Music Week articles from February 2001

Music Week archives from February 2001

EC reopens CD row in new price probe.
February 3, 2001... The European Commission dropped a bombshell on the European record industry last week when it confirmed it had opened an investigation into illegal CD price-fixing -- despite receiving no complaints and having no evidence that a cartel exists....

MIDEM NEWS.
February 3, 2001... Government minister Dr Kim Howells voiced his support for the UK music industry while in Cannes last week for his second visit to Midem, but warned about the potential dangers of over-lobbying on the key EU Copyright Directive. "As a country we...

Emap ready to rock in magazine launch.
February 3, 2001... Emap Performance's rock division has unveiled launch plans for a rock lifestyle title just weeks after closing alternative indie title Select. The new lifestyle glossy -- titled Kingsize -- is aimed primarily at the 16- to 34-year-old...

Stringer moves to unveil new-look Sony team.
February 3, 2001... Rob Stringer has instigated his first significant shake-up since becoming Sony UK chairman/CEO with a series of key promotions across the company. Stringer, who took over from Paul Burger last October, has, as expected, broadened the...

Robbie on course for Brits hat-trick.
February 3, 2001... Robbie Williams is on course for a hat-trick in the Brits best British single and video categories for the third year running after being nominated in both for Rock DJ. The EMI:Chrysalis artist won the best single prize in 1999 with Angels...

Virgin Megastores explore new territories worldwide.
February 3, 2001... Virgin Entertainment Group is taking its Megastores brand into previously uncharted territories such as Lebanon as it looks outside the UK to expand the operation. A franchising agreement in Beirut will see the retailer opening a store in...

Publishers compete for Michael's Eighties hits.
February 3, 2001... Leading publishers are competing to acquire the international sub-publishing licence for a key part of George Michael's back catalogue. The repertoire under consideration covers the period between Wham!'s first UK hit single Young Guns (Go...

Marot in management move after quitting Music3W role.
February 3, 2001... Marc Marot has confirmed a move into artist management following his departure from Music3W last year by taking on Richard Ashcroft and Paul Oakenfold. Although the former Universal-Island managing director has retained his shareholding in...

Sky moves live music back to pay-per-view.
February 3, 2001... Sky UK is switching back its live music coverage from Sky One to pay-per-view channel Sky Box Office, starting with Westlife's Dublin concert on March 31. Sky Box Office ran its first pay-per-view live concert with Robbie Williams in June...

Copyright Directive nears final stages.
February 3, 2001... The European Commission's legal affairs committee is set to rubber-stamp the future legal parameters for rights holders in the digital world when it votes on proposed amendments to the Copyright Directive tomorrow (Tuesday). The committee...

NEWS: news file.
February 3, 2001... WARNER RESTRUCTURES US STAFFING Hundreds of senior Warner Music Group executives in the US are set to receive offers of redundancy packages in the next few days as part of the US group's sweeping cost-cutting measures following the...

WHY WE DON'T NEED EC INQUIRY.
February 3, 2001... It is easy to see why the EC officials are sometimes accused of behaving like a bunch of meddling bureaucrats. Just weeks after effectively rejecting the merger of EMI and Warner Music and just days before they may be requested to review...

WHY FEWER DOTCOMS IS GOOD NEWS.
February 3, 2001... What a difference a year makes. The most common observation made by many of us just returned from Midem, was the distinct lack of interest in internet companies compared with last year. At Midem 2000 dotcom companies abounded, taking over a...

Organisations unite for internet `identifier' plan.
February 3, 2001... Four of the global music industry's biggest organisations announced at Midem they had joined forces to develop a ground breaking initiative to identify and track music on the internet, writes Hamish Champ. The RIAA and IFPI, together with...

Clearer focus dominates as dotcoms face reality check.
February 3, 2001... Dotcom exhibitors demonstrated that less is more at Midem 2001 as a 20% fall in the number of online stands was offset by some intriguing launches, a clearer focus and a growing sense of integration. The wild predictions, bewildering hype...

Midemnet puts marketing top of the agenda.
February 3, 2001... The growing pains experienced last year by the nascent internet music market are expected to continue as companies jockey for position until clear business models emerge, writes Susan Nunziata. Panellists at the Midemnet conference in...

New Daft Punk album to carry ground-breaking online offer.
February 3, 2001... Daft Punk fans are to be given access to free digitally-protected content in an offer accompanying the Virgin Records act's forthcoming album Discovery. A plastic membership card to the newly-launched Daft Club will be given away with the...

Aim offers online sales solution for indie labels.
February 3, 2001... Aim's independent label members have the chance to start selling their repertoire online following the launch of a specially created e-commerce web platform. The software has been produced in conjunction with technology company DigMedia as...

Business is brisk for Brits as Midem notes dotcom decline.
February 3, 2001... If any further evidence were really needed of the massive dotcom shake-out, then a quick wander around Midem 2001's stands would have provided it. After two successive years when new media companies' presence hit delegates at every twist...

Industry invited to apply for EC cash.
February 3, 2001... The European Commission is inviting music industry companies to apply for financing from two new funds launched to support ventures in the audio and audio visual sectors. Speaking at a panel jointly hosted by the EC and European indie body...

MTV Awards to make German return.
February 3, 2001... Germany is to become the first country to host the MTV Europe Awards for a second time when this year's event takes place at Frankfurt's The Festhalle on November 8. The announcement of the location was made at a press conference at Midem...

midem quotes.
February 3, 2001... `At Midem 2000, record labels were exploring the possibilities of digital distribution and this year they are doing it. People are a lot keener now to put up their headline acts rather than just some back catalogue, because they can tell this...

MARKETING: news file.
February 3, 2001... SMASH HITS IN TV SHOW ISSUE Emap is producing a one-off version of Smash Hits to promote the TV show Popstars. Under the deal, negotiated between Emap's managing director of pop Trevor Dann and Granada Television, the magazine will be...

3MV & Vital in van sales link.
February 3, 2001... 3MV and Vital are launching a joint venture van sales operation at the start of March to serve specialist dance retailers in London and the South East. Union Van Sales will provide a one-stop-shop for retailers to access Vital and 3MV...

Joy as The Fly's circulation tops 100,000.
February 3, 2001... The Fly, the free music magazine produced by Channelfly and distributed via record shops and live venues, has achieved a monthly circulation of 101,383 in its first ABC audit. The magazine began as a fanzine in May 1997 with a circulation...

Virgin playlist revamp targets older listeners.
February 3, 2001... Virgin Radio is revamping its music policy to attract what programme director Henry Owens refers to as the "musically disenfranchised". The refocused programming is an attempt to grow its 30- to 40-year-old mainly male target audience...

MARKETING.
February 3, 2001... Universal-Island's MCA label manager David Quirk and media buying agency Target Media are planning an ambitious 3D poster on the infamous 96-sheet billboard site on London's Cromwell Road to promote the launch of Semisonic's new album All About...

Radio First seals Derby County deal to launch fourth local radio station.
February 3, 2001... Digital radio group Radio First has signed its fourth deal with a Premiership football club to launch a 24-hour local station playing up to 75% music. The latest 12-year contract has been signed with Derby County and is part of Radio...

chart file.
February 3, 2001... * London's Sugababes have entered the Top 20 UK airplay hits in Europe chart this week as Overload increases its build in Germany, moving up five places to 14 on the airplay chart. Overload is also the biggest airplay grower of the week in the...

Source links up Mark B & Blade with local acts for Euro market.
February 3, 2001... Wordplay/Source Records is seeking to maximise the pan-European appeal of Mark B & Blade by teaming up the UK rap duo with an A-list of European rappers to record locally-flavoured versions of their forthcoming single The Unknown. The...

INTERNATIONAL.
February 3, 2001... Xtravaganza and Sine are preparing a busy promotional schedule to build on the growing international sales and club success of Public Domain's single Operation Blade. The single, which has already sold more than 100,000 units in Germany, enters...

AMERICAN CHARTWATCH.
February 3, 2001... The Beatles' 1 is the best-selling album in America for the eighth time in 10 weeks. Its lead at the top of the chart has been slashed from 69,000 to 12,000 by Shaggy, who has more luck on the singles chart, where It Wasn't Me climbs into pole...

A & R: news file.
February 3, 2001... MINISTRY CLINCHES BASS DEAL Ministry Of Sound last week struck a liensing deal for How U Like Bass? By Norman Bass -- the first track from the German producers Warp Brothers' new label Groove Trax Productions. Completed at Midem, the deal...

First Avenue broadens base with Neo link-up.
February 3, 2001... First Avenue is moving away from its pop R&B roots with the launch of a label venture with Eddie Gordon's dance company Neo Records. The venture represents the first independent label deal for the management and production company, which...

A&R.
February 3, 2001... Food/Parlophone act Idlewild are due to break from recording their third studio album with Stephen Street to undertake their first significant US tour, centred around a performance at SXSW in Austin, Texas in March. Their visit will support...

A&R deals loom for Eurovision hopefuls.
February 3, 2001... A&R interest in the contenders for Song For Europe heightened last week as the four finalists were unveiled via a phone vote on Radio Two. None of the four tracks or artists has yet been signed for record deals, though two parties are expecting...

Metcalfe returns with Euro publishing role.
February 3, 2001... Former EMI:Chrysalis A&R director Sas Metcalfe has returned to the industry as European creative director of Kobalt Music, a new music publishing joint venture between Sweden's Diesel 2 Publishing and venture capital group Sparkidea. The...

THE OFFICIAL UK SINGLES CHART TOP 75.
February 3, 2001... OFFICIAL UK SINGLES CHART [TABULAR DATA NOT REPRODUCIBLE IN ASCII] TITLES A-Z 911 42 All Hooked Up 28 All I Do ...

THE OFFICIAL UK ALBUMS CHART TOP 75.
February 3, 2001... [TABULAR DATA NOT REPRODUCIBLE IN ASCII] ARTIST A-Z ABBA 72 ALL SAINTS 23 ANASTACIA 6 ARTFUL DODGER 47 BADLY DRAWN BOY 27 BEATLES, The ...

THE OFFICIAL CHARTS.
February 3, 2001... let me entertain you Why do 1,250,000 15-34 year olds read 17 million pages on our site each month? They visit dotmusic to get the very latest music news, charts, reviews, interviews and much more. Because no matter what type of music...

SPECIALIST.
February 3, 2001... MID-PRICE Label This Last Title Artist (distributor) 1 NEW WESTLIFE Westlife RCA 74321713212 ...

DANCE.
February 3, 2001... CHART COMMENTARY Chaka Khan topped the Club Chart in both 1978 and 1989 with I'm Every Woman, Whitney Houston's cover did likewise in 1993, and, keeping the spirit if not the letter of the song alive at the top of the chart for the fourth...

EXPOSURE.
February 3, 2001... CHART COMMENTARY No change in the top three this week, with Jennifer Lopez's Love Don't Cost A Thing registering its third straight week at the top of the chart, pursued by Texas' Inner Smile and Rui Da Silva's Touch Me. Both Lopez and...

THE OFFICIAL UK AIRPLAY CHARTS TOP 50.
February 3, 2001... [TABULAR DATA NOT REPRODUCIBLE IN ASCII] BBC RADIO 1 97-99 FM RADIO ONE No of plays Title This...

DIDO: Here With Me.
February 3, 2001... DIDO: Here With Me (Arista 74321 832732). While no-one needs the Dido/Eminem story to be repeated again, their collaboration on Stan has undoubtedly been the tool for her solo breakthrough this side of the pond. As Stan fever fades, radio...

THE KINGS OF CONVENIENCE: Winning The Battle, Losing The War.
February 3, 2001... RECOMMENDED THE KINGS OF CONVENIENCE: Winning The Battle, Losing The War (Source SOURCDS018). Undoubtedly one of the highlights of their acclaimed UK debut album, this is another example of the Kings' winsome urban folk music. The package...

MY VITRIOL: Always.
February 3, 2001... MY VITRIOL: Always (Infectious infect95cdsp). My Vitriol signed to Infectious when this track was first released in December 1999. Easily their best single to date, this Radio One B-listed re-release should bring them enough exposure to bridge...

NELLY: E.I.
February 3, 2001... RECOMMENDED NELLY: E.I. (Universal NELLYCD2). Taken from Nelly's 5m-selling debut album Country Grammar, E.I. looks like a good contender to strengthen the US rapper's reputation in the UK. As funky and idiosyncratic as its Top 10 predecessor...

MELANIE B: Feels So Good.
February 3, 2001... MELANIE B: Feels So Good (Virgin VSCD1787). The third most added track at radio last week, this sees Melanie B teaming up with R&B duo Jam & Lewis. Despite a C-listing at Radio One, it will need to perform very well if it is to revive the...

ANGELIC: Can't Keep Me Silent.
February 3, 2001... ANGELIC: Can't Keep Me Silent (Serious SERR023). This commercial trance track from from Amanda O'Riordan -- aka Mrs Judge Jules -- is a suitable follow-up to the number 11 It's My Turn. Boosted by an A-listing at Radio One, this should give...

BBMAK: Back Here.
February 3, 2001... RECOMMENDED BBMAK: Back Here (Telstar CDSTAS 3166). Having sold more than 1m albums in the US, this melodic British trio return home for a second attempt to make an impact in the UK. The group spent last summer touring with Britney Spears, and...

VENGABOYS: Forever As One.
February 3, 2001... VENGABOYS: Forever As One (Positiva CDTIVDJ148). The Vengaboys release their big ballad in time for Valentine's Day. Without their trademark uptempo hooks, the track lacks the big chorus or wide-range vocal needed for mass appeal.

EXPERIMENTAL POP BAND: Bang Bang You're Dead.
February 3, 2001... EXPERIMENTAL POP BAND: Bang Bang You're Dead (City Slang 20166-2). The long-running Bristol band make a welcome return with this taster for their album The Tracksuit Trilogy. The band deal in cheeky sample-scattered breakbeats topped with Davey...

LUCID: Out There.
February 3, 2001... LUCID: Out There (Delirious DELICD20). Manchester-based dance trio Lucid return with another slice of Sash-style pop-trance. Despite strong vocals from Clare Canty, its arpeggiated synth formula cannot escape sounding somewhat dated.

THE ORB: Once More.
February 3, 2001... RECOMMENDED THE ORB: Once More (Universal Island CID767). The good ship Paterson sets sail for the first time since 1998's UF Off album, this time on a considerably more even keel. Once More heralds something of a return to form, with Teutonic...

DEBELAH MORGAN: Dance With Me.
February 3, 2001... DEBELAH MORGAN: Dance With Me (Atlantic/East West AT0087CD). This infectious track displays a strong tango influence. The single has received airplay on MTV and the Box and precedes Morgan's forthcoming album of the same name.

DAKOTA OAK: How Danny's Friends Became A Force For Good.
February 3, 2001... DAKOTA OAK: How Danny's Friends Became A Force For Good (Twisted Nerve TN021). Manchester's Dakota Oak create pastoral post-rock with electronica frills. The single has a similar shambolic appeal to labelmate Badly Drawn Boy's more experimental...

X-ITE: Let Mo Love You.
February 3, 2001... X-ITE: Let Mo Love You (Multiply CDMULTY71). This reworking of Kariya's 1989 classic Let Me Love You For Tonight is proving popular on the garage scene. Remixes come from Ed Case, Electronique Boutique and G-Club.

THE WATERBOYS: Is She Conscious?
February 3, 2001... THE WATERBOYS: Is She Conscious? (RCA 74321836492). The second single from the A Rock In The Weary Land album should go some way to kick-starting a sales rush. Singled out for praise by the Sunday Times Culture section and Mojo, this...

PHOTEK: Mine To Give.
February 3, 2001... RECOMMENDED PHOTEK: Mine To Give (Science QEDCD10). Better known for his drum & bass releases, Rupert Parkes unleashes this superb slice of Chicago-style house topped by emotional vocals from Robert Owens. Already tipped as a future classic, it...

KING BRITT PRESENTS SYLK 130 FEAT. ALMA HORTON: Happiness.
February 3, 2001... KING BRITT PRESENTS SYLK 130 FEAT. ALMA HORTON: Happiness (Six Degrees 657036 5040-2). Ovum label co-founder King Britt is the man behind this Eighties-flavoured track featuring Last Night A DJ Saved My Life vocalist Horton. Bass-heavy funk in...

FINGATHING FEAT. MR SCRUFF: Just Practise.
February 3, 2001... FINGATHING FEAT. MR SCRUFF: Just Practise (Grand Central GC138). Fingathing have been seeping into the nation's consciousness through tracks being used as soundbeds on BBC2 and Radio 5. This delightfully quirky number could help raise their...

ZOOT WOMAN: You And I.
February 3, 2001... RECOMMENDED ZOOT WOMAN: You And I (Wall Of Sound WALLD069). Les Rhythmes Digitales' Jacques Lu Cont once again dives unashamedly aboard the Eighties revival bandwagon, only this time the world is in tune with his vision. The forthcoming album...

Album of the week.
February 3, 2001... DAVID GRAY: Lost Songs 95-98 (East West 8573869532). Originally released on Gray's own IHT label, this Brit-nominated album is marked by drifting melancholy and features material self-written between 1995 and 1998. Riding high on his recent...

PAPA ROACH: Infest.
February 3, 2001... RECOMMENDED PAPA ROACH: Infest (DreamWorks 450 223-2). With numetal going increasingly mainstream, the timing is perfect for Papa Roach's uncompromising sound. The Californian four-piece rock hard, and add extra interest with deft use of rap....

JOHN FRUSCIANTE: To Record Only Water For Ten Days.
February 3, 2001... (WEA 9362480452). Frusciante rejoined the Chili Peppers for their latest album, although he appears intent on continuing with his solo career. This latest solo venture provides a mix of mellow guitar-driven tracks, all written and performed by...

JOHN FRUSCIANTE: To Record Only Water For Ten Days BS2000: Simply Mortified.
February 3, 2001... JOHN FRUSCIANTE: To Record Only Water For Ten Days BS2000: Simply Mortified (Grand Royal GR093CD). Adam Horovitz and Amery Smith team up for another East Coast-West Coast knees-up on Simply Mortified. Organ-fuelled bossa grooves and cheesy...

VARIOUS: Brit Awards 2001 -- Album Of The Year.
February 3, 2001... VARIOUS: Brit Awards 2001 -- Album Of The Year (Sony Music TV STVCD104). This predictable collection of tracks from Brit-nominated artists includes hits by acts such as Coldplay, Toploader, Robbie Williams and Britney Spears.

VARIOUS: Tribes Of Da Underground.
February 3, 2001... VARIOUS: Tribes Of Da Underground (Infracom IC 0091). This collection of high-quality jazz-flecked grooves is the work of Michael Rutten. The appeal of the collection lies in hard-to-find mixes by acts such as 4 Hero and Two Banks Of Four which...

THE FLAMING STARS: A Walk On The Wired Sound.
February 3, 2001... THE FLAMING STARS: A Walk On The Wired Sound (Vinyl Japan ASKCD121). Perennial Peel favourites The Flaming Stars return with their fourth studio album. A Walk On The Wired Sound fuses garage punk and Spaghetti Western twang with a bit of Tom...

VARIOUS: Brazilian Beats 2.
February 3, 2001... VARIOUS: Brazilian Beats 2 (Mr Bongo MRB1CD18), This follow-up to the acclaimed first instalment features another double helping of Latin vibes. Reworkings of club favourites from River Ocean and Masters At Work are included alongside more...

VARIOUS: The Chillout Session.
February 3, 2001... VARIOUS: The Chillout Session (Ministry Of Sound MOSCD15). The Ministry heads downtempo with the first in this new series. CD1 ranges from indie (Badly Drawn Boy) to drum & bass (LTJ Bukem) to leftfield sounds (Lemon Jelly), while CD2 features...

LOWGOLD: Just Backward Of Being Square.
February 3, 2001... RECOMMENDED LOWGOLD: Just Backward Of Being Square (Nude NUDE17CD). Compiling all of their recent, highly-acclaimed tracks, this album is a strong debut for the young quartet. Showcasing their melancholy guitar sound, it includes their current...

LOW: Things We Lost In The Fire.
February 3, 2001... LOW: Things We Lost In The Fire (Tugboat TUGCD 027). This fifth album from Low is once again produced by Steve Albini. While the album does not waver from their blueprint of resonant solemnity, it still weaves a powerful spell. The band's...

JACKPOT: Weightless.
February 3, 2001... JACKPOT: Weightless (Munich MRCD211). Compared in some quarters to Cake, Jackpot hail from Placerville, California. Coming from the alt.country prairie that sent us Calexico, Wilco and many others, this is an affecting album but their best is...

VARIOUS: Stiff, Stiffer, Stiffest.
February 3, 2001... RECOMMENDED VARIOUS: Stiff, Stiffer, Stiffest (Metro METRCD042). A new outing from one of the greatest catalogues ever. Now licensed by Union Square Music and released on its Metro imprint, this set features beautiful tracks from the late,...

STEPHEN MALKMUS: Stephen Malkmus.
February 3, 2001... RECOMMENDED STEPHEN MALKMUS: Stephen Malkmus (Domino WIGCD90). While Pavement had a strong cult following, they failed to achieve crossover success. However their influence on the post-Britpop scene (most notably on Blur) cannot be understated....

WARNER TO RECORD NEW UK RELEASES.
February 3, 2001... Warner Classics UK is to start producing its own recordings for the domestic market. The material, which will appear under the Warner Music UK umbrella but will be marketed by Warner Classics UK, will initially be limited to two or three...

CELTIC TENORS TARGET UK CHARTS.
February 3, 2001... Three of Ireland's finest young singers are benefiting from the promotional and marketing power of EMI Classics. The Celtic Tenors -- an act tipped for success in the UK classical and crossover charts -- were signed to EMI last year after...

RENEE FLEMING SINGS ROSMONDA D'INGHILTERRA.
February 3, 2001... For records released up to February 12 2001 RENEE FLEMING SINGS ROSMONDA D'INGHILTERRA. Fleming; Geoffrey Mitchell Choir; Philharmonia Orchestra/Parry (Opera Rara ORR 214), A generous highlights disc extracted from Opera Rara's acclaimed...

ROSLAVETS: Piano Trios Nos 2-4.
February 3, 2001... ROSLAVETS: Piano Trios Nos 2-4. Trio Fontenay (Teldec 8573-83017-2). An innovator and musical iconoclast who fell foul of the Soviet authorities in the Thirties, Nikolai Roslavets deserves reconsideration today. The Trio Fontenay from Hamburg...

SVIASTOSLAV RICHTER -- OUT OF LATER YEARS Vol.1.
February 3, 2001... SVIASTOSLAV RICHTER -- OUT OF LATER YEARS Vol.1. Works by JS Bach, Brahms and Beethoven. Richter (Live Classics LCL 471). These live performances date from the last years of the legendary Russian pianist's career and include a majestically...

BARBER: Concerto for Cello; Medea; Adagio for Strings.
February 3, 2001... BARBER: Concerto for Cello; Medea; Adagio for Strings. Warner; RSNO/Alsop (Naxos 8.559088). The second volume of Barber orchestral works from Marin Alsop and the Royal Scottish National Orchestra is promoted as Naxos' February disc of the month...

RETAIL FOCUS: AVALANCHE.
February 3, 2001... After its busiest Christmas ever, Edinburgh indie Avalanche was anticipating a comfortable respite in customer traffic to give it the opportunity to tidy up. However, according to owner Kevin Buckle this did not happen. Returning office workers...