Music Week articles from July 2004

Music Week archives from July 2004

Download data hits test phase: MW publishes trial of digital chart.(Exclusive)
July 3, 2004... Music Week this week offers the first official snapshot of the UK download business, with publication of a test version of the UK's Download Chart. From this issue, Music Week will exclusively publish the Down load Chart every week as the...

Oasis to follow Glasto with DVD.
July 3, 2004... Oasis are to follow last Friday's triumphant Glastonbury performance with the release of a ground-breaking DVD marking 10 years since the release of their debut album Definitely Maybe. The disc, Definitely Maybe: The DVD, will be the first...

R2 to reprise industry debate.(Bottom line)
July 3, 2004... * Radio Two is to hold two more Great British Music Debates following the success of last year's event. The first on July 21 will centre on a three-hour live studio-based debate hosted by Stuart Maconie, which will address the issue of...

BPI.(Bottom line)
July 3, 2004... * Renowned film producer Lord David Puttnam has been lined up as guest speaker at next month's BPI annual general meeting. Puttnam, who played a key role in last year's Communications Act as head of the committee examining the Bill, will follow...

IFPI.(Bottom line)
July 3, 2004... * The IFPI is urging the European Commission to help improve and enforce copyright legislation within those countries signed up to the World Trade Organization. It says the trade-related aspects of International Property Rights (TRIPS), which...

Westminster Council.(Bottom line)
July 3, 2004... * Westminster Council has followed action by Camden Council against BMG and Sony by targeting music companies in a campaign to eradicate flyposting. It last week wrote to the CEOs of companies whose flyposters have been seen in the area in the...

James Brown brought a close to a star-studded first Mojo Awards last Tuesday as Soul Brother Number One was honoured with a lifetime achievement award.(Digest)
July 3, 2004... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Caption: James Brown brought a close to a star-studded first Mojo Awards last Tuesday as Soul Brother Number One was honoured with a lifetime achievement award. Collecting the award from Marianne Faithful, Brown told...

WH Smith.(Bottom line)
July 3, 2004... * Venture capital group Permira's talks with WH Smith about a possible 940m [pounds sterling] takeover of the retail chain broke down last week after Permira was made aware of a 190m [pounds sterling] gap in the WH Smith pension fund it would...

Gera-Europe.(Bottom line)
July 3, 2004... * European entertainment retailers are pressing for a shake-up in the operations of the continent's collecting societies to help boost the online music market. Trade organisation Gera-Europe has turned to the European Commission to address...

Phixx.(Bottom line)
July 3, 2004... * Concept Music-signed boy band Phixx were yesterday (Sunday) set to miss out on a Top 10 debut for their cover of Duran Duran's Wild Boys after its two-track CD formal broke the maximum playing time of 10 minutes for chart inclusion. *...

The Music Publishers Association.(Bottom line)
July 3, 2004... * The Music Publishers Association's AGM taking place on July 6 is to include a panel debate titled Music In Advertising--A Creative Business The AGM at the Royal Institute of British Architects in London will also see the election of a new...

Universal Music Publishing.(Bottom line)
July 3, 2004... * Universal Music Publishing has relocated from today (Monday) from its previous London home of Fulham Palace Road to New King's Road. The building was formerly occupied by A&M and Mercury Records. * Music Zone is planning more high street...

Viacom seeks takeover targets.(Exposure)
July 3, 2004... * MTV owner Viacom is on the lookout for more European television channels to buy following its acquisition of Viva Media in a deal valuing the German music television company at 308m [euro]. It aims to increase the contribution from its...

Tony Blackburn.(Exposure)
July 3, 2004... * Tony Blackburn last week won his campaign to allow Cliff Richard to be played on the Classic Gold AM and digital network after the veteran DJ was initially suspended from his breakfast show for playing the singer against management...

Virgin Megastores.(Exposure)
July 3, 2004... * Virgin Megastores has launched a festivals campaign with promotional material designed by Sixties artist Alan Aldridge. The one-month campaign features 400 albums at 6.99 [pounds sterling] by artists playing at the festivals.

Amici Forever.(Exposure)
July 3, 2004... * The BBC has commissioned Olympia: Eternal Flame recorded by BMG act Amici Forever as the theme for its Olympics coverage this Slimmer

BBC Jazz Awards.(Exposure)
July 3, 2004... * Katie Melua and Amy Winehouse will be among the guest presenters at next month's annual BBC Jazz Awards. The July 29 event, will be hosted by British jazz vocalists Claire Martin and Jan Shaw at London's Hammersmith Palais. * Non-EC...

Ofcom.(Exposure)
July 3, 2004... * Ofcom has added 11 new areas to its planned timetable for advertisement of new analogue local commercial radio licences. The planned new licences cover Cornwall, Durham, Banbury, Norwich, Ballymena, Solent region, Torbay, Swindon,...

Radio awards honour Foxy.(People)
July 3, 2004... * Radio has marked Neil Fox's departure as Hit 40 UK host after 11 years with a special honour at its annual awards ceremony. The Capital FM drivetime presenter, who hosted his last show for the networked chart countdown at the end of last...

International Music Managers Forum.(People)
July 3, 2004... * The International Music Managers Forum has appointed Andy Saunders as director of communications. Saunders will continue running Velocity PR with clients including Ministry of Sound group and Kobalt Music.

Jean-Marie Messier.(People)
July 3, 2004... * Former Vivendi Universal chairman Jean-Marie Messier was released from French custody last Wednesday on 135bn [euro] (0.9m [euro]) bail, having been held for questioning on allegations of underhand share dealing. The case centres on the...

Notting Hill Music Group.(People)
July 3, 2004... * The Notting Hill Music Group has signed Mike Hamilton, who co-wrote the current Cassius Henry single with Kanye West and Cassius & Freeway, to a long term deal.

PPL links with US royalties body.(Sign here)
July 3, 2004... * PPL has signed a deal with US based SoundExchange in which both companies will collect and distribute royalties to its members on both sides of the Atlantic. SoundExchange will send revenues for all digital royalties earned by artists...

Apple's iTunes off to peachy start ... UK roll-out of download service outdoes analysts' expectations with massive first-week sales.(Downloads)
July 3, 2004... The UK music industry has welcomed impressive first-week sales from iTunes Music Store, which will generate an estimated 950,000 [pounds sterling] in income for record labels and publishers. Apple said it sold 800,000 tracks Europe-wide in...

... As, on the high street, Universal picks first pocket CD singles.(News)
July 3, 2004... Sixteen Universal titles are to hit selected retail shelves next month in the first trial of the major's new pocket CD format. Black Eyed Peas, Busted and Keane will figure among the inaugural batch of releases being released on the...

The Music Week playlist.(News)
July 3, 2004... PRODIGY Gifts (XL) Liam goes back to basics on this neat old skool track from comeback album Always Outnumbered, Never Outgunned (vinyl promo) ROOSTER Come Get Some (Brightside) The swagger of Oasis with Aerosmith's riffs. This...

Tat.(Snapshot)
July 3, 2004... Tat, the London-based band fronted by 19-year-old newcomer Tatiana DeMaria, have taken the unusual approach of striking a promotional deal with the Extreme Sports Channel to help launch their debut single Peace Sex & Tea. The broadcaster is...

Ticket agencies face in-depth OFT probe.(News)
July 3, 2004... Concert ticket agencies are hoping an Office of Fair Trading probe into their activities will bring greater transparency to the public regarding their operations. The OFT will spend six months looking at the sector following a series of...

BPI awards.(News)
July 3, 2004... ALBUMS Hoobastank--The Reason (Mercury) (silver) Donna Summer--The Very Best Of (Mercury)(silver) Various--Discomania (Mercury) (silver) Badly Drawn Boy--One Plus One is One (XL)(silver) The Cure--The Cure (Polydor)...

Court casts shadow over Sony-BMG deal: majors or indies likely to challenge results of EC probe.(News)
July 3, 2004... The European Court of First Instance (CFI) is casting a long shadow over the Sony-BMG union and future music business combinations, which could include a renewed merger bid by EMI and Warner. European indies organisation Impala last week...

Fopp backs PRS talent move.(News)
July 3, 2004... Welsh rock trio White Noise and rap/dance collective K-Diff Syndicate are among six unsigned acts which have been awarded a recording and distribution package in the first round of the PRS Foundation's new initiative to nurture British musical...

Steele back in Short supply: Beat and Fine Young Cannibals founder aims for success hat-trick.(Profile)
July 3, 2004... Artists who can claim to have followed up initial success with a second hit project are few and far between. Rarer still are those acts who have struck gold three times. David Steele, founder bassist of The Beat and Fine Young Cannibals, is...

Loudeye OD2 buyout boosts catalogue for Euro push.(News)
July 3, 2004... OD2 says its multi-million-pound takeover by Loudeye will give it the platform to dramatically expand its European activities. OD2 can now offer an expanded catalogue of 1.3m tracks and access to better technical research and development,...

The 411.(Snapshot)
July 3, 2004... Four-piece girl group The 411 are preparing to follow their debut sales and airplay hit On My Knees with a track that is already receiving widespread exposure as the soundbed to a high-profile TV advertising campaign. Although it is not...

Permit price hike may deter visiting artists.(News)
July 3, 2004... Concern is mounting that non-EC musicians and DJs could be deterred from performing in the UK because of a planned 60% hike in the cost of work permit applications. A fee for work permits was introduced for the first time in April 2003 and...

Warner rebranding highlights heritage: name-change reinvigorates Atlantic and Warner Bros.(Restructuring)
July 3, 2004... Warner Music is rebranding its two mainstream UK companies as Warner Bros Records and Atlantic Records. The two companies previously WEA London and East West respectively--will take on their new brands immediately. The move reflects the...

BMG runs down Jive office.(News)
July 3, 2004... The first stage in the closure of Jive Records' UK office takes place this week, with a number of staff due to leave the company. It is understood that five Jive staff moved to BMG last week, including one press person and two product...

Aim urges indies to stand firm on Apple: Wenham cites MTV victory as precedent for action.(Indies)
July 3, 2004... Aim CEO Alison Wenham has heralded the collective might of the independents in what has turned into her organisation's most challenging year yet. Buoyed by a famous victory in March against MTV, she used the platform of last Tuesday's AGM...

Cult band The Blue Nile are about to embark on a new chapter of of their somewhat sporadic career after signing a new record deal with Sanctuary Records.(News)
July 3, 2004... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Caption: Cult band The him Nike are about to embark on a new chapter of after signing a new record deal with Sanctuary Records. The Glasgow-based three piece have released just three albums since 1984, their most...

Music Zone ramps up new store launches.(News)
July 3, 2004... Music Zone is rejecting industry doomsayers who think downloads will damage High Street retailing by unveiling one of the most ambitious roll-outs of new stores by a UK independent retailer. With 17 new stores opened in 2003 and new store...

Scotland's Coda hit by retail chill.(News)
July 3, 2004... Scottish indie retailer Coda Music has succumbed to the pressure from supermarkets, low margins and downloads by pulling the plug on its three main stores. In a move anticipated recently by the closure of Leicester's long-established...

Orange pitches new music services to Glastonbury festival-goers: mobile operator unveils remix application and downloads service as rivals cue up launches.(Downloads)
July 3, 2004... Music fans at last weekend's Glastonbury festival were the first to experience mobile operator Orange's new twin services Fireplayer and Music Player, the first of a slew of music mobile launches from operators in partnership with record labels...

Digital deals boost profits at UBC.(Digital)
July 3, 2004... Digital radio took another step closer to the world of music downloads when broadcast group UBC unveiled plans for a service enabling digital radio listeners to download music from their radios, expected to be launched early next year. UBC...

Top 20 ringtones.(Digital)
July 3, 2004... TOP 20 RINGTONES This Last ARTIST TITLE Publisher 1 9 MARIO WINANS FEAT. ENYA & P EMI/Marsky/Hot Heat/ DIDDY I DON'T WANNA KNOW Donceno 2 ...

Downloads are tomorrow's world: CD sales are still strong despite excitement over the growth of digital media and online sales.(Editorial)
July 3, 2004... While the industry at large has been becoming increasingly excited at progress in the digital arena over the past months, the retail community has been observing developments with a dose of cynicism. Physical sales remain overwhelmingly...

Give the people what they want, and they will buy it.(Viewpoint)
July 3, 2004... If the media hype is to be believed, we might as well pack up at Music Zone. The sad thing is the way people have been suckered into believing this download propaganda. I can understand the public being influenced by it, but record companies...

Do labels foster brand loyalty in customers?(The big question)
July 3, 2004... Warner Music is rebranding its East West and WEA London companies--as Atlantic and Warner Bros--but do label brands really mean anything to consumers? Martin Bostock, Nelson Bostock Communications "Consumers care about any brand that...

Quickfire: as BMG prepares to launch an extended DVD of the Elvis '68 Comeback special, the show's musical director, Bones Howe, remembers working with a legend.(Forum)
July 3, 2004... So, how did you get involved in the Comeback Special? I was a sound engineer and I had a company with Steve Bender, who was a camera director. We heard Colonel Parker had gone to NBC with the idea of making a Christmas Special and we were...

Inside track.(Forum)
July 3, 2004... A&R veteran Eddie O'Loughlin is president of Next Plateau Entertainment, the US indie label that he recently relaunched and which is enjoying international success through Universal with Nina Sky's Move Your Body (released next week). With...

Glasto spirits undampened.(Dooley's Diary)
July 3, 2004... Remember where you heard it: However Glastonbury panned out. over the weekend, initial conditions on Friday were warm and sunny, with camping conditions a little soggy in places. But things have clearly changed since Dooley first made the...

Following one of their Hyde Park concerts, The Red Hot Chili Peppers were presented with four discs to mark 5m UK album sales for Warner between 1991 and 2004.(Diary)
July 3, 2004... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Caption: Following one of their Hyde Park concerts, The Red Hot Chili Peppers were presented with four discs to mark 5m UK album sales for Warner between 1991 and 2004. It is estimated they performed to 750,000...

Key releases.(Datafile)
July 3, 2004... ALBUMS THIS WEEK The Bees Free The Bees (Virgin); Beverley Knight Affirmation (Parlophone); Razorlight Up All Night (Vertigo); The Cure The Cure (Geffen) JULY 5 The Ordinary Boys Over The Counter CUlture (B Unique); The Open...

The Streets make move on top spot.(The Market)
July 3, 2004... With the Father's Day effect disappearing from the chart this week, the album market is down 1.5% week-on-week, with albums which gained most from the occasion last week now in rapid retreat. With Keane's Hopes And Fears off by 36%...

Market indicators.(Datafile)
July 3, 2004... MARKET INDICATORS SINGLES Sales versus last week: -0.6%% Year to date versus last year: -10.0% Market shares BMG 25.6% Island 20.4% Virgin 11.5% Sony 4.7% Atlantic 4.7% ALBUMS ...

Fast chart.(Datafile)
July 3, 2004... SINGLES NUMBER ONE McFLY OBVIOUSLY Universal McFly's second number one single in 10 weeks, Obviously sold 12% more than Britney Spears Everytime, which dips to number two. Spears was the first act to have two number one hits in...

Debut plays to MC's strengths: Verbalicious creates demand for debut paid-for download, helped by exposure on Radio One.(The Plot)
July 3, 2004... VERBALICIOUS DON'T PLAY NICE (ADVENTURE RECORDS) UK artist Verbalicious last week joined the growing list of new acts making an impact with a download as their first introduction to the public. Although not accompanied by a physical...

Petey Pablo.(Snapshot)
July 3, 2004... Jive's US rapper Petey Pablo looks set for his first mainstream UK hit with Freek-A-Leek, the catchy "Crunk" anthem that is stalling to build media momentum. The Lil Jon-produced track, which has been supported by specialist DJs such as Radio...

Tipsters: a selection of UK tastemakers select their favourite upcoming releases.(Upfront)
July 3, 2004... J Da Flex, Underground Knowledge, 1Xtra DUBCHDILD NOT A GAME (FRAGILE BEATS) "A hot track because I think he's an innovative producer and this is one of many tracks that has stood out on my shows. He's from Leicester and is part of the...

Radio playlists.(Upfront)
July 3, 2004... RADIO ONE A LIST Black Eyed Peas Lets Get It Started; Blink 182 Down; J-Kwon Tipsy; Jamelia See It In A Boy's Eyes; Joss Stone Super Duper Love; Kanye West feat. Syleena Johnson All Falls Down; Keane Everybody's Changing; Kelis Trick...

Top 10 radio growers.(Upfront)
July 3, 2004... Adds BIG CITY Lou Reed Satellite Of Love 2004; The Pirates feat. Shola Area & Naila Boss You Should Really Know; Usher Burn; Will Young Friday's Child. GALAXY Britney Spears Everytime; Christina Milian Whatever You Want;...

TV airplay chart: Kelis continues to reign, but Outkast rise to number three and Jamelia makes her move into the Top 10.(Airplay TV)
July 3, 2004... 16. Busted Featuring clips from the new Thunderbirds movie, Busted's Thunderbirds Are Go--due as a double A-side with 3AM--was given a warm welcome by key music TV stations last week and enters the chart as the week's highest new entry at...

The UK radio airplay chart: Mario Winans remains on top, but Will Young is the big mover, rising 17 places to launch a challenge for the number one position.(Airplay Radio)
July 3, 2004... 3. Will Young Other reality TV stars are finding airplay very tough to come by--but not Will Young. His second album, Friday's Child, has already earned him a number one airplay hit with Leave Right Now and a number two airplay hit with...

Tom Baxter.(Snapshot)
July 3, 2004... UK singer songwriter Tom Baxter is gearing up for his first taste of mainstream exposure, thanks to growing interest in his debut single. This Boy, due for release on July 16. Baxter has been a permanent fixture on the live circuit for around...

In-store next week.(Cued up)
July 3, 2004... Single--Will Young; Album--McFly; In-store--Britney Spears, Will Young, Dido, Alicia Keys, Clubbers Guide Summer 2004, Beverley Knight, Kanye West, Cher Listening posts--Badly Drawn Boy, Brian Wilson, Wilco, Kings Of Convenience;...

Tastemakers.(Cued Up)
July 3, 2004... MARTIN BATE Beat 106, The Sunday Show & The Rock Show 1. THE HIVES WALK IDIOT WALK (POLYDOR) 2. ASH STARCROSSED (INFECTIOUS) 3. SNOW PATROL SPITTING GAMES (POLYDOR) 4. MORRISSEY THE FIRST OF THE GANG TO DIE (ATTACK) ...

TV listings.(Cued Up)
July 3, 2004... CD:UK McFly Met This Girl; Rachel Stevens Some Girls; Snow Petrel Spitting Games; Will Young Friday's Child GMTV Mania Looking For A Place To Go; Shaznay Lewis Never Felt Like This Before; Sledge LATER Bobby Womack...

Radio listings.(Cued Up)
July 3, 2004... RADIO ONE Lamacq Live Glastonbury special (Mon) Mary Anne Hobbs Sonar special (Mon) Zane Lowe Glastonbury special (Tue-Thur) John Peel featuring Belle & Sebastian (Tue)/The Von Bondies (Wed) at Glastonbury; Harpies session...

Welsh launch makes waves.(Media Insider)
July 3, 2004... Keri Jones managing director, Radio Carmarthenshire On air since June 13, Radio Carmarthenshire has a TSA of 140,000 and is the first radio station to specifically serve the west Wales county of the same name. Its arrival has caused a great...

The Beta Band: Out-Side.
July 3, 2004... (Regal REG110) The second single from The Beta Band's Top 20 album Heroes To Zeroes is hard to pin down--it is fast and slow, serious and silly, and features a barking dog in the intro. It underlines the Scots' skill at creating catchy...

Bloc Party: Little Thoughts.
July 3, 2004... (Wichita WEBB067SCD) This is the first single for Wichita from the London four-piece who are already making waves in the right circles. It is an attractive slice of lo-fi pop that brings to mind some of the great indie moments of the early...

FYA: Too Hot.
July 3, 2004... (Def Jam 9867144) First tipped by Music Week more than a year ago, this girl trio straight outta Slough are set to build on the base built by their March hit Must Be Love. Perfectly mixing pop with dancehall influences, this infectious...

Nelly Furtado: Forca.
July 3, 2004... (DreamWorks 9862823) The fate of this track, adopted as the official anthem by Portugal for the Euro 2004 tournament, remains unclear after last week's tragic loss at the Stadio De Luz. A-listed at Capital and C-listed at Radio One last...

Ilya: Bliss.
July 3, 2004... (Virgin VUSCD1875) With their lush track Belissimo now soundtracking a Revlon ad campaign, this Bristol trio look set to take on Goldfrapp's former mantle as kings of cinematic cool. This Sixties-flavoured cut should further their cause,...

Shapeshifters.
July 3, 2004... Lola's Theme Positiva CDTIVS207 Heralded by some as leading a revival in dance music's fortunes, this string-laden house track arrives after months of anticipation on the club scene. Whether it will emulate the chart-topping success...

J-Kwon: Tipsy.
July 3, 2004... (So So Def/BMG 82876634162) With J-Kwon's trademark St Louis slur on the vocal hook, this anthem to getting loaded in the clubs is produced by the very hot Trackboyz (Nelly, Nappy Roots). Radio One has A-listed it.

Jamelia: See It in a Boy's Eyes.
July 3, 2004... (Parlophone CDR6638) Teaming up with Coldplay's Chris Martin to pen this adult soul/pop tune has worked well, and should swell Jamelia's fanbase considerably. A-listings at Radio One and Capital, plus a B-list spot at Radio Two, can only...

Lenny Kravitz: California.
July 3, 2004... (Virgin VUSCD294) From Kravitz's seventh studio album Baptism and a follow-up to his download-only single in May, this is a summery slice of feel-good West Coast rock. Kravitz is set to play a night at Wembley Arena next month, while the...

Jody Lei: Reminisce.
July 3, 2004... (Independiente REM1) After her 2003 debut Showdown, the South African-born teenager returns with another slickly-produced piece of R&B. Written and produced with Nate Butler and The Supaflyas, the track is firmly at the pop end of the...

Marillion: Don't Hurt Yourself.
July 3, 2004... (Intact CDINTACT2) This release from the veteran rockers' 14th studio album is a spiritual cousin of The Streets' Dry Your Eyes but works to slightly less memorable effect. Nevertheless, the group retain a strong fanbase and will be hoping...

Morrissey: First of the Gang to Die.
July 3, 2004... (Attack/Sanctuary ATKXS003) The second single from You Are The Quarry is its greatest pop moment: the classic Mozza wit is its most biting, the lyrical dexterity its most deft, and the hook is its most instantly memorable. Morrissey has...

Also out this week.
July 3, 2004... SINGLES 4 Strings: Turn It Around (Nebula); Kimberley Locke: 8th World Wonder (Curb/London); Mull Historical Society: Hoq 'Bout I Love You More (B Unique) ALBUMS Eva Cassidy: Wonderful World (Hot); The Honeymoon: Dialogue (RCA);...

Phoenix: Everything Is Everything.
July 3, 2004... (Source SOURCDX097) Radio Two has recognised the talent in this French act as this is already on their B-list. The single comes from their excellent album Alphabetical, produced by Tony Hoffer (Air, Beck) and, though not the strongest...

Sigur Ros: Ba Ba Ti Ki Di Do.
July 3, 2004... (EMI CDEM638) Over these three tracks, sparse xylophone plink-plonks grapple with an increasingly disrupted vocal feed, suggesting thwarted communication. This leftfield new material is certainly out there, verging on classical music or...

Snow Patrol: Spitting Games.
July 3, 2004... (Fiction/Polydor 9809350) This excellent track was the first single to be lifted from Snow Patrol's Final Straw album, and is now re-released to benefit from the band's subsequent success. It sounds more independent than other singles, but...