Friday, December 19, 2025
Donate
Home Blog Page 1520

Chris Stapleton Hits Number 1 After ACM Awards, But TV Show Loses One-Third of Audience

Roger Friedman
-
0
Chris Stapleton Hits Number 1 After ACM Awards, But TV Show Loses One-Third of Audience

The biggest winner and loser all happened in one place last night: Chris Stapleton’s “Traveller” album zoomed to number 1 on iTunes after he had a big night on the show. At one point the whole audience got up and cheered for him. You can’t beat that kind of publicity.

But the ACM Awards show lost a third of its audience from last year, with 11.18 million viewers. It barely edged out NBC’s “Little Big Shots” in which children with talents are exploited for money and attention. Kids play the darnedest things!

On iTunes, all the country artists did well, with immediate downloads kicking their albums and singles to the top of the charts. But the pop crap performers on the I Heart Music Awards, over on TBS, didn’t do much. Zayn Malik’s album fell to number 9, no one downloaded anything by Justin Bieber. Taylor Swift’s “1989” album is at number 27. If any of her fans don’t have that album by now, they’re in comas.

No numbers yet from TBS on the I Heart Music Awards.

The Beatles Add the Three Anthology Albums to Nine Streaming Services

Roger Friedman
-
0
The Beatles Add the Three Anthology Albums to Nine Streaming Services

At around midnight tonight the Beatles are adding their Anthology albums, volumes 1-3, to nine streaming services. That’s pretty much all that was left to add to streaming, aside from “Hey Jude,” “Let it Be…Naked” and the BBC Recordings. Also the “Love” album from the Cirque du Soleil show, which I actually really like.

I guess the numbers don’t lie. The Beatles have made a fortune streaming after holding out forever. Now with new numbers that see the end of CD buying and the decline of digital, the Apple gang had no choice. This brings some real real rarities to streaming, like “Not Guilty” and the better versions of “Lady Madonna” and “Penny Lane.”

There’s some wonky stuff going on with the Anthology CDs on Amazon by the way. There are only a few copies left. I wonder if Apple isn’t letting them go and issuing new souped up sonic versions next year?

Sunday TV: Commercial Pop vs. Country And Guess Who Wins? (And I’m Not Even a Country Music Fan)

Roger Friedman
-
0
Sunday TV: Commercial Pop vs. Country And Guess Who Wins? (And I’m Not Even a Country Music Fan)

What a sad state of affairs for Top 40 pop music stars. They went head to head with country music all stars on Sunday TV. Guess who won? (Oh come on, guess.)

The pop stars were on the I Heart Awards, an infomercial on TBS for what used to be called Clear Channel Radio and Live Nation. The country stars were on the Academy of Country Music Awards on CBS.

It doesn’t matter who won which award, because all the “winners” were present and planned, especially at the I Heart Awards which were tightly scripted. The ACMS were probably the same, but the contrivance was less pronounced. It also helped that the country stars performed live, or at least what looked like it. The I Heart Awards performers brought lip synching and singing-to-track to new heights.

Knowing these two shows would be going up against each other, there were trade offs. Pop star Katy Perry sang on the ACMs with Dolly Parton. So country star Brad Paisley appeared on the I Heart Awards. Each show got a Jonas brother–Nick was on the ACMs and Joe ate “Cake by the Ocean” on the I Hearts.


In the case of the latter, let me say thank goodness. “Cake By the Ocean” was the only number on that show– with Nile Rodgers on guitar– that actually seemed alive. Others, like Zayn Malik, appeared to be in trances. Justin Bieber was particularly zombie like.

The oddest moment of the I Heart commercial– Bono and the Edge accepting the Innovators Award. They were the oldest people in the room by 50 years. No mention was made of their bandmates Larry Mullen or Adam Clayton. I do think Bono actually said, “Rock the vote,” which made him sound like everyone’s grand-dad. But U2 are signed to Live Nation in a recording/touring deal, so it was a fait accompli.

Meanwhile, Taylor Swift and Selena Gomez sat at the main table like judges in a singing contest, waiting for their turns in the show. At another table sat the I Heart Radio- Clear Channel folks. It was like they were presiding over a bar mitzvah. And for some reason, there were cutaways throughout to sports announcers. Very strange.

Over at the ACMs, I came and went, trying to watch the “Walking Dead” finale. Is Jeffrey Dean Morgan blackmailing a lot of people in Hollywood? He’s on every show. He gave a long boring monologue toward the end of the episode, so I switched back to hear Miranda Lambert sing the heck out of “Tush” with Billy Gibbons and Keith Urban. I also caught Dolly Parton– so much plastic surgery, it feels painful– and Katy Perry sing “Jolene” and “9 to 5.” It was all worth the wait.

 

NYC Week Ends: “Shuffle Along” Has a Lot of Baggage, Geraldo’s Dead Foot, A Manual for Philanthropy

Roger Friedman
-
0
NYC Week Ends: “Shuffle Along” Has a Lot of Baggage, Geraldo’s Dead Foot, A Manual for Philanthropy

This is all the other stuff that’s been going on around town in the last week…

Broadway producer SCOTT RUDIN donated all of Friday night’s proceeds from “Shuffle Along” to the Actors Fund, a fact that was announced at the performance’s three-hour conclusion. Ticket prices were reduced from $375 (the very top premium) to $40 throughout the tiny Music Box Theater. “Shuffle Along” (revival? original?) stars Audra McDonald, Brian Stokes Mitchell and Billy Porter, three Tony Award winners who are worth the price of admission (not the $40, the $185). “Shuffle Along” also may be known as the musical with the most baggage, as many old fashioned suitcases are used for percussion in a couple of very clever tap dance numbers (there are many clever tap dance numbers). “Shuffle Along” doesn’t open until April 28th, which will give its creators a chance to add on an ending…

We sent GERALDO RIVERA— we being New York– to Hollywood, to compete in “Dancing with the Stars.” Geraldo is in pretty good shape for his age (72), so it seemed like a good bet. Unfortunately, it turned out he had a “dead foot” (nerve injury), which is not good for dancing. Geraldo was dropped from the show after the second week, but at least he was game for it. His entry into the show was a bit of serendipity in the first place. His publicist, NORAH LAWLOR, whose Lawlor Media Group reps celebs, hotels, restaurants, and charities, had a chance encounter with a “Dancing with the Stars” producer back in February during Oscar week in Los Angeles. She suggested Geraldo, and the rest is history. Lawlor, meantime, is speaking on Monday at Bowling Green State University in Ohio on the subject of public relations.

Another of Lawlor’s clients is JEAN SHAFIROFF, who’s become an inveterate fundraiser and charity cheerleader all over New York. Now Shafiroff has published a book called “Successful Philanthropy – How to Make a Life by What You Give.” The forward is written by GEORGINA BLOOMBERG, daughter of our ex mayor, the one who paved over Times Square.

At her book party at her Park Avenue apartment last week, there were plenty of media and society types including Mort Zuckerman, Rita Cosby, and George Gurley. Jean–who’s next associated with A Taste of Hope on May 25th — gathered the attendees and made a short speech talking about her inspiration for writing the book. She said, “when you give, you get, and what you get is the reward of knowing that what you are doing is making the world a better place.”

Jean also thanked representatives from many of the foundations she works with including: Robert Chaloner, President of the Southampton Hospital, Elise McCabe-Thompson, President of the NYC Mission Society, Valerie Steel, Head of The Couture Council, Steve Bernstein, President of Southampton Hospital Board, Anna Oliveira, President of NY Women’s Foundation, Yaz Hernandez, President of Couture Council, Elizabeth Stribling, Chairman at French Heritage Society, and also the Southampton Animal Shelter.

Justin Bieber’s Manager Is One of the Investors in Firm Not Giving Pop Star’s Fans Proper Refunds

Roger Friedman
-
0
Justin Bieber’s Manager Is One of the Investors in Firm Not Giving Pop Star’s Fans Proper Refunds

EXCLUSIVE Justin Bieber fans who are angry about their refunds from expensive VIP packages can take it up with: Scooter Braun, Justin’s manager.

Scooter is one of a handful of big ticket investors who helped raise $20 million last year to launch Bktsg, the firm that is now handling Justin’s meet and greets. Among the other investors are One Direction’s management company, as well Ken Lerer and Eric Hippeau (formerly the funders of the Huffington Post), Live Nation, and Russian oligarch Roman Abramovitch. Bkstg’s principals are two former AOL execs.

It’s unclear how much Braun has invested in Bkstg, and whether his investment includes Bieber. But Bieber has shilled for the new company on social media. And he also promoted the predecessor company, called Fahlo (get it– ‘follow’) which was running his fan club and offering VIP packages before the name was changed to Bkstg. Braun’s company was also investor in Fahlo, which only raised $3 million. (It’s listed on their LinkedIn profile.) In January 2015, Bieber posted his so called “apology video” to fans on Fahlo.

To raise $20 million, Bkstg certainly required large amounts of money from investors. This means that money charged by Bkstg for Bieber appearances with fans not only cuts in the artists but the investors want their money back. Braun and other artists’ managers who invest are in effect “double dipping.” Not a bad take.

Justin Bieber: Nearly 2,500 Fans Sign Protest Petition Regarding Cancelled Tickets, Post Dozens of Complaints

Roger Friedman
-
0
Justin Bieber: Nearly 2,500 Fans Sign Protest Petition Regarding Cancelled Tickets, Post Dozens of Complaints

Justin Bieber fans are mad. Their cancelled “Meet and Greet” VIP package tickets have been accompanied by the promise of either no refund (if you keep the ticket) or a partial refund, maybe, that is still an outrageous overcharge.

VIP packages ran from $995 to $2000 and included a good seat in your local stadium and a backstage selfie with pop’s puny prince. But Bieber decided to cancel all those packages because he said they were too “draining.” (In reality, he may not have been getting a big enough cut of the proceeds. A boy who spits on people from afar or continues to get speeding tickets can’t be all that “zen.”)

Fans went crazy. If they turned back their tickets, they’d get refunded and lose that good seat (face value $150). In the last day or so, after a week of PR catastrophe, word is that a turned back VIP ticket might fetch up to $500 in refunds. This means that the good seat wound up costing $1,500.

Now 2,467 supporters have signed a petition on Change.org. They’ve also posted dozens of complaints about the way they’ve been treated thus far.

Here are just two of the complaints:

Me and my daughter attended the Las Vegas concert. We were already in Las Vegas when we got the email about the M&G cancellation and were already out of money for the trip from Los Angeles. The Ultimate VIP Experience was a joke. No host, no organization, no welcome. Just security guards being rude and no one to help us. We didn’t even have seats in the hospitality room after the so-called backstage tour. All the tables were full. Pathetic!!

Anita lominac, Los Angeles, CA
 

I think is terrible what Justin has done this to all the fans that made him what he is today. They should let the kids keep their seats and just pay face value .My daughter paid 1,000.00 dollars for each ticket with face value is 150.00. I think they are breaking the law too .These kids paid extra money for the meet and greet which Justin cancelled.Give the money back to these kids. These fans have stuck by his side through thick and thin.I’m degusted to think the won’t give partial refunds. I thought Justin was different ,but this isn’t right. I’m a mom who stuck up for him through his bad times. My daughter is heartbroken and many other fans are as well. Just not right. Justin needs to fix this now. If your not doing meet and greets then damand partial refunds to be given to all your loyal fans.

Shari Morin, Wethersfield, CT
Stay tuned…
 

Kerry Washington Shoots for an Emmy Playing Anita Hill in Real Life Political “Scandal”

Leah Sydney
-
0
Kerry Washington Shoots for an Emmy Playing Anita Hill in Real Life Political “Scandal”

At the HBO premiere of “Confirmation,”  Oprah Winfrey, a surprise guest who was ushered in from the back and waited til the audience was seated before anyone knew she was there.

“Confirmation” is the story of the Clarence Thomas Supreme Court confirmation, and Anita Hill’s testimony in 1991, that held the country spellbound in front of TV sets for days. Believe it not, this happened 25 years ago.

Kerry Washington, who plays Hill, might find herself the winner of two Emmys this year, as she hasn’t won for “Scandal” yet, and she is a shoo in for a nomination for her exquisite work in this. She plays Hill with a steely reserve weaved in with integrity and honor. Hill was in the audience, and Oprah was the first to stand up and lead the standing ovation when HBO’s Film President Len Amato introduced her to the audience prior to the screening. The standing ovation was right on, the film is just brilliant and captivating

I asked Oprah after the screening what she thought of it, right after Kerry, who was sitting two rows in front of her, blew a kiss her way. “Just great, the movie said everything it needed too and everyone in it was just terrific.” Kerry told me that, “I was so honored to play Anita Hill. It’s exciting and it takes courage like she had, to go up against the forces that are more powerful than you.”

Anita Hill told me, “I am grateful for the media. It was a reporter from People magazine and two reporters from San Diego that changed the conversation immediately to sexual harassment rather than the Washington political circus it was. So I’m thankful to the media for that. “ I asked her if she was happy now in Oklahoma. “I am happy. I have to work at it, we all do, but I’m happy.”

Greg Kinnear gives one of his career stand out performances as Senator Joe Biden, now Vice President. Biden comes off not nearly as badly as the facts bear out by his inept handling of it all. He is seen as over his head and too protective of the old boy network, appalling as it was.

I asked Greg if he knows if Joe Biden had seen it, “Barbara Boxer, (she was also there) just told me that Joe Biden would definitely see it. So I’m hoping that means she’ll make him watch it.” Wendell Pierce is pitch perfect as Thomas, portraying his anger and denial to the hilt. As Hill, Kinnear said: “It’s hard for me not to believe her, so I do.”

The always terrific Jeffrey Wright, Grace Gummer, Bill Irwin, Zoe Lister Jones, Peter McRobbie, Eric Stonestreet, all give spot on performances. Besides Boxer, other guests included noted political consultant/producer Tammy Haddad (she consults for “Veep”).  Written by Susannah Grant (Erin Brockovich) and deftly directed by Rick Famuyiwa (“Dope”) and shot beautifully by Rachel Morrison, “Confirmation” is one of HBO’s best. Anita was justly feted for her courage, honor and class. As it should be.

NY Daily News Publisher Mort Zuckerman is Stepping Down from Running Real Estate Company That Made Him Rich and Famous

Roger Friedman
-
0
NY Daily News Publisher Mort Zuckerman is Stepping Down from Running Real Estate Company That Made Him Rich and Famous

Mort Zuckerman is stepping down as chairman of Boston Properties, the massive corporate real estate company that made him rich and famous.

Zuckerman’s vast real estate holdings– reports are he’s worth $2.7 billion– made it possible for him to buy US News and World, the Atlantic Monthly, Atlantic Monthly Press, and the New York Daily News. He sold off the Atlantic Monthly properties years ago. US News is online only now. The Daily News is run largely by his nephews.

The 78 year old publisher helped reshape the Citicorp Center area on Lexington and 53rd St in Manhattan, and Times Square. In Washington DC he helped build a city out of a largely forgotten area between Dupont Circle and Georgetown.

But Zuckerman, once a presence on TV shows like the McLaughlin Report, is in a retirement mode now. He will become chairman emeritus of Boston Properties.

Meantime, the Daily News is kicking ass with great covers as editor in chief Jim Rich plays every day like it’s going to be the paper’s last. I criticized the News last year for off loading a lot of well known bylines as they tried to shrink themselves ahead of a sale. But somehow they’ve managed to resuscitate, which is a good thing. New York needs the Daily News now more than ever.

I’ve known Mort personally since 1986, when he owned the Atlantic Monthly Press, and I was the publicity director. I worked for Harold Evans, who used to write Mort’s US News editorials in those days. It’s hard to imagine him not running the show after all this time, but I’m happy to say he’s still on the social scene, and is more relaxed and friendlier than ever. This semi-retirement suits him.

“Batman v Superman” Crosses $600 Mil Worldwide Tonight, Running Way Ahead of “Man of Steel”

Roger Friedman
-
0
“Batman v Superman” Crosses $600 Mil Worldwide Tonight, Running Way Ahead of “Man of Steel”

Tonight “Batman v Superman” crosses the $600 million mark worldwide. In the US, through Sunday the total is around $250 million.

This is way ahead day to day of “Man of Steel,” Zack Snyder’s recent Superman movie. It’s just around $18 mil less than “Dark Knight Rises” after 10 days of release.

All I keep seeing though are idiotic reports “BvS” box office dropping, or ending, or some snafu that will prove the naysayers were right.

They are wrong. “BvS” is a hit. A big one. This is all after just 10 days in release. The $700 mil mark is not far away. What has the fanboys’ capes in a twist? Do they want it to fail so there will be no more movies? Give it a rest.

Pop Charts: Zayn Comes in at Number 1, But Sells Only a Fraction of One Direction’s Numbers

Roger Friedman
-
0
Pop Charts: Zayn Comes in at Number 1, But Sells Only a Fraction of One Direction’s Numbers

Zayn, Zayn, Zayn. The big push for the former One Directioner turned out to be so much hype. Zayn Malik’s debut album, “Mind of Mine,” sold a mere 115,000 copies in its debut. There was another 46,000 in streams. Even though it finished at number 1, “MoM” did pretty poorly compared to One Direction itself or other recent pop idols. The album looks like another hot first week, then a big drop.

Next week, Kanye West’s “The Life of Pablo” could over take it depending on streaming and sales on Kanye’s website– and how they’re all reported. Kanye could have had a Number 1 already, but he depended on Tidal and no CDs. It’s not working out.

Adele hangs in there at number 3 after almost five months with another 40,000 copies sold of “25.” She and Zayn, by the way, share a publicist. Zayn still has no single climbing the charts, and that’s part of what’s hurt his sales. “Pillow talk” has already waxed and waned.

1...1,5191,5201,521...2,324Page 1,520 of 2,324

Hollywood to the Hudson

Company

Trending

Categories

© Showbiz411.com