Minority Group Protests Nielsen Ratings

CHICAGO – JUNE 30: Demonstrators protest outside of Nielsen CEO Susan Whiting’s address at the Black Advertiser’s Summit at the Wyndham Chicago hotel June 30, 2004 in Chicago, Illinois. Members of the “Don’t Count Us Out/Queremos Ser Contados” coalition protested the Nielsen Media Research’s Local People Meters (LPMs), that the group claims undercounts African American and Hispanic viewers. LPMs are devices that are installed in participating households to record what the household is watching on TV.

About Nielsen (From Website):
Nielsen Media Research is the world-famous TV Ratings company. Active in more than 40 countries, we offer television and radio audience measurement, print readership and custom media research services.
Website: http://www.nielsenmedia.com

About Don’t Count Us Out/Queremos Ser Contados:
Don’t Count Us Out is an organization of media professionals and consumers who are concerned about the representation of minority groups on research panels, namely Nielsen’s (TV) Media Research. Syndicated research results from Nielsen aids with both programming decisions and advertising expenditures. The group fears that quality programming for African Americans and Latino viewers could disappear without fair representation on their research panels.
On the Web: http://www.dontcountusout.com

Minority groups are also widely underrepresented on Nielsen’s standard internet panel (called Netratings) with only a handful of reportable websites that specifically target African Americans or Hispanic surfers appearing on their syndicated monthly product.

Netratings launched a Hispanic measurement service in March 2003 on the heels of a large marketing boom to Latin Audiences. More attention has been focused on the demographic since the Census Bureau released population estimates in January that showed for the first time Hispanics outnumbering African Americans in the United States.

No specific products have been announced for African American internet users at this time.

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Rocawear Presents Summer Fashions At Macy’s

Damon Dash and Team Roc were on hand as crowds of people attended the “Rocawear presents summer fashions at Macy’s Herald Square” which was held on June 30, 2004 in New York City. The show included a presentation of clothing for men, women, and childen.

Singers Allen Anthony, Nicole Wray, and Rell all performed during various aspects of the show as an added bonus. Mr. Dash’s daughter, Eva, was also featured in the event as a child model.

ABOUT ROCAWEAR: (Snippets from Rocawear.com) Rocawear brings two dynamic forces together to form a singular source for Urban Fashion. Damon Dash and Hip Hop Recording Artist Jay Z are co-owners of the company.

Click to see pics from the runway, backstage, and the hot new summer clothing line

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2004 BET Awards: A Star Studded Affair

REVIEW: The 2004 BET Awards aired live on June 29th at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood, California. The show included performances by Janet Jackson, Kanye West, Usher, and many others.

One of the funniest moments in the show was an opening tribute to Beyonce by comedian host MoNique. The performance included MoNique and a crew of full figured female dancers all performing to the song Crazy In Love and not missing a beat. Beyonce happily commended MoNique on her performance when she accepted one of her two awards of the night (Best Collaboration; Best Female R&B Artist).

List of Winners/Categories:

Video of the year: OutKast, “Hey Ya!”

Group: OutKast

Male R&B artist: Usher

Female R&B artist: Beyonce

Male hip hop artist: Jay-Z

Female hip hop artist: Missy Elliott

Collaboration: Beyonce with Jay-Z, “Crazy in Love”

New artist: Kanye West

Gospel artist: Yolanda Adams

Actor: Denzel Washington

Actress: Halle Berry

Male athlete of the year: LeBron James

Female athlete of the year: Serena Williams

Viewer’s choice: Usher, featuring Ludacris and Lil Jon, “Yeah!”

All of the performances were top notched with Best New Artist winner Kanye West pulling off a great debut show with his latest hit single Jesus Walks. Gospel superstar Yolanda Adams joined him during the performance to help close the song. Other show highlights included a stunning tribute to hip hop music which featured various hip hop legends and an always soulful performance by the Isley Brothers.

Despite a few technical glitches due to the live nature of the show, the BET Awards was a great show and once again received a ton of support from A+ celebrities (hopefully host MoNique will remain a staple of the show for many years to come).

CLICK HERE TO SEE PICS FROM THE RED CARPET AND SHOW

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Chingy Goes Triple Platinum

WEST HOLLYWOOD, CA – JUNE 28: Hip-hop artist Chingy (c) receives a triple platinum award at Chingy’s Triple Platinum “Cha-Ching!” Party on June 28, 2004 at Pearl Nightclub in West Hollywood, California. (Photo by Amanda Edwards/Getty Images)

ASCAP Celebrates Its 17th Annual Rhythm & Soul Music Awards

Over 600 music and entertainment luminaries gathered at the 17th Annual ASCAP Rhythm and Soul Music Awards tonight (June 28th, 2004) at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Los Angeles to celebrate the songwriters behind some of today’s most popular music as awards were presented to songwriters and publishers of top R&B/Hip-Hop, Rap and Reggae music in the ASCAP repertory. ASCAP President and Chairman and three-time Academy Award-winning lyricist Marilyn Bergman hosted the evening’s festivities, which also saluted Black Music Month, and the 90th anniversary of the founding of America’s first and largest Performing Rights Organization.

Among the honorees and notables attending the elegantly attired celebration were 50 Cent, Rick James, Jay-Z, Johnta Austin, Ivan Barias, Beyoncé, Jayson “Koko” Bridges, Chingy, Bootsey Collins, Rah Digga, DJ Quik, Jermaine Dupri, Michael Elizondo, Jr., Free of BET’s 106th and Park, John “J-Praize” Freeman, Nona Gaye, Goapele, Jeffrey “Jo-Bo” Grigsby, Carvin Haggins, Andre Harris, Osten “Easy Moe Bee” Harvey, Jr., Lalah Hathaway, Founder and CEO of BET Robert Johnson, Sean Paul Joseph, Just Blaze, Joe Kent, Killer Mike, Kindred the Family Soul, Kyjuan of the St. Lunatics, Ronald LaPread, Sr., Kenny Lattimore, Alonzo Lee, Lil’ Fizz, Lil’ Mo, Lyfe, Darryl “DMC” McDaniels of RUN DMC, Harvey Mason, Jr., Mr. Cheeks, Musiq, Actress Elise Neal, L.A. Reid, Rick Rock, Frank Romano, Raphael Saadiq, Chink Santana, The Game, Damon Thomas, Truth, Kanye West, James “Big Jim” Wright, and many more.

To recognize Black Music Month, and in support of Luther Vandross’ continuing recovery, the evening included a special performance by Lalah Hathaway, daughter of legendary soul great Donny Hathaway, who performed the song “Forever, for Always, for Love.” This was Ms. Hathaway’s first public performance of the song, which is featured on the upcoming Luther Vandross tribute album, Forever, for Always, for Luther. ASCAP’s 90th anniversary was also celebrated with a special screening of a commemorative video tracing the birth of ASCAP through to the new millennium.

The ASCAP Rhythm & Soul Heritage Award is given to members who have had a major impact on the legacy of Rhythm and Soul music, and was presented to Rick James for his outstanding achievements as a songwriter, artist and producer whose innovative style continues to influence and inspire the world of music. Widely regarded as one of the most visionary and innovative artists in American music, Rick James is credited with creating the &”punk-funk&” style and establishing himself as the ultimate funk hit-maker with such songs as &”Super Freak&”, &”Mary Jane&”, and &”Give It To Me Baby&” to name a few.

Rick James joins an elite group of legendary artists who have received the coveted ASCAP Rhythm & Soul Heritage Award. Past recipients include Peabo Bryson, Earth, Wind and Fire, and Chaka Khan.

A special musical tribute to Rick James included live performances by Lyfe, whose highly-anticipated debut album, Lyfe 268-192, will be released this summer on Sony Urban Music; Shari Watson, formerly known as Truth Hurts, and now Truth, who recently released her second album Ready Now on Raphael Saadiq’s indie label, Pookie Entertainment, and Kindred the Family Soul, a vocal duo consisting of husband and wife singer/songwriters Fatin Dantzler and Aja Graydon, whose debut album Surrender to Love was released last year on Hidden Beach Recordings.

Publisher of the Year honors were presented by ASCAP CEO John LoFrumento to EMI Music Publishing/EMI Jobete Music Publishing for their 20 award-winning songs: “Baby Boy,” “Beautiful,” “Can’t Let You Go,” “Crazy In Love,” “Excuse Me Miss,” “Fabulous,” “Frontin’,” “Get Busy,” “Gossip Folks,” “How You Gonna Act Like That,” “I Can,” “I Know What You Want,” “I Wish I Wasn’t,” “Into You,” “P.I.M.P.,” “Rain On Me,” “Right Thurr (Remix),” “Stand Up,” “The Jump Off,” “Wanksta,” and for EMI/Jobete’s “Into You.&” This marks the eleventh year that EMI has been named ASCAP’s Rhythm & Soul Publisher of the Year.

Top Soundtrack Song of the Year honors went to “Shake Ya Tailfeather,” from Bad Boys II, written by Jayson “Koko” Bridges, Murphy Lee, Nelly and Varick “Smitty” Smith and published by BMG Songs, Inc., Bubo Music, D2 Pro Publishing, Hitco South, Jackie Frost Music, Koko’s Basement, New Columbia Pictures Music, Inc., That’s Whats Up Publishing, Universal Music Publishing Group, and Young Dude Publishing.

Sean Paul was named ASCAP Reggae Artist of the Year, and was honored for his award-winning songs “Baby Boy” and “Get Busy.”

For a complete list of winners, go to http://www.ascap.com/eventsawards/awards/rsawards/2004/completewinners.html.

The music of ASCAP members has been the dominant force on the Billboard Hot 100 and Hot 200 charts in 2003 occupying 88% of Hot Rap Singles, 81% of Hot R&B Airplay and 81% of Hot 100 Airplay. ASCAP members continue to sweep the top categories at major awards shows including 80% of Soul Train Awards, 69% of Vibe Awards, and they dominated the R&B and Hip-Hop categories at this year’s Grammy Awards.

2004 marks the 90th anniversary of the founding of ASCAP. As the world’s largest Performing Rights Organization, ASCAP has over 180,000 composer, lyricist and music publisher members representing all genres of music. ASCAP is committed to protecting the rights of its members by licensing and collecting royalties for the public performance of their copyrighted works, and then distributing these fees to the Society’s members based on performances. ASCAP’s Board of Directors is made up solely of writers and publishers, elected by the membership every two years.

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Review: White Chicks

For those of you who have lamented the absence of the Wayans brothers from the comedy scene this past year — most glaringly from the third installment of the Scary Movie franchise, — your prayers have been answered. In their new film, White Chicks, the Wayans brothers add yet another classic performance to their extensive repertoire. White Chicks tells the story of Marcus and Kevin Copeland, two undercover FBI agents one mistake shy of dismissal from the agency. When an otherwise menial task of transporting two endangered sisters goes wrong, Shawn and Marlon Wayans must disguise themselves as the bourgeois Wilson sisters in order to save an important investigation.

From the opening scene, White Chicks grabs the audience’s attention and refuses to relinquish it. Shawn and Marlon Wayans each deliver hilarious performances, from their yo-mama joke-fest with the rival Vandergeld sisters to their dance off in a local club. The true star of the movie is actor Terry Crews who plays Latrell Spencer, a famous African American basketball star who has an insatiable appetite for ‘white chicks’. Crews steals the spotlight and displays his comedic range and talent throughout the movie – the biggest reactions from the crowd were from his scenes. In White Chicks, the Wayans brothers and Crews combine to create a hysterical performance.

Although White Chicks is filled with hysterical scenes sure to keep audiences laughing, this film does have some flaws. The central gist of White Chicks is rather cliché, following along the lines of movies like Juwanna Mann and Tootsie. Marlon and Shawn find themselves imparting words of wisdom about the games that guys play while secretly receiving advice of their own about how women can sometimes be too trusting. Please, we’ve already seen this in Juwanna Mann.

Despite these gripes, White Chicks proves to be a solid movie with side-splitting comedy that overcomes its formulaic roots. If you’re looking for a very funny movie to see, look no further. Go see it.

Rating: 8.5 out of 10

Click Here To See Footage From The Premiere Of White Chicks

DMX Released On Bail After Attempted Car Theft

Hip Hop Recording Artist Earl “DMX” Simmons and associate Jackie Hudgins were released on bail. Simmons was charged with attempted robbery and impersonating an officer.

More charges have been reportedly added since the incident after police alledgedly found crack cocaine, painkillers and a billy club in his vehicle.

DMX, which stands for Dark Man X, is best known as a popular rapper and actor. He is the only artist in Soundscan history to have his first four albums debut at number one on the Billboard Charts.

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