My '80s' ladies: Sheena Easton, Juice Newton, Kim Wilde, Madonna, Olivia Newton-John... and the late Laura Branigan.
Saturday, July 4, 2009
Happy Birthday Laura Branigan
My '80s' ladies: Sheena Easton, Juice Newton, Kim Wilde, Madonna, Olivia Newton-John... and the late Laura Branigan.
Leah Watkins Bday Partee
Former Billboard workmate Rashaun Hall hosted a bday party for his wifee Leah Watkins at the Brooklyn Heights maxi pad of Laura Goldberg June 11. Just got pics yesterday. Nice to see how the evening ended (i.e.: no mas vino para Chuck).
Friday, July 3, 2009
Whitney: Don't Call It A Comeback... Cause It Ain't
Whitney Houston's "I Didn't Know My Own Strength" is out! Now let's put it back, please. The Diane Warren power ballad is a painful display of the permanent damage inflicted to Whit's vocal chords. She's hoarse, devoid of the money notes we might've heard a decade ago and just sounds impotent and strained. I'm just sad.
Yours For Only $38 Million!
The house of your dreams has just arrived on the market in Franklin, Tenn., outside of Nashville, Tenn. Six bedrooms, eight bathrooms and a total of 18,622 Sq Ft on 135 Acres. Negotiable for a mere $38 million, cool cats! I hesitate to even share here, for fear of a bidding war. Some property detes: bordered by the Harpeth River, surrounded by equestrian estates. Stocked 10-acre lake w/boathouse & 3 ponds. 20-car garage, gymnasium, 2-bedroom log cabin overlooking river, barn with 2-bedroom apt. above. Built in 1997. 20 rooms. Most important: Microwave is included. See it here.
Time Will Tell
Okay, I get it... only old people wear watches anymore, since cell phones offer a clock that's already glued to most folks' right hand... but I happen to still refer to my left wrist habitually. And I'm digging Casio's Gemmy Dial, part of its Baby-G line, which come in two flavors, one with a full LCD screen and the other with traditional watch hands. Both come in blue, orange and pink. Sadly, at present, they're only offered in Japan, for a startlingly dumb-ass price of 11,500 Yen to 15,000 Yen ($118 to $154). I just don't think time is worth that much anymore.
"Words Neatly Arranged": Who's Hiring?
Major revamp of my resume tonight... totally rethought presentation and formatting. Let's see if anyone bites (hint, hint).
CHUCK TAYLOR
CAREER
BILLBOARD MAGAZINE/BILLBOARD.COM, New York, 1995-2009.
Profiled more than 500 entertainers and music executives, including Elton John, Paul McCartney, Celine Dion, Tony Bennett, Britney Spears, ABBA, Bette Midler, James Taylor, Carrie Underwood, Gloria Estefan, Luther Vandross, Olivia Newton-John… Clive Davis, Tommy Mottola, Ahmet Ertegun…
Senior Correspondent. Reported, wrote entrepreneurial music business trend stories, artist profiles, spot news, scoops for industry’s leading online/weekly print trade publication. 2003-2009.
Single Reviews Editor. Lead critic: Wrote, assigned, edited critiques of pop, urban/hip hop, country, rock, triple-A, dance, AC, Christian radio releases. 1998-2009.
Host Billboard Radio online countdown; 485,000 hits per week. 1999-2006.
Senior Editor Features/Music Editor. Writing, copy flow, deadlines, line editing, headlines, artwork, proofing, style/grammar; assisted managing editor with content direction; synergy between edit/copy desk/production; conceived and wrote BackBeat society page; news and feature reporting for multiple sections. 2001-2003.
Senior Writer. Conceived, reported, wrote feature-length page 1 enterprise stories on industry trends and personalities. Spot newswriting at deadline. Liaison on all coverage and voice of publication with Editor in Chief. 2000-2001.
Radio Editor/Columnist. Commandeered five-page section on radio programming’s impact on the music business; editing, production, newswriting for other sections; launched weekly “AirWaves” column, comprising artist profiles and industry perspective on hit records: third most-read column in the magazine. 1995-2000.
RADIO & RECORDS/R&R.COM, New York, 2006-2009.
Senior Editor, Features/Managing Editor Billboard Radio Monitor/billboardradiomonitor.com. Integral role in transitioning Billboard’s 2006 buyout of heritage radio industry weekly (R&R). Breaking news for 24/7 Web sites, in-depth coverage of broadcast issues, intensive line editing, proofing. Oversaw copy flow, enforced deadlines, staff tutorials in style, consistency and voice. 2004-2009.
AC Format Editor/Columnist. Feature coverage, industry ambassador for nation’s leading adult contemporary radio programmers and personalities. 2006-2007.
RADIO WORLD NEWSPAPERS, Washington, D.C., 1988-1995.
Editor Tuned In magazine. Conceived content, timbre of radio management/programming monthly. All editing, production, budget, editor’s column. A one-man show. 1994-1995. Managing Editor Radio World International (RWI). Direction of management/technology bi-weekly, editing, production, design. Columnist of “USAirplay” on stateside radio programming trends in RWI and Radio World (RW). Reporter RWI/RW. Coverage of FCC, business, technology, industry trends.
WASHINGTON BUSINESS JOURNAL, Arlington, Va., 1985-1988.
Sections Editor/Reporter. Wrote, edited, designed weekly focus sections on regional industries, from media and finance to real estate; media and regional business news.
FUND FOR AMERICAN STUDIES, Washington, D.C., 1984-1985.
Director American Political Journalism Conference, Faculty/Director Institute on Political Journalism. Lined up Washington media elite as speakers, recruited 100 students for Georgetown University-affiliated programs.
ON-AIR RADIO PERSONALITY, Lynchburg, Va. 1980-1983.
The market’s top-rated country WWOD-AM and sister AC WKZZ-FM.
RELATED
Voting member NARAS (Grammy Awards).
Active on Facebook, Twitter, blogging (“The Smoking Nun”:
chucktaylorblog.blogspot.com).
Media commentator on ABC’s “20/20” (‘N Sync), CNN (Radio technology), “CBS
Evening News” (Michael Jackson), A&E’s “Biography” (Donny & Marie Osmond,
Wahlberg Brothers, Celine Dion, Vanilla Ice, Shaun Cassidy), VH1’s “Behind the
Music” (Celine Dion), “E! True Hollywood Story” (Celine Dion, Janet Jackson, Nelly
Furtado), MTV, BBC, NPR, many more.
Quoted in The New York Times, USA Today, Time, London Observer, Boston Globe,
Christian Science Monitor, Parade, TV Guide, Seventeen, People, Us, Chicago
Tribune, Entertainment Weekly, many more.
Published songwriter, affiliated with Young Pals Music/BMI.
Authored liner notes for 2008 reissue of Celine Dion’s “A New Day Has Come,”
2007 “These Are Special Times,” 2005 “N Sync Greatest Hits,” two dozen Time-Life
compilations. Wrote foreword for Celine Dion biography Passion Celine (2002).
Participation in charity music event for New York’s Ronald McDonald House.
Entertainment correspondent BBC Radio (2002-2004).
Editor In Chief, initiating all editorial content for Web start-up WeLoveFreeMusic.com.
Full chapter interview in How to Get a Job in the Music Industry, by Keith Hatschek/
Berklee College of Music, second edition (2007).
Contributor Musichound Lounge—The Essential Album Guide (1998).
“Single Slice” columnist Pro Audio Review magazine (2001-2005).
News, feature reporter for Lynchburg, Va., News & Daily Advance (1983-1984).
Society of Professional Journalists award for spot news reporting.
Proficiency in Quark (QPS), Teamsite Web posting, intimate knowledge of AP Style.
No relation to Converse All-Star sneakers: “I’m the other Chuck Taylor.”
Clips and bio available: wordsneatlyarranged.blogspot.com.
EDUCATION
James Madison University, Harrisonburg, Va., Bachelor’s degree in journalism/speech, English minor, cum laude.
CHUCK TAYLOR
CAREER
BILLBOARD MAGAZINE/BILLBOARD.COM, New York, 1995-2009.
Profiled more than 500 entertainers and music executives, including Elton John, Paul McCartney, Celine Dion, Tony Bennett, Britney Spears, ABBA, Bette Midler, James Taylor, Carrie Underwood, Gloria Estefan, Luther Vandross, Olivia Newton-John… Clive Davis, Tommy Mottola, Ahmet Ertegun…
Senior Correspondent. Reported, wrote entrepreneurial music business trend stories, artist profiles, spot news, scoops for industry’s leading online/weekly print trade publication. 2003-2009.
Single Reviews Editor. Lead critic: Wrote, assigned, edited critiques of pop, urban/hip hop, country, rock, triple-A, dance, AC, Christian radio releases. 1998-2009.
Host Billboard Radio online countdown; 485,000 hits per week. 1999-2006.
Senior Editor Features/Music Editor. Writing, copy flow, deadlines, line editing, headlines, artwork, proofing, style/grammar; assisted managing editor with content direction; synergy between edit/copy desk/production; conceived and wrote BackBeat society page; news and feature reporting for multiple sections. 2001-2003.
Senior Writer. Conceived, reported, wrote feature-length page 1 enterprise stories on industry trends and personalities. Spot newswriting at deadline. Liaison on all coverage and voice of publication with Editor in Chief. 2000-2001.
Radio Editor/Columnist. Commandeered five-page section on radio programming’s impact on the music business; editing, production, newswriting for other sections; launched weekly “AirWaves” column, comprising artist profiles and industry perspective on hit records: third most-read column in the magazine. 1995-2000.
RADIO & RECORDS/R&R.COM, New York, 2006-2009.
Senior Editor, Features/Managing Editor Billboard Radio Monitor/billboardradiomonitor.com. Integral role in transitioning Billboard’s 2006 buyout of heritage radio industry weekly (R&R). Breaking news for 24/7 Web sites, in-depth coverage of broadcast issues, intensive line editing, proofing. Oversaw copy flow, enforced deadlines, staff tutorials in style, consistency and voice. 2004-2009.
AC Format Editor/Columnist. Feature coverage, industry ambassador for nation’s leading adult contemporary radio programmers and personalities. 2006-2007.
RADIO WORLD NEWSPAPERS, Washington, D.C., 1988-1995.
Editor Tuned In magazine. Conceived content, timbre of radio management/programming monthly. All editing, production, budget, editor’s column. A one-man show. 1994-1995. Managing Editor Radio World International (RWI). Direction of management/technology bi-weekly, editing, production, design. Columnist of “USAirplay” on stateside radio programming trends in RWI and Radio World (RW). Reporter RWI/RW. Coverage of FCC, business, technology, industry trends.
WASHINGTON BUSINESS JOURNAL, Arlington, Va., 1985-1988.
Sections Editor/Reporter. Wrote, edited, designed weekly focus sections on regional industries, from media and finance to real estate; media and regional business news.
FUND FOR AMERICAN STUDIES, Washington, D.C., 1984-1985.
Director American Political Journalism Conference, Faculty/Director Institute on Political Journalism. Lined up Washington media elite as speakers, recruited 100 students for Georgetown University-affiliated programs.
ON-AIR RADIO PERSONALITY, Lynchburg, Va. 1980-1983.
The market’s top-rated country WWOD-AM and sister AC WKZZ-FM.
RELATED
Voting member NARAS (Grammy Awards).
Active on Facebook, Twitter, blogging (“The Smoking Nun”:
chucktaylorblog.blogspot.com).
Media commentator on ABC’s “20/20” (‘N Sync), CNN (Radio technology), “CBS
Evening News” (Michael Jackson), A&E’s “Biography” (Donny & Marie Osmond,
Wahlberg Brothers, Celine Dion, Vanilla Ice, Shaun Cassidy), VH1’s “Behind the
Music” (Celine Dion), “E! True Hollywood Story” (Celine Dion, Janet Jackson, Nelly
Furtado), MTV, BBC, NPR, many more.
Quoted in The New York Times, USA Today, Time, London Observer, Boston Globe,
Christian Science Monitor, Parade, TV Guide, Seventeen, People, Us, Chicago
Tribune, Entertainment Weekly, many more.
Published songwriter, affiliated with Young Pals Music/BMI.
Authored liner notes for 2008 reissue of Celine Dion’s “A New Day Has Come,”
2007 “These Are Special Times,” 2005 “N Sync Greatest Hits,” two dozen Time-Life
compilations. Wrote foreword for Celine Dion biography Passion Celine (2002).
Participation in charity music event for New York’s Ronald McDonald House.
Entertainment correspondent BBC Radio (2002-2004).
Editor In Chief, initiating all editorial content for Web start-up WeLoveFreeMusic.com.
Full chapter interview in How to Get a Job in the Music Industry, by Keith Hatschek/
Berklee College of Music, second edition (2007).
Contributor Musichound Lounge—The Essential Album Guide (1998).
“Single Slice” columnist Pro Audio Review magazine (2001-2005).
News, feature reporter for Lynchburg, Va., News & Daily Advance (1983-1984).
Society of Professional Journalists award for spot news reporting.
Proficiency in Quark (QPS), Teamsite Web posting, intimate knowledge of AP Style.
No relation to Converse All-Star sneakers: “I’m the other Chuck Taylor.”
Clips and bio available: wordsneatlyarranged.blogspot.com.
EDUCATION
James Madison University, Harrisonburg, Va., Bachelor’s degree in journalism/speech, English minor, cum laude.
Thursday, July 2, 2009
Unemployment Hits 26-Year High
Employers cut 467,000 jobs in June, far more than expected, and the jobless rate hit a 26-year high of 9.5%.President Barack Obama acknowledged concern. "What we're still seeing is too many jobs lost, too many families who are worried whether they're going to be next in terms of job loss, or whether they can find another," he told AP.
Job losses had decreased every month since January, but they rose in June. The 467,000 job losses were up from 322,000 in May and worse than the 363,000 economists were expecting. Many economists predict it will hit 10% this year and keep rising into next year before falling back.
Including laid-off workers who have given up looking for jobs or have settled for part-time work, the so-called underemployment rate was 16.5% in June—the highest on records dating to 1994. The recession has taken out 6.5 million jobs in about a year and a half. All told, nearly 15 million people were considered
unemployed in June. Illustrating how hard it is to land a job, 29% of the unemployed have been out of work six months or longer. That's the most on records dating to just after World War II. "We are in some very hard and severe economic times," Labor Secretary Hilda Solis said. "The president and I are both not happy."
Village Voice MJ Cover
This week:
Quote of der day, from Dlisted.com, regarding the "astonishing" news that Michael Jackson's three white kids are not the biological offspring of a black man: "...I always thought Michael Jackson's kids kind of looked like him. Then again, I regularly grab whole wheat bread at the grocery store thinking it's white bread." Hahahahaha...
Here's a memorable Life magazine cover from September 1971...
And Billboard's spectacular 50+-page special from 1984, during the height of "Thriller." I'm fortunate to actually own this issue.
Quote of der day, from Dlisted.com, regarding the "astonishing" news that Michael Jackson's three white kids are not the biological offspring of a black man: "...I always thought Michael Jackson's kids kind of looked like him. Then again, I regularly grab whole wheat bread at the grocery store thinking it's white bread." Hahahahaha...Here's a memorable Life magazine cover from September 1971...
And Billboard's spectacular 50+-page special from 1984, during the height of "Thriller." I'm fortunate to actually own this issue.
Another One Bites The Dust: NY Blade
The New York Blade, one of the two major gay and lesbian newspapers in New York City, has suspended publication. “Everyone was let go,” said Matthew Bank of HX Media, which was formed in 2005 by the merger of The Blade and HX Magazine. The move came on Tuesday after HX was sold to undisclosed buyers. The Blade, a biweekly paper with a free circulation of 22,000, was left with an uncertain future.
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
Perry Payne: NYC's Metropolitan Room
Amazing night with Perry Payne's triumphant return to the mic after seven years! Wonderful time... Stand by for full review.
After the show: meese, Mac Foster, Ayhan, Anne Payne Foster
Meese, Perry, Michael Rice, Mac Foster, Anne Payne Foster, Ayhan, David Purdy
After the show: meese, Mac Foster, Ayhan, Anne Payne Foster
Meese, Perry, Michael Rice, Mac Foster, Anne Payne Foster, Ayhan, David Purdy
Michael Jackson: My Ultimate Playlist
He's everywhere... Sitting here in the living room Saturday, a car roared down Montague Street with "Thriller" blaring. Taking a shower on Sunday, Lite FM played "Billie Jean." At Splash Monday evening—Broadway night—videos from "The Wiz" aired. At Tuesday's LIFEbeat event, the DJ played three Michael Jackson songs.
And on my iPod, I've loaded my own MJ Greatest Hits... I've been listening pretty much non-stop since Friday, pulling out all of my Michael Jackson CDs to assemble the ultimate playlist. God knows I'm not alone. He sold 400,000 albums in the three days following his death. Another 1.8 million tracks were sold online. The top-selling digital tune: "Man in the Mirror." On iTunes, he currently has 21 of the top-selling top 40. Only those pesky Black Eyed Peas are in front, at No. 1, with their repetitive novelty song "I Gotta Feeling." We'll see how well that's selling in a couple months...
I Just Can't Stop Loving You/Michael Jackson & Siedah Garrett
Say Say Say/Michael Jackson & Paul McCartney
Farewell My Summer Love
We Are The World/USA For Africa
Somebody's Watching Me/Rockwell & MJ
Tell Me I'm Not Dreaming (Too Good To Be True)/Jermaine & Michael Jackson
Billie Jean
Thriller
PYT
Beat It
Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'
Human Nature (7" Edit)
Bad
Don't Stop Till You Get Enough
Rock With You
Off The Wall
Shake Your Body (Down To The Ground) (Single Edit)
The Way You Make Me Feel
Black Or White
Remember The Time
Dirty Diana
Man In The Mirror
Another Part Of Me
Leave Me Alone
Todo Mi Amore Eres Tu (I Just Can't Stop Loving You/Michael Jackson & Siedah Garrett
State Of Shock /Michael Jackson & Mick Jagger
Scream/Michael Jackson & Janet Jackson
Rockin' Robin
Ben
She's Out Of My Life
Ease on Down the Road (from "The Wiz")/Michael Jackson & Diana Ross
What More Can I Give?/Celine Dion, Michael Jackson & Friends
Thriller (Single Edit)
I Just Can't Stop Loving You (long version)/Michael Jackson & Siedah Garrett
Somebody's Watching Me (paranoid remix)/Rockwell & Michael Jackson
And on my iPod, I've loaded my own MJ Greatest Hits... I've been listening pretty much non-stop since Friday, pulling out all of my Michael Jackson CDs to assemble the ultimate playlist. God knows I'm not alone. He sold 400,000 albums in the three days following his death. Another 1.8 million tracks were sold online. The top-selling digital tune: "Man in the Mirror." On iTunes, he currently has 21 of the top-selling top 40. Only those pesky Black Eyed Peas are in front, at No. 1, with their repetitive novelty song "I Gotta Feeling." We'll see how well that's selling in a couple months...
I Just Can't Stop Loving You/Michael Jackson & Siedah Garrett
Say Say Say/Michael Jackson & Paul McCartney
Farewell My Summer Love
We Are The World/USA For Africa
Somebody's Watching Me/Rockwell & MJ
Tell Me I'm Not Dreaming (Too Good To Be True)/Jermaine & Michael Jackson
Billie Jean
Thriller
PYT
Beat It
Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'
Human Nature (7" Edit)
Bad
Don't Stop Till You Get Enough
Rock With You
Off The Wall
Shake Your Body (Down To The Ground) (Single Edit)
The Way You Make Me Feel
Black Or White
Remember The Time
Dirty Diana
Man In The Mirror
Another Part Of Me
Leave Me Alone
Todo Mi Amore Eres Tu (I Just Can't Stop Loving You/Michael Jackson & Siedah Garrett
State Of Shock /Michael Jackson & Mick Jagger
Scream/Michael Jackson & Janet Jackson
Rockin' Robin
Ben
She's Out Of My Life
Ease on Down the Road (from "The Wiz")/Michael Jackson & Diana Ross
What More Can I Give?/Celine Dion, Michael Jackson & Friends
Thriller (Single Edit)
I Just Can't Stop Loving You (long version)/Michael Jackson & Siedah Garrett
Somebody's Watching Me (paranoid remix)/Rockwell & Michael Jackson
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