Music Week articles from December 2007

Music Week archives from December 2007

Era to step up DRM debate.
December 1, 2007... Association urges record companies to soften stance on digital rights management and learn to "trust people" The Entertainment Retailers Association is planning to directly lobby the record industry in a new campaign pressing for the...

THE PLAYLIST: 01.12.07.
December 1, 2007... DJ NG Tell Me (unsigned) We told you about T2 six months ago; now it's top five. Believe us when we tell you this will be next. (white label) One Night Only Just For Tonight (Mercury) As the theme tune for C4's new series...

In The Studio: 01.12.07.
December 1, 2007... Calvin Harris is holed up at his Scottish home working on his second album. Atlantic records' signing Natty is in the studio with Cragie Dodds and Johnny Dollar. Primary One is working on tracks with Paul Epworth. Copyright: CMP...

Chrysalis prepares for growth in 2008.
December 1, 2007... Group aims to bolster existing portfolios, following sale of radio division The slimmed-down Chrysalis Group is examining a number of "potential acquisitions" in music publishing and artist management as it considers its strategy without...

Government pledges Music Manifesto windfall.
December 1, 2007... The Music Manifesto will turn its attention to how the next generation of music literate kids can be assimilated into the industry, following last week's massive #332m Government windfall to educate schoolchildren. The Manifesto, developed...

Chambers opts for `boutique' route by inking B-Unique deal.
December 1, 2007... Ivor-winning songwriter signs publishing deals with independent companies for UK and rest of world, while confirming his multi-platinum professional partnership with Robbie Williams is back on track Guy Chambers has confirmed to Music Week...

Ups And Downs: 01.12.07.
December 1, 2007... UPS Six nights of Mozza at the Roundhouse. Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes. Robbie and Guy Chambers reunited - another Angels wouldn't go amiss. Era takes up the anti-DRM cause - let's open up the debate. PPL drinks kick off the...

IN BRIEF: Radio Two takes Blunt and the Music Club to the O2.
December 1, 2007... Radio Two is bringing together James Blunt, Mika, Newton Faulkner, The Hoosiers and KT Tunstall to perform at North Greenwich's IndigO2 on December 5 under the Radio Two Music Club banner. Copyright: CMP Information Ltd.

IN BRIEF: Nominations for Xfm New Music Awards.
December 1, 2007... The nominations for the inaugural Xfm New Music Awards see Air Traffic's Fractured Life and The Enemy's We'll Live And Die In These Towns make the station's listener shortlist of best debut albums of 2007, alongside albums from Frank Turner,...

IN BRIEF: James Cannon to be replaced.
December 1, 2007... GCap's Capital Radio will replace morning presenter James Cannon with Virgin Radio DJ Greg Burns when Cannon's contract expires later this year. Cannon has been with the station for 10 years. Copyright: CMP Information Ltd.

IN BRIEF: Sony BMG agrees deal with Yahoo!
December 1, 2007... Sony BMG has agreed a deal with Yahoo! to add the major's music videos to its Yahoo Music catalogue, allowing Yahoo! users to utilise Sony BMG audio recordings in user-generated audiovisual content. Copyright: CMP Information Ltd.

IN BRIEF: Third album from Sia.
December 1, 2007... Ingenious Music VCT2 has invested more than #1m to back the third album from Australian singer Sia. The deal involves financing via a joint venture with IE Three - a division of IE Music - through its company Monkey Puzzle Records. ...

IN BRIEF: British Music at Midem.
December 1, 2007... Reverend & The Makers, Richard Hawley and Beth Rowley will all be appearing at British Music at Midem. The event, which will also see Bailey Tzuke and Jack Savoretti perform, includes an acoustic set followed by a showcase on January 28, 2008....

IN BRIEF: MySpace Records to release free download album.
December 1, 2007... Punk act Pennywise are to make their new album available as a free download via MySpace, after signing to MySpace Records. The album will be available to MySpace users from March 25 as a high-quality, DRM-free download, in a deal sponsored by...

IN BRIEF: Led Zeppelin top table for expensive tickets.
December 1, 2007... Led Zeppelin have topped the table for most expensive average ticket price in the secondary market, with the resale price of tickets for their one-off reunion show reaching #914, compared to #337 for Barbra Streisand and #221 for Bruce...

IN BRIEF: NMETV to launch.
December 1, 2007... IPC Ignite is partnering with CSC Media Group (formerly Chart Show Channels) to launch NMETV, which it describes as "the essential new 24/7 TV channel for real alternative music enthusiasts". The channel launches on November 23 on Sky Digital...

IN BRIEF: Play.com to relaunch website.(Website overview)
December 1, 2007... Play.com is to relaunch its website next year and is planning to expand into continental Europe. The company's owners Richard Goulding and Simon Peree said that the new website, dubbed Play 2.0, will contain new features including a social...

IN BRIEF: Song-Tank signs exclusive deal.
December 1, 2007... The professional online music community for songwriters, composers, copyright owners and commissioners Song-Tank has signed an exclusive deal with the MCPS-PRS Alliance which will allow alliance members a discounted Song-Tank profile and 250MB...

IN BRIEF: The Romantics sue.
December 1, 2007... Activison Publishing and Redoctane, makers of the Guitar Hero video games, are being sued by rock band The Romantics, who accuse the video makers of using a version of the band's What I Like About You, recorded by Wavegroup Sound. ...

All change at GCap as Bernard steps down.
December 1, 2007... Managing director Fru Hazlitt likely to step into CEO's shoes after Ralph Bernard's 25-year spell at the UK's leading commercial radio group ends Analysts are tipping GCap managing director Fru Hazlitt as the favourite to succeed the...

Ofcom focuses on digital switch and local radio.
December 1, 2007... Radio Centre chief executive Andrew Harrison has welcomed Ofcom's decision to create a Government working group on the switch-over to digital radio, which he says shows that the regulator has listened to the industry. Ofcom last week...

The big question: Music sharing.
December 1, 2007... "Is it the responsibility of Internet Service Providers to make sure that consumers don't illegally share music, or should it be down to record labels and industry bodies?" Richard Kihlstrom, Borders "ISPs have a responsibility in that...

Only with DRM-free can the digital market soar.
December 1, 2007... The download will only come of age once the consumer restrictions that DRM causes are lifted Hardly anyone actually writes letters these days, so when somebody does it is probably worth sitting up and taking notice. The Entertainment...

Leona secrets revealed.
December 1, 2007... Controversy reigns over UEG's plans to release Lewis's early recordings Leona Lewis's lawyer says that South London independent UEG has "no right" to release material by the singer, as the label prepares to digitally issue an album of her...

Police to headline Isle of Wight.
December 1, 2007... The Police are to headline the 2008 Isle of Wight Festival as part of their reunion tour, in the band's only UK festival appearance of the summer. The recently-reunited band will play the main stage on the Sunday night of the festival,...

Brief encounter: John Williams.
December 1, 2007... Few label bosses can claim to have instilled the same kind of unwavering artist loyalty as that earned by John Williams. Williams has ploughed numerous fields within the music industry since he first joined Polydor back in 1974, plugging...

Radio Two plugs into a brave new world.(Interview)
December 1, 2007... Traditionally, the ideal scenario for pluggers targeting Radio Two would have been an A-listing. But now they can can expect a whole lot more, with added content, online broadcasts and link-ups with digital TV and artist websites. Music Week...

Backing Britain in the search for fresh talent.
December 1, 2007... It is not quite akin to Gordon Brown's rallying cry of "British jobs for British people", but Radio Two head of music Jeff Smith has fully thrown his weight behind giving preferential treatment to homegrown artists on the network. Although...

MUSIC UPFRONT - 01.12.07: Single of the week.
December 1, 2007... Estelle Wait A minute (Homeschool) This will.i.am -produced track looks set to bother the top five this Sunday, and drops in the middle of Estelle's string of high-profile dates in the UK supporting Kanye West. And she's involved in...

MUSIC UPFRONT - 01.12.07.
December 1, 2007... This Week Singles James Blunt Same Mistake (Atlantic) Editors The Racing Rats (Kitchenware) Estelle Wait A Minute (Just A Touch) (Homeschool) Girls Aloud Call The Shots (Fascination) Lupen Crook Matthew's Magpie (Tap...

FUTURE RELEASE: Richard Hawley.
December 1, 2007... Richard Hawley Midem appearance Sheffield native Richard Hawley has been named as the headline act at the annual British At Midem showcase, which will take place in the Martinez Hotel Ballroom, Cannes on Monday, January 28. The annual...

MUSIC UPFRONT - 01.12.07: Album of the week.
December 1, 2007... Kylie Minogue X (Parlophone) This is Minogue's 10th album - her first studio offering in four years - and was preceded by single 2 Hearts on November 5, which hit the top five on release. Both releases have been subject to a huge...

MUSIC UPFRONT - 01.12.07: Catalogue reviews.
December 1, 2007... Neil Sedaka: Happy Birthday Sweet Sixteen - The Very Best Of (Music Club Deluxe MCDLX058) This is an excellent double-disc set which includes Sedaka's early Brill Building originals like Oh Carol, Calendar Girl, I Go Ape and Breaking Up Is...

FUTURE RELEASE: Electrovamp.
December 1, 2007... Electrovamp I Don't Like The Vibe (Island) Island Records is to target T-Mobile's UK customer network as it looks to bring Welsh pop duo Electrovamp to market next month. Island has recorded two versions of video for the duo's debut...

MUSIC UPFRONT - 01.12.07: The Specialists.
December 1, 2007... Eddy Temple Morris (Xfm) Trip: Who's That? (Ahead Of The Game) You HAVE to listen to this tune all the way to the end, for the most genius, nail-on-the-head list of stuff that gets under the skin of this 20-something, post-Hadouken! -...

MUSIC UPFRONT - 01.12.07: The Panel.
December 1, 2007... Gideon Coe (6Music) Dawn Landes: Fireproof (Boy Scout) Regardless of how it was recorded (in an old fire station in Brooklyn straight onto tape, since you ask) it's the songs that make this album so good. Kids In A Play is my current...

FUTURE RELEASE: The Maccabees.
December 1, 2007... The Maccabees Toothpaste Kisses (Fiction) The Maccabees are to benefit from the full force of a national television platform, having secured a lucrative sync with Samsung for the phone manufacturer's latest promotional campaign. ...

DATAFILE EXPOSURE: 01.12.07.
December 1, 2007... On its third week at the top of the radio airplay chart, Leona Lewis's Bleeding Love continues to hold a huge lead. New challenger Rihanna's Hate That I Love You leaps 9-2 but its audience of 55.15m is 38.75% less than Bleeding Love's 76.53m....

Instore: 01.12.07.
December 1, 2007... Asda Instore Display: 2Pac, Cascada, Remi Nicole, The Choirboys, The Verve, Traveling Wilburys Borders Instore Display: 2Pac, Cascada, The Verve, U2 CWNN Album of the week: Yeasayer Instore Display: Darren Hayman,...

DATAFILE SALES - 01.12.07: Number One Single.
December 1, 2007... Leona Lewis (Syco) Despite being available on the nation's two current best-selling albums - Now! 68 and her own Spirit - Leona Lewis's second single Bleeding Love continues for a fifth week atop the singles chart, with sales of 57,954...

DATAFILE SALES - 01.12.07.
December 1, 2007... Increasing for the fifth of, barring disasters, what should be nine consecutive weeks of growth, album sales totalled 3,544,177 last week - their highest level of the year. The bad news is it is the first time in the 21st century that sales...

DATAFILE SALES - 01.12.07: Number One Album.
December 1, 2007... Leona Lewis (Syco) The last 10 number one albums each spent just one week at the summit but Leona Lewis's debut Spirit breaks the streak this week, remaining at the apex for a second week. Sales of 196,997 take Spirit's 13-day sales tally...

Lewis hits new heights as chart experiences early Christmas boost.
December 1, 2007... With her second single Bleeding Love selling nearly as many copies as its two nearest challengers combined on its fifth week at number one, Leona Lewis is the first artist for more than a decade to spend four or more weeks at the top with...

DATAFILE SINGLES - 01.12.07: T2 feat. Jodie.
December 1, 2007... Jodie Aysha Henderson wrote Heartbroken four years ago at the age of 14, and a week after debuting at number 14 the track - credited to T2 feat. Jodie - rockets to number two on sales of 32,881. Heartbroken's retro sound and its ability to...

DATAFILE SINGLES - 01.12.07: Take That.
December 1, 2007... Becoming the first single to spend four consecutive weeks at number two without taking pole position since Destiny's Child's Lose My Breath exactly three years ago, Take That's Rule The World finally bows to gravity this week, dipping to number...

DATAFILE SINGLES - 01.12.07: Shayne Ward.
December 1, 2007... Breathless is the second single and title track of Shayne Ward's new album, and makes its initial chart appearance at number six on sales of 24,009. No relation to either Jerry Lewis' 1958 number eight hit or The Corrs' 2000 number one of the...

DATAFILE SINGLES - 01.12.07: Spice Girls.
December 1, 2007... The Spice Girls' first single since 2000, Headlines (Friendship Never Ends) climbs 23-11 on sales of 14,941. It spoils The Spice Girls superb record of nine number ones and a number two from their previous releases but is also the...

Spirit holds firm while Jenkins pips Girls Aloud in new entry stakes.
December 1, 2007... Although Christmas is less than a month away, last week's new release slate was comparatively slim, with only two of the 10 new arrivals in the Top 75 selling enough to make the Top 10. Welsh classical crossover star Katherine Jenkins leads...

DATAFILE ALBUMS - 01.12.07: Girls Aloud.
December 1, 2007... Girls Aloud simultaneously score their fifth and sixth chart albums this week. The critically acclaimed Tangled Up is in at number four on sales of 49,065, while Mixed Up - an eight song, 40-minute mixes set exclusive to Woolworth's - debuts at...

DATAFILE ALBUMS - 01.12.07: From Male Voice Choir.
December 1, 2007... Numbering 60 members with an average age of 61, Fron Male Voice Choir made their chart debut exactly a year ago, when their Voices Of The Valley set entered at number 13 on sales of 35,762. It eventually reached number nine and went on to sell...

DATAFILE ALBUMS - 01.12.07: BPI Awards.
December 1, 2007... Albums Various: 100 R&B Classics (Silver); Jack Penate: Matinee (Gold); Britney Spears: Blackout (Gold); David Gray: Greatest Hits (Gold); The Killers: Sawdust (Gold); Westlife:Back Home, (Platinum); Amy Winehouse: Frank (2 x Platinum);...

DATAFILE ALBUMS - 01.12.07: Alicia Keys.
December 1, 2007... Alicia Keys does the chart double in America this week for the first time, with her fourth straight number one album As I Am scorching to the summit on sales of 742,426, while No One moves to the top of the Hot 100. In the UK, No One moves 6-7,...

DATAFILE ALBUMS - 01.12.07: Snow Patrol.
December 1, 2007... Snow Patrol's Eyes Open has become the 17th album to sell 2m copies in the UK in the 21st century. The album, which includes the long-running hit Chasing Cars (64 weeks in the Top 75 and sales of 373,469 to date), passed the target last week...

Everything's going green.
December 8, 2007... Music Week backs environmental campaign to encourage a greener approach across the music industry Music Week has thrown its weight behind an extensive campaign aimed at encouraging the music industry to go green. Over the next few months...

THE PLAYLIST: 08.12.07.
December 8, 2007... Hot Chip Ready For The Floor (EMI) If only all pop music was this good. This one-listen-and-you're-hooked debut is the sound of a band hitting their stride. (single, January 28) Mistabishi No Matter What (Hospital) When...

In The Studio: 08.12.07.(Sound recording review)
December 8, 2007... Australian group Howling Bells are about to enter Sound Factory studios in LA to begin work on their second studio album. The as-yet-untitled set is to be produced by Dan Grech-Marguerat (Radiohead, Scissor Sisters). The band are currently...

Sign Here: 08.12.07.
December 8, 2007... Xtra Mile Recordings has signed Oxford outfit A Silent Film. The group will enter the studio with producer Sam Williams (Supergrass) this week. James Yuill, who we tipped earlier in the year, has inked a deal with EMI Publishing. His debut...

Morrissey to be launch pad for Decca revival.
December 8, 2007... Decca harkens back to Sixties heyday on the back of Morrissey signing Decca is to use the signing of Morrissey as a launch pad to return the label to its eclectic Sixties heyday, as it looks to open itself up again to a variety of musical...

MTV videos going for gold.
December 8, 2007... MTV is to honour its most-played music videos with Platinum and Gold Video Awards, as the broadcaster looks to drive home its music industry credentials. Information for the awards comes from 39 MTV music channels over four continents,...

Action stations for music industry's green watchdog.
December 8, 2007... Environmental pressure group Julie's Bicycle, in conjunction with Music Week, steps up a gear in its fight for a greener music industry with a campaign that will test commitment to reducing our carbon footprint The music industry's...

Ups And Downs: 08.12.07.
December 8, 2007... UPS BBC4 and Mark Everett - the Music Week office was captivated by the Beeb's documentary showing the Eels' singer investigating the legacy of his physicist father Emma Banks, 2007 Woman Of the Year and richly deserved The...

EMI questions trade bodies.
December 8, 2007... IFPI chairman and CEO John Kennedy has issued a strong defence of trade organisations, after EMI's new owner Guy Hands questioned the money spent annually on the IFPI, BPI and RIAA. Hands, whose Terra Firma vehicle is currently undergoing a...

IN BRIEF: Bronfman Jr confident in wake of falling Warner profits.(Financial report)
December 8, 2007... Warner Music Group chairman and CEO Edgar Bronfman Jr says he remains confident over the major's future, despite falling profits for the quarter. For the three months to September 30, Warner reported a net income of $5m (#2.4m), or 3 cents...

IN BRIEF: Osbournes to host Brit Awards.
December 8, 2007... Sharon and Ozzy Osbourne are to host the 2008 Brit Awards at London's Earls Court next February. The show will also to be the first music awards show to have its own dedicated channel on YouTube, devoted to news, views and blogs about the...

IN BRIEF: Sony BMG ordererd to pay compensation.
December 8, 2007... Sony BMG has been ordered to pay $5m (#2.4m) compensation to independent US record company Cleveland International Records in a row over a Meat Loaf reissue. The major failed to properly credit Cleveland International on copies of the reissued...

IN BRIEF: Live Nation to unveil raft of changes.
December 8, 2007... Live Nation was expected to unveil a raft of changes to the company over the weekend aimed at using its base as a concert promoter as a platform for expansion - including increasing its presence in small to medium-sized venues and moving into...

IN BRIEF: Doug Morris defends music industry.
December 8, 2007... Universal Music chairman and CEO Doug Morris has defended the music industry's initial reluctance to embrace download stores, claiming that the industry did not miss an opportunity but rather "didn't know what to do" about the situation. ...

IN BRIEF: Deutsche Grammophone catalogue available online.
December 8, 2007... Universal Music Group's classical division Deutsche Grammophon has made its catalogue available online with the launch of DG Web Shop. The site allows consumers in 40 countries to purchase DRM-free MP3s at the near- CD quality of 320kbps. ...

IN BRIEF: Reading and Leeds Festivals.
December 8, 2007... Festival Republic has confirmed that the Reading and Leeds Festivals will no longer be known as the Carling Weekend, after the promoter's relationship with the brewer came to an end. Copyright: CMP Information Ltd.

IN BRIEF: Beggars Group recruits Warp US chief in restructure.
December 8, 2007... Beggars Group has restructured, with the former head of Warp's US operation Simon Halliday taking day-to-day control of 4AD, Beggars Banquet and Too Pure. He replaces John Holborow, who becomes general manager of RCA. Copyright: CMP...

IN BRIEF: Licence to cover Plymouth on offer.
December 8, 2007... Ofcom is advertising a local FM commercial radio licence to cover Plymouth, after Australian investment bank Macquarie scrapped plans to launch a local FM radio station in the area. Copyright: CMP Information Ltd.

IN BRIEF: ISAN appointment.
December 8, 2007... Former PPL director of business development Clive Bishop is to become general manager of International Standard Audiovisual Number (ISAN) UK. ISAN provides a unique and internationally recognised reference number for each movie, television...

IN BRIEF: Mama Group investment.
December 8, 2007... Mama Group, owners of ChannelFly and the UK's Barfly venues, has made an initial investment of $6m (#2.9m) for a stake in the Nettwerk Music Group, as well as a further consideration of $8m (#3.9m) may become payable in a mixture in cash and...

NME to ride the airwaves with radio launch.
December 8, 2007... IPC and Sammy Jacob to compete with Emap broadcasting offshoots with complementary digital station planned for summer 2008 Xfm co-founder Sammy Jacob is teaming up with media giant IPC to launch a new digital station, NME Radio. The...

Hands' latest remarks do contain food for thought.
December 8, 2007... Terra Firma CEO's questioning of the glut of trade associations may well contain a cold, hard truth Don't be surprised if Guy Hands' invitations to the various trade association Christmas parties inadvertently go missing in the post in...

Derek Witt: CBS's man of music.
December 8, 2007... Industry bids farewell to much-loved veteran from pop's heyday, the `consumate artist relations executive' Former CBS Records artist relations executive Derek Witt died on November 23, after a short illness, at the age of 81. It was Witt...

"The music business needed men like Ken".
December 8, 2007... Ken East, a mover and shaker at the birth of modern music, has died at his home in Australia aged 83. An EMI executive during The Beatles' Sixties heyday, East also had the dubious honour of overseeing Decca's darkest days before rejoining...

THE BIG QUESTION: 08.12.07.
December 8, 2007... "Do you agree with Guy Hands' belief that the RIAA, IFPI and BPI don't offer the industry value for money because there is too much crossover between the three groups." John Kennedy, IFPI "This is an organisation which exists to serve...

Emma Banks wins Woman Of The Year.
December 8, 2007... Achievements of women in the music industry and media honoured A standing ovation greeted Woman Of The Year winner Emma Banks at the annual ceremony last Thursday, celebrating the achievements of women in the music industry and related...

BRIEF ENCOUNTER: Wyndham Wallace.
December 8, 2007... It is nowhere near among the bookmakers' favourites, but arguably stands as the most atmospheric and appropriate contender for the Christmas number one spot this year. The emotive spoken-word Hilli (At The Top Of The World) features the...

Online music video guides step up to the next level.
December 8, 2007... Two new sites enter the growing online music video tutorial market offering fresh and innovative services The growth sector of online music video tutorials is to expand with the launch of two new sites, both aimed as rivals to popular...

PARKINSON: Broadcast world bids adieu to all that jazz... for now.
December 8, 2007... As the curtain falls on Michael Parkinson's TV and radio shows, the adult music industry has lost a champion. But, as Parky reveals to Music Week in this exclusive interview, his singing and dancing days are not done yet... Had this been...

Dealing with retail's ghost of Christmas future.
December 8, 2007... Music retail has had a tough 2007, with hundreds of shops disappearing from the high street. Music Week examines how record stores are adapting in order to survive in the current unstable climate and maximise the potential of the all-important...

What next for radio in 2008?
December 8, 2007... In tandem with the rest of the music industry, the radio sector experienced a turbulent 2007, with regulation changes, takeovers and the ongoing learning curve that digital radio presents. And Music Week reports the choppy waters look set to...