Pick at the pops: 10 March 2008

Our weekly round-up of the weird and wonderful world of pop music...

The record industry is dying on its feet, but why? Is it Robbie Williams going on strike at EMI? (Clue: No). Is it the fact it’s been almost three years and still there’s no new Charlotte Church album? (Clue: Hmmm. Don’t think so). Ooh, is it all these artists giving their music away for free on the internet? You know, like Radiohead and now The Charlatans? (Clue: Go on then).

Yes, it’s the new trend sweeping the… erm, bands that have already made so much money they can afford to give away their records for nada. But the most telling news came this week with (presumably) super-rich Hollywood star Joaquin Phoenix trumpeting the joys of The Charlatans’ new giveaway LP You Cross My Path. “Holy f***ing shit,” enthused the Wackster. “The Charlatans record is mega.” You just know he never would have heard of the band if it wasn’t a freebie – and if La La Land billionaires aren’t shelling out for records, how can the rest of us be expected to?

And while we’re getting all political, thoughts turn to Bjork, who’s been excelling herself on the world stage. The Icelandic avant-pop Tinkerbell shocked Shanghai gig-goers just the other day by shouting “Tibet! Tibet!” at the end of ‘Declare Independence’, touching something of a sore point. This followed a similar dedication to Kosovo at her Tokyo gig, which was picked up by organisers of Serbian festival EXIT, who promptly banned our heroine from her proposed slot there. Bjork pouted, “I’m not a politician” - then yelled “Freedom for Tooting!” before being restrained by her bodyguards. Possibly.

Finally some good news, folks. The shining template for all Britney shenanigans is back – yes, Whitney Houston is set to release a new album later this year! Here’s her label boss, BMG supremo Clive Davis: “We’re not going to compromise who she is to fit into today’s hip-hop radio market. The public want Whitney material.” Whitters is working with Akon and Will.i.am of, er, today’s hip-hop radio market fame.

Matthew Horton

Picture: PA Photos/Rex Features

• 03/03/2008: Keef disses Led Zep >>
• 25/02/2008: Mark Owen gives KT Tunstall his last quid >>
• 18/02/2008: Aretha or Tina - just who is the Queen of Soul? >>
• 11/02/2008: We mourn the Spice Girls - again >>
• 04/02/2008: Winehouse and Spears - will the madness end? >>
• 28/01/2008: Oh no! Simply Red and UB40 have split up! >>
• 21/01/2008: Annie Lennox and The Verve won't pave streets >>
• 14/01/2008: Robbie and Coldplay turn on EMI >>
• 07/01/2008: Out with the old, in with the new >>
• 2007 archive >>
• 2006 archive >>