In Texas there’s a fierce battle over a Congressional primary being held this Tuesday. And pop radio seems to be the issue.

Democrat Sheila Jackson-Lee, who’s been a great and vocal member of  Congress since 1994, has done a lot of good things during her run in Washington. One of the best things is her fight to help recording artists get paid by radio stations. She’s one of the supporters of the important Performance Rights Act (HR 848).

Read the rest of this entry »

“Hurt Locker” producer Nicholas Chartier has gotten himself into hot water. A novice to the Oscar process, Chartier violated Academy rules by sending out an e-mail to voters last week.

Here’s what he said:

Read the rest of this entry »

Bobby Zarem is heading south. He’s leaving on Sunday to go live in his beloved Savannah, Ga., where he’s been the mastermind for the city’s film festival for many years.

New York without Bobby Zarem? It’s unimaginable. Like New York without bagels. Or taxis. He’s the only publicist about whom a movie was made — “People I Know,” starring Al Pacino, Bobby’s pal, as the garrulous flack.

Read the rest of this entry »

Fans of the Rolling Stones know all about a little known underground film that could not be released in the early 1970s. It was called “Cocksucker Blues.” It was made around the time of he recording of “Exile on Main Street” in 1971 and it contained some racy, racy stuff. (Considering what we see on YouTube and from Paris Hilton, however, it may seem tame now!)

Read the rest of this entry »

Michael Jackson’s family can’t wait anymore. They’re starting to plan events to cash in on Michael’s memory.

First, eldest sister Rebbie planned a tribute to Michael in Scranton, Pa., with a second-tier lead singer from the Temptations. It was too sad for me to write about.

Read the rest of this entry »

Conan O’Brien seems like he’s in purgatory right now, but not exactly.

I am told that the Fox deal for a late-night show is moving forward with “everyone talking.” Among the obstacles, as I reported here first when the whole NBC debacle began: clearing Fox stations for an 11:30 p.m. show. The Fox network signs off every night at 10 p.m.

Read the rest of this entry »

No one knows this yet, so shhhh … Phil Collins is going to receive the Johnny Mercer Award this June from the Songwriters Hall of Fame.

The Mercer Award is the most prestigious award given out by the SHOF. To receive it, you have to have already been inducted into the Hall of Fame. Collins is in pretty cool company. Previous winners include Stephen Sondheim, Paul Simon, Carole King, Billy Joel, Smokey Robinson, Stevie Wonder and Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller.

Read the rest of this entry »

C’est Chic: Nile Rodgers, the multitasking seriously talented writer-producer-founder of R&B group Chic, has just turned in the first draft of his memoir to publisher Random House.

Rodgers is thinking of naming the book after his monster Sister Sledge hit “We Are Family.” That’s also the name of his and Nancy Hunt’s successful charitable foundation.

I told him last night at a party for “Hurt Locker” screenwriter Mark Boal that he should call the book “Upside Down.” That was Niles’ hit with Diana Ross many moons ago.

Read the rest of this entry »

Two stories in the news today, but you read about them here first, last year:

Michael Jackson’s Captain EO is coming back to Disneyland

And:

Boxoffice betting begins April 20

Monday night in the main ballroom at the Plaza Hotel: AFTRA, the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, gave its lifetime achievement awards to an eclectic bunch. They were: “Good Morning America’s” Robin Roberts, CBS’ Charles Osgood, “Soul Man” Sam Moore, the cast of “Sesame Street” and Latin American artist Juanes.

(Clarification update: Leslie Simmons of AFTRA wants me to point out that only Charles and Sam received Lifetime awards. The others got awards in their respective fields.)

The winners inspired an equally eclectic group of presenters: Don Imus, for Sam Moore; Tony Bennett, for Juanes; Bill Geist for Osgood. And in the audience a sprinkliing of soap stars including Robert S. Woods from “One Life to Live” and Linda Dano. And my personal soap hero, Don Hastings, who’s played Dr. Bob Hughes for 50 years on “As the World Turns.”

Read the rest of this entry »