December 7, 2004

Shawn Fanning’s Napster software enabled countless music fans to swap songs on the Internet for free, turning him into the recording industry’s enemy No. 1 in the process.
Five years later, now heading San Francisco-based Snocap Inc., Fanning is touting a new technology designed to help the music companies who once sued him into submission cash in on file-sharing between computer users, also known as peer-to-peer.
Rough details of the venture, in the works the past four years, surfaced in recent weeks, but Fanning spoke publicly about it for the first time Thursday, hailing it as a means to create a licensed online music service with the nearly unlimited selection of music now available on file-sharing networks.

Snocap’s system would allow record labels to manage whether computer users could swap their recordings over file-sharing software that has been equipped with the technology. Computer users would also be given the option to pay to download songs.
This would purportedly afford some manner of assurance to record labels that unauthorized versions of their music, specifically the tracks they register with Snocap, would not be shared, while also allowing the freewheeling exchange of other files, Fanning said.
The technology employs an acoustic fingerprinting system to identify tracks and compare them to a database of licensed songs submitted by record labels. The program also would filter out spoofed, damaged or unlicensed versions of songs in the database, Fanning said.
Record companies would also be able to specify an array of restrictions, including how many times a track can be played on a computer before the user is required to buy it, or whether it can be burned to CD, or shared, Fanning said.

Source: pollstar.com

A longtime friend of late Metallica bassist Cliff Burton has a batch of his unreleased demo tapes, which he hopes to donate to a burgeoning musician. Burton was killed in 1986 when the band’s bus crashed in Sweden on the Master of Puppets tour.
“There are Metallica mega-hits that will never be,” says Dave DiDonato, a drummer in his own right, of the tapes. “All these killer riffs . . . he was working on them until he died.”

Such tapes were key to Metallica’s songwriting process. Burton, singer-guitarist James Hetfield and lead guitarist Kirk Hammett (and his predecessor, Dave Mustaine) would record them, and bandleaders Hetfield and drummer Lars Ulrich would then sift through them to construct songs. After Burton’s death, the bassist earned a posthumous songwriting credit when one of his riffs served as the foundation for “To Live Is to Die,” from 1988’s …And Justice for All.

Burton’s parents gave DiDonato the tapes after their son’s death, and DiDonato wants to get them in the hands of someone who can continue in Burton’s spirit. “I would love to find a young bass musician following in [Cliff’s] footsteps,” he says, “someone who would utilize this material to improve his craft and appreciate the music, and devote himself to doing what Cliff was doing.” (Interested parties can contact DiDonato through his rotgrub.com Web site.)

The tapes were recorded in the Burton family’s Castro Valley, California, home, and — not surprisingly — the sound quality is often rough. “It was usually late at night, and he couldn’t play loud,” says DiDonato, “and he had this really crummy little bass amp. On a lot these, you hear string slapping, grunting and his equipment squeaking . . . His mom would walk in and go, ‘Cliff, turn it down!’ [laughs].”

DiDonato’s Web site has begun selling CDs of jam sessions from the early to mid-Eighties, featuring Burton on bass, ex-Faith No More member Jim Martin on guitar and DiDonato beating on empty fifty-five-gallon oil drums. The setting for these jams was also late at night, outdoors at Martin’s parents’ California ranch. “We never really talked or practiced,” says DiDonato, “and sometimes it’s really absurd and the time signatures are completely wrong.” But the jams are not without charm, or significance: Metallica and Faith No More songs such as “For Whom the Bell Tolls” and “Woodpecker From Mars” were birthed during these sessions.

As for his reaction to hearing the works of his old friend, DiDonato says, “I get goosebumps.”

Source rollingstone.com.

Kanye West — a rapper who has steered away from hard-core topics in favor of lyrics about everyday life — led nominations Tuesday for the 47th annual Grammy Awards, earning 10 nods, including song of the year, album of the year and best new artist.

Several artists — including Alicia Keys, Ray Charles, Green Day and Usher — earned nominations in two of the big three categories: song, album and record of the year.

Usher’s hit single “Yeah!” and album “Confessions” are nominated for record of the year and album of the year, respectively, while Keys’ “If I Ain’t Got You” and “The Diary of Alicia Keys” are up for song of the year (a songwriter’s award) and album of the year.

Rounding out the latter category are Charles’ “Genius Loves Company,” Green Day’s “American Idiot” and newcomer West’s “College Dropout.” West’s song of the year nomination is for “Jesus Calls.”

Other record of the year nominees are “Let’s Get It Started” by the Black Eyed Peas; “Here We Go Again” by Charles and Norah Jones; “American Idiot” by Green Day; and “Heaven” by Los Lonely Boys.

Song of the year nods went to “Daughters,” written and performed by John Mayer; “Jesus Walks,” written by West and C. Smith; Tim McGraw’s “Live Like You Were Dying” written by Tim Nichols and Craig Wiseman; Hoobastank’s “The Reason,” by Daniel Estrin and Douglas Robb; and Keys’ “If I Ain’t Got You,” which she wrote and performed.

West, Los Lonely Boys, Maroon 5, Joss Stone and Gretchen Wilson are up for best new artist.

The Grammys will be given out February 13 in Los Angeles, California, during a broadcast on CBS.

Source CNN.com.

The full list of nominations is available at grammys.com

The fourth annual Bonnaroo Music Festival is set for June 10-12. The hugely successful jam band fest will return to the same 700-acre site in rural Manchester, Tenn., about 60 miles South of Nashville.

Jonathan Mayers, president of Superfly Productions, producer of the event with Ashley Capps and A.C. Entertainment, tells Billboard.biz that the lineup is being finalized and an announcement of the bill and on-sale information is tentatively set for January.

“We will continue to have our core [jam band artists], but we’re also into introducing fans to all types of music,” ” Mayers says. “We think these fans are very open to different kinds of music.”

Bonnaroo was the second-highest-grossing concert of 2004, according to Billboard Boxscore, taking in $14.5 million from a lineup that included the Dead, Dave Matthews & Friends, Trey Anastasio, Bob Dylan, and nearly 80 other acts. Mayers says ticket prices, $139 and $164 in 2004, will increase slightly in 2005, but capacity, 90,000 last year, will not.

Source billboard.com.

Nominees of Interest for the Grammy Awards announced today (12/7) include:

Best Rock Album nominees that include – Elvis Costello & The Imposters, Green Day, Hoobastank, The Killers and Velvet Revolver.

Best Solo Rock Vocal Performance that include – Ryan Adam, Steve Earle and Tom Waits.

Best Rock Instrumental Performance includes “Instrumental Illness,” The Allman Brothers Band; “Onda,” Los Lonely Boys; “O Baterista,” Rush; “Whispering a Prayer,” Steve Vai and “Mrs. O’Leary’s Cow,” Brian Wilson. B

Best Alternative Music Album nominees include “Medulla,” Bjork; “Franz Ferdinand,” Franz Ferdinand”; Uh Huh Her,” PJ Harvey “Good News For People Who Love Bad News,” Modest Mouse and “A Ghost Is Born,” Wilco.

Best Contemporary Folk Album include “Educated Guess,” Ani DiFranco;
“The Revolution Starts … Now,” Steve Earle; “Impossible Dream,” Patty Griffin

General Listings:

Record of the Year
“Let’s Get It Started,” Black Eyed Peas
“Here We Go Again,” Ray Charles & Norah Jones
“American Idiot,” Green Day
“Heaven,” Los Lonely Boys
“Yeah!,” Usher featuring Lil Jon & Ludacris

Album of the Year
“Genius Loves Company,” Ray Charles & Various Artists
“American Idiot,” Green Day
“The Diary of Alicia Keys,” Alicia Keys
“Confessions,” Usher
“The College Dropout,” Kanye West

Song of the Year
“Daughters,” John Mayer, songwriter (John Mayer)
“If I Ain’t Got You,” Alicia Keys, songwriter (Alicia Keys)
“Jesus Walks,” C. Smith & Kanye West, songwriters (Kanye West)
“Live Like You Were Dying,” Tim Nichols & Craig Wiseman, songwriters (Tim McGraw)
“The Reason,” Daniel Estrin & Douglas Robb, songwriters (Hoobastank)

Best New Artist
Los Lonely Boys
Maroon 5
Joss Stone
Kanye West
Gretchen Wilson

POP

Best Female Pop Vocal Performance
“Oceania,” Bjork
“The First Cut Is the Deepest,” Sheryl Crow
“Sunrise,” Norah Jones
“What You Waiting For?” Gwen Stefani
“You Had Me,” Joss Stone

Best Male Pop Vocal Performance
“Let’s Misbehave,” Elvis Costello
“You Raise Me Up,” Josh Groban
“Daughters,” John Mayer
“Cinnamon Girl,” Prince
“Love’s Divine,” Seal

Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal
“My Immortal,” Evanescence
“The Reason,” Hoobastank
“Heaven,” Los Lonely Boys
“She Will Be Loved,” Maroon 5
“It’s My Life,” No Doubt

Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals
“Redemption Song,” Johnny Cash & Joe Strummer
“Sorry Seems To Be the Hardest Word,” Ray Charles & Elton John
“Here We Go Again,” Ray Charles & Norah Jones
“Something,” Paul McCartney & Eric Clapton
“Moon River,” Stevie Wonder & Take 6

Best Pop Instrumental Performance
“Chasing Shadows,” Herb Alpert, Russ Freeman, James Genus, Gene Lake and Jason Miles
“Take You Out,” George Benson
“11th Commandment,” Ben Harper
“Song F,” Bruce Hornsby
“Rat Pack Boogie,” Brian Setzer

Best Pop Instrumental Album
“Pure,” Boney James
“Saxophonic,” Dave Koz
“Forever, for Always, for Luther,” Various Artists
“Henry Mancini: Pink Guitar,” Various Artists
“EP 2003: Music for the Epicurean Harkener,” Mason Williams

Best Pop Vocal Album
“Genius Loves Company,” Ray Charles & Various Artists
“Feels Like Home,” Norah Jones
“Afterglow,” Sarah McLachlan
“Mind, Body & Soul,” Joss Stone
“Brian Wilson Presents Smile,” Brian Wilson

DANCE

Best Dance Recording
“Good Luck,” Basement Jaxx featuring Lisa Kekaula
“Get Yourself High,” Chemical Brothers
“Slow,” Kylie Minogue
“Comfortably Numb,” Scissor Sisters
“Toxic,” Britney Spears

Best Electronic/Dance Album
“Kish Kash,” Basement Jaxx
“Legion of Boom,” The Crystal Method
“Creamfields,” Paul Oakenfold
“Always Outnumbered, Never Outgunned,” The Prodigy
“Reflections,” Paul Van Dyk

Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album
“Only You,” Harry Connick, Jr.
“Count Your Blessings,” Barbara Cook
“Ultimate Mancini,” Monica Mancini
“Just For a Thrill,” Ronnie Milsap
“Stardust … The Great American Songbook Volume III,” Rod Stewart

ROCK

Best Solo Rock Vocal Performance
“Wonderwall,” Ryan Adams
“The Revolution Starts Now,” Steve Earle
“Breathe,” Melissa Etheridge
“Code of Silence,” Bruce Springsteen
“Metropolitan Glide,” Tom Waits

Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal
“Monkey To Man,” Elvis Costello & The Imposters
“Take Me Out,” Franz Ferdinand
“American Idiot,” Green Day
“Somebody Told Me,” The Killers
“Vertigo,” U2

Best Hard Rock Performance
“Megalomaniac,” Incubus
“Some Kind of Monster,” Metallica
“Feelin’ Way Too Damn Good,” Nickelback
“Duality,” Slipknot
“Slither,” Velvet Revolver

Best Metal Performance
“Nymphetamine,” Cradle of Filth
“Live for This,” Hatebreed
“The End of Heartache,” Killswitch Engage
“Whiplash,” Motorhead
“Vermilion,” Slipknot

Best Rock Instrumental Performance
“Instrumental Illness,” The Allman Brothers Band
“Onda,” Los Lonely Boys
“O Baterista,” Rush
“Whispering a Prayer,” Steve Vai
“Mrs. O’Leary’s Cow,” Brian Wilson

Best Rock Song
“American Idiot,” Billie Joe Armstrong, Mike Dirnt & Tre Cool, songwriters (Green Day)
“Fall to Pieces,” Duff, Dave Kushner, Slash, Matt Sorum & Scott Weiland, songwriters (Velvet Revolver)
“Float On,” Isaac Brock, Dann Gallucci, Eric Judy & Benjamin Weikel, songwriters (Modest Mouse)
“Somebody Told Me,” Brandon Flowers, Dave Keuning, Mark Stoermer & Ronnie Vannucci, songwriters (The Killers)
“Vertigo,” Bono, Adam Clayton, The Edge & Larry Mullen, songwriters (U2)

Best Rock Album
“The Delivery Man,” Elvis Costello & The Imposters
“American Idiot,” Green Day
“The Reason,” Hoobastank
“Hot Fuss,” The Killers
“Contraband,” Velvet Revolver

Best Alternative Music Album
“Medulla,” Bjork
“Franz Ferdinand,” Franz Ferdinand
“Uh Huh Her,” PJ Harvey
“Good News For People Who Love Bad News,” Modest Mouse
“A Ghost Is Born,” Wilco

R&B

Best Female R&B Vocal Performance
“I Want You,” Janet Jackson
“If I Ain’t Got You,” Alicia Keys
“I’m Still In Love,” Teena Marie
“Whatever,” Jill Scott
“U-Haul,” Angie Stone

Best Male R&B Vocal Performance
“Charlene,” Anthony Hamilton
“Happy People,” R. Kelly
“What We Do Here,” Brian McKnight
“Call My Name,” Prince
“Burn,” Usher

Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals
“Lose Your Breath,” Destiny’s Child
“Show Me the Way,” Earth, Wind & Fire featuring Raphael Saadiq
“Say Yes,” Floetry
“Diary,” Alicia Keys featuring Tony! Toni! Tone!
“My Boo,” Usher & Alicia Keys

Best Traditional R&B Vocal Performance
“You’re My Everything,” Anita Baker
“Sinner’s Prayer,” Ray Charles & B.B. King
“I Can’t Stop,” Al Green
“New Day,” Patti LaBelle
“Musicology,” Prince

Best Urban/Alternative Performance
“Sex, Love & Money,” Mos Def
“Are You Experienced?” Musiq
“She Wants to Move, N.E.R.D
“Star,” The Roots
“Cross My Mind,” Jill Scott

Best R&B Song
“Burn,” Bryan Michael Cox, Jermaine Dupri & Usher Raymond, songwriters (Usher)
“Call My Name,” Prince, songwriter (Prince)
“My Boo,” Jermaine Dupri, Alicia Keys, Usher Raymond, Manuel Seal & Adonis Shropshire, songwriters (Usher & Alicia Keys)
“Yeah!,” Chris Bridges, Sean Garrett, LaMarquis Jefferson, Robert McDowell, James Phillips, Jonathan Smith & Patrick J. Que Smith, songwriters (Usher featuring Lil Jon & Ludacris)
“You Don’t Know My Name,” Alicia Keys, Harold Lilly & Kanye West, songwriters (Alicia Keys)

Best R&B Album
“My Everything,” Anita Baker
“I Can’t Stop,” Al Green
“The Diary of Alicia Keys,” Alicia Keys
“Musicology,” Prince
“Beautifully Human: Words & Sounds Vol. 2,” Jill Scott

Best Contemporary R&B Album
“Afrodisiac,” Brandy
“Damita Jo,” Janet Jackson
“It’s About Time,” Christina Milian
“Confessions,” Usher
“Hurt No More,” Mario Winans

RAP

Best Rap Solo Performance
“On Fire,” Lloyd Banks
“Just Lose It,” Eminem
“99 Problems,” Jay-Z
“Overnight Celebrity,” Twista
“Through the Wire,” Kanye West

Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group
“Ch-Check It Out,” Beastie Boys
“Let’s Get It Started,” Black Eyed Peas
“Don’t Say Nuthin’,” The Roots
“Drop It Like It’s Hot,” Snoop Dogg & Pharrell
“Lean Back,” Terror Squad

Best Rap/Sung Collaboration
“Why,” Jadakiss featuring Anthony Hamilton
“Dip It Low,” Christina Milian featuring Fabolous
“Slow Jamz,” Twista featuring Kanye West & Jamie Foxx
“Yeah!,” Usher featuring Lil Jon & Ludacris
“All Falls Down,” Kanye West & Syleena Johnson

Best Rap Song
“Drop It Like It’s Hot,” Calvin Broadus, Chad Hugo, S. Thomas & Pharrell Williams, songwriters (Snoop Dogg & Pharrell)
“Hey Mama,” Will Adams & Anthony Henry, songwriters (Black Eyed Peas)
“Jesus Walks,” C. Smith & Kanye West, songwriters (Kanye West)
“Let’s Get It Started,” Will Adams, Mike Fratantuno, Jaime Gomez, George Pajon, Jr., Allan Pineda & Terence Yoshiaki, songwriters (Black Eyed Peas)
“99 Problems,” Shawn Carter & Rick Rubin, songwriters (Jay-Z)

Best Rap Album
“To the 5 Boroughs,” Beastie Boys
“The Black Album,” Jay-Z
“The Definition,” LL Cool J
“Suit,” Nelly
“The College Dropout,” Kanye West

COUNTRY

Best Female Country Vocal Performance
“You Will Be My Ain True Love,” Alison Krauss
“Miss Being Mrs.,” Loretta Lynn
“In My Daughter’s Eyes,” Martina McBride
“She’s Not Just a Pretty Face,” Shania Twain
“Redneck Woman,” Gretchen Wilson

Best Male Country Vocal Performance
“Engine One-Forty-Three,” Johnny Cash
“In My Own Mind,” Lyle Lovett
“Live Like You Were Dying,” Tim McGraw
“You Are My Flower,” Willie Nelson
“You’ll Think Of Me,” Keith Urban

Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal
“New San Antonio Rose,” Asleep at the Wheel
“Save a Horse (Ride A Cowboy),” Big & Rich
“You Can’t Take the Honky Tonk Out of the Girl,” Brooks & Dunn
“Top of the World,” Dixie Chicks
“It’s Hard To Kiss the Lips at Night that Chew Your Ass Out All Day Long,” The Notorious Cherry Bombs

Best Country Collaboration with Vocals
“Hey Good Lookin’,” Jimmy Buffett, Clint Black, Kenny Chesney, Alan Jackson, Toby Keith & George Strait
“Creepin’ In,” Norah Jones & Dolly Parton
“Portland Oregon,” Loretta Lynn & Jack White
“Pancho & Lefty,” Willie Nelson, Merle Haggard & Toby Keith
“Coat of Many Colors,” Shania Twain with Alison Krauss & Union Station

Best Country Instrumental Performance
“Billy in the Low Ground,” Asleep at the Wheel
“Puppies ‘N Knapsacks,” Sam Bush
“Luxury Liner,” Albert Lee, Vince Gill & Brad Paisley
“Earl’s Breakdown,” Nitty Gritty Dirt Band featuring Earl Scruggs, Randy Scruggs, Vassar Clements & Jerry Douglas
“Bowtie,” Mark O’Connor, Chris Thile, Bryan Sutton & Byron House

Best Country Song
“It’s Hard to Kiss the Lips at Night That Chew Your Ass Out All Day Long,” Rodney Crowell & Vince Gill, songwriters (The Notorious Cherry Bombs)
“Live Like You Were Dying,” Tim Nichols & Craig Wiseman, songwriters (Tim McGraw)
“Miss Being Mrs.,” Loretta Lynn, songwriter (Loretta Lynn)
“Portland Oregon,” Loretta Lynn, songwriter (Loretta Lynn & Jack White)
“Redneck Woman,” John Rich & Gretchen Wilson, songwriters (Gretchen Wilson)

Best Country Album
“Van Lear Rose,” Loretta Lynn
“Live Like You Were Dying,” Tim McGraw
“Tambourine,” Tift Merritt
“Be Here,” Keith Urban
“Here for the Party,” Gretchen Wilson

Best Bluegrass Album
“The Bluegrass Sessions,” Lynn Anderson
“Twenty Year Blues,” Nashville Bluegrass Band
“Brand New Strings,” Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder
“Carrying On,” Ralph Stanley II
“A Tribute to Jimmy Martin ‘The King Of Bluegrass,'” Various Artists

NEW AGE

Best New Age Album
“Returning,” Will Ackerman
“Atlantis,” David Arkenstone
“Two Horizons,” Moya Brennan
“American River,” Jonathan Elias
“Piano,” Peter Kater

JAZZ

Best Contemporary Jazz Album
“Journey,” Fourplay
“Unspeakable,” Bill Frisell
“In Praise of Dreams,” Jan Garbarek
“The Hang,” Don Grusin
“Strength,” Roy Hargrove

Best Jazz Vocal Album
“American Song,” Andy Bey
“Twentysomething,” Jamie Cullum
“Accentuate the Positive,” Al Jarreau
“The Dana Owens Album,” Queen Latifah
“R.S.V.P. (Rare Songs, Very Personal),” Nancy Wilson

Best Jazz Instrumental Solo
“What’s New,” Alan Broadbent, soloist
“I Want to Be Happy,” Don Byron, soloist
“Speak Like a Child,” Herbie Hancock, soloist
“Buler