Music Week articles from November 2005

Music Week archives from November 2005

R1 eyes digital future; new music head ready to innovate.(Radio)
November 5, 2005... Radio One controller Andy Parfitt is turning to his newly-appointed head of music George Ergatoudis to steer the station's future as a multi-media brand. 1Xtra music manager Ergatoudis was last week named by the network as its replacement...

Healthy start for Intensive Care.
November 5, 2005... Robbie Williams' first solo album without Guy Chambers has landed the EMI artist the best sales start of his career, aided by a Channel 4 concert special and widespread discounting at retail. Intensive Care last week opened with 373,832...

Apple launches Australian iTunes.(Bottom line)
November 5, 2005... Apple last week pressed the button on its Australian iTunes Music Store, despite not having a deal with Sony BMG. The Australian launch had been subject to delays as a result of Apple being unable to successfully negotiate terms with the...

BPI.(Bottom line)
November 5, 2005... The BPI is to take 23 independent labels on a trade mission to LA's Billboard Film and TV Conference, which takes place on November 14-16.

Recording Industry Association Of America.(Bottom line)
November 5, 2005... The Recording Industry Association Of America has launched another round of lawsuits against 745 college students for illegally distributing music online.

Lazarus Consulting.(Bottom line)
November 5, 2005... Former Warner Music business affairs director Steve Lazarus is launching Lazarus Consulting, which will offer commercial, business and legal advice to companies looking to exploit opportunities in the media.

Pirate syndicate.(Bottom line)
November 5, 2005... Spanish police have shattered a pirate syndicate alleged to have flooded the Spanish market with more than 1m illegal music and film discs a month. Last Wednesday, police arrested 69 people believed to be involved in the production, storage and...

IFPI.(Bottom line)
November 5, 2005... The IFPI has welcomed the European Commission's progress report on the EU accession process of Bulgaria and Romania, which it says addresses concerns over shortcomings in intellectual property enforcement in the two countries.

Musicians' Union.(Bottom line)
November 5, 2005... The Musicians' Union has created an innovative facility for musicians, offering every paid-up member of the union the opportunity to register for 1,000 [pounds sterling] worth of instrument and equipment insurance cover.

Sony BMG.(Bottom line)
November 5, 2005... Sony BMG has posted a loss of $60m (34m [pounds sterling]) on sales of $936m (525m [pounds sterling]) for the three months to September 30. The company blamed the loss on difficult market conditions in key markets, including the US, UK, Germany...

Heart head of music steps up.(People)
November 5, 2005... Chrysalis Radio Heart has promoted its London-based station Heart 106.2 FM head of music Russ Evans to senior head of music. His promotion coincides with the introduction of a C-list music playlist comprising at least three songs.

Seminar.(People)
November 5, 2005... BPI executive chairman Peter Jamieson, Playlouder boss Paul Hitchman and IMMF chairman Peter Jenner are among the names newly announced for a half-day seminar on copyright in the creative economy being hosted by Music Tank at the Foreign Press...

Dynamite MC.(People)
November 5, 2005... Drum & bass artist Dynamite MC is to host commercial radio's new R&B hip hop and dance chart countdown Fresh 40, which will begin its weekly 4pm to 7pm Sunday run this winter on a date still to be announced.

Deutsche Phonoverbande.(People)
November 5, 2005... Edel Music chairman Michael Haentjes has been elected chairman of the board of the Deutsche Phonoverbande, the association that brings together board members from the three German record industry bodies.

Virgin Records.(People)
November 5, 2005... Jason Flom has made his first appointment after last week being confirmed as chairman and CEO of Virgin Records in the US, following the departure of Matt Serletic. Flom has recruited former island Def Jam executive Jeffrey Kempler as executive...

EMI Music.(People)
November 5, 2005... EMI Music has appointed Clear Channel's Tim Maunder as chief financial officer. Maunder succeeds Stuart Ells, who was promoted to chief operating officer and regional director for EMI Music in May.

Business leader of the year award.(People)
November 5, 2005... HMV Group chief executive Alan Giles is battling with nine other CEOs for the title CSC (Computer Sciences Corporation) business leader of the year award, which is being held as part of the annual National Business Awards at London's Grosvenor...

Gold Badge Awards.(People)
November 5, 2005... Roger Daltrey, Mike Batt and Tony Christie were among the names honoured at last Wednesday's Gold Badge Awards at London's Savoy. Also being recognised at the event, organised by the British Academy of Composers & Songwriters, were Evelyn...

EMI Music Publishing Spain.(People)
November 5, 2005... EMI Music Publishing Spain has appointed Santiago Menendez-Pidal as managing director. Menendez-Pidal, who replaces Borja Aguirreche-Kutz, goes to EMI from Clipper's Madrid where he spent two years as managing director.

Seb and Fiona.(People)
November 5, 2005... Seb Emina and Fiona Wooton, the duo responsible for PR and marketing at the Spitz venue in London, have set up their own publicity company. Simply titled Seb and Fiona the company aims to provide "an independent voice for quality music and...

pd3.(People)
November 5, 2005... Creative agency pd3 has appointed Jason Jules, a co-founder of PR agency The Watch-Men, as head of PR to help promote their range of media and develop brand relationships.

BBC to up digital radio coverage.(Exposure)
November 5, 2005... The BBC says it intends to extend the coverage of its digital radio service so that 95% of the population lives within the reception area in 10 years' time. Currently, 85% of the UK population is able to access the BBC's digital channels.

Kerrang! 105.2.(Exposure)
November 5, 2005... Kerrang! 105.2, Emap's West Midlands-based rock station, has launched a marketing campaign to promote the breadth of its playlist. It includes 48 and 96 sheet outdoor media covering the whole of the station's broadcast area for a four-week...

Mastercard Priceless Evening.(Exposure)
November 5, 2005... James Blunt, Texas and KT Tunstall are to appear at the third Mastercard Priceless Evening, taking place at London's Cafe de Paris on November 16 and broadcast by Channel 4 three days later.

MTV Europe Music Awards.(Exposure)
November 5, 2005... Parlophone's Gorillaz are to perform with De La Soul at the MTV Europe Music Awards this Thursday using 3D hologram animation. Meanwhile, like Turner, Neneh Cherry, Martina Topley Bird and Booty Brown are the latest names added as guests for...

The War Of The Worlds.(Exposure)
November 5, 2005... Jeff Wayne's The War Of The Worlds is to be staged as a full live production and will feature Wayne conducting The Black Smoke Band and a 48-piece string section, it will tour the UK in April 2006.

Kano.(Exposure)
November 5, 2005... Kano's planned concert at London's Scala last week was cancelled following police fears about safety. The Metropolitan Police refused to comment specifically as to why it asked for the concert to be cancelled.

Starbucks to sell Stones rarities.(Sign here)
November 5, 2005... The Rolling Stones and Virgin Records have struck a deal with Starbucks to make an album of rare tracks available through the coffee chain in the US and Canada. The album, Rarities 1971-2003, will be released on November 22 and sold through...

T On The Fringe.(Sign here)
November 5, 2005... Edinburgh Fringe festival event T On The Fringe is offering online recordings of two of its 2005 gigs. The recordings, comprising Idlewild's acoustic performance and the Best of T Break gig of unsigned talent, will be available to stream for...

EMI.(Sign here)
November 5, 2005... Music from EMI artists including Coldplay and KT Tunstall will be made available for free on memory cards with Nokia's 6230 handset in Latin America as part of a tie-up between EMI and Nokia.

Ivor Novello Awards.(Sign here)
November 5, 2005... Ivor Novello Awards organiser the British Academy of Composers & Songwriters is asking for interested parties to register for tickets and nomination forms for next year's event. Company details and contact names should be e-mailed to...

Music Week online poll.(Digest)
November 5, 2005... 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: Blaze and [O.sub.2] are both trialling music TV broadcasts to mobile phones, but would you watch music...

Downloads share of market doubles within six months; Music Week research confirms huge shift in buying patterns for singles.(Digital)
November 5, 2005... Downloads are fast closing in on CDs as the dominant Top 40 singles format after doubling their share among the top sellers in only six months. New Music Week research reveals that digital sales are now typically making up around 28% of...

EMI chief's role extended to take in Virgin.(News)
November 5, 2005... Capitol Music president Keith Wozencroft is taking on the additional responsibility of Virgin Records as the company awaits the arrival of a new MD. In a newly-created role of Capitol Music and Virgin Records, UK president Wozencroft will...

The Music Week playlist.(News)
November 5, 2005... SPINTO BAND Mountains/ Brown Bags (Virgin) Spinto Band's London show last week attracted the biggest A&R turnout since Arctic Monkeys hit the capital. (single, Nov 28) FRANZ FERDINAND Walk Away (Domino) Second single from...

Brighton set to rock with global talent: new event will provide platform for international acts.(International)
November 5, 2005... Acts looking to break out of their domestic markets onto the global stage are being targeted for a new internationally-focused live music event. Barfly--The Great Escape, which will run for three nights next May in Brighton, is being...

BBC wary on download plan.(News)
November 5, 2005... The BBC is aiming to avoid a repeat of the uproar from labels over its Beethoven downloads giveaway in the summer by entering into discussions with the music industry over a forthcoming Bach project. The Beethoven Experience proved hugely...

Corinne Bailey Rae.(SNAP SHOT)
November 5, 2005... Corinne Bailey Rae is fast becoming a name to watch for 2006 after a limited-edition three-track sampler, intended as a low-key introduction to the Leeds-born artist, took on a life of its own by catching the ears of radio and TV executives...

Rollers producer set to see day in High Court.(News)
November 5, 2005... London's High Court will play host to an epic "David v Goliath" battle next year when former Bay City Rollers producer Phil Wainman faces up to Sony BMG over a long-standing royalties battle. Wainman, who produced two of the band's...

Blaze and O2 trial UK's first broadcast TV on mobile.(News)
November 5, 2005... Two UK companies are separately bidding to revolutionise the way music is exposed on TV by trialling the first true music broadcasts to mobile handsets. Blaze, which was specifically created as part of the UK's first mobile phone...

Nordic talent wins worldwide profile.(News)
November 5, 2005... "Come Hear Finland." That is the tongue-in-cheek message from Music Export Finland, which is to host the opening night party at the Midem conference in January. Details of the tie-up were unveiled at Finland's Musiikki & Media (Music &...

Live focus pays off as R1 figures soar: festival coverage and Chris Moyles's breakfast show push BBC station up the Rajar ratings.(Radio)
November 5, 2005... A record-breaking summer of live music in the UK has helped lift Radio One to its best Rajars performance in four years. Boosted by coverage of the likes of the Reading and Leeds festivals plus its own live events, the network added 100,000...

Q3 statistics.(Analysis)
November 5, 2005... Percentage of adults listening to radio via TV 351% (Q3 2004: 28.5%) Percentage of adults listening to radio via the internet 19.7% (Q3 2004: 161%) Percentage of adults who own a DAB set at home 105% (Q3 2004: 4.5% Reach of...

Kate Bush discography.(Talent)
November 5, 2005... 1978 The Kick Inside 1978 Lionheart 1980 Never For Ever 1982 The Dreaming 1985 Hounds Of Love 1989 The Sensual World 1993 The Red Shoes 2005 Aerial

Cast list.(Talent)
November 5, 2005... Management: Geoff Jukes, Jukes Productions. Product manager: Paul Baines, EMI. Press: William Luff, EMI. TV: Rebecca Coates, EMI. Radio: Tina Skinner, EMI. Regional promotion: Adrian Tredinnick, EMI. Online media: Stuart Freeman, EMI.

New album draws Bush into limelight: 12-year wait over as EMI delivers elusive star's Aerial.(Talent)
November 5, 2005... Kate Bush was never going to be the easiest proposition for the regimented record industry to get its head around and her latest album, the long-awaited follow-up to 1993's The Red Shoes, is proving to be no exception. A 14-track double...

Full of eastern promise: East Anglia's music scene provides a rich hunting ground for A&Rs, says Ben Cardew, who offers pointers on what's out there.(East Anglia)
November 5, 2005... It may be only a few hours by rail from London, but as the train passes through mile upon mile of woods and fields under those vast East Anglian skies, it's like entering a different world from the dirty bustle of the capital. And yet, despite...

Escalator CD tracklisting.(East Anglia CD)
November 5, 2005... 1. The Broken Family Band--It's All Over 2. The Urban Myth Club--I Feel It 3. The Shivers--Sleepy Bye Bye 4. RTC--Luther Blisset 5. The Rockets--This Electric 6. Wesley Clarke--Wot Can I Do 7. Neat People--Standing...

11 reasons to listen to this CD ... The Escalator CD, which accompanies MW this week, features 11 tracks from key up-and-coming acts from the east of England.(Eat Anglia)
November 5, 2005... 1. Broken Family Band: It's All Over Broken Family Band possess an effortless ability to pen joyful country-tinged pop songs that'll charm the pants off the listener on a first listen. Their third and latest album, Balls, showcases a...

Classic says relax with new album.(Classical)
November 5, 2005... Classic FM's strategic development of existing and new audiences is likely to benefit from last month's release of Relaxing Classic FM, the latest in a series of recordings carefully targeted at the commercial radio station's key listener...

Naive unveils strong line-up.(Classical)
November 5, 2005... French independent label Naive made a virtue of its classical wares with a presentation at the Institution of Civil Engineers on October 4, underlining the quality of its recent output and pointing to a new archive initiative with Andante.com...

Gal: Complete Works For Solo Piano.
November 5, 2005... Gal Complete Works For Solo Piano. McCawley (Avie AV2064 (3CD)) Certain classical projects defy compressed description in a few sentences, such is their back-story. Leon McCawley's three-disc set of Hans Gal's complete piano music stands...

Chopin-Godowsky: Etudes.
November 5, 2005... Chopin-Godowsky Etudes. Berezovsky (Warner Classics 256462258-2) Chopin's fiendishly difficult Etudes or studies for piano sound like child's play beside Leopold Godowsky's ornate transcriptions of the same. Russian pianist Boris Berezovsky...

Hanson: Bold Island Suite; Symphony No.2; Suite From Merry Mount.
November 5, 2005... Hanson Bold Island Suite; Symphony No.2; Suite From Merry Mount. Cincinnati Pops Orchestra/Kunzel (Telarc SACD-60649 (SACD)) Howard Hanson's Second Symphony was commissioned in 1930 by Serge Koussevitzky, taken up by Arturo Toscanini and...

Vaughan Williams: Willow-Wood; The Sons Of Light etc.
November 5, 2005... Vaughan Williams Willow-Wood; The Sons Of Light etc. Williams; RLPO & Chorus/Lloyd-Jones Naxos 8.557798 Gramophone's label of the year Naxos, with the help of the Ralph Vaughan Williams Society, has pulled off a smart deal in securing...

Rubinstein/Scharwenka: Piano Concerto No.4;: Piano Concerto No.1.
November 5, 2005... Rubinstein/Scharwenka Piano Concerto No.4; : Piano Concerto No.1. BBC Scottish SO/Stern (Hyperion CDA67508) Hyperion's monumental Romantic Piano Concerto series more than lives up to billing with the release of its 38th volume, a gilt-edged...

Various: Love Blows As The Wind Blows: English And American Songs, Including Dover Beach, Songs Before Sleep, Tit For Tat, etc.
November 5, 2005... Various Love Blows As The Wind Blows: English And American Songs, Including Dover Beach, Songs Before Sleep, Tit For Tat, etc. Lemalu, Martinu; Belcea Quartet (EMI Classics 5 58050 2) New Zealandborn Samoan Jonathan Lemalu confirms why he...

Waters: Ca Ira. Terfel, Groves, Huang; London Voices; Orchestra/Wentworth.
November 5, 2005... Waters Ca Ira. Terfel, Groves, Huang; London Voices; Orchestra/ Wentworth (Sony BMG Masterworks S2H 60867 For all its surround-sound effects and sonic imagery, Ca Ira takes time to catch the ear. The three-act work also never quite decides...

Portman: Oliver Twist OST.
November 5, 2005... Portman Oliver Twist OST. City of Prague Philharmonic/Snell (Sony BMG SK96506) The OST for Roman Polanski's Oliver Twist falls short of Arnold Bax's score for David Lean's 1948 screening of the novel, but certainly carries the emotional...

Various: Mozart--The Supreme Decorator: Montague, Futral, Cullagh; Hanover Band/Mackerras.
November 5, 2005... Various Mozart--The Supreme Decorator: Montague, Futral, Cullagh; Hanover Band/Mackerras (Opera Rara ORR232) Opera Rara's title explores Mozart's insights into the singers at his disposal and his little-known efforts to intensify their...

It's time for a chart rule review: as the download market booms, chart rules barring digital-only singles should be revisited.(EDITORIAL)
November 5, 2005... Nobody can dispute the impact downloads have had this year on reviving--and arguably even saving--the singles market, but until recently they largely served to boost the overall sector's size rather than having too much influence on the Top 40....

Online distribution prompts need for rights protection.(VIEWPOINT)
November 5, 2005... I noticed something about the responses to my appointment to the BPI's general counsel role last week. Amid the congratulations, there was another message--"Are you sure you want this job? It's the toughest in the music industry." There is...

What do you make of R1's new head of music?(The big question)
November 5, 2005... What do you make of the appointment of George Ergatoudis as the new head of music at Radio One and what do you hope he will bring to the role? Phil Penman, HMV "Ergatoudis clearly has a depth of experience across a range of...

Crib sheet: Lauren Laverne, who steps into Xfm's breakfast slot today (Monday), talks about her plans for the show, the playlist and which DJ has inspired her the most.(Forum)
November 5, 2005... What will you bring to the Xfm breakfast show? Obviously it will be great music, which is what Xfm is all about. I am quite different from the rest of breakfast show DJs--although hopefully I will be just as funny. I am hoping I will be a...

Awards, bashes and minor affrays.(DOOLEY'S DIARY)
November 5, 2005... Remember where you heard it: It was a busy week for British Academy of Composers & Songwriters stalwart Guy Fletcher, who last Wednesday lunchtime hosted the Academy's Gold Badge Awards at the Savoy, then two days later was at the Palace...

What with the recent Happy Days-aping car advert and the rockabilly feel to the new Gills Aloud single, it feels like there is a Fifties revival in the air.(Forum)
November 5, 2005... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Caption: What with the recent Happy Days-aping car advert and the rockabilly feel to the new Gills Aloud single, it feels like there is a Fifties revival in the air. One man who might enjoy such a trend is retiring...

As her publicist, you would assume of all people he would have at least a few nice words to say about his client Sharon Osbourne.(Forum)
November 5, 2005... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Caption: As her publicist, you would assume of all people he would have at least a few nice words to say about his client Sharon Osbourne (pictured, right). But when it was decided to put her mug on the hack of more...

A chateau on the outskirts of Paris was the location for a glitzy launch for Enya's new album last Thursday.(Forum)
November 5, 2005... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Caption: A chateau on the outskirts of Paris was the location for a glitzy launch for Enya's new album last Thursday. More than 200 international guests descended on the location which was once home to the banker of...

Fast chart.(Datafile: Britain's most comprehensive charts service: Week 44)
November 5, 2005... SINGLES WESTLIFE YOU RAISE ME UP S/BMG "Raising up" singles sales to their highest level--1,025517--for four weeks, Westlife's latest hit increases their overall tally to just shy of 5m since their 1999 debut Swear It Again. ALBUMS...

Robbie leads massive sales surge.(The Market)
November 5, 2005... The heavy hitters are back, with Westlife taking the singles crown and Robbie Williams topping the album chart with sales figures the like of which we haven't seen since June. Westlife's recording of You Raise Me Up takes the singles title...

Key indicators.(Datafile: Britain's most comprehensive charts service: Week 44)
November 5, 2005... SINGLES Sales versus last week: +16.1% Year to date versus last year: +46.2% MARKET SHARES Sony BMG 30.7% Universal 20.7% EMI 20.5% Warner 5.9% Others ...

The schedule.(Datafile: Britain's most comprehensive charts service: Week 44)
November 5, 2005... ALBUMS THIS WEEK Audio Bullys Generation (Virgin); John Lennon Working Class Hero (Parlophone); Santana All That I Am (Sony BMG); Blink 182 Greatest Hits (Island); The Paddingtons First Comes First (Poptones) Rod Stewart Songbook #4...

Richard Ashcroft will release his new studio album on January 23 through Parlophone.(NEW ADDITION)
November 5, 2005... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Caption: Richard Ashcroft will release his new studio album on January 23 through Parlophone. The as-yet-untitled set arrives on the back of a period that has seen his profile rise following his Live 8 performance...

Building on firm foundations: Mercury team get busy with debut album by former Busted member James Bourne's new band, Son Of Dork.(The Plot)
November 5, 2005... SON OF DORK WELCOME TO LOSERVILLE (MERCURY) Targeted text promotions, postcard flyers and a teaser TV campaign have formed the basis of Mercury's phase one strategy for launching the forthcoming first album by former Busted member James...

Franz score year-long TV exposure on new MTV football reality show.(TV focus)
November 5, 2005... Universal Music Publishing has landed 12 months of global exposure for Franz Ferdinand on MTV after securing a track from the band's new album for a forthcoming reality show. Goal, which follows the on and off-pitch progress of 10 aspiring...

Tastemakers tips.(Upfront)
November 5, 2005... Menis & NazzaT Sshh! (white label) SUMERAH AHMAD, HEAD OF MUSIC, CLUB ASIA 'Asian rap artists Menis and NazzaT have surprised many with their refreshing and undeniably 'British' debut single "Sshh!". With a raw sound and often comical...

Planet Rock.(THE INSIDER)
November 5, 2005... Six years on from launch, GCap-owned digital radio station Planet Rock has developed from something of an experiment on the then widely unexplored digital radio platform into a fully functional radio station with the recent addition of...

Radio playlists.(Upfront)
November 5, 2005... RADIO 1 A LIST Arctic Monkeys I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor; Athlete 24 Hours; Bloc Party Two More Years; Bob Sinclar Love Generation; Goldfrapp Number 1; Gorillaz Dirty Harry; James Blunt High; Jamiroquai (Don't) Give Hate A...

In-store next week.(Upfront)
November 5, 2005... ASDA Instore--Il Divo, Kate Bush, Anastacia, Eurythmics, Dire Straits, Elvis Presley, Texas, Foster & Allen, Beastie Boys, Westwood, School Reunion The Party, Clubland 8, Gatecrasher 2, album of the week--Katherine Jenkins BORDERS ...

Girls Aloud: Biology.
November 5, 2005... Girls Aloud Biology Polydor 9875297 Spearheading what looks certain to be a big comeback for pop records this winter, this is a dazzling single with more invention and energy about it than pretty much anything happening in more alternative...

Madonna: Confessions On A Dancefloor.
November 5, 2005... Madonna Confessions On A Dancefloor Warner Bros 9362494602 Following favourable notices for the single Hung Up, Madonna delivers her best album since Ray Of Light. Mostly co-produced and co-written by Stuart Price, it is segued like a DJ...

Anastacia: Pieces Of A Dream.
November 5, 2005... Anastacia Pieces Of A Dream (Epic 8287638082) This is the title track from Anastacia's forthcoming greatest hits album, and follows her contemporary power ballad formula. It may prove too similar to other Anastacia hits to have Top 10...

Arcade Fire: Wake Up.
November 5, 2005... Arcade Fire Wake Up (Rough Trade RTRADS286) Five singles into their brilliant album Funeral, Arcade Fire move on from tracks that are excellent onto one that is merely very good. However, with Radio One on board (Wake Up is on the C-list)...

Athlete: Twenty Four Hours.
November 5, 2005... Athlete Twenty Four Hours (Parlophone CDATH010) This is more melodic melodrama from the band whose Tourist album has sold close to half a million copies in the UK. It is not quite as heart-tugging as Wires, but in the same vein, and could...