Here & There …

The top-earning women in music, according to Forbes. With pictures! – Forbes

Physical CD sales might suck, but music publishing is still going strong – The Guardian Unlimited U.K.

On the other hand, this article says CDs are here to stay. At least for a while – AFP

The world’s first Beatles-themed hotel opens Friday. In Liverpoool, natch – The Times Online

Doesn’t look as if Foxy Brown will be going anywhere anytime soon – Associated Press

Swell Season tries not to get too excited over its Oscar Best Song nomination – Los Angeles Times / Extended Play(registration may be required)

Dates, Dates & More Dates …

Andre Rieu has a pretty packed schedule come spring, as the Dutch-born violinist and conductor lines up April performance dates in Illinois, Missouri, Oklahoma, Texas, Louisiana and Florida, and schedules Quebec, Ottawa, New York, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut and Pennsylvania for May.

Yes co-founder Jon Anderson is doing a short tour of Quebec venues this March. Cties include Riviere Du Loup, Quebec City, Laval, Gatineau, St. Jean, Trois Riveres, Drummondville and Montreal.

Emerson Drive looks ahead to summer with gigs throughout the U.S. New dates include June 28 in Milbank, SD, July 3 in O’Fallon, MO, and August 23 in Kennewick, WA.

And the Willie Nelson tour bus adds more stops to the schedule, directing his driver to stop in Austin, Abilene, San Angelo and Waco during mid-March.

During the past couple of hours we also updated the schedules for Youssou N’Dour, Two Gallants, Steven Curtis Chapman, Strangefolk, Simple Plan, Sara Groves, Popa Chubby, Orchestra Baobab, Nathan & The Zydeco Cha-Chas, Maroon 5, Georgie James, David Jacobs-Strain, Carrie Underwood, Bone Thugs-N-Harmony and Ace Frehley.

And the beat goes on! More concert info coming up in Your Latest Update, scheduled for around 3 pm (PST), from Pollstar.com!

Today In Music History … (from Associated Press)

In 1992, Willie Dixon, probably the most important figure in Chicago blues, died in Burbank, California at 76. Dixon was a songwriter, producer and bass player for Chess Records in the 1950’s, backing, writing and arranging for the likes of Muddy Waters, Howlin’ Wolf, Bo Diddley and Chuck Berry.

Dixon was also an important link between blues and rock, with both The Rolling Stones and The Doors covering his “Little Red Rooster,”‘ Elvis Presley and the Everly Brothers recording “My Babe” and Led Zeppelin waxing “I Can’t Quit You Baby.” Dixon’s other blues classics included “I’m Your Hoochie Coochie Man” and “Wang Dang Doodle.”

In 1971, New York music business financier Allen Klein was found guilty on 10 counts of evading U.S. income taxes. His conviction was upheld on appeal. Klein once controlled the finances of both the Beatles and The Rolling Stones. The Beatles, apparently over Paul McCartney’s objections, hired Klein in 1969 to try to rescue their ailing Apple Corps Limited, which was losing thousands of pounds a week. The tangled business affairs of Apple, and Klein’s failure to solve them, are cited as one reason for the Beatles’ breakup.

Also on this date in 1996, Canadian country singer Shania Twain was named best new country artist at the American Music Awards. Garth Brooks was named artist of the year, but refused to accept his trophy. He told the audience he didn’t believe in the concept of the award. At Brooks’ suggestion, the artist of the year award became a “travelling trophy,” with the winner getting to keep or publicly display the trophy for a year.

In 1998, Paul Simon’s musical “The Capeman” premiered on Broadway to universally poor reviews. Most critics liked Simon’s music but had nothing good to say about the play itself. The $11 million-dollar production went through three directors before opening three weeks behind schedule. The show closed two months later. “The Capeman” was about the life of a Puerto Rican gang member who killed two other teens in 1959.