Music Week articles from September 2002

Music Week archives from September 2002

Sony examines future as McDonald departs.
September 7, 2002... The sudden departure of Blair McDonald as Columbia Records managing director has fuelled new speculation about the future shape of Sony Music UK. McDonald left his desk at the major's Great Malborough Street headquarters last Wednesday...

BSkyB halts plans for music channel.
September 7, 2002... BSkyB has postponed its plans to launch a pay-per-view video music channel because of a "lack of commitment" by labels to supply exclusive promos. Digital station MX Sky Box Office--initiated by former BBC and Emap executive Trevor...

MW expands dunce charts.
September 7, 2002... Music Week is expanding its coverage of the dance scene as part of changes designed to improve the magazine's service to its readers. From this week, Music Week's dance charts will be given added profile by appearing on a brand new pullout...

Atomic Kitten's cover of The Tide Is High was outselling its nearest rival by more than five to one last week and was on course to reward the trio with their third chart-topper yesterday (Sunday).
September 7, 2002... Atomic Kitten's (pictured) cover of The Tide Is High was outselling its nearest rival by more than five to one last week and was on course to reward the trio with their third chart-topper yesterday (Sunday). The impressive first-week sales,...

Universal sells Vizzavi stake.
September 7, 2002... Music content from Universal Music Group acts such as Eminem and U2 will remain a key plank of the service provided by Vizzavi, despite Vivendi Universal's announcement last Friday to sell its half-share in the two-year-old mobile content...

Boosey & Hawkes at negotiating table with Rutland. (news file).
September 7, 2002... Boosey & Hawkes, which is already talking to Music Sales and a consortium comprising David Hockman and equity group HgCaptial about the sale of its publishing interests, is understood to be negotiating with venture capitalist Rutland over the...

Radio Academy prepares hall of fame. (news file).
September 7, 2002... The Radio Academy is preparing this autumn to unveil the first names in a new hall of fame celebrating UK radio's greatest talent. Director John Bradford says 25 to 40 historic names will appear in the initial list, which will cover everyone...

Vitaminic set to offer Burning Heart Records' repertoire online. (news file).
September 7, 2002... Repertoire from Swedish independent Burning Heart Records will soon be available as paid downloads via Vitaminic's European websites. Under the recently-signed deal, tracks from The Hives (pictured), Millencolin and Turbonegro among others will...

Fruits of SME and IME deal set for roll-out. (news file).
September 7, 2002... The first albums under a marketing and distribution tie-up between Sony Music Europe and Integrity Music Europe appear next Monday with the release of Songs 4 Worship Volumes 1 and 2 featuring Don Moen and Ran Kenoly. Integrity, whose releases...

Wienerworld upbeat after sealing Pinnacle DVD distribution deal. (news file).
September 7, 2002... Music video and DVD company Wienerworld has secured an exclusive distribution agreement with Pinnacle Vision for more than 150 titles from the Wienerworld and Urban Edge video and DVD catalogues. The deal, coming into effect today (Monday),...

Muzik confirms presenters for dance awards. (news file).
September 7, 2002... T4 presenters June Sarpong and Vernon Kaye will host this year's Muzik Magazine Dance Awards taking place at west London's Po Na Na on October 15. The event, which is partnered by BPI, Aim, MTV, News Of The World, Radio One and Virgin...

Aim set to host Big Wednesday session. (news file).
September 7, 2002... Aim is hosting another series of Big Wednesday networking sessions, starting on September 4, with an evening meeting to discuss music in film, TV and video with representatives from companies including Initial, Fastrax and Songseekers....

MW playlist. (News).
September 7, 2002... BLUE--One Love (Innocent) Straight out of the box onto the nation's airwaves--it goes to radio next week (single, October) THE RAVEONETTES--That Great Love (unsigned) The first tracks from a new Richard Gottehrer-produced session are sure...

Online CD sales rise fourfold in two years. (news).
September 7, 2002... Online music retailers' share of the CD albums market has risen almost four-fold in just two years, with one in 20 single-disc releases now being bought over the internet. That is the verdict of the latest BPI-commissioned buyers survey by...

HMV signs up as The Sun readies music campaign. (news).
September 7, 2002... Natalie Imbruglia, Jennifer Lopez, Mis-Teeq and Scooter will be the first four acts to feature in The Sun's CD Of The Week offer, which kicks off next week as the biggest music campaign yet launched by a national tabloid. HMV has also been...

Virgin and Universal launch big budget Stones roll-outs. (news).
September 7, 2002... The Rolling Stones' tag as the greatest rock'n'roll band in the world is to be matched this autumn by the most extensive push of their back catalogue in years. Forty years after playing their debut gig, the veteran act are coming under the...

Pulp are preparing a unique concert for December 14 at the Magna Science Adventure Centre near Sheffield in support of their forthcoming greatest hits package, due in November. (News).
September 7, 2002... Pulp are preparing a unique concert for December 14 at the Magna Science Adventure Centre near Sheffield in support of their forthcoming greatest hits package, due in November. The album will be their last for Universal Island, after which the...

Massive first week for Coldplay kicks off strong autumn season. (News).
September 7, 2002... Coldplay's second album has ushered in the crucially important September to December trading period in spectacular fashion, becoming one of the fastest-selling albums of the year. The Parlophone-issued A Rush Of Blood To The Head was...

`End of an era' as R1 axes Lamacq's Evening Session. (News).
September 7, 2002... The music industry is mourning Radio One's decision to axe one of its longest-standing institutions, Steve Lamacq's Evening Session, from the end of the year. Radio One confirmed last week that the Evening Session, which was launched in...

Mean Fiddler station faces licensing hitch. (News).
September 7, 2002... The future of country music station Ritz 1035AM is in the balance, after it emerged last week that the Radio Authority has not transferred the licence from former owner Country 1035 to new owner Mean Fiddler. The situation follows a...

Street promotion set to boost new-format Mobos ceremony. (News).
September 7, 2002... Mobo Awards sponsor MasterCard and broadcaster Channel 4 are upping their promotional commitment this year with an extensive billboard and fly-posting campaign in the run-up to the October 1 event. Co-hosted by Mis-teeq's Alesha Dixon and...

Autumn brings wind of change. (MW comment).
September 7, 2002... The wind of change is sweeping through the business--and it is not without its pain. If 2002 is remembered for anything, it will be rationalisation, streamlining, reassessment of business models. This week there is plenty of talk about...

Musicians head for the Musos. (news file).
September 7, 2002... The inaugural Musos Awards are to take place at Ocean in Hackney tomorrow (September 3). The event is billed as the first annual awards ceremony voted by musicians for musicians. The awards will feature surprise performances from a number of...

Visible Noise revives imprint. (news file).
September 7, 2002... UK rock label Visible Noise--home to the Lostprophets, Labrat and Kilkus, among others--is preparing to revive its Cacophonous imprint. The label famously discovered and released the first material from Cradle Of Filth, who are now signed to...

Evan Dando signs new deal. (news file).
September 7, 2002... Evan Dando has signed a UK and European record deal with Setanta. The former Lemonhead vocalist will begin work on a new album later this month in New York, with a release expected in January 2003. The album will be the artist's first full...

TOTP mag launches talent comp. (news file).
September 7, 2002... Top Of The Pops magazine is the latest media outlet to launch its own pop talent search. Star Search 2003 is offering the winners a package that includes a track written and produced by Jiant Productions (Five, Spice Girls). Auditions for a...

Adam F to host seminar. (news file).
September 7, 2002... DJ and producer Adam F is taking part in a Performing Right Society (PRS) masterclass at the Urban Music Seminar, to encourage a better flow of information between DJs and the organisation. It will be held during the event at London's Royal...

This week's BPI awards. (news file).
September 7, 2002... Albums: Coldplay A Rush Of Blood To The Head (two times platinum) Aerosmith Oh Yeah--Ultimate Hits (gold) Vanessa Carlton Be Not Nobody (gold) Various The Best Club Anthems Summer 2002 (gold) Various The New Classic Chillout Album (gold) Queens...

ITC set to confirm the 54 acts on bill. (Talent).
September 7, 2002... Full details of the 54 bands selected to play at this year's In The City Unsigned will be unveiled this Thursday, a week before the start of the Manchester-based conference. "We've put together an International line-up, with bands from...

Smashing Pumpkins and Nine Inch Nails producer Alan Moulder has finished mixing JJ72's second album at Eden studios. (Talent).
September 7, 2002... Smashing Pumpkins and Nine Inch Nails producer Alan Moulder has finished mixing JJ72's second album at Eden studios. The 12 tracks were produced by Flood at various Dublin studios over the course of 2002, with a release due in October. The...

679 inks long-term UK deal with the Polyphonic Spree. (Talent).
September 7, 2002... The 23-piece Texan act Polyphonic Spree have become the latest little-known US act to score a big record deal in the UK. The group last week signed a long-term deal with 679 Recordings, understood to be worth in the region of 400,000...

Mean Fiddler eyes more overseas festivals. (Talent).
September 7, 2002... Mean Fiddler Group is planning to follow its strongest ticket sales yet for the Bank Holiday weekend Reading and Leeds Festivals by extending its international expansion into Ireland. Managing director Melvin Benn says it aims to create a...

Ocean Colour Scene sign Sanctuary deal. (Talent).
September 7, 2002... Ocean Colour Scene are in Paul Weller's Black Barn Studios laying down new tracks after signing a new recording deal with Sanctuary Records. The former MCA band expect to have an album ready for release in April with a couple of singles...

The Clipse clinch highest entry. (US chartfile).
September 7, 2002... During a week in which no new blockbuster emerges, rap continues to dominate. Brothers Malice and Pusha T--known as The Clipse--secure the week's highest US debut with their album Lord Willin' popping into the chart at number four, after...

Mercury will focus on South Africa and New Zealand to launch Darius Danesh's first international assault, but will wait until early next year before rolling out the campaign in other overseas markets. (International).
September 7, 2002... Mercury will focus on South Africa and New Zealand to launch Darius Danesh's (pictured) first international assault, but will wait until early next year before rolling out the campaign in other overseas markets. In South Africa, interest in...

Amsterdam event set to establish live forum. (International).
September 7, 2002... Professionals from the live electronic, urban and dance music industry are being given a new forum with the launch of the Live Dance Music Conference (LDMC) at this year's Amsterdam Dance Event. Taking place between October 17 and 19 at...

Eminem find No Doubt drive Universal to top at MTV VMAs. (International).
September 7, 2002... US artists and Universal labels dominated the field of winners at 2002's MTV Video Music Awards last week, with Interscope signing Eminem's Without Me helping the US rapper bag four prizes. The lead-off single from the rapper's The Eminem...

US shipments down, piracy up. (International).
September 7, 2002... The twin problems of online and physical music piracy continued to drive a downward trend in US music sales in the first half of 2002, according to new research published by US trade body the RIAA. Units of all music shipments in the US...

Bertelsmann stalled as Napster auction delayed. (International).
September 7, 2002... The fate of shuttered file-sharing service Napster was due to be decided at a postponed auction at the US Bankruptcy Court in Delaware last Friday, as Music Week went to press. The hearing to decide who will acquire the assets of the...

`Boring it won't be, trust me': Jamieson sweeps into BPI. (Profile--Peter Jamieson).
September 7, 2002... Peter Jamieson, the BPI's newly-appointed executive chairman, is certainly no stranger to a steep learning curve. When he arrived in Greece 32 years ago to take up a position working for EMI's local company, he was told that there simply...

Eminem: Cleanin' Out My Closet (Interscope/Polydor 4973942).
September 7, 2002... After the humour of the chart-topping Without Me, Eminem gets serious again on the second single from his The Eminem Show. Cleaning Out My Closet finds Eminem in a solemn mood, opening once more the longstanding war of words with his mother in...

Suede: Positivity (Epic 67294952).
September 7, 2002... RECOMMENDED The first single from Suede's fifth album A New Morning is a heartfelt song which sounds catchy enough for mainstream radio. The return of Anderson's nasal vocals will be a comfort to many, as demand for the band's forthcoming...

The D4: Get Loose (Infectious Infec117CDS).
September 7, 2002... A short but perfectly sweet slice of garage rock from the Auckland four-piece currently being championed by John Peel, Get Loose follows the D4's debut album 6Twenty released earlier this year. While echoes of The Hives are clear on this...

Beenie Man Feat. Janet Jackson: Feel It Boy (Virgin 5467172CD).
September 7, 2002... Beenie enlists the Neptunes and Janet Jackson on this, the most obviously commercial crossover cut from his new album Tropical Storm. With support from Radio One (a B-listing) and The Box, its lightweight summer fluff will return Jamaica's top...

Korn: Thoughtless (Immortal/Epic 6727422).
September 7, 2002... This is the second single from the Bakersfield five-piece's fifth album Untouchables, which recently achieved gold status in the UK. The track is a funk-rock juggernaut and, with the band currently boosted by rock's current profile and a...

Pink: Just Like A Pill (Arista 74321 95965).
September 7, 2002... Aided by ever-versatile co-writer Dallas Austin, Pink completes her progression from R&B tomboy to pop rock chick on this strong third single from her album M!ssundaztood. A-listed at Radio One and enjoying growing ILR support, this should...

Coloursound: Fly With Me (City Rockers ROCKERS20).
September 7, 2002... The track that has been knocking dancefloors sideways since its first plays at the Miami Winter Conference finally gets a full release on the Ministry Of Sound-owned label. The elastic bass and soulful vocals of Fly With Me are now backed by a...

Underworld: A Hundred Days Off (JBO JBO1020102).
September 7, 2002... Underworld display impressive levels of regeneration after losing key member Darren Emerson. A Hundred Days of kicks off where previous album Beaucoup Fish left off, with added emphasis on their aerodynamic, hook-laden techno stylings smothered...

Ryan Adams: Nuclear (Lost Highway 1703332).
September 7, 2002... A taster for forthcoming demos collection Demolition, Nuclear forsakes the classic rock of Gold for a yearning jangle in the Replacements/Miracle Legion tradition of Eighties US indie-rock.

Ludacris: Saturday (Oooh Oooh!) (Def Jam South SATURCD1).
September 7, 2002... The Southern rapper returns with a boisterous Organized Noize-produced track that should make its mark in the Top 30. This is the third single from Ludacris's second album Word Of Mouf, which has sold 2m units worldwide.

Aqualung: Strange and Beautiful (B-Unique BUN1).
September 7, 2002... Aqualung is London singer-songwriter Matt Hales. This haunting, introspective ballad is the soundtrack to the current VW Beetle TV and cinema ad and should make him an instant star. C-listed at Radio One and Radio Two, Aqualung releases his...

Supergrass: Grace (Parlophone 5418002).
September 7, 2002... A-listed by Radio One and with Radio Two also on the case, a Top 10 entry is likely for this, one of the Bolan-esque tunes from the tweesome threesome's new album Life On Other Planets. While Grace is typically jolly, quickfire, life-enhancing...

Bon Jovi: Everyday (Mercury 063937-2).
September 7, 2002... Everyday is the first single from Ben Jovi's eighth studio album Bounce, due for release on September 23. While the lyrics are inspired by the all-American hunger for life after 9/11, the music will satisfy all fans of the previous...

The Strokes: Someday (Rough Trade RTRADESCD063).
September 7, 2002... Hardly the best track from Is This It, this upbeat, distorted number comes coupled with demo versions of Alone Together and Is This It, which should help secure a Top 20 chart entry, despite sparse radio support.

Puddle Of Mudd: She Hates Me (Interscope/Polydor 4977982).
September 7, 2002... Comparisons to Nirvana's Lithium and the bassline to L7's Pretend We're Dead immediately spring to mind with this, POM's third single. This single has the potential to better the band's UK singles chart peak of seven for previous release Blurry...

Busted: What I Go To School For (Universal Island MCSXD40294).
September 7, 2002... Brand new UK teen trio Busted's debut single looks dangerously like giving the likes of US guitar-pop maestros Wheatus a run for their money with their madly catchy melody and lyrical cheekiness into the bargain. This incredibly radio-friendly...

Atomic Kitten: Feels So Good (Innocent CDSIN10).
September 7, 2002... RECOMMENDED The pop trio's second album is sure to be one of autumn's biggest sellers, packed with potential hits to keep up the interest well into next year. Highlights include possible festive single The Last Goodbye and Love Won't Wait,...

Tweenies: Everybody Dance (BBC Music WMSF 60602).
September 7, 2002... The jelly bean-headed kids' quartet have received a bizarre disco-funk overhaul by BBC Music for this third album, with Murlyn and Waterfall at the desk. Production values are high, but this sounds what adults think kids ought to like rather...

Chris Rea: Dancing Down the Stony Road (Jazzee Blue JBLUECD01X).
September 7, 2002... This double-CD set released on Rea's own Jazzee Blue label was recorded during his lengthy recovery from a life-threatening illness. Largely a blues collection, the mood is downbeat, but nevertheless emotional.

Medicine8: Iron Stylings (Regal REG78CD).
September 7, 2002... RECOMMENDED Medicine8's potent brew of jacking beats and amyl-house has been raising a few eyebrows in clubland and beyond of late, and Iron Stylings looks set to further their glory.

Rhianna: Get On (S2 5094942).
September 7, 2002... Set up by the Top 20 performance of debut single Oh Baby, one-time Bedlam A Go Go backing vocalist Rhianna's album offers a neat mix of dreamy chillout pop. With production from the likes of Jenny Rockstar and a voice that gets stronger with...

John Squire: Time Changes Everything (North Country NCCD001).
September 7, 2002... These are the first Squire recordings since 1996 and mark his debut as lead singer. Surprisingly he has a good voice--a sort of cross between Bowie and Dylan--which suits his grassroots songwriting.

Death in Vegas: Scorpio Rising (Concrete/ Arista HARD53CD1).
September 7, 2002... RECOMMENDED Death In Vegas' third full-length outing shows the duo have honed their gothic rock/dance hybrid into something more appetising than on previous album The Contino Sessions. Spooky yet accessible, the album contains a mixed bag...

All the charts: exposure.
September 7, 2002... RADIO ONE PLAYLISTS A-LIST Hot In Herre Nelly; By The Way Red Hot Chili Peppers; In My Place Coldplay; Romeo Dunn Romeo; Round Round Sugababes; Just The Way You Are Milky; Sexiest Man In Jamaica Mint Royale; Addictive Truth Hurts feat....

The official UK airplay charts top 50.
September 7, 2002... AIRPLAY COMMENTARY Before proceeding, we should note that tins week's airplay chart data has been affected by a failure in Music Control's monitoring machine in Manchester. This means there is no data for Key 103, Rock FM, Juice FM, MFM,...

The official UK singles charts top 75.
September 7, 2002... SINGLES COMMENTARY Securing Hugh Goldsmith's Innocent imprint its first number one hit of the year and ninth in total since its 1998 inception, Atomic Kitten's The Tide Is High (Get The Feeling) sold nearly 145,000 copies last week,...

The official UK album charts top 75.
September 7, 2002... ALBUMS COMMENTARY Selling as many copies as the rest of the Top 10 put together, Coldplay's second album, A Rush Of Blood To The Head, was always on course for a convincing victory at the top of the chart this week, but spare a thought for...

The official UK charts: specialist.
September 7, 2002... CLASSICAL ARTISTS This Last Title Artist Label (Distributor) 1 1 ENCORE Russell Watson Decca 4703002 (U) 2 3 THE VOICE Russell Watson Decca 04672512 (U)...

Adrians Records. (Store Of The Week).
September 7, 2002... Adrian Rondeau, Owner & Founder "The summer has been a little quiet, but there is no point worrying about that. It is always quiet this time of the year, but there is no point standing behind the counter with a cup of coffee and moaning....

In-store next week: from 29/7/02. (Frontline).
September 7, 2002... In-store--4 Strings, The Music, Goldrush, The Music, Coldplay, Bowling For Soup, Gary Moore, Eva Cassidy, Chris Coco, Lasgo, Toploader, The Music, Alison Moyet, UB40 Fathers Of Reggae, Eva Cassidy, La Guns, Norah Jones, Hell Is For Heroes,...

MVC top 10. (Frontline).
September 7, 2002... MVC TOP 10 This Last Title Artist Label 1 - A RUSH OF BLOOD TO THE HEAD Coldplay Parlophone 2 - SONGS FOR THE DEAF Queens ...

WH Smith top 10. (Frontline).
September 7, 2002... WH SMITH TOP 10 This Last Title Artist Label 1 - A RUSH OF BLOOD TO THE HEAD Coldplay Parlophone 2 - ANGELS WITH DIRTY FACES ...

Woolworths top 10. (Frontline).
September 7, 2002... WOOLWORTHS TOP 10 This Last Title Artist Label 1 - A RUSH OF BLOOD TO THE HEAD Coldplay Parlophone 2 - ANGELS WITH DIRTY ...

New release countdown. (Frontline).
September 7, 2002... ALBUMS This week Catatonia Greatest Hits (blanco y negro); Chris Coco Next Wave (Distinctive Breaks); David Guetta Just A Little Bit More (Virgin); Nightmares On Wax Mind Elevation (Warp) September 9 Ash Intergalactic Sonic 7"...

Labels look to autumn as deliveries dip. (Classical news).
September 7, 2002... Classical trade deliveries declined sharply in the first half of 2002, according to the BPI's most recent figures, producing a consequent increase in the level of returns to companies. The volume of shipments dropped by 12% in the first six...

Adams: Naive and Sentimental Music. Los Angeles Philharmonic/Salonen (Nonesuch 7559-79636-2).
September 7, 2002... ADAMS: Naive and Sentimental Music. Los Angeles Philharmonic/Salonen (Nonesuch 7559-79636-2). Described by The New Yorker as the man who "takes the agony out of modern music", John Adams has successfully preserved a distinct individuality in...

Gluck: Alceste. Von Otter, Groves, D Henschel, Beuron etc. Monteverdi Choir; English Baroque Soloists/Gardiner (Philips 470 293-2 (2CD)).
September 7, 2002... On the strength of this gripping performance, Alceste deserves to be a staple of the operatic repertoire rather than a historical rarity. John Eliot Gardiner's meticulously-prepared interpretation, based on the work's 1776 Paris version,...

Mahler: Symphony No.6. Philharmonia/ Zander (Telarc 3CD-80586 (3CD)).
September 7, 2002... Ben Zander's Mahler recordings have attracted critical acclaim, not least from Gramophone, for their perceptive individuality and attention to detail. There is no want of individual insight or clear detail in his latest Mahler exploration,...

Vivaldi: Farnace. Zanasi, Fernandez, Mingardo etc. Le Concert des Nations/Savall (Alia Vox AV9822 (3CD)).
September 7, 2002... The 1731 version of Farnace, enhanced by extra material from the work's 1739 Madrid production, receives its first complete recording in this stunning new release from Alia Vox. Jordi Savall's interpretation was cut together from two...

Try before you buy: analogue makes way for digital sets: digital systems allow retailers to offer consumers more choice on in-store listening posts. And now, with new, more affordable solutions available for UK retailers, the digital option is becoming more tempting than ever. (Retail Services).
September 7, 2002... Some 20 years ago, the retail notion of "try before you buy" meant taking vinyl from the racks and having an assistant remove the shrinkwrap and put it on a turntable for the waiting customer (and the rest of the store). With the advent of CD,...

New releases--for week starting 9 September 2002.
September 7, 2002... RECOMMENDED CATALOGUE NEW RELEASES MARC BOLAN & T. REX: 20th Century Superstar (Universal 4934522). A handsome new addition to the Bolan catalogue, this four-CD boxed set neatly complements the ongoing expanded reissue program from Edsel...

Is R1 dropping its indie coverage? (Off The Record).
September 7, 2002... The main feeling among NME, music industry and the bands over Radio One axing the Evening Session has been one of shock and confusion. There's a lot of unease that one of the station's biggest commitments to new guitar music has gone,...

Does the BPI need on executive chairman? (The Big Question).
September 7, 2002... Guy Holmes, chairman of Gut Records and Aim Council member "Absolutely. The music business has a lot more issues to deal with today than it ever has. It needs someone who can spend the time, who will be available 24/7 De a representative of...

Last week we gave you their names and this week Dooley presents the evidence. (Dooley's Week).
September 7, 2002... Last week we gave you their names and this week Dooley presents the evidence. When the annual music industry golf day took place a fortnight ago, it was Mario Warner, Steve Mason, Steve Jenkins and Steve Bradley who gathered the gongs (pictured...