Friday, July 29, 2005
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal
NORM: Singer: What payola scheme?
Robin Williams, above, and Dennis Miller, below, are out of Andre Agassi's 10th Grand Slam for Children.
Mary J. Blige, above, and George Lopez, below, will be part of the Oct. 1 gala lineup at the MGM Grand.
|
Celine Dion had no knowledge of her record company's payola scheme to boost sales, husband/manager Rene Angelil said Thursday.
"We absolutely know nothing about that," Angelil said in a telephone interview from Montreal.
Sony BMG Music, whose stable of recording artists includes Dion, Jennifer Lopez, Aretha Franklin, OutKast, Pink, Sarah McLachlan and Jessica Simpson, has agreed to pay a $10 million settlement after a New York attorney general's investigation alleged that radio station employees were paid to play certain artists.
Asked if he was aware of Sony BMG's strategies to pump airplay, Angelil said, "Our job is to deliver a good product, and their job is to sell it. I don't know any more than you do. The first I knew of it was when I read it (in a newspaper)."
Agassi lineup
A tamed-down comedic lineup has been announced for Andre Agassi's 10th Grand Slam for Children at the MGM Grand.
Most notably absent from the Oct. 1 lineup announced Thursday is Robin Williams, who has been a fixture but in recent years has gone to bluer material.
Also apparently missing for the second year in a row is Dennis Miller, whose political riffs two years ago triggered an angry outburst from Elton John during the closing act.
The gala lineup: Dion, Mary J. Blige, Duran Duran, Earth, Wind & Fire and George Lopez.
Tickets go on sale today at 10 a.m. at the MGM Grand Garden Arena box office and at Ticketmaster locations (Tower Records/WOW!, select Smith's Food and Drug Centers, Robinsons-May stores and Ritmo Latino). Ticket sales are limited to eight per person.
To charge by phone with a credit card, call MGM Grand Reservations at 800-929-1111/702-891-7777 or Ticketmaster at (702) 474-4000. Tickets also are available for purchase at www.mgmgrand.com or www.ticketmaster.com.
Sightings
Vin Diesel, celebrating at Tangerine (Treasure Island) after receiving the Male Star of the Year award Wednesday at the Video Software Dealers Association convention at the Bellagio. Patrick Swayze took home the Independent Career Achievement Award. ... Britney Spears' hubby, Kevin Federline, window-shopping at the Wynn on Wednesday with three bodyguards while Britney got extensions and her hair colored at the salon. She was seen getting in a limo with a towel around her head, on her way to the Hard Rock Hotel, where she and Federline have been staying. ... The Beach Boys, performing a private concert at the Golden Nugget on Thursday night. ... Actor Luke Perry, hanging with Jason Wooten, the lead from "We Will Rock You" (Paris Las Vegas), on Wednesday night. ... "The Average Joe" cast, at the Rainbow Bar & Grill on Wednesday to watch the finale. Las Vegan Anna Chuboda picked Nathan over Rocky. ... Sammy Hagar, buying shots of Sammy's Cabo Wabo Tequila at Agave after shooting a commercial for Team Ford with members of the "X" girls cast. ... Las Vegan Nick McGough, on Fox's "So You Think You Can Dance" on Wednesday night.
May I recommend ...
Michael and Sean Corrigan's Agave Mexican Restaurant, 10820 W. Charleston Blvd., offers a spicy 24-7 option. Full menu from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., with tacos (fish, carnitas, marinated goat, pork and rock shrimp, $11-$13) after 11. For more information: 214-3500
The Punch Line
"Wal-Mart plans to open 90 stores in China. One will be a superstore called the Great Wal-Mart of China." -- Jay Leno
Norm Clarke can be reached at 383-0244 or norm@reviewjournal.com.
