The Jeremy Days

The Jeremy Days were probably the most underrated German band. Not least internationally. Front Man Dirk Darmstaedter (born in Hamburg but raised and educated for years in New Jersey, US), Christoph Kaiser, Louis Oberlander, Stefan Rager and Jörn-Christof Heilbut shacked up in 1985 in Hamburg to form The Real McCoys. A couple of years later they changed their name to The Jeremy Days and released a self-entitled debut album which hit the shelves in 1987, of which they sold about 150,000 copies.

Recorded in London by Clive Langer & Alan Winstanle of Madness, Dexy's Midnight Runners and David Bowie fame on Polydor, it carries a distinct British Indie and often melancholic flavour, although Dirk describes it himself as blue-eyed Pop. Although 'Are You Inventive?' was their debut single, it wasn't until a year later, that the release of Brand New Toy pricked up several ears around the country. The follow-up album Circushead made its rounds in 1990. These are two albums which I count as treasures in my music

collection. The boys tried to remain on the scene, but somehow it failed to capture the attention of listeners. A couple more albums followed Speakeasy in 1992, Re-Invent Yourself! in 1994 and Punk By Numbers in 1995, but in 1996 The Jeremy Days split. Dirk continues to venture on solo paths: music albums, TV and theatre appearances are just some of his avenues.


The Jeremy Days - Are You Inventive? (1988)
DE#55



The Jeremy Days - Brand New Toy (1989)
DE#11



The Jeremy Days - Rome Wasn't Built in a Day (1989)



The Jeremy Days - Julia Thru The Blinds (1989)



The Jeremy Days - Sylvia Suddenly (1990)



The Jeremy Days - Re-Invent Yourself (1994)

House Of Prince feat. Özlem - Perfect Love (1997)

At first this one will strike you as an essential US house track... - and rightly so, because... well it is really, but you'd be forgiven for being misled into thinking this has also been produced across the pond. Only very partially so: Gerret Frerichs, DJ from Hamburg, Germany and Turkish-born Özlem Çetin got this one going in Sweden. Snapped up by Twisted Records in the UK for Twisted America, it has done its rounds on sizzling New York's dancefloors about 15 years ago. Ever been to Splash Bar in New York? Just the type of rhythm you'd find yourself tapping your toes to ;-) Awesome track!


House Of Prince feat. Özlem - Perfect Love (1997)

Paul Van Dyk - For An Angel (1994)

Paul Van Dyk - For An Angel (1994)
UK#28, DE#44



Paul Van Dyk - For An Angel (1994)
UK#28, DE#44

Schiller mit Heppner

Taking their stage name from the famed German poet, the production duo of Schiller originally consisted of Mirko von Schlieffen & Christopher von Deylen and debuted in 1998 with Glockenspiel. The two layered trance beats and spoken poetry, which resulted in a couple of trance chart-toppers in Europe in the late '90s and early 2000. Zeitgeist marked the band's debut in early 2001. Schiller's second studio album Weltreise was inspired by a two-month-long road trip that Christopher took with his father from London to Beijing.
The duo soon had creative differences and Mirko departed, leaving Christopher to continue on his own.
Christopher does not provide vocals for any of his compositions. Instead, he chooses to collaborate with singers from within and outside of Germany. Musicians and vocalists who have worked with Schiller include Ben Becker, Moya Brennan of the Celtic group Clannad, Sarah Brightman, Peter Heppner of the German synth pop band Wolfsheim, Xavier Naidoo, Kim Sanders, Ana Torroja, lead singer of the Spanish pop group Mecano, Mike Oldfield, Damae of Fragma and many, many more.
Schiller's collaboration with Wolfsheim's Peter Heppner resulted in 2 very distinctly melancholic tracks: 'Dream of You' and 'I Feel You'.

Schiller mit Heppner - Dream Of You (2001)
DE#13, AT#49, CH#78


Schiller mit Heppner - Dream Of You by quattro21

Lyrics:

I've been here all the time
As far as I know doing right
I've always waited for the moment
That you would come through my door
But this brought loneliness so far
I lay my hand onto my heart
Is this the life I want to live
Is this the dream I had of you?

But this brought loneliness so far
I lay my hand onto my heart
Is this the life I want to live
Is this the dream I had of you...
the dream I had of you?

Now I'm standing here alone
I'm waiting on my own
For something that will fill the emptiness inside
The moment that you're mine
But this is loneliness I know
I lay my hand onto my soul
Is this what life has got to give
Is this the dream I had of you...
The dream I had of you?

But this is loneliness I know
I lay my hand onto my soul
Is this what life has got to give?
Is this the dream,
the dream I had of you?

Schiller mit Heppner - I Feel You (2004)
DE#15


I Feel U ... -Schiller by payam-e

Lyrics:

I feel you...
In every stone
In every leaf of every tree
You've ever grown
That you ever might have grown

I feel you...
In every thing
In every river that might flow
In every seed you might have sown

I feel you...
In every vein
In every beating of my heart
Each breath I take
In every breath I'll ever take

I feel you...
Anyway...
In every tear that i might shed
In every word i've never said

I feel you...

Dana International (דנה אינטרנשיונל)

Sharon Cohen (שרון כהן), a.k.a. Dana International (דנה אינטרנשיונל) was born as Yaron Cohen, on 2 Feb 1972 in Tel Aviv, being of Yemenite Jewish and Romanian/Transsylvanian ancestry.
Though born a boy, Dana came out as transsexual at the age of 13. She wanted to become a singer ever since she was eight years old and saw legendary Israeli singer Ofra Haza performing her song 'Chai' in the 1983 Eurovision Song Contest. Although the family was quite poor, her mother worked to pay for her music lessons, and she has explained that her childhood was rather happy. The stage name she adopted, Dana, is the female version of Daniel, the name of her best friend Daniel, who died in a car accident and who had prophesied that she would someday have a successful singing career.

At the age of 18, Dana was still legally male, earned a living as Israel's first Drag Queen parodying many famous singers and women. During one of her performances, she was discovered by Offer Nissim, a well-known Israeli DJ, who produced her debut single 'Saida Sultana' ('My Name is Not Saida'), a satirical version of Whitney Houston's song 'My Name Is Not Susan'. The song received considerable airplay and launched her career as a professional singer.
In 1993, Dana flew to London for her sex reassignment surgery and legally changed her name to Sharon. Returning home she released her first album in Israel, where it reached Gold, and soon after, the album was also released in several other countries including Greece, Jordan and Egypt. In 1994 Dana released her second, Trance-influenced album Umpatampa, which built on the success of her debut and provided further hit singles. The album went platinum in Israel and has sold more than 50,000 copies to date. Because of her popularity and the success of this album, she won the award for Best Female Artist of the Year in Israel.
Dana may have failed to qualify for the final representing Israel in the Eurovision Song Contest 2011 in Germany, but then again she did win the entire thing already in 1998 with 172 points, when the contest was held in Birmingham, UK with 'Diva'. It is Dana's achievement that she took her success from back then and managed to change Israel's ultra-orthodox Jewish culture to a much more liberal one. Interviewed by CNN, BBC, Sky News and MTV among others mostly focusing on her life as a transsexual person before winning the contest, Dana's words were: 'My victory proves God is on my side. I want to send my critics (i.e.the Ultra-Orthodox Jews whom tried to void her 1998 performance) message of forgiveness and say to them: try to accept me and the kind of life I lead. I am what I am and this does not mean I don't believe in God, and I am part of the Jewish Nation'. Dana released 'Diva' as a single in Europe, reaching the Top 10 in many countries. Dana was about to sign with major Sony/BMG for an international recording contract, but something went wrong in negotiations. These were disagreements that led to Sony canceling the deal before it was completed. In 2003, she released a house version of Cinque Milla, and four years later, achieved regional success with Love Boy.

Dana International - Diva (1998)
ES#1, BE#2, BE#3, FIN#7, NL#8, IRL#10, UK#11, NOR#12, CH#15, AT#37, DE#47, FR#59



Lyrics:

She is all
you'll ever dream to find
On her stage
she sings her story
Pain and hurt
will steal her heart alight
Like a queen
in all her glory

And when she cries
Diva is an angel
When she laughs
she's a devil
She is all beauty and love

Viva Maria
Viva Victoria
Aphrodite
Viva le Diva
Viva Victoria
Cleopatra

Silent tears
drop from these eyes tonight
Tears of prayer
for all those aching hearts

And when she cries
Diva is an angel
When she laughs
she's a devil
She is all beauty and love

Viva Maria
Viva Victoria
Aphrodite
Viva le Diva
Viva Victoria
Cleopatra


Dana International - Cinque Milla (2003)



Lyrics:

This Is My House
Listen To The Rhythm To The Rhythm
Alora Nachieliela bella bella
Alora Rola Alora Rola

Do you have a reservation?
I have a party in my house
I serve: bananas, bananas, bananas, bananas
Potatoes and some cock

Alora Rola Alora Rola
Alora Rola Alora Rola
Cinque milla Cinque milla

Maraquita chiquitita Maraquita chiquitita
Listen to the rhythm Listen to the rhythm

Rhythm rhythm rhythm
This is my house
Cinque milla cinque cento
Cinque milla cinque cento

Dana International - Love Boy (2007)



Lyrics:

Kubiot b'etzei shoko,
Omer tzafat aval hu dei moroko
Kol ha-yom b'cheder kosher
Az lo tzarich livdok lo et ha-yosher

Hu lo mishtamesh b'milim
Hu m'daber im ha-yadayim
Soref im ha-enayim
K'she-hu omer mitchilim
Ha-lev sheli roked b'ma'galim

V'hu yashen b'mitati
V'hu ochel m'tzalachti
Yesh li trick kavu'a
P'amayim b'shavua
Yesh li love boy

Hu lo ragish v'lo romanti
Lo m'shaneh im hu b'ad o anti
Hu lo tzarich harbeh lada'at
Hu doctor shel k'vod b'eikh laga'at
Ani lo tz'richa l'harshim
O lih'yot m'sha'asha'at
Ki ani yoda'at
Kshe-hu yagid mitchilim
Ha-lev sheli yirkod b'ma'galim

English Translation:

Six-pack in a chocolate colour
He says France but more likely Morocco
All day in the gym
Then it's not necessary to check his honesty

He's not proficient in words
He speaks with his hands
He's burning with his eyes
When he says, "let's go"
My heart dances in circles

And he sleeps in my bed
And he eats from my plate
I have a permanent trick
Twice a week
I have a love boy

He's not sensitive and not romantic
It doesn't make a difference if he's in favour or against
He doesn't need to know a lot
He's a doctor of honor in how to touch
I don't need to impress
Or be entertaining
Because I know
When he will tell me 'let's go'
My heart will dance in circles

Faithless

Back in the summer of 1995 Maxwell Fraser, a.k.a. Maxi Jazz, Ayalah Bentovim, a.k.a. Sister Bliss and Roland Armstrong, a.k.a. Rollo, ganged up to form a project that would go on to reach legendary status in the world of dance electronica: Faithless. Tracks such as Insomnia, God is a DJ and We Come 1 have become anthems of the underground before conquering the mainstream. During the lifetime of the project they sold more than 15 million records worldwide.
The band have now officially split up after the climax of their 'Passing The Baton' dates at Brixton Academy on 7 & 8 April 2011. But fear not, if you have missed the two days on my home turf, Faithless are giving a last show on 22 July 2011 at the Tomorrowland festival in Belgium.
Book now!

Faithless - Insomnia (1995)
CH#1, FIN#1, DE#2, BE#2, UK#3, IRL#3, AT#5, NL#13, AUS#16


Faithless - Insomnia by Hakunamatata67

Lyrics:

Deep in the bosom of the gentle night
Is when I search for the light
Pick up my pen and start to write
I struggle, fight dark forces
In the clear moon light
Without fear... insomnia
I can't get no sleep

I used to worry, thought I was goin' mad in a hurry
Gettin' stress, makin' excess mess in darkness
No electricity, something's all over me, greasy
Insomnia please release me and let me dream of
Makin' mad love to my girl on the heath
Tearin' off tights with my teeth
But there's no release, no peace
I toss and turn without cease
Like a curse, open my eyes and rise like yeast
At least a couple of weeks
Since I last slept, kept takin' sleepers
But now I keep myself pepped
Deeper still, that night I write by candle light
I find insight, fundamental movement, uh
So when it's black this insomniac take an original tack
Keep the beast in my nature under ceaseless attack
I gets no sleep
I can't get no sleep

I can't get no sleep, I can't get no sleep
I need to sleep, although I get no sleep

Faithless - God is a DJ (1998)
DE#2, CH#2, NL#3, BE#4, NOR#4, UK#6, FIN#6, AT#9, NZ#10, SWE#20, FR#31, AUS#37



Lyrics:

This is my church
This is where I heal my hurts
It's a natural grace
Of watching young life shape
It's in minor keys
Solutions and remedies
Enemies becoming friends
When bitterness ends
This is my church
This is my church
This is where I heal my hurts
It's in the world I become
Contained in the hum
Between voice and drum
It's in the change
The poetic justice of cause and effect
Respect, love, compassion
This is my church
This is where I heal my hurts
For tonight
God is a DJ
God is a DJ
This is my church

Chris Isaak - Blue Hotel / Wicked Game

Be honest: who didn't fancy Chris Isaak back in his heyday? Phwoar! What a hunk he was. Born 26 June 1956 in Stockton, California, his music reflects the flavour of music at the time of his birth. He signed a record deal in 1984 for his album Silvertone. If not in 1987, with his international debut Blue Hotel, it was surely three years later, in 1990, when millions of hearts melted: Chris Isaak released his track 'Wicked Game', the video for which largely contributed to his popularity: his record company hired Helena Christensen, supermodel at the time. The 'love story' that unfolded on screen would become somewhat of a legend: apparently Chris fell in love with Helena, only to be re-buffed by her for lack of food and the chilling winds as the recording was made.

Chris Isaak - Blue Hotel (1987)
FR#28, NL#42, UK#100



Lyrics:

Blue Hotel, on a lonely highway,
Blue Hotel, life don't work out my way.

Blue Hotel, on a lonely highway,
Blue Hotel, life don't work out my way.
I wait alone each lonely night.
Blue Hotel... Blue Hotel...

Blue Hotel, every room is lonely,
Blue Hotel, I was waiting only.
The night is like her lonely dream.
Blue Hotel... Blue Hotel...

Blue Hotel, on a lonely highway,
Blue Hotel, life don't work out my way.
I wait alone each lonely night.
Blue Hotel... Blue Hotel...

Chris Isaak - Wicked Game (1990)
SWE#3, NL#5, US#6, NZ#7, DE#9, UK#10, IRL#10, AUS#15, FR#42



Lyrics:

The world was on fire
No one could save me but you
Strange what desire will make foolish people do
I never dreamed that I'd meet somebody like you
And I never dreamed that I'd lose somebody like you

No, I don't want to fall in love
This love is only gonna break your heart
No, I don't want to fall in love
This love is only gonna break your heart
With you, With you

What a wicked game you play
To make me feel this way
What a wicked thing to do
To let me dream of you
What a wicked thing to say
You never felt this way
What a wicked thing to do
To make me dream of you
And I don't wanna fall in love
This love is only gonna break your heart
And I don't want to fall in love
This love is only gonna break your heart

World was on fire
No one could save me but you
Strange what desire will make foolish people do
I never dreamed that I'd love somebody like you
I never dreamed that I'd lose somebody like you

No I don't wanna fall in love
This love is only gonna break your heart
No I don't wanna fall in love
This love is only gonna break your heart
With you, With you

Nobody loves no one

Hande Yener - Romeo (2007)

Makbule Hande Özyener, a.k.a. Hande Yener, caught my radar a few years ago while on holidays in Turkey. The chorus 'Romeo, Romeo, Romeo, Romeo....' was hardly to be overheard, and the catchy chorus certainly hammered its way into my head.
Over the past decade, she has introduced different styles to the ever expanding, Turkish pop music scene. Each one of her albums has managed to generate a lot of interest as well as anticipation due to the different styles, genres and rhythms. Besides the different experiments Hande tackles with music, her looks and image - a bit like Madonna - are also going through a constant change which arguably, blend in well with the sort of music she releases at the time. She was nominated for Best Turkish Act at the MTV Europe Music Awards 2008, only to be beaten by Emre Aydın. Close to 17 million albums sold all over the world.

Hande Yener - Romeo (2007)


Hande Yener - Romeo [Turkish music] by Chris_25

Lyrics:

Dün hiç yok gibi
Uzak, kasımdan soğuk gibi
Kar yağıyordu yalnızdım
Savaşlar cepheler

Sonra sen geldin
Arasından sislerin
Büyük yakaların vardı
Gösterişliydin

Dedin ki ben Romeo
Gerçek aşkın savaşçısı
Yalnızlık bitti
Sil gözyaşlarını

Kavga etmez sever beni
Romeo Romeo Romeo
Sabaha kadar kucaklar beni
Romeo Romeo Romeo

Hassas tüy gibi
Umut giyindim zırh gibi
Ağlıyordum yalnızdım
Seyirciler sahneler

Çok Teşekkürler Arkadaşlar

Ercola feat. Heikki L. - Deep At Night (2007)

Like so many musicians growing up in the 1980s, Veikka Erkola, a.k.a. Ercola, started making music as a teenager on his computer. In the mid-90s, his music was experimental electronica inspired by record label Warp. Veikka found his sound while he studied commercial music at London’s Westminster University at the turn of the millennium. During his studies he met the owners of record label Milk And Two Sugars, who published Ercola’s track Try To Be Calm. While the song never hit big, it gained a lot of positive feedback and even ended up in the DJ sets of Roger Sanchez! His true hits have been 'Every Word', which hit the top spot of the Billboard Hot Dance Airplay list in the US and stayed on Billboard lists for over 20 weeks, as well as 'Deep at Night', while shacking up with producer Heikki L.(Liimatainen), a club owner in Finland's metropolis. Vocals come courtesy Jeremy Carr.

Ercola feat. Heikki L. - Deep At Night (Adam K & Soha Remix) 2007



Lyrics:

Deep at night

Cause I'm in love
Can you feel me deep at night
Run into your arms can't get away
It's in my heart that I'm dreaming so deep at night
Love you too hard till you scream my name

It's in my soul getting close can't sleep at night
And nothings gonna bring us down
So deep at night

Cause I'm in love
Can you feel me deep at night
Run into your arms can't get away
It's in my heart that I'm dreaming so deep at night
Love you too hard till you scream my name

It's in my soul getting close can't sleep at night
And nothings gonna bring us down
So deep at night

Can you feel me deep
Deep at night
Can you feel me
Deep at night
Deep at night

My hearts flippin like a dime
I'm over my head
Can't get you off my mind
Can't forget what you said
I've been lookin at your body
And it's making me sweat
Time to make my move

Can you feel me deep at night
Run into your arms can't get away
It's in my heart that I'm dreaming so deep at night
Love you too hard till you scream my name

It's in my soul getting close can't sleep at night
And nothings gonna bring us down
So deep at night

Down so deep at night
Can you feel me
Cause I'm in love

I'll be the one to walk away
Never walk away
I will be the one to forget your name
Never forget your name

Can you feel me
Deep at night

We're running out of time
It's getting close today
Been searching for a sign
That you're going my way
Got my keys in hand
And my cars outside
I'll take you for a ride

Cause I'm in love
Can you feel me deep at night
Run into your arms can't get away
It's in my heart that I'm dreaming so deep at night
Love you too hard till you scream my name

It's in my soul getting close can't sleep at night
And nothings gonna bring us down
So deep at night
Down so deep at night

MNM - Tonite (2006)

In the autumn of 2006 Al MacDowell, Jose Nuñez and the very infamous Erick Morillo joined forces under the moniker MNM to come up with the track Tonite. They hired Shawnee Taylor for the vocal and off the tune went, flying - or rather stomping through clubland. Released on New Jersey label Subliminal in October that year, it is only (and at that only rarely) available on 12" vinyl, hence also no video, as this sublime piece of dance music never crossed over to the mainstream. A treasure. Enjoy.

MNM - Tonite (2006)

Ce Ce Peniston - Finally (1991)

Cecilia Veronica - a.k.a. 'Ce Ce' - Peniston was born 6.9.69 in Dayton, Ohio, but raised much of her childhood in Phoenix, Arizona. As so so so many of her black counterparts and peers, she started to begin to sing in her local church choir. While at college, she used to participate in school plays, karaoke contests - and, what is little known, beauty pageants. She eventually claimed the title of Ms. Black Arizona in 1989 and Ms. Galaxy in 1990.
Enjoying poems, she claims that she wrote the lyrics to her breakthrough and most successful track 'Finally' in college at a Chemistry class.
Her music career began in January of 1991, when Felipe 'DJ Wax Dawg' Delgado, her friend and a record producer based also in Phoenix, asked Ce Ce to record back-up vocals for Tonya Davis, a black rapper known as Overweight Pooch. But the Overweight Pooch’s album flopped and Felipe faced contractual disputes with A&M, the record company. Manny Lehman, a former DJ and back then A&M Art Director, had noticed the powerful voice of Ce Ce as back-up vocalist and offered Felipe a second chance, commissioning him to produce a track for Ce Ce herself as a solo artist. Felipe called on a friend, Rodney Jackson - the two met through mutual friends in Arizona - who co-produced the Ce Ce’s 'Finally'. The song burst on to the US club scene in October 1991 becoming an instant dance anthem, while achieving a respectful starting position abroad. Within three months, the single would reach sales of over 3 million worldwide. The track has become one of the classics from the early 1990s. It has also become a somewhat gay anthem. No surprise then that it the track was featured in one of the most iconic gay movies there is: Priscilla, Queen of the Desert.

Ce Ce Peniston - Finally (1991)
CAN#1, UK#2, JPN#2, IRL#5, US#5, NL#5, AUS#7, NZ#8, AT#9, CH#12, DE#16, BE#16, FR#39


Ce Ce Peniston - Finally by Hakunamatata67

Music Industry, Problems, Charts & Record Sales

for 'Digitally Remastered' - an Economist Article dated 9th June 2011 - click here

Today's Music Industry faces several challenges. Declining sales, distribution methods, technological advance, piracy, downward pressure on costs and the speed with which tends and fashion are changing are only the tip of the iceberg and all seem somehow to be interlinked and interdependent. Almost like a spiral, one problem seems to bring on another.

For an almost grossly-negligent length of time, central institutions and parts of the industry tried to simply shut their eyes, hoping the troubles would be temporary and go away by itself. But their hopes have been dashed and for the last two decades, the speed with which the changes are sweeping through seem only to increase.

First there were records, then there were tapes, mini-discs, CDs and now we have embraced digital downloads and online music streaming. But despite, or probably precisely owing to these technological advances, music sales worldwide are in steep decline, regardless of the occasional reflux of traditional formats, such as vinyl nostalgia.

Music tracks and albums these days are distributed online, no need to go shopping in, what these days have become known as 'bricks-&-mortar' retailers. First there was the death of the independent Record Stores, and now, more or less rapid, even once well-established powerhouses of distribution, such as HMV seems to run out of ideas. The spectacular fall of Tower Records more than a decade ago is just one example of the fatal consequences of ignoring these changes. In a desperate attempt to stay solvent, aforementioned HMV is currently struggling to stay above water, by selling off their book business Waterstones this week.

But the suffering of the distribution arm of the music industry is only a symptom.

A good look at the creative aspect and the production of music worldwide quickly reveals that the problems start far earlier. For more than half a century, independent records labels, the grass roots of creativity and talent spotting, have been snapped up by their giant rivals, often killing off innovation and individuality. It is similar to the IT or Supermarket sector, perhaps also Banking: the big fish swallow the small but do not know how to integrate them properly, risking talent becoming lost in corporate equalisation. Coupled with the interest to maximise profits and shareholder satisfaction, this rarely ends happily: Microsoft stalled for innovation, Tesco killed off the diverse high street stores, banks became too big to allow them to fail - and - in the music industry, changes in trends were silenced. Look at EMI, which became do inflexible that a private equity house bought it out, with major artists deserting them.

I believe, that until this trend is rectified, so-called 'unit sales' will continue to drop, caught in a vicious circle of producing low quality results, which only remain in the charts for the blink of an eye, often forgotten weeks following release. There are, of course, exceptions, but these are numbered.
Today's market share in the Music Industry is to about three quarters in the hands of the 'Big 4': Sony BMG, Universal Music, EMI and Warner Music, with more eating & being eaten already on the horizon. This leaves only a jaw-dropping 28% for independent music labels. After intensely focussing on other industries, perhaps several competition commissions around the world should take a closer look at what's going on and, with the input of the International Federation of Phonographic Industry (IFPI), should press for equally sweeping changes, which should be to the benefit of the industry; making it less dependent on pressures from everywhere else, ensuring it takes technological developments to heart.

The International Federation of the Phonographic Industry, IFPI

The International Federation of the Phonographic Industry, IFPI, represents the recording industry worldwide with some 1400 record companies in 66 countries and affiliated industry associations in 45 countries. IFPI is head-quartered at No.10 Piccadilly in London and is linked to regional offices in Brussels, Hong Kong and Miami. It's mission is to promote the value of recorded music, safeguard the rights of record producers and expand the commercial uses of recorded music in all markets where its members operate:

Size of the Music Industry by Value (as of 2005)

Market Share of Music by Genre

Argentina

Organisation:
Cámara Argentina de Productores de Fonogramas y Videogramas - CAPIF

Website:
www.capif.org.ar

Charts: here

Certifications:
- Albums: Gold: 20,000, Platinum: 40,000, excl. Digital downloads
- Singles: do not get certified
- Digital Downloads: Gold: 10,000, Platinum: 20,000

Australia

Organisation:
ARIA - Australian Record Industry Association

Website:
www.aria.com.au

Charts: here

Certifications:
- Albums & Singles: Gold: 35,000, Platinum: 70,000 albums
- based on shipments, not sales

Austria

Organisation:
IFPI Austria – Verband der Österreichischen Musikwirtschaft

Website:
www.ifpi.at

Charts: here

Certifications:
- Albums: Gold: 10,000, Platinum: 20,000
- Singles: Gold: 15,000, Platinum: 30,000

Belgium

Organisation:
BEA - Belgian Entertainment Association

Website:
www.belgianentertainment.be

Charts:
Flanders: Ultrapop 50
Wallonia: Ultrapop 40

Certifications:
- Albums & Singles:
- Domestic (French and Dutch language, incl. Jazz and Classical): Gold: 10,000, Platinum: 20,000
- International (non-French, non-Dutch): Gold: 15,000, Platinum: 30,000

Brazil

Organisation:
ABPD - Associação Brasileira dos Produtores de Discos

Website:
www.abpd.org.br

Charts: here

Certifications:
- Domestic Albums: Gold: 40,000, Platinum: 80,000, Diamond: 300,000
- International Albums: Gold: 20,000, Platinum: 40,000, Diamond: 160,000
- Digital Downloads: Gold: 50,000, Platinum: 100,000, Diamond: 500,000
- based on sales

Bulgaria

Organisation:
BAMP - Българска асоциация на музикалните продуценти

Website:
www.bamp-bg.org

Charts: here

Certifications:
- Albums only: Gold: 15,000, Platinum: 30,000

Canada

Organisation:
CRIA - Canadian Recording Industry Association

Website:
www.cria.ca

Charts: here

Certifications:
- Albums: Gold: 40,000, Platinum: 80,000, Diamond: 800,000
- Singles: Gold: 5,000, Platinum: 10,000, Diamond: 100,000
- based on shipments

Chile

Organisation:
IFPI - International Federation of the Phonographic Industry, London
No local Association. The local IFPI hub was shut down in March 2008 in a police raid and investigation linked to fraud and illegal distribution of music files

Website:
www.ifpi.org - was www.ifpichile.cl before

Charts: here

Certifications:
- Albums only: Gold: 5,000, Platinum: 10,000

China

Organisation:
SARFT - 国家广播电影电视总局 (State Administration of Radio, Film, and Television), a state controlled body, which centrally controls (and censors) the country's media

Website:
Chinese only: www.sarft.gov.cn
English with Google Translate: www.sarft.gov.cn

Charts: here

Awards: (no awards given, just for international statistics)
Albums only: Gold: 20,000, Platinum: 40,000

Colombia

Organisation:
ASINCOL - Convenio Antipiratería para Colombia, not strictly an association of the music industry, but a national body against piracy

Website:
www.convenioantipirateria.org.co

Charts: here

Certifications:
- Albums only: Gold: 10,000, Platinum: 20,000

Czech Republic

Organisation:
IFPI - International Federation of the Phonographic Industry, London
No local Association

Website:
www.ifpi.org

Charts: here

Certifications:
- Albums: Gold: 6,000, Platinum: 12,000
- Singles: Gold: 1,000, Platinum: 2,000

Denmark

Organisation:
IFPI - International Federation of the Phonographic Industry, London
with local hub IFPI Denmark

Website:
www.ifpi.dk

Charts: here

Certifications:
- Albums: Gold: 10,000, Platinum: 20,000
- Singles: Gold: 15,000, Platinum: 30,000
- based on shipments

Ecuador

Organisation:
IFPI - International Federation of the Phonographic Industry, London
with local hub IFPI Ecuador

Website:
central: www.ifpi.org
local: n/a

Charts: n/a

Awards:
Albums only: Gold: 3,000, Platinum: 6,000



Europe

Organiation:
Billboard, a New York-head quartered Music Publication, with office in London (although Billboard announced in Feb 2011 to close their London Office)

Website:
www.billboard.com/#/charts/european-hot-100

Charts: Eurochart Hot 100 Singles

Awards: n/a



Finland

Organisation:

Website:

Charts:
Finland's Official List
Finnish Singles Chart
YLE Top40

Awards:



France

Organisation:
SNEP - Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique

Website:
www.disqueenfrance.com/fr

Charts: SNEP

Certifications:
- Albums: Gold: 50,000, Platinum: 100,000, Diamond: 500,000
- Singles: Gold: 150,000, Platinum: 250,000, Diamond: 400,000
- based on sales

Germany

Organisation:
Bundesverband Musikindustrie

Website:
www.musikindustrie.de

Charts: Media Control AG

Certifications:
- Albums: Gold: 100,000, Platinum: 200,000
- Singles: Gold: 150,000, Platinum: 300,000
- based on shipments

Greece

Organisation:

Website:

Charts:
Greek IFPI Singles and Albums Charts

Awards:



Gulf States - Middle East - Gulf Coorporation Council

Organisation:

Website:

Charts:

Awards:



Hong Kong

Organisation:

Website:

Charts:
Hong Kong IFPI Music Chart

Awards:



Hungary

Organisation:

Website:

Charts:
Mahasz

Awards:



Ireland

Organisation:

Website:

Charts:
IRMA
Irish Albums Chart
Irish Singles Chart
Irish Downloads Chart

Awards:



Italy

Organisation:

Website:

Charts:
Federation of the Italian Music Industry
Musica & Dischi

Awards:



Japan

Organisation:

Website:

Charts:
Oricon
Music Labo
Music Research
Planet chart
Japan Hot 100
SoundScan

Awards:



Mexico

Organisation:

Website:

Charts:
AMPROFON

Awards:



Netherlands

Organisation:

Website:

Charts:
Dutch Top 40
MegaCharts
Mega Single Top 100
Mega Top 50

Awards:



New Zealand

Organisation:

Website:

Charts:
Recording Industry Association of New Zealand

Awards:



Norway

Organisation:

Website:

Charts:
Norsktoppen
VG-lista

Awards:



Poland

Organisation:

Website:

Charts:
Polish Airplay Chart - Top 5
Polish Airplay Chart - New Singles
Polish Airplay Chart - Greatest Jumps
Polish Videos Chart
Polish Dance Top 50
OLiS - Album Top 50 (weekly
ZPAV - Album Top 100 (monthly)

Awards:



Portugal

Organisation:

Website:

Charts:
Top Oficial da AFP

Awards:



Romania

Organisation:

Website:

Charts:
Romanian Top 100

Awards:



Russia

Organisation:

Website:

Charts:
Russian Music Charts
Russia Top 25. Albums
Russia Top 10. Digital Tracks
Airplay Detection Tophit 100

Awards:



Slovenia

Organisation:

Website:

Charts: Slo Top 40

Awards:



South Korea

Organisation:

Website:

Charts: Gaon Chart

Awards:



Spain

Organisation:
PROMUSICAE - Productores de Musica de España

Website:
www.promusicae.es

Charts: PME

Awards:



Sweden

Organisation:

Website:

Charts
Svensktoppen
Sverigetopplistan
Tracks
DigiListan

Awards:



Switzerland

Organisation:

Website:

Charts:
Swiss Music Charts
Swiss Albums Top 100
Swiss Airplay Top 30
Swiss Singles Top 100
Swiss Compilations Top 25

Awards:



Turkey

Organisation:
Mü-YAP (IFPI Türkiye Milli Grubu)

Website:
www.mu-yap.org

Charts: Billboard Türkiye

Certifications:
- Albums only: Gold: 100,000, Platinum: 200,000, Diamond: 300,000

United Kingdom

Organisation:
BPI - British Phonographic Industry

Website:
www.bpi.co.uk

Charts: Official Music Chart Company

Certifications:
- Albums: Silver: 60,000, Gold: 100,000, Platinum: 300,000
- Singles: Silver: 200,000, Gold: 400,000, Platinum: 600,000
- based on shipments

United States

Organisation:
RIAA - Recording Industry Association of America Inc.

Website:
www.riaa.com

Charts: Billboard

Certifications:
- Albums & Singles: Gold: 500,000, Platinum: 1,000,000, (Diamond: 10,000,000 - Albums only)