Music Week articles from March 2008

Music Week archives from March 2008

Government to back UK talent.
March 1, 2008... Creative industries to recieve substantial financial backing in wake of document on the next generation of talent The Government has thrown its weight behind new artistic and music business talent under plans to bring the creative...

THE PLAY LIST: 01.03.08.
March 1, 2008... Chief Your Direction (unsigned) If Kings Of Leon and Crosby, Stills & Nash had a bastard child it would sound like this. Available for records, publishing and management. (demo) The Kills Midnight Boom (Domino) The Kills...

In The Studio: 01.03.08.
March 1, 2008... The King Blues are currently recording their second album with producer Clive Langer at The Square, Hoxton Square. The band are signed to Island UK imprint, Field Music. Copyright: CMP Information Ltd.

Sign Here: Universal Publishing.
March 1, 2008... Universal Publishing has signed songwriter Steve Booker. Booker is currently enjoying chart success via Duffy's single Mercy, on which he is credited as co-writer and producer. Presently he is working with Universal France priority, Sophie...

Sign Here: Sony/ATV.
March 1, 2008... Sony/ATV has signed songwriter and producer Alan "N'Glish" Kasirye. Kasirye, has recently collaborated with Lemar, Cee-Lo Green and Mpho Skeef (Wall of Sound) and is managed in the UK by Anna Carpenter. The publisher has also renewed its deal...

Leona Lewis sees Brits reach 7m.
March 1, 2008... Strong performances from a glittering line-up, together with a competent live show and a thumbs-up from the media, sees the Brits regain TV audiences Brits organisers are pointing to positive media coverage and strong performances from the...

Brits in the limelight as media interest peaks.
March 1, 2008... More than three decades after the first event, the Brit Awards has this year achieved unprecedented media exposure, earning what event PR LD Communications reckons is the equivalent of #2m worth of headline coverage in national and...

Black magic works its charm on the charts.
March 1, 2008... Amy Winehouse was yesterday (Sunday) challenging for two Top 10 chart placings with versions of the same album, as the main beneficiary of the post-Brits sales rush. The Deluxe Edition of the singer's Island-issued Back To Black - at 15...

Ups And Downs: 01.03.08.
March 1, 2008... UPS The fireworks industry. #500,000 spent on pyrotechnics at the Brits must have gone down well Digital albums sales in the UK are on the up Brits viewing figures up The Government sets a date for ISPs to crackdown on file...

IN BRIEF: Final four line up for Chrysalis catalogue.
March 1, 2008... Four bidders are understood to have entered the third and final leg of the race for Chrysalis's music publishing catalogue, with Chrysalis understood to be keen to wrap up the sale before new tax laws are introduced. Copyright: CMP...

IN BRIEF: Jimi Hendrix.
March 1, 2008... The family company that owns the rights to Jimi Hendrix's music and recordings, Experience Hendrix, has won a court battle with The Sunday Times newspaper over a Jimi Hendrix Experience live CD that the paper covermounted in 2006. ...

IN BRIEF: Sales of digital music in the US.
March 1, 2008... New research claims that sales of digital music in the US will exceed that of CDs by 2012 but will ultimately fail to make up for the loss of revenues from declining CD sales. The report by Forrester Research says that digital music sales will...

IN BRIEF: TownHouse Recording Studios.
March 1, 2008... The TownHouse Recording Studios in London's Shepherd's Bush is to cease trading at the end of March, little more than a year after re-opening under the stewardship of producer Al Stone. Copyright: CMP Information Ltd.

IN BRIEF: BMI Icons.
March 1, 2008... Daryl Hall and John Oates are to be honoured as BMI Icons at the organisation's 56th annual Pop Awards, taking place on Tuesday, May 20, at the Regent Beverly Wilshire Hotel in Los Angeles. Copyright: CMP Information Ltd.

IN BRIEF: Eurovision a reality for TV contestants.
March 1, 2008... Reality TV contestants, including X Factor runner-up Andy Abraham, and former Eastenders star and singer Michelle Gayle are among the hopefuls competing for a place to represent the UK at this year's Eurovision Song Contest. Copyright: CMP...

IN BRIEF: Marquee club.
March 1, 2008... London's Marquee club is to close its doors again, just six months after reopening. A string of live dates has been cancelled after the club was served with a demolition order. Copyright: CMP Information Ltd.

IN BRIEF: Mobile Entertainment Forum.
March 1, 2008... The Mobile Entertainment Forum is calling for entries to its awards, the Meffys, taking place in Cannes on May 8. Categories include music service, artist campaign, content and marketing campaign. Entrants can go to www.memo8.com for more...

IN BRIEF: 22 pirate radio stations shut down.
March 1, 2008... Three people have been arrested and 22 pirate radio stations shut down in a major operation against illegal broadcasters in London. The joint operation saw the Met Police, Ofcom and four London boroughs work together to stamp out some of the...

IN BRIEF: Private Member's Bill.
March 1, 2008... Peter Wishart MP is launching his Private Member's Bill, the Sound Recording (Copyright Term Extension Bill) this Wednesday in the Jubilee Room at the House of Commons. Wishart is seeking to extend the current term of copyright from 50 years to...

IN BRIEF: New controller of BBC Asian Network.
March 1, 2008... Andy Parfitt has been named the new controller of BBC Asian Network, joining Radio One, 1Xtra and BBC Switch under his responsibility. In other radio news, former Capital Radio programme director Scott Muller has left GCap to return to...

Legislation in air as Government pledges support to online piracy.
March 1, 2008... April 2009 deadline imposed for internet service providers to deal with illegal filesharers in Government document applauded by music industry Creative industries minister Margaret Hodge believes the music industry is "going to be...

Universal sheds catalogues to Dutch publisher.
March 1, 2008... Newly-formed Dutch music publishing company ImageMusic is looking for London offices after taking control of a number of catalogues from Universal. The new company has been formed by Dutch pension fund ABP and leading Dutch-based...

Live and yet shy: Ozzy and co take a back seat.
March 1, 2008... With the Osbournes playing a straight bat as hosts, the music did the real talking at this year's Brits Talk about a potential recipe for disaster: tasking the loose-tongued Osbournes with holding together an awards ceremony on prime-time...

Albums boosted by download increases.
March 1, 2008... Artist album download increases spark optimism in nascent sector, with digital market share rising by 76% year-on-year Digital's impressive year-on-year sales increases have been an established fixture of the singles market for several...

Is the Brits doing its job of reflecting the past year in music?
March 1, 2008... Rosie Swash, The Guardian "Beth Ditto doing Standing In The Way Of Control wasn't bad at all, but the song is two years old! The Brits need to lose their retrospective approach and stop playing it safe. Where was MIA? The Horrors?...

Brits winners.
March 1, 2008... British male solo artist: Mark Ronson (Columbia) British female solo artist: Kate Nash (Fiction) British group: Arctic Monkeys (Domino) British album: Arctic Monkeys: Favourite Worst Nightmare (Domino) British breakthrough act: Mika...

Out come the big guns in a bustling spring schedule.
March 1, 2008... As the spotlight dims on the Brits, the nation's record labels are readying a string of major releases as they look to lay the foundations for a big year ahead. Music Week spotlights some of the key albums set to make an impact this spring ...

Taking the Underground west.
March 1, 2008... British Underground is to take its events west to LA as it scales up the exposure of British artists in the US around SXSW `08 The profile of UK music at South by South West is to enjoy an extra boost this year as British Underground, which...

MUSIC UPFRONT - 01.03.08: Single of the week.
March 1, 2008... MGMT: Time To Pretend (Columbia) MGMT recently caused a scramble for their publishing rights, with Universal eventually securing the Brookyn-based duo's signatures. This UK debut single has garnered radio support from Xfm as well as Radio...

MUSIC UPFRONT - 01.03.08.
March 1, 2008... This Week Singles Gallows Just Because You Sleep Next To Me Doesn't Mean You're Safe (Warner Bros) Alicia Keys Like You'll Never See Me Again (J) The Kills Cheap And Cheerful (Domino) Lenny Kravitz I'll Be Waiting...

FUTURE RELEASE: The Kills.
March 1, 2008... The Kills Midnight Boom (Domino) The Kills will embark on a tour of cinemas and art spaces at the end of the month, when they will premiere music from their forthcoming album Midnight Boom. The Red Meat Heart Cinema Tour will...

MUSIC UPFRONT - 01.03.08: Album of the week.
March 1, 2008... Janet Jackson: Discipline (Mercury) This is the 10th studio album from Janet Jackson and her first for Mercury, and will be swiftly followed by lead single Feedback on March 3. Her last album, the Virgin-issued 20 YO, sold 1.2m copies...

MUSIC UPFRONT - 01.03.08: Catalogue reviews.
March 1, 2008... Nina Simone: Tell It Like It Is (Sony BMG 988697056822) This excellent album contains rarities and previously unreleased tracks from Simone during her 1967-1973 peak. Completists will marvel at the treasures here, which include Simone's...

MUSIC UPFRONT - 01.03.08: The Panel.
March 1, 2008... Francesca Babb (Red) Mariah Carey: E=MC2 (Mercury) Carey's new album possesses all of the good points of her early material with some added beat-driven sparkle which is sure to be a good thing for our readers. Big melodies, a faultless...

FUTURE RELEASE: Leon Jean-Marie.
March 1, 2008... Leon Jean-Marie UK tour (Island) A national tour with Alphabeat and Frankmusic is to springboard the campaign for Leon Jean-Marie's debut album Bent Out Of Shape, as Island UK looks to position the artist among the new wave of pop acts...

FUTURE RELEASE: The Subways.
March 1, 2008... The Subways Girls And Boys (Warner Bros) The Subways return with their second studio album this March and, in a move intended to grow the band's database, Warner Bros is teaming up with NME to give away a live recording of the set's lead...

MUSIC UPFRONT - 01.03.08: The Panel.
March 1, 2008... Emma Edmondson (NME) Nephu Huzzband: Papers (Deep) Nephu Huzzband don't sound like happy campers. But although their sub- planet melancholia stitches endless black chords and even blacker thoughts together like some Cure-cum-Q And Not...

DATAFILE EXPOSURE: 01.03.08.
March 1, 2008... There is no change in the top three of the airplay chart this week, although, in reality, The Feeling's I Thought It Was Over and Kylie Monogue's Wow - which hold at two and three respectively - are losing touch with Duffy's Mercy, which...

Instore: 01.03.08.
March 1, 2008... Asda Instore Display: Cardigans, Duffy, Gallows, Kelis, Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds CWNN Album of the week: Neon Neon Instore Display: Cadence Weapon, Malcolm Middleton, Operator Please, Stephen Malkmus, The Kills, The...

DATAFILE CLUB CHARTS: 01.03.08.
March 1, 2008... Utah Saints came close to retaining the Upfront Club Chart title this week with Something Good '08 but it was eventually beaten by Cahill's Trippin' On You, which jumps 4-1 to provide Liverpool's new 3 Beat Blue imprint its second number one in...

Duffy scores the year's highest tally solely through digital sales.
March 1, 2008... After crushing Nickelback's aspirations last week, Duffy dashes further ahead at the top of the singles chart with Mercy increasing sales by 32.8% to 50,962. That is the highest number one sale thus far in 2008 - and all digital, apart from a...

DATAFILE SINGLES - 01.03.08: H Two O feat. Platnum.
March 1, 2008... Having topped the chart with its debut single from Basshunter, Ministry Of Sound's new Hard2Beat imprint chalks up its second top five hit in as many releases, with new H Two O and Platnum's What's It Gonna Be, which explodes 7-2 following...

DATAFILE SINGLES - 01.03.08: Kylie Minogue.
March 1, 2008... Kylie Minogue's debut hit I Should Be So Lucky and her Jason Donovan duet Especially For You both took five weeks to reach their chart peaks, a record comprehensively smashed this week by Minogue's new single Wow, which jumps 18-5 following...

DATAFILE SINGLES - 01.03.08: Utah Saints.
March 1, 2008... Utah Saints last issued a single in 2001, when Lost Vagueness reached a disappointing number 111 despite a guest vocal appearance from Chrissie Hynde. The pair's biggest hit, Something Good - number four in 1992 and featuring a sample from Kate...

DATAFILE SINGLES - 01.03.08: Flo Rida.
March 1, 2008... Hot new rapper Flo Rida's debut hit Low is enjoying a staggering run of success in America, where it has spent nine weeks at number one on the Hot 100 with sales to date of 2,849,840. Low is taking off here too, and has thus far climbed...

Brit winners reap rewards but The Feeling claim UK's pole position.
March 1, 2008... Perhaps surprisingly for a Brits week, album sales dipped 18.1% week-on- week to 2,095,563, with artist albums off 14.9% and compilations diving 28.4%. The love compilations which dominated the latter chart a week ago found the post-Valentine's...

DATAFILE ALBUMS - 01.03.08: Jonathan Ansell.
March 1, 2008... After three albums with G4, Jonathan Ansell makes his solo chart debut with Tenor At The Movies, on which the 25-year-old puts his spin on film favourites including Heres To The Heros (from Dances With Wolves), Parla Piu Piano (The Godfather)...

DATAFILE ALBUMS - 01.03.08: Joe Brown.
March 1, 2008... Hot on the heels of its successful Billy Fury compilation His Wondrous Story which reached number 10 a fortnight ago, UMTV now charts Fury's contemporary Joe Brown's Very Best Of: 50th Anniversary set. The album debuts at number 16 on sales of...

DATAFILE ALBUMS - 01.03.08: BPI Awards.
March 1, 2008... Albums Various 101 Love Songs (silver) The Feeling Join With Us (gold) BPI Awards are made on combined unit sales of cassettes, CDs, LPs and MiniDisc. LPs and cassettes with a published dealer price of #3.49 and below or CDs of #5.99...

DATAFILE ALBUMS - 01.03.08: Sheryl Crow.
March 1, 2008... Sheryl Crow has remained reliably consistent in the US in recent years, where her last four albums all reached number two. Two of those albums - C'mon, C'mon (2002) and The Very Best Of Sheryl Crow (2003) also reached number two here, but...

DATAFILE ALBUMS - 01.03.08: Andrea Bocelli.
March 1, 2008... Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli secures his 12th Top 40 album in a chart career of less than 10 years, debuting at number 30 with Vivere: One Night In Tuscany, on sales of 7,337. A live CD/DVD hits package, it arrives only 14 weeks after the...

Gowers' powers on the wane.
March 8, 2008... Culture Secretary Andy Burnham speaks exclusively to MW about a possible repositioning of Government policy Exclusive The UK Government has made the startling revelation that it no longer considers Gowers the last word on copyright...

THE PLAY LIST: 08.03.08.
March 8, 2008... Yael Naim New Soul (Tot Ou Tard) An ex-member of the Israeli Air Force orchestra, Naim soundtracks the Apple Air TV ad with this great slice of pop. Top 10 in the US and France. (single, March 24) Canterbury Set You Right...

Sign Here: 08.03.08.
March 8, 2008... Defective Records signed the Shapeshifters last week. Atlantic cut short its Brits activity last month to show its support en masse for Lykki Li's recent performance at Mahiki and the gesture seems to have worked, with the major securing...

Viewers to drive MTV2 and MySpace charts.
March 8, 2008... Music channel and social-networking site join forces for new music chart MTV2 is partnering with MySpace to create a viewer-driven chart as the broadcaster looks to harness the popularity of music online. The weekly MySpace Chart...

Surveying new revenue streams.
March 8, 2008... Streamed live concerts could potentially become a significant source of revenue for the music industry, according to a new digital entertainment survey released today (Monday). The survey, commissioned by media law firm Wiggin and carried...

Term-extension pendulum swings back in music industry's favour.
March 8, 2008... Culture Secretary suggests Government rethink on copyright term extension as industry figures scent victory The issue of extending recorded copyright has now finally moved back in favour of the music industry after Culture Secretary Andy...

Ups And Downs: 08.03.08.
March 8, 2008... UPS Andy Burnham says Government thinking has moved on over copyright - don't say we didn't tell him. The Music Week Awards nominations party was rammed. Thanks to all who came down. Arctic Monkeys add yet more NME gongs to their...

IN BRIEF: US broadcast royalties return to media spotlight.
March 8, 2008... The US performance right issue has shifted gears after the National Association of Broadcasters launched a major ad campaign opposing moves to compensate performers when their records are played on the airwaves. The ad, which came a day after...

IN BRIEF: Busted members back in court.
March 8, 2008... Two former members of Busted went back to court last week to claim an estimated #10m in unpaid royalties for songs including Year 3000 and What I Go To School For. Ki McPhail and Owen Doyle say they were forced to sign away the rights to songs...

IN BRIEF: MCPS-PRS Alliance.
March 8, 2008... The MCPS-PRS Alliance has created a MCPS Business Team. Graham Edwards, promoted from within the existing MCPS licensing Department, will lead the team, with Darren Hayes taking the newly-created role of marketing manager. Copyright: CMP...

IN BRIEF: Mike Smith passes away.
March 8, 2008... Mike Smith, one-time lead singer of the Dave Clark Five, has died, little more than a week before the group were due to be inducted into the US Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Copyright: CMP Information Ltd.

IN BRIEF: Cathy Cremer.
March 8, 2008... EMI Music UK and Ireland's director of communications Cathy Cremer is to leave the company. Cremer has worked for EMI UK for 16 years, managing communications and establishing and leading its artist relations team. Copyright: CMP...

IN BRIEF: Ibiza Rocks.
March 8, 2008... Ibiza Rocks is to return this year, with a new hotel. The Ibiza Rocks hotel includes band rehearsal rooms, a live stage, a monthly resident band and a music and events programme. Copyright: CMP Information Ltd.

IN BRIEF: Academy Awards.
March 8, 2008... Glen Hansard of Irish band The Frames and Czech singer and pianist Marketa Irglova won the award for best original song at the Academy Awards last week for their duet Falling Slowly. Copyright: CMP Information Ltd.

BBC in talks with labels to open musical vaults for exploitation.
March 8, 2008... BBC Worldwide to allow majors to incorporate archive recordings and footage on future releases in "no brainer" global deal aiming to raise Corporation revenue BBC Worldwide is in talks with a number of independent and major labels over...

BET Networks to give black UK talent a platform.
March 8, 2008... BET Networks is to use the launch of its UK channel to promote black British artists in the US. The network, a division of MTV parent company Viacom, launched its first international station last Thursday on channel 209 of the free-to- air...

Auntie Beeb's helping hand will reap its rewards.
March 8, 2008... BBC Worldwide's recent communication with labels over archive material is hopefully just the beginning When it comes to promoting music in the UK there can hardly be a more important relationship than that between record companies and the...

Mama group gains turf and surf in ambitious expansion plan.
March 8, 2008... Partnership deal for 6,500-capacity festival and aquisition of Birmingham venue sees group add to impressive portfolio The Mama Group is continuing its expansion and refurbishment plan apace with the acquisition of Birmingham's Sanctuary...

IN BRIEF: Ticket touting back on agenda with debate planned.
March 8, 2008... Ticket touting goes under the spotlight again next month, with Culture Select Committee chairman John Whittingdale taking part in a major debate. The MusicTank Think Tank on March 18 will be held just a week after the Government is expected to...

IN BRIEF: Commercial radio.
March 8, 2008... A panel of commercial radio figures has called on the Government to remove what it has called "outdated ownership restrictions" which create unnecessary barriers to industry consolidation. The panel, which included Radio Centre chief executive...

IN BRIEF: Guy Hands reveals difficulties he is facing.
March 8, 2008... Guy Hands has revealed the difficulties he is facing in overhauling EMI in candid remarks at a German financiers meeting. Speaking at a private equity summit in Munich, Hands reportedly told the 11th Super Return conference that rebuilding the...

IN BRIEF: Fabchennel.com signs deal.
March 8, 2008... Fabchannel.com has signed a multi-territory digital exploitation deal with Universal Music Netherlands, covering live recordings of Universal artists performing at Amsterdam's Paradiso venue. Copyright: CMP Information Ltd.

IN BRIEF: NME Music Awards.
March 8, 2008... Arctic Monkeys dominated the NME Music Awards for the third year running, where they picked up awards for best British band, best track for Fluorescent Adolescent, and best video for Teddy Picker. NME MUSIC AWARDS WINNERS Best...

IN BRIEF: Radiohead defend decision not to play Glastonbury.
March 8, 2008... As part of Radiohead's green campaign in association with Friends Of The Earth, the band have ruled out playing the Glastonbury festival this year. Singer Thom Yorke said the band were "trying to do everything we can to minimise our impact on...

IN BRIEF: Ticketmaster and Cablevision.
March 8, 2008... Reports in the US indicate that Ticketmaster and Cablevision have formed a partnership with the aim of acquiring approximately 49% of AEG Live, the world's second largest promoter. The deal would, it is claimed, involve New York City-based...

IN BRIEF: International Live Music Conference.(Conference news)
March 8, 2008... The International Live Music Conference will be celebrating its 20th year when the doors open on the event this Thursday. The ILMC is holding a 20th Anniversary Gala Dinner together with its annual Arthur Awards ceremony on this Saturday at The...

IN BRIEF: BBC Introducing showcase.
March 8, 2008... Steve Lamacq is to host the first BBC Introducing showcase at South by Southwest this year, broadcasting live from the event in Austin, Texas later this month. Meanwhile, the British Music Embassy has finalised the line-up for its official...

Throwing away the artist management rulebook.
March 8, 2008... by Robert Ashton In today's ever-changing industry climate, artist managers are having to constantly reappraise their methods in order to secure the best deals for their acts. Despite the influx of challenges, however, the potential for...

MUSIC WEEK AWARDS: Not short on success.
March 8, 2008... The MW Awards judges whittle down a record number of entries for 16 categories to this final shortlist for our April 3 event Universal is the clear frontrunner in the lead-up to the Music Week Awards after achieving 13 nominations in eight...

FEATURE: Distribution extends reach.
March 8, 2008... As with with the rest of the music industry, the role of the music distributor is transforming. Falling CD sales have consigned the days of simply delivering product to retailers to history, to be replaced by management buyouts, digital...

FEATURE: Old heads, young shoulders.
March 8, 2008... As vintage headline acts continue to dominate the arena circuit, is the live industry doing enough to support grassroots talent? It's 1978 and Neil Diamond has recently reached number five in the singles chart with his Barbra Streisand duet...

MUSIC UPFRONT - 08.03.08: Single of the week.
March 8, 2008... The Ting Tings: Great DJ (Columbia) This is The Ting Tings' debut single for Columbia, after causing a stir when a demo was released through a Bebo/iTunes promotion in January. The single was immediately added to the Radio One playlist and...

MUSIC UPFRONT - 08.03.08.
March 8, 2008... This Week Singles Editors Push Your Head Towards The Air (Kitchenware) Flo-Rida feat. T-Pain Low (Atlantic) Hard-Fi I Shall Overcome (Necessary/Atlantic) Janet Jackson Feedback (Mercury) MIA Paper Planes (XL) Amy...