Backstage Pass

Considering how long Kristeen Young has been on the road with Morrissey, you’d think the singer-songwriter would know better than to joke about his sexual preference onstage. Apparently not.

Nevertheless, after Young and her band were booted from the tour for her off-hand comment about Morrissey’s sexual prowess, Joan Jett’s protegees Girl in a Coma, signed to Long Beach-based Blackheart Records, quickly stepped in as replacements.

Handpicked by Morrissey himself, on the strength of the band’s Blackheart debut “Both Before I’m Gone” and after he dropped in to see them at L.A.’s Viper Room in September, Girl in a Coma (not be confused with The Smiths’ classic “Girlfriend in a Coma”) was in place on Oct. 25 at Hammerstein Ballroom and will close out the rest of the tour’s sold-out dates this week, after cancelling their previously scheduled shows.

Jett discovered the female rock trio – featuring singer Nina Diaz, her sister, Phanie, on drums, and grade school friend Jenn Alva on bass – in San Antonio, Texas, in 2004 and immediately signed them to the label she runs with longtime collaborator Kenny Laguna, who supervised the final mix of the band’s debut.

As far as Kristeen Young goes, the singer said in a statement on her MySpace page that what she said was “metaphorical and overstated to make an artistic point,” adding, “Maybe the statement was a bit too everyday. Maybe I misjudged… but I meant no harm. I love Morrissey with all of my heart, soul, body, spirit, to the core of my existence and always will.”

Lots of TV shows (is anyone still watching "The Next Great American Band"?) and even more websites have tried to duplicate the juggernaut that is "American Idol" and failed. But "Total Pop Star" claims to be different. The web-based contest, which starts Nov. 12, is looking for "Idol"-wannabes to submit their videos online and then voters will take over, crowning a winner on Jan. 27.

The twist? Well, the six semi-finalists wo get the most votes work with judges Andrew Van Slee, of Universal Music, Joey Lawrence, one-time "Gimme a Break" child actor turned Broadway headliner, and Merrick's own Deborah Gibson. The trio of judges will also write a new single for the winner to perform. (Wouldn't it make more sense for Joey and/or Deborah to keep a new hit single for themselves? Just wondering.)

Anyway, according to the press release, the contest is "sure to unearth the world's next singing sensation." Um, OK. Color me skeptical, but the music industry does need new stars and if this is the way to create one, godspeed. Let's hope whoever wins is better than Tila Tequila.

PHOTO: Deborah Gibson by Ray Garcia Photography / Deborah-Gibson.com 

The new Natasha Bedingfield video for “Love Like This” tries so hard to point out that she and teen sensation Sean Kingston aren’t a romantic couple that it actually calls attention to the oddity of a 25 year-old woman and a 17-year-old boy singing about love together. The song itself is a fluffy, island-tinged pop number that is pleasant enough and doesn’t seem strange at all.

However, the video keeps making it clear that Bedingfield has her own individual, age-appropriate “love like this,” who is so totally not Kingston. Sure, he sings about “making you my wifey,” but they’re seated on a piano rocking from side to side in an oh-so-platonic way, so that’s not really possible. Then, to drive the point home the final shot is of Bedingfield and her video boyfriend, who is so totally not Kingston.

We get it, Tash isn’t robbing the cradle. No worries. Couldn’t they have avoided all this drama by simply not pairing up either one of them and just have them singing the song while other couples cavorted around? The video is such a weird way of freaking out about a problem that didn’t really seem like one in the first place.

The setlist for "Rock Band," the full band version of the "Guitar Hero" videogame, was announced today by MTV Games and Harmonix and it looks pretty fun, for the most part. Beastie Boys' "Sabotage," The Pixies' "Wave of Mutilation," New Pornographers' "Electric Version" and Hole's "Celebrity Skin" (above) should keep fans busy once the game is released on Nov. 20 for Xbox and PS3. Long Island Music Hall of Famers Mountain, who made the cut with the great "Mississippi Queen," and Blue Oyster Cult, with "Don't Fear the Reaper," will both surely get a nice bump in sales once "Rock Band"-ers discover them.

However, while there are plenty of songs that would have been great to play, did they have to pick OK Go's "Here It Goes Again" for the game? That song's pretty annoying, unless the game-makers are going to make players jump on synchronized treadmills while they play it. Maybe that's in the "Rock Band" deluxe edition.

Full list on the jump, along with a clip of what it looks like doing "Wave of Mutilation"

Former Taking Back Sunday guitarist/singer Fred Mascherino is teaming up with -- guess who? -- former Taking Back Sunday guitarist/singer John Nolan and his new band Straylight Run for the first tour of his new band The Color Fred. The tour starts Nov. 19 and hits New York on Dec. 14 at the Fillmore New York at Irving Plaza. That will have to be The Color Fred's first New York area show after the release of its debut "Bend to Break" on Tuesday, now that the Nov. 1 show at Vintage Lounge in Levittown has been canceled.

Mascherino has plenty to say about his new band and his previous band in our interview here.

Hear "Bend to Break" here. 

The Academy Is... singer William Beckett asked the same question all the bands on the “Sleeping With Giants” Tour asked: “How many of you have seen us before?”
    In these days of tightening radio playlists and increasingly rare appearances by music videos on even cable TV, the question is an important one since it’s becoming the best way for new bands to build a bigger following.
    And few bands out there deserve a bigger following more than The Academy Is...
    The Chicago band’s “Santi” (Fueled by Ramen) album is one of the year’s best, an infectious combination of pop melodies and indie-rock anthems, driven by Beckett’s powerful, yet flexible, voice. But, more importantly, its live show is the kind of extravaganza that seems destined for arenas.

SETLIST: Same Blood / Attention / Slow Down / LAX to O’Hare / The Phrase That Pays / Sleeping With Giants (Lifetime) / Black Mamba / We’ve Got a Big Mess on Our Hands / Bulls in Brooklyn / Down and Out / Seed / Classifieds / Skeptics and True Believers / Everything We Had / Neighbors / Checkmarks // ENCORE: 40 Steps / Almost Here.

PHOTO: Fueled by Ramen. 

The debate over my review of Britney Spears' "Blackout" is turning out to be more entertaining than the review (or the album, for that matter). Feel like jumping in? Well, the album is still streaming at MTV and the comments continue to roll in.

Everyone is entitled to their opinion, but I did want to clear up a few things. My bosses never tell me what to write or whether to like something or not. I have nothing to do with comments getting posted or deleted at Newsday.com -- it's a totally separate part of the company. And yes, I did listen to the album, more than a dozen times.

Comment away!

Britney Spears -- "Blackout" Album Stream [MTV]

Britney Spears new CD? Save your money [Newsday]

Comments [Topix]

And as mysteriously as it showed up last week, Akon's surprise show at Nassau Coliseum on Friday, featuring surprise guests, is now postponed. No new date has been set, but refunds are available at the point of purchase. As his new single says, "Sorry, Blame It on Me."

On an related note, Don Rickles' show on Friday at North Fork Theatre at Westbury has also been postponed, after he suffered a cracked rib. The show will be rescheduled in the spring. Ticketholders are asked to return their tickets at the point of purchase for tickets for the new date or for a refund. 

 Of course, this means the Akon featuring Don Rickles remix of "Smack That" is even more unlikely now that they won't be on the Long Island at the same time...

10. “Welcome to Madison Square.”

9. “Conversation? Bored of the songs so you’d like to talk?”

8. “Abolish the McDonald’s empire. Have you seen their new slogan 'billions and billions served'? It should be: ‘billions and billions killed.’ ”

7. “I can’t hear very well. It’s age.”

6.  “Thank you for your kindness. Anything helps.”

5.  “A few coughs, a few sniffles and our little donkey finally made it to New York City. Thank you for your patience, assuming, of course, that you’re all not from Waukegon.”

4.  “If only we were as good as Kid Rock, but you can’t have everything.”

3. “On we go, struggling through life. I do anyway.”

2. “So I think in an ideal world, it’d have to be Barack Obama – very nice teeth, nice voice. Americans have never had that in a president. It would be very nice to have a woman, but not Hillary Clinton. Please.”

1. “I did not create the human race. Thankfully, I cannot be blamed.”

Full review here

SETLIST: Stop Me If You Think You've Heard This One Before / Tomorrow / Sister, I'm A Poet / London / The Loop / That's How People Grow Up / Jack The Ripper / I Like You / Why Don't You Find Out For Yourself? / Stretch Out And Wait / The World Is Full Of Crashing Bores / Last Night I Dreamt That Somebody Loved Me / Billy Budd / All You Need Is Me / Death Of A Disco Dancer / Irish Blood, English Heart / Shoplifters Of The World Unite / One Day Goodbye Will Be Farewell / You Have Killed Me / How Soon Is Now? // ENCORE: First Of The Gang To Die 

PHOTO: Fabio Lovino / Sanctuary Records 

Queens-based up-and-comers The Shake have released the video for their nifty garage-rock single "Manic Boogie." Check it out here:

Jay-Z has announced a short, five-date tour based on his upcoming album "American Gangster," according to Billboard.com. The tour kicks off in Los Angeles Nov. 6, the release date of the album, which is inspired by the movie of the same name starring Denzel Washington and Russell Crowe. Jay-Z will play Manhattan's Hammerstein Ballroom Nov. 11.

The full tour schedule:

Nov. 6: House of Blues, Los Angeles
Nov. 7: House of Blues, Chicago
Nov. 9: Ram's Head, Baltimore
Nov. 11: Hammerstein Ballroom, New York
Nov. 12: Fillmore at the TLA, Philadelphia

7 p.m. JUSTICE. This once-underground French dance-duo is now famous for two things: Its T-shirt-themed video for "D.A.N.C.E.," and prompting an outcry from Kanye West after edging him out for an MTV Europe Music Award. Don't miss the warm-up synth group Midnight Juggernauts. (Terminal 5, 610 W. 56th St., Manhattan. 212-260-4700.)

8 p.m. AEROPLANE PAGEANT. Brooklyn will get a taste of Strong Island when this wonderful sad-pop outfit shares the bill with another local troupe, the ever-quirky Beat Radio. (Union Hall, 702 Union St., Brooklyn. 718-638-4400.)

9:15 p.m. ANATHALLO. The Michigan orchestral pop collective is full of gorgeous surprises. (Knitting Factory, 74 Leonard St., Manhattan, 212-219-3132.)

10 p.m. THE COLOR FRED. Ex-Taking Back Sunday guitarist/ singer Fred Mascherino's new band hits the ground running with the power-pop debut "Bend to Break." The live show will likely be just as hard-hitting. Knitting Factory, 74 Leonard St., Manhattan, 212-219-3132.)

10:30 p.m. BABY ELEPHANT. The latest project from Amityville's Prince Paul delves into jazzy, funky grooves. (Crash Mansion, 199 Bowery, Manhattan. 212-982-0740.)

11 p.m. THE BRUNETTES. The delightful pop-rockers from New Zealand are less cutesy and more charming on the new "Structure and Cosmetics" album. Bowery Ballroom, 6 Delancey St., Manhattan, 212-533-2111.)

Though M.I.A.'s CMJ showcase is technically tonight at Terminal 5, her show Thursday night showed why she is growing into one of music's most important new artists. Her 75-minute set was a potent mix of world beats and truly populist politics that was made even more thrilling because of its simplicity. Though fans of "Arular" and her new "Kala" album have come to expect the African and Eastern rhythms in her music, M.I.A. also threw in some new wave influences that drove the crowd wild, ending "$20" with New Order's "Blue Monday" and "$10" with Eurythmics' "Sweet Dreams." Perhaps most surprising was the injection of Lil Mama's "Lip Gloss" into her hit "Galang" -- true signs M.I.A. can please the crowd as well as move it.

(Thursday night, Terminal 5, before the M.I.A. show. The crowd had been booing for about five minutes, after a long delay and some turntable sound issues. M.I.A. guest rapper Afrikan Boy takes the mic to try to calm the people down. It worked for a bit. Then he pushed too far.)

 AFRIKAN BOY: When I say, "M.I.A.," you say "Whoomp! There it is!" M.I.A.

CROWD: Boo!

AFRIKAN BOY: M.I.A.!

CROWD: Boo!

(Tuesday night, Mercury Lounge, during the acoustic set of Jesse Lacey and Vin Accardi of Brand New.)

GUY IN CROWD: Brand New's the best! [Expletive] TBS!

JESSE LACEY: That kid's from 1999. He came here in his time machine.

GUY IN CROWD: [silence] 

7 p.m. MGMT. Glam-rock chords, sleek synths and Bowie-esque vocals define this Next Big Thing out of Brooklyn. (Crash Mansion, 199 Bowery, Manhattan. 212-982-0740.)

8 p.m. AS TALL AS LIONS. Long Island's best indie-rock troupe is moving on up, playing a prime-time gig at a hot new downtown venue. (HighLine Ballroom, 431 W 16th St., Manhattan. 212-414-5994.)

9 p.m. SCOTLAND YARD GOSPEL CHOIR. Is the orchestral pop outfit from Chicago this year's Arcade Fire? It should be. (Cake Shop, 152 Ludlow St., Manhattan, 212-253-0036.)

10 p.m. M.I.A. Miss Maya is this year's queen of CMJ, as her wild, world-beat experiments on "Kala" win her more fans. (Terminal 5, 610 W. 56th St., Manhattan, 212-260-4700.)

11 p.m. EL-P. If we define what El-P does as rap-rock and not that lame noise Limp Bizkit used to make, it would still be thriving. (Music Hall of Williamsburg, 66 N. Sixth St., Brooklyn, 212-260-4700.)

12:30 a.m. THE WARLOCKS. One of the best bands from California's never-ending '60s revival scene, The Warlocks play delightfully gloomy, swooning psych-rock with a sense of humor. (Luna Lounge, 361 Metropolitan Ave., Brooklyn. 866-468-7619.)

6 p..m. DATAROCK. The headliner on this seven-band bill is Spoon, which laces its stripped-down indie-rock with funk and disco, but don't miss Datarock, a vastly entertaining Norwegian dance-rock duo that sings about geeky pursuits such as BMX biking and computer programming. (Blender Theater at Gramercy, 27 E. 23rd St., Manhattan. 212-777-6800.)

7:45 p.m. BENZOS. Think Radiohead with even more experimentation and less of a chill. (Blender Theater at Gramercy, 127 E. 23rd St., Manhattan, 212-777-6800.)

10 p.m. NIGHT KILLS THE DAY. Singer Luke Brian and keyboardist Timothy Falzone of Bayville hammer out Goth-tinged rock with themes of addiction, depression and other psychodramas. (Crash Mansion, 199 Bowery, Manhattan. 212-982-0740.)

10 p.m. EISLEY. The sweet sounds of the DuPree sisters and their rocking brothers are stronger than ever on the recent "Combinations" album. (Fillmore New York at Irving Plaza, 17 Irving Place, Manhattan, 212-777-6800.)

10:30 p.m. ENON. The Go! Team crossed with an electronic-leaning Beck, with more consistently great experiments than both. (HighLine Ballroom, 431 W. 16th St., Manhattan, 212-414-5994.)

Midnight. SIMIAN MOBILE DISCO. Along with pals Justice, Manchester's Simian Mobile Disco are pushing a revival of good time electronic disco. (Music Hall of Williamsburg, 66 N. Sixth St., Brooklyn, 212-260-4700.)

The folks at Looney Tunes are filming a documentary on the rebuilding of their store, which was burnt to a crisp earlier this summer thanks to a faulty electrical cord. Three "chapters" of the documentary have been posted on YouTube.

In the first, you can see co-owner Karl Groeger, Jr., walking through the charred store and holding up a shriveled piece of coal that used to be an autographed Warren Haynes guitar.

In Chapter Two, Groeger promises a new, radically low pricing structure: "We're not gonna just have one or two things on sale, we're gonna put the entire store on sale."

Chapter Three stars Motion City Soundtrack, one of the first bands to play a benefit show after the fire.

8:30 p.m. THE FORECAST. If all the guy-gal indie-rocker bands around now had a cage match, The Forecast would win hands down – musically and physically. Bowery Poetry Club.

9 p.m. MATES OF STATE. The power-poppy “it” couple of Kori Gardner and Jason Hammel start their New York run of shows with a free one. Avalon.

9:50 p.m. SERJ TANKIAN. The System of a Down singer previews his solo album, out on Tuesday, for the CMJ crowd. Fillmore New York at Irving Plaza.

11 p.m. COBRA STARSHIP. Put your fangs up. Cobra Starship will unveil songs from its new “Viva la Cobra” album, also out Tuesday, as well as the usual good-time fun of “The Church of Hot Addiction.” Don Hill’s.

Cobra Starship, "Send My Love to the Dancefloor"

If Sebastian Bach hadn't been voted off "Celebrity Rap Superstar" last week, he would have treated us to a rap track called "November 20." Boy, that was a close call. But now he'll be performing it on MTV's "TRL" on Wednesday, Oct. 17 at 3:30 p.m. Here's a lil' teaser for ya. Listen for the line, "I do what I want, 'cause rules for fools."

The 27th annual CMJ Music Marathon, headquartered at the Puck Building this year, kicks off today and rocks through the weekend. (If you’re not registered for the conference, each club has its own policy about how many, if any, non-badgeholders can get into the shows for a separate admission fee.)

Who's worth checking out? Some of today's suggestions:

7 p.m. JAY BRANNAN. Though he got attention for his acting (and doing other things) in the John Cameron Mitchell movie “Shortbus,” Brannan’s singing and storytelling is even more charming. Mercury Lounge.

8:15 p.m. JESSE LACEY & VIN ACCARDI. The Brand New boys make a rare acoustic appearance. Mercury Lounge.

9 p.m. LIFETIME. The emo pioneers make a much-deserved comeback. Webster Hall.

10 p.m. DEAN & BRITTA. Dreamy, orchestral pop from Dean Wareham and Britta Phillips. (Stick around for the sweet synth pop of The Rosebuds at 11 p.m.) Bowery Ballroom.

Dean and Britta, "Words You Used to Say"

12 a.m. CELEBRATION. Joy Division-like rhythms and atmospherics, handclaps and Moogs, and a female singer. What’s not to like? Union Pool.

Island Def Jam, home to The Killers, has leaked the cover of the band's upcoming album, "Sawdust," hinting that it will be released later this year.

What's noticeable here (aside from the surreal, '70s-style "trippy" artwork) is the nature theme, which is somewhat reminiscent of Interpol's latest, "Our Love To Admire." Is going au naturel becoming a trend for ultra-urban rock bands? If Yeah Yeah Yeahs' next album features, like, flowers or something, remember you read it here first.

As we ramp up for Public Enemy's induction into the Long Island Music Hall of Fame on Oct. 21, here's the video for their latest single, "Harder Than You Think."

Chuck D said he and Flavor Flav started filming around 7 a.m. on July 28, before playing the "Rock The Bells" concert on Randalls Island later that day. With the help of a video director, they rented a U-Haul for equipment and then drove around to various old stomping grounds in Roosevelt during filming. "It's the least expensive prop for a video ever, renting a U-Haul for $19.95," he said.

Among the Strong Island landmarks: The Roosevelt Youth Center, the M7 West exit on the Meadowbrook Parkway, and a Jamaican food joint in Uniondale called Tony's Bakery and Restaurant.

"It's a great ad, right?" Chuck said of the long, lingering shot of Tony's. "I hope I can get some kingfish for free there. Probably not."

Due to Internet leaks and, perhaps, a desire to capitalize on the current swirl of publicity around her, Britney Spears is rushing out her new album two weeks earlier than previously planned.

"Blackout," Spears's first album in four years, will be released on Jive Records Oct 30.  The original release date was Nov. 13.

"Recently, songs from Britney Spears' [sic] forthcoming album, along with unfinished material and demos represented as completed legitimate songs, were leaked on-line," according to a Jive Records press release.

The release also quoted "a label spokesperson" as stating, "due to these numerous unauthorized on-line leaks, the label is doing everything possible to prevent and avoid any further illegal distribution of songs including moving up the release date of the album to October 30th."

Previous titles that had been considered -- perhaps not seriously -- were posted on Spears's Website. They were, in order:

1. Omg is Like Lindsay Lohan Like Okay Like
2. What if the Joke is on You
3. Down boy
4. Integrity
5. Dignity

"Blackout" may not seem like a well-considered choice from a mother who recently lost custody of her two children thanks to unacceptable alcohol and drug use. Then again, listeners appear to approve of Spears's new incompetent-mom image. Her new song, "Gimme More," recently shot to No. 3 on the Billboard singles chart, up from No. 63 last week.

The trainwreck continues.

In her new video "Gimme More," Britney Spears plays a stripper and a woman mesmerized by/laughing at a stripper. I'm sure psychologists, especially Dr. Phil, will go to town on the meaning of the two Britneys and how "Good Britney" has disassociated herself from "Bad Britney." But you don't need to be a psychologist to see what a sad video this is.

Never mind that Spears still looks unprepared and a few steps slow on her dance moves. Or that the director needs to bring in other dancers to liven things up and do the more difficult moves. Or that the whole thing doesn't have a gritty, amateur look, but actually looks amateurish, like it was actually shot with a $5 budget.

It just looks desperate, watching Spears blankly sing "Gimme More" as she takes off her top (but remains covered -- it's not that kind of amateur video), while people only pay half-attention to her. Did this video get approved by her because she thought it made her look good?

I've wondered for years what it would take for Spears to fall from grace into anonymity. Revelations of her lip-synching and her dancing missteps weren't enough. Neither was her beating a car with an umbrella or shaving off all her hair. What will it take for people to stop being interested in her?

As she continues in her artistic and personal downward spiral, it seems like she must be asking herself that same question.

"Gimme More" is set to debut on MTV on Monday. It's currently available for purchase at iTunes.

UPDATE: Britney's record company just announced that her album will be called "Blackout." Uh huh.

MORE: Britney "Sex tape" the least of her problems / Britney Spears bombs on MTV awards

Guitarist/singer Fred Mascherino confirmed last night that he has left Taking Back Sunday to pursue his solo project The Color Fred. On his mySpace blog, Mascherino said the decision "had been waiting for some time," and that it was "a hard day for a lot of us." His new album "Bend to Break," a bit more pop oriented than the Taking Back Sunday sound, is due out Oct. 30 on Equal Vision Records.

In a statement on its mySpace blog, Taking Back Sunday said they wish him well and will continue work on its new album. "No drama, just riffs," the band wrote.

Mascherino joined the band in 2003, along with bassist Matt Rubano, after guitarist/singer John Nolan and bassist Shaun Cooper left, amid a bit of personal turmoil, to form Straylight Run.

PHOTO: Mascherino (showing off his snazzy "Synchronicity" satin jacket), with Rubano and singer Adam Lazzara at Live Earth in July. 

Marrying Kevin Federline didn't do it, shaving her head didn't do it, botching her VMA performance didn't do it. Is there anything Britney Spears can do to destroy her career?

There is one thing: Lose custody of her children.

Thanks to a Los Angeles court, Britney did just that on Monday, and the judge's gavel may have sounded the death-knell for Spears's turbulent career. After that news, nothing seemed shocking, not even a report the next day (from In Touch Weekly magazine) of an alleged Spears sex-tape.

According to a panting press release, Spears met some 28-year-old dude in a bar while vacationing in Hawaii and brought him back to her bungalow for a romp -- on video, unbeknownst to her. Said dude isn't releasing this video morsel because he's “disappointed by his own performance,” according to the mag.

Yawn! It wouldn't matter now if Spears threw a telephone at a hotel clerk, passed out in her SUV or went on an anti-Semitic tirade after being busted for drunk driving. We encourage our celebrities to behave badly; it's fun and funny, a way to live out our own renegade fantasies. And Spears could have bounced back from just about anything.

But losing custody of your kids? There's nothing funny about that.

Local pop-punks The New Rivals will be the opening act for old-school Irish punks Stiff Little Fingers for five U.S. dates, starting Nov. 11 at Highline Ballroom in Manhattan.

It's a perfect slot for Sayville's New Rivals, a quintet formerly known as If All Else Fails. Like many latter-day punk acts, the group owes a major debt to Stiff Little Fingers, whose gruff but tuneful songs ("Alternative Ulster," "Suspect Device") have become a blueprint for Green Day, Blink-128, Sum 41 and others.

Both bands are booked through The Agency Group, but the Fingers personally approved the Rivals after hearing some tracks, according to a rep for the younger band. "Essentially, Stiff Little Fingers felt as if they were a legitimate punk act as compared to a mall punk or emo band," the rep wrote in an email.

Listen to The New Rivals here. 

The Color Fred’s debut “Bend to Break,” which is a bit poppier than TBS, comes out on Equal Vision on Oct. 30, and Mascherino is set to do a short run of shows to promote it, including a headlining date at The Vintage Lounge in Levittown on Nov. 1. (He’s also set to play Knitting Factory on Oct. 20 as part of a CMJ showcase with Saves the Day and the New Amsterdams.)

The Color Fred [mySpace]

Like so many struggling businesses these days, the music industry is all about outsourcing.

When a veteran hits a rough sales patch or an artistic drought, the fixers pair them up with younger artis