Music Week articles from January 2003

Music Week archives from January 2003

Report values global industry at $48bn. (the future issue).
January 11, 2003... The value of the global music industry hit $47.6bn in 2001, according to exclusive new research by Music Week. The figures, which cover revenue streams including pre-recorded music sales, music publishing, ticket sales for live events,...

Melanie C is set to kick off 2003 in style next Monday, when her comeback single Here It Comes Again is serviced to radio.
January 11, 2003... Melanie C (pictured) is set to kick off 2003 in style next Monday, when her comeback single Here It Comes Again is serviced to radio. The Marius De Vries-produced track is the lead song from her second album, Reason, which is due for release in...

Dynamite set to play Brits nominations.
January 11, 2003... Ms Dynamite is backing her bid for Brit Awards glory by performing at next week's nominations event. The Polydor signing, one of the favourites for the best British newcomer prize, will play a solo acoustic set at next Monday's launch...

Livingstone backs new UK talent.
January 11, 2003... A string of London showcases for new and emerging UK music talent, backed by the city's mayor Ken Livingstone, is being launched in February as part of a drive to promote creative industries in the capital. Staged by Blencathra Productions...

Capital vows more `real music' in 2003.
January 11, 2003... Capital FM is reacting to what it says is widespread listener fatigue for reality pop acts by vowing to take more risks with its musical output in the coming year. The market-leading London radio station has promised to widen the genres it...

Perry departs EMI after three decades.
January 11, 2003... Rupert Perry has left EMI after more than three decades with the major. Perry left his office in London's Gloucester Place before Christmas. After fulfilling the role of senior vice president of EMI Recorded Music over the past three...

Top new studio albums help sales reach new record high. (News).
January 11, 2003... New studio albums demoted greatest hit sets to a mere co-starring role in the festive market, claiming seven of the 10 biggest-selling titles in December. New recordings by Robbie Williams and Blue ensured a flourishing finish to the year...

The year-long battle to sign Norwegian duo Royksopp's publishing rights was won in the final days of 2002 by Universal Music Publishing. (News).
January 11, 2003... The year-long battle to sign Norwegian duo Royksopp's (pictured) publishing rights was won in the final days of 2002 by Universal Music Publishing. "This brings the longest, most drawn-out negotiation of a publishing deal I have ever been part...

Fellow Clash members mourn their frontman. (News).
January 11, 2003... Former Clash cohorts Mick Jones, Paul Simonon and Topper Headon were among the mourners at the funeral last week of the band's frontman Joe Strummer. Strummer, who died aged 50 on December 22 of heart failure at his Somerset home, was...

Strummer: a spokesman for punk and a man of principle. (News).
January 11, 2003... "`So is that what you're calling us now?' said the arresting officer on seeing my Clash badge with the classic picture from the 1976 Ladbroke Grove riots. `No,' said the desk sergeant. `They're a band and they're really good.' It's hard...

Radio stalwarts collect honours. (News).
January 11, 2003... The UK radio industry emerged among the winners in the New Year Honours list. Commercial Radio Companies Association chief executive Paul Brown, who has worked in radio for 32 years, was awarded a CBE, while Alexa Murray-Brooks, private...

We need to keep pace with change. (mw comment).
January 11, 2003... We kick off a new year of Music Week by gazing into our crystal ball and presenting a very special magazine--the Future Issue. Never, perhaps, have there been so many questions about the future of the music industry as there are today. New...

A new shape for music? (future economics).
January 11, 2003... As we stand at the beginning of what promises to be a year of great change, the twin challenges of fast-developing new technology and rapidly-changing consumer needs are impacting on every side of the business. In this special Future Issue,...

New visions challenge gloomy forecasts: with the retail sector approaching 2003 with caution, indie chains challenging the status quo and non-music sales a vital factor in the bottom line, the High Street considers new approaches and a challenge from the internet. (future retail).
January 11, 2003... When Prime Minister Tony Blair offered his gloomy New Year's Day prediction last week, many in retail would have hoped to cast him as a Michael Fish for 2003. While that may be a signal of excessive optimism from many in the general retail...

New dawn for downloads: as broadband arrives in earnest and new services are launched, electronic delivery prepares to come of age. (future online).
January 11, 2003... After years of empty promises from so-called technology experts, 2003 is being labelled by many as the true beginning of the digital music future, embracing legitimate online delivery services, and through to mobile phone technology. The...

Change sweeps radio: consolidation, takeovers by overseas owners and a digital breakthrough offer new opportunities for the airwaves. (future radio).
January 11, 2003... The UK's commercial radio industry reaches an historic landmark this October with the 30th anniversary of its first legal station, LBC. But, although that launch laid the foundations of a sector now comprising 261 local and three national...

Labels look to formats of the future: faced with a tough market, continuing piracy problems and growing price pressures, labels are examining various ways to add value to their releases, as a new range of physical formats vie for consumer acceptance. (future formats).
January 11, 2003... Embattled by a 32% drop in unit sales of singles since 1997 and with piracy continuing to stalk its physical and online product, the importance of the music industry devising physical formats with continuing relevance and appeal to the consumer...

All the charts: exposure.
January 11, 2003... [CD UK] Performances: Year 3000 Busted; Treat Me Like A Lady Zoe Birkett; Cheeky Song Cheeky Girls; Impossible Christine Aguilera; Just The Way I'm Feeling Feeder; Just Like A Pill Pink; Science Of Silence Richard Ashcroft; Sound Of The...

The official UK airplay charts top 50.
January 11, 2003... AIRPLAY COMMENTARY Proving a significantly bigger hit with radio programmers than record buyers, who placed it no higher than number four on the OCC sales chart, Robbie Williams' Feel enjoys a fifth successive easy victory at the top of...

The official UK singles charts top 75.
January 11, 2003... SINGLES COMMENTARY Last year was a terrible year for singles and there is no suggestion that we have turned the corner yet, but there is a temporary respite from the bad news, with singles sales for last week, at more than 485,000, coming...

The official UK albums charts top 75.
January 11, 2003... ALBUMS COMMENTARY Artist album sales more than halved last week to 2,705,000 compared with 5,334,000 the week before--but that is no more than can be expected at this time of the year. Until recently, sales would decline much more steeply...

The official UK singles chart: singles.
January 11, 2003... THE OFFICIAL UK SINGLES CHART SINGLES Title Artist (Producer) Label CD/Cass Publisher ...

The official UK albums chart: albums.
January 11, 2003... THE OFFICIAL UK ALBUMS CHART ALBUMS Label/CD Title (Distributor) This Last Wks Artist (Producer) ...

The official UK charts: specialist.
January 11, 2003... CLASSICAL ARTISTS This Last Title Artist Label (Distributor) 1 1 SENTIMENTO Andrea Bocelli Philips 4734102 (U) 2 2 REPRISE Russell Watson Decca 4731002 (U)...

Layo & Bushwacka: Love Story (XL Recordings XLS154CD).
January 11, 2003... This long-running club smash from the London tech-house duo should win the crossover success it deserves thanks to a high-profile push from XL. Given a radio-friendly edge by the addition of the vocal line from Kings Of Tomorrow's Finally, it...

Syntax: Pray (Illustrious 12ILL012).
January 11, 2003... [RECOMMENDED] C-listed at Radio One, championed by the likes of Tong, Oakenfold and Sasha, mixes by Junkie XL and Dave London--can this fail to be a hit? A rumbling floor-filler of a bassline with an extremely moody vocal, that at times is...

The Calling: Could It Be Any Harder (RCA).
January 11, 2003... After their sleeper success with Wherever You Go, The Calling have become contenders in the soft rock arena and this typifies their art. Sure, this mid-tempo ballad will attract few critical plaudits--but that won't bother ILR.

Reef: Give Me Your Love (Sony 6731647).
January 11, 2003... A new track which will appear on their new best of, this is classic Reef, a pretty, funky rock-out which breaks few musical barriers but rides a cool, catchy melody to pleasing effect. Their first release in two years, it will be a telling...

Robin Gibb: Please (SPV 055-71463).
January 11, 2003... Gibb has such a timeless vocal style that it seems almost sacrilegious to kick off this classic tune with a Stargate-style rap. But that is just what the producers have done with this otherwise inoffensive outing, which heralds Gibb's...

Lucy Carr: Missing You (Lickin' CD0001).
January 11, 2003... Only Peter Stringfellow could be behind a label called Lickin' and this is his young lady making her debut outing with a fairly passable--but deathly predictable--trance tune. Established A&R man Steve Long is Stringfellow's partner in the...

The Flaming Lips: Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots Pt. 1 (WEA/London W597CD1).
January 11, 2003... [RECOMMENDED] This is the second single to be taken from the Lips' critically-acclaimed album of the same name. Weird and wonderful, the lead track plots a tuneful course through leftfield pop, while CD2 proves a draw with a cover of...

The Tenderfoot: Still Holding My Stomach In (5:15 Records 51501CD).
January 11, 2003... The Brighton-based quietists' new single has been getting good support from the sadly moved-on Steve Lamacq, and deservedly so. Melodic melancholy, this is the kind of track that draws you in and bears repeated listening. Maybe not their...

Feeder: Just The Way I'm Feeling (Echo ECSCD133).
January 11, 2003... [RECOMMENDED] After years as rock's underdogs, Feeder are finally enjoying the success to match their talent. This powerful down-tempo track, which has been A-listed at Radio One, is the second single to be taken from their current album...

Audioslave: Cochise (Epic 6735152).
January 11, 2003... [RECOMMENDED] The first single from the band who rose from the ashes of Soundgarden and Rage Against The Machine, led by frontman Chris Cornell, rocks with the conviction you would expect from an outfit with such quality credentials....

Zoe Birkett: Treat Me Like A Lady (19 Recordings 0196822).
January 11, 2003... Co-written by Sarah Whatmore, 19 must be hoping that this will be the launchpad for ex-Pop Idol competitor Birkett to achieve stardom in her own right. This is a very dated sound, sub-Kylie from the PWL period, which will probably get enough...

Hell Is For Heroes: You Drove Me To It (Chrysalis CDCHSS5149).
January 11, 2003... This rocking single was originally released in January 2002. A year later, hype and critics' plaudits for HIFHs' February 2003 debut album are already raising the band's profile. You Drove Me To It is a great song, but a new track off the album...

Jay-Z: '03 Bonnie & Clyde (Roc-A-Fella/Mercury CD 077010-2).
January 11, 2003... The power pairing of the prolific Jay-Z and Destiny's Child's Beyonce Knowles harnesses samples from Tupac's Me And My Girlfriend and Prince's If I Was Your Girlfriend on this number, a combination which has already pushed the track into the US...

Busted: Year 3000 (Universal Island MCSTD40306).
January 11, 2003... [RECOMMENDED] The UK trio follow up one of last year's catchiest hits, What I Go To School For, with an equally infectious piece of feel-good guitar pop. The band have already amassed a huge following of teen fans (they were the...

Panjabi MC: Mundian To Bach Ke (Instant Karma karma28cd).
January 11, 2003... This infectious bhangra single, which samples the Knightrider theme tune, finally finds a UK release after heavy exposure in clubland and hitting number two on the German chart in December. Panjabi MC actually recorded this track four years ago...

Rosie Ribbons: A Little Bit (T2/Telstar STAS3312).
January 11, 2003... The former Pop Idol contestant has yet to make a distinctive chart breakthrough and it is unclear whether this, admittedly catchy, pop R&B number distinguishes itself enough to provide the required push. The release follows a support slot on...

DJ Sneak Feat. Bear Who?: Fix My Sink (CDCRED 033).
January 11, 2003... [RECOMMENDED] Sneak looks like he is back in Top 40 form with this slice of Chicago-style house beats. The vocal is the strong point from Bear Who?, a DJ, rapper and promoter from Chicago and, with a great vocal, every dance track has hit...

Dario G: Heaven Is Closer (Feels Like Heaven) (Serious Cat SER061).
January 11, 2003... This pop-inspired dance remake of Fiction Factory's 1984 number 6 hit serves as a reminder that there are still some good cover ideas from the wealth of Eighties material as yet untapped.

Gus Gus: David (Underwater Cat 820022CD).
January 11, 2003... This, the second track to be taken from the Attention album, is a cool and deep composition with a uniquely infectious sultry female vocal loop. A soulful riff and an Icelandic video shoot represent the original mix, while Medicine8, King Britt...

Jurgen Vries: The Opera Song (Direction 6734646).
January 11, 2003... [RECOMMENDED] Titled all summer as Opera by the increasingly formidable Darren Tate, this track was available in very limited numbers (with eBay receiving bids in excess of 100 [pounds sterling]). Provisionally an instrumental piece with a...

Bronze Age Fox: Sunshine Made The Desert (Bagatelle).
January 11, 2003... This release heralds breezy guitar pop from the Bristol-based band whose previous output on Rex Records and Melodic has been verdant folktronica. Here they put their laptops away in favour of a more traditional form, while retaining their...

Craig David: Hidden Agenda (Wildstar CDWild44).
January 11, 2003... Leaving behind the electrotinged sound of lead-off single What's Your Flava, David moves back into less controversial territory for this breezy summery tune, the second single from his Slicker Than Your Average album. Laced with Spanish-style...

More Fire Crew: Back Then (Go Beat GOBC54).
January 11, 2003... [RECOMMENDED] This east London garage crew show that they were no one-hit wonders on this, their second single. However, it is the B-side, a tough reworking of their debut hit by the hotly-tipped Asian fusion Sona crew, which is getting...

Erick Sermon: React (J Records 74321981212).
January 11, 2003... [RECOMMENDED] With the rap veteran's single with Redman set to give him the highest charting UK single of his career, this is perfect timing for his first solo album in seven years. Despite his undisputed old skool credentials, this sounds...

Eliades Ochoa: Estoy Como Nunca (Virgin 8124802).
January 11, 2003... [RECOMMENDED] One of the powerhouses at the heart of the Buena Vista project, Ochoa's latest album is well up to his usual high standards. Purists may cavil at the inclusion of guests such as Raul Malo from the Mavericks and Los Lobos'...

Pram: Dark Island (Domino WIG 120).
January 11, 2003... This album marks the ninth outing for the evocative collective which weaves an irresistibly woozy spell. The band's unique, timeless sound--a rich blend of zither, theramin and musty keyboard sounds, spliced with cutting-edge...

Kinky: Kinky (WEA 5046604372).
January 11, 2003... Hailing from Monterey, Mexico, Kinky take genre-bending to new heights with a rich soup of rock, funk, mariachi and house on their self-titled debut album. Kinky have already bagged themselves a brace of Latin Grammy and MTV Latin Awards...

David Sneddon: Stop Living The Lie (Mercury 0637292).
January 11, 2003... [RECOMMENDED] Fame Academy winner David Sneddon has reversed the trend for made-to-measure pop by writing a remarkably adult ballad for his tender 24 years. Not a million miles from classic Elton John, this melodic and well-sung swayer is...

DG lands New Year's Day Concert deal. (Classical news).
January 11, 2003... Deutsche Grammophon and Universal Classics has secured the recording rights to Vienna's New Year's Day Concert in a three-year deal that reinforces the yellow label's close ties with the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra. The first fruits of the...

Vox launches online shopping facility. (Classical news).
January 11, 2003... Leading North American classical indie Vox Music Group, distributed in the UK by Priory Records, has launched a custom CD service to offer affordable and easy access to its extensive archive. The Vox label was established in the late Forties...

Anne Sofie Von Otter Sings Offenbach: Arias and scenes from La Vie Parisienne, La Belle Helene, La Perichole, etc. Les Musiciens du Louvre/Minkowski. (Deutsche Grammophon 471 501-2).
January 11, 2003... Following in the tradition of Anne Sofie Von Otter's excellent Gramophone Award-winning album of songs by Cecile Chaminade, the Swedish mezzo-soprano brings consummate style to the elegant, often ornate music of Jacques Offenbach. Deutsche...

Beethoven: The Complete Music for Piano Trio Vol.1. Piano Trios Op.70; Allegretto in B flat. Florestan Trio. (Hyperion CDA 67327).
January 11, 2003... Hyperion's ability to pick outstanding musicians from the universal crop has rarely been better directed than in the case of the Florestan Trio, a combination of British artists that by nature explores far beyond the notes to reach the...

Part: Annum per annum; Pari intervallo, Mein Weg hat Gipfel und Wellentaler; Trivium. Lattik; Vox Clamantis/Tulve. (Arion ARN 68595).
January 11, 2003... Estonian male-voice ensemble Vox Clamantis combine works by fellow countryman Arvo Part with Gregorian chant to establish a contemplative, genuinely spiritual programme for their latest Arion release. Organist Aare-Paul Lattik makes powerful...

Handel: Violin Sonatas. Kurosaki, Christie. (Virgin Classics 5 45554 2).
January 11, 2003... This release, supported by a full-page colour ad in Gramophone, marks the start of a three-disc contract with William Christie and his internationally-acclaimed early music ensemble, Les Arts Florissants. Christie's status as conductor of...

Albums: for week starting 13 January 2003.
January 11, 2003... ALBUMS RELEASES THIS WEEK: 200 * YEAR TO DATE: 350 FRONTLINE RELEASES [] AFFINITY LIVE INSTRUMENTALS 1 Angel Air CD SJPCD 135 7.59 [pounds sterling] P Pop/Rock [] BAZ ...

Singles: for week starting 13 January 2003.
January 11, 2003... SINGLES RELEASES THIS WEEK: 95 * YEAR TO DATE: 146 [] 12" THUMPERS CHANGE TO THIS/tba 12" Thumpers 12" THM 053 ADD Hard House [] 2HD SUNFLAKES Tsunami S.Blend ...

Distributors: for week starting 13 January 2003.
January 11, 2003... DISTRIBUTORS A-D 4AM -- 4am Distribution 01784 249191 ACASEA -- African Caribbean Asian Entertainment Agency 011595 19864 ADA -- ADA 01773 850000 ADD -- Amato...

BPI seeks talks on gun lyrics issue.
January 18, 2003... The BPI is calling for direct talks with the Home Secretary over the issue of gun references in lyrics after government ministers linked the rapid rise in UK gun crime to the influence of gangsta rap. BPI chairman Peter Jamieson last week...

A headlining slot for Telstar/Invicta Hi-Fi's Ladytron at the British At Midem showcase in Cannes next Monday will herald the beginning of a feverish promotional campaign to push their Light And Magic album across Europe.
January 18, 2003... A headlining slot for Telstar/Invicta Hi-Fi's Ladytron (pictured) at the British At Midem showcase in Cannes next Monday will herald the beginning of a feverish promotional campaign to push their Light And Magic album across Europe. "The...

Hewitt urges action on pirate Thai CDs.
January 18, 2003... The battle against piracy took a step forward on two fronts last week. Trade and Industry Secretary Patricia Hewitt called on Thailand's prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra to help stem the flow of pirate CDs from the market last Friday. Her...

Newton clinches senior role at RCA.
January 18, 2003... Ashley Newton has landed one of the key A&R jobs in the US record industry, as RCA's A&R executive vice president. The former, long-serving Virgin executive is the first appointment to the label by Clive Davis since the veteran executive...

Capital FM launches London's first official albums rundown. (newsfile).
January 18, 2003... Capital FM is this Saturday launching London's first official albums chart countdown, in a 10am to 1pm slot. The Capital Album Countdown chart is being compiled exclusively for the station by the Official Charts Company using London and South...

Barrett issues universal with suit for unpaid royalties. (newsfile).
January 18, 2003... Aston Barrett, co-founder of Bob Marley's Wailers band, has filed a formal suit in the High Court against Universal over unpaid royalties, which Barrett says are owed to him and his late brother Carlton. The hearing is scheduled to begin next...

See for miles goes into liquidation. (newsfile).
January 18, 2003... Long-established re-issues outfit See For Miles has gone into liquidation after 18 years. One of the original founders and former director of the company, Mark Rye, together with former sales manager Steve Waters, have gone on to form the...

Ivor Novellos set for small screen broadcast via initial. (newsfile).
January 18, 2003... The first Ivors Live concert in May will be brought to TV screens for the first time by Initial, the production team behind Big Brother and Fame Academy, the British Academy of Composers and Songwriters confirmed last Friday. The live concert,...

Haffenden moves up at Universal. (newsfile).
January 18, 2003... Polydor head of artist relations Claire Haffenden has been elevated to the newly-created position of head of artist relations across Universal Music UK. Haffenden, who joined Polydor in 1998, has worked with acts including Eminem, Enrique...

Safeway take over may lead to more low-price CDs. (newsfile).
January 18, 2003... Record companies say they expect "yet more low CD prices" to emerge from the planned 2.5bn [pounds sterling] takeover of Safeway by supermarket chain Morrisons. There is speculation that other players, possibly including Asda owner Wal-Mart,...

Deeley set to host cd:uk spin off, hotshots. (newsfile).
January 18, 2003... Cat Deeley (pictured) is to host a weekly spin-off of cd:uk, highlighting the week's key new releases. The half-hour cd:uk Hotshots will go out at 1.15am on Fridays on ITV1, starting on January 31, and will each week feature six videos and a...

IFPI announces pan-European awards. (newsfile).
January 18, 2003... EMI's Innocent acts Atomic Kitten and Blue were both awarded IFPI Platinum Europe Awards in December for 1m pen-European sales for their current albums. Other 1m awards were made for latest albums from Warner's David Gray and Phil Collins,...

MW playlist.
January 18, 2003... 50 CENT--In The Club (Shady Records) With personal controversies still raging all around this signing to Eminem's label, In The Club will be the track that takes 50 cent overground in the UK (single, tbc) BUSTED--Year 3000 (Universal)...

Smash hits chart woos radio with Sunday show. (News).
January 18, 2003... Emap is raising the stakes in commercial radio's newly-launched Sunday evening chart battle by vowing to make its Smash Hits countdown as big as the rival Neil Foxhosted show by the end of 2003. Emap Performance group programming director...

Brits nominations list set to boost UK urban. (News).
January 18, 2003... UK urban music is set to grab the headlines at tonight's (Monday) Brits launch party, with Ms Dynamite and The Streets winning the most nominations. Polydor signing Ms Dynamite and 679 Recordings/WEA London's The Streets are each expected...

Musical youth to reform as Universal pays royalties. (News).
January 18, 2003... Musical Youth are to reform later this year following the successful conclusion of the band's long-running dispute with Universal over royalty payments. The four surviving members of the group--Dennis Seaton, Kelvin and Michael Grant and...

World music awards compilation CD set to feature nominees. (News).
January 18, 2003... The profile of world music is set to receive a boost at retail this spring, with the first compilation produced in tandem with the Radio Three Awards for World Music 2003. Following last year's successful inaugural event, an album...

Indies show midas touch as UK-signed acts bid for gold. (News).
January 18, 2003... More emerging artists are broken to mainstream sales success by independent companies than any single major label in the UK, according to analysis of sales patterns. Since 1998, the independent sector has consistently beaten the...

Manchester rapper Motley is one of six unsigned acts gaining more exposure on a national scale by featuring in the first of Radio One's OneMusic Unsigned list this week. (News).
January 18, 2003... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Caption: Manchester rapper Motley (right) is one of six unsigned acts gaining more exposure on a national scale by featuring in the first of Radio One's OneMusic Unsigned list this week. Tracks from the unsigned...

Sun's CD promotion supports new talent. (News).
January 18, 2003... The Sun's CD Of The Week promotion is being relaunched next month, with an added emphasis on supporting up-and-coming talent. The offer, which allows Sun readers to collect tokens from the paper and redeem them in HMV stores for a weekly CD...

McNicholas moves over to take on Virgin music. (News).
January 18, 2003... Virgin Retail has turned to its own ranks to fill the gap left by Jim Batchelor's exit to Woolworths, by appointing visual media head Joe McNicholas as its new head of music. McNicholas, who started his retail career as a Christmas temp at...

Clifton scores victory in MW Xmas contest. (News).
January 18, 2003... Independiente's senior product manager Pat Clifton has emerged as the winner of Music Week's Fantasy Christmas competition. Clifton correctly predicted 14 of the 20 biggest-selling albums of Christmas week, and accurately forecasted the...

Lack takes helm as Mottola leaves. (News).
January 18, 2003... Sony Music Entertainment has gone outside the music industry to find a successor as chairman and CEO to Tommy Mottola. NBC president and chief operating officer Andrew Lack is set to replace Mottola, who is stepping down two years before...