news from BMG-Zomba
news from Bossey & Hawkes
news from Bug Music
news from Nettwerk Songs Publishing
news from Peer Music

After a remarkable seven weeks at number one in the U.S., "Goodies" by Ciara featuring Petey Pablo has debuted on the U.K. singles chart at number one.

"Goodies" not only features an appearance by Petey Pablo but the Zomba Music Publishing U.S. songwriter is a co-writer of the song as well.

"Goodies" stormed straight to number one in the U.K., ahead of re-released hits by Elvis Presley. The song from Pablo and the Queen of Crunk was also nominated for a Billboard Music Award last year.

Third Eye Blind Frontman Stephan Jenkins Inks Global Deal with BMG Songs

Stephan Jenkins has signed a worldwide music publishing deal with BMG Songs.

The deal currently excludes Jenkins' work with his multiplatinum band Third Eye Blind.

Jenkins is making a name for himself outside of his chart-topping band as producer of Vanessa Carlton's sophomore set, Harmonium (A&M/Universal). He also co-wrote four songs with Carlton for the critically-acclaimed album, including the first single "White Houses." Released in November, Harmonium is the follow-up to Carlton's 2002 multiplatinum debut Be Not Nobody (A&M/Universal).

Jenkins continues to pursue writing and producing projects in addition to his work as lead singer/guitarist/producer/songwriter for Third Eye Blind.

Commented Scott Francis (President, BMG Songs North America): "I am thrilled to have Stephan Jenkins join us at BMG Songs, and have full confidence that he will be a force as a writer/producer for other artists. He is an incredibly creative person, with a fantastic talent for writing and producing memorable and moving songs. His love and understanding of all genres of music, and his drive to succeed, will surely make him a 'go-to' guy for years to come."

BMG-Zomba Web Site

Britten to be house composer at ENO

Benjamin Britten has been chosen as house composer at English National Opera, part of artistic director Sean Doran's plans for English opera to form the backbone of future seasons. The company, based at the London Coliseum, will stage at least one Britten work per season over the next five years, including the ENO's first Death in Venice, planned for 2006/7. For the 2005/6 season, Britten is represented by the first London performances of Neil Armfield's successful Welsh National Opera/Opera Australia production of Billy Budd.

Conducted by Andrew Litton, ENO's Billy Budd is to feature Simon Keenlyside in the title role, John Tomlinson as Claggart and role debuts from Timothy Robinson as Captain Vere, Ashley Holland as Mr Redburn, Pavlo Hunka as Mr Flint, Gwynne Howell as Dansker and Adrian Thompson as Red Whiskers.

ENO's association with the operas of Britten can be traced back to the momentous premiere of Peter Grimes in 1945, in the company's former incarnation as Sadler's Wells Opera Company, with Peter Pears in the title role. Notable Britten productions that have originated at ENO over recent decades have included Jonathan Miller's Turn of the Screw, Tim Albery's Billy Budd and Peter Grimes, and David McVicar's The Rape of Lucretia.

Meredith Monk creates Stringsongs for Kronos Quartet

Following in the footsteps of Possible Sky, her first foray into orchestral writing, Meredith Monk has created Stringsongs for the Kronos Quartet. As in Possible Sky, Stringsongs finds the composer successfully transplanting her immediately recognizable style into a new medium, while at the same time expanding her sphere of potential performers.

The Kronos Quartet introduces Stringsongs at the Barbican in London on January 22, followed by the work’s North American premiere on January 27 at Brock University in St. Catharines, Ontario, and New York premiere at Zankel Hall (at Carnegie) on February 5.

The eighteen-minute piece has four movements - Cliff Light, Tendrils, Obsidian Chorale, and Phantom Strings - each of which explores a characteristically striking texture and mood. Says Monk, “In Stringsongs, my first piece for string quartet, I explored using instruments to create unexpected textures and sounds in much the same way that I have worked with the voice over many years. I was inspired by the profound musicianship and passionate commitment of the Kronos Quartet. During the rehearsal period, as I got to know the players, the music came to life in surprising ways, colored by the distinctive ‘voice’ of each musician. Stringsongs was composed in Ca?ones, New Mexico and is dedicated to the memory of Mieke van Hoek.”

Thanks to the Kronos Quartet, Stringsongs is certain to introduce Monk’s music to new audiences. And as ever, she continues to tour widely with her own ensemble. This, her 40th-anniversary season as a performer, culminates with a performance on May 20 by Meredith Monk & Vocal Ensemble at Joe’s Pub in New York. Tour details can be found at www.meredithmonk.org.

Boosey & Hawkes Media Web Site

Spoon Gets 'Unscripted'

The new HBO television show, "Unscripted," will be featuring "The Way We Get By" written by Britt Daniel of Spoon. The song is used as a sing-along over the end titles.
"Unscripted," produced by George Clooney and Steven Soderbergh, is a partially improvised show about the lives of actors trying to make it in Hollywood.

Bug Music Web Site

NSP Enters into a World-Wide Agreement to Administrate the Classic "Wildflower".
NSP recently entered into a W.W. administration agreement with the writers of the Classic song "Wildflower", first released in 1972 by Skylark (the first band in which David Foster was a key member) has been covered more than 50 legitimate times, by such artists as Tupac Shakur, the Neville Brothers and the O'Jays.

Endearing Recording Artists from Halifax, The Heavy Blinkers have taken their latest release the Night And I Are Still So Young to the world. To date their album has been licensed to the U.K.(Transistor), Germany / Austria / Switzerland (Apricot), Spain(Mushroom Pillow), South Korea(BeatBall) and a pending deal for Japan.

Nettwerk Songs Publishing has recently signed The Heavy Blinkers and the band has a song on an upcoming episode of Robson Arms. The Heavy Blinkers currently have songs on 3 different compilations in Japan. The Heavy Blinkers have also completed their first music video for the title track The Night And I Are Still So Young. Directed by Scott Simpson, the video about a teenage camping trip was shot in widescreen format and includes beautiful underwater swimming scenes. The video has been serviced to all major music networks.

In the fall of 2004 The Heavy Blinkers will be going intercontinental when they head over to Europe to tour the United Kingdom, and Germany. They're also planning shows in France with Intercontinental Pop Exchange label mates Orwell.

Press Reaction For The Night And I Are Still So Young "It's the gentle melancholia as much as the abundant strings and horns that makes this album special, pushing it a cut above the other California dreamers." - Chart Magazine -

"Their lovely melodies, patient tempos and a masterfully arranged (and restrained) 25-piece orchestra aim high and consistently hit the mark." - Montreal Mirror -

"Cohesive but not repetitive, grandiose without pretension, The Night and I is music no one's made for decades." - The Coast ( Halifax ) -

"The arrangements are inventive and complex and only go to prove that there's life outside the 2 guitars, bass and drums format." - BBC Interactive -

"The attention to detail is close to flawless and the warmth that resonates from this album is played to a tee." - Spilled CD -

"...one of the best albums you'll hear all year...makes for a perfect springtime soundtrack, full of equal parts longing and loveliness." - The Silhouette (Hamilton) -

Nettwerk Songs Web Site

Peermusic Grammy Nominations 2004

Best Arrangement with Vocals
"Summertime" Renee Olstead

Best Male Pop Vocal Performance
"You Raise Me Up" Josh Groban

Best Pop Vocal Album
"Smile" Brian Wilson

Best Electronic/Dance Album
"Always Outnumbered, Never Outgunned" The Prodigy (feat. "Shoot Down"-Carter/Lewis)

Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album
"Stardust: The Great American Songbook Vol. 3" Rod Stewart

Best Traditional R&B Vocal Performance
"New Day" Patti LaBelle from the album "Timeless Journey"

Best Male Country Vocal Performance
"Engine One-Fourty-Three" Johnny Cash, from "The Unbroken Circle: The Musical Heritage of the Carter Family" and "You Are My Flower" Willie Nelson, from the same album.

Best Country Instrumental Performance
"Earl's Breakdown" Nitty Gritty Dirt Band feat. Earl Scruggs et. al. From "Will the Circle Be Unbroken, 'The Trilogy'"

Best Bluegrass Album
"Brand New Strings" Ricky Skaggs and Kentucky Thunder

Best Latin Pop Album
"Unplugged" Diego Torres

Best Latin Rock/Alternative Album
"Mi Sangre" Juanes

Best Salsa/Merengue Album
"Valio La Pena" Marc Anthony "Autentico" Gilberto Santa Rosa "Travesia" Victor Manuelle

Best Traditional Tropical/Latin Album
"Inolvidable" Candido & Graciela "Recuerdo A Benny More" Tropicana All Stars

Best Contemporary Folk Album
"Unbroken Circle--The Musical Heritage of the Carter Family" Various Artists

Best Compilation Soundtrack Album for Motion Picture, TV or Visual Media
Kill Bill Vol. 2 feat. "Malaguena Salerosa"

Best Score Soundtrack for a Motion Picture, TV or Visual Media
"Big Fish" (feat. "Everyday" by Buddy Holly)

Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical
"Smile" Brian Wilson

Best Opera Recording
"Montsalvatage: El Gato Con Botas"

Best Classical Vocal Performance
Charles Ives: Songs (The Things Our Fathers Loved; The Housatonic at Stockbridge, Etc.) Susan Graham, mezzo soprano

Best Orchestral Performance Glazunov: Symphony No. 5; The Seasons, Op. 67 (Complete Ballet) Jos? Serebrier, conductor (Royal Scottish National Orchestra)

Best Engineered Album, Classical Glazunov: Symphony No. 5; The Seasons, Op. 67 (Complete Ballet) Jean Chatauret & Jean-Martial Golaz, engineers (Jos? Serebrier)

Best Jazz Instrumental Album, Individual or Group
"The Out-Of-Towners" The Keith Jarrett Trio (contains the song "You've Changed")

Best Latin Jazz Album
"Jerry Gonzales y Los Piratas Del Flamenco" Jerry Gonzalez (contains the song "Obsesion") "Land of The Sun" Charlie Haden (contains the songs "Solamente Una Vez", "Fuiste Tu", and "Cancion de Cuna a Patricia")

Best Contemporary World Music Album
"Roots" The Gipsy Kings

The 47th Annual Grammy Awards will be held on February 13, 2005 in Los Angeles and will be broadcast live on the CBS Television Network at 8 p.m.

Peer Music Web Site