ON THE RECORD: JIM CARROLLon music...
This week 's selections from the On The Record jukebox # NOW PLAYING
This week, the perpetually troubled EMI music group told the world about its new plans to stem losses and get itself out of the mess it has been in for years.
Aside from another round of musical chairs in the boardroom (do the managers who got them into this mess really have the gumption to get them out of it?), the company also made one of those double-Dutch statements beloved of big business about its future intentions.
The company is set to "reposition itself as a comprehensive rights-management company serving artists and songwriters worldwide". This, they probably hope, will sort things out "going forward".
What this means, OTR thinks, is that the Terra Firma-owned group hopes to make money by concentrating on its recording and publishing back catalogue rather than on signing and developing new acts.
Such grandiose catalogue-pimping can be profitable if you have the right acts, such as The Beatles, who sold 13 million albums last year.
Much of the heavy lifting in terms of acquiring copyrights and catalogues has already been done down the years by A&R departments on the recording and publishing side of the house, so there's little cost involved. Meanwhile, there's plenty of publishing revenue to be earned right now from the current popularity of TV shows such as Gleeand American Idol.
But will such repositioning really help EMI to survive? There's no doubting the depth of the company's catalogue, but it's hard to see how relying on heritage acts rather than finding new stars can be a sustainable business model.
Unless, of course, EMI cuts costs even more. After all, a few suits with laptops should be enough to manage and administer back catalogues.
DAN MANGAN
A singer-songwriter from Vancouver, now signed to Arts & Crafts, who will be introducing the well-crafted, superbly observed and tastefully decorated songs on his Nice, Nice, Very Nice album to a much wider audience. He's playing Glastonbury this weekend. myspace.com/ danmangan
CIGNOL
Londoner in Dublin Paul Hammock makes classic electronic music with a swish twist in the tail. Debut album Switching for a Living has been released by reliable capital city electronica filters Alphabet Set and is chock-a-block with evocative, occasionally majestic bleep power.
myspace.com/cignol
STARS ON FIRE
Dublin-based four-piece fronted by Republic of Loose's Emily Aylmer with a strong line in melodic, dark-centred electro-pop à la their MySpace-bound So Far. Expect an EP this summer and more gigs up and down the country. myspace.com/
starsonfireirelandTrentemøller Into the Great Wide Yonder (In My Room) Dashing tunes, gorgeous textures and a new definition of highbrow electronic pop from Danish producer Anders Trentemøller on his second album.
Perfume Genius Learning (Organs/Turnstile) Debut album from Seattle's Mike Hadreas, whose striking voice and hugely moving, melancholic songs make for magical listening.
Various Deutsche Elektronische Musik
(Soul Jazz) Another winning compilation from the Soul Jazz crew, this time running the rule over Krautrock (and Krautronica) from 1972 to 1983. Contains Can and much more besides.
Aero Manyelo Just in Time (Outhere) South Africa may be out of the World Cup, but the hosts are still producing killer (non-vuvuzela) dance-floor cuts, like this scintillating slice of kwaito from the Ayobaness EP.
Eddie Harris Silver Cycles (Atlantic) The title track from Harris's 1969 trip into experimentation never fails to surprise with its avant-garde touches and glorious psychedelic diversions.
