Music Week articles from January 2008

Music Week archives from January 2008

Shining lights in the gloom.
January 12, 2008... Leona Lewis and Amy Winehouse buck the trend as industry looks for light at the end of the tunnel in 2008 Key players across the UK music industry insist there is cause for optimism in 2008, despite a massive year-on-year fall in albums...

THE PLAYLIST: 12.01.08.
January 12, 2008... Utah Saints (Van She Remix) Something Good 08 (Data) Australian four-piece Van She breathe new life into the Utah Saints' biggest commercial hit ahead of a comeback from the group. (single, March 10) Guillemots Falling Out Of...

UK musicians may see US radio payout at last.
January 12, 2008... Closing a loophole in the law could bring the US in line with other nations A landmark bill presented to the US Congress and Senate could spell a bonanza royalties payout for UK musicians. The Performance Rights Act is aimed at ending...

Gowers up for review again.
January 12, 2008... The music industry is bracing itself for another round of Gowers Review consultations, which will give it the opportunity to finally get to grips with the tricky old chestnut of format shifting. This week the UK Intellectual Property Office...

Digital flow will not plug gap.
January 12, 2008... New research suggests that the digital market is not yet the knight in shining armour for the industry The music industry faces another two years of belt-tightening and cost- cutting before the rise of digital halts the decline of physical...

Ups And Downs: 12.01.08.
January 12, 2008... UPS New Year Honours list. The music industry would like to thank Your Highness for the recognition Play.com launches a download store at last! Warner selling MP3s is a step in the right direction for the industry DOWNS ...

Promotion gold at end of In Rainbows.
January 12, 2008... Retailers have widely backed the ground-breaking release strategy for Radiohead's new album, despite In Rainbows last week struggling to match the first-week sales of its predecessor Hail To The Thief. The new album, whose conventional...

EMI turns up the heat on Hot Chip.
January 12, 2008... The major is pulling out all the stops to build on the electronic five- piece's success and give them that big push towards global domination Hot Chip will lead the first-quarter schedule for EMI, as the major looks to build on the group's...

IN BRIEF: Rock Against Racism anniversary to be marked.
January 12, 2008... The 30th anniversary of Rock Against Racism's Victoria Park carnival will be marked by Love Music Hate Racism with a carnival on the same site on April 29 this year. Copyright: CMP Information Ltd.

IN BRIEF: Play.com to launch download store.
January 12, 2008... Play.com is to launch a download store, PlayDigital, within four to six weeks, which will offer up to 1m songs. The news came as the online retailer announced sales growth of 24% in the fourth quarter of 2007, making it the company's strongest...

IN BRIEF: Midem Green World Awards.
January 12, 2008... The first Midem Green World Awards will be presented to Live Earth, Roskilde festival and the Paleo festival at this month's Midem music market in Cannes. The new awards recognise companies and events that have successfully integrated...

IN BRIEF: Radiohead agree with Apple.
January 12, 2008... Radiohead have agreed a deal with Apple to sell seventh album In Rainbows on the iTunes Music Store. The album is being sold through the store via the band's own _Xurbia_Xendless imprint - the same label they created for the self-released In...

IN BRIEF: BMI announce revamp to showcase events in 2008.
January 12, 2008... US performing right organisation BMI has announced a revamp to its showcase events in 2008, relocating the live music night from the Borderline in Soho to a new venue at 229 Great Portland Street. BMI's monthly showcase events, run in...

IN BRIEF: Kevin Greening dies.
January 12, 2008... Smooth Radio afternoon presenter Kevin Greening has died at the age of 44. Greening, who has presented shows on stations including Radio One and Virgin Radio, died in his sleep on December 29. Copyright: CMP Information Ltd.

IN BRIEF: Bug Music to buy music copyrights.
January 12, 2008... Independent publisher Bug Music is reportedly close to buying 90,000 music copyrights put up for sale by Universal Publishing as part of its deal to acquire BMG Publishing. Copyright: CMP Information Ltd.

IN BRIEF: Top 10 grossing tours of 2007 in the US.
January 12, 2008... The Police, Rod Stewart and Genesis were all among the top 10 grossing tours of 2007 in the US. The figures, compiled by Pollstar magazine, show that The Police were the highest grossing band of the year in the US, making $131.9m (#66.1m) from...

IN BRIEF: WMG makes music available for sale.
January 12, 2008... Warner Music Group has made its music available for sale in DRM-free MP3 format via Amazon's US download store, marking a shift in attitude for the major. From December 27, customers of Amazon MP3, Amazon's a la carte, copy-protection-free,...

IN BRIEF: Jay-Z announces plans to step down from Def Jam.
January 12, 2008... Jay-Z has announced his intention to step down from the position of president of Def Jam after a three-year tenure. During his time with Def Jam, the rapper - real name Shawn Carter - signed acts such as Rihanna, Ne-Yo and British rapper Lady...

IN BRIEF: mobileAct Unsigned competition.
January 12, 2008... The inaugural mobileAct Unsigned competition has been won by Envy & Other Sins.The group, who returned to the final four by way of public vote, were awarded the top prize at the Grand Final on Christmas Eve, securing a record deal with Polydor...

IN BRIEF: Tributes for Jo Cavanagh.
January 12, 2008... Tributes have flooded in following the death of respected music industry marketing professional Jo Cavanagh, who died of natural causes in her sleep on December 27. The award-winning executive, who worked with a number of independent and major...

IN BRIEF: Appointments.
January 12, 2008... Creative industries minister Margaret Hodge is to join producers Steve Levine and Robin Millar and Beggars group chairman Martin Mills at Aim's new music business funding summit this week. Investing In Music takes place this Thursday morning...

IN BRIEF: British Music Week to return in 2008.
January 12, 2008... The BPI's international music promotion British Music Week will return in 2008 with a new structure that will for the first time put it under local management. The newly-formed company British Music Week Germany (BMWG) has the exclusive right...

IN BRIEF: 2008 Brits Nominations launch party.
January 12, 2008... Editors, Bat For Lashes, The Hoosiers and Adele are to play live at the 2008 Brits Nominations launch party, which takes place on January 14 at the Roundhouse in Camden. Copyright: CMP Information Ltd.

IN BRIEF: Sony BMG to drop DRM and sell MP3s.
January 12, 2008... Sony BMG is to drop DRM and begin selling MP3s through Amazon's US store, Music Week understands. The move, which is expected to take place later this month, will see Sony BMG joining EMI, Universal and Warner Music Group by selling MP3s...

IN BRIEF: Strictly Confidential signs publishing deals.
January 12, 2008... Pan-European independent publisher Strictly Confidential has signed publishing deals with electronic artists Moby and Felix Da Housecat. Moby has enlisted the company as France/Benelux publishing representatives for his new album Last Night,...

Radiohead's experiment has moved the goalposts.
January 12, 2008... Different criteria will be needed to assess success as seismic shifts redraw the lines in the music industry Judging the success of a frontline artist used to be largely a simple matter of checking the chart position and sales of their most...

Top awards for industry pioneers.
January 12, 2008... Soul II Soul founder Jazzie B claims to be in a state of "deep shock", after being recognised in the New Year Honours list. The producer and DJ, who is a key figure in the history of black British music, was nominated for an OBE, while...

CHARTS 2007: A year of few successes.
January 12, 2008... Music Week's year-end charts illustrate that the pattern of falling album sales and loss of market share for most majors is one that only a hopeless optimist could ignore It was telling, perhaps, that the question hanging over the recorded...

THE MAJORS' BEST-SELLING ARTIST ALBUMS OF 2007.
January 12, 2008... UNIVERSAL Amy Winehouse - Back To Black (1) Mika - Life In Cartoon Motion (3) Take That - Beautiful World (4) Eagles - Long Road Out Of Eden (6) Kaiser Chiefs - Yours Truly Angry Mob (7) SONY BMG Leona Lewis - Spirit (2)...

THE MAJORS' BEST-SELLING SINGLES OF 2007.
January 12, 2008... UNIVERSAL Rihanna feat Jay-Z - Umbrella (2) Mika - Grace Kelly (3) Take That - Rule The World (5) Sugababes - About You Now (6) Timbaland feat Keri Hilson - The Way I Are (7) SONY BMG Leona Lewis - Bleeding Love (1) Leon...

MUSIC UPFRONT: 12.01.08.
January 12, 2008... This week Singles Bodyrox feat. Luciana What Planet You On (Phonetic) British Sea Power Waving Flags (Rough Trade) Clocks All I Can (Island) Celine Dion Eyes On Me (Epic) Lupe Fiasco Superstar (Atlantic) The...

MUSIC UPFRONT - 12.01.08: Single of the week.
January 12, 2008... The Hoosiers Worst Case Scenario (RCA) 2007 was a great year for Reading's only `oddpop' band The Hoosiers, when they racked up three top five singles and number one platinum album The Trick To Life. The three-piece kick off the new...

FUTURE RELEASE: Gabriella Cilmi.
January 12, 2008... Gabriella Cilmi (Island) Island will look to springboard Gabriella Cilmi's UK launch campaign on the back of new television series Echo Beach, which begins screening on ITV1 in February and stars Jason Donovan and Martine McCutcheon. ...

MUSIC UPFRONT - 12.01.08: Album of the week.
January 12, 2008... Tom Baxter Skybound (Charisma) Singer-songwriter Tom Baxter returns with his sophomore album after spending the past 12 months building his fanbase at home and abroad. Better, the album's first single, was picked up by the David...

MUSIC UPFRONT - 12.01.08: Catalogue reviews.
January 12, 2008... M People: One Night In Heaven - The Best Of (Music Club Deluxe MCDLX073) All 20 of the Mancunian's soulful dance hits from the Nineties are here on a quality double-disc set. Vocalist Heather Small has one of those `love or loathe' voices...

The Panel: 12.01.08.
January 12, 2008... Gideon Coe (BBC6 Music) Noah and the Whale: Two Bodies One Heart (Young & Lost) A band I want to go and see as soon as possible; they boast Laura Marling in their line-up and deliver a good line in lovely acoustic melodies with...

FUTURE RELEASE: Utah Saints.
January 12, 2008... Utah Saints Something Good (Data) Utah Saints will mark their return to the British music scene this year with a new single, remix album and new studio album. Despite releasing just two albums over the course of their career, the...

FUTURE RELEASE: Jack Savoretti.
January 12, 2008... Jack Savoretti Caffe Nero promotion Jack Savoretti is to become the first artist to benefit from a new music tie-up with Caffe Nero, which will see the independent artist being promoted in all 350 of the chain's UK outlets. The...

THE PANEL: 12.01.08.
January 12, 2008... Mike Diver (DrownedinSound.com) Johnny Foreigner: Arcs Across The City (Best Before) Birmingham trio Johnny Foreigner will shake up the domestic indie-rock scene with their 2008 debut album, combining stateside underground influences...

DATAFILE EXPOSURE: 12.01.08.
January 12, 2008... Looking for reasons why Scouting For Girls' current single Elvis Ain't Dead has catapulted into the Top 20? Look no further than the airplay chart, where Elvis Ain't Dead jumps 6-1, ending Leona Lewis' seven-week domination of the list with...

Instore: 12.01.08.
January 12, 2008... Asda Instore Display: British Sea Power, Neil Diamond, Ringo Starr, The Envy Corps, The Maccabees CWNN Album of the week: Radiohead Instore Display: Aidan John Moffat, Black Mountain, Cat Power, Dawn Landes, Lightspeed...

DATAFILE SALES - 12.01.08: Number One Single.
January 12, 2008... Leon Jackson (Syco) Leon Jackson completes a comfortable third week at number one with his debut single When You Believe, though it suffers the biggest percentage dip in sales of any single in the chart, falling 73.2% to 32,098. Its...

DATAFILE SALES - 12.01.08.
January 12, 2008... After the heady sales of December, January always provides a reality check about the state of the market, and this week is no exception to that rule, with no album coming close to selling 50,000 copies, whereas 35 albums (28 artist, seven...

DATAFILE SALES - 12.01.08: Number One Album.
January 12, 2008... Radiohead (XL) Three months after it was made available for download on a "pay-what- you-like" basis, Radiohead's seventh album In Rainbows has been released physically and, although its extended availability on the internet has blunted...

Soulja Boy Tell'em cranks up the pressure as festive hits melt away.
January 12, 2008... Two weeks ago, the number of Christmas songs in the Top 75 reached a record 22, but that tally shrunk to three last week, and they have all now melted away completely, with the only one still selling well enough to make the Top 200, inevitably,...

DATAFILE SINGLES - 12.01.08: Girls Aloud.
January 12, 2008... Girls Aloud's proud record of 17 consecutive Top 10 hits is in danger. The group's latest single, Call The Shots is still doing very well, and the official follow-up will be Can't Speak French but the girls recorded a promotional video for the...

DATAFILE SINGLES - 12.01.08: Nickelback.
January 12, 2008... Canadian rockers Nickelback return to the Top 10 for the first time since 2003 with Rockstar, a single which namechecks Cher and James Dean, and features additional spoken vocal from ZZ Top's Billy Gibbons. It's a very belated fourth single...

DATAFILE SINGLES - 12.01.08: Basshunter.
January 12, 2008... The latest hit act to emerge from Sweden is Basshunter, whose recent number one club hit Now You're Gone debuts at number 14 on sales of 9,395 downloads. The track was a huge hit on the continent last year, in its original Swedish language...

DATAFILE SINGLES - 12.01.08: Britney Spears.
January 12, 2008... With the twists and turns of her personal life matching those of Amy Winehouse's for drama, Britney Spears is having a bad time, and her tabloid tormentors are addressed on Piece Of Me, her latest single, which jumps 46-19 this week on sales of...

Eighth number one album for XL despite Radiohead's digital gamble.
January 12, 2008... After seven weeks at number one, Leona Lewis' debut album Spirit dips to number three, overtaken not only by Radiohead's newly released In Rainbows set but also by Take That's Beautiful World, which combines an eight-week-low sale of 34,375...

DATAFILE ALBUMS - 12.01.08: Mika.
January 12, 2008... Finally released on CD, Relax, Take It Easy dashes 49-20 on sales of 7,056 to become the fifth Top 20 hit from Mika's debut album, Life In Cartoon Motion. Although it cannot match its predecessors Grace Kelly (number one), Love Today (number...

DATAFILE ALBUMS - 12.01.08: Amy Macdonald.
January 12, 2008... With the title track rising as high as number six on the airplay chart recently, Scottish singer/songwriter Amy MacDonald's debut album This Is The Life is reaping the rewards. Although the single is fading slowly from its pre-Christmas number...

DATAFILE ALBUMS - 12.01.08: BPI Awards.
January 12, 2008... Albums Connie Talbot Over The Rainbow (gold); Fleetwood Mac Rumours (deluxe edition) (gold); Celine Dion Taking Chances (platinum) BPI Awards are made on combined unit sales of cassettes, CDs, LPs and MiniDisc. LPs and cassettes with a...

DATAFILE ALBUMS - 12.01.08: Scouting For Girls.
January 12, 2008... On the rise for the sixth week in a row, Scouting For Girls' third hit, Elvis Ain't Dead has moved 169-91-53-33-28-26-17 so far, and has sold 35,259 copies, including 7,779 last week. The London trio charted with It's Not About You (number 31)...

DATAFILE ALBUMS - 12.01.08: The White Stripes.
January 12, 2008... Released simultaneously on download and three separate seven-inch variants, Conquest is the third single from The White Stripes' current album Icky Thump and a cover of a track first recorded in 1952 by Patti Page, who had but one hit here and...

Wary EMI staff await Terra vision.
January 19, 2008... Guy Hands will spell out his future direction for EMI this week in the wake of CEO Tony Wadsworth's departure EMI employees, reeling from the exit of their chairman/CEO Tony Wadsworth, are bracing themselves for more swingeing cuts and a...

THE PLAY LIST: 19.01.08.
January 19, 2008... In Case Of Fire This Time We Stand (Unsigned) The Irish group's first London gig drew A&Rs out in force at Fandango last week and rightly so. This is tightly-delivered, punchy rock with a real edge. (single, tbc) Janet Jackson ...

In The Studio: 19.01.08.
January 19, 2008... Supervision Management charges White Lies are in the studio with producer Ed Buller. Tiga is in the studio with Soulwax, working on his new studio album for Wall Of Sound. Kids With Fireworks are working with producer John Mitchell...

Sign Here: 19.01.08.
January 19, 2008... EMI Publishing has renewed its publishing partnership with Norah Jones. Jones was originally signed to EMI in 2002 ahead of the release of her multi-million-selling debut album, Come Away With Me. Copyright: CMP Information Ltd.

RRS dips its toes in the legal water over ticketing.
January 19, 2008... Secondary ticketers face court in test case to establish legal precedent The Retail Rights Society is to preparing to set a legal precedent by taking a secondary ticketing company to court after it launches a new type of concert ticket...

New name as Vital signs off.
January 19, 2008... Vital today (Monday) takes the name of parent company Pias, as the UK- based sales and marketing operation looks to underline its international credentials. The company, which will henceforth be known as Pias UK, has also announced that it...

BPI chairmanship in limbo as Tony Wadsworth leaves EMI.
January 19, 2008... BPI to consider Wadsworth's position as chairman as industry reacts with shock to his departure from EMI A question mark hangs over Tony Wadsworth's role as chairman of the BPI, after the EMI CEO's shock exit from the major last week. ...

Ups And Downs: 19.01.08.
January 19, 2008... UPS Napster embracing MP3s Zavvi posts strong Christmas sales Apple standardises iTunes pricing DOWNS Tony Wadsworth's departure from EMI Robbie Williams going on strike - the last thing EMI needs The DCMS report...

"Prove yourselves"!
January 19, 2008... Robbie Williams' manager has told EMI's new owners that they must prove they are capable of handling a major release, before Williams delivers a new album to the label. "EMI simply has to prove to us that they are capable of doing their...

IN BRIEF: In Rainbows rockets to the top of US charts.
January 19, 2008... Radiohead's In Rainbows has topped the US albums chart. The album sold 122,000 units in the US last week, despite having been available as a download for three months. Copyright: CMP Information Ltd.

IN BRIEF: Most visited entertainment venue in 2007.
January 19, 2008... Manchester's M.E.N. Arena claims to have beaten New York's Madison Square Garden and London's O2 Arena to be named the planet's most visited entertainment venue in 2007. Figures from Pollstar reveal the Manchester venue received 1,245,196...

IN BRIEF: Pandora to close UK operations.
January 19, 2008... Internet radio station Pandora will close its UK operations after claiming it cannot afford to pay music licence fees. The California- based webcaster has been trying to negotiate a deal with PPL and MCPS- PRS Alliance for the music it uses...

IN BRIEF: iTunes to bring prices in line with Europe.
January 19, 2008... iTunes has announced that it will bring prices on its UK store in line with the standardised pricing across Europe, as an antitrust case on unfair pricing brought by the EC concludes. Copyright: CMP Information Ltd.

IN BRIEF: IFPI reviewing its structure.
January 19, 2008... The IFPI has confirmed that it is reviewing its structure, operation and relationship with the major labels, with a view to finding greater efficiencies and cutting costs, after EMI tendered a provisional resignation from the organisation. The...

IN BRIEF: The Great Escape festival bands announced.
January 19, 2008... The first batch of bands to perform at Brighton's The Great Escape festival has been announced. Joe Lean And The Jing Jang Jong and Lightspeed Champion will join Tunng, Fujiya & Miyagi and School Of Language between May 15 and 17. ...

IN BRIEF: Napster embraces MP3 and ditches DRM.
January 19, 2008... Napster has become the latest industry player to adopt the DRM-free MP3 format.The company said that it would offer the format from the second quarter of 2008 instead of Microsoft's DRM system. Copyright: CMP Information Ltd.

IN BRIEF: Choice Music Prize shortlist.
January 19, 2008... Adrian Crowley, Roisin Murphy and Delorentos are among the nominees for the Choice Music Prize shortlist for Irish album of the year, to be presented on February 24 in Dublin. Copyright: CMP Information Ltd.

IN BRIEF: Keith Baxter dies.
January 19, 2008... Keith Baxter, drummer with Nineties rock outfit 3 Colours Red, has died, aged 36. The Creation Records act rose to fame during the height of Britpop, before splitting in 1999 after the release of their second album Revolt. Copyright: CMP...

IN BRIEF: Borders' On Demand.
January 19, 2008... Borders UK is to trial selling CDs and DVD-Roms on demand in its stores. Branded as On Demand and produced in collaboration with software company Tribeka, the system will offer customers the choice of more than 1,500 software items, including...

IN BRIEF: Harry Fox Agency told to stop licensing for internet.
January 19, 2008... Sony/ATV Music Publishing's American division has told licensing and collections agency Harry Fox Agency to stop licensing any of its catalogue for internet streaming or downloads following the decision by the Digital Media Association to file...

Industry braced for further Gowers shift.
January 19, 2008... Senior executives have their work cut out to justify compensation claims ahead of Lord Triesman's consultation process on music format shifting The music industry faces its second key test on the Gowers Review following its unsuccessful...

Annus horribilis should not taint Tony Wadsworth.
January 19, 2008... Though seemingly paying for EMI's poor performance in 2007, Tony Wadsworth's 20-year record is enviable Tony Wadsworth's departure from EMI hardly comes as a total shock given the expected consequences of Terra Firma's takeover of the...

Stuart Galbraith to return from exile with AEG-linked venture.
January 19, 2008... Sacked Live Nation boss forms independent promoter with O2 owners, concentrating on the global festival market and working with previous live clients Live Nation's former managing director Stuart Galbraith, who was sacked in September for...

Ruby and Shine provide the sparkle in 2007's airplay chart.
January 19, 2008... Universal-signed acts ruled the roost on the airwaves last year, with Kaiser Chiefs giving rock its highest yearly placing to date and Take That tracks peppering the top 20. Meanwhile Rihanna feat. Jay-Z dominate the TV chart with sales smash...

Artists vs radio: America's battle royal for royalties.
January 19, 2008... A settlement to the long and bitter battle between US artists and broadcasters over performance rights could finally be on the horizon as legislation to force radio stations to pay royalties to artists when they play their records reaches...

Changing relations.
January 19, 2008... The role of public relations is diversifying, with many companies now offering all-inclusive artist deals which encompass the likes of managerial and live support. Music Week discovers where the PR companies themselves consider their future...

Lewis beats Ronson in Q4 battle.
January 19, 2008... It has been pretty hard to avoid the strains of Leona Lewis's Bleeding Love in the last three months, with 2006's X Factor winner topping the quarter four airplay chart with a staggering 27,552 plays to an audience of nearly 80m in the nine...

Heart-shaped boxes.
January 19, 2008... As retailers gear up for the Valentine's Day big push to set the seal on quarter-one sales - an event that traditionally sees a hike in compilation sales - labels are increasingly giving this gifting period greater focus and using the...

MUSIC UPFRONT - 19.01.08: Single of the week.
January 19, 2008... Radiohead: Jigsaw Falling Into Place (Xurbia/XL) The release of In Rainbows' first single comes more than three months after the band first offered the album as a free download and coincides with the album's physical release topping the...