Music Week articles from January 2005

Music Week archives from January 2005

Doves on course for chart coup.
January 8, 2005... Doves third album Some Cities, which is released in February, is emerging as one of the most eagerly anticipated records of the first quarter of the New Year. Following the 300,000 sales of their second album The Last Broadcast three years...

Artists drive Xmas: big names shore up sales in tough holiday for compilations and singles.(Retail)
January 8, 2005... The UK music business enters the New Year after a Christmas holiday period which saw solid sales for artist albums let down by a slump in the compilations and singles markets. Artist albums--led by Il Divo, Robbie Williams and Scissor...

HMV in Microsoft digital deal.(Bottom line)
January 8, 2005... HMV Group has announced a development deal with Microsoft which will see it launch a 10m [pounds sterling] digital download service in the second half of 2005. HMV also says that it is looking to roll out hardware into its 200 stores nationwide...

Band Aid.(Bottom line)
January 8, 2005... Band Aid achieved a pre-Christmas "quadruple", topping the singles, Downloads and Ringtones sales charts through the Band Aid 20 single, while the Live Aid DVD topped the final music DVD chart before Christmas.

Island Records.(Bottom line)
January 8, 2005... Island Records says it is to review its policy of using school children to promote bands this month, following a Guardian investigation. Like many record companies, Island promotes the likes of Busted and McFly by encouraging fans to put up...

Classic Pictures Entertainment.(Bottom line)
January 8, 2005... Music DVD Label Classic Pictures Entertainment has announced a series of activities for its 2005 anniversary year. Central to the moves is the opening of a new 2,500 sq ff, 72-track, DVD recording facility at Shepperton Studio with eight...

Queens of Noize.(Bottom line)
January 8, 2005... Queens of Noize launches its new label this week with the release of a Best Of 2005 19-track compilation, which will be sold only via iTunes. The Queens of Noize duo, Jane Third and Mairead Nash, teamed Lip with aggregators AWAL, the brainchild...

Microsoft.(Bottom line)
January 8, 2005... Microsoft will this month begin assessing what steps it needs to take after a EU court defeat over its bundling in of the Windows Media Player with its Windows operating system. The EU Court Of First Instance threw out the software giant's...

Kiss 100 unveils new line-up.(Exposure)
January 8, 2005... Kiss 100 has announced a new presenter line-up for 2005, which sees a new show for one of the finalists from the station's Pirate Soundclash earlier in 2004. DJ Wec, a former pirate DJ who came to prominence through the contest, takes the...

Poll of Polls.(Exposure)
January 8, 2005... Kanye West and The Streets were among the biggest winners as the media outlined their favourite albums of 2004 over the Christmas break, according to HMV's fourth annual Poll Of Polls. The list is compiled by gathering the views of a string of...

Wippit launches easy service.(Sign here)
January 8, 2005... Airline-owner EasyGroup has enjoyed its first Christmas as an online music retailer after launching EasyMusic.com. The online store was launched in conjunction with Wippit, the UK-based download site which struck deals with Universal and EMI to...

Noorderslag Weekend.(Sign here)
January 8, 2005... More than 150 acts are booked to play the Noorderslag Weekend in the Netherlands between January 13 and 15. The event is being held in Groningen and 1,500 industry figures are expected to attend. Topics to be discussed include the French...

Primary Talent International.(Sign here)
January 8, 2005... Booking agent Primary Talent International has acquired urban music agent Profile Artists and its staff, Serena Parsons and Andy Duggan. The two pair bring with them a roster of 40 acts, including Arrested Development, Ugly Duckling, People...

Music figures in New Year list.(People)
January 8, 2005... Producer Pete Waterman led the music figures to be recognised in the New Year Honours at the weekend. Waterman won an OBE, along with jazz, classical and media composer Karl Jenkins. In turn, The Who's Roger Daltry won a CBE, as did classical...

Dick Heckenstall-Smith.(People)
January 8, 2005... Dick Heckenstall-Smith, the veteran British saxophonist who played with some of the biggest names in jazz and rock, died before Christmas aged 70. Born Richard Malden in 1934, Heckenstall played with the likes of Mick Jagger, Ginger Baker, John...

Ronan Keating.(People)
January 8, 2005... Ronan Keating became the final music artist to play London's Wembley Arena on December 22, as it closed for a year-long revamp.

R2 unveils Brits song longlist: winner to be announced at 25th event in February after public decide.(Digest: your guide to the news from the holiday break)
January 8, 2005... Songs made famous by a range of acts, from Queen, David Bowie and Joy Division to Will Young, Robbie Williams and The Streets are to fight it out for the Brits 25 Best Song award. The longlist of 25 songs was announced on Monday (January 3)...

Brits 25 best song: the contenders.(Digest: your guide to the news from the holiday break)
January 8, 2005... Heroes--David Bowie (1977); We Are The Champions--Queen (1977); I Don't Want To Talk About It--Rod Stewart (1977); Wuthering Heights--Kate Bush (1978); Night Fever--Bee Gees (1978); London Calling--Clash (1979); Love Will Tear Us Apart--Joy...

Radio giants await merger decision: GWR and Capital's 700m [pounds sterling] marriage-plan is buoyed by positive sign from OFT.(Radio)
January 8, 2005... GWR and Capital still have a short wait ahead of them to heat" whether the Office Of Fair Trading will give final clearance to their proposed 700m [pounds sterling] merger. The two radio groups received a strong positive signal from the OFT...

Best of Music Week playlist 2004.(News)
January 8, 2005... DOVES Black And White Town (Heavenly) Catch the Doves in (relatively) upbeat mood on this class comeback (single, Feb 7) FIERCE GIRL What Makes A Girl Fierce (Red Flag) Trashy hip hop front London's Bermondsey, which...

Signed, primed and ready for action: mainstream breakthroughs could come from all corners of the business in 2005, such is the depth of new signings, as outlined by Music Week's Rosterwatch round-up.(2004's key signings)
January 8, 2005... After recent years of cutbacks, doom and gloom, 2004 was a clear turning point in building the confidence of the UK music business. It was a record year for new music, and the injection of the feel-good factor--which has arisen from the...

Rosterwatch--key signings in 2004.(2004's key signings)
January 8, 2005... 679 RECORDINGS Annie: Norwegian female act who debuted in 2004 with the Richard X-produced Chewing Gum single. Her debut album Anniemal will follow on March 7. Death From Above 1979: Two-piece from Toronto who mix synths with heavy...

Stacked racks bode well for 2005: balanced release schedules are reflecting the risks of launching into the Christmas market.(Editorial)
January 8, 2005... So, Christmas is past and a new year is upon us. For most in the business, the scale of New Year optimism will depend on how well they fared over the holiday season. In retail particularly--long with other sectors of the industry--most...

Midem action aims to address concerns of most delegates.(Viewpoints)
January 8, 2005... In recent months, clients have been expressing their frustration over the growing numbers of individuals and companies who are undermining Midem by conducting business, in Cannes, without registering at Midem. We were asked to take action......

Strategy needed to break acts abroad.(Forum)
January 8, 2005... The British music scene over the past couple of years has been really exciting and UK acts are once again appearing on the creative edge internationally as well as domestically. It must be a few years since so many new British acts have...

Key releases.(Datafile)(Calendar)
January 8, 2005... JANUARY 10 Ray Charles Ray (OST)(Atlanti); Mousse T Right About Now (Free 2 Air) JANUARY 17 Bonnie Prince Billy & Matt Sweeney Superwolf (Domino); Tears For Fears Best of (Mercury) JANUARY 24 LCD Soundsystem LCD...

Scissors cut path to top 2004 sales.(The Market)
January 8, 2005... While last week proved a tough one for singles, album sales held up well, as the winter sales season started in earnest. But the week's biggest winners, perhaps, were the UK-signed US act whose self-titled album sneaked past Keane to become...

Market indicators.(Datafile)
January 8, 2005... SINGLES Sales versus last week: -61.0% Year to date versus last year: -15.1% Market shares Universal Music 35.6% Sony BMG 28.0% EMI Music 15.3% Warner Music...

Fast chart.(Datafile)
January 8, 2005... SINGLES NUMBER ONE STEVE BROOKSTEIN AGAINST ALL ODDS SyCo The first British male solo singer to open his career with a number one since fellow reality TV star David Sneddon reached pole position with Stop Living The Lie two years...

Tipsters place their 2005 bets: as a New Year treat, a selection of UK tastemakers say who they think will make an impact.(Tipsters)
January 8, 2005... Conor McNicholas Editor, NME BLOC PARTY: "Silent Alarm is the debut album of 2005 and it's not even 2005 yet. There is loads of Radiohead mashed up with The Cure, sprinkled with beats and put through the Paul Epworth production filter to...

TV airplay chart: Ashanti and Ice Cube give an urban tint to TV in the New Year, with Eminem and Ciara among the challenges too.(TV)
January 8, 2005... 1. Ashanti Making a 137-69 jump on the radio airplay chart, Ashanti's new single Only U is enjoying even better support on TV. The video--which features one of R&B's favorite pieces of eye candy in no fewer than 30 fetching outfits in the...

The UK radio airplay chart: Kylie remains on top of the radio airplay chart, but a string of new tracks with double-digit audience growth look set to challenge in the weeks ahead.(Radio)
January 8, 2005... 18. Lucie Silvas With strong support from Radio Two, Silvas' number seven hit What You're Made Of performed nearly as well on the airplay chart, peaking at 12. Follow-up Breathe In is another Radio Two favourite, but has received a...

M people.(Snapshot)
January 8, 2005... Former M People vocalist Heather Small returns early this year to front the re-release of her solo single Proud, which is to be used as the theme tune to London's Olympic Bid for 2012. After growing in popularity after being adopted as an...

In-store next week.(Cued up)
January 8, 2005... ASDA Instore--Christina Aguilera, Pink, Dido, Outkast, Justin Timberlake, R Kelly, Blur, Bryan Ferry, Morrissey, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Deep Purple, Hawkwind, Lenny Kravitz, Simple Minds, Love Actually OST; Single of the week--Scissor...

Radio playlists.(Cued up)
January 8, 2005... RADIO 1 A LIST Babyshambles Killamangiro; Band Aid 20 Do They Know It's Christmas?; Ciara Goodies; Embrace Ashes; Goldie Lookin Chain You Knows I Loves You; Green Day Boulevard Of Broken Dreams; Gwen Stefani What You Waiting For; Ice...

Top 10 radio growers.(Cued up)
January 8, 2005... TOP 10 RADIO GROWERS This ARTIST TITLE Plays Total Incr. 1 UNITING NATIONS OUT 0F TOUCH 1469 365 2 ROOSTER STARING AT THE SUN 633...

TV listings.(Cued up)
January 8, 2005... CD:UK Franz Ferdinand Take Me Out; Girls Aloud Love Machine; Jamelia Thank You; Keane Somewhere Only We Know; Kylie Minogue I Believe In You; Marilyn Manson Personal Jesus; Maroon 5 She Will Be Loved; Scissor Sisters Laura; U2 Vertigo;...

Radio listings.(Cued up)
January 8, 2005... RADIO 1 Ten Hour Take Over (Mon) Lamacq Live--Interpol/Bloc Party (Mon) Mary Anne Hobbs--Best Of Breezeblock 2004 with Bjork; Francois K; The Hives; Keaton; Alter Ego; Mu RADIO 2 Brits 25--The Best Song Award (Mon) ...

Jackie's back in business: Dave Owen.(Radio Insider)
January 8, 2005... Programme controller, Radio Jackie South West London's legendary pirate station Radio Jackie served the area from 1969 until it was closed down by the regulatory authorities in 1985. It was the training ground for many popular broadcasters...

Also out this week.
January 8, 2005... SINGLES The Autumns--Every Sunday Sky (Bella Union) The Girls Zebra Jeans EP (Wall Of Sound) Little Barrio--Free Salute (Genuine) The Mooney Suzuki--Alive And Amplified (Columbia) Pink Grease Strip (Mute) ALBUMS ...

Ciara feat. Petey Pablo: Goodies.
January 8, 2005... LaFace 82876649142. (17.01) This former US number one is a stripped-down funky pop outing which makes Kelis's 2004 highlight Milkshake sound like a Trevor Horn production. Produced by the hot new urban act Lil' Jon, it is expected to...

Rooster: Staring At The Sun.
January 8, 2005... (Brightside 82876670942). (10.01) After making strong inroads with their debut Top 10 single Come Get Some, the west London four-piece kick-off 2005 with this melancholic rock anthem which is playlisted on Radio One, Radio Two, Capital and...

Athlete: Wires.
January 8, 2005... Athlete Wires (Parlophone CDATH007). (17.01) It feels like it has been a long wait for the return of Athlete and this opening single from the Tourist album is typical of their newly evolved sound, which adds a hint of Coldplay-esque...

Bugz in the Attic: Booty La La.
January 8, 2005... Bugz In The Attic Booty La La (V2 VVR5030093). (10.01) Anyone could be forgiven for thinking this is Basement Jaxx under a new monicker. In fact, one imagines the Jaxx wish it was their song, such is the appeal of this nifty slice of P...

The Chemical Brothers feat. Q-Tip: Galvanize.
January 8, 2005... The Chemical Brothers feat. Q-Tip Galvanize (Freestyle Dust/Virgin CHEMSD21). (17/01) The first single off the eagerly anticipated Push The Button album, this is a welcome return to form for the Chemicals. Featuring the fine talents of...

Darius: Live Twice.
January 8, 2005... Darius Live Twice (Mercury 9869469). (10/01) The reality TV veteran claims a writing credit OB this single, which is designed to launch the follow-up album to his platinum-selling debut. Sadly, he sounds so earnest that one can not help...

Minnie Driver: Invisible Girl.
January 8, 2005... Minnie Driver Invisible Girl (EMI Liberty 870 3422). (10.01) Taken from her debut album Everything I've Got In My Pocket, this is a pleasant MOR track that shows off Minnie's smoky vocals and songwriting abilities. Acoustic and electric...

Feeder: Tumble and Fall.
January 8, 2005... Feeder Tumble and Fall (Echo ECSCD157). (17.01) This track marks the first single from Feeder in a year and presents material from their new album Pushing The Senses, which is released on January 31. Tumble And Fall offers a straightforward...

Har Mar Superstar: Body Request/Sugar Pie.
January 8, 2005... Har Mar Superstar Body Request/Sugar Pie (Record Collection W657CD). (17/01) This double A-side illustrates the dominant twin influences in Har Mar's work. Body Request is Prince-style sleaze-funk, while Sugar Pie is a sweet love song...

The Killers: Somebody Told Me.
January 8, 2005... The Killers Somebody Told Me (Lizard King LIZARD014X). (10/01) A-listed at Radio One, this re-released, remixed version of one of The Killers' finest moments could catapult them to the big league. This track is a tremendous stadium-filling...

Kings of Leon: Four Kicks.
January 8, 2005... Kings Of Leon Four Kicks (Hand Me Down/Arista HMD45). (10.01) Four Kicks is a two-minute punk standard taken from the Kings' acclaimed but under-performing November album A-Ha Shake Heartbreak. The rollicking opening moves into a lurching...

The Music: Breakin'.
January 8, 2005... The Music Breakin' (Virgin VSCDT1894). (10/01) The Music coincide the repromotion of their second album Welcome To The North with this scrambling rock song, which has been B-listed at Radio One. It contains their trademark epic guitar sound...

The Others: Stan Bowles.
January 8, 2005... The Others Stan Bowles (Vertigo 9868521). (17/01) Judging from the title, you may think this is a tribute to the Seventies footballer who made George Best look like a role model, but it is actually about Pete Doherty. It recalls days of...

Roots Manuva: Colossal Insight.
January 8, 2005... Roots Manuva Colossal Insight (Big Dada BDCDM073). (17/01) From the forthcoming album Awfully Deep, Rodney Smith's unique lyrical stylings and a woozy vocal are here layered over a winning synth line. Demonstrating Smith's consistently...

Lucie Silvas: Breathe In.
January 8, 2005... Lucie Silvas Breathe In (Mercury 2103630). (17/01) From the album of the same name, this track demonstrates Silvas' effortless lilting vocal. The singer-songwriter's profile is currently at a high--recently performing on Elton John: An...

Jamie Scott: Searching.
January 8, 2005... Jamie Scott Searching (Sony 6757332). (10/01) The best of British soul/pop emerges here on Scott's second single, with a Jamiroquai-tinged sound that looks set for crossover success. The track has won core support from Radio Two, where it...

Roni Size feat. Beverley Knight & Dynamite MC: No More.
January 8, 2005... Roni Size feat. Beverley Knight & Dynamite MC No More (V VRECSUK003CD). (10/01) A strong contender for single of the week, this is a collaboration that truly lives up to the sum of its parts. It sounds like a very British high-energy...

Soul Central feat. Kathy Brown: Strings of Life.
January 8, 2005... Soul Central feat. Kathy Brown Strings of Life (Stronger on My Own) (Defected DFT094). (10/01) This is a reworking of the 15-year-old Derrick May original in which a strong vocal from experienced house performer Kathy Brown has been added...

Soulwax: E Talking.
January 8, 2005... Soulwax E Talking (Pias PIASB136CD). (17.01). This guitar-dance stomper is taken from the Belgian brothers' Any Minute Now album, which certainly impressed some critical corners in the end of year polls. E Talking sounds like perfect club...

Stonebridge: Take Me Away.
January 8, 2005... Stonebridge Take Me Away (Hod Kandi HEDKCDS009). (17.01) Stonebridge deliver another irresistible pop/dance crossover which looks set to repeat the success of their August 2004 number six Put 'Em High. Already playlisted at Capital, Galaxy,...

Thirteen Senses: Thru the Glass.
January 8, 2005... Thirteen Senses Thru the Glass (Vertigo 9869347). (10/01) One to watch this year, Thirteen Senses are a little bit Keane and a little bit Coldplay, which probably means they will sell an awful lot of records in 2005. This single comes from...

Bonnie "Prince" Billy & Matt Sweeney: Superwolf.
January 8, 2005... Bonnie "Prince" Billy & Matt Sweeney Superwolf (Domino WIGCD150). (17/01) Another year, another essential Will Oldham album, this time on 11 tracks with long-term collaborator Matt Sweeney, who provides music for Oldham's lyrics. Electric...

Ray Charles: Ray.
January 8, 2005... Ray Charles Ray (OST) (Atlantic/Rhino 8122765402). (10/01) The soundtrack to the Ray biopic features 17 original cuts performed by the great man himself. As an introduction or a reminder of how good he was, this is perfect, comprising early...

Various: Future's Burning.
January 8, 2005... Various Future's Burning (Nude VVR1031022). (17/01) This set is a celebration of the new, guitar-based music talent which emerged in 2004. One look at this 20-track playlist and it hits home what a great year 2004 was for such music....

Various: Fabric 20: John Digweed.
January 8, 2005... Various Fabric 20: John Digweed (Fabric FABRIC39). (17.01) The evergreen Bedrock jock contributes to the ever-impressive Fabric series with a typically heads-down techy DJ set, featuring tracks from Slam, Martin Solveig and Supserpitcher....

Elton John: Elton John.
January 8, 2005... Elton John Elton John (Island/Rocket B00360736); Tumbleweed Connection (B00361136); Madman Across The Water (B00361036); Honky Chateau (B000360936); Captain Fantastic And The Brown Dirt Cowboy (B000360636) Originally released between 1970...

Bucks Fizz: Writing on the Wall.
January 8, 2005... Bucks Fizz Writing On The Wall (Spectrum 9825836) First released in 1986, after Andy Hill had relinquished producer duties and Jay Aston had left the band, Writing On The Wall was virtually ignored on its release and failed to dent the Top...

New releases.
January 8, 2005... Albums FRONTLINE RELEASES CLASSICAL [] SCHUBERT OCTET IN F Sanctuary (CD GLD4005) P Classical DANCE [] DJ REVOLUTION THE BREAKS IN HI-FIDELITY NOCTURNE (CD OTCD957) ...

The definitive critics' list: MW and HMV gather some key publications' albums of the year rundowns for 2004.(New Releases)
January 8, 2005... HMV POLL OF POLLS 1. Kanye West College Drop Out 2. Scissor Sisters--Scissor Sisters 3. Franz Ferdinand--Franz Ferdinand 4. The Streets--A Grand Don't Come For Free 5. Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds-Abattoir Blues/Lyre Of...

Elvis Costello: The Very Best Of.
January 8, 2005... Elvis Costello The Very Best Of (UMTV 5464902) Clad in a new sleeve but bearing the same catalogue number as its original release, this classic Costello compilation reached number four in the chart in 1999 and has sold more than 240,000...

Buffy Sainte-Marie: Best of the Vanguard Years.
January 8, 2005... Buffy Sainte-Marie Best Of The Vanguard Years (Vanguard VCD 79750) Long before the vampire slayer made Buffy a fashionable name, Buffy Sainte-Marie was earning a living as a writer and performer of quality songs, primarily in the...

The Tremeloes: Here Comes My Baby.
January 8, 2005... The Tremeloes Here Comes My Baby (Sanctuary Midline) When they split from Brian Peele in 1966 after eight hits, The Tremeloes looked to be another backing band bound for oblivion. Instead, Poole's star waned while theirs shone more brightly...

The official UK singles chart.(Top 75)
January 8, 2005... The Official UK Singles Chart Weeks ARTIST TITLE This Last in (Producer Writer Label CD Week Week Chart Published) (Distributor) 1 1 ...

The official UK albums chart.(Top 75)
January 8, 2005... The Official UK Albums Chart Weeks This Last in ARTIST TITLE Label CD Week Week Chart Producer (Distributor) 1 1 10 ROBBIE WILLIAMS GREATEST ...

The official UK singles chart: Steve Brookstein takes charge at the top as Band Aid 20 experience post-Christmas blues and just four new entries refresh the Top 75.(Top 75)
January 8, 2005... 1. Steve Brookstein Becoming only the third of 154 number one singles this century not to make its Top 40 debut at the apex, X-Factor winner Steve Brookstein's Against All Odds takes advantage of a post-Christmas slump in sales of Band Aid 20...

The official UK albums chart: Green Day surge to the Top in a closely-fought contest with Scissor Sisters and Maroon 5 as the January sale season sends 23 re-entries into the Top 75.(Top 75)
January 8, 2005... 1. Green Day Leaping 13-1 to reclaim pole position on the album chart 14 weeks after ii debuted there, Green Day's American Idiot does so even though its sales are down 58.7% week-on-week. The album's resilience is no small part down to the...

Music backs tsunami aid: commercial radio to unite for simulcast as the Brit Trust joins forces with Save The Children.(Charity)
January 15, 2005... The music and radio industries are taking unprecedented steps to back the tsunami relief effort. Commercial radio stations across the UK will unite for 12 hours for the first time in radio history next week for a fundraising simulcast,...

UK albums sales hit new high.(Bottom Line)
January 15, 2005... * Over-the-counter OCC sales figures for 2004 paint an encouraging picture for UK music, according to the BPI. The association says UK album sales reached "a new high in 2004", while the 5.7m registered sales of legal downloads shows the...

Legal download singles.(Bottom Line)
January 15, 2005... * Sales of legal download singles have overtaken sales of physical CD singles for the first time in the UK. The festive period saw a surge in sales of legitimate downloads driven by the huge popularity of portable digital music players such as...

US album sales.(Bottom Line)
January 15, 2005... * US album sales rose by 1.6% last year, representing the first annual rise in four years. Nielsen SoundScan data shows 666.7m albums were sold in the 52 weeks to January 2 this year with CD sales alone rising by 2.3% over the 12 months. There...

Veteran independent music publisher Bryan Morrison has bought a 75% stake in London-based indie Snapper Music.(Bottom Line)
January 15, 2005... * Veteran independent music publisher Bryan Morrison has bought a 75% stake in London-based indie Snapper Music. Under the deal, Morrison, whose career includes working with the likes of Marc Bolan and T Rex, The Jam, George Michael and Pink...

19 Entertainment.(Bottom Line)
January 15, 2005... * 19 Entertainment has released figures to Companies House showing a 6% rise in profits for the 12 months to June 30 2004. Pre-tax profits for the year were 10.1m [pounds sterling] compared to 9.6m [pounds sterling] for the previous 12 months....

Film composer in Ivors honour.(People)
January 15, 2005... * David Arnold is to be presented with a Fellowship to the British Academy of Composers & Songwriters at a ceremony at London's Bafta on January 20. The Grammy award-winning composer will receive one of five honorary Fellowships being presented...

HMV.(People)
January 15, 2005... * HMV is launching a human resources initiative called the HMV Management Diploma 2005, which is intended to aid development and learning for head office and store managers. The part-time course, which starts on January 30, was developed in...