Music Week articles from May 2006

Music Week archives from May 2006

BBC gives new focus to music: chief underlines backing for UK acts.(Radio)
May 6, 2006... The BBC has vowed to step up its commitment to music, as it introduces the first music strategy in the history of the corporation. The music strategy was one of several initiatives announced by BBC director general Mark Thomspon last week,...

Sound clips add bite to Playlist.
May 6, 2006... Rising stars Lily Allen, Nerina Pallot, James Morrison and The Automatic are among the first artists to feature on Music Week's new, weekly streaming service The Playlist--powered by Yahoo! Music. The new service, an enhancement of Music...

Bertelsmann eyes stock market.(Bottom line)
May 6, 2006... Bertelsmann shareholder Groupe Bruxelles Lambert has reiterated its intention to press the Sony BMG partner into a stock market listing. At the GBL annual general meeting, chairman Albert Frere told shareholders that the Belgian company, which...

Tesco.(Bottom line)
May 6, 2006... Tesco is looking to extend its nonfood offering, following the success of its first Homeplus non-food store, which opened in Denton, Manchester last October with further trial outlets lined up for Bristol, Southampton and Telford. It is also...

Tim Waterstone.(Bottom line)
May 6, 2006... Tim Waterstone has offered HMV 280m [pounds sterling] to buy back the Waterstone's book chain that he founded in 1982. Waterstone said last week that he made his first bid proposal in February and that it was conditional on HMV not proceeding...

US satellite radio services and online music stations are set to be governed by the same laws, following new legislation passed last week in the senate.(Bottom line)
May 6, 2006... US satellite radio services and online music stations are set to be governed by the same laws, following new legislation passed last week in the senate. The bipartisan senate Bill reforms the appropriate section of copyright law to assure...

Amazon.(Bottom line)
May 6, 2006... Profits at Amazon fell 35% in the first quarter of 2006, as a result of new technology costs. For the three months to March 31, net income at the internet retailer was $51m (285m [pounds sterling]), compared to $78m (43.6m [pounds sterling])...

Creative industries.(Bottom line)
May 6, 2006... A newly-published report about the future of the creative industries warns the sector, including music, needs to take action to prevent it being eroded by overseas competition. The research was conducted by public body the National Endowment...

Virgin Megastore.(Bottom line)
May 6, 2006... Virgin Megastore is to close three of its US stores in the coming year, leaving it with 14 American outlets. Stores in South Miami and Dallas are due to close this summer. The company's Boston store will close in June 2007, although the company...

Charlatans join Creation pair.(People)
May 6, 2006... Alan McGee and Stephen King, partners in Creation Management, have taken over as managers of The Charlatans. Meanwhile, McGee will take part in a Q&A at the Go North music festival in Aberdeen, which runs from May 10-11.

Music Choice.(People)
May 6, 2006... Digital music service Music Choice has appointed former Emap director Andrew Jeffries as its new director of music. Jeffries was programme director of Kiss 100, having previously held the role at Kerrang! Radio.

Sheridans.(People)
May 6, 2006... Former BPI director general Andrew Yeates has joined Sheridans solicitors as a consultant. Yeates will work with the firm's film and television partners Peter McInerney and Robin Hilton, as well as dealing with general copyright and rights...

Sanctuary Group.(People)
May 6, 2006... Sanctuary Group formally voted former British Airways chief executive Bob Ayling as its chairman at the company's AGM last Friday. The group also declared at the meeting that the recent equity fundraising had now reduced Sanctuary's debts to...

Kiss 100.(People)
May 6, 2006... Kiss 100 breakfast show presenter Barn Bam has left ahead of a planned relaunch of the London-based dance station this summer. Emap says Robin Banks will present the programme until a new host is announced.

James Kyllo.(People)
May 6, 2006... Aim Digital general manager James Kyllo is to exit the trade organisation after 16 months in the role. He is leaving to open a UK office for the digital distributor Zebralution.

Tony Wadsworth.(People)
May 6, 2006... EMI chairman and CEO Tony Wadsworth is being lined up to present the keynote Q&A on the opening day of Brighton's Great Escape Festival on May 18-20.

MTV.(People)
May 6, 2006... MTV has appointed Sao Bui-Van as vice president of corporate communications, effective from May 30.

GCap Media.(People)
May 6, 2006... GCap Media has promoted programming controller Ivor Etienne to managing director following a series of audience increases at the London station. In his new role, Etienne will continue to look after programming.

MusicTank.(People)
May 6, 2006... Industry networking group MusicTank's May 17 meeting will debate ways to invigorate the classical music market. Speakers lined up for the Bertorelli event in Soho include former Decca Records head Costa Pilavachi and the London Sinfonietta...

EMI signs deal with Skype.(Sign here)
May 6, 2006... EMI Music Publishing has announced a deal with the online communications company Skype, licensing songs from its catalogue for Skype's soon-to-be-launched online retail store. Through the licence, Skype will be able to gain access to EMI Music...

Classic FM.(Sign here)
May 6, 2006... Gcap-owned Classic FM has secured a six-month deal with Airmiles to sponsor its Smooth Classics at 7 show. The deal, which GCap says is worth approximately 1m [pounds sterling], starts today (Monday) and will include Classic FM's first podcast....

The British Academy of Composers and Songwriters.(Sign here)
May 6, 2006... The British Academy of Composers and Songwriters is launching an initiative to help aspiring songwriters. It will be split into three categories: 18 and under, solo writers and groups. Thirty applicants in each category will be selected to...

Playground Music.(Sign here)
May 6, 2006... Scandinavian independent label Playground Music has acquired a majority stake in Swedish label Diesel Music AB.

XL has signed a worldwide deal with Tapes N Tapes.(Sign here)
May 6, 2006... XL has signed a worldwide deal with Tapes N Tapes. The band, who were first featured on the MW playlist in February, will release their debut album The Loon via XL this summer.

Bee Gees in line for Prince's Trust.(Exposure)
May 6, 2006... The Bee Gees will play their first UK date since the death of brother Maurice at the Prince's Trust 30th birthday concert. Bee Gees Barry and Robin Gibb, Pink, Annie Lennox, Sugababes, Embrace, Lionel Richie and Ronan Keating are the first...

Magic 105.4.(Exposure)
May 6, 2006... Emap's Magic 105.4 will begin a 1m [pounds sterling] TV advertising campaign this Friday. The advert, which is intended to drive people to a cash giveaway on the breakfast show, will air on ITV, Channel 4, Five and Emap's own Magic TV.

Latitude festival.(Exposure)
May 6, 2006... Snow Patrol, Antony And The Johnsons and Mogwai will headline the inaugural Latitude festival. The festival, which is the brainchild of Mean Fiddler managing director Melvin Benn, will take place from July 14 to 16 in Henham Park, near...

Universal.(Exposure)
May 6, 2006... Universal is to use new technology from Sky TV as part of an innovative interactive campaign to promote Rocco De Luca. Using Sky's new "bookable promo" feature, viewers of Sky One show I Trust You To Kill Me will be able to access a video for...

Womad.(Exposure)
May 6, 2006... BBC Radio Three has signed up to broadcast a Womad special live from the festival, which takes place in Reading from July 28-30. The world music festival's line-up will feature more than 70 artists from more than 30 countries.

TDK Cross Central.(Exposure)
May 6, 2006... The TDK Cross Central weekend festival, which takes place at London's King's Cross Freight Depot on August 26 and 2Z has announced that Clor, Annie, Young Blood Brass Band and Ladytron are on its line-up.

Absolute Radio.(Exposure)
May 6, 2006... Absolute Radio operations and programming director Clive Dickens will use the Musexpo conference in Los Angeles this week to officially launch Absolute & Dowse, his company's US-based consultancy, in partnership with Phil Dowse Media.

Music Week online poll.
May 6, 2006... Welcome to the Music Week poll. To vote, simply visit our website at musicweek.com and click on the poll link. This week we ask: Has GCap made the right decision in bringing in a new programming chief in a bid to reverse the station's...

Radio kingpin joins team, as MW steps up radio coverage.(News)
May 6, 2006... Music Week this week launches a new commitment to radio, including expanded coverage of the sector and a new guest columnist. Commercial radio kingpin Richard Park has signed up to write a regular column for Music Week, also contributing to...

Virgin chief unveils new profit plan; Simon Douglas' 'Red To Black' plan to take retail chain 'back in the black within two years'.(Retail)
May 6, 2006... Virgin Megastores managing director Simon Douglas used his company's first conference overseas to set out his vision to take the UK chain back into profit within two years. Under a theme of "Red To Black", Douglas outlined to the...

The playlist.(News)
May 6, 2006... LILY ALLEN Knock 'Em Out (Regal) Lily has been on the playlist for the past few weeks and we're not about to pull it off yet. One of the year's brightest new talents. (B-side, out now) NELLY FURTADO Maneater (Geffen) ...

Live sector poised to spurn Whitehall plan: government's refusal to ban touts prompts industry bodies to consider rejecting government initiative.(Live)
May 6, 2006... The Government's live music ticketing strategy could end up in tatters, with two giants of the industry threatening to pull out of ongoing talks because of a failure to deal with ticket touts and the secondary market. The bombshell has...

EMI/Warner speculation 'just noise'.(News)
May 6, 2006... Analysts say they ate underwhelmed by reports of renewed merger talks between Warner Music Group and EMI, dismissing them as "noise". The speculation, which sent the UK major's share price soaring to a new 52-week high of 294p last week,...

Men, Women & Children.(SNAP SHOT)
May 6, 2006... Men, Women & Children emerged from the ashes of New York hardcore band Glassjaw in 2005, but their debut self-titled albura is more Electric 6 than Fugazi; a collection of twisted dancefloor fillers that are earning MWC a rapidly expanding UK...

Downloads on verge of outpacing CDs; downloads soon to be dominant singles format, as post-Xmas surge sees digital sales mushroom.(Charts)
May 6, 2006... The combined singles chart has moved into its second year of operation, with downloads now accounting for an average of around 50% of each track's weekly sales inside the Top 40. Twelve months after the combined singles chart's launch,...

Bard plans second indie retail event.(News)
May 6, 2006... Bard is attempting to build on last year's inaugural Independent Retail Conference, boosting its scale and scope for the second event which has been scheduled for September 20. The entertainment retailers' association is urging on...

MTV to sponsor Cads.(News)
May 6, 2006... MTV is marking its 25th anniversary by signing up as the headline sponsor of CADS06--The Music Vision Awards, for the second year running. MTV UK & Ireland VP of marketing James Scroggs announced last week that the broadcaster would renew...

ILR takes the battle to the Beeb.(Radio special)
May 6, 2006... For those in the radio sector, life has never been more complicated. While the commercial industry last week launched its biggest move yet in the battle for listeners--in the form of the first UK Music Week--the BBC outlined its vision for the...

Who is your favourite UK artist? As the commercial radio sector asks the nation to name their favourite UK artist of all time, Music Week has polled programmers from across the industry to find out their favourites. Read their responses over the next few pages.(Radio special)
May 6, 2006... Phil Angell group programme director, UKRD Group My favourite UK artist is Pink Floyd. Call me old, call me bitter, call me grumpy, but Floyd outlast, outplay, and outshine even today's brightest stars. Andy Ashton programme director, Xfm...

Capital opts for Muller; GCap puts London station into programme chief's 'safe hands'.(Radio Special)
May 6, 2006... GCap bosses are backing new Capital Radio programme director Scott Muller to deliver audience growth in the tough London market by bringing back a sense of humour to the station, both on and off air. GCap announced Muller's appointment last...

Local stations unite for national push; last week's UK Music Week saw stations across the commercial sector boost their profile with both advertisers and the public.(Radio special)
May 6, 2006... It is Wednesday day morning in Birmingham and a group of schoolchildren are getting very hot under the collar at the prospect of a Q&A with rock band Starsailor. Across the country, Ipswich dance music station Vibe FM East is readying...

'Music is at the heart of the BBC'.(Radio special)(Interview)
May 6, 2006... Following an extensive review, the BBC has finalised its music strategy. Radio and music director Jenny Abramsky speaks exclusively to Music Week's Jim Larkin, explaining that the strategy is for the benefit of the licence-payer, with an...

BBC strategy should pay off for all; everyone will benefit from the Beeb's exciting strategy involving its future plans for music.(EDITORIAL)
May 6, 2006... The words emanating from the BBC over recent days certainly sound encouraging for anyone from the world of music. Jenny Abramsky is making all the right noises when she talks of the Beeb's future support for new music, for British music,...

DG's vision for music is a significant moment for all.(VIEWPOINT)
May 6, 2006... The game plan laid out by Mark Thompson in Creative Futures confirms that the BBC has a leader in tune with modern media. There are 3,000 soon-to-be ex-BBC employees who might take issue--but the director general's vision is as visionary as it...

How can commercial radio win audience from BBC?(The big question)
May 6, 2006... What can the commercial sector do to win back audience share from the BBC? Rob Corlett, Hit 40 UK "Commercial radio needs to ban BBC bashing and to start learning from them. The new BBC vision is all about products such as music and...

Quickfire: a month after taking over as head of music for HMV, Gary Rolfe discusses the challenges as the retailer responds to changes on the high street.(Forum)(Interview)
May 6, 2006... So, you are a few months in now, how are you enjoying the new job? If you have wanted to do a job for a while and get the chance, it is exciting and terrifying in different degrees. It is a big challenge. On a purely market level, there has...

Inside track.(Forum)
May 6, 2006... Geoff Huckstep is the chief executive of Nottingham Ice Centre & Arena and has taken over from Peter Tudor as chairman of the National Arenas Association. Name: Geoff Huckstep Born: Hull, East Yorkshire 1950 First job in the music...

Life's a beach for staff at Virgin.(DOOLEY'S DIARY)
May 6, 2006... Remember where you heard it: It continues to be metaphorically cloudy on the UK high street, but lucky staff from Virgin Megastores got a chance to bake in the Spanish sunshine last week as they flew out for the retailer's annual conference....

The West Country was the place to be for a fair portion of the music industry, who decamped to the Bristol area last week for South West Sound.(Forum)
May 6, 2006... The West Country was the place to be for a fair portion of the music industry, who decamped to the Bristol area last week for South West Sound. The event, now in its third year, is beginning to truly establish itself and saw an impressive line...

Fast chart.(Datafile: Britain's most comprehensive charts service: Week 17)
May 6, 2006... SINGLES NUMBER ONE GNARLS BARKLEY CRAZY Warner Bros. Gnarls Barkley extend their residency atop the singles chart to five weeks. The last time an American act did this for Warner Music was in 1998, when Cher's Believe spent seven...

Albums sales are on the up.(The Market)
May 6, 2006... To a star-studded list comprising Elvis Presley, The Monkees, Simon & Garfunkel, The Stylistics, Blondie, The Pretenders, Barbra Streisand, Michael Jackson, Lionel Richie, Madonna, Whitney Houston, Meat Loaf, Mariah Carey, Hanson, Limp Bizkit,...

Key indicators.(Datafile: Britain's most comprehensive charts service: Week 17)
May 6, 2006... SINGLES Sales versus last week: +2.1% Year to date versus last year: +124.6% MARKET SHARES Universal 41.9% Warner 23.9% Sony BMG 16.3% EMI 6.8% Others 11.2% ALBUMS Sales versus last week: +7.2% ...

The schedule.(Datafile: Britain's most comprehensive charts service: Week 17)(Sound recording review)
May 6, 2006... ALBUMS THIS WEEK Mobb Deep Blood Money (Polydor); Kanye West Late Orchestration (Roc A Fella); Pearl Jam Pearl Jam (J); Snow Patrol Eyes Open (Fiction); Field Music Write Your Own History (Memphis industries) MAY 8 Red Hot...

Muse will release a yet-to-be-titled studio album on July 3 and fans will get their first taste when lead single, Supermassive Black Hole, is released as a download on June 12.(NEW ADDITION)
May 6, 2006... Muse will release a yet-to-be-titled studio album on July 3 and fans will get their first taste when lead single, Supermassive Black Hole, is released as a download on June 12. The release kicks off a period of intense activity for the group....

From Poppins to pop star: former West End musical songstress Laura Michelle Kelly trades in the boards for the pop star stage.(The Plot)
May 6, 2006... Angel Music will begin the next phase of its campaign to help Laura Michelle Kelly make the transition from West End star to a viable contemporary music proposition with the release of her debut album The Storm Inside today (Monday). ...

Overseas indie deals pay off for soul star, who refocuses on UK.(Campaign focus)
May 6, 2006... Next month will see rising soul star Nate James re-releasing his debut solo album on his own Frofunk label under intriguing circumstances. The album has already sold more than 60,000 copies worldwide independently, putting James in the unusual...

Tastemakers tips.(Upfront)
May 6, 2006... Courtney Love Never Go Hungry Again' (Demo) DANIEL MARTIN, JOURNALIST "Fresh out of rehab, secure financially (after the Nirvana publishing deal with Larry Mestel) and with her legal dramas behind her, things are looking up for...

Gaydar Radio.(THE INSIDER)
May 6, 2006... When Gaydar Radio launched on Valentines' Day in 2002, it was originally intended to complement the Gaydar website, giving members of the online community the opportunity to listen to music while viewing the site. Since then, the station...

Radio playlists.(Datafile)
May 6, 2006... RADIO 1 A LIST Arctic Monkeys The View From The Afternoon; BeatFreakz Somebody s Watching Me; Blaze feat. Barbara Tucker Most Precious Love; Chris Brown Yo (Excuse Me Miss); Christina Milian feat. Young Jeezy Say I; Dirty Pretty...

BPI awards.(Upfront)
May 6, 2006... ALBUMS Panic! At the Disco--A Fever You Can't Sweat Out (silver) The Notorious B.I.G.--Duets: The Final Chapter (gold) MUSIC DVDS Various--Live 8 (platinum)

In-store next week.(Upfront)
May 6, 2006... ASDA Instore--Christina Milian, Dirty Pretty Things, Hard-Fi, John Fogerty & Creedance Clearwater Revivial, Red Hot Chili Peppers, album of the week--Tom Jones BORDERS Instore--Snow Patrol, Nina Simone, Serge Gainsbourg, Laura...

Orson: Bright Idea.
May 6, 2006... Orson Bright Idea Mercury LC00268 Orson's debut single hit the top spot two weeks after its chart debut and it remained in the top five some seven weeks after release. Not a had result for a band who, just six months ago, were still...

The Raconteurs: Broken Boy Soldiers.
May 6, 2006... The Raconteurs Broken Boy Soldiers XL XLCD196 Jack White's first extra-curricular offering, recorded with Brendan Benson and The Greenhornes' Patrick Keeler and Jack Lawrence, reveals a poppier noise than we're used to from The White...

Howie Beck: Don't Be Afraid.
May 6, 2006... Howie Beck Don't Be Afraid (Ever EVER01CDM) This pleasant ditty from Canada's answer to Beck is a simple acoustic number that doesn't stray far from territory occupied by Rouse and Ritter. The fourth track on the CD is an amusing cover of...

Findlay Brown: Losing The Will To Survive.
May 6, 2006... Findlay Brown Losing The Will To Survive (All Good Things AGT 001CD) Another week brings yet another singer-songwriter into the fray, but Findlay Brown certainly has enough charisma and presence to be noticed. This debut single is produced...

Fireworks Night: When We Fell Through The Ice.
May 6, 2006... Fireworks Night When We Fell Through The Ice (Organ Grinder OGR001CDS) Issued in advance of their July-released second album, this duet between James Lesslie and Briony Greenhill is a beautifully delivered folk-noir tale. The haunted waltz...

Justice vs Simian: We Are Your Friends.
May 6, 2006... Justice vs Simian We Are Your Friends (Ten TENCD505) Having sparked a massive buzz in the clubs and at Sonar 2005 after a limited run on Daft Punk manager Pedro Winter's Ed Banger label, this thumping dance track is now set for a...

Matisyahu: Youth.
May 6, 2006... Matisyahu Youth (Columbia 82876809952) Matisyahu's debut UK single is an energetic, reggae-rock hybrid which, for the uninitiated, will serve as a fitting introduction to his talents. Lyrically, Youth is a call to action, with the...

Christina Milian Feat. Young Jeezy: Say I.
May 6, 2006... Christina Milian Feat. Young Jeezy Say I (Mercury 9857779) This latest offering from the singer/actress is the first track from the new album So Amazin', produced by Cool and Dre. It has caught the mood at UK radio with an A-listing at...

Busta Rhymes: Touch It.
May 6, 2006... Busta Rhymes Touch It (Interscope 9855967) Returning after a lengthy hiatus, one of hip hop's most unique performers serves up another club banger, this time under the super crisp production of Swizz Beats. Touch It is the debut single from...

The Like: What I Say And What I Mean.
May 6, 2006... The Like What I Say And What I Mean (Polydor 9887011) LA's sun-drenched answer to The Bangles have been generating ever growing interest in the UK and, after a hefty SxSW schedule, the trio follow up their debut single with What I Say And...

Stuart A Staples: That Leaving Feeling.
May 6, 2006... Stuart A Staples That Leaving Feeling (Beggars Banquet BBQ 397) Staples is best known as the Tindersticks frontman, but last year's solo debut Lucky Dog Recordings showed he is more than capable of going it alone. This new material has been...

V Formation: Little Heart.
May 6, 2006... V Formation Little Heart (Double Dragon DD2027) MW first featured this track on the Playlist in October in demo form and it still sounds fresh. Hailing from Belfast, the band have been earning rave reviews in their homeland in the past six...

Zero 7: Throw It All Away.
May 6, 2006... Zero 7 Throw It All Away (Atlantic ATUK028CD) After the relative commercial disappointment of 2004's When It Falls, Zero 7 return with one of their strongest singles yet. There is a fine line between chilled-out and soporific, but the band...

Ammoncontact: With Voices.
May 6, 2006... Ammoncontact With Voices (Ninja Tune ZEN125) LA hip-hop producers Carlos Nino and Fabian Ammon have rounded up an impressive collection of MCs, musicians and producers for this album of collaborations, which bursts with soulful creativity....

The Beautiful South: Superbi.(Sound recording review)
May 6, 2006... The Beautiful South Superbi (Sony BMG 82876831152) This is Paul Heaton and co's first original outing for some time, with the last release being a covers record in 2004. It is typical South fodder--pleasant pop melodies overladen with...

Feeder: The Singles.
May 6, 2006... Feeder The Singles (Echo ECHCD69) The first compilation from Feeder shows how many great singles they have made in their nine-year career. All the big hitters are here: Buck Rogers, Just The Way I'm Feeling, Tumble & Fall and Pushing The...

!Forward Russia! Give Me A Wall.
May 6, 2006... !Forward Russia! Give Me A Wall (Dance To The Radio DTTR012CD) This energetic, edgy album is the sound of a band thrilled to make their first album. Pitched firmly in student indie territory, !Forward Russia!'s scratchy new wave sound makes...

Grandaddy: Just Like The Fambly Cat.
May 6, 2006... Grandaddy Just Like The Fambly Cat (V2 VVR1039472) US alt-rock five-piece Grandaddy go out on a high after some 15 years with this winsome 14-track set. Largely focused on their hometown of Modesto, California, it has a wistful, elegaic...

Imogen Heap: Speak For Yourself.
May 6, 2006... Imogen Heap Speak For Yourself (Megaphonic MEGACD001) Heaps' sophomore solo effort sounds not a million miles away from Details, her 2002 collaboration with producer Guy Sigsworth as Frou Frou, but that's no bad thing. It is clear from...