JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2005

© Copyright 2005 by SLI - SongLink International
Editor & Publisher: David Stark
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Tel: +44 (0)207 794 2540 - Fax: +44 (0)207 794 7393

Pelle Lidell, MD and part-owner of Murlyn Songs in Sweden has left the company to work on his own projects. Lidell said. "After almost 6 years, I have after much consideration decided to leave the company to pursue new challenges in my professional life. Having seen our writers and producers rise from local grass root level to A-list providers of international hits has been an immense thrill." Murlyn Music Group is presently restructuring. "We will have a new organisation which is adapted to the demands from the song-writers, producers, record companies and music consumers of the future," says MD Christian WÂhlberg.

Mike Weller is to join EMI Music Publishing Germany as MD from February 1st, moving from Sony/ATV Music Publishing where he was VP. He reports to president/CEO Peter Ende, who has also been named as chairman of the German office, and COO Terry Foster-Key.

After thirteen years at STIM, MNW and most recently at Gazell Music in Sweden, Eva Karman Reinhold has started her own publishing and record company Smilodon which will also incorporate KarGaz Music, founded by herself and Gazell's Dag Haeggqvist.

Veteran publisher Bryan Morrison has bought a 75% stake in Snapper Music for an undisclosed sum. Under the deal, Morrison has acquired the stake previously controlled by French bank Credit Agricole and Irish-based venture capitalist ACT. Snapper was founded in 1996 by Jon Beecher and Dougie Dudgeon, and is now part of Morrison Music Ltd.

New Atlantic Records MD Max Lousada has appointed Steve Sasse as A&R head, completing an A&R team that comprises Hugo Bedford, Joel De'ath, Thomas Haimovici and scout Steve Proud. The appointment marks Sasse's return to Warners after three years, having left Sony/ATV Music Publishing in November.

In The City founder Anthony Wilson is launching F4 Records, the fourth incarnation of Manchestr-based Factory Records. Debut single on January 31 is by Raw-T, with releases to follow by Young Offenders Institute and Vini Reilly of Durutti Column. The Who's Roger Daltrey was awarded a CBE in the New Year Honours list. Producer and label boss Pete Waterman received an OBE.

Dominic Brownlow has joined Right Bank Management, which is part of Rive Droite Ltd. Current acts are Belasco and Motion Picture Soundtrack. Contact: dbrownlow@rightbankmanagement.com

Ed Jefferson has joined Polydor's A&R department, moving from EMI Music Publishing. Neal Ridley and Jamie Topham have left BMG. The reissue of Elvis Presley's One Night c/w I Got Stung (RCA/BMG) became the 1,000th No. 1 single on the UK's official charts on January 16th. One Night was written by Dave Bartholomew, Fats Domino's producer and co-writer, and was first recorded in 1955 by bluesman Smiley Lewis. Elvis's version originally reached No. 1 on January 23rd 1959.

The British Academy of Composers & Songwriters is lodging a complaint with the Office of Fair Trading over the practice known as 'coercion' whereby TV music commissions are offered only if the composer signs publishing rights to the production company. The Academy, in association with lawyers Denton Wilde Sapte, spent six months collecting evidence from its members. Academy chairman David Ferguson, himself a film/TV composer, said: "We have a duty to fight as hard as we can on behalf of our members to put an end to this unnecessary and underhand practice."

Key industry figures such as Feargal Sharkey, David Arnold and Guy Chambers are lending their support to a British Music Rights campaign which aims to educate 11-14-year-olds as part of Respect The Value Of Music initiative. 1,600 packs have been sent out to schools across the UK, which explain how writers and musicians derive a living from creativity, particularly in the digital age.

David Renzer has been promoted to Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Universal Music Publishing Group (UMPG). Most recently, he served as President of UMPG. In this new role, Renzer will continue to preside over the company's global activities and reports directly to UMG president Zach Horowitz.

Tina Davis and Linda Lee have exited Def Jam in Los Angeles... Judy Cucuzzo has joined Little Dog Records in LA as general manager.

RIP: Veteran writer/producer Norman Newell (85). As a lyricist, his most successful song was More, one of BMI's 7-millionaire-play songs, while others included Portrait Of My Love and This Is My Life. He won one Grammy award, an Emmy and three Ivors. As head of EMI's Columbia label in the 50's and early 60's, he also worked with Gracie Fields, Russ Conway, Noel Coward and Shirley Bassey... Peter Kirsten (69), founder of Germany's Global Music Group in of cancer... Spencer Dryden (66), drummer for Jefferson Airplane, of cancer at his home in Petaluma, California... Singer/songwriter James Griffin (61) died of cancer at his home near Nashville. Apart from his hits as member of Bread, he had cuts by Rudy Vallee, Lesley Gore, Bobby Vee, and with Royer and Fred Karlin co-wrote "For All We Know," which won an Academy Award and was a No. 3 hit for the Carpenters in 1971. He reunited with Bread for a 1997 world tour.