| CMU Daily - on the inside Wednesday 29th March |
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In today's CMU Daily:
- Xfm shortlisted for Sony UK station of the year
- Crazy may top singles chart on download sales alone
- New BBC 3 music show launches this Friday
- Pay Day launches this Friday
- The Game sues Koch over 'demo' album releases
- Wailer court case continues
- Village People policeman in custody
- Revamped Wembley Arena opens this weekend
- New Razorlight album a classic, say, er, Razorlight
- Keane on the new album
- Tool new album news
- White loves Arctic Monkeys
- Nikki Sudden dies
- Alan Confrey dies
- Single review: Whirlwind Heat - Reagan EP
- T In The Park update
- Anthrax tour
- Bunnymen single, tour
- Panic! At The Disco tour
- Hell Is For Heroes announce tour
- New Forward Russia! dates
- Tom Jones tour
- Virgin Records UK appoint new A&R
- Nordoff-Robbins launch LA division
- The Beatles quit smoking
- Simon Cowell plans new US reality show
- Jackson musical for West End
- Bourne gets De Lorean
- Sony Award nominations in full
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TOP BIT>>
As the world recovers from the excitement of Matt Willis' debut solo showcase in London last night (actually, ignore the sarcasm, he was really rather good - my suspicions that he might be the Busted boy with the most longevity as a performer might as yet prove to be true) time for a Top Bit from the 'supported by CMU' file. This Friday Glasgow record label Soma Recordings will stage another one of their Soma Skool events, providing anyone wanting to make a career out of music - on or back stage - the opportunity to gain tips and insights from a range of people working in the industry. This one will take place in Glasgow, at the Arches venue, from 11am to 3pm. There'll be guitar, drumming and music kit demos, sessions on soundtracks, music artwork and podcasting, career interviews with execs from different parts of the music industry, and a panel discussion on music and the media. Soma have been staging these events in various Scottish cities for a few years now and while we've been covering them since the start, this is the first one where CMU is actually in attendance, which is ALL quite exciting (well, for us anyway). If you're based in Glasgow and at the start of your music industry career, then check out http://www.somaskool.com/ for details. If you want more info or press info about the event contact [email protected]
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PRESS ROOM>>
THE INSOMNIACS BALL... Kill All Hippies and Stylish Riots present London's first ever all-night indoor festival, kicking off the Easter Weekend on Thursday April 13th, with three live stages and dozens of live bands and DJs underneath the arches at London Bridge in the seOne club. Line up so far includes no less than British Sea Power, White Rose Movement, Mando Diao, Battle, New Rhodes, The Pipettes, Art Brut, Dogs, The Rifles, Komakino, Good Shoes, Cooper Temple Clause (DJ set) and The Rakes (DJ set). How good is this? Doors will open at 8pm, when the live music begins, and the entertainment will continue until 6am the following morning - Good Friday. Full details at http://www.insomniacsball.co.uk - for details of a special student discount check http://www.thebeatsbar.co.uk.
Press info: http://www.cmumusicnetwork.co.uk/pressroom/insomniacsball
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RIGHT NOW IN THE CMU BEATS BAR>>
MySpace Of The Day: Shitdisco
In a thriving scene of Orange Juice riffs and angled haircuts, Shitdisco is the antithesis of Scotland's musical renaissance. Coming across like the screeching spawn of LCD Soundsystem and The Rapture this band is scuzzed up electro-punk played with cyclonic velocity. This MySpace site captures the unhinged chaos of the ShitDisco live experience, offering full downloads of the magnificently incessant 'I Know Kung Fu' and equally demonic 'Disco Blood'. As the band embarks on an all encompassing UK tour this is a blood-thirsty introduction to the skewed psychosis of Glasgow's pulsating subculture - a place where discos are anything but shit.
www.myspace.com/shitdisco
More on our MySpace Of The Day at http://www.thebeatsbar.co.uk
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XFM SHORTLISTED FOR SONY UK STATION OF THE YEAR
Perhaps we're a bit biased - it's no secret we've got a few friends there after all - but surely a bit of kudos is due to Xfm for getting shortlisted for the overall UK Station Of The Year category at this year's Sony Radio Academy Awards, a category normally dominated by the national BBC stations. The inclusion comes thanks to a slight change in the rules for this category, and recognises the alternative music station's arrival in Scotland and Manchester in the last six months, and its increasing popularity on Sky and digital, but whatever - it's great to see it up for one of the big gongs of the night. They're up against Radios 1 and 2 who will provide pretty tough competition, but wouldn't it be great if they won?
Anyway, this is a roundabout way of telling you that the nominations for this year's Sony Radio Academy Awards were announced last night - this, of course, being the UK radio industry's big awards bash. Some of the usual suspects appear (Chris Evans, Chris Moyles, Danny Baker and Jonathan Ross fill up four fifths of the nominations for The Entertainment Award), but overall there seems to be a good spread of the local and national, mainstream and alternative, BBC and commercial (well, there does from my quick 6am-in-the-morning scan through the nominations). The full list of nominees is at the bottom of today's Daily - so see for yourself.
Officially launching the awards for 2006, the chair of the awards committee, Tim Blackmore, told reporters: "The accelerating rate of change within our industry is reflected in the way these awards have kept pace across almost a quarter of a century. The enthusiastic support for 'The Sony's' from all sectors of UK radio is evidenced by an outstanding year in which the overall number of entries has increased, alongside a significant increase in support from our local and regional broadcasters."
Two more CMU favourites are up for the Specialist Music Programme Award - Zane Lowe for his Radio 1 show (no surprise there though) and, perhaps more excitingly, the Loose Cannons for their Kiss 100 show. Hurrah!
The awards themselves take place at London's Grosvenor House hotel on 8 May.
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CRAZY MAY TOP SINGLES CHART ON DOWNLOAD SALES ALONE
Talking of the Zane Lowe show, which we were, a trailer for the Radio 1 programme being aired across the BBC network may have had its part to play in a little bit of chart history.
Early week sales stats suggest that Gnarls Barkley's 'Crazy' (the track used in the Zane Lowe Show TV ads) may well be number one this weekend. Why making history? Well, the physical CD single of the track doesn't go on sale until next Monday, meaning the track would top the singles chart on download sales alone. As previously reported, pre-physical release download sales are now being counted in the overall singles chart stats the week prior to physical release which, as also previously reported, is how Ne*Yo got to number 18 the week prior to his actual single release. Should the 'Crazy' track get to number one then it will be the first ever single to do so on download sales alone.
Gnarls Barkley, of course, is a collaboration of rapper/singer Cee-Lo and producer DJ Dangermouse. With chart success beckoning for Dangermouse, perhaps an official release of his slightly controversial totally unofficial cease-and-desist-letter-inspiring Beatles/Jay-Z mash up album 'The Grey Album' is now due? And if it is, can we then get an official release of the 'American Edit' Green Day mash up album that also got cease-and-desisted off the internet - I've been listening to it a lot recently and its flippin marvellous. Hang on, how did a bit of chart news turn into a mash-up rant?
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NEW BBC 3 MUSIC SHOW LAUNCHES THIS FRIDAY
Back to the script, and talking of Zane Lowe, more news on the new BBC 3 music programme that will be presented by Zane, Annie Mac, Nihal and comedian Russell Kane - the previously reported Guerilla Gig Live, which kicks off this Friday at 11pm over there on the Beeb's third channel.
Playing on the first show, which will be filmed at London's Truman Brewery, will be The Raconteurs, Jose Gonzalez, Kano, Guillemots and the winners of Zane Lowe's on-air Fresh Meat competition Send More Paramedics.
An additional 'mystery band' will play the actual 'guerilla gig' that the show is named after - that bit will take place at a mystery venue which, if I remember rightly, will be announced on air at the start of the show so that viewers who are keen / available / conveniently situated geographically can get on down there to watch the gig live. If I also remember rightly, that gig will be available to view on Radio 1's website or via 'press-your-red-button' digital interactive. Perhaps I should have done more research before writing this story. Ah well, I'm pretty sure there'll be more information here:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/guerilla or http://www.myspace/guerilla.
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PAY DAY LAUNCHES THIS FRIDAY
Talking of Eddy Temple Morris, which we weren't, but whatever, don't forget his new monthly West London club night Pay Day kicks off at Neighbourhood this Friday, with live sets from Warren Suicide and Kill Electric, a Dub Pistols Soundsystem and DJ sets from the mighty Pendulum and, no doubt, co-hosts Eddy TM and Barry Ashworth. All runs from 8pm to 2am, tickets are six quid in advance and a tenner on the door, though if you email your name and number to [email protected] before 2pm today I might be able to squeeze you on the Remix Update's guest list, courtesy of Eddy TM. But that's a secret, don't go telling anyone. Press info on all things Pay Day from Get Involved.
And talking of... you get the picture... don't forget Eddy TM's Remix is hosting a room at next month's Insomniac's Ball - details at http://www.insomniacsball.co.uk
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THE GAME SUES KOCH OVER 'DEMO' ALBUM RELEASES
Into the pop courts, and The Game has launched legal proceedings against Koch Entertainment and Fast Life Records over allegations that the music companies violated the rapper's copyright by releasing albums he recorded prior to signing to Dr Dre's Aftermath Records.
Lawyers for The Game claim that not only did the defendants commit copyright violation by releasing and distributing 'Untold Story', 'Untold Story Vol. 2', 'Untold Story Vol. 2 Chopped & Screwed' and 'G.A.M.E' - what the rapper's people refer to as 'demo albums' - but, lawyers say, they alerted Koch and Fast Life to the copyright issues surrounding the releases, yet the defendants continued to distribute them.
The Game's manager Jimmy Rosemond told AllHipHop.com: "It is unfortunate that Koch ignored our request to halt distribution of Game's early demos. They are illegal masters that were obtained without the consent of the Game. We hope this will make any and all musical pirates more conscious of artists, like the Game, and their copyrights and intellectual property. Koch just released another illegal Game album ['G.A.M.E.']. This is a mere attempt to confuse Game's fans as he is preparing to release his sophomore album in June with Dr. Dre".
However, insiders at Koch say they have the legal right to release and distribute the early Game albums. AllHipHop.com quote a source there as saying: "Our rights to these recordings are rock solid and legal, which Game's management is well aware of. Game's current management has never made a request to us to stop selling these records and they have no legal ground to do so anyway. Intimidation certainly will not work with us."
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WAILER COURT CASE CONTINUES
Pop courts London division, and the court case brought by Wailer Aston Barrett against Universal/Island and the family of Bob Marley continues. As previously reported, Barrett claims that he and his late brother Carlton were integral in the development of Marley's songwriting, and that he is owed royalties relating to a 1974 contract with Island Records and a subsequent 1976 agreement with Marley himself. Island and the Marley family say that this matter was settled with a previous royalties agreement in 1994 and that no more payments are due.
Testimonies given this week considered just how important the Barretts were in the creation of Marley's music, with both Island Records founder Chris Blackwell and Marley's widow Rita saying that, while they recognise the Barretts' talents, they were never considered central to the Marley music making process.
Asked by Barrett's lawyer whether his client and his brother were integral to the Wailers sound, Blackwell told the court: "I will never deny the importance of the Barretts but it really was all about Bob Marley". He admitted that Marley himself chose the Barretts to join his band, but added "it could just as well have been someone else. There were other great drummers in Jamaica". Asked whether the Barretts were important to Island Records' relationship with Marley, Blackwell continued: "To me it didn't matter. My interest was Bob Marley."
Rita Marley told the court that the Barretts were "viewed as backing session musicians", adding that it was fellow Wailers Bunny Livingston and Peter Tosh that really contributed to the songwriting process. She said: "Pete and Bunny were the members of the Wailers. Aston and Carly came in after, long after. The Barretts did not have the same role as Pete and Bunny, and by that stage Bob was clearly the leader of the group."
The case continues.
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VILLAGE PEOPLE POLICEMAN IN CUSTODY
Legal news of the criminal kind now. Victor Willis, the one who dressed like a policeman in the Village People, has been arrested in California, having missed that court date when he was due to be sentenced to sixteen months for those previously reported cocaine possession and firearm charges. That sentence was based on a plea deal with prosecutors, but his subsequent skipping of bail may now lead to as much as five years imprisonment, including eight months for additional drugs charges.
Willis co-wrote Village People's big hits 'In The Navy' and 'YMCA', but left in 1980. The band replaces him with Ray Simpson and continued to tour. Assistant DA Morley Pitt says of Willis: "It's just sad that his life has spiralled down to the point where in all likelihood he's going to go to prison."
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REVAMPED WEMBLEY ARENA OPENS THIS WEEKEND
London's Wembley Arena reopens this weekend after that previously reported £35 million refurbishment. Management have listed a number of ways that the venue has been improved by the revamp including £300,000 of improvements in the venue's acoustics plus the addition of a 200-seat restaurant and four dedicated fast food outlets, more bars, more toilets, better disabled access and an increased capacity. Though most exciting is the new entrance space which, the press release promises, will provide "a dramatic and exciting external area for meeting friends before a show". As soon as I find some friends, I'm going to meet them there - both dramatically and excitably.
Commenting on the new look venue, Wembley Arena General Manager Peter Tudor told reporters: "When the Arena started undergoing the renovation we wanted to make sure we came back with London's absolute No.1 venue and that we did everything we could possibly do to improve the Wembley experience for our audiences and artists. So we looked at the areas we knew needed improvement and we quite simply made the right changes. Visitors to Wembley will be amazed at the transformation."
The Arena reopens with two Depeche Mode gigs on Sunday and Monday. Other artists and shows already set to play the revamped venue include Take That, McFly, Santana, Il Divo, Cliff Richard, BB King & Gary Moore, Girls Aloud, Michael Flatley's Celtic Tiger show and Jeff Wayne's Musical Version of The War Of The Worlds - four of which I really want to go to (you can guess which four).
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NEW RAZORLIGHT ALBUM A CLASSIC, SAY, ER, RAZORLIGHT
Razorlight are presently in the studio working on their new album with producer Chris Thomas, and according to the band's Carl Dalemo, it's all going pretty well. Posting on the band's weblog in an item entitled 'What Razorlight Did In February', the bassist reports that following the Brits and the NME Awards they settled down to work: "We started recording the album and have been ever since. Serious work my friends but it's going damn well. Sounds more and more like a classic every day."
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KEANE ON THE NEW ALBUM
Just in case you needed it - even more on Keane's forthcoming new album. Yep, Keane man Tim Rice-Oxley has been speaking to NME.com about his band's new material.
As previously reported, 'Under The Iron Sea' is to be released on 19 Jun, and some reports have suggested that the group have used guitars on the new long player. Keyboardist Rice-Oxley clarified that no guitars were used despite singer Tom Chaplin's apparent ability in that area: "Using guitars wasn't ruled out" he said, "because Tom's quite good at the guitar. We were definitely envisaging the possibility of using a bit of guitar early on but we never got round to it."
On the band's desire to experiment with new sounds he added: "I was touring around the world and, when I was on my travels, I picked up all these vintage cassette units and all these weird gadgets. When we got home and got in the studio, I realised that there was this whole world of sounds that no-one had ever really explored before. People are so obsessed with guitars, but putting an electric piano into a whole chain of effects and seeing what comes out is something that, as far as I know, no-one has ever done before."
He continued: "We probably didn't ever consider becoming a guitar band again. We used to be a guitar band when we started and we've been there. The sounds on this record are really exciting and expressive of the lyrics and the music. I'm really excited about how far we can go with it."
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TOOL NEW ALBUM NEWS
Good news for all you track-listing junkies out there. American rockers Tool have revealed exactly which songs are going to be on their new album '10,000 Days', which is scheduled for a May release. Here it is:
Vicarious
Jambi
Wings for Marie (Pt. 1)
10,000 Days (Pt. 2)
The Pot
Lipan Conjuring
Lost Keys (Blame Hofman)
Rosetta Stoned
Intension
Right in Two
Viginti Tres
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WHITE LOVES ARCTIC MONKEYS
Yawn. Jack White, who first expressed his regard for Arctic Monkeys during the White Stripes UK tour last year has reminded MTV.co.uk just how great they are. "I love the Arctic Monkeys," he said. "Who doesn't? I'd love to see them live, but haven't got round to it yet. I never get to see bands because I'm never in the same town for more than two seconds." He also joked that he wouldn't mind 'working' with the band, saying: "we'll start with the gardening and move on to the housework."
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NIKKI SUDDEN DIES
British rocker Nikki Sudden, of influential seventies indie band Swell Maps, has died at the age of 49. The musician died suddenly on Sunday following a gig at New York venue the Knitting Factory the previous evening. No cause of death has been recorded as yet.
Sudden, real name Nicholas Godfrey, formed Swell Maps in the late seventies with his brother, Epic Soundtracks, real name Kevin Godfrey, who predeceased him due to unknown causes in 1997. In 1990, he worked with REM's Peter Buck, Mike Mills and Bill Berry on 'The Jewel Thief,' later reissued as 'Liquor, Guns & Ammo'. The prolific frontman had recently completed a new solo album, 'The Truth Doesn't Matter,' and, according to Chris Swanson, head of Sudden's label Secretly Canadian, close to completing an autobiography entitled 'The Last Bandit.' He was also due to appear at a gig in London tonight with his band the Jacobites, a performance which will apparently go ahead as planned as a memorial event.
Secretly Canadian said in a statement: "It was a great honour to work with such a legendary figure, and his warmth and generosity of spirit will not be forgotten. He was a good man in endless pursuit of his artistic dreams. We extend our deepest sympathies to his friends and family."
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ALAN CONFREY DIES
Alan Confrey of Irish folk-punk band Blood Or Whisky has died from a heart attack at the age of 33. The band had only recently returned to Ireland following a Scottish tour with Stiff Little Fingers when Coffey passed away at his home last week.
A post on the band's website reads: "Just to let everyone know that tragically our friend and fellow band member Alan Confrey died on Thursday night of a heart attack at the young age of 33. We had just arrived home that day from the SLF tour so it's a consolation that he died at home. Anyone who knew Alan knew that whatever he did it was always at 100%."
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EP REVIEW: Whirlwind Heat - Reagan EP (Brille)
The Whirlwind boys are back! Now to you, this might not mean much, but I was a huge fan of the Detroit three-piece and their 2004 'Flamingo Honey EP'. Comprising ten one-minute songs, it was a record more innovative and invigorating than anything I had heard since, well, since their mentor Jack White's early days. And now they're back, with something as conventional as an EP consisting of songs that are up to three minutes long, and actually have chorus AND verse. Hmmm. The title track and the acoustic version of the same are both endearing. A catchy bitter love song, both versions feature fondly remembered childhood 'instruments'. In the case of the former, it's the percussion instrument known as 'the fish'. In the latter, it is the kazoo. The in-between songs are fine too - fun and garagy and aggressive. But I cannot help feeling that they would all have been better had they been 1 minute long. And that we have been sold short waiting two years just for this. Put away the X-box and make an album, boys! SIA
Release date: 10 Apr
Press contact: Motion Group [all]
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T IN THE PARK UPDATE
Damian Lazarus and CMU favourites El Presidente have been added to the T In The Park line up. They join acts such as Kaiser Chiefs, Red Hot Chili Peppers and The Who on the bill for the sold out event which takes place from 8-9 Jul at Balado near Kinross. Go on then, here's the full line-up so far:
8 Jul:
Red Hot Chili Peppers, Kaiser Chiefs, Paul Weller, Franz Ferdinand, Sigur Ros, Manu Chao, The Charlatans, The Ordinary Boys, Goldfrapp, Pharrell Williams, Placebo, El Presidente, Damian 'Jr Gong' Marley, Ben Harper and the Innocent Criminals, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, The Kooks, The Feeling, The Orb, Laurent Garnier, My Robot Friend, Damian Lazarus
9 Jul:
The Who, The Strokes, Arctic Monkeys, Hard-Fi, Richard Ashcroft, Primal Scream, Editors, Eels, The Magic Numbers, The Proclaimers, The Go! Team, Felix da Housecat, Slam, Rob Da Bank
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ANTHRAX TOUR
Into tour dates news, and the original line up of what the PR refers to as "legendary speed metal icons" Anthrax will tour the UK next month. Dates as follows, press info from Workhard PR.
7 Apr: Glasgow Garage
8 Apr: Sheffield Corporation
9 Apr: Wolverhampton Wulfrun Hall
10 Apr: London Astoria
11 Apr: Nottingham Rock City
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BUNNYMEN SINGLE, TOUR
Cooking Vinyl have confirmed that a new Echo & The Bunnymen single, 'Scissors In The Sand', will be released on 29 May, at the start of a tour to promote current album 'Siberia'. Tour dates as follows:
29 May: Whitehaven, Civic Hall
30 May: Newcastle, Academy
31 May: Edinburgh, Queens Hall
2 Jun: Nottingham, Rock City
3 Jun: Oxford, Zodiac
4 Jun: London, Koko
5 Jun: Brighton, The Old Market
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PANIC! AT THE DISCO TOUR
Panic! At The Disco have announced a series of UK tour dates ahead of the release of their first physical single release 'But It's Better if You Do' on 1 May. Here are the dates:
18 Apr: Birmingham Academy 2
19 Apr: Cardiff University
20 Apr: Newcastle Academy 1
21 Apr: Glasgow Academy
22 Apr: Manchester Academy
23 Apr: Portsmouth Pyramid Centre
25 Apr: London Astoria
26 Apr: Leeds Metropolitan University
27 Apr: Nottingham Rock City
28 Apr: Oxford Zodiac
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HELL IS FOR HEROES ANNOUNCE TOUR
Hell Is For Heroes have announced a new series of tour dates, after pulling out of the 'Boys Set Fires' tour in March. Unused tickets from 'Boys Set Fires' tour can be exchanged for one of the new dates, apparently, by sending them to: Hell is for Heroes Ticket Returns, c/o Matt Snowball Music, Unit 2, 3-9 Brewery Road, London, N7 9QJ, presumably remembering to include contact details.
The dates are as follows:
17 Apr: Kingston Peel
19 Apr: Portsmouth Wedgewood Rooms
20 Apr: Bournemouth Opera House
21 Apr: Plymouth Uni
22 Apr: Oxford Zodiac
24 Apr: Cambridge Soul Tree
25 Apr: Warwick Uni
26 Apr: Cardiff Uni
28 Apr: Stoke Sugarmill
29 Apr: Southend Chinnerys
30 Apr: Northampton Soundhaus
1 May: Glasgow Barfly
3 May: Newcastle Academy
4 May: Edinburgh Venue
5 May: Dundee Reading Rooms
7 May: Leeds Cockpit
8 May: Brentford Stripes
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NEW FORWARD RUSSIA! DATES
Forward Russia! have announced a new set of tour dates preceding the release of their debut album 'Give Me A Wall' on 15 May. Dates are as follows:
16 Apr: York Fibbers
17 Apr: Aberdeen Kef
18 Apr: Edinburgh Cabaret Voltaire
23 Apr: Preston 53 Degrees
26 Apr: Stoke Sugarmill
28 Apr: Northampton Soundhaus
29 Apr: Tunbridge Wells Forum
30 Apr: Bedford Esquires
2 May: Southend Chinnerys
3 May: Reading Fez Club
5 May: West End Centre
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TOM JONES TOUR
One for leather pants lovers everywhere; Tom Jones, set to feature on a new Chicane single, 'Stoned In Love', out 24 Apr, has announced a UK tour for this autumn. The singer, who, it's been announced, is soon to be knighted, will appear on the following dates:
10 Oct: Brighton Centre
11 Oct: Bournemouth International Centre
13 Oct: Manchester Evening News Arena
14 Oct: Birmingham NEC Arena
16 Oct: Newcastle Telewest Arena
18 Oct: Sheffield Hallam FM Arena
20 Oct: Cardiff International Arena
27 Oct: Nottingham Arena
31 Oct: Glasgow Clyde Auditorium
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VIRGIN RECORDS UK APPOINT NEW A&R
Quick bit of label appointment type news - and Virgin Records UK have confirmed the appointment of Lincoln Elias, formerly of SonyBMG, to the role of A&R Executive. Elias was a key A&R for former SonyBMG imprint S2, which signed the likes of Terence Trent D'arby, Des'ree, Roachford, Reef, Toploader and Jamiroquai.
Confirming the appointment Virgin Records MD Ferdy Unger-Hamilton told reporters: "Lincoln is as good as the best there is, simple as that. His track record speaks for itself. To have a guy as nice and as good with artists working alongside me at Virgin is an honour and a pleasure."
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NORDOFF-ROBBINS LAUNCH LA DIVISION
The UK's largest music therapy charity, Nordoff-Robbins Music Therapy, is setting up a division in LA, having had operations in New York for the best part of fifteen years.
The LA branch of the charity was officially launched with a cocktail reception at the city's House Of Blues venue. Among the artists in attendance to support the event were John Lydon, Keith Emerson, Tears for Fears' Curt Smith and Kathleen 'Bird' York.
An executive committee of industry executives who will coordinate the charity's LA activities has been confirmed, and includes former Virgin Records boss Ray Cooper (currently of Zama Management), Chrysalis Music Group's Kenny MacPherson, Headplay's Glen Ward and Provident Financial Management's Bill Vuylsteke and Larry Einbund.
The charity's first major LA fundraising event is expected to take place in the Autumn.
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THE BEATLES QUIT SMOKING
The artwork for a forthcoming Beatles reissue has had the cigarettes 'photoshopped' off it. A new edition of compilation album 'Capitol Albums Volume 2' is out next month but the image on the cover has been changed by EMI to disguise the fact that all four Beatles were having a fag when the picture was taken. Ringo fares the worst out of the four, however, because they've also chopped off two of his fingers in an attempt to remove the offending stub.
This is the third time label bosses have changed Beatles artwork to reflect the growing social condemnation of smoking, with a ciggie removed from a 1984 US reissue of 'I Wanna Hold Your Hand', and the iconic 'Abbey Road' image (which includes fags) being doctored for a new poster back in 2003.
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SIMON COWELL PLANS NEW US REALITY SHOW
Is there no stopping evil genius Simon Cowell and his ever-increasing reality show world domination? No, apparently not, because according to reports, he's come up with a new one. The new NBC show will be called 'America's Got Talent', will be open to anybody, and will see contestants compete to win a $1million prize. It's apparently a similar format to a proposed UK show that was announced last year, and that would resemble US seventies TV programme 'The Gong Show.'
It's not clear exactly when the series will be transmitted, but auditions for the programme are scheduled to begin next month across the US. Cowell himself has said he will not be appearing in the show.
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JACKSON MUSICAL FOR WEST END
Apparently yet another contrived musical based around the oeuvre of a major pop star is to premiere in the West End this summer, according to The Guardian, and this time the subject is none other than Michael Jackson. The show, 'Thriller: The Musical' will only get two performances at London's Dominion theatre, but will go on tour later in the year.
The show, written by British Jackson fan club founder Adrian Grant, is said to be set in a utopian world called Neverland (where, presumably, insurance policies are always bang up to date), and will feature characters such as Dirty Diana and Billie Jean (see what he did there?) and a cast of hundreds.
A synopsis reads: "There is just one man good enough to heal the world, and that man is Michael Jackson. We have all read the tales of a man who once entertained millions around the globe, moonwalked on water and created the beautiful paradise of Neverland, while taking time out to help those less fortunate than himself... but only if you strongly believe in the force will you find him."
The Force? Was Michael Jackson in Star Wars?
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BOURNE GETS DELOREAN
Well, after seeing the aforementioned Matt Willis showcase at the Scala last night, he's been appointed my favourite ex-member of the band Busted. His fellow former bandmate and Son Of Dork frontman James Bourne has compounded his status as never-going-to-be-my-favourite ex-member of Busted by buying something I personally would like to own, if the Mirror's 3am Girls are to be believed.
They say Bourne has spent £18k on the original Delorean used in the filming of the Back To The Future trilogy, which by rights, should be mine. A 'source' told the girls: "James loves Back To The Future, and when he found out the original car was for sale he went to Bath to buy it. It's only got 100 miles on the clock as it was only driven around on set."
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SONY AWARD NOMINATIONS IN FULL
THE BREAKFAST SHOW AWARD
Macdonald & Maguire at Breakfast - Magic 1152
Nick Ferrari at Breakfast - LBC 97.3FM
The Today Programme -BBC Radio 4
Toolan in the Morning - Key 103
Wes at Breakfast - Galaxy Manchester
THE MUSIC PROGRAMME AWARD
Ben Jones Most Wanted - Virgin Radio
hit40uk - Somethin' Else for GCap, Chrysalis, SRH and various UK radio stations
Mornings with Rick Shaw - Kerrang! 105.2 West Midlands
Scott Mills - BBC Radio 1
The Weekender with Adam Longworth - XFM
THE SPECIALIST MUSIC PROGRAMME AWARD
Andy Kershaw - BBC Radio 3
The 6 Mix - BBC 6 Music
The Charles Hazlewood Show - Somethin' Else for BBC Radio 2
The Loose Cannons - Kiss 100
Zane Lowe - BBC Radio 1
THE NEWS & CURRENT AFFAIRS PROGRAMME AWARD
1800 News Bulletin - BBC Radio News for Radio 4
Real News at Five - Real 24/7 News for Real Radio Yorkshire
Talkback - BBC Radio News & Current Affairs for Radio Ulster
The Today Programme - BBC Radio News for Radio 4
Viking FM News - 96.9 Viking FM
THE SPORTS PROGRAMME AWARD
Fighting Talk - Worlds End Television for BBC Radio Five Live
Hearts - That Penalty! - BBC Radio Scotland
The Danny Kelly Sports Show - BBC London 94.9
The Real Football Phone-In - Real Radio Scotland
The Summer Club - BBC Radio Ulster
THE SPEECH PROGRAMME AWARD
Broadcasting House - BBC Radio News for Radio 4
Jon Ronson On - Unique the production company for BBC Radio 4
The Reunion - Whistledown Productions for BBC Radio 4
The Stephen Nolan Show - BBC Radio Ulster
The Umberto Show - Real Radio Yorkshire
THE INTERACTIVE PROGRAMME AWARD
606 - Campbell Davison Media for BBC Radio Five Live
Alex Dyke Phone-In - Isle of Wight Radio
Justin Moorhouse - Key 103
Scott Mills - BBC Radio 1
Simon James and Hill - Chase Enterprises for TLRC Network
THE ENTERTAINMENT AWARD
Chris Evans - BBC Radio 2
Chris Moyles - BBC Radio 1
The Danny Baker Show - BBC London 94.9
The Jonathan Ross Show - Off The Kerb Productions & BBC Radio 2 for Radio 2
The Ugly Phil Breakfast Show - Kerrang! 105.2 West Midlands
THE MUSIC BROADCASTER OF THE YEAR
Andrew McGregor - BBC Radio 3
Paul Gambaccini - Howlett Media Productions and BBC Radio & Music Factual for Radio 2 & Radio 4
Suzi Quatro - Howlett Media Productions for BBC Radio 2
Tim Westwood - Justice Entertainment for BBC Radio 1
Zane Lowe - BBC Radio 1
THE MUSIC RADIO PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR
Chris Evans - BBC Radio 2
Jamie Theakston - London's Heart 106.2
Lauren Laverne - XFM
Marc Riley - BBC 6 Music
Tim Lovejoy - Virgin Radio
THE NEWS JOURNALIST OF THE YEAR
Angus Stickler - BBC Radio 4
Christian Fraser - BBC Radio Five Live
Eddie Mair - BBC Radio 4
Peter Allen - BBC Radio Five Live
The Radio City News Team - Radio City 96.7
THE SPEECH BROADCASTER OF THE YEAR
Eddie Mair - BBC Radio 4
Jeremy Vine - BBC Radio 2
Jim Hawkins - BBC Radio Shropshire
Simon Mayo - BBC Radio Five Live
Umberto Saoncella - Real Radio Yorkshire
THE STATION PROGRAMMER OF THE YEAR
Jeff Zycinski - BBC Radio Scotland
Mark Browning - London's Heart 106.2
Richard Park - Magic 105.4
THE DRAMA AWARD
Hitler in Therapy - BBC World Service Drama for the World Service
In Search of Lost Time - Fiction Factory for BBC Radio 4
Last Loves - BBC Radio Drama for Radio 4
No Background Music - BBC Radio Drama for Radio 4
What a Carve Up! - Tiger Aspect for BBC Radio 4
THE COMEDY AWARD
oneclick/comedy...The Milk Run - BBC Radio Entertainment for Radio 1
That Mitchell & Webb Sound - BBC Radio Entertainment for Radio 4
The Ape that Got Lucky - BBC Radio Entertainment for Radio 4
The Flight of the Conchords - BBC Radio Entertainment for Radio 2
The Lee Mack Show - BBC Radio Entertainment for BBC Radio 2
THE FEATURE AWARD
84 Book Crossing Road - Falling Tree Productions for BBC Radio 4
A Requiem for St Kilda - BBC Radio & Music Factual for Radio 4
Nobody Told Me There'd Be Days Like These:
John Lennon 25 Years On - Radio City News for Radio City 96.7
The Search for Black Trafalgar - Praxis Productions for 1Xtra for the BBC
Voyages - Soundscape Productions for BBC Radio 4
THE MUSIC SPECIAL AWARD
Classic Singles - Ten Alps Radio for BBC Radio 2
It's Crazy Man - BBC Radio Wales
KRS ONE: The Judgement Day Interview - Choice FM
Lennon: The Wenner Tapes - Brook Lapping Productions for BBC Radio 4
Talking with Kate - BBC Radio 2
THE NEWS FEATURE AWARD
101 Days On: The Injured Survivors of the July 7th Bombings - BBC Radio News for Radio 4
Assignment: Message from Mavembo - BBC Radio Current Affairs, Manchester for the World Service
The Big Issue - 96.9 Viking FM
The Bradford City Fire: 20 Years After - Real 24/7 News for Real Radio Yorkshire
Return to Sarajevo - BBC World Service News & Current Affairs for the World Service
THE BREAKING NEWS AWARD
Glazer and Manchester United - Key 103
The Death & Funeral of Pope John Paul II - BBC Radio News and Religion & Ethics for Radio 4
The Death of The Pope - BBC Radio Five Live
The Demise of Rover at Longbridge - The World Tonight, BBC Radio News for Radio 4
The London Bombings - GCap Media News for Capital Radio, 1548 am Capital Gold, XFM & Choice FM
THE LIVE EVENT COVERAGE AWARD
Can Didcot Tower Over Sudbury? The FA Vase Final - BBC Radio Oxford
Escape to Victory - LFC Champions of Europe - Radio City 96.7
Live 8 - Capital Radio on behalf of UK Commercial Radio
The Boat Race 2005 - LBC Newsroom & Programming for LBC 97.3FM & LBC News 1152AM
The Oval Test - BBC Radio Sport for Five Live
THE COMMUNITY AWARD
Cash for Kids 2005 - Radio Clyde & Clyde Action for Clyde 1 and Clyde 2
Hearing Voices - BBC Hereford & Worcester
One Million Pounds of Work - The West Midlands 97.2 Beacon Radio
Radio 1's Sex Tour - BBC Radio 1
The Good Drugs Guide - Resonance 104.4 FM
THE PROMO AWARD
Heist - Galaxy Programming for Galaxy 105 & 106
Kerrang! Christmas - Kerrang! 105.2 West Midlands
Squeak Your Mind - Galaxy programming for the Galaxy Network
The Six Nations - Fresh Air Productions for BBC Radio X-Trails for Radio 1, 2, 4, Five Live & BBC Local Radio
Auschwitz - BBC Radio X-Trails for Radio 2, 3, 4, Five Live and BBC Nations and Local Radio
THE COMPETITION AWARD
25K Joke Competition - Virgin Radio
Magic Mystery Voices - Magic 105.4
Santa's Sacks - Kerrang! 105.2 West Midlands
The Today Programme's Greatest Painting Competition - BBC Radio 4
XFM's Rock School - XFM
THE STATION IMAGING AWARD
Galaxy Network
Kerrang! 105.2 West Midlands
talkSPORT
XFM
BBC Radio 1
STATION OF THE YEAR with a potential audience of under 300,000
Coast 96.3 (North Wales Coast)
Isle of Wight Radio
The New Fire 107.6 FM (Bournemouth & Poole)
STATION OF THE YEAR with a potential audience of 300,000 -1 million
BBC Radio Norfolk
Lincs FM 102.2
Pirate FM (Cornwall, Plymouth & West Devon)
STATION OF THE YEAR with a potential audience of 1 million plus
BBC Radio Ulster
Choice FM (London)
Kerrang! 105.2 West Midlands
DIGITAL TERRESTRIAL STATION OF THE YEAR
1Xtra for the BBC
Capital Disney
Planet Rock
UK STATION OF THE YEAR
BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 2
XFM