NEWSMAKERS

NEWSMAKERS

Muppets creator’s items head to museum

NEW YORK

The Muppets may have taken Manhattan, but they’re getting a spiffy new home in Queens.

Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy, Bert and Ernie of “Sesame Street” fame, the stars of “Fraggle Rock” and other puppets, costumes and items from throughout Muppets creator Jim Henson’s career have been donated to the Museum of the Moving Image, which is building a new gallery to house them, the institution announced Tuesday.

Encompassing almost 400 items ranging from original puppets to behind-the-scenes footage, the gift is a boon for the 25-year-old museum, which saw attendance skyrocket during a temporary exhibit in 2011 and 2012 of Henson’s work.

And it fulfills a cherished goal for Henson’s widow and collaborator, Jane Henson, who died last month at age 78.

Library honors King with pop-music prize

WASHINGTON

Carole King isn’t done with music — not yet, anyway.

The 71-year-old singer-songwriter known for such hits as “[You Make Me Feel Like] A Natural Woman” and “You’ve Got A Friend” is being awarded the nation’s highest prize for popular music.

She’ll receive the Gershwin Prize for Popular Song at the Library of Congress and will be honored today by President Barack Obama at the White House.

King told The Associated Press it’s a tremendous honor to be recognized at such a historic place.

Last year, King hinted she might retire.

Now she plans to introduce a new song for the Gershwin Prize that she wrote with Hal David titled “I Believe in Loving You.” She plans to release it as a single next month in tribute to David.

Eminem’s publisher sues Facebook

DETROIT

Eminem’s song publisher is suing Facebook and an ad agency, saying they copied music from one of the rapper’s songs.

Eight Mile Style filed a federal lawsuit in Detroit on Monday, alleging that a Facebook ad that was broadcast online last month copied music from Eminem’s 2000 song “Under the Influence.”

The Detroit Free Press reports the 30-second ad was featured in a webcast by Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg to announce Facebook Home, an interface for Android phones.

The complaint says ad agency Wieden+Kennedy of Portland, Ore., copied Eminem’s music “in an effort to curry favor” with Facebook by catering to Zuckerberg’s personal likes and to “invoke the same irreverent theme” of the song.

Messages seeking comment were left Tuesday with Facebook and the ad agency.

Vindicator wire services