Billboard Bits: Jack Black, Dub Narcotic, Milky

Although Jack Black is riding high on the success of his new film “School of Rock,” which was No. 1 in its first week in U.S. theaters, he says there are two roles he’s really coveting. Black tells Billboard he’d love to play the title character in the forthcoming remake of “Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street” and Ozzy Osbourne in the untitled biopic currently in development.

“No actor can play Ozzy better than I can,” he says. “I was born to play Ozzy.” Black even pleaded his case to Osbourne’s wife, Sharon, when he appeared recently on her talk show.

Black is gearing up to begin work on the long-awaited film starring he and his Tenacious D bandmate Kyle Gass, “Tenacious D in the Pick of Destiny.” As previously reported, the group’s “Complete Masterworks” DVD arrives Nov. 4.

— Carla Hay, N.Y.

---

The members of veteran independent rock act Dub Narcotic Sound System were involved in a car accident Wednesday (Oct. 15), forcing the hospitalization of frontman Calvin Johnson and bassist Chris Sutton. “It is already anticipated that there will be some major hospital bills to pay,” says a post on the official Web site for the Johnson-run K Records. The label is planning a series of benefit shows to help cover the expense; fans can make donations via the K Web site.

Dub Narcotic will halt its in-progress North American tour, which was set to wrap next week in New York. The group’s next studio album, “Degenerate Introduction,” is due Jan. 20. Two 12-inch singles (“Blood Flow”/”Blood Flow pt. 2” and “You F*** Me Up”/”Cowboy Coffee”) will be released Tuesday (Oct. 21) and Nov. 4, respectively.

— Jonathan Cohen, N.Y.

---

Recognizing an emerging radio format in major U.S. markets, Billboard this week introduces the Hot Dance Radio Airplay chart. The chart ranks the 25 most-played songs at the eight Nielsen Broadcast Data Systems-monitored radio stations that air primarily dance music.

The first No. 1 is “Just the Way You Are” by Robbins Entertainment act Milky (reflecting a 10-week unpublished history; Milky is in its third week at No. 1). “The chart will significantly elevate the profile of dance music at radio,” dance radio chart manager Ricardo Companioni says.

The reporting stations are WKTU New York, WQSX Boston, WPYM Miami, KDLD Los Angeles, KKDL Dallas, KPTI San Francisco, KCJZ San Antonio and KNRJ Phoenix.