Adult Film Star Mr. Marcus Admits To Spreading Syphilis

An adult film actor named Mr. Marcus confessed to spreading the venereal disease syphilis across the adult film industry, after he admitted to submitting an altered STI test so he could continue to perform in sex scenes.

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As reported by the AVN Business:

In a meeting yesterday at his studio, 18-year adult industry veteran Mr. Marcus sought to put to rest swirling rumors and identified himself as positive with syphilis and admitted to submitting a test he altered that omitted his syphilis status to producers so he could perform in sex scenes, but said he had sought treatment already from a private doctor and had received a penicillin shot to treat the disease, and had waited a recommended period of time before performing again. 

The meeting at Mr. Marcus' studio was attended by this reporter, XBIZ Executive Managing Editor Dan Miller, FSC Executive Director Diane Duke, FSC board member and Evil Angel General Manager Christian Mann, and Mr. Marcus himself.

Yesterday afternoon's meeting was the first time Mr. Marcus admitted to being diagnosed as positive for syphilis, performing three times after that diagnosis, and willfully doctoring one test from Talent Testing Service.

The porn star posted on Twitter yesterday:

"You can be disappointed, but don't throw stones. Some of you are living in glass houses."

The actor said that three women he performed with after his diagnosis have all tested negative for syphilis.

Jordan's Son Fined For Disturbing the Peace

Even the offspring of sports legends can be human too.

According to Sports Illustrated, Marcus Jordan, son of Michael Jordan, was fined $250 and other court costs Thursday after pleading no contest to disturbing the peace during an argument with two women outside a Nebraska hotel last month.
 

Authorities responded to an early-morning call at an Embassy Suites hotel in Omaha, where Jordan Jr. was for the U.S. Olympic swim trials in July. According to a police report, an off-duty officer working as security for the hotel was trying to calm him down as he was arguing with two women (reportedly a friend of his girlfriend) in the driveway, describing him as "very animated, intoxicated and uncooperative."
The 21-year-old was also charged with obstructing a police officer but it was later dropped after a plea bargain was set.

The University of Central Florida student paid his fines after a three-minute hearing and exited the court without speaking to reporters. The son of the NBA great is no longer on the basketball team, averaging 13.7 points last season, but citing personal reasons for his departure.

"Honestly, because he's who he is, Marcus Jordan, we thought you guys (media) might go crazy if he wasn't here," aid his Omaha attorney Steve Lefler. "Truly, that was it. You guys would have thought that he's given special treatment when he wouldn't have been given special treatment."

SoundExchange Pays Out $95.8 Million in Q2, But Is That Good Enough?

Labels and performing artists are seeing good growth from digital performance royalties these days. But could they do better?

SoundExchange, the performance rights organization for non-interactive digital music services like Pandora and SiriusXM, paid out $95.8 million in digital performance royalties to recording artist and record labels in the second quarter of 2012.

Are You One of 50K Artists Not Claiming Your SoundExchange Royalties?

 

Payouts of $204.4 million for the first half of 2012 put SoundExchange on track to easily top 2011's disbursements of $249 million. But the second-quarter payout was a noticeable drop from the $108.6 million the organization paid out in the first quarter. That record total, the only that has topped $100 million in a single quarter, was attributed to "data cleanup and technology overhaul efforts." 

Collections are a different matter. SoundExchange collects statutory royalties and - generally, although there have been a few hiccups  - pays out the royalties less a 5.3% administrative rate (as of its 2011 annual report). What it collects is highly dependent on what is paid by its two cash cows, Pandora - which reports earnings next week - and SiriusXM. That could change over time. And while rates is a fixed schedule for the time being, they could change drastically after the current rates expire after 2015.

SoundExchange Top $1 Billion in Total Payouts, Surpasses $100 Million in Q1

 

Pandora has been itching - some might say strategizing  - to change how the Copyright Royalty Board sets the statutory royalty for webcasters. Pandora, which has no satellites, pays a relatively high royalty rate. Satellite radio service SiriusXM is able to pay a much lower performance royalty to SoundExchange. Parity, Pandora argues, would not only allow Pandora to pay the same as SiriusXM but would allow the Internet radio market to flourish with more companies and innovation.

It's an ironic argument, of course. Webcasting rates are already the bargain of digital music. Just ask any on-demand subscription service that pays a far greater share of revenue to rights holders - and large advances to boot. And because webcasters have the luxury of operating with a statutory license, services such as 8tracks and Songza can innovate on a relative shoestring while still competing with the bigger players. How many more webcasters would enter the market if rates were even lower? That's a difficult question to answer.

Business Matters: Mr. Westergren and Pandora Go to Washington

 

But it's question worth asking. Internet radio has extraordinary potential to be more popular, innovative and influential in the music business. Take 90% of the expectations currently being placed on on-demand subscription services and place them on Internet radio. Just as radio is the every man's analog product, Internet product will be the every man's digital product.

Stephen Baldwin Arrested in New York City

Stephen Baldwin was arrested in New York City yesterday ...  TMZ has learned.

Law enforcement sources tell us ... Baldwin was initially pulled over at 5:14 PM after cops say he made an illegal U-turn in Harlem.

During the stop, we're told cops noticed Baldwin was driving with a suspended license ... so they arrested the actor and hauled him to a nearby jail where he was booked for aggravated unlicensed operator [of a motor vehicle].

Baldwin is scheduled to appear in court in October to be arraigned.

We reached out to Baldwin's people for comment -- so far, no word back.

Tony Scott Suicide Note Reveals Farewell Message To Sons, But No Motive

Tony Scott did not explain why he killed himself in his suicide note, but did leave an emotional farewell to his two sons Max and Frank.

STORY: So Disrespectful! Tony Scott Suicide Footage Being Shopped Around

As reported by TMZ: 

Sources familiar with the investigation tell TMZ ... the note was "short and sweet." Tony said in the note he loved his wife and his 2 kids -- Max and Frank.
We're told Scott's wife has not told investigators about anything that might have triggered a suicide, although as we first reported she did tell investigators Scott did NOT have brain cancer or any other significant medical problem.

We may never know what triggered Scott to jump to his death last week, but offer his family our condolences. 

SOURCE: TMZ

Multiple People Shot Outside Empire State Building

At least 10 people were shot Friday morning in front of the Empire State Building in New York.

According to CNN:

A suspect in the shooting was shot and killed by police, New York police said.
Authorities converged on the building around 9 a.m. after reports of gunfire.
A witness told CNN's Rose Arce that the gunman ran after and shot a man in the head. An unarmed guard chased the gunman away, the witness told Arce.

SOURCE: CNN

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Police are on the scene of a shooting at the Empire State Building in New York City this morning.

Details are limited, but witnesses say they heard multiple shots just before 9 a.m. and that three people have been wounded.

As reported by CBS News:

The shooting happened near the intersection of 33rd Street and Fifth Avenue. There is a large police presence on the scene.

Azealia Banks Gets Her Own M.A.C. Cosmetics Lipstick Color

Azealia Banks can’t seem to keep her way out of social media fiascos these days, but this morning M.A.C. Cosmetics namedropped our Juice Issue cover girl on twitter with some exciting news.

The highly controversial “212” superstar has collaborated with the cosmetics brand and now has her own limited edition M.A.C. lipstick color, called “Yung Rapunxel.”

The color, a blackened violet hue that the young star often rocks with her more vampy ensembles, will be available to the public during Fashion Night Out on Sept. 6 (Sept. 5 online). It will sell for $15.

Aside from the color release, she will be performing at M.A.C.’s SoHo boutique on the 6th at 7:45. What a treat.