In another perfect example of record labels biting the hand that feeds them, Rogers’ lawsuit claims that under his contract, he is owed 50 percent of net royalties for the licensing of his master recordings to third-parties like iTunes and Verizon Wireless.

Mr. Rogers says that Capitol Records owes him more than $400,000, accusing the label of incorrectly counting downloads as “sales” instead of as “licenses,” which pay a higher rate.

The suit says Capitol, an EMI division, also owes him at least $2,518.77 for record club sales & $10,880.18 in video costs, as well as unknown amounts from settlements in industry lawsuits against file-sharing services like Napster, Kazaa and Grokster.

Rogers is far from the first artist to accuse his record label of collecting royalties “in the name of the artists” and then not actually paying any of it to the artist: Cheap Trick, Whitesnake, and the estate of Rick James have all also gone after their labels in court.

In the lawsuit filed last week on Monday the 13th, Rogers is asking for restitution as well as compensatory damages, attorneys’ fees & interest.

I, for one, hope he gets every penny he is asking for… and that the record labels don’t pass the expense on to us, their music-purchasing public.

No word yet on the cause, but Houston’s death was reported by the Associated Press who quoted Houston’s publicist, Kristen Foster.

TMZ says Dionne Warwick & Cissy Houston spoke with Whitney Houston by phone just before she died and say Whitney seemed fine.

Whitney’s mother, Cissy Houston, spoke with her daughter 25-30 minutes before she died & nothing seemed unusual. We’re told they talked about attending the Clive Davis pre-Grammy party.

Dionne Warwick, Whitney’s cousin, called as well several hours before Whitney died to make sure they were sitting at the same table at Clive’s party. And again there were no signs of trouble.

Beverly Hilton hotel employees tell TMZ Whitney Houston was found dead in the bathtub of her room. Whitney’s bodyguard found Whitney Houston dead in her 4th floor hotel room.

Beverly Hills police Lt. Mark Rosen told reporters outside the Beverly Hilton that police received a 911 call from hotel security about Houston at 3:43 p.m. Saturday, and paramedics were already at the hotel because of a Grammy party. Paramedics unsuccessfully tried to resuscitate the singer, the lieutenant said.

Rosen also said members of her entourage tried to perform life saving measures, but were unable to revive her.

“There were no obvious signs of any criminal intent or trauma at this time,” Rosen said.

Houston was pronounced dead at 3:55 p.m. in her room on the fourth floor of the hotel. Her body remained there & Beverly Hills detectives were investigating.

No illegal drugs have been found in the hotel room where Whitney Houston died, but prescription drugs were present, & it’s possible the singer drowned in the bathtub. Beverly Hills cops (who were still searching the room at the time TMZ posted this story) found various pill bottles. There was no evidence that Whitney was drinking alcohol in the room.

TMZ says when EMTs arrived Whitney’s body was already removed from the bathtub so it will take an autopsy to determine if she OD’d, drowned or died from some other cause.

Whitney’s body has now been removed from the room on a gurney. It will go to the morgue for an autopsy to determine cause of death.

Trendwire is reporting Whitney was going to perform a Diana Ross tribute Saturday night at the Beverly Hills Hilton for Clive Davis’s Gala, singing two Diana Ross songs & one of her own. Now the tribute is for Whitney.

Links to the news stories:

Associated Press

TMZ

At last check, Whitney Houston’s official website was overwhelmed with visitors.

An article from just Friday indicated she was being offered a seat as a judge on the television show “X-Factor”: The Hollywood Reporter

TMZ had also reported spotting Whitney out just last weekend with on-again/off-again beau Ray-J.

What ended up being her last performance was Thursday night at the Kelly Price & Friends Unplugged: For The Love Of R&B Grammy Party at Tru Hollywood. She sang a bit of “Jesus Loves Me” with R&B singer Kelly Price.

A short fan-recorded video of part of that performance can be seen by clicking below:

Whitney Houston played Jordin Sparks mother in a new film, “Sparkle,” that was shot in Detroit in November 2011, & is currently in post production. The film was to be released in August 2012. This was Whitney Houston’s first film role since 1997, & now, of course, her last. Sparkle is about 3 sisters who form a successful singing group & must deal with the fallout of fame & drugs. The story is likely to hit painfully home for many Whitney Houston fans, many of whom already suspect the coroner’s report will indicate this was in fact what finally took her own life.

Houston had one child, Bobbi Kristina, with husband Bobby Brown. Houston & Brown were married from 1992 to 2007. Her death is immeasurably sad for her daughter Bobbi Kristina, her mother Cissy, sister in law & manager Pat Houston & the rest of their family, as well as her mentor Clive Davis, who has counseled Whitney & stood by her through thick & thin. As recently as last year Davis guided Houston back into rehab with her personal counselor & took extreme care to make sure she was alright

In a statement, Recording Academy President & CEO Neil Portnow said Houston “was one of the world’s greatest pop singers of all time who leaves behind a robust musical soundtrack spanning the past three decades.”

“Her powerful voice graced many memorable and award-winning songs,” Portnow said. “A light has been dimmed in our music community today, and we extend our deepest condolences to her family, friends, fans and all who have been touched by her beautiful voice.”

Some celebrities have expressed their grief through Twitter:

Paris Jackson: “R.I.P. Whitney Huston, I’ve always idolized her and her amazing talent <3"

LaToya Jackson: "I can’t fathom the fact that #whitneyhouston has died! My heart goes out 2 her mother, daughter & her love ones. #Whitney U will be missed!"

Adam Shankman: "I choreographed I’m your baby tonight miss you angel"

Gloria Estefan: Shocked we’ve lost the immensely talented Whitney Houston! Sending prayers of peace & solace 2 her family, friends & fans! Such a loss!

L.A. Reid: "I am completely devastated by the loss of the greatest voice of all time! R.I.P. Whitney Houston. I will always love you!"

Goldie Hawn: "I am so very sad to hear of Whitney Houston's passing. She was one of our great artist that graced us all. May she rest in peace."

Rosie O'Donnell: "Dear God ... There is a grief that can't be spoken #DEVASTATED"

Russell Simmons: "R.I.P. Whitney Houston, really can't believe this"

Sam Harris: "I am just so so sad. I can’t believe the news about Whitney Houston. I first saw her perform when she was about."

Joan Rivers: Whitney Houston. What a sad tragedy - the end of the life of an incredible talent. RIP to an amazing singer and legend.

Lenny Kravitz: "Whitney. Rest in peace. There will never be another like you. Lenny"

A great voice has been stilled; she will be missed.

This is news?

Yes, yes it is. Stay with me on this one.

Actually, the song (“Girl Panic!”) and the album (“All You Need Is Now”) were both released last year. Same with the video (November 8th, 2011).

However, (thanks to Music TeleVision no longer playing music videos) people are just now discovering this unusual production.

The video is actually a nearly 10-minute production featuring interviews with the band members and the song, laced in and out of the presentation. In addition to insight on where Duran Duran has come from, where they see themselves now, and where they plan on going, it also provides a quick retrospective of Duran Duran’s use of supermodels in their music videos.

…Which is key in this video, because all of the members of Duran Duran are played in this video by supermodels!

Naomi Campbell, Cindy Crawford, Eva Herzigova, Helena Christensen and Yasmin Le Bon all take on the characters of the band, including answering interview questions in first-person as the band-mate they are portraying. It makes for a very alternate-reality sort of experience, where you know they’re talking about a group of guys… but it’s a group of girls talking with authority about the band! While my eyes showed my puzzlement, I couldn’t keep a smile off my face as I watched these supermodels convincingly play the dopplegangers of these 80s heart-throbs.

The male members of Duran Duran show up for brief cameos here and there: as a reporter, as a bell hop, as an elevator attendant, as a chauffeur… but they are not the stars at any point in time. The girls are the focus… they ARE Duran Duran: good, bad, and… well, OK, none of these ladies are UGLY…

Speaking of the ladies and their appearance: while technically not showing anything, I’d still have to label the video “Not Safe For Work” due to the near-constant sexual content. The supermodels are all in lingerie of varying degrees of coverage (or un-coverage), and there are scenes of the band members making out with female groupies… which might not have been such a big deal if it were really the guys, but since it’s lace-attired supermodels in girl-on-girl kissing… let’s just say if you’re watching this at lunch, you may end up with a crowd around you.

So-o-o… what about the song? That’s the best news: it’s great! I really like “Girl Panic!”. It reminds me of some of their best work in the 80s. Upbeat, catchy… the boys are in fine form.

This video left me smiling, not because of all the skin, but because of the excellent acting work of the models, the band member cameos, and the great tune. Duran Duran has put out some odd musical experiments over the years… this is a decidedly commercial release, a return to the fine form of their 80s hits. Highly recommended!

Either way, I like the sound… I’ll have to go over the lyrics a few more times to see what I think, but the song is a good one.

The comparisons to the pseudo-patriotic “Born In The U.S.A.” are popping up again and again in reviews, but musically this isn’t quite as big and certainly not vocally as bold as that famous track. Bruce almost sounds wounded in the recording, vocally holding back and singing lower than I’m used to… although his style has been more along these lines for a few years now.

The single is available now on Amazon.com and iTunes, and is the lead single from Springsteen’s upcoming album, “Wrecking Ball,” which comes out March 6th.

Reviewers are also torn on their opinions of the song:

* “The band has been in tight form & the result will please fans. If anyone is entitled to mimic Springsteen, it’s the man himself. He does it so well.” -Bloomberg

* “1st singles are meant to whet appetites & get people excited about a new album. Sadly, this 1 does neither. Instead it causes trepidation: Will the other songs be better? ” -North Jersey

* “For more than 40 yrs, he’s carried the torch of rock & roll to millions of fans, & now he’s headed back on tour, this time with a new song that, believe it or not, speaks to conservative values.” -Heritage

Decide for yourself; listen to the song below:

By Kimberly Nicoletti
summit daily news

Songwriter Hall of Fame member John Oates wants to help budding musicians, & he’s creating a big opportunity this year.

Oates has set up a musical home for himself in Aspen, & for the last two years, he has co-produced, & performed in, the 7908 Aspen Songwriters Festival, a five-day event at the Wheeler Opera House. Shawn Colvin, Donavan Frankenreiter, Keb Mo, Sam Bush & plenty of others have joined Oates in the intimate 7908 shows, but this year, Oates is opening up the stage to unknowns.

Six Colorado towns will hold preliminary competitions this month, bringing six finalists to Aspen to perform during the first three days of the 7908 Aspen Songwriters Festival March 21-25.

Each finalist will win three nights lodging in Aspen, perform in several of Aspen’s bars in three evenings, & receive a full festival pass for the 7908 event & an invitation to all after-show parties.

The overall winner garners two extra nights of lodging & will perform at the 7908-finale concert, featuring Matt Nathanson, with a special introduction by Oates.

“It could literally be life-changing,” said festival spokesperson Katharine Richardson.

“It is very important to me personally to nurture young songwriters & give them an opportunity to interact & collaborate with professionals & more experienced writers,” Oates said through an email interview. “Songwriting is the life blood of the music industry, & our mission is to assure that the wellspring of talent have a creative ‘home’ from which the future of music can emerge.”

The 7908 Aspen Songwriters Festival evolved from a series of shows Oates did in 2008 called The Stories Behind the Songs in Nashville & New York, then brought it to Aspen. The City of Aspen asked him to expand the concept into a larger format in partnership with the Wheeler Opera House, & now Velocity Television network broadcasts the festival nationwide. Recently Oates helped form the 7908 Foundation, a nonprofit organization created to fund scholarships, provide mentors & perpetuate the art and craft of songwriting, he said.

“This year’s Colorado-wide songwriters’ contest is the first step in the educational component of our festival & hopefully will expand nationally and internationally for the future,” he said.

Tickets go on sale Jan. 23. For more information, visit www.wheeleroperahouse.com/default.asp?wheeler=39.

By Sherrill Fulghum

(Los Angeles, CA) There was a time when an artist would take a week off, or two at the most, from playing live gigs; enter the studio; & record an entire album ready for release in only a few weeks. Today it takes artists months & even years to complete an album.

Whether musicians… or fans… believe the world is scheduled to come to an end, quite a number of singers & groups have planned new album releases in the coming year.

Material girl Madonna is scheduled to play the halftime show at the February 5 Super Bowl & in March she will release a new album.

The boys of Van Halen have announced a reunion tour with David Lee Roth, Eddie Van Halen & his son Wolfgang. Along with the tour the rockers are releasing a new reunion album on February 7.

Depending on which band member you listen to, the boys of U2 may or may not be releasing an album this year. The boys have been in the studio with two different producers & reportedly have quite a few songs ready for an album; but there has been no word on an approaching release.

After the death of longtime friend & band member Clarence Clemmons, “the Boss” Bruce Springsteen was unsure as to whether or not to continue. Ultimately, “the Boss” made the decision to keep making music & a new album is also set for release sometime in the coming months – reportedly the first quarter of the year.

After much balking about a reunion, Ozzy Osbourne has agreed to join up with Geezer Butler, Bill Wark, & Tony Iommi to reunite Black Sabbath. In light of the announcement, a new album is expected for sometime in the autumn.

“Chimes of Freedom” is a compilation of songs originally recorded by Bob Dylan. Over 80 artists have covered Dylan’s songs to honour 50 years of Amnesty International. The album set for a February release includes Elvis Costello, Sting, Pete Townsend, & Patti Smith.

Although no release date has been issued, the boys of Aerosmith have reportedly been working on a new album – their first since “Honkin’ on Bobo” in 2004. Since that time, Aerosmith has threatened to break up , had numerous medical issues, & has seen the band’s leader – Steven Tyler – taking on a new job as a judge on “American Idol”.

On February 7th, Sir Paul McCartney will release the album he has been wanting to make for some fifty years, an album of standards – the music his Dad used to listen to when Sir Paul was a young lad.

The collection will include two new songs written by Sir Paul himself. While there has been no word on exactly which songs Sir Paul has recorded for the album, Sir Paul will be joined by Eric Clapton, Stevie Wonder, & Diana Krall on the album.

Fellow surviving Beatle Ringo Starr also has an album set for release at the end of January.

–
Sherrill Fulghum is based in Niagara Falls, New York, United States of America, and is an Anchor for Allvoices.

by Gloria Love
glove@mdjonline.com

MIDTOWN — In crafting the new musical “Ghost Brothers of Darkland County,” author Stephen King & musician John Mellencamp set off down the twisted roads of the Southern Gothic & were led to Midtown’s own Alliance Theatre.

The tale of tragedy in a tiny Mississippi town is scheduled to premiere in April to close the theatre’s 2011-12 season.

During a developmental workshop at the Alliance in December, King said he began work on the project 12 years ago after Mellencamp contacted him with a ghost story from his home state of Indiana.

“What a long, strange trip it’s been,” King said. “One of the reasons I got into this and said yes is, first of all, I respect John as a musician and as someone not content to stay in one place.

“I’m in my 60s now. I’m not a kid. … I wanted to try something a little bit risky and something outside my comfort zone.”

King penned the story of two brothers and a young girl who meet a mysterious end — and their interaction with the event’s one living witness.

Mellencamp stepped in with music and lyrics and brought in legendary producer T Bone Burnett as musical director. Burnett provided similar direction for the 2000 film “O Brother, Where Art Thou?”

King and Mellencamp sought a regional theatre to stage the show, and decided an Atlanta location offered unique advantages.

“We wanted a place that was cosmopolitan but not out of touch with country roots. Atlanta seemed like the middle of the bulls-eye,” King said. “You know that song, ‘If you can make it here, you can make it anywhere?’ That’s how I feel about Atlanta and this show.”

The pair also wanted the benefit of working with Susan Booth, the Alliance’s artistic director, who “has forgotten more about the theatre than John and I know,” King said.

“The only other play I wrote was for the Boy Scouts,” he said. “I was 10.”

King and Mellencamp started to stage the show two previous times, once at the Alliance and once on Broadway, but called those productions off for various reasons, Mellencamp said.

Now, they are solely focused on creating one great Atlanta production, he said.

And after Atlanta?

“I personally don’t care if we go to Broadway or Washington, D.C., or to the moon or Indiana,” Mellencamp said.

“Ghost Brothers” is set to run April 4 to May 13 at the Alliance Theatre at the Woodruff, 1280 Peachtree St. NE, Atlanta. Tickets are $45 to $85.

For more information, call (404) 733-5000 or visit www.alliancetheatre.org/ghostbrothers

By AFP

LOS ANGELES: Elton John is working on a biopic about himself and would like Justin Timberlake to take on the lead role, he said in an interview published Sunday.

The British veteran star also spoke about his and partner David Furnish’s love for their son Zachary – whose first birthday was on Christmas Day – saying the child was the “light of our lives.”

An announcement about the biopic is due very soon, the 64-year-old told the Los Angeles Times newspaper.

“That’s very much in the works. We’re making an announcement about that very, very soon. We have a director on board, and then it’s just going to be a matter of getting the script exactly the way we want it,” he said.

Lee Hall, who wrote megahit “Billy Elliot,” has written the screenplay, he said, adding they will soon start trying to cast and plan production.

On who will play him, he said: “I don’t know. I’ve got a wish list of people No 1 on my wish list is Justin Timberlake, because he played me before in a David LaChapelle video of (Elton classic) ‘Rocket Man’ and was superb.”

The film will be a “jukebox musical” with possibly a couple of new songs, he said.

“It’s going to be a surreal look at my life, and not just a factual look at my life… I just don’t want it to be a normal biopic because my life hasn’t been like that,” he added.

The singer – who is nominated for a Golden Globe on January 15 for his song “Hello, Hello” from the film “Gnomeo & Juliet,” will be back in the studio soon to record a new album – but insisted his days as a top-40 pop star are over.

“As Elton John, my days on pop radio are over, and I know that and I accept it and I’m not unhappy about it. It’s a different time of my life now, and it gives me the freedom to do whatever kind of music I want to do,” he said.

He also paid tribute to Lady Gaga, with whom he duets on “Hello, Hello,” saying: “I was kind of like that at the beginning of my career. I dressed outrageously, and I didn’t care about boundaries.”

The star, who has homes in Los Angeles, Britain and the south of France, said the Christmas just gone was special as he and Furnish celebrated the first birthday of their son Zachary, born to a surrogate mother on December 25, 2010.

“I love him so much. It’s a different kind of love for your child than you have for your partner. Everyone kept saying that, and now I realize that, having had Zachary,” he said.

“He’s the light of our lives. I’ve had an amazing professional life, personal life, but at 64 to have a son who gives us that much love and enjoyment is, ‘Wow!’”

Like Don Henley, Peter Cetera & Phil Collins, Richard Marx has become a punchline for hipper-than-thou fans of metal, rock or rap who want to blast a pal for liking something light.

As in, “Man, what are you doing with that Coldplay record? You’ll probably stack it next to your copy of Richard Marx’s ‘Repeat Offender.’”

Or, “The Killers? Really? What’s next – you gonna grow your hair out into a Richard Marx mullet?”

But is that really fair? I say no.

Because while I never had a glorious hair helmet like the one Marx sported throughout the 1980s, I did own “Repeat Offender” (which hit No. 1 on the Billboard album charts, by the way) as well as the self-titled debut, & I listened to them. A lot. (Granted, I was 12 at the time, but still.)

Hey, the guy was the first male solo artist to place his first seven singles – “Don’t Mean Nothing,” “Endless Summer Nights,” “Hold On To The Nights,” “Should’ve Known Better,” “Angelia,” “Right Here Waiting” & “Satisfied” – within the Top 5 of Billboard’s singles charts.

He’s real light rock, but if you watch him in concert, he resembles more of a poor man’s Bryan Adams than a regular dude’s Michael Bolton, especially with his current normal haircut. And he takes it all in stride on videos posted on his website, saying he didn’t have any friends in the ’80s, because if they did they would have said something about his outlandish headdress.

It’s true that the stream of hits dried up to a trickle by the mid-1990s, but after that Marx went behind the scenes & did just as well, if not better.

In 2000, he wrote “This I Promise You,” a Top 10 hit for ‘N Sync. In 2004, he shared a Song of the Year Grammy with the late Luther Vandross for “Dance With My Father,” which they co-wrote. He wrote two big hits with Keith Urban – the 2005 smash-hit “Better Life” & the tune “Everybody” from 2007 – that both went to the top of the country singles charts. He also co-wrote a song with Ringo Freaking Starr & even toured with the legendary drummer’s All-Star Band.

Most recently he went modern rock with “Emotional Remains,” which first came out in 2008 but was re-released in fall 2009. Check out the big guitar riff that propels “For Better For Worse” – it’s almost, well, cool!

Marx is out on tour now, and will shift gears into solo acoustic mode when he arrives at the World Cafe Live at the Queen, 500 N. Market St., Wilmington, at 8 p.m. tonight. Doors open at 6.

Tickets are $36-$56. Visit www.worldcafelive.com.

SOURCE: RTTNews

(RTTNews) – An image showing what may be the title & track list for Madonna’s new album has leaked online. The image looks to be taken from an advanced copy of the album & lists the title as Luv.

Both the Interscope Records & Live Nation brands are featured prominently in the photo & the complete track list is laid out on the right hand side of the image. The album’s lead single “Gimme All Your Luvin’” is listed as #7, & “Masterpiece,” which was released as part of the soundtrack to Madge’s film W.E. is #11.

Thus far there is no official word as to the title & track listing of the album.

Track listing as noted on image:

1. “Trust”

2. “Dangerous Faith”

3. “Sitting on the Whole World”

4. “Turn Up the Radio”

5. “Waving with the Crowd”

6. “Suspended to the Light”

7. “Gimme All Your Luvin’”

8. “Crossed Fingers”

9. “Birthday Song”

10. “Reason & Passion”

11. “Masterpiece”

12. “Solar Salvation”

13. “The Darkness Void”

14. “Revelation”

by RTT Staff Writer