robertina Posted April 17, 2008 Share Posted April 17, 2008 I EDITED THIS THREAD...I'D LIKE IT TO BECOME THE PLACE WHERE WE CAN POST UNIVERSAL NEWS...ABOUT MANAGERS AND STAFF WHO IS MANAGING THE MIKA AS A COW TO MILK..... just to make us all a bit more aware, considering that articles like these are mainly created and sponsored by the managers themselves..so take them with a distant look...don't jump to easy conclusions.... so this what i found today in Google Alert: From The Times - June 18, 2008 Business Big Shot: Lucian Grainge by Susan Thompson Lucian Grainge, who runs Universal Music outside America, says that he can smell when an act will be successful. He can also feel it in his fingertips. It is hard to argue with the track record of Mr Grainge's nose or fingertips. Under his guidance, Universal Music has won 36 per cent of the British album market this year, thanks to artists such as Amy Winehouse, Mika and Duffy. It would also take a brave man to argue with Mr Grainge, 48, a stocky North Londoner who is not afraid of taking a direct approach. This year he summoned Ms Winehouse after months of grim headlines. That day she checked into rehab. According to one Universal employee: “Lucian Grainge doesn't care if you like him. He just wants results.” And results he gets. Universal artists won six of the twelve categories at this year's Brit Awards. The label's continuing domination of the British market comes as its rivals Warner Music and EMI struggle in a tough market. Universal is not immune to the ever-rising volume of illegal downloads. Mr Grainge has said: “Anecdotally, there are artists who sell five million albums but lose another four million through downloads.” Mr Grainge left school at 18. The story goes that he walked out of an A-level examination for a meeting that led to his first record deal. In his first job as a talent scout, he spent his lunch hours ringing the chief executives of British record companies looking for work. Typically, they were out wining and dining - but one day Maurice Oberstein, the head of CBS Records, answered the phone. He suggested that his caller come in for a chat. It led to a job offer. Mr Grainge joined Universal's Polydor in 1993. He has served as deputy chairman of Universal Music UK and is now international chairman and chief executive after relinquishing his role as chairman of UK in March. http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/movers_and_shakers/executive_movers/article4160417.ece ******************************************************** guardian.co.uk - 16th april 2008 Universal hitmaker Gatfield returns to EMI by Katie Allen (you can see a picture of Mika - an old one - if you click on the link. I cannot upload it here now) Universal hitmaker Gatfield returns to EMIKatie Allen guardian.co.uk, Wednesday April 16 2008 Article historyAbout this articleClose This article was first published on guardian.co.uk on Wednesday April 16 2008. It was last updated at 18:31 on April 16 2008. Mika, Amy Winehouse and the Feeling are among the acts Nickl Gatfield has guided to success. EMI, the music group bought out by venture capitalist Guy Hands, has hired one of the top record label bosses of its rival Universal Music. Nick Gatfield, whose label signed multi-award winner Amy Winehouse and had success with Mika, the Fratellis and Busted, will head EMI's talent spotting and artist development in the UK and North America. Gatfield has headed Universal Island Records Group at the world's biggest music company since 2001 and has also worked with McFly, Keane, the Feeling and Sugababes. The move to work under Hands takes Gatfield back to his roots. He started his careeer at EMI Records in the UK. Hands said the appointment was another important step in his turnaround plans for EMI, where he is slashing jobs and seeking to stamp out what he sees as profligacy in several areas of the business. He will be hoping Gatfield can ensure the company puts a particularly tough year behind it. The label was damaged by an underwhelming 2007 release schedule and has also been hit by defections of artists including Radiohead and Paul McCartney. But Hands said Gatfield would help EMI to "reposition itself in new music" because he has "demonstrated his talents for embracing and delivering change". "At Universal Island, he has led a complete turnaround of the label in both creative and financial terms and built it into the most successful domestic repertoire label in the UK," said Hands. Gatfield lauded EMI as a company that is "leading the most ambitious transformation of the music industry". But he joins at a time of strained relations between EMI and musicians. Hands has openly complained of over-generous advances for artists and claimed some stars were not working hard enough. Artists have retaliated, accusing EMI's private equity owners Terra Firma of not understanding the music industry. McCartney complained EMI had become "really very boring". Thom Yorke of Radiohead, who released their recent album In Rainbows via a download, accused EMI's new management of acting like a "confused bull in a china shop". Universal said that Darcus Beese, who signed Winehouse and reinvented Sugababes, and Ted Cockle, the man behind Mika's publicity campaign, were being promoted to co-presidents of the Island Records Group. http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2008/apr/16/privateequity.musicnews Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xx_emily_x Posted April 17, 2008 Share Posted April 17, 2008 thanks for posting Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marilyn Mastin Posted April 17, 2008 Share Posted April 17, 2008 AH-HA! More ppl are making profit from Mika's success..... http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2008/apr/16/privateequity.musicnews (you can see a picture of Mika - an old one - if you click on the link. I cannot upload it here now) Universal hitmaker Gatfield returns to EMIKatie Allen guardian.co.uk, Wednesday April 16 2008 Article historyAbout this articleClose This article was first published on guardian.co.uk on Wednesday April 16 2008. It was last updated at 18:31 on April 16 2008. Mika, Amy Winehouse and the Feeling are among the acts Nickl Gatfield has guided to success. EMI, the music group bought out by venture capitalist Guy Hands, has hired one of the top record label bosses of its rival Universal Music. Nick Gatfield, whose label signed multi-award winner Amy Winehouse and had success with Mika, the Fratellis and Busted, will head EMI's talent spotting and artist development in the UK and North America. Gatfield has headed Universal Island Records Group at the world's biggest music company since 2001 and has also worked with McFly, Keane, the Feeling and Sugababes. The move to work under Hands takes Gatfield back to his roots. He started his careeer at EMI Records in the UK. Hands said the appointment was another important step in his turnaround plans for EMI, where he is slashing jobs and seeking to stamp out what he sees as profligacy in several areas of the business. He will be hoping Gatfield can ensure the company puts a particularly tough year behind it. The label was damaged by an underwhelming 2007 release schedule and has also been hit by defections of artists including Radiohead and Paul McCartney. But Hands said Gatfield would help EMI to "reposition itself in new music" because he has "demonstrated his talents for embracing and delivering change". "At Universal Island, he has led a complete turnaround of the label in both creative and financial terms and built it into the most successful domestic repertoire label in the UK," said Hands. Gatfield lauded EMI as a company that is "leading the most ambitious transformation of the music industry". But he joins at a time of strained relations between EMI and musicians. Hands has openly complained of over-generous advances for artists and claimed some stars were not working hard enough. Artists have retaliated, accusing EMI's private equity owners Terra Firma of not understanding the music industry. McCartney complained EMI had become "really very boring". Thom Yorke of Radiohead, who released their recent album In Rainbows via a download, accused EMI's new management of acting like a "confused bull in a china shop". Universal said that Darcus Beese, who signed Winehouse and reinvented Sugababes, and Ted Cockle, the man behind Mika's publicity campaign, were being promoted to co-presidents of the Island Records Group. Multi award winner Amy Winehouse? Isn't Mika ALSO a multi award winner!!? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RAK1 Posted April 17, 2008 Share Posted April 17, 2008 Thanks for posting this. It is very interesting, as EMI aren't doing that great, seeing as one of there biggest stars Sir Paul McCartney left them to sign for STARBUCKS!!! So they could do with someone like Nick to get their profile up, as long as when he gets them the acts they back him up and not stumble around in the dark and lose them again. It'll be sad that he's not with Universal anymore, as he's clearly done wonders for them, but maybe he's up for a new challenge (and I think he'll get one with EMI), SO GOOD LUCK TO HIM:thumb_yello: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miro Posted April 17, 2008 Share Posted April 17, 2008 Thanx for posting:thumb_yello: For RAK1 I really love your avatar..isn't it the one you took with Mika at the after party? Could u post it please it looks adorable:wub2: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RAK1 Posted April 17, 2008 Share Posted April 17, 2008 Thanx for posting:thumb_yello: For RAK1 I really love your avatar..isn't it the one you took with Mika at the after party? Could u post it please it looks adorable:wub2: It certainly is, and I'll do my best, never very good at getting photos on here, but I'll give it a shot. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rabdash Posted April 17, 2008 Share Posted April 17, 2008 Sorry, I am not great at all with understanding the wonders of the music industry, but does this mean that Mika is also moving to EMI????? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
happikali Posted April 17, 2008 Share Posted April 17, 2008 Interesting ..... Thanks for posting Robi ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tauruslady Posted April 17, 2008 Share Posted April 17, 2008 ooh cool!!! anyone who helped Mika make it deserves good things:) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miro Posted April 17, 2008 Share Posted April 17, 2008 It certainly is, and I'll do my best, never very good at getting photos on here, but I'll give it a shot. Alrighty that would be great Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Queenie Posted April 17, 2008 Share Posted April 17, 2008 Thanks for posting. Robi!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vickylovesmika Posted April 17, 2008 Share Posted April 17, 2008 Thanks Robi for the up to date UK papers news!!! Lots of people making from Mika .....................Still do your own thing Mika, we love you that way, i'm sure you will:thumb_yello: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Louiza Posted April 20, 2008 Share Posted April 20, 2008 interesting article! thanks for posting! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robertina Posted June 18, 2008 Author Share Posted June 18, 2008 bump i edited first post and also the title of the thread with 'go advanced' function... but the title hasn't changed...can any kind and fine mod change it for me? thaaaaaaaaaaaanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Louiza Posted June 18, 2008 Share Posted June 18, 2008 nice idea to have a thread about universal's news:thumb_yello: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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