The family of a drowned child at a party thrown by Tommy Lee for his son's birthday has sued Tommy Lee for wrongful death. The suit alleges that Lee did not provide proper supervision for the children. -E! Online Music/Yahoo

Aguilera Completes Recording 4 Songs [4:35p PST February 21, 2002]

Christine Aquilera has completed recording 4 songs for her new CD. One of the songs is expressed as "winning a Grammy" by the song producer, Linda Perry. -Rolling Stone/Yahoo

Elton John Decries Today's Music [4:42p PST February 21, 2002]

Awww c'mon EJ. Elton calls today music "packets of cereal", "mediocre", "fodder" and all other kinds of noise. He says he would ban every video, make every new band tour second bill "like I did". Sounds like sour grapes to me. Anyway, read the whiney stuff here. -Reuters/MSNBC

Brandy Expecting Child [4:48p PST February 21, 2002]

Brandy is expecting a child in July with her husband, Robert Smith. Congratulations to Brandy and hubby. -Launch/Excite

Brit Awards Lists Winners [4:50p PST February 21, 2002]

The Brit Awards, released yesterday at London's Earl's Court, named Travis, best British Group for the second time. Dido(I left her link out due to common courtesy. It's an awful and bothersome site) gets Best British Female and Robbie Williams gets Best British Male. The list of winners:

Brit Awards 2002 complete list of winners:

Best British newcomer: Blue

Best British female: Dido

Best British male: Robbie Williams

Best British group: Travis

Best British single: "Don't Stop Movin'," S Club 7

Best British dance act: Basement Jaxx

Best British album: No Angel, Dido

Best British video: "21 Seconds," So Solid Crew

Best international album: Fever, Kyle Minogue

Best international male: Shaggy

Best international female: Kylie Minogue

Best international newcomer: the Strokes

Best international group: Destiny's Child

Best pop act: Westlife

Outstanding contribution to British music: Sting

- Launch/Excite

Rod Stewart Signs With Davis' J Records [6:22p PST February 21, 2002]

Rod Stewart was cut from Atlantic Records 3 months ago after 27 big years. He is now signed to Clive Davis' fairly new J Records. He is presently working on a new set for J. -Reuters/Yahoo

Mariah Carey Plans New Movie [6:28p PST February 21, 2002]

Awwwww...do we hafta? Looks like Mariah just won't take bad boxoffice as an answer and has chosen to regale us, yet once again, with her diverse talents. And this time she's going to portray a - you sitting down for this, of course you are- a boxing coach. Called "Sweet Science" and is looking for a summer release. Spare us and go straight for video. -AP/Yahoo

Sting Signs to Write Book [6:34p PST February 21, 2002]

Sting has signed with Bantam Dell to write a narrative nonfiction destined for bookshelves in 2004. The book is said to be a fascinating one and will please fans. -AP/Yahoo

NSync's Bass Denied Trip to Space [8:45p PST February 21, 2002]

Russia says that they are not in the business of selling space flights and, therefore, have dashed LBass's space hopes. An official for Russia's MirCorp called the affair a "stunt in advertising".

- Reuters

40 Gs for Woman in James Brown Case [7:48p PST February 20, 2002]

Woman who charged James Brown with sexual harassment but had those charges dismissed receives $40,000 today in a wrongful dismissal. -AP/Yahoo

MS Media Player Logs YOUR Usage [7:52p PST February 20, 2002]

Watch Out. If you use Microsoft's Media Player 8.0, bundled with XP. It apparently uses ID to download, and maintain, file names that you watch or listen to. -AP/Yahoo

Potential Royalties in Store for Broadcast Music over Net [8:03p PST February 20, 2002]

A government panel is proposing that music broadcast over the internet, which presently is not liable for paying royalties, become paying customers. There are arguments on both sides with a decision yet to be reached. -AP/Yahoo

Dylan's Set Choices Become Pool Material [8:12p PST February 20, 2002]

Because of Bob Dylan's unpredictability where song selection in a concert is concerned, there is an internet faction of approximately 1000 people betting on his choices. -AP/Yahoo

NSync's Lance Bass is Going to Space [8:18p PST February 20, 2002]

Lance Bass has put in a bid to become the youngest individual to ever go into space. The ride will occur with the MirCorp cooperation. -E! Music/Yahoo

Master P with Lucky Break [8:26p PST February 20, 2002]

A settlement is reached for Master P that prevents him from having to sell his studio in the making. His lawyer had settled with the construction company and will pay $137,000 owed. -AP

Our Lady Peace Seeks Guitarist [8:30p PST February 20, 2002]

The vacancy left by the departing Mike Turner has given Our Lady Peace cause to hunt for a new guitarist. It will be done by tape and mail. Info available here including address. -Launch/Yahoo

Weezer Suffers Bus Tire Blowout [8:36p PST February 20, 2002]

A scary time for Weezer as their tour bus had a tire blowout and left the band shaken. -Launch/Yahoo

Adam Ant Released from Psychiatric Hospital [8:40p PST February 20, 2002]

After an altercation in an English pub in January where Adam Ant brandished a fake gun, he was committed for involuntary observation. Trial is set for March 6th. -SonicNet/Yahoo

It Started With Napster... [3:53p PST February 19, 2002]

A NY Times article explains growing artist discontent over the use and dessimination of songs without proper payment and permissions on the two "Napsterized" song distribution services, PressPlay and MusicNet. Several artists have asked that their songs be removed, issuing cease and desist orders and have met with mixed compliance. -NY Times

Don Henley Apologizes...[4:06p PST February 19, 2002]

Disappointed at the state of country music in this era, Henley apologizes to the "entire universe". His complaint is that so many of the old school country stars are getting short-changed because of the "overplay" of current stars. -AP/Yahoo

James Brown Not Guilty [04:16p PST February 19, 2002]

James Brown, cleared in an LA court today of a sexual harassment suit and therefore did not have to ante up $1,000,000. However, the jury did believe that Brown's company wrongfully fired her and has begun to deliberate how much to award the plaintiff. -AP/Daily News

Master P to Sell Studio [4:23p PST February 19, 2002]

Due to unpaid construction bills and other mounting debts, Master P has been forced to sell an unfinished recording studio, which, when finished, would have been valued at 10 million dollars. The story, by AP, also mentions tax debts exceeding a million dollars plus a suit brought against him by the association where his house is located, over unpaid dues and penalties.- AP/Daily News

98 Degrees Takes Time Off [4:32p PST February 19, 2002]

Its reported that 98 Degrees will take a temporary hiatus with no immediate plans to tour or to record. -AP/Yahoo

Marsalis Starts Record Label [4:36p PST February 19, 2002]

Branford Marsalis starts up a label, Marsalis Music. Marsalis had opted out of a contract with Columbia last year. Rounder Records will market and distribute. Read story here. -AP/Daily News

Korn's Jonathan Davis to Direct Porn Movie [7:57p PST February 19,2002]

Davis approached Vivid, a company that produces porn videos, and asked if there were anything that he could do. He was offered a shot to direct and there you have it. Korn & porn. Sorry. -Launch/Yahoo

NSync To Perform Old Material "...With a Twist" [8:04p PST February 19, 2002]

NSync says, to make the new tour more fun and interesting, they're going to perform songs from the first CD.."with a twist". Seems as if you have to figure out the tunes. Shouldn't be too hard if you're a fan, right Sara? -Launch/Yahoo

Sting, Elton John to perform for RainForest [8:16p PST February 19, 2002]

Sting's RainForest Foundation, in its 10th annual Carnegie Hall benefit has signed on Elton John, Sting and Ravi Shankar for performances. The event occurs April 13th in NYC. Tix ain't cheap, either. -Rolling Stone/Yahoo

Velvet Underground Re-releases Pumped Up Debut [8:29p PST February 19, 2002]

Great news for VU fans. "Velvet Underground and Nico" will be reissued as a double disc set. One disc features the original disc while the second disc is mixed monally and includes an unreleased song, "Miss Joanie Lee". Also included are 5 songs from Nico's "Chelsea Girl" which VU played on as a backup band. Releases March 5th. -Rolling Stone/Yahoo

Ozzy Does USO Dates for Soldiers [09:04p PST February 19, 2002]

Ozzy will perform for overseas soldiers on February 18th thru the 21st. After that, its on to his present dates across the waters. -Pollstar

Britney Bares Breasts in Movie [11:50p PST February 17 2002]

Well, she did!! It's reported that Britney filmed a "flash" celebration after a successful karaoke along with her two female co-stars in "Crossroads". It didn't make the "cut" and got cut. How much you wanna bet it finds itself on the Internet somehow. -Launch

George Michaels Home Robbed [11:50p PST February 17, 2002]

George Michaels London mansion was robbed. An Aston Martin car valued at $114,000 along with some paintings, jewelry and clothing valued at $140,000. Michaels was in LA at the time.-AP

MTV and the Osbournes [11:50p February 17, 2002]

"The Osbournes", which begins March 5th on MTV, gives the viewers a peek into the lives of the Osbourne Family. That's Ozzy Osbourne. This might be fun. They say he acts responsibly like a dad would. I'm watching! -AP