What's Hot in Los Angeles Entertainment Law

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.

Billboard 200 Charts Undergo Changes

The Billboard 200 chart will get a new look beginning in the new year.  While the current Billboard 200 chart displays rankings of U.S. top selling albums based on the release date, the new format will disregard the release dates, truly reflecting to consumers the best-selling albums.  The reason for this change according to Billboard’s director of the charts, Silvio Pietroluongo is that “There is a more immediate cause and effect between artist exposure and album sales in this day and age, and the Billboard 200 should reflect this activity, regardless of an album’s release date.” Only time will tell if this new ranking method implemented by Billboard will appeal to the masses.  For more information regarding this change, check out the Billboard website.

Musical Artists: Worth More Dead Than Alive? Michael Jackson and Elvis Generate Millions for Their Estates

LOS ANGELES, CA (November 24, 2009) With the passing of pop’s biggest idols comes an unprecedented outpouring of emotion.  Soon after, it becomes apparent that the money lives on.  In the cases with music’s biggest icons, the revenues generated post-mortem signify lucrative paydays for their estates.

“Often times the estates will become booming enterprises because the artist is no longer in charge,” says Los Angeles entertainment attorney Helen Yu.  “Elvis is a clear example: he was an amazing artist and performer, but he ran amuck financially during his life and was too generous with others when he should not have been.  It wasn’t until after he died that Priscilla Presley and her advisors created an estate that would go on to earn millions of dollars.”  According to the Forbes Annual Top Earning Dead Celebrities, the Presley estate is worth in excess of $55 million dollars.

Michael Jackson has reportedly made $90 million dollars since his death in June 2009, and most of that money is from AEG, the company behind his movie This Is It.  Jackson was reportedly in catastrophic debt before his death.

Since Michael Jackson’s death, the world can now see the true light of Michael’s legacy.  Posthumous homages have been done by Helen Yu-represented Michael Jackson protégé Wade Robson and his friend Charles Klapow.  Robson, the Emmy-winning choreographer/director who as a young dancer appeared in Jackson’s “Black or White,” “Jam” and “Heal the World” videos, has since become the creator of the MTV show, The Wade Robson Project, as well as the choreographer for an American Idol tour and artists like Usher and Pink. He recently choreographed Cirque du Soleil/Criss Angel’s Believe at the Las Vegas Luxor.  Robson honored Jackson as a performer at this year’s the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards (VMA’s) and on the recent So You Think You Can Dance.  Helen says, “I’ve known Wade Robson and Charles Klapow since they were both little kids.  They have both been disciples of Michael all their lives, and it’s great to see them honoring him in this way.”  Yu is also associated with Charles Klapow, an Emmy-Winning choreographer known for his contributions to the High School Musical franchise, and one of the dancers for the Michael Jackson tour featured in the film This Is It, as well as Jennifer Hudson’s performance at the Michael Jackson memorial service held at Staples Center in Los Angeles.

Yu observes the economic reality of a famous artist’s estate involves “finding commercial avenues for the assets they already have and building on what already exists.  Graceland was upside down and they turned it into a museum that is the most popular element of the company.  Michael Jackson has the film, and they may also eventually create a museum.”

Yu, who once attended a pre-auction viewing of the possessions of the still living King of Pop, notes the unprecedented earning power of the now deceased Jackson.  “He was certainly an amazing songwriter, performer and dancer, but he sometimes let the wrong people in.  Now that his estate’s advisors are John Branca and John McClain, music industry veterans who know how to monetize the business, unfortunately, he will most likely earn more dead than alive.”

Lady Gaga Sets Latest Billboard Chart Record

Lady Gaga becomes the first artist in the 17-year history of Billboard's Pop Songs chart to notch four No. 1s from a debut album, as "Paparazzi" rises 3-1.

The singer - recently honored as Billboard's Rising Star - previously led Pop Songs with "Just Dance," "Poker Face" and "LoveGame" from her debut release, "The Fame." The set has sold 1.56 million copies in the U.S. to date, according to Nielsen SoundScan. The album will be re-released in expanded form as "The Fame Monster" Nov. 23, and its newest single, "Bad Romance," this week bounds 38-25 on Pop Songs.

Four days after the album's re-release, Lady Gaga will kick off her 38-date Monster Ball tour in Montreal. The North American leg of the tour runs through Jan. 13 in Detroit. The tour will continue Feb. 18 through March 8 in Europe with shows in cities including London, Belfast and Dublin.

Since the Pop Songs chart debuted in October 1992, two artists prior to Lady Gaga had plated three No. 1s from their first albums: Ace of Base and Avril Lavigne (pictured, left). (Alanis Morissette also enjoyed a trio of leaders from her first U.S. album, "Jagged Little Pill").

Interscope president/promotion Brenda Romano and senior vice president/promotion Chris Lopes told Billboard.com, "we're overjoyed about Gaga's unprecedented achievement. It's phenomenal, but not surprising. Gaga's an awesome talent, with boundless creativity and an uncanny ability to make her visions come to life.

"She's a great person, and we couldn't be happier for her. Our staff deserves praise for its hard work and dedication, and radio deserves thanks and appreciation for all its support.

"We can't wait to see LG at the Monster Ball. It's going to be a phenomenal tour!"

Pop radio programmers are equally impressed with Lady Gaga's unrivaled start at the format.

KMVQ (Movin' 99.7)/San Francisco played "Paparazzi" the most times - 131 - of all Pop Songs reporters in the current chart's tracking week (Oct. 26-Nov. 1), according to Nielsen BDS.

"Lady Gaga has come on to our station like a tornado," says Movin' program director Michael Martin. "When you make hit records, the audience responds, and we would be foolish not to give them what they want."

KAMP (97.1 Amp Radio)/Los Angeles has spun "Paparazzi" the most times to date - 880 - of any chart reporter through Nov. 1. John Michael, the station's assistant program Director, says that Lady Gaga is "definitely one of our most identifiable artists."

"What makes her different from every other artist is that she, quite frankly, sounds different than every other artist. In a world driven by people who tend to gravitate towards what is proven and comfortable, Lady Gaga has released a record full of hits that doesn't sound like anything else out there right now.

"So, even at single number four, there's still a freshness to her music. I'm sure there are musicians in a studio somewhere biting her style even as we speak. The Lady Gaga wannabes are coming!

"That will put the ball back in Gaga's court and force her to re-invent herself. The good news is that she seems to be completely up for the challenge."

Of all the stations currently on the Pop Songs reporter panel, KHTT (K-HITS)/Tulsa was the first to play "Just Dance" (April 3, 2008).

"From the first listen, I knew that 'Just Dance' was a K-HITS record," says KHTT operations manager Tod Tucker. "Even though no one, including myself, had heard of Lady Gaga, I put it on the air, and the phones started blowing up.

"Tulsa can't get enough of Lady Gaga, and I'm proud to say we took the lead in playing the biggest female pop artist of the 21st century!"

By Gary Trust, Billboard.biz, November 4, 2009

TOUR CANCELLED? – “Fame Kills” the highly anticipated Kayne West and Lady Gaga Tour is no longer

Inexplicably, Kanye West and Lady Gaga’s highly anticipated tour “Fame Kills” is cancelled according to a statement released on Thursday by Live Nation.  The tour was scheduled to begin on November 10, 2009 in Phoenix and run all the way through at least January.

 This unexpected cancellation of the tour begs the question does Fame Kill?  Kayne West is under heat for his recent behavior at the MTV Video Music Awards where he stormed the stage during Taylor Swift’s acceptance of her award for best female video.   In a raw moment, Kayne insists on live television that Beyonce deserved this award.  Although Kayne apologized afterwards for his behavior, people are very critical of Kayne’s actions considering that this incident was not his first outburst on live television.

 Although there is no direct correlation between the cancellation of the tour and the fallout from Kayne’s recent behavior, the fact is that many months of hard work were devoted to the creation of this tour which is now only an afterthought.

 

2009 Pro Football Hall of Fame Induction Features The Temptations, a Motown Originator

Richard Street of The Temptations has just returned to the U.S. from tour dates in Greece and London, performed at the Pro Football Hall of Fame Induction Gala in Canton, OH, and is in the process of writing his autobiography. This year marks the 50th Anniversary of Motown and 39 years after he first joined The Temptations as a full time member. Richard Street maintains a rigorous schedule that would exhaust a man half his age.

Performing at the Pro Football Hall of Fame celebrations has become a regular stop for the legendary vocalist. A recent performance included 2009 inductee, Dallas Cowboys' defensive end Bruce Smith, joining Street and his band for a jubilant version of classic "My Girl." Says Street, "I couldn't get the microphone away from Tony Dorsett (Dallas Cowboys). Michael Irvin (Buffalo Bills, Washington Redskins) is a pretty good singer and Jim Kelly (Buffalo Bills) also got up on the stage. It's getting to be a tradition, going there and playing the private parties. I also went to Dallas to sing the national anthem before one of the Cowboy games - that was an honor."

Prior to joining The Temptations, Street worked at Motown in the company's rigorous quality control department. "Everything that was cut downstairs would come up, and I would hear it first before Berry Gordy and nine other people would vote on it," he recalls.

Street officially joined The Temptations in 1971. Hits that he was featured on include "Superstar (Remember How You Got Where You Are)" and "Papa Was a Rolling Stone," whose co-writer and producer, Norman Whitfield, had worked with Street in quality control. "Norman called me and told me to come downstairs to listen to something. As soon as I heard that bass line I knew it was going to be a very big record. That 'wah-wah' guitar and the different voices coming in; variety was the key to The Temptations' success in the early seventies."

Richard Street is represented by Los Angeles entertainment attorney Helen Yu of Yu Leseberg, A Professional Law Corporation, who notes the undiminished power of the music and her client's active career. "The Motown sound is an fundamental pillar of American music whose longevity reflects the universality of the songs and the superlative artists who sang them. Working with Richard is a reminder that music of substance can endure and influence successive generations of listeners who continue to rediscover the magic."

Says Richard Street. "It's the hard working folks whose families came up working in the factories that built Motown. When I was a kid I never dreamed that I could be a part of something like this; to be a part of history, to make music that would be heard all over the world."

Black Eyed Peas, Jason Mraz Streak to Hot 100 Records

Two longevity records will be shattered on the Billboard Hot 100 chart to be released on Billboard.biz tomorrow (Aug. 20) morning. With an eighth consecutive week at No. 1 for "I Gotta Feeling," the Black Eyed Peas will have held the top slot for an unprecedented 20 straight weeks, having previously led the list for the prior 12 frames with "Boom Boom Pow," the lead single from its Billboard 200-topping album "The E.N.D." Also entering the record books is Jason Mraz's "I'm Yours," which spends an extraordinary 70th week on the Hot 100. The track debuted on the May 3, 2008, chart and peaked at No. 6 nearly a year ago, on Sept. 20, 2008. The song has resided within the top 40 of the list in all but the first 12 weeks of its chart life, dropping 23-29 on the latest tally.

The Black Eyed Peas' 20-week string atop the Hot 100 surpasses Usher's run of 19 consecutive weeks achieved in 2004 with "Yeah!" and "Burn." On establishing the mark for longest successive stay at No. 1 in the Hot 100's 51-year history, Peas member will.i.am comments, "With this kind of success your ego wants to take all the credit but your heart reminds your soul that it was your heart that had you slaving and creating in the studio making the music; breaking through comfort zones and tradition. In the fight between heart and ego my heart always wins." Fellow Pea Fergie adds, "It's an amazing feeling to know that these songs have connected with so many people who have kept them alive for so long."

For Mraz, his never-say-die single overtakes the weeks-on-chart mark held for nearly 11 years by LeAnn Rimes' signature hit "How Do I Live." That ubiquitous track spent 69 weeks on the Hot 100, with its final frame occurring on the Oct. 10, 1998, chart. Multi-format airplay is one of the reasons for "I'm Yours'" longevity. It is the only track to reach No. 1 on each of the following four radio-based charts: Mainstream Top 40/Pop Songs, Adult Contemporary, Adult Top 40, and Triple A. It has also appeared on Latin Pop, Smooth Jazz, and debuts this week at Rhythmic.

On the song's multi-genre appeal and long shelf life, Mraz states, "I think it's because it borrows from every one of those formats. Or perhaps the song is genre-less. The first two and a half minutes have so little production you could almost classify it as spoken-word. Yet it's rhythmic and melodic at the same time." Also aiding its continued presence on the Hot 100 is the fact that "I'm Yours" ranks as the third-best selling digital song (4.4 million downloads) since Nielsen SoundScan began tracking download sales in 2003.

Only recently did Mraz begin to realize that "I'm Yours" was nearing uncharted chart territory. "I found out about 6 weeks ago that the song was on its way to breaking this record. I was moved....I'm still blown away - humbled by the success of my happy little hippie song."

By Silvio Pietroluongo, Billboard.biz, August 19, 2009

Congratulations to Black Eyed Peas

 

Please join me in filling a cup and wishing a resounding Mazel Tov and "L'haim" to our clients, Black Eyed Pea - Taboo and songwriter/producers Keith Harris, Printz Board, George Pajon, Jr. and Tim Ordingreff in a summer celebration to their contributions to the essential sounds of the season: Black Eyed Pea's The E.N.D.

The full length album's two breakout singles rule the airwaves. As of July 30, 2009, The Black Eyed Peas set a record for the longest successive #1 chart run in the Billboard Hot 100's history, with "I Gotta Feeling" in its fifth consecutive week at #1, following twelve weeks at the top by "Boom Boom Pow."

The Black Eyed Peas fifth album debuted at #1 on the Billboard Top 200 marking it the Peas largest first week sales in the U.S. to date. The Peas are the first duo or group since OutKast to simultaneously occupy the top two spots on the Hot 100.

 

Among our clients is songwriter/producer Keith Harris, who co-wrote to five songs on the best-selling CD and produced four songs, including the forthcoming single, Meet Me Halfway. I am also proud to rep The Peas producer, keyboardist, multi-instrumentalist and musical director Printz Board, also the producer of four tracks and co-writer of five songs on the CD. George Pajon and Tim Ordingreff co-wrote our generations next anthem with "Now Generation", a song that already promises to hit the ears, hearts & home of what the now generation wants.

On a personal note, please also join me in conveying additional congratulations to Taboo who in addition to all of the successes of his group, also produced -- with his wife Jaymie, a son- Jimmy Jalen Gomez, born on July 19, 2009.

 

Black Eyed Peas Manager, Polo Molina Files “Strike Motion”

   

On June 26th, 2009, in Los Angeles, CA, a “Strike Motion” was filed against the popular gossip guru, Perez Hilton by Howard King, Esq. on behalf of Black Eyed Peas Manager, Polo Molina.

According to King, “Hilton raced to the courthouse with his press release disguised as a Complaint and attempted to disseminate it to the world through his allegedly popular website without bothering to serve it on Molina.”

The “Strike Motion” states that Perez Hilton is attempting to utilize the court system as a means of disseminating additional press releases to garner attention for himself and as a possible defense tactic to avert possible slander, libel and/or defamation claims against him.

Click here for more

By Tatiana McKinney
Urban Magazine

UPDATE: Perez Hilton's attorneys have since contacted Howard King and Brian Bird and volunteered to amend the complaint.

Black Eyed Peas 'E.N.D.' Up At No. 1 On Billboard 200

Black Eyed Peas' "The E.N.D." bows at No. 1 on the Billboard 200, selling 304,000 -- the hip-pop act's best sales week ever. It's also the first No. 1 album for the group, which had previously gone as high as No. 2. Its last set, 2005's "Monkey Business," bowed in the runner-up slot with a then-best 291,000. It had the unfortunate luck to come out the same week as Coldplay's "X&Y," which kept the Peas' at bay when it started at No. 1 with 737,000.

Believe it or not, "The E.N.D." is only the second top 10 album for the Peas. While "Monkey" peaked at No. 2, its first two releases -- 1998's "Behind the Front" and 2000's "Bridging the Gap" -- both missed the top 50. It wasn't until the group recruited Fergie for "Elephunk" in 2003 did the group break through big time. That album, powered by three top 40 Hot 100 singles (including "Where Is The Love?"), peaked at No. 14 and spent 106 weeks on the chart.

It was hard not to know that the Black Eyed Peas had a new album last week, thanks to heavy promotion from Target. The retailer carried an exclusive version of the album that featured additional tracks and flooded the airwaves with a commercial touting the new set.

Over on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, the Peas debut at No. 2 with its new single "I Gotta Feeling" while holding at No. 1 for an 11th week with "Boom Boom Pow." It's the first time any act has occupied the top two slots on the Hot 100 with songs from the No. 1 album of the week since OutKast did it on Feb. 7, 2004. They were Nos. 1 and 2 on the Hot 100 with "Hey Ya" and "The Way You Move," respectively, while "Speakerboxxx/The Love Below" spent its seventh (and final week) atop the Billboard 200.

By Keith Caulfield, Billboard.biz, June 18, 2009