Friday 26 November 2010, 13:13 | By CMU Editorial

Warner UK appoints new compo chief

Business News Industry People Labels & Publishers

Warner Music UK has only gone and announced that Alex Macnutt has been appointed Head Of Compilations. Yes, that’s right, Alex Macnutt, Head Of Compilations, these are crazy invigorating times. Macnutt most recently worked with Ministry Of Sound’s record label, having previously consulted for Universal Music’s compilations division.

He will report to Dan Chalmers, head of Warner’s Rhino UK division, who left these very words on the CMU HQ answer phone late last night: “Hello, is anyone there? Go on pick up, I’ve got something important to say about Alex Macnutt becoming our Head Of Complitions … hello, is anyone there? You’re always there; ah fuck, it’s the Record Of The Day Awards, isn’t it? Bugger”.

Unfortunately that message got deleted by mistake before anyone could hear it, but the good news is that by that time we’d received the same press release as everyone else, in which the Dan man exclusively told CMU: “Compilations remain a great way to introduce people to new music and create fresh opportunities for hit songs. Alex’s track record in this important area speaks for itself. Adept at putting together exciting albums and using TV to create an ‘event’ buzz, he’s one of the best in the business and we’re delighted to be working with him”.

AEG Germany chief to depart

Business News Industry People Live Business

The boss of live music conglom AEG’s German division will leave the company at the end of the year and will not be replaced. Detlef Kornett, who was previously an MD in AEG’s London office and was involved in their acquisition of the then Millennium Dome, has announced he wants to move on to new challenges. The company will use his departure to instigate a slight rejig that will see each of the German operations Kornett has previously overseen report straight into the firm’s global HQ headed up by Tim Leiweke. AEG’s Berlin office where Kornett is based will continue to operate, however, focusing exclusively on the Berlin O2 complex the outgoing director launched.

Lopez parts company with publicists

Digital

Jennifer Lopez has fired her longtime publicists because of an alleged dispute between them and her manager Benny Medina. According to The Hollywood Reporter, publicists Leslie Sloan and Nanci Ryder of LA-based BWR Public Relations have confirmed they have parted company with J Lo, but wouldn’t be drawn on why. They quote Ryder as saying: “I think Jennifer is fantastic and I’m very sad that we’re not going to be representing her any more”.

Although the split has been widely reported, Medina has tried to play it off as routine rejig of the service providers engaged by Lopez. He told reporters: “Artists and PR companies parting ways happens all the time. This is as much news as me re-doing my furniture”.

Medina has managed Lopez since the start of her career, but they parted company for five years between 2003 and 2008 and it was during this time the singer hired BWR.

PRS removes licence obligation from small B&Bs

Business News Labels & Publishers

Good news for owners of B&Bs with three bedrooms or fewer, of which I reckon there are many among the CMU readership. You will no longer need a licence from PRS For Music if you play music on your premises. What do you mean you didn’t know you needed such a thing in the first place? What do you mean, “what the hell is PRS For Music?”

The move follows negotiations between the collecting society and tourism body Visit England, and is designed to remove music rights obligations from the smallest of businesses. PRS Commercial Director Debbie Mulloy explains: “We recognise the issues faced by small businesses. After all, most of 75,000 songwriters and publishers we represent are themselves
small businesses. We want to get the right balance between the music creators and businesses using music. We’re very please to introduce the new policy – waiving charges for the smallest businesses in this sector”.

There are some conditions applied to the new waiver which I haven’t bothered reading because, well, I don’t own a B&B with three or less rooms. But if you do, you should probably get in touch with PRS to find out more.

Sony announces music plans for Qriocity, it’ll be portable

Digital

Sony Corp has announced that the music strand of its stupidly named content-on-demand service Qriocity will be available via the PSP handheld gaming device.

Sony launched Qriocity earlier this year in the US, with a European roll out under way, and it currently works on Sony PCs, TVs, Blu-ray players and Playstation 3 consoles. Initially the content on offer was video-based, but it was known a Spotify-style music service was in the pipeline too. And yesterday Sony said that that service – when it launches – will also be available on the portable PSP and, while a launch date is tbc, an upcoming firmware update will get the gaming devices ready for the music service.

Writing about the new Qriocity music service on the PSP blog this week, Sony’s Eric Lempel said: “This will allow users to access millions of songs stored and synchronised through the cloud. Users can discover new music through channels ‘personalised’ to their tastes on multiple devices and without the requirement to manage digital music files”.

Time Out publisher sells 50% share in title

Media

Time Out publisher Tony Elliott yesterday sold half of the London listings magazine to a venture capital firm called Oakley Capital.

Although it’s not known how much money the investment outfit will hand over as part of the deal, The Guardian says it will help the struggling magazine pay off £10 million in debts, a portion of which were to Elliot himself, who has provided new financial backing for the media firm of late, partly by remortgaging his home.

Time Out has been struggling for the best part of a decade now as weekend newspapers stepped up their listings, and other readers started to gravitate to net-based services.

The company has been dabbling with difference approaches, most recently expanding the amount of content available for free online. There have also been repeated rumours the printed magazine might go free or launch a free lite edition, though said rumours have never come to much.

Elliot, who will remain as Chairman of the Time Out company, says he is happy that his new business partners will provide the security required to safeguard the title’s future while it finds and nurtures new business models.

Dappy giving an alternative Christmas day message on Channel 4, if not the alternative Christmas day message on Channel 4

And Finally

OK people, brace yourself from some very very very bad news. But there’s some goodish news that will follow it, so it’s not all gloom. Yesterday we reported that Dappy, King of all things N-Dubz, would be providing the Alternative Christmas Message that goes up against the Queen’s speech on Channel 4 on Christmas Day.

This widely reported story seemingly began with a report in The Sun, which said that the Dapster would go up against Queen Liz on Christmas Day on Channel 4 with a special message that would also be posted on the N-Dubz MySpace page.

The tabloid quoted the N-Dubz rapper as saying: “We thought it would be cool to do a special Christmas message to rival the Queen’s speech but I’ll be giving a very different take on things to Her Majesty. I’m going to be talking about things that matter to young people today, keeping it real and relevant”.

But we’ve now checked the Channel 4 schedules for Christmas Day and are obliged to tell you that if you tune in at 3pm that day you will not find real and relevant commentary from Mr Contostavlos, but some waffle from a staff member at the hospital the network has been following in its terrible maternity ward fly-on-the-wall show ‘One Born Every Minute’. Which is no fun whatsoever.

But, before you go cancelling Christmas, we have been assured that Dappy will appear on T4 on Channel 4 on Christmas morning with some festive thoughts to share with one and with all, so all is not lost. And presumably it is these thoughts that will also be posted on MySpace, which means you need not tolerate all the other T4 tediousities in order to witness them.

In fact, you can log on at 3pm and choose to watch them in the traditional Alternative Message time slot. Though, it being MySpace you might want to load up the page a few hours previous so it’s working by three. Come to think of it, you’d probably best go there on Christmas Eve. Or maybe next Wednesday.

Anyway, no fun Channel 4, but all is not lost for those who wish to celebrate the birth of Christ the na na naii way God surely intended.

Approved: Sunday Best at The Lock Tavern

Club Tip CMU Approved

This Sunday, Rob da Bank and the Sunday Best crew are taking control of The Lock Tavern in Camden, attempting to distill their Bestival and Camp Bestival festivals down into one day in a pub.

Speaking of distilling (check this out; the most seamless link you’ll ever see in your life … seriously, guys, you’re gonna be proud of me), the free event is sponsored by Auchentoshan whisky. Presumably that’s not actually the name of the company, but how you pronounce it after a night of drinking it. You’ll be able to find out, as they’ll be laying on some free tastings.

But, anyway, enough promotion of someone else’s sponsor, what about the music? Well, Rob da Bank will be DJing, which is always worth the trip out, as will the amazing Jon Hopkins, Sombrero Sound System and Fear Of Theydon. On the live front, there’ll be sets from Kidnap Alice, Cut A Shine Hoe Down, David E Sugar, with Man Like Me headlining the whole shebang. Did I mention it’s free and there’s whisky?

Sunday 28 Nov, The Lock Tavern, 35 Chalk Farm Road, London, NW1, 3pm – 11pm, free, more info here.

Album Review: Crissy Cris And Youngman – Give You The World (Technique Records)

Album Reviews

The parentage of this duo means they have a lot to live up to; Youngman’s dad is Simon ‘Bassline’ Smith, while Criss’s step-dad is Kenny Ken. Okay, maybe mentioning up front that their fathers are two legends of drum n bass is unfair, but I’ve done it now.

Crissy Criss and Youngman have both already made names for themselves individually on the UK underground with solo releases and collaborations with others, but began releasing records together last year. Their first album together spans everything from bone shaking drum and bass to urban, to grime and dubstep, over eighteen tracks. Piecing together single tracks, rather than a cohesive body of work, it’s a bit of a mixed bag, but there are some crackers in there, and the old school influence of their dads is apparent in places.

The title track goes for Dillinja’s Valve sound – true bass ballistics – and goes OTT with sirens and the like, but the quality vocal is definitely from the old school. ‘Bats’ typifies the grime scene, while ‘Rave Guide’ is an upbeat rap funky affair, and the old school dnb appears again in ‘Turn It Up’. Harry Shotta’s vox on ‘Treat You Like A Lady’ are a real treat, and ‘Take My Heart’ is a well crafted soul-influenced cut.

On the down side, ‘Pimp Game’ goes for that same old RAM sound, as does ‘Superstar’. ‘Kick Snare’ and ‘Always You’ are little puerile, ‘Shake That’ starts with a lush 4hero backdrop but then overdoses with its staccato beats and bleeps, and the interlude, ‘No Questions Asked’, makes promises that are then not developed

All in all, an interesting debut effort covering many bases with varying results, it will be interesting to see which direction their future output moves in. PV

Buy from iTunes
Buy from Amazon

PC Mag responds to music biz letter

Business News Legal Top Stories

PC Mag wants to know how it ended up “being the music industry’s scapegoat”. I’m not sure it has, really, but we’re all capable of a bit of exaggeration I suppose, I know we exaggerate at least four millions times every single day. Anyway, the US-based IT website has responded to that previously reported letter signed by pretty much every American music business trade body and collecting society which criticised it for running a story reviewing alternative file-sharing services after a judge ordered LimeWire to stop distributing and supporting its P2P client last month. The music business types said the magazine was encouraging people to steal music, and that their disclaimer that “all of these services should be used for legal downloads, of course”, was a bit hollow.

But PC Mag is pretty clear in its response to the letter, which surfaced on the net earlier this week. It says the music industry’s claims are “nonsense”. Noting that there wasn’t an address on the letter to respond to, the website’s editors say they have emailed their thoughts to one of the signatories, and have shared those thoughts with their readers online.

As we published the music business’s letter yesterday, we thought we should publish PC Mag’s response today, though that technically infringes their copyright so, erm, “all of these sentences should be used for non-reading, of course”.

PC Mag write:

[Our] story isn’t encouraging or discouraging anything. That’s not our role. PC Mag’s job is to cover all aspects of technology, which includes the products, services and activities that some groups and individuals might deem objectionable. We covered these LimeWire alternatives because we knew they would be of interest to our readers. We understand that some might use them to illegally download content. We cannot encourage that action, but also cannot stop it. Reporting on the existence of these services does neither.

We have, obviously, written about many online and offline services, including some that these groups might consider legitimate or “legal.” However, the fact is that some users store and manage illegally gained content in music applications like iTunes. We would not stop covering these utilities simply because some users place illegal or even inappropriate content in them.

The execs also call out coverage, found elsewhere online, of LimeWire’s resurrection and think the act of linking to any P2P service is damning in and of itself. Linking is part of reporting online and it worries me that the music industry thinks the answer to their troubles is any editorial entity employing self-censorship.

Let me be clear, the music industry’s charges remain groundless. PCMag.com is not a mouthpiece for music pirates or the music industry and we hold no stake in either side winning the copyrighted content war.

The letter goes on to suggest PCMag.com retract the article (we won’t).

It worries me that the music industry took this action, because it reeks of desperation. The RIAA and other music industry organisations have spent the better part of the decade fighting the digital transition, with only a shrinking business to show for it. In recent years, though, the fist of anger has turned into at least one open hand as the music industry embraces the once shunned digital music industry. Unfortunately, that warm embrace, and the change that comes with it, are not happening fast enough. Clearly the music industry is still losing money to music piracy and even the recalibrated profit margins brought on by legal music sharing services.

It’s time for these music execs to pull their collective heads out of the sand and fully acknowledge and accept all the ways their industry has changed. They also have to understand that nothing will stop technology’s inexorable march forward. Things will continue to change. Music downloads and sharing will never go away. These execs have to find a way to use all that technology allows and make a business that rivals the good old days of vinyl, cassette tape and even CDs.

We will continue to cover it all – as we must.

The Luminaire to close

Business News Live Business Top Stories

So, feeling good this morning? Yes, well that’s nice. Here’s something to depress you. Lovely North London venue The Luminaire has announced it will shut its doors at the end of the year, saying that commercially speaking there is “no sense” in keeping the live music space open. The independent venue was popular with many London music fans.

In a post on their own blog, The Luminaire’s management team wrote: “It is with sadness that we have to announce the closure of The Luminaire and The King’s Head on 31 Dec. It’s been a labour of love for a while now, and at this point it makes no sense for us to continue. We hope to be able to do some final farewell shows, probably in late March, and we’ll let you know about those through the usual channels”.

It added: “To all those who supported this independent venue, and the great artists who played here, since we opened back on 1 Mar 2005; you have our grateful thanks. We were nothing without you”.

Mark Chapman’s signed Lennon LP up for sale

Bez arrested and fined over restraining order breach

Legal

Bez has finally been arrested, nearly three weeks after Greater Manchester Police announced they were hunting for the Happy Mondays dancer. He was apprehended by British Transport Police on Tuesday at London Euston railway station and was fined £140 yesterday after he admitted to breaching a restraining order prohibiting him from contacting his former partner earlier this month.

As previously reported, Bez – real name Mark Berry – was jailed for a month earlier this year after a Manchester court found him guilty of assaulting his former girlfriend and mother of his two year old son, Monica Ward. The prison sentence only came when Berry announced to the magistrate that he wouldn’t do the community service he had been given, saying: “I’m not doing it. Bothered? I’m going to appeal and take this to a real court”.

Once out of prison, he launched that appeal, but the original ruling was upheld and he was ordered to pay an additional £500 in court costs. Clearly unable to stop his stupid mouth from flapping about, he announced again that he would not comply, but this time got away with a warning to shut the fuck up from the judge.

But the story just refuses to die, because less than two weeks later Bez was on the run from the law, having bombarded Ward with phonecalls and texts, something frowned upon due to a restraining order blocking him from contacting her at all.

As far as I know, Bez paid his fine yesterday and went home quietly. I’d like to say this is the last we’ll hear of this story, but past form suggests not.

DMX refused bail

Legal

DMX was refused bail yesterday by an Arizona judge, meaning he will have to stay in prison while he awaits his next hearing in relation to his arrest for parole violation last Thursday.

As previously reported, the rapper was arrested last week on suspicion of possession of unprescribed Oxycontin and failing to submit to a drugs test. According to court papers, there were also allegations the rap man, real name Earl Simmons, used cocaine and drove on a suspended licence. Simmons denied all the allegations in court yesterday, but was ordered to stay in jail until his next hearing on 9 Dec.

Wyclef accused of song theft

Legal

As if he wasn’t already having a rough enough week, what with the Haitian election this Sunday and him not in the running, Wyclef Jean has now been slapped with a lawsuit accusing him of song theft and demanding $2 million in damages.

DJ PF Cuttin and MC Out Loud of 90s rap group Blahzay Blahzay are accusing Jean of sampling their track ‘Danger’ for his own ‘Welcome To The East’ without permission.

The lawsuit says that Jean did approach them about sampling their song, but that they demanded a writing credit on his track in return. He refused, so no agreement was reached. But Jean used their song anyway, simply sending them a cheque which they “promptly rejected and returned”.

The claim was originally filed last year but, according to TMZ, has been re-filed now after negotiations regarding an out of court settlement collapsed.

European Festival Awards noms out

Awards

The final shortlists are out for the European Festival Awards, which is the Euro version of the UK Festival Awards that took place in London last week. These ones are handed out at a bash held during the Eurosonic festival in Groningen in January. Festival-goers from all over the continent are now encouraged to vote at eu.festivalawards.com.

Here are your shortlists:

Best Major European Festival: Heineken Open’er Festival – Poland, Oxegen Festival – Ireland, Hurricane Festival – Germany, Pukkelpop – Belgium, Roskilde Festival – Denmark, EXIT Festival – Serbia, Sonisphere Festival – Turkey, Wacken Open Air – Germany, Sziget Festival – Hungary, Rock Werchter – Belgium.

Best Medium-Sized European Festival: Area 4 Festival – Germany, Coke Live Music Festival – Poland, Couleur Cafe Festival – Belgium, Dour Festival – Belgium, Electric Picnic Music & Arts Festival – Ireland, Lokerse Feesten – Belgium, Melt! Festival – Germany, OFF Festival – Poland, Øyafestivalen – Norway, Pohoda festival – Slovakia.

Best Small European Festival: 5 Tauron Nowa Muzyka Festival – Poland, Boogie Brain International Music Festival – Poland, Castlepalooza Music & Arts Festival – Ireland, Absolutely Free Festival – Belgium, Indiependence festival – Ireland, LB27 Reggae Camp – Hungary, Leffingeleuren – Belgium, Reeds Festival – Switzerland, Trænafestivalen – Norway, Zeverrock Festival – Belgium.

Best New European Festival: Daydream Festival – Belgium, E-tropolis Festival – Germany, Once upon a Festival – Belgium, Sonisphere Festival – Czech Republic, Sonisphere Festival – Poland, Sonisphere Festival – Turkey, Stop Making Sense – Croatia, Temple House Festival – Ireland, The Big Snow Festival – Andorra, Zita Rock Festival – Germany.

Best Indoor Festival: Amsterdam Dance Event – Netherlands, Blues In Hell – Norway, Eurosonic Noorderslag – Netherlands, I Love Techno – Belgium, Le Printemps de Bourges – France, Montreux Jazz Festival – Switzerland, Reeperbahn Festival – Germany, Rolling Stone Weekender – Germany, Sensation – Poland, Springfestival – Austria.

Best European Festival Line-Up: Bestival – UK, Gurten Festival – Switzerland, Haldern Pop – Germany, Melt! Festival – Germany, Open Air St Gallen – Switzerland, Oxegen – Ireland, Rock Am Ring – Germany, Rock Werchter – Belgium, Roskilde – Denmark, Snowbombing – Austria.

Best Newcomer: Die Antwoord, Florence And The Machine, Jamaica, Mumford & Sons, The Gaslight Anthem, The XX, Two Doors Cinema Club, Villagers, White Lies, Yeasayer.

Best Headliner: AC/DC, Arcade Fire, Gorillaz, Jay Z, Muse, Pearl Jam, Prince, Rammstein, Robyn, Stevie Wonder.

Festival Anthem of the Year: Biffy Clyro – Many of Horror, Editors – No Sound But The Wind, Florence And The Machine – You Got The Love, Jay-Z – Empire State of Mind, Kasabian – Underdog, LCD Soundsystem – Drunk Girls, Mumford & Sons – Little Lion Man, Muse – Uprising, Robyn – Dancing On My Own, Yeasayer – One.

Prodigy top controversial songs list

Artist News

As Kate Thornton probably once said on Channel 4’s ‘104 Tedious Celebrities State The Obvious About Pop Music’: “Like, wow, you know, and I remember, because, like, wow, it gets to the end, and like it’s been all, you know, like wow, and then, well, you see, I remember it, it gets to the end and you’re like, wow, you know, wow because, well, it gets to the end and like, the camera points to a mirror…” Vernon Kaye would then pop up and say “and it’s only a bloomin chick! Fantastic”.

Just as predictable, probably, is that The Prodigy’s ‘Smack My Bitch Up’ would top a poll of the most controversial songs of all time. Well, it was a definite contender anyway. PRS For Music has compiled a list of the ten most controversial pop tracks, surveying Kate Thornton, Vernon Kaye and that guy off T4. Or some other people. Alas Mike Read didn’t answer his phone when called for his vote, which is why ‘Relax’ ended up at number three. Here’s the ten…

1. The Prodigy – Smack My Bitch Up
2. The Sex Pistols – God Save The Queen
3. Frankie Goes To Hollywood – Relax
4. Eminem – Kim
5. Rage Against The Machine – Killing In The Name
6. The Shamen – Ebeneezer Goode
7. Ozzy Osbourne – Suicide Solution
8. Marilyn Manson – Get Your Gunn
9. Slayer – Angel of Death
10. XTC – Dear God

Cliff tops calendar chart

Artist News

Well, it’s that time of year when the chart that really matters is the calendar sales top ten. And here’s a bit of a genuine surprise, Cliff Richard’s calendar is outselling JLS, Justin Bieber and Michael Buble, on Amazon at least.

Cliff’s calendar, which includes an only slightly scary topless shot, is currently the biggest selling male celebrity calendar on the website. It seems the kids just aren’t so interested in having dates on their walls anymore. Says Amazon’s Amy Worth said: “The fact that Sir Cliff is holding off competition from the likes of JLS and Justin Bieber shows just how popular he is and it seems that his images will be adorning walls in people’s homes all over the UK from 1 Jan”.

Cheryl Cole has the best selling female celeb calendar at the moment by quite a margin, it (possibly) featuring the Girl Aloud and ‘X-Factor’ star drunkenly slapping twelve different black people, it’s a must have.

Burn The Negative split

Artist News

New romantic-influenced quartet Burn The Negative have announced that they have split. The group formed in 2008 and released their second album, ‘How To Weigh The Human Soul’, in August via Gung-Ho! Recordings.

In a statement, the band said: “Unfortunately, the news today is not great, were letting you all know that we have made the difficult decision in bringing Burn The Negative to an end. This is a decision made whole heartedly by the band, some members unable to commit, some wanting to pursue new projects, it certainly wasn’t the record label, whom have themselves, been supportive and nurturing beyond duty”.

Fleet Foxes complete second album

Artist News

Fleet Foxes were quite popular a couple of years ago, weren’t they? I thought they were a bit dull, to be honest. But, whatever, they’ve finished work on their second album now and there’s nothing we can do about it. Maybe this one will be more fun. Frontman Robin Pecknold says it’s “more personal”. Hmm, that doesn’t sound like it’s more fun.

Pecknold told Clash: “I think in every facet from music to lyrics to song length to structure we were trying to push ourselves a bit on this record. It’s a lot more personal to me and direct in terms of the lyrics, less shrouded in metaphor or visuals. Musically I’d say it’s still in the same family but hopefully just more refined”.

The album is expected to be released in the spring.

The Drums announce Queen Of Hoxton gig

Releases

Metronomy have announced that they will release their new album, ‘The English Riviera’, next year. It will mark the first LP for the band since officially becoming a four-piece, having previously been a solo outing for Joseph Mount.

The line-up now features Anna Prior on drums, Oscar Cash on keyboards and saxophone, and Gbenga Adelekan, formerly of the CMU Approved Akira, on bass. Mount handles vocals, guitar and additional keyboard stuff. No release date has yet been announced but the band will be touring in January, before headlining the opening NME Awards show in February.

The Streets announce final album and tour

Gigs & Festivals

Mike Skinner has announced that he will release his final album as The Streets, ‘Computers And Blues’, on 7 Feb via Warner/Atlantic/679. He and his live band will then tour the UK, which sounds like fun.

Tour dates:

18 Feb: Edinburgh, Picture House
19 Feb: Glasgow, ABC
20 Feb: Lincoln, Engine Shed
21 Feb: Liverpool, Academy
23 Feb: Oxford, Academy
24 Feb: Leeds, Academy
25 Feb: Birmingham, Academy
26 Feb: Nottingham, Rock City
28 Feb: Norwich, UEA
1 Mar: Bristol, Academy
3 Mar: Manchester, Academy
4 Mar: Brighton, Dome
5 Mar: London, Brixton Academy

Portishead and ATP announce I’ll Be Your Mirror

Artist News Gigs & Festivals

Portishead have announced that they will play two shows at Alexandra Palace in London next year, featuring an incredible line-up of support acts curated by the band themselves and the folks behind the All Tomorrow’s Parties festivals. The shows, one of a number of global events under the name I’ll Be Your Mirror, will take place on 23 and 24 Jul.

Commenting on the task of putting the shows together, Portishead’s Geoff Barrow told CMU: “Portishead have once again been given the horrendous task of joining up with our favourite festival in the world and choosing a dream list of bands we would like to play with – at least the ones that aren’t dead or in jail”.

Here are the current line-ups of those non-dead or imprisoned bands:

23 Jul: Portishead, MF Doom, Company Flow (original line-up’s first UK show for ten years), The Books, Factory Floor, BEAK>.

24 Jul: Portishead, Swans, Beach House, Liars, The Passion Of Joan Of Arc, Anika.

More acts are still to be announced. Tickets go on sale tomorrow from www.atpfestival.com.

Japanese digital stats depressing

Business News Labels & Publishers

So, has the digital market well and truly peaked? In some territories it seems so. The Recording Industry Association Of Japan has released digital sales stats for the first three quarters of this year, and sales are down 5% in terms of units and 4% in terms of cash value.

These include the figures for mobile music sales, mobile downloads having always been bigger in Japan than web-based services, and it’s the mobile space that has seen the bigger decline. In fact internet-based downloads were up 5% year on year in terms of units, though revenues were the same as the same period last year.

Radio firms boycott digital radio campaign

Media

So this is fun. As previously reported, Digital Radio UK, the body charged with the task of persuading us all to buy a DAB digital radio set so that the government can start moving mainstream stations off the FM network in 2015, has made some TV commercials promoting all things digital which are due to air on both BBC and commercial TV and radio stations this Christmas. But a load of commercial radio stations are refusing to air them.

As also previously reported, some smaller commercial radio groups like UKRD oppose the rapid move to DAB by 2015, so were never likely to take part. But even bigger radio firms like Global and GMG Radio, which officially back the fast expansion of digital, are also boycotting the ads.

It’s because the commercial radio sector wants the BBC to commit more money to expanding the DAB network so the whole UK is definitely served before any move away from FM begins. The commercial stations are annoyed such a commitment was not included in the Beeb’s recent licence fee deal with the government. And it seems that, until such a commitment is made, they won’t take part in any ‘go digital’ campaign.

UKRD boss William Rogers told reporters: “It is dishonest to persuade people to go and buy a radio that may not work. The BBC is using licence fee payers’ money to persuade people to pay to go and buy a radio that may not have signal in their area, and cannot receive all the radio stations their analogue radio can receive. I’m delighted other radio groups are bringing some honesty to this debate”.

Bauer Radio, who operate Magic and Kiss among other stations, are also not currently airing the ads, though Media Week says that’s because they are waiting for ads slot to become available and not because they are joining the boycott.

Branson joins Murdoch in iPad mag developments

Digital Media

So, we’ve discussed the future of traditional newspapers and magazines a fair few times here in CMU over the years, as publishers face the challenge of slumping print circulations and lacklustre internet advertising revenues.

With many consumers still seemingly resistant to paying for access to newspaper websites, many in the publishing industry reckon (or possibly desperately hope) that the future may be all about new-look iPad publications, specifically designed for use on tablet computers. It’s thought/hoped more people will be willing to pay to access such media.

And both Richard Branson and Rupert Murdoch are about to put that theory to the test by launching new iPad-specific titles. Murdoch’s iPad venture has been getting quite a bit attention over the last week or so, while Virgin Group has announced they will formally unveil theirs at a shindig in New York next week. Murdoch’s will be a news-based publication called The Daily, while the Virgin’s iPad mag will be more entertainment-focused and has been reported as using working titles of Project and Maverick.

Some experienced editors and journalists are on board for both projects. It will be interesting to see if [a] they’re any good and [b] people will pay for them.

Adam & Joe return to 6music for Christmas Day

Media

Adam Buxton and Joe Cornish have announced that they will return to BBC 6music for a special Christmas Day show. Recorded this week, it will be broadcast at 10am and last for three whole hours. It will also be available as a podcast.

But look at me rambling on, why don’t we just let A&J do that instead – here.By the way, did you know that Adam Buxton compiled a Spotify playlist for us earlier this year? You should definitely go and listen to that right this minute.

Dappy to deliver alternative Christmas speech

And Finally

In recent years, Channel 4’s Alternative Christmas Message has been given by Major Andrew Stockton, a British soldier who lost his arm fighting in Afghanistan, and Katie Piper, a TV presenter who had sulphuric acid thrown in her face by an ex-boyfriend.

But this year Christmas Day is on a Saturday, so Channel 4 wants to bring in someone who will lend more of a light touch to proceedings, as president of Iran Mahmoud Ahmadinejad did two years ago, the crazy prankster. So, going head to head with the Queen this year is Dappy from N-Dubz, who will reflect on the year past and the possibilities of the future, as part of a special Christmas Day edition of T4.

Dappy told reporters: “We thought it would be cool to do a special Christmas message to rival the Queen’s speech but I’ll be giving a very different take on things to Her Majesty. I’m going to be talking about things that matter to young people today, keeping it real and relevant”.

Unfortunately for Dappy, the youth seems to be becoming politicised at the moment, which might mean he has to do some research. Or he could just smash up some stuff in solidarity.

Approved: Stateless

CMU Approved

Having release their eponymous debut album through !K7 in 2007, and an EP on Parlophone before that, Stateless signed to Ninja Tune for album number two, ‘Matilda’, nearly three years in production, earlier this year. Recorded with Prodigy and Bjork producer Damien Taylor, the album also features contributions from, amongst others, DJ Shadow, who returns the favour after frontman Chris James appeared on three tracks on his ‘The Outsider’ album.

The album is due for release in February, but sooner than that its first single, ‘Ariel’, is out next week, backed with a remix from in-demand Warp-signed producer Rustie. The amazing video for the track, which blends motion capture with contemporary dance, gymnastics and some retro computer graphics, is online now.

youtu.be/7NaQnAkO2wU

Q&A: Kelley Stoltz

Artist Interviews

Multi-instrumentalist singer-songwriter Kelley Stoltz released his debut album, ‘The Past Was Faster’, in 1999, and has since gone on to release a steady stream of acclaimed records. He signed to Sub Pop in 2005 who released ‘The Sun Comes Through’ the same year.

His latest offering, ‘To Dreamers’, was released earlier this month, and this weekend Stoltz will be in the UK to play a handful of headline shows before supporting his childhood heroes Echo & The Bunnymen. Ahead of all that, we caught up with Kelley to ask the Same Six Questions.

Q1 How did you start out making music?
I had a band in eighth grade called Distorted Reality. We got together so that we could play my school’s talent show. We played two songs by Echo & The Bunnymen – ‘Silver’ and ‘Do It Clean’. I sang and sort of played bass lines on an ugly little guitar that had no headstock – not cool. But we played OK and all the girls thought I was cool after that, at least for a few days anyway. In my 20s I got a four-track and started recording my own songs. They were pretty crummy tunes, but at least I was on my way.

Q2 What inspired your latest album?
Love, loss and weird things happening on the street outside. When making the album I got a mellotron and a Rickenbacker guitar, so they were inspirational and were used a bunch on the record.

Q3 What process do you go through in creating a track?
Wake up, make a cup of PG Tips, look outside and see the beautiful people of San Francisco doing their thing… then I grab a guitar or play piano and search for a chord sequence that sounds cool. Hopefully a vocal melody will come along, and then I press record on my tape machine and start building the song track-by-track. As the evening comes along, I’ve usually got a song together.

Q4 Which artists influence your work?
Echo & The Bunnymen, David Bowie, Arthur Lee & Love, Sonny & The Sunsets, George Carlin, The Kinks, The Beatles and Gordon Lightfoot.

Q5 What would you say to someone experiencing your music for the first time?
I hope you like the melodies and the chords; I worked hard on them.

Q6 What are your ambitions for your latest album, and for the future?
To play more shows to support it – there are some good rockers on the album and I think they sound good played with my band. And I hope to keep on making great albums and get joy from making songs until I’m an old fellow.

MORE>> www.kelleystoltz.com

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Multi-instrumentalist singer-songwriter Kelley Stoltz released his debut album, ‘The Past Was Faster’, in 1999, and has since gone on to release a steady stream of acclaimed records. He signed to Sub Pop in 2005 who released ‘The Sun Comes Through’ the same year.

READ MORE ABOUT: Kelley Stoltz