Music Week articles from February 2004

Music Week archives from February 2004

Indies in stand-off with MTV: network seeks to strike new deals.(Music TV)
February 7, 2004... Artists such as The White Stripes, Craig David and Basement Jaxx could disappear from MTV's channels following the eruption of a potentially damaging row between independent labels and the TV company. MTV stands accused of "bully boy"...

LMC fly to top with Clouds hit.
February 7, 2004... Dance independent All Around The World was yesterday (Sunday) on course to score the first number one single in its 13-year history with LMC Vs U2's Take Me To The Clouds Above. The single was last week outselling its nearest rivals...

Sponsors line up for MW awards.(Bottom line)
February 7, 2004... * MTV, Deluxe, Millward Brown and Pre-Vu are among the latest sponsors to be confirmed for the Music Week Awards, which take place at the Grosvenor House Hotel on March 4 MTV is sponsoring the A&R award, with Deluxe sponsoring the top...

Sony Music.(Bottom line)
February 7, 2004... The success of Michael Jackson's Number Ones, Beyonce's Dangerously In Love and the Now! 14 US compilation helped lift Sony Music's sales and operating profit for the three months to December 31, 2003, according to figures issued last week....

Scottish Media Group.(Bottom line)
February 7, 2004... Virgin Radio owner Scottish Media Group is looking for a new chairman after it was announced last week that Don Cruickshank will be leaving the position in June.

Red Hot Chili Peppers.(Bottom line)
February 7, 2004... The web allocation of WEA London act Red Hot Chili Peppers' Hyde Park tickets sold out in record time last week, with 55,000 snapped up in 24 hours. A further 30,000 tickets for the 85,000 capacity gig on June 19 simultaneously went on general...

Warner poaches Island chief.(People)
February 7, 2004... Island Def Jam chairman and CEO Lyor Cohen is to take on the same role at Warner Music Group's US recorded music operation Cohen, who will be based in New York, will be responsible for all aspects of WMG's US recorded music operations.

Sanity.(People)
February 7, 2004... The troubled Sanity entertainment retail chain has been hit by further closures, with 230 staff being made redundant. Just weeks after BDO Stoy Hayward Shay Bannon and Simon Michaels decided to pull the plug on 31 stores in the chain, they are...

Emap Performance.(People)
February 7, 2004... Emap Performance has appointed one time Capital and Chrysalis executive Andrew Jeffries as programme director of Kerrang! 105.2, which launches in the West Midlands later this year.

Atomic Kitten.(People)
February 7, 2004... Virgin Records is to release an Atomic Kitten greatest hits album in late March before the band take a break from performing to pursue other media interests. The set will coincide with the group's UK arena tour and will be preceded by a single...

EMI Records.(People)
February 7, 2004... Record producer Bob Barratt, who, in a long career with EMI Records, produced artists including Max Boyce, Marianne Faithfull, Vince Hill, the King's Singers and The Wurzels, died on January 25 aged 65. Barratt, whose Wurzels-produced Combine...

The Irish Recorded Music Association.(People)
February 7, 2004... The Irish Recorded Music Association (Irma) is to honour veteran artist Christy Moore at the first of what it expects to be an annual awards event to recognise the "outstanding latents and contributions" of a particular artist. The first Irma...

Foster Craig.(People)
February 7, 2004... Warner Music International's (WMI) former business and legal affairs vice president Darrell Panethiere has joined Foster Craig, a consultancy specialising in new media and technology. The move reunites him with one-time Warner colleagues Mark...

Dave Stewart has announced that he has stepped down as creative creator of London-based, multi-media operation The Hospital, which he helped to set up, because of forthcoming work commitments.(People)
February 7, 2004... Dave Stewart has announced that he has stepped down as creative creator of London-based, multi media operation The Hospital, which he helped to set up, because of forthcoming work commitments. The Hospital opened in October last year and...

Radiohead lead NME nominations.(Exposure)
February 7, 2004... * Radiohead lead the nominations for February 12's NME Awards at London's Hammersmith Palais, after being shortlisted for best live band, best UK band, both best single and video for the Parlophone-issued There There and best album for Hail To...

Download Festival.(Exposure)
February 7, 2004... The Download Festival, launched last year by Clear Channel at Donington, is adding two nights in Scotland. WEA London's Linkin Park will head the festival at Donington on June 5 and Mercury's Metallica the following day, while four of the bands...

Radio One.(Exposure)
February 7, 2004... Radio One is to visit Plymouth over the weekend of February 14 and 15 as its latest Radio One On The Road initiative to broadcast from parts of the UK it does not usually visit.

107.6 Juice FM.(Exposure)
February 7, 2004... Absolute Radio has introduced a series of programming changes to its Liverpool-based station 107.6 Juice FM. Paul Curran takes over weekday breakfast, Neal Atkinson mid-morning and Simon Greening drivetime.

Universal Classics and Jazz enjoyed an impressive turnout at a showcase last Wednesday for their new Welsh songbird, 23-year-old Katherine Jenkins.(Digest)
February 7, 2004... Universal Classics and Jazz enjoyed an impressive turnout at a showcase last Wednesday for their new Welsh songbird, 23-year-old Katherine Jenkins. London's Savoy hotel was the venue for the event, which marked the start of the campaign for the...

Eurovision.(Exposure)
February 7, 2004... The six acts lining up to battle it out for the accolade of Britain's Eurovision representatives this year are to be unveiled at a press launch tomorrow (Tuesday).

Blenheim Palace.(Exposure)
February 7, 2004... Blenheim Palace is staging the first of what is being billed as an annual music festival this July. Organised by Blenheim Visitors and Sodexho Prestige in conjunction with the Duke of Marlborough and concert promoter Andrew Miller, the July 1...

Southern FM.(Exposure)
February 7, 2004... Capital FM Network's Sussex-based Southern FM made its digital radio debut last Friday on the Sussex digital multiplex, alongside the likes of Kiss, Gaydar and other Capital stations Capital Gold and Xfm

Air-Edel strikes deal with Kobalt.(Sign here)
February 7, 2004... * Sanctuary Music Publishing's Air-Edel has struck a worldwide administration deal with Kobalt Music, covering songs including the David Dundas and Roger Greenaway-penned Jeans On.

inD.(Sign here)
February 7, 2004... Independent distribution company 3DD Entertainment and Lorber Media have teamed Lip with Red Production Company to launch an independent home video/DVD label under the banner inD. Initial releases are scheduled for spring 2004, including music...

EMI takes tough line on music leaks: case highlights issue of how record labels can prevent pre-release music appearing on the net.(Press & PR)
February 7, 2004... EMI has fired one of its staff after a watermarked, pre-release CD given to her was traced as the source of an intellect leak. The employee--who works for one of the major's continental-based affiliates--was told last week she was being...

Producer buys Whitfield Street studios in 3m [pounds sterling] deal.(News)
February 7, 2004... Producer Robin Millar has secured the future of the famous Whitfield Street studios after negotiating a 3m [pounds sterling] acquisition from Sony last week. Miller has been in negotiations with the group since it began to scale down and...

The music week playlist.(News)
February 7, 2004... MCFLY 5 Colours In Her Hair (Island) Poised to deliver a set of Beatlesesque songs to an audience too young to know that the Fab Four ever existed (single, March 29) PEOPLE IN PLANES Penny (unsigned) Promising rock act from...

iTunes: launch date 'put back to August': Apple delay highlights complexities racing new services.(Downloads)
February 7, 2004... Apple is targeting August for the launch of its European iTunes Music Store, it is understood. The computer giant, which was telling labels before Christmas that it was eyeing up April as a launch date, is understood to have postponed its...

Ringtones: chart by February.(News from Midem)
February 7, 2004... Tests begin later this month on the UK's first industry-wide ringtones chart, which is being established by the Mobile Entertainment Forum (MEF). The MEF is aiming to have the chart up and running by the week beginning February 29, after...

Impala kicks against majors' merger plans.(News from Midem)
February 7, 2004... Impala confirmed at Midem that it has united with EMI and Universal to fight Sony and BMG's planned merger on vertical integration grounds. The indie association's vice president Patrick Zelnick revealed Universal had decided to join...

Snap shot: David Bowie.(News from Midem)
February 7, 2004... Exclusive footage of David Bowie at the Montreux Jazz Festival is set for release on DVD and CD after Eagle Vision struck a deal with Montreux founder Claude Nobs at Midem last week. The agreement gives Eagle Vision rights to gain access to...

BPI awards.(News from Midem)
February 7, 2004... SINGLES Will Young--Leave Right Now (gold) ALBUMS LeAnn Rimes--The Best Of LeAnn Rimes (silver) Dirty Vegas--Dirty Vegas (silver) Various--The Lord Of The Rings--The Return Of The King (gold) Basement Jaxx--Kish Kash...

Mobile music sets tone as tech companies make mark.(News from Midem)
February 7, 2004... Mobile music is the future of the music industry--that was the message coming from the 38th Midem conference in Cannes last week. A focus on new developments, including a day of panels titled the Mobile Music Forum, alongside spotlights on...

Midem's British contingent could boast a number one artist in Katie Melua and the minister for trade, investment and foreign affairs in Mike O'Brien, as it came together in Cannes last week.(News from Midem)
February 7, 2004... Midem's British contingent could boast a number one artist in Katie Melua and the minister for trade, investment and foreign affairs in Mike O'Brien, as it came together in Cannes last week. Melua performed a short set at a reception for...

Encouraging hit rates adds fizz to Coke launch.(News from Midem)
February 7, 2004... Despite continuing glitches during the first 10 days of its launch, MyCokeMusic.com used Midem to unveil promising early data for the new UK download service. In the first 24 hours of trading, the service sold more than 10,000 downloads,...

Apples iTunes backs new acts.(Technology)
February 7, 2004... * Around 95% of the 500,000 songs offered for sale by Apple's i-Tunes service have been bought at least once, Apple VP of applications and internet service Eddy Cue said in his Midem keynote. Arguing that tire platform is an important means...

iMode.(Technology)
February 7, 2004... DTT DoCoMo's managing director of iMode strategy Takeshi Natsuno told Midem that Europe can echo the success of 3G phone technology in Japan. The key was for content owners to work together with mobile phone companies. "Without content,...

Forrester Research outlined its predictions for the future of the worldwide recording industry.(Technology)
February 7, 2004... Forrester Research outlined its predictions for the future of the worldwide recording industry, with a heavy focus on digital music. The company believes that the total value or pre-recorded music sales in the US will rise by almost 30%...

Dido lifts two at NRM Awards.(Awards)
February 7, 2004... * BMG's Dido was a double winner at the NRJ Awards, as she was named best international female artist, with Life For Rent named as best international album. Blue and Elton John were the night's other UK winners after the innocent/Virgin...

European Borders Breakers Awards.(Awards)
February 7, 2004... East West's The Darkness and Virgin Records' The Thrills were the UK signed winners recognised in the first European Borders Breakers Awards handed out at Midem. The awards were given to nine debut albums deemed to have achieved the highest...

Euro bodies seek closer links.(Campaigns)
February 7, 2004... * Retail organisation Gera-Europe's president Simon Wright and IFPI regional board chairman John Kennedy set out proposals for record labels and retailers to work more effectively together. The two sides committed themselves to exchanging...

Gesac-backed European writers.(Campaigns)
February 7, 2004... Gesac-backed European writers announced at Midem they are relaunching their campaign in the US to win royalties for music played in bars, restaurants and shops. Their move fellows the World Trade Organisation's initiative in July 2000, asking...

Universal Music International's president and chief operating officer John Kennedy believes the music industry has cause for optimism in 2004, despite a continuing battle with physical and online piracy, falling sales and a severe image problem.(Campaigns)
February 7, 2004... Universal Music International's president and chief operating officer John Kennedy believes the music industry has cause for optimism in 2004, despite a continuing battle with physical and online piracy, falling sales and a severe image...

European Music Copyright Alliance.(Campaigns)
February 7, 2004... The European Music Copyright Alliance is launching an awareness week to educate young people about the value of copyright. Schools in each European territory will be visited as part of the campaign, which has been backed by collecting societies...

Rightsrouter.(Campaigns)
February 7, 2004... A new company, spun out of Aim's new media division Musicindie, is bidding to close the gap between rights holders and new digital services by enabling one-stop licensing Glasgow-based Rightsrouter, launched last Monday, is funded through...

French record industry.(Campaigns)
February 7, 2004... The French record industry, which had previously defied the global trend of falling music sales, unveiled a 176% drop in the value of album sales for 2003. French record industry organisation Snep said value fell to 903.1 [euro]m during...

New chip offers promo clips.(Gadgets)
February 7, 2004... * A memory chip which could turn every CD into a listening post caught the imagination of many delegates at Midem--including trade minister Mike O'Brien. The Pre-vu chip can be planted in the box of any CD, containing up to 120 seconds of...

Nokia.(Gadgets)
February 7, 2004... Nokia launched its new 7700-series, or Media Phone, which brings music to mobile via existing FM services. The phone can browse the internet and has colour graphics, alongside an FM radio receiver, creating a "visual radio phone". It is...

O2.(Gadgets)
February 7, 2004... O2 demonstrated its two unit mobile download service, in advance of the retail launch for its O2-branded music player later this spring. The music player, which will retail at 99 [pounds sterling], or cheaper if bundled with a mobile phone,...

Ericsson joins forces with Sony.(Services)
February 7, 2004... * Ericsson made its first visit to Midem to demonstrate its mobile music service M-Use, a collaboration between the Swedish telecom specialists and Sony Music. The back end delivery service, which was adopted by a mobile network in...

Cable & Wireless.(Services)
February 7, 2004... Cable & Wireless threw its hat into the online music ring with the launch of a European-based digital distribution service. The telecoms giant announced that it had teamed up with digital service provider 24-7 MusicShop to launch Cable &...

Entriq.(Services)
February 7, 2004... The mobile music industry discovered a new buzz phrase--"Pass Along, Paid For" The concept--introduced by pay media specialists Entriq and shortened to "Pap-4"--was hailed by Mobile Entertainment Forum chairman Ralph Simon as a potential...

Emap gains as Capital takes London: digital helps media giant win most-listened-to title, but Tarrant gives Capital a parting gift.(Radio)
February 7, 2004... Having seen their flagship 95.8 Capital FM station return as London's number one in last week's Rajars, Capital bosses were facing up to the loss of another of their long-held titles. Powered by its strong portfolio of digital stations,...

When good hype turns bad: media attention can be a help or a hindrance for new acts. But, with the public reluctant to believe the hype, how can the buzz best be handled?(Talent)
February 7, 2004... A handful of artists began 2004 as the names on virtually every newspaper and magazine's list of acts that are going to break over the next 12 months. The likes of Joss Stone, McFly, Wiley, Scissor Sisters, Razorlight, Keane, The...

Money's too tight to mention ...: it is a challenging climate for PR companies, who are having to sail a steady course in choppy waters in order to stay afloat. Key players tell Adam Webb how they are dealing with it.(Plugging & PR)
February 7, 2004... As with the rest of the industry, the world of music PR is shaping up for a year of flux and transition. Downsizing and the likelihood of at least one major label merger have brought instability" in the press world--contracting rosters and...

New act are Duel in Decca's crown.(Classical)
February 7, 2004... Peter Waterman's talent-spotting energies never switch oft, or so it seems following his "discovery" of two classical violinists busking in a Manchester shopping mall. The Pop Idol jurist was sufficiently impressed by Gregg Scott and Craig...

Naxos debuts SACD releases.(Classical)
February 7, 2004... Audiophile interest in DVD-A and SACD recordings has been stimulated in recent months following the launch of new universal players from Pioneer, Denon and other leading manufacturers. Evidence from Christmas trading suggests that...

Brahms String Quartet No.1; String Quintet No.2. Belcea Quartet: Kakuska (EMI Classics 5 57661 2).
February 7, 2004... For their second full-price album as EMI Classics artists, the Belcea Quartet turn to repertoire already deeply ingrained in the ensemble's collective consciousness. The Belcea's eloquent Brahms playing, particularly in the First String...

Various Anthology of the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra Vol.2 1950-1960 (RN Music MCCL 97018 (14CD)).
February 7, 2004... Vintage live radio recordings don't come much better than those offered as the second volume in Radio Netherlands Music and MuzikGroep Nederland's ambitious anthology series. This set effectively retails at a fraction more than budget price,...

Mahler Symphony No.3. Philharmonia Orchestra/Zander (Telarc 3CD-80599 (3CD)).
February 7, 2004... With three discs for the price of one, including a bonus disc on which conductor Benjamin Zander discusses the music, this new Mahler release carries much in its favour. Zander's over the top character offers an ideal fit for the Third Symphony...

Patricia Petibon French Touch Petibon; Opera National de Lyon/Abel.
February 7, 2004... Decca 475 090 2 Coloratura soprano Patricia Petibon's debut solo album on Decca gets top marks for presentation. It also delivers the artistic goods, striking a broad range of repertoire and moving away from the early music territory...

Erkel Bank Ban Marton, Rost, Kiss B, etc. Orchestra for the Hungarian Millenium/Pal (Warner Classics 0927 44606-2 (2CD)).
February 7, 2004... Although billed as a world premiere album, this two-disc mid-priced set actually amounts to the first modern digital recording of Ferenc Erkel's melodrama from the 1850s. Director Csaba Kael has turned the folksong-rich work, widely known as...

Rachmaninov Piano Concertos Nos. 1&2 Boston SO/Ozawa (Deutsche Grammophon 459 643-2).
February 7, 2004... New releases from Polish pianist Krystian Zimerman have taken on the rarity value of hens' teeth in recent years, especially so since he founded and began directing the Polish Festival Orchestra. These extraordinarily powerful Rachmaninov...

Schumann Symphonies 1-4 Berlin Staatskapelle/Barenboim (Teldec 2564 61179-2 (2CD)).
February 7, 2004... Daniel Barenboim's new interpretations of Schumann's first and fourth symphonies sound strong echoes of those of his mentor Wilhelm Furtwangler, in spirit if not in detail. Besides highlighting the vivid romantic contrasts of these works, the...

Nicolas Vallet Le Secret des Muses Paul O'Dette (Harmonia Mundi HMU 907300).
February 7, 2004... US lutenist Paul O'Dette taps in to the dance energy and virtuosity of works from Nicolas Vallet's two-volume anthologies of 1615 and 1616. French, Dutch, English and Italian influences surface in these miniature compositions, which add to...

Vivaldi Sacred Music Vol.10 The King's Consort/King (Hyperion CDA66849).
February 7, 2004... Robert King completes his survey of Vivaldi's complete sacred music with an irresistible programme of works, including the world premiere recording of the composer's newly-discovered setting of Nisi Dominus. This series has done good business...

Playlist.(Jazz)
February 7, 2004... Craig Taborn--Junk Magic (Thirsty Ear) Alchemical improv and electronics from the startling young American, who has already impressed with Tim Berne and David Binney. Charlie Hunter/ Bobby Previtte--God Said (Rykodisc) Austere,...

Havana cool time: Cuban pianist Ramon Valle has relocated to Amsterdam and is really finding the sex in music.(Jazz)
February 7, 2004... Local identity is everything in jazz. It is a genre in which the ability to distinguish Asian from European and Caribbean from American players within the filet few bars of any given piece of music is pretty essential. Creating a sound that...

Tom Arthurs Centripede (Babel BDV2341).
February 7, 2004... Heading a quintet that features the always--interesting saxophonist Ingrid Laubrock in the frontline, as well as the subtle, serpentine guitarist Jez Franks, 23-year-old trumpet whizz Arthurs strings his pieces around inventive evolutionary...

Chucho Valdes New Conceptions (Blue Note).
February 7, 2004... As he has shown on his previous Blue Note offerings, Valdes has refined his interpretative ability to such an extent that he can take just about any source--Cuban composers such as Lecuona, European classical music's founding fathers such as...

Adam Rogers Quintet Allegory (Criss Cross CRISS1242CD).
February 7, 2004... A line-up as strong as Clarence Penn (drums), Scott Colley (bass), Ed Simon (piano), Chris Potter (tenor six) and Rogers on guitar is bound to get something right and Allegory decidedly has more pluses than minuses. Chief of which is a...

Josh Roseman Unit Treats for the Nightwalker (Enja 1454890).
February 7, 2004... This absorbing, richly-textured big band album shows off Roseman's composing and arranging skills to great effect. Using some of the finest of the Big Apple's players--Peter Apfelbaum, Ben Monder, Myron Walden, Russell Gunn among others--the...

Midem offers optimistic outlook: nifty gadgets and new business models on show, as Cannes crowd look to a mobile future.(Editorial)
February 7, 2004... Anyone who spent any time at Midem last week will know where the music industry is moving--online and onto mobiles, into a new era when music will be accessible anywhere, at any time. Across the range of delegates, there seemed to be a real...

Let's not put all our digital eggs in one Apple basket.(Viewpoint)
February 7, 2004... At MidemNet last week, Apple iTunes head Eddy Cue claimed: "My daughter will not buy a CD in her lifetime." It is certainly difficult to see why someone would want to buy a CD and a download of the same recording. Some iTunes customers are...

What new development fired you up at Midem?(The big question)
February 7, 2004... What is the single most exciting new development you saw or heard in Cannes last week? Dominique Leguern, Midem director "Mobile music and all those interactive sets you will be able to use. We have seen some amazing devices at this...

Crib sheet.(Forum)
February 7, 2004... Last week at Midem, Peter Gabriel and Brian Eno announced details of Mudda, a musicians union that aims to help artists make the most of the new digital world. So, what exactly Is Mudda? To give it its full title, it is the Musical...

Michelle single was too dear.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
February 7, 2004... >From Herve Armanet I read with great interest your article about the latest Pop Idol's relatively poor sales performances (MW, 17.01.04) and thought that you might like to hear another possible reason for this. I am a 35-year-old...

Did the Brits snub Robbie?(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
February 7, 2004... >From Ian Townsend, Music Week subscriber Everyone will be commenting on The Brits, of course, as they always do. Interestingly, a big thing has been made in certain areas about Robbie not being nominated this year because his last "proper"...

Beggars can be choosers.(Dooley's Diary)
February 7, 2004... Remember where you heard it: Beggars' new media head honcho Simon Wheeler was as surprised as anyone to find a large chunk of the record company's catalogue up on MyCokeMusic's website last week without clearance. "As we are a Mac-only...

Evolve Records' MD Oliver Smallman takes clambering to reach the top spot very seriously--and that applies not just to the charts but mountains, too.(Forum)
February 7, 2004... Evolve Records' MD Oliver Smallman takes clambering to reach the top spot very seriously--and that applier not just to the charts but mountains, too. The veteran manager and label boss recently figured as part of a 12-strong team heading to the...

Key releases.(Datafile: Britain's most comprehensive charts service)
February 7, 2004... ALBUMS THIS WEEK Incubus Crow Left Of Murder (Columbia); Ennio Morricone Remixes Vol. 2 (Compost); Scissor Sisters Scissor Sisters (Polydor); Stereolab Margarine Eclipse (Duophonic); Various Rough Trade Shops: Counter Culture 2003...

Katie Melua album leads sales rise.(The Market)
February 7, 2004... A breath of fresh air blows through the singles chart this week, with four debuts in the Top 10, among them dance music's first number one since last May, when Tomcraft's Loneliness paced the pack. The market bounces back compared to last week...

Market indicators.(Datafile: Britain's most comprehensive charts service)
February 7, 2004... SINGLES Sales versus last week: +21.4% Year to date versus last year: -16.1% Market shares AATW 18.1% RCA Arista 17.9% Polydor 10.4% Virgin ...

Fast chart.(Datafile: Britain's most comprehensive charts service)
February 7, 2004... SINGLES NUMBER ONE LMC V U2 TAKE ME TO THE CLOUDS ABOVE AATW A riff on loan from U2's With Or Without You and a lyric purloined from Whitney Houston's How Will I Know put dance back on top for the first time in 2004, and ends a...