Wednesday 27 August 2014, 10:34 | By Chris Cooke

Spotify freemium mobile reaches Windows Phones

Business News Digital

The free mobile version of Spotify already available to iPhone and Android phone owners is now available to all you Windows Phone users out there too. And you know who you are.

No longer will you have to pay £10 a month for the full Spotify experience. Now you can take the limited functionality ad-funded free version instead, which has the added benefit of paying lower royalties to artists. Hurray for paying less money to artists. No? Oh.

Anyway, here’s that Steve Guggenheimer from Microsoft getting all excited about Spotify being made available for free on Windows Phone. “We’re excited to see Spotify made available for free on Windows Phone”, he says.

And here is Spotify’s Director of Product Dave Price, who, as you all know, is all about bringing more music to more people. Says Price: “We’re all about bringing more music to more people. Today we’re doing just that by bringing the best free music experience to Windows Phone users across the globe”.

New CEO at Gracenote

Business News Digital Industry People

Music data firm Gracenote has a new CEO in the form of John Batter, the company’s newish owner Tribune has confirmed.

He takes over from Shashi Seth, who was President of Tribune Digital Ventures and had been an interim CEO at Gracenote since the former acquired the latter. Seth is departing the group entirely.

Batter, who will also become an Exec VP of Tribune Media, previously ran online video company M-Go, where he was a customer of Gracenote’s data services.

He told Billboard that this experience convinced him of the importance of metadata in the “digital ecosystem”, adding: “I think it is as critical to the digital experience as sound and pictures are to the movie. It helps get consumers to what they want to watch”.

Slipknot detail fifth LP

Artist News Releases

Slipknot have signed off on a fifth LP called ‘.5: The Gray Chapter’, which will be released on 20 Oct.

The band’s first big release in over six years, it features their recently released track ‘The Negative One’ and newly previewing lead single ‘The Devil In I’. And its title, unmistakably, is a nod to the band’s late bassist Paul Gray, who died from an accidental overdose in 2010.

Giving an insight into what it was like for him and his bandmates to go into the studio without Gray, vocalist Corey Taylor told The Pulse Of Radio: “It was almost like getting to know each other again”.

He went on: “We were all kind of grieving in our own way and dealing with things in our own way, and knowing that we had to be healthy to go in, we had to be creative to go in, and knowing that we were gonna have to fill this huge void, we just kind of took it upon ourselves to make up for that emptiness by being a little bit of Paul. Like we were all a little bit of Paul in our own way”.

This is a list of the tracks on ‘The Gray Chapter’, and after that, it’s the ‘The Devil In I’ video:

XIX
Sarcastrophe
AOV
The Devil In I
Killpop
Skeptic
Lech
Goodbye
Nomadic
The One That Kills the Least
Custer
Be Prepared for Hell
The Negative One
If Rain Is What You Want

Sophie and AG Cook present QT

Artist News Releases

So approved ‘Bipp’ hit-boy Sophie and DJ AG Cook (ringleader of the divisive PC Music label) have confided on a collaborative single titled ‘Hey QT’.

‘QT’, by the way, is the ‘face’ (this face) and voice of the track, engineered by the pair to “stretch the notion of what a popstar actually is”. Basically, she might not be real.

Still, ‘she’ (whatever she is) has already released her first item of merchandise, a new ‘Energy Elixir’. Whilst QT the drink isn’t available to drink yet, here it is spinning endlessly on the world wide web.

And this is ‘Hey QT’ the single, which is on sale now via XL Recordings for £1.93:

Kwabs to play free set in Manchester

Artist News Gigs & Festivals

Rising presence on ‘Brit R&B’ scene Kwabs, real name Kwabena Sarkodee Adjepong, is headed right into the Manchester-based Chadderton swimming baths on 1 Sep, not only to take a dip, but also to ‘do’ one of Nokia’s Lumia Live Sessions.

With Kwabs taking the headlining spot, the show will also play host to Sinead Harnett, aka the ‘feat’ voice on Disclosure’s track ‘Boiling’. Entry is free by registering for tickets, which are available by sending an email to [email protected]

And while we’re at it, this is Kwabs’ new single ‘Walk’, which is released on 29 Sep.

Elvis coming back from the dead to sell stuff

And Finally Artist News

Hey, it’s that thing you’ve all been waiting for – an official Elvis ‘hologram’ (more an optical illusion) available for “exciting entertainment and branding opportunities”. The late singer’s estate has entered into a deal which will allow him to go to work and earn a living, even in his continued death.

The virtual Elvis will be created by Pulse Entertainment, the company behind performances by dead musicians including Tupac. CEO Frank Patterson said in a statement: “We are thrilled about this partnership because we created Pulse to bring brilliant performers like Elvis to the millions of people who love him. Through this digitally re-imagined Elvis, new and younger audiences will be able to see firsthand why he is called the king of rock n roll”.

Meanwhile Jamie Salter, CEO of Authentic Brands Group, which manages the Elvis estate in partnership with the Presley family, added: “For us, working with Pulse is about the opportunity to present Elvis to a new generation of fans who would otherwise never get to see him perform. Our goals for a digitized Elvis are integrity and authenticity, to provide fans with an experience that they love and are proud to be a part of”.

Earlier this year, another of the artists ‘re-imagined’ by Pulse, this time Michael Jackson, got the company involved in a bit of legal action. Hopefully this flogging of a dead horse/singer will go more smoothly.

Cliff Richard returns to UK to face police questions about assault claims

Artist News Legal Top Stories

Cliff Richard flew back to the UK from his home in Portugal this weekend to speak to police investigating allegations of an historical sexual offence, the singer’s reps have confirmed.

As previously reported, the popstar’s property in Berkshire was searched by police earlier this month following claims regarding a sexual assault of a boy under the age of sixteen at a Christian faith rally in 1985. The singer quickly denied the claims, saying that they are “completely false”, while adding that he would “co-operate fully” with the police investigation.

To that end Richard returned to the UK this weekend to be interviewed under caution by South Yorkshire Police. It’s thought the singer first met with his legal team before reporting to a pre-agreed police station. He was not arrested and no charges were made.

A spokesman for South Yorkshire Police gave a typically ambiguous statement to reporters, confirming they had spoken to a “73 year old man” and that “the man was interviewed under caution but was not arrested. He entered South Yorkshire Police premises by arrangement”.

Meanwhile a spokesman for the singer himself told the BBC: “Today Sir Cliff Richard voluntarily met with and was interviewed by members of South Yorkshire Police. He was not arrested or charged. He co-operated fully with officers and answered the questions put to him. Other than restating that this allegation is completely false and that he will continue to co-operate fully with the police, it would not be appropriate for Sir Cliff to say anything further at this time”.

Approved: Deafheaven – From The Kettle Onto The Coil

CMU Approved

The popularity of Deafheaven’s second album, ‘Sunbather’, brought with it accusations of the band making black metal for hipsters. And their latest track appearing in the Adult Swim Singles series isn’t going to help with that much. But if you’re quietly seething about a black metal band picking up fans who carry tote bags, just remember that the elitist nature of the genre probably means it’s not designed to appeal to you either. So let’s just move on.

Anyway, ‘From The Kettle Onto The Coil’, is the latest track to appear in Adult Swim’s procession of free downloads, and is available for you to store on your computer from today. From a running start, the track is a pretty solid wall of noise for the first half, before dropping a minute of more shoegaze-inspired riffs during which to catch your (and their) breath, before the roaring final stretch.

Listen and download here:

Sony’s entertainment network forced offline by DDoS attack, possibly by ISIS supporters

Business News Digital Legal

Entertainment congloms like Sony have had their online networks targeted by so called Distributed Denial Of Service attacks before, though usually such initiatives are led by anti-copyright or anti-capitalist campaigners, not groups claiming allegiance to jihadist fighters.

Sony’s PlayStation and Entertainment Network, which includes the firm’s streaming music service, went offline this weekend after a DDoS attack swamped the company’s servers. Though unlike the infamous attack on Sony’s networks in 2011, this time no data was grabbed during the DDoS.

The source of the server attack is not certain, though a Twitter feed using the handle @LizardSquad claimed responsibility.

Initially the Twitter account said the attack had been instigated because Sony wasn’t spending enough of the income generated from the PlayStation Network on enhancing the service. But then it later tweeted “today we planted the ISIS flag on @Sony’s servers”, alongside a photo of a man carrying the flag of the Islamic State movement (known until recently as the Islamic State Of Iraq And Syria, aka ISIS).

The DDoS coincided with drama in the US after a plane carrying the President of Sony Online Entertainment, John Smedley, was diverted after bomb threats were made online, including on the @LizardSquad Twitter feed. American Airlines Flight 362, flying from Dallas to San Diego, was redirected to Phoenix as a result of the bomb threat.

Smedley later tweeted: “Yes. My plane was diverted. Not going to discuss more than that. Justice will find these guys”.

It’s hard to know whether @LizardSquad really does represent the group behind this weekend’s DDoS attacks; Microsoft’s Xbox network was also reportedly targeted. It’s also not clear whether the feed really does have any formal or informal links to ISIS. Though the online manifestations of the current conflict in Iraq and Syria have been notable of course, both those that have been shocking, and those that are more mundane.

With that in mind the now defunct post-metal band also called ISIS have been forced to rename their Facebook profile to Isis The Band, after some confused web surfers started posting angry messages on it. The band split in 2010, but kept the Facebook profile to update fans on band members’ other projects.

The outfit’s former drummer Aaron Harris, speaking to ABC News about people getting his ex-band confused with the ISIS that is dominating headlines this year, said: “It certainly caught us off guard. Fans have emailed us that they’re reluctant to wear our t-shirts now and we’ve also gotten some off-colour comments”.

Suge Knight shot at pre-VMAs party

Business News Industry People Legal

There was drama ahead of this weekend’s MTV VMAs after a shooting at an unofficial pre-event party in LA in which one-time hip hop mogul Suge Knight was reportedly shot six times.

Two other men were also injured, with all three rushed to hospital where they were receiving treatment yesterday. A spokesman for the LA Sheriff’s Department said that, although Knight’s injuries were serious, all three men are expected to make a full recovery.

While Knight has been involved in violent altercations in the past, there was early speculation that the Death Row Records founder had been caught in the cross-fire, and that another party-goer – maybe even the event’s host Chris Brown – had actually been the target. But investigators say footage from inside the club venue where the party was taking place suggest the shooter was indeed targeting Knight.

His family issued a statement yesterday that read: “The family of Suge Knight asks that you keep Suge in your prayers and to stray away from the negativity portrayed by the media. Suge is currently resting and has lost a lot of blood, he’s human. He’s done a lot of things for the community and the culture as a whole so we ask that you respect that”.

US indie stores back global street day, but not Friday

Business News Labels & Publishers Retail

Good news everybody. The Department Of Record Stores – which represents about hundred indie record sellers in the US and Canada – thinks a global record release street day is a great idea. Providing the street day the globe adopts is the North American one.

As previously reported, the International Federation Of The Phonographic Industry recently confirmed moves are afoot for the record industry worldwide to adopt the same day of the week for releasing new records, making online marketing easier. It’s not a controversial proposal in principle – most people agree with the logic of new releases going online on the same day worldwide – but the big question is “which day?”.

The IFPI said that “positive dialogue with organisations representing artists, chart compilers, digital services, independent record labels and physical format retailers” had honed in on Friday as the preferred day, though a few such organisations around the world responding with a “who said what about what now?”

To be fair, while the Department Of Record Stores is pushing for the US release day of Tuesday to be adopted around the world, it is willing to be a bit flexible. Just not as far as Friday.

According to Billboard, the group said in an email: “The worldwide change should be made in a positive way and it should be done to maximise opportunities to increase sales for all retail partners. Tuesday would be the least disruptive because North America and the UK are the world’s largest markets for music, and the Tuesday street date used by Canada and the US would mean that only the UK would need to move up its street date” (which is currently Monday).

Wednesday might be workable, the DRS added, but “Friday is the worst choice for a worldwide street date, because it will require costly changes and would lead to less sales”. So there you go. The IFPI hopes that a global street day could go live as soon as next summer.

SpinMedia announces latest CEO

Business News Industry People Media

SpinMedia, the American music and entertainment blog owner known as Buzzmedia before it bought SPIN magazine, has announced Stephen Blackwell as its new CEO, succeeding Dale Strang, who will stay with the company as its Chairman.

In a press statement, Blackwell said: “I am thrilled to lead SpinMedia into an exciting new era. Our audience is young, vibrant and fully engaged in all forms of media and our brands, scale and digital assets have perfectly positioned Spin to capture the benefits of mobile and social growth across the web. Dale built an exceptionally strong and talented team – he will continue to be a valuable resource in our evolution”.

And evolution is what the company will be hoping Presswell will bring. The founder of the Death And Taxes website, he is SpinMedia’s fourth CEO in two years and joins following a restructuring at the company earlier this year designed to pay off debts.

But that’s all behind them now, Blackwell insisted in an interview with Capital, saying: “When I first got to Spin, and I started talking to everybody about [how] we’ve got an incredible brand here and a lot of opportunity for growth, I saw nothing but upside. I started expressing my vision on how we could help the brand grow, and that’s kind of when the conversation started about, well how does the CEO position look to you?”

He added: “The board is committed to a long-term strategy with SpinMedia. They see tremendous value in the brands and the people inside the walls of this company”.

Well, let’s hope so.

Two Prince albums incoming

Artist News Releases

Prince has confirmed that he will release two brand new albums at the end of September, solo long player ‘Art Official Age’ and his first with newish band 3RDEYEGIRL ‘Plectrumelectrum’. Both albums are now available for pre-order, with some instant-grat action for those who get their purchasing done early.

The albums will be released by Warner Music, with whom Prince recently made up. The major’s boss Cameron Strang told reporters: “Prince is one of just a handful of visionary artists who have truly reshaped and redefined modern music and culture. For the past 35 years, he has never stopped evolving, challenging himself, reinventing his sound, and pushing boundaries”.

He went on: “In true Prince fashion, he has just given us not one, but two extraordinary albums that express the incredible range and depth of his talent. All of us at WBR are immensely proud to be working with Prince to bring this brilliant new music to his legions of fans around the world, and needless to say we are thrilled to be working in partnership with him again”.

Jessie J reveals her sweet-talking new LP

Artist News Releases

Ten. Nine. Eight. Seven. Six. Five. Four. Three. Two. One.

And BOOOOOOOOOOM, pop vocalist Jessie J has confirmed ‘lift-off’ on her third LP, revealing its title (‘Sweet Talker’) and release date (13 Oct).

And BOOM (again), the “slick” and “kick-ass” disc showcases both J’s “phenomenal vocal range” and her “divisibility” as one of the pop world’s main power-players. I think that ‘divisibility’ bit means she is a popstar of many parts.

Anyway ‘Sweet Talker’ features the rapper 2 Chainz, the popstars Ariana Grande and Nicki Minaj (who both joined with J in LA to sing their and her collaborative single ‘Bang Bang’ at the MTV VMAs over the weekend), hip hop trio De La Soul, and also hip viral violinist Lindsey Stirling on the auspiciously-titled LP track ‘Loud’.

So that’s that basically, all the info one could want. Now take in the official ‘Sweet Talker’ tracklist, high-waisted-pants-tastic cover ‘art’, and a nice lyric clip for ‘Bang Bang’:

Ain’t Been Done
Burnin’ Up (feat 2 Chainz)
Sweet Talker
Bang Bang (feat Ariana Grande & Nicki Minaj)
Fire
Personal
Masterpiece
Seal Me With A Kiss (feat De La Soul)
Said Too Much
Loud (feat Lindsey Stirling)
Keep Us Together
Get Away

Morrissey tour, O2 date

Artist News Releases

Morrissey? On tour? All over Europe? With a date at The O2 in London on 29 Nov? While simultaneously “urgently” looking for a new label to do the releasing honours on his latest LP ‘World Peace Is None of Your Business’? It couldn’t be true, could it?

Well, yes, it is true to you. In that, that’s what usually reliable Morrissey fan site truetoyou.net is saying. Further fall outs with the big band music business machine and the poor health gods permitting, presumably.

All Time Low and You Me At Six are going to tour the UK’s arenas together

Artist News Gigs & Festivals

All Time Low and You Me At Six are going out on a co-headlining tour next year. Both of them. Together. At flippin last. The tour will include a Valentine’s Day show at the O2 Arena, aka the world’s most romantic place.

Showing off his noted skill for using words to communicate with people, All Time Low frontman Alex Gaskarth said: “We’ve never managed to hit up the UK with the hometown boys in You Me At Six, so this is going to be a really amazing experience. I think the fanbases will come together and make the shows unforgettable”.

You Me At Six’s vocaliser Josh Franceschi disagrees though. No, not really, he said this: “We can’t wait to hit the road with All Time Low. It’s the tour we know our fans want, and we are so excited to be doing a full arena tour”.

Here are the dates:

9 Feb: Cardiff, Motorpoint Arena
10 Feb: Birmingham, LG Arena
12 Feb: Glasgow, SSE Hydro
13 Feb: Manchester, Phones 4U Arena
14 Feb: London, O2 Arena

Rinse lists live and on-air genre hijacks

Artist News Gigs & Festivals Media

Radio station/label/way-of-life Rinse is presenting a series of genre-themed on-air takeovers and live nights (at London’s Dance Tunnel) over the next several weeks, this as part of its twentieth anniversary celebrations. Go, Rinse.

The first of the FWD>> branded parties, which is this Thursday 28 Aug, is given over to jungle, and will feature Uncle Dugs, Brockie, Jumpin Jack Frost and DJ Ron.

Coinciding with a jungle takeover of the Rinse FM station on 29-31 Aug, the live jungle tip continues on to Friday (29 Aug) with a weekend mini-fest, again, headlined by Uncle Dugs, and also co-starring Grooverider, Shy FX, London Elektricity and Nicky Blackmarket.

Latter events, all tying in with parallel radio takeovers, will highlight the best in dubstep, house, funky, grim and garage, and will play host to the likes of Elijah & Skilliam, Marcus Nasty, Spoony, Coki, N-Type, Randomer and Klose One.

You have to sign up for admission to the free-entry FWD>> events first, so do that, and look at all the live listings in one place, via rinse20.com.

Miley Cyrus champions homeless cause at VMAs

Artist News Awards

So, how to grab the headlines for a second time at MTV’s Video Music Awards, even when you’ve not been booked to twerk into the groin of a singing man whose main achievement, other than teaming up with Pharrell to achieve a sneaky one-hit-wonder, is mastering the ‘sex predator’ look to perfection?

I know, bring a homeless guy along as your date, have him accept your award, and turn the whole thing into a promotion for a worthy homeless charity! Go, Miley Cyrus.

Accepting the popstar’s gong for Best Video (for some reason presented for her ‘Wrecking Ball’ promo), Cyrus’s friend said: “Thank y’all, my name is Jesse and I am accepting this award on behalf of the 1.6 million runaways and homeless youth in the United States who are starving, lost and scared for their lives right now. I know this because I am one of these people”.

He went on: “Though I may have been invisible to you in the streets, I have a lot of the same dreams that brought many of you here tonight. Los Angeles, entertainment capital, has the largest population of homeless youth in America. The music industry will make over $7 billion this year, and outside these doors are 54,000 human beings who have no place to call home”.

Shortly after the speech Cyrus posted on her Facebook details of a new LA homeless centre, encouraging fans to donate. So that’s all nice isn’t it? And even better, she didn’t stick out her tongue once. Not once. Not even when Beyonce picked up her fourth award.

Talking of which, VMA winners…

Video Of The Year: Miley Cyrus – Wrecking Ball
Female Video: Katy Perry – Dark Horse
Male Video: Ed Sheeran – Sing
Artist To Watch: Fifth Harmony – Miss Movin On

Pop Video: Ariana Grande Feat. Iggy Azalea – Problem
Hip-Hop Video: Drake Feat Majid Jordan – Hold On, We’re Going Home
Rock Video: Lorde – Royals
MTV Clubland Award: Zedd Feat. Hayley Williams – Stay The Night
Collaboration: Beyonce Feat Jay Z – Drunk In Love
Lyric Video: 5 Seconds Of Summer – Don’t Stop
Video With A Social Message: Beyonce – Pretty Hurts

Cinematography: Beyonce – Pretty Hurts
Choreography: Sia – Chandelier
Art Direction: Arcade Fire – Reflektor
Editing: Eminem – Rap God
Visual Effects: OK Go – The Writing’s On The Wall
Direction: DJ Snake & Lil Jon – Turn Down For What

Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award: Beyonce

Parfitt had second heart attack, and he’s glad about it

And Finally Artist News

Rick Parfitt is glad he had a second heart attack. In that he reckons it’s a much needed wake-up call.

As previously reported, Status Quo recently had to cancel some shows after Parfitt was taken ill in Croatia. He was flown back to the UK for heart surgery, and has now confirmed that his medical emergency was the result of a heart attack, his second.

The rocker previously had a quadruple heart bypass in 1997, but he admits he didn’t alter his heavy boozing, heavy smoking lifestyle. Until now.

He’s told the Daily Mail: “I’ve had 50 years of smoking and drinking and abusing my body. There comes a time when you have to look at yourself and think, ‘Right, that’s it, it’s now time for a change’. All my life I’ve defied the doctor’s orders, thinking that I’m made of steel. As stupid as this may sound, I’m pleased I’ve had this heart attack because I couldn’t see a way out of my bad habits”.

He’s now gone three weeks without drink and fags, which, he says, is a real achievement for him.

“There are so many advantages I never realised to being sober,” he added. “When I wake up in the morning I want to get up and get the day going and I can’t tell you how much better I feel. I’m going to enjoy my life so much more now. I’m ready to rock, I can’t wait”.

Morrissey’s latest album is no longer any of Universal’s business

Business News Labels & Publishers Top Stories

Hey, so it turns out Morrissey was right. His deal with Universal/Capitol’s Harvest imprint really has come to an end, and his latest album, ‘World Peace Is None Of Your Business’, is in the process of being removed from digital services.

Word from Universal is still not forthcoming on the matter, but sometimes actions speak louder than words. And removing an artist’s album from sale just over a month after its release seems pretty loud and clear.

Concluding a long dispatch on his perceived failures of the label, Morrissey said via fansite True To You earlier this week: “I might be wrong, but I think ‘World Peace Is None Of Your Business’ will instantly disappear from iTunes and record stores and every download-upload-offload outlet on the planet, because Harvest technically have no right to sell it”. The major presumably lost said right with the end of the deal because Morrissey only ever licensed them the content.

Now, “instant” the removal was not, but gradually the album did disappear from US digital services yesterday. And while it’s still currently available on Spotify in the UK at the time of writing, as of this morning it has been removed from iTunes here too.

What will happen to the album now is unclear. Morrissey could fire up his PC and get the record back on the digital services himself pretty easily. However, he still seems pretty set on finding a third party to do that for him, saying: “I still believe that there’s a label out there with my name on it, and one that will issue ‘World Peace Is None Of Your Business’, and afford it the respect it deserves”.

Respectful labels, get your applications in now.

Sony/ATV faces damages bill over indirect infringement in Shakira song

Business News Labels & Publishers Legal

Sony/ATV is facing a damages payment after a plagiarism trial centring on 2010 Shakira track ‘Loca’.

The Shakira track borrowed from a song called ‘Loca Con Su Tiguera’ by Eduardo Edwin Bello Pou, aka El Cata, from the Dominican Republic. But that was all fine, Bello was co-credited as a songwriter on the Shakira hit and he appeared on the track. The Dominican Republic songwriter said the original song was inspired by his relationship with his ex-wife.

However, according to The Hollywood Reporter, Bello was subsequently accused of having nicked the original track, or much of it, from another Dominican Republic songwriter called Ramon ‘Arias’ Vasquez, who claimed to have written the song in the mid-1990s inspired by his sister’s relationship with a ‘street-tough’ boyfriend.

Arias added that he had met with Bello eight years ago and shared two of his songs with him, including ‘Loca Con Su Tiguera’. Arias claimed Bello liked the song and asked to record it. But when he later did just that, and won some fame off the back of it, Bello then claimed that he had written the song himself. The collaboration with Shakira duly followed.

A music company called Mayimba Music acquired the rights in Arias’ song, and it was that firm which sued the various Sony companies involved in the Shakira hit, the music major’s label having released the track, and Sony/ATV’s Miama division having published the songstresses rework of ‘Loca Con Su Tiguera’. Though in the end the former was removed as a defendant.

Bello denied outright Arias’s allegations, claiming ‘Loca Con Su Tiguera’ was his song. But a US judge decided the latter made a much more credible case, partly because of the existence of a cassette of the song in Arias’s hands from 1998, and partly because of inconsistencies in Bello’s story inside and outside of court. The judge then deemed the Arias and Bello songs to be sufficiently similar for there to be copyright infringement.

The Shakira song therefore indirectly infringed Arias’s original, resulting in liability for Sony/ATV. Whether the publisher will appeal remains to be seen, though another court hearing will now be scheduled to consider damages.

BBC journalists “acted appropriately” on Cliff Richard coverage, says Director General

Business News Legal Media

Journalists at the BBC “acted appropriately” when reporting on a police investigation into allegations of sexual abuse against Cliff Richard, the broadcaster’s Director General Tony Hall has said. This follows a complaint from South Yorkshire Police last week.

In a letter to the chair of parliament’s Home Affairs Select Committee, Keith Vaz, Hall said: “I believe that BBC journalists have acted appropriately in pursuing this story. As you rightly say, the media has a right to report on matters of public interest. Sir Cliff Richard is one of the most successful British entertainers of all time and has been a prominent public figure for several decades”.

He continued: “Investigations into historic sex abuse cases have – and will continue to have – a profound impact on the lives of well-known individuals and the standing of public institutions. The disclosure of a sex abuse allegation against Sir Cliff Richard and the police search of his property was clearly a significant story and the BBC was not alone in providing extensive coverage”.

As previously reported, Richard’s Berkshire home was searched by police last week, in relation to allegations of the sexual assault of a boy under the age of sixteen at a Christian faith rally in 1985. The singer has denied the claims, saying that they are “completely false”, and adding that he will “co-operate fully” with the police investigation.

South Yorkshire Police then complained to the BBC over its conduct in reporting the case. It said that the BBC had contacted the police force about the case some weeks prior to the search of Richards’ home. At this point, the police said in a statement, “it was agreed that the reporter would be notified of the date of the house search in return for delaying publication of any of the facts”.

Some media reports after the search suggested that the police had leaked information to the BBC “in order to maximise publicity”. The police complaint came later last week as South Yorkshire Police believed that “the BBC was slow to acknowledge that the force was not the source of the leak”.

Since the search of his property and his denying of the allegations against him, the singer has cancelled a number of planned public appearances. Earlier this week he pulled out of an upcoming performance at a Canterbury Cathedral charity event. He has also cancelled an appearance at an event in the Portuguese city of Albufeira, where he lives, and where he was at the time of last week’s search. The singer was due to receive the keys to the city on Wednesday next week.

In the wake of the allegations coming to light, fans of Richard have started a campaign to show their support by attempting to get his 1992 single, ‘I Still Believe In You’, in to the charts. The track went to number seven when it was originally released. In the midweek charts, the Official Charts Company reports, the song was still 500 sales off making the Top 40.

Bieber implicated in scrape with Hawaiian paparazzo

Artist News Legal

As Justin Bieber spirals down, down, down and still farther down into a slimy, crime-y bog of yolk-attacks, attempted phone nicking and possible drag-racing, his dedicated legal team is now dealing with another lil lawsuit, this time newly-emerging ‘infliction of emotional distress’ claims made by a paparazzo against the singer.

Photog Aja Oxman is suing young Justin for around $25,000 in damages following an incident that happened last year in Hawaii. Oxman claims in his suit that the Bieber ordered his bodyguard, one Dwayne Patterson, to take away his (Oxman’s) camera memory card, after Oxman was caught taking photos of Bieber diving into the sea off a cliff. He also alleges that Bieber had a hand in breaking his camera, though not that the pop boy himself attacked him.

Whilst Bieber was neither arrested nor charged at the time – due to lack of evidence of his involvement, the court confirms – Patterson, who Oxman accused of placing him in a chokehold, was in fact taken into custody on suspicion of assault, and later charged with second-degree robbery for taking and breaking the camera. He pleaded no contest to charges of criminal damage and harassment, and had to pay a fine of $6000.

But the civil litigation targets Bieber, presumably on the grounds he allegedly instructed Patterson to attack. And if the whole ‘Bieber v Paparazzi’ scenario feels a bit familiar, that’s because it is. A similar case, also still pending, dates back to a situation last June involving another photog, Jeffrey Binion, who alleges he was assaulted by one of Bieber’s bodyguards, at Bieber’s behest, after he tried to take snaps of the popstar.

And for anyone having difficulty placing that particular lawsuit, it’s the one with the nightmarish deposition video.

Perhaps not shockingly, Team Bieber have not commented on any of the above.

Sony/ATV signs James Blake

Business News Deals Labels & Publishers

Sony/ATV Music Publishing has signed a long-term deal with James Blake. Applying to all the known world, it’ll cover all forthcoming James Blake releases, not least a follow-on to his 2013 LP ‘Overgrown’, which, Sony/ATV confirms, will arrive next year, potentially featuring ‘collabs’ with Kanye West and/or Justin Vernon.

Commenting on the new alliance, Sony/ATV’s Creative Director Tyler Childs says: “James Blake is one of the premier artists of this generation. We’re thrilled to work in partnership with him and Dan and for the world to hear all of James’ incredible new songs”.

The exact ‘Dan’ he means is Blake’s manager Dan Foat, who adds (a bit archly, I think): “I had a great Sony Walkman when I was younger and we’re really looking forward to working with Sony/ATV”.

Cooking Vinyl inaugurates Carl Barat And The Jackals into its bosom

Business News Deals Labels & Publishers

Carl Barat And The Jackals, the band Carl Barat is in charge of that isn’t The Libertines, are going places, and have signed a deal with Cooking Vinyl Records to facilitate the ‘going places’ plan.

Whilst it extends to the entire planet Earth (except North America, so not entirely “entire”), and to a feted first CB+TJ single, it won’t apply to any of the Libertines releases past or present, nor to any of Barat’s other one-time band Dirty Pretty Things, nor to his solo work. And that’s final.

Carl says: “The Jackals and I are honoured to be inaugurated into the bosom of the Cooking Vinyl clan”.

Cooking Vinyl Director Rob Collins, adds: “It’s an honour to have Carl on the label. He’s a fantastic writer and a top bloke to boot! With the Jackals in tow he’ll kill it live just as he does with the Libertines”.

Barat composed The Jackals having first put out a public call for applicants online. Individually, the band, who had to audition for places, are guitarist Billy Tessio, bassist Adam Claxton and drummer Jay Bone.

Team Sleep invite fans to join them as they record new album

Artist News Releases

Team Sleep are planning to record a second album, which means they might just get it out in time to mark the tenth anniversary of their debut. And they want fans who have waited patiently all this time to lend a hand with it.

Fronted by Deftones vocalist Chino Moreno, and featuring former Hella and Death Grips member Zach Hill on drums, the band released the (still great) ‘Team Sleep’ album in 2005. A second album, reported to be in production in 2007, never materialised, and it was generally thought that the project had come to an end.

Indeed, when discussing more recent side-project ††† in 2011, Moreno said that he didn’t want this band to suffer the same fate as his last, telling AOL’s Noisecreep: “The main thing about it is, I don’t want to hype it up and give people all these expectations. To me, that’s what made Team Sleep so hard to do. It was supposed to be this underground thing that would happen whenever, and it developed so much hype around it that it kind of ruined the whole thing for me”.

But – hurrah! – Team Sleep were not dead at all, just sleeping. Which, I guess, is appropriate. They have now revealed that they will head down to the Applehead recording studio in Woodstock on 17-18 Oct to record album number two.

Yeah, you’re right, those dates do seem unusually specific for a ‘band to record new album’ story like this. But that’s because they are inviting fans to come and join them in the studio as they record it.

In a statement, the band said this: “For a long time, business people, logistics, careers, adulthood, families and the House Republicans have thwarted us, but we’ve continued to make music. At the same time, the creative process has become increasingly fragmented and dehumanised. With that in mind, we’re very excited to get together with our dear friends, hang out, play music and have a unique experience in a beautiful place. We’d like you to be there, too. Your participation will be essential to the independent creation and release of the live performance and our forthcoming studio record; we look forward to seeing you”.

Essential how? Do they need some tambourines shaking, or something? No, they need cash, as far as I can see. Your essential input will pay for the studio time, it appears. Well, that and the money it’ll cost to produce all the extra bits and pieces – like hoodies, CDs and a gourmet meal with the band – that attendees will receive.

So, now I’ve got you interested, I’ll have to let you know that tickets to this are $500 each. Which seems like a lot of money. Did I mention the gourmet meal though? I bet that’ll be nice. If you’re still game, you can secure your place here.

Run The Jewels announce second album

Artist News Releases

Run The Jewels have announced that they will release a new album, ‘RTJ2′, through Nas’ Mass Appeal label on 28 Oct. The album will feature appearances from Rage Against The Machine’s Zach De La Rocha and Blink 182’s Travis Barker.

Announcing the record, producer El-P said: “We are very excited to bring you the next chapter of Run The Jewels via the good folks at Mass Appeal. We can make no promises about the safety of any animals involved in the creation of this record”.

Rapper Killer Mike then insisted: “It is the best rap group album since ‘RTJ1’!”

And who could argue with that? You can get a taste of the album from lead track ‘Blockbuster Night Part 1’, which is streaming here:

Meanwhile, Killer Mike has been offering his thoughts on the ongoing situation in Ferguson, Missouri, where people have been protesting the police shooting of an unarmed teenager last week. As well as an opinion piece for Billboard on the subject, he has also turned up on CNN:

Warp confirms Aphex Twin album details

Artist News Releases

Warp Records has confirmed that it will release the new album by Aphex Twin, ‘Syro’, on 22 Sep. The label has also revealed the artwork for the release, which seems to be a comment on the costs of releasing an album versus the royalty payments received from streaming services. Or something.

Also, the company has published a typically zany biog to go with the press release for the album. This one, though it does contain a certain amount of factual information, seems designed to make the reader feel as if they’re having a stroke.

Laura Mvula playing intimate charity show in London, soon

Artist News Gigs & Festivals

Soul lady Laura Mvula is booked to play a quite tiny (given her award-winning stature) 100-capacity show in London later this month, for charity.

All monies raised from the special ‘audience with…’ date, which takes place at Leicester Square’s glitzy Hippodrome Casino on 29 Aug, will be donated to Centrepoint, an organisation supporting homeless youths aged 16-25.

Ms Mvula says: “I’m really glad that we’re able to support Centrepoint by doing a show. It’s such a great organisation and being able to use music to help get young homeless people off the streets is a huge privilege. Hopefully we raise lots of money!”

As I said, tickets to the show are strictly limited to 100, though I should add that each is priced at £100. Though like the other thing I said, it’s all for charity. So buy buy buy one, or lots, now.

Finally, as fans will already know, Mvula is soon releasing a remake of her 2013 LP ‘Sing To The Moon’, comprising big-band arrangements of all its original tracks featuring the Metropole Orkest.

Sample some of it now via the following two montages:

The Knife to quit touring and “close down”

Artist News Gigs & Festivals

The Knife have decided that they’ve had enough of touring, so they’re going to stop. But not before they’ve toured some more. After that it’s definitely all over, though.

Announcing this news, the duo said in a statement: “We are doing our last tour! In the autumn we will round up the ‘Shaking The Habitual Show Tour’ with a number of European dates. After the touring last year we reworked the show during the winter. The performers, previously known as dancers, learnt how to sing and play instruments, the stage got three levels, Shannon Funchess joined us and the show became more fun and shiny. We performed it in the US in the spring and now we would love you to join us in our dance for some last shaking moves”.

But what does this mean exactly? Are they just quitting touring, or is this the end of The Knife as a project entirely? Apparently the latter, according to Dazed & Confused, which asked for clarification from the duo’s PR, after Karin Dreijer made a slightly ambiguous statement in a new interview with the publication.

“For me, The Knife is anything and nothing. It can be whatever you want”, she said, cryptically. “At the moment, The Knife is 25 people touring and even more people documenting the process, making videos and helping us out with different things. When we finish the tour now in November we will close down, it’s our last tour. We don’t have any obligations to continue, it should only and always be for fun.

The phrase “we don’t have any obligations to continue” sounds like she’s not really sure what the future holds, but if you want to take that as a permanent split, then fine. Take it.

Explaining the final shows further, Karin said in a statement: “When we talked about going on tour again, the first idea was to make a dance show, which we also decided to do. So we had to rework the tracks to accompany that idea”.

Her brother Olof added: “I think the dance-y beat-oriented reworks we’ve done are not only made to dance to in the show, but they are also a reaction towards the more distorted material on the ‘Shaking The Habitual’ album. We keep on reacting from previous experiences”.

The brief tour will come to a close with a performance at this year’s Iceland Airwaves festival, but if you want to see them in the UK, you’ll need to head down to the Manchester Academy on 5 Nov or the Brixton Academy on 6 Nov. Tickets are on sale as of this morning.

If you can’t make any of the dates, then you might just about be able to console yourself with a mini-album featuring studio recordings of the new versions of some of the songs the duo have reworked for the tour, which will be released in November.

The tracklist looks like this:

We Share Our Mothers’ Health (Shaken-Up Version)
Got 2 Let U (Shaken-Up Version)
Bird (Shaken-Up Version)
Without You My Life Would Be Boring (Shaken-Up Version)
Pass This On (Shaken-Up Version featuring Shannon Funchess)
Ready To Lose (Shaken-Up Version)
Stay Out Here (Shaken-Up Version)
Silent Shout (Shaken-Up Version)

You can listen to the new version of ‘Pass This On’ here, and watch a trailer for the tour here:

Wednesday 27 August 2014, 10:34 | By Chris Cooke

The free mobile version of Spotify already available to iPhone and Android phone owners is now available to all you Windows Phone users out there too. And you know who you are.

READ MORE ABOUT: Spotify

Wednesday 27 August 2014, 10:33 | By Chris Cooke

Music data firm Gracenote has a new CEO in the form of John Batter, the company’s newish owner Tribune has confirmed.

READ MORE ABOUT: Gracenote | John Batter

Wednesday 27 August 2014, 10:32 | By Aly Barchi

Slipknot have signed off on a fifth LP called ‘.5: The Gray Chapter’, which will be released on 20 Oct.

READ MORE ABOUT: Slipknot

Wednesday 27 August 2014, 10:31 | By Aly Barchi

So approved ‘Bipp’ hit-boy Sophie and DJ AG Cook (ringleader of the divisive PC Music label) have confided on a collaborative single titled ‘Hey QT’.

READ MORE ABOUT: AG Cook | QT | Sophie

Wednesday 27 August 2014, 10:30 | By Aly Barchi

Rising presence on ‘Brit R&B’ scene Kwabs, real name Kwabena Sarkodee Adjepong, is headed right into the Manchester-based Chadderton swimming baths on 1 Sep, not only to take a dip, but also to ‘do’ one of Nokia’s Lumia Live Sessions.

READ MORE ABOUT: Kwabs

Wednesday 27 August 2014, 10:29 | By Andy Malt

READ MORE ABOUT: Elvis Presley

Tuesday 26 August 2014, 10:22 | By Chris Cooke

Cliff Richard flew back to the UK from his home in Portugal this weekend to speak to police investigating allegations of an historical sexual offence, the singer’s reps have confirmed.

READ MORE ABOUT: Cliff Richard | South Yorkshire Police

Tuesday 26 August 2014, 10:22 | By Andy Malt

READ MORE ABOUT: Deafheaven

Tuesday 26 August 2014, 10:21 | By Chris Cooke

Entertainment congloms like Sony have had their online networks targeted by so called Distributed Denial Of Service attacks before, though usually such initiatives are led by anti-copyright or anti-capitalist campaigners, not groups claiming allegiance to jihadist fighters.

READ MORE ABOUT: John Smedley | PlayStation Network | Sony Corp | Sony Entertainment Network

Tuesday 26 August 2014, 10:20 | By Chris Cooke

There was drama ahead of this weekend’s MTV VMAs after a shooting at an unofficial pre-event party in LA in which one-time hip hop mogul Suge Knight was reportedly shot six times.

READ MORE ABOUT: Suge Knight

Tuesday 26 August 2014, 10:19 | By Chris Cooke

Good news everybody. The Department Of Record Stores – which represents about hundred indie record sellers in the US and Canada – thinks a global record release street day is a great idea. Providing the street day the globe adopts is the North American one.

READ MORE ABOUT: Department Of Record Stores | International Federation Of The Phonographic Industry (IFPI)

Tuesday 26 August 2014, 10:17 | By Andy Malt

SpinMedia, the American music and entertainment blog owner known as Buzzmedia before it bought SPIN magazine, has announced Stephen Blackwell as its new CEO, succeeding Dale Strang, who will stay with the company as its Chairman.

READ MORE ABOUT: SpinMedia | Stephen Blackwell

Tuesday 26 August 2014, 10:16 | By Chris Cooke

READ MORE ABOUT: 3rdeyegirl | Prince

Tuesday 26 August 2014, 10:15 | By Aly Barchi

Ten. Nine. Eight. Seven. Six. Five. Four. Three. Two. One.

READ MORE ABOUT: Jessie J

Tuesday 26 August 2014, 10:14 | By Chris Cooke

Morrissey? On tour? All over Europe? With a date at The O2 in London on 29 Nov? While simultaneously “urgently” looking for a new label to do the releasing honours on his latest LP ‘World Peace Is None of Your Business’? It couldn’t be true, could it?

READ MORE ABOUT: Morrissey

Tuesday 26 August 2014, 10:12 | By Andy Malt

All Time Low and You Me At Six are going out on a co-headlining tour next year. Both of them. Together. At flippin last. The tour will include a Valentine’s Day show at the O2 Arena, aka the world’s most romantic place.

READ MORE ABOUT: All Time Low | You Me At Six

Tuesday 26 August 2014, 10:10 | By Aly Barchi

Radio station/label/way-of-life Rinse is presenting a series of genre-themed on-air takeovers and live nights (at London’s Dance Tunnel) over the next several weeks, this as part of its twentieth anniversary celebrations. Go, Rinse.

READ MORE ABOUT: Rinse

Tuesday 26 August 2014, 10:09 | By Chris Cooke

READ MORE ABOUT: Miley Cyrus | MTV VMAs

Tuesday 26 August 2014, 10:08 | By Chris Cooke

Rick Parfitt is glad he had a second heart attack. In that he reckons it’s a much needed wake-up call.

READ MORE ABOUT: Rick Parfitt | Status Quo

Friday 22 August 2014, 12:16 | By Andy Malt

Hey, so it turns out Morrissey was right. His deal with Universal/Capitol’s Harvest imprint really has come to an end, and his latest album, ‘World Peace Is None Of Your Business’, is in the process of being removed from digital services.

READ MORE ABOUT: Harvest Records | Morrissey | Universal Music

Friday 22 August 2014, 12:15 | By Chris Cooke

Sony/ATV is facing a damages payment after a plagiarism trial centring on 2010 Shakira track ‘Loca’.

READ MORE ABOUT: Eduardo Edwin Bello Pou | Ramon 'Arias' Vasquez | Shakira | Sony Music Publishing

Friday 22 August 2014, 12:14 | By Andy Malt

Journalists at the BBC “acted appropriately” when reporting on a police investigation into allegations of sexual abuse against Cliff Richard, the broadcaster’s Director General Tony Hall has said. This follows a complaint from South Yorkshire Police last week.

READ MORE ABOUT: BBC | Cliff Richard | South Yorkshire Police | Tony Hall

Friday 22 August 2014, 12:13 | By Aly Barchi

READ MORE ABOUT: Justin Bieber

Friday 22 August 2014, 12:12 | By Aly Barchi

READ MORE ABOUT: James Blake | Sony Music Publishing

Friday 22 August 2014, 12:11 | By Aly Barchi

Carl Barat And The Jackals, the band Carl Barat is in charge of that isn’t The Libertines, are going places, and have signed a deal with Cooking Vinyl Records to facilitate the ‘going places’ plan.

READ MORE ABOUT: Carl Barat | Cooking Vinyl

Friday 22 August 2014, 12:10 | By Andy Malt

Team Sleep are planning to record a second album, which means they might just get it out in time to mark the tenth anniversary of their debut. And they want fans who have waited patiently all this time to lend a hand with it.

READ MORE ABOUT: Team Sleep

Friday 22 August 2014, 12:09 | By Andy Malt

Run The Jewels have announced that they will release a new album, ‘RTJ2′, through Nas’ Mass Appeal label on 28 Oct. The album will feature appearances from Rage Against The Machine’s Zach De La Rocha and Blink 182’s Travis Barker.

READ MORE ABOUT: El-P | Killer Mike | Run The Jewels

Friday 22 August 2014, 12:08 | By Andy Malt

Warp Records has confirmed that it will release the new album by Aphex Twin, ‘Syro’, on 22 Sep. The label has also revealed the artwork for the release, which seems to be a comment on the costs of releasing an album versus the royalty payments received from streaming services. Or something.

READ MORE ABOUT: Aphex Twin | Warp

Friday 22 August 2014, 12:07 | By Aly Barchi

Soul lady Laura Mvula is booked to play a quite tiny (given her award-winning stature) 100-capacity show in London later this month, for charity.