The ‘Vulgar Display of Power’ album contains songs including the likes of ‘Mouth for War’, ‘Walk’ and ‘This Love’, which rank amongst the most beloved songs recorded by the band. The album itself is regarded by fans of Pantera – and metal fans in general – as a landmark release. The opportunity to purchase download or CD copies with digitally remastered sound quality, in addition to the previously unavailable track, should ensure that this deluxe release achieves healthy download and CD sales, which will delight the record industry and CD copying firms.

The bonus DVD of the band’s 1992 Monsters of Rock live performance is likely to be another major selling point for fans of the group, as there is very little film available of the band in performance during the early 1990s, making this something that even long-time fans of the group will be unlikely to have. Also featured on the DVD are the official videos made for the three singles released from the ‘Vulgar Display of Power’ album.

Jaws, which was nominated for an Oscar for best film, has been cited as the film which created the concept of ‘blockbuster’ cinema, as it broke all records at the box-office and launched the career of director Steven Spielberg. Spielberg himself retained involvement in the re-mastering of the film, to ensure that it did not compromise his vision. The continued popularity of the film is likely to mean big sales of both Blu ray and DVD copies.

The Universal Studios Home Entertainment President, Craig Kornblau, acknowledged this:

“Jaws holds a unique place, not just in Universal Pictures’ history, but in global pop culture. It is only fitting that this phenomenal film should be given the extensive restoration needed to ensure that long-time fans as well as newcomers can enjoy this unforgettable cinematic achievement for generations to come.”

Both Blu-ray and DVD copies of the restored film will carry bonus features, although the Blu-ray release boasts significantly more, including a feature length film about the making of Jaws, deleted scenes and the original trailer.

The new album, titled ‘Valtari’, which is Icelandic for ‘steamroller’, comprises eight songs with a total running time of 54 minutes and the band will be making download, double vinyl and CD copies available. Although they have indicated that the songs on the new album represent a rediscovery of the experimentalism of their 1999 album ‘Agaetis byrjun’, Sigur Ros have developed such a loyal worldwide following in the years since – which has even seen their music featured on Hollywood film soundtracks – that the album is still liable to be a strong seller and keep retailers and CD replication companies busy.

The Sigur Ros bass player, Georg Holm, has indicated that the band had some difficulty in creating the album, accounting for the lengthy gestation period, to the point where they were ready to abandon plans for another album, before adding:

“But then something happened and form started to emerge, and now I can honestly say that it’s the only Sigur Ros record I have listened to for pleasure in my own house after we’ve finished it.”

Weisz stars as Hester Collyer, a woman from a privileged background and married to a much older man, who falls in love with a younger former RAF pilot – played by Tom Hiddlestone – only to be driven to the brink of suicide when this relationship fails. Davies pared back Rattigan’s dialogue considerably for his adaptation, focusing on visual storytelling, as he sought to make the source material suitable for the cinema medium. The film benefits considerably in this respect from the evocative cinematography provided by Florian Hoffmeister.

When the film was released in cinemas it marked the return of Davies following an absence from filmmaking. The director had last surfaced with his 2008 documentary about Liverpool and his childhood, Of Time and the City, and fans of his unique vision will be hoping that they do not have to wait as long for his next project.

While the box-set version will be most likely to appeal to hardcore fans, both the vinyl and CD copies will be expected to sell strongly, as Graceland remains perhaps the most popular and enduring of all Simon’s solo albums. The record was the result of a fascination that Simon developed during the mid-1980s with the music of the townships in South Africa, and was recorded in that country during 1985. Upon release it sparked controversy, as many in the media accused the singer of flouting the boycott imposed on the country in protest at the apartheid regime, but Graceland eventually sold over 14 million albums around the world and CD copies have continued to sell well in the years since.

Simon has also confirmed that he will further mark the anniversary of the album’s release by performing it in full at July’s Hard Rock Calling event, held in Hyde Park. The concert will see him reunited with the male voice choir from South Africa – Ladysmith Black Mambazo – who provided vocals on the Graceland album.

The news will be welcomed both by retailers and firms specialising in CD copying services, particularly in the midst of the current recession. Indeed, despite consistent reports of the demise of the CD in the face of competition from download services, almost double the number of people still choose to buy CD copies of albums and singles, compared with downloads – a fact acknowledged by NPD’s senior vice president of industry analysis, Russ Crupnick:

“CDs are the gift that keep giving, which proves that even in an increasingly digital age, consumers will respond to quality content and strong perceived value, even if it comes in a physical package.”

He further added:

“The CD still has a powerful attraction for both older, mainstream consumers who listen in their cars, as well as to superfans who enjoy owning the package and assortment of songs from their favourite artists.”

Crupnick went on to suggest that the digital and CD formats could continue to co-exist comfortably with each other for some years to come.

This decision was made with the aim of achieving the best possible results, given the extremely delicate hand-drawn and painted artwork used in the film. With the enduring enthusiasm for the Beatles among different generations, the re-release of a film, DVD copies of which have been unavailable for years, is likely to prove very popular and require significant copying by DVD duplication firms to meet the demand.

Although the Beatles themselves did not provide the voices of their cartoon counterparts in the film, Yellow Submarine does feature a great many of the band’s most famous songs and has remained a cult favourite in the years since it was made, as well as an inspiration within the animation industry. This point was emphasised by the head of the studio Pixar, John Lasseter, who said:

“As a fan of animation and as a filmmaker, I tip my hat to the artists of Yellow Submarine, whose revolutionary work helped pave the way for the fantastically diverse world of animation that we all enjoy today.”

The newly restored DVD copies of Yellow Submarine will also be accompanied by a CD reissue of the original soundtrack album.

Now, as part of the Year of The Doors, download and CD copies have been issued as a single, following on from the double-CD L.A. Woman: 40th Anniversary Edition of the original album. Both releases are liable to have cross-generational appeal, with older fans of the band attracted by the nostalgia and younger listeners likely to be drawn to the continued iconic status of both The Doors and Morrison. Together this should guarantee that both album and single sell significant numbers of download and CD copies, making them amongst the year’s major releases for retailers and CD duplication firms, as well as music fans.

The new music video for the L.A. Woman single release should also prove to be a boost to sales, as it will introduce the band to those younger listeners who are not already aware of them. The video features brief cameo appearances by two of the surviving members of the band – John Densmore and Robbie Krieger – but primarily focuses around three professional skateboarders on the streets of LA; perhaps a canny move in terms of connecting with a youthful audience.

The show is set during the medieval period and centres on the battles between a number of noble families, all of whom are trying to gain control of Westeros – the fictional region in which the action takes place. It is based on a best-selling series of novels by author George R.R. Martin.

The first series proved to be a consistent ratings hit for HBO following its launch in 2011. Now sales of DVD copies of season one suggest that audience interest prior to the first screening of the new series in April remains strong, something which will be a boost to HBO in the wake of the cancellation of horse racing drama Luck, following the deaths of three horses during production.

Game of Thrones has proven to be a hit with critics as well as audiences. The success of the show has seen it claim a number of awards, including a Best Supporting Actor Emmy Award for actor Peter Dinklage, for his role as Tyrion.

The album, entitled Dr Dee, has been slated for a release on 7th May and is a concept album exploring the life and work of the mathematician John Dee, a polymath who also served as an advisor to Elizabeth I. While this may not sound like the most commercially viable subject matter for an album, Albarn has a worldwide audience thanks to Gorillaz and also possesses a proven talent for combining esoteric subject matter with addictive melodies, which is likely to ensure healthy sales of download and CD copies. The singer has described the music on the album as “strange pastoral folk” and it is set to continue his fascination with African music, this time combined with early English instrumentation and choral singing.

Albarn will be promoting the release of Dr Dee, which he recorded in the latter part of 2011 at his own studio in West London and in Salford, with a performance at OneFest in April.