Purple Pain: Prince’s Estate Files Suit Against Producer Trying to Release Unheard Songs
Prince’s estate has filed suit in federal court against Rogue Media Alliance and producer George Boxill, who worked with Prince from 2004-2006 and now hopes to cash in. RMA announced last night that they were releasing three to six new Prince songs on Friday. One of them, “Deliverance,” was posted to SoundCloud and is now apparently on iTunes.
According to Minneapolis station KSTP, the lawsuit states Boxill signed a confidentiality agreement, which stated that all recordings he worked on with the pop star “would remain Prince’s sole and exclusive property.”
Also:
* The agreement also stated Boxill “would not use any recordings or property in any way whatsoever,” and “he would return any such recordings or property to Prince immediately upon request.”
* However, Boxill will not return the masters or recordings, and he has shared the tracks with third parties, which all violate his contract, according to the lawsuit.
* The confidentiality agreement echoes Prince’s concern for privacy. There was a clause in the contract that states Boxill has “no right to give interviews or write books, articles, etc.”
The estate and Paisley Park claim a release of the so-called “Prince Recordings,” would hurt its interests “permanently and irreparably.” It would hurt business relationships , but more importantly, “it deprives Prince (and now the Estate) from choosing what is released to the public and when,” the suit states.
The suit asks for Boxill and any associates working on this to return the Prince Recordings and refrain from using anything Boxill obtained with his sessions with Prince. The estate and Paisley Park said it would like “any and all masters, copies and reproductions” returned. The state lawsuit sought civil liability for theft.
The Estate issued this statement:
The Estate of Prince Rogers Nelson is aware that Mr. George Ian Boxill, in conjunction with Rogue Music Alliance, has issued a press release announcing an intent to distribute previously unreleased Prince master recordings and musical compositions. The Estate has not authorized any such release and is not affiliated with either Mr. Boxill or Rogue Music Alliance. During his unparalleled career, Prince worked with many sound engineers, including Mr. Boxill. Like the other engineers that had the opportunity to work with Prince, Mr. Boxill signed an agreement, under which he agreed (1) all recordings that he worked on with Prince would remain Prince’s sole and exclusive property; (2) he would not use any recordings or property in any way whatsoever; and (3) he would return any such recordings or property to Prince immediately upon request. Mr. Boxill did not comply with his agreement. Instead, Mr. Boxill maintained copies of certain tracks, waited until after Prince’s tragic death, and is now attempting to release tracks without the authorization of the Estate and in violation of the agreement and applicable law. The Estate is taking immediate legal actions to prevent Mr. Boxill’s continuing violations of his agreement and the rights of the Estate and its partners in Prince’s recordings. Any dissemination of the recordings and underlying music compositions, or fixation of the same in any audiovisual work or otherwise, is unauthorized and in violation of the Estate’s rights to the master recordings and musical compositions.
Broadway: A More than Decent “Indecent” Draws A List Crowd, Aims at Tony Award
You know a new play will be good if Mercedes Ruehl turns up for opening night. Ruehl, an Oscar and Tony winner, doesn’t come into town from her country home unless she knows a show is going to be special. And there she was last night at the opening of Paula Vogel’s extraordinary, edgy, and profoundly charged “Indecent,” the story of a Yiddish play that caused so much trouble when it opened on Broadway in 1907 that everyone involved was arrested and hauled off to jail.
The play was “God of Vengeance” by Russian writer Sholem Asch. The play was about Jews who use the money from the brothel they’re running to buy a Torah. On top of that, the daughter of the brothel’s owner has fallen in love with one of the prostitutes. A lesbian affair went over pretty well with 1907 Greenwich Village audiences, but when they brought it uptown to Broadway it was a scandal.
Vogel has made the producing of “God of Vengeance” and the story of Asch’s emigration to the US from Poland her main story, while at the same re-creating the play. In 1907 when the play moved uptown, the producers cut the lesbian love scene that had been such a draw in the Village. Asch did nothing to protect his work, leaving his Yiddish theater troupe– which believed in the show passionately– high and dry.
“God of Vengeance,” as it turned out, became a hit for Asch around the world, and is still often performed– intact– by theater companies. But it’s Vogel’s imagining of the plight of the theater troupe back in 1907– as immigrants, remember, which is a huge part of this story from Poland to Ellis Island– that adds this riveting dimension. And then the production itself, directed by Rebecca Taichman, that transcends even the material. She and Vogel have added music– there is a lot of singing and beautiful choreography–and inventive production design.
In Yiddish “beshert” means “meant to be.” This production is certainly “beshert,” an absolute must for a Tony nomination for Best Play if not the winner. And two featured actors who need highlighting: Richard Topol, who plays Leml, the heart and soul of the troupe, and Max Gordon Moore as Asch (and in one scene, Eugene O’Neill.)
Oh, and besides Mercedes Ruehl: the great director Julie Taymor, actor Bob Balaban and wife Lynn, Tovah Feldshuh, Joel Grey, Bill Irwin, Celia Keenan-Bolger, “Oslo” director Bartlett Sher, Molly Ringwald, and , surprisingly, Arianna Huffington, were among those standing and cheering at the end. Kudos to producer Daryl Roth. She brought “Indecent” to ‘Broadway’ but it’s at the Cort Theater, next to Fox News and News Corp, where this material would be banned in an instant if they had their way!
Six New Prince Songs Will Be Released This Week (Listen) to Mark 1st Anniversary of Singer’s Death
Six unheard songs by Prince will be released Friday in advance of the 1st anniversary of his death. The first one available to hear is called Deliverance:
The other songs are called “I Am” and “Man Opera,” an 8 minute suite, plus “Touch Me,” “Sunrise Sunset,” “No One Else” and an extended version of “I Am.” (I don’t think “Sunrise Sunset” is a cover of the “Fiddler on the Roof” song but you never know.)
It’s unclear if this with permission of Prince’s estate or it affects the estate’s deals with Universal and Warner Bros. The ‘label’ for these releases is called Rogue Music Alliance. Their press release reads:
The songs were written and recorded when Prince was an independent artist, protesting what he saw as an unjust music industry. In the spirit of that independence, and in supporting Prince’s opinion of major label contracts, DELIVERANCE is being released independently via RMA, a Vancouver, WA based record company. The majority of all sales of DELIVERANCE will benefit Prince’s estate.
Prince, and Ian Boxill (2Pac, Gladys Knight, Janet Jackson, Bone Thugs-n-Harmony, multiple award winning Prince albums), co-wrote and co-produced all of the tracks beginning in 2006. After Prince’s untimely passing, Boxill continued their work by spending the past year completing the compositions and arrangements, finishing the production and mixing the songs.
TV Exclusive: “Law & Order: SVU” Battling Diminished Ratings, Showrunner May Be Departing
It hasn’t been a great 18th season for “Law & Order SVU.” Ratings are down, and I’m hearing morale is, too.
The latest word is that show runner Rick Eid, who came in this season when Warren Leight left, may be moving to a different Dick Wolf show. Sources say Eid may be heading to “Chicago PD” or “Chicago Fire” when this season ends.
“The cast is hoping Warren’s pilot doesn’t get picked up,” says a source, referring to Leight’s proposed drama about an ER called “Shelter.” “They want him back on SVU.”
A couple of nights ago, Leight was surrounded by “SVU” actors at the Broadway premiere of “Groundhog Day” which stars former cast member Andy Karl.
“SVU” definitely needs Leight’s touch quickly. In his five years as EP the show built a whole new audience and a groundswell of new fans. Ratings were up and averaged 9 million per week. But this season has been rough. The first new episode back in October scored 11 million viewers. The most recent episode, which aired March 29th, was down to 7 million.
Certainly the goal is to get “SVU,” a show with a very fervent following, to its 20th anniversary season. And somehow, whoever’s in charge will have to deal with the famous unaired “Donald Trump” episode in which Gary Cole plays a presidential candidate accused to sexual harassment. So far, NBC has kept the episode titled “Unstoppable” on ice. It was supposed to air last October, was moved a couple of times, and then disappeared.
What do fans want? Chris Meloni back for a story arc as Elliot Stabler, for one. That would make the SVU ratings jump without fail.
Sad Ending for Bill O’Reilly at Fox News as Murdochs Send Exit Notice via Wall Street Journal
Oh, Bill O’Reilly, I guess you know it’s over.
The Murdochs sent their exit notice tonight at 9:50pm via the Wall Street Journal, which they own along with Fox News and the New York Post.
The WSJ headline: Fox Is Preparing to Cut Ties with Bill O’Reilly.
Ouch! That hurts, doesn’t it? But I told you two weeks ago: when the Fox News PR people let the New York Times run their story about the five women and the $13 million in settlements, it was over then. O’Reilly — guilty of many things, no doubt– was set up by Fox News to take a fall.
It’s highly unlikely he’ll return from his vacation on April 24th. And even though ratings have been down since he left, remember this: they were highly inflated before he left by people tuning in to see if he’d defend himself.
O’Reilly will still have books and radio. He could easily turn up on TV before the end of 2017, bloviating somewhere. He could syndicate, too. But his run of bluster and bark is over at Fox News.
Roger Ailes: your world is being dismantled. How does it feel?
Exclusive: Uma Thurman Coming To Broadway in Play by “House of Cards” Writer
Back in January Uma Thurman skipped a court hearing over custody of daughter Luna with ex-fiancee Arki Busson. The reason given was that she was in a play reading.
Well, she settled the custody and now she’s doing the play. I’m told Thurman will make her Broadway debut this fall in “The Parisian Woman,” written by Beau Willimon, the man behind “House of Cards.”
“Parisian Woman” is a political comedy no doubt in the vein of Willimon’s George Clooney movie “Ides of March” from a few seasons ago. Details are still sketchy. Director and casting to come…
Past Oscar, Emmy and Golden Globe nominee Thurman meantime has two movies in the can including “The War with Grandpa,” starring Robert DeNiro, and two more going into production.
Kevin Spacey Will Host the Tony Awards, Jokes That He’s “the 15th Choice”
James Corden turned it down. Hugh Jackman is busy. Neil Patrick Harris has other plans. No one asked my choices, Nick Kroll and John Mulvaney.
So Kevin Spacey will host the Tony Awards on June 11th on CBS.
“I was their 2nd choice for Usual Suspects, 4th choice for American Beauty and 15th choice to host this year’s Tony Awards. I think my career is definitely going in the right direction,” said Spacey. “Maybe I can get shortlisted to host the Oscars if everyone else turns it down.”
“We are thrilled to have Kevin, who has mastered the Broadway stage, the big and small screens and the West End, host this year’s Tony Awards! His spirit and passion for live theatre makes him the perfect host, and we can’t wait to see the energy he brings to Radio City on Tony night!” said Charlotte St. Martin, President of The Broadway League, and Heather Hitchens, President of the American Theatre Wing.
“We’re excited to be working with a witty and charming host who is not only a Tony-winning actor and fan of live theatre, he’s also a president who is a true champion of the arts,” said Executive Producers Glenn Weiss and Ricky Kirshner.
“American Gods” TV Series Features Explicit Sex Scene Between Two Gay Muslims, Plus 91 Year Old Cloris Leachman Has a Love Scene
When it comes to sex, “American Gods” — the Starz Channel’s divine adaptation of Neil Gaiman’s fantasy novel — pushes the envelope. A lot of shows say that but this one really does.
And there are more erect (prosthetic) penises than I’ve ever seen on TV.
Starring Ian McShane as the mysterious Mr. Wednesday and Ricky Whittle in a break-out performance as the just-out-of-prison Shadow Moon, “American Gods” is going to be a monster hit for the cable station.
Oscar and Emmy winner Cloris Leachman, who turns 91 next week, has her first love scene in decades.
But the sex scene that will be most controversial is between two Muslim men, one of whom is a god. (Both actors are straight, Fuller said.)
“I’m excited for people to see the Salim (Omid Abtahi)-Jinn (Mousa Krash) story,” said writer director Bryan Fuller at a recent interview. “And the beauty of that sex scene, which was not a small feat for two gay Muslim characters to have a beautiful, sophistical, sexual experience and what it was like for us to visually give you an idea of what it’s like to take a god inside you. I felt like it was a wonderful metaphor for a religious experience.”
Ian McShane added, “I love what the straight actor said to you, remember? He told you, ‘I understand. Just when you’re doing the special effects, give me a beautiful c–k, ok?’”
“And we did,” said Fuller.
Updated from the book’s 2001 publication to 2017, the eight-episode series executive produced by Bryan Fuller (“Hannibal”) and Michael Green (“Logan”) – who also share co-show running credit – has at its core a love story but also delves into American conversations on race, immigration, civil liberties, corporate greed and faith.
McShane, best know for playing the foul-mouthed saloon owner in Deadwood, was asked about the tender scenes he has with Leachman.
Leachman plays a goddess of royal blood who has fallen on hard times.
In one scene McShane’s character kisses her on the mouth.
“She’s an old goddess he loved,” he said. “She was 90 when we shot. And when I kissed her, she said, ‘Is that it? What, no tongue?”
“Tell the story, Bryan,” said McShane, turning to Fuller.
“Cloris turned 90 on the set of American Gods, which was an incredible honor for all of us who have followed her and loved her for decades,” said Fuller, adding, “and we presented her with a cake that said, ‘I’m f**king 90!’ That’s what she wanted on the cake.”
“So she looked at the cake, said, ‘I’m f**king 90. F**k me, I’m 90!” repeated Fuller.
Leachman then said, “Seriously, line up the crew! Get them in here to f**k me. And start with the cute ones!”
“And so I did,” dead-panned Fuller.
Season 2 is not green lit yet but would be soon said the executive producers. The first eight episodes – I watched four – only cover about a third of the book. All three, Gaiman, Fuller and Green, have been adding characters and adding scenes to what’s in the book so the series presumably could run for many seasons.
Photo c2017 Showbiz411 by Paula Schwartz
Mariah Carey’s Broken Engagement to James Packer Brings Divorce for Hollywood Financiers
This should be a lesson to everyone out there: don’t mix business and pleasure.
Director-producer Brett Ratner probably thought it was a great idea when he introduced his business partner, James Packer, to his great friend Mariah Carey. A romance developed, and the superstar singer became engaged to the billionaire sometime Scientologist from Australia.
Ratner and Packer, along with Steve Mnuchin, had formed a company called RatPac. They were financing most of Warner Bros.’ film slate and having a lot of success. But no one probably thought, what if the love affair between Mariah and Packer goes south?
Well, it did. And today it was announced that Rat and Pac have divorced. Packer’s part of RatPac has been bought by Russian billionaire Len Blavatnik’s Access Industries. Blavatnik already owns Warner Music. Now he’s financing Warner Bros. studio movies. (The two Warners are separate companies.)
Mnuchin, who helped get Donald Trump elected president, is already out. He’s Trump’s Secretary of the Treasury. Now Packer is out, too, which is probably just as well. Packer was long associated with Scientology. Then with Ratner and Carey, it was thought he was out.
But you’re never “out” with Scientology if you have money. Last year he hired former Scientology celebrity wrangler (and still member of the cult) Tommy Davis to be his right hand man. This was a signal that the cult wanted Packer back in the fold. Who knows? Maybe now that he’s apart from mainstream Hollywood he’ll start funding Scientology’s movies. Their film company, called United Pictures, is run by Tom Cruise’s former assistant and BFF Michael Doven.
Blavatnik is a welcome relief in the RatPac saga. They could change the name of the company now to RatNik. Or Blatner. Either way, it’s a win win.
As for Mariah, she’s still BFF with Ratner. And she’s lucky to have escaped Packer before Scientology tried to shake her down.