50 Cent fined over headphone dispute
Federal court records show that rapper 50 Cent has been ordered to pay a Bradenton earphone manufacturer more than $16 million in connection with a failed partnership to produce the entertainer’s line of headphones.
The Bradenton Herald reported that 50 Cent, whose real name is Curtis Jackson III, was ordered to pay Sleek Audio nearly $4.5 million in attorney fees and $11.7 million in damages.
Records allege that Jackson, a Sleek partner, stole the designs of over-the-ear headphones he asked the company to conceptualize and manufacture. Jackson has been selling headphones of a similar design under the 50-Over line with another manufacturer.
Lorde among top BMA contenders
Newcomers Lorde and Imagine Dragons are the top contenders at next month’s Billboard Music Awards.
The breakthrough acts are finalists in 12 categories, thanks to Lorde’s Grammy-winning multiplatinum hit “Royals” and Imagine Dragons’ “Radioactive,” also a multiplatinum Grammy winner. Those smashes are nominated for top Hot 100 song against Robin Thicke’s “Blurred Lines,” Katy Perry’s “Roar” and Miley Cyrus’ “Wrecking Ball.”
Imagine Dragons is also up for top artist and will battle Cyrus, Perry, Bruno Mars and Justin Timberlake, who is nominated for 11 awards.
Timberlake’s “The 20/20 Experience,” last year’s best-selling album, will compete against efforts from Beyonce, Eminem, Drake and Luke Bryan for top Billboard 200 album.
The 2014 Billboard Music Awards will air live on ABC from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on May 18.
Journey vocalist creating solo work
Arnel Pineda said he’s been putting together an album of his own compositions in his own voice to release this year, but he quashed rumors that he’s gearing up to leave the American rock band Journey.
The Filipino singer and Journey lead vocalist said he will stay as long as the band needs him. Pineda also dismissed talk of a possible band reunion with former lead singer Steve Perry.
The singer has been involved in charity projects in the Philippines. Having risen from poverty, he said it was his obligation to help those who struggle with difficulties he experienced.
Pineda, now 46, was once a homeless teenager in Manila who at 15 started singing professionally with small bands. He found success after Journey guitarist Neal Schon discovered him in 2007 on YouTube singing hits of Perry and sounding strikingly like him.
The birthday bunch
Actor Omar Sharif is 82. Sportscaster John Madden is 78. Actor Steven Seagal is 63. Rock singer Brian Setzer is 55. Rapper Afrika Bambaataa is 54. Actor-comedian Orlando Jones is 46. Rapper Q-Tip (aka Kamaal) is 44. Singer Mandy Moore is 30. Actor Barkhad Abdi (“Captain Phillips”) is 29. Actor Haley Joel Osment is 26.