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| Keri Hilson Celebrates Album Release With Akon, Tyson Beckford, More
March 25, 2009 at 12:42 pm
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| Singer throws party celebrating the release of her long-delayed In a Perfect World... LP.
By Kathleen Newman-Bremang with additional reporting by Jenna Talavera 
Keri Hilson at her album release party on Tuesday
Photo: Johnny Nunez/ WireImage NEW YORK — Keri Hilson may be known for providing hot backing vocals for the likes of Timbaland and Kanye West, appearing in Usher's "Love in This Club" video and writing songs for Britney Spears, but on Tuesday night, it was all about Keri. Hilson celebrated the long-delayed release of her debut album, In a Perfect World..., with a party at Pink Elephant nightclub in New York. Not only did dozens of fans wait in a line that wrapped around the block, but a few of Hilson's most famous friends showed their support. Model Tyson Beckford worked the red carpet and told a scrum of reporters that he "loves Keri's music." Beckford had some more high praise for the singer, predicting a future full of success. "She's coming up. She's going to be big," he said. Inside, Akon rubbed shoulders with Red Café while Joe Budden, Melyssa Ford, Adrienne Bailon and Hot 97 personality Angie Martinez took in the festivities in the VIP room at the swank venue, which had Hilson's album posters lining the walls. The debut LP features some big collaborations, from Lil Wayne, Keyshia Cole and Ne-Yo to producers Polow Da Don and Timbaland. There were whispers throughout the night that Tim would turn up with the Pussycat Dolls, but both acts were no-shows. Hilson arrived around midnight, wearing a revealing black blazer paired only with gold jewelry. She stayed close to her entourage all night, bobbing along to her own beats. As a crowd of fans converged on her booth, Hilson stood up on one of the many red leather couches. "Thank you all for your support!" she shouted. Hilson spoke about her Dr. Dre influences, working with Timbaland and why the album's release was delayed so many times during a visit to MTV News on Tuesday. "I'm just a perfectionist," she said. "I have had many [release dates], but it's all for a good cause. The label wants to make sure the album has its proper release, and I'm thankful for that. Very grateful, even though fans look at it like it's a bad thing." Related Photos Related Artists |
| Kelly Clarkson Hangs On To Billboard #1
March 25, 2009 at 12:35 pm
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| U2 land at #2, while 'Twilight' soundtrack jumps to #3 on boost from DVD release.
By Gil Kaufman 
Kelly Clarkson's <i>All I Ever Wanted</i>
Photo: Sony BMG It's good to be back. That's what Kelly Clarkson must be thinking, as her return-to-form All I Ever Wanted will top the Billboard albums sales chart again next week. Though it suffered a steep 65 percent drop from its first-week sales, according to Nielsen SoundScan, the 90,000 copies sold this week were enough to hold on to the top spot. Clarkson was able to fend off U2's No Line on the Horizon, which hit #2 despite a 42 percent drop in sales on the heels of suffering a 60-plus percent nosedive in its second week. Horizon moved 76,000 units as it edged toward a total of 700,000 sold in less than a month. It was all the Irish rockers could do to hold back a hard charge from the resurgent special-edition soundtrack to "Twilight," which bolted up 11 spots on a 250 percent uptick in business to 74,000, goosed, no doubt, by the smash first-week DVD sales of the movie. The-Dream's Love vs. Money also suffered a major drop-off (63 percent) in sales, but slipped into #4 with 56,000 satisfied customers, just ahead of Lady Gaga's The Fame, which took up the #5 spot with sales of 50,000. That meant that former chart dominatrix Taylor Swift's Fearless was pushed out of the top five for the first time since the album's release last year. Swift landed at #6 with sales of 47,000, followed by Nickelback's Dark Horse (#7 with 34,000), the chart debut of Bad Boy's Gorilla Zoe at #8 with 31,000 copies of Don't Feed Da Animals sold, Beyoncé's I Am ... Sasha Fierce (#9 with 27,000) and Jamie Foxx's remarkably strong Intuition, which held down the #10 spot with 24,000 units shifted. As for the other chart debuts, Twiztid hit #11 with 23,000 copies sold of W.I.C.K.E.D., the Decemberists hit a new career-high chart position with a #14 bow of their concept album Hazards of Love (19,000), Static-X slide into the #16 position with 19,000 copies moved of Cult of Static and, way down at #136, CNN (Capone-N-Noreaga) shifted 4,000 copies of Channel 10. Carrie Underwood got the "Idol" bump, with her year-and-a-half-old juggernaut Carnival Ride jumping from #42 to #15 on sales of 19,000 thanks to her appearance on her old stomping grounds, where she sang a duet with Randy Travis. Elsewhere, J. Holiday took a big tumble from his #4 debut last week, dropping to #20 as sales of Round 2 dipped more than 70 percent to 16,000, while Chris Cornell's Timbaland-produced Scream lost its voice, plummeting 55 spots from its #10 debut last week with week-two sales of 7,000. The news was no better for Sum 41, whose greatest-hits album, All the Good Sh--: 14 Solid Gold Hits, squeaked out just 3,000 sales to debut at #154. The charts should get a bit of a shake-up next week when the "Hannah Montana: The Movie" soundtrack debuts, along with the oft-delayed In a Perfect World from Keri Hilson. Related Artists |
| Robert Pattinson Smells Bad, 'New Moon' Crew Members Say
March 25, 2009 at 11:39 am
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| 'Twilight' star 'never showers, and it drives people on the set crazy,' unidentified staffer says.
By Jocelyn Vena 
Robert Pattinson
Photo: Steve Granitz / Getty Images Despite the assumed notion by many "Twilight" fans that Robert Pattinson is perfect, reports from the set of "New Moon" prove that even the dreamiest guys have their flaws. E! News is citing an unidentified source "who works very closely" with the actor on the Vancouver set of "New Moon" as saying that RPattz is stinking up production — and we're not talking about his acting skills. "He stinks. I mean, it's awful. He never showers, and it drives people on the set crazy," the source said about Pattinson's personal hygiene. "He completely reeks," an unidentified crew member added. This news should come as quite the shocker to many of RPattz's fans, like Ashley Tisdale, who recently revealed her crush on the dreamy Brit. Although she hasn't read the books, she has seen the films and admitted to MTV News, "I'm a big fan of Robert Pattinson's." She isn't the only famous face who may find the news disappointing. Ryan Reynolds, who stars in "Adventureland" with Kristen Stewart, also owned up to having a man crush on the actor."I love 'Twilight,' " he said. "Oh my God, are you kidding me? Robert Pattinson in a word: dreamy ... Look, I'm not gay — but I'm thinking about it." Interestingly, when Kellan Lutz recently talked to Ryan Seacrest about Robert Pattinson's charms, he left the sense of scent off the list. "His accent and his crazy hairdo get the girls swooning," he said, adding, "Rob's kind of shy, and he does this thing — when he's really shy or when someone asks him something, he lowers his head down, and the girls love it!" For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com. Related Photos |
| 'Rihanna's Law,' Spurred By Photo Leak, Aims To Prevent Victim Exploitation
March 25, 2009 at 10:52 am
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| Victims-rights movement gaining support following leaked photo of battered singer.
By Gil Kaufman 
Rihanna
Photo: James Devaney/ WireImage Spurred by the outrage over the leaked photo of a battered Rihanna following her alleged beating at the hands of boyfriend Chris Brown, a movement is taking root in Los Angeles to pass a so-called "Rihanna's Law" against releasing photos or information that exploits victims of crimes. The Los Angeles Times reports that support for the law has been gaining traction ever since the Los Angeles Police Department announced that it was investigating the leak and possible sale of photos of Rihanna with a bruised and battered face to the Web site TMZ after those images had been entered into evidence. TMZ has claimed it obtained the photo legally but has not said how it came into possession of the image. Among the groups reportedly supporting the creation of the law is STOParazzi, the self-proclaimed Celebrity Rights Advocacy Group that has also weighed in on the airport scuffle that recently resulted in Kanye West being hit with three misdemeanor charges. "We can no longer tolerate the leaking of private information when an interest turns into stalking," STOParazzi president Terry Ahern told the paper. Ahern said he thinks Rihanna's Law would deter employees of law-enforcement agencies from releasing photos or information that exploits crime victims. The nonstop coverage of the Rihanna/Brown case has brought up a number of issues regarding the privacy of alleged victims of domestic violence, including the decision by almost all major news outlets to divulge the identity of the victim — which is not typically done in domestic-violence cases — as well as the wide distribution of the disturbing image of the "Umbrella" singer. The current laws covering the leaking of such crime photos or videos, posted on the STOParazzi Web site, have no provision for prosecuting outlets that publish those images as long as no one can prove money was exchanged for them. The proposed law suggests that "if a private crime photo is distributed, the receipt of money for that act is irrelevant and does not diminish the detrimental effect such public distribution of private crime photos could have on the victim, the case itself, other victims of similar crimes, etc. Just because the person who leaked it may have done it, for example, because they were disgruntled or vindictive or even, perhaps, to help the defense, and not for money, per se, should not make it legal." A spokesperson for the LAPD could not be reached for comment about the proposed law at press time. Brown, 19, has been charged with two felony counts — assault and making criminal threats — in the case and is due back in court on April 6 for his arraignment, at which time he could enter a plea. Go here for domestic-violence resources, or check out Think MTV for a video handbook on spotting the warning signs of abuse. Related Videos Related Photos Related Artists |
| Asher Roth Is Proof That Hip-Hop Has Won
March 25, 2009 at 7:50 am
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| MC is the living, breathing example of 21st-century hip-hop culture, in Bigger Than the Sound.
By James Montgomery 
Asher Roth
Photo: Ben Ritter/ MTV Asher Roth is a translucent MC from the suburbs of Pennsylvania who grew up listening to the Dave Matthews Band, enrolled in West Chester University with the idea of pursuing a career in elementary education and dresses like it's eternally laundry day. He raps about weed and MILFs and beer pong. He is sort of like the hip-hop equivalent of CollegeHumor.com None of those things are the thing about Asher Roth, though I suspect all of them have something to do with what happens whenever I ask real hip-hop fans and critics about him — they sort of get quiet, kind of look at the ground and mutter something like, "Yeah ... he's ... yeah." Roth is basically everything these people are supposed to despise about hip-hop today. By his own admission, he has very little street credibility, and he has paid very few dues, yet he already has a crossover hit and has been the subject of several dozen "Next Big Things" pieces (including our MCs to Watch series). He raps about goofy things like Teddy Ruxpin and pizza, he doesn't have a thuggish bone in his body, and his lyrics have the depth of a kiddie pool. And yet none of those things should really matter. Because no matter how hard people want to hate Asher Roth, no matter how quick people are to dismiss him as some sort of bed-headed media construct, they really shouldn't. Because here's the thing about Asher Roth: He is proof that hip-hop has won. For years, detractors have tried to pass off hip-hop as music made "by a people for a people." This is terrible, and it sort of makes my head hurt, because it's simply not true. I grew up in the suburbs of Orlando, Florida, and I knew plenty of white kids who bought nothing but hip-hop, who lived, breathed and ate it, despite never having witnessed one-tenth-of-one-thousandth of the stuff N.W.A or Biggie were talking about. There has also been an oft-quoted mystery statistic that says "70 percent of people who buy rap music are white," though it's never really been verified and is perhaps best left alone. Because, now, thanks to Asher Roth, we don't need shady statistics. We have definitive proof: Hip-hop is the soundtrack to suburbia. He is the living, breathing example of 21st-century hip-hop culture. He grew up in the kind of place where — conventional wisdom goes — rap music dare not tread. And yet, here he is: a lanky, college-educated white kid who not only discovered the music, but ditched school to pursue a career in it and somehow ended up under the tutelage of Steve Rifkind, the dude responsible for the careers of the Wu-Tang Clan and Mobb Deep. And this has less to do with the fact that Roth is white — a hurdle that doesn't seem to exist in the wake of Eminem — as it does with the fact that he is unapologetic about who he is and where he's from. Unlike Em, who Roth is rather lazily compared to (although, yes, the two do sound alike), Asher grew up in idyllic conditions. He did not have to battle and scrap to earn his stripes. He did not have to fight for credibility. There was no hustling or grinding. Basically, Roth just went to college. What you see is what you get. He makes no attempts to boost his street cred or add dramatic, "Scarface"-ish flourishes to his upbringing. He's a suburban kid who fell in love with hip-hop — just like millions upon millions of other suburban kids. The rest — the attention, the hit, the fame — just sort of happened. And this is important, because if we are to really believe that hip-hop has conquered the world, has invaded every crevice of our culture, then we need to realize that rappers can be born anywhere. There is not a manual, there is not a "build-your-own" MC kit. Stuff like background and credibility and machismo don't matter one bit. Talent does. And Roth is plenty talented. So much so that he seems to go out of his way to hide his gifts. He peppers his deft lyrical touches with boner jokes, litters the colorful stories he spins with weed references and odes to intoxication (this is basically "I Love College"). If anything, he's trying very hard to hide behind the whole "stoned roommate" shtick, for reasons not really clear to me (except that maybe he really is someone's stoned roommate). After I saw him last week at South by Southwest, I wrote that "there's no denying that Roth was the biggest star ... by a mile. Whether or not he chooses to seize the opportunities available to him remains to be seen." Having thought about him for a few days since, I still believe that to be true. But perhaps he doesn't have a choice in the matter. He needs to seize those opportunities, because he's also carrying the entire future of hip-hop on his skinny little shoulders. He's the Hip-Hop Goodwill Ambassador, and he has to succeed. And you thought college was tough, Ash. Questions? Concerns? Hit me up at BTTS@MTVStaff.com. Related Videos |
| Ashley Tisdale Gets Starstruck Over 'American Idol' Singers
March 25, 2009 at 7:50 am
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| 'I was freaking out,' the 'High School Musical' star recalls of meeting 'Idol' hopeful Danny Gokey.
By Jocelyn Vena, with reporting by Kim Stolz 
Photo: Michael Loccisano/FilmMagic America is obsessed with "American Idol," and this obsession doesn't just consume the lives of everyday people. On occasion, celebrities even get sucked into the world of "Idol." One of those celebs is "High School Musical" star Ashley Tisdale. "I vote for them," she told MTV News of her favorite "Idol" contestants. "My friend was making fun of me, 'cause I was voting for them." For Tisdale, her love of the show and its contestants goes far beyond just voting for her favorites every week. It also means that, given the opportunity, she will do everything in her power to try and meet "American Idol" hopefuls. "I was stalking them at the recording studio," she said of the current "Idol" cast. "I was recording, and my producers were, like, trying to get me to record a song, and I was just like, 'The American Idols are over there, and I vote for these people. I need to go say hi.' " She eventually made her way out of her recording booth to try to meet some of the singers. "I was freaking out," she remembered. "I waited for Danny [Gokey] to come out of the bathroom, and he was, like, freaking out. He was so excited. I didn't get to meet any of the girls." Given the chance to meet any of the ladies, Tisdale knows who she'd pick. "I'm a big fan of Megan [Joy], 'cause I think she's unique and different." Get your "Idol" fix on MTV News' "American Idol" page, where you'll find all the latest news, interviews and opinions. Related Videos |
| Atlanta MCs Ludacris And Shawnna Trade Lyrical Blows On Battle Of The Sexes
March 25, 2009 at 7:50 am
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| 'It never has happened before,' rapper says of his album concept.
By Shaheem Reid 
Ludacris
Photo: DTP Let's get ready to rumble! Ludacris is ready to face off with his friend and fellow Disturbing Tha Peace colleague Shawnna. "Shawnna is all over the album," 'Cris said recently about his upcoming LP. "You get the male and female perspective on a lot of different issues. Look for it — another one." The album is slated for a summer release, but the duo have already released a song from the project called "Drunk as F---." "Shawnna, she does her thing," Luda said. "Not that many people that can rap fast and rap slow. The twist of the tongue, we got all that good stuff all over the album. ... It's about making sure we fill in all the gaps and get some of that variety. This Battle of the Sexes album is to inject hip-hop with something that's not going on. "It never has happened before," he continued. "A lot of people have been talking about doing an album with a male and female perspective, but it never has happened. I'm just trying to inject the industry with stuff that's not going on right now. I think we're gonna win with it — I know we're gonna win. The album is 80 percent done. We been working on it since last year, so that's why I'm saying we coming right back." The pair created over 30 songs, and Luda smiled when asked if Shawnna — acknowledged as one of the deadliest female MCs in the game — tries to kill him with her bars on each track. "You know what? At the end of the day, Shawnna is still Disturbing Tha Peace and I want her to get that competitive edge," he said. "The whole point ... we're setting her up for her own album. I feel that I don't have any competition out there. If there is any, it's my own artists. Shawnna is right there with me. I'm more proud [that] she's at that competitive level. She takes out most guys in the game completely. With that being said, I think that's what Battle of the Sexes is about — we're both going head-to-head. She's representing the females and I'm representing the males. It's a battle to the death. At the end of the day, no matter who wins, we both come out winning — Disturbing Tha Peace." Related Videos |
| 'American Idol' Motown Week: Who's Got The Edge?
March 25, 2009 at 7:50 am
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| Lil Rounds and Danny Gokey could soar, according to MJ Santilli of MJsBigBlog.com.
By Gil Kaufman 
The "American Idol" top 10
Photo: Michael Becker/ Getty Images/ Fox There's a reason "American Idol" has country-themed shows, pop nights, singer/songwriter visits and even mentors from the world of Broadway: The best way to judge who might survive in the unpredictable music world is to test their range in every way possible. Last week, the Grand Ole Opry did in Alexis Grace, who might have kept on chugging had she made it through to this week's challenge: the classic songs of Motown. The question is, who will soar singing the songs of Smokey, Diana and Marvin on Wednesday night (March 25), and who will be sent packing on Thursday? Here are our predictions for what tonight's show might bring, with some additional expert opinion from the founder of one of the most popular "Idol" blogs, MJ Santilli of MJsBigBlog.com: Scott MacIntyre - The piano man has gotten mixed reviews for his ivory tickling so far — Paula Abdul urged him to step out from behind the keys, Simon Cowell told him it was just fine to stay put — but his penchant for sappy, middle-of-the-road ballads might give him a bit of trouble this week. "He's probably going to pick a ballad, and he'll sound exactly the same way he did two weeks ago," Santilli predicted. "And I think he'll get through again because he's got that adult-contemporary niche." Lil Rounds - We don't want to say Motown night will be a cakewalk for the spunky singer with the giant voice, but, well, it should be. "This is hers to lose," MJ said. "This is right in her wheelhouse. There are so many good songs for her to choose from that would fit her vocal style. She should be able to knock it out of the park." Anoop Desai - 'Noop Dogg has had a good run of it, and he made a nice rebound last week with "Always on My Mind." His goofy R&B-lover persona seems like a good fit for Motown week, though he could suffer in comparison to stronger personalities. Santilli said that since his audition, Desai has built a strong, loyal fanbase that has given him an advantage through some iffy performances. "He's on the brink now," she said. "If he continues to pick good songs, he could pick up some new fans. It could be a fantastic week for him if he picks [the right] song." Michael Sarver - Though Texas roughneck Sarver has proven to have a remarkably soft, sensitive touch, his spot in the bottom three last week might be a harbinger of things to come. "He likes to sing soul, but he's so similar to other contestants who are better than him and more popular," MJ said. "The only thing that can save him is if he picks a really good song and sings it well." Danny Gokey - Like Rounds, Gokey should be in his sweet spot with the Motown catalog. His mixture of blue-eyed soul with a gospel edge could be a high point. "He sang a Motown song for his audition ['I Heard It Through the Grapevine'] and he did a good job. He and Lil should sail through this week." Megan Joy - The tattooed single mom has been great at injecting her quirky, chirpy vocals and hippie-shake dancing into a variety of settings so far, but this could be the stage where her shaky voice comes up short against the stronger competitors. "I think she's going to have a hard time," MJ said. "People compare her to Amy Winehouse, but I don't think she's very soulful. She has an interesting vocal style, but doesn't know how to interpret [songs]. I think she'll struggle this week." Matt Giraud - Matt stumbled out of the gate, but has been gaining steam ever since and with a good song choice this week he could set up a serious run at the title. "I think he has the most commercial sound out of all of them," MJ said. "I could hear him on the radio. He's beginning to develop a fanbase, and Motown could be the breakout week for him." Allison Iraheta - The teenage phenom with the voice of a 45-year-old soul veteran has proven pretty flexible so far — though she did take a trip to the bottom three last week. Like Desai, a good song choice could keep her in the running. "Ugh. Between her and Megan I don't know who will go first," MJ said. "I would love to see her last a few weeks longer, but she probably doesn't know the genre and this might not be one she's comfortable with." Kris Allen - He's got the looks, the piano chops and a renewed interest from Simon, but Allen's soft edge could make him seem a bit out of his league among some of the more powerful singers. "He has shown some potential and had some really bright moments, but I don't think the charisma is there yet," MJ said. "If he picks a ballad this week ... people respond to him singing ballads ... but on the other hand, that could be a trap for him. He's on the brink of maybe being a dark horse, but he's been really inconsistent." Adam Lambert - Who knows what Lambert will pull out this week? Perhaps a township jive version of "I Heard it Through the Grapevine"? A hair-metal take on "My Girl"? Either way, the audience — and most of the judging panel — seem to love him. Consider him through to next week. "What's fun about Adam is that I have no idea what he's going to do next," said MJ. "It could either be spectacular or another 'WTF?' moment. I'm looking forward to it, whatever it is." Get your "Idol" fix on MTV News' "American Idol" page, where you'll find all the latest news, interviews and opinions. Related Videos Related Photos |
| Ashley Tisdale Gets Starstruck Over 'American Idol' Singers
March 25, 2009 at 7:50 am
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| 'I was freaking out,' the 'High School Musical' star recalls of meeting 'Idol' hopeful Danny Gokey.
By Jocelyn Vena, with reporting by Kim Stolz
Photo: Michael Loccisano/FilmMagic America is obsessed with "American Idol," and this obsession doesn't just consume the lives of everyday people. On occasion, celebrities even get sucked into the world of "Idol." One of those celebs is "High School Musical" star Ashley Tisdale. "I vote for them," she told MTV News of her favorite "Idol" contestants. "My friend was making fun of me, 'cause I was voting for them." For Tisdale, her love of the show and its contestants goes far beyond just voting for her favorites every week. It also means that, given the opportunity, she will do everything in her power to try and meet "American Idol" hopefuls. "I was stalking them at the recording studio," she said of the current "Idol" cast. "I was recording, and my producers were, like, trying to get me to record a song, and I was just like, 'The American Idols are over there, and I vote for these people. I need to go say hi.' " She eventually made her way out of her recording booth to try to meet some of the singers. "I was freaking out," she remembered. "I waited for Danny [Gokey] to come out of the bathroom, and he was, like, freaking out. He was so excited. I didn't get to meet any of the girls." Given the chance to meet any of the ladies, Tisdale knows who she'd pick. "I'm a big fan of Megan [Joy], 'cause I think she's unique and different." Get your "Idol" fix on MTV News' "American Idol" page, where you'll find all the latest news, interviews and opinions. Related Videos Related Artists |
| New Day26 Album Unveiled At New York Listening Party
March 25, 2009 at 2:09 am
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| Forever in a Day due from chart-topping 'Making the Band' stars on April 14.
By Melanie Wolfson 
Day26
Photo: MTV News "Making the Band" stars Day26's forthcoming Bad Boy album, Forever in a Day, was unveiled at a listening party at Atlantic Records' New York headquarters. Held, fittingly enough, in a lounge on the building's 26th floor, the room was filled with flickering candles, freshly cut flowers, and Day26 posters. A television played footage of Day26 from "Making the Band," while a bar in the corner served drinks. Bad Boy President Harve Pierre hosted the party, giving background on the highly anticipated second album from the group, which formed in 2007 when Diddy hand-picked the five members at the end of season four of "Making the Band." Pierre took a moment to pause the music and tell guests how pleased he is with Day26. "There aren't that many good groups out there anymore, but Day26 is one of the greatest groups ever," he enthused. Pierre noted that the first single from Forever in a Day, "Imma Put It on Her," features both Diddy and Young Joc. He also said that a T-Pain produced track called "Shawty What's Up?" will have a video out on April 1 and will be featured on BET on Sunday, although the track does not appear on the new album. The album is a mixture of pumping club tracks and radio-friendly hits. Among the other tracks that stood out were "Stadium Music," with a heavy bassline and smooth lyrics, and "Remix," which, when MTV News caught up with Day26 in the studio last month, bandmember Robert Curry described as "a metaphor song. ... It's our version of [Beyoncé's] 'Upgrade U.' " Other artists featured on the 18-track album are The-Dream, Cassie and Jermaine Dupri. Although the members of Day 26 were not in attendance, guests agreed that Forever in a Day seems likely to repeat the success of the group's debut album, which debuted at the top of the Billboard albums chart in April of last year. Related Artists |
| Auction House Reports Threats From Michael Jackson's Reps
March 25, 2009 at 1:32 am
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| Julien's Auctions president claims he was told there would be 'bloodshed' if he didn't cancel upcoming sale.
By Gil Kaufman 
Auction catalog for Michael Jackson auction
Photo: Julien's Auctions First Michael Jackson was for it, then he was against it, but he still might be for it ... maybe. Such is the confusing saga of an upcoming auction of 2,000 pieces of Jackson memorabilia slated for April 22-25 that has reportedly run into resistance from the King of Pop. According to The Associated Press, the Hollywood auction house Julien's Auctions was hired by Jackson to sell off the contents of his now-closed Neverland Ranch, including one of his signature black fedoras, some of the singer's signature crystal-encrusted gloves and a pair of his MTV Video Music Awards, along with furniture, artwork, clothing, Neverland's giant ornamental front gates and a blinged-out golf cart. But then Jackson filed a lawsuit in early March, claiming he had not given permission for the sale of his many "priceless and irreplaceable" items. Julien's filed papers with the court showing that Jackson's representatives had been "deeply and enthusiastically" involved in the sale for months, down to the design of the cover of the auction book, before changing course and, according to president Darren Julien, allegedly trying to intimidate him into postponing the event. Julien claims that during a February 9 meeting at a fast-food restaurant in Los Angeles, one of Jackson's employees warned that the auction house would be in danger "from [Louis] Farrakhan and the Nation of Islam" if it didn't cancel plans for the sale. "He told us that [Jackson's business manager] Dr. Tohme and Michael Jackson wanted to give the message to us that our lives are at stake and there will be bloodshed," Julien claimed. A lawyer for Jackson said Julien had made the threat allegations to cover up his own misconduct, but a representative for Jackson could not be reached by MTV News for comment at press time. "Unfortunately, in the course of this case, Mr. Julien has not felt constrained by the truth while trying to capture the spotlight for the auction or himself with sensationalistic and fictionalized references to supposed threats that never occurred or baseless speculation about potential sales of Neverland," Jackson lawyer Alan Gutman told the AP. Gutman said the consignment agreement in which Jackson allegedly gave up his right to take the items back before the auction was illegal and unenforceable under California law. Despite the dispute, the two sides reportedly agreed to let some of Jackson's items travel as part of a publicity tour in advance of an April 3 court hearing on the matter. Some of the pieces are in New York this week, after drawing thousands of spectators in Ireland last month and possibly thousands more when a larger preview hits Los Angeles in two weeks. Julien has estimated that the sale could bring in $10 million to $20 million. The singer would get nearly all the proceeds, minus auction-house commissions and a percentage set aside for charitable causes. Jackson, who has reportedly suffered from financial problems over the past several years, recently sold out 50 dates at the O2 Arena in London. Related Photos Related Artists |
| Phil Spector Awaits Jury Deliberation In Second Murder Trial
March 25, 2009 at 1:28 am
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| Producer's lawyer says victim Lana Clarkson killed herself.
By Gil Kaufman 
Phil Spector during closing arguments on Tuesday
Photo: Lawrence K. Ho-Pool/ Getty Images Six years after actress Lana Clarkson died in Phil Spector's mansion, the jury in the Wall of Sound producer's second murder trial is expected to begin deliberations on Wednesday (March 25). According to The Associated Press, on Tuesday, Spector's attorney, Doron Weinberg, told the jury in closing arguments that Clarkson pulled the trigger on the gun that killed her, pointing to forensic evidence that included gunshot residue and DNA as proof that the actress committed suicide. "Mr. Spector did not kill Lana Clarkson," Weinberg said. "That's what the evidence shows." At one point, the defense attorney brought out the gun that killed Clarkson, showed it to jurors and said the blood on its grip proved that she was holding it when it went off, noting that Spector's DNA was not on it, that there was no gunshot residue on his clothing and that the producer's DNA was not found under Clarkson's fingernails. Weinberg urged jurors to ignore statements made the day before by prosecutors, who called Spector a "demonic maniac" in an attempt to paint the legendary producer as a madman with a violent history of threatening women with guns. Spector, 69, whose first trial in the case ended in a deadlocked jury in 2007, is charged with second-degree murder and faces 15 years to life in prison if convicted, though the jury can consider a lesser charge of involuntary manslaughter, which would send him to prison for up to 10 years. "Every single fact says this is a self-inflicted gunshot wound," Weinberg said, according to the AP. "How do you ignore it? How do you say this could have been a homicide?" Weinberg had asked for a mistrial on Monday in the case, which has lasted nearly six months, arguing that prosecutor Truc Do was attempting to convict Spector based on his character rather than evidence. Spector's chauffeur has testified that the producer — who has worked with everyone from the Beatles to the Ramones to Leonard Cohen — came out of his house on the night Clarkson died, February 3, 2003, and said, "I think I killed somebody." Spector invited the 40-year-old cocktail waitress and B-movie actress back to his mansion after meeting her that night at the House of Blues, where she was working. The prosecution has argued that the alleged murder was part of a pattern of violence toward women that Spector has shown in the past. Related Artists | | |  |
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