BBC STORY - BJÖRN TAX

ABBA star hit with £6.5m tax bill

ABBAa star Bjorn Ulvaeus has been accused of avoiding paying 87 million Swedish kronor (£6.5m) in taxes on the band's hit songs and musicals.

The Swedish government has demanded he repay the money. They say he did not include the correct royalties on tax returns from 1999-2003.

ABBA have sold 370 million records and he also co-wrote the musical Mamma Mia!

Ulvaeus's lawyer told a Swedish paper the tax agency did not understand the musician's tax arrangements.

Officials said Ulvaeus handed over his royalties to companies based abroad and used offshore banks to avoid paying tax.

'Sham' contracts

But the tax agency said the deals were sham contracts and Ulvaeus still had access to the money and should have declared it as personal income.

"This has just been a construction to avoid taxes," agency spokesman Jan-Erik Backman said.

"The meaning [behind the contracts] is really something different than what the official papers say."

But Ulvaeus's lawyer Sven Rygaard told the Dagens Nyheter newspaper: "We are pretty convinced we will win this.

"We will explain to the tax authority how this was done. I don't think they have managed to understand how this has worked."

With Benny Andersson, Ulvaeus wrote the band's hits such as Waterloo and Dancing Queen as well as the stage shows Chess and Mamma Mia!

Tom Hanks will turn Mamma Mia! into a film, according to reports, while their hits are due to be made available as mobile phone ringtones for the first time.

But Ulvaeus recently said the group would never stage a reunion as their "creativity" together had gone.

NOW FRIDA IN TAX FRAID

Taxman chases second Abba member

Published: 28th April 2006 19:43 CET
www.thelocal.se

Abba star Anni-Frid Reuss-Lyngstad is being chased by the Swedish tax authorities for 12 million kronor, which they say is owed in tax. Lyngstad is accused of passing the money through a string of offshore jurisdictions in order to avoid tax in Sweden.

Switzerland-based Lyngstad is said to have moved money from Abba's record companies Polar and Universal to a company in Panama. The company, Chaperon, was shown in a tax declaration for the period 2000-2002, to be 100 percent owned by the Abba star, Dagens Nyheter reported.

The news follows revelations that fellow Abba star Björn Ulvaeus is facing a demand for 87 million kronor in back tax from Swedish authorities.

According to an investigation by the Swedish tax authority, Lyngstad has actively moved the ownership of her share of the Abba rights between companies in different countries. The company in Panama took over the rights from Chaperon Limited, an Ireland-based company.

According to documents seen by The Local, Chaperon Limited has also previously been registered in Britain.

The purpose of moving the companies between different countries was allegedly to be able to make the costs for the acquisition of the rights by the different companies tax deductible.

Swedish tax authorities last year declared that Chaperon was liable to pay tax of 12 million kronor on earnings of 38 million kronor. Chaperon's assets were frozen for a time during the investigation.

The company has now appealed the tax authority's decision to the Stockholm Administrative Court.

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Ian Cole, Sydney, Australia

MORE ON BJÖRN TAX ISSUE

From reuters.com

STOCKHOLM (Reuters) - ABBA star Bjorn Ulvaeus faces a demand for unpaid tax on royalties from the band's hit songs and musicals he wrote with Benny Andersson after the band broke up in 1983, tax authorities and his lawyer said on Friday.

Tax authorities said that by signing over his royalties to companies based abroad and banking them offshore he had avoided paying taxes to the tune of 87 million crowns ($11.58 million) between 1999-2003. His lawyer said Ulvaeus was appealing against the tax office's decision.

"We believe he owns the rights and that he did not give this information in his declarations," Merja Classon, an official at the tax authority, told Swedish radio.

But the 60-year-old musician's lawyer Sven Rygaard said he had appealed against the decision and Ulvaeus was within his rights to take legally permitted measures to reduce his tax bill.

"We are convinced we are right," Rygaard told Swedish radio.

ABBA became stars after winning the Eurovision Song Contest in 1974 and at the height of their success were Sweden's biggest export.

The band sold 370 million records and left its members rich enough turn down lucrative offers for reunion tours.

Bjorn and Benny, who were the musical and business brains in the band, went on to make even more money after the break-up by writing hit musicals such as "Chess" and "Mamma Mia!" and with business ventures including music production and hotels.

This week the pair signed a lucrative deal releasing the ABBA hits as ringtones for mobile phones. They also re-released their 1970 duo album Lycka earlier this year.

Sweden's income taxes, with a top marginal rate of 58 percent, are among the highest in the world.

MORE ON BJÖRN TAX FRAUD

ABBA Star in Tax Trouble
PB: Staffan Almqvist

The Swedish Tax Agency claims that former Swedish ABBA member and present music magnate, Björn Ulvaeus, ows them approximately 12 million dollars in unpaid taxes, fees and interest rates.

The Agency accuses the former ABBA star of money laundry, having “laundried” his income from music production in foreign companies in for example Holland, Isle of Man and the Antilles.

Ulvaeus signed over his music production rights to alleged companies already in the seventies, and has thus avoided paying taxes on income from royalties. Ulvaeus’ lawyer says to news paper Dagens Nyheter that the former ABBA member’s business contracts are based on other reasons than avoiding paying taxes.

http://www.sr.se/cgi-bin/International/nyhetssidor/artikel.asp?ProgramID=2054&Nyheter=&artikel=846750

BJÖRN IN TAX FRAUD

Abba's Björn accused of 87m kronor tax fiddle

Published: 28th April 2006 09:42 CET

Former Abba member Björn Ulvaeus is facing a bill of 87 million kronor (12 million dollars) in back taxes, interest and charges from the Swedish Tax Board, which has accused him of 'laundering' his music income through an offshore tax haven.

Much of Ulvaeus's wealth from his Abba days, as well as from his own music production, has been held in an endowment on the Isle of Man, off the west coast of Britain, reported Dagens Nyheter.

Royalty payments and income from record sales have been channelled through a network of trusts in Holland and other tax havens, ending up in the endowment managed by the Royal Skandia insurance company.

In the 1970s the Abba members signed a number of agreements which transferred their rights to various companies.

But the Swedish Tax Board now says that agreement was a sham, that he was operating from Sweden and that the royalties should therefore have been taxed.

In 1984 Ulvaeus moved to England but since then has lived for many years in Sweden. According to the tax board's calculations, almost 100 million kronor in royalties were paid through the network of foreign companies between 1998 and 2003.

In 2003 Ulvaeus declared Swedish income of 2 million kronor.

"The tax board's basis for the decision is that Björn did not sign over his rights, but they were transferred according to the rules, and not because of the tax effects," said Björn Ulvaeus's legal advisor, Sven Rygard, to Dagens Nyheter.

"It was for English reasons that it was done when Björn moved there in 1984. That's what the tax board has now found fault with. Obviously we're going to appeal against this. We're pretty convinced that we'll be proven correct here."

The Swedish Tax Board's demand includes increased tax assessment, penalty charges and interest, totalling 86.9 million kronor.

The Local

http://www.thelocal.se/article.php?ID=3672&date=20060428

MAMMA MIA! HITS MEXICO

'Mamma Mia! ' mini tour through Mexico

The history of a mother, a daughter and three possible parents that narrate Mamma Mia! will invade the Country.

Produced by the producer Judy Craymer, the writer Catherine Johnson and the director Phyllida Lloyd, the setting will be from the 7 to June 11 in the AUDITORIO NACIONAL of the DF, anf from there to TEATRO DIANA from Guadalajara for a season of the 20 to the 25 of the same month.

Two days later, June 27, and until July 2 will touch regal lands in the AUDITORIO LUIS ELIZONDO here in MONTERREY.

For all the shows, the sale of tickets for the public in general will begin April 29 through the Ticketmaster system:

http://www.ticketmaster.com.mx/

The towns will have a cost of 850 pesos in the area of Orchestra, 650 in Luneta To and 450 in Luneta B.

Based on the success of the famous Swedish group ABBA, the show debuted April 6 of 1999 in London and three years later in New York, on Broadway.

In 2002, the show received five Tony nominations.

According to estimates, the show generates 8 million weekly dollars at the box office and has been seen by more than 24 million people -both in the cities where it is headquartered (New York, Las Vegas and London) as in the many places where touring productions have visited.

In two and a half hours, Mamma Mia! tells the history of a young girl who is about to get married and want to discover who is her father. There are three possible contenders - men who were part of the past of her mother.

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Oscar Lozano, Mexico

BAO LIVE - THE TRACK LIST

BAO PÅ TURNÉ - BAO ON TOUR

The new live album contains 22 songs including two new tracks written by Benny & Björn and sung by Helen Sjöholm and Tommy Körberg. They are Det Är Vi Ändå (It's Us After All) (already released as a radio single in Sweden) and För Dig (For You).

The other tracks on this live album are:
Glasgow Boogie
Vitalins Vals (Vitalin's Waltz)
När Tvenne Hjärtan Slå (When Two Hearts Beat)
Klinga Mina Klockor (Ring My Bells)
Födelsedagsvals Till Mona (Birthday Waltz For Mona)
Tobakshandlarvisa (Tobacco Dealer's Song)
Lätt Som En Sommarfjäril (Light As A Summer Butterfly),
Aj Aj Aj Vilken Röd Liten Ros (Ow Ow Ow, What A Red Little Rose)
Slängpolska Efter Bysskalle (Throw Reel the dance for 'Bysskalle')
Gamle Svarten (Old Blackie)
Hjortingen (Little Deer)
Bälter Svens Paradpolkett
Moon River
Bachs Badinerie (Bach's Banter)
O Sole Mio
Jehu
Du Är Min Man (You Are My Man)
True Love
Vår Sista Dans (Our Last Dance)
Medley Ett Glatt Humör / Säg Det Med Ett Leende / Vårat Gäng / Bättre Och Bättre Dag För Dag (A Happy Mood / Say It With A Smile / Our Gang / Better And Better Day by Day).

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Dominic 'Ice' Wallis, Southampton, UK

BAO LIVE CD COVER

Here is an early picture of the cover of Benny Andersson Orkester's "live album" to be released in Sweden



Pre-orders are already being taken at some Swedish on-line shops.

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Dominic "Ice" Wallis, Southampton, UK

IT'S ONLY APRIL AND LOOK WHAT'S HERE!

Well, it may only be April, but there is a 2007 calendar already announced. Check out: http://eil.com/shop/moreinfo.asp?catalogid=357709

Interesting is the Daily Mirror (a UK tabloid) logo in the bottom right hand corner.

Nice photo on the cover. Not sure I have seen this one before.

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Neil Barber, Singapore

THE TIMES ON LINE - ARTICLE

www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2-2140612.html

It's ABBA on the phone making a lot more money, money, moneyBy Adam Sherwin, Media Correspondent

THEY have already generated £300 million from hit songs and musicals. Now ABBA’s fortunes will receive a new boost after the group agreed to release their music as ringtones.

Money, Money, Money, Dancing Queen, Ring Ring and Thank You for the Music are among the hits that will be made available as full-track “truetones” under the deal with Universal Music.

Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus, ABBA’s songwriters, are two of the most astute businessmen in pop, each having amassed a fortune from the band’s catalogue of hits. It took years of negotiations for the pair to agree a deal with global mobile operators, including Verizon Wireless, T-Mobile, Orange and the Japanese operator NTT DoCoMo.

The songwriters wanted to ensure that the ringtones would be digitised versions from the band’s master recording, rather than synthesised.

Arctic Monkeys are among a minority of top-selling artists who refuse to allow their music to be sold as ringtones, an industry worth £3.2 billion last year.

Representatives of the Beatles can do little to prevent “monophonic” synthesised re-creations of their hits being sold as £3 ringtones from unlicensed websites. However, it emerged during the band’s copyright case against Apple Computer that their entire back catalogue is being digitally remastered for release on the internet, with ringtone sales likely to follow.

ABBA sold 370 million records, earning Andersson and Ulvaeus £100 million each. The singers Anni-Frid Lyngstad and Agnetha Fältskog earned £12 million and £6 million. The ABBA hits catalogue is exceeded in value only by the Beatles’.

The group agreed to let Madonna use Gimme! as the basis for her comeback single Hung Up, only the second time they had allowed their music to be “sampled” by other artists. Revenues at Sweden’s performing rights organisation were significantly boosted by the worldwide hit.

Mårten Aglander, managing director of Universal Music Sweden, said: “ABBA have always been very thorough in every new area they have entered, and as a result they always come out on top — from recordings to concerts, from DVDs to musicals. Now it’s great to have their involvement in, and devotion to, this latest enterprise — distribution of their music through mobile phones.”

The Mamma Mia! musical, featuring many of their hits, has played in 16 countries, earning the songwriters a further £112 million and a place in Britain’s rich list for Judy Craymer, its London producer. At their peak in the 1970s, ABBA avoided paying Sweden’s 85 per cent top tax rate by investing in a bicycle-making business. They took earnings from tours behind the Iron Curtain in potatoes, fruit and fuel, although they lost £26 million when oil prices crashed.

The mobile phone music sector will be worth £6.1 billion in 2010, Informa Media and Telecoms predicts. Phones accounted for nearly 40 per cent of international digital music sales last year

Crazy Frog was Britain’s best-selling ringtone last year, generating revenues of £40 million,

The operator 3 sold one million song downloads accesible by both phone and PC at £1.50 each within four months

Roaming data charges can force up the price of a £1.50 single track to £14 if downloaded in Spain

In Japan, 99 per cent of digital music downloads are to mobile phones rather than to a computer.

www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,542-2140876,00.html

Ring ka-ching

Knowing them, and knowing us, neither ABBA nor their earlier fans could have imagined in their vinyl heyday that the group would end up making money, money, money by selling Ring, Ring and other songs from their seminal catalogue as downloadable ringtones. But there’s no predicting the outcomes of pop culture’s epic romance with technology. ABBA have, in fact, been slow to exploit the fashion for broadcasting your taste in music every time someone calls you on your mobile. This is not because Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus were unaware. Rather, with characteristic caution, they have been waiting until a deal came along that would guarantee e-disciples real (“polyphonic”) ringtones instead of crudely synthesized ones.

Or so they say. As it happens, the resulting arrangement will also earn Benny and Björn untold millions while giving fans a whole new way to take a chance on a man after midnight. The only losers will be callers. They will surely will find themselves waiting longer than ever for a response, as the sheer more-ishness of Sweden’s signature sound compels downloaders to sway along to whole tracks before answering.

It may be the risk of such aural overload that has persuaded the Arctic Monkeys not to sell their songs to mobile-users — despite clamorous demand and the observation on their latest album that “There's only music, so that there's new ringtones”. The Prime Minister, formerly of the Ugly Rumours, has faced no such clamour; only requests from his switchboard to make clear that “ring Tone” is not an instruction.

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Paul Carter, London, UK

VARIETY ARICLE ABOUT MAMMA MOVIE

ABBA tuner to bigscreen

By MICHAEL FLEMING

'Mamma Mia!' which mixes love, laughs and the ABBA song catalog, is being prepped for a feature adaptation by Playtone.

Dancing Queens all over the world will no doubt rejoice.

"Mamma Mia!" -- the tunertuner that made theatre snobs cringe but that worldwide audiences embraced -- has fuelled the bigscreen interest of Playtone partners Tom Hanks and Gary Goetzman.

They closed a deal with Littlestar - the company run by the show's producer, Judy Craymer - and ABBA songwriters Benny Andersson and Bjorn Ulvaeus, and they are in talks with Universal to finance and distribute.

The filmmakers are eyeing release by late 2007. The show's book writer, Catherine Johnson, is penning the screenplay, which will stick closely to the crowd-pleasing musical's plot. Raised on a Greek island by a formerly rebellious mom who never disclosed the identity of her father, a bride-to-be locates three men who might be her father and invites them to her wedding. The resulting conflict triggers 22 ABBA hits like "Dancing Queen," "Take a Chance on Me" and "The Winner Takes It All."

Craymer, who has opened the jukebox musical in 130 cities around the globe, will produce with Goetzman. Hanks, Rita Wilson, Andersson and Ulvaeus exec produce.

Craymer had rebuffed film offers for years but liked the Playtone pitch and what Hanks, Goetzman and Wilson had done to turn Nia Vardalos' one-woman stage show into "My Big Fat Greek Wedding." Craymer will be as closely involved in the film as she is in the 11 productions of the show currently playing worldwide.

Craymer and Johnson were broke when they first tried to put the show together and were even snubbed by the Swedish pop group whose music formed the basis for the show. They are now two of the wealthiest women in England.

Craymer's marriage of plot and ABBA tunes is a global juggernaut that has grossed $1.6 billion since its London opening in 1999. It has been steadily among Broadway's top five grossing shows since opening five years ago and averages over $1 million a week in ticket sales.

"The time felt right. The partnership with Gary and Tom helped everything to fall into place," Craymer said. "We've never had stars in the show, the music has always been the star, but we are certainly thinking about names as we take this from the stage to the screen."

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Stephen McLaughlin Darlington, United Kingdom

(ABBAMAIL Admin note: thanks to all the regular website readers that sent us links to stories about Mamma Mia! being made into a movie - your enthusiasm is much appreciated!)

FRIDA ARTICLE IN UK PRESS

There was a 2-page spread in the UK's Sunday Express (16 April) featuring photos from the new book on Frida.

There is a website for the book at http://atributetofrida.online.fr/

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Paul Carter, London, UK

NEW FRIDA BOOK: REPORT

..well, I got it today :-) Yes, I'm talking about that tribute to Frida thingy!

What an amazing amount of pictures it includes! Some really great shots of the princess, mostly from the ABBA time (the post ABBA years aren't hardly covered at all! just about the last 20 out of 150 pages!). But from what we know about Mr. Potiez from the ABBA book some years ago, his intention is to show Frida at her very best, so it's logical to concentrate on the time when she was younger ;-P

And really, there are some fantastic shots included, some of which that I haven't seen before (though the actual sessions look familiar). And there is one really scary pic, on page 21!!

Some ABBA pics are also included - yes! After 100 pictures of la Lyngstad, in all different kinds of moods and face expressions, it's simply wonderful to see the blonde one smile at you for a change ;-) Overall, a good book, well done. Though more than 200 photos at once can be a bit of an overkill, so be sure to be a really big Frida fan before you buy it!

And interestingly enough, it follows the same concept as the Frida DVD last year: DISGUSTING cover - but yet great content! (in case of the book, the cover-photo itself is OK, but the design, especially the fonts they used for the word "Frida", are truly awful)

Anyway, a nice little book to add to the collection. Especially if you're fond of pictures!

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Harry Ehler, Linz, Austria

CHART UPDATE

Not a lot of difference in the charts this week.

AUSTRIA:
ABBA - ABBA GOLD - up 19 to #39

SWITZERLAND:
ABBA - ABBA GOLD - off the chart.

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Dean Scapolo, Wellington, New Zealand

BJÖRN IN GERMANY

Yesterday, 19.04.06, Björn Ulvaeus together with Anna-Clara Blixt Modin from Stagepool, formally presented the first StagePool scholarship for the German-speaking area to two up-and-coming artists. Mezzo soprano Anke Haas from Darmstadt and the actress Janina Elkin from Hamburg were the winners. All the details about the ceremony and Stagepool can be seen at http://www.stagepool.com

Many members of the press were present, including the ZDF and the Norddeutsche Rundfunk. Alain Barthel from ABBA.de was also there and afterwards spoke with Björn about his involvement and brought along his star-shaped guitar. Björn was visibly moved and touched. He said that he could never have dreamed of seeing that guitar again and holding it in his hands. Björn then signed his star guitar, which he had last held in his hands 32 years ago. He had donated it to BRAVO for a Christmas bazaar all those years ago and a young man called Peter Baumert had then won it. ABBA.de then bought the guitar from Mr. Baumert.

Finally, accompanied by Lena, Björn went to the musical Mamma Mia!

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Sarah Marchant, Kent, UK

NOW MAMMA MIA! THE MOVIE

ABBA stage show 'to become film'

Mamma Mia is based on the hits of Swedish group ABBA

Stage show Mamma Mia, based on the music of ABBA, is being made into a film, according to reports.

Actor Tom Hanks is to produce the film along with ABBA songwriters Björn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson, says Hollywood newspaper Daily Variety.

The film could be released at the end of the year to coincide with the musical's 10 years on the London stage.

The show features many of ABBA's hits from the 1970s and 80s, including The Winner Takes It All and Dancing Queen.

The musical has been shown all over the world and has grossed more than $1.6bn (£897m).

Better-known names

Judy Craymer, who devised the musical based on ABBA's hits, is going to be involved with the film.

When she initially approached Ulvaeus with the idea in 1987 he turned it down, but eventually the first production premiered in 1999.

While the musical has not featured star names, the film could attract better-known names.

"We've never had stars in the show, the music has always been the star, but we are certainly thinking about names as we take this from the stage to the screen," said Craymer.

Mamma Mia has been seen by an estimated 24 million people worldwide

Hanks' production company Playtone will be involved in the project, while talks to secure financial backing and a distribution deal are taking place with Universal.

Meanwhile, some of the songs of ABBA are being made available to download onto mobile phones as ring tones for the first time.

Hits including Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!, SOS and Ring Ring were selected by the group's songwriters Ulvaeus and Andersson.

The "realtones" are excerpts of the original recording rather than a synthesised copy.

The ABBA ringtones, published by Universal Music, will be available on a number of mobile networks including T-Mobile, Orange and Vodafone.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/4923264.stm

CHART NEWS

And here are the chart stats for the week of 7-14 April 2006.

AUSTRIA: ABBA - ABBA GOLD - up 9 to #58 (Week 61)
SWITZERLAND: ABBA - ABBA GOLD - back in at #78 (Week 112)

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Dean Scapolo, Wellington, New Zealand

ABBA IN SYMPHONY

http://www.oikotimes.com/site/index.php?id=4726

ABBA in symhony is this summer’s biggest celebrity event if you happen to be ABBA fan or just pop music enthusiast. The Swedish pop and musical king Tommy Körberg is the driving force behind the project. Körberg is the director and also one artist within the Nordic mega show. The other artists are Geir Rönning from Finland, Trine Rein from Norway and Maarja from Estonia. Gylleneskor.se managed to get Geir Rönning to uncover some of that secrecy that has been surrounding the show. Rönning tells that this is unbelievably great. ABBA-Benny got the approval to use the name ABBA as a brand and to market it. Benny along with Tommy has chosen 28 ABBA songs to use in the show. Enthusiastic Geir tells that in the beginning they started with 40 songs.

There is a plan to broadcast the musical show also on TV. Naturally the Norwegian TV bought the rights for the show. It is decided and clear now that there will be total 19 concerts in Sandefjord with the grand premier on the 28th of June. The show will end on the 23rd of July, but the producer Jan Jensen said that there might be some extra concerts. According to Jensen the “ABBA in symphony” team is also considering the possibility to make a tour with the show around Scandinavia. The event on the stage involves the efforts of total 60 people. And the ABBA fans are promised to hear totally new versions of the legend’s immortal songs.

Engaged within the show are a symphony orchestra, a pop band and a choir. Geir Rönning will sing among other songs also “The Name of The Game” and “Like an Angel Passing through My Room”. Tommy Körberg is a famous Swedish singer who has succeeded all around the world. He has beend singing everything starting from Jazz, pop etc. He has been involved with ESC with songs “Judy min vän” and “stad I Ljus”. Trine Rein is a Norwegian singer who’s most famous hits are “Just Missed The Train” and “Torn”. The debut album sold 60000 exemplars.

Geir Rönning is a Norwegian-born singer, who now lives in Finland. He has worked with celebrities like Toto and Robert Wells and has the nickname as Mr. Eurovision, since he has been taking part in both Norwegian and Finnish Eurovision song selection for many times. Maarja (Full name: Maarja-Liis Ilus) is the first Estonian singer who actually had an international success. She has presented Estonia in Eurovision Song Contest finals two times (1996 and 1997) and was competing also in Swedish Melodifestivalen 2003. She is known for countless musical acts.

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Ian Cole Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

ABBA RINGTONES GET THE NOD

RING RING: ABBA HITS GO MOBILE FOR FIRST TIME
Group's iconic masters are realtones through Universal Music Mobile

----

The global hits of one of the most popular groups in recorded music history are going mobile for the first time.

From today, the original hits of ABBA are available as realtones for mobile phones, as the result of approval newly given by the Swedish supergroup's songwriters, Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus. ABBA's recordings have sold an estimated 370 million units worldwide.

Among the ABBA anthems cleared for mobile are "Ring Ring," "Mamma Mia," "SOS," "Dancing Queen" and "Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight)." A
realtone is an excerpt of the actual master recording, rather than a synthesised ringtone, used to personalise a mobile phone.

Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus were personally involved in the selection of the realtones, working with executives at Universal Music Mobile and Universal Music Sweden. The realtones are being marketed to consumers worldwide through Universal Music Mobile and its telecom partners, including Vodafone, SFR, Orange, T-Mobile, DoCoMo, KDDI and more than 60 other operators worldwide.

Lucian Grainge, Chairman and Chief Executive of Universal Music Group International, commented, "Today's consumers demand their music in many different forms, so the first-time availability of original ABBA recordings as realtones means that millions of music fans worldwide can enjoy these iconic hits as never before."

Mårten Aglander, Managing Director of Universal Music Sweden, said, "ABBA have always been very thorough in every new area they have entered, and as a result, they always come out on top – from recordings to concerts, from DVDs to musicals. Now it's great to have their involvement in, and devotion to, this latest enterprise: distribution of their music through mobile phones."

The newly available ABBA realtones, in addition to the titles listed above, include "Waterloo," "Super Trouper," "Money, Money, Money," "Fernando," "Knowing Me, Knowing You," "Voulez-Vous," "Does Your Mother Know," "Honey Honey," "Take A Chance On Me," "I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do," and "Thank You For The Music."

ABBA's hits collection, ABBA GOLD, stands as one of the most popular albums in music history, with global sales of more than 23 million copies. The group's extensive catalogue continues to sell as CDs, DVDs and digital downloads, helped by the worldwide success of "Mamma Mia!" Trade publication Billboard recently reported that revenues at Sweden's performing rights organisation were boosted by the popularity of the musical and the use of a sample from "Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight)" in Madonna's worldwide hit, "Hung Up."

Thanks to ABBAMAILer - Chris Williams, Herefordshire, United Kingdom

FROM THE "EVEN MORE BIZARRE..." DEPARTMENT

ABBA THE GOLD SINGLES DVD

ABBA Gold has frequently been hailed as the greatest compilation album ever released.

It has certainly sold millions of copies ...but does it really stand up to scrutiny as the ultimate single record of Abba's finest moments?

Drawing on rare ABBA performances from TV and film archives around the world, this is the first ever independent film review of ABBA Gold.

The film draws on the reflections of a team of leading critics, musicologists and working musicians to produce the most authoritative and comprehensive review of a landmark in popular music.

Editorial Control: To ensure editorial control, the film is totally unauthorized and has not been authorized or approved by past or present members or management of the band.

http://www.classicrockdirect.com/proddetail.asp?prod=CRP2069

------------------------------------------

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Ian Cole Sydney, Australia

FRENCH ABBA TV SPECIAL

There's a TV special happening in France on Saturday, April 22.

The program is a special show about ABBA's career. It's a disco evening with guests such as Gloria Gaynor, apparently there will be some rare ABBA footage. But let's be realistic. When there was the special about Daniel Balavoine, guests sang his songs and very little footage of Balavoine was shown.

http://lachaine.tf1.fr/lachaine/programmes/musique/0,,3215698,00.html

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Pascale Ranson, Lille, France

BOOK? WHAT BOOK? ARE YOU SURE?

For months now there's been two rather strange looking listings on booksites for the books Thank You For The Music and ABBA - The Ultimate, where the author was listed as Benny?

Well, it seems to be true!

And it seems that the two books are one and the same. Looking at the previously known Boofinder link for The Ultimate, reveals that the book Thank You For The Music: Inside Story of How ABBA and Mamma Mia! Rewrote Musical History and Had the Time of Their Lives... By Benny Andersson, Björn Ulvaeus and Judy Cramer will be published in October or November 2006.

http://www.bookfinder4u.com/IsbnSearch.aspx?isbn=0297844210&mode=direct
The only thing so far on the publisher's website http://www.orionbooks.co.uk/ is a page in a pdf document of coming releases for July-December 2006

---------------------------------------

The blurb from that pdf:

Benny Andersson, Björn Ulvaeus, Judy Cramer Thank You For The Music

The official inside story of ABBA and Mamma Mia!

This is the incredible story of a double phenomenon: the group who turned the pop world on its head in the 1970s, and the record-breaking musical based on their songs, seen by over 20 million people in 85 cities.

Through the anecdotes, recollections and reflections of the band members, together with commentary and insights from the cast of Mamma Mia! and photographs from their official archives, we get an exclusive insight into ABBA, and the story of the making of their record-breaking musical. This is the complete, fascinating story of the ABBA phenomenon.

ABBA remain the world's second-biggest selling band of all time; Abba Gold, released in 1992, has sold 26 million copies world-wide. Judy Cramer is the executive producer of Mamma Mia! and was the person who first saw the potential of a musical based on ABBA's songs.

Music Cased September £25.00 264 pages 310 x 240 mm 300 colour photographs 0 297 84421 0 978 0 297 84421 1 Markets: World USA, Translation & Serial: W&N

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Ian Cole Sydney, Australia

RADIO SINGLE FROM NEW BAO LIVE ALBUM

The first radio single from BAO's forthcoming live-CD "BAO På Turné" (BAO On Tour) is to be released with the previously released "Det Är Vi Ändå" with music by Benny Andersson, lyrics by Björn Ulvaeus and sung by Helen Sjöholm and Tommy Körberg.

It was first performed on Allsång på Skansen last year.

In the summer of 2006 there'll not be any BAO tour. Instead of this, the CD "BAO På Turné" (BAO On Tour) will be released on May 10. It was recorded during last year's tour in Örebro and Leksand.

More information will come.

http://www.monomusic.se/

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Jan Bach, Denmark and Dominic "Ice" Wallis, UK

MIDNIGHT SPECIAL COMING TO DVD

The show that ran from 1972-1981 which ABBA (among many music greats) appeared on several times is coming to DVD through a mail order only subscription plan. There is no info yet on when they will start to release them or if it will be every episode or just special complations.

The full report can be found here:
http://tvshowsondvd.com/newsitem.cfm?NewsID=5415

Also The Midnight Special wensite here:
http://www.midnightspecial.com/

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Pepe Melton, California, USA

ABBA IN WILL YOUNG VIDEO

ABBA feature in Will Young's latest video which is themed on UK Children's TV Show "Blue Peter" But, dont blink or you'll miss it.

You can see the video here
http://www.wyoung.co.uk/cinema/
(Will Young's official site)

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Gareth Thomas, Wales, UK

BENNY'S LATEST PROTEGE

Here is a link to Florence's performance of "Stjärnor och himlar" on Gokväll on 4 April. It is about 21 minutes in:

http://svt.se/content/1/c6/56/91/38/gokvall.asx

This must be the closest that Benny has come to a pop production for many years, and I really do like the subtle production (more so maybe than the vocalists...) It will be interesting to hear the full album when released.

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Paul Carter, London, UK

LYCKA RELEASED IN MAY

The release date for Björn & Benny's classic "Lycka" album on CD has been announced.

The date is May 22. It will only be released in Austria, Germany, The Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the UK. The booklet will, unfortunately, only be in the Swedish language.

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Stephen McLaughlin, Darlington,United Kingdom

AGNETHA'S BIRTHDAY PRESENT: STALKER IS BACK!

Expressen has reported that Agnetha's stalker, Gert van der Graaf was arrested (again) outside her home. He was released a day later and Agnetha was forced to celebrate her birthday in fear.

Despite being issued with restraining orders, Gert has continued to hound Agnetha at her home. Locals saw Gert in the area and called the police. While he was charged again with hounding Agnetha with letters and phone calls over a two year period, the police decided to release him. They made him sign a new restraining order (ABBAMAIL's comment: Big deal!)

Gert claims he came to Sweden again because it was Agnetha's birthday and he wanted to talk to her for "five minutes". Despite assuring the police and a court that he would stay away from Agnetha, he told Expressen he would continue to seek contact with her.

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Scott Nilsson, Kentucky USA

SYDNEY DAILY TELEGRAPH REMEMBERS AGNETHA

The Daily Telegraph here in Sydney every day has a birthday on this day column and earlier today (Wednesday April 5) Agnetha is listed again as in previous years, and they actually seemed to have updated it from what I remember. No photo. The other 3 listed were Don Blackie ( test cricketer from Victoria in the 50s) and Bette Davis both with added head photos, and Spencer Tracy, actor.

AGNETHA FALTSKOG
Born in Jonkoping, Sweden, in 1950. She released her first album in 1968 and starred in Jesus Christ Superstar in 1971. She had worldwide hits with ABBA in the '70s. She has since released several solo albums, her latest, My Colouring Book, in 2004.

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Greg Roberts, Sydney, Australia

B & B MEET KATE RYAN

Last week, ABBA's Björn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson visited Belgium for the occasion of the Flemish version of the musical Mamma Mia! The former Eurovision Song Contest winners used the opportunity to whisper this year's Belgian representative Kate Ryan some good advice in the ear.

Details at:
http://www.belgovision.com/en/index_f.php?id=926

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Ron Miskoff, Edison USA

ANN SOFIE'S ALBUM TRACKLIST

Anne Sofie Otter's album "I Let The Music Speak - A celebration of Benny Andersson/Björn Ulvaeus" is released in August.

This is the tracklist:

1. The Day Before You Came
Arr.: Fleshquartet
Georg Wadenius, guitars · Fleshquartet, strings & percussion

2. I Let The Music Speak
Arr.: Anders Eljas & Georg Wadenius
Georg Wadenius, guitar · Fredrik Jonsson, acoustic bass · Magnus Persson, drums
& percussion · Jörgen Stenberg, vibraphone · Mikael Augustsson, accordion David Björkman, violin · Roland Kress, violin · Jakob Ruthberg, viola Anna Wallgren, cello · Magnus Lindgren, flute

3. When All Is Said And Done
Georg Wadenius, guitar · Fredrik Jonsson, acoustic bass · Magnus Persson, drums
Jörgen Stenberg, vibraphone · Lars Englund, Dobro® guitar · Calle Moraeus, violin

4. I Walk With You, Mama
Arr.: Benny Andersson & Svante Henryson
Benny Andersson, piano · Svante Henryson, acoustic bass

5. The Winner Takes It All
Arr.: Anders Eljas & Georg Wadenius
Georg Wadenius, guitars & electric piano · Fredrik Jonsson, acoustic bass Magnus Persson, drums · Jörgen Stenberg, vibraphone · David Björkman, violin Roland Kress, violin · Jakob Ruthberg, viola · Anna Wallgren, cello

6. Butterfly Wings
Arr.: Anders Eljas
Anders Eljas, piano · Georg Wadenius, guitars · Fredrik Jonsson, acoustic bass
Magnus Persson, percussion · Anna Wallgren, cello

7. Heaven Help My Heart (from the musical “Chess”)
Arr.: Anders Eljas & Georg Wadenius
Anders Eljas, piano · Georg Wadenius, guitar · Fredrik Jonsson, acoustic bass
Magnus Persson, percussion · Jörgen Stenberg, vibraphone · David Björkman, violin
Roland Kress, violin · Jakob Ruthberg, viola · Anna Wallgren, cello Magnus Lindgren, bass clarinet

8. Ljusa kvällar om varen
Arr.: Anders Eljas & Georg Wadenius
Anders Eljas, piano · Georg Wadenius, guitar & scat vocals
Fredrik Jonsson, acoustic bass · Magnus Persson, drums · Jörgen Stenberg, percussion
Stig Anderson (1931­1997) / Björn Ulvaeus / Benny Andersson

9. I Am Just A Girl
Arr.: Georg Wadenius
Georg Wadenius, guitar · Fredrik Jonsson, acoustic bass
Magnus Persson, drums & percussion · Lasse Englund, Dobro® guitar
Calle Moraeus, banjo · Karl Jakobsson, tuba · Pär Grebacken, clarinet
Björn Ulvaeus / Benny Andersson

10. Ut Mot Ett Hav (from the musical “Kristina”)
Arr.: Georg Wadenius
Georg Wadenius, guitars, keyboards & drum programming
Fredrik Jonsson, electric bass · Magnus Persson, drums & percussion
Jörgen Stenberg, vibraphone & marimba · Magnus Lindgren, soprano saxophone

11. After The Rain
Arr.: Benny Andersson
Benny Andersson, piano

Link: http://www.deutschegrammophon.com/

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Dominic 'Ice' Wallis, Southampton, UK

BENNY ON "THE GREAT OUTDOORS"

Benny was on Channel 7 Australia's travel show "The Great Outdoors" on Monday night. Here is a transcript of the relevant parts:

Teaser before segment.
ERNIE. OK everybody you're all invited to Benny's place, Plenty of room haven't you mate?

BENNY. 99 rooms.

.................

E. Now you know the stories about rock bands when they turn up to a hotel and run a muck and chuck tellies out the window, well you can do that at this hotel.
B. NO. you cant do that here!
E. No ?
B.That's right, because all the plasmas are bolted to the walls so its impossible.
E. OH, so we'll just go and take a look then?
B. Sure

E.Yep we're camping at Benny's place,.aka The Rival Hotel, Remember we are in Stockholm Sweden were the whole ABBA thing kicked off. Now some people might pretend they didn't go for ABBA but in the seventies, they were definitely pop royalty. Back then ABBA mad manics had to sneak into the bands hotels, These days your welcome at Benny's place anytime. The Rival what hotel types might call a boutique hotel. Not to big and a bit different.
Yep. that's a bed in the foyer.
B. We didn't want the hotel to...well, not be too formal, too flashy, not to extravagent, but nice and sort of homey.
E. This is more of a Swedish theme isn't it?
B.Because I know nothing about actually running hotels, but I know what it is to stay in one so....
E.You've had hands on though , in the beginning...
B. Absolutely, absolutely in every detail.
E. I gotta ask you this mate?
B. Yeah
E. There's a little Teddy Bear...
B. Yeah that's true , every room has a teddy
E. Every room has a little Teddy
B. And in three years only one teddy bear has disappeared
E. Can you make that 2 in 3 years?
Laughing
B. You can have him
E. So theres a bear in every room, all 99 of them and people as well, Movie stars actually, cause down stairs the Rival has a cinema. The hotel's got a bistro too, a cafe, the original art deco bar, complete with mood lighting, and according to my mate Benny the best bakery in Stockholm. ABBA sold over 350 million records, now that's a lot to be proud of, but you won't find a more humble bloke than Benny.

B. If it wasn't for the Australians, I'm not so sure that this thing with ABBA would have happened, I must tell you that because it was pretty cold , we had this eurovision song contest win in 1974, means nothing to the rest of the world but is good for Europe, and in 1974 after that I think ABBA was a dead duck, nobody cared, nobody really cared about the next record that came out, the one with SOS and Mamma
Mia and all those. And all of a sudden they started playing these songs in Australia, this might be something, so after SOS and Mamma Mia in Australia. That's when it all really started, all around the globe. So we.re all members of ABBA very grateful for the Australians.
E. And there something else Benny likes about Australians
E. You have Horses?
B.I do, Racehorses, yes,since 20 years back and I breed them, and I race them, and it's not a good business to be in, but its fun.
E. We have a race in Australia, that...
B. I know and its one of my feavourites actually. If there's one race I'd like to win ,it would be the Melbourne Cup.
E. You still get time to play music?
B. OH, you bet, I work every day, I try to write music everyday.
Because thats what I do, the hotel is nice, but it's more for fun, music is for real.

Benny is now playing Fernando on piano and then starts to play Waltzing Matilda
E. rolling around laughing
E. I don't remember that bit in the song?
B. Thats a great song by the way
E. Its unbelievable
E. Well mate we've got just one thing left to say...

- Thank You For The Music clip plays.

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Carolyn Style, Melbourne, Australia

(If you're desperate to see this show, you can buy a fan copy at www.abbacurio.com)

ABBA GREATEST HITS FOR AUSTRALIA

Universal Music Australia have advised that the ABBA GREATEST HITS original Swedish cover etc. is to be released in Australia.

Here is the media blurb they have prepared:

Polar Records and Unviersal Music Australia are re-issuing the first of ABBA’s many hits collections, Greatest Hits, on April 29th. Originally released in Sweden in 1975, and internationally in 1976, Greatest Hits and went on to become one of ABBA’s most successful albums during their years as an active group. In 1976 it was the biggest selling album in the UK, spending 11 weeks at #1, going on to become the UK’s second biggest seller in the 70’s after Simon & Garfunkel’s Bridge Over Troubled Water. As such, this album holds a very special place in the hearts of ABBA’s very loyal fanbase.

Released in limited edition, sspecial packaging this is a must-have for Abba fans around the world.

TRACK LISTING
1. Fernando
2. SOS
3. He Is Your Brother
4. Ring Ring
5. Hasta Mañana
6. Nina, Pretty Ballerina
7. Honey, Honey
8. So Long
9. I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do
10. People Need Love
11. Bang-A-Boomerang
12. Another Town, Another Train
13. Mamma Mia
14. Dance (While The Music Still Goes On)
15. Waterloo

Graeme Read, ABBAMAIL Administration

MAMMA MIA! BELGIUM / B&B VISIT

There's footage of Benny and Björn's arrival in Antwerp (Belgium)here:
http://www.atv.be/nieuws/default.asp?mid=&id=1226

This is a video of the Mammia Mia performance. Watch the first video with the arrival here (copy and paste the URL): http://streamyou.be/atv/nieuws_2006_03_31/Bjorn%20en%20Benny.wmv

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Trijnie Dijkema, Hoogezand, The Netherlands

BENNY'S NEW PROJECT

Here is a translation of the Expressen article :

http://expressen.se/index.jsp?a=554043

Florence is the new protegé of Benny Andersson. It started with Chess and continued with the help of Benny Andersson. Thus Florence was born.

Benny Andersson's latest finding is Sara Jangfeldt, Lisa Östberg and Anna Granath. The women met when they shared dressign room when working on the musical Chess at Cirkus in Stockholm 2001-2003.

One year later they did the show "The Band" at Dansens Hus together.
- Benny Andersson heard us and said "We have to make a record out of this", tells Sara Jangfeldt. During the last year they wrote several songs and Benny Andersson recorded and produced the music. The Band became Florence (the name was taken after the heroine in Chess) and the result is the debut album "Feel" consisting of twelve tracks and with a planned release in may. The single is released today. Ten of the tracks has been the performance "Florence" at Gröna Lundsteatern.

Right now the group is rehearsing in Stockholm for the premiere in the 8th of April.
- We have been doing this for a couple of days now and we are feeling very prepared, says Sara Jangfeldt. Today we have a problem with the piano so Benny Andersson has to jump in and help out.

What is your performance about?
- It's an hour of pop drama where we are living our girls room dreams, says Anna Granath. We all grew up with the TV serial "Fame".

By Åke Lundgren / To English by Linda Granqvist


Thanks to ABBAMAILers Paul Carter London, UK and Linda Granqvist, Stockholm, Sweden

BENNY IN BELGIUM

Here's a short interview with Benny & Björn with a Belgian newspaper while they were visting the Belgian production of Mamma Mia! this week...

1. Front or backstage ?

Benny : It depends. Five years ago I formed a band of 15 people. When I am performing with them I want to be in the spotlight. When it's concerning Mamma Mia!, I prefer backstage!

Björn : Backstage! I have been performing so much in my life. Long before ABBA became a group Benny and I were already touring. I prefer much more producing, writing ...

2. The best age : 60 or 20 ?

Benny : Easy question. At 60 I can see things in a better perspective then when I was 20. I enjoy very much my 4 grandkids as well!

Björn : I feel very well now .. but I would be crazy to say 60 is a better age. I have very fond memories being 20 and being an idol!

3. Quality or Popularity

Benny : Quality. I'd rather be good than popular.

Björn : I have known both. Before ABBA I made things which were popular but were not big on quality. With ABBA we did something that was both quality and popular. In the end I go for quality.

4. Dancing Queen or The Winner Takes It All.

Benny : Impossible to make a choice. These 2 are 2 of our best songs.

Björn : Difficult, but I'll go for The Winner Takes It All. The song is more mature and has more "body".

5. Madonna or U2

Benny : I would choose Madonna for what she has done with Hung Up but I would choose U2 as a band.

Björn : Maybe Madonna because her music is closer to what we have done.

----------------------

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Dirk Bracaval, Antwerpen - Belgium

BJÖRN & BENNY IN BELGIUM

Björn & Benny were at Mamma Mia! in Antwerpen, Belgium yesterday.

As I am working close by the theatre I just went over there. After all .. if you have already travelled to London and Stockholm it would be rather stupid not to go when they are in my city ;-)

They arrived just 5 minutes before the show started. I got in and bought myself a ticket.

During the break they were presented (of course in a "VIP" room) with (I think) 6 platinum records for 300,000 sales of ABBA GOLD in Belgium.

As I was standing (with about 5 other fans, and some people who get autographs just to sell them on ebay) at the entrance I got to say hi to Benny and got the Kristina booklet signed. I also got my "ABBA The Album" CD sleeve signed by Björn. Both were in a hurry, because they were being hassled to get back to their seats again .. but well ... they took a little time and were friendly.

It's was a kind of surreal feeling knowing that these guys where in the city where I live.

At the end of the show they went on stage and the crowd went nuts. They were presented with flowers which they then gave to the cast.

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Dirk Bracaval, Antwerpen, Belgium

NO SEQUEL - THANK GOD!

We said...BE AFRAID...BE VERY AFRAID

And we said...here at ABBAMAIL we're praying the following story is either:
1. An April Fool's Joke or;
2. A nightmare that we'll wake up from very soon...

But now we're happy to report that the story about a Mamma Mia! sequel was a rather bad April Fool's Joke.

ABBAMAILer Theo van Dijk from Hoofddorp, The Netherlands has translated the following article for us exposing the whole thing:

http://www.musicalfan.be/artdet.cfm?id=67&jaar=2006&maand=4

"Sabbatical the musical, or Mamma Mia II has been cancelled indefinitely. After the first reading of the script cast and creatives liked the idea of a 'sabbatical year' so much they took a year off. More news on this project isn't expected before April 1st 2007."

We can only breathe a sigh of relief and go and have a cold shower!

By the way, here is the translation of the original "story" at: http://www.musicalfan.be/artdet.cfm?id=67&jaar=2006&maand=3

Plans for "Mamma Mia II" released

Plans for the sequel to Mamma Mia! were made known yesterday during a private meeting in Stockholm. Producer Little Star, together with a delegation from Stage Entertainment, but in the absence of Björn & Benny, presented their plans to possible investors. The first working title for the project was "Mamma Mia Gold",­ a reference to the hit album ABBA GOLD,­ but this has since been changed to 'Sabbatical - A New Musical (but the story continues).

As Sophie and Sky return to their Greek island after their "honeymoon that never was", it appears that the Dynamos as well as the three potential fathers are still there. Harry, the bank manager, has discovered from his international contacts that Donna has only received a share of the actual inheritance which helped her set up her Taverna. The men also come to the conclusion that it's not enough being a third of a father to Sophie and decide to take a sabbatical year, i.e. a year off.

Rose finds life on the island much to her liking and Tanya also decides to hang around if there is money to be made on the island. The plot will revolve around the legend of the string of pearls. What is truth behind the legend? How much money does Donna and Sophie really have? And what has all this to do with the ship called "Waterlo"? A workshop for the production will most probably be staged in season 2006/2007 in Sweden.

Thanks to ABBAMAILers Kyle Lindsay, Surrey, UK and Trijnie Dijkema, Hoogezand, The Netherlands