LIL WAYNE SUFFERS SECOND SEIZURE

There's more shocking news from the YMCMB camp. Sources have confirmed that Lil Wayne has suffered another "seizure" while on board another plane. Apparently, Weezy was flying over Louisiana this time when he started convulsing.

TMZ Reports:
Weezy was on board a flight from Texas to LAX -- when he began to convulse. We're told the flight was immediately diverted to Louisiana ... and Wayne was admitted to a local hospital for treatment.

We broke the story ... Wayne had been hospitalized last night after a pilot reported that the rapper was experiencing seizures on board his flight.

Wayne was treated in Texas -- his rep insisted Weezy was only suffering from dehydration and migraines ... and was released hours later.

Sean “Diddy” Combs Confirms Injuries Due To Car Crash

You always hear people say that the day or so after a wreck is when you feel the most pain. In Diddy’s case this is true.

At the time of his car crashing accident, which took place on Thursday, October 25, Diddy reported said he was fine but would ”seek his own medical attention.”

After the medical attention, it’s being confirmed by Diddy’s rep that he sustained multiple injuries in yesterday’s car accident including to his neck, ribs and collarbone.

He is currently receiving treatment for these injuries from his physicians and would like to thank all of his fans for the outpouring of support that he has received since the accident.”

Diddy’s Escalade collided with a Lexus outside of a Beverly Hills Hotel. Diddy’s chauffeur, Andre Harrell was driving.

The Great Simplifier: Play iTunes, Pandora, Spotify, and Rdio from One Mac App

Music apps have quote demonstrably given us more ways to access and listen to music than ever before. As cool as that is, it can also be a headache to jump between them - say, Pandora, iTunes, Rdio, and Spotify. Assuming you're a Mac person, an incredibly elegant solution exists to your problem: Americo Trading's Music Control, which streamlines the audio control process for Pandora, iTunes, Rdio, and Spotify into one seamless, unobtrusive menu bar app. Not only does this make them all easier to get to, but you no longer have to remember to turn off Pandora before firing up Spotify. Finally! (Bonus: If you have more than one Mac, things get even more interesting; Music Control can also control these apps to and from up to five Macs on the same local network, although this feature does not work with Pandora, as you'll see below.)

This allows you to control different audio players within the app (and on different computers, if you like). Open up "System Preferences" by clicking the Apple icon in your menu bar, and then click "Universal Access" (or "Accessibility" in OS X Mountain Lion). Select "Enable Access for Assistive Devices." Again, you'll have to do this on each computer with which you want to use the app. After testing out Music Control, we definitely recommend it if you regularly use any mix of iTunes, Pandora, Rdio and Spotify. It does exactly what it says it does, and installation and use couldn't be easier. We like the mini-dock's simple interface and the fact that it hangs out in the menu bar, without getting in the way. Yes, the $5 asking price might scare off some potential users -- but keep in mind that 20 percent of profits go to the VH1 Save the Music Foundation, to support their efforts to restore music education in public schools. Just by making your life easier, you're giving a dollar to a great program. Here's how to simplify your music life on OS X. 

1: Install Music Control

If your Mac is sporting OS X Snow Leopard, Lion, or Mountain Lion, head to the Mac App Store and install this $5 app. To use Music Control on multiple computers on a single network, you'll have to install the app on each computer. Each purchase can be installed on up to five computers, so long as they're all connected to the same iTunes account.

 

2: Enable universal access

3: Manage Your Music Control Preferences

Now that you have Music Control installed, you'll be able to access the mini-dock and everything else you need through the icon in your menu bar. 

 

Click the settings icon in the bottom right corner to open up Music Control Preferences.

 

From Music Control Preferences, you can:

• display album artwork and artist/song title in your menu bar;
• enable remote control capability by clicking "Control this Mac from other local network Macs;" and select a computer to control from a list of automatically detected Macs on your local network. Each computer must have Music Control installed to be detected by Music Control in order for this part to work.

4: Search for and Listen to Music on iTunes, Rdio, and Spotify

To begin searching for music, click the magnifying glass in the top right corner and search an artist name in the search box that appears. Your search will generate a list of available albums by the artist. Hovering over the album icon will show which music players the album is available on. Click on an album name to start listening immediately.

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5: Manage Music Playback

Whether you're controlling music on your own computer or another one in your home or office, you can adjust volume, play, pause, skip, and switch between music players all in one place. Whenever you're connected to another computer, a cloud will appear behind the settings icon. 

 

To switch computers, just head back to the Music Control Preferences (see step 3) and choose another machine.

Other features:

• Add songs to a favorites list by clicking the heart icon
• Share what you're listening to on Facebook and Twitter
• Scrobble to Last.fm

6: Add Pandora to the Mix

You can only use Music Control with Pandora on one computer. Make sure the app isn't controlling another remote computer, then head to Music Control Preferences, click the Pandora tab, and simply enter your account information. If you don't have a Pandora account already, you can register for one here.

 

After you've saved you're account information, click on the Pandora icon in the mini-dock and Music Control will sign into your account automatically. Now, you can access all of your previously made radio stations -- or click on the magnifying glass to create a new one. 

And that's basically all there is to setting up and using Music Control on a Mac. Enjoy!

Halle Berry Looking Fab At ‘Cloud Atlas’ Premiere

Halle Berry made a beautifully fabulous appearance  Wednesday night at the Cloud Atlas premiere.

Dressed in a glittering, strapless silver Dolce & Gabbana cocktail dress, the 46-year-old star lit up the red carpet outside Los Angeles’ Grauman’s Chinese theater in Hollywood.

Berry was arm in arm with her man, Oliver Martinez.

Cloud Atlas hits theaters today, Friday, October 26.   

Major Labels, Artist Managers to Meet in New York, Nashville To Discuss Webcasting Rates

Labels and managers will meet in New York and Nashville next week to discuss their plans for addressing the Internet Radio Fairness Act and the coalition of webcasters and trade groups that support both versions of the bill, according to sources.

The three major labels have organized a meeting with artist managers on Tuesday that will cover the issues surrounding the Internet Radio Fairness Act (IRFA), legislation from Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Representatives Chaffetz (R-UT), Polis (D-CO), Issa (R-CA) and Lofgren (D-CA) that would change, among other things, the standard by which statutory royalties are set. IRFA is backed by Pandora, Clear Channel, the Consumer Electronics Association and Digital Media Association, among others.

Pandora, Clear Channel, Others Form Advocacy Group for Lower Web Radio Payments; MusicFirst Pushes Back

Discussions between labels and managers will continue in Nashville. Many people from around the country will be in town for the CMA Awards on Thursday evening.

One major label executive stresses that next week's meetings are simply the beginning of an ongoing campaign to unite similar interests against a common foe. Neither the Tuesday meeting in New York nor the meetings in Nashville were called specifically to formulate a strategy. "It's going to be a long process," says the executive.

Opponents of IRFA have their own bill to support, a discussion draft from Congressman Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) that would apply the standard currently used for webcasters' rates - the "willing buyer, willing seller" standard - to satellite radio and cable. The Wyden and Chaffetz bills seek to replace the "willing buyer, willing seller" standard with the 801(b) standard, which instructs the Copyright Royalty Board to take into account a wider variety of factors when setting rates.

The other side of the issue is increasingly speaking with a common language. Pandora, Clear Channel, the Consumer Electronics Association and other organizations announced Thursday the formation of the Internet Radio Fairness Coalition, an advocacy group that supports the Chaffetz and Wyden bills.

The major labels meeting with managers story was first reported by CNET on Thursday.

NATINA REED OF GIRL GROUP BLAQUE REPORTEDLY KILLED IN HIT-AND-RUN ACCIDENT

The Atlanta music community is expressing their condolences after unconfirmed reports say that Natina Reed, the spunky spitter of girl group Blaque, has passed away.

The 32-year-old female rapper was said to be involved in a hit-and-run accident late Friday night (Oct. 26) in Atlanta. Songwriter/producer Isaac Hayes III was one of the first to tweet the news, posting "R.I.P. Natina Reed of the Group Blaque. Killed by a Hit & Run last night. So sad."

Reed was a protegee of TLC's Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes, whose tragic death was at the hands of a car accident in 2002. Left Eye championed the pop/R&B trio, known for their hits "808" and "Bring It All To Me," even signing them to her production company, Left Eye Productions. Natina is also remembered for her role in the 2000 cheerleader chick flick Bring It On alongside Gabrielle Union, who tweeted, "#RIP #Sad #BringItOn."

Reed has a 10-year-old son Tren Brown from her relationship with rapper Kurupt. No immediate statements have been released from the family or members of Blaque.

UPDATE

Natina Reed, former member of the singing group Blaque, has been killed.

Reed was involved in a hit-and-run early this morning in Atlanta.  If alive, Reed would have celebrated her 33rd birthday on tomorrow, Sunday, October 28.

Blaque’s debut hit was “808.”

Lisa “Left Eye” Lopes, from the group TLC signed Blaque to her production company, Left Eye Productions.

You may also remember Reed in the movie “Bring It On.”  Natina Reed is the cousin of former Destiny’s Child member Farrah Franklin.

In 2001, Reed was engaged to rapper Kurupt. In 2002, she gave birth to their son Tren Brown after the group was dropped from their label. Reed and Kurupt are now separated.

In 2010, Reed was arrested for disorderly conduct and riding around with an open container of alcohol.

Natina Reed was arrested and charged for DUI several times in 2011.

Natina Reed mugshot in 2010

Natina Reed pictured above, far right in “Bring It On”

Natina Reed pictured to far left

Natina Reed pictured to far right

Tweets courtesy of Twitter/Necole Bitchie

Layoffs at Universal, EMI Distribution and Nashville Offices

The Universal Music Group is consolidating its music distribution companies and its Nashville country music labels following its merger with EMI recorded music. According to sources, nearly 60 people were let go:nearly 50 from distribution and almost 10 from Nashville. Though the majority of those laid-off were with EMI, some Universal Music employees were let go as well.

As part of the move, several EMI distribution staffers such as EMI senior VP of sales John Nicholas and Joan Kane, who oversaw the EMI East Coast field sales staff, were offered different assignments with the Universal Music Group Distribution -- a senior catalog position and label liaison for Capitol, respectively.

Universal Music-EMI Deal Approved by European Union

In addition to those laid off today, some EMI distributions staffers were told they would only have their jobs for another 30 to 120 days, according to sources in both the EMI camp and UMG camp. One senior UMG executive, however, denied this saying the consolidation of the distribution company has been completed and going forward new staffers might be brought in for digital sales.

Meanwhile, sources said Dominic Pandiscia, who had headed up EMI's distribution company, will become head of sales for Capitol Records. There he will reportedly have on his staff Saul Shapiro, who handled Blue Note releases, and David Miller, who handles Astralwerks and some Capitol releases.

"Following our acquisition of EMI Recorded Music, UMG will be expanding key creative areas as part of our ongoing integration. While this restructuring will unfortunately result in some redundancies, it is essential to UMG becoming an even more agile and efficient company, not just for this year or the next, but for years to come," a UMG statement said. "Our goal is to maximize the resources available for reinvestment in our labels so they can do what they do best: develop and promote artists, increase the output of new music and expand opportunities for digital innovation."