Lifetime award for Heart sisters

Ann (left) and Nancy Wilson (right) performing on stage with singer Fergie

Ann and Nancy Wilson, founders of soft rock group Heart, are to receive a career achievement award from a US songwriters' organisation.

The pair will receive their award at Ascap's annual ceremony on 22 April, which is being held in Hollywood.

Singer Ann, 58, and guitarist Nancy, 54, rose to fame with the band in the 1970s, scoring hits over three decades including Crazy On You and Barracuda.

Past award recipients have included Stevie Wonder and Neil Young.

'Artistic energy'

Ascap president Marilyn Bergman said the Wilsons' "success and influence helped pave the way for other female artists".

"They continue to build their musical legacy with an artistic energy that remains as strong today as when they first started out over 35 years ago," she added.

Heart are best known for their 1980s rock ballads

Heart has gone through various line-up changes during its history, with the Wilsons being a constant presence in the band.

After a decline in the late 1970s, they made a major comeback in the mid-80s and beyond, scoring hits with a series of soft rock ballads.

These Dreams and Alone topped the US singles chart, with the latter song reaching number three in the UK chart in 1987.

Their self-titled 1985 album went to number one in the US.

Last September, the Wilsons took legal action against Republican vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin, who they said used their song Barracuda without permission.

Ascap - the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers - collect royalties for songwriters and music publishers by monitoring airplay and collecting licence fees from music venue owners.

Piven talks end without agreement

Piven said his illness meant he could not "get my lines out"

No agreement has been reached after producers of Broadway play Speed-the-Plow filed a grievance against Jeremy Piven over the actor quitting the show.

The Entourage star left the play in December after his doctor said he was suffering from mercury poisoning.

Representatives of actors' union Equity and a Broadway producers' association failed to reach a unanimous decision.

Piven told the New York Times after the hearing that his illness stemmed from eating fish twice a week for 20 years.

I've never missed a day's work or a rehearsal in my life Jeremy Piven

He told the paper that reports that he became ill because of eating too much sushi were untrue.

"I've never missed a day's work or a rehearsal in my life," he said.

He said he had tried to work through the illness and also dismissed "the misconception that I was out partying".

"At times I was incapable of getting enough oxygen to get my lines out on stage and sometimes I'd forget where I was in the play."

The grievance hearing panel said in a statement that "the producers have the right, as a next step, to proceed to arbitration".

'Enforced rest'

Piven's spokesman Samantha Mast said in a statement: "Mr Piven is hopeful that the producers will ultimately recognise that he did the right thing by listening to the instructions from his doctors."

She said the doctors had told Piven "to stop the play immediately and undergo enforced rest rather than continuing to perform and risk dire health consequences".

Speed-the-Plow opened in October and closed last week with Piven's role of movie mogul being taken over by other actors.

Piven, 43, who played Ari Gold in Entourage, became the target of jokes after leaving the play.

Speed-the-Plow writer David Mamet even joked: "My understanding is that Jeremy is leaving showbusiness to pursue a career as a thermometer."

MC Hammer to star in reality show

MC Hammer is set to reveal his geeky side

Rapper MC Hammer is to star in a family-themed reality television series in the US.

The musician, who shot to fame in the 1990s, said the programme will give viewers a taste of his day-to-day life.

The serial, which will air on cable channel A&E later this year, will feature his wife, five children and two nephews who share a home in California.

MC Hammer had worldwide hits including U Can't Touch This and Pray, and was famed for his trademark baggy trousers.

Family showcase

The 46-year-old said that Hammertime will reveal his lesser known side as a businessman as well his technical prowess.

He runs a dance website and makes frequent updates to his Twitter feed.

"I'm a 2010 dad. I'm a real techy. I'm a geek on that side," he said.

"This is a dad who is connected beyond any kid's wildest dreams when it comes down to the places they'd like to navigate on the internet."

MC Hammer - born Stanley Burrell - said that the unscripted programme will show "all the things that come along with family, with the caveat that their dad is a world-renowned recording artist".

He added that the series would serve as a showcase for his family's talents.

"It's in their blood," he said. "They all have theatrical, musical talents. They love the idea of being on television from the standpoint of acting and performing."