Thursday 27 May 2010, 12:19 | By CMU Editorial

Aguilera cancels US tour

Gigs & Festivals

Christina Aguilera has announced that she has decided to postpone here upcoming US tour, due to take place in July and August, as she’s been a bit busy lately and forgot to get ready for it. The singer cited the recent completion of filming on her forthcoming movie ‘Burlesque’, and promotional work for new album ‘Bionic’, as the pesky things that had caused the cancellation. Oh, and the fact that no one has heard her new album yet, so can’t join in with a good old singsong and/or knees up.

Writing on her website, Aguilera said: “I made the decision to move my summer tour and I am truly sorry to those of you who had purchased tickets and have been disappointed by the news. Immediately after wrapping production on ‘Burlesque’, I went directly back into the studio and then quickly started the promotional process for ‘Bionic’. With both the album press and film press I am booked the entire summer and need time to focus on the work at hand”.

She continued: “After reviewing the schedule with my team, I realised there was not enough time to put together and rehearse for a proper show, one that is at the calibre you expect from me or at the level I would present to my fans. In addition, my album has not even been released as yet and I would like for you all to become familiar with the music before you hear it live on tour”.

New tour dates are expected to be scheduled for early 2011 later this year.

Mastodon cancel European tour due to health concerns

Gigs & Festivals

Mastodon have announced that they are cancelling a month long European tour, which was due to begin in Germany on 5 Jun, after guitarist Bill Kelliher was diagnosed with pancreatitis.

In a statement, the band said: “[Bill] has been advised by doctors to continue further medical treatment. Bill’s medical team are optimistic and expect a full recovery in the weeks ahead”.

The band do expect to be able to take part in their ‘BlackDiamondSkye’ co-headline tour with Alice In Chains and Deftones in the US in September and October.

Festival line-up update – 27 May 2010

Artist News Festival Line-Up Update Gigs & Festivals

GLOBAL GATHERING, Long Marston Airfield, Stratford Upon Avon, Warwickshire, 30-31 Jul: Chew Lips, Tinie Tempah and Alex Metric have all been confirmed to play this summer’s tenth Global Gathering, along with Dirty Vegas, Drums Of Death, Ou Est Le Swimming Pool and Scarlet Harlots. www.globalgathering.com

GUILFEST, Stoke Park, Surrey, 16-18 Jul: Tall Paul, Mikey Dubz and Ben Pineapple Tribe have all been confirmed to play The Funky End Dance Tent at Guilfest this summer, with the likes of Pint Shot Riot, Sorry And The Sinatras and The Xcerts announced to play the Rock Sound Cave. www.guilfest.co.uk

INDIETRACKS, Butterley Station, Derbyshire, 23-25 Jul: Slow Club and Everybody Was In The French Resistance… Now! are the latest headliners announced to play at this year’s Indietracks Festival, joining the previously announced The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart, Love Is All, Veronica Falls and many more. www.indietracks.co.uk

Music Connected returns

Business News Education & Events

The Association Of Independent Music has confirmed that this year’s Music Connected – the digital music trade fair and mini-conference – will take place on 30 Jun at Glaziers Hall in London. Actually, they confirmed that a while ago, but we never got around to reporting on it.

Sponsored by Music2Text, numerous digital music types will be represented at the trade fair, including Merlin, Shazam, Nokia, 7Digital, Fatdrop, Napster, We7, Tag Strategic, Sonic Digital, SoundCloud, Consolidated Independent, Believe Digital, state51 and INgrooves. In terms of presentations and whatnot, marketing agency Media Junction will present a session called ‘Digital Marketing For Under £1000’ while Warp Records will provide some digital marketing case studies.

Tickets are £125, or £30 for AIM members. More at this here URL:
www.musicindie.com/242.asp?sub=Events

Liverpool Sound City: The ups and downs of confusing digital licensing

Business News Education & Events Labels & Publishers

Two final reports from last week’s Liverpool Sound City conference now, the first from the licensing panel that took place during the technology strand that dominated day three of the convention.

The Orchard founder Scott Cohen had mixed opinions about the confusing nature of music licensing in the digital domain. On the issue of pan-European licensing he was quite clear: the system operated by the collecting societies on the music publishing side of the equation was just too complicated. Of course, that’s not especially surprising, given he runs a company that is able to licence the sound recordings The Orchard represents to Europe-wide digital ventures, but must then break the news to the entrepreneurs behind such ventures that they need separate publishing licences from every collecting society in Europe.

Representing the publishing sector, Eric Mackay of CELAS, which represents EMI Music Publishing’s catalogue in the digital domain, admitted that the system for licensing music on a pan-European basis wasn’t ideal, but argued that the publishing sector was slowly adapting to the needs of the digital market, partly to satisfy the demands of the European Commission on this issue, and partly for commercial motivations. Prior to the internet, he added, no one needed cross-territory licences, and creating such licences was not without its challenges. But, he countered, the publishing sector is moving in the right direction.

Cohen wasn’t so sure. “Many licenses say that moves by the European Commission to force pan-European licences has made things more confusing than ever”, CMU Publisher Chris Cooke, also on the panel, noted. “Is that because we’re in a state of flux, or is everything screwed up, and basically we need to start again?”

“I really think it’s the latter”, Cohen said.

“I still believe the long term future for digital licensing – publishing and sound recordings – is blanket licensing through collecting societies which all offer pan-European licences”, Cooke added. “Though it might take us a few years to get there. Because even if law makers don’t force a radio-style licensing system for digital services onto copyright owners – which they might in France – ultimately, once there are no more million-dollar deal-sweeteners to be had by major record companies, blanket collective licensing just makes sense for logistical reasons”.

Cohen said he was prone to agree, though Mackay said he couldn’t disagree more. Partly because he felt regulators, far from forcing blanket licensing on the music industry, would block it for anti-competitive reasons, certainly at a European level.

But is the confusing nature of music licensing always a bad thing? Panel chair Cliff Fluet of legal firm Lewis Silkin, who counts Nokia among his clients, wanted to know about licensing in the sync and brand partnership domain, an area where blanket licences will surely never apply. The multiple ownership of songs and sound recordings by different individuals and companies – and the fact the artist a brand actually wants to work with often doesn’t control any of their own music – seriously confuses marketing bosses with big budgets to spend. Isn’t that a problem?

“Yes and no”, Cohen reckoned. “Really it’s a business opportunity, for those of us in the room who do understand how it works, and who can sell that expertise to brands and marketing agencies looking to work with music”.

Liverpool Sound City: Sex, drugs and rock n roll

Business News Education & Events

One of the more fun sessions at Liverpool Sound City this year actually took place on the first day, and I think I promised you a write up of it about a week ago. Oh well. On Wednesday afternoon, as part of the Create Sound City programme, journalist and Goldblade frontman John Robb took to the stage to interrogate Dodgy drummer and artist manager Mathew Priest about the roll of sex and drugs in the rock n roll lifestyle.

Noting how numerous British music scenes from the sixties onwards had in part been linked to the illegal drug of the moment – whether it be speed, acid, LSD or ecstasy – Robb wondered whether aspiring bands who wanted to become part of whatever scene is in fashion will inevitably have to partake in the drugs associated with it.

Recalling the early days of Dodgy, Priest observed: “Britpop appeared on the back of the ecstasy scene, and of course drugs were around in abundance, and of course bands took part. And that’s fine. But I think young bands who get into drugs do need to think about why they are doing it. Is it because it’s fun, because it’s part of the party lifestyle? Is it to maintain that unique rush you get on stage when you’re off stage? Is it because you think it’s cool, or it will make you a better musician, or turn you into some kind of creative genius?”

While neither Robb nor Priest were attempting any “just say no” style preaching on the issue, and both conceded dabbling in drugs could make you seem cooler (though getting addicted to them, less so), both seemed keen to stress that the creative power of drugs is often greatly exaggerated. “Yes, some songs, some albums, might have been influenced by drug-induced experiences”, Robb noted. “But they won’t turn you into a genius songwriter”.

Priest agreed. “There is a tendency for people to look at musical geniuses, and at those musical geniuses’ drug addictions, and think the latter led to the former”, he said. “Doing heroin won’t turn you into a Lou Reed. Living a Keith Richards lifestyle won’t make you a brilliant guitarist. These people were talented before the drugs. Musicians who do the drugs to try to become a creative genius won’t achieve much”.

Heroin and cocaine in particular do little for creativity, both men reckoned. “There’s a lot of very bad cocaine records” Robb joked.

“Heroin, I could never understand”, Priest added. “What is ‘heroin cool’ about? But you saw bands doing it, just because they were desperate to be cool. But it’s a dangerous thing, that generally destroys bands rather than making them great”.

But what about the sex? You get as much sex as you want when you’re in a band right? Priest said: “Being in a band, yes there’ll be girls. But that can be exaggerated too, and depends on how you feel about taking advantage of overly-willing fans – we were never that keen on doing that in Dodgy. But, if you’re the sort of person who finds it easy to get laid already, well, once you’re in a successful band, the sky is the limit”.

“I remember we toured with Space”, he recalled. “The guitarist in that band, he was one of those guys. I remember we came off stage and there he was, in our dressing room, getting a blow job off a girl who was wearing a Dodgy t-shirt! He was getting our blow job! But yeah, he was one of those kind of guys, and while his band were in the spotlight, he had a very happy time!”

Chrysalis release upbeat financials

Business News Labels & Publishers

Independent music publisher Chrysalis was upbeat yesterday when reporting on the first half of its current financial year. The company’s net publisher’s income share (so royalty revenues after songwriters and composers have been paid their share) was up 15% to £7.5 million.

Two of its songwriters, Fraser T Smith and Rob Swire, who co-wrote recent hits from Taio Cruz and Rihanna respectively, helped boost the publisher’s fortunes, though it was last year’s big Beatles re-release promotion that brought in the serious cash (Chrysalis have a share in the publishing royalties there via its partnership with producer George Martin).

Chrysalis top man Jeremy Lascelles told reporters: “We have made a very encouraging start to the remainder of the financial year with successive number one singles in the US, and are confident of building on this with a strong release schedule in the second half”.

Calvin Harris to be Deconstruction A&R man

Business News Industry People Labels & Publishers

DJ and Sony VP of A&R Mike Pickering revealed at the International Music Summit in Ibiza this week that he has signed up Calvin Harris as part of the A&R team at the newly relaunched Deconstruction label.

Calvin Harris also launched his own label, Fly Eye Records, earlier this year, the first release from which, ‘Gecko’ by Mr Blink, was released this month.

DeGeneres launches record label

Business News Labels & Publishers

Talk show host and ‘American Idol’ judge Ellen DeGeneres has announced that she is launching a record label. Called eleveneleven, her first signing is twelve year old YouTube sensation Greyson Chance, who wracked up 20 million hits on the website earlier this month with a video of him performing ‘Paparazzi’ by Lady Gaga at his school.

DeGeneres said in a statement that she was inspired to work with Chance, and launch a label in order to do so, after he appeared on her TV show two weeks ago. Madonna’s manager Guy Oseary and Lady Gaga’s manager Troy Carter have agreed to co-manage the young singer.

Another act Ellen has featured on her show are Irish family trio Crystal Swing. I really hope she signs them too: www.youtube.com/watch?v=QAsUfWvIiXY

Apple bigger than Microsoft, music operations may be investigated

Digital Legal

Apple yesterday became a bigger company than Microsoft, which is quite remarkable news for those of us who used Apple computers in the 1990s when everyone reckoned the mavericks in the home computing market were on the skids into oblivion.

The Guardian point out that in 2000 Microsoft’s market capitalisation (number of shares multiplied by share price) was $556 billion while Apple languished behind at $15.6 billion. As of yesterday Apple had a market cap of $221.1 billion while Microsoft, whose value has been slipping for a while, is down to $219.2 billion. And with the iPad likely to dominate the gadgets market this year, Apple’s rise looks set to continue.

Of course, Apple’s rebirth in the last ten years has had a great deal to do with its music-based ventures, which makes it interesting that as the ‘Apple bigger than Microsoft’ headline broke yesterday there were also rumours the US Department Of Justice had begun a preliminary inquiry into the way Apple does business with the music industry, in response to claims of anti-competitive behaviour. Back in the day it was Microsoft who were always battling off allegations they’d breached anti-trust laws.

Although neither the DoJ nor Apple have commented, the New York Times says US competition regulators are investigating claims Apple used its dominance in the digital music market to pressure record companies not to participate in Amazon’s MP3 Daily Deal promotion, which would give the iTunes rival exclusivity over certain new songs for 24 hours.

Sky says shutting 6music means nothing to them

Media

As expected, one of the key commercial media firms that the BBC’s 6music-shutting Strategy Review was in part devised to placate has said the cutbacks in services proposed by BBC bosses in the controversial document do nothing to alleviate their concerns that the Beeb is too powerful a player, and uses its guaranteed licence fee funding to secure unfair competitive advantage.

According to The Guardian, in its response to the BBC Review submitted to the BBC Trust, BSkyB says plans to close 6music and the Asian Network, two Beeb youth strands and parts of the BBC website are “tactical and cosmetic” cuts that just “tinker around the edges” but do not dent the scope of the Corporation’s activities. Basically, 6music and the Asian Network could be shut tomorrow, but BSkyB and its key shareholder Rupert Murdoch wouldn’t stop moaning.

This is something much predicted by opponents to the cuts being proposed by the BBC. Many commentators have pointed out the irony that, in a bid to placate commercial critics, BBC bosses have proposed shutting down some of its least commercial services, a move which would see more money passed to those BBC networks other media firms most object to, in particular Radios 1 and 2 and, in BSkyB’s case, BBC News.

Even the BBC youth services facing the axe – which the BBC review specifically says could be provided on a commercial basis – won’t really placate commercial media owners. While in theory the youth market is lucrative, increased regulations regarding what you can advertise to teens coupled with that audience’s tendency to spend more time online than with traditional media, means few non-BBC telly firms have big youth market ambitions. Indeed the main commercial channel for teens, Trouble, shut down last year.

In his company’s submission to the BBC Trust, BSkyB corporate affairs man Graham McWilliam said: “The [BBC] executive’s proposals appear tactical and cosmetic. They tinker around the edges of the BBC’s activities, giving the impression of change while avoiding the fundamental questions over the BBC’s future strategic direction”.

Of course, to be fair to the BBC, while their Strategy Review is totally misguided as an attempt to placate commercial rivals, in reality little will stop BSkyB from moaning, short of shutting down BBC 1, Radios 1 and 2 and the BBC News Channel.

Sky’s most recent complaint about the BBC regards plans for the new look iPlayer to provide links to rival broadcasters’ online services, so that people who search for non-BBC programming on the iPlayer will be directed to where those programmes are available online.

Such a service is the BBC trying to fulfil its commitment to use its popular licence-fee funded website to drive traffic to commercial rivals, but Sky see it as an attempt by the Beeb to make their website the first-stop hub for British TV viewers, without realising it already is that, simply because most commercial broadcasters’ websites are really shite.

Sky close to buying Virgin channels, may bid for Five

Media

Talking of Sky, they themselves are about to become more dominant in the UK cable TV market by buying Virgin Media’s TV channels, Virgin1, Living, Bravo and Challenge.

Virgin have been toying with selling their wholly owned cable channels for a while, and Sky has been a key bidder thoughout, despite Virgin1 originally being created to piss off Sky when the cable telly firm had to take Sky One of its network during its highly public squabble with its satellite TV rivals. Insiders say that Sky’s negotiations to buy the four Virgin channels could result in a deal being struck this week.

Sky is also expected to make a bid for Channel Five, which current owners RTL are rumoured to be putting up for sale shortly. Though Sky is not assured victory in any bidding war for the fifth terrestrial channel. Despite it being loss-making, the Guardian says ITV, US conglom Time Warner and ‘Big Brother’ makers Endemol may all also bid.

Kylie invited back to Neighbours

And Finally

Kylie Minogue has been invited to reprise her role as Charlene Robinson in long-running Australian soap opera ‘Neighbours’. The singer, of course, starred in the show for two years before leaving to concentrate on music in 1988.

To be fair, this isn’t completely out of the blue, Minogue told The Sun recently: “The other day I thought how much fun it would be to do it after years of saying never. I’ve decided how it would work.Charlene would screech up the drive in her souped-up Mini which she’s been working on all the time.I don’t watch the show any more, but it could be fun to do that. It could be hilarious”.

The show’s executive producer Susan Bower told the official ‘Neighbours’ website yesterday: “Kylie can arrive in a Mini, in a hot-air balloon or even parachute. Any way she desires, we would welcome her with open arms”.

Approved: Sleigh Bells

CMU Approved

The questions everyone seemed to be asking at The Great Escape and Liverpool Sound City earlier this month were either, “Have you seen Sleigh Bells?” or “Are you seeing Sleigh Bells later?” I don’t think I heard any band’s name more. And these seem to have been questions that echoed around the CMJ Music Marathon last October and SxSW in March, too. So, I’ll save you the discomfort and just ask the obvious response on your behalf: “Who?”

Formed in 2008 by Derek Miller, former guitarist in hardcore band Poison The Well, and one member of short-lived teen-pop group RubyBlue, Alexis Krauss, Sleigh Bells make industrial pop music. Not dissimilar in a number of ways to experimental hip hop duo Dälek, Miller creates tracks with everything pushed into the red. Distorted hip hop beats underpin piercing, scratchy guitars, biting synths and heavy, heavy basslines. Krauss’ vocals then spring out clean and sweet-sounding from this angry concoction.

The results, as can be heard on the duo’s debut album, ‘Treats’, are incredibly striking, and the blast of noise it delivers is thrilling. Whether that initial thrill will stand the test of time remains to be seen, but it’s well worth finding out. The album is out in digital form this week, with physical versions following next month.

www.myspace.com/sleighbellsmusic

Q&A: Los Campesinos!

Artist Interviews

Formed in 2006, seven-piece indie pop band Los Campesinos! signed to Wichita Recordings in 2006 after a hugely positive response to their demos.

Their first single, ‘We Throw Parties, You Throw Knives’, was released the following year, with their debut album, ‘Hold On Now, Youngster…’, and an EP ‘We Are Beautiful, We Are Doomed’, following in 2008. The band released their latest album, ‘Romance Is Boring’, back in February, and are now set to play all three dates of this weekend’s Dot To Dot Festival. Ahead of their first Dot To Dot performance in Bristol on 29 May, we spoke to Tom from the band to ask the Same Six.

Q1 How did you start out making music?
I can remember my first lame attempt at songwriting, which was as soon as I learnt to play guitar, where I “liberated” some Blur chord progressions (an entire song) and then made very slight plagiarism-dodging alterations. Now we’ve made a career out of doing that very thing.

Q2 What inspired your latest album?
Hmm, mainly the want to better our last album.

Q3 What process do you go through in creating a track?
Unhinged excitement at the discovery of a new melody; frustration at not being able to form that melody into something that’s as good as the song in your head; depression upon realising you hate music and have completely lost faith in yourself and anything you’ve ever done; hatred of yourself and everyone; “fuck off”; delight when you realise you’ve got a leftover KitKat downstairs; muted satisfaction when you listen back to the song and realise that it’s actually ‘alright’.

Q4 Which artists influence your work?
In the long term, bands like Yo La Tengo, Deerhoof, Pavement, and Super Furry Animals; in the short term, whatever song I’ve heard that day and liked. Very fickle.

Q5 What would you say to someone experiencing your music for the first time?
“It’s alright, but their earlier stuff’s way better”.

Q6 What are your ambitions for your latest album, and for the future?
That in six months time, maybe someone, somewhere will say: “Oh, actually, this album’s NOT that shit”.

MORE>> www.loscampesinos.com

Single Review: The Ruskins – Old Isleworth (SiZe Records)

Single Reviews

Returning with their second single, indie three-piece The Ruskins continue to deliver their eclectic mix of modern ska-infused, Irish-flavoured, country rock. Whilst still playing frenetically with an upbeat tempo, ‘Old Isleworth’ takes on a more earnest tone than debut single ‘Slow Down Jessica’; moving from the topic of a slightly too intense love interest, to reminiscing about the good days in their hometown of Isleworth and how it’s now changed, presumably for the worse.

To illustrate their tales of “possible threats” and community support officers, The Ruskins worked with young aspiring director Andy Little on the video for the song, filming scenes around the Worton Estate in Isleworth itself, and including cameos from the likes of ‘Skins’ and ‘Shameless’ stars Kaya Scodelario and Elliott Titensor, who they now count amongst their fans.

So, not a massive departure from their previous offering, but with, at its heart, catchy sensibilities, an edgy video and support from Xfm’s John Kennedy, this is definitely a step in the right direction. GS

Buy from iTunes
Buy from Amazon

U2 cancel Glastonbury appearance

Artist News Gigs & Festivals Top Stories

Following the previously reported emergency back surgery he underwent last week, Bono has announced that he, and therefore U2, will not be able to play this year’s Glastonbury Festival, as well as a string of US dates.

According to neurosurgeon Dr Joerg Tonn, the singer was training for U2’s upcoming tour dates last week when “sudden onset disease” rendered him temporarily paralysed. He added that Bono had been discharged from a Munich hospital on Monday, following the surgery there on Friday, saying: “The surgery was the only course of treatment for full recovery and to avoid further paralysis. Bono is now much better, with complete recovery of his motor deficit. The prognosis is excellent, but to obtain a sustainable result, he must now enter a period of rehabilitation”.

Bono broke the bad news to Glasto mainman Michael Eavis by telephone yesterday, who apparently wasn’t that bothered about the US dates but pretended to be concerned anyway (that’s conjecture there, people; though it did definitely happen). In a statement issued through the Glastonbury website yesterday, Bono said: “I’m heartbroken. We really wanted to be there to do something really special – we even wrote a song especially for the festival”.

Eavis added: “It was obvious from our telephone conversation that U2 are hugely disappointed. Clearly, they were looking forward to playing the Pyramid Stage as much as we were looking forward to watching them. At this point, we have no comment to make about possible replacements for U2’s Friday night slot. Instead, we would simply like to send Bono our very best wishes for a full and speedy recovery”.

The performance would have been U2’s first appearance at the festival, and Eavis’ decision to stay tight lipped on the matter of a replacement has led to much speculation amongst people on the internet, and even some others in the real world via the use of their mouths. Coldplay are currently thought to be the most likely to take the slot. Kylie Minogue, who was also forced to cancel her planned appearance at the festival due to health reasons in 2005, has been tipped by some, though it has been pointed out that she has other commitments in Paris on that particular Friday night.

I wonder if the other members of U2 have considered performing without Bono? With the Glastonbury audience so split of the merits of band’s performance there anyway, it might turn out to be a welcome compromise.

Slipknot pay tribute to their late bandmate Gray

David Byrne sues Florida governor over campaign ad

Legal

Most artists hate it when political parties adopt their music for election campaigning, especially if it’s a party said artists wouldn’t choose to publicly support. But, as previously reported, when political types choose to use records at political rallies held in venues that hold public performance licences from the relevant collecting societies, there is nothing said aggrieved artists can do, because using music at events like that is covered by blanket licences.

However, if a politician uses a song without permission on a video – in a sync scenario – there is a case under copyright law to sue for infringement, which is what David Byrne is doing in America. He is suing Florida Governor Charlie Crist for a neat million dollars after the one time Republican used the classic Talking Heads song ‘Road To Nowhere’ on his website and in a YouTube-hosted video as part of his campaign for a seat in the US Senate (he’s a “one time Republican” because he’s running for the Senate seat as an independent).

Commenting on his lawsuit, Byrne said this week: “It’s not about politics, it’s about copyright … though [Crist using the track] does imply that I would have licensed it and endorsed him and whatever he stands for”.

Byrne is being represented by Lawrence Iser, the same attorney who worked for Jackson Browne who, as previously reported, won an out of court settlement from US presidential wannabe John McCain after he used a Browne track without permission on a YouTube posted advert. Commenting on his new case, Iser told reporters: “I was fairly astonished that this soon after the settlement of Browne v McCain, yet another politician with national aspirations is doing this again”.

New IP minister appointed

Business News

The British music industry possibly scored a victory when the previous UK parliament passed the Digital Economy Act. And those in the grass roots live sector are now optimistic that the new found power of the Lib Dems in the UK’s new coalition government will mean the Liberal-supported reforms of the 2003 Licensing Act, to make staging small-scale live music events less bureaucratic, may now happen.

But there remains one big political issue for the record industry that is far from being resolved, that of copyright extension, which has sort of gone on the back burner of late, after a flurry of activity at a European level at the start of last year. The record industry wants the sound recording copyright term to be extended from its current fifty years, preferably to 95 years. It’s a want with a pressing deadline, under the current system The Beatles catalogue starts to come out of copyright in 2013.

The main previous achievement in that domain, for the record industry on a UK level, was convincing the former Intellectual Property Minister David Lammy that he should campaign within Europe for the copyright term to be extended, previously the UK government was against extension. It remains to be seen what his successor, Tory Lord Judith Wilcox, thinks about the issue.

But presumably record industry’s lobbying types will begin a charm offensive on the Baroness following yesterday’s announcement that she will head up the Intellectual Property Office, which sits under Vince Cable’s Department For Business Innovation And Skills.

Liam Gallagher names new band

Artist News

After much thought, Liam Gallagher has decided that it would be a good idea to call his post-Oasis band (essentially Oasis minus Noel) Beady Eye.

The band are currently recording their debut album with producer Steve Lillywhite, and their debut single scheduled for release in October. All they need now is for Noel to come along, rename the band and write them some good songs and the process will be complete.

Future Of The Left bassist quits

Artist News

Future Of The Left bassist Kelson Matthias has announced his departure from the band, as they prepare for a European tour, due to begin next month. All dates will go ahead as planned, with Oceansize bassist Steven Hodson stepping in as a temporary replacement.

In a short statement, Matthias said: “I’d just like to say thanks to everyone that’s supported me in this band over the past five years, everyone that I’ve met at shows all over the world and all the bands I’ve had the pleasure to play gigs with. I’d like to wish Andy [Falkous, vocals guitar] and Jack [Egglestone, drums] the best for the future.

Falkous added: “How do we feel about it, as a band? Well, sad, happy, annoyed and relieved at the same time. Like human beings, all told. Future Of The Left is still a band, a thing, the centre of our unremarkable lives and continues, if anything, with more effort and furious pride than ever before. We wish Kelson good luck and hope that he flourishes in whatever he ends up doing, unless it’s monster truck racing”.

As well as preparing for their upcoming tour dates, the band, now expanded to a four-piece (once they replace Matthias), are putting the finishing touches on their third album (fourth if you count their live album). Titles for some of the songs on said album include: ‘Assisted Suicide Blues’, ‘Home Taping Is Killing Susan’, ‘The Goose That Roared’, and ‘Destroywhitchurch.com’.

Charlie Simpson signs up to Pledge

Business News Deals Management & Funding

The latest music type to sign up to fan-funding platform Pledge is that Charlie Simpson, who is raising cash from his fans for a solo project which will run alongside his Fightstar shenanigans. Simpson began his Pledge fundraising yesterday, offering exclusive t-shirts, album credits, the chance to design a page of the album’s artwork, the chance to attend a pledgers-only gig, a handwritten lyric sheet, a chance to appear in a video and a whole load more to potential pledgers. As of this morning he’d already raised 82% of the money he needs to fund the mini-album.

Confirming his Pledge project, and the charity he will support as part of the initiative, Simpson told CMU: “I decided recently that I wanted to do something a bit different and make a solo record. This isn’t the end of Fightstar at all, we’ll be back together very soon, but I just had some songs that I fancied trying out on my own and this is a great opportunity to invite people to be part of the process. Pledge Music is a great way of connecting artists with their fans and I’m really excited about making this work. In addition, some of the funds will be donated to Breast Cancer Research UK, a charity close to me heart as breast cancer has directly affected my family”.

Pledge MD Malcolm Dunbar added: “Charlie Simpson is exactly the kind of artist we want to be working with at Pledge Music – he is really creative, wants to try out exciting new ideas and has a loyal fanbase who are eager to interact directly with him. His enthusiasm is really infectious and we are looking forward to helping him make his first solo record and put in place a really compelling pledge campaign for his followers”.

Grinderman announce new album and UK live dates

Gigs & Festivals Releases

Grinderman will return with their second album, ‘Grinderman 2’, on 13 Sep. Released though Mute Records, the album is the follow-up to their 2006 debut, ‘Grinderman’. See Crystal Castles? That’s how you name consecutive eponymous albums.

The album was recorded at various London studios – RAK, State Of The Ark, and Assault And Battery Studios – last year with producer Nick Launay, and mixed by Launay in London and LA last month.

Following the release of the album, the band will embark on a European tour, which will include these four UK shows:

25 Sep: Nottingham, Rock City
27 Sep: Leeds, University
28 Sep: Glasgow, Barrowlands
29 Sep: Manchester, Academy
1 Oct: London, Hammersmith Apollo

Autechre announce new album

Releases

Autechre only released their last album, ‘Oversteps’, in March, but they’ve already thrown another one together. ‘Move Of Ten’ will feature ten new tracks, and be released via Warp on 17 Jul. It will be available on CD, vinyl and various download formats, including 16 and 24 bit WAVs.

You can hear a track from the album, ‘y7’, on SoundCloud now.

Klaxons stream new track and announce tour dates

Gigs & Festivals

Having spent a couple of years attempting to record their second album, scrapping their initial effort in full, Klaxons have finally cracked it, it seems. Having been in the studio with producer Ross Robinson (who has worked with everyone from Sepultura to The Cure), the first song from the new album, ‘Flashover’, was premiered on Zane Lowe’s Radio 1 show last night and is streaming via the band’s website now.

Says bassist Jamie Reynolds of their progression since the release of their debut album, ‘Myths Of The Near Future’, in 2007: “We were an art project that got out of hand, but now we are a band”.

Speaking as someone who has always had somewhere between little and no time for Klaxons in the past, I can report that ‘Flashover’ is actually pretty bloody good. You can hear it here: www.klaxons.net

In addition to this, the band have announced three live dates for July, which look exactly like these ones I am about to type out here:

13 Jul: Glasgow, King Tut’s
14 Jul: Manchester, Ruby Lounge
27 Jul: London, Village Underground

OMD: new album and tour

Gigs & Festivals

Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark will release their first album in over a decade, and their first with the original line-up since 1986, on 4 Oct, it has been confirmed. Founder members Andy McClusky and Paul Humphreys, plus Martin Cooper and Malcolm Holmes, who made up the “classic OMD line up” that recorded throughout the 80s, will all also tour together in the Autumn.

Here are the UK dates:

29 Oct: Brighton, Dome
1 Nov: Nottingham, Royal Centre
2 Nov: Glasgow, Royal Concert Hall
4 Nov: Liverpool, Arena
5 Nov: Ipswich, Regent Theatre
7 Nov: London, Hammersmith Apollo
8 Nov: Birmingham, Symphony Hall

Morning Benders announce UK tour

Gigs & Festivals

The Morning Benders will be in the UK next month. Coincidentally, the very day of their first gig on British soil, they’ll also release their second album, ‘Big Echo’, via Rough Trade. It’s almost as if they’d planned it.

Tour dates:

26 Jun: Brighton, Freebutt
27 Jun: Hyde Park Calling
28 Jun: Manchester, Night & Day
29 Jun: Glasgow, King Tut’s
1 Jul: London, Barfly

Festival line-up update – 26 May 2010

Artist News Festival Line-Up Update Gigs & Festivals

GLASTONBURY, Worthy Farm, Somerset, 23-27 Jun: Rusko, Chase And Status, Annie Mac and Roots head up the latest acts announced to play the Shangri La area at this year’s Glastonbury. www.glastonburyfestivals.co.uk

HARD ROCK CALLING, Hyde Park, London, 25-27 Jun: Crosby Stills And Nash and Crowded House have been added to the Sunday night line-up at this year’s Hard Rock Calling, headlined by Paul McCartney. Elvis Costello, Joshua Radin, Lissie and Tiffany Page have also been added to the line-up. www.hardrockcalling.co.uk

OXEGEN, Punchestown Racecourse, Naas, 8-11 Jul: Biffy Clyro and Plan B are the latest additions to this year’s Oxegen Festival, joining the previously announced Eminem, Muse, Kasabian and Arcade Fire. 2010.oxegen.ie

READING & LEEDS, Little Johns Farm, Richfield Avenue, Reading, Bramham Park, Leeds, 27-29 Aug: The King Blues, Kids In Glass Houses and Hadouken! head up the latest acts announced to play the Main Stage at this year’s Reading and Leeds, with the likes of Alkaline Trio, Bad Religion and Crime In Stereo confirmed to play the Lock Up Stage. www.readingfestival.com, www.leedsfestival.com

ROCK NESS, Loch Ness, nr Inverness, Scotland, 11-13 Jun: Shy FX, Martyn and Jackmaster have all been added to the Rock Ness line-up, along with Grandmaster Flash, Hot Chip, Toddla T, Benga and Crazy P Soundsystem. www.rockness.co.uk

Thursday 27 May 2010, 12:19 | By CMU Editorial

READ MORE ABOUT: Christina Aguilera

Thursday 27 May 2010, 12:18 | By CMU Editorial

READ MORE ABOUT: Mastodon

Thursday 27 May 2010, 12:16 | By CMU Editorial

READ MORE ABOUT: Global Gathering | Guilfest | Indietracks

Thursday 27 May 2010, 12:14 | By CMU Editorial

READ MORE ABOUT: Association of Independent Music (AIM) | Music Connected

Thursday 27 May 2010, 12:13 | By CMU Editorial

READ MORE ABOUT: CELAS | Chris Cooke | Cliff Fluet | CMU | Eric Mackay | Lewis Silkin | Liverpool Sound City | Scott Cohen | The Orchard

Thursday 27 May 2010, 12:11 | By CMU Editorial

READ MORE ABOUT: Dodgy | Goldblade | John Robb | Liverpool Sound City | Mathew Priest

Thursday 27 May 2010, 12:10 | By CMU Editorial

READ MORE ABOUT: Chrysalis

Thursday 27 May 2010, 12:09 | By CMU Editorial

READ MORE ABOUT: Calvin Harris | Deconstruction | Fly Eye Records

Thursday 27 May 2010, 12:07 | By CMU Editorial

READ MORE ABOUT: eleveneleven | Ellen DeGeneres | Greyson Chance

Thursday 27 May 2010, 12:06 | By CMU Editorial

READ MORE ABOUT: Apple | Microsoft | US Department Of Justice

Thursday 27 May 2010, 12:05 | By CMU Editorial

READ MORE ABOUT: BBC Radio 6 Music | BSkyB | Save 6music

Thursday 27 May 2010, 12:03 | By CMU Editorial

READ MORE ABOUT: Bravo | BSkyB | Challenge | Channel 5 | Living | Virgin 1 | Virgin Media | Virgin Media Television

Thursday 27 May 2010, 12:02 | By CMU Editorial

READ MORE ABOUT: Kylie Minogue | Neighbours

Thursday 27 May 2010, 11:35 | By Andy Malt

READ MORE ABOUT: Sleigh Bells

Thursday 27 May 2010, 11:00 | By CMU Editorial

Formed in 2006, seven-piece indie pop band Los Campesinos! signed to Wichita Recordings in 2006 after a hugely positive response to their demos.

READ MORE ABOUT: Los Campesinos!

Wednesday 26 May 2010, 12:12 | By CMU Editorial

READ MORE ABOUT: GS | The Ruskins

Wednesday 26 May 2010, 12:09 | By CMU Editorial

READ MORE ABOUT: Glastonbury Festival | U2

Wednesday 26 May 2010, 12:08 | By CMU Editorial

READ MORE ABOUT: Paul Gray | Slipknot

Wednesday 26 May 2010, 12:07 | By CMU Editorial

READ MORE ABOUT: Viacom | Viacom v YouTube | YouTube

Wednesday 26 May 2010, 12:04 | By CMU Editorial

READ MORE ABOUT: Charlie Crist | David Byrne | Talking Heads

Wednesday 26 May 2010, 11:59 | By CMU Editorial

READ MORE ABOUT: David Lammy | Intellectual Property Office (IPO) | Judith Wilcox

Wednesday 26 May 2010, 11:57 | By CMU Editorial

READ MORE ABOUT: Beady Eye | Liam Gallagher

Wednesday 26 May 2010, 11:55 | By CMU Editorial

READ MORE ABOUT: Future Of The Left | Kelson Matthias | Oceansize | Steven Hodson

Wednesday 26 May 2010, 11:51 | By CMU Editorial

READ MORE ABOUT: Charlie Simpson | PledgeMusic

Wednesday 26 May 2010, 11:50 | By CMU Editorial

READ MORE ABOUT: Grinderman

Wednesday 26 May 2010, 11:49 | By CMU Editorial

READ MORE ABOUT: Autechre

Wednesday 26 May 2010, 11:45 | By CMU Editorial

READ MORE ABOUT: Klaxons

Wednesday 26 May 2010, 11:41 | By CMU Editorial

READ MORE ABOUT: OMD

Wednesday 26 May 2010, 11:40 | By CMU Editorial

READ MORE ABOUT: Morning Benders

Wednesday 26 May 2010, 11:37 | By CMU Editorial

READ MORE ABOUT: Glastonbury Festival | Hard Rock Calling | Leeds Festival | Oxegen | Reading Festival | RockNess