Music Week articles from October 2007

Music Week archives from October 2007

THE PLAYLIST: 06.10.07.
October 6, 2007... Holy Hail Endless (Kruger Singles Club) Following two single releases on Adventures Close To Home, Willamsburg's finest return with another slice of disco pop. (free download, krugermagazine.com) Kira Skating Your Pool (Brown...

In The Studio: 06.10.07.
October 6, 2007... Stephen Jones is currently working on a mini album made up of three covers, some acoustic tracks and a couple of full band tracks. The Hold Steady are demoing and writing for their next album due in 2008. UNKLE are working on soundbeds...

Covermounts: more irons in papers' fire.
October 6, 2007... Travis giveaway one of several imminent newspaper CD promotions The company behind The Mail On Sunday's controversial Prince covermount has arranged an unprecedented three newspaper music giveaways this coming weekend, as CD promotions...

Solo's live portfolio up for grabs.
October 6, 2007... Solo Music Agency managing director John Giddings is in talks with "a number of parties" to sell his company, which represents artists including The Rolling Stones and U2, as well as the Isle Of Wight festival. Talking to Music Week,...

Heavyweight speakers for In The City.
October 6, 2007... A heavyweight line-up of keynote speakers is already beginning to take shape for In The City, with live music legend Harvey Goldsmith agreeing to appear next month. The country's best-known music promoter, who has staged concerts by...

Ups And Downs: 06.10.07.
October 6, 2007... UPS Happy 40th birthday Radios One and Two. You don't look a shade over 30. Trophy engravers: at least three music-based award ceremonies this week will keep them busy. Joy Division fans: with all three albums being...

Universal's V2 acquisition comes under OFT scrutiny.
October 6, 2007... Indies lead concern about Universal's "creeping dominance" as OFT assesses impact on competition The Office of Fair Trading has launched an investigation into Universal Music's acquisition of the indie label V2, in what is thought to be...

IN BRIEF: Outgoing Independiente A&R director bound for Warchild.
October 6, 2007... Independiente A&R director David Boyd has left the company by mutual consent. In the short term Boyd, who established the successful Virgin imprint Hut in the mid Nineties, will help out the Warchild charity on its next project. Copyright:...

IN BRIEF: BPI recasts independents team.
October 6, 2007... The BPI has re-cast its independents team, with the appointment of Julian Wall to the position of BPI director of independent member services and new additions to the BPI Council in the form of Retrospective Recordings' Jeremy Elliot and...

IN BRIEF: Amazon MP3 launched in US.
October 6, 2007... Amazon has launched Amazon MP3 in the US, a DRM-free download store offering a catalogue of more than 2m songs retailing from $0.89 to $0.99 (45p to 50p), with albums priced between $5.99-$9.99 (#2.99- #4.99). Copyright: CMP Information...

IN BRIEF: HMV website relaunched.(Website overview)
October 6, 2007... HMV has re-launched its transactional website, www.hmv.com, to bring it in line with the retailer's new brand identity. Created by Code Computerlove, the site incorporates HMV's new "Get Closer" strapline and is designed to be more...

IN BRIEF: Diane Warren signs agreement.
October 6, 2007... Songwriter Diane Warren has signed a publishing agreement which awards worldwide (ex-US) administration of her entire catalogue to Sony/ATV Music Publishing. She was previously with EMI Publishing. Copyright: CMP Information Ltd.

IN BRIEF: Zavvi committed to opening digital download store.
October 6, 2007... The new owners of Virgin Retail, now to be known as Zavvi, have said that they are committed to opening a digital download store, after Virgin Group announced the closure of its Virgin Digital service in the UK. Copyright: CMP Information...

IN BRIEF: New internet TV channel to launch.
October 6, 2007... A new internet TV channel is to formally launch at the end of October. Music N Vision will offer 24-hour music TV programming with the focus on new bands and songwriters. Copyright: CMP Information Ltd.

IN BRIEF: Virgin Radio appointment.
October 6, 2007... Virgin Radio has appointed former LBC managing director David Lloyd as programme director with immediate effect. Lloyd left LBC last month as part of a management reshuffle by new owner Global Radio. The station also announced that...

IN BRIEF: CEG hires Peter Price.
October 6, 2007... Creative Entertainment Group (CEG) has hired former Warner Music Ireland managing director Peter Price to head a new artist management division at the company. Price will work alongside executive director Paul Fitzgerald and senior booking...

IN BRIEF: Gaydar Radio adds live programming.
October 6, 2007... Gaydar Radio has added six hours of live programming to its schedule and recruited two new presenters as part of ongoing investment into its cross platform news and entertainment services. The digital station has also established a new podcast...

Oasis' label negotiations up in the sky.
October 6, 2007... After a deal with Universal to internationally distribute a new single and DVD, and free from their Sony BMG contract, Oasis ignite interest among labels Oasis have raised further speculation as to their new label home, after signing a...

Oasis drop DRM for new single.
October 6, 2007... Oasis' forthcoming single, Lord Don't Slow Me Down, is to be released as a DRM-free MP3, marking the first time the band have made material available without copy protection. And, in what is being touted as a first for a single bundle,...

We're all architects of the industry's future.
October 6, 2007... Change creates uncertainty, but shaping the future is an honour for all of us There is little certainty about the music business in 2007. The only thing any of us can predict, for definite, is that this very uncertainty will continue. ...

After a total of 15 years at Music Week.
October 6, 2007... After a total of 15 years at Music Week, this is the final leader I will write - I leave to take over as managing director of the Official UK Charts Company this week. Helping to chronicle the changes within the business has been an...

Brits could look beyond London in bid to build on recent successes.
October 6, 2007... Committee considers hosting away from the capital to generate local excitement, despite announcing they will broadcast live from Earl's Court in 2008 in wake of new three-year deal with ITV. What's On This Week Tuesday The BT Digital...

IN BRIEF: Hit 40 UK chart to move in-house at GCap.
October 6, 2007... Independent production company Somethin' Else will end its four-year association with GCap when it stops producing the Sunday afternoon chart show Hit 40 UK, after GCap decided to bring the show in-house. The new show, hosted by Capital DJ...

IN BRIEF: Chrysalis Group appointment.
October 6, 2007... Jeremy Lascelles has succeeded Richard Huntingford as chief executive of the Chrysalis Group. The new executive management will comprise Chris Wright as executive chairman and Lascelles as chief executive. Andy Mollett will assume the role of...

IN BRIEF: Stones Throw opens office in London.
October 6, 2007... Los Angeles-based hip hop label Stones Throw has opened an office in London to promote its artists and releases across Europe. The European office will be managed by Alex Robinson, who has worked with the label since 2004. Copyright: CMP...

IN BRIEF: Matt Jagger has set up a new company.
October 6, 2007... Former Ministry of Sound Music Group CEO and Mercury Records managing director Matt Jagger has set up a new company, Naked Ventures, under the Naked Group banner. Jagger, a qualified entertainment lawyer, will work directly with Naked and...

IN BRIEF: Vivendi condemns contract terms.
October 6, 2007... Universal parent company Vivendi has condemned the contract terms between Universal Music Group and Apple as "indecent". Vivendi chief executive Jean-Bernard Levy suggests there should be a sliding scale of remuneration, with more revenue going...

IN BRIEF: Acrobat receives investment.
October 6, 2007... Catalogue CD specialist Acrobat has received an initial #4.7m investment from Electra Quoted Management to fund the acquisition of catalogues of recorded music titles, starting with the TKO catalogue of 22,000 original artist titles. ...

The Big Question: 06.10.07.
October 6, 2007... With Radios One and Two celebrating their 40th birthdays, can you imagine them celebrating their 80th? Felix Miller, Last.fm "Let's face it, Chris Moyles isn't doing anything hugely different to what Tony Blackburn was doing in 1967,...

Switching on to teenage kicks.
October 6, 2007... Radio One moves into its fifth decade of broadcasting by launching Switch, an initiative that hopes to re-engage the station with their core teenage demographic. Music Week explores the station's plans and talks to station controller Andy...

BBC2's Sound vision.
October 6, 2007... A new music show aimed at 12- to 16-year-olds is being launched on BBC2 as part of the BBC Switch initiative. Sound will air on Saturday afternoons, starting on October 20, with presenters Annie Mac and Nick Grimshaw. Some 13 shows have...

FEATURE: Eclectic Proms.
October 6, 2007... The BBC's acclaimed Electric Proms returns for a second London run this autumn, with the Corporation aiming to set new standards for both live performance and the way it delivers content to the consumer by Paul Williams Compared to its...

MUSIC UPFRONT: 06.10.07.
October 6, 2007... This Week Singles Ed Harcourt You Put A Spell On Me (Heavenly) Robin Thicke Wanna Love U Girl (Polydor) Paul McCartney Ever Present Past (Hearmusic) Lil Chris We Don't Have To Take Our Clothes Off (RCA) Manic Street...

MUSIC UPFRONT - 06.10.07: Single of the week.
October 6, 2007... Kate Nash Mouthwash (Fiction) Hot on the heels of her number one debut long-player Made Of Bricks, Nash's third single is already making waves in the singles chart thanks to fans downloading from the album. Today (Monday) will see its full...

FUTURE RELEASE: Leona Lewis.
October 6, 2007... Leona Lewis Spirit (Syco) Leona Lewis is to return to the talent show that launched her career by making the first TV appearance to promote her debut album, Spirit, on the new season of X Factor. While Syco and Sony BMG are keen to...

MUSIC UPFRONT - 06.10.07: Album of the week.
October 6, 2007... Bruce Springsteen Magic (Columbia) Magic sees Springsteen reunited with the E Street Band for the first time since 2002's chart-topping album The Rising, which itself was his first chart-topper in a decade. A repeat chart performance...

MUSIC UPFRONT - 06.10.07: Catalogue reviews.
October 6, 2007... Nella Dodds: This Is A Girl's Life - The Complete Wand Recordings 1964-1965 (Kent CDKEND 282) Obscure but excellent soul from Dodds, who was signed to New York's Wand label for an all-too-brief period in the mid-Sixties. This album...

FUTURE RELEASE: Hadouken!
October 6, 2007... Hadouken! Not Here To Please You (Atlantic) The forthcoming mini-album from Hadouken! will be released exclusively on the USB memory stick format, doing away with other physical formats in a bid to better serve the listening habits of their...

MUSIC UPFRONT - 06.10.07: The Specialists.
October 6, 2007... Neil Kulkani (DJ Magazine) LDZ: Lips 2 Da Floor (Dented) The London Zoo posse came together in '98 and are hitting some major form in '07. Their debut mixtape is one of this summer's most ear- razing essentials. They switch styles from...

MUSIC UPFRONT - 06.10.07: The Panel.
October 6, 2007... Catalogue reviews Rob Da Bank (Radio One) How I Became The Bomb: Robo/Bar Song (Goldrush) Played this on my show again last night... How I Became The Bomb have got just such an infectious sound and the lyrics ain't dumb - funny...

FUTURE RELEASE: Stereophonics.
October 6, 2007... Stereophonics Pull The Pin (V2) V2 insists that it is business as usual in advance of its first significant release since being acquired by Universal, with Stereophonics' Pull The Pin being released October 15. "The point at which...

DATAFILE - EXPOSURE: 06.10.07.
October 6, 2007... Plain White T's' Hey There Delilah spends a fourth straight week at number one on radio airplay and continues to hold an impressive lead, with an audience of 49.64m to put it 30.25% ahead of new runners-up Scouting For Girls' She's So Lovely....

Instore: 06.10.07.
October 6, 2007... Asda Instore Display: Aled Jones, Ali Campbell, Colbie Caillat, Eric Clapton, Jack Penate, LeAnn Rimes, Michael Buble, Stevie Wonder, Sugababes CWNN Album of the week: Reverend & The Makers HMV Instore Display: Annie...

DATAFILE SINGLES - 06.10.07: Number One Single.
October 6, 2007... Sugababes (Island) It is not released physically until today (Monday), but About You Now nevertheless vaults 35-1 this week to become the Sugababes' sixth number one, following Freak Like Me (2002), Round Round (2002), Hole In The Head...

DATAFILE - SINGLES: 06.10.07.
October 6, 2007... 2007 has not been the best year for album sales, but there is slight cheer this week, as the Foo Fighters debut at number one with sales of more than 100,000, as James Blunt did last week. It is the first time so far this year that the...

DATAFILE SINGLES - 06.10.07: Number One Album.
October 6, 2007... Foo Fighters (RCA) Foo Fighters' seventh album Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace earns the band their second number one in a 12-year career, debuting in pole position on sales of 135,685. That beats the 91,471 copies One By One sold when...

Two chart records are smashed in the week Radio One turns 40.
October 6, 2007... On the day Radio One is 40, two Top 40 chart records are shattered. Sugababes' About You Now, rockets 35-1 on download sales to complete the biggest jump to the summit from within the Top 40 to date, beating the previous 33-1 record established...

DATAFILE SINGLES - 06.10.07: Shayne Ward.
October 6, 2007... Shayne Ward returns to the chart after an absence of more than a year with No U Hang Up/If That's OK With You, the introductory double-header from his forthcoming second album, Breathless. The single debuts at number two on sales of 33,444....

DATAFILE SINGLES - 06.10.07: Ida Corr.
October 6, 2007... Dutch DJ Fedde Le Grand celebrated his 30th birthday recently, and gets a belated gift from British record buyers who provide him with his Top 20 hit in less than a year. Le Grand topped the chart last November with Put Your Hands Up (For...

DATAFILE SINGLES - 06.10.07: Mark Ronson.
October 6, 2007... Not due for physical release for a couple of weeks, Valerie nevertheless secures DJ Mark Ronson his third straight Top 20 hit from his current album Version, leaping 41-12 on sales of 9,287. Featuring the unmistakeable vocals of Amy Winehouse,...

DATAFILE SINGLES - 06.10.07: Jack Penate.
October 6, 2007... With a CD and two seven-inch formats released last week, Jack Penate's second hit Second, Minute Or Hour catapults 48-17 on sales of 8,681. Penate's debut hit Torn On The Platform reached number seven in June. The 22-year-old Londoner has had a...

Foo Fighters make impressive return to knock James Blunt off the top.
October 6, 2007... Taking their name from a term used in the Second World War to refer to mysterious aerial phenomena or UFOs, the Foo Fighters glide to their second number one with Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace, which lands safely at the summit on sales of...

DATAFILE ALBUMS - 06.10.07: Ian Brown.
October 6, 2007... It is exactly three years since former Stone Roses star Ian Brown released an album, and he storms back this week with The World Is Yours, which debuts at number four on sales of 32,435, a week after introductory single Illegal Attacks peaked...

DATAFILE ALBUMS - 06.10.07: Ryandan.
October 6, 2007... Comprising twins Ryan and Dan Kowarsky, RyanDan reap the rewards of an intensive media blitz, debuting at number seven with their self-titled debut album, which sold 18,006 copies last week. The 27-year-old Canadians are being touted as the...

DATAFILE ALBUMS - 06.10.07: BPI Awards.
October 6, 2007... Albums Various Hacienda Classics (silver); Various 101 70s Hits (silver); The Smiths The Smiths (gold); Various Now Dance 2007 (gold); Various High School Musical 2 OST (platinum); Paolo Nutini These Streets (3xplatinum) BPI Awards...

DATAFILE ALBUMS - 06.10.07: Jose Gonzalez.
October 6, 2007... First single Down The Line peaked at number 140 a fortnight ago, but Swedish singer-songwriter Jose Gonzalez's second album In Our Nature makes a much better showing, debuting at number 19 on sales of 10,562. Gonzalez's 2005 debut album Veneer...

DATAFILE ALBUMS - 06.10.07: Joni Mitchell.
October 6, 2007... Earlier this year, Barbra Streisand charted a new live album aged 65, and Shirley Bassey became the first female solo septuagenarian to make the chart. At 63, Joni Mitchell is younger than both, but she is the oldest female to chart an album of...

THE PLAYLIST: 13.10.07.
October 13, 2007... Freemasons feat. Bailey Tzuke Uninvited (Loaded) With lead vocals by the daughter of Eighties pop star Judie Tzuke, this Alanis Morissette cover has been playlisted on Radio One, Kiss and Capital. (single, October 15) Jim Noir ...

In The Studio: 13.10.07.
October 13, 2007... The Young Knives are knuckling down to finish off their latest LP in a north London studio. The Feeling are mixing their self-produced second album with sought- after producer Spike Stent. Attic Lights are in the studio with former...

Goldsmith damns Viagogo's Dutch deal.
October 13, 2007... Live Nation's Dutch arm signs deal with secondary ticketing company Live Nation UK has distanced itself from the Dutch arm of its company, which last week signed an unprecedented deal with secondary ticketing company Viagogo to launch a...

Dramatico dreams of expansion.
October 13, 2007... Dramatico goes into the fourth quarter in an acquisitive mood, having made senior appointments to its management team and announced a raft of new ventures. Chairman Mike Batt also reveals that, contrary to speculation in the national...

Radio bosses explain chart-show changes.
October 13, 2007... Radio One head of programming Ben Cooper has defended his station's flagship chart show in the face of sliding audience figures, as the BBC station unveiled new presenters for its Sunday night chart rundown. Former Top Of The Pops...

Ups And Downs: 13.10.07.
October 13, 2007... UPS Cheapskates will be able to spend as little as 45p on Radiohead's new album. BBC 6Music wins BT Digital Music Award for best radio station, despite a rocky few weeks. Wu Tang Clan gets the nod from George Harrison's estate to...

Emap embraces War Child in multi-platform campaign push.
October 13, 2007... War Child secures major media partnership with Emap and releases benefit single and gig details War Child has secured its most extensive media partnership yet with Emap agreeing to promote the charity's new campaign in an unprecedented...

Settling down to business after EC clearance ruling.
October 13, 2007... The EC's decision to allow Sony and BMG to merge, some three years after the two majors effectively did, means the group can now knuckle down to the day-to-day running of the world's second largest recorded music company. Although the...

"Review Sony/BMG merger" demand indies.
October 13, 2007... Frustrated by EC inconsistency, Impala calls for a review of procedure and an explanation of the reasons for approving the Sony/BMG deal The independent community is calling for a fundamental review of the European music market in the...

Will Radiohead ploy harm their CD sales?
October 13, 2007... Name-your-own-price gamble for In Rainbows album could impact less- proven bands Radiohead's dogged determination to set their own agenda both musically and in their business dealings has constantly provided a shot in the arm to the...

Rise of the stick singles.
October 13, 2007... Universal plans a wealth of USB-released pop product throughout Q4 in the wake of revised OCC chart rulings introduced to counter ailing physical market, with plans to transfer format to albums Universal is turning to some of its biggest...

IN BRIEF: McGee launches again following King split.
October 13, 2007... Alan McGee and Stephen King have formally ended their business relationship, after shelving their Poptones and Creation Management companies. McGee has launched a new company, Alan McGee Management. Copyright: CMP Information Ltd.

IN BRIEF: Merlin appointment.
October 13, 2007... Merlin, the rights body for the global independent record sector, has named Koch Records president Bob Frank as its first chairman. Frank was unanimously elected by fellow board members and will sit for a term of one year. Copyright: CMP...

IN BRIEF: 4Music icon Award.
October 13, 2007... Designer Peter Saville won the contribution to music award and Joy Division were honoured with 4Music icon Award at the Diesel-U-Music Awards. UK act Get Shakes were best unsigned electronic act and US hiphop duo Cool Kids won the urban award...

IN BRIEF: Digital download service.
October 13, 2007... Mobile phone distribution company Comment Retail Services has launched digital download service Datz.com in partnership with digital distribution company DX3 Technologies. Copyright: CMP Information Ltd.

IN BRIEF: Gold Badge Awards.
October 13, 2007... The British Academy of Composers and Songwriters has announced the list of winners for its annual Gold Badge Awards on October 24. Danny Betesh, Tim Blackmore MBE, Jamie Cullum, Michael Eavis CBE, Dame Evelyn Glennie, Carrie and David Grant,...

IN BRIEF: Trade Marks Registry rules in favour of Music Choice.
October 13, 2007... The Trade Marks Registry has ruled in favour of British digital broadcaster Music Choice after US retail chain Target bought a case against it. Target Brand Inc claimed it was the true owner of the distinctive bullseye logo that both companies...

IN BRIEF: Wu-Tang Clan delay album to use Beatles' refrain.
October 13, 2007... The Wu-Tang Clan have delayed the release of their new album after receiving permission to use a refrain from George Harrison's Beatles song While My Guitar Gently Weeps on one of their tracks. Copyright: CMP Information Ltd.

IN BRIEF: No job losses at Yahoo!
October 13, 2007... Yahoo! Music's European general manager has moved to quash fears that there will be job losses at the company's music division as the company nears the end of a 100-day review. Copyright: CMP Information Ltd.

IN BRIEF: Frukt appointment.
October 13, 2007... Music strategy agency Frukt has appointed former T-Mobile international music manager Theo Gupta as the head of its new department Frukt Artists, designed to enable brands to work more effectively with artists and maximise their brand...

IN BRIEF: EMI and Virgin Classics Club launch.
October 13, 2007... EMI and Virgin Classics have launched EMI and Virgin Classics Club, an online club where classical music fans can access exclusive content, including pre-released listening sessions, artist interviews and photo shoots. Copyright: CMP...

Record fine for filesharer "is deterrent for others".
October 13, 2007... RIAA wins action against Kazaa P2P filesharer and IFPI believes it will serve as a deterrent to UK uploaders The IFPI believes that the unprecedented fine of more than #100,000 given to an illegal filesharer in the Unites States will serve...

IN BRIEF: V640i to compete with iPhone.
October 13, 2007... Sony Ericsson has signed a deal that allows mobile network Vodafone exclusive access to its new music phone, the V640i, which will compete against the iPhone by offering 3G internet access. Copyright: CMP Information Ltd.

IN BRIEF: Jack FM to launch.
October 13, 2007... Absolute Radio International will launch the UK's first radio station using the Jack format, Jack FM on October 18. Jack is said to mirror an iPod on shuffle, as it plays random music across genres. Copyright: CMP Information Ltd.

IN BRIEF: Equity-backed bid for Emap radio arm.
October 13, 2007... Former Chrysalis chief executive Phil Riley has confirmed he is tabling a private equity-backed bid for Emap's #400m radio arm, including Kiss and Magic. The bid is likely to see Riley go head-to-head with Global Radio, also understood to be...

IN BRIEF: Primetime music specials.
October 13, 2007... ITV Entertainment has announced three primetime music specials for the autumn. Saturday Night Divas, Westlife Live On Demand and An Audience With Celine Dion will be made by ITV Productions' entertainment department. Copyright: CMP...

IN BRIEF: Xfm launches brand new awards ceremony.
October 13, 2007... Xfm is to hold an awards ceremony to acknowledge the best of 2007's new music. The awards will be based around one key prize, The Xfm British Debut Album Of The Year, and will take place at Koko in Camden on January 16 2008. Copyright: CMP...