Friday 25 July 2014, 13:00 | By Andy Malt

Kid Rock subpoenaed over missing dildo in Insane Clown Posse sexual harassment case

Artist News Legal

As a sexual harassment case against Insane Clown Posse continues to make its way through the courts, lawyers representing a former publicist at their Psychopathic Records label have subpoenaed Kid Rock, asking him to present a sex toy as evidence in her case.

As previously reported, Andrea Pellegrini sued the rap duo’s company for wrongful termination of her contract and harassment from colleagues during the three years that she worked there. One of the alleged incidents listed in her lawsuit was that a co-worker had given her a dildo as a gift after he saw that she had changed her relationship status to ‘single’ on Facebook.

According to a press release from the Rasor Law Firm, which is representing Pellegrini, the colleague in question, ‘Dirty Dan’ Diamond, admitted in a deposition last week that he had “attempted” to give Pellegrini the “phallic object” in question, but that she had refused it. After this he gave the dildo – “which Diamond claims is a work of art”, the company noted – to Kid Rock instead.

Kid Rock was given fourteen days to respond and present the item.

Unlocking The Truth record deal approved

Business News Deals Labels & Publishers Legal

A New York court has approved a deal for Sony Music’s Cherry Party label to sign teen metal band Unlocking The Truth, according to New York Daily News.

As previously reported, the label agreed to sign the band to release their debut album for an advance of $60,000 and royalties of 16-17%. However, in the jurisdiction covering the deal, because of the band members’ ages, between twelve and thirteen, the deal needed to be approved by a judge.

The record contract, which also includes options on follow-up albums, has been widely reported as being worth $1.7 million, though this is only if the label options the further five LPs after the debut.

The band are also set to release a book about their experiences to date before the end of the year.

PPL promotes Christian Barton to Finance Director

Business News Industry People Labels & Publishers

The UK record industry’s collecting society PPL has announced the promotion of Financial Controller Christian Barton to the role of Finance Director. Barton will replace current CFO Ben Lambert, who is due to leave the company next week.

The rights body’s CEO Peter Leathem said: “Christian has been working under Ben for nine years and so is very experienced in PPL’s operations and finances. Christian has been a star performer at PPL for some time and, as succession planning is something on which I have been very focussed, I am delighted that we are able to promote from within and offer him this career progression with the opportunity now arising”.

Barton himself added: “I’m delighted to have the opportunity to take on the Finance Director role at PPL. I have had a wonderful time at the company and want to thank Ben from whom I have learnt a great deal. I very much look forward to the opportunities that lie ahead as we look to enhance yet further the value and service to our members”.

Leanne Sharman joins Disciple Media

Business News Digital Industry People

Music tech firm Disciple Media has announced the appointment of Leanne Sharman as its new COO.

Says CEO Benji Vaughan: “Leanne has long been a pioneer of developing digital business models and leading high-profile launches, with a particular track record of success with subscription services. Her commercial acumen, entrepreneurial zeal, experience working within the music industry, and in-depth understanding of digital music will add significant value as Disciple Media aggressively ramps up its commercial roll-out”.

Sharman added: “I’ve been privileged to work at the forefront of the fast-paced digital music industry for almost fifteen years, creating and implementing strategy from both an industry and a service perspective. In recent years, consumers have become much more educated about the benefits of subscription services, and I was immediately impressed by the huge potential for artists to create valuable new revenue streams through Disciple’s offering. I’m really looking forward to working with artists, labels, publishers and the whole Disciple Media team to help build the most compelling direct-to-consumer experiences possible”.

Sharman has previously worked in senior roles at Warner Music, Napster UK and MP3.com.

Jessie Ware shares all of new song

Artist News Releases

Jessie Ware has released another new track from her forthcoming second album, ‘Tough Love’. Despite it being called ‘Share It All’, she’s still keeping most of the album under wraps. She wants to make up her mind.

Anyway, don’t get too annoyed about that, this new song was co-written by Romy from the xx. Not that I’m saying you should be annoyed about that instead. But you might be. I don’t know. I think it’s fine. Look, you’ve not even listened to this track yet, stop complaining.

Oh for fuck’s sake, just shut up and listen to it, will you?

Work begins on Kurt Cobain biopic, as documentary is completed

Artist News

Filming is due to begin on a Kurt Cobain biopic at some point in the next twelve months. Maybe a bit longer. So says Courtney Love. Currently a lead actor is still to be selected. Though not by her.

Love told the Philippine Daily Inquirer: “The biopic should start within the next year or so. CAA directly sent me actors’ [demo] reels. That was really tough because these boys are so pretty, so cute. I won’t name names because I don’t want to jinx it for anyone, but these are 25 year olds who are blonde, gorgeous and the new Brad Pitts. There’s a ton of those. Some are really good actors, not just pretty faces. I don’t want to be the person who makes that decision. Let’s leave that to the agents; I have great agents now. But I will have a say in it”.

Don’t go confusing this film with the previously reported other film about Cobain, a documentary by Brett Morgen, though. That one’s apparently in the can already, which may mean it gets the 2014 release date the director was hoping for. Of that film, Love said: “[Morgan has] based it a little bit on the movie ‘Lenny’, the one with Dustin Hoffman. It’s not like a ‘Behind The Music’ doc. The only people talking in it are Krist Novoselic, Kurt’s mother and me. It’s vérité, mostly”.

Meanwhile, although Love is still working with guitarist Eric Erlandson, it seems that a full-on Hole reunion is definitely not on the cards at the moment. Though not because they all got annoyed with Love for talking about it, honest.

Love explained: “I don’t want to get on the oldies circuit. I don’t need to do that for money. I want to put out music that is relevant today. [Being] one of the last chicks in a rock n roll band is a weird place to be. It’s scary not to be selling out”.

The Lord favours rockabilly, Iceage act accordingly

Artist News Releases

Danish hardcore band Iceage have unveiled a new song, which is decidedly, um, un-hardcore. It’s more on the rockabilly end of things. Is that a sign of what to expect from their next album? No idea. Let’s just wait and see. It’s called ‘The Lord’s Favorite’, by the way.

Maybe they’ll play some more new stuff on their upcoming tour dates. If you want to find out, you’ll need to get yourself a ticket for the Jabberwocky festival on 16 Aug, which comprises their sole UK show for the moment.

Anyway, here’s ‘The Lord’s Favorite’:

Rixton announce tour dates

Artist News Gigs & Festivals

Rixton, who you may know from such YouTube pre-roll adverts as EVERY SINGLE FUCKING ONE OF THEM, have announced a UK tour in October and November. Well, everyone else is, they might as well too.

Tickets go on sale at 9am on… no, Saturday. I would have guessed Friday too. But today is Friday, so it would have been a pretty silly guess, when you think about it. You best not drink too much tonight if you want to get some. Or you could drink loads, stay up all night and then foolishly buy tickets for all of your friends come 9am. That’s your best bet, I’d say.

Here are the dates, after which you can watch the video for Rixton’s number one single, Me & My Broken Heart’.

22 Oct: Oxford, Academy 2
23 Oct: Birmingham, Academy 2
24 Oct: Leicester, Academy 2
26 Oct: Manchester, Academy 2
28 Oct: Nottingham, Rescue Rooms
29 Oct: Leeds, Cockpit 1
30 Oct: Newcastle, Academy 2
31 Oct: Glasgow, Oran Mor
2 Nov: Sheffield, Academy2
3 Nov: London, Koko
4 Nov: Southampton, Brook
6 Nov: Brighton, Concorde 2
7 Nov: Cardiff, CF10

Cold Specks announces tour dates

Artist News Gigs & Festivals

Cold Specks has announced some UK tour dates in support of her previously reported new album, ‘Neuroplasticity’, which is out on 25 Aug. She’s also said she’ll release a new single, called ‘Bodies At Bay’, on 1 Sep, and I believe her.

Here are those very dates:

25 Sep: Portsmouth, Wedgewood Room
28 Sep: Bristol, The Lantern
29 Sep: Brighton, Green Door Store
30 Sep: London, Village Underground
1 Oct: Manchester, Band On The Wall

And here is ‘Bodies At Bay’:

Ben Watt to tour

Artist News Gigs & Festivals

The Ben Watt Trio, that is the band of former Everything But The Girl man Ben Watt, will be heading out on a tour of the UK and Ireland in the autumn. October and November. The touring months.

Watt, plus trio completers Bernard Butler and Martin Ditcham, will be performing songs from his second solo album, ‘Hendra’, which was released this year, 31 years after his first, ‘North Marine Drive’. Better late than never.

Here are the dates:

23 Oct: Exeter, Phoenix
24 Oct: Bristol, Fiddlers
25 Oct: Cardiff, Clwb Ifor Bach
27 Oct: Edinburgh, Voodoo Lounge
28 Oct: Manchester, Ruby Lounge
29 Oct: Dublin, Whelans
1 Nov: Hull, Fruit
2 Nov: York, Fibbers
3 Nov: Leicester, Musician
5 Nov: Brighton, Komedia
6 Nov: Southampton, The Joiners
10 Nov: London, Village Underground

CMU Beef Of The Week #216: Tulisa v The Fake Sheikh

And Finally Artist News Beef Of The Week Legal Media

If you’re talking about the biggest dispute of the week, which I guess we are, then there can be no other than Tulisa Contostavlos v Mazher Mahmood.

Undercover reporter Mahmood has for two decades uncovered dodgy goings on in the business world, though most often in sport it seems, most famously in his ‘Fake Sheikh’ persona, originally at the News Of The World, and now The Sun On Sunday (aka, the New News Of The World).

Last year, Contostavlos became his latest victim, being convinced to arrange the supply of half an ounce of cocaine. Thus proving, The Sun On Sunday and Mahmood claimed, that she was involved in the shady world of drugs. Tulisa, meanwhile, claimed that the sting was entrapment . She believed, she said, that she was being offered a lucrative part in a Bollywood film and was acting out the part of a ‘bad girl’ she believed would be required of her in the film.

It’s not the first time Mahmood has used this sting, or one like it. In 1997, he posed as an Arabian prince and convinced actor John Alford to supply him with cocaine and cannabis. Alford also claimed entrapment, arguing that he had believed that he was in line to be part of the celebrity line-up at the opening of a new Dubai nightclub.

The judge agreed that entrapment had been involved, but told Alford that he could nonetheless have backed out of the deal at any time. The actor was sentenced to nine months in prison when the case came to trial in 1999.

Could the same fate have befallen Tulisa? Probably not, because she had a different defence planned. A statement given by Judge Alistair McCreath when the latest fake sheikh trial collapsed this week explained that the singer’s defence, had the court been able to hear it, was that she had been pretending to be more streetwise than she actually is, because she thought that would make her look better for the film role.

She never had any intention of actually going through with the deal, it was claimed, but as Mahmood continued to push her to come through, it became harder to avoid it. In the end though, her friend Michael Coombs, aka rapper Mike GLC, did the deal without telling her “out of a misplaced desire on his part to help her out of her dilemma”.

Contostavlos said in a statement outside the court: “This case only happened because Mahmood and his team tricked me into believing I was auditioning for a major movie role. They targeted me at a time when things were going badly for me and they had no mercy. Mahmood got me and my team completely intoxicated and persuaded me to act the part of a bad, rough, ghetto girl. They recorded this and produced this as evidence when I thought it was an audition. It was a terrible thing to do”.

Coombs, who had pleaded guilty to supplying a class A drug, also had his case thrown out, after discrepancies in testimony from Mahmood raised concerns that “the integrity of the court would be compromised by allowing the trial to go ahead”.

McCreath said that differences between evidence Mahmood gave at a pre-trial hearing in June and then during the trial last week meant that there were “strong grounds” to suggest that the hack had lied in court. The judge said it was also believed that the reason for this may have been “to conceal the fact that he had been manipulating the case” by trying to get his driver, Alan Smith, to change his account of comments he heard Contostavlos make about her “disapproval of drugs”.

Following the case being thrown out, The Sun suspended Mahmood, pending an internal investigation. It also put out a slightly non-committal statement: “We are very disappointed with this outcome, but do believe the original investigation was conducted within the bounds of the law and the industry’s code. This was demonstrated by the CPS decision to prosecute. The Sun, of course, takes the Judge’s remarks very seriously”.

While the Sun;s investigation may have been legal and within industry rules, it does still beg the question of what the public interest of the sting was. If we believe Contostavlos’s defence, then all it’s shown is that if you offer someone a multi-million pound movie deal and a lot of alcohol, then they might do things that are out of character to ensure they stay in your favour. And you probably could have found any old popstar to do that.

Court papers also claim that Tulisa was offered money for sex, the suggestion possibly being that Mahmood and his team were throwing various vices at the singer to see if something would stick.

Indeed, Contostavlos’ slightly ridiculous ‘codewords’ for drugs – “white sweets”, “green sweets” – don’t suggest a hardened drug dealer, living life on the edge with no clue where the right side of the tracks even is.

But questions over the validity of the original story are perhaps now not the most pertinent, following the accusation that Mahmood lied in court – which could potentially result in perjury charges. The Independent reported yesterday that the Crown Prosecution service is now investigating the undercover reporter in not only this, but 30 other criminal cases, to assess his credibility as a witness.

Tulisa’s trial may have collapsed, but this story is not over just yet.

Approved: FabricLive at Fabric

Club Tip CMU Approved

Fabriclive continues at full pelt and tonight sees some big guns in. DJ Hype goes for a two hour set as he headlines Room One, with support from Hazard, Sigma and Pascal. The Taxman goes B2B with Original Sin, while your comperes for the night are IC3, Funsta, Felon and Junior Dangerous.

Over in Room Two you’ll find the icon that is LTJ Bukem with Bristol’s DJ Die and the ‘mighty mighty’ Grooverider. MCs in that space are: GQ, SP:MC and Stamina.

Friday 25 Jul, Fabric, 77a Charterhouse Street, London, EC1M 6HJ, 11pm-7am, £8-£22, more info here.

Key YouTube music man steps down

Business News Digital Top Stories

One of YouTube’s main music men, Chris LaRosa, is departing the video streaming giant to go and join one of those trendy start-ups you have these days.

LaRosa has been with the Google subsidiary for seven years, and played a key role in the expansion of music content on the video platform, and in managing the firm’s relationships with the music companies, including getting YouTube stats to count towards the Billboard 100 singles chart.

And more recently, of course, he has been involved in YouTube’s somewhat delayed attempt to move into streaming audio with a Spotify-competing subscription-based music offer. You know, the one for which YouTube has been trying to strong-arm the indies into agreeing to less favourable rates by threatening to withdraw their video-monetisation privileges.

There was speculation yesterday that LaRosa’s departure would further delay the launch of the new YouTube music service, though Google has denied that is so, confirming it has a whole department of people dedicated to screwing over independent labels, musicians and songwriters, so the screwing can continue unaffected without LaRosa’s hands-on guidance.

Well, what a Google moogle actually told Billboard after the Wall Street Journal claimed that LaRosa’s exit created “yet another hurdle for the long-delayed

project” was this: “It’s a loss and he will be missed, but there are several people, senior and frontline, working on music. We’re not that concerned from a product perspective”.

No word yesterday as to what start-up LaRosa is joining, except that it is being led by a “long-time associate”. I bet it’s a game-changing, disruptive, ephemeral, frictionless, curated, fully immersive gamification of something though. That’s a no-brainer.

Pharrell Williams seeks summary judgement in his favour in ‘Blurred Lines’ dispute

Business News Labels & Publishers Legal

Legal reps for Pharrell Williams have filed a motion calling for the legal battle he, and his cohort in rape-promoting-pop-pap Robin Thicke, are fighting against the descendants of Marvin Gaye to be ruled in his favour without going to trial.

As previously reported, Williams and Thicke themselves kickstarted the litigation on this one, after it was alleged that pop hit ‘Blurred Lines’ (a track which, it turns out, should have been about grammar) lifted heavily from Gaye’s song ‘Got To Give It Up’. The two men wanted a judge to confirm that their controversial smash hit did not infringe the Gaye work. The Gaye family promptly responded with their own litigation seeking damages for the alleged infringement.

Lawyers for popular producer and prolific hat wearer Williams cite various arguments as to why the case should now be resolved by summary judgement, without trial, in their client’s favour. For starters, they claim that the whole dispute began because Thicke admitted to being heavily influenced by the Gaye track in an interview and, says Williams’ attorneys, “the defendants smelled money and rushed to make their infringement demand”.

But influence does not an infringement make, the legal men continue, before pulling apart one of those musicologist reports, prepared for the Gayes, which formally outlines the lifting that took place. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Team Pharrell say many of the similarities cited in that report are generic elements of many pop songs.

And others, they say, while appearing in the ‘Got To Give It Up’ sound recording, were studio production add-ons rather than being part of Gaye’s original composition. A distinction that’s relevant because the Gaye family are suing for infringement of the publishing rather than recording rights.

Unsurprisingly, Williams’ lawyers also point out that the Gaye family’s own music publisher, EMI, recommended against suing over ‘Blurred Lines’. Though the Gayes, of course, have argued that that was because EMI Publishing parent company Sony/ATV also reps Williams, so had a conflict of interest. Separate litigation between the Gayes and EMI on that matter has been settled, with Williams and Thicke’s lawyers last seen trying to find out what was said between the Gaye family and the music publisher to aid their case.

Concluding, Williams’ legal reps say that there is just no actual tangible similarity between ‘Blurred Lines’ and ‘Got To Give It Up’, beyond Thicke being influenced by the latter when recording the former. It remains to be seen how Team Gaye now respond to this latest filing.

Adele’s son awarded damages over paparazzi photos

Artist News Legal Media

Adele’s one year old son Angelo has been awarded damages off a photo agency which took pictures of him and his parents without their permission. The singer argued that the photographs infringed the child’s privacy.

The legal action was launched after Corbis Images UK shopped a number of photographs featuring Angelo to the UK press. These, said Adele’s lawyer Jenny Afia yesterday, captured his “milestone moments, such as his first family outing and his first trip to playgroup, [and] were photographed and published worldwide expressly against his family’s wishes”.

Afia added: “The parents’ view is that these images were of routine, everyday family occasions which the paparazzi has no right to intrude upon, profit from and file away in picture libraries for future reference and use”.

Corbis agreed to pay undisclosed damages, which will be held in trust for Angelo, and legal costs, as well as agreeing not to use the photos again in future. The company also passed on the names of the freelance photographers who took the pictures, to whom Afia’s Schillings law firm has now written, warning them of further legal action if they target Angelo again.

Ian Watkins’ appeal application refused

Artist News Legal

Former Lostprophets frontman Ian Watkins’ bid to appeal against the length of his sentence on child abuse charges has been rejected.

As previously reported, Watkins was sentenced to 29 years in prison, plus an additional six years on licence, after pleading guilty to charges including the attempted rape an eleven month old baby, and making and possessing images of the sexual abuse of children.

He did not contest his conviction, but argued that he had been treated too harshly when sentenced. However, a panel of three judges at Cardiff Crown Court yesterday refused him leave to appeal, along with one of his two unnamed co-defendants.

Watkins’ representative Sally O’Neill argued in court that her client’s sentence should be reduced because the singer’s offences were “not the worst that can happen”.

However, ruling on the application to appeal, judge Christopher Pitchford said: “These were offences against infant children of such shocking depravity that a very lengthy sentence of imprisonment was demanded, not withstanding the absence of physical injury. It is not demonstrated that the total sentence of 29 years together with the extended licence period was arguably manifestly excessive. Accordingly, the application in his case is refused”.

Meanwhile, an Independent Police Complaint Commission inquiry into claims that police did not do enough to bring Watkins to justice earlier continues. In May, seven officers from three police forces were served with gross misconduct notices.

Duran Duran sue their own fanclub

Business News Legal

Duran Duran are suing their own fanclub because, well, it makes a great headline so why not?

Technically they are suing Chicago-based WorldWide Fan Clubs Inc, which entered into a deal to run a fan club for the British band back in 2010. Under the contract WorldWide would take membership fees, service fans, sell merch and keep accurate accounts.

And crucially pay Duran Duran 75% of any profits. According to a lawsuit filed in the Cook County Circuit Court and reported on by the Chicago Sun-Times, the band claim that accurate accounts were not infact provided and that they haven’t been paid all they are due either.

According to the Sun-Times the band is seeking $40,000 in damages. WorldWide Fan Clubs is yet to comment.

Tulisa’s PA issues apology over Simon Cowell gay claims

Business News Legal

Tulisa Contostavlos’ personal assistant Gareth Varey has issued an apology to Simon Cowell, after a recording of him claiming that the ‘X-Factor’ chief is gay was played during the N-Dubz star’s high profile drugs trial last week.

As previously reported, following the collapse of the trial earlier this week, a spokesperson for Cowell said: “In 2014 the question of whether someone is or is not gay is antiquated. However, the issue was the false suggestion made by Mr Varey that Simon – who is renowned for his honesty and candidness – had thus not been truthful in the public arena and this is what we have been obliged to clarify”.

In a statement yesterday, Varey said: “On 10 May 2013, in the course of seeking to entrap Tulisa, Mazher Mahmood supplied Tulisa, me and others with a lot of alcohol… I can no longer recall all of the details of that evening but I have listened to the recording made by Mahmood. I was clearly very drunk”.

He continued: “At some point and utterly out of the blue Mahmood asked me if Simon Cowell was gay. I said he was. This is not true. I do not know why I said it, but assume it is because I was so drunk and felt that I was giving Mahmood the type of information he was seeking. I am very sorry for this”.

Culture Minister to address BPI AGM in September

Business News Education & Events

One for fans of annual general meetings now, and the next AGM extravaganza for members of record label trade group the BPI is on 1 Sep in London town. At the ME London Hotel on The Strand no less.

It will see Tony Wadsworth give his final address as Chairman of the organisation, plus there will be guest speeches by the government’s culture dude Sajid Javid and the BBC’s Director Of Music Bob Shennan. There’ll also be a panel discussion on funding for labels.

Full details of the day and the BPI Council elections that will also take place will be sent to members. So keep an eye on that letterbox, people.

JLS’s Marvin Humes returns with LuvBug

Artist News Releases

Former JLS singer Marvin Humes has announced the debut single of his new project, dance music trio LuvBug. ‘Resonance’ featuring Talay Riley will be out through Universal/Polydor on 28 Sep.

Speaking about the group, completed by producers JKAY and The White N3rd, Humes said: “LuvBug has been a project in the making for a long time now and I’m so excited that it’s finally out there! Working with JKAY and N3rd over the years has been brilliant and I can’t wait for everyone to hear all of our music!”

So there you are. Here’s the track:

Kele announces second solo album

Artist News Releases

Bloc Party frontman Kele Okereke has announced his second solo album, ‘Trick’, will be released on 13 Oct, via a partnership with Kobalt Label Services.

I don’t really know a lot else apart from that. The press release says that one of the tracks, ‘Closer’, features “a female vocal”. So that’s something to look forward to.

Here’s one of those teaser trailer things:

SBTRKT announces new album, tour dates

Artist News Gigs & Festivals Releases

SBTRKT has proclaimed details of his new album. It will be called ‘Wonder Where We Land’. It will be out on 22 Sep. The label will be Young Turks. And the first single will be ‘New Drop. New York’, which features Ezra Koenig off of Vampire Weekend.

Other guests on the album include Jessie Ware, Sampha, Chairlift’s Caroline Polachek, Koreless and A$AP Ferg.

This is ‘New Drop. New York’, with all that Ezra Koenig singing I mentioned:

Oh, and there are tour dates too. Look:

26 Sep: Leeds, Academy
27 Sep: Glasgow, ABC
29 Sep: Bristol, Academy
30 Sep: Manchester, Albert Hall
1 Oct: Nottingham, Rock City
2 Oct: London, Brixton Academy

Hudson Mohawke announces new EP

Artist News Releases

With his TNGHT partner Lunice now working solo again, it’s Hudson Mohawke’s turn to put out some new music on his tod. He’s announced that a whole EP, called ‘Chimes’, is due for release on 29 Sep on Warp.

There’s good news for fans of not waiting for things though, the title track is out now. You can buy it on iTunes and stuff. Or you can stream it here:

Esben And The Witch announce new album

Artist News Gigs & Festivals Releases

Esben And The Witch have announced details of their third album, ‘A New Nature’, which will be released through their own Nostromo Records on 1 Sep.

You may remember that the band asked fans for help in funding a trip to Chicago to record the record with Steve Albini. And that’s what happened. The system works.

But what do the band have to say about the LP now that it is recorded? This, this is what they have to say: “We wanted to create a record that had a level of purity to it. To strip away the layers and loops and see what lay beneath. To keep things naked, unadorned and raw. The three of us, in a room, making noise”.

They go on: “We looked to create a more primal record, full of human emotion and sonic intensity. Drawing on themes of endurance, strength, determination and self-actualisation. Themes that have always inspired us but perhaps, only now, a few years down the line, a few years of touring under our belts, we feel we have the confidence and maturity to explore and shout about”.

The band will play London’s Oslo on 4 Sep, and you can listen to the first single from the album, ‘Dig Your Fingers In’, here:

Dry The River announce October tour

Artist News Gigs & Festivals Releases

Dry The River have announced some tour dates for October, which will follow the release of their new album, ‘Alarms In The Heart’, on 25 Aug. Obviously.

The band have also just put out the video for the long player’s first single, ‘Everlasting Light’, a song about which frontman Peter Liddle says: “At the time [we wrote it] Dry The River were in something of a wilderness, creatively and temporally. For me, ‘Everlasting Light’ represents the path out of the wilderness – a kind of unlikely moment of clarity where we remembered what its like to be a band in a room”.

Here’s the video:

And here are those tour dates I mentioned:

2 Oct: Portsmouth, Wedgewood Rooms
3 Oct: Cambridge, The Junction
4 Oct: Manchester, Academy 2
5 Oct: York, Fibbers
7 Oct: Hull, Welly
8 Oct: Glasgow, Oran Mor
9 Oct: Newcastle, Northumbria University
10 Oct: Birmingham, Institute
11 Oct: Oxford, Academy
14 Oct: Cardiff, Globe
15 Oct: Leeds, Cockpit
16 Oct: London, The Forum

Eels frontman to receive freedom of the City Of London

And Finally Artist News

Eels frontman Mark Everett has been awarded the freedom of the City Of London ahead of his gig at the Barbican tonight. Which might lead you to think that this sort of thing happens all the time, but apparently not. Everett is apparently the first contemporary rock musician to ever receive the honour.

It’s different from the last bit of recognition he got in London, anyway. Back in 2010, he was questioned by police in the city who suspected him of being a terrorist. I think because he had a beard and they were looking for someone with a beard.

Anyway, later he made a video in which he loomed large over parts of London, making it look like a toy town. He told NME at the time: “It’s my way of saying, ‘thanks for making me feel bad by accusing me of being a terrorist in Hyde Park this June. I’ll show you. I’ll make your city look like a toy'”.

Now I’m not sure giving him the freedom of the city is such a great idea. Who knows what he’ll do? Look at what he’s already imagined doing to us:

Though I suppose if he does try anything, the City authorities can just release the death metal band they’re keeping in a box over by the Gerkin.

Approved: Svē

CMU Approved

Svē, or SVĒ, or S V Ē, depending on how you’re prepared to stylise it, is New York-based singer and songwriter Sveta Bout. This week she put out her second self-released single, ‘Riot’.

Having been listening to the track on a loop, I can confidently say that if it started playing through some big speakers in a dark room where I may have had no less than two alcoholic drinks, I would almost certainly now lose my proverbial shit. It’s maybe not the most attention-grabbing song at first, but then she gets to the chorus and starts singing “Ruh-o-aye ruh-o-aye uh-o-aye-et” and it’s immediately apparent that she’s onto something. Then she gets to the “aye-et-et aye-et-et aye-et-et aye-et-et” bit and you can’t wait to hit the play button again.

“Oh, but this is probably just a one off”, I’m going to pretend you’re saying for the purpose of this narrative. “She’s probably not that great a songwriter”. Oh yeah? Well, just go back and listen to the single she released last year, ‘Talking To The Walls’. Not only does it prove that she can do slow songs, but also uncovers further ear-pleasing vocal sounds that I would like to hear more of.

So that’s settled that argument. Do you have anything more to say? No, I didn’t think so. Let’s all listen to ‘Riot’ now:

Google appears to prioritise ads for legit sources in searches for pirated content

Business News Digital Top Stories

Google is possibly experimenting with a new system that would see ads for legit content platforms positioned at the top of searches for unlicensed movies or music.

As previously reported, Google has been much criticised by the music and movie industries for not doing enough to steer web-users to legitimate rather than illegal sources of content. In the ideal world the movie studios and record companies would prefer Google to completely remove piracy sources from their search results, and not just link by link, but anything originating from such a site, and especially if said site is the subject of a web-blocking injunction.

But Google has resisted such calls, instead telling content owners to sort out their SEO so that legit content performs better than illegal content in search, and then by promising to change their search algorithm to prioritise approved sites. The labels and studios didn’t think much of the initial proposal, though welcomed the latter, until they concluded that the algorithm tweak had achieved little.

But Torrentfreak has spotted that some key searches on Google for popular TV shows followed by piracy-related terms like ‘torrent’, ‘BitTorrent’, ‘DVDrip’ and ‘Putlocker’ recently resulted in ads for legit video-on-demand services like Netflix, Hulu and Google’s own Play platform appearing at the top of the screen. And while clearly marked as ‘ad’ results, they seem more obvious than the commercially-driven search listings that usually appear on the Google site.

Of course, Netflix et al could bid for Google advertising spots that put them at the top of searches for “Breaking Bad torrent” anyway, though Torrentfreak suggests that these ad spots are different, and are possibly part of a new pilot initiative by the web giant that aims to placate its critics in the entertainment industry.

Though whether the studios and labels would actually be placated by such a move remains to be seen. Some might argue that Google commercialising the diverting of users to legit services is not appropriate, or that ad links will never have the same impact as non-commercial search results. But if Torrentfreak is right about the web firm’s intent, this could please some in the rights sector.

MegaUpload lawyers want further postponement of civil litigation

Business News Digital Legal MegaUpload Timeline

Legal reps for the former MegaUpload company and its founder Kim Dotcom have requested that a postponement of litigation against their clients from the US movie and music industries be extended into 2015.

As previously reported, trade bodies for the big movie studios and record companies in the US sued Dotcom et al earlier this year over allegations the defendants encouraged and enabled rampant copyright infringement through their former file-transfer business.

But the one-time Mega chiefs are also facing a criminal prosecution over the same claims in the US, and their legal reps argued that it would be inappropriate for the civil actions to reach court before the criminal proceedings have gone through the motions.

Albeit with some conditions, the movie and music industries did not oppose that move to postpone their legal action, and so last month a judge froze their litigation until August, when an extradition hearing was due to take place in New Zealand, with US prosecutors trying to force Dotcom et al back to America.

However, that extradition hearing, originally due to take place in summer 2012, has now been pushed back to next February, so Team Mega want the postponement of civil litigation extended too. To next April, in fact.

It remains to be seen whether the judge approves this new postponement, though if the music and movie industries don’t object he probably will.

Rob da Bank launches music supervision company

Business News Labels & Publishers

Bestival boss and DJ man Rob da Bank is teaming up with his manager Ben Turner to launch a new music supervision company called Earworm, which aims to curate music for TV, film, gaming and ad projects.

Confirming the new venture, da Bank is quoted by Music Week as saying: “Music supervision and scoring is something I’ve wanted to get into for many years and after flirting with that world through soundscaping the entire Bloomberg TV channel and re-scoring the soundtrack to the original ‘King Kong’ for the BBC, it seems like a good time to get properly stuck in”.

He adds: “Putting music to picture is one of the most satisfying and sometimes tricky processes I’ve been involved with so I can’t wait for the challenge and already have some mega projects lined up”.

Friday 25 July 2014, 13:00 | By Andy Malt

As a sexual harassment case against Insane Clown Posse continues to make its way through the courts, lawyers representing a former publicist at their Psychopathic Records label have subpoenaed Kid Rock, asking him to present a sex toy as evidence in her case.

READ MORE ABOUT: Insane Clown Posse | Kid Rock

Friday 25 July 2014, 12:59 | By Andy Malt

A New York court has approved a deal for Sony Music’s Cherry Party label to sign teen metal band Unlocking The Truth, according to New York Daily News.

READ MORE ABOUT: Cherry Party | Sony Music | Unlocking The Truth

Friday 25 July 2014, 12:58 | By Andy Malt

The UK record industry’s collecting society PPL has announced the promotion of Financial Controller Christian Barton to the role of Finance Director. Barton will replace current CFO Ben Lambert, who is due to leave the company next week.

READ MORE ABOUT: Christian Barton | PPL

Friday 25 July 2014, 12:57 | By Andy Malt

Music tech firm Disciple Media has announced the appointment of Leanne Sharman as its new COO.

READ MORE ABOUT: Disciple Media | Leanne Sharman

Friday 25 July 2014, 12:56 | By Andy Malt

Jessie Ware has released another new track from her forthcoming second album, ‘Tough Love’. Despite it being called ‘Share It All’, she’s still keeping most of the album under wraps. She wants to make up her mind.

READ MORE ABOUT: Jessie Ware | Romy Madley Croft

Friday 25 July 2014, 12:55 | By Andy Malt

Filming is due to begin on a Kurt Cobain biopic at some point in the next twelve months. Maybe a bit longer. So says Courtney Love. Currently a lead actor is still to be selected. Though not by her.

READ MORE ABOUT: Courtney Love | Hole | Kurt Cobain

Friday 25 July 2014, 12:54 | By Andy Malt

Danish hardcore band Iceage have unveiled a new song, which is decidedly, um, un-hardcore. It’s more on the rockabilly end of things. Is that a sign of what to expect from their next album? No idea. Let’s just wait and see. It’s called ‘The Lord’s Favorite’, by the way.

READ MORE ABOUT: Iceage

Friday 25 July 2014, 12:53 | By Andy Malt

Rixton, who you may know from such YouTube pre-roll adverts as EVERY SINGLE FUCKING ONE OF THEM, have announced a UK tour in October and November. Well, everyone else is, they might as well too.

READ MORE ABOUT: Rixton

Friday 25 July 2014, 12:52 | By Andy Malt

Cold Specks has announced some UK tour dates in support of her previously reported new album, ‘Neuroplasticity’, which is out on 25 Aug. She’s also said she’ll release a new single, called ‘Bodies At Bay’, on 1 Sep, and I believe her.

READ MORE ABOUT: Cold Specks

Friday 25 July 2014, 12:51 | By Andy Malt

The Ben Watt Trio, that is the band of former Everything But The Girl man Ben Watt, will be heading out on a tour of the UK and Ireland in the autumn. October and November. The touring months.

READ MORE ABOUT: Ben Watt

Friday 25 July 2014, 12:50 | By Andy Malt

If you’re talking about the biggest dispute of the week, which I guess we are, then there can be no other than Tulisa Contostavlos v Mazher Mahmood.

READ MORE ABOUT: Mazher Mahmood | The Sun | Tulisa Contostavlos

Friday 25 July 2014, 12:36 | By Paul Vig

Fabriclive continues at full pelt and tonight sees some big guns in. DJ Hype goes for a two hour set as he headlines Room One, with support from Hazard, Sigma and Pascal. The Taxman goes B2B with Original Sin, while your comperes for the night are IC3, Funsta, Felon and Junior Dangerous.

READ MORE ABOUT: DJ Hype

Thursday 24 July 2014, 11:02 | By Chris Cooke

One of YouTube’s main music men, Chris LaRosa, is departing the video streaming giant to go and join one of those trendy start-ups you have these days.

READ MORE ABOUT: Chris LaRosa | Google | YouTube

Thursday 24 July 2014, 11:01 | By Chris Cooke

Legal reps for Pharrell Williams have filed a motion calling for the legal battle he, and his cohort in rape-promoting-pop-pap Robin Thicke, are fighting against the descendants of Marvin Gaye to be ruled in his favour without going to trial.

READ MORE ABOUT: Marvin Gaye | Pharrell Williams | Robin Thicke | Sony Music Publishing

Thursday 24 July 2014, 11:00 | By Andy Malt

Adele’s one year old son Angelo has been awarded damages off a photo agency which took pictures of him and his parents without their permission. The singer argued that the photographs infringed the child’s privacy.

READ MORE ABOUT: Adele

Thursday 24 July 2014, 10:59 | By Andy Malt

Former Lostprophets frontman Ian Watkins’ bid to appeal against the length of his sentence on child abuse charges has been rejected.

READ MORE ABOUT: Ian Watkins | Lostprophets

Thursday 24 July 2014, 10:58 | By Chris Cooke

Duran Duran are suing their own fanclub because, well, it makes a great headline so why not?

READ MORE ABOUT: Duran Duran | WorldWide Fan Clubs

Thursday 24 July 2014, 10:57 | By Andy Malt

Tulisa Contostavlos’ personal assistant Gareth Varey has issued an apology to Simon Cowell, after a recording of him claiming that the ‘X-Factor’ chief is gay was played during the N-Dubz star’s high profile drugs trial last week.

READ MORE ABOUT: Gareth Varey | Simon Cowell | Tulisa Contostavlos

Thursday 24 July 2014, 10:56 | By Chris Cooke

One for fans of annual general meetings now, and the next AGM extravaganza for members of record label trade group the BPI is on 1 Sep in London town. At the ME London Hotel on The Strand no less.

READ MORE ABOUT: Bob Shennan | British Phonographic Industry (BPI) | Sajid Javid | Tony Wadsworth

Thursday 24 July 2014, 10:55 | By Andy Malt

Former JLS singer Marvin Humes has announced the debut single of his new project, dance music trio LuvBug. ‘Resonance’ featuring Talay Riley will be out through Universal/Polydor on 28 Sep.

READ MORE ABOUT: JLS | LuvBug | Marvin Humes

Thursday 24 July 2014, 10:54 | By Andy Malt

Bloc Party frontman Kele Okereke has announced his second solo album, ‘Trick’, will be released on 13 Oct, via a partnership with Kobalt Label Services.

READ MORE ABOUT: Kele Okereke

Thursday 24 July 2014, 10:53 | By Andy Malt

SBTRKT has proclaimed details of his new album. It will be called ‘Wonder Where We Land’. It will be out on 22 Sep. The label will be Young Turks. And the first single will be ‘New Drop. New York’, which features Ezra Koenig off of Vampire Weekend.

READ MORE ABOUT: SBTRKT

Thursday 24 July 2014, 10:52 | By Andy Malt

With his TNGHT partner Lunice now working solo again, it’s Hudson Mohawke’s turn to put out some new music on his tod. He’s announced that a whole EP, called ‘Chimes’, is due for release on 29 Sep on Warp.

READ MORE ABOUT: Hudson Mohawke

Thursday 24 July 2014, 10:51 | By Andy Malt

Esben And The Witch have announced details of their third album, ‘A New Nature’, which will be released through their own Nostromo Records on 1 Sep.

READ MORE ABOUT: Esben And The Witch

Thursday 24 July 2014, 10:50 | By Andy Malt

Dry The River have announced some tour dates for October, which will follow the release of their new album, ‘Alarms In The Heart’, on 25 Aug. Obviously.

READ MORE ABOUT: Dry The River

Thursday 24 July 2014, 10:49 | By Andy Malt

READ MORE ABOUT: City Of London | Eels | Mark Everett

Thursday 24 July 2014, 10:35 | By Andy Malt

Svē, or SVĒ, or S V Ē, depending on how you’re prepared to stylise it, is New York-based singer and songwriter Sveta Bout. This week she put out her second self-released single, ‘Riot’.

READ MORE ABOUT: Svē