January 2004
- Features: Finnalert at Midem
- Business
- Awards
- Live news
- Behind the numbers / Behind the scenes
Finns give Bitch Alert and bring out Texas Faggot at Midem
This year will see an enthusiastic horde of Finnish companies (a record number ever) flooding the aisles at Midem. Their product range is equally as impressive: among others, EXOGENIC RECORDS presents the exploding trance of Texas Faggot with new EP titled Para Moncler and POPLANDIA MUSIC will let loose the rriot rock trio Bitch Alert. Meanwhile, Rubato Music introduces a new value chain for business strategy where mobile technology and music converge and benefit each other. The world leader in mobile phones, Nokia will be joining the Finland stand to present their new mobile radio innovation. Click here for detailed information on all the Finnish delegates at the Music Export Finland stand R35.11.
Your taste buds will be in for a treat at the infamous Finnish (Black) Monday Party on 26 January. Email for your invitation.
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BUSINESS
MUSIC MAKERS’ highly acclaimed a cappella group Rajaton finalised a management contract with the German Konzertagentur Erika Esslinger for booking and promotion in the GSA area. Having sold nearly platinum in Finland with their Christmas album, the ensemble will demonstrate their unique vocal talents touring Germany in May and later in Canada, United States, Ireland and Japan. Tour dates>>>
WARNER/CHAPPELL’S instrumental rockers Laika and the Cosmonauts, widely known for their compositions in films such as Flipper and LA Without a Map as well supporting Ministry’s Filth Pig tour, are releasing their first new studio album in seven years. Local Warming will see the daylight mid-January in USA & Canada and Finland. The album is by far the band’s most rocking record, keeping up the high musical standards and manifesting Laika´s artistic ambition and constant evolution. Another WARNER/CHAPPELL stable jewel, retro-poppers The Crash, are currently touring in Germany together with Reamonn. Tour dates>>>. Along with the hilarious new video Still Alive rotated on MTV Nordic, The Crash’s melodic hit single Star can be heard on eBays German TV campaign. The German release for the new album Melodrama (WEA Germany) is set for March.
The funloving STUPIDO RECORDS have a birthday party bash coming up at the legendary Tavastia & Semifinal clubs in Helsinki. The seminal label celebrates its 15th year on the forefront of Helsinki Citys unique soundscape. So pack your party gear and head for Helsinki on March 13 for some wild grooves and tight rocking. Current STUPIDO releases include eagerly awaited follow-up albums for the space guitar twanglers Hypnomen and the urban dubmeisters Giant Robot. Treeball (National Treasure) and Kumikameli (Kinahmo) albums are both due out in February. Stupidos raging party rockers Boomhauer will be touring in Germany and Switzerland in March and April. Tour info>>>
RinneRadio of ROCKADILLO RECORDS is in ever growing demand for international licensing deals, most recent being Frances Le Maquis and Italys GDM Records whose compilations have caught the RinneRadio fever. RinneRadios fans should be delighted to hear that the bands fresh album Pan will be out in February in the Nordic countries and will be presented in Midem.
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AWARDS
The progressive fusion group XL, featuring Jarmo Saari, Arttu Takalo, Tomi Salesvuo, Tuure Koski and DJ Bunuel, is one of the five artists nominated for Finnish Jazz Emma 2004 (a domestic Grammy) for the recently released Visual album on Pohjola Records/Rockadillo Records.
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LIVE
The Batman of processed accordion Kimmo Pohjonen and sampling whiz Samuli Kosminen confuse the Benelux audience January 23 February 1. The Kluster duo will present a totally new repertoire plus some solo numbers and groundbreaking visuals. Tour info>>>
Finnish heavy metal is as popular as ever in Japan. Sonata Arctica supports Iron Maiden on their Dance of Death tour in Osaka and Tokyo. Tour info>>>
Jazz standard book is getting an unprecedented humorous reading when the jazz ambassadors Trio Töykeät tour in South East Asia. The tour follows the release of the trio’s latest album High Standards, their first effort on the renowned BLUE NOTE label. Tour info>>>
The recent recipients of the MTV Europe Best Nordic Act Award The Rasmus have toured relentessly over the past year. January 2331 they will play in the UK, France, the Benelux and Italy. Tour info>>>
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Behind the numbers: Finngalore! The ten best-selling albums of 2003 in Finland were all local repertoire! A true mixture of youth and experience: Pikku G, the 16-year-old rapper phenomenon, sold quadruple platinum of debut Räjähdysvaara. Veteran rockers Yö took second place with their 15th album Rakkaus on lumivalkoinen and sales of 93,000 copies. The best English-language album was The Rasmus international breakthrough Dead Letters selling 47,000 copies in ninth place. Evanesences Fallen narrowly edged Metallicas St. Anger as the best-selling foreign album with 36,000 copies sold.
Behind the scenes: The finals of the first Finnish series of Idols became a battle of the forklift drivers - the job of both finalists Ms. Hanna Pakarinen and Mr. Jani Wickholm before and during the talent competition. Voters chose 22-year-old Hanna as the better singer of the two, and she quit her job soon after. Thanks to the show, Finnish A&R managers now know which profession to survey for fresh talent.