It's a Limited Company, Scotty. The yearly accounts are available to anyone who wants to look at them from the Companies House website.

You need to pay £1 to download them ( I know because I do that all the time in my job :P )

He really has some cheek charging for the official site when he ears such an unbelievable amount of money. -_-

Considering its for a full year, I don't think 25 quid is all that much.

 

I don't understand why people are so on him for charging for his site. He's not the only artist out there that earns a hell of a lot and still charges for their website. Madonna has enough money to feed a small nation and she charges for her website, so does George Michael, so does U2 etc etc. If it'd be only Rob charging for his website I'd say how dare he, but he's not the only one doing it and just personally IMHO compared with George Michael's website and merchandise, RW.com is phenomenal

http://news.scotsman.com/uk.cfm?id=64852007

Sat 13 Jan 2007

 

Take That! EMI counts cost of Robbie's flop

FERGUS SHEPPARD

MEDIA CORRESPONDENT (fsheppard@scotsman.com)

WHEN they agreed to reform without Robbie Williams, there were fears that Take That could prove an embarrassing flop.

 

But the former boy band massively outsold Britain's biggest pop star in the album charts, riding a wave of Nineties nostalgia.

 

And yesterday Williams's record company was left counting the cost as it admitted its pre-Christmas slate of releases, including the former Take That member's album Rudebox, had failed to sell as well as hoped.

 

The downbeat assessment came just two months after EMI predicted it was on course to meet sales targets, with releases from artists including Williams, Joss Stone and Norah Jones.

 

However, EMI yesterday warned that annual sales in recorded music would be down by as much as 10 per cent and revealed it was looking for company-wide cuts of £110 million.

 

One immediate consequence of EMI's statement yesterday was the departure of EMI Music chief executive Alain Levy together with another senior executive.

 

The record giant cautioned its performance in the six months to the end of this March would be "below prior expectations".

 

It added: "This has resulted from weak market conditions, particularly over the Christmas period, and lower than expected sales of second-half releases."

 

Williams's Rudebox - his seventh studio album - is languishing outside the album top 40, with sales of 454,000. By contrast, Take That's reunion record, Beautiful World, has spent five weeks at the top of the album charts, selling more than 1.15 million copies.

 

EMI has relied on new artist Lily Allen and its eternal cash cow, the Beatles - with an album of remixes called Love - for current chart success in a generally weak market for music sales.

 

Simon Wallis, an industry expert with analysts Collins Stewart, said: "There was a simple problem - EMI didn't sell as many CDs as they thought they would. The problem is with EMI's management and their ability to manage costs."

 

Some music industry watchers suspect the sluggish sales of Williams's latest record may stem from the singer's split from long-term songwriting partner Guy Chambers, the co-writer of hits such as Angels, Let Me Entertain You and Rock DJ. Unlike previous releases, Rudebox is struggling to spawn a hit single.

 

Paul Williams, from trade magazine Music Week, said: "This album has been a dip in fortunes compared to Robbie's previous albums.

 

"

 

By contrast, Take That's decision to embark on a Nineties pop nostalgia reunion proved inspired.

 

Fans flocked to watch the remaining quartet go through their dance moves with 35-year-old Gary Barlow - whose weight hit 16 stone at one point after the band split up - slimming down to keep pace with fellow group members Mark Owen, Jason Orange and Howard Donald.

 

The group also had a starring role in the popular ITV1 reality show The X Factor.

 

 

:blink: :blink:

 

 

EMI pays price of a fallen angel :blink: :arrr:

By Tim Hall

Last Updated: 2:05am GMT 13/01/2007

 

 

 

Music giant EMI was counting the £200 million cost of Robbie Williams's ego and the digital revolution yesterday as it revealed an extraordinary slump in profits.

 

 

Robbie Williams signed to EMI for £80 million in 2002

 

 

The label, which said sales for 2006 are likely to be 10 per cent lower than predicted, was immediately accused of being a dinosaur that had failed to adapt quickly enough to the era of digital music.

 

But the slump, which leaves EMI looking to make £110 million annual savings, is equally a result of the former Take That star's fall from grace.

 

Williams won the biggest deal in British pop history when he signed to EMI for £80 million in 2002. At the time he was selling millions of albums and producing era-defining songs, including Angels and Millennium.

 

However, when EMI needed him most, in the second half of last year, he released Rudebox, an album written by the singer and his band, and described most kindly as peculiar. Other critics were much more cruel and it bombed in the charts.

 

advertisementRudebox came after Williams had fallen out with a series of song writers and had had problems with drugs and depression.

 

In the run up to Christmas, the album was selling just 38,000 copies a week, against 171,000 for his previous record, Intensive Care, which itself sold badly in relation to earlier efforts.

 

Robert Sandall, a music writer, said: "Robbie is a good performer and a decent singer but he is no musician. He needs support. To write an album by himself was pure hubris and EMI are now counting the cost."

 

EMI's other big hopes have also under-performed. Most surprising has been poor sales of Love, the George Martin-remixed Beatles album.

 

 

Not sure if I should of posted these articles in the nasty stuff thread :(

Edited January 13, 200718 yr by sparkle

http://www.moneycontrol.com/india/newsarticle/stocksnews.php?cid=1&autono=31018&source=ibnlive.com

 

2007-01-12 02:56 Source : www.ibnlive.com

 

Robbie Williams to sing with Asha

 

 

New York: Britain's pop superstar Robbie Williams is planning to record a duet with Bollywood's singing legend Asha Bhonsle.

 

 

Vijay Akela, the writer of the track, said Williams would sing for Asha's new album Asha And Friends, reported Sheeraz Hasan, founder of www.hollywood.tv.

 

Akela said: "Williams was keen on working with Ashaji after she was nominated for the second time for the Grammy Awards. Ashaji has recorded her part of the song."

 

Asha, who has been singing for over six decades, has previously recorded songs with an array of contemporary pop figures such as Michael Stipe from the American rock band REM and classical musicians, the Kronos Quartet.

 

She was also immortalised on British pop-rock group Cornershop's Brimful Of Asha, which become a hit after being remixed by Fatboy Slim. The singer also recorded a music video with Australian cricketer Brett Lee.

 

Asha's latest album Songs From RD Burman's Bollywood was nominated for a Grammy Award in 2006.

 

 

:unsure: Never heard of her before :unsure:

From http://www.mirror.co.uk/3am

 

13 January 2007

ROB'S A BRIT OF A LOSER

Exclusive by Eva Simpson & Caroline Hedley

ROBBIE Williams's reign as the king of the Brits is well and truly over. He has been sensationally snubbed by the awards panel, receiving no nominations for his disastrous album Rudebox.

 

The critically-panned CD, which was meant to signal his big comeback, was deemed so bad by the voting academy that for the first time in 10 years he is not a contender for Best British Male, Best British Album or Best Single.

 

Instead, Lily Allen, Arctic Monkeys and Razorlight are expected to dominate proceedings at this year's event at London's Earl's Court Arena on February 14.

 

Even his arch enemies Oasis will get a gong for Outstanding Contribution to music. But all 32-year-old Robbie has is a conciliatory nomination in the Best Live Act category.

 

 

A music biz insider says: "A few years ago Robbie not being nominated would have been unthinkable - he had the Midas touch. But that's clearly deserted him and he's going to have a real struggle on his hands to regain his credibility."

 

 

The writing was on the wall for Robbie - who has a record haul of 15 Brits - last September when fans gave Rudebox the thumbs down.

 

 

Despite a costly media blitz, the single only just scraped into the Top Five then sank without a trace and the album was beset by problems.

 

 

Ex-manager Nigel Martin Smith threatened to sue for libel over the lyrics to The Nineties, which implied he'd ripped Robbie off - the offending words were later changed. Then Rod Stewart's stepson, Ashley Hamilton, accused Robbie of stealing a track they'd written together.

 

 

When it was finally released it spent just one week at No.1 before slipping down the charts. It is now not even in the Top 40.

 

 

Rudebox's poor sales are said to have been a contributing factor in the departure of EMI chairman and chief Alain Levy and his deputy David Munns, who were both axed yesterday.

 

 

Another source reveals: "Rudebox has been an unmitigated disaster for Robbie and the record company. We knew things were bad but were hoping for at least one decent nomination from the Brits."

 

 

Instead, it's his old bandmates Take That who are riding high. They topped the charts at Christmas and had one of last year's top selling albums. Maybe that full reunion is not such a bad idea after all, eh Rob?

 

 

The full list of Brits nominations will be unveiled at a star-studded bash at London's Hammersmith Palais on Tuesday which will feature performances from The Fratellis, The Feeling and Lemar - all of which will be screened on ITV2 at 8pm.

 

:o :arrr:

 

 

:o :o :o :o :o :o :o

:arrr: :arrr: :arrr: :arrr: :angry: :angry:

 

No wonder he lives in L.A. The UK treat him like $h!t these days. If he was to release a very commecial album that all sounded the same and actually agree to perform at the show then I suspect he would be nominated for loads of awards :rolleyes:

 

Those 3AM bitches should be fired. They make me sick and are an embaresment to journalism. Robbie is been snubbed by the Brits for years now, it's nothing new :rolleyes:

I am bloody sick of him being blamed on everything. Next they will be blaming him on global warming FFS :angry: :angry:

 

How dare EMI moan about losing money. They are the single most useless record company in existant and deserve to lose money if you ask me. If they want sales to improve who don't they put some effort into actually PROMOTING the album ffs :arrr:

A good write up for once ^_^

 

Musical lures for 2007

 

KYLIE Minogue, Robbie Williams and Elton John helped Australia end 2006 with a bang, and this year promises to be just as music-packed.

 

Big name acts including Gwen Stefani, Bob Dylan and Australia's Keith Urban have already been tipped to tour Aussie shores, joining popular American acts such as rock band the Red Hot Chili Peppers, the fiesty Pink and Britain's Eric Clapton.

 

Pomoter Michael Chugg says Australia's success in luring the world's biggest musical acts boosts the nation's economy by $1 billion a year.

 

Chugg, who brought UK pop sensation Robbie Williams to Australia in December, claims the former Take That singer injected half-a-billion dollars back into the local economy.

 

"In one tour he poured that much back into our economy,'' Chugg said.

 

"A lot of the money stays here because you have the production, the trucking, venues, staff, hotels, car hire, aeroplanes, support acts, APRA (Australian Performing Right Association) royalties, insurance costs. That money stays in the country. It's incredible.''

 

Chugg's competitor and former colleague, Michael Gudinski, the man responsible for showcasing Minogue's Showgirl Homecoming tour, says the live music scene is alive and kicking.

 

"Concerts in general as a business is stronger than ever,'' he said.

 

"The Australian dollar has gotten stronger and I think that has helped acts come out here. People are very price conscious and some acts are over-pricing themselves, but for big acts people know they are going to get quality and are prepared to pay big money for good seats.''

 

This month alone, Roger Waters of Pink Floyd fame, theatrical rock gods Jack Black and Kyle Gass of Tenacious D, plus legendary crooner Clapton will be gracing Australian stages.

And their concerts are expected to attract a diverse range of age groups.

 

"The days of not going to see an act because of your age seems to be disappearing,'' Chugg said.

 

"What we see to be happening is an incredible curiosity and treasure hunt for people looking for good music. It's certainly crossing over all genres. Someone like Robbie Williams pulls 10-year-olds to 70-year-olds and at Elton John I was surprised by how many young ones were there.

"It's happening with a lot of acts right now.''

 

The festival scene is also a big money spinner, beginning last month with Homebake in Sydney, followed by the Big Day Out concerts throughout Australia in January.

 

These festivals, plus the West (Perth) and East (Byron Bay) Coast Blues and Roots festivals have inspired others along the way, including the Good Vibrations national tour which begins on February 10 in Melbourne boasting the Beastie Boys and Jurassic 5.

 

Around Easter, festival fever hits overdrive with bands including the Pet Shop Boys, Groove Armada and the Pixies playing at Richard Branson's V Festival, while Aussie rock outfit Wolfmother will be joining international artists Ben Harper and John Mayer, plus Australia's own Missy Higgins at The Great Escape and Byron Bay's Blues and Roots festival.

 

"People want festivals because they want good music and to see a wide range of genres,'' Chugg said.

 

"It's become a whole family thing too and they see bands they have never heard of.''

 

While business is booming locally, Chugg's only gripe is with the lack of government help for Australian acts to showcase their material overseas.

 

"I hope the government wakes up and starts pouring more money into the Australian acts, because we have started to get good results and the more money they throw at it the better it's going to get,'' he said.

 

"I get frustrated when I see amateur ballet companies and opera companies being supported for millions of dollars, while contemporary music suffers.

 

"That's where the real income is coming from, contemporary music, but unfortunately we have been trying to get them to recognise that for 20 years.''

 

Well I knew that Robbie was to blame for all of EMI's woes..including bad management and not checking the "books" in Brazil.

 

Gosh the boy is big, big enough to bring down 2 executives.

Originally from the Daily Star. With thanks to RobbieWilliamsLive.

 

 

Robbie Williams wants Mr Motivator to stop him turning into Blobbie Williams

 

The Rudebox singer, 32, is desperate to sign up the former GMTV fitness guru as his personal trainer. A source close to the pop hunk said last night: “Robbie wants 2007 to be the year he becomes super-fit.

 

He’s given up booze and drugs and is stubbing out the cigarettes as well. But he’s worried snack attacks will see him piling on the pounds. Who better to whip him into shape than Mr Motivator? He’s remembered by millions for making keep-fit fun on GMTV in the 1990s.â€

 

Robbie has been battling to keep his weight under control for years. He once hit 16 stone and Oasis star Noel Gallaghger, 39, famously dubbed him “the fat dancer from Take Thatâ€. Robbie recently admitted he was worried that giving up cigarettes would see his waistline bulge.

 

He said, “ I’m a fat bloke inside this body and the minute I stop smoking, I’ll get even bigger.†He was also photographed looking porky when he and his double chin stumbled out of a US nightclub.

 

Source : Daily Star

 

 

I am bloody sick of him being blamed on everything. Next they will be blaming him on global warming FFS :angry: :angry:

 

 

That's what I thought. Robbie, the scapegoat, bring it all on. :arrr:

I just really hope it doesn't bother him too much. You never know with him, he might not give a s**t and laugh about it or he might take it really hard. :cry:

 

How dare they !!! :arrr: I knew he wouldn't win anything at the Brits, but the fact that they didn't even nominate him for Best Male is SHOCKING to me. :o B****y bast*rds.

Recently there was talk of the lifetime achievement award, I think the only way he'll ever get that is if he...

I don't really want to pronounce it, guess you'll get what I mean. I'm just so f***ing angry right now.

:angry: :angry: :puke2:

 

Posh and Becks mania hits US

from EMILY SMITH

US Editor, in Los Angeles

January 15, 2007

 

 

CELEBS led a rush to grab football tickets as David Beckham mania gripped Los Angeles yesterday.

 

Rod Stewart, movie director Steven Spielberg and Jennifer Lopez were among those who snapped up season tickets for his new club LA Galaxy.

 

And Victoria Beckham was mobbed when she jetted into LA to go house hunting amid scenes of chaos.

 

Galaxy have sold more than 5,000 season tickets at up to £1,500 each since Beckham’s £128million move from Real Madrid was announced.

 

A club source said: “The ticket office has been buzzing with the names of people who bought a ticket. Representatives of Rod Stewart have been in touch, as have those for Steven Spielberg.

 

“We’ve never had so many calls in such a short time.â€

 

Soccer-mad rocker Rod, 62, has an estate in Beverly Hills. Spielberg is believed to have bought the tickets for his three footie fan daughters.

 

 

Staff at LA Galaxy also say singer J-Lo and her singer husband Marc Anthony have bought tickets.

 

Other celebrity LA fans include singer Robbie Williams.Club spokesman Patrick Donnelly said they have had to bring in extra staff to man the phones. He added: “It has been quite amazing.â€

 

Cops were called as waiting photographers and fans mobbed Posh, 32, at Los Angeles airport on Saturday. One onlooker said: “It was absolute chaos.

 

“She travelled with three guards licensed to carry guns. Victoria isn’t taking chances with security.â€

 

A source close to Posh said she is in LA for five days to find a house.

 

Yesterday she took a second look at a mansion previously owned by Chris Evans and Billie Piper. She first visited it late last year.

 

Posh and Becks, 31, plan a massive farewell party for pals before leaving for America.

 

He joins Major League Soccer club LA Galaxy in August.

 

 

http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,2-2007020324,00.html

 

 

 

 

 

I know it's not a story about Robbie !!! ^_^ But I think he will be very happy the Beckhams

are moving to LA :cheer: :cheer:

Is British rocker holidaying in Qtown?

 

 

British rock heart-throb Robbie Williams is rumoured to have been holidaying in Queenstown for the past few days.

 

Williams was supposedly spotted on a Queenstown street on Sunday night wearing a hoodie pulled up over his head, jeans and dark sunglasses. If it was Williams, he has been keeping a very low profile and is believed to be holidaying under tight security at the plush Blanket Bay lodge near Glenorchy.

 

The rock idol's manager Tim Clark, who has been staying at the luxury boutique Spire Hotel in Queenstown, yesterday denied that the star was holidaying in the area.

 

"He's not with me, he's in Los Angeles, I'm here on holiday with my wife," Clark said.

 

Sources say they saw Tim Clark with three young people, a girl and two men. One of the men was wearing a pulled-up hoodie, faded jeans and dark sunglasses and spoke with a British accent and who the person said strongly resembled Robbie Williams.

 

Williams is thought to have been relaxing and taking in the sights in a private helicopter hired from Queenstown company Over the Top Helicopters.

 

Over The Top owner and founder Louisa Patterson said yesterday she could not confirm or deny whether her company had been flying the rock star around the Wakatipu.

 

A spokeswoman for the tightly-guarded Blanket Bay also said last night she could neither confirm or deny whether Williams was staying at the exclusive lodge.

 

When told every woman in Queenstown was keen to meet him, the senior staff member replied: "I bet they would, he's a wonderful man."

 

However, she would not confirm whether or not she had ever met the rock star.

 

The Daily Mirror in London reported yesterday that for the first time in 10 years, 32-year-old Williams, who has a record haul of 15 British Music Awards, has failed to impress the awards panel receiving no nominations for his latest album Rudebox. He has a conciliatory nomination in the Best Live Act category. Williams' has sold nearly 65 million records. He appears in the list of the all-time Top 100 biggest selling albums in the UK six times, more than any other person or group.

 

http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/southlandtime...29768a6011.html

 

 

 

Where's Queenstown? :unsure:

He seems to have been in LA on Saturday. :unsure:

 

 

From http://www.nydailynews.com/front/story/488751p-411630c.html

 

 

Pre-party crowd goes Globe-al

 

 

HBO's reigning pre-Golden Globes party brought out the Hollywood heavy hitters Saturday night.

A merry Heath Ledger lip-synced to "Lady Marmalade" standing next to Forest Whitaker standing next to Chris Rock. The Olsen twins came early, Best Actress nominee Helen Mirren and director hubby Taylor Hackford came late. ("Ask him what he's done since 'Ray' - that's guaranteed to get you punched out," one pal of the couple helpfully advised.)

 

Ioan Gruffudd reckons he'll rival Jessica Alba in the next "Fantastic Four." "It's a better role for me - more challenging, and sexier," he told us of the '07 sequel.

 

Looking craggy with a swept-back mane - and very handsome for it - was Matthew Perry; Chris Klein's new Graydon Carter hairline, not so much. "Mac guy" Justin Long chugged Patron tumblers at the bar with some very un-PC friends.

 

Cuba Gooding Jr., Robbie Williams, Bret Ratner, Anna Paquin, Jeremy Irons, Mark Wahlberg, Bill Paxton and Michael Keaton made the place look like a "52 pickup" game of Hollywood trading cards.

 

When we congratulated Sacha Baron Cohen on his nomination around 1 a.m., he replied: "Mazel tov! Now I'm going to bed."

 

 

 

 

 

He has a conciliatory nomination in the Best Live Act category. Williams' has sold nearly 65 million records. He appears in the list of the all-time Top 100 biggest selling albums in the UK six times, more than any other person or group.

 

 

Glad to hear some praise for once :smoke: