MAY 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

Kylie Minogue's smash 'Can't Get You Out Of My Head,' written by Cathy Dennis and Rob Davis, leads the nominees for the 47th Annual Ivor Novello Awards, with four nominations (Best-Selling UK single, International Hit of the Year, Dance Award and PRS Most-Performed Work). Dido's Thank You, co-written with Paul Herman, is up for two awards, as is Atomic Kitten's Whole Again, co-written by Andy McCluskey, Stuart Kershaw, Bill Padley and Jeremy Godfrey.

EMI Recorded Music has acquired Daniel Miller's Mute Records, home to Moby, Depeche Mode, Nick Cave and others. EMI will pay £23m, plus a maximum of £19m in performance-related payments, for Mute's operations in the UK, USA and Germany. The deal does not include Mute Song publishing.

Former edel Music and Polygram publishing head David Hockman could be running Boosey & Hawkes' publishing division within the next month, having linked with equity firm HgCapital to bid for the £50m business.

Stefan Gullberg has been appointed MD of EMI Music Publishing Scandinavia, succeeding Stefan Egmar. Gullberg was previously with MCA/Universal in Stockholm and PolyGram in London.

BMG Music Publishing Scandinavia closes on May 31st, with creative manager Claus Kilpatrick laid off. The firm is seeking other arrangements in Denmark, according to Stockholm-based MD Lasse Karlsson.

Lars "Billy Bolero" Hansson has exited as A&R manager of Universal Music Sweden's Sonet label to concentrate on his Bolero Records label and Chalkstripe Songs publishing company, a joint venturewith Warner/Chappell. He is succeeded at Sonet by Peter Hart.

Wise Buddah Music has appointed former Tip Sheet editor Joe Taylor as consultant to work with directors Bill Padley and Mark Goodier to develop opportunities for the company's writers and producers. Wise Buddah's recent credits include work on Holly Valance's smash Kiss Kiss, Jessica Garlick and tracks for Ronan Keating's new album.

Warner/Chappell creative director Mike Sault's new label via WEA London is named M Records, with its debut single 'All For You' by singer/songwriter Alexis Strum set for release in late June.

Kate Sweetsur has joined Chrysalis Music as Creative Manager, having left edel Publishing which has been taken over by Warner/Chappell, along with 50% of Desmond Child's NY-based Deston Songs.

Anna Carpenter has moved from Zomba to Native Management andNative Songs, working alongside Pete Evans' roster of producers/writers.

Terry O'Brien of Roadworks has joined Sincere Management to work with Peter Jenner, manager of Billy Bragg, Eddi Reader and others.

The line-up for the Party At The Palace, the Queen's Golden Jubilee pop show on Monday June 3rd at Buckingham Palace, includes Paul McCartney, Elton John, Eric Clapton, Aretha Franklin, Tom Jones, Brian Wilson, Ricky Martin, Ozzy Osbourne, Tony Bennett, Annie Lennox, Cliff Richard, S Club, Blue, Will Young, and others.

Raul Malo plays a short series of UK dates from June 19-24th, featuring his 7- piece Cuban band, performing songs from his debut solo album release 'Today' (Gravity) along with his Mavericks hits. So Solid Crew managers Albert and David Samuel have launched new urban/ R&B/hip-hop/garage label Messy Records in conjunction with Virgin.

Queen's Bohemian Rhapsody has topped a poll conducted for the Guinness Book of British Hit Singles. Imagine came second and Hey Jude third.

Stockholm-based Tretiak Records, owned by Niklas Rune and Martin Lundon, has signed its first artist, Therese Granqvist, formerly of Dreamhouse.

Nashville-based Acuff-Rose Music Publishing is in the process of being sold by Gaylord Entertainment, which is in negotiations with various parties. The UK office headed by Tony Peters has just moved.

Nashville songwriter Rick Carnes has been elected as president of the Songwriters Guild of America, succeeding George David Weiss.

Beka Callaway has joined Major Bob Music in Nashville as professional manager. She was previously with Deston Songs in Nashville... Jim Flammia has joined Lost Highway Records as senior director of media and artist relations.

R&B songwriter Bryan-Michael Cox was named SESAC's Songwriter of the Year for the second consecutive year at the rights society's sixth annual New York awards dinner. Cox has written for Jagged Edge, Usher, Lil Mo, Toni Braxton and others. His publisher, Babyboys Little Publishing Co., shared Publisher of the Year honours with W.B.M. Music Group.

Earth, Wind & Fire will receive ASCAP's Rhythm & Soul Heritage Award on June 17th. The gala will also honor the writers and publishers of the top ASCAP songs on the 2001 R&B/Hip-Hop, Dance, Rap and Reggae charts.

The Heineken Music Initiative/The ASCAP Foundation Grant program will benefit up-and-coming songwriters in the New York, Los Angeles, Atlanta, Chicago, and Miami music communities. The songwriter (or writers) of the winning song applying from each of the markets will be selected to receive a $3500 grant. Visit www.ascap.com.

Colombian-born songwriter Estéfano has won BMI's Latin Songwriter of the Year award for the second time, on May 8th in Florida. He has penned songs for such artists as Chayanne, Thalia and Gloria Estefan. Sony/ATV Music was named Latin Publisher of the Year, and Intocatable's 'Ensename a Olvidarte' (Teach Me How To Forget You) named Song of the Year.

Carole King will be this year's recipient of the Johnny Mercer Award at the Songwriters Hall of Fame dinner 2002, on June 13 at the Sheraton New York. Other inductees include Barry Manilow, Michael Jackson, Sting, Ashford and Simpson, Randy Newman, Garth Brooks (Hitmaker Award), Stevie Wonder (Lifetime Achievement Award), NMPA CEO Ed Murphy (Abe Olman Publishers Award) and 'You're A Grand Old Flag,' written by George M. Cohan (Towering Song Award).

America Online and Tonos Entertainment have announced a 'Michael Jackson Songwriting Contest' available exclusively to AOL members, providing the opportunity to co-write a song with the Jackson, as well as with Tonos founders David Foster and Carol Bayer Sager.

RIP: Otis Blackwell (70), writer of 'Don't Be Cruel,' 'All Shook Up,' 'Return To Sender,' 'Great Balls of Fire' and over 1,000 other songs... TLC member Lisa 'Left Eye' Lopes (30), following a car crash in Honduras... Fabrizio Intra (49), MD of Columbia Records Italy, after a lengthy illness.