SEPTEMBER 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

Sony Music UK is replacing its current three-label structure (Columbia. Epic and S2) with two divisions - an International Repertoire Division and a UK Repertoire Division. Former Columbia MD Blair McDonald's contract was not renewed, while Muff Winwood becomes president, UK Repertoire Division with Nick Raphael as VP and Lincoln Elias as VP A&R. Catherine Davies becomes MD of the division with all other domestic label functions reporting to her. Robbie McIntosh becomes MD, International Repertoire Division, while all other positions including A&R are under review, with changes becoming operational September 30.

Island Def Jam chairman Lyor Cohen is the keynote speaker at the In The City industry convention in Manchester which runs from September 13-17th with the theme of 'The State of the Nation.' ITC events include the A&R panel with Ajax Scott (Music Week), Pete Hadfield (Telstar), Steve Lamacq (Radio 1), Dave Wibberley (Jive) and others; a Legal Question Time with Peter Whitehead (The Band Register), Sarah Stennett and Paul Spraggon (Spraggon Stennet Brabyn), John Benedict (Denton, Wilde and Sapte) and others; the ITC Producer Masterclass (For Gus Dudgeon) with Paul Adams (World's End), Steve Harries, Charlie Rapino and Chris Kimsey; the Publishing panel with Rose Marley (Blue Sky Management), Sean Devine (ASCAP), Richard Holley (Peer Music), Sarah Lockhart (EMI Music), Ewan Grant (Ministry of Sound) and Gordon Charlton (Reverb Music); and the MMF panel with Ed Bicknell, Jazz Summers, Keith Harris and Jonathan Shalit. In addition, Monday 16th September is designated as 'Right to Copyright Day' with a special symposium introduced by Disctronics boss David Mackie, followed by a copyright panel with Frances Lowe (British Music Rights), Peter Filleul (APRS), Andrew Yeates (BPI) and others.

UK industry veteran Peter Jamieson has been appointed as executive chairman of the BPI effective October 1st. He has most recently been a non-executive of Telstar and was previously MD of EMI, chairman of RCA/BMG UK and of BMG SE Asia. He previously served as BPI chairman from 1988-89.

EMI Music Publishing A&R VPs Guy Moot and Mike Smith have been made company directors by chairman/CEO Peter Reichardt, with Moot also promoted to the new position of UK and Europe Senior VP. His signings have included Jamiroquai and So Solid Crew, while Smith has signed Blur, Gorillaz, Doves, Supergrass amd the White Stripes. Other recent signings by the team include Ms. Dynamite, Dirty Vegas and new pop/rock trio Busted (Universal/Island).

Sony/ATV Music Publishing Europe has opened a London-based international creative department headed by creative director Fredrik Ekander and creative manager Kim Rosenberg, who ran the Nordic office. They will work closely with regional creative staff, reporting directly to company president Richard Rowe.

David Field has been promoted to head of A&R at BMG UK & Ireland, with former EMI staffer Mark Pinder joining as VP of artist development.

James Sefton, formerly of Edel Publishing, and Stuart Winterton, formerly of Tommy Boy UK, have formed Phonetic Music with a co-publishing deal in place with Rondor/Universal and a label planned for later this year.

Former Virgin Records president Paul Conroy and his wife Katie, a former EMI International VP, have launched Adventures in Music comprising three divisions - Adventure Records, Management and Publishing. The label's first signings are Danish band Nu and Squeeze founder Chris Difford, whose debut solo album 'I Didn't Get Where I Am' is released on November 4th. Violin duo Duel have been signed for management, with their debut album executive-produced by Pete Waterman. Katie Conroy has also been appointed international consultant to Robbie Williams, whose upcoming album has been the subject of intensive label bidding.

Tom Jones has signed to V2 Records for the world excluding North America, with his new single 'Tom Jones International' due for release on October 7 in advance of his new album which is co-written amd co-produced by Wyclef Jean and Jerry Duplessis. Jones was previously with Gut Records which licensed the massive 'Reload' album through V2 in many major markets including Europe and SE Asia. Jones also recorded 17 tracks for Gut over the past year which are in various states of completion, and which may be officially released at some point.

A tribute to Gus and Sheila Dudgeon will be held at London's Kashmir Klub on September 30th, on what would have been the producer's 60th birthday. Kiki Dee is among artists expected to perform versions of songs produced by Dudgeon.

Epic Germany A&R manager Daniel Schmidt has joined Edel in Hamburg to oversee its pop repertoire alongside product manager Silke Bernd. However around a quarter of the company's 120 workforce have recently been laid off.

Sony Music France international manager ValÈrie Michelin has been promoted to MD following the suprise departure of 22-year Sony veteran Virginie Auclair.

Warner/Chappell senior A&R VP Kenny MacPherson has left the company to become president of Chrysalis Music Group in North America, based in L.A.

Former Warner Bros. president Phil Quartero is joning EMI Recorded Music North America as executive VP. reporting to chairman/CEO David Munns.

Songfest 2002, a four-day international music festival, is being held Sept. 18-21 in Muscle Shoals, Alabama. Those set to participate include Sam Phillips, Michael McDonald and Alan Parsons. For more info, go to www.muscleshoalsmusic.org.

Janie West has joined Bluewater Music in Nashville as head of creative. She previously served as VP creative at RBI Entertainment and in the Capitol A&R department... Tom Luteran, previously with Acuff Rose, has been named creative director at EMI Music, Nashville... Kyle T. Jones, formerly with SESAC, has joined Big Tractor Music in Nashville as general manager.

The Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI) recently filed arguments in favor of copyright term extension with the U.S. Supreme Court. "At issue is how long the heirs of songwriters will own their copyrights," said Barton Herbison, Executive Director of NSAI. Congress extended the term of American copyrights to the life of the author plus 70 years in October 1998. An online library of public domain works has challenged the authority of Congress to extend the terms. The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear arguments in the case on Oct. 9.

LeAnn Rimes' new album, 'Twisted Angel', is released on October 1 on Curb. Rimes executive-produced the album and worked with producer/writers Desmond Child (Ricky Martin, Bon Jovi), Peter Amato (Baha Men) and Gregg Pagani (3LW, Sugar Jones). She also co-wrote four of the album's 13 tracks, including the first single, 'Life Goes On.'

Diana Torossian assumes the new role of Manager A&R/Creative Services at BMG Music Publishing Australia, continuing A&R responsibilities and now assumes control of licensing. Celeste Fishburn has been appointed as Assistant A&R/Creative Services, having been PA to MD Peter Karpin.

Sir George Martin visits Australia in October for the official worldwide launch of his photo-illustrated autobiography 'Playback' through Hedley Books. Each book and accompanying CD is handbound in leather and sells at A$880 in Australia. For more info visit www.playback.com.au.