Music Week articles from November 2007

Music Week archives from November 2007

THE PLAYLIST: 03.11.07.(Sound recording review)
November 3, 2007... Goldfrapp Clowns (Mute) A return to the understated folk sound of their debut, on their new record Goldfrapp have delivered one of the first great albums of 2008. (from album, February 25) Pendulum Granite (Warner Bros) ...

In The Studio: 03.11.07.
November 3, 2007... The Locarnos completed work on new material at Modern world studios with producer Alex Lee over the weekend. Amy Studt Furniture (19) Amy Studt's first new music in four years possesses a wilting, understated charm that strikes an...

SIGN HERE: Daniel Merriweather.
November 3, 2007... Daniel Merriweather's new album will be released on Columbia in the UK next year. The Australian artist is co managed by Will Bloomfield, formerly of Modest Management and Ceci Kurzman, Shakira's management. He is signed to Mark Ronson's J...

Atlantic drafts in the management.
November 3, 2007... SuperVision co-founder Paul Craig steps into new role at Atlantic Atlantic has secured the talents of one of the artist management world's leading names as it looks to develop a more viable and realistic record company model for the...

Napster to go mobile within a month.
November 3, 2007... Napster expects to sign a deal with a mobile company to launch its Napster Mobile service in Europe "within a month". The retailer currently offers a mobile service in the US, and announced last December that it would be launching its first...

Deadline looms for Midem's Talent Only showcase.
November 3, 2007... The closing date for submissions to Midem's artist-discovery initiative Talent Only is little more than a week away, with all artists hoping to land a place on the bill in Cannes next year required to submit their music by Wednesday, November...

Ups And Downs: 03.11.07.
November 3, 2007... UPS British and Dutch police shut down OiNK, "the world's biggest source of illegal pre-release chart albums". Nice to see the OCC keeping up with new formats by allowing USB albums into the charts. Six-figure sales for Leona...

A select few to transfer as Universal shuts V2's UK office.
November 3, 2007... V2 managing director bemoans his team's demise as Universal closes label's UK office and wields axe The overwhelming majority of V2 staff are to lose their jobs, following parent company Universal's decision to close the label's UK office....

IN BRIEF: Illegal MP3 source site closed down by police.
November 3, 2007... British and Dutch police have shut down OiNK, the world's biggest source of illegal pre-release chart albums and arrested a man, in an operation coordinated between Middlesbrough and Amsterdam. Copyright: CMP Information Ltd.

IN BRIEF: Apple removes My Iron Lung bundle.
November 3, 2007... Apple has removed Radiohead's My Iron Lung bundle from its iTunes Music Store, after offering it for sale without the band's permission. The decision to sell the EP is understood to have been a mistake on Apple's part. Meanwhile, the band's new...

IN BRIEF: Legislation to crack on illegal filesharing.
November 3, 2007... The UK Government may introduce legislation to crack down on illegal filesharing, a senior official told the BBC. Lord Triesman, the Parliamentary Under Secretary for Innovation, Universities and Skills, called on internet service providers to...

IN BRIEF: Apple results.
November 3, 2007... Apple has seen its Q3 profits increase 67% to $904m (#445m), far surpassing stock market expectations. The group reported sales for the three months to September 29 of $6.22bn (#3.04bn) - 29% higher than for the same period in 2006. ...

IN BRIEF: Report examining fall in recording revenues.
November 3, 2007... A report examining the fall in UK recording revenues since 2004 has blamed Apple and Tesco ahead of illegal filesharing services. The private study, by Capgemini for the Value Recognition Strategy Group, suggested format changes and the low...

IN BRIEF: Executives call on Ofcome.
November 3, 2007... Executives from GCap, Emap Radio, Global Radio and GMG have called on Ofcom to consider slashing their local content to three hours a day as part of the regulator's Future Of Radio consultation. Copyright: CMP Information Ltd.

IN BRIEF: Warner considering change of contract with Apple.
November 3, 2007... Warner Music Group is reportedly considering a change of contract with Apple which could see the music group entering into a rolling month-to- month deal for iTunes Music Store downloads. Copyright: CMP Information Ltd.

Capital begins to claw back listeners as Magic dominates.
November 3, 2007... Neil Fox delivers blow by leapfrogging former employers in race for listeners, despite GCap delivering encouraging figures after bad Q2 showing GCap says its flagship station Capital is reaching out to a "lost generation" of radio...

Radio success is all about tuning in to your audience.
November 3, 2007... Andy Miles is head of music for UTV Radio, which owns 18 stations, including 107.6 Juice FM, Signal One and 96.4 FM The Wave in Swansea. In his viewpoint piece he explains why radio stations should listen to their local audiences, rather than...

Good songs + primetime TV exposure = big sales.
November 3, 2007... This week's big hits are an example of how sensible A&R and some mainstream TV exposure gets results Bill Shankly once famously observed that football was a simple game complicated by fools. Sometimes you wonder whether he could equally...

In The City looks at a post-Wilson future.
November 3, 2007... Tony Wilson's `big boots' to be replaced by advisory panel from 2008, with this year's event focusing increasingly on a 360-degree model In The City director Yvette Livesey is looking to fill the huge void left by the death of the event's...

Delegates engage in the 360-degree Dance.
November 3, 2007... The idea of the 360-degree model dominated a lively In The City, with in-fighting breaking out between label representatives, managers, live agents and lawyers. The event's theme - "There's A Brand New Dance But I Don't Know It's Name" -...

"What does In The City need to do to remain relevant?".
November 3, 2007... Jon Webster, Music Managers Forum "The thing that In The City does have that others don't is innovative and thoughtful panels. It is very easy to say that they are going to do another panel on DRM, but life's too short. They have to keep...

Who caused a stir in 2007.
November 3, 2007... As In The City returned to the city of Manchester last week, many of those in attendance were still suffering the effects of jetlag after a week spent chasing bands in New York at CMJ. For the first time, the New York event immediately...

Universal: a dominant force or a model for the industry?
November 3, 2007... Universal's status as the UK's most successful music operation is undisputed, but its recent purchases of leading independents Sanctuary and V2 have prompted questions from rivals about its size. With the Office of Fair Trading about to prepare...

Queen of the love song.(Interview)
November 3, 2007... With an unrivalled songwriting CV for acts as diverse as Aerosmith, Whitney Houston and Sugababes, Diane Warren remains at the top of her game after two decades in the business. Here she talks to Music Week about her working methods and plans...

MUSIC UPFRONT - 03.11.07: Single of the week.
November 3, 2007... David Jordan: Place In My Heart (Mercury) Rising star Jordan has just secured a promotion with The Sun, which will make this single available as a free download to its readers. The public will also be able to hear tracks from his November...

MUSIC UPFRONT - 03.11.07.
November 3, 2007... This Week Singles Akon Sorry Blame It On Me (Island) Cinematic Orchestra To Build A Home (Ninja Tune) Mr Hudson & The Library 2x2 (Mercury) David Jordan Place In My Heart (Mercury) Kula Shaker Out On The Highway...

MUSIC UPFRONT - 03.11.07: Album of the week.
November 3, 2007... Britney Spears Blackout (Jive) The star's fifth album is on the shelves today (Monday), as the release date was brought forward three weeks to satisfy demand. This time round Britney has collaborated with top producers Freesha, Danja and...

FUTURE RELEASE: Girls Aloud.
November 3, 2007... Girls Aloud Tangled Up (Fascination) Fascination is to target the home towns of each member of Girls Aloud with a unique taxi promotion to publicise the band's new album Tangled Up, released on November 19. Anyone catching one of the...

FUTURE RELEASE: The Verve.
November 3, 2007... The Verve (label tbc) Despite the band still being some weeks away from completing a new album deal, the campaign for The Verve's new studio set got off to a positive start last week, with more than 40,000 people downloading a free...

MUSIC UPFRONT - 03.11.07: Catalogue reviews.
November 3, 2007... The Sex Pistols: Never Mind The Bollocks... Here's The Sex Pistols (Virgin V2086) It is a sobering thought that we are now chronologically as far away from the punk era as it was from the end of World War Two. Marking the 30th anniversary...

MUSIC UPFRONT - 03.11.07: The Specialists.
November 3, 2007... Roger Trapp (The Independent) Ojos De Brujo: Techari Live (Diquela) Few styles fuse in quite such an electrifying way as Barcelona collective Ojos de Brujo, who are responsible for this vibrant new CD/DVD. Flamenco, reggae, hip hop and...

MUSIC UPFRONT - 03.11.07: The Panel.
November 3, 2007... Mike Walsh (Xfm Group) Sam Isaac: Sideways (Big Scary Monsters/Alchopop) Isaac is continually picking up momentum: seeing him live is an increasingly busy and dedicated affair with a growing number of fans at each show. He is a great...

FUTURE RELEASE: Dan Deacon.
November 3, 2007... Dan Deacon Wham City (WayOutWest) Independent label WayOutWest will lead the UK campaign for Baltimore's Dan Deacon, issuing his debut commercial single Wham City early next year. The single will be the first full release for Deacon in...

DATAFILE EXPOSURE - 03.11.07.
November 3, 2007... Radio and sales chart placings rarely coincide, but this week - for the first time in 2007 - the two biggest-selling singles are also the two records with the largest radio listenerships, albeit in reverse order. Leona Lewis' Bleeding Love...

Instore: 03.11.07.
November 3, 2007... Asda Instore Display: Amy Winehouse, Angels & Airwaves, Blake, Boyz II Men, Jay-Z, McFly, Westlife Borders Instore Display: Amy Winehouse, Blake, Compay Segundo, Westlife CWNN Album of the week: Jack Peuate Instore...

DATAFILE SALES - 03.11.07: Number One Single.
November 3, 2007... Leona Lewis (Syco) X Factor 2006 winner Leona Lewis' A Moment Like This enjoyed the highest ever first-week sales for a debut single by a female solo artist (571,253) and has sold 800,044 copies to date. Lewis returned to the show nine...

DATAFILE SALES - 03.11.07.
November 3, 2007... Market conditions continue to be tough but last week brought a double- digit rise in album and singles sales. Combined album sales climbed 11.8% to reach 2,175,767. Their highest level for three weeks, it nevertheless leaves them far behind...

DATAFILE SALES - 03.11.07: Number One Album.
November 3, 2007... The Hoosiers (RCA) The Hoosiers' debut album, The Trick To Life, enters the chart at number one on sales of 55,185, following the success of their first two singles, Worried About Ray (number five in June) and Goodbye Mr A, which reached...

Leona Lewis reaches number one as Sugababes reign comes to an end.
November 3, 2007... Becoming the first single to debut at number one since Umbrella some 23 weeks ago, Leona Lewis' second single Bleeding Love arrives in style with a 2007 best tally of 218,805 first-week sales. Its B-side, Forgiveness, also debuts at number 46...

DATAFILE SINGLES - 03.11.07: Take That.
November 3, 2007... Leona Lewis ended the four-week reign of Take That's comeback single Patience last December with A Moment Like This. This week, her follow- up Bleeding Love deprives the Mancunian quartet of an 11th number one single with their new single Rule...

DATAFILE SINGLES - 03.11.07: McFly.
November 3, 2007... A sale of just 30,693 secured McFly their seventh number one in May with Baby's Coming Back/Transylvania. Their new single The Heart Never Lies - from their upcoming Greatest Hits set - raises its game, and sold a more healthy 39,737 copies...

DATAFILE SINGLES - 03.11.07: Oasis.
November 3, 2007... Debuting at number 10 on sales of 14,012 downloads, the title track from Oasis' upcoming DVD rockumentary Lord Don't Slow Me Down may climb no higher, as it will be the first Oasis single not to be released physically, and is thus likely to be...

DATAFILE SINGLES - 03.11.07: Backstreet Boys.
November 3, 2007... From their 1996 breakthrough to 2005, Backstreet Boys ran up a string of 18 consecutive Top 15 hits in the UK, with cumulative sales of 2,971,485, but they will probably have to settle for a lower peak for new single Inconsolable, which is...

Discounted debut is the trick to success for The Hoosiers.
November 3, 2007... Undoubtedly helped by discounting - it was widely available for less than #8 - The Hoosiers' debut album The Trick To Life is nevertheless to be commended for selling more copies on its first week in the shops (55,185) than established bands...

DATAFILE ALBUMS - 03.11.07: Van Morrison.
November 3, 2007... Beating the number three peak of his 2005 album Magic Time to secure him the highest position of his chart career, 62-year-old Van Morrison's career-spanning double disc retrospective Still On Top: The Greatest Hits debuts at number two on...

DATAFILE ALBUMS - 03.11.07: Neil Young.
November 3, 2007... Logging his 40th UK chart album, singer/songwriter Neil Young's Chrome Dreams II debuts at number 14 on sales of 11,282, beating the number 30 peak of the March archive release Live At Massey Hall 1971 and matching the number 14 debut (13,422...

DATAFILE ALBUMS - 03.11.07: BPI Awards.
November 3, 2007... Albums The Used In Love and Death (Silver); Enrique Iglesias Insomniac, (Gold); Michael Buble Michael Buble (2xPlatinum) BPI Awards are made on combined unit sales of cassettes, CDs, LPs and MiniDisc. LPs and cassettes with a published...

DATAFILE ALBUMS - 03.11.07: Orson.
November 3, 2007... After the number one success of introductory single No Tomorrow, which topped the chart and sold 248,466 copies and the number 11 title track, Orson's first album debuted at number one in June 2006 on sales of 47,542. Ain't No Party, the first...

DATAFILE ALBUMS - 03.11.07: Journey South.
November 3, 2007... Journey South could hardly have travelled further north in chart terms with their self-titled debut album, which shot to number one on first week sales of 216,843 in March 2006, and eventually sold 409,864 copies. But the fraternal duo from...

Mobile music poised for take-off.
November 10, 2007... A landmark month for mobile music gains momentum as iPhone launches amid a slew of new services A banner month for the mobile music sector will hit a peak this Friday with the UK launch of Apple's iPhone. Its launch will follow a...

THE PLAYLIST: 10.11.07.
November 10, 2007... Kate Nash Pumpkin Soup (Fiction) This is the song to affirm Nash's talents to mainstream audiences and carry her career into 2008. Upbeat pop with an infectious naivety. (single, December 17) White Lies Unfinished Business...

In The Studio: 10.11.07.
November 10, 2007... Oasis will enter Abbey Road studio today (Monday) to begin work on their seventh studio album. Recent EMI Publishing signing T2 is in his home studio with female duo Addictive. Karima Francis is working with producer Ken Nelson (Gomez,...

XL wins two-horse race for Radiohead.
November 10, 2007... XL Recordings secures Radiohead rest-of-world deal ahead of EMI Radiohead's managers were on a plane bound for the States last week just hours after it was revealed the band had signed a recording deal with XL Recordings for the world...

Terra Firma to divulge EMI plans.
November 10, 2007... Terra Firma will reveal its grand gameplan for EMI in early 2008 as it looks to "sell down" between #200-300m of the #1.5bn equity it has tied up in the major. The private equity firm is currently undergoing a detailed review of the music...

Ups And Downs: 10.11.07.
November 10, 2007... UPS XL staff will be celebrating landing one of the most respected acts in the industry, Radiohead. Babyshambles were the surprise hit at the MTV EMAs The humble single - could be we be on the verge of a record-breaking year for...

Sharper focus for relocated SuperVision.
November 10, 2007... SuperVision Management is poised to enter a new era this week as it relocates to an East End location in London and announces several changes to its senior management team. Following co-founder Paul Craig's departure from the management...

Omnifone targets 10m UK music subscribers.
November 10, 2007... MusicStation launches as other retailers scale back digital services Omnifone says it is aiming for 10m subscribers to its new subscription service by the end of 2008. The company's faith in the UK warming to the idea of music...

IN BRIEF: Culture capital to host 15th MTV Europe Music Awards.
November 10, 2007... The 15th MTV Europe Music Awards will be hosted by Liverpool, the European Capital of Culture 2008. The event will be held at the Echo Arena, a 10,600 seat venue opening in January 2008. Copyright: CMP Information Ltd.

IN BRIEF: New pricing model.
November 10, 2007... EMI and The Cliff Richard Organisation have announced a new pricing model to mark the download of Richard's latest set Love - The Album. The model will see the album's price drop from #7.99 to #3.99, based on the amount of orders received. ...

IN BRIEF: Bumpman Records launched.
November 10, 2007... The co-owner of London's Hawley Arms pub Alan Day has launched Bumpman Records, which is aimed at artists performing at the venue and focusing on limited-edition vinyl singles. Copyright: CMP Information Ltd.

IN BRIEF: Anti-gun campaign.
November 10, 2007... PPL are joining Urban Concepts to support its anti-gun campaign Don't Trigger and their accompanying album, to be showcased at PPL's first Annual Performer Meeting at London's ICA on November 12. Copyright: CMP Information Ltd.

IN BRIEF: Last.fm teams up with BBC radio stations.
November 10, 2007... Last.fm has teamed up with four BBC radio stations to track the music they play, giving users access to charts, stats and information about the music on Radios One and Two, 1Xtra and BBC6 Music. Copyright: CMP Information Ltd.

IN BRIEF: Terra Firma reportedly offered stakes.
November 10, 2007... Terra Firma has reportedly offered stakes in EMI to other investment funds, as it looks to reduce its exposure to the music major. Meanwhile, Terra Firma CEO Guy Hands says the label will drop artists it feels are not working hard enough, in a...

IN BRIEF: GCap Media wins sales contract.
November 10, 2007... GCap Media has won the national airtime sales contract for GMG Radio's Real, Smooth and Rock Radio brands. It will take on the contract for the additional nine stations from January 1 2008. Copyright: CMP Information Ltd.

IN BRIEF: The Who launch subscription-only section of website.(Website overview)
November 10, 2007... The Who launch a subscription-only section of their website today (Monday), allowing fans exclusive access to the site for $50 (#25) a year. The subscription entitles fans to a free double CD of live The Who performances as well as access to...

IN BRIEF: Led Zeppelin postpone reunion gig.
November 10, 2007... Led Zeppelin have postponed their one-off reunion gig after Jimmy Page fractured his finger. The concert, originally scheduled for November 26, has been rescheduled to December 10. Copyright: CMP Information Ltd.

IN BRIEF: Cliq to launch on 3 December.
November 10, 2007... UBC Media's radio download service Cliq is to launch on December 3, with all four majors on board. The service allows listeners to purchase tracks on demand as they are broadcast by radio stations. Copyright: CMP Information Ltd.

IN BRIEF: Linda Stein found dead.(Obituary)
November 10, 2007... Linda Stein, former co-manager of The Ramones, was found dead at her Manhattan apartment last week. The 62-year-old, who was the former wife of Sire Records head Seymour Stein, died from blows to the head and neck. Copyright: CMP...

IN BRIEF: European Parliament questions Commission's decision.
November 10, 2007... The European Parliament has questioned whether the Commission's decision to approve the Sony/BMG merger earlier this year undermines EU policy on competition. Guy Bono, a member of the European Parliament's culture committee, asked whether the...

IN BRIEF: Nathalie Schwarts wants to reverse dominance of BBC.
November 10, 2007... Channel Four director of radio Nathalie Schwartz declared she wanted to "reverse" the dominance of BBC in the radio landscape with a host of new digital stations at the Radio Advertising Bureau's "Catch the New Radio Wave" conference. ...

B-Unique to embark on Atlantic crossing.
November 10, 2007... Independently-run label forges new venture deal with Warner Music as it looks to expand interests Leading independent B-Unique has entered into a partnership with Warner Music UK in which it will become a division of Atlantic Records. The...

Music Week's adventures at the MTV EMAs.
November 10, 2007... The 2007 MTV Europe Music Awards took place in Munich last Thursday night. Music Week paid a visit. 6am Woken by the high-pitched wailing of London foxes. Remember suddenly that Mika is appearing later. 10.55am The plane is full of...

Zavvi host first showcase event.
November 10, 2007... Zavvi hosts the first showcase event under its new name, as McFly play the company's freshly re-branded Oxford Street store. The shop, which originally opened in 1971 as the Virgin Group's first Megastore, has undergone an extensive...

Time to subscribe to new consumption methods?
November 10, 2007... We should look at Sky's example when it comes to subscription services' efforts to change mindsets Imagine someone handing you the keys to the biggest record shop in the world and then allowing you to play all the releases you want as many...

Singles become unlikely success story after another strong year.
November 10, 2007... Huge digital growth and steady physical sales have revitalised a market previously written off as a lost cause The singles market is on track to register one of its highest yearly sales since records began, providing a rare highlight in a...

Labels to enhance CDs with host of extras.
November 10, 2007... Virgin Records and Warner Brothers are each to unveil separate live tie- ups this week, as both companies look to bolster physical sales by offering consumers more bang for their buck. Virgin has announced that it will offer a deluxe...

"Will music subscription services work?".
November 10, 2007... Daniel Cross, www.record-play.net "No, for four reasons.1) People like to own their own music. 2) More and more majors are providing their music DRM-free, allowing more flexibility in transfer and use. 3) The increase in advertising...

`The music business needs to start talking itself up'.(Interview)
November 10, 2007... With a CV boasting chairman positions at MCA and Warner UK, Nick Phillips has weathered industry highs and lows over a three-decade career. Now embarking on a new chapter as a board member of the Edge Group, he talks to Music Week about a...

SPICE GIRLS: From wannabes to world beaters.
November 10, 2007... Back in May 1996, with the five fledgling pop princesses' debut single yet to be released, Music Week was the first music title to run a piece on the Spice Girls. Eleven years and 55m record sales later, as the Spice Girls prepare for a...

SPICE GIRLS: Girl Power to hit the Headlines a decade on.
November 10, 2007... Their new single Headlines is the official Children In Need song of 2007 and likely to be their 10th number one in 11 attempts, their forthcoming reunion tour is selling out left, right and centre and a documentary is due to be screened on...

SPICE GIRLS: It's what we really really want.
November 10, 2007... Renowned for her fiery spirit and independent, feminist attitude, Geri Halliwell surprised few when she became the first Spice Girl to leave the group in 1998. Nine years and four solo number one singles later, Ginger Spice is hugely...

SPICE GIRLS: The singers' songwriters.
November 10, 2007... Richard "Biff" Stannard, one half of the songwriting team behind Spice Girls smash hits including Wannabe, 2 Become 1 and Viva Forever, reveals the secrets of the creative process that also produced tracks that were too racy to release In...

SPICE GIRLS: The power of Brand Spice.
November 10, 2007... Some 30 years after Beatlemania gave the canny entrepreneur small-scale merchandising opportunities, the Fab Five cracked the immense marketing potential of Brand Spice. From Walkers Crisps to Pepsi Cola, if it sold, it was a potential partner....

MUSIC UPFRONT - 10.11.07: Single of the week.
November 10, 2007... David Gray: The World To Me (14th Floor) The World To Me is the only new track featured on the first greatest hits from Gray covering material from his post-EMI years. The physical release of the single, which has already been added to...