Rihanna In the Running to Play Josephine Baker

A production company called Noosa Films has a Josephine Baker biopic in the works, and their eyes are set on Rihanna to play the lead role, Eurweb reports.
“Rihanna is one of the most talented performers of this millennium and with her unique acting and performing abilities I have no doubt she will bring Josephine back to life on the big screen,” said producer W. Lance Reynolds in a statement.
Noosa Films won the rights to Baker’s autobiography Josephine From French publishers, Editions Robert Laffont.
[source]
http://jetmag.com/entertainment/rihanna-in-the-running-to-star-as-josephine-baker-in-biopic/

T.I. recently talked about parting ways with Atlantic Records

Grammy-winning rapper T.I. recently talked about parting ways with Atlantic Records and why it is going to cost any interested labels buckets full of money in order to get him to sign to their team.

In Tip's perspective, he generates so much revenue outside of music that a label has no choice but to offer him a deal worth around $50 million or more.

"I am currently a free agent," Tip revealed in an interview. "Everything's coming out my pockets. Y'all do me all the favors you want to. [laughs] There's nothing wrong with a helping hand. [laughs] You know what the problem is, nobody wants to pay fair market value. I done went into all the distribution houses, the Sony's, the Universal's and the Warner's of the world and it's across the board. The consensus is pretty much unanimous, they want to be in business, they just don't want to pay to be in business. And so I'ma tell you like this -- you might be able to catch you knows who's out of you knows where but you ain't gonna be able to get no 'King' on your roster, man or anything less than eight-figures. I'm just gonna tell everybody, let that be a message to you. I can nickel and dime myself to where I'm going. ... You got the recording industry, publishing, you got touring, you got merch, you got film, you got television, you got fashion, you know what I'm saying? Technology. That's eight areas of business, right now currently, that I'm generating streams of revenue from. If you feel like you want to participate in all eight of those things, it's going to cost you about 50, 60 million [dollars]. But if you only want one or two of those things, then come to the table with 12 or 15 [million dollars], we can talk about that too." (Streetz 94.3)

Back in January, Tip came clean on reports of being offered $75 million deals.

"[laughs] Hey look man I see all that sh*t man...I respect my present partners at Atlantic records and had there ever been a separation between them and myself I would respect my new partners in such a way that I'm not gonna sensationalize anything. They give me my fair market value for what it is I have to offer. And if you want to be in business with me let's give each other %110. But just going out and doing gossip type stories that ain't a huge part of what I do. [Would I like to stay at Atlantic Records?] Ay man, I'd love to stay where I am. It'd have to be shown that the feeling is mutual and the way you do that is on paper with commitment to dollars." (The Urban Daily)

Earlier the same month, the "King of the South" was attached to multli-million dollar bidding war chatter.

Got $75 million handy? If so, you can sign T.I. to your label ... the hip hop star just became the number-one free agent in rap -- and despite the steep price tag he's putting out ... some deep pockets are already lining up. Sources close to T.I. tell TMZ ... T.I.'s 10-year contract with Atlantic ran up only a month ago ... but he's already put together his own idea of a $75 million deal: - 3 albums - 10-20 percent of publishing, touring, merchandise, film and TV rights - Corporate endorsement deals - Exclusive signing of all Grand Hustle artists. (TMZ)

There was reportedly $50 million waiting for Tip along with interest from Dr. Dre and Jay-Z on the table over the winter.

Sources close to T.I. tell TMZ ... he's already met with some of the industry's biggest names ... including Dr. Dre, who asked him to join Interscope over dinner at Katana recently (see picture) ... and Jay-Z, who wants T.I. in the RocNation family. We're told Sony's put a $50 million deal on the table so far ... and Universal's meeting with him later this week to make an offer too. (TMZ)

Eddie Murphy's daughter, Bria Murphy

Ask any father what their greatest creation is, and they'll undoubtedly say their child or children. And while that is usually an opinion based on the biases of a proud parent, many will agree that aforementioned statement holds damn true for Eddie Murphy's daughter, Bria Murphy.

For a while, the oldest of the actor's five children with former spouse Nicole Mitchell was a sleeper amongst the up and coming beauties in Tinsel Town. She was most famous for being a spokeswoman for hair products company Dark and Lovely, but Murphy's stock recently rose after playing the leading lady in Wale's visual for "Bad."

At just 23-years-old, Murphy isn't your run of the mill video vixen. In other words, don't expect to see her bussin' it wide open next to your favorite rapper. Instead, she's opted to take a classier approach, having already done spreads with Maxim and Vibe magazines just to name a few.

And because Hip-Hop Wired loves everyone but struggle rappers, we provided a gallery of Bria Murphy's most flattering photos that you can see after the jump.

[source]
http://hiphopwired.com/2013/03/27/bangin-candy-eddie-murphys-daughter-bria-murphy-photos/#TahPTWjL04cimlps.99 

Hip-hop mogul Damon Dash; "I am currently over $100,000 behind in rent!"

Rap mogul Damon "Dame" Dash is currently making headlines this weekend in light of court documents he filed in New York earlier this week related to financial problems.

According to reports, Dame said he cannot afford his current home and could be evicted.

Hip-hop mogul Damon Dash is so deeply in debt that he claims in court documents he faces imminent eviction from a rented mansion in suburban Carmel, N.Y. "I am currently several months behind in paying my personal bills," he wrote Tuesday in the 5-page filing. "For instance, I am currently over $100,000 behind in rent for the only home in which I live and at risk of being evicted." Dash lost a pair of multimillion-dollar Tribeca lofts to foreclosure in 2010, with $7.3 million left on the massive mortgages. (New York Daily News)

Dash also appeared in a New York court over the week to address another legal matter.

He was in Manhattan Supreme Court on Thursday to fight a charge of ignoring a 2008 lawsuit from a garment industry lender seeking payback for a $237,078 loan. While Dash declined to discuss his finances, he flashed cell phone shots of art galleries he owns in Charleston, S.C., and Hong Kong. "I'm an independent businessman and this is what comes from business," Dash said in an email from his attorney, Gregg A. Pinto. "I have the guts to fight my battles on my own and it's entertainment to everybody else because I'm so cool about it." (New York Daily News)

Last month, the hip-hop executive downplayed his publicized money woes.

"It depends on what you perceive as a win or a loss," Dame said in an interview when asked to address speculation of his finances and businesses crumbling. "To me, the minute I make $20 million, I put it all back in the street. That's just what I do, there's no fear in it. ... I think the difference between me and everybody else is when I have tax problems, it's in the paper. When other people do, it's not. I don't really care. So whatever perception is, it doesn't really bother me. It's all about quality of living. My quality of living has never been compromised. Ever. I got galleries all over the world, how could I be [a wrap?] I'm like, 'D*mn, I did star Rachel Roy and sold half of it to Jones New York.' I don't see anybody else doing that right now. I've done so many other things, I just have not tried to advertise it so I guess people's perceptions are different. ... I know so many businessmen who are never known for what they're doing. I know billionaires that ride coach. ... Everybody I know with real money is low, is low-key." ("The Combat Jack Show")

Back in 2011, former Roc-A-Fella Records rapper Freeway spoke on Dame and allegations of him having cash problems.

"I don't really know man, I haven't talked to him," Free explained, referring to Dash. "The last time I talked to him, I probably talked to him months ago. I don't even remember if it was months ago. He was like, 'Man, I'm cool.' -- I'll tell you one thing about Dame. He was like the main n*gga telling us, 'Make sure you pay y'all taxes and make sure y'all do this and do that.' ... I don't know, man...I don't see how you could go from Dame Dash to bootlegging liquor, because Dame had bread. So I don't believe that sh*t." ("Superstar Radio")

[source]
 http://www.sohh.com/2013/05/dame_dashs_money_woes_exposed_im_over_10.html

Thieves Stole $45 Million In Global ATM Cyber Heist

A band of international cyber thieves stole $40 million dollars from ATM machines in a matter of hours back in February and $5 million late last year.  Using two timed heist operations and accomplices on the street, the looting of the ATMs involved computer hackers, manipulated financial information and common street criminals. In New York, a group of men were the first to be arrested in this elaborate global scheme.

The New York Times reports that eight men, including the alleged ringleader, who was found dead in the Dominican Republic in March, were responsible for sacking the machines to the amount of $2.4 million. Yesterday (May 9), prosecutors unsealed an indictment against the remaining seven and called the theft one of New York's largest heists ever.

“In the place of guns and masks, this cybercrime organization used laptops and the Internet,” said Loretta E. Lynch, the United States attorney in Brooklyn. “Moving as swiftly as data over the Internet, the organization worked its way from the computer systems of international corporations to the streets of New York City, with the defendants fanning out across Manhattan to steal millions of dollars from hundreds of A.T.M.'s in a matter of hours.” Read more at http://hiphopwired.com/2013/05/10/thieves-stole-45-million-in-global-atm-cyber-heist-photos/#cwPWGzO1KADQpDjD.99 

The money obtained in New York was laundered by way of purchasing expensive items such as Rolex watches, cars and other items. The group was also brazen, shown posing in photos with the cash which prosecutors presented as evidence. The thieves were caught after the machines, many armed with cameras, snapped photos of the men stuffing loads of cash into backpacks.

The February attack was a bolder move; this after the thieves stole $5 million last December. After hacking into the database of an Indian credit-card processing company that handles Visa and MasterCard prepaid debit cards, the hackers raised the withdrawal limits on the prepaid card accounts issued by the National Bank of Ras Al-Khaimah, located in the United Arab Emirates.

Even more staggering, the thieves managed to pull off this crime with just five account numbers distributed over a vast network involving 20 countries. In the February heist, the hackers obtained 12 account numbers from an American debit card processing company, stealing $40 million in total after 36,000 worldwide transactions.

Check out some of the photo evidence, including two Rolexes and a Mercedes Benz jeep copped with the illicit funds, in the gallery.

--

Photo: United States Attorney's office, Eastern District of New York

[source]
 http://hiphopwired.com/2013/05/10/thieves-stole-45-million-in-global-atm-cyber-heist-photos/#cwPWGzO1KADQpDjD.99 

West Coast: Snoop Dogg can breathe a bit easier these days...

West Coast rap veteran Snoop Dogg can breathe a bit easier these days as new reports claim he has paid more than $500,000 to settle a tax bill.

According to reports, Snoop Dizzle recently shelled out $546,000to make things right with Uncle Sam.

Snoop Dogg could have bought (and munched on) 153,000 Big Macs ... 289,000 Chalupas ... or 500,000 bags of Cheetos ... but instead he chose to pay off his tax bill, all $546,000 of it!!! TMZ broke the story ... the IRS slapped Snoop (now Lion) -- real name Calvin Broadus -- with a massive tax lien? back in February, claiming he still owed back taxes for the years 2009 and 2011. Not one to leave Uncle Sam hanging ... Snoop recently paid his debt in full -- $546,270.29 to be exact -- and the lien was released late last month. (TMZ)

Buzz behind Snoop's legal woes bubbled online last February.

Snoop Dogg, now Snoop Lion, has once again found himself at odds with the federal government. In 2008, the IRS filed against legendary hip-hop artist for owing $476,000 in unpaid taxes, but soon after the tax docs were file Snoop quickly paid up. But it looks like history repeats itself. (Black Enterprise)

Back in September 2011, the Dogg Father made good on a tax debt by paying nearly $500,000 to the government.

Rap superstar Snoop Dogg has settled an outstanding tax bill dating back to 2008. The "Drop It Like It's Hot" hitmaker, real name Calvin Broadus, Jr., was slapped with an invoice from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) after failing to hand over $476,338. But the hip-hop icon is now in the clear - he paid the sum on Sept. 15. (Toronto Sun)

Snoop recently made headlines for having police come through and nearly shutdown his "National Smoke Day" celebration.

"The Police tried to shut the party down. Then once I got there we had a conversation with the police and they allowed the party to continue, because it was a holiday; It was an international holiday - 4/20," said Snoop. "My partner pulled him [the police chief] to the side. He was a great, great chief and he was willing to understand. We just trying to party chief. We doing a millon other things, we just trying to smoke and have a good time. And the chief was like, 'save me a couple of blizys and I'll let y'all have your party.' So we did that," joked Snoop. (CBS Local)

[SOURCE] 

http://www.sohh.com/2013/05/snoop_drops_his_546000_problem_like_its.html

Festival Sponsorship Spending Projected to Set Record in 2013

By Andrew Hampp, New York

Sponsorship for the live music business is up more than 15% in three years as more brands look to tap into fans’ passion

This story below on the growth of branding at U.S. music festivals is from the May 18 edition of Billboard magazine featuring a cover package on the Billboard Music Awards (airing May 19 at 8:00 p.m ET on ABC and hosted by cover subject Tracy Morgan) with interviews with finalists Taylor Swift, Miguel, Ed Sheeran, Icona Pop, fun. and more. Also, a look at the Rolling Stones' flexible ticket pricing, how Atlantic's Craig Kallman revived his Big Beat imprint; an in-depth look at how Daft Punk set-up their first album in eight years; and a Billboard Special Report on metadata by Glenn Peoples. 

Brand sponsorship for festivals, tours and music venues keeps growing in the United States, and is projected to reach $1.28 billion in 2013, according tomarketing analytics firm IEG Research. Music continues to capture an increasing share of dollars from marketers post-recession, posting a 5.4% increase from $1.22 billion in 2012 and a 15.5% increase from $1.17 billion in 2009.

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Part of that increase comes from music’s rising appeal among consumer packaged-goods marketers, with Procter & Gamble’s CoverGirl, Unilever’s Fruttare ice cream bars and Kraft Mondelez’s Oreo all sponsoring major tours and festivals this year, with other portfolio brands at the CPG giants starting to dip their toes in music programs. Other category wars like credit cards, automotive and smartphones have helped pour further dividends into the event, touring and festival space. Top sponsorship categories in terms of share of spend include media and publishing (8.9%), beer (7.3%), financial services (5.3%), spirits (5.2%), telecom (5.2%), automotive (3.6%), hotel and resort (3.2%), soft drinks (3.2%) and insurance (2.8%).

On the brand side, Anheuser-Busch is the top-spending company of all music festivals at $335.5 million. Pepsi ranks a close second with $325.1 million. Coca-Cola finishes third with $236.8 million, followed by Miller Coors ($197.1 million), Time Warner ($147.2 million) and Ford Motor ($138.2 million).

Pepsi is still the top-ranked brand in music festival sponsorship, however, accounting for 15.4% of all spending compared with Coke and Bud Light’s shared second-place ranking with 10%. Heineken, Red Bull and Miller Lite each have 7.7%, while Budweiser, Jägermeister, Monster Energy Drink and State Farm are tied at 6.9%. Bank of America, AT&T, Jack Daniel’s, Sonicbids and Verizon Wireless round out the tally with 6.2% apiece.

IEG’s 2013 report doesn’t factor in ad spending related to music, which continues to play a highly influential role in artist development and even track and album sales. Target’s dedicated spending against exclusive album partners like P!nk, Taylor Swift, One Direction and Justin Timberlake has resulted in the retailer nabbing a significant share of first-week sales for those acts’ respective releases, while Microsoft, Fiat and Dr Pepper are among the brands that have played a key role in breaking current hits from acts like Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, Pitbull and Icona Pop, respectively.

“Music remains hot,” IEG Sponsorship Report senior editor William Chipps says, noting that music’s growth is in line with overall sponsorship activity but still lagging slightly behind sports, projected to increase 6% in 2013.
Infographic by Relajaelcoco

[SOURCE]

http://www.billboard.com/biz/articles/news/branding/1561337/festival-sponsorship-spending-projected-to-set-record-in-2013