Newsline...

U2 was voted best Irish group and lead singer Bono was awarded a special Humanitarian of the Year award March 3 at the Meteor Ireland Music Awards. The ceremony at Dublin's Point Theatre—which was broadcast March 5 on national TV station RTE—also saw domestic awards collected by Carly Hennessy (best female singer, Universal), Mundy (best male singer, Camcor Records), Westlife (best pop act, BMG), John Spillane (best traditional/folk act, EMI Ireland), and the Thrills (best newcomer, Virgin). The best album award was given to Skylarking (Loza Records) by the late Mic Christopher. Bob Geldof was given a lifetime achievement award, while veteran songwriter/producer Phil Coulter was honored for his contribution to the Irish music industry. International winners were Coldplay (best international group), Red Hot Chili Peppers (best album, By the Way, Warner Bros.), Avril Lavigne (best female artist), and Eminem (best male artist). The majority of the awards are voted for by the public. Nick Kelly



Bruno Gérentes has quit as president/managing director of BMG France. New York-based Maarten Steinkamp, president of BMG International, will serve as interim president until a permanent successor is found. At press time, neither Gérentes nor Steinkamp would comment on the reasons for the former's departure. Billboard understands that Steinkamp will remain based in New York but plans to travel to Paris at least once a week to oversee the French business. Steinkamp says he does not plan to make "any radical changes" during what he calls a "transitional period." JAMES MARTIN



MTV Networks Europe has launched a new unit that is responsible for generating original music-related programming, with input provided by the broadcaster's production teams from its 17 European channels. The Development Unit's programming will also draw on some U.S. and international material. The division, which is part of the MTV Productions Europe group, aims to develop at least three new programming concepts and up to 20 pilots during 2003. The MTV Productions Europe group makes all of MTV Europe's network-wide programming, including the MTV Europe Music Awards. Matthew Bowes, formerly head of production at MTV U.K. and Ireland, is promoted to director of development for MTV Productions Europe, heading up the new unit. He reports to London-based MTV Productions Europe senior VP Richard Godfrey, who describes the new unit's function as "a collaborative process, which will draw upon the creativity and ideas of all of our channels across Europe and worldwide." Lars Brandle



The Recording Industry Assn. of Singapore (RIAS) says a total of 5,500 music CDs have been seized in raids on 10 shops and an apartment. The raids netted a total of 124,000 pirated optical discs, mainly comprising games and software. RIAS CEO Edward Neubronner says the CDs contained mostly MP3 tracks of top 40 acts. Singapore police arrested 17 people and seized goods worth $1.7 million Singapore ($973,600). Neubronner adds, "We expect court trials to take place within six months. They are very efficient here." RIAS estimates Singapore's music-piracy rate to be 12%. STEVEN PATRICK



Belgium's annual Rock Werchter music festival will celebrate its 30th anniversary by adding a fourth day this year. Promoter Clear Channel Entertainment Belgium has confirmed that the festival—one of Europe's largest—will take place June 26-29. This year's "anniversary edition" will feature appearances by Björk, Radiohead, and Underworld (26); Moby and Massive Attack (27); Metallica and Queens of the Stone Age (28); and Coldplay and R.E.M. (29). A total of 50 acts will perform during the four days. Marc Maes



Finnish music shipments fell in 2002, according to Finland's International Federation of the Phonographic Industry-affiliated labels body, the ÄKT. Overall, shipments in 2002 dropped 7% to slightly below 9 million units, with value down 5% to 65 million euros ($71.5 million). Pirated music from Russia poses the biggest threat to the market, according to the ÄKT, although the body says that tougher anti-piracy action by the authorities in Tallinn has reduced the number of pirate CDs brought in from neighboring Estonia.

JONATHAN MANDER



Gerhard Zeiler has been named CEO of Bertelsmann-owned RTL Group, Europe's biggest broadcasting conglomerate. Press reports had recently touted BMG CEO Rolf Schmidt-Holtz as a candidate for the position, until he confirmed his commitment to stay in a recent letter to staffers (Billboard Bulletin, Feb. 28). Previous incumbent Didier Bellens recently left RTL to take the helm of Belgian state-owned telecoms firm Belgacom. Zeiler, an Austrian native, retains his current role as managing director of commercial German broadcaster RTL TV. Wolfgang Spahr