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50 Cent, who was named songwriter of the year at the ASCAP Pop Awards, held May 22 in Los Angeles, threw a lovely shout-out to Billboard in his videotaped acceptance speech. "I'm gonna continue to win over and over, and if people mistake my confidence for arrogance, it's OK," he said. Pausing, he added, "I only really care about ASCAP and Billboard to be honest because those are the award shows that actually go on the performance of the actual material." You tell 'em, Fitty!

In Los Angeles to showcase two new teen acts, Music World Entertainment president Mathew Knowles told Track that he has bought back his company from Sanctuary Group. A Sanctuary spokesman, however, says negotiations continue and that a conclusion has not been reached. The things that make you go hmm . . . In the audience, watching Houston rapper Lil J Xavier and L.A. boy group 2Much (mentored by Omarion and manager Chris Stokes) strut their stuff, were executives from Fontana Distribution. Once again, we say hmm . . .

As Track goes to press, Berlin is hosting its first British Music Week (May 19-26), an initiative organized and funded by the German capital's music industry. Surely, the idea behind BMW is to spotlight talent coming out of the United Kingdom. According to Track correspondents, acts from labels like Domino, Decca, V2, Sony and BMG's Red Ink were well represented.

A Track spy who attended Universal Music's May 22 showcase at the Postbahnhof (a former post office railway station) cannot stop talking about Razorlight's performance. Playing to a crowd of about 1,000, the British band previewed songs from its new, as-yet-untitled Vertigo/Mercury Records album, due in July. Led by Johnny Borrell, the group also treated fans to past hits "Golden Touch" and "Somewhere Else." Sharing the bill with Razorlight were the Feeling, Kubb and Boy Kill Boy.

German partners in BMW include Berlin music venue Karrera Klub, indie music retailer Dussman, lifestyle magazine Intro, alternative music paper Uncle Sallys, public broadcaster Radio Eins (which is recording and airing each of the week's performances), MTV Germany and digital music retailer Musicload. And yes, BMW is receiving much assistance and support from U.K. trade organization BPI.

Track hears that Rykodisc president William Hein will be replacing Rick Williams to head Caroline Distribution. Caroline, the independent distribution arm of EMI, is expected to announce the hiring in June. An EMI representative declined to comment, but a source close to the distributor confirmed that a "founder of ADA" would be stepping into the Caroline role.

Hein certainly fits the bill, as he founded Restless Records in 1992. Don't forget: Alternative Distribution Alliance, the independent distribution arm of Warner Music Group, was started as a joint venture among Restless, Sub Pop and WMG.

When Brit electro-pop duo Erasure announced its "unplugged" trek in support of its new stripped-down album, "Union Street," fans let out a collective gaspâ€"and for good reason. How would dance-pop hits like "Blue Savannah," "Oh L'Amour," "Sometimes," "Chains of Love" and "A Little Respect" fare without tech-pioneer Vince Clarke's synth-heavy undercurrents? Well, those who caught the Union Street tour now fully understand that a good song remains a good song, regardless of the musical arrangement. Indeed, during the final tour stop, at the 800-seat Concert Hall at the New York Society for Ethical Culture, the pair was more unplugged than acoustic. Throughout the 90-minute set, Erasure and band dazzled.

After the sold-out show, Track made its way backstage, where Bell and his partner Paul were hanging out with Clarke and his son Oscar. Though Bell and Clarke were surely worn out from "life on the road," they were loose and upbeat. Perhaps too loose. At one point, the pair was going on about its new album, how it will be recorded in Barcelona, London and New York, and how it will be a return to "our synth roots." At which point, Mr. Manager, overhearing this vocal transaction, laughed and said, "You do know who you're talking to, right?" Track had six words for Mr. Manager: "Their secret is safe with us."

Edie Brickell, who has her first album with New Bohemians in 16 years coming out in July (see story, page 53), tells Track that she already has her next album ready to go. It's an album she recorded with Harper Simon, her step-son and Paul Simon's son. The project, like the New Bohemians disc, will come out on Fantasy. No release date has been set, but Brickell hopes it is soon. "It has a couple of songs that have current issue themes, they're sort of topical," she says. "I don't want them to be moot points by the time it comes out."

PHOTO (COLOR): 50 CENT

PHOTO (COLOR): ERASURE'S ANDY BELL, Billboard's MICHAEL PAOLETTA and CHUCK TAYLOR, and ERASURE'S VINCE CLARK with son OSCAR

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Edited by Michael Paoletta