Wednesday 18 December 2013, 12:43 | By Aly Barchi

Release round-up: Epworth’s U2 remix, Black Lips, Sam Smith, Rustie and Py

Artist News Release Round-Up Releases

Rounding up the latest release news…

Is there a single thing in this life finer than U2‘s new Nelson Mandela tribute, ‘Ordinary Love’, as features on the score to this year’s ‘Long Walk To Freedom’ biopic? Well, Paul Epworth‘s ‘version’ of that same track, naturally. Even Bono thinks the mix is “a very soulful, uplifting one”, so see if you feel the same by playing it here:

Elsewhere, having planted the idea of their latest LP, ‘Underneath The Rainbow’, in fan’s minds recently, Black Lips (pictured) have since made it flesh by streaming inner track ‘Boys In The Wood’. Preview ‘Boys’ here pre the LP’s release on 18 Mar 2014:

BRITS Critics’ Choice winning artiste Sam Smith has made the timely revelation that he’ll release his first LP, ‘In The Lonely Hour’, on 26 May 2014. Smith will pay forward his first official single ‘Money On My Mind’, meanwhile, on 16 Feb. See a trailer for the LP here, and give the track a whirl, here:

Because it’s Christmas and all, Glaswegian label LuckyMe Records yesterday gave away a new track by Scots electro hotpot Rustie. It’s titled ‘Terra Star’, and is the latest in a series of prizes the label is revealing day-by-day, in an advent calendar kind of style. Single out ‘Terra Star’ for special listening below, and find all LuckyMe’s December-time MP3 gifts here.

Last in this shortlist of topical release newslets is London-based alt-pop vocalist Py, who on 10 Mar 2014 shall place her new single ‘Swimming Slow’ in shops. Whilst ‘on the day’ it’ll be twinned with remixes by Throwing Snow, Gang Colours, Sweater Beats and Citizen, hear the track in its original form now:

Wireless Fest extending to Birmingham

Business News Gigs & Festivals Live Business

The team at Live Nation’s Wireless weekender have revealed 2014 plans to make it twice the festival it was this year, mainly by staging it in London, as usual, and additionally – not as usual – in Birmingham. So to reiterate, that’s “3 Days. 2 New Venues. 1 Huge FESTIVAL”, taking place on 4-6 Jul 2014.

The festivals will seemingly share the same artist listings, alternating their acts a la V or Reading & Leeds (or a la Wireless circa 2006/7, when it had a carbon copy edition in Leeds too).

Whilst Live Nation is still to confirm the exact sites for either festival leg, the “two new venues” bit of the announcement is intriguing, given the London side of the event only moved to a ‘new’ venue this summer in the form of the Olympic Park. It’s not clear if the 2014 slogan means the London event will move again, or if the promoter is still bragging that the Olympic site is still relatively new.

Festival line-up update: Main Square Festival, Hampton Court Palace Festival, Optimus Alive! and more

Artist News Festival Line-Up Update Gigs & Festivals

So as super-early-bird Lovebox tickets hit the Christmas sales racks, a number of festivals that – unlike Lovebox – have some artists confirmed for 2014 have gone and made some FLUU announcements.

Though, despite being sans artists just yet, Lovebox does have a nice new look, and has confirmed that Secret Productions, the Secret Garden Party team already in business with Lovebox owners MAMA via the Wilderness festival, will help programme the London weekender next year too.

Meanwhile, for those who prefer their festival announcements to come with lists of artists, how about France’s Main Square bash, which has just added Iron Maiden, The Black Keys, David Guetta, Discloure and MGMT to its line-up? Or Surrey’s historic pop picnic at Hampton Court Palace, which next year shall feature the Beach Boys, Jamie Cullum, Jason Donovan and Rick Astley, who between them represent the seven ages of pop, I’d say.

I’d also say that the following is a list of additions to various other festivals taking place as part of that rapidly approaching 2014 thing, because… well, that’s exactly the case…

DOWNLOAD, Donington Park, Derbyshire, 13-15 Jun 2014: Volbeat, The Dillinger Escape Plan, SikTh, Lonely The Brave, Arcane Roots, Feed The Rhino, Suicide Silence, Buckcherry, Memphis May Fire, Battlecross, Jake E Lee’s Red Dragon Cartel, Thy Art Is Murder, The Amity Affliction, Avatar. www.downloadfestival.co.uk

GROEZROCK, Gestel, Belgium, 2-3 May 2014: Brand New, Everlast, Iron Chic, The Lawrence Arms, I Killed The Prom Queen, The Ghost Inside, Bury Tomorrow, Larry And His Flask. www.groezrock.be

HAMPTON COURT PALACE FESTIVAL, Surrey, 12-24 Jun 204: Beach Boys, Jamie Cullum, Jason Donovan, George Benson, Rick Astley. www.hamptoncourtpalacefestival.com

LEICESTER MUSIC FESTIVAL, Welford Road Stadium, 25-26 Jul 2014: Union J. www.leicestermusicfestival.co.uk

MAIN SQUARE FESTIVAL, Arras, France, 3-6 Jul 2014: Iron Maiden, The Black Keys, David Guetta, Franz Ferdinand, -M-, Skrillex, Stromae, Gesaffelstein, MGMT, Imagine Dragons, Disclosure, Triggerfinger. www.mainsquarefestival.fr

OPTIMUS ALIVE!, Passeio Maritimo de Alges, Lisbon, Portugal, 10-12 Jul 2014: MGMT, Imagine Dragons, Caribou, Polica, Chet Faker. www.optimusalive.com/en

TAKEDOWN, Southampton University, 15 Mar 2014: The Hell, The First, BBlack Futures, The Catharsis, Seasons In Wreckage, Saint The Sinner. www.takedownfestival.co.uk

One Direction accused of “ripping off” Def Leppard

And Finally Artist News

Def Leppard are reportedly consulting their lawyers after noticing that the title track of One Direction’s new album, ‘Midnight Memories’, has a chorus quite similar to their 1987 hit, ‘Pour Some Sugar On Me’.

An unnamed source told The Mirror: “Music lawyers will routinely scour hits like this one to see if there is any evidence that a band has either copied or cleverly mimicked a Def Leppard song. These cases can often take weeks to sort out because we are not talking about peanuts here – the 1D album is selling millions and if the title track goes out as a single it will generate even more money”.

I’m not sure if that source is claiming that all music lawyers routinely scour boy-band songs for similarities with Def Leppard tracks, or if they really mean that legal reps for the band themselves do, though even that sounds like an awful lot of work. Checking out every pop release in case it is ripping of Sheffield’s finest. They must have been so pleased when they actually found one that did (allegedly).

The band will be extra pleased to know that one of the co-writers of ‘Midnight Memories’, Julian Bunetta, recently signed a worldwide publishing deal with Universal. Last year, Def Leppard fell out so hard with the recordings side of Universal Music that they began re-recording copies of their old hits to self-release, rather than giving permission for the label to release the originals on download stores.

Earlier this year, One Direction were also accused of pinching part of The Who’s ‘Baba O’Riley’ on their single ‘Best Song Ever’. Rather than go legal though, Pete Townshend said that he was flattered and considered it a tribute. So, maybe that’s how Def Leppard will leave it too. Either way, you can compare the two songs here:

One Direction – Midnight Memories

Def Leppard – Pour Some Sugar On Me

CMU Artists Of The Year 2013: Arctic Monkeys

Artists Of The Year CMU Approved

Each weekday in the run up to the Christmas break, we will reveal another of our ten favourite artists of the year. To see each artist as they’re revealed, sign up to receive the CMU Daily or check this page. Today, Arctic Monkeys…

Against mile-high odds, Arctic Monkeys have had a shock ‘sexy renaissance’ this year, stealing a best-selling stealth hit in fifth LP ‘AM’, a true triumph given the current interest-lull in ‘indie’ music.

A razor-sharp simplification of all the Arctics are and were; ‘AM’ is an extraordinary, one-of-a-kind ace card for a band to deal at this middling phase in their lifeline. I say ‘middling’, Alex Turner et al aren’t exactly past it, but their last LP, 2011’s ‘Suck It And See’, felt like them merely ticking over, just getting by on that whole ‘everyman-with-charisma’ thing they do so very well. Well, that, and strong songwriting and Turner’s still-unrivaled turn of phrase, which I guess means they were already getting by quite nicely, thanks.

But see, ‘Suck It…’ had brains, and brawn, but it sounded torn between the timid ‘Piledriver Waltz’-style sonnets a la the Arctic Monkeys of yesteryear, and its more muscular, ambitious parts, swinging spin balls like ‘Brick By Brick’ and the appallingly titled ‘Don’t Sit Down Cause I’ve Moved Your Chair’. It’s a restive, stormy record by a band not quite satisfied with themselves, and practically bleeds dissatisfaction, which, though that is and will always be their shtick, felt too worn a shtick for them to be leaning on so heavily.

The other issue was that it didn’t really have any ‘hits’ on its hands, not that anyone minded, but still, a hit would’ve been nice. Not that Arctic Monkeys have really been much of a singles band since they discovered the medium of the album, until, that is, lead ‘AM’ track ‘R U Mine’, which came in like a wrecking ball at the start of 2012, signaling in very large capital letters the beginning of a new Arctics age.

And then there’s the new image, an all-new devil-may-care ‘attitude’, the ‘fuck it’ swag and bravado they’d play-acted at in the past, but never been brave enough to fully don. It was almost like, along with the pearl snaps and 1950s bin-man coif, Turner in particular was taking on a whole other character, and rolling in the creative scope that kind of ‘disconnect’ affords.

He’s stronger – in voice and as a lyricist/writer/producer – than ever, as are the band as an entity, and all this just as it was starting to look doubtful that they could ever match ‘Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m Not’ for vigor and all-over quality. ‘AM’ is remarkable because it’s such a radical save, and what’s more, because it shows that, for a band who were idling somewhat, stuck on a plateau, it isn’t over til it’s over, or until you give up. Divine inspiration can dawn on any given day, and for the Arctic Monkeys it came to them in the ‘AM’.

Vaizey says digital switchover in radio now unlikely until 2020

Business News Digital Media Top Stories

As expected, media minister Ed Vaizey yesterday confirmed that the government is in no mood to force digital radio onto the public by setting a deadline for removing key radio stations like the national BBC services from FM so that they would only be available via the DAB network, and other digital platforms like Freeview and the net.

As much previously reported, the radio industry is divided on its digital future. The BBC and the big commercial radio groups are, in the main, pro a full shift to digital, so that DAB would become the primary radio network. DAB has more capacity, so allows the big radio firms to launch sister stations to their existing brands that can increase overall listening figures or listening hours, and to make quasi-national stations – like Global’s Capital and Heart brands – which don’t reach all regions on FM, properly national

But some smaller radio firms are against a forced switchover to digital, not least because DAB coverage is not yet universal, and while the FM network would remain even after switchover, stations who’d still rely on it fear that that network would become secondary, making it harder to compete where DAB was available. Some also argue that the DAB network will be superseded by net-based audio services even before it becomes fully established, making investing in the medium pointless.

The one thing everyone agrees on, though, is that DAB take-up has been slower than hoped, and too many consumers are still relying on FM, at home and in the car, to justify shifting key services off that network. And any radio firm with at least one FM operation, which is most of them, doesn’t want to suddenly lose a slice of its audience as a result of a forced shift to digital, particularly as cars and home stereos become net-connected, making Spotify et al a more direct competitor to traditional radio.

Which is why, despite 2015 being once mooted as a target year for the digital switchover in radio, Vaizey yesterday confirmed that nothing that dramatic will happen until at least 2020. Which a cynic might say is passing the buck a little, given Vaizey won’t be the policymaker in this domain by then, but it is almost certainly the least controversial decision the minister could make today.

Of course those who are pro DAB – while not wanting premature switchover – rightly point out that without a fixed deadline in the schedule for some key stations to go digital only (you sense the commercial operators would like the Beeb to go first, so it takes the risk), there is no incentive for consumers to upgrade their home radios and car firms to make DAB in-car systems the norm, which means the shift to digital will continue to be slow. Which means many stations having to pay to broadcast on both FM and DAB at the same time for longer.

Aware of that, Vaizey accompanied his 2020/maybe decision with other commitments that aim to speed up organic switchover. Key to that is a new commitment to further roll-out the DAB network in a new bid to overcome gaps in its reach, and another stab at a second national multiplex which will increase the amount of digital-only content available (assuming someone other than the Beeb is willing to create that content) that should provide a new incentive for consumers to go DAB.

Commenting on his unsurprising decisions regarding digital radio, Vaizey told The Guardian yesterday: “I am not going to impose a solution on people who aren’t ready for it. I certainly think by the end of the decade we could be in a position where we are looking at digital being the main platform for radio. We could get to 50% [of radio listening on digital] earlier, but I am looking towards the end of the decade”.

Harry Styles secures anti-pap injunction

Business News Legal Media

Harry Styles yesterday won an interesting court order that bans the paparazzi from pursuing the One Direction star in the street or creepily waiting outside his home.

Because let’s face it, any tabloid wanting to cover this story already has an entire library of pap shots of Styles to choose from when it comes to photographic accompaniment, including: ‘Harry opens his front door’, ‘Harry closes his front door’, ‘Harry double locks his front door’, ‘Harry walks down the steps in front of his house’, ‘Harry crosses the road to his car’, ‘Harry unlocks his car and gets in’, ‘Harry checks his hair in the wing mirror while he puts the keys in the ignition’, or my personal favourite ‘Harry puts his car into gear’.

I think we can all agree (with perhaps the exception of the Sun’s photo desk) that the world doesn’t need any more pointless pap shots of Harry Styles, which may or may not have been a factor when judge Nicola Davis issued the injunction yesterday.

It’s an interesting court order in that it’s not specifically banning anyone from photographing the 1D star, but puts restrictions on those photographers employing stalker-ish tactics to get that all important ‘Harry pulls out into moving traffic’ shot. It also seems to apply to all and any paps who employ these tactics rather than specifically named photographers, although it is thought four snappers in particular will be identified in due course.

The injunction has the potential to set new precedent with regards how the law can be used to control the paps, although Cheryl Cole and Hugh Grant’s baby-mother Tinglan Hong have both previously secured similar court orders. The Styles injunction bans unnamed photographers from pursuing the singer by car or motorcycle, placing him under surveillance or loitering within 50 metres of his home to monitor his movements.

The boy band star wasn’t in court himself yesterday, but according to The Guardian his lawyer David Sherborne said: “This is not a privacy injunction. Mr Styles is not trying to prevent fans approaching him in the street and taking photos. He remains happy to do that, as he always has. Rather, it is the method or tactics which have been used by a certain type of photographer”.

The current injunction will stand until another court hearing on the matter on 13 Jan. So sorry tabs, no ‘Harry opens front door in his Christmas jumper’ photos for you.

BMG promotes Casimir to global recordings overseer role

Business News Industry People Labels & Publishers

It’s been a busy few days for BMG appointments, and this time its Fred Casimir getting promoted to the role of Executive Vice President International Repertoire for the recordings side of the music rights firm.

In his new globally focused role Casimir, who joined the v2 BMG business early on in 2009, will oversee the company’s recordings catalogue, which includes the new recordings the firm controls as a result of deals done by its artist services wing, and the master recording catalogues the firm has acquired, including the Sanctuary and Mute archives.

Confirming the appointment, BMG boss man Hartwig Masuch was back on the phone to CMU HQ with these fine words: “Developing our recordings business is a key strategic area for BMG. Fred has strongly contributed to the expansion of BMG’s business and to the development of BMG Artist Services. I am delighted that Fred is to take on worldwide responsibility for recordings”.

The BPI says people would like music for Christmas, should you still be struggling for gift ideas

Business News Retail

Record label trade body the BPI hit the streets recently to ask 2000 people if they’d still like to receive music as a gift, and 67% of them said yes, with Christmas being the most popular time of year for such a thing to happen. So, that’s nice. The other 33% just wanted to sit in silence and would quite like it if you’d go and play all those records somewhere else, thank you very much.

Interestingly, over 25% of people asked said that they’d be happy to receive digital music as a present – either as download vouchers, iTunes credit or a streaming subscription – which is up considerably from last time anyone thought to do this research a couple of years ago. Amongst 15-19 year olds and 20-24 year olds, more than half said it would be fine not to get a physical disc as part of their musical gift.

Overall, though, the majority did still want something they could hold and shove into or onto some sort of playing contraption – 57% wanting one of those CD things you used to see, and 7% wanting a piece of altogether cooler vinyl. 59% said they’d also be happy with some kind of record voucher, either for online or high street stores.

Respondents were also asked when they’d like to receive music as a gift, with Christmas coming out the most popular at 48%. For birthdays people were less keen, at 37%. Mothers were slightly more likely than fathers to want music on their respective days (only 10% and 8% though, so maybe you shouldn’t all rush out to buy those crappy compilations that get brought out each year), while Valentine’s Day, anniversaries and non-specific “religious festivals” came last in the poll.

Commenting, BPI spokesman Gennaro Castaldo told CMU: “Music clearly remains one the gift that’s we most value receiving, especially at Christmas. However, while CDs still remain popular gift items, it’s interesting that more of us are now happy to receive our gifts in digital form either as download vouchers or as subscriptions to streaming services. There was a time not so long ago when we wanted our music gifts in physical form that we could unwrap, but that seems to be gradually changing, especially among teenagers and people in their early 20s”.

Dave Shack named MD of Iron Maiden management firm

Business News Industry People Management & Funding

Former music journalist turned record label man Dave Shack has now made the move into the world of artist management. He has been appointed Managing Director of Phantom Music Management, which looks after Iron Maiden, reporting to founders Rod Smallwood and Andy Taylor.

Shack told CMU: “This feels like where I was always meant to end up after 25 years in the music industry. The opportunity to work with a brand of such power and integrity is a dream come true; the music and catalogue, the Trooper beer, the sold-out tours and the power of their fans and the metal community is unparalleled”.

He went on: “What Rod and Andy have achieved with the band is inspiring and I am looking forward to learning from them and helping take one of Britain’s greatest ever rock bands into their next phase”.

Smallwood founded Phantom Music Management in August 2006, after leaving Sanctuary Records (the company he founded with Taylor in 1979) with Iron Maiden’s management contract. Taylor then joined him six months later, shortly before Sanctuary was sold to Universal.

Soundrop launches Android app, revamps Spotify app

Business News Digital

‘Social listening app’ (read this if you’ve no idea what that means) Soundrop has announced the launch of an Android app and an upgrade of its original Spotify app. And just in time for Christmas.

The Android app means that Soundrop users can now listen to music with friends over the net via their mobile devices, utilising either a Spotify or Deezer premium account. Upgrades to the Spotify app include a new look and feel, and a ‘top tracks’ option, which replays the music most played in any one ‘listening room’, allowing listening beyond the actual social experience.

On the launch and revamp, Soundrop boss Jorn Haanaes told CMU: “We’re excited to give our fans something to play with over the holidays. We didn’t want to send fruit cake, so we figured new apps for Android with support for Spotify and Deezer subscribers, and a new Spotify app, would be better received. We can’t wait for everyone to try them and let us know what they think”.

Former EMI man becomes CTO of LoveLive

Beyonce sold a fair few copies of her new album last week

Artist News

So, apparently releasing your new album without warning and through just one retailer is the way to go if you want get rich quick, and who doesn’t want to do that?

It’s also worth nothing that charging £12.99 and making your new record only available as a fourteen song/seventeen video set (forcing people downloading to their phones to delete all manner of apps and other music to make room) doesn’t seem to be much of a barrier to sales either. At least not if you’re Beyonce. I should probably have mentioned that you need to be Beyonce for all this to work earlier.

Yes, Apple has confirmed that Beyonce sold 828,773 copies of her ‘surprise’ eponymous album in its first three days on sale, breaking all previous records on the download store and becoming the second biggest selling of the year via the download store. 68,000 of those downloads were sold in the UK, while the bulk, 617,213, were purchased by people in the US.

As previously reported, although the album was known to be in the works (for quite some time), it was indeed a surprise when Beyonce suddenly announced that it was not only finished but available via iTunes on Friday morning.

The album is expected to go on sale on CD, as well as arriving on streaming services, later this week, though US retailer Target has said it won’t stock it as a result of the firm’s famous Sour Grapes Policy – the “release digitally first, and we won’t stock your CD” clause.

That is perhaps a little hypocritical, given Target has a long history of doing its own exclusivity deals with artists, including special editions of previous Beyonce albums with extra tracks only available via the retailer. “I put so much into my new album, and only Target gives you all of it”, Mrs Carter once proclaimed. Not this time, Bey.

James Arthur regrets everything he’s done

Artist News

So it’s finally sunk in for pop pariah James Arthur that he won’t be winning any ‘world’s nicest person’ prizes any time soon.

Having said sorry on ‘The X-Factor’ last month for his previously reported homophobic rap tirade, Arthur has now told The Sun: “I regret everything I’ve done”. But it’s all alright, everyone, because they weren’t strictly James’s fault, the regrettable things, as the fame was to blame.

“All my confidence has disappeared because the whole nation thinks I’m a homophobe who looks like a monster”, he tells the tab, adding: “It’s been an amazing year for me. There’s been some amazing highs but also some lows”.

One of those lows is the public’s less-than sympathetic reaction to news that Arthur had had a one-night stand with a seventeen year old fan he ‘met’ on Twitter. Though to clarify following that latest gaffe, claims James – who apparently feels “deep, deep shame” at having slept with the girl – “I’m definitely not a guy who grooms young girls”.

Good to know. Wrapping up, James says: “I’ve made some very silly mistakes. I want to thank the ‘X-Factor’ for giving me this opportunity. I want to say sorry for abusing my position as an ‘X-Factor’ winner because I owe everything to this thing”.

Ray Price still alive, contrary to son’s RIP statement

Artist News

The son of country music great Ray Price announced that his father had passed away on Sunday, aged 87, having opted not to receive further treatment for terminal pancreatic cancer. But the thing is, Price is still alive, and his son’s statement was issued prematurely, though it’s unclear how.

Following widespread news reports that Price – who is currently at his home in Mount Pleasant, Texas – had died, his wife Janie Price was forced to correct the press via Rolling Stone, telling the mag: “He is still with us. It’s been an honor to walk this road with him. It’s a sad day. We are losing a great man”.

Price is best known for songs like ‘For The Good Times’ and ‘Crazy Arms’, both of which he released in the 1950s. He recently revealed he’d made a new, twelve-track LP, deeming it “one of the greatest things I’ve ever recorded”.

Price bid goodbye to fans last week, writing via Rolling Stone: “I love my fans and have devoted my life to reaching out to them. I appreciate their support all these years and I hope I haven’t let them down. I am at peace. I’m going to be just fine. Don’t worry about me. I’ll see you again one day”.

MCR detail greatest hits LP

Artist News Releases

My Chemical Romance have said things pertaining to their greatest hits LP, aka their last LP ever, ‘May Death Never Stop You’.

It’ll be released on 24 Mar, one year on from the band’s break-up, and will feature, it transpires, the fabled ‘Attic Demos’, which they made pre MCR’s 2002 debut ‘I Brought You My Bullets, You Brought Me Your Love’, and also one of the last songs they worked on.

Confirming all the above, Ray, Gerard, Frank, Mike say in a bolt-on note: “The title is fitting, because as sad as it was to say goodbye to the band, we look at this collection as a celebration of our best songs, and hope the memory of them continues to bring joy to you all as they have for us. We hope you take the journey with us into MCR’s past, and enjoy the small taste of what might have been”.

Someone pass me the tissues/sick bucket.

David Rodigan curates Ministry Of Sound Masterpiece LP

Artist News Releases

DJ David Rodigan of ‘Ram Jam’ standing has acted as caretaker on the next edition of Ministry Of Sound’s ‘Masterpiece’ compilations series.

Respectively titled ‘Hey Youthman’, ‘Cool Out Son’ and ‘Stepping Out Of Babylon’, the three-disc selection, Rodigan says, is “a reflection of my life musically, including both the things I grew up listening to and the things I am currently enjoying”. It spans all Dave’s fave eras and genres, featuring tracks by Marvin Gaye, Small Faces, Bob Marley, Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry and Amy Winehouse.

Rodi-fans can either wait till 27 Jan, when the collection is released, to check the tracklisting and relevant details, or do it now via FACT.

Angel Haze drops off new Dirty Gold info

Artist News Releases

Hip hop hit girl Angel Haze has revealed her new and first ever LP, ‘Dirty Gold’, will be released on 3 Mar, which is a bit of a wait but… what can you do?

She’s also shown the world its artwork, and screened the lyric video for its latest single ‘A Tribe Called Red’. Look at the latter now:

Jessie J to do Forest Live shows

Artist News Gigs & Festivals

Jessie J is headed into the woods in summer 2014, to play some of the Forestry Commission’s Forest Live shows. So she doesn’t get lost, here’s a cut-out guide to where and when those concerts will be:

13 Jun: Edwinstowe, Sherwood Pines Forest
20 Jun: Tunbridge Wells, Bedgebury Pinetum
27 Jun: Rugeley, Cannock Chase Forest
5 Jul: Northwich, Delamere Forest

And here is a sentence c/o Jessie, who’s still parading about in memory of her second LP ‘Alive’: “I made my Forest Live debut this summer with just one show which I loved so it’s great to be taking in another four Forest Live dates next year… see you there”.

Tickets for all four Forest Live dates will go on sale on 19 Dec. And off ‘Alive’, this is ‘Thunder’:

Boy falls off skateboard

And Finally Artist News

It’s been a while since Justin Bieber fell off – or down – anything (with the exception of ‘the rails’), so when he fell off a skateboard the other day it was quite an event.

Not that I’m taking any pleasure in Biebs’ pain, or anything – well, maybe a little – but this is all really to highlight his strength, resilience, and shit-hot SOH in dealing with the mishap. And bad sense of balance.

Anyway here it is, happening in a clip that J-B kindly shared via Instagram, adding this inspirational tidbit: “Always get up when u get knocked down”.

CMU Artists Of The Year 2013: Perfume

Artists Of The Year CMU Approved

Each weekday in the run up to the Christmas break, we will reveal another of our ten favourite artists of the year. To see each artist as they’re revealed, sign up to receive the CMU Daily or check this page. Next up is Perfume…

Veterans of the Japanese music industry, the original line-up of the group having formed in 2000 while they were still at school, Perfume are now one of the country’s biggest groups. Their rise, however, was a slow one, with their first five years as recording artists spawning a handful of not particularly successful singles – slightly ironically collected on their first album release, a compilation called ‘Complete Best’.

But they really began to take off as they worked towards the release of their debut album proper, ‘Game’, in 2008 – the first single from which, ‘Polyrhythm’, bagged them their first top ten hit. The track was also featured on the soundtrack to Pixar movie ‘Cars’, bringing them to international attention for the first time.

Although all of their albums since then have been very successful, each delivering some great music, they really hit their creative stride with 2011’s ‘JPN’. And this year they continued with fourth album ‘Level3’, with their longtime producer and songwriter Yasutaka Nakata creating another impressive collection of techno-pop songs in a year when he’s put out two other big albums – the second from Japanese solo star Kyary Pamyu Pamyu and another with his own project Capsule.

It’s also the first Perfume album to receive a proper release in the UK, as part of moves made in 2013 to bring the group to a wider international audience, which they discussed in an interview with CMU earlier this year. Thinking internationally is still something alarmingly uncommon amongst Japanese acts, particularly the most successful ones, thanks in part to the often insular nature of the music industry there. Though, as the downturn in global record industry fortunes finally starts to catch up with Japan, artists and labels are beginning to look further afield.

A three date tour of Europe this summer (laughably billed as their ‘second world tour’, they having previously played a handful of shows around South East Asia) coincided with their website winning a design award at the Cannes Lions International Festival Of Creativity.

A large part of their success comes down not just to the impressive performances by the three members of the group – A-Chan, Nocchi and Kashiyuka – but also the creative team around them. Nakata, choreographer Mikiko Mizuno, stage director Masahiko Uchiyama, video director Kazuaki Seki and live visuals designer Daito Manabe have all worked with the group for many years and have created a distinct sonic and visual style for them.

And it’s in those live performances where it all really comes together. Although used to arena stages at home, the team made full use of the smaller stages they were faced with for the European performances. The opening of the show used ‘projection mapping’ to lay moving images over the white dresses the group were wearing, each of which also included mechanical sections which raised and dropped to appear as if the dresses were breathing.

I’d assumed until recently that this section of the show was tightly choreographed so that the group were in the right place for the projections to appear correctly on their bodies. But I’ve since learned that the system was actually designed to follow their movements and adjust the projections accordingly – which possibly gives some idea of the effort that Manabe puts into the design of these performances.

Whether the group will ever build a large enough audience to make regular trips to the UK worthwhile remains to be seen – the cost of transporting such an ambitious show here this year was covered by beaming them back live to Japanese cinemas, picking up an extra audience of around 45,000 people. However, their music is some of the more accessible (for Western ears) J-pop on offer and their performances are incredibly impressive, so it would be a shame if they never made the trip again.

Check out that projection mapping performance, and the group’s first English language song (and also their most obvious nod to current European dance pop) ‘Spending All My Time’ here:

UK music industry worth £3.5 billion in 2012, says UK Music

Business News Top Stories

The UK music industry contributed £3.5 billion to the UK economy in 2012, according to new figures from cross-sector trade body UK Music.

The stats have been compiled by UK Music after being granted access to data held by the Office For National Statistics, in a bid to identify a more accurate figure for the ‘added value’ impact the wider music business has on the British economy. Such figures to date have either relied exclusively on stats from the record industry (which are easier to identify), or have seen the music sector lumped in with other creative industries.

The £3.5 billion in ‘added value’ constitutes the profits made and wages paid by the music industry. According to The Times, that figure includes £1.6 billion related to musicians, composers and songwriters, £662 million from live music, £634 million from recorded music sales and £402 million from music publishing. UK Music also reckons that the music business accounts for £1.4 billion in exports and employs 100,000 full-time employees.

While there are still plenty of estimates involved in reaching these figures, UK Music boss Jo Dipple reckons that these stats are much more accurate than anything that went before. She also suggests that previously released official figures that reckoned the entire creative sector contributed £4.1 billion to the economy are something of an under-estimate.

Dipple told the Times: “The sector has been poorly served by economic analysis. It has been poorly measured or underestimated. Our music might be fun, but it is a formidable asset to the UK. Government has said that it wants to support the creative industries, but until now they have not had the precise data to hand”.

UK Music plans to use the figures, which don’t include indirect revenues the festivals sector generates for the tourism industry or the revenues of digital music firms based in Britain, so are – Dipple reckons – still an under-estimate, to try to persuade policy-makers to treat the music business as a stand-alone sector at an international level, rather than lumping it in with the rest of the creative industries.

Global Radio will not further appeal Competition Commission ruling on Real Smooth deal

Business News Media Top Stories

Global Radio has confirmed that it is throwing in the towel in its fight with the Competition Commission over its acquisition of the Guardian Media Group’s former radio business.

As previously reported, Global acquired GMG’s Smooth and Real Radio networks last year in a £70 million deal, but the arrangement required clearance from the competition regulator.

Following criticism of the takeover from Global’s key competitors, the Commission ruled that the radio giant could only keep a minority of the additional stations it had acquired, and would have to sell off outlets in seven regions, either its recent Real Smooth acquisitions, or one of its existing operations in those markets.

Global called the ruling “outdated”, and said it failed to appreciate new competition in the advertising market that meant that the FM radio sector no longer operated in isolation. But last month the Competition Appeal Tribunal dismissed Global’s arguments against the Commission’s original ruling.

Although initially critical of the Tribunal’s decision too, Global said on Friday that it would not seek a further appeal, and instead would comply with the Commission’s ruling and put several stations up for sale in early 2014.

Quite who will buy those stations remains to be seen. Main rival Bauer has acquired Planet Rock and Absolute since Global’s GMG deal, so is unlikely interested in the Real Smooth stations, and indeed could find itself subject to Competition Commission restrictions if it bid for the former GMG licences.

Which leaves UTV Radio, known to have been unwilling to pay the sum Global paid for Real and Smooth back in 2012, or the smaller commercial radio players, who might be interested in one or two of the Real Smooth stations.

Russia’s Supreme Court critical of Pussy Riot ruling

Artist News Legal

Russia’s Supreme Court last week criticised the guilty verdicts in the Pussy Riot case and ordered a review of the ruling.

As much previously reported, three members of the punk protest group were convicted of “hooliganism motivated by religious hatred” in August 2012 after staging a provocative performance that criticised the Russian government and church in a Moscow cathedral. Two of the three, Maria Alyokhina and Nadezhda Tolokonnikova, were jailed.

Most in Russia’s political class, including President Vladimir Putin, endorsed the ruling, but the country’s Supreme Court now says that the prosecution in the case failed to demonstrate that the defendants were motivated by hatred towards a specific social group, which, appeal judges said last week, is necessary for this ruling. The Supreme Court added that judges in the lower court should also have considered that Alyokhina and Tolokonnikova were mothers with young children when sentencing them.

With this in mind, Supreme Court judges have ordered a review of the case. As previously reported, it’s already thought that an ‘amnesty bill’ recently put forward to the country’s parliament by Putin, in theory aiming to show leniency on the twentieth anniversary of the Russian Constitution, but more likely designed to overturn internationally controversial Russian court rulings before next year’s Winter Olympics in Russia, could also lead to the Pussy Riot two being freed early.

Though, with only three months or so of the two protestors’ sentences left to run anyway, even if the amnesty bill or Supreme Court ruling do lead to early release, the duo will still have served most of their respective jail terms.

Paul Gambaccini rebailed in sexual offences case

Business News Legal Media

Radio 2 DJ Paul Gambaccini has been rebailed, following his arrest last month as part of Operation Yewtree. His bail now extends to March next year.

As previously reported, Gambaccini was arrested in November as part of the third strand of the investigation launched by police following the Jimmy Savile revelations. It’s the strand that is investigating historic sexual offence allegations against various media personalities that are not directly linked to Savile’s crimes.

Gambaccini said in a statement last month that he had been falsely accused.

U2 confirm Oseary/Live Nation deal, thank McGuinness

Business News Deals Management & Funding

U2 have confirmed that long-time Madonna manager Guy Oseary has now taken over day-to-day management duties for the band via a new Live Nation-backed venture, with their long-term manager Paul McGuinness now having an advisory role.

As previously reported, it emerged last month that McGuinness was planning to merge his Principle Management business with Oseary’s Maverick company to create a new outfit that would be backed by live giant Live Nation, U2’s long-term touring partners, and the firm with which Madonna already has something nearing a 360 degree deal relationship. McGuinness will have a back seat Chairman role at the new venture, with Oseary running things day-to-day as CEO.

The alliance, confirmed by McGuinness last month, had the backing of U2, with Bono seemingly involved in the wheelings and dealings that led to the deal. And earlier this month in a post spotted by Hypebot last week, Bono et al confirmed the change in management to their fans, thanking McGuinness for his guidance to date.

The post reads: “This week U2 finalised and signed a new management contract with Live Nation and Guy Oseary. The band now want to publicly thank Paul McGuinness for his extraordinary leadership, guidance and friendship over the last 35 years. Paul has saved us from ourselves many times over and we would not be U2 without him. Sometime soon, U2 will begin a new adventure around the world and we totally understand and respect Paul’s desire to not run away with the circus – AGAIN”.

The post goes on: “Perhaps more than any music management operation in history, Paul, alongside Trevor, Keryn and the team at Principle Management has always fought for our rights, for our music, for our fans and for the principles that we and he believe in. His central lesson was that if you cared for your ‘art’, you must also ‘take care of business’ as historically with rock and roll bands, the latter has undone the former”.

And on the new arrangement, they concluded: “We are relieved that Paul will remain on as the mentor-in-chief. We’ve known Guy for a long, long time, and we’re excited that, with Paul’s blessing, he’s agreed to take us on. He is a brilliant man with a lot of energy, and knows he has got some big shoes to fill”.

Embrace sign to Cooking Vinyl

Business News Deals Labels & Publishers

Cooking Vinyl has clasped Embrace to its bosom, sealing an international artist services deal with the band in time to release their new LP in spring 2014.

Clearly excited by the idea of Embrace’s first long player in eight years, singer Danny McNamara says: “We had a few labels that loved the album, some who’d wanted to work with the band for a long time. But as soon as we met the Cooking Vinyl team, we knew we’d found the right home. We’re really looking forward to working with them”.

Cooking Vinyl Director Rob Collins chips in with: “We’re so, so pleased to land Embrace, especially given the stiff competition. This is a band that has delivered great songs time and time again, and is putting the polishing touches on another special album. We struck up a great relationship with Danny and had a shared vision for the record”.

Cherry Red announces Wakeman and other deals

Business News Deals Labels & Publishers

London-based indie Cherry Red last week announced a number of new signings, led by a major catalogue agreement with Rick Wakeman which will see the label work on eighteen titles from the one-time Yes man’s mind-blowing 100+ solo album archive. The deal will result in a reissue campaign kicking off in early 2014, including albums like ‘Out Of The Blue’ and ‘White Rock II’.

Also confirmed by Cherry Red last week was a new deal with The Fall, who have worked with the indie of five previous releases. The new arrangement includes the band’s just released mini-album ‘The Remainderer’ and a full LP release next year.

Other deals, meanwhile, include new albums from The Woodentops and former Cream bassist Jack Bruce, and a new collaborative release from Van Der Graaf Generator’s Peter Hammill and one-time Captain Beefheart collaborator Gary Lucas.

Confirming all this, Cherry Red’s MD Adam Velasco told CMU: “It’s a treat to get to work with catalogue as rich as Rick Wakeman’s or on exciting new albums from the likes of Jack Bruce and The Fall. Each of these artists shares our philosophy of treating music with the love and respect it deserves, and these deals will spawn some special releases that fans will love”.

Warner losses widen, but management remain optimistic

Business News Deals Labels & Publishers

Warner Music posted a $57 million net loss on the quarter up to 30 Sep, a financial report from the mini-major confirmed last week. Revenue for the quarter was up 4.5% year-on-year to $764 million, though that was mainly due to the acquisition of the Parlophone Label Group, the various EMI units in the UK and Europe that Universal was forced to sell by the regulator after its purchase of the EMI record company.

Warner Music’s CFO Brian Roberts said that the decline in profits (and in revenues if Parlophone is taken out of the mix) was down to a “light release schedule” in the quarter compared to the same period a year earlier, particularly in Japan where the summer quarter in 2012 included three major artist releases. Which is good news, after a decade of record companies blaming disappointing financials on “challenging times for the entire recorded music sector”, it’s good to get back to the classic “slow release quarter” excuse.

For the financial year, which ended with this quarter, the company posted net losses of $198 million on revenues of $2.87 billion, compared to $112 million on £2.78 billion the previous year. Roberts said that the acquisition of Parlophone had contributed to the losses, though the merger would result in $70 million in cost savings over the next two years.

Meanwhile Warner boss Stephen Cooper gave a positive spin on his company’s future direction, insisting that digital is coming of age. He said that streaming music would continue to grow, with both subscription and ad-funded services expected to generate increasing revenues in the years to come, while also indicating that he expected the download market to co-exist with streaming platforms, even though growth in download sales is slowing.

BMG UK top execs promoted

Business News Industry People Labels & Publishers

BMG has promoted two senior execs within its UK division, with Alexi Cory-Smith becoming Exec Vice President of BMG Chrysalis UK and Mark Ranyard Exec Vice President and CFO. It’s not a massive overhaul, but will result in a slight rejig of executive responsibilities, and will see the UK chiefs ranking higher on a global level.

Following the promotions, which come into effect on 1 Jan, Cory-Smith will oversee all “outward-facing” functions at the music rights company’s UK division, including A&R, business affairs, marketing and sync, while Raynard will oversee income tracking and royalty audits as well as copyright, royalty and contract admin.

Confirming all this, BMG top man Hartwig Masuch told CMU: “These promotions are a well-deserved recognition of the success of BMG’s UK operation, a cornerstone of our worldwide business. They reflect our commitment to developing our executive talent”.

Wednesday 18 December 2013, 12:43 | By Aly Barchi

Rounding up the latest release news…

READ MORE ABOUT: Black Lips | Paul Epworth | Py | Rustie | Sam Smith | U2

Wednesday 18 December 2013, 12:42 | By Aly Barchi

READ MORE ABOUT: Live Nation | Wireless Festival

Wednesday 18 December 2013, 12:41 | By Aly Barchi

So as super-early-bird Lovebox tickets hit the Christmas sales racks, a number of festivals that – unlike Lovebox – have some artists confirmed for 2014 have gone and made some FLUU announcements.

READ MORE ABOUT: Hampton Court Palace Festival | Main Square Festival | Optimus Alive!

Wednesday 18 December 2013, 12:40 | By Andy Malt

Def Leppard are reportedly consulting their lawyers after noticing that the title track of One Direction’s new album, ‘Midnight Memories’, has a chorus quite similar to their 1987 hit, ‘Pour Some Sugar On Me’.

READ MORE ABOUT: Def Leppard | One Direction

Tuesday 17 December 2013, 11:22 | By Aly Barchi

Each weekday in the run up to the Christmas break, we will reveal another of our ten favourite artists of the year. To see each artist as they’re revealed, sign up to receive the CMU Daily or check this page. Today, Arctic Monkeys…

READ MORE ABOUT: Arctic Monkeys | CMU Artists Of The Year 2013

Tuesday 17 December 2013, 11:21 | By Chris Cooke

READ MORE ABOUT: BBC | DAB | Ed Vaizey

Tuesday 17 December 2013, 11:20 | By Chris Cooke

Harry Styles yesterday won an interesting court order that bans the paparazzi from pursuing the One Direction star in the street or creepily waiting outside his home.

READ MORE ABOUT: Harry Styles | One Direction

Tuesday 17 December 2013, 11:19 | By Chris Cooke

It’s been a busy few days for BMG appointments, and this time its Fred Casimir getting promoted to the role of Executive Vice President International Repertoire for the recordings side of the music rights firm.

READ MORE ABOUT: BMG | Fred Casimir

Tuesday 17 December 2013, 11:18 | By Andy Malt

READ MORE ABOUT: British Phonographic Industry (BPI)

Tuesday 17 December 2013, 11:17 | By Andy Malt

Former music journalist turned record label man Dave Shack has now made the move into the world of artist management. He has been appointed Managing Director of Phantom Music Management, which looks after Iron Maiden, reporting to founders Rod Smallwood and Andy Taylor.

READ MORE ABOUT: Dave Shack | Iron Maiden | Phantom Music Management

Tuesday 17 December 2013, 11:16 | By Chris Cooke

‘Social listening app’ (read this if you’ve no idea what that means) Soundrop has announced the launch of an Android app and an upgrade of its original Spotify app. And just in time for Christmas.

READ MORE ABOUT: Soundrop

Tuesday 17 December 2013, 11:15 | By Chris Cooke

READ MORE ABOUT: LoveLive | Remco Van Stiphout

Tuesday 17 December 2013, 11:14 | By Andy Malt

So, apparently releasing your new album without warning and through just one retailer is the way to go if you want get rich quick, and who doesn’t want to do that?

READ MORE ABOUT: Beyonce

Tuesday 17 December 2013, 11:13 | By Aly Barchi

So it’s finally sunk in for pop pariah James Arthur that he won’t be winning any ‘world’s nicest person’ prizes any time soon.

READ MORE ABOUT: James Arthur

Tuesday 17 December 2013, 11:12 | By Aly Barchi

The son of country music great Ray Price announced that his father had passed away on Sunday, aged 87, having opted not to receive further treatment for terminal pancreatic cancer. But the thing is, Price is still alive, and his son’s statement was issued prematurely, though it’s unclear how.

READ MORE ABOUT: Ray Price

Tuesday 17 December 2013, 11:11 | By Aly Barchi

My Chemical Romance have said things pertaining to their greatest hits LP, aka their last LP ever, ‘May Death Never Stop You’.

READ MORE ABOUT: My Chemical Romance

Tuesday 17 December 2013, 11:10 | By Aly Barchi

DJ David Rodigan of ‘Ram Jam’ standing has acted as caretaker on the next edition of Ministry Of Sound’s ‘Masterpiece’ compilations series.

READ MORE ABOUT: David Rodigan | Ministry Of Sound

Tuesday 17 December 2013, 11:09 | By Aly Barchi

Hip hop hit girl Angel Haze has revealed her new and first ever LP, ‘Dirty Gold’, will be released on 3 Mar, which is a bit of a wait but… what can you do?

READ MORE ABOUT: Angel Haze

Tuesday 17 December 2013, 11:08 | By Aly Barchi

Jessie J is headed into the woods in summer 2014, to play some of the Forestry Commission’s Forest Live shows. So she doesn’t get lost, here’s a cut-out guide to where and when those concerts will be:

READ MORE ABOUT: Forest Live | Jessie J

Tuesday 17 December 2013, 11:07 | By Aly Barchi

It’s been a while since Justin Bieber fell off – or down – anything (with the exception of ‘the rails’), so when he fell off a skateboard the other day it was quite an event.

READ MORE ABOUT: Justin Bieber

Monday 16 December 2013, 11:54 | By Andy Malt

Each weekday in the run up to the Christmas break, we will reveal another of our ten favourite artists of the year. To see each artist as they’re revealed, sign up to receive the CMU Daily or check this page. Next up is Perfume…

READ MORE ABOUT: CMU Artists Of The Year 2013 | Perfume

Monday 16 December 2013, 11:53 | By Chris Cooke

The UK music industry contributed £3.5 billion to the UK economy in 2012, according to new figures from cross-sector trade body UK Music.

READ MORE ABOUT: Jo Dipple | UK Music

Monday 16 December 2013, 11:52 | By Chris Cooke

Global Radio has confirmed that it is throwing in the towel in its fight with the Competition Commission over its acquisition of the Guardian Media Group’s former radio business.

READ MORE ABOUT: Competition Commission | Global | Guardian Media Group | Real & Smooth Limited | Real Radio | Smooth Radio

Monday 16 December 2013, 11:51 | By Chris Cooke

Russia’s Supreme Court last week criticised the guilty verdicts in the Pussy Riot case and ordered a review of the ruling.

READ MORE ABOUT: Maria Alyokhina | Nadezhda Tolokonnikova | Pussy Riot

Monday 16 December 2013, 11:50 | By Andy Malt

Radio 2 DJ Paul Gambaccini has been rebailed, following his arrest last month as part of Operation Yewtree. His bail now extends to March next year.

READ MORE ABOUT: Operation Yewtree | Paul Gambaccini

Monday 16 December 2013, 11:48 | By Chris Cooke

U2 have confirmed that long-time Madonna manager Guy Oseary has now taken over day-to-day management duties for the band via a new Live Nation-backed venture, with their long-term manager Paul McGuinness now having an advisory role.

READ MORE ABOUT: Guy Oseary | Live Nation | Maverick | Paul McGuinness | Principle Management | U2

Monday 16 December 2013, 11:47 | By Aly Barchi

Cooking Vinyl has clasped Embrace to its bosom, sealing an international artist services deal with the band in time to release their new LP in spring 2014.

READ MORE ABOUT: Cooking Vinyl | Embrace

Monday 16 December 2013, 11:46 | By Chris Cooke

READ MORE ABOUT: Cherry Red Records | Rick Wakeman | The Fall

Monday 16 December 2013, 11:45 | By Chris Cooke