Friday 22 August 2014, 12:05 | By Andy Malt

CMU Beef Of The Week #220: Pablito Ruiz v Tame Impala

And Finally Artist News Beef Of The Week

It is a fact that if lawsuits in which songwriters claim to have been ripped off by other more successful songwriters stopped tomorrow, revenues of the entertainment law community would drop by 32% overnight.

Well, not so much a fact as a number I just plucked out of the air. But the point I’m trying to make is that there are a lot more of these lawsuits than just the ones you read about in CMU. Often the argument takes the form of, ‘I gave a demo of my awesome music to [insert famous artist name] and then they totally ripped me off’. Because most unsigned artists assume that their demos actually get listened to and absorbed by the people they hand them out to.

Sometimes these disputes take multi-level, super confusing forms, like this week’s ruling against Shakira, in which she is accused of recording a song that borrowed from another by a guy who had ripped off someone else in the first place. That happens less often. Mostly it’s the first one.

The business of proving that someone has ripped someone else off in the songwriting domain is a difficult one though. You have to prove two songs are sufficiently alike to justify the words ‘copyright infringement’. Then you have to decide if the similarities are coincidence, accidental or deliberate. And before all that, one artist has to notice the similarity between one of their songs and someone else’s. And how that happens can be a strange thing in itself.

This week, Tame Impala found this out, as they now face possible legal action from Argentine songwriter Pablo Ruiz as the result of a joke.

Earlier this month, Chilean music website Rata published an article entitled, ‘Estudios revelan que Tame Impala le copió a Pablito Ruiz’ – or, in English, ‘Studies show that Tame Impala copied Pablito Ruiz’.

The “studies” cited by the website seem largely (entirely) to be a YouTube video put together by Rata comparing portions of Tame Impala’s 2012 song ‘Feels Like We Only Go Backwards’ and Ruiz’s 1989 hit ‘Océano’. You could get into a debate about how likely it would be that Tame Impala would have heard this song, but before that, you should probably note that the Rata video seems like a joke. I laughed, anyway.

You know how it is, you notice something you think is funny, you decide to share it amongst what you imagine is an audience who understand the tone and style of your website, and then thanks to sarcasm not always coming across when taken out of context online, people start taking you seriously. And sarcasm generally stands up less well when it’s first filtered through Google Translate.

So it was that this week Rata published a new article, cataloguing how something they thought was nothing more than a “funny observation” went viral – or “viralizó”, which is now my new favourite word. They catalogued (and later updated the article to catalogue some more) the many sites around the world that had picked up on the story, including Pitchfork.

“This is a joke, right?” said Tame Impala frontman Kevin Parker when asked for a comment by Rolling Stone.

“It was a joke”, confirmed Rata’s editors Raúl Álvarez and Patricio Pérez. They added: “We were at a party and had that idea. Curiously, it was viralized pretty fast. We never thought we’d had this impact, and we’re very surprised about it”.

Wait, “viralized” is my new favourite word. No, “viralizó”. Oh, I can’t choose.

Anyway, that can wait, because there is still a twist in this tale, as you might have guessed (or maybe even remembered from when I mentioned it earlier). Because it wasn’t just the websites of the world that got wind of this story, it was Pablito Ruiz too. And Pablito Ruiz is not laughing.

Speaking to Radio ESPN 197.9FM in Argentina, he said: “Obviously there is plagiarism. Whether they have done it on purpose or not, there are seven bars that are equal to my song”.

“Equal” is a debatable term. And we can debate it now if you like, but how about we just leave it up to the courts? Because Ruiz says he’s now planning to consult his lawyers over his next course of action.

Hopefully his lawyers will point out that the similarities between the two songs are purely humorous. But you never know with lawyers. Pointing out obvious humour doesn’t buy you a big car, does it? Not unless you’re Michael McIntyre. Who does actually look quite like a lawyer, now I think about it.

But how do Álvarez and Pérez from Rata feel about the trouble they’ve stirred up?

“Of course we think it’s funny”, they chuckled to Rolling Stone. “But we hope there are no charges against Tame Impala. We actually like them a lot”.

Approved: Notting Hill Carnival 2014

Club Tip CMU Approved

It’s Notting Hill Carnival weekend, which gets a special place in my calendar year-on-year. The huge West London street party is one of London’s top events and, as usual, it takes place over this upcoming August Bank Holiday weekend, on Sunday and Monday.

Carnival’s music policy is that of cross pollination of many genres. The traditional calypso, soca and reggae, and the steel bands, are excellent, as is the costumery. And the food and drink of the Caribbean is also a major part – the roti and jerk chicken or saltfish and ackee with rice n peas, to soak up the Caribbean rums and notorious Guinness punch.

But Carnival doesn’t just focus on steel bands and tradition. A musical melting pot, it also covers strains as diverse as jungle, ragga, hip hop, house, broken beat, dubstep and blues. Strewn around Notting Hill over the weekend, it’s worth checking in advance what static soundsystems are going to be in action before setting off to sample the variety of sonic treats.

Soundsystems well worth checking out this year are CMC/Matrix and 4 Play, playing drum n bass and garage, King Tubby v Saxon for the reggae vibes, Latin Rave Street Jam, Rap Attack and Channel One. I also love TKO for soul, and Gaz’s Rocking Blues is down to add a slice of something different to the mix.

Sunday is traditionally children’s day, and it does get a bit more lively on the Monday all round Notting Hill. Do get a map and plan where you’ll be heading before setting out. It can be mobbed at times, so keep an eye out for your crew, and remember that mobile reception can be tricky due to overloaded networks. Some streets end up ‘one way’ with the crowds, so go with the flow rather than upstream, and moving across the float route can take a while as you can get hemmed in while you wait for the parade to pass.

Time Out still does an online map, which is handy for knowing the location of the soundsystems and the float route (and a printable one too, which is probably going to be more help once you’re in the thick of it), but the official website info seems somewhat sparse. Also many tube stations are exit only during the day – so pay attention to this and give plenty of time for your journeys.

As well as the daytime festivities, the weekend will also see some superb Carnival-related bashes.

Friday sees Tru Playaz Carnaval Party at Fabric, with a ’21 years of jungle’ night, featuring DJ Hype, Goldie, Fabio & Grooverider, Bryan Gee B2B Jumping Jack Frost, Kenny Ken, Randall, Brockie.

Saturday at Pacha sees Groove Odyssey taking over, with UK legend Joey Negro and his bag of soulful Disco house, alongside New York big hitter Mr V, London lads Bobby & Steve, Groove Assassin and Steve Harrington, which promises to be a mini carnival by itself.

Sunday has a few afterparty choices. My main two are Swamp 81 taking over Heaven under the arches of Charing Cross with Zed Bias and Loefah, and Jungle Mania Carnival Special on at Old Kent Road’s Coronet.

Closing things off on Monday, Benji B takes his Deviation sessions to The Paradise in Kensal Rise with DJ Zinc and Toddla T.

Let’s hope the sun shines on West London, it just makes it so much more enjoyable. Viva Carnival Siempre!

SoundCloud introduces ad-funded monetised accounts

Business News Digital Top Stories

SoundCloud has this morning announced long anticipated changes to its accounts for content owners, which will introduce advertising into the mix and allow content creators to share in the revenue said advertising brings in.

These are changes that many have been saying the streaming service should make for some time, of course. As it has grown, SoundCloud has shifted from its original proposition as primarily a provider of streaming services to content creators, with founder Alexander Ljung saying back in 2012 that he wanted his company to become “the YouTube of Audio” (a title it will now need to wrestle from YouTube itself).

SoundCloud has been known to be testing a new ad-funded system in recent months, and rumours that it would launch this week have been circulating over the last few days.

Ad revenue sharing will only be available to content owners on SoundCloud’s new Premier account tier, which is currently offered on an invite-only basis. Users on this tier will get certain extra features above others, in addition to being able to monetise their content, such as improved stats, a snazzier profile, and the automatic ability to upload an unlimited amount of audio.

Below that is the Pro account, which costs £4 per month or £35 per year, allowing a maximum of six hours of content. Users on this tier can upgrade to Pro Unlimited, which has the same features, but allows unlimited uploads. That will cost £9 per month or £79 per year. Then there’s the basic free level, which allows three hours of content to be uploaded.

Of course, this is not the only thing some have been calling for from SoundCloud. The service remains unlicensed, meaning that recording artists and songwriters do not automatically earn royalties when their music is played on the platform, where they would from places such as Mixcloud or Spotify.

Talks between SoundCloud and the labels regarding getting licenced have been rumoured on mutliple occasions, including very recently. Today The New York Times says that the new ad-funded model is part of these talks, and is laying the ground for premium accounts for listeners. These would remove advertising from the service for a fee, and fund royalty payments.

A spokesperson for SoundCloud did not comment on this when approached by CMU, but stressed that the new ads system was in itself designed to benefit content providers, saying: “Every time users see or hear an ad, artists get paid. We’re offering a sustainable business model that benefits SoundCloud and creators, with the majority share of revenue being paid out to Premier Partners. Advertising also keeps our platform open and free for millions of people around the world”.

Announcing the new programme, dubbed On SoundCloud, Ljung said on the SoundCloud blog: “As artists ourselves, Eric [Wahlforss] and I started SoundCloud with a simple vision. We wanted to develop tools for creation, help the creators reach fans all over the world, and shape a way we could pay the creators who fuel the growth of SoundCloud”.

Talking up the ad-funded element of the new SoundCloud, he said: “When someone sees or hears an ad [on SoundCloud], they’re supporting an artist … We often hear people say, ‘I’m On SoundCloud’. Now we’re happy to be able to offer even more for the millions of creators who have made it the best place in the world to share and discover music and audio”.

Adverts from “select brand partners” will now appear on audio uploaded by “a small group of creators” invited to join the advertising programme, before it is rolled out further in the coming months.

Explaining further, a spokesperson for SoundCloud told CMU: “The launch Premier partners were selected based on their good standing within the SoundCloud community, their proven ability to build an engaged audience, and their growth over time”.

The announcement follows recent reports on warnings issued by indie label trade bodies AIM and A2IM. The organisations told their members earlier this month to consider not allowing their music to be used by third parties accessing the SoundCloud API. The terms and conditions of this grant royalty-free use of any music accessed in this way.

According to Motive Unknown’s Daily Digest, the warnings were prompted after evidence showed that some radio stations in the US had begun sourcing music through the API because it was cleared for free use.

Appeals court overturns ruling on unfreezing MegaUpload founder’s assets

Business News Digital Legal MegaUpload Timeline

Kim Dotcom’s assets will remain frozen until at least April next year, after an appeals court ruling overturned an earlier decision by New Zealand’s High Court.

As previously reported, Dotcom’s assets were seized after MegaUpload was taken down in January 2012. The orders granting the seizures, issued by a US court and approved in New Zealand, expired in April. An application to extend them was turned down by the High Court in the latter. Although Dotcom was initially optimistic that he would now be reunited with his property and finances, the prosecutors appealed the decision shortly afterwards.

And that early optimism was gone ahead of the ruling this morning, with Dotcom tweeting before the decision: “I wonder how much respect Auckland High Court judges have for the appeal judges in Wellington. Almost all rulings in my case were overturned”.

The appeals court extended the asset freezing orders by one year from their expiration date to 18 Apr 2015. This date may or may not fall after Dotcom’s long-delayed extradition hearing, in which the US will try to force the former MegaUpload chief to face charges in the American courts, and which is currently scheduled to take place in February.

Kobalt Label Services rejigs job titles

Business News Industry People Labels & Publishers

Kobalt Label Services has announced a rejig of its team, following a rush of signings in recent months.

Vincent Clery-Melin is now UK Managing Director, replacing Paul Hitchman who has been promoted to President of KLS International, while Pete Dodge becomes VP Operations And Distribution. Clery-Melin will also remain MD of AWAL.

Hitchman said this: “Vincent and Pete have both made huge contributions to the success of KLS and I’m delighted to see them in these new roles as we continue to expand both our team and our services”.

And Clery-Merlin said this: “It’s a real honour to be heading up such a fantastic team, and I look forward to continuing to work closely with Paul to offer a first-class service to KLS and AWAL clients”.

And then Dodge said this: “It is very satisfying to be creating a global infrastructure that supports both digital and physical releases at the highest level, and to offer a truly viable and progressive alternative to the traditional labels”.

Morrissey details “botched” album campaign

Business News Labels & Publishers

In the ongoing saga of Morrissey’s record deal with Universal/Capitol’s Harvest imprint, or lack thereof, the singer has now issued a chronicle of his view of the “botched” campaign for his latest album, ‘World Peace Is None Of Your Business’. As ever, his missive appeared on fansite True To You.

There has been some question over the validity of the claims made on True To You that Morrissey’s partnership with Harvest was over. Universal refused to comment on the matter, and previous claims on the site that deals with Penguin Books and Warner/Chappell had ended proved erroneous. Though on this occasion the site, and Morrissey himself, have been far more insistent.

Although the deal with the label initially appeared like “a saintly beacon of light”, he said in his latest statement, the campaign the company came up with to promote the album, involving a series of (now deleted) spoken word videos featuring lyrics from the album, was the beginning of the end.

“I believed that the rich soil of the album had several strong hit singles”, says Moz. “Frayed tempers began when Harvest arranged the ‘spoken word’ films, none of which gave any clue as to what ‘World Peace Is None Of Your Business’ intended to be, or is. The films were OK, but they went nowhere and stayed there”.

The conclusion of his time with Harvest, he says, went down thus: “During the weeks of the album release, the label were minus one single structural idea, and it appeared evident that each member of the team was acting in separate rooms without doors or windows. Mutual mistrust exploded between Harvest and I, and with fashionable pessimism, the label boss yawned and ordered the surface smartness of dropping ‘World Peace Is None Of Your Business’ three weeks after its release. There, now! This would not have happened to the Teletubbies”.

That, I think, is a new claim. Not that Harvest has decided not to option a second album under its licensing deal with Morrissey, but that it has entirely ditched the latest album from its catalogue too.

On the details of this, he is unclear himself, saying: “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”.

A quick check of ‘download-upload-offload outlets’ confirms that that album’s instant removal has not happened.

Conceding that “most of the Harvest team are very nice”, Morrissey finished by saying: “I still believe that there’s a label out there with my name on it”.

So, there you go. Any takers?

Promoter campaigns to make Berghain-style ‘party fort’ on the Thames

Business News Live Business

A live promotions co has launched a cash drive to take over a fairly bleak-looking one-time ‘grain fort’ in the middle of the River Thames, and make it into a night-and-day party platz in the style of Berlin-based hotspot Berghain.

Scottish promoter Minival is looking to buy the nineteenth century fort, which sits off the Isle Of Grain in the middle of the Thames Estuary, and transform it into a “Berghain or [soon-to-close Dutch superclub] Trouw in the middle of the sea”.

The aim of the campaign, active now on GoFundMe, is to raise the fort’s £500,000 for-sale price, and an additional £250,000 to make the building ‘safe’. BTW, the fort sits on stilts in the middle of the sea, and is only reachable at low tide via a “slimy brick causeway”, or at high tide via boat. Healthy and safety be damned, I say!

Taking, like me, the idealistic tack, Minival’s appeal reads: “Imagine a place you could go to, to get away from it all. With the worlds best DJs and music running continuously. A place where you are allowed the true freedom to express yourself among friends. It sounds ridiculous but imagine if what we set out to do was accomplished, we call on everyone, for the love of music, for the love of the party, get involved. Dream to dream”.

Meanwhile representing ‘the man’, the estate agent trying to sell the thing, one Nigel Day, says: “I’m not going to lie to you, it’s an absolute monster. I thought I was OK on heights, but there are bits of it where I was clinging on to the walls: you realise if you fall you aren’t coming back in a hurry”.

So go on, kids, give a fiver and let’s make the ‘party fort’ dream a reality. There’s already over £50,000 in the bank at this early stage, so who knows, maybe this wild idea isn’t as wild as it seems. Dream to dream.

Amy Winehouse statue to be unveiled in Camden next month

Artist News

A statue of Amy Winehouse will be unveiled in Camden on 14 Sep, which would have been her 31st birthday.

Designed by Scott Eaton, the statue was originally planned to stand at the Roundhouse venue, though its location has now been moved to the nearby Stables Market to make it more accessible.

Winehouse’s father Mitch told reporters: “I had a meeting with Camden Council and they told me they don’t usually allow statues until 20 years after someone has died, but in Amy’s case they made an exception. It’s a great honour to have the statue in the Stables. Amy was an integral part of Camden and still is, so you couldn’t really think of putting a statue for her anywhere else, could you really?”

The singer (and Camden resient) died in 2011 from alcohol poisoning.

King Krule exhibiting his arts in London

Artist News

Oft-roaring pop boy Archy Marshall is to show some of his and his brother’s art works, banner-titled ‘Inner City Ooz’, at a gallery in London next month. And entry is free!

Marshall – who if you’re all like, “Who? What? Who’s that?” is, in fact, the real name of King Krule, releaser of last year’s brilliant ‘Six Feet Beneath The Moon’ LP – has collaborated with his brother Jack on an installation based on their reactions to ‘motifs’ like memory, time and the role of the artist in a changing cityscape. So now we all know.

On the physical side, the display will have a mix of large-scale abstract pieces featuring Archy’s poetry and ‘layers of paint’ by Jack, who by the way did the cover art for ‘Six Feet Beneath The Moon’. There shall also be illustrations, drawings and photographs.

In the downstairs space of the gallery the pair will create a “secluded, fictional environment” of soundscapes, compositions and live interactive performance made to “vibrate the viewer”, so that sounds (or will sound if you go listen to it) quite cool.

The show opens to the public on 5 Sep, and lasts till 27 Sep. Here are the details.

Thurston Moore’s going to release another solo album

Artist News Releases

Thurston Moore – you remember him, right? He was in that band. But he’s not now. And he’s always doing stuff. He seems like a pretty busy guy. Anyway, he’s going to release a new solo album. It’s going to be called ‘The Best Day’. And like that last one, it’ll be released through Matador. Oh, and the release date is 20 Oct.

OK, that’s all the key information covered. Um, if you want to see him live in the UK any time soon, you’ll need to go to the Moseley Folk Festival on 29 Aug. It’s up in Birmingham. Yeah, I realise that might be a bit of a trek for a lot of you, but he’s going to be playing twelve-string guitar. Those things are a pain in the arse to tune, so if he’s going to put a bit of effort in, maybe you should too.

Deerhoof float info on new LP, La Isla Bonita

Artist News Releases

Deerhoof

America’s Deerhoof, a band from the odd side of pop city, will on 4 Nov release a new LP, the sequel to 2012’s superlative ‘Breakup Song’.

With a title loaned off of Madonna, ‘La Isla Bonita’ – says its press release – pays lip service to the likes of David Bowie, Radiohead, Ric Ocasek, Beck, The Roots, Lou Reed, David Byrne, Sonic Youth and The Flaming Lips. A broad palette, I’d say.

Noting the fact that Deerhoof have been active since 1994, drummer Greg Saunier, who’s been in the band from day one, makes this general comment on the record: “No band is an island. Felt like one sometimes, in those budgetless and obscure early days, Satomi and me locked in the basement trying to figure out how our clashing personalities and ideas could turn into a band. If we hadn’t had that crazed mid-90s Bay Area punk scene to call home, I doubt we’d still be here to chat about a 20th anniversary.

And yet here they are.

Greg adds finally: “We don’t set out to create masterpieces. The Deerhoof fan is a thrill-seeker. This is the latest volley in an ongoing conversation we’ve been honored to hold for 20 years”.

Now hold tight for a ‘La Isla Bonita’ tracklist, and also for ‘La Isla Bonita’ single 001, ‘Exit Only’:

Paradise Girls
Mirror Monster
Doom
Last Fad
Tiny Bubbles
Exit Only
Big House Waltz
God 2
Black Pitch
Oh Bummer

Björk’s Biophilia film to premiere at London Film Festival

Artist News Gigs & Festivals

A film of Björk’s ‘Biophilia’ live performance at Alexandra Palace in London last year is to premiere in the Sonic Gala slot at this year’s London Film Festival.

Directed by Peter Strickland, who made ‘Berberian Sound Studio’, the film captures Björk performing her ‘Biophilia’ album in full, complete with a variety of instruments both familiar and entirely new.

London Film Festival Director Clare Stewart says: “Under the curatorship of BFI Head of Events And Production, Stuart Brown, our Sonic cinema programme in both LFF and year-round at BFI Southbank presents an exceptional selection of screenings and events that revel in the connection between music and film. Björk is a true innovator, collaborating with exceptional filmmakers and artists to produce intoxicating work at the intersection of music and film. We are delighted to be welcoming her, along with Peter Strickland and [editor] Nick Fenton, to the BFI London Film Festival’s UK premiere”.

Strickland added: “Being offered the Sonic Gala is gleeful revenge for all those many occasions when people complained about the music I was playing!”

The film will be shown at the Odeon West End in London on 9 Oct.

Liars add headline shows

Artist News Gigs & Festivals

Proto-pop villains Liars have confirmed they’ll give their hairy latest LP ‘Mess’ a live de-tangling via a newly-revealed trek of Europe.

Getting going in early October, it’ll pull into the UK on 25 Oct for Bristol’s Simple Things Festival, then to a headline date in earnest at Dublin’s Button Factory (26 Oct), then to Liverpool Music Week for a spooky show on 31 Oct, and finally hitting London’s Village Underground for a grand finale on 1 Nov.

Find full Euro listings (and ticket links) on this page, please.

And also, as a warning of live Liars things still to follow, this is a clip of the band’s entire set at last week’s Le Route Du Rock festival, which is in France:

Beyonce feeds the geese

And Finally Artist News

So tourist trap and house of waxen horrors Madame Tussauds dumped a life-sized figurine of Beyonce amidst a load of geese in Regent’s Park yesterday, basically so fans could have a ‘gander’.

Here are some photos of the ‘stunt’ taking place, which show that it could sort of have you fooled until you get up close and take an unconvincing selfie.

And PS, Heatworld.com writer Anna Lewis spent a bit of her day thinking of a list of bird-based alternatives to Beyonce track titles so I didn’t have to. Which was kind. Here is a link to see Anna’s ideas.

Approved: Twerps

CMU Approved

Melbournian band Twerps first emerged in 2008, subsequently releasing their first LP, the inevitably-titled ‘Twerps’, which bent the ‘bright n shiny indie’ template (a la Real Estate et al) into all kinds of inventive shapes, in 2011.

They’ve since newly signed to like-minded label Merge and, whilst they prep a new lengthy release, have made eight-track EP ‘Underlay’ to fill the interval. A likeably scrappy, sad-sack swatch of Twerps’ gently-paced ways and melodic means, it’s available digitally right this minute, here:

Vevo owners no longer considering a sale

Business News Digital Top Stories

If you were thinking of buying yourself a Vevo, but were waiting until pay day next week before making your bid, well, you missed your moment, suckers. Because Vevo ain’t for sale no more. Oh no, no more, no more, no more. Well, that’s according to the New York Post, which cites ‘sources’ and everything.

As previously reported, the current owners of the music video service, which feeds a big portion of the pop vids on YouTube as well as operating its own apps and platform, have been reviewing their options for much of the year.

Early indications were that further minority investors were being sought to provide some expansion-funding capital, but then word had it that current shareholders Sony Music, Universal Music, Google and the Abu Dhabi Media Group were toying with the idea of selling a controlling stake in the company.

But no more, people, no more. According to the Post, Vevo’s current owners now reckon that the service is likely to see significant further growth in the coming year, and that’s its non-YouTube outlets in particular will expand, and that therefore selling now won’t deliver the best return on investment. Or something like that.

The Prodigy ally with Three Six Zero’s new label in the States

Business News Deals Labels & Publishers

The new joint venture label being run by EDM management powerhouse Three Six Zero and Warner Music has a signing, in the form of those lovable dance music innovators I like to call The Prodigy.

The Prodge, as you like to call them, will seemingly work with Three Six Zero Music in the US on a forthcoming album, though the UK wing of Cooking Vinyl remain in the mix too.

No word as of yet on when that new LP will arrive – though Prodigy man Liam Howlett recently said the “violent-sounding” record was nearly complete. Billboard quotes Howlett today as saying: “Looking forward to seeing some more daylight once the record is done after all this time working on beats in the bunker and looking forward to bringing some fresh noise to the USA again – bring it on!”

Confirming the alliance, Warner Bros Records boss man Cameron Strang said: “Our partnership with Three Six Zero Music has only just begun and we’re already doing some amazing things. The Prodigy are incredibly influential, and we’re honoured for them to be one of the first artists to join our new label”.

Details of YouTube subscription music service leak

Business News Digital

Some details about Google’s YouTube music subscription service have leaked, reports Android Police. Though a launch date is still unclear, the website claims that the service will be called YouTube Music Key and will cost users $9.99 per month to access.

As previously reported, the paid YouTube service has been known to be in development since last year. However, there have been many delays to its launch, mostly thought to be licensing related. This came to a head earlier this year when trade body the World Independent Network accused Google of trying to strong arm indie labels into signing unfavourable deals.

Android Police has published a series of screengrabs apparently showing YouTube Music Key in operation on the Android mobile operating system, and also points to the fact that Google has registered the domain name youtubemusickey.com. Though a company owning a domain name doesn’t really mean much until it’s actually using it.

The site also claims that Google Play Music All Access is to be rebranded Google Play Music Key, which will at least stop people from mocking that terrible name. If only because there’ll now be two new awful product names to mock.

See Android Police’s full array of screengrabs here.

NFL proposes pay-to-play option to potential Super Bowl halftime performers

Business News Live Business

American football overseer the NFL is currently unable to decide who to pick to play the Super Bowl halftime show in February next year, and is asking potential acts to bid for the slot, according to the Wall Street Journal.

Traditionally the NFL has covered performers’ travel and production expenses. However, sources told the newspaper that Rihanna, Katy Perry and Coldplay have been asked if they would be willing to contribute a cut of their post-Super Bowl tour income to the NFL in return for having the high profile half time show performance spot.

The sports league apparently said it would also accept other financial contributions if giving up touring profits wasn’t agreeable, but, it seems, the whole pay-to-play suggestion has not been well-received by the artists’ reps.

An NFL spokesperson refused to comment on potential deals to the WSJ, but said the only aim was “to put on the best possible show”.

AIM and A2IM tell members to be wary of SoundCloud user licence

Business News Digital

UK and US indie label trade bodies AIM and A2IM have warned their members to be aware of a number of clauses in SoundCloud’s terms and conditions for content-uploaders, and what rights those clauses ask rightsholders to give up when uploading music to the service.

Noted by Hypebot yesterday, the warning appeared on the A2IM blog earlier this month and states: “When putting tracks up on SoundCloud, you should strongly consider turning API access off. If you do not do this, you are granting not only SoundCloud a royalty free licence to use your recordings, but also anyone else who uses their API and/or links to your recordings (eg internet radio stations, remix services or other music apps)”.

It adds: “As a SoundCloud user, you have already warranted to SoundCloud that you control all rights when using the service. This means that publishing, which you may not control, is also included in this royalty free license for onward usage. User uploads are also covered by this, so if third parties are uploading your recordings, they are also passing on a free license to other sites and services beyond SoundCloud, which effectively creates an ecosystem of royalty free usage for your music”.

SoundCloud is thought to be considering making some clarifications regarding certain parts of its current terms, though the company did not respond to a request for further information relating to the AIM and A2IM statement.

Mixcloud launches paid accounts for content owners and listeners

Business News Digital

Mixcloud has announced a number of new features and subscription plans for listeners and content owners.

The new $15 per month Pro uploader option is aimed at users who upload radio shows, DJ sets and podcasts to the website, while the $6.99 per month Premium account gives users ad-free listening. One of the new features added to the service is the ability for users to repost other users’ audio to their own accounts, similar to the option offered by SoundCloud, which its hoped will drive ‘discovery. Gotta love a bit of discovery.

Mixcloud CTO Mat Clayton said in a statement: “From a business model point of view, the objective is to both diversify and smoothen our revenue, with the objective of growing our direct-to-consumer business to 25% of total revenue by the end of the quarter. Additionally we think it’s important to have a product that allows our users to pay for the Mixcloud service. This sets the precedent that content and services on the internet are valuable”.

The company’s announcement also took a swipe at SoundCloud’s recent problems with takedowns, playing up its own licensed (in some countries) status, saying: “The alternative [to listening to mixes on Mixcloud] is to stream DJ sets and radio shows via unlicensed platforms – an issue that has been causing recent frustration due to copyright takedowns”.

Leonard Cohen releasing birthday LP

Artist News Releases

Growly folk icon Leonard Cohen is going to have a right old party on his 80th birthday, mainly by flipping tradition and giving (well, selling) his loved ones the gift of a shiny new LP entitled ‘Popular Problems’.

Co-written (as was his last disc, 2012’s ‘Old Ideas’) with Madonna’s ‘Like A Prayer’ collaborator Patrick Leonard, it finds Cohen playing the “astonished lover rocking to the human condition as [as LC sings in LP track ‘Born In Chains’] ‘the soul unfolds in the chambers of its longing'”. Beautiful.

‘Popular Problems’ is the thirteenth longform record of Len’s equally longform life, and will have a UK release on 22 Sep, the day after his birthday.

See its tracklisting, and then hear listed track ‘Almost Like The Blues’, here:

Slow
Almost Like The Blues
Samson In New Orleans
A Street
Did I Ever Love You
My Oh My
Nevermind
Born In Chains
You Got Me Singing

Kele Okereke confirms new solo LP, shares track

Artist News Releases

So Kele Okereke is making solo moves (again), this in light of his some-time band Bloc Party having split (again) last year.

The latest upshot of those moves is a new LP titled ‘Trick’ arriving 13 Oct, Okereke’s first lone release of any real length since 2010’s ‘The Boxer’. I don’t know what exactly he’s been doing all this time, but lead ‘Trick’ single ‘Doubt’ implies time spent on the deep house scene. I haven’t had time yet to read his blog, so maybe the answers are in there.

Check ‘Doubt’, and the LP’s pet tracklisting, here:

First Impressions
Coasting
Doubt
Closer
Like We Used To
Humour Me
Year Zero
My Hotel Room
Silver and Gold
Stay the Night

Cliff Richard cancels Canterbury Cathedral charity performance

Artist News Gigs & Festivals Legal

Cliff Richard has cancelled a performance at Canterbury Cathedral, in the wake of a police investigation into accusations of sexual abuse by the singer. The appearance was due to take place at a charity event next month.

As previously reported, Cliff 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. Police have since complained to the BBC over its conduct in reporting the case.

In a statement, a spokesperson for the singer told reporters: “Sir Cliff was due to perform on 26 Sep at a charitable event in Canterbury Cathedral but doesn’t want the event to be overshadowed by the false allegation and has therefore withdrawn. He is sorry for any disappointment or inconvenience caused”.

Earlier this week, Cilla Black came out in support of Richard, telling The Mirror: “Cliff is a very close friend of mine and has been for a million years. I, like everyone else, was shocked to hear of these allegations and I am absolutely positive that they are without foundation”.

Rob Da Bank taking Bestival to the US and Europe

Business News Gigs & Festivals Live Business

Mr Rob Da Bank is going to “knuckle down a bit” and replicate his Bestival franchise over in North America AND at additional sites – that’s sites, plural – in Europe.

Da Bank has confirmed he’s expanding his fancily dressed weekend festival, which for the ten years since it began has been Isle Of Wight-based only, to TBA locations in the States and on the (Euro) continent, and will sign a deal to that effect with overseas reps next week.

Explaining his motivation for doing so, he tells The Telegraph: “The deal has been a long time coming. I’ve never been in this industry for the money but now I’m 40 with three small kids, it’s time to get business minded”.

He adds: “We’ve made a real impression on the festival market and pioneered a lot of ideas. People think Bestival pours multi-millions into my bank account every year and it doesn’t… That’s not a sob story but now it’s time to knuckle down a bit. My 20s and 30s were a total laugh, but now I have to be responsible”.

This year’s 50,000-capacity British Bestival, the tenth anniversary edition, takes place right inside Robin Hill Park between 4-7 Sep, with Outkast, Beck and Foals headlining.

Cate Le Bon’s riverside festival cancelled

Artist News Gigs & Festivals

It’s bad news for Cate Le Bon’s nascent all-day festival Mas Mas, I’m afraid. The event, which was meant to happen on 28 Aug, has now been cancelled over licensing problems, with no chance of being reinstated.

Billed to take place in Cardigan, Wales, on the banks of the river Teifi, it now won’t because, confirm River’s Edge (the team behind the festival), of a “failure to obtain the necessary entertainment licence”.

A statement on Le Bon’s site reads: “River’s Edge would like to apologise for the inconvenience this causes and apologise to, and thank, all the artists and ticket-buyers, particularly Cate Le Bon herself, whose performance and personal contribution to the programme would have ensured a successful and iconic event”.

Had it gone ahead, Mas Mas was set to feature Perfume Genius as a headliner, as well as Sweet Baboo, Euros Childs, Gwenno, R Seilog, H Hawkline and Cate herself. Sigh.

No cameras at Kate Bush shows, please. Thank you very much

And Finally Artist News Gigs & Festivals

Yeah, yeah, yeah, everyone’s asking people not to film their gigs these days. But Kate Bush isn’t just anyone, is she? And she has asked people very politely ahead of her upcoming Hammersmith Apollo shows not to take photos and video during her performances, rather than putting up a passive-aggressive sign at the venue, like some people. Manners cost nothing, you know.

In a message on her website, she said: “We have purposefully chosen an intimate theatre setting rather than a large venue or stadium. It would mean a great deal to me if you would please refrain from taking photos or filming during the shows. I very much want to have contact with you as an audience, not with iPhones, iPads or cameras. I know it’s a lot to ask but it would allow us to all share in the experience together”.

Or, as Karen O would say, put that shit away.

‘Red-faced’ Lee Ryan dances in his pants

And Finally Artist News

‘Shamed’ Blue man Lee Ryan was asked to leave a drinking establishment recently – yes, this is clearly need-to-read headline news – having stripped to his ‘pants’ whilst ‘drinking’ with ‘mates’ and “started dancing”, on the bar that is, whilst the pub’s patrons stared aghast. At Lee. Ryan’s. Pants.

This via The Sun, which heard of the ‘incident’ via a spy stationed at Glasgow’s Crowne Plaza Hotel (at which the whole sordid affair took place): “He was being egged on so started taking his clothes off. Next thing he jumped on the bar in only his pants and started dancing”.

“A row broke out with staff telling Lee to get off and put some clothes on. He was then asked to leave the bar and went red-faced to his room”.

It probably wasn’t the first time. The end.

Approved: Ty Segall – Manipulator

CMU Approved

Look who it is… extraordinary psych-rock machine Ty Segall, back again, with his seventh solo LP ‘Manipulator’. Cynics have only to look at his discography to see that Segall makes records in record time, at lightspeed, and most times keeps the bar at a height most artists, given the rate at which he’s creating, can only dream of.

Though the same doesn’t in fact go for ‘Manipulator’, which, given the fourteen months it took to write, is a rare case of Segall taking his time. It’s as if (actually it just ‘is’, as Ty states in this Pitchfork chat) for the man who’d ticked off practically every sonic idea in the book, maybe ‘patience’ was the only trick he needed still to try, because ‘Manipulator’ is the finest thing he’s released in a while.

It’s not as if songs like tricksy glam jam ‘The Clock’ or the relentless stride-by-stride everest beast ‘Feel’ seem any less immediate – they’re simply better (bigger, wiser, richer, fleshier) than past tracks Segall has fabricated in a “mad dash”. The opportunity to be more leisurely was something Segall had been waiting a long time for, he earned it with endless sweat and toil, and ultimately puts it to the greatest use imaginable.

Or in his own words, which are really all that matter as a guide to ‘Manipulator’: “I always rush things, but that was part of the plan originally – I wanted all of his stuff to be emotional first-takes. The grime was part of what made it cool and gave it a real quality. But this record was about finding out how to become a perfectionist while holding onto that rawness”.

Dig into the LP now while you still can via NPR, as it’s released next week. And this is Ty playing ‘Feel’ live on ‘Conan’:

Online music video ratings to be tested in October

Business News Digital Top Stories

That PM bloke you all love so much, David Cameron, yesterday confirmed that the BPI and the British Board Of Film Classification will begin their pilot scheme applying age ratings to online music videos on 1 Oct.

As previously reported, it was announced that the record industry trade group and film classifications board had been asked to design a system for rating online videos in January this year. It was also confirmed at the same time that the threshold at which physically released music videos are classified was to be lowered. New rules requiring DVD and Blu-ray releases to be submitted for classification, where previously most music releases would be exempt, will also come into force on 1 Oct.

In a speech yesterday detailing how the government is going to save families from certain doom, the Prime Minister said: “Helping families with children and parenting shouldn’t stop at childbirth. To take just one example – bringing up children in an internet age, you are endlessly worried about what they are going to find online. So we’ve taken a big stand on protecting our children online. We’re making family friendly filters the default setting for all new online customers, and we’re forcing existing customers to make an active choice about whether to install them”.

Moving onto the music video menace, he continued: “Today we’re going even further. From October, we’re going to help parents protect their children from some of the graphic content in online music videos by working with the British Board of Film Classification, Vevo and YouTube to pilot the age rating of these videos”.

Responding to the announcement, the BPI said in a statement: “The BPI agrees with government that, with so many more music videos now being released online through such sites as YouTube and Vevo, it is important this content is made available to the public in a responsible way, that is sensitive to the needs and concerns of younger viewers and their parents”.

The organisation’s statement continued: “The BPI and its members are therefore working with the British Board of Film Classification, digital service providers and with the support of government on a pilot scheme that will trial age ratings for music videos released online through the UK. Technical details are still being developed, but the scheme will see UK record labels voluntarily submit content likely to be rated 12 or above to the BBFC for classification into 12, 15 or 18 age categories. Labels will then include this data with a ‘parental advisory’ style alert in its feed to the digital service providers so that users, including parents, can make a more informed viewing decision”.

It added that the pilot is “expected to run for at least three months, followed by a period of evaluation to assess the voluntary scheme”. If successful, the next stage is to convince ISPs to implement more filters to allow customers to block videos with specific age ratings.

So that’s all very reassuring, given how successful the government-supported adult content filters have been at blocking anything but what they’re supposed to.

Friday 22 August 2014, 12:05 | By Andy Malt

It is a fact that if lawsuits in which songwriters claim to have been ripped off by other more successful songwriters stopped tomorrow, revenues of the entertainment law community would drop by 32% overnight.

READ MORE ABOUT: Pablito Ruiz | Tame Impala

Friday 22 August 2014, 11:52 | By Paul Vig

It’s Notting Hill Carnival weekend, which gets a special place in my calendar year-on-year. The huge West London street party is one of London’s top events and, as usual, it takes place over this upcoming August Bank Holiday weekend, on Sunday and Monday.

READ MORE ABOUT: Notting Hill Carnival

Thursday 21 August 2014, 12:57 | By Andy Malt

SoundCloud has this morning announced long anticipated changes to its accounts for content owners, which will introduce advertising into the mix and allow content creators to share in the revenue said advertising brings in.

READ MORE ABOUT: SoundCloud

Thursday 21 August 2014, 12:56 | By Andy Malt

Kim Dotcom’s assets will remain frozen until at least April next year, after an appeals court ruling overturned an earlier decision by New Zealand’s High Court.

READ MORE ABOUT: Kim Dotcom | MegaUpload

Thursday 21 August 2014, 12:55 | By Andy Malt

Kobalt Label Services has announced a rejig of its team, following a rush of signings in recent months.

READ MORE ABOUT: Kobalt | Paul Hitchman | Pete Dodge | Vincent Clery-Melin

Thursday 21 August 2014, 12:54 | By Andy Malt

READ MORE ABOUT: Harvest Records | Morrissey | Universal Music

Thursday 21 August 2014, 12:53 | By Aly Barchi

A live promotions co has launched a cash drive to take over a fairly bleak-looking one-time ‘grain fort’ in the middle of the River Thames, and make it into a night-and-day party platz in the style of Berlin-based hotspot Berghain.

READ MORE ABOUT: GoFundMe | Minival

Thursday 21 August 2014, 12:52 | By Andy Malt

A statue of Amy Winehouse will be unveiled in Camden on 14 Sep, which would have been her 31st birthday.

READ MORE ABOUT: Amy Winehouse

Thursday 21 August 2014, 12:51 | By Aly Barchi

Oft-roaring pop boy Archy Marshall is to show some of his and his brother’s art works, banner-titled ‘Inner City Ooz’, at a gallery in London next month. And entry is free!

READ MORE ABOUT: King Krule

Thursday 21 August 2014, 12:50 | By Andy Malt

READ MORE ABOUT: Thurston Moore

Thursday 21 August 2014, 12:49 | By Aly Barchi

America’s Deerhoof, a band from the odd side of pop city, will on 4 Nov release a new LP, the sequel to 2012’s superlative ‘Breakup Song’.

READ MORE ABOUT: Deerhoof

Thursday 21 August 2014, 12:48 | By Andy Malt

A film of Björk’s ‘Biophilia’ live performance at Alexandra Palace in London last year is to premiere in the Sonic Gala slot at this year’s London Film Festival.

READ MORE ABOUT: Bjork | London Film Festival

Thursday 21 August 2014, 12:47 | By Aly Barchi

Proto-pop villains Liars have confirmed they’ll give their hairy latest LP ‘Mess’ a live de-tangling via a newly-revealed trek of Europe.

READ MORE ABOUT: Liars

Thursday 21 August 2014, 12:46 | By Aly Barchi

So tourist trap and house of waxen horrors Madame Tussauds dumped a life-sized figurine of Beyonce amidst a load of geese in Regent’s Park yesterday, basically so fans could have a ‘gander’.

READ MORE ABOUT: Beyonce

Thursday 21 August 2014, 12:16 | By Aly Barchi

Melbournian band Twerps first emerged in 2008, subsequently releasing their first LP, the inevitably-titled ‘Twerps’, which bent the ‘bright n shiny indie’ template (a la Real Estate et al) into all kinds of inventive shapes, in 2011.

READ MORE ABOUT: Twerps

Wednesday 20 August 2014, 12:28 | By Chris Cooke

READ MORE ABOUT: VEVO

Wednesday 20 August 2014, 12:27 | By Chris Cooke

The new joint venture label being run by EDM management powerhouse Three Six Zero and Warner Music has a signing, in the form of those lovable dance music innovators I like to call The Prodigy.

READ MORE ABOUT: The Prodigy | Three Six Zero | Warner Music

Wednesday 20 August 2014, 12:26 | By Andy Malt

Some details about Google’s YouTube music subscription service have leaked, reports Android Police. Though a launch date is still unclear, the website claims that the service will be called YouTube Music Key and will cost users $9.99 per month to access.

READ MORE ABOUT: YouTube

Wednesday 20 August 2014, 12:26 | By Andy Malt

American football overseer the NFL is currently unable to decide who to pick to play the Super Bowl halftime show in February next year, and is asking potential acts to bid for the slot, according to the Wall Street Journal.

READ MORE ABOUT: NFL | Super Bowl

Wednesday 20 August 2014, 12:25 | By Andy Malt

UK and US indie label trade bodies AIM and A2IM have warned their members to be aware of a number of clauses in SoundCloud’s terms and conditions for content-uploaders, and what rights those clauses ask rightsholders to give up when uploading music to the service.

READ MORE ABOUT: A2IM | Association of Independent Music (AIM) | SoundCloud

Wednesday 20 August 2014, 12:24 | By Andy Malt

Mixcloud has announced a number of new features and subscription plans for listeners and content owners.

READ MORE ABOUT: Mixcloud

Wednesday 20 August 2014, 12:23 | By Aly Barchi

Growly folk icon Leonard Cohen is going to have a right old party on his 80th birthday, mainly by flipping tradition and giving (well, selling) his loved ones the gift of a shiny new LP entitled ‘Popular Problems’.

READ MORE ABOUT: Leonard Cohen

Wednesday 20 August 2014, 12:22 | By Aly Barchi

So Kele Okereke is making solo moves (again), this in light of his some-time band Bloc Party having split (again) last year.

READ MORE ABOUT: Kele Okereke

Wednesday 20 August 2014, 12:21 | By Andy Malt

Cliff Richard has cancelled a performance at Canterbury Cathedral, in the wake of a police investigation into accusations of sexual abuse by the singer. The appearance was due to take place at a charity event next month.

READ MORE ABOUT: Cliff Richard

Wednesday 20 August 2014, 12:20 | By Aly Barchi

Mr Rob Da Bank is going to “knuckle down a bit” and replicate his Bestival franchise over in North America AND at additional sites – that’s sites, plural – in Europe.

READ MORE ABOUT: Bestival | Rob Da Bank

Wednesday 20 August 2014, 12:19 | By Aly Barchi

It’s bad news for Cate Le Bon’s nascent all-day festival Mas Mas, I’m afraid. The event, which was meant to happen on 28 Aug, has now been cancelled over licensing problems, with no chance of being reinstated.

READ MORE ABOUT: Cate Le Bon | Mas Mas

Wednesday 20 August 2014, 12:18 | By Andy Malt

READ MORE ABOUT:

Wednesday 20 August 2014, 12:16 | By Aly Barchi

READ MORE ABOUT: Lee Ryan

Wednesday 20 August 2014, 11:51 | By Aly Barchi