Hannah Montana (a.k.a. Miley Cyrus)
Photo: Michael Buckner/ Getty Images

The Hannah Montana tour is definitely one of the hottest tickets in town for tweens and their parents, but one woman admits she went a little overboard in trying to win tickets for her daughter. Texas mom Priscilla Ceballos apologized Friday (January 4) on NBC's "Today" show for writing an essay falsely claiming the girl's father had died in Iraq just so the girl could see Hannah (a.k.a. Miley Cyrus) in person. "I just wanted to help my daughter write a compelling story," she said. The fabricated essay won the contest's grand prize, which included airfare for four to Albany, New York, and four tickets to a sold-out Hannah Montana concert there, as well as a makeover that included a blond Hannah Montana wig. "Please accept my heartfelt apology and please do not punish my child for my mistake," Ceballos urged on the show. ...

What's harder to find than a City of Gold? For "American Idol" rocker Chris Daughtry, it was one of his own songs. Daughtry was commissioned to write a song to play over the end credits of "National Treasure: Book of Secrets," but the single, "Feels Like Tonight," was left on the cutting-room floor, reports Variety. "It's a great song, and probably could have been a good marketing tool, but when we put it up with the movie, it just felt wrong," Disney music chief Mitchell Leib told the Hollywood trade. ...In other "Idol" alumni news, Season Two winner Ruben Studdard and semifinalist Frenchie Davis (who got the boot from the show after Fox discovered that she worked for an adult Web site before trying out) have signed on for the 30th anniversary national tour of the Tony Award-winning musical revue "Ain't Misbehavin'." Richard Maltby Jr. co-wrote and directed the Broadway production, which showcases the music of "Fats" Waller, and he will re-create his original direction. Studdard was in need of some good news after being the first "Idol" winner to be dropped from his label, when J Records let him go in December. Since appearing on "Idol," Davis was in the Broadway cast of "Rent." The "Ain't Misbehavin' " tour will begin in November and run at least through May 2009. ...

Literature probably isn't the first thing that comes to mind when you think of C-Murder, but the rapper — who is to be retried on a second-degree murder charge on February 11 — is taking part in a unique book club that connects readers with authors. On January 19, C-Murder will help christen the New Orleans "chapter" of the Conversations Book Club when he joins the group at the Comfort Inn & Suites downtown to discuss "Death Around the Corner," his recent novel about the city. ...

R.E.M., My Morning Jacket, Vampire Weekend, Daniel Lanois, Tech N9ne and My Brightest Diamond are among the initial slate of bands scheduled to perform at this year's South by Southwest festival. Lou Reed will be the keynote speaker at the fest, which will take place in Austin, Texas, March 12-16. ... Birdman is being sued for allegedly sampling other artists' songs without paying for them. The lawsuit, which was filed in New Orleans, claims that the Cash Money Records co-founder (real name: Bryan Williams) owes several music publishers money for using copyrighted songs without permission. ... Does Britney have some competition? Both Whitney Houston and her estranged husband, Bobby Brown, were no-shows Friday (January 4) at their scheduled court appearance, TMZ.com reports. According to the Web site, Whitney's attorney, Stephen Kolodny, said the singer was sick. ...

Bay Area producer/DJ Amplive won't be putting out his remix of Radiohead's In Rainbows after all. Just a month after announcing his remix album, Rainydayz Remixes, which was to feature a cameo from Too Short, Amp announced on his MySpace page that he had received a cease-and-desist letter from Radiohead's publisher, Warner/Chappell, on December 18 that barred him from releasing the unapproved album, according to a story on Pitchfork linked to from Amp's site. In a video on his MySpace page, a dejected-looking Amp, holding a sign that reads "free," laments, "In Rainbows is one of the top Radiohead albums, and I'm a big Radiohead fan, and it was all done in celebration." He says he wanted to show his appreciation for Radiohead's pioneering pay-what-you-want scheme by doing a hip-hop remix album that would also have featured Del Tha Funkee Homosapien and Jurassic 5's Chali 2na. He says he wishes that Radiohead could hear the free remix album, which he knows they would like, and suspects the band is not to blame for the legal action. "Thom [Yorke], holla at me, man," he pleads to the band's frontman at the end of the message. ...

Australia's first couple of music, Silverchair singer Daniel Johns and singer/actress Natalie Imbruglia, have announced that they will separate after four years of marriage, according to the Melbourne Herald Sun. The pair announced their split in a joint statement released Friday (January 4) that read, "While we are very sad that our marriage has ended, we want to make it clear that our parting is amicable and we remain friends. ... This mutual decision has not been taken lightly or quickly. However, our career demands and our lives in different parts of the world have brought us to the point where unfortunately this difficult decision was necessary for both of us. We have simply grown apart through not being able to spend enough time together." ... On March 25, long-running, genre-spanning party-poppers the B-52s will return with Funplex, their first album of new material since 1992's Good Stuff (and their first to feature co-frontwoman Cindy Wilson since '89's Cosmic Thing). Guitarist Keith Strickland describes the album as "loud, sexy rock and roll for your pleasure zones, with the beat pumped up to hot pink," just in case you were wondering. ...

Josh Groban had a great Christmas, but the music industry? Not so much. For the eighth year in a row, album sales were down, with total album sales diving 15 percent in 2007 to 500.5 million units, according to year-end figures from Nielsen SoundScan. The Los Angeles Times reports that it was the lowest tally and steepest decline since Nielsen began publishing estimates based on in-stores sales data in 1993. There was a bright spot with digital-album sales rising 2.4 percent to 30.1 million units, but even that paled in comparison to the 19 percent uptick in 2006. The overall picture, including albums, singles and individual-song downloads, showed a rise of 14 percent to 1.4 billion units, which, again, was down from the 19 percent gain in 2006. ...

Last year's Live Earth concert and the Roskilde Festival in Denmark will be recognized with environmental honors at the upcoming Midem Green World Awards in Cannes, France, later this month, according to BBC News. The awards pay tribute to events that promote a greater awareness of environmental issues. Live Earth is being recognized for the strict green guidelines it set out in order to create a low-impact worldwide event, while Roskilde, one of the largest European festivals, is earning praise for serving all its drinks in recyclable plastic mugs. ...

Not everyone is psyched about the huge music festival that is slated to touch down in Vineland, New Jersey, this summer courtesy of a hookup between Lollapalooza promoters C3 and the people behind England's Glastonbury Festival. According to the Vineland Daily Journal, a group of citizens, including a former City Council president, have mobilized under the banner of Neighbors Against Rock Concert Site in an attempt to block the show. The first meeting of NARCS is slated to take place Thursday, with the goal of blocking the festival — currently scheduled for August 8-10 — from taking place on a local 570-acre farm. The event is expected to draw 35,000-40,000 people over three days, with mostly on-site camping, which neighbors worry will have a negative impact on the area due to potential increases in traffic, noise, crime and pollution. According to the Journal, NARCS isn't opposed to the festival, just its location. The group is considering a lawsuit to stop the show, while suggesting that promoters move it to a more "appropriate" location, such as the local county fairgrounds. ...

The once-in-a-lifetime New Year's Eve gig at a small club in Surrey, England, that featured Who guitarist Pete Townshend, former Beatles drummer Ringo Starr and guitar god Eric Clapton might not be a one-off after all. The secret show, which the trio performed under the name Totally Abandoned, benefited charity and included mostly "old classics," according to London newspaper The Independent. A Thursday post on the Who's site confirmed that the gig took place and teased that "a much larger gig" could happen in New York before March. ...

Stephen Stills is recovering after having surgery for prostate cancer on Thursday. He is expected to be at the Sundance Film Festival on January 25 for the world premiere of "CSNY/ Déjà Vu," a movie directed by Neil Young that revolves around his and Stills' group, Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young.

1.3.08

T.I. adjusted his calendar Thursday (January 3) after an Atlanta judge postponed until February 19 a suppression hearing that had been scheduled for Thursday. According to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the Grand Hustle rapper's lawyers are seeking to have evidence thrown out because they claim it was obtained as a part of an illegal search when T.I. (real name: Clifford Harris Jr.) was arrested in October for allegedly attempting to purchase illegal machine guns. Lawyers for the rapper filed a motion in November stating his vehicle had been searched without a warrant, consent or probable cause. He has been under house arrest awaiting trial after posting a $3 million bond in late October. ...

Chris Brown has hit a bump as he tours across the U.S. — the singer's set designer is suing him for breach of contract, according to TMZ. John Troxtel claims in a federal lawsuit he filed Christmas Eve that while he was paid for some of his labor, "extra work was required and requested." He says an oral agreement was made but that the touring company has refused to make good on its promise. Troxtel, who is seeking more than $1 million in damages, is also reportedly suing Brown for unjust enrichment. ...

Former B2K groupmates Dreux "Lil Fizz" Frederic and Jarell "J-Boog" Houston have released a statement through their publicist regarding the claims of sexual molestation Raz-B made against manager Chris Stokes in recent online videos. "We had nothing to do with the [videos], their release and/or their claims, we are unaware of any inappropriate behavior," the statement read. Raz-B later retracted and apologized for the accusations. Meanwhile, Raz-B's business partner had no comment on a new, recently surfaced tape of Raz-B, his brother Ricky Romance and Stokes, and said he didn't know when it was shot. ...

Nate Dogg suffered a stroke on December 19, according to a coordinator for the hip-hop crooner's recently formed gospel choir, Innate Praise. Reports had circulated that the longtime Snoop Dogg associate had been admitted to Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center in California after suffering a heart attack. Erica Beckwith, however, confirmed to MTV News that Nate Dogg was released on December 26 after being treated for a stroke and is currently in a medical-rehab facility to assist him in his recovery. ...

The Jonas Brothers have inked a fat deal with Live Nation, and it's being called the first of its kind for an up-and-coming group, according to Billboard. The multimillion-dollar agreement will see the band of brothers playing a jaw-dropping 140 shows at theaters and arenas over the next two years. Eight shows have been lined up so far for the Look Me in the Eyes Tour, in Tuscon, Arizona (January 31); Las Vegas (February 1); Los Angeles (February 2); Everett, Washington (February 5); Portland, Oregon (February 6); February 8 (Salt Lake City); El Paso, Texas (February 11); and San Antonio (February 12). ... Radiohead have, according to the U.K.'s The Times, agreed to a deal with iTunes — which some fans may have noticed, given that the band's In Rainbows album is now available through the online store. "In terms of digital income, we've made more money out of this record than out of all the other Radiohead albums put together, forever," Thom Yorke reportedly said about the release. ...

Bono has teamed with Hard Rock for a new tee that is benefiting the Wildlife Conservation Society's Conservation Cotton Initiative, which helps educate impoverished African farmers. The Bono Signature Series T-shirt, which will be available starting Monday at Hard Rock's terrestrial and online shops, is being made available via Edun, a socially conscious clothing company that Bono and his wife, Ali Hewson, launched in spring 2005. ... Bright Eyes mainman Conor Oberst, who toured as part of the Vote for Change Tour in support of Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry in 2004, performed at a rally for another Democratic contender, Senator Barack Obama, in Iowa on Tuesday. According to The New York Observer, Oberst played for a crowd of approximately 1,000 Obama supporters and at one point told them, "I met the next president of the United States earlier today." But that's hardly the only star Obama has on his side. Scarlett Johansson was a special guest at a rally for him in Iowa on Wednesday night, according to The Nation. She reportedly spoke with a group of young supporters in Des Moines. ...

The Facebook profile cited in many articles (including MTV News') about Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, the late Benazir Bhutto's son, is a hoax, according to a statement from Farahnaz Ispahani of the Pakistan Peoples Party. "The statement that's on [the Facebook profile] is not his statement," he told The New York Times. "It seems genuine but according to Mr. Zardari, and we checked with him, the Facebook statement has not been written by Bilawal." ...

Foo Fighters are following in Justin Timberlake's footsteps — the band is participating in this year's "My Grammy Moment" segment for the February 10 awards ceremony. Unsigned instrumentalists — sorry, singers — are getting the chance to perform with Dave Grohl and the gang as part of an orchestra, with the winner being showcased as the featured instrumentalist. Interested? Record a performance video that is no longer than one minute and reflects your talent and submit it here. A Grammy Awards panel will choose 45 quarter-finalists, after which the public will narrow down the group to semifinalists who will perform with the five-time Grammy-nominated band. ... Christina Aguilera and Katie Holmes, starring side by side in a new flick? Rumors are circulating online that the two have been tapped for an upcoming comedy called "Humboldt Park," but Rene Rigal, who is executive producing the flick, told MTV News in regards to the castings, "We haven't heard anything as of yet." ...

Mark this one with a "WTF?" on your calendar: Keytar-wielding indie-rockers and former You Hear It First artists Mute Math will open for Matchbox Twenty and Alanis Morissette on their Exile in America tour, which runs from January 25 in Hollywood, Florida, through March 18 in Las Vegas. ... Hot Chip will pad their February 5 release, Made in the Dark, with a smattering of shows in April. The British electro-poppers will play nine gigs, from an April 10 one in Philadelphia through an April 24 show in San Francisco. ... Meanwhile, Ween are barreling on with their longest tour in three years. The band will play six gigs in January — from January 23 in Washington, D.C., through January 31 in Orlando, Florida — and is slated to play February 1-2 in St. Petersburg and Fort Lauderdale, Florida, before jetting overseas. ...

Sketch-comedy duo Tim and Eric have a few friends you may know. Maroon 5 bassist Mickey Madden, Phantom Planet frontman Alex Greenwald and the Like singer/guitarist Z have chalked up covers of songs by the pair's fictional Casey and His Brothers group. Check 'em out on TimAndEric.com. ... Sean Penn will head the awards jury at this year's Cannes Film Festival, which is slated for May 14-25. According to AP, the "Into the Wild" director said "a new generation of filmmaking may have begun," and that there seems to be "a rejuvenation of cinema building worldwide." ...

The Offspring are nearly finished with the follow-up to 2003's Splinter. According to a post from frontman Dexter Holland on the punk-rockers' Web site, they're "taking a quick break from recording right now to be with our families. I've got two lyrics to do, a couple more to sing, and various musical tweaks and fixes to get done. Then, we'll be ready to mix." There's no release date for the album yet, but the Offspring "want to thank all our fans who have been so patient, and we want you to know that we've been in the studio nearly every day now for quite awhile working hard to make a great record," the post says. ...

Former Kid 'N Play frontman Christopher "Play" Martin was reportedly hospitalized over the weekend when his car was struck by another vehicle whose driver was wounded by a bullet. According to North Carolina's The News & Observer, the one-time rapper's car was struck after a man — suspected of fleeing from where a home robbery took place — was allegedly fired upon by local police. The man, identified as Raul Riva Aldamo, reportedly died as a result of the gunfire. Martin and his companion, Michelle Gonzales, were released from doctor's care on Wednesday, and according to a rep for Martin, he is at home recovering.

• Hannah Montana
• Miley Cyrus
• R.E.M.
• My Morning Jacket
• Vampire Weekend

With just under two weeks until the Grammys, it's time to start revisiting the songs that were the most popular — and by extension, the most grating — last year. And what better way to jog your memory than the Grammy Nominees 2003 album?

The disc includes Pink's "Get the Party Started," Britney Spears' "Overprotected," Avril Lavigne's "Complicated," Norah Jones' "Don't Know Why," Eminem's "Without Me," Nelly's "Hot in Herre," 'NSYNC's "Girlfriend" and Nickelback's "How You Remind Me."

On the other end of the spectrum are new releases from Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds and Massive Attack. Cave's Nocturama comes two years after No More Shall We Part and features, among other tormented songs, a 14-minute "Babe, I'm on Fire." Meanwhile, following a five-year absence, Massive Attack return with 100th Window. The album offers the standard soaring Massive Attack sound, but this time with the addition of Sinead O'Connor on "What Your Soul Sings" and "A Prayer for England."

John Mayer's live Any Given Thursday shares shelf space with cheeky Supergrass' fourth album, Life on Other Planets.

And finally, the Ramones tribute album We're a Happy Family features the second all-star lineup of the week. Rob Zombie takes on "Blitzkrieg Bop," Marilyn Manson interprets "The KKK Took My Baby Away," Green Day and the Offspring weigh in with their versions of "Outsider" and "I Wanna Be Sedated," respectively. U2 sings "Beat on the Brat," while the Red Hot Chili Peppers tackle "Havana Affair."

As for the rest of this week's releases — hey, ho, let's go ...

Out Tuesday, February 11:

• David Ackles - American Gothic (Collector's Choice)
• Alathea - What Light Is All About (Rocketown)
• Paul Anka - Absolutely the Best: The 70s (Varese)
• Atom and his Package - Attention! Blah Blah Blah (Hopeless)
• The Bad Plus - These Are the Vistas (Columbia)
• Baka Beyond - East to West (Narada World)
• Bass Hit - Bass Re-Loaded (Neurodisc)
• Bloody Mary - Day of Resurrection (Danger)
• Boulevard Knights - Boulevard Knights (Familia)
• Kenny Brown - Stingray (Fat Possum)
• Michael Bublé - Michael Bublé (143/Reprise)
• C-Bo - West Coast Mafia: Chopped and Screwed (West Coast Mafia)
• Rodney Carrington - Nut Sack (Capitol)
• Karan Casey - Distant Shore (Shanachie)
• Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds - Nocturama (Anti/Epitaph)
  Read: "Nick Cave Delivers More Tales From The Dark Side"
  Buy Now: Nocturama (Anti/Epitaph)
• Chevelles - Girl God (Zip)
• Coachwhips - Get Yer Body Next Ta Mine (Narnack)
• Corporation 187 - Perfection in Pain (Wicked World)
• Data 80 - Data 80 (EFA/Caroline)
• Debbie Davies - Key to Love: A Tribute to John Mayall (Shanachie)
• Dr. Demento - Hits From Outer Space (Laugh.com)
• Duke - 21st Century Man (produced by Eddy Grant) (Ice)
• Tim Easton - Break Your Mother's Heart (New West)
• Eightball and MJG - On Top of the World (Draper)
• DJ Envy - The Desert Storm Mixtape: Blok Party Vol. 1 (Desert Storm/Epic)
• Fabulous Disaster - Panty Raid (Pink & Black)
• John Fahey - Red Cross (Revenant)
• Five Way Friday - Wrecked (Redeye)
• Flatline - Dead Man Walking (Thug City)
• Matt Flinner Quartet - Walking on the Moon (Compass)
• Fo Clips - Just Be Thankful (Danger)
• Foys Boys - My Life My Hustle (Dog Team)
• Funk Porcini - Fast Asleep (Ninja Tune)
• Further Seems Forever - How to Start a Fire (Tooth & Nail)
• Jeffrey Gaines - Toward the Sun (Artemis)
• Vince Gill - Next Big Thing (MCA Nashville)
• Girls in the Club - Girls in the Club (Downsouthrap.com)
• Grade 8 - Grade 8 (Lava/Atlantic)
• Hall & Oates - Do It for Love (U-Watch)
• John Hammond - Ready for Love (Back Porch)
• Stefon Harris - The Grand Unification Theory (Blue Note)
• JoJo Hermann - Defector (Fat Possum)
• Hexstatic - Solid Steel Mix (Ninja Tune)
• Holland - Photographs & Tidal Waves (Tooth & Nail)
• Jackpot - Bone-Ville (Future Farmer)
• Jackstraw - Jackstraw (High Horse)
• Kingzmen - Not of this World (Holy Hip Hop)
• Kissing Chaos - Enter With a Bullet (Fueled by Ramen)
• DJ Krush - The Message at the Depth (Red Ink)
• Patty Larkin - Red = Luck (Vanguard)
• Erik Larson - The Resounding (Small Stone)
• Kenny Lattimore/Chante Moore - Things That Lovers Do (Arista)
• Ted Leo & the Pharmacists - Hearts of Oak (Lookout!)
• Lil Mac - From the Cracks to the Stacks (Lock Down)
• Madder Mortem - Deadlands (The End)
• Madhouse - Holiday (Radikal)
• Massive Attack - 100th Window (Virgin)
  Buy Now: 100th Window (Virgin)
• John Mayer - Any Given Thursday (Sony)
• John McCusker - Goodnight Ginger (Compass)
• My Sick Friends - Simple (Hapi Skratch)
• Willie Nelson - Crazy: The Demo Sessions (Sugarhill)
• Gary Numan - Scarred: Live at Brixton Academy (2 CDs, Eagle)
• Erlend Oye - Unrest (Source/Astralwerks)
• Pacifier - Pacifier (Arista)
• Pumpkinhead - A Beautiful Mind (EP, Third Earth)
• Rae - Rae (Relentless)
• Rapture - Songs for the Withering (Century Media)
• Rush - The Spirit of Radio: 1974-1987 (Universal)
• Rusty Humphries - Bomb Iraq (Laugh.com)
• Joshua Ryan - By Design (System)
• Sanctus Real - Say It Loud (Sparrow)
• Slater - Can You Feel Me (T.O.P.)
• Stephan Smith - The Bell (Synchronic)
• Socialburn - Where You Are (Elektra)
• Sofia - Sofia (Big Sur)
• Spiv - Don'tcha Know (Pop Sweatshop)
• Tammy Faye Starlite & the Angels of Mercy - Used Country Female (Diesel Only)
• Miriam Stockley - Second Nature (Narada)
• George Strait - For the Last Time: Live from the Astrodome (MCA Nashville)
• Strapping Young Lad - SYL (Century Media)
• Supergrass - Life on Other Planets (Island)
  Read: "Supergrass Get Thrown For A L.O.O.P, Party With Skanks"
  Buy Now: Life on Other Planets (Island)
• Tech N9ne - Anghellic (MSC)
• Troika - Kingdom of the Sun (Narada)
• Twelfth Gate - Summoning (Crash Music)
• Paul van Dyk - Global (Mute)
• Vexers - The Vexers (Ace Fu)
• Cosmo Vitelli - Clean (Astralwerks)
• Viva - Blanksidesongs (Pitch a Tent)
• Otto Von Schirach - Chopped Zombie Fungus (Schematic)
• Voodou - Your Basic Evil Black Squadron (Underground Inc.)
• Doc Watson - Then and Now (Tomato)
• Carol Welsman - The Language of Love (Savoy Jazz)
• Yanni - Ethnicity (Virgin)
• Various artists - The American Song-Poem Anthology: Do You Know the Difference Between Big Wood and Brush (Bar/None)
• Various artists - "Ash Wednesday" soundtrack (Koch)
• Various artists - Buenos Aires Cafe (Narada)
• Various artists - Duck Down Records Presents: Collect Dis Edition (Duck Down)
• Various artists - Global Hits 2003 (Motown)
• Various artists - Grammy Nominees 2003 (Rhino)
• Various artists - Motown Soul Jams Vol. 1 (Motown)
• Various artists - Oil: Chicago Punk Refined (Thick)
• Various artists - Rollin on Dubs (Thump)
• Various artists - The Songs of Hank Williams Jr.: A Bocephus Celebration (Warner Bros./Curb)
• Various artists - Tribute to Bob Marley (K-Tel)
• Various artists - We're a Happy Family: A Tribute to the Ramones (DV8/Columbia)
  Read: "Garbage Give Ramones Electro Sheen While Manson Moans, Marches"
• DVD: Various artists - "Pass the Mic!" (Image Entertainment)
• DVD: The Gathering - "In Motion" (Century Media)
• DVD: John Mayer - "Any Given Thursday" (Columbia)
• DVD: Jane Monheit - "Live at the Rainbow Room" (N-Coded)

March 4:

• Cursive - Ugly Organ (Saddle Creek)
• Fabolous - Street Dreams (Elektra)
  Buy Now: Street Dreams (Elektra)
• Hootie & the Blowfish - Hootie & the Blowfish (Atlantic)
  Buy Now: Hootie & the Blowfish (Atlantic)
• Lil' Kim - La Bella Mafia (Atlantic)
  Buy Now: La Bella Mafia (Atlantic)
• Special Goodness - Land Air Sea (Control Group)
• Voivod - Voivod (Navarre)
  Read: "Jason Newsted Says His New Band Can Kick Metallica's Ass"

March 11:

• Various artists - Punk Goes Acoustic (Fearless)

March 18:

• Buzzcocks - Buzzcocks (Merge)

March 25:

• Celine Dion - One Heart (Sony)
• Linkin Park - Meteora (Warner Bros.)
  Read: "Linkin Park Discuss Meteora, Plan Surreal Video"

• Nick Cave
• Massive Attack
• John Mayer
• Supergrass
• Paul Van Dyk

Tech N9ne
Photo: MSC

In the heated debate over file sharing, two music biz execs strongly believe what most of their industry peers contest with equal vigor — that giving away music for free is good for sales.

So convinced are former Priority Records honchos Mark Cerami and Dave Weiner that they've got more than $100,000 hanging in the balance.

Cerami's M.S.C. Music & Entertainment is encouraging people to download 20 of 27 tracks from rapper Tech N9ne's latest album, Absolute Power, at no cost. They want to prove that file sharing, like radio and video play, is a promotional tool that boosts the sales of albums that deserve it.

"The reality is that file sharing has given you, the fan, an opportunity to sample the music before wasting your hard-earned money on lousy records," reads a post on www.therealtechn9ne.com, where the Absolute Power tracks are available. "The Internet has given music buyers your own personal listening station at home, and the major labels can no longer fool the consumer. They don't want you to sample their music because they know that if the fans realize that there are only two good songs on a record, you will not buy it. ...We believe in our product."

To spread the word that the label is offering for free what its industry peers are charging $16.99 for, M.S.C. has sunk what would have been a video and/or radio budget for a second single — at least six figures, Weiner claims — into two TV commercials, according to Tech N9ne's publicist. The ads, shot as a send-up of the ubiquitous Gap spots, show the rapper introducing "The Industry Is Punks," from Absolute Power, then asking viewers to visit his Web site to download the tracks.

The ad campaign, titled F.T.I. ("F--- the Industry," or more politely "Free the Industry," for those wondering what the initials on Tech N9ne's T-shirt stand for), launched November 21 and continues through December 13. The ads air on MTV, Fox and Comedy Central.

Those who buy Absolute Power will, in addition to receiving the seven tracks unavailable online, receive a companion DVD that includes interviews and concert footage (see "Tech N9ne Says 'Industry Is Punks,' Goes Own Way For Power").

Weiner said the download idea came about when he and Cerami hit a virtual brick wall.

"We released the first single, 'Slacker,' and took the traditional route," he said. "We shot our video — our six-figure video — and we were funded to approach radio the way the game is set up, unfortunately, and we got a lot of incredible feedback. But we weren't able to get past 150 spins, because you can't get the daytime airplay the way the majors monopolize their relationships with the independent radio promoters.

"So we sat around and decided as a company that we needed to try something different," he continued. "Are we going to shoot another video? Should we move on to our next single? Should we hit our head against the wall? Or should we do something that's never been done before?"

Although it's too early to tell whether Cerami and Weiner's plan is paying off, Absolute Power experienced a modest sales spike last week, it's first weekly sales increase since debuting at #79 on the Billboard albums chart in September. During that same week, roughly 50,000 tracks were downloaded from the rapper's fourth album.

"If our numbers go up [again] next week," Weiner said, "we've challenged the recording industry. If you're telling us file sharing is taking away from sales, explain how we sold more records."

• Tech N9ne

Tech N9ne
Photo: MSC

Tech N9ne felt shortchanged that he could only put 80 minutes of music on his new album, Absolute Power.

At the suggestion of his manager, the Kansas City rapper — who has recorded with everyone from Eminem to the RZA — put seven songs he couldn't fit on the record onto a bonus DVD that also includes live performances, the video for his "Slacker" single and behind-the-scenes footage. In addition to giving fans more value for their purchasing dollar, Tech N9ne feels the bonus DVD lets his fans get more connected to him.

"Getting to know the artist is a must," Tech N9ne said. "That's why 2Pac was so popular. Everybody was so in tune with his life. I think the DVD lets you know what I do, what I'm thinking. It brings the fans a lot closer to me, and the fans appreciate that."

Tech N9ne may have surprised some when Absolute Power debuted at #79 on the Billboard 200 this month, but the fiery underground rapper has been blazing lyrical trails for nearly a decade. He was signed to superproducers Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis' Perspective Records in the early 1990s before moving to Quincy Jones' Qwest Records in the mid '90s. The now-defunct JCOR Records released his previous album, 2001's Anghellic.

As Tech N9ne was jumping from label to label, he was steadily recording, appearing on a slew of albums and showcasing his wide-ranging, mind-blowing flows. Tech believes his dramatic deliveries are one of the things that make fans gravitate toward him.

"People like to see a versatile MC," he said. "You've got to be able to go left or right, up or down. An MC, to me, can adapt to any musical situation. That's why you can hear me on 'The Wake Up Show' with Heltah Skeltah, Juice or Eminem, why you can hear me on some thug sh-- with Brotha Lynch Hung, C-Bo, Yukmouth or some hardcore R&B sh-- with Solé. I can adapt, and I think people really dig that. They dig somebody that can adjust."

After his multiple label deals went nowhere, Tech N9ne started wondering if his apocalyptic music, which has discussed abortion and infidelity as much as his rapping prowess, was too different for the major-label system.

"A lot of these motherf---ers don't know what to do with somebody as different as me," he said. "A lot of record labels tend to want to go with what's hot. You can't really hate them for that, because they want to get their money right now, quick. But when you're an artist and you feel like you're original and you're trying to take the rap game to another level, motherf---ers that don't want to take chances tend to make me say, 'The industry is punks.' "

Largely because of this frustration, Tech N9ne and his manager Travis O'Guin formed their own label, Strange Music, and released Absolute Power in conjunction with upstart MSC Music, a new company headed by the co-founder of Priority Records. Tech reasoned that if you're going to take chances with your music, why not do the same with your business?

"Who would have ever thought Kenny G, a motherf---er blowing a horn, would be a multimillion-dollar act?" he said. "You never know."

You never know what to expect on Tech N9ne's songs, either. On Absolute Power cuts "Slither" and "Worst Enemy," the imaginative rhymer includes twists that unfold like top-quality cinema and will certainly throw listeners. Yet these wild storylines are what Tech N9ne said his followers swear by.

"The fans love creativity," he said. "That's why the movies are big. When you listen to 'Slither,' you think it's a real story and some of those things that took place are real. I took some of that but gave it a little 'From Dusk Till Dawn' twist at the end. People love people who make you think different. Like with 'Worst Enemy,' you make them think you're talking about somebody [in particular throughout] the whole thing."

By adding interesting wrinkles to his raps and by not compromising his artistry in order to conform, Tech N9ne feels he's getting closer and closer to having Absolute Power.

"To move a sea of people with your words," he said, "something you thought up, something that you feel — when they feel the same way you feel because you triggered that in them, that's absolute power."

• Tech N9ne

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