'Wolf of Wall Street' Financiers Threaten Legal Action Over Article Alleging Corruption

Lawyers representing Red Granite Pictures, the Malaysian financial backers of The Wolf of Wall Street, are threatening to sue a journalist who wrote an article suggesting government corruption may have been involved in the financing of the film.

Future Rips Producer After Shady Move

Red Granite Pictures' CEO is Riza Aziz, stepson of the Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak. In an article published to her critical news blog, Sarawak Report, journalist Clare Rewcastle Brown suggested that Red Granite Picture's resources and Aziz's personal wealth may have come -- at least in part -- via illicit means. She also alleged that Aziz's mother, Malaysia's first lady, has been actively promoting the film in the Muslim-majority country, despite its R-rating and portrayals of sex, drugs and debauchery. 

Pitbull & Ke$ha's 'Timber' Takes First U.K. No. 1 for 2014 

 

In a lengthy legal notice sent to Brown, which she first shared with BuzzFeed, Red Granite's lawyers say they "write to object to the numerous false, misleading, defamatory, and malicious statements concerning RGP made in the article."

The undersigning lawyer, a partner from Santa Monica-based Loeb & Loeb LLP, demands that Brown retract the piece and compel other outlets that picked up the story to pull their versions as well or else face litigation.

Brown, a sister-in-law to former British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, is one of the most prominent critics of the Malaysian Government. Although she was born in the former British colony, she has been banned from entering Malaysia since July 2013, due to her aggressive reporting. 

Red Granite Pictures previously co-produced Friends With Kids (2011) and Out of the Furnace (2013). Next up on the company's slate is Dumb and Dumber To.

Digital Music Sales Decrease For First Time in 2013

 

Under the subheading, "Where Did the Money Come From?", Brown's original story says, "How Riza Aziz emerged as a major bankroller of Hollywood movies is of obvious interest. Could it be linked to his family position and circle of associates?"

Loeb & Loeb insist that the article is an "irresponsible, shoddy, malicious screed that was clearly concocted by a writer or writers (and/or editor or editors) intent on pressing a transparent, political agenda."

The Sarawak Report article also quotes at length from an interview given by Aziz and RGP co-founder Joey McFarland to The Hollywood Reporter in May 2012, when Aziz said, "I will say that I have money invested in the company. It shows that I have skin in the game and am committed from a financial point of view. We also have a group of investors, mainly from the Middle East and Asia."

McFarland also mentioned in the interview that RGP's involvement in Wolf came about because of a personal friendship between Aziz and Leonardo DiCaprio.


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In a statement provided to The Hollywood Reporter, Brown said, in part: "Malaysia has one of the most controlled media in the world, so this powerful family are not used to inconvenient issues being aired, and I assume this is why they have reacted so aggressively."

She added, "We would be delighted if he could publicly account for his sources of income and tell us how he got so apparently wealthy or who his wealthy backers are."

The Sarawak Report story also questioned Aziz's recent purchase of a multi-million-dollar penthouse apartment in New York City. According to reports in the local Malaysian press, those allegations led opposition lawmakers to demand that Riza be investigated by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).

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The article has had a wide impact in the Malaysian media, with some outlets now calling on Prime Minister Razak to clarify the origins of his stepson's wealth and financial involvement in Red Granite Pictures. 

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Digital Music Sales Decrease For First Time in 2013

By Ed Christman, New York

For the first time since the iTunes store opened its doors, the U.S. music industry finished the year with a decrease in digital music sales.

While the digital track sales decline had been expected due to weaker sales in the first three quarters, the digital album downturn comes as more of a surprise as the album bundle had started out the year with a strong first quarter.

Overall for the full year 2013, digital track sales fell 5.7% from 1.34 billion units to 1.26 billion units while digital album sales fell 0.1% to 117.6 million units from the previous year’s total of 117.7 million, according to Nielsen SoundScan.

While industry executives initially refused to attribute the early signs this year of digital sales weakness to the consumer's growing appetite for streaming, in the second half of the year many were conceding that ad-supported and paid subscription services were indeed cannibalizing digital sales.

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While  SoundScan has not yet released its annual streaming numbers numbers, so far industry executives have been reporting that the growth in streaming revenue has been offsetting the decline in digital sales revenue.

Overall, album sales suffered an 8.4% decline, dipping to 289.4 million units from nearly 316 million units in 2012. The CD declined 14.5% to 165.4 million units, down from 193.4 million in the prior year, while vinyl continued its ascension rising to 6 million units from the 4.55 million the format tallied in 2012. That means vinyl is now 2% of album sales in the U.S; digital albums comprise 40.6% and the CD is 57.2% and cassettes and DVDs 0.2%.

Meanwhile, album plus track equivalent albums fell to 415.3 million units, down from 449.5 million units in 2012, which represents a 7.6% drop.

Despite the decline in album sales, million sellers increased in 2013 to 13 titles versus the 10 that passed that milestone the prior year when Adele’s “21” led the way with 4.4 million units followed by Taylor’s Swift;s “Red,” which scanned 3.1 million units. In 2013, only one album sold more than one million units, Justin Timberlake’s 20/20 Experience, with 2.4 million units.

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The top selling track in 2013 was Robin Thicke’s “Blurred Lines,” featuring T.I. & Pharrell, which scanned nearly 6.5 million units, followed by Macklemore & Ryan Lewis’ “Thrift Shop,” featuring Wanz  with 6.1 million units and Imagine Dragon’s “Radioactive" with 5.5 million units. Gotye’s “Somebody That I Used To Know” featuring Kimbra was the top selling digital song with 6.8 million units the prior year.
In 2013, 106 songs hit million units mark, versus 108 titles that achieved that feat in 2012.

Moving over to market share, the Universal Music Group came in first with 38.9% in albums plus TEA, thanks to its acquisition of the Capitol Music Group, while Sony Music Entertainment finished with 29.5%, and the Warner Music Group tallied 18.7%. While these market share totals are by distribution ownership, where indie labels collectively are calculated as having a 12.3% share, next week’s Billboard will also show market share by label ownership where the indies are expected to have nearly 35% market share.

Moving over to genres, R&B which includes rap was the only genre to post an increase in 2013, with album sales growing 1.2% to 50.7 million from 50.1 million units in 2012, which all things considered is pretty impressive in a year where album sales declined 8.4%. The only other genres to outperform the U.S. album market were EDM, which declined 0.3% to 8.8 million units; and rock, down 5.9% for the year to 100.8 million units.

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Despite the decline in digital album sales, download stores like iTunes gained market share growing to 40.6% of U.S album sales, while mass merchants like Target and Walmart saw sales drop 16.3% to about 78 million units and now comprise nearly 27% market share; with chain stores like Best Buy and Trans World seeing sales decline by nearly 20% to 39 million album units to comprise 13.5% market share.

Meanwhile non-traditional CD merchants like Amazon, Starbucks and concert venues saw album sales increase by 2.4% to 36.5 million units; and indie merchants dropped by nearly 12% to 18.3 million units. Respectively, the former comprises 12.6% of album sales while the latter accounts for 6.3%.

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News: Young Scooter On Doe B's Murder: "Tip Blessed Him W/ A Chance But He Ain't Survive These Streets"

Atlanta rapper Young Scooter is the latest entertainer to keep slain hip-hop artist Doe B's memory alive with the release of his tribute, "Letter 2 The Streets."On the track, Scooter acknowledges Doe's passing and stresses the dangers of being a performing artist.

"Rest in peace Doe B, that sh*t sad to see," Scooter raps. "I remember when he used to get the gas from street/He was born a country boy n*gga just like me, Tip blessed him with a chance but he ain't survived these streets/N*ggas hate everyday, that's the way the game go/Gotta keep some shooters with me when I rock these shows/You ain't safe in these clubs, you know money, it talks/And for the right price your partner'll knock you off." ("Letter 2 The Streets")

Over the weekend, Grand Hustle head T.I. joined friends and family alike to remember Doe B at a funeral service in Montgomery, Alabama.

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Some said it was fitting that even in death rapper Doe B drew a full house, as people packed the church and overflowed into areas outside for his funeral Saturday afternoon. A large crowd of mourners also attended the Saturday morning funeral of Kimberle Johnson, an innocent bystander killed during the same shooting, Funeral services for Johnson, 21, and Glenn Lamar Thomas, 22, known as rapper Doe B, were both held at True Divine Baptist Church on Troy Highway. The two services lasted about four hours and had statements from family, friends and in the case of Thomas, an appearance from rapper T.I., who signed Thomas to his Grand Hustle Records label in 2012. (Montgomery Advertiser)

According to reports, a third victim of last weekend's shooting was 20-year-old Tim Hamilton.

Family members and Montgomery police say Tim Hamilton, 20, died Friday night. Hamilton had been in critical condition in a Montgomery hospital since being shot Saturday. Two others were killed and five others were injured in the shooting at the Centennial Hill Bar and Grill, formerly known as the Rose Supper Club. (WSFA News)

Last week, 25-year-old Darius Thomas gave himself up to authorities. 

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Police in Alabama have arrested a second suspect in connection with the murder of rapper Doe B and a woman at a bar in Montgomery on Saturday (28Dec13). Darius Thomas, 25, has been charged with two counts of capital murder after turning himself in on Wednesday night (01Jan14), according to myfoxal.com. uneral arrangements for Doe B are currently underway and he will reportedly be laid to rest on Saturday (04Jan14). (Hollywood)

Prior to Thomas, another 25-year-old suspect received multiple charges after turning himself over to authorites on Sunday (December 29) in connection to the shooting.

Montgomery police charged Jason McWilliams, 25, with two counts of capital murder in connection with the slayings of Glenn Thomas, 22, and Kimberle Johnson, 21, at Centennial Hill Bar and Grill. McWilliams turned himself in late Sunday night, police said. Thomas was a rapper known as Doe B while Johnson was a student studying social work at Troy University, about 50 miles south of here. (USA Today)

Pitbull & Ke$ha's 'Timber' Takes First U.K. No. 1 for 2014

“Timber” (Mr.305/Polo Grounds/J/Sony) by Pitbull featuring Ke$ha debuted atop the U.K. singles chart yesterday (Jan. 5) to become the market’s first No. 1 single of 2014. Ellie Goulding’s “Halcyon” (Polydor/Universal) climbed 6-1 to top the album bestsellers for the first time, in its 65th chart week. 

In what is traditionally a fallow sales period around the beginning of the year, the Pitbull single sold an impressive 138,000 units in the week to Saturday night, while last week’s No. 1, Pharrell Williams’ “Happy” (Back Lot) sold another 108,000 as it fell into runner-up spot. The No. 1 single on the corresponding chart a year ago was James Arthur’s “Impossible” (Syco Music/Sony Music Entertainment), which sold 74,000 units in its second week on top.

Will Smith Breaks Silence on James Avery's Death:

“Timber,” currently at No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100, is the third U.K. No. 1 for both Pitbull and Ke$ha: he reached the summit twice in 2011, with Jennifer Lopez (“On The Floor”) and Naver, Afrojack and Ne-Yo (“Give Me Everything”), while she hit the top with Flo Rida in 2009 on “Right Round” and again in 2011 with “We R Who We R.” 

The two climbers in the singles top ten were both long-runners, Goulding’s “How Long Will I Love You” moving back 7-5 and Martin Garrix’s former No. 1 “Animals” (Positiva/Virgin/Universal) 13-8. Two new releases from 3 Beat/All Around The World/Universal debuted in the top 20: “Million Pound Girl (Badder Than Bad)” by Fuse ODG at No. 14, and “Control” by Matrix & Futurebound featuring Max Marshall at No. 18. 

Sales Down 2013

Goulding’s album, released in October 2012, was initially held off the No. 1 spot by Mumford & Sons’ “Babel,” with a deluxe version entitled “Halcyon Days” hitting No. 5 in early September last year. Total sales of “Halcyon” now stand close to 665,000, according to the Official Charts Company.

Gary Barlow’s “Since I Saw You Last” (Polydor/Universal) held at No. 2 on the new chart, while Beyoncé’s self-titled Columbia/Sony album climbed 4-3. Last week’s No. 1, “Swings Both Ways” (Universal Island) by Robbie Williams, fell to No. 4. 

There were top ten rebounds for John Newman’s “Tribute” (Universal Island), 16-5; Bastille’s “Bad Blood” (Virgin/Universal), 11-6; Rudimental’s “Home” (Asylum/Warner Music), 34-7; Arctic Monkeys’ “AM” (Domino), 12-8; and Avicii’s “True” (Positiva/PRMD/Universal), 19-9. “Now! That’s What I Call Music 86” (Sony Music CG/Virgin EMI/Universal) started a seventh straight week atop the compilation chart. 

Future Rips Producer After Shady Move: "Who Told This Dumb A** N***a To Leak That"

Atlanta rapper Future may be engaged and ready to spend the rest of his life with Ciara but that didn't stop him from unleashing some fury onto producer K.E. On The Track over the weekend.

Future publicly went after the popular hitmaker for allegedly leaking one of his old tracks.

"Who told this dumb a** n*gga to leak that ROCKY track I did 3years ago..smh #lame#phuckboy#phuckyomixtape#honest," Future tweeted January 4.

"I'm just being honest" (Future's Twitter)

K.E. appeared to respond to Future's comment with some subliminal remarks.

"Future - Rocky (Prod. KE) -> http://goo.gl/ES7zVI"

"Lol"

$"

"Life is good" (K.E. On The Track's Twitter)

'Wolf of Wall Street' Financiers Threaten Legal Action Over Article Alleging Corruption 

 

According to reports, the "Rocky" record premiered online over the weekend without Future's permission.

K.E. On The Track just ran into a bit of controversy with producer Major Seven over a beat he was accussed of stealing. Now, you can add Future to the list of people that have a problem with the beat maker. Yesterday, a track by Future titled "Rocky," which is purportedly off the K.E.'s upcoming mixtpe I Am Music Pt 1., hit the Internet. (XXL Mag)

The controversy comes weeks after K.E.'s "Devil Is A Lie" Rick Ross and Jay Z collaboration landed online.

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Bey and Hov are a true power couple -- just a few days after Beyonce dropped her new record in the dead of night, Jay Z and Rick Ross are out with a new K.E.-produced single "The Devil Is A Lie," off Ross' upcoming LP, Mastermind. After teasing the hell out of the collab on Twitter Thursday (December 19), Rozay dropped the song via SoundCloud this afternoon, along with a tweet teasing Mastermind reading: "Mastermind on the way." The track is a true tour de force: frenzied, studded with horns and driving drum machines, with both Barneys and Kendrick Lamar's "Control" verse getting shoutouts. (MTV)

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