The Backstreet Boys have filed a $75 million suit against Zomba Recording Corporation, the parent company of Jive Records. The suit, filed yesterday (Nov. 25) in New York District Court, alleges breach of contract, intentional interference with contract, trademark infringement, and unfair competition and seeks to void all stipulations remaining from the group's 1994 contract with Zomba.

According to the suit, the Backstreet Boys in November 1999 revised their 1994 contract and committed to releasing two further albums for Zomba. In exchange for delivering them on time as part of a pre-determined schedule, the group would receive multiple non-returnable payments that would serve as advances against future royalties. Included among these was a $5 million payment if the second album (the group's fourth overall) was delivered by April 30, 2002, and featured the participation of all five group members.

The suit says things went awry following the November 2000 release and subsequent tour in support of "Black and Blue," the first album under the revised contract. Once the Backstreet Boys were ready to begin work on their next release, Zomba "refused to actively participate in the selection of songs or producers and rejected, in bad faith, artistic suggestions made by [the group]."

Instead, Zomba turned its attentions to releasing a solo album by group member Nick Carter, making it "impossible for [the group] to deliver a fourth album to Zomba by April 30, 2002, or otherwise. Because of Zomba, Carter was unable and unwilling to participate in any of [the group's] production or recording efforts. Because of these insurmountable roadblocks, [the group] has yet to deliver to Zomba its fourth album."

The suit claims that Zomba forced Carter to "produce, release, and promote a solo album at the expense of his involvement with the band," making lucrative touring impossible and denying the Backstreet Boys' attempt to collect the $5 million payment. Further, the group claims Zomba is unlawfully using the Backstreet Boys' trademark to promote Carter's record. The set in question, "Now or Never," debuted earlier this month at No. 17 on The Billboard 200 and has sold 106,000 copies in the U.S., according to Nielsen SoundScan.

"We are committed to the Backstreet Boys, and we will protect our group from anybody or anything that tries to break us apart," the group said in a statement. "We are disappointed that our long time label Jive Records has attempted to irresponsibly exploit our group. The five of us are writing for our new CD and setting concert dates for our upcoming worldwide summer tour." Billboard.com understands the group may play some shows in conjunction with U.S. fairs.

A Zomba spokesperson said the company does not comment on pending litigation.

To date, the Backstreet Boys' three Jive studio albums have sold 27.4 million units in the U.S., according to Nielsen SoundScan.

Backstreet Boys Inc. (BBI) and Backstreet Productions, Inc., both of Delaware and conducting business in Los Angeles and New York, filed the lawsuit Monday (November 25) in U.S. District Court in New York.

The lawsuit accuses Zomba of not fulfilling a contractual obligation when the group was ready to deliver a new album in April 2002, and also refusing to pay advances due with the delivery of the album.

The group claims it attempted to consult with the company over a selection of songs and producers, but Zomba refused to participate and rejected "artistic decisions." In lieu of a fourth album from the group, the record company chose to develop, produce, and promote the solo recording of Backstreet member Carter, the lawsuit says.

The group also asserts it has sold 65 million albums worldwide and has received too little of the revenue from product sales.

The Backstreet Boys companies are asking for damages to proof at trial for at least $75 million, plus additional damages from breach of contract and wrongful conduct, as well as all court costs, attorney's fees, plus further relief as deemed proper by the court.

A statement issued by the group said: "We are committed to the Backstreet Boys, and we will protect our group from anybody or anything that tries to break us apart. We are disappointed that our longtime label Jive Records has attempted to irresponsibly exploit our group. The five of us are writing for our new CD and setting concert dates for our upcoming worldwide summer tour."

The lawsuit was filed in the name of all five Backstreet Boys: Kevin S. Richardson, Brian Thomas Littrell, Nick Carter, Howard Dorough, and Alexander J. "A.J." McLean, who state they met and formed the group in 1993.

Representatives for Zomba Recording Corporation have 20 days from the date of filing to respond to the lawsuit. The company was sold Tuesday (November 26) to German media conglomerate Bertelsmann AG (BMG) for $2.74 billion.

The group's Nick Carter--whose new solo album, Now Or Never, is said to be responsible for the turmoil--tells LAUNCH that he expects the quintet to break some new ground when it reconvenes in the studio: "I'll be honest with you, you know, we're gonna have to definitely change some things around," he says. "I want to do another album, but we're gonna have to evaluate that situation, and that's what we're gonna do. Of course, the times have changed from that, that whole pop era. Hopefully this is what I can do, is bring a new vibe to the band, you know? And when I do go back and do another album, I can put my input in and be, like, 'Yo, let's try something like this now,' you know what I'm saying?"

On November 25, the Backstreet Boys filed a $75 million suit against Zomba Recording Corporation, the parent company of Jive Records, in U.S. District Court. The suit claims that the label opted not to release a new group album last spring in order to concentrate on Carter's solo album. Carter is named along with his groupmates as a plaintiff in the suit.

The Mid-South chapter of Make-A-Wish assisted the Kentucky chapter to help 18-year-old Chris meet singer Nick Carter of the Backstreet Boys. Thinking he was going to meet Nick later in the day, Make-A-Wish got Chris into the FM100 studio on the premise that he was going to talk about his wish. At 7:30 a.m., Chris got the shock of his life when the one and only Nick Carter walked into the studio live on the air. Later, Nick also visited with winners from our Kids for Wish Kids contest.

Backstreet Boy Gives High School Concert:

Source: YAHOO! News

WILMOT, Wis. (AP) - Backstreet Boy Nick Carter performed a 40-minute concert for students of Wilmot High School, which won a contest by donating more than 10 tons of food for the needy.

"I'm a small-town kind of guy," said Carter, who was born in Jamestown, N.Y., and grew up in upstate New York and in a small Florida town.

The Backstreet Boys ignited the recent teen pop craze when they stormed the U.S. charts in 1998 with their self-titled debut, a smash album that was followed by other multiplatinum discs.

Carter, 22, recently released his debut solo album, "Now or Never."

He sang eight songs during the concert Wednesday for some 1,000 students and staff.

The contest was sponsored by WXSS 103.7 FM in Milwaukee. The station co-sponsors the annual food drive of America's Second Harvest of Wisconsin.

Wilmot High School beat out 10 other area schools.

Sophomore Clair Caldwell returned home with a souvenir a strip of a sweat-stained towel that Carter had tossed into the crowd.

"We ripped it so more people could have a piece," Caldwell said.

WILMOT, Wis. -- What do 20,000 pounds of food and 1,000 screaming students equal? A school visit by Backstreet Boy Nick Carter.

The students at Wilmot High School beat out 10 other area schools, most of which are significantly larger, to win a contest sponsored by WXSS 103.7 FM in Milwaukee by donating more than 10 tons of food for the needy.

The station co-sponsors the annual food drive of America's Second Harvest of Wisconsin.

"I'm a small-town kind of guy," said Carter, who was born in Jamestown, N.Y., and grew up in upper New York state and in a small Florida town.

"I know bigger schools usually get more benefits, so it's great that this small school won. It's amazing what they did," he said.

"It might be a small school, but they have big hearts out here."

The 22-year-old, part of the five-member boy band Backstreet Boys, released his solo release, "Now or Never" in November.

He sang eight songs during the 40-minute concert in front of 1,000 high school and grade school students and staff members.

"This is a small school. Having Nick Carter here is a really big deal," senior Tiffany Wagner said.

Sophomore Clair Caldwell returned home with a strip of sweat-stained towel.

"I'll never wash it," Caldwell said of the sweaty remnant, which was part of a full-sized towel that hung around Carter's neck before he tossed it into the crowd.

"We ripped it so more people could have a piece," Caldwell said. "It's so awesome."

Aaron Carter Named NORAD's Honorary Santa Tracker:

Source: Launch.com

Teen pop singer Aaron Carter has been enlisted as an "Honorary Santa Tracker" by the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD), the binational military organization formally established by the United States and Canada to monitor and defend North American airspace.

As part of the duties of his new job, Carter recently visited with Santa Claus and the personnel at NORAD to be briefed on Santa's flight plans. NORAD will post a map of the world on its official "NORAD Tracks Santa" website at noradsanta.org on Christmas Eve (December 24). The map will be updated throughout the evening, showing 25 key stops Santa will be making and also noting where he has already visited.

By clicking on the website's map, children can view SantaCam videos of his journey. The "live" video clips will be online at 5 a.m. ET on December 24, and will be updated regularly until 3:30 a.m. ET on December 25. Carter will also provide voice updates about Santa's whereabouts as he helps NORAD track Santa's progress Christmas Eve.

NORAD uses four high-tech methods to track Santa and his world-famous reindeer, including radar, satellites, SantaCams, and jet fighter aircraft. NORAD was created by a 1958 agreement between the United States and Canada that was renewed for a ninth time in the year 2000. For more information about Santa's flight, and to view pictures of Carter with Santa, please visit noradsanta.org.

Sunday, November 24, 2002:

Source:keysnews.com

KEY WEST -- The questions posed to pop singing stars Nick and Aaron Carter by Poinciana Elementary school students Thursday weren't your usual television talk show-style inquiries.

But they gave the students and faculty -- who long-anticipated the impromptu visit from the Carters and popular teen girl group No Secrets -- an inside look at the Keys' most famous hometown heroes of the entertainment world.

"Do you know my sister Debbie?"

"What kind of car do you drive?"

"Do you guys play football?"

"Can you sign these for the ladies in the office?"

The Carters appeared to take it all in stride -- even the tall young man who disavowed any hint of idolatry.

"This isn't for me, really. It's for my sister," he said as he nonchalantly handed Backstreet Boy Nick Carter a sheet of paper to be autographed.

No shriek was left unheard when the blonde brothers made a splashy entrance through the side door of the school auditorium. They arrived at the height of lunchtime, and many students abandoned their forks and turned away from their plates to battle for a good glimpse at the teen idols.

One by one, anxious students filed across the stage where Nick, decked out in a white T-shirt and navy board shorts, and a Hawaiian-print T-shirt-clad Aaron sat, posing for pictures and engraving their John Hancock on a myriad of paraphernalia. There were the usual yearbooks, pictures and T-shirts, and then there were the collectibles that elicited a smile from Nick -- such as the faded leather football that appeared to have seen generations and the worn-paged "Captain Underpants" book that belonged to 8-year-old India Rojas.

"We like reaching out to everybody who likes our music," Nick Carter said.

The fact that the Carters had to leave the 45-minute autograph session early didn't trouble Marquis Roberts. He enjoyed meeting No Secrets, a four-member group of young ladies who have made a name for themselves on the Disney Channel.

Jade, a member of No Secrets, said the outpouring of support from the young fans was "overwhelming." Devotees gave the group gifts such as candy and teddy bears adorned with sweaters toned in their favorite colors.

"It's so nice that they took the time to do that," she said. "They're so young and so cute."

The word for the day at Poinciana must have been "cute" as girls, asked to describe why they so adored Aaron and Nick, didn't hesitate to use it often. Third-grader Margarita Monogyios, 9, held a poster of Aaron as she waited for her chance to meet the young star. When asked what she wished to tell him, she said, "I wish he would come to our school every day."

Lauren Foltz, 7, boasts a slew of CDs and posters, and said she wishes she could ride in Aaron's limousine.

"It takes us back to this level," Aaron Carter said. "We used to be here in the same position."

The elation wasn't limited to schoolchildren. Third-grade teacher Kim Knowles took her place in line beside her students and captured a special memento -- a group picture of her class autographed by the teen stars -- along with, well, an autograph for herself.

"This is one of the most exciting things to happen for young people in our community," she said. "They are role models for the kids."

Five Questions With Nick Carter

NEW YORK (AP) - Even though Nick Carter has sold more than 36 million records as one of the Backstreet Boys, he thinks of himself as just another new artist with the debut of his "Now or Never" album.

"I'm really ... like somebody who hasn't sold a record," says Carter, the youngest member of the group and the first to release a solo album.

But he's got one advantage over other aspiring singers: an instant fan base. Some two dozen fans waited outside his midtown Manhattan hotel recently, hoping to see him.

"These are the small things that mean so much to me," says Carter, sporting spiky hair, jeans and a bike chain for a bracelet.

"Whether I have two fans or 5 million, there are people out there, and I'm going to do my best to entertain those people who want to be entertained."

The Backstreet Boys ignited the recent teen pop craze when they stormed the U.S. charts in 1998 with their self-titled debut, a smash album that was followed by other multiplatinum discs.

But Carter's road to solo stardom hasn't been smooth. His first single, "Help Me," wasn't a radio hit, and his debut album, released last month, hasn't garnered as much attention or sales as that of 'N Sync's Justin Timberlake, whose solo album debuted a week later. "Now or Never" sold 68,000 copies in its first week of release; Timberlake's "Justified" sold 439,000.

His clean-cut image took a bit of a hit when he was arrested in January for refusing a police officer's order to leave an area outside a Tampa, Fla., nightclub. The misdemeanor charge was dropped after Carter agreed to perform community service, which he completed by visiting children in hospitals.

But Carter, who celebrated his 22nd birthday earlier this year, says he's taking his struggles in stride.

"(I'm) somebody who has got a single out that might not be meeting the expectations of what people thought in the beginning, but that's OK. I want to build up," he says.

"There's going to be definitely criticism, and people who are going to doubt, but that's what makes it fun."

1. Why did you do more rock than pop songs on your album?

Carter: I'm just doing what's coming out of me. I have a really hard time of faking who I am. ... I have such a passion for rock music. When people listen to the music, and when they see me perform, I think that's the one time that they'll really understand what I'm doing is for real. I'm not here to fool anybody or follow a trend.

2. Have you felt you haven't been able to do your own thing as a Backstreet Boy?

Carter: No. I like the Backstreet Boys because I kind of consider myself a chameleon. Even though I say I love rock music, I love all types of music. ... I get a chance to grow and sing in a band together as one voice that creates, like, one out of five that creates one big voice. I'm just a part of that. So I really honestly feel like it's something that I love doing.

3: Are you worried your album isn't getting enough attention?

Carter: I can't even be happier. I'm learning. ... I'm really happy the way things are going. And the way I feel is I don't care if I sell 10 records or 10 million, it doesn't matter either way to me.

4: Did you slow down after your arrest?

Carter: I didn't slow down too much. The one thing, I was just being myself. Being a normal 21-year-old who goes out to a club, and in Tampa, that was the situation I got into. ... I haven't slowed down, I'm still crazy and wild and being myself, and you might see me at a nightclub sometime.

5. I've read that you're dating Britney Spears, but you say you barely know her. Where do you think those rumors came from?

Carter: Wishful thinking? I have no clue. I think people like to start stuff or something. They better be careful though, you know why? You keep saying it, it might be true.

 Nick Carter's debut solo album, Now Or Never, came out last month via Jive Records, and the 22-year-old singer told LAUNCH that his fellow Backstreet Boys have been supportive of him pursuing his solo career.

"They've been really cool about it," Carter said. "In the beginning it was a little different because I've been with them for 10 years now and they probably didn't expect me--the youngest guy--to go and do this."

Carter added that when the Backstreet Boys were first informed about the project, they were not exactly sure what to make of Carter's solo ambitions, but they eventually came around. "They kind of came around because they see what it's doing for me," Carter explained. "It's making me a better person--making me be responsible and helping me. This project is totally making me into the person I should be, and they're supporting it now."

Indeed, Backstreet Boy Howie Dorough has nothing but praise for his groupmate's solo effort. "I'm very proud of him," Dorough told LAUNCH, adding, "He's done a great job. It's something that he's always wanted to do. He's always had, like, a rock kind of influence, and this is a chance for him to spread his wings out there and just experiment. It's something that we always want to allow each other within the group to go out there and journey and grow as entertainers individually, because as we grow as entertainers individually it will only help the group grow."

Meanwhile, Dorough explained that the Backstreet Boys are still hard at work on their next album. "The group is writing for the next album, and as soon as Nick's thing is done we're going to be back in the studio," he noted.

The second single from Now Or Never will be the KNS (Josh Schwartz and Brian Keirulf) -produced ballad, "Do I Have To Cry For You." Carter shot the music video for the track in Los Angeles in early November. The video was directed by Matthew Rolston (Jewel, Madonna).

Now Carter, 22, has momentarily stepped away from the Backstreet fold and, of all things, he's decided he wants to be a rock star. Clad in a T-shirt, scruffy jeans and some vaguely punkish leather wristbands, he's taken on all the accoutrements of faux rebellion and released his first solo album, Now or Never, Oct. 29.

While he still manages to croon a few syrupy power ballads, several of Carter's new songs have a harder-rocking edge. But don't expect to hear anything in the vein of Korn or even Pearl Jam. Carter takes his cues from more "classic" sources, such as Bryan Adams, Journey and Bon Jovi.

"I went retro, big time, on some of the songs," Carter says. "I grew up with a lot of that stuff. Led Zeppelin, Bon Jovi, Journey. I'm always full of energy and I wanted something that could express that."

The song that stands out the most is Girls in the U.S.A., a hard-rock anthem that recalls late-'80s hair metal bands, such as Poison and Warrant. Elsewhere, Carter makes his declaration of independence with the guitardriven I Stand For You, on which he sings, "I'm free to do what I want, free to do it my way."

It wasn't a big secret that Carter was chafing in his role as the No. 1 cutie in Backstreet Boys, the group that reinvented teen pop in the late '90s. Several years younger than his bandmates, he wanted to get wild while the others -- with the exception of party guy A.J. McLean, who went through rehab last year -- began to settle down.

But Carter's decision to embark on a solo career wasn't terribly popular in the Backstreet camp. Brian Littrel and Kevin Richardson are notoriously competitive about Backstreet's position in the pop charts and, after trailing rivals 'N Sync for the last few years, they felt Carter's going solo might hurt the group, especially since he is widely considered Backstreet's star member.

"Nick is obviously the frontman, the idol," says Cara Lynn Shultz, associate entertainment editor at Teen People. "He was the one that girls daydreamed about, the one that made girls write 'I heart Nick Carter' on their notebook. He's cute and he's charming and he takes a hell of a photo."

Intra-band conflict over Carter's solo plans got even worse when he announced that his career would be managed by The Firm, an outfit that Backstreet had just fired. So as Carter promotes Now or Never, his bandmates are busy recording demos and laying plans for a new record without him. But Carter will be there when Backstreet begins recording its next album.

"There were a lot of emotional feelings in the beginning," Carter says. "But the fact was that they understood a lot of it afterwards, because it is that personal to me. Because with them, they want to get married and they want to start families, and I just want to rock out and sing and play music and have fun.

"And they see that it's helping me," he says. "It's making me a better person."

Part of Carter's recent personal development came with a few headlines attached. In January, he was arrested outside Pop City, a nightclub near his Tampa-area home. He was charged with resisting arrest and ultimately pleaded guilty and agreed to perform community service. The incident was minor, but Carter says it taught him that he might not have been choosing his friends so wisely. Since then, he's tried to take on more responsibility, especially since embarking on his solo project. He's tried to tone down his normally hyperactive personality and to focus. And he's aware that he won't have his bandmates to fall back on if the album falters.

"I feel like it's all riding on me, big time," he says. "If I mess up, it's my fault. If things go bad, it's my fault."

Carter was the first member of Backstreet or 'N Sync to go solo, but not by much. On Nov. 5, Justin Timberlake issued Justified, which is already shaping up to be a major success.

It's inevitable that the two most recognizable members of the two best-selling bands in recent history will have their sales and successes linked to one another. But Carter downplays their connection.

"I don't even compare myself with him," says Carter, who has not yet heard Timberlake's album. "I just do my own thing and I feel like I'm in my own little category. I'm doing rock. He's doing R&B. I support what he does. I hope he's successful."

While Carter may brush aside analogies to Timberlake, music-business insiders have already begun handicapping the race between the two young men. While Timberlake's first single, Like I Love You, is the nation's sixth most-played song on radio, Carter's Help Me peaked at 36 and recently slipped to 38. Even on Backstreet-friendly MTV, Carter's clip for Help Me languishes in the low 20s, while Timberlake's is a top 5 favorite.

If Carter wants his next single to stay in rotation, it'll quickly have to gain the attention of young fans. Otherwise, it'll fall prey to a Backstreet backlash, says Sean Ross, editor of Airplay Monitor.

"To some extent, the airplay that these acts are getting is almost despite their success from a couple of years ago," Ross says. "Top 40 program directors certainly had an attitude about these acts, even when they were playing them. So a couple of years after the epicenter of teen-pop mania, any record that these artists put out can expect to get some initial airplay, but it can't expect the benefit of the doubt."

With Carter, Timberlake and Christina Aguilera all releasing albums, this fall will widely be considered a litmus test for whether teen-pop stars can reinvent themselves for older audiences. Carter sees it as a challenge, but mostly he's just glad to be on his own for a while.

"You never know: There may be some people who may not like you as an individual, so you're just taking a chance," he says. "But I like it because I'm a kind of dangerous guy in a way. I like excitement. I like adventure. But I really think that this is just a lot of fun."

This is an exciting time for Nick Carter. As the Backstreet Boys, the fivesome that made him famous, near their tenth year together, he's just released his solo debut, Now Or Never. TeenPeople.com talked to Nick about his solo prospects and where he sees himself in the future...

Your new solo album has been a long time coming. Are you happy with the result?

I'm very happy. I'm just starting. This is just the beginning of stuff to come in the future. I talk with people, like my producers and everybody, and they're like, "We know that you're just starting to learn new things and really come into your own." I'm not even sure what I'm capable of. Everybody's going to be able to see a glimpse of what's to come in the future.

The Backstreet Boys are heading into their tenth year together. What have been the high points of that time for you?

We've had so much success with the Backstreet Boys. Beign able to put out records and consistently sell a lot of them; it's just a blessing in disguise, because a lot of people don't get that kind of opportunity. We were able to be one of those groups from that whole era, when it came to pop music, who were hopefully very memorable to people.

Where do you see yourself in, say, five years?

Possibly producing stuff. Not necessarily my own stuff, but I might do my sister Leslie's album. I really feel like I could get in the studio, write her some good material and produce her. because I was producing for a while and things like that.

And hopefully, I'll be doing as well as I can on the solo thing. I just want to grow as an entertainer, as a musician, as an artist, and I know I'm not all the way there yet. I have a lot more to learn, and that's fine.

Aaron On TODAY

Aaron is scheduled to be on the "TODAY" show on Monday morning Nov 25th - the "Today" show starts at 7amET!

Aaron's New Video

You can now view AC's new video "Do You Remember" at www.teenmusic.com. Go check it out.

Powerboat Racing World Championships Set Nov. 18-24; Nick and Aaron Carter to Star in Free Concert Saturday

The Saturday night (Nov. 23) free concert at 8 p.m. at the Outer Mole, headlined by Jive Label recording artist Nick Carter, was created by Mills to bring a new and younger audience to Key West for the Offshore World Championships. This is the first concert of a series called APBA Offshore Rocks.

Nick Carter is the sweet, blonde, blue-eyed member of the Backstreet Boys who knocked the socks off teenagers for the last seven years. Now this 22-year-old is getting up to his own thing and his debut album, Now or Never, is his chance to break out and share a more personal side of himself while still doing the thing he lovesmusic.

Nick, incidentally, owns an APBA Offshore race team, Nick Carter Racing, which ran away with the Super Vee class in 2002 and now holds the national championship.

Nicks younger brother, Aaron Carter, is also starring Saturday night. Now 14, he began singing and dancing at eight and his charm and energy has wowed crowds in Europe and the U.S.

The third major group on the bill is no secrets; five talented teen-aged girls who feature a dazzling blend of hot music, cool fashion sense and an intense quest for fun.
Ticket prices for the races include admission to the dry pits on race days and cost $20 a day Wednesday/Saturday. Sunday is $25. Non-race days are $5. A three-day race day pass is $35, children of 11-12 is $15 and kids 10 and under are free.

Jakks Pacific partnered with J-14 for its December issue, which features Carter on the cover. Inside the magazine fans of the singer can find out how to enter a contest to win a private meeting with Carter and four front-row tickets and four backstage passes to one of Carter's concerts, among other prizes.

To enter, print your name, address, and telephone number on a postcard or blank sheet of paper and submit that with a VHS video tape of yourself singing and performing karaoke to your favorite song from the Singing Starz Video Karaoke Machine. Mail your materials to: J-14/Singing Starz Karaoke Contest, P.O. Box 1665, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey 07632. Entries must be postmarked by January 15, 2003, when Carter and judges from J-14 will select the finalists. The winner will be notified in early February. Entry forms are available at singingstarz.com.

If you live in the Detroit area listen to 93.1 WDRQ and you could win the chance to ride on the Club DRQ float with Nick Carter. Good luck!

Jive Records

Backstreeter Nick Carter takes a chance with his first solo record, "Now or Never," combining old-fashioned boy-band catchiness with elements of rock.

It's a formula that doesn't always work, but when it does, it's excellent.

On this album Carter chooses not to rock the Backstreet boat very hard, leaning heavily on the boy-band side of the mix.

But he finally lets loose with "Girls in the USA" which has guitar crunch, power drumming and vocals that seem more influenced by Kid Rock than the kiddie ballads of Carter's past.

His ballads are still pretty poopy, but the rock material which peppers the effort - like "I Just Wanna Take You Home" and "Help Me" - makes you take note.

Had Carter taken a giant step into the realm of rock this would have been a better album, but it still stands as an interesting record by an artist in transition - who hopefully won't regress when he hooks up with his bandmates.

Compared with the style-shifting Christina Aguilera and Justin Timberlake, Nick Carter is a classicist. None of their lofty ambitions for him -- on Now or Never, Carter brings new meaning to the phrase ''kicking it old-school'' by keeping the boy-band sound alive, albeit with heavier guitars and a wholesale embrace of hair-metal choruses. Carter just wants simple sugar-pop kicks, and he gets them in the creamy ''My Confession'' and ''Help Me.'' It's fluff and he knows it, and he scores points for lack of pretension.

Alas, he's docked for ''Girls in the USA,'' a grating Def Leppard-meets-dancehall mess in which Carter brags about how he has ''a little thing in the Denver hills/A real fine mama with a sex appeal.'' (And that's just one city.) And like Timberlake and Aguilera, Carter seems compelled to sit down next to a piano and ooze the most generic melody he's handed. Still, Carter's determined to have fun even as his world crumbles around him -- which, in some twisted way, proves that at least one teen-pop veteran remains in synch with our times. EW Grade: C

You may think you imagined it, but Nick Carter does steal a Nirvana riff to open the otherwise-straightforward teen pop ballad "Help Me," which introduces his solo debut, Now or Never.

It seems that, unleashed from the boy band confines of the Backstreet Boys, the singer has rock muscles he's eager to flex, though we're not talking anything worthy of Ozzfest: Now seems to derive its inspiration from such pop-metal boys as Def Leppard and Bryan Adams.

The latter is a very obvious role model for such melodic, emotive rock ballads as "Do I Have to Cry for You," and there's no denying the-"Animal"-like raunch of the lusty mid-tempo arena rocker, "Girls in the USA."

The acoustic-backed, bittersweet closer, "Who Needs the World," however, is pure B' Boys lullaby pop, but without the harmonies, though Carter has such a sweet, strong voice, they're hardly missed. Though he has a hand in songwriting here, Carter chose to work closely with producer Max Martin (BSB, Britney Spears). He keeps his subject matter light, sticking to the things a worldly 22-year-old success story might bother about; namely, girls ("Miss America") and having a good time ("Is It Saturday Yet").

Now or never? Well, we're leaning toward never as far as Backstreet Boy Nick Carter's solo debut is concerned. Unless you're 12 and you choose CDs based on the crushability quotient of whoever is on the cover, you'll be turned off by Carter's crossover from his "Quit Playing Games (with My Heart)" days to Never's second-rate Sugar Ray pop. Memories of his past remain on "I Got You," however the song also elicits Bryan Adams flashbacks. Otherwise, this trip is full of overly sensitive moments and some really bad geographical rhymes about ladies in "Girls in the USA." Trust us, nobody wants it that way.

Pink was interviewed on Extra and was asked about the supposed rivalry between Justin Timberlake and Nick Carter and all of the hype behind it. She stated that Nick's material is something that "everyone should listen to" and that it sounded more "real" than the music of Justin Timberlake. She closed by saying that she was definitely supporting Nick Carter over Justin.

Brotherhood Delayed

Source Amazon.com

A book, reportedly penned by Nick that was to be released this fall seems to have been put on hod. Amazon reports that it is now due in 2005.

Nick Gets High With 150 Fans

Nick held a fan conference with 150 Japanese fans aboard a plane on October 10. The fans got to ask him questions and all got autographs.

Wednesday, October 16, 2002:

Carter, a Tampa area native himself, started off in July by hiring local bassist Alicia Crawford, daughter of WRBQ-104.7 FM radio deejay Mason Dixon. Crawford, a member of the Christian rock Daniel B. Marshall Band, paved the way for bandmates Daniel Marshall (guitar/vocal), Andy Pardue (guitar) and Jason Leiter (drums).

Carter and Co. will appear in the debut video at 5:30 p.m. Monday on MTV. They leave this week for a tour of Europe, South Korea and Japan, in advance of the album's release on Oct. 29.

Source: St. Petersburg Times 

• "Help Me" (Matthew Bernard, Michelle Vice)
• "My Confession" (Nick Carter, Gary Clark, Martin Brammer)
• "I Stand For You" (Nick Carter, Josh Schwartz, Brian Keiroff)
• "Do I Have To Cry For You" (Nick Carter, Josh Schwartz, Brian Keiroff)
• "Girls In The USA"
• "I Got You"
• "Is It Saturday Yet?"
• "Blow Your Mind"
• "Miss America"
• "I Just Wanna Take You Home" (Max Martin, Rami, Par Aldehein)
• "Heart Without A Home "(Steve Marc, Wayne Hecton)
• "Who Needs The World" (The Matrix)
• "Wanna Shout"

Justin on competing with Backstreet Boy Nick Carter:

"I haven't heard anything from his [upcoming solo] record, but he's kind of doing a rock record from what I understand. In no shape or form do I think we should compete, or will compete. I do what I do so that I don't have to have a real job."

Nick The Author??

Expect a book penned by Nick Carter to be published sometime in September. The book is titled "Brotherhood". No release date has been set yet. You can pre-order the book from Amazon.com here.

Paperback, Publisher: MTV Books; ISBN: 0743453905; (September 2002) 

HELP ME VIDEO PREMIERE

The video for "Help Me" will debut on MTVs Making of The Video on September 16th at 5:30PM ET. It's directed by Chris Applebaum and early word is that it is an awesome video. Don't miss the premiere! If you do you can see the repeat on 9/17 3:00PM, 9/18 12:30PM, 9/21 10:30AM or 9/22 10:00AM. The video will debut on MTV's TRL on 9/17 as well!

For more on Nick and the upcoming album stay tuned to NickCarter.com!

Bradenton drummer joins Nick Carter's Band
He likes it that way

Twice a day every Sunday, Jason Leiter mans the drum kit at First Church of God in Bradenton and provides the beat for the congregation's worship services.

This fall, he'll make a giant leap from the sanctuary stage to 20,000-seat arenas. Leiter, 22, has been picked by Backstreet Boy Nick Carter to drum for him on an upcoming solo tour. Carter's management confirmed the decision this week.

"It's a really cool opportunity," Leiter said. "We'll be performing brand-new stuff. It's more rock than the Backstreet Boys, with a pop influence."

Leiter has been playing drums for about 10 years, picking up the sticks for the first time in fifth grade. (He originally tried the saxophone, but found the drums more fun.) Like most musicians, the bulk of his education came from playing along to CDs and copying the style of Carter Beauford of the Dave Matthews Band and Chad Gracey of Live.

The Carter gig has taught him an early lesson: Networking can be just as important as talent. Leiter was in a Christian rock group called the Daniel B. Marshall Band, whose bass player, Alicia Crawford, was an old friend of Carter's. When Carter decided to embark on his first solo endeavor from the Backstreet Boys, he called Crawford, who in turn got Leiter involved. After auditions in Tampa and Los Angeles, Leiter got the job.

Ironically, he's never really been a fan of the Backstreet Boys.

"I never really got into them because I'm more into rock," he said. "I don't not like them, I just never listened to them other than what I heard on the radio."

According to Pollstar, Carter will play Rosemont, Ill., tonight, but no other dates have been announced. In the meantime, Leiter is backing the Backstreet Boy on a promotional junket for radio, television and other media outlets. He doesn't play on Carter's new CD, which is due for release in late October.

Although he's excited to get the chance to pursue his dream, Leiter admits it will be hard leaving his wife, Shelly, and 4-month-old son, Carter Ethan. (Just for the record, the baby was not named after Leiter's new boss.)

"It's gonna be tough. I'm going to miss them a whole bunch," Leiter said. "But my wife is very supportive of me, and that makes it easier. We'll call each other as much as we can to make it as easy as we can."

Eventually, Leiter would like to drum full-time in his own rock band. The Carter tour will reunite him with guitarist Andy Pardue, a childhood chum who was in a Christian band with Leiter called Broken Veil. Leiterhopes they can work on something together when the tour is over.

"We would like to do something on our own, because we've written so much music together," he said. "But right now, we're focusing our energies on this tour."

Source: www.bradenton.com

"Help Me" the first single will ship to radio on August 20. The video will debut on MTV's Making of The Video on September 16.

"Help Me" was written by Matthew Gerrard and Michele Vice-Maslin and produced by Matthew Gerrard.

Now or Never has tracks written by Nick Carter, The Matrix, Mark Taylor, Steve Mac, Max Martin and Rami.

You can also pre-order the new album, Now Or Never from Amazon.com by clicking here.

Source: jive records press release/yahoo

While Justin Timberlake's solo debut looks to be a star-studded affair, another singer stepping out from a celebrated pop group is taking the opposite approach.

Of the 37 tracks Nick Carter has recorded for his first album away from the Backstreet Boys, only one features guest vocals. And that track, with dancehall reggae artist Mr. Vegas, may not make the final cut.

"I don't think you need to [collaborate]," Carter explained at Sunday's Teen Choice Awards. "The Backstreet Boys didn't really ever do any collaborations on the albums. For me, personally, I would love to. But I think just for the first one it would be cool to just show who I am let everybody see what I'm about."

On Now or Never, due October 22, Carter will reveal rock influences that are not so obvious on his group's material.

"People are going to be shocked," he said. "That's what I want. That's the way I am. I'm unexpectable."

Carter has worked with several producers on the project, including Backstreet Boys and 'NSYNC associate Max Martin and several up-and-comers.

"It's cool to spread it open a bit and go underground," Carter said. "That's where you find some really cool producers and writers."

Carter is currently narrowing down the final track list for the album and assembling a band that he'll likely take on the road.

"It's hard when you sit back and listen to your music in your car and you just want people to hear it so bad," Carter said. "It's gonna get there. I'm so excited."

Timberlake's album, which will likely include collaborations with P. Diddy, the Neptunes and others, does not have a release date.

Source: MTV

When's the right time to go solo? Judging by the title of Nick Carter's debut solo LP, there's no time like the present.

The youngest Backstreet Boy's Now or Never is slated for an October 22 release date, according to a Jive Records spokesperson. Carter is putting the finishing touches on the album while trying to determine the crucial first single and accompanying video.

Two tracks that are expected to make Now or Never's final track list are "My Confession" and "Help Me." "Help Me," which finds Carter in a defining life moment as he repeatedly sings, "Help me figure out the future," is also under consideration to be the first single. (What do you think of Nick's solo venture? Take the poll.)

"Help Me," like the rest of the tracks recorded for the album, trades in the epic production of Backstreet Boys songs such as "The Call" and "Larger Than Life" for a more rock-oriented, singer/songwriter feel. Guitars, drums, bass and not much else provide most of the instrumentation, and Carter's vocals are brought front and center.

Carter plans to support Now or Never on tour, and he's in the process of assembling a band for the outing.

The rest of the Backstreet Boys haven't been watching idly throughout Carter's sonic soul searching. The group is in the pre-production stage for their new album, the follow-up to 2000's Black & Blue, which is expected to drop early next year. An official release date hasn't been set.

Source: MTV

"NOW" Time for Nick Carter:

BSB preparing first solo effort for October release Backstreet Boy Nick Carter will release his debut solo set, Now or Never, on Jive Records October 22nd. The album will be the first full-scale solo breakout from any member of the two major boy bands -- the BSBs and 'N Sync -- but it likely will be followed closely by a set from 'N Sync's Justin Timberlake, who has been recording with the Neptunes, Alicia Keys and Timbaland.

Carter -- who with the rest of his bandmates is preparing to record a follow-up to the 2000 set Black and Blue -- will tour behind his solo release, though no dates have been confirmed.

Source: Rolling Stone

Big Freakin' Deal : Nick Carter to Guest Host:

• "Another Earthquake"
• "To All the Girls"
• "Summertime" featuring Baha Men
• "My First Ride"
• "Do You Remember"
• "2 Good 2 B True"
• "When It Comes to You"
• "America A O"
• "Without You (There'd Be No Me)"
• "Keep Believing"

• 8/6 - Antioch, TN @ AmSouth Amphitheatre
• 8/7 - Columbus, OH @ Polaris Amphitheater
• 8/9 - Fairlea, WV @ West Virginia St. Fair
• 8/10 - Kings Mills, OH @ Paramount King's Island
• 8/11 - Sedalia, MO @ Missouri State Fair
• 8/15 - Green Bay, WI @ Brown County Vet. Memorial Arena
• 8/16 - Indianapolis, IN @ Indiana State Fair
• 8/17 - Springfield, IL @ Illinois State Fair
• 8/21 - Scranton, PA @ Montage Mountain Amphitheater
• 8/22 - Camden, NJ @ Tweeter Center at the Waterfront
• 8/23 - Doswell, VA @ Kings Dominion
• 8/24 - Virginia Beach, VA @ Verizon Wireless Virginia Bch. Amp.
• 8/25 - Charlotte, NC @ Paramount's Carowinds
• 8/29 - Raleigh, NC @ Alltel Pavilion @ Walnut Creek
• 8/30 - Greenville, SC @ Bi Lo Center
• 8/31 - Pelham, AL @ Oak Mountain Amphitheater
• 9/1 - Valdosta, GA @ Wild Adventures Theme Park
• 9/5 - Cleveland, OH @ Tower City Amphitheatre
• 9/6 - Sterling Heights, MI @ Freedom Hill Park Amphitheatre
• 9/7 - Allegan, MI @ Allegan County Fair
• 9/9 - London, ON @ Western Fair
• 9/10 - York, PA @ York Fairgrounds
• 9/12 - Holmdel, NJ @ P.N.C. Bank Arts Center
• 9/13 - Wantagh, NY @ Tommy Hilfiger at Jones Beach Theater
• 9/14 - Columbia, MD @ Merriweather Post
• 9/15 - San Juan, PR @ Roberto Clemente Stad.
• 9/18 - Manchester, NH @ TBA
• 9/19 - Portland, ME @ Cumberland Civic Center
• 9/20 - Wallingford, CT @ Careerbuilder.com Oakdale Theatre
• 9/21 - Boston, MA @ FleetBoston Pavilion

Yeah, that's right, the rumors are true. Nick Carter's debut album "Now or Never" will be released on October 22nd! Head over to n-carter.com for the latest on Nick's awesome debut!

This is just a side project that Nick wanted to do in between BSB records. As a matter of fact, Backstreet Boys are in the studio right now recording tracks for their next album. We hear that they are doing some amazing stuff. A new BSB album is on the way soon so stay tuned right here for more info!

The first single "Help Me," impacts radio on August 19th. While the single doesnt begin hitting radio outlets til later in the month. Jive has set up a promotional plan in order to build the already strong momentum. AOL will premiere its first listen series on July 24th. The promotion will last for three days. This follows the successful run AOL has had in the past with such artist as Beyonce' Knowles and Britney Spears.

According to Jive the video will ship out to major outlets MTV, and VH1 the week of August 12, 2002. The artist plans to tour in August as well but no dates have been scheduled. In the meantime, Nick will continue on his radio tour along with younger brother Aaron throughout the summer months.

Nick Carter: After harmonizing his way to millions of dollars and mega fame, the youngest Backstreet Boy wants to be a rock star.

Source: Seventeen Magazine 

By Dina Singing

First came the rumors: The Backstreet Boys are breaking up. Then came the denials: The Fab Five parade through TRL insisting there is no--- repeat---, no----end in sight for the original Orlando-born boy band. Now, after nearly two years, two marriages and A.J.'s stint in rehab (which only further fueled gossip about a split), the Backstreet Boys have finally started working on their fourth album. Then we heard that resident hunk Nick Carter is working on solo material. So what's up?

"This is my chance to try everything that's been stored in my mind musical since I was 12 years old", says Nick, who's making beats behind a high-tech soundboard at his Los Angeles studio. "It's my release." He's wearing silver rimmed glasses that give him an I'm-not- just-another-dumb-heartthrob-look. "The best part about doing this is that there are no boundaries. There are certain things we can't do on a Backstreet record, like rocking out on a song," he says, strumming the guitar he keeps in the studio. Yep, you heard right...Nick is ready to rock. "I know everyone will say, 'Oh, he's trying to do rock.' But that's what I grew up listening to. I've been influenced by groups like Stone Temple Pilots and classic stuff like Creedence Clearwater Revival."

The 22-year-old tells us he's experimenting with a harder, more guitar-based sound. He hopes to show some of his drum and guitar skills--he's been playing both for a while now--on the album. He's also considering teaming up with an established female rocker. "I'd like to do a duet with a girl, someone like Michelle Branch, Shakira, or Alanis Morissette," says Nick, adding that he hasn't made any decisions yet. But after hearing him sing over a fast-paced but still pretty poppy track, we're not quite convinced that he's abandoning his roots altogether. After all, he is working a bit with producer Max Martin, the Swedish mastermind behind several Backsreet Boys, 'Nsync and Britney songs. But several days later, we're told that Nick decided not to include--or even finish recording---that cut that we heard him work on. Guess Nick thought that it was too pop- influenced as well.

Flying solo is also giving Nick the chance to get personal. Though he's contributed to several Backstreet tunes through out the years ("True" and "Take The Pain Away", to name a couple), he's written more than half the songs on this album. So what topics can we expect to hear him sing about? Love---or more specifically, lack of it. "I've been a heartbroken kid for a while," Nick explains. "I haven't had a girlfriend in a long time. The record has to do with wanting love. But I also sing about being 22 and a little bit crazy."

Ummm, crazy? We hadn't pegged the cute singer as a psycho, but Nick promises that he's about to bust out his wildside---especially if he decided to embark on a solo tour (a choice he'll make after the as- yet-untitled album is finished). "I haven't had the chance to lose my mind on stage," he says. "I've been a little restrained. Kevin and the guys want to be more respected. They're always aware and cautious and don't want to be looked at in a certain way. Me, I don't care. You can look at me any way you want."

After hearing that, we're beginning to worry there's more truth to those breakup rumors than we had thought. We put in a call to Jive Records, the label behind the group and presumably, Nick's solo record, to get the truth. Their rep assures us that the guys--- including Nick will begin recording in Sweden in July. She says that while Nick is working on his own material, it's too early for the label to have scheduled a release date for his album. Sounds believable. Besides, Nick himself insists he has no plans to leave BSB behind and claims they've been supportive of his new project--- well, for the most part.

"Sometimes there can be a little bit of animosity in certain places," he says offering no details. "But at the end of the day, this is something I want to do very badly. I know they won't hold me back." He also brushes off talk about conflict within the group over which record to release first. "They both are up in the air. My album is coming along little further," he says. "Of all the groups out there, I think we have some of the most talented people. I think we could all be individually successful and have fun doing it by ourselves. When I hear rumors about us breaking up, I toss them out the window, because it's not true. I've been with a group since I was 12 and I just wanted to try something different. A lot of people sad, 'Don't do it. It's the wrong time.' I guess I was thinking, When is the right time?" And with that, he heads into the sound booth, looking happy to be singing his own tune.-

Dear BSB Subscriber,

You may have heard on the grapevine that one of the Backstreet Boys is wrapping up work on his debut solo album. We can now confirm these rumours to be true... Tentatively titled 'Now or Never', the new album by Nick Carter is scheduled for release in October this year.

As part of the preparation for this release, Nick is being interviewed in LA next Monday 22nd July and we want to know what YOU want to know about Nick. If you have a question you'd like answered, please submit them to us at listmanager@jiverecords.co.uk. If your question is picked, we'll send you a copy of Nick's new album on it's completion.

The footage to be taken during this time in LA will be play an important part in the release of the album so your input will be welcomely recieved. Questions will need to be submitted by Friday this week.

Thanks..

T.V ALERT!!!!!!!!

8/3 @ 9:00 A.M. (SPEEDCHANNEL): APBA OFFSHORE RACE:Daytona Beach, Fl. Nick Carter Racing took 1st place in the APBA'S season opener.

8/3 @ 8:00 p.m. (NICKOLEDEON): "ALL THAT" Celebrate Music Day with scheduled appearances by Justin Timberlake, Nick Carter, BBMak, 3LW, and Jennifer Love Hewitt.

8/5 @ 9:00 p.m. (VH1): "TOTAL ACCESS"  Special takes an inside view of Nick Carter Racing.

8/10@ 10:00 a.m. (SPEEDCHANNEL): APBA OFFSHORE RACE: Marathon, Fl, Nick Carter Racing pulled out if this race due to mechanical failure. May show some clips.

8/10@ 10:00 p.m (CBS) : 48 HOURS Show on popstars. Features an interview with Jane Carter about her two famous sons.

8/17@ 10:00 a.m. (SPEEDCHANNEL): APBA OFFSHORE RACE: Marathon, Fl, Nick Carter Racing pulled out if this race due to mechanical failure. May show some clips.

8/19@ 8:00 p.m. (FOX): TEEN CHOICE AWARDS: Nick Carter is scheduled to appear.

Wednesday, June 26, 2002:

The World According To Aaron: 

 Aaron Carter firmly believes the record company can best be compared to a clever little system known as the food chain. The fans at the top, media savvy and ready to either embrace you or throw you to the lions, Aaron believes that a lot of media big wigs underestimate the power of the people. Sitting on the astroturf in the practice bubble of Giant's Stadium, Aaron reflects on the importance of the fans(besides the fact that they pay his bills).

"Fans are the most important thing to me, " explains Aaron," I think a lot of people at labels put fans aside and think press is more important than the fans...but, press IS the fans. If I had to choose between an interview with 'People Magazine' or a signing with fans, I'd take the signing with the fans without even thinking about it. " For being 14 years old, Aaron sounds wise beyond his years.

Speaking of a new album, Aaron's success with his previous efforts have ensured him main stream success, and this upcoming album should fair no differently. Aaron has plans to devise his final track list of surefire fan favorites. How will he do this, you ask? Why, by getting his fans to pick those very tracks themselves!

Genius, I know.

"What I really wanna do," says Aaron, "is just take the 20 or so tracks that I've recorded and put them on my site and just have the fans pick and choose what they want. Sort of get back to a more interactive thing, I guess. I want this new album to be something the fans really love."

Aaron's new album, tentatively scheduled for release on August 20th, will be titled "Not Another Earthquake," the name representing how the boy wonder is back to shake up the music industry. Collaborating with writers and producers and trying his hand at writing this time around, Aaron explains why he's slightly hesitant to become a one man show where writing and producing new material is concerned.

"Well I mean, I will always have people helping me out with writing and producing, ya know? Producers are there to do a job, and they do their thing like no one else, so I don't think that right now I'll be trying to do all the producing or writing."

Aaron will be going out on tour to support this new album, but fans, there is a catch---Aaron is touring ala Nsync and Britney style, playing his new material before it's released to the general public, taking his new music live one city at a time.

Also deciding to harness his star power to raise awareness on issues that are important to him, Aaron's decided to start his own charity benefiting cerebral palsy, a disease that hit close to home when he learned someone on his road crew was affected.

"It's good to make a difference, and it's good to help people, " says Aaron thoughtfully. " I mean, I'm the type of person who would do anything to help anyone, I'd give an arm and a leg to someone if I thought it'd help them lead a better life. I'm definitely planning on doing events like football games and basketball games to try and raise money for this cause, or even just try to get the fans to learn more about what's going on with cerebral palsy, ya know?"

With Aaron's hordes of fans, I don't think that will be hard to accomplish.

After working on new material for an album, sharing philosophies on the music industry, and sharing his plans to make the world a better place, Aaron also mentions something that he's been striving to achieve for the last 14 years: being cool.

"I just try to blend in and act like everyone else. I'm really into dirt biking," says Aaron with a lopsided grin, "and I love when I break a leg or something doing dirt biking, because I can just go up to people and be like 'Yeah, ya know, I was dirt biking on this huge hill, and I just fell and broke my leg. It was so dangerous.' Because, how can you not be cool when you're pulling a stunt like that?"

Oh, Aaron.

The following annoucement appeared : Here
A brand new cast for 2002 and a heaping helping of new characters - what more could you want from the number one kids sketch comedy show on TV? How about a whole galaxy of stars as guest hosts? Thats right - All That is back with a vengeance: hilarious kid cast, crazy characters, loads of laughs AND a new celebrity guest host, every week! Catch the likes of Britney Spears and Tony Hawk yukkin it up with the cast - now THATs All That!

Nickelodeon's popular sketch show is adding an eighth cast member for the upcoming season...Jamie Lynn Spears the 11-year-old sister of Britney Spears, will join the seven other kids in the cast - Chelsea Brummett, Jack De Sena, Lisa Renee Foiles, Bryan Hearne, Shane Lyons, Kyle Sullivan and Giovonnie Samuels. "All That" has been on Nick for seven seasons, acting as a kids' version of "Saturday Night Live." The show has launched the careers of Nick Cannon ("Men in Black II" ), Kenan Thompson and Kel Mitchell ("Good Burger" ) and Amanda Bynes, who stars in the upcoming WB comedy "What I Like About You." About 3.3 million kids watch "All That" each week.

Scheduled musical/celebrity guests (subject to change!):

June 21 - yasmeen
June 28 - B2K
July 12 - Fabolous, Play with Chris from Dreamstreet, Lil Bow Wow
July 19 - to be announced
August 2 - Music Day - Justin Timberlake, Nick Carter, BBMak, 3LW, Jennifer Love Hewitt