Post by Teddy Bear on Mar 8, 2009 1:01:25 GMT
The article below connects the BBC overcoverage and free publicity given to the band U2, with the fact that the former Radio 2 Controller - Leslie Douglas, who was forced to resign following the Ross and Brand scandal, is now working for Universal Music, the band's record company.
The BBC claims that Douglas was not involved with negotiations during her tenure. We're to believe it's a simple coincidence.
When you read the amount of promotion the BBC is doing for this band, way beyond their remit, one has to wonder why. Coincidence or not - it stinks whichever way you look at it.
The BBC claims that Douglas was not involved with negotiations during her tenure. We're to believe it's a simple coincidence.
When you read the amount of promotion the BBC is doing for this band, way beyond their remit, one has to wonder why. Coincidence or not - it stinks whichever way you look at it.
U2, the BBC and job for radio boss who left over Ross
By Paul Revoir
Last updated at 2:01 PM on 07th March 2009
The row over the BBC's blanket coverage of U2's new album took a new turn yesterday after it emerged that the executive who resigned over the Andrew Sachs phone-in scandal is working for the band's record company.
Former Radio 2 controller Lesley Douglas quit the BBC last October after she had approved the infamous lewd broadcast by Jonathan Ross and Russell Brand.
Weeks later, at the end of November, it was announced she had been appointed director of programming and business development at Universal Music UK. Miss Douglas, who also ran the specialist digital radio channel 6 Music, started her new job about two months ago.
Last week the BBC came under fire for the widespread coverage it had given to U2's new album No Line On The Horizon, which is released on Mercury Records, owned by Universal.
Yesterday on Radio 4's Feedback, a listener raised concerns about Miss Douglas and her new job, suggesting that some would see an 'inevitable connection with her old haunts'.
Feedback host Roger Bolton introduced the comments by saying the caller suspected 'a hint of the old girls' network'.
But last night both the BBC and Universal Music UK insisted Miss Douglas took no part in the tie-up between U2 and the BBC.
The BBC said the former executive 'had no involvement in the project' when she was at the corporation. Universal said she 'not been involved in any way' since joining them.
Critics had accused the BBC of acting like a publicity machine for the Irish quartet ahead of the release of their new album last Monday. There were appearances and shows across BBC1, BBC2, Radio 1, Radio 2 and Radio 4.
Under the slogan 'U2=BBC', the broadcaster even set up a dedicated part of its website offering tickets and links to the band's official site.
The week, dubbed the Bono Broadcasting Corporation, was followed by a further week which emphasised their hold on U.S. popular culture by securing an unprecedented five consecutive nights on the David Letterman show.
The stunt means that the band, which has sold 140million albums worldwide, reached close to 5.5million viewers a night via one of the country's leading talk shows.
Tory MP Nigel Evans, who sits on the culture, media and sport select committee, said it was 'the sort of publicity money can't buy'.
On yesterday's Feedback one caller said: 'I am aware of Lesley Douglas's move to Universal recently and the inevitable connection with her old haunts. I do feel, however, with so much free publicity, what in effect was a free marketing campaign for U2's latest offering was not justified under the remit of the BBC.'
Other callers voiced alarm at the amount of airtime the BBC had given the band.
One said: 'For the whole of last week almost everything I listened to or watched on the BBC seemed to feature U2 in some form.
'I am sure that as one of the major current rock bands it is valid to devote programme time to their work.
'But what went on last week seemed to me more than just a feature. I may be cynical but this seems to be me to be nothing but free promotion on a massive scale.'
On the programme, the BBC gave a statement which said: 'We would like to make it absolutely clear that conversations about U2 at the BBC pre-dated Lesley Douglas's move to Universal.'
The BBC later confirmed that Miss Douglas had not been involved in the discussions about the project when she worked there.
A spokesman for Universal Music added: 'Lesley has been here eight weeks and has not been involved in any way in any of the discussions or plans or anything to do with U2.
'They have been going on for six months or more so Lesley has had nothing to do with it since she has been here.
'She is our director of programming and business development, not our head of promotions.'
By Paul Revoir
Last updated at 2:01 PM on 07th March 2009
The row over the BBC's blanket coverage of U2's new album took a new turn yesterday after it emerged that the executive who resigned over the Andrew Sachs phone-in scandal is working for the band's record company.
Former Radio 2 controller Lesley Douglas quit the BBC last October after she had approved the infamous lewd broadcast by Jonathan Ross and Russell Brand.
Weeks later, at the end of November, it was announced she had been appointed director of programming and business development at Universal Music UK. Miss Douglas, who also ran the specialist digital radio channel 6 Music, started her new job about two months ago.
Last week the BBC came under fire for the widespread coverage it had given to U2's new album No Line On The Horizon, which is released on Mercury Records, owned by Universal.
Yesterday on Radio 4's Feedback, a listener raised concerns about Miss Douglas and her new job, suggesting that some would see an 'inevitable connection with her old haunts'.
Feedback host Roger Bolton introduced the comments by saying the caller suspected 'a hint of the old girls' network'.
But last night both the BBC and Universal Music UK insisted Miss Douglas took no part in the tie-up between U2 and the BBC.
The BBC said the former executive 'had no involvement in the project' when she was at the corporation. Universal said she 'not been involved in any way' since joining them.
Critics had accused the BBC of acting like a publicity machine for the Irish quartet ahead of the release of their new album last Monday. There were appearances and shows across BBC1, BBC2, Radio 1, Radio 2 and Radio 4.
Under the slogan 'U2=BBC', the broadcaster even set up a dedicated part of its website offering tickets and links to the band's official site.
The week, dubbed the Bono Broadcasting Corporation, was followed by a further week which emphasised their hold on U.S. popular culture by securing an unprecedented five consecutive nights on the David Letterman show.
The stunt means that the band, which has sold 140million albums worldwide, reached close to 5.5million viewers a night via one of the country's leading talk shows.
Tory MP Nigel Evans, who sits on the culture, media and sport select committee, said it was 'the sort of publicity money can't buy'.
On yesterday's Feedback one caller said: 'I am aware of Lesley Douglas's move to Universal recently and the inevitable connection with her old haunts. I do feel, however, with so much free publicity, what in effect was a free marketing campaign for U2's latest offering was not justified under the remit of the BBC.'
Other callers voiced alarm at the amount of airtime the BBC had given the band.
One said: 'For the whole of last week almost everything I listened to or watched on the BBC seemed to feature U2 in some form.
'I am sure that as one of the major current rock bands it is valid to devote programme time to their work.
'But what went on last week seemed to me more than just a feature. I may be cynical but this seems to be me to be nothing but free promotion on a massive scale.'
On the programme, the BBC gave a statement which said: 'We would like to make it absolutely clear that conversations about U2 at the BBC pre-dated Lesley Douglas's move to Universal.'
The BBC later confirmed that Miss Douglas had not been involved in the discussions about the project when she worked there.
A spokesman for Universal Music added: 'Lesley has been here eight weeks and has not been involved in any way in any of the discussions or plans or anything to do with U2.
'They have been going on for six months or more so Lesley has had nothing to do with it since she has been here.
'She is our director of programming and business development, not our head of promotions.'