Weekly Music News Brief, January 28

Weekly Music News Brief for 1/21/2008-1/28/2008

January 28, 2008

DRUMMER FRANCIS CLAY DEAD AGED 84 – PLAYED WITH MUDDY WATERS, JOHN LEE HOOKER, CHARLIE PARKER, HOWLIN’ WOLF, AMONG OTHERS

GARTH BROOKS TO PLAY FIVE BENEFIT CONCERTS IN TWO DAYS FOR CALIFORNIA’S WILDFIRE VICTIMS AND FIREFIGHTERS – LOOKS TO RAISE $10 MILLION

AMY WINEHOUSE ADMITTED TO REHAB

HEATH LEDGER OBSESSED WITH FOLK SINGER NICK DRAKE, WHO OVERDOSED AGED 26

FORMER PHISH GUITARIST TREY ANASTASIO ARRESTED – FACES THREE YEARS IN JAIL AFTER VIOLATING TERMS OF PLEA AGREEMENT

CHINA PLEDGES CRACKDOWN ON MUSIC PIRACY AFTER REPORT SAYS 99 PERCENT OF MUSIC SALES IN COUNTRY ARE ILLEGAL

ELTON JOHN SUES BUSINESS PARTNER

UB40 SINGER ALI CAMPBELL QUITS BAND AFTER 30 YEARS

HANOI ROCKS PARTS WAYS WITH DRUMMER KARI ‘LACU’ LAHTINEN

SINGLE PAGE OF MOZART MANUSCRIPT FETCHES $219,051 AT AUCTION

HISTORIC NORTH KOREAN CONCERT TO BE BROADCAST IN U.S., EUROPE AND SOUTH KOREA

‘SUGE’ KNIGHT NAMED IN GANG INJUNCTION

MORRISSEY LOSES HIS VOICE, POSTPONES LONDON SHOWS

RADIOHEAD PLANNING ‘SPECIAL EVENT’ WITH THE BBC

MORE TOUR RUMORS FOR LED ZEPPELIN

U2′S BONO: “AL GORE IS LIKE AN IRISH PRIEST TO ME”

BEYONCE KNOWLES SET TO PLAY ETTA JAMES IN MOTION PICTURE ABOUT CHESS RECORDS

ROBERT PLANT, STEVIE WONDER, THE RACONTEURS SET TO PLAY 2008 NEW ORLEANS’ JAZZ & HERITAGE FESTIVAL

SLASH SAYS SCOTT WEILAND AND STONE TEMPLE PILOTS WILL REUNITE FOR 2008 SUMMER TOUR

VELVET REVOLVER STILL SET TO RECORD THIRD ALBUM

AXL ROSE’S MANAGER SAYS NEW GUNS ‘N ROSES ALBUM DONE

BLIND MELON PREPS FIRST STUDIO ALBUM SINCE 1995 WITH NEW SINGER TRAVIS WARREN – FOR MY FRIENDS OUT APRIL 22

DOORS KEYBOARDIST RE-RECORDS DOORS CLASSIC, ‘RIDERS ON THE STORM’

DEF JAM DENIES RAPPER NAS IS BEING DROPPED FROM LABEL – STILL SET TO RELEASE HIS UPCOMING ALBUM, NIGGER, IN FEB.

WILLIE NELSON TO CELEBRATE 75TH BIRTHDAY WITH BOXED SET – DUE APRIL 1

BILLY BRAGG ANNOUNCES NEW ALBUM DETAILS AND U.K. TOUR DATES

RUSH ANNOUNCES N. AMERICAN TOUR DATES

SOUL COUGHING’S MIKE DOUGHTY CONFIRMS SOLO U.S. TOUR DATES

R.E.M. SHOOTS NEW VIDEO IN NYC SEX SHOP – FIRST SINGLE FROM UPCOMING ALBUM ACCELERATE; DUE APRIL 1

GNARLS BARKLEY’S SOPHOMORE ALBUM ALMOST FINISHED

ACROSS THE UNIVERSE WRITERS WORKING ON RUBY TUESDAY, AN ANIMATED FILM FEATURING THE MUSIC OF THE ROLLING STONES

WU-TANG STAR, RAEKWON, SLAMS JAY-Z AND KANYE WEST IN PRESS

AC/DC FINALLY LAUNCH OFFICIAL WEBSITE

ROLLING STONE MAG REVEALS RADIOHEAD’S SECRET INFLUENCES – EVERYTHING FROM FLEETWOOD MAC TO THOMAS PYNCHON

LENNY KRAVITZ SPEAKS CANDIDLY ABOUT NEW ALBUM AND SEX IN SPIN MAGAZINE FEATURE

Weekly Music News Brief, January 21

Breaking News (updated 1/24/08):

BRITISH SINGER AMY WINEHOUSE CHECKS INTO ‘REHAB’

WATCH WINEHOUSE SMOKE CRACK ON HOME VIDEO – FILMED ON 1/18/08

FATHER REQUESTS HIS DAUGHTER TO BE SANCTIONED UNDER THE ‘MENTAL HEALTH ACT’ – TO SAVE HER LIFE

Weekly Music News Brief for 1/14/2008-1/21/2008

January 21, 2008

‘DAYDREAM BELIEVER’ SONGWRITER JOHN STEWART DIES AGED 68

EVEN WITH WRITERS’ STRIKE, GRAMMYS STILL SET TO AIR

TURKMENISTAN ENDS BAN ON OPERA

TRAVIS BARKER SUES ROCKSTAR ENERGY DRINK OVER PHOTO USAGE

BOBBY BROWN CHARGED WITH COCAINE POSSESSION

NASHVILLE AIRPORT HOSTING LIVE COUNTRY SHOWS FOR TRAVELERS

ERIC CLAPTON OPENS EBAY STORE TO SELL MEMORABILIA FOR CHARITY

U2′S 3D CONCERT FILM DEBUTS AT SUNDANCE

ROBERT PLANT & ALISON KRAUSS ANNOUNCE SELECT U.S. AND U.K TOUR DATES

SEX PISTOLS TO DEBUT NEW SONGS AT 2008 ISLE OF WRIGHT FESTIVAL

PORTISHEAD, ROGER WATERS, JACK JOHNSON TO HEADLINE 2008 COACHELLA FESTIVAL

LISTEN – JACK JOHNSON’S NEW TRACK FROM UPCOMING ALBUM

THE ROLLING STONES SIGN ONE ALBUM DEAL FOR SOUNDTRACK TO SCORSESE -DIRECTED CONCERT DOCUMENTARY ‘SHINE A LIGHT’

BOB DYLAN TO RELEASE LIVE ALBUM, BUT ONLY IN ENGLAND

MY MORNING JACKET SET FOR JUNE ALBUM RELEASE – ANNOUNCE TOUR DATES

SIMONE, NINA SIMONE’S DAUGHTER, TO RELEASE DEBUT ALBUM ON APRIL 29

DEF LEPPARD SET FOR MARCH RELEASE – CD TO FEATURE TIM MCGRAW

MISSY ELLIOT READY FOR NEW ALBUM

NEW AC/DC ALBUM RUMORS ARE FALSE

DAVID MORALES TO REJOIN MINISTRY OF SOUND

THE BEATLES ALMOST RECORDED ‘REVOLVER’ IN AMERICA

AP READY FOR BRITNEY SPEARS’ DEATH

R.E.M. FRONTMAN GETS OUT OF JURY DUTY

DIRECTOR BANS NORAH JONES FROM ACTING LESSONS FOR FILM DEBUT

Weekly Music New Brief, January 14

Weekly Music News Brief for 1/7/2008-1/14/2008

January 14, 2008

JAZZ BASSIST EARL MAY DEAD AT 80 – PLAYED WITH JOHN COLTRANE, DUKE ELLINGTON & BUDDY RICH

THE FORTUNES SINGER, ROD ALLEN, DIES OF LIVER CANCER AGED 63

SONY MUSIC INKS DEAL WITH AMAZON FOR DIGITAL DOWNLOADS TO CHALLENGE APPLE

MUSIC INDUSTRY TEAMS WITH AMAZON, NOT APPLE, FOR FREE SUPER BOWL SONG PROMOTION

GOLDEN GLOBES GO ‘WILD’ FOR EDDIE VEDDER

POP/R&B SINGER CHRISTINA AGUILERA GIVES BIRTH TO BABY BOY

RADIOHEAD ANNOUNCE CITIES FOR 2008 AMERICAN TOUR

STARS SAY GOODBYE TO JAZZ GREAT OSCAR PETERSON

ORIGINAL BOB MARLEY RECORDINGS ‘DISAPPEAR’ FROM JAMAICAN ARCHIVES

EMI LABEL TROUBLES COULD DELAY RELEASE OF NEW COLDPLAY ALBUM

ARTIST MANAGERS PROTEST NEW REGIME AT EMI

STEVEN TYLER SELLS HIS RIGHTS TO 160 AEROSMITH SONGS FOR $50 MILLION

SPECULATION – PEARL JAM, PRINCE, NINE INCH NAILS TO FOLLOW RADIOHEAD’S ‘PAY WHAT YOU WANT’ MODEL

JAMES BROWN ESTATE AUCTION COULD INCLUDE MUSIC RIGHTS

NEO-NAZI CONCERT IN GERMANY SHUT DOWN BY AUTHORITIES

BILLY BRAGG’S PRISON INITIATIVE CUTS BRITISH REOFFENDING RATE

PHILLIP GLASS DOCUMENTARY HEADING TO THEATERS

COURTNEY LOVE ‘CHOOSES’ ACTORS TO PLAY KURT COBAIN AND HERSELF IN BIOPIC SHE IS PRODUCING

LISTEN TO TRACK FROM DEATH CAB GUITARIST’S SOLO ALBUM

WATCH KINGS OF LEON PERFORM SONG FROM PBS’ AUSTIN CITY LIMITS

PREVIEW OF THE BLACK CROWES NEW ALBUM – DUE MARCH 4

PREVIEW OF BLACK KEYS’ NEW ALBUM – DUE APRIL 1

METALLICA TEAM WITH PRODUCER RICK RUBIN FOR NEW ALBUM

SHERYL CROW TEAMS UP WITH PRODUCER BILL BOTTRELL FOR UPCOMING ALBUM

OASIS MIXING NEW ALBUM IN LOS ANGELES – SPRING RELEASE DATE

DENVER’S THE FRAY FACING EXPECTATIONS ON NEW ALBUM

DEF LEPPARD SET FOR NEW ALBUM & NORTH AMERICAN TOUR IN 2008

MARILYN MANSON ANNOUNCES OPENING LEG OF ‘RAPE THE WORLD’ TOUR

MANSON SAYS LED ZEPPELIN REUNION INSPIRED HIS REUNION WITH BANDMATE TWIGGY

RUMORS – LED ZEPPELIN MEETING THIS MONTH REGARDING U.S. TOUR

RUMORS – AC/DC TO TOUR IN 2008

BARAK OBAMA PLANS TO EMBRACE HIP-HOP IF ELECTED PRESIDENT

RAPPER DMX ORDERED TO PAY $1.5 MILLION TO BALTIMORE WOMAN

RAPPER SNOOP DOGG HOPES TO WORK WITH MICK JAGGER, BONO & MADONNA ON NEXT ALBUM

OUTKAST MEMBER BIG BOI TEAMS WITH ATLANTA BALLET

JANET JACKSON ATTEMPTING ‘COMEBACK’

JOHNNY CASH PRISON TRIBUTE CONCERT CANCELED

FAITH HILL TO PERFORM, WITH OTHERS, AT FEB. 8 ARETHA FRANKLIN TRIBUTE

KT TUNSTALL TO MARRY HER DRUMMER

SUGABABE ARRESTED OVER ALLEGED ‘ATTACK’ ON CAR

Weekly Music News Brief, January 7

Thanks you for all the emails and messages! Sorry for the lapse with the Weekly News Briefs. It was a good vacation for me.

Happy New Year! We are now back up and running! I have also fully updated the CD Release Calendar for all 2008 releases that have been announced. Enjoy!

January 7, 2007

OSCAR PETERSON DEAD AGED 82

SHINS’ GUITARIST ARRESTED FOR DOMESTIC ABUSE

THOUSANDS OF RECORDINGS MISSING FROM JAMAICAN ARCHIVES

SONY TO SELL MUSIC WITHOUT COPYRIGHT PROTECTION

PINK FLOYD DRUMMER MASON LEAVES REUNION TALK OPEN

FIRST RADIOHEAD, NOW COLDPLAY SET TO LEAVE EMI RECORD LABEL

ENTIRE BEATLES CATALOG NOW OPEN TO TV COMMERCIALS

RUMORS – MICHAEL JACKSON TO PLAY 30 SHOWS AT LONDON’S O2 ARENA FOR $1.9 MILLION PER SHOW/$59 MILLION TOTAL

RUMORS – DAVE GROHL TO PLAY DRUMS FOR LED ZEPPELIN 2008 TOUR

RADIOHEAD SCORE FIFTH U.K. #1 ALBUM WITH HARD RELEASE OF IN RAINBOWS

BECK’S ‘ODELAY’ EXPANDED FOR JAN 2008 REUISSUE

DEATH CAB FOR CUTIE LIVE TRACKS NEW ALBUM TO ANALOG TAPE – OUT MAY 2008

R.E.M. TURN UP GUITARS ON NEW ALBUM – OUT APRIL 2008

EDDIE VEDDER SHOOTS VIDEO FOR SONG ‘GUARANTEED’

MORRISSEY NEGOTIATING DEAL TO PLAY CONCERT IN IRAN

JAMES BROWN’S CHILDREN TO CONTEST HIS WILL

VAN MORRISON’S CATALOG TO BE REMASTERED IN 2008 -29 ALBUMS

COUNTRY STAR TIM MCGRAW TO RUN FOR GOVERNOR OF TENNESSEE?

PETE TOWNSEND, ERIC CLAPTON AND RINGO STARR PLAYED SURPRISE CONCERT ON NEW YEARS EVE

ERIC CLAPTON, STEVE WINWOOD TO PERFORM AT MADISON SQUARE GARDEN IN FEBRUARY – PETE TOWNSEND TO OPEN THE SHOWS?

BLACK CROWES ANNOUNCE SPECIAL U.S. GIGS

IGGY POP, DAFT PUNK, HOT CHIP DESIGN SHIRTS FOR PLAYBOY

BIGGEST SELLING ALBUMS OF THE ‘SOUNDSCAN’ ERA

ZIGGY MARLEY TO RELEASE LIVE CONCERT DVD IN FEBRUARY

MCCARTNEY’S HEART PROBLEMS CAUSED RIFT WITH EX-WIFE MILLS

NORAH JONES AND MUSICIAN BOYFRIEND SPLIT

EDDIE VAN HALEN AND WIFE FINALIZE DIVORCE