Music Week articles from May 2005

Music Week archives from May 2005

Ceasefire in chart dispute: EMI offers olive branch to retailers.(Charts)
May 7, 2005... EMI and Bard reached an uneasy truce at the end of last week, as the aftershock from the controversial release strategy for Gorillaz' Feel Good Inc single rumbled on. After seven days of fierce rows, which included a stormy Chart...

Music targets government vote.
May 7, 2005... The music industry could receive a new body to further reinforce its relationship with Government if talks about the creation of a Music Council reach fruition. In advance of this Thursday's General Election, a Music Week Election Special...

Taylor takes key role at HMV.(People)
May 7, 2005... HMV has appointed John Taylor as e-commerce director following the departure of Stuart Rowe to pursue other career interests. Taylor will head a 30-strong e-commerce team as he oversees the development and launch of the retailer's new digital...

Simon Fuller has made his first big appointment since selling 19 Entertainment for 85m [pounds sterling], recruiting Cheryl Robson as head of A&R.(People)
May 7, 2005... Simon Fuller has made his first big appointment since selling 19 Entertainment for 85m [pounds sterling], recruiting Cheryl Robson as head of A&R. The former Innocent Records and East West executive will work alongside general manager Sue...

Robert Farnon.(People)
May 7, 2005... Classical composer and arranger Robert Farnon, who wrote the scores for more than 40 films, has died aged 87. In a lengthy career, Canadian-born Farnon worked with artists including Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett and Sarah Vaughan.

Raz Gold.(People)
May 7, 2005... Former EMI and Warner A&R manager Raz Gold died last Wednesday aged 39 after a long battle against cancer. Gold started at dance music distribution company Great Asset, before moving to a position in A&R with Sire UK, where he advised Seymour...

Loot.(People)
May 7, 2005... Loot is to enter the world of music downloads, with the launch of Loot Tunes. The new download service will initially offer around 500,000 songs, although this is set to double by July, at an average price of 49p per track. Customers will be...

Sony BMG.(People)
May 7, 2005... Sony BMG has named licensing managers Steve Ashford, Melanie Johnson and Russell Hier in its new sync team, operating within Richard Story's commercial division.

Greg Dyke.(People)
May 7, 2005... A Q&A with former BBC director general Greg Dyke will provide the centrepiece of the annual conference of the Institute of Chartered Accountants' Entertainment & Media Special Interest Group (EMIG) taking place at the Royal Society of Arts in...

Entertainment UK.(People)
May 7, 2005... Entertainment UK has appointed Richard Darwent as commercial finance controller with immediate effect. He replaces Graham Barneston, who was promoted to finance director at the end of 2004.

Planet Rock.(People)
May 7, 2005... National digital radio station Planet Rock has signed DJ Nicky Home for a 10am to 2pm weekday show, starting tomorrow (Tuesday).

Global sales up for Universal.(Bottom line)
May 7, 2005... Universal Music Group is pointing to growing sales in North America, Europe and Australia after like-for-like revenues rose 14% during 2005's opening quarter. Albums by acts including Mariah Carey, 50 Cent, Keane and Scissor Sisters helped lift...

Sony.(Bottom line)
May 7, 2005... Sony has announced a 15% increase in annual profits on the back of solid results from its music and film divisions. For the year to March 31, the company made operating profits of [yen] 113bn (0.56bn [pounds sterling]).

Warner Music.(Bottom line)
May 7, 2005... Warner Music is to pay Time Warner $166m to buy out its rights to acquiring a 15% stake in its old music subsidiary, according to national newspaper reports. The reports suggest the cash payment will be funded from the music company's...

Clear Channel Communications.(Bottom line)
May 7, 2005... Clear Channel Communications has announced an intention to spin off its live entertainment business to give the division more flexibility for future growth. By separating the live entertainment business from the group's radio station interests,...

Real Networks.(Bottom line)
May 7, 2005... Real Networks has relaunched its Rhapsody digital music store in the US, to include a portable subscription service. Rhapsody To Go allows users to download as many tracks as they want from the company's library for $14.99 a month.

Andrew Lloyd Webber.(Bottom line)
May 7, 2005... Andrew Lloyd Webber is considering a sale of the intellectual property rights to his back catalogue of musicals, estimated to be worth around 500m [pounds sterling]. Ingenious Media chairman Patrick McKenna has been appointed by Lloyd Webber to...

BPI.(Bottom line)
May 7, 2005... The BPI was giving the Hi Tech Music label until the end of last Friday to respond to claims it is selling a mix album that features uncleared samples. The BPI says it has received a number of complaints from its members concerning the issue.

Academy opens Newcastle venue.(Exposure)
May 7, 2005... Academy Music Group is to open its 10th live music venue after buying the Gala Bingo Hall on Westgate Road in Newcastle, which it will refurbish and open in late October this year under the name Carling Academy Newcastle.

Heart 106.2.(Exposure)
May 7, 2005... London's Heart 106.2 is to follow the launch of its Jamie Theakston breakfast show with its biggest TV and press marketing campaign to date. Starting on May 16, the 2m [pounds sterling]] campaign will run for 10 weeks across Carlton, LWT,...

Joss Stone.(Exposure)
May 7, 2005... Joss Stone's cover of Lew Herman's The Right Time, as featured in the Gap's new US advertising campaign, has been offered as a free download. The song will be available from the company's website.

T In The Park festival.(Exposure)
May 7, 2005... Big Day Out has made several additions to the line-up for this year's T In The Park festival, including Rooster, The Bravery, The Futureheads and The Ordinary Boys.

Parlophone-signed Coldplay's Speed Of Sound has become the Billboard Hot 100's highest entry of the year to date, debuting at number eight.(Exposure)
May 7, 2005... Parlophone-signed Coldplay's Speed Of Sound has become the Billboard Hot 100's highest entry of the year to date, debuting at number eight. Its high entry--giving the band their biggest hit single yet in the US--is primarily as a result of...

Impulse.(Exposure)
May 7, 2005... Music and DVD retailer Impulse has opened its 11th store, at Heathrow Terminal 1. The company is opening a further two outlets in Gatwick Airport in May.

London's Somerset House.(Exposure)
May 7, 2005... Bloc Party, Queens Of The Stone Age and Doves are among the acts announced for the fifth annual concert season at London's Somerset House from July 5 to 1.3.

Summer XS.(Exposure)
May 7, 2005... McFly, Rachel Stevens, Rooster and Lucie Silvas are among the names confirmed for GWR's Summer XS concerts in Reading, Milton Keynes and Nottingham Arena in June.

Major speeds up digital evolution.(Sign here)
May 7, 2005... Sony BMG and Warner/Chappell have reached an agreement to accelerate the roll out of a range of digital music products and services. The deal covers DualDisc, a two-sided disc that can be played as a CD on one side and DVD on the other, mobile...

Status Quo.(Sign here)
May 7, 2005... Status Quo have signed to Sanctuary Records worldwide and have a new album released in September to coincide with their 40th anniversary celebrations.

MTV.(Sign here)
May 7, 2005... MTV has signed a partnership for digital music content with China's biggest mobile phone company, China Mobile. It results in the launch of subscription-based music service MTV Music Zone.

Boz Boorer.(Sign here)
May 7, 2005... Morrissey collaborator Boz Boorer has signed a worldwide exclusive songwriting agreement with Sanctuary Music Publishing. The deal covers Boorer's co-written songs with Morrissey from the Sanctuary-handled album You Are The Quarry, as well as...

Pulp frontman Jarvis Cocker has signed a worldwide publishing deal with Warner/Chappell for future work ahead of three of his new compositions featured in the new Harry Potter movie.(Digest)
May 7, 2005... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Caption: Pulp frontman Jarvis Cocker has signed a worldwide publishing deal with Warner/Chappell for future work ahead of three of his new compositions featured in the new Harry Potter movie. His manager Geoff Travis...

Publishing don makes exit as A&R supremo steps up: emotional farewell to Peter Reichardt as EMI shake up top management.(Publishing)
May 7, 2005... Guy Moot is vowing to place A&R at the heart of his new role, after being elevated to run EMI Music Publishing. Moot, previously UK & Europe A&R executive vice president, was promoted last week to managing director after a dramatic few days...

Ex-MD to head new EMI group.(News)
May 7, 2005... Mark Collen, one-time managing director of EMI:Chrysalis, is returning to EMI's UK set-up as the head of a new label group dedicated to mainstream pop, MOR and crossover classical. Innocent, Liberty and EMI Classics will all come under the...

The Music Week playlist.(News)
May 7, 2005... BEN ADAMS Get Off My Girl (Phonogenic) Featuring a Har Mar rap, this funky tune is lined up as second single by this new talent from Natasha Bedingfield's label (single, August) KANYE WEST Diamonds Are Forever (Roc-A-Fella) This...

Woolies rejigs team ahead of MVC sell-off: retail group restructures as veteran executive departs.(Retail)
May 7, 2005... Woolworths Group has restructured its entertainment teams ahead of the divestment of MVC and following the departure of long-serving executive Richard Izard after 14 years. Izard, who was responsible for entertainment across the Woolworths...

BBH leaps into recordings.(News)
May 7, 2005... Leap Music, the publishing division of ad agency BBH, is moving into record company territory with the launch of a spin-off operation to acquire and exploit master recordings. Rather than branching into physical product, however, Leap...

Live venues offer chart a spoonful of sugar.(News)
May 7, 2005... The Official UK Charts Company has asked data collection agency Millward Brown to conduct a feasibility study into allowing CD sales from live venues to count towards chart positions. The move follows an approach by First Night Records...

Bobby Valentino.(SNAP SHOT)
May 7, 2005... Championed by Ludacris, who signed the artist to his own label Disturbing Tha Peace Records, Bobby Valentino looks on course to follow an expected high US albums chart debut later this week with an assault on the UK. Debut single Slow...

Nokia unveils music mobile but backs future of iPod.(News)
May 7, 2005... Nokia's head of music has insisted that there is still a future for digital music players, despite the Finnish company's launch of the first phone with the potential to truly rival them. Nokia's N91 has a 4Gb hard disk, enabling it to store...

Four Tet cast list.(News)
May 7, 2005... Management: Kieran Hebden. Press: John Best, Best PR. Label: Domino. Radio: Russell Yates & Mig Morland, Cool Badge. TV: Karen Williams, Big Sister. Online: Serena Wilson, Nile-On. Regional Press: Alison, Hermana. Student: Nick Davis, Cool...

Everything Ecstatic, the fourth album from Domino's Four Tet, aka Kieran Hebden, looks likely to further his gradual move from leftfield figurehead to mainstream success.(News)
May 7, 2005... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Caption: Everything Ecstatic, the fourth album from Domino's Four Tet, aka Kieran Hebden, looks likely to further his gradual move from leftfield figurehead to mainstream success. The new album, released on May 23,...

Il Divo are on song with US hit album.(News)
May 7, 2005... Simon Cowell is enjoying his biggest US chart success to date outside American Idol after Il Divo last week cashed in on a series of high-profile TV appearances to debut in the top five. The Syco signings' self-titled album enters the...

The download era is taking its toll: in the conflicts of progress in the download era, success will inevitably come at the cost of others.(EDITORIAL)
May 7, 2005... There is a rather combative nature about the business right now. Hot on the heels of Aim's OFT referral, the BPI is pursuing serial uploaders, while the labels and publishers continue to battle behind the scenes over the issue of the online...

Aim is pro-industry despite its action against the chart.(VIEWPOINT)
May 7, 2005... So how else could Aim have reacted to the lack of response to its calls for a further delay to the combined chart, other than to appeal to the third umpire (the Office of Fair--that's Fair--Trading)? It could have just given up, but its...

Can iPods live with mobile phone music players?(The big question)
May 7, 2005... Nokia is to launch a 4GB phone on which 3,000 tracks can be saved to hard disk. Could this be the beginning of the end for the iPod? John Chuter, The Echo Label "I think Apple are smart enough to stay in this market and will no doubt...

Quickfire: as he revives his legendary Bronze label with new signing Paddy Milner, Gerry Bron reflects on a changing industry and his reasons for returning.(Forum)
May 7, 2005... It is almost 20 years since you sold Bronze and left the record industry--why are you coming back? Well, I haven't been completely out of the business. I have been running a recording studio and managing producers and recording engineers....

Crib sheet.(Forum)
May 7, 2005... A computer game called SingStar Popworld is poised to take the convergence between music and video games to a new level. Does this game involve shooting tramps and dealing drugs to children while hard rock plays in the background, like most...

End of an era at the Ivors 50th.(DOOLEY'S DIARY)
May 7, 2005... Remember where you heard it: Peter Reichardt's May 31 exit from EMI Music Publishing could hardly be more neatly timed, given it will happen just days after the historic 50th Ivors. In half a century of the event, Reichardt has reportedly...

Ever wondered how much money was being raised by those Comic Relief records that have been dominating the singles chart for the past two months?(Forum)
May 7, 2005... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Caption: Ever wondered how much money was being raised by those Comic Relief records that have been dominating the singles chart for the past two months? McFly laid the groundwork by notching up the year's then...

Fast chart.(Datafile: Britain's most comprehensive charts service)
May 7, 2005... SINGLES NUMBER ONE TONY CHRISTIE (IS THIS THE WAY TO) AMARILLO (UMTV) Justin Timberlake's appearance on Snoop Dogg's Signs single couldn't quite provide it with enough extra sales to topple Tony Christie, who thus extends his stay...

Market still hooked on Christie.(The Market)
May 7, 2005... A strong sales performance from Snoop Dogg's Signs threatened to bring an end to Tony Christie's domination of the singles chart, but in the end Christie prevailed with (Is This The Way To) Amarillo registering 47,945 sales --a 17.1% dip...

The schedule. (Datafile: Britain's most comprehensive charts service.
May 7, 2005... ALBUMS THIS WEEK Ludacris The Red Light District (Mercury); Tom Mcrae All Maps Welcome (DB) MAY 9 Steve Brookstein Heart And Soul (BMG): Teenage Fanclub Man-Made (PeMa); Morcheeba The Antidote (Echo); Team Sleep Team Sleep...

Mute has confirmed the release of new Goldfrapp material in August.(NEW ADDITION)
May 7, 2005... Mute has confirmed the release of new Goldfrapp material in August. The duo--Alison Goldfrapp and Will Gregory--have been recording at their studio in Bath and the first single Oh La La--which is said to be heavily glare influenced--is due for...

Key indicators.(Datafile: Britain's most comprehensive charts service)
May 7, 2005... KEY INDICATORS SINGLES Sales versus last week: -0.8% Year to dateversus last year: 49.1% MARKET SHARES Universal 49.1% Sony BMG 28.7% Others 11.8% EMI 8.8% Warner 1.6% ALBUMS Sales...

Third time lucky for Triple 8: a sponsorship deal with Storm fashion is providing Triple 8 with the ammunition to deliver their third hit.(The Plot)
May 7, 2005... TRIPLE EIGHT GOOD2GO (OSMOSIS) Just as music can enhance the power of a brand--be it an iPod Shuffle or a new car--artist managers and labels are increasingly looking to partnerships with commercial brands as a way to enhance and progress...

Legendary director returns to music to flesh out Kaisers clip.(Promo focus)
May 7, 2005... Working with The Kaiser Chiefs, legendary promo director Tim Pope has created a promo which can bear comparison with his best work, spanning acts including The Cure and Fatboy Slim. Opening, in Britpop style, in a good old-fashioned greasy...

Tastemakers tips.(Upfront)
May 7, 2005... Mark De Clive Lowe Tide's Arising (ABB Records/Antipodean) JONATHAN SHARIF, EDITOR, BETWEEN THE GROOVES "The future of soul music has arrived, with the recent release of jazzy interplanetary hip-hop infused dancefloor funk record...

Channel 4.(THE INSIDER)
May 7, 2005... Over recent years, Channel 4 has been making a conscious move to increase the amount of music programming on air and this week the channel confirmed that it had secured the broadcast rights for a number of music festivals in 2005. The news...

Radio playlists.(Upfront)
May 7, 2005... RADIO 1 A LIST Akon Lonely; Amerie 1 Thing; Athlete Half Light; Black Eyed Peas Don't Phunk With My Heart; BodyRockers I Like The Way; Caesars Jerk It Out; Coldplay Speed Of Sound; Destiny's Child Girl; Eminem Mocking Bird; Foo...

BPI awards.(Upfront)
May 7, 2005... ALBUMS Various--More Best Worship Songs... Ever (silver) Various--Happy Songs(silver)

In-store next week.(Upfront)
May 7, 2005... ASDA Instore--Robert Plant, Nine Inch Nails, Ryan Adams, Limp Bizkit; single--Eminem, album--Robert Plant; compilation--Hit Me Baby One More Time BORDERS Instore--Kathryn Williams, Steve Brookstein, Morcheeba, Afro Cuban...

Also out this week.
May 7, 2005... SINGLES Hot Hot Heat: Goodnight Goodnight (Sire); Javine: Touch My Fire (Shalit); Trick Daddy: Sugar (Gimme Some) (Atlantic) ALBUMS Ammoncontact: New Birth (Ninja Tune); Juliette & The Licks: You're Speaking My Language (Hassle);...

Oasis: Lyla.
May 7, 2005... Oasis Lyla Big Brother RKIDSCD29 This comeback single provides evidence that the Manchester outfit are at their best when plundering their influences shamelessly and joyfully. This is a record that sounds defiantly like Oasis and is...

Maximo Park: A Certain Trigger.
May 7, 2005... Maximo Park A Certain Trigger Warp WARPCD130 On this debut from the Newcastle band who scored a Top 20 hit in February with the excellent Apply Some Pressure, incisive lyrics are backed by choppy guitars and intricate song structures....

Ambulance Ltd: Primitive.
May 7, 2005... Ambulance Ltd Primitive (TVT TVTUKCD10) Ambulance Ltd's acclaimed debut album was originally released in 2004 and, despite critical acclaim, slipped by largely unnoticed at retail--but this single could well put the band back on the map....

The Black Eyed Peas: Don't Phunk with My Heart.
May 7, 2005... The Black Eyed Peas Don't Phunk With My Heart (Interscope 9882331) This first single from the Monkey Business album is an Asian-flavoured pop track that gets into your head and stays there. With a lift from Lisa Lisa & Cult Jam's I Wonder...

Boy Kill Boy: Suzie/Last of the Great.
May 7, 2005... Boy Kill Boy Suzie/Last of The Great (Fierce Panda NING70CD) They may be another new guitar band coming out of east London, but Boy Kill Boy stand out a mile (end). Proving once again Fierce Panda's ear for new talent, their quirky...

Eels: Hey Man.
May 7, 2005... Eels Hey Man (Now You're Really Living) (Vagrant 9881879) For a group that specialise in the most defeated and dejected lyrics around, Eels sure know how to crack out classic pop music. This ridiculously upbeat song about life's simple...

Gadjo feat. Alexandra Prince: So Many Times.
May 7, 2005... Gadjo feat. Alexandra Prince So Many Times (Manifesto/ Subliminal/AATW 9871480) Signed from Subliminal in the US, this doesn't shy from that label's formula of filtered house, latin percussion and soulful vocals. It is hardy innovative,...

Good Charlotte: The Chronicles of Life & Death.
May 7, 2005... Good Charlotte The Chronicles Of Life & Death (Epic 6759431) I Just Wanna Live was a Top 10 success for Good Charlotte in the UK and to date it has driven more than 2m global sales of their latest album. This album title track sees a return...

Max Graham Vs Yes: Owner of a Lonely Heart.
May 7, 2005... Max Graham Vs Yes Owner Of A Lonely Heart (Data DATA92CDS) The trend for teaming Eighties classics with contemporary dance beats continues apace with Max Grahams reworking of Yes's number nine hit from 1983. This version looks set to better...

Kaiser Chiefs: Everyday I Love You Less and Less.
May 7, 2005... Kaiser Chiefs Everyday I Love You Less And Less (B-Unique/Polydor BUN094CD) There is a wonderful English quality to the Kaisers that remains timeless. Radio One has A-listed this single already, and it has drive, humour and a lyricism that...

The Kills: Love Is a Deserter.
May 7, 2005... The Kills Love Is A Deserter (Domino RUG198CD) After scoring a hit with The Good Ones, the US/UK duo are back with this scorching follow-up from their album No Wow. Powered by a pulsating synth beat and intense, blues-driven guitar, it...

Li'l Jon & the East Side Boyz: Get Low/Lovers & Friends.
May 7, 2005... Li'l Jon & the East Side Boyz Get Low/Lovers & Friends (TVT TVTUKCD9) After his guest spots on Ciara's Goodies and Usher's Yeah, Li'l Jon teams up with Usher, Ludacris and the Ying Yang Twins for this double-header. Get Low is a raunchy...

Jennifer Lopez feat. Fat Joe: Hold You Down.
May 7, 2005... Jennifer Lopez feat. Fat Joe Hold You Down (Sony BMG 6759341) Get Right delivered number one success for J.Lo last month and the follow-up should have no problem following in its footsteps. Currently C-listed at Radio One, and climbing MWs...

Mylo: In My Arms.
May 7, 2005... Mylo In My Arms (Breastfed BFD016) The Skye superstar should build on the gold-selling success of Destroy Rock & Roll with this album highlight. Featuring samples from Kim Carnes' Bette Davis Eyes and Boy Meets Girls Waiting For A Star To...

Stonebridge vs Ultra Nate: Freak On.
May 7, 2005... Stonebridge vs Ultra Nate Freak On (Hed Kandi HEDKCDS010) The Swedish dance veteran will be gunning for a third Top 10 UK hit in eight months with Freak On, which, with its Grandmaster Flash riffs and 808 drums, contains all the necessary...

Rob Thomas: Lonely No More.
May 7, 2005... Rob Thomas Lonely No More (Atlantic AT0203CD) The debut solo single from former Matchbox Twenty frontman Rob Thomas is a smooth pop song with a latin twist that echoes his Santana collaboration Smooth. Currently climbing the airplay chart,...

Emiliana Torrini: Heartstopper.
May 7, 2005... Emiliana Torrini Heartstopper (Rough Trade TRADSCD224) This melodic second single from Radio Two and Xfm favourite Torrini's acclaimed album Fisherman's Woman is the follow-up to the airplay hit Sunny Road. It is another of Torrini's warm...

Stevie Wonder: So What the Fuss.
May 7, 2005... Stevie Wonder So What The Fuss (Motown TMGCD1510) Taken from A Time To Love, Wonder's first album in 10 years, this features Prince on guitar and En Vogue on backing vocals, and looks set to be a hit. It is A-listed at Radio Two, while the...

Adult: DUME.
May 7, 2005... Adult DUME (Thrill Jockey THRILL156) The Detroit duo return with a mini album that reveals an altogether spikier and rawer sound than the more stylised electro pop of debut set Resuscitation. Sounding a little like a digital Yeah Yeah...

Chris Coco: Heavy Mellow.
May 7, 2005... Chris Coco Heavy Mellow (Distinctive DISNCD150) The producer and Radio One DJ returns with the follow-up to his 2002 debut Next Wave. With lush, downbeat sounds topped by echoing, tripped-out vocal samples, it is perfect headphone listening...

Faith Evans: The First Lady.
May 7, 2005... Faith Evans The First Lady (EMI 4771172) Evans has teamed up with the likes of The Neptunes, Mario Winans and Chucky Thompson to produce a varied and soulful R&B set which is easily the high water mark of her bumpy 10-year career. Vastly...

The Duke Spirit: Cuts Across the Land.
May 7, 2005... The Duke Spirit Cuts Across The Land (Loog 9867546) This raucous debut resolutely ploughs its own furrow with its sinuous guitars and growling bluesy vocals courtesy of Leila Moss. Produced in part by Simon Raymonde and Flood, it goes some...