flatts ($55.8 million), The Police ($48.0 million) and veteran rocker Tina Turner ($47.7 million).

Pollstar's Top 10 list did not include global tour earnings for the year.

(Reporting by Jill Serjeant, editing by Dan Whitcomb)

‘Marley & Me’ Leads Record-Breaking Holiday Box Office
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(AP)

Duffy tops Britain's 2008 albums, sales decline (Reuters)

LONDON (Reuters) – Welsh singer Duffy, a relative unknown a year ago, topped the British album charts in 2008 with "Rockferry," although the overall album market continued to decline this year.

Rockferry, Duffy's debut album which has been nominated for a coveted Grammy award in the Best Pop Vocal Album category, sold 1.69 million copies this year, ahead of Take That's "The Circus" which sold 1.45 million copies.

Also topping the million mark were Kings of Leon, Leona Lewis and Coldplay, according to figures from the Official Charts Company (OCC).

"We haven't done the full analysis yet, but anecdotally the album market is down by about five percent (in 2008)," said Martin Talbot, managing director of the OCC.

The music business is struggling to reverse a steep decline in sales in recent years, blamed mainly on online music piracy and growing competition from other forms of entertainment, notably video games.

In contrast, the UK singles market grew by around 30 percent, Talbot added, boosted by digital downloads. Final figures for 2008 have yet to be released. In the singles chart, the two top-selling acts of 2008 were from the television talent show The X Factor, with the winner Alexandra Burke's debut single "Hallelujah" selling 888,000 copies in all formats.

In second place was charity record "Hero," sung by the X Factor finalists, with sales of 751,000 followed by Duffy's "Mercy" (536,000).

(Reporting by Mike Collett-White; editing by Keith Weir)

Music biz braces for disappointing holiday sales
(Reuters)
‘Marley & Me’ Leads Record-Breaking Holiday Box Office
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Beyonce leads singles chart for third week (Reuters)

NEW YORK (Billboard) – Beyonce logged a third week at No. 1 on Billboard's Hot 100 singles chart with "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)," a tune from her latest chart-topping album.

Rapper T.I.'s "Live Your Life" featuring Rihanna held at No. 2, and Lady GaGa's "Just Dance" featuring Colby O'Donis at No. 3. Kanye West's "Heartless" jumped three places to No. 4.

Britney Spears' "Womanizer" rose one to No. 5, Katy Perry's "Hot N Cold" jumped two to No. 6, and Taylor Swift's "Love Story" climbed four to No. 7.

Another West song, "Love Lockdown," moved up two to No. 8, T.I.'s "Whatever You Like" fell four to No. 9, and Beyonce's "If I Were a Boy" slipped one to No. 10.

Leona Lewis' cover of Snow Patrol's "Run," a recent No. 1 hit in her native United Kingdom, was the top debut at No. 81.

Billboard's airplay-based rock charts were unchanged, with Kings Of Leon's "Sex on Fire" in a third week atop Modern Rock and Shinedown leading Mainstream Rock for a second with "Second Chance."

Reuters/Billboard

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Poll: Should Wino Reunite with Blake Incarcerated? (E! Online)

Los Angeles (E! Online) – Troubled singer and recent topless sunbather Amy Winehouse is obviously not risk averse. Which may explain why she's considering reuniting with jailed hubby Blake Fielder-Civil, according to the U.K.'s Mirror tabloid.

Though Blake Incarcerated, as the singer calls him, is likely to be in the slammer until 2010, she's reportedly willing to make amends.

Wha?! Really? After all, this is the guy who told British tabs he got Amy hooked on drugs. Take our poll below or speak up in the comments section and let us know if you think this is a good idea.

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Jay-Z, Mary J. Blige Accused of Beat Burglary (E! Online)

Los Angeles (E! Online) – What's the 411? How about a lawsuit?

Mary J. Blige and Jay-Z are among the targets of a federal song-swiping suit by two New Jersey men.

Jermaine Jumpp and Michael C. Adams accuse Blige's renowned producer, Rodney "Darkchild" Jerkins of swiping the beat from their "On My Grind" for the Blige's "Enough Cryin'."

The plaintiffs claims they submitted a CD containing their song to Jerkins back in 2001 and were shocked when "Enough Cryin' " surfaced on 2005 album The Breakthrough. Jay-Z got a cowriting credit; they got bupkis.

No word why it took three years to file their suit. Calls to their lawyer were not immediately returned.

Neither Blige or Jigga are commenting yet. The two pals are frequent collaborators, most recently teaming up last spring for their Heart of the City tour.

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Miley Cyrus Is ‘Stoked’ About Her Golden Globe Best Song Nomination
Tyler Perry, Mary J. Blige to be honored by BET
(AP)

Did Britney Spears Really Join T-Pain on Stage? (E! Online)

Los Angeles (E! Online) – Britney Spears is touring with T-Pain...sort of.

During his performance at the Universal Amphitheater last night, T-Pain brought out little person Terra Jole, a famedSpears impersonator, decked in the pop star's infamous VMA '07 getup.

"There's an artist I'd like to introduce," T-Pain said. "They have an album called Circus, and they've joined me on tour." As the hopeful crowd awaited a Spears appearance, Jole took center stage—which was set up as T-Pain's own circus (hence the name ofhis latest album, Thr33 Ringz)—and danced like only Spears (and an impersonator) can.

While it could be argued that Jole stole the show, attention shouldn't be taken away from T-Pain himself, who performed his set sans his signature Auto-Tune style, but also without blinged-out grill. The hip-hop artist belted out a number of his hit tunes and even showed off his piano skills.

And what about the headliner of the show, Lil Wayne?

What T-Pain lacked in oral bling, Lil Wayne made up. The gold-grilled rapper ended the show with his 45-minute set, which included performances of "Make it Rain," "Out Here Grindin'," "Duffle Bag Boy" and "My Life."

But it was the grand finale that proved the most memorable. Out of nowhere, Whitney Houston's 1992 hit "I Will Always Love You" played out."I love you," Wayne shouted to the crowd as the lights went down.

Gym Class Heroes, Keyshia Cole and Keri Hilson also took the stage during the concert.

—Additional reporting by Dahvi Shira

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Is Kelly Clarkson Poised for Comeback? (E! Online)

Los Angeles (E! Online) – Since Kelly Clarkson's been gone, have you missed her?

The original American Idol's last album, My December, and subsequent tour didn't exactly strike a chord with fans—at least in comparison with her 2004 smash, Breakaway.

The songbird is set to launch a new single, "My Life Would Suck Without You," in January, followed by a new album dropping in March. This comes nearly a year after her fourth album was rumored to debut. Tracks from that attempt were leaked and the recording was abandoned as Clarkson went on tour with Reba McEntire.

Clarkson's forgettable 2007 included bad buzz for My December, the scrapping of her tour due to lousy ticket sales and several much-publicized feuds, including one with record boss Clive Davis and another with her managers.

Has she bitten the hands that feed her a few too many times or are we ready to get behind those hazel eyes once again?

null

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"Mamma" dethrones "Knight" on DVD sales chart (Reuters)

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) – "Mamma Mia!" replaced "The Dark Knight" as the top-selling DVD in the United States, according to Nielsen VideoScan data issued Wednesday.

The Batman sequel, released December 9, remains the top-selling video release of the year, with an estimated worldwide total of 13.5 million units sold its first week out, 1.7 million of them on the nascent Blu-ray Disc format.

On trade publication Home Media Magazine's rental chart, top honors went to "The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor," which also bumped "The Dark Knight" to No. 2. "Mamma Mia!" debuted at No. 3.

"Dark Knight" remained the No. 1 Blu-ray Disc seller for the second week, according to Nielsen VideoScan. "The Mummy" debuted at No. 2, with "Mamma Mia!" at No. 3.

Reuters/Hollywood Reporter

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Concert industry posts record year despite economy (AP)

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The stock market is in the tank, the plant is closing and the neighbor is losing his home ... the perfect time to go to a concert, by one measure.

The concert business grossed just under $4 billion worldwide in 2008, the most ever for a year and up almost 13 percent over last year, according to Billboard magazine.

"Overall, it's been a pretty good year for touring," said Ray Waddell, who covers the industry for Billboard. "I'd never say it's recession-proof, but it's resilient."

In North America, the average box office gross was up 18 percent and the average attendance up 6.3 percent.

Bon Jovi's tour was the year's highest-grossing, based on the trade publication's data from Nov. 14, 2007, to Nov. 11 of this year. It grossed $210.6 million and drew nearly 2.2 million fans.

Bruce Springsteen was second ($204.5 million gross) followed by Madonna ($162 million).

The most lucrative country tours were Kenny Chesney, sixth on the list with $86 million gross; and Rascal Flatts, 10th with $55.8 million.

"It's not something you can get a fix for somewhere else," Waddell said of live music. "There's no other substitute for it, and compared to other things, it's pretty affordable."

Fans keep coming. First-week sales for Britney Spears' 2009 tour were strong enough that extra dates were added, and AC/DC and Metallica have already sold out shows for January and February.

Last month, concert promoter giant Live Nation reported third-quarter profit more than tripled to $139.9 million.

But Waddell warned: "It would be crazy to think that the economy and unemployment won't impact ticket sales at some point."

The squeeze may already be on in some places. In Nashville, promoters blamed slow ticket sales for canceling a New Year's Eve concert at the Sommet Center featuring Trace Adkins and Lynyrd Skynyrd.

John Huie, vice president of Creative Artists Agency in Nashville, which sets tour schedules for Tim McGraw, Faith Hill, Keith Urban, Alan Jackson, ZZ Top and many others, said more fans are waiting until the day of the show to buy tickets because they're uncertain about the economy.

Gary Bongiovanni, editor-in-chief of the concert industry publication Pollstar, noted that most of the tickets for shows in October, November and even December were sold in advance, before the latest round of bad economic news. The full effect won't be felt until next year, he predicted.

"The problem will be if we're still in this economic environment when summer hits, when so many acts go on the road," Bongiovanni said. "Even in good times the public has a hard time supporting them all, and obviously when people are unemployed they're not going to be buying concert tickets."

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DJ AM files lawsuit in South Carolina plane crash (AP)

LOS ANGELES – A celebrity disc jockey who survived a fiery Learjet crash in South Carolina has sued several companies and the estates of the plane's pilots.

Adam Goldstein, known as DJ AM, filed his complaint for negligence and breach of contract Tuesday in Los Angeles Superior Court. Goldstein and punk rocker Travis Barker, who has also sued the companies, were the sole survivors of the Sept. 19 crash.

Barker sued on behalf of the family of his bodyguard, Charles Still, and the widow of Barker's assistant, Chris Baker, filed her own lawsuit earlier this month.

Goldstein and Barker were seriously burned escaping the plane. The pair plan to perform together again for the first time since the crash at an event in Los Angeles on New Year's Eve. They perform under the name TRVSDJAM.

Goldstein's lawsuit seeks a jury trial, but doesn't specify how much money he hopes to receive for loss of earnings, medical expenses, pain and suffering and other damages.

He is also suing the estates of the plane's pilots, Sarah Lemmon, and James Bland. A phone number for Lemmon's mother couldn't be located, and Bland's wife declined to comment Wednesday.

The lawsuit claims the plane's owners and operators acted in a careless and negligent manner and that Goldstein has been seriously harmed — physically and financially — by the crash.

Federal investigators have not yet determined the cause of the crash.

Aviation authorities have said cockpit recordings indicated the jet's crew thought a tire had blown during takeoff. National Transportation Safety Board officials have said pieces of tire were recovered about 2,800 feet from where the plane started its takeoff down the 8,600-foot runway in Columbia, S.C.

The lawsuit names Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co., which in response to Barker's lawsuit said that it was too soon to speculate on what role tires may have played in the crash. Also named were Bombardier Inc., which manufactures Learjet planes and doesn't comment on pending lawsuits.

Clay Lacy Aviation, Global Exec Aviation and Inter Travel and Services Inc. are also named as defendants. A Clay Lacy representative said in response to Barker's suit that the company didn't operate the plane that crashed, but merely brokered the flight.

A receptionist for Global Exec Aviation said no one would be available to comment because of the Christmas holiday, and a phone number for Inter Travel and Services couldn't be located Wednesday morning.

___

On the Net:

http://www.djam.com/

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Michael Jackson Prepping for World Tour, Not Lung Transplant (E! Online)

Los Angeles (E! Online) – Michael Jackson is not only not suffering from a life-threatening lung ailment, he's so healthy he's planning a world tour!

In response to recent comments made by celebrity conspiracy-theorist Ian Halperin, the pop icon's rep issued a statement Monday saying that "wild allegations concerning Mr. Jackson's health are a total fabrication."

"Concerning this author's allegations, we would hope in the future that legitimate media will not continue to be exploited by such an obvious attempt to promote this unauthorized 'biography,'" Jackson spokesman Dr. Tohme Tohme said of Halperin's in-the-works bio, which claims that the Thriller artist is suffering from a genetic condition called alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency that could require a lung transplant to save him.

"Mr. Jackson is in fine health, and finalizing negotiations with a major entertainment company and television networkfor both a world tour and a series of specials and appearances," Tohme continued.

Well, that would be news then, wouldn't it?

Jackson said something along those lines in October when he put the kibosh on rumors—started by his own brothers—that the original Jackson 5 would be teaming up for a "Hey, look at us!" tour.

"I am now in the studio developing new and exciting projects that I look forward to sharing with my fans in concert soon," Jacko said at the time.

We're sure the loyal fans who have stuck with him—through good times and bad, trials and errors, wheelchair rides and face masks, flops and Thriller reissues—can hardly wait.

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New Kelly Clarkson single due next month (Reuters)

NEW YORK (Billboard) – Kelly Clarkson's new single, "My Life Would Suck Without You," will hit U.S. radio outlets January 19. The track will introduce the inaugural "American Idol" champ's fourth, as-yet-untitled studio album, due March 17 from RCA.

The album will be the follow-up to 2007's "My December," which has sold 780,000 copies in the United States, according to Nielsen SoundScan.

Clarkson feuded with RCA executive Clive Davis over her desire to write her own material for the album, on the heels of her smash 2004 album "Breakaway," which featured a number of co-writes with experienced songwriters.

A planned arena tour was scrapped just before "My December" came out due to lower-than-expected ticket sales, and was reconfigured for smaller venues a few months later.

Last fall, Clarkson signed with manager Narvel Blackstock, who paired her with his wife, Reba McEntire, for a successful co-headlining tour in early 2008.

Reuters/Billboard

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Michael Jackson camp denies health problems (Reuters)

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – A spokesman for Michael Jackson released a statement on Monday denying as a "total fabrication" a report claiming that the former King of Pop needs a lung transplant due to a rare respiratory disease.

The statement, attributed to Jackson's "official and sole spokesperson, Dr. Tohme Tohme" and issued by Los Angeles firm Scoop Marketing, cites an interview with writer Ian Halperin in British newspaper the Sunday Express in which Halperin said Jackson was suffering from Alpha 1-antitrypsin deficiency.

Halperin, who is at work on an unauthorized biography of the singer, also claims Jackson can barely speak, suffers from emphysema and internal bleeding, and has lost 95 percent of the vision in his left eye.

"Concerning this author's allegations, we would hope in the future that legitimate media will not continue to be exploited by such an obvious attempt to promote this unauthorized 'biography,'" said the statement attributed to Tohme.

"The writer's wild allegations concerning Mr. Jackson's health are a total fabrication," the statement said. "Mr. Jackson is in fine health and finalizing negotiations with a major entertainment company and television network for both a world tour and a series of specials and appearances."

Jackson, 50, one of the best-selling recording artists of all time, began his musical career with his siblings in the Motown group the Jackson 5 and went on release such hit solo albums as "Thriller."

But the singer has been dogged since the 1990s by scandal and revelations about his eccentric lifestyle. He was tried and acquitted of child sex abuse charges in 2005.

(Reporting by Bob Tourtellotte; Editing by Steve Gorman)

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Springsteen explains quick turnaround of new album (AP)

NEW YORK – Bruce Springsteen says he was energized to make a new album quickly after recording a song he calls a "love-in-the-time-of-Bush meditation."

In notes posted on his Web site Tuesday, Springsteen explains the creation of his new disc "Working on Dream" (due out Jan. 27) — which follows his last album, "Magic," by only 15 months — an unusually quick turnaround for him.

It started with the song "What Love Can Do."

Springsteen says he usually doesn't write that quickly, but that the excitement from "Magic" left "more than enough fuel for the fire to keep going."

Springsteen will perform during halftime at the Super Bowl on Feb. 1 in Tampa, Fla. Springsteen recently was nominated for two Grammys for best solo rock vocal performance and best rock song, both for "Girls in Their Summer Clothes."

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Keyshia Cole is done with sad songs (AP)

NEW YORK – Heartbreaking, emotional songs like "Love" and "I Remember" helped make Keyshia Cole one of R&B's most popular stars. But while those songs resonate with millions of fans, the soul sensation says she can't stand to listen to them anymore.

Cole says she's tired of singing those same old sad love songs. So on her new CD, "A Different Me," released this month, Cole introduces her "sexier" side.

Currently on tour with Lil Wayne and Gym Class Heroes, the 27-year-old diva — who is also a big reality star thanks to her successful BET show "Keyshia Cole: The Way It Is" — say she's changing up her stage performance and hopes to gain worldwide appeal.

AP: On the opening track of the new CD, you introduce your "sexier" side. What does that mean exactly?

Cole: Just the mood of some of the music, and also the pictures that I took for the album packaging were a little bit sexier than normal. It's a lot lighter and sexier, you can listen to it and it's not so heartbroken and painful.

AP: Do you feel sexier now than before?

Cole: I just think that sexier is, I guess, the clothes that you're wearing. I've always been a young lady but I just chose to do certain things or look a certain way before. I really did like the fact that I work really hard to make it here. It's just a sexier or softer side of myself that I chose to put forth and show the world. I think it's always been there, it's just the point of bringing it out and being comfortable with yourself.

AP: Talk about the songwriting process when recording the new CD.

Cole: With "Love," after I wrote that song, I couldn't listen to it, I still can't listen to "Love," I just can't. Like I don't even listen to my own albums, which is bad because I really need to do that because I perform them all the time. It's just that after I write it, and I felt that way and I remember that way, it's hard for me to go back and really listen to it because I hate feeling that way. But I perform those songs almost every night so it's something that I have to take myself back to and remember that feeling and project that feeling to the world. But that's why I went with the "A Different Me" title because I am a traveling performer and a growing entertainer and I wanted to switch up the music and change it up and give it a different vibe because I don't want to be on the same vibe every night singing the same type of song.

AP: Is it going to be easier to perform the new songs because the material is lighter?

Cole: I'll see. Hopefully it brings a wider base of a crowd for me to perform in front of. To get that arena audience, I felt like I had to switch it up just a little tiny bit, and touch (on) different (subject) matters in relationships, just on a worldwide basis.

AP: What else are you doing differently?

Cole: I definitely changed choreographers, I switched by band up, I revamped my whole staging and just rehearsing and working at that because I never really incorporated a bunch of dance moves or choreography on the stage, but now I'm trying new things. I just want to live up to the title "A Different Me." I just want to become a headlining entertainer at arenas and do it that big.

___

On the Net:

http://www.keyshiacole.com

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Court agrees to pay Spears' father $75/hour (AP)

LOS ANGELES – A court has put a higher value on being Britney Spears' father this year: about $75 an hour.

For helping his daughter through her turbulent period, Jamie Spears on Monday was awarded an additional $51,000 payout, reflecting an increase in his monthly payments since he took over his 27-year-old daughter's affairs in February.

Jamie Spears had been receiving $10,000 a month for his work, but Los Angeles Superior Court Commissioner Reva Goetz increased that amount to approximately $16,000 per month and agreed to give him backpay.

He was also granted an additional $1,200 monthly payment so he can maintain and office, which Goetz said was justified by his work getting his daughter's personal life — and music career — back on track.

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T-Pain and Tim McGraw: More Hip-Hoppin' Country (E! Online)

Los Angeles (E! Online) – Will Tim McGraw be ditching his cowboy hats and boots for a gold grill grin?

Probably not, but the hip-hop world sure does love the country superstar. Four years ago McGraw and Nelly collaborated on "Over and Over." Earlier this month McGraw reportedly recorded a new single, "Human," for Chris Brown's upcoming album.

And now there's more. Hip-hop impresario T-Pain tells us exclusively that he's also going into the studio with McGraw. T-Pain says the idea was hatched when the two met while both were appearingon Saturday Night Live last month.

"We talked about getting in the studio together, so that's probably going to happen soon," T-Pain says. "I definitely think we could do something cool and different."

But he promises something much different from the Nelly-McGraw tune.

How so?

Unlike McGraw's hip-hop-centric collaboration with Nelly, T-Pain says he wants it the other way around. "The hip-hop has been done with Tim and Nelly, so we gotta be more country than hip-hop," he says. McGraw wasn't T-Pain's only pick for a country collaboration. He was interested in one of McGraw's fellow chart-toppers, but that idea quickly fell apart. "I heard he was a racist," T-Pain says.

For now, the Grammy-winning T-Pain has his new tour with Lil Wayne, Keyshia Cole, Gym Class Heroes and Keri Hilson to think about. He's already gotten a firsthand look at Lil Wayne's body-art obsession. "I saw him get a tattoo on the inside of his lips. It was a smiley face," T-Pain says, adding with a chuckle, "I think he ran out of space everywhere else on his body…That was just strange to me. Weird."

And when T-Pain isn't busy touring or hitting the studio, the "I'm N Luv (Wit a Stripper)" performer is a family man—but definitely not in the Brady Bunch kind of way. "My wife loves strippers too! She goes to strip clubs with me," he brags. In fact, T-Pain reveals, "For my birthday, my wife got me 25 strippers."

We can only imagine what she does for their anniversary.

—Additional reporting by Dahvi Shira

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‘Saw’ Through ‘Saw V’ In One Night: 10 Hours Of Torture
Don’t Cry, Argentina. MadRod Didn’t Cause Delay
(E! Online)
Miley Cyrus: Oscar Nominee? Her ‘Bolt’ Song Could Pave The Way
Country star Tim McGraw rips label over hits CD
(Reuters)

Mexican pop star Luis Miguel's second son born (AP)

MEXICO CITY – It's another boy for Mexico's Grammy-winning singer Luis Miguel and his wife, Mexican actress Aracely Arambula.

A news release posted on the singer's Web site says the healthy, 7.7-pound boy was born Thursday. It did not reveal the baby's name.

The couple's first son, Miguel, is 18 months old.

Luis Miguel has sold more than 55 million albums, winning five Grammy and four Latin Grammy awards

During his quarter-century career, he has been linked to a slew of female stars, including singer Mariah Carey and model Daisy Fuentes.

Jennifer Hudson says she’s honored by Grammy nods
(AP)
‘Valkyrie’ Director Bryan Singer Finally Speaks Out About Tom Cruise Film

Jermaine Dupri says Janet Jackson is not pregnant (AP)

NEW YORK – Jermaine Dupri wants to clear up some misconceptions.

In an entry on his blog, the music producer says he and girlfriend Janet Jackson haven't split up — and she isn't pregnant.

Dupri writes: "As you all know Janet is a very private person ... the only reason you see her as much as you do on my YouTube vlog is because of me. LOL. But I hear yall and your questions. ... No she is not pregnant and yes we're still together."

Jackson and Dupri have been dating for about four years.

Dupri also writes: "It baffles me how yall let these blog and magazines control your lifes."

Jackson canceled a string of concerts on her Rock Witchu tour this fall because of a bout of migraine-associated vertigo, which is characterized by dizziness, imbalance and other symptoms.

___

On the Net:

http://www.global14.com/

Janet Jackson delays 3 more shows due to illness
(AP)
Samuel L. Jackson Talks ‘Avengers,’ His Favorite Memories Of Late ‘Soul Men’ Co-Star Bernie Mac
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Metallica on fire at L.A. show (Reuters)

LOS ANGELES (Billboard) – There are a few things you can expect from any Metallica concert.

You'll hear "Enter Sandman." Lars Ulrich will take every opportunity he can to get up from his drum kit and goad the audience. Whoever's running the pyrotechnics will get plenty of chances to set the stage on fire.

All of that happened during the band's two-hour set in Los Angeles on Wednesday, the first of two nights at the venerable Forum arena. But there was plenty of new stuff to get excited about too. Tracks from the band's recent chart-topper "Death Magnetic" figured heavily in the set list, and several of them were highlights. Watching singer/guitarist James Hetfield as he threw himself into the deep grooves of "Broken, Beat & Scarred" and "Cyanide" brought out their visceral qualities, not so apparent from the studio versions.

Hetfield, lead guitarist Kirk Hammett and bassist Robert Trujillo marauded around the Forum's huge stage -- smack dab in the center of the venue, theater-in-the-round style -- with boundless energy, banging out decades-old favorites like "Master of Puppets" and "Harvester of Sorrow" with the vigor of a group playing them for the first time.

And oh, the spectacle! There was the light show, projected onto the stage via a set of gigantic coffin-shaped rigs, suspended high above the band, and the black beach balls that poured from the ceiling during the final encore, "Seek and Destroy." Surely Ulrich's revolving drum riser by itself justified the need to charge $30 for a beanie and $40 for a t-shirt. There were multi-colored flames shooting out of the stage during the climactic machine-gun section of "One." But the real pyrotechnics came from Hammett, who peeled off recklessly whammy-full solos on "The End of the Line" and "Sad But True," and took the spotlight for a bluesy solo interlude that introduced "Nothing Else Matters."

Absent from Metallica's set was material from its last three original studio albums, "Load" (1996), "Reload" (1997) and "St. Anger" (2003), which spoke volumes about where the band is right now. Early on, Hetfield announced, "Metallica is alive and well and ready to kick some ass!" It was as much a rallying cry as a sideways acknowledgement that the band had lost its way, and was looking to find it again.

Naturally, opinions will differ over whether "Death Magnetic" represents a return to form for Metallica, or whether a return to form is possible or even necessary. Based on the fan response to its live show, Metallica's got nothing to worry about. The capacity crowd sang along to nearly every word, taking over the choruses of "Master of Puppets" and "Creeping Death" entirely. Adults and children of all ethnicities, bonding together to chant "Die! Die!" in fist-pumping unison? Such is the power of Metallica.

Reuters/Billboard

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(Reuters)
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New album from U2 is on the horizon (AP)

NEW YORK – U2's new album, "No Line on the Horizon," will be released by Interscope Records on March 3.

It's the Irish rock band's 12th studio album and their first release since 2004's "How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb."

The announcement was made Thursday.

The new album was completed after studio sessions in Fez, Morocco; Dublin, Ireland; New York; and London.

Longtime collaborators Brian Eno and Daniel Lanois are producers, along with additional work from Steve Lillywhite.

"How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb" won the Grammy for album of the year in 2006.

___

On the Net:

http://www.U2.com

Jennifer Hudson Angles For A ‘Sex And The City’ Comeback, Calls ‘Secret Life Of Bees’ A ‘Powerful Film’
Rapper Lil Wayne at work on “Tha Carter IV”
(Reuters)

Music industry ends mass piracy lawsuits (Reuters)

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – The Recording Industry Association of America said on Friday it had abandoned mass lawsuits against Internet users who steal music, and instead would work with Internet service providers to discourage piracy.

The RIAA, which represents major U.S. record labels, will have the ISPs send warning notices to users who illegally download music files.

Since 2003, the music industry has sued about 35,000 Internet users for music piracy.

"We think this is going to be a different form of stick, but we absolutely think this will be a meaningful alternative approach that will have a significant impact," said Cara Duckworth, a spokeswoman for the RIAA.

Other measures will be taken against Internet users who ignore their first warning notice to stop illegally downloading music, and if those users continue they could find their Internet connections disconnected, the RIAA said.

The RIAA declined to say which ISPs had signed on for the initiative, and it said it reserved the right to sue Internet users who ignored the warning notices.

The RIAA said it would pursue lawsuits already pending against Internet users accused of illegal downloads.

The RIAA's change in strategy comes as Internet users have become increasingly aware that downloading pirated songs is illegal.

The group Arts+Labs, a collaborative between technology companies and creative artists, said in a statement that it was "encouraged by this new effort by the record companies."

Major record labels include Warner Music Group Corp, Universal Music Group owned by Vivendi SA, EMI and Sony Music Entertainment, part of Sony Corp.

(Reporting by Alex Dobuzinskis: Editing by Bob Tourtellotte)

Norway consumer body challenges Apple over iTunes
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Police: Suicide try hospitalizes Mindy McCready (AP)

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Country singer Mindy McCready was in stable condition in a hospital Thursday after police said she cut her wrists and took several pills in an apparent suicide attempt.

A Nashville police report said McCready's brother discovered the singer in her bloody bed several hours after she returned Wednesday morning from a night out. Timothy McCready told police his sister had been "very intoxicated."

Centennial Medical Center spokeswoman Jenny Barker confirmed McCready's condition. McCready attorney Lee Ofman said he did not have details about the situation. Her last known publicist, New York-based Susan Blond Inc., said Thursday that they no longer represent her.

McCready, 33, had one No. 1 hit, "Guys Do It All the Time," in 1996. Since then, her career has languished as she struggled with legal and personal problems that included previous suicide attempts.

According to the police report, McCready called her mother early Wednesday and told her "she had seen her angel baby." The report did not explain the reference, but it was enough to prompt the mother to call Timothy McCready, 29, who lives with his sister, to check on her.

He told police he found her stumbling in the kitchen but apparently OK. She went back to her room and he went back to his. He went to check on her again after he woke up later that morning and found she had cut her wrists and taken the pills.

"Malinda was not very alert and her bed had blood on it," the report states, using McCready's given first name.

In October, McCready was released from jail in Tennessee after serving about 30 days for violating probation on a 2004 drug charge. She only had to serve about half of her 60-day sentence because of credits she received for good behavior and doing janitorial work in the jail, the Williamson County Sheriff's Department said.

She was accused in June of falsifying her community service records and charged with violating her probation. McCready received a suspended three-year sentence in 2004 for fraudulently obtaining prescription painkillers.

The country singer has also made headlines because of her relationship with former baseball starRoger Clemens.

According to an interview broadcast in November by the syndicated show "Inside Edition," McCready claimed she broke off her relationship with Clemens when he wouldn't marry her.

McCready, however, was quoted the same day on the Web site of the New York Daily News as saying she didn't want to marry Clemens.

McCready told "Inside Edition" she met Clemens when she was 16, not 15, as reported by the New York Daily News last April. She told the news magazine they met in a karaoke bar, that her relationship with the pitcher didn't turn sexual until several years later and the relationship lasted for a decade.

"Carrying on a relationship with him is not something I'm proud of," she said, according to a partial transcript released by the show. "Roger Clemens is one of the most wonderful men I've ever known. ... He treated me like a princess."

Clemens in May denied having an affair with a 15-year-old but didn't specifically address whether he had a romance with McCready.

Gomez, Hilton among MySpace friends' leaders (AP)

NEW YORK – Zach Braff, Kim Kardashian and Selena Gomez have more in common than their celebrity status: According to MySpace, they're among the stars with the most friends on the social network.

Also on the list: Paris Hilton, Ashton Kutcher, Jenna Fischer, Criss Angel, Hayden Panettiere, Shanna Moakler, Travis Barker and Lauren Conrad.

The movie "Twilight," Jennifer Hudson, Beyonce, Lil Wayne and Taylor Swift are among the five top-searched terms on MySpace.

Swift led the list of musical artists most searched for on MySpace Music since it launched on Sept. 25. The most streamed artist is T.I., and the most streamed song belongs to him as well: "Whatever You Like."

____

On the Net:

http://www.myspace.com

http://www.myspacemusic.com

Paris Hilton Says She’d Be ‘Too Scared’ To Get Plastic Surgery Like Her ‘Repo! The Genetic Opera’ Character
Q&A: MySpace CEO aims to build music site’s community
(Reuters)
The Jonas Brothers top list of celeb charity draws
(AP)

Madonna, Ritchie won't detail divorce deal (AP)

LONDON – Madonna and Guy Ritchie have issued a statement saying both are happy with the financial agreement reached in their divorce — but they aren't telling you or anyone else about the details.

On Monday, Madonna spokeswoman Liz Rosenberg told The Associated Press in an e-mail that Madonna would pay Ritchie a settlement in the range of 50 million to 60 million pounds (about $76 million to $92 million). But the divorcing couple said Wednesday that Rosenberg's statement contained inaccurate information about the financial settlement.

Their latest joint statement says settlement details of their divorce will remain private.

The pop star and the British film director were married in a lavish ceremony in Scotland in December 2000. Their divorce is expected to be finalized in January.

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Usher to Take Direction From Teenagers (E! Online)

Los Angeles (E! Online) – Usher is craving some fresh, young blood.

No, he hasn't become a vampire. He's looking for an aspiring teen filmmaker to direct a music video for his new album, out next year.

"It gives me another way to give back, inspire young people and also reinvent music videos," the Grammy winner said in a statement.

Teens, ages 13-18, can apply at Got-Noise.com until Jan. 31. In March, 20 finalists will be flown to Los Angeles. They'll have a week to work in two teams directly with their star to conceptualize and create their videos. Both vids will debut in April, and fans will have the opportunity to vote "Yeah!" for their favorite.

Winners of the contest, sponsored by Body by Milk, receive Usher concert tickets, Apple laptops and editing software.

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Oscar loosens rules for music categories
(Reuters)
Madonna’s Romp With Austin Powers, Whitney Houston’s ‘Bodyguard’ Ballad And More Classic Movie-Related Music Videos

Miley Cyrus Hired for Law Firm's Holiday Party (E! Online)

Los Angeles (E! Online) – Houston, you have a pop star. Well, at least a high-powered Houston lawyer does.

E! News has learned that Miley Cyrus is in Houston to perform at a private holiday party being thrown Sunday night by Houston attorney Mark Lanier.

A source in Texas says that Cyrus and her entourage arrived Saturday and she is set to perform tonight at Lanier Law Firm's "Christmas Cheers and Charity" party, an annual fete that hosts more than 7,000 guests.

Invitations went out last month featuring a pop-up Cyrus and promising "Texas Bar-B-Q, fajitas and amusements."

The source estimates that Cyrus, 16, and her team of dancers and musicians will receive "close to $1 million" to perform at tonight's exclusive bash.

The party, which benefits the charity Guatemala SANA for needy Guatemalans, is no small affair. Previous guests include Dolly Parton and the Dixie Chicks. It will take place at a sprawling ranch in suburban Houston.

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Is Miley Cyrus Really Divorcing Her Parents?
(E! Online)
Miley Cyrus Wants ‘Hannah Montana’ TV Show To Continue ‘As Long As It Can’

The Killers slay at L.A. radio show (Reuters)

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) – Sunday's epic moment during the second night of modern-rock radio station KROQ's Almost Acoustic Christmas belonged to the second-billed Killers.

During the anthem "All the Things I've Said and Done," singer Brandon Flowers pointed his mike stand toward the audience at the Gibson Amphitheatre as a rising chant rose up from the crowd without his singing a word: "I've got soul, but I'm not a soldier." The number built to a crescendo conclusion, and the group kicked into the racing "Mr. Brightside" to wind up the night's most powerful performance.

Even headlining alt-rock legend the Cure didn't summon as much power, though the crowd was giddy for the English band's often mesmerizing airy and entwined guitar lines over bittersweet melodies like "Pictures of You," a brace of new material, then more hits including "Friday I'm in Love" and "Just Like Heaven."

The second of the two weekend benefit concerts certainly was far richer musically, including a too-short, tightly wound offering from Scotland-based Irishmen Snow Patrol showcasing a few new songs from their latest album along with hits. Ever-frantic Scots Franz Ferdinand also previewed new material from their album due next year, but they really charged up the audience with the slamming bounce of "Take Me Out."

This year's modern-rock success story, Paramore, featured the lone female vocalist of the night. Spunky Hayley Williams and her group have a rocking urgency coupled with a warm and fun nature, making her one of the most appealing rock frontwomen since the breakout of Gwen Stefani with No Doubt in the mid-'90s.

Introduced as a surprise guest, Kanye West made the most of his time onstage, surrounded by a full band that included a kettle drum line flanking him left and right. He was boisterous and larger than life, and even if you're not likely to find him in heavy rotation on KROQ, his soul-drenched hip-hop connected with the station's crowd through sheer bravado.

Also appearing were nice-guy mellow melodicists Death Cab for Cutie; Scott Weiland of the previous evening's reunited Stone Temple Pilots, back again to offer up solo material; and New York art-pop preppies Vampire Weekend.

Reuters/Hollywood Reporter

Golden Globes Nominations Honor ‘Benjamin Button,’ ‘Doubt,’ ‘Frost/Nixon’ — And ‘Tropic Thunder’!
Bruce Springsteen sings for Obama in Michigan
(Reuters)
Bruce Springsteen “Working” on a new hit
(Reuters)

Tyler Perry, Mary J. Blige to be honored by BET (AP)

NEW YORK – Tyler Perry and Mary J. Blige are among the luminaries BET plans to celebrate at their second annual BET Honors.

The successful filmmaker and the R&B queen are set to join Magic Johnson, dance pioneer Judith Jamison, style guru B. Smith and South Carolina Congressman James E. Clyburn on Jan. 17.

The awards will air on the network Feb. 9. They are part of BET's festivities for the inauguration of President-elect Barack Obama. BET is putting on its first inaugural ball that will air Jan. 20.

(This version CORRECTS date to Feb. 9, sted Feb. 7; minor editing. AP Video.)

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(E! Online)

Hospital music therapy room named for AC/DC singer (AP)

SARASOTA, Fla. – A new music therapy room at a hospital on Florida's Gulf Coast is being named for AC/DC lead singerBrian Johnson.

Johnson and other rock stars have supported an effort to buy music equipment and provide music education for children, including those who are in the hospital.

Music equipment and enhancements to the room at Sarasota Memorial Hospital are being donated by the John Entwhistle Foundation, named for the late bassist for the Who. Johnson and other rockers have worked to raise money for the charity.

The man himself will be on hand at the hospital for the dedication of the Brian Johnson Music Therapy Room next week.

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Nicole Richie Is Not Joel Madden's Diamond Girl (E! Online)

Los Angeles (E! Online) – Joel Madden isn't giving girlfriend Nicole Richie diamonds for Christmas.

Believe it or not, the Good Charlotte rocker insists, the fabulously fashionable former reality-TV star is completely OK with that.

"I have no clue right now what I'm getting her, but I think it's going to have to be creative," Madden told me earlier today. "She appreciates more of the creative rather than something like a diamond. She's not really into diamonds."

As for baby daughter Harlow, who turns 1 on Jan. 11, Santa's going to be earth-friendly. "Nicole is very organic, so probably a lot of organic toys like wooden blocks," Madden said.

Keep reading for more on their Christmas plans, plus why Madden is really into feet these days…

They're planning on having a low-key holiday with family and friends at home in Los Angeles. In fact, Madden said he's turned down many offers to deejay out-of-town New Year's parties. "I'd have to bring Nicole and the baby, so it would have to be a pretty amazing deal for me to leave," he said. "I deejay all the time, but New Year's is one of those things where I want to be with my family."

Christmas and 2009 aren't the only celebrations happening for the Madden clan right now.

Madden and his brother Benji are throwing a party tomorrow night at their DCMA clothing store in L.A. to launch their debut footwear line, K-DCMA.

The line, produced in conjunction with K-Swiss, is just a natural progression of building their streetwear brand. The slip-on and laced sneakers feature their signature designs of skulls and graffiti. "We have some of the best graffiti artists in the world," Madden said. "We have all sorts of people who have been involved in helping design for our company. It's more of a collaborative, collective effort."

DCMA doesn't come with Hollywood prices. "Everything's at a good price point where everybody can afford it," Madden boasted. "Kids can actually afford the stuff and enjoy it."

But don't look for Richie to be sportin' the goods. "She loves DCMA, but it's not her style," Madden said with a laugh. "We'll leave the heels to Christian Louboutin."

Accessories like bookbags may be next for DCMA.

How about a fragrance? Madden laughed, "Uh, maybe a body spray."

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Josh Peck And Drake Bell Return To Their Nick Roots For ‘Merry Christmas, Drake & Josh’
Hilary Duff’s Favorite Gossip Girl Guy? Chuck Bass!
(E! Online)
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(AP)

Hilary Duff's Favorite Gossip Girl Guy? Chuck Bass! (E! Online)

Los Angeles (E! Online) – Add Hilary Duff to the growing list of those addicted to Gossip Girl.

She especially loves Ed Westwick's not-so-admired Chuck Bass.

"I don't know why, because he's so bad and terrible," Duff said last night at Kitson's Stand Up to Cancer shopping benefit. "He is so sad that I feel bad for him."

Is Duff trying to land a gig on GG by blowin' smoke up somone's XOX ass? Nope.

Find out why...

Duff is currently developing her own prime-time half-hour comedy for NBC. "It's exciting. I've been meeting with writers," the former Disney child star said. "I'm ready to get back on TV."

Also at the benefit was Mandy Moore, who told me she's putting final touches on a new album with collaborator and singer-songwriter Mike Viola.

"We're trying to do a '70s Southern California/Laurel Canyon vibe," she said.

Naming Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young and Joni Mitchell as influences, Moore joked about sounding so, well, hippieish: "We're gonna do a coffeehouse tour."

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Bill Murray Longs For A More Heated Presidential Race … And A Girl Ghostbuster
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Q&A: MySpace CEO aims to build music site's community (Reuters)

DENVER (Billboard) – Social networking website MySpace announced its plans to get into the music business in April, launched MySpace Music in September and streamed more than 1 billion songs during its first few days of operation. And because MySpace has already become an important way to market music, labels naturally hope it will emerge as a profitable way to sell it.

The social network certainly has the audience. "We're seeing incredible traffic," MySpace CEO Chris DeWolfe says. "It's just the start of a lot of really cool community and editorial features to come."

After months of speculation, MySpace Music also has a president: former MTV Networks and Interscope digital executive Courtney Holt. As MySpace Music prepares for 2009, DeWolfe reflected on the site's launch and its relationship to his core business.

Q: What's next for MySpace Music?

Chris DeWolfe: Right now we're continuing to work on the consumer experience. But then we'll be working on charts of all kinds -- songs added to playlists, top users with the most listened-to playlists ... as many charts as possible. We're also going to be reworking the search page where you add your new playlists to give it a more community feel. It's really about discovery and consumption.

Q: What was the biggest challenge in launching MySpace Music?

DeWolfe: The most difficult piece is licensing the music and tracking the royalties and building a whole platform to do that from scratch in a condensed period of time. It's behind the scenes, but it creates a barrier to entry because it's so complicated. There's so many rights holders and so many individual tracks.

Q: Given the hubbub around your decision not to give independent labels an equity stake in the venture, as you did for majors, would you do anything different in hindsight?

DeWolfe: I don't think so. We're trying to include everyone. We originally did deals with the Orchard and (the Independent Online Distribution Alliance), and we have a whole deal team knocking them down one by one. It was important for us to get the service up initially. You can talk to any indie artist, and they'll tell you they love MySpace Music. MySpace is a great promotional platform to find new fans and stay in touch with fans and drive them to live events. The majority of money for them is made at live events. So we didn't take anything away. All we did was add to our catalog major artists and added to the services for independent artists who are affiliated with these larger independent consortiums.

Q: Any concerns about the expected downturn in Internet advertising?

DeWolfe: Unlike other Web 2.0 companies that have started in the last five years, I think we're the only one that is truly profitable, with meaningful numbers. The reason is that we've been focused on creating a real business from day one. We've invested heavily to make sure that we can serve the right ad to the right person at the right time, and we've increased the number of customers. So that's really exciting.

Q: Just before Thanksgiving, you named Courtney Holt president of MySpace Music. What took so long to name someone?

DeWolfe: It's a difficult position to fill. We interviewed 40 people and only made one offer, and that was to Courtney. We were looking for someone who had massive experience in music and technology and a vision for the future and label relationships. He's one of two or three people in the whole country who filled that bill. Finding the perfect person with all those qualities isn't an easy thing, so instead of choosing the wrong person, we decided to interview a lot of people and wait.

Reuters/Billboard

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(Reuters)
Oscar loosens rules for music categories
(Reuters)

The top 10 rock albums of 2008 (AP)

Rock music in 2008 was dominated by relics from the past, most returning with respectable albums: Guns 'n Roses, AC/DC, Metallica and, er, Coldplay. But there was better stuff to be found, even if it didn't, like "Chinese Democracy," take 17 years to create.

With apologies to fans of Kings of Leon and Bon Iver, here are the top 10 rock albums of the year. (Note: Radiohead's "In Rainbows," given away in 2007 and released traditionally in 2008, was rated last year, when it topped this list.)

1. Constantines, "Kensington Heights": The most underrated band in North America hails from Toronto, is led by Bryan Webb's angst-ridden growl, and is capable of leaving any beer-soaked bar crowd slack-jawed and devastated. Five years after the excellent "Shine a Light," the Constantines are still carrying on the tradition of Bruce Springsteen with anthemic, uplifting rock dirges. What could be more vital in these troubled economic times than the pulsating and mature "Kensington Heights"? On "Credit River," Webb sings: "I may be in the red but I'm still hungry."

2. The Hold Steady, "Stay Positive": Like the Constantines, the Hold Steady worship at the altar of the Boss. This is a good thing. Though their last, "Boys and Girls of America," may have been better, the Hold Steady, ah em, hold steady with another stellar album. The glorious single "Sequestered of Memphis" is surely the first song to make the phrase "I went there on business" sound riveting.

3. Fleet Foxes, "Fleet Foxes": The sonorous, multipart harmonies of Seattle's Fleet Foxes bring to mind the Beach Boys, had they moved up the coast and swapped their surfboards for a wooded campfire. Half a year after their debut, they're beginning to age like Crosby, Stills & Nash — but there are worse things.

4. Santogold, "Santogold": You could quibble that Santogold isn't truly "rock," but she really defies genre categorization. "L.E.S. Artistes" and "Lights Out" were among the best rock tunes of the year. She'll make "name droppas" of us all.

5. No Age, "Nouns": Who knew L.A. punk existed? And that it was so good? Nothing about No Age was expected, making it all the more exciting.

6. Lykke Li, "Youth Novels": Lykke Li is a 22-year-old Swedish pop pixie. "Little Bit" and "I'm Good, I'm Gone" were two of the most danceable songs all year — as evidenced by no less than the ever-jitterbugging Lykke Li herself. But it's the cooing "Time Flies" that cements "Youth Novels" as an excellent album.

7. TV on the Radio, "Dear Science": The bouncy guitar riff on "Crying" is, alone, really enough to make this one of the year's best. The Brooklyn brainiacs' last one ("Return to Cookie Mountain") was better, but TV on the Radio are nevertheless the most vital, current band in America.

8. Black Keys, "Attack and Release": The Black Keys could be anyone's favorite band. Two goofy dudes from Akron, Ohio, who make some of the rawest, most soulful blues. This is their most dynamic and full album yet, which can be partly attributed to producer Danger Mouse. (Danger Mouse's most famous project, as half of Gnarles Barkley, also put out one of the year's best, "The Odd Couple," thanks largely to Cee-lo's powerful James Brown tribute: "Who's Gonna Save My Soul.")

9. Jenny Lewis, "Acid Tongue": Like Elvis Costello (who guests on "Acid Tongue"), Lewis will likely turn out an excellent album most every year — whether as a solo act or in her band Rilo Kiley — for decades to come. The best example of her prodigious songwriting talents here is "Bad Man's World." Unless it's "Acid Tongue." Or "Carpetbaggers." (You get the idea.)

10. Dr. Dog, "Fate": Some find this Philadelphia group too retro. They, after all, seemingly want to, literally, be the Band. But with a bass that thumps just like Rick Danko's, Dr. Dog stirs up life in old sounds.

Honorable Mentions: Firewater, "The Golden Hour"; Wolf Parade, "At Mount Zoomer"; M83, "Saturdays Youth"; Vampire Weekend, "Vampire Weekend"; Death Cab for Cutie, "Narrow Stairs"; Bonnie "Prince" Billy, "Lie Down on the Light"; The Walkmen, "You & Me"; She & Him, "Volume One"; Deerhunter, "Microcastle"; Mogwai, "The Hawk Is Howling"; Portishead, "Third."

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