APRIL 2002

© Copyright 2002 by SLI - SongLink International
Editor & Publisher: David Stark
23 Belsize Crescent - London NW3 5QY, UK
Tel: +44 (0)207 794 2540 - Fax: +44 (0)207 794 7393

Following EMI Group chairman Alain Levy's cutting of 1,800 jobs worldwide, Philippe Ascoli has been named MD of Virgin (UK) and continues as Source MD.

EMI has sold Townhouse Studios to the Sanctuary Group. Dave Holley remains as MD of EMI's Abbey Road and Olympic Studios, with Ian Davidson as operations director, succeeding Chris Buchanan who is taking early retirement.

Capitol's senior international A&R director Colin Daniels and A&R manager Harriet Carr have left the company, while Marc Fox (no relation) joins as A&R scout. Declan Colgan and Nigel Wildman have left Virgin Records.

Anna Carpenter has left Zomba Music to join Native Management, working alongside Pete Evans with producers/writers signed to Native Songs.

Former East West and Innocent A&R exec Cheryl Robson has formed new label 2M Recordings, backed by Ministry of Sound and Demon Records.

Former Tip Sheet sales executive Paul Kramer has launched The Hit Sheet, a new independent weekly journal for key people in the music industry. The first issue launches in early May with a pilot issue and free CD. The annual subscription is £300, with an extra 3 months included free as an introductory offer. The Hit Sheet web message board is also open for business, carrying separate areas for tips, comments, plugs, links to artist websites, demos and job vacancies.

Former Tip Sheet editor Joe Taylor has launched the Tastemaker CD in collaboration with CD Pool founders Rob Sawyer and Tim Rudling, with Simon McBride as sales executive. There will be 15 Tastemaker CDs throughout each year, themed on a genre or region with a cost of £500 per track. The first will be Tastemaker CD: Rock, to be issued late April. The Tipsheet ceased publication last month, but continues as a message board at www.tipsheet.co.uk.

ClickMusic has been acquired by AIM-listed communications group, BV group plc. Click MD Rebecca Lancashire joins the BV executive board, and expects the deal to enable Click to develop its news and services to the music industry.

Former Boosey & Hawkes directors Andrew Sunnucks and Robert Hurst have launched Audio Network, a subscription-based sound effects library for TV and film producers. They have teamed up with US sound effects studio Soundstorm and other composers to offer music and access to 200,000 sound effects.

MusicWorks is a new three-day conference to be held in Glasgow from October 31st to November 2nd, focussing on issues faced by the music industry and music users including TV, film, video, games and new media. The event is organised by Joanne Wain of UZ Events with support from Aim, the BPI, MMF, MU, Scottish Enterprises and Glasgow City Council.

The Stuart Adamson tribute concert will take place at Barrowlands, Glasgow on May 31st. The Scottish singer/songwriter/guitarist will be honoured by his former bands Big Country and The Skids (including Richard Jobson), members of Runrig, Midge Ure, Steve Harley, Bill Nelson, Mike Peters, Pete Wylie, Kirk Brandon and Hugh Cornwell among others. The concert will benefit Adamson's two children and two charities. Tickets are £20 available from www.bigcountry.co.uk.

Later With Jools Holland has begun its 19th series on BBC2, with guests including Pet Shop Boys, Doves, Cornershop, So Solid Crew, Tony Bennett and India Arie. Guests on April 26th include Gomez, Patti Smith and Angelique Kidjo. The show is produced by Alison Howe and Mark Cooper.

Radio One is launching its first OneMusic Day on Bank Holiday Monday, May 6th, which will feature unsigned acts and white labels broadcast for the entire day. The launch coincides wih a relaunch of the station's website: www.bbc.co.uk/radio1.

All 24 entries for this year's Eurovision Song Contest are being released on a CD released by BMG. The contest takes place in Talin, Estonia on May 25th. The UK is being represented by Pop Idol star Jessica Garlick singing 'Come Back' (Sony).

Hans Desmond is promoted to managing director of Warner/Chappell Music in Sweden, succeeding his father, Lennart Desmond, who will remain a member of the board. Desmond Jr. will report to Warner/Chappell chairman/CEO Les Bider.

Tom Arena has exited as president of Warner/Chappell France, with Caroline Molko named as MD from July 1st. Molko is artistic director of Universal Music France and will report to Warner Music France chairman/CEO Yan-Philippe Blanc.

Sylvia Kollek becomes MD of Capitol Records Germany (formerly EMI Electrola) in Cologne. She was director of marketing at EMI. Gregor Stoeckl, previously marketing, is now MD of Munich-based Virgin Records Germany.

Polydor Netherlands MD Stef Collingnon beomes MD of Universal Music Netherlands. Kees van der Hoeven is named head of A&R and retains his titles of MD, publisher, and European A&R head for Universal Music Publishing.

Niel Van Hoff beomes president of EMI Recorded Music Netherlands responsible for both Capitol and Virgin Records. Virgin MD Dick Stolk is leaving the company.

Jody Gerson has been promoted to executive VP at EMI Music Publishing (LA) following the exit of Steve Backer.

Jack Rovner has exited as president of RCA Records, with his responsibilities assumed by BMG US president Bob Jamieson who also becomes chairman of RCA Music Group, reporting to BMG chairman/CEO Rolf Schmidt-Holtz.

Eddie DeGarmo has been named president of EMI Christian Music Publishing, reporting to Bill Hearn, president/CEO of EMI Christian Music Group.

Randy Newman won the Academy Award for Best Song for'If I Didn't Have You' from Monsters Inc. Howard Shore won Best Score Oscar for 'Lord Of The Rings.'

Nashville-based Balmur Corus Music has closed... Former Warner Bros A&R Executive Alison Ball-Gabriel has formed Alley Cat Productions.

The Butterfly Group has been formed by Bob Carlisle, George King and Mike Rinaldi. The company has set up four labels (Christian Records, Gospel 1, Flying Leap and Butterfly Kids), three publishing companies and a studio.

Brad Paisley was named Songwriter/Artist of the Year during the NSAI Legendary Songwriters Concert at the Ryman Auditorium, Nashville. The show also featured America, Bill Anderson, Kitty Wells, Johnnie Wright, John Bettis and others. Other performers during Tin Pan South's 10th anniversary week included Ronnie Milsap, Randy Goodrum, Graham Gouldman, Mac McAnally, Melissa Manchester, Andrew Gold, Angela Kaset and Mark T. Jordan.

RIP: British comedian, film star and jazz pianist Dudley Moore (66); Frank Tovey (aka Fad Gadget), of heart failure; ex-Motley Crue/Ozzy Osbourne drummer Randy Castillo (41); jazz/blues organist Big John Patton (66).