Label:Life

Mary Hansen, a core member of Stereolab, playing guitars and providing vocals for the last decade died in a cycling accident last week (December 9). Our thoughts are with family and friends. (NME)

Saul Tagarro, President of Warner Music Spain, has announced the acquisition of the Spanish independent record Company Fonomusic and its publishing arm Pentamusic. (Mi2N)

Feature from Music Biz (just in case you are quiet in-between parties!!).

U.S. music enthusiasts are continuing to embrace a wide range of digital music activities, and show signs of an increase in both their appetite and willingness to pay. (Ad Noir)

• “I was the kid next door’s imaginary friend.” Emo Philips.
• “There is one thing I would break up over and that is if she caught me with another woman. I wouldn’t stand for that.” Steve Martin.
• “When I was a kid I used to pray every night for a new bicycle. Then I realised that the Lord doesn’t work that way so I stole one and asked Him to forgive me.” Emo Philips.

The Welsh Music Awards are now open for votes on-line and will take place at The Coal Exchange, Cardiff, on Friday 5th and 6th of December. Reserve tickets by emailing welshmusicawards2002@hotmail.com or by calling Nikki Lang on 07765393662 or 02920 256887. Tickets cost #40.00 per event, a table for 10 costs #400.00.

March the 18th 2003: Winter Music Conference, Miami. Website

Total sales of music in the UK grew 3.5%, while album sales climbed by 9% in volume terms and 5% in value during the three months ending September, according to the British Phonographic Industry (Guardian).

Radio One recently announced they’ll be dedicating a week to playing tracks from musicians, dj’s, producers, and bands who will be added to a specially created OneMusic Unsigned List. The OneMusic Unsigned list will run for a week from the 10th of January. Radio One will select demos sent to the station which will then go through the same playlist process that all records get. From this debate six artists will be chosen & added to the OneMusic unsigned List where they’ll each receive 5 to 6 plays a week the beginning of January.

Roxio (best known for CD burning software) is to buy the assets of Napster and it’s not taking on liabilities or Napster’s litany of legal battles with the music major. The deal is subject to approval from the bankruptcy court and, presumably, to legal challenges from creditors and, err, lawsuitors. (The Register)