| CMU Daily - on the inside 21 Oct 2002 |
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In today's CMU Daily:
• Chart Update,
• US webcasting agreement delayed in Senate,
• American Idol judges lined up for series two,
• Review: Queen Adreena - Fm Doll,
• VH1 criticised for prison music show,
• Cobain diaries get first UK airing,
• Lennon represents music in Great Britons top ten,
• Review: DJ DSL - #1,
• Bjork update: Five doc and mum's hunger strike,
• Oasis shop around for deal,
• Frontman leaves RI:SE,
• Kelly Osbournes tells us to shut up,
• LA radio station defends airing its own artist,
• Queen tribute concert DVD to be released,
• Stabbing at Nelly concert,
• The Balls get behind kids radio station,
• Irish acts get stamped
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Aled Jones is back in the album charts today. What did his classic track 'Walking In the Air' provide the soundtrack for?
Answer tomorrow
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RECOMMENDED RELEASES: OUT TODAY
Singles: Aim - The Girl Who Fell Through The Ice (Grand Central); Black Neilson - Cyprus (2769 Truck); Budnubac - Eight/Eleven (BMG); Hell Is For Heroes - Night Vision (EMI /Chrysalis); Idlewild - Live In A Hiding Place (EMI /Parlophone); Jehst - The Return Of The Drifter/People Under The Weather (Low Life); Just Jack - Paradise Lost And Found (RGR); Metro Area - Eponymous (Source); The High And The Lonesome - Breaking Down The Walls (Db Records); U2 - Electrical Storm (Universal/Island); Oceansize - Relapse (Beggars)
Albums: Everything But The Girl - Like The Deserts Miss The Rain (Virgin); Feeder - Comfort In Sound (Echo); Graham Coxon - The Kiss Of Morning (Transcopic); Jehst - The Return Of The Drfiter (Low Life); Jordan Fields - Moments In Dub (Mo Wax); Lemonjelly - Lost Horizons (Beggars/XL); Matthew - Everybody Down (Rykodisc); Richard Ashdroft - Human Conditions (Virgin/Hut); Roots Manuva - Badmeaninggood (Ultimtate Dilema); Superdrag - Last Call For Vitriol (Rykodisc); The Boggs - We Are The Boggs We Are (Rykodisc); The Extra Yard - The Bouncement Revolution (Big Dada); The Gloria Record - Start Here (Rykodisc); The Minklungs - The Better Button (Rykodisc); The Squire Of Somerton - Transverberation (Memphis Industries); Various - Soul Obsession (Good Looking); Hardkandy - How Do You Do Nothing? (Catskills)
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CHART UPDATE
Nelly's 'Dilemma' (accompanied by Kelly Rowland) knocks the horribly infectious Ketchup song off the number one spot in the singles chart this week, which has to be a good thing. Also strangely infectious is the Big Bruvaz song 'Nu Flow' which goes straight in at number 3, and the latest Samantha Mumba track 'I'm Right Here' in at number five.
There's three welcome new entries in the top ten this week. New Manics track 'There By The Grace Of God' goes in at 6, LL Cool J's 'Luv You Better' goes in at 7 and Badly Drawn Boy's release and delete on the same day ploy paid off with 'You Were Right' going straight in at number nine.
In the albums chart - well, read last weeks chart report, because there's no change in the top 4 - Will Young is still at 1, Rolling Stones are still at 2, Elvis is still at 3 and Norah Jones is still at 4.
The best of Fleetwood Mac, no less, is the highest new entry at 7, two positions ahead of Holly Valance's debut 'Footprints' (one would expect Valance, or at least her label, were hoping for a higher entry position for the much media hyped pop songstress, perhaps the fact single release number two ain't very good affected sales).
JJ72's new album 'I To Sky' goes in at 20. And praise the Lord because Mr Aled Jones is back in the album charts at number 27.
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US WEBCASTING AGREEMENT DELAYED IN SENATE
Legislation in the US designed to help cash strapped webcasters by making royalty payments a percentage of profits rather than a per track per listener arrangement was delayed yesterday when two unnamed senators put the bill on hold, using a system in the US senate where members can request unlimited debate time on a topic. With Senate elections coming up the legislation will now not get passed until late November.
The delay wasn't welcomed by anyone in the music industry. The RIAA's Hilary Rosen told reporters: "We are surprised and disappointed that the small-Webcasters legislation was not passed as expected by the Senate. We hope that the Senate will work this out quickly. All parties who support this legislation should contact their Senators to urge passage of this bill."
The US royalties collections agency SoundExchange has had to step in where the legislators procrastinated. Existing copyright legislation, which the bill was set to amend, kicks in this week. SoundExchange are letting webcasters whose turnover is less that $1million bypass the new copyright payments providing they pay the $500 minimum annual fee for each year they have been trading - one of the features of the delayed bill.
SoundExchange Executive Director John L. Simson told reporters: "Given the unfortunate fact that a lone Senator apparently held up the small-Webcasters bill, we felt it appropriate to offer this proposal. We hope that this unexpected development will be soon resolved by the Senate. From the beginning, we have wanted to work with Webcasters, and this temporary payment policy is another example of our commitment to the Webcasting industry."
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AMERICAN IDOL JUDGES LINED UP FOR SERIES TWO
Always keen to cash in, Fox TV is already embarking on auditions for the second American Idol, before this year's winner has even released her album. All three judges from series one - Simon Cowell, Paula Abdul and Randy Jackson - will return, despite their onscreen arguments. Word is a fourth judge will be added this year. The show launches its next talent search Detroit later today. Auditions will follow in New York, Atlanta, Nashville, Miami and Austin follow, culminating in LA heats on 17 Nov. UK producers decided to take a year off Pop Idol to allow Popstars the Rivals to get media attention - the series will return to ITV next year.
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REVIEW: Queen Adreena - FM Doll (Rough Trade)
Not content with releasing a stunning second album ('Drink Me') just a few months ago, Queen Adreena's new single is absolutely superb. The trashiest, nastiest, most scathing piece of music we've heard in ages, 'FM Doll' pairs thrashing guitars and larynx-shredding vocals with a garage rhythm that's so infectious it'll have you screaming in your kitchen before you realise it. And all this with a sweetness that licks the bloodied lips of a full and genuine smile. Whether that's enough for the band to finally get the recognition they so richly deserve is anyone's guess, but as an aural freakshow this single should not be overlooked. DR
Release date: 18 Nov
Press contact: Rough Trade IH @ 020 8960 9888 [all]
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VH1 CRITICISED FOR PRISON MUSIC SHOW
VH1 in the US has been criticised for a new documentary called Music Behind Bars which tracks the lives and ambitions of a prison band. Billed by its producer Arnold Shapiro as "an unglamorous look at life in the clink and the power of music as a means of rehabilitation", families of some of the victims of one band's members are not impressed.
Episode one features a heavy metal band at Pennsylvania's Graterford State Corrections Facility. Mary Orlando, whose daughter was shot by Christopher Bissey, one of the band's members, told local paper the Philadelphia Inquirer: "I couldn't believe it, it was like slapping me in the face. Watching Bissey prance around with other band members on prime-time was sickening - especially given my daughter loved music and dreamed of one day becoming a dancer."
Mary Rappaport of the National Center for Victims of Crimes added her disgust: "If this makes celebrities out of offenders, it's detrimental to society and particularly painful and insensitive to victims. The reason VH1 put this on is because of the prison setting and I think that's what has to be looked at." After protests by victims' families, Pennsylvania's House of Representatives unanimously passed a resolution calling on VH1 to donate profits from Music Behind Bars to the state's Office of the Victim Advocate.
VH1 are yet to comment on the programme, though the prison's deputy warden David DiGuglielmo has spoken out in favour of the band itself. "Not giving inmates things to do is dangerous. They need ways to occupy their time. Some of the inmates - before they got into music - were difficult people."
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COBAIN DIARIES GET FIRST UK AIRING
The serialisation of Kurt Cobain's diaries began in the Observer yesterday. The diaries, which follow his youth and the Nirvana years, were used by Charles R Cross when he researched a biography of Cobain two years ago. They will be published verbatim on 4 Nov. Julie Grau of publisher Riverhead Books told reporters: "It's a replica of his notebook pages. We have excised any thought of editorial intrusion. This is pure, unadulterated, Kurt Cobain." Highlights are now online at www.observer.co.uk/magazine
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LENNON REPRESENTS MUSIC IN GREAT BRITONS TOP TEN
John Lennon is the only musician left in the race for the title of Greatest Briton of all time. The BBC survey last night counted down the Top 100 Greatest Britons according to viewers' votes - David Bowie, George Harrison, Paul McCartney, John Lydon, Cliff Richard, Freddie Mercury, Boy George and Robbie Williams all appeared. The Top 10 was unrated delivered in alphabetical order. There is now a second stage of voting to decide which of the top ten should be called the Greatest Briton of all time. Of the ten two are politicians, two are royal, two are scientists, there's a general and an engineer. William Shakespeare and John Lennon represent the arts. Programmes looking at the case for each of the top ten will now air over the next month before the final top ten is counted down. You can vote at www.bbc.co.uk/history/programmes/greatbritons/
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REVIEW: DJ DSL - #1 (G-Stone)
From the label that brought us the phenomenal Peace Orchestra 'Reset' LP comes a rugged turntable hiphop collection. The Viennese DMC champ was cutting beats and vinyl in 1995, but with too future a sound the records faded into obscurity and DSL took to the circuit once again. Although many, if not most, of the cuts on this LP are from around 95, the sound is still fresh, in a Major Force West cut and paste style. Tracks include his remix of Peter Kruder's 'Double Drums' and a couple of great tracks featuring Kool Keith and Motion Man. There are some sweet smooth hiphop jams, some scritchy-scratchy turntablist cuts and some G-funk-esque party tracks. A solid anthology of DSL's best tracks from the last seven years. JG
Release date: 18 Nov
Press contact: Zzonked [all]
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BJORK UPDATE: FIVE DOC AND MUM'S HUNGER STRIKE
Bjork's mum is staging a hunger strike in an attempt to persuade the world's largest aluminium producer - Alcoa - to pull out of a project in the Icelandic highlands. Environmentalists say the planned smelter and accompanying power plant will ruin the wilderness area above Vatnajokull, Europe's largest glacier, in East Iceland.
"I hope my action will help preserve Iceland's most beautiful areas for future generations," Hildur Runa Hauksdottir told reporters on Wednesday, the tenth day of her strike. "I don't believe that Alcoa or the Icelandic government should underestimate the will of the Icelandic people. People are pledging their support and for me that gives me a lot of strength." Wade Hughes of Alcoa defended the project saying it would change a "relatively small" part of the wilderness area.
Meanwhile Channel 5 are putting together a documentary on Bjork's career. According to Bjorks website Elton John, Thom Yorke, Beck, Missy Elliott, RZA, and Stella McCartney will all contribute some words of wisdom. The show, on 3 Nov, will precede the release of Bjork's Greatest Hits album.
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OASIS SHOP AROUND FOR DEAL
'Heathen Chemistry' sees Oasis' record deal with Sony complete, and in an interview with the BBC Noel has indicated they plan to shop around for their next label. When Creation closed down, Oasis were snapped up by parent company Sony and were given their own imprint Big Brother - initial indications were the imprint would take on new acts with the Gallaghers as A&R, but that never really took off. Now the band are looking for new options - like Robbie before he signed to EMI, they too are considering going it alone: "I'm not really sure about record companies or record deals, or whether we need one, whether we want one," Noel said.
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FRONTMAN LEAVES RI:SE
Troubled (and dreadful) Channel 4 breakfast programme RI:SE has received another blow after Colin Murray, one of its launch presenters, decided to quit the show to concentrate on his other Channel 4 projects - 4Music and Sara Cox's new Friday night vehicle 'Born Sloppy'. Although the PR agents for the show insist Murray is merely on a sabbatical, his agent told the Media Guardian he had been released from his year-long contract, which had six months left to run. Word is he Murray is fed up with the show, and the constant criticism it has suffered. Although the show's producers, and the network, continue to defend the show - rumours are rife Channel 4 may try out Richard and Judy, currently hosting a teatime show for the channel, on the breakfast slot.
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KELLY OSBOURNE TELLS US TO SHUT UP
Kelly Osbourne's debut album and new single will be called 'Shut Up', something of a catch phrase on the Osbournes reality show. But her label are keen to stress the album will be an upbeat affair akin to her recent cover of Madonna's 'Papa Don't Preach'. The album will be released in the US on 26 Nov.
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LA RADIO STATION DEFENDS AIRING ITS OWN ARTIST
US based hip-hop radio station KPWR-FM has been defending itself after the LA Times revealed that the station's parent company Emmis Communications Corp are financing record label Baby Ree Entertainment, whose artist Shade Sheist has been enjoying considerable play on the station. KPWR senior programming executive Damion Young also produced the rapper's album under his alias, Damizza.
"I think most of this is reporters looking for their own post-Enron nondisclosure story," Emmis President Rick Cummings told reporters. "The Sheist record has tested top-10 in Los Angeles and that's why it's getting played a lot. It does not test well in New York and that's why it's getting played very little there. We checked with the Federal Communications Commission before airing Sheist's music and the agency suggested that Young not participate in discussions about Sheist in programming meetings. He was removed and has been for some time. They never said we needed to do anything in the way of disclosure."
But Peter Hart of New York-based media watchdog group Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting says the station's actions have been unethical. "The public airwaves don't belong to Emmis Communications or any other radio group, they belong to the American public. So it's important that listeners know how Emmis or Power 106 are making decisions about how they use their access to the public airwaves. Is a song in rotation only because the company stands to profit from CD sales? If that's the case, listeners should know."
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QUEEN TRIBUTE CONCERT DVD TO BE RELEASED
As Queen got their Hollywood Star this weekend EMI confirmed it will release a DVD of the famous 1992 Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert next month. The DVD will feature the TV recording of the 1992 event along with previously unseen footage of the event, the full-length television documentary, and more. Proceeds from the two-disc release will benefit the Mercury Phoenix trust to help fight AIDS.
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STABBING AT NELLY CONCERT
A gig-goer has died after being stabbed at a Nelly concert in the US. Californian police have confirmed that Faitamai Taunuu suffered fatal stab wounds in an attack during the rap concert on Friday night. Another fan remains hospitalised. Two men have been charged with murder and attempted murder.
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THE BALLS GET BEHIND KIDS RADIO STATION
Zoe Ball and father Johnny are supporting a new GWR radio station for children, claiming radio is more stimulating for youngsters than TV. "Radio should be so important for children. When we were young our dad encouraged us to listen to radio rather than be glued to the box," Zoe told the Media Guardian. "He believed it stimulated our imaginations and I agree. Radio is less in your face and more in your head than TV."
GWR is hoping the Radio Authority will reward its station Abracadabra, which already broadcasts digitally, the London wide AM licence currently used by Mohammed Al Fayed's Liberty Radio when it comes up for renewal next month. Heartbeat star Nick Berry, former culture secretary Chris Smith and leader of the opposition Ian Duncan Smith have all backed the licence application.
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IRISH ACTS GET STAMPED
The Irish post office is honouring four of the country's musical heroes with it latest stamps. U2, Phil Lynott of Thin Lizzy, Van Morrison and blues artist Rory Gallagher all feature. Talking about the inclusion of U2 the Post office said: "From their first album, 'Boy', to the present day they have stormed popular rock music throughout the world. Their historic sell out Slane appearances in 2001 have placed this band as the most successful of Ireland's rock exports. The stamp design is based on an iconic photo which portrays the raw style of U2". No comment on the absence of Boyzone, Westlife and B*Witched in the stamp stakes.
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Answer to Friday's pop quiz:
When it comes to previous jobs - whose the odd one out?
Bob Geldof, Chrissie Hynde, Neil Tennant?
Bob and Chrissie used to write for the NME, Neil, of course, wrote for Smash Hits.