Retail joy as National Album Day makes biggest impact yet
National Album Day’s 2020 edition has been celebrated as the most successful yet, with the BPI’s Geoff Taylor leading the celebrations.
Taylor said the team behind the event has “taken it to the next level” as National Album Day releases claimed three places in the albums Top 20 and contributed to a 24% lift in sales for Saturday, October 10.
National Album Day ambassador, Toyah Willcox, said: “It has been a huge privilege to be a NAD ambassador this year. Celebrating the music of the ’80s, a decade that is loved by generation after generation. The art in making an entire album is a journey the artist wants to take the audience on, personally I have treated all my albums as an audio journey. This year’s re-releases encouraged music lovers to buy timeless music. I like to think NAD has also encouraged new up-coming artists to think about making full albums as their right of expression, thus keeping the high street retailers stocked and trading in decades to come. It has been a really lovely experience in a crazy year!”
• Continue reading at Music Week.
Toyah is interviewed in the latest issue of Music Week magazine, in their regular feature, The Aftershow.
The new issue of Music Week is out now as we welcome the Kanneh-Masons to our cover.
Elsewhere, we speak to Blue Raincoat Music’s Jeremy Lascelles and Robin Millar about their bold relaunch of Chrysalis Records as a frontline label. With a little help from Laura Marling, the duo take us inside their big plans for the future…
Plus, we speak to Senbla CEO Ollie Rosenblatt about some big festival news and National Album Day organiser Megan Page reveals the exclusive releases heading our way for the annual celebration of the LP.
Elite songwriter Sarah Hudson recalls the making of Dua Lipa’s smash single Physical in Hitmakers, while National Album Day ambassador Toyah Willcox reflects on her life and times in the music business in The Aftershow…
• Visit Music Week’s website for ordering info.
‘It’s going to be a huge reunion’: Bob Harris reveals live line-up for Old Grey Whistle Test
BBC Music is reviving The Old Grey Whistle Test for a one-off live special at 9pm tonight (February 23) on BBC Four. The revival marks 30 years since the legendary music TV show ended – it ran from 1971 to 1988 – and former host Bob Harris will be back at the helm.
Harris presented the show with that famous “whispering” delivery from 1972-78 and his spell included UK TV firsts including the performance from Bob Marley & The Wailers. Forty-six years since he first hosted, Harris will be back for the live three-hour special, which has generated huge excitement among music fans of a certain age.
“I know, it feels very exciting at this end too – the interest has been absolutely incredible,” the Radio 2 presenter told Music Week.
• Continue reading at Music Week. NB: Toyah will feature in a live interview having just come off stage from a performance of Jubilee at Lyric Hammersmith – Further info at toyahwillcox.com.
BBC Four is set to revive the classic TV show Pop Quiz for two Christmas specials in celebration of ’80s pop music.
Original presenter Mike Read is set to host alongside teams of competing ’80s pop stars.
Guests will include Toyah Willcox, Nick Heyward (Haircut 100), Carol Decker (T’Pau), Tom Bailey (Thompson Twins), Andy McCluskey (OMD), Steve Norman (Spandau Ballet), David Grant (Linx), Cheryl Baker and Jay Aston (Bucks Fizz), Ranking Roger (The Beat), Mari Wilson and Lee John (Imagination).
“I’m delighted to be working with a great BBC team to bring back the classic TV series Pop Quiz,” said Read. “Once again the brows of the famous will be furrowed, lips pursed and eyes narrowed as we test their music knowledge, watch some great classic footage and have some fun along the way.”
• Continue reading at Music Week.
