Wednesday 26 March 2014, 11:47 | By Andy Malt

BBC announces new arts coverage strategy

Business News Industry People Media

BBC Director General Tony Hall announced a new strategy for arts and music coverage across the BBC yesterday. This included the creation of two new jobs, Director Of Arts and Director Of Music, the former going to Jonty Claypole and the latter to current Radio 2 / 6 Music boss Bob Shennan. In a gallant attempt at some joined up thinking, the two new appointees will respectively oversee arts and music coverage across the BBC’s TV, radio, iPlayer and other online platforms.

Most of yesterday’s announcement focussed on the new BBC Arts unit, with a further announcement on the all new BBC Music division later in the year. However, a number of projects falling under the arts side of the new programming initiative will involve classical music, including coverage of the 80th anniversary of Glyndebourne, and a new animated children’s film, ‘Mimi And The Mountain Dragon’, featuring music composed by Rachel Portman.

Hall said: “I want BBC Arts – and BBC Music – to sit proudly alongside BBC News. The arts are for everyone – and, from now on, BBC Arts will be at the very heart of what we do. We’ll be joining up arts on the BBC like never before – across television, radio and digital. And, we’ll be working more closely with our country’s great artists, performers and cultural institutions”.

It was also separately announced yesterday that National Theatre Director Nicholas Hytner will join the BBC Executive Board as a Non-Executive Director on 1 Apr.

Jill Sinclair dies

Business News Industry People

Co-founder of music company the SPZ Group, Jill Sinclair, has died from cancer, aged 61.

In a statement, her husband Trevor Horn said: “Jill was an inspiration in every aspect of her life, as my wife and as the mother of our children. She had an adventurous, maverick spirit and built up music businesses – and made her way through life – successfully and independently, and always on her own terms. She will be sorely missed”.

Sinclair co-founded SPZ Group with legendary producer Horn in 1984, overseeing its growth from operating Basing Street Studios and the publishing company Perfect Song, to encompassing a number of music firms, including Stiff Records and Sarm Studios. She was severely injured in a tragic shooting accident in 2006 that left her in a coma for several years.

A funeral was held on Monday.

Sean Combs breathes new life into Puff Daddy

Artist News Releases

Sean Combs, aka P Diddy, has swapped his rap alias back to his far swaggier original one, Puff Daddy, in order to release a new LP titled ‘MMM’. At least, I think that’s what’s going on, in spite of the fact that his Twitter handle is still @iamdiddy, and Combs himself doesn’t seem very certain either. Saying that, he did change the date of his actual birthday, which I think is an indication that ‘PD’, let’s say, can and will change whatever the hell he likes, when he feels like it.

Combs released his first official solo single, ‘Can’t Hold Me Down’, as Puff Daddy in 1997, going on to make a pair of solo LPs by that name. Then in 2001 he became P Diddy, later losing the ‘P’ in 2005, a move that cost him significant damages and legal costs after London artist Richard Dearlove, who’d taken on ‘Diddy’ as his DJ name years earlier, sought a High Court injunction to stop Combs from using the moniker in the UK.

Well, never mind all that, because a) he could more than afford that lawsuit and b) apparently he always was Puff Daddy anyway.

Look now at a trailer for lead ‘MMM’ single ‘Big Homie’, which is released next week.

Madonna teases Rebel Heart thing

Artist News Releases

Madonna might release a thing – single, animal or mineral, nobody knows which – titled ‘Rebel Heart’, soon. It might, since Mad revealed she’d been ‘creating’ with him a few weeks back, be a collaboration with Avicii. Or, a solo single. Or it’s always possible Madonna is simply trolling the whole world.

Whatever its significance, this is the Instagram post that started all this silly ‘Madonna might do a thing’ flim flam. And this, its caption: “Day turns into night. I wont give up the fight. Don’t want to get to the end of my days… saying I wasn’t amazed! #revolutionoflove”.

The Black Keys key in LP details, stream new single Fever

Artist News Releases

So, The Black Keys have built on rumours they’d announce an album soon by… announcing an album. The Danger Mouse-produced ‘Turn Blue’, Dan Auerbach and Patrick Carney’s eighth LP as a duo, will come out on Nonesuch on 12 May. The band say its title, and mood, could signify any/all of the following options:

a) Suffocation
b) Sadness
c) Numbness from extreme cold
d) A Cleveland late night TV host from the 1960s named Ghoulardi
e) All of the above

“We are always trying to push ourselves when we make a record – not repeat our previous work but not abandon it either”, argues Carney. “On this record, we let the songs breathe and explored moods, textures and sounds. We’re excited for the world to hear ‘Turn Blue'”.

Here, in the meantime, is lead ‘Turn Blue’ single ‘Fever:

Great Escape festival line-up completed

Artist News Gigs & Festivals The Great Escape 2014

The final batch of bands has been added to this year’s Great Escape Festival, taking the line up to over 400 acts, who will play at venues across Brighton from 8-10 May alongside the CMU Insights-programmed Great Escape Convention.

As previously reported, this year’s convention will feature six half-day strands going into key music business topics in much more detail. Details of two of the strands is already online, with the other four due to be confirmed later this week. On top of that delegates will have access to a brilliant conversations programme and numerous networking events, plus priority access to all festival venues, subject to capacity. More info here.

Meanwhile, here are the latest artist additions: Albert Albert, Alice Boman, Amatorski, Ambassadeurs, Annie Eve, Antimatter People, Audience Killers, Badbadnotgood, Ballet School, Bang Bang Bang, Beasts, Billy Lockett, Bite The Buffalo , Blizzard, Bo Saris, Boreal Sons, Brns, Brolin, Buffalo Daughter, Calling All Cars, Carnival Youth, Charlie Cunningham, Childhood, Claire, Clare Maguire, Clean Bandit, Coely, Coves, Dizraeli And The Small Gods, Dog Is Dead, Drowners, Eagles For Hands, Eliza And The Bear, Etches, Ethan Johns, Eyes And No Eyes, Ezra Furman, Frànçois And The Atlas Mountains, Freddie Dickson, Future Folk Orchestra, Gavin James, Glass Animals, God Damn, Gomad! & Monster, Grumbling Fur, Hannah Peel, Hidden Orchestra, His Clancyness, Hollie Cook, Honeyblood, I Have A Tribe, Ichi, Jargon V.A, Jenn Grant, Jess Glynne, Jlyy, Josh Flowers & The Wild, Josh Record, Jungle Doctors, Kate Miller-Heidke, Khushi, Kid Wave, Kieran Leonard, Kimberly Anne, Lay Low, Lily Oakes, Le1f, Lisa Knapp, Little Dragon, Lola Colt, Looks, Luke Howard, Major Look, Marmozets, Mayu Wakisaka, Mazes, Meanwhile, Men’s Adventure’s, Mise En Scene, Mister Wives, Misty Miller, Mø, Neighbour, Night Engine, Norma Jean Martine, Pale Grey, Panama Wedding, Pearls Negras, Persian Rabbit, Prides, Rachael Dadd, Rare Monk, Rhodes, Roger Molls, Salt Ashes, Seoul, Serafina Steer, Sheppard, Shift K3y, Smoove And Turrell, Sophie Jamieson, Sticky Fingers, Superfood, Taro&Jiro, Tcts, Team Me, Ted Zed, The Amazing Snakeheads, The Animen, The Coronas, The Diamond Age, The Rails, The Royal Concept, The Subways, The Wet Secrets, The Xcerts, Tomas Barfod, Trans, Twin Atlantic, Ulla Nova, Vimes, Werkha, Whilk And Misky, White Hinterland, William Carl Jr, Xxanaxx, Y.O.U, You Are Wolf, Young And Sick, and Zhala.

Buy your delegate passes here.

Gigs & Tours Round-Up: Rick Ross, The Used, Kiesza and Dean Blunt

Artist News Gigs & Festivals Gigs & Tours Round-Up

Rounding up the latest gig news…

The OG Rick Ross, Rick Ross (pictured), will stop in to play only one solo show this spring, at the Roundhouse in London on 18 May. It’s all part of an evil genius plan to push pan-European sales of his sixth LP, ‘Mastermind’, which is out now. Tickets will go on sale this Friday, via this link.

And in relevant viewing, this is Rozay’s light and frothy new video, ‘The Devil Is A Lie’:

The Used have announced a cosy show at The Scala in London on 17 Jun, so fans can come for a group hug in honour of the band’s sixth studio LP, ‘Imaginary Enemy’, once that comes out on 31 Mar. While you can listen to the whole album on YouTube right now, you’ll have to hang on until Thursday to buy into to the show.

Also playing a single London show, it’s Canadian singing artiste Kiesza, who’ll pass a pop-tastic night at the London Electrowerkz on 22 May, her first time headlining solo in the capital. The set will likely feature Kiesza’s massive smash single-in-waiting ‘Hideaway’, which will cease to be intangible when it’s released, finally, on 13 Apr. Catch that now while it’s still hot:

And lastly, following an event headlined by Trevor Jackson, NTS Radio will throw another of its inter-disciplinary ‘Parallel Visions’ nights at the ICA in London, this time featuring international-man-of-Hype-Williams-mystery Dean Blunt. It’s billed as an ‘Urban’ show, which could quite literally mean anything. Tickets and info are on this page.

Festival Line-Up Update: James Lavelle’s Meltdown, Wireless, Bestival and more

Artist News Festival Line-Up Update Gigs & Festivals

So, this year’s James Lavelle-curated Meltdown, which takes over London’s Southbank Centre in mid-June, is looking like a pretty covetable ticket right now.

As the event’s Artistic Director, Mo Wax label boss Lavelle has chosen Chrissie Hynde, Neneh Cherry, Petite Noir and Edwyn Collins, amongst others, for his Meltdown bill, also booking in Goldie and the Heritage Orchestra, composer Max Richter accompanying the Royal Philarmonic in a recital of his acclaimed ‘Waltz With Bashir’ film-score, and Micachu, who’ll live-soundtrack a showing of Jonathan Glazer’s acclaimed horror movie ‘Under The Skin’. So go and buy tickets now, if any of that sounds good, which it should.

Speaking of good, check the following additions to the likes of Wireless, Bestival’s BBC 6 Music-hosted Big Top, big-name LDN park weekender Field Day, Sweden’s premier eclectica fest Way Out West, and grown Croatian dance party Unknown…

ARCTANGENT, Fernhill Farm, Compton Martin, Somerset, 28-30 Aug: God Is An Astronaut, Tall Ships, iLiKETRAiNS, El Ten Eleven, Year Of No Light, Alarmist, We Are Knuckle Dragger, No Spill Blood, Bats, Lost in the Riots, Cleft, Olympians, Shiver, Human Pyramids, Astrohenge, Diagonal, Rumour Cubes, Monsters Build Mean Robots, Blueneck, The Winchester Club, Suffer Like G Did, Charlie Barnes, Memory of Elephants, Big Joan, AK/DK, Adding Machine, Samoans, Waking Aida, Wicket, Sleep Beggar, Howard James Kenny, Super Squarecloud, Flies Are Spies From Hell. arctangent.co.uk

BESTIVAL, Robin Hill Country Park, Downend, Isle Of Wight, 4-7 Sep: Bonobo, SBTRKT, Darkside, Temples, DJ Yoda, Dan le Sac vs Scroobius Pip, Peter Hook And The Light, Cate Le Bon, Nick Mulvey, Denai Moore, Public Service Broadcasting, The Radiophonic Workshop, Ady Suleiman. www.bestival.net

EDEN SESSIONS, The Eden Project, Bodelva, Cornwall, full dates TBA: Pixies. www.edensessions.com

FIELD DAY, Victoria Park, London, 7-8 Jun: Thurston Moore, Future Islands, The Wytches, Lovepark. fielddayfestivals.com

GLASTONBURY, Worthy Farm, Pilton, Somerset, 25-29 Jun: The Black Keys. www.glastonburyfestivals.co.uk

THE GREAT ESCAPE, various venues, Brighton, 8-10 May: Albert Albert, Alice Boman, Amatorski, Ambassadeurs, Annie Eve, Antimatter People, Audience Killers, Badbadnotgood, Ballet School, Bang Bang Bang, Beasts, Billy Lockett, Bite The Buffalo , Blizzard, Bo Saris, Boreal Sons, Brns, Brolin, Buffalo Daughter, Calling All Cars, Carnival Youth, Charlie Cunningham, Childhood, Claire, Clare Maguire, Clean Bandit, Coely, Coves, Dizraeli And The Small Gods, Dog Is Dead, Drowners, Eagles For Hands, Eliza And The Bear, Etches, Ethan Johns, Eyes And No Eyes, Ezra Furman, Frànçois And The Atlas Mountains, Freddie Dickson, Future Folk Orchestra, Gavin James, Glass Animals, God Damn, Gomad! & Monster, Grumbling Fur, Hannah Peel, Hidden Orchestra, His Clancyness, Hollie Cook, Honeyblood, I Have A Tribe, Ichi, Jargon V.A, Jenn Grant, Jess Glynne, Jlyy, Josh Flowers & The Wild, Josh Record, Jungle Doctors, Kate Miller-Heidke, Khushi, Kid Wave, Kieran Leonard, Kimberly Anne, Lay Low, Lily Oakes, Le1f, Lisa Knapp, Little Dragon, Lola Colt, Looks, Luke Howard, Major Look, Marmozets, Mayu Wakisaka, Mazes, Meanwhile, Men’s Adventure’s, Mise En Scene, Mister Wives, Misty Miller, Mø, Neighbour, Night Engine, Norma Jean Martine, Pale Grey, Panama Wedding, Pearls Negras, Persian Rabbit, Prides, Rachael Dadd, Rare Monk, Rhodes, Roger Molls, Salt Ashes, Seoul, Serafina Steer, Sheppard, Shift K3y, Smoove And Turrell, Sophie Jamieson, Sticky Fingers, Superfood, Taro&Jiro, Tcts, Team Me, Ted Zed, The Amazing Snakeheads, The Animen, The Coronas, The Diamond Age, The Rails, The Royal Concept, The Subways, The Wet Secrets, The Xcerts, Tomas Barfod, Trans, Twin Atlantic, Ulla Nova, Vimes, Werkha, Whilk And Misky, White Hinterland, William Carl Jr, Xxanaxx, Y.O.U, You Are Wolf, Young And Sick, and Zhala. www.greatescapefestival.com

JAMES LAVELLE’S MELTDOWN, Southbank Centre, London, 13-22 Jun: Chrissie Hynde, Mark Lanegan, Neneh Cherry & RocketNumberNine, Edwyn Collins, Goldie & The Heritage Orchestra, Petite Noir, Max Richter, Philharmonia Orchestra, Keaton Henson, Radkey, Micachu, UNKLE, Philip Sheppard, Mo Wax, Glass Animals, DJ Harvey, ESG, 23 Skidoo, The Fairey Band, A Love Supreme. meltdown.southbankcentre.co.uk

LIVERPOOL PSYCH FEST, Camp & Furnace, Liverpool, 26-27 Sep: Goat, Woods, Suuns, White Hills, Amen Dunes, Zombie Zombie, Sleepy Sun, Wolf People, Hills. liverpoolpsychfest.tumblr.com

LIVERPOOL SOUND CITY, various venues, Liverpool, 1-3 May: The Kooks. www.liverpoolsoundcity.co.uk

SHHH FESTIVAL, Heath Street Baptist Church, Hampstead, London, 24 May: Tiny Ruins, B* Mountain, Land Observations, Adam Stafford, Myyths, Sophie Jamieson, Arch Garisson, Charlie Cunningham, Grimm Grimm, Jim Perkins + Leah Kardos, Nathan Ball, Dan Bettridge. thelocal.tv/shhh.html‎

UNKNOWN, Rovinj, Istria, Croatia, 8-12 Sep: Chic feat Nile Rodgers, Jamie xx, London Grammar, Disclosure DJs, Clean Bandit, Moderat, DJ Koze, Eats Everything, Richy Ahmed, Prins Thomas, Fainting By Numbers. www.unknowncroatia.com

WAY OUT WEST, Slottsskogen, Gothenburg, Sweden, 7-9 Aug: Tinariwen, Mac DeMarco, Sharon Van Etten, Elliphant, John Wizards, Bo Ningen, Veronica Maggio, Pearson Sound, Ben UFO, Pangaea. www.wayoutwest.se

WEYFEST, The Rural Life Centre, Farnham, Surrey, 29-31 Aug: Squeeze, Big Country. www.weyfest.co.uk

WIRELESS FESTIVAL, Finsbury Park, London, 4-6 Jul: Tinie Tempah, Robin Thicke, Sean Paul, Naughty Boy, Labrinth, Kid Ink, Wilkinson, Meridian Dan, Lizzo, Jon Bellion, Schoolboy Q, Javeon, Elli Ingram, Blonde, Rixton, Alec Benjamin, Say Lou Lou, Sinead Harnett, Indiana, All About She, Sasha Keable. www.wirelessfestival.co.uk

Gwyneth Paltrow and Chris Martin split

And Finally Artist News

Gwyneth Paltrow and Chris Martin have announced that they are going to “consciously uncouple”. Which is the fluffiest possible way to say that they’re splitting up. The news was announced via Paltrow’s lifestyle website Goop, which (the About page says) she set up in order “to share all of life’s positives”.

“It is with hearts full of sadness that we have decided to separate”, the couple’s statement reads, thus ruining the premise of the whole website. “We have been working hard for well over a year, some of it together, some of it separated, to see what might have been possible between us, and we have come to the conclusion that while we love each other very much we will remain separate”.

They continued: “We are, however, and always will be a family, and in many ways we are closer than we have ever been. We are parents first and foremost, to two incredibly wonderful children and we ask for their and our space and privacy to be respected at this difficult time. We have always conducted our relationship privately, and we hope that as we consciously uncouple and co-parent, we will be able to continue in the same manner”.

Paltrow’s next film, ‘Mortdecai’, is due out later this year, and Martin is also gearing up for the release of a new Coldplay album in May.

Approved: Florrie – Seashells

CMU Approved

Those of us starved of genius girl pop since Girls Aloud called it a day have had a number of Xenomania-produced acts to get briefly excited about – from Frank to Mini Viva. Best of all is Florrie (aka Florence Arnold) who, not content with being a drummer and model, has also shown herself to be a dab hand at writing and singing sassy, occasionally bittersweet but utterly perfect electro-pop.

Florrie, like Xenomania, is no stranger to unconventional song structures (witness the ridiculously simple genius of her ‘I Shot You Down’ or, of course, their Girls Aloud track ‘Biology’) and ‘Seashells’ similarly sticks two fingers up at pop convention by literally not bothering to include a chorus. A hypnotic dance track (albeit one only three minutes long) that’s more of a groove than a song, ‘Seashells’ is rather good, albeit best treated not as an OMG-listen-to-this-single but as more of an experimental track.

‘Seashells’ is taken from the Sirens EP, which is released in April. The video is previewing on YouTube now:

NPD report puts focus on mobile music piracy

Business News Digital Top Stories

So people, can you all cope with battling yet another new front in the long-running music piracy war? Though don’t worry, enemy number one remains the same. Yes, it’s big, bad, bold, belligerent, boisterous, bullish, bullying, bulldozing, brash, brutal, but brilliant Google.

Research firm NPD Group has thrown the spotlight on the rising trend of smartphone-based music piracy, suggesting that it’s on the humble mobile device that record companies and music publishers are facing their next big piracy challenge, as an increasing number of apps appearing on the scene that enable users to tap into free and usually unlicensed sources of music content.

According to Re/Code, the research company says in a new report that “some 27 million people in the US have used mobile applications to get at least one song in the past year, much of it believed to be unauthorised”. Meanwhile NPD analyst Russ Crupnick is quoted as saying: “In the beginning, we had feature phones with ringtones and very slow networks. As the technology improves, it becomes a free for all for someone who wants free music files”.

Of course the shift of online piracy from PCs to net-connected phones has been anticipated for some time, though bandwidth issues and inflexibilities in the way the mobile internet initially worked originally made accessing unlicensed music services this way less attractive. But smartphones, faster connections, more plentiful mobile data packages and user-friendly apps connected to dubious banks of music files are helping overcome the limitations.

Which means that while the growth of the mobile internet as been an opportunity for the music business to date – especially in the burgeoning streaming market, with subscription services being able to charge a premium for mobile functionality – labels and publishers are starting to discover the down side, not least because the industry’s now pretty sophisticated anti-piracy machine (with its takedown notice issuing and domain-blocking tactics) is generally focused on PC-based piracy services.

Though the growth in mobile piracy noted by NPD in its new report hasn’t gone entirely unnoticed by the music rights sector. For them, the immediate target is the apps that enable people to access unlicensed content on their smartphones with minimum effort, some of which look like pretty legitimate set-ups. And that means targeting the stores that distribute these apps, and that mainly means Apple and Google’s app distribution platforms.

Both app stores have terms and conditions that forbid copyright infringement, though there are the usual ambiguities as to what constitutes infringing activity (given many apps are contributory rather than direct infringers), and the onus is often on the rights owners to spot the offenders. Though insiders say that because Apple scrutinises new apps more closely, it is the Google app store where the real problems lie.

One popular Android app is Music Maniac which, according to Re/Code, the Recording Industry Association Of America has already asked be removed from the Google store multiple times, but so far without success.

Though, of course, the aforementioned ambiguities about the liabilities of app makers like those behind Music Maniac might be behind the web giant’s reluctance to act, most legal precedent to date on so called contributory infringement online focusing on P2P software, BitTorrent search engines and link communities, and digital locker services.

Nevertheless, it adds another gripe to add to the music industry’s Google list; with the music industry already of the opinion the company is doing too little to stop the listing of clearly copyright infringing services in its search results.

The Veronicas sign to Sony

Business News Deals Labels & Publishers

Australian pop goths The Veronicas, aka twin sister act Lisa and Jessica Origliasso, have signed a new deal with Sony Music.

The pair’s rocky liaison with past label Warner Bros, which meant the release of a third Veronicas LP being held back several times, came to a close last year.

Fast forward a bit, and the band are officially ‘back’, and making their first LP since 2007’s ‘Hook Me Up’ in LA right now. Look in on that via this ‘making of’-type trailer, which features brand new tracks ‘Did You Miss Me’ and ‘Back To You’:

Paul Williams to join Sony/ATV in corporate comms role

Business News Industry People Labels & Publishers

Music publishing giant Sony/ATV has announced that former Music Week Editor Paul Williams will become its new VP Communications next month. Based in the company’s London office, Williams will oversee all corporate communications and media relations globally, reporting direct to CEO Marty Bandier.

Announcing the news, Bandier said: “Paul is a seasoned music professional who has an extraordinary and knowledgeable understanding of the global publishing industry as well as its evolving digital landscape. He is well versed in the struggles our songwriters and artists face each day and I’m thrilled to have Paul on board to lead the communications efforts for Sony/ATV”.

Williams added: “Sony/ATV is home to many of my favourite songs and songwriters and is a company I have followed closely and admired for many years. I cannot wait to be part of Marty’s team, at what is a truly exciting time of change for music publishing”.

As previously reported, Williams announced his departure from Music Week after seventeen years at the title last week.

Disney to acquire Maker Studios

Business News Deals Digital

The rapid growth of the so called multi-channel networks – sort of the record labels of the YouTube-verse – has been proven again with the news that Disney is buying one of the market leaders, Maker Studios, in a half a billion dollar deal that could value the company as high as $950 million if certain performance targets are met.

Maker Studios, which works with creators and content partners to manage, promote and monetise YouTube-based channels, will continue to operate as a standalone company within the Disney group.

Confirming the mega-bucks deal, Disney chief Robert Iger told reporters: “Shortform online video is growing at an astonishing pace and with Maker Studios, Disney will now be at the centre of this dynamic industry with an unmatched combination of advanced technology and programming expertise and capabilities”.

Meanwhile Maker Studios CEO Ynon Kreiz said: “Disney is synonymous with the best entertainment and is the ideal partner for us, strengthening our position as the leading player in online video”.

Pitbull links with Playboy

Brands & Merch Business News Deals

“Global music superstar” Pitbull, real name Armando Christian Pérez, has hooked up with Playboy Enterprises, Inc in one of those a “strategic partnership” things. So that’s nice. No, wait, it isn’t nice at all. Nice is what it isn’t.

Pérez’s affiliation with the brand is – claims this press release – meant as a “creative cross pollination” of his world and Playboy’s, translating to collaborations on various “content, experience, and product-related initiatives”. The first and so far only one of those initiatives is the forthcoming official clip for P-Bull’s new single ‘Wild Wild Love (feat GRL)’, which was filmed at the Playboy Mansion earlier this month.

Pitbull, who joins the Playboy party as the brand celebrates its 60th year selling sex, poses this motion: “In order to become an iconic brand you have to partner up with one”, going on to ask: “What’s more iconic than Playboy?”

And also, to add: “It’s an honour to partner with Playboy Enterprises – Ladies and Gentlemen you are looking at the new Playboy, Armando Christian Pérez”.

Playboy CEO Scott Flanders says: “Throughout our history we’ve collaborated with artists and cultural tastemakers who both embody the Playboy lifestyle and interpret it in their own images. Today we’re taking a big step in re-interpreting our enduring brand for a new generation by welcoming Armando into the fold. His magnetic energy, charisma and style combined with his clear talent as an entrepreneur exemplify the aspirational lifestyle that defines our brand. We’re looking forward to doing some great things together”.

Spotify halts third party app programme

Business News Digital

Spotify has announced that is no longer accepting new submissions for apps to run within its desktop software.

Originally announced with some fanfare back in 2011, Spotify’s third party app platform allowed companies to build their own apps to complement the company’s music streaming offering. However, the makers had to host the apps themselves and were forbidden from monetising them.

In its statement yesterday, Spotify said: “Since [launching the third party apps platform] partners have been asking us for a cheaper and easier way to own a presence inside Spotify and developers would like more ways to integrate Spotify with their own applications. Pair that with the growing importance of mobile and we realised we needed to adapt”.

What this means in the short term is that no new apps, other than those which have already been approved, will go live, and Spotify will only allow critical updates to be made. In the longer term, it sounds as if Spotify is planning to integrate more data and content from key partners directly into its software, as it does with gig recommendations from Songkick, for example. As for everyone else, they will be encouraged to create standalone web apps that pull in Spotify libraries and playlists.

Roger Wright to leave BBC Radio 3

Business News Industry People Media

Controller of BBC Radio 3 and Director of the BBC Proms, Roger Wright has announced that he will step down from both roles, after almost fifteen years with the Corporation, in September to take up the position of Chief Executive of Aldeburgh Music.

BBC Director General Tony Hall said of Wright: “Over the last fifteen years Roger has made a huge contribution to the BBC, through the success of both Radio 3 and [his] seven seasons of the Proms. He has been a fantastic champion of classical music across the BBC and has raised the profile of the Proms every year. We wish him well at Aldeburgh Music and will be looking to build on his achievements at Radio 3 and the Proms”.

Wright himself added: “I am honoured to have been invited to lead Aldeburgh Music at such an exciting time in its development. However, I am sorry to be leaving the BBC, having enjoyed such a long and fulfilling period at Radio 3 and the BBC Proms, and with the arts due to be such a key part of its immediate future under Tony Hall’s leadership. I am fortunate indeed to have been able to work with fantastically creative and hard-working colleagues”.

Co-founded by composers Benjamin Britten and Peter Pears with opera director Eric Crozier in 1947, Aldeburgh Music’s central project is the annual Aldeburgh Festival. It also runs various other events and artist development programmes. Wright is replacing Jonathan Reekie, who announced his departure to become Director of Somerset House in December.

Recruitment to replace Roger Wright is due to begin shortly. If you want to brush up on what tasks his roles include, then you should have a read of the interview he did with CMU last summer.

Xfm Scotland to return next month

Business News Media

Xfm Scotland

Xfm has announced 7 Apr as the date of its return to the airwaves in Scotland, specifically Glasgow, where it will replace Real Radio XS on the 96.3FM frequency.

This follows owner Global Radio’s recent shake-up of its brands portfolio, initiated by its acquisition of the GMG Radio company, and its subsequent deal with Communicorp to offload some FM franchises and licence back to the Irish media firm some of its content and brands.

As with Xfm’s Manchester station, much of its output will be syndicated from its London counterpart, though there will be some original programming too. Original Xfm Scotland presenter and, for that matter, CMU co-founder Fraser Thomson will present the breakfast show, while Jim Gellatly will handle drivetime, and Tom Russell will be in to present weekend breakfast.

Xfm Managing Editor, Chris Baughen said: “Coming back to Scotland after nearly six years away is huge for us. We’re really excited to be returning to our loyal listeners across the country. We’ll continue to support emerging Scottish bands, as well as Xfm favourites from across indie, alternative and rock music”.

Meanwhile, Thomson added: “Scotland has a strong connection with music so Xfm is a great station for Scotland. I’ll be squeezing loads of tunes into four hours, unearthing some new gems and digging out some old favourites”.

Xfm Scotland originally launched in 2006, replacing one-time independent new music station Beat 106, before being rebranded as Galaxy Scotland in 2008, and latterly Capital FM Scotland (which will continue to air on Xfm’s original Scottish frequencies).

Sound It Out and Great Hip Hop Hoax director crowdfunding new film

Business News Media

Documentary maker Jeanie Finlay has launched a crowdfunding campaign on Indiegogo to raise money to finish her latest film, ‘Orion: The Man Who Would Be King’.

Findlay has previously directed documentaries including ‘Sound It Out’, about the last record shop in Teesside, and ‘The Great Hip Hop Hoax’, about hip hop act Silibil N Brains, who tricked the music industry into believing they were from LA, when in fact they were from Scotland. ‘Orion’, meanwhile, tells the story of Jimmy Ellis, who for a brief period in the late 70s donned a masked and let people think he was Elvis. Something, amazingly, a lot of people did.

Explaining further, Finlay said: “Ten years ago my husband and I bought this record at a car boot-sale. It’s on Sun Records, on gold vinyl. I played it and heard this unmistakable voice. I immediately wanted to find out more about the mysterious masked man on the cover. What I uncovered was a rollercoaster story of the Nashville music scene in the wake of Elvis Presley’s death. Orion’s mask and his incredible voice ignited a fantasy and hundreds of thousands of people believed that Elvis might be alive. It’s an extraordinary story and I knew immediately I wanted to make it into a film”.

She continued: “I’ve worked for almost five years meeting and interviewing everyone who was close to Jimmy ‘Orion’ Ellis to tell his story and now I’m ready to finish the film. It’s an extraordinary story and every dollar, pound or euro pledged helps us get nearer to the finish line”.

The Indiegogo campaign is aiming to raise $50,000 to finish the film. Read more and put in some money here, and watch a trailer here:

GWAR frontman Dave Brockie dies

Artist News

GWAR frontman Dave Brockie, better known as Oderus Urungus, was found dead at his home on Sunday, police confirmed to CBS 6 yesterday. The cause of death has not yet been determined, although foul play is not suspected. Brockie was 50.

Brockie formed GWAR in 1984 and was the only member of the band to feature in the line-up continuously throughout their career. Speaking to Style Weekly, former GWAR bassist Mike Bishop said: “Dave was one of the funniest, smartest, most creative and energetic persons I’ve known. He was brash sometimes, always crass, irreverent, he was hilarious in every way. But he was also deeply intelligent and interested in life, history, politics and art”.

He continued: “His penchant for scatological humours belied a lucid wit. He was a criminally underrated lyricist and hard rock vocalist, one of the best ever. A great frontman, a great painter, writer, he was also a hell of a bass guitarist. I loved him. He was capable of great empathy and had a real sense of justice”.

Brockie’s death follows that of guitarist Cory Smoot, who died of a heart attack on the band’s tour bus in 2011.

Abz to miss out on 5ive’s Big Reunion Tour

Artist News Gigs & Festivals

It hurts to have to break this to you all, but Abz Love won’t be joining 5ive’s increasingly threadbare line-up when Sean, Richie and Scott tour with the other boybands off of ITV’s ‘The Big Reunion’, citing “personal reasons”. He’s definitely not left 5ive permanently, though, nor does it mean a split is on the cards, so it’s all gravy.

It’s as Abz told The Daily Star only yesterday: “I’ve definitely not left. All is gravy with me and the boys. We are still together. 5ive aren’t splitting up”.

And there that is. But the ‘Big Reunion’ shows must go on, and so 5ive’s Thr33 remaining men will hit the road with the likes of Blue, 911, Damage, A1, 3T and 5th Story on the previously reported ‘TBR Boy Band Tour’, which starts in mid-October.

Pixies detail compilation LP, Indie Cindy

Artist News Releases

Pixies have revealed details on what’s to be their first LP since 1991’s ‘Trompe Le Monde’.

‘Indie Cindy’, which shares its title with the single the band released all the way back in September, will feature their 2013 ‘comeback’ track ‘Bagboy’, and compiles all the songs from the three EPs they’ve reeled off over the past year.

It was made in the main in late 2012 with longtime Pixies producer Gil Norton, at which point ex-bassist Kim Deal, since she doesn’t play on any of its tracks, was seemingly already estranged from Black Francis et al.

Copies of the longform ‘Indie Cindy’ will ship on 28 Apr, via the band’s label, Pixiesmusic. It’ll be available either as a two CD pack, or on double-vinyl, with the CD editions including an additional thirteen track live disc dating back to Pixies’ tour of North America earlier this year, which features the replacement for Deal’s replacement, Paz Lenchantin, on bass.

In the meantime, the four track ‘EP 3’ is available online right now via ep3.pixiesmusic.com

And the LP’s tracklisting:

What Goes Boom
Greens And Blues
Indie Cindy
Bagboy
Magdalena 318
Silver Snail
Blue Eyed Hexe
Ring the Bell
Another Toe In The Ocean
Andro Queen
Snakes
Jaime Bravo

Las Kellies, Wreckless Eric, Guided By Voices to play Fire Records anniversary shows

Artist News Gigs & Festivals Labels & Publishers

London-based label Fire Records is celebrating its thirtieth anniversary with a series of events in the capital in May.

The first show, on 15 May at Oslo in Hackney, will star approved Fire signees Las Kellies, with Scott & Charlene’s Wedding, punk trio Fawn Spots and the brilliant Keel Her playing The Lexington the following day. Rock n roller Wreckless Eric will play live at his own 60th birthday party on 7 May, also at The Lexington, and also (also) a nod to the fact that Fire are re-releasing his classic LPs ‘Le Beat Group Electrique’ and ‘The Donovan Of Trash’ in May.

In a third night at The Lexington on 18 May, Stewart Lee is set to MC a live release party for Guided By Voices’s second LP of 2014, ‘Cool Planet’, which is out 19 May. The band actor Paddy Considine plays in, Riding The Low, and Band Of Pricks, will both support.

Gigs & Tours Round-Up: Status Quo, Tove Lo, The Amazing Snakeheads and La Sera

Artist News Gigs & Festivals Gigs & Tours Round-Up

Rounding up the latest gig news…

In what looks like turning out to be the most rockin tour of all time, kings of mince Status Quo are going to play lots of UK shows at the end of the year, with support from CHAS & DAVE. Acting as a lap of honour for the deluxe reissue of The Quo’s 1972 LP ‘Piledriver’, which also comes with its own ale, for crying out loud, the tour starts on 6 Dec at Liverpool’s Echo Arena, and comes to a close at the Brighton Centre on 20 Dec. Happy Quo-mas.

Hitting the circuit in May for a pair of shows is Stockholm-born alt-pop artist Tove Lo, who’ll play at London’s Hoxton Square Bar & Kitchen (on 6 May), and Manchester’s Deaf Institute (7 May) ahead of this year’s Great Escape Festival. And here, indeed, are the details on the dates, which are arranged off the back of Tove Lo’s 7 Apr-released first EP, ‘Truth Serum’. Details here.

Scots garage-rock rabble The Amazing Snakeheads (pictured) are making a few live appearances in May. And April, when on 22 Apr they’ll play an Xfm X-Posure Live showcase at the Barfly in London. After that, it’s on to Glasgow for a show on 25 Apr, and on again over the UK for a further nine shows, plus slots at Liverpool Sound City and Live At Leeds. Click this URL for full listings, and the ‘play’ button on this video to view ‘Here It Comes Again’, the new single off the group’s debut LP, ‘Amphetamine Ballads’, which is out on 14 Apr:

And finally, as the world continues to mourn the really, really rubbish news that the Vivian Girls have split up for good, comes a small ray of light in the form of ex-VG Katy Goodman’s band La Sera, who are coming over to Europe in May to play live some. Once in the UK, they’ll stop at London’s Hoxton Square Bar & Kitchen (23 May), Leeds’ Wardrobe (24 May), and Sticky Mike’s Frog Bar in Brighton on 25 May. Check the dates here, and ‘Losing To The Dark’, the lead single off La Sera’s new LP, ‘Hour Of The Dawn’, which is released on 2 Jun, here:

Festival Line-Up Update: Roskilde, Radio 1’s Big Weekend, Y-Not and more

Artist News Festival Line-Up Update Gigs & Festivals

BBC Radio 1 has announced that a host of DJs – like Annie Mac, Zane Lowe, Pete Tong, Danny Howard and so forth – will broadcast live on the station from Glasgow’s George Square on 23 May, in so doing ‘kicking off’ Radio 1’s free Big Weekend festival in the city. 14,000 free tickets to this specific part of the Weekend will be released this Friday via the Radio 1 site, if you fancy registering to win a pair.

Staying on a Big Weekend tip, the festival’s line-up now comes with added Pharrell Williams and The 1975, since both names got announced by that Nick Grimshaw the other day. Pharrell’s hat has this to say about it: “I am so excited and honoured to be playing Radio 1’s Big Weekend. Over the years I’ve been in awe of the amazing world-class talent at the event and to know that I will be a part of it this year is so humbling. Can’t wait to see you guys!”

You guys, look on for the latest bill-updates from your favourite festivals…

BBC RADIO 1’S BIG WEEKEND, Glasgow Green, Lanarkshire, 23-25 May: Pharrell Williams, The 1975, Danny Howard, Annie Mac, Pete Tong, Zane Lowe. www.bbc.co.uk/events/ep3g9r‎

DOWNLOAD, Donington Park, Derbyshire, 13-15 Jun: Against Me!, Monster Magnet, The Wildhearts, Chevelle, Arthemis, Orange Goblin, Lawnmower Deth, Page 44, Royal Blood, The Dirty Youth, Marmozets, Vamps, Kid Karate, The Magnus Puto Band, No Hot Ashes, Colt 45, Drones, Tax The Heat. www.downloadfestival.co.uk

FOREST LIVE, various venues, full dates TBA: The Pogues. www.forestry.gov.uk/music

ROSKILDE, Festivalpladsen, Darupvej, Roskilde, Denmark, 3-6 Jul: The Rolling Stones. roskilde-festival.dk

WEEKEND AT THE EDGE OF THE LAKE, Geronde Lake, Sierre, Valais Alps, Switzerland, 27-29 Jun: Gramatik, Kink, DJ Food, Cheeba & Moneyshot, Culoe De Song, Mop Mop, Lack Of Afro, Synapson, Karocel, Kadebostany, Soul Minority, Emel Mathlouthi, Le Bal 2 Vieux, BBLK feat The Layders, Sarah Quartetto. www.aubordeleau.ch

Y-NOT, Mouldridge Lane, Matlock, Derbyshire, 1-3 Aug: Goldie Lookin Chain, Max Raptor, The James Warner Prophecies, Bare Knuckle Parade. www.ynotfestivals.co.uk

Ariana Grande’s dog piss toe snap

And Finally Artist News

Pop type Ariana Grande broke three of her toes after slipping in a puddle of dog urine, left by her dog Ophelia, on Sunday evening. This news was helpfully revealed by her manager Scooter Braun on Twitter and Instagram yesterday. Which is, I’m sure, what she wanted him to do.

Braun posted a screenshot of a text message from Grande, in which she told him: “Had a party last night and in front of a lot of people I slipped on a surprise pile of Ophelia piss, slammed into a wall and broke three toes”.

We have consulted the powers that be and it has been decided that this occurrence of a pop person falling over is even better than the time Justin Bieber walked into a door, or a window, or down some stairs, or even that time a window caused him to fall down some stairs.

I don’t think Scooter Braun needs to worry about his biggest client going rogue any more. This girl’s a keeper.

Approved: Dub Thompson

CMU Approved

The two faces in most of Dub Thompson’s promo shots are those of lost California boys Matt Pulos and Evan Laffer, who’ve just signed to Dead Oceans in order to release an eight-track LP titled ‘9 Songs’. And who knows, it’s possible one of the songs has two parts to it.

The product of the band’s working away with Jonathan Rado of Foxygen in – states its PR introduction – an “abandoned house”, the new record is coming out on 10 Jun. And speeding it on its way is lead single ‘Dograces’, in which the group mount a house party bandstand built from clanking, cantankerous chunks of falling scrap-punk and a taut garage-rock backboard.

VAT rule overhaul could result in 16p increase in MP3 unit pricing

Business News Digital Top Stories

The cost of MP3 downloads could rise by 16p next January following a dull looking but actually quite important statement published alongside George Osborne’s budget speech last week regarding the way VAT is applied to online purchases.

Before the rise of online shopping, the rules governing sales taxes like VAT assumed that in the vast majority of cases the seller and customer in any one transaction would be based in the same tax jurisdiction, which sometimes left loopholes when that wasn’t the case. As much previously reported, much attention initially fell on the fact that mail-order operations based on the Channel Islands could sell low-price products like CDs into the UK without charging any VAT at all, giving those operators a 20% advantage over mainland retailers.

Since Osborne closed that loophole, attention has shifted to the VAT arrangements of digital stores like iTunes and Amazon MP3. At the moment the default rule in Europe is that sales tax is applied in the country where the business is based, rather than where the customer lives. This means that digital content sellers can base themselves in countries with more favourable sales tax rates, which in the European Union often means Luxembourg.

Which again resulting in these big online operators having an unfair advantage over high street and small-scale retailers who are based within the UK and have to charge the higher British sales tax rates. It’s also creates complications for British app-makers selling via the Apple store, and for business customers of iTunes seeking to claim the VAT back. And, of course, it means that the Luxembourg taxman gets all the sales tax generated by British download sales.

Work to close this particular sales tax loophole has been underway for a while now, but last week Osborne confirmed that his upcoming finance bill will seek to have the rules changed so that VAT is charged in the country where the customer rather than the seller is based. Which means more VAT income for the UK government, but also that the tax rates for services currently applying sales tax in Luxembourg will shoot up from the current 3% to 20%. Adding 16p per 99p download.

Osborne’s budget document confirmed last week: “As announced at budget 2013, the government will legislate to change the rules for the taxation of intra-EU business to consumer supplies of telecommunications, broadcasting and e-services. From 1 January 2015 these services will be taxed in the member state in which the consumer is located, ensuring these are taxed fairly and helping to protect revenue”.

Assuming neither content owner nor download platform will especially want to absorb the tax increase, it seems inevitable that download prices in Europe will rise in early 2015, so that the average price of 99p will become £1.15.

Of course download stores these days – unlike with the original iTunes set-up – offer content owners variable pricing, so that some tracks go for less than the 99p average and others are priced higher, which possibly means subtle price increases across the board won’t be so noticeable. Indeed, since iTunes enabled variable pricing, the labels have quietly increased the average single track download price from 79p to 99p.

Though at a time when download stores are facing new competition from ad-funded and subscription-based streaming services, and with speculation that the European download market might follow its US counterpart and peak in the near future, a sudden price increase might not be ideal. Though whether that will mean the labels – or even Apple, which does seem to be worrying about the iTunes Store losing its hold over the digital content market – are willing to absorb some of the tax increase remains to be seen.

Rihanna’s former accountant hits back, says singer’s financial woes all her fault

Business News Legal

The ongoing legal squabble between Rihanna and her former bean counters continues, with accountant Peter Gounis filing a response to the singer’s most recent lawsuit on the matter.

As previously reported, in 2012 Rihanna sued accountancy firm Berdon LLP and it’s former employees Gounis and Michael Mitnick – who did accountancy stuff for the singer between 2005 and 2010 – claiming that they had mismanaged her financial affairs losing her millions. The accountants responded by saying that any losses during this period were solely due to Rihanna’s “own financial action or inaction”.

But that didn’t stop the pop lady filing new legal proceedings last month, specifically claiming that bad advice from her former accountants in 2009 left her “effectively bankrupt”, and saddled with a property that she then had to sell for $2 million less than she paid to acquire it in the first place. It’s that latest litigation that, according to TMZ, Gounis has now responded to.

And the accounts man is pretty blunt in his call to have the case against him dismissed. He reportedly says that he was specifically hired to record and manage Rihanna’s financial accounts, and not to give the singer day-to-day spending advice. And besides, he adds, “was it really necessary to tell her that if you spend money for things you will end up with the things, and not the money?”

Gounis says that Rihanna’s fortune dropped dramatically towards the end of the last decade simply because she blew millions on pointless shopping sprees and extravagant parties. She also bailed on an important tour, he says, to take a role in the flop movie ‘Battleship’. And as for the bad property investment, he never directed the singer to make such a purchase, he says.

The squabble continues.

Twitter to shut its standalone music app

Business News Digital

Twitter has confirmed that it is axing its #Music app, the social media company’s attempt at building a music discovery service, which tapped into the know-how of the short-lived We Are Hunted platform it acquired in 2012 and linked users off to music content on other third-party sites.

Despite some celebrity-backed hype when launched just under a year ago, the #Music app never really caught on, in many ways hindered by the fact it sat outside the main Twitter ecosystem. So much so, rumours circulated last October that the digital firm was considering dropping the music-themed service.

On Friday Twitter HQ announced it was pulling the app from Apple’s app store, and would shut the service down completely on 18 Apr. While there is no news on any replacement music-specific service as yet, the company did say this weekend that it would “continue to experiment with new ways to bring you great content based on the music activity we see every day on Twitter”.

Wednesday 26 March 2014, 11:47 | By Andy Malt

READ MORE ABOUT: BBC | BBC Arts | BBC Music | Bob Shennan | Jonty Claypole | Tony Hall

Wednesday 26 March 2014, 11:46 | By Andy Malt

Co-founder of music company the SPZ Group, Jill Sinclair, has died from cancer, aged 61.

READ MORE ABOUT: Jill Sinclair | SPZ Group | Trevor Horn

Wednesday 26 March 2014, 11:45 | By Aly Barchi

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Wednesday 26 March 2014, 11:44 | By Aly Barchi

READ MORE ABOUT: Madonna

Wednesday 26 March 2014, 11:43 | By Aly Barchi

READ MORE ABOUT: The Black Keys

Wednesday 26 March 2014, 11:42 | By Chris Cooke

The final batch of bands has been added to this year’s Great Escape Festival, taking the line up to over 400 acts, who will play at venues across Brighton from 8-10 May alongside the CMU Insights-programmed Great Escape Convention.

READ MORE ABOUT: The Great Escape

Wednesday 26 March 2014, 11:41 | By Aly Barchi

Rounding up the latest gig news…

READ MORE ABOUT: Dean Blunt | Kiesza | Rick Ross | The Used

Wednesday 26 March 2014, 11:40 | By Andy Malt

So, this year’s James Lavelle-curated Meltdown, which takes over London’s Southbank Centre in mid-June, is looking like a pretty covetable ticket right now.

READ MORE ABOUT: ArcTanGent | Bestival | Eden Sessions | Field Day | Glastonbury Festival | Liverpool Psych Fest | Liverpool Sound City | Meltdown Festival | SHHH Festival | Unknown Festival | Way Out West | Wireless Festival | WyeFest

Wednesday 26 March 2014, 11:39 | By Andy Malt

READ MORE ABOUT: Chris Martin | Coldplay | Gwyneth Paltrow

Tuesday 25 March 2014, 12:00 | By Marc Samuels

READ MORE ABOUT: Florrie

Tuesday 25 March 2014, 11:59 | By Chris Cooke

So people, can you all cope with battling yet another new front in the long-running music piracy war? Though don’t worry, enemy number one remains the same. Yes, it’s big, bad, bold, belligerent, boisterous, bullish, bullying, bulldozing, brash, brutal, but brilliant Google.

READ MORE ABOUT: Google | NPD Group

Tuesday 25 March 2014, 11:58 | By Aly Barchi

Australian pop goths The Veronicas, aka twin sister act Lisa and Jessica Origliasso, have signed a new deal with Sony Music.

READ MORE ABOUT: Sony Music | The Veronicas

Tuesday 25 March 2014, 11:57 | By Andy Malt

Music publishing giant Sony/ATV has announced that former Music Week Editor Paul Williams will become its new VP Communications next month. Based in the company’s London office, Williams will oversee all corporate communications and media relations globally, reporting direct to CEO Marty Bandier.

READ MORE ABOUT: Paul Williams | Sony Music Publishing

Tuesday 25 March 2014, 11:57 | By Chris Cooke

READ MORE ABOUT: Disney | Maker Studios

Tuesday 25 March 2014, 11:56 | By Aly Barchi

“Global music superstar” Pitbull, real name Armando Christian Pérez, has hooked up with Playboy Enterprises, Inc in one of those a “strategic partnership” things. So that’s nice. No, wait, it isn’t nice at all. Nice is what it isn’t.

READ MORE ABOUT: Pitbull | Playboy

Tuesday 25 March 2014, 11:55 | By Andy Malt

Spotify has announced that is no longer accepting new submissions for apps to run within its desktop software.

READ MORE ABOUT: Spotify

Tuesday 25 March 2014, 11:54 | By Andy Malt

Controller of BBC Radio 3 and Director of the BBC Proms, Roger Wright has announced that he will step down from both roles, after almost fifteen years with the Corporation, in September to take up the position of Chief Executive of Aldeburgh Music.

READ MORE ABOUT: Aldeburgh Music | BBC Proms | Roger Wright

Tuesday 25 March 2014, 11:53 | By Andy Malt

READ MORE ABOUT: Global | Xfm | Xfm Scotland

Tuesday 25 March 2014, 11:52 | By Andy Malt

Documentary maker Jeanie Finlay has launched a crowdfunding campaign on Indiegogo to raise money to finish her latest film, ‘Orion: The Man Who Would Be King’.

READ MORE ABOUT: Elvis Presley | Indiegogo | Jeanie Finlay | Jimmy Ellis | Orion

Tuesday 25 March 2014, 11:51 | By Andy Malt

GWAR frontman Dave Brockie, better known as Oderus Urungus, was found dead at his home on Sunday, police confirmed to CBS 6 yesterday. The cause of death has not yet been determined, although foul play is not suspected. Brockie was 50.

READ MORE ABOUT: Dave Brockie | GWAR

Tuesday 25 March 2014, 11:50 | By Aly Barchi

READ MORE ABOUT: 5ive | Abz | The Big Reunion

Tuesday 25 March 2014, 11:49 | By Aly Barchi

Pixies have revealed details on what’s to be their first LP since 1991’s ‘Trompe Le Monde’.

READ MORE ABOUT: Pixies

Tuesday 25 March 2014, 11:48 | By Aly Barchi

London-based label Fire Records is celebrating its thirtieth anniversary with a series of events in the capital in May.

READ MORE ABOUT: Fire Records | Guided By Voices | Las Kellies | Wreckless Eric

Tuesday 25 March 2014, 11:47 | By Aly Barchi

Rounding up the latest gig news…

READ MORE ABOUT: Chas & Dave | La Sera | Status Quo | The Amazing Snakeheads | Tove Lo

Tuesday 25 March 2014, 11:46 | By Aly Barchi

READ MORE ABOUT: Download Festival | Forest Live | Radio 1's Big Weekend | Roskilde | Weekend At The Edge Of The Lake | Y-Not

Tuesday 25 March 2014, 11:45 | By Andy Malt

Pop type Ariana Grande broke three of her toes after slipping in a puddle of dog urine, left by her dog Ophelia, on Sunday evening. This news was helpfully revealed by her manager Scooter Braun on Twitter and Instagram yesterday. Which is, I’m sure, what she wanted him to do.

READ MORE ABOUT: Ariana Grande

Monday 24 March 2014, 11:58 | By Aly Barchi

The two faces in most of Dub Thompson’s promo shots are those of lost California boys Matt Pulos and Evan Laffer, who’ve just signed to Dead Oceans in order to release an eight-track LP titled ‘9 Songs’. And who knows, it’s possible one of the songs has two parts to it.

READ MORE ABOUT: Dub Thompson

Monday 24 March 2014, 11:57 | By Chris Cooke

The cost of MP3 downloads could rise by 16p next January following a dull looking but actually quite important statement published alongside George Osborne’s budget speech last week regarding the way VAT is applied to online purchases.

READ MORE ABOUT: George Osborne

Monday 24 March 2014, 11:56 | By Chris Cooke

The ongoing legal squabble between Rihanna and her former bean counters continues, with accountant Peter Gounis filing a response to the singer’s most recent lawsuit on the matter.

READ MORE ABOUT: Rihanna

Monday 24 March 2014, 11:55 | By Chris Cooke

Twitter has confirmed that it is axing its #Music app, the social media company’s attempt at building a music discovery service, which tapped into the know-how of the short-lived We Are Hunted platform it acquired in 2012 and linked users off to music content on other third-party sites.

READ MORE ABOUT: Twitter | Twitter #music