Dream Street Debuts at #45 on Billboard
Top 200
Accuse NY-based teen pop group DREAM STREET of selling out, it happens
every time! DREAM STREET and edel Entertainment is celebrating the release
of their self-titled debut album, which sold well over 32,000 copies in
its first week of release. Dream Street was released Tuesday, July 10.
Dream Street's first single, “It Happens Every Time” has garnered
huge support from Radio Disney out of the box. Currently, the song is
#13 on Radio Disney and the video debuted at #1 on RadioDisney.com.
- Billboard's Chuck Taylor calls “It Happens Every Time” “
... maddeningly catchy.”
- CNN News reports, Dream Street is “the group teens are now focusing
on.”
- The New York Post proclaims “Back off, Backstreet -- NY has a
band all its own.”
- Dream Street has already appeared on CBS' “Early Show” and
CNN. The group also performed live at this year's America's Junior Miss
Pageant.
 Their
name derived from Broadway as the “street of dreams,” Dream
Street is a teen pop group in the truest sense of the phrase. Jesse McCartney
(14), Matt Ballinger (16), Chris Trousdale (16), Frankie Galasso (16),
& Greg Raposo (16) are five NY-based teenagers who came together in
the spring of 1999 to form Dream Street. Among their many credits, briefly:
Chris has appeared in numerous skits on “Saturday Night Live”
and starred in HBO's “Manifesto”; Jesse was nominated for an
Emmy Award for his role “All My Children” and has also sang
on stage with Roger Daltry of The Who; guitarist Greg was handpicked by
Priscilla Presley to perform at Graceland to commemorate the passing of
Elvis Presley and is a spokesperson for Muscular Dystrophy; Matt has starred
in Broadway classics like “The Sound of Music” and “The
King and I”; Frankie Galasso has co-starred on ABC's “Hudson
Street” with Tony Danza and sang the National Anthem with Lambchop/Shari
Lewis (RIP) at a NY Mets baseball game.
Before Dream Street ever released a record on their own, the quintet
recorded “They Don't Understand” for the prestigious “Pokemon
2000” soundtrack, while the similarly infectious “Let's Get
Funky Tonight” landed on last fall's soundtrack to “The Little
Vampire.”
Sony Music Entertainment has escalated a royalties dispute with the Dixie
Chicks by suing the popular country act for breach of contract.
A complaint filed Tuesday in federal court in Manhattan accused the Dixie
Chicks of trying to leave Sony on “sham” claims that they've
been underpaid. Sony lawyers asked the court to enforce the current contract
and bar Emily Robison, Martie Seidel and Natalie Maines from signing with
another label.
A call to attorneys for the Dixie Chicks was not immediately returned.
Since signing with Sony in 1997, the group has recorded two albums - “Wide
Open Spaces” and “Fly” - selling 15 million records worldwide,
the complaint said. Sony claims the contract calls for up to four more
albums.
Despite being paid millions of dollars, the Dixie Chicks demanded the
company renegotiate their contract for millions more, the suit said. Talks
broke off last week when the group announced it was leaving the label
based on false claims Sony was withholding royalties, it alleged. “The
purported termination is based upon entirely trumped up and baseless claims,”
the suit said.
 On July 31st, 2001 Moyo Music/Interscope Records
will release Bilal's debut album 1st Born Second. The Philadelphia native
first received recognition by stealing the show at a Prince tribute at
the Brooklyn Academy of Music in December '99. Since then he has appeared
on Common's Like Water For Chocolate, Guru's Jazzmatazz Vol. 3: Streetsoul,
the Love and Basketball Soundtrack and has produced for and toured with
Erykah Badu.
1st Born Second is the latest release to rise from the Soulquarian collective
(a community of musicians, producers, singers and emcees including D'Angelo,
Mos Def, Talib Kweli and Ahmir ``?uestlove'' Thompson from The Roots).
His current single, ``Love It,'' the follow-up to his first hit ``Soul
Sista,'' is a radiant, joyous, summery love song that was produced by
Soul Life, the same production team that crafted Carl Thomas's smash ``I
Wish'' and Sunshine Anderson's hit, ``Heard It All Before.'' Another standout
on the album is the Dr. Dre-produced ``Fast Lane,'' a gritty street tale
about living life on the edge.
``I see this record like a soundtrack,'' says Bilal. ``I put something
on there for every part of the day to help people get through their lives.
I want this album to be timeless -- something people will still be listening
to five years down the line.''
To celebrate the release on July 31st, Bilal will perform and sign autographs
at Tower Records -- Tower Village, 629 Broadway New York, NY 10012 (212/505-1500).
In addition, he will visit Music Box in Philadelphia, located at 2713
Girrard Ave. Philadelphia, PA 19130 (215/235-3317) on August 3rd where
he will also perform and sign autographs.
For more information contact, Yvette Davis, Interscope Publicity, 310.865.6278,
yvette.davis@umusic.com or
Tasha Stoute, Interscope Publicity, 212.445.3271, tasha.stoute@umusic.com.
Unlike services that the major record labels are proposing to launch
by the end of the summer, Uplister plans to offer two tiers of pricing
and offer the option of making music available on your computer only,
or making it downloadable, the company announced on Thursday.
Uplister plans to charge users a monthly fee - $10 - to download and
listen to music only on their computers - a plan similar to those offered
by label-affiliated MusicNet and Pressplay. That's like renting music,
says Toni Schneider, CEO of Oakland, Calif.-based Uplister.
MusicNet and Pressplay would initially stop there, but Uplister would
also give users the option of paying 99 cents per track for the right
to permanently own a song, download it and burn it to a CD or record an
MP3. Uplister plans to launch the service in beta form by the end of the
summer and in commercial form by the end of the year.
Until now, Uplister has offered its users a forum to share playlists
created by more than 50 celebrities such as Green Day and Nick Hornby,
and by 60,000 other participants. But Uplister has lacked a way to actually
deliver the music. The subscription service would enable users to download
a complete playlist.
"I think it's very promising," said Aram Sinnreich, a senior
analyst with Jupiter Media Metrix. Sinnreich says a two-tiered system
like that planned by Uplister is the "only way to offer consumers
portability and at the same time offer rights holders security."
Uplister announced Thursday that its initial launch partners include
Matador, TVT Records, Overcore Records, Wax Trax Records, Alternative
Tentacles, Knitting Factory/Shimmy Disc, K Records, Lookout, Roadrunner
and Soleilmoon Recordings. Its service would also be available through
leading MP3 player software Winamp in a distribution arrangement the company
hopes to replicate with other sites. Financial terms were not disclosed.
"People want to know they can at some point be able to take certain
music onto their portable devices and burn and what have you," said
TVT Records CEO Steve Gottlieb. But what is most exciting, Gottlieb says,
is that Uplister aims to enhance the music experience without cutting
into traditional sales. "This is what only the Internet can give
us and it represents a unique and new way for people to share their passion
for music."
Uplister's music offerings are weighed heavily toward independent labels,
so the company will be taking on services offered by EMusic.com and MP3.com,
both of which were acquired recently by Universal Music. One point in
Uplister's favor, says Schneider, is that some independents are feeling
uncomfortable of doing business with major labels.
EMusic.com CEO Gene Hoffman confirmed that he has heard two or three
independents labels are less interested in doing business with Universal,
but says most top-tier independents are more comfortable that EMusic will
last and that it is "something very real." He argues that consumers
prefer a flat-rate payment rather than watching charges rack up with each
download.
"I think it's important to experiment with both," Schneider
counters. "Clearly nobody has the answer."
The R.E.M frontman is generally quiet about his personal life. That will
change with a new MTV series. Also in Music Notes: The Latin Grammy nominations
recognize newcomers, and Jane's Addiction plans to get back on the road.
Michael
Stipe is getting involved in his own form of reality television. The
R.E.M. frontman's experiences will be used for a new character on an MTV
sitcom. The upcoming, as-yet-untitled series will focus on a 22-year-old
male rock star and his best friend, according to Variety. No word
on when the series will air. In the meantime, a new R.E.M. Unplugged
session will appear on MTV in August.
New Artists Favored at Latin Grammys
The Latin Grammys may prove to be more welcoming to new talent then its
predecessor, the Grammy Awards. The nominations for the second installment
of the Latin-themed awards ceremony are out, with a Colombian newcomer
leading the pack. The handsome Juanes picked up six nominations,
including Best New Artist and Album of the Year. The nominating committee
said it deliberately sought out new talent.
"We'll still have the big artists … but we're committed to
finding new artists that can be successful, " Michael Greene, president
of the National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences and the Latin
Recording Academy, told The Associated Press.
Among the established acts on the list, Christina Aguilera picked
up two nominations for material from her Spanish-language CD Mi Refleio,
and Ricky Martin was recognized for his Spanish-language version
of the video for "She Bangs."
Cuban music legend Chico O'Farrill, who died June 27, received
a posthumous nomination for best Latin jazz album for Carambola.
The awards will air live on CBS on Sept. 11.
Jane's Addiction Tour Plans
It's not quite Lollapalooza, but Perry Farrell is again trying
to bring together diverse acts for a Jane's Addiction tour. The
alternative rock band is planning a two-month reunion tour, and will not
be by themselves. According to the British rock paper New Music Express,
Farrell has asked Weezer, Live and the Stereo MC's
to join them on their "Jubilee" tour. "It's more rewarding
to see people get off on different [types of music] than to play with
bands with a lot in common," said Farrell. Jane's Addiction is expected
to be on the road for two months beginning in mid-August.
Moreover
A New York judge sentenced Wu Tang Clan member Ol' Dirty Bastard
to two to four years in prison on drug charges. The Associated Press reports
ODB, né Russell Jones, may also undergo psychiatric or substance abuse
treatment. He pleaded guilty to drug charges in April for possession of
cocaine and marijuana.
The Recently Released Album, Featuring Bad Boy Superstars Faith Evans,
Carl Thomas, Black Rob, G.Dep and many more, Reigns Supreme At The Top
Of The Charts
Bad Boy Entertainment, once again, reigns supreme at the top of the charts
with its most recent release from label-head Sean “P. Diddy”
Combs -- P. Diddy & The Bad Boy Family ... The Saga Continues. Combs
jumps back into the music arena as an artist, songwriter and producer
this masterful, funk-laden 24-track storytelling marathon.
“It feels great to be back in the game and doing it well,”
says Combs. “The Saga's immediate success is even more special for
me, because it wasn't an album I had planned to do. I just wanted to get
back to making music with the Family and doing what I do best. The result
is music that makes people dance and its success speaks for itself.”
Even before the album's July 10th debut, P. Diddy took over the radiowaves
and had the dancefloors jammed with two heat-seeking radio singles that
quickly shot up the charts: the album's now famous single “Let's
Get It” with G. Dep, the unassuming MC from Harlem with an old school
flow, and “Can't Believe,” featuring Bad Boy's first lady Faith
Evans blending her angelic voice with Carl Thomas' soulful vocals. The
album's soon-to-be smash hit is the raucous club-banging single “Bad
Boy for Life” with rising star Mark Curry joining P. Diddy and Black
Rob. Video requests for the Chris Robinson-directed “Bad Boy for
Life” clip -- which features cameos from movie superstar Ben Stiller,
Los Angeles Laker Shaquille O'Neal, boxing great Mike Tyson, “Access
Hollywood” host Pat O'Brien and fellow musicians Dave Navarro, Travis
Barker of Blink 182, Ice Cube, Snoop Dogg and Xzibit -- have also heated
up on MTV and BET.
P. Diddy's planned remix of the heat seeking single “Bad Boy for
Life” will feature rap's all-stars DMX, Snoop Dogg and MOP and is
guaranteed to be the ultimate party anthem for the summer. The fourth
single that will hit the airwaves will be “That's Crazy” featuring
Bad Boy's Black Rob and G.Dep.
The all-star roster of P. Diddy & The Bad Boy Family...The Saga Continues
fuses the skills of veteran artists Faith Evans, Carl Thomas, Black Rob
and Mario Winans with a line-up of promising newcomers, including G. Dep,
Mark Curry, Loon, Kain, Cheri Dennis, the Hoodfellaz, Bristal and Ko.
Also joining P. Diddy and the Bad Boy Family are close friends and honorary
members Eightball, MJG and Kokane. P. Diddy serves as executive producer
on the project and also taps the star talents of guest producers The Neptunes
and Megahertz to compliment hometeam producers Mario Winans, Jack Knight
and Lo. The album, comprised of original beats and music, as well as obscure
samples, also marks a turning point and departure in P. Diddy's signature
producing style.
What the critic's have to say ...
- “Naysayers of the man formerly known as Puff Daddy will be disappointed
to hear that there's not much they can touch on P. Diddy's latest production.”
- Regina Robinson, CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
- “The Saga Continues is a raucous,
funk-laced collection with a rawness that separates it from his last
album ...” - Geoff Boucher, LOS ANGELES TIMES
- “Rebounding from rough times, rapper
and mogul Sean Combs embraces fun and celebrates freedom on his new
album.” - Geoff Boucher, LOS ANGELES TIMES
- “It is a carefree, funky energy that permeates the new, 24-track
album, which returns to the spirit of Puff Daddy and The Family's 1997
album No Way Out.” - Steve Jones, USA TODAY
About Bad Boy Worldwide Entertainment Group
Bad Boy Worldwide Entertainment Group (BBWEG) is one of the world's preeminent
urban entertainment companies, encompassing a broad range of businesses
including recording, music publishing, artist management, television and
film production, marketing and advertising, apparel and restaurants. With
a collection of businesses whose annual sales are quickly approaching
$300 million annually and an employee base that is 400 strong, Mr. Combs
is largely responsible for the pop appeal of urban entertainment. Formed
in 1994, the flagship company of BBWEG is Bad Boy Records, which has an
unprecedented 50/50 joint venture with Arista Records. Today, Bad Boy's
annual sales have reached an overall average of $100 million with more
than 75 million records sold worldwide by an impressive artist roster
which includes multi-platinum acts the Notorious B.I.G, Mase, 112 and
P. Diddy; platinum artists Faith Evans, Carl Thomas and Black Rob; gold
artists Total and Shyne; the chart-topping female pop sensation, Dream,
and promising up-and-coming artists G. Dep, Mark Curry, Kain, Loon, Cheri
Denis, Hoodfellaz, Bristal and Ko.
J-Bird Music Group (OTC Bulletin Board: JBMG - news) today announced the signing
of renowned singer/songwriters Danny Wilde and Phil Solem, collectively
known as the pop music super group the Rembrandts. With millions of records
sold worldwide and a pop/rock sound that is timeless, the band has delivered
what should be considered their finest album to date, “Lost Together.”
In 1990 Danny Wilde and Phil Solem started their career as the Rembrandts
by recording the instantly classic “Just The Way It Is, Baby,”
from their self-titled debut album. The song reached into the top 20 in
every country in which it was played. The self-titled CD was followed
by “Untitled,” which contained the hit single “Johnny Have
You Seen Her.” Their third album, “L.P.,” contained the
super-hit “I'll Be There For You,” which was added to the album
as an afterthought when the Rembrandts were asked to record it as a theme
for the Friends NBC series. The song became the number one hit in the
US for 11 weeks.
“We are very excited to have the opportunity to work with the Rembrandts,”
comments J-Bird Music Group VP, Sales, Robert Morrison. “Their timeless
and instantly recognizable sound took them to the top of the charts, and
the quality of the music on this CD should do that again.”
The Rembrandts' new CD, “Lost Together,” is a collection of
twelve heartfelt, harmony rich songs that are a furthering of the classic
Rembrandts sound. “Lost Together” is due in stores and at http://www.jbirdrecords.com October 2,
2001.
About J-Bird
J-Bird Records was founded in 1996. The company is a new music label
dedicated to signing, marketing and promoting quality, talented artists
from various genres by means of traditional distribution and marketing
methods and is positioned to utilize sensible Internet strategies to further
the presence of the label and its artists to the music loving public.
Some artists whom are currently signed to J-Bird include Boy George; vocal
sensations Rockapella; John Entwistle of the Who; Lee Rocker from the
Stray Cats; Jimmie Van Zant and Augusta, GA's Best Alternative Band, Impulse
Ride.
Companies and brands fighting to differentiate themselves online have
seen salvation in an old art form - classic 2D animation - and a new development
tool, Toon Boom Studio(TM). Two major icons have struck out in a new direction
on the Web, using 2D animation to reach their customers and to wrap their
messages in an entertaining, universal art form.
Toon Boom Studio, 2D Web animation software, ships it's commercial versions
today for Mac® and PC platforms. Building on the company's extensive experience
with 2D animation for film and television with companies like Warner Bros.
and Klasky Csupo, the new software powers Web animation for artists, advertisers
and Web developers. Toon Boom Technologies designed this suite of high-performance
tools with an interface familiar to traditional animators, and features
ideal for digital animators.
Toon Boom Studio enabled two Web development companies - itoons and Funny
Garbage - to produce compelling Web animations at a reasonable cost, and
most important, break through the clutter to their customers. Bayer hired
itoons to develop a Web series for one of their most recognized consumer
products: Midol menstruation medication. Starring three heroines (the
Mighty Midols), the plot focuses on a battle against the evil forces of
“Monsteruation.” The cartoon teaches consumers about symptoms
associated with menstruation. The trio can be found at www.midol.com.
Funny Garbage developed an animated music video for rock band Sugar Ray
to introduce their new album and single, “When It's Over.” The
song debuted on CartoonNetwork.com's Web Premiere Toons program, which
highlights animation for the Web. Funny Garbage used Toon Boom Studio
as part of the process to develop the video and promote Sugar Ray. The
video can be seen at www.cartoonnetwork.com.
About itoons
itoons Corporation specializes in creating games and cartoons for the
Web. Chicago-based itoons has been in business for over two years, handily
anticipating and surviving the “net bubble.” itoons principals,
Norm Dwyer and Kevin Larson, from the start set out to build a viable
business, not a quick IPO. itoons is a privately held company. Their clients
include Bayer, for whom they created the Mighty Midols cartoon and game,
Lego, Tiger Toys, Nickelodeon, the American Dental Association and Big
Idea among many others. For additional information, visit itoons on the
Web at www.itoons.net.
About Funny Garbage
Funny Garbage (FG) is one of the premier producers of interactive experiences
for the Web and emerging forms of digital communication. FG prides itself
on its ability to create and integrate great graphic design, unique user
interfaces, original broadband content and sophisticated Web applications.
The company's passion for pop culture sets it far apart from its competitors.
Since its inception in 1996, FG has designed and built Web sites for clients
including Warner Music Group, NASCAR, Cablevision, LEGO, Knoll Furniture,
Universal Music, Barnes & Noble, VH1, Nike, Alta Vista, HBO, Fox,
and Turner, whose CartoonNetwork.com, FG built from the ground up. Funny
Garbage is on the Web at www.funnygarbage.com.
About Bayer
Best known for its flagship product, Bayer Aspirin, Bayer Corporation
produces a broad range of health care, life sciences and chemical products
that help diagnose and treat diseases, purify water, preserve local landmarks,
protect crops, advance automobile safety and durability and improve people's
lives.
Headquartered in Pittsburgh, Bayer Corporation had sales of $10.1 billion
in 2000 and is one of Fortune magazine's Most Admired Companies. The company
employs 23,200 people. It is a member of the worldwide Bayer Group, a
$29 billion international health care and chemicals group based in Leverkusen,
Germany. The Bayer Group (BAYG.DE) stock is a component of the DAX, and
is listed on multiple foreign exchanges. Bayer plans to list its stock
on the New York Stock Exchange on September 26, 2001.
About Toon Boom Technologies Inc.
Founded in 1994 in Montreal, Toon Boom Technologies Inc. is a world-leading
supplier of 2D animation software. Toon Boom Technologies provides a complete
suite of high-performance, Web-enabled desktop tools and services to creators
and producers of 2D animation, including USAnimation®, USAnimation® Web
Edition and Toon Boom Studio(TM). Toon Boom Technologies' products supply
the 2D animation market with the digital production tools for market-leader
studios such as Klasky Csupo, Warner Bros., DreamWorks, Paramount, MGM
and Wild Brain. For additional information, visit Toon Boom on the Web
at www.toonboom.com.
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