| CMU Daily - on the inside 2 Dec 2003 |
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In today's CMU Daily:
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Coke confirm controversial chart sponsorship
- RAJAR admit stats error
- Suede plan rarities CD for fan club
- MTV say Edinburgh is great
- Busted announce open air shows
- 50 Cent dominates billboard nominations
- Album Review: Blink 182 - Blink 182
- Love Actually stars give mixed response to Nighy track
- Chimaira tour
- The Hospital searches for next generation of hip hop talent
- Album Review: Dani Siciliano - Likess
- Policeman investigating Jacko bugged
- Timberlake's 'secret' post-show gig
- Merriweather to support Timberlake
- Bowie to headline IOW too
- Records of the year
- Callum best selling jazz act
- Digital turn ons
- Labels bid for sixteen year old unknown
- Boyzone threatening charity reunion
- BBC message boards not impressed with new look TOTP
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COKE CONFIRM CONTROVERSIAL CHART SPONSORSHIP
The BBC yesterday responded to criticism over the news they would be plugging Coca Cola on air in the New Year because of a new chart sponsorship deal. Coke have signed a multi-million pound sponsorship deal with the UK Chart Company who compile the main singles and album charts. The deal will also cover a new downloads chart. Although the UK Chart Company is independent from the Beeb, the Corporation's own deal with the chart compilers means the sponsor will get two mentions on Radio 1's chart show and a credit on its main pop TV show Top of the Pops.
The BBC argues it does not benefit directly from any sponsorship deal, and the credits to Coca Cola as sponsors of the chart are a statement of fact rather than on-air promotion. Commenting on the deal a Radio 1 spokesman said: "We are not involved in brokering the deal. That is something the chart company does. We will reflect it in the same way as we do Renault sponsoring Prom In The Park. It's not setting a precedent. Coca Cola will get two factual mentions to stay within producer guidelines."
It's not the first time the BBC has been forced to give airtime to the chart company's sponsor, three years ago the charts were sponsored by music website Worldpop. However the latest deal is likely to cause more controversy coming, as it does, just as British lobbying groups hit out at junk food / sugar drink brands targeting teenagers through pop sponsorship.
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RAJAR ADMIT STATS ERROR
More problems for radio ratings body RAJAR. While TalkSport's Kelvin MacKenzie sets about suing the company for failing to introduce more sophisticated technology based methods of tracking radio listening, the group yesterday had to admit the figures it released for the third quarter for fifteen stations in Wales were wrong. The mistake was related to a statistical system unique to Wales which takes into account Welsh speakers. The slip was put down to an administrative error.
A spokesman for RAJAR told reporters: "It was an administrative error, but in most cases the change was negligible, a couple of thousand listeners or a couple of percentage points."
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SUEDE PLAN RARITIES CD FOR FAN CLUB
Always a band dedicated to their fan club, the NME has heard Suede are putting together a special rarities album especially for fan club members. As previously reported, Suede plan to call it a day, for the time being at least, after the current tour is complete. The special record should be sent out to fan club members in the New Year.
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MTV SAY EDINBURGH IS GREAT
MTV were so impressed with the city of Edinburgh as hosts for their European Music Awards that they've manufactured a special award to say thank you. MTV bosses presented Scottish Tourism Minister Frank McAveety and Edinburgh's Lord Provost Lesley Hinds with the 'You're Great Award' in Edinburgh yesterday.
Presenting the award MTV's Simon Guild told reporters: "We were staggered by the incredible support, the high level of local expertise and the warm welcome we received from everyone in Scotland. We believe that the 10th MTV Europe Music Awards was one of the best MTV shows ever made, anywhere in the world."
Accepting the award, Mr McAveety said: "I am delighted for Edinburgh and for Scotland that we have been recognised by the organisers as hosting the best ever MTV awards ceremony with our own special award. We have showcased what we have to offer to a global audience and won worldwide admiration for it. I think that speaks volumes about everyone involved whose hard work made such a great opportunity for Edinburgh and the rest of Scotland come to life."
Officials reckon the MTV Awards generated £4m for the city's economy and helped to promote it as a tourist destination - they will be hoping the success of the event overcomes criticism earlier this year that the city's investment in the music awards exceeded its financial commitment to it's own Edinburgh Festival.
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BUSTED ANNOUNCE OPEN AIR SHOWS
Book your tickets quick - Busted have announced three open air gigs for next July. Tickets went on sale yesterday, dates as follows:
16 Jul: Ipswich Christchurch Gardens
17 Jul: Broadlands, Romsey, Hampshire
18 Jul: Powderham Castle, Exeter.
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50 CENT DOMINATES BILLBOARD NOMINATIONS
Few surprises in the shortlists for this year's Billboard Awards, which take place in Las Vegas next week. Based on performance in the main Billboard charts over the last year, 50 Cent is unsurprisingly up for the most awards. The MC is nominated for six categories, including Artist Of The Year, Album Of The Year (for 'Get Rich or Die Tryin'), R&B/Hip-Hop Artist Of The Year and Hot 100 Single Of The Year ('In Da Club').
Beyonce performs well with five nominations, while VP/Atlantic dancehall star Sean Paul is up for four awards. Despite controversial years, albeit for very different reasons, both R Kelly and the Dixie Chicks perform well, picking up five and four nominations respectively.
Among Beyonce's nominations is one for a new category - that of Digital Track Of The Year. She competes with Jay Z, Black Eyed Peas, Coldplay and Outkast for that award.
Needless to say Justin Timberlake is also up for multiple awards - he has three nominations. Other multiple nominated artists include Norah Jones, Shania Twain, Aaliyah, Floetry, Linkin Park and Audioslave.
The awards take place on 10 Dec at 8pm and will be broadcast in the US on the Fox Network.
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ALBUM REVIEW: Blink 182 - Blink 182 (Universal/Island)
Despite a lot of conceptual deep-talking profundis, the San Diego trio, Blink 182, have arrived at another ram-jammed pop punk long-player. In many ways, Blink 182 saying that they were going to go into the studio and make an album that doesnàt sound like Blink 182, is like the Sugababes saying that theyàre doing an experimental rock album: It'll always be the same. In this case, all the better for being so: 16 tracks of Southern Californian teenage angst pumped through the punk extruder into whining ballads and fuck-yeeeew anthems. Wicked. Just as I let Darius's album sit in between Danzig and the Easy Rider Soundtrack, Blink 182 would be happy with Black Sabbath on one side and Carole King on the other: It's just a good album for what it is. No messing about. Anyone whingeing about how Blink 182 have gone stale, or still sound like a poor man's Greenday. can lick my balls and play Dookie again. Says Macaroni on the outside: and it's Macaroni on the inside. Foolproof. DB
Release date: 17 Nov
Press contact: Island IH
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LOVE ACTUALLY STARS GIVE MIXED RESPONSE TO NIGHY TRACK
Actors from the movie Love Actually have given a mixed response to the news that the Bill Nighy rendition of 'Love Is All Around' - which is Christmas number one in the movie - is set to compete for Christmas number one in the real world.
Word is that Nighy is thrilled at the possibility of life imitating art. But Alan Rickman told reporters "I wouldn't be listening to a radio station that played that". And Colin Firth added: "Past the first listen I don't think I'd spend a lot of time with it. It's designed to hurt the eardrums."
But co-stars Emma Thompson and Laura Linley were more charitable declaring they'd play the song "from the rooftops" if it came on the radio.
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CHIMAIRA TOUR
Mark Hunter and his band Chimaira return to the UK for a headline tour, following a stint on last month's second annual Roadrunner Roadrage tour. The dates are as follows:
2 Feb: Oxford Zodiac
3 Feb: Cardiff Engine Rooms
4 Feb: Exeter Lemon Grove
5 Feb: Portsmouth Wedgewood Rooms
6 Feb: London Mean Fiddler
7 Feb: Birmingham Academy 2
8 Feb: Manchester Hop & Grape
9 Feb: Nottingham Rock City
10 Feb: Glasgow King Tuts
11 Feb: Sheffield Corporation
12 Feb: Leeds Joseph Wells
13 Feb: Colchester Soundhaus
14 Feb: Liverpool University
15 Feb: Dublin Temple Bar Music Centre
16 Feb: Belfast Limelight
17 Feb: Newcastle Northumbria University
18 Feb: Edinburgh Venue
19 Feb: Northampton Soundhaus
For further info, contact Luke at Roadrunner - 0208-749-2984.
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THE HOSPITAL SEARCHES FOR NEXT GENERATION OF HIP HOP TALENT
As part of the series of workshops and events organised to support that 'Yes Yes Y'All' history of hip hop exhibition, London's new creative centre The Hospital is set to host an open mic competition for up and coming hip hop talent from in and around London.
There's heats on five Wednesday nights (10th Dec, 17th Dec, 7th Jan, 14th Jan and 21st Jan) where entrants can either perform their own brand of hip hop acapella, over tunes provided by the resident DJ or a pre-arranged track of their own choice. The best performers from every Wednesday night will be voted for by the audience and put forward to the grand final on 21 Jan.
The finalists will compete for free studio time at The Hospital and assistance in recording a two-track demo CD of their own material.
For more information on the event, call Jessica Stewart on 0207 7170 9133
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ALBUM REVIEW: Dani Siciliano - LikesS (!K7)
Though not known much past her own frontdoor as anything other than 'Herbert's singer' (and only a select few know that much), Dani Siciliano has cut her own niche in music with her debut album, 'LikesS'. It is clear that Dani has borrowed much method as well as style from Herbert, but she has also brought something very individual to the blend, with guest appearances from Gabriel Olegavich
(French horn), Max de Wardner, O Mugson (guitar) and Matthew Herbert as Dr Rockit. A good way of describing the album would be to say that it's like a Nora Jones/Skye Edwards/Beth Orton/Pink album if it were produced by Herbert/Soulwax/Coldcut/4 Hero/Bugz in the Attic. All the good singers get stolen by pop music and major labels; luckily weàve managed to keep Dani on
our side. A serene album that grows and grows. JG
Release date: 26 Jan
Press Contact: Shilland [all]
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POLICEMAN INVESTIGATING JACKO BUGGED
Following the news that Micheal Jackson has been videoed while he discussed the recent child abuse allegations with his attorney on the way to be officially arrested, now police officials in Santa Barbara say they reckon they too have been bugged by over-keen media looking out for some Jacko gossip.
The police department say several wireless microphones were discovered outside the Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Department headquarters on 20 Nov, the day of Jackson's arrest. The microphones were focused on an area where employees sit during their breaks - presumably hoping to pick up some internal gossip on the case.
The departments Sgt Chris Pappas told reporters: "Several microphones were observed by our personnel, in an outside area generally frequented by employees during their break times. Once we were made aware of them, we removed them."
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TIMBERLAKE'S 'SECRET' POST-SHOW GIG
Justin Timberlake will play a 'not all that secret' gig at London's Coronet club after his Earls Court date this Sunday. Doors open at 11pm.
Meanwhile according to the Sun Mr Timberlake has turned down an offer to play Superman in the forthcoming blockbuster movie centring on the superhero. The paper quotes the singer as saying: "I told them, 'Whatever you're smoking, dude, I don't want any of it. It's just not me."
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MERRIWEATHER TO SUPPORT TIMBERLAKE
Talking of Justin's show, if you're planning on attending one of the arena dates make sure you check out support act Daniel Merriweather, who will be performing alongside Mark Ronson on the tour. We've heard Merriweather's up coming single 'City Rules' - due for a Jan release - and it's hot. The single, produced by Mark Ronson & Justin Stanley, will be released on Ice-Station Records.
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BOWIE TO HEADLINE IOW TOO
Following the news that David Bowie will headline Scottish music festival T in the Park, organisers of the revived Isle Of Wight Festival yesterday confirmed Bowie would be headlining their 2004 event too. The IOW Festival will take place from 11-13 Jun 2004.
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RECORDS OF THE YEAR
It's that time of year when everyone wants to tell you what the best record of the year was. ITV's annual Record Of The Year event takes place this weekend giving viewers the chance to vote on which of the following is the best single of 2003:
Beyonce - Crazy In Love
Busted - Year 3000
Daniel Bedingfield - If You're Not The One
Dido - White Flag
Evanescence - Bring Me To Life
Fat Man Scoop - Be Faithful
Rachel Stevens - Sweet Dreams My LA Ex
Room 5 featuring Oliver Cheatham - Make Luv
The Black Eyed Peas - Where is the Love?
Westlife - Mandy
Those who want to, can hear all ten on ITV this Saturday at 5.45pm, before voting on which is the best.
Elsewhere in end-of-year surveys Q magazine has named the White Stripes' 'Elephant' as the best album of 2004, closely followed by Blur's 'Think Tank'. The magazine's team commented: "Elephant's greatest legacy will be convincing a new generation of wannabe rock stars that small and strange can still be massive."
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CALLUM BEST SELLING JAZZ ACT
While some would debate his jazz credentials, Jamie Cullum is the first 'British jazz artist' to have a platinum album. His debut album 'Twentysomething' has shifted 300,000 units in one month - putting him quite away ahead of Courtney Pine, previously the UK's best selling jazz artist, whose best selling albums have gone silver.
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DIGITAL TURN ONS
Digital transmitter news! Digital radio group New Digital One have put live new transmitters in Hemel and Mounteagle - meaning improved or new digital radio coverage in North London, Hertfordshire and Inverness. Listeners in those areas will now be able to receive digital transmissions from Classic FM, Virgin Radio, talkSPORT, Core, Planet Rock, Life, Oneword and PrimeTime Radio.
Meanwhile digital terrestrial TV has gone live in, erm, Japan. The Japanese government has investing £1 billion in building the technology required to bring digital TV to their people. Officially turning on the digital transmissions Japan's prime minister Junichiro Koizumi said: "As we mark 50 years since the start of analogue television broadcasting in 1953, I believe we are at a historic moment as television evolves one step further."
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LABELS BID FOR SIXTEEN YEAR OLD UNKNOWN
Word is there's a bidding war going on between major record labels over a sixteen year old singer from Poole in Dorset. Erin Rocha is apparently subject to a bidding war by BMG, Warners and Universal after her debut song 'Can't Do Right for Doing Wrong', released by independent Flying Sparks, got Radio 2 airplay.
Flying Sparks boss Ian Brown discovered Rocha when she was doing work experience at a Hampshire recording studio. When a sessions singer didn't show Rocha filled in - Brown was so impressed he signed her.
With Rocha's single - out 15 Dec - getting so much interest and even being tipped as an outsider for the Christmas number one spot, Brown is now playing hardball: "Erin is signed to Flying Sparks, so they'll have to buy the whole label if they want her."
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BOYZONE THREATENING CHARITY REUNION
Some pretty bad things have been done in the name of charity over the years - but now Ronan Keating is threatening to organised a Boyzone reunion for a one-off charity gig.
Keating told the Daily Record that he has discussed the possibility of a charity reunion with Shane Lynch. While not being drawn on an actual date that in itself is quite a move forward - Keating and Lynch fell out big time when the former turned down a money-spinning Boyzone world tour a few years back.
Keating told the paper: "I've never said we'd never get back together again. You never know what's down the road. I don't know if the reunion is going to be happening in the near future, but it could be a possibility because I never thought we'd be talking again and now we are."
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BBC MESSAGE BOARDS NOT IMPRESSED WITH NEW LOOK TOTP
Despite a good critical response to the new look Top of the Pops - and a dramatic increase in audience figures - the viewer responses to the new look show on the TOTP website are less than complimentary. Among the viewer criticism:
- "Sadly, the show seems to have grown an even bigger ego than the artists it parades. It's had its day and should be retired."
- "Oh dear! In the hands of a former children's telly presenter we got what we should have expected... plastic, juvenile, watered down tea-time crud."
- "A presenter who should have stayed with MTV where he would have continued into obscurity and a format that's as useful as Windows 3.1. This can't go on. Somebody on high cut the wires... please!!!"
- "A local parish church would come up with if shown a tape of CD:UK and asked to recreate [it]".
If only the government's 'we're listening' message boards were so honest!