Music Week articles from June 2007

Music Week archives from June 2007

Last.fm faces legal fight.
June 9, 2007... Last.fm founders are in the money following CBS purchase but face court challenge from former colleague by Adam Benzine Last.fm's directors are facing a possible legal challenge from a former colleague, just days after selling their...

IN BRIEF: Broadcasting group posts losses.(Financial report)
June 9, 2007... GCap Media has posted group revenues down 9% at #200.1m for the year to March 31, 2007, blaming a tough advertising market for the slide. Group profits also fell 35% to #14.4m. Copyright: CMP Information Ltd.

IN BRIEF: Borders losses grow.
June 9, 2007... Losses at Borders have grown, as CD sales in the company's US stores have continued to decline. The company posted a loss of $35.9m (#18.19m) for its first fiscal quarter, compared to a loss of $20.2m (#10.23m) for the same period last year....

IN BRIEF: Terra Firma dismisses reports.
June 9, 2007... Terra Firma has dismissed reports that it raised its offer for EMI by more than 50% to #3.7bn. A number of news outlets reported that the private equity firm had raised its bid from the original valuation, despite Terra Firma taking out an ad...

IN BRIEF: More pressure on China.
June 9, 2007... The IFPI has called on the EU to put more pressure on China over counterfeit CDs. IFPI regional director for Europe Frances Moore made the appeal after figures released by the European Commission revealed that 93% of CDs and DVDs seized by...

IN BRIEF: V2 creates scholarship.
June 9, 2007... V2 has created a scholarship to the University of Westminster's MA in Music Business Management as part of the label's ongoing 10-year anniversary celebrations. As well as having all tuition fees paid by V2, the successful applicant will be...

IN BRIEF: Era welcomes court decision.
June 9, 2007... Era has welcomed a court decision to award #41m in damages to the BPI in its case against online retailer CD Wow. The organisation asserts that it is good news for consumers, as CD Wow's Asian imports posed a threat to the diversity of...

IN BRIEF: Capital Disney to cease broadcasting.
June 9, 2007... Digital radio station Capital Disney will cease broadcasting on June 29. Currently in its fifth year of operation, the service is a joint venture between GCap Media and the Walt Disney Company aimed at the eight- to 14-year-old demographic. ...

IN BRIEF: Global radio service unveiled.
June 9, 2007... A showcase online service has been launched for the UK commercial radio sector, giving users instant access to thousands of radio stations from around the world. The RadioCentrePlayer will be used as a trade marketing tool and will primarily...

IN BRIEF: Glastonbury line-up.
June 9, 2007... Organisers have revealed the full Glastonbury line-up, with performers including The Killers, Iggy And The Stooges and Amy Winehouse. They join previously announced headliners Arctic Monkeys, The Who and Bjork. Copyright: CMP Information...

IN BRIEF: Royal Festival Hall refurbishment.
June 9, 2007... South Bank Centre chairman Clive Hollick and chief executive Michael Lynch have unveiled the multi-million-pound refurbishment of the Royal Festival Hall. The revamped venue is due to open to the public this coming Friday, following two years...

IN BRIEF: BBC 6 Music partnering LodeStar.
June 9, 2007... BBC 6 Music is partnering with a new festival, LodeStar, which takes place in Cambridgeshire at the end of August. The festival will include performances from acts such as Foals and The Whip from August 31 to September 2 and the station will...

IN BRIEF: Capital to launch initiative.
June 9, 2007... Capital Radio is launching an initiative to help highlight the problem of global warming, which will see the station request that listeners turn off all "non-essential" lights and electrical appliances for an hour. Copyright: CMP...

IN BRIEF: EMI and YouTube sign agreement.
June 9, 2007... YouTube has signed a deal with EMI Music, enabling the website to legally play footage of all the record company's music videos on its service. EMI will now work with YouTube and parent company Google to develop business models to generate...

IN BRIEF: Latest link to Sanctuary Group buyout.
June 9, 2007... Hong Kong-based investment bank Crosby Capital Partners has become the latest outfit to be linked with a buyout of the Sanctuary Group. Meanwhile, music supervision and publishing company Cutting Edge has announced the acquisition of Air Edel...

IN BRIEF: Warner Music signs deal with Premium TV.
June 9, 2007... Warner Music International has signed a deal with Premium TV to develop a series of online TV sites, with the major providing music-based content for the direct-to-consumer platforms. Copyright: CMP Information Ltd.

IN BRIEF: Sony Ericsson deal with Emap.
June 9, 2007... Sony Ericsson has inked a deal with Emap in which the telecoms giant will launch three tailored campaigns to promote its Walkman handset range running across Emap's print, radio, TV and online platforms. Copyright: CMP Information Ltd.

IN BRIEF: Bee Gee becomes Cisac president.
June 9, 2007... The International Confederation of Societies of Authors and Composers (Cisac) last week elected Robin Gibb as its president during its inaugural copyright summit in Brussels. Copyright: CMP Information Ltd.

IN BRIEF: Holly Johnson loses legal fight.
June 9, 2007... Former Frankie Goes To Hollywood frontman Holly Johnson has lost his legal fight to prevent his former bandmates from using the act's name. Johnson had taken his peers to court after the rest of the band reunited for a gig at the Prince's Trust...

IN BRIEF: Duncan George to resign.
June 9, 2007... GCap Media commercial director Duncan George has announced his resignation from the company. Duncan became commercial director following the merger of Capital Radio and GWR in 2005. Copyright: CMP Information Ltd.

IN BRIEF: Tennman Records launched.
June 9, 2007... Justin Timberlake has launched Tennman Records, a joint venture record label with Interscope. He will serve as chairman and CEO of the label, which will be based in LA and distributed worldwide by Interscope Geffen A&M. Copyright: CMP...

IN BRIEF: Paul Weller guest of honour.
June 9, 2007... Paul Weller will be the guest of honour at this year's O2 Silver Clef Luncheon in aid of Nordoff-Robbins Music Therapy. As the songwriter, guitarist and frontman in The Jam, creator of The Style Council and a hugely successful solo artist...

Fuller pockets parent company CKX.
June 9, 2007... 19 Entertainment launches takeover of parent company as founder Simon Fuller's stock rises by Gordon Masson 19 Entertainment founder Simon Fuller is set to become one of the global entertainment business's leading moguls, after...

Music Week conference attracts industry's leading lights.
June 9, 2007... Leading lights from the music and brand communities are among the first names to be confirmed for Music Week's MusicMeetsBrands conference. Tickets for the event, which takes place at the Landmark Hotel in London on July 18 and is expected...

THE PLAYLIST: 09.06.07.
June 9, 2007... DIZZEE RASCAL Pussy'ole (XL) Bangin' old school highlight from Dizzee's new studio album; will be released as a single under the somewhat friendlier title Old School. (single, tbc) KID SISTER Control (Fool's Gold) ...

Era enters covermount row.
June 9, 2007... Era is considering the radical step of asking the MCPS-PRS Alliance to raise the royalty rate for covermount CDs, as the row over newspaper giveaways escalates. The retailers' association's co-chairman Paul Quirk last week sent an open...

SNAP SHOT: ROISIN MURPHY.
June 9, 2007... Roisin Murphy, who first achieved commercial success as one half of Moloko, has teamed up with the likes of Richard X, Cathy Dennis and Paul `Seiji' Dolby from Bugz In The Attic for what marks a notable shift from the left-field ambitions of...

Sony/ATV to look beyond getting Famous.
June 9, 2007... Newly-installed CEO considers taking advantage of Universal Publishing's impending catalogue sell-off by Paul Williams Sony/ATV global chairman and CEO Marty Bandier is following the $370m (#187m) purchase of Famous Music by weighing...

Radio united in hailing UK Music Week a hit.
June 9, 2007... Rival commercial radio groups have vowed to explore new ways of working together in the aftermath of the latest UK Music Week. The second initiative, which concluded last Monday, involved more than 250 commercial radio stations in the...

Apple use DRM-free safety net.
June 9, 2007... EMI to sell embedded AACs online by Adam Benzine Apple has quietly installed safety measures with the launch of DRM-free EMI tracks by effectively introducing a new form of copy protection. Steve Jobs' company began selling tracks...

Touting inquiry gathers pace.
June 9, 2007... Concert promoters, venues and ticketing agencies are putting the finishing touches to their arguments as the deadline for the Select Committee inquiry into touting draws near. The House of Commons Culture, Media and Sport committee, led by...

Live music back on road to Wembley.
June 9, 2007... Two of the biggest venues in London - the new Wembley and The O2 Arena - are soon to open to music fans. In the first of two features, MW examines Wembley's prospects by Gordon Masson After a seven-year hiatus, Wembley Stadium finally...

DON BLACK TRIBUTE: The man with the golden pen.
June 9, 2007... With a clutch of memorable musicals, Bond themes, hit songs and awards to his name - as well as a CV of collaborations that reads like a Who's Who of musical talent - Don Black's induction to the select Songwriters Hall of Fame comes as no...

DON BLACK TRIBUTE: DON BLACK: A HISTORY.
June 9, 2007... 1965: Thunderball, performed by Tom Jones, is the first Barry/Black James Bond theme. 1967: Black and Barry win an Oscar for Born Free. Lulu's To Sir With Love hits number one in the US. 1968: Black collaborates with Henry Mancini for...

DON BLACK TRIBUTE: Songwriters Hall of Fame.
June 9, 2007... London had Denmark Street and the West End, while New York had Tin Pan Alley, the Brill Building and Broadway - and the fact that only a handful of British writers have made it into the Songwriters Hall of Fame probably says something about the...

DON BLACK TRIBUTE: Five tastes of Black magic.
June 9, 2007... From Thunderball and writing a song for a rat to collecting an Oscar from Dean Martin, Don Black has enjoyed a remarkably long and diverse career. MW profiles five landmark projects 1965 Bonding with Barry Don Black certainly doesn't...

Website buy-up won't be the Last.
June 9, 2007... Buying Last.fm was a smart move for CBS, but creating revenue could be more tricky The $280m deal to buy Last.fm is not the first of its kind and it won't be the last. Boasting more than 15m users worldwide, the East London-based...

Retail has its say on covermount CDs.
June 9, 2007... The Mail On Sunday's recent giveaway of Tubular Bells has reignited the debate on newspaper covermounts, just as the music business thought they had gone away for good. This week, Music Week gathers the views of the retail sector, led by...

Snow Patrol help Big Life maintain indie lead.
June 9, 2007... It was a tough start to 2007 for the independent publishers, but for Big Life the year simply started as the last one ended. Having ruled the market during 2006 with Snow Patrol's Eyes Open finishing as the year's biggest-selling album, Big...

EMI suppresses Universal resurgence.
June 9, 2007... No change as EMI claim more than 25% of combined share in 2007's first quarter report by Paul Williams Even before the purchase of BMG Music Publishing was greenlighted by the European Commission, the year was already starting to shape...

FAST CHART: 09.06.07.
June 9, 2007... SINGLES NUMBER ONE: RIHANNA FEAT. JAY-Z UMBRELLA (Def Jam) Rihanna and Jay-Z's Umbrella remains watertight, surging to a best-yet sale of 60,650. The track also makes a dramatic 41-1 charge on the US chart after selling 276,705...

Rihanna gets physical on singles chart.
June 9, 2007... Album sales remain rangebound just above the 2m mark for the fourth week in a row, while singles recover slightly, thanks largely to the physical release of the Rihanna and Jay-Z collaboration, Umbrella. Album sales have only fallen below...

THE SCHEDULE - 09.06.07: Albums.
June 9, 2007... This week Bonde Do Role Bonde Do Role With Lasers (Domino); Digitalism Idealism (Virgin); Mutya Buena Real Girl (Island); Dizzee Rascal Maths And English (XL); Rihanna Good Girl Gone Bad (Def Jam); The Twang Love It When I Feel LIke This...

THE SCHEDULE - 09.06.07: Singles.
June 9, 2007... This week Arcade Fire Intervention (Mercury); Queens Of The Stone Age 3's And 7's (Polydor); Kelly Rowland Like This (RCA); The Fray Over My Head Cable Car (Epic); Evanescence Sweet Sacrifice (Columbia); Bob Sinclar Sound Of Freedom...

THE SCHEDULE - 09.06.07: NEW ADDITION.
June 9, 2007... The Enemy will release their much-anticipated debut album through Warner Bros on July 9. Entitled We'll Live And Die In These Towns, the album's release follows their Top 10 hit Away From Here and two limited edition singles on the revived...

Disco Creator to go online.
June 9, 2007... Calvin Harris to link up with social networking sites in advance of debut Columbia album CALVIN HARRIS I CREATED DISCO (COLUMBIA) Two weeks ahead of the release of Calvin Harris' debut studio album I Created Disco, Columbia has teamed...

UPFRONT - 09.06.07: TASTEMAKERS TIPS.
June 9, 2007... Interpol The Heinrich Manoeuvre (Parlophone) Emma Newman, Kerrang! Radio "I am so excited about the return of Interpol and this single does not disappoint. The lyrics are a little dubious, but who cares when the chorus will have you...

The Insider: Magic 105.4.
June 9, 2007... Magic 105.4's sponsorship of Simply Red's forthcoming concert in London's Regent's Park will be the first time in its history that the Emap-owned London station has sponsored a live event. However, as Magic looks to maintain its position in the...

A nice refreshing ad campaign for Architecture In Helsinki.
June 9, 2007... Australian six-piece Architecture In Helsinki are set to reap the benefits of a television campaign for soft drink company Robinson's, which features a track from the group's debut album entitled Spring 2008. The ad forms part of a...

Upfront - 09.06.07: Radio playlists.
June 9, 2007... Capital Air Traffic Shooting Star; Akon Don't Matter; Amerie Take Control; Amy Winehouse Back To Black; Ash Polaris; Avril Lavigne When You're Gone; Booty Luv Shine; Calvin Harris The Girls; Cherry Ghost People Help The People; Ciara feat....

Upfront - 09.06.07: In-store next week.
June 9, 2007... ASDA Albums: The Twang, Biffy Clyro, Paul McCartney, Jeff Wayne, The Clash, Genesis, Dizzee Rascal, Marc Almond, Wolrd's Best Dad, 1977 - The Spirit Of Punk, Dad Rocks 2007!, Clubbers Guide Summer 2007, Dad's Anthems; Albums Of The Week:...

Upfront - 09.06.07: My Top 10 - Yoyo.
June 9, 2007... YOYO DJs 1. Dizzee Rascal Pussy'ole (XL) 2. Klaxons Golden Skans (Switch remix) (RINSE) 3. Sinden Beeper (CDR) 3. Beenie Man Reverse the Ting (CDR) 4. Mark Ronson fEAt. Lily Allen Oh My God (Busta Rhymes version) (Allido) 5....

Upfront Reviews - 18.06.07: Also out this week.
June 9, 2007... Singles The Answering Machine: Silent Hotels (High Voltage); Crowded House: Don't Stop Now (Parlophone); The Horrors: She Is The New Thing (Loog); McQueen: The Line Went Dead (Demolition); Janette Slack & Dogmatix: Shake & Play (Air) ...

Upfront Reviews - 18.06.07: SINGLE of the week.
June 9, 2007... Take That I'd Wait For Life Polydor 1736401 This is the third release from the comeback kings' five-time platinum album Beautiful World and the first song the band wrote before signing their new deal. Produced by Grammy-winning...

Upfront Reviews - 18.06.07: ALBUM of the week.
June 9, 2007... White Stripes Icky Thump XL XLCD271 This sounds like all the greatest rock albums you remember, except that when you revisit those albums now the guitars are never as big as you recall. That won't happen here. Riffs float...

Upfront Reviews - 18.06.07: Singles.
June 9, 2007... Ryan Adams Two/Halloween Head (Lost Highway 1735574) If you don't get Ryan Adams by now, chances are that this - the lead single from his ninth solo album - is not going to change your mind. Which is a loss really, as this seven inch's...

Upfront Reviews - 18.06.07: Albums.(Sound recording review)
June 9, 2007... Annuals Be He Me (Virgin CDV3035) A band with a fresh sound and approach to production is quite rare these days. Though Annuals' songs are not massive mould-breakers, their production has so many flourishes and extraneous touches that...

TV AIRPLAY CHART - 09.06.07: ON THE BOX THIS WEEK.
June 9, 2007... BBC2 Later... With Jools Holland: Paul McCartney, Editors, Bjork, Ben Westbeech, Adele, Shy Child, The Nightwatchman ITV This Morning: Gareth Gates (Wed) GMTV LK Today: Kelly Rowland (Tues) Channel 4 Arctic...

TV Airplay Chart - 09.06.07: Bob Sinclar.
June 9, 2007... A big club hit - as all his singles are - Bob Sinclar's Sound Of Freedom is based loosely around Rozalla's hit Everybody's Free and, although only number 55 at radio, it has surged ahead on the TV airplay chart, where the video was aired 247...

TV Airplay Chart - 09.06.07: Gwen Stefani.
June 9, 2007... Crying in the bath, crying in bed, crying in a car... sob sister Gwen Stefani does not seem to be having much fun in the video for upcoming single 4 In The Morning, but the video for the song - Stefani's favourite track on her album The Sweet...

Airplay Radio - 09.06.07: Gym Class Heroes.
June 9, 2007... In the Top 10 of the OCC sales chart for the past six weeks, The Gym Class Heroes' debut hit Cupid's Chokehold continues to make progress on the airplay chart. The track, based on Supertramp's Breakfast In America, has moved 20-16-11-8-5 in the...

Airplay Radio - 09.06.07: Cherry Ghost.
June 9, 2007... Cherry Ghost took their name from the lyrics of a Wilco song and Wilco are listed as one of their influences on the Mancunian band's MySpace page. But their anthemic second single People Help The People exceeds every Wilco airplay chart peak...

Airplay Radio - 09.06.07: The Fray.
June 9, 2007... Melodic rock at its finest, The Fray's How To Save A Life has been a major airplay and sales success, and is currently in its 20th week in the Top 40 on both charts. Follow-up Over My Head eclipses it on airplay this week, leaping 69-21 with...

Airplay Radio - 09.06.07: Robin Thicke.
June 9, 2007... Rising R&B star Robin Thicke admits that Lost Without U finds him wallowing in self-pity, but it is a formula which paid dividends for him in the US, where it reached number three on the Billboard Hot 100 airplay chart, and it is a success here...

AIRPLAY RADIO - 09.06.07: ON THE RADIO THIS WEEK.
June 9, 2007... RADIO ONE Jo Whiley Record Of The Week: Cherry Ghost: People Help The People Edith Bowman Record Of The Week - Biffy Clyro: Puzzle JK & Joel Record Of The Week - Robin Thicke: Lost Without U Zane Lowe Record Of The Week -...

New releases - 09.06.07: REVIEWS CATALOGUE.
June 9, 2007... Joe Jackson Very Best Of (UMTV 9842273) The first full-price, high-profile compilation of Joe Jackson recordings since Stepping Out reached number seven in 1990 ties in with Jackson's new tour and precedes the eclectic star's upcoming...

Singles - 09.06.07: Rihanna Feat. Jay-Z.
June 9, 2007... Finally available on CD after topping the singles chart for a fortnight on downloads alone, Umbrella by Rihanna feat. Jay-Z surges further ahead at the top of the chart as a result. The single sold 60,650 copies last week, to boost its 20-day...

Singles - 09.06.07: The Twang.
June 9, 2007... Birmingham group The Twang register their first Top 10 hit, with Either Way vaulting 33-8 on sales of 9,896 following its physical release. The band, who finished second to Mika in the BBC's Sound Of 2007 poll, were only signed to B-Unique last...

Singles - 09.06.07: Calvin Harris.
June 9, 2007... One of the big successes of Radio One's Big Weekend over the Bank Holiday period, Calvin Harris scores his second straight Top 10 hit, debuting at number nine with 9,737 download sales of The Girls. The 23- year-old Scot reached number 10 in...

Singles - 09.06.07: The Zimmers.
June 9, 2007... The subjects of the Great Granny Chart Invasion on BBC2 on Bank Holiday Monday, The Zimmers make their chart debut this week at number 26 on sales of 4,303 copies of their Who cover My Generation. With an average age of 78 and a lead singer...

Albums - 09.06.07: The Pigeon Detectives.
June 9, 2007... While their fourth and biggest single I'm Not Sorry dips 12-16, Leeds band The Pigeon Detectives make a big impression on the albums chart, where their first release, Wait For Me, is the week's highest new entry, surging to a number three debut...

Albums - 09.06.07: R Kelly.
June 9, 2007... I'm A Flirt is R Kelly's 33rd chart single, and the first excerpt from his new album Double Up, which debuts at number 10 on sales of 10,593. Kelly's 12th chart album since his 1992 debut Born Into The 90s, it is only his third to make the Top...

Albums - 09.06.07: Josh Groban.
June 9, 2007... Renewed TV advertising and sell-out concerts in Birmingham, Manchester and Glasgow have helped put Josh Groban's latest album, Awake, back in the spotlight. The album debuted and peaked at number 17 in February, but surges 137-12 this week on...

Albums - 09.06.07: Richard Thompson.
June 9, 2007... Proper Distribution has had its own Proper Music label for 11 years, and has thus far released more than 500 titles, but it has its maiden artist chart entry this week with veteran singer-songwriter Richard Thompson's Sweet Warrior. The...

The sun shines on live stage.
June 16, 2007... UK's biggest summer of live music By Gordon Masson George Michael's two shows at the new Wembley Stadium over the weekend are being heralded as a key staging point in the biggest summer for live music the UK industry has yet seen. ...

Award caps Kylie's comeback.
June 16, 2007... Kylie Minogue is making her own breakthrough for female equality by becoming the first woman to be honoured in the 16-year history of the Music Industry Trusts' Award. Nearly 20 years after scoring her first UK hit with I Should Be So...

IN BRIEF: EC extends label response deadline.
June 16, 2007... The European Commission has extended the deadline for Apple and the music majors to respond to its anti-trust pricing accusations. Apple, Sony BMG, Warner, EMI and Universal will now have until June 20 to respond to the Commission's Statement...

IN BRIEF: HMV redundancies.
June 16, 2007... HMV is to make up to 100 staff redundant, under a new strategic review. However, the company says that the effect of this will be mitigated through redeployment, while it is also looking to open at least six new stores across the UK and Ireland...

IN BRIEF: European Parliament adopts report.
June 16, 2007... The European Parliament has adopted a report that suggests launching a special electronic social security card to help improve working conditions for touring musicians throughout the continent. Copyright: CMP Information Ltd.

IN BRIEF: EMI receives community award.
June 16, 2007... EMI has received a Big Tick in Business Award in The Community's Jubilee Awards for its 10-year support of the EMI Music Sound Foundation, which aims to improve young people's access to music education. Copyright: CMP Information Ltd.

IN BRIEF: Biggest poll on radio.
June 16, 2007... UK commercial radio listeners will this week have the opportunity to take part in the biggest poll yet on the future of radio, as the industry launches The Big Listen, a week of special programming and online activity. Copyright: CMP...

IN BRIEF: ITN confirms sponsoring Best Music DVD category.
June 16, 2007... ITN has confirmed it is sponsoring the Best Music DVD category at this year's Cads. The awards will be held at The Troxy in East London on June 27. For tickets, call Kirsty Barker on 020 7921 8364 or check the Cads website at...

IN BRIEF: Nominees for BBC Jazz Awards 2007.
June 16, 2007... The Nominees for the BBC Jazz Awards 2007, which take place at London's Mermaid Theatre on July 12, have been revealed, with bandleader Gary Crosby announced as the recipient of this year's Services To Jazz In The UK Award. Copyright: CMP...

IN BRIEF: MusicTank think tank.
June 16, 2007... The next MusicTank think tank, taking place in London's Soho on July 5, will be on monetising filesharing, with MCPS-PRS Alliance development director Fred Bolza keynoting. Copyright: CMP Information Ltd.