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24 SEPTEMBER 2004 ISSUE #57

Looking Good Sounding Better... We Know What We Like We Like What We Know

Record of the Week Perspective EMI Kevin Mark Trail We’ve been lucky enough to have seen Kevin and his band perform three times recently and we’re convinced that he has some hit tunes comin’ at ya! At the EMI conference, he had the pleasure of opening proceedings with the track D Thames, which will be the likely follow up to Perspective. Needless to say, KMT was one of the highlights of the live performances we witnessed throughout the day. A big future awaits this very personable young man... EDITORIAL 2 EDITORIAL

Hello and welcome to issue #57 of the Hit Sheet. It’s that time of year when the industry bustles and buzzes Manchester, do come and say hello. And, if you’re not more than ever. Autumn sales conferences are held, award planning to go anywhere, see the new Metallica movie – ceremonies staged, touring schedules kick off and then watching middle-aged rockers continually admit just how there’s the annual A&R-fest that is In The City. scared and upset they feel is so very Spinal Tap! 31 The Birches, The autumn period arrives as the final few stragglers return London, N21 1NJ from holiday and everything seems to spring back to life at GREG PARMLEY Tel. +44 (0)20 8360 4088 once. True to form, this year has been no exception, Fax: +44 (0)20 8360 4088 starting with the launch of the new Download chart at the Through The Grapevine Email. [email protected] fourth incarnation of the Marquee Club. [email protected] While the marvellous Goldie Lookin Chain drew a mix of At the Mercury awards show, which label chairman told us that he thought his act had a one in ten chance of Website. www.hitsheet.co.uk open mouths and open arms from either bemused or winning the prize until we pointed out to him that there thrilled guests, there was a sense of irony around the were twelve finalists? "That’s even harder then" was his Publisher – Paul Kramer event. In launching a chart to take the music industry into retort! [email protected] 07932 034750 the 21st Century, the event was let down by 20th Century Also at the Mercury’s, which manager told us that he’d asked his rabbi technology – microphones so quiet that the speeches to offer up an extra prayer in the hope that his act might win? The Editor – Greg Parmley could hardly be heard! almighty obviously had other ideas as the request fell on deaf ears! [email protected] 07740 868 956 We’re particularly interested to see whether the Marquee At the Universal conference, when Brian Berg was being announced as manages to survive the high-rent, tourist trap that is being along shortly, who was heard to quip, "He’s playing golf"? Contributors – Bob Lefsetz, Leicester Square, in order to establish itself as a viable Adrian Thrills London venue. We’re not convinced that toilets two floors Which top agent has floor lighting all the way up the stairs leading to his bedroom? Looks like we’re in for a bumpy ride! Magazine Design – Dennis Adelman away will help, but our fingers are crossed for them. Moving on, the Mercury Music Prize shocked everyone by Explaining why his company wasn’t holding an autumn sales conference, Magazine Layout – James Murdoch which major label employee, said, "No MD, no A&R department and a actually going to the favourites! Congrats to Franz shortage of records might have something to do with it..."? Website Design and Co-ordinator – Ferdinand on a well deserved win amongst some stiff Dave Nattriss – competition. Read more about that from our own Mercury Which label head of press went straight from his wedding to a video [email protected] judge, Adrian Thrills on page 10 and 11 in this issue. shoot in LA? Fiancee for Beyonce! Administrator – Naomi Stickler Last week saw the launch of the UK Music Hall Of Fame – Which Sony employee - a dead ringer for The Office’s Martin Freeman [email protected] our very own rival to the US Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame in (Tim) - had a surreal moment when he bumped into Ricky Gervais (David Brent) at the Clarence in Dublin at the weekend? Hit Sheet Idents – Gordon Cleveland. Set up by production company Initial, five new Loncaster members will be chosen annually by public vote, with the Which bright new Universal talent described to us how, "Universal final result televised live. came after my drawers", while trying to sign her? Cub Reporters – Joseph Kramer Paul Gambaccini effortlessly breezed through the history of [email protected] Which Universal employee attracted the interest of a dozen policemen rock ‘n’ roll in 10 minutes, while explaining the decisions and their sniffer dogs at Westbourne Park tube station? (We don’t think Daniel Kramer behind the five founding inductees (one from each decade it was her fragrant perfume that had them all excited). [email protected] from the 50s onwards) that have been chosen by the Which radio DJ missed his boss’s 60th birthday party after being industry: Elvis, The Beatles, Bob Marley, Madonna and U2. Fox Hunting Ban hospitalised with a poisoned leg? [email protected] As well as delighting catalogue departments in general, the Hall of Fame is a long-term prospect which we hope will Which outspoken TV pundit explained the reason behind the battle of the Simons to us as - "[Fuller is] jealous as he has no cash-flow"? Keep Your Shirt On grow to rival its American counterpart. [email protected] Both PK and I will be at In The City this weekend, for what Which EMI MD is up for the job of George Bush’s speechwriter after looks to be one of the finest mixes of panels and new uttering the following classic: "The difference between this new Thrills’ Man In Black Auction bands seen in years. Names on the checklist include Hit album and the last Thrills’ album is that there is no difference"? [email protected] Sheet favourites Ampop and Mohair the marvellous Film What connects Rik Waller to Minnie Driver? School, Fans of Kate, Tom Vek, The Longcut and finally Elton John Photo Shop Names…Names…Names… [email protected] Towers of London, if only to see whether their music comes anywhere near the cock-sure behaviour witnessed Simon Cowell … Simon Fuller … Andy Prevezer ... Jonathan Shalit … Jason Rackham … Simon Hargreaves … Louis Walsh … Mike backstage at V and Reading this year. Let’s hope it’s not a Greek … Rob Stringer … Lucian Grainge … Alex Jordan … Gwyneth case of style over substance! Herbert … John Kennedy … Philippe Ascoli … Kevin Robinson … If you’re not going up to ITC, check out Jerry Fish and the Tom Robinson … Gary Farrow … Chris Wright … Jono Coleman … Bob Lefsetz … Hugh Goldsmith … Mike McCormack … Neil Gillis Mudbug Club (who we first featured 18 months ago) at the …Tim Bowen … Jeremy Lascelles …Mike McNally ... Ritu Morton ... 100 Club on Saturday 18 September. If you are in Paul Conroy ... David Steele ... Dave Roberts ... Tim Prescott TheThe HitHit SheetSheet CDCD –– TTracklistingracklisting issueissue #57#57 1. Perspective Kevin Mark Trail EMI 2. The Love Of Richard Nixon Manic Street Preachers Sony UK All material published remains 3. Free Estelle V2/J-Did the copyright of Hit Sheet Ltd. 4. Trouble Ray LaMontagne Echo No part of this magazine may 5. Come Get Some Rooster Brightside be reproduced without the prior 6. Boy Tippi Measured permission of the publisher. 7. Coming Home The Morenas Bleach 8. Glory Box Gwyneth Herbert UCJ 9. Song For No One Ian Broudie Deltasonic Love Music, 10. Lucie Barratt BNW 11. Waves Marjorie Fair EMI Have An Opinion, 12. World War IV David Wrench Storm 13. So Beautiful Pete Murray Columbia 14. Harm’s Way The Ghost Who Walks unsigned Make A Difference 15. November Steven Lindsay Seminal 16. Time (The Healer) Rumer unsigned TVANDRADIO TVANDRADIO 3

RADIO TV continued The Box Chart – UK’S MOST PLAYED PRE-RELEASE: TMF 9-15 September REM Leaving New York 1.Shapeshifters Lola's Theme Leave 2.JoJo TW ARTIST TITLE UK’S MOST PLAYED: 3.The Streets Dry Your Eyes Natasha Bedingfield These Words These Words 4.Natasha Bedingfield 1 5.Maroon 5 She Will Be Loved Girls Aloud Love Machine RADIO ONE MTV2 2 Eric Prydz Call On Me JO WHILEY 1. The Strokes The End Has No End Terror Squad ft. Fat Joe Lean Back 2. The Libertines Can't Stand Me Now 3 Jentina French Kisses Michael COLIN & EDITH 3. Franz Ferdinand The Zutons Don’t Ever Think (Too Much) 4. The Killers All These Things I’ve Done 4 Robbie Williams Radio 5. The Music Freedom Fighters SCOTT MILLS 5 Rooster Come Get Some Rooster Come Get Some MTV Base ZANE LOWE 1. Cassidy Get No Better 6 Good Charlotte Predictable Jimmy Eat World Pain 2. Nelly feat. Jaheim My Place I Like That 3. Houston ft. Nate Dogg 7 DJ Casper Oops Upside Your Head 4. Usher Confessions Pt. II 5. Angie Stone ft. Snoop Dogg I Wanna Thank Ya RADIO TWO 8 JoJo Leave (Get Out) RECORD OF THE WEEK MTV Dance Scissor Sisters Mary 1. Eric Prydz Call On Me 9 Alcazar This Is The World We Live In 2. The Prodigy Girls ALBUM OF THE WEEK My My My 10 Paul Weller Studio 150 3. Armand Van Helden Darius Kinda Love 4. Shapeshifters Lola’s Theme 5. Dizzee Rascal Stand Up Tall TV MTV Hits VH1 My Place SHAZAM pre-release 1.Robbie Williams Radio 1. Nelly ft. Jaheim 2. The 411 Dumb 2.Natasha Bedingfield These Words Sunshine Tag Chart 3.Joss Stone You Had Me 3. Twista ft. Anthony Hamilton 4. Maroon 5 She Will Be Loved 4.Maroon 5 She Will Be Loved 10-16 September Leave 5.Anastacia Sick & Tired 5. JoJo TW LW ARTIST TITLE TV LISTINGS TV LISTINGS TV LISTINGS TV LISTINGS TV LISTINGS 1 1 Abba Abba – The Reunion Tues 21 Sept, 21:00 ITV1 Eric Prydz Call On Me Peter Andre TOTP Fri 17 Sept, 19:30 BBC1 Blink 182 The Teen Choice Awards Sat 18 Sept, 11:55 Ch4 2 2 Khia My Neck, My Back (Lick It) David Cassidy Top Ten: Teen Idols Sat 25 Sept, 02:55 Ch4 Chikinki 4Play Sat 18 Sept, 01:40 Ch4 3 new Gravity Embrace The Cure The Move Music Festival Fri 24 Sept, 02:40 ITV1 Darius TOTP Saturday Sat 18 Sept, 11:00 BBC1 4 7 Girls Aloud Love Machine Jason Donovan Top Ten: Teen Idols Sat 25 Sept, 02:55 Ch4 Minnie Driver TOTP Fri 17 Sept, 19:30 BBC1 5 8 Angel City Do You Know I Go Crazy Minnie Driver Orange Playlist Fri 24 Sept, 00:00 ITV1 Sophie Ellis-Bextor The Kumars at No. 42 Tues 21 Sept, 22:00 BBC2 6 6 Mylo Drop The Pressure Eminem Stars Behind Bars Tues 21 Sept, 22:50 Ch5 Girls Aloud TOTP Saturday Sat 18 Sept, 11:00 BBC1 7 new Akon Locked Up Girls Aloud Ministry Of Mayhem Sat 18 Sept, 09:25 ITV1 Good Charlotte TOTP Fri 24 Sept, 19:30 BBC1 8 13 Cassidy Get No Better Matt Goss Never Mind The Buzzcocks Mon 20 Sept, 21:00 BBC2 PJ Harvey Friday Night with Jonathan Ross Fri 17 Sept, 22:35 BBC1 9 new Robbie Williams Radio Keane In Profile Wed 22 Sept, 00:55 ITV1 Keane The Move Music Festival Fri 24 Sept, 02:40 ITV1 10 new Confessions Part II Usher Ronan Keating All Time Greatest Love Songs Sat 18 Sept, 21:10 BBC1 Alicia Keys In Profile Tues 21 Sept, 00:30 ITV1 Beverley Knight TOTP Saturday Sat 18 Sept, 11:00 BBC1 Lemar All Time Greatest Love Songs Sat 18 Sept, 21:10 BBC1 Marilyn Manson TOTP Fri 17 Sept, 19:30 BBC1 The Video-C interactive music video Brian McFadden TOTP Fri 17 Sept, 19:30 BBC1 McFly TOTP Fri 17 Sept, 19:30 BBC1 chart as voted by site visitors at Katie Melua All Time Greatest Love Songs Sat 18 Sept, 21:10 BBC1 www.video-c.co.uk Christina Milian The Teen Choice Awards Sat 18 Sept, 11:55 Ch4 Video-C, the best music you’ll ever see! Morrissey The Move Music Festival Fri 24 Sept, 02:40 ITV1 Willie Nelson The South Bank Show Sun 19 Sept, 23:15 ITV1 Noise Next Door This Morning Fri 24 Sept, 10:30 ITV1 TW LW ARTIST TRACK Donny Osmond All Time Greatest Love Songs Sat 18 Sept, 21:10 BBC1 Donny Osmond Top Ten: Teen Idols Sat 25 Sept, 02:55 Ch4 1 1 Oasis Live at Gleneagles OutKast Punk’d Fri 24 Sept, 23:40 Ch4 2 5 Razorlight Vice Gram Parsons Fallen Angel Fri 24 Sept, 23:35 BBC2 Phixx TOTP Saturday Sat 18 Sept, 11:00 BBC1 3 2 Fat Boy Slim Slash Dot Dash Preston (Ordinary Boys) Never Mind The Buzzcocks Mon 20 Sept, 21:00 BBC2 Randy (Big Brovaz) Never Mind The Buzzcocks Mon 20 Sept, 21:00 BBC2 4 8 Jentina French Kisses Red Hot Chili Peppers In Profile Wed 22 Sept, 00:00 ITV1 Lionel Richie All Time Greatest Love Songs Sat 18 Sept, 21:10 BBC1 5 new Estelle Free Axl Rose Stars Behind Bars Tues 21 Sept, 22:50 Ch5 6 3 Diana Ross The Truth About…Diana Ross Sun 19 Sept, 22:00 Ch5 R Kelly Happy People Simply Red All Time Greatest Love Songs Sat 18 Sept, 21:10 BBC1 7 new Usher Confessions II Ashlee Simpson TOTP Fri 17 Sept, 19:30 BBC1 Britney Spears The Video Exclusive Sun 19 Sept, 14:00 Ch4 8 new Kasabian LSF Lisa Stansfield The Heaven and Earth Show Sun 19 Sept, 10:30 BBC1 Travis (Blink 182) Punk’d Fri 17 Sept, 23:40 Ch4 9 new Beastie Boys Triple Trouble Usher The Teen Choice Awards Sat 18 Sept, 11:55 Ch4 Paul Weller 4Music Sat 25 Sept, 00:05 Ch4 10 new Tunde The Great Romantic Robbie Williams Friday Night with Jonathan Ross Fri 24 Sept, 22:35 BBC1 Xhibit The Teen Choice Awards Sat 18 Sept, 11:55 Ch4 RECORDSOFTHEWEEK 4 RECORDSOFTHEWEEK

FRONT PAGER FRONT PAGER FRONT PAGER FRONT PAGER FRONT PAGER

Perspective Kevin Mark Trail EMI There’s some serious heat building around Kevin Mark Trail, so it’s fortunate that his reggae-flavoured groove and Jamaican roots will keep him cool and comfortable. With an Released: 4 October ability to transform the mundane aspects of growing up in Product Manager: Matt Dixon the ‘80s into poignant social commentary, KMT shows 020 7605 5227 himself as adept at waxing lyrical as former collaborator Management: Kim Revie 020 8992 4348 Mike Skinner of The Streets. Perspective is receiving strong [email protected] interest from a host of urban radio stations and ILRs, as well Press: William Luff as spot plays on Radio 1 and Kiss. The video has been Radio: Tina Skinner featured on MTV Base, B4 and Popworld with the plot TV: Kate Hiscox building organically as word of KMT’s talent spreads. 020 7605 5000 [email protected] Following support slots with Massive Attack and Beverley Live: David Levy, ITB Knight in August, we attended his Jazz Café show last week [email protected] where we were pleased to see so many Radio 1 producers www.KevinMarkTrail.com turn out to check him out alongside support act Jamie Scott. A 12-date UK tour is planned around the single release, which includes two dates at the Barfly in London on 4 and 12 October.

The Love Of Richard Nixon Manic Street Preachers Sony UK Released: 18 October Product Manager: Steve Warby Something odd has happened to the Manics. Their 020 7911 8457 [email protected] confrontational and angst-ridden CD collection has been Management: Martin Hall replaced with The Cardigans, Abba, Goldfrapp, Scissor 020 7300 6651 Sisters, Jamelia and Belle & Sebastian. The once self-styled Press: Terri Hall "Generation Terrorists" have altogether matured, but it’s a Hall Or Nothing graceful transformation. The Love Of Richard Nixon, the first 020 8740 6288 [email protected] single to be taken from forthcoming album Lifeblood (1 Radio: Rob Lynch November), sees the Manics retain their forthright political Anglo Plugging views and leftist leanings, while adopting a softer, synth- 020 7384 7373 backed sound almost reminiscent of the Divine Comedy. The TV: Deidre Moran single, produced by Greg Haver, is the group’s most radio- 020 7911 8516 [email protected] friendly release since the barrage of hits that flew off 1996’s Live: Scott Thomas, ITB Everything Must Go. However, this track will be as at home on 020 7637 6979 Radio 2 as on Radio 1. Following the single and album, MSP www.Manics.co.uk undertake a 10-date tour of the UK in December, supported by Razorlight and Hope Of The States. The tour rolls into Wembley Arena on 9 December, where the band will be preaching the same message, but through ever-evolving styles of song. We’ll definitely be checking it out.

Released: 4 October Product Manager: Claire Moon Free Estelle V2/J-Did 020 7471 3000 [email protected] We first featured Estelle in issue #53 (2 July) with the Management: Neale Easterby wonderful 1980 and we’re backing her follow-up single, Free, Empire Management with just as much conviction. This 24-year-old London rapper 020 7221 1133 has already been nominated for a Mobo award for Best Hip [email protected] Hop Artist alongside Blak Twang and has also been voted Best Press: Angela Robertson Shilland Female Artist at the UK Hip Hop Awards for three years 020 7439 2559 running. Free showcases her insightful lyricism, pushing the [email protected] boundaries of UK hip hop further away from the pale Radio: Neil Ashby facsimiles of the transatlantic style that has plagued the scene 020 7471 3000 for so long. With an appearance from So Solid’s Megaman, [email protected] TV: Chris Young the track is already B-listed on Radio 1 and has been DJ [email protected] Spoony’s Record Of The Week, as well as being playlisted on Live: Emma Banks a host of stations including Capital and the Galaxy network. Helter Skelter The video is playlisted on The Box, MTV Base and Kiss TV, and 020 7376 8501 is No. 1 in the Fresh chart on Channel U, and look out for guest [email protected] www.EstelleMusic.com appearances by Hit Sheet favourite Jamie Scott and Terri Walker. Estelle’s debut album, The 18th Day, is released on 18 October. Hit Sheet Hit Sheet Hit Sheet Hit Sheet Hit Sheet Hit Sheet RECORDSOFTHEWEEK RECORDSOFTHEWEEK 5

Trouble Ray LaMontagne Echo

Released: 27 September How often do you hear of a shoe factory worker having an Product Manager: David Rowell epiphany while listening to a Stephen Stills record and 020 7465 6363 devoting his life to music? Born in New Hampshire to a [email protected] roaming, dysfunctional family, Ray was an outsider at school Management: Michael McDonald Mick Management and general drifter until he concentrated on a late-developed [email protected] passion for songwriting. Ray was eventually signed to Press: Terri Hall Chrysalis Publishing and his debut album, Trouble, is released Hall Or Nothing in the UK on 20 September. Recorded with producer/player [email protected] Ethan Johns (Ryan Adams, Kings of Leon, the Jayhawks) in TV/Radio: Mick Garbutt Lucid PR just two weeks, the Van Morrison-style openness to the record 020 7724 4472 is both refreshingly loose and captivating, although PK thinks [email protected] Ray sounds like a cross between Bob Seger and the late, great Live: Mike Greek Ted Hawkins. There’s a huge buzz around Ray right now and Helter Skelter we’ve been blown away by his recent shows that have 020 7376 8501 www.RayLaMontagne.com included The Cobden Club, The Water Rats and a media showcase at No. 5 Cavendish. Ray proves that you don’t have to be a virtuoso musician to have something to say: when you’re reaching this deep into the heart, it’s the message, not the method, that counts.

Come Get Some Rooster Brightside

Hugh Goldsmith is kicking off his tenure at BMG in fine form Released: 4 October with possibly the fastest-building rock plot seen in years. Product Manager: Within six weeks of playing a low-key gig at Camden’s Bull Sarah Partridge 020 7384 7517 and Gate, where the only media present were the Hit Sheet Press: Annabel Fox and one other trade magazine, Rooster appeared on Top of 020 7384 7625 The Pops, shortly followed by a spot at V2004. The giant- Radio: Leighton Woods slaying partnership between vocalist Nick Atkinson and 020 7384 7500 guitarist Luke Potashnick, whose lead-loaded riffs bear TV: Jacqui Quaife 020 7384 7500 similarities to Free’s Paul Kossoff and John Squire, is simply [email protected] destined for mainstream success. The crossover potential, Live: Mike Greek from maturing Busted fans to lovers of The Darkness, is Helter Skelter enormous, and with an average age of 22, this West London 020 7376 8501 four-piece look set to chisel out a long career for themselves. www.RoosterOfficial.com Come Get Some is already Record Of The Week on Scott Mills’ Radio 1 show and the Virgin brealfast show and has been playlisted by Capital group, GWR, Virgin, Kerrang! and a host of regional stations. The track is now No5 on The Box, and with this amount of activity so early on, the band will be ruling the roost by Xmas.

Released: 4 October Product Manager: Fiona Menzies Boy Tippi Measured 0141 331 9888 [email protected] Press: Scott Bartlett We first featured Tippi in issue #10 (6 September 2002) and 020 7323 1744 since then she’s been busy recording her eponymous debut [email protected] album, which is released on 1 November. Anyone who TV: Nathalie Mirkin attended SXSW in March this year will be all too aware of the Born To Run "Tippi Effect" – a condition caused by diligent flyering, 020 7682 0299 [email protected] promotion and showcasing all over Austin Texas, which National Radio: Mick Garbutt culminated in a packed out 6th Street show with journalists Lucid PR and public alike being turned away. Boy is a solid pop track, 020 7724 4472 with Blondie-styled feline vocals and aggressive guitar [email protected] playing. The single has already received positive support from Regional Radio/TV: Jo Hart Hart Media Radio 1 in Scotland and plays from Alan McGee on his Radio 020 7209 3760 1 Death Disco show. Tippi has performed at festivals including [email protected] T in The Park and Gig On The Green, as well as supporting Live: Steve Zapp, ITB Iggy Pop at the SECC arena and supporting Paul Weller for 020 7637 6979 three weeks. She performs at London’s Water Rats on 20 www.TippiOnline.com September. Hit Sheet Hit Sheet Hit Sheet Hit Sheet Hit Sheet Hit Sheet RECORDSOFTHEWEEK 6 RECORDSOFTHEWEEK

Coming Home The Morenas Bleach

The odds are always against you when hailing from the most Released: 11 October Product Manager: Mark Hurst frequently mocked county in the UK. The Prodigy managed to 01621 856 943 move beyond it and Blur denied even being there but The [email protected] Morenas look to be the most exciting rock act to emerge from Press: Pete Bassett Essex since Depeche Mode hot-footed it out of Basildon in the Quite Great PR early ‘80s. Coming Home is a perfectly-packaged three- 01223 830 111 [email protected] minute something burst of guitar-saturated pop punk. The TV/Radio: Ian White three-piece is the brainchild of vocalist/songwriter Paulo Mosaic Music Promotions Morena, whose stunning, Buckley-esque talent was refined 020 7684 3581 while busking in bars across Europe and in Chicago. Fans of [email protected] Razorlight and Muse are most likely to jump aboard this Live: Jack Gray Tony Denton Promotions release, and the forthcoming album is also available for 020 7629 4666 licensing. The band recently won an XFM competition to www.TheMorenas.co.uk represent Lauren Laverne in the Cannonball 8000 rally which they’ll be completing in a New York Police car before headlining the aftershow party in Monte Carlo. You can catch them live at the Borderline in London celebrating the single release on 4 October.

Glory Box Gwyneth Herbert UCJ Released: 27 September Product Manager: Tom Lewis 020 8910 3116 Glory Box made it to No. 13 when it was originally released in [email protected] January 1995, but there have been few vocalists willing to Management: Kerstan Mackness attempt equalling or surpassing Beth Gibbons’ ecstatically [email protected] sensual performance until now. Gwyneth Herbert’s Press: Linda Valentine impassioned take on this Portishead song is taken from her 020 8910 3125 [email protected] first major label album, Bittersweet and Blue, which is TV/Radio: Becky Ram released on 27 September. Having sung from the age of three, 020 8910 3126 Gwyneth is an accomplished performer and we’ve been fans [email protected] of her music for sometime, including her debut album, First Regional Radio: Jo Hart Songs, which was released with guitarist Will Rutter on Dean 020 7209 3670 Live: Peter Wallis Street Records last October. Gwyneth wowed the Radio 2 Dean Street Music crowd at a recent UCJ presentation and was PK’s highlight of 020 8691 5062 the recent Universal sales conference. Having touted her www.GwynethHerbert.com music in pubs, clubs and anywhere that would listen, Gwyneth’s hard work is now bearing fruit, and she could even be giving label mate Jamie Cullum a run for his jazz dollars.

Song For No One Ian Broudie Deltasonic Released: 4 October Product Manager: Steve Warby 020 7911 8457 Having spent the past few years producing Mercury [email protected] nominated albums for The Coral and The Zutons, Ian Broudie Press: Dave Cooper has at last found the time to devote to a very special In House Press project…himself! Song For No One is a highly agreeable, 0161 228 2070 radio-friendly pop song (we heard it on the Jonathan Ross [email protected] Radio: Joe Bennett show while writing this review and it sounds marvellous 020 7911 8469 coming through the radio speakers). In fact, we think Song For [email protected] No One would sound at home on Simon & Garfunkel’s TV: Deidre Moran Graduate soundtrack. Coming exactly 10 years after the 020 7911 8516 breakthrough Lightning Seeds release Jolification, the new [email protected] Live: Charlie Myatt album, Tales Told, has a more mature, inward-looking and 13 Artists contemplative sound, that confirms Ian’s knack of writing and 020 7580 2000 producing a killer tune. We had a great chat with him at the www.IanBroudie.com Mercury awards last week and we found Ian to be a very friendly, level-headed guy (despite supporting Liverpool!) who deserves all the success in the world. Hit Sheet Hit Sheet Hit Sheet Hit Sheet Hit Sheet Hit Sheet RECORDSOFTHEWEEK RECORDSOFTHEWEEK 7

Lucie Barratt BNW

At just 24-years of age, classically trained singer Barratt Released: 4 October Marketing Consultant: Kim Glover Waugh has more life experience to draw on than the vast 01622 759 444 majority of his peers. A former member of the Royal Ballet, [email protected] Barratt was signed to Cliff Richard’s Black Knight label before Management: Corin Waugh his debut album was released internationally by Warner 01372 813 262 Classics. But just as he was making serious inroads into the [email protected] Press: Sam Forrest PR States, he was diagnosed with a brain tumour which needed 020 7229 2201 three operations to fix, following which his grandmother and [email protected] stepsister both died. Undeterred, Barratt channelled his National TV/Radio: Lisa Davies experiences into the songs that make up his second release, 01737 362 444 Much Love…Barratt. Two of the album’s tracks feature [email protected] Regional TV/Radio: Susie Tompkins backing vocals from Sir Cliff, who has also contributed the 020 8540 8166 voiceover to the TV advert – a move destined to bolster www.BarrattWaugh.com healthy sales around the Christmas period. Lucie was originally a No. 1 hit in France in the late ‘90s, and was rewritten by Jeremy Sams especially for Barratt’s album. Let’s hope this warm and thoughtful track finds similar success here.

Waves Marjorie Fair EMI Released: 18 October Management: Jonathan Daniel We first picked up on Marjorie Fair in issue #49 (23 April), a Crush Music Media Management month before the band’s debut album, Self Help Serenade, +1 212 334 4446 [email protected] was released to critical acclaim. After the limited edition Product Manager: Hannah Neaves release of the Stare EP, Marjorie Fair’s first single proper is 020 7605 5322 Waves, and it’s undoubtedly the money track. Pumped full of Press: William Luff Californian sunshine and awash with warm melancholy, you 020 7605 5258 can almost hear water lapping against a shore throughout the TV/Radio: Emma Salmon 020 7605 5472 tune. The most perfect pop song that the band have produced [email protected] to date, Waves deserves serious attention at radio where the Live: Dave Chumbley track would be sure to generate excellent listener reactions. Primary Talent Press comparisons have varied from Doves and My Bloody 020 7833 8998 Valentine to Brian Wilson and John Lennon, but all agree that [email protected] www.MarjorieFair.com the band, led by enigmatic lead singer Evan, have developed a sound purely their own. The only bad news is that the West coast minstrels won’t be over to the UK for live dates until the New Year. Roll on 2005 then.

World War IV David Wrench Storm Music

There simply aren’t enough 6’5" albinos in the music industry! Luckily, David Wrench is angling to bolster the numbers Released: 27 September slightly with the follow up to his sleazy debut single Product Manager: Conrad Murray 0161 839 5111 Superhorny. World War IV continues the Welshman’s romantic [email protected] fascination with synthesisers and electro-pop, while also Press: Lisa Southern throwing his dark lyrical wit into the mix. David’s production Southern PR and engineering credits include Beth Orton, The Coral, Super 020 7263 7074 Furry Animals, Zabrinski, British Sea Power and The Blueskins, [email protected] TV/Radio: Sue McDermott while another highlight on his CV is having released the first 0161 839 5111 Welsh language acid house track way back in 1989! Alongside [email protected] a penchant for consuming acid, David was also part of a www.DavidWrench.com Welsh supergroup with Gruff Rhys (Super Furries) and Will Sergeant (Echo and the Bunnymen), and has toured with The Scissor Sisters, The Others and Pink Grease. With the ‘80s rocketing back into fashion faster than you can say "day-glo socks", David’s oh-so-retro sound should have even the lankiest kids shimmying on the dancefloor. Hit Sheet Hit Sheet Hit Sheet Hit Sheet Hit Sheet Hit Sheet RECORDSOFTHEWEEK 8 RECORDSOFTHEWEEK

Released: 4 October So Beautiful Pete Murray Columbia Product Manager: Ken Marshall 020 7911 8342 Pete Murray was a latecomer to music, having concentrated on a rugby career Press: Joanna Burns until his 23rd birthday. When he finally did pick up a guitar in public, he settled 020 7911 8467 into writing songs that emotionally connect with an audience almost instantly. Radio: Nick Worsley 020 7911 8419 So much so in fact, that his debut album, Feeler, topped the charts for four TV: Sacha Cowlam weeks in his native Australia, and has now sold quadruple platinum. The 020 7911 8415 album was released in the UK earlier this month, and Sony are hoping that So [email protected] Beautiful will catapult the good word far and wide. It was So Beautiful that first Live: Emma Banks alerted producer Paul McKercher to Pete’s talents, and the radio-minded Helter Skelter 020 7376 8501 single also broke him across Australia. Pete headlines the Shepherd’s Bush [email protected] Empire in London on 20 September, which is sure to see healthy bar takings www.PeteMurray.com courtesy of the capital’s huge antipodean population, but this haunting acoustic track could well see a much wider demographic attending his next show.

Harm’s Way The Ghost Who Walks unsigned Released: 18 October (Album) Marketing: Nick Stewart 020 8673 4783 Following on from I Found God, the track that we featured last month, Harm’s [email protected] Way is the song that has made The Ghost Who Walks a household name in Press: Barbara Charone Christian homes around the world. The track appeared on the Songs Inspired MBC PR By The Passion Of The Christ CD as personally selected by Mel Gibson, where 020 7483 9205 it followed Elvis Presley and preceded Leonard Cohen. Harm’s Way has been [email protected] TV/Radio: Stuart Emery picking up sporadic airplay and hopefully will find itself on the Radio 2 playlist Large PR and many others before too long. The lyrical content of the song is about one 020 7388 6060 man’s battle with temptation and the realisation that life is the most precious [email protected] of commodities - a blessing that shouldn’t be abused. Look out for The Ghost www.TheGhostWhoWalks.com Who Walks headlining our next Hit Sheet night at the Bedford in Balham on Tuesday 28 September for what will be a full band performance. There’ll be magic in the air!

November Steven Lindsay Seminal

Steven was one of the leading figures of the last Scottish musical explosion Released: 1 November (late ‘80s/ early ‘90s) before Franz Ferdinand’s current drive. Along with bands Management: Funky Star such as The Blue Nile, Deacon Blue, Lloyd Cole & The Commotions, The [email protected] Silencers and Wet Wet Wet, The Big Dish ploughed their furrow with critical 07977 224 258 acclaim but never quite managed to crack the UK Top 30. Fast forward nearly TV/Radio: Gareth Davies 20 years and Steven has made a beautiful album that deserves to be given the Chapple Davies [email protected] utmost respect. Oscar-winner and former member of The Big Dish, Craig www.Big-Dish.co.uk Armstrong, is responsible for the string arrangement on our featured track. The biggest compliment we can give November is that it wouldn’t sound out of place on any Blue Nile record, while Steven’s album, Exit Music, will appeal to any sensitive and intelligent music lover who loves honest and well-written melodies, and lyrics that are touchingly melancholic but beautifully uplifting at the same time.

Time (The Healer) Rumer unsigned

We love this latest track from South London-based Rumer. Since first appearing in the Hit Sheet five months ago, Rumer has been busy co-writing Released: Not Scheduled Management: Harry Benjamin more tracks with the prolific and very talented Churchill Black. There is a Slowburn Productions quality to Rumer’s voice that has us spellbound and we hope that there is a 020 8360 4670 publisher or label out there of the same opinion. Her songs are written from [email protected] the heart and all based on real life experiences. Rumer is currently holed up in Devon at the Arvon Centre where she is taking part in a songwriting workshop being tutored by Hit Sheet subscriber and 6Music presenter Tom Robinson. We can’t wait to hear the results! Rumer will be playing at our next Hit Sheet night which is on Tuesday 28 September at the Bedford in Balham. We urge you not to miss what should be a very special night.

Hit Sheet Hit Sheet Hit Sheet Hit Sheet Hit Sheet Hit Sheet TIPSANDFAVES TIPSANDFAVES 9

Top Tips - Issue #57 1. Leaving New York - REM (Warners) 2. Call On Me - Eric Prydz (Data) 3. Blinded By The Lights – The Streets (679)

Dominic Mohan The Sun Processed Beats Kasabian Arista Tips Mark Frith Heat Magazine Call On Me Eric Prydz Data Fergus Dudley Radio 1 Wonderful Ja Rule Def Jam Stewart Allan HMV 1985 Bowling For Soup BMG James Mannion FHM Blinded By The Lights The Streets 679 Paul Connolly The Times Thunder Lightning Strike (album) Go!Team Memphis Industries Paul Kramer Hit Sheet Waves Marjorie Fair EMI Graham Clark Maximum FM Flashdance Deep Dish Positiva Richard Crane Ogae UK The Sun Will Shine Again Jon Lord & Frida EMI Minna Halmetoja BMG Seems Fine The Concretes Licking Fingers Greg Parmley Hit Sheet Come Get Some Rooster Brightside Gordon Charlton Reverb Music Pop Music Mousse T feat. Roachford Free2Air Kitty Empire Journalist Movement LCD Soundsystem DFA/EMI Jan van Mesdag I Love Music I See You Baby (Fatboy Slim Remix) Groove Armada Jive/Arista Dave Nattriss Hit Sheet The Man Don’t Give A F*** Super Furry Animals Epic Alex Hardee Coda Agency GCSE Blak Twang Anthony Dunning Antman Entertainment Come Into My Room Nathan Virgin Mark Runacus Hicklin Slade Slip Away Mohito feat. Howard Jones Umm Peter Black Warners Leaving New York REM Warners Rob Persani Rutland Radio (Reach Up For The) Sunrise Duran Duran Sony John Marrs Sunday Magazine Chewing Gum Annie 679 Martin Goldschmidt Cooking Vinyl I Want You Back Anne McCue Cooking Vinyl Mick Hilton Cube Music Mother’s Got A Penis Goldie Lookin Chain Atlantic Richard Jones Alan James PR Meantime The Futureheads 679 Naomi Stickler Hit Sheet Leaving New York REM Warners Lindsay Wesker MTV Blinded By The Lights The Streets 679 Helen Joyce HMV Reach up for the Sunrise Duran Duran Sony Gerard Mahony VH1 Call On Me Eric Prydz Data David Stark Songlink Redneck Woman Gretchen Wilson Epic Neil Rumble Music Box Butterflies & Hurricanes Muse East West Malcolm Ellis Longplayer Blinded By The Lights The Streets 679 Vicky Ackerman Quirks Radio Robbie Williams EMI Jason White Left Legged Pineapple Flashdance Deep Dish Positiva Oisin Lunny Video-C French Kisses Jentina Virgin Daniel Kramer Hit Sheet Leaving New York REM Warners Joseph Kramer Hit Sheet Song For No one Ian Broudie Deltasonic Jonathan Green Green Consulting I Predict a Riot Kaiser Chiefs B-Unique

Faves Dominic Mohan The Sun Glorious Day Embrace Independiente Mark Frith Heat Magazine This Is The World We Live In Alcazar RCA Fergus Dudley Radio 1 Personal Jesus Marilyn Manson Interscope Stewart Allan HMV Lost In Melody Delays Rough Trade James Mannion FHM American Idiot Green Day Reprise Graham Clark Maximum FM Superstar Cunnie Williams Universal France Richard Crane Ogae UK Running Away Copyright & Imaani unsigned Minna Halmetoja BMG Ringing In My Ear Adem Domino Greg Parmley Hit Sheet Coming Home The Morenas Bleach Gordon Charlton Reverb Music Hello Goldsharks unsigned Paul Kramer Hit Sheet Time (The Healer) Rumer unsigned Kitty Empire Journalist Movement LCD Soundsystem DFA/EMI Jay Cox On A Plate Galang M.I.A. XL Paul Connolly The Times These Words Natasha Bedingfield Arista Jan van Mesdag I Love Music Wonderful Nocturna unsigned Dave Nattriss Hit Sheet Getting Your Way Mansun Parlophone Anthony Dunning Antman Entertainment Millionaire Kelis & Andre 3000 StarTrak Mark Runacus Hicklin Slade Dusk ‘til Dawn Danny Howells & Dick Trevor C2 Peter Black Warners All These Things I’ve Done The Killers Lizard King Rob Persani Rutland Radio Gravity Embrace Independiente Mick Hilton Cube Music The Man Don’t Give A F*** Super Furry Animals Epic John Marrs Sunday Magazine Gravity Embrace Independiente Gary Howard Mission Control Spanish Eyes Fifth Ave Richard Jones Alan James PR Nature Boy Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds Mute Naomi Stickler Hit Sheet Trouble Ray LaMontagne Echo Lindsay Wesker MTV Come Get Some Rooster Brightside Helen Joyce HMV Slash Dot Dash Fatboy Slim Skint Gerard Mahony VH1 Keep What Ya Got Ian Brown Polydor David Stark Songlink Live Like You Were Dying Tim McGraw Curb Neil Rumble Music Box Processed Beats Kasabian Arista Malcolm Ellis Longplayer 22 Days The 22-20s Heavenly Vicky Ackerman Quirks Call On Me Eric Prydz Data Jason White Left Legged Pineapple American Idiot Green Day Reprise Oisin Lunny Video-C Tulips (Minotaur Shock Mix) Bloc Party Wichita Daniel Kramer Hit Sheet Radio Robbie Williams EMI NATGIONWIDEMERCURY 10 NATIONWIDEMERCURY

Nationwide Mercury Music But, despite the strong claims of dance-related acts such as The Streets, Basement Jaxx and the Prize judge Adrian Thrills gives unheralded rapper Ty, all of whose albums were an insider’s view on why Franz given serious consideration in the decision- making process, 2004 has undoubtedly been the Ferdinand won and recalls year of the guitar group. And, as one of the some of the highlights from the young acts spearheading a revival of British guitar music - Snow Patrol, The Zutons and Grosvenor House Hotel. Keane were also nominated - Franz Ferdinand are emblematic of a subtle but specific shift in When one considers that the shortlist featured a the nation’s tastes. solo artist whose handle implied that he should be a band (The Being perfect representatives of an all- Streets) and a band conquering genre, however, is not enough to whose name hinted win a prize such as the Mercury. What set Franz that they were actually Ferdinand apart from many of their peers was a duo (Belle And the fact that the Glaswegians also have the Sebastian), it ability to transcend their influences and appeal shouldn’t come as a to a wider audience. great shock that the winners of the Of the million-plus fans who bought the band’s 2004 Nationwide self-titled Domino debut album, it’s a fair bet that Mercury Prize were a many of them had never even heard of A Certain group whose Ratio, the Gang Of Four, Josef K or The Scars, name suggested that four of the homegrown dance-rock acts of the they should really be a early Eighties whose taut, angular rhythms solo singer. would appear to be a crucial influence on Franz Ferdinand. Franz Ferdinand For once, the bookmakers got it In a year in which critical acclaim and right. Despite a late surge towards Liverpool’s The Great Room at commercial success have often gone hand in The Zutons in the betting, Glaswegian art-rock hand for Brit-rock’s new generation, Franz band Franz Ferdinand - named after the Austrian Ferdinand are a band who appear ready to take The neat touches that add wit and variety to the archduke whose assassination precipitated the on the world. The day after the Mercury win, album all come from the group themselves: the First World War - went into last Tuesday’s they were on a plane to America, where their key changes and sudden switches into double- judging session as co-favourites, alongside The star is also on the rise. With a combination of time on Cheating On You and the futuristic Streets, and ended the night as deserved brilliant, poppy songs and a flair for arty, keyboard flourishes (hints of early Simple Mercury kings. colourful visual presentation, Franz Ferdinand Minds) on Auf Achse are all the result of the have a crossover potential that sets them apart band having honed their songs to near- With a band winning the prize for the first time from the rank and file. perfection through months of playing live. And since Gomez, in 1998, Franz Ferdinand’s victory then, of course, there are the band’s three was also one in the eye for those who argued Their debut album is not particularly polished or brilliantly catchy singles, Darts Of Pleasure, Take that the Mercury - in the wake of Ms. Dynamite sophisticated in terms of its sonic values. Me Out and The Dark Of The Matinee, all of and Dizzee Rascal’s recent wins - was on the Produced by Tore Johansson, its main riffs are which stood out as potential hits the first time verge of becoming the exclusive preserve of the played on a relatively raw, cheap Swedish guitar that I saw the band in January, when they played UK’s urban dance scene. and not treated with a fusillade of smart-arse before a small but expectant crowd in the sound effects (the instrument in question, the basement of the Rough Trade shop on a wintry Hägstrom, is a glittery, metallic number whose Saturday afternoon. only previous appearance of note in rock’s Hall Of Fame came on the gatefold sleeve of Roxy As one of the two short documentary films Music’s second album, For Your Pleasure, where shown before the prize-giving emphasised, it was used as a prop by a posing Bryan Ferry). Franz Ferdinand’s win was also a triumph for Glasgow. A relatively fallow city during the Brit- With so little to fall back on in the way of studio pop boom of the mid- and late-Nineties, the city trickery, the Franz Ferdinand album relies instead has exploded into activity in the new on the sharp instincts of an inventive group who, millennium. And, just as Franz Ferdinand were as their blistering, show-opening performance at given an early leg-up by fellow nominees Belle the Grosvenor House illustrated, are able to And Sebastian - another band who appreciate reproduce everything on the record when they the unique magic of cheap imported guitars - so play live.

David Sinclair – The Times Minna Halmetoja – BMG FEEDBACK It’s a great result, and the best Mercury Prize show I Franz Ferdinand and their label, Domino, deserve all the have seen yet. Brilliant performances by Ty, The Zutons, praise they've been getting - congratulations to the Some of your thoughts on the result… Franz & Amy Winehouse's band. Tremendous speech band and everyone who has helped them to conquer by Robert Wyatt. There was a snap in the step that has the world! Dominic Mohan – The Sun been missing in previous years when the choice of The best men won - for the first time in the Mercury's albums has sometimes been too worthy and the show Paul Connolly – The Times history. a bit stodgy. What does Mike Skinner have to do to win the award? Come up with THREE masterpieces in a row? Kitty Empire - Journalist John Marrs - Sunday Magazine The Streets' is the best album of the year hands down, I think the Mercury Music Prize money should have Dave Nattriss – The Hit Sheet but no problems at all with Franz Ferdinand winning it, gone to anyone who could spot an actual tune on the It makes a change from being an unexpected winner, as theirs is the second best album of the year by a Franz Ferdinand album (other than Take Me Out). which itself was unexpected. I ended up £22 richer with guitar string's breadth. a selection of bets on those I thought would or wouldn't win. I'd have lost £120 or so if Keane or Basement Jaxx had won! MUSICPRIZE MUSICPRIZE 11

The judging itself was held over two sessions: one before and one after the televised live 2004 Nationwide Mercury Prize - The Shortlist performances. And while Franz had not broken away from the shortlist by the time they were Amy Winehouse - Frank (Island) kicking off the show, a batch of four or five likely Basement Jaxx - Kish Kash (Xl) contenders were already emerging: keeping Belle & Sebastian - Dear Catastrophe Waitress those names secret while mingling in the foyer is (Rough Trade) always one of the more testing parts of the night. Franz Ferdinand - Franz Ferdinand (Domino) Jamelia - Thank You (Parlophone) The Mercury live show has improved Joss Stone - The Soul Sessions (Relentless) immeasurably over the years, having reached a Keane - Hopes And Fears (Island) nadir in 1998 when the event was held not in the Grosvenor House but at the Shepherd’s Bush Robert Wyatt - Cuckooland (Hannibal / Empire. There have been times, too, when the Rykodisc) mood in the hall has been overly serious and Snow Patrol - The Final Straw (Fiction) reverential, with too many long speeches. This The Streets - A Grand Don’t Come For Free year, however, with only The Zutons, Robert (679) Wyatt, Amy Winehouse and Franz Ferdinand Ty - Upwards (Big Dada) addressing the audience in person, the evening The Zutons - Who Killed The Zutons? had real momentum. One fellow judge even (Deltasonic) declared it, unequivocally, as the best gig he’d seen this year. The Judging Panel While there is some debate as to whether the Simon Frith ... Adrian Thrills ... Alexia Loundras judges should even be allowed into the venue to ... Barrington Pheloung ... Dean jackson ... Edith see the live show (we are, after all, judging the Bowman ... John Williamson ... June Sarpong ... best album rather than the best performer), Ian Parkinson ... Mark Findlay ... Victor Van Vugt tasting the atmosphere and watching the nominees onstage certainly adds to the overall the Grosvenor Hotel Mercury Music Prize - The Previous Winners flavour of the evening for the panel. 1992 Primal Scream - Screamadelica the small gigs subsequently organised by Franz What happens onstage, however, has no bearing 1993 Suede - Suede frontman Alex Kapranos created the climate that on the final decision: the fact that Franz 1994 M People - Elegant Slumming allowed other bands, including adopted Scots Ferdinand were made to look slightly silly as 1995 Portishead - Dummy Snow Patrol, the space to flourish. they held a static pose, boy-band style, for what 1996 Pulp - Different Class seemed like an eternity as they waited for the 1997 Roni Size/Reprazent - New Forms Having been instrumental in creating a ‘scene’ in transmission to begin was not held against 1998 Gomez - Bring It On their hometown - and Kapranos was quick to them! praise the two other Glasgow bands (plus The 1999 Talvin Singh - OK 2000 Badly Drawn Boy - The Hour Of Zutons) in his gracious acceptance speech - But the most remarkable thing about this year’s Bewilderbeast Franz Ferdinand plan to continue their good judging was the level of unanimity: at the end of 2001 PJ Harvey - Stories From The City, work by putting together their own festival next the night, all ten judges found ourselves having Stories From The Sea summer. Like all good successes, they have to choose between a clutch of three albums that 2002 Ms. Dynamite - A Little Deeper wasted no time in we all really liked. ‘putting something 2003 Dizzee Rascal - Boy In Da Corner back in’, even if their In previous years, the ‘for’ and ‘against’ laudable philanthropic arguments have been far more fierce and spirit does extend to partisan. It is a mark of Franz Ferdinand’s their dubious offer to achievement in dominating the spirit of 2004 write a World Cup that they were the most widely supported anthem for Scotland’s winner in the four years that I have been lucky long-suffering football enough to be a member of the judging panel. supporters.

For the ten judges, the ADRIAN THRILLS evening had started at 5pm, two hours before (photo credit: JMInternational) the guests arrived, in an upstairs room at the Grosvenor House. Jo Whiley Robert Wyatt, Brian Eno and Jools Holland

deserving. Graham Stewart – HMV Peter Black – Warners Perhaps the timing is absolutely perfect for the Franz FF was a great choice to win the Mercurys - excellent, Ferdinand album to receive an extra kick in the UK, and intelligent British band. especially in the US, that this award will give it. When looking at the list it is obviously the most 'interesting' Alex Hardee – Coda Agency album included, in that it doesn't sound like anything If the Mercury Music Prize is about innovation and else around and hints at enormous potential which will inventiveness, then I felt the prize should have gone to hopefully be realised by the time album No.2 arrives. the Streets, although Franz Ferdinand's album is full of Next year? great pop songs, it is just plagiarising their heroes from the late ‘70s and ‘80s and in my opinion did not deserve Jonathan Green – Jonathan Green Consulting to win this prize, but I think they deserve the Brit for I am thrilled Franz Ferdinand won! They are the most best newcomer. obvious choice, but I would also say the most FORTHCOMINGSINGLES 12 FORTHCOMINGSINGLES

20 September Jill Scott Golden The Roots I Don't Care Lucie Silvas What You’re Made Of Secret Machines Sad & Money Alcazar This Is The World We Live In Soundtrack Of Our Lives Big Time Sia Numb Brakes Single Lisa Stansfield Easier Travis Walking In The Sun Ian Brown Keep What Ya Get Rachel Stevens More More More Chungking Making Music Sum 41 We’re All To Blame 25 October Joe Cocker Every Kind Of People Terror Squad Lean Back The Concretes Seems Fine Tippi Boy Agent Blue Crossbreed FYA 10 Out Of 10 K T Tunstall False Alarm EP The Basement Do You Think You’re Moving On Groove Armada I See You Baby 2004 VS Make It Hot Daniel Bedingfield TBC PJ Harvey Shame Robbie Williams Radio Ian Brown TBC Mark Knopfler Boom, Like That Yourcodenameis:milo Schleeve Busted TBC Mansun Slipping Away Paddy Casey Saints & Sinners Paul McCartney Tropical Island Hum 11 October Cherryfalls In Your Arms Again Muse Butterflys & Hurricanes Graham Coxon Freakin’ Out/ All Over Me The Ordinary Boys Seaside Christina Aguilera/ Cathy Davey Cold Man’s Nightmare Donny Osmond Breeze On By Missy Elliott Car Wash The Delays Lost In A Melody Shyne More Or Less Tom Baxter My Declaration Doves Black & White Town Shystie Make It Easy Beautiful South Living Thing The Earlies Morning Wonder Ashlee Simpson Pieces Of Me Brad Carter Morning Always Comes Too Soon Foggy Come Into My Dream Hal Varian Cataclysm EP Elvis Costello Monkey To Man Goldie Lookin’ Chain Your Mothers… Brian Wilson Wonderful The Donnas Fall Behind Me Darren Hayes – TBC Eastern Lane I Said Pig On Friday Hoobastank – 27 September Eighties Matchbox Reason B-Line Disaster Rise Of The Eagles Marques Houston – Auf Der Maur – Freeform Five Eeeeaaooww Because Of You Taste You The Futureheads Mean Time Ja Rule – Wonderful Big & Rich – Save A Glitterati Back In Power Mick Jagger Horse The Hives Two-Timing Touch & … & Dave Stewart Big Brovaz – Yours Duncan, James & Keedie I Believe My Heart Old Habits Die Hard Fatally Norah Jones Those Sweet Words Kano – Ps & Qs Boxer Rebellion – Kasabian Processed Beats Kings Of Leon – Code Red Ricky Martin TBC Bucket Maria Mena You Are The Only One Mase – Breathe Cheeky Girls – Robbie’s back on the Radio Cheeky Flamenco The Morenas Coming Home Stretch Shake Dark Globe – Feed Alanis Morissette Eight Easy Steps Mobb Deep – Got It Deep Dish – Flash The Paddingtons 21/Some Old Girl Twisted Dance Park Slope La Dee Da Dee Portobella Viva La Difference Minnie Driver – Rupee Tempted To Touch The Rasmus First Day Of My Life Everything I've Got Scissor Sisters Mary Jamie Scott Searching In My Pocket Jay Sean ft. Rishi Rich Stolen Snow Patrol How To Be Dead Duke Spirit – Cuts Smujji Home To You Taz Cowboy Film Angie Stone U Haul Tina Turner Open Arms Cheeky Girls are back! Across The Land Gisli – TV=The Ten Thousand Things Titanium Usher Confessions Part II Devil Tokyo Dragons Get Em Off V You Stood Up Gwyneth Herbert Glory Box Tunde Great Romantic Xzibit Muthafucka Jentina French Kisses Velvet Revolver Fall To Pieces Ronan Keating I Hope You Dance The Wonder Stuff Better Get Ready 1 November Beverley Knight Not Too Late For Love Young Buck Let Me In Kontact Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This) The Zutons Don’t Ever Think Ashanti Turn It Up Ray LaMontagne Trouble The Calling Anything Mania Money In My Pocket 18 October Chingy TBC Richard Marx When You're Gone Comas Silence Of The Mind MC Solar La Vie Est Belle Ash Renegade Cavalcade Destinys Child Catch My Breath Nina Sky Turning Me On Anita Baker You're My Everything Fabolous Breathe Gretchen Peters Tomorrow Morning The Bees One Glass Of Water Delta Goodrem Out Of The Blue REM Leaving New York James Blunt High Ed Harcourt Born In The Seventies Jessica Simpson Take My Breath Away Chikinki All Eyes The Hiding Place Cruel Kindness The Streets Blinded By The Lights The Cure Taking Off Jamelia DJ Super Furry Animals The Man Don’t Give A F*** Danzel Pump It Up Tyler James Why Do I Do David Wrench World War IV Darius Kinda Love Avril Lavigne Nobody’s Home Will Young Love Is A Matter Of Distance Death From Above Romantic Rights Kristian Leontiou Some Say The Departure Be My Enemy Steven Lindsay November 4 October Do Me Bad Things Time For Deliverance Pullumair Iris Marjorie Fair Waves Research She’s Not Leaving Angel City Do You Know The Features Leave It All Behind The Strokes The End Has No End Sizer Barker Day By Day Gabrielle You Used To Love Me Sugababes Overload 2004 Barratt Lucie Good Size Pineapple Song Taz Imagine This Bellefire Spin The Wheel Handsome Boy Shania Twain Party For Two Bowling For Soup 1985 Modelling School World’s Gone Mad Wet Wet Wet All I Want Brandy Afrodisiac/Who Is She 2 U? The Hidden Cameras I Believe In The Good Of Life Keisha White ft. Cassidy Don’t Care Who Knows Ian Broudie Song For No One Nina Jayne No Ordinary Pain Clor Welcome Music Lovers Ana Johnsson Don’t Cry For Pain 8 November The Datsuns TBC Kelis ft. Andre 3000 Millionaire Dead 60s Riot Radio R Kelly Happy People Anastacia Welcome To My Truth Dirty Vegas Walk Into The Sun John Legend Used To Love U Babyshambles Kilmanjaro Duran Duran Sunrise Shaznay Lewis You Faithless Miss You Less See You More Eamon I Love Them Hos The Libertines What Became Of The Likely Lads The Finn Brothers TBC Estelle Free Lil Flip Sunshine Har Mar Superstar Body Request/Sugar Pie Good Charlotte Predictable Manic Street Elton John All That I’m Allowed David Guetta Stay Preachers – The LCD Soundsystem Movement Honeymoon Truth Hurts Love Of Richard Jennifer Lopez TBC Jimmy Eat World Pain Nixon Razorlight Rip It Up/Rock & Roll Lies Kevin Mark Trail Perspective The Others – Stan Shakira TBC Alicia Keys Karma Bowles Britney Spears My Prerogative Khia My Neck My Back (Lick It) Outkast – Gwen Stefani What You Waiting For Mad Capsule Markets Scary Prototype/Ghetto System Of A Down TBC Marilyn Manson Personal Jesus Musick The 411 Teardrops Christina Milian Whatever You Want Petey Pablo – Twista So Sexy Pete Murray So Beautiful Freek A Leek U2 Vertigo Ozomatli (Who Discovered) America Placebo – Twenty Urban Cookie Collective The Key The Secret Rammstein America Years Paul Weller Thinking Of You Rooster Come Get Some Cliff Richard – Something’s Goin On Cliff’s "goin" ghetto CLASHOFTHECONFERENCES CLASHOFTHECONFERENCES 13

Within 24 hours last week, two The rejuvenated Island Records concentrated on Bees, The Thrills, The Music and Kelis. In the their domestic roster, and we’re still confident Best Of stakes, the Rolling Stones’ Live Licks companies responsible for that Keane’s Hopes And Fears will be the best DVD is destined to clock up healthy sales, nearly half of the album sales in selling studio album this year. Add McFly, Amy as should singles collections from Winehouse, a live hits and DVD from Busted and The Verve and Placebo. the UK had outlined their a brilliant new single, Vertigo, from U2 in autumn battle plans to a crowd November, and the label is firing on all cylinders. We weren’t quite sure why it took two of Innocent’s staff (Sara Freeman and David Quirk) of retailers. And while there Jamie Cullum’s Live At Blenheim Palace DVD is to introduce the label’s only release – a Blue was no love lost between the a key release for Universal Classics & Jazz, while greatest hits package, although the double CD two parties, retailers came newcomer Gwyneth Herbert is rightly being and DVD are bound to do well. Relentless widely-touted as a future star. Mercury will be meanwhile are counting on Joss Stone’s new away confident of a busy Xmas continuing to build on Razorlight’s recent top album, Jay Sean and new signing K T Tunstall. period. five success while also expecting new albums from Elton John, Mark Knopfler, In summing up, Tony Wadsworth said, "The Universal was first up, holding its sales LucieSilvas and Darius. music marketplace is holding up really well in conference at The Hospital in Covent Garden, a the UK because of an extremely vibrant music much smaller venue than in previous years, scene. I can’t remember a time when there was squeezing in just 150 people and splitting up the such a range of great music coming out of the Hit Sheet duo (PK won the coin toss and went). UK in all genres." In contrast, EMI welcomed its guests to Studio 1 at Abbey Road, where 300 delegates were Wadsworth summarised a report by market treated to cucumber sandwiches and a very forecasters Verdict which predicts growth in the English affair. UK market of 26.5% between 2003 and 2008. The same report also predicts CDs constituting There was a competitive spat brewing over the 90% of the market in 2008 while digital two days which began when Universal’s Brian downloads sales will reach almost £100m Rose dismissed EMI’s role in arresting falling in that time. singles sales. A variety of graphs were projected in front of the audience to illustrate how the EMI Lucian Grainge took time to remind attendees policy of fixed CD single pricing was ineffective. how strong Universal is right now, that the major Ian Brown and the Universal Sales Team is breaking more UK acts than any other and that This claim was rebutted by EMI’s commercial it had been voted top of a Times’ list of dream director of sales, Mike McMahon, when he jobs. "This is the best job in the UK, it’s a dream But heavyweight label Polydor is gunning for countered, "We’re not going to claim that we’ve job for me," he agreed. more shelf space than ever with forthcoming done everything, but we are going to claim to be new albums from Daniel Bedingfield, Black Eyed the first to take positive and decisive action." "I Whether you prefer Universal’s suited-and- Peas, Bryan Adams, Girls Aloud, Ian Brown and won’t use my time to take a cheap shot at our booted corporate approach, or EMI’s beard-and- Gwen Stefani, who chairman Lucian Grainge competitors," said EMI chairman Tony trainers cool chic, both majors have a solid predicted will be the "biggest female in the world Wadsworth in his closing address, remaining autumn schedule that left retailers with a in 18 months." Add to that greatest hits albums ever the statesman. confident glow to accompany their full stomachs from Marilyn Manson, the Bee Gees and Ronan and rosy cheeks at the end of each day. Keating, and Polydor can fill a space in every The largest laugh of both days went to EMI’s Christmas stocking this year. Pete Duckworth, who tickled the audience with GREG PARMLEY comments such as, "In 1372, 41% of the English Meanwhile, over at EMI, Parlophone were population was called John. In 2004, less than similarly upbeat about the autumn period. 0.05% of the population is called John. I think However, with the third Coldplay record not due Who played and how was it? we now know what Bob Dylan meant when he until early 2005 and no new releases from said, ‘the times, they are a changin’!" Radiohead or catalogue heavyweights such as Universal The Beatles, the label is relying on a DVD-heavy Much was made of Universal’s attention to its release schedule, buoying EMI’s position as the McFly domestic roster, with Rose saying, "No-one is market leader in music DVD (27.5% of the Patrizio Buane breaking more UK acts than Universal right market in 2003/2004). Amy Winehouse now." Of the highest selling acts of 2004 to date, Chantz six of the top 10 are Universal UK-signed (Daniel Parlophone’s visual Christmas feast includes Bedingfield, Busted, Sugababes, Keane, Scissor Gwyneth Herbert offerings from George Harrison, Norah Jones, Razorlight Sisters and Jamie Cullum), with combined sales Blur, The Divine Comedy, Queen and Tina Lucie Silvas pushing 6 million albums. Turner. Meanwhile, new releases are scheduled from Dirty Vegas, Beverley Knight, The Finn Kristian Leontiou Brothers, Norah Jones (single), Cathy Davey Ian Brown (single) and new signing The Departure (single). EMI The Capitol group of labels looks especially healthy courtesy of the one and only Robbie Kevin Mark Trail Williams and a 19-track Greatest Hits album that Dirty Vegas EMI intends to be the biggest selling album of Cathy Davey both the quarter and year. Other releases from Keedie the same stable include Pink Floyd’s first live The 22 20s DVD, an Iron Maiden DVD, a new Ed Harcourt Jay Sean album and the 22-20s debut long player. Minnie Driver Philippe Ascoli introduced Virgin’s fourth quarter The Thrills releases which include new albums from The The 22-20s – a real highlight

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Hello and welcome back from new U2 single looked great and the A quick visit over to Dublin to see Bic our prolonged summer break. track Vertigo is destined to become a Runga and Tom Baxter was also a nice classic. affair. The Olympia Theatre is a lovely venue and the gig was delightful. The Hospital was a very cool location There is a big buzz building for Tom I’d like to take this opportunity for the Universal conference and was a and the band over in Ireland and our to thank all of you who sent get big improvement on the Shaw fingers are crossed that My well e-mails and messages of Theatre. The waitresses at the Hospital Declaration is a hit when released next were all gorgeous and made us feel month. love and support following my very welcome. The impression we accident…the stitches have were left with was that despite all the With the terrible footage of the siege in now been removed and the well-documented problems of the last Beslan we think it would be a good few years, the music industry is on the fundraising idea to reissue Gary Jules scar is healing nicely. mend and generally in good health. version of Mad World accompanied by the video footage of the children My only wish is to inform you that With the strength and depth of their fleeing, with all proceeds going to Aqualand in Saint Cyprien in France is releases, Universal will obviously have those poor villagers. How about it a death trap and that the UK Health a fantastic fourth quarter, but it’s odds Paul? and Safety people would shut the on that Robbie Williams will be the place down without a moment’s biggest selling artist yet again this So we’re off to Manchester for In The hesitation if they had any powers in Xmas and Now 59 will be in most kid’s City and the guys at Record of the Day France where their laissez faire attitude stockings come Xmas Eve. deserve a lot of praise for the quality of really is prevalent. the panels this year. We can’t wait to The main difference I felt between the see our man Bob Lefsetz on Sunday – With blood pouring from my head I two different company’s presentations it’s one interview not to be missed! had to wait 30 minutes at the first aid was that EMI’s was a lot less corporate Good luck to Webbo, we hope he gets hut whilst other visitors with broken and had a more relaxed vibe with a word in edgeways! limbs and nasty burns queued to be more humour. "treated". Apart from that we had a Don’t forget our birthday gig at the fantastic two weeks in Prades and Thanks to both Cathy Cremer and Bedford in Balham on Thursday 28 would highly recommend the lodgings Selina Webb respectively for inviting September. We have put together a we stayed in for anyone looking for a us. It was a pleasure to hang out with very nice line up; something for quiet base in a stunning location check so many music lovers and to spend everyone who has good taste! www,villafrench.com for more details. time with those in the music business Just email me [email protected] to who love music more than business be on the guest list. So, making up for lost time upon my and visa versa. return to the UK I managed to see 26 Wishing all our Jewish subscribers a performances in the space of 32 The Mercury awards ceremony was Happy New Year and well over the fast. hours! This was made possible by the best one so far. With a new attending both the Universal and EMI sponsor and the prize actually going to See you all soon conferences with the Mercury Music most people’s favourites to win, the Prize awards sandwiched in between. mood in the banqueting hall was one PAUL KRAMER of joyous celebration. All the Both conferences convinced me of performers on the night did one thing which is that right now we themselves proud. Congratulations to Quotes of the week: are living in a fertile period with some Kevin Milburn, David Wilkinson and great new music coming through, Co. on a great night. On the renaissance of the single across the board and from around the format: "EMI, who are always world. Gig wise I had a very enjoyable quick to claim credit for evening at the Jazz Café watching both something they had nothing to Each bash was also similar in terms of Jamie Scott and Kevin Mark Trail. Keep do with…" - Brian Rose, 8 Sept the diversity of the live acts that were an eye on both of these young men: 2004 showcased with varying success. My they have a big future ahead of them. particular favourites over the two days "We don’t slag off our were UCJ’s Gwyneth Herbert and The biggest buzz of the week was Ray competitors, we think that Mercury’s Razorlight while over at LaMontagne who I went to see three shows a distinct lack of class." - Abbey Road it was The 22-20’s, Kevin times in as many days - he was that Tony Wadsworth, 9 Sept 2004 Mark Trail and The Thrills and Minnie good! He’ll be back for more dates Driver who was a revelation and her later in the year and I urge you to band were excellent . The video for the check him out.

RETAILISDETAIL RETAILISDETAIL 17

Retail Is Detail Top five selling albums (15/09/04) – Virgin Megastore – Times Square, New York Top five selling singles in various retailers at close of business on 15 September, 2004 1. Jill Scott Beautifully Human: Words & Sounds 2. Ray Charles Genius Loves Company HMV – Oxford Circus 3. OST Garden State 4. Anita Baker My Everything 1. Eric Prydz Call On Me 5. Maroon 5 1/22/03 Acoustic 2. Girls Aloud Love Machine 3. Annie Chewing Gum 4. Beastie Boys Triple Trouble 5. Razorlight Vice New release prices in HMV stores – week starting 13 September, 2004 Most Requested Pre-Release Single: Brian Wilson Wonderful The 22-20s 22 Days £1.99/£2.99 Best Selling Album: Embrace Out Of Nothing Bryan Adams Open Road £1.99 Annie Chewing Gum £1.99/£2.99 Longplayer – Tunbridge Wells Beastie Boys Triple Trouble £1.99/£2.99 Cassidy Get No Better £2.99 1. Eric Prydz Call On Me The Corrs Angel £1.99/£2.99 2. Razorlight Vice 3. Girls Aloud Love Machine Nick Drake River Man £2.99 4. Green Day American Idiot Dido Sand In My Shoes £2.99 5. The 22-20s 22 Days Feist Mushaboom £1.99 Girls Aloud Love Machine £1.99/£2.99 Most Requested Pre-Release Single: Rammstein America Green Day American Idiot £1.99/£2.99 Best Selling Album: Kasabian Kasabian I Monster Hey Mrs £2.99 Eric Prydz Call On Me £2.99/£3.99 Music Box - Wallingford Razorlight Vice £1.99 Joss Stone You Had Me £1.99/£2.99 1. Brian McFadden Real To Me Thirteen Senses Into The Fire £0.99/£2.99 2. McFly That Girl 3. JoJo Leave (Get Out) 4. Nelly My Place/Flap Your Wings 5. Maroon 5 She Will Be Loved New releases prices in HMV stores – week starting 20 September, 2004. Most Requested Pre-Release Single: Robbie Williams Radio Ian Brown Keep What Ya Get £2.99 Best Selling Album: Goldie Lookin Chain Greatest Hits Chungking Making Music £2.99 The Concretes Seems Fine £1.99/£2.99 Left Legged Pineapple - Loughborough Groove Armada I See You Baby 2004 £2.99 PJ Harvey Shame £1.99/£2.99 1. Eric Prydz Call On Me Paul McCartney 2. Green Day American Idiot Tropical Island Hum £1.99 3. The 22-20s 22 Days Muse Butterflys & Hurricanes £2.99 4. Razorlight Vice The Ordinary Boys Seaside £1.99/£2.99 5. Interpol Slow Hands Donny Osmond Breeze On By £2.99 Most Requested Ashlee Simpson Pieces Of Me £1.99/£2.99 Pre-Release Single: Deep Dish Flashdance Brian Wilson Wonderful £2.99 Best Selling Album: Goldie Lookin Chain Greatest Hits

Quirks – Ormskirk Midweek Crossword 1. Eric Prydz Call On Me 2. Joss Stone You Had Me Down 3. Girls Aloud Love Machine 4. Dido Sand In My Shoes 5. JoJo Leave (Get Out) 1. Pop round to mine (4, 2, 2) 2. Yankee simpleton (8, 5) Most Requested Pre-Release Single: Robbie Williams Radio 3. The Orgasmatron (4, 7) Best Selling Album: Paul Weller Studio 150 13. Serious moral failing (4) EMAILfrom 18 EMAILfrom

the ancient, dying disc format, or beamed from outer makeup and the videos that showcase your artist as the space). next beautiful person marketing expenses are Garden State is No. 23 on the HITS chart. Proving, prohibitive. Hell, they've turned the music business once and for all, indie store customers are HIPPER! into a LOTTERY! But, if you use your BRAIN instead of BOB your dick, and spend time picking an artist who can sell Oh, you might reference volume...but SOMEONE has himself, THEN it's not so expensive. LEFSETZ to get a project started. Read The Tipping Point. It's not Drive By Truckers are not in People. the hoi polloi, Mr. EVERYMAN who starts trends...no it's But they've got more fans than most of the acts ON the ALWAYS those left of center. A band like Taking Back NOW compilation. Because SOON, most of the acts on Sunday doesn't break by appealing to the NOW will be YESTERDAY! While the Truckers keep MAINSTREAM! No, they start on the periphery, and rolling along. work their way inward. Just like with the Hush Puppies example in Malcolm Gladwell's book. HITS vs. CIMS That which starts in the CENTER...is inherently No. 6 doomed. Yup, if you're appealing to the mainstream No. 1 OUT OF THE BOX you'd better make your money right HITS: Ashlee Simpson away, for there's not going to be much money in the CIMS: G Love HITS: Tim McGraw future. CIMS: Tift Merritt R. Kelly is No. 15 at CIMS. Proving, probably, that there G Love has ALREADY made more albums than Ashlee aren't that many indie stores in black neighborhoods. Simpson EVER WILL! Mr. McGraw is No. 10 on the CIMS chart, showing that Then again, most of the CIMS stores cater to a white And, when Ashlee's done, she won't even be able to sell not ALL country fans shop at Wal-Mart, then again clientele. Then again, maybe R. Kelly does too. Nah, 10,000 records. She'll be seen as a has-been, who no MOST do (or at some other big box retailer like Best he's still got a heavy black presence. one wants to be associated with. With less credibility Buy). I know this because Mr. McGraw BLEW OUT OF In any event, the African-American population in the and desirability than a Razor scooter. THE BIG BOXES! He sold over 700,000 records. And ghetto is probably underserved with record retail. No. 10 on the HITS chart sold 57,361. American business forces them to go to high security Not that I think this was ever any different. Didn't the outfits like Best Buy, even though blacks are rabid No. 7 country crackers always buy ALL their goods at one low record buyers and are famous for starting trends. rent big box retailer, whereas those more upscale go Maybe, if the majors were smart, they'd go in to HITS: Maroon 5 from boutique to boutique? business with the pirates on the street corners. CIMS: Finn Brothers But the REAL story here is Tift Merritt. Allowing them to sell bogus CDs all they want just as BEST BUY DOES NOT BUILD CAREERS! Nor Wal-Mart long as they spiff the majors a few bucks. A great deal Come on. Even if you or ANY OTHER big box retailer. The label creates - no manufacturing, no shipping, just COLLECTION! LIKE Maroon 5...do demand, and then people pick up the item at the Just like the MAFIA! they MATTER? Do they megastore the same way they'd pick up a quart of milk. touch your HEART? Do Whereas the albums are HAND SOLD at the indie they CHANGE YOUR retailer. The owner/clerk is in PARTNERSHIP with the No. 3 LIFE? customer. Whereas I can vividly They have a RELATIONSHIP! The owner/clerk talks HITS: Young Buck remember seeing Split music with the customer, turns him ON to something. CIMS: Tie: Young Buck & Steve Earle Enz at the Whisky, Hype at the indie is DIFFERENT! It's got the imprimatur fucking some girl to of CREDIBILITY! The indie store customer TRUSTS the Could it be that everything I've said above re African- Drive By Truckers keep Waiata and I STILL play indie store help...no one in his RIGHT MIND would trust Americans is wrong? Or could it be that nobody sells rolling Message To My Girl on the Best Buy help. Hell, they're barely COGENT! I've black music to whites better than INTERSCOPE? a regular basis. ASKED for help at Best Buy. It's like asking the clerk But, even MORE fascinating is that Steve Earle's CD stocking the produce at the supermarket where you can debuted SO high at CIMS and isn't even IN the HITS Top No. 10 find the paper towels. They look up stunned, ponder, Fifty. Could it be that we've got the red and blue states and if they give you any information, it's WRONG! mentality in the MUSIC BUSINESS? Could it be that the HITS: Jimmy Buffett Furthermore, the indie store customer is not a CASUAL ignorant airheads who believe we found WMDs in Iraq CIMS: the aforementioned Tim McGraw buyer, but a MUSIC FAN! and that George Bush has been good for the economy Why is it that majors are stripping in extras for special shop at Best Buy and those with powers of ANALYSIS Mr. Buffett's album is No. 62 at CIMS. Proving that Mr. products at Best Buy when most of their customers shop at indie retail? Buffett's fans are not true music aficionados. DON'T CARE! NOT selling this product in indie stores, Steve Earle is a real artist. His fans don't even BOTHER OTHERWISE they'd buy at CIMS. No, Mr. Buffett's fans where the customer can tell the DIFFERENCE! to go to Best Buy looking for his record. Hell, they still ONLY buy his records. Or, are old baby boomer farts If someone makes it to No. one at CIMS, they've got a BELIEVE in music and music retail. They don't want to ANYWAY who THINK they're cool but SHOW they're career. give Best Buy their MONEY, and don't believe the CD not cool by buying at Best Buy. You can't say the same thing about the will be on the shelf anyway. Yes, Jimmy's got some new country fans, and as stated HITS/SOUNDSCAN/BEST BUY chart. So, who would you rather have a piece of. One of the earlier, they're not indie retail fans. But, Jimmy, got to evanescent acts who burns up the HITS chart for a tell you, they're not Parrotheads either. If they go to one week or two or somebody with a FORTY YEAR of your gigs and see the debauchery these Christian No. 2 CAREER? If you said the former, you're a major label Right denizens will probably SUE your ass. employee and YOU'RE what's wrong with the music You can't appeal to everybody, don't ever forget that. HITS: R. Kelly business. Then again, does Jimmy Buffett really give a fuck? He's CIMS: Garden State Soundtrack got ALL the money. AND, he can sell out every gig WITHOUT the help of his new country fans. None of my regular friends has seen Garden State, but No. 5 I realized it had penetration amongst HITS: NOW 16 No. 13 the target demo, the CIMS: Drive By Truckers movers and shakers, HITS: Avril Lavigne the teenagers And here we have it. The difference between the CIMS: Various Artists: This Is Americana spreading the word, MAJOR LABEL record business and the indie record when I found out my business. Little kids don't drag their parents into indie stores to friend from college's The majors are selling the basest, most wide appeal buy their hit of the moment crap. teenage daughter had crap, trying to get an instant return on their investment. If you asked the help in a big box retail store where the seen it. Indies are signing acts that they believe are real, that Americana section is, he'd have no idea what you're When the summer will be sold via word of mouth rather than the huge TALKING ABOUT! blockbusters are long marketing expenses the majors moan about but seem It's unclear whether Americana's time has come and gone from to have no problem spending. gone, or whether years after the hype, like reggae, it's consciousness, indie The majors are FULL OF SHIT! The music business isn't going to break through. But the genre is made up of films like Garden State more expensive. It's more expensive the way THEY DO real artists, singing from the heart, as opposed to babes will still be viewed at IT! Yes, if you want up front exposure in every form of too young to have an original thought who have their The real Steve Earle home (whether it be on media known to man. If you want to pay for hair and hits written by adults trying to create FACSIMILES of AMERICA AMERICA 19

175 ON THE CIMS CHART! The CASUAL buyer doesn't Oh, don't tell me DreamWorks went out of business. If need to see the act live, the FAN won't MISS IT! you sign a deal at a Sony/BMG, Warner or EMI label With all the MTV and endcap hoopla done, Jason Mraz today what do you think the odds the person who has slipped out of the HITS Top Fifty. But, it turns out signed you will be there TOMORROW?? he's got fans. These believers heard about the new product and sought it out. No. 41 No. 36 HITS: Hoobastank CIMS: Head Automatica HITS: Yellowcard CIMS: Junior Brown Hoobastank is No. 208 on the CIMS chart. They're done, they're toast, their hit single killed them. Their Yellowcard is No. 133 at CIMS. THEREFORE, despite ONLY hope is to have ANOTHER hit, however hard that their appearance at the VMAs, we now know the band Are Linkin Park done? might be. For they DON'T have a career. No self- is fake. And that their next album will sink like a stone respecting music fan wants to go see them. As for the unless it contains an incredibly catchy hit. As for live teenage life. next album, Hoobastank SOLD OUT, in the same way business...they'd better be on a PACKAGE tour. With a No wonder the major labels are in trouble. They've got the hair bands did in the late eighties, with a BALLAD! TRUE headliner, not another act on their level...then to come up with a number of these no-talent idiots Hear much from the hair bands recently? NOBODY will go. EVERY YEAR instead of investing in acts that can stand Head Automatica is on Warner Brothers. So don't say As for Junior Brown... Stop ten shoppers at Best Buy on their own two feet, writing their own material and the CIMS chart is all left field and irrelevant... generating their own audience without the help of and I bet not ONE will know who this dude is. bogus major label street teams and IM campaigns and all the other phony marketing today's youngsters are No. 37 No. 42 now sloughing off. HITS: Alicia Keys HITS: D12 CIMS: Twilight Singers No. 14 CIMS: Randy Rogers Band Ms. Keys is No. 120 at CIMS. Proving the point that Like shooting fish in a barrel. You WONDER why D12 HITS: Pitbull she's being propped up by Clive Davis' shenanigans. can't even sell out the HOUSE OF BLUES? CIMS: Rilo Kiley Don't be surprised, this has ALWAYS been his game. A pure MTV confection, which the public doesn't really I heard about Rilo Kiley from Nic Harcourt, he brought He paints a picture giving the ILLUSION that people care about. an advance CD to play on my radio show. I've got care about the act, but it's just not true. How do we As for Marshall Mathers... Oh, his next album will sell, respect for him, I've been paying attention since to the know? Because when we check the catalog chart a few since it's going to be released late in the fourth quarter. occasional news item. Seems that Rilo Kiley is a years down the line, his albums NEVER APPEAR! But, if he has melodies as lame as the ones on the D12 COMER! Its small fan base is made up of BELIEVERS! Yup, despite the hats, the videos, the accolades, Alicia record I wouldn't count on his album having LEGS! It feels SO GOOD to be on the ground floor. Keys is a minor artist without that many fans. As for the Twilight Singers, why SHOULDN'T they enter I've got no idea who Pitbull is. But any act that I've As far as Randy Rogers goes...WHO THE HELL IS HE? the chart at this number...this is their THIRD ALBUM! never heard of that debuts this high MUST be a hip-hop Gives me confidence in this business. That there are And, their master, Greg Dulli, has a whole body of work act. And, at this point, it all washes over me. They enough musos out there STILL interested in the new with the Afghan Whigs. The arc of a major label act is appeared on THIS hit which they're now leveraging for and different, that which isn't hyped by the machine. not even three albums. And they talk about artist THEIR album and it all rides until the ORIGINAL artist They're going to SAVE this business. development... fades and the whole genre folds, like Master P's empire. Make no mistake, P2P isn't killing the majors, they're Then again, my friends at TVT will tell me Pitbull is an killing THEMSELVES! ORIGINAL! No. 48 Maybe I don't care. Maybe I don't believe Jay-Z is No. 40 HITS: Evanescence retiring. Maybe I'm even on backlash, from all the CIMS: The Melvins media hype saying it's a hip-hop nation, when that's HITS: JoJo patently UNTRUE! It's a hip-hop MTV, but NOT a hip- CIMS: Rise Against If Evanescence is SO HOT, why could they only pull hop nation. But really, what we're talking about here 3,475 people at the Verizon Wireless Amphitheater in is...different strokes for different folks. But my folks Nobody cares. Bonner Springs, Kansas on 8/4? don't seem to have any radio anymore. Which is why Proving why the VMAs were so bogus. It's a self- Granted, this was a Wednesday night, and this four act whilst the major media hypes are on MTV and Top Forty contained universe. MTV SAYS they're stars, so they bill did much better business elsewhere. radio, MY people have gone underground, to the MUST BE! But it can't be about the weather. I mean shouldn't Internet, to satellite radio. But they're not. ADVANCE sales be in excess of 3,475 for supposedly Ignore my people at your peril. For, you can't really At least the one hit wonders of the sixties made good the HOTTEST WOMAN IN ROCK? survive on hip-hop and popsters. Hell, if you could, records. And, I don't want to hear about exorbitant ticket prices. would the majors be merging and complaining? When Little Eva died, it made the New York Times. Tickets were $34 and $22. When JoJo dies...she'll be lucky if it makes the local No, Evanescence is done. At least for now. Know paper. No. 20 because it's No. 145 on the CIMS chart. As for Rise Against... Punk's got a hard core following. As for another record, the guy who wrote all the hits left HITS: Switchfoot As for the benefits of signing with a major... UNLESS the band...WHOOPS! CIMS: 213 you want to be in People and make Top Forty music, But, Amy's there on the VMAs. And her agent has got you MUST NOT be on a major label. It blows ALL your her spreading bad will ad infinitum by continuing to Big box buyer dumb, indie buyer smart. Switchfoot is credibility, and doesn't yield much positive other than tour on this one hit album. I mean that's ALL she's No. 175 at CIMS. an ADVANCE! Rise Against was an underdog player on got...why should people GO? Fat Wreck Chords. They're another failure to be tossed This is the Melvins' 20th album. They've got fans, No. 30 on the scraphead on DreamWorks. they've got a career. This is the way it USED to be done. The way it's STILL done by indie labels and HITS: Alter Bridge independent record stores. They're where the REAL CIMS: Ashlee Simpson business is. I rest my case. Big box buyers are complete idiots. Why should we cry for the majors who are only Who in the HELL would buy the remnants of CREED? interested in short term profits and want to kill any You'd be LAUGHED OUT of the indie store. You would innovation that might allow independents to get their be ashamed to bring the CD to the cash register. music heard and distributed, like P2P. Yes, Alter Bridge is No. 82 at CIMS. *The Hits chart comes from hitsdailydouble.com. CIMS is The Coalition of Independent Music Stores No. 34 HITS: Linkin Park CIMS: Jason Mraz Bob Lefsetz is a freelance journalist writing from Santa Monica, How do we know Linkin Park is done? Why are their California. The views expressed are his alone and not concerts far from selling out? BECAUSE THEY'RE NO. Hoobastank sold out necessarily endorsed by The Hit Sheet.