2005

Among the various certifications issued by the Recording Industry Association (RIAA) in May is a truly notable achievement for Australian hard rock act AC/DC. The group’s 1980 breakthrough “Back in Black” was certified for U.S. shipments of 21 million copies, tying it for fifth place on the RIAA’s all-time best-sellers list.

The group’s first album with lead singer Brian Johnson, who replaced Bon Scott following his alcohol-related death, “Back in Black” was originally released by Atco and was reissued in 2003 by Epic along with the rest of the band’s catalog. The set was certified platinum (1 million U.S. copies shipped) just months after its August 1980 release.

“Back in Black” is now tied on the all-time list with Billy Joel’s “Greatest Hits Vol. 1 & II,” which reached 21 million in 2000. The leader of the list remains “Eagles/Their Greatest Hits” (Asylum), last certified in 2002 at 28 million. In second is Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” (Epic), which reached 27 million in an April RIAA accounting, followed by Pink Floyd’s “The Wall” (23 million/1999; Capitol) and “Led Zeppelin IV” (22 million/1999; Atlantic).

AC/DC also earned a triple-platinum certification in May for 1976’s “High Voltage.”

Others tipping new multi-platinum heights include Usher, whose latest album, “Confessions” (LaFace) has shipped nine million U.S. copies. Gwen Stefani’s solo debut “Love, Angel, Music, Baby” (Interscope) hit the double-platinum mark, as did Rascal Flatts’ “Feels Like Today” (Lyric Street) and Chicago’s “The Very Best Of: Only the Beginning” (Rhino).

Newly minted platinum titles in May were “Barrio Fino” by Daddy Yankee (VI Music), Jack Johnson’s “In Between Dreams” and “On and On” (Universal), Los Tigres Del Norte’s “Jefe de Jefes” (Fonovisa), Jason Mraz’s “Waiting for My Rocket To Come” (Elektra), Rob Thomas’ “Something To Be” (Atlantic) and Queen’s now-aptly titled “The Platinum Collection” (Hollywood).

Source billboard.com.

Kings Of Leon and Secret Machines will head out on the road together this summer. The tour will begin July 15 in Portland, Ore., and will last through Aug. 20 in Nashville.

Having recently completed its run opening for U2’s Vertigo tour, Kings Of Leon are about to begin a short swing of U.K. headlining dates.

Secret Machines open for Oasis tonight (June 6) in Berlin, and will be in Tennessee this weekend for the annual Bonnaroo Festival. The month prior to the Kings Of Leon tour will be spent playing festivals and headlining dates in Europe.

Tomorrow will see the release of the trio’s new EP, “The Road Leads Where It’s Led,” which features the title cut as well as covers of the Motown staple “Money (That’s What I Want),” Bob Dylan’s “Girl From the North Country” and Van Morrison’s “Astral Weeks.”
Here are Kings Of Leon/Secret Machines tour dates:

July 15: Portland, Ore. (Roseland Theatre)
July 16: Seattle (Moore Theatre)
July 17: Eugene, Ore. (McDonald Theatre)
July 19-20: San Francisco (Fillmore)
July 22-23: Los Angeles (Wiltern Theatre)
July 24: San Diego (4th & B)
July 26: Denver (Paramount Theatre)
July 28: Minneapolis (First Avenue)
July 29: Milwaukee (the Rave)
July 30: Chicago (Congress Theatre)
Aug. 2: Pontiac, Mich. (Clutch Cargo)
Aug. 3: Toronto (Kool Haus)
Aug. 5: Boston (Avalon)
Aug. 6: Philadelphia (Electric Factory)
Aug. 8: New York (Roseland)
Aug. 9: Sayreville, N.J. (Starland Ballroom)
Aug. 11: Washington, D.C. (9:30 Club)
Aug. 12: Norfolk, Va. (NorVa)
Aug. 13: Myrtle Beach, S.C. (House of Blues)
Aug. 15: Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (House of Blues)
Aug. 16: Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. (Revolution)
Aug. 19: Asheville, N.C. (Orange Peel)
Aug. 20: Nashville (Ryman Auditorium)

Source billboard.com.

As the cancellation of the ill-fated Zooma tour left him without summer plans, singer/songwriter Ben Harper has slated a 16-date North American small venue tour to kick off July 12 in Vancouver and close Aug. 1 in Atlanta.

Harper was due to co-headline Zooma with former Phish guitarist/singer Trey Anastasio. The tour was the creation of the same promoters who annually stage the wildly successful Bonnaroo festival in Manchester, Tenn.

This outing will be Harper’s first since 2003, as well as his last until he releases the new album he will begin recording at the conclusion of this tour. Tom Freund, with whom Harper recorded the out-of-print 1992 album “Pleasure and Pain” (Cardas Records), will open all shows.

Here are Harper’s tour dates:

July 12: Vancouver (Commodore Ballroom)
July 13: Seattle (Moore Theater)
July 14: Portland, Ore. (Roseland Theater)
July 16: San Francisco (Warfield)
July 17: Los Angeles (Henry Fonda Theater)
July 19: Denver (Fillmore)
July 21: Chicago (Vic Theater)
July 22: Royal Oak, Mich. (Royal Oak Music Theatre)
July 23: Toronto (Kool Haus)
July 25: Washington, D.C. (9:30 Club)
July 26: Boston (Avalon Ballroom)
July 27: New York (Irving Plaza)
July 28: Philadelphia (Electric Factory)
July 30: Asheville, N.C. (Orange Peel)
July 31: Myrtle Beach, S.C. (House of Blues)
Aug. 1: Atlanta (Tabernacle)

Source billboard.com.

Clear Channel Music, sometimes perceived as the unfeeling behemoth that runs a big chunk of the amphitheatre business, has made good on its promise to invest in revitalizing the concert-going experience with the announcement of a variety of fan incentives including reduced lawn seat prices, ticket packages and concession upgrades.

Another welcome change will be the loosening of restrictions on carry-in coolers, blankets and chairs.

The “Music Sounds Better On Grass” promotion means immediate benefit for the casual music fan – who most often frequents the lawn areas.

In addition to lowering lawn ducats to as little as $20 for some 150 shows this season, CCM is including parking, capping ticket surcharges and eliminating facility fees at 33 of its sheds.

For other shows, Clear Channel is introducing a $39 “Grass Pass” that includes ticket, parking and a $10 food and beverage voucher.

Included in the shed changes is an increase in the number of concession stands as well as the inclusion of local favorites among the eateries on site.

Selection will go up and prices down with the participation of such national companies as Starbucks, Ben & Jerry’s, Subway, Legal Sea Foods and Au Bon Pain.

The Instant Live program will also offer live recordings of shows for purchase as fans exit select shows.
Clear Channel released on June 1st the results of two fan surveys conducted for CCM that gave the company reason to be hopeful for a more successful summer season than the last.

According to the statistics released by CCM, 69 percent of respondents said that “sitting on the lawn at a concert is something I really enjoy,” while 77 percent said they were likely to sit in a lawn seat. Of those responding, 72 percent said they were “very likely” to attend an outdoor concert.

Source pollstar.com.

B.B. King will celebrate his approaching 80th birthday with a multi-artist blues concert in Mississippi that will benefit the planned B.B. King Museum and Delta Interpretive Center. King, who will turn 80 in September, will headline the July 30 show at the Isle of Capri’s Mississippi Gulf Coast Coliseum and Convention Center in Biloxi.

Also on the bill will be Deborah Coleman, Bobby Blue Bland, Smokin’ Joe Kubek, Jody Williams and Dickey Betts. King will close the show with his own set and a jam that will include all of the artists.

Source billboard.com.

Heavenly Jams Band featuring guitarist Yosi Piamenta will return for performances at Ace of Clubs in New York City on July 6th and 7th. Piamenta will be joined for both performances by Yonrico Scott (drums) and Tal Wilkenfeld (bass). Seth Yacovone will join the band on guitar for the show on the 6th, while RANA

On August 23rd, guitarist Leo Kottke and erstwhile Phish bassist Mike Gordon will release their second collaboration,

The NYC Charm Sessions is an international music concert series aimed at representing the stylistic diversity of the New York City music scene. The four night series will feature 18 of the best underground musical acts in NYC ranging from African hip-hop to Finnish a cappella, Brazilian Choro to Old Nashville Country, and Hungarian punk music to Middle Eastern dub. All the performances will be held June 19 through the 23 at The Living Room in New York. Headset Productions, a Brooklyn-based artist development company, will produce the shows, which will be recorded live by Uist Media, a Scotland-based production company. BBC Radio will air the performances in a 6-part/2 hour radio series throughout the United Kingdom.

The International music scene in New York is a true melting pot of ethnic and musical influences, and the series will offer quality and diversity in depth. Here