News in Review: Stephen Malkmus, Bruce Springsteen, The Killers, and DRM
First Appeared in The Music Box, February 2009, Volume 16, #2
Written by John Metzger
Thu February 26, 2009, 06:30 AM CST
Stephen Malkmus: From Carole King to Pavement
In an interview that appeared in the January 22, 2009 edition of Rolling Stone, Stephen Malkmus not only hinted at the possibility of reuniting Pavement, but he also named several artists and albums that have influenced his career. Carole King’s Tapestry, Radiohead’s OK Computer, and the many hits by Creedence Clearwater Revival are among those he mentions. Malkmus also addressed Pavement’s biggest weakness: its god-awful concert performances. If the group does reform, he promises that the band will practice before it hits the road.
TicketMaster Angers Springsteen, His Fans, and His Home State
Ticketmaster found itself in hot water after a software glitch routed fans who were seeking tickets for Bruce Springsteen’s upcoming shows, in support of Working on a Dream, at the Izod Center in East Rutherford, New Jersey to the company’s brokerage subsidiary TicketsNow. Instead of paying $65 or $95 for tickets, customers were greeted with prices that ranged from $200 to $5,000 per ticket. Others simply were notified that the system was unavailable due to "routine maintenance."
Springsteen responded angrily to the incident via a note that was posted on his website. After reaching a voluntary agreement with the New Jersey Attorney General’s office, Ticketmaster announced that it would pay $350,000 to the state as well as compensate ticket holders who expressed concern over what happened. The error couldn’t have happened at a worse time for TicketMaster. On February 24, the Department of Justice opened an antitrust hearing in which the ticket giant’s proposed merger with Live Nation will be evaluated.
The Killers Fights Back against Former Manager
Three years ago, Braden Merrick filed a breach-of-contract lawsuit against The Killers, seeking $16 million in damages. Earlier this week, The Killers turned the tables by countersuing its former manager. In the latest filings with the court, The Killers charged that Merrick secretly had received payment from Island Def Jam Records while he was working on behalf of the group.
Poking Fun at the DRM Debate
Finally, a little levity is always a good thing. Followers of the debate over digital rights management (DRM) will get a kick out of the latest installment of xkcd, one of the better online comic strips.
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