Thursday 30 August 2012, 11:21 | By CMU Editorial

Everything Everything unveil new LP venture

Releases

Alt-pop quartet Everything Everything are back; still in their grey boiler suits, and still yelling at a furious pace.

They’ll release a new LP in ‘Arc’ via their new label, Sony’s RCA, on 14 Jan 2013, preceding this with new single ‘Cough Cough’, which apparently marks a “musical leap forward” for the band.

This is what lead singer Jonathan Higgs has to say about said track, a kind of commercial contradiction: “‘Cough Cough’ is about the power of money and the desire to get away from it. It’s also about waking up and seeing the world as an unfair place and then slipping back under the spell of greed. It’s about having no money, and wanting more money, and wanting nothing to do with money at all”.

Behold all that and more in its official video:

New Philco Fiction, Nathan Fake LPs now streaming

Releases

Symphonic pop band Philco Fiction have made their rather fine new LP, ‘Take It Personal’, available for unlimited streaming. Well unlimited, until its release on 3 Sep, that is. Noisey is hosting the exclusive preview, and you can listen to the record’s ten component tracks via this link.

Since we’re talking streaming, I’ll also mention ‘Steam Days’, the new LP from electronic auteur Nathan Fake, who by the way is now to accompany Orbital on their forthcoming tour. Drowned In Sound has a SoundCloud player containing the entire LP, and you can listen to it to your heart’s content (again, only until it’s officially out on 3 Sep), here.

The Vaccines to inoculate Ally Pally

Gigs & Festivals

Aside from dissing Rihanna – and, by default, her ‘Princess Of China’ collaborators Coldplay – for lacking all “artistic merit”, forthright Sony/Columbia signings The Vaccines have also been busy booking a pretty ambitious headline tour in promotion of their new LP, ‘The Vaccines Come Of Age’.

Most ambitious of all is a date at London’s Alexandra Palace, as will also feature ‘special guests’ in Canadian hardcore vets Fucked Up. Yes, Fucked Up are playing warm-up act to The Vaccines. No comment. Diiv, Deap Vally and Pale will take sub-billings across other dates, which look thus:

15 Nov: Plymouth, Pavilions
17 Nov: London, Alexandra Palace
19 Nov: Leicester, De Montfort Hall
21 Nov: Manchester, Apollo
22 Nov: Liverpool, Su Mountford Hall
23 Nov: Doncaster, Dome
25 Nov: Glasgow, Academy
27 Nov: Newcastle, Academy
29 Nov: Birmingham, Academy
30 Nov: Bournemouth, Academy

AlunaGeorge announce tour

Gigs & Festivals

As is basically stated in that headline, CMU approved alt-pop duo AlunaGeorge have just announced a tour.

That said, and without any unnecessary ado, its dates are:

15 Nov: Birmingham, Hare & Hounds
16 Nov: Glasgow, The Hug And Pint
17 Nov: Nottingham, Stealth Vs Rescued
18 Nov: Bristol, Start The Bus
20 Nov: Leeds, Nation of Shopkeepers
21 Nov: Manchester, Deaf Institute
22 Nov: London, Hoxton Bar & Kitchen
24 Nov: Brighton, Coalition

Crystal Castles set headline dates

Gigs & Festivals

Crystal Castles have based a brand new tour upon the vague rumour that is their oppression-themed new LP, set for release in “fall”. They’ll headline across six dates, which are as follows:

22 Nov: Birmingham, Institute
23 Nov: Norwich, UEA
24 Nov: London, Brixton Academy
26 Nov: Glasgow, ABC
27 Nov: Leeds Academy
28 Nov: Manchester Academy

Herbert Grönemeyer to appear at Roundhouse

Gigs & Festivals

German composer Herbert Grönemeyer will mark the 8 Oct release of his first English-language LP and fourteenth studio collection overall, ‘I Walk’, with a solo date at London’s Roundhouse.

The concert takes place on 28 Oct, and may just feature guest cameos by the long player’s various collaborators, not least Bono, Antony Hegarty and James Dean Bradfield. Unless they’re busy, in which case it won’t.

Angel Haze details London live debut

Gigs & Festivals

Unsmiling Harlem rapper Angel Haze is to play a live date at London’s Hoxton Square Bar & Kitchen on the very same day that her new single, ‘New York’, is released.

The hyped MC – who’s quoted here side-stepping Nicki Minaj comparisons and talking prospective studio duets with Azealia Banks and Paul Epworth – will toast her recent signing to Universal’s Island Records with the show and single release, which take place in unison on 8 Oct.

Festival line-up additions – 30 Aug 2012

Artist News Festival Line-Up Update Gigs & Festivals

FREEZE FESTIVAL, Battersea Power Station, London, 26-27 Oct: Public Enemy, DJ Shadow, Grandmaster Flash, A-Yo! (Mark Ronson vs Zane Lowe), Riz MC, Stanton Warriors, DJ E-Z, Snatch The Wax, Swami Baracus, Smiler, Astroid Bous, Future Disco, Vagabondz. www.relentlessfreeze.com/music

ICELAND AIRWAVES, various venues, Reykjavik, Iceland, 31 Oct – 4 Nov: Shearwater, Diiv, Haim, Apparat Organ Quartet, Snorri Helgason, Reykjavík, Rökkurró, Útidúr, Nova Heart, Dikta, Lára Rúnars, Benni Hemm Hemm, Gluteus Maximus, Mr Silla, Árni Vector, Asonat, Atrum, Bárujárn, Bix, Boogie, Trouble, Dream Central Station, Elíza Newman, EmmSjé Gauti, Enkídú, Epic Rain, Fu Kaisha, Gang Related, Geir Helgi, Ghost Town Jenny, Gísli Pálmi, Good Moon Deer, GP!, Halleluwah, Hanne Kolstø, HaZar, Hellvar, Hljómsveitin Ég, Hollow Veins, Jack Magnet Quintet, Japanese Super Shift & The Future Band, Jón Þór, Lockerbie, Love & Fog, Love Demons, M-Band, Magnús Leifur, Mikael Lind, Monotown, Morðingarnir, Myrká, Myrra Rós, Noise, Nóra, Nuke Dukem, Oculus, Oyama, Pedro Pilatus, Quadruplos, RVK Soundsystem, Saytan, Sindri Eldon & the Ways, Skurken, Stafrænn Hákon, Steve Sampling, Strigaskór Nr 42, Svartidauði, Tanya & Marlon, The Foreign Resort, Thor, Trouble, Two Tickets to Japan, Ultra Mega Technobandið Stefán, Vigri, We Made God, Woodpidgeon, Ylja, Þórir Georg, Æla. www.icelandairwaves.is

TUSK, Star & Shadow, Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, 5-7 Oct: The Unit Ama, Lobster, Priest, Trancers II. www.tuskfestival.com

Spurned TuneCore founder concerned about company’s future

Business News Labels & Publishers

TuneCore co-founder Peter Wells who, as it turns out, was forced out of the company in May, before the possibly more surprising axing of his fellow co-founder, Jeff Price, earlier this month, has spoken to Hypebot about the two men’s respective departures and what it might mean for the company.

Wells confirmed that both man were taken by surprise when they were respectively fired by the TuneCore board, particularly so in the case of Price, as he has always been the very vocal figurehead of the company. Now, says Wells, he worries that the company will be grown by its investors to the cost of the digital distributor’s original ethos – inviting artists to “sell your music, not your soul”.

Wells says that his own departure in May, although a shock and disappointment, was basically pretty amicable. He tells Hypebot: “I left TuneCore on excellent terms: they were very happy with my work, there were handshakes all around. I was told my position was ‘dissolved’, that’s all. I was extremely surprised. [And] I was disappointed that no effort was made to find [an alternative] place for me after my position was dissolved. I was even more disheartened that I wasn’t given a chance to come up with something on my own. But I was assured my leaving was no reflection on my performance, but was best for the company’s bottom line. Okay, sometimes a founder has to go. I understand there are phases in the life of a company. Gary Burke and Jeff Price, the other two co-founders, were still there, I knew TuneCore was in good hands”.

However, he continued: “[Then] more than a month ago, Jeff Price was asked to leave. This was lightning out of nowhere, and it gives me real reason to worry. Jeff was the heart and soul and brains of TuneCore, and I can’t understand why he was asked to leave … I’ve not heard any satisfactory explanation as to why Jeff was asked to leave, nor have I been told who’s running the company. I and the other shareholders need to be kept informed, and the silence is distressing”.

Discussing TuneCore’s potential future direction, he said: “Most concerning of all, the company is now in the hands of its big-money investors, principally Opus Venture. When TuneCore began in my living room with Gary and Jeff, we only had ourselves and the artist to answer to. But VC never has a pure motive: they enter a company to grow it, to make it a success, but not necessarily solely for the company or its vision, its employees or its customers. VC has to answer to its own needs, its return-on-investment, and its ultimate exit. This is the double-edged sword of venture capital: you get from them the money to grow, the support and know-how, sometimes even personnel. But you also dilute your vision. Your investors answer to different, at best mixed priorities”.

Read the full interview here.

Does change in Bertelsmann status pre-empt share sale?

Business News Labels & Publishers

Is BMG co-owner Bertelsmann preparing a share sale to raise some cash to fund a period of expansion, especially in Asia and South America, where newish CEO Thomas Rabe is known to have ambitions?

Well, the Mohn family who control the German media giant don’t generally like sharing their business assets. But Hypebot has noted that a recent change in legal status under German company law – so that the business is now a KGaA (partnership limited by shares) rather than an AG (joint stock company) – might be a move designed to enable a partial IPO while protecting the interests of the Mohns.

Though the official line is that the shift from AG to KGaA is an “identity-preserving change of legal form”, and is not intended to have any major impact on the company’s ownership or corporate structure. So a Bertelsmann IPO? Possibly, but also, possibly not.

Darling Department closes, directors announce new companies

Business News Management & Funding

Artist management and music consultancy firm Darling Department has announced it is to close, with directors Dan Stevens, David Laub and Ed Cartwright forming two new companies. As previously reported, Darling shut its PR division in March this year, Cartwright telling CMU at the time: “Running an independent music PR company, in a landscape of declining fees and circulations, feels increasingly dispiriting”.

Cartwright has now announced the launch of a new management company for electronic artists, with a roster featuring Jamie Jones, Hot Natured, Ali Love, Infinity Ink and Invisible Cities. Stevens and Laub, meanwhile, have launched a new company together, First & Last Music, which will see them staying in both management and consultancy, looking after Natty, Foxes and Sam Frank as well as continuing to work on talent sourcing and music rights projects for companies such as Ray-Ban and Ralph Lauren.

Both companies will jointly manage Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs.

Kobalt appoints new creative VP

Business News Labels & Publishers

Music publishing company Kobalt has announced the appointment of Miller Williams, who left Global Radio’s music publishing and management company, where he was MD, earlier this year.

In his new role as Senior VP Creative for the expansive music rights firm, London-based Miller will “develop Kobalt’s creative roster, exploit the company’s catalogue around the world and sign new deals”. He will report to Kobalt’s Exec VP Creative Sas Metcalfe, who told CMU: “I am delighted that Miller has joined our worldwide creative team based in our UK office. His publishing track record speaks for itself, and I’m sure our roster of writers and artists will benefit from his knowledge and experience”.

Madonna publishes tour manifesto

And Finally

Madonna has published a “manifesto” for her oft-controversial ‘MDNA’ tour justifying the use of guns in the show.

To date, her performances on this tour have mainly angered those on the political right, for, amongst other things, superimposing a swastika on the face of French National Front leader Marine Le Pen, supporting the jailed members of Pussy Riot, and promoting gay rights. However, these latest criticisms came from more liberal minds, worried that the singer is glorifying guns and violence in her performances.

In a letter to Billboard, she wrote: “It’s true there is a lot of violence in the beginning of the show and sometimes the use of fake guns – but they are used as metaphors. I do not condone violence or the use of guns. Rather they are symbols of wanting to appear strong and wanting to find a way to stop feelings that I find hurtful or damaging. In my case its wanting to stop the lies and hypocrisy of the church, the intolerance of many narrow minded cultures and societies I have experienced throughout my life and in some cases the pain I have felt from having my heart broken”.

She concludes: “It must be watched with an open heart from beginning to end. I am sure if it is viewed this way, the viewer will walk away feeling inspired, invigorated and will want to make the world a better place”.

Read the full letter here.

Approved: Labyrinth Ear

CMU Approved

While Labyrinth Ear are a duo I’ve enthused about to people elsewhere, it turns out they’ve never graced this column before. But look, here I am making amends for that, and at just the right time too, as their newly released track ‘Urchin’ is quite possibly their strongest so far.

Moving yet further away from the Crystal Castles-esque sound of their earlier material, the reverb on singer Emily Jacobs’ voice is applied with a lighter touch than much of their material, and with powerful effect. Her words carry over a simple looping synth bassline, while other sounds swirl and blow past, giving the whole track a close, intimate feel.

Stream and download ‘Urchin’ here:

Convicted Pussy Riot members appeal

Artist News Legal Top Stories

The three members of Russian punk band Pussy Riot jailed for performing a ‘punk prayer’ critical of Russia’s President Vladimir Putin have appealed their convictions, a legal representative has confirmed.

As previously reported, earlier this month the three women were found guilty of “hooliganism motivated by religious hatred” after protesting against Putin in a Moscow cathedral earlier this year. They were sentenced to two years in prison, taking into account the five months they had already served while awaiting trial.

The convictions garnered criticisms from human rights and free speech groups, and musicians and artists, across the world, with many accusing the Russian government of conspiring with the country’s Orthodox Church to silence critics of Putin.

A few days after the Pussy Riot three were convicted, a legal rep confirmed the womens’ intention to appeal, and yesterday lawyer Violetta Volkova confirmed appeal papers had been filed with the Khamovniki district court on Monday. A decision is expected within ten days.

Meanwhile two other members of Pussy Riot have now fled Russia to avoid arrest, as the authorities there seek to prosecute the other two members of the ten strong punk outfit who took part in the cathedral protest.

Elsewhere, Russia’s Orthodox Church has condemned Pussy Riot supporters who have cut down crosses in various locations around the country. The cross attacks were seemingly inspired by the cutting down of a large Orthodox cross in Kiev earlier this month, in protest at the treatment of the Pussy Riot three, by campaigning group Femen, who routinely stage headline grabbing and sometimes shocking protests to promote women’s rights issues. Pussy Riot manager Pyotr Verzilov has also told reporters that the band disapproves of damaging crosses in their name.

DOOM decoy made London PA, promoters allege

Gigs & Festivals Top Stories

A London hip hop collective has accused masked rapper DOOM, real name Daniel Dumile, of allowing an imposter to appear in his place at one of their club nights. Despite Dumile’s being booked to make a PA at last weekend’s ‘Livin DOOM’ party, its hosts Livin Proof allege via Facebook that “there is a very strong possibility the person that was finally sent down was not DOOM himself”.

Having arranged with Dumile’s management that he would deliver a DJ set as part of his appearance, Livin Proof also claim DOOM’s people made a last minute “extortionate request” for a greater fee than had originally been agreed. The DJ set was then cancelled, but reinstated again ten minutes prior to the show, after which a masked man purporting to be Dumile – but not looking much like him at all – played briefly and signed autographs.

Livin Proof, certainly, weren’t convinced by the apparent decoy DOOM, and say: “Doing this show has taught us a lot about how some artists operate and how they feel they can treat others and, most importantly, their fans. As fans of DOOM ourselves, this has left a very sour taste in our mouths”.

Since they paid the revised fee directly to Dumile’s bank account in response to his reps’ sudden demand, the collective say they are “seeking legal advice” and a full refund. Camp DOOM has so far declined to comment.

This isn’t the first time the authenticity of a DOOM PA has been in doubt. Several alleged sightings of fake DOOMs have been made in the past, one example being when a supposed stand-in was booed off-stage at 2008’s Rock The Bells festival.

Pitchfork also draws attention to a Rolling Stone quote circa 2009 in which the rapper himself implied that, at a DOOM show, seeing and believing are somewhat interchangeable: “People are asking more now for live shows and I’m charging more, so it must’ve worked somewhere… [though] I tell you one thing, when you come to a DOOM show, come expecting to hear music, don’t come expecting to see”.

Baroness members leave hospital in the UK

Artist News

All four members of Baroness have now been released from hospital, following their previously reported tour bush crash in Somerset earlier this month.

Frontman John Baizley was the final member of the metal band to be discharged, while his bandmates have all already returned the US, lead guitarist Pete Adams having been the first to head home a week and a half ago. As well as confirming this news, the band have also said that all remaining tour dates for 2012 have been cancelled.

As for the other people hurt in the crash, the status is unclear. Earlier this month it was announced that the driver of the bus (who was said to have sustained “live changing injuries”) was still in a critical condition, though a spokesperson for the Royal United Hospital in Bath declined to comment to the BBC.

Hall And Oates shut down fan-founded political committee

Artist News

Hall And Oates have persuaded two fans who set up a political wing for the pop rock duo’s fanbase to cease their activities. Two fans in Atlanta took it upon themselves to set up the Hall And Oates Super PAC (that’s ‘political action committee’), registering it with the Federal Election Commission, and starting to plan fundraising activities to fund future undefined political campaigns.

Actually, it seems likely the PAC’s founders mainly planned to use the venture to make politically-themed parody videos, and really named it after Hall And Oates for a joke. But Daryl Hall and John Oates were, unsurprisingly, not completely happy when discovering a political fundraising committee had been established in their name, and they reached out to the two fans that had created the PAC asking them to cease their activities.

Hall & Oates’ manager Jonathan Wolfson told the New York Observer: “Daryl Hall and John Oates recognise that the personal viewpoints of their fans cross all political spectrums and are honoured to be supported by their fans everywhere regardless of political affiliation. The PAC’s founders recognise that the use of the ‘Hall’ and ‘Oates’ names for the purpose of raising funds is not an appropriate fan activity no matter what the goal of the fundraising activities might be”.

AEG’s BandMerch announces Who deal

Brands & Merch Business News Deals

AEG Live’s merchandising firm BandMerch has announced a long-term worldwide deal with The Who, which will see the company handle merchandise for the band as they embark on a new AEG-promoted Quadrophenia tour this autumn, ahead of the 40th anniversary of the band’s iconic rock opera next year.

BandMerch will work with the band in various ways under the new deal, providing e-commerce solutions and managing the band’s own website, as well as handling tour merch sales, and forging and managing various retail partnerships. BandMerch say that, unusually for merchandising deals, this is a long-term partnership that could run for the rest of the band’s career.

The Who previously had a merchandise partnership with the merchandising business of AEG’s main competitor Live Nation; but with AEG also promoting The Who’s upcoming tour, the band’s live and merchandising activities can now presumably be much more closely integrated.

Rolling Stones record in France

Artist News

All four Rolling Stones – so that’s Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Charlie Watts and Ronnie Wood – have been in the studio, at the same time, recording an undisclosed something.

The quartet were seen leaving Studio Guillaume Tell in Paris, after which Mick Jagger substantiated the sighting via this photo.

It’s thought that Jagger and co were taping bonus material to feature on a forthcoming greatest hits compilation, which is set for release this year in honour of the band’s 50th anniversary.

Pond and The Horrors collaborate

Artist News

Pond’s Nick Allbrook and Cam Avery have coerced music types from The Horrors, Spectrum, The History Of Apple Pie and Novella to play on the new LP by their plausibly-named side project, Allbrook/Avery.

Not that any of the above had much choice in the matter. Speaking via NME’s Radar column, Allbrook remembers collaring The Horrors for the collaboration. He says: “We just arrived in London and said, ‘You are recording our album, thanks’, and they did it!”

He adds: “We assembled a crack team of prodigious sonic terrorists to lend their cacophony to our crappy album, and they fell for it! For no reason, no pay and with no warning. [They all] spent a week in a dark basement playing our songs and pretending they liked us. Well, I don’t care. I had a heap of fun and I love them all so they can all ram it”.

Nice, that’s gratitude for you. The LP in question, which will represent the sequel to last year’s debut ‘Big Art’, hasn’t yet been given a release date, but you’re sure to hear about it as soon as it has.

Cat Power, Jens Lekman stream new solo LPs

Releases

Cat Power has opted to stream the entirety of her previously detailed new not-just-a-break-up LP, ‘Sun’, in the days prior to its official release on 3 Sep. The Guardian is hosting this particular audio preview, so take advantage of it now at this link.

Likewise, Swedish singer-songwriter Jens Lekman’s new LP, ‘I Know What Love Isn’t’, is also available for pre-release listening. It’s out the same day as ‘Sun’, but you can play it in full now courtesy of Pitchfork and SoundCloud.

Neil Young titles new Crazy Horse LP

Releases

Neil Young has just shared details of what’s to be his and Crazy Horse’s second collaborative LP of this year, ‘Psychedelic Pill’. Comprising all-original material, it was made straight after the band’s covers record ‘Americana’, and is set for release in October.

A post on Young’s official website confirms the new long player will be available in double CD and triple vinyl formats, “because of the lengths of many of the songs”. A “recommended” hi-res edition, as features the album plus the videos for all of its singles, will also be supplied on Blu-ray disc.

Converge to release new long player, tour

Gigs & Festivals Releases

US hardcore enthusiasts Converge have just premiered the video for their new single ‘Aimless Arrow’, choosing the moment to also share notes on their forthcoming LP ‘All We Love We Leave Behind’.

It’s released as a normal and deluxe package (the latter having three bonus tracks and packaged with a hardcover book of original art by Converge frontman Jacob Bannon) on 8 Oct, after which the band will tour Europe.

For the record, here’s a contents list, as features the deluxe edition ‘bonus’ tracks ‘No Light Escapes’, ‘On My Shield’ and ‘Runaway’.

Aimless Arrow
Trespasses
Tender Abuse
Sadness Comes Home
Empty On The Inside
Sparrow’s Fall
Glacial Pace
No Light Escapes
Vicious Muse
Veins And Veils
Coral Blue
Shame In The Way
On My Shield
Precipice
All We Love We Leave Behind
Runaway
Predatory Glow

And the relevant tour dates:

25 Nov: London, Koko
26 Nov: Birmingham, Academy 2
27 Nov: Colchester, Arts Centre
28 Nov: Glasgow, Classic Grand
29 Nov: Manchester, Academy 2
30 Nov: Dublin, The Button Factory
1 Dec: Brighton, Concorde 2

Oh, and that aforementioned ‘Aimless Arrow’ promo:

A$AP Rocky resets LP release date, shares mob mixtape

Releases

Contrary to his rap alias, procrastination-prone Harlem MC A$AP Rocky has further deferred the release of his debut LP, ‘LongLiveA$AP’ – initially meant to be out in July, then later set back to September – to 31 Oct, also known as Halloween.

Glossing over the date-change as if it had always been so, a casual A$AP named Clams Casino, Hit-Boy, Soufein3000 and Joey Fat Beats amongst those potentially lending production touches to the record. He also mentioned Ty Beats, part of Rocky’s A$AP Mob, who have just released an ensemble mixtape titled ‘Lord$ Never Worry’. It features the likes of Danny Brown, AraabMuzik and Gunplay, and is available to download for free via this link.

Robbie Williams to revisit ‘intimate’ venues

Gigs & Festivals

Last seen chasing Effy from ‘Skins’ in angel wings and a suit of armour (and pretending to punch a granny) pink-clad popstar Robbie Williams has now applied that same low-key theme to a very special three-date tour.

The schtick with this particular outing is that The Robster will play three of the venues he once frequented during his first solo outing in 1997. Those wanting to bid for a place at one, two or all of the ‘intimate’ shows can register at tickets.robbiewilliams.com. Winning fans will be chosen at random on 3 Sep, and will then be able to buy tickets in the usual way.

Just in case you’re one of those people, here are the dates:

11 Sep: Leeds, Academy
12 Sep: Glasgow, Barrowlands
16 Sep: Southend On Sea, Cliffs Pavilion

Meanwhile, if this mysterious photo is to be believed, Robbie will release his still-untitled new single on 3 Sep. Either that, or he’s installing his own marble bust atop Trafalgar Square’s fourth plinth.

Major Lazer, Boy Better Know, Magnetic Man, Channel One to compete at Red Bull Culture Clash

Gigs & Festivals

Major Lazer’s Diplo will contend with Boy Better Know, Magnetic Man and Channel One at the next edition of Red Bull’s Culture Clash sound-off, which takes place on 7 Nov at London’s Wembley Arena. Representing dancehall, grime, dubstep and dub reggae respectively, each faction will compete across four stages to impress the crowd, who’ll elect an overall winner at the end of the night. Click here for details.

Mono to tour

Gigs & Festivals

Instrumental four-piece Mono are leaving their native Japan for a spell in December, having just shared listings for a forthcoming tour. It takes place in the immediate wake of the band’s booking at this year’s Shellac-curated ATP Nightmare Before Christmas on 30 Nov. At the heart of all this live activity is new LP ‘For My Parents’, which is out via Temporary Residence on 3 Sep.

Tour dates:

1 Dec: Bristol, The Exchange
3 Dec: Glasgow, Oran Mor
4 Dec: Belfast, Mandela Hall
5 Dec: Cork, Cyprus Avenue
6 Dec: Dublin, Button Factory
7 Dec: Manchester, Sound Control
8 Dec: London, Village Underground

Festival line-up additions – 29 Aug 2012

Artist News Festival Line-Up Update Gigs & Festivals

ETHER, Southbank Centre, London, 5-19 Oct: Iamamiwhoami, Apparat, Anna Meredith, Horsebox. ether.southbankcentre.co.uk

I LOVE TECHNO, Ghent, Belgium, 10 Nov: Jamie xx, Boys Noize, Tiga, Major Lazer, DJ Fresh, Sub Focus, Benga, Spank Rock, Flux Pavilion, Rudimental, Martyn, Excision, Aks, NGA Sound, Joris Voorns, Dr Lektroluv, Raveyards, Chris Liebing, Len Faki, Karenn, Dada Life, Moonlight Matters. www.ilovetechno.be

ITUNES FESTIVAL, The Roundhouse, London, 1-30 Sep: Muse, Kindness, Benjamin Francis Leftwich. www.itunesfestival.com

SPLIT FESTIVAL, Ashbrooke Sports Club, Sunderland. 21-23 Sep: Public Image Limited, Pulled Apart By Horses. www.splitfestival.com

HMV phases out loyalty programme in favour of My HMV platform

Business News HMV Timeline Marketing & PR Retail

HMV is axing its lacklustre loyalty programme, which went by the name Pure HMV, as it rolls out a new marketing initiative called My HMV, which aims to more closely integrate the flagging retailer’s online and high street operations (and about time too), including in-store events and the previously reported ‘social media’ café idea being piloted in Cambridge.

Or, in the words of HMV e-Commerce And Marketing Director Mark Hodgkinson, who spoke to Marketing Week: “My HMV offers a 360 degree platform that integrates loyalty with online and offline retail, social media and content”. Aha, my favourite kind of platform. He added: “It will also allow HMV to offer more personalised engagement with customers than it has previously been able to”.

As part of the new programme, HMV is rolling out wi-fi into its stores, which, combined with the My HMV platform, will enable consumers who connect with the retailer both online and on the high street to integrate those experiences, and could result in regular customers getting personalised digital messages on arriving in store recommending offers, products and events.

Which you might think sounds a bit intrusive, but many reckon it’s the future of retail, and others in the sector will no doubt be watching HMV’s experiments in this space with interest. And for his part, Hodgkinson reckons the roll out of My HMV could help turn round the fortunes of the entertainment retail firm, which has refocused its energies more or less exclusively onto its core high street retail business, which I think everyone would agree is a challenging place to be in 2012.

The two million odd people who had signed up to Pure HMV will be transferred over to the new system.

Thursday 30 August 2012, 11:21 | By CMU Editorial

READ MORE ABOUT: Everything Everything

Thursday 30 August 2012, 11:20 | By CMU Editorial

READ MORE ABOUT: Nathan Fake | Philco Fiction

Thursday 30 August 2012, 11:19 | By CMU Editorial

READ MORE ABOUT: The Vaccines

Thursday 30 August 2012, 11:18 | By CMU Editorial

READ MORE ABOUT: AlunaGeorge

Thursday 30 August 2012, 11:17 | By CMU Editorial

READ MORE ABOUT: Crystal Castles

Thursday 30 August 2012, 11:16 | By CMU Editorial

READ MORE ABOUT: Herbert Grönemeyer

Thursday 30 August 2012, 11:15 | By CMU Editorial

READ MORE ABOUT: Angel Haze

Thursday 30 August 2012, 11:14 | By CMU Editorial

READ MORE ABOUT: Freeze Festival | Iceland Airwaves | Tusk Festival

Thursday 30 August 2012, 11:13 | By CMU Editorial

READ MORE ABOUT: Jeff Price | Opus Venture | Peter Wells | TuneCore

Thursday 30 August 2012, 11:12 | By CMU Editorial

READ MORE ABOUT: Bertelsmann | BMG | Thomas Rabe

Thursday 30 August 2012, 11:11 | By CMU Editorial

READ MORE ABOUT: Darling Department

Thursday 30 August 2012, 11:10 | By CMU Editorial

READ MORE ABOUT: Kobalt | Miller Williams

Thursday 30 August 2012, 11:09 | By CMU Editorial

READ MORE ABOUT: Madonna

Wednesday 29 August 2012, 11:27 | By Andy Malt

READ MORE ABOUT: Labyrinth Ear

Wednesday 29 August 2012, 11:26 | By CMU Editorial

READ MORE ABOUT: Pussy Riot | Vladimir Putin

Wednesday 29 August 2012, 11:24 | By CMU Editorial

READ MORE ABOUT: Doom | Livin Proof

Wednesday 29 August 2012, 11:23 | By CMU Editorial

READ MORE ABOUT: Baroness

Wednesday 29 August 2012, 11:22 | By CMU Editorial

READ MORE ABOUT: Hall And Oates

Wednesday 29 August 2012, 11:21 | By CMU Editorial

READ MORE ABOUT: AEG | BandMerch | The Who

Wednesday 29 August 2012, 11:20 | By CMU Editorial

READ MORE ABOUT: The Rolling Stones

Wednesday 29 August 2012, 11:19 | By CMU Editorial

READ MORE ABOUT: Allbrook/Avery | Pond | The Horrors

Wednesday 29 August 2012, 11:18 | By CMU Editorial

READ MORE ABOUT: Cat Power | Jens Lekman

Wednesday 29 August 2012, 11:17 | By CMU Editorial

READ MORE ABOUT: Neil Young

Wednesday 29 August 2012, 11:16 | By CMU Editorial

READ MORE ABOUT: Converge

Wednesday 29 August 2012, 11:15 | By CMU Editorial

READ MORE ABOUT: A$AP Rocky

Wednesday 29 August 2012, 11:14 | By CMU Editorial

READ MORE ABOUT: Robbie Williams

Wednesday 29 August 2012, 11:13 | By CMU Editorial

READ MORE ABOUT: Boy Better Know | Channel One | Magnetic Man | Major Lazer | Red Bull | Red Bull Culture Clash

Wednesday 29 August 2012, 11:12 | By CMU Editorial

READ MORE ABOUT: Mono

Wednesday 29 August 2012, 11:11 | By CMU Editorial

READ MORE ABOUT: Ether | I Love Techno | iTunes Festival | Split Festival

Wednesday 29 August 2012, 11:10 | By CMU Editorial

READ MORE ABOUT: HMV