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Ozzfest Greed

SMN reports: Now that Sharon has decided that Ozzfest should be free, a lot of speculation about the move is coming out including that part of the reason is that last year's fest reportedly lost $1.5 million for the promoter LiveNation. And others are commenting on how much Sharon has reportedly charged "baby" bands for a slot on the tour. But Sharon "Antoinette" Osbourne now blames the greed of bands as the cause of high ticket prices. 

"They want $300,000 plus to do an hour's work onstage," Sharon Osbourne told Brad Kava of the Mercury News referring to some young bands. "I'm just not doing it. Last year nearly destroyed us, paying, paying, paying, and we just can't do it again." 

She said that System of Down, last year's headliners, $325,000 a night almost sank the festival. "They're taking four years off, we paid them so much, and we're still working," she said. "I'm not doing that again." She didn't comment however on how that kind of payday squared with SOADs ultra-left wing politics including the hypocritical hatred of capitalism or the irony of her calling some established bands greedy when she was reportedly charging new bands $75,000 for a second stage slot (CMJ report). "Let them have cake and I'll eat it too" But maybe with Sharon we should say eggs. Now see the full story for some speculation on how this "free" ticket deal is supposedly going to work. - Click Here for the Full Story 

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Idol Dope

TMZ reports: Akron Watson, an "American Idol" contestant from Dallas and one of the feel-good stories of the new season, has been disinvited from the Hollywood round of the show, possibly after producers discovered a pot bust on his record.

Watson, whose San Antonio audition aired on last night's "Idol," was arrested in April 2003 for misdemeanor possession of marijuana, according to court records obtained and Posted by PegasusNews.com. He was headed to Hollywood after impressing the judges with his singing, and his story. But Watson tells Pegasus News that two days before he was scheduled to leave for Hollywood, he received a call saying that he would not be competing anymore "for unknown reasons." "Idol" producers did not comment on their withdrawn invitation. [see full story about another Idol crime�No, not Clive's pop make-over of Bo Bo Bice] - Click Here for the Full Story 

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Def Jam Wasn't Urban Enough

AP reports: Hit producer and sometime rapper Jermaine Dupri has been named president of Island Record Urban Music, a newly created division of Island Def Jam Music Group.

"I'm so excited to be reunited with L.A. Reid because most of my biggest hits were when he and I worked together," Dupri said. "And then to be working side by side with Steve Bartels � I don't think there's a better team because he's by far the best in the game. I can't wait for us to start stuntin' on y'all."[see full story for more]- Click Here for the Full Story 

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Rap Madness

Gigwise reports: Veteran rockers Madness have teamed up with one of UK Hip-hop's brightest talents, Sway, on their new single, �Sorry.' 

The single - which is due for release on March 5 - can currently be heard on the band's �Madspace' page.

Speaking about the collaboration Sway said: "I've always wanted to do something with them; it's an honor for me." 
[see full story for more... "my ho, in the middle of my hood...]- Click Here for the Full Story 

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McPhee Denied Top Spot Again as Norah Jones Tops Chart

FMQB reports: To no one's surprise, Norah Jones' third album, Not Too Late, debuted at the top of the SoundScan sales charts this week, giving the Jazz/Pop chanteuse her third straight #1 record. Not Too Late sold just over 405,000 copies its first week out.

Coming in at a respectable #2 was American Idol alum Katherine McPhee, whose self-titled debut sold over 115,000 copies.[see full story for more]- Click Here for the Full Story 

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Big Brother After Your iPod Now

TMZ reports: If a proposed bill passes in New York, you won't see pedestrians in Manhattan bopping along to their iPods. 

State Sen. Carl Kruger [D-Brooklyn] is planning to introduce legislation to ban the use of gadgets -- iPods, Blackberrys, cell phones, etc. -- while crossing city streets. Careful Sen. Kruger, you don't want to cross Steve Jobs! 

"We're talking about people walking, sort of tuned in and in the process of being tuned in, tuned out," Kruger told WCBS-TV in New York. [This is the same guy that wants to pass "smart guns" legislation. see full story for more]- Click Here for the Full Story 

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Dio Sabbath Tops Pollstar

Blabbermouth reports: HEAVEN AND HELL � the band made up of BLACK SABBATH guitarist Tony Iommi and bassist Geezer Butler, singer Ronnie James Dio, and drummer Vinny Appice (BLACK SABBATH, DIO) � has topped Pollstar magazine's Top 50 chart (issue date February 12, page 36), which tracks the ebb and flow of popular tours. The chart is compiled according to the number of times the artist's tour itinerary is requested by fans visiting the Pollstar.com web site. The band takes the first place slot ahead of GWEN STEFANI at No. 2, TOOL at No. 3, RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS at No. 4 and BOB SEGER & THE SILVER BULLET BAND at No. 5.[see full story for more]- Click Here for the Full Story 

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KISS SquarePants

Blabbermouth reports: KISS bassist/vocalist Gene Simmons has posted the following message on his official web site:

"Our 'Gene Simmons Family Jewels' TV crew followed myself and Miss [Shannon] Tweed to shoot the Nickelodeon voice over work we did for SpongeBob SquarePants.

"Miss Tweed played a Sea Mom. And I played Sea Monster. (...Really???? You're kidding.)[see full story for more]- Click Here for the Full Story 

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More Britney Settlement BS

pr-inside reports: LATEST [BS]: BRITNEY SPEARS' estranged husband KEVIN FEDERLINE has slammed reports he turned down a $25 million (£12.8 million) divorce settlement offered by the pop star. Reports last week (ends02FEB07) suggested the rapper was offered the money, but wanted to hold out for even more cash. But Federline's attorney, MARK VINCENT KAPLAN, has hit back at the reports, insisting, "Britney's lawyer is too smart to make that offer, and Federline's lawyer is too smart to turn it down!"[see full story for more]- Click Here for the Full Story 

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iTunes and TicketMaster Team Up

Tunelab reports: Buy a concert ticket via TicketMaster and get a free song at iTunes. Starting this summer every consumer who purchases a concert ticket at Ticketmaster.com will receive a free music download at the iTunes Music Store and will be offered a digital sampler featuring select artists.[see full story for more]- Click Here for the Full Story 

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One Less Reason To Tour

Tunelab reports: One Less Reason will be hitting the road next week for what is currently a 19-date tour, dates are:

February 16th in Memphis, TN @ New Daisy
February 17th in Columbus, MS @ Princess Theatre
February 23rd in Dyersburg, TN @ Midnight Rodeo
February 24th in Jackson, MS @ Hal-N-Mals
February 26th in Lubbock, TX @ Jake's[see full story for more]- Click Here for the Full Story 

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Daughtry Vanished in Texas

TuneLab reports: The Vanished will open for Daughtry on his Texas dates which include:

February 18th in Lubbock, TX @ Jakes
February 21st in Houston, TX @ Meridian
February 22nd in San Antonio, TX @ White Rabbit
February 23rd in Austin, TX @ Stubbs
[see full story for more music news including another story on Daughtry]- Click Here for the Full Story 

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Oasis Fans Rigging UK Charts

idolator.com reports: the new rules governing the British singles charts allow any highly downloaded song, no matter how old, to be eligible for inclusion in that week's top list. This has inspired some intrepid Brits to start an online lobbying campaign:

So, we decided to start this website so that together we can put right some wrongs. With your help, we plan to identify the songs we think were a number one hit, or should have been number one, but were kept from the top spot by some naf song, or possibly something just as good that happened to come out at precisely the same time.

We start Monday 12th February with Oasis "Roll With It". Released 14th August 1995, it made number two, pipped to the post in the famous Britpop battle by Blur with their single "Country House". [see full story for more]- Click Here for the Full Story 

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Sacred Reich Reunion

KNAC reports: Phoenix thrashers Sacred Reich are reforming to play two nights in their home state of Arizona, billed locally as the "only two U.S. dates" the band will play.

The band consists of all original members (Phil Rind, Wiley Arnett, Jason Rainey, and Greg Hall) and will play two nights, Friday July 20th at the Rock in Tuscon, and July 21st at the Venue of Scottsdale, in Scottsdale.[see full story for more]- Click Here for the Full Story 

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Further Seems Forever Set Date

punkbands reports: Further Seems Forever have set April 3, 2007 as the release date for their forthcoming album "The Final Curtain" which features unreleased tracks, live versions, acoustic material, DVD of their final show also and also Chris Carraba era material.[see full story for more]- Click Here for the Full Story 

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