Tuesday 26 March 2013, 11:55 | By Andy Malt

Buzzmedia relaunches as SpinMedia

Media

American blog and website operator Buzzmedia has announced that it is relaunching under the name SpinMedia. This follows the company’s purchase of the iconic American music magazine Spin last July, and comes as the firm raises another $15 million of funding.

Although Buzzmedia closed Spin’s print operation after acquiring the mag, bosses seem confident that the brand’s future online is strong. The name-change also better differentiates the company from the ever-expanding Buzzfeed, which officially launched its UK operation yesterday.

The company’s new CEO Steve Hansen, who replaces now Executive Chair Of The Board Tyler Goldman, told CMU: “At our core, we understand how to tap into fan obsessions across pop culture and music through authoritative brands that connect with one in four millenials. Now, we’re strengthening our lead with a completely new technology infrastructure that better serves fans, delivering them compelling content and creating unforgettable experiences that they can consume anywhere, anytime with an unmatched richness and depth. We’re also creating unique advertiser integrations that leverage our brands’ abilities to connect with consumers online and offline”.

He added: “Our mission has never wavered. We indulge our obsessive passion for culture – and invite you to come along. Our users are like us, sharing our passion and thirst for more. That thirst is rarely quenched. There is always a new band, new song, new fashion, new drama. Today’s digital world gives us unprecedented opportunities to connect our audience to the things they love. We believe that the story only begins when the publish button is pushed”.

The company will be split into two divisions, SpinMedia Music and SpinMedia Entertainment. Online brands within the group, other than Spin itself, include Celebuzz, Buzznet, Idolator, Stereogum, Videogum, Hype Machine, XLR8R, PureVolume, Gorilla Vs Bear and Brooklyn Vegan.

Pop Powerlist returns to 4Music

Artist News Media

4Music will again consider who are the most powerful on-stage players in pop this weekend with ‘The Pop Powerlist’, a follow-on from a similar list show this time last year. The 50 most powerful popsters will be presented, based on stats compiled by Media Measurement that consider social media reach, critical recognition, airplay, endorsements and media coverage.

Last year Adele topped the poll. Not sure who’s favourite this time round, though if online pop chatter and download data from this week was included in the mix, it’d probably be PJ & Duncan.

On the poll, Box TV man Dave Young told CMU: “We’re excited to see the return our hit show ‘The Pop Powerlist’. Last year Adele stole the crown, but this year there’s tough competition from the likes of pop royalty One Direction, Rihanna and Beyoncé. Series one was a huge hit with our viewers, seeing a 103% uplift for the timeslot it premiered in. There is a huge appetite to define who the ultimate movers and shakers are in the pop world and ‘The Pop Powerlist’ is the definitive measure of influence”.

Way comments on MCR “ending”

And Finally Artist News

Now, if any of you thought that My Chemical Romance “died” when the band announced their split this weekend, well, you’re sorely mistaken. I mean, “died’, how ridiculous. They clearly “ended”.

Writing poetically (aka pretentiously) about his band’s split, MCR main man Gerard Way took the concept of TwitLonger to its extreme in a long post, in which he remarked: “I woke up this morning still dreaming, or not fully aware of myself just yet. The sun poked through the windows, touching my face, and then a deep sadness overcame me, immediately, bringing me to life and realization – My Chemical Romance had ended”.

He later added that “My Chemical Romance is done”, though quickly added: “But it can never die. It is alive in me, in the guys, and it is alive inside all of you. I always knew that, and I think you did too”.

Writing about what motivated the split of MCR after twelve years together, Way revealed that the need to end it came to him during a live show last May via an inner voice (or possibly a very pesky roadie whispering into the stage monitor). Says the MCR man: “All that was left was the voice inside, and I could hear it clearly. It didn’t have to yell – it whispered, and said to me briefly, plainly, and kindly – what it had to say. What it said is between me and the voice”.

So there you have it. MCR has ended. Well, until the reunion at Coachella 2016 anyway.

CMU Planner – w/c 25 Mar 2013

CMU Planner

A round up of music and music business events happening in the next seven days…

HMV sale. Not the HMV ‘everything must go’ sale that has been going on in various forms in store since the company went into administration in January, but rather the sale of the whole company. Today is the big quarterly rent day, which many assumed administrator Deloitte would see as a deadline by which to have sold off the flagging HMV business. Though latterly it seems the 25 Mar deadline wasn’t as important as previously mooted. Nevertheless, it’s still thought that Deloitte hopes to have got the retailer out of administration by the end of this month, which would mean a sale this week. The most likely buyer is still Hilco, which already owns HMV Canada and controls much of HMV UK’s debt.

Beyonce documentary. BBC One will give Beyonce’s ‘Life Is But A Dream’ documentary its UK premiere at 10.35pm on 28 Mar. The film, directed by Beyonce herself, was premiered on HBO in the US last month, and delves into the behind-the-scenes world of the singer. Reviewers generally agreed that it was a fairly vacuous film, more an advert for Beyonce than a warts and all look at her life, but you’ll probably still watch it, so what does that matter?

JD Roots Live Music Week. The Strongroom bar in Shoreditch is running a special series of gigs this week, from tonight to Saturday, which will showcase the regional winners of the recent JD Roots new band competition, along with some Strongroom favourites. Jack Daniel’s (the whisky brand being the JD in question) will be putting on food and drinks to keep you going. Entry is free, full details here.

Push Play’s Sonia Akow benefit. This club night, put on to raise money for music PR and DJ Sonia Akow’s ongoing treatment for leukaemia, features some big names. Shy FX, B-Traits, Dub Pistols, MJ Cole, Deekline & Ed Solo, Congo Natty, Freestylers, Shut Up & Dance and more will all donate their services for free.

New releases. Releasing new albums that people will likely either say are a “return to form” or complain about endlessly this week are Depeche Mode and The Strokes. Also, Edwyn Collins‘ latest album, moved back from its original release date in January, is out. As are albums by Retro Stefson, Lapalux, Wire, Wavves, Senses Fail and This Is Head. If you want something shorter, Sky Ferreira has an EP out and East Indian Youth becomes the first artist to release a single through The Quietus’s new label.

Gigs and tours. For this month’s Ja Ja Ja Nordic showcase night, the fabulous Fallulah will play what I think I’m right in saying is only her second UK gig ever. You really should go and see her play. Also playing one-offs in London this week are Tyler, The Creator, Foals (well, two shows at Royal Albert Hall, but on the same day), Retro Stefson, Frida Sundemo, Sinead O’Connor and Efterklang (but, shhh, that one’s a secret). Having played one show at the Electric Ballroom in Camden last night, The Weeknd will play three more over the next three nights, and also in residency mode (in Bristol this time) are Grouper. Meanwhile, touring around are Emeli Sandé, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, Beach House, Suede, La Roux and Bo Ningen.

Approved: Anna Von Hausswolff

CMU Approved

It’s not often you hear contemporary albums driven largely by church organ. There was Arcade Fire’s ‘Neon Bible’, but even that only used it a couple of times. I suppose you either need to be very confident or a bit foolish to make it your instrument of choice. Whichever Anna Von Hausswolff is, it paid off, because the Swedish musician’s second album, ‘Ceremony’, is really excellent.

The new long player will be released in the UK on 1 Jun by City Slang. With both atmospheric organ-led instrumentals and songs lifted by Von Hausswolff’s bold, slightly eccentric vocals, it’s not a record it’s easy to come at blind. It is, nonetheless, one that rewards you greatly if you stick with it.

Ensuring that the ground is prepared, the label is pre-promoting the release with second track ‘Deathbed’. Clocking in at almost nine minutes in total, at just before four minutes in it starts stamping slowly along like a giant walking in slow motion over mountains, and it’s almost five before the vocals even start. But, as I say, stick with it and it will reward you in kind.

Listen and download ‘Deathbed’ here:

Anna Von Hausswolff will be supporting Efterklang in the UK next month, as well as playing her own headline show at The Wilmington Arms in London on 22 Apr. Then she’ll be back in August for the Green Man Festival.

For a bit of a quicker route into the Von Hausswolff sound (honestly, no stamina, you people), check out the video for alternative track ‘Mountains Crave’ here:

AEG’s Wembley contract to go to Competition Commission

Business News Legal Live Business Top Stories

AEG’s deal to take over the running of Wembley Arena has been referred to the Competition Commission after an initial investigation by the Office Of Fair Trading.

As previously reported, AEG won the rights to manage the Wembley Arena venue, previously held by Live Nation, late last year. But competitors immediately raised concerns about the new arrangement, mainly because AEG also operates London’s main other arena venue at The O2 complex, meaning the capital’s two most important venues for major entertainment events will be in the hands of the same company.

AEG also now runs the Hammersmith Apollo, of course, one of the bigger theatre venues for the music and comedy industries, and often seen as a ‘stepping stone’ for acts moving from theatre-sized venues to arenas for the first time. The OFT confirmed it was referring AEG’s Wembley contract to the Competition Commission on Friday “due to concerns the merger may substantially reduce competition in the live entertainment venue sector”.

Justifying the decision, the OFT’s Senior Director and Decision Maker in this case, Jackie Holland, told CMU: “The O2 Arena and Wembley Arena are the two largest indoor live entertainment venues in London. This merger would result in a major consolidation of the indoor spaces where large concerts, sports and other shows can be held in the capital and may result in higher costs for promoters to hire suitable venues, which ultimately may be passed on to consumers in the form of higher ticket prices. As such, we believe it is appropriate that the Competition Commission reviews this merger in detail to ensure that the interests of consumers are protected”.

The referral of the deal to the Commission doesn’t necessarily mean the competition regulator will find sufficient concerns to block the arrangement, or to force other remedies, although it has interfered in live entertainment acquisitions in London in the past, forcing Live Nation to offload some of its venues in 2007 when it acquired a sizable slice of the Academy Music Group. But either way, the Commission is likely to take until early September to rule, causing insecurities in the meantime.

Images released of Amy Winehouse statue

Artist News Top Stories

Photos showing the design of sculptor Scott Eaton’s commemorative Amy Winehouse statue have been released online via the Evening Standard. First proposed back in November, the life-sized bronze effigy will, providing Camden Council sanctions it (which it’s still to do), be placed at the Roundhouse in North London, a mile away from the flat in which Winehouse died in July 2011.

The late singer’s father Mitch says he intends to unveil the statue at a memorial gala show in 2014, adding: “The reason why there will hopefully be a statue of her at the Roundhouse is everyone loved Amy. She was a strong girl who had weaknesses. Even the strongest people have them. Amy was a wonderful person, who did a lot for Camden and for kids. She was one of the greatest singers the world has ever known so why shouldn’t we put a statue up?”

Mega chief also plans to sue Hong Kong

Business News Digital Legal MegaUpload Timeline

Because ongoing legal squabbles with just two governments simply aren’t enough for one man, MegaUpload founder Kim ‘Dotcom’ Schmitz is reportedly now planning to sue the authorities in Hong Kong too.

Dotcom, of course, is currently battling efforts by the US government to extradite him from New Zealand to face charges of money laundering, racketeering and copyright infringement in relation to the now defunct MegaUpload business.

Meanwhile the Mega chief has accused the American government of acting unlawfully when it shut down the mainly US-based servers of his former business in January 2012, and concurrently requested that New Zealand police raid Dotcom’s home and that the authorities in Hong Kong raid the MegaUpload offices and freeze the company’s many assets in the Chinese special administrative region.

While fighting various aspects of the American case, Dotcom has also had legal squabblings with the New Zealand government and affiliated agencies about their role in raiding his home, in arresting him and other Mega execs at the request of the Americans, and in spying on his company’s activities before the big January 2012 raid.

But Dotcom reckons the authorities in Hong Kong also acted inappropriately in assisting American prosecutors, and that they too should accept some liability for the collapse of the original Mega company. Dotcom says that prior to the 2012 raid he and his colleagues had planned to float the MegaUpload business, which could have been valued at up to $2 billion at the time, he claims.

According to the South China Morning Post, Dotcom has now said: “We will take the Hong Kong government to court for the destruction of our business, because they acted for the US government when shutting down our business and freezing all our bank accounts. We were in the process of preparing a listing on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange and the valuation of our company was over US$2 billion. Fortunately, the US government will have to indemnify Hong Kong for any damages awarded to us”.

So add yet another strand to the many legal battles of Dotcom, who also somehow finds time in between his various meetings with lawyers to run the all new Mega service, which launched earlier this year.

Live Nation sued over Kiss cannon

Business News Legal Live Business

A Kiss fan has sued Live Nation after being allegedly injured by debris discharged by a cannon during a show by the flamboyant rockers in St Louis, Missouri last year.

William Mueller Jr was already receiving treatment for brain cancer at the time of the show and, in his lawsuit, says that he was injured after the on-stage cannon “exploded and with great force launched a metal ratchet tie-down strap” that hit the claimant, who was standing by his allotted seat at the time.

Noting that Mueller was already in a “weakened and vulnerable condition” because of his illness, the lawsuit says: “[The] defendants owed to [the] plaintiff the duty to exercise the highest degree of care for his safety. [The] defendants’ actions, conduct, or omissions were negligent, negligent per se, or both and were not those of a reasonably prudent person”.

The litigation targets the show’s promoter Live Nation, and doesn’t list Kiss themselves as defendants.

My Chemical Romance split

Artist News

My Chemical Romance have split because, well, why not? Last May the band said that work was about to begin on a follow up to their 2010 long player ‘Danger Days: The True Lives Of The Fabulous Killjoys’, but then all went quiet on that front. Instead the focus fell on a series of double A-side releases dubbed ‘Conventional Weapons’ that featured tracks recorded in 2009, but ultimately dropped in favour of the material that appeared on ‘Danger Days’.

Confirming the split on their website this weekend, the band said as one: “Being in this band for the past twelve years has been a true blessing. We’ve gotten to go places we never knew we would. We’ve been able to see and experience things we never imagined possible. We’ve shared the stage with people we admire, people we look up to, and best of all, our friends. And now, like all great things, it has come time for it to end. Thanks for all of your support, and for being part of the adventure”.

Pregnant Fergie a Black Eyed Pea “4ever”, says Will.i.am

Artist News

So, since R&B wino Fergie is ‘preggalicious’ with a petit pois (aka, a baby) and all, what of her place in the Black Eyed Peas… is it safe?

Well, yeah, it is, says lead Pea Will.i.am, who’s been speaking out against salacious ‘unfair dismissal’ gossip that said he’d been auditioning “aspiring” wannabes to replace the real Fergie while she’s with child.

Says i.am via Twitter: “The rumours on Fergie being replaced are so false”.

“#BEP4ever #fergieROCKS… #family”, adds the hashtag-happy star.

The National name fifth LP

Releases

As you may already be aware, since it was first affirmed last week, The National’s fifth LP, ‘Trouble Will Find Me’, is set to be released via 4AD on 20 May. So there, I hope you’re happy, because I am. Its taping was done at New York’s Clubhouse studio by the band themselves, and mixed by Craig Silvey, Peter Katis and Marcus Paquin.

Vocalist Matt Berninger says: “For the past ten years we’d been chasing something, wanting to prove something. And this chase was about trying to disprove our own insecurities. After touring [2010 LP] ‘High Violet’, I think we felt like we’d finally gotten there. Now we could relax – not in terms of our own expectations but we didn’t have to prove our identity any longer”.

Guitarist/bassist/pianist Aaron Dessner adds: “Our ideas would immediately click with each other. It’s freewheeling again. The songs on one level are our most complex, and on another they’re our most simple and human. It just feels like we’ve embraced the chemistry we have”.

In lieu of a new track, you’ll have to make do with this tracklisting:

I Should Live In Salt
Demons
Don’t Swallow The Cap
Fireproof
Sea Of Love
Heavenfaced
This Is The Last Time
Graceless
Slipped
I Need My Girl
Humiliation
Pink Rabbits
Hard To Find

Deerhunter to release ‘mystery disc’

Releases

Deerhunter have shared a weird spiel re their avant garde new “mystery disc” via an aptly avant garde press release that features talk of “nocturnal garage”, “rat tapes” and “futurist snares”. I’m not 100% on what any of that means, but it approximates to the fact that the band’s fifth LP, ‘Monomania’, will be released via 4AD on 6 May.

Its tracklisting, at least, is (relatively) straightforward:

Neon Junkyard
Leather Jacket II
The Missing
Pensacola
Dream Captain
Blue Agent
T.H.M.
Sleepwalking
Back To The Middle
Monomania
Nitebike
Punk (Le Vie Antérieure)

Little Mix and Missy Elliott collaborate

Releases

Ex-‘X-Factor’ pop sweeties Little Mix have gone and done a collaboration with Missy Elliott, so that’s nice. The girlband’s brand new single, ‘How Ya Doin?’, will feature a “sensational guest rap” by MC Missy, aka one she phoned in from America.

Still, it’s all pretty incredible, or so raves enthusiastic Little Mix-ette Jesy Nelson, who’s said to The Mirror: “We honestly can’t believe that Missy is on our song! She’s been one of our biggest idols forever – it’s incredible. As soon as we thought there might be a chance she’d appear on the track we did literally everything we could to make sure it happened”.

‘How Ya Doin?’ is released on 14 Apr.

Sigur Rós preview new LP, Kveikur

Releases

Unlike the other artists – naming no names (Little Mix, The National, Deerhunter) – in today’s Release News slot, Icelandic band Sigur Rós have provided us with an actual track to go with details of their new album release. Which is nice if, as I do, you like to listen as you read.

Also, to mark the release of their self-made new long player ‘Kveikur’, which, when XL releases it on 17 Jun, will pass 2012’s ‘Valtari’ as the band’s seventh LP to date, Jónsi and co have announced they will play several live dates in November. Which, again, is a nice thing to do.

If you care to, you can gaze at said dates, and the visuals for new ‘Kveikur’ track ‘Brennisteinn’, right away:

16 Nov: Dublin, O2 Arena
19 Nov: Nottingham Arena
20 Nov: Brighton Centre
21 Nov: London, Wembley Arena

Festival line-up update: T In The Park, Bestival, Camden Crawl Dublin and more

Artist News Festival Line-Up Update Gigs & Festivals

It’s Festival Line-Up Update time again, and I’ll go straight to presenting today’s first FLUU; an update via the Camden Crawl’s Dublin-based spin-off, the imaginatively-titled Camden Crawl Dublin. Featured on its official 4-5 May programme are Black Lips, Darkstar, Amateur Best, Gallops and PAWS, whilst Dirty Beaches, Big Deal and Tropics will play at a separately-ticketed pre-Crawl party at Whelan’s on 3 May.

Next, inevitably, is the Killers, Rihanna and Mumford-topped T In The Park, whose latest intake of artists consists of Odd Future’s Frank Ocean, Earl Sweatshirt and Tyler, The Creator, and non-OF R&B star Rita Ora.

And with that, the ever-roving FLUU periscope moves to this year’s sailor-themed HMS Bestival, and the international fleet of new names it’s allowing aboard to mark Fête de la Musique, aka World Music Day, on 7 Sep. Curated by the team at Isle Of Wight festival Rhythmtree, Bestival’s esteemed WMD guests include AJ Holmes And The Hackney Empire, London Afrobeat Collective, Myles Sanko, Muha and Modeste Hugues.

Says Bestival captain Rob Da Bank: “There’s a lot of amazing music in this world and we only really ever hear a tiny amount of it, so I’m really pleased that the chaps from Rhythmtree have put together such a great line-up for our World Music Day. Taking over our solar powered bandstand in the Tomorrow’s World field, all day on Saturday, you’ll be able to sample the delights our planet has to offer from Malaysian mayhem to Ghanaian soul and don’t forget to have a bit of tea and cake from the Women’s Institute while you’re there!”

Talking of tea and cake, have a cuppa and a slice as you take a look at today’s remaining festival additions:

BESTIVAL, Robin Hill Country Park, Isle Of Wight, 5-8 Sep: AJ Holmes And The Hackney Empire, London Afrobeat Collective, The Heritage Survival Band, Lokandes, Little Axe, Airtist, Modeste Hugues, By The Rivers, Muha, Tantz, Myles Sanko, Martin Newnham, Goat Roper Rodeo Band, Cable Street Collective, Mama con Yuka & Amazee, Electric Jalaba, Rabbit Foot, The Ouse Valley Singles Club. www.bestival.net

CAMDEN CRAWL DUBLIN, various venues, Dublin, Ireland, 4-5 May: Black Lips, Darkstar, PAWS, Amateur Best, Prince Rama, We Were Evergreen, Stubborn Heart, Three Trapped Tigers, Gallops, Kid Canaveral, The Pictish Trail, Lanterns On The Lake, Wife, Concrete Knives, PVT, Hounds, Amateur Historians, Croupier, Overhead, The Albatross, School Tour, So Cow, Toby Kaar, VerseChorusVerse, Bantum, Bouts, The Casanova Wave, Cian Nugent And The Cosmos, Cloud Castle Lake, Daithi, Dogs, Elaine Mai, Faune, Fight Like Apes, Forrests, Girl Band, Grouse, Hidden Highways, The Holy Roman Army, Inni-K, Kid Karate, Kool Thing, Le Galaxie, Lemonada, Low Sea, Margie Lewis, Miracle Bell, Mossy Nolan, Nanu Nanu, The Nota, O Emperor, Orla Gartland, Orquesta, Owensie, Peter Delaney, Ships, Skelocrats, Sleep Thieves, Soil Creep, The Spook Of The Thirteenth Lock, Squarehead, Swords, Unwinding Cables, We Cut Corners, White Collar Boy, Yawning Chasm. www.camdencrawldublin.com

DOUR, Plaine De La Machine À Feu, Dour, Belgium, 18-21 Jul: Modeselekor, Phon.o, Shed, Otto Van Schirach, Bambounou, Dave Clarke, Len Faki, Carl Craig, Compuphonic, High Contrast, Dynamite, Roni Size, Loadstar, Rustie, Rockwell feat MC Mantmast, Cyril Hahn, Surfing Leons, Loefah, Sherwood & Pinch, Kahn, Bishop Dust, Downlink, SkisM, Ben UFO, Dusky, Huxley. www.dourfestival.be

GHOSTFEST, Leeds University Student Union, 29-30 Jun: Brutality Will Prevail, Heart In Hand, Polar, Betraying The Martyrs, Monuments, Dead Harts, Broken Teeth, Survival. www.ghostfestofficial.com

GLASTONBURY, Worthy Farm, Somerset, 26-30 Jun: Netsky. www.glastonburyfestivals.co.uk

MEADOWLANDS, Glynde Place, Glynde, East Sussex, 24-26 May: British Sea Power, AK/DK, Apples & Eve, Clowns, Cold Crows Dead, Common Tongues, Early Ghost, Elk, Forestears, Gypsy Disco, Hatful of Rain, Jamie Freeman Agreement, Kovak, Laish, Laurent Garnier, Marika Hackman, Native Roses, Nordic Giants, Rebel Control, Scarecrow, Scarlet Mae, Simonne & The Darks Stars, Small Shipwrecks, Speakeasy 3, Straw Bear, Swing Ninjas, Syd Arthur, Kalakuta Millionaires , The Meow Meows, The Running Dogs, The White Star Liners, The Wytches, Them The Sky, Time Fort, Ty, Vocal Explosion, White Mink Electro Swing Speakeasy, Woodland Blue, Written in Waters. meadowlandsfestival.com

T IN THE PARK, Balado, Kinross-shire, Scotland, 12-14 Jul: Rita Ora, Frank Ocean, Tyler The Creator, Earl Sweatshirt. www.tinthepark.com

WICKERMAN, East Kirkcarswell Far, Dumfries & Galloway, 26-27 Jul: Vukovi, Roman Nose, Vigo Thieves, Fat Goth, Fake Major, TeKlo, Rungs, Honeyblood, Woodenbox, Solareye, Siobhan Wilson, Behold The Old Bear, Young Philadelphia, Flutes, Machines In Heaven, Bears Arms, Kayce One & Toni Smoke, Vasa, The Recovery, Saint Max And The Fanatics. www.thewickermanfestival.co.uk

WILDERNESS, Cornbury Park, Oxfordshire, 8-11 Aug: Martha Wainwright, Sam Lee, The Bees, London Grammar. www.wildernessfestival.com

Restructuring firm takes Blockbuster out of administration

Business News Retail

As we wait with some anticipation for news on Hilco’s bid to buy HMV out of administration, the other British entertainment retailer that collapsed in January – Blockbuster – has been rescued, albeit in a streamlined form.

Restructuring specialist Gordon Brothers Europe has bought the Blockbuster brand in the UK, and reportedly plans to keep a high street network going of about 264 stores (about half of the shops the firm was operating when it went into administration).

However, much of the company’s game and film rental operations will be moved online, where it can better compete with younger competitors LoveFilm and Netflix, with new product lines introduced in store, likely to include digital content devices and music products.

Confirming the deal, Joint Administrator Lee Manning told reporters: “Having identified a profitable core portfolio of stores we are pleased to have achieved this sale for creditors. Together with the previously announced store sales, more than half of the original estate has been secured for ongoing use. This transaction provides Blockbuster with a future in the UK and we owe a special vote of thanks to all the company’s employees, suppliers and customers for helping us rescue the business”.

Former HMV Commercial Director Gary Warren, who was involved in various aspects of HMV’s business before departing in July 2011, has been hired to be MD of the all new Blockbuster UK.

Ex-Anorak staffers launch new PR agency

Business News Marketing & PR

Two more Anorak London staffers have announced the launch of a new PR agency, following the news that Anorak itself will close at the beginning of next month. With directors Laura Martin and Emily Cooper both setting up separate companies, Sarah Richardson and Sinead Mills will join together to create new agency, Bleached.

Richardson told CMU: “The calibre of our roster at launch is testament to what Bleached means to Sinead and I – integrity and quality is at the core of our company, and we are thrilled to be able to offer a service that reflects this”.

At launch, the company’s roster will be: Angel Haze, Battles, Beacon, Bishop Nehru, Blaenavon, Braids, Cave Painting, Forte Bowie, Flume, FTSE, George Fitzgerald, Ghostpoet, Hudson Mohawke, Is Tropical, Johnny Flynn, Lianne La Havas, Marika Hackman, Matthew Dear, Of Monsters And Men, Post War Years, People Just Do Nothing, Plant Plants, Post War Years , SoKo, Story Books, The Ramona Flowers, TNGHT

Find out more here.

Aussie radio firm launches streaming platform

Digital

A new streaming music service called Songl properly launched in Australia last week after a soft-launch earlier in the month, and a beta testing period before that.

It is perhaps most interesting because of its owners, Aussie radio firm Southern Cross Austereo. As the internet reaches the kitchen, bathroom and car dashboard, the rapidly growing but still niche streaming music platforms will start to compete head on with more traditional radio services, making any attempt by traditional radio firms to launch into the on-demand streaming music market interesting. The most notable players in this space to date, of course, have been Clear Channel in the US with their service iHeartRadio.

Southern Cross Austereo has partnered with both Universal Music and Sony Music to launch its proprietary streaming service. The new venture, which will have a subscription offer and a limited free-to-use try-before-you-buy option, hopes to distinguish itself in an already crowded market place by including curated playlists from DJs from its sister radio stations.

Songl boss Mark Shaw told theMusic.com.au, when asked about entering an already crowded market place: “Our position is that, despite the hype, revenues for subscription service are very, very small. There was a report that came out of ARIA that said 0.5% of all music revenue was attributable to streaming, that’s $2 million. That’s not a very large number. So we are coming to the market with a desire to educate the market about streaming, and we can do that because we’ve got media support with SCA and their various assets that we can utilise”.

Aside from all the other competing streaming platforms in the Australian market, Songl will also have to deal with vocal criticism from some key indie labels, after independent music digital rights body Merlin announced it hadn’t been able to do a deal with the new platform. Merlin boss Charles Caldas told Billboard: “Merlin tried to have a discussion with the major label proprietors of Songl to license our music, but they simply haven’t bothered to do so”.

AATW to launch new pop-themed TV channel

Media

Planet Pop

The Universal-allied dance and urban music company All Around The World will launch a new pop music based TV station on the Sky network, it has been confirmed.

AATW, best known for representing artists like N-Dubz and owning various successful dance compilation franchises (and, as of late 2011, for running Universal’s compilations unit), already operates four urban and dance-themed channels on Sky, including the TV spin-off of compilations brand Clubland. The new pop-themed channel, to be called Planet Pop, will replace one of those, Massive R&B, which will have its content absorbed by the new network and AATW’s existing Channel AKA.

The new channel will be led by AATW TV COO Simon Sadler, who joined the company from rival music television operators Box TV (the Bauer/Channel 4 JV) last year. Of the new service, he told CMU: “We’re talking about Katy Perry, Taylor Swift and Will.i.am. Pop is by far the biggest genre, it’s an extremely vibrant area, and it’s still what people want from music TV. Planet Pop will be our big mainstream channel and it is an obvious place for us to head as we build our portfolio”.

Ant & Dec back in iTunes chart after ‘Rhumble’ reunion

And Finally Artist News

Ant & Dec’s ‘Let’s Get Ready To Rhumble’ is at number two in the iTunes chart as we speak after the ITV twosome revisited their CBBC past during this weekend’s edition of their ‘Saturday Night Takeaway’ show as the finale of a musical medley promoting ITV2 series ‘The Big Reunion’.

Confirming, in case there was any doubt, that it’s not just shit pop music from the 1980s that can cash in on the nostalgia circuit, ‘The Big Reunion’ has scored impressive ratings for an ITV2 show, and resulted in a fourteen date arena tour featuring the programme’s stars this coming May.

‘TBR’ acts 5ive, Atomic Kitten and Blue all appeared on the Ant & Dec Saturday night prime time show this weekend before the programme’s hosts donned their PJ & Duncan wardrobe (I’m guessing a few sizes bigger than first time round) for a rendition of their 1994 hit ‘Let’s Get Ready To Rhumble’.

Resulting interest in the track on the Apple download store could see the song chart higher this time round than it did back in the 1990s. I always preferred their track ‘Shout’, though that’s possibly because I was slightly too old to be within the ‘Byker Grove’ generation.

CMU Digest – 22 Mar 2013

Business News Week In Five

The five biggest stories in the music business this week…

01: The Universal Music Group merged Virgin Records UK with Mercury. The first big development on the UK side of the business since Universal acquired the EMI labels last year, the move sees the main British EMI asset that UMG was allowed to keep by regulators, the Virgin label, merged with existing Universal division Mercury, creating Virgin EMI. The new entity will incorporate the existing Virgin and Mercury UK rosters, plus represent over here acts signed to the Universal-owned Virgin and Island Def Jam labels in the US. It’s not yet fully clear what all this means for the staff of the Virgin and Mercury labels, who will be redistributed into two A&R and marketing teams, one called Virgin and one called EMI. CMU report | BBC report

02: The music industry awaited news on the future of HMV. Many commentators have noted that 25 Mar, aka this coming Monday, is the next big quarterly rent day for businesses, the first big rent pay out since HMV went into administration in January. In the ideal world administrators Deloitte would have confirmed a deal to sell the entertainment retailer before that date. That could still happen, though some insiders say the deadline isn’t as important as many in the media have made out, not least because HMV now pays some of its rents on a monthly basis. Despite rumours ASDA was thinking of bidding, it seems that Hilco, which bought up most of HMV UK’s bank debts when the firm went into administration, is still the only serious bidder. Elsewhere a creditors report prepared by Deloitte showed HMV owed £347 million when it collapsed, £237 million of which was to unsecured creditors who won’t see anything back from the administration. Deadline report | Creditors report

03: WPP bought into SFX which bought into ID&T. The mega advertising and communications group said that it was investing in the new EDM-focused music company being built by Robert FX Sillerman because its network of events and websites provided a channel to a “valuable audience for our agencies’ global clients”. Meanwhile SFX confirmed it had taken a 75% stake in Dutch dance music promoters ID&T in a deal thought to be worth $97.5 million. As part of that acquisition, SFX will launch a US version of ID&T’s flagship event Tomorrowland. WPP report | ID&T report

04: An Amazon streaming service was rumoured, while eMusic merged with an ebook company. Word has it that Amazon is now also in talks with labels about launching a streaming music service to sit alongside its existing MP3 store and digital locker, or possibly its film-on-demand platforms LoveFilm and Amazon Instant. Apple and Google, of course, are also thought to be developing streaming services in either a Pandora or Spotify mould, with Apple already notably including full-album preview streams within the iTunes platform with increased frequency. Elsewhere, one of the oldest digital music companies, eMusic, which has moved away from its original ‘subscription download’ model of late, announced a merger with ebooks firm K-NFB Reading Inc and the resulting departure of its CEO Adam Klein. It’s thought the merged entity, to be called Media Arc, will develop a combined music and ebooks platform. Amazon report | eMusic report

05: An EU report played down the impact of piracy, but the IFPI did not concur. The report by the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre said that “digital music piracy does not displace legal music purchases in digital format”, mainly because most file-sharers wouldn’t have bought the tracks they downloaded illegally had they not been available for free via file-sharing networks. Not only that, the report said, the existence of file-sharing networks has resulted in more people going online to find music, which benefits legit as well as unlicensed music platforms. The International Federation Of The Phonographic Industry said “the findings seem disconnected from commercial reality”. EU survey report | IFPI response report

In CMU this week, we found out from Ben Watt why he is winding down his label Buzzin Fly and about his plans for the future, Retro Stefson compiled us a playlist, and Editor Andy Malt reviewed some of the most recent pop-star/brand love-ins. Meanwhile CMU Insights provided an overview of how music makes money in 2013, as well as announcing some new training courses. Approved in CMU quarters this week were Mutya Keisha Siobhan, Beyonce, Mt Wolf and Dark Bells.

CMU Beef Of The Week #150: Sub Pop v Derek Erdman

And Finally Artist News Beef Of The Week

Hey, it’s the 150th Beef Of The Week, and thank the good lord of unnecessary arguments, it’s a good one. Even though it may not be exactly as it at first seems.

Earlier this week, Seattle-based label Sub Pop delved into its mail bag and pulled out a complaint about the new Father John Misty album ‘Fear Fun’. The grievance was not with the music on the album itself – “I enjoyed listening to the CD” the author, named only as ‘Helen’, noted in a PS – but with its artwork.

“I think you went overboard with the art design for the CD”, began Helen. “Not putting any name on the [actual] CD is lame. My friend unloaded the player, it got mixed up and then the CD sat out getting dusty … Think about it. I had to write the name [of the album on the CD] in my sloppy handwriting”.

Shit, man. That’s not all though. Helen continued: “More cutesy were the inserts; rambling on and on. I read books. I listen to music CDs. I do not read stuff inside CD packages”.

Being compassionate types, someone from Sub Pop’s customer services team, Derek Erdman, got straight onto the matter, writing a response that was also posted to the label’s website, telling Helen that all in the office were “disappointed that you’re disappointed”.

“We thought long and hard about your dilemma and couldn’t come up with a better solution than yours”, continued Erdman. “Writing on the CD is the most efficient way to discern it from others, we applaud your ingenuity! We were hoping that you wouldn’t mind if we suggested this idea to others who are having the same problem. If you’ve patented the idea, we’ll be happy to forward the proper paperwork to pay you for our use of the idea. Let us know what fee you’re comfortable with”.

He added: “In regards to all of the pesky, unwanted information on the CD sleeve, we’ve included a handy cover sheet to place over any words that you don’t want to look at while listening. It might seem that it’s just a piece of paper, but it’s rather opaque and should serve as a soothing emotional blanket. In fact, I’m using one right now”.

Now, some of you might possibly have noticed the, erm, slightly sarcastic tone in Erdman’s response. If you did, you may be one of the people who, upon reading it, were up in arms about it. How could a company treat fans of its work in this way? So Helen might be an idiot, is that her fault? Does she deserve to be publicly mocked for it? Many thought not, including – or so we were told as the story developed – the top dogs at Sub Pop.

Later the same day, the company’s Director Of E-Commerce Sam Sawyer wrote a new blog post apologising for Erdman’s earlier conduct, adding that rather than being a key member of the label’s customer service’s department, he was the new receptionist who had only joined the company that day.

“The only course of action we could reasonably take was to terminate the employee immediately”, wrote Sawyer. “Though he’ll have the distinction of being the shortest (in more ways than one! (he’s tiny)) Sub Pop employee, he’s also aware of what he’s done wrong and that he shouldn’t be proud of himself. To avoid a situation like this in the future, we’re currently taking steps to make sure we don’t hire this type of person again”.

In addition to this, and the posting of a picture of Erdman looking rather sad as he stood by a lift that would take him back down to street level for the very last (and possibly first) time at Sub Pop HQ, the company posted a full transcript of his exit interview. Opening question: “In your cover letter, you mentioned ‘numerous’ positions in your employment history where you dealt firsthand with customer service. You failed to mention you were such a dick. Why?”

Quoting Erdman himself, the post revealed how he had been “ecstatic” to get a job at Sub Pop and was now worried “how I’m going to tell everybody that I didn’t even last a full day”. He then apologised for his conduct, saying: “I can’t even make sense of what happened. I mean, I want to defend myself, but people seem really angry over this. I got a personal email from a person claiming that I ‘ruined the integrity of Sub Pop’. I feel just awful about this”.

So there you have it. With the sacking, we can only hope that the integrity of Sub Pop has been saved. And that Derek Erdman has seen the error of his ways. Certainly this whole affair goes to show how people power can make the world a better place. A man said a thing on the internet, and now he has no job, which can only be a good thing. Good work outraged people.

Of course, anyone who has ever had any sort of communication with Sub Pop will likely have smelt a rat already – particularly any bands who sent demos to the company in the 90s, only to receive the infamous “Dear Loser” rejection letter in return. Also, some of you might be aware of the Seattle-based artist Derek Erdman who has a long association with Sub Pop.

Presumably it wasn’t the people already aware of Sup Pop’s sarcastic tendencies who were outraged by the original post. Let’s hope not, because those outraged folks have no sense of humour. However, if reading about all of this here has caused you to become outraged, I wholeheartedly apologise and will fire myself immediately.

Approved: Push Play – Sonia Akow benefit at Egg

Club Tip CMU Approved

A huge line-up of beats and bass music DJs and artists, including Shy FX, B-Traits featuring Elisabeth Troy, Dub Pistols, MJ Cole, Deekline & Ed Solo, Congo Natty, Freestylers and Shut Up & Dance, donate their services for free at a massive Push Play benefit event next Thursday at Egg London.

The night has been set up in support of Sonia Akow, a music PR and DJ from London, also known as Soto, who was diagnosed with Leukaemia last year (something Eddy TM recently wrote about in his CMU column). All money raised via the night will be split between The Anthony Nolan Trust and a fund to pay for Sonia’s ongoing treatment and care.

As well as raising funds, the night aims to raise awareness about stem cell donors, who are needed to help save Sonia’s life, and those of others out there like her in dire need of help. The call goes out particularly to younger adults with mixed white, Chinese, Black Caribbean and Indian ancestry, as there is currently a shortage of donors from these ethnic backgrounds. Joining a donor register may sound daunting, but all you have to do is fill in a short form and then provide a saliva sample; click here to read a full description of what’s involved. I’ve been signed up to the Nolan register since my college days. Once on the system you could end up being called upon to help save someone’s life.

From the saving onto the raving, and the line-up for next Thursday’s benefit is comparable to many dance festivals. Also rocking the joint with incredible bass-quaking sounds will be A-Skillz, Tayo, Atomic Hooligan, Shut Down & The Ragga Twins, Rennie Pilgrem, Lawgiverz, Rack N Ruin, The Moody Boyz, Backdraft, Pyramid, Hempolics, Astro Duo and Paul ‘Trouble’ Arnold Vs Carl Loben and more. A cracking line up across four rooms for a very good cause.

Thursday 28 Mar, Egg, 200 York Way, Kings Cross, London, N7 9AX, 10pm-6am, £10-£20, more info here.

IFPI calls EU report on piracy “flawed” and “deeply misleading”

Digital Top Stories

No surprises here really, the International Federation Of The Phonographic Industry earlier this week issued a strong rebuttal of the previously reported piece of research by the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre which concluded that “digital music piracy does not displace legal music purchases in digital format”.

The JRC survey was based principally on so called ‘clickstream data’, monitoring how some 16,000 web-users in five EU countries consume web-based content. The report reckoned that most music illegally accessed online would simply not have been consumed had it not been available for free from unlicensed sources, so content acquired that way does not actually constitute a lost sale.

There has been a plethora of research over the years on the effects of internet piracy on music sales, some concluding a definite link between rising piracy and slumping recorded music revenues, others arguing file-sharing doesn’t negatively impact on the record industry.

The reality is probably something in between – clearly file-sharers would never have paid to buy the majority of the music they have downloaded for free had that not been an option, but the ready supply of free music from illegal sources online will likely result in some lost download sales, while also hindering all-you-can-eat streaming services.

The failure of the JRC research to even consider the impact of piracy on the burgeoning streaming music market is one of the IFPI’s biggest criticisms, claiming that the report’s much reported conclusion that piracy isn’t detrimental to the record industry is highly misleading as a result.

Commenting, IFPI boss Frances Moore told CMU: “The study contains significant flaws and is therefore misleading in its conclusions about the impact of piracy. In particular, it uses a methodology that does not accurately measure digital music purchases and, very importantly, it omits from its assessment the impact of piracy on subscription and streaming services. Most research confirms a very different picture, which is that piracy overall has a negative impact on the legitimate music business”.

The trade body also wheeled out Will Page, former PRS economics man, and now working for one of the key players in the streaming market, Spotify, who was even more critical of the JRC report. He told reporters: “The narrow definition of the market chosen by [this report’s] authors is both puzzling and deeply misleading. In particular, the omission of streaming services from the study fails to appreciate the diverse make-up of the digital marketplace. As a result, the unfair competition that legal streaming services face from music piracy is not properly acknowledged by the authors – and moreover, the report fails to observe how consumers can migrate from illegal services into legal venues like Spotify”.

Although the JRC report didn’t make any specific recommendations policy wise to the European Commission, some at labels and streaming services fear it provides ammunition for those who oppose new anti-piracy measures in Europe. You can read the IFPI’s rebuttal, and the trade body’s summary of other research that counters the JRC report, in this PDF.

Bow Wow refusing to pay French pornstar

Business News Legal

Rapper Bow Wow has said that he will not pay $80,000 in damages and legal fees to French pornstar Celine ‘Katsuni’ Tran, despite a court order issued earlier this week.

As previously reported, Tran claimed that Bow Wow had used, without permission, footage of her dancing, originally shot for a video for French band Electronic Conspiracy, in the pop promo for “his track” ‘Drank In My Cup’ last year. Not owning the copyright to the original video, she sued on publicity right violation grounds.

As Bow Wow failed to respond to the lawsuit, the judge overseeing the case automatically ruled in Tran’s favour, ordering the rapper to pay her $79,346.07. However, he now says he won’t pay, disputing the lawsuit on two grounds. First, ‘Drank In My Cup’ is not his song, but was released by another rapper called Kirko Bangz. And second, neither he nor Bangz created the video in question, it being – he says – a mash up made by a YouTube user.

Posting on Facebook, Bow Wow said: “Yo! That dumb ass pornstar chick who ever she is ain’t getting a dime from us! We ain’t make no video. That video was mashed up by somebody on YouTube and I reposted cuz it was dope. People mash up artist videos all the time online. Everybody looking for a hustle. Then they [try to] say ‘Drank In My Cup’ is my song. That ain’t my song, you dumb broad! Get a life. I don’t play dem games. Niggas work too hard to give away free money”.

Bow Wow does seem to have a more formal link to the track ‘Drank In My Cup’ than he suggests, in that a remix of it was doing the rounds in which he guested, which was presumably the version used in the video in question. Nevertheless, his arguments against his liability for the video – if true – seem pretty compelling. Perhaps he should have said all that in court when he had his chance. Though maybe not quite in those words.

Morrissey advised to quit music after latest hospital stay

Artist News

Morrissey has spoken about his recent health problems with Mexican radio station Reactor 105.7, saying that while he’s “had a very bad time” recently, he’s now “very optimistic” that he’s on the road to recovery.

As previously reported, Morrissey has suffered various health complaints since the beginning of the year, which have resulted in numerous hospital stays and many cancelled shows on his US tour. Speaking to the radio station, the singer said: “I had a very bad time. I had internal bleeding and I was rushed into hospital and I had lost a lot of blood. They tried to patch me together over the following five weeks but it didn’t work. I was on lots of IV drips for almost five weeks and each time it seemed as though I was back to robust health I would decline… I had lost so much blood I had become anaemic but I’m still receiving ongoing treatment and I am very optimistic now”.

He continued: “It almost became absurd the number of things that happened to me but everything just attacked me at once. The double pneumonia – everything was really a result of the fact I had lost so much blood, so the immune defences were very, very low and couldn’t cope with anything, so therefore the slightest gust of wind and I would have a terrible cold”.

Asked if he might retire from music as a result of all these health problems, he said: “I have been cautioned to, but it’s difficult for me because it’s very ingrained in me”.

Madonna ‘teases’ secret vid thing

Releases

So, Madonna is in training to release a ‘SECRET PROJECT’ and, since it’s so secret, all I can say for certain is that it has something to do with optometry, as per the ‘OFFICIAL TRAILER’ below.

Whatever the project may be, it involves a collaboration with Madge’s go-to-visual-artiste, photographer/videographer Steven Klein. So, that’s nice.

Jason Molina discography placed online

Releases

Following his sad death last weekend, the discography of late Magnolia Electric Co and Songs: Ohia man Jason Molina’s has been made available to hear online.

It features free streams of all the EPs, seven-inch singles, rare tracks and LPs Molina made, both solo and as part of various bands and collaborations, between 1996 and 2012.

Listen via this link.

Swim Deep to release heavenly LP

Releases

Dip-dyed pop types Swim Deep, they of ‘nouveau grunge’ fame, are going to release their first ever LP via Chess Club and Sony’s RCA Victor on 29 Jul, and its title is ‘Where The Heaven Are We’.

They’ll promote it by playing festivals (Stockton Calling, Liverpool Sound City, Live At Leeds, Dot To Dot and The Great Escape) and, in addition, a series standard live dates starting at Edinburgh’s Cabaret Voltaire on 27 May.

The band’s new single ‘She Changes The Weather’ precedes ‘Heaven’ with its own 6 May release. Give it a play now:

Tuesday 26 March 2013, 11:55 | By Andy Malt

READ MORE ABOUT: Buzzmedia | Spin | SpinMedia

Tuesday 26 March 2013, 11:54 | By Chris Cooke

READ MORE ABOUT: 4music | Pop Powerlist

Tuesday 26 March 2013, 11:53 | By Chris Cooke

READ MORE ABOUT: Gerard Way | My Chemical Romance

Monday 25 March 2013, 11:42 | By CMU Editorial

READ MORE ABOUT: Beyonce | HMV | Jack Daniel's | JD Roots | Push Play | Sonia Akow | Strongroom

Monday 25 March 2013, 11:41 | By Andy Malt

READ MORE ABOUT: Anna Von Hausswolff

Monday 25 March 2013, 11:40 | By Chris Cooke

READ MORE ABOUT: AEG | Competition Commission | OFT | Wembley Arena

Monday 25 March 2013, 11:39 | By Aly Barchi

READ MORE ABOUT: Amy Winehouse | Mitch Winehouse

Monday 25 March 2013, 11:38 | By Chris Cooke

READ MORE ABOUT: Kim Dotcom | Mega | MegaUpload

Monday 25 March 2013, 11:37 | By Chris Cooke

READ MORE ABOUT: Kiss | Live Nation | William Mueller Jr

Monday 25 March 2013, 11:36 | By Aly Barchi

READ MORE ABOUT: My Chemical Romance

Monday 25 March 2013, 11:35 | By Aly Barchi

READ MORE ABOUT: Black Eyed Peas | Fergie | Will.i.am

Monday 25 March 2013, 11:34 | By Aly Barchi

READ MORE ABOUT: The National

Monday 25 March 2013, 11:33 | By Aly Barchi

READ MORE ABOUT: Deerhunter

Monday 25 March 2013, 11:32 | By Aly Barchi

READ MORE ABOUT: Little Mix | Missy Elliott

Monday 25 March 2013, 11:31 | By Aly Barchi

READ MORE ABOUT: Sigur Rós

Monday 25 March 2013, 11:30 | By Aly Barchi

READ MORE ABOUT: Bestival | Camden Crawl Dublin | Dour Festival | Ghostfest | Glastonbury Festival | Meadowlands | T In The Park | Wickerman Festival | Wilderness

Monday 25 March 2013, 11:29 | By Chris Cooke

READ MORE ABOUT: Blockbuster | Gordon Brothers Europe

Monday 25 March 2013, 11:28 | By Andy Malt

READ MORE ABOUT: Anorak London | Bleached Communications | Sarah Richardson | Sinead Mills

Monday 25 March 2013, 11:27 | By Chris Cooke

READ MORE ABOUT: Songl | Sony Music | Southern Cross Austereo | Universal Music

Monday 25 March 2013, 11:26 | By Chris Cooke

READ MORE ABOUT: AATW | All Around The World | Planet Pop | Sky

Monday 25 March 2013, 11:25 | By Chris Cooke

READ MORE ABOUT: Ant & Dec | PJ & Duncan | The Big Reunion

Friday 22 March 2013, 12:36 | By Chris Cooke

READ MORE ABOUT: Amazon | eMusic | European Commission | HMV | ID&T | International Federation Of The Phonographic Industry (IFPI) | Mercury Records | SFX Entertainment | Universal Music | Virgin EMI | Virgin Records | WPP

Friday 22 March 2013, 12:35 | By Andy Malt

READ MORE ABOUT: Derek Erdman | Father John Misty | Sam Sawyer | Sub Pop

Friday 22 March 2013, 12:34 | By Paul Vig

READ MORE ABOUT: Push Play | Sonia Akow

Friday 22 March 2013, 12:33 | By Chris Cooke

READ MORE ABOUT: EC | Frances Moore | International Federation Of The Phonographic Industry (IFPI) | JRC | Will Page

Friday 22 March 2013, 12:32 | By Andy Malt

READ MORE ABOUT: Bow Wow | Celine Tran

Friday 22 March 2013, 12:31 | By Andy Malt

READ MORE ABOUT: Morrissey

Friday 22 March 2013, 12:30 | By Aly Barchi

READ MORE ABOUT: Madonna

Friday 22 March 2013, 12:29 | By Aly Barchi

READ MORE ABOUT: Jason Molina

Friday 22 March 2013, 12:28 | By Aly Barchi

READ MORE ABOUT: Swim Deep