McKnight Teams With Timberlake For Next Album
(11.30) Source - Launch: Brian McKnight will perform duets with both *NSYNC singer Justin Timberlake and Stevie Wonder on the follow-up to his smash 1999 album Back At One, which is due this spring.
�����McKnight revealed to Launch backstage at the Billboard Music Awards on Tuesday that the album has a title, but he's a bit superstitious about sharing it before the album is finished. He explained, "I know what it's going to be called, but I can't really tell you, because then you'd know and something else would go wrong or something, so I'm kind of keeping that under my hat. I'm doing a duet with Justin Timberlake. I duet with Stevie Wonder on there, and a couple other guests. It's the first time I had guests - on this record"
�����McKnight said his duet with the *NSYNC singer is titled, "My Kind Of Girl," and that working with Timberlake was just as he imagined. "Exactly the way you see him on TV - that's exactly how he is for real," McKnight said. "I mean, he wants to give to everybody. He's not one of these guys who is so successful that he knows everything. He still wants to learn and he still wants to absorb everything. That's why I think he's going to be around for a very, very long time. It's not going to be one of those situations where, you know, *NSYNC is here now and there's a Where Are They Now five years from now. He's gonna be here."
�����As for the Wonder collaboration, McKnight said he simply wrote a track that fits Wonder's musical style. "I've known Stevie forever, and what I did was I wrote a song that sort of sounded like what I'd like Stevie to do now if he was going to do a record. So it was only natural to have him come play harmonica on it." McKnight and Wonder have performed in concert together in the past, but the upcoming duet marks the first time the pair has recorded together.
�����"I've done shows with him," said McKnight. "This is the first time we're actually going to be in the studio recording together. He's like Uncle Steve - at least for me - I don't know how he is with everybody else. He'll pretty much do [anything], you know, if his time permits, he'll do it."
�����McKnight can be seen performing Thursday in Shedaisy's very first Christmas special, Shevery Merry Christmas, along with fellow special guests Richard Marx and Jewel. The Shedaisy holiday special airs at 8 PM ET on TNN.
�����McKnight has recently been making the rounds, performing on several high-profile televised holiday specials this season, while simultaneously continuing to record his next album. "I just did a special with Christina Aguilera. I did a special with *NSYNC. This weekend I'll be at the White House for Christmas In Washington. I'm finishing my new album, which will be out in the spring - that's my real focus, actually."
*NSYNC To Offer Exclusive Content To Fans Via Internet Service
(11.30) Source - MTV: Diehard *NSYNC fans who aren't satisfied with owning the group's albums, concert tickets, T-shirts and dolls can now get a little closer to the boy band by signing up for *NSYNC-style Internet access.
�����In collaboration with Microsoft's MSN, the group will launch *NSYNC@MSN, a specially branded online service, on Friday. In addition to e-mail and Web access, the $21.95-a-month service promises access to exclusive newsletters, photos and video footage.
�����"We use the Internet not only as a tool to communicate with our families while on the road but to allow us to reach out to our fans in yet another way," *NSYNC's Lance Bass said in a statement. "We are very excited about this venture with MSN."
�����The service will also include *NSYNC-branded versions of Microsoft's MSN Messenger and Windows Media Player software.
�����Several sports teams and at least one other music artist, David Bowie, have offered specially branded Net access before.
�����Aram Sinnreich, an online-music analyst with Jupiter Communications, said that such arrangements will become increasingly common in the future.
�����"I think it really makes sense as part of a larger, integrated subscription relationship between a consumer and artist," Sinnreich said. "You'll have the ability to bundle in digital music and exclusive content with Net access. It's a great way to keep the artist's name in front of the user's eyes."
�����In another online move, *NSYNC will put a private concert up for bids on Friday at LiveBid. The auction, which will be featured on the December 7 Fox television special "The Ultimate Auction," will benefit the group's charity, Challenge for the Children.
�����*NSYNC will begin work early next year on their follow-up to the 10-times platinum No Strings Attached, which includes the hit "This I Promise You."
Britney Spears And *NSYNC Fox Concert Specials Air Tonight
(11.30) Source - Launch: Britney Spears and *NSYNC headline two original concert specials airing on the Fox network tonight (November 30). In the special Britney Spears: There's No Place Like Home, the teen singing sensation goes home to New Orleans for a special concert appearance at the Louisiana Superdome, where she performs her most popular hits amid a spectacular stage show. Spears enters the Superdome atop a Mardi Gras float, and then sings favorites like "Crazy," "Stronger," "..Baby One More Time," "Oops!... I Did It Again," "Lucky," and more. The special airs from 8 to 9 PM ET/PT on Fox.
�����Immediately following Spears's performance comes *NSYNC's new holiday special, *NSYNC 'N Timate Holiday Special, wherein *NSYNC performs live in its home city of Orlando, Florida, where the group originated in 1996. The concert event also showcases several new arrangements of *NSYNC's hits and interpretations of their favorite holiday songs, including the classic "Oh, Holy Night."
�����For the *NSYNC holiday special, guest performer Richard Marx plays the piano and sings with the group on its latest hit single, "This I Promise You," which Marx wrote and produced for the album No Strings Attached. Marx told Launch that working with *NSYNC on the track gave him newfound respect for the quintet.
�����"These five guys, all five of them, sing great - not good, they sing great," said Marx. "What was more impressive to me is that they have a work ethic that's really rare. I mean, I was raised with a work ethic. It's such a gift that I get to do something for a living that I love so much - that I would do for fun anyway - and I'm really dedicated to what I do, and it's got to be fun. I mean, there's got to be a lot of laughing going on, you know, but these five guys - all five of them, especially with the amount of success they've had - it has not gone to their heads." *NSYNC 'N Timate Holiday Special airs 9-10 PM ET/PT on Fox.
Creed Grabs Four My VH1 Music Awards
(11.30) Source - Allstar: Although the last thing this earth needs is another awards show, the My VH1 Music Awards, with its unorthodox categories (Your Song Kicked Ass But It Was Played Too Damn Much, Most Entertaining Public Feud, Booty Shake, etc.) at least has done its part in shaking things up a bit. More interesting, however, was the first interactive public appearance of Britney Spears and *NSYNC's Justin Timberlake, who arrived together and walked the red carpet hand-in-hand. Oh yeah, and the winners, too...
�����In what was essentially an online popularity contest, Creed grabbed awards for Song of the Year ("Higher"), Group of the Year, Welcome to the Big Time! and 2 For 2 (whatever that is!). Country bombshell Faith Hill was close behind with three trophies for Woman of the Year, Sexxxiest Video ("Breathe"), and "You Want Fries With That Album?" for her endorsement work with Pepsi. The Red Hot Chili Peppers, Metallica, Santana, and the Dave Matthews Band were next in line with two awards each.
�����The downside of an interactive awards show? Some awards appeared online before they were announced on live television, as was the case with Your Song Kicked Ass But It Was Played Too Damn Much. After several uncomfortable seconds with Tenacious D as presenter, the cue for the winner never appeared. VH1 cut to a backstage shot of host John Leguizamo, whose opening comedy spiel left little to be desired, waiting for the award tally, but the outcome never came and VH1 cut to commercial.
�����Nearly 5 million votes were logged in for the awards, lending considerable weight to the idea in general and the importance of the awards to the bands (they're from the fans, man!). If VH1 could get its act together from a production standpoint, the network may be on to something here.
*NSYNC Sued by Puppetmakers
(11.30) Source - Rolling Stone: *NSYNC are being sued by a pair of puppetmakers for copyright infringement. Sid and Marty Krofft, creators of such famous children shows as H.R. Pufnstuf, The Land of the Lost and The Bugaloos, filed suit on Nov. 28 in a U.S. District Court in California against the boy band, citing a lack of payment and copyright infringement on the creation of giant-sized replications of the boys.
�����The Krofft's claim that the five twenty-five-foot creations, made in the image of Justin, JC, Joey, Chris and Lance, were used in *NSYNC's stage show, as well as in the No Strings Attached programs. But the duo claim that the boy band never paid them for their work.
�����According to Marty Krofft, his company was very patient about receiving payment, but the *NSYNC camp failed to respond to their requests for payment. After repeated phone calls about merchandising rights, the Kroffts decided to take legal action. "We didn't want to sue, but this was our last resort," Marty Krofft said.
�����The *NSYNC camp had no response to the suit at press time.
Puppet-Makers Sue *NSYNC, Merchandiser
(11.30) Source - Billboard: Sid & Marty Krofft Pictures Inc., creator of "H.R. Pufnstuf" and other TV shows featuring puppets, has filed a federal copyright-infringement suit against *NSYNC, manager Johnny Wright, merchandiser Winterland Productions, and consultant Rick Barlowe, Billboard Bulletin reports.
�����The action, filed Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles, alleges that after Krofft built 25-foot puppets of *NSYNC's members for the group's performance at this year's American Music Awards, images of the puppets were used without compensation on merchandise sold at the act's concerts. The firm seeks at least 10% of earnings from the merchandise, plus other damages to be determined.
�����An attorney for *NSYNC could not be reached for comment. As reported yesterday, the pop group will co-host the Billboard Music Awards along with television favorite Kathy Griffin. The show will air live Dec. 5 from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas (8-10 ET live/PT tape) on Fox-TV.
Puppet Makers Sue *NSYNC
(11.30) Source - MTV: Sid & Marty Krofft Pictures is suing *NSYNC for copyright infringement and breach of "implied-in-fact" contract over their alleged use of images of puppets Krofft made for the group.
�����The suit, filed in U.S. District Court, Central District of California, on Tuesday, names the five members of *NSYNC as defendants, along with group manager Johnny Wright, his Wright Entertainment Group, merchandise consultant Rick Barlowe, Winterland Concessions Company and Winterland Productions, Ltd.
�����The boy band contracted Marty Krofft to make 25-foot puppets of each of the *NSYNC members for their performance of "Bye, Bye, Bye" at the American Music Awards in January. Sid & Marty Krofft Pictures, Inc., is the creator of such classic children's television programs as "H.R. Pufnstuf," "Land of the Lost" and "The Bugaloos."
�����The suit alleges that Wright orally agreed to pay Krofft if *NSYNC produced any merchandise related to the puppets but claims the defendants did not follow through on the agreement. The merchandise cited in the suit includes an image of the puppets on *NSYNC's souvenir program and an image on a souvenir backstage pass laminate sold at concerts, as well as any other related material that "may" exist. Krofft also asks that *NSYNC compensate him for their popular marionettes sold at toy stores, claiming they were inspired by his creative efforts.
�����Krofft recorded the copyright registrations for the puppets in July, which gave him the exclusive rights for their use, with the exception of their AMA debut, the suit states.
�����"[Wright] promised that if they made any merchandise [from the puppets], or what we call derivative work, they would pay," Krofft attorney Bruce Isaacs said Wednesday (November 29). "But when we contacted [*NSYNC for payment], we were told we were not entitled to anything."
�����"All we want is our fair share," he said.
�����The suit asks for actual and statutory damages, lawyers' fees and a "reasonable royalty of at least 10 percent" of monies received from sales of the merchandise.
�����*NSYNC's Jive Records spokesperson could not be reached for comment by press time.
*NSYNC Signs On To Co-Host Billboard Music Awards
(11.30) Source - Allstar: *NSYNC has signed on to co-host the 2000 Billboard Music Awards, set to take place Dec. 5 in Las Vegas, according to a spokesperson for the group at Jive Records.
�����*NSYNC will share hosting duties with actress Kathy Griffin, who has co-hosted the affair for three years running. *NSYNC, which is up for three awards this year, will also perform at the event along with the Dixie Chicks, Destiny's Child, Faith Hill, Ricky Martin, Creed, 3 Doors Down, and Mystikal.
�����New presenters at the show include Backstreet Boy Nick Carter along with his brother, Aaron Carter, Oscar De La Hoya, Sheryl Crow, No Doubt, and Samantha Mumba.
�����The 2000 Billboard Music Awards will air live from the MGM Grand in Las Vegas at 8 PM EST on Fox.
*NSYNC To Co-Host Billboard Awards
(11.29) Source - Billboard: *NSYNC has been confirmed as the co-hosts of this year's Billboard Music Awards, along with television favorite Kathy Griffin. The show will air live Dec. 5 from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Fox-TV.
�����*NSYNC also is scheduled to perform on the show, which honors the year's top artists, based on the Billboard year-end charts. Griffin, best known for her portrayal of Vicki on TV's "Suddenly Susan," will be co-hosting the Billboard show for the third consecutive year.
�����Also scheduled to perform are Destiny's Child, Dixie Chicks, Ricky Martin, Faith Hill, Creed, Mystikal, and 3 Doors Down. New to the star-studded line-up of presenters are Sheryl Crow, No Doubt, Nick Carter of the Backstreet Boys, and his brother, Aaron Carter, Oscar De La Hoya, and Samantha Mumba.
�����*NSYNC is also up for three nominations:
����������Artist of the Year
����������*NSYNC
����������Christina Aguilera
����������Destiny's Child
����������Santana
����������Albums Artist of the Year
����������*NSYNC
����������Britney Spears
����������Eminem
����������Santana
����������Album of the Year
����������"No Strings Attached" - *NSYNC
����������"Oops!...I Did It Again" - Britney Spears
����������"Marshall Mathers LP" - Eminem
����������"Supernatural" - Santana
*NSYNC To Launch Net Service
(11.29) Source - Billboard: Under a deal with Microsoft, Jive act *NSYNC is to launch a paid Internet service, Billboard Bulletin reports. Members will receive biweekly newsletters, behind-the-scenes videos, e-mail updates, and other exclusive information from the boy band. Microsoft will also create an *NSYNC-branded instant messaging service, and the group will launch a Web radio station. The service will cost $21.95 per month; Microsoft is offering a free one-month trial beginning Friday (Dec. 1).
�����Microsoft senior VP Brad Chase says the company will not collect names or addresses of users without parental consent. No downloads will be available initially, but music components may be added later, according to a source. The band will promote the service at its live shows and through radio advertising.
�����In other *NSYNC news, a private concert with the group will be among the items up for bidding in Fox Broadcasting's Ultimate Auction. The Dec. 1 auction will take place simultaneously in Los Angeles and on the Internet at Amazon.com. Proceeds from the auction of the concert will benefit the group's Challenge For The Children charity.
�����Other items up for grabs include a one-on-one basketball game with L.A. Lakers star Kobe Bryant, John F. Kennedy's rocking chair, the original Cowardly Lion costume from "The Wizard Of Oz," and the only privately owned, handwritten copy of Clement Moore's 177- year-old classic "A Visit From St. Nicholas." Results of the auction will be revealed during a two-hour special, hosted by Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York, and Robert Urich, airing Dec. 7 on Fox.
�����*NSYNC's Richard Marx-penned single, "This I Promise You," is No. 5 on The Billboard Hot 100 this week.
*NSYNC Sued By Sid & Marty Krofft Over Puppets
(11.29) Source - Launch: *NSYNC is being sued by Sid & Marty Krofft Pictures for copyright infringement and breach of contract over the alleged unauthorized use of the images of puppets created for the group. The California-based Sid & Marty Krofft Pictures, Inc., is best known for its puppets and popular television programs such as H.R. Pufnstuf, D.C. Follies, Land Of The Lost, and The Bugaloos.
�����In addition to the members of the group, the lawsuit also names *NSYNC manager Johnny Wright, his Wright Entertainment Group, merchandising consultant Rick Barlowe, Winterland Concessions Company, and Winterland Productions, Ltd.
�����The suit, filed in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles on Tuesday (November 28), states that in December 1999 or early January 2000, Marty Krofft was contacted by Wright, who requested that Krofft create 25-foot puppets of each of the five members of *NSYNC so that the group could use them during a performance of "Bye, Bye, Bye" at the American Music Awards. In less than 10 days, Krofft created and delivered the puppets to the group for use at the awards event. Krofft then recorded the copyright registrations for the puppets in July 2000, which effectively made him the sole owner and copyright holder of the Krofft puppets crafted in *NSYNC's likenesses.
�����The suit alleges that the defendants created derivative works based on the copyrighted Krofft puppets, including an image of the puppets on the back cover of the *NSYNC No Strings Attached souvenir program, an image of the puppets on a souvenir backstage pass laminate sold at concert venues, and possible images of the puppets appearing on other merchandise.
�����The suit goes on to claim that a breach of implied-in-fact contract took place after a conversation between Krofft and Wright, in which Wright allegedly assured Krofft, "Don't worry, you are 'in' on any and all merchandise." The suit also states that in a subsequent conversation with Wright, Krofft was told that he would also be "in" on all merchandising, including the popular *NSYNC marionettes (in the group members' likenesses) sold at toy stores nationwide. While the suit states that the marionettes "are not based on the Krofft puppets," Krofft claims that the puppets were made due to his "creative efforts." Krofft also makes the claim that "an implied license is in place by virtue of the oral conversations or conduct of the parties." Barlowe later informed Krofft that no such agreement for royalties was ever in place.
�����The suit asks for actual damages, statutory damages, attorneys' fees, and a "reasonable royalty" with interest. A "reasonable royalty" would be 10 percent of any and all monies received from sales of the *NSYNC souvenir program, the *NSYNC backstage pass laminate, other *NSYNC puppet merchandise, and the marionettes, according to Krofft.
Backstreet Boys Land #1 Album, But No Sales Record
(11.29) Source - MTV: For most artists, moving 1.6 million copies of an album in one week would be cause for celebration. But the Backstreet Boys aren't most artists. According to sales figures released by SoundScan on Wednesday (November 29), the Boys will debut at #1 on next week's Billboard 200 albums chart, after selling more than 1.59 million copies of their Back & Blue � an astonishing number by most standards.
�����However, many looked to the group to surpass fellow teen popsters *NSYNC, who set a one-week record by selling more than 2.4 million copies of their No Strings Attached in March. *NSYNC shattered the previous record of 1.13 million, which was set by the Backstreet Boys' Millennium in May 1999.
�����Black & Blue lands at #3 on the list of the biggest one-week sellers, behind *NSYNC and Eminem's The Marshall Mathers LP, which sold more than 1.76 million copies in its first week in stores in May.
�����While they fell short of the U.S. one-week sales record, the Boys are contenting themselves with global first-week sales of more than 5 million for the album, which the group claims is a record. The group also announced via a press release that the U.S. figures make the Boys the first artists in the SoundScan era to score million-plus first-week sales with back-to-back albums.
*NSYNC and MSN Top the Charts to Offer Fans The Ultimate Online Experience
(11.28) Source - Microsoft Press Pass: New *NSYNC@MSN Internet Access Service Offers Fans Exclusive *NSYNC Content, Customized MSN Services and Opportunities to Share Their Passion.
�����Today JIVE recording artists *NSYNC and the MSN� network of Internet services together announced they will deliver the ultimate online experience for *NSYNC fans across the United States. Through a cool new co-branded Internet Access service, *NSYNC@MSN, millions of *NSYNC enthusiasts will be able to access premier content and use the top services of MSN tailored specifically for them - exclusive electronic newsletters, never-before-seen photos and unseen video footage of the award-winning music group at the official *NSYNC@MSN Community site, and special *NSYNC-branded versions of the popular MSN Messenger Service and Microsoft� Windows Media� Player.
�����"MSN is about providing a home on the Web, the best place for people of all ages to hang out, first by making it easy to get online and then by offering services that make all the things people do online personal and fun," said Brad Chase, senior vice president of MSN. "By teaming with one of the world's most popular bands and tailoring already popular MSN services such as Messenger Service and communities specifically for their teen audience, MSN offers the new hot spot for *NSYNC fans."
�����*NSYNC@MSN will give *NSYNC devotees an easy way to get online with the full features and benefits of MSN, as powered by MSN Internet Access. In addition, the new co-branded service caters to the things teens do online including sending e-mail to friends with the MSN Hotmail� Web-based e-mail service; chatting in real-time with buddies on MSN Messenger; sharing photos on MSN Custom Web Sites, which already is a hot trend for fans, with more than 2,300 communities on MSN dedicated to *NSYNC; joining chats via MSN Chat radio; or buying CDs - all with *NSYNC excitement at hand. In addition, *NSYNC@MSN will guide fans through an online adventure into the band's world. The new service includes inside access to content, music, video and for-members'-eyes-only photos of Justin, Lance, Chris, JC and Joey. *NSYNC@MSN members also get behind-the-scenes access to the band and exclusive biweekly *N2 *NSYNC e-newsletters that help them follow the latest whereabouts and happenings of the ever-popular group.
�����"We use the Internet not only as a tool to communicate with our families while on the road but to allow us to reach out to our fans in yet another way. We are very excited about this venture with MSN. It will deliver exclusive information to our fans," said *NSYNC's Lance Bass.
�����As part of this new online experience, fans can meet their friends at the new *NSYNC@MSN community, chat with other fans and surprise guests, view previously unseen pictures, and more. A new *NSYNC-branded version of MSN Messenger Service will be available, enabling consumers to instantly communicate with friends and family. With more than 18 million users, MSN Messenger is one of the easiest and coolest ways of communicating privately with online buddies about any topic, including discussions of *NSYNC and easily sharing *NSYNC music and video files. In addition, never-before-seen videos will be available through a hip new *NSYNC Windows Media Player skin.
�����"I'm all things *NSYNC, so I know what's cool and what's not," said Jordan Longert, age 12, all-time *NSYNC fan. "I'm so excited about the new *NSYNC@MSN offer, I've already asked my parents if I can sign up. It will be so cool to get letters from the band as well as unseen photos and videos of my favorite group."
�����-Availability-
�����Fans can sign up for the new *NSYNC@MSN Internet Access service at MSN.com, which will be available in the United States only starting Dec. 1, 2000. *NSYNC@MSN is available for $21.95 per month. As *NSYNC wraps up their winter concert series and heads into a new spring series, fans also will be able to get *NSYNC@MSN CDs at their concerts and sign up for the ultimate online experience. There also will be opportunities to win prizes online as well as information about charity activities that *NSYNC and MSN participate in, plus many more promotional opportunities as the relationship and the co-branded site grow.
�����*NSYNC participated in a live webcast to support the new *NSYNC@MSN internet service, which fans can view at Microsoft.com
*NSYNC@MSN Gives Fans a New Way to Keep Up With the Group
(11.28) Source - Microsoft Press Pass: A note to Jordan Fuller�s parents and friends: Don�t waste time buying her a Christmas present with the pop group *NSYNC�s name, music or likeness on it. The 12-year-old already owns all their CDs. She has all of the fan magazines. Her bedroom is literally wallpapered with posters of the five heartthrob band members.
�����"I like them ... " she explained with a slight, but dramatic pause, "a lot." In fact, Jordan has almost everything any fan could want -- with a few exceptions: She doesn�t have a way to access exclusive photos and videos of *NSYNC, or a way to customize her Internet service so she can take along her favorite group when she chats with friends online or plays music and videos on her computer.
�����She and millions of other *NSYNC fans soon will be able to do just that. MSN has teamed up with the top-selling group to create a new Internet access service that offers fans what may be the next best thing to sharing a computer with Lance, JC, Joey, Chris and Justin.
�����Set to debut Dec. 1, *NSYNC@MSN customizes MSN Messenger Service and Windows Media Player to include pictures of the band and its logo. In addition, an *NSYNC homepage and a new official community site to add to the other MSN communities where thousands of *NSYNC fans are already hanging out - both available only to subscribers of the new service - will offer previously unreleased music videos, photos and interviews, along with a weekly behind-the-scenes newsletter.
�����"*NSYNC@MSN is the ultimate Web home for fans of the extremely talented and popular music group," said Brad Chase, senior vice president of MSN. "There�s no better way for fans to keep up with the band and to make Lance, JC, Joey, Chris and Justin permanent fixtures on their computers. I know my kids can�t wait!"
�����*NSYNC@MSN is the latest example of the exclusive, integrated services and content offered on MSN, the most popular site on the Web with more than 210 million visitors each month. Along with email, live chat, search, shopping and other top Internet services, MSN recently launched MSN Kids channel, in conjunction with Discovery.com, Walt Disney Internet Group and Nicklelodeon, more examples of MSN providing leading content and services for all age groups.
�����-Giving Fans What They Want-
�����This latest relationship grew out of the mutual interest MSN and *NSYNC have in serving the group�s fans. By teaming up, Chase said, both groups can more easily give millions of *NSYNC fans what they want - a way to learn more about the group and to integrate their music and images into online activities.
�����"Our fans are super important to us," said Lance Bass of *NSYNC. "We use the Internet not only as a tool to communicate with our families while we are on the road, but it also allows us to reach out to our fans in yet another way. We are super excited about the new *NSYNC@MSN service. It gives our fans lots of cool things they can�t get anywhere else."
�����The new service enables MSN to provide its young users the Internet exclusivity that adults find in brand-name credit cards and customized automobiles.
�����"Who doesn�t enjoy seeing the name or likeness of their favorite sports team, university or club emblazoned on the items they use every day?" Chase asked. "*NSYNC@MSN allows fans to add their favorite brand name - *NSYNC - to their online activities and to take advantage of MSN being so easy to use."
�����Here�s how it works: Subscribers to the new service pay the same monthly fee ($21.95) as other customers who receive Internet service through MSN. *NSYNC@MSN subscribers receive the full range of features and benefits offered to other MSN customers, including content sites such as MSN Kids, new MSN Explorer software and services such as MSN Hotmail and MSN Messenger.
�����In addition, when *NSYNC@MSN subscribers log on to the service, a customized screen with the group�s logo and picture will appear, along with links to the customized services and exclusive content not found anywhere else.
�����When subscribers activate their Windows Media Player, a customized 'skin' with the *NSYNC logo and picture will appear on their on-screen control panel. Similarly, the group�s logo will adorn the message panel when subscribers use MSN Messenger, a live Internet chat service.
�����-Exclusive Videos, Pictures and Interviews-
�����Ten-year-old Ali Smith, a fifth-grader who has listened to her *NSYNC CDs a "gazillion" times, likes the exclusivity of *NSYNC@MSN. "It will be kind of like being in a special club," she said. "That�s cool!" She can�t wait to see the exclusive videos and photos on *NSYNC@MSN. "You�ll be able to see how they�ve changed compared to the old photos in magazines," she said.
�����The *N2 *NSYNC online newsletter, available exclusively to *NSYNC@MSN subscribers, will offer weekly, behind-the-scenes information about the band including pictures.
�����The *NSYNC@MSN community site - the online equivalent of a fan club - will offer additional exclusive photos, including perhaps baby pictures of group members. Fans also will be able to conduct live online chats and watch for surprise visits from special guests, such as the parents of group members.
�����Jordan, the sixth-grader with the *NSYNC wallpaper, can�t wait for the exclusive photos. "I�ll probably use up all of the ink in our printer making copies," she said. She also looks forward to no longer having to sit through Total Request Live on MTV to see a single video with Justin Timberlake - her favorite group member - and the rest of *NSYNC.
�����As an added bonus, the *NSYNC@MSN signup CD includes a special video clip from *NSYNC�s HBO concert special that can be viewed using the Windows Media Player. Additional previews of exclusive videos are planned for delivery via the *NSYNC@MSN service.
�����Rebecca Ashcroft, 22, a longtime fan who has met the group members several times, said one of the things she likes best about *NSYNC@MSN is that the group approves of the service. "If it�s something they are putting together, then you know it�s real," she said. "You know they want other people to see it."
A Blooming Mess For *NSYNC
(11.27) Source - MTV Asia: Scores of teenage *NSYNC fans are plaguing television stations across America in a desperate bid to get hold of some exclusive boy band merchandise. The hunky "Bye Bye Bye" hit makers appeared on national TV earlier this month to promote the special *NSYNC Christmas ornaments they're selling through New York department store Bloomingdale's.
�����The crystal pieces, which are being sold to raise money for the charity Challenge For The Children, feature the same star that appears in front of the group's name. The store has had great success in selling the items, but unfortunately for the hordes of *NSYNC fans across the country, many cities in the States don't have their own branch. After the telecast, stations in Pittsburgh were flooded with calls from girls asking, "Where can I get an ornament if there is no Bloomingdale's around?"
Backstreet Unlikely To Top Sales Record
(11.27) Source - MTV: The Backstreet Boys may soon be calling for a recount. The group's new album, Black & Blue, will top the Billboard 200 albums chart this week, but it appears to have failed to break the first-week sales record set in March by *NSYNC's No Strings Attached, retailers said Monday.
�����"It fell short of *NSYNC. My guess is it'll do 60 to 70 percent of what they did," said Scott Levin, director of marketing for Musicland Stores Corporation, which owns the Sam Goody chain. "It's still a huge album, though."
�����*NSYNC sold 2.4 million copies of No Strings Attached in its first week, breaking the record of 1.13 million that the Backstreet Boys set with 1999's Millennium.
�����At the Tower Records chain, Black & Blue has sold about 15,000 copies nationwide since its release last week, while No Strings Attached sold more than 45,000 copies in its first week at the chain, company spokesperson Sara Hanson said.
�����"I'm really disappointed with the first-week sales � Sade and the Beatles far outsold the Backstreet Boys," said Howard Krumholtz, buyer at a West Hollywood, California, Tower Records store.
�����A number of retail insiders said that "Shape of My Heart" was not as strong as "Bye Bye Bye," the first single from No Strings Attached. "The faster they can get a second single out, the better," Musicland's Levin said.
�����In e-mails to members of the group's online street team, Backstreet Boys representatives had unabashedly touted the goal of topping *NSYNC's sales record with Black & Blue.
�����Group member A.J. McLean recently told Teen People magazine that he expected to "break *NSYNC's record and our record combined the first week out," but the group backed away from that prediction in a press conference last week.
�����"I was trying to think optimistically. ... It's not about quantity, it's about quality of the actual music. But materialistically, it'd be nice to break new records and start a whole new trend again," McLean said.
�����Shelby Wheeler, southeast marketing coordinator for Virgin Megastores, said that while the Backstreet Boys were not outselling *NSYNC, their album should still be considered a success. "They're #1 on the charts, but everybody wants to compare them to *NSYNC," Wheeler said. "It's too bad."