What's Hot in Los Angeles Entertainment Law

“Sexy and I Know It” Reaches #1 on Billboard Hot 100 for LMFAO!

Los Angeles, CA – “Sexy and I Know It” reached #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 for LMFAO the week of December 19, 2011, and stayed #1 through the week of January 14^, 2011.   “Sexy and I Know It” marks the 2^nd Billboard #1 song for LMFAO on their current album “Sorry For Party Rocking”.

“Sexy and I Know It” was co-written and co-produced by 19 year old “Audiobot,” [born Kenneth Oliver], who hails from Riverside, California.  Audiobot also collaborated with Black Eyed Peas front man Will.i.am, on his forthcoming solo venture #willpower, co-producing and co-writing “T.H.E. (The Hardest Ever)” featuring guests Jennifer Lopez and Mick Jagger. 

Audiobot explain, “Party Rock Anthem” was originally remixed in February 2011, by Audiobot, before the song blew up.  “I sent it to one of my DJ friends,  and he sent it to LMFAO through Facebook.  Once Red Foo from the group heard it, he was so cool and said  ‘Hey, I want to meet you.’  I went to his house and from then on, and the rest is history.”

Given Audiobot's rapid ascent to the top charts with modern music makers and artists, Audiobot needed an experienced entertainment lawyer, and sought out the legal counsel of entertainment attorney Helen Yu, who has been negotiating deals and steering navigation on Audiobot’s various career opportunities.  Helen Yu says,  “Sometimes the stars are aligned and for Audiobot this is definitely a blessing and true.  Audiobot knew music was his path at a young age.  Nothing makes me happier than helping the most talented producers in the world build a real business and music career.” 

As an in demand DJ, Audiobot has been igniting dance floors across the country, spending this past New Year’s Eve at The Modern Honolulu Hotel in Waikiki.   Audiobot says, “I test out a track by playing it in a club, listening to the mix, and watching the reaction of the crowd.  From there, I know what to change or what to add.”

Audiobot came out of nowhere, his sound is everywhere, and his ambitions are clearly defined: “I want to make music for everybody, to DJ around the world, and to be on the charts,” says Audiobot. “That’s my goal.”

A Million Pieces Are On A Roll...

EMERGING POP/ROCK BAND CELEBRATE SELF-TITLED SCALLYWAG RECORDS EP RELEASE WITH BIG WIN AT MTVU's "THE FRESHMAN"

(Los Angeles, CA) - Emerging Pop/Rock act A MILLION PIECES are moving forward full-throttle. The Scallywag Records artist is celebrating the release of their self-titled debut EP, along with a big win at mtvU's "The Freshman," which will place their "Laserbeams" music video into rotation on the popular college broadband outlet effective May 30. The group's "Laserbeam" video was previously selected to premiere on MTV's LOGO Network as part of its NewNowNextPopLab.  A Million Pieces was produced by Jerrod "Skins" Bettis (original OneRepublic drummer) and is described by the band as "edgy pop music with an attitude."

A Million Pieces is Morgan Freed (lead vocals), Peter Vanderloos (guitarist), Ryan Brown (bass) and Stephen Soss (keyboards/assorted instruments) along with drummer - Skins.

For more information, please visit facebook/A-Million-Pieces and twitter/ampmusicla.

 

PHOTO CAPTION:    A Million Pieces backstage at The Key Club following their performance at record release party for self-titled Scallywag Records debut EP.  The group just won mtvU's "The Freshman" competition which will place their "Laserbeams" music video in rotation on the popular college broadband outlet.

 

(Pictured left-to-right) 

Front row, Maxi Maxi (hair & make-up artist); Middle row, Helen Yu, Esq.(Manager); Morgan Freed (lead singer, A Million Pieces); Jerrod "Skins" Bettis (producer, A Million Pieces); Stephen Ross (keyboards/assorted instruments, A Million Pieces); Peter Vanderloos (guitarist, A Million Pieces); Noel Zancanella (producer, friend of A Million Pieces) and Ryan Brown (bassist, A Million Pieces).

 

 

Dr. Dre Wins Lawsuit for Iconic Album "The Chronic"

Andre “Dr. Dre” Young has been battling Death Row Records for years (a label he co-founded but later left) and on Tuesday, U.S. District Judge Christina Snyder ruled in his favor.

Judge Snyder's ruling states that Death Row Records does not have the right to sell Dr. Dre's rap album, "The Chronic," and adds Dr. Dre has received far less money than he is due for it.

 “For years, Death Row Records forgot about Dre when they continued to distribute his music digitally and combined his hits with weaker Death Row tracks in an attempt to elevate the stature of their own artists,” Dre’s lawyer, Howard King, wrote in a statement.  

The ruling does not call for a halt of digital sales of Dr. Dre's music but rather allows him to receive 100 percent of the proceeds says King. The ruling states that Death Row Records does not have the right to put Dre’s music on any other albums, including compilations.

For more information:

Billboard.biz Bulletin – April 21, 2011

 

Madonna To Record New LP

Madonna is preparing to record a new album under Live Nation. She signed with Live Nation in 2007 for a 10 year multi-rights deal said to be worth $100 million including touring, merchandising and recording rights. She decided to leave Warner Brothers after 25 years and the release of her 2008 album, “Hard Candy.” According to Billboard Boxscore, the following Live Nation-produced “Sticky & Sweet” tour grossed $408 million worldwide, highest ever for a female artist. Madonna is excited to get into the studio to start recording, which will happen after she finishes the movie she directed, says her manager Guy Oseary.

For more information:

Billboard.biz Bulletin – February 14, 2011

eMusic To Add Universal Music Group, Change Pricing

Universal Music Group has licensed its catalog to eMusic, making it the third major record label available to the store. In November, the additional 250,000 UMG tracks will be available to subscribers only. There will be also be a new currency pricing structure.

Most of the albums will be priced from $5.19 to $8.99, with most single track prices ranging from $0.49 to $0.89 for “tracks that generally sell for $1.29 at iTunes.” Existing subscribers will also incorporate the new pricing plans, but will be given a “loyalty bonus” based on tenure and the type of plan.

To the customer, the price change allows for an easier way to determine the amount of credit(s) unused. Currently unused credits do not roll over at eMusic, but with the new pricing structure, it is easier to determine what credits are left and quick ways to redeem them.

For more information:

Billboard.biz Bulletin – October 13, 2010

Printz Board Masterminds Music's Biggest Pop Show on Earth

 

August 2010 issue of Keyboard Magazine

Los Angeles entertainment attorney Helen Yu has represented Board for over a decade. "Printz is a rare and amazing talent.  It's one of those things... the second I met him a decade ago, I just knew unquestionably that this guy had the talent and skill to go all the way."

See below to read the article in its entirety.

“Girls Gone Wild” Creator Joe Francis being sued for Defamation by Vegas Mogul Steve Wynn

“Girls Gone Wild” producer Joe Francis is being sued yet again, this time by Las Vegas casino and real-estate mogul Steve Wynn.   

Wynn claims that Francis made defamatory remarks to gossip website TMZ in April of 2010, citing statements like “Mr. Wynn has threatened to kill me,” and, “He said he would hit me in the back of the head with a shovel and bury me in the desert.”  Wynn insists that he never said any of those things, and never threatened Francis in any way.  

This is not the first time Francis has been faced with a lawsuit; he has very publicly been sued dozens of times by underage girls featured in his “Girls Gone Wild” franchise.  

For more information:   Courthouse News Service - Entertainment Law Digest - Volume 15, Issue 7, July 2010

The Black Eyed Peas "I Gotta Feeling" Takes the Top Spot in the Digital World

 The Black Eyed Peas and producer extraordinaire David Guetta are at it again, this time taking the top spot in the digital world, as their song “I Gotta Feeling” recently surpassed Flo Rida’s “Low” as the best-selling digital song of all-time, according to Nielsen Soundscan. The song has sold almost 6 million digital downloads since its release in June of last year, and has spent 14 weeks at the top spot on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.  Currently, the Black Eyed Peas own two of the top five best-selling digital songs, with “Boom Boom Pow” coming in at number four. Rounding out the list (as of May 2010) is Flo Rida and two of Lady Gaga’s hits, “Just Dance” and “Poker Face.”

 

For more information:

Billboard.biz Bulletin – May 3, 2010

Publishers to Collect Millions in Backlogged and Pending Payments from Record Labels

    
 

    Hundreds of millions of dollars that have been backlogged or pending since the late 1990’s will finally begin to be paid out from record labels to publishers, due to the recently settled NMPA Late Fee agreement. The NMPA (National Music Publishers’ Association) has successfully requested to the CRB (Copyright Royalty Board) that music publishers and foreign societies be entitled to collect an annual 18% late fee from record companies and other distributors that are delinquent in payments and royalties.

    It has been estimated that a total of over $275 million in pending and backlogged royalties have not been paid to thousands of publishers over the past 10+ years.  In order to fairly and properly disperse this backlogged money, an independent firm is calculating the amount each publisher should be paid based on a market share formula. After publishers receive their resulting calculations, they can then decide whether or not they would like to opt-in to the agreement and receive their funds.

    Record labels are already taking major steps in order to prevent such a massive backlog of payments in the future.  Labels are now making digital payments even if there are physical product disputes, and royalties are being paid on each cleared track rather than waiting until the entire album is cleared.

    Helen Yu says of the matter, “I am extremely pleased to hear that publishers around the world will now finally be receiving the tens of millions of dollars they are owed.”

For more information:

National Music Publisher’s Association – “The Note” – Spring 2010

www.nmpa.org

www.nmpalatefeesettlement.com

Yu Leseberg Client Keith Harris Signs to Universal Music Publishing

 

Universal Music Publishing Group (UMPG) today announced the signing of an exclusive publishing agreement with Yu Leseberg client Keith Harris, GRAMMY and Juno-winning writer/producer. The publishing deal encompasses Keith's entire catalogue, including the Black Eyed Peas "Imma Be" which hit No. 1 on Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart this week and is No. 1 on the iTunes singles charts. Through the agreement, UMPG immediately represents Harris' publishing rights for the US and Canada and will represent Harris' world-wide publishing in July 2010, upon completion of his deal with EMI Music Publishing.

"This is a very special milestone for my career as a producer/writer/musician. I'm extremely thankful to the Peas, management, the Harris Productions team, and my new family at Universal Music Publishing," said Keith Harris.

The publishing agreement was negotiated and lawyered by entertainment attorney Helen Yu, whom has represented Keith Harris for many years.

"Congratulations to Keith for writing a worldwide hit with the Black Eyed Peas. 'Imma Be' is one of those songs that sings positive energy and passionate determination in every language. Great work by James Cheney in bringing this amazing client to us," said Tom Sturges, Head of Creative, Universal Music Publishing Group.

"I'm extremely excited to be teaming up w/ Keith Harris. The success he's having right now is just the beginning, and I look forward to the future as his career continues to develop. His talent as a producer is undeniable," added James Cheney, Director of Creative Affairs, Universal Music Publishing Group.

The Keith Harris co-written and co-produced "Imma Be" is the fourth single from the Black Eyed Peas fifth album The E.N.D. (Interscope). The song marks the group's fourth successful top ten hit from the album and was performed by the group during the 52nd GRAMMY Awards. The song has hit No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 Singles, No. 1 Hot Digital Songs, No. 1 on Hot Digital Tracks, and No. 1 on iTunes. Harris also co-wrote and produced the Black Eyed Peas "Meet Me Halfway" which hit No. 1 on the UK Singles chart, Top 10 on the Billboard Hot 100, and Top 3 on the Hot Digital Songs charts.

The publishing deal also encompasses Harris' co-writes in such notable recordings as "Heat" - Mariah Carey; "American Boy" - Estelle; "Be Ok" and "Let's Rock" - Chrisette Michele (2009 GRAMMY award winner for Best Urban/Alternative Performance); "Picture Perfect" - Chris Brown; "Baby Love" - Nicole Scherzinger; "Will vs. Superblack" "Impatient" and "Fly Girl" - Will.I.Am; "All That I Got" and "Close To You" - Fergie; "Till the Wheels Falls Off" and "Weekend" - Kelis; "About You" - Mary J. Blige; "In Da Club" - Genuwine; "Revival" - Jully Black (2008 Juno Award Winner for R&B Soul Recording), remixes for the Michael Jackson Thriller 25th Anniversary album, and more.

Keith has been the drummer for the Black Eyed Peas and Fergie since 2003. He is currently on the road with Black Eyed Peas for The E.N.D. World Tour 2010.

PR Newswire, March 2, 2010

Feuding Aerosmith Looking For New Singer

                Last week Aerosmith’s front man Steven Tyler announced that he was leaving the band for an undisclosed period of time.  The reasoning behind this abrupt decision is believed to stem from the rift that developed between Steven Tyler and the rest of the band.  Moreover, recent statements made by Steven to pursue a solo career as well as his decision to hire his own manager only reinforce this apparent rift.

                This news came as a shock to many Aerosmith fans as they are in the midst of a reunion tour, but this has not deterred the band.  According to Joe Perry, Aerosmith Guitarist, the band is “positively looking for a new singer to work worth.” Although it will be difficult to replace such a talented lead man like Steven Tyler, “if somebody was willing to do it and the chemistry was right, why not?” said Brad Whitford, Aerosmith band member.

                At some point this was inevitable, but you hate to see such an iconic band break apart at the seams.