LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) – After nearly a decade at the helm, Warner Bros. Records chairman and Tom Whalley has been replaced by the man who helped make Green Day big stars.
Producer Rob Cavallo, a 23-year Warner veteran who most recently held the post of chief creative officer, worked on such Green Day hit albums as "Dookie" and "American Idiot." He has also collaborated with such top-tier acts as Fleetwood Mac and My Chemical Romance.
While some insiders were shocked by Whalley's departure, others said the writing had been on the wall for several years. They noted that Whalley constantly butted heads with Lyor Cohen, the vice-chairman of the label's Warner Music Group parent and chairman/CEO of its recorded music divisions.
"There's no doubt Whalley was pushed out, and this is Lyor's team coming in," one insider said. (A Warner Bros. spokesman said Tuesday that "we don't comment on rumor or speculation.")
Among those mourning Whalley's departure was Fleetwood Mac singer/songwriter Stevie Nicks. "I love Tom Whalley," she told The Hollywood Reporter. "He has always been there for me and has been a huge support to artists during his tenure at Warner Bros. I'll miss him."
In an email to staffers, Whalley indicated his departure was voluntary. The missive touted many of the label's successes during the past decade -- 54 to be exact. But many of the listed acts -- such as Green Day, Linkin Park, Neil Young and Tom Petty -- were already at Warner Bros. when Whalley joined the label in 2001 after helping launch Interscope Records.
"Change is inevitable, and more of it is certain to come, but your commitment and your passion will see you through whatever comes your way," Whalley wrote.
Indeed, what's coming Warner's way is a new executive team with Cavallo joined by two newly promoted executives. Warner Bros. executive VP Todd Moscowitz takes Whalley's CEO title, and Atlantic Records executive vp/GM Livia Tortella becomes chief operating officer. They will both be co-presidents.
In an increasingly fickle market where the risk of a major flop is too great, many labels have been looking to seasoned producers for leadership. But those hires have yielded mixed results during past years; look no further than U2 veteran Steve Lillywhite's short-lived executive gig at Sony, Matchbox 20 maestro Matt Serletic's run as president of Virgin and, some might suggest, prolific hitmaker Rick Rubin's current gig as co-president of Columbia Records.
Source : www.news.yahoo.com
Showing posts with label News. Show all posts
Showing posts with label News. Show all posts
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Jay-Z, Eminem and all their friends rock New York
NEW YORK (Hollywood Reporter) – Jay-Z and Eminem kicked off the first concert at the new Yankee Stadium on Monday with a dizzying spectacle worthy of rap's two biggest stars.
A menacing burst of rain before the show yielded to clear skies, foreshadowing an evening of ups and downs, missteps and triumph and a relentless verbal assault during a once-in-a-lifetime showcase featuring some of the biggest names in pop music.
Billed as the Home and Home tour, the show was part of a double-header featuring both headliners in their respective hometowns. Prior to Labor Day weekend, they appeared at a two-night stand at Comerica Park in Detroit, where Eminem headlined; Monday night it was Jay-Z's turn. That's the extent of the "tour," which made this such a hard ticket to come by.
Spanning more than four hours, the show ran like a hip-hop Love Boat on sweeps-week steroids, with a glittering array of guest stars. Short sets by newcomers B.o.B and J. Cole opened the show to pump up the crowd, but when Eminem took the stage at 8:30, they were quickly forgotten. Wearing a black hoodie and shorts, Em came out swinging, punching the air as he blazed into "Won't Back Down" from his chart-topping "Recovery." He seemed as if he had something to prove, forcefully spitting song's the vicious rhymes, bobbing and weaving, holding his microphone close to his mouth.
That style served him well in the grand setting as he took his fight to the 50,000 cheering fans as he moved from new material to old during his 90 minutes. Duets with Dr. Dre and 50 Cent were highlights of his set, as he let the rappers take one for themselves (Dre on "Nuthin' but a 'G' Thang," 50 on "In Da Club"). But Eminem's scorching encore of "Lose Yourself," the best song Oscar winner from his autobiographical "8 Mile," punctuated with fireworks, could have ended the night right there.
If Eminem came to show and prove, Jay-Z came to show off. Two hours later, the rap mogul emerged from the floor of the stage amid smoke and fanfare from his live band and DJ. Leather jacket and sunglasses in effect, he called, "New York, wassup?" -- and the intro to "Dynasty" got the kids back up on their seats. Jay showed off his flow, which was as cool as ever, but he also showed off his friends, which was exhausting.
In no time, he was joined by a red leather-clad Kanye West for "Run This Town" and "Power." West seemed a bit hoarse (perhaps from his flight east after Sunday's MTV Video Music Awards), which only made Jay's flow seem so much smoother and easier to comprehend. Perhaps to make things easier on the eyes for the males in attendance, the oddball rap chanteuse Nicki Minaj appeared for "Monster." Although her Day Glo camp look is terribly distracting, her rhymes and delivery were arresting.
West overstayed his welcome, but Eminem returned for a duet on "Renegade" before Jay-Z finally took sole command of the stage to rip the hits "99 Problems," "Jigga What, Jigga Who," "Big Pimpin' " and "Hard Knock Life." As if hits weren't enough to sustain the already over-stimulated crowd, Chris Martin from Coldplay appeared to perform the piano-driven "Heart of the City." This gave way to Martin singing "Viva La Vida," which brought cheers and guffaws -- has Jay never seen "The 40 Year Old Virgin?"
Shortly afterward, the headliner was joined by Drake ("Light Up") and then his wife Beyonce on "Young Forever." And just when it seemed as if things were winding down, the ubiquitous New York anthem "Empire State of Mind" was called in, with Bridget Kelly taking the pregnant Alicia Keys' part. Jay continued on with several more numbers before wrapping it up at 12:45 a.m.
It was an amazing night, worthy of comparisons to the Rolling Stones and Springsteen -- though after four hours, one can see why these things don't happen every day.
Source : www.news.yahoo.com
A menacing burst of rain before the show yielded to clear skies, foreshadowing an evening of ups and downs, missteps and triumph and a relentless verbal assault during a once-in-a-lifetime showcase featuring some of the biggest names in pop music.
Billed as the Home and Home tour, the show was part of a double-header featuring both headliners in their respective hometowns. Prior to Labor Day weekend, they appeared at a two-night stand at Comerica Park in Detroit, where Eminem headlined; Monday night it was Jay-Z's turn. That's the extent of the "tour," which made this such a hard ticket to come by.
Spanning more than four hours, the show ran like a hip-hop Love Boat on sweeps-week steroids, with a glittering array of guest stars. Short sets by newcomers B.o.B and J. Cole opened the show to pump up the crowd, but when Eminem took the stage at 8:30, they were quickly forgotten. Wearing a black hoodie and shorts, Em came out swinging, punching the air as he blazed into "Won't Back Down" from his chart-topping "Recovery." He seemed as if he had something to prove, forcefully spitting song's the vicious rhymes, bobbing and weaving, holding his microphone close to his mouth.
That style served him well in the grand setting as he took his fight to the 50,000 cheering fans as he moved from new material to old during his 90 minutes. Duets with Dr. Dre and 50 Cent were highlights of his set, as he let the rappers take one for themselves (Dre on "Nuthin' but a 'G' Thang," 50 on "In Da Club"). But Eminem's scorching encore of "Lose Yourself," the best song Oscar winner from his autobiographical "8 Mile," punctuated with fireworks, could have ended the night right there.
If Eminem came to show and prove, Jay-Z came to show off. Two hours later, the rap mogul emerged from the floor of the stage amid smoke and fanfare from his live band and DJ. Leather jacket and sunglasses in effect, he called, "New York, wassup?" -- and the intro to "Dynasty" got the kids back up on their seats. Jay showed off his flow, which was as cool as ever, but he also showed off his friends, which was exhausting.
In no time, he was joined by a red leather-clad Kanye West for "Run This Town" and "Power." West seemed a bit hoarse (perhaps from his flight east after Sunday's MTV Video Music Awards), which only made Jay's flow seem so much smoother and easier to comprehend. Perhaps to make things easier on the eyes for the males in attendance, the oddball rap chanteuse Nicki Minaj appeared for "Monster." Although her Day Glo camp look is terribly distracting, her rhymes and delivery were arresting.
West overstayed his welcome, but Eminem returned for a duet on "Renegade" before Jay-Z finally took sole command of the stage to rip the hits "99 Problems," "Jigga What, Jigga Who," "Big Pimpin' " and "Hard Knock Life." As if hits weren't enough to sustain the already over-stimulated crowd, Chris Martin from Coldplay appeared to perform the piano-driven "Heart of the City." This gave way to Martin singing "Viva La Vida," which brought cheers and guffaws -- has Jay never seen "The 40 Year Old Virgin?"
Shortly afterward, the headliner was joined by Drake ("Light Up") and then his wife Beyonce on "Young Forever." And just when it seemed as if things were winding down, the ubiquitous New York anthem "Empire State of Mind" was called in, with Bridget Kelly taking the pregnant Alicia Keys' part. Jay continued on with several more numbers before wrapping it up at 12:45 a.m.
It was an amazing night, worthy of comparisons to the Rolling Stones and Springsteen -- though after four hours, one can see why these things don't happen every day.
Source : www.news.yahoo.com
Friday, August 20, 2010
HOT.....True Blood Rolling Stone Cover
Definitely not Stephanie Meyer-approved: the newest Rolling Stone cover features the stars of True Blood, HBO’s sexy, bloody vampire series looking sexy, bloody, and naked. This is what vampires are about! [Popeater]After last week being awarded the slot of (third choice) third judge judge on American Idol, Jennifer Lopez has been fired because “her demands got out of hand.” The search to replace Paula Abdul continues. [Culture Vulture]
Michael Cera reports to Rolling Stone that he was standing outside a movie theater in Los Angeles when a crazy, possibly drunken fan offered to express her affection rather, um, intimately. Cera refused, saying there was “something demonic and terrifying about it.” The folks at GQ are not impressed with his actions. [dlisted]
A revival of the musical Annie being staged in Philadelphia this fall will star comedian Wanda Sykes (most recently of the sitcom The New Adventures of Old Christine) as iconic orphanage matron Miss Hannigan. [NY Times]
Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen are trying to revive their clothing line the Row (which you may remember used to be sold at Wal-Mart), and are aiming for the White House. Ashley says “I’d love to get Michelle Obama in the Row. The simple suits and things.” While I’m all for second chances, the Olsen twins’ recent sartorial choices do not suggest that simple suits (or sanity) will be on the menu. [The Fab Life]
Definitely not Stephanie Meyer-approved: the newest Rolling Stone cover features the stars of True Blood, HBO’s sexy, bloody vampire series looking sexy, bloody, and naked. This is what vampires are about! [Popeater]
Hollywood’s most unlikely couple has broken up - again! Marilyn Manson proposed to Evan Rachel Wood onstage in Paris about eight months ago, but it looks like the wedding’s off, and this after they broke up and then reunited in 2008. Despite the fact that during the breakup Manson made a music video in which a Wood lookalike was brutalized. Anyways, I guess they’ll always have Paris. [Jezebel]
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows stills of Harry and Ginny - I mean, uh, Daniel Radcliffe and Bonnie Wright - leaning in for a kiss have been released. The wait is almost over! [Popsugar]
Yes, that was your youth flitting away: Lizzie McGuire, that is, former Disney Channel star Hilary Duff, just got married to hockey player Mike Comrie. Pictures at the link. [Just Jared]
Like, OMG Twilight stars Robert Pattinson and Kristin Stewart were caught kissing for the first time evar! It was totally not a publicity move, you guys! [Celebuzz]
Given that James Franco seems bent on turning his every moment into a conceptual art project, I feel okay letting you know that a new blog devoted to Franco’s every waking move has just launched. In fact, I have a feeling it might even be some meta-blog by Franco himself. [What James Franco Did Today]
Source : thefastertimes.com
Thursday, January 28, 2010
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