25 years ago...
TOP STORY
SOUL MATES Def Jam and Mercury Records underlined their commitment to breaking Black music talent on both sides of the Atlantic with the launch of a self-contained UK operation. Def Jam/Def Soul UK was set up to sign and develop UK-based rap and soul artists as well as increasing the focus on breaking US stars like Jay-Z and Sisqó, in addition to less high-profile names. Island/Def Jam president Lyor Cohen said he wanted the UK operation to develop organically. “I hope it will be community-supported and will represent an oasis for artists who believe there is a co-operative arrangement for a label specific to the urban experience,” he said. In 2020, Universal would launch 0207 Def Jam in the UK, while at the same time the industry moved away from the use of the term ‘urban’ altogether.
BRIT OF A DO Demand for the BRITs was at an all-time high, with tickets for the 2001
event selling out in record time. The last of the 3,800 tickets for table seats were snapped up almost four months before the event – and with good reason. The 2001 bash turned out to be one for the ages, featuring the likes of Eminem, Coldplay, Destiny’s Child, Robbie Williams, U2 and Hear’Say. However, the night entered BRITs infamy after Craig David was nominated a record six times, but failed to win a single award.
MERGING ON THE IMPOSSIBLE EMI and Bertelsmann were expected to reveal more details of their
proposed merger to the European Commission in the new year following meetings in Brussels with the competition office. The meeting was the latest in a series to discuss the merger, which would have created the world’s third largest music group. “They want to know the process that will lead to approval,” said one source. “They don’t want to go into a phase II [a lengthy analysis of the deal] investigation.” Alas, the deal collapsed the following year amid regulatory challenges.
Also inside… Bob The Builder and the Tweenies were bidding for simultaneous Top 10 hits… EMI was pushing Universal hard as the dominant force in the crucial Christmas market… Top Of The Pops launched a CD-Rom digital business card with the aim of raising brand awareness… The IFPI was set to begin a significant internet anti-piracy drive… Eminem’s classic Stan was the best-selling single, while The Beatles compilation 1 topped the albums rundown…
20 years ago... The Beatles and EMI were facing up to another legal battle, with Apple Corps issuing legal proceedings for “more than £30m in alleged unpaid royalties” by the major… BBC Radio 1’s new head of music George Ergatoudis overhauled the station’s playlist process… Sony BMG faced a race against time to unleash 500,000 copies of the X Factor winner’s single into the shops… Jazz Summers was re-elected as MMF chair… Folk duo Nizlopi had the top singles spot with JCB Song, and Eminem’s Curtain Call – The Hits was the No.1 album…
30 years ago...
The sales battle between Oasis and Robson & Jerome led to a record festive period… Everything But The Girl became the latest UK act to enter the US Top 20… Ex-Creation Records MD Tim Abbot moved into management with the signing of Robbie Williams… More than 6,000 fans hit London’s Tower Records for a rare appearance by Mariah Carey… Earth Song by Michael Jackson was the top single, while Robson & Jerome held off (What’s The Story) Morning Glory? in the aforementioned albums race…
musicweek.com Music Week | 97
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