Saturday, May 3, 2008

Did Mariah Carey And Nick Cannon Get Married?


Various sources say it's true; reps had not responded to MTV News' requests for comment at press time.





If the rampant online reports are to be believed, Mariah Carey's low-key second wedding was very different than the million-dollar extravaganza she put on for her first trip down the aisle. Latina magazine reported on Thursday (May 1) that Carey, 38, and actor/rapper Nick Cannon, 27, were married in a small ceremony on an undisclosed island on Wednesday in what an unnamed source called a "very impulsive" ceremony. Among the reported guests at the intimate affair was longtime Carey confidant rapper Da Brat.

Adding to the did-they-or-didn't-they confusion was a report from TMZ on Thursday afternoon claiming that the site had received several tips from the Bahamas — where Carey reportedly owns a home — that the singer, Cannon and a number of "other celebs" had arrived on the island and preparations "for a significant event are underway — a wedding?" Citing unnamed sources on the small island of Windermere, the site reported that evidence of an upcoming wedding included a "boardwalk that could be a makeshift aisle" that had been erected from Carey's house to the beach, as well as "workers rigorously raking up all the seaweed on the surrounding area."

And late Thursday, E! News reportedly received confirmation of the wedding from Linda Cannon, a member of Nick Cannon's family (although the site did not clarify their exact relationship). "Yes, we know," she reportedly told the site. "He called us and told us all about it. We are happy for him. If that is what he wants then we are happy for him. I'm not going to give you any details, but we are happy for him."

At press time, reps for Carey and Cannon either could not be reached for comment or had not responded.

A representative for the Register's Office in Eleuthera — Windermere has no such office and uses the nearest island's — told MTV News that no one named Mariah Carey, Nick Cannon or Mark Sudack (a member of Mariah's management team whom she has long been rumored to be dating) had applied for a marriage license. However, couples wishing to get married there need only spend one day in the Bahamas before submitting an application for a marriage license; they also must fill out the application together at the Register's office, pay a fee of $40, and in Mariah's case, a certification of her divorce (from her ex-label head Tommy Mottola) must be produced. The license is valid for three months. Calls to Antigua, where Carey is also reported to own a home, were inconclusive.

Of course, many are speculating that the entire thing is a publicity stunt.

While speculation has been swirling all week about a large diamond ring Carey has been sporting lately — which some gossip sites snarkily reported looked an awful lot like the ring Cannon had given to his ex-fiancee before they parted ways — UsMagazine reported Thursday that Cannon's ex, model Selita Ebanks, had nothing to say about the alleged nuptials. "I have no comment but wish them well," Ebanks told the magazine.

Cannon danced around MTV News' questions about rumors of the pair's engagement earlier this week. "I can't even know what to say. She's probably the most festive, remarkable person I've ever met. Good friend," Cannon told MTV News on Monday. When pressed further about the rumors, he said, "Rumors happen. They do."

The couple reportedly met in March when Cannon appeared in the video for Carey's new single, "Bye Bye," and Us reported that an unnamed "inside" source said the romance was "hot and heavy."

Carey, who divorced Mottola in 1998, has been linked to a few famous men in the interim, singer Luis Miguel and baseball player Derek Jeter among them, along with Sudack.

Rumors about her romance with Cannon heated up on April 15, when People reported that the couple had shared a romantic night out in Las Vegas. Spokespeople for Carey and Cannon had no comment on the rumored wedding at press time.

[This story was originally published at 2:59 pm E.T. on 5.1.2008]

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Paula Abdul's Job Is Safe, 'American Idol' Executive Producer Says


'Why would we get rid of Paula?' Cecile Frot-Coutaz asks.





Cecile Frot-Coutaz, an executive producer for "American Idol," told The Associated Press on Thursday that Paula Abdul's job is safe.

"Why would we get rid of Paula?" she said when asked if Abdul's slip-up this week, in which she critiqued one of Jason Castro's songs before he'd sung it, had put the judge's future on the show in question. "She's great for the show.

"I love that everyone was talking about it," she continued. "It was so unexpected. It was something that took up two seconds of airtime. You'd think there was no other news on television."

Abdul has blamed the gaffe on a last-minute format switch, and Frot-Coutaz explained the reasoning behind it. "We thought it would be a good opportunity for the judges to give the contestants a good kick in the butt and tell them they were going to have to kick it up a notch for the second song," she said. "That decision happened during the live broadcast. It was at the very last minute, so Paula wasn't planning on doing any judging. It's not her fault."

Frot-Coutaz also told AP that Abdul is a "great team player," and said that there are no plans to replace any of the show's other judges or host Ryan Seacrest. "They're a great cast," she said. "They work very well together. If it's working, don't fix it."

The exec said she's not concerned about the show's recent drop in ratings. Viewership for the Tuesday performance show were reportedly the lowest for "Idol" in five years. According to Nielsen Media Research, more than 22 million viewers tuned in for Wednesday's show, in which Brooke White was eliminated. White called Abdul's mistake one of the show's "human moments."

"Nobody's alarmed by the ratings dip," Frot-Coutaz said. "We're still 7 million viewers ahead of the second-biggest show. And let's face it. TV has taken a huge decline this year. All the networks are down by quite a bit. I think the writers' strike really hurt. A lot of viewers haven't come back. You can't just look at an isolation in the environment."

Frot-Coutaz also said she feels the show has a strong future.

"If we're smart about it, there's no reason why 'Idol' wouldn't keep going. Just look at 'Price Is Right,' " she said, referring to the show produced by FreMantle Media, the company of which she is CEO. "It's been on for over 35 years."

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Death Cab For Cutie's Narrow Stairs Is A Major-Label Album With An Indie Mindset


'There is an honesty and inspiration on the album that's undeniable,' frontman Ben Gibbard says of LP, which drops May 13.





It's a story as old as rock and roll itself (or at least as old as Jawbreaker or Jawbox): beloved — yet idealistic — indie band signs deal with evil major label, gets lost in the shuffle, is chewed up and destroyed by the machine, subsequently breaks up.

Death Cab for Cutie knew all this when they signed to Atlantic in November 2004. Their fans did too, and they let the band know about it. History, they said, was not on their side. This could not end well.

Only, Death Cab didn't listen. Their first major-label record, Plans, was certified platinum, thanks in no small part to the fact that the band agreed to put in the work, touring relentlessly, playing the rock-radio-festival circuit and doing reams of interviews. They shouldered the load, played ball and, as a result, were given the time and space they needed to make their new album, Narrow Stairs (due May 13), a sonorous and sanguine effort that's very much the sound of a band pushing the borders.

"When we signed to Atlantic, we told them and ourselves that we were going to do the work," DCFC frontman Ben Gibbard said. "We weren't going to be that indie band that signs to a major label and gets really precious about everything, or decides that we want to go about our lives the way we did when we were on Barsuk [Records], and then wonder why we didn't sell any records.

"That's usually the end of 'indie band signs to major label': things don't happen the way they wanted it to," he continued. "Because nine times out of 10, people don't want to do the work. We said to ourselves, 'We're going to do all the work, all the touring, all the press,' and that's what we did."

Simply put, Death Cab earned the right to make Narrow Stairs, and you can hear them rejoicing in that fact throughout. The much-discussed first single, "I Will Possess Your Heart," is eight and a half minutes long, just because the band wanted it that way. "Pity and Fear" floats along on a layer of skittering Tabla drums. "You Can Do Better Than Me" kicks off with a massive timpani roll, explodes orchestrally, and then ends abruptly. It's very much a record that pushes the limits, and the band is clearly relishing in it.

"We could see the light at the end of the tunnel throughout everything we did for Plans, and we knew that we were going to get to that point," Gibbard said. "So, by the time we got to December 2006, we knew we were there. It wasn't as if we were like, 'If we're feeling it, we'll get back into the studio this summer.' It was, 'OK, on August 15, 2007, we'll get back into the studio and start working on a record.' And that's what we did."

And though there never was a conscious decision to blow people's minds (I mean, when is there ever?) Death Cab ripped through Stairs with a reckless abandon that's typically unheard of for a major-label act following up a platinum album. It's less from the brain and more from the gut — recorded in just 44 days in three studios — and there's an energy that crackles throughout. Part of that comes from being free of expectations, and part of it comes from knowing they've earned the right to be that way.

"I think that at this point, I feel — for better or worse — that a lot of people have made up their mind about whether or not they like our music. I mean, you never want to give people a loaded gun, but the gun's been loaded for a long time," Gibbard laughed. "So I feel like the same things a lot of people like about this record, a lot of people will take issue with — and that's totally fine. I'm really at peace with anybody's take on this album, because we had such a great time making it. I feel like there is an honesty and inspiration on the album that's undeniable. And even more undeniable is the fact that nobody can come at us and say that we didn't try to do something different."

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Brooke White Calls Paula Abdul's Blunder One Of The Many 'Human Moments' On 'American Idol'


'I'm sure she just got lost in the moment,' recent castoff says of 'Idol' controversy.





Performing on the huge "American Idol" stage is surely overwhelming, but no one seemed more daunted by it than Brooke White.

The 24-year-old nanny from Mesa, Arizona, was a mess of emotions, whether she was rambling on and on in response to the judges' critiques, shaking uncontrollably at the piano or crying her way through Neil Diamond's "I Am ... I Said" after her elimination Thursday night. But we're not saying her vulnerability was a bad thing. Obviously, America felt for the girl, supporting her all the way to the top five.

We caught up with the latest castoff to talk about her struggle with confidence, what's next and why Paula Abdul's flub was not so off-the-wall.

Q: What was going through your head when you were eliminated?

A: I kind of anticipated it, in a strange way. It was in my gut. I thought I was strong, I really did. I felt so grateful and happy. And then, boom, it hit me: This is done. This is over. The finality of that phase of the experience being over was sad. And then the fear of going back into the real world and what does the future hold and also excitement. It was just a lot of feelings. It was emotional, and I hoped so much that I could have been stronger, but I'm an emotional girl and I'm passionate, and that really came across on the stage, because I felt really vulnerable every time [I performed].

Q: How did you control your nerves during the competition?

A: I don't know if you really have a choice! ... I think there's just been something within me when I thought I wasn't able to keep going. You totally feel like you're sinking, and then it's like, "OK, swim!" [Laughs.] You've got to. You realize you're here, you have to make the best of it, and the pressure is so incredibly difficult, but you know what? I was here to do my absolute best and be as true to myself as possible, and I can say in my heart, even with the challenges I faced, I think I was able to do that.

Q: Ryan pointed out some lyrics written on your hand Tuesday night. Did you use different tricks to remember lyrics?

A: I had not had any problems with the lyrics until "You Must Love Me" [during Andrew Lloyd Webber week]. All of a sudden, it freaked me out, and I started thinking, "Oh my gosh, what if this happens again?" You play head games. When I was singing ["I Am ... I Said"] in my rehearsal, I kind of felt like [the lyric] "palm trees" was not sticking in my brain. Even the practice of writing it down on my hand helped me remember it. I didn't even look at it, because it was on the underneath side of my hand. ... We don't use teleprompters. And I was playing an instrument and singing on two songs, so it was a lot of things to remember in a week's time.

Q: What were you thinking when Paula made her flub during Tuesday's show?

A: It's live television — anything can happen. I mean, last week, I stopped and restarted my song. It's just human moments that happen on the show. I don't know exactly what happened with Paula, but stuff happens. On the show, when it's live, things can change very quickly. They decide in the middle of the show to change something. I'm sure she just got lost in the moment.

Q: It's been an emotional few weeks for you on the show, so was it somewhat of a relief to be going home?

A: Well, yes and no. I think after Tuesday night, I was ready. I was re-energized, my spirits were up, I wanted to keep going. And then I woke up Wednesday morning, and I knew. It was like, "Oh my God. Brooke, you're going home." Part of me was like, "I want to keep going," and the other part of me was just thinking, "You know what? This has been amazing." It is kind of a relief. Song selection and the pressure has really increased with two songs and then preparing for the finale. It's just an incredible amount of pressure. And in that sense, it does feel kind of good to be done with that. But I was welcoming the challenge as well.

Q: Did you have any survivor's guilt when Carly Smithson was eliminated from the show after your do-over?

A: I don't know if guilt is quite the right word for surviving — I was grateful. You know, this show is very interesting. The voting process is very interesting. That's why I always say, "You never know what's going to happen." I think you take what you can get, and I was grateful to people for seeing past my mistake. I think beyond the mistake, I did my very best and emotionally connected with the song. For whatever reason that people felt motivated to vote, that's beyond my control.

Q: Carly told us after last week that it was hard to be a woman in the competition this year, because female voters are backing the boys. Do you agree with that assessment?

A: The boys are awfully popular this year, and I know that because their fan mail came in great, humongous stacks, and us girls got, like, three a day. It's amazing. But the boys are very talented and very charming. Oh, to be a boy this year! It probably would've been helpful. [Laughs.]

Q: Was it hard to be friends with your competitors on the show?

A: I'm not very competitive by nature. We're all very different from one another. It's not like we had two similar voices. It's just a matter of what people like. One of the vocal coaches said, "You know, Brooke, when I'm listening to the Carpenters, I'm not saying, 'They're so much better than Van Halen!' " [Laughs.] It's two different things. If you're constantly caught up in comparing the two, you're missing out on the joy of the music. Yeah, it's a show, it's a competition ... but we really related to each other because we're all going through this similar experience that no one could possibly understand.

Q: Neil Diamond told the singers not to listen to what Simon says. How did you handle Simon's criticism?

A: It's quite a challenge, because every week you go up there — not that it always turns out the best, but I always gave my best — and when you're standing there in a place of vulnerability, it's hard to know what you should take and what you should not take. I think sometimes he has some valid points, and I think sometimes his delivery is just plain mean. [Laughs.] And I like him! I think he's a good guy. When Paula said last night, "Someone has to give hope to them for their dreams. Someone has to be positive," I think she gets that. I think Simon comes from another side. He wants to push you to do your best, and his way of doing that is being harsh and very blunt. So that's his style. Sometimes I take it, sometimes I leave it.

Q: During your first audition, Simon threatened to bring you over to the dark side. Did he succeed?

A: He joked with me last night that he thought he might have brought me over to the dark side, and I just said, "Absolutely not!" [Laughs.] I've had a lot of support from people to remain the same person that I am.

Q: What was your reaction when you found out contestants could play instruments this season?

A: I was so excited, because I felt so insecure that my singing wasn't going to be enough. I'm not a good enough singer for this show. I'm learning to get over that as well, because just because you think your voice isn't good enough doesn't mean there aren't people out there who appreciate it. Part of what I want to do is be a singer/songwriter, and for me, that means playing an instrument. ... I didn't even know going into it that they were going to do that this year, so when I found out, I was like, "Gosh, this is it. This is the year I needed to do this." It's something that I love to do, but it's very difficult. It increased the workload a lot, especially this week. It was basically like doing four different things: playing the guitar and singing and playing the piano and singing.

Q: Were there any songs you couldn't get cleared that you wanted to sing?

A: Absolutely. I would've loved to sing a Fleetwood Mac song or a James Taylor song. [I did perform "You Got a Friend," but] Carole King wrote that song, so she owns the publishing. That was very close.

Q: Who are some of your musical role models?

A: I spoke to Carly Simon this morning in an interview! It was amazing. She was incredibly supportive, very generous in her comments. It actually really boosted my spirits. It kind of gave me a motivation and hope to keep going in the direction I am, and I do relate to her and those singer/songwriters of the '70s. I connect with what they do, and I hope I can make that happen in 2008, in a more modern way.

Get your "Idol" fix on MTV News' "American Idol" page, where you'll find all the latest news, interviews and opinions. And relive six seasons of "Idol" hot messes and high notes in six minutes with our video timeline.

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Did Mariah Carey Obtain A Marriage License?


One report says she did, but local official has no record of it; Cannon reportedly told Jacob the Jeweler, 'I'm in love.'





While it remained unclear at press time whether Mariah Carey and Nick Cannon are already married or are planning on make it official this weekend, People magazine on Friday (May 2) cited an unnamed source as saying that the singer obtained a marriage license in the Caribbean island of Eleuthera, which would be the first step toward making the couple's whirlwind romance official.

However, a representative at the island's register's office told MTV News on Friday that she has no record of a license in Carey or Cannon's names.

Eleuthera is located next to the island of Windermere, where Carey reportedly owns a home. The Web site of the island's register's office states that couples wishing to get married there need only spend one day in the Bahamas before submitting an application for a marriage license; they also must fill out the application together at the register's office, pay a fee of $40, and in Mariah's case, a certification of her divorce (from her ex-label head Tommy Mottola) must be produced. The license is valid for three months. People's report states that Carey herself obtained the license.

Some have speculated that Carey actually may have married or be marrying Mark Sudack (a member of her management team whom she has long been rumored to be dating), but TMZ claimed on Friday that those reports are untrue. Also on Friday, a rep for "The View" confirmed that Carey had been scheduled to tape the show on Monday (for a segment scheduled to air Friday, May 9) but had canceled.

With confirmation that the license was obtained, Bahamian family law attorney Monique Gomez told People that the "minister would make sure [the license] goes into the registry. It's still a valid marriage even if it's not filed. Anywhere in the world."

Neither Cannon's nor Carey's spokespeople have returned calls for comment from MTV News, and Cannon evaded a series of questions from MTV News on the matter Monday.

However, a relative of Cannon's, Linda Cannon (her relationship to the singer was not detailed), reportedly told E! News on Thursday, "Yes, we know. He called us and told us all about it. We are happy for him. If that is what he wants then we are happy for him. I'm not going to give you any details, but we are happy for him."

Carey, 38 and Cannon, 27, reportedly have been dating for less than two months, which is half as long as Cannon was going out with Victoria's Secret model Selita Ebanks when he proposed to her with a 15-carat stone via a JumboTron in New York's Times Square. Cannon and Ebanks broke up in October.

Last week, Carey was spotted wearing a large diamond ring that began the speculation that she and Cannon were an item. According to The Associated Press, famed blingmaster to the stars Jacob the Jeweler quickly put out a press release about the ring Cannon reportedly gave Carey, which described it as "crafted from platinum and features a square emerald cut fancy light pink diamond as the center stone surrounded by 58 intense pink diamonds and two half moon diamonds on each side. ... The total carat weight of the ring — center stone is 10 carats — is a jaw-dropping 17 carats with a value of $2.5 million."

On Friday, People reported that Jacob (whose last name is Arabo) told them, "The way he came into the store, the mood he was in, I knew this was very serious. He said 'Jacob, I'm in love. This is what I want to do.' He said he wanted something in pink, so he picked something in a light purple-ish pink. He was very involved and he trusted me to design the ring."

Arabo reportedly added, "He loves her. That's all I know."

A number of media outlets have speculated that this episode is a publicity stunt, though the couple have been seen in public numerous times since Cannon filmed a cameo in the video for Carey's new single, "Bye Bye," several months ago.

[This story was originally published at 2:41 p.m. ET on 05.02.08]

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Madonna, Justin Timberlake Talk About 'Hotbox' NYC Show: 'I Think She Killed It,' Justin Says -- MTV News Exclusive!


John Norris gets an exclusive sitdown with the dynamic duo after club show.





A short and sweet, nonstop high-energy dance party — that was the half-hour-plus set Madonna turned in Wednesday night at New York's Roseland Ballroom, in a special "secret" club show promoting her new LP, Hard Candy.

And after that, we got the rare — as in almost unheard of — opportunity to talk to Madonna and her special guest for the night, a certain talented dynamo named Justin Timberlake. I hate those tired "pop royalty" clichés, but what the hell: We had a 20-minute audience with the Queen of Pop and her Crown Prince.

So how was the show for them? "I think she killed it" was JT's assessment. As for Madge, "Yeah, it was very good. It was a bit airless — a bit of a hotbox in there." Well, it was plenty hot out in the audience, so I can imagine what it was like for them onstage.

Of course, during the Confessions Tour, Madonna had a habit of shutting off all air conditioning in the venues, reducing arenas to 20,000-strong steamrooms. "It's true — I generally don't like AC," she admitted, "but I could have appreciated it in this instance!"

These record-release club shows of Madonna's have become something of a tradition for her last few albums, and they tend to be tightly paced affairs. This was no exception — 35-or-so minutes, or as I put it to her, "no fat."

"Are you saying that my big shows have fat on them?" she shot back. Yikes, here she comes! Madonna likes to come after me: John as punching bag. It's cool. "No, of course not," I replied, "but there's just not a lot of chit-chat in these shows."

Justin chimed in, telling Madonna, "I think you just had a woman moment!"

However, she explained, short-and-sweet is the point of these shows. "It's more like, the record's out — you know, it's a sampler? Like with those chocolate boxes, you just get all the best stuff — and no chocolate-covered cherries, 'cause everyone throws that sh-- out!"

Ah, the inevitable candy reference: perfect for the sex-and-lollipops vibe of Hard Candy. Even Justin admitted that at first, he was a bit surprised to learn the show would be so short, but then he added, "After watching it in rehearsal I was like, 'That's perfect,' 'cause like she says, you get enough of a taste of it to want some more."

(Madonna also weighed in on the recent criticism surrounding Miley Cyrus.)

The show was yet another how-to in pop showmanship, and Madonna spared nothing. The band was tight, the six dancers were tighter. The visuals included retro NYC subways and graffiti, a crew decked out in Kangols and Day-Glo during "Music," lasers on the disco-fied "Give It to Me" — the production values were as high as any you'll find in a 3,000-capacity venue.

So how long does it take to put something like this together? "Well, this time the rehearsal period was a bit short and mad," Madonna said. "I felt like we got thrown into a juggernaut. I like just a tiny bit more preparation — I would have liked two weeks but only got 10 days. Of course, Justin doesn't like to work as much as I do."

"I do!" JT demurred.

Madge relented. "Well, I don't know — you're a fast learner, I'm not. And also, I get a little obsessive about details."

No matter — JT is one guy who seems like he rolls out of bed ready to perform. And when black-booted Madge was joined by white-jacketed Justin for "4 Minutes" — to a deafening roar from the crowd — it was unquestionably the high point of the night. They jammed, bumped, grinded, worked the stage and made the already urgent, driving song drive even harder.

While that was the only appearance from Justin — who not only inducted Madge into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame earlier this year, but also worked extensively with Timbaland on Hard Candy — during the show, he told us that there could have been another. "She pretty much had the set list done and everything how she wanted it," he recalled, "and we talked on the phone about 'Miles Away' [a wistful, acoustic tune that's one of the album's standout tracks], and originally I said, 'Yeah, I wanna come on and play the guitar riff that I came up with for the song.' But she was like, 'Well yeah, but that comes before '4 Minutes,' and I was like, 'Oh. OK.' " Yep, the lady calls the shots.

Madonna ended up playing that guitar part on 'Miles Away' herself — and later strapped on an electric for a rocking "Hung Up" that ended with a Joan Jett moment: a feedback-filled amplifier grind. I wished she would have gone further back in time for at least one old chestnut ("Borderline" was rumored, but it didn't happen), but who's complaining? There's plenty of time for all that on Madonna's Hard Candy tour later this year.

But on Wednesday night, it was a candy sampler — and a chance to see Madge and JT, the pop superhero tag team, together. If they're not saving the world, at least they're making our corner of it a pretty fun place.

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Busta Rhymes Lines Up Old Friends Linkin Park For New Single, 'We Made It'


'It speaks to the man in the struggle from the 'hood to the upper echelon,' Bus says of track from Blessed, due July 1.





Together, they made it. Busta Rhymes, Linkin Park and producers Cool & Dre proved that teamwork can reach across the world. The three collaborated for Busta Rhymes' new single, "We Made It."

"The [beat for the] Linkin Park record was given to me by Cool & Dre about seven months ago," Busta explained in a desolate building outside of Los Angeles on the set of the song's video. "I'm on a bus ride from New York to L.A., about 38 hours. Every time I'm on the bus, I listen to the collective of beats I get for my album, just to vibe. We was listening to that song one day when I heard the beat. Cool & Dre had the chorus on there. I was like, 'This record is one of the biggest anthems,' because it felt like it was speaking to the common man. It wasn't exploiting what we usually exploit in hip-hop: the ass, throwing money, rims on the car. At this time in my career, it felt like something was needed, something inspirational. It speaks to the man in the struggle from the 'hood to the upper echelon."

The video for "We Made It" was filmed at the same location where Linkin Park were photographed for their Meteora artwork. The connection goes back further than that, though. Busta first met Linkin Park when they were mixing their first album, Hybrid Theory, and Bus showed love to the up-and-coming squadron.

"Normally, I'm a little skeptical going into hip-hop tracks," Mike Shinoda said as he finished filming a scene in which he plays the piano. "This is the very first time Linkin Park have been featured on anybody else's song. We did the mash-up project with Jay-Z, but that was featuring his music and our music. It's an entirely different thing. What that all comes down to is the strength of the track. That's due in part to Cool & Dre and in part to Busta. When we came in, we did our thing to it and added that next level of something new and different. Each party had a mutual appreciation.

"We were touring in Asia at the time," he added. "We cut a lot of our parts in a studio in Taipei. It kinda fit the theme of the song 'We Made It.' We're recording vocals in China, halfway across the world. He's in New York and L.A. doing his thing. On this track, I got to know Busta a little better. He's very much that character, that personality that you see. But there is a side of him that's very humble and down-to-earth that other people don't get to see."

A couple of years ago, Busta Rhymes became associated with something longtime followers of his career never expected: crime. Whether it was the murder of his friend Israel Ramirez or his own multitude of run-ins with the police, the usually jovial Bus encountered major strife. With everything behind him, he's decided to change the title of his summer release from Back on My Bullsh-- (he insists the title, which was thought up by producer Pharrell Williams, will be the name of his next album) to Blessed.

" 'Blessed' sounded more right," Busta said on the set as director Chris Robinson filmed scenes outside. "It was the perfect way of giving thanks to how blessed I really have been. My last two years have been unnecessarily rigorous. A bunch of unpleasant things have been going on. Just getting past all of that, I felt I was truly blessed.

"They send a lot of our people to jail," he added. "I'm not just talking about black people, I'm talking about rap artists. You got [Mobb Deep's] Prodigy, Remy [Ma] in jail. T.I. with his recent situation. It's unfortunate and feels in an obvious way that we're being targeted for a lot of things, primarily because we're recording artists. I had four pending cases at one time. For me to be able to not have to endure any jail time, to get past that situation with just probation, I wanna just show my appreciation. It's the best feeling in the world. I'm happy. I'm in the best space of my life."

Blessed will be released July 1.

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Lindsay Lohan's Lawyer Blasts USA Today Over Use Of Star's Image In Drunk-Driving Ad


Full-page ad opposes mandatory use of ignition interlocks but says they're appropriate for repeat offenders like Lohan.





If you picked up a copy of USA Today on Friday (May 2), you might have been thrown off by a full-page ad with the big, bold headline, "Ignition interlocks — A good idea for," above the infamous post-DUI-arrest mug shot of Lindsay Lohan. The next line reads, "But a bad idea for us," over a series of pictures of a happy bride and groom toasting each other, some smiling young adults hoisting their brews and martinis, and three pals clinking beers over a meal.

The ad opposes the mandatory use of ignition interlocks, also known as in-car breathalyzers, which require drivers to breathe into a tube to test their blood-alcohol level, cutting off the ignition if the driver is above the legal limit. The ad argues that the devices "are a great tool for getting hard-core drunk drivers off our roads. However, activists now want to put one in every car in America. That means the end of moderate and responsible drinking prior to driving. No more champagne toasts at weddings, no more wine with dinner, no more beers at a ballgame."

Lohan's criminal lawyer Blair Berk reacted angrily to the use of her client's image in the ad and released a statement saying, "USA Today is idiotic to run such an irresponsible advertisement suggesting that drinking and driving is some kind of American 'tradition' we should protect. Not identifying that this ad was paid for by the liquor and restaurant industries is profoundly reckless. Drunk white businessmen, drunk housewives out for girls night out and drunk wedding parties should be kept off the roads of America. Lindsay Lohan fully endorses ignition interlock devices, which have been well-proven to save lives."

A spokesperson for the organization behind the campaign (which is not named in the ad), the American Beverage Institute, told MTV News that the ad pictures Lohan because of her recent high-profile DUIs. "We looked at many different celebrities who had repeat offenses or were convicted of DUI with high blood-alcohol levels," ABI managing director Sarah Longwell said, adding that the campaign will continue in the future, likely using images of other famous celebrities.

Berk would not comment on the report from TMZ that Lohan had contacted counsel to discuss the legality of the use of her image. Longwell said the mug shot is public information and therefore was fair game for use in the ad. "The fact is, what we're doing is making an example that people understand, of what a repeat offender looks like," she said. "The use of a celebrity image is helpful — this person has driven drunk multiple times — when you're finding the fine line between who should and should not have one of these devices."

The ABI is a trade group representing hundreds of American restaurants with the mission of protecting "responsible, on-premise consumption of adult beverages." According to Longwell, the organization is attempting to block multiple legislative and government efforts to make the interlocks mandatory in every vehicle.

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T.I. Insists 'No Matter What' Is Only Partly About Shawty Lo, More Introspective Songs To Come On Paper Trail


'I was speaking on people who took shots at me when I was down,' Tip says of first track from upcoming LP.





All T.I. wanted was to have his say. A few days ago, he finally got a chance to express himself and reflect on what he's been weathering over the past several months when he released "No Matter What," the first track from his upcoming Paper Trail album.

"I would say I recorded it probably around the holidays or January, something like that," Tip said of the song. "[That was] when the hate was real fresh and I was counted out by most.

"I see things, hear things, observe things," he added. "When I sat down to write it, all those things, the things that seemed most important, just came out. I didn't intentionally write about one thing or another; I just wrote from the heart [about] the things that stuck with me throughout the ordeal, what I had seen on the news. It just came out at the time."

"God will take you through hell, just to get you to heaven," T.I. raps on the song. "Even though it's heavy, the load I will carry/ Grin and still bare it/ Win and still share it/ Even when winning's illogical, losing's still far from optional."

"There will definitely be more records like that," Tip said about what to expect on Paper Trail. "You know how usually on the album, I'll do one record like 'I Still Luv You' [or] 'Still Ain't Forgave Myself'? It's gonna be significantly more of those [types of records] on this album. I guess you could say there are definitely more songs that are just as introspective, just as personal, just as well-written."

While the song is very emotional, Tip has also sparked some conversation online about his references to fellow ATL rep Shawty Lo. "I don't think [there are] as many references as people think," the King of the South said. "Only the obvious one in the first verse."

In the single, T.I. directly referenced one of Lo's catchphrases, "Let's get, get, get it" from "Dey Know," in the single. He was retaliating for what he calls Shawty's ongoing subliminal jabs at him (listen to Lo's "Dun Dun" for an example). On "No Matter What," Tip spits, "[I] set the standard in Atlanta of how to 'get, get, get it'/ So you up-and-coming rappers wanna dis, just kill it/ I'm officially the realest, point-blank, period."

But one verse from T.I.'s new song really set off speculation: "They couldn't wait to say, 'Good night, shawty'/ So they could try to rhyme, act and look like shawty/ Go get a beat from Toomp and make a hook like shawty/ Before you know it, I'm back/ What it look like, shawty?"

Tip insisted that he wasn't talking about Lo in those lines. "Just because I say 'shawty' — anybody who holds a conversation with me knows that 'shawty' is just in my vocabulary," he said. "I wasn't speaking to him throughout the record. I was speaking on people who took shots at me when I was down. He wasn't the only one; he was among the most consistent. But I'm focused on a greater goal. I'm not trippin' on that. Dude, that's not what's on my mind. I said what I had to say, and that's it. Whoever don't like it, so what?

Earlier this year, while talking to MTV Radio, Lo made a bold declaration while hinting at a rivalry with Tip: "I guess he's doing his thing. It is what it is."

Later in the conversation, Lo claimed ownership of the Atlanta neighborhood where he and Tip both grew up. "I feel I'm the real Bankhead," Shawty said. "I am the King of Bankhead. Can't nobody tell you no different."

"I sat still in confinement, listening to folks dance on my grave — so they thought," Tip said. "Now they gonna have to sit and listen to me. Take your medicine."

T.I. said he's trying to stay focused on his art, and a sustained back-and-forth isn't on his radar.

"I'm not looking to getting in that kind of stuff. I'm too old for that sh--," he said. "I'm not into going back and forth. Let your numbers speak. Let your success tell the story. Let your legacy speak for you. If the only thing speaking for you is your voice, then sh--, you ain't saying much. That's how I feel about it."

Meanwhile, T.I. is continuing to fulfill the community-service requirement from his weapons-charge sentence. On Thursday, he talked to the youth at the Kips Bay Boys & Girls Club in the Bronx, New York. (Check out pictures of Tip talking to the kids.) It's the first time he's been in NYC since he was arrested last year. Fellow Atlantic Records artist Plies was with him as well.

Paper Trail is slated for August 12. Tip plans to drop more tracks before the LP's release.

[This story was originally published at 3:01 pm E.T. on 5.2.2008]

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'Grand Theft Auto IV' Music Man Explains How Those 214 Songs Made The Soundtrack


Music supervisor says mega-popular title 'helps people discover new music and become aware of old music.'





When the man in charge of the 214-song soundtrack for "Grand Theft Auto IV" first wanted to figure out what songs should play from the radios of cars in the game, he drove through Liberty City.

This was back in 2006, when "GTA IV" was only half-done but complete enough for former DJ and label manager Ivan Pavlovich to soak in the culture of a partially constructed digital metropolis.

"Even early on, you start to see the little details that really make 'GTA' what it is, whether it's sneakers or clothes or different neighborhoods that you can really get a connection to and identify with," he told MTV News during an interview last week at the office of Rockstar Games, the maker of "GTA." "[You realize] there should be music for this neighborhood, these people from the city or this culture."

If you're Pavlovich, one of two soundtrack supervisors for the game and a guy with about 4,000 records back in his mom's basement (not to mention a few more hidden behind the couch at home), you wind up with a list of 850 songs you'd like to consider including in "GTA IV." You put in requests with more than 2,000 people. And you try not to give away that you're asking for these songs for "GTA."

The labels all know that "the 'GTA' call" is coming. But you don't want them to blab. "My heart died when some little band out of nowhere was posting on their blog, or something like that, talking about how they were requested for 'GTA,' " Pavlovich said.

"GTA" soundtracks are a big deal. " 'GTA,' more than any game, helps people discover new music and become aware of old music and break bands and all that," Pavlovich said. Those who've been bingeing on the game this week, hearing many of its tunes in their heads, would find that hard to dispute.

As a result, a lot of artists are eager to please, especially if the aim is to re-create the feel of New York radio. DJ Premier made an old-school hip-hop mix for a station called Classics. Green Lantern and Mr. Cee essentially replicated New York's leading hip-hop station, Hot 97, with the Beat 102.7. Their friends from the station shout out the fictional boroughs that stand in for Brooklyn, Queens and the Bronx.

Dancehall DJ Bobby Konders, also a Hot 97 veteran, went to Jamaica to get dancehall artists to re-record their records to call out the boroughs. "I think everybody went to the extremes to make sure this felt like a living, breathing experience," Pavlovich said. The game has one original piece of music, its theme song, which was composed by Michael Hunter, who also wrote the theme for previous "GTA" games.

Other artists wanted to be involved even though they didn't always make the cut. Like 50 Cent, for instance. "He was very cool with us using his music," Pavlovich said. "It did not make it in, but he was definitely very willing to license his music."

Hip-hop turned out to be the most difficult to license. "There's so many people, there's so many samples," Pavlovich said. "You get all these guest artists that are now on records. You have eight different writers, some of whom own only 2.5 percent of the publishing, and you can't get in touch with them." It's no wonder that in the back of the "GTA IV" instruction manual, where all the songs in the game are listed, the longest credit listing is for a rap song, "Crack House" by Fat Joe, featuring Lil Wayne.

So even as the "GTA" franchise builds a reputation for a certain style of gameplay and a certain attitude of content, its soundtracks have turned out to be educational and inspirational. The vibe Pavlovich gets from fans of the game is that they're saying: "Teach us about music; show us new things." He heard from reggae star Stephen Marley, son of Bob Marley, who said he discovered a song to sample by first hearing it in "Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas."

Sam Houser, executive producer for Rockstar, pushed Pavlovich to consider unusual cuts for the soundtrack. He pushed Elton John's "Street Kids." Pavlovich tried to out-obscure his boss. They wound up with an experimental station in the game, the Journey, that Pavlovich plays during night drives through Liberty City, the almost beatless sounds of Philip Glass giving the city a magical feel.

Design breakthroughs presented some new opportunities. "This is the first 'GTA' where you can actually find out what song you're listening to while you're playing the game," Pavlovich explained, noting that all a player needs to do is send a text message from "GTA IV" protagonist Niko Bellic's in-game cell phone to get a text back with the info. A Rockstar-run Web site called the Rockstar Social Club can even track players' favorite songs and direct them to a custom Amazon playlist where they can buy the music. (The developers had considered letting Niko go to an in-game music store but scrapped that.) Also new: The songs in the soundtrack don't always play in a set order anymore. Many of the stations randomize the playing order. There are even multiple DJ intros to songs, just to mix things up.

What's not new: Niko really only hears all this music when he's driving. "GTA IV" is set in modern times, but Niko has no MP3 player. Why not? Pavlovich said it was considered but didn't make it in because of design decisions he wasn't privy to. And Niko can't use his cell phone to call in for a radio request. Not a bad idea, though. Said Pavlovich, "That would be sweet."

Pop artists didn't make the cut this time. There's no Fergie, no Christina Aguilera. Some of MTV's biggest bands didn't make the "GTA IV" soundtrack: no Fall Out Boy, no My Chemical Romance. "Not in this version," Pavlovich said.

But future versions of "GTA" allow for new possibilities. Maybe new radio stations for the planned downloadable bonuses coming to the Xbox 360 version of "GTA IV"? Rockstar isn't saying. Maybe the ability to update the soundtracks in the base "GTA IV" game using online connections? "I think a lot of the decisions are things that we're deciding on for the future. We'll figure out where we're going when we get there."

The present provides a different challenge, because another thing that happens when you're asking 2,000 people for music is that they remember. They wait a little while and ask for something back. Now they call him. They want copies of the game. Two for each artist, if they can get it. "The list is growing every day," Pavlovich said.

Like so many others, it seems, the music industry wants to hear the sounds of Liberty City. They want to take a ride through too.

Check out the Multiplayer blog, updated daily, for even more gaming coverage.

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Mariah Carey, Nick Cannon Are Married, Says Clergyman Who Claims He Performed Ceremony


'The way he came into the store, the mood he was in, I knew this was very serious,' celeb blingmaster Jacob the Jeweler reportedly said of Nick's ring-shopping trip.





While there was no official word at press time whether Mariah Carey and Nick Cannon have actually gotten married, People magazine reported on Friday (May 2) that Bishop Clifford Petty of the National Church of God in Governor's Harbour in the Caribbean island of Eleuthera confirmed that he presided over their wedding. Petty provided no details except to say that he did not give a sermon.

Earlier on Friday, the magazine reported that Jacob the Jeweler, who reportedly made Carey's ring, confirmed the wedding. The magazine also cited an unnamed source as saying that the singer obtained a marriage license in Eleuthera, although a representative at the island's register's office told MTV News on Friday that she has no record of a license in Carey's or Cannon's names. However, Monique Gomez, a Bahamian attorney in Nassau who specializes in family law. told People, "The minister would make sure [the license] goes into the registry. It's still a valid marriage even if it's not filed. Anywhere in the world."

Eleuthera is located next to the island of Windermere, where Carey reportedly owns a home. The Web site of the island's register's office states that couples wishing to get married there need only spend one day in the Bahamas before submitting an application for a marriage license; they also must fill out the application together at the register's office, pay a fee of $40, and in Mariah's case, a certification of her divorce (from her ex-label head Tommy Mottola) must be produced. The license is valid for three months. People's report states that Carey herself obtained the license.

Some have speculated that Carey actually may have married or be marrying Mark Sudack (a member of her management team whom she has long been rumored to be dating), but TMZ claimed on Friday that those reports are untrue. Also on Friday, a rep for "The View" confirmed that Carey had been scheduled to tape the show on Monday (for a segment scheduled to air Friday, May 9) but had canceled.

Neither Cannon's nor Carey's spokespeople have returned calls for comment from MTV News, and Cannon evaded a series of questions from MTV News on the matter Monday.

However, a relative of Cannon's, Linda Cannon (her relationship to the singer was not detailed), reportedly told E! News on Thursday, "Yes, we know. He called us and told us all about it. We are happy for him. If that is what he wants then we are happy for him. I'm not going to give you any details, but we are happy for him."

Carey, 38 and Cannon, 27, reportedly have been dating for less than two months, which is half as long as Cannon was going out with Victoria's Secret model Selita Ebanks when he proposed to her with a 15-carat stone via a JumboTron in New York's Times Square. Cannon and Ebanks broke up in October.

Last week, Carey was spotted wearing a large diamond ring that began the speculation that she and Cannon were an item. According to The Associated Press, Jacob quickly put out a press release about the ring Cannon reportedly gave Carey, which described it as "crafted from platinum and features a square emerald cut fancy light pink diamond as the center stone surrounded by 58 intense pink diamonds and two half moon diamonds on each side. ... The total carat weight of the ring — center stone is 10 carats — is a jaw-dropping 17 carats with a value of $2.5 million."

On Friday, People reported that Jacob (whose last name is Arabo) told them, "The way he came into the store, the mood he was in, I knew this was very serious. He said 'Jacob, I'm in love. This is what I want to do.' He said he wanted something in pink, so he picked something in a light purple-ish pink. He was very involved and he trusted me to design the ring."

Arabo reportedly added, "He loves her. That's all I know."

A number of media outlets have speculated that this episode is a publicity stunt, though the couple have been seen in public numerous times since Cannon filmed a cameo in the video for Carey's new single, "Bye Bye," several months ago.

[This story was originally published at 2:41 p.m. ET on 05.02.08]

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Madonna And Justin Timberlake Say Their 'Shrink Sessions' Led To Hard Candy's 'Personal' Feel


'We put our stuff out there,' pop icon says of songwriting collaboration with Timberlake.





Madonna is one of the few people who can work with just about anyone she likes — yet she's often chosen to work with relative unknowns, such as William Orbit, Mirwais and Stuart Price.

Some might say that since working with Madge was a big break for them, they gave it their all and gave her some of the best music of her career. On Hard Candy, however, Madonna turns the beat around and works with the most known collaborators she could choose: Justin Timberlake, Timbaland, Pharrell Williams and Kanye West. So why switch up the formula?

"Because they're good, and I like their sh--," Madonna put it bluntly when sitting down with MTV News' John Norris after her show with Justin at NYC's Roseland Ballroom. "I mean, I don't like to repeat myself, and I was sitting around thinking, 'What music do I love right now?' And it was actually your record," she added as an aside, turning to Justin Timberlake, who was sitting next to her.

"Yes!" he said with a fist-pump.

"I was listening to it obsessively," she admitted, as he touched his heart.

So is that why some people are already comparing the standout tracks "Miles Away" to Timberlake's "What Goes Around ... Comes Around," and "Devil Wouldn't Recognize You" to "Cry Me a River"?

"Really?" Madonna asked in astonishment upon hearing the comparisons.

"People actually say that because it's close to the same beats-per-minute," Timberlake explained. " 'It has a beat like blah-blah-blah,' but to me, 'Devil' reminds me of a modern-day 'Frozen.' It's not as venomous as 'Cry Me a River.' It was so cool for her to have a song with that groove, but it's more of a way that she has of making statements. Her lyrical contribution, her line, is, 'The devil wouldn't recognize you, but I do.' And I thought, 'Wow, how do I turn that into a hook? How do we make that a concept?' That sounds prolific to me, with the same dynamic as 'You're frozen, your heart's not open.' "

"Devil" gave the pair their first collaboration (although, to be fair, Madonna has been working on a demo of the song for years). Madonna had already started on the album with Pharrell, and during one of her breaks, her manager Guy Oseary mentioned to Justin, a mutual friend, that it "would be cool" if he did a little with her too.

"I said, 'That would be awesome,' but I thought, 'That'll never happen,' " Timberlake said. "But it's a testament to Pharrell. He had already laid the groundwork where she was going with it. She played 'Candy Shop' for me, and a couple of other songs, and I thought, 'What a cool direction.' I thought she could essentially do the whole record with Pharrell if she wanted to, and I asked Tim, 'How do we fit in?' And it basically came down to how we did my record, co-producing, and just throwing Madonna in the mix."

Luckily for Justin, he and Madonna connected so well, he instinctively "knew what she wanted to do." For "Miles Away," he sat down with her and played a guitar riff, and then he asked, "How do we want to do this? What do we want it to be about? What do we want to say?"

Justin was intimidated a bit by just how much material Madonna would already have at her ready. He doesn't normally write down his lyrics, since his handwriting can't keep up with his mind, but Madonna had "all these thoughts, riddles, poems, feelings, all written in huge notebooks," he said, "and she kept handing them over. It was amazing, taking these little bits here and there and putting them together like a puzzle."

So to sort them out, "We'd have shrink sessions," Madonna laughed. "We had to get a concept going."

One of the ideas they connected on was the universality of long-distance relationships, the pain and heartache of which they poured into "Miles Away."

"It got personal," Justin said.

"We put our stuff out there," Madonna confirmed. "And after we did the song, everybody in the studio was like, 'Oh, I can relate to that.' "

"That's how we want people to respond to the records as well," Timberlake said. "It wasn't so specific as, 'This is my life.' It was more the feeling you get."

The combination of their two sides of the coin, yin and yang, complemented the process for both "Miles Away" and "Devil Wouldn't Recognize You." "I have a tendency to be more male-istic," Justin laughed. "That's a new word. You can use that. She's a little more centered."

"I'm a female," Madonna laughed. "Compassion, you know? He wants revenge."

But by the time they were done, Justin felt he accomplished a miracle — with "Miles Away," he had helped create what sounds like a classic Madonna song. "I couldn't do a song like that," he said. "I thought it was completely her. That was the trick."

"Completely us," she corrected.

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Prime-Time Ratings: CBS Wins; ABC Poised For Victory Among Adults 18-49

Grey's AnatomyNBC

-Yesterday's Losers (Excluding Repeats):
Ugly Betty (ABC), My Name is Earl (NBC), Scrubs (NBC), 30 Rock (NBC)

-Ratings Breakdown:
It was another Thursday of split leadership, with CBS the most-watched network and ABC No. 1 among adults 18-49. But ABC's lead over CBS in the demo was only seven percent. Fox finished third in total viewers and fourth among adults 18-49, NBC was just the opposite, and the CW was a distant fifth.

CBS' still potent Survivor: Micronesia won the 8 p.m. hour, with 12.53 million viewers and a 4.0 rating/12 share among adults 18-49. Fox's Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?, which has held up surprisingly well, was second in total viewers (8.32 million) and fourth among adults 18-49, with a 2.2/ 7 in the demo. ABC's Ugly Betty, meanwhile, has taken a hit, dipping year-to-year as follows:

Ugly Betty (ABC)
5/01/08 � Viewers: 7.93 million (#3), A18-49: 2.4/ 7 (#3)
5/03/07 � Viewers: 11.33 million (#2), A18-49: 3.7/10 (#2)
Percent Change � Viewers: -30, A18-49: -35

Also in the 8 p.m. hour were NBC sitcoms My Name is Earl (Viewers: #4, 6.77 million; A18-49: #2, 2.8/ 9) and ABC-bound Scrubs (Viewers: #4, 5.91 million; A18-49: #2, 2.9/ 8), which really needs to end at this point; and the CW's Smallville (Viewers: #5, 3.64 million; A18-49: #5, 1.5/ 5).

At 9 p.m., CBS' CSI and Grey's Anatomy on ABC continue to share leadership. But both dramas remain on the down side from one year earlier. Take a look:

Thursday 9 p.m.
CSI (CBS)
Viewers: 17.78 million (#1), A18-49: 5.0/13 (#2)

Grey's Anatomy (ABC)
Viewers: 15.11 million (#2), A18-49: 6.0/15 (#1)

Now take a look at the erosion for both dramas from the year-ago evening and notice how much more significant Grey's Anatomy is:

CSI (CBS)
5/03/07 - Viewers: 19.02 million, A18-49: 5.6/14
5/01/08 - Viewers: 17.78 million; A18-49: 5.0/13
Percent Change � Viewers: - 7, A18-49: -11

Grey's Anatomy (ABC)
5/03/07* � Viewers: 21.23 million, A18-49: 9.1/24
5/01/08 � Viewers: 15.11 million, A18-49: 6.0/15
Percent Change � Viewers: -29, A18-49: -34

(*the first half of a two-hour episode)

Also airing from 9-10 p.m. were NBC sitcoms The Office (Viewers: #3, 7.67 million; A18-49: #3, 3.9/10) and 30 Rock (Viewers: #4, 5.41 million; A18-49: #4, 2.6/ 7), Fox's Don't Forget the Lyrics (Viewers: #3, 7.28 million; A18-49: #4, 2.5/ 6), and Supernatural on the CW (Viewers: #5, 2.53 million; A18-49: #5, 1.0/ 3). Worth noting for The Office was growth out of Scrubs of 1.76 million viewers and a hefty 34 percent among adults 18-49. As for lead-out 30 Rock, fuggetaboutit!

CBS and ABC shared the top spot at 10 p.m., with the Eye net's Without a Trace at 12.85 million viewers (#1) and a 3.3/ 9 among adults 18-49 (#2), and ABC's Lost at 11.14 million viewers (#2) and a first-place 4.8/13 in the demo. So, tell me�what do you think happened to Claire?

Third in the hour was NBC's veteran ER at 7.74 million viewers and a 3.0/ 8 among adults 18-49. Remember when ER used to beat the competition combined?

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Children of country music writer drop wrongful death lawsuit

wrongful death lawsuitcancer

The heirs of Darrell "Wayne" Perry, whose songs include Tim McGraw's "Not a Moment Too Soon," had alleged that their aunt said she had been healed of breast cancer through prayer and faith, and that she would heal their father the same way.

Darlene Bishop, who preaches nationwide, denied that she ever tried to stop her brother from receiving medical treatment.

Perry died of throat cancer in 2005 at age 55.

Bishop is co-pastor of Solid Rock Church, known for its 60-foot-tall statue of Jesus along Interstate 75 just north of Cincinnati. The suit against her was dropped Friday.

Perry's son, Justin Jones, of Middletown, said his aunt has agreed to put him in charge of administering the lucrative family trust.

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Bryan Adams sees independence as future of music




By Michelle Nichols



Best known for hits like "(Everything I Do) I Do It For
You" and "Summer of '69" over a career of nearly 30 years,
Adams said he has not been signed to a record label in the
United States for more than four years and loves the freedom.

"It's really time for artists to take control of what
they're doing and appreciate what it takes to move forward,"
said Adams. "I really didn't understand how much went on behind
the scenes in promoting a record."

With several new artists having hits without the backing of
a major record label, Adams says he believes independence "is
what the music business is coming to."

In the United States, the album will be released
exclusively through retail giant Wal-Mart on May 13.

"I know already that we're better off here doing it myself
than when I was with a label," he said. "There's four times the
interest just by doing it ourselves because we're creating our
own buzz."

While Adams did not elaborate on how he was creating his
own buzz, many bands are seeking new ways to sell their music
and connect with fans, particularly over the Internet. As a
result, record labels are struggling to keep pace and have lost
several top acts as part of the industry shake-up.

Among those taking control are British group Radiohead, who
declined to renew their contract with EMI and then released an
album online for which fans could pay any price. Madonna left
Warner Bros to sign with concert promoter Live Nation and
Prince gave away an album in a British tabloid newspaper.

Of his new record, Adams says sales pitch is simple.

"It's another Bryan Adams album, so if you have liked any
of the other ones then you will probably like this one," he
said. "Same singer, a lot of the same musicians."

(Editing by John O'Callaghan)

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NY lawsuit seeks damages for use of Rockwell illustration




By LARRY NEUMEISTER, Associated Press Writer



Norman Rockwell

Curtis Publishing Co. Inc. has filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court in Manhattan seeking to stop ESPN Inc. from rebroadcasting the series about the 1977 New York Yankees until it withdraws use of the painting.

Curtis sent an e-mail to ESPN lawyers notifying them that ESPN did not have a license to use the painting and was committing willful copyright infringement, the lawsuit said.

The lawsuit claims Curtis will suffer damage to its business, including loss of its reputation for exclusive ownership of its copyrighted catalog of illustrations.

According to the court papers, Curtis was notified in mid July that "Bottom of the 6th" was shown full screen in the second episode of the series, titled "Team in Turmoil." Since then, the series has been sold in DVD and VHS format, it said.

Lawyers for ESPN, which first aired the eight-part series last summer, did not immediately return telephone calls for comment. Colleen Lynch, an ESPN spokeswoman, said she could not immediately comment on the lawsuit, which was filed on April 22.

"Bottom of the 6th" first appeared in the April 23, 1949, issue of "The Saturday Evening Post." The original was donated to the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, where it has been viewed by millions of visitors, the lawsuit said.

Rockwell, who died in 1978 at age 84, was known for capturing the snapshot moments of everyday life with his brushes.

Among more than 300 covers he did for The Saturday Evening Post were one of a boy watching his father shave, another of family members enjoying a spiritual moment over a Thanksgiving turkey and one of a young girl having a dress fitting.

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VH1 ventures into Latin content with "Viva Hollywood"




By Leila Cobo



Welcome to "Viva Hollywood," the first Latin-themed show on
music channel VH1.

A reality show where contestants vie for a role in a
Telemundo soap opera as well as a cash prize, "Viva" is a loud
celebration of soap opera culture, featuring singer/actors
Maria Conchita Alonso (dressed in brazenly provocative outfits)
and Carlos Ponce as hosts and Latin fortunetelling icon Walter
Mercado (who is known to Latinos everywhere for his flowing
cape and lipstick) as sidekick.

The soundtrack to "Viva" is mostly reggaeton, and its theme
song has Spanish lyrics, but it's not a music-themed show. Its
absolute embrace of Latin culture, however, is compelling and
noteworthy for a channel that has generally been closed to
Latin content, Spanish-language fare in particular. In the past
decade, VH1 has played only a handful of Spanish-language
videos in its rotation.

"We realize that every time we tap into an audience that
hasn't seem themselves in mainstream television, we win," VH1
executive vice president of programming and development Jeff
Olde said. "And there were 12 million viewers that didn't see
themselves in the network. We were looking for something."

"Viva" was developed by Miami-based entertainment company
Latin World Entertainment and Los Angeles-based production
company World of Wonder, whose productions include "The RuPaul
Show."

CULTURAL OBSESSION

"We're obsessed with pop culture and very much in love with
Latin culture and the intersection of the two," said filmmaker
Randy Barbato ("The Eyes of Tammy Faye," "Inside Deep Throat"),
who's a partner in World of Wonder and executive producer of
"Viva." "And we're very aware that while so much of Latin
television is hugely popular in America, it isn't always
translated into mainstream channels."

Barbato partnered with Latin World and developed "Viva" for
the Oxygen network as a reality show for actors with crossover
aspirations. But its content changed dramatically when
producers pitched it to VH1.

"Viva" also stands out because many of its contestants
speak heavily accented English. And its telenovela scenes are
in Spanish, with English subtitles.

"We wanted that crossover MTV/VH1 audience that has grown
up watching telenovelas at home and can feel them and
identify," Balaguer said.

But, perhaps because it reflects an increasingly culturally
diverse American mainstream, the show manages to strike a
balance, attracting viewers who aren't Latin as well as those
who have never seen a soap. According to Olde, "Viva," which
airs Sundays at 10 p.m. and has entered its third week, has
already garnered a 21 percent jump in viewership.

If the audience for "Viva" continues to build, Barbato
said, "the hope is to begin a franchise that not only
celebrates telenovelas and Latin stars but most specifically
Latin music."

Already in the works is a reality show based on Mexican
American singer Jenni Rivera's life. "She's fabulous," Barbato
said.

Reuters/Billboard

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Cristián de la Fuente Going Under the Knife




Marc Malkin



Cristián de la Fuente may have injured himself pretty badly earlier this week on Dancing With the Stars, but he insists the show will go.

"This Monday we will be dancing," de la Fuente said last night at the15th annual Race to Erase MS gala benefiting The Nancy Davis Foundation for Multiple Sclerosis in Los Angeles. "We have the tango and the mambo."

Even so, de la Fuente will eventually undergo surgery. "They have to reattach the tendon to the bone," he said. "They put you to sleep, do the surgery and then you have a month and a half recovery."

Fellow DWTS contestant football star Jason Taylor is lending a hand, too.

"He called the Miami Dolphins and they sent two braces," de la Fuente said. "It's with metal so that helps the arm not move into a direction I don't want it to."

Meanwhile, Derek Hough gushed over his maybe-girlfriend Shannon Elizabeth. "It's undeniable we have great chemistry," he said. "I mean, every day we find something. We're like the same person. It's really funny. She makes the same silly voices that I do and I'm like, Wait! You make that, too?"

Also part of the serious fun at the the Race to Erase MS benefit at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza: a Tommy Hilfiger celebrity fashion show and a live auction emceed by Lisa Rinna and Harry Hamlin—where a shopping and lunch date with Paris and Nicky Hilton went for $14,000. That's what we call putting the super in superficial. Kudos to all.

—Additional reporting by Laura Lane

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Papa's Got a Brand New Boy




Jovie Baclayon



Godfather of Soul lives

Results confirm that James Brown was the biological father of James Brown II, according to Peter Shahid, the boy's attorney. The boy's mother, Tomi Rae Hynie, sang backup for Brown and claimed to be the soul legend's wife when he died Dec. 25, 2006. Neither Hynie nor her son was mentioned in his will, and the positive paternity test is a first step in staking a claim to the singer's estate.

While he was alive, the Hardest Working Man in Show Business lived up to his moniker on- and offstage. Brown was married four times, had six seven children that have been confirmed and at least three illegitimate children.

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Tina Turner plans first tour in eight years




By Ray Waddell



GrammysBeyonce

The Rock Hall of Famer plans to embark on her first tour in
eight years beginning October1 at the Sprint Center in Kansas
City, Mo.

The arena tour will be promoted by AEG Live and will
include about three dozen shows in North America, likely to be
followed by engagements in Europe and other international
dates.

Turner announced the tour at a taping of "The Oprah Winfrey
Show" set to air Thursday. She said tickets will go on sale May
12.

Turner's 2000 tour, billed as her last, was the
top-grossing jaunt of that year, according to Billboard
Boxscore.

It grossed almost $110 million from 89 shows and drew more
than 2 million people, averaging more than 24,000 a night in
attendance. At the time it was the top-grossing tour ever by a
female artist. The record has since been topped by Cher and
Madonna.

Reuters/Hollywood Reporter

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"I'm trying to get my black Bruce Willis on."




Jeffreson Reid



We've been constantly impressed by shape-shifting entrepreneur Diddy as he's moved from multi-named record producer to hip-hop star to party monster to fashion designer to actor and several other things we've probably forgotten.

And now, we salute his ambition to put in all the hard work necessary to become a movie star. He seems to be able to do it all. Our only qualm is with him getting racial all up in our facial, though he's clearly having fun with the idea. Because, pigmentation aside, being the next Diddy is a doozy in its own right.

Besides, we have a sneaking suspicion that Bruce Willis may want to be the black Bruce Willis. And he's got first dibs.

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New Jersey Hall of Fame's first 15 inductees




By The Associated Press



• Edwin "Buzz" Aldrin, who was born and raised in Montclair, was the second man to walk on the moon.

• Clara Barton, founder of the American Red Cross, created the state's first free public school in Bordentown.

• Yogi Berra, who has lived in Montclair for more than 50 years, is a Hall of Fame New York Yankee catcher.

• Bill Bradley, famed Princeton University basketball player, is a former New York Knicks star and U.S. senator from 1979 to 1997.

• Thomas Edison, who had a laboratory in Menlo Park, is considered the most prolific inventor.

• Albert Einstein, who lived in Princeton for 22 years, was awarded the 1921 Nobel Prize for Physics and regarded as among the most important scientists.

• Malcolm Forbes, of Far Hills, is a Princeton graduate and publisher of Forbes Magazine and a philanthropist.

• Robert Wood Johnson II was the son of the founder of health care giant Johnson & Johnson. He left most of his $400 million estate to the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

• Vince Lombardi, who taught and coached at St. Cecilia's High School in Englewood, coached the Green Bay Packers to seven NFL championships.

• Toni Morrison, who taught at Princeton University 17 years, was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature and the Pulitzer Prize.

• Gen. Norman Schwarzkopf, raised in Lawrenceville, was commander of U.S. Forces in Operation Desert Shield.

• Frank Sinatra, of Hoboken, is a legendary crooner who is one of the most popular male entertainers of all time.

• Bruce Springsteen, of Freehold, is a rock icon who rose to fame playing in clubs in Asbury Park. He is in Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.

• Meryl Streep, born in Summit and raised in Bernardsville, has the most Academy Award nominations.

• Harriet Tubman, who used Cape May as a base, was involved in the Underground Railroad.

___


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"Iron Man" gets heavy start at box office




By Steve Gorman



"Iron Man" stars Robert Downey Jr. as a billionaire
industrialist and playboy named Tony Stark who wrestles with a
midlife crisis as he invents a high-tech suit of armor that
transforms him into a superhero.

The movie, which cost about $150 million to make and
another $75 million to market, co-stars Oscar winner Gwyneth
Paltrow and has drawn mostly favorable reviews.

Distributed through Viacom Inc's Paramount Pictures, the
film is the first self-financed production from Marvel Studios
and is being closely watched as the first major release of the
summer movie season.

The 18-weekend stretch from May through August can account
for as much as 40 percent of Hollywood's total domestic box
office receipts for a year.

Neither Paramount nor Marvel issued first-day figures for
"Iron Man."

But two box office tracking services, Media By Numbers and
Box Office Mojo, both reported the film's estimated Friday take
at $32.5 million, not including receipts from Thursday night
"preview" screenings in more than 2,000 theaters.

Media By Numbers estimated preview grosses at about $6
million; Box Office Mojo put that number at $5.5 million.

"Iron Man's" opening Friday haul puts in on par with "X2:
X-Men United," which grossed $31.2 million its first Friday and
went on to amass $85.6 million in receipts through its first
Sunday, all in the same May weekend five years ago.

If Friday's estimates hold up, Media By Numbers president
Paul Dergarabedian said he expects "Iron Man" to best "X2" and
perhaps even meet or surpass the $88.2 million grossed by
"Spider-Man 2" in its first weekend in July 2004.

"It might be a little higher than 'X-2' because I think
this one's going to have better word of mouth than that movie,"
Dergarabedian said. "Whether it beats 'Spider-Man 2' remains to
be seen."

(Editing by Doina Chiacu)

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Celebrities horse around at Kentucky Derby party




By ANTONIO GONZALEZ, Associated Press Writer



Kentucky DerbyLouisville

"I come for the food. I come for the parties. I come to meet people from all over, from sports to politics to Hollywood," said model-actress Molly Sims, from Murray, Ky. "The Derby is more than just a race."

Playboy founder Hugh Hefner and his three Playmate girlfriends — Holly Madison, Bridget Marquardt and Kendra Wilkinson — were expected to headline a cast of stars Friday night at the Barnstable Brown Gala, one of the biggest parties in a week filled with festivities.

Fans camped out early and were pinned behind metal barricades at the edge of the mansion's green, waiting through heavy rains and thunderstorms to get a glimpse of their favorite celebrities. About 100 people stood soaked as the celebrities began showing up around 8:30 p.m. EDT, bathed in the camera flashes that lit up the damp night.

"I like Big Brown," Hefner said, referring to the 3-1 morning line favorite. "I know a good thoroughbred when I see one."

Others on the guest list included Chelsea Clinton, daughter of former President Bill Clinton and Democratic presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton; actor Edward Norton; Fox News Channel host Bill O'Reilly; and Dallas Cowboys receiver Terrell Owens.

"It's definitely a different mix of people than we see in Hollywood," Marquardt said. "That's what makes the Derby unique."

Carson Daly, host of NBC's late-night show "Last Call With Carson Daly," brought his mother to the Derby as a gift to her — and to help with betting.

"I'll sit there and crunch the numbers on all the horses, and she'll be giving me advice," Daly said. "She picks them based on looks and stuff, but she wins."

Louisville native Larry Birkhead, ex-boyfriend of the late Anna Nicole Smith, also was at the party, the same event where he and Smith met in 2004.

Birkhead said he bought a new house in Louisville this week but didn't plan on picking a horse.

"I don't bet that much, and I really wouldn't know who I was betting on anyways," he said.

Patricia Barnstable Brown and sister Priscilla Barnstable — the former Doublemint Twins — were co-hosting the party for the 20th year to raise funds for diabetes research at the University of Louisville and the University of Kentucky.

Brown's late husband, David E. Brown, was the inspiration behind the gala. After a long battle with diabetes, he died in July 2003.

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Amy Winehouse won't record track for new James Bond film

Amy WinehouseJames Bond film

Mark Ronson, who produced much of Winehouse's Grammy-winning "Back to Black," said the soul diva is "not ready to record any music."

Ronson said the two started work on the track for the upcoming Bond movie "Quantum of Solace" but it would take "some miracle of science" to finish it, he said in an interview with Sky News.

Winehouse's troubles with drugs, law enforcement and her rocky romance with her jailed husband Blake Fielder-Civil have kept the singer in the spotlight.

Police gave her a formal warning last week after she scuffled with two men during a raucous night out.

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Reports: Mariah Carey marries actor Nick Cannon




By NEKESA MUMBI MOODY, AP Music Writer



Nick Cannon

According to several published reports, Carey, 38, married Cannon, 27, on Wednesday. Neither Carey's publicist nor Cannon's manager returned requests from The Associated Press for comment.

If the pair did indeed wed, it would be a whirlwind romance. Word that the two were seeing each other first surfaced in the past few weeks. Last Saturday, Carey was seen sporting a huge diamond ring on her finger at the Tribeca Film Festival premiere of her movie, "Tennessee," in which she plays a waitress. Cannon was at her side at the party. Speculation swirled that the couple were engaged.

Latina was first to report that the two got married, at Carey's home in the Bahamas. Friday's New York Post also had the pair wed. People magazine on its Web site Friday quoted a clergyman, Bishop Clifford Petty of the National Church of God in the Caribbean, as saying he presided over the wedding.

E Online quoted a relative of Cannon's as saying that he called his family and confirmed the news.

"He called us and told us all about it. We are happy for him. If that is what he wants, then we are happy for him," Linda Cannon, identified simply as a family member, was quoted telling E.

People reported Friday that Carey had obtained a marriage license on the island of Eleuthera, in the Bahamas, where she has an estate.

Cannon has put out a rap album but is best known for his role in the movie "Drumline" and a Nickelodeon TV series (yes, Nickelodeon — Cannon is 11 years Carey's junior). He's featured in Carey's upcoming video for "Bye Bye."

While Carey and Cannon (or is it the Cannons?) were playing coy, the famed jeweler Jacob & Co. was quick to publicize its apparent role in the reputed union with a news release touting the ring Cannon reportedly gave her.

The release described it as "crafted from platinum and features a square emerald cut fancy light pink diamond as the center stone surrounded by 58 intense pink diamonds and two half moon diamonds on each side.

"The total carat weight of the ring — center stone is 10 carats — is a jaw-dropping 17 carats with a value of $2.5 million."

Cannon does have experience with engagement rings. The actor, who has previously romanced singer Christina Milian and voluptuous reality star Kim Kardashian, last year gave a 15-carat stone to Victoria's Secret model Selita Ebanks as he proposed in grand fashion — on the Jumbotron in New York's Times Square. Cameras were flashing as she said yes. They split just a few months later.

The Carey-Cannon match is already getting considerably more ink, leaving some to wonder whether it's a publicity stunt: After all, she's just released a No. 1 album ("EMC2" is on the top of the charts), and he has at least four movies due out this year.

But then again, Carey is one of the most successful artists in music, and hardly needs a marriage to get attention: She's already scored a No. 1 hit off the album with "Touch My Body."

This would be Cannon's first marriage but Carey's second. She famously wed top music executive Tommy Mottola in an extravagant wedding in 1993. They had a bitter divorce in 1998.

___

On the Net:

People magazine: http://www.people/

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The Boss, Sinatra among N.J. Hall of Fame's first inductees




By DANIELA FLORES, Associated Press Writer



Yogi BerraAlbert EinsteinToni Morrison

And ... New Jersey?

Yep. They all have strong ties to the oft-maligned Garden State, and they're among the first 15 people to be inducted Sunday into New Jersey's new Hall of Fame.

"I think anything you get inducted to you feel good about," said 82-year-old Berra, the famous New York Yankee catcher who lives in Montclair in northern New Jersey. "Heck to get inducted with all them guys, that's pretty good."

Berra, who's lived in New Jersey for 52 years, is in good company.

In addition to Edison, Einstein and Morrison, the inaugural class includes Frank Sinatra, Bruce Springsteen, Meryl Streep, astronaut Edwin "Buzz" Aldrin, Gen. Norman Schwarzkopf and Vince Lombardi.

"There's no doubt this will be a historic event for the state," said Don Jay Smith, the hall's executive director. "New Jersey is often the butt of jokes, nationally, and yet when people see who has claimed New Jersey as their home, they will be very impressed."

Edison's great-granddaughter, Elizabeth Sloane Eggemann, of White House Station in northwest New Jersey, said the famous inventor would be thrilled by the honor, and she hopes children are inspired by all of the hall's inductees.

"It's really great to recognize all the accomplishments," she said.

The Hall of Fame exists only as a virtual entity now, but officials are raising money to build a permanent museum. The first class was chosen through an online vote after 25 finalists were announced in 2006.

All inductees must have lived in the state for at least five years, though organizers made an exception to that rule for Underground Railroad pioneer Harriet Tubman.

Smith said he expects most of the living inductees to attend Sunday's induction ceremony at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center in Newark.

Two inductees, Streep and former U.S. Sen. Bill Bradley, have asked that the presentation of their awards be held until they can receive them in person.

"Meryl Streep was honored to be among the first class to be inducted to the New Jersey Hall of Fame," her representative, Michelle Benson, said in a statement. "Because of the significance of the Hall of Fame, she has asked that the presentation of her award be postponed until she can accept in person."

John Lombardi said his grandfather, a legendary coach who led the Green Bay Packers to seven NFL championships, would get a kick out of his induction into the state's hall of fame.

"I kind of look at the list of the 'who's who' who are getting inducted and I kind of laugh because I'm like, Edison, Einstein, then my grandfather," he said. "I think he'd be laughing out loud. He had a healthy ego but I don't think he ever thought he was up there with those guys."

___


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A first for Saudis: Mozart performed publicly and women come




By DONNA ABU-NASR, Associated Press Writer



Mozart

The concert, held at a government-run cultural center, broke many taboos in a country where public music is banned and the sexes are segregated even in lines at fast food outlets.

The Friday night performance could be yet another indication that this strict Muslim kingdom is looking to open up to the rest of the world.

A few weeks ago, King Abdullah made an unprecedented call for interfaith dialogue with Christians and Jews — the first such proposal from a nation that forbids non-Muslim religious services and symbols.

"The concert is a sign that things are changing rapidly here," said German Ambassador Juergen Krieghoff, whose embassy sponsored the concert as part of the first-ever German Cultural Weeks in Saudi Arabia.

"Evidently the government has decided that a minimum of openness in our new world economy and in our information-based world is necessary for us and also for good understanding among cultures," he added.

Public concerts are practically unheard of in the kingdom. Foreign embassies and consulates regularly bring musical groups, but they perform on embassy grounds or in expatriates' residential compounds, and the shows are not open to the public.

In the past couple of months, however, there has been a quiet, yet marked increase in cultural activities in Saudi Arabia. Lectures and a couple of segregated folk music performances were held on the sidelines of Riyadh's book fair. And Jiddah's annual Economic Forum opened with a surprise this February — a performance of Arab and Western music.

"For half an hour, we did not quite know whether we had stumbled into an unknown Jiddah nightclub or whether it was some amazing mistake that would suddenly stop," wrote Michel Cousins in the English-language daily Arab News, describing the 30-minute show.

Friday's concert of works by works by Mozart, Brahms and Paul Juon was the first classical performance held in public in Saudi Arabia, said German press attache Georg Klussmann. It was advertised on the embassy's Web site with free tickets that could be downloaded and printed.

The excitement in the 500-seat hall was palpable as the largely expatriate audience walked in.

"We have not done a concert like this before," German diplomat Tobias Krause told the audience at the start of performance by the Artis Piano Quartet. Those gathered applauded enthusiastically after each piece and were treated to an encore.

Sebastian Bischoff, the German cultural attache, said the mission had received permission for the event from the Ministry of Information and Culture, which runs the King Fahd Cultural Center where the concert took place.

Japanese pianist Hiroko Atsumi, the quartet's only woman, said there was some debate before the concert about whether she should perform in an abaya, the enveloping black cloak all women must wear in public. She ended up settling on a long green top and black trousers.

Among the first to arrive was Faiza al-Khayyal, a retired Saudi educator, with her 15-year-old daughter.

"I came here for her sake. She loves classical music," said al-Khayyal. "There are cultural activities at embassies, but we don't get invited to them."

Al-Khayyal said she had inquired about seating arrangements and was told the audience would be mixed.

RiyadhSouth Korean Embassy


"Saudi society wouldn't accept it. And girls aren't used to such mixed gatherings," he said, adding that if he had a sister, she certainly would not have been allowed to attend.

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