Swizz Beatz With Little Steven And Nile Rodgers

Nile Rodgers And Kelly Cutrone

When I helped start the original NMS back in 1980 (with Tom Silverman, Danny Heaps, Marc Josephson, and the late Joel Webber) there was no telling that it would go onto change the face of the music industry. Forget that it originally started simply because we all wanted some credibility within the industry; it more than became the behemoth that the other reigning music event (Billboard) was at the time in very short order. Personally, I only lasted the first three years … I think they went onto about ten sessions, and then closed up shop. Last year, Silverman undertook the task of re-building and re-imagining it and though I thought it was really good, it’s taken several more seminars in different parts of the country, to really get it back on its legs. Last year’s at NYU in New York City was more of all the principals, me included (although only as an observer this time), stretching their legs again and seeing what was up. This year, at Webster Hall, it really picked up steam and came close in certain instances in duplicating some of the best moments of NMS V.1. I have to say that it was good to see some old friends there, most notably producer-John Luongo and promotion whiz Jerry Lembo. Luongo I spied for a quick moment, but let’s face it, was there ever a better producer/remixer than Luongo? I believe he’s relocated back to Boston and I really miss his sense of wonder and talents. Lembo still promotes some of the best records and artists around and his wealth of knowledge knows no limits. I walked in on the session (or, rather ‘intensives,’ as they call them now) with Michael Doernberg. Reverb Nation is a first class service for artists and their songs and they really (based in North Carolina) do a splendid job. Doernberg gave reasons galore for doing this and doing that, and while I agree, I felt then and still feel now; one has got to identify the right artist and the right material. I think that just has to come first. Liz Leahy gave an impassioned speech regarding rights for writers and artists and the always fabulous Ted Cohen gave a somewhat rambling but interesting speech on the history of the Internet, Napster, Pitchfork, and the evolution of downloaded music. A high point was when he presented a graphic of the very first Sony Walkman (circa 1979). Cohen, who worked for Warner Brothers Records back in the day, interspersed his presentation with several photos of him with the likes of Van Halen. Wonder how many in the assembled crowd even remembered the legendary group? Though Cohen’s presentation was strong on facts and figures, it could not have underscored more the most important fact … that in my humble opinion, all the marketing and promotion in the world won’t make a bad record good. My friend Steve Leeds is right once again: It all starts with the song. A ‘good’ song is a ‘good’ song. I also walked through the NMS booths and found some of the usual suspects, SEASAC and MasterDisc among them. I also came across Brian Meece, the co-founder of RocketHub (RocketHub.com) whose business exists as an incubator for new artists and music. We had a great talk and I found him to be eager for the challenges above. This was the exact type of current NMS-er: ready to for the challenges ahead … and, believe me, those challenges exist more than ever these days. The music business is in a free fall like never before, although the opportunity for artists and new songs to actually break through are possible like never before. I wasn’t able to attend the evening’s music presentation owing to some technical issues, but I heard they were superb. Also seen were Nile Rogers, Kelly Cutrone, Margaret Cho, and Little Steven. As the new tag line for the NMS says, “The revolution starts here.” True, I didn’t recognize everyone at this year’s Seminar, but they’re all committed to doing the best they can; finding the new artists and the best new material. And, you know, in the long run … that’s what it’s all about. Nice job Mr. Silverman. And, special thanks to Dave Lory.

Jon Hamm And Jennifer Westfeldt

Aaron Staton And wife Connie Fletcher

Rich Sommer

Vincent Kartheiser

Blast from the past Robert Morse along with Elisabeth Moss, Rich Sommer, Cara Buono, Vincent Kartheiser and Christopher Stanley attended AMC’s “Mad Men” Season 4 Premiere at the Mann Chinese 6 in Hollywood, California.

Photos By: RD / Cortes / Retna Digital

Vanessa Hudgens With Zac Efron

Vanessa Hudgens along with Stefanie Scott, Bubba Lewis, Zac Efron, Charlie Tahan, Paul Duchart, Chase Ryan Jeffery, Gilles Marini, Julianna Rose and many more stars attended the world premiere of “Charlie St. Cloud” at the Regency Village Theater in Westwood, California.

Photos By: RD / Scott Kirkland / Retna Digital

Liev Schreiber And Naomi Watts

Brad Pitt And Angelina Jolie

Amber Heard

Sharon Case

Phillip Noyce And Family

Gretchen Rossi

Jon Voight And James Haven

Antonio Sabato Jr. along with Jon Voight, Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie, James Haven, Amber Heard, Sharon Case, Kristin Cavallari, Liev Schreiber, Naomi Watts, Charlotte Ross and many more stars attended the Los Angeles Premiere of “Salt” – at the world famous Grauman’s Chinese Theatre in Hollywood, California.

Photos By: RD / Cortes / Retna Digital

We’ve seen a lot of DJs in over 25 years of covering nightclubs and events in New York City. Every DJ has his own personal style – some make you want to get up and dance and throw your cares away, others play light cocktail music in the background, so you can have a conversation. But Jonathon Page, the Audio/Visual Director and head DJ at Rick’s Cabaret NYC, is a complete enigma. You NEVER know what a night at Rick’s Cabaret will bring…but Jonathon is always prepared with the appropriate music for the crowd. Whether there are rock stars in the house who want to hear Aerosmith and Metallica or businessmen requesting dance hits from the 80s, or 100 dancers, each with a special request, Jonathon effortlessly keeps the beat going nightly, and everyone’s happy. A true expert in the field, Page has been spinning hits almost exclusively at gentlemen’s clubs for the past 13 years, leading to his landing the position in the chief spot at Rick’s Cabaret. “Rick’s Cabaret is the number one spot in the United States for DJs in this format. I’m at the top of the food chain right now,” he declares. He was a teenage wunderkind, starting at the age of 14 spinning at all of the major nightclubs on the Jersey Shore, but, as soon as he reached his 18th birthday, he headed straight for gentlemen’s clubs. On a recent night, Slash, best known as the guitar player from the rock band Guns ’n’ Roses, arrived at Rick’s Cabaret with friends and sat comfortably between two groups of businessmen in suits. Slash asked Jonathon if he had a copy of his latest CD, which had only been released a matter of days earlier, and Jonathon had it handy! Slash actually made a second, special trip to the DJ booth to thank Jonathon for playing the song. The businessmen were too mesmerized by the girls dancing to Slash’s beat to say anything! Rick’s Girl Karina, 22, loves to dance to Lady Gaga and The Back Eyed Peas. She says, “I just adore Jonathon. He plays all my favorite songs, and he also likes to surprise me!” “Music plays an important role,” said Rick’s Cabaret’s spokesman Lonnie Hanover. “There’s nothing more annoying than a bad or loud DJ. The mood is set by the DJ, and Jonathon hits all the right notes.” Stop by Rick’s Cabaret and make a request! Beyond the obvious pleasures available at Rick’s, we have no doubt that Jonathon Page will make your dreams come true….

Mario Lopez

Mario Lopez celebrated his expected baby at mur.mur at the Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa this weekend, in our favorite vacation destination Atlantic City. We are hoping that we can make a trip down there real soon….