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Thursday 28 February 2013, 15:53 | By Chris Cooke
HMV sells Asian shops
Business News Deals HMV Timeline Retail
HMV’s administrator Deloitte has announced the sale of the company’s small network of stores in Hong Kong and Singapore.
A hang-over from the entertainment retailer’s past international expansion, most of which was subsequently sold off, the HMV Group had six stores in Hong Kong and two in Singapore when it went into administration last month. The stores have been bought by AID Partners Capital Ltd, who will seemingly continue to operate the small chain as a going concern. The same company has also bought rights to use the HMV brand in China, Macau and Taiwan.
Administrator Rob Harding told reporters: “We are delighted to have completed the sale of HMV’s Asian business and wish AID Partners and the HMV Asia team every success for the future in developing this iconic brand further. Since the broader HMV Group entered administration on 15 Jan, the on-going support and funding we have received from Hilco, the group’s secured lender, has provided sufficient time to allow this sale to be concluded on a solvent basis”.
Hilco, which already owns HMV Canada, and acquired most of the British business’s debts once it was in administration, seems most likely to takeover the HMV UK company. The HMV brand is already controlled by a third party in the Japanese market, and it is thought Deloitte is also talking to other companies interested in acquiring the rights to use the trademark in other especially Asian territories.
READ MORE ABOUT: AID Partners Capital Ltd | HMV
Thursday 28 February 2013, 12:11 | By Aly Barchi
Approved: Yeah Yeah Yeahs – Sacrilege
CMU Approved
So, Yeah Yeah Yeahs have tricked a gospel choir into singing “sacrilege” ecstatically on a new track of that same title. Quite evil of Karen O and co, really.
Whilst its initial and mid bars aren’t atypical against the band’s usual signage – O shrilly tightening the steel bolts on a ‘Heads Will Roll’-style vox loop, Nick Zimmer waxing iridescent on guitar – its finale (and what a finale) escalates to a holy hi-fi fray dissimilar to anything they’ve done to date. And that’s a great thing, by the way.
Have a secular pop epiphany by playing ‘Sacrilege’ now:
READ MORE ABOUT: Yeah Yeah Yeahs
Thursday 28 February 2013, 12:10 | By Chris Cooke
High Court orders blocking of three more BitTorrent sites
Digital Legal Top Stories
The High Court in London has issued injunctions ordering the UK’s six biggest internet service providers to block access to three major BitTorrent websites, Fenopy, H33t and Kickass Torrents.
The ruling follows legal action by record label trade body the BPI, and follows earlier rulings that forced net firms to block access to file-sharing services Newzbin and The Pirate Bay after a court had deemed both sites to be liable for the copyright infringement they enabled.
Welcoming today’s injunctions, which will be served against Sky, BT, Everything Everywhere, TalkTalk, O2 and Virgin Media, BPI boss Geoff Taylor told CMU: “UK music labels have innovated to build one of the most vibrant digital music sectors in the world. But the growth of digital music in the UK is held back by a raft of illegal businesses commercially exploiting music online without permission. Music fans shouldn’t have to worry that sites distributing music online are illegal and unethical. Blocking illegal sites helps ensure that the legal digital market can grow and labels can continue to sign and develop new talent”.
Web-block injunctions are not without controversy, with some arguing that they are too extreme a sanction, and anyway don’t work because anyone who wants to can easily circumvent the blockades. The Pirate Bay claims its traffic goes up whenever blocks are instigated because of the publicity surrounding such moves, though the Newzbin site went offline last year due to the challenges and personal legal risks of operating a blocked site.
READ MORE ABOUT: BitTorrent | British Phonographic Industry (BPI) | Fenopy | H33t | KickassTorrents
Thursday 28 February 2013, 12:09 | By Andy Malt
Record contracts should come with counselling, says B*witched singer
Artist News Business News Labels & Publishers
Currently trying to crack back into the music business as part of ITV’s ‘The Big Reunion’, B*Witched’s Keavy Lynch has spoken about the stresses of being in a pop group at its peak. Specifically, she hoped that One Direction are being offered help to cope with their sudden rise to fame, as well as their inevitable crash out of it in the future.
She said: “A record deal should come with counselling. [One Direction are] so young. Boys hold a lot more in. You do hope that they get more personal time than we did. Every waking moment, someone wanted a piece of you in one way or another. It just got too much in the end. I had a breakdown because of it. It was too much. I want to get youngsters like One Direction and go, ‘Please, just get some professional help. I promise you you’ll need it. Just start now'”.
READ MORE ABOUT: B*Witched | Keavy Lynch | One Direction | The Big Reunion
Thursday 28 February 2013, 12:08 | By Chris Cooke
NME awards presented
Awards
The CMU email system may have placed the official winners list we were sent into the spam folder, but nevertheless, these are indeed the lucky recipients of an NME Award for 2013, presented last night in London.
The Rolling Stones were double winners, with the NME-reading kids seemingly impressed that the granddads of pop rock could both play a few gigs and release a rather good film in the same year. Meanwhile Biffy Clyro were declared Britain’s best band and Florence Welch the very best person who sings on her own (or, occasionally, with a machine).
In the two customary ‘diss’ categories, Harry Styles this time received a metaphorical shoe to the balls, his group being declared Worst Band, and he himself Villain Of The Year. Though as these are basically code for ‘Most Successful Pop Act Of The Moment’, maybe not as painful as that actual shoe.
Anyway, winners…
Best British Band: Biffy Clyro
Best International Band: The Killers
Best Live Band: The Rolling Stones
Best New Band: Palma Violets
Best Solo Artist: Florence Welch
Best Track: Foals – Inhaler
Best Dancefloor Anthem: Calvin Harris feat Florence Welch – Sweet Nothing
Best Album: The Maccabees – Given To The Wild
Best Re-Issue: Blur – 21
Best Music Video: Arctic Monkeys – R U Mine?
Best Music Film: The Rolling Stones – Crossfire Hurricane
Best TV Show: Fresh Meat
Best Book: Mike Skinner – The Story Of The Streets
Best Film: The Hobbit – An Unexpected Journey
Best Festival: Reading & Leeds Festivals
Best Small Festival: Festival No.6
Music Moment Of The Year: Olympics Opening Ceremony
Best Fan Community: Muse
Best Twitter: Alana Haim, Haim (@Babyhaim)
Hero Of The Year: Barack Obama
Villain Of The Year: Harry Styles
Worst Band: One Direction
Philip Hall Radar Award: Child Of Lov
Godlike Genius: Johnny Marr
Outstanding Contribution Award: The Cribs
READ MORE ABOUT: NME Awards
Thursday 28 February 2013, 12:07 | By Andy Malt
Stone Temple Pilots “terminate” Scott Weiland
Artist News
Stone Temple Pilots yesterday confirmed via Facebook that they have fired vocalist Scott Weiland – or “terminated” him, as their statement says, though we can confirm that he’s still alive.
The news that Weiland had been fired was first broken by Slash, also a former bandmate of Weiland’s in Velvet Revolver, during a radio interview back in December. Weiland, however, denies any prior knowledge of the news, and disputes that the rest of the band are even able to fire him.
The band’s statement simply reads: “Stone Temple Pilots have announced they have officially terminated Scott Weiland – no further information is available at this time”.
In response, Weiland told CMU: “I learned of my supposed ‘termination’ from Stone Temple Pilots this morning by reading about it in the press. Not sure how I can be ‘terminated’ from a band that I founded, fronted and co-wrote many of its biggest hits, but that’s something for the lawyers to figure out. In the meantime, I’m looking forward to seeing all of my fans on my solo tour which starts this Friday”.
Weiland, of course, had a rocky tenure with the band from the mid-90s, thanks to his much-publicised drug problems. The band split in 2002, after which Weiland joined Velvet Revolver, only to be fired from that outfit in 2008 (though he has since performed a one-off charity with show them). STP reformed the same year and released their first album since 2001 in 2010.
READ MORE ABOUT: Scott Weiland | Stone Temple Pilots
Thursday 28 February 2013, 12:06 | By Aly Barchi
Major Lazer sign to Secretly Canadian, set LP release date
Business News Deals Labels & Publishers Releases
In a strange label move – strange, because Diplo has his own label (the ‘Harlem Shake’ releasing Mad Decent) – Major Lazer have signed to Secretly Canadian for the American market.
And to prove it, the ensemble’s principal producer, the aforementioned Diplo, will release his plural-times-postponed new LP ‘Free The Universe’, as features Shaggy, Bruno Mars and Vampire Weekend’s Ezra Koenig, on 15 Apr.
Diplo, SC and co are giving away one of its featured tracks, ‘Watch Out For This (Bumaye)’ as consolation for ‘Free The Universe’ arriving so late, but only if you pay for the LP in advance.
So do that, or just play ‘Bumaye’ via SoundCloud, whilst you browse the dates of Major Lazer’s May-jor tour.
READ MORE ABOUT: Diplo | Major Lazer | Secretly Canadian
Thursday 28 February 2013, 12:05 | By Aly Barchi
Wolf Gang sign to Cherrytree
Business News Deals Labels & Publishers
British rockers Wolf Gang have signed a global record deal with US-based Cherrytree Records, having released their previous album, ‘Suego Faults’, via Warner’s Atlantic division.
Confirming the new deal, Cherrytree boss Martin Kierszenbaum told CMU: “Wolf Gang’s music feels to me like a modern rock amalgam of melody, fantasy and dreams. Their unique and compelling sound is a perfect fit with the progressive musical approach at Cherrytree. It’s an honour to have them on our roster”.
Meanwhile Angus Murray, who manages the band via Everybody’s Management, added: ”We’re delighted to have joined the Cherrytree family. Martin’s passion for the songs and vision for Wolf Gang, alongside his varied and internationally successful roster, is an exciting proposition for us and we are all looking forward to working together”.
READ MORE ABOUT: Cherrytree Records | Wolf Gang
Thursday 28 February 2013, 12:04 | By Chris Cooke
RSK launches new management venture, signs Idiom
Business News Deals Management & Funding
Music marketing and distribution company RSK Entertainment has announced the launch of a new artist management venture with Skindred drummer Arya Goggin, which already has a first signing in the form of Exeter-based band Idiom.
Commenting on the new JV with Goggin, RSK Co-MD Simon Carver told CMU: “We have been talking for ages about collaborating together. We dovetail well, I think, and experience has long taught us that more heads are always better than one both creatively and in business”.
Meanwhile Goggin said of the new venture’s first signings: “We have a great band in Idiom and the team that is fast assembling around them is testament to their talent and creative potential”.
The band will self-release a forthcoming single and mini-album utilising distribution services from Universal/EMI. The next single, called ‘In The Fall’, will be released on 7 Apr.
READ MORE ABOUT: Arya Goggin | Idiom | RSK Entertainment | Skindred
Thursday 28 February 2013, 12:03 | By Chris Cooke
Reach Music signs two new songwriters
Business News Deals Labels & Publishers
US-based Reach Music Publishing has announced two new deals, one with producer/songwriter Micah Otano, perhaps most notable as co-writer of Frank Ocean’s track ‘Lost’, and another with British song-maker Marcus Killian specifically for his stake in the Flo Rida chart hit ‘Whistle’.
Confirming both deals, Reach Music President Michael Closter told CMU: “We are actively looking to sign and invest in songwriters where we can engage all of our global services including creative sync, royalty and licensing back-office and direct international collections. Both Marcus Killian and Micah Otano are examples of internationally successful songwriters that we can support with our hands-on services”.
READ MORE ABOUT: Marcus Killian | Micah Otano | Reach Music Publishing
Thursday 28 February 2013, 12:02 | By Aly Barchi
Lana Del Rey talks “cinematic” new LP
Artist News
Lana Del Rey’s new LP is going to share sonic qualities with a naked ghost watching a movie. With the lights off. Or that’s what she claims, anyway.
“I’ve been writing in Santa Monica and I know what the record sounds like. Now I just have to finish it”, she sighs in this tête-à-tête with Radio 1 Newsbeat. Going on to compare the tba new ‘suite’ to her last one, ‘Born To Die’, Lana adds: “It’s a little more stripped down but still cinematic and dark. It’s moved on to a more spiritual place lyrically”.
See, a naked ghost. She should talk to Ke$ha. Lana also says she’s “talked to people about making” a new track titled ‘Black Beauty’, whatever that means. Though it’s nice that she’s going for a ‘topical’ tone this time I suppose.
READ MORE ABOUT: Lana Del Rey
Thursday 28 February 2013, 12:01 | By Andy Malt
Club 8 announce new album
Releases
Swedish indie-pop duo Club 8 have announced that they will release their new album, ‘Above The City’ through Labrador on 21 May.
The follow-up to 2011’s ‘The People’s Record’, it apparently features field recordings from building sites and Russia, children’s choirs, samples from erotic movies, and building materials used as percussion.
Don’t worry though, it’s still pop, as you can hear in the album’s first single, ‘Kill Kill Kill’ below (honest). The next single, ‘Stop Taking Time’, will be released on 26 Mar.
The full tracklist for the album looks like this:
Kill Kill Kill
Stop Taking My Time
You Could Be Anybody
Run
Interlude
Hot Sun
A Small Piece Of Heaven
I’m Not Gonna Grow Old
Interlude #2
Into Air
Instrumental
Travel
Less Than Love
Straight As An Arrow
READ MORE ABOUT: Club 8
Thursday 28 February 2013, 12:00 | By Aly Barchi
Melvins to play 1990s glory LPs live in London
Gigs & Festivals
Esteemed ‘sludge’ creatures Melvins are going to play four of their most infamous back-LPs over two shows in May, both at London’s Brixton Electric. The first (19 May) will comprise 1992’s ‘Lysol’ and 1993’s ‘Houdini’, whilst the other (20 May) will feature ‘Bullhead’ and ‘Stoner Witch’ (circa 1991 and 1994 respectively).
Before all that, on 29 Apr, the band will release a new LP, ‘Everybody Loves Sausages’, featuring – not sausages – but just-as-meaty renditions of tracks like Queen’s ‘Best Friend’, The Kinks’ ‘Attitude’ and Roxy Music’s ‘In Every Dream Home’.
Say they: “This record will give people a peak into the kind of things that influence us musically. We REALLY like all of these songs along with the bands who actually wrote this stuff, because first and foremost we are HUGE music fans”.
READ MORE ABOUT: Melvins
Thursday 28 February 2013, 11:59 | By Aly Barchi
Haim to grace London’s Heaven
Gigs & Festivals
Pop sisters Haim have added a date at London’s Heaven to their live diaries, and will play at the capital-based paradise on 24 Apr.
And that’s all really, bar a look at the Haim clan’s new ‘Falling’ vid, whose track is taken off an EP of the same name that the band are releasing on 1 Apr.
READ MORE ABOUT: Haim
Thursday 28 February 2013, 11:58 | By Aly Barchi
Festival line-up update: Ibiza Rocks, WOMAD, Field Day and more
Artist News Festival Line-Up Update Gigs & Festivals
As Newquay-based VW/dance fete Run To The Sun regrettably opts, after 25 years in the game, to make this year its last, we’ll begin this fairweather FLUU via a happier headline: Ibiza Rocks has added Ellie Goulding, Dizzee Rascal and The Vaccines (and Rizzle Kicks), as has its Mallorcan paradigm, Mallorca Rocks!
Ah, isn’t that nice? And carrying that same niceness over to the realm of obligatory artist speeches, nice pop-ette Ellie Goulding shares this pleasantry on playing Rocks: “I’m really excited to be in Ibiza this summer. Ibiza Rocks is something I’ve always wanted to play and the crowds have a reputation of really bringing it! Performing to people is my favourite thing and being able to do it somewhere I absolutely love is a bonus. See you there!”
And as if in answer, Dizzee adds: “I can’t wait to get back to Ibiza Rocks this year, I’m looking forward to a big party! It always goes off on that island, I love vibing off the crowd – those guys know how to rock it!”
And hey, talking of rocking things, music and arts hoopla WOMAD has just rocked up with its initial list of guest artists, as names Alice Russell, Gilberto Gil, Rokia Traore and many, many worldly others.
Having also announced a number of additions to it convention this morning, Liverpool Sound City has unveiled the latest run of bands playing its shwocases section. They including Noah And The Whale, who will perform in the city’s Anglican Cathedral, Everything Everything, Darwin Deez and Drenge.
Those are the ‘main’ ones, so now it’s time to recap all of the above, and additional additions to exceptional fests like Field Day, Iceland Airwaves, Sound Island, Stop Making Sense, Lancashire’s all-organic Methusala, V Festival, the Gary Numan-starring Playground Festival and first-rate mini fest Maverick – which is inviting ticket-buyers to take a 60 mile bicycle ride, from London, to reach its Suffolk site “at a leisurely pace”.
FIELD DAY, Victoria Park, London, 25 May: Bobby Tank, Charanjit Singh, Daniel Avery, Dark Bells, Duologue, East India Youth, Gabriel Bruce, Guards, Happa, J Marinetti, Jagwar Ma, King Krule, Koreless, Kwes, Lee Gamble, Metz, Mt Warning, Objekt, Rainy Milo, Rudi Zygadlo, Stealing Sheep, Throwing Snow, TOY. www.fielddayfestivals.com
IBIZA/MALLORCA ROCKS, Rocks Hotels, Ibiza/Mallorca, Spain, 4 Jun – 18 Sep: Ellie Goulding, Dizzee Rascal, The Vaccines, Rizzle Kicks, Palma Violets, Jagwar Ma, Redlight. www.ibizarocks.com / www.mallorcarocks.com
ICELAND AIRWAVES, various venues, Reykjavik, Iceland, 30 Oct – 3 Nov: Metz, Sin Fang, MØ, Múm, Young Dreams, Oyama, Sumie Nagano. icelandairwaves.is
MAVERICK, Easton Farm Park, Woodbridge, Suffolk, 5-7 Jul: Anna Coogan, Carrivick Sisters, Case Hardin, Cherry Lee Mewis, Curtis Elle’s American Circus, Danni Nicholls, Danny George Wilson, David Latto, Dennis Ellsworth, Eileen Rose And The Holy Wreck, Feral Mouth, Grace & Tony, Hallelujah Trails, Hatful Of Rain, I See Hawks In La, Jack Day, Jason Serious, Kris Dollimore, Leeroy Stagger, Little Embers, Mad Staring Eyes, Neil Innes, Oliver Daldry, Ruth Moody, Paul Mcclure, Phil Lee, Police Dog Hogan, Porchlight Smoker, Richie Lawrence, The Black Feathers, The Henry Brothers, The Rainbow Girls, The Redlands Palomino Company, The Vagaband, Trevor Moss & Hannah Lou, Troubadour Rose. www.maverickfestival.co.uk
LIVERPOOL SOUND CITY, various venues, Liverpool, 2-4 May: Noah & The Whale, Everything Everything, Darwin Deez, Oneohtrix Point Never, Dutch Uncles, Delphic, Pins, Savages, Drenge, Wave Machines, Jetta, Bipolar Sunshine, Loom, Deep Sea Arcade, Blackeye, Skaters, Melody’s Echo Chamber, Wolf People, Splashh, Charlie Boyer & The Voyeurs, Lulu James, Arcane Roots, Still Corners, Luls, Hands, Wild Smiles, Ian Prowse & Amsterdam, Mikill Pane, Bebe Black, Jacob Banks, Bo Ningen, Big Deal, Night Engine, Mind Enterprises, Golden Fable, Likely Lads. www.liverpoolsoundcity.co.uk
METHUSALA, Cliffs Farm Activity Centre, Mawdesley, Lancashire, 23-25 Aug: Boomin, Shoogrenifty, Danny Bee. www.methusala.co.uk
THE PLAYGROUND FESTIVAL, O2 Academy Brixton, London, 7-8 Jun: Gary Numan, James Lavelle, Booka Shade, James Zabiela, DJ Hell, Model 500, Richard Dorfmeister feat Earl Zinger, Derrick May, Kevin Saunderson, John Foxx & The Maths, Pantha Du Prince, Wolfgang Flur, X-Press 2, Boddika, Deadboy, Krystal Klear, TOKiMONSTA, Nathan Fake, Luke Vibert, OM Unit, Mickey Pearce, No Artificial Colours, Wildkats, Whyte Noize. www.theplaygroundfestival.com
SOUND ISLAND, Quex Park, Margate, 27-28 Jul: Bebe Black, Giggs, Little Nikki. www.soundfestivalsuk.com
STOP MAKING SENSE, The Garden, Tisco, Croatia, 1-4 Aug: Âme & Dixon, Steve Bug, Lindstrøm, John Talabot, Radio Slave, T Williams, Prins Thomas, Will Saul, Midland, San Soda, Mano Le Tough, Appleblim, Braiden, Harri & Domenic, A&A, Ali Tillett, Brighton, Dolan Bergin, Examine, Jan Kinčl Zero, Kiwi, Labud, Luka K, Madera Verde, Mimi, Mr Solid Gold, Nikola, Pardon My French, Park Ranger, Rob Summerhayes, Your Name. stopmakingsense.eu
V FESTIVAL, Hylands Park, Chelmsford, Essex/Weston Park, Staffordshire, 17-18 Aug: Tom Odell. www.vfestival.com
WOMAD, Charlton Park, Malmesbury,Wiltshire, 25-28 Jul: Rokia Traore, Gilberto Gil, Alice Russell, David Rodigan, Sam Lee, Mala In Cuba, Asif Ali Khan, Bwani Junction, Canzoniere Grencanico Salentino, David Wax Museum, Debapriya & Samanwaya, Dub Inc, Emel Mathlouthi, Fanfare Ciocarlia, Fredy Massamba, Gocoo, Huun Huur Tu, Jagwa Music, Kissmet, Le Vent du Nord, Levon Minassian, Malawi Mouse Boys, Mokoomba, Nano Stern, Ondatropica, Osibisa, Schlachthofbronx, Syd Arthur, Tamikrest, Urna & Kroke. womad.org
READ MORE ABOUT: Field Day | Ibiza Rocks | Iceland Airwaves | Liverpool Sound City | Mallorca Rocks | Maverick | Methusala | Playground Festival | Sound Island | Stop Making Sense | V Festival | Womad
Thursday 28 February 2013, 11:57 | By Chris Cooke
Liverpool Sound City announces conference additions
Business News Education & Events
Organisers of Liverpool Sound City have announced some additions to both its conference and festival line-ups (the latter you’ll find outlined in today’s FLUU).
Leading the way conference wise is music industry legend Andrew Loog Oldham, the producer, manager and publicity man probably best known for his work with the Rolling Stones in the early days of their career, who will be keynoting.
Meanwhile another session will focus on the very interesting career to date of Enter Shikari, who are also playing LSC this year. The band’s manager Ian Johnsen, agent Adam Saunders and distributor Peter Thompson, plus Mark Meharry of MusicGlue, which powers the band’s D2C operations, will all contribute.
These two events join a conference programme that already includes sessions involving Tracey Thorn and The Wombats. This year’s LSC takes place from 2-4 May – more via this LSC link.
Loog Oldham will also speak at LSC’s sister event in New York – New York Sound City (obviously) – which this year takes place on 11 Mar.
READ MORE ABOUT: Liverpool Sound City | New York Sound City
Thursday 28 February 2013, 11:56 | By Chris Cooke
Universal appoints new catalogue digital marketing man
Business News Industry People Labels & Publishers Marketing & PR
The Universal Music Group has announced the appointment of a new Head Of Digital for its Universal Strategic Marketing division. Having worked on digital catalogue marketing campaigns for EMI, in his new job Geoff Smith will “focus on creating international opportunities and innovative solutions for catalogue artists across all digital platforms and services”.
Confirming the appointment, Andrew Daw, Vice President of US, told CMU: “As our strategic business continues to expand, Smith’s digital expertise, marketing experience and love of music make him a valuable addition to the team”.
Smith himself added: “Strategic marketing is a respected and successful operation within Universal Music so I’m thrilled to be part of it. I’m looking forward to bringing all my career experience to this exciting role and working with UMG’s incredible roster of artists and their catalogues”.
READ MORE ABOUT: Geoff Smith | Universal Music
Thursday 28 February 2013, 11:55 | By Andy Malt
BASCA announces new chairman
Business News Industry People
The British Academy Of Songwriters, Composer’s And Authors has announced that composer and songwriter Simon Darlow has been elected as its new chairman. He replaces Sarah Rodgers.
Former head chorister of Chichester Cathedral, Darlow is also responsible for ‘Slave To The Rhythm’ by Grace Jones and ‘Pass The Dutchie’ by Musical Youth. He’s also written for artists such as Toyah, Dollar, Shirley Bassey, Martine McCutcheon and Cliff Richard, as well as over 100 TV Themes, including ‘Supermarket Sweep’.
Darlow told CMU: “I look forward to helping BASCA adapt to the digital age, welcome new friends, harmonise the voices that strive to protect the value of copyright and continue to celebrate excellence through our prestigious awards The Ivors and The British Composer awards”.
READ MORE ABOUT: British Academy of Songwriters Composers & Authors (BASCA) | Sarah Rodgers | Simon Darlow
Thursday 28 February 2013, 11:54 | By Andy Malt
BBC Performing Arts Fund announces winners of Music Fellowship scheme
Business News Management & Funding Media
The BBC Performing Arts Fund has announced the nineteen music organisations to receive funding from its Music Fellowship scheme. Between them they will receive £190,000 to each host one individual in a placement that will help them to develop professionally. Money doled out by the Performing Arts Fund is collected from phone voting fees on BBC shows, such as ‘Strictly Come Dancing’ and, in this case, ‘The Voice’.
Director of the fund, Miriam O’Keeffe told CMU: “We are delighted that the money raised through the phone voting on ‘The Voice’ will be used to support the next generation of musical talent. Working with some of the most well respected arts and music organisations in the UK will not only nurture this talent, but will give the fellows the experience and confidence to pursue their musical ambitions”.
Controller of BBC Entertainment Commissioning, Mark Linsey added: “‘The Voice’ is really pleased and proud to be associated with the BBC Performing Arts Fund. There is such a strong synergy between the two as both want to get behind and promote great talent and see it prosper and reach its full potential”.
The successful organisations and fellows are as follows:
Baby People – Ben Dew (Musician/producer)
Birmingham Royal Ballet – James Ham (Ballet Conductor)
Bristol Music Trust – Abi Ward (Programmer)
CC Creative Workshops – Jordan Riley (Producer/songwriter)
Cheltenham Music Festival – Alex Wilson (Creative & facilitator)
Drake Music – Bram Harrison aka DJ Eye Tech (DJ/musician)
English Folk Dance and Song Society – Maz O’Connor (Singer)
English Touring Opera – Carlos del Cueto (Opera Conductor)
Feis Rois – Amy Henderson (Accordionist)
Grimsby Minster – Ben Crick (Conductor)
Haddington Pipe Band – Ailie Robertson (Musician/composer)
Irene Taylor Trust – Adrian Harrison (Singer-songwriter)
Making Music – Amble Skuse (Composer)
Moving On Music Ltd – Ryan Molloy (Composer)
National Centre For Early Music – Bethany Seymour (Soprano)
National Youth Choir of Scotland – Andrew Nunn (Choral conductor)
Town Hall & Symphony Hall – Jonathan Silk (Jazz percussionist)
Scottish Chamber Orchestra – Shiori Usui (Composer)
Urban Development – Holly Smith (Singer)
READ MORE ABOUT: BBC | BBC Performing Arts Fund
Thursday 28 February 2013, 11:53 | By Andy Malt
OfCom finds Sky Arts in breach for failure to warn about The Prodigy at Download
Media
OfCom has found Sky Arts1 in breach of its code for failing to warn viewers about flashing lights used during a pre-recorded performance of ‘Take Me To The Hospital’ by The Prodigy during a broadcast from last year’s Download Festival.
The media regulator noted that at the beginning of the programme the channel had warned viewers to “expect strong language and flashing images throughout”, but also that it had not repeated the warning when coming out of the ad break that preceded the Prodigy spot.
Sky protested, saying that it had given enough warning, and anyway that flashing lights would be expected by most people watching a live performance such as the one shown, “as flashing images are an inherent part of these events”.
However, in ruling, OfCom said: “In this case, OfCom’s technical assessment of this material found that it significantly exceeded the maximum limits set out in OfCom guidance to broadcasters on flashing images and therefore posed a significant risk of harm to viewers in the audience with PSE [photosensitive epilepsy]”.
It concluded: “OfCom’s view was that in this case it was reasonably practicable to follow OfCom’s PSE guidance because the material was pre-recorded and edited. We therefore went on to consider whether there was sufficient editorial justification in this case for the broadcast of this material. In Ofcom’s view there was insufficient editorial justification for including in this pre-recorded general entertainment programme flashing images that so clearly exceeded in intensity and duration the appropriate PSE standards”.
“We noted the warning that was given at the start of the whole programme, but considered that this one warning alone was clearly insufficient taking into account the intensity and extended duration of the flashing images in this case”.
READ MORE ABOUT: Download Festival | OfCom | Sky Arts | The Prodigy
Thursday 28 February 2013, 11:52 | By Andy Malt
Cradle Of Filth banned from China
And Finally Artist News
I don’t know, first Cradle Of Filth frontman Dani Filth was denied his rightful status as ‘the best thing in Suffolk’, and now his whole band’s been banned from China. The good news for Chinese fans though (possibly), is that they have moved an upcoming show in Shanghai to Hong Kong (where the ban doesn’t apply).
In a statement the band said: “Unfortunately at this time the cultural section of the Chinese government have decided that Cradle Of Filth are unsuitable to play in Mainland China and so we are currently banned from playing there. Therefore the show on Tue 30 Apr in Shanghai, China has had to be moved to Hong Kong. The new venue is Kowloonbay International Trade & Exhibition Centre (KITEC) in Hong Kong on 30 Apr 2013”.
READ MORE ABOUT: China | Cradle Of Filth
Thursday 28 February 2013, 10:05 | By CMU Editorial
The CMU Podcast – March 2013
Setlist
This month’s CMU podcast sees CMU’s Chris Cooke and Andy Malt as ever discussing some of the biggest (and funniest) news stories from the last month in music, including the sale of the Parlophone Label Group to Warner Music, the continued downsizing of HMV, The Pirate Bay threatening to sue over copyright infringement, and MC Harvey’s ‘relationship’ with ‘Cheryl Cole’.
Get the CMU Podcast each month by signing up via iTunes, RSS, Mixcloud, or Stitcher, and listen to the latest edition via SoundCloud here:
READ MORE ABOUT: Cheryl | CIAPC | EMI | HMV | MC Harvey | Parlophone | The Pirate Bay | Universal Music | Warner Music
Wednesday 27 February 2013, 20:06 | By Chris Cooke
Universal completes EMI divestments with Now! and Co-op deals
Business News Deals EMI Sale Timeline Labels & Publishers Top Stories
Universal Music has sold off the final of the assets it agreed to divest as part of its agreement with European regulators when it bought the EMI record company last year.
The mega-major confirmed this evening that EMI’s European stake in the Now That’s What I Call Music! compilation series had been sold to Sony Music. Meanwhile sources close to the asset sale have told CMU that a deal has also now been completed regarding Co-Operative Music, the label services business Universal acquired when it bought the European side of the Virgin Group-founded V2 record company in 2007, which has gone to [PIAS].
Universal agreed to sell off in the region of two-thirds of EMI’s European assets in order to get the all clear for its controversial takeover, as well as some of its own periphery units in Europe. The majority of the assets for sale went in one big deal with Warner Music, while BMG picked up the Sanctuary catalogues.
As for the final two deals, London-based independent [PIAS] was an early favourite to acquire Co-op, and Sony Music had been linked to the Now! stake since earlier this month.
Commenting on the latter deal, Sony Music’s CEO of International Edgar Berger, told CMU: “Now! is one of the most famous and successful brands in music. We are delighted to have acquired EMI’s interests in the Now! brand in Europe and will work with Universal Music and our other partners across the industry to build the next chapter in Now’s history”.
All the deals are still subject to the approval of European regulators. But while Sony getting the Now! stake may ruffle some feathers – the Sony publishing company Sony/ATV having already won control of EMI Music Publishing as part of the sale of the former British major – insiders expect the deals to be cleared, not least because the biggest, with Warner, has the formal support of the indie label community, who are most vocal on these matters.
Assuming all deals are approved, and that could happen within a month, Universal will net in the region of £600 million from the asset sale, not far off half what it paid for the EMI record company outright, despite keeping nearly two-thirds of the business worldwide, including the all-important Beatles catalogue.
Commenting on the Now! deal with Sony and the various EMI divestments, Max Hole, CEO of Universal Music International, told CMU: “This sale, along with our previous transactions, not only satisfies our agreement with the European Commission, but further demonstrates the value we have been able to unlock through the targeted divestment of quality assets. Moreover, we are pleased to partner with Sony [on Now], a company that recognises the cultural importance of this long-standing British institution”.
Retrace the EMI sale story from the start with this CMU timeline.
READ MORE ABOUT: Co-operative Music | EMI | Now That's What I Call Music | Sony Music | Universal Music | [PIAS]
Wednesday 27 February 2013, 12:22 | By CMU Editorial
Playlist: Mazes
CMU Playlists
Formed in 2009, Mazes signed to FatCat Records and released their debut album ‘A Thousand Heys’ in 2011. For their second album, ‘Ores & Minerals’, which was released earlier this month, the band adopted a new, more focussed songwriting method.
Explains frontman Jack Cooper: “We set about trying to make a record that was far more original and broader than the first one… a representation of all the things that inspired us rather than a small portion. We began writing with us in mind, playing to our strengths. ‘Bodies’ was the first song – like most of the album written to repetitive loops and drones. The demo had an Arthur Russell drum loop because it sounded how Neil drums so I guess that’s where we were at”.
With the album now out, the band are currently on a tour of the UK, with a show in Brighton’s Prince Albert tomorrow night and one at Birthdays in East London on Thursday. Ahead of the tour, we asked Cooper to make us a playlist, which he did. He also sent this message, which was nice of him: “Hello readers of CMU. As a band with strong ethics, we only do playlists and interviews for websites that we look at ourselves. For instance, we wouldn’t do one for McDonalds Music (probably exists) but we would do one for XVideos or CMU. So, here is a Spotify playlist. Unfortunately, Spotify doesn’t have any music by Royal Limp, Primitive Parts or Led Zeppelin. But we love those bands too”.
MAZES’ TEN
Subscribe to this playlist on Spotify, and then read on to find out more about Jack’s choices:
01 Lungfish – Fearfully & Wonderfully
Maybe one of the most beautiful song titles ever. Ian MacKkaye described Lungfish as “a spring, a beautiful body of water that everybody should take a swim in” and I can’t really put it any better. In many ways they only have one type of song, but they execute it with a new subtlety each time, constantly perfecting it like Jiro Ono the master sushi chef.
02 Fugazi – Life & Limb
I’ve never really listened to Fugazi too much but something began to resonate recently. I guess I got stuck on Minor Threat and lots of other Dischord things, but my girlfriend plays them a lot and it’s something I’m really enjoying at the moment. Two classic songwriters that are the black to the other’s white and vice versa.
03 Vision Fortune – Heavy Saddles
Vision Fortune are fairly new but I think already they have a heaviness, artistically and sonically, that’s very rare. They’re described as psychedelic but any revivalist images that that conjures couldn’t be further from the case. They’re dense like a black hole.
04 Parquet Courts – Master Of My Craft
I’m sure there aren’t many of these lists at the moment that don’t mention Parquet Courts. Again, a band my girlfriend switched me onto. She lived in Austin and knew them through their old band Teenage Cool Kids, who are also and possibly more so, very great. They remind me of Nodzzz, who I think are an absolutely perfect band.
05 Hookworms – Medicine Cabinet
Another great modern band who we can count as friends. A compelling live act, with the intensity of Acid Mothers Temple, their new record – an LP on Gringo – is a force. Could sit alongside anything Comets On Fire did.
06 Harmonia – Watussi
Like the best days, the best songs never get going. They just are. I can’t imagine what it must’ve been like to be in Harmonia… having lunch with Rother, Roedelius and Mobius… did they laugh and joke around? Drink beer?
07 Dean Blunt – XXX
We went to see Hype Williams last year and I think anyone who was there will remember it forever. An absolute experience in every way. I can’t figure it out. Can’t wait to see what they do next.
08 Philip Glass – Koyaanisqatsi
The week after Hype Williams, I went to see Philip Glass perform a live score to ‘Koyaanisqatsi’. I’m still getting over it.
09 Max Richter – Spring 2
From the ‘Recomposed: Vivaldi’ record that came out last year. I’m still impressed that we’re on the same label as Max. An amazingly talented dude and someone I look up to very much. I still feel slightly overwhelmed by classical music but people like Max are a way in for a lot of people.
10 Antelope – Reflector
Underrated and generally forgotten but absolutely incredible.
READ MORE ABOUT: Jack Cooper | Mazes
Wednesday 27 February 2013, 12:21 | By Andy Malt
Approved: Linnea Olsson
CMU Approved
As frontwoman of Swedish alt-pop act Paintbox, Linnea Olsson and her cello were always flanked by a range of sounds to push up against. Her solo work, as features on her debut album ‘Ah!’, places them in much more open territory. Creating layered pieces built by looping her cello, Olsson’s voice is able to ring out and also expose its fragility more so that with her former band.
This Saturday she begins her first ever tour of the British Isles with a show in Dublin, before heading to Bristol on Tuesday and London on Wednesday, followed by gigs in Leeds, Manchester, Nottingham and Glasgow.
Olsson’s new single ‘Never Again’ is available as a free download here, or you can watch the video right here:
READ MORE ABOUT: Linnea Olsson
Wednesday 27 February 2013, 12:20 | By Chris Cooke
Record industry sees slight growth for first time since Napster
Business News Labels & Publishers Top Stories
So good news, people. Revenues generated by the global record industry were 0.3% higher in 2012 than they were in 2011, though if you’re good news averse, that means the recorded music sector is now just 40% smaller than it was in the late 1990s. Party time.
But with 2012 the first year since 1999 (aka the birth of Napster) in which the global record industry saw any improvement in its fortunes, the International Federation Of The Phonographic Industry was in good spirits yesterday morning as it published its rather glossy 2013 Digital Music Report. “It is hard to remember a year for the recording industry that has begun with such a palpable buzz in the air”, said IFPI boss lady Frances Moore.
The continued growth of digital is, of course, key in the albeit nominal revival of the record industry, even though physical music products still account for more revenue overall. The wider digital revenue stream is still growing rapidly partly because many consumers are still only just making the switch to digital platforms, but also because, as the market develops, a greater variety of services are being launched on a greater variety of devices in an increasing number of territories.
Major music services were available in just 23 countries at the start of 2011, the IFPI report notes, and now they are live in more than a 100. Concurrent growth in smartphone and tablet usage – finally enabling the potential of the long hyped mobile music market – has also been key, and, along with the arrival of the internet to the car dashboard, is likely to shape much of the next phase of growth in the digital music domain. Though that said, for all the innovation, for the time being, in the same way CDs still outsell digital overall, iTunes-style downloads still actually dominate in the digital space worldwide.
Nevertheless, the record industry’s tendency in recent years to licence less conventional digital services, and a general appetite in particular to back subscription, ad-based and mobile-centric platforms, has certainly played a big part in the recent maturing of the digital market, and in building a foundation for the future that isn’t based on just one or two major digital partnerships (ie with Apple and Google).
Of course there remain concerns about the long-term viability of some of those alternative (to straight a la carte downloading) services, and a sizable part of the 10% of digital revenues that came from subscription platforms in 2012 was in essence subsidy from the venture capitalists and tech firms currently bankrolling those companies.
But the optimists – of which there seem to be more in the label community these days – hope that if and when these services reach critical mass in terms of user-base (either through organic growth or by merger with similar on-demand telly and movie platforms), then they will become more viable long-term. And if mobile subscription operations can take off in places like Brazil and India, on a global basis there are massive new revenue opportunities for labels that were never available in the CD age.
And in the meantime, with the success of ad-funded platforms like Google’s YouTube and the industry’s own VEVO, coupled with iTunes-style stores that can provide global access to new tunes with minimum effort, there are plenty of new opportunities for labels to generate revenues, and to capitalise on an unprecedented level on short-term pop phenomena – whether that be ‘Gangnam Style’ or ‘Harlem Shake’, or whatever reality show story is pleasing the tabloids today.
So that’s all rather rosy isn’t it? And even if you prefer to focus on the 40% slump in revenues since 1999, it’s worth remembering that the IFPI’s figures relate only to the record industry, and specifically the money generated by the single copyright that exists in any one sound recording.
The burgeoning merch and brand partnership strands of the music industry – of which the labels, especially the majors, are seeing an increasingly large slice – are not included here (which makes the IFPI’s “labels invest 26% of their revenues in A&R” claim a little circumspect, even if you accept the inclusion of marketing costs in the A&R column of the spreadsheet). And, of course, publishing income and the live sector – for established artists, always the bigger cash cow – are outside these stats too.
Though, even if we question the IFPI’s 26% talent investment claim, it’s true that the labels in the main remain the entities that make the serious cash investments into new talent, and new works by existing acts, which in turn drive everything else, which is why the fortunes of the record industry are always of relevance to the wider music business, even if it’s tempting for those elsewhere in the sector to secretly smile when they see the labels they’ve resented for years take a wobble.
And with digital now starting to deliver, not to mention the labels’ newly acquired interests in merchandise and brand partnerships (which the IFPI says it’s considering including in these annual stats at some point in the future), the record industry does seem to have turned a big corner, which is actually good news for the rest of us.
Though we are talking less than 1% growth. And it does remain to be seen if that can be sustained. And Spotify’s about to ask for its royalty rates to be cut. Just as the streaming services reach the car and start competing head-on with the royalty-paying radio sector. And what will really happen when the CD finally dies? Hmm, perhaps the IFPI shouldn’t have wasted so much on printing that very glossy report after all.
No, let’s not end like that. Let’s instead note that, while the UK recorded music market itself hasn’t seen the growth that occurred on a global basis, British music did more than its fair share to drive the worldwide uplift, by providing the two biggest album selling artists (by some margin) of 2012 in the form of Adele and One Direction. Indeed some reports yesterday were spinning these stats as proof that 1D are single-handedly saving the music industry. Though if the future of the entire music business really does rely on One Direction, someone should probably be doing more to protect poor Harry Styles’ balls from his fans’ shoes and bandmate’s microphone.
READ MORE ABOUT: International Federation Of The Phonographic Industry (IFPI) | Napster
Wednesday 27 February 2013, 12:19 | By Chris Cooke
Judge likely to let stripped back Jacksons v AEG case to proceed
Business News Jacksons v AEG Timeline Legal Live Business
The judge overseeing Katherine Jackson’s lawsuit against AEG in relation to the death of her son Michael said she was likely to let the case proceed to court earlier this week, though with its claims and listed defendants likely to be limited a bit.
As much previously reported, the Jackson matriarch claims that AEG, promoter of the ill-fated Michael Jackson ‘This Is It’ London residency, should be held liable for the actions of Conrad Murray, the doctor convicted for causing the late king of pop’s death through negligent treatment.
Mrs Jackson argues that AEG hired and paid Murray, and is therefore liable for his negligence. The live firm, though, insists that, while it paid Murray’s bills, he was hired at Jackson’s request, and managed day to day by the singer himself, meaning the company is not responsible for the medic’s actions.
AEG’s lawyers have been trying to get the case dismissed, but LA judge Yvette Palazuelos said in a tentative ruling on Monday that she was likely to let the claim that AEG was negligent in hiring Murray proceed to court. However, some other claims are likely to be removed from the lawsuit by the judge, and the list of defendants is likely to be reduced as well, to just the AEG Live tour promotions business, taking parent company AEG Inc and its CEO Tim Leiweke out of the mix.
AEG’s legal team welcomed Palazuelos’s comments, adding that they hoped to still persuade the judge to dismiss the entire case. Though, assuming they fail in that bid, the stripped down lawsuit looks likely to reach court in April.
READ MORE ABOUT: AEG | Katherine Jackson | Michael Jackson
Wednesday 27 February 2013, 12:18 | By Andy Malt
YouTube streaming data not coming to UK Top 40 any time soon, says OCC boss
Business News Digital Labels & Publishers
The Official Charts Company will not be following Billboard’s lead in the US and adding YouTube streaming data to the UK Top 40 any time soon, the company’s CEO Martin Talbot has said. As previously reported, the compliers of the main Billboard track chart, who started counting streaming data last year, recently added YouTube stats into the mix too, resulting in the ‘Harlem Shake’ track being catapulted up to the number one spot.
But Talbot told BBC Newsbeat: “[Billboard’s] Hot 100 has never been a purely sales based chart, incorporating data such as radio airplay since the 50s. In contrast, the UK’s Official Singles Chart has been a purely sales based chart ever since it launched in 1952. With singles sales currently at an all-time high following nine years of continued year-by-year growth, there are currently no plans to incorporate streaming information in the UK”.
This echoes Talbot’s comments regards streaming date when he spoke to CMU last year on the singles chart’s 60th birthday. He said: “We are already collecting streaming information from audio services such as Spotify, Deezer and Napster among others. But, at the moment, with singles sales still booming, the time isn’t right at the moment to introduce streaming to the singles chart”.
He continued: “The reality is that the Official Streaming Chart is more languid than the Official Singles Chart (tracks move up and down at a much slower rate) and it also follows a week or two behind, as singles make an impact on the sales chart before they peak in terms of streams. It has, to an extent, been easier for a decision like this to be made in the US, where airplay has long since been part of the Billboard chart formula. But we have always prided ourselves on having a totally transparent chart based on sales and sales alone, pure and uncut”.
READ MORE ABOUT: Martin Talbot | Official Charts Company | YouTube
Wednesday 27 February 2013, 12:17 | By Andy Malt
Justin Timberlake working with Marcus Mumford on Coen Brothers soundtrack song
Artist News
Justin Timberlake has confirmed that he is working with Marcus Mumford (though not his Sons) on a song for the soundtrack of new Coen Brothers film ‘Inside Llewyn Davis’. So that’s a thing I’m sure you’re all excited to hear.
Timberlake told Capital FM: “There’s a Coen Brothers film coming out soon that I was lucky enough to work on with Oscar Isaac and Carey Mulligan. And [I also worked with] Marcus Mumford on the soundtrack, so I became very good friends with them. Marcus and myself, we all kind of worked on the music together, and I don’t know any other world where we would have the opportunity to collaborate like that, but it was so much fun. So not only will that be a great movie, but the music to it will be fantastic”.
READ MORE ABOUT: Coen Brothers | Justin Timberlake | Marcus Mumford
Wednesday 27 February 2013, 12:16 | By Aly Barchi
AlunaGeorge to release Body Music
Releases
Really great news, all… many-times-CMU-Approved R&B/pop act AlunaGeorge’s first LP is finally a thing of reality. They’re releasing it via Island on 1 Jul, and its official name is ‘Body Music’.
That’s all the detail we have at present, bar a play of its first single, the attractively-titled ‘Attracting Flies’, which has an individual release on 10 Mar:
READ MORE ABOUT: AlunaGeorge
