Music Week articles from April 2002

Music Week archives from April 2002

Universal joins manufacturing exodus.
April 6, 2002... The last major to be manufacturing its own product in the UK, Universal Music, is to exit the sector by selling its Blackburn manufacturing plant to Disctronics. The major announced to the factory's 320 staff last Thursday afternoon of its...

Sony was powering into the spring yesterday, as it aimed to achieve six albums in the Top 15.
April 6, 2002... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Caption: Sony was powering into the spring yesterday (Sunday), as it aimed to achieve six albums in the Top 15. The charge was being headed by Celine Dion's (pictured) Epic-issued album A New Day Has Come, which...

Music Week seeks your views.
April 6, 2002... Music Week is asking its readers to share their views about the magazine, as it undertakes its first comprehensive reader research programme in more than a decade. Included in the central pages of this week's issue is a questionnaire which...

Queen to mark decade of Brit School.
April 6, 2002... The Queen's own Golden Jubilee celebrations are set to coincide with a first visit this summer to the Brit School, to mark its 10th anniversary. Her Majesty, accompanied by the Duke of Edinburgh, will drop into the Croydon-based school on...

Westlife are to renew their assault on the US market this autumn, after transferring to RCA for the US. (News).
April 6, 2002... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Caption: Westlife (pictured) are to renew their assault on the US market this autumn, after transferring to RCA for the US. Simon Cowell -- who is currently enjoying a rich vein of success after scoring number one...

V2 eyes indie top spot after huge equity deal. (News).
April 6, 2002... V2 has reiterated its aim of becoming the world's biggest independent record company, instantly wiping away its debt in a multi-million-dollar deal with Morgan Stanley. The merchant banker is converting bonds it took in V2 in 1998 into a...

Wise Buddah exits broadcast as last-ditch finance bid fails. (News).
April 6, 2002... Radio One has been taken production of nine weekly specialist shows inhouse following the shock collapse of its main independent programme provider, Wise Buddah Broadcast. Directors of the company, which is chaired by Mark Goodier, moved...

Hue to take the reins as Nevrkla shakes up VPL. (News).
April 6, 2002... PPL chief Fran Nevrkla has followed his radical shake-up of the rights organisation last year, with the most extensive overhaul of VPL since its launch 17 years ago. VPL consultant director Roger Drage -- who helped to set up the video...

BPI proposes midweek plan to halt chart leaks. (News).
April 6, 2002... Record companies have formally proposed a restriction of the midweek Soles Flashes service, in a bid to crack down on media leaks of sensitive chart data. The BPI Council agreed last Wednesday to propose a four-week trial of a new system,...

Freeek! Goes down a storm in Europe. (news file).
April 6, 2002... George Michael's Freeek! single has made a strong chart start across most of continental Europe, as Polydor bids to extend its relationship with the artist. The release, which was yesterday (Sunday) poised to drop out of the UK Top 10 after a...

No date yet for Napster subscription. (news file).
April 6, 2002... A date for the launch of song-swapping site Napster's subscription service remains unclear, after a US federal appeal court last week upheld a federal judge's ruling to keep the peer-to-peer service shut down. EDITED BY PAUL WILLIAMS...

MU general secretary election opens. (news file).
April 6, 2002... The election for the post of general secretary of the Musicians' Union (MU) has started with the first advertisement posted in the union's quarterly Musician. Candidates for the office, which has been vacant since Derek Kay's controversial rein...

Farrow and white join Mits panel. (news file).
April 6, 2002... Sony Music's VP communications Gary Farrow and Adam White -- who begins as VP communications at Universal Music International this week -- have been appointed as deputy chairmen of the committee organising the Music Industry Trusts (Mits)...

Industry pays tribute to Moore. (news file).
April 6, 2002... The music industry paid tribute to the comic and jazz pianist Dudley Moore who died, aged 66, last week after a long battle against a degenerative brain disease. Universal Classics boss Bill Holland says, "He was an extremely talented musician...

Sony Radio Academy Awards. (news file).
April 6, 2002... The 20th Sony Radio Academy Awards are to take place on May 2, not as published in last week's Music Week. EDITED BY PAUL WILLIAMS (paulw@musicweek.com)

Distronics: from minnow to giant. (MW Comment).
April 6, 2002... First EMI and now Universal. And, suddenly, the majors have exited manufacturing in the UK. It is a sign of the times and should come as no surprise. The days when record companies felt they could gain an advantage over their competitors...

BMG must take up embargo issue. (Webbo).
April 6, 2002... The early delivery of new releases to stores was one of the few examples of the record industry working together to solve a problem that affected all. It was a paradigm of what should happen -- and now it is being flouted. Both record...

EUK shines despite dive in profits at Woolworths. (News).
April 6, 2002... Music and video distributor Entertainment UK emerged as one of the brightest performers among a disappointing set of annual figures from the Woolworths Group, which saw profits plunge into the red last week after paying exceptional costs of...

BMG scores Elvis coup for Nike World Cup ad. (News).
April 6, 2002... BMG has pulled off one of its most important synchronisation deals yet by licensing a remixed version of the Elvis Presley track A Little Less Conversation to sports brand Nike for its $90m (64m [pounds sterling]) global TV campaign around the...

So Solid power on despite court blow. (News).
April 6, 2002... Independiente says it is business as usual for So Solid Crew, despite the sentencing of member Ashley Walters last week to 18 months in a young offenders' institution for possessing a loaded gun. The label is preparing for the release with...

EMI is Queen's champion as stage show rocks West End. (News).
April 6, 2002... EMI Records and EMI Music Publishing are among the stakeholders in the Queen musical We Will Rock You which is due to hit the West End stage later this month. The two EMI companies are contributing to the 7.5m [pounds sterling] costs of...

Q take stage to push favourite new talent. (News).
April 6, 2002... Emap magazine Q has announced a series of branded gigs and links with third party media partners to promote new music. The five-night New To Q series of events kicks off at London's Shepherd's Bush Empire later this month, supported by...

First-quarter releases slump as labels concentrate on Q4. (News).
April 6, 2002... Quarter one is, year-by-year, becoming an increasingly barren desert for key new studio albums, with record companies instead pushing for extra sales from already-issued releases. Epic signing Celine Dion's A New Day Has Come, which was...

David Bowie's first studio album for three years will be handled by Columbia Records, following a new multi-album deal between the company and the artist's new label, ISO. (News).
April 6, 2002... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Caption: David Bowie's (pictured) first studio album for three years will be handled by Columbia Records, following a new multi-album deal between the company and the artist's new label, ISO. Heathen, a collaboration...

Tip Sheet stays online as mag closes doors. (News).
April 6, 2002... The Tip Sheet has pulled the plug on its printed publication to become an online-only operation. The decision to close The Tip Sheet, which until recently incorporated a compilation CD of new tracks, has been blamed on the "enormous...

Corks popping in Watford over Oscars. (News).
April 6, 2002... Pomagne corks, rather than Champagne ones, were popping in a little corner of Watford during the wee hours of last Monday morning, as the Lord Of The Rings won an Oscar for best film score. While the movie is heralded as a huge success...

R1 seeks demos for unsigned day. (news file).
April 6, 2002... Radio One is today (Monday) launching an on-air appeal for demos and white labels from unsigned acts ahead of a whole broadcast day dedicated to unsigned talent. OneMusic Day on May 6 will feature unsigned acts and will coincide with the...

Major's website up and running. (news file).
April 6, 2002... Web design company Hypnosis Media has built a new website for Universal Island, which incorporates the labels Island, MCA, Motown and Universal. The record company says the site will be both an entertainment and information venue for consumers...

Proctor & Gamble call on DJs. (news file).
April 6, 2002... Procter & Gamble has enlisted the help of 100 DJs to choose a dance track for the latest Pringles advertising campaign. DJs were asked to play two tracks produced for the Pringles new Ultimate Party campaign, starting on April 8, and provide...

Capper in Bizarre move. (news file).
April 6, 2002... NME's live music editor Andy Capper has moved to I Feel Good (IFG) men's lifestyle title Bizarre magazine to become associate editor, IFG says Capper's contacts in the music business will he key In driving forward Bizarre's reviews section. ...

Ibiza guide set for standard. (news file).
April 6, 2002... The London Evening Standard' s weekly entertainment supplement Hot Tickets will publish a 32-page A5 guide to clubbing in Ibiza. The guide will be bound in and given away to the newspaper's 800,000 readership on May 30, while talks are ongoing...

Virgin stages photo competition. (news file).
April 6, 2002... Virgin Megastores is running a nationwide photographic competition and exhibition in its stores. Photography students from 20 universities are taking part under the theme "whatever turns you on" while the winning picture will be displayed in...

This week's BPI awards. (news file).
April 6, 2002... Barbra Streisand's The Essential Barbra Streisand is awarded a platinum gong, while Neil Diamond's The essential Neil Diamond and Natalie Imbruglia's White Lilies Island both go gold. Albums receiving silver awards this week include Gomez's In...

Sony S2's Jamiroquai head the UK-signed contingent in the upper reaches of Australia's albums chart, with A Funk Odyssey holding its number four position for the second week. (chart file).
April 6, 2002... * Sony S2's Jamiroquai head the UK-signed contingent in the upper reaches of Australia's albums chart, with A Funk Odyssey holding its number four position for the second week. Meanwhile, Hut/Virgin's Gomez follow close behind, as their new set...

Parlophone's Kylie Minogue continues her North American success story, with Fever rising four places to 12 in Canada's albums rundown. (chart file).
April 6, 2002... * Parlophone's Kylie Minogue continues her North American success story, with Fever rising four places to 12 in Canada's albums rundown. Meanwhile, in Europe, the album dips 33-39 in the Dutch chart, while the single In Your Eyes might still...

BMG's Westlife make strides in the Netherlands again this week, giving World Of Our Own a trajectory of 44-32-30 in the singles sales chart. (chart file).
April 6, 2002... * BMG's Westlife make strides in the Netherlands again this week, giving World Of Our Own a trajectory of 44-32-30 in the singles sales chart. The single also holds its own at radio in Germany, where it retains a number four position in the...

Polydor's Sophie Ellis Bextor continues to lead a UK-signed charge in Australia's singles sales chart, where Murder On The Dancefloor takes another step closer to the top spot at three this week. (chart file).
April 6, 2002... * Polydor's Sophie Ellis Bextor continues to lead a UK-signed charge in Australia's singles sales chart, where Murder On The Dancefloor takes another step closer to the top spot at three this week. Murder... retains its airplay chart crown in...

Parlophone's Pet Shop Boys gain a foothold in Scandinavia this week, as radio support grows for the single Home And Dry. (chart file).
April 6, 2002... * Parlophone's Pet Shop Boys gain a foothold in Scandinavia this week, as radio support grows for the single Home And Dry. The lead-off track from their forthcoming album Release enters Norway's airplay chart at 25 and improves 15-13 in Denmark...

As support picks up for Innocent/Virgin's Blue down under -- with their single If You Come Back. (chart file).
April 6, 2002... * As support picks up for Innocent/Virgin's Blue down under -- with their single If You Come Back cracking the Top 20 by rising 22-19 in Australia's singles sales chart -- their next single Fly By II makes its entry into Ireland's radio chart...

Building on initial support in Scandinavia, Sony's A1 break into airplay charts in other key European territories this week with their single Caught In The Middle. (chart file).
April 6, 2002... * Building on initial support in Scandinavia, Sony's A1 break airplay charts in other key European territories this week with their single Caught In The Middle. While Caught... is poised to take the number one spot in Sweden -- climbing four...

Mute muffles Moby LP hype in bid for organic approach. (International).
April 6, 2002... Mute has set itself the tricky task of following up a near 10m-selling album, while trying to keep the hype surrounding it to a minimum. The album in question, Moby's 18, is one of the most hotly-anticipated releases of the year. And its...

Mushroom's Garbage are building on their European profile in the coming months, with a string of high-profile TV promo across the continent. (International).
April 6, 2002... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Caption: Mushroom's Garbage are building on their European profile in the coming months, with a string of high-profile TV promo across the continent. Kicking off MTV's Five Night Stand gigs at London's Ocean next...

UK Top 20 Airplay Hits in Europe. (International).
April 6, 2002... UK TOP 20 AIRPLAY HITS IN EUROPE TW LW Title/Artist (UK company) 1 1 In Your Eyes Kylie Minogue (Parlophone) 2 2 World Of Our Own Westlife (RCA) 3 3 Wrong Impression Natalie Imbruglia (RCA) 3 3 Freeek!...

Promo Diary: A. (International).
April 6, 2002... April 1 Live date at Hamburg's Schlachtof, interviews for German website, interview for Radio Unerhort Marburg April 2 Live performance on Bravo TV's Houseboat, press interviews as well as Radio OK Berlin April 3 Taped show for Radio...

Top UK and UK-Signed Sales Chart Performers Abroad. (International).
April 6, 2002... TOP UK-SIGNED SALES CHART PERFORMERS ABROAD Title/Artist chart Country (Label) pos. LW AUSTRALIA single Murder... Sophie Ellis Bextor ...

American chartwatch. (International).
April 6, 2002... The most lively albums chart of 2002 to date welcomes four new entries to the top five and, while that is cause for celebration following the recent stagnation, sales are worryingly low. Now That's What I Call Music! 9 makes its expected debut...

Guarded optimism dominates at most varied Miami to date. (A&R).
April 6, 2002... The UK dance industry braved the baking sun and all-day parties of Miami last week for what was the most varied Winter Music Conference to date. With more parties, more records, labels and genres than ever before, Miami was dominated by a...

S Club 7 downsize. (news file).
April 6, 2002... The remaining six members of S Club 7 are set to continue as a group, despite the departure last week of Paul Cattermole, who has quit the act to pursue a solo career, The act will now be known simply as S Club. Cattermole will complete a...

Names down for Ed Case album. (news file).
April 6, 2002... Ed Case has completed work on his debut album for Columbia, to be titled Ed's Guest List. In keeping with the title, the album will feature a wide range of collaborations, including Ms Dynamite, So Solid Crew's Harvey and Columbia labelmate...

Positiva signs trance guru Corsten. (news file).
April 6, 2002... Dutch DJ Ferry Corsten, who also records under the alias System F, has signed a long-term deal with EMI dance imprint Positiva. Corsten's first release under his own name will be the single Punk on May 13. "We are delighted to have someone of...

Desert Eagle Discs returns. (news file).
April 6, 2002... Desert Eagle Discs are set to release their first material for three years, after signing a new deal with The Echo Label. Work on a new album, The Director's Cut, is already complete, with a release expected by June. Desert Eagle Discs'...

Warner Music has snapped up two of the projects being handled by R&D productions, the joint venture between former Warner Chappell managing director Robin Godfrey-Cass and producer Darren Bennett. (A&R).
April 6, 2002... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Caption: Warner Music has snapped up two of the projects being handled by R&D productions, the joint venture between former Warner Chappell managing director Robin Godfrey-Cass and producer Darren Bennett. One of the...

Prolifica underlines eclectic edge as The Servant ink worldwide deal. (A&R).
April 6, 2002... Prolifica has underlined its eclectic nature with the signing of guitar band The Servant to a worldwide album deal (excluding France). The band have joined Prolifica after frontman Dan worked with Planet Funk, who are signed to Prolifica's...

Robbie in talks but EMI deal is not done. (A&R).
April 6, 2002... EMI and IE Music have both dismissed widespread reports that the company has resigned Robbie Williams to a five album deal for a reported 20m [pounds sterling] to 40m [pounds sterling]. Reports of the deal pushed EMI shares up last Tuesday,...

Doves: There Goes the Fear (Heavenly HVN111CD).
April 6, 2002... DOVES: There Goes The Fear (Heavenly HVN111CD). This precursor to one of 2002's most-anticipated albums is a single of truly epic proportions, with echoes of The Stone Roses, David Bowie and a Brazilian carnival. Some of the Mancunians' former...

Oasis: the Hindu Times (Big Brother RKIDCD23).
April 6, 2002... [RECOMMENDED] OASIS: The Hindu Times (Big Brother RKIDCD23). The band's first release for some 18 months, The Hindu Times recaptures some of the spirit lost in their post-... Morning Glory material. Reminiscent of Rock'n'Roll Star, the song...

The Streets: Let's Push Things Forward (679 679L001CD1).
April 6, 2002... THE STREETS: Let's Push Things Forward (679 679L001CD1). The critics have been falling over themselves to heap superlatives onto Mike Skinner's debut album Original Pirate Material. On Let's Push Things Forward, Fisher Price dub wraps up...

New Order: Here to Stay (London NUOCD1).
April 6, 2002... NEW ORDER: Here To Stay (London NUOCD1). The Manc veterans link up with the Chemical Brothers for this long-awaited collaboration from the 24 Hour Party People soundtrack. The result sounds somewhat less than the sum of its parts, with...

Alice Band: Now that You Love Me (Instant Karma KARMA17CD).
April 6, 2002... ALICE BAND: Now That You Love Me (Instant Karma KARMA17CD). This Radio Two A-listed pop breezer sounds like a grown-up Atomic Kitten and should give The Alice Band their first real hit, following a year of solid promotion and goodwill from the...

Beverlei Brown: Gonna Get Over You (Dome CDDOME160).
April 6, 2002... BEVERLEI BROWN: Gonna Get Over You (Dome CDDOME160). A typically classy outing from 10-year old Dome Records, this will help raise the profile further of its latest up-and-coming diva. Taken from the church-trained singer's debut album Next To...

Remy Zero: Save Me (Elektra E7266CD).
April 6, 2002... REMY ZERO: Save Me (Elektra E7266CD). Save Me is the first single from the LA-based quintet's third album The Golden Hum and is also being used as the theme to the TV series Smallville. The band's soaring, majestic rock has been turning many...

Rodriguez/Muddy Waters: Sugarman/Tom Cat (13 Amp AMP7001).
April 6, 2002... RODRIGUEZ/MUDDY WATERS: Sugarman/Tom Cat (13 Amp AMP7001). This release couples together a pair of nuggets lifted from David Holmes' Come Get It I Got It mix album. A couple of scarcely-heard funk gems have been unearthed by the Irish DJ, which...

Simple Kid: I Am Rock (Fierce Panda NING114CD).
April 6, 2002... SIMPLE KID: I Am Rock (Fierce Panda NING114CD). This former Mark & Lard record of the week is a sensational glam-pop stormer which perfectly evokes a Seventies-style sound. The riff-heavy production and mix of sharp lyrics and great pop hooks...

Wilt: Take Me Home (Mushroom MUSH 99CDS).
April 6, 2002... WILT: Take Me Home (Mushroom MUSH 99CDS). Wilt are a Dublin three-piece and this, their first single from the forthcoming Medicine album, is rocktastic stormer sung by Cormac Battle. Produced by Manics man Dave Eringa, the band class themselves...

Aim: No Restriction (Grand Central GC154CDS).
April 6, 2002... AIM: No Restriction (Grand Central GC154CDS). Souls Of Mischief guest on this jazzy highlight of Aim's stunning second album Hinterland. Manchester, the Queen and Tony Blair get namechecks on a track that deserves to win wide airplay.

Haven: Til the End (Radiate/ Virgin RDT6).
April 6, 2002... [RECOMMENDED] HAVEN: Til The End (Radiate/ Virgin RDT6). Gary Briggs' impressive vocal range is given a full workout on this epic ballad, which sounds similar in mood to Travis's Why Does It Always Rain On Me. This could be the track to break...

Hoggboy: Shouldn't Let the Side Down (Sobriety SOB4CD).
April 6, 2002... HOGGBOY: Shouldn't Let The Side Down (Sobriety SOB4CD). A strong melody rubs up against caustically de-tuned guitars on Hoggboy's second single, creating a mosh-pit student favourite. The band embark on a nine-date UK tour from April 17 to 27.

The Bellrays: Fire on the Moon (Poptones MCS069SCD).
April 6, 2002... THE BELLRAYS: Fire On The Moon (Poptones MCS069SCD). This new Poptones act shows that Alan McGee has finally found his ears again. Harking back to acts such as the glorious MC5 and the little-known Rocket From The Tombs, this slab of primeval...

Pay as U Go Cartel: Champagne Dance (Direction 67213662).
April 6, 2002... PAY AS U GO CARTEL: Champagne Dance (Direction 67213662). B-listed at Radio One, PAUGC hail from East London and are another fine example of the UK garage sound. This ode to the champagne lifestyle mixes ragga and with the more extreme US...

Kosheen: Hungry (Moksha/Arista 74321934382).
April 6, 2002... [RECOMMENDED] KOSHEEN: Hungry (Moksha/Arista 74321934382). Hungry fuses the folk-pop sound of labelmate Dido with an unfussy, accessible drum & bass musical template, and works an absolute treat. The radio edit has been awarded a B-listing at...

Various: Mali Music (Honest Jon's FURCD1).
April 6, 2002... VARIOUS: Mali Music (Honest Jon's FURCD1). This is the first release on the Honest Jon's label, which has Damon Albarn as one of co-founders. It is thus no surprise that its first release should involve the Blur singer, but this is no vanity...

KMC Feat. Dhany: I Feel So Fine (Incentive CENT39CDS).
April 6, 2002... KMC FEAT. DHANY: I Feel So Fine (Incentive CENT39CDS). Discreetly imported from Italy, this dance track is already a favourite with Radio One's Judge Jules, as well as winning club support from Steve Lawler and Nick Warren. Tillman Uhrmacher...

The Notwist: Pick Up the Phone (City Slang 201936).
April 6, 2002... THE NOTWIST: Pick Up The Phone (City Slang 201936). This wistful, insidious single is taken from the critically-acclaimed Neon Golden album. The Notwist have an instantly arresting combination of strong, hooky songs gilded with mend-bending...

Craig Armstrong: as if to Nothing (Virgin/ Melankolic CDSAD13).
April 6, 2002... [RECOMMENDED] CRAIG ARMSTRONG: As If To Nothing (Virgin/ Melankolic CDSAD13). The Scottish soundtrack maestro follows his acclaimed work on the movies Romeo & Juliet and Moulin Rouge, as well as his debut album The Space Between Us, with this...

Lorien: Under the Waves (Instant Karma KARMACD5).
April 6, 2002... LORIEN: Under The Waves (Instant Karma KARMACD5). Managed by Stevo and produced by Mike Hedges (Manics, Beautiful South), this UK/Icelandic/Italian three-piece have delivered an excellent debut that has earned them praise from the NME, Evening...

Michelle Branch: the Spirit Room (Maverick 9362480972).
April 6, 2002... MICHELLE BRANCH: The Spirit Room (Maverick 9362480972). This above-average debut from the spikey, talented Ms Branch has already achieved gold status in the US. Sounding not totally unlike labelmate Alanis Morissette, the album is produced by...

Various: Bedrock -- Compiled and Mixed by Chris Fortier (Bedrock PEA-CD6163-2).
April 6, 2002... VARIOUS: Bedrock -- Compiled And Mixed By Chris Fortier (Bedrock PEA-CD6163-2). Fade label boss Fortier mixes this two-CD set of progressive house and trance. Digging deeper than the majority of dance mixes, it features tracks from Choc...

Thea Gilmore: Rules for Jokers (Flying Sparks TDBCD056).
April 6, 2002... THEA GILMORE: Rules For Jokers (Flying Sparks TDBCD056). When this touching album was originally released last September, the fingerpicking folkster found favour on Later With Jools Holland while her bouncy Saviours And All single was B-listed...

Susana Baca: Espiritu Vivo (Luaka Bop LBCD38).
April 6, 2002... SUSANA BACA: Espiritu Vivo (Luaka Bop LBCD38). This, Baca's third album for Luaka Bop, was recorded in front of an invited studio audience in New York last September. This affinity for her audience shines through on this delicate, shimmering...

Elvis Costello: When I Was Cruel (Mercury 586 829-2).
April 6, 2002... ELVIS COSTELLO: When I Was Cruel (Mercury 586 829-2). Costello's first album in seven years is a welcome return to form, if not quite as cutting and acidic as his best work. His observations on the world around him inform lyrics that are far...

The Dear Janes: Skirt (Sore Thumb STRCD1).
April 6, 2002... THE DEAR JANES: Skirt (Sore Thumb STRCD1). This third album from The Dear Janes, neither of whom are called Jane, sees them joined by such luminaries as Billy Bragg. Comparisons have been made to The Indigo Girls, but the Janes have a punchier...

Custom Blue: All Follow Everyone (Island CID8109).
April 6, 2002... CUSTOM BLUE: All Follow Everyone (Island CID8109). This debut album from the South London duo proves to be a soft meandering affair with gentle psychedelic overtones and benefits from some effective songs. Extra production comes courtesy of...

FC Kahuna: Machine Says Yes (City Rockers CITYROCK2CD).
April 6, 2002... [RECOMMENDED] FC KAHUNA: Machine Says Yes (City Rockers CITYROCK2CD). The London duo have tightened up for their debut album and delivered a fluff-free, forward-thinking collection. Fans of their current single Glitterball will get the gist --...

Universal plans broad push for Terfel. (Classical news).
April 6, 2002... Welsh bass-baritone Bryn Terfel, according to the Financial Times, is blessed with "the agility of a wrestler and the sexual charisma of a rock star". Certainly, the singer for the big occasion has gained the popular vote as well as critical...