Warner Music Group is making its music available for US downloads from Amazon in MP3 format without copy protection. Warner had been holding out against using the format because MP3 tracks are easier to share between users and may be freely burned onto CDs. Amazon.com’s download store is a major US competitor to Apple’s iTunes, which uses Digital Rights Management (DRM) to restrict the use of some of its tracks. Warner’s artists include Led Zeppelin, Aretha Franklin and Sean Paul. Sony BMG is now the only major recording group not signed up with Amazon.com’s download service, which is only available to US customers at present. “By removing a barrier to the sale and enjoyment of audio downloads, we bring an energy-sapping debate to a close,” Warner Music chief executive Edgar Bronfman said in an e-mail to Warner employees. Amazon launched its US download store in September after reaching agreements to sell unprotected tracks from Universal Music Group and EMI.
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Rain attended the CineAsia Film Festival at Macau on December 6th and won the Male Asian Star of the Year award. The female lead of the movie Lust Caution, Tang Wei, also won the Female Asian Star of the Year award.
The awards were given to those artistes who are active and show more euthusiasm In the entertainment feild within that year.
Rain said when he accept the award: ‘ Because of the meaning of this award , i felt more pressure but i will to regard this award as a motivation for me, and i will work even more harder in the coming days.”
Tang Wei said during an interview together with Rain:”
I were convinced by Rain’s charm before, and watched his concerts before. Hope there are chances to collaborate in film making with him.”
Source:: http://www.proazn.com/ProAzn_forum/showthread.php?t=3202
Pop stars BoA, Kang Ta, The Grace and TVXQ are to make the leap to stage musicals, which are enjoying a wave of popularity in Korea. SM Entertainment, the stars’ agency, said Wednesday it will start producing stage musicals next year. Other pop singers like Ok Ju-hyeon, Bada, Hey, Kim Tae-woo and Andy have already appeared in stage musicals to great success.The Broadway stage musical “Xanadu” is highly likely to be the first show presented by SM Entertainment. Although the company did not officially confirm this, it apparently struck a license deal and is now seeking to rent a mid-sized theater with 600 to 800 seats, having already enquired at such venues as the M theater in the Sejong Center for Performing Arts or the Towol theater at the Seoul Arts Center. Yoo Hee-seong, the executive director of Seoul Metropolitan Musical Theater, said, “SM Entertainment’s musical division leader asked me whether it would be possible for SM Entertainment to rent the M theater in 2008 to present ‘Xanadu.’ I said the major theaters are booked, so it may be possible in 2009.”
“Xanadu” is an affectionate send-up of the 80s movie flop starring Olivia Newton-John. It is attractive to SM Entertainment as the company’s first musical show since it is a light comedy based around some catchy pop songs.
The company has been looking for ways to diversify since the music market shrank to a quarter of the size of its heyday. The entertainment giant has already purchased four small theaters including Teenteen Hall in Daehagno. It has an agent on Broadway and says it is pursuing license deals for several popular stage musicals. SM Entertainment director Lee Soo-man has already mentioned the possibility of branching out into musical production, especially to showcase BoA, several times.
The reaction of industry insiders was mixed. Kim Byeong-seok, the head of the performance department at CJ Entertainment, said, “SM Entertainment’s advance into the stage musical industry will play a positive role in boosting the size of the total market.” But he warned success of a stage musical depends on the quality of the show rather than the popularity of a star or a composer. “SM Entertainment needs to be careful to bear that in mind.”
Personal Note: I was sorta dissapointed when I read this. I hoped that BoA would actually Be ON BROADWAY starring in the play! Not a korean in korea play.
She would be so cute as the lead and her voice is perfect for the roll. I dont know why they dont try to put her on broadway for real. Her english is great and she can sing.
Source:: http://www.proazn.com/ProAzn_forum/showthread.php?t=3184