| CMU Daily - on the inside Wednesday 15th February |
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In today's CMU Daily:
- British music doing very well thank you very much
- Brits downloads raise money for the trust
- Naomi awards announce 'winners'
- Shoshana Damari dies
- Verizon and MySpace launch unsigned bands competition
- More Spitzer subpoenas issued
- New Zero 7 single and album
- New Yeah Yeah Yeahs single
- New Streets single due soon
- Moby releases live DVD
- Gorillaz release a live album
- Freelance Hellraiser: Remix Night, NME award gigs
- Zutons release dates and tour
- Mogwai update
- Hospital records ten year bash
- Stones beach gig expecting two million
- Starry audience watch Coldplay at Abbey Road
- Heap signs to White Rabbit
- Single review: The Cinematics - Break
- Warner report good financials - digital sales up
- Real report good financials - music sales up
- OfCom block Classic Gold's regional 'cluster' plan
- Creed man arrested for being drunk
- Kapranos hails advent of digital quality control
- Strokes got attacked in London
- Ricky Wilson gives thanks to Ordinary Boy
- Editors talk up fellow nominees
- Hard-Fi plan Brit eBay floggage
- Girl Aoud crits Brits
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TOP BIT>>
So, it's Brits day, and those bits of the music industry that participate in these things will be amassing in Earls Court tonight to pay tribute to the best and the biggest in the British music industry. Will any of us agree with any of the decisions made by the Brits Academy or, in the case of some of the gongs, the voting general public? Probably not. Does it matter? Probably not. After all, all awards are arbitrary - often telling us more about the people doing the awarding rather than the people being awarded. And in the long run, it doesn't really matter. Awards are good for short-term sales boosts, and look nice on the CVs of those who win them, but do they have any effect on what music takes on legendary or classic status long term? After all, we could all quite easily write a list of our favourite artists and albums of the last twenty years, but could you say for sure who the Brit winners were? But that's not to diss the Brits, or any of the other many awards ceremonies out there. In our celeb obsessed world glitzy awards events are a good way to capture the attention of the mainstream media and general public, for a few minutes at least, and if that platform can be used to promote British music in general, or one or another lesser known act in particular, then surely that's a good thing. As is anything that gets the general public discussing the relative merits of Coldplay, Kaiser Chiefs, Hard-Fi, U2 and Springsteen - even if I don't agree with their conclusions. Of course awards are also a good excuse for a piss up, which will presumably be the main aim for most of those in attendance this evening, but even if you're not there, and even if you disagree with every decision made, don't knock the Brits outright - they have their role, and they perform it well. (For those smokers out there heading to the Brits tonight, do enjoy your last nicotine-assisted Awards - perhaps Nicorette could sponsor next year's event - free patches for every nominee).
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BRITISH MUSIC DOING VERY WELL THANK YOU VERY MUCH
So well done us. Well, I say 'us', I really mean well done 'you'. Well, I say 'you', I'm really talking to those CMU Daily readers who sign, produce, promote or champion new UK talent. But that's most of 'you', surely. Most of 'us' in fact.
Anyway, ahead of tonight's Brits back-slapping bash, the BPI have confirmed that the UK recording industry is in good shape, with native artists securing the highest share of UK album sales since 1998.
Native acts accounted for 49.4% of all artist album sales in the UK in 2005, a 7% increase on 2004 figures. At 62.4 million units, this represents the greatest number of albums ever sold by UK musicians in a single year. Six of the year's Top 10 albums were by UK acts, double the number in 2004, and there were 14 UK debut acts in the top 100 - including albums from Kaiser Chiefs, The Magic Numbers, Bloc Party and G4.
Commenting on the figures, BPI chairman Peter Jamieson told reporters: "We are privileged to be living through an exciting time for UK music. From Kaiser Chiefs to KT Tunstall, from Gorillaz to James Blunt, British music is succeeding across the board and UK music fans are responding in their droves. It all means that tomorrow's BRIT Awards show is shaping up to be one of the best yet."
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BRITS DOWNLOADS RAISE MONEY FOR THE TRUST
Talking of the Brits, which we kind of were (well, Peter was), tracks from all nominated artists, including all the tracks featured on the official Brits compilation, can be downloaded via the awards' website - http://www.brits.co.uk. Profits from the Brits download service, run by London based download supplier types 7 Digital, will go to the awards' charitable bit, the Brits Trust.
Commenting on the service Ben Drury of 7 Digital, who are donating their services for free on this charitable venture, told CMU: "It's great to be aligned with the biggest music event in the UK calendar - and to be part of a new offering for viewers. This year they can download the music that they see on the show immediately from the site, from the comfort of their own homes."
The aforementioned Peter Jamieson of the BPI added: "We are delighted to be working with 7Digital, one of the most innovative of the new download platforms. We urge everyone to buy their BRITs downloads from http://www.brits.co.uk. Every download sold directly benefits the charitable work of the BRIT Trust."
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NAOMI AWARDS ANNOUNCE 'WINNERS'
And talking of the Brits, sort of, organisers of the 'worst music' awards, the Naomi Awards, have announced their 'winners' for 2006. Organised by music TV network Music Choice, these are named in honour of Naomi Campbell and her dreadful attempt to break the music business in 1994 with the track 'Love And Tears'.
Commenting on the awards, Music Choice Music And Marketing Director Simon George told CMU: "The Naomis provide a light hearted alternative to all the serious award ceremonies around at this time of year. The Naomi Awards are a chance for true music aficionados to point the finger at those artists who have made truly awful music in the past year."
Anyway, the 'winners' kind of speak for themselves, so we'll say nothing...
Worst British Male Solo Artist: Lee Ryan
Worst British Female Solo Artist: Lisa Scott-Lee
Worst British Album: Steve Brookstein - Heart & Soul
Worst British Single: Lisa Scott-Lee - Electric
Worst Attempt At Rock: Son of Dork
Worst Urban Act: Miss Dynamite
Worst Live Act : Babyshambles
Worst Pop Act: Lisa Scott-Lee
Worst International Male Solo Artist: Jack Johnson
Worst International Female Solo Artist: Jessica Simpson
Worst International Album: Westlife - Face to Face
Worst International Group: Westlife
Worst International Breakthrough Artist: Pussycat Dolls
Outstandingly Bad Contribution To Music: Westlife
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SHOSHANA DAMARI DIES
Shoshana Damari, widely regarded as the 'queen' of Israeli song, died yesterday at the age of 83 after being admitted to a Tel Aviv hospital suffering from pneumonia. The Yemeni-born singer was best known for her nationalist anthems, which became popular in the years that followed the Jewish state's creation in 1948.
President Moshe Katsav described Damari as someone who "united the country and who conveyed hope and optimism", whilst defence minister Shaul Mofaz said her work "would remain in the hearts of soldiers for years to come."
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VERIZON AND MYSPACE LAUNCH UNSIGNED BANDS COMPETITION
US mobile firm Verizon Wireless has teamed up with MySpace to give one unsigned band the chance to distribute their music via the mobile company's content platform VCast. Any band with a MySpace page can enter. MySpace editors will pick their favourite fifteen, who will then be voted down to a final five through a public vote. MySpace and Verizon chiefs will then pick an overall winner, who will then get the chance to make a video and ringtones for their track, which will be made available via VCast. I'm not sure whether the promotion is restricted to US bands or not - but given that any band can have a MySpace page, I suspect UK bands can enter too.
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MORE SPITZER SUBPOENAS ISSUED
Our good friend Eliot Spitzer - New York's Attorney General - has issued a new round of subpoenas against the major record companies in his ongoing investigations into the contracts that exist between the labels and the main download platforms (not to be confused with his ongoing investigations into payola).
As previously reported, Spitzer is investigating allegations that the contracts violate US competition laws - most probably because of the alleged use of so called "most favoured nation" clauses which means a record company can demand they enjoy any benefits offered to their rivals in unrelated contract negotiations.
Spitzer's office subpoenaed documents relating to the labels' download deals at the end of last year, but Warner Music revealed earlier this week that they had received a second subpoena on 3 Feb this year. Warner revealed that fact in its latest filing with the Securities And Exchange Commission, noting that the subpoena is part of an "industry-wide investigation as to whether the practices of industry participants concerning the pricing of digital music downloads violate Section 1 of the [antitrust] Sherman Act"
In the same SEC filing Warner also revealed that the major label faced a civil lawsuit on the same issue. The case - Richard Feferman et al. v. Universal et al - was filed on 29 Dec in the Superior Court Of California. The Warner documents say that they have been "named in a class action lawsuit brought by consumers based on the same subject matter as the Attorney General's request for information alleging conspiracy among record companies to fix prices for downloads".
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NEW ZERO 7 SINGLE AND ALBUM
CMU favourites Zero 7 are back with a new single 'Futures', released 15 Mar. It's the first track to be lifted from their third album 'The Garden', which is due to be released in May, and will be a vinyl only limited edition. The single will be backed by album track 'Dreaming' and the 12" version will also feature instrumental track 'Seeing Things'. The band have a tour planned, dates to be confirmed shortly. Press info from Sainted PR.
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NEW YEAH YEAH YEAHS SINGLE
That new Yeah Yeah Yeah's single, 'Gold Lion', already out through iTunes and other download platforms, is set for its physical release on 20 Mar. It's followed by the release of new album 'Show Your Bones' on 27 Mar. On the album, which is not, by the way, a concept album about her cat (as may have been reported, here, and elsewhere), Karen O has this to say: "Show Your Bones is what happens when you put your finger in a light socket. Maybe there is some of that electric current flowing through the tracks of our album illuminating us from the inside out for you to laugh at and cry to or fry to. Or not."
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NEW STREETS SINGLE DUE SOON
Mike Skinner is back with a new Streets single on 27 Mar. 'When You Wasn't Famous' is the first to be lifted from the new album 'The Hardest Way To Make An Easy Living' out on 10 Apr. The single apparently charts "the true story of Skinner's pursuit of a celebrity girl that put him right back to square one of the dating game" - while elsewhere in the album Skinner tackles other, er, facets of the celebrity lifestyle, with lines like "I realise with you the truth can be a whole lot worse than the flak, my whole life I never thought I'd see a pop star smoke crack."
The Streets play London Astoria on 18 Feb, more dates to be confirmed.
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MOBY RELEASES LIVE DVD
Moby is to release a live DVD next month. 'Moby: Live. The Hotel Tour 2005' is out on 13 Mar, and, as the title might suggest, was recorded during Moby's 2005 Hotel tour. As well as the live stuff, the DVD also features five videos plus two bonus films, one of which is described as a "humorous puppet film starring Mr Fish". Also included is a CD of tracks from 'Hotel' remixed by artists such as Mylo, Tiga, and Steve Angello. Full list of contents as follows:
Moby - Live In Leuven 2005:
Opening Sequence (My Weakness), Find My Baby, Raining Again, Natural Blues, Spiders, Where You End, In My Heart, Go, That's When I Reach For My Revolver, Temptation, Beautiful, Very, Next Is The E, Porcelain, Dream About Me, Why Does My Heart Feel So Bad?, We Are All Made Of Stars, Slipping Away, Honey, Bodyrock, Lift Me Up, Walk On The Wild Side, Für Elise, Feeling So Real
Bonus live tracks:
Extreme Ways, In This World, Break On Through
Videos:
Lift Me Up, Beautiful - Original Version, Raining Again, Spiders, Dream About Me
Bonus Films:
Little Movie #1, Mr. Fish
CD:
Lift Me Up - Superdiscount Mix - Radio Edit
Raining Again - Steve Angello's Vocal Mix
Beautiful - Benny Benassi Remix
Slipping Away - Axwell Vocal Mix
Where You End - Tiga's All I Need Is To Be Sampled Mix
Beautiful - F*** Me I'm Famous Remix by David Guetta & Joachim Garraud
Slipping Away - MHC Radio Edit
Dream About Me - Sebastian Ingrosso Remix
Lift Me Up - Mylo Mix
Raining Again - Ewan Pearson Vocal
Dream About Me - Booka Shade Remix
Slipping Away - Zloot Remix
Dream About Me - The Shortwave Set Pick 'n' Mix
Press info from Pomona.
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GORILLAZ RELEASE A LIVE ALBUM
Gorillaz are to release a live CD and DVD shortly, recorded at their five night residency at the Opera House in Manchester. 'Demon Days Live - At Manchester Opera House' is scheduled for a 3 Apr release.
The tracklisting for the DVD and CD looks not a little like this: Intro, Last Living Souls, Kids With Guns, O Green World, Dirty Harry, Feel Good Inc, El Mañana, Every Planet We Reach Is Dead, November Has Come, All Alone, White Light, DARE, Fire Coming Out Of The Monkey's Head, Don't Get Lost In Heaven, Demon Days, Hong Kong, Latin Simone.
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FREELANCE HELLRAISER: REMIX NIGHT, NME AWARD GIGS
Ahead of the release of that storming double a-side single 'Want You To Know'/'Pound For Pound', out on 27 Feb, the Freelance Hellraiser will be on the decks at Xfm's Remix Night this week, which takes place on Friday at Cargo. Also on the bill are The Longcut and Ivory, plus, of course, Remix host Eddy TM. It all takes place from 7pm to 3am, tickets are £8 before 9pm then £10 - details at http://www.ticketweb.co.uk
It's something of a busy week for the Freelance Hellraiser, who is also DJing at a number of the NME Awards gigs that are currently underway. He was added to the bill quite late in the day so you might not know it, but he is on the decks at the following gigs:
15 Feb: Astoria (Goldie Lookin Chain)
17 Feb: Brixton Academy (Arctic Monkeys / Maximo Park)
18 Feb: Astoria (The Streets)
19 Feb: Astoria (The Cribs)
20 Feb: Astoria (The Bravery)
21 Feb: Astoria (Elbow)
22 Feb: Astoria (Editors)
You can read more on the Freelance Hellraiser round about now in the interviews section on the CMU website - http://www.cmumusicnetwork.co.uk/intervews. Press info on him and his upcoming single/album from Darling or Nile On.
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ZUTONS RELEASE DATES AND TOUR
Hurrah. The Zutons have announced that they will release their much anticipated new album this spring. 'Tired Of Hangin' Around' is produced by Stephen Street, and is preceded by the release of a single 'Why Won't You Give Me Your Love?' on 3 Apr. The band have also announced a summer tour, dates as follows, press info from Coalition.
26 Apr: London Shepherds Bush Empire
4 May: Sheffield Octagon
5 May: Carlisle Sands Centre
6 May: Preston Guildhall
7 May: Newcastle Academy
9 May: Glasgow Barrowlands
10 May: Perth Concert Hall
11 May: Aberdeen Music Hall
12 May: Greenock Town hall
15 May: Edinburgh Queens Hall
16 May: Leeds University
18 May: Birmingham Academy
19 May: Cambridge Corn Exchange
21 May: Cardiff University
22 May: Bristol Colson Hall
23 May: Southampton Guildhall
25 May: Folkstone Leas Cliff Hall
26 May: Stoke Victoria Hall
27 May: Manchester Academy
28 May: Truro Hall Foer Cornwall
30 May: Reading Hexagon
31 May: Nottingham Rock City
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MOGWAI UPDATE
A couple of bits of Mogwai news, most interestingly, the announcement that the band are working on a movie soundtrack for a film about the life of celebrated French footballer Zinedine Zidane. 'Zidane: A 21st Century Portrait' is co-directed by fellow Glaswegian Douglas Gordon, and is a real-time 90 minute portrait of the sportsman. Sounds interesting.
The band, of course, release a new album, 'Mr Beast', on 6 Mar, plus a single will be available to download as of Monday, a live version of new album track 'Glasgow Mega Snake'. They head out on a worldwide tour in March, UK dates as follows. Press info from Hermana.
29 Mar: Bristol, Academy
30 Mar: Southampton, Uni
31 Mar: Wolverhampton, Wulfrun Hall
01 Apr: Oxford, Brookes Un
02 Apr: Cardiff, Coal Exchange
04 Apr: Cambridge, Junction
05 Apr: Liverpool, Carling Acdemy
06 Apr: Newcastle, Northumbria Uni
07 Apr: Sheffield, The Plug
27 Apr: Edinburgh, Queens Hall (Triptych Festival)
22 Sep: London Royal Albert Hall
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HOSPITAL RECORDS TEN YEAR BASH
Hospital Records are celebrating their ten year anniversary. Happy Anniversary, Hospital Records. Not only that, but they're also celebrating their 100th release. But what, I hear you ask, are they doing to celebrate this milestone? They're going to have a party that's what, the latest installment of Hospitality at Heaven. The venue, not a place some people believe you go to when you die, obviously. It's all taking place on 24 Feb from 10pm until 6am, see http://www.heaven-london.com/tickets.
Here's the somewhat storming line-up:
Room 1: Andy C, LTJ Bukem, London Elektricity (DJ Set), High Contrast, Total Science Cyantific, Logistics, Nu:Tone, Conrad, SP:MC, Dynamite MC, MC Wrec, MC Ruthless.
Room 2: Annie Mac, Touche, Boy 8-Bit, Rachel Barton.
Room 3: L Double / Craggz + Parallel Forces, Kasra / CLS + Wax, Mc Ruthless + Ayah.
Room 4: Heatwave Soundsystem.
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STONES BEACH GIG EXPECTING TWO MILLION
That previously reported Rolling Stones gig on Rio's Copacabana Beach, which will take place this weekend, is expected to draw a crowd of nearly two million fans. The concert will be staged ahead of the city's famous carnival celebrations, and spectators are set to fill a two and a half mile long stretch of coastline.
Brazil's Health Secretary Flavio Tanure told reporters "this is the biggest live show that has ever occurred in the world", though that is probably a slight exaggeration - according to the Guiness Book Of Records a Rod Stewart concert on the same beach drew 3.5 million back in 1994.
It all sounds like a recipe for disaster to me, and with that incident in Sao Paulo earlier this month when three people were crushed to death as music fans surged forward in a bid to see Mexican pop band RBD, similar concerns have been raised in the Brazilian press. However officials in Rio say they aren't too worried. Tanure continued: "It's similar to New Year's, and we have significant experience with live shows on the beach".
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STARRY AUDIENCE WATCH COLDPLAY AT ABBEY ROAD
That previously reported Coldplay set at Abbey Road Studios took place last night in front of an audience that included Glastonbury honcho Michael Eavis, jazz goblin Jamie Cullum, and your friend and mine, Kanye West, who was working at the studio and dropped in for the latter half of the set.
The gig, Coldplay's only planned live appearance of the year, was recorded for BBC Radio 2, and will be broadcast in April, coinciding with band's next single release 'The Hardest Part'.
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HEAP SIGNS TO WHITE RABBIT
CMU favourite Imogen Heap has become the first act to be signed to Nick Raphael's SonyBMG imprint White Rabbit. The singer, who has just finished a US tour, will release her next single 'Goodnight And Go' via the label on 10 Apr, a week ahead of the re-release of album 'Speak For Yourself' on 17 Apr.
Raphael says: "We are over the moon to be working with an artist like Imogen whose beautifully crafted album could be the surprise package of 2006 both here and internationally. Her growing popularity in the US is a great platform for us to build upon."
Heap's upcoming tour dates are as follows:
26 Mar: Manchester, Academy 3
27 Mar: Birmingham, Bar Academy
28 Mar: Bristol, Fleece & Firkin
30 Mar: London, Shepherds Bush Empire
1 Apr: Newcastle, Academy 2
2 Apr: Glasgow, Arches
3 Apr: York, Fibbers
5 Apr: Brighton, Komedia
6 Apr: Nottingham, Rescue Rooms
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SINGLE REVIEW: The Cinematics - Break (TVT Records)
In these days of guerrilla advertising, you have to hand it to The Cinematics. Go to iTunes, and you will find four almost identical and suspiciously badly written reviews, all claiming to have seen the young Scots supporting Editors, and all giving them maximum five stars. But so what if, as I suspect, they wrote the reviews themselves? The Cinematics are good! Sure, the lyrics are a little sticky at times - "darkness can sometimes be a pleasure to me" - but the sentiment is good, and the literal and straightforward darkness works here. Musically, this is also darker than previous single 'Chase'. The aforementioned Editors are a clear parallel, but The Cinematics actually have better tunes. There is also more going on here, more complex instrumentals, and far more beauty. On the b-side, 'Human', singer Scott's voice sounds at times uncannily like Brett Anderson's at its most soaring. Brilliant. Says the iTunes review, "Awesome The Cinematics Are Going to Be Big". Even if they do say so themselves. SIA
Release Date: 6 Mar
Press Contact: Impressive PR [all]
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WARNER REPORT GOOD FINANCIALS - DIGITAL SALES UP
The Warner Music Group enjoyed some good fortune in its most recent quarter, with sales up a massive 176 percent on the same quarter last year to $69 million. So well done them. This was all revealed in the major record company's latest financial report, which also made those above mentioned revelations about Eliot Spitzer and all his subpoenas.
Perhaps most interesting about the latest Warner figures is that they show a continued growth in digital revenues. Digital formats - so that's downloads, ringtones and all that kind of stuff - accounted for 7% of Warners' overall income in the last quarter. On the ever growing importance of digital sales, Warner boss Edgar Bronfman Jnr told reporters: "Our intense focus on and investment in the digital music business yielded dramatic growth in digital revenue, which was a major contributor to gains in total worldwide recorded music performance on a constant-currency basis."
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REAL REPORT GOOD FINANCIALS - MUSIC SALES UP
Talking of good financials, RealNetworks have reported another profitable quarter, with revenues up 15%. The digital media firm's recent settlement of long running legal issues with Microsoft, coupled with a boost in subscribers, especially of music services, all helped the company achieve a record net income figure of $295.6 million. Music revenue was up 50% on 2004 figures - to $97.5 million. Announcing the figures, Real boss Rob Glaser told reporters: "2005 was a watershed year for RealNetworks: We achieved record annual revenue, returned the company to profitability, settled our antitrust litigation in a manner that generated significant shareholder value."
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OFCOM BLOCK CLASSIC GOLD'S REGIONAL 'CLUSTER' PLAN
The media regulator OfCom has refused a request by UBC Media to reorganise their network of local Classic Gold stations into 'regional clusters'. The move would have seen Classic Gold outlets in the same region carrying the same local content - a move which UBC would argue would enable them to increase the budgets of those local programmes, but which, OfCom decided, would ultimately reduce the actual 'localness'.
The big radio groups have for a while, of course, run an increasing amount of their local radio operations from central HQs, with music policy, promotions and off-peak programming often the same across all stations. OfCom has a responsibility to ensure some kind of local programming remains, and officials there say that to allow Classic Gold to set up regional clusters would open the door for all radio groups to turn their networks of local stations into 'quasi-national' radio stations.
They did, however, agree to a request by UBC that the four hours of local programming they must carry on their Classic Gold stations could appear at any point in daytime - currently they must appear during breakfast or drivetime.
Commenting on OfCom's decision, Classic Gold MD John Baish told reporters: "We're very pleased that Ofcom's decision will allow us greater flexibility in local programming. We're disappointed, however, that what we saw as a far-sighted solution to creating new regional programming does not meet with the regulator's approval. We nevertheless remain optimistic that our vision of the way radio should be delivered locally is what will prevail eventually."
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CREED MAN ARRESTED FOR BEING DRUNK
Creed frontman Scott Stapp was arrested at LA International Airport over the weekend for 'being drunk in public', which I didn't know was an offence, but there you go. The arrest happened after some kind of 'disturbance' involving the singer. When police were called they reportedly found Stapp to be "antagonistic" and "boisterous". Subsequent blood tests showed alcohol levels of 0.18, over twice that legally acceptable in the state. He was released on a $250 bail the same day, and is due to face the charges at a LA court on 8 Mar.
Stapp was reportedly flying into LA after being in Miami last Friday to marry girlfriend Jaclyn Nesheiwat.
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KAPRANOS HAILS ADVENT OF DIGITAL QUALITY CONTROL
Franz frontman Alex Kapranos thinks that the age of the download will mean that artists will have to make better albums instead of relying on the occasional hit single to sell their long players. Kapranos apparently said: "I like the idea that, because of downloading, people are gonna buy songs only if they are good. It means lazy bands aren't going to get away with giving you the one hit single and an album full of fillers."
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STROKES GOT ATTACKED IN LONDON
The Strokes' Albert Hammond Jr says that English people were always trying to beat the band up when they first came to the UK to promote debut LP 'Is This It'. English people? Kicking off? Some mistake, surely?
Apparently not. The guitarist told Giant magazine: "When we first came out, there were a lot of people, especially in England, who wanted to fight us. We had to get security because people would try to start serious fights, like bottle us in the head. There was a fight that broke out once. Nikolai [Fraiture] and Fab [Moretti] were getting into a car and this guy hit Nikolai in the head with a bottle. The two of them definitely stuck together. The security guards were like, 'What?!'"
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RICKY WILSON GIVES THANKS TO ORDINARY BOY
Ricky Wilson says that Kaiser Chiefs would be nowhere without the patronage of Preston Ordinary Boys. Wilson apparently told The Sun: "It was Preston who convinced his boss at the B-Unique label to sign us. Otherwise we might still be unheard of. He went out of his way to help us. He pestered and pestered on our behalf because he had faith in us."
Wilson went on to say that if his band win a Brit, the Ordinary Boys frontman will get a name check: "I can't thank him enough - and I'll say so from the stage if I get the chance."
Commenting on Preston's Big Brother appearance, he continued: "He is a good friend of mine. I thought he was mental to go on BB. But two days in I realised he had made the best decision of his life. He came across really well."
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EDITORS TALK UP FELLOW NOMINEES
Gosh there's a lot of heartwarming mutual niceness and back-patting going on between bands at the moment. It's almost as if the Gallaghers' never existed. This time Editors' Tom Smith has praised fellow Brit Award nominees Franz Ferdinand and Kaiser Chiefs.
He apparently told The Star: "Everyone's talking about how British bands have been enjoying a great run of success recently and I think that's true. Groups like Kaiser Chiefs are brilliant. Their songs are incredibly catchy. I remember seeing them at the end of last year and every song from their set was imprinted on my memory. They're one of the major success stories."
On Franz Ferdinand, he added: "They're a very important band and before they came along that kind of guitar music wasn't being played on the radio. It's great listening so hopefully they will win something."
And whilst we're talking about Editors, the band have extended their May tour to include three shows in Ireland. They appear at the Savoy in Cork on 23 May, the Ambassador in Dublin on 24 May and Belfast's Mandela Hall on 25 May.
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HARD-FI PLAN BRIT EBAY FLOGGAGE
And whilst we're talking of Brit nominees, according to The Star, Hard-Fi's Richard Archer has joked that if the band pick up a trophy at tonight's event, they may well have to flog it, given that it would be hard to share the one award between the group's members. Archer said: "Maybe we could melt it down and make four little ones or we'll put it on eBay. It could pay for the first installment on my hot tub. I like the idea of being showbiz and putting one in the garden."
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GIRL ALOUD CRITS BRITS
And whilst we're on the subject of Brit nominations, sounds of discontent are apparently emanating from the Girls Aloud camp, because they weren't nominated for an award - so much so they have decided not to attend the event at all. The aforementioned Richard Archer thought they ought to be nominated in the Best Pop category, to be fair, and so do CMU. Because you may not like Girls Aloud, but they do in fact do good pop.
Anyway, according to that ever-reliable source The Mirror, the blonde one Sarah Harding says: "We aren't nominated for a Brit. It's a complete joke - we can't believe it. It's become so American. Look at the best pop category. It's the likes of Madonna, who isn't pop and isn't British. Kelly Clarkson isn't British either. It doesn't give British pop acts like us a chance.So I think we're going to be in Australia promoting our new album over there."