Music Week articles from September 2004

Music Week archives from September 2004

Downloads race begins: countdown to first official chart nears final stages as Napster crashes party with own chart.(Downloads)
September 4, 2004... The music industry is readying for D-Day, this week with the roll-out of the UK's first official Download Chart. Eleven months after data tests were first carried out, the most-anticipated new music countdown in decades will arrive on...

Bands earn their festival stripes.
September 4, 2004... The summer festival season reached its climax as last weekend's August bank holiday saw the Carling Weekend, Creamfields and the Notting Hill Carnival contributing to the biggest weekend of the year for live music. Unprecedented demand for...

Wippit.(Sign here)
September 4, 2004... Online music retailer and subscription service Wippit has struck deals with Sanctuary, Roadrunner, XL Recordings and Beggars, boosting its offering by 25,000 backs.

Viacom.(Sign here)
September 4, 2004... Viacom has completed the acquisition of German rival Viva Media, which it announced two months ago. The MTV parent company has bought 75.83% of Viva from 14 shareholders and secured regulatory approval. In a separate deal, Viacom has bought...

Somethin' Else.(Sign here)
September 4, 2004... Music production company Somethin' Else has struck a deal with BMG to produce the official DVD of Dido's Life For Rent tour. The DVD, which is due for release on November 29, will feature footage from the artist's three nights at Brixton...

War Child.(Sign here)
September 4, 2004... War Child's charity downloads site is being fully launched with exclusive recordings from Radiohead and Keane. They will be among a series of exclusives on the site from its official September 9 launch date.

Music Managers Forum.(Sign here)
September 4, 2004... The Music Managers Forum has secured leading music industry insurer Robertson Taylor as a sponsor for the Peter Grant Award at its Roll of Honour awards at London's Hilton Hotel on September 15.

A7 Music Publishing.(Sign here)
September 4, 2004... A7 Music Publishing has struck a deal for Chrysalis to represent its catalogue across Scandinavia and the Baltic states. Chrysalis Music Scandinavia will handle all of A7's catalogue, which includes copyrights by Marcella Detroit.

Emap has created two new positions in a bid to boost the teen magazine sector and the emerging broadband and mobile markets.(People)
September 4, 2004... Emap has created two new positions in a bid to boost the teen magazine sector and the emerging broadband and mobile markets. Stephen Palmer, previously Emap Performance's managing director of pop, becomes strategic business development...

Siri Stavenes Dove.(People)
September 4, 2004... Former UK-based trade journalist Siri Stavenes Dove has died aged 31 after a battle with cancer. Dove worked at Billboard's London-based Music & Media magazine, which she joined as a charts researcher in 1997 before becoming the publication's...

One-time Tower Records department manager Pete Jamieson has died aged 42 after a battle with cancer.(People)
September 4, 2004... One time Tower Records department manager Pete Jamieson has died aged 42 after a battle with cancer. Jamieson worked in the early Nineties at Tower's Glasgow, Dublin and Kingston stores, before joining North West Music and Delta Music.

HMV has turned to the ranks of online retailer LetsBuyIt.com as part of a new look to its marketing team.(People)
September 4, 2004... HMV has turned to the ranks of online retailer LetsBuyIt.com as part of a new look to its marketing team. Gideon Lask, formerly LetsBuyIt.com managing director, joins the entertainment retailer as head of marketing as the position's previous...

Music Works.(People)
September 4, 2004... Music Works has announced the full line-up of keynote speakers for the event, which takes place in Glasgow from October 27 to 29. Live Music Forum chairman Feargal Sharkey will be talking about changes in touring, while Electronic Arts...

Shortlist Music Prize.(Bottom Line)
September 4, 2004... Eighteen UK acts are among the initial contenders fighting it out for this year's US equivalent of the Nationwide Mercury Prize. A total of 73 albums figure in the "longlist" for the 2004 Shortlist Music Prize, including releases by David...

Hewlett-Packard.(Bottom Line)
September 4, 2004... Hewlett-Packard has unveiled its own version of Apple's iPod. Available in 20GB and 40GB versions, the players, which will retail at $299 and $399 respectively in the US, will be able to play music from Apple's iTunes Music Store but not rival...

The Recording Industry Association of America.(Bottom Line)
September 4, 2004... The Recording Industry Association of America has brought copyright infringement lawsuits against 744 individual users for peer-to-peer download platforms.

KarmaDownload.com.(Bottom Line)
September 4, 2004... KarmaDownload.com, a digital download site committed to independent music, launched last week with deals with Aim, the Barfly group and more than 3,000 indie labels including the UK's Ninja Tune, Finger Lickin' and Low Life.

Digital Music Awards.(Bottom Line)
September 4, 2004... BT is to stage the fourth annual Digital Music Awards at London's Shepherd's Bush Empire on October 19. The event celebrates the best use of digital media across the web, interactive TV and mobile platforms.

Popkomm.(Bottom Line)
September 4, 2004... Popkomm organizers are launching the Innovations in Music & Entertainment (IMEA) Awards. New enterprises or those who have developed innovative ideas are invited to submit entries by September 15 to be overseen by a judging panel of industry...

Ofcom will invite applications for the new community radio licences from this Wednesday.(Bottom Line)
September 4, 2004... Ofcom will invite applications for the new community radio licences from this Wednesday. Applicants for what am expected to be around 50 licences, will have a 12-week notice before a November 23 deadline.

Paul Weller is to promote his new album with a film made exclusively for screening in cinemas.(Exposure)
September 4, 2004... Paul Weller is to promote his new album with a film made exclusively for screening in cinemas. The film for his V2 debut Studio 150 will be screened on September 20 and will feature an interview and live footage.

Correction.(Correction Notice)
September 4, 2004... Correction: Stage Three music head of A&R Alan Pell and Diane Young, manager of Shellie McErlaine, were erroneously credited with each other's job titles in the picture caption on p4 of last week's issue.

Correction.(Exposure)(Correction Notice)
September 4, 2004... Correction: In an article on newspaper CD giveaways in last week's issue, John Holborow of Beggars Group was quoted as saying the Uncut magazine have asked for payment from labels for the use of tracks on its. CDs. In fact, Uncut have never...

Although it is more than a year since their debut album Permission To Land was released, The Darkness still managed to triumph at last week's Kerrang! Awards, walking off with trophies for best British band and best live band.(Exposure)
September 4, 2004... Although it is more than a year since their debut album Permission To Land was released, The Darkness still managed to triumph at last week's Kerrang! Awards, walking off with trophies for best British band and best live band. "We weren't...

Former CEO departs Warner as Sony BMG changes loom.(News)
September 4, 2004... Former Warner Music Group chairman and CEO Roger Ames has finally formally severed his ties with the major. Musicweek.com broke the news last Friday, as he returned to London for the Notting Hill Carnival. Ames, who joined the company...

Grassrooots gig scene flourishes: Live Music Forum boss highlights reform of licensing laws as study points to healthy scene.(Live music)
September 4, 2004... Live Music Forum chairman Feargal Sharkey is convinced that new licensing laws hold the key to further boosting England and Wales's grassroots music scene. The most comprehensive study yet into the sector reveals that, in the 12 months to...

The MW playlist.
September 4, 2004... CIARA FEAT. PETEY PABLO Goodies (Jive) All hail the new sound of Crunk&B--this US smash should do the business over here too (single, tbc) SCISSOR SISTERS Mary (Polydor) The next single from the NY troupe's debut album which will...

Off-the-shelf deal rings the changes: Universal's urban product included in mobile offering.(Retail)
September 4, 2004... Woolworths is launching what it is billing as the first of-the-shelf ringtones product, allowing polyphonic and monophonic tones to be racked in their own right alongside singles and albums in-store for the first time. A series of six...

Borders refit boosts DVDs.(News)
September 4, 2004... Borders is unleashing a 30m [pounds sterling] spend on a large-scale store opening and refurbishment programme over the next 18 months, which will see music DVD taking a bigger slice of the retailer's offer. A dozen new stores are...

Electric six.(Snapshot)
September 4, 2004... Detroit rockers Electric Six have found a new label home as one of the first signings to former Warner A&R executive Steve Allen's new venture, Rushmore Recordings. Allen, along with fellow former Warner A&R executive Paul Brown, has...

Carling Academy plan for steady expansion.(News)
September 4, 2004... The Carling Academy chain is to enter a new phase of expansion, after chief executive John Northcote led a 33.5m [pounds sterling] management buy-out of the live music venue operator McKenzie Group (MKG). Northcote is being backed in the...

Globe is revived to push adult acts.
September 4, 2004... Universal is stepping up its efforts in the rapidly growing AOR and MOR markets by relaunching dormant imprint Globe Records as a stable for new talent in the adult contemporary field. Universal Music TV managing director Brian Berg is...

College media set to evolve after closure: university stations face financial troubles after SBN, which backed them, suffers losses of 4.5m [pounds sterling].(Media)
September 4, 2004... Well-rested students will begin to head back to their universities over the coming month, but will find that college radio has not had fun over the summer holiday. Student Broadcast Network, the Campus Media-owned company, which struggled...

Pop idol guru on song with opera project: Cowell back in A&R seat with host of new launches.(Talent)
September 4, 2004... The high-profile launch last week of Simon Cowen's opera crossover act Il Divo marked the start of what will be a whirlwind schedule for the UK's highest-profile record executive. After spending much of the year working in the US, Cowell is...

BBC remains defiant over its commitment to music on TV: in the third in a series of features on the BBC Charter Review, MW looks at how music is covered on TV, from Fame Academy to Glastonbury.(TV)
September 4, 2004... Amid the hundreds of pages of BBC Charter Review submissions from the music industry, barely a handful deal specifically with the issue of television. Inevitable, perhaps, given the sheer volume of music output broadcast to radio. But TV...

TOTP: embattled brand that remains a music institution: Beeb remains bullish as relaunched flagship music show struqqles to regain millions of viewers.(Analysis)
September 4, 2004... Because of its longevity and importance to the industry, it is impossible to consider BBC TV's music output without singling out Top Of The Pops. The institution once considered a beacon for the music industry turned 40 this year, and how it...

Finland moves out of the shadows: long exiled to the fringes in the battle for pan-European success, Finland is poised to take the spotlight thanks to bands such as The Rasmus, Him and Nightwish.(Market focus)
September 4, 2004... A small nation with a population less than that of London, Finland regularly punches above its weight. As well as being known as the home of cool furniture and clothing designers, it is the nation which gave the global technology brand...

Quality finnish: as Finland's music industry cues up performances from a host of acts at a two-part showcase at Manchester's In the City under the banner Sounds Like Helskini, Music Week highlights some of the talent from its shores in free CD, Finns Ain't What They Used to be Version 1.1.(Finnish CD)
September 4, 2004... 1. REDRAMA: Hang It Up (Fume) Redrama centres around Helsinki-born Lasse Mellberg, a self taught musician who played guitar, bass and piano on debut hip-hop offering Everyday Soundtrack and, typically of this artist, released it on his own...

Download chart waits for youth: while its beginnings may be modest, the new rundown has an important future ahead.(Editorial)
September 4, 2004... So this week it all begins. From small acorns, giant oak trees may grow. Downloads remain a small part of the legitimate music market. In excess of 100,000 units sold every week is impressive, given that the figures would have been less...

Under-18s form a discerning market not to be ignored.(Viewpoint)
September 4, 2004... The youth market has long been overlooked by the club scene. It's easy to see why, because from a promoter's point of view there isn't a big return in organising events for an audience that doesn't have much money to spend on tickets, can't...

Are labels responsible for artists' extreme views?(The big question)
September 4, 2004... In light of the controversy surrounding Beenie Man and the Mobo nominations, to what extent should labels or retailers be responsible for the opinions of their artists? Peter Quicke, Ninja Tune. "I do think labels have some...

Quickfire: Norman Cook's alter ego Fatboy Slim is back with a new single, Slash Dot Dash, and an album, called Palookaville, is due to be released in September.(Forum)
September 4, 2004... It has been four years since the last Fatboy Slim album. What has been the delay with making the follow up to Halfway Between The Gutter and The Stars? "I spent about a year promoting the last album and have since been faffing around in...

It was a quiet day at Bedford House last Thursday, as BMG got away from that pesky merger talk to enjoy their annual Summer Party for staff and family, this year at Dorney Court, near Windsor.(Diary)
September 4, 2004... It was a quiet day at Bedford House last Thursday, as BMG got away from that pesky merger talk to enjoy their annual Summer Party for staff and family, this year at Dorney Court, near Windsor. With a number one album and single to celebrate, it...

Is Chambers to be in the pink?(Dooley's Diary)
September 4, 2004... Remember where you heard it: Ex Jive US boss Barry Weiss was on good form during his first UK trip last week in his newly enlarged Zomba Label Group role. Alongside his label meetings, he hooked tip with writer/producers Guy Chambers and Brian...

Key releases.(Datafile)
September 4, 2004... ALBUMS THIS WEEK The Liberties The Liberties (Rough Trade); R Kelly Happy People--You Saved Me (Jive); Papa Roach Getting Away With Murder (DreamWorks); Bjork Medulla (One Little Indian) SEPTEMBER 6 Natasha Bedingfield...

Albums and dance still bouyant.(The Market)
September 4, 2004... Artist album sales rebound from a 105 week low to a four week high, improving by 15.2% week-on-week from 1,554,099 to 1,789,904. The Prodigy's chart-topping Always Outnumbered Never Outgunned contributed little more than a quarter of the...

Market indicators.(Datafile)
September 4, 2004... MARKET INDICATORS SINGLES Sales versus last week: -1.6% Year to date versus last year: -9.9% Market shares BMG 28.1% Sony 12.9% Virgin 11.9% Island 11.6% Polydor ...

Fast chart.(Datafile)
September 4, 2004... SINGLES NUMBER ONE NATASHA BEDINGFIELD THESE WORDS Phonogenic Showing a lot less regional variation than most number ones, Natasha Bedingfield's second single is faring best in Scotland and Northern Ireland and worst in London,...

Oasis debut is reborn on DVD: the DVD version of Oasis's Definitely Maybe will be backed by a massive promotional campaign.(The Plot)
September 4, 2004... OASIS DEFINITELY MAYBE (BEG BROTHER) Few DVDs this year will be backed with a marketing campaign of the scale that is being devoted to Big Brother's new Oasis title, Definitely Maybe. Comprising the full audio version of the album,...

Ronan Keating.(Snapshot)
September 4, 2004... Ronan Keating is revisiting his Boyzone past as part of his forthcoming greatest hits collection to mark 10 years since his first hit. The singer has recorded new solo versions of three covers from his former band's repertoire--Father And Son,...

Tipsters: a selection of UK tastemakers select their favourite upcoming releases.(Upfront)
September 4, 2004... Paul Croughton, associate editor, Arena THE KNIFE DEEP CUTS (RABID) "Continuing the glorious, dance-led, electro pop legacy laid down by Richard X and taken on deliciously by Annie, The Loose Cannons and Freeform Five, The Knife are a...

Radio playlists.(Upfront)
September 4, 2004... RADIO 1 A LIST 3 Of A Kind Babycakes; Dido Sand hi My Shoes; Embrace Gravity; Eric Prydz Call On Me; Goldie Lookin' Chain Guns Built Kill People, Rappers Do; Jo Jo Leave (Get Out): Joss Stone You Had Me; Keane Bedshaped: Lostprophets...

Top 10 radio growers.(Upfront)
September 4, 2004... TOP 10 RADIO GROWERS This ARTIST TITLE Plays: Total Incr. 1 JO JO LEAVE (GET OUT) 1308 442 2 MAROON 5 SHE WILL BE LOVED 1745 371 ...

TV airplay chart: Natasha Bedingfield holds off Maroon 5 as Keane, Jo Jo, Christina Milian and Brian McFadden race into the Top 10.(TV)
September 4, 2004... TV Airplay Chart This Last Week Week Artist Title Label Plays 1 1 NATASHA BEDINGFIELD THESE WORDS PHONOGENIC/BMG 379 2 5 ...

Placebo.(Snapshot)
September 4, 2004... Following their high-profile performance at last weekend's Reading/Leeds festivals, Placebo are gearing up for their highest UK headline show yet at Wembley Arena on November 5. The concert will form part of the campaign around their...

The UK radio airplay chart: Natasha Bedingfield replicates her singles sales and TV airplay chart-topping successes on airplay, but now must hold off new top five arrivals Maroon 5 and Jo Jo.(Radio)
September 4, 2004... The UK Radio Airplay Chart Weeks Position This Last in on sales Week Week Chart chart 1 2 7 1 2 1 12 14 3 [E] 6 5 4 4...

In-store next week.(Cued up)
September 4, 2004... ASDA Single--Brian McFadden; Album--Natasha Bedingfield; Compilation--Sad Songs; In-store--Avril Lavigne, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Darren Hayes, Mercury Music Prize, Jamelia, Keane, The Streets, Joss Stone, Razorlight BORDERS ...

Tastemakers.(Cued up)
September 4, 2004... SEAN ROWLEY DJ, BBC London 94.9FM 1. TOE EARLIES MORNING WONDER (NAMES) 2. LITTLE BARRIE BURNT OUT (PALS) 3. ED HARCOURT THE TRAP DOOR (HEAVENLY) 4. BRIAN WILSON CAROLINE NO (SUPER IMPOSERS REMIX) (TOPANGA CANYON) 5....

TV listing.(Cued up)
September 4, 2004... CD:UK Brian McFadden Real To Me; Faithless I Want More; Girls Aloud Love Machine: Lostprophets Last Summon Scissor Sisters Music; Shifty Slide Alongside; The Thrills Whatever Happened To Corey Haim GMTV Brian McFadden; Michelle...

Radio listings.(Cued up)
September 4, 2004... RADIO ONE Scott Mills--10 hour Bank Holiday show (Mon) Zane Lowe Highlights from Reading/Leeds (Tues) The Lock Up Lou Keller hosts a Reading/Leeds special (Tue) John Peel session Darren Styles (Tue); Graham Coxon (Wed):...

Oak develops local roots.(Media Insider)
September 4, 2004... The smallest of seven stations in the CN Radio group, Oak 107 FM broadcasts to a TSA of 104,000 in Loughborough, Charnwood and north west Leicestershire. It is the number one commercial station in its area, with a 22% reach though the area is...

Adem: Ringing in My Ear.
September 4, 2004... Adem Ringing In My Ear (Domino RUG183CD) Fresh showstopping performance at last weekend's Green Man festival, Adem returns with another beautiful offering of digital-minded folk from the acclaimed Homesongs album. Perhaps best known as a...

Beastie Boys: Triple Trouble.
September 4, 2004... Beastie Boys Triple Trouble (Capitol CDCL859) An undisputed highlight from the recently released 'album To The Five Boroughs, this Rapper's Delight/Double Trouble-sampling party-rouser could do wonders for the trio's currently...

Blues Explosion: Burn It Off/Fed Up and Low Down.
September 4, 2004... Blues Explosion Burn It Off/Fed Up And Low Down (Mute MUTECD327) Jon Spencer has had to sit and watch as The White Stripes took his trademark mix of stripped down blues and primal rock'n'roll to global success. This album, featuring a...

Cassidy: Get No Better (feat Mashonda).
September 4, 2004... Cassidy Get No Better (feat Mashonda) (J Records 82876649281). Following his debut with the R Kelly-penned Hotel, the US rapper returns this Swizz Beats-produced follow-up. Mashonda adds an R&B vocal to the mix, but this lacks the knock-out...

Dido: Sand in My Shoes.
September 4, 2004... Dido Sand In My Shoes (Cheeky/Arista 82876626922) Dido follows her recent V festival performance with this drippy post-holiday lament. Appealing squarely at her thirtysomething female audience, this fourth single from her Life For Rent...

Eric Prydz: Call on Me.
September 4, 2004... Eric Prydz Call On Me Data DATA68CDS Sampling Steve Winwood's Valerie, this anthemic dance track has been around on white label for some time, with competing versions attempting to snatch the limelight. Now cleared and with a re-sung vocal...

Fatboy Slim: Slash Dot Dash.
September 4, 2004... Fatboy Slim Slash Dot Dash (Skint SKINT100) Skint's tooth single arrives the best part of a decade too late to work as a novelty record about the internet. It is a shame, because there is little else to attract new fans, relying as it does...

Feist: Mushaboom.
September 4, 2004... Feist Mushaboom (Polydor 9823050) Sounding like something that her recent collaborator Jane Birkin might have come up with years ago, this is a lovely summery song that really gets under the skin. The second single from the Canadian's Let...

John Frusciante: the DC EP.
September 4, 2004... John Frusciante The DC EP (Record Collection 9362488772) For reasons best known to himself, Frusciante has decided to drop an EP in between his many extra-curricular album projects--three out already this year, with tour more to come. These...

Girls Aloud: Love Machine.
September 4, 2004... Girls Aloud Love Machine (Polydor 9867984) Unlikely as it may sound, the most obvious influence on this, the second single from the Girls' forthcoming second album, is The Smiths; from the Marr-esque guitar intro to the playful double...

The Ordinary Boys: Seaside.
September 4, 2004... The Ordinary Boys Seaside (B Unique 2564616742) This is spirited stuff from the Sussex quartet, on the back of support slots to Paul Weller and Morrissey and a triumphant return to Japan. Like a sort of one-song digest of Britpop, Seaside...

Razorlight: Vice.
September 4, 2004... Razorlight Vice (Vertigo 9867758) Following the Top 10 hit Golden Touch, expectations will be high for this fourth single from Razorlight's gold-selling debut album. Whether they can match the top three performance of London rivals The...

SkinnyMan: No Big Ting/Council Estate of Mind.
September 4, 2004... SkinnyMan No Big Ting/Council Estate Of Mind (Low Life LOW37CD) Powered by tough beats from Baby J and a speeded-up soul sample, this hooky cut from north London's SkinnyMan packs more than enough punch to take on its US rivals. With his...

Sons and Daughters: Love the Cup.
September 4, 2004... Sons And Daughters Love The Cup (Domino RUG186CD) Taken from their fine Love The Cup album, Glasgow's Sons And Daughters merge abrasive guitars with driving piano and group singing to deliver fine results on this rousing Smog-like track.

Joss Stone: You Had Me.
September 4, 2004... Joss Stone You Had Me (Relentless RELCD10) Following multi-platinum success for debut The Soul Sessions, all eyes are on the Devon blue-eyed soul prodigy to deliver on her second album Body & Soul. Stone is in good company on this first...

Kevin Mark Trail: Perspective.
September 4, 2004... Kevin Mark Trail Perspective (EMI CDEM648) MW playlist favourite and the vocal talent behind The Streets' Let's Push Things Forward among other tracks, Kevin Mark Trail unleashes the first excellent cut from his album Just Living. Soul and...

Ian Brown: Solarized.
September 4, 2004... Ian Brown Solarized (Fiction 9867772) Brown's new solo album sails the same quasi-mystical waters as his previous three, with a whiff of experimentation around every corner. It is a fair effort, even if it fails to live up to the high...

Diplo: Florida.
September 4, 2004... Diplo Florida (Big Dada BDCD069) Out of the swamps of the Deep South comes this rich stew of stuttering beaks, psychedelic reek and Miami bass influences from producer Diplo. While most of the tracks are instrumentals, added spice comes...

Embrace: Out of Nothing.
September 4, 2004... Embrace Out Of Nothing (Independiente ISOM45CD) Fans of the four-piece will be pleased that since there isn't basically much wrong with Embrace's formula, for their fourth album they have decided not to change it. It offers driving,...

The Go! Team: Thunder, Lightning, Strike.
September 4, 2004... The Go! Team Thunder, Lightning, Strike (Memphis Industries MI040CD) This debut mangles DJ skills and guitars into an impressive wall of sound. There is a nod to girl groups, electro and hip hop in the mix, underpinned by pure guitar hooks...

Goldie Lookin' Chain: Greatest Hits.
September 4, 2004... Goldie Lookin' Chain Greatest Hits (Atlantic 5046748802) Newport's finest deliver a debut album dedicated almost entirely to the joys of smoking dope. It is entertaining in patches, but whether you think the GLC joke can stretch over an...

The Thrills: Let's Bottle Bohemia.
September 4, 2004... The Thrills Let's Bottle Bohemia Virgin CDV2986 Hot on the heels of last year's double-platinum So Much For The City, the Irish five-piece make a step up with this second album, which oozes confidence at every level. It is still very much...

Ed Harcourt: Strangers.
September 4, 2004... Ed Harcourt Strangers (Heavenly HVNLP49) This third album from one of the UK'S most individual artists confirms just how good he is. Full of memorable tunes and clever lyrics, it includes witty upbeat tracks such as Born In The Seventies,...