Real Music People

More than 70 Eminem songs are available for download on iTunes. Rap star Eminem is suing computer firm Apple for allegedly selling his music in its iTunes store without permission.
A lawsuit claiming infringement of copyright has been filed on behalf of the singer by his music publishing company Eight Mile Style.

Apple pays Eminem’s record label for each download - but Eight Mile Style argues it has not approved the deal.

“This is a significant issue in the music industry,” said Norman Ankers, a lawyer for the company.

“This occurs with many artists and many record labels.”

A spokesperson for Apple had no comment on the legal case, which was filed in the US District Court in Detroit.

Eight Mile Style said between 70 and 80 songs were affected by the dispute, including tracks from the Grammy award-winning The Eminem Show.

The company holds the copyright, or partial copyright, in all of the tracks.

It is seeking more than $75,000 (£36,900) for copyright infringement, unfair competition and a violation of the Michigan consumer protection act.

It also asks for damages of up to $150,000 (£73,800) per infringement - or each time a song is downloaded.

Apple charges $0.99 (£0.49) for most song downloads in the US. Recording companies get about $0.70 (£0.34) and pass on $0.09 (£0.04) of that fee to publishers.

But many publishers would prefer to receive their share of the money directly from retailers.

“Generally, artists want their music sold,” said Joel Martin, a spokesperson for Eight Mile Style. “We want it downloaded. We request that any provider that’s offering downloads license it through the publisher.”

“Apple is not accounting to us. They are accounting to Universal (Music),” he said.

Martin added that Apple had repeatedly asked Eight Mile Style for permission to use its songs, but the requests had been turned down.

Eminem has locked horns with Apple before. In 2004 he sued the company for copyright infringement, alleging that it had used his song Lose Yourself in a TV commercial without permission.

The case was settled out of court.

Rapper Fabolous performed his new single “Make Me Better” with r&b singer Ne-Yo

Kanye West is playing it strong and in order to succeed with a tour promoting the soon to be released new LP (“Graduation”). He stated that he will work with choreographer-director Jamie King, made famous by working with superstars like Madonna, Christina Aguilera, Prince, Britney Spears, Shakira and Mariah Carey. Kanye West said for MTV that:

“I’m working with Jamie King. I saw the last Madonna concert — he did the last Madonna concerts and so I’ve been sitting down vibing with him, cause I want to bring the level of entertainment up another level. At the end of the day, regardless of the he said/she said, regardless of whatever sh– I talk, whatever sh– anybody else talks — come to the show and have a good time.”

No tour dates have been confirmed but as I see Kanye West he is ready for a bang. Whenever the rapper drops something he does it big and we all know that.