
. .	Musicmaker.com - Latest Music Site Casualty Citing uncertainty and inadequate funding for its online music ventures, Musicmaker.com Inc., the online company, which sells customisable live albums by the Who as well as Jimmy Page with the Black Crowes, has closed shop. Large Indie Label Signs On For New Version Napster. Following their recent alliance with major-label parent Bertelsmann AG, Napster has found a second partner in its attempts to create a new, copyright-friendly version of the file-trading service. Edel Music AG, the world's second-largest independent record label has given permission for the master recordings it owns and controls to be used in the new service, which is expected to be subscription-based. The German company, whose U.S. roster includes pop-rockers Roxette, rappers Pharcyde and pop singer Jennifer Paige, distributes a variety of other artists overseas, including BBMak, Aaron Carter, the Baha Men and Fastball. Online Music Service Lays off 66 Employees EMusic.com Inc. has had to lay off 66 employees (about 36 percent of its staff), to save money in the face of competitive operating surroundings. Like so many internet companies that have been hurt by the weak online advertising market, EMusic.com also blamed its problems on the uncontrolled illegal circulation of music over the Internet. UK UNSIGNED ACTS SET TO Win £2000 After 12 nationwide heats, UK’s biggest talent tour held by Saba Charles Rock Associates is to hold its grand finals on the 9th March. It promises to make one lucky winner not just £2,000 richer but there is also a recording deal with Arista Records as well. Prior to the Finals, there will be two further Heats, which will be held on the 10th & 24th February at the Assembly Rooms, The Market Place, Derby and Reggie Grove Centre, St Paul’s Row, High Wycombe respectively. For further details the organisers can be reached on: 01494 439 841 Pop Princess Britney Spears Venturing On Screen Career 19-year-old singer, Britney Spears has signed on to star in a coming-of-age movie that will be co-produced by her music label, Jive Records. Filming on the as-yet-untitled film, which has a relatively low budget of $10 million by industry standards, is due to commence in March. AMPLIFIED BUYS ASSETS OF CHECKOUT.COM Struggling Internet retailer Checkout.com has been purchased by its Atlanta-based rival Amplified Inc. Amplified Inc., which supplies hundreds of thousands of digital music tracks to Internet retailers and other customers' Web sites, has paid an undisclosed amount of stock for the bulk of Checkout's assets. The Atlanta-based company now plans to use Checkout's technologies to improve its online presence and ultimately help usher in what many see as the future of music distribution: digital downloading. IBM Develops A System To Legally Exchange Digital Music International Business Machines Corp., the world's largest seller of computers and related services, says it has created a system that will allow users to legally forward on digital music to their friends. The new software permits consumers who download music over the Internet to pass the music on with conditions set by the record label. The system which may also be used to exchange books, movies or video games can be used to distribute music over cell phones and other wireless devices as well. Record labels will have the ability to determine how many times or for how long a downloaded song can be played before they will ask a consumer for payment. Michael Jackson to Join Brothers on Album Reunion After he puts the finishing touches on his new album expected to be released this summer, the singer plans to join his older brothers for their first album together since 1984. Jacko has only agreed to feature on two or three of the album's songs and despite what his brother Jermaine told a Las Vegas radio station recently, he has not promised to tour with the legendary singing group. Michael's new solo album, which has not yet been given a title his first since 1995 . TALISMA MAKES A HIT WITH EMI UK Talisma, the leading eCRM provider of high-end electronic technical support and customer service solutions has been chosen by EMI to tightly target one-to-one marketing messages to fans. Having identified the need to improve direct communications between artists and fans, EMI is the first record company to use the system. MJ Cole: MJ Cole, a recent judge on the BT 'getoutthere.com' website, feels that having such a facility would have helped his career. "I just thought it was a great way of cutting out all this red tape that I'm involved in the whole time. If you've got a tune, all you wanna do is get it played, or someone to listen to it. Now it's easy, A&R people can just go there and get the tunes. When I was 15, I was sending off loads of cassettes of my tunes. I'm sure they just got dumped somewhere, but this way is completely different." The Bluetones: The Bluetones were the latest band to judge their favourite tracks from those that had been up-loaded onto the BT 'getoutthere.com' web-site. The winning band was 'Boy Done Good', about whom Mark Morriss said: "I was looking for some craft and a spark. I wanted to find ideas and individuality. Boy Done Good had all of that". The band won an all-expenses-paid trip to Dublin to see The Bluetones play the last show of their tour. Mark explains how he got involved with getoutthere.com: "I fancied running my critical eye over the site. I think it's very admirable what it's setting up. The thing about asking musicians to get involved, is that musicians would have a more sympathetic ear to a lot of these acts. People are gonna get judged by their musical abilities rather than their cash-in ability, rather than their market potential." *From Issue 13* Dave Clarke Signs to London Records: Mercedes driving, cigar chomping, techno DJ and producer Dave Clarke has just announced details of a brand new deal with Pete Tong's London Records. The DJ/Producer has been without a label since his acrimonious departure from Deconstruction after the release of his 'Shake Your Booty' single in 1997. To celebrate his new contract with London Records, Clarke will be re-releasing his limited edition summer 2000 club anthem 'The Compass' in January, which also includes some extra mixes especially for the project. An album is then expected to follow sometime in June 2001. RETURN OF THE ORB: After nearly four years Alex Paterson's cult ambient outfit The Orb are back with a brand new album and single release in the new year. The album which sees The Orb employ vocalists to sing fully realised tracks will be accompanied by some live shows. The new Album, entitled 'Cydonia' will be released through Universal / Island on January 29th and will be preceded by a single, 'Once More', which will feature mixes by Jimmy Cauty, Tom Middleton and Bedrock. Julio named highest paid entertainer in Europe: In what translates as stunning proof of his artistic worth, singer/composer Julio Iglesisas has been named the highest paid entertainer in Europe and the highest salaried man on the continent by EuroBusiness Magazine. Regarded as the most successful Latin singer ever, Iglesias’s career earnings equals a total of $480 million, putting him second only to ex-Beatle Paul McCartney in total lifetime earnings. OAKENFOLD CONQUERS THE USA: Paul Oakenfold has managed to achieve the highest ever first week sales for a dance music compilation in America with his latest CD mix: 'Perfecto Presents: Paul Oakenfold's 'Another World''. The compilation sound scanned 13,000 copies in over the counter sales in its first week, and over 80,000 copies were delivered to stores all over the United States. These sales results were accomplished after Oakenfold dedicated vast amounts of time, sometimes controversially, to seducing the States to his trademark trance sound. Although not selling quite as many, Sasha & Digweed's have also been left with much to celebrate, 'Communicate' their compilation CD also did well in the compilation charts, with their monthly residency at New York's infamous Twilo club veering an army of American dance fans onto the British sound. LONDON RECORDS’ TALENT SEARCH: London Records has teamed up with Watford’s infamous Area nightclub and live venue in its search for new talent. Showcasing every Tuesday night, hopeful artists and bands will be watched by A&R men from the label each week at the venue. The live showcase will also be remotely viewed over the venue’s website and Internet TV portal ‘Area TV’. The aim of the nights are to provide a live showcase platform at the venue for talented un-signed artists and bands to perform, get noticed and hopefully signed by London Records. Aspiring bands, artists and DJs are required to send in a short demo CD or cassette of four songs with a biog, including a current publicity shot to: AREA Live Showcase, c/o The Incredible Organisation Ltd, 77a The Parade, Watford, Herts. Dornemann Departs Bertelsmann: After 18 years, Michael Dornemann, executive board member in charge of BMG Entertainment has decided to step down from the Bertelsmann executive board at the end of the year. Dornemann created BMG into one of the world’s largest music companies in 1987 by combining RCA with Bertelsmann’s existing music activities. With more than 200 record labels in 54 countries, including Arista Records, RCA and Ariola, Bertelsmann is one of the world’s leading media companies. Check out the pages of Breakthru Magazine for more word on the Grape Vine

Musicmaker.com - Latest Music Site Casualty
Citing uncertainty and inadequate funding for its online music ventures, Musicmaker.com Inc., the online company, which sells customisable live albums by the Who as well as Jimmy Page with the Black Crowes, has closed shop.

Large Indie Label Signs On For New Version Napster. Following their recent alliance with major-label parent Bertelsmann AG, Napster has found a second partner in its attempts to create a new, copyright-friendly version of the file-trading service. Edel Music AG, the world's second-largest independent record label has given permission for the master recordings it owns and controls to be used in the new service, which is expected to be subscription-based. The German company, whose U.S. roster includes pop-rockers Roxette, rappers Pharcyde and pop singer Jennifer Paige, distributes a variety of other artists overseas, including BBMak, Aaron Carter, the Baha Men and Fastball.

Online Music Service Lays off 66 Employees
EMusic.com Inc. has had to lay off 66 employees (about 36 percent of its staff), to save money in the face of competitive operating surroundings. Like so many internet companies that have been hurt by the weak online advertising market, EMusic.com also blamed its problems on the uncontrolled illegal circulation of music over the Internet.

UK UNSIGNED ACTS SET TO Win £2000
After 12 nationwide heats, UK’s biggest talent tour held by Saba Charles Rock Associates is to hold its grand finals on the 9th March. It promises to make one lucky winner not just £2,000 richer but there is also a recording deal with Arista Records as well. Prior to the Finals, there will be two further Heats, which will be held on the 10th & 24th February at the Assembly Rooms, The Market Place, Derby and Reggie Grove Centre, St Paul’s Row, High Wycombe respectively. For further details the organisers can be reached on: 01494 439 841

Pop Princess Britney Spears Venturing On Screen Career
19-year-old singer, Britney Spears has signed on to star in a coming-of-age movie that will be co-produced by her music label, Jive Records. Filming on the as-yet-untitled film, which has a relatively low budget of $10 million by industry standards, is due to commence in March.

AMPLIFIED BUYS ASSETS OF CHECKOUT.COM
Struggling Internet retailer Checkout.com has been purchased by its Atlanta-based rival Amplified Inc. Amplified Inc., which supplies hundreds of thousands of digital music tracks to Internet retailers and other customers' Web sites, has paid an undisclosed amount of stock for the bulk of Checkout's assets. The Atlanta-based company now plans to use Checkout's technologies to improve its online presence and ultimately help usher in what many see as the future of music distribution: digital downloading.

IBM Develops A System To Legally Exchange Digital Music
International Business Machines Corp., the world's largest seller of computers and related services, says it has created a system that will allow users to legally forward on digital music to their friends. The new software permits consumers who download music over the Internet to pass the music on with conditions set by the record label. The system which may also be used to exchange books, movies or video games can be used to distribute music over cell phones and other wireless devices as well. Record labels will have the ability to determine how many times or for how long a downloaded song can be played before they will ask a consumer for payment.

Michael Jackson to Join Brothers on Album Reunion
After he puts the finishing touches on his new album expected to be released this summer, the singer plans to join his older brothers for their first album together since 1984. Jacko has only agreed to feature on two or three of the album's songs and despite what his brother Jermaine told a Las Vegas radio station recently, he has not promised to tour with the legendary singing group. Michael's new solo album, which has not yet been given a title his first since 1995 .

TALISMA MAKES A HIT WITH EMI UK
Talisma, the leading eCRM provider of high-end electronic technical support and customer service solutions has been chosen by EMI to tightly target one-to-one marketing messages to fans. Having identified the need to improve direct communications between artists and fans, EMI is the first record company to use the system.

MJ Cole:
MJ Cole, a recent judge on the BT 'getoutthere.com' website, feels that having such a facility would have helped his career. "I just thought it was a great way of cutting out all this red tape that I'm involved in the whole time. If you've got a tune, all you wanna do is get it played, or someone to listen to it. Now it's easy, A&R people can just go there and get the tunes. When I was 15, I was sending off loads of cassettes of my tunes. I'm sure they just got dumped somewhere, but this way is completely different."

The Bluetones:
The Bluetones were the latest band to judge their favourite tracks from those that had been up-loaded onto the BT 'getoutthere.com' web-site. The winning band was 'Boy Done Good', about whom Mark Morriss said: "I was looking for some craft and a spark. I wanted to find ideas and individuality. Boy Done Good had all of that". The band won an all-expenses-paid trip to Dublin to see The Bluetones play the last show of their tour. Mark explains how he got involved with getoutthere.com: "I fancied running my critical eye over the site. I think it's very admirable what it's setting up. The thing about asking musicians to get involved, is that musicians would have a more sympathetic ear to a lot of these acts. People are gonna get judged by their musical abilities rather than their cash-in ability, rather than their market potential."

From Issue 13

Dave Clarke Signs to London Records: Mercedes driving, cigar chomping, techno DJ and producer Dave Clarke has just announced details of a brand new deal with Pete Tong's London Records. The DJ/Producer has been without a label since his acrimonious departure from Deconstruction after the release of his 'Shake Your Booty' single in 1997. To celebrate his new contract with London Records, Clarke will be re-releasing his limited edition summer 2000 club anthem 'The Compass' in January, which also includes some extra mixes especially for the project. An album is then expected to follow sometime in June 2001.

RETURN OF THE ORB: After nearly four years Alex Paterson's cult ambient outfit The Orb are back with a brand new album and single release in the new year. The album which sees The Orb employ vocalists to sing fully realised tracks will be accompanied by some live shows. The new Album, entitled 'Cydonia' will be released through Universal / Island on January 29th and will be preceded by a single, 'Once More', which will feature mixes by Jimmy Cauty, Tom Middleton and Bedrock.

Julio named highest paid entertainer in Europe: In what translates as stunning proof of his artistic worth, singer/composer Julio Iglesisas has been named the highest paid entertainer in Europe and the highest salaried man on the continent by EuroBusiness Magazine. Regarded as the most successful Latin singer ever, Iglesias’s career earnings equals a total of $480 million, putting him second only to ex-Beatle Paul McCartney in total lifetime earnings.

OAKENFOLD CONQUERS THE USA: Paul Oakenfold has managed to achieve the highest ever first week sales for a dance music compilation in America with his latest CD mix: 'Perfecto Presents: Paul Oakenfold's 'Another World''. The compilation sound scanned 13,000 copies in over the counter sales in its first week, and over 80,000 copies were delivered to stores all over the United States. These sales results were accomplished after Oakenfold dedicated vast amounts of time, sometimes controversially, to seducing the States to his trademark trance sound. Although not selling quite as many, Sasha & Digweed's have also been left with much to celebrate, 'Communicate' their compilation CD also did well in the compilation charts, with their monthly residency at New York's infamous Twilo club veering an army of American dance fans onto the British sound.

LONDON RECORDS’ TALENT SEARCH: London Records has teamed up with Watford’s infamous Area nightclub and live venue in its search for new talent. Showcasing every Tuesday night, hopeful artists and bands will be watched by A&R men from the label each week at the venue. The live showcase will also be remotely viewed over the venue’s website and Internet TV portal ‘Area TV’. The aim of the nights are to provide a live showcase platform at the venue for talented un-signed artists and bands to perform, get noticed and hopefully signed by London Records. Aspiring bands, artists and DJs are required to send in a short demo CD or cassette of four songs with a biog, including a current publicity shot to: AREA Live Showcase, c/o The Incredible Organisation Ltd, 77a The Parade, Watford, Herts.

Dornemann Departs Bertelsmann: After 18 years, Michael Dornemann, executive board member in charge of BMG Entertainment has decided to step down from the Bertelsmann executive board at the end of the year. Dornemann created BMG into one of the world’s largest music companies in 1987 by combining RCA with Bertelsmann’s existing music activities. With more than 200 record labels in 54 countries, including Arista Records, RCA and Ariola, Bertelsmann is one of the world’s leading media companies.

Check out the pages of Breakthru Magazine for more word on the Grape Vine

Musicmaker.com - Latest Music Site Casualty Citing uncertainty and inadequate funding for its online music ventures, Musicmaker.com Inc., the online company, which sells customisable live albums by the Who as well as Jimmy Page with the Black Crowes, has closed shop.

Musicmaker.com - Latest Music Site Casualty
Citing uncertainty and inadequate funding for its online music ventures, Musicmaker.com Inc., the online company, which sells customisable live albums by the Who as well as Jimmy Page with the Black Crowes, has closed shop.