Thursday 28 November 2013, 12:04 | By Chris Cooke

Lots of BRITs gubbins

Artist News Awards

So, what did we learn about the BRIT Awards from the short essay the event’s organisers emailed over earlier today?

Well, ITV has signed up to broadcast the show for another three years. Mastercard will continue to pump in lots of cash for another three years. And AEG’s big fat Dome-by-the-Thames will continue to host the annual backslapping bash for another three years.

And as for BRITs 2014, James Cordon will host, again, but for the last time, so that’s some good news. The Arctic Monkeys and Katy Perry will both sing a song each, employing all their many vocal skills I’m sure. The actual awards have been designed by Irish hat man Philip Treacy, and look a bit (exactly) like this. No word yet on whether everyone attending this year will have to wear a special BRIT Awards hat like the one on the trophy. I do hope so.

As you can imagine, with all that info slipping out in one go, the press release sent out by BRITs HQ today had more than it’s fair share of quotes in it. But all eight people quoted basically said something along the lines of “Hurrah for the BRITs, boom!”

Roll on February.

R Kelly on-call via Black Panties hotline

And Finally Artist News

Hold on to your hats (and pants), R&B-lovers, because for any of you who thought R Kelly’s forthcoming LP, ‘Black Panties’, couldn’t go any more gross, it has, so… sorry.

So. R’s only gone and launched a Black Panties Hotline which, if fans call it (on 312-380-6596), gives them the option to sign up to receive eight “messages” (‘sexts’ seem quite likely) from Camp Kelly over a month.

Though, as Complex reports, having dialled the number, on hanging up you’ll apparently be sent an automated text message asking if you might change your mind about subscribing, with the sign-off “consent is not required”. Which all sounds like R is going with the Robin Thicke school of ‘seduction’. Not good.

Aaanyway, ‘Black Panties’ is released, whether we like it or not, on 9 Dec.

The 2014 BRIT Awards trophy, designed by Philip Treacy

Awards

Approved: Keel Her – Don’t Look At Me

CMU Approved

Whilst she surely merits some kind of ‘best in class’ prize for the sheer size of her release index to date, it’s high time the world came to look at Rose Keeler-Schäffeler, aka Keel Her, from a POV of quality, not just quantity. In particular because she’s at last going to release her first LP, a shade later than her label estimated last year, in February 2014.

Featuring a dirtier do-over of past seven-inch ‘Riot Grrrl’ plus a guest spot from R Stevie Moore – who plays bass on his own mix of her LP track ‘I’d Be Your Slave’ – ‘Keel Her’ the album is led by first single ‘Don’t Look At Me’, which passes in a pinkish mist of lightly-whipped vocal licks and gooey guitars. All things you can see, hear, taste and the rest when Keel Her play London’s Power Lunches tomorrow night.

But first, this is the actual song:

Lostprophets’ Ian Watkins pleads guilty to child sexual abuse charges

Artist News Legal Top Stories

Appearing in court in Cardiff yesterday at the start of formal proceedings in his trial for sexual offences, former Lostprophets frontman Ian Watkins changed his plea at the last minute to guilty on thirteen on the 24 charges against him. He had previously “furiously denied” all of the charges, claiming he had been set up.

As previously reported, Watkins was arrested last December and has been held in custody awaiting trial ever since along with two female accomplices, as it turns out the mothers of the two child victims, which means they cannot be named. Amongst the charges Watkins admitted to were two counts of attempting to rape an eleven month old baby and conspiring to rape another similarly aged child. His co-defendants, seemingly fans of Watkins’ band, admitted to sexually abusing their own children at the musician’s behest.

Described as “a determined and committed paedophile” by prosecutor Christopher Clee, Watkins also admitted to sexually assaulting a child under the age of thirteen, aiding and abetting a female co-defendant to sexually assault a child under the age of thirteen, various charges of possessing, taking and distributing indecent photographs of children (dating back as far as 2007), and possessing “extreme pornography” involving a person and an animal.

Speaking on his behalf, the singer’s barrister, Sally O’Neill QC, said that her client insists that he “cannot remember” attempting to rape the baby, being under the influence of drugs at the time, though it was the conclusion of a series of similarly sinister activities that he did seem to recall orchestrating. Evidence amassed by prosecutors included messages sent between him and a co-defendant referring to past activities with Watkins concluding that he now wished to “cross the line”.

The key piece of evidence in the case, though, was harrowing video footage of the attempted rape Watkins claimed to not remember, discovered by police in a cloud storage account operated by the singer. Prosecutors accepted Watkins’ guilty plea for attempted rather than actual rape, conceding that it wasn’t clear from the video footage what exactly occurred during the incident, while noting that, given the scale of the crime, whether the attempt was successful or not was almost irrelevant.

The prosecution also admitted that concerns about the impact the footage could have on the trial’s jury had been taken into account when they decided to accept Watkins’ guilty pleas, and to not proceed with the case in a bid to pursue the other specific charges made against the singer.

Describing the actions of Watkins and his co-defendants as “the most shocking and harrowing child abuse evidence I’ve ever seen”, DCI Peter Doyle of South Wales Police said in a statement: “There is no doubt in my mind that Ian Watkins exploited his celebrity status in order to abuse young children. Today’s outcome ensures that the three people responsible have been brought to justice”.

He added that the investigation into Watkins will continue, as police “work tirelessly to identify any other victims or witnesses and seek the justice they deserve”.

The other members of Lostprophets have sensibly made few comments about the charges against their former bandmate since he was first arrested, except to tell fans that they were learning about Watkins’ crimes at the same time as the wider public, and later to confirm that they did not intend to continue recording or performing under the Lostprophets name. Though, after yesterday’s court proceedings, the band’s guitarist Lee Gaze expressed relief on Twitter that the matter had been resolved much more quickly than expected.

Gaze tweeted: “That was over quick. Thank fuck”. He added later: “Thanks for the kind words. At least there is closure now”.

All three defendants will be sentenced on 18 Dec.

Pandora reportedly drops bid to reduce royalty payments

Business News Legal

Pandora has given up on attempts to convince the US government to pass new legislation to reduce royalty payments for online broadcasters, according to Billboard.

AM and FM radio broadcasters in the US are not obliged to pay royalties for the sound recordings they play (though they do pay money to the music publishers for the rights in the songs). However, satellite and online radio-style services are obliged to pay the labels, but can do so through the Sound Exchange collective licensing system with rates set by statute.

Though because of the way it was all set up, satellite radio – ie Sirius XM – pays lower rates than online services. And to that end, Pandora has been busy campaigning in Washington for a change to the rules, so its royalties would be more in line with what Sirius pays. Though that activity, coupled with other legal shenanigans to cut down what it pays the collecting societies that represent the music publishers, has proven a little controversial in the music and artist community.

It may well be the bad press surrounding Pandora’s support for the so called Internet Radio Fairness Act that has persuaded the policy change at the digital firm, though it doesn’t mean the company has given up trying to get its royalty obligations reduced.

But, according to Billboard, rather than lobbying Congress for a change in the law, it seems Pandora will now focus its efforts on the Copyright Royalty Board, the panel that sets the aforementioned statutory royalty rates. Those are due to be reviewed in 2015, and it seems Pandora hopes that it can persuade the all important judges to bring its royalty obligations down.

Pandora wasn’t the only online music service lobbying for the Internet Radio Fairness Act, though it was its biggest advocate, so much so most people seem to think that those proposals will now fall off the agenda completely on Capitol Hill.

Especially as the two other big players in the personalised radio space in the US – Clear Channel and Apple – are busy negotiating deals directly with the labels, circumventing the statutory licensing system completely (something Pandora hasn’t ruled out trying itself). The boss of record label trade body RIAA therefore noted that Pandora’s change of heart on this issue was “a historic moment” for the music industry.

Pirate Bay founder faces new litigation in relation to Russian file-sharing site

Business News Digital Legal

So, perhaps it’s just as well Pirate Bay founder Gottfrid Svartholm is in prison, it means he has more time to focus on his ever mounting legal woes.

As previously reported, Svartholm was one of the three Pirate Bay founders prosecuted in Sweden for their role in setting up and operating the controversial file-sharing website. He went AWOL after being sentenced to a year in jail for the copyright infringement TPB enabled, and in doing so lost the right to appeal that ruling (though his fellow founders ultimately failed to overturn the judgement anyway, but did get their jail terms reduced).

Svartholm was eventually extradited back to Sweden last year after being accused of various hacking crimes, and has been in jail ever since, partly serving the TPB sentence, and partly because of the hacking charges, some though not all of which were upheld in court. He also faces separate allegations that he was involved in the hacking of servers belonging to the Danish police, and earlier this month failed in his attempts to avoid being sent to Denmark to face those charges. He is due to be extradited there this week.

And now the computer man is facing a new round of legal problems, though this time civil litigation rather than another criminal prosecution. A number of TV and film companies in Russia have filed legal proceedings in the Moscow courts against two Russian file-sharing sites, Rutor.org and Kinozal.tv. And, it transpires, Svartholm and his company are listed as owning the Rutor.org domain, so he has been listed as a key defendant in the case.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, a hearing on the Russian file-sharing cases is due to take place on 10 Dec. Svartholm is unlikely to attend, though at least this time he has a good excuse, what with the Swedish prison sentence and Danish criminal trial.

Universal owner confirms plans to offload telecoms business

Business News Labels & Publishers

As expected, Universal Music parent company Vivendi has confirmed it will spin off its French telecommunications business SFR so that it is listed separately on the stock market.

That will leave the company with two key assets, Universal Music and Canal+, plus a smaller interest in the Brazilian telecoms market and a minority stake in the Activision gaming firm. It’s thought that a Vivendi divested of SFR would then focus on media and entertainment, with Arnaud de Puyfontaine, currently CEO of Hearst Magazines UK, set to join the firm in the new year as Senior Executive VP responsible for media and content.

According to the Financial Times, Vivendi’s supervisory board has now approved the spinning off of SFR. That news has come a few weeks earlier than expected, though the move has been anticipated for sometime, and the company admitted it was actively considering the split back in September.

Vivendi also confirmed yesterday that, once the split has occurred, Vincent Bolloré would take over as the entertainment company’s Chairman, replacing incumbent Jean-Rene Fourtou.

Bolloré, the biggest shareholder in Vivendi, controlling 5%, became Vice-Chairman in September. He had been tipped to replace Fourtou for a while, though was more recently linked to the firm’s currently vacant CEO role. Either way, it seems likely that Bolloré and de Puyfontaine could be spearheading the next stage in Vivendi’s development by late 2014, if not sooner.

Vivendi will now submit its plans to both regulatory authorities and its shareholders.

No takers for On The Beat Records, says owner

Business News Retail

Oh, this is a shame. On The Beat, the previously reported-on record shop in Soho, London, has failed to find a buyer, despite having been listed on eBay for a month. It will now, says owner Tim Derbyshire, close in January.

Derbyshire, who first opened the store in 1979, gave the retail business a ‘Buy It Now’ price of £300,000 when first putting it up for sale. Whilst the shop drew bids of up to £125,000, Derbyshire now tells NME he isn’t interested in listing it a second time, saying: “I gave it a go, it was on eBay for 30 days. I’ll be closing down in January [and] I’ll be gone by the end of the month. This is my last Christmas. I got about three phone calls about it in total”.

Asked if he felt disappointed at all, he answered: “I’m not too bothered really, that’s life. I’ll move on to something else, I may take up brain surgery. Most people have got a brain. Well, maybe not everyone”.

And hey, brainless, cashless vinyl fans with retail experience, Derbyshire did add he might just “leave the key in the door” when he leaves the premises next year. So yeah, stay alert.

Phillips upbeat about AEG departure

Business News Industry People Live Business

Randy Phillips remained upbeat yesterday following the news that he was being axed from the top role at AEG Live, the concerts division of the AEG company. Phillips’ departure came as a surprise – he has been with the company for thirteen years and signed a new five year contract last year – though is possibly a logical conclusion of the also surprise departure of overall AEG CEO Tim Leiweke earlier this year.

With AEG itself making next to no comment about Phillips’ sudden exit, the man himself told Billboard yesterday: “They want to start the new year with the re-org, and it gives them time amongst the holidays [to put the new team in place]. Part of it is, I was a larger than life presence there, and the face of the company. What’s the best time to get rid of a king? Right before the holidays. By the time Monday starts, it’s all new”.

Phillips insisted he wasn’t angry about his departure, though admitted his lawyers were now negotiating the terms of his exit. Saying he was pleased to have turned AEG Live into a serious number two competitor to Live Nation during his tenure there, and that he was leaving at the end of “the biggest year” the firm ever had, Phillips told Billboard he is now looking for an entrepreneurial opportunity, though the exact terms of his exit agreement with AEG will have to be finalised first.

Of his next project, he said: “Whatever it is will probably involve management, touring, marketing. I know a lot of people say that, but having had the experience of running a big company the last thirteen years, I really know what works and what doesn’t. If there’s anything I learned from this whole experience it’s having a good eye and the ability to hire great people and mentor them. That’s what I’m leaving behind, and that’s the saddest thing, and it is for them to. But life goes on, and at the end of the day it’s just a job, it’s not who I am”.

Opening of DHP Family venue in Hackney delayed by nearby building collapse

Business News Live Business

So, CMU Editor Andy Malt went into a restaurant in East London the other day, and minutes after he left the entire building was declared unsafe, half the scaffolding available in the capital was set up outside, and now the whole place (or at least some of it) is scheduled for demolition. Coincidence? Well, you decide.

Either way, a Victorian terrace on Amhurst Road in Hackney being declared unsafe last weekend, after the collapse of part of a basement wall last Friday, has forced live music firm DHP Family to postpone the official opening of its new venue in an adjacent building, Oslo.

The new bar, restaurant and live music space was due to have its official opening on 6 Dec, but, while the venue itself is structurally unaffected by the nearby building collapse, the aforementioned scaffolding is blocking access to its fire exits. Planned Dry The River and Indiana gigs are also affected.

DHP Family Owner George Akins told CMU: “While first and foremost our concern is for the occupants of the flats and businesses that have been affected by the structural damage, we would like to clarify that there is no structural damage to Oslo”.

He added: “We have a number of events lined up this week but regrettably, due to matters beyond our control, these will have to be postponed while we await further news from Hackney Borough Council. Please keep checking for further updates. We will advise of any changes to planned gigs as soon as possible”.

Dutch club Trouw to close in 2015, bans photography

Business News Live Business

Netherlands dance/weed mecca Trouw is to close in 2015, it’s been confirmed.

Team Trouw detailed the Amsterdam-based nightspot’s final “climax” year earlier this week, also revealing that, as of 1 January 2014 at 9am, the club will ban all on-site photography because, apparently: “We go the club to lose ourselves in the music, to escape our daily activities and to together form a temporary family for one. We hope that when the cameras are gone, a feeling will emerge whereby everyone can do, act and wear whatever he/she pleases. What happens in Trouw, stays in Trouw”.

Hmm. The club’s other stipulation for its last year in action is that it’ll only sell advance tickets for special events, rather than – as in the past – for regular nights too.

The bit in the statement explaining that decision reads: “Currently, we’re witnessing that a lot of popular events sell out completely in presale, which automatically excludes a lot of people. We want people to come to Trouw for the artists, the music and the freedom. Trouw is where the magic happens, and we want everyone to be completely ‘in the moment'”.

BIMM not for sale, despite reports otherwise

Business News Education & Events

If you were hoping to own a music school, well I’m afraid you’ll have to hold on a bit longer. Despite a report in the Daily Telegraph yesterday, BIMM has denied that it is on the market.

BIMM, which has colleges in Brighton, Bristol, Dublin and, since earlier this year, Manchester, as well as owning the London-based Tech Music School, has itself been majority owned by Sovereign Capital since 2010.

The Telegraph reported that the equity firm had appointed Rothschild to lead “a strategic review of the business”, seemingly after a number of parties expressed an interest in buying the music education business, which currently boasts 3400 students across its facilities.

However, while a spokesperson for Sovereign admitted that Rothchild had been brought in “to review strategic options”, BIMM Marketing Director David O’Connor told Brighton newspaper The Argus that that didn’t mean the firm was up for sale, rather further expansion was on the cards.

O’Connor said: “We conducted a strategic review eighteen months ago which was when we decided to expand the courses to include event management and to open a new college in Manchester. BIMM has appointed financial advisor, Rothschild’s, to help it access further investment to build on the group’s success in 2012-13. This process will aid the ongoing development of existing centres, further UK college expansion and setting up BIMM internationally in Europe, US or Asia”.

Late drummer to appear on new Charlatans album

Artist News

Charlatans frontman Tim Burgess has said that recordings made by drummer Jon Brookes, who died earlier this year, will appear on the band’s next album.

Burgess told BBC 5 Live: “He has left us a lot and we can piece together a few things. We have got one song and we think that it is fantastic. That to me is the starting point and it is the first time we have really agreed on a song completely in quite a long time. This particular one can feature Jon’s drumming. The album will feature Jon, even songs that aren’t written will include Jon in the writing. He’s just going to be part of it”.

Listen to the full interview here.

Release round-up: Cypress Hill, Britney Spears, Harmonomix and Sky Ferreira

Artist News Release Round-Up Releases

Rounding up the latest release news…

First order of this round-up is the report that all three original members of hip hop group Cypress Hill – that’s B-Real, Sen Dog and producer DJ Muggs – are at present making their first LP since 2004’s ‘Til Death Do Us Part’. Whilst the last Cypress Hill album was actually, some would argue, 2010’s ‘Rise Up’, that wasn’t produced by Muggs so… doesn’t count, see.

Aaanyway, the still-untitled new record, which is due in 2014 (apparently the exact date is encrypted via the CH site), is only in its “beginning stages but moving along smoothly”. Muggs relayed in a statement earlier this week that “The sound is anti-everything that’s popular and is in a world of its own. The lyrics delivered with the vocal tenacity of a stoned gypsy roaming across the country through the mist”.

Meanwhile, B-Real adds: “It’s great to have DJ Muggs back at the helm of the production. When Muggs, Sen and I work together there’s a chemistry between us that brings forth powerful music. It’s going to be ill, man. He’s got fire and a lot of people have been waiting for us to reunite like that, so we’re all looking forward to it”.

As well as revealing she has a “simple” new beau, Britney Spears has, as an added extra, decided to stream a little piece of herself, aka her new LP ‘Britney Jean’, a week early via t’internet. GB-based Britney fans can hear it here, and then pay for it when it’s released on 2 Dec.

In ‘James Blake freebies’ news, this year’s Mercury Prize-winning artiste is giving away a Destiny’s Child ‘Bills’ remix he made under his Harmonimix. The track, which till now was available on vinyl only, is in stock digitally, at no cost, via this player:

In last place, Sky Ferreira (pictured) has premiered a sinister new clip to go with the title song to her irritatingly-still-not-available-in-Britain first LP, ‘Night Time, My Time’. It’s co-directed by Ferreira herself, and usual ‘visual collaborator’ Grant Singer, and features an array of wigs (okay, two). Watch it now anyway, and why not appraise Sky’s slightly shaky showing on ‘David Letterman’ while you’re at it?

Morrissey and Omar Souleyman booked for Nobel Peace Prize Concert

Artist News Gigs & Festivals

International pop diplomats Morrissey, Omar Souleyman, Mary J Blige and… Jake Bugg (and James Blunt) will all play and sing live at this year’s Nobel Peace Prize Concert, which takes place at the Spektrum in Oslo on 11 Dec.

Whilst Jake Bugg couldn’t be arsed to say anything at this point, a post on Moz’s Facebook states he (Morrissey) will do three songs, one or all of which may not relate to meat.

Tori Amos to tour around 2014 LP

Artist News Gigs & Festivals

Popstar-of-our-time Tori Amos has announced a world tour in honour of her (possibly) Ginger Spice-inspired forthcoming LP, ‘Unrepentant Geraldines’, which will have a TBC release in spring. The UK shows, tickets to which are on pre-sale at the moment, will go on as follows:

7 May: Dublin, Olympia
10 May: Glasgow, Academy
11 May: Manchester Apollo
12 May: Birmingham, Symphony Hall,
14 May: Nottingham, Royal Concert Hall
15 May: London, Royal Albert Hall

Liam Gallagher weighs in on Spotify debate

And Finally Artist News

Yeah, your Thom Yorkes, and Dave Stewarts, and David Byrnes, and Billy Braggs, and Yannis Philippakises might have all had their say on Spotify. But it’s not over until Liam Gallagher has had his say. And what does he have to say?

“I don’t even know what Spotify is”.

So there you go. According to NME, former Oasis frontman told Xfm: “Listening to it on vinyl is always for me. I don’t even know what Spotify is. The first vinyl I ever bought, it really changed my life, got me into music, was the Stone Roses album. I remember I bought it in Mr Sifters in Burnage. And then I bought a Greggs pasty right after it. And a big bag of weed. I know exactly what I did that day”.

So, if it wasn’t for vinyl, Liam Gallagher might have starved.

Tomato stops Lupe Fiasco show

And Finally Artist News

Not-nice rapper Lupe Fiasco stopped a whole show in Salt Lake City on Saturday because someone chucked a tomato at him. Whilst the fruity red missile actually missed him ultimately, as seen in this fan-filmed clip at about 1.55, Fiasco took serious offence and cut the concert short.

On sidestepping the ‘attack’, according to The Salt Lake Tribune, “Fiasco pointed at the balcony, wiped himself off and called out the assailant as a “fat white bitch”.

He then ordered that the venue’s upper floors, where he thought the tomato had been thrown from, be emptied by security so he could continue. Despite staff managing to get most people to leave, amid angry jeers from the crowd, the Tribune reports that Fiasco nonetheless stormed off and didn’t come back.

Reflecting on the incident via his private Twitter feed, Fiasco is cited by All Hip Hop as saying: “The show was cancelled [even though] I asked for the balcony to be cleared just in case it was other snipers [who threw the tomato]”.

While on his erm… really ‘enlightened’ description of his “fat white bitch” non-assailant, he said: “I call her a fat white bitch cuz she was a fat white bitch… once you throw things you become a bitch… who just happens to be fat and white”.

Before adding the “disclaimer” that “this rhymer Lupe is not using bitch as lesson. I didn’t say stop using bitch. I gave you options. Tonight’s choice is BITCH”.

If only fat white bitches had better aim.

Approved: Rainer – Hope EP

CMU Approved

The follow up to their debut single, the also approved ‘Girls’, this EP from Rainer (vocalist Rebekah Raa and producer Casually Here, aka Nic Nell) continues in a similarly impressive vein.

Like the best song Junior Boys never wrote for the Sugababes, the title track deploys hypnotic dubstep-inflected pop infused with an air of melancholy resignation to devastating effect.

‘Hope’ starts innocuously but builds into an epic ballad amid military drum rolls and swelling orchestration, before unexpectedly upping the tempo, even incorporating choirs and tropical percussion to render achingly beautiful cinematic pop music.

The duo play London’s Sebright Arms on Thursday, 28 Nov. The EP, released yesterday, is streaming now:

Randy Phillips out as AEG Live management rejigged

Business News Industry People Live Business Top Stories

Live giant AEG has announced a rejig of its concert division which sees the departure of Randy Phillips, one of the company’s highest profile executives, and the man most closely linked to the firm’s ill-fated alliance with Michael Jackson for the ‘This Is It’ venture, and a stand-out (if not overly sympathetic) witness in the recent court battle between the Jackson family and the promoter.

The rejig will mainly impact the US side of AEG Live, the touring and festivals division of the wider Anschutz Entertainment Group. Jay Marciano, COO of the AEG parent company, will become Chairman of AEG Live and will have a more hands-on role in running the division.

Reporting in to him will be Paul Tollett, who remains President of the Coachella-producing Goldenvoice unit; John Meglen as President Of Global Touring; and Shawn Trell who becomes COO of AEG Live. Trell basically replaces Thomas Miserendino, who recently moved within the business to become CEO of AEG Europe.

Although he did divide opinion within the wider industry, Phillips has often been credited with successfully building up AEG’s touring operation, making it the second biggest concert business worldwide after Live Nation. And while Michael Jackson’s sudden death in 2009 left AEG Live with multi-million dollar bills for a show that now couldn’t proceed, it’s generally assumed the firm recovered most of its losses through its involvement in the ‘This Is It’ movie Phillips managed to cobble together from rehearsal footage.

Early last year the exec signed another five-year contract to stay on as President of AEG Live, so it’s not clear why he’s now stepping down. AEG’s announcement yesterday provided no insight – no mention of the exec “retiring” or “moving on to pursue entrepreneurial ambitions” – and Phillips himself is yet to comment. Though it could be a logical conclusion of the surprise departure of Tim Leiweke, overall CEO of AEG, back in March after Anschutz Inc decided to call off the sale of its entertainment company.

Beastie Boys respond to GoldieBlox lawsuit

Business News Legal

Beastie Boys have hit out at an American toy company called GoldieBlox over the use of a parody of their song ‘Girls’ in a new advert, and a pre-emptive lawsuit the company has launched against them. The new version of the song twists the sexist lyrics of the original to one more fitting with GoldieBlox’s aim to make toys that encourage girls to take an interest in science and technology.

Last week, the company filed a lawsuit asserting its right to use the song under US ‘fair use’ rules that provide a parody exemption, stating that GoldieBlox “created its parody video specifically to comment on the Beastie Boys song, and to further the company’s goal to break down gender stereotypes”. The company claimed it had gone legal on the matter because the group had “threatened GoldieBlox with copyright infringement” action.

Responding to that claim, Beastie Boys say that they simply contacted the company to discuss the matter, because while they agree with the sentiment of the commercial, they do not allow their music to be used in any adverts at all ever – something the group’s Adam Yauch felt so strong about, he had it written into his will. Though if GoldieBlox successfully justifies its use of the Beastie Boys track under fair use, the trio’s opinion on the matter might not be relevant, in the US at least.

In an open letter to the company, published in the New York Times, surviving members Mike D and Adam Horowitz said: “Like many of the millions of people who have seen your toy commercial ‘GoldieBlox, Rube Goldberg & the Beastie Boys’, we were very impressed by the creativity and the message behind your ad. We strongly support empowering young girls, breaking down gender stereotypes and igniting a passion for technology and engineering”.

However, they continued: “As creative as it is, make no mistake, your video is an advertisement that is designed to sell a product, and long ago, we made a conscious decision not to permit our music and/or name to be used in product ads. When we tried to simply ask how and why our song ‘Girls’ had been used in your ad without our permission, YOU sued US”.

Last year Beastie Boys sued Monster Energy Drink over an unauthorised 23 minute mix of their music made available through its website, just days after the advertising stipulation in Yauch’s will was made public.

SFX buys into Rock In Rio

Business News Live Business

Yes, it’s yet another SFX deal. I’m starting to think we should just have a standalone section for reporting on the EDM-focused live firm’s rampant acquisition spree.

Hot on the heals of its purchase of German dance music promoter i-Motion, the SFX company also confirmed last week that it had taken a 50% interest in the Rock In Rio franchise. A new company has seemingly been established that will own and operate the Rock In Rio events, and it is that new business of which SFX will own half.

Rock In Rio founder Roberto Medina will continue to lead the festival, which has more of a pop rock base than most of the other events SFX has bought into, with plans to further expand the brand beyond the programmes that have taken place in the past in Rio, Lisbon and Madrid. Medina is already talking about a Vegas-based version of the festival.

Confirming the deal, SFX chief Robert Sillerman told reporters: “Partnering with Roberto is very exciting for all of us at SFX. While it’s a great opportunity to help build and grow the Rock In Rio brand internationally, utilising our global promoter network, it’s also an opportunity to learn from the operational and commercial expertise that has made Rock In Rio and Robert Medina global phenomena”.

Medina added: “We have built the Rock In Rio brands with passion since 1985 and are excited about a future with SFX, which will allow us to expedite the growth of our brands into new territories. With SFX’s commitment to the development of the integrated next generation solutions, we also believe that our sponsors will have a greater platform for their brands in the US, as they already have in the countries in which we are established, having the festival as their main communication tool”.

Austin to sponsor NME Awards in 2014

Awards Brands & Merch Business News Media

NME Awards 2014

So this is a shockwave, or more to the point not a Shockwave. To be honest I can’t remember when Shockwaves stopped sponsoring the NME’s annual awards bash, but if we could all pretend that’s a recent development, the various hair gel references in this story will make more sense. Thank you kindly. And I do like what you’ve done with your hair.

So yes, IPC Media has announced a new sponsor for the NME’s big awards show in 2014 and it is, erm, the city of Austin in Texas. Which is different. Coming soon, the NME Radar Tour sponsored by Bratislava and the NME Freshers Tour in association with Croydon.

Though Austin, of course, is the Live Music Capital Of The World. We know this because the city’s council has trademarked that slogan, so it must be true. Though as the home of South By South West, at least most of the bands presented with awards by Team NME next February will be able to honestly say they’ve been to Austin, which is better than having to lie about, yes, of course I style my hair with that goo from Wella.

And now NME editor Mike Williams, who always secretly sculpted his hair with Lynx Messed-Up Look Re-Workable Paste, is going to tell you how much he is in awe of the city of Austin: “No city in the world does more to support live music than Austin, Texas. They pack in a mindboggling amount of amazing festivals into a year, each of which seems to get better every time. Like everything else that the city does, they do it all their own way, embracing vibrancy, diversity and passion. There couldn’t be a more perfect partner for the NME Awards 2014”.

Meanwhile Bob Lander from the Austin tourist board got on the blower (phone, not hair drier, the hair product references ended in that last paragraph) and told CMU: “We are thrilled to be the title sponsor for the 2014 NME Awards. This partnership represents an incredible opportunity to expose our Live Music Capital Of The World® brand and outstanding Austin talent to their fan base”.

I’m not saying he actually spoke the little ‘r’ in a circle, but it was there. Bob would also like you to know that British Airways will be flying direct from Heathrow to Austin from next March, though I can’t work out whether that’ll actually be in time for South By. You probably wouldn’t be able to afford the direct flight option anyway.

Meanwhile, back in Britain, the NME Awards, taking place on 26 Feb, will return to the Brixton Academy, currently sponsored by shit phone firm O2 of course, though due to be rebranded as the Damascus Academy Brixton early next year.

Soundrop launches on Deezer

Business News Digital

‘Social listening’ app Soundrop, which allows users to join online ‘rooms’ and listen to music together, has arrived on Deezer. Launched two years ago, the app has until now only been available to Spotify users.

Deezer founder Daniel Marhely told CMU: “Joining a thriving Soundrop room is one of the most unique ways to enjoy music, which is why we’re excited to welcome Soundrop to our growing list of app partners. Our goal is to help cutting-edge music services instantly tap into a global audience of music fans – ultimately helping artists reach potential fans everywhere. By allowing artists to join these rooms, Soundrop creates the kind of music experiences you’ll never forget – which is exactly the kind of thing we want for our users”.

The news comes just as US-based Turntable.fm announced that it was turning off its social listening platform, and focusing on a completely different service, offering paid for online access to live studio sessions. The Turntable.fm company said it couldn’t make its social listening service add up commercially, though Soundrop has, from the start, had an advantage on that front my plugging its set up into existing streaming platforms, so to avoid the issues around licensing tracks themselves.

Launching the Deezer version of the service, Trentemøller last night hosted a listening party, with similar events hosted by The Bloody Beetroots and Yuksek planned for tonight and tomorrow. Deezer users can listen in here.

Find out more about Soundrop in this CMU interview with co-founder Inge Andre Sandvik here.

App.net allows users to send push notifications to subscribers

Business News Digital

Social network App.net has launched a new feature called Broadcast, which allows users to set up accounts that will deliver text-message-esque push notifications to their followers’ mobile phones. The aim, says the company, is to ensure that information that people really want is not lost in the constant feed of social network updates, acting somewhere in between social media and an email mailing list.

Followers must explicitly subscribe to the push notifications, which are currently delivered through the App.net mobile app. However, developers can also integrate the service into their own apps.

App.net founder Dalton Caldwell said in a blog post announcing the new feature: “At the heart of our company values is the principle that that our users are our customers, and everything we do must put them first. With Broadcast, users are completely in control: a person will receive exactly what they subscribed to, no more and no less. App.net is functioning as the ‘pipes’ connecting publishers with subscribers”.

Broadcast is free to all users currently, with the company planning to launch additional features for paid account holders.

Read more here, and subscriber to the CMU Broadcast channel here.

Robbie talks Take That comeback, equals Elvis

Artist News

Robbie Williams is fairly convinced that Take That will make another full-group five-man comeback at some point, if only on a one-off basis, this after Gary Barlow told Jonathan Ross on his chat show that a TT re-group with all five members would be his “dream”.

Whether or not Williams will be involved in the planned new Take That LP, says Gaz, is something they’ll decide when they begin making it in January 2014. Certainly, Mark Owen said back in June that “Gaz and Rob” had been working on songs together, so this could go either way.

Speaking to Q magazine, Robbie said on the possibility of another full band reunion: “I think it will happen, all five of us. It probably will happen once more”.

He added: “But, you know, band dynamics and getting five people to agree on something. It’s textbook stuff – one member does this, one member does that. ‘Oh Jesus, now we’ve got to wait’. ‘Ah well, fuck him’, deh deh deh”.

Yep, erm… deh deh deh. In more definite Robbo news, Williams’ newest LP, ‘Swings Both Ways’, came in at number one in the pop charts this past Sunday, in so doing making it the 1000th long-player to hit the top spot in the UK Official Albums Chart, the first being Frank Sinatra’s ‘Songs For Swingin Lovers’ in 1956. ‘Swings’ charting in pole position also brings Robbie’s solo number one LPs tally to eleven, drawing him level with Elvis Presley.

Here he is being characteristically meek about it all.

Bruce Springsteen releasing new LP featuring Tom Morello

Artist News Releases

Bruce Springsteen will on 13 Jan release his eighteenth studio album ‘High Hopes’, a mix of new titles, re-recordings of his own unreleased songs, and covers, that takes its title from a song written by Tim Scott McConnell of LA band The Havalinas, a live favourite of Bruce’s.

As well as the E Street Band and multiple guests, it heavily features Tom Morello, who stood in for regular E Street guitarist Steve Van Zandt on the group’s recent tour of Australia, and who, Springsteen says, was his “muse” whilst he was making the new LP.

Springsteen writes in its liner notes: “This is music I always felt needed to be released. I felt they all deserved a home and a hearing”.

Check the full list of song titles on show, plus the video to the title track, here:

High Hopes
Harry’s Place
American Skin
Just Like Fire Would
Down In The Hole
Heaven’s Wall
Frankie Fell In Love
This Is Your Sword
Hunter Of Invisible Game
The Ghost Of Tom Joad
The Wall
Dream Baby Dream

The xx releasing LPs on limited edition vinyl

Artist News Releases

The xx, who’ve proven to be big business in vinyl in the past, have announced they’ll release new limited edition vinyl box sets of their LPs ‘xx’ and ‘Coexist’.

Sold separately at £55, the two sets will comprise individual seven-inch discs for every song on both LPs, plus individual artwork for each track. They’re available to order now, each restricted to 1000 copies.

They probably don’t need any help in selling, but here’s a link to details anyway.

Lambchop’s Nixon to kick off Merge Records reissue series

Artist News Releases

Merge Records has made Lambchop’s ‘Nixon’ the first LP it’ll reissue as part of its 20th anniversary celebrations, which will see the label re-release classics from its timeline at a rate of one-a-month, starting in 2014.

First out in 2000, the reissue will include a bonus disc featuring ‘White Session: How I Met Cat Power’, a solo session the band’s lead singer Kurt Wagner taped back in 1998.

Wagner describes ‘Nixon’ as “the peak of the fourteen-person Lambchop”, adding that it was the band’s last to be made on analogue.

Thursday 28 November 2013, 12:04 | By Chris Cooke

So, what did we learn about the BRIT Awards from the short essay the event’s organisers emailed over earlier today?

READ MORE ABOUT: BRIT Awards

Thursday 28 November 2013, 12:03 | By Aly Barchi

Hold on to your hats (and pants), R&B-lovers, because for any of you who thought R Kelly’s forthcoming LP, ‘Black Panties’, couldn’t go any more gross, it has, so… sorry.

READ MORE ABOUT: R Kelly

Thursday 28 November 2013, 11:17 | By CMU Editorial

READ MORE ABOUT: BRIT Awards | Philip Treacy

Wednesday 27 November 2013, 12:10 | By Aly Barchi

READ MORE ABOUT: Keel Her

Wednesday 27 November 2013, 12:09 | By Andy Malt

READ MORE ABOUT: Ian Watkins | Lostprophets

Wednesday 27 November 2013, 12:08 | By Andy Malt

READ MORE ABOUT: Pandora

Wednesday 27 November 2013, 12:07 | By Chris Cooke

READ MORE ABOUT: Gottfrid Svartholm | The Pirate Bay

Wednesday 27 November 2013, 12:06 | By Chris Cooke

READ MORE ABOUT: Universal Music | Vincent Bolloré | Vivendi

Wednesday 27 November 2013, 12:05 | By Aly Barchi

READ MORE ABOUT: On The Beat | Tim Derbyshire

Wednesday 27 November 2013, 12:04 | By Chris Cooke

READ MORE ABOUT: AEG | Randy Phillips

Wednesday 27 November 2013, 12:03 | By Andy Malt

READ MORE ABOUT: DHP Family | Oslo

Wednesday 27 November 2013, 12:02 | By Aly Barchi

READ MORE ABOUT: Trouw

Wednesday 27 November 2013, 12:01 | By Chris Cooke

READ MORE ABOUT: BIMM

Wednesday 27 November 2013, 12:00 | By Andy Malt

READ MORE ABOUT: Charlatans | Jon Brookes | Tim Burgess

Wednesday 27 November 2013, 11:59 | By Aly Barchi

Rounding up the latest release news…

READ MORE ABOUT: Britney Spears | Cypress Hill | Harmonomix | Sky Ferreira

Wednesday 27 November 2013, 11:58 | By Aly Barchi

READ MORE ABOUT: Morrissey | Nobel Peace Prize Concert | Omar Souleyman

Wednesday 27 November 2013, 11:57 | By Aly Barchi

READ MORE ABOUT: Tori Amos

Wednesday 27 November 2013, 11:56 | By Andy Malt

READ MORE ABOUT: Liam Gallagher | Spotify

Wednesday 27 November 2013, 11:55 | By Aly Barchi

READ MORE ABOUT: Lupe Fiasco

Tuesday 26 November 2013, 12:17 | By Marc Samuels

READ MORE ABOUT: Rainer

Tuesday 26 November 2013, 12:16 | By Chris Cooke

READ MORE ABOUT: AEG | Jay Marciano | John Meglen | Paul Tollett | Randy Phillips | Shawn Trel | Thomas Miserendino

Tuesday 26 November 2013, 12:15 | By Andy Malt

READ MORE ABOUT: Beastie Boys | GoldieBlox

Tuesday 26 November 2013, 12:14 | By Chris Cooke

READ MORE ABOUT: Roberto Medina | Rock In Rio | SFX Entertainment

Tuesday 26 November 2013, 12:13 | By Chris Cooke

READ MORE ABOUT: IPC Media | NME | NME Awards

Tuesday 26 November 2013, 12:12 | By Andy Malt

READ MORE ABOUT: Deezer | Soundrop

Tuesday 26 November 2013, 12:11 | By Andy Malt

READ MORE ABOUT: App.net

Tuesday 26 November 2013, 12:10 | By Aly Barchi

READ MORE ABOUT: Robbie Williams | Take That

Tuesday 26 November 2013, 12:09 | By Aly Barchi

READ MORE ABOUT: Bruce Springsteen | Tom Morello

Tuesday 26 November 2013, 12:08 | By Aly Barchi

READ MORE ABOUT: The xx

Tuesday 26 November 2013, 12:07 | By Aly Barchi

READ MORE ABOUT: Lambchop | Merge Records