| CMU Daily - on the inside Monday 10th December |
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In today's CMU Daily:
- Secondary ticket agents association supports RRS
- EC say collecting society guidelines will remain voluntary
- Radiohead announce new one-stop licensing system
- Manics not sure of music for free
- No Spector re-trial until September
- Classical innovator dies
- Beck denies contributing to artists' suicidal depression
- Minnelli crew member arrested over photographer run in
- Adele wins brand new Brit
- Strict ticket operation underway as Led Zepp reunion approaches
- Doherty punched by drug dealer
- Madonna sues apartment block board
- More IOW additions
- 2Many New Years
- Indie chiefs lobby European types
- EMI seek to reassure artists
- Bonus change at EMI
- Managers lined up for Midem debate
- Daryl Hall for SXSW interview
- More on Universal cuts
- EMAP announces sale to German media firm
- Chart update
- Sub.tv playlist
- Total Rock world album chart
- Winehouse's mum in tabloid plea
- Fall Out Boy blogs on lack of Grammy nominations
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TOP BIT - ALBUMS OF THE YEAR #3
DUB PISTOLS - SPEAKERS AND TWEETERS
Here's a tip. If you ever find yourself at a festival where the Dub Pistols are playing live, make sure you check out their set. Of course, I'm possibly preaching to the converted here, but it always surprises me how many people I know have experienced these guys for the first time at one festival or another in just the last couple of years. But here's the important thing, when people do see a Dub Pistols live set, they pretty much always leave impressed. And so they should - because there's a lot to be impressed about with Barry Ashworth and Jason O'Bryan's musical outfit - who have been making infectious music of a hip hop come breakbeat come dub come ska kind for over a decade. Having recently hooked up with Rob da Bank's Sunday Best Recordings, 'Speakers And Tweeters' was the Dub Pistol's third album, and was another stand out release, partly because of Ashworth and O'Bryan's creative genius, and partly because of a number of well chosen guest appearances, including two of UK hip hop's finest, Blade and Rodney P, and another collaboration with Specials man Terry Hall. There were numerous gems on this album, though The Stranglers' sampling 'Peaches' was a particular highlight for me - and, in deed, one of my personal favourite tracks of the summer. Here's hoping even more people will discover Ashworth et al during the 2008 festival season, and that they will go on to discover this definite album of the year. We've bunged some questions in Ashworth's direction, and you'll be able to read our interview with him later today at:
http://www.cmumusicnetwork.co.uk/albumsoftheyear/
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CMU TRACK OF THE YEAR 2007
Yes, it's December everybody. Which means it is time for the CMU Track Of The Year thingimy thing - where the great and good that are the CMU Daily readership have the opportunity to big up the tracks that got them most excited in 2007.
If you haven't voted yet, there is still chance to get your votes in - you can pick a single, album track, b-side, bootleg, remix, demo, anything that first surfaced this year. You should email the name of your fave track and a couple of sentences on why it's great to 2007@cmumusicnetwork.co.uk.
Meanwhile, here's some votes already received...
Kanye West, Nas, Rakim & KRS-One - Classic (DJ Premier Remix)
"Absolute hip-hop heaven. The sublime DJ Premier production harks back to his vintage Gang Starr/Jeru/Group Home heyday, while this dream team of rappers firmly represents the very best of two decades of undisputable talent. My favourite line: "rappers spit rhymes that are mostly illegal, MC's spit rhymes that will uplift their people" (KRS-One) - genius".
Simon Barnabas, RCA Label Group
Feist - 1 2 3 4 (Van She Tech remix) _
"Van She brings on the electric love to perfectly complement Leslie's superbly simplistic lyrics. Lovely and dancey".
Ellie Shaw, EMAP Music
Vote for your track of the year - email the name of your fave track and a couple of sentences on why it's great to 2007@cmumusicnetwork.co.uk.
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SNAP OF THE DAY: MGMT
There's a strong chance that American readers of CMU will already be well acquainted with Brooklyn band MGMT by now, them having pricked the ears of both music bible Rolling Stone and e-music bible Pitchfork with debut album, 'Oracular Spectacular'. Their birthplace doesn't seem to have obviously influenced their work, however, as their sound is, for argument's sake, enamelled with Englishness - particularly echoing prog-types Pink Floyd. For your first visit, listen to lead single, 'Time To Pretend', which features a tantilising mix of wavering synthesiser, classic prog rock and mystical indieness, all produced under the guidance of Flaming Lips cohort Brian Friedman. It's fine stuff and with more of said good press and some luck, vowel absent band names could be the biggest news of next year.
http://www.myspace.com/MGMT
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SECONDARY TICKET AGENTS ASSOCIATION SUPPORTS RRS
The Association Of Secondary Ticket Agents, for there is such a thing, has thrown its support behind the previously reported Resale Rights Society. As previously reported, the UK's Music Managers' Forum last week announced the creation of the RRS which will see the artist and management community give websites which enable the resale of gig tickets for profit some legitimacy in return for a commitment to protect music fans' interests and, more importantly, a pledge to pass on a percentage of their profits to artists, managers and live music promoters.
Speaking at the launch of the RSS last week, the new body's chairman, Marc Marot, said he had had encouraging talks with key secondary ticket sales websites about the management community's proposals. However, the boss of one resale site, Seatwave, immediately criticised the new body, calling it "a direct attempt by a few music managers and promoters to line their pockets at the expense of consumers". But the good news for the RSS is that Seatwave may well be in minority there, because the secondary ticket agents trade body the ASTA announced on Friday that it supported the scheme.
The trade body's Executive Director, Graham Burns, told reporters: "I wholly support the project and so do my members. Unfortunately in any business there are bad apples. The internet makes it all too easy to rip people off. We need a concentrated effort to clean up this business and get rid of these jokers. We have introduced a Code Of Conduct which is currently being reviewed by the Office of Fair Trading. The launch of the RRS is a significant milestone in the legitimisation of the secondary ticketing business. It is a good thing for the whole industry. If anyone buying or selling tickets knows that an organisation has been checked over by the RRS and has received an RRS 'kitemark', that is going to give them a lot more confidence".
Distancing himself from the comments made by Seatwave, he continued: "I feel strongly that the secondary ticketing market can and should nurture performers. I think the RRS can set a benchmark that other sectors of the sports and entertainment industry could look towards. It is only fair that money should be returned to the people who create the value".
ASTA represents 42 ticket reselling operations, including Premier Events, Double8, Front Row Promotions, Mission Impossible and Ticket Solutions. As previously reported, another popular resale service, Viagogo, gave its support to the RSS last week.
Though, of course, the one sector yet to really comment on the MMF's proposals are the live music promoters, who have been most critical about the growth of online ticket touting and ticket auctions in the past. Some in the live sector had been pushing for new laws to restrict the resale of tickets. It remains to be seen if they now support the MMF's self-regulation proposals, or continue to lobby for stricter statutory limitations on ticket touting such as those that exist in the football industry.
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EC SAY COLLECTING SOCIETY GUIDELINES WILL REMAIN VOLUNTARY
The European Commission has said that it currently has no firm plans to introduce new laws that would force an overhaul of the publishing royalty collecting societies across Europe, instead preferring to continue to evaluate the effect of voluntary guidelines already in place that encourage the royalties sector to offer artists, labels and digital music firms more choice in terms of which societies they work with and in offering pan-European licences.
The EC has been encouraging the collecting societies to reform the way they operate, partly because of concerns the way each society traditionally dominates in its home country is anti-competitive on a European level, and also because many argue digital music services can only prosper if there is a one stop shop to licence music across Europe. The logic behind the EC's recommendations is that collecting societies give up certain monopolies they have essentially enjoyed in their home territories and instead take advantage of the opportunities that come from the pan-European royalty market.
The EC's guidelines have had a lukewarm reception. Some societies have made moves to address European officials' concerns, but others have so far resisted, arguing the guidelines favour larger collecting societies and artists or publishers with English language catalogues. But despite the slow uptake of the guidelines, Jorgen Holmquist, Director General of the European Union Executive's Internal Market Unit last week said that, while the system for managing online music rights in Europe remained unsatisfactory, there was no broad support on either side of the debate for legislation on the matter. The guidelines, he said, offer some possible solutions, and the EU executive will continue to evaluate how the collecting societies voluntarily use them in a bid to overcome challenges in the digital domain.
The UK's collecting society, MCPS-PRS, who have made some moves to respond to those EC guidelines, welcomed the Commission's decision to allow the royalty industry to come up with its own solutions to the challenges of pan-European online licensing rather than forcing change through legislation.
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RADIOHEAD ANNOUNCE NEW ONE-STOP LICENSING SYSTEM
Of course some reckon the collecting societies will be forced to reinvent themselves not because of EC intervention, or even because of EC guidelines, but because the major publishing houses and record companies will sidestep them in a bid to create a more globally focused rights world.
With that in mind, Warner/Chappell Music has announced it will be operating a one-stop shop regarding the digital rights to the new Radiohead album 'In Rainbows' which, of course, has already been involved in one music industry innovation - the pay what you want promotion. The album is available for free download via the band's own website until today, and will then get a proper release via XL (ATO in the US) at the end of the month.
According to Billboard, the new innovation means that people in the digital domain will be able to licence mechanical, performance, sync and lyrical digital rights on a global basis directly from the publisher, side-stepping traditional collecting societies. The trade mag quotes Warner/Chappell's VP European Legal And Business Affairs, Jane Dyball, as describing the new one-stop shop service as an "experiment" adding it should benefit Radiohead while "providing all their licensees with a new, highly flexible service".
So there you go. Elsewhere in Radiohead news, the band have revealed the lengths they went to in order to stop their new album being unofficially leaked online before their own online release. The band's Colin Greenwood says the band destroyed CDRs of their studio recordings, and labeled master recordings with fake names in case anyone outside the band saw them and was tempted to make a copy. Greenwood: "It felt like a gigantic risk. Like Mission Impossible, almost. We destroyed all CDs after every day of recording. And on the master we'd always write a name which probably nobody would listen to if we had lost it: 'Eagles: Greatest Hits', 'Kula Shaker demos', 'Phill Collins hip-hop covers'".
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MANICS NOT SURE OF MUSIC FOR FREE
Talking of Radiohead's innovations in music distribution and licensing, the Manic Street Preachers' Nicky Wire has expressed concerns about the growth of free downloads, referencing Radiohead's free download promotion.
Wire told the Daily Star: "Fair play to Radiohead for doing something different. It's certainly great for publicity but I think it kind of demeans music. Music used to be a market, now it's all gone digital. It's worrying and it seems to be the way of the world at the moment. Sales are doing well everywhere else. Cinema is doing well, video games are doing well but music isn't. The free download phenomenon is ruining the industry".
That said, the Manics may well follow Radiohead's lead in another domain - not re-signing to a major record company, and maintaining more control over their own future releases. Talking about what they may do when their current contract with SonyBMG expires, drummer Sean Moore said: "We made more money with live shows this year than in the last seven of releasing records. We have one more album with Sony, and are coming to the end of our publishing and merchandising deals. We want to do records ourselves. Labels are scared to move forward, we're not".
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NO SPECTOR RE-TRIAL UNTIL SEPTEMBER
Those of you eager to return to the sordid shenanigans of the Phil Spector murder trial are going to have to be patient. As previously reported, this year's trial ended in a mis-trial after the jury failed to reach a unanimous decision as to whether or not the legendary music producer shot dead actress Lana Clarkson at his Beverly Hills home back in 2003. The prosecution are pursuing their case against Spector for a second time, but his legal team from the first trial have stepped down, meaning a new legal team will mount the producer's defence at the second trial. And the lawyer leading the new defence team has said he will need several months to review the thousands of court documents relating to the case. Doron Weinberg told the LA Superior Court last week: "I can only represent him if I have enough time to do so". As a result, legal types involved in the case won't regroup until 22 May - and only then will they set an actual date for the second trial. Insiders reckon that that means the actual trial won't begin until September at the earliest.
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CLASSICAL INNOVATOR DIES
German composer Karlheinz Stockhausen, considered one of the most important composers of the Twentieth Century, died last week aged 79. Stockhausen's work was not without controversy, and was certainly original. His earliest works were in the 'serialist' style (wiki it if you're interested) but later he became associated with the 'aleatoric' technique which leaves key elements of a piece to chance, making each performance of it unique. His music became increasingly outlandish as his career progressed (one piece involved a string quartet hovering above the concert hall in helicopters) which led to some proclaiming him a genius, while others thought him a bit loopy. But he certainly influenced many other musical innovators, including Brian Eno and Bjork.
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BECK DENIES CONTRIBUTING TO ARTISTS' SUICIDAL DEPRESSION
Beck has denied that he played any role in the death of artist and filmmakers Theresa Duncan and Jeremy Blake, who both died in strange circumstances in July. Duncan and Blake were a couple and both died, separately, in early July. It is thought they both committed suicide.
A New York Post article recently claimed that Beck had withdrawn from a movie being planned by Duncan, and that that had played a key role in he couple's "decent into suicidal depression". The allegations seem to stem from emails from Duncan in which she claims Beck had expressed an interest in the film project, which would tell the story of a musician who is kidnapped by two schoolgirls after confiding in them he wanted to escape the Church Of Scientology. Duncan knew Beck through Blake, who designed the artwork for the singer's 'Sea Change' album.
Beck, who is a Scientologist himself, of course, has denied he ever made any commitment to Duncan's film project, telling reporters: "That's ridiculous. Totally false. We never met to discuss the film. I did explain to her I wasn't looking to act right then, and with the album, tour schedule, and a baby on the way, it wouldn't be feasible. Had we been closer and discussed anything as personal as religion, I would have only had positive things to say about Scientology".
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MINNELLI CREW MEMBER ARRESTED OVER PHOTOGRAPHER RUN IN
One of Liza Minnelli's crew members was detained by police in Stockholm on Saturday over allegations he beat up a photographer who was filming the singer as she took part in a gala event called 'A Classic Christmas Night'. Police confirmed the detained man was part of Minelli's crew, but said he didn't know what role he performed. Specifics about his run in with the photographer were also not known.
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ADELE WINS BRAND NEW BRIT
Nineteen year old singer songwriter ADELE will be presented with the first ever Critics Choice award at the Brits next year. Music journalist types were invited to vote for the brand new Brit Award, which is designed to champion brand new talent yet to release their first album. Adele was announced as the winner of the new prize via the new look Brit Awards website today, but will be presented with her gong at the main Brit Awards on 20 Feb.
Confirming ADELE was the winner, BRITs Committee chairman Ged Doherty told CMU: "Huge congratulations to ADELE. I know the competition was fierce in this, the inaugural year of this award, and she is a worthy winner".
ADELE herself added: "I'm really chuffed and flattered to have won the new category. It's fantastic to have lots of people supporting me and nice to know. I've always wanted a BRIT award and I'm made up to be getting one so early on! Thank you very much to everyone who voted!"
Other serious contenders for the new prize were Duffy and those rather fine Foals (who, FYI, got the CMU vote). The new look BRITS website is now live at http://www.brits.co.uk.
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STRICT TICKET OPERATION UNDERWAY AS LED ZEPP REUNION APPROACHES
So, new finger traumas permitting, the long awaited, much anticipated Led Zeppelin reunion will take place tonight over there at The O2. The distribution of wristbands for the show has been very strict in a bid to stop people reselling tickets to the charity event at a large mark up via websites like eBay. Fans were encouraged to pick up their wristbands early, so many reported to The O2 yesterday to get theirs, even though that means they will have to wear their wristband until tonight.
Confirming the strict ticketing system, promoter Harvey Goldsmith yesterday had another rant about people reselling tickets online, telling the BBC: "I'm really pleased because a lot of people are picking their tickets up today [Sunday]. They're given a wristband, which won't come off until the show. It's locked on, just to make sure they don't sell them off. Unfortunately there is an unscrupulous element about, who are constantly getting tickets and selling them on places like eBay".
One person who presumably isn't trawling eBay for last minute tickets is Hard-Fi's Steve Kemp who, possibly not realising the Led Zepp reunion is taking place at a charity show, slagged off the high ticket price for the event last week. He told reporters: "Paying over £100 for a ticket is a joke. Why should you pay so much money for it? These rock'n'roll dinosaurs are coming out for one last pay cheque. I don't know what they are going to do on stage that's so special".
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DOHERTY PUNCHED BY DRUG DEALER
Police have confirmed that Pete Doherty was "punched in the face" by a drug dealer in a pub in Wiltshire the weekend before last. It seems the drug dealer was pissed off Doherty never buys any drugs off him. A source told the Daily Mirror that the dealer shouted at the Babyshambler "You should get your gear from me" adding that "it was horrible, Pete was really shaken up and upset". Police have confirmed they are "investigating" the incident. It's not known if the run in was linked to Doherty's no show at the NME Awards launch party last Thursday.
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MADONNA SUES APARTMENT BLOCK BOARD
Madonna is suing the board of directors at her New York apartment building because they refused to let her buy a second unit in the block. According to Associated Press, Madonna says they were wrong to block the sale, and that she wants the courts to overturn their decision and force the committee to cover her legal fees. To be fair, the singer has had an apartment in the block for 22 years, so it's not like she's suddenly sweeping in and trying to buy up the building.
Elsewhere in Madge news, her spokeswoman Liz Rosenburg has denied those reports last week that the new Madonna album will be called 'Licorice'. It seems that it was a friend of Madonna, Larry Lick, who claimed that the new long player would be called 'Licorice', after playing two tracks off it on his Sirius radio show. But Rosenburg said on Friday: "Sirius does not know what they are talking about. Wrong title. Release date wrong etc".
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MORE IOW ADDITIONS
Organisers of the Isle Of Wight Festival have announced more artists for their 2008 line up - Lily Allen, The Enemy, Kate Nash, James, The Stooges and KT Tunstall. So, there you go.
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2MANY NEW YEARS
Yeah, despite my best efforts, 2007 is rapidly running out, so I suppose I ought to start reporting on New Years events other than Edinburgh's Hogmanay festival. So let's begin with one of our usual New Years recommends - the New Years Eve bash at Turnmills in London. This year's 'Together NYE' bash features CMU favourites 2Manydjs, a Mylo DJ set, Simian Mobile Disco and Riotous Rockers, as well as free ice cream, giant twister and the eternal party classic, Play Your Cards Right. Splash out £45 and you're in from 8.00pm till 8.00am. More at http://www.together-club.co.uk.
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INDIE CHIEFS LOBBY EUROPEAN TYPES
Back to CMU's European Affairs file, and the pan-European indie trade body IMPALA last week staged its annual summit in Brussels, and invited members of the European Commission and European Parliament in a bid to lobby them on their concerns regarding the continued expansion of major music firms like Universal Music and SonyBMG, as well as other issues, including licensing. The trade body's Secretary General, Helen Smith, said on Friday that those political types who had attended the summit left with "a much clearer vision" of the indies' needs. Which is lovely.
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EMI SEEK TO REASSURE ARTISTS
EMI top bloke Guy Hands has reportedly sent a letter to his artists reassuring them about his plans for the major record company. The letter followed that memo to EMI staff, widely reported on last month, that accused some artists of not pulling their weight, and of being more interested in securing the highest possible advance than working with the label for mutual gain. But the new letter, sent last month but reported on by the Telegraph this weekend, says media reports on the letter to staff were ''highly selective" and that he wanted to reassure them they were still at the "epicentre" of the major's future plans.
According to the Telegraph, the new letter reads: "Firstly, let me say how much I am looking forward to working with you, your managers and our staff at EMI to transform the company into the really successful business we know it can and should be. Terra Firma is very committed to the future of EMI and the contribution of our artists is central to the success of the company. Believe me, I do know how hard you work in the creation and promotion of your records. We really value the collaborative relationship you have with the many EMI staff globally, who work on your projects. The point I was trying to make [in my earlier letter] was that when EMI Music provides truly world class service levels to you all, we would then earn the right to choose the artists we work with and we would want to work together to ensure our mutual success".
In related news, the Telegraph has spoken to the Music Manager Forum's Jazz Summers, who manages EMI signed The Verve, and who is part of a consortium of managers of artists who are signed to EMI labels. He says that he has found the new EMI top man "very bright and willing" but added "I don't think he really understands the artistic process. He's not dealing with motorway cafes in Germany or pubs. Terra Firma need a lesson in artist management". That said, Summers says he and other artist managers are yet to form a proper opinion on the new chief, and that they remain hopeful that John Birt, hired by Hands to review the major's operations, has more appreciation of the artists' viewpoint.
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BONUS CHANGE AT EMI
Elsewhere in EMI news, Terra Firma has told senior execs at the major that they will only receive their bonuses if the music firm hits its £150 million underlying earnings target by next June. The announcement means that [a] the major's bonus year will no longer run March to March, and [b] bonuses will no longer be linked to divisional performance. Other rulings from the major's new private equity owners include a hiring freeze and orders to cut marketing and promotional expenditure by 10% by the end of June. The latter is expected to effect the budgets for launch parties the most.
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MANAGERS LINED UP FOR MIDEM DEBATE
U2 manager Paul McGuinness and REM manager Bertis Downs have been confirmed as speakers for next year's MIDEM which, as previously reported, takes place in Cannes from 27-31 Jan. The trade convention's Director, Dominique Leguern, told reporters: "The role of the manager has never been as important as it is today, serving to support artists and defend their interests in an industry undergoing total transformation. As a major international event for the music industry, MIDEM offers a perfect opportunity to evaluate the development of the role of the manager, to hear the opinions of such leading lights as Paul McGuinness and Bertis Downs, and to better understand the stakes and the new needs that are being generated by the current proliferation of contracts and players".
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DARYL HALL FOR SXSW INTERVIEW
Elsewhere in industry event news, Daryl Hall, as in Hall & Oates, has been confirmed as a speaker for next year's South By Southwest event. He will be speaking about his career to date, and performing a solo gig, at the annual music convention which takes place in Austin, Texas from 12-17 Mar.
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MORE ON UNIVERSAL CUTS
Following those high level job cuts at Universal US's Island Def Jam last week, there are now rumours that similar cuts could occur at sister label Geffen. However, senior Universal guy Peter Lofrumento has told Digital Music News that these job cuts are isolated, and will not be mirrored all over the Universal Music Group, as some had feared.
Meanwhile, there is some confusion regarding the relationship between IDJ and its imprint Stolen Transmission. It was reported last week that IDJ was ending its relationship with the imprint following the departure of IDJ A&R Rob Stevenson, who had been the main link between the major and indie. But Billboard now reports that IDJ has denied that fact, saying that Stolen Transmission remains part of the label's imprint family, for the time being at least.
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EMAP ANNOUNCES SALE TO GERMAN MEDIA FIRM
EMAP has announced that it will sell its consumer magazine and radio businesses to German publishing group Heinrich Bauer. The lucrative business publishing part of EMAP will not be sold.
That announcement brings to an end much speculation as to the future of EMAP's three main divisions - consumer, business and radio - which followed confirmation earlier this year that the UK based media firm was accepting offers to buy its assets. It was thought from the start that no one buyer would want to acquire the whole company, leading to speculation as to how the firm would be broken up, and how many buyers would be involved.
The deal with Bauer means that EMAP will return around £1 billion to its shareholders, before repositioning itself as an entirely B2B focused publisher. EMAP's business publishing division - EMAP Communications - which publishes titles like Nursing Times, Retail Week and advertising directory ALF, has long been the media firm's most successful division and had been expected to be a desirable purchase for a wannabe buyer. However, under the sell off proposed by EMAP execs the business publishing enterprise will remain an independent publicly owned company.
Commenting on the deal with Bauer, EMAP said in a statement on Friday: "Following the disposal of EMAP Consumer Media and EMAP Radio, EMAP will be a focused B2B business. As part of the overall review, EMAP assessed all options for EMAP Communications, including a possible disposal. However, the board believes that the best value for shareholders will be achieved through continuing to operate this focused business on a standalone basis and, accordingly, the board has terminated all discussions with parties interested in EMAP Communications".
The deal means that EMAP's music titles like Q and Kerrang!, and its music radio stations like Magic and Kiss, will now be part of the German media firm. It is unclear what the ownership change will mean for those magazines and radio stations, and whether any structural changes within EMAP's consumer media businesses will occur immediately following the acquisition.
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CHART UPDATE
Aha, this is fun. The singles chart has a distinctly festive feel this week thanks to the sale of all sorts of classic Christmas tracks via download platforms like iTunes - which, of course, count in the singles chart this year (this time last year they only counted if there was an official physical release). That means that all the following have charted...
8. Mariah Carey - All I Want For Christmas Is You
12. Pogues & Kirsty MacColl - Fairytale of New York
23. Wham! - Last Christmas
25. Andy Williams - It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year
27. Wizzard - I Wish It Could Be Christmas Every Day
33. Shakin' Stevens - Merry Christmas Everyone
37. Slade - Merry Xmas Everybody
38. Band Aid - Do They Know It's Christmas?
The Christmas theme helps spice up an otherwise dull singles chart, that is still topped by Leona Lewis, T2 and Girls Aloud, in that order.
Lewis still tops the albums chart too, where the Top 3 has rejigged slightly, but still features the same albums - from Lewis, Westlife and Shayne Ward - making for another Simon Cowell dominated week.
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SUB.TV PLAYLIST
Here they are again, the videos being played on the Sub.tv video screen network in students' unions all over the UK. New entries marked with a *.
A-List
Arctic Monkeys - Teddy Picker (Domino)
Babyshambles - You Talk (EMI/Parlophone)
Bloc Party - Flux (Wichita)
Dizzee Rascal - Flex (Beggars/XL)
Foo Fighters - Long Road To Ruin (SonyBMG/Columbia)
Lucky Soul - Lips Are Unhappy (Sub.tv Session) (Ruffa Lane)*
The Maccabees - Toothpaste Kisses (Polydor)*
Maximo Park - Karaoke Plays (Warp)
Pendulum - Granite (Warner)
Peter Gelderblom - Waiting 4 (Ministry/Data)
Plain White T's - Hate (I Really Don't Like You) (EMI / Hollywood)
Rihanna feat Ne-Yo - Hate That I Love You (Universal/Def Jam)
Scouting For Girls - Elvis Ain't Dead (SonyBMG/Epic)
Simian Mobile Disco - Hustler (Wichita)
Stereophonics - My Friends (Universal/V2)
The Wombats - Moving To New York (Warner/14th Floor)
B-List
Booty Luv - Some Kinda Rush (Data/Hedkandi)
The Bug feat. Warrior Queen - Poison Dart (Ninja Tune)*
Clocks - All I Can (Universa/Island)
Dave Armstrong - Love Has Gone (Data)*
Electrovamp - I Don't Like The Vibe in the VIP (Universal/Island)*
Fionn Regan - Put A Penny In The Slot (Bella Union)
Filo+Peri feat. Eric Lumiere - Anthem (EMI/Positiva)*
The Fray - Look After You (SonyBMG/RCA)*
Ida Maria - Oh My God (SonyBMG/RCA)*
Interpol - No I In Threesome (EMI/Parlophone)
J Holiday - Bed (EMI/Angel)
Kolo - Margarita (Unsigned)*
The Rascals - Out Of Dreams (Deltasonic)
The Runners - All Over Again (Weekender)
Stars - The Night Starts Here (City Slang)
Uniting Nations - Do It Yourself (Gusto)
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TOTAL ROCK WORLD ALBUM CHART
It's the Total Rock World Album Chart, as counted down on Total Rock over the weekend - http://www.totalrock.com. New entries and re-entries marked with a *
1. Led Zeppelin - Mothership (Swan Song)*
2. Bruce Springsteen - Magic (SonyBMG/Columbia)
3. Foo Fighters - Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace (SonyBMG)
4. Eagles - Long Road Out Of Eden (Universal)
5. Linkin Park - Minutes To Midnight (Warner Bros)
6. Avenged Sevenfold - Avenged Sevenfold (Warner Bros)
7. Serj Tankian - Elect The Dead (Serjical Strike)
8. Daughtry - Daughtry (SonyBMG)
9. Kid Rock - Rock - N Roll Jesus (Warner/Atlantic)
10. Nickelback - All The Right Reasons (Warner/Roadrunner)
11. Angels & Airwaves - I-Empire (Universal/Geffen)
12. Nightwish - Dark Passion Play (Nuclear Blast)
13. Fall Out Boy - Infinity On High (Universal/Mercury)
14. Nine Inch Nails - Year Zero Remix (Universal/Interscope)*
15. Paramore - Riot! (Warner/Atlantic)
16. Bon Jovi - Lost Highway (Universal/Mercury)
17. Goo Goo Dolls - Greatest Hits Volume One (Warner Bros)*
18. Led Zeppelin - The Song Remains The Same (Swan Song)*
19. Poison - The Best Of: 20 Years Of Rock (EMI/Capitol)*
20. Queen - Greatest Hits Vols. 1, 2, 3 (EMI)
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WINEHOUSE'S MUM IN TABLOID PLEA
The News Of The World has published a letter from Amy Winehouse's mother in which she pleads for her daughter to return to her family to overcome her various problems. Janis Winehouse is seemingly having problems getting through to her daughter, who she is keen to help as rumours of that somewhat random lifestyle continue.
Mrs Winehouse writes: "Many will wonder why I haven't run down to whatever hotel you're in, scooped you up and taken you home for a hot bath and a steaming bowl of chicken soup. This letter is my way of making sure that you know that all you have to do is come to us, Amy, and we'll do everything in our power to get you well again. Early fame has overwhelmed you, it's dizzied you and muddled your mind. For a moment, forget you're a superstar. You're also young and vulnerable, no stronger than any of the rest of us. I want you back, and I'll make you fitter and stronger".
However, Amy's dad Mitch, who has long since been separated from Janis, has criticised his ex for making the public plea, arguing the singer is in touch with her family via him. He has told reporters: "It is absolute rubbish to suggest that no one has been in touch with Amy. I've seen her five times myself last week. We're getting sick of the sight of each other, we are seeing each other that much. Amy is monitored all the time. She is with trusted people who care for her and look out for her. We are all encouraging and helping Amy at the minute and that is what is most important".
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FALL OUT BOY BLOGS ON LACK OF GRAMMY NOMINATIONS
Fall Out Boy Pete Wentz has been blogging about having to play at People Magazine's Grammy nominations party despite his band received no nominations in the US's annual music awards fest.
He wrote: "The first reaction is jealousy mixed with a slight sense of entitlement. We just want to be a part of your club. Other than the fact that we play the events for you and the right parties all the time (which is a bit embarrassing either for you or us, not sure which, possibly both, it's kind of like being invited to a birthday party and then not allowed to eat the cake) - it shouldn't mean much".
But playing down the importance of Grammys, he continued: "We want our songs to be immortal and a statue doesnt do anything to help them live forever. A fifty year old white man shouldn't decide whether we are relevant or not- and he doesn't. We wanted to thank you for making us feel relevant - for sitting up all night to get into our shows and for buying our music. It means more in the wake of moments like this. We know who we are based on those who would walk through hell with us".
