Music Week articles from March 2001

Music Week archives from March 2001

Napster: Messier raises the stakes.
March 3, 2001... Vivendi Universal CEO Jean-Marie Messier has capped the escalating war of words between Napster/ Bertelsmann and the other majors by declaring that the "musical jukebox" Sony and Universal are developing to rival Napster will be "technically"...

NEWS.
March 3, 2001... Innocent/Virgin's Atomic Kitten were yesterday (Sunday) bidding to become the first act in more than a year to spend four consecutive weeks at number one on the singles chart after mid-week sales put their release Whole Again ahead of its...

Popstars primed for DVD sales boost.
March 3, 2001... Polydor is looking to score the most successful chart eligible DVD single release to date with the debut single from Popstars band Hear'Say. Limited to 75,000 units, the DVD will feature performance clips plus an exclusive video of their...

Radiohead join U2 on Brits glory trail.
March 3, 2001... Radiohead and U2 will be looking to add to their Grammy triumphs tonight (Monday) as the UK music industry gathers for this year's Brit Awards. Universal Island's U2, who won three Grammys in Los Angeles last Wednesday, will receive the...

Boar joins VH1 with new music pledge.
March 3, 2001... Christine Boar is bidding to step up VH1's new-music content after transferring from MTV UK to take up the position of production and programming vice president at the sister station. Boar, who until now has occupied the same role at MTV...

OFT makes its first moves as majors meet deadline.
March 3, 2001... The Office of Fair Trading took its CD investigation directly into record company offices last week ahead of the deadline for the arrival of their initial submissions. BMG's Fulham headquarters were visited by officers from the OFT over...

Jones takes top role at Smash Hits magazine.
March 3, 2001... Emap Performance has appointed Emma Jones, the deputy editor of The Sun's Bizarre column, as the new editor of Smash Hits. The 25-year-old will join the magazine in May and must address an 8.2% year-on-year decline in Smash Hits' readership...

Puremix shuts radio site as MoS rejigs media arm.
March 3, 2001... Chrysalis-backed online radio venture Puremix.com has shut down its site and made all but four of its 30 staff redundant. Puremix founders Keith Pringle and Ande Macpherson are to be retained by the company as creative director for music...

Henderson promoted to retune Atlantic 252.
March 3, 2001... Atlantic 252 has promoted music director Sarah Henderson to programme director to develop the sound of the long-wave station. Managing director John O'Hara says Henderson will continue to have control of the playlist, although she will now...

NEWS: news file.
March 3, 2001... TORNADO HEADS INTO BLACK Digital service provider Tornado says it expects to break even by the second quarter of 2002 as the Aim-listed company announced a pre-tax loss of 5.8m [pounds sterling] for the year to December 31, 2000. The...

RESEARCH: A KEY TOOL IN TODAY'S MIX.
March 3, 2001... Music about passion, instinct and gut feeling -- that's what makes the music industry different from so many other businesses and also links together all those who work in it. A&R at its best is still a matter of seeing talent at its...

ARE COPYCATS REALLY GOOD NEWS?
March 3, 2001... Recently I glanced at the entertainment page in our local newspaper and thought all my wildest dreams had come true. It seemed that virtually every famous band in the world were booked to appear at a nearby theatre during the next few months --...

Aim targets Far East with fact-finding mission.
March 3, 2001... Aim is undertaking its first full international fact-finding mission in May in a bid to boost the business of UK indies in South East Asia and Japan. A team of seven, including a representative from the British Council which is supporting...

Grammy success tees up U2 for memorable week.
March 3, 2001... U2's outstanding contribution award at tonight's (Monday) Brits will seal a triumphant week for the band on the back of their best Grammys showing yet. The Universal Island UK-signed act captured three prizes for Beautiful Day at the 43rd...

New Barfly venue 10 open in Cardiff.
March 3, 2001... Multi-channel indie promotions and media company Channelfly is to open its second Barfly venue in partnership with Welsh independent brewers SA Brain. SA Brain bar Coopers -- located opposite Cardiff Castle -- will be rebranded as Barfly,...

Live music conference set to address crowd safety issues.
March 3, 2001... The issue of crowd safety will take centre stage at the 13th gathering of the International Live Music Conference (ILMC) following recent fatalities at a number of large rock festivals. The live music industry talking shop, which takes...

MARKETING.
March 3, 2001... Polydor UK is mounting its biggest marketing push of the quarter for the Bee Gees' new single and album, both titled This Is Where I Came In, to include a TV advertising and national poster campaign breaking on the day the single comes out on...

Online music research service to offer free airplay feedback.
March 3, 2001... Record companies are being offered free weekly consumer feedback on current airplay tracks in a bid to encourage labels to make a greater use of music research. The online service Call Out-UK has been devised by SongPeople.com founder...

Ammo City buys street cred.
March 3, 2001... Music and lifestyle website Ammo City launches on Wednesday, supported by a street marketing campaign which will see its logo appear as graffiti and street stencils. The site's PR company Exposure has recruited graffiti writers She One and...

Peoplesound creates new brand in bid to attract more record companies.
March 3, 2001... A&R site Peoplesound has spun off its business-to-business promotion and research service activities into a separately-branded company in a bid to attract a greater volume of work from record companies. The new operation -- tagged Protein...

MARKETING: news file.
March 3, 2001... EMAP LAUNCHES KERRANG! TV Emap Performance's policy of expanding its print brands into new media continues in early May with the launch of the digital channel Kerrang! TV. Chief executive Tim Schoonmaker says it will promote a "Life is...

chart file.
March 3, 2001... * It cannot quite compete with the number one debut of its predecessor Beautiful Day, but Stuck in A Moment You Can't Get Out Of is off to a flying start for U2 in Australia where it is the highest new entry at number three. The Universal...

Popstars' success on the cards as staggered release dates set.
March 3, 2001... A head-to-head Popstars clash between the UK's Hear'Say and Australia's Bardot has been avoided after release date sheduling separated the two group's UK single releases. Hear'Say's debut single Pure And Simple appears on March 12, though...

INTERNATIONAL.
March 3, 2001... All-female classical quartet Bond are preparing for the US release of their album Born through Decca/Universal Classics on March 13. Bond, who have sold in excess of 600,000 units of their album globally, originally performed at Decca's...

UK TOP 20 AIRPLAY HITS IN EUROPE.
March 3, 2001... UK TOP 20 AIRPLAY HITS IN EUROPE Title/ Artist TW LW (UK company) 1 1 Supreme Robbie Williams (Chrysalis) 2 2 Inner Smile Texas (Mercury) ...

GAVIN US URBAN TOP 20.
March 3, 2001... GAVIN US URBAN TOP 20 Title/ Artist TW LW (UK company) 1 1 Put It On Me Ja Rule (Murder Inc./Def Jam/IDJMG) 2 2 Promise Jagged Edge (So So...

TOP UK AND UK-SIGNED SALES CHART PERFORMERS ABROAD.
March 3, 2001... TOP UK AND UK-SIGNED SALES CHART PERFORMERS ABROAD Title/ Artist chart Country (Label) pos. LW AUSTRALIA single Stuck In A... ...

AMERICAN CHARTWATCH.
March 3, 2001... S Club 7 finally make their first Hot 100 singles chart appearance this week, landing the highest debut of the week with Never Had A Dream Come True at number 62. Its success comes after three previous S Club 7 singles sold well without making...

A & R: news file.
March 3, 2001... PEPE DELUXE SCOOP LEVI'S DEAL Pepe Deluxe's track Before You Leave has been selected as the music for the latest Levi's advertising campaign, which launched last week. The trio are signed to Catskills Records, who released their...

Final Hear'Say tracks chosen as album deadline draws near.
March 3, 2001... Polydor will this week make its final track selection for the debut album by Popstars act Hear'Say, whose debut single single, Pure & Simple, was serviced to the media today (Monday) "Of the 20 tracks recorded, 16 have gone forward to final...

A&R.
March 3, 2001... Manhattan five-piece The Strokes -- currently the subject of strong record and publishing A&R interest -- were last week recording their second single in Sear Sound Studios, New York with producer Gil Norton. The band released The Modern Age...

Big Sur switch labels from Arista to Epic.
March 3, 2001... Big Sur are following Nick Raphael from Arista to Epic following the ex-A&R director's official arrival at the Sony label as managing director today (Monday). Big Sur manager Dominic Brownlow, who also manages Belasco and Obi, says, "The...

Hidden Astoria studio to explore potential.
March 3, 2001... A little-known recording studio hidden within the depths of London's Astoria theatre is looking to exploit its potential as a grassroots service for new artists. Although Mean Fiddler bought the venue last year, the studio -- which has...

BOB NAILS DOWN EMI MUSIC'S LEAD.
March 3, 2001... The traditional battle for the UK publishing crown was as close ever, although EMI eventually triumphed, writes Paul Williams EMI Music Publishing lost out buying independent powerhouse Rondor Music, but must be mightily relieved that its...

HEAR'SAY: Pure & Simple.
March 3, 2001... HEAR'SAY: Pure & Simple (Polydor 5870062). Some 10m regular viewers of the Popstars show are waiting to embrace Hear'Say's debut release, this swaggering Never Ever-esque version of the Pete Kirtley and Tim Hawes song originally destined as...

MUSE: Plug In Baby.
March 3, 2001... RECOMMENDED MUSE: Plug In Baby (Taste Media/ Mushroom MUSH 89CDS). Reflecting a heavier live sound than on previous singles, this first track from Muse's second album is sure to aid their continued rise. A-listed at Radio One, it precedes a...

COURTNEY PINE FEAT. KELE LE ROC: Love and Affection.
March 3, 2001... COURTNEY PINE FEAT. KELE LE ROC: Love and Affection (Blue Thumb 5879992). The second single from Pine's Back In The Day album features Le Roc in punchy form. Pine produced this Joan Armatrading cover, which is backed by an unreleased version of...

TSAR: I Don't Wanna Break Up.
March 3, 2001... RECOMMENDED TSAR: I Don't Wanna Break Up (Edel 0125855HWR). This LA band are heavily influenced by UK acts, with a Supergrass-meets-early-Manics sound on this muscular pop-rock debut single. Their firat UK gigs are lined up this week at...

LEANN RIMES: I Need You.
March 3, 2001... LEANN RIMES: I Need You (Curb CUBC60). The follow-up to the chart-topping Can't Fight The Moonlight finds Rimes in familiar territory -- a soaring melodic ballad that should pays dividends for her new album, I Need You, released next month.

ROD STEWART: I Can't Deny It.
March 3, 2001... ROD STEWART: I Can't Deny It (Atlantic AT0096CD). This is another high-profile project from in-demand writing team Gregg Alexander and Rick Nowels. Produced by Alexander, and receiving healthy plays on Capital, it is a taster for his new album....

SADE: King Of Sorrow.
March 3, 2001... RECOMMENDED SADE: King Of Sorrow (Epic XPCD2521). The second single from Sade's gold-selling Lovers Rock album is a classy downtempo affair. Though it might not set the charts alight, it should help sales of the excellent parent album.

FONTANA FEAT. DARRYL D'BONNEAU: Pow Pow Pow.
March 3, 2001... FONTANA FEAT. DARRYL D'BONNEAU: Pow Pow Pow (Strictly Rhythm SRUKCD01). The first release from Warner-backed Strictly Rhythm UK is this filtered disco cut featuring vocals from D'Bonneau. Backed by mixes from ATFC and JK, it keeps up the high...

EVERLAST FEAT. B-REAL: Deadly Assasins.
March 3, 2001... EVERLAST FEAT. B-REAL: Deadly Assasins (Tommy Boy TBCD2213). Joining forces with B-Real of Cypress Hill, this strong slice of earthy hip hop is produced by Alchemist (Jurassic 5) and precedes a London Astoria show in April. [dotmusic] Hear...

SLAM VS UNKLE: Narco Tourists.
March 3, 2001... SLAM VS UNKLE: Narco Tourists (Soma SOMA100). This is an inspired collaboration to celebrate the 100th release from the long-running Scottish techno label. Slam recently reached the Top 50 with a remix of their classic Positive Education.

BEENIE MAN: Girls Dem Sugar.
March 3, 2001... BEENIE MAN: Girls Dem Sugar (Virgin CDVSU168). The profile of the 25-year-old Beenie Man shows little sign of waning. The multi-Mobo-winner is joined by Mya on this follow-up to his Top Five success with Jamelia on Money and his own Who Am I?.

ALISHA'S ATTIC: Push It All Aside.
March 3, 2001... ALISHA'S ATTIC: Push It All Aside (Mercury AATCD8). Displaying the duo's infectious melodies and kooky ways, the first material from their third album bodes well for a revival of their fortunes. [dotmusic] Hear new releases [dotmusic]...

SISTER BLISS FEAT. JOHN MARTYN: Deliver Me.
March 3, 2001... RECOMMENDED SISTER BLISS FEAT. JOHN MARTYN: Deliver Me (Multiply CDMULTY72). Sister Bliss and Rollo continue their break from Faithless with this unlikely-sounding collaboration with UK folk/rock veteran Martyn. Atmospheric production provides...

BEDROCK: Beautiful Strange.
March 3, 2001... BEDROCK: Beautiful Strange (Bedrock BS1001). John Digweed and Nick Muir follow last year's Top 40 hit Voices with this typically deep, hypnotic progressive groove. A remix from chart-topper Rui Da Silva should help this make an impact.

CHOCOLATE PUMA: I Wanna Be U.
March 3, 2001... RECOMMENDED CHOCOLATE PUMA: I Wanna Be U (Cream CREAM13CD). This irresistible Dutch house track is shaping up to be a sizeable crossover success. Its driving groove is topped by an urgent chopped-up vocal which stands out a mile from the...

AT THE DRIVE IN: Invalid Litter Dept.
March 3, 2001... AT THE DRIVE IN: Invalid Litter Dept (Grand Royal VUSCD193). The sons of El Paso release their third single from the Relationship of Command album. With an ever-growing fanbase and a B-listing at Radio One, expect a good chart position.

R KELLY: The Storm Is Over Now.
March 3, 2001... R KELLY: The Storm Is Over Now (Jive 9251782). Taken from his US chart-topping TP-2.com album, this is typical Kelly material. It may not make a huge chart impact but he is a proven long-term album seller. [dotmusic] Hear new releases ...

SUNNA: I'm Not Trading.
March 3, 2001... SUNNA: I'm Not Trading (Melankolic SADG 11). This boasts a kicking 5/4 rhythm that evokes Nirvana at their peak without sounding like copyists. Getting plenty of specialist airplay, they are aiming for the support of our national radio station....

MO-HO-BISH-O-PI: Playboy.
March 3, 2001... MO-HO-BISH-O-PI: Playboy (V2 VVR 5015903). This is punk-flecked lo-fi from Mo-Ho_bish-O-Pi who are about to embark on a UK tour supporting My Vitriol. The band have been in New York recording with Don Fleming (Dinosaur Jr), who has added an...

GRAND THEFT AUDIO: We Luv U.
March 3, 2001... GRAND THEFT AUDIO: We Luv U (Sci-Fi SCIFI1CD). The former Wildhearts and 3 Colours Red stalwarts debut with a riff-heavy single which recalls early Manics (right down to the title). The recent success of Feeder et al proves that the market for...

JORI HULKKONEN: Wanna Do You.
March 3, 2001... JORI HULKKONEN: Wanna Do You (F Communications F132). Another moody excursion from Hulkkonen which could be his biggest tune yet. The throbbing rhythm is augmented with a vocoder-style vocal to build to an irresistable floorfiller.

AEROSMITH: Just Push Play.
March 3, 2001... RECOMMENDED AEROSMITH: Just Push Play (Columbia 501532/1/ 4/8). Their first full-length studio album since 1997 is co-produced by band members Steven Tyler and Joe Perry along with Mark Hudson and Marti Frederiksen. Following the release of the...

THE DIVINE COMEDY: Regeneration.
March 3, 2001... THE DIVINE COMEDY: Regeneration (Parlophone 5317612). Produced by Nigel Godrich, this album quells Neil Hanlon's more orchestral tendencies for a more polished sound. Although perhaps a little contrived, this new approach works in places,...

NELLY FURTADO: Whoa Nelly.
March 3, 2001... RECOMMENDED NELLY FURTADO: Whoa Nelly (Polydor 450285-2). Furtado makes her debut with this superbly eclectic mix of infectious, offbeat pop tracks. Standing out from the usual monotony of pop acts, the latin- and R&B-influenced album follows...

FLIGHTCRANK: Beyond All Reasonable Doubt.
March 3, 2001... FLIGHTCRANK: Beyond All Reasonable Doubt (Copasetik COPA 019). Leeroy Thornhill is best known for being in the Prodigy, but this proves he is bursting with ideas himself. After remixing Moby and David Gray, his debut solo album is a jaunt...

TALVIN SINGH: Ha.
March 3, 2001... TALVIN SINGH: Ha (Universal Island 548497-2). The winner of 1999's Technics Mercury Music Prize (and composer of the new Tomorrow's World theme) follows his silver-awarded debut with another mixture of traditional and modern Asian compositions....

BONNIE `PRINCE' BILLY: Ease Down The Road.
March 3, 2001... BONNIE `PRINCE' BILLY: Ease Down The Road (Domino WIG89). A touching optimism reverberates throughout this album and songs such as After I Made Love To You and At The Break Of Day rate among the best written by Will Oldham. The Palace stalwart...

KRISTIN HERSH: Sunny Border Blue.
March 3, 2001... KRISTIN HERSH: Sunny Border Blue (4AD CAD2102). Two years since Hersh's second solo Sky Motel, she releases this enormously personal acoustic 13-tracker. The release is backed up by a full European tour kicking off in May. [dotmusic] Hear...

DAFT PUNK: Discovery.
March 3, 2001... DAFT PUNK: Discovery (Virgin CDVX2940). The Gallic saviours of da funk return with another blast from the future on Discovery. Despite mixed reactions to the single One More Time, the duo prove on the follow, up to their Top 10 debut album...

TERRY CALLIER: Alive.
March 3, 2001... TERRY CALLIER: Alive (Mr Bongo MRBCD 019). Highlighting the unique vocal style of this cult Chicago singer-songwriter, this album was recorded live at London's Jazz Cafe. Featuring classics such as Ordinary Joe, Dancing Girl and I Don't Wanna...

VARIOUS: Progression.
March 3, 2001... VARIOUS: Progression (Renaissance REN3CD). A rich compilation from the Renaissance superclub's label. CD1 tends towards commercially successful acts such as Moloko, Jakatta and Rui Da Silva, but CD2 is by far the more interesting, in particular...

HARRY K: The Reluctant Barber.
March 3, 2001... HARRY K: The Reluctant Barber (Hydrogen Dukebex DUKE 84). This album of quirky breakbeat is scattered with frisky, amusing samples. Harry K is part of the Apollo 440 project who have scored themes for Charlie's Angels and Lost In Space. Whilst...

DEFTONES: Back To School.
March 3, 2001... DEFTONES: Back To School (Mini Maggit) (Maverick 9362480822). This is a made-for-fans, eight-track mini-album which features live tracks (including a great acoustic version of Change), two studio tracks and a short film of White Pony. It is...

28 DAYS: Upstyledown.
March 3, 2001... 28 DAYS: Upstyledown (Mushroom Mush332802cd). Upstyledown delivers fast and furious rock but manages to distance itself from its peers with intelligent tunes and obvious enthusiasm. Highly successful Down Under, this Aussie five-piece have just...

THE OFFICIAL UK SINGLES CHART TOP 75.
March 3, 2001... THE OFFICIAL UK SINGLES CHART TOP 75 Title Artist (Producer) Label CD/Cass Publisher ...

THE OFFICIAL UK ALBUMS CHART TOP 75.
March 3, 2001... THE OFFICIAL UK ALBUMS CHART TOP 75 Title Label/CD Artist (Distributor) This Last Wks (Producer) ...

THE OFFICIAL CHARTS.
March 3, 2001... music week singles 1 1 WHOLE AGAIN Innocent Atomic Kitten [NEW] 2 MS JACKSON LaFace/Arista Outkast [NEW] 3 ALWAYS...

SPECIALIST.
March 3, 2001... 3 MARCH 2001 MID-PRICE This Last Title Artist 1 2 PLAYING MY GAME Lene Marlin 2 3 THE BEST OF M People 3 5 TRACY CHAPMAN Tracy...

DANCE.
March 3, 2001... CHART COMMENTARY The umpteenth dance record to sample Martin Luther King's classic civil rights speech, Free At Last by Simon scuttles to the top of the Club Chart this week, finding just enough juice to squeeze past I Wanna Be U by...

EXPOSURE.
March 3, 2001... CHART COMMENTARY Here With Me by Dido stretches its lead at the top of the airplay chart after an excellent week which saw it increase its audience by a massive 26% to 90.62m. That's the highest audience earned by any record in any week so...

THE OFFICIAL UK AIRPLAY CHARTS TOP 50.
March 3, 2001... THE OFFICIAL UK AIRPLAY CHARTS TOP 50 Weeks Position on on sales This Last chart chart (a)1 1 7 7 HERE WITH ME (a)2 2 5 31 IT WASN'T ME...

DG BOOSTS CROSSOVER CREDENTIALS.
March 3, 2001... Deutsche Grammophon's classical crossover credentials are about to be strengthened with the March 19 release of Anne Sofie von Otter Meets Elvis Costello, an album of jazz and pop ballads produced, arranged or newly-written for the Swedish...

MAJORS TRIUMPH IN GRAMMYS.
March 3, 2001... This year's Grammy Awards returned good results for Universal Classics, Warner Classics and Sony Classical. Universal captured the best classical album for Deutsche Grammophon's recording of the complete Shostakovich String Quartets with the...

ROBERTO ALAGNA - FRENCH ARIAS.
March 3, 2001... ROBERTO ALAGNA -- FRENCH ARIAS: Including works by Massenet, Cherubini, Gretry, Berlioz, Gluck, Mehul, etc. Alagna; London Voices; Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden/De Billy. (EMI Classics 5 57012 2). The repertoire choice for...

R STRAUSS: Sonata in E flat Major Op.18.
March 3, 2001... R STRAUSS: Sonata in E flat Major Op. 18; Repin, Berezovsky. (Erato 8573-85769-2). There is overt passion balanced with classical poise in the way Vadim Repin and Boris Berezovsky tackle these three contrasting works for violin and piano. The...

STRAVINSKY: Divertimento.
March 3, 2001... STRAVINSKY: Divertimento; BARTOK: Romanian folkdances. Repin, Berezovsky. (Erato 8573-85769-2). There is overt passion balanced with classical poise in the way Vadim Repin and Boris Berezovsky tackle these three contrasting works for violin and...

BARTOK: Romanian folkdances.
March 3, 2001... STRAVINSKY: Divertimento; BARTOK: Romanian folkdances. Repin, Berezovsky. (Erato 8573-85769-2). There is overt passion balanced with classical poise in the way Vadim Repin and Boris Berezovsky tackle these three contrasting works for violin and...

GILLIAN WEIR -- ORGAN MASTERS SERIES: Works by Jongen, Willan, Hindemith, Reubke.
March 3, 2001... GILLIAN WEIR -- ORGAN MASTERS SERIES: Works by Jongen, Willan, Hindemith, Reubke. Weir. (Priory PRCD 751). Dame Gillian Weir's recent organ recital at the Royal Festival Hall attracted a capacity audience. The New Zealand organist was also the...

JS BACH.
March 3, 2001... JS BACH: St Matthew Passion. Fink, Goerne, Henschel, Pregariden, Roschmann, Christine Schafer, etc. Arnold Schoenberg Choir, Vienna Boys' Choir; Concentus Musicus Wien/Harnoncourt. (Teldec 8753-81036-2). A key release for Teldec rolls out in...

CIRCUS SONGS: The Tiger Lillies.
March 3, 2001... CIRCUS SONGS: The Tiger Lillies. (Warner Cassics 8573-83921-2). Tiger Lillies vocalist and frontman Martyn Jacques proves he has lost none of his power to shock and confront in this weird, bitter-sweet collection. The Tiger Lillies are reviving...