Free music, crummy movies and that sneaky Richard guy
By Jamie Allen
CNN.com Senior Writer
(CNN) -- It was the year that TV programs made "reality" a highly rated network show, and a guy named Richard was rewarded for his scheming ways. Movies sweated through a lackluster summer. And established media giants staked their claim in that alternate universe of entertainment distribution, the Internet.
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The Napster saga led the way in the online music flap. The music-swapping service was sued by major labels for creating a system to trade music for free, pitting the issues of copyright infringement against freedom of intellectual content online. Napster has since promised to create a service that would compensate artists and copyright holders, but it hasn't happened yet. Meantime, comparable Internet programs are still offering free music, with blessings from major labels. Those in the movie and television industries are watching the issue closely as they eye possibilities on the Web.
If people weren't debating Napster issues this past year, chances are they were cursing Pulau Tiga king Richard Hatch, ogling the comely Colleen Haskell, or just smirking at their televisions tuned to CBS. The network was at the forefront of the reality television invasion with its summer smash-hit "Survivor." A game-show microcosm of dog-eat-dog-and-rats-and-snakes world, cast mates (Richard, Colleen, et al.) rolled in mud, ate disgusting things, held tribal councils, made us all realize just how silly we might -- or might not -- act with a $1 million prize dangling in our face, and rocketed CBS' ratings. Most of all, we were left with the eternal question ringing through corporate halls everywhere: "Are you forming an alliance against me?"
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Carlos Santana had big year, taking home eight Grammys and three Latin Grammys.
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Latin music, the darling of 1999 American charts, did not go quietly into the music night. Santana dominated the Grammys and the Latin Grammys in the latter awards' first year. Jennifer Lopez showed she can do more than act, with her 1999 release "On the 6" winning accolades. Ricky Martin followed his 1999 cover-boy glory with his "Sound Loaded," his second English-speaking album. Pop princess Christina Aguilera, whose father is Ecuadorian, released a Spanish-language LP. Even boxer Oscar De La Hoya got into the Latin music act, releasing an LP that hit charts late in the year.
Meantime, if you were white guy, knew how to rap and could pen lyrics that offended gays and women alike, chances are you would join the likes of Eminem and the band Limp Bizkit. Their music movement had cars thumping throughout suburbia. In short, the rap-metal stuff was just the type of music that made fans of that old-time rock 'n' roll look at the younger set, shake their heads and say, "Kids today."
On the movie front, it was the best of times, it was the worst of times. Giant multiplexes gave audiences more movie choices at single locations, plus the belated luxury of stadium seating (no more worrying about that tall guy in front of you). But the glut of these movie malls forced many to close down. Despite the new digs, audiences reminded Hollywood that content remains king. Summer movies, awash in ho-hum reviews, posted poor box office returns throughout the season. By fall, however, popcorn cookers fired up again as movie fans flocked in record numbers to see "Meet the Parents," "Charlie's Angels," "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" and other hits.
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