Music Week articles from May 2009

Music Week archives from May 2009

POLITICS: Tories aim to strike chord with industry.
May 2, 2009... Conservatives to recruit industry figures to formulate policy and attack Labour track record By Robert Ashton The CONSERVATIVE PARTY IS looking to consolidate its poll lead by slamming the Government's record on helping the music...

Music events are "not to blame" for Wembley's pitch problems.
May 2, 2009... Music events are not the cause of Wembley Stadium's recent pitch problems, informed sources have told Music Week. Manchester United's Alex Ferguson and Arsenal's Arsene Wenger both weighed into the state of the Wembley pitch after their...

THE PLAYLIST: 02.05.09.
May 2, 2009... KASABIAN Fire Columbia This soaring lead single from the new album is a beat-driven monster that lifts off with a rousing chorus. Catch them on tour with Oasis this June. (single, June 1) JOSH WELLER Push Yodel...

APPOINTMENTS: Vidler vows to maintain EMI momentum.
May 2, 2009... EMI names former Capital MD Andria Vidler as its new UK & Ireland president By Ben Cardew EMI is "leading the way" in shaking up the workings of the music industry, according to the woman who will head the major's UK and Ireland...

Imagem excited about Rodgers & Hammerstein catalogue.
May 2, 2009... Imagem sees SOME "huge opportunities" in the Rodgers & Hammerstein catalogue, after last-week concluding a nine-month period of negotiation to buy the company, which owns the rights to many of the world's most popular stage and film musicals...

POLITICS: No complaints as industry welcomes Budget package.
May 2, 2009... Treasury offers potential investment for creative sector By Robert Ashton Bearing gifts? Chancellor Alistair Darling stated that the Government will examine the tax system for intellectual property and other "innovative activity" ...

Musexpo returns for second summit.
May 2, 2009... Musexpo Europe will include a unique one-day event focusing on the art of songwriting, as the conference returns to London for the second year running. The International Songwriting Summit will focus on "the creative aspects of...

Eyes right for some serious political support for the music industry?
May 2, 2009... Editorial Paul Williams AS ALASTAIR DARLING ANNOUNCED during last week's Budget that he was raising the top rate of income tax from 40% to 50%, those with long memories may have recalled former Labour Chancellor Denis Healey's declaration...

QUICKFIRE: Carolina Liar get the Max factor.
May 2, 2009... OVER THE PAST DECADE max martin has had a hand in some of pop's biggest careers. Having shaped the signature sound that took artists such as Backstreet Boys, Britney Spears and `N Sync to the top of the charts, he returned after a short hiatus...

Burnham to address MW event.
May 2, 2009... THE RECORD INDUSTRY will get to learn the latest Government thinking on how it wants music to work with ISPs when Culture Secretary Andy Burnham appears alongside a panel of heavy-hitters at Music Week's digital conference later this year. ...

NEWS IN BRIEF: Copyright term.
May 2, 2009... The European Parliament has voted in favour of extending copyright term for music recordings to 70 years. MEPs voted 377 in favour of extension, with 178 against. The deal now paves the way for European countries to back the deal in the...

NEWS IN BRIEF: Global recorded music sales.
May 2, 2009... Global recorded music sales fell by 8.3% to $18.42bn (#12.66bn) in 2008, a figure led by a 19% fall in US sales. The IFPI figures reveal sales in Europe and Latin America were down 6.3% and 4.7% respectively, while sales in Asia rose by 1.0%....

NEWS IN BRIEF: Pirate Bay.
May 2, 2009... A lawyer representing Pirate Bay founder Peter Sunde has called for a re-trial in the case, after reports surfaced that the judge who oversaw the trial was a member of several copyright protection organisations. The three founders of the...

NEWS IN BRIEF: The National Business Awards.
May 2, 2009... The organisers of The National Business Awards are calling for entries from the music industry. The awards recognise excellence, innovation and success in business and are open to organisations of all sizes and from any sector. Businesses can...

NEWS IN BRIEF: 10th Classical Brit Awards.
May 2, 2009... Conductor Sir Charles Mackerras and soundtrack writer James Newton Howard have both landed double nominations in the 10th Classical Brit Awards. The launch ceremony in Mayfair saw Mackerras pick up nominations for the critics' award and male...

NEWS IN BRIEF: Pink Floyd.
May 2, 2009... Pink Floyd are suing EMI, after claims that the company has miscalculated royalty payments. Proceedings are underway following routine three-yearly discussions over royalties, which are being disputed. Copyright: UBM Information Ltd.

NEWS IN BRIEF: Barclaycard Mercury Prize.
May 2, 2009... Organisers of the Barclaycard Mercury Prize are now accepting record company entries for this year's competition. Albums released the year to July 13 2009 are eligible with entry forms available from entries@mercuryprize.co.uk. Copyright:...

NEWS IN BRIEF: Spotify.
May 2, 2009... Spotify is poised to offer mood-targeted advertising within the year, according to its UK sales director Jon Mitchell. The company, which offers both display and audio ads, will provide tailored opportunities to advertisers based on the mood of...

NEWS IN BRIEF: Amazon.com.
May 2, 2009... Amazon.com has reported a 24% rise in its first-quarter profits to $177m (#121m), ahead of market expectations. The online retailer's international sales, representing UK, German, Japanese, French and Chinese sites, increased 15% from the first...

NEWS IN BRIEF: Mikkel Eriksen and Tor Hermansen.
May 2, 2009... Stargate's Mikkel Eriksen and Tor Hermansen were among the songwriters to pick up gongs at last week's ASCAP Pop Music Awards. EMI and Sony/ATV jointly finished as publishers of the year. Copyright: UBM Information Ltd.

DIGITAL: Datz ramps up offering with online store 2.0.
May 2, 2009... New retail partners and 100,000 new songs for site By Ben Cardew DATZ IS TO LAUNCH version 2.0 of its Music Lounge unlimited download service over the coming weeks, with a range of new features and label partners. The original...

MEDIA: Boyle's dream becomes reality as global fame soars.
May 2, 2009... TV and YouTube phenomenon flooded with media offers By Nick Johnstone SYCO TV SAYS IT HAS ALREADY TURNED DOWN hundreds of offers from film, theatre and book companies on behalf of Susan Boyle, after her appearance on Britain's Got...

MEDIA NEWS IN BRIEF: Global Radio.
May 2, 2009... Global Radio has announced a refreshed schedule for 95.8 Capital FM, which it says will allow new and emerging talent to join the station in more high-profile slots. Under these changes, the weekday 7-10pm show will be hosted by Rich Clarke and...

MEDIA NEWS IN BRIEF: Kiss Radio Network.
May 2, 2009... The Kiss Radio Network continued its online roll-out last week with the launch of a new website which will be entirely ad-free. The site will offer "creative commercial takeovers and integrated advertising options", with the first takeover...

CAMPAIGN FOCUS: Daniel Merriweather.
May 2, 2009... AN ONLINE DOCUMENTARY SERIES will form a key part of the launch campaign for Daniel Merriweather's debut album Love & War, released on June 1. Columbia is currently producing the documentary, which will put the spotlight on Merriweather's...

TELEVISION: TOTP crusade gathers pace with music industry petition.
May 2, 2009... MW Awards sweep gives plugger 500 supporters By Ben Cardew PLUGGER DYLAN WHITE'S CAMPAIGN to bring back Top of the Pops has moved forward, with the launch on an online petition demanding a "tween- friendly" time slot for the iconic...

MEDIA NEWS IN BRIEF: Katy Perry's I Kissed A Girl.
May 2, 2009... Katy Perry's I Kissed A Girl received the most video plays across MTV channels globally in the second half of 2008. The top 43 videos were played 403,974 times across MTV International's network - which excludes the US - from July to December...

MEDIA NEWS IN BRIEF: Alex Zane.
May 2, 2009... Xfm breakfast DJ Alex Zane has left the station. Zane joined the station in 2003 to present a weekend breakfast show, moving onto weekday breakfast in 2007 to replace Lauren Laverne. Afternoon DJ Ian Camfield will take over the vacant slot. ...

MEDIA NEWS IN BRIEF: Chris Moyles.
May 2, 2009... Radio One DJ Chris Moyles used his breakfast show last week to hit back at claims in The Sun newspaper that he was to be replaced in favour of a younger presenter. As well as stating that he "wasn't going anywhere" - a statement backed by Radio...

MEDIA NEWS IN BRIEF: NME.
May 2, 2009... NME has secured a cross-platform deal with Adidas and UK sports fashion retailer JD to celebrate the 60th anniversary of Adidas Originals. The campaign includes on-air mentions and giveaways on NME Radio, bespoke content on NME.com and support...

MEDIA NEWS IN BRIEF: The Culture Show.
May 2, 2009... BBC2 programme The Culture Show is to move to a new weekly 7pm weekday slot and will be extended to 50 minutes, after new BBC2 controller Janice hadlow admitted that the show's current half-hour slot at 10pm on Tuesdays is not working. ...

DIGITAL NEWS IN BRIEF: MUZU.
May 2, 2009... Dublin-based online video site MUZU has signed a licensing deal with Universal. It already has deals in place with EMI, Sony and Ministry Of Sound whereby rights holders share in ad revenue. Copyright: UBM Information Ltd.

DIGITAL NEWS IN BRIEF: Google.
May 2, 2009... Google has been accused of UK tax avoidance. It is claimed the company paid #600,000 in taxes despite local revenues of over #1.25bn. Some 90% of its revenues were channeled through Ireland meaning the company avoided a tax bill that could have...

DIGITAL NEWS IN BRIEF: Online radio.
May 2, 2009... Arbitron & Edison Research has found that 49% of people in the US have listened to online radio. The number listening at least once a week has grown from 33m last year to 42m this year. Copyright: UBM Information Ltd.

DIGITAL: Report finds consumers are warming to legal downloads.(Report)
May 2, 2009... More than 85% of consumers are open to paying a subscription to share files By Eamonn Forde With the ink still wet on the ruling in the Pirate Bay trial, Sweden is once again at the centre of the global P2P debate, as a new report...

DIGITAL: We Are Hunted offers simplification for aggregation.
May 2, 2009... We Are Hunted is a new aggregation platform that aims to bring greater simplicity to music recommendation. The website - at www.wearehunted.com - ranks the top 99 tracks being discussed each day across blogs and social networks and cross-...

DIGITAL ROUNDUP: This week's launches.
May 2, 2009... Music Xray Music Xray allows new acts to create "song presentation packages" to send to A&Rs, who can also give feedback on the music. Musiclu This allows acts to get fans to pre-fund albums. No-one pays until an agreed target is...

LIVE: Met denies Music Week access to crucial 696 data.
May 2, 2009... Police claim venue list is too expensive to collate By Gordon Masson THE METROPOLITAN POLICE has thrown out a Freedom Of Information request from Music Week regarding its controversial risk assessment documentation for live music...

LIVE: `Of course, I ignored Michael Eavis's advice'.
May 2, 2009... JAMIE GILROY IS SCOTLAND'S answer to Michael Eavis - at least, that is what the loyal punters at Wickerman have anointed the sometime farmer. "My father was a farmer, while the farm here has been in my wife's family for generations,"...

LIVE NEWS IN BRIEF: Music festivals.
May 2, 2009... Music festivals will this year boost the UK economy by some #450m, according to new figures from PRS for Music. The company says it expects festivals to weather the recession due to the weak pound attracting foreign attendees and also making...

LIVE NEWS IN BRIEF: Viagogo.
May 2, 2009... Secondary ticketing company Viagogo has appointed Alex Zubillaga and David Goldberg to its advisory board. Zubillaga was Warner's executive vice president, digital strategy and business development from 2005 to 2008, while Goldberg co-founded...

LIVE NEWS IN BRIEF: GlobalGathering festival.
May 2, 2009... Dance music weekender GlobalGathering is giving up-and-coming acts an opportunity to perform at its new Tuborg Live Stage at this year's July 24-25 festival. Among the acts confirmed to play the stage are Does It Offend You, Yeah?, Sneaky Sound...

LIVE NEWS IN BRIEF: Somerset House.
May 2, 2009... Somerset House has revealed that Grace Jones, Lily Allen, Pendulum, Athlete and The Ting Tings will be among the acts to take to the courtyard stage in its summer concert series. The London landmark's open-air gig programme will run from July...

LIVE NEWS IN BRIEF: Beachdown Festival.
May 2, 2009... Beachdown Festival has cancelled its involvement with Brighton Fringe next month, citing unexpected costs as one of the reasons. The festival was scheduled to participate in the fringe's Sundown Garden and Show Bar. However, Beachdown itself...

LIVE: Silverstone live plans reach final straight.
May 2, 2009... THE OUTDOOR LIVE INDUSTRY is gaining a prestigious new venue this summer, with British motor circuit Silverstone set to host two big-name concerts. The news comes in the wake of Universal Music Group's joint-venture company All The Worlds'...

LIVE: Turning Point for Roundhouse looms.
May 2, 2009... Under-25s to take over London venue The ROUNDHOUSE will underline its commitment to education next month when it turns the building over to a group of under-25s, who will curate, organise and run a music festival at the venue. The...

LIVE: Strong start for O2 in 09.
May 2, 2009... THE O2 IS ON COURSE to smash more records after starting 2009 as the busiest live music venue on the planet. Figures collated by live publication Pollstar reveal that AEG's flagship venue at the former Millennium Dome sold more than...

PUBLISHING: Hit songwriters fall foul of Ivor rules.
May 2, 2009... Percentages game mean Eg White, Steve Booker and Jimmy Hogarth miss out on Ivor nomination By Stuart Clarke Hit songwriters Eg White, Steve Booker and Jimmy Hogarth have missed out on an Ivor Novello nomination this year despite...

IVOR NOMINEE: Nick Hemming of The Leisure Society.
May 2, 2009... The Last Of The Melting Snow Nick Hemming, the lead songwriter with indie band The Leisure Society, was last week nominated for best song musically and lyrically at the Ivor Novellos for his The Last Of The Melting Snow. Why do you...

PUBLISHING: Tinchy team signs EMI joint venture deal.
May 2, 2009... The two-man management team behind Tinchy Stryder's success has signed a joint venture publishing deal with EMI that will enable the young UK company to sign and develop new talent in partnership with the major. Signed last week, the deal...

PUBLISHING: King Blues crown colourful year.
May 2, 2009... The King Blues have put pen to paper with Notting Hill Music, signing a long-term exclusive publishing deal with the leading independent. The deal incorporates the band's major label debut, Save The World Get The Girl, and future records. ...

UNEARTHED: XL plans to do justice to Magistrates.
May 2, 2009... XL will push the button on Magistrates' debut album campaign this month, teaming up with iTunes for an exclusive digital EP and free download that it hopes will introduce the band to a global audience ahead of the release of the lead commercial...

CLASSICAL: CLASSICAL TO THE CORE.
May 2, 2009... Classical music, like all other recorded genres, is facing tough times. But there are signs that its market position and consumer appeal remain in surprisingly good shape. Since the recession of the early Nineties, diversity has become...

VIDEO: REANIMATING THE VIDEO STAR.
May 2, 2009... The PRS for Music/YouTube dispute has highlighted the money issue (or rather lack of it) within the video industry and those who make a living from it are feeling the pinch. As leading directors increasingly turn to commercials in favour of...

FEATURES ADVERTORIAL: NEW ZEAL, NEW TALENT.
May 2, 2009... New Zealand's twin islands are cultivating a music scene destined to make a global splash. Here we look at the Kiwi talent on the verge of big things and set to appear at Brighton's Great Escape festival The international profile of new...

VIDEO-SHARING: VEVO THE REVOLUTION.
May 2, 2009... Britain's Got Talent contestant Susan Boyle's mind-boggling YouTube success is further evidence of video-sharing sites' sway over music fans. But with the launch of Universal's HD-quality VEVO site, are we ushering in a new era of segregation...

KEY RELEASES: 02.05.09.
May 2, 2009... Out this week Singles * Alessi's Ark Over The Hill (Virgin) Previous single: The Horse (did not chart) * Esser Headlock (Transgressive) Previous single: Satisfied (did not chart) * Girls Aloud Untouchable...

KEY RELEASES - 02.05.09: The panel.
May 2, 2009... Stefan Baumschlager (Last FM) The Big Pink: Velvet (4AD) The Big Pink are one of those bands you love from the moment you discover them. They epitomise everything that is beautiful about music: a fresh and unique-sounding approach you...

KEY RELEASES - 02.05.09: Single of the week.
May 2, 2009... The King Blues I Got Love (Island) Fresh from concluding a publishing deal with Notting Hill Music, The King Blues return to retail with the fourth single from their major label debut Save The World - Get The Girl. With its feelgood poppy...

KEY RELEASES - 02.05.09: Album of the week.
May 2, 2009... The Enemy Music For The People (Warner Bros) After topping UK album charts with 2007's We'll Live And Die In These Towns, Coventry trio The Enemy remain on confident form. Anthemic new single No Time For Tears broke the top 20 earlier this...

KEY RELEASES - 02.05.09: First a Relapse, now a Breakdown.
May 2, 2009... After topping Play's pre-release chart for seven weeks in a row, Eminem's Relapse finally cedes leadership to Green Day's upcoming release, 21st Century Breakdown. With first single Know Your Enemy getting a lot of exposure, demand for the...

KEY RELEASES - 02.05.09: CATALOGUE REVIEWS.
May 2, 2009... LOVE The Forever Changes Concert (Snapper SMACD 950) Love's Forever Changes album was released in 1967, and it has become widely regarded as a classic - despite achieving little success at the time - thanks to its heady mix of...

CHARTS CLUBS: Agnes refuses to release grip on number one.
May 2, 2009... WHEN A RECORD SPENDS a second week atop the ultra-competitive Upfront club chart it is usually clinging on by its fingertips, but Release Me by Swedish star Agnes, which opened up a 18.8% lead last week, is now an even more impressive 26.7%...

PRS prepares antidote to painful year ahead.
May 9, 2009... Society promises transformation of business model By Robert Ashton The recession's grip on the music business will be painfully demonstrated next year when PRS for Music is expected to unveil its first dip in annual revenues. ...

Mode are masters of their universe.
May 9, 2009... Mute Records founder Daniel Miller is backing Depeche Mode's new album to beat the 2.5m worldwide sales of its predecessor after it debuted at number one in 20 countries. Sounds Of The Universe, the Mute veterans' 12th album and their...

THE PLAYLIST: 09.05.09.
May 9, 2009... FLORENCE & THE MACHINE Lungs Island Album of the year so far. Lungs will pick you up, shake you round and bring you back down to earth with a glorious thud. Magical stuff. (album, July 6) MSTRKRFT Heartbreaker ...

SIGN HERE: 09.05.09.
May 9, 2009... Sony/ATV has concluded a deal with Passion Pit, signing the group's publishing out of its LA office. Virgin Records in the US has signed a new deal with 30 Seconds To Mars. The major will release their third album this summer. BMG...

Newly-merged indie publisher posts clear intentions.
May 9, 2009... Atlantic Screen Group has 18-month plan to become one of top five independent publishers By Paul Williams The partners behind the newly-merged venture comprising Atlantic Screen Music and the Independent Music Group are aiming to...

Music fares better than most in recession.
May 9, 2009... The music industry is holding up better than some other creative industries in credit-crunch Britain, according to a new report that shows it accounted for fewer than 10% of business failures in the sector. While advertising is...

HMV gains not just result of rivals' exit.
May 9, 2009... Retailer posts sales growth figures HMV Group chief executive Simon Fox insists that even without Zavvi and Woolworths collapsing sales for the retailer's UK & Ireland chain would still be increasing. Fox concedes the disappearance of...

New FACes for Coalition.
May 9, 2009... The Featured Artist Coalition has added seven other big names to its heavy-hitting board of directors as it continues to push its agenda on everything from copyright term to file-sharing. Annie Lennox, Travis frontman Fran Healy and Pink...

His master's Voice remains loud and clear on the UK hight street.
May 9, 2009... Editorial Paul Williams IT IS YEARS SINCE HMV could accurately be described as anything approaching a pure music retailer, but its encouraging set of trading figures for the opening third of 2009 has to be greeted as very positive news for...

LSW to shine spotlight on backroom talent.
May 9, 2009... Second annual songwriting event to award a #3,000 bursary in a week of activity across the capital By Stuart Clarke BLUR BASSIST ALEX JAMES HAS BEEN RECRUITED by the organisers of the annual London Songwriters Week (LSW) to present a...

Strictly does good business with deals.
May 9, 2009... PUBLISHING COMPANY STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL has wrapped up a busy month by inking a deal with Tri-Tone music and adding emerging artists frYars and Soap & Skin to its roster. Home to Felix Da Housecat, Nada Surf, Soulwax and Junior Jack among...

NEWS IN BRIEF: Warner Music UK.
May 9, 2009... Warner Music UK has appointed Raoul Chatterjee to the newly-created role of director commercial innovation. Chatterjee's main responsibility will be to collaborate closely with the Warner Music UK labels along with artists and their management...

NEWS IN BRIEF: We7.
May 9, 2009... We7 has teamed up with mobile phone recycler mopay.co.uk to allow users to swap their old mobiles for music downloads. Visitors to mopay.co.uk will be able to convert their old phones into high-quality MP3 files from We7's download store to use...

NEWS IN BRIEF: Trinch Stryder.
May 9, 2009... Island's Tinchy Stryder has been added to the bill of the iconic record company's 50th anniversary concerts programme. He will be part of the line-up in a May 26 show at London's Shepherds Bush Empire headed by Sly & Robbie. Copyright: UBM...

NEWS IN BRIEF: Andy Burnham.
May 9, 2009... Culture Secretary Andy Burnham has confirmed he will speak at a Julie's Bicycle event at Sony's offices in London on May 13 to mark the first phase of its influential CD packaging report. Copyright: UBM Information Ltd.

NEWS IN BRIEF: City Showcase.
May 9, 2009... A number of songwriters and performers are set to appear before a panel of top A&R experts at shops along London's Regent Street in City Showcase this week. Experts will give free appraisals of the performers in an event aiming to help young...

NEWS IN BRIEF: Coldplay.
May 9, 2009... Coldplay are to give away a live CD to everyone attending their Viva La Vida summer tour. Fans going to dates on the tour, which starts on May 15 in North America, will receive a copy of the nine-track album LeftRightLeftRightLeft, which will...

NEWS IN BRIEF: Copyright policy.
May 9, 2009... US authorities have added Canada to a list of countries whose laws are said to encourage serious copyright piracy. This year's priority watch list sees Canada appear for the first time, alongside China, Russia, Pakistan and others, all of whom...

Excitement in the air as Chrysalis gets The Horrors.
May 9, 2009... XL SIGNINGS THE HORRORS have snuck in fast to pen a worldwide publishing deal with Chrysalis, which incorporates their second album Primary Colours, released this week. The Horrors' debut album Strange House was released through A&M...

MEDIA: Harrison tempers Radio Council expectations.
May 9, 2009... A clear Digital Britain roadmap needed from Carter report By Adam Woods Radio Centre chief executive Andrew Harrison contends that a new partnership announced last week between the BBC and commercial radio to give fresh impetus to the...

MEDIA NEWS IN BRIEF: MusicTank.
May 9, 2009... Business development network MusicTank is bringing together leading members of the media music industry to discuss the relationship between media and composers. The event, Media Composers: New Rules of Engagement, is scheduled for June 4 and...