2006

Just a week after the new album, Youth was released, The New York Times reported today that Matisyahu has breached his contract with JDub Records (with a term of three years remaining), and dropped the non-profit independent label which gave the artist his start and supported his remarkable rise to stardom.

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As Matisyahu’s love for hip-hop and his dedication to Orthodox Judaism grew, he hit the clubs in a black suit, hat and full beard, and with JDub behind him made one of the most unlikely rises in pop music history. He is surely the only Hasidic reggae singer to sell out 2,000-to-3,000-seat concert halls regularly around the country, and last week he released “Youth” (JDub/Or/Epic), his major label debut, which is widely expected to make it high in the Top 10 when the charts are compiled later this week.

But a few days before “Youth” was released, Mr. Bisman and his partner, Jacob Harris, received an unexpected phone call from their prize talent, telling them their management services were no longer required. “He was in Kansas,” Mr. Bisman said. “He said, ‘I don’t know if you guys are old enough or have enough experience.’ ”

For Mr. Bisman, 25, and Mr. Harris, 26, it was a shock from an old friend and a potential blow to their business. They had shepherded Matisyahu through his early career, setting up gigs and handing out fliers and the like

A pair of apparent Ryan Adams fans ran afoul of a new law making it a crime to publish songs before their release to the general public when they made portions of the singer’s latest album available on a Web site frequented by his fans.

Robert Thomas of Milwaukee and Jared Bowser of Jacksonville, Fla., were indicted under a provision of the Family Entertainment and Copyright Act (FECA) law that makes it a separate federal crime to pirate music and movies before they are released to the public, Memphis-based U.S. attorney Jim Vines and FBI special agent My Harrison said.

The indictments are believed to be the first under the prerelease provision of the 2005 FECA law. The men are alleged to have posted portions of Adams’ “Jacksonville City Nights” on a fan Web site about a month before its official release last September. Adams records for Lost Highway Records, whose Universal Music Group parent did not grant authority for the Internet distribution.

Source billboard.com.

The Allman Brothers Band kicked off its annual residency at New York’s Beacon Theatre last night (March 9) with an epic set highlighted by a cover of the Band’s “The Weight” and a guest appearance by longtime Howlin’ Wolf guitarist Hubert Sumlin.

Introduced by guitarist/vocalist Warren Haynes as “someone who has influenced everybody,” 74-year-old Sumlin joined the Allmans for the first three songs of the second set, kicked off by a Gregg Allman-sung take on the late Wolf’s signature, “Smokestack Lighting.” One of the few remaining original Chicago bluesmen, Sumlin basked in the opportunity and took a seemingly unexpected turn at the mic, leaving band members smiling.

An annual tradition in New York since 1992, the Allmans’ Beacon stand routinely offers the iconic act an opportunity to spread its creative wings and tinker with the set list, as opposed to playing the hits-driven set expected on summer shed treks. This year’s 14-night Beacon run continues through March 26.

Source billboard.com.

The mainstage lineup for Ozzfest 2006 will boast founder and namesake Ozzy Osbourne for 10 shows, along with System Of A Down, Disturbed, Hatebreed, Lacuna Coil and another major act to be announced on May 23. The tour begins July 1 in San Francisco and will play 20 cities.

The second stage features Black Label Society, Atreyu, Unearth, Bleeding Through, Norma Jean, A Life Once Lost, Strapping Young Lad, the Red Chord, Full Blown Chaos, All That Remains and Between The Buried And Me.

The Ozzfest dates will be Osbourne’s first solo performances in three years; he has spent the last two summers on stage with his pioneering metal act Black Sabbath.

Ozzfest’s Village of the Damned concourse attractions will again be an active part of the tour and Ozzfest remains a valuable commodity for corporate sponsors. On board this year are Monster Energy, Hot Topic, Sony PlayStation, F.Y.E., Trojan and Jagermeister.

Source billboard.com.