AUTUMN 2008

© Copyright 2008 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

A new industry organisation, UKMusic (www.ukmusic.org), has succeeded British Music Rights to represent trade bodies AIM, the British Academy, BPI, MCPS-PRS Alliance, MMF, MPA, MU and PPL. Headed by chairman Andy Heath and chief executive Feargal Sharkey, each member has one director on the board, namely Alison Wenham, Tony Wadsworth, Nigel Elderton, John Smith, Jazz Summers, David Ferguson, Fran Nevrkla and Steve Porter. BPI chairman Tony Wadsworth said, "This is a reaction to the fact that we felt that the Government could do a hell of a lot more for the creative industries, particularly the music industry and it needs to hear that clearly."

Patrick Rackow has been appointed Chief Executive of the British Academy of Composers and Songwriters, replacing Chris Green who has retired after ten years. He has served as an external director for the past seven years and has been the Academy's principal legal advisor, as well as being a music industry lawyer. He said, "I am looking forward to leading the Academy into the next phase of its development and working with David Ferguson and the Board to shape its future as a community, a political and campaigning force and in its celebration of British composing and song writing."

Simon Aldridge has been named Senior Executive, Writer/Publisher Relations, Europe at BMI London, reporting to Executive Director Brandon Bakshi. He ws most recently at Sony/ATV Music and ZTT Records/Perfect Songs, and has also worked for Windswept Music and Columbia Records. Among writer/artists he has signed are Seal, Gabrielle, Mark Morrison, All Saints, Quiz/Larossi, Wayne Hector and The Bodyrockers.

The BBC is believed to be planning a major overhaul of the method of finding the UK's entry to Eurovision 2009, with X-Factor/I'd Do Anything-style heats possibly chaired by Andrew Lloyd Webber and hosted by Graham Norton. International juries are also being brought back to the contest in Moscow next May to try and prevent tactical voting between neighbouring countries.

A&R moves: Elias Christidis and Phil Christie switch from Angel/EMI to the Virgin UK A&R dept.. Thomas Haimovici has left Atlantic... Nigel Coxon and Julian Hargreaves have left Parlophone.. Scott Maclachlan has left Mercury Records... Stephen Ferrera has moved from J Records to Mercury in New York... David Wolter has moved from Virgin to RCA in New York.

Imagem Music has appointed Lucy Francis (ex-Gut) as A&R manager and Stephen Phillips (ex-Universal) as sync/marketing manager. Both report to MD Tim Smith. Imagem is owned by Dutch companies APG and CP Masters.

Lucy Heyman becomes digital sync manager at Boosey & Hawkes sync and marketing consultancy team reporting to dept. head Natasha Baldwin.

Universal Music is polling the British public to discover their 50 favourite Motown tracks to appear on a new compilation, Motown 50 being released to celebrate the label's 50th anniversary, out on December 1st.

MySpace Music has launched its new download and streaming service with all of the majors and The Orchard on board, but not the majority of indie labels.

Charles Aznavour will receive Midem's Lifetime Achievement Award during Midem 2009, which takes place in Cannes from January 18th to 21st.

Nettwerk One has signed Sinead O'Connor to an exclusive publishing deal for new compositions as well as songs from her back catalogue, which revert to her over the next year. NW1, headed by Blair McDonald has recently added the 10,000 Maniacs catalogue, plus new signings John Spinks and Fredro.

Jarvis Cocker is giving his 'Saying the Unsayable' lecture on the function of lyrics in popular song, on the final day of In The City on October 7th. He joins a list of high-profile keynotes set to appear at ITC including Andrew Loog Oldham, Seymour Stein, Richard Gotterher, Lyor Cohen, Jazz Summers UK Culture Secretary Andy Burnham MP and others.

Peermusic has signed hit writer/producer Steve Mac to a global sub-publishing deal for past and future works, which MD Nigel Elderton describes as the biggest deal he has undertaken in his 17 years at Peer. Mac has countless credits by artists such as Leona Lewis, Westlife, Kelly Clarkson, Leon Jackson and Il Divo, whose new album The Promise he has solely produced.

EMI Music Publishing has signed a deal with Nike for some of its UK writers to create 30-minute pieces for consumers to exercise to. Simian Mobile Disco, Jackson and Skream are among the first writers to take up the challenge, with all the tracks to be released under the deal on iTunes. The deal was brokered by EMP's Austin Wilde with Nike's Kerry Shaw and Simon Pestridge.

Sony/ATV Music has signed a long-term administration deal with UK/ Swedish songwriting/production house Phrased Differently run by Hiten Bharadia and Akilan Kanagenthran. They have have worked with such names as Shayne Ward, Donnie Klang, Craig David, Lemar and Ben's Brother.

Oasis are to close the 2008 BBC Electric Proms at London's Roundhouse on October 26, accompanied by the 50-piece Crouch End Festival Chorus, while Glasvegas will be the support. The Oasis performance will also be broadcast live on Radio One and later on BBC2 the same evening.

Spanish society SGAE has joined Warner/Chappell's Pan-European Digital Licensing (PEDL) initiative, allowing licenses in Warner/Chappell's Anglo-American repertoire to be available from SGAE. The first members to sign up to PEDL were the MCPS-PRS Alliance, GEMA and STIM back in January.

Kid Rock has signed a worldwide administration deal with Kobalt Music for his current album Rock N Roll Jesus which reached No. 1 in the US and No. 4 in the UK on the back of hit single All Summer Long topping the chart. Kid Rock wrote or co-wrote 11 of the album's 12 cuts.

Apple/EMI Music will release All Together Now on DVD on October 20th. The feature-length documentary portrays the unique partnership between the Beatles and Cirque du Soleil that resulted in the creation of the LOVE stage spectacular in Las Vegas in 2006, which is rumoured to be coming to London next year. The 84-minute film features Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, Sir George Martin and son Giles, who co-produced the music, Yoko Ono, Olivia Harrison and show director Dominic Champagne, with extensive DVD extras.

The Rolling Stones have signed an exclusive worldwide deal with Universal Music Group covering their back catalogue, while new recordings will in future be released by Polydor through UMG around the world. Universal released the soundtrack of the Shine A Light film in March, with a DVD expected soon.

Scott Francis (ex-BMG Music) is the new President, Warner/Chappell Music worldwide, and Chairman/CEO, Warner/Chappell Music US... Rob Stevenson(ex-Island/Def Jam) is President, EMI/Virgin US, reporting to Nick Gatfield.. Jovanka Ciares is promoted to VP music services and licensing at EMI Music Publishing USA with Marty Fernandi and Eric Shaw also named as VPs.

Yvette Arledge has joined Cherry Heart Music & Entertainment in Nashville as director of administration as well as clearances... Bogard Music, headed by Steve Bogard, has changed name to One Music Group and moved to new offices in Nashville... Universal South senior director of A&R, Cliff Audretch III, is adding staff producer to his responsibilities... Songwriter Sonya Kelly's No Coincidence Music has signed an admin deal with Bluewater Music.

RIP: Pink Floyd keyboard player Rick Wright (65), former Floyd manager and Morrison-Leahy partner Bryan Morrison (66), soul legend Isaac Hayes (66), legendary producer Jerry Wexler (91), Ronnie Drew of the Dubliners (73), Johnny Moore of The Skatalites (70), former Melody Maker editor Jack Hutton (80), Jez Bird of The Lambrettas (50), writer/guitarist/actor Jerry Reed (71), Motown writer/producer/arranger Norman Whitfield (66), top session drummer Earl Palmer (83), US songwriter Horace Lynsey (88).