Got protest? Music mogul Simmons mad over milk

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — Music mogul Russell Simmons wants New York's governor to pull the plug on milk from cows.

The hip-hop impresario writes in a letter to Andrew Cuomo (KWOH'-moh) that milk should no longer be the state's official beverage.

Simmons, a vegan who has taken on several animal rights causes with People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, says milk from cows is less healthy than milk from rice, almonds or soy.

He tells The Associated Press he knows dairy is big business in New York but says other industries could spring up in its place.

Simmons and Cuomo go way back. They're both from Queens, and they worked together a decade ago to help soften New York's strict drug laws.

Cuomo spokesman Matt Wing said the governor's office would not comment.

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Musicians removed to protest outside the ceremony at the Grammy Awards show

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - angry musicians protesteront Grammy Awards ceremony on Sunday on the outside of a decision to reduce the initial price of industry 31 music categories ethnic and minority music.

Organizers said Wednesday that they hoped tens of music artists and fans of Latin music, jazz, gospel and blues could join the event and attend a concert of replacement.

Some 23 000 people have signed a petition demanding that the Recording Academy restore the ceremony of the Grammy awards for music native American and Hawaiian, and inverse of sections in the categories of Latin Jazz, Gospel, R & B and Blues that have been deleted in the major revision last year.

Paul Simon, Carlos Santana, Bonnie Raitt and Bobby Sanabria are among dozens of artists who spoke against the decision. Musicians say Grammy reductions will affect financial career and reduce the profile of music enjoyed by the minority communities.

Robert Sax spokesman said Wednesday that the event will be held outside the Staples Center in Los Angeles stars like Rihanna, Bruce Springsteen, The Beach Boys and Tony Bennett came to perform at the show of the ceremony of the Grammy Awards Sunday.

The demonstrators will celebrate the step later those price stars Latin Jazz Jam in a discotheque in Los Angeles, with the performers, including twice winning the Grammy Oscar Hernandez, John Santos and Bobby Matos.

"We wish this concert to remind music fans of great music that has been eliminated by the Grammys." To paraphrase what Frank Sinatra said at the first Grammy Awards of 1959, "Remember, the prices are on excellence, popularity." ", artist Jazz Latin said de Matos.

The Recording Academy announced in April that he was being the number of categories of Grammy to 78 of 109 for 2012 Grammy Awards, saying that the cuts were necessary to maintain "the prestige of the prices higher and only recognized peer in music."

Rapper Kanye West has led the field of contenders Grammy with seven nominations, followed by Adele, Bruno March and Foo Fighters.

(Statement by Jill Serjeant, mounting by Christine Kearney)

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Freed Moroccan rapper promises more protest songs

RABAT (Reuters) - A Moroccan rapper who has become one of the monarchy's boldest critics was freed on Thursday after serving four months for assault, a charge which his lawyers say was a ploy to muzzle the popular singer.

After his release from Casablanca's Oukacha prison, Mouad Belrhouat, known as El-Haqed or "The Sullen One," said he would continue singing rap to protest "against the contempt ordinary Moroccans endure at the hands of the state and politicians."

"I will continue to spread my message and denounce the massive corruption in our country," he told Reuters by phone.

His trial had been seen as a test of the Justice and Development Party's commitment to ensuring full independence for the judiciary. The moderate Islamists are leading a government for the first time - like their Tunisian counterparts - after winning elections in November.

The Arab world's oldest monarchy, seeking to preempt popular revolt, made the judiciary constitutionally independent last year. But the courts retain a reputation for taking cues from the authorities, notably in graft and Islamic militancy cases.

BITTERSWEET VICTORY

Earlier Thursday, a court in Casablanca sentenced 24-year-old Belrouat to four months and three days in jail and fined him 500 dirhams ($57), sources in the court said.

Belrhouat was arrested in September after a brawl with a monarchist. Bail requests by his lawyers were rejected and the trial was adjourned six times.

"It's a bittersweet victory for us," said activist Maria Karim, who has led the campaign for Belrhouat's release.

He has become the singing voice of the movement, inspired by Arab world uprisings, demanding a constitutional monarchy, an independent judiciary and a crackdown on corruption.

Morocco's main human rights group, AMDH, considers him to have been a prisoner of conscience.

His lyrics telling Moroccans to "wise up" have angered many monarchists. In one song he says the king spends so much time giving orders that he has little time to count his money in Switzerland.

Belrhouat has struck a chord with young Moroccans who are disenchanted with the lack of jobs and widespread corruption. One song "Bite just as much as you can chew" has had more than 600,000 hits on Youtube.

($1 = 8.7220 Moroccan dirhams)

(Editing by Louise Ireland)

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