MUSIC NEWS AIN’T NOISE POLLUTION

WHAT, NO EMINEM?
Rev. Al Sharpton, President of the National Action Network, and David Mays, CEO of The Source, will convene a special summit on the state of the hip-hop music industry on Oct. 30 in New York. Participants will include Martin Luther King III, Master P, Queen Latifah, Elektra CEO Sylvia Rhone, Interscope CEO Jimmy Iovine and Def Jam founder Russell Simmons, among others. According to Sharpton and Mays, now more than ever it is imperative that leaders mobilize to develop a "formal code of conduct to be embraced by the global hip-hop community." At the forefront of the mobilization will be Sharpton and Mays. "With his extensive experiencein rap music, Mays will serve as the arbiter of lyrical content, judging subject matter as well as rhyme schemes," a National Action Network spokesperson explained. "And of course, any fashion decisions will be handled by the very stylish Rev. Sharpton. Get out your sweatsuits and gold chains, folks."

HAVE A DRINK ON ME
A 38-year-old man fell to his death at an AC/DC concert in Ghent, Belgium, Oct. 14. Isidoor Theunissen had reportedly climbed on to the top of his chair to dance during the final song of AC/DC's show when he slipped, falling 23 feet to a concrete floor below, Launch reports, citing New Musical Express. Theunissen was brought to the city's University Hospital, where he died of his injuries early Sunday (10/15). Authorities speculate Theunissen was thrown off balance by the ridiculous amount of vowels in his name.

WHAT IF THEY GAVE AN AWARDS SHOW AND NOBODY CARED?
Superstar Madonna will be among the performers at this year's MTV Europe Music Awards slated for Nov. 16 in Stockholm. Jennifer Lopez, Ricky Martin, U2, the Backstreet Boys, Spice Girls, Robbie Williams and Moby are among those tapped to make appearances at the event. "It doesn't matter who is lined up to perform. Even if they could get the Beatles to reunite with a resurrected John Lennon," said one insider, "American audiences just aren't interested." Which is odd, considering that the MTV Europe Music Awards are normally described as, "just like the American version, only with fucked up teeth and hairy armpits."

NOW, ISN'T THAT IRONIC?
The Dave Matthews Band has returned to the studio, having scrapped its previous recording efforts with producer Steve Lillywhite, according to Wall Of Sound. Helming the band's new effort will be hitmaker Glen Ballard of Alanis Morissette fame. No specifics were given on just what was wrong with the tunes laid down with Lillywhite, who is best known for his work with Brian Eno and U2. The tentative title for the album, which is not due until 2001, is "Jagged Little Hippie."