Ministry Tour 2008, C U LaTouR March-July

UltimateGuitar.com reports that seminal industrial rockers Ministry will hit the road for one last tour beginning March 28, 2008 in North America. Vancouver will be the opening date, then across the U.S., and finally a string of dates in Europe come early summer. Tony Campos (Static X) will stand in on bass for the late Paul Raven. Support will come from bands Meshuggah and Hemlock.

Soundgarden Reunion 2008

Will there be a Soundgarden reunion in 2008? No. Hits had posted a rumor back on November 1 but anything of the sort is totally unlikely to come to fruition. There are just too many documented indicators alluding to the fact that this is an impossibility. Case and point, you can read the November 7, 2007 Cleveland Free Times interview where Chris Cornell comments on the chance of a Soundgarden reunion,

I would say right now, zero percent…but if we were going to reunite, I would have to ask the question, ‘What are we reuniting for? Is it because a couple of us got together to work on some songs that were turning out great? Is it for a benefit?’

London Pub The Hawley Arms, Record Label

London Pub The Hawley Arms will now have its own record label Bumpman Records. The Brute Chorus will be the first vinyl release on the label this December….read more

Jill Scott The Real Thing UK Release

Through cooperation with Hidden Beach Recordings, UK music company Absolute Marketing & Distribution will ally with Universal for a UK release of…more here

Leona Lewis Pre-Sales, #1 UK Album Next Week

Leona Lewis pre-sales for “Spirit” (Sony-BMG) indicate a #1 UK Album for the X-Factor star next week . Supposedly 300,000 units have been shipped to UK stores prior to the November 12 release date (sources: Daily Mirror, Gigwise). Read more here.

www2.radiohead.tv

Check out MyDamnChannel.com

www.radiohead.tv is where you’ll see today’s Radiohead webcast following last night’s test run. It’s also rumored that the band may broadcast future “unofficial” concerts at this domain by fanclub invite only. Furthermore, but without confirmation, www.radiohead.tv could become a full on Radiohead TV channel airing unreleased tour video, music video outtakes, and one stop press junket style interviews all supplemented by a merchandise feature. Read more here.

Amy Winehouse Home Searched By Police

Daily Mail reports that as of yesterday Police searched singer Amy Winehouse’s London residence after knocking down the front door. The flakey pop star….more here

Lily Allen TV Show BBC Three

NME reports that BBC Three is giving singer Lily Allen her own TV show next year. Her friends…more here

Ingrid Michaelson VH1 “You Oughta Know” Artist, The Way I Am Video Debut

Indie music star Ingrid Michaelson is now a VH1 “You Oughta Know” artist with a video for “The Way I Am” slated to premiere….more here

Puscifer Sells 27,000 Copies First Week, Target Bans Album

Maynard Keenan’s Puscifer project sold 27,000 copies its first week. Target banned the album because of revealing artwork but a Myspace blog explains that it may still be stocked in several stores. Alan Moulder and Joe Baressi mixed the album’s songs. Mentioned previously, Alan Moulder is also working with Billy Howerdel on his solo debut.

My Bloody Valentine Reunite, New Album Due Soon, Coachella

The Daily Swarm prints that My Bloody Valentine is presently recording a new album due out in the very near future. They are reuniting, officially! You can see an exclusive Kevin Shields interview on the VBS.tv show Soft Focus (November 12). Watch for confirmation of a My Bloody Valentine 2008 Coachella performance.

Arctic Monkeys Teddy Picker Video, NME, November 8 12pm (UK time)

The Arctic Monkeys “Teddy Picker” video will debut on NME.com November 8 at 12pm (UK time). Roman Coppola (The Strokes) is credited as director.

Tom Cruise, Brad Pitt, Tom Hanks, Chris Cooper to Star in Blackwater Movie?

High powered Tinseltown gossip has now intimated the rumor that the short list of superstar actors being considered for a major movie based on the Blackwater events in Iraq are……more here

Band of Horses UK Tour February 2008

Band of Horses UK Tour February 2008, Listings:

The Button Factory, Dublin, Feb 20
The ABC, Glasgow Scotland, Feb 21
Carling Academy, Birmingham, Feb 23
Manchester Academy, Manchester, Feb 24
Thekla, Bristol, Feb 25

Mandy Moore, Matthew Perry Meeting

The now ubiquitous Mandy Moore, Matthew Perry Meeting NY Post Page Six item has the two meeting at a Beverly Hills restaurant this past week. More here….

Nirvana Biopic Full Steam Ahead, Universal Adapts “Heavier Than Heaven” Book

Gigwise again reports that the Kurt Cobain/Nirvana film is full steam ahead as Universal Pictures will have writer David Benioff (The Kite Runner, Troy) adapt the book Heavier Than Heaven by Charles Cross. Lawyer Howard Weitzman and Courney Love are producing the movie which will feature real Nirvana songs as part of the business deal.

Neverland Foreclosure, Michael Jackson To Lose Ranch

Public records show the fact that a Neverland foreclosure may be inevitable for Michael Jackson. He stands to lose this multi-million 2800 acre California ranch as he (Jackson borrowed 23 million) owes $200,000 back pay (from Blownmortgage.com).

The Raveonettes On Vice Records, Candlebox Sign New Record Deal

Vice Records will put out the next Raveonettes album following their previous history with Columbia/Sony. 1990s Seattle band Candlebox has a new record deal with Silent Majority Group, a label with distribution via Independent Label Group/Warner.

UK A&R: Tommy Sparks on the A&R hot sheet? If you like The Cars and more of that retro synth-rock pop.

Writer John Shanks (Melissa Etheridge, Backstreet Boys, Michelle Branch) signed to Sony/ATV Publishing (Music Week).

New York Times Company Launching LifeWire, Lifestyle Content Syndication

The New York Times Company will be launching LifeWire, a lifestyle Content syndication network. Their plans are to hire (ironically, notice the typo in the ad title as it’s a publishing company!) a pool of seasoned editors and writers to provide original content to paying web publishers. This is basically trying to pull a modern version of the Associated Press online or if you’re more a pop culture/music fanatic – All Media Guide, Getty Images etc.

There isn’t a major media hub that isn’t aligning itself with some method of internet syndication and diplomacy. Whether it’s acting as a content provider or adopting the obligatory social network paradigm, large traditional entities like Wenner Media and Tribune are engaging in the myriad of technologies now available for online commerce and promotion (internet, mobile, wireless).

62% of Radiohead “In Rainbows” Downloaders Didn’t Pay

Yesterday comScore published worldwide data that 62% of Radiohead “In Rainbows” downloaders didn’t pay. That translates to free, yes free! Of the folks that did offer money to the band, $6.00 was the average. Throughout October, the Radiohead commerce site had 1.2 million visitors.

Verbatim from the comScore site:

Radiohead “In Rainbows” Online Album Downloads
October 1-29, 2007

Percent Who Paid for Download
38%

Percent Who Downloaded for Free
62%

The White Stripes, 3 New Songs + Video

A November 5 statement on their website proclaims that The White Stripes have recorded 3 new songs in addition to filming a video. Word for word they write:

The White Stripes have just filmed an exciting new video and recorded three never before heard original songs (with a special collaboration) and one unique new version of a song from their latest album “Icky Thump”. Stay tuned for more details about release dates of the songs and the premiere video!

Zune Commercial, Rogue Wave, McCann Worldgroup/T.A.G., Ballad of Tina Pink

Currently airing on your TV is the latest Zune commercial produced by McCann Worldgroup/T.A.G. and titled “Ballad of Tina Pink”. It’s a rainbow colored trip through psychedelic boredom and mirrors much of the iPod marketing scheme utilizing the hipster rock of “Lake Michigan” by Rogue Wave. Per their exhorbitant campaign to finally claim a respectable piece of the portable MP3 player maket, McCann has developed the Zune Journey hub which fully briefs potential customers on the updated technology (wireless capability, video playback, FM Tuner).

Radiohead Schedules Webcast For November 9

Ateaseweb.com states that Radiohead will webcast a performance Friday November 9. BBC Music’s Adam Buxton spilled the beans today about the Oxford, UK hosted internet “gig”. Tune in this Friday at 9pm UK time, 4pm U.S. time.

Youth Produces The Futureheads’ Forthcoming Record

Youth (The Verve, The Delays, The Cult) has completed production on The Futureheads’ forthcoming record. The UK band departed 679/Warner and still remains indie as they prepare for a 2008 release. Guided by Big Life Management’s Jazz Summers, The Futureheads are scheduled to play two gigs (London, Sunderland) before year’s end.

The Killers and Lou Reed, Tranquilize Video

The Killers and Lou Reed team up for the band’s “Tranquilize” video now posted online. “Tranquilize” is a cut that will appear on The Killer’s “Sawdust” compilation LP (Island Records/Universal) due November 13.

Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds, Dig Lazarus Dig! Album Due March 3, 2008

Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds’ Dig Lazarus Dig! album is coming March 3, 2008. Produced and mixed by Nick Launay (Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Silverchair, INXS), this album was recorded at London’s State of the Ark Studios (where The Verve recently spent time).

Tom Cruise, Brad Pitt, Tom Hanks, Chris Cooper to Star in Blackwater Film?

High powered Tinseltown gossip has now intimated the rumor that the short list of superstar actors being considered for a major movie based on the Blackwater events in Iraq are: Tom Cruise, Brad Pitt, Tom Hanks and Chris Cooper (Adaptation, Syriana). Could it be a such an important politico-thriller blockbuster that it manages to harness the power draw of all four heavyweights? Highered by the U.S. government as a private security and military force deployed in Iraq, Blackwater USA has been scrutinized in the American media for its controversial operations and lack of accountability in the Middle East conflict. Subject to the wrath of official Senate hearings as well as The New York Times Bestseller Blackwater: The Rise of the World’s Most Powerful Mercenary Army, several Hollywood movers and shakers might shortly reveal their plans to sign on to this drama with some, all or none of the aforementioned actors attached…?

“It’s Not Over” Daughtry Co-writer Gets New Label Deal

Pluginmusic.com cites how Course of Nature lead man Mark Wilkerson has taken his band to Silent Majority Group/ILG/Warner. Helmed by former Creed manager Jeff Hanson, the label will now play home to the band’s 2008 David Bendeth (Hawk Nelson, Paramore, Breaking Benjamin, Red Jumpsuit Apparatus, Emery) produced album. Wilkerson and crew were formerly signed to Lava/Atlantic where they had mild six figure sales success with “Superkala”. Husband to star TV actress Melissa Joan Hart, Wilkerson went on to co-write Chris Daughtry’s hit record “It’s Not Over” sharing the credits with current Wind-up Records A&R man Gregg Wattenberg (Five for Fighting), Brett Young (American Idol), and Daughtry himself.

Atlantic Records UK Adds B-Unique Label to Family

UK music tipsheet ROTD informs us that the B-Unique record label will join with Atlantic Records/Warner on all future releases as its business relationship with Universal UK has expired. The Twang, Kaiser Chiefs, and The Automatic (all B-Unique signings) will defect to Polydor/Universal UK.