Music Week articles from April 2004

Music Week archives from April 2004

Super duper web release for Stone.
April 3, 2004... As the BPI turns its full attention to the battle against illegal file-sharing, Joss Stone this week becomes one of the latest artists to help fuel the legitimate supply of music downloads. The artist's second single Super Duper Love (Are...

BPI ready for the long haul; press push is just first stage in fight.(Downloads)
April 3, 2004... BPI executive chairman Peter Jamieson says the organisation is digging in for a lengthy campaign after unleashing the first strike against the UK's millions of illegal music downloaders. The campaign, launched last Thursday, aims to "put on...

EMI chief mobile progress.(Bottom line)
April 3, 2004... EMI Music global vice chairman David Munns used the platform of Atlanta's CTIA Wireless Conference last Wednesday to urge the mobile and music industries to work together to accelerate the availability of consumer applications for mobile music....

Microsoft.(Bottom line)
April 3, 2004... Microsoft used the platform of SXSW to demonstrate a prototype of its digital song store to record label executives during a closed door party in Texas. Pricing details are still under wraps, but Microsoft apparently will promote its rival In...

George Michael.(Bottom line)
April 3, 2004... George Michael's Sony-issued Patience album has followed its UK chart-topping debut a week ago by entering at number one in Denmark, Germany, Hong Kong, Italy and Sweden, while charting at two in Australia, the Netherlands and New Zealand and...

Emap.(Bottom line)
April 3, 2004... Emap's radio stations have helped the group deliver a strong performance over the past year with airtime revenues rising by an estimated 7%. Trading update figures released last Tuesday, ahead of the full preliminary results on May 25, suggest...

Maverick Records.(Bottom line)
April 3, 2004... Madonna's Maverick Records is suing Warner Music Group, Time Warner and Warner Bros. Records over breach of contract. Maverick is seeking $200m in damages and an end to the 12-year-old joint venture between the two companies.

GWR and Scottish Radio Holdings (SRH) both provided evidence of improving fortunes in the radio sector with upbeat trading statements last week.(Bottom line)
April 3, 2004... GWR and Scottish Radio Holdings (SRH) both provided evidence of improving fortunes in the radio sector with upbeat trading statements last week. GWR forecasts its analogue radio revenues will rise 7% in the first quarter this year, while SRH...

Mean Fiddler Music Group.(Bottom line)
April 3, 2004... Mean Fiddler Music Group last week launched new media division Mean Fiddler Media, a partnership between the live music company and former Cable and Wireless director Richard Clingen. The venture's COO Dean James says repertoire agreements are...

Bowie Bonds.(Bottom line)
April 3, 2004... The downturn in the music sector has hit the music royalty backed notes issues by Jones/Tintoretto Entertainment Company--better known as David Bowie's Bowie Bonds. The ground breaking $55m asset backed securities, devised by David Pullman and...

CRCA appoints ex-BSkyB boss.(People)
April 3, 2004... One-time BSkyB and C5 executive David Elstein has been appointed chairman of the Commercial Radio Companies Association Elstein, former BSkyB head of programming and chief executive at C5 Broadcasting, replaces Lord Eatwell who had been...

CEC Management.(People)
April 3, 2004... The Happy Mondays' one time manager Nathan McGough has joined CEC Management with immediate effect. McGough joins Peter Felstead and Matt Willis at the company whose roster includes Martina Topley-Bird and Eighties Matchbox B-Line Disaster.

Outside Organisation.(People)
April 3, 2004... The Outside Organisation has recruited Vicki Brookes as its deputy bead of press after four-and-a-half years with 95.8 Capital FM, where she was publicity manager.

DJ Tom Wilson.(People)
April 3, 2004... Forth Radio's dance specialist and DJ Tom Wilson died last week following a heart attack, His award winning programme Steppin' Out ran for 15 years during the Eighties and Nineties, while he was also a highly-respected record producer. He...

Juice poaches Radio City DJ.(Exposure)
April 3, 2004... Absolute Radio's Juice FM has poached rival Liverpool commercial station Radio City's Louis Hurst to host its breakfast programme, Along with presenting weekday drivetime, Hurst has been the deputy of Emap-owned City's full-time breakfast show...

Pacha.(Exposure)
April 3, 2004... Ibiza nightclub Pacha is to mark its 30th anniversary with plans for a triple-disc compilation this July featuring big dance hits from the past three decades. Distributed by Amato, it will be the first of a series of compilations planned by the...

Smirnoff Experience.(Exposure)
April 3, 2004... Drinks brand Smirnoff Experience is staging a music event across five Glasgow venues on May 15 showcasing electronic music. Jazzy Jeff and his new group The Philharmonics are on the line-Lip, which also includes drum & bass act London...

Base.(Exposure)
April 3, 2004... MTV's R&B channel Base marks its fifth birthday this June with unique programming and a new Lick tour which will call in on several venues around the UK and Ireland.

Blag.(Exposure)
April 3, 2004... Hip hop magazine Blag, which was recently the subject of a relaunch, has put together a board of non-executive directors including Chuck D and Wu-Tang's GZA.

Sony signs Teal to multi-album deal.(Sign here)
April 3, 2004... Jazz singer Clare Teal has followed in the footsteps of her one-time Candid Records labelmate Jamie Cullum by signing a multi album deal with a major record company. Teal, championed like Cullum by Michael Parkinson, last week inked what it...

Bruce Elliott-Smith.(Sign here)
April 3, 2004... Songwriter and producer Bruce Elliott-Smith, who won a best dance recording Grammy at this year's event for his production work on Kylie Minogue's Come Into My World, has signed a long-term publishing deal with Netting Hill Music.

Prince.(Sign here)
April 3, 2004... US-based Sony label Columbia has signed a deal with Prince to release his latest album Musicology. Columbia will manufacturer distribute and market the new album, which will be released in the US on April 20. AUK release date has not been...

Sony Corp and McDonald's are reportedly joining forces within coming months to launch a digital download co-promotion.(Sign here)
April 3, 2004... Sony Corp and McDonald's are reportedly joining forces within coming months to launch a digital download co-promotion. According to the LA Times, Sony is understood to be planning to launch a digital download site called Connect, while...

Video-C.(Sign here)
April 3, 2004... Interactive music video website Video-C has teamed up with Echo Records to run competition offering a viewer the chance to take part in the making of label signings' The Stands next music video. The competition goes live on April 5 on the...

Katherine Jenkins.(Sign here)
April 3, 2004... Contrary to a report in last week's Music Week, Katherine Jenkins will play at the Classical Brits nominations launch at London's Landmark Hotel on April 21, and has not been announced for the May 26 ceremony itself.

Ambient media and guerrilla marketing agency Diabolical Liberties took the literal approach after being commissioned by Island Records to help promote the Sugababes' latest single In The Middle (released last Monday).(Digest)
April 3, 2004... Ambient media and guerrilla marketing agency Diabolical Liberties took the literal approach after being commissioned by Island Records to help promote the Sugababes' latest single In The Middle (released last Monday). The campaign saw promotion...

Pressure from indie labels forces MTV back to table: negotiations resume via VPL to resolve collective licensing dispute.(Companies)
April 3, 2004... MTV performed a dramatic U-turn last week, returning to the negotiating table over their long-running collective licensing dispute. The surprising move followed an Aim/Impala press conference last Wednesday morning to denounce the...

The Music Week playlist.(News)
April 3, 2004... KEANE Hopes And Fears (Island) In just 14 months, Keane have grown from a MW playlist unsigned tip to contenders for producing the album of the year. (album, May) KATY ROSE Overdrive (V2) Nettwerk Management prepares to...

OutKast take leading role in O2 music push.(News)
April 3, 2004... O2 is offering its mobile customers the chance to download an exclusive remix of OutKast's The Way You Move as part of a 4m [pounds sterling] nationwide marketing campaign launching this week to push its digital music player. Launched in...

How the press reacted.(The BPI campaign)
April 3, 2004... Financial Times: p1--"Music industry sends a message to pirates" Metro: p1--Web warning to pop pirates" The Daily Telegraph: p3--"Was declared on internet music pirates" The Times p3--"Get down: music pirates are sunk" Thu...

The backing.(The BPI campaign)
April 3, 2004... Tim Bowen, chairman/CEO, BMG "People who enjoy music need to understand that illegal file-sharing damages the entire infrastructure of the music business--not just record companies but also musicians, writers, composers, producers and...

Why it's time for action.(Viewpoint)
April 3, 2004... No one joins the music business expecting to threaten the public with legal action. But that was the strange and rather uncomfortable position we found ourselves in last week. When the BPI Council first got wind last year of the RIAA's...

BPI warnings backed by threat of lawsuits: civil action will ensue if downloaders ignore campaign.(Downloads)
April 3, 2004... The BPI is ready to press the button on legal action against online music pirates by the end of the year; following the launch last week of a campaign aiming to halt the tide of illegal downloading. The organisation's executive chairman...

Tough stance pays off as US downloads slump.(The BPI campaign)
April 3, 2004... The BPI's latest action comes as the Recording Industry Association of America's controversial decision to prosecute individuals for illegally sharing music appears to be paying dividends. Supporters of the RIAA have pointed to the findings...

If its initial awareness campaign does not stem the flow of file-sharing among UK users, the BPI says it will pursue "serial uploaders" via civil law.(The BPI campaign)
April 3, 2004... If its initial awareness campaign does not stem the flow of file-sharing among UK users, the BPI says it will pursue "serial uploaders" via civil law. BPI executive chairman Peter Jamieson says, simply, "We don't want to criminalise people."...

Survey underlines scale of UK piracy.(The BPI campaign)
April 3, 2004... The BPI based its case for pursuing file-sharers on new research which suggests that the scale of illegal downloading dwarfs any previous estimates for the UK. Late last year, the BPI and the British Videogram Association commissioned...

The wider view.(The BPI campaign)
April 3, 2004... Live sector Stuart Littlewood, chairman, Concert Promoters Association "I don't think it is right to pursue people through court, but then I don't think people should illegally download music either. I think it should be about...

The BPI awards.(News)
April 3, 2004... ALBUMS Kanye West--The College Dropout (Mercury) (silver) Jamie Cullum--Pointless Nostalgic (Candid) (silver) Various--Leaders Of The Pack (UMTV) (silver) Dusty Springfield--The Look of Love (Her Greatest Love Songs) (UMTV)...

New company buys Rolled Gold assets: decline highlights harsh conditions faced by importers.(Distribution)
April 3, 2004... Evidence of the tough market conditions facing the import sector has been provided by the descent of distributor Rolled Gold into administration. Rolled Gold, which boasted on its website that it has expanded over the past seven years to...

Universal rejigs international.(News)
April 3, 2004... Universal Music UK has promoted Mark Crossingham to senior vice president of its international marketing division. Crossingham was formerly managing director of Universal's consumer and media division, which was dismantled in January as...

Christine McVie.(Snap Shot)
April 3, 2004... One-time Fleetwood Mac songwriter and vocalist Christine McVie's first solo outing in two decades is to mark the first link-up between Adventure Records and Sanctuary since their chart-topping Christmas triumph with Mad World. Following...

Shazam targets boost in business services.(News)
April 3, 2004... Shazam Entertainment is bidding to drive forward the business uses of its music recognition technology after winning an additional $5m of funding. The company has, until now, derived most of its income from a consumer offering which allows...

Retail push lifts sales at woolies.(Analysis)
April 3, 2004... The Woolworths chain fought back against rival discounters on the High Street and online last yean as it sacrificed product margins to successfully boost its entertainment market share. Woolworths' sales in the sector rose in the 12 months...

Indie stores highlight role on breaking acts: Bard says record companies' focus on chart product and cutbacks in reps have encouraged decline of indies.(Retail)
April 3, 2004... The UK's record companies are being urged to change their attitude towards indie retailers, in a bid to prevent the demise of what remains a vital breeding ground for new music. A new survey by Bard (the British Association of Record...

All roads lead to SXSW: with US interest in UK music at a 10-year high, our homegrown acts shined brightly at this year's South By Southwest. James Roberts finds out why the Texan event is still the most vital event of the music industry calendar.(Talent)
April 3, 2004... South By Southwest 2004 was a resounding success for British talent, with many UK-signed acts benefiting the most from Austin's four day music convention, which concluded last Sunday. Acts ranging from Franz Ferdinand to Joss Stone were the...

Playlist.(Jazz)
April 3, 2004... Gutbucket--OJ Bin Laden (Cantaloupe) Spiky punk-Jazz from the politically charged album Dry Humping The American Dream. Ron Horton--Cantarnos (FSNT) Brilliant rendition of Andrew Hill's tricky composition from ace New York trumpeter. ...

Kofi secures first Specific deal: proper imprint devoted to new talent makes initial signing.(Jazz)
April 3, 2004... There is no shortage of talent in the British jazz industry. But for every record-breaking, Parkinson-supported success such as Jamie Cullum and--following her signing to Sony Music, Claire Teal--there ale ninny other high-profile artists for...

Unmissable forthcoming gigs at the Barbican in London include sax legend Sonny Rollins (April 30), South African trumpet hero Hugh Masekela (June 26) and piano magician Chick Corea (July 6 and 12).(Diary)
April 3, 2004... Unmissable forthcoming gigs at the Barbican in London include sax legend Sonny Rollins (April 30), South African trumpet hero Hugh Masekela (June 26) and piano magician Chick Corea (July 6 and 12). There are also sortie exciting tours to look...

Juliet Kelly.(Diary)
April 3, 2004... Look out for the promising young singer Juliet Kelly who tours in April with a strong, young ensemble comprising Sebastian Rocheford (drums), Tom Barlow (bass) and Mike Gorman (piano). They kick off at the Bulk Head in London on April 18 and...

Seb Rocheford.(Diary)
April 3, 2004... Kelly's drummer Seb Rocheford has a debut album, Dim Lit, due for release on Babel records in the near future. It could well be one of the best British jazz albums of the year...

Reissues.
April 3, 2004... Duke Ellington has three of his Fifties recordings--Ellington Uptown Festival Session and Masterpieces--available on CD through Sony for the first time... Universal has just repackaged some tasty back catalogue items in its Heritage series,...

James Carter Gardenias for Lady Day.
April 3, 2004... James Carter Gardenias For Lady Day (Sony Jazz 5148796). Out now. As steeped in the jazz tradition as multi-reed wizard Carter may be, there is no denying that his jaw-dropping technique and conceptual boldness invariably help him rise...

Miguel Zenon Ceremonial.
April 3, 2004... Miguel Zenon Ceremonial (Marsalis Music ROUP6133082). Out now. The Puerto Rican alto saxophonist has been an essential member of fellow compatriot David Sanchez's band for several years now and his progress as a leader in his own right has...

Bugge Wesseltoft Film Ing.
April 3, 2004... Bugge Wesseltoft Film Ing (Universal/Jazzland 9866123) April 12 Film Ing sees keyboard player Wesseltoft, the standard bearer of Norwegian nu jazz, reassert and stretch the temple that he laid down on previous outings such as Sharing. That...

Miles ... Gurtu Robert Miles & Trilok Gurtu.
April 3, 2004... Miles... Gurtu Robert Miles & Trilok Gurtu (Salt SALTCD011) Producer-musician collaborations have varying artistic success rates, but producer/DJ/programmer Robert Miles and drummer/ percussionist Trilok Gurtu found no such problems with...

Naxos releases Genesis star's CD.(Classical)
April 3, 2004... Naxos has attracted a list of names to its 21st Century Classics series which includes such stalwart contemporary composers as James Macmillan, Michael Torke and John Tavener. Several of its titles have drawn positive critical reaction, if not...

Jenkins makes premiere on UCJ.(Classical)
April 3, 2004... Universal Classics and Jazz is looking to Katherine Jenkins to win over the crossover classical market with the April 19 release of her debut disc, Premiere. The 23-year-old Welsh mezzo-soprano signed a six album deal, worth 200,000...

Rachmaninov Liturgy of St John Chrysostom.
April 3, 2004... Rachmaninov Liturgy Of St John Chrysostom. Choir of Kinq's College. Cambridge (EMI Classics 5 57677 2) The choral traditions of Russian Orthodoxy and high Anglicanism have already coalesced under the fan-vaulted roof of King's College...

Various The British Cello Phenomenon.
April 3, 2004... Various The British Cello Phenomenon (Cello Classics CC1010 (2CD)) Sebastian Comberti at Cello Classics deserves a Record industry award for the care invested in this "twofer" set devoted to the work of 29 leading British cellists. In addition...

Sibelius Symphonies Nos. 3 & 7.
April 3, 2004... Sibelius Symphonies Nos. 3 & 7. LSO/Davis (LSO Live LSO0051) Willie the issue of orchestras producing and releasing their own recordings remains a controversial one among the A&R departments of the major labels, the wider musical world has...

Monteverdi The Sacred Music 2.
April 3, 2004... Monteverdi The Sacred Music 2. The King's Consort/King (Hyperion SACDA67438) While sales of classical SACDs may be slow in taking off, it makes striking artistic sense for Hyperion to issue Robert King's impressive new Monteverdi series in...

Monteverdi. L'Orfeo.
April 3, 2004... Monteverdi. L'Orfeo. Bostridge, Ciofi, Coote, Dessay, etc. Le Concerts d'Astree/Haim (Virgin Veritas 5 45642 2 (2CD)) French early music specialist Emmanuelle Haim has risen from the ranks as continue player to become one of the busiest...

Schumann Fantasy in C; Kindeszenen; Faschingswank aus Wien. Lill.
April 3, 2004... Schumann Fantasy in C; Kindeszenen; Faschingswank aus Wien. Lill EMI Classics For Pleasure 5858992 This disc, released on EMI's recently-revived budget line, marks the 60th birthday of the UK's leading concert pianist. John Lill has...

Schubert Winterreise.
April 3, 2004... Schubert Winterreise. Kohn, Johnson (Opera Omnia OP3869) Last week's castaway on Radio Four's Desert Island Discs, Ralph Kohn, explores the bleak world of Schubert's song-cycle Winterreise in this new recording with master accompanist...

Nyman Music For Two Pianos.
April 3, 2004... Nyman Music For Two Pianos. The Zoo Duet (Signum 2 SIGCDS06) Released shortly after the composer's 60th birthday, this album from the Zoo Duet presents works that deserve to be better known. Taking a line for a second walk is vintage Nyman,...

Coleridge-Taylor/Dvorak Violin Concerto; Violin Concerto.
April 3, 2004... Coleridge-Taylor/Dvorak Violin Concerto; Violin Concerto Graffin; Johannesburg Philharmonic/Hankinson (Avie AV0044) Samuel Coleridge-Taylor was the first black British composer to achieve fame during his short lifetime, helped by the...

Legal action is the right way to go; large file-sharing uploaders cannot act like distributors and expect not to pay for the music.(Editorial)
April 3, 2004... Nobody in the music business will enjoy declaring war against uploading filesharers. We, at Music Week, like lots of people in the music business, have consistently voiced concern about the prospect of suing consumers. But, let's be...

The anti-file-sharing drive: has BPI got it right?(The Big Question)
April 3, 2004... The BPI has announced plans for an awareness campaign to warn users of file-sharing sites such as KaZaA and its intention to launch civil actions against "serial uploaders"--possibly by the end of the year--if they continue with such activity....

Quickfire: Roxio's Napster UK is one of the services which will spearhead the growth of legitimate download services. MW hears from Roxio chief.(Forum)
April 3, 2004... So will you beat Apple to the UK download market? That depends on which of us launches first. But we don't see it as a race. What is important is coming to market with a service that is fully formed and represents an exciting proposition...

Caroline transformed radio.(Viewpoint)
April 3, 2004... On the 40th anniversary of Radio Caroline's launch (yesterday), it is very hard to clearly understand now just what a huge change happened in 1964 when Caroline came on. Until that time there really was nowhere to hear the records you wanted to...

MPs approve of BPI initiative too.(Dooley's Diary)
April 3, 2004... Remember where you heard it: Support for the BPI's anti file-sharing action is coming from all over the place Parliamentary questions last Thursday saw Cardiff West Labour MP Kevin Brennan a member of the parliamentary rock group MP4--call for...

Last Thursday saw Peter Andre sign a new record deal with East West Records.(Diary)
April 3, 2004... Last Thursday saw Peter Andre sign a new record deal with East West Records. The deal follows the re-release of his single Mysterious Girl, which reached number one following his appearance on TV show I'm A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here!. The...

Key releases.(Datafile: Britain's most comprehensive charts service)
April 3, 2004... ALBUMS THIS WEEK Anastacia Anastacia (Epic); The Divine Comedy Absent Friends (Parlophone): Janet Jackson Admit Jo (Jackson); Phoenix Alphabetical (Source); Aero smith Honkin's On Bobo (Columbia); The Wildhearts The Wildhearts (Gut)...

Usher takes top spot from George.(The Market)
April 3, 2004... The only Sony album to record a weekly sale of above a quarter of a million in the 21st Century, George Michael's Patience's opening sales tally of 275,000 was achieved thanks to a double whammy of pent-up demand for a new album from Michael...

Market indicators.(The Market)
April 3, 2004... MARKET INDICATORS SINGLES Sales versus last week: -11.0% Year to date versus last year: -15.5% Market shares RCA:Arista 18.7% Virgin 14.3% Sony 12.1% East West 10.1%...

Fast chart.(Datafile: Britain's most comprehensive charts service)
April 3, 2004... SINGLES NUMBER ONE USHER YEAH! Arista Usher is the first artist to have simultaneous number one single and album since Will Young last December. ARTIST ALBUMS NUMBER ONE USHER CONFESSIONS Arista Making a habit...

Last blast for the Kittens; a creative campaign is ensuring blanket media coverage for the Kittens' greatest hits set.(The Plot)
April 3, 2004... ATOMIC KITTEN SOMEBODY LIKE ME/RIGHT NOW (INNOCENT) As of March 11, Atomic Kitten were no longer together as a working unit. But that has not stopped the group's team putting together a strong campaign for the current single (released this...

The 411.(Snapshot)
April 3, 2004... New urban girl group The 411 are beginning to pick up early specialist spins for their forthcoming debut single On My Knees. Although not released commercially until May 17, the track is already being supported on 1Xtra, Choice FM, Galaxy...

Tipsters: a selection of UK tastemakers select their favourite upcoming releases.(Upfront)
April 3, 2004... Dorian Lynskey, music critic, The Big Issue THE STREETS A GRAND DON'T COME FOR FREE (679 RECORDINGS) "Sonically, it's pretty much the same palette as before, but Mike Skinner has moved the lyric on. The whole album is like a story, not...

Radio playlists.(Upfront)
April 3, 2004... RADIO 1 A LIST 50 Cent If I Can't: Basement Jaxx Plug It In: Black Eyed Peas Hey Mama; Blink 182 I Miss You; Britney Spears Toxic; D-12 My Band: Dido Don't Leave Home; Eamon F**k It (I Don't Want You Back); Franz Ferdinand MaRnee;...

Top 10 radio growers.(Upfront)
April 3, 2004... Adds BIG CITY Anastacia Left Outside Alone; Twista Slow Jamz; GALAXY Boogie Pimps Sunny; D-12 My Band; Eamon F*** It (I Don't Want You Back); Special D Come With Me; KISS FM Kegs Trick Me; THE MIX Blue Breathe Easy;...

TV airplay chart: Britney Spears retains the top spot, while artists such as D-12, Beyonce and The Streets make huge gains.(Airplay TV)
April 3, 2004... TV Airplay Chart This Last Week Week Artist Title Label Plays 1 1 BRITNEY SPEARS TOXIC JIVE 509 2 3 SUGABABES IN THE MIDDLE ...

The UK radio airplay chart: massive support from Radio Two pushes George Michael's Amazing to the top of the airplay chart. Also exploding are The Rasmus and Maroon 5.(Airplay Radio)
April 3, 2004... RADIO ONE This Last ARTIST TITLE Label Plays: Last this Audience 1 4 OUTKAST FEAT. SLEEPY BROWN THE WAY YOU MOVE ARISTA 30 30 19734 1 7 BLACK EYED PEAS HEY...

In-store next week.(Cued up)
April 3, 2004... Single--Albums--Atomic Kitten, Now! 57; Special D; In-store--Anastacia, Now! 57, Joss Stone, Norah Jones, Michael Buble, Janet Jackson, Music DVB, Abba Gold, Love Bites & Late Nights, Delays Listening posts--Classic FM Great Composers,...