Once Upon a Time
Fri Feb 29, 11:03 PM GMT
It has been a fairytale for Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova since winning the Oscar for Best Song for “Falling Slowly,” featured in the film Once. The duo will be touring the States in support of the music from the film.
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Warner Bros. Absorbs New Line Cinemas
Fri Feb 29, 10:41 PM GMT
The Movie Blog (http://www.themovieblog.com) posted an e-mail from New Line co-Chairmen/CEOs Bob Shaye and Michael Lynne stating that New Line Cinemas will officially be folded into parent company Warner Bros..
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Mike Smith of Dave Clark Five Passes
Thu Feb 28, 10:39 PM GMT
The Associated Press reports that Mike Smith of the Dave Clark Five has passed away less than two weeks before he was to appear at the ceremony inducting his band into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. He was 64.
Smith died of complications from a spinal injury he sustained in 2003 at his home in Spain. The injury left him hospitalized until this past December.
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Universal Buys Univision Music Group
Thu Feb 28, 9:43 PM GMT
Reuters reports that French-owned Universal Music, the world’s largest music company, has purchased the Spanish-language Univision Music Group for an undisclosed amount.
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Buddy Miles: 1947–2008
Thu Feb 28, 5:46 PM GMT
According to his Web site, songwriter, producer, drummer, and singer, George Allen “Buddy” Miles passed away Feb. 27 in Austin, TX, following a long battle with congestive heart disease. He was 60.
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Justice League Back on Track
Wed Feb 27, 9:00 PM GMT
Variety reports that Warner Bros. will be continuing production of the Justice League feature film based on the DC Comic.
This past January, the film was on indefinite hold while Warner Bros. allowed cast options to expire.
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Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Presenters
Wed Feb 27, 8:25 PM GMT
The coterie of artists slated to present this year’s Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees has been announced, according to a recent report by Reuters.
The inductees followed by their corresponding presenter is as follows:
Leonard Cohen—Lou Reed
The Dave Clark Five —Tom Hanks.
Madonna—Justin Timberlake
John Mellencamp —Billy Joel
Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff—Jerry Butler
The Ventures—John Fogerty
Little Walter—Ben Harper
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Plant & Krauss Continue Tour
Wed Feb 27, 6:14 PM GMT
The music Web site Pollstar.com reports that Robert Plant of Led Zeppelin fame and Alison Krauss, the Bluegrass chanteuse and fiddler, now making up the unlikely duo who have scored a major success with T Bone Burnett produced, Raising Sand, will continue to tour in support of the album. Their effort together soared up the charts, peaking at No.… More…
Teenagers Bypassing CDs?
Wed Feb 27, 5:30 PM GMT
According to a Los Angeles Times report, 48 percent of teenagers did not purchase a single CD in 2007, up from 38 percent in 2006.
Most teens appear to be getting their music online these days, whether from illegal or legal downloads. Legal digital downloads of songs increased 45 percent over last year’s numbers according to Nielsen SoundScan. As a result, iTunes has become the second largest music retailer in the country, just behind Wal-Mart and ahead of Best Buy.
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New York Philharmonic In North Korea a Success
Wed Feb 27, 4:35 PM GMT
The New York Philharmonic’s highly publicized visit to North Korea went off without a hitch, according to The New York Times, with a resounding standing ovation after America’s oldest orchestra performed selections by Gershwin, Wagne… More…
Yamaha Announces New Home-Theater-in-a Box Line
Wed Feb 27, 4:31 PM GMT
Yamaha has announced four new affordable Home-Theater-in-a Box systems that range in price from $400-$850.
The models and individual pricing are:
YHT-790, 105Wx5, MSRP: $849.95
YHT-690, 105Wx5, MSRP: $649.95
YHT-590, 100Wx5, MSRP: $549.95
YHT-390, 100Wx5, MSRP: $399.95
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Yamaha Introduces New Line of Digital Receivers
Tue Feb 26, 7:27 PM GMT
Yamaha recently announced a new line of digital home theater receivers that feature 1080p-compatible HDMI switching, iPod and satellite radio compatibility, and a host of other technologies.
Model numbers, power specs, and pricing are as follows:
• RX-V863, 105Wx7, MSRP $1,000
• RX-V663, 95Wx7, MRSP $550
• RX-V563, 90Wx7, MSRP $550… More…
Sasquatch! Festival Lineup
Tue Feb 26, 4:10 PM GMT
The lineup for the Sasquatch Music Festival slated for Memorial Day weekend (May 24–26) in George, WA, at The Gorge Amphitheater has been announced. The list below is packed with some of today’s best acts making this a festival not to be missed.
R.E.M.
The Cure
The Flaming Lips U.F.O. Show
Death Cab For Cutie
Modest Mouse
M.I.A.
Flight Of The Conchords
Rodrigo Y Gabriela
Michael Franti & Spearhead
The Breeders
Built To Spill
The Hives
Tegan & Sara … More…
2008 Academy Awards Winners
Mon Feb 25, 6:24 PM GMT
Best Picture
No Country for Old Men
Scott Rudin, Ethan Coen and Joel Coen, Producers
Actor In A Leading Role
Daniel Day-Lewis
There Will Be Blood
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Amazon and Fox to Produce Film
Mon Feb 25, 6:11 PM GMT
Amazon.com is entering into the film business, according to Variety, with the screen adaptation of The Stolen Child, based on the debut novel of Keith Donohue.
Amazon optioned the rights to the film in 2006 and has since partnered with 20th Century Fox and Marc Platt for its production.
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High-Def Releases for the Week of Feb. 25
Mon Feb 25, 4:34 PM GMT
To Kill A King [Blu-ray]
Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines [Blu-ray]
30 Days Of Night [Blu-ray]
Justice League: The New Frontier Special Edition [Blu-ray]
Initial D [Blu-ray]
The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford [HD DVD]
The Brave One [HD DVD]… More…
Onkyo To Discontinue HD DVD Production
Fri Feb 22, 7:42 PM GMT
Onkyo recently announced that the company will cease development and production of HD DVD players as a result of Toshiba’s exit from that market.
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Teo Macero Dies At 82
Fri Feb 22, 5:18 PM GMT
According to The New York Times, famed Jazz record producer, Teo Macero died Feb. 19 in Riverhead, NY, following a long illness. He was 82.
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All Points West Festival Lineup Announced
Fri Feb 22, 5:13 PM GMT
The lineup for Jersey City’s All Points West festival in Liberty State Park, which overlooks the Statue of Liberty, has been announced. The festival, which is put on by the same organization that produces the Indio, CA, Coachella festival, is taking place Aug. 8-10. The headliners will be Radiohead and Jack Johnson. See below for a list of other performers.… More…
None Dare Call It Shakespeare
Thu Feb 21, 8:09 PM GMT
According to Reuters, another jaunty indie Vampire film is being added to that already rife canon. This one, however, distinguishes itself because of the involvement of some rather recognizable names and surnames including Lennon and Hoffman.
Sean Lennon (son of John and Yoko) and Jake Hoffman (son of Dustin) will be joining writer and director Jordan Galland for the production of his new feature film Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Undead, an exploration of the connection between Hamlet, The Holy Grail and, Vampires.
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Blu-ray and HD DVD Releases for the Week Of Feb. 18
Tue Feb 19, 8:05 PM GMT
American Gangster (Combo HD DVD and Standard DVD) [HD DVD]
The Invasion (Combo HD DVD and Standard DVD) [HD DVD]
Michael Clayton [Blu-ray]
In the Valley of Elah [Blu-ray]
Run Lola Run [Blu-ray]
Live at Montreux 2003—Yes [Blu-ray]
Hymns for Peace: Live at Montreux 2004—Santana [Blu-ray] … More…
DoubleTwist Liberates Digital Media
Tue Feb 19, 7:53 PM GMT
Reuters reports that San Francisco-based DoubleTwist, co-founded by the noted Norwegian Hacker Jon Lech Johansen, known as “DVD Jon,” is introducing a free media-sharing service that enables copy-protected Apple AAC files to be used on non-Apple devices.
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Toshiba Retires HD DVD
Tue Feb 19, 4:17 PM GMT
The high-definition format war has officially concluded with Toshiba’s announcement that it will no longer continue to develop, produce, or market HD DVD products, according to twice.com.
This decision was made due to so-called “recent changes in the market,” no doubt resulting from the announcements by Warner Bros., Best Buy, Netflix, and Wal-Mart which declared their support for Blu-ray products. Best Buy will prominently feature Blu-ray products in order to show consumers their preferred format while Netflix and Wal-Mart will cease stocking HD DVD products.… More…
Cowboy Junkies Revisit Seminal Work
Fri Feb 15, 8:07 PM GMT
In November of 1987, a then little-known unsigned band by the name of the Cowboy Junkies gathered in The Church of The Holy Trinity in Toronto and recorded their second album—the seminal The Trinity Session.
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Wal-Mart To Stock Only Blu-ray Products
Fri Feb 15, 8:03 PM GMT
According to reports on Engadget.com, Wal-Mart will cease stocking HD DVD products.
Reuters news service is also reporting that Wal-Mart will begin phasing out HD DVD products and will totally discontinue hardware and software by June.
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Deutsche Grammophon Launches Download Site
Fri Feb 15, 5:04 PM GMT
The high-end audio community Web site audiogon.com reports that premier classical music recording label, Deutsche Grammophon, has launched the DG Web Shop [http://www2.deutschegrammophon.com/home], a purely classical music download site to offer thousands of its titles online.
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HD DVD and Blu-ray Releases For the Week of Feb. 11
Thu Feb 14, 5:45 PM GMT
- Gone Baby Gone [Blu-ray]
- We Own the Night [Blu-ray]
- Becoming Jane [Blu-ray]
- No Reservations [Blu-ray and HD DVD]
- The Amateurs [Blu-ray and HD DVD]
- Vivaldi - The Four Seasons / Concertos for Double Orchestra - Acoustic Reality Experience [HD DVD]
- Into The Wild [HD DVD]
Yahoo Teams with Rhapsody for Subscription Service
Wed Feb 6, 5:06 PM GMT
The Associated Press reports that Yahoo will be discontinuing its own subscription music service in order to team with RealNetwork’s Rhapsody service.
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