Music Week articles from May 2001

Music Week archives from May 2001

EMI blows cold on BMG merger.
May 5, 2001... EMI and German media group Bertelsmann are this week expected to pull the plug on their proposed merger deal after five months of negotiations have hit a brick wall with EC regulators in Brussels. The UK music group, already wounded after...

NEWS.
May 5, 2001... Bond, who performed at last Thursday's Classical Brits launch at London's Royal Albert Hall, are currently part of a double charge for Decca UK at the top of the Billboard Heatseekers chart. The band's debut album Born sits at number one on the...

Mute set to strike new Virgin deal.
May 5, 2001... Veteran UK indie Mute Records is on the verge of striking an expanded multi-territory international licensing deal with Virgin Records in a move aimed at expanding its global reach. The deal, which is expected to be signed this week, will...

Black leaves Sony Classical & Jazz.
May 5, 2001... Sony Classical & Jazz director Chris Black has left the major after 15 years to pursue other interests. He is succeeded as head of the classical division by marketing manager Alun Taylor who, along with head of jazz Adam Sieff, will report...

Bard's Wright calls for united technology front.
May 5, 2001... Bard chairman Simon Wright is pressing for a united stance for record companies and retailers to push new formats and the digital delivery of music. The Virgin Entertainment Group CEO has initiated the launch of a Bard technology group in...

Universal rejigs web plans with Getmusic buyout deal.
May 5, 2001... Universal has confirmed its buyout of marketing and commerce portal Getmusic from partner BMG with the price tag set at $1, according to sources close to the deal. The agreement sets in motion a complete overhaul of the company's web...

Asda boosts music team after strong sales growth.
May 5, 2001... Asda has mere than doubled the size of its entertainment staff in a move that reflects its strong sales growth in the sector during the past decade. The supermarket, which has lifted its music sales by around 20% annually since the...

Controversial DTI survey brings CD prices to fore.
May 5, 2001... UK CD pricing has been placed under the spotlight again with the publication of a controversial DTI branded goods survey, which claims that retailers in Britain are charging more than the US and some other European countries for best-selling...

Fatboy Slim takes lead in DanceStar shortlist.
May 5, 2001... Fatboy Slim heeds the nominations list at the second Dancestar Awards as he chases five prizes. The Skint artist racks up nominations for best club DJ, best album, dancestar of the year, best break beat/eclectic act and best video....

CD recycling firm wins royal award.
May 5, 2001... Merseyside-based firm Polymer Reprocessors became one of only 30 UK companies to be presented with the Queen's Award for Innovation last week for its CD recycling initiative. All five UK majors have signed up to the service -- starting with...

NEWS: news file.
May 5, 2001... SONY POSTS DIP IN INCOME Sony has reported a 13.4% decline in music sales to $4.9bn in its results for the fiscal year ending March 31. It attributed the decline to investment in "various digital media development" activities, closure of a...

WELCOME TO THE QUIET REVOLUTION.
May 5, 2001... It has been a busy time for gigs of late, and few have been better than recent dates by Mogwai and Sigur Ros Both played intense sets to packed houses, clearly enraptured by the complex sonic landscapes they wrapped around their audiences. Both...

GET TOUGH ON THE MONDAY CHEATS.
May 5, 2001... Webbo's column Retail Sinners Pure & Simple seems to have ruffled feathers On both sides of the music industry by suggesting that nobody cares about the early sales of new release product. In my view he was spot on to highlight the issue, but...

Interactive City to relocate to Wales.
May 5, 2001... Interactive City is being given a new home in Wales this year as the music and new media conference almost doubles in size and adds a new evening element. After two years in Glasgow, the Cardiff Hilton will be the new base for the music...

BPI calls for tougher sentences as CD piracy soars to new high.
May 5, 2001... The BPI is calling for tougher penalties to be handed down to convicted music pirates after reporting that the number of counterfeit CDs estimated to be in circulation leapt by a massive 150% last year to 2.9m units. The BPI's anti-piracy...

End of era as Billy Gray departs Andys Records.
May 5, 2001... The most successful double act in independent music retailing has split up following the departure of Billy Gray from Andys Records. Gray, who had been part of the award-winning operation for a quarter of a century with brother Andy, quit...

Free Corrs CD devalues music say retailers.
May 5, 2001... Retailers have blasted East West for a Corrs promotion with a Sunday newspaper that gave away copies of the band's most recent single less than a week after its official release on the shops. In a tie-up with the label and WH Smith, the...

MARKETING.
May 5, 2001... Universal Island is preparing a huge TV-led marketing campaign for the release of a new Bob Marley collection on May 21. One Love -- The Very Best of Bob Marley & The Wailers is the first significant Marley hits collection to be released since...

Wings collection campaign to span across TV and radio.
May 5, 2001... Parlophone is mounting one of its most extensive marketing campaigns of the year for a forthcoming Paul McCartney and Wings collection as it aims to mirror the huge sales success of The Beatles' 1 retrospective. The 40-track double...

Starsailor single is promoted online in Europe by mp3.com.
May 5, 2001... Mp3.com has undertaken its first online European promotion in a link-up with EMI:Chrysalis for the Starsailor single Good Souls. The promotion gives fans who have bought the Good Souls CD single, which was released last Monday, the chance...

Ads spark push for Armada's Vertigo.
May 5, 2001... Zomba has begun re-promoting Groove Armada's Vertigo ahead of a new album release as it aims to capitalise on extensive usage of the group's music in advertising, soundtracks and soundbeds. Music from Vertigo has most recently been used by...

MoS given 28-day licence to promote digital radio station.
May 5, 2001... Ministry of Sound hopes to develop awareness of its digital radio service throughout October when it will broadcast on an FM frequency for the first time. It has been granted a 28-day restricted service licence (RSL) from the Radio...

MARKETING: news file.
May 5, 2001... IMD LAUNCHES FASTRAX SYSTEM Audio distributor IMD has commenced the 500,000 [pounds sterling] roll-out of its new Fastrax ADSL broadband content delivery system. The new Fastrax service, which is being installed in 30 major commercial...

chart file.
May 5, 2001... * Ronan Keating's Lovin' Each Day has managed to do what no other track has achieved in more than three months by ending the reign of Robbie Williams' Supreme at the top of the fono countdown of the biggest UK-sourced hits on European radio....

Dido notches up UK's first worldwide smash of 2001.
May 5, 2001... Dido's No Angel spread from its initial North American sales base in quarter one to become the UK's first global smash of the year. The album, which is signed to Arista UK outside of the US and Canada, broke through the 6m sales barrier...

UK TOP 20 AIRPLAY HITS IN EUROPE.
May 5, 2001... UK TOP 20 AIRPLAY HITS IN EUROPE Title/Artist TW LW (UK company) 1 3 Lovin' Each Day Ronan Keating (Polydor) 2 2 Here With Me Dido (Cheeky/Arista) 3...

GAVIN US ALTERNATIVE TOP 20.
May 5, 2001... GAVIN US ALTERNATIVE TOP 20 Title/Artist TW LW (UK company) 1 1 It's Been Awile Staind (Elektra/EEG) 2 2 Drive Incubus (Epic) 3 4 Breakdown ...

TOP UK AND UK-SIGNED SALES CHART PERFORMERS ABROAD.
May 5, 2001... TOP UK AND UK-SIGNED SALES CHART PERFORMERS ABROAD Title/Artist chart Country (Label) pos. LW AUSTRALIA single Walking Away 8 6 Craig...

AMERICAN CHARTWATCH.
May 5, 2001... A week ago we were celebrating the fact that three quarters of the albums in the Top 100 increased their sales in a pre-Easter sales frenzy. This week, with sales overall down about 25%, just two albums in the Top 100 register gains -- and both...

Debate deepens over artists' web interviews.
May 5, 2001... Most of the dotcoms may have gone dotbomb, but as Universal's confirmation of its GetMusic purchase last week confirmed, the online musical landscape is still being redrawn. Informed observers suggest it is now starting to settle down, with the...

A & R: news file.
May 5, 2001... HEROES UNVEIL LIMITED EDITION SINGLE London rockers Hell Is For Heroes are this week releasing a limited low-key single to tie in with their three-week UK tour supporting Sunna, Including a date at London's Mean Fiddler on May 16. Not...

Competing samples for Beta Band & I Monster.
May 5, 2001... The Beta Band are set to go head-to-head with the first signing to former WEA A&R executive Jonathan Dickins' new imprint with singles that are both based around the same easy listening sample. Squares, the first single from the Regal/...

A&R.
May 5, 2001... Innocent Records R&B four-piece Blue have recorded a cover of a former US number one as a possible second single. Although Too Close was a 1998 hit for Arista R&B act Next, it was never released in Europe. Innocent managing director Hugh...

A&R FOCUS.
May 5, 2001... It is no secret that The Alice Band is possibly the project closest to the heart of Instant Karma chairman Rob Dickins. And now, after two years in development, the country-tinged female trio are poised to launch their work onto the world. ...

Vital distribution deal paves way for string of Wall Of Sound releases.
May 5, 2001... Independent dance label Wall Of Sound is gearing up for one of its strongest period of releases to date following the signing last week of a new long-term deal with Vital distribution. The deal comes just four months before the expiry of...

Life after the hype for Asian `underground' music.
May 5, 2001... To some observers, Talvin Singh's victory at the 1999 Mercury Music Prize signified the final arrival in the mainstream of one of the UK's seemingly buoyant underground scenes. To those actually involved in new Asian-based music at the...

LETTERS.
May 5, 2001... I was intrigued to read Bill Holland's suggestion at MW's recent Classical Round Table that Sony Classical is giving up its core business. The reality is far from it, given that Sony Classical received the most nominations in core...

RETAIL FOCUS: CARBON.
May 5, 2001... The success of acts such as Morcheeba, Groove Armada and Kruder & Dorfmeister is a source of satisfaction to Carbon, which has been championing them since the store started life three years ago. Its original remit to fill a market gap between...

IN-STORE NEXT WEEK (from 7/5/01).
May 5, 2001... Andys RECORDS Windows -- Paul McCartney, Jennifer Lopez; In-store -- John Williams, Suns Of Aqua, David Byrne, KRS1, Paul McCartney, Fragma, Eric Bibb Arnold, Messiaen, Destiny's Child, Geri Halliwell, Hazeldine, History Of Britain,...

ON THE SHELF.
May 5, 2001... VIJAY MISTRY, owner, 2 Funky, Leicester "It is definitely time we installed a second telephone line at the store. Mail-order business is thriving and we spend a lot of the day talking to people on the phone and playing them tracks, which...

ON THE ROAD.
May 5, 2001... RICHARD PARK, Universal rep for Scotland "I work on a very diverse range of product which means there is always plenty to interest all the indie stores I service in my area. Recent releases have kept me really busy with Bridget Jones's...

NOMINATIONS FOR CLASSICAL BRIT AWARDS.
May 5, 2001... Nominations for the second Classical Brit Awards were announced last Thursday (April 26) at the Royal Albert Hall, part of a launch event energised by a showcase performance from crossover string quartet Bond and including news of other acts...

BLAKE LABEL'S REPUTATION GROWS.
May 5, 2001... Versatility has increasingly become the watchword of classical musicians, especially in recent years troubled by near-seismic changes in their business world. Lowri Blake (pictured) has already capitalised on her many talents as a performer,...

RICHARD STRAUSS: Die Liebe der Danae.
May 5, 2001... RICHARD STRAUSS: Die Liebe der Danae. Flanigan, Coleman-Wright, Smith, Lewis, Saffer; American SO/Botstein (Telarc 80570 (3CD)). The Second World War put paid to the premiere of Die Liebe der Danae, which did not receive its first full...

JS BACH: Mass in B minor.
May 5, 2001... JS BACH: Mass in B minor. Hill, Baker, Pears, Shirley-Quirk; New Philharmonia Chorus and Orchestra/Giulini (BBC Legends BBCL 4062-2 (2CD). This radio broadcast performance was recorded at St Paul's Cathedral in July 1972. Giulini's...

JANACEK: In the Mist, Sonata 1.x.1905, On an overgrown path, A recollection.
May 5, 2001... JANACEK: In the Mist, Sonata 1.x.1905, On an overgrown path, A recollection. Schiff (ECM New Series 1736 CD 461 660-2). For his third recording for ECM's New Series, Andras Schiff explores the often enigmatic, soundworld of Janacek's piano...

MUSIC FROM CEREMONIAL OXFORD.
May 5, 2001... MUSIC FROM CEREMONIAL OXFORD: Including odes and other works by Richard Goodson, Henry Aldrich, Locke and Blow. New Chamber Opera Ensemble; The Band of Instruments/Gary Cooper (ASV Gaudeamus CD GAU 222). A key release on ASV's early music...

ROVETTA: Venetian Vespers.
May 5, 2001... ROVETTA: Venetian Vespers. Cantus Colln/ Junghanel (Harmonia Mundi HMC901706). In 1638 Giovanni Rovetta was commissioned by the French ambassador to Venice to compose a Vespers setting to mark the birth of the future Louis XIV. Konrad Junghanel...

STEREO MC's: Deep Down And Dirty.
May 5, 2001... STEREO MC's: Deep Down And Dirty (Universal Island CID777). Brixton's laziest beats merchants, through no direct action, have survived the pitfalls of the various musical trends of the past few years, enabling them to return majestically to...

R.E.M.: Reveal.
May 5, 2001... R.E.M.: Reveal (Warner Brothers 9362479462). REM's first album since 1998's Up is a return to form for the Athens-based band. Whereas Up showed a band in disarray, following the departure of drummer Pete Berry, Reveal sees them regaining lost...

AARON SOUL: Ring Ring Ring.
May 5, 2001... AARON SOUL: Ring Ring Ring (Def Jam/Def Soul UK SOULCJ4). Sounding not unlike Craig David, this Southampton 20-year-old starts his career with a bouncy two-step R&B track. The first signing to the newly-launched Def Soul UK label, he has got...

3LW: No More.
May 5, 2001... 3LW: No More (Epic 671272-6). Aged between just 14 and 16, this US trio debut on the R&B scene with No More. It is not quite as poppy as their contemporaries, Dream, but still has a sassy sound that belies their age. The track debuted in MW's...

ROD STEWART WITH HELICOPTER GIRL: Don't Come Around Here.
May 5, 2001... ROD STEWART WITH HELICOPTER GIRL: Don't Come Around Here (Atlantic 7567851162). Stewart's duet with Helicopter Girl's Jackie Joyce is one of the highlights of his Human album. This Motown-style ballad showcases Stewart's vocals to full effect....

LISA ROXANNE: No Flow.
May 5, 2001... LISA ROXANNE: No Flow (Palm Pictures PPCD7054). This 15-year-old from South London will be targeting the crossover R&B market with this single. Produced by George and John Hammond Hagan, it features an assured performance that rivals her older...

A*TEENS: Upside Down.
May 5, 2001... A*TEENS: Upside Down (Polydor 158849-2). Previously associated with their Abba tribute hits, this Swedish quartet now release fresh material. An unadulterated pop affair that will appeal to the younger market, this is not quite as polished as...

MARK B & BLADE: You Don't See The Signs.
May 5, 2001... [RECOMMENDED] MARK B & BLADE: You Don't See The Signs (Wordplay/Source WORDCDSE019). Following the UK duo's Top 50 hit The Unknown and their support slot on Eminem's UK tour, they release their second single for Source. A remix of an album...

ORANGER: Texas Snow.
May 5, 2001... ORANGER: Texas Snow (Peptones MC 5023S). Alan McGee's Poptones imprint continues apace, with a slice of power pop from West Coast slackers Oranger. They combine Who-like crunchy guitar riffs with the pop sensibilities of Beck, resulting in a...

STORM: Storm.
May 5, 2001... STORM: Storm (Positiva CDTIV154). German trance veterans Jam & Spoon follow last year's Top 20 hits Time To Burn and Storm Animal with the re-release of this 1997 anthem. Boosted by BK & Nick Sentience, Jan Driver and Housetrap mixes, it is a...

JON B: Don't Talk.
May 5, 2001... [RECOMMENDED] JON B: Don't Talk (Epic 6712796). Following its success Stateside, this R&B single has also been huge on the UK club scene. Currently topping the MW Urban Chart, it shows how well the artist has attributed nu classic soul...

DJ GERT: Give Me Some More.
May 5, 2001... DJ GERT: Give Me Some More (Mostika 23200253). The second release for this label sees the release of DJ Gert's euphoric trance tune. Already making an impact in the MW Club and Pop charts with support from DJs such as Radio One's Judge Jules,...

SEELUNLUFT: Synchronschwimmer EP.
May 5, 2001... SEELUNLUFT: Synchronschwimmer EP (Klein KL025). While Blue States and Lemon Jelly have been quick to gain higher profiles and profitable remix work, Seelenluft seems to be taking a little longer to gain the recognition he deserves for his...

RESONANCE FEAT. THE BURRELLS: DJ.
May 5, 2001... RESONANCE FEAT. THE BURRELLS: DJ (Strictly Rhythm UK SRUKCD02). The second Strictly Rhythm UK release is a remake of the Commodores classic by Resonance and Nu Groove's Burrell brothers. Soulful and funky, it is an effective slice of feelgood...

ULTRA NATE: Get It Up.
May 5, 2001... ULTRA NATE: Get It Up (The Feeling) (AM:PM/Strictly Rhythm CDAMPM140). The US dance diva follows last year's Top 40 hit Desire with this somewhat anaemic Murlyn-produced cut. However, Full Intention save the day with their remix, which adds...

PAUL MURPHY & MARC WOOLFORD PROJECT: Jazz Room.
May 5, 2001... PAUL MURPHY & MARC WOOLFORD PROJECT: Jazz Room (Afro Art UE006). DJ Paul Murphy returns to his roots with this Brazilian-flavoured slice of dancefloor jazz, produced with Soul Drummers' Woolford. Jazzy vocals soar over a groove that deserves...

FREQ NASTY: Amped/Transforma.
May 5, 2001... FREQ NASTY: Amped/Transforma (Skint FREQ2). Darin McFadyen drops his second dark breakbeat bomb for the Skint label. Following the well-received It's My Style, the two tracks here are a feast of subsonic bass guaranteed to blow up any...

THE PROCLAIMERS: There's A Touch/A Land Fit For Zeros.
May 5, 2001... THE PROCLAIMERS: There's A Touch/A Land Fit For Zeros (Persevere PERSRECCD03). There is no ignoring this duo's distinctive sound which harks back to the Eighties. With their first new material in seven years, the brothers have not deserted...

DEPECHE MODE: Exciter.
May 5, 2001... [RECOMMENDED] DEPECHE MODE: Exciter (Mute CDSTUMM190). One of the world's biggest stadium bands return with a new batch of Martin Gore-penned songs, crisply produced with LFO's Mark Bell. Sparse guitar-laced electronica underpins David Gahan's...

GERI HALLIWELL: Scream If You Wanna Go Faster.
May 5, 2001... GERI HALLIWELL: Scream If You Wanna Go Faster (EMI CD15333692). Song titles such as Shake Your Bootie Cutie and Feels Like Sex may suggest Halliwell has developed little in her solo years, yet her second album is a distinct musical step...

KING ADORA: Vibrate You.
May 5, 2001... KING ADORA: Vibrate You (Superior Quality RQSo13CD). The boy band with a difference revive the punk-glam era with this debut brash rock collection. Having recently released their single Bionic after its limited debut a year ago, interest in the...

BON JOVI: One Wild Night.
May 5, 2001... BON JOVI: One Wild Night (Mercury 5488652). This is Bon Jovi's first live album in 20 years of record-making and includes renditions of all their hits: You Give Love A Bad Name, Livin' On A Prayer, Keep The Faith and Wanted Dead Or Alive....

MARK EITZEL: The Invisible Man.
May 5, 2001... MARK EITZEL: The Invisible Man (Matador OLE 505-2). American Music Club's former mainman returns with his first album for more than three years. Undeniably one of US alt.rock's most gifted frontmen, his soul-bearing lyricism and sympathetic...

COWBOY JUNKIES: Open.
May 5, 2001... COWBOY JUNKIES: Open (Cooking Vinyl/Latent COOKCD216). The Cowboy Junkies' 11th album is released on their own Latent label through Cooking Vinyl for the UK & Europe. It is business as usual, with fragile vocals in ambient settings, but then...

TEMPLE OF SOUND & RIZWAN-MUAZZAM QAWWALI: People's Colony No. 1.
May 5, 2001... TEMPLE OF SOUND & RIZWAN-MUAZZAM QAWWALI: People's Colony No. 1 (Real World CDRW94). This complex album incorporates the mystical Qawwali vocal techniques into Western digi-dance technology. Musicians featuring on the album include Jah Wobble,...

WEEZER: The Green Album.
May 5, 2001... WEEZER: The Green Album (Geffen 4930612). Five years after they spawned the highly successful Pinkerton album, Weezer show a return to form with another strong collection. With perhaps more rock influence than before, the album platforms their...

SUPERDENSE CHILD: Elvis Pigfarmer.
May 5, 2001... SUPERDENSE CHILD: Elvis Pigfarmer (Marble Bar MARCD005). Bronx Dogs labelmates Superdense Child unleash this party-starting set of hip hop, funk and way-out breaks. It hardly breaks new ground but will appeal to fans of robust beats.

VARIOUS: Wall Of Sound Presents: Telle.
May 5, 2001... [RECOMMENDED] VARIOUS: Wall Of Sound Presents: Telle (Visa 64117). This refreshingly individual compilation of Norwegian dance incorporates dub, house and kitschy elements but results in an album which sounds like no other. This release is...

SHIREHORSES: Our Kid Eh.
May 5, 2001... SHIREHORSES: Our Kid Eh (Columbia 5030492). This is the second instalment of naughty Radio One double act Mark & Lard's satirical tribute to the bands of the day. Those not escaping their acerbic wit include Manic Street Sweepers, Radioshed,...

VARIOUS: Disco Breaks Mastercuts.
May 5, 2001... VARIOUS: Disco Breaks Mastercuts (Mastercuts CUTSCD45). Featuring the tunes sampled in hits by acts such as Spiller, Stardust and Madison Avenue, this 12-track collection is a journey into quality disco. While the tracks stand up in their own...

MAVENALLI PROJECT: Blind Science.
May 5, 2001... MAVENALLI PROJECT: Blind Science (Toko TOKOCD003). This is a fresh, summery collection of organic jazzy breaks. Mainman Mav has built a reputation as a quality percussionist during his residency at Cream where he has played alongside DJs such...

OXIDE & NEUTRINO: Up Middle Finger.
May 5, 2001... [RECOMMENDED] OXIDE & NEUTRINO: Up Middle Finger (East West OXIDE03CDJ). Known for releases such as Bound 4 Da Reload (Casualty) and their more recent Top 10 hit No Good For Me, the duo return with another bass-heavy garage single. Not as...

MISSY ELLIOTT: Miss E ... So Addictive.
May 5, 2001... [RECOMMENDED] MISSY ELLIOTT: Miss E... So Addictive (Elektra/East West 7559626392). With broad support everywhere from Radio One to NME to the broadsheets Missy may have fully crossed over, but she does not forsake the funk on her third album....

THE OFFICIAL UK SINGLES CHART TOP 75.
May 5, 2001... THE OFFICIAL UK SINGLES CHART TOP 75 Title Artists (Producer) This Last Wks Publisher (Writer) (HNE)1 [NEW] [NEW] DON'T STOP MOVIN' ...

THE OFFICIAL UK ALBUMS CHART TOP 75.
May 5, 2001... THE OFFICIAL UK ALBUMS CHART TOP 75 Title This Last Wks Artist (Producer) (HNE)1 [NEW] [NEW] FREE ALL ANGELS(b) Ash (Morris/Ash) 2 [NEW] [NEW] ALL...

THE OFFICIAL CHARTS.
May 5, 2001... THE OFFICIAL CHARTS 5 may 2001 singles [new] 1 DON'T STOP MOVIN' S Club 7 Polydor 1 2 SURVIVOR Destiny's Child Columbia 2 3 LOVIN' EACH DAY Ronan...