Articles

The clock ticks, the countdown has begun and the Ruse is ready to explode.   Comfortably resting on the cusp of national acclaim, this L.A.-based quartet outfits a sound so shattering it will fracture the spine of the American music scene. Original yet familiar, structured yet erratic, the Ruse is more than just a band — it’s a phenomenon waiting to take the country by storm.   Unconfined to any specific genre or style, the group is most reminiscent of an Americanized version of U2 or Coldplay —

The Auckland City Council is feeling rather pleased with its Build Own Operating Transfer agreement over the Vector Arena.   Construction has reportedly stopped at the arena because urgent repairs are needed on the roof. However Auckland City Council spokeswoman Jill McPherson says the BOOT agreement means the council is not affected by construction problems.   British supergroup Coldplay was tentatively booked to play at the Vector Arena in downtown Auckland in June, but said they were unlikely

At the Academy Awards, celebrities smile as they parade down the red carpet before a phalanx of cameras. Behind the flashbulbs, a delicate new game is under way between the stars and the vast gossip industry of TV shows, magazines and Web sites that feeds upon them.   It has always been a relationship built upon animosity and mutual need. But tensions have grown with the explosion of media running paparazzi photos of stars canoodling or emerging from shops in frumpy track suits. Now many stars

EMI has been the subject of numerous takeover rumours in recent sessions, mainly on the back of its poor performance over the past few years against a rising market. Even having the likes of Robbie Williams, Coldplay and Gorillaz on its roster has done little to cheer shareholders.   Takeover rumours did the rounds again yesterday, with more talk of a link-up with Warner Music, the recording division of the media giant Time Warner. However, dealers reported quality buyers piling into the stock

"I think I mostly have an insecurity complex about myself, because I've been trying anything I can on women along the way," admits James Blunt — the heartwarming voice behind the ballady smash "You're Beautiful" — with a chuckle. "I tried a uniform at first, and then tried being a musician. Neither have worked particularly well for me. I'm sure psychologists will have something to say about that."   Blunt, whose forlorn lyrical vignettes sound a lot like David Gray songs as sung by Damien Rice,

During the nineties, Richard Ashcroft fronted the superb Britpop group The Verve, peaking in 1997 with the release of the Beatle-esque Urban Hymns. The band split at the apex of their success and since then Ashcroft has struggled to regain his past critical and popular acclaim. Following his high profile appearance with Coldplay at the Hyde Park Live 8 concert, Ashcroft has rejoined them as their opening act while he tours in support of his third solo release, Keys To The World.   While in town

A lawyer for Apple Computer Inc. today defended the right of the company to use the apple logo on its iTunes Music Store and in a series of TV advertisements for the Web site, despite objections from the Beatles' Apple Corps Ltd. recording label.   Apple Corps is suing Apple Computer in London's High Court, claiming that the U.S.-based computer company has broken a 1991 agreement in which each agreed not to enter into the others' field of business.   The British company, started by the Beatles

UNTIL yesterday, nobody had even thought of redoubtable NSW Liberal Andrew Tink and glamorous Hollywood star Gwyneth Paltrow in the same universe, let alone in the same boudoir. But that all changed in parliament when Deputy Premier John Watkins made considerable play on reports Paltrow and husband Chris Martin, lead singer for Coldplay, had decided to call their new baby Tink as in Tinkerbell, from Peter Pan. According to Watkins it was fitting that the member for Epping, who will retire next y

The Orchard, the world's leading distributor and marketer of independent music, and Amp'd Mobile, the first mobile entertainment company created to bring next-gen broadband wireless services for youth and young adults, today announced at CTIA a new partnership where The Orchard will provide music and video from its 800,000-track catalogue-the largest in the world-to Amp'd Mobile's U.S. consumers. The Orchard is the first major independent distributor to provide content to Amp'd Mobile.   Amp'd U

MegaStar says: ‘Put the rock ’n roll back into the Brits before we die of macrobiotic boredom.’   Organisers of next year’s Brit Awards are already drawing up their wish-list for a line-up that promises to cause a bit of controversy.   After several years of Coldplay getting millions of nominations and James Blunt sipping herb tea backstage, they’ve decided things need spicing up a bit and we’re right behind them.Gone are the days when a disgruntled rock star would get trollied, grab the mic and

A city resident who admitted he planned to sell counterfeit tickets to a rock concert at the Tweeter Center last summer pleaded guilty Monday to attempted theft by deception.   Warren admitted that he planned to sell bogus tickets for the Coldplay concert on Aug. 7, 2005. Before any sale could be made, Warren was arrested by Camden police as the result of another crime in which he was not involved.   Read more here

Never again will anyone be able to say that the UK’s top 40 singles chart is made up of just record sales.   This week the Gnarls Barkley single “Crazy” became the first track to become number one through downloads alone. The song, used in BBC ads for Zane Lowe's Radio 1 show, has been downloaded more than 31,000 times on all internet sites, a spokesman for HMV said.   Had the rule existed when Coldplay launched “Speed of Sound” that would have been the first download-only number one.Although o

Roads made out of biscuits, penguins by the Thames, and Chris Martin rocking the vote for the Tories are among the tall tales carried by newspapers to mark April Fools' Day.   Chris Martin and Tory leader David Cameron lock eyes longingly across page three of The Guardian. It describes at length how the Coldplay frontman has released a version of one of their hits in a bid to persuade young people to vote Conservative.   "Talk" has been renamed "Talk to David" for the project, which apparently e

Global digital music sales figures are being officially reported for the first time today as part of IFPI's (International Federation of the Phonographic Industry) total world music sales statistics showing continuing growth in online and mobile music worldwide.   Record company trade revenues from digital sales globally nearly tripled in value, from $400 million to $US 1.1 billion in 2005. The total number of digital single tracks downloaded online or to mobile phones rose to 470 million units,

A Michael Moore moment at the Junos? Now that host Pam Anderson has joined the chorus of celebs condemning the East Coast seal hunt, who knows what will happen during Sunday night's big show?   Earlier this week, Anderson joined celebs like Paul McCartney and Morrissey and spoke out against the hunt. Heck, the issue even brought Brigitte Bardot out of hiding. So, will our gal Pam use the awards to pontificate on animal rights? One can only hope.   The thought of Anderson hijacking the Juno stage

The Junos play it safe once again, snubbing or downplaying much of Canada's exciting new musical talent   They're not fooling anyone. On Sunday, the Junos will do their little song and dance, and try to convince us that they're catching up with the times, but the list of album-of-the-year nominees says it all:   Diana Krall, Michael Buble, Nickelback, Kalan Porter and Rex Goudie.   That would be: one adult-contemporary jazz-pop princess (for a Christmas album, no less!), one Frank Sinatra wannab

Bid on some pieces of music history at the Rock 'n' Roll Auction & Concert Preview Party on Wednesday night at the Pageant.   An announcement of upcoming concerts at UMB Bank Pavilion is a highlight of the annual event, at which music fans buy items autographed by some of their favorite artists. Proceeds benefit Kids Alive and Music Alive music programs at St. Cecilia Academy, Carlane Middle School Music Camp and Webster Community Music Schools.   Guitars bearing the autographs of top stars

Once again, production designer Pete Faragher has created a state-of-the-art set that reflects not only the geographical location of the awards broadcast but its stature as the most exciting night in Canadian music.   For the first time ever on The JUNO Awards, a standing-room-only, general admission section of the arena will see fans surrounded by 125 feet of elevated walkways leading to a central pod in the middle of the arena. "The shape of this walkway is like the waterways that lead to the

Following the news that Jennifer Aniston is to wed Vince Vaughan this summer, revelations have been exposed that the ceremony could be held at 43-acre Californian estate owned by none other than reigning queen of chat-show TV, Oprah Winfrey!   Should the couple decide to go ahead with recent plans, it will allow them to invite 500 of their personal friends and family, along with celebrity acquaintances, George Clooney, Gwyneth Paltrow and, of course, Jen’s former Friends co-stars, to name a few.

The amazing success story surrounding the new Warner Bros. Records artist Daniel Powter -- who will release his self-titled debut album on April 11th -- keeps growing, thanks to the triumph of "Bad Day," the album's lead-off single. The piano-driven pop track is the best-selling single in the U.S. this week, claiming the Number One spot on Billboard's Hot 100 chart. Already Certified Double Platinum by the RIAA, it is also the most digitally downloaded song on iTunes for the second week in a row

UK court bites into Apple logo case   The Beatles and Apple Computer Inc faced off in court on Wednesday in a trademark dispute triggered by Apple's move into the music business through its iTunes download service.   Apple Corps Ltd, owned by Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, John Lennon's widow Yoko Ono and the estate of George Harrison, has sued Apple Computer twice before over the companies' competing fruit logos.   He noted that the Apple Computer logo is displayed when users buy songs from the i

The HFStival two-day rock concert is headed back to the Baltimore area, coming to Merriweather Post Pavilion during Memorial Day weekend.   The lineup of 60 acts is scheduled to be announced Monday for the music festival at the Columbia amphitheater, which will take place May 27-28. Tickets go on sale April 8.   Last year, the festival was held at Baltimore's M&T Bank Stadium and drew about 53,000 people with bands like Coldplay, Good Charlotte and the Foo Fighters."We think this is one of t

The rock stars of the 1960s and 1970s are still outranking - and outselling - their younger rivals.   Recently Paul McCartney met a man who plays the piano in an old people's home. "I hope you don't mind," the pianist said, "but I play some of your songs and the most popular one is When I'm 64."   The truth, however, is that music hasn't been ruled by the young for years now. More than half of all CDs are bought by people over 30; Mojo, the British magazine for the greying fan, outsells NME. Eve

From last year's report, YMCA Valletta assisted 1283 individuals over 2005. This figure excludes the people benefiting from the EU food program. In total this amounts to over 6405 interventions with 9000 clients.   All this work by dedicated volunteers and professionals needs also some funds to operate. So if you like Coldplay Music, see you there!   Playing some of Coldplay's greatest No.1 hits this tribute band promises to be as mesmerizing as the authentic Coldplay! Ira Losco and her band w

The show is already in high definition. It's hosted by Pam Anderson. Now, they've added interactivity and unique dual-screen technology.   The 2006 JUNO Awards TV broadcast will be in a state-of-the-art Enhanced TV format online, host broadcaster CTV has announced. It innovative "two-screen" technology, exclusive to CTV, allows viewers to watch The JUNO Awards broadcast while simultaneously interacting with the show online.   The 2006 JUNO Awards, Canada's Music Awards, airs this Sunday, April