Music Week articles from December 2005

Music Week archives from December 2005

Playing by their own set of rules.(THE DIY ISSUE)
December 3, 2005... Welcome to Music Week's DIY Issue. Over the next 10 pages, we will examine the implications of one of the key developments of 2005, the most significant back-to-basics movement since the late Seventies. We talk to artists, managers and...

Akira The Don turns to the net.(THE DIY ISSUE)
December 3, 2005... Despite signing a six-album US deal with Interscope and working with such luminaries as Danny Saber and Nine Inch Nails engineer James Brown, Akira The Don (aka former journalist Adam Alphabet) says he owes his career to an independent will and...

Eden goes it alone after retail coup.(DIY: the analysis)
December 3, 2005... Since tracks from her self-produced album My Open Eye were played by Michael Parkinson, Joanna Eden's manager Neil Watson has made good use of local and national media to build the singer-songwriter's career. Badgering branches of Waitrose and...

The DIY playlist.(DIY: the analysis)
December 3, 2005... AKIRA THE DON Clones (Something In Construction) His incredibly dedicated fanbase is helping provoke strong radio play on Radio One (single, Nov 28) NIZLOPI JCB Song (FDM) The underdog of 2005, Nizlopi are now playlisted by...

Akoustik Anarky gets organised.(DIY: the analysis)
December 3, 2005... Akoustik Anarky started out as a night in Manchester promoting local bands, which saw the likes of Nine Black Alps playing early gigs. It has now developed into a thriving label with a roster including Loose Canon (pictured), Autokat and The...

DIY music finds fresh routes to the marketplace: although the internet is vital for most artists taking the DIY route, physical retail remains crucial to any artists looking to reach their audience and find a route to market.(THE DIY ISSUE)
December 3, 2005... For anyone trying to sell their music without the safety net of an established label, reaching a willing audience is perhaps the greatest challenge. What remains crucial--even in this new era of direct delivery, across telephone wires and...

Nizlopi go their own way for Xmas push.(DIY: going to market)
December 3, 2005... Currently enjoying a huge public profile through interest in their Christmas single, JCB Song, and its animated video, Luke Concannon and John Parker actually released their debut album two and a half years ago on their own label, FDM Records....

The Dualers' DIY hit leads to Pinnacle link.(DIY: going to market)
December 3, 2005... The Dualers' debut single, Kiss On The Lips, charted at number 21 in October 2004 without the help of a record label, distributor or management. Playing as buskers, they claim to have sold 35,000 copies of their two homemade CDs on the streets...

DIY: the round table.
December 3, 2005... EMMA ANDERSON & LISA O'NEILL, SING-SING Formed in 1998, Emma Anderson (previously of 4AD signings Lush) and Lisa O'Neill had already released singles on Bella Union, Fierce Panda and Sanctuary before their debut 2001 album was issued on...

The artists who are doing it for themselves.(THE DIY ISSUE)
December 3, 2005... The press has said plenty about DIY music, but what do the those who are doing it for themselves really think? To find out, Music Week held a round-table discussion at the Arts Club in Mayfair with 11 artists from across the genres--from rising...

Who's who on the cover.(DIY: the round table)
December 3, 2005... 1. Ras Kwame; Jaz (Kray Twinz); 3. Rick Parkhouse; 4. Jat (Kray Twinz); 5. David Ford; 6. Emma Anderson (Sing-Sing); 7. Lisa O'Neill (Sing-Sing); 8. Sway; 9. Imogen Heap; 10. Steven Lindsay; 11. Mark Kelly [ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED]

Warner settles payola probe.(Bottom line)
December 3, 2005... Warner Music US has reached a settlement agreement with attorney general Eliot Spitzer over his payola probe and has agreed to abandon the practice of providing radio stations with incentives for airplay. It is the second settlement to be...

Terrorism.(Bottom line)
December 3, 2005... The UK music industry has been accused by civil rights groups of trying to hijack European legislation aimed at trying to prevent terrorism. The legislation in question aims to force telecommunication companies and ISPs to make available data...

Kazaa.(Bottom line)
December 3, 2005... Kazaa was last week told to filter copyrighted music from its system within 10 days or close. Under the new order, which comes two months after Kazaa was ruled in breach of copyright by the Federal Court of Australia, the company has until...

Sony BMG.(Bottom line)
December 3, 2005... Sony BMG is preparing to face legal action over its copy-protection technology, after Texas attorney general Greg Abbott filed a civil lawsuit against the major label group. Abbott is seeking in excess of $100,000 per violation of the state's...

V2 North America.(Bottom line)
December 3, 2005... Reports in the US suggest that V2 North America has been sold after weeks of speculation to Sheridan Square Entertainment in a deal worth between $10m to $15m. Under the terms of the deal, Sheridan Square will continue to use the V2 brand name,...

Endemol.(Bottom line)
December 3, 2005... Shares in Dutch media group Endemol started trading on the Amsterdam stock exchange last week following the sale of nearly a quarter of the company's shares by Spanish parent Telefonica. Telefonica has sold 22.3% of Endemol, whose UK arm owns...

Gesac.(Bottom line)
December 3, 2005... The European music publishers and composers society Gesac has established a working group to formulate a "one-stop model" for cross-border collection of online royalties. The move follows the EC's proposal in October to shake up the way online...

War Child.(Bottom line)
December 3, 2005... War Child is to stage a charity auction at the Sony Ericsson Proud Gallery in London on Wednesday to celebrate the success of the recent A Day In The Life album and to raise more money for the charity. Going under the hammer will be exclusive...

Idlewild.(Bottom line)
December 3, 2005... Scottish guitar band Idlewild have parted company with Parlophone after more than eight years and four albums. The band had completed their contract with the label and the two sides agreed mutually not to renew.

Abbey Road Studios.(Bottom line)
December 3, 2005... Abbey Road Studios last Friday hosted a concert to record a series of music DVDs set for release next year featuring a new generation of musicians. The DVDs, titled the Abbey Road Sessions, will showcase artists from every genre of popular...

Gig cancelled over safety.(Exposure)
December 3, 2005... Academy Music Group was last week forced to cancel a show by The Bravery at its newly-opened Newcastle venue due to safety concerns about the sprung floor. The decision followed an incident the previous night in which an Ian Brown show had to...

The Prodigy.(Exposure)
December 3, 2005... The Prodigy will open next year's Solo-organised Isle of Wight festival with a main stage headline performance on Friday, June 9. The Nokia-sponsored event will celebrate its fifth birthday next year and will run until Sunday, June 11, at...

Coldplay.(Exposure)
December 3, 2005... Coldplay have begun selling tickets on an official auction website in a bid to prevent fans from having to revert to sites such as eBay, where tickets may be overpriced or not genuine. To address the problem, the band have given a number of...

Nokia and RealNetworks have unveiled a series of online radio stations featuring acts showcased by this year's Nokia Raw programme.(Exposure)
December 3, 2005... Nokia and RealNetworks have unveiled a series of online radio stations featuring acts showcased by this year's Nokia Raw programme. Events such as the Nokia Unleashed Music Festival and Nokia RAW at the Carling Reading and Leeds Weekend will...

Digital radio.(Exposure)
December 3, 2005... For the first time, more people are now listening to digital radio via portable radios than on digital TV and computers, according to a new Rajar survey. The survey into "listening via platform", which was conducted in August and September,...

Kate Bush.(Exposure)
December 3, 2005... Kate Bush's 1989 EMI track This Woman's Work has entered the Top 10 of the download chart on the back of an appearance in a TV ad for the NSPCC.

Top honour for Later's director.(People)
December 3, 2005... Later With Jools Holland co-creator and director Janet Fraser Crook was honoured with the Woman of the Year accolade at an event in aid of last week's Nordoff-Robbins. Also honoured at the event last Wednesday at London's Park Lane Hotel was...

Music Week online poll.(Digest)
December 3, 2005... Welcome to the Music Week poll. To vote, simply visit our website at musicweek.com and click on the poll link. This week we ask: In light of Friday's press conference, will the Take That tour still be magic without Robbie? a. Yes ...

As the reunited Take That prepare for their first live dates in more than a decade, the band's best of album is helping Sony BMG set the early pace in the pre-Christmas market.(Digest)
December 3, 2005... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Caption: As the reunited Take That prepare for their first live dates in more than a decade, the band's best of album is helping Sony BMG set the early pace in the pre-Christmas market. The group's Take That: Never...

EMI Classics.(People)
December 3, 2005... Thomas Kaurich has been appointed as head of EMI Classics UK, taking effect from January 2006. Kaurich formerly EMI Classics UK A&R director for EMI Classics international marketing director has been with EMI since September 1997 and was...

Scotland Tartan Clef Awards.(People)
December 3, 2005... Midge Ure, Lucie Silvas and Hue & Cry were among the recipients of honours at Scotland Tartan Clef Awards a weekend ago. The awards, which are in support of Nordoff-Robbins Music Therapy, took place at the Radisson SAS in Glasgow. The night was...

Alison Sainsbury-Stack.(People)
December 3, 2005... BT has appointed Alison Sainsbury-Stack, formerly Channel Four's international sales manager as head of programme acquisitions at BT Television Services. She will be responsible for managing the licensing of television programming, movies and...

Nick Mason.(People)
December 3, 2005... Former Warner Music chairman Rob Dickins is to talk to Pink Floyd drummer Nick Mason about the band's influence on the arts at an Inside Out forum tonight (Monday) at London's Cochrane Theatre.

EMI in touch screen launch.(Sign here)
December 3, 2005... EMI is to launch the UK's first broadband touch screen listening posts in independent record shops around the country. The new devices, called Soundscreens, will offer music tracks, videos, artwork and interviews. Unlike traditional listening...

Wippit.(Sign here)
December 3, 2005... Download store Wippit has introduced a facility that allows users to edit a music file, covert it to a Realtone and send it to their mobile phone. The company has added a software interface allowing MP3s to be cut into 30-second clips and...

Winter Wonderland.(Sign here)
December 3, 2005... Richard Ashcroft, Graham Coxon and Kubb have been added to the bill for Xfm's two-night Winter Wonderland event. The three artists will play acoustic sets on December 12 alongside Supergrass, Athlete, The Go! Team and Morning Runner.

Virgin.(Sign here)
December 3, 2005... Virgin has struck an agreement with Telewest which sees Virgin Radio Classic Rock and Virgin Radio Xtreme being broadcast on the cable company's digital platform.

Black music business networking event.(Sign here)
December 3, 2005... A new black music business networking event aimed at encouraging urban music professionals and executives to create new business is set to launch today (Monday) at London's City University. The event, Black Music: Online And On The Move, run by...

The Mobile network 3 and Ministry of Sound are this week expected to unveil details of a MoS-branded mobile phone preloaded with exclusive content from the dance brand.(Sign here)
December 3, 2005... The Mobile network 3 and Ministry of Sound are this week expected to unveil details of a MoS-branded mobile phone preloaded with exclusive content from the dance brand, which will go on sale in December.

GCAP Media half-year results.(News)
December 3, 2005... Revenue 111.6m [pounds sterling] (-10.9%) Operating profit 14.7m [pounds sterling](-26.9%) Group profit before taxation 12.4m [pounds sterling](-28.3%) The above shows headline interim results for six months to September 30 2005 (year-on-year...

Capital gives DJs control of output: station to dramatically cut number of commercials and playlists as part of rescue package.(Radio)
December 3, 2005... Capital FM is to significantly increase its music output and give DJs free play choices in a dramatic relaunch plan, designed to turn around the declining fortunes of the London station. The flagship GCap station will cut by half the number...

Sony sees Red Ink as key to nurturing talent.(News)
December 3, 2005... Sony BMG International is looking to build on the legacy of Sony's Sine operation by rolling out a division handling independently-signed repertoire and the major's own development acts. Red Independent Network (Red Ink), which initially...

Pair must settle differences.(News)
December 3, 2005... Simon Cowell and Simon Fuller are understood to be coming under pressure from their partner media groups to reach an out-of-court settlement over their much-publicised differences. The pair were locked in a complex series of horse-trading...

New generation can lead industry: do it yourself approach may threaten old models, but also offers new opportunities.(EDITORIAL)
December 3, 2005... In many respects, there is nothing new about DIY. The late Seventies punk and new wave explosion which was built on it, created many of the building blocks of today's independent sector, including Rough Trade, Mute, Beggars Group and Vital...

DIY means there is less pressure to compromise.(VIEWPOINT)
December 3, 2005... We recorded our first album, The Neon Handshake, with EMI and the second, Transmit Disrupt, on our own un-named label in the UK. The idea initially was to cut out a lot of the machine stuff between us and our audience. So we did things such...

Could an artist sell 1m records without a label?(The big question)
December 3, 2005... Given the DIY opportunities that now exist for artists, is it possible for a new act to sell a 1m records without signing to a record label? Jon Webster, director of independent member services, BPI "Yes, of course it's going to...

Quickfire: later's Janet Fraser Crook tells Music Week about last week's surprise Woman Of The Year honour, which she collected at the Park Lane Hotel in London.(Forum)(Interview)
December 3, 2005... What does winning this award mean to you? I'm completely chuffed. I join a list of talented women who've achieved so much in what is quite a male-dominated industry. I've worked as a director for 20 years, but this award is the pinnacle of...

Crib sheet.(Forum)
December 3, 2005... Play It Again Sam is going back to basics with the launch of a seven-inch label arm that it hopes will enable it to forge relationships with bands at the development stage of their careers. A label arm for seven-inch vinyl? Isn't the future...

A night for the boys at Wotyas.(DOOLEY'S DIARY)
December 3, 2005... Remember where you heard it: The Woman Of The Year Awards--Dooley prefers to call them the Wotyas, geddit?--settled into its extremely stylish Art Deco home at the Park Lane hotel last Wednesday, a step up from its old quarters at the...

It was a case of Wise by name, wise by nature at last Thursday's Nordoff Robbins Proper Music pop quiz, when a resurgent Wise Buddah/Box Music team shook off last year's one-point defeat to pip a resurgent PPL squad to the post, by a margin of 336 points to 328.(Diary)
December 3, 2005... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Caption: It was a case of Wise by name, wise by nature at last Thursday's Nordoff Robbins Proper Music pop quiz, when a resurgent Wise Buddah/Box Music team shook off last year's one-point defeat to pip a resurgent...

Fast chart.(Datafile: Britain's most comprehensive charts service: Week 48)
December 3, 2005... SINGLES NUMBER ONE MADONNA HUNG UP Warner Bros. Regsitering its third straight week at the top of the chart, Hung Up is Madonna's longest-reigning number one since Vogue managed a four week shut-out in 1990. ARTIST ALBUMS ...

Artist albums up 10%.(The Market)
December 3, 2005... Madonna is the oldest artist to simultaneously top the singles and albums chart with new material, and the 47-year-old continues her reign on both charts this week. Hung Up commands a big lead on the singles chart, where the top three are...

Key indicators.(Datafile: Britain's most comprehensive charts service: Week 48)
December 3, 2005... SINGLES Sales versus last week: -9.9% Year to date versus last year: +50.4% MARKET SHARES Warner 23.9% Universal 21.9% Sony BMG 14.0% EMI 21.1% Others ...

The schedule.(Datafile: Britain's most comprehensive charts service: Week 48)
December 3, 2005... ALBUMS THIS WEEK The Bee Gees Love Songs (Polydor); G4 G4 And Friends (Sony BMG); The Darkness One Way Ticket To Hell... (Atlantic); Ozzy Osbourne Under Covers (Epic); Rufus Wainwright Want (Polydor) DECEMBER 2 Eminem...

Rhymefest will release his debut album, Blue Collar on February 27.(NEW ADDITION)
December 3, 2005... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Caption: Rhymefest will release his debut album, Blue Collar on February 27. Featuring collaborations with Mario, Carl Thomas and the late Old Dirty Bastard, the album will be preceded by lead single Brand New which...

Will Choirboys do a 'Cullum'? Kids cue up Easter and Mother's Day push, as favourable odds for Christmas number one greet Choirboys' album.(The Plot)
December 3, 2005... THE CHOIRBOYS THE CHOIRBOYS (UNIVERSAL CLASSICS & JAZZ) Bishops, cabinet ministers and regional heads of the UK Women's Institute have all been targeted by Universal Classics & Jazz as part of a campaign for the self-titled debut album by...

Mute hatches plan to build on Depeche Mode's overseas success.(Campaign focus)
December 3, 2005... Mute was always expecting that Depeche Mode's first studio album in four years would be strongly received, but its performance globally has been nothing short of exceptional. Playing The Angel secured a first week number one position in 18...

Tastemakers tips.(Upfront)
December 3, 2005... Chris Brown Run It (Jive) ANDREW JEFFRIES, PROGRAMME DIRECTOR, KISS 100 "Watch out for this kid. He's too young to have this much talent. His first single Run It has just knocked Kanye West's Gold Digger off the US number one spot and...

Smooth FM.(THE INSIDER)
December 3, 2005... London's 102.2 Smooth FM is hoping the arrival of David Prever at breakfast will help it to pull off a similar spike in its listening figures as that experienced by its sister station in Manchester. Just 18 months after being rebranded from...

Radio playlists.(Upfront)
December 3, 2005... RADIO 1 A LIST Arctic Monkeys I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor; * Coldplay Talk; Fog Fighters Resolve: Franz Ferdinand Walk Away; Gorillaz Dirty Harry; Herd & Fitz feat. Abigail Bailey I Just Can't Get Enough; Kaiser Chiefs...

BPI awards.(Upfront)
December 3, 2005... ALBUMS Hilary Duff--Most Wanted (silver) The Darkness--One Way Ticket To Hell... & Back (gold) Jack Johnson--Brushfire Fairytales (gold) Anastacia--Pieces Of A Dream (gold) Katie Melua--Piece By Piece (double platinum) Kaiser...

In-store next week.(Upfront)
December 3, 2005... ASDA In-store--Eminem, Girls Aloud, Outkast, Korn, 4 Poofs & A Piano, Pete Tong Essential Classics, Vintage Cheese, Single of the week--Il Divo BORDERS Windows--Darkness, Coldplay; Instore--Christmas CDs 3 for 12 [pounds...

Robbie Williams: Advertising Space.(Sound Recording Review)
December 3, 2005... SINGLE OF THE WEEK 1 Robbie Williams Advertising Space Chrysalis CDCHSS5159 Advertising Space is flagged up by many as the closest Williams' latest album gets to an all-consuming Angels moment. However, while it is certainly a...

Nizlopi: The JCB Song.
December 3, 2005... SINGLE OF THE WEEK 2 Nizlopi The JCB Song FDM FDMNIZ008 Hailing from Leamington Spa, this pop folk duo deliver a monstrously melodic tale of a JCB digger--delivery reminiscint of Ralph McTell and Lindisfarne--which is quirky...

James Blunt: Goodbye My Lover.
December 3, 2005... James Blunt Goodbye My Lover (Atlantic AT0230CD) The fourth single from the phenomenally successful Back To Bedlam is more of a sophisticated album track than an obvious outright smash--but will surely kick sales of the parent album over...

Mariah Carey: Don't Forget About Us.
December 3, 2005... Mariah Carey Don't Forget About Us (Def Jam 9889758) This single is lifted from the new platinum version of the huge comeback album The Emancipation Of Mimi. A beautiful balled written by Carey and produced by Jermaine Dupri, it should...

Crazy Frog: Jingle Bells.
December 3, 2005... Crazy Frog Jingle Bells (Gusto CDGUS27) The third Crazy Frog single is predictably just as annoying as the first two. A shameless cash-in on the Christmas market, this release is accompanied by what is actually a very good video--creatively...

Depeche Mode: A Pain That I'm Used To.
December 3, 2005... Depeche Mode A Pain That I'm Used To (Mute CDB0NG36) The second single from the Top 10 album Playing The Angel is classic Depeche Mode--harking back to haunting sound of the late Eighties. With no less than nine different mixes (including...

Eminem: When I'm Gone.
December 3, 2005... Eminem When I'm Gone (Interscope/Polydor 9889581) Dropping the slapstick of recent releases, Eminem hits the sentimental button hard for this-by his standards--fairly ordinary track. But despite revisiting familiar ground--his ex-wife, his...

Hot Pantz: (I'd Like To Give You) One For Christmas.
December 3, 2005... Hot Pantz (I'd Like To Give You) One For Christmas (Tug CDSX0G13) Written by Barry Upton, who penned Steps' 5,6,7,8, this crass lyric sung by two glamour girls from Southampton is typical Christmas fare. Sounding like a cross between Slade...

Hound Dogs: I Like Girls.
December 3, 2005... Hound Dogs I Like Girls (Direction 82876777032) With its Bootsy Collins-type vocal inflections, Funkadelic bass pops and the grab-you-shake-you-down chorus, this track is certainly doing the business on the dancefloor at the moment....

Howling Bells: Low Happening.
December 3, 2005... Howling Bells Low Happening (Bella Union) download only Bella Union's most recent signings have been attracting early attention from the rock press and within music industry circles. Fronted by a brother/ sister duo, this four-piece's...

Jaed: Catherine/Gutter Girl.
December 3, 2005... Jaed Catherine/Gutter Girl (Instant Karma) download only Jaed are a UK punk three-piece fronted by Melbourne-based Vanessa Eve. These two tracks, although heavily reminiscent of Avril Lavigne and The Breeders, have enough spirit of their...

Keedie & The England Cricket Team: Jerusalem.
December 3, 2005... Keedie & The England Cricket Team Jerusalem (Hyperactive CDSTUMP1) Following the winning of The Ashes back in the summer, this William Blake hymn became the England cricket team anthem and is a very strong contender for Christmas number...

The Long Blondes: Separated By Motorways.
December 3, 2005... The Long Blondes Separated By Motorways (Good & Evil 679GE03CD) After two limited seven-inches on Angular, the hotly-tipped Sheffield act now see a release through producer Paul Epworth's Good & Evil imprint. Art-punk guitar, a strong...

McFly: The Ballad Of Paul K/Ultraviolet.
December 3, 2005... McFly The Ballad Of Paul K/Ultraviolet (Island MCSXD40442) The Christmas offering from pop's premier boy band is a double aside that neatly highlights the two sides to McFly. Ultraviolet is a good-time anthem about hanging around in the sun...

Damian 'Jr Gong' Marley: The Master Has Come Back.
December 3, 2005... Damian 'Jr Gong' Marley The Master Has Come Back (Tuff Gong/Island MCSTD40443) The youngest of of the Marley offspring returns after the summer's Welcome To Jamrock, perhaps this year's biggest reggae single. This midtempo track is...

Mark Owen: Hail Mary.
December 3, 2005... Mark Owen Hail Mary (Sedna SEDNACS2) Owen's attempt at a Christmas hit is bit of a wet wonderland, but sales may be helped by the hike in profile he received following Channel 4's successful Take That documentary. It is taken from the...

Plan B: No Good/Sick 2 Death.
December 3, 2005... Plan B No Good/Sick 2 Death (679L116CD) Ben Drew--aka Plan B--breaks new acoustic ground with his fresh approach and is getting noticed in the right quarters, including being Zane Lowe's record of the week. No Good is just Drew and his...

The Pogues feat Kirsty MacColl: Fairy Tale of New York.
December 3, 2005... The Pogues feat Kirsty MacColl Fairy Tale of New York (Warner Bros WEA400CD) Few will need any introduction to one of the greatest Christmas songs ever. Given added poignancy by MacColl's untimely death and McGowan's present condition, its...

The Subways: No Goodbyes.
December 3, 2005... The Subways No Goodbyes (Warner Bros WEA398CD) Following three Top 30 hits this year, the next single from the wildly praised Young For Eternity album is this infectious pop stormer--possible their most commercial yet. It is released to...

Westlife with Diana Ross: When You Tell Me That You Love Me.
December 3, 2005... Westlife with Diana Ross When You Tell Me That You Love Me (S 82876767382) Having knocked Robbie from the top spot, Westlife make their seasonal attack on the Christmas number one. This suitably epic collaboration with Diana Ross has to...

Comet Gain: City Fallen Leaves.
December 3, 2005... Comet Gain City Fallen Leaves (Track & Field HEAT36) Comet Gain emerged into the pop underground of the early Nineties alongside riot grrrl acts such as Huggy Bear and Cornershop. This pleasing album will appeal to Comet Gain's fanbase,...