Quick Takes: Illegal song downloads put at 1.2 billion

At least 1.2 billion songs will have been illegally downloaded by the end of 2010 in Britain, a study for the recording industry lobby group BPI said Thursday.

The estimate, which the study described as “conservative,” dwarfs the total of 370 million singles and albums expected to be bought legally this year.

Music industry executives said the figures underlined the scale of the problem facing record labels and other investors who are reluctant to spend on new talent when revenues are being undercut.

Illegal downloading “is a parasite that threatens to deprive a generation of talented young people of their chance to make a career in music, and is holding back investment in the fledgling digital entertainment sector,” said Geoff Taylor, BPI chief executive.

—Reuters

Rapper ordered back to prison

The rapper known as DMX is headed back to jail in Arizona.

The Maricopa County Superior Court ruled Thursday that the performer, whose real name is Earl Simmons, had violated probation and must serve one year in prison.

Court documents allege Simmons failed to submit to drug testing and drove on a suspended license. Simmons told KSAZ-TV in Phoenix that he was kicked out of a drug treatment program because he had a drink at a Scottsdale club during a performance.

In January, 2009, Simmons was sentenced in Phoenix to 90 days in jail for convictions on theft, drug-possession and animal-cruelty charges. The following June he was placed on probation after convictions for attempted aggravated assault for throwing a food tray at a jail guard, and theft for trying to using a fake name to avoid paying a $7,500 hospital bill.

—Associated Press

Actress returns after concussion

Natalie Mendoza, who was injured during the first preview of Broadway’s “Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark,” is back on stage.

A publicist for Mendoza said the actress returned to the production Wednesday night after suffering from a concussion when she was hit on the head by equipment backstage. She had been out of the show since Dec. 2.

The musical, now in previews, will officially open Jan. 11.

Mendoza plays Spider-Man’s evil love interest Arachne — a part written by director and co-book author Julie Taymor. She was the third actor to be injured at the $65-million musical.

Her credits include the British TV drama “Hotel Babylon” and the horror film “The Descent.”

—Associated Press

Mel Gibson film gets release date

After months of uncertainty, “The Beaver,” in which Mel Gibson plays a depressed man who wears an animal puppet on his hand, has been given an official release date by studio Summit Entertainment: The movie will hit select theaters on March 23 before opening nationwide on April 8.

The release date had been in question ever since audio recordings apparently capturing his violent and racist rants against ex-girlfriend Oksana Grigorieva surfaced last summer. The film was directed by Jodie Foster, who co-stars.

It will be Gibson’s first big-screen appearance since “Edge of Darkness” was released in January.

—Steven Zeitchik

First ‘Survivor’ in court again

Reality TV star Richard Hatch is accused of violating his supervised release for a federal tax-evasion sentence by failing to refile his 2000 and 2001 tax returns.

Hatch never paid taxes on the $1 million he won on the first season of the hit TV show “Survivor.” He served three years in prison. Last year, he began a three-year period of supervised release and is supposed to refile and pay his taxes on the winnings and other income.

Hatch on Wednesday appeared in U.S. District Court in Providence, R.I., where Judge William Smith said Hatch is accused of not refiling. He granted Hatch’s request to postpone the hearing until January.

—Associated Press

Talks in Detroit orchestra strike

Detroit Symphony Orchestra music director Leonard Slatkin has met with two members of the ensemble to discuss an ongoing strike — the first such meeting since the musicians walked out Oct. 4.

Musicians’ spokesman Haden McKay told the Detroit Free Press that Slatkin “showed a lot of understanding” and vowed to be a “positive force” during the meeting Sunday night.

The Detroit News reported Thursday that Slatkin said in an e-mail that the “fact-finding mission” had been his idea and that it was necessary to “understand both parties.”

Management implemented a 33% base pay cut in the first year of the new contract. Musicians had offered a 22% reduction.

—Associated Press