| CMU Daily - on the inside 12 Nov 2002 |
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In today's CMU Daily:
• Rose Blames venue for cancellation,
• Singles sales slump,
• Church speaks out,
• Groove Armada play Maisons for new year,
• Sophie joins anti-fur campaign,
• EMAP makes a recovery,
• BMG use mobiles to promote boy band best of,
• Robbie to perform live on chart show,
• Review: The Star Spangles - Which Of The Two Of Us Is Gonna Burn This House Down / Stain Glass Shoes,
• No UK release for Madonna flop,
• Reed’s poetic album,
• Review: Various - Soma Compilation 8,
• Cher gets billboard honour,
• German Chancellor has no comment on comedy record,
• Gates confirms lawyer letter to Jordan,
• Now Kylie slates reality shows,
• S Club Rachel’s movie role
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Who said of whom: “I still love him as a songwriter, but as a person I think he’s a fucking nipple .. and if you’re watching, NIPPLE!”?
Answer tomorrow
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THIS WEEKS STUDENT RADIO CHART
1 [1] Nirvana - You Know You're Right (Universal/Geffen)
2 [4] Queens Of The Stone Age - No One Knows (Universal/Interscope)
3 [3] Coldplay - The Scientist (EMI/Parlophone)
4 [2] Foo Fighters - All My Life (BMG/RCA)
5 [17] A - Something's Going On (Warners/London)
6 [N] Liam Lynch - United States Of Whatever (Global Warming)
7 [N] Ladytron – Seventeen (Invicta Hi-Fi)
8 [N] Kinesis - Billboard Beauty (Independiente)
9 [5] Idlewild - Live In A Hiding Place (EMI/Parlophone)
10 [6] Royksopp - Poor Leno (Wall Of Sound)
11 [11] The Music – Getaway (Virgin/Hut)
12 [13] Tenacious D - Wonderboy (Sony/Epic)
13 [N] Sum 41 - Still Waiting (Universal/Mercury)
14 [18] Athlete – Beautiful (EMI/Parlophone)
15 [7] The Coral - Dreaming Of You (Deltasonic)
16 [9] The Polyphonic Spree - Hanging Around (679)
17 [N] The Jeevas - Ghost (Cowboys In The Movies) (Cowboy Musik)
18 [N] Radio 4 - Dance To The Underground (City Slang)
19 [19] The Vines – Outtathaway (EMI/Heavenly)
20 [8] The Streets - Don't Mug Yourself (679)
Compiled by and broadcast on the Student Broadcast Network (www.sbn.co.uk)
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ROSE BLAMES VENUE FOR CANCELLATION
Axl Rose is blaming the Vancouver venue where he was due to play last Thursday for the hour long riot involving Guns ‘n’ Roses fans, caused when the gig was cancelled at the last minute. Although he was running late for the concert at GM Place (he was in the air between LA and Vancouver when the show was cancelled) he claims he would have made it in time, and that the venue’s management made a bad decision when they decided to cancel the show at the last minute.
Talking to KISW Radio in Seattle he said: "We were going to play a show and the plug got pulled on us. We were fully able to meet our commitments, and we don't really understand what happened. Basically the building manager just decided, and in our opinion prematurely, that the show was just cancelled, and he didn't discuss it with anyone. He just announced it over the PA."
Distancing himself from responsibility for the violence he reckons the venue should pay the bill for the damage done by fans – reckoned to be in the hundreds of thousands of dollars.
But the venue’s manager Harvey Jones defended the last minute cancellation: "A decision to cancel this show was made when it was recognised that the band could not take the stage at a reasonable time.” He based the decision on how long it would take Rose to get to the venue when he learned his departure from LA had been delayed. “Los Angeles to Vancouver is a two and a half hour flight and Rose would still have had to go through customs. Was he going to walk out of his limo on to the stage? I don't think so."
No word on whether or not the Vancouver date will be rescheduled, but some lawyers are bound to get some business in the next few weeks.
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SINGLES SALES SLUMP
As the singles chart reaches its fiftieth anniversary sales of singles in the UK have dropped over 14% from last year, putting them at their lowest point for at least 10 years. Despite the big single selling power of Gareth Gates, Kylie Minogue and the Junkie XL Elvis remix, only 54 million singles were bought in the last 12 months - nine million fewer than the previous year. It’s a considerable drop from the last peak in 1997 when 87 million singles were shifted.
While music downloading is sure to be blamed, the news isn’t necessarily all that bad, especially for the major labels. Single sales have always fluctuated (the last low was in 1992 when annual sales were down to 53 million) and the peak five years ago may have been down to the predominance of mainstream dance music in the charts then – people are more likely to buy a big dance anthem as a single than wait for it to appear on an album (often there's no album to wait for). Plus the fact for most majors the single has become a marketing tool – a loss leader used to promote album releases. As has been argued before, if MP3 downloads eventually destroy single sales it could actually save the major labels money.
With all that in mind it is album sales figures that are sure to occupy the industry’s accountants – and there many be some good news there. Despite a fall in album sales earlier in the year, sales for the last twelve months seem to be up 2% on last year, and that’s not counting the pre-Christmas sales of big releases by bankable acts and the plethora of greatest hits in the stores just now.
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CHURCH SPEAKS OUT
Charlotte Church has spoken to the BBC about the news that she had sacked her mother as her manager after family squabbles. Reports suggested that Church has fallen out with her parents over her boyfriend Steven Johnson, that she had moved in to the Johnson family home in Cardiff and that her parents would not join the young singer on her forthcoming US tour.
In a statement Church said: "In response to the recent news stories, I find it necessary to clarify that although my parents have always been my most trusted advisors they have never acted as my official managers. I have, throughout my professional career, retained professional management, currently by Irving Azoff and his management team. My mother did an amazing job in matters of my career and of course has always been a terrific mother. She still remains very involved in my career but obviously on a different level due to my growing independence and own experience. Now that I have completed my studies, everyone is in agreement that it is the appropriate time for me to embark on my US tour with my management and tour staff. My parents have always protected me throughout the ups and downs of the media and my career and I thank them for it.
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GROOVE ARMADA PLAY MAISONS FOR NEW YEAR
Groove Armada have been confirmed to play Bournemouth club Maison’s on New Years Eve, performing alongside a DJ set from DJ Lottie. The club, normally based at Bournemouth’s Showbar, will take over The Lighthouse in neighbouring Poole for the New Year event. The New Years set will follow a number of live dates for Groove Armada who are busy promoting third album ‘Lovebox’.
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SOPHIE JOINS ANTI-FUR CAMPAIGN
Sophie Ellis Bextor is appearing in a hard-hitting anti-fur ad campaign being staged by PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals). The ad campaign will feature a photo of Sophie wearing a black evening dress and holding the dead body of a skinned fox – a picture taken by fashion photographer Mary McCartney, daughter of Paul.
Talking about the campaign Ellis Bextor told reporters: "I think fur is really pathetic when there are so many alternatives. I'm part of a generation that grew up with the 'We'd rather go naked than wear fur campaign' and it's something that really struck a chord with me. To me it felt a very natural thing to do, to be on the side of animals when it came to fur."
A spokesperson for PETA said the campaign "brings home the cruel reality that is kept out of slick fur ads and fashion spreads".
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EMAP MAKES A RECOVERY
UK media giant seems to have recovered from its costly investment in US publisher Petersen, which it bailed out of last year pushing the company overall into a £100 million pound loss. But post-Peteren the company has managed an admirable turn round that has put this year’s pre-tax profits at £61 million.
Chief Executive Robin Miller told reporters: "We are pleased to be delivering an improved set of results in a difficult market. We've made considerable progress in the last 18 months in restoring stability, regaining confidence and positioning Emap for a successful future - a future with real momentum.”
Much of the turnround was due to the company’s consumer magazine division – it’s trade titles are still struggling. Entertainment magazine Heat, in particular, has had a very good year. On the broadcast side the advertising slump hit the group’s radio businesses, but its jukebox TV network went from strength to strength with revenues up 7% to £74 million.
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BMG USE MOBILES TO PROMOTE BOY BAND BEST OF
BMG are marketing the Westlife best of album, released yesterday, with a sophisticated mobile phone based campaign run by mobile entertainment agency K Technologies.
Westlife fans are being encouraged to text message the answer to a simple Westlife question. In return they are called back with an exclusive preview of an unreleased Westlife track ‘Written in the Stars’, and are then entered into a competition to win backstage tickets to a forthcoming Westlife gig. Fans then have to option to ‘forward to a friend’ – texting details of the promotion to fellow fans. Although a charge is made for the initial text, the forward to a friend facility is free.
“This campaign takes the promotional power of SMS to a whole new level,” BMG’s Blair Schooff told us. “It’s a great chance for fans to connect with the band, and it’s a great way for us to promote the album & generate revenues at the same time.”
If you’re desperate to hear the exclusive track you just text the word WESTLIFE and the name of the country Westlife are from to 89148. If you’d rather have more press info contact Alun Hunt at Grid 71 Marketing on 07887 594 354.
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ROBBIE TO PERFORM LIVE ON CHART SHOW
Robbie Williams will perform three tracks, including new single ‘Feel’, live on Radio 1's official UK singles chart show this Sunday – a special edition celebrating fifty years of the chart. Radio 1 are due to revamp their chart show – it remains to be seen if live performances will be a regular part of the new format.
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REVIEW: The Star Spangles - Which of the Two of Us Is Gonna Burn this House Down / Stain Glass Shoes (EMI / Parlophone)
Haha! The guitarist's called Tommy Volume. That's so stupid, and the titles of this double a-side so charmingly agrammatical, that you have to like it even if the lead singer does look like the bloke from Supergrass and the rest of them look like the Strokes. ‘Which of the Two...’ is the New York scene's tribute to Eighties West Coast rock. Yay! Finally, teen movie theme tunes are fashionable without being ironic. This is great fun. There's Richard Hell in there, and The Jam, and everyone. ‘Stain Glass Shoes’ is a great title, and harks back to the Velevet Undergroud, as performed by Richard Hell (isn't New York insular, in the way only megacities can be). This sounds like a million other things, and is eminently listenable. Check it out, and look out for some live dates in December MB
Release date: 2 Dec
Press contact: EMI IH [CP, CR, RR, NR] APB [RP, NP]
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NO UK RELEASE FOR MADONNA FLOP
Columbia Tristar have confirmed Madonna's new film, 'Swept Away', which bombed big time in the US, won’t get a UK release. A spokesperson for the film company said: "Following the disappointing box office results in the US, Guy Ritchie's Swept Away will not be released theatrically in the UK." No word yet on whether there will be a video release.
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REED’S POETIC ALBUM
Lou Reed’s new album ‘The Raven’, due for a January release, will continue Reed’s interest in Edgar Allen Poe’s poetry with musical interpretations of the nineteenth century poet’s work. Reed and avant garde theater director Robert Wilson hatched POEtry, a piece of musical theater that debuted in Hamburg, Germany, in 2000. More recently, Reed took part in producer Hal Willner's annual Poe Invitational Halloween performance at the University of California Los Angeles. The latest project involves a number of collaborators – actors William Defoe, Steve Buscemi and Amanda Plummer all read on the album, while David Bowie, Laurie Anderson and Ornette Coleman all contribute musically.
"For sure Edgar Allen Poe is that most classical of American writers -- a writer more peculiarly attuned to our new century's heartbeat then he ever was to his own," Reed told fans on his web site. "Obsessions, paranoia, willful acts of self destruction surround us constantly . . . When given the opportunity to bring him to life through words and music -- text and dance -- why I leapt at it -- I surged towards it like a Rottweiler chasing a bloody bone".
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REVIEW: Various - Soma Compilation 8 (Soma)
Soma are a true Scots legend, a strong force to be reckoned with and a hive of creativity for those electronically inclined. That said, compo 8 falls a little short of the reputation, the main flaw being they have opted for too many substandard remixes of their excellent original material. Envoy’s ‘Sex Drive’ remix is not a patch on the original and nor is the Samuel Sessions mix of Funk d’ Void’s awesome ‘Diabla’. That said, there is some good stuff here - Sobek’s ‘Shimmer’ is pretty good with nice rasping flute of a not too heavy 4/4; Master H’’s ‘Magik K’, with its North African vibe, is a stealthy grower; and the Two Lone Swordman makeover of Slam / Dot Allison ‘Visions’ is entertaining (with something of an odd bass affect). So while not the best, a reasonable compo from the Glasgow lads, (but only just!). PV
Release date: 25 Nov
Press contact: Soma IH [all]
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CHER GETS BILLBOARD HONOUR
Cher is set to receive an Artist Achievement award at the 2002 Billboard Music Awards in Las Vegas next month. She joins the likes of Aerosmith, Garth Brooks, Madonna, and Eric Clapton – past winners of the award which recognises an artist who has helped redefine popular music with massive success on the Billboard charts. The awards will be televised in the US on 9 Dec.
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GERMAN CHANCELLOR HAS NO COMMENT ON COMEDY RECORD
A spokesperson for German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder has said there is no official comment on a popular song in Germany which mocks Schroeder’s broken election promises not to raise taxes. "I have not seen the new video for 'The Tax Song'," a spokesperson told reporters. "I haven't talked with the chancellor about it either".
The song, by German comedian Elmar Brandt, is a catchy parody of the infectious pop track ‘The Ketchup Song’. "Promises that were made yesterday can be broken today," Brandt sings mimicking Schroeder's voice. "I'll raise your taxes, I'll empty your pockets, every one of you nerds stashes some cash away, but I'll find it no matter where it is. I'll raise taxes now because the election is over and you can't fire me now".
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GATES CONFIRMS LAWYER LETTER TO JORDAN
Gareth Gates' people have confirmed his lawyer has written a letter to Jordan asking her to cease telling tabloid newspapers that she and Gareth had a four month affair during which she took the pop idol’s virginity. Gates denies the stories, and his lawyers have asked Jordan to pay any monies she has made by selling the story to charity.
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NOW KYLIE SLATES POP REALITY SHOWS
Kylie Minogue has joined Robbie Williams in condemning reality TV shows. Calling the shows "frightening" she says they encourage youngsters to seek fame rather than to look for real talent and ambition. "Fame used to be a by-product," she said in an interview with Radio 1. "We can look at it and see a little bit more clearly what's happening, but for teenagers that's the kind of TV they've had for the last five years with Big Brother etc. It's like "what do you want to do when you grow up?, I want to be famous. What for? It doesn't matter. I think it's frightening. You should have your ambition to do something before that - it's all too easy to say they're not talented, obviously they can perform, they can sing, and what the judges and the press always go on about is we're looking for the extra ingredient".
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S CLUB RACHEL’S MOVIE ROLE
S Club's star Rachel Stevens has been filming her scenes for a new Hollywood movie where she plays a demanding diva from a fictional pop group called M5. She’s told The Sun: "Doing my scenes was great fun and I loved being on a movie set. I might play a diva but she is honestly nothing like me in real life. I still love singing but I definitely want to do more acting in the future".
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Answer to Monday's pop quiz:
Who said of whom: “He would love to be six-foot tall and thin and good looking. But he’s not – he reminds me of a soddin mountain goat”?
Ian McCulloch on Bono