News …

Led by Robin Gibb, European music composers urge European Union not to not to make sales of music rights EU-wide, claiming it would harm composers and music-making – International Herald Tribune

Prince of Wales awards OBE to Kylie Minogue, thus giving Charles something to do while waiting to become king – The Times Online U.K.

Sheryl Crow ain’t horsing around when she says wild mustangs need protection – Associated Press

Madonna is No. 1! Among gym bunnies, that is – Hull Daily Mail U.K.

Have you picked out your summer song for this year? Here are a few suggestions from the Contra Costa Times

The Flaming Lips’ Wayne Coyne does the Q&A for the Daily Iowan

Views …

Tom Waits in Jacksonville, Florida – “An evening with Tom Waits is deep immersion into a surreal theater. He’s a carnival barker in some kind of hobo cabaret. And it is theater, make no mistake about that.” – The Florida Times-Union

50 Cent in NYC – ” … was lean and forceful, a blow against what has come to feel like complacency on 50 Cent’s part, especially in his recent solo material.” – The New York Times (registration may be required)

John Mayer at Milwaukee’s Summerfest – ” … showed his audience multiple aspects of his personality and talent, from down-to-earth acoustic pop musician to enviably gifted blue guitarist to full-on rocker.” – OnMilwaukee.com

Jack Johnson in London – “Under warm sunshine – surely the only weather to enjoy this kind of music – there was a feeling that Johnson could do no wrong.” – The Evening Standard U.K.

Rush in Pittsburgh – “Lee can still get up there, and he took those octave leaps to impressive heights on songs like ‘Free Will’ and ‘The Trees.'” – Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Jazz At Lincoln Center Orchestra / Wynton Marsalis – “Along the way, the band’s renowned, razor-sharp discipline was offset by Marsalis’ collegial approach to running the show. Sitting in the last row with other trumpeters, his laidback banter between tunes was funny and casually informative.” – The Seattle Times

Dolly Parton in Birmingham, U.K. – ” … the queen of country turned her two-hour concert into a good old-fashioned variety show.” – Birmingham Mail U.K.

They Say It’s Their Birthday … (Or so says Associated Press)

Fontella Bass is 68

Paul Barrere (Little Feat) is 60

Aaron Tippin is 50

Vince Clarke (Erasure) is 48

Kevin Hearn (Barenaked Ladies) is 39

Tonia Tash (Divine) is 29