Weekly News 12/5-12/9/05

Reuters

© Elton to "wed" in Prince Charles wedding venue
Pop star Elton John will "wed" his long term partner David Furnish at the same venue where Prince Charles married Camilla Parker Bowles in April in the royal town of Windsor. The Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead announced on Monday that the celebrity couple would formalize their 12-year relationship through a civil partnership ceremony on December 21 at the Guildhall, Windsor. Monday was the first day same-sex couples could register their partnership and take advantage of a law giving them legal status, although they must wait two weeks for it to take effect.
http://news.yahoo.com/

AP

© Murder Inc. Rap Mogul Acquitted in N.Y.
A rap mogul known for his gangster persona and for producing chart-topping acts under the Murder Inc. label was acquitted Friday of federal charges alleging he laundered drug money for a notorious crack kingpin. Irving Lorenzo and his brother Christopher were found not guilty of money laundering at a trial closely followed by some of the music industry's biggest stars.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20051203/ap_en_mu/murder_inc

© Foxy Brown's Case Adjourned Until Dec. 23
Rapper Foxy Brown is almost totally deaf, her lawyer said Monday. Attorney Joseph Tacopina disclosed Brown's hearing problem after a question about why they exchanged notes while waiting in Manhattan Criminal Court for her case to be called on an unresolved 2004 assault charge. "She's pretty much totally deaf now," Tacopina said. "She can't hear me. We have to write things back and forth. Anything I have to communicate with her now has to be written." Brown, 25, revealed during a court appearance in September that she would soon undergo surgery to try to correct her hearing. Obviously straining to hear questions, she refused to discuss the possible cause of the problem. Tacopina said Monday the prognosis from that surgical procedure is still undetermined, but "hopefully it (the condition) is reversible. She has to undergo another surgery." Meanwhile, Judge Melissa Jackson adjourned Brown's case until Dec. 23 when, Tacopina said, he expects it will be resolved. Brown, whose real name is Inga Marchand, is charged with misdemeanor assault, attempted assault and harassment. http://news.yahoo.com/

© Disney's Sweeney Tops Powerful Women List
Disney's Anne Sweeney is the most powerful woman in Hollywood. So says The Hollywood Reporter, which released its Power 100 list of the top women in entertainment Monday. Sweeney, president of Disney-ABC Television Group and co-chair of media networks for the Walt Disney Co., has held the top spot for two consecutive years. Judy McGrath, chairman and CEO of MTV Networks, was ranked second and Stacey Snider, chairman of Universal Pictures, was third. Rounding out the top five were Amy Pascal, vice chairman of Sony Pictures Entertainment and chairman of its Motion Picture Group, and Nancy Tellem, president of the CBS Paramount Network Television Entertainment Group. Oprah Winfrey, ranked No. 8, was the only performer on the list. The list will be published in The Hollywood Reporter's 14th annual Women in Entertainment Power 100 issue on Dec. 6.

© Wonder to Perform at Super Bowl Pre-Game
Motown fans miffed by the NFL's choice of the Rolling Stones for Super Bowl halftime entertainment are getting at least some satisfaction: Stevie Wonder will perform during the pre-game show at Ford Field.

© Eminem Says He's Back With Ex-Wife
Rap superstar Eminem told a radio show Tuesday that he is back together with his ex-wife and may remarry. Eminem went through an ugly divorce and custody battle over his young daughter with Kimberly Mathers. They married in 1999, and their divorce was finalized in 2001. "We have reconciled and are probably going to remarry," Eminem told Detroit radio station WKQI-FM's "Mojo in the Morning" show. During the interview, he referred to Kimberly Mathers, 30, as "my wife Kim." http://news.yahoo.com/

© New Orleans 'Musicians' Village' Planned
Singer Harry Connick Jr. and saxophone player Branford Marsalis are working with Habitat for Humanity to create a "village" for New Orleans musicians who lost their homes to Hurricane Katrina. More than $2 million has been raised for the project dreamed up by Connick and Marsalis — a neighborhood built around a music center where musicians can teach and perform, said Jim Pate, executive director of New Orleans Area Habitat for Humanity. http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20051206/ap_en_mu/habitat_musicians;

© Carey, Legend, West Lead Grammy Nods
Mariah Carey's comeback came full circle Thursday as she was nominated for eight Grammys, including album of the year for "The Emancipation of Mimi" and song and record of the year for her torch ballad "We Belong Together." Carey's eight nominations tied John Legend and Kanye West. Soul crooner Legend's nominations included best new artist, while his mentor West is up for album of the year for "Late Registration" and song of the year for "Gold Digger." http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20051208/ap_en_mu/grammy_nominations

© Drug Use Evidence Admissible in Nolte Case
A lawsuit by parents of a teenager who says she was raped during a party at Nick Nolte's home can include evidence of previous drug and alcohol use by the actor and his son, a judge ruled Tuesday. Nolte's publicist has said the actor was not home during the party. However, the lawsuit claims he was negligent, contending that the home had "a long history of furnishing drugs and/or alcohol to minors." http://news.yahoo.com/

NYT

© U.S. MILITARY ADMITS PLANTING NEWS IN IRAQ
The military acknowledged Friday in a briefing for a ranking Senate Republican that news articles written by American troops had been placed as paid advertisements in the Iraqi news media and not always properly identified. NYT via To the Point: Rejection letters for the Pentagon's vanity press, and a few sexier pitches from John Tierney. NYT via TruthOut: Thanks in large part to the case Bob Woodward found so inconsequential, everyone knows that much of the American press did just the same before the war-and, unlike those Iraqi newspapers or, say, Armstrong Williams, did so gratis, writes Frank Rich. USAT: Another credibility gap is widening in Iraq, writes Peter Johnson. AP via San Jose Mercury News: Bush "disturbed" by payments to Iraqi newspapers. LAT Editorial: Even if the payoffs don't violate the law, they violate ethics. Iraqis deserve newspapers, magazines and television broadcasts that tell them what is happening in their country in, shall we say, a fair and balance d way, without fear or favor. AP via Denver Post: Military officials defend U.S. stories in Iraqi media.
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/12/03/politics/03propaganda.html
http://thekupfers.typepad.com/tothepoint/2005/12/john_tierney_th.html
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2005/120405Z.shtml
http://www.usatoday.com/life/columnist/mediamix/2005-12-04-media-mix_x.htm
http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/news/politics/13326933.htm
http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/editorials/la-ed-iraq3dec03,0,6873539.story?coll=la-news-comment-editorials
http://www.denverpost.com/nationworld/ci_3279325

© ABC TAPS WOODRUFF/VARGAS ANCHOR TEAM FOR EVENING NEWSCAST
Elizabeth Vargas and Bob Woodruff will succeed the late Peter Jennings as anchors of World News Tonight, but only after the network failed to reach agreement with one of its biggest stars, Charles Gibson of Good Morning America. NYDN: ABC also revealed its plans to shake up and reach beyond the standard evening newscast, by offering additional live feeds in other time zones and stressing access via other high-tech delivery systems. WaPo: Vargas, who was raised by a Puerto Rican father and an Irish American mother, said that she brings a different mix of views to the job because "I'm a woman, I'm a working mother, I'm a minority." LAT: "What we are trying to do in this is revolutionary," said executive producer Jon Banner.
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/12/06/business/media/06abc.html
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/gossip/story/372126p-316468c.html
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/12/05/AR2005120502182.html
http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-abc6dec06,1,1861320.story?coll=la-headlines-business
© NBC to Sell TV Shows for Viewing on Apple Software
NBC Universal said Tuesday that it would start to sell downloadable versions of 11 of its television shows through Apple Computer's iTunes Music Store. http://www.nytimes.com/2005/12/07/technology/07apple.html

NEWSWEEK

© TRUE BLUE HOWARD
As he heads to satellite radio, a re-energized Howard Stern is talking about a revolution. Like cable TV, satellite radio isn't subject to federal decency laws, so Stern will be free as the breeze. How far will he go? NYDN: Sirius loss of listeners for Howard. New York Mag: Stern free at last to be as gross as he wants to be.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/10312484/site/newsweek/
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/gossip/story/371686p-316212c.html
http://www.nymetro.com/nymetro/news/people/features/15250/

WSJ

© WALL STREET WEIGHS VIACOM SPLIT
Sumner Redstone's bet that Viacom Inc., the media conglomerate he controls, will be worth more split into two companies is being put to the test today by Wall Street.
http://online.wsj.com/wsjgate?subURI=%2Farticle%2FSB113375067299213812-email.html&nonsubURI=%2Farticle_email%2FSB113375067299213812-lMyQjAxMDE1MzAzNTcwNTUwWj.html

© Music Labels See Satellite Radio Threat
XM and Sirius are offering satellite-radio receivers that can store hours of music, posing a new threat to the recording industry. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB113401703445217173.html?mod=mm_media_marketing_hs_left

AP VIA NEWSDAY

© O, DAVE, O, DAVE
David Letterman has learned the Power of Oprah: her Late Show appearance last Thursday earned him his biggest audience in more than a decade, as an estimated 13.5 million people stayed up late to watch Winfrey's first visit to Letterman in 16 years.
http://www.newsday.com/news/local/wire/newyork/ny-bc-ny--tv-letterman-opra1202dec02,0,7451670.story?coll=ny-region-apnewyork

© PULITZER EXTENDS PRIZE CONSIDERATION TO ONLINE
Newspapers vying for a Pulitzer Prize, the top honor in American print journalism, can now include material published online to bolster their entries, the Pulitzer Prize Board announced.
http://www.nynewsday.com/entertainment/ny-bc-ny--pulitzerrules1207dec07,0,4992526.story?coll=nyc-enthome-headlines

Billboard

© Jennifer Lopez and husband Marc Anthony are planning to star together in a music-based movie based on the life of iconic Puerto Rican singer Hector Lavoe. "El Cantante" (The Singer) started filming yesterday (Dec. 4) in New York. Anthony will portray Lavoe and Lopez his wife, Puchi. Other featured actors include John Ortiz as Willie Colon. "El Cantante" is being produced by Lopez with Julio Caro, Simon Fields and David Maldonado. Director Leon Ichaso ("Piñeiro") co-wrote the script with Maldonado and David Darmsteder.

© M1 of revered rap duo dead prez is prepping the release of his solo debut, "Confidential." Due March 8 through Koch and Sotti Records, the label founded by jazz guitar player/producer Fabrizio Sotti, the 14-track set features appearances by Q-Tip, Styles P, K'naan, Cassandra Wilson and dead prez partner, Sticman, among others

WAPO

© NEW EPISODE IN CHAPPELLE SAGA
Comedy Central suits have fired off a popgun in an effort to frighten Dave Chappelle back to the table, announcing that sometime in the second quarter of '06 it will telecast the sketches he shot before dropping out.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/12/05/AR2005120502252.html

© PULITZERS PLUGGED IN
The changes for breaking news eligibility could aid the Pulitzer Prize chances of the New Orleans Times-Picayune, which lost its ability to print newspapers briefly after Hurricane Katrina but continuously published storm coverage online.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/12/07/AR2005120702392.html

LAT

©GOOD GRIEF: $1.2B
Charles M. Schulz's A Charlie Brown Christmas-the animated television special about love conquering materialism that airs tonight on ABC-now fuels a $1.2-billion-a-year global publishing, merchandising and marketing machine. USAT: Last year, 13.6 million people watched the show, making it the 18th-most-popular program on television the week it aired.
http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-charlie6dec06,1,2876670.story?coll=la-headlines-business
http://www.usatoday.com/life/television/news/2005-12-05-charlie-brown-christmas_x.htm

© MORE THAN 50 JOURNALISTS DEAD IN PLANE CRASH
The flight had taken off from Tehran's Mehrabad International Airport in the afternoon and was ferrying journalists to Bandar Abbas in southern Iran to witness naval exercises in the Persian Gulf.
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-iran7dec07,1,3826704.story?coll=la-headlines-world

© INDECENT PROPOSAL
The Federal Communications Commission has warned the nation's two leading cable TV companies that unwanted conditions could be imposed on their proposed acquisition of a rival if they do not agree to curb the proliferation of sexually explicit programming.
http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-adelphia9dec09,1,7457334.story?coll=la-headlines-business

Daily News

© Doc recalls fight to save Lennon
The ER doctor who valiantly tried to save John Lennon's life believes that despite medical advances in the last quarter century, the ex-Beatle's gunshot injuries would still be untreatable today. "There was no way of repairing that damage then and, to my knowledge, there's no way to repair that amount of damage today," Dr. Stephan Lynn told the Daily News yesterday - two days before the 25th anniversary of the musician's murder. http://www.nydailynews.com/front/story/372492p-316764c.html

New York Post

© 'GOTTI' HAVE 'EM
Cleared by a court of money-laundering charges, the Murder Inc. brothers are likely to bring their hit-making operation to Warner Music, The Post has learned. Irv "Gotti" Lorenzo and his brother Chris, acquitted last week on charges they laundered money for a drug kingpin, have reprised talks with Warner Music about a record deal for the label, The Inc., formerly known as Murder Inc.
http://www.nypost.com/business/59095.htm

© THE SOURCE TOSSED FROM CRIB
The Source, the embattled hip-hop magazine, is apparently now a magazine without an office after it was forced out of its latest digs on West 23rd Street. The Source is accused of not paying $156,000 in back rent to Forbes Inc., which subleased the office space that was originally used by its Forbes.com, as Media Ink reported back on Oct. 28. http://www.nypost.com/business/59105.htm

© STREET WALKER?
Shares of financial news service, TheStreet.com, founded by frantic hedge fund manager James Cramer, have soared recently on takeover rumors.
http://www.nypost.com/business/58500.htm

MTV

© Green Day And 50 Cent Dominate Billboard Music Awards
Green Day's great year continued Tuesday night in Las Vegas at the 2005 Billboard Music Awards, as the veteran punk act grabbed six awards during the broadcast, including Rock Artist of the Year and Rock Song of the Year for "Boulevard of Broken Dreams." Their haul was matched by 50 Cent, who accepted his awards, which included Artist of the Year and Album of the Year (The Massacre), via a cell phone call from Paris. The show — which was hosted by LL Cool J and DJed by Nicole Richie fiance DJ AM and opened with a fiery performance of "Holiday" by Green Day — also lavished trophies on Mariah Carey, who racked up five wins and Shakira and "American Idol" winner Carrie Underwood, who took home three each.

© Reggaeton king Daddy Yankee is joining the likes of Nelly, Jay-Z and 50 Cent and signing on to launch his own sneaker under the Reebok umbrella. "I'm truly honored to be able to share my uniqueness and creativity with the rest of the world through my deal with Reebok," said Yankee, who's working on a new album slated to come out next year

E&P

© MEDIA FAILURE ON 9/11 REPORT CARD?
Greg Mitchell: Has September 11 fatigue set in? A high-level report declares that the U.S., while fighting terrorists abroad, has not done nearly enough to keep us safe here at home. Surely it has dominated front pages all week? Not exactly. Public Eye: There were some interesting decisions made by news organizations regarding the placement of stories on the report card issued by members of the former 9/11 Commission, notes Vaughn Ververs. WaPo: Postie Tom Edsall was surprised that the Times played the story inside. VV: The press too was slow to question and reveal the administration's lies, writes Syd Schanberg.
http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/columns/pressingissues_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1001615506
http://www.cbsnews.com/blogs/2005/12/06/publiceye/entry1100930.shtml
http://www.cbsnews.com/blogs/2005/12/06/publiceye/entry1099370.shtml
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/discussion/2005/12/02/DI2005120200615.html
http://www.villagevoice.com/news/0549,schanberg,70697,6.html

USA Today

© FX sees series in 'Black. White.'
Filmmaker R.J. Cutler and actor/producer Ice Cube have teamed for Black. White., a six-part documentary for FX to premiere in March. The documentary follows the Sparkses, a black family from Atlanta, and the Wurgels, a Caucasian family from Santa Monica, Calif., who shared a home in Tarzana, Calif. The twist: At times during the series, members of the Sparks family are made up to appear white, and the Wurgels become black, thanks to Oscar-nominated makeup effects artist Keith VanderLaan. "Race has been the central issue in American society since the day the nation was conceived," Cutler told USA TODAY. "I hope we can engage (the viewer) in a dialogue." Cutler (The War Room, FX's 30 Days) said: "I was surprised to learn how hard it is to see the world through the eyes of people of another race."

BIZWEEK

© LOOKING INTO HIS MEDIA CRYSTAL BALL
Jon Fine: In a more delightful world, all of these reports would clack across news wires everywhere—that is, if anything still clacks across a news wire anywhere. In the current reality, you can call these the five best media stories you won't read in 2006.
http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/05_51/b3964023.htm

GUARDIAN

© CONTENT IS KING
Andrew Heselwood: Audiences of the future will watch programs, not channels. They will consume entertainment that excites and informs them, regardless of the platform it is delivered on and they will be happy to pay for the right to enjoy that entertainment at a time, and on a device of their choice.
http://media.guardian.co.uk/broadcast/comment/0,7493,1663043,00.html