Todd Moscowitz Steps Down From Warner Bros., Cameron Strang New Label Head

One month after adding Rhino Records to his portfolio of responsibilities, Warner/Chappell Music chairman and CEO Cameron Strang is now adding the Warner Bros. Records label. Strang is replacing president/CEO Todd Moscowitz, who has resigned, the company confirmed in a statement issued late this afternoon. Rob Cavallo and Livia Tortella, Warner Bros. Records' Chairman and co-President/COO, respectively, will report directly to Strang.

The move means that Strang will now oversee all of WMG's West Coast U.S. operations.

Billboard Power 100: Cameron Strang

If some saw Strang's purview adding Rhino Records as a portent that he was the Warner Music Group executive likely to eventually step into the departed WMG recorded music chairman/CEO Lyor Cohen's shoes, then today's news can only fuel that speculation.

While Moscowitz is regarded as a disciple of Cohen, who left the major in late September, that relationship is not seen as a factor in his departure from Warner. Instead, some says Moscowitz exit is more related to Strang's ascension. Moreover, asince the appointment of chairman Rob Cavallo, Moscowitz and co-president/COO Livia Tortella in 2010, Warner Bros. market share for albums plus track-equivalent ones has descended from the 6.19% it stood at for the week ending Sept. 12, 2010, to 5.81% at the end of 2011 to its current level of 4.72%.

But Moscowitz is hailed for adding R&B album market share to 3.1 percent this year from 1.4 back at the end of 2009. He's also credited with growing R&B track market share to 4.35 percent this year.

So far the team has produced three platinum sellers, Michael Buble's "Christmas," and the Black Keys albums "Brothers" and "El Camino." On the urban side, while it has yet to produce an album with gold-level sales of 500,000 units, it has had several big sellers with Wale, Meek Mill and Jill Scott. Moreover, one of the reasons why CEO Tom Whalley was let go in 2010 was because his  affinity for rock music was going against the grain of the explosive sales power generated by pop music. The addition of Moscowitz and Tortella to the Warner Bros. leadership was supposed to fix that by getting the label into the pop-music business,  but the label hasn't yet produced a million-selling hit this year. It produced two last year with Jason Derulo's "It Girl" and Waka Flaka Flame's "No Hands."

Strang headed up his own New West label and publishing operation before coming to the Warner Music Group. While initially an entertainment lawyer, he is considered a serious business executive, who understands both technology and has an appreciation for the creative process.

Recently, Strang brought in Jon Platt as president of Warner/Chappell and also has Rhino president/CEO Kevin Gore also reporting to him.

Jamie Foxx Confirms Role as Electro in Spider-Man

Jamie Foxx will play Electro in the The Amazing Spider-Man sequel, directed by Mark Webb. The Academy Award winning actor confirmed his role as Spider-Man’s villain in an interview with Entertainment Tonight correspondent, Nancy O’Dell.

“I think Electro will be an excited character to play because he’s a … genius electrician-type person, and he gets the short end of the stick from the whole world, and the next thing you know he turns it on.”

Foxx will star alongside Emma Stone, Shailene Woodley and Andrew Garfield in the new addition of the rebooted Spider-Man saga, which is set to premiere in theaters on May 2, 2014

Meet The New Richest Black Woman In The World, Folorunsho Alakija

Folorunsho Alakija is a Nigerian oil tycoon. She was most recently listed as number 24 on Forbes‘ list of Africa’s 40 Richest People. According to Forbes, Alakija is worth $600 million. But a recent study of her assets by Ventures-Africa, show that she may be worth more, $3.2 billion to be exact.

Alakija’s success started with the opening of her high-end Nigerian fashion label Supreme Stitches. In 1993 former head of state General Ibrahim Babangida awarded Alakija an oil block. Alakija had no experience in the oil business.

In 1996 she transferred 40 percent of her stake to enter into a partnership with Star Deep Water Petroleum Limited, a subsidiary of Texaco, and appointed the company to serve as the technical adviser of her oil block, Famfa Oil.

Former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo tried to acquire a 50 percent interest on the oil block in 2000. Famfa Oil went to court to challenge Obasanjo’s unconstitutional acquisition and won. In May 2012, the 50 percent stake of the block, which produces 200,000 barrels of oil a day, was transferred back to her.

By comparing her oil field to a similar field, Royal Dutch Shell, Ventures-Africa calculates that Famfa Oil is worth $10.74 billion dollars. This means that Alakija’s 60 percent stake in the company is equal to $6.44 billion dollars.

“In July 2012, Royal Dutch Shell agreed to sell its 45 percent stake in OML 30 for $850 million to Heritage Oil and Shoreline Energy. “OML currently produces 35,000 barrels of oil per day. So, if 45 percent of a 35,000 bdp-producing oil bloc is $1.88 billio, by the same logic, a 100 percent take in 200,000 bdp-producing oil blow is worth $10.74 billion. “Folorunsho Alakija’s 60 percent stake in a $10.74 billion oil is well worth $6.44 billion… At this point, we have no doubt that she is indeed richer than Oprah.”

Assuming debt, Ventures-Africa calculates Alakija’s market value at $3.2 billion. That is $500 million more than Oprah Winfrey’s fortune of $2.7 billion.

"8 MILE" ACTRESS BRITTANY MURPHY'S FINAL FILM COMPLETED

It has been three years since Brittany Murphy's death, and yet, her final film is just getting wrapped up. We have more details for you after the break.

The "Clueless" star had completed her work on "Something Wicked" before she died in 2009 of a combination of pneumonia, anaemia and prescription medications —but production was delayed as a result of her death.

According to USA Today, Merchant Films has announced today that post-production on the psychological thriller was finally completed as of this week. The film itself is about "obsession and young love gone wrong," according to producer and screenwriter Joe Colleran, who said the late actress "pulled off one of the spookiest scenes in the movie."

He provided more detail, saying, "There's an important scene where her character is unraveling and she spent a long time getting ready and focused and went for it. Personally, I think it's one of the best scenes of her career." Murphy, who starred in over 30 films and was an 1990s star, was found dead in her Hollywood home on December 20, 2009.

She was only 32 when she passed. Her British-born husband, screenwriter Simon Monjack, was found dead just five months after she died. Coroners determined that the 40-year-old scribe had died from pneumonia.

WITH LOVE IN THE AIR, TRINA DISHES ON FRENCH MONTANA HOOK-UP [VIDEO]

Miami rapper Trina is getting attached to French Montana dating rumors lately and recently teased fans by confirming they have had some one-on-one time together.

While she did not delve into the romance rumors, Trina did admit she has clocked in studio time with the New York rapper.

"We went into the studio, just vibing and listening to the records," Trina said in an interview. "[French] asked me if I was working on my album, and I said 'of course' and it was just like instant chemistry. He played me a bunch of tracks and unreleased music and I liked the sound and the direction. He was like let's work together let's make it happen and he made it happen." (AHH)

In late November, the two hip-hop stars got spotted on numerous occasions together.

First French was married, and I believe still is. Then French was linked to model Keyshia K'aoir while still having sex with groupies and strippers world wide and admitting it. Now rumors are swirling that French Montana and rapper Trina are an item and have also been spotted taking trips together in a private jet. I guess this is an upgrade from that time she was dating Soulja Boy. Definitely a downgrade from all her other Ballers though, but what do I know? (Baller Alert)

Around mid-September, French and his estranged wife Deen Kharbouch got into a heated exchange.

"@frenchmontana ur trying to use me to get a buzz. Your fans deserve to know the truth. They would be fans no more.," she tweeted September 10th.

"@frenchmontana abandonment is NOT cool.. Family First!"

"@DaNYCGossipGirl @frenchmontana We have been married for 6 years and NOW he brings me up???"

Prior to her comments, Montana revealed their separation and said fame ultimately caused them to break-up.

"Man, I couldn't do it; that's why we got separated," French explains. "At first it was smooth, but then as much as people think that money changes you, it's changing them around you. A person ain't gonna treat you the same now that they think that you think you somebody." (The Boom Box)

Check out Trina's interview:

Iconic Harlem Jazz Club Shutting Its Doors in December

The legendary Lenox Lounge Jazz Club will shut its doors on December 31, reports Black Enterprise.

According to the New York Amsterdam News, The Lenox Lounge, located on Lenox Avenue between 124th & 125th street which has served as a venue for jazz legends such as Billie Holiday, Miles Davis, and John Coltrane, will serve its last drink at the end of the year, marking the end of an era in Harlem.

The lounge was initially opened as a speakeasy in 1939 and rose to fame as a dinner club catering to white patrons. The main act was the Haba Haba Girls, a chorus line of black women.

After corroding for most of the 20th century, Alvin Reed purchased and restored the venue in 1988, according to The Grio.  Reed restored the original Art Deco interior including the long mahogany bar, checkered black-and-white floor and the world famous Zebra Room. The bar’s interior was returned to its original condition and served as the setting for numerous television shows and films including “American Gangster,” “Malcolm X,” and “Mad Men,” says The Grio.

“The most important thing I did for the club was to institute a jazz policy, which played a major role in bringing more customers into the club,” stated Reed. “I wanted to make a difference in Harlem, and I think my ownership of the Lenox Lounge helped me achieve that goal.”

Reed isn’t renewing his lease because he can’t afford the rent increase, which jumped from $10,000 per month to $20,000.

Attempts to find partners were unsuccessful. Reed, a native Harlem resident, said he’s disappointed to see so many area businesses closing up.

“We almost have to partner with someone from out of the community if we want to survive now,” said the retired city cop and post office worker, who claims he never made much money off the lounge.

Reed will take the iconic Lenox Lounge neon sign with him when he leaves.

"WHAT WE USED TO CALL THE STREETS, THAT'S THE INTERNET NOW"

[Each week, SOHH asks two entertainment personalities to name who they feel is the most underrated emcee in hip-hop. After Troy NoKA gave Lil' Flip the title earlier this week, Maybach Music Group's Teedra Moses crowns Big K.R.I.T. SOHH Underrated.]

Across the periods, I've listened to a lot of artists. But for this period right now, I feel that Big K.R.I.T. is extremely underrated.

I feel like he doesn't get the attention for the amazement [he brings]. He produces his own stuff. He has concepts on his mixtapes that are so different. It's 360 degrees. He's a complete person. He's not just "poppin' bottles n*gga," it's not just a lyrical dude, it's not just a n*gga riding on swag, you can see so many different people in this one person.

He's very three-dimensional. When I think more in the past, I think of someone like Papoose. He's [so good], I'm just not sure why it never connected in the way that I thought it would.

I love underground sh*t. I always feel like it's always what's next to come. I'm a mom, I've got young teenage boys and they love underground sh*t too. It's crazy because they have the same kind of ear as me.

They love Drake and Lil Wayne but they love hearing something that nobody else is on or that not a lot of people are on that they're on. It makes them feel like they're on to something that's fresh and new.

So I just try to stay [on top]. The Internet is such a great place to keep up with whatever you're interested in. I try to stay abreast with all music because there's some good underground R&B as well. I try to stay with what's going on through the Internet because I've seen what we used to call the streets, that's the Internet now.

The underground drives on the Internet now. I pay attention to what's up on the underground in hip-hop, R&B, jazz, gospel to everything because I just love music. It motivates me to stay true to what I'm doing.

Teedra Moses was born and raised in New Orleans, and relocated to California with her mother following her parents' divorce. Exposed to gospel early (her mother had once been active on the Southern church revival circuit), Moses brought a little bit of that fervor to her own vocal style when she began singing professionally. Working with producer Pauli Pol, Moses released a single, Be Your Girl, on TVT Records late in 2003, following it with another, You'll Never Find (A Better Woman), early in 2004. A gifted songwriter with a sweet and sultry voice, Moses mixed a light gospel touch with timely hip-hop-inflected neo-soul on her debut album, Complex Simplicity, released in 2004, again on TVT Records.

Check out Big K.R.I.T.'s music: