Jimmy Buffett has sold his holdings of the Cheeseburger in Paradise restaurant chain to Outback Steakhouse, Inc., who previously held a 50% share in the chain.

Although he is giving up his ownership, Buffett will continue having a big say in the chain’s operations. Buffett and his company will continue to license to Outback the use of the Cheeseburger in Paradise name, and Outback will be free to use Buffett’s name, image and the song “Cheeseburger in Paradise.” In return, Outback will pay a royalty of 4.5 percent of restaurant sales to Buffett’s company. Outback previously had paid Buffett a royalty of 2 percent, the SEC filing says.

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The Sun-Sentinel has an article describing how shooting of the Buffett-produced film “Hoot” is going so far.

The 15 million dollar production has been reasonably trouble-free.

“It’s unheard of,” director Will Shriner said with a delightfully cryptic smile. “We’re on schedule and on budget, and the studio has actually called to compliment me on what they’ve seen in the dailies.”

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The Milwaukee Area Parrothead Association would like to invite you and your members to join us for our first ever phlocking from August 19th – 21st!

Cooperating with a local festival called Matty Gras in New Berlin, WI (just outside of Milwaukee), MAPA presents a lineup of 7 bands includes Matt Wahl, Living Soul and the Pearl Divers, Pirates Over 40, The Boat Drunks, The Love Monkeys, The Toys, and Don Middlebrook. In addition to raising money for these important charities, your $30 package price (if received by August 6th) includes admission to all 3 days of Matty Gras, commemorative event t-shirt & lanyard, raffle tickets for fabulous prizes, food & beverage coupons, reduced room rate, Corona & MAPA logo items, beads, and more.

Read more here.

Officials in Stuart, FL (north of West Palm Beach) are hoping to lure Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville restaurant or a Cheeseburger in Paradise to a new development on the St. Lucie River.

The development group has talked with representatives of singer Buffett about opening a 4,000-square-foot Margaritaville or Cheeseburger in Paradise at the city-owned site.

“They’re interested enough they said that when and if we get awarded (the project), they’d love to sit down and talk to us,” Vicini said. “But again, nobody has made any commitments. We’ve just talked to them, and they’ve shown some interest.”

Read more here.

At the Long Island benefit show, JB mentioned that he is starting on a new book. It will be based on the occurances that happened while recording the “Volcano” album. Buffett said the book is tentatively titled “Mudbath”.