Seriously? OMG! WTF?

China’s Culture Ministry has nixed a concert this month by rap artist Jay-Z at Shanghai’s Hongkou Stadium, citing a need to protect local hip-hop fans from nasty lyrics, a report said Wednesday. "Some of Jay-Z’s songs contain too much vulgar language," the state-run Shanghai Daily newspaper quoted Sun Yun, of promoter KS Production Co., as saying to explain the ministry’s reason for refusing permission for the Oct. 23 concert. The concert would have been the Chinese debut for the rap icon, whose real name is Shawn Carter. The New York rapper’s use of profanity and songs about drug dealers, pimps and violence apparently offended the culture czars, who have recently allowed other groups with sexually suggestive songs, such as The Rolling Stones and the Black Eyed Peas, to perform in Shanghai. The cancellation could not be immediately confirmed, but a notice posted Wednesday on an online ticket booking Web site, Tickets365, said the concert had been postponed. The notice in red gave no reason, but said concertgoers would be contacted as soon as a new date was set. A call to a representative for the rapper early Wednesday went unanswered, as did calls to the news office of China’s Culture Ministry. The number for KS Production was not available.

AP 

That is such BS, they need to loosen up.

Prince fans soon may be partying like it’s 1999. A Web site connected to Prince is hinting that his rumored Rio headliner deal is done. Since Monday, his www.3121.com Web site — a reference to his "3121" album — has been showing only a red-and-blue graphic in the shape of the Rio. Recent sightings of Prince at the Rio and elsewhere with Harrah’s executives have fueled the rumors, and he’s known for sending cryptic clues to his fans. "It looks good. Take it to the bank," said a source close to the Prince camp.

Norm Clarke 

Wouldn’t it be fun to go see this!

Depeche Mode announces the cancellation of its scheduled Tel Aviv concert following the latest developments in Israel. The reason for the cancellation is the technical team’s refusal to come to Israel Disappointing news for Depeche Mode fans: despite the band’s willingness to appear in Israel . The stage and props were set up at the beginning of the week, and fans were eagerly awaiting the concert. It was the technical team however that finally forced the decision to cancel the concert on the entire band. The British band apologized to fans and asked for their understanding. Organizers said that unfortunately, at present there is no way to reschedule the concert, as this is the end of the Depeche Mode world tour. More than 40,000 ticket holders will get their money back. "I am full of regret", the concert’s producer Shuki Weiss told Ynet, "we made great efforts, but as of yesterday a problem came up with the technical team which developed into the refusal of the entire team to get on a plane and come to Israel", he said. Weiss added that great efforts to change the band’s mind were exerted until the last minute. "Our image in the world hasn’t contributed much to the situation. We can’t hold the concert without the technical team; there are several key people without whom we cannot put on the concert. It’s difficult for me to digest what we are going through at the moment, and I can’t predict how this move is going to affect other artists who have planned to appear in , it has announced Monday the cancellation of its Tel Aviv concert scheduled for August 3rd at Hayarkon Park venue. The band’s production team announced that the reason for the cancellation was due to the technical team’s refusal to appear in Israel following the latest developments in Israel , but it obviously won’t do much good."

Y Net News 

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