Biz Unites At MIDEM Indie Slidarity, Gv't Relatins At Heart Of Industry Cnfab BY EMMANUEL LEGRAND CANNES -Amid business meetings, cnferences abut the future f the industry and artist shwcases, sme f the mst ntable events at MIDEM happened behind clsed drs. "It was by far the mst difficult recrd I've had t (Cntinued n page ) Drs Dwn and singer /lyricist Brad Arnld lined the pressure f writing n a fierce deadline. date," says Universal Mtwn Recrds Grup VP Tm Mackay, the band's A&R rep. "Seventeen Days," s named fr the amunt = time the band had t write the sprigs, bws Feb. That's because DD's managers struck a deal with Wal -Mart nearly a year ag that guaranteed a large buy - h fr the album and ensured tremendus expsure fr the band, but it als created a nearly immvable deadline. sl debut, `Free Me.' Breaking news arund the clck: $ ÚS $.CAN s 0 > #BXNCTCC.I -DIGIT 0 IIIII I IIIIIIIII #BL00# APR0 A0 B007 MONTY GREENLY 70 ELM AVE # A LONG BEACH CA NM N THE INTERNATIONAL AUTHORITY ON MUSIC, VIDEO AND DIGITAL ENTERTAINMENT 0TH YEAR FEBRUARY, 00 Drs Dwn: Up T Speed Hit Band Shifts Int Overdrive T Deliver rd Album BY MELINDA NEWMAN LOS ANGELES Call it a sign f the times: The release date fr the new album by Drs Dwn was set befre the band had written the first nte. A Cuntry Hmecming Ml grwn up, LeAnn Rimes returns t her cuntry rts with the release f `This Wman.' Spicy Makever Emma Buntn drps her last name and her Spice Girls baggage fr her U.S. a I MAMMY PREVIEW 00 HOT SPOTS February Heat r Grup Mntez de Durang is ne f three tp Latin acts that will release a new album in the cming weeks.