Showbiz Sandbox

Though the MPAA often rates more than 700 films per year, the number of rating disputes rarely reaches the double digits. This year however eight films have already appealed their ratings and it's not even April. Has the MPAA lost touch with modern culture or are filmmakers beginning to push the boundaries with edgier content? Ethan Noble, of Motion Picture Consulting (http://www.motionpictureconsulting.com/), helps guide filmmakers and studios through the ratings process. Noble, who recently tried to appeal the restrictive rating on the documentary "Bully", provides an overview of the MPAA's rating system and tells us whether it needs to be fixed. Speaking of the MPAA, they released their annual report on the motion picture industry. Moviegoing may have declined 4% in North America, but overseas revenue grew more than 5% and is booming in markets such as China and Japan. We previously predicted that Broadway shows such as "Sister Act" and "Priscilla, Queen of the Desert" would close by now. Despite playing to half empty theaters and consistently losing money, they are still running night after night. What gives? We also cover the week's top entertainment news including why YouTube is censoring Madonna, some record ratings for AMC and the retirement of a legendary Disney animator. 'John Carter' Will Cost Disney $200 Million In Operating Losses http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/john-carter-cost-disney-millions-301704 (http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/john-carter-cost-disney-millions-301704) MGM Takes A Loss On ‘Dragon Tattoo’ And Seeks Better Terms For Sequels http://www.deadline.com/2012/03/mgm-takes-a-loss-on-dragon-tattoo-and-seeks-better-terms-for-sequels/ (http://www.deadline.com/2012/03/mgm-takes-a-loss-on-dragon-tattoo-and-seeks-better-terms-for-sequels/) New ‘Dragon Tattoo’ DVD Is Real, Really http://www.deadline.com/2012/03/new-dragon-tattoo-dvd-is-real-really/ (http://www.deadline.com/2012/03/new-dragon-tattoo-dvd-is-real-really/) Global Box Office Hit $32.6 Bil In 2011, Fueled By Exploding International Growth http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/global-box-office-china-international-growth-326-303324 (http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/global-box-office-china-international-growth-326-303324) Legendary Animator Glen Keane Leaves Disney http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/legendary-animator-glen-keane-leaves-disney (http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/legendary-animator-glen-keane-leaves-disney) Broadway Musicals Hang On For Payoffs Beyond Weekly Gross http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/21/theater/godspell-sister-act-and-priscilla-push-through-the-winter.html (http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/21/theater/godspell-sister-act-and-priscilla-push-through-the-winter.html) 'The Walking Dead' Season 2 Finale Shatters Its Own Record Ratings -- Again http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/walking-dead-season-2-finale-ratings-301516 (http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/walking-dead-season-2-finale-ratings-301516) 'Mad Men' Returns To Record Ratings With Season 5 Premiere http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/mad-men-season-5-premiere-ratings-jon-hamm-304182 (http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/mad-men-season-5-premiere-ratings-jon-hamm-304182) Variety For Sale! (Because It Can’t Compete With Deadline Hollywood) http://www.deadline.com/2012/03/variety-for-sale-because-it-cant-compete-with-deadline-hollywood/ (http://www.deadline.com/2012/03/variety-for-sale-because-it-cant-compete-with-deadline-hollywood/) Apple Sells 3 Million New iPads In 3 Days http://www.usatoday.com/tech/news/story/2012-03-19/apple-ipad-sales/53655716/1 (http://www.usatoday.com/tech/news/story/2012-03-19/apple-ipad-sales/53655716/1) Madonna's 'Girl Gone Wild' Too Raunchy For YouTube http://www.vulture.com/2012/03/madonna-girl-gone-wild-too-raunchy-for-youtube.html (http://www.vulture.com/2012/03/madonna-girl-gone-wild-too-raunchy-for-youtube.html)

Monologist Mike Daisey began performing his one-man show, “The Agony and Ecstacy of Steve Jobs", hoping to highlight the poor working conditions suffered by workers who make Apple products in Chinese factories. When it was learned that Daisey made-up most of his accounts of meetings with factory employees, it stirred up a debate over the changing definition of journalism. Are Daisey's monologues really human truths in story form, or was he simply bending the truth to tell a better story? Meanwhile, fans of British television are probably already familiar with Acorn Media. Now current and classic British programming such as "Upstairs Downstairs" can be watched on the company's new streaming service, Acorn TV. Most recently Acorn acquired the rights to the popular World War II mystery series "Foyle's War" as well as the estate of Agatha Christie. Miguel Penella, the company's CEO, joins us to discuss some of Acorn's bold moves for survival and long-term growth. In music news, Billboard has finally figured out a way to include online music streaming figures in their weekly Hot 100 chart. Even so, some skeptics are pointing out that music video plays still aren't being counted. Of course, we cover the week's top entertainment headlines including the cancellation of Rosie O'Donnell's latest talk show, a criminal controversy on "American Idol" and why the Rolling Stones have delayed their 50th anniversary world tour. 'Hunger Games' Tracking To Open Bigger Than 'Breaking Dawn' http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/hunger-games-tickets-twilight-breaking-dawn-box-office-298626 (http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/hunger-games-tickets-twilight-breaking-dawn-box-office-298626) 'Hunger Games' Writer Suzanne Collins Becomes Amazon Kindle's Best-Selling Author http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/hunger-games-suzanne-collins-kindle-301217 (http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/hunger-games-suzanne-collins-kindle-301217) Analyst: Disney's 'John Carter' Write-Down 'May Not Be As Bad As Feared' http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/john-carter-disney-writedown-analyst-loss-300019 (http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/john-carter-disney-writedown-analyst-loss-300019) Disney Pulls In Reins After A Flop http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702303863404.... (http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702303863404577282490123142150.html) Rosie O’Donnell’s Disastrous Oprah Winfrey Network Experience http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2012/03/17/rosie-o-donnell-s-disastrous-oprah-winfrey-network-experience.html (http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2012/03/17/rosie-o-donnell-s-disastrous-oprah-winfrey-network-experience.html) HBO Ends 'Luck' After Horse Deaths http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/hbo-cancels-luck-horse-death-peta-dustin-hoffman-300201 (http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/hbo-cancels-luck-horse-death-peta-dustin-hoffman-300201) HBO's 'Luck' Was No Sure Thing From Get-Go http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/entertainmentnewsbuzz/2012/03/hbos-luck-had-was-no-sure-thing-from-get-go.html (http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/entertainmentnewsbuzz/2012/03/hbos-luck-had-was-no-sure-thing-from-get-go.html) The Boss Edges Out Adele For The Top Spot http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/03/14/the-boss-edges-out-adele-for-the-top-spot/ (http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/03/14/the-boss-edges-out-adele-for-the-top-spot/) Billboard Gets Digital Update http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702303717304577279.... (http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702303717304577279832109374806.html) Billboard, Nielson & NARM Partner For New Streaming Airplay Chart & Updated Hot 100 http://www.hypebot.com/hypebot/2012/03/billboard-nielson-narm-partner-for-new-streaming-airplay-chart-updated-hot-100.html (http://www.hypebot.com/hypebot/2012/03/billboard-nielson-narm-partner-for-new-streaming-airplay-chart-updated-hot-100.html)

Oil rich Nigeria may be best known for political upheavals and brutal civil wars, though over the past twenty years the country has given birth to a thriving film industry. New York Times Magazine contributing writer Andrew Rice explains that what star...

With nine different streaming services there are more ways than ever to listen to music these days. With the likes of Spotify, Rhapsody, Rdio, Mog and Pandora all competing for our attention and media dollars, some have argued that there is too much competition in the market and is primed for a major consolidation. Which services will survive and why? Will Amazon, Apple or Google launch there own services? We try to answer all these questions and more. Meanwhile Harvey Weinstein is once again fighting the MPAA over the ratings for one of his films. Public figures such as Rev. Jesse Jackson joined the chorus of those opposing the R-rating which the Weinstein Company's school bullying documentary received. Unfortunately, if "Bully" is released without a rating, movie theaters may be forced to treat it as an NC-17 film. Former co-host Karen Woodward (http://www.twitter.com/Karen_Woodward), joins us to run down some of the top entertainment news stories of the week including, James Spader's departure from "The Office", Mike Tyson's Las Vegas show, and Random House trippling the price of e-books for libraries. Film Festival Etiquette For The Email Age http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/02/28/film-festival-etiquette-for-the-email-age/ (http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/02/28/film-festival-etiquette-for-the-email-age/) Davy Jones, Monkees Heartthrob, Dies at 66 http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/02/29/davy-jones-monkees-heartthrob-dies-at-66/ (http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/02/29/davy-jones-monkees-heartthrob-dies-at-66/) MOG Is (Kind Of) For Sale As Subscription Music Consolidation Looms http://www.hypebot.com/hypebot/2012/02/mog-is-kind-of-for-sale-as-subscription-music-consolidation-looms.html (http://www.hypebot.com/hypebot/2012/02/mog-is-kind-of-for-sale-as-subscription-music-consolidation-looms.html) Rhapsody Says Major Label Licensing Is Still A "Brutal, Brutal Reality..." http://www.digitalmusicnews.com/permalink/2012/120223brutal (http://www.digitalmusicnews.com/permalink/2012/120223brutal) Record Labels Hope "Work For Hire" Rules Allow Them To Screw Artists Again http://www.hypebot.com/hypebot/2012/02/screwed-forever-artist-list-is-your-favorite-artist-on-it-.html (http://www.hypebot.com/hypebot/2012/02/screwed-forever-artist-list-is-your-favorite-artist-on-it-.html) Julie Taymor Blames Bono And The Edge For 'Spider-Man' Problems In Latest Court Filing http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/thr-esq/julie-taymor-bono-the-edge-spider-man-turn-off-the-dark-296566 (http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/thr-esq/julie-taymor-bono-the-edge-spider-man-turn-off-the-dark-296566) Why James Spader Is Leaving And Ten Other Revelations About The Office http://www.vulture.com/2012/03/why-james-spader-is-leaving-and-ten-other-revelations-about-the-office.html (http://www.vulture.com/2012/03/why-james-spader-is-leaving-and-ten-other-revelations-about-the-office.html) Web Comic Raises $1.25M On Kickstarter http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/book-news/comics/article/50733-web-comic-raises-1-25m-on-kickstarter.html (http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/book-news/comics/article/50733-web-comic-raises-1-25m-on-kickstarter.html) Kickstarter Expects To Provide More Funding To The Arts Than NEA http://idealab.talkingpointsmemo.com/2012/02/kickstarter-expects-to-provide-more-funding-to-the-arts-than-nea.php (http://idealab.talkingpointsmemo.com/2012/02/kickstarter-expects-to-provide-more-funding-to-the-arts-than-nea.php) American Idol's Decline Marks End Of A TV Era http://www.crainsnewyork.com/article/20120304/MEDIA.... (http://www.crainsnewyork.com/article/20120304/MEDIA_ENTERTAINMENT/303049982#) 'Ghostbusters 3': Bill Murray Out, Dan Aykroyd Says Film's Future Uncertain http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/ghostbusters-3-bill-murray-out-dan-akroyd-295971 (http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/ghostbusters-3-bill-murray-out-dan-akroyd-295971)

Predicting who will win Academy Awards each year isn't as easy as it looks. Just ask IndieWire's Anne Thompson (https://twitter.com/#!/akstanwyck). She managed to pick 19 out of 24 winner's at this past weekend's Oscar ceremony, but there were a few ca...

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has never published a complete list of the 5,765 members who cast ballots for their annual Oscars. Despite the secrecy surrounding the Academy's membership, Nicole Sperling (https://twitter.com/#!/nicsperling) worked for months with her colleagues at the Los Angeles Times to confirm 5,100 members. Sperling explains the method behind the Times' research and some of the details they uncovered. Did you know only 2% of members are under the age of 40? Neither did we. While the Academy Awards may celebrate some of the big critical and financial successes of the past year, Aaron Rich (https://twitter.com/#!/aaron_rich), the gentleman blogger behind All The Movies I Watch (http://allthemoviesiwatch.blogspot.com/) joins us to discuss some of his top movies of 2011, many of which were overlooked by Oscar voters. If you watch the Oscars telecast this weekend you'll probably be doing so through a cable or satellite signal. Aero, a new company backed by the likes of Barry Diller, hopes to change that by providing those wishing to cut their cable cord with a special antenna capable of receiving broadcast television. That is if the inevitable law suits don't shut them down first. Of course we also cover the week's top entertainment headlines including Julie Taymor's royalty payments from Broadway's "Spider-Man", China's allowing more foreign films into the country and why Chris Pine's salary for his role in "Star Trek" was made public. White House: China To Allow More U.S. Films http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/white-house-china-films-joe-biden-xi-jinping-mpaa-292500 (http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/white-house-china-films-joe-biden-xi-jinping-mpaa-292500) Lionsgate Launches VOD Movie Service In China http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/lionsgate-launches-vod-movie-service-291871 (http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/lionsgate-launches-vod-movie-service-291871) Writer's Guild Awards: Complete Winners List http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/wga-writers-guild-awards-winners-list-292639 (http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/wga-writers-guild-awards-winners-list-292639) Cinematographers Give Top Honor To Emmanuel Lubezki For 'The Tree of Life' http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/race/tree-of-life-cinematographers-society-awards-oscars-289928 (http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/race/tree-of-life-cinematographers-society-awards-oscars-289928) Sound Editors Recognize 'Hugo,' 'The Muppets,' 'Super 8,' 'Tintin,' 'War Horse' http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/race/sound-editors-awards-mpse-hugo-muppets-super-8-tintin-292642 (http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/race/sound-editors-awards-mpse-hugo-muppets-super-8-tintin-292642) Aaron Rich's Favorite Films of 2011 http://allthemoviesiwatch.blogspot.com/2012/01/best-films-of-2011.html (http://allthemoviesiwatch.blogspot.com/2012/01/best-films-of-2011.html) Chris Pine Sued By Former Agents; 'This Means War,' 'Star Trek 2' Salary Revealed http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/thr-esq/chris-pine-sued-this-means-war-star-trek-290478 (http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/thr-esq/chris-pine-sued-this-means-war-star-trek-290478) Steve Jobs Monologue Downloadable, Free http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/02/13/steve-jobs-monologue-downloadable-free/ (http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/02/13/steve-jobs-monologue-downloadable-free/) ‘Spider-Man’ Producers Settle One Battle With Julie Taymor http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/02/16/spider-man-producers-settle-one-battle-with-julie-taymor/ (http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/02/16/spider-man-producers-settle-one-battle-with-julie-taymor/) New Service Will Stream Local TV Stations In New York http://mediadecoder.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/02/14/new-service-will-stream-local-tv-stations-in-new-york/ (http://mediadecoder.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/02/14/new-service-will-stream-local-tv-stations-in-new-york/)

Los Angeles Times entertainment reporter Geoff Boucher (https://twitter.com/#!/geoffboucher) was on assignment at the Grammy Awards when he heard about the the sudden death of pop star Whitney Houston over the weekend. While still covering music's biggest night, Boucher was given two hours to write Houston's obituary for the Sunday paper. At the same time, David Wild (https://twitter.com/#!/wildaboutmusic) was backstage at the Grammys putting the finishing touches on his script for the telecast. A contributing editor at Rolling Stone and best-selling author, Wild had less than 24-hours to work with Grammys producer Ken Ehrlich and revise the awards in the wake of Houston's passing. After an exhausting weekend Boucher and Wild join us to discuss how this year's Grammys focused on two voices; one looking to the future with Adele winning six awards and one honoring the past by mourning the fresh tragedy of Houston's death. A whopping 40 million people watched this year's Grammys telecast, though if we were to believe Nielsen few of them were under the age of 24. Brian Stelter (https://twitter.com/#!/brianstelter) of the New York Times stops by to explain why young people are watching television less often. Of course we also cover the week's top entertainment headlines, including movie tickets reaching an all time high, the Simpson's being banned in Iran and Lady Gaga's new social network. Graham King On 'Hugo's' Box-Office Woes: 'It's Been Painful' http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/movies/2012/02/graham-king-on-hugos-rough-ride-its-been-painful.html (http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/movies/2012/02/graham-king-on-hugos-rough-ride-its-been-painful.html) BAFTA Awards: Complete Winners List http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/bafta-awards-winners-list-artist-289694 (http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/bafta-awards-winners-list-artist-289694) ABC Sells All Of Its Oscar Broadcast Commercial Spots http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/entertainmentnewsbuzz/2012/02/abc-sells-all-of-its-oscar-broadcast-commercial-spots.html (http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/entertainmentnewsbuzz/2012/02/abc-sells-all-of-its-oscar-broadcast-commercial-spots.html) EXCLUSIVE: Oscars Won’t Perform Both Nominated Songs From ‘Rio’ Or ‘Muppets’ http://www.deadline.com/2012/02/exclusive-oscars-wont-perform-nominated-songs/ (http://www.deadline.com/2012/02/exclusive-oscars-wont-perform-nominated-songs/) The Grammys 2012 Winners List http://www.vulture.com/2012/02/grammys-2012-winners.html (http://www.vulture.com/2012/02/grammys-2012-winners.html) Diary of a Player by Brad Paisley and David Wild http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1451625529/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=showbsandb-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1451625529 (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1451625529/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=showbsandb-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1451625529) Grammy Awards 2012: Rehearsal Hints At A Promise Of Drama To Come http://articles.latimes.com/2012/feb/11/entertainment/la-et-grammy-rehearsal-2-20120211 (http://articles.latimes.com/2012/feb/11/entertainment/la-et-grammy-rehearsal-2-20120211) 11 Reasons You Should Watch The 54th Grammy Awards http://www.huffingtonpost.com/david-wild/11-reasons-you-should-wat_b_1264528.html (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/david-wild/11-reasons-you-should-wat_b_1264528.html) Grammys 2012: Adele Is Affirmed, Whitney Houston Is Grieved http://theenvelope.latimes.com/news/la-et-grammy-main-20120213,0,5075911.story (http://theenvelope.latimes.com/news/la-et-grammy-main-20120213,0,5075911.story) Grammy Preview: The Best Albums of 2011 From Top to Bottom http://www.huffingtonpost.com/michael-giltz/grammy-preview-the-best-a_b_1269601.html (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/michael-giltz/grammy-preview-the-best-a_b_1269601.html) Movie Ticket Prices Hit All-Time High In 2011 http://www.hollywoodreporter.

After years of humoring the idea it looks as if two of Hollywood's largest labor unions may actually merge. Detailing the history of SAG and AFTRA, Jonathan Handel (http://digitalmedialaw.blogspot.com/), a contributing editor at The Hollywood Reporter and an entertainment attorney, explains the reasons behind why the unions might want to merge and what it all means for the entertainment industry. The telecast of Super Bowl XLVI proved to be another ratings winner and as in previous years, is expected to be the most watched show of the year, if not all-time. Were audiences tuning in for the game or to watch Madonna's extravagant half-time show? Despite gaining a million subscribers last year the minuscule royalties paid by Spotify to independent musicians barely budged at all. Some industry veterans have grown weary of subscription music services and are advising they be used for promotional purposes only. We also cover the week's top entertainment headlines including a new CEO at Sony, why you won't see Bon Iver perform at the Grammys and how Facebook might turn U2's Bono into a billionaire. Super Bowl XLVI: No TV Ratings Record, According To Early Stats http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/tv-column/post/super-bowl-xlvi-no-tv-ratings-record/2012/02/06/gIQAVAD6tQ_blog.html (http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/tv-column/post/super-bowl-xlvi-no-tv-ratings-record/2012/02/06/gIQAVAD6tQ_blog.html) "Rango" Tops Annie Award Winners http://www.cartoonbrew.com/top/rango-tops-annie-award-winners.html (http://www.cartoonbrew.com/top/rango-tops-annie-award-winners.html) Kodak Asks Court to Remove Its Name From Oscars Theater http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/oscars-kodak-theater-academy-awards-286451 (http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/oscars-kodak-theater-academy-awards-286451) Survey Says: How Would Releasing Movies Earlier In The Home Impact Movie Spending and Piracy? http://www.btigresearch.com/2012/02/03/survey-says-how-would-releasing-movies-earlier-in-the-home-impact-movie-spending-and-piracy/ (http://www.btigresearch.com/2012/02/03/survey-says-how-would-releasing-movies-earlier-in-the-home-impact-movie-spending-and-piracy/) Spotify's Royalty Rate For Indie Artists Up Just $0.001 In 2011, Despite Big Subscriber Growth http://www.hypebot.com/hypebot/2012/02/spotifys-royalty-rate-grew-only-0001-for-indie-artists-in-2011.html (http://www.hypebot.com/hypebot/2012/02/spotifys-royalty-rate-grew-only-0001-for-indie-artists-in-2011.html) Bon Iver's Justin Vernon On (Not) Playing The Grammys http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/industry/branding/bon-iver-s-justin-vernon-on-not-playing-1006086352.story (http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/industry/branding/bon-iver-s-justin-vernon-on-not-playing-1006086352.story) ‘Watchmen’ Prequels: DC Dares To Expand On Classic http://herocomplex.latimes.com/2012/02/01/watchmen-prequels-dc-dares-to-expand-on-classic/#/0 (http://herocomplex.latimes.com/2012/02/01/watchmen-prequels-dc-dares-to-expand-on-classic/#/0) Daniel Radcliffe: My Days As ‘Messy Drunk’ Were Less Than Magical http://herocomplex.latimes.com/2012/02/03/daniel-radcliffe-my-days-as-messy-drunk-were-less-than-magical/ (http://herocomplex.latimes.com/2012/02/03/daniel-radcliffe-my-days-as-messy-drunk-were-less-than-magical/) Random House Will Raise Library E-Book Prices, But Commits To E-Book Lending http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/digital/content-and-e-books/article/50478-fair-trade-random-house-will-raise-library-e-book-prices-but-commits-to-e-book-lending.html (http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/digital/content-and-e-books/article/50478-fair-trade-random-house-will-raise-library-e-book-prices-but-commits-to-e-book-lending.html) George Harrison Guitar Collection Explored In New iPad App http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/music_blog/2012/01/george-harrison-guitar-app-ipad.html

This year's Sundance Film Festival came to a close last weekend awarding top prizes to a wide range of movies. Independent film industry veteran Michael Tuckman sizes up this year's festival and highlights some of its most noteworthy movies. Tuckman explains how video-on-demand has become a big part of the distribution strategy for such films, providing them with a wider audience than traditional art houses. IFPI also showed up with some good news last week reporting that global digital music sales were up eight percent in 2011. Subscription services such as Pandora and Spotify are helping increase revenue, though they are also eating into the advertising dollars usually reserved for local radio stations. Meanwhile, Broadway is gearing up for its spring season with a glut of hot new productions, making it difficult to pick a front-runner for Best Musical (the most valuable - if not the only valuable - Tony Award). Best Play is also up for grabs and none of the newcomers are slam dunks. We also cover the week's top entertainment news stories including, Simon Cowell retooling the "X-Factor" with new hosts and judges, an upbeat earnings report from Netflix and how Ticketmaster bungled the sale of tickets to Bruce Springsteen's latest tour... again. Mtuckman Media http://mtuckmanmedia.com/ (http://mtuckmanmedia.com/) The Deals of Sundance Film Festival 2012: Who Got What http://www.indiewire.com/article/the-deals-of-sundance-film-festival-2012-who-got-what (http://www.indiewire.com/article/the-deals-of-sundance-film-festival-2012-who-got-what) Sundance Film Festival Award Winners http://www.indiewire.com/article/2012-sundance-film-festival-award-winners-in-progress (http://www.indiewire.com/article/2012-sundance-film-festival-award-winners-in-progress) SAG, DGA Results Split Between ‘Artist’ And ‘The Help’ Adding Intrigue To Oscar Race http://www.deadline.com/2012/01/sag-dga-results-split-between-artist-and-the-help-adding-intrigue-to-oscar-race-hammond/ (http://www.deadline.com/2012/01/sag-dga-results-split-between-artist-and-the-help-adding-intrigue-to-oscar-race-hammond/) Global Digital Music Sales Up 8% In 2011 To $5.2 Billion http://www.hypebot.com/hypebot/2012/01/global-digital-music-sales-up-8-in-2011-to-52-billion.html (http://www.hypebot.com/hypebot/2012/01/global-digital-music-sales-up-8-in-2011-to-52-billion.html) Spotify Hits 3 Million Paid Subscribers, 20% Conversion Rate http://www.hypebot.com/hypebot/2012/01/spotify-hits-3-million-paid-subscribers-20-conversion-rate.html (http://www.hypebot.com/hypebot/2012/01/spotify-hits-3-million-paid-subscribers-20-conversion-rate.html) Streaming Music Has A Problem—It's a Huge Success http://www.adweek.com/news/technology/streaming-music-has-problem-its-huge-success-137381 (http://www.adweek.com/news/technology/streaming-music-has-problem-its-huge-success-137381) 'Book of Mormon' Principal Cast Extends Contract Through February 2013 http://popwatch.ew.com/2012/01/23/book-of-mormon-principal-cast-extends-contract-through-february-201 (http://popwatch.ew.com/2012/01/23/book-of-mormon-principal-cast-extends-contract-through-february-201)3/ Bruce Springsteen Fans Deal With Ticketmaster Glitches http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/bruce-springsteen-fans-deal-with-ticketmaster-glitches-20120127 (http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/bruce-springsteen-fans-deal-with-ticketmaster-glitches-20120127) Definitely Not Dynamic: Ticketmaster 'Assaulted' By Scalpers On Springsteen Sale http://www.digitalmusicnews.com/permalink/2012/120128ticketmaster (http://www.digitalmusicnews.com/permalink/2012/120128ticketmaster) Sequel To Oscar Nominated Animated Hit Rio In The Works http://www.hitfix.com/articles/sequel-to-oscar-nominated-animated-hit-rio-in-the-works (http://www.hitfix.com/articles/sequel-to-oscar-nominated-animated-hit-rio-in-the-works) Jay Leno Angers Members Of Sikh Community With Mitt Romney Joke

This year's Oscar nominations have finally been announced and they are full of surprises. Actors and actresses which seemed like shoe-ins for a nomination were completely overlooked. Films that nobody thought would be considered for Best Picture wound up in the list of nine nominated titles. Meanwhile up in Park City, Utah this year's Sundance Film Festival is underway. We'll go over all the movies that have festival goers (and acquisitions executives) buzzing as well as fill you in on why indie films may finally reach wider audiences. "American Idol" returned to the airwaves to lower ratings. Ryan Seacrest, the show's host, may not care though since he took another step last week toward becoming the next Dick Clark by partnering with Mark Cuban and AEG on a new cable television network. We also cover some of the week's top entertainment headlines including Adele's continued dominance of the music charts, the death of controversial anti-piracy legislation and the shuttering of Megaupload over copyright infringement. Oscar Nominations Led By "Hugo" and "The Artist" http://blogs.indiewire.com/thompsononhollywood/oscar-nominations-led-by-the-artist-with-tk-and-hugo-with-tk (http://blogs.indiewire.com/thompsononhollywood/oscar-nominations-led-by-the-artist-with-tk-and-hugo-with-tk) IndieWire's Sundance Film Festival Coverage http://www.indiewire.com/festival/sundance_film_festival (http://www.indiewire.com/festival/sundance_film_festival) 'American Idol': It's Still Big, But It's Not Quite The Ratings Monster It Was http://www.npr.org/blogs/monkeysee/2012/01/23/145636852/american-idol-its-still-big-but-its-not-quite-the-ratings-monster-it-was (http://www.npr.org/blogs/monkeysee/2012/01/23/145636852/american-idol-its-still-big-but-its-not-quite-the-ratings-monster-it-was) Mark Cuban, Ryan Seacrest, AEG, CAA Partner On Pop Culture Channel http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/entertainmentnewsbuzz/2012/01/mark-cuban-ryan-seacrest-aeg-caa-axs.html (http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/entertainmentnewsbuzz/2012/01/mark-cuban-ryan-seacrest-aeg-caa-axs.html) Nanni Moretti To Preside Over the Jury of the 65th Festival de Cannes http://www.festival-cannes.fr/en/article/58800.html (http://www.festival-cannes.fr/en/article/58800.html) Tablets Helping Publishers Sell Back Issues http://www.adweek.com/news/press/tablets-helping-publishers-sell-back-issues-137387 (http://www.adweek.com/news/press/tablets-helping-publishers-sell-back-issues-137387) ECW Press Experiments With Free E-Books For Print Customers www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/publisher-news/article/50244-ecw-press-experiments-with-free-e-books-for-print-customers.html (www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/publisher-news/article/50244-ecw-press-experiments-with-free-e-books-for-print-customers.html) Adele Joins "Titanic" In Her 16-Week Chart Reign http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/01/18/us-adele-chart-idUSTRE80H1ZB20120118 (http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/01/18/us-adele-chart-idUSTRE80H1ZB20120118) Apple Enters The Textbook Self Publishing Market http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/digital/content-and-e-books/article/50255-apple-enters-the-textbook-self-publishing-market.html (http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/digital/content-and-e-books/article/50255-apple-enters-the-textbook-self-publishing-market.html) The Week That Killed SOPA: A Timeline http://mashable.com/2012/01/20/sopa-is-dead-timeline-january-blackout/ (http://mashable.com/2012/01/20/sopa-is-dead-timeline-january-blackout/) MPAA’s Chris Dodd & NATO’s John Fithian Face Sundance Wrath Over SOPA/PIPA http://www.deadline.com/2012/01/mpaas-chris-dodd-natos-john-fithian-face-sundance-wrath-you-got-your-butt-kicked/ (http://www.deadline.com/2012/01/mpaas-chris-dodd-natos-john-fithian-face-sundance-wrath-you-got-your-butt-kicked/) Was Megaupload Targeted Because Of Its Upcoming Megabox Digital Jukebox Service?

According to mainstream media, nobody goes to the movies anymore. However news about the death of movie theaters has been greatly exaggerated according to John Fithian, President of the National Association of Theater Owners. In fact, statistical trends for the last three decades show that movie attendance is actually on the rise. In a discussion that touches on everything from the price of tickets to digital cinema technology, Fithian reveals the truth behind today's movie going experience. Meanwhile, the Golden Globes handed out this year's awards. The big story wasn't necessarily who won awards, but rather which stars were victims of host Ricky Gervais' scathing humor. Ironically the comedian managed to steal the spotlight again by being less insulting than last year... go figure! There is some fresh news about two antipiracy bills making their way through Congress now that the Obama administration says they won't support them. We also cover the week's top entertainment news including how Spin magazine intends to review new music releases, a slight delay for the "Avatar" and Hulu's plan for original content. 'Contraband' Does Legitimate Business At Box Office http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/la-et-box-office-20120117,0,5654597.story (http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/la-et-box-office-20120117,0,5654597.story) List of 69th Annual Golden Globe Winners http://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/2012/01/15/raw-data-partial-list-golden-globe-winners/ (http://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/2012/01/15/raw-data-partial-list-golden-globe-winners/) Roger Ebert: I'll Tell You Why Movie Revenue Is Dropping http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20111228/COMMENTARY/111229973 (http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20111228/COMMENTARY/111229973) As the World Turns in 2012: What's Next for Global Box Office http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/global-box-office-dark-knight-rises-amazing-super-man-281541 (http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/global-box-office-dark-knight-rises-amazing-super-man-281541) What's Happened To Movie Theater Attendance http://www.whitehutchinson.com/news/lenews/2008_may_june/article102.shtml (http://www.whitehutchinson.com/news/lenews/2008_may_june/article102.shtml) Movie Attendance Continues To Decline http://www.whitehutchinson.com/news/lenews/2011_january/article103.shtml (http://www.whitehutchinson.com/news/lenews/2011_january/article103.shtml) The Trend of Decreasing Attendance With Higher Prices http://www.whitehutchinson.com/news/lenews/2011_june/article109.shtml (http://www.whitehutchinson.com/news/lenews/2011_june/article109.shtml) SPIN Reinvents the Album Review: Introducing @SPINReviews http://www.spin.com/articles/spin-reinvents-album-review-introducing-spinreviews (http://www.spin.com/articles/spin-reinvents-album-review-introducing-spinreviews) Bookstore Sales Dropped 8.6% In November http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/bookselling/article/50179-bookstore-sales-dropped-8-6-in-november.html (http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/bookselling/article/50179-bookstore-sales-dropped-8-6-in-november.html) 'Downton Abbey's' Second Season Starts Strong For PBS http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/downton-abbey-pbs-ratings-280201 (http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/downton-abbey-pbs-ratings-280201) Avatar 2, Star Wars TV Show May Be Delayed http://nymag.com/daily/entertainment/2012/01/star-wars-tv-show-may-be-delayed.html (http://nymag.com/daily/entertainment/2012/01/star-wars-tv-show-may-be-delayed.html) Discovered on Publisher’s Web Site, Aspiring Author Signs Book Deal http://mediadecoder.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/01/08/discovered-on-publishers-web-site-aspiring-author-signs-book-deal/ (http://mediadecoder.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/01/08/discovered-on-publishers-web-site-aspiring-author-signs-book-deal/)

Even the worst Broadway flops can wind up turning a profit once they begin touring in cities throughout the world. Patrick Healy (https://twitter.com/#!/patrickhealynyt), the theater news and features reporter for the New York Times, explains how somet...

As 2011 comes to an end mainstream media companies continue to struggle with how to distribute their content through the Internet. That was never more apparent than this week as concert promoter Live Nation acquired BigChampagne (http://bcdash.bigchampagne.com/who), a media tracking and technology company. Joe Fleischer, Big Champgne's chief marketing officer, explains why a live-event company is interested in staying on top of the latest music industry data and how the acquisition will help Live Nation better understand their customers. Meanwhile, as SOPA and PIPA make their way through Congress, Universal Music Group caused a stir when they tried to squash news reports of their copyright infringement lawsuit against MegaUpload. Then there was comedian Louis C.K. who used digital convergence to his benefit by selling a video of his most recent stand-up show directly to fans, making a huge profit in the process. Matt Damon was also muddying the waters last week by revealing the in-fighting going on behind the scenes of the"Bourne" franchise. Of course, we also cover the top entertainment news stories of the week including the Golden Globe and SAG award nominations, Howard Stern's new television gig on "America's Got Talent" and Madonna's new record contract. Programming Note: There will be no shows on December 26, 2011 or January 2, 2012. See you all next year. Margin Call Changes VOD Picture http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118047677 (http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118047677) 'The Help' Leads With Four SAG Awards Nominations http://www.goldderby.com/films/news/2282/%27the-help%27-leads-with-four-sag-awards-nominations.html (http://www.goldderby.com/films/news/2282/%27the-help%27-leads-with-four-sag-awards-nominations.html) Golden Globe Nomination List http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/race/golden-globe-awards-nominations-nominees-list-274209 (http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/race/golden-globe-awards-nominations-nominees-list-274209) 'Smurfs' Animated Feature DQ Raises Questions About Vague Regulations http://www.hitfix.com/blogs/in-contention/posts/smurfs-animated.... (http://www.hitfix.com/blogs/in-contention/posts/smurfs-animated-feature-disqualified) Matt Damon's Verbal Attack Exposes Deep Rift In 'Bourne' Franchise http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/matt-damon-bourne-identity-tony-gilroy-275137 (http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/matt-damon-bourne-identity-tony-gilroy-275137) Apple Plots Its TV Assault http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1000142405297020479110457710.... (http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204791104577106531093742246.html) Is Congress Prepared To Deregulate Television http://www.deadline.com/2011/12/is-congress-prepared-to-deregulate-television/ (http://www.deadline.com/2011/12/is-congress-prepared-to-deregulate-television/) YouTube Says Universal Had No ‘Right’ to Take Down MegaUpload Video http://www.wired.com/threatlevel/2011/12/youtube-universal-megaupload/ (http://www.wired.com/threatlevel/2011/12/youtube-universal-megaupload/) DHS Abruptly Abandons Copyright Seizure of Hip-Hop Blog http://news.cnet.com/8301-31921_3-57339569-281/dhs-abruptly-abandons-copyright-seizure-of-hip-hop-blog/ (http://news.cnet.com/8301-31921_3-57339569-281/dhs-abruptly-abandons-copyright-seizure-of-hip-hop-blog/) Louis CK: How He Made $500K in 4 Days http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/267089/20111214/louis-ck-500k-4-days-comedy-special.htm (http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/267089/20111214/louis-ck-500k-4-days-comedy-special.htm) Howard Stern Joins America's Got Talent http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/howard-stern-joins-americas-got-talent-274213 (http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/howard-stern-joins-americas-got-talent-274213) Amazon's Best Selling Books of 2011 http://www.omnivoracious.com/2011/12/amazoncoms-best-selling-books-of-2011-steve-jobs-more-customer-favorites.html

Anyone who has ever tried to get good tickets to see their favorite band in concert knows how frustrating it can be. Josh Baron and Dean Budnick, two editors of Relix magazine, spent three years speaking to hundreds of industry veterans to research the history of modern ticketing. Their book, "Ticket Masters: The Rise of the Concert Industry and How the Public Got Scalped (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1550229494/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=showbsandb-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1550229494)(http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=showbsandb-20&l=as2&o=1&a=1550229494)", is being hailed as the most comprehensive work on the subject. In this interview they explain the real culprit behind today's high ticket prices and provide a few ways to get the best seats in the house. The end of the year usually marks a busy and highly profitable time in the movie industry, however box office receipts have been declining over the past two weekends to three year lows. It certainly doesn't help that as film critics from around the nation bestow their annual awards, there doesn't seem to be a clear frontrunner for the upcoming Oscar season. In the music world, despite the glut of music subscription services such as Spotify, Rdio and Mog, some musicians are pulling their latest releases from the platforms. Most recently, The Black Keys have joined the likes of Coldplay in not allowing their new album to be streamed on any of the top services. Rather than help increase sales, the feeling is that these services may actually be preventing them. Of course, we cover the week's top entertainment headlines, including Ryan Seacrest possibly replacing Matt Lauer on NBC's "Today", the Justice Department's investigation into the pricing of e-books and the latest Black List highlights the year's best unproduced screenplays. Ticket Masters: The Rise of the Concert Industry and How the Public Got Scalped http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1550229494/ (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1550229494/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=showbsandb-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1550229494) Relix Magazine http://www.relix.com/ (http://www.relix.com/) The Box Office Had Its Worst Weekend Since 2008, But There Is A Silver Lining http://insidemovies.ew.com/2011/12/12/box-office-new-years-eve-tinker-tailor/ (http://insidemovies.ew.com/2011/12/12/box-office-new-years-eve-tinker-tailor/) L.A. Critics Name 'Descendants' Best Film, Laud 'Tree of Life' Too http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/movies/2011/12/la-film-critics-name-best-picture.html (http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/movies/2011/12/la-film-critics-name-best-picture.html) 'Bridesmaids' and 'The Descendants' Among AFI's Top 10 Films http://www.goldderby.com/films/news/2268/afi-top-10-best-american-film-institute-news.html (http://www.goldderby.com/films/news/2268/afi-top-10-best-american-film-institute-news.html) New York Film Critics Online Name 'The Artist' Best Movie of the Year http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/race/the-artist-take-shelter-michael-shannon-meryl-street-iron-lady-272214 (http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/race/the-artist-take-shelter-michael-shannon-meryl-street-iron-lady-272214) 'The Artist' Named Best Picture by Boston Film Critics http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/race/artist-best-picture-boston-film-critics-272202 (http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/race/artist-best-picture-boston-film-critics-272202) San Francisco Film Critics Pick "Tree of Life" http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/12/12/us-filmawards-sanfrancisco-idUSTRE7BB07720111212 (http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/12/12/us-filmawards-sanfrancisco-idUSTRE7BB07720111212) 2011 Annie Awards Nominations http://www.cartoonbrew.com/events/annie-award-nominations-2011.html (http://www.cartoonbrew.com/events/annie-award-nominations-2011.html) The Black Keys Black Out Spotify, MOG, Rdio and Rhapsody http://latimesblogs.latimes.

Tis the season for holiday movies and there is no shortage of Yuletide titles to choose from. Thankfully film critic-at-large Alonso Duralde comes to the rescue by sifting through decades of Christmas movies in his book "Have Yourself A Movie Little Christmas (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0879103760/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=showbsandb-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0879103760)(http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=showbsandb-20&l=as2&o=1&a=0879103760)". He highlights some of the classic, and not-so-classic, films worth watching during the holidays and explains why this year's "Arthur Christmas" is having trouble finding an audience. It's also the time of year when acclaimed movies and music from the past 12-months begin picking up nominations for annual awards. Last week nominees were announced for the Independent Spirit Awards and the Grammys with many more to come. Over on Broadway ten shows earned more than $1 million during Thanksgiving week as the theater going season kicks into full gear. The hit musical "Book of Mormon" even turned a profit thanks in part to high ticket prices. We also cover the week's top entertainment news stories, including Madonna's Super Bowl gig, the end of Napster and why musician Elvis Costello doesn't want you to buy his new boxed set. Alonso Duralde's Website http://www.alonsoduralde.com/ (http://www.alonsoduralde.com/) Have Yourself A Movie Little Christmas http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0879103760/ (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0879103760/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=showbsandb-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0879103760) New York Critics Name The Artist Best Film Of The Year http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/movies/2011/11/new-york-film-critics-circle-best-movie.html (http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/movies/2011/11/new-york-film-critics-circle-best-movie.html) National Board of Review Backs Oscar Contenders Needing a Big Boost http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/race/national-board-review-analysis-268495 (http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/race/national-board-review-analysis-268495) Lars Von Trier's 'Melancholia' Wins Best Film at European Film Awards http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/european-film-awards-melancholia-269330 (http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/european-film-awards-melancholia-269330) Spirit Award Nominees Unveiled http://www.deadline.com/2011/11/spirit-award-nominees-unveiled/ (http://www.deadline.com/2011/11/spirit-award-nominees-unveiled/) Kanye West Tops Grammy Nominations http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/11/30/kanye-west-tops-grammy-nominations/ (http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/11/30/kanye-west-tops-grammy-nominations/) Battle of the Bands (and Egos) for the Rock Hall of Fame http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/04/business/in-rock-hall-of-fame-vote-a-battle-of-industry-egos.html (http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/04/business/in-rock-hall-of-fame-vote-a-battle-of-industry-egos.html) Marc Berman's Freshman Series Scorecard http://www.tvmediainsights.com/2011/12/thursday-december-1-2011/ (http://www.tvmediainsights.com/2011/12/thursday-december-1-2011/) In Only Nine Months On Broadway Book Of Mormon Earns Back Its Costs http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/11/29/in-only-nine-months-on-broadway-book-of-mormon-earns-back-its-costs/ (http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/11/29/in-only-nine-months-on-broadway-book-of-mormon-earns-back-its-costs/) Broadway's Mamma Mia Offering Winter Sale http://www.playbill.com/news/article/156972-Broadways-Mamma-Mia-Offering-Winter-Sale (http://www.playbill.com/news/article/156972-Broadways-Mamma-Mia-Offering-Winter-Sale) Rabbit Run Harvey With Jim Parsons Sets Broadway Opening Date http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/11/29/rabbit-runs-harvey-with-jim-parsons-sets-broadway-opening-date/ (http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/11/29/rabbit-runs-harvey-with-jim-parsons-sets-broadway-opening-date/)