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For the past 10 years, The "Hollywood Reporter" has been predicting the future of the entertainment industry one year at a time. The article presents profile of 35 executives who are the future of Hollywood, Los Angeles, California.

Reports developments in the U.S. motion picture industry as of March 2002. Negotiations on the role of Julia Roberts, Nicole Kidman and Renee Zellweger in the film 'Cold Mountain,'; Role of Jamie Kennedy in the comedy feature 'Suckaz,' for Warner Bros.; Selection of Nick Stahl to cast in the 'T3: The Rise of the Machines,' for C-2 Pictures/Intermedia.

Reports on the market success of soundtracks for television programs in the United States. Increase in the music budgets of television stations; Artists who started their careers out of title songs; Some of the television soundtracks which topped the charts. INSET: Top of the TV Pops.

Shrinking budgets and rising costs have prompted a return to traditional soundtracks, but the medium continues to provide crucial exposure to burgeoning pop stars. In today's era studio executives and record labels alike believe that a popular music soundtrack is a movie's divine right. Gone for now are days when labels could command $1 million for a single song— as in 2000, when Mitchell Leib, executive vice president and general manager of music and soundtracks at the Buena Vista Motion Pictures Group, paid that heavenly sum for Metallica's "Disappear" to be featured on the "Mission: Impossible 2" soundtrack. INSET: ORCHESTRAL MANEUVERS.

Reports on the awards won by country singer Faith Hill at the 28th annual American Music Awards held January 2001. Other awardees; Hosts; Acceptance speeches.

The article presents a list of the most successful women in the music industry accompanied with capsule profiles of their professional achievements, including Judy McGrath, chairman and chief executive officer of MTV Networks, Julie Greenwald, president of Atlantic Music Group and Lisa Ellis, executive vice president of Sony Music Label Group.

The article offers profiles of the top 20 female executives in the music business. The number one female executive is Julie Greenwald, president of Atlantic Music Group. The number two spot was awarded to Judy McGrath, chairman and CEO of MTV Networks. Jody Gerson of EMI Music Publishing was also honored as well as Lisa Ellis of Sony Urban Music and Antoinette Zel of Telemundo. Other names included on the list include Pam Matthews, Marilyn Bergman, and Lesley Bleakley.

The article presents an interview with singer Tony Bennett, recipient of Billboard's Century Award. He expressed his views on winning the award. He said that he was surprised to hear that the younger artists he worked with in the album Tony Bennett: Duets/An American Classic consider him as their master. He also mentioned how Bob Hope gave him his stage name.

The article provides information on the Soul2Soul II concert tour of country musicians Tim McGraw and Faith Hill. For the week ending June 25, 2006, ticket sales passed the 1 million mark. By the time Hill and McGraw wrap the tour in September, they will have shattered the single-year country gross record of Kenny Chesney of 63 million U.S. dollars set in 2005, and may even surpass the 2003 to 2004 mark of Shania Twain of nearly 90 million U.S. dollars. INSET: FAITH HILL TALKS LIFE.

The article features singer Beyoncé and the recording of her album B'Day. She has learned a few things about the music business. She booked her own time at Sony Studios in New York, paid for it herself and finished the album in three weeks. Thematically, B'Day is about the roadblocks and consequences of relationships.

The article offers news briefs about the music industry as of December 2005. It was said that the resurrection of singer Mariah Carey helped Universal Music Group CEO Doug Morris and Island Def Jam Music Group chairman Antonio Reid to perform well in the industry. Unfortunately, Sanctuary Group who intend to have a good year had its business model proved to be financially flawed. Also in the news, advertisements for Apple Computer's iPod came under attacks. Accordingly, the advertisements helped launch albums by U2 and Gorillaz.

The article features country musician Keith Urban. It mentions that his fourth studio album "Love, Pain & the Whole Crazy Thing," was released on November 7, 2006. When he checked himself into rehabilitation for alcohol drug addiction, Urban has to cancel his promotional tours including a performance at the Country Music Association Awards. According to him, he is respectful of the country genre but it is not his intention to make a whole album of country singles. He just wants to make an album of his music.

The article presents profiles of prominent women in all aspects of the music business, from record labels to technology companies. Singer Madonna was one of the first to take charge of her own image and business. Prominent women in the touring industry include Marsha Vlasic and Barbara Skydel. In the Christian rock community, Susan Riley has become an important figure. Controversial figure and performer Courtney Love handles the estate of her late husband, rocker Kurt Cobain.

The article focuses on Press Play, the latest music release from rapper Diddy and from his Bad Boy music label. The album features guest producers and artists including Kanye West, Pharrell, Will.i.am, Mario Winans, Just Blaze, Nicole Scherzinger of the Pussycat Dolls , Jack Knight, Christina Aguilera, Big Boi, Ciara, Scar, Timbaland, Twista, Shawnna, Nas, Cee-Lo, Mika Lett, Keri, Brandy, Keyshia Cole, Jamie Foxx and Combs' protege and longtime collaborator Mary J. Blige.

The article presents an interview with Amy Lee, vocalist of the band Evanescence in the U.S. When asked about the difference between their albums The Open Door and Fallen, she said that what music is for her and what Evanescence has been is purging all of the negative and hard, difficult experiences that she had in life. She said she has matured and learned to say no. For Lee, writing songs together with Terry Balsamo is a completely different process than with Ben Moody, co-founder of the band.

The article reports on the launch of the soundtrack album Idlewild by OutKast. The LaFace/Zomba album will be released August 22, with the film hitting theaters three days later. OutKast's manager Blue Williams calls the film and album a crowning achievement for the duo. Williams stresses that Idlewild is not a biography-type film like Eminem's 8 Mile or 50 Cent's Get Rich or Die Tryin'.

David Raksin, a film music legend best known for composing the theme to Otto Preminger's 1944 drama "Laura," died Monday of heart failure at his home in Van Nuys, California, he was 92 years old. Raksin was heralded as the grandfather of film music. He was born in Philadelphia in 1912 and studied piano and woodwinds while growing up. During the course of his career he wrote themes and scores for numerous television programs, including "Ben Casey" and "Life With Father."

Ozzy Osbourne has hit $50 million in merchandise sales a record for a solo heavy metal performer, according to merchandising and licensing company Signatures Network Inc. Signatures Network CEO Dell Furano said new Osbourne merchandise is on the way, including branded fashion jeans, jackets, boots and accessories as well an Osbourne slot machine. Signatures Network holds the worldwide merchandising and marketing rights to more than 125 top music artists and entertainment properties, including Madonna, U2, Brace Springsteen, Kiss, the Beatles and Tim McGraw.

The European Commission (EC) on Monday approved the merger of music company Sony Music Corp. with Bertelsmann Music Group Inc. (BMG) to create Sony BMG— an industry juggernaut with combined sales of more than $8 billion and about 25% of the world's music market. The merger brings together such BMG acts as musicians Britney Spears, Usher, Dido and Avril Lavigne with Sony stars including Beyonce, Shakira and Celine Dion. The EC approved the deal without imposing any conditions, ruling that the merger would not harm the international music market and that Sony BMG's combined marketing muscle did not represent an unfair monopoly.

Rondor Music has entered into a joint-venture co-publishing deal with production and songwriting duo the Underdogs. Under the deal, the Underdogs — aka Harvey Mason Jr. and Damon Thomas — also will seek out and develop new songwriting talent for Rondor. The deal builds Mason and Thomas' Underdog brand. Last year, the duo inked a two-year joint-venture label deal for Underdog Entertainment with Clive Davis' J Records. The Underdogs have collaborated with such acts as Justin Timberlake, Tyrese, Toni Braxton, Mariah Carey, Pink, B2K, Brandy, Jennifer Lopez, Luther Vandross and Brian McKnight.

After a year of negotiations and litigation, Warner Music Group Inc. (WMG) and Maverick Records have reached an agreement to extend their joint-venture pact. Under the new deal, Maverick principal Guy Oseary has signed a new multiyear contract with Maverick, and Maverick's other principals, Madonna and chief operating officer Ronnie Dashev, have been bought out of their Maverick interests by WMG. Madonna remains as a recording artist signed to Warner Bros. Records. Maverick will continue to be a separate stand-alone label, though sources said the staff will be restructured.

Charlie Walk has been promoted to executive vp creative marketing and promotion at Columbia Records Group. Walk, who was executive vp promotion, will report to Columbia Records Group president Will Botwin. In his expanded role, Walk will focus on strategic marketing and exploring nontraditional marketing areas. As head of promotion, he will continue to oversee all aspects of radio and video promotion for all formats. Walk began his music industry career at Sony Music Distribution in 1987 and became an account service representative in 1990. In 1994, he was named director of pop promotion at Columbia Records and became senior director the next year.

A bill that would help give artists more rights when auditing record companies for possible back royalties will be heard today by the California Assembly Artists& Entertainment Committee in Sacramento, California. The bill—SB 1034— passed the state Senate on a 22-15 vote last year. If it clears the Artists&Entertainment Committee and the Judiciary Committee, the bill would then move to the Assembly floor. Set to testify on behalf of the artists is former CBS Records chief Walter Yetnikoff.

Carlos Santana has been named the 2004 Latin Recording Academy person of the year for his professional, cultural and social accomplishments. He will be honored on August 30, 2004, during a tribute dinner and concert at the Century Plaza Hotel in Century City. In 1998, Santana and his wife, Deborah, founded the Milagro Foundation, a nonprofit that supports children and youth through grants to charities and agencies involved in arts, health and education. Last year, the Santanas got involved with donating and supporting programs to help with the AIDS pandemic in South Africa.

The European Union's antitrust office issued its statement of objections to the proposed merger of Sony Corp.'s Sony Music and German media giant Bertelsmann's BMG. It is standard practice for the European Commission, when conducting a Phase II investigation into a proposed merger, to issue a list of objections that must be rectified before approval is issued. The two music companies have two weeks to respond to the demands. Both sides declined comment on specifics of the objections, but one insider said that the list was much shorter than expected and is optimistic that the merger will be approved.

New York State Attorney General Eliot Spitzer is expected to announce a settlement today with the five major record labels concerning withheld and uncollected artist royalties. Under the agreement, the five major labels will work with the attorney general to avoid escheating unnecessary artist royalties. According to insiders, the labels have millions of dollars worth of unclaimed artist royalties in their coffers—either the artist has passed away and the heirs/estate can not be located or an artist's address has changed so much that the label cannot find them.

President of the company Island, Julie Greenwald is expected to step down from her post, and president of the company Def Jam, Kevin Liles, who resigned last month, is expected to come back. Greenwald has yet to sign her new contract with the recording company Universal Music Group, and sources indicated that if she did not re-up before her maternity leave, she would be asked to leave the company. According to sources, Greenwald told her staff that she will take an extended maternity leave.

AEG Live has entered into a unique deal to be exclusive promoter for Columbia recording artist Robi Draco Rosa in the U.S. and Latin America. Under the multiyear, multialbum agreement, AEG Live will provide live performance support, including booking, production and promotional services for Rosa over the course of two album releases, beginning with "Mad Love" on March 30, 2004. Additionally, AEG Live will participate in all revenue streams relating to Rosa's live performances, including CD and DVD recordings, television specials, merchandise and sponsorship. AEG Live also has the right to explore other ancillary rights on Rosa' behalf. AEG Live president and CEO Randy Philips said the Rosa deal is "the first of many" AEG is pursuing under this " new business model."

The music industry was out in full swing for Grammy Week and champagne was flowing despite struggling record sales. This year's MusiCares benefit dinner Friday at Sony Pictures Studios Inc., honoring Sting, raised more than $3 million and brought out such celebrities as John Mayer, Charles Aznavour and Elton John. On Saturday, Clive Davis' annual preGrammy bash at the Beverly Hills Hotel was swarming with stars and featured amazing performances by Annie Lennox, Maroon 5, Alicia Keys, Patti LaBelle, TVvista and Johnny Mathis.

Clive Davis has been named chairman and CEO of audio recording company BMG North America. Davis, who was chairman and CEO of the RCA Music Group, reports to BMG chairman and CEO Rolf Schmidt-Holtz. Additionally, Charles Goldstuck, president and chief operating officer of the RCA Music Group, has been promoted to president and chief operating officer at BMG North America. Goldstuck, who reports to Davis, will oversee the consolidated business operations.

Newly appointed head of Warner Music Group Inc.'s U.S. recorded music division, Lyor Cohen said that he plans to make musical artistry and new business models a priority for the company. Cohen comes into the fray at a pivotal time for Warner Music Group as the company has plans on cutting about $250 million in costs, which could include laying off as much as 30 percent of its work force. Cohen is no stranger to restructuring companies — the executive merged Island Records, Def Jam and Mercury Records to form the Island Def Jam Music Group five years ago.

Classical musician Van Cliburn, Motown's Funk Brothers, folk singer Ella Jenkins, tenor saxophonist Sonny Rollins, band leader Artie Shaw and folk/country guitarist Doc Watson have been named the 2004 Recording Academy lifetime achievement award recipients. Additionally, jazz producer Orrin Keepnews, songwriting team Gerry Goffin and Carole King, and pianist and radio host Marian McPartland will be honored with trustees awards. The lifetime achievement award honors lifelong artistic contributions to the recording medium while the trustees award recognizes outstanding contributions to the industry in a non-performing capacity.

Investment group head Edgar Bronfman Jr. and Warner Music Group Inc. (WMG) chairman and CEO Roger Ames said Monday that they plan to jointly lead the new WMG with a focus on artist development and old-fashioned independent spirit. At a time of industry wide consolidation and corporate acquisitions, the Bronfman deal effectively makes WMG/Warner Chappell a stand-alone, private, independent music company. Bronfman said he has faith that, as an independent company, WMG can continue to focus on artist development and long term growth goals.

Time Warner Inc. announced Monday that it will sell its Warner Music Group Inc. and Warner/Chappell Music Publishing to an Edgar Bronfman Jr.-led investment group in a deal worth $2.6 billion. The deal brings Bronfman, the former head of Seagram and the Universal Music Group, back into the music business as chief of Warner's recorded music and publishing companies. The Bronfman deal, valued at $2.6 billion in cash and other consideration, includes an option for TW to buy back up to a 15% stake in the company over the next three years at a discounted price from market value.

One cannot discuss the Golden Age of Hollywood without including the big, glossy musicals of the 1930's. Now, thanks to a revival of the genre initiated by the success of Miramax Film Corp.'s 2002 Academy Award-winning release "Chicago," several musical projects are in the works, including remakes of the classics" Damn Yankees!" Just after the success of "Chicago," Miramax is developing a slew of musical projects, having acquired rights to "Pippin" as well as "Yankees" and "Guys." But first, the studio will release a new kind of song-and-dance film: "Bend It Like Beckham" director Gurinder Chadha's Hollywood musical "Bride and Prejudice," based on Jane Austen's classic novel" Pride and Prejudice."

Former Epic Records president Polly Anthony is in talks to take a West Coast, British Columbia-based executive post at Universal Music Group (UMG), sources said. The move would reunite Anthony and former Sony Music chief Thomas Mottola, who resurrected Casablanca Records under UMG in July. Anthony left her post at Epic in September after more than 25 years with Sony Music. During her tenure at Sony, Anthony guided the careers of such acts as Celine Dion, Rage Against the Machine, Korn, Jennifer Lopez, Pearl Jam and Shakira.

Reports on appointments made to the post of executive vice president at companies Buena Vista Motion Pictures Group and Buena Vista Music Group. Responsibilities assumed by Glen Lajeski; Profile of Mitchell Leib.

Singer-songwriter Warren Zevon, famed for his rock songs like "Werewolves of London," died on September 7, 2003 at his home in West Hollywood, California. Zevon was diagnosed last year with mesothelioma, a rare type of terminal lung cancer. Zevon, who was given only a few months to live after he was diagnosed in August 2002, spent the last year of his life with his family and completing his final album "The Wind." The album brought together a slew of guest performers and friends of Zevon's, including Bruce Springsteen, Don Henley, Dwight Yoakam and Styx's Tommy Shaw. Zevon released six albums during the 1980s, including "Bad Luck Streak in Dancing School," "The Envoy," "Sentimental Hygiene" and the sci-fi concept album "Transverse City."

Producing-songwriting duo Harvey Mason Jr. and Damon Thomas have signed a two-year joint-venture deal with music company J Records. Under the terms of the deal, Mason and Thomas will sign and develop acts for their Underdog Entertainment. Additionally, they will continue to produce artists on J Records as well as other labels. J Records will handle all marketing, promotion, sales and distribution responsibilities for the new label.

Music company Universal Music Group (UMG), EMI Corp. and the music publishers have filed an opposition to Bertelsmann AG's motion to dismiss all of their Napster Inc. related legal claims. Bertelsmann filed its motion with the U.S. District Court in New York last month to dismiss these three copyright infringement lawsuits. UMG, EMI and the music publishers sued the German media company earlier this year for its $60 million investment and participation in the now-defunct file-swapping company.

The String Cheese Incident (SCI), which announced its lawsuit against the ticket-selling giant during a news conference Monday in New York, filed the complaint last week in U.S. District Court in Denver. The complaint alleges that the String Cheese Incident's Boulder, Colorado-based company SCI Ticketing has become the target of an all-out effort by Ticketmaster to foreclose it from competing in the relevant market because it has ceased to release blocks of tickets to SCI Ticketing. The suit says it is common industry practice that, at an artist's request, a venue will hold back a block of tickets that the artist can sell directly to fans. In a statement, a Ticketmaster representative said the company competes for the exclusive right to sell tickets on behalf of venues and promoters. In exchange for these exclusive contracts, the representative said Ticketmaster offers its clients turnkey ticket solutions that include technology infrastructure, distribution networks, boxoffice and season ticket management systems.

Audiences waiting on edge for Wes Craven's latest directorial effort 'Cursed' as of August 5, 2003 may end up cursing the film's distributor Dimension Films. A Dimension spokesperson said the hiatus was planned and concerned addition of special effects because filmmakers brought in more fx than originally planned as the film shot. But sources further indicated that top executives at Miramax Films Corp. genre arm weren't happy with the film's ending or how special effects were progressing specifically look of the film's lead lupine.

The United States Federal Trade Commission (FTC) on Monday upheld charges that two record companies illegally fixed prices on a sound recording by the Three Tenors. The case involves a 1998 recording of the Three Tenors — Luciano Pavarotti, Jose Carreras and Placido Domingo that was released under a joint venture between Warner Music Group Inc. (WMG) and Vivendi Universal's Universal Music Group (UMG). The FTC rejected an appeal by UMG and supported a June 2002 ruling by an administrative law judge who ordered the companies to stop anticompetitive practices. In 2001, the FTC charged that WMG and UMG conspired to fix the price of the recording of the Three Tenors' performance at the soccer World Cup finals in Paris. The FTC reached a settlement with WMG in 2001. The company agreed to a ban on deals with competitors that fix prices or limit advertising.

The RIAA on Monday selected a top Republican operative to take over the high-profile association when its board of directors named Mitch Bainwol, former chief of staff to Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist as chairman and CEO of the record industry trade group. Bainwol replaces Hilary Rosen, a 17-year veteran of the RIAA who was named CEO in 1998. Bainwol said he was "delighted" at his selection to take one of the top lobbying jobs in Washington. The RIAA is involved in a number of high-profile battles with Internet service providers and file-sharing services over music piracy. Bainwol, who runs the Bainwol Group, a lobbying firm, previously was executive director of the National Republican Senatorial Committee and before that, chief of staff to Senator Connie Mack.

Irving Azoff has resigned as co-chairman of Anschutz Entertainment Group's (AEG) Concerts West Ltd. in order to focus his full attention on his company, Azoffmusic Management. As part of terms of Azoff's departure, AEG will acquire his interest in Concerts West. AEG president and CEO Tim Leiweke will be the sole chairman of Concerts West. However, Concerts West will remain a live-entertainment development, production and promotion company under the AEG Live banner.

In a move to strengthen the division, EMI Gospel has expanded its management team by promoting general manager and label vice president Ken Pennell to president. Zomba Label Group executive Larry Blackwell has been selected to take over Pennell's general manager duties. The announcement was made Monday by Bill Hearn, president and CEO of EMI Christian Music Group. As president, Pennell will oversee the label's direction, artist development and A&R activities and will report to Hearn. Blackwell was director of national gospel sales at Zomba Label Group and before that spent 16 years as general manager of Central South Gospel.

The RIAA has filed suit against 18 retail businesses for selling pirated CDs, the trade group said. Lawsuits, which were filed last month in Texas, Florida and New York, mark the latest move by the recording industry to combat piracy and declining record sales. The RIAA began sending legal notices to many of these outlets in December 2002. The National Association of Recording Merchandisers applauded the RIAA's efforts.

The restructuring of MCA Records and the move to eliminate the MCA brand began on June 9, 2003, when about one-third of the label's staffers were dismissed. A spokeswoman for Interscope Geffen A&M Records wouldn't confirm how many employees were affected. According to sources, the layoffs extended across the board and to all levels. Jordan Shur, president of Geffen Records, is expected to helm the new Geffen. Many key MCA staffers will remain, including Craig Lambert, MCA senior vice president promotion, who was named interim head of MCA after former president Jay Boberg left his post in January 2003. Sources indicated more staff changes are likely.

Frances Georgeson has been promoted to the post of the senior vp international marketing at Arista Records Inc. She will report to Larry Mestel, executive vp and general manager. In her new role, Georgeson will be responsible for marketing Arista's repertoire worldwide, excluding the U.S. Georgeson joined Arista in 2000 as vp international marketing.

Trauma Records cofounder and joint president Paul Palmer is leaving the label. Palmer formed Trauma Records in 1994 with Rob Kahane, who will remain as the label's head. Trauma, which has released numerous soundtracks to MaryKate and Ashley Olsen projects, is distributed by RED. In 2002, Germany-based media company IN-motion AG agreed to sell its majority stake in Trauma back to Palmer and Kahane for 6 million dollars.