News Bites
(05.18) Source - Allstar: File this under Win Win: BT gets to add *NSYNC to his growing list of production credits, and *NSYNC get to look and sound cool for a change. The electronic artist (real name Brian Transeau) has recently produced a song from the pop group's forthcoming album - Celebrity, due July 24. The track, "Pop," will be the first single from the album and was penned by *NSYNC's own Justin Timberlake along with the group's choreographer, Wade Robson (who's produced songs for Aaron Carter as well). BT's also in the midst of composing the score for Ben Stiller's next movie, Zoolander, and his score in The Fast and the Furious hits theaters June 22.
*NSYNC Cancels May 30 Concert At Foxboro Stadium
(05.18) Source - Launch: *NSYNC has canceled the first of its three scheduled performances at the Boston-area Foxboro Stadium due to "technical issues," according the Don Law Company, the local promoter. Boston radio station WBCN-FM's annual River Rave concert - featuring Aerosmith, Marilyn Manson, the Black Crowes, Live, Fatboy Slim, Everlast, Eve 6, Lifehouse, and others - takes place at the venue on May 26, and apparently the scheduling does not leave *NSYNC's crew enough time to set up the group's massive PopOdyssey stage production in advance of May 30.
�����The Don Law Company explained in a statement, "In an effort to provide *NSYNC fans with the highest quality of live entertainment they have come to expect, ticket holders of the May 30 *NSYNC concert can exchange their tickets for comparable seats at either the May 31 or the June 1 show."
�����Tickets for *NSYNC's May 30 concert may be refunded or exchanged for tickets to the May 31 or June 1, but all refunds and exchanges must be made no later than 5 PM ET on May 28. The promoter added that although the May 31 and June 1 shows are sold out, staging modifications will allow for additional seating at all price levels. *NSYNC's PopOdyssey tour is scheduled to kick off May 23 at Alltel Stadium in Jacksonville, Florida.
Faith Hill's 'Breathe,' Foo Fighters, Sting, Creed Honored At BMI Pop Awards
(05.16) Source - Allstar: Faith Hill's crossover hit, "Breathe," and its writer, Stephanie Bentley, took home the top honor at the 49th Annual BMI Pop Awards, held Tuesday (May 15) at the Regent Beverly Wilshire Hotel in Beverly Hills.
�����"Breathe" was named the BMI Pop Song of the Year for tallying the most feature broadcast performances during the eligibility period, which is Oct. 1, 1999 through Sept. 30, 2000.
�����Among the 93 songwriters who were recognized for songs on the most performed songs list were multiple honorees Rob Thomas (Matchbox Twenty's "Bent," "Smooth" with Santana), Sting ("Brand New Day," "Desert Rose"), and Creed's Scott Stapp and Mark Tremonti ("Higher," "With Arms Wide Open"). Songwriter Cory Rooney, though, led the pack with honors for three songs -- Blaque with *NSYNC's "Bring It All to Me" and Marc Anthony's "I Need to Know" and "You Sang To Me."
�����Meanwhile, the Foo Fighters' Dave Grohl and Nate Mendel were honored with the Most Performed Song on College Radio award for "Learn to Fly." Other songwriting artists honored included R.E.M.'s Peter Buck, Mike Mills, and Michael Stipe ("The Great Beyond"), R. Kelly ("Fortunate"), Macy Gray ("I Try"), Kid Rock and Uncle Kracker ("Only God Knows Why"), Red Hot Chili Peppers ("Otherside"), Everclear ("Wonderful"), and Goo Goo Dolls ("Broadway"), among others.
�����For a complete list of winners, go to bmi.com.
*NSYNC Cancel First Boston Area Show
(05.16) Source - MTV: Boston area *NSYNC fans will have one less chance to see their idols in concert, as the group canceled the first of its three shows at Foxboro Stadium.
�����Radio station WBCN-FM is sponsoring its River Rave � a festival featuring Marilyn Manson, Black Crowes and Fatboy Slim � at the stadium on May 26, which won't leave the *NSYNC crew enough time to set up the group's massive stage show in time for the originally scheduled May 30 performance, according to a spokesperson for local promoter the Don Law Company.
�����Fans who've already purchased tickets to that show can exchange them for tickets to *NSYNC's May 31 or June 1 shows at Foxboro Stadium. Exchanges are available on a first-come, first-serve basis until 5 PM ET May 28.
�����The May 31 and June 1 shows had sold out, but the promoter said that stage modifications have freed up additional seats.
�����*NSYNC's PopOdyssey tour will kick off May 23 at Alltel Stadium in Jacksonville, Florida.
*NSYNC To Debut 'Pop' On Live TV
(05.10) Source - MTV: *NSYNC will pop the cork on their new single, "Pop," on live TV Friday.
�����They'll perform the first single from their upcoming album, Celebrity, on "Total Request Live" from the New Orleans stage on which they are rehearsing for the upcoming PopOdyssey tour.
�����"We are going to show ['Pop' to] everyone in the world on 'TRL' before it even makes it to radio," bandmember Justin Timberlake announced on 'TRL' on Thursday (May 10). "Before the video comes out, you're gonna see a special performance on this stage back there."
�����The sneak peek at "Pop" will have to tide the boy band's fans over for the next few weeks, until *NSYNC's twice-rescheduled tour is slated to kick off. The tour was originally slated to open on May 12 in Miami, but promoters, citing the need for additional preparations, pushed the start date back to May 18 in Jacksonville, Florida. This week, the opening moved again, to May 23 in Jacksonville.
�����On Wednesday, the group also announced that Celebrity, originally due June 26, has been pushed back to July 24 to allow more time to record.
�����*NSYNC plan to unveil a handful of songs from Celebrity on the tour, member Joey Fatone said on Thursday's "TRL." "It's a chance for the people to actually see, as well as hear [the new songs]," he said.
�����The album will display the group's writing and production skills on some tracks, in addition to production from R&B/hip-hop producers Rodney Jerkins, Brian McKnight, the Neptunes and Wade Robinson.
�����"Pop" features contributions from dance producer BT and incorporates elements of the two-step/U.K. garage sound currently sweeping the dance world, the group recently told Entertainment Weekly.
�����"We took it to where we think music is going," Timberlake, who co-wrote the song, told the magazine. "It's more futuristic. It's like R&B twice as fast."