Articles

After several successful years of native British bands like Coldplay and Franz Ferdinand dominating the charts and raking in awards, the United Kingdom continues to storm the world by ushering in a new wave of mthe hottest rock acts.   Recent research only confirms the success of the homegrown British rockers. Figures from the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) show that these bands (like Kaiser Chiefs, Coldplay and The Killers) have the best-selling albums in Albion territory. Guitar-based mu

Rock star Phil Collins's property company has announced it will not shut down Liverpool's under-threat Parr Street studios, less than a week after a deal to save it collapsed.   But other businesses sharing the city centre site, including the celebrated 3345 private members club, a hotel and local design firms, still face the axe.   The pension fund that officially owns the Parr Street building, which belongs to the ex-Genesis frontman and two other former band members, yesterday announced it w

Forget Rooney and his metatarsals: England’s fragile World Cup morale is reeling from the decision to choose Embrace, those sub-Coldplay plodders, to write the team’s official song.   “World at Your Feet”, which comes out next week, is a dirge-like anthem whose air of defeatism suggests England’s fate is to be knocked out on penalties in the quarter-finals. “Yes, it can be done,” the chorus implores earnestly, though like a subconscious current of thought the melancholy music tells a different s

Bertelsmann, the German media group, is trying to renegotiate its shareholder agreement with Sony, its music joint-venture partner, in a move that will make it easier to sell its way out of recorded music.   The two sides are understood to have had discussions about shortening the length of the five-year agreement governing the SonyBMG joint venture, which runs until 2009 and prevents either side from selling or transferring its half-interest.   Although Bertelsmann said last week that it was k

The Isle of Wight waited over 30 years for a chance to revive its legendary 60s festival - and now two have come along at once   When the biggest story to come out of the Isle of Wight all year is about a missing penguin (remember Toga?), I can forgive you for thinking flap all happens on the so-called "Garden Isle", my home for the first 17 years of my life.   Dubbed a haven for OAPs by The Beatles in When I'm 64 ("Every summer we could rent a cottage on the Isle of Wight"), its reputation for

Scottish singer KT Tunstall has done it, as have clean-living rockers Coldplay.   Even Conservative eco-warrior David Cameron is in on the act. Carbon neutralising is the must-do activity for those in the public eye who want to emphasise their environmental credentials.   Tunstall had trees planted to offset the pollution created by the production of her debut album, Eye to the Telescope, as did Coldplay, while Cameron carbon-neutralised a trip on a private jet by contributing to renewable energ

Solio, an award-winning, portable hybrid solar charger for mobile electronics devices, is now available in Telstra Shops for $139.   Solio captures energy from sunlight and stores it within an integrated battery to power mobile phones, PDAs, iPod/mp3 players, digital cameras and portable game consoles. It can also be charged from a mains power supply.   BES customers include some of the world's best known companies such as Apple and Quiksilver who offer co-branded Solio devices. Coldplay, one of

Sanctuary Group has dismissed its chief executive, Andy Taylor, in an attempt to draw a line under a year that saw the music group undergo a radical financial restructuring after a share price crash.   Sanctuary, whose clients include acts such as Beyonce, Coldplay and The Strokes, decided to remove Mr Taylor, who co-founded the company in 1976, following the appointment in April of Bob Ayling, former chief executive of British Airways, as chairman.   Mr Ayling was brought in by shareholders af

How do you follow up an album that launched you into the pop aristocracy at the first time of asking? In Keane's case, you combine the commercial sheen of your debut with an admirable urge to push your things forward.   At the very least, we're discovering Keane aren't content to just churn out a "Hopes and Fears" mark II. Lyrically there's been progression: although the emotional frailty of their debut is still here, there's a definite sense of an album informed by the world around it, with a p

Sad news from Liverpool of the demise of an iconic recording studio.   Falling into the hands of property developers in the 2008 European City of Culture are the studios on the 'pool's Parr Street, described by the Independent as "an unprepossesing 19th century converted warehouse...(which) has long been the unlikely source of some of Britain's most memorable musical creations".   And Simply Red have recorded there, too. Seriously, though, the likes of Doves, Badly Drawn Boy, New Order and Coldp

The news that the bass player Andy Nicholson has dropped out of Arctic Monkeys, on the eve of a tour of North America, adds another dramatic twist in the tale of Britain's newest supergroup. A statement posted on the band's website on Monday revealed that Nicholson, 19, was suffering from "fatigue following an intensive period of touring".   "The band have been on a European tour, which concluded last week," says Ian McAndrew of Wildlife, the management company to which Arctic Monkeys are signe

Following a slow, steady climb to the top after releasing their 2005 debut in England, the Editors are trying to repeat that success in the United States.   Maybe it‘s because of their spirited live shows.   Maybe it‘s the result of an overly energetic front man who borders on the seemingly spastic while somehow retaining total control, drawing comparisons to Coldplay‘s Chris Martin. Or maybe the music simply connects with a lot of people.The band has drawn comparisons to early U2, Echo &

Private jets, African hideaways, prenuptial parties, red carpet rages – life is so different for rich celebrities. And so, apparently, is death.   When most of us shuffle off this mortal coil our earning power ends. But if you are a rich entertainer the pay cheques can keep coming.   Elvis Presley died in 1977 but he is still earning $52 million a year. According to US magazine Forbes, Marilyn Monroe is making more money in the afterlife than she ever did on the big screen. Charles M. Schultz,

Ethical shopping no longer means ditching the fox fur coat in favour of the hemp jacket.   The concept now is as much about protecting the rights of people as animals. It means drinking coffee with a conscience and tea with sympathy — all while being assured that the labourers who strained their backs to pick the tea leaves are getting their fair share of the profits.   "It's the old adage of teaching someone to fish rather than giving them a fish, that's what Fairtrade is about. It's fair trade

An unprepossessing 19th-century converted warehouse on Liverpool's Parr Street has long been the unlikely source of some of Britain's most memorable musical creations.   Coldplay, Simply Red, Sophie Ellis Bextor, Badly Drawn Boy, Dove, Bjork and New Order are a few of the superstars who have used the building's recording studios, which are the largest outside London. Three Grammy winners have been fashioned there by Coldplay's producer alone, and many a career launched.   Now, just as Liverpool

Guy Berryman and Jonny Buckland turned up at the do for an afternoon drinking session without bandmate Chris Martin.   Guy explained: “Chris is feeling quite run down. It’s not easy coming back so tired after a tour and having a newborn baby to deal with.”   There must be something in the water on Coldplay’s tour bus — Will Champion became a dad recently and Guy’s wife is pregnant too. I hope Jonny’s taking adequate precautions.   Source: here

Bertelsmann AG plans to retain ownership of Sony BMG after determining it can afford to pay 4.5 billion euros ($5.8 billion) to buy back a stake in the German media conglomerate without selling its half of the world's second biggest music company.   "We have no intention to sell our 50 percent stake, and we're working on our partnership with Sony," Bertelsmann Chief Financial Officer Thomas Rabe said in an interview on Thursday with Reuters.   He added that Bertelsmann remained on the hunt for a

If there is an unspoken rule in rock music, it is that controversy and self-promotion go hand in hand. Take Britain-based foursome Razorlight, for instance. Recently, frontman Johnny Borrell made headlines thanks to his supreme self-confidence bordering on arrogance, not to mention a penchant for ripping into his contemporaries.   Borrell is no stranger to controversy, having drawn fire two years ago for comparing himself to a music legend when he said: "If (Bob) Dylan's making the chips then I

With 10 concerts booked for this summer, The Amphitheater at Clark County will at least match last year in terms of the number of events. More shows could be added as the season plays out, though, and chief executive officer Dan Braun says he's optimistic the 18,000-seat venue finally is on an upswing.   "Based on 365 days ago, I feel better about the future," Braun says. "I like the acts (coming this year). It's a good selection, with some pretty big marquee names."   Nine Inch Nails, an indu

Gordon Brown has revealed his private tastes and admitted he's an Arctic Monkeys fan.   The Chancellor revealed the contents of his iPod, saying: "Beethoven, Bach, the Beatles, U2, Coldplay and James Blunt. And Arctic Monkeys really wake you up in the morning."   The political heavyweight also had a few surprises about what he watches on TV. He said: "Any type of sport: football, rugby, hockey - I even watch ladies' curling. And reality TV - Pop Idol, X Factor, Fame Academy. There's so much ta

NEW YORK -- The musician whose favorite color is that of an eggplant has been voted the world's "Sexiest Vegetarian" by the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals.   Prince is tied for the honor with Kristen Bell, who said she'd rather have brussels sprouts than meat any day. The runners-up in the annual PETA poll include Natalie Portman, Nicollette Sheridan and Joaquin Phoenix.   Last year, Coldplay singer Chris Martin and "American Idol" season four winner Carrie Underwood shared the top

Music giant EMI has said profits are up almost 13 per cent to £159.3 after revenues from its digital content more than doubled during the year.   EMI, whose artists include Robbie Williams, Coldplay and Gorillaz, said its music division outperformed the rest of the industry. Digital sales hit £112.1 million from £46.9 million a year ago, helped by US downloads of Coldplay's latest album X&Y.   These offset a 5.3 per cent decline in physical sales for the industry as a whole. In the UK and

Bertelsmann, the media group behind the Da Vinci Code and Pop Idol, could learn this week whether it must undergo a flotation as part of an agreement with a minority shareholder.   A spokesperson for Bertelsmann declined to comment yesterday on reports that the group is preparing to sell its music-publishing arm, which owns the rights to songs by acts such as Coldplay and Christina Aguilera, and could fetch up to $1.7bn (£910m).   GBL's stake has been valued between €3.5bn (£2.4bn) and €5bn. Ber

EMI will report strong annual results this week and tell investors it is prepared to walk away from the bid for Warner if its American rival holds out for much higher than the initial offer.   The British music group, home to top acts such as Joss Stone, Coldplay and Gorillaz, will reveal that profits in the year to March rose by 12 per cent to about £158m. Revenues were up by about four per cent to £2.07bn.   EMI is also likely to report that digital revenues - music sales via the internet - h

In the 60s, Bob Dylan was the voice of youthful protest, his songs soundtracking everything from the civil rights movement to a generation's outrage over Vietnam.   But even the voice of youth has to grow old some time and, this week, the man born Robert Allen Zimmerman on May 24, 1941 officially becomes a pensioner.   Not that he has any intention of settling down. Dylan has been on a "never-ending" tour since 1988, and plays his latest batch of live shows in the UK next month.One fan who's alr