That’s just music

Akai Professional has introduced the  RPM8 reference production studio monitors, specifically intended for use with the company’s MPC music production workstations and production controllers.

“There is so much low-end content in music being made today,” said Adam Cohen, Director of Business Development, Akai Professional, “we felt that a studio monitor specifically designed for extended low frequency playback would appeal to the people who already use our MPCs and production controllers.”

RPM8 studio monitors are sold individually and will be available from professional audio and musical instrument retailers Q4, 2009. Pricing is TBA.

Through February 1, 2010, Sinevibes has a free loop collection for you, Basslines:

Basslines is a comprehensive collection of acid, synth and bass loops developed for the most passionate music makers. Analog and digital basses, acid lines, pulsating and rhythmically modulated synths, robotic grooves – this sound library delivers professional-grade materials which will instantly inspire great new ideas. Contents: 200 bassline loops.

They’re also offering a free loop library, Ambisphere, with any purchase.

Paul McCartney had suggested Sam Taylor Wood to change some parts of a scenario of her movie “Nowhere Boy”, which tells a story about young John Lennon. As ConctactMusic said, sir Paul was not satisfied with the original image of Mary Smith or aunt Mimi who used to raise Lennon after his parents have divorced. Scenario depicts her as if she was a cold hearted mentor, but McCatney had explained that it’s totally not true. Mimi was not angry or harsh; she was way very well disciplined, but trully loved John. Eventually, Wood had produced a few steps back by changing scenario, and there is no doubt that McCartney was right. No matter what, he should be the authority over any director or producer who plans to make anything on John Lennon. Mary Smith was raising Lennon for five years and it’s well known that once she said that John would never make any money by being the fan of rock n’ roll and playing guitar. Right after The Beatles became extremely famous John had placed a nameplate on her house door that repeated these words. In the movie “Nowhere Boy” Lennon’s role is played by Aaron Johnson andseems to be quite allright.

Susan Boyle’s album “I Dreamed a Dream”, which was the leader of the British charts during the last few weeks could not get on top of the New Year’s chart. As New Musical Express said that according to the last week’s results the first spot goes to the Canadian singer Michael Buble with his album “Crazy Love”. Despite the fact that Boyle’s record seems to decrease in sales it still stays on the number two among the best selling albums in Britain (2009) and leads the American chart (also she stays on the first place within the European hits list). Third place on the British national chart was conquered by Black Eyed Peas - “The E.N.D.” British singles hits chart had changed it’s leader as well. Now it totally belongs to Rage Against The Machine with their 1992 song “Killing In The Name”; this amazing thing became possible only after Facebook users have decided to launch a campagn against The X Factor domination over the charts. Surely people eventually get tired and cannot stand fake artists anymore. Rage Against The Machine sounds like a pretty good alternative to The X Factor and anything what goest along with it. Hopefully, the next such thing will include something even more heavy in terms of music and style.

Irish legend U2 is planning to give it’s fans a gift, which is going to be the album of remixes with songs from many different releases and various time periods. This information was given by the band’s official website. However, there is a little thing that not everyone may like; only the members of their fan club will be able to get “Artificial Horizon”. The full track list was not publicised so far, but it’s known that in creation of U2 remixes such artists as Trent Reznor (Nine Inch Nails), and producer Jacknife Lee have vigorously participated. The exact date of the release is also not known yet; only some rumours keep on saying that it should be out by the end of January 2010. More qualified information will be sent to those fans who have registered on the website. ”Artificial Horizon” is not going to be the first limited edition of remixes designated to reach only the band’s fan club. Fifteen years ago U2 had already released “Melon”, which included remixes of their infamous “Achtung Baby” and “Zooropa” by  Paul Oakenfold, Massive Attack and many others. In 2009 U2 had also given it’s fans the collection of B-sides and rare recordings - “Medium, Rare & Remastered”.

Aerosmith vocalist Steven Tyler had asked for help from the rehabilitation centre specialists. As People magazine noted, the band’s frontman needs some serious assistance in order to get rid from pain caused by his numerous stage traumas and dependence on pain releavers. While commenting his move, Tyler said that he had finally decided to go into the hospital and hopes to get back to music as soon as possible.  However, he did not say for how long all this stuff is going to take. “I love Aerosmith; I love performing as the lead singer in Aerosmith. I am grateful for all of the support and love I am receiving and am committed to getting things taken care of”, added Tyler. Particularly, the major  reason for all of it is his bad physical condition due to a lot of traumas he was getting during the stage performances. A 61 year old musican is surely not capable for handling it on his own right now. The last serious trauma took place in August 2009 (in South Dakota) when he fell from the stage. Eventually, Aerosmith had to cancel many concerts and basically cut on the whole tour. Also, in November a lot of media attention was drawn into some rumours that Tyler is planning to quit Aerosmith. Vocalist himself had later proved some of these chats by stating that he is going to stay out of Aerosmith for a few years. Many were speculating on the fact that his place in the band will be taken by Lenny Kravitz, but it did not come true.

Madonna was recently proclaimed to be the most popular pageant of the British media. As The Daily Telegraph said, during the last ten years her name was mentioned more than many other famous names in the music or movie industries. Totally, if counting right from 2000 more than forty five thousand articles were specifically dedicated to her; pretty good list and it certainly fits Madonna. As the issue noticed, such popularity among the British journalists may be explained by her active artistic role, but also a lot of personal circumstances that keep on surrounding her all the time. Particularly, this is related to her recent divorce with Guy Ritchie and various stories on adopting children from Malavi. Also, many articles and news rumour about Madonna’s romance with Jesus Luz. The first three mostly mentioned celebrities belong to the music industry. The second spot went to Robbie Williams (almost twenty eight thousand articles), third place belongs to Britney Spears.
1. Madonna (45633)
2. Robbie Williams (27976)
3. Britney Spears (27901)
4. David and Victoria Beckham (26561)
5. Keit Moss (26494)
6. Victoria Beckham (25204)
7. David Beckham (24631)
8. Michael Jackson (22426)
9. Simon Cowell (22263)
10. Paul McCartney (20347).
These days musicians are not less poweful in terms of popularity than movie stars and often they work as both. At the same time it may be interesting to note that Madonna and Britney Spears are not British, but it did not keep them away from being mentioned by the British media. Madonna got on the first place staying pretty far away from the second spot, which was taken by the Brit, Robbie Williams.

U2 bassist Adam Clayton had started a legal action against his former assistant Carol Hawkins, said Irish Independent. Musician insists that  his ex-aide has stolen up to 1,6 million pounds (2,5 million dollars), and totally denies such a fact. Well, it sounds pretty rough, and Mr. Clayton should think again before hiring another assistant. As he said, in November 2009 Hawkins had confessed to him that she wasted a big portion of his wealth by using Adam’s bank card. After that, he was literally forced to fire her (heh, obviously). Presumably, Hawkins spent all these money on buying property in New York, purchasing cars and jewelry. While appealing to the court in Dublin, Clayton was able to ‘freeze’ her bank account, so she is not going to spend anything anymore. The court did not identify the exact sum, which had  gone away and still needs to check if Clayton is right about 1,6 million pounds; the whole thing needs to be checked over again. The next court hearing will take place on Monday, December 21. Often a lot of strangers and closely related individuals are trying to get money from actors, musicians and generally speaking famous people, so Clayton is not the only one in this situation.

American bands Metallica, Slayer, Megadeth and Anthrax, which belong to the “Big Four” of heavy metal legends are planning to perform together for the first time in history. Surely they will not get out on stage all together at the same time, but at least they will play live during the same festival. It’s pretty hard to imagine these bands doing this because all of them are rivals, and for example if it was possible to see Slayer and Metallica or Anthrax with Megadeth, but it was totally impossible to see Megadeth with Metallica. As the Billboard said, all four bands have already confirmed their participation at the mobile Sonisphere Festival. So far it’s known that two out of many more events will take place on June 10, 2010 in Warsaw and June 19, 2010 in Prague; in the following few weeks more venues are going to be confirmed by the organisers. Totally this stunning tour should include fifteen concerts in Bulgaria, Romania, Turkey, Britain, Sweden, Finland, Switzerland, Greece and Spain. Possible events outside of Europe were not confirmed and may not happen at all. Musicians from Megadeth have already said that the upcoming events will be the only chance to see them all together and guys from Anthrax have compared the “Big Four” tour with  the hypothetical The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, The Who and Led Zeppelin union on one stage. Also, according to Anthrax it could be Black Sabbath, Judas Priest, Iron Maiden and Motorhead.

American music magazine Billboard had completed the list of the most successful artists of this decade. It was particularly completed while considering data on the sold out albums and charts’ statistics from December 4, 1999 till November 28, 2009. Pretty cool thing, but again very official as everything what is produced within the Billboard frames. According to the final report, the biggest artist of this decade is Eminem who’s four out of five studio albums have conquered number one spot on the Billboard 200 list. The only Eminem’s albumswhich could not get into the Billboard’s game was “The Slim Shady LP” - in 1999 it took number two, but stayed in the chart all along 2000. Eminem is surely very talented and unique; nobody is able to be on his place and possibly he will remain the only one forever. However, Billboard’s charting and grading system is very censored by the Billboard itself and definitely there were way more artists and musicians who have deserved to be not less influential than Eminem. As Nielsen SoundScan company said, so far Eminem had sold 32,2 million copies worldwide - not the worst result, so maybe he is the most influential. Besides that, his most recent album “Relapse” was number one on sales in the US until it was kicked out by Susan Boyle (oops).