Music Week articles from December 2006

Music Week archives from December 2006

Supermarket sweep.
December 2, 2006... As Westlife, The Beatles, Oasis and U2 fight for albums chart supremacy, Richard Branson lashes out at labels for giving supermarkets the power to control who will bag the Xmas number one By Ben Cardew Virgin Group chairman Sir Richard...

IN BRIEF: EMI snaps up Take That pair.
December 2, 2006... EMI Music Publishing has signed Take That members Howard Donald and Jason Orange to worldwide, long-term publishing deals. The deal will include Donald and Orange's writing for Take That, as well as all outside projects. Copyright: CMP...

IN BRIEF: Nu-Song signs long-term deal.
December 2, 2006... London-based independent music publisher Nu-Song has signed a long-term publishing deal with Robbie Williams' musician and co-writer Jerry Meehan through a joint venture agreement with Notting Hill Music. Copyright: CMP Information Ltd.

IN BRIEF: First major company to sign deal.
December 2, 2006... EMI Music UK has become the first major music company to sign a deal with HiFi Entertainment, publisher of www.psp-playlist.com. The agreement allows customers of the psp-playlist.com site to download EMI music videos to PlayStation Portable...

IN BRIEF: Aschutz signs AOL.
December 2, 2006... Anschutz Entertainment Group has signed AOL as its official online and broadband partner for The O2, formerly the Millennium Dome. The five- year deal secures AOL exclusive online rights to stream performances from events in The O2's...

IN BRIEF: Europe's largest digital companies merge.
December 2, 2006... DMX Music and Mood Media, two of Europe's largest digital media companies, have merged to create what they say is the industry's single largest provider of in-store retail radio and screens. The two companies will be re-branded as the Mood...

IN BRIEF: Nicoli appeals to extend the term.
December 2, 2006... EMI Group chairman Eric Nicoli gave a speech in Downing Street last Wednesday, appealing to the Government to extend current recorded copyright law from 50 years to fit the American model of 95 years. Copyright: CMP Information Ltd.

IN BRIEF: Juice FM appointment.
December 2, 2006... Juice FM has appointed Iain Fowler as its station director. Fowler was previously sales director at sister UTV radio station Wire FM. He replaces Matt Allitt, who becomes UTV group customer service director and account director for seminar...

IN BRIEF: PRS board appointment.
December 2, 2006... The PRS board has appointed Andrew King as its deputy chairman. The Mute Songs general manager will replace Nigel Elderton, who has completed the maximum allowable term in this role, on January 1. Copyright: CMP Information Ltd.

IN BRIEF: EMI appointment.
December 2, 2006... Giles Harris is to become EMI's head of business development, with immediate effect. Harris was previously Capitol's head of business affairs and catalogue marketing. Copyright: CMP Information Ltd.

IN BRIEF: Mike Connolly resigns.
December 2, 2006... BBC music entertainment executive producer Mike Connolly is leaving the corporation at the end of the month to set up his own production company, State Of Grace Films. Connolly has been responsible for much of the documentary output of the...

IN BRIEF: TOTP returns for Xmas Day one-off.
December 2, 2006... Axed BBC chart show Top Of The Pops is returning for a one-hour television special, to be screened on Christmas Day on BBC1. The show, scheduled for early afternoon, will be presented by Fearne Cotton, Edith Bowman and Reggie Yates. It will...

IN BRIEF: Working together to stem leak.
December 2, 2006... Bloc Party's label, management and several fan sites are working together to stem the leak of a near-final mix of the band's second album, A Weekend In The City, which made its way onto the internet months ahead of the scheduled release. Bloc...

IN BRIEF: Andrew Gowers guest speaker.
December 2, 2006... Andrew Gowers will be the guest speaker at the 2006 Stephen Stewart Memorial Lecture at the Intellectual Property Institute this Wednesday. It is not thought likely that Gowers will be delving too deeply into his as-yet-unpublished Gowers...

IN BRIEF: AEG on looking for representatives.
December 2, 2006... AEG is on the lookout for representatives from the music industry to act as curators for the British Music Experience, the visitor attraction based at The O2 dedicated to the history of music in Britain. Interested parties should contact...

IN BRIEF: Futureheads split from Warner Music.
December 2, 2006... The Futureheads have split from 679/Warner Music. "We are pleased with what has happened," says singer Barry Hyde. "This means that we can now do our next album with refreshed enthusiasm." The band are currently in the studio in Sunderland...

IN BRIEF: Virgin Mobile offering free tickes.
December 2, 2006... Virgin Mobile was last week offering customers free tickets to see The Automatic, following a partnership with mobile ticket company ActiveMedia Technology and mobile marketing specialist Flytxt. Copyright: CMP Information Ltd.

IN BRIEF: Sanctuary falls deeper into red.
December 2, 2006... Sanctuary is considering selling its 49% share in Rough Trade as the music company's profits tumble, forcing Sanctuary further into the red. Following a difficult year and previous profit warnings in June, Sanctuary says Rough Trade will record...

IN BRIEF: Row over access to stock.
December 2, 2006... Finger Lickin' Records and Playtime Records, which have been at the centre of a row over access to stock at defunct distributor Intergroove's London warehouse, have now been granted access to their stock by MCPS-PRS. Copyright: CMP...

IN BRIEF: Two lables being reactivated.
December 2, 2006... Sanctuary Records is reactivating two labels as homes for contemporary acts. Sequel will specialise as a label for contemporary artists, while the primarily singles-focused Slogan imprint is being developed further to include a digital label....

IN BRIEF: Use of low-power FM transmitters.
December 2, 2006... Ofcom has announced that the use of low-power FM transmitters, which wirelessly connect MP3 players and other personal audio devices to radios and in-car systems, will be legal for use in the UK from December 8. Copyright: CMP Information...

IN BRIEF: Ingenious Music providing venture capital.
December 2, 2006... Ingenious Music is providing a combined #2.6m of venture capital funding to support debut albums by Passenger, Apartment and Indiana Gregg. The acts are with IE Music, Gr8 Pop and Kuba Music respectively. Copyright: CMP Information Ltd.

IN BRIEF: First investment.
December 2, 2006... Edge Performance VCT has made its first investment after raising #6.25m in venture capital last April. The company's first investment, worth #850,000, has been made to live event promoter Martha and George Productions Limited. Copyright:...

IN BRIEF: Welsh Assembly throw weight behind closure.
December 2, 2006... More than half of the Welsh Assembly members have thrown their weight behind efforts to save the world's oldest record shop from closing down. Twenty-three of them have signed a Statement of Opinion, launched by Shadow Culture Minister Owen...

Members of the public invest in Mark Joseph's new label.
December 2, 2006... Mark Joseph, the singer-songwriter who won a major label record deal after breaking the Top 40 with a self-funded single, has raised more than #500,000 from members of the public to self-produce his second album. Joseph shot to fame in...

New music writers group for Europe.
December 2, 2006... A new music writers network is set to provide a voice for writers across the continent by Robert Ashton Songwriters and composers throughout Europe are poised to secure a strong voice of their own in Brussels with the launch of the...

THE PLAYLIST: 02.12.06.
December 2, 2006... THE ENVY CORPS Story Problem (Vertigo) Possesses an all-encompassing urgency and fragility; and proved captivating live last week. (single, March tbc) AMERIE Take Control (RCA) With this track's hip production and big,...

Play.com plans to expand on back catalogue business from next year.
December 2, 2006... Play.com is to massively ramp up its music offering going into 2007, as the internet retailer looks to build on closer relationships with the labels. The company, which launched in 1998 and is primarily known in the UK for offering low...

Bands flock to Aberdeen.
December 2, 2006... Intimate venue Aberdeen Arena is becoming a favourite with artists by Jim Larkin Executives behind Aberdeen Arena are bidding to establish northern Scotland as a key stopping-off point for major tours as they look to top a...

SNAP SHOT: Rumble Strips.
December 2, 2006... Rumble Strips will hit the road with label mates The Fratellis next year and, through a tie-up with 3 Mobile, the Fallout imprint will accompany the tour with the availability across the network of live, visual content from the band's...

PPL appoints new director.
December 2, 2006... Keith Harris is employed to help cement relationships with performers by Paul Williams PPL is looking to bolster its relationship with performers by appointing seasoned industry player Keith Harris as their representative within the...

Music gets you talking.
December 2, 2006... Guy Holmes, Gut "I was five when I first heard Eleanor Rigby - my mum played it in her car. T-Rex's Metal Guru was the first record I saved up to buy with my pocket money. Pink Floyd's Dark Side Of The Moon was the first album that I...

Deadline passes on Universal deal.
December 2, 2006... The deadline for "observations" about Universal's proposed deal to buy BMG Music Publishing passed last Friday following sustained petitioning from the anti-merger lobby. The competition commissioner and director general responsible for...

INTERVIEW & ANALYSIS: Grocers induce Virgin rebirth.
December 2, 2006... Ben Cardew talks to Sir Richard Branson, who offers his bold critique of the current supermarket-dominated music retail sector, and outlines his vision of how Virgin Retail plans to fight back Had auditions been staged in Manchester last...

Radio: Seasonal specials lined up.
December 2, 2006... Stations schedule celebrities and special gigs for the festive season by Paul Williams The return of Chris Tarrant and the first UK airings of some of Bob Dylan's acclaimed XM Satellite Radio shows are among the star attractions of...

Radio digest: New digital licence on offer.
December 2, 2006... Ofcom is expected this week to formally advertise a new national digital multiplex licence having announced in October it planned to advertise the second such commercial radio licence some time in November. Although the licence is expected to...

Radio digest: Live Lounge to go on tour.
December 2, 2006... Radio One presenter Jo Whiley's Live Lounge feature is to go on tour for the first time this week with performances from acts including Noel Gallagher. The Live Lounge tour will begin today (Monday) and continue until Friday in which acts will...

Radio digest: TLRC new shares.
December 2, 2006... The Local Radio Company (TLRC) has announced it has raised #3m from placing 15.8m new shares at a price of 19p per share. Of the 15.8m, 11.3m of the new shares have been placed with Hallwood Investments, and the balance has been placed with...

Radio digest: Shaun Keaveny leaving Xfm.
December 2, 2006... Shaun Keaveny is leaving Xfm, where he hosts afternoons and the Friday breakfast show, to present a new show for 6 Music, starting on January 15. The Dream Ticket, broadcast Monday to Thursday from 10pm to 1am, cherry-picks headline...

Radio digest: Oasis to take over programming of 6 Music.
December 2, 2006... Oasis are to take over the programming of 6 Music on Monday, December 12, supporting the release of their best of album. Liam Gallagher, Gem Archer and Andy Bell will talk about their favourite music and plunder the BBC archives to play classic...

Radio digest: Scotland's first classic rock station.
December 2, 2006... Scotland's first classic rock station 96.3 Rock Radio will go live on January 8 2007. The GMG Radio-owned station will broadcast classic rock hits from the last 40 years across Renfrewshire, Glasgow and Dunbartonshire on FM and across the west...

Radio: New licence to spark new era for digital radio.
December 2, 2006... Channel 4 chief executive Andy Duncan believes the arrival of a third national digital multiplex, which Ofcom is expected to advertise this week, will push digital radio to a tipping point, both in technology uptake and content delivery. ...

Radio: GCap Media to capitalise on Red Hot Chilli Peppers.
December 2, 2006... GCap Media is planning to capitalise on its Red Hot Chili Peppers gig - staged at Camden's Roundhouse last week - as part of its strategy to link the group's stations for special live events. GCap will broadcast the show on December 10...

The Barfly's key role in the Red Stripe Music Award.
December 2, 2006... Kirsten Smith from the Barfly talks about the Red Stripe Music Award "Despite playing host to the likes of The Vines, The Strokes, Coldplay and Muse to name a few, big names are not exclusively what Barfly is about. A policy of nurturing...

Brand focus: New award to support emerging bands.
December 2, 2006... Red Stripe has formed a unique partnership with Music Week and the Barfly group to launch a bespoke UK mu sic award designed to recognise and reward emerging and unsigned British talent The Red Stripe Music Award (RSMA) will take the shape...

Supermarkets tighten grip on charts.
December 2, 2006... The ability of supermarket giants to sell albums at cut prices threatens the whole industry Richard Branson's verbal assault on supermarkets - and the record labels who he believes have allowed them to take over the retail business - could...

Universal attacks MySpace.
December 2, 2006... Universal issued legal proceedings against MySpace 10 days ago, prompting a digital battle between entertainment giants News Corp, the owner of the networking site, and the major label group. Universal accuses MySpace of breaching copyright,...

Why radio re-branding is on the rise.
December 2, 2006... VIEWPOINT Nik Goodman Have you noticed that there's a lot of re-branding and re-launching going on in commercial radio at the moment? The latest station to give in to the temptation is Q96 in Renfrewshire, which will put on an old...

Quickfire: Kenny Young.
December 2, 2006... From the Boardwalk to Buena Vista, classic songwriter Kenny Young discusses a lifetime in the business and a new green charity album You've worked as a writer and producer since the 1960s, most famously writing Under The Boardwalk. Do you...

FAST CHART: 02.12.06.
December 2, 2006... SINGLES NUMBER ONE: TAKE THAT PATIENCE (Polydor) Sales of 910,681 copies for their Never Forget compilation in the last year and a sell-out tour suggested there was a big appetite for the reconvened Take That. Patience proves the...

2006 scores its biggest sales week.
December 2, 2006... Christmas finally arrived last week, with the latest in the blockbusting Now That's What I Call Music compilation series plus albums from Westlife, Oasis, The Beatles and U2 all arriving at the same time to give combined album sales a massive...

THE SCHEDULE - 02.12.06: Albums.
December 2, 2006... This week Faithless To All The New Arrivals (Columbia); G4 Act Three (RCA); Il Divo Siempre (RCA); Snoop Dogg Tha Blue Carpet Treatment (Polydor); Take That Beautiful World (Polydor); Arab Strap Ten Years Of Tears (Chemikal Underground);...

THE SCHEDULE - 02.12.06: Singles.
December 2, 2006... This week The Rapture Wayuh (Mercury); Sandi Thom Lonely Girl (RCA); Janet Feat. Khia So Excited (Virgin); The Killers Bones (Mercury); Muse The Knights Of Cydonia (Warner Music); The Fratellis Whistle For The Choir (Island); Lupe Fiasco I...

THE SCHEDULE - 02.12.06: NEW ADDITION.
December 2, 2006... Virgin Records has confirmed the release of new Air album Pocket Symphony, on March 5. The album, which will comprise 12 tracks, includes contributions from Jarvis Cocker and Neil Hannon and is produced by Nigel Godrich. They will back the...

Smooth diva sells chocolate.
December 2, 2006... Chocolate makers assist Sony BMG in broadening soprano's audience JULIETTE POCHIN VENEZIA (SONY BMG) Mezzo soprano Juliette Pochin has provided Sony BMG with an opportunity to broaden the singer's UK fanbase by becoming the...

Upfront - 02.12.06: TASTEMAKERS tips.
December 2, 2006... Eric Prydz Vs Floyd Proper Education (Data) Paul Gillies, Presenter, Capital FM "The idea of Pink Floyd's Another Brick In The Wall moving dancefloor booties in 2006 is really scary, but this really works both in clubs and on the...

The Insider: Clash magazine.
December 2, 2006... Since its launch in February 2004, Clash magazine has evolved into one of the UK's most trusted sources for discovering new and emerging musical talent. As it approaches its third birthday issue on January 11, founder Simon Harper is looking to...

Mastercard ad to set the ball rolling on Findlay campaign.
December 2, 2006... Growing independent Peacefrog Records is looking to a lucrative sync deal with MasterCard to get the ball rolling on its first signing to the roster since Jose Gonzalez. The link-up, sealed by Rachel Wood of Woodwork Music, sees Findlay...

Upfront - 02.12.06: Radio playlists.
December 2, 2006... Radio 1 A list Akon feat. Eminem Smack That; Beyonce Irreplaceable; Booty Luv Boogie 2Nite; Fedde Le Grande Put Your Hands Up For Detroit; Jamelia Beware Of The Dog; Jay-Z Show Me What You Got; Justin Timberlake feat. TI My Love;...

UPFRONT - 02.12.06: BPI AWARDS.
December 2, 2006... ALBUMS Meat Loaf: Bat Out Of Hell 3 (Mercury) (gold); Johnny Cash: Walking The Line - The Legendary Sun Recordings (Union Square) (gold); Sugababes: Overloaded (Island) (gold); Paul Weller: Hit Parade (Island) (gold); Jamiroquai: High...

Upfront - 02.12.06: In-store next week.
December 2, 2006... ASDA Instore - Best Xmas Ever, High School Musical, Andrea Boccelli, Emma Bunton, Vaness Hudgens, Lil' Chris, Mary J Blige, Johnny Mathis, Gwen Stefani, , Eminem BORDERS Instore: Gwen Stefani, The Beatles, U2, Oasis, Scissor...

Upfront - 02.12.06: My Top 10 - Lawra Somby.
December 2, 2006... Lawra Somby Musician with Adjagas 1. Neil Young - It's A Dream (Reprise) 2. Rockettothesky - God Is Under Water (Trust Me) 3. 120 Days - I've Lost My Vision (Smalltown Supersound) 4. Thomas Dybdahl - Henry (Dime) 5. Bob Marley -...

Upfront Reviews: 11.12.06: SINGLE of the week 1.
December 2, 2006... Eminem feat. 50 Cent, Lloyd Banks & Cashis You Don't Know Interscope 1717624 If anyone thought Marshall was getting cosy in semi-retirement then this will blow away any misconceptions. Featuring several new signings to his label...

Upfront Reviews: 11.12.06: SINGLE of the week 2.
December 2, 2006... El Chombo Chacarron Substance SUBS21CDS The current fifth-favourite for the Christmas Number One spot is possibly the most ridiculous single ever released. Panaman Andy De La Cruz's nonsense lyrics, laid atop a catchy reggaeton...

Upfront Reviews: 11.12.06: Singles.
December 2, 2006... Acoustic Ladyland Salt Water (V2 VVR5043657) Produced by Paul Epworth and taken from the act's Skinny Girl album, the A-side is a jazz-fused slab of avant-garde referred to as the Scott Walker mix. It's an interesting affair, with...

Upfront Reviews: 11.12.06: Albums.
December 2, 2006... Blackstrobe A Remix Selection (Playlouderrecordings PLAYR17CD) Combining techno, house and electro, all with a distinct gothic leaning, Blackstrobe are almost too fashionably 2006 for words. While their own work is fairly formidable,...

TV AIRPLAY CHART - 02.12.06: ON THE BOX THIS WEEK.
December 2, 2006... BBC ONE Friday Night With Jonathan Ross - The Fratellis (live) BBC TWO Later...With Jools Holland - Red Hot Chili Peppers, Keane, Be Good, Tanyas, Thom Yorke, Klaxons, Bellowhead (Fri) The Culture Show - Pete Doherty and his...

TV Airplay Chart - 02.12.06: Justin Timberlake.
December 2, 2006... Timberlake turns in his sixth straight week at number one, with My Love holding steady on 345 plays, 14 more than new runner-up Gwen Stefani's Wind It Up. Timberlake's top supporters last week were Chart Show TV and MTV Hits (both 47 plays) and...

TV Airplay Chart - 02.12.06: Katie Price & Peter Andre.
December 2, 2006... Its progress apparently unhindered by the excruciating "live" take of the song doing the rounds, Katie "Jordan" Price and hubby Peter Andre's promotional video for their remake of A Whole New World explodes 89-30 after accruing 163 plays from...

Radio Airplay - 02.12.06: Paolo Nutini.
December 2, 2006... Scots singer-songwriter Paolo Nutini reached number 10 on the airplay chart with first single Last Request and number 11 with follow-up Jenny, Don't Be Hasty. His third single, Rewind, is in similar territory a week before release, powering to...

Radio Airplay - 02.12.06: Razorlight.
December 2, 2006... Razorlight's America topped the airplay charts for four weeks recently, but dips 5-12 this week, as follow-up Before I Fall To Pieces begins to make an impression, moving 99-34, with support from 65 stations, compared to 30 just a week ago,...

Radio Airplay - 02.12.06: The Fratellis.
December 2, 2006... Released today (Monday), Whistle For The Choir is the highest-charting single to date for The Fratellis on the airplay chart. The Scots band's debut hit Henrietta only managed to reach number 51, but follow-up Chelsea Dagger fared much better,...

Radio Airplay - 02.12.06: Oasis.
December 2, 2006... The Stop The Clocks EP was not eligible for the sales chart, but radio is still taking a keen interest in two of its four tracks, with The Masterplan leaping 36-14 and Acquiesce hurdling 139-68. The Masterplan's excellent progress is helped by...

RADIO AIRPLAY - 02.12.06: ON THE RADIO THIS WEEK.
December 2, 2006... RADIO 1 Jo Whiley with Lili Allen (Mon) Vernon Kaye with Jamiroquai (Sat) Jo Whiley record of the week - Eric Prydz Vs Floyd: Proper Eductation Edith Bowman record of the week - The Rapture: WAYUH Scott Mills record of...

New releases - 02.12.06: REVIEWS Catalogue.
December 2, 2006... Barry Manilow Barry Manilow (Legacy/Arista 82876867172) This One's For You (8287687192) One Voice (82876867182) Live (82876785522) As Manilow's legions of faithful fans rush to buy his new Greatest Songs Of The Sixties...

Singles - 02.12.06: Take That.
December 2, 2006... Securing the ninth number one of their career and the fifth in a row - albeit more than 10 years after the fourth - Take That jump 4-1 with Patience on sales of 61,978. That is the highest weekly sale for a number one for 11 weeks and the sixth...

Singles - 02.12.06: Emma Bunton.
December 2, 2006... This year's Children In Need single, Downtown by Emma Bunton, sold 30,582 copies last week, and sprints 24-3 as a result. Of six previous Children In Need singles this century, all but one peaked higher. Shane Ritchie (2003) and Will Young...

Singles - 02.12.06: Red Hot Chili Peppers.
December 2, 2006... Red Hot Chili Peppers secure their 20th Top 40 hit with Snow (Hey Oh), which jumps 50-16 this week on sales of 7,804. It is the third single from the band's Stadium Arcadium album, following Dani California (number two) and Tell Me Baby (number...

Singles - 02.12.06: Pink.
December 2, 2006... Climbing 87-27 on sales of 4,311, Nobody Knows is the fourth single from Pink's album, I'm Not Dead but, since it is now fully released on physical and digital formats, it seems unlikely to progress any further, making it the lowest charting of...

Albums - 02.12.06: Oasis.
December 2, 2006... Oasis' six regular album releases all debuted at number one, but The Masterplan (1998) peaked at number two, their live album Familiar To Millions (2000) reached number five and their new compilation, Stop The Clocks, debuts at number two this...

Albums - 02.12.06: The Beatles.
December 2, 2006... Love - George and Giles Martin's widely acclaimed mash-up of Beatles tracks to accompany Cirque De Soleil's Las Vegas show - got off to a brisk start last week, selling 173,517 copies to debut at number three. It is The Beatles' 26th Top 10...

Albums - 02.12.06: U2.
December 2, 2006... Home to current single The Saints Are Coming, the newly recorded Window In The Skies and 17 other tracks - all Top 20 hits apart from Sunday Bloody Sunday and I Will Follow - U2's 18 singles album debuts at number four on sales of 101,083. It...

Albums - 02.12.06: Akon.
December 2, 2006... Senegal born, US raised Akon's debut album Trouble made its maiden chart appearance at number 31 on sales of 9,132 in February 2005, topped the chart 11 weeks later, and has subsequently sold 500,000 copies. Despite the fact that first single...

Gowers prepares verdict.
December 9, 2006... `Black Wednesday' looms for music By Robert Ashton The music industry is ratcheting up its lobbying effort ahead of bleak news it is expecting from this week's Gowers Review announcement. Media reports last week indicated that...