Big Brother's dirty money
Dutch programme Big Brother will earn it's makers a massive £2 million with charges on voters for this week's eviction.
Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell has suggested this week's bullying of Bollywood star Shilpa Shetty is 'racism disguised as entertainment'.
Offcom seem to want to offload their duty as regulator by passing the matter on to the police to consider whether a hate crime has been committed.
However, there is no passing the buck with this issue.
Let's contemplate the two courses of action open to the regulator and authorities.
If no action is taken against Big Brother makers Endemol or Channel Four, or indeed Jade Goody, Jo O'Meara and Danni Cheat, then as Tessa Jowell calls it, the 'disgusting behaviour' Big Brother has offered us this week could be regarded as nothing more than entertainment, acceptable on television and acceptable generally.
If a racist crime has been committed then action should be taken before the gormless and embarrassing, bullying, thicko's cause more serious damage.
Channel Four boss Andy Duncan seems to think it's good to have a debate over the issues his programme has offered us.
Let's remember the thousands who watched the Christians being thrown to the lions and let's also have a debate about television company's being given license to mug viewers into wasting small fortunes on telephone eviction lines. news.bbc.co.uk
Thur 18 Jan 2007

HMV dumps the Official UK Singles Chart
HMV is pulling the official UK singles chart from its stores after more than 40 years, saying it is no longer relevant to the way it sells music.
Chart rules were changed last week, allowing downloads to be counted even if a single was not available in shops.
Sunday's top 40 featured half-a-dozen such singles, including Snow Patrol's Chasing Cars which went in at nine.
HMV says it is "not against the change" but will use its own chart from now on to avoid having gaps in its displays.
The high street chain had supported the national singles chart since the 1960s and was one of the last major retailers to display the top 40 in-store.
As part of the Entertainment Retailers' Association (Era), HMV would have agreed to the new rules before they were introduced.
"Whilst we signed up to a change," said HMV spokesman Genarro Castaldo, "it was always on the understanding that retailers would be free to do what was most practical in stores."
JoJo's single could not have charted under the old rules
"The new chart is not appropriate for the purpose of merchandising singles".
Era secretary general Kim Bayley said "most retailers" will follow HMV's lead, but argues that singles will not die out as a physical format.
"In some areas, they're still important," she said.
"The X Factor single is selling in big numbers in stores, and dance music still has a heavy element of vinyl sales."
The record industry hopes the revamped chart will revitalise interest in the top 40 by reflecting what people are buying, rather than what is available in shops.
It is also thought the pattern of singles slowly climbing up the charts will return.
US singer JoJo was the first artist to benefit from this effect, with her single entering Sunday's chart a week before it would have been eligible under the previous rules.
Too Little Too Late made its debut at number 22 and is expected to rise into the top 20 this week.
Several deleted singles also returned to the chart on Sunday, with Snow Patrol re-appearing in the top 10 nine weeks after their single disappeared from the charts.
Nelly Furtado, The Automatic and Gnarls Barkley also had re-entries with songs first released more than six months ago. Thur 11 Jan 2007

How June Sar-ponged an MBE
Born 31 May 1977, June Sarpong MBE is a British television presenter - but just what has she done to earn an MBE?
As the one of the female faces of Channel 4’s Sunday morning strand T4 for the last six years, June interviewed Tony Blair for a T4 special, ‘When Tony Met June’ which aired in January 2005. Like thousands of untitled others, she also runs her own production company, Lipgloss Productions. Projects in development include a sitcom and a programme on climate change.
T4 has become one of Channel 4’s long lasting home grown series. It's guests have included Sir Elton John, Kylie Minogue, Black Eyed Peas, Will Smith and Nicole Kidman.
In recent years, June has also presented many other series including ‘Your Face Or Mine?’, a game show co-hosted with Jimmy Carr for E4; ‘Dirty Laundry’, an urban talk-show which was an original idea of June’s; ‘Playing It Straight’, a dating game-show filmed in Mexico for Channel 4, and June has presented the ‘Smash Hits Poll Winners Party’ and the ‘Party In The Park’. June is a regular at the MOBO Awards and has presented three years in a row. She has also appeared on BBC Television’s Question Time and Have I Got News For You. She also has appeared on the programme, Never Mind The Buzzcocks and introduced reports on youth culture for This Week (BBC TV series).
June is an ambassador for the Prince’s Trust and also campaigns for the Make Poverty History movement – in April 2005 she visited Ghana to make a film for Make Poverty History. She also hosted the major Make Poverty History event in London’s Trafalgar Square in summer 2005 on behalf of Nelson Mandela and Sir Bob Geldof.
June's brother is Sam Sarpong, an actor and host of MTV's Yo Mamma.
At the age of thirty and after only six years as a broadcaster, she was awarded an MBE in the 2007 New Year Honours List for "services to broadcasting and charity". It was suggested on the Steve Allen radio show (LBC 31 Dec 2006) that her MBE honour was connected with an interiew she conducted with the Prime Minister earlier in the year. The interview was strongly criticised for not mentioning the Iraq Conflict.
June dated the Labour Minister for Culture David Lammy for a number of years.
Mon 8 Jan 2007

BRMB are funny again
BRMB has made the national headlines once again in various newspapers over a billboard advert in Birmingham which claims to have been arranged by a listener. The ad exposes a cheating husband, and offers a myspace address for more information which conveniently contains links to BRMB's breakfast hosts Elliott and Caroline.
The billboard mirrors a similar viral ad campaign for an American TV show, Parco P.I. where a wife takes revenge on a cheating husband by explaining all to everyone who happens to pass by. Producers Court TV later admitted to the hoax after similar billboards appeared not only in New York, but in Los Angeles and Chicago as well.
BRMB Breakfast Show producer Sue Carter formerly worked at Q102 in Dublin which also had a similar situation happen.
The story was reported in the Birmingham Mail in December, and more recently the Telegraph asked the question: "Hoax or Heartbreak".
Phil Barton-Ancliffe, BRMB marketing controller told the Telegraph: "as far as we're concerned the information we received was completely genuine."
It seems the station likes to be involved in listener divorces - after one of their famous stunts from 1999 "Two Strangers and a Wedding" also ended in divorce. Tue 9 Jan 2007

Singles Chart reverts to 1940's/50's stylee
Just as in 1940's and 50's America when sheet music was King, in 2007 any piece of music can become a chart hit or even number one.
Downloaded album tracks and "golden oldies" will be eligible for the charts under new rules coming into force next week.
Until now, downloads have been included in the Official Singles Chart only if physical copies of the song are available in shops.
But from January 1 the rules will be altered so that all download sales can be counted. It means any song available on the internet could become the next number one.
Chart experts predict artists whose old songs are featured in adverts or films are likely to find themselves heading back up the charts.
The Official UK Charts Company (OCC) decided to change the rules in response to the huge increase in the number of music downloads. Downloads have doubled the size of the UK singles market from 32.3 million in 2004 to 65.1 million in the first 51 weeks of this year.
X Factor winner Leona Lewis recently set a record for the fastest-selling UK download after her debut single A Moment Like This shifted 50,000 copies in its first half hour of release.
OCC director Steve Redmond said: "January 1 2007 marks a dramatic development in the history of the Official UK Charts.
"For the past 54 years, a single was a track selected by a record company to be pressed on plastic and distributed to stores on a particular date.
From now on a single can be any track currently available as a download - even an album track or a golden oldie - as well as the established physical formats of CD, DVD, seven and 12 inch vinyl.
This new ruling changes the nature of a single and puts the consumer in the driving seat. Literally any track can be a hit - as long as it sells enough." Fri 29 Dec 2006

Merry Christmas Johnny - you're sacked
It was an appointment made by Capital Radio's Programme Director Keith Pringle in 2004. It's taken the successor group GCap two years to act on the always disastrous ratings of the group's most important 'local' breakfast show. There's been no knee-jerk reactions to the show that has now nearly halved the number of listeners it inherited.
However, as Johnny Vaughan's contract comes to an end in April 2007, reports suggest that Craig Doyle, currently hosting a Saturday show on Capital, may take over the show on a full time basis. He regularly fills in whilst Vaughan is on holiday.
A source told Broadcast: "It's not going to be a big money signing with Doyle – but Johnny has come to the end of the road.
"An announcement is expected in the next couple of weeks because GCap is hoping his departure will get lost in the Christmas celebrations."
As Neil Fox, the bloke who didn't get the chance to replace Chris Tarrant goes from strength to strengh at Magic, it looks more and more like Capital need a DJ who's 'Funny', not a 'Funny' who's not really a DJ. Mon 18 Dec 2006

It's Christmas all year for Moyles
Chris Moyles is topping up his six figure salary with an extra £75,000 - just for playing his jingles. The 32 year old Radio 1 breakfast host is reportedly getting £15 royalties per play - because he writes the lyrics. Last year he played them 5,000 times.
One jingle brags "Chris Moyles on Radio 1...He ain't good-looking but hey, he's rich". Previous reports from leaked BBC figures showed Moyles earns £630,000 a year for his breakfast show.
Chris composes the quirky sung jingles with production firm Music 4. The Performing Right Society then charges the BBC £15 a time and passes it on to him.
John Whittingdale, head of the Commons Culture select committee, told The Mirror: "The BBC is already paying him a hefty salary and he is able to earn even more at the touch of a button. There seems to be a clear conflict of interests here and it seems completely inappropriate."
A Radio 1 spokesman said: "He writes jingles and receives payment when they are played. This is completely legitimate. But we refute any suggestion that he is playing them more frequently."
And a BBC governors' spokeswoman added: "Chris Moyles would be subject to editorial guidelines, which he would have to adhere to."
Throughout his radio career, former pop star and media savvy Jonathan King and even former Red Dragon jock Bobby McVay supplemented their incomes with the same practice - it's called production and good production brings results. Mon 18 Dec 2006

Did Nick Robinson upset The Pres?
The brilliant news dismemberer Nick Robinson this evening achieved 95 comments in a little over six hours after an eyeballing from George Dubya Bush. Click here for to see the major big up for Robbo on the BBC website and view the press conference question. Nick's "you're still in denial" question to possibly the most important bloke in theworld is only available in democracies. Nick Robinson for Prime Minister. Thur 7 Dec 2006

We back Kerrang!
After much deliberation on who should be awarded the new South Wales FM radio licence we give our support to the EMAP Kerrang! bid. (Licence application's must be in by next Wednesday).
Time and again Kerrang! have shown through their commercial support and sponsorship of loss making tours that they do wish to help new music come through, and actively encourage it.
While Kerrang! the mag is mainly a metal head's read, the creative indie alternative scene calls on numerous other related new music genres we hope they'd include. EMAP while being a massive corporate entity makes an exciting radio station in Wolverhampton which is not only on the edge, but with Tim Shaw's Asylum it's well and truly with it's head stuck down the toilet in a mixture of motions (errrrrr .... quide liderally). While not really being a fan of sh*t like that - any organisation that backs the promotion of new music and new artists deserves a shot in South Wales.
Alas there will be no local bidder offering to support new music.
We're over catered for in music and chat for the over 50's and over 30's, our pop stations are bland and useless and the other indie bid from GCap for Xfm (albeit supported by The Stereos & The Manics) is just inferior. Check the Kerrang playlist here, it includes Automatic, Juliette & The Licks, Paramore, Senses Fail, Bloc Party, Babyshambles, U2, Fratellis, Razorlight, Killrs, Panic At The Disco, Fall Out Boy, Zutons, Trivium, Wolfmother, Cooper Temple Clause, Chris Cornell, Tenacious D.
Go get 'em Kerpow! Thur 7 Dec 2006

Brand - still addicted to heroin or an arse?
Comedian Russell Brand has made a hoax call to police during a live stage show.
The 31-year-old rang Kent Police CID about the theft of a statue he had read about in a local paper.
The conversation, during which he gave a false name, is reported to have been piped to a sell-out crowd at Tunbridge Wells' Assembly Hall Theatre by loudspeaker.
A police source said: "He was on stage. Apparently he used a local paper as a feature of his stage act. There was an article about the theft of a statue in a park. It had the number to ring on the bottom. The number goes into the CID office at Tonbridge police station."
He said the call lasted a matter of seconds before Brand hung up.
The source added: "The officer knew straight away it wasn't a genuine call so he wasn't too perturbed about it. He didn't waste any time on it."
A Kent Police spokeswoman said: "The officer who took the call commented on the background laughter and quickly worked out from what was being said that it was someone joking before the call ended abruptly. In this case the call did not give cause for concern, but people who make hoax or prank calls can be fined £80 and if a call is malicious further action could be taken."
The source said officers had spoken to Brand's people about the incident.
The Victorian statue, known as the Dancing Girl, was stolen from a temple in Tunbridge Wells' Dunorlan Park in October.
There is a reward of up to £1,500 for information leading to its recovery and the arrest and conviction of the thief. Thur 7 Dec 2006

Listen to Virgin? It's Madness
Former Madness frontman Suggs is the new star of Virgin Radio after getting a daily slot on the station.
The 45-year-old has been given a two-hour afternoon show as part of a wider reshuffle.
Suggs, real name Graham McPherson, already has a Saturday night slot on Virgin which he will continue to host.
He takes over from Neil Francis, who has been doing the afternoon show for three years and stays at the station as a cover DJ.
Other changes include Ben Jones' move from the 7pm to Drivetime and Geoff Lloyd at 8pm instead of 10pm.
Virgin Radio programme director Paul Jackson said: "Having a national treasure like Suggs as a daytime DJ is a massive coup for Virgin Radio.
"Suggs has proved to be one of the most popular DJs on UK radio and our listeners simply can't get enough of him." Thur 7 Dec 2006

Zane's on holiday - great !
BBC Radio 1 evening show presenter Zane Lowe will be covered by special guest presenters for his programmes in the new year when he takes time off. Coldplay's lead singer Chris Martin will round off the all-star line up by hosting the show on January 18th 2007.
For the first three weeks of January 2007 Zane's show will be hosted by some of the biggest names from the UK music world. They include Ricky from Kaiser Chiefs, The Streets aka Mike Skinner, Snow Patrol and Kelly Osbourne.
The line-up in full is:
2 January – Ricky & Nick from Kaiser Chiefs
3 January – Editors
4 January – The Young Knives
8 January – The Streets aka Mike Skinner
9 January – The Automatic
10 January – Snow Patrol
11 January – Kelly Osbourne
15 January – Jamie T
16 January – The View
17 January – The Zutons
18 January – Chris Martin
The second and third week will be co-hosts with Radio 1 DJ Nihal. Wed 6 Dec 2006

Radio 2's music mastermind retires
Colin Martin, the man responsible for the music selection at BBC Radio 2 is to leave the station after six years in charge. He is known for introducing new artists such as Norah Jones, KT Tunstall, Amy Winehouse and James Blunt to the playlist.
The Guardian reports Colin will retire to spend more time with his family.
He described the role to the newspaper as the "biggest in music radio" and said over the past six years Radio 2's output had been transformed from its old "pipe and slippers" image. Wed 6 Dec 2006

Radio Academy Hall of Fame admissions ...
Simon Mayo, Jimmy Saville and Radio 4's Anna Raeburn were among 16 names added to the Radio Academy's Hall of Fame at the organisation's Patrons' Lunch, which took place in London yesterday afternoon.
Radio 2's Sounds of the Sixties host Brian Matthew was also honoured, along with the late comedienne Linda Smith and legendary BBC sports presenter Eamonn Andrews.
Also admitted to the Hall of Fame this week were Hattie Jacques, Jimmy Clitheroe, Al Read, Barry Alldis, Betty Marsden, John Timpson, Peter Brough and Archie Andrews, Peter Jones, Tony Windsor and Pete Murray.
Jimmy had to wear something special to the event, as he ignored the dress code and turned up in a bright green and silver shell suit. "I haven't worn this suit for 22 years," he said. "You need something special for a day like today." Wed 6 Dec 2006

and South Wales new radio station will be ...
At least nine of the radio industry's big players, including GCap, GMG and UTV, are gearing up for one final drive to secure the last analogue licence being advertised by Ofcom.
The deadline for the South Wales licence, which will cover Cardiff and Swansea and a total survey area of 950,000 adults, is next Tuesday (12 December) and nine groups have already stated their intentions to Media Week.
Emap, which revealed last month it would be submitting a bid with its Kerrang! format, is set to face direct competition from GCap, which is hoping to win the licence with an Xfm format.
The Guardian Media Group's radio division, which started out with Real Radio in South Wales in 2001, is submitting an application for an over-50s station, sparking further speculation that it is gearing up to buy Saga Radio, which is thought to be up for sale.
GMG will be bidding with an "easy-listening melodic music service" called Variety, with 70% of the playlist to include music from before the 1970s.
Other bidders include CanWest; UTV with speech format; All Talk FM; Absolute Radio's Jack FM; and Town and Country Broadcasting, headed by Virgin Radio's former business development director Jason Bryant.
However, both CN Radio and Chrysalis, which was recently prevented from expanding its Heart brand after GCap sold two Century stations to GMG in a private sale, have ruled out bids.
So who's who in this bevy of candidates - well Xfm are GCap run Red Dragon, Kerrang! are EMAP who also run Bristol's KISS, GMG are Real Radio, Ulster TV are Swansea Sound, Town & Country are Swansea Bay Radio & Bridge FM, Absolute is former Capital FM boss Clive Dickens ...
different music policies - similar computers - here's 2xs. Tue 5 Dec 2006

UBC unveils radio's 'killer application'
Radio listeners will soon be able to buy songs as soon as they hear them, at the touch of a button, digital technology developers UBC Media have announced. UBC's new system will be available nationwide from May and will allow users to buy tracks as they are broadcast by digital radio stations and download them to mobile devices such as digital radio enabled mobile phones. Mon 4 Dec 2006

Radiohead on Radio Three
A classical piece by Radiohead musician Jonny Greenwood has been voted the orchestral commission of the year by BBC Radio 3 listeners. Popcorn Superhet Receiver, named after a type of radio, won the only one of the 12 categories chosen by the public British Composers Awards. Mon 4 Dec 2006

GCap prepares to launch jazz station
GCap is preparing to launch its own jazz station on Christmas Day, operating as a sister station to Classic FM. The Jazz will launch on DAB digital radio less than a month after the Guardian Media Group applied to change the format of its Smooth station (formerly Jazz FM) from its original jazz remit. Mon 4 Dec 2006

Viking keeps the prize money
The four people accused of cheating on the Viking FM Mystery Voices competition will not face criminal charges, but the station will keep the 22 thousand pounds prize money because the radio station believes its terms and conditions were breached.
A station employee, a police officer and two are members of North Yorkshire Police support staff were bailed in September 2006 pending further inquiries into allegations about the jackpot. Now all charges have been dropped, but the prize money has been forfeited and Viking plans to offer it in another competition.
Mike Bawden, Viking FM managing director told The Press: "After a detailed investigation by North Yorkshire Police, carried out with the full support of this radio station, we are satisfied that a considerable doubt remains that our competition terms and conditions were not fully complied with.
"We strongly believe it is in the interests of our listeners and the integrity of the station that any forfeited prize money will be made available to the listening public in a free-to-enter competition."
North Yorkshire Police spokesman Ron Johnson told The Press: "The file was submitted to the Crown Prosecution Service and after due consideration the decision has been made to take no further action in respect of criminal proceedings against any of the four people involved." Mon 4 Dec 2006

Tough ad market hits GCap profits
GCap Media has reported that underlying profits before tax fell to £8.4m in the six months to the end of September, down 32 per cent on £12.4m a year earlier. The radio group continues to suffer from a tough advertising market as it reprted revenues were down 8.4 per cent year on year to £102.2m. Mon 4 Dec 2006

Ofcom looks to life after FM
Ofcom has signalled the eventual demise of FM radio after concluding that other services such as mobile television could make more efficient use of the spectrum. In a discussion document on the future of radio, Ofcom said that it would also look at whether AM spectrum could be released for other uses. Mon 27 Nov 2006

Channel 4 to champion risk-taking radio
Andy Duncan, Channel 4's chief executive, has promised to bring its "risk-taking approach to TV to radio" as he called on broadcasters to cater for the age group he branded "Generation Lost". "Channel 4's investment in distinctive content and an enhanced listening experience will help commercial radio tackle the listening gap with the BBC," Mr Duncan said. The Channel 4 boss was speaking at the Radio Academy's Radio at the Edge conference. Mon 27 Nov 2006

Law change enables MP3 with low power FM transmitters
Ofcom has announced that the use of certain low power FM transmitters, which wirelessly connect MP3 players and other personal audio devices to radios and in-car entertainment systems, will be legal for use in the UK from 8 December 2006. Mon 27 Nov 2006

Local Radio Company rasies £3m
The Local Radio Company has raised almost £3m with a new share placing as it sought to reduce its debt and continue on its acquisition trail. TLRC chief executive, Richard Wheatly, said he was "delighted" with the fact the 28-station group had attracted a new investor in Hallwood Investments Limited for a major chunk of the 15.8m new shares. Mon 27 Nov 2006

Mumbling's big in Bolton
Radio One presenter Sara Cox has picked up an honorary degree from the University of Bolton.
She was given a doctorate for her contributions to broadcasting.
Sara's proud parents watched from the audience with her daughter, Lola, as she was presented with her certificate by the University Vice-Chancellor, Dr George Holme, at the winter degree ceremony, held at Bolton's Victoria Hall.
Sara, a former pupil at Canon Slade School in the town, said: "I'm really proud to be receiving this award. I didn't go to university, I only got as far as my A-levels.
"But there are a lot of students here who have worked really hard for their awards."
She added: "I love coming home to Bolton. I always look forward to driving around Little Lever, looking at the spots where I grew up - where I learnt to ride my bike without stabilisers, or where I used to meet up with boys."
Sara Cox lived up to her name famously one morning whilst handing over to Simon Mayo when she asked him "how big's your willy?". BBC, big balls and .. broadcasting unsurpassed. Sun 26 Nov 2006

Zimmerman cometh
Bob Dylan's American radio show will be heard in the UK for the first time as BBC Radio 2 and 6 Music get ready to re-broadcast the music legend's critically acclaimed XM Satellite Radio show.
Bob Dylan started his radio broadcasting career in May 2006 with a weekly radio show on XM Satellite Radio in the US.
Both Radio 2 and 6 Music will broadcast the programmes throughout 2007.
Radio 2 will offer a sneak preview, broadcasting six of the shows over the Christmas period starting on Saturday 23 December running through to Thursday 28 December 2006. 6 Music will broadcast the shows starting on 31 December 2006 at 9pm and then every Friday night from the 12 January 2007 at 9pm.
"A lot of my own songs have been played on the radio, but this is the first time I've ever been on the other side of the mic," said Dylan of his shows.
Theme Time Radio Hour With Your Host Bob Dylan features an eclectic mix of music hand-selected by Dylan. The radio shows also includes interviews and commentary on music and other topics.
Lesley Douglas, Controller Radio 2 and 6 Music, says: "Bob Dylan is a legendary figure and I'm sure these shows will be of great interest to our audience. It'll be fascinating to hear who his favourite artists are and who has influenced him throughout his career."
Themes for the show include weather with a track list that includes A Place In The Sun sung in Italian by Stevie Wonder, The Wind Cries Mary by Jimi Hendrix and Keep On The Sunny Side by The Carter Family.
Song list themes for other shows include cars, dance, police, and whiskey.
Bob Dylan is one of the world's most popular and acclaimed songwriters, musicians and performers, having sold nearly 100 million albums and performed thousands of shows around the world in a career spanning five decades.
His newest album, Modern Times, has already sold more than two million copies, reaching the number one slot in 13 countries. Both Uncut and Mojo magazines recently named Bob Dylan "Man Of The Year".
He wrote and recorded Things Have Changed for the 2000 film Wonder Boys, for which he received both the Academy Award and Golden Globe.
The first volume of his memoirs, Chronicles, was one of the most acclaimed and best-selling non-fiction works of 2004, and last year's No Direction Home film, directed by Martin Scorsese, captivated audiences worldwide as it documented Dylan's early career and rise to fame. The film won a Peabody Award in 2006. Wed 22 Nov 2006

Rupert Murdoch buys ITV
Sir Richard Branson - "Britain is no longer a democracy"
Unthinkable when Rupert Murdoch bought The Sun in 1969 that he, the man who unleashed the Page Three girl onthe world, would be in charge of Britain's second most important televisual broadcaster.
Watching ITN tonight, way down the running order just before tomorrow's papers was perhaps the biggest story facing all us British Island dwellers - the sale of ITV to Rupert Murdoch.
Bemusing it is to see Sir Richard Branson saying Great Britain is no longer a democracy, News Corporation will choose the next Prime Minister.
In other words Rupert Murdoch will choose our next leader just as he did with Maggie, Major and our Tone.
How can Murdoch, the man who owns myspace do this? Through his editorial control of The Sun, The Times, the newspaper empire - the medium of SKY TV and now ITV.
Is it just sour grapes on Branson's behalf?
Something certainly went wrong for Branson with Blair.
Before New 'Labour?' were elected it was all smiles and hope for the post Tory Thatcher & Major years, and Richard Branson seemed to be one of Tony Blair's biggest fans.
To take one example Camelot's hold on The National Lottery seemed to be slipping, Branson's promise was to give all profits to charity - how could he be denied?
Well he was, and after he'd virtually won.
After eighteen years of me (greed) first Tory-ism, New Labour was riding the crest of the wave.
Here we are ten years later, ten years after the Socialist dream became reality and it's all going wrong, not in 'Spinland' but in the real world.
Nothing seems to be working properly.
Yet as the absence of the King's new clothes becomes ever more apparent what can be going on? What is it so important for Tony Blair to do before he leaves our highest public office?
Is this going to be a kind of 'scorched earth' year? Something akin to John Major's last year in power characterised best by a botched privatisation of British Railways was rushed through before his imminent defeat at the 1997 general election.
Are we ready for more unthinkable's to happen?
There's another six months to find out.
Next May there could be Welsh Nationalists in charge of The Welsh Assembly and Scottish Nationalists in charge in Scotland.
The break up of the United Kingdom while our army is in Iraq and Afghanistan?
Orwell must be turning in his grave with a speeding fine. Tue 21 Nov 2006
guardian.co.uk/uklatest Tue 21 Nov 2006
marketwatch.com Sun 30 Jul 2006

Britain's biggest hits ever QED
Here's the updated sales figures for the UK's best selling albums ever compiled by the Official Charts company for cable channel VH1.

UK TOP 10 SELLING ALBUMS
1. Queen, Greatest Hits (5,407,587)
2. The Beatles, Sgt Pepper (4,803,292)
3. Oasis, What's The Story Morning Glory (4,304,504)
4. Dire Straits, Brothers In Arms (3,946,931)
5. Abba, Gold Greatest Hits (3,932,316)
6. Pink Floyd, The Dark Side of The Moon (3,759,958)
7. Queen, Greatest Hits II (3,631,321)
8. Michael Jackson, Thriller (3,570,250)
9. Michael Jackson, Bad (3,549,950)
10. Madonna, The Immaculate Collection (3,364,785)

Queen's Greatest Hits, first released in 1981, has sold 5,407,587 copies - 60,000 more than its nearest rival, the Beatles' Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band.
Pop star Robbie Williams has the most albums in the chart with six.
But the Rolling Stones, Sting, the Sex Pistols and Bob Dylan are among those without a single entry to their names.
Mancunian rockers Oasis, singer Michael Jackson and Canadian star Celine Dion each have three entries in the chart, which includes compilations and original soundtracks.
Jason Donovan - currently appearing in ITV1's I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! - has the country's 100th best seller with his 1989 debut, 10 Good Reasons.
Queen are the only band in the chart to sell more than five million albums.
Michael Jackson's Thriller, meanwhile - the biggest selling album of all time according to the Guinness Book of Records - ranks as the UK's eighth most popular release.
Relative newcomers James Blunt and David Gray appear at 19 and 20 respectively, while Dido's first and second albums chart at 15 and 22.
Madonna is the highest ranked solo female, however, with her Immaculate Collection just making the Top 10 in tenth place.
Positions have been determined by basing sales on data ranging from current sales figures to handwritten till receipts from the 1950s.
Blur bass player Alex James will host a rundown of the chart on VH1 on Saturday. Thur 16 Nov 2006

Wacko contributes to global warming
Fans paid hundreds of pounds to see Michael Jackson's return at The World Mucis Awards in Earl's Court. A return that saw Jacko tribute Chris Brown doing Thriller and a lookalike fan doing the dance moves in the rafters. Jacko did eventually appear .. to accept the Jonathan King / Gary Glitter Lifeime Achievement Award, said a few thank you's and dissappeared. Until when a fifty strong children's quoir appeared he returned to two lines from his 1985 Bandaid copy 'We Are The World'. Plenty of emissions at Earl's Court then .... Thur 16 Nov 2006

No Smooth ride for GMG
Emap Radio's Magic plans to lodge an objection with Ofcom over an application from the Guardian Media Group to change its London station Smooth 102.2's format.
GMG wants to switch the station from its current output, which is largely jazz, soul, blues and R'n'B, to an easy-listening station for the over-50s. But Magic bosses are unhappy at the request, claiming the proposed station would be too similar to its own output.
Mike Phillips, Emap Radio's head of regulatory affairs, said: "Our main concerns are that there would be a reduction of choice in the marketplace due to audience overlap with other services.
"It would also deprive listeners of the jazz radio service, which was the original promise of performance."
The closing date for responses to the consultation is this Friday. Wed 15 Nov 2006

BBC Solent face prosecution for age-ism?
The BBC has been accused of age-ism after a leaked memo from BBC Radio Solent revealed that phone-in presenters at the station should avoid putting callers on-air who sound too old.
Mia Costello, managing editor of BBC Radio Solent, told her broadcasters: 'I don't want to hear really elderly voices.'
The memo instructed presenters to: "Only talk about things that are positive and appealing to people in this age range. Only do caller round-ups about people in this age range."
It said it was important that the output sounded "lively" and "engaging" and appealed to the "young at heart" the memo continued.
A BBC spokesman hit back by saying: "We do value our older listeners and it doesn't matter if you're 45 or 105."
As the gentle and softly spoken former boss of Capital FM Richard Park pointed out on Matthew's Wright Stuff this morning, BBC Solent's audience is pretty well exclusively made up of people from that age range. Will Victor Meldew return to launch an action against the Corporation for committing age-ism? Wed 15 Nov 2006

Brand new axed
Russell Brand's MTV show has been axed, it has been announced.
Brand presented weekly music and showbiz programme One Leicester Square.
The New Year's Eve special will be the last episode.
"It is always a difficult decision to end any show but Russell and the team have done a fantastic job and everyone at MTV is very proud that we were the first company to recognise his unique and exuberant talents," a spokesman said.
Former heroin addict Brand was originally sacked by MTV bosses for turning up to work the day after the September 11 attacks dressed as Osama Bin Laden.
They hired him again to front One Leicester Square in April this year.
Brand recently landed his own Saturday night show on Radio 2.
He previously hosted a programme on BBC 6 Music and was credited with boosting the digital station's audience by 40%.
MTV said it wanted to focus on producing more 'quality' entertainment series in the mould of Totally Boyband, Virgin Diaries and Pimp My Ride UK. Tue 14 Nov 2006

Emap wins new FM licence for Liverpool
Ofcom has awarded the new FM local commercial radio licence for Liverpool to CityTalk. CityTalk will provide 24 hours a day of speech programming including news, sport, features, documentaries, advice, phone-ins, studio discussions and special flagship programs on a weekly or monthly basis. CityTalk is wholly-owned by EMAP Radio Limited. Sun 12 Nov 2006
Looks like EMAP's Kerrang! must be favourite for the new South Wales licence ....

Charts count 'approved bootlegs'
Keane charted earlier this month, partly because of a live download
Songs recorded at gigs and sold legally to fans as they head home have become eligible for the UK music charts.
Acts such as The Feeling have signed up with production company Concert Live to counter bootlegging by offering CDs and downloads once acts leave the stage.
The process was used on a live version of Keane's recent single Nothing in My Way, contributing to a top 10 place.
The Official UK Charts Company (OCC) said it was "monitoring the progress" of this "relatively new" approach.
"Concert-goers have the ability to purchase digitally the latest single by the band they have gone to see and also buy a CD recording of the gig they have just attended," director Omar Maskatiya told the BBC News website.
This singles format had been made eligible for the chart and if record labels and companies such as Concert Live agreed, "then obviously we are in a position to include albums", he added.
We have to be very, very sure that what we do is in line with expectations
One of the entrepreneurs behind Concert Live, James Perkins, described the process as a form of "legitimate bootlegging".
He said he was aiming to make the purchase of such souvenirs the norm as "something fans can expect when they come into gigs".
And each group received a share of the revenue generated, ensuring the money was being taken from bootleggers and put back "into the artists' pocket", he said.
Describing how the process worked in the case of Keane, Mr Perkins said: "We can sell pre-paid download cards with the live single and do an exclusive version, which will enable you to clock a single sale right there and then at the venue.
"We generate a unique code for each person who's buying a song and then we trace it back as well.
Recent gigs by The Feeling are among the material being recorded
"Obviously the credibility of the official chart is the most important thing - the integrity of that and all the foundations that it's been built on. So we have to be very, very sure that what we do is in line with expectations."
That particular single had been priced at 89p, with the full set retailing at £15, he added.
Last month singer Ricky Ross said his band, Deacon Blue, had signed up with the company to produce "a CD that we would be proud of".
"Unlike an unofficial bootleg, the recording quality with these guys is exceptional, close to a retail live album, and we're sure our fans will love the concept." Sun 12 Nov 2006

Cosmetic giant Rimmel's biggest ever dosh dole out ...
Rimmel London is running a 13-month, £450,000 campaign with Emap's Kiss 100 - the cosmetic brand's longest ever radio sponsorship deal.
The campaign, brokered by OMD and map2, begins on 6 November with a promotion by Rimmel London in the Kiss 100 breakfast show. Listeners to Robin Banks' show will have the chance to win VIP packages to top London nightclubs as well as luxury goodie bags.
The activity will continue on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays with Rimmel London sponsoring the Kiss 100 'What's On?' guide for London, while the brand will also have a presence at the station's twice-monthly nighclub residencies.
Rimmel will be giving away prizes throughout the campaign, including, exclusive makeovers and London nightclub tickets.
Natalie Moon, UK marketing manager, Rimmel London, said: "We are excited to be working with Kiss 100 on our longest ever radio sponsorship deal. The high profile Rimmel London has, with Kate Moss as our face, makes the association with Kiss 100 and their young urban listeners the perfect partnership." Sun 12 Nov 2006

BBC hits online listening high
On demand listening to BBC Radio on the internet has reached record levels, with 12.5 million requests logged in September 2006, according to the BBC's latest monthly statistics. The Archers (BBC Radio 4) was the most popular on demand programme (listened to after broadcast) on the BBC Radio Player, with 682,304 listens over the month. Chris Moyles (BBC Radio 1) received 503,088 requests, taking second place. Sun 12 Nov 2006

Commercial Radio loves the BBC
Commercial Radio body The RadioCentre has warned that the new BBC iPlayer heralds an anti-competitive broadcasting landscape.
They have criticised the scope of the BBC’s plans to deliver on-demand content, as part of its submission to Ofcom’s Market Impact Assessment of BBC Management’s iPlayer proposals.
Whilst accepting that the BBC should play a role in introducing consumers to new means of receiving content, the RadioCentre has cautioned against gifting the BBC a blank canvas with which to dominate the future of content delivery. Whilst agreeing that consumers should be able to download content on a range of platforms, the RadioCentre has called for a debate about the viability of opening up the internet-based iPlayer to commercial broadcasters. This echoes recent calls by the British Internet Publisher’s Alliance (BIPA) for commercial broadcasters to have access to the iPlayer’s Electronic Programme Guide, in order to ensure that consumers are not locked into a BBC-only world.
The RadioCentre has also warned that the iPlayer is likely to affect adversely commercial broadcasters’ ability to monetise their own content. It proposes that the availability of free on-demand content be limited, with access beyond a seven-day window granted on a paid-for basis only. The RadioCentre is additionally concerned that by allowing the BBC to aggregate content within genre, the iPlayer could lead to the creation of pseudo channels, generating unfair competition for specialist Commercial Radio services.
RadioCentre Chief Executive Andrew Harrison said: “It is accepted by Government, Parliament, regulators and industry that a pluralistic broadcasting ecology is essential to any democracy. Whilst the iPlayer represents a tremendous opportunity for enhanced access to BBC content, it could lead to some consumers accessing little else. They would be better served by an iPlayer which opened a world of ideas and views beyond just that of the BBC. We believe that further work needs to be done to ensure that the BBC’s financial strength and ability to develop services across a range of complementary platforms does not give it an unfair advantage as broadcasters explore alternatives to traditional linear programming.”
Harrison has also written to BBC Chairman Michael Grade with his thoughts about the way in which this inaugural Public Value Test (PVT) has been conducted. The PVT process was designed to improve transparency and accountability about new service proposals, but Harrison expressed his concern that the lack of detail provided by BBC Management had made the submission of meaningful and evidence-based responses more difficult. In addition, Harrison recommended that stakeholders be given more time to respond to future PVT consultations. Sun 12 Nov 2006