I don't think a topic has been started anywhere else on this matter but a lot of back catalogue material that was perhaps more nichely in demand has made it's debut on streaming and digital download platforms in the last two years. And it's all the work of one man who's undoubtedly one of the best accounts I follow on Twitter: Pop Music Activism.

 

They do a lot of hard work contacting various rights holders and labels to get some forgotten classics or even long standing favourites available digitally for all to enjoy - they've got a website here which lists all the successes they've managed to get on so far, as well as a page to request any that need a release: http://popmusicactivism.com

 

And also a Spotify playlist with all their successful requests to date:

 

 

I'm particularly impressed they got Kéllé Bryan (ex-Eternal)'s two solo singles on recently (the latter of which got cancelled for release). Also the unreleased in the UK albums by Thunderbugs and ex-Corrie mechanic Matthew Marsden which have since turned into favourites of mine as a result of their efforts.

Edited April 11Apr 11 by ThePensmith

They're the reason Ricki-Lee's back catalogue is on Spotify etc so they have my eternal undying gratitude *.*

Oh yes I posted about this account in the iTunes thread recently, thanks for starting a whole thread *.* I love keeping tabs on their divine actions too!

 

I'm currently in the middle of counting down/adding to a Spotify playlist as I go along for my top 40 favourite top 40 hits for every year since I was born, so when that's done I think I'm going to request all the ones that aren't on Spotify and see if they can work their magic for any of them!

Yes indeed he does incredible work <3 got some of my all-time faves out digitally! A lot of UK radio edits of songs that are otherwise available are often missing too and he’s got a lot of these back online too.

 

There are generally 5-10 songs each year that I love that aren’t available to stream but 2001 seems like a major case of this, so much stuff missing from that year. Off the top of my head these include Will I by Ian Van Dahl, Love You Anyway by De Nada, the Eurovision winner that year Everybody by Tanel Padar and Dave Benton and the UK entry No Dream Impossible by Lindsay D, Dream To Me by Dario G, Aussie girlband Bardot’s entire output, Can’t Keep Me Silent by Angelic...there are many others.

Bardot - Poison oh my goddd that's a NEED

Bardot - Poison oh my goddd that's a NEED

 

Oh good luck trying to get that on. He's had no success from the rights owners on that one despite repeated attempts!

I came across him in a Popjustice thread early last year and I've loved following the account, it's really impressive how much he's managed to get uploaded. *NSYNC's 'Girlfriend' remix is my favourite recent surprise, being a big enough song that I always assumed it was missing deliberately (rights issues?), not due to neglect. Likewise (minus the 'favourite') to 'Candle In The Wind 1997', which I thought Elton had just decided to never release digitally. I don't even know many of the late '90s/early '00s forgotten minor hits that make up the bulk of the successful requests, but I've given a listen to most of them (well, the main single(s), not entire remix sets/albums) as they've appeared and enjoyed many, particularly the trance ones lately.

They're the reason Ricki-Lee's back catalogue is on Spotify etc so they have my eternal undying gratitude *.*

Even in Australia where her catalogue was available, 'Don't Miss You' (possibly my favourite of hers) and 'Hear No, See No, Speak No' were always missing (they were on iTunes but not Spotify) and 'Wiggle It' had a scratch, but they're now properly present thanks to him! (Though with weirdly faded and stretched artwork, I'm not sure how the label couldn't find a better source.)

 

Agreed about Bardot (I recall he literally handed the 'Poison' CD single to their rightsholders' office in Australia and even that didn't work), and I'm hoping to see Madasun's 'Don't You Worry' someday. As far as early '00s Australian pop goes, maybe of interest is that Leah Haywood's album coincidentally popped up recently:

 

Edited August 30, 20195 yr by Rush

Update for those who'd been wanting Bardot, it's your lucky day :o

@1181861073399365634

Hear'Say's second album 'Everybody' from 2001 has been added to streaming platforms and download!

Edited April 11Apr 11 by ThePensmith

The singles back catalogue of Lolly is on DSPs from today!

Omg Lolly! such a product of her time!

I have a very strange need for Lee Ryan's Army Of Lovers to be available on DSPs. someone make it happen!

I am still waiting for the single edit of Hearsay’s Show Me The Way To Your Love to be added. Currently we have the limp album version.

I am still waiting for Amy Studt’s second album to be put on Spotify

I always liked Big Boys Don't Cry by Lolly.

Only found out recently she did a cover of Girls... which is faithful to the original and not too shabby.

2 hours ago, Scene said:

Omg Lolly! such a product of her time!

I have a very strange need for Lee Ryan's Army Of Lovers to be available on DSPs. someone make it happen!

It is on there now, got added a few months back!