www.classicwhitney.com - Archive Newsfile

MTV 20...

MTV UK will air their 20th Anniversary special, Everybody Talk About Pop Music on Wednesday 1 August 2001. The special features an exclusive interview with Whitney Houston and also features Bobby Brown, Destiny's Child and Mariah Carey who speak of Whitney's impact.

This is how MTV UK's programming for the week's celebrations will appear:

Wednesday, August 1
10am: Top 10 @ 10 Pop Performances
1pm: MTV 20 Top 100 Countdown
6pm: MTV 20 Everybody Talk About Pop Music
10pm: MTV 20 Top 100 Countdown
1am: MTV 20 Live & Almost Legal

Thursday, August 2
10am: Top 10 @ 10 Rock Performances
11am: MTV 20 Everybody Talk About Pop Music
1pm: MTV 20: Top 100 Countdown
10pm: MTV 20: Top 100 Countdown

Friday, August 3
10am: Top 10 @ 10 Hip Hop/R&B Performances
1pm: MTV 20: Top 100 Countdown
10pm: MTV 20: Top 100 Countdown
1am: MTV 20's Most Outrageous Moments

Saturday, August 4
9pm: MTV 20: Live & Almost Legal Repeat
11pm: MTV 20: Laugh Track

Sunday, August 5
7pm: MTV 20: Top 20
9pm: MTV 20: Most Outrageous Moments

Mailing List...

The Classic Whitney Mailing List Is Moving!

If you're an existing subscriber, you will receive notification in the next few days to confirm you subscription to the new list.

If you are not an existing subscriber or don't want to wait for the notification, please click the Mailing List image below and send the blank email form that it produces. You will receive confirmation that you have subscribed after a few minutes.

USA Today...

During this week, USA Today will feature interviews with stars from The Princess Diaries including Julie Andrews and Anne Hathaway in the build up to the movie's US release on 3 August 2001.

[Thanks Alicia C.]

NEWSFILE: 29 JULY 2001

Billboard Sales Information...

It's not often this information is made available: the latest week's Billboard sales scan numbers for Whitney Houston (chart week ending 4 August 2001):

Top 200 Singles Sales
No.161- It's Not Right But It's Okay - 477 units
No.192- My Love Is Your Love - 387 units

Year-to-Date Top 200 Singles Sales
No.196- It's Not Right But It's Okay - 12,716 units

Albums
Top R&B Albums
No.120- The Greatest Hits- 2,837 units
(Last Week: No.119, - 2,917 units)

[Thanks Jim R.]

Princess Diaries Press Release...

World Premiere of Walt Disney Pictures' THE PRINCESS DIARIES

WHO: From the film: Julie Andrews, Anne Hathaway, Hector Elizondo, Caroline Goodall, Heather Matarazzo, Robert Schwartzman, Mandy Moore, Erik Von Detton, Mindy Burbano, director Garry Marshall, and producers Whitney Houston, Debra Martin Chase and Mario Iscovich

Other guests include: Melissa Joan Hart, Kirsten Dunst, Frankie Muniz, Charlotte Church, Jennifer Love Hewitt, Dana Delany, David Hasselhoff, Priscilla Presley, Mimi Kennedy, Mae Whitman, Taryn Manning, Evan Rachel Wood, Michelle Trachtenberg, Justin Berfield, Alex Linz, Lindsey Haun, Jonathan Lipnicki, Bree Turner, Sean Astin, Raven-Symone, A.J. Trauth, Alia Shawkat and more...

WHAT: To celebrate the opening of Walt Disney Pictures' THE PRINCESS DIARIES
WHEN: Sunday, July 29, 2001 WHERE: El Capitan Theatre 12:00 PM Press Arrivals 6838 Hollywood Boulevard 1:00 PM Celebrity Arrivals Hollywood 2:00 PM Screening
For Media Inquiries only, please contact: Print & Photo: E. Wolfe/J. Hare, +1-818-560-5781, or Broadcast: A. Ludwig/R. Stankevich, +1-818-560-1217.

Shy San Francisco teenager Mia Thermopolis (ANNE HATHAWAY) is thrown for a loop when, from out of the blue, she learns the astonishing news that she's a real-life princess! As the heir apparent to the crown of the small European principality of Genovia, Mia begins a comical journey toward the throne when her strict and formidable grandmother, Queen Clarisse Renaldi (JULIE ANDREWS), shows up to give her "princess lessons." The two instantly clash. Mia has no intention of leaving her normal life to become the ruler of a far-off country, while her grandmother insists it is her duty. Clarisse is determined to do a complete makeover of this sparkling -- if not polished -- diamond in the rough in order that she take her rightful place in the royal line of succession. Now, the reluctant princess must make the biggest decision of her life whether to remain with her family and explore a budding romance with her best friend's brother Michael (ROBERT SCHWARTZMAN) or to leave everything behind to accept the royal responsibilities that comes with being the Princess of Genovia.

WALT DISNEY PICTURES' THE PRINCESS DIARIES opens nationwide Friday, August 3, 2001

NEWSFILE: 27 JULY 2001

Princess Premiere...

Whitney Houston is scheduled to attend the world premiere of 'The Princess Diaries', the new movie she has co-produced with Disney as part of BrownHouse. The premiere will be on Sunday 29 July 2001 at the El Capitan Theater in Hollywood.

The movie will be released throughout North America on 3 August 2001.

Style Vs. Substance...

Billboard Magazine (issue 28 July 2001) features a 'round table' interview/discussion with three record label executives debating the challenge of major label A&R. Discussing issues are Dave Novik (senior VP of A&R at RCA), Keith Naftaly (senior VP of A&R at J Records) and Ben Goldman (senior VP of A&R at Epic).

Billboard: Which is preferable, working with self-contained rock band or a pop artist who needs guidance?

Dave Novik: It's comforting to find a band, love them, love their material, and have them deliver a record that you can release. It's certainly easier than having one act that requires 10 producers and 10 songs.

Keith Naftaly: Taking on a singer, even an extraordinarily gifted one, without producer-attached hits in the bag is a huge hassle. There are not a lot of crazy-hot smash records just floating around. It's nasty out there. But once you score a victory in that minefield, there are few rushes that are comparable.

Billboard: On that note, what do you view as your finest moment so far?

Keith Naftaly: Whitney Houston's My Love Is Your Love album was a triumph. It brought her into the present with pure finesse. We made that record really quickly, and she rose to the occasion. I'll never forget being in the Hit Factory with Rodney Jerkins working on songs in one room and Wyclef Jean working on a track in another. Then we had Missy Elliott upstairs working on her tracks. And there was Whitney, literally running from room to room, working with each producer, giving her all to each track. It was truly surreal.

Billboard Changes...

As part of a major redesign, Billboard Magazine has reduced the size of it's Maxi-Singles Sales chart from the Top 50 positions to a new Top 25. For the chart week ending 28 July 2001), Whitney Houston's My Love Is Your Love maxi-single drops from the Top 25. Last week, the song was No.15 (39 weeks on chart).

Birthday Board...

The Whitney Houston Platinum Club have devised a bulletin board specifically for birthday greetings to Whitney.

You can follow this link to leave your own message to Whitney before her birthday on 9 August 2001.

People...

People Magazine

Whitney Houston is pictured on the cover of the new issue of People Magazine marking the 20th anniversary of MTV in addition to a picture with Will Smith and Stevie Wonder inside the magazine.

NEWSFILE: 24 JULY 2001

MTV 20...

Screen captures from MTV's 20th anniversary special at the weekend.

Whitney's Comments: In addition to MTV's profile for Whitney, they also spoke to her about a variety of music-related subjects and included clips of her interview throughout the one-hour program. She also softly sang one line of Wham!'s "Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go" and Destiny's Child's "Survivor." Here are Whitney's various quotes from the show:

- "I do remember the hassle of introducing Black artists to MTV, because let's face it, it was solely for White artists at that point. But again, you have to be outstanding to break down the walls, and Michael [Jackson] and some others are outstanding."

- "Martha Wash was the singer on that record [C&C Music Factory's 'Gonna Make You Sweat'], and when we saw the video, we saw a very cute little dark-skinned child singing the song, which we knew it wasn't her. You made this hit song off this woman's voice. How come we can't see her? Shame, shame, shame. Shame on you."

- "Hip hop is a culture. It has crossed the colour boundaries like Rock & Roll."

- "MTV, Happy Birthday to you. Thank you for the years, and the love and support."

Bobby Brown also was interviewed for the show and said, "Who sings a pop song better than my wife?" MTV also noted how New Kids On The Block was "strangely similar" to New Edition, covering how producer Maurice Starr specifically replicated the group with White singers to make more money. New Kids On The Block skyrocketed as a result. "MTV had finally had a group that were singing Black, sounded Black, and it was a carbon copy of New Edition," Bobby said. Chilli of TLC added, "It was like, hello?! No, they're doing the same thing that New Edition did, and they're getting all the success, and all the fame, and all the glory from it, and it's so unfair."

MTV 20: Germany...

There is a poll at the MTV Germany website where fans can vote for the best songs of each of the 20 MTV years.

Whitney is nominated in the following years:

1986 for How Will I Know
1987 for I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)
1988 for One Moment In Time
1993 for I Will Always Love You
1999 for My Love Is Your Love

The 5 best clips of every year are shown in a special TV-show.

To place your votes supporting Whitney, just follow this link. Voting is very easy - just click on the year, click on the Whitney song listed and it'll register your vote and take you back to the individual years selection to place your votes in another year.

[Thanks Clemens]

Billboard Update...

The Billboard update for the week ending 21 July 2001:

MY LOVE IS YOUR LOVE:
Maxi-Singles Sales - Down to No.15 (from No.10) - 39 weeks on chart.

NEWSFILE: 16 JULY 2001

Contract Re-Negotiation...

[From New York Daily News Business Section]

Arista Chief Looks To Reverse Slide

Arista's new chief Antonio (L.A.) Reid has had an off-key debut year and it looks like the numbers are going to show it.

Industry sources estimate the prominent label posted a loss of as much as $45 million compared to a profit of $50 million in the previous year as the label scaled back its release schedule and signed up new artists.

But now, Reid's hoping the likes of P. Diddy — whose latest album hit stores yesterday — as well as Usher, Baby Face and TLC will spark a resurgence for the BMG-owned record label.

Reid walked into one of the most scrutinized jobs in the music industry exactly one year ago, when he took over the helm at Arista from legendary music man Clive Davis.

Not only did he have to prove himself to be the right successor to Arista founder Davis, Reid was forced to rebuild a company whose artist roster and executive ranks were raided by Davis when he left the company.

It hasn't been easy so far.

Beyond its past losses, Arista's expenses are about to balloon further. The label is finalizing a new contract with pop diva Whitney Houston that will cost Arista more than $50 million, industry insiders said.

Meanwhile, Reid's predecessor, Davis, is on a hot streak at his new company, J Records, also owned by BMG.

J Records boasts the country's No. 1 album from singer Alicia Keys — a Davis find who ditched Arista when Reid took over. While startup J Records continues to lose money, its early chart success marks a vindication for Davis, who was forced out of Arista by BMG's top brass in favor of Reid.

Reid acknowledged that he's just completed "a transition year." But he predicted the tide is about to change with a slate of promising albums, starting with yesterday's release of Sean Combs' "P.Diddy and the Bad Boy Family...The Saga Continues" from Arista's joint venture label Bad Boy Entertainment.

Arista insiders said they expect the album to hit at least the top five on the pop charts next week. But music insiders said the album — which was not released to music critics in advance — might be hurt by the barrage of negative headlines that hit Combs before his recent acquittal on gun possession and bribery charges.

Even so, Reid is still banking on big releases from artists like Usher and Baby Face, both of whom now have hot singles.

"In the coming year Arista will have some big records," said Marc Pollack, of music industry Web site Hitsdailydouble.com, who gives Reid credit for signing artists like hard rock band Adema.

"We have the No.1, 2, and 3 singles in the country," Reid said. "I'm extremely optimistic that we'll have huge success with our upcoming releases."

[Thanks Chris B.]

Auction...

Disney Auctions Makes it Easier Than Ever to Look Like Your Favorite Star!

WHO: Always keen to meet the needs of collectors, Disney Auctions (www.disneyauctions.com) is center stage again with its newest auction items -- and this time they have chosen pieces straight from the wardrobes of your favorite celebrities!

Disney Auctions has carefully picked costume wigs used by some of Hollywood's hottest stars and will be offering them to the public through an online auction at www.disneyauctions.com.

WHAT: Auction highlights include:

-- Infamous black and white Cruella De Vil (portrayed by Glenn Close) wig from "102 Dalmatians"

-- Winifred "Winnie" Sanderson's (portrayed by Emmy winner and two-time Oscar nominee Bette Midler) wickedly witchly wig from "Hocus Pocus"

-- Rob Gordon' s (portrayed by John Cusak) classically puffed '80s wig from "High Fidelity"

-- Madison the Mermaid's (portrayed by Daryl Hannah) wig from "Splash"

-- The Fairy Godmother (portrayed by Grammy winner Whitney Houston) wig from "Cinderella"

-- Helen "Mama" Boucher (portrayed by Oscar winner Kathy Bates) wig from "The Waterboy"

WHEN: These items will be up for auction from July 9 to 16 at www.disneyauctions.com.

Disney Auctions (www.disneyauctions.com) presented by eBay is an online marketplace from Walt Disney Internet Group and eBay (NASDAQ:EBAY). Disney Auctions features authentic, rare and one-of-a-kind Disney collectibles and memorabilia from every aspect of Disney's fabled entertainment legacy.

[Entertainment Wire]

NEWSFILE: 11 JULY 2001

Super Group Rumour...

[From LA Times]

Destiny's Trials
By Geoff Boucher:

"With the group ubiquitous on MTV, in magazines and on the radio, the question of over-saturation is an obvious one. Mathew Knowles says there is no such thing, that the group will pounce on any deal that makes sense and money. And on this Tuesday there is no dearth of new offers. Will Beyonc� consider joining Whitney Houston, Celine Dion and Faith Hill for an all-star song? "Yes," he tells the caller. "If they are in, she is in." Will Destiny's Child sing a song in Spanish for the overseas market? "No," he says, "that's a stretch for them, a risk." Will the group consider a sponsorship relationship with Canada's MuchMusic channel? "No," he says, because that would conflict with the deals with MTV, the marketing behemoth that is sending Destiny's Child on the road on a summer tour."

[Thanks Dave W.]

Italian Style...

Whitney Houston is reported to be the special guest for the Italian TV show, Donna Sotto le Stelle as part of the most influential TV Fashion Show in Italy. She will be the 'Super Top Model' for Roberto Cavalli and will be wearing what has been described as a 'surprise dress' designed by the Italian Stylist.

The show will be broadcast from Rome's Piazza di Spagna on 18 July will air on Channel 5 on the Italian TV network.

Other stylists of the evening will be Armani, Valentino, D&G, Versace and Ferr� to name but a few.

Other featured guests of the evening will be Geri Halliwell who will perform. Whitney is not scheduled to sing at the event.

[Thanks Mario]

Billboard Update...

The Billboard update for the week ending 14 July 2001:

MY LOVE IS YOUR LOVE:
Maxi-Singles Sales - Up to No.10 (from No.32) with bullet - 38 weeks on chart.

NEWSFILE: 7 JULY 2001

Michael Jackson...

Exclusive: Michael Jackson's First Mainland Performance in Over 11 Years- ``Michael Jackson: 30th Anniversary Celebration, the Solo Years'' to Take Place September 7th and 10th At Madison Square Garden

NEW YORK--(ENTERTAINMENT WIRE)--July 2, 2001--

Performers Set for an All-Star Salute to ``Michael Jackson: 30th Anniversary Celebration, the Solo Years`` Friday, September 7, 2001 & Monday, September 10, 2001 At Madison Square Garden; Jackson's First Live Mainland Performance in Eleven Years to Coincide With Epic Records Release of ``Invincible.''; Jacksons to Reunite for Tribute.

``An all-star salute to `The King Of Pop', MICHAEL JACKSON: 30TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION, THE SOLO YEARS has been set for two dates, Friday, September 7, 2001 and Monday, September 10, 2001 at Madison Square Garden at 7:40 P.M.,'' announced David Gest, producer of the event.

According to Gest, tickets to the public will go on sale Thursday, July 26th through the Madison Square Garden Box Office and Ticketmaster for both performances. Ticket prices for the concert only will range from $45.00 to $500.00 per seat. The event will mark Michael Jackson's first live performance on a mainland stage in eleven years. He will debut a new single from his first Epic Records release, titled ``Invincible,'' in more than five years. Jackson will also reunite on both nights with his brothers The Jacksons (Michael, Jackie, Tito, Marlon, Jermaine and Randy) for the first time in twenty years. The Jacksons will perform a medley of their Motown and Epic Records hits as well as sing a Jackson 5 classic with pop supergroup `N Sync. Jackson will also perform a number of his greatest hits. According to Gest, in addition to Michael Jackson and The Jacksons the line-ups are as follows:

Friday, September 7, 2001 (alphabetically): Marc Anthony; Ray Charles; Deborah Cox; Gloria Estefan; Billy Gilman; Whitney Houston; James Ingram; Quincy Jones & The Legends Of Jazz including Al Jarreau, Ramsey Lewis, Herbie Mann, Les McCann, David ``Fathead'' Newman, Jimmy Smith, Clark Terry & Cassandra Wilson; Mya; `N Sync; Jill Scott; Shaggy featuring Ricardo ``Rikrok'' Ducent & Rayvon; Britney Spears; Tamia; 3T; Usher and many surprise guests.

Monday, September 10, 2001 (alphabetically): Marc Anthony; Mary J. Blige; Deborah Cox; Missy ``Misdemeanor'' Elliott; Gloria Gaynor; Al Jarreau; Gladys Knight; Lil' Romeo; Ricky Martin; Mya; 98(0); Diana Ross; Jill Scott; Usher; Luther Vandross; Dionne Warwick and many surprise guests.

The evening, a World Events LLC production, will be filmed as a two-hour primetime special for the CBS Television Network as well as being shown throughout the world. Both evenings will feature a forty-eight piece orchestra and twelve background singers. There will also be a three-hundred member gospel choir, a two-hundred member children's choir and a forty member dance ensemble. According to Jackson, ``I am very excited to celebrate my 30th anniversary as a solo artist with such an illustrious roster of talent and so many of my friends from the entertainment world. What makes this event even more rewarding is that my fans will be flying in from around the world. I look forward to performing live and reuniting with my brothers on these two very special nights.''

According to Joel Peresman, Senior Vice President of Radio City Entertainment, ``all of us at Madison Square Garden are thrilled to be the host for MICHAEL JACKSON: 30th ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION, THE SOLO YEARS, which will truly be a historic event for not only Madison Square Garden but for New York City.''

Chairmen for the event are: Alfred R. Berkeley lll (Vice Chairman, Nasdaq), Jeff Bezos (Founder & CEO, Amazon.Com), Whitney Houston, Sean Lennon, Yoko Ono Lennon, Liza Minnelli, Leslie Moonves (President & CEO, CBS), Liam Neeson, Veronique and Gregory Peck, Elizabeth Taylor and David Weild (Executive Vice President, Nasdaq). They will host a Champagne & Caviar Dinner in honor of Michael Jackson at Tavern On The Green following the concert on Friday, September 7, 2001. Limited seats for the exclusive all-star dinner (which features a carnival) including preferred seating for the concert at Madison Square Garden are available by calling the special reservations line at (323) 980-7964.

More than two hundred stars from the motion picture, television, recording and sports fields will join together for this special celebration in honor of Jackson. Dignitaries from around the globe will also participate in the event. American Airlines has been set as the ``official airline'' for the event. According to Gest, ``Michael is very excited about this event and is already at work creating innovative and trend-setting dance routines for these shows. It was thirty years ago this September that Michael released his first solo record on Motown, ''Got To Be There.`` That tune went gold and Michael has never looked back. He has had an unprecedented career as a recording artist: with the Jackson 5 he recorded seventeen top forty hits, four of which went to number one; with The Jacksons he recorded seven top forty hits and on his own has had thirty-six top forty hits, including thirteen number one records. Throughout the world he has sold more records than any other solo artist in the last three decades.''

Jackson's 1982 ``Thriller'' album, with sales of over 46 million copies, is the best selling album in history by a solo artist. He has won twelve Grammy Awards as well as a Grammy Living Legend Award in 1993. He is also the youngest entertainer to be inducted into the Rock & Rock Hall Of Fame twice, first as a member of the Jackson 5 and the second time as a solo performer in March of this year.

NEWSFILE: 3 JULY 2001