Wednesday 25 September 2013, 10:59 | By Andy Malt

Baron Cohen dropped from Freddie Mercury biopic for being too funny

Artist News

Queen drummer Roger Taylor has spoken about the decision to drop Sacha Baron Cohen from a long in production Freddie Mercury biopic, saying that it was feared that the comedian would be too funny in the lead role.

Speaking to Mojo, Taylor said: “We felt Sacha probably wasn’t right in the end. We didn’t want it to be a joke. We want people to be moved”.

As for why it has taken so long to get the film anywhere near being made, he blamed the culture of the film industry, saying: “I thought the music business was slow, but this has been like swimming in treacle”.

On the subject of the music business being slow, Taylor also spoke about the previously reported collaborations between Mercury and Michael Jackson, which were mooted for release earlier this year.

He explained: “Freddie and Michael never finished the songs, because Queen had to leave LA to go on tour. Brian [May] and I had worked on them, which means they’ll come out as Queen And Michael Jackson – hopefully… If the Michael Jackson estate can get its arse into gear”.

Professor Green postpones tour, LP following car crash

Gigs & Festivals Releases

‘Just married’ MC Professor Green has postponed his new LP and, consequently, has also had to move back his November tour to May 2014. The rapper, real name Stephen Manderson, was involved in a car accident earlier this year see, and so lost a lot of writing/recording time.

Writes Green via his website: “Everything was on schedule and then I was unfortunate enough to end up sandwiched between two cars leaving my health and album/touring schedule in absolute jeopardy”.

He adds: “I want to make the best possible album I can for you all and I want you to have heard the new music so as we can all enjoy the shows how they’re meant to be enjoyed. I could have rushed an album for the sake of making the tour but as I hope you all know I’m in this for the music and am not willing to let it suffer due to a date in the diary”.

Chas & Dave add London date

Gigs & Festivals

‘Rabbit’ chasers Chas & Dave are to play a single intimate date in the capital, so why not go and sing along? The show announcement follows that of the duo’s LP, ‘That’s What Happens’, which is released on 28 Oct in this, their 50th year of fame.

Tickets go on sale this Friday, and the show is on 22 Oct at the Union Chapel.

Stingray announces Universal deal

Business News Deals Labels & Publishers

Canadian digital content firm Stingray Digital, which operates various online, video-on-demand and web TV services, has announced a deal with Universal Music, giving it access to the mega-major’s catalogue of pop promo and live concert videos.

Confirming the deal, Stingray Digital boss Eric Boyko told CMU: “We are very pleased to have concluded this agreement with Universal Music Group. Content of this calibre and from such important artists as those represented by UMG are critical to our various music services. This deal also reflects the importance of our distribution and broadcast channels to UMG’s artists”.

Meanwhile Universal’s Global Digital Business SVP Bill Campbell told CMU: “It’s very important to UMG to provide various platforms through which consumers are exposed to music. Stingray’s properties are proven avenues of discovery and we’re thrilled to partner with a company that has such a wide global reach”.

New report says internet radio expanding audio consumption

Business News Digital

A new research report offers some stats on internet radio listening in the US, defining ‘internet radio’ in a very wide way to include traditional radio services online, Pandora-style ‘interactive radio’ and Spotify-like on-demand streaming services. Indeed one of the most interesting things about the research is the group that commissioned it, the Streaming Audio Task Force, which includes Pandora, Spotify and radio-station aggregator app TuneIn.

The survey of 3000 web users, presented at a New York ad industry conference this week, concluded that internet radio was now the third most popular way that people discover new music (ahead of YouTube and social media), that 32% of internet radio listeners were listening to “a lot” more online radio content now than a year ago, and that 26% said that they were listening to online radio services during time when previously they wouldn’t have listened to any audio at all.

Meanwhile a top level stat reminds us that for all the Spotify-hype, interactive radio services like Pandora, iHeartRadio and, now, iTunes Radio, still dominate in the US market. While 53% of Americans now use some kind of internet radio service, according to the survey, 39% are using interactive radio, 27% streaming traditional radio online, and 18% accessing fully on-demand music services.

As Pandora’s own stats frequently reveal, mobile plays an important role in the growth of internet radio, with 63% of internet radio users owning a smartphone, and of them 83% using said smartphone to access online audio, according to the research.

Larry Rosin of Edison Research, who conducted the survey for the Task Force, told reporters: “The data clearly shows that internet radio is not only a mainstream activity for the majority of online Americans, it’s also essentially expanding the pie for audio media”.

Meanwhile, addressing his advertising industry audience this week, he added: “The advent of mobile listening, and the proliferation of choices for the types of internet audio, have transformed the medium from niche activity to major media channel in under ten years. As such, advertisers should be putting more money into the audio category – because people are filling more of their days with more and more audio”.

See the research findings presented as an infographic here.

Tesco announces Hudl tablet, with Blinkbox access built in

Digital

As expected, Tesco has announced the launch of its own tablet computer, running the Android operating system. Called Hudl, it will be available from 30 Sep at a cost of £119, and will give users instant access to a number of the supermarkets online services, including its Blinkbox music and film streaming service.

The company cites OfCom research stating that only a quarter of UK households currently own a tablet device, and a study Tesco itself commissioned which found that many people “feel that the technology is too expensive or intimidating”. This, the company reckons, puts it in a good position to clean up with its low cost, easy to use device, aiming it at whole family, rather than individual, use.

Tesco Chief Exec Philip Clarke said: “Being online is an increasingly essential part of family life and whilst tablets are on the rise, usage is still quite limited. We feel the time is right for Tesco to help widen tablet ownership and bring the fun, convenience and excitement of tablets to even more customers across the UK. The digital revolution should be for the many, not for the few”.

The company has also published this infographic based on information provided by 1000 Tesco customers who do currently use tablet devices.

NME testing ‘enhanced’ magazine cover feature

Media

NME

The NME is beta testing a new ‘enhanced cover feature’ product – a downloadable expanded version of this week’s cover interview with Haim offering additional content to the print version, including video. Access to the one-off trial is available at a cost of 69p.

It’s the latest effort by NME publisher IPC Media to create a new digital revenue stream, the overall NME audience being at an all time high, but the majority of that being via the free-to-access NME.com website, while circulation figures for the more lucrative NME magazine continue to slump.

The title already offers some premium digital content in addition to the ad-funded NME.com, including various digital versions of the NME magazine. And in 2011, as previously reported, it launched the NME Extra scheme, whereby those who buy the NME magazine get access to extra online content and promotions.

Although the cover interview download pilot is a sign IPC is looking for more ways to monetise NME’s online output, contrary to some reports there are currently no plans to roll out a paywall on NME.com itself, a source close to the publication told CMU.

Buy the digital Haim feature here.

Grimes films video diary

And Finally

As a gift to anyone missing the sight of Grimes, which I for one am, she has released a nice mini video diary featuring Haim, a papaya, Drake, a ‘space cat’, Afrojack and Miley’s giant teddy bears.

It’s shot by James Brooks of Elite Gymnastics, and available to watch online now. And since it’s labelled ‘#1’, it might be the first of many. Yay!

Atoms For Peace release jigsaw

And Finally

Atoms For Peace have made a jigsaw available for sale via their website, featuring artwork by Stanley Donwood, who also painted designs for their album cover and website. And with a price tag of £66.66, even the band themselves have described the 192 piece toy as “possibly the most expensive time wasting device you will see all year”.

Still, since they cut themselves off from any income from their music being played on streaming services, they’ve got to feed their children somehow. On which topic, the product description also warns: “Don’t let kids choke to death on the pieces, etc etc”. No one ever choked on a Spotify link.

The New Mainstream: Internet radio listening in the US infographic

Business News Digital

The Streaming Audio Task Force, which includes Pandora, Spotify and radio-station aggregator app TuneIn, has published a new study on internet radio listening habits amongst US web users, in partnership with Edison Research. Read our full report on the research here, or digest it through the infographic below.

Tesco tablet use infographic

Business News Digital

Tesco has announced the launch of its previously reported Hudl tablet computer on 30 Sep. The company has published this infographic to show how its customers currently use (or don’t use) use tablet devices. Look out for a full report in tomorrow’s CMU Daily.

Q&A: Vanessa Reed, PRS For Music Foundation

Business Interviews Education & Events

At this year’s CMU-programmed Great Escape convention back in May, Arts Council England chief Alan Davey officially launched the Momentum Music Fund, a new Arts Council-funded programme offering funding to artists looking to take the next step in their careers.

The launch of an Arts Council fund for what some dubbed ‘pop music’ created a little controversy, especially after an interview Davey gave to Radio 4, though following the announcement of the first round of Momentum grants earlier this month, supporters of the scheme are confident they will be able to demonstrate the tangible benefits the new programme offers the UK music community.

The programme is run by the PRS For Music Foundation, which also provides a range of other funding for artists and music organisations. CMU Business Editor Chris Cooke spoke to the Foundation’s Executive Director Vanessa Reed to find out more about what the Momentum Fund is aiming to achieve, the kind of projects being funding, and to get some tips for future applicants.

CC: For the uninitiated, what is the PRS For Music Foundation? Where do you traditionally get your funding?
VR: PRS For Music Foundation is an independent charitable foundation which supports the creation and performance of new music across all genres. It was created just over twelve years ago by the board of the PRS For Music – or then the Performing Right Society – who wanted to establish a fair and transparent way to support music across the UK. We aim to be a major catalyst for the development of new music throughout the country.

PRS For Music donates £1.5 million every year to the Foundation. We use this donation to award grants to artists (songwriters, composers, solo artists, bands, ensembles) and organisations (including promoters, festivals and development agencies).

In order for us to do even more for the UK’s music creators and promoters we work in partnership with other funding bodies and music organisations such as Arts Council England, BBC, Creative Scotland, Musicians Union and British Council to deliver specialist funding programmes like Momentum, New Music Biennial, British Music Abroad and Musicians In Residence in China.

Since 2000, we have awarded over £16 million to 4500 new music projects.

CC: So what’s the Momentum Music Fund?
VR: The Momentum Music Fund supports artists and bands who are at a tipping point in their career and have the potential to breakthrough commercially within the two to three years. This means that we’re looking for artists who can demonstrate a strong business case for financial support as well as outstanding musical talent. It’s supporting both artistic and career development.

Launched at The Great Escape in May this year, Momentum’s initial two year phase will distribute just over £500,000 to around 50-75 artists and bands for projects such as recording, collaborating with producers, UK touring, marketing and PR. We’re awarding grants of between £5000 and £15,000. It’s funded by the National Lottery through Arts Council England and PRS For Music Foundation, in association with Deezer.

CC: Why has the Arts Council decided to fund artists in this way?
VR: Arts Council England initiated a comprehensive consultation process with the music community to ascertain the needs of emerging artists building their careers in the music industry. PRS For Music Foundation contributed extensively to this consultation process, bringing our experience of supporting musicians for events such as SXSW and for UK touring and leading development programmes.

The overwhelming feedback from this consultation was that the majority of artists face an increasing demand to be ‘market ready’ before being considered by major labels and that seed funding would help to plug this gap, enabling artists to take more control of their career. Like us, the Arts Council strives to be a responsive funding body so this feedback along with research into music industry funding models overseas, gave us a strong case for ACE to launch a pilot fund which we will be evaluating carefully over the next two years.

CC: What are the key criteria for the funding? How do these vary with other PRS For Music Foundation funding schemes?
VR: In all of our schemes, we strive to identify the point in an artist’s career when our funding would make the most difference.

In our assessment of Momentum applications, we’re looking for artists or bands who already have a team around them (eg a manager, booking agent, PR, plugger etc), have already been performing at least club level shows, have released a recording commercially – either direct-to-fan or via an indie label – and have garnered national and specialist press, blog and radio coverage.

Of equal importance to these criteria is the quality of the artist’s music; it must be original -yes, we do get sent applications from covers bands! – demonstrate excellent songwriting, musicianship and fresh ideas.

Across everything we do at PRS For Music Foundation, it’s all about the music first and foremost, so our Momentum criteria don’t vary greatly from our other funding schemes. However, this fund is specifically targeted at artists who may be further ahead than some of the individual artists we support through our quarterly open schemes. Anyone, who’s just starting out should visit our website and sign up to our mailing list to find out about these other opportunities.

CC: What kinds of things were artists looking to fund in the first round of submissions?
VR: On the whole most of the artists and bands we heard from were looking for funding that would support their next recording or UK tour and associated marketing activities. Some artists had more specific requests such as covering the cost of employing other musicians/producers to realise a particular sound or recording or artistic development including arranging and orchestration techniques.

Several also mentioned how important it is to be able to professionalise their operations – for example by being able to properly pay for quality PR. This is helping some of them to move beyond “mates rates” to higher expectations, a stronger position for negotiation and the opportunity to be taken more seriously

CC: Who decides who gets the grants?
VR: The decisions on who receives Momentum funding are made by an independent panel of music industry professionals working in live, labels (major and indie), publishing, radio and press. To make the process fair, each round of Momentum is assessed by a different panel of advisors. Through our partnership with BBC radio, we also involve a BBC DJ in each panel. Target (1Xtra) and Jen Long (Radio 1) contributed to our first round of panels.

CC: What sorts of things were funded with the first round?
VR: The first set of Momentum-funded artists received grants for recording albums, working with top flight producers, UK touring, marketing, PR and promotions, adding to live show production, working with musicians to further the arrangements of their work and studio time to develop musical arrangement and writing skills.

CC: How will the successful applicants be monitored and feedback?
VR: Each artist will have to complete an evaluation of their supported project so we can monitor the outcomes in relation to their initial aims, objectives and business case. It’s crucial for the future of this scheme that we and Arts Council England understand its impact.

Momentum as a whole is being evaluated for its effectiveness and success by an independent consultant. This evaluation will enable us to look at the extent to which we’re meeting the demand for this kind of funding, the impact it has on individual artists and what this means for future funding policies at PRSF and Arts Council England (and beyond). We expect to be considering the results of our first rounds of funding in early autumn 2014.

CC: What tips would you have for people applying for funding in future rounds?
VR: First, be honest with yourself and ask yourself if you are at the right point in your career for Momentum funding. If an artist does not currently have a team around them there are other routes into funding that PRS For Music Foundation and Arts Council England can offer and this may help them get to the Momentum level at a later stage.

Second, make your business case and budget for the project or activity to be funded comprehensive and watertight. Our panel of advisors need to be able to see that any funding offered to an artist is going to be used as effectively as possible, maximising return on the investment for the artist and for the fund.

And third, ensure you can clearly demonstrate your career and track record to date. Applications are strengthened by good evidence of radio play and press/blog coverage, festivals, showcases and live dates already undertaken. We also need to know about your fanbase so please include numbers, web analytics and social media insights.

CC: Tell us about the Deezer partnership – how does that work?
VR: In our exploration of potential streaming partners for Momentum, we discovered that Deezer immediately connected with our focus on supporting emerging artists so the partnership came together very quickly.

They’ve injected cash into the funding pot so that we can fund more bands, and, together, we will be launching a Momentum Deezer app where you will be able to get the latest news, interviews and tracks from the funded artists. It will be available on the Deezer desktop and to download on Android devices. In the coming weeks we will be announcing another exciting promotional opportunity exclusively for Momentum-funded artists through Deezer. Watch this space!

For more information about the Fund click here.

Approved: Dan Le Sac Vs Scroobius Pip – Gold Teeth

CMU Approved

Dan Le Sac and Scroobius Pip have been off releasing solo albums for the last couple of years. Now back together in their gestalt form, Dan Le Sac Vs Scroobius Pip, they have a new album, ‘Repent, Replenish, Repeat’, out in two weeks, so now is the time to reacquaint yourself.

You should already have stepped back into their world through the album’s first single, ‘Stunner’. Like that track, new single ‘Gold Teeth’, a collaboration with Flux Pavilion, finds them on aggressive form. They may have reinserted that ‘versus’ between their names, but it’s outwardly that they’re baring their (pearly white) teeth. The album itself drops the volume at times, but it’s tracks like these ones that hook you first.

The video for ‘Gold Teeth’ complements its lyrics, imagining what rap videos would look like if rappers were more honest about their incomes. Have a watch here:

MIA comments on NFL dispute

Business News Legal Top Stories

Once MIA’s lawyer went public over his client’s ongoing dispute with the NFL, it was only a matter of time before the lady herself spoke.

As previously reported, it has emerged that the American Football body is still going after the British singer and rapper after she fleetingly raised her middle finger during an appearance at the Superbowl half time show in January 2012. The NFL says MIA breached a contractual commitment to ensure her performance didn’t negatively impact on the “tremendous public respect and reputation” enjoyed by the sport.

Revealing that, even though media-regulators took no action over the finger incident, the NFL has been seeking damages and an apology through arbitration, MIA’s lawyer Howard King told the Hollywood Reporter last week: “The NFL’s claimed reputation for wholesomeness is hilarious in light of the weekly felonies committed by its stars, the bounties placed by coaches on opposing players, the homophobic and racist comments uttered by its players, the complete disregard for the health of players and the premature deaths that have resulted from same”.

In a video message, in which MIA seems to be commenting on the whole thing to someone by phone, she hones in on other elements of the Madonna performance during which the middle finger lift occurred, wondering why it’s her action that is causing controversy. With transcription courtesy of Pitchfork, she says: “The NFL thing is completely ridiculous. It’s been making me laugh for a while, but now it’s so boring I don’t even laugh anymore”.

She goes on: “So the precise moment in question, and you can actually freeze-frame this, as many media outlets have, the frame you’re looking for has my middle finger in the foreground, and the larger picture where it zooms out is a row of ten, fifteen cheerleaders, young black females that Madonna got from a local high school in Indianapolis, and they were all under sixteen. If you look at them, they’re all wearing cheerleader outfits, hips thrusted in the air, legs wide open, in this very sexually provocative position”.

She adds: “So, now, they’re scapegoating me into figuring out the goalposts on what is offensive in America. Like, is my finger offensive, or is the underage black girl with her legs wide open more offensive to the family audience? That’s basically what it comes down to. It’s a massive waste of time, a massive waste of money, it’s a massive display of powerful corporation dick-shaking. They want me on my knees and to say sorry so they can slap me on my wrist. Basically, so they can say it’s OK for me to promote being sexually exploited as a female than to display female empowerment through being punk rock. That is what it boils down to, and I’m being sued for it”.

NFL is yet to comment. It remains to be seen if the now public war of words persuades the football body’s chiefs that this is a PR battle not worth fighting, or whether it just makes them more adamant this dispute should go fully legal.

Bon Jovi’s Tico Torres returns to hospital

Artist News

Bon Jovi drummer Tico Torres has been admitted to hospital for gall bladder surgery, following an emergency appendectomy earlier this month which halted the band’s current tour in Mexico City.

The band restarted that tour at the Rock In Rio festival in Rio De Janeiro at the weekend, with Rich Scannella standing in for Torres until he is given the all clear by the doctors. In a statement, Jon Bon Jovi said: “Tico Torres has been the heart and soul of our band since we started 30 years ago. He’s also one tough SOB and we look forward to him again pounding away brilliantly at the drums on the remainder of this and on future tours”.

Torres himselfadded: “There is nothing that can prepare one for a medical emergency but I have been taken especially good care of and would again like to thank all my doctors and health care professionals. I am very disappointed not to be able to perform but our friend Rich Scannella will stand in for me. You are in good hands. I will be there in spirit and back on stage in soon”.

Pussy Riot’s Nadezhda Tolokonnikova begins hunger strike

Artist News Legal

Pussy Riot’s Nadezhda Tolokonnikova has begun a hunger strike in protest against the conditions at the prison where she is being held.

As previously reported, Tolokonnikova was one of two Pussy Riot members controversially jailed last summer for their involvement in a political protest. Three members of the band were found guilty of ‘hooliganism motivated by religious hatred’, despite condemnation of the prosecution by artists and politicians around the world.

Her bandmate Maria Alyokhina, who is being held in a separate jail, also went on hunger strike earlier this year, accusing prison officials of attempting to turn other inmates against her, and of encouraging some of the more dangerous criminals in the prison to threaten her with violence. For making these claims she was placed in solitary confinement. Her hunger strike ended after a week, when she was hospitalised.

In a long open letter, published in English by The Guardian, Tolokonnikova explained her reasons for going on hunger strike, saying: “This is an extreme method, but I am convinced that it is my only way out of my current situation. The penal colony administration refuses to hear me. But I, in turn, refuse to back down from my demands. I will not remain silent, resigned to watch as my fellow prisoners collapse under the strain of slavery-like conditions. I demand that the colony administration respect human rights; I demand that the Mordovia camp function in accordance with the law. I demand that we be treated like human beings, not slaves”.

You can read her letter in full here.

Godspeed win Polaris Music Prize

Awards

So, the Polaris Music Prize was presented over there in that Canada place last night, and this year the big prize – aka CDN$30,000 – went to Godspeed You! Black Emperor for their album ‘Allelujah! Don’t Bend! Ascend!’ The band say they will use the money to fund music education programs in Quebec prisons.

Godspeed won the Mercury-style award for best Canadian album of the year by beating competition from other shortlisted records by Zaki Ibrahim, Metric, METZ, Purity Ring, Colin Stetson, Tegan And Sara, A Tribe Called Red, Whitehorse and Young Galaxy.

Eurovision rules change to combat vote rigging

Awards Business News

The Eurovision Song Contest has announced a change in its rules to make judging panels more transparent. This comes after allegations of bribery, after Azerbaijan gave the Russian entry no points at this year’s competition.

As previously reported, the President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, launched an investigation earlier this year, after it was claimed that both the public and judging panel had strongly supported the Russian song, ‘What If’ by Dina Garipova, prior to the country’s voting being announced.

Under the new rules, the names of the members of each jury in the voting countries will be announced on 1 May and the scoring of each jury member will be made public after the Eurovision final.

Eurovision’s Executive Supervisor Jon Ola Sand said: “Tighter rules and increased openness are important for the Eurovision Song Contest to build on its success. To make sure participants, viewers and fans know that we have done and will always do our utmost to secure a fair result. These changes show that the Eurovision Song Contest is an ever evolving tradition, which continues to adapt to the spirit of time”.

The next Eurovision Song Contest will be held in Denmark on 6, 8 and 10 May next year.

Mumford & Sons taking “considerable amount of time off”

Artist News

Mumford & Sons want some time off, and so are going to take a breather from doing what it is that they do.

Breaking news of their decision via Rolling Stone, keyboardist Ben Lovett said he had “no idea” as to what the pause’s duration might be, adding: “We just know we’re going to take a considerable amount of time off and just go back to hanging out and having no commitments or pressure or anything like that. It feels like the last week of school right now, before school holiday when you’re in high school”.

He went on to say: “We’re just going to rest up. I don’t think we’ve had actually much time in the process to be with other people and living a life outside of the band. I think that’s what’s in place at the moment, to do very little – especially when it comes to Mumford & Sons”.

Fine by me. Meanwhile this article in the Guardian says more on the matter than I possibly could/would want to.

Madonna’s MDNA tour Blu-ray recalled in US

Releases

Universal/Interscope in the US has announced a recall of the Blu-ray edition of Madonna’s new ‘MDNA World Tour’ film, after an “error in manufacturing” on copies of the disc in the country impacted on sound quality.

In a statement, the label said: “Due to an error in manufacturing that has compromised the 5.1 audio in the US, a full recall of the Blu-ray disc will be issued in the US. No other markets will be affected. We apologise for this inconvenience”.

The issue was raised in the singer’s recent Reddit AMA, in which one user asked her about the problem, suggesting that it had also been an issue on European copies of the release.

Madonna wrote: “I’m absolutely horrified. My label is looking into it… trying to get to the bottom of it. It might be a case of old technology not working with new technology. Please be patient”.

The Kinks’ Muswell Hillbillies re-issue to include unreleased music

Releases

A deluxe, two-disc reissue of The Kinks’ 1971 LP ‘Muswell Hillbillies’ will include a number of previously unreleased tracks, it’s been announced, plus instrumentals, demos and collected excerpts from 1970s BBC sessions with John Peel. And the original tracklisting, obviously.

The new songs include ‘Lavender Hill’, ‘Mountain Woman’, ‘Kentucky Moon’ and ‘Queenie’, whilst an early recording of ‘Nobody’s Fool’ is also included.

Hear ‘Lavender Hill’, which was first released on a bootleg (unofficial, so it doesn’t count) LP, now:

Xiu Xiu adapts Nina Simone classics

Releases

Xiu Xiu’s Jamie Stewart and pals have made an LP of avant-garde takes on tracks by Nina Simone, and will release it via Graveface on 2 Dec.

Says Stewart, who was moved to make ‘Nina’ after talking with Swans’ Michael Gira: “Nina Simone’s singing is way over my head and while I was back stage feeling like I blew it that night, hearing the Swans be amazing and thinking of Nina made me want to not give up. The idea came from wanting to honour her, challenge myself to be better than I think I can be and to say thank you to music”.

One of eleven Simone songs covered on the LP, this is Stewart’s (very breathy) spin on ‘Don’t Smoke In Bed’:

Leona Lewis filming big-screen musical

Artist News

Leona Lewis has been cast in a ‘Mamma Mia!’ style film musical titled ‘Holiday’.

It’s billed as a “classic feel good love story”, and will feature an unoriginal soundtrack of hits like Cyndi Lauper’s ‘Girls Just Wanna Have Fun’, Wham!’s ‘Wake Me Up Before You Go Go’ and, aptly, Madonna’s ‘Holiday’. Lewis began shooting earlier this month, on location in Italy.

Here she is discussing that, and carbs, in a silly clip.

Dan Le Sac Vs Scroobius Pip add 2014 shows

Gigs & Festivals

Having sold all available tickets to a score of shows starting 10 Oct, Dan Le Sac Vs Scroobius Pip have committed to a load of new live dates, all in 2014.

The basis of all this activity is the LP ‘Repent Replenish Repeat’, which the pair will release on 7 Oct, from which their three-way collaboration with Flux Pavilion, ‘Gold Teeth’, is CMU approved today.

2014 tour dates:

19 Jan: Manchester, Academy 2
20 Jan: Edinburgh, Liquid Room
21 Jan: Glasgow, Arches
22 Jan: Newcastle, Academy 2
23 Jan: Sheffield, Plug
24 Jan: Leeds, Stylus
25 Jan: Birmingham, Institute
27 Jan: Cardiff, Solus 2
28 Jan: Exeter, Lemongrove
30 Jan: Oxford, Academy
1 Feb: Norwich, Water Front
2 Feb: Hull, University
4 Feb: London, Koko
5 Feb: Cambridge, Junction
6 Feb: Portsmouth, Wedgewood Rooms
7 Feb: Bristol, Anson Rooms
8 Feb: Bedford, Corn Exchange
13 Feb: Derry, The Nerve
14 Feb: Belfast, Limelight
15 Feb: Dublin, Vicar Street

Liam Gallagher, The Vaccines playing Charlatans’ Jon Brookes night

Gigs & Festivals

Liam Gallagher, The Chemical Brothers and members of The Vaccines and New Order will all play at a charity night dedicated to late Charlatans drummer Jon Brookes.

All takings from the show, which is at the Royal Albert Hall on 18 Oct, will go to The Brain Tumour Charity. Brookes sadly died earlier this year, aged 44, of complications relating to a brain tumour.

Tickets and info at this link.

Confirming his place at the gala, Gallagher wrote last Friday: “Looking 4wd 2 singing 4 the 1 n only Jon Brookes 18th October RAH. Live Forever LGx”.

Ys, snds lk a gr8 nite.

Karenn set new dates

Gigs & Festivals

Hear this techno-philes, Blawan and Pariah are taking their Karenn collaboration on the road relatively soon, playing five GB sets in mid-October and early Nov.

The dates, and a link to download B&P’s first EP at no cost at all, are as printed:

10 Oct: Glasgow, Subclub
11 Oct: Manchester, Warehouse Project
25 Oct: Birmingham, House Of God
26 Oct: Dublin, Twisted Pepper
16 Nov: London, Wapping Studios

And the link.

Hard Rock no longer Calling

Brands & Merch Business News Live Business

Hard Rock International has confirmed that its London-based rockathon, Hard Rock Calling, won’t take place in 2014. Presumably Springsteen can’t make it.

Active annually since 2006, HRC was the result of an alliance between the retro-rock café and Live Nation, and was originally based in Hyde Park, but moved this summer to Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park after Live Nation decided not to compete for the licence to stage music events in the former. It’s not clear if the change in location was behind Hard Rock’s decision to withdraw from the event; perhaps they actually preferred it when you couldn’t quite hear the music.

Following Hard Rock’s announcement, Live Nation issued a statement confirming that it is now seeking a new partner for its ‘Calling’ festival brand. In a Facebook post the live giant wrote: “Live Nation Entertainment notes today’s announcement by Hard Rock International, regarding their decision not to sponsor a rock music event in London in 2014. Following record ticket-demand and audience numbers at festivals this year, Live Nation is exploring new sponsorship partnerships for its highly successful ‘Calling’ franchise”.

The company added: “After six years of rising ticket sales for ‘Hard Rock Calling’, Live Nation intends to build on this popular rock festival event. Further details about venues and timings for 2014 events will be made in due course”.

PledgeMusic launches fan powered vinyl re-issue site

Business News Digital

PledgeMusic has announced a new venture, called Vinyl Vaults, which is to repress out-of-print vinyl releases based on levels of interest from fans. The service is very similar to standalone service Beat Delete, and Universal’s own in house fan-funded vinyl website.

Yet to go live, interested parties are invited to sign up for the Vinyl Vaults mailing list, with plans to offer “items unavailable elsewhere, seven-inch singles which have not been available since they were first released, test pressings, artwork proofs” and more.

More information here.

DHP Family appoints new Head Of Festivals

Business News Industry People Live Business

Live firm DHP Family has announced the appointment of Ali Mclean to the new role of Head Of Festivals.

Mclean, who worked on last year’s Olympics as well as being Event Manager at various festivals in her native Australia, will be charged with increasing the profitability of DHP Family’s existing festival brands, including Dot To Dot, Hit The Deck and Everywhere, as well as looking for new festival opportunities.

Confirming her new role, Mclean told CMU: “To me the UK has the best festivals in the world, and I wanted in, so I made the move, spent a year working on the biggest event in the world, London 2012, and am extremely excited to be working on plans for new and exciting festivals with DHP Family. Watch this space”.

iTunes Radio signs up eleven million users in five days

Digital

There has been much speculation about the viability of Apple’s new iTunes Radio streaming service, but the company has announced that it signed up eleven million users to it in the first five days it was live in the US. This is still a way off the more than 200 million registered users Pandora claims, but is still a significant start and enough to cause Pandora’s share price to slip.

Apple also announced that it had sold over nine million iPhone 5s and 5c handsets in their first three days on sale worldwide, the company’s most successful iPhone launch to date, according to CEO Tim Cook.

In a statement, Cook said: “This is … a new record for first weekend sales. The demand for the new iPhones has been incredible, and while we’ve sold out of our initial supply of iPhone 5s, stores continue to receive new iPhone shipments regularly. We appreciate everyone’s patience and are working hard to build enough new iPhones for everyone”.

Stat fans may also be interested to know that the most popular song on iTunes Radio, as of yesterday, was ‘Hold On, We’re Going Home’ by Drake.

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