Music Week articles from September 2003

Music Week archives from September 2003

Crunch time for singles: the moment for action approaches as consultation project delivers proposals to industry.(Singles)
September 6, 2003... The record industry is facing decision time over the next three weeks, as it prepares to act over the long-suffering singles market. The results of the Official Charts Company-driven pan-industry consultation on the singles market are to be...

Darkness hear call of MTV2.
September 6, 2003... Breakthrough act The Darkness are among the acts lined up for a show to mark the fifth birthday celebrations of MTV2 later this month. The Darkness--along with Jane's Addiction, The Thrills, The Music and The Rapture--will headline the...

Aim backs new web video chart.(Exposure)
September 6, 2003... * Video-C, the online music video portal, is to launch a weekly indie music video chart from September 8. The chart is also being supported by Aim and will be promoted to the independent body's members as a new marketing and promotional tool. A...

One Big Weekend.(Exposure)
September 6, 2003... The Darkness, Dido, Kosheen, Pink, Starsailor, The Thrills and Travis are among the line-up for the second of Radio One's One Big Weekend event in Cardiff on September 13 and 14. The two-day free event at Cooper's Field kicks off on the...

The Carling Academy Islington.(Exposure)
September 6, 2003... The Carling Academy Islington, formerly the Marquee Club, will re-open to the public on September 19 with a show by the Alkaline Trio. Prior to that date, the club will play host to an official launch party, details of which ore yet to be...

Hammersmith Palais.(Exposure)
September 6, 2003... Three years after it disappeared from the London circuit, the Hammersmith Palais name is being s resurrected by the new owners of the Po Na Na group. The renaming of the venue from Po Na Na Hammersmith follows the Po Na Na group's...

Make Trade Fair.(Exposure)
September 6, 2003... Artists including Radiohead, Coldplay, Chemical Brothers, Lemon Jelly and Damon Album have donated tracks for a free CD being given away by the Guardian this Saturday to raise the profile of the Make Trade Fair campaign. The Big Noise CD was...

Adam Freeland.(Exposure)
September 6, 2003... YR Media has teamed up with the Marine Parade label to deliver a campaign for Adam Freeland. YR Media, the creative division of Your Release.com, and Marine Parade have created content including ringtones and picture messages for the breakbeat...

Peace One Day.(Exposure)
September 6, 2003... Peace One Day, an initiative to establish a day of global ceasefire and non-violence on the UN international day of peace, is holding its second live event at Brixton Academy on September 20 with top bands, artists and DJs including Faithless,...

MTV Networks Europe.(Exposure)
September 6, 2003... MTV Networks Europe is set to broadcast A Night With Limp Bizkit live from London's Finsbury Park on September 6 to 113m homes. The live to-air, 90-minute, advert-free concert will be preceded by an hour-long countdown show with backstage...

Majors to unveil autumn line-ups.(Bottom line)
September 6, 2003... Sales conference season arrives with a vengeance this week, with EMI and Universal unveiling their plans for the autumn. EMI stages its annual presentation on Tuesday (September 2) at London's Peacock Theatre, Portugal Street, the day before...

Sony Music signings Lovebug are going on the read with the sleeve of debut track Who's The Daddy? featuring on a fleet of trucks in the run-up to the single's September 29 release.(Bottom line)
September 6, 2003... Sony Music signings Lovebug are going on the read with the sleeve of debut track Who's The Daddy? featuring on a fleet of trucks in the run-up to the single's September 29 release. The tune has formed the soundbed to an Asda TV advertising...

DVD.(Bottom line)
September 6, 2003... The rise of DVD was highlighted last week by research which shows that in four years around one-third of homes in the western world will possess a DVD recorder. The study, from Understanding And Solutions, also predicts that penetration of...

Pamra.(Bottom line)
September 6, 2003... Performers' organisation Pamra announced they have made all-time payments of 22.8m [pounds sterling] including 4.9m [pounds sterling] in overseas payments, at last Friday's AGM. Executive director Sabine Schlag and chairman Ashley Mason say...

The Radio Authority.(Bottom line)
September 6, 2003... The Radio Authority renewed five local licences last Friday, each of which will run from January 2004. The stations are GWR's Broadland FM in Norwich, 96 Trent FM/102.8 Ram FM in Nottingham/Derby, 2-Ten FM covering Reading, Basingstoke and...

MCPS anti-piracy unit.(Bottom line)
September 6, 2003... A raid by North Yorkshire trading standards officers, Selby police and MCPS anti-piracy unit on a Selby market last Thursday morning resulted in eight arrests and the seizure of counterfeit games, software, films, CDs and DVDs. Raids were later...

Industry mourns Ian MacDonald.(People)
September 6, 2003... Ian MacDonald, former assistant editor of NME and writer of the Beatles book Revolution In The Head, has died. Macdonald was found dead at his Gloucestershire home 10 days ago. The coroner returned a verdict of suicide; MacDonald had suffered...

HMV Europe.(People)
September 6, 2003... Simon Peck has been appointed to the HMV Europe board in his new role as operations director, Peck, whose elevation from divisional manager is effective today (Monday), replaces Simon Douglas, who left HMV last month to "pursue other...

James Last.(People)
September 6, 2003... After releasing more than 60 albums in a 35-year career, James Last was set to score his first number one yesterday--in the classical charts. Universal TV advertised the album on Channel Four daytime TV targeting a 60-plus audience.

Kiss showcases pirate DJ talent.(Signed up)
September 6, 2003... Kiss 100 is targeting a new generation of pirate DJs, through a soundclash which takes place this week. Four London pirate DJs are being given their own one-hour show, leading to a final this Friday (September 5). The winner will get an initial...

In The City.(Signed up)
September 6, 2003... In The City organisers have announced the line up of unsigned acts which will play at the event, which takes place from September 13 to 17. For full list, see Musicweek.com.

Recordstore.com.(Signed up)
September 6, 2003... Pioneering web service Recordstore.com has secured new investment from Cazenove Fund Management chairman Tim Steel, just two months after moving into bigger premises. Steel joins Bob Geldof and Kingstreet Tours chief Andrew Wilkinson as a...

Upbeat Sony hires publishing veteran: former PolyGram and Edel publishing boss David Hockman makes his major company return.(Publishing)
September 6, 2003... Former PolyGram Music Publishing chief David Hockman is returning to the major fold following his appointment to head Sony/ATV's global publishing operation. Hockman, who started his new role as chairman of Sony/ATV last week, will replace...

Coldplay win, but snog steals all the headlines.(News)
September 6, 2003... Coldplay crowned their year of highlights in the US by picking up three awards at last Thursday's 2003 MTV Video Music Awards in New York. The UK act's video The Scientist scooped the honours in the categories for best group, best...

The Music Week playlist.(News)
September 6, 2003... MICHELLE LAWSON I Just Wanna Say (Mercury) Riding the same Freda Payne sample as J Walker's Soul Vibration, this is a neat taster for her debut album (single, Oct 6) PLAID Spokes (Warp) The electronica veterans return...

Bumper time for music TV: terrestrial channels unveil exciting and fresh music TV for new season.(News)
September 6, 2003... Terrestrial TV channels are preparing for a bumper autumn and winter of new music with renewed exposure on TV schedules for a raft of programming across all channels. With ITV's Pop Idol and BBC's Fame Academy set to reach their climax...

Retailers point finger over breach of Lord Of The Rings DVD embargo.(News)
September 6, 2003... Retailers are demanding action after series of supermarkets broke the embargo on one of the biggest DVD releases of the year. Dealers looking forward to an early autumn boost to sales voiced fury last week after stocks of the Lord Of The...

UB40.(Snap Shot)
September 6, 2003... The official Rugby World Cup 2003 campaign will kick off with the performance of a version of Swing Low by UB40 and United Colours Of Sound at the England v France match at Twickenham this Saturday (Sept 6). The song, put together by Rick...

WH Smith in choppy waters as sales fall: CD and DVD sales slump results in a profit warning.(Retail)
September 6, 2003... Analysts voiced concern last week at WH Smith's chances of climbing out of a trough last week, after the High Street chain issued a profit warning, attributing its difficulties to plummeting CD and DVD sales. Chief executive Richard...

Experts gather for UK's first music-DVD event.(News)
September 6, 2003... Experts from across the business are set to converge on the British Museum in the first week in October for the first conference to be held in the UK dedicated to Music DVD. Created by Music Week and sister title One To One and set to take...

VP Records' tie-up with Atlantic Records is set to deliver East West a third successive Top 10 hit with the release in October of Kevin Lyttle's debut single Turn Me On.(News)
September 6, 2003... VP Records tie up with Atlantic Records is set to deliver East West a third successive Top 10 hit with the release in October of Kevin Lyttle's debut single Turn Me On. The self-composed track, already a MW Playlist favourite, gained heavy...

Flagship Megastore revamp to embrace instrument hub.(News)
September 6, 2003... Virgin Megastores' flagship Oxford Street store is undergoing a radical revamp, after striking a deal to bring music instrument retailer Sound Control in-store. In what is understood to be a six-figure investment from Virgin Megastores,...

PPL 'cuts its cloth' to boost revenue.(Profile)
September 6, 2003... With income from broadcasting and public performance becoming an increasing priority for record companies, PPL achieved a rise in licence revenue of 4.3% to 75.5m [pounds sterling] in 2002. The collecting society achieved an 8.3% increase...

John Cale.(Snap Shot)
September 6, 2003... After a 33-year-career in which he has not spent one single week in the UK album chart, John Cale has given EMI Records an album which it believes could break the artist's duck. Hobo Sapiens, released on October 6, was co-produced by Lemon...

Nettwerk connects global management: management company thrives due to unique approach.(Profile)
September 6, 2003... Many artist managers have tried, and failed, at building a truly global management company. But, with two of the UK's biggest international breakthrough artists of recent years--Coldplay and Dido--on its roster (which also includes new...

Strong survive as retail fights back: times are tough, but retailers are trying to fight back by adding a string of innovations to their armoury in the face of competitive pricing and contracting margins.(Retail)
September 6, 2003... With three record retail chains closing in the past six months, 2003 has not exactly been an encouraging year for those at the sharp end of the music business. While Official Charts Company figures show album sales this year up by 12%, the...

Jazz playlist.(Jazz)
September 6, 2003... Andy Milne's Dapp Theory--Patterns Of Force (Concord) Funky, rap-edged piece of political consciousness from Steve Coleman's pianist. Antonio Forcione--Tango Suite/ Libertango (Na A fine reading of the Piazzolla classic from the...

Avishai Cohen goes it alone.(Jazz)
September 6, 2003... The pattern is by now well-established. Hot young player makes waves, gets signed, makes a good album, does not sell and gets dropped. End of story in a lot of cases. Yet there are more and more musicians who are refusing to let their recording...

London Jazz Festival.(Diary)
September 6, 2003... The London Jazz Festival is just a couple of months away Just to recap, surefire highlights for the November carousel are Bobby McFerrin, Dianne Reeves and Tim Berne.

Abdullah Ibrahim.(Diary)
September 6, 2003... Legendary South African pianist Abdullah Ibrahim brings his long-running trio (Belden Bullock on bass and George Grey on drums) to the Royal Festival Hall in London on October 25.

Cleveland Watkiss & Nikki Yeoh.(Diary)
September 6, 2003... British dynamic duo Cleveland Watkiss & Nikki Yeoh have been two of the most exciting performers at the intersection of jazz, global rhythms and electronica for some time now. They take their special chemistry on a national tour starting at...

Sketch Records.(Diary)
September 6, 2003... Sketch Records has scheduled an intriguing release for October. Air is a trio record by a superlative international line up--Italian pianist Giovanni Mirabassi and trumpeter Flavio Boltro are joined by the American trombonist Glenn Ferris.

Dune Records.(Diary)
September 6, 2003... The UK's Dune Records has its most ambitious project to date slated for a September release--Denys Baptiste's Let Freedom Ring. This is a suite based on Martin Luther King's landmark I Have A Dream speech and features narration by Ben Okri...

Jazz reissues.
September 6, 2003... Maynard Ferguson--Conquistador/ Chameleon (Columbia) Intriguing reminders of where the bandleader was at during the mid-Seventies--an uncomfortable cusp between the electric jazz-rock of the day and storming big band arrangement. ...

Natalie Williams Lucky Old Sun (Jnoir NWJR001).
September 6, 2003... The singer and pianist has been a star attraction at the J'noir events in London that have provided a welcome platform for young jazz musicians who don't yet have the reputation to secure them appearances at bigger venues. This is a confident...

Kalifactors An Introduction to the Kalifactors (Fresh Sound New Talent FSNT143).
September 6, 2003... Spain's best jazz indie label strikes again with a fine set from another bunch of unknowns with some highly original music. As with the bulk of FSNT releases, the artists are young and New York-based with a solid grounding in post-bop that...

William Parker Scrapbook (Thirsty Ear I397171).
September 6, 2003... Master bassist Parker--the link between successive generations of free jazz titans Cecil Taylor and Matthew Shipp is as prolific as he is dynamic. He likes to appear in a wide range of settings from huge orchestras to duets and this trio with...

Kurt Elling Man in the Air (Blue Note 5909482).
September 6, 2003... Vocalist Elling has been on Blue Note for a while now (this is his sixth release) but hasn't really made an impact commensurate with his talent. Elling's stately Mark Murphy-influenced tone and smart phrasing can produce thrilling results when...

McCoy Tyner Land of Giants (Telarc C83576).
September 6, 2003... There has always been something effortlessly colossal about Tyner's music. From the Philadelphian's tenure in the ground-breaking John Coltrane quartet, Tyner has created a body of work that is defined by compositions and performances of...

Is VHS facing its last Christmas?(DVD)
September 6, 2003... The dwindling sales of VHS music releases could lead music companies to abandon the format for most releases within the next year in favour of DVD. The year's best-selling music DVD release, Led Zeppelin's eponymous live set, owes fewer...

Bjork Live Box Set (One Little Indian TPLP355CD).
September 6, 2003... Out now. Bjork was among the first artists to embrace the DVD format, with the result that her DVD back catalogue is very likely the largest of any contemporary artist of worldwide stature. This handsomely-packaged five-disc set is largely...

Prince Live at the Aladdin Las Vegas (Universal 9810749).
September 6, 2003... Out now. Shot in December last year, an entertaining concert is marred by poor sound and the quality of the camera work. In parts this looks extremely unprofessional, as if cobbled together from footage seized from bootleggers. The set list...

Siouxsie and the Banshees The Seven Year Itch (Sanctuary SVE3025).
September 6, 2003... September 1. This is a record of the punk veterans' performance at London's Shepherd's Bush Empire last year as part of a tour which marked their return to the stage after a seven-year absence. The set features a number of rarities and...

Utopia Live in Columbus (Sanctuary SVE3047).
September 6, 2003... September 1. The elaborate and ambitious--some would say overblown--power-pop of Todd Rundgren's former band was very much an acquired taste. This 1980 concert features 26 numbers taken from distinctly different periods in Utopia's career....

Saxon The Saxon Chronicles (SPV 55574417).
September 6, 2003... September 1. If the success of semi-serious metal merchants The Darkness means that the music-buying public is once again ready to rock, then that can only bode well for the distinctly unironic Saxon. Splendidly-named vocalist Biff Byford...

Jesus Jones Live at the Marquee (Secret Films SECDVD114).
September 6, 2003... September 22. Still preaching to the faithful after all these years area surprisingly hardwearing Jesus Jones, knocking out their handful of big hits--International Bright Young Thing, Right Here, Right Now, Real Real Real--and a good 20...

Engelbert Humperdinck Live (Eagle Vision EREDV306).
September 6, 2003... September 8. This disc records a performance at the Forum in Los Angeles by the Leicester lad made good. Quando, Quando, Quando, Can't Take My Eyes Off Of You and Release Me are among the hits delivered in Humperdinck's distinctive style....

The Pretenders Loose In LA (Eagle Vision EREDV331).
September 6, 2003... September 29. One of DVD's prime functions seems to be as a means of selling a veteran band back to the fans. In fine form here are Chrissie Hynde and the current line-up of her band, which includes original drummer Martin Chambers. Hynde...

Pink Floyd Classic Albums: Making of the Dark Side of the Moon.
September 6, 2003... (Eagle Vision EREDVD329). Aug 25. Thirty years on, all the members of Pink Floyd contribute to this fascinating exploration of the genesis and recording of the band's legendary 1973 album. Roger Waters explains the thinking behind many of...

It is time to embrace singles change: everyone can benefit as the format evolves into a multi-platform, 1 [pounds sterling]-a-track product.(Editorial)
September 6, 2003... We have written endlessly about the state of the singles market over the past year. And rightly so. It is a part of our business which means a lot to all of us and should mean a lot in the future, whatever the means of delivery. That is...

Let's reclaim the mobile market from the cowboys.(Viewpoint)
September 6, 2003... The recent headlines proclaiming the rise of the ringtone and the death of the CD single may have provided a huge wake up call for the industry. For years, artists and their representatives have pulled back from aiding and abetting the infant...

When do you think DVD will reach its peak?(The big question)
September 6, 2003... The big question Following impressive sales for the Lord of The Rings DVD and the predicted rise in recordable DVD, when will DVD as a format reach its peak? Lavinia Carey, British Video Association director general "It has got a...

Quickfire: DF Concerts' Geoff Ellis, who promoted Scottish festivals as well as big shows such as Eminem and Robbie, says it was the best summer yet for live events.(Forum)
September 6, 2003... How has the live scene changed over the past five years? It is more event-based than it was and audiences demand a lot more than they did even as recently as five years ago. There are more options for them in forms of where they can spend...

Crib sheet.(Forum)
September 6, 2003... After three years pumping out the word on groups such as The Strokes and The Thrills, online music magazine rockfeedback.com attracts 15,000 people per day. But, the 18-year-old founder Toby L has ambitious plans to spread his message to a...

Is Noel Edmonds set for SXSW?(Dooley's Diary)
September 6, 2003... Remember where you heard it: So, Radio Two is going to have an official presence at next year's South By South West. After a false start last year, Lewis Carnie and the powers-that-be have agreed to mosey on down to Austin with the rest of the...

In a wash-buckling encounter, it was golfers against pirates when the 7th annual entertainment industry-organised golf tournament for the fight against piracy and counterfeiting was held at Survey's Foxhills.(Forum)
September 6, 2003... In a wash-buckling encounter, it was golfers against pirates when the 7th annual entertainment industry-organised golf tournament for the fight against piracy and counterfeiting was held at Survey's Foxhills. Some 170 golfers took part while...

Key releases.(Datafile: Britain's most comprehensive charts service)
September 6, 2003... ALBUMS THIS WEEK Abs Abstract Theory (RCA); Jewel 0304 (Atlantic); P*Nut Sweet As (Cheeky/Arista) SEPTEMBER 8 Kelly Clarkson Thankful (S); The Cooper Temple Clause Kick Up The Fire, And Let The Flames Break Loose (Morning);...

Singles bounce back to form.(The Market)
September 6, 2003... After seven consecutive weeks in which sales totalled less than 500,000, the singles market enjoyed a 13% bounce last week. Some 551,427 singles were sold, the best tally for the format in 13 weeks. On the sixth anniversary of the death of his...

Fast chart.(Datafile: Britain's most comprehensive charts service)
September 6, 2003... SINGLES NUMBER ONE ELTON JOHN ARE YOU READY FOR LOVE Southern Fried First number one for Norman Cook's label: sixth number one for Elton--including three remakes, two re-issues and just one first time around. SECOND HIGHEST...

Market indicators.(Datafile: Britain's most comprehensive charts service)
September 6, 2003... SINGLES Sales versus last week: +13.0% Year to date versus last year: -37.1% Market shares RCA Arista 20.7% Southern Fried 12.4% Sony Music 9.5% Island Records 7.9% East West 7.7% ALBUMS...

Louise to hook up with Asda: comeback campaign helps reposition the new-look Louise.(The Plot)
September 6, 2003... LOUISE PANDORA'S KISS/DON'T GIVE UP (POSITIVE) A live acoustic radio set from Glasgow's King Tut's, huge support from Radio One's Dream Team and unprecedented backing from Asda: not the usual elements of a Louise campaign, which is why...

Nickelback.(Snap Shot)
September 6, 2003... Nickelback's comeback single Someday, the first to be lifted from new album The Long Road, is beginning to take a similar promotional plot to last year's breakthrough hit How You Remind Me, which drove UK sales of their album Silver Side...

Tipsters: a selection of UK tastemakers select their favourite upcoming releases.(Upfront)
September 6, 2003... Adam Freeland, artist/producer/DJ EVIL 9 LOVERS NOT FIGHTERS (MARINE PARADE) "The the best new band I have heard in a long time are Evil 9 from Brighton. What they have turned into is going to blow people away. They have a raw feel...

Radio playlists.(Upfront)
September 6, 2003... RADIO 1 A LIST Black Eyed Peas Where Is The Love; Christina Aguilera feat. Lil' Kim Can't Hold Us Down: Coldplay God Put A Smile Upon Your Face; D Kay & Epsilon feat. Stamina MC Barcelona; Dido White Flag; Elton John Are You Ready For...

Top ten radio growers.(Upfront)
September 6, 2003... Adds BIG CITY The Darkness I Believe In A Thing Called Love GALAXY Monica So Gone: Nodesha Get It While It's Hot; Poloroid So Dame Beautiful KISS FM DMX Where's The Hood At?; Kontakt Show Me A Sign; Morjac feat. Raz Conway Stars;...

TV airplay chart: Blu Cantrell and Sean Paul comfortably retain the number one slot, while Dido and The Darkness make big gains.(TV)
September 6, 2003... 1. Blu Cantrell Continuing its reign atop the TV airplay chart, Blu Cantrell and Sean Paul's Breathe remains comfortably ahead, even though it has support from only five of the 12 monitored TV stations, with 111 plays from The Box and 102...

The UK radio airplay chart: Elton John holds the top slot for the second week in a row, through Sony newcomer Lemar posts a healthy increase at number two and Justin Timberlake makes big gains.(Radio)
September 6, 2003... 15. Justin Timberlake Justin Timberlake is so hot at the moment that he defies the received wisdom that one artist can't have two simultaneous rising airplay hits. As guest contributor to the Black Eyed Peas' Where Is The Love, he climbs...

In-store next week.(Cued up)
September 6, 2003... ASDA Singles--Gareth Gates, Christina Aguilera, Muse, P Diddy & Nelly, Lisa Scott-Lee, Kontakt, Rishi Rich Project, Seal; Albums--Cooper Temple Clause, Iron Maiden, Fun Lovin' Criminals, Spiritualized, Tim Burgess, The Rapture, Dixie...

Tastemakers.(Cued up)
September 6, 2003... ANDY DAVIES Producer, Jonathan Ross Show, Radio Two 1. STARSAILOR SILENCE IS EASY (ALBUM) 2. BLACK KEYS HAVE LOVE WILL TRAVEL (SINGLE) 3. KINGS OF LEON YOUTH AND YOUNG MANHOOD (ALBUM) 4. ERIN MCKEOWN SLUNG-LO (SINGLE) ...

TV listings.(Cued up)
September 6, 2003... CD:UK Beyonce Baby Boy; Big Brovaz Baby Boy; Dido White Flag; Gareth Gates Sunshine; Liberty X; S Club 8 Sundown; Skin Faithfulness MTV UK Butterfly Boucher I Can't Make Me Love You *; Limp Bizkit Eat You Alive *; Muse Time Is...

Radio listings.(Cued up)
September 6, 2003... RADIO ONE Jo Whiley Guests: Dido (Monday); Starsailor (Wednesday) One World Lex Records special feat. Danger Mouse & Jemini Dreem Teem Jamelia guests (Sunday) Trevor Nelson: Mya guests (Sunday) RADIO TWO Soul Solutions...

Lincs station keeps it local.(Media Insider: Eddie Shaw)
September 6, 2003... Eddie Show head of music, Lincs FM 102.2 On air since 1 March 1992, Lincs FM 102.2 was set the task of serving the whole of Lincolnshire--the second largest county in the UK--us part of its broadcasting brief, and it is one it seems to have...

Mary J Blige Love @ 1st Sight (MCA MCAR260432).
September 6, 2003... The Tribe Called Quest-based riff on this, the first single from her Top 10 album Love & Life, helps Blige bid to reclaim her title as the queen of hip-hop soul. Reunited with rapper Method Man for the first time since their classic. You're All...

The Chemical Brothers feat. The Flaming Lips The Golden Path (Freestyle Dust/Virgin CHEMS18).
September 6, 2003... This link-up between dance and rock's psychedelic soulmates has been attracting praise over the summer months. Sounding uncannily like a digital version of U2's Where The Streets Have No Name and B-listed at Radio One, this will set out the...