Youtube ban UK viewers to watch music videos

LONDON -- Google Inc. said Monday it will block U.K. users from watching music videos on its popular video-sharing site YouTube after negotiations with Britain's music royalty-collecting body broke down.

Google said it would begin blocking British users starting Monday night. The Internet titan said it knew the move would cause "significant disappointment." But it said its hand was forced by PRS for Music, which it said is asking for royalties that would cause Google to lose money every time a video was played on YouTube.

"Our previous license from PRS for Music has expired, and we've been unable so far to come to an agreement to renew it on terms that are economically sustainable for us," Google said in a statement. Until a solution is found, it added, "we will be blocking premium music videos in the U.K. that have been supplied or claimed by record labels."

PRS for Music, which collects money on behalf of writers and publishers worldwide, said it was outraged by Google's move.

"Google has told us they are taking this step because they wish to pay significantly less than at present to the writers of the music on which their service relies, despite the massive increase in YouTube viewing," the group said in a statement.

Source: Associated Press

Product placement ban still in place on UK TV

The government is keeping the ban on product placement in British TV shows -- and struggling commercial broadcaster ITV is furious. A three-month consultation had failed to make a convincing case for product placement, which is widespread in the U.S.

“There is a lack of evidence of economic benefits, along with very serious concerns about blurring the boundaries between advertising and editorial.”

He said he was aware that a number of commercial broadcasters were facing difficult economic times and he would continue to work with the industry to explore ways of supporting these webs, but allowing product placement was a last resort.

The European Union greenlit limited TV product placement in 2007 but individual governments still have the power to outlaw the practice. Imports, including movies, which feature product placement can be aired in Blighty.

ITV, hit by declining ad coin, said it will fight the decision, labeling it “perverse but not surprising.”

Executive chairman Michael Grade said, “Given the extraordinary economic pressures ITV and others face, we can’t let a decision like this simply go through without trying to fight it.”

Ego and Broken Hearted Girl - new Beyonce singles

As if 2009 hasn't already been jam-packed for Beyonce Knowles, the singer-actress is currently preparing a year-long world tour with dates in Canada set to launch later this month. "I've been working on this tour for eight months," Beyonce told EW when we caught up with her on the set of a TV ad she was taping. "It's crunch time! I've been rehearsing and trying to make sure I put my set list together. Right now I'm anxious and I can't sleep -- I'll be wanting to be at rehearsal. That's the only thing I can think about. But I can't wait." While details are still being worked out, she has dates tentatively penciled in for the U.K., Ethiopia, Japan, Brazil, and more, plus a run through the U.S. this summer. She'll be backed once more at each show by the all-female band from 2007's The Beyonce Experience tour.

Beyonce has also finished two new music videos to keep fans happy while she's crisscrossing the globe: "Broken-Hearted Girl," from the ballad-heavy I Am... half of her recent double album, and ...Sasha Fierce's up-tempo "Ego." Beyonce co-directed the latter clip with her choreographer. "My goal for [the 'Ego' video] is simplicity," she says. "In 'Single Ladies,' I saw this old tape of Bob Fosse's wife, and I used that as inspiration. I thought in this world, with all the technology and everything that's going on, to strip everything down -- great idea. So I kind of did the same thing, but glossy and black, for 'Ego.'"

One thing that the video for "Ego" won't share with "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)" is a certain animatronic appendage. "I didn't have the Sasha Fierce hand [in the video]," she laughs. "But I have it on the tour. It's actually even more wild -- I have to figure out how I'm going to perform with that hand!"

Source: EW

This weeks top digital songs

Flo-Rida is still sitting pretty atop the digital sales chart selling another 319,294 with the highest new entry coming from Miley Cyrus with her song "The Climb" (from the new Hannah Montana move) debuting at No.3 on sales of 165,735. Flo-Rida therefore looks set to hold the BIllboard Hot 100 position for another week.

1 (1) FLO RIDA RIGHT ROUND 319294 1749649
2 (2) LADY GAGA POKER FACE 192354 6 182208 1265535
3 (-) CYRUS*MILEY CLIMB 165735 165735
4 (4) SOULJA BOY KISS ME THRU THE PHONE 164332 914749
5 (3) T.I. FEAT. JT DEAD AND GONE 1598341436288
6 (6) AAR GIVES YOU HELL 137501 2049841
7 (5) EMINEM CRACK A BOTTLE 128067 -9 141503 1123942
8 (11) ROTH*ASHER I LOVE COLLEGE 118533 360089
9 (8) CLARKSON*KELLY MY LIFE WOULD SUCK 102241 1147104
10 (9) LADY GAGA JUST DANCE 98186 3311690

The one track to watch out for and a band I have been tiping since early 2008 is LMFAO with "I'm In Miami (or LA) Bitch" this week it sold 24148 and jumped from 108 to 62 on the sales chart so watch this band come up and be 2009's one to watch!

On the album charts, U2 bow in at No,1 with their new album "No Line On The Horizon" selling a 484,000 copies this week. However many people believe this to be a poor sales tally for the band, whose last studio album "How To Dismantle an Atomic Bomb" sold over 800,000 copies first week - surely due to the scathing reviews a lot of the press have given the album.

1) U2 - No Line On the Horizon 484,000
2) Taylor Swift - Fearless 52,000
3) Neko Case - Middle Cyclone 44,000
4) Lady Gaga - The Game 42,000
5) Nickelback - Dark Horse 36,000
6) Jamie Foxx - Intuition 32,000
7) The Fray - The Fray 32,000
8) Beyonce - I Am Sasha Fierce 31,000
9) Slumdog Millionaire - OST 24,000
10) TI - Paper Trail - 24,000

Apple bringing in Touch Sceen for 3rd Quarter release

Apple have just commissioned a batch of 10" touch screens, supposed to be the first generation of laptops to have the same technology as the current, iPhones and iTouch.

Taiwan touchscreen specialist Wintek already makes small screens for Apple iPhones, and has received orders for the larger ones that are roughly the same size as those used in mini PCs, said the source close to the Taiwan firm. He asked not to be identified because he was not authorized to talk to the media.

Second suicide bomber detonated himself

This is the moment caught on camera, that a suicide bomber detonated and susbequently killed all of those in the picture.

The image captured in Sri Lanka, shows the devastating impact of what a suicide bomber can do when it sets off.

Rihanna first public appearance

Rihanna spotted out at Coco De-Ville last night in LA. Its the first public outing for RIhanna since the infamous run in between her and Chris Brown on February 8th.

Jade Goody, leaving hospital to die at home

Jade has been granted her wish of leaving the hospital to spend her last days at home with her family and friends.

Her publicist Max Clifford stated that “The plan is she will leave in an ambulance under supervision of someone from the Marsden who will administer the epidural and pain control. Jade is desperate to get home with the boys.”

Jade is also reportedly going blind as the cancer travels up through her blood into her brain. Poor girl.

Tours Tours and More Tours

Jonas brothers announce new tour too, South America and North America first followed by Europe, Asia and Australasia.

No Felicia though as she is with Britney, but they still have Big Rob.

Mel C's new baby - Scarlet Starr

The final Spice Girl to have a baby, Mel C welcomes Scarlet Starr into the world.

Above is the first official picture of the two!

So adorable.

They should do a spice kids band soon! 8 and counting!