In more Ping news, Fred Wilson, principal at Union Square Ventures, opines on his blog “A VC: Musings of a VC in NYC” about Apple’s new social network. “In summary, Ping is not very social and it is not really about music,” he writes. “It is about music purchases and celebrities.”
Buzz is high on Dr. Dre’s new album “Detox” which is due out by the end of this year. Two tracks have already “leaked” online. The super producer says, while he has written music in tribute to his late son Andre Young Jr., who died of a drug overdose in 2008, he won’t include it on “Detox.”
Well, Ping isn’t all it’s cracked up to be, yet. There are Facebook/Apple problems (you can’t import friends). And, as far as music goes, it’s elitist. Hypebot reports that artist profiles are “invitation only,” which is a smack in the face to DYI and indie artists.
Looks like Google will have its music operations open just in time for the Christmas holiday. Google Music is expected to be a formidable competitor to iTunes with its cloud based download store.
Greenpeace says Facebook is polluting the environment with coal thanks to its new large data center in Prineville, Oregon. Facebook says the facility is being built with “energy efficiency” in mind, even though it gets 58% of its power from coal instead of the national average of 50%. Greenpeace launched a campaign on Facebook called “Unfriend coal.” The Comet says, “Go green!”
Will wonders never cease? Kanye took to Twitter to apologize to Taylor Swift again for his shocking mic grab an insults at last year’s MTV Video Music Awards. He also proclaims to be getting his ego in check and tweets about about his song for Taylor.
It’s official. Kara DioGuardi is no longer part of the “American Idol” franchise. Fox finally issued a statement confirming what many have been expecting—that the songwriter will not return as a judge next season.
TAB the Band Hits the Road Again with Stone Temple Pilots
After a string of shows in Europe opening for Stone Temple Pilots, TAB the Band—who also have opening dates with Slash—join STP on their fall tour, along with Cage the Elephant and Black Rebel Motorcycle Club. Frontman Adrian Perry blogs from the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut, as the tour kicks off!
Paul Oakenfold, Paul van Dyk and Armin van Buuren have teamed up for a musical tribute to Germany’s Love Parade victims. The DJs will release a song together titled “Remember Love” to raise money for the families of those who tragically died during the stampede.
Good news to gamers who want to rock out to “Sensual Seduction.” Snoop Dogg has become the first solo rap artist to be featured in Rock Band. The video game will feature eight tracks from the hip-hop star, including “Drop It Like It’s Hot,” “Who Am I (What’s My Name)?” and “Ridin’ In My Chevy.” We dig!
First the Sex Pistols get their own perfume and now the Rolling Stones have their own branded version of Monopoly. It’s all so, how should we say it, rock and roll?
The alternative rockers ended their 2008 tour, after playing 354 shows in support of their 2008 self-titled debut, at Walt Disney Hall in Los Angeles. The Comet was lucky enough to be there to witness the seminal show which featured the Calder Quartet, and paid tribute to their East L.A. origins with a local girls choir, high school marching band and mariachis. The event was filmed for a DVD which premiered last night. Check out the film’s trailer:
Have you ever dreamed about coming to work dressed as Freddie Mercury? Well, today is your lucky day! The Mercury Phoenix Trust, which raises funds to fight HIV AIDS, will celebrate the star’s life with a fundraising event, Freddie for a Day, Sept. 3.
Katy Perry, whose “Teenage Dream” record topped the albums chart this week, also lands at No. 1 on the Ultimate chart with second single of the same name. Meanwhile, Taio Cruz moves down to No. 2 with “Dynamite” and Eminem hangs on to No. 3 with “Love the Way You Lie.”
Two organizations, operated by Phish fans, have raised and distributed a combined $1 million for charity—the Mockingbird Foundation, which supports music education for children, and the Mimi Fishman Foundation, benefiting various vision-related, women, children and animal charities.
Papa Roach celebrated the release of new album “Time for Annihilation…On The Record and On The Road” with a visit to the Los Angeles Mission. The Comet caught up with the band as they prepared and served meals to the homeless living on the streets of Skid Row.
Former Bad Boy Records employee Francesca Spero, 51, has reportedly filed a $12 million lawsuit against Diddy for alleged age discrimination. Spero, who spent 12 years at the label, claims the music mogul fired her abruptly while she was recovering from hip surgery and after confiding to a co-worker that she suffered a drug dependency relapse.
Guns N’ Roses showed up well over an hour late at Dublin’s O2 Arena last night (Sept. 1) and the crowd wasn’t having it. The group was greeted with boos and bottles, and after about twenty minutes into their set, the band walked off. Sounds like a GNR concert! And, of course, it’s all captured on video.
Brooks & Dunn, who are up for vocal duo of the year at this year’s CMA awards, will take the stage tonight (Sept. 2) in Nashville for their final concert. After twenty years together, Brooks is taking his American Country Countdown radio show on the road and both vocalists are rumored to be working on solo projects.
Digital music entrepreneur and partner at Venrock David Packman responds to U2 manager Paul McGuinness’ oped that piracy is the main reason the massive decline in music sales.
