| CMU Daily - on the inside 21 Feb 2003 |
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In today's CMU Daily:
• Brits round up, more Napster problems for BMG,
• Jacko response doc screened in US,
• Review: Various - Playlist compiled by Jazzanova,
• Madonna loop track released to fool downloaders,
• Lych first signing to Starr's new label,
• Ice Cube responds to his critics,
• Limp Bizkit on that new album,
• Changes begin at Sony,
• MacCulloch adds warm up date to tour,
• Talk Sport boss launches new radio listening measure,
• Blur name new album,
• Radio advertising up,
• Justified, Stripped and on the road,
• Vancouver police recommend charges for 9 G'n'R rioters,
• Record pirate radio convictions,
• Diddy comes to agreement with Def Jam over 112,
• Lemon Jelly stage kid's matinee,
• Nelly postpones UK tour,
• 50 cents actually out now
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Brits trivia: which band had the best single at the first Brits (or BPI
Awards) in 1977, and then again in 1992?
Answer on Monday
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BRITS ROUND UP
On paper the night belonged to Coldplay and Ms Dynamite, each taking two awards, or even to Robbie Williams who surprised many by taking the best male title yet again. But if you went by this morning's tabloid coverage it was Kylie's bum that stole the show (again). This times thanks to a dance routine during a duet with Justin Timberlake. Mr Timberlake explains: "I've heard people in Britain are obsessed with Kylie's bottom and I can totally see why. I'm pretty obsessed with it now too. "I didn't just touch Kylie's bum. I copped a feel. On a scale of one to 10, it was like a 58."
Those interested in the actual awards on the night:
Best British Male - Robbie Williams
Best British Female - Ms Dynamite
Best British Group - Coldplay
British Breakthrough Artist - Will Young
Best British Album - Coldplay - A Rush of Blood to the Head
Best British Single - Liberty X - Just a Little
Best International Male - Eminem
Best International Female - Pink
Best International Group - Red Hot Chili Peppers
Best International Album - Eminem - The Eminem Show
Best Pop Act - Blue
Best International Breakthrough Artist - Norah Jones
Best British Urban Artist - Ms Dynamite
Best British Dance Act - Sugababes
Outstanding Contribution to Music - Tom Jones
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MORE NAPSTER PROBLEMS FOR BMG
Just when you thought the word Napster had been confined to music history, BMG, the major label who bought the MP3 swap site and tried to relaunch it as a legal concern (unsuccessfully of course) have been taken to court by a group of music publishers who say Bertlasmann bought some responsibility for the copyright violations committed through the site when they started bank rolling the company.
Among the songwriters represented by the case are Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller, the duo behind 'Jailhouse Rock', 'Hound Dog' and 'Stand By Me'. On the publishing side Frank Music and Peer International are backing the case for $17bn damages for copyright violations.
BMG won't be impressed by the latest developments. They pumped an estimated $85 million into the service in an attempt to convert its 80 million subscriber base into a legal going convern. But users turned off and found other illegal but free alternatives. Then, when BMG tried to buy the brand name outright for $9 million when Napster faced banckcruptcy, a judge ruled to deal was unfair to Napster's other creditors - BMG would get ownership of the brand, other creditors would lose much of the money owed to them (though BMG might argue creditors would have faired better than in the eventual sell off to Roxio for just $5 million). BMG had hoped Napster could become a distant memory, especially after chief executive Thomas Middelhoff, who had masterminded the Napster take over, left the Group.
They will now be looking for holes in the 18-page lawsuit that alleges that by extending the life of Napster, Bertelsmann allowed greater numbers of copyrighted works to be shared illegally. It accuses Bertelsmann of "wilful participation" in the "widespread infringement" of music by Napster, saying that the company "made a deliberate and calculated business decision to continue the infringing service in order to preserve Napster's valuable user base for Bertelsmann's own benefit."
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JACKO RESPONSE DOC SCREENED IN US
Jacko's response to the Bashir documentary aired in the US last night, including that footage of Bashir lavishing praise on Jackon's parenting skills. Aired by Fox TV, rivals of ABC who aired the ITV show, the programme was called 'Michael Jackson,
Take Two: The Interview They Wouldn't Show You'. The programme included the footage Jackson had filmed while being watched by Bashir, as well as interviews with the star's former wife, Debbie Rowe, his makeup artist, parents and brother Jermaine. Among the clips shown in an attempt to portray Bashir (critical of Jackson in the narration of his documentary) as a hippocrit were Bashir calling Jacko's Neverland ranch "incredible" (he called it "dangerous" in the documentary), and him saying to Jackson: "Your relationship with your children is spectacular. It almost makes me weep when I see you with them because your interaction with them is so natural, so loving, so caring." Jackson is also seen confirming to Bashir that he slept with his ex-wife Debbie Rowe and that their four-year-old daughter, Paris, was conceived in the French capital.
In an her interview Rowe said it was here who asked for the children to wear face masks in public: "I'm the one who's terrified," she said, adding that if Jackson asked her to have more children she would do it "in a heartbeat".
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REVIEW: Various - Playlist compiled by Jazzanova (JCR)
Jazzanova Compost Records need no introduction. But if they did, then this album would be a prefect way of doing so. When listening to this 15 tracker you are reminded that as well as having a high output, there is a very high proportion of absolute beaty. JCR gave us German production heavyweights Jazzanova (or at least Jazzanova gave us JCR), the sublime Scandanvian jazz duo Koop, the UK's own Philly-style sould brother Victor Davies, Nuspririt Helsinki and the Underwolves to name but a few. All of these names showcased here as well as some lesser known names, and as such the album is faultless: serene, groundbreaking, soulful and, as always, setting new standards in future jazz-dance leftism. JG
Release date: 7 April
Press contact: Zzonked [all]
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MADONNA LOOP TRACK RELEASED TO FOOL DOWNLOADERS
Madonna's record label is trying that old anti-download trick of swamping illegal download sites with a track, exactly the same length as the actual single, but in reality just a four second snippet of the song on a loop.
It's part of a campaign by the major labels to make downloading from illegal download sites difficult, encouraging music fans to use one of the legit download services run by the major labels.
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LYCH FIRST SIGNING TO STARR'S NEW LABEL
Ringo Starr and producer Mark Hudson have launched a new record label called Pumkinhead - it will be marketed and promoted by S Curve, an imprint of EMI. There first signing is one Liam Lynch, of whose 'United States of Whatever' Ringo said: "it's the best two minutes I've heard in years."
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ICE CUBE RESPONDS TO HIS CRITICS
In a new Westside Connection record Ice Cube has responded to reports that Samuel L. Jackson made disparaging comments about rappers trying to become actors. He raps: "You can tell Samuel L. I'm'a keep acting." And there's rapped criticism for another Jackson - Jesse - who, along with the Rev Al Sharpton, publicly complained about a scene in Cube's film 'Barbershop' in which a character makes light of Rosa Parks' contribution to the civil rights movement. Ice Cube says (making reference to Jackson's admission he fathered a child out of wedlock): "You can even tell that muthafuckin' Jesse Jackson/ Pay your child support/ Keep your payments up/ Put a rubber on."
S Jackon's people are yet to comment, but J Jackson's people told MTV: "We are in America, and thank God we're in a country where we have an option to speak our opinions. It's unfortunate that Ice Cube chooses to use that freedom in a negative fashion and to have disparaging remarks versus a man who has fought for civil rights in this country for almost 40 years."
The track is called 'Lights Out' and will appear on a new compliation called 'Ghetto, Gutta and Gangster', out in May.
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LIMP BIZKIT ON THAT NEW ALBUM
Limp Bizkit's new album, which we were told would be called 'Less Is More', has now been titled 'Bipolar'. The latest word is the record is being mixed in New York as we speak and should be released on 12 May. Writing on his website Fred Durst has said: "We've finished the album and I've just arrived in NY to mix with Andy Wallace. I'm gonna drop the first single as soon as Andy mixes it. You're absolutely in for a surprise. I'm fed up with a lot of shit and 'Bipolar' is the way I have chosen to vent and like it or not its coming."
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CHANGES BEGIN AT SONY
First indications of the plans of new Sony boss Andrew Lack suggest up to a 1000 jobs could go worldwide. According to the LA Times Don Ienner, currently head of Columbia, will become Head of US Operations (a new post), with Bob Bowlin continuing to oversee operations internationally. Insiders reckon Lack's other changes will all happen sooner rather than later - probably before the end of the financial year on 1 Apr.
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MCCULLOCH ADDS WARM UP DATE TO TOUR
Echo & The Bunnymen frontman Ian McCulloch has announced he will be doing a warm-up date prior to his support shows with Coldplay. The warm up gig will be at Colchester Arts Centre on 11 Apr. After that he will play the following:
14 Apr: Manchester Evening News Arena (with Coldplay)
16 Apr: Earls Court (with Coldplay)
17 Apr: Earls Court (with Coldplay)
7 May: Sheffield Leadmill
8 May: Union Chapel, London
9 May: Liverpool Lomax
10 May: King Tuts, Glasgow
12 May: Rescue Rooms, Nottingham
All Coldplay dates are sold out.
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TALK SPORT BOSS LAUNCHES NEW RADIO LISTENING MEASURE
Talk Sport boss Kelvin MacKenzie, a longtime critic of the way the Rajars, the main radio listening figures, are compiled has launched a new radio audience measuring system. Run in conjunction with market researchers GFX the new service will generate monthly listening figures from June based on a panel of 2000 listeners, whose listening habits will be recorded on electronic wristwatches which identify what radio stations a person is listening too at any one time (Rajars rely on those being researched to keep a written diary of which stations they listen to). If the new research system takes off MacKenzie may pull out of the Rajar system, which may lead to other radio companies following suit. Rajar, for their part, is also trialling new systems of audience measurement, more details of which should be released later this year.
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BLUR NAME NEW ALBUM
According to the NME Blur's new album will be called 'Think Tank'. Due for release on 5 May the track listing is as follows: 'Ambulance', 'Out Of Time', 'Crazy Beat', 'Good Song', 'On The Way To The Club', 'Brothers And Sisters', 'Caravan', 'We've Got A File On You', 'Moroccan Peoples Revolutionary Bowls Club', 'Sweet Song', 'Jets', 'Gene By Gene', 'Battery In Your Leg'
The first single release should be 'Out Of Time' on 21 Apr.
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RADIO ADVERTISING UP
Latest research shows good news for the radio industry which has seen a growth in advertising of 2.5%, and a huge growth of 14.8% in sponsorship and promotions. The figures from the Radio Advertising Bureau show advertisers spent £563m promoting their products on the radio last year.
The government was by far the country's biggest spender on radio ads, committing £19.9m to the medium. Elsewhere BT, Sainsbury's and News International all spent between £8m and £9m.
Talking about the latest figures RAB director of marketing operations Michael O'Brien told reporters: "Given the continued economic uncertainties, we are very pleased to report 2.5% growth in radio revenues during 2002. With TV revenues expected to be flat during the same period we are confident that commercial radio will yet again have increased its share of total advertising spend."
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JUSTIFIED, STRIPPED AND ON THE ROAD
Justin Timberlake and Christina Aguilera's co-headline tour in the US will be called 'Justified and Stripped'. The 45 date tour will kick off on 4 Jun, following Timberlake's nine date UK tour (assuming he doesn't cry off over war time security fears). Both popsters (who, since BMG's acquisition of Jive have become label mates) will hope to further promote their respective albums (erm, 'Justfied' and 'Stripped') during the tour.
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VANCOUVER POLICE RECOMMEND CHARGES FOR 9 G'N'R RIOTERS
Vancouver police have recommended charges against nine people involved in the riots that followed the cancellation of a Guns 'n' Roses gig in the town last Autumn. Six of the nine (all "youths" - whatever that means) are from Chilliwack, about 60 miles east of Vancouver, the three older defendants are from suburban North Vancouver. While announcing the charges authorities admitted they were also investigating allegations of police brutality during the incident.
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RECORD PIRATE RADIO CONVICTIONS
You kind of thought - what with so many pirate radio stations bought out by the corporates, and the plethora of radio stations now broadcasting around the UK - that the official war against small time pirate radio stations had kind of fizzled out. Far from it, according to the Radio Communications Agency the number of people convicted of running pirate radio stations more than doubled last year. The increase (from 20 to 49 convictions) were mainly due to the introduction of greater hard-line measures against pirate broadcasters in previous years, with their prosecution powers now extending to record shops and nightclubs which often house or promote the stations.
Justfiying the measures telecoms and radio minister Stephen Timms told reporters: "Pirate stations can put lives at risk by interfering with safety-of-life services such as air traffic control or emergency services. They also cause interference to legal broadcasters, damage property and annoy local residents."
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DIDDY COMES TO AGREEMENT WITH DEF JAM OVER 112
Now they are one and the same (or, at least, both affiliated to the Universal Music Group), P Diddy's Bad Boy Records has reached an agreement with Island Def Jam Music Group in their dispute over R&B group 112, who defected from Diddy's label to IDJMG last year. The band will now be marketed under a Bad Boy/Def Jam logo, with the two companies taking a share of any profits. Bad Boy will retain ownership of the group's back catalogue, though IDJMG will distribute them.
In a statement Diddy said: "IDJMG chairman Lyor Cohen and I have been friends for a long time. Our personal relationship is more important to me than a minor business dispute. The settlement is mutually beneficial and I look forward to working with him on 112."
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LEMON JELLY STAGE KID'S MATINEE
Lemon Jelly have announced they will hold a children's matinee before one of their sell out London shows next month. Running from 11am - 1pm on 8 Mar (a Saturday) the event will include acrobats, clowns, jugglers, face painting, inflatables, magicians, plate spinners and free candyfloss. Lemon Jelly will then perform a 45 minute set. Only adults accompanied by one or two children under the age of twelve will be allowed in to the event, being held in aid of CLIC (Challenging Cancer And Leukemia In Childhood).
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NELLY POSTPONES UK TOUR
Nelly has postponed his UK tour until the autumn due to an illness in his family. A Clear Channel spokesman told reporters: "Unfortunately, Nelly has had to postpone the tour due to an unforeseeable personal matter." Tickets will be transferable to the new dates, or refunds will be offered.
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50 CENTS ACTUALLY OUT NOW
Ooops - yesterday we said there was no confirmed UK release date on the 50 Cents album currently going down a storm in the US. In fact that record was released here on Monday (doh!) and is pretty damn likely to top the UK album chart on Sunday, cos anything to do with Eminem sells at the moment.
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Answer to Thursday's pop quiz:
Brits trivia: So Annie Lennox has been Best Female at the Brits six times (see the answer to yesterday's pop quiz) - two other female singers have won the Best Female award twice - who are they?
Alison Moyet (in 1985 and 1988) and Lisa Stansfield (in 1991 and 1992)