Click Here
(May 25, 2004)
ESSENCE RETURNS TO THE BIG EASY
But it won't be easy to top last years ticket totals.
*It's just about time for the 18th annual
Essence Music Festival. This time around it
will return to the New Orleans Superdome.
The headliner? None other than Prince
himself.
Essence Communications CEO Ed Lewis
predicts that the festival's strong lineup could
mean record attendance. He says 190,000
tickets were sold for the 2003 event and that
sales for this year's edition are outpacing last
year's by 30%. Tickets range between $35
and $125, reports Reuters.
"No one comes to New Orleans over July
Fourth unless there's a reason," Lewis says,
joking about the city's staggering summer heat.
"I've been trying to get Prince for many, many
years. We feel very wonderful that he'll be
headlining on July 2."
The show's lineup includes Mary J. Blige,
Missy Elliott, New Edition (without Bobby Brown)
and 10-time Essence performer Gladys Knight.
Lewis says fest attendees will contribute about
$121 million to the city's economy. Including
this year's anticipated revenue, he estimates
that the event has generated $874 million for
New Orleans.
RUSSELL AND THE SUMMIT ARE ON THE ROAD AGAIN
This time the emphasis is on registering voters.
*Summertime has become the season
of the Hip-Hop Summit. Backed by Russell
Simmons and his Hip-Hop Action Network, the
summit will feature some of the biggest names
and sharpest minds in music, economics
and politics. The most recent summit was
held over the weekend in Detroit.
"Those of us who work in the hip hop industry
know this is the best generation in the world,"
Simmons told a crowd of music fans Saturday
at the Fox Theatre. "And come November, they
are going to see that this is the most powerful
generation that the world has seen."
Simmons said the power of hip hop comes
from its ability to unite people of different races
and religions.
"It's very important that we flex these
muscles in November," he said.
The Hip-Hop Team Vote effort holds voter
registration drives at summit cities. It recently
registered 50,000 voters in Los Angeles
and 80,000 in Philadelphia.
JOE RELEASES HIS OWN LEGAL HOUND
New lawyer to act as "extra pair of eyes" for elder Jackson.
- *Ol' Joe Jackson has been keeping an eye
on the legal affairs of his famous son, Michael
Jackson. So much so that he has hired a lawyer
to be his extra set of eyes on the matter, according
to a statement issued Monday on Joseph Jackson's
behalf.
Debra Opri, who frequently appears on TV as
a legal analyst and has represented singer James
Brown, said she will not be a part of the pop
singer's defense team, however.
"I'm not participating in the case at this point,"
Opri said in a telephone interview Monday with the AP.
"At this point I'm representing family interests. Joseph
loves his son and wants to be kept updated on everything."
Michael Jackson has pleaded not guilty to child
molestation, administering an intoxicating agent, and
a conspiracy count involving allegations of child
abduction, false imprisonment and extortion.
His lawyer, Thomas Mesereau Jr., was aware
of the arrangement with Opri but said, "I've never met
or spoken to her in my life."
Opri said Joseph Jackson wants her to attend
court hearings with him "to tell him what's going on."
"From now on he feels the urgent need to have
an extra pair of eyes properly advise him and Mrs.
Jackson," the family statement said.
Opri, who heads a Beverly Hills law firm, plans
to be in court Friday for a hearing in the case. She
also suggested that she could be a helpful presence
for the defense team.
"I am a person who believes in justice and
I believe Michael Jackson is innocent," she said.
"I don't believe that he has the capacity to formulate
a criminal intent. I just think I can help."
KOBE'S DEFENSE TAKES ANOTHER ANGLE
Now they're bringing in their own crime scene experts.
*First Kobe Bryant's lawyers attacked the
credibility of the alleged rape victim, now they're
attacking the crime scene investigation that led
to rape charges being filed against him.
"Detectives (Dan) Loya and (Doug) Winters
conducted a woeful crime scene investigation,"
defense lawyer Hal Haddon said in a motion filed
with the court in Eagle, Colorado and made public
on Monday. The defense team wants to present
two crime scene investigation experts to press
their side of the story.
The duo have been identified as Larry Ragle
and Beth Seeman. Ragle is a former sheriff's forensics
expert who testified at Simpson's 1995 double-murder
trial that the Los Angeles police investigation was
sloppy, and violated proper evidence collection
practices. Simpson's criminal trial ended
in his acquittal.
The second witness the defense hopes to use,
Seeman, is identified in Haddon's motion as a longtime
law enforcement investigator in Aspen, a Colorado
ski hamlet.
DON KING SHOWS MANDELA SOME LOVE
Calls former South African president a great boxer.
*We know that Don King has been behind
some of the biggest fights in history, but does
that give him the right to meet with heads of
states and great politcal figures? Apparently
it does.
During a recent meeting with South African
icon Nelson Mandela, King celebrated him
as a "great man."
"We are gathered here to pay tribute to a great,
great man," King said standing next to Mandela,
who returned to South Africa earlier Monday
after attending the wedding of Prince Felipe
and Letizia Ortiz of Spain.
"As you know Madiba (Mandela's clan name)
was a great boxer," King said as he briefly met
the Nobel peace laureate at his foundation's
offices in Johannesburg.
King is in South Africa on a week-long visit
at the invitation of local boxing promotors and
attended a five-bout match at a casino east
of Johannesburg over the weekend.
SNOOP DOGG FILES FOR DIVORCE
You know you can't keep a dog tied up in the yard for long.
*Snoop D-O-gizzle is headed to Divorce
Kizzle? Fo' shizzle!
Snoop Dogg has filed for divorce from Shante
Broadus, according to legal documents filed in
Los Angeles last week.
Although given his habit over the years
to be seen in numerous x-rated situations that
seemingly would compromise his committment
to his marraige, we're not surprised. Although
we're slightly shocked to learn the HE filed
the papers and not Shante Broadus.
They have been married since 1997 and
have three children: Corde, 9; Cordell, 7; and
Cori, 4. He is seeking joint custody.
Snoop, born Calvin Broadus, cited general
"irreconcilable differences" for the breakup.
"The only thing I want to say is Mr. Broadus
hopes that the divorce can be as amicable as possible,"
Snoop's attorney, Robert Nachshin, told The Associated
Press on Monday.
Snoop, of course, stars in "Soul Plane," which
opens this weekend in North America.
VANGUARDE SELLS THE LAST OF ITS TITLES
Honey is purchased for about $650,000.
*It's kinda sad to think that Vanguarde Media,
a company we looked up to, is being liquidated.
But that's just how business is.
Vanguarde recently auctioned off its popular
Honey magazine to an entertainment company.
The asking price? $650,000! We're no financial
wizards, but damn that seems kinda cheap.
The last of the four magazines once published
by bankrupt Vaguarde Media was sold at auction
for $195,000 in cash, plus the assumption of $406,000
in subscription liabilities to Sahara Entertainment
and BlackBook Media.
According to Joe Samet, the attorney representing
Vanguarde in US Bankruptcy Court in New York, the
winning and final bid came after Black Enterprise publisher,
Earl Graves, offered $175,000 for Honey. On Wednesday
Graves purchased Heart & Soul at auction for $80,000
in cash and $450,000 in assumed liabilities.
Jungle Media, a custom publishing firm whose
titles target MBA and law students, acquired rights
to Savoy and Savoy Professional for $375,000 in
cash and $516,000 in assumed obligations. The
company produced Savoy Professional through
a partnership with Vanguarde.
The final sale brings to an end the short-lived
Vanguarde-era. The four-year-old company, which
once boasted more than $25 million in annual
revenues from four magazines, was forced
into bankruptcy with $12 million in debt.
BANDSTAND TO STAND AGAIN?
That's what Dick Clark is shooting for.
*Once upon a time "American Bandstand"
was the place to be, but "Soul Train" came along
and blew it out of the water. Now Dick Clark has
teamed up with the creators of "American Idol"
to see if it can all go down again.
Clark said on Monday he is shopping an
update of "American Bandstand" to a number
of networks, aiming for a summer 2005 debut.
"We think there's a great opportunity to
utilize television for the promotion of today's
music and put some dancing in it, and run
a competition and hopefully come up with
a hit," Clark told Reuters.
A nationwide search has begun for a new host.
Clark, 74, describing himself as "a little bit out of the
demographic" to return as host, will serve instead
as executive producer, along with Simon Fuller,
whose 19 Entertainment company created
and produces "American Idol."
==========
ESSENCE RETURNS TO THE BIG EASY
But it won't be easy to top last years ticket totals.
*It's just about time for the 18th annual
Essence Music Festival. This time around it
will return to the New Orleans Superdome.
The headliner? None other than Prince
himself.
Essence Communications CEO Ed Lewis
predicts that the festival's strong lineup could
mean record attendance. He says 190,000
tickets were sold for the 2003 event and that
sales for this year's edition are outpacing last
year's by 30%. Tickets range between $35
and $125, reports Reuters.
"No one comes to New Orleans over July
Fourth unless there's a reason," Lewis says,
joking about the city's staggering summer heat.
"I've been trying to get Prince for many, many
years. We feel very wonderful that he'll be
headlining on July 2."
The show's lineup includes Mary J. Blige,
Missy Elliott, New Edition (without Bobby Brown)
and 10-time Essence performer Gladys Knight.
Lewis says fest attendees will contribute about
$121 million to the city's economy. Including
this year's anticipated revenue, he estimates
that the event has generated $874 million for
New Orleans.
RUSSELL AND THE SUMMIT ARE ON THE ROAD AGAIN
This time the emphasis is on registering voters.
*Summertime has become the season
of the Hip-Hop Summit. Backed by Russell
Simmons and his Hip-Hop Action Network, the
summit will feature some of the biggest names
and sharpest minds in music, economics
and politics.
The most recent summit was
held over the weekend in Detroit.
"Those of us who work in the hip hop industry
know this is the best generation in the world,"
Simmons told a crowd of music fans Saturday
at the Fox Theatre. "And come November, they
are going to see that this is the most powerful
generation that the world has seen."
Simmons said the power of hip hop comes
from its ability to unite people of different races
and religions.
"It's very important that we flex these
muscles in November," he said.
The Hip-Hop Team Vote effort holds voter registration drives at summit cities. It recently registered 50,000 voters in Los Angeles and 80,000 in Philadelphia. Midway through Saturday's event, the group said it had signed up at least 70,000 Michigan voters - including 40,000 in Detroit.
JOE RELEASES HIS OWN LEGAL HOUND
New lawyer to act as "extra pair of eyes" for elder Jackson.
- *Ol' Joe Jackson has been keeping an eye
on the legal affairs of his famous son, Michael
Jackson. So much so that he has hired a lawyer
to be his extra set of eyes on the matter, according
to a statement issued Monday on Joseph Jackson's
behalf.
Debra Opri, who frequently appears on TV as
a legal analyst and has represented singer James
Brown, said she will not be a part of the pop
singer's defense team, however.
"I'm not participating in the case at this point,"
Opri said in a telephone interview Monday with the AP.
"At this point I'm representing family interests. Joseph
loves his son and wants to be kept updated on everything."
Michael Jackson has pleaded not guilty to child
molestation, administering an intoxicating agent, and
a conspiracy count involving allegations of child
abduction, false imprisonment and extortion.
His lawyer, Thomas Mesereau Jr., was aware
of the arrangement with Opri but said, "I've never met
or spoken to her in my life."
Opri said Joseph Jackson wants her to attend
court hearings with him "to tell him what's going on."
"From now on he feels the urgent need to have
an extra pair of eyes properly advise him and Mrs.
Jackson," the family statement said.
Opri, who heads a Beverly Hills law firm, plans
to be in court Friday for a hearing in the case. She
also suggested that she could be a helpful presence
for the defense team.
"I am a person who believes in justice and
I believe Michael Jackson is innocent," she said.
"I don't believe that he has the capacity to formulate
a criminal intent. I just think I can help."
KOBE'S DEFENSE TAKES ANOTHER ANGLE
Now they're bringing in their own crime scene experts.
*First Kobe Bryant's lawyers attacked the
credibility of the alleged rape victim, now they're
attacking the crime scene investigation that led
to rape charges being filed against him.
"Detectives (Dan) Loya and (Doug) Winters
conducted a woeful crime scene investigation,"
defense lawyer Hal Haddon said in a motion filed
with the court in Eagle, Colorado and made public
on Monday. The defense team wants to present
two crime scene investigation experts to press
their side of the story.
The duo have been identified as Larry Ragle
and Beth Seeman. Ragle is a former sheriff's forensics
expert who testified at Simpson's 1995 double-murder
trial that the Los Angeles police investigation was
sloppy, and violated proper evidence collection
practices. Simpson's criminal trial ended
in his acquittal.
The second witness the defense hopes to use,
Seeman, is identified in Haddon's motion as a longtime
law enforcement investigator in Aspen, a Colorado
ski hamlet.
DON KING SHOWS MANDELA SOME LOVE
Calls former South African president a great boxer.
*We know that Don King has been behind
some of the biggest fights in history, but does
that give him the right to meet with heads of
states and great politcal figures? Apparently
it does.
During a recent meeting with South African
icon Nelson Mandela, King celebrated him
as a "great man."
"We are gathered here to pay tribute to a great,
great man," King said standing next to Mandela,
who returned to South Africa earlier Monday
after attending the wedding of Prince Felipe
and Letizia Ortiz of Spain.
"As you know Madiba (Mandela's clan name)
was a great boxer," King said as he briefly met
the Nobel peace laureate at his foundation's
offices in Johannesburg.
King is in South Africa on a week-long visit
at the invitation of local boxing promotors and
attended a five-bout match at a casino east
of Johannesburg over the weekend.
SNOOP DOGG FILES FOR DIVORCE
You know you can't keep a dog tied up in the yard for long.
*Snoop D-O-gizzle is headed to Divorce Kizzle?
Fo' shizzle!
Snoop Dogg has filed for divorce from Shante
Broadus, according to legal documents filed in
Los Angeles last week.
Although given his
habit over the years to be seen in numerous situations
that seemingly would compromise his committment
to his marraige, we're not surprised. Although we're
slightly shocked to learn the HE filed the papers
and not Shante Broadus.
They have been married since 1997 and
have three children: Corde, 9; Cordell, 7; and
Cori, 4. He is seeking joint custody.
Snoop, born Calvin Broadus, cited general
"irreconcilable differences" for the breakup.
"The only thing I want to say is Mr. Broadus
hopes that the divorce can be as amicable as possible,"
Snoop's attorney, Robert Nachshin, told The Associated
Press on Monday.
Snoop, of course, stars in "Soul Plane," which
opens this weekend in North America.
VANGUARDE SELLS THE LAST OF ITS TITLES
Honey is purchased for about $650,000.
*It's kinda sad to think that Vanguarde Media,
a company we looked up to, is being liquidated.
But that's just how business is.
Vanguarde recently auctioned off its popular
Honey magazine to an entertainment company.
The asking price? $650,000! We're no financial
wizards, but damn that seems kinda cheap.
The last of the four magazines once published
by bankrupt Vaguarde Media was sold at auction
for $195,000 in cash, plus the assumption of $406,000
in subscription liabilities to Sahara Entertainment
and BlackBook Media.
According to Joe Samet, the attorney representing
Vanguarde in US Bankruptcy Court in New York, the
winning and final bid came after Black Enterprise publisher,
Earl Graves, offered $175,000 for Honey. On Wednesday
Graves purchased Heart & Soul at auction for $80,000
in cash and $450,000 in assumed liabilities.
Jungle Media, a custom publishing firm whose
titles target MBA and law students, acquired rights
to Savoy and Savoy Professional for $375,000 in
cash and $516,000 in assumed obligations. The
company produced Savoy Professional through
a partnership with Vanguarde.
The final sale brings to an end the short-lived
Vanguarde-era. The four-year-old company, which
once boasted more than $25 million in annual
revenues from four magazines, was forced
into bankruptcy with $12 million in debt.
BANDSTAND TO STAND AGAIN?
That's what Dick Clark is shooting for.
*Once upon a time "American Bandstand"
was the place to be, but "Soul Train" came along
and blew it out of the water. Now Dick Clark has
teamed up with the creators of "American Idol"
to see if it can all go down again.
Clark said on Monday he is shopping an
update of "American Bandstand" to a number
of networks, aiming for a summer 2005 debut.
"We think there's a great opportunity to
utilize television for the promotion of today's
music and put some dancing in it, and run
a competition and hopefully come up with
a hit," Clark told Reuters.
A nationwide search has begun for a new host.
Clark, 74, describing himself as "a little bit out of the
demographic" to return as host, will serve instead
as executive producer, along with Simon Fuller,
whose 19 Entertainment company created
and produces "American Idol."
GOT NEWS? Share it with us (info@eurweb.com).
---------------
support our sponsors
-----------------------
PUSH YOURSELF TO ... THE EDGE
... an exclusive two-day workshop, June 5-6
at Eastman Kodak in LA. A unique educational experience
for people of color who desire to excel in entertainment.
Top pros like actor/producer Duane Martin and industry
executives share "real" info. No frills. No filler.
All experience. www.theedge04.com
Film Life's 8 th Annual American Black Film
Festival (ABFF) South Beach, July 14 - 18, 2004
The ABFF presented by Time Warner is a five-day
retreat and international film market. Join us for
independent films, Hollywood premieres, industry
panels, workshops and entertainment - inclusive
of the Comedy All Stars, the Film Life Movie
Awards and exclusive parties. Festival Passes
On Sale Now . Call 212-966-2411 ext 400
or visit http://www.abff.com
6/10
====================
EUR FEEDBACK (send mail to: MYfeedback@eurweb.com)
*K. Wright, New Brunswick, NJ:
"I think that Bill Cosby (05-24-04 EUR)
plucked a nerve when he spoke about the way
our children speak and conduct themselves
because some of it was true.
As a teacher of elementary school children,
I can relate to his comments on a day to day basis.
For example, when I discuss the wonderful things
that can be done, researched or created on
a computer, I often hear, 'I don't have one, my
mom/dad won't buy me one. They cost too much.'
In the same breath, that same child will brag about
the newest Jordan's or how many video game systems
they have at home. In addition, I have listened to
the way our children speak and then during
conferences listen to their parents.
All I can say is 'Apples don't fall far from the
tree! Bill Cosby may have a point and it is time
that we start to take stock of the standards
we are setting for our children."
*Yvette Moyo, Chicago, IL:
"Bill Cosby said what responsible and caring
Black folks say quite often, to their kids, employees,
and the general public. It's definitely what we as
African Americans should be reminded of every day,
but why it was national news?
I don't think they could air on TV what Bill might
have to say about the US and the war. What would
anyone say about the Ukranian-born murderer of
Mr. Cosby's son? They'd shiver at the thought of
what is happening in this country and what we are
doing in other country's business.
If he were speaking to an all white audience he
might admonish leadership of their kind for leading
us into Iraq, stealing the election, for slavery or any
number of atrocities.
Bottom line, let's all take some responsibility,
fight for the things we believe in, speak out about
injustice and mostly pray for change and some
fair media coverage."
*Desiree Abraham, Cleveland, TN:
"Someone needed to bring this issue to the
forefront!! You go, Bill (Cosby)! You just go!!"
*Shanita Lawrence, Bronx NY:
As an African-American former NYC public
school teacher, I can personally attest to what
Dr. Cosby says about $500 sneakers and the
'crap' that comes out of the mouths of parents
and their children.
The situation has gone from bad to worse
to abysmal to lower than the depths of hell within
the span of a decade. The priorities of many of
the parents are centered nowhere near getting
the most out of the education system and
saving money for their child's future. Too many
of these parents are silly teenagers who are
having a hard time adjusting to being parents
at such a young age. Of course, there are
exceptions to the rule, but the majority of the
time the results are disastrous.
*Ibrahim (no city given):
"Right on! We want to laugh at 'BayBay's'
kids to amuse ourselves, lament and curse
them when they rip us off or turn our children
in the wrong direction, then we want to protect
them against legitimate criticism because the
critic just happens to be wealthy.
Negroes please.
We need to tell the truth about ourselves
and accept the truth from whomever speaks it.
There is way too much ignorance and equally
too much materialism in the African American
community. We need to deal with both.
'Bay Bay's' kids ain't funny. If we don't pull
the weeds from our garden, they will choke out
our flowers."
*Donna, South San Francisco, CA:
"Thank you EUR for printing the statement
from Bill Cosby which clarifies the speech that
he gave at the event held by the NAACP Legal
Defense Fund.
I originally questioned whether or not the
comments actually came from him. The comments
sound like Bill Cosby, but they didn't 'feel' like the
Bill Cosby that I admire. The tone of the message,
when taken out of context, lacks compassion and
appears to blame all of our problems on low income
Blacks. I should have known that his statement
was taken out of context. I guess some sources
aren't that 'reliable .'"
*Mr. Manuel/Los Angeles Laker, CA:
"Bill seems to be very intolerant of African
Americans who do not fit his particular ideologue.
A number of years ago I watched as he harshly
criticized rap music as trash on one of the late night
shows. Millions witnessed his unprofessional and
rude treatment of Wanda Sykes (Hope I spelled
her name correctly) an African American woman
just doing her comic relief routine during an awards
show last year. Bill rudely ignored Wanda as she
attempted to get his attention and then quipped
something about her use of the English language
when any fool could see she was doing her reporter
character from her sit com.
I think his heart may be in the right place because
honestly the Hood is not 'Holding up their end in this
deal.' However, money, privilege and education clearly
have made Bill extremely insensitive and quite possibly
racially intolerant. What would Fat Albert say?"
Speak Out
Currently, 1 comments have been made on this story.
...
