Music Week articles from February 2003

Music Week archives from February 2003

Bowen to lead BMG UK after global restructure.
February 1, 2003... Tim Bowen is taking the helm of BMG UK and Ireland, with Hasse Breitholtz returning to his native Sweden. Bowen's succession as chairman and CEO was confirmed last Thursday in parallel with a restructuring of the major's global operations,...

Virgin in talks to buy Tower's remaining UK stores.
February 1, 2003... Virgin Retail is in exclusive negotiations with Tower Records about taking over its two remaining UK stores, as the US retailer prepares for a complete withdrawal from the market. The two locations, Tower's flagship Piccadilly store and the...

The record label behind David Holmes' Free Association is confident of securing further European festival dates for the band after they emerged as one of the highlights of last week's British At Midem showcase in Cannes.
February 1, 2003... The record label behind David Holmes' Free Association (pictured) is confident of securing further European festival dates for the band after they emerged as one of the highlights of last week's British At Midem showcase in Cannes. The band,...

HMV exits from German market.
February 1, 2003... HMV is blaming the "price-dominated" culture of Germany's music retail sector for a decision to pull the plug on its operations in the market. The retailer says its efforts to mirror the success of the business achieved in other countries...

French market bucks downward global sales trend. (news file).
February 1, 2003... The French record industry continued to be among the few countries to buck the global music sales downturn in 2002, according to industry organisation Snep's figures which were announced at Midem last Tuesday. The market recorded a 4.4% rise in...

Sanctuary announces 25% rise in pre-tax profits. (news file).
February 1, 2003... Sanctuary announced that its "low-risk" strategy of relying on long-lasting acts, such as Nell Young and Dolly Parton, helped it to a 25.4% increase in pre-tax profits from 15.7m [pounds sterling] to 20.4m [pounds sterling] for the year ending...

The cure sign deal with ArtistDirect with plans for new album. (news file).
February 1, 2003... ArtistDirect vice chairman Marc Geiger has announced the signing of The Cure to ArtistDirect Records. The band, whose two-decade career with Polydor was brought to a close at the end of 2001 with the release of Greatest Hits, will have a new...

Music choice unveils microsoft deal. (news file).
February 1, 2003... Music Choice unveiled a deal with Microsoft in which the broadcaster will offer its digital music channels via a broadband service. ISPs will be able to charge a standard fee for subscribers to access the Music Choice channels through the...

SXSW confirms Wilson and Lovett as keynote speakers. (news file).
February 1, 2003... Lyle Lovett and In The City's Tony Wilson were confirmed as additions to the keynote speakers at the South By South West Music & Media Conference from March 12 to 16. Lovett will speak on the Saturday of the event, in Austin, Texas, with Wilson...

Sonopress launches DVD Lite concept. (news file).
February 1, 2003... Sonopress unveiled its new "DVD Lite" concept, offering small labels a low-price point of entry to the format. Using the package, labels can add up to 90 minutes of video content, as well as standard, customisable menus.

Cherry Red marks 25th birthday with reissues. (news file).
February 1, 2003... Cherry Red announced that it is to mark its 25th anniversary this year with the reissue of a series of "never before on CD" titles and rarities. The label celebrates its birthday in June, 25 years after The Tights' Bad Hearts was the first...

Intermedia regional. (news file).
February 1, 2003... Intermedia Regional handled regional radio promotions on Craig David's What's Your Flava? and not as stated in last week's PR & Plugging supplement.

M W playlist. (news file).
February 1, 2003... RICHARD X AND LIBERTY X--Being Nobody (Virgin) Hot on the heels of Sugababes, the Xs team up for warped pop smash (single, March) THE DATSUNS--Harmonic Generator (V2) New Zealand's retro rockers crank up the pace with their finest track to...

Conference gasps as Wilson rant savages Popstars and Radio One. (Midem News).
February 1, 2003... Tony Wilson turned media assassin at this year's Midem, literally firing a crossbow at targets representing Popstars and Radio One. The In The City founder caused a packed press conference to take a sharp intake of breath last Monday as he...

Key support bucks 0D2 Download Day. (Midem News).
February 1, 2003... OD2's pan-European version of its Digital Download Day won the backing of high-profile industry players as it was officially unveiled at Midem. The online distribution platform's promotion offers consumers [euro] 5 worth of downloads from...

Software giants create buzz with DRM systems. (Midem News).
February 1, 2003... As labels continue their search for the best weapon in the battle against piracy, "digital rights management" became the unlikely buzz-phrase at Midem 2003. Encryption systems to protect music from piracy and offer consumers access to...

Leotard calls for pan-European VAT break. (Midem News).
February 1, 2003... Campaigners pressing for a cut in VAT rates on music across Europe used a European Commission-organised event in Cannes to issue a rallying call. France's roving ambassador on the issue Francois Leotard told the Music In Europe Day debate...

Robbie leads chorus of artists undermining piracy message. (Midem News).
February 1, 2003... The gulf between the corporate music industry and some artists' stance on piracy was laid bare at this year's Midem, as Robbie Williams was followed by other acts in publicly backing illegal copying. The EMI signing dominated the headlines...

Accolades flooded in for MTV Networks International president Bill Roedy, as he was honoured last Wednesday night as Midem 2003 person of the year. (Midem News).
February 1, 2003... Accolades flooded in for MTV Networks International president Bill Roedy (pictured), as he was honoured last Wednesday night as Midem 2003 person of the year. A dinner held in his honour at Cannes' Carlton Hotel attracted a host of industry...

Midem freezes its prices to help hard-hit industry. (Midem News).
February 1, 2003... Midem is freezing prices for the first time in its history next year as a symbolic gesture to the hard-hit music industry. The move comes as registrations for last week's Cannes event fell by 200 on 2002's figures to 8,800 delegates,...

Hit sparks Midem buzz for Panjabi MC's label. (Midem News).
February 1, 2003... Panjabi MC's label head Ninder Johal was finally a man in demand at this year's Midem conference, as Top Five hit Mundian To Bach Ke opened the way for a floodgate of deals. After years of failing to convince fellow delegates of the sales...

Rosen ponders new format as Sony moves into hybrid SACD. (Midem News).
February 1, 2003... The RIAA's Hilary Rosen has called for an end to the "format war" between SACD and DVD-Audio, as the industry seeks out new revenue streams from physical product. In a speech to MidemNet, the US trade organisation's chairman and CEO said a...

Robbie sparks piracy debate. (mw comment).
February 1, 2003... From being the chart-dominating darling of the Christmas market, to a piracy-supporting traitor within a matter of weeks--there is no half-way house with Robbie Williams. He is, of course, neither of those things. And to dismiss Williams'...

Girls on top of billboard list. (US chartfile).
February 1, 2003... The post-Christmas slump in sales of the Top 200 albums has been halted, at least temporarily. Sales last week increased by a slender 1.46%, driven by the arrival of the year's first significant new release. Debuting at number four, with sales...

Inflation and fewer best ofs cause 10% TV ad spend dip. (News).
February 1, 2003... A combination of fewer greatest hits packages and marginal TV inflation contributed to a 10% fall in TV advertising spends for the top-selling albums over the Christmas period. Spending by labels on the top 10 most-heavily-supported albums...

V2 secures funds from key investor. (News).
February 1, 2003... V2 has gone back to key shareholder Morgan Stanley for more funding, less than a year after the merchant banker took a significant stake in the Virgin-owned company. Both V2 and Morgan Stanley, which took a 47.5% equity stake in the music...

Marquee up for sale as partners fall out. (News).
February 1, 2003... A fall-out between the two partners behind the Marquee Club has written another chapter in the long and colourful history of the venue, which went into administration last week. Cash flow problems were being blamed on the administration,...

Gut severs ties with Tom Jones after Universal catalogue deal. (News).
February 1, 2003... Gut Records has severed its last links with Tom Jones by offloading its entire catalogue of recordings by the singer to Universal Music TV. The deal, which comes ahead of UMTV's release of a new Jones best of to capitalise on his Brits...

Bands playing at the forthcoming Snowbombing festival in Switzerland are set for a boost in media profile in the UK after ITV committed to covering the event with a series of daily programmes. (News).
February 1, 2003... Bands playing at the forthcoming Snowbombing festival in Switzerland are set for a boost in media profile in the UK after ITV committed to covering the event with a series of daily programmes. Seven 30-minute programmes will begin on March 28,...

EasyGroup set for day of judgment. (News).
February 1, 2003... The legal tussle between the BPI and easyGroup over Stelios Hajiloannou's internet cafe's CD-burning service is set for resolution tomorrow (Tuesday) when a judge is set to deliver a summary judgment. The record industry trade body and...

Big names add weight to surfers' compilation. (Talent).
February 1, 2003... A host of top acts have donated tracks towards the first compilation album to be released by Surfers Against Sewage, the environmental lobbying group calling for changes in Government policy on pollution. Robbie Williams, Coldplay, Feeder,...

UK artist Chicane has recorded a collaboration with US singer-songwriter Jewel for his third album. (Talent).
February 1, 2003... UK artist Chicane has recorded a collaboration with US singer-songwriter Jewel (both pictured) for his third album, which was completed last week. "Jewel was looking to do something to raise her profile in Europe, but it will also be a big...

Richard ups the X factor with new deal at Virgin. (Talent).
February 1, 2003... Even those who don't know of Richard X will have been touched by his reign over popular music culture during the past two years. X's alter ego Girls On Top constructed the records that wrote the bootleg rulebook which has dominated...

Less hot air at Midem as record labels talk deals. (Talent).
February 1, 2003... Despite a downturn in numbers attending Midem, this year's event proved to be a productive experience for record labels, according to the many UK executives attending the conference. "2003 was business instead of bollocks," says EMI Liberty...

Ministry revives substance. (news file).
February 1, 2003... Ministry of Sound is relaunching its Substance imprint after almost 18 months without a release. The label's last release, in summer 2001, was Norman Bass's How You Like Bass. The first single to be issued through the revived label will be a...

Rebirth of kitchenware. (news file).
February 1, 2003... Kitchenware, the label responsible for, among others, Prefab Sprout and Fatima Mansions, is to be relaunched. New artists signed to the label include Sirens, Kate Walsh and Kapitahl A, who have been described by label boss Keith Armstrong as a...

EMI signs scumpop act. (news file).
February 1, 2003... EMI Music Publishing has signed Rikki & Daz to a long-term deal. The "scumpop" duo will release their second single, Mellow, through Serious/Mercury in March. An album is also currently being recorded. JAMES ROBERTS (james@musicweek.com)

This week's BPI awards. (news file).
February 1, 2003... [BPI] ALBUMS: Kruder & Dorfmeister K&D Sessions (gold) Various Best Club Anthems 2003 (gold) The Datsuns The Datsuns (silver) SINGLES: Las Ketchup Las Ketchup Song (platinum) Source: BPI. Table shows latest new awards in the seven days...

Appleton: Don't Worry (Polydor 658182).
February 1, 2003... APPLETON: Don't Worry (Polydor 658182). Following their debut single as a duo, Fantasy, the Appleton sisters present their second offering from the album Everything's Eventual. Currently A-listed at Radio Two and B-listed at Radio One, Capital...

Red Hot Chili Peppers: Can't Stop (Warner W599CD1).
February 1, 2003... With the Peppers' album By The Way currently triple platinum in the UK, the US funk-rockers can seemingly do nothing wrong. This Radio One B-listed third single seems unlikely to do anything to disturb their massive success, with some sharp...

Sarah Whatmore: Automatic (RCA 82876504612).
February 1, 2003... The Pop Idol contender follows last year's Top 10 hit When I Lost You with this Eighties-flavoured slice of pop. With remixes from Stella Browne, Almighty and Robbie Rivera ensuring plays on the nation's poppier dancefloors, plus a C-listing at...

Hil St Soul: Alright (Gut CDGUT47).
February 1, 2003... Driven by a solid Eastern-flavoured remix from Mustaq, this follow-up to All That (+ A Bag O'Chips) is currently in the Top Five of MW's Urban Club Chart. However, lacking the mainstream airplay support of its predecessors, it looks unlikely to...

Idlewild: a Modern Way Of Letting Go (Parlophone CDR6598).
February 1, 2003... This is the fourth single from Idlewild's gold-selling album The Remote Part and sees the Scottish rockers return to their indie-rock roots. Tuneful but menacing, this two-minute blast of rock/pop will, no doubt, be one of the best-received...

Delta Goodrem: Born To Try (Sony).
February 1, 2003... She is 18, a star of Neighbours and she is quite a looker, with a decent pair of lungs on her. However, there is little in this pretty inoffensive but unmemorable ballad to suggest Goodrem is a star in the Holly Valance mould just yet.

Rhianna: I Love Every Little Thing About You (Sony S2 6733282).
February 1, 2003... This sparky little number pales against the soulful groove of Stevie Wonder's original, but it is a cool, groovy little offering all the same, especially in the Boilerhouse mix.

Masai: Do That Thing (Concept CDCON36X).
February 1, 2003... This sassy pop duo produce a sound not unsimilar to Atomic Kitten's uptempo output. This track--which has top five placing in the MW Club Chart--is a disco-tinged number that wouldn't be out of place on a Kylie album and should help the act...

Desert Eagle Discs: Bigger Better Deal (Echo ECSCD129).
February 1, 2003... [RECOMMENDED] Take Ms Dynamite, add a slice of Bernard Herrman and a hint of Deee-Lite and you have DED, whose last album made waves in 1999. Featuring Keisha White's sublime vocals and a song composed by Sia, this Radio One C-listed track...

The Polyphonic Spree: Light & Day (679 Recordings 679L015CD1).
February 1, 2003... The Spree have re-recorded this joyous and slightly loopy slice of wonderment from their eccentric debut album The Beginning Stages Of for single release. The 27-piece group embark on a UK tour this week.

Sinead Quinn: I Can't Break Down (Mercury 0637282).
February 1, 2003... This debut single from the most talented entrant to Fame Academy deserves success, regardless of the dated production. Quinn co-wrote the song with Glenister and Lew (Darius) and Quinn sounds strong and confident.

2PAC: Thugz Mansion (Interscope/ Polydor 4978542).
February 1, 2003... The new single finds 2Pac again strangely foretelling his own death from beyond the grave, imagining a place where he and his gangstas can rest in peace in an "iced-out sky-high paradise in the sky". It comes from the recent Suge...

The Datsuns: Harmonic Generator (Hell Squad/V2 VVR5021223).
February 1, 2003... [RECOMMENDED] V2 has wisely opted to release this standout track from the long-haired rockers' self-titled debut album as their next single. The retro-style grunge from this New Zealand band is causing quite a stir right now, with a UK...

JJ72: Always And Forever (Columbia 6734322).
February 1, 2003... The Gaelic threesome's second single from their album I To Sky is set to become their fifth Top 30 hit. Producer John Leckie's re-record complements Greaney's quality lyrics, and it should please both traditional JJ fans and romantics alike.

Matchbox Twenty: Disease (Atlantic AT0145CD).
February 1, 2003... Frontman Rob Thomas' duet with Santana seems to be paying dividends for Matchbox Twenty's profile in the UK, with radio now warming to their US MOR sound. With a Wembley Arena gig already selling fast, this single could see the band achieve...

Blazin' Squad: Reminisce/Where The Story Ends (East West SQUAD03CD1).
February 1, 2003... The first side of this single highlights the weakness of the 10-piece's vocal abilities and wouldn't even pass as a demo for many of their peers. But their core teen audience will buy it in its first week no matter what, so expect a high chart...

Kelly Osbourne: Shut Up (Epic 5094782).
February 1, 2003... RECOMMENDED Ms O's first album is pretty much what one would expect given her background. It is slamming nu-punk from the off, with a breather for a ballad which her voice is unfortunately not quite strong enough to carry. At times it is...

T.A.T.U.: 200KM/H In The Wrong Lane (Interscope/Polydor 0674562).
February 1, 2003... These 13 servings of teen-angst techno pop, touched by the hand of Trevor Horn, could wrestle Christina et al off the stage. Potential predictability is kept at bay with a seemingly incongruous but fruitful cover of The Smiths' How Soon Is...

The Be Good Tanyas: Chinatown (EMI 5814632).
February 1, 2003... After the critical and, for a folk album, commercial success of Blue Horse, Canada's Tanyas return with a new album that has been sensibly picked up by EMI. Let's hope that they do as good a job with Chinatown as Nettwerk did with Blue Horse,...

Massive Attack: 100th Window (Melankolic/ Virgin CDV2967).
February 1, 2003... RECOMMENDED Although certain to provoke frustration from those who swooned to Unfinished Sympathy, this dense, shadowy album is simply expanding on the brooding menace offered on Mezzanine. 100th Window is no walk in the park, but Massive...

Echoboy: Giraffe (Mute CDStumm200).
February 1, 2003... Multi-instrumentalist Richard Warren delivers a fine collection of 10 tracks for his third album under the Echoboy moniker. Indie fans who fondly remember Echoboy's 2000 single Kit & Holly will be satisfied with this album, which cleverly...

Zwan: Mary Star Of The Sea (WEA 9362484362).
February 1, 2003... Billy Corgan's new band has been billed as a marriage of equals, with Matt Sweeney of Chavez, Papa M/Slint's Dave Pajo, former Smashing Pumpkins drummer Jimmy Chamberlin and A Perfect Circle's Paz Lenchantin on board. In practice, some of the...

Samira Said: Youm Wara Youm (EMI 5409892).
February 1, 2003... This was nominated for a Radio Three World Music Award which, after a listen, is no surprise. A duet with rai star Cheb Mami, the introduction of dance beats and the judicious use of a DJ makes it an album for every occasion.

Kelly Rowland: Simply Deep (Columbia 5096042).
February 1, 2003... KELLY ROWLAND: Simply Deep (Columbia 5096042). This is a consummate example of US R&B-lite, as one would expect from someone who has been instrumental in selling more than 28m records. From the classy simplicity of the new single, Stole, and...

Busta Rhymes: It Ain't Safe No More (J Records/BMG 74321981252).
February 1, 2003... Busta's sixth album is a bit of a mixed affair. The version of Make It Clap which features Sean Paul is a great pointer to the future, but tracks such as Call An Ambulance show nothing but stasis. Busta falls somewhere between experimental...

Erlend Oye: Unrest (Source 8133212).
February 1, 2003... This is the debut solo effort from the bespectacled Kings Of Convenience frontman and guest Royksopp vocalist, who has carved out a niche as the wistful voice of downtempo. Unrest gives him the opportunity to explore his electronic edge. But...

Joy Zipper: American Whip (13 Amp AMP005CD).
February 1, 2003... This second long-player from the harmonious duo displays a perfect blend of lush production and arresting songs. American Whip is a thrilling melange of sounds and ideas, but it is the duo's lackadaisical song construction which makes this...

Stylophonic: Man Music Technology (Prolifica CDPR011).
February 1, 2003... Italy's Stephano Fontana builds on the single If Everybody In The World... with these 14 sampledelic tracks of disco, beats and breaks. Alongside the likes of Jolly Music, he shows his country can match France as a source of idiosyncratic yet...

Calexico: Feast Of Wine (City Slang 5816932).
February 1, 2003... This offers more of the Tucson, Arizona band's distinctively eclectic, strings-and-brass-enhanced, Tex-Mex frontier soundtrack music and strengthens their reputation as a band that rarely, if ever, disappoints.

Various: SourceLabs--16 Classiques de 1995-2002 (Source CDSOUR056).
February 1, 2003... The respected French electronic label oozes elegance and class on this double CD which celebrates its output to date. Early tracks from acts such as Air, Daft Punk and Alex Gopher highlight how it has consistently unearthed innovative French...

All the charts: exposure.
February 1, 2003... CD UK Performance: Cry Me A River Justin Timberlake; Automatic Sarah Whatmore; Lifestyles Of The Rich & Famous Good Charlotte; Here It Comes Again Melanie C; Seen The Light Supergrass; Cochise Audioslave; Stop Living The Lie David Sneddon...

The official UK airplay charts top 50.
February 1, 2003... AIRPLAY COMMENTARY It is fairly rare for tracks to top the airplay chart prior to commercial release, rarer still for them to subsequently relinquish their leadership of the chart while still on promo. But that is what Kelly Rowland's...

The official UK singles chart top 75.
February 1, 2003... The official UK charts singles SINGLES COMMENTARY David Sneddon's Living The Lie manages a comfortable second week at number one, despite suffering a savage 58% slide in sales week-on-week. The Fame Academy winner's single sold 45,500...

The official UK albums chart top 75.
February 1, 2003... The official UK charts albums ALBUMS COMMENTARY After more than 21 years as an independent record label, Jive was officially integrated into BMG last week and instantly gifts its new owners with a number one album, as 'N Sync star...

The official UK charts: specialist.
February 1, 2003... THE OFFICIAL UK CHARTS SPECIALIST CLASSICAL ARTIST This Last Title Artist Label (Distributor) 1 1 SENTIMENTO Andrea Bocelli Philips 4734102 (U) 2 2 REPRISE ...

Kembles. (Store Of The Week).
February 1, 2003... PAUL WATKINS, CO-OWNER "One of the biggest problems for the independent retailer at the moment is the way that the major supermarkets seem to just mess around with CDs. They wreck the prices for Top 20 albums, so much so that people feel...

In-store next week: from 3/2/03. (Frontline).
February 1, 2003... Windows--Feeder, Minority Report; In-store--3rd Edge, Beenie Man, Hell Is For Heroes, Richard Ashcroft, John Silver, Feeder, Milk Inc, DJ Otzi, Tenacious D, Shakira, Jennifer Lopez, Rolling Stones, Atomic Kitten, Now 53, The Music, Hil St Soul,...

Sales watch: busted. (Frontline).
February 1, 2003... SALES WATCH: BUSTED BUSTED: BUSTED (UNIVERSAL) LW Chart position: 5. Pie charts show sales by retailer type and geographical region respectively, for sales week to the end of January 18, 2003. Source: Official Charts...

New release countdown. (Frontline).
February 1, 2003... ALBUMS This week Erasure Other People's Songs (Mute); More Fire Crew More Fire Crew CV (Polydor); Reef Together--The Best Of (S2) February 3 Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds Nocturama (Mute); Robin Gibb Magnet (SPV); Tom McRae Just...

... Diary ... diary ... (Jazz).
February 1, 2003... Louis Moholo's Dedication Orchestra, an historic big band which was formed to uphold the legacy of pioneering London-based South African musicians, embarks on a UK tour in March. Organised by CMN, the tour will feature the orchestra at full...

Stefon Harris hits right note on bold new album. (Jazz).
February 1, 2003... Along with pianist Jason Moran, vibraphonist Stefon Harris is one of the 20-somethings (he's actually 29 years old) who seems to be the future of Blue Note. And in the past few years he has impressively made the transition from boy wonder with...

Mistura: Coast To Coast (FMR/Dissenter FMR CD101-J0702).
February 1, 2003... Rowland Sutherland's Mistura project, which has been on the go for several years, once released singles on the Mo'Wax label. It is nice to see that the outfit has now released this, its debut long-player. This is one for anybody brought up on...

Various: Impressed With Gilles Peterson (Universal Jazz 0647492).
February 1, 2003... This compilation, which surfaced in the dying days of 2002, is well worth checking out. A celebratory cross-section of mostly mid-Sixties British jazz, the set has been compiled by Gilles Peterson and features the usual suspects from...

Jacky Terrasson: Smile (Blue Note 7243).
February 1, 2003... This piano trio record, which surfaced at the tail end of 2002, is the sixth solo outing for the label by the 30-something Franco-American who, despite an obviously impressive technique, has not quite managed to deliver that killer album that...

Mal Waldron: One More Time (Sketch SKE 333023).
February 1, 2003... French label Sketch had a year of sustained quality in 2002 with excellent releases by Daniel Humair, John Taylor, Kenny Wheeler and Ricardo Del Fra, Stephane Oliva and veteran American expatriate Mai Waldron, who issued this truly sublime...

Wayne Shorter: Alegria (Universal Jazz/Verve 5435582). (Jazz).
February 1, 2003... WAYNE SHORTER: Alegria (Universal Jazz/Verve 5435582). Soprano and tenor saxophonist Wayne Shorter's Footprints Live! was one of the critical successes of 2002. It marked a triumphant return to an acoustic setting after three decades of making...