The Beach Boys-more legal dealings settled

Having been a Beach Boys fan since Wouldn't It Be Nice, I've kept up on their history. The number of lawsuits this band has been in, most of them between the band members, could fill up a nice coffee table size book. It looks like another one, over name infringement has been settled according to Hits Magazine. I'd be surprised if Brian would give up his successful solo touring career to join forces again with Love and Jardine. I believe he was quoted as saying the Beach Boys died with the death of Carl.

BEACH BOYS REUNITED? A settlement over the disputed rights to the Beach Boys' name has made possible a long-awaited reunion among the three surviving members, Brian Wilson, Mike Love and Al Jardine. The agreement, reached last week in L.A. Superior Court, puts to rest years of litigation that grew out of Jardine’s use of the band’s name, “Beach Boys Family & Friends,” until a federal judge ruled in 2000 he was engaging in trademark infringement. That decision affirmed Love’s claim as the sole licensee of the name under a deal he negotiated with Brother Records in 1998, a ruling upheld by a U.S. appeals court in 2003, again siding against Jardine in the case brought by Love, Wilson and the estate of his late brother, Carl. Love and the Carl Wilson estate sued Jardine again in 2004 seeking $2.2 million in legal fees. It was that case, set for trial next month, which was settled last week

Hillary and Madonna? Obama and Pitt? Family ties

As seen in NewYorker.com

When did genealogy become the silliest science? This week, researchers at the New England Historic Genealogical Society climbed up into the family trees of the leading contenders for President, and what they found was surprising—and risible. Hillary Clinton, whose mother is of French-Canadian extraction, is distantly related to such luminaries as Angelina Jolie (ninth cousin, twice removed), Madonna, Celine Dion, and Alanis Morissette. Obama, through his white Kansan mother, is related to six U.S. Presidents, including George W. Bush, and Brad Pitt (ninth cousin). McCain’s origins are less well known, but he is a sixth cousin of First Lady Laura Bush. Below is a classic skit about family trees from 1965, starring Julie Andrews and Gene Kelly, either of whom may well be related to the candidates.—Ben Greenman

Smashing Pumpkins Sue Virgin Records

From today's NY Times. There doesn't seem to be more info on the story. Traditionally (depending on your contract) the use of a track from a record album (master use) would require the artist as well as the writer of the song (sync use) to approve any promotional uses.

The Smashing Pumpkins filed a breach of contract lawsuit against Virgin Records, accusing the company of using the band’s name and music in promotional deals that injured its credibility with fans, The Associated Press reported. In Los Angeles County Superior Court on Monday, the members contended that Virgin’s use of the band in a promotion with Amazon.com and PepsiCo threatens their “artistic integrity.” The Pumpkins lawsuit argues that Virgin, which released the band’s music for 17 years, had no contractual right to use it in campaigns to sell other products. The band asked to be compensated with Virgin’s profits from the promotion, and also requested an injunction to bar use of its name and music. Virgin did not immediately respond to a call for comment.

Joseph Arthur curator

You have to love this:
From the NY Times

The Man, the Museum, the (Self-Created) Legend
Joseph Arthur is not just a singer-songwriter in the Nick Drake/Leonard Cohen/romantic-depressive mode. He’s also the proprietor of a gallery dedicated to himself. The Museum of Modern Arthur, in the Dumbo section of Brooklyn , features his artwork and promotes his philosophy: “MOMAR can, and will, party.” On Friday night he makes good on it, at a show and party celebrating his new EP and the three more that he plans to release this year.

SXSW in Photos

Brandi Shearer and Quincy Coleman perform at a party at SXSW. Unfortunately by the time Kate Walsh came on, night fell and it was too dark to take photos. Her set was lovely.

SXSW Time Again

So tomorrow I'm off to SXSW. Brandi Shearer along with future touring mates, Kate Walsh and Qunicy Coleman will playing the Cosmic America Music Party on 3/13. The ladies will be touring across the country this May/June. Other artists I plan to check out are Andy Davis, Liam Finn and Jim Boggia.

Wired: The Economics of Zero

Wired Magazine's editor Chris Anderson (the author of the Long Tail) has a sneak preview of his new book Free on Wired.com. He's examining the theory of free being the new economic paradigm. The music business plays well into his thinking, starting with free downloading of music. It's great food for thought.