Friday, December 19, 2025
Donate
Home Blog Page 1811

American Music Awards: Katy Perry Will Sing But It Won’t be Her Big Hit

Roger Friedman
-
4
American Music Awards: Katy Perry Will Sing But It Won’t be Her Big Hit

It’s nice to hear that Katy Perry, Jennifer Lopez and TLC have all been lined up for the American Music Awards. Unfortunately, they are relevant to nothing concerning January’s Grammy Awards.

Perry will open the AMAs with her current single called “Unconditionally.” She will not sing her monster hit, Roar, the only single of hers to make the Grammy eligibility deadline of September 30th. So let her sing the new song and get off the stage. The Grammys will get her for the song everyone wants to hear, not the follow up.

Jennifer Lopez: she hasn’t had a real hit in years. She’s not Grammy material anyway. And she’ll lip synch to some convoluted  dance number on the AMAs.

TLC: they are now an emeritus group headed to Las Vegas. They are not chasing waterfalls, just a meaningful paycheck. They wouldn’t be on the Grammys anyway.

The AMAs will be fine, but they will also be cheesy. Yesterday someone alluded to this column saying that things have changed, and that performers can do both the AMAs and the Grammys. Oh no they can’t. And if deals have been worked out for Perry, Gaga and Timberlake, the AMAs will settle for a second tier song or a less spotlighted performance.

Scorsese Film Gets Latest Premiere Possible; “50 Shades” Moved to 2015

Roger Friedman
-
0
Scorsese Film Gets Latest Premiere Possible; “50 Shades” Moved to 2015

Martin Scorsese and co. are working like crazy to finish “The Wolf of Wall Street.” I can tell you that the movie will get a star studded New York premiere, but really, really late. “Wolf” is set to walk down the red carpet on December 17th at the Ziegfeld Theatre. That’s two days after everyone’s left town. It’s also two weeks or more after the New York Film Critics and other groups have to announce their awards.

Hmm… How is this going to work? Because even if film groups see “Wolf” in some form around December 1st, when Scorsese is back from the Marrakesh Film Festival, that leaves two more weeks to fiddle with the film. And you know they will…”Wolf” opens nationwide on Christmas Day…

“50 Shades of Grey,” a disaster in the making, has been moved to February 2015. Let’s just say they’ve been handcuffed to that day. The film was supposed to open on August 1, 2014. But you know, casting issues have held it up. Now it will arrive for Valentine’s Day. In 2015. Which is too far away to think about now.

Eminem Sells More Than Expected: 780K Won’t Be Matched by Lady Gaga

Roger Friedman
-
1
Eminem Sells More Than Expected: 780K Won’t Be Matched by Lady Gaga

Eminem really hit it out of the park this week. His “Marshall Mathers 2 LP” sold 780,000 copies according to hitsdailydouble.com. This is thirty or forty thousand copies more than anyone expected. But the strength of that album, as I’ve said before, comes directly from the single “The Monster” with Rihanna. It just shows what a real hit single can do to drive an album’s sales if it’s timed properly.

This week, all eyes will be on Lady Gaga’s ArtPop album. Can it pull Eminem like numbers? No. But everyone will be happy if “ArtPop” does half that quantity. A 350K sale for Gaga will be met with much applause.

The other big hit this past week was an album from The Robertsons. The family from the hit cable show “Duck Dynasty” actually sold around 75,000 copies and finished at number 3. Why would anyone would want to hear those people “sing” is a mystery to me but the Duck Dynasty brand is huge right now.

The number 2 album: not to leave out Sony Music. They actually pushed Celine Dion up to 77,000 units of her “Loved Me Back to Life” CD. That number is roughly what every “adult” artist sells in their debut week of a new release these days, Five years ago there were 300,000 people who’d buy an album like that. Then there were 100,000. And now it ranges between 60K and 80K. And that’s with a lot of marketing and appearances. Paul McCartney and Elton John just saw that. Reality bites.

 

Lady Gaga PR Push Pays Off: Jeff Koons Sculpture Sets Auction Record for Living Artist

Roger Friedman
-
1
Lady Gaga PR Push Pays Off: Jeff Koons Sculpture Sets Auction Record for Living Artist

Art pop indeed! Months and months of press by association with Lady Gaga has paid off. Last night artist Jeff Koons set an auction record at Christie’s. His “Balloon Dog (Orange)” was sold for $58.4 million ($62.6 million including fees.) The price smashed Koons’s previous auction high of $33 million. Not only that, it beat the auction house’s set price of $55 million. And it ended Gerhard Richter’s big sales record from last spring.

The Koons sale was the largest ever for a living artist.

Art auctions are emotional, especially when the numbers are so dizzyingly high and the room is full of crackle and pop. Peter Brandt was the owner of the Koons. There are five others, each in different colors, owned by the likes of disgraced financier Steven A. Cohen, Christie’s owner Francois Pinault, Dakis Joannou, who’s a Greek industrialist, and Los Angeles billionaire Eli Broad.

What’s all the fuss about Koons? The new owner and the bidders involved may not be one of Lady Gaga’s little monsters. But they know the value of press. And for months the pop star has touted Koons as an equal. He designed her album cover, and sculptures for her performances. Teens around the world know his name more than Picasso or Matisse.

There’s no doubt, too, that Gaga benefits from all of this. Presumably the newly minted 27 year old multi millionaire owns some Koons pieces. Their value has just skyrocketed. Koons was a great investment for Gaga.

Judi Dench is M, Steve Coogan is Double-Oh-2: See the New Philomena Video

Roger Friedman
-
1
Judi Dench is M, Steve Coogan is Double-Oh-2: See the New Philomena Video

Thank god there’s some fun this Oscar season. “Philomena” with an R rating? F that. Leave it to Harvey Weinstein and crew to come up with something fun and ingenious. Frankly if they just Skype Judi Dench into the ratings board meeting, they’ll win. Who could say ‘no’ to her?

Lady Gaga Biggest Sales Problem: No Hit Single to Drive Album Sales

Roger Friedman
-
8
Lady Gaga Biggest Sales Problem: No Hit Single to Drive Album Sales

Will sales of Lady Gaga’s new “ArtPop” album exceed this week’s Eminem debut of around 750,ooo? It’s unlikely. Gaga has a big problem. While “ArtPop” is number 1 right now, it has no hit single.  What’s driving the Eminem album is his hit “The Monster” with Rihanna. It’s number 1 following the path of Katy Perry’s “Roar” which is still high on the charts.

But the highest charting single so far from “ArtPop” is “Applause” at 13 on iTunes. Her R Kelly duet, “Do What U Want,” is further down at 23. This suggests that while Lady Gaga certainly has devoted fans, she’s not reaching beyond them with a big breakout song.  And that’s where her album sales may break off.

Gaga is getting help again from Amazon. The massive retailer is selling the MP3 download for “ArtPop”, clean or dirty, for just $5.99. That’s three to four dollars lower than most other albums. Arcade Fire’s new “Reflektor” album MP3 for $11.99. Miley Cyrus’s “Bangerz” album is selling for $3.99.

Of course, Amazon.com deep discounts most MP3 downloads. Their audience typically buys physical CDs. On Amazon, the actual CDs are often offered with a free MP3 download.

That’s because the real downloading goes on at iTunes, Amazon’s competitor.  Amazon’s audience skews older, so their exposure isn’t a question. For example, they’re selling the explicit (lots of the f word) version of Eminem’s new album for just $3.99.

In 2010, Amazon got into trouble for selling Lady Gaga’s “Born this Way” for just 99 cents. A rule went into place immediately that only albums selling for $3.49 or more would be counted in the weekly charts by SoundScan.

 

Shock: Justin Timberlake Will Perform on AMA’s, Takes Himself Off 2014 Grammys?

Roger Friedman
-
4
Shock: Justin Timberlake Will Perform on AMA’s, Takes Himself Off 2014 Grammys?

Quel surprise! Justin Timberlake has agreed to perform on the American Music Awards November 24th on ABC. This means, if tradition is observed, Timberlake will not be asked to perform on the Grammy Awards come January 26, 2014. Under famed producer Pierre Cossette the rule was that an appearance on the AMAs meant no Grammy airtime. I can’t imagine that Ken Ehrlich would change the rule now.

This is particularly interesting since Timberlake’s “20/20” albums were expected to the stuff of many Grammy nominations. The combined two “20/20” albums were the bestselling CDs of 2013. Timberlake is definitely a would be contender for the albums and for the singles “Mirrors” and “Suit and Tie,” as well as his duet with Jay Z called “Holy Grail.”

The Grammys have always considered the AMA’s the lesser prize, a Golden Globe versus their Oscar. The AMA’s are not run by the Recording Academy but are just a function of Dick Clark Productions like the ridiculous People’s Choice Awards and the Globes.

Until today’s announcement, this year’s AMAs were already featuring artists that likely be wouldn’t be involved in the Grammys, like Macklemore & Lewis, Miley Cyrus and Ke$ha. If Justin Bieber had an eligible record, he’d be there too.

In a way, this means Timberlake cedes the Grammy stage to Robin Thicke. Other likely Grammy performers could be Eminem and Rihanna, Katy Perry, Elton John, Paul McCartney, and so on.

The AMAs are also claiming Lady Gaga and One Direction. This may disqualify them from Grammy appearances as well.

Ehrlich and NARAS may feel that Timberlake was played out from his 20 minute VMAs performance in August and his big showing on this past year’s Grammys. Frankly, I’m surprised. The backstage politics in these things is crazy. Now the Grammys go on the hunt for a centerpiece performer who can produce ratings.

Stay tuned…

 

Lady Gaga: Will ArtPop Benefit from Flying Dresses, Drug Confessions, Jeff Koons?

Roger Friedman
-
2
Lady Gaga: Will ArtPop Benefit from Flying Dresses, Drug Confessions, Jeff Koons?

ArtPOP is here. Or ARTPOP. However you capitalize it, can Lady Gaga capitalize on all the noise surrounding it? Yesterday she introduced the world’s first flying dress. In the last few weeks she’s been naked, played different characters, and admitted she became addicted to drugs and alcohol during her hip surgery recovery. She’s also dragged contemporary artists Jeff Koons and Marina Abramovic into the mix.

And now it’s time for ArtPop. The album is released officially today, and it’s already number 1 on iTunes, of course.

Along the way Gaga has essentially dumped the manager who made her number 1, Troy Carter. She’s out on her own. If ArtPOP sinks or swims, it will all be Gaga’s vision.

She already has to overcome the huge debut of Eminem’s new album, which will the charts tomorrow with between 700 and 750K albums sold. Can Gaga beat that number? It’s unclear what will happen. She hasn’t had the out of the box hit Eminem had with “The Monster.” (And isn’t ironic that Gaga’s fans are “little monsters”?) In the Eminem hit, Rihanna sings that she’s made friends with the Monster under her bed. Is that monster Lady Gaga?

I’ll say this: Gaga has a great great voice. Just watching her on the live stream last night of her Brooklyn concert is elucidating. Her voice is full of power and melody. I can’t wait for her duet album with Tony Bennett. When you watch the live stream, you’ll see it’s all her. Unlike most pop stars right now, there does’t seem to be a lot of augmentation.

Now if she can just get a real hit single to drive that album. Let’s see what happens this week.

http://www.vevo.com/lady-gaga-artRave

“Thor” No Bore: $86.1 Mil US, $327Mil Worldwide–Could Loki Get His Own Movie?

Roger Friedman
-
3
“Thor” No Bore: $86.1 Mil US, $327Mil Worldwide–Could Loki Get His Own Movie?

“Thor: The Dark World” didn’t hit that $90mil mark in the US this weekend, but its take was good enough. The hammer swinger took in $86.1 million here, and now has a worldwide total of $327 million. Ray Subers of boxofficemojo.com thinks that Marvel fans flocked to “Thor 2” as a kind of sequel to “The Avengers.” He may have a point. But it also did $15 mil more than the first “Thor” from two years ago.

The main point, I guess, is that Marvel has all its movies working on all fronts– The X Men and Wolverine series, Spider Man, Iron Man, Captain America, and The Avengers. They are all cross referenced through the studios that release them, too. The unexpected “Easter eggs” and flash forward teasers also make the movies must-see right away. You literally have to sit through all of “Thor 2” and some of its credits to get future info. That’s cool.

Of course one element of “The Dark World” popularity–besides Chris Hemsworth and Sir Anthony Hopkins–is Brit thespian Tom Hiddleston as Loki. Now the drum beats begin for a solo Loki movie and story. Is this possible? I don’t think so. (Sorry!) Loki is a snarky villain. It would be fairly difficult for him to carry a whole movie on his own. He certainly can’t be turned into a hero. So a new hero would have to emerge. And then the whole formula would be turned inside out.

For the same reason Catwoman’s movie was a misfire, Loki’s would be too. But let him wander through the Marvel universe, causing trouble wherever he goes. He’d be welcome anywhere. But The Joker and the Riddler didn’t get movies in the DC world, and plenty of other villains have been very happy to remain troublemakers where they’re needed.

“Big Fish,” Third Broadway Bust of Season, Will Close Next Month

Roger Friedman
-
1
“Big Fish,” Third Broadway Bust of Season, Will Close Next Month

Broadway: The truly bad musical of the movie “Big Fish” will close on December 29th after 34 previews and 98 performances. How “Big Fish” made it this far is a mystery– as is how it will last six more weeks. Based on Tim Burton’s movie, “Big Fish” is one of those jaw dropping disasters you feel bad for. But everything about it was misguided and made no sense.

The worst part was the score by Andrew Lippa. There isn’t decent song. Didn’t anyone realize this before they went forward? None of the songs have choruses! Lippa should really not be allowed back to Broadway unless he can demonstrate an ability to write a song that might play on radio– any radio.

Two weeks ago “Big Fish” played at 68.9% capacity and took in just $647,165. This past week’s figures will be published tomorrow. They must be even worse.

“Big Fish” is the third new Broadway show to shut down quickly. “First Date,” a pedestrian musical, and “A Time to Kill,” a play based on John Grisham’s bestseller, preceded it in death.

What’s next? If it weren’t in a subscription theater, “The Snow Geese” would be shot by a hunter. The better-reviewed “Winslow Boy” also is struggling. By the looks of things, “Mamma Mia” may mercifully be near the end of its long run. Its own Waterloo may be January.

But Broadway is not all bad news. After Midnight (a must see) is doing very well, Betrayal is a huge hit, and the Beckett and Shakespeare plays are thriving.

One last word on “Big Fish”: Norbert Leo Butz can do no wrong. He should be the star of a USA Network show by now. Network TV has to give him, Steve Kazee and a few other Broadway stars their national breaks already.

 

 

1...1,8101,8111,812...2,323Page 1,811 of 2,323

Hollywood to the Hudson

Company

Trending

Categories

© Showbiz411.com