Friday 25 February 2011, 11:16 | By

Poly Styrene confirms cancer

Artist News

Poly Styrene

The one time frontwoman of punk outfit X-Ray Spex, Poly Styrene, has confirmed reports she has been diagnosed with cancer. As previously reported, the singer recently launched something of a comeback, but the cancer diagnosis will mean she has to step back from the live activity originally planned to accompany the release of new album ‘Generation Indigo’ on 28 Mar.

A statement from Poly Styrene’s reps issued yesterday said: “It comes as a huge shock to all those who know Poly Styrene and X-Ray Spex that Poly has been diagnosed with cancer. She is currently undergoing various treatments in her battle with this illness. She is devastated that she cannot commit to any live dates at this stage, but her album remains a very positive force in her current journey. Poly has been tweeting about her illness and will continue to keep in touch with fans”.

One such recent tweet said: “It’s been a bit of a battle fighting this cancer but hey ho, I’m still alive”.

READ MORE ABOUT:

 

Friday 25 February 2011, 11:15 | By

Marilyn Manson drummer quits

Artist News

Marilyn Manson

Marilyn Manson drummer Ginger Fish (real name Kenneth Wilson) has quit the band, making the announcement with a slightly mysterious statement. Fish joined the group in 1995, replacing original drummer Sara Lee Lucas.

The drummer’s statement reads: “After much deliberation and constant reflection of where my life has been and where it could or should be heading, I am regretful to inform the general population, and the fans, that I have decided to step down as a member of Marilyn Manson and see where my life, and the knowledge of my availability cares to take me”.

He continued: “I can’t stand by to watch opportunities pass me by simply because the knowledge of my availability wasn’t clearly expressed by me. I wish my brothers well, and I expect nothing but great things from them. Any enquiries can be sent to [email protected]”.

READ MORE ABOUT: |

 

Friday 25 February 2011, 11:13 | By

Muse to record next album in London

Artist News

Muse

Muse are planning to set up shop in London soon to record their next album, Matt Bellamy has revealed. The three members of the band are currently split between the UK, France and the US.

Bellamy told Xfm at the NME Awards this week: “We’ve actually never made a full album in London, we’ve made bits here occasionally. Chris has always lived in Devon and then he lived in Ireland for a while, but now Chris has moved to London so we have all decided to move here because I think it would be great for us all to be in the same city together – living. We’ve never had that luxury before, we’ve all been spread out, so we’ve always had to travel to make albums somewhere”.

He continued: “It would be nice to be based in the same place so we can go out and so we can make an album together and also socialise together at the same time. It also means we can make the album over a longer period of time without having to pressurise it all in to a three week studio session, you can spread it out”.

Bellamy added that the band are hoping to complete the album for release next year.

READ MORE ABOUT:

 

Friday 25 February 2011, 11:13 | By

Keisha Buchanan song leaks

Artist News

Keisha Buchanan

Former Sugababe Keisha Buchanan has said that she’s disappointed that a solo song, apparently written about her former bandmates and their split in 2009 has leaked out onto the internet.

The song, entitled ‘Gimme Pressure’, contains the lyrics: “I heard the rumours from London to California, You’re taking shots at my name, I’ll put it on ya, I’m a veteran, got the upper hand, Ten years on the top”.

But the singer said via Twitter yesterday: “I’m disappointed that a track written almost two years ago when I was going through a difficult time (which you all know about) has been leaked. With the support of my wonderful fans I’m now in a great place. My album is very positive, that song will not be on it”.

READ MORE ABOUT: |

 

Friday 25 February 2011, 11:12 | By

The Raveonettes return with fifth album

Gigs & Festivals Releases

The Raveonettes

Darkling Danish duo Sune Rose Wagner and Sharin Foo, otherwise known as garage-rock outfit The Raveonettes, will celebrate their tenth year as a band with the release of a new album, the sombrely-titled ‘Raven In The Grave’, due out on 18 Apr through Vice. Lead single ‘Recharge and Revolt’ will be released on 4 Apr. The band will also play a one-off UK show in support of the LP, appearing at London’s Islington Academy on 13 Jun.

Listen to ‘War In Heaven’ on their MySpace page here.

And now for the tracklisting:

Recharge & Revolt
War in Heaven
Forget That You’re Young
Apparitions
Summer Moon
Let Me on Out
Ignite
Evil Seeds
My Time’s Up

READ MORE ABOUT:

 

Friday 25 February 2011, 11:10 | By

Amon Tobin announces new LP

Releases

Amon Tobin

Ninja Tune-signed Brazilian DJ Amon Tobin has appointed 23 May as the release date for his new album ‘Isam’. His first since 2007’s ‘Foley Room’, the LP will have the following tracklisting:

Journeyman
Piece Of Paper
Goto 10
Surge
Lost & Found
Wooden Toy
Mass & Spring
Calculate
Kitty Cat
Bedtime Stories
Night Swim
Dropped From The Sky

Meanwhile fans of stealth gaming series ‘Splinter Cell’, or more to the point Tobin’s 2005 soundtrack for it, might want to know that Ninja Tune has also released a remix album featuring reworks of music from it this week. ‘Chaos Theory Remixed (The Soundtrack to Splinter Cell 3D)’ features rerubs from the likes of Daedelus, Eskmo, King Cannibal and Kid Koala. And you can preview the album in full here.

Finally in Tobin news, the multi-talented producer has also collaborated with Saatchi Collection artist Tessa Farmer on a new installation entitled ‘ISAM: Control Over Nature’, set to run from 26 May – 6 Jun at Euston’s Crypt Gallery. The exhibit, based on the aforementioned new album, sets Tobin’s sonic art against a backdrop of Farmer’s organic sculptures. See more details here.

READ MORE ABOUT:

 

Friday 25 February 2011, 11:09 | By

Little Comets to release new single

Gigs & Festivals Releases

Little Comets

Indie heroes Little Comets have announced that they’ll release new track ‘One Night In October’ on 9 May through Dirty Hit. This will be the latest single to be taken from their debut album ‘In Search Of Elusive Little Comets’, which is out now.

To get you in the mood, you can watch a frenetic video for the new single, which features the lead singer being shoved around in a supermarket trolley here.

Or, if you’d prefer a more sedate and skillful interpretation, see the band sharing a single guitar for this acoustic version of the track.

Meanwhile, heralding the single release will be these UK tour dates:

8 May: Glasgow, Oran Mor
9 May: Manchester, Club Academy
10 May: Birmingham, Academy 2
11 May: London, Garage

READ MORE ABOUT:

 

Friday 25 February 2011, 11:07 | By

Miley Cyrus to star in Bodyguard remake?

Artist News

Miley Cyrus

Warner Bros is planning to remake 1992 film ‘The Bodyguard’ with Miley Cyrus in the lead role played by Whitney Houston in the original. I kid thee not. I half expect the next announcement to be that Justin Bieber is playing the eponymous security guard.

According to Deadline, the new version will follow much the same storyline as the original, though the bodyguard brought in to protect the singer (played by Kevin Costner in the original) will be a former US army soldier who has recently returned from Iraq. Also, the stalker will use Twitter and Google Maps to track Cyrus’s character, a modern day twist which won’t be at all shit and is presumably meant to justify this tedious remake.

The plan, in terms of Cyrus’s involvement, is to launch the singer into the global market and away from the teenage music and films she is currently associated with. Whether she will rerecord ‘I Will Always Love You’ for the film is not yet clear. The song’s writer, Dolly Parton, once said in an interview that it now “belonged to Whitney” after the global success of ‘The Bodyguard’ soundtrack, though presumably that doesn’t mean she’ll be passing the royalties onto Houston if and when Cyrus’s sure-to-be-terrible rendition tops the chart.

READ MORE ABOUT:

 

Friday 25 February 2011, 11:06 | By

Kylie Minogue considering Las Vegas show

Gigs & Festivals

Kylie Minogue

Kylie Minogue is considering taking her current live show ‘Aphrodite: Les Folies Tour’ to Las Vegas for an extended residency.

The singer told The Daily Star: “I’ve got my Las Vegas show right here. We’ve been talking about it, so if I do a residency I definitely have the show for it. It’s crazy. I definitely can’t top this one. I’m so pleased with it. I didn’t have anybody backstage shouting in my earpiece to say, ‘This isn’t working’, or, ‘Scrap this section’. A lot has been made of the splash zone but there’s a lot more to the show than just water. It’s important to have moments when the music takes over”.

The tour reaches the UK next month.

READ MORE ABOUT:

 

Friday 25 February 2011, 11:06 | By

Shaun Ryder reveals rescheduled tour dates

Gigs & Festivals

Sean Ryder

Poor old Shaun Ryder. Having been prescribed incorrect medication for a longstanding thyroid problem, he was forced to cancel his UK tour. But fans needn’t fret too much, because he’s recovered enough to announce a series of rescheduled dates, which are as follows:

18 Mar: Newcastle, Academy
19 Mar: London, Shepherds Bush Empire
24 Mar: Glasgow, ABC
25 Mar: Manchester Academy
26 Mar: Leeds, Academy

READ MORE ABOUT:

 

Friday 25 February 2011, 11:04 | By

Festival line-up update – 25 Feb 2011

Artist News Festival Line-Up Update Gigs & Festivals

Glastonbury

GLASTONBURY, Worthy Farm, Somerset, 22-26 Jun: The Edge has confirmed via a video conference that U2 are to take to the Pyramid Stage on the Friday of this year’s Glasto, with a 20th Anniversary set of hits and classics. Assuming that Bono’s back holds out for the performance, the band will join fellow bill-toppers Beyonce and Coldplay. www.glastonburyfestivals.co.uk

HIDEOUT FESTIVAL, Zrce Beach, Pag, Croatia, 1-3 Jul: Welcoming some of the biggest names in dance and electro for its inaugural edition, Hideout will play host to acts including Chase & Status, Erol Alkan, Jamie XX, Annie Mac, Sven Vath, Toddla T, Nero and Crookers. Meanwhile Andy C, Danny Byrd, Simian Mobile Disco, Mount Kimbie, Ms Dynamite, Pendulum and Sub Focus are also set to impress crowds at the three-day beach party. www.hideoutfestival.com

ROCKNESS, Loch Ness, Scotland, 10-12 Jun: Scaring away the fishes at this year’s RockNess will be the resounding beats of a sure-to-be legendary set from DJ Shadow. Also stirring the still waters of Scotland’s most infamous lake will be Glasvegas, Two Door Cinema Club, The Wombats, Simian Mobile Disco and Groove Armada, presenting their Red Light show. The Cribs, Brother, Katy B, We Are Scientists and Boys Noize will also perform alongside DJ sets from Mark Ronson, Annie Mac, Rob da Bank, Zane Lowe and Howard Marks. Already-announced to share headline slots are Kasabian, Paolo Nutini and Chemical Brothers. www.rockness.co.uk

ROCK WERCHTER, Rotselaar, Belgium, 30 Jun – 3 Jul: Rap-rockers Linkin Park are newly confirmed to head up proceedings on the first day of this meaty Belgian rock fest, adding some clout to an already a massive line-up that includes Coldplay, Fleet Foxes, PJ Harvey, Iron Maiden, Artic Monkeys and those Kings Of Leon. www.rockwerchter.be/en/home/

SPRINGFESTIVAL, Graz, Austria, 1-5 Jun, Held in the historic town of Graz, the eleventh edition of the European Festival Awards-voted Best Indoor Festival will host an array of electro acts including Caribou, Crystal Fighters, Isolee and Jungle Brothers. Aeroplane, DJ Yoda, Michael Mayer and Jesse Rose will also appear, with more to be confirmed shortly. www.springfestival.at/about.en.41.htm

WINTER SESSIONS WEEKENDER, Chamonix Mont-Blanc, France, 22-24 Apr: Music, art and snowsports will collide in a flurry at this slopeside boutique three-dayer, which will feature performances from groundbreaking house DJ Norman Jay, Leeds-based dubstep band Gentleman’s Dub Club, Skitz & Rodney P, and the cleverly-titled Engine-Earz Experiment. www.wintersessions.net/chamonix-event-weekender/

READ MORE ABOUT: | | | | |

 

Friday 25 February 2011, 11:00 | By

Album review: Acid House Kings – Music Sounds Better With You (Labrador)

Album Reviews

Acid House Kings

It’s been six long years since the misleadingly-named Acid House Kings last graced the ears of indie-pop fans. The Swedish band don’t release records often, but when they do it’s usually worth paying attention.

‘Music Sounds Better With You’ is no exception – ten slices of twee pop drenched in 60s sepia. The pace is a little faster than their previous work, but it’s not a frenetic downhill tumble – it’s a brisk walk along a ridgeway in the spring sunshine. Highlights include the sweeping choruses of ‘I Just Called To Say Jag Alskar Dig’, dual vocals on ‘Under Water’ and the delightfully plinky-plonky ‘(I’m In) A Chorus Line’.

The songs do seep into each other a little, as they’re all relatively consistent in tone and lyrical content, but it doesn’t detract from the overall experience – it almost adds to it. The perfect album for blaring out of open windows on the first warm weekend of the year. DG

Physical release: 4 Apr

READ MORE ABOUT: |

 

Friday 25 February 2011, 10:59 | By

HMV’s lenders appointing advisors

Business News HMV Timeline Retail

HMV

Money lenders to the HMV Group, which includes Lloyds Bank, are reportedly in the process of appointing accountancy firms to advise them on the state of the music and entertainment retailer.

As previously reported, HMV admitted earlier this year that, following disappointing Christmas sales, the firm would struggle to meet the covenants linked to its current loans. KPMG has been working with HMV CEO Simon Fox to revise the firm’s business plan, possibly in a bid to convince money lenders to restructure the company’s debts.

According to Sky News, HMV creditors will now appoint their own advisors to assess the plans Fox and KPMG come up with ahead of what will presumably be tense negotiations in the coming weeks to ensure the music and entertainment firm doesn’t breach loan terms. Though Sky adds that the appointment of such advisors by the banks in these circumstances is in no way unusual.

As previously reported, Russian business man Alexander Mamut, who currently owns 6% of HMV, has appointed Credit Suisse to advise on his interest in the firm. Some reckon he might bid to buy the Waterstones part of HMV outright, though it is thought that, even though that would generate much needed quick cash, Fox is against breaking up the company which he has been busy diversifying in recent years.

READ MORE ABOUT:

 

Friday 25 February 2011, 10:57 | By

Black Strobe man launches label

Business News Deals Labels & Publishers

Arnaud Rebotini

Arnaud Rebotini, one half of influential French electro-clashers Black Strobe, is setting up his own label, which will be distributed globally by German independent !K7. The new venture will release Rebotini’s own output as well as looking for new talent to sign, in particular the “new wave of French electronic producers”.

Confirming the launch of Black Strobe Records, Rebotini told CMU: “This label has been motivated by a desire to defend new talents and to better defend my own projects. Having !K7, the legendary label, as my partner during this adventure was the obvious choice given our close history”.

A spokesman for !K7 added: “We love it when artists like Arnaud take their career into their own hands and create their own labels. We are really proud that Arnaud has chosen !K7 as his global partner to market his visions and records”.

READ MORE ABOUT: | |

 

Friday 25 February 2011, 10:55 | By

MP3tunes man launches cloud-based radio record service

Digital

DAR.fm

Michael Robertson, the original MP3.com founder and MP3tunes chief, has launched a new digital service called DAR.fm which enables you to record web radio shows to a central server, and then listen back to said shows at a convenient time via the web or a net-connected portable device.

Of course, Robertson has been spearheading the music-focused digital-locker type service with MP3tunes, which enables users to upload their MP3 collections to a central server and then stream them back via any net connected device. Though that service has hit on copyright issues, in that EMI has taken the digital entrepreneur to court arguing that to allow users to make remote copies of and then stream their MP3 collections needs a license from the content owners. Robertson argues no such license is needed.

He is similarly certain DAR.fm can operate without needing licenses from either the broadcasters or the music companies whose content is recorded. And he’s probably on more certain ground this time, given DAR.fm is basically the digital equivalent of taping terrestrial radio shows (or TV) and listening (or watching) back at a later date, which copyright laws allow.

The new service – which Robertson unveiled at a conference in San Francisco this week – is currently in what he calls an ‘alpha’ stage, and the platform can currently be used for free.

READ MORE ABOUT: | |

 

Friday 25 February 2011, 10:52 | By

American Idol to take votes via Facebook

Media

American Idol

‘American Idol’ will let viewers vote via Facebook for the first time this series, presumably hitting an important revenue stream for the show’s producers, the money charged when votes are cast by phone. Anyone with a Facebook account will be able to make their vote via the Idol franchise’s page on the social networking site.

This development is probably more interesting because ‘Idol’ is aired by News Corp’s Fox network, yet they have decided to launch online voting with Facebook rather than News Corp’s own web platform – the “we’re all about music don’t you know” MySpace. Presumably Fox has given up on its parent company’s expensive web adventure like the rest of us.

READ MORE ABOUT: | |

 

Friday 25 February 2011, 10:51 | By

Kanye West abortion cost update

And Finally

Kanye West

Last week it was Justin Bieber who was offering ill-advised information on abortions, this week it’s Kanye West. As we’ve said previously, Bieber is probably too young to have any properly thought out opinion on the matter. I’m not sure what Kanye’s excuse is.

The rapper (and Bieber collaborator) wasn’t actually commenting on the ethics of the abortion debate, but rather seemed to claim that when guys got girls pregnant, there was a real risk the woman might blackmail the man into paying them a big chunk of money in order to go through with a termination. Which is a line of argument the people behind all those government-funded safe sex ads have never considered. They must be kicking themselves.

Anyway, here’s what the K man tweeted: “An abortion can cost a ballin nigga up to [$50,000] maybe a [$100,000]. Gold diggin bitches be getting pregnant on purpose. Strap up my niggas!”

He added: “It ain’t happen to me but I know people”.

So, thank you Kanye West for alerting your 2.5 million followers to all those “gold diggin bitches” who are just desperate to get pregnant so they can blackmail the father. Needless to say, this tweet has created more outrage than even Kanye is used to, though Lily Allen probably summed up most people’s sentiments best when she tweeted back to him: “Never has a tweet put me in such a bad mood. This is wrong on so many levels”.

READ MORE ABOUT:

 

Thursday 24 February 2011, 11:25 | By

Q&A: Robert Miles

Artist Interviews

Robert Miles

Having started DJing on the Italian live circuit at seventeen, dream-trance producer Robert Miles released his most famous club anthem ‘Children’ in 1995 through Deconstruction Records. With its undeniable piano refrain and pulsating house beats, the song soon topped dance charts across the world. He subsequently signed a deal with Deconstruction owners BMG for debut album ‘Dreamland’, scoring platinum sales and a BRIT Award for Best International Male Newcomer in 1997.

In 2001, Miles set up his own label, S:alt, and began to experiment with new styles, first on his third album, ‘Organik’, which took on an angular, more orchestral sound, then with 2004’s ‘Miles: Gurtu’, a collaboration with Indian jazz-fusion composer Trilok Gurtu. On his latest album, ‘Thirteen’, he has experimented again, this time going a bit prog rock. With that album released earlier this month, again on S:alt, we caught up with Robert to map his lengthy musical career through our Same Six questions.

Q1 How did you start out making music?
I was fourteen when I first started getting involved with music. I was taking piano lessons and playing as a DJ in local venues nearby Venice. At age seventeen, I put together a small band, but after having to deal with the fact that some of the band’s members where not taking it seriously I decided to go solo, produced my first record and launched my own pirate radio station.

Q2 What inspired your latest album?
Everyday life experiences, as per all my albums really. Also, in this specific case, I wanted to do a more guitar-orientated album and something that would reflect my early music influences.

Q3 What process do you go through in creating a track?
I first write the various instrument parts, arrange a demo and, once I’m pleased with it, ask musicians to join in and play the parts. Since I have been working with live elements I also love recording a lot of improvised parts, which I will then edit and use bit by bit in the track I’m working on. Next I mix the main elements and finally work on the sound design and the electronica part.

Q4 Which artists influence your work?
FSOL, Eno, Radiohead, Fripp, Can, and many others….

Q5 What would you say to someone experiencing your music for the first time?
Close your eyes, listen to it on a good sound system or headphones (the studio master copy is best (!) – but at the very least try to avoid listening to an MP3, which kills half of the detail) and enjoy the journey.

Q6 What are your ambitions for the future?
My aim for the future is to get more involved with soundtracks. I have been composing quite a few lately and really enjoy it. Also, I wouldn’t mind recording an electronica album and seeing what the outcome is. Having been using so much live elements in the last three albums, maybe it would be a good idea to go back to basics and see what I can achieve after all these years. Singing is also becoming an option. As always, my next album will sound different from my previous ones… so we shall wait and see.

MORE>> www.robert-miles.com

READ MORE ABOUT:

 

Thursday 24 February 2011, 11:23 | By

Approved: Drop/Dead

CMU Approved

Drop/Dead

At just nineteen years old, Drop/Dead is still so fresh on the scene that the promo picture he hands out is a holiday snap. In fact, he’s only been seriously making dance music for a little over six months, but already has churned out a handful of enviable tracks in that time, starting last year with ‘Always Love You’, a slice of future garage that’s already got the likes of XLR8R and Knowledge in a spin.

Next month sees the release of his first single, a double A-side featuring the tracks ‘Cassette Tape’ and ‘Flicker’, which will be released through Limerick-based label Hsuan Records. Clips of both tracks can be found on the Drop/Dead SoundCloud page, along with ‘Always Love You’ and a couple more excellent pieces of cutting edge electronica. And if you’re in Oxford, head down to the Baby Love Bar tonight to catch him DJing with Doc Daneeka.

soundcloud.com/drop-dead

READ MORE ABOUT:

 

Thursday 24 February 2011, 11:22 | By

Spotify could be close to Universal deal in US

Digital Top Stories

Spotify

Could Spotify’s long awaited launch in the US market be nearly here? With EMI and Sony Music seemingly already on board, Reuters is now reporting that a US licensing deal between Universal Music and Spotify is now “a few weeks away”.

Though it adds that some sources within the US branch of the music major are still saying that it is not 100% assured Universal bosses will actually sign on the dotted line. But if said deal was done, it is thought Spotify could launch Stateside this side of summer.

Talks with Warner Music, meanwhile, are seemingly going nowhere fast, despite their top man Edgar Bronfman Jr saying in a recent investor call that streaming services will play an increasingly important part in the future of digital music. Though, as previously reported, he, like some execs at the other majors, remains cautious about the viability of the free ad-funded version of Spotify’s service.

Either way, it seems likely Spotify could and would launch in the US without Warner on board providing access to Universal’s content was available.

READ MORE ABOUT: | | |

 

Thursday 24 February 2011, 11:21 | By

Could anti-piracy measures be sneaked through in Ireland just before general election?

Business News Legal Top Stories

Eircom

With Irish voters due to go to the polls on Friday, most likely to kick out their current government, tech news website Siliconrepublic.com has reported that the country’s outgoing executive is trying to speed through a statutory instrument which would alter copyright law to put more onus on internet service providers to assist in the fight against online piracy.

As previously reported, in Ireland the country’s largest ISP Eircom is already operating a three-strikes style system of sending warning letters to file-sharers, threatening a reduction or suspension of service if said file-sharers don’t stop accessing or distributing unlicensed content. But the net firm launched that system voluntarily as part of a wider legal settlement between the Irish record labels and the tel co.

As part of the same settlement, the Irish Recorded Music Association agreed to pressure other ISPs to follow suit. But when they did, one of them, UPC, went to court to get clarification that under current Irish copyright law they were in no way obliged to do so. And an Irish judge duly complied last October.

Forcing other Irish ISPs to launch a three-strikes system, or something similar, will therefore require a change in the law. And it is thought that it is that change that will be made by the statutory instrument currently being drafted by the country’s Department Of Enterprise Trade & Innovation and the Department Of Communications.

The instrument would be secondary legislation and would therefore not have to go to the country’s parliament, which is just as well because it’s not currently in residence, what with the election and all. With that in mind, it is not entirely clear how far the instrument will be able to go in forcing ISPs to help with tackling piracy, ie how far Minister For Enterprise, Trade & Innovation Mary Hanafin, who will sign the instrument, can go without consulting parliament.

However, Eircom’s rivals are likely to object to any new obligations being put on them, while pro-file-sharing groups will surely criticise the slightly sneaky pushing through of these changes without parliamentary scrutiny in a week when everyone’s attention is on the general election.

READ MORE ABOUT: | | | |

 

Thursday 24 February 2011, 11:19 | By

US court cuts Vivendi damages for misled investors

Legal

Vivendi

A new US court ruling has limited the number of shareholders in Universal Music parent company Vivendi who can claim damages relating to misinformation provided by the company’s management between 2000 and 2002, in doing so reducing the amount of money the French-based conglom will have to pay out.

This all relates to that crazy period in the French firm’s history when then CEO Jean-Marie Messier went on a mega spending spree buying up all sorts of companies, including all the music, media and movie assets of Edgar Bronfman Jr’s Seagram business.

He had a grand plan to transform the one time water company into a global entertainment giant, but it all went horribly wrong and he almost drove the conglom out of business. In the end he was fired, and his successor Jean-Bernard Lévy rescued the firm by selling off many of its recent acquisitions, including all the Universal companies except the music business.

Messier was accused of misleading his investors about the state of the company as it went through that period of dramatic growth. He was found guilty of said charges by Parisian financial regulators, and subsequently given a three year suspended sentence and fined 150,000 euros by the French courts last year.

Meanwhile, some of the affected shareholders from that era, who saw the value of their stock slump as a result of Messier’s grand plan, sued both the former CEO and the company through the US courts. American judges cleared Messier of personal liability, but ruled against Vivendi itself and ordered it to pay damages to the claimants.

As a class action the ruling meant any affected shareholders could similarly make a claim, with lawyers representing the claimants reckoning the total damages could reach 6.6 billion euros, though Vivendi made a much more conservative estimate of what the total damages might be, setting aside 550 million euros to make the payments. They also appealed the ruling.

In the latest stage of this saga a US judge has not overruled the original court decision, but reduced the number of shareholders who can claim damages as a result of it, mainly based on jurisdiction arguments, ie what power does a US court have over a French company, especially when dealing with non-US investors. In the end US judge Richard Holwell said only holders of ‘depositary’ rather than ‘ordinary’ shares can claim, and then only those based in the US, UK, France and the Netherlands.

It’s not clear what impact the ruling will have on the amount of money Vivendi has to shell out over this, though current CEO Levy called the ruling “a substantial victory”, while one commentator told the Financial Times it could see the final damages bill being reduced by up to 80%.

As previously reported, the aforementioned Bronfman Jr, now the CEO of Warner Music, was also given a suspended sentence and fined five million euros over allegations that he, as Vice-Chair of Vivendi during its turbulent era, was guilty of insider trading for the way he handled his own portfolio of Vivendi shares while in receipt of insider information about the company’s affairs.

READ MORE ABOUT: | |

 

Thursday 24 February 2011, 11:18 | By

Chris Brown restraining order downgraded

Legal

Chris Brown

The restraining order barring Chris Brown from coming within 100 yards of former girlfriend Rihanna has been downgraded to a stay-away order. Exactly what the difference is, I’m not sure, but he is still not allowed to come within 50 yards of his former girlfriend, or ten yards at entertainment industry events.

As oft reported, Brown was convicted of ‘assault likely to cause great bodily harm’ in August 2009 for beating his then girlfriend Rihanna unconscious and leaving her slumped on the pavement during an argument as they travelled home from a pre-Grammy Awards party in February the same year. As well as being given the restraining order, he was sentenced to five years’ probation, 180 days of community service and a year of domestic violence counselling.

Brown originally requested that the order be lifted last month, to avoid logistical issues at the Grammy Awards, which both were attending. However, the decision to reduce the distance the two must keep between each other was only made this Tuesday. Brown, in the end, decided not to attend the Grammys, despite being nominated in three categories. Rihanna, of course, performed at the event.

READ MORE ABOUT: |

 

Thursday 24 February 2011, 11:16 | By

NME Awards awarded

Awards

NME Awards

This year’s NME Awards were dished out last night, as expected. So that’s good. There was no clear big winner, though My Chemical Romance and Justin Bieber won two awards each, so I guess it’s them. The former took Best International Band and Best Video, while Bieber won Least Stylish and Worst Album. Well done both.

Picking up the Outstanding Contribution award, PJ Harvey performed songs from her new album, ‘Let England Shake’, while Godlike Genius Dave Grohl led his band in a round of Foo Fighters classics.

NME editor Krissi Murison told CMU: “With over 3.5 million votes cast in the second stage of voting, music fans have proved they are as passionate as ever – and their taste in music is as eclectic as ever! Not only is the international rock scene in great shape but a wide spread of genres are represented by our winners tonight. It’s great to see My Chemical Romance lead the way scooping two awards. And with Muse, Biffy Clyro, Laura Marling, Professor Green, Hurts and Arcade Fire amongst others all coming out top in their nominated categories, 2011 is set to be a great year for music”.

Highlights of the ceremony will be shown on Saturday night at 11.20pm on Channel 4, with extra coverage from T4 earlier in the day at 11.25am.

Those awards in full:

Best British Band: Muse
Best International Band: My Chemical Romance
Best Solo Artist: Laura Marling
Best Live Band: Biffy Clyro
Best New Band: Hurts

Best Album: Arcade Fire – The Suburbs
Best Track: Foals – Spanish Sahara
Best Video: My Chemical Romance Na Na Na (Na Na Na Na Na Na Na Na)
Best Festival: Glastonbury
Best Dancefloor Filler: Professor Green – Jungle
Best TV Show: Skins

Philip Hall Radar Award: The Naked & Famous
Teenage Cancer Trust Outstanding Contribution To Music: PJ Harvey
John Peel Award For Innovation: Crystal Castles
Godlike Genius: Dave Grohl

Awards not handed out on the night:

Best Small Festival: RockNess
Best Album Artwork: Klaxons – Surfing The Void
Best Blog: Hayley Williams (Paramore)
Best Book: John Lydon – Mr Rotten’s Scrapbook
Best Film: Inception

Worst Album: Justin Bieber – My World 2.0
Worst Band: Jonas Brothers

Hero: Lady Gaga
Villain: David Cameron

Most Stylish: Brandon Flowers
Least Stylish: Justin Bieber

Hottest Man: Matt Bellamy
Hottest Woman: Alison Mosshart (The Kills)

READ MORE ABOUT:

 

Thursday 24 February 2011, 11:14 | By

Jack White will never join another band

Artist News

Jack White

Having officially announced the dissolution of The White Stripes earlier this month, Jack White has now vowed never to join another band. Which does not, of course, mean that he’s quitting music altogether. He still has The Raconteurs and The Dead Weather, as well as his solo work, to keep himself occupied with. White told Q: “I won’t join another band again. Three’s enough for one lifetime. If I can’t say it in any of these bands, then I’ll say it by myself”.

READ MORE ABOUT: | | |

 

Thursday 24 February 2011, 11:13 | By

Ke$ha pens song for Britney

Artist News

Ke$ha

It’s probably of no surprise to you that Ke$ha writes her own songs, though you may be perplexed by the news that she’d be in demand to write them for anyone else. But seemingly she’s written a track for the new Britney Spears album, ‘Femme Fatale’, that is rumoured to be the next single to be taken from it.

Speaking about the song, ‘Till The World Ends’, Ke$ha told Spin: “That song is me imagining her and any female musician touring the world. You know, when you go out, and you’re having an amazing, magical night and you don’t want to go to sleep and you want it to last until the world ends”.

‘Femme Fatale’ is due for release on 28 Mar.

READ MORE ABOUT: |

 

Thursday 24 February 2011, 11:12 | By

Record Store Day announces Ozzy as ambassador

Releases

Ozzy Osbourne

Ozzy Osbourne will act as ambassador for this year’s Record Store Day, which is due to take place on 16 Apr.

Here’s Ozzy with a very brief message announcing this news.

Had he gone on for longer than fifteen seconds, he might have told you about some of the exclusive releases that will be available on the day. But he didn’t, so I’ll just have to do it myself.

Amongst the releases available only in independent record shops (and only on 16 Apr), will be vinyl singles from the likes of The Rolling Stones, AC/DC, Of Montreal, Pearl Jam, REM, Panda Bear, Cults, Busdriver, Midlake and Will Self, and, of course, Ozzy Osbourne. There’ll also be a compilation of covers from Deftones, a covers EP from Franz Ferdinand, a three LP edition of Rolo Tomassi’s new rarities collection and live albums from Mastodon, Villagers and The Vaccines.

More releases are still to be announced. You can find more info and the current list of records at www.recordstoreday.co.uk.

READ MORE ABOUT: |

 

Thursday 24 February 2011, 11:11 | By

Foo Fighters premiere new single

Releases

Foo Fighters

With frontbloke Dave Grohl crowned ‘Godlike Genius’ at last night’s NME Awards, the first single from Foo Fighters’ stripped-back new album ‘Wasting Light’, due for general release on 11 Apr via Roswell, has appeared on the net, as if by PR magic.

Listen to ‘Rope’ here. If you like it, it will be available for download from 27 Mar.

READ MORE ABOUT: |

 

Thursday 24 February 2011, 11:10 | By

Dum Dum Girls announce new EP and tour dates

Gigs & Festivals Releases

Dum Dum Girls

Following last year’s brilliant album ‘I Will Be’, California quartet Dum Dum Girls return with new EP ‘He Gets Me High’, a four-track helping of their brooding garage-rock that includes a beautifully-restrained rework of The Smiths’ ‘There Is A Light That Never Goes Out’.

With production credits shared amongst Dum Dums frontgirl Dee Dee, legendary American producer and Sire Records co-founder Richard Gottehrer and Sune Rose Wagner of The Raveonettes, the EP is set for release on 28 Feb through Sub Pop.

In the meantime, get a load of this title track here.

The band have also announced some UK tour dates to follow the release, which are as follows:

31 Mar: Manchester, Deaf Institute
1 Apr: Dublin, Whelans
2 Apr: Belfast, Black Box
3 Apr: Glasgow, Stereo
4 Apr: Leeds, Brudenell Social
5 Apr: London, Dingwalls
6 Apr: Brighton, Komedia

READ MORE ABOUT:

 

Thursday 24 February 2011, 11:08 | By

Celine Dion adds Jackson tribute to stage show

Gigs & Festivals

Deline Dion

Celine Dion has announced that she will include a tribute to Michael Jackson in her new stage show. As previously reported, the singer will return to Caesars Palace in Las Vegas for a new three year residency next month.

Speaking to Access Hollywood she revealed that she will sing Charlie Chaplin’s ‘Smile’, Jackson’s favourite song, as part of her set. She said: “He changed my life. I saw him on TV and I wanted to sing in English because he was doing so. And I went to learn English and met with him and I [sang] with him and he came to see the show and he had a big impact on my life”.

This is not the first time Dion has performed in tribute to Jackson, of course. However, last time he was still alive. This might be deemed even less tasteful now.

READ MORE ABOUT: |

 

CLICK FOR OLDER STORIES

CLICK FOR NEWER STORIES