Sopranos’ Iler court date set

Robert Iler, the 17-year-old co-star of HBO’s hit show “The Sopranos,” will appear in court May 6 on felony second-degree robbery charges.

New York State Supreme Court Justice Bonnie Wittner scheduled an April 22 pretrial hearing for the actor. Iler, who plays Anthony “A.J.” Soprano Jr. on “The Sopranos,” has been accused with two buddies of stealing $40 from a pair of teenage tourists.

The incident allegedly took place on July 4 in Manhattan’s Upper East Side. Police said Iler and his friends stole the cash from two other boys, both tourists from Brazil. Cops also supposedly found a marijuana-filled baggie and bong on Iler when he was picked up.

The boys have pleaded innocent to the charges, insisting the incident was a mix-up, and are confident Iler will be cleared of charges. Iler and his legal team  previously turned down a plea bargain offer.

Jennifer Lopez lawsuit settled

Jennifer Lopez filed an invasion of privacy lawsuit last Tuesday against Death Row Records, which settled outside of court, her attorneys confirmed.

Lopez sued the rap label and its chief, Suge Knight, in response to a tabloid article claiming Knight planned to release a supposed “sex tape” featuring Lopez and an ex-boyfriend. The label has admitted no such tape exists.

Oasis announces July album release

Oasis’ fifth album entitled “Heathen Chemistry” is set to be released in July. The first single from the 11-track album called “The Hindu Times” will begin airing commercially in the United Kingdom on April 15.

Eager fans can listen to the first single on the band’s official Web site which is giving away 20 copies of the new album early to selected members of the Oasis mailing list.

Wonder, Brooks receive awards

Stevie Wonder and Garth Brooks will be presented with awards from the Songwriters Hall of Fame (SHOF) at an induction ceremony on June 13.

Wonder is receiving the Lifetime Achievment Award. Brooks has earned the Hitmaker Award.

“Each has contributed mightily to the creative and artistic community, having achieved unprecedented milestones,” National Academy of Popular Music/Songwriters Hall of Fame chairman said Hal David of Wonder and Brooks in a statement. “They have raised the standard of music making to a new level. I look forward to presenting to these huge talents their most deserved honors.”

Other artists being honored are Barry Manilow, Michael Jackson, Nicholas Ashford and Valerie Simpson, Randy Newman and Sting.

MTV to air Aerosmith salute

MTV’s upcoming mtvICON will be taped in Los Angeles on April 14 and air on April 17.

The tribute will feature performances by Papa Roach, Ja Rule, Shakira, Nas, Sum-41 and X-Ecutioners. Sum-41, Ja Rule and Nelly have united for a re-creation of Aerosmith’s “Walk This Way” video, which originally featured Run-DMC and will only be seen if it is voted for on the MTV daily show “Total Request Live.” Aerosmith is expected to perform live for the finale of mtvICON.

April 04, 2002