Added 11/03/2010 by ronni

Tokio Hotel and Russian promoter in dispute

Two shows by the German pop-rock act Tokio Hotel at St. Petersburg's 12,000-seat Ice Palace and at Moscow's 16,000-seat Olimpiisky Sports Palace on March 10, was canceled at the last minute, allegedly due to a dispute between the artist and the promoter Top Concert.

The Russian newspaper Komsomolskaya Pravda reported that the band showed up at sound check earlier in the day but then packed their things and left, while thousands of fans were waiting for the show at the Ice Palace.

The BFM news portal reported that the promoter's representative addressed the audience from the stage, explaining the cancellation by "a sickness" of one of the band members and adding that the promoter did "all they could to make the show take place."

The band has put the following statement on their website: "The local promoter has once again materially breached and violated the contract. Under these given circumstances, it is not possible for us to let the band play the show in Moscow.

The band has now brought all meet and greet winners to their Hotel, and met their fans there. After giving autographs to the waiting crowd outside of the Hotel,

Tokio Hotel had to leave Moscow. Our heartfelt apologies to all Russian fans and the band."

Added 10/03/2010 by ronni

Pink Floyd take EMI to court

Rock band Pink Floyd have launched legal action against record label EMI over payment of online royalties and the marketing of their music.

The group, signed to EMI since 1967, are disputing the way payments for their digital sales are calculated.

They are also seeking a ruling on whether the label can sell individual tracks from their original albums.

Pink Floyd did not appear at the first hearing of what is expected to be a lengthy case.

Their lawyer, Robert Howe QC, told the court that the musicians wanted "to know where they stand as a matter of contract".

Mr Howe said EMI contend that the sale of individual tracks from albums "only applies to the physical product and does not apply online".

He added that the practice "makes no commercial sense" and contravenes agreements signed by both parties.

Pink Floyd's back catalogue is the most lucrative in pop music apart from that of The Beatles.

according to BBC

Added 09/03/2010 by ronni

Wildbirds & Peacedrums European May tour

Sweden’s exhilarating duo Wildbirds & Peacedrums have lost no time in greeting the new decade with a fevered burst of creative energy. New decade, new direction.

Announcing a European tour for May 2010, vocalist Mariam Wallentin and percussionist Andreas Werliin will be performing new material at the shows, backed by a full choir. The new songs will be premiered at the Pavement-curated ATP Festival in May (full dates below).

Currently supporting St Vincent on tour in the US, the band rehearsed, recorded and mixed two new bodies of work in 10 days in Iceland at the end of January, around a theme of water.

The new recordings will be released as two limited edition vinyl EPs, to be combined later on CD and digital download. The first release will accompany the May tour dates. More details to follow.

European tour dates:

Friday 14 May ATP Festival, Minehead, UK
Saturday 15 May Bishopsgate Institute, London, UK
Sunday 16 May Café De La Danse, Paris, France
Monday 17 May Dampfzentrale, Basel, Switzerland
Tuesday 19 May Babel, Malmö, Sweden
Wednesday 20 May Jazzhouse, Copenhagen, Denmark
Thursday 21 May Blå, Oslo, Norway
Friday 22 May Södra Teatern, Stockholm, Sweden