British rock star wins royalty case
LONDON, Dec. 20 (UPI) -- Matthew Fisher, one of the founding members of the 1960's rock band Procol Harum, has won his court battle over rights to the song "A Whiter Shade of Pale."
Fisher played the organ on the song and argued that he wrote the distinctive organ melody and should be entitled to 50 percent of the copyright, the BBC reported.
Britain's Justice William Blackburne ruled that Fisher is entitled to 40 percent of the copyright, since singer Gary Brooker's input was ruled to be more substantial.
Fisher, however, lost in his claim for back royalties of more than $1 million.
"I find that the organ solo is a distinctive and significant contribution to the overall composition and, quite obviously, the product of skill and labor on the part of the person who created it," the judge said.
Eminem's second divorce goes smoothly
DETROIT, Dec. 20 (UPI) -- The Detroit judge who presided over the second divorce of Eminem and his wife, Kimberley Mathers, said it ended with "dignity and respect."
"These people were a pleasure," said Chief Judge Antonio P. Viviano after an out-of-court settlement was reached to avoid a trial. "They conducted themselves with dignity and respect."
Eminem, who's real name is Marshall Mathers, first married his wife in 1999 and divorced two years later. They were remarried in January, but Eminem filed for divorce in April, the Detroit Free Press reported.
The out-of-court settlement gives them split custody of their daughter, Hailie Jade Scott, and settles money and property issues.
'Lost' hero Fox stars in 'Marshall' movie
NEW YORK, Dec. 20 (UPI) -- Matthew Fox, star of the hit TV drama, "Lost," says he waited to launch his movie career until he was offered a really great film role.
Fox plays real-life football coach Red Dawson in the movie, "We Are Marshall."
Dawson helped rebuild Marshall University's football team after most of the squad and coaching staff were killed in a 1970 plane crash.
"I've always felt that my time for making a crossover (to film) was going to come when I was playing men -- people that have got a little bit of life underneath them and are flawed and are a little bit more complex than who I was when I was 25," Fox said in New York.
"I've also always approached my career as, 'It's a marathon, not a sprint,'" the 40-year-old actor added. "'Lost' is creating opportunities for me which I've never had before and I'm starting to take those opportunities and capitalize upon them. I'm having the best time right now."
Young Jeezy is No. 1 on the Billboard 200
NEW YORK, Dec. 20 (UPI) -- Rapper Young Jeezy is No. 1 on The Billboard 200 with his sophomore Def Jam release, "The Inspiration."
The winner of this season's "American Idol," Taylor Hicks, is No. 2 on the chart while the soundtrack to Disney's "Hannah Montana" climbs to No. 3 and "NOW! 23" rises to No. 4, Billboard.com reported Wednesday.
Josh Groban is No. 5 with "Awake" and Carrie Underwood's "Some Hearts" climbs to No. 6 in its 57th week on the chart.
Mary J. Blige is No. 9 on the Billboard Top 200 with her new album "Reflections."
Album sales for this week are up 24 percent from last week, but down 5.6 percent from the same week a year ago.
Sales for 2006 are down 4.6 percent compared to 2005 at 543 million units sold.
