Duran Duran top greatest video poll

Duran Duran’s 'Rio' has been named the greatest music video of all time.

Live Earth back with solar aim

INDIA is to host a Live Earth concert later this year, featuring stars from the world of music, film and television, to raise funds for solar energy.

Grateful Dead to play for Obama

Music News: Band set to perform at candidate's fundraiser -- The Democratic presidential candidate's campaign has confirmed a long-rumored fundraising concert that will include four remaining members of the Grateful Dead at Penn State University's Bryce Jordan Center.

MTV launches Czech service

Music News: CME has option to distribute in Slovakia -- A localized version of MTV is to bow in the Czech Republic next year.

Songwriter Norman Whitfield dies

Music News: Wrote 'War, ' 'I Heard it Through the Grapevine' -- Norman Whitfield, who co-wrote a string of classics including "War" and "I Heard It Through the Grapevine, " died Tuesday in Los Angeles. He was 67.

Recording Academy ups Dehgan

Music News: Executive takes VP slot -- Barb Dehgan has been upped to vice president, Communications & Media Relations, at the Recording Academy.

Tom Jones sets record release date

Music News: Artist to release first album in U.S. in 15 years -- After 15 years without a new album in the U.S., Tom Jones will release a disc of almost entirely original material this fall.

Metallica's 'Magnetic' nabs top spot

Music News: Rockers land fifth consecutive No. 1 album -- “Death Magnetic” (Warner Bros.) sold nearly a half million copies in just three days of sales as Metallica became the first act to have five albums debut at No. 1.

Mediaset plans Pavarotti tribute

Music News: Concert to be seen in 40 countries -- Italy's Mediaset will broadcast a special pop and classical concert from the ancient city of Petra in Jordan on Oct. 12 to mark what would have been legendary tenor Luciano Pavarotti's 73rd birthday.

Colbert plans Christmas special

Music News: 'Gift' will feature Willie Nelson, Elvis Costello -- Stephen Colbert will leave his pundit's desk Nov. 23 to host a one-hour musical Christmas special for Comedy Central.

Warner Music retunes top tier

Business News: U.S., overseas territories find new harmony -- In an effort to build a stronger bridge between its units in the U.S. and foreign territories, Warner Music Group has restructured its international operations, promoting Lyor Cohen and Michael D. Fleisher to roles in the newly created office of the chairman.

Warner Music retunes top tier

Music News: U.S., overseas territories find new harmony -- In an effort to build a stronger bridge between its units in the U.S. and foreign territories, Warner Music Group has restructured its international operations, promoting Lyor Cohen and Michael D. Fleisher to roles in the newly created office of the chairman.

Want to be in a music video?

FOR most people, the chance to star in a music video is about as likely as Disaster Movie winning Best Picture.

Lopez: 'Family is a priority'

Jennifer Lopez is delighted to be a new mum, because it means she can take a break from the music industry.

EU approves of Sony, BMG deal

Business News: European Union grants "effective competition" -- The European Union Monday approved Sony's plans to take full ownership of recorded music group Sony BMG.

Sony BMG cues up MovieTunes

Film News: Free online service matches music with films -- Sony BMG's Commercial Music Group has launched a Web-based service for filmmakers and music supervisors that provides assistance in selecting music for visual media.

Sony BMG cues up MovieTunes

Music News: Free online service matches music with films -- Sony BMG's Commercial Music Group has launched a Web-based service for filmmakers and music supervisors that provides assistance in selecting music for visual media.

Burnett offers a sound solution

Music News: Producer writes a Code for making records -- When the first pressings of Robert Plant and Alison Krauss' "Raising Sand" arrived at the studio of producer T Bone Burnett, he was astonished at the difference between the CD and the sound of the master tapes.

MTV to retire 'TRL'

Music News: Long-running show to end run -- Ten years after its debut, MTV has decided to cancel its unofficial flagship series, "TRL."

Britney Spears preps for 'Circus'

Music News: New album sets Dec. 2 release date -- Britney Spears' second comeback is in full swing: She's due to release a new album in December, on her 27th birthday.

Best Buy to buy Napster

Business News: Retailer to acquire online music-sharing site -- Best Buy has picked up beleaguered Napster for $121 million in a bid to beef up its digital coin.

Best Buy to buy Napster

Music News: Retailer to acquire online music-sharing site -- Best Buy has picked up beleaguered Napster for $121 million in a bid to beef up its digital coin.

Pink Floyd's Richard Wright dies

Music News: Founding member wrote 'Great Gig in the Sky' -- Richard Wright, the Pink Floyd keyboardist who lent jazz and classical touches to the group's sound and was most recently a member of Floyd guitarist David Gilmour's band, died Monday at his home in England. He was 65.

Doc to spotlight Ozzy Osbourne

Music News: Jack Osbourne to produce feature -- Ozzy Osbourne is the latest rock star to go the documentary route.

Sony pacts with MySpace Music

Film News: Studio will use platform to push 'Nick & Norah' -- Sony Pictures has signed on as the first studio advertiser to promote its pics on MySpace Music.

Sony pacts with MySpace Music

Music News: Studio will use platform to push 'Nick & Norah' -- Sony Pictures has signed on as the first studio advertiser to promote its pics on MySpace Music.

Spears tops best-comeback poll

Britney Spears' MTV Video Music Awards appearance has been voted the greatest comeback ever.

Music highlights Latino Film Festival

Film News: 'Maestros' opens event -- Music takes centerstage at the weeklong 12th L.A. Latino Film Festival, which opens today with Miguel Kohan's Argentine tango docu "Cafe de los Maestros."

Live Nation punches ticket pact

Music News: Company makes deal with SMG's venues -- Live Nation has found a way to pump its value -- ticketing -- after Wall Street reacted negatively last year to its plan to create "shared rights" deals with musical artists.

Kanye West arrested at LAX

Music News: Artist taken by police on suspicion of vandalism -- Police say they have arrested Kanye West at Los Angeles International Airport on suspicion of vandalism after an altercation with a photographer.

Broadway biz boosted in '08

Business News: Attendance hits a record 12.32 million -- Broadway sales last year hit $940, 871, 190, a calendar-year record -- but just barely. Ditto attendance, which squeaked out a record of 12.32 million.

Courbit invests in music talent site

Business News: MyMajorCompany looks to expand into U.K. -- Gallic media entrepreneur Stephane Courbit, the former prexy-CEO of Endemol France, has acquired a 49% stake in French website MyMajorCompany.

Apple drops anti-piracy protection

Business News: iTunes to introduce variable pricing -- Apple is dropping its anti-piracy protection on iTunes and the music biz if finally getting the variable pricing it has long desired.

Canal Plus, Orange agree to pact

Business News: Deal will extend reach of competitors -- After months of phony war, France’s two media giants, Vivendi’s Canal Plus Group and France Telecom-Orange, have signed what looks like a historic peace pact.

ITV invests in Carbon Media

Business News: U.K. broadcaster takes 25% stake -- Blighty’s biggest private terrestrial web, ITV, has taken another stake in a shingle as the broadcaster attempts to beef up its global content activities.

France TV workers protest ad ban

Business News: Strikers hope to influence Senate -- Staffers on Gallic pubcaster France Televisions have again gone on strike to protest President Nicolas Sarkozy's post-8 p.m. ban on advertising on channels France 2, 3, 4, 5 and radio station RFO, which became effective on Monday.

Dilution of eSun halted

Business News: Passport Capital blocks efforts by company -- Wall Street investment fund Passport Capital is blocking a share dilution by eSun, the holding company that owns Hong Kong film producer Media Asia.

UTA makes Jeremy Barber partner

Business News: Film agent reps Cheadle, Coogan, Morgan -- UTA has promoted film agent Jeremy Barber to become the percentery's 19th partner.

Hollywood swag on the decline

Business News: Golden Globes to host a lighter gift of grab -- The economy is a real drag on swag. It's definitely the time of year for freebies, with at least six Golden Globes gifting suites scheduled over the weekend.

Universal takes Gamble in CFO post

Business News: Executive will report to Meyer, Calpeter -- Universal Studios has tapped Sean Gamble as executive VP and chief financial officer.