| CMU Daily - on the inside Thursday 25th January |
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In today's CMU Daily:
- SpiralFrog owner insists the venture is in good health
- Arctic Monkeys and Bjork to play Glasto
- RHCP to play Roskilde
- Van Halen to reunite with Roth?
- Booth on James reunion
- Finn on Crowded House reunion
- Sawhney to score Epstein biopic
- Burns inspired songwriting competition launched
- Keane fearful over stolen data
- Beyonce loves Shakira
- The Knife release Silent Shout box set
- New Wu Tang ready
- Klaxons turned down Muse Wembley support slot
- Mika to do T-Mo street gig
- AIM launch indie label night
- A Hawk And A Hacksaw tour
- EMI announce partnership with U-Myx
- Live Nation rejig following Walker departure
- Real man on the end of DRM
- Fans concerned over commercial use of Hendrix image
- MCR respond to Kasabian digs
- Hilton considers legal action over unauthorised garage sale
- Catering industry not impressed with F-Fed ad
- Bedingfield not impressed with US scandal demands
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TOP BIT>>
I promised you Kill All Hippies news, and I always deliver on my promises. Well, normally. I did promise you a Ben Folds live review, but I haven't finished it, so that'll be tomorrow now. But here is the KAH news for you right now.
The February edition of the CMU Recommend London rock night will take place at the Carling Islington Academy on 9 Feb and will feature live sets from three great new bands - Xerox Teens, The Violets and Ox Eagle Lion Man (and there's more tbc, watch this space). On the decks will be KAH resident Gavin Nugent plus guests Teens Of Thailand. It'll be a storming night, running from 8.30pm through to 4am the next morning. And Carling will be £1.80 a pint all night! Tix are £6 if you buy or guest list in advance, info at http://www.leylinepromotions.com.
While we're talking about CMU Recommended nights, I've just got in the provisional line up for the Breaking Ground Breakspoll Aftershow All Nighter, which will take over the seOne club on the night of 23 Feb. Atomic Hooligan, BLIM, Drummatic Twins, The Autobots vs Screwface, NAPT, Diverted, General Midi, Dopamine, Merka, Neztic, Andrea Lai and Symmetrik are all already confirmed for the breaks fest - we'll have more on it as soon as we get it - press info in the meantime from Leyline.
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MYSPACE OF THE DAY: Shifty Disco
It occurs to me we have to award the Shifty Disco crew the almost prestigious title of MSOTD at some point this week, as they are on the verge of celebrating their tenth birthday, which is all kinds of exciting. The Oxford based indie label and singles club has provided us with numerous great slices of truly independent music over the last decade, and you can check out tracks from four of the artists they have worked with - My Device, The Race, Paperlung and Seagull Strange - here on the MySpace page. More importantly there are details of a number of tenth birthday party type events which kick off tonight in Brighton, with a London party at the Luminaire on Friday and then a big night in home town Oxford on Saturday night. Oh yes, and a Bristol gig on Monday too. There will also be celebrations on Steve Lamacq's 6Music show and on previously mentioned John Peel inspired internet radio station Dandelion Radio. Oh yes, and Huw Stephens had a Shifty Disco theme to his show last night, which you can listen to on demand at http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/huwstephens. But my point is that if you want to get the full lowdown on the celebrations, or just find out a bit more about this inspirational label, then go to this here MySpace.
http://www.myspace.com/shiftydisco10
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SPIRALFROG OWNER INSISTS THE VENTURE IS IN GOOD HEALTH
Hey you, with all your theories of doom and gloom, leave the frog alone won't you? The SpiralFrog that is. You can continue to torture the Crazy Frog for all I care. But the founder of the former has been busy dismissing those previously reported rumours that his interesting (and, as you'll remember, according to Billboard, "much ballyhooed") ad funded free download platform is likely to fall over before it is even launched.
As previously reported, rumours were circulating that SpiralFrog wouldn't ever get off the ground, despite deals with the Universal Music Group and EMI Music Publishing. The rumours began when the company's CEO left the company over Christmas, leading to a number of other executive departures earlier this week.
But the company's founder and Chairman, Joe Mohen, while confirming the departure of CEO Robin Kent, has said the venture continues to move forward, with "millions of dollars" of big brand advertising now in the pipeline. On the recent departures from the company, he suggested that Kent and others had been pushed out because the way the project had evolved meant they were no longer the best people for the job.
Mohen told Reuters: "Our business is evolving more like a television station than a website. So we need to have executive and board talent that understands how to run a medium both from the programming side and from the advertising sales side".
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ARCTIC MONKEYS AND BJORK TO PLAY GLASTO
Michael Eavis has said that the "biggest band in the world" have contacted him about performing at this year's Glastonbury Festival, though he wouldn't confirm who exactly that is, or whether he had, in fact, booked them. Though he did confirm he wasn't talking about U2 or Coldplay. He also told BBC 6Music that "most of the line-up's done now" for this year's festival, though wasn't overly willing to reveal who is on the bill, adding "you won't know until after 1 April".
However, the Eavis family have confirmed both Bjork and the Arctic Monkeys will be on the line up. The Monkeys will headline the Pyramid Stage on one of the days of the festival which should be pretty damn daunting, it being their first ever Glasto experience (they being in the main unknown last time there was a Glastonbury Festival). On those two acts, Emily Eavis told the Beeb: "We're absolutely thrilled to be able to put Bjork and the Arctic Monkeys on because both are firm favourites in our household. The Arctic Monkeys have never done it so this will be their first year and Bjork has done the festival a few times now and is absolutely fantastic".
While those are the only two acts formally confirmed, rumours continue to circulate about who else will be on the Glasto bill. Meanwhile The Who's Pete Townshend has indicated to Xfm that negotiations are ongoing for them to play. He told the radio station: "I don't know if we're allowed to say. But let me put it this way, I think they want us to do it, and we want to do it. So we shall see. I think it's about whether or not they'll give me space to park my tent".
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RHCP TO PLAY ROSKILDE
Talking of festival line up type news, organisers of Denmark's Roskilde Festival have announced that the Red Hot Chili Peppers will be one of this year's headliners. Roskilde will take place from 5-8 Jul this year.
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VAN HALEN TO REUNITE WITH ROTH?
Continuing on this week's theme of band reunions, and Billboard have reported on rumours that Van Halen are closing to inking a deal with Live Nation which would see the band reunite for a US tour with original frontman David Lee Roth, who's possibly decided that compared to the management at CBS Radio (who axed his radio show last April after a short lived and conflict filled time with the broadcaster) his former bandmates are actually really nice guys. The most recent Van Halen frontman, Sammy Hagar, quit after the band's $40 million grossing 2004 tour, seemingly after falling out with Eddie Van Halen (not altogether unlike Roth back in 1985). The band's original line up are expected to regroup for their induction into the US Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame in March, and Roth did tell Billboard last year that he thought a Van Halen reunion was "an inevitability" despite past feuding, so talk of the reunion tour is probably quite credible.
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BOOTH ON JAMES REUNION
As for the other reunions already announced this week, James frontman Tim Booth has been talking to Xfm about his band's reunion tour and the new material they've been working on. Apparently things came together after he ran into Larry Gott, the band's guitarist from 1984 to 1996, in Manchester, and then hooked up with the band's bassist Jimmy Glennie.
Booth: "I don't really know. If you had asked me in the summer would James get back together I would have said absolutely not, not a chance. It was a load of synchronistic events that took place over about a month. I found myself in a room with [Larry and Jimmy] and instruments and microphones and we just started jamming. It was really fantastic, so we said 'Alright, let's see how this goes.' We didn't tell anyone, we didn't even tell our manager. But it went so well musically that we felt we had to see how far it could go".
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FINN ON CROWDED HOUSE REUNION
A here's a statement from Crowded House's Neil Finn on their previously reported reunion: "After spending most of last year making music and hanging out with my friend Nick Seymour we are now announcing our intention to reform Crowded House with a new record entitled 'Time On Earth'. It feels right to us that the band should re-emerge at this time and together with [guitarist] Mark Hart we look forward to reconnecting with the audience that we established and whom we still hold a deep respect". On touring without drummer Paul Hester, who committed suicide in 2005, Finn continued: "We are conscious that Paul Hester was above all a great drummer and we are currently auditioning to find someone special to take that role".
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SAWHNEY TO SCORE EPSTEIN BIOPIC.
Nitin Sawhney will provide the score to 'The Fifth Beatle', a film in the pipeline all about Beatles manager Brian Epstein. Erm, that's it.
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BURNS INSPIRED SONGWRITING COMPETITION LAUNCHED
It's Burns Night tonight, so roll out the haggis and all that. It was with that in mind that the Scottish Culture Minister last night launched the latest Burnsong songwriting competition which is looking for new songwriting talent in Scotland. All Scottish songwriters, of any age or genre, are invited to submit songs into the competition, with the winner getting their work performed at a Burnsong Live festival due to take place in November. It's the second Burnsong competition (the first was staged in 2005), and is all part of the build up to the 250th anniversary of Burns' birth in 2009.
Launching the competition in Glasgow last night, Culture Minister Patricia Ferguson told CMU: "Burns is a cultural icon and this song search demonstrates that his work still has the power to inspire new generations of Scots. Initiatives like this go a long way towards showcasing Scottish talent in Scotland to the rest of the world. This event will go on to provide a new focal event which can be marketed in future years especially as we draw ever closer to the 250th anniversary of Burns' birth in 2009".
One of the judges on the competition is Scotland based music promoter Ronnie Gurr, who adds: "In my 30 years of being in the music business this is the project I'm most proud of and excited about. This is a direct invitation to the people of Scotland to write more songs in 2007 and we will do so again 2009, in celebration of the 250th anniversary of Burns' birth".
More info about all this is at http://www.burnsong.com
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KEANE FEARFUL OVER STOLEN DATA
Keane are apparently concerned that personal information like mobile phone numbers and personal email addresses might have been acquired following a break in at one of their PR firms' central London offices. The Oxford Circus offices of the PR company (not sure which one, though I only know of two near Oxford Circus) were broken into on Monday night and the band's personal info are known to be on the database held on one of the PCs taken. Of course said burglars would probably have wiped the database before selling the PC on, had the Sun not alerted them to the fact that the personal info of pop stars was on it. Though quite what you'd do with the info I'm not sure. There are easier ways to meet dull posh boys than stealing pop stars' phone numbers. But the band are reportedly "fearful" of what thieves might do with the information.
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BEYONCE LOVES SHAKIRA
Beyonce has told MTV that she "always loved" Shakira after revealing that she has recorded a duet with the Colombian star to appear on a deluxe extended version of her album 'B'Day' due for release later this year. On the song they have recorded together, 'Beautiful Liar', Knowles says: "It basically talks about two women; the same guy is trying to get at both of them but instead of them fighting, they're saying 'He's a beautiful liar, let's not fight, let's stick together - forget him!' I think it's a great concept". On working with Shakira she said: "I've always loved her and I've always wanted to work with her, and the song fits perfectly".
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THE KNIFE RELEASE SILENT SHOUT BOX SET
The Knife will rerelease their album from last year, 'Silent Shout', in a three disc box set thingimy featuring the original album, a live album and a disc featuring promo videos and their 2003 album 'Deeper Cuts'. The box set will be officially released in the US, where they are signed to EMI's Mute, though fingers crossed it will be available over here on import.
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NEW WU TANG READY
The Wu Tang Clan are back with a new studio album, there first since 2001. It is due to come out this summer, via the Universal Music imprint of Steve Rifkind, who released the outfit's debut album via his Loud label. All nine Clan members appear on the new long player, including the late Ol Dirty Bastard, who will make a post-humous appearance on one track. Another track, 'Life Changes', is a tribute to the late rapper, who died in 2004, of course.
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KLAXONS TURNED DOWN MUSE WEMBLEY SUPPORT SLOT
Klaxons have been talking about how they accidentally turned down the opportunity to open for Muse when they play Wembley Stadium later this year.
The band's Jamie Reynolds has told MTV that they met Muse drummer Dom Howard who told them how much he liked their gigs before suggesting they support Muse at the Wembley gig but, Jamie says, "it was quite a drunken night down the pub and I just said, 'Nah'. I don't know why, I didn't mean it! I have watched them from when they first started. I first saw them at Glastonbury and for them to say that [that they liked the Klaxons' gig] is a massive compliment".
Fellow Klaxon James Righton added: "[We] got the chance to open up Wembley stadium. Offically the first ever gig at Wembley and Jamie turned it down! We haven't turned it down officially and we're trying to sort it out. Please! We would love to play!"
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MIKA TO DO T-MO STREET GIG
Mika, you know, that chart topping bloke, is to take part in the first T Mobile street gig of the year, with a gig in a tent on London's Berkeley Square on 5 Feb (which is arguably not a street gig at all, you don't catch many buskers erected tents when they perform). Tickets for the gig will be available exclusively to T Mobile types. Here's what Mika says: "Wow a big top on Berkeley Square to launch my album with T-Mobile street gigs, it's going to be quite a night. Our whole world will come to life for one very special night of circus fun and frolics, it's going to be quite a spectacle!"
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AIM LAUNCH INDIE LABEL NIGHT
That Association Of Independent Music are launching a new regular night to champion indie music talent, in association with eMusic. The AIM Independent Sessions will take place at the Cobden Club in West London, with the first one taking place on 19 Feb and featuring Amp Fiddler, Iain Archer, Findlay Brown and Klima, with Mekon, Johnny Trunk and those wonderful Infadels all doing some time on the decks. Tickets for the event need to be won - with a ticket competition going live very soon at http://www.aimsessions.com (though don't go there just yet, it's not live yet).
The Independent Sessions has been conceived by Pias/Wall Of Sound boss Mark Jones, who told CMU: "The Independent Sessions will give labels the chance to showcase new and major talent in a great music venue. The idea is for everyone from radio/print media to synch/marketing agencies and beyond to come, waffle and groove; with dedicated fans getting an intimate showcase as well".
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A HAWK AND A HACKSAW TOUR
Albuquerque band A Hawk And A Hacksaw have announced a UK tour for May, dates as follows, press info from MHPR.
5 May: Oxford, Zodiac
6 May: Norwich, Arts Centre
7 May: Leeds, Holy Trinity Church
8 May: Glasgow, The Arches
9 May: Newcastle, University Of Northumbria
10 May: Cardiff, The Point
11 May: London, Bush Hall
12 May: Brighton, Dome
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EMI ANNOUNCE PARTNERSHIP WITH U-MYX
EMI have announced a Europe wide partnership with U-Myx, who make that software that enables consumers to easily remix songs from their favourite artists. The U-Myx system can be made available online or bundled in to a CD release. Either way the label can control what happens to the track once it has been remixed, keeping it within the U-Myx player if they so wish.
EMI has already used the U-Myx system on releases from the likes of Paul McCartney, Lily Allen and Pet Shop Boys. It is unclear what the new more formal alliance means, though presumably the major plans to use the technology on an increasing number of releases.
Confirming the deal, EMI Music UK Digital Executive Graeme Rogan told reporters: "U-Myx provides fans with the tools to engage more intimately than ever before with the music they love, allowing for a truly interactive experience that encourages fans to move from passive audience member to active participant. This can only help forge greater bonds between our artists and their fans".
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LIVE NATION REJIG FOLLOWING WALKER DEPARTURE
As expected, Live Nation have announced a senior level restructure in its US division following the previously reported departure of North American Music President Charlie Walker, who announced he is leaving to set up his own company earlier this week.
The restructure will see the company's US concert promotion, venue operation and sponsorship/alliance businesses all come together into one division, to be led by Bruce Eskowitz, who will become CEO for North American Music with the live entertainment conglom.
Discussing the restructure, overall Live Nation CEO Michael Rapino told Billboard yesterday: "We began looking at how to better manage our North American business when we acquired House Of Blues in the fall. With the addition of HOB, we needed to better align all our North American music operations under one management team. Bruce has lead alliances and venues for the last few years and consistently delivered growth year over year, so he became the natural candidate to head up North America".
Commenting on Walker's departure, he continued: "Charlie has done a great job running North America Music the last few years and would have been part of the new management team if he wanted. But he decided it was time to become a entrepreneur and with his long relationship with the team at [Austin City Limits Fest] it was a perfect place fit for him. We have great respect for the ACL organisation and wish Charlie all the best, and I am sure we will continue to work together in the future".
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REAL MAN ON THE END OF DRM
As a PS to yesterday's Top Bit on if and when the major record companies will get over their DRM love affair, here's what Real Networks top man Rob Glaser told the New York Times at MIDEM regarding the chances of the major record companies making their music available in non-protected MP3 formats: "There is a groundswell, and I say that on the basis of private conversations. It will happen between next year and five years from now, but it is more likely to be in one to two years".
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FANS CONCERNED OVER COMMERCIAL USE OF HENDRIX IMAGE
Red Hot Chili Peppers' Flea has added his voice to that of a number of fans who have expressed concern at the licensing of Jimi Hendrix's iconic image for various FMCGs. The latest is a soft drink to be called Liquid Experience, while reports suggest the Hendrix's image will also be officially used on a range of lava lamps, baby clothing and air fresheners. Yep, air fresheners. Flea has told reporters: "To see his image and the beautiful feelings it has created in me cheapened by advertising is very disappointing". But a spokesman for Authentic Hendrix, who licence the image, says monies from the licensing will go to a music education foundation.
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MCR RESPOND TO KASABIAN DIGS
My Chemical Romance have responded (somewhat belatedly) to remarks made by Kasabian's Tom Meighan who last year said of the New Jersey band "these clowns won't be around for much longer ... their make-up will flake off and the scene will die out", adding that their album 'Welcome To The Black Parade' was "weird and dark". Responding, MCR frontman Gerard Way has told NME: "It was obviously meant as a slam, but it was so poorly worded that it ended up sounding like a compliment! 'Weird and dark'...that just makes them kinda ignorant. This band has never had a bullshit war ever. I haven't found an opponent worthy enough yet. If you're gonna take me on, you'd better have the balls for it! If you're gonna talk shit about us, you'd better have the juice. And we haven't found anybody with the juice yet".
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HILTON CONSIDERS LEGAL ACTION OVER UNAUTHORISED GARAGE SALE
We're still counting Paris Hilton as a pop star for the purposes of amusing stories like this. The pointless celeb is reportedly mightly pissed off that a website is selling a range of her personal possessions which were acquired by a storage company after Hilton failed to pay a $208 debt. The storage company sold the goods on to the people behind http://www.parisexposed.com, which is now boasting to have explicit home videos plus personal and business paperwork, and various diaries and journals, all for sale. The site says that among the collection are: "never before seen sex videos, 250 personal and private videos and drug use that makes Tony Montana look like a missionary". Commenting on the site, Hilton's publicist Elliot Mintz told reporters: "We certainly are going to explore all of our legal options about this matter".
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CATERING INDUSTRY NOT IMPRESSED WITH K-FED AD
That previously reported K-Fed ad that will air during next month's Superbowl, the one which features him daydreaming about a music career while working in a fast food restaurant, has been criticised by the US's National Restaurant Association who say they are concerned it shows working in their industry in a bad light.
NRA president Steven C Anderson has reportedly written in a letter to bosses at the Nationwide Mutual Insurance, who have made the ad: "We hope that these reports are inaccurate and that Nationwide will not be airing such an ad that would give the impression that working in a restaurant is demeaning and unpleasant. An ad such as this would be a strong and a direct insult to the 12.8 million Americans who work in the restaurant industry."
He continued: "Developing creative concepts that accomplish the marketing strategies for a product should not require denigrating another industry. Should an ad of this nature run during the Super Bowl, we will make sure that our membership - many of whom are customers of Nationwide - know the negative implications this ad portrays of the restaurant industry".
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BEDINGFIELD NOT IMPRESSED WITH US SCANDAL DEMANDS
Natasha Bedingfield has said she resisted record label attempts to change her image for the US market. Quite why label bosses wanted to make any changes I don't know - you'd think an inoffensive pretty God botherer would go down well in the middle America market - but apparently they wanted a bit of 'edge' for their US marketing of her music. She told Cosmo: "They thought I needed a bit more scandal! I said, 'Right, you want me to have worked this hard to sleep with the president or shoplift just to get a headline?' I was like, 'Do you want me to be diva and throw my mobile phone at you so you can run a story?' I don't want to be a horrible person. It's not me."