May 22, 2013

Dr. Dre, Jimmy Iovine Donate $70M to Launch USC Academy

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*Rap mogul Andre “Dr. Dre” Young and music industry veteran Jimmy Iovine have donated a combined $70 million to create a new institute at the University of Southern California, the school announced Tuesday night. The huge gift from the two who have been music business partners in the past will be used to create the [...]




Lawsuit Claims UMPG Office is a Weed Den; Names Celebs

Adam Levine on the set of NBC's "The Voice" (April 1, 2013)

*According to a lawsuit filed Tuesday in Los Angeles Superior Court, Universal Music Publishing Group’s presence in Santa Monica has been “infiltrated with pervasive drug use where you could smell marijuana seeping from various offices and openly used in common areas, and lounges.” According to The Hollywood Reporter, the complaint comes from an anonymous security [...]




Mariah/Minaj Beef a Publicity Stunt (Source); Mimi Talks to Barbara Walters

mariah carey & nicki minaj

*The Hollywood Reporter is quoting a “high-ranking” insider at “American Idol” who says the whole  Mariah Carey – Nicki Minaj diva battle is a joke that both ladies are in on. “It’s exactly what Fox executives wanted all along,” says the source. “No one’s really worried. They know the parts they’re supposed to play.” Meanwhile, [...]




Audio: Mary J Blige Dishes on ‘Idol’ Visit; New Single ‘Why’

mary j blige american idol

*Mary J. Blige put in work this week on “American Idol,” first as a co-mentor to the contestants alongside Interscope Records head Jimmy Iovine, and then, as a musical guest during Thursday night’s results show. In an interview shortly after contestant Jeremy Rosado was sent packing, she told us she was blown away by the [...]




‘Idol’ Coach Debra Byrd Replaced by Team Iovine for Live Shows

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*”American Idol’s” longtime vocal coach Debra Byrd will not take part in the show when season 11 live episodes begin airing next week. Although she’s been shown during auditions and the Hollywood Week rounds, show sources tell the Hollywood Reporter that Byrd will step aside for the rest of the season so that in-house mentor [...]




50 Cent Threatens Interscope…Sign Me or I’ll Leave

50 cent

*50 Cent may be a multi-platinum seller for Interscope Records, but his deal with the record company expired and they have yet to pick up an option for future releases. On Saturday, 50 (real name: Curtis Jackson) tweeted, “Ok I need a record deal jimmy iovine, call me early tomorrow or I’m putting out another [...]




Butt, of Course: Diddy’s New Booty Book Due in November

booty(2011-wide)

*Well now, this is a most interesting story, indeed. The NY Post is reporting that Sean “Diddy” Combs and Jimmy Iovine, the Interscope Chairman, have collaborated to create a pop culture book called “Culo.” Now if you don’t know, “Culo” comes from the Italian word “culo,” which means … well it means posterior … butt [...]




50 Cent Working Out Interscope Issues for ‘Black Magic’ Release

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*50 Cent now says he’s ”begun to resolve” problems with his record company, Interscope, which have delayed the release of his “Black Magic” album. Last week, the rapper was threatening to postpone the release of “Black Magic” because Interscope, was not co-operating, but the situation has since changed. “So I had the record, I was [...]




Rodney Jerkins Working on Several Albums for ‘Idol’ Finalists

rodney jerkins

*Scotty McCreery may have won “American Idol,” but a number of season 10 finalists have scored recording contracts – and producer Rodney Jerkins will have his stamp on at least three of the projects. Fourth finalist out, Pia Toscano, has already recorded “a few songs,” according to Jerkins. He  says her debut is poised to [...]




‘Idol’s’ Jacob Lusk Hurt by Jimmy Iovine Criticism

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*Ousted “American Idol” contestant Jacob Lusk said he was hurt by constant criticism from the show’s in house mentor Jimmy Iovine. “It is definitely hard to have someone beat you over the head with a baseball bat, and then say go ahead and sing for your life,” Lusk said in a conference call. The 23 [...]




Shyne: LA Reid ‘Shouldn’t Be Chairman of Def Jam’

shyne

*Following his prison release last October after spending nearly ten years behind bars, former Bad Boy rapper Shyne is prepping his comeback with two new albums, “Messiah” and “Gangland.” Although the latter album is set for release on Def Jam Records, Shyne tells Billboard.com that he’s “been on my lawyer to get me up out [...]




Interscope Records Executive Troy Marshall on the State of the Industry

Troy Marshall

*Troy Marshall is a music business veteran that has over 20 years in the game. He has shaped the careers of acts like Nelly, Lil Wayne, 50 Cent, Common and so many others. While less visible than his other executive counterparts such as Jimmy Iovine, and Sylvia Rhone, Marshall continues to be a driving and [...]




Videos: Dre on ‘Detox’ Release, Jay-Z Duet, Red Sox Headphones

Red Sox Headphones

*Dr. Dre made two big announcements this week regarding his long-awaited third solo album “Detox.” During an interview with CNBC to plug his Beats by Dr. Dre headphones, the producer said the project, originally due in 2004, will at last see the light of day by year’s end. “I’m definitely putting an album out this [...]