Music Week articles from August 2007

Music Week archives from August 2007

Beggars can't be losers in Rough Trade swoop.
August 4, 2007... Everyone's a winner as Rough Trade stays independent and Beggars picks up an #800k bargain by Ben Cardew The Beggars Group is this week getting to grips with a historic deal which ensures that one of Britain's most iconic indie labels...

IN BRIEF: Chief to leave BMG Publishing.
August 4, 2007... BMG Music Publishing UK chairman Paul Curran is to leave the company at the end of the month, following its buy-out by rival Universal Music Publishing. Curran has served in his current position since 2005. Copyright: CMP Information Ltd.

IN BRIEF: EMI Music appointment.
August 4, 2007... EMI Music has appointed Microsoft's M Paramasivam as vice president of technology for its global digital team. Paramasivam will be responsible for all technological aspects of EMI's digital partnerships. Copyright: CMP Information Ltd.

IN BRIEF: Universal Music Publishing Group appointments.
August 4, 2007... Universal Music Publishing Group has put in place a series of senior appointments covering the company's integrated operations in Australia, South Africa, Japan, Turkey, India and Southeast Asia, after winning regulatory approval for its...

IN BRIEF: Buju Banton to sign pledge.
August 4, 2007... Gay rights campaign group Stop Murder Music has persuaded reggae star Buju Banton to sign a pledge agreeing not to make homophobic statements in public, release new songs with homophobic lyrics or allow the re- release of homophobic songs. ...

IN BRIEF: Ron Miller dies.
August 4, 2007... Songwriter Ron Miller, whose credits include the Diana Ross hit Touch Me In The Morning and the Stevie Wonder-recorded For Once In My Life, died last Monday aged 74 following a heart attack. Copyright: CMP Information Ltd.

IN BRIEF: Last.fm answers royalty claims.
August 4, 2007... Last.fm has hit back at reports criticising it for a contractual clause in which it asks indie artists to grant the company "a royalty-free licence" to broadcast music. Several online news reports suggest the clause means independent artists...

IN BRIEF: Rewriting of chart rules.
August 4, 2007... The Official Charts Company has overseen a rewriting of the chart rules so labels will no longer be penalised for including a current Top 40 hit as a B-side on a follow-up release. Copyright: CMP Information Ltd.

IN BRIEF: Led Zeppelin to reunite.
August 4, 2007... After years of speculation, the surviving members of Led Zeppelin look set to reunite, as Warner readies a new 24-track best of album by the British rock group. Music Week understands that discussions are taking place between Robert Plant,...

IN BRIEF: Digital Music Survey.
August 4, 2007... The 2007 Digital Music Survey, published today (Monday) by Entertainment Media Research and law firm Olswang, indicates massive increases over the last 12 months in usage of sites containing music such as YouTube (up 310% to 53%) and MySpace...

IN BRIEF: Deisel-U-Music Awards 2007.
August 4, 2007... Stefan & The Artschool, The Steers and Get Shakes will represent Great Britain in the Diesel-U-Music Awards 2007, after winning the UK leg of the new talent competition. Copyright: CMP Information Ltd.

IN BRIEF: MyStage launched.
August 4, 2007... Independent music portal VirtualFestivals.com has launched MyStage, a user-generated content platform within the Virtual Festivals website that allows fans to upload and share their own videos, photos and blogs. Copyright: CMP Information...

IN BRIEF: Emap hints at asset reshuffle.
August 4, 2007... Emap says some or all of its businesses could be demerged or sold after receiving "various unsolicited proposals" for parts of the group. As a result of these proposals, it says it is undertaking a review of Emap's group structure and portfolio...

IN BRIEF: BPI welcomes court judgment.
August 4, 2007... The BPI has welcomed a court judgment delivered against Wendy Fair Markets Ltd, which was found guilty of benefiting financially from the illegal sale of counterfeit DVDs, CDs and computer software at Hemel Hempstead's Bovingdon Market. ...

IN BRIEF: Government recognise importance of intellectual property.
August 4, 2007... Culture, Creative Industries and Tourism Minister Margate Hodge told the Musicians' Union conference last week that the Government recognised the importance of intellectual property and copyright, just as Gordon Brown's team rejected supporting...

IN BRIEF: Vivendi results.
August 4, 2007... Vivendi has posted a first-half revenue increase of E10.2bn (#6.83bn), up 6.4% on 2006, although revenues at Universal Music Group have declined 4.9%, owing to "adverse currency movements" and a tough market. Copyright: CMP Information...

IN BRIEF: Sony BMG results.
August 4, 2007... Sony BMG has posted a net income of $21m (#10.2m) for the quarter, compared to a loss of $81m (#39.5m) for the same period of last year, despite sales remaining largely static, thanks to lower marketing and overhead costs. Copyright: CMP...

IN BRIEF: Julie's Bicycle survey.
August 4, 2007... Music industry environmental initiative Julie's Bicycle (www.juliesbicycle.com) is looking for responses to two surveys as part of a study by Oxford University's Environmental Change Institute into the industry's carbon footprint. ...

IN BRIEF: PPL in landmark royalty deal.
August 4, 2007... PPL has signed a reciprocal deal with its French equivalent, paving the way for featured performers in both markets to receive additional public performance royalties. Copyright: CMP Information Ltd.

IN BRIEF: strike3pr and J2PR come together.
August 4, 2007... PR companies strike3pr and J2PR have come together under the J2PR banner. Jamie Stockwood will head the new operation which boasts a roster including Underworld, The Dykeenies and O2 Undiscovered. Copyright: CMP Information Ltd.

IN BRIEF: MusicMeetsBrands conference.
August 4, 2007... Music Week TV returned last week with the broadcast of a film chronicling the events of the MusicMeetsBrands conference two weeks ago. The film, which is available to view at Musicweek.com, features interviews with speakers including AEG's...

Beggars puts Rough Trade back on track.
August 4, 2007... After buying a 49% share of Rough Trade, Beggars boss is confident label will return to profit by Ben Cardew Beggars Group chairman Martin Mills is confident that he can return Rough Trade to profitability, after his company completed...

MW combines conference and Vodafone Live Music Awards.
August 4, 2007... Further details have been announced for Music Week's Live And Direct 2007 conference, in association with Vodafone Live. The conference will take place on September 19, the same day as the Vodafone Live Music Awards 2007, with every...

THE PLAYLIST: 04.08.07.
August 4, 2007... TELLISON Contact! Contact! (Gravity Dip) Their debut album may be on a small indie, but this band has real commercial promise. Don't let this pass you by. (album, out now) APOCALYPTICA I'm Not Jesus (Epic) A masterstroke...

It's make or break for Terra Firma's EMI bid.
August 4, 2007... Risk of freefalling shares if company takeover bid fails by Robert Ashton EMI is expected to be in the hands of Terra Firma today (Monday) or its shares will be in freefall and the group a possible target for Warner Music again. ...

SNAP SHOT: JOSE GONZALEZ.
August 4, 2007... Jose Gonzalez will perform an intimate, invitation-only show at Kent's Chislehurst Caves next month, where he will debut material from his forthcoming second album In Our Nature. Independent label Peacefrog, which reached platinum status in...

Farewell to industry legend Don Arden, the "Al Capone of pop".
August 4, 2007... Don Arden's reputation may have been built on such infamous incidents as dangling fellow artist manager Robert Stigwood out of a building, but to some who closely worked with and knew him he is fondly remembered as a "lovable rogue" and...

C4 explores Freeview options.
August 4, 2007... Emap and Channel 4's music TV joint venture is to examine the possibility of launching video on demand through Freeview, according to one of the guiding forces behind the deal. Emap last week sold 50% of its music TV business Box Television...

Potts to plot global success.
August 4, 2007... YouTube popularity hints at global potential for TV talent show winner by Paul Williams Somebody once observed that international interest in UK reality TV show winners stopped as soon as the ferry left Dover. For all their...

Where it all went wrong.
August 4, 2007... The Government has - in the words of MU general secretary John Smith - given the industry "a slap in the face". Senior executives now concede they need to look at how they engaged with government on the term issue and see what lessons can...

Continental campaign on the cards for copyright lobby.
August 4, 2007... With the Government abiding by Gowers, copyright fight moves abroad by Robert Ashton Germany, France or one other European country may now hold the key to extending copyright term after the UK Government slammed the door on the music...

Europe is where the decision finally lies.
August 4, 2007... Select Committee chairman John Whittingdale gives his reaction to the Government's response to his inquiry into new media and the creative industries. How do you feel? Well, it's what I expected. Is it? Yes, I think Shaun...

RADIO DIGEST: Chrysalis in global talks.
August 4, 2007... Chrysalis Group is holding an extraordinary general meeting at its West London headquarters at 12 noon today (Monday) to oversee the proposed disposal of Chrysalis Radio to Global Radio for #170m. Copyright: CMP Information Ltd.

RADIO DIGEST: GCap sales figures.
August 4, 2007... GCap has issued an encouraging set of projected sales figures for July with total revenue for the month expected to rise by 16% year-on-year. The radio owner also forecast in an interim statement issued to tie-in with last Thursday's AGM that...

RADIO DIGEST: Hugh Panero exiting his post.
August 4, 2007... Hugh Panero is exiting his post as CEO of US satellite radio operator XM as the company he co-founded awaits approve for a merger with rival Sirius Radio. The company's president and COO Nate Davis will oversee Panero's responsibilities on an...

RADIO DIGEST: Xfm and Oxfam teaming up.
August 4, 2007... GCap-owned Xfm and Oxfam are teaming up with youth volunteering charity V to give #50,000 to young people to help them put on events for the Oxjam festival this October. Copyright: CMP Information Ltd.

RADIO DIGEST: Cumulus Media portfolio.
August 4, 2007... Cumulus Media, whose portfolio of more than 300 radio stations makes it the second-biggest US radio owner, is planning to go private in a $1.3bn (#0.63bn) led by the group's chief executive Lewis Dickey and Merrill Lynch Global Private Equity....

RADIO DIGEST: Portsmuth Football Club 26% stake.
August 4, 2007... Portsmouth Football Club is buying a 26% stake in three radio stations owned by The Local Radio Company in a #1m deal. TLRC will retain a 74% share in stations The Quay in Portsmouth, Chichester-based Spirit FM and Isle of Wight Radio as part...

RADIO: GCap seeks alchemy with 25 stations creating Gold.
August 4, 2007... Network goes for "authenticity" with centralised classic hits station by Paul Williams GCap is reaching out to the music industry to help to boost back catalogue sales, with the launch of its new national classic hits network. ...

RADIO: GMG invests to give content variety a boost.
August 4, 2007... GMG Radio is opening up a new route for labels to promote their acts on air after agreeing to invest #1m in new programming commissions. The new fund is being made available to the likes of independent production companies and internet...

PR & PLUGGING: Pulling the plug?
August 4, 2007... With services such as Last.fm flourishing and Xfm removing DJs from its daytime programming, is the role of radio promotions changing? Music Week assembled a panel of six experts to discuss the future of plugging Enduring love: The Ramones...

Pluggers' CVs.
August 4, 2007... Chris Hession, National Radio Plugger, Fleming & Connolly Hession worked at BBC Birmingham in 2004 and then studied Music Production. He moved back to the BBC to work with Janice Long at Radio 2 as studio assistant, who recommended him to...

Wonder stuff rules the airwaves for Maroon 5.
August 4, 2007... After 13 weeks on the radio airplay chart in the second quarter, Maroon 5's Makes Me Wonder has attracted the highest number of listeners despite being played 8,176 less times than it's close second-placed rival The Sweet Escape by Gwen Stefani...

Brown and co play the same old tune.
August 4, 2007... The music industry takes stock as the new Brown Government upholds the Gowers findings Gordon Brown's new Government had a perfect opportunity to indicate that the superficial years of Blair spin were over. But last week they threw it...

Beggars Group bargain.
August 4, 2007... In snapping up Rough Trade for #800,000 last week, Beggars Group has surely secured itself a bargain. In an era when football clubs across the country are regularly snapped up by speculators with a few million quid in their pocket and the taste...

Take the weather with you... please!
August 4, 2007... Crib Sheet The recent severe flooding that has ravaged properties across the UK also hit the music industry, with premises flooded and retailers suffering a downturn in trade. Floody hell! Quite. So what's the damage? In...

Publish and be damned? Why Prince chose The Mail.
August 4, 2007... As Prince gears up for the start of his tour, his advisor Paul Gongaware explains why the artist chose to release his new album as a covermount Quickfire As Prince prepares for the start this week of his 21-date residency at The O2...

FAST CHART: 04.08.07.
August 4, 2007... SINGLES NUMBER ONE: TIMBALAND FEAT. KERI HILSON & DOE The Way I Are (Interscope) The physical release of The Way I Are helps Timbaland's latest to increase sales by 66.8% week-on-week to 33,578, beating the 27,891 copies predecessor...

Now! boosts compilation chart.
August 4, 2007... While the singles chart title changes hands again after a 10-week freeze, the artist album chart has its first repeat champion for eight weeks as Paul Potts completes an easy second week at number one with his debut album One Chance. Ineligible...

THE SCHEDULE - 04.08.07: Albums.
August 4, 2007... This week Korn Untitled (Virgin); Newton Faulkner Handbuilt By Robots (RCA); Amy Macdonald This Is The Life (Mercury); Pretty Ricky Late Night Special (Atlantic); Good Books Control (Columbia); Garbage Absolute Garbage (Warner Bros); Ocean...

THE SCHEDULE - 04.08.07: Singles.
August 4, 2007... This week The Fray Look After You (RCA); Amerie Gotta Work (RCA); Beyonce Green Light (Columbia); Akon Mama Africa (Island); Prince Chelsea Rogers (Columbia); Paul Weller/Graham Coxon This Old Town (Parlophone) August 6 Sophie...

THE SCHEDULE - 04.08.07: NEW ADDITION.
August 4, 2007... Joni Mitchell releases a new album on September 24 via Starbucks' Hear Music label. Shine follows Paul McCartney's Memory Almost Full as the label's second album and is one of three new projects to be launched by Mitchell this year. Two of the...

Dusting off the old T-Shirts.
August 4, 2007... Angel Music Group expects big things from US act after their homeland success. PLAIN WHITE T'S: Every second counts (angel) Angel Music Group is to reissue Plain White T's' major label debut almost a year since its first release,...

UPFRONT - 04.08.07: TASTEMAKERS TIPS.(Sound recording review)
August 4, 2007... Manu Chao La Radiolina (Because Music) Nigel Williamson, Uncut "Chao's 1998 solo debut Clandestino sold 4m copies around the world, but precious few of those were in the UK. His first full studio album in six years should finally...

The Insider: Virgin Retail.(Website overview)
August 4, 2007... Virgin Retail is looking to give a lift to its online offering with the relaunch of virginmega-stores.co.uk, creating a destination site for its customer base and driving online sales activity. Based on a completely new platform, the...

Happy cycling with Rabbit, Fox, Tiger, Bear and Bat (For Lashes).
August 4, 2007... Dougal Wilson's promo for Bat For Lashes' latest single What's A Girl To Do will surely enhance Natasha Khan's image as a curious creature. Based on a brief written by Khan herself, the video opens with the singer cycling down a dark,...

Upfront - 04.08.07: Radio playlists.
August 4, 2007... Radio 1 A list Amerie Gotta Work; Amy Winehouse Tears Dry On Their Own; Arctic Monkeys Fluorescent Adolescent; Avril Lavigne When You're Gone; Axwell I Found You; Beyonce Green Light; David Guetta feat. Chris Willis Love Is Gone; Fall...

UPFRONT - 04.08.07: IN-STORE NEXT WEEK.
August 4, 2007... ASDA Instore: Kate Nash, Rodrigruez Y Gabriella, The Coral, Amy Macdonald, Prince, Cortez. BORDERS Instore: The Thrills, Saturday Sessions: The Dermot O'Leart Show, Now! 67, Sum 41, Garbage, Cream Summer 2007 CWNN ...

Upfront - 04.08.07: My Top 10 - DJ Guy.
August 4, 2007... DJ GUY DJ/label owner, Global Fire, London 1. Various Dress 2 Sweat Vol. 1 (Dress 2 Sweat) 2. Ayres & Tittsworth Ultimate T&A EP (T&A) 3. Twista feat. Pharrell Give It Up (Dikulous Bmore Remix) (white label) 4. DJ Deeon Ltd...

Upfront Reviews - 13.08.07: Also out this week.
August 4, 2007... Singles Shayne Ward: If That's OK With You (RCA); Simone White: The American War (Parlophone) Albums Mother And The Addicts: Science Fiction Illustrated (Chemikal Underground); Luke Toms: The Forever House (Universal) ...

Upfront Reviews - 13.08.07: SINGLE of the week.
August 4, 2007... Hard Fi Suburban Knights Necessary/Atlantic LC01557 Playlisted at Radio One, Radio 2, Capital and Xfm, Hard Fi's new single is the anthemic return that this band needed to deliver. Kicking straight into a pulsating groove that...

Upfront Reviews - 13.08.07: ALBUM of the week.
August 4, 2007... Robyn Robyn Konichiwa/Island KORCD005 After a low key release on Robyn's own label, Konichiwa, the Scandinavian's boundary pushing collection of pop songs is set for a re- release in the UK following the conclusion of a new JV...

Upfront Reviews - 13.08.07: Singles.
August 4, 2007... Animal Collective Peacebone (Domino RUG262T/D) Animal Collective may have upped sticks to the relatively larger platform at Domino, but they haven't let that dilute their hysterical pop appeal. Peacebone, a taster from forthcoming...

Upfront Reviews - 13.08.07: Albums.
August 4, 2007... Architecture In Helsinki Places Like This (Tailem Bend TBD004) "Musical chameleons" says the press release, and indeed it seems that six-piece Aussies AiH have all brought something different to the party. Most noticeable is songwriter...

TV AIRPLAY CHART - 04.08.07: ON THE BOX THIS WEEK.
August 4, 2007... CD:UK BBC Proms 2007 (Mon-Sun) BBC4 Sessions: Ryan Adams (Fri) ITV In Profile: Doves, Good Charlotte (Tues) Channel Four Star Stories: Take That (Mon); Bow Selecter: Dizzee Rascal (Mon) iTunes Festival:...

TV Airplay Chart - 04.08.07: Kanye West.
August 4, 2007... Shot in Japan and featuring cameo performances from Cassie and Daft Punk - whose hit Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger it samples - Kanye West's video for Stronger tops the TV airplay chart. Completing its 3-2- 1 climb, the track was aired 371...

TV Airplay Chart - 04.08.07: Rihanna.
August 4, 2007... After 11 weeks in the Top 10 of the TV airplay chart, Umbrella dips 4- 14 this week but is replaced in the top tier by follow-up Shut Up And Drive, which rockets 46-3, with 352 airings from 13 supporters for the clip, wherein Rihanna stars as a...

Airplay Radio - 04.08.07: Fergie.
August 4, 2007... Fergie's debut solo album The Dutchess has sold more than 2.5m copies in the US, but has performed noticeably less well in the UK, with sales to date of little more than 100,000, not least because radio support for its first two singles was...

Airplay Radio - 04.08.07: KT Tunstall.
August 4, 2007... KT Tunstall had five Top 10 airplay hits from debut album Eye To The Telescope, and is within an ace of scoring a sixth with Hold On, the lead-off single from follow-up album Drastic Plastic. Hold On has moved 106-32-13 in the last fortnight,...

Airplay Radio - 04.08.07: James Blunt.
August 4, 2007... 1973 will be the first single from All The Lost Souls, Blunt's follow- up to his 3m selling debut album Back To Bedlam. It was on schedule for a dramatic debut on the airplay chart, ranking as high as number nine in a midweek version of the...

Airplay Radio - 04.08.07: Richard Hawley.
August 4, 2007... Hawley has never made even the Top 60 of the singles sales chart but secured his third Top 30 airplay hit with current single Tonight The Streets Are Ours, which soared to number 20 last week, but now falls to number 36. Hawley is a great...

AIRPLAY RADIO - 04.08.07: ON THE RADIO THIS WEEK.
August 4, 2007... RADIO ONE Jo Whiley Record Of The Week - Plain White T's: Hey There Delilah Edith Bowman Record Of The Week - KT Tunstall: Hold On Scott Mills Record Of The Week - Scouting For Girls: She's So Lovely Sarah Cox Record Of The...

New releases - 04.08.07: REVIEWS DVD.
August 4, 2007... The Rolling Stones The Biggest Bang (Rolling Stones/Universal 75022) The Rolling Stones' A Bigger Bang is the highest-grossing concert tour of all time so, naturally, it deserves one of the most ambitious and comprehensive DVD releases...

Singles - 04.08.07: Timbaland.
August 4, 2007... Timbaland co-wrote and co-produced maiden number one singles for Nelly Furtado (Maneater) and Justin Timberlake (SexyBack) last year, and the pair showed their appreciation by adding their vocals to Give It To Me, which gave Timbaland his first...

Singles - 04.08.07: Rihanna.
August 4, 2007... The reign is over for the soundtrack to a sodden summer: Rihanna's Umbrella retreats 1-3 despite sales increasing to 22,645. Rihanna thus equals but fails to beat the all-time female record of 10 weeks at number one set by Whitney Houston's I...

Singles - 04.08.07: Manic Street Preachers.
August 4, 2007... Shooting for their fourth straight number two single, the Manic Street Preachers fall short with Autumnsong, which debuts at number 10 on sales of 9,764, and is unlikely to climb higher, having been fully released physically and on download....

Singles - 04.08.07: Newton Faulkner.
August 4, 2007... His first band was a Green Day covers band but now Newton Faulkner takes on and beats his former heroes, debuting at number 16 with debut hit Dream Catch Me (7,212 sales) three notches ahead of Green Day's cover of The Simpsons' Theme. Faulkner...

Albums - 04.08.07: Garbage.
August 4, 2007... Tell Me Where It Hurts, the only new track on Garbage's hits compilation, peaked at number 50 but the album itself fares much better, debuting at number 11 on sales of 13,372. Aiming to become the band's fifth Top 10 album, it must be fancied...

Singles - 04.08.07: My Chemical Romance.
August 4, 2007... Teenagers is the fourth Top 20 single from My Chemical Romance's album, The Black Parade, and continues its slow decline, falling 9-10-12 in the last fortnight. Meanwhile, the album, which debuted and peaked at number two last November, is in...

Singles - 04.08.07: Sum 41.
August 4, 2007... Canadian rockers Sum 41 hit the ground running with their first full- length album, All Killer, No Filler, which generated a trio of hit singles, and climbed to number seven, selling 534,797 copies. They haven't managed to match that since, and...

Singles - 04.08.07: The Thrills.
August 4, 2007... Despite excellent radio support, particularly from Radio Two and Xfm, Irish band The Thrills' new single Nothing Changes Round Here peaked at number 40 last week. It's the first single from the band's third album Teenager, which also makes a...

Tunstall first up for Terra Firma.
August 11, 2007... KT Tunstall's second studio album will be among the first key new releases EMI will be handling in the wake up of the Terra Firma takeover. The follow-up to her 4m-selling debut Eye To The Telescope will be released via the Relentless...

EMI waits on Firma funding.
August 11, 2007... Bankers yet to complete #2.4bn deal By Robert Ashton EMI Group and Terra Firma face a nailbiting few weeks before making their #2.4bn deal wholly unconditional as concerns linger over the funding of it. Some analysts have raised...

Nicoli embraces brave new world.
August 11, 2007... Deal is best way forward, says EMI CEO EMI Group CEO Eric Nicoli is convinced moving into private ownership represents the best way forward for the UK major. "We are a business undergoing massive change and private ownership will give...