HMV increases its market share
So, perhaps you should have all listened to the boss of the rescued HMV, Hilco's Paul McGowan, when he told the Telegraph last month that the high street entertainment retailer was doing just fine thank you very much, rather than you all shaking your heads and muttering, "Yeah, right, you're doomed really aren't you?"

Of course, now in private ownership, HMV's financials aren't so public, but McGowan claimed like-for-like sales were up 9.2% for the second quarter of the year, and while the high street disk seller is still a long way off regaining any crown off big boy Amazon, it is seemingly starting to reclaim ground off the pesky supermarkets.

Or that's according to Kantar Worldpanel in its latest retail marketshare report, which reckons that for the quarter ending 6 Jul all the supermarket chains saw their share of the entertainment retail market slip, while HMV was up from 13.6% to 14.7% quarter-on-quarter, compared to its slump to a 10.7% share immediately after last year's administration.

Game, another entertainment retailer that went to the brink, has also seen some growth. Though Amazon, at 21.8% market share, still remains the biggest, having further increased is share in the last year.

Says Kantar's Strategic Insight Director Fiona Keenan: "HMV appears to be making a comeback on the high street following a strong performance over the past quarter. Performing strongly in video and music, it is winning some shoppers back from the grocers as well as increasing spend from its current shoppers by £3 over the past twelve weeks alone".

Sky New Zealand bans ads for geo-block circumventing ISP package
Perhaps unsurprisingly, Sky TV New Zealand has refused to run ads for the previously reported ISP product in the country that helps users circumvent geographical blocks on websites like Amazon, Netflix and the BBC iPlayer.

As previously reported, New Zealand net firm Slingshot announced last month that it was rolling out a facility that would make it easier for users to access websites that are technically off limits in the country. Of course plenty of web-users use so called VPN software to do just that on their own, but Slingshot's new 'global mode' opens up that option to less web savvy people.

There are various reasons why an online operator might wish to limit access to its site, or part of its site, to users in a specific region, including pricing variations around the world, though one of the most common motivations is copyright. Operators of music and video sites often only secure the rights to distribute content from labels and studios in specific territories.

Slingshot's global mode will likely open up music services for New Zealand users not technically available in the country, including the streaming music element of Amazon Prime, which is only currently available in the US. Though the move by Slingshot will have a bigger impact on video-on-demand platforms, where country-by-county differences between catalogues are more pronounced, and where there are a lot more exclusivity deals around content licensing.

Hence Sky TV's dislike of Slingshot's new consumer offer, it likely enabling customers to access programmes online via US services that it has bought the exclusive rights to broadcast in New Zealand.

With that in mind, the broadcaster has refused to run ads for Slingshot that reference the new VPN-like functionality, with a spokeswoman telling Stuff that the media company believes that the net firm is ignoring copyright principles by offering global mode. The spokeswoman said: "We are a business that pays people who create television so we are against any form of piracy or the undermining of intellectual property rights".

But the General Manger of Slingshot, Taryn Hamilton, has hit back, calling the ad ban
"unjustified and petty", while adding that global mode is only desired by consumers because conventional TV networks often fail to provide international content "in a timely fashion at a fair price".

The ISP rep went on: "When and if local companies manage to finally crack that, then there will be no need for the service. But, until that time, people will use services like global mode so that they can see decent TV without having to get a second mortgage".

Seth Troxler releasing Clarian EP via new indie label
Having already built up a pair of labels this year, house/techno DJ Seth Troxler's now gone and started Soft Touch Records, his third new label venture of 2014.

Following in the tracks of "high grade" dance-based Play It, Say It and Tuskagee Music, his vinyl-only joint enterprise with the Martinex Brothers, Soft Touch is designed to represent Seth's 'indie' side, because apparently he has one.

Explaining, he says: "Each of my new labels offers different ideas on what fascinates me and things I think are missing in today's market. Soft Touch is an indie label putting out all sorts of random stuff - some folk, some rock, all limited editions. It's about music by artists I've met over the years whose music is amazing but not finding its niche".

Hmmm, as long as it's amazing.

The first release via ST (the label, not the man) is a three-track EP by Clarian. A long-time pal of Troxler's, the one-time Footprintz man is also acting as A&R to Soft Touch, and is, says Seth, its "artistic backbone". The EP was made over a series of long, cold nights in the midst of winter in Montreal, and features a mix of "6am electronics, afrobeat indie-pop and 1960s West Coast heartbreak".

Stream title track 'Is There Light At The End' ahead of the EP's release (on 29 Sep) here.

YouTube man to chair US music retail trade group
I've been distracted by the Edinburgh Fringe for the last few days, so remind me, do we still hate YouTube to its very core, the corrupt, money-grabbing, monopoly-exploiting, artist-shafting, cunts of Armageddon? Or have we decided that, actually, compared to Apple and Amazon, TeamTube are the affable guys of musical techsploitation?

Anyway, whatever you think of YouTube and their dabblings in music, one of its number has been elected Chairman of the board of the US Music Business Association, the trade body for music retail in the States. It's YouTube Product Manager Fred Beteille who will now lead their board, who MBA President James Donio describes as a "key player in the digital music marketplace".

Beteille himself said of his new role within the US trade group of entertainment sellers: "I look forward to applying my knowledge to the industry as a whole, ensuring that all of our members and all kinds of music artists are able to take advantage of the latest opportunities around advanced technology, rights management, new business models, and more".

Beteille's background is actually more music rights than tech, having started out at American mechanical song rights firm The Harry Fox Agency, and later coming to YouTube via its acquisition of royalties company RightsFlow.

Indie labels over here currently in dispute with YouTube over its new audio service and fearing a rep from the company might rise to the top of the UK's Entertainment Retailers Association, don't worry, the video platform isn't a member. Though sister company Google Play is.

Exfm and Soundtracking join Rhapsody
The people behind music discovery set-ups Exfm and Soundtracking have announced that they are joining up with Rhapsody, presumably to help the streaming music company extend its discovery and curation tools. Most of the streaming music firms are building or buying discovery tooss at the moment, in the desperate hope that having the best curation facilities is the route to long-term success.

Originally launched as a browser extension, scanning websites for MP3 files and then collating them into an easy to navigate library, over four years Exfm expanded to scan services like SoundCloud and Bandcamp, and built a website and mobile apps around the set up.

However, in December last year, the company announced that the financial, technical and legal challenges of continued expansion were proving too much of a strain on the company. Plans to shut down the service in January were delayed while new options were pursued, but the service was eventually taken offline in May.

In a new blog post yesterday, the core team of Dan Kantor, Marshall Jones, and Jason Culler said: "For the past few months, we've been hinting that we had some big plans for the future. Well, we are very happy to announce that Exfm is joining Rhapsody! ... By teaming up, we can build the ultimate music service with an amazing social discovery engine backed by Rhapsody's catalogue of over 30 million songs. The idea of combining the best of Exfm with the best of Rhapsody has us all extremely excited!"

A spokesperson for Rhapsody told CMU: "The Exfm team have done a great job of helping people discover more music to enjoy across the web. We're thrilled to have them join Rhapsody, and put that product, design and technology expertise to work on the things we're building here. Together, we'll help music fans explore, play and love more music".

Shortly after Exfm announced its news, Soundtracking - which allows users to share the song they're currently listening to in an Instagram-like mobile app - posted a very similar update to its own blog. It announced that the team from the company behind the service, Schematic Labs, is joining Rhapsody, though assured users that they "will continue to offer the ability to share the soundtrack to your life" via the stand alone app.

The statement adds: "We're already busy cooking up exciting new features to take advantage of Rhapsody's 30 million track global streaming catalogue, so stay tuned for future exciting integration opportunities of SoundTracking within Rhapsody!"

Rhapsody's spokesperson said: "It's true - the Schematic Labs team has joined Rhapsody. With Soundtracking, they created an entirely new way for people to express themselves by sharing their musical moments. We're excited to incorporate that creativity and community focus within Rhapsody's suite of music services".

Although both teams seem confident about keeping their own apps alive (though Exfm is slightly more vague on that), the main reason for the deals for Rhapsody seems to be hiring staff, with both teams also working on Rhapsody products - Exfm's Dan Kantor has already been named Rhapsody's Vice President Of Product.

Rick Parfitt hospitalised in Croatia, Quo cancel shows
Status Quo have reluctantly cut six European shows on doctor's orders after Rick Parfitt was taken ill last Friday. Whilst the details of his ill-health are still to be confirmed, it's known that Parfitt was hospitalised on the same night The Quo were meant to play in Pula, Croatia, and kept in overnight.

In lieu of the band's commenting on Parfitt's condition, which they're set to do this week, their manager Simon Porter has released a brief statement that reads: "The band do not cancel shows lightly, as any of our fans will tell you, but in this instance we have no option but to follow medical advice".

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

Kate Nash busy with stage musical, fourth LP
For anyone curious as to what the now LA-based Kate Nash is doing right now(adays); boy, are you in for a treat.

Apparently the still-independent Nash is minding a few different projects at the moment; not least a new LP and the score to an all-singing Broadway musical titled 'Only Gold'.

First hinted at last year, the show, a collaboration with showbiz director Andy Blankenbuehler, will feature both already-released Nash singles and, it appears, new music too, and is set to reach its workshop stage in October.

Chatting to Billboard at this year's Lollapalooza, Kate said: "Andy is using all of my music and writing songs to fill gaps in the story. So I'm writing a lot for the musical right now. That's my main focus".

Yet, she went on, a new solo record is still in the pipeline. "It's my fourth album. I got dropped two years ago, but have worked to put out my record independently. I worked harder than ever and learned so much, and made the record I'm most proud of. I feel like I'm at this point, like, 'What am I going to do next?' - in a business sense and also sonically and visually".

Kate released a sign of, like, what she might do next in the shape of misc (ie not fixed to an LP or anything) single 'She Rules', DIY-filming its video on her iPhone. Here it is.

Slipknot reveal negative new song
Slipknot have unveiled their first new song for six years, a track called 'The Negative One'.

It does seem quite negative. And it also sounds like it could have come off the band's first album. Those are two observations I have made on your behalf. You can make more yourself by going to the band's website. There you'll get one free listen to the track, though you'll have to give them a load of personal details if you want to hear it again.

The band are currently preparing for the release of their first new album since the death of bassist Paul Gray and departure of drummer Joey Jordison.

In other Slipknot-related news, according to the des Moines Register, a judge in the city has dismissed a civil lawsuit brought by Gray's wife Brenna against his former doctor, Daniel Baldi, on the grounds that she waited too long to submit the case. Baldi was already found not guilty of the involuntary manslaughter of Gray and a number of other former patients in May this year.

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

Jessie Ware shares LP info
Flighty pop diva Jessie Ware has finally shared with the class info on her new LP, 'Tough Love', which - no kidding - is inspired by the various hardships of having relations, or not doing so, with another.

It transpires Ware did a lot of collaborative writing, mixing and so forth to make it; working mainly with BenZel (aka Two Inch Punch and Benny Blanco), and also passing time with Kid Harpoon, Dave Okumu and Julio Bashmore (aka the same team as assisted with her first disc, 2012's 'Devotion'), AND also Miguel, Arctic Monkeys and Ed Sheeran.

So as I said, it's a highly collaborative bit of work. Not that Ware is hiding in the shade or anything, far from it.

She says of her mood post-'Devotion': "I can't keep going round going 'oh my god, this is happening'. I feel more confident and I think that shows on the record, even the way I deliver the vocals is more upfront. Being a singer is a fucking wicked job, but it's definitely my job now".

'Tough Love', with its approved title single, and the recently-trailed 'Share It All', and all, will be released on 6 Oct. She's backing it with a pair of headline shows (both in places of worship, both in October), details of which you can look at via this link.

And finally below is the official 'Tough Love' tracklisting, and this is the official clip for 'Tough Love' (the single):

Tough Love
You & I (Forever)
Cruel
Say You Love Me
Sweetest Song
Kind of... Sometimes... Maybe
Want Your Feeling
Pieces
Keep on Lying
Champagne Kisses
Desire

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

Wildbirds & Peacedrums enslave the rhythm on new album
Now that Mariam The Believer, aka Mariam Wallentin, has got all that solo album stuff out of her system, she's rejoined Andreas Werliin for a new Wildbirds & Peacedrums album. Called 'Rhythm', it'll be released through The Leaf Label on 3 Nov.

Says Wallentin of the new record: "It was very important to us to be able to create the sound of a Wildbirds album that was 100% us. The two of us. The sound that feels like you're in front of us, like you're inside".

Werliin adds: "We wanted it to feel like a live experience - rich, intense and powerful. Almost every song is one take. We recorded standing in the same room, no screens or isolation, looking each other in the eyes".

So, here's the sound of two people in the same room looking at each other, first single 'The Offbeat'.

You can catch Wildbirds & Peacedrums playing the UK for the first time in four years at Village Underground in London on 14 Nov.

Jessy Lanza, Cooly G and Ikonika playing Hyperdub anniversary showcase
Hyperdub, the alt-dance label your grandma probably hasn't heard of/will likely never hear of, has confirmed the artists appearing at its tenth b-day showcase, which is taking place at London's Corsica Studios on 3 Sep.

In addition to Hyperdub boss and AIM Innovator Award winner Kode9 the night will feature live sets by the excellent Jessy Lanza and Cooly G, plus DJ PAs by Ikonika, Scratcha DVA, and a "very special" mystery act.

Get tickets to the event here. And in recent relevant news, Hyperdub over the weekend listed details of the label's all-ambient new compilation 'Hyperdub 10.3', the third of four mix LPs Kode9 is releasing to mark the imprint's anniversary. It has on it tracks by Dean Blunt, Laurel Halo, Burial, The Bug and Fatima Al Qadiri, and will be available on 23 Sep.

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

...And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead announce UK shows
...And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead have announced a UK tour to coincide with the release of their ninth studio album.

The dates are as follows:

14 Nov: Glasgow, The Art School
15 Nov: Coventry, Kasbah
16 Nov: Manchester, Ruby Lounge
17 Nov: London, Dingwalls