LETTERS.

I was intrigued to read Bill Holland's suggestion at MW's recent Classical Round Table that Sony Classical is giving up its core business.

The reality is far from it, given that Sony Classical received the most nominations in core classical categories at the Grammys, more than any other record label, with artists such as Joshua Bell, Murray Perahia and Arcadi Volodos. Sony Classical continues to be energetic and creative in finding and identifying opportunities for crossover artists and projects such as Tan Dun's Original Score for Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (academy award for best score) and the forthcoming Joshua Bell Bernstein project.

Obviously Charlotte Church appealed both to the classical and non-classical audience in the UK and internationally with sales approaching 7m units worldwide. This in turn paved the way for classical/pop signings such as Bond and Russell Watson.

2001 will see new work from core artists Murray Perahia, Arcadi Volodos, Jane Eaglen, Marcelo Alvarez, Frederica Von Stade, Esa-Pekka Salonen and Hilary Hahn, as well as "crossover" projects such as The Planet of the Apes OST, Vangelis Mythodea, the Classical Brits Album 2001 and John Williams The Magic Box.

Together this will ensure that Sony Classical continues to cover all the classics.

Brian Yates, VP, Strategic Marketing, Sony Music, Great Malborough Street, London W1.

I would like to take Issue with my old friend Tilly Rutherford's recent comment that "I'm sure Cassidy's superior version of Over The Rainbow could also make number one despite appearing on several TV compilations".