MicCheck Radio

Just Plain Cool

Sing a Sad Song

The karaoke industry has hit a sour note. A new report out today notes that since 2002, sales of home karaoke machines have dropped more than 80 percent. The only instrument that’s fared worse is the electric keyboard. In addition, karaoke parlor owners say the combination of a down economy that doesn’t encourage discretionary spending and the abundance of online singing games has put the industry in a “protracted decline.” [LA Times]

Posted 4:17 PM | Friday, March 26th, 2010 | Permalink

Tags: music

Star Gazing

Boyle Brings It In

After many years of living a very modest life, Susan Boyle of the British American Idolish fame will be making some serious bank.  Boyle became an instant sensation with her rendition of "I Dreamed a Dream." She is about to get her first royalty check, and it is serious. How about $6 million? The date also happens to be Boyle’s 49th birthday. [New York Post]

Posted 4:54 PM | Monday, March 22nd, 2010 | Permalink

Tags: tv shows, music

Just Plain Cool

Rock out in your basement, Make a buck

Who needs "American Idol?" YouTube is making a push to attract independent musicians. The new program, called Musicians Wanted, is a way for YouTube to compete with MySpace, a musician-friendly social networking website. Here's the kicker for you independent musicians out there, YouTube is offering anyone who signs up a share of the ad revenue generated by their music videos. [LA Times]

Posted 3:58 PM | Wednesday, March 17th, 2010 | Permalink

Tags: music

Right Wing Wackiness

Source: flickr/tomjoad

Born in… some terrorist country?

You don't mess with The Boss.  Looks like Glen Beck didn't get the memo.

A song that's been played over speakers at hundreds of campaign rallies, vibrated in the space between drinks at everyone's favorite bar and set millions of heads nodding from radio stations coast to coast -- a piece of music that is literally stitched into the fabric of American blue-collar culture, Bruce Springsteen's "Born in the USA" -- is, according to right-wing pundit Glenn Beck, "anti-American" and "propaganda" that people must "wake up" from. [Rawstory]

Posted 4:02 PM | Friday, March 12th, 2010 | Permalink

Tags: glenn beck, music

Star Gazing

Source: flickr/wojciech.felendzerr

Anna Nicole, The Opera

Move over, Figaro, there's a new opera in town. Mark your calendars for next February 17 for the Royal Opera's debut of their new performance of..."Anna Nicole, The Opera." The opera will star Dutch soprano Eva-Maria Westbroek  in the role of the former Playboy model. [CBS News]

Posted 10:13 PM | Wednesday, March 10th, 2010 | Permalink

Tags: wacky news, music, celeb unfiltered

Just Plain Cool

Source: flickr/jcgerm

Warren, You’re Off The Hook

After decades of speculation over who Carly Simon was singing about in her classic "You're So Vain" (Warren Beatty? Cat Stevens? Mick Jagger?) we have another huge piece of the puzzle. In a recent interview, Simon said in her newest renditino of the song, "There's a little whisper — and it's the answer to the puzzle." And the unlucky guy is...David Geffen, the head of Carly's record label at the time. (Yes, you're right, Geffen is gay. Simon isn't mad about a failed relationship, but rather that he ignored her while heavily promoting her rival, Joni Mitchell.) [Vanity Fair]

Posted 2:47 PM | Friday, February 26th, 2010 | Permalink

Tags: music