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Friday 24 July 2015, 11:46 | By Chris Cooke
SFX appoints former Thump editor to lead Beatport media ambitions
Business News Media
With SFX busy turning Beatport from a mere download store into a bleepy streaming platform and now into an all singing but mainly dancing media brand of ultimate goodness, the firm has headhunted the former Editor In Chief of Vice Media’s electronic cultcha channel Thump, Zel McCarthy, to be its very own VP Of Beatport Media.
He’ll be responsible for “the growth of all Beatport media properties across the globe” reports Billboard, and while he wasn’t at liberty to tell the US industry mag much about what exactly that means, he did note that “the Beatport brand is synonymous with electronic music because Beatport’s origins were the disruptor within the DJ community”.
He added that Beatport had “evolved so much in the last dozen years and obviously the explosion, post-EDM rebrand, five years ago has changed things”. And also “young millennials, which advertisers are so excited about for whatever reason, they are electronic music fans”. ‘Disruptor’, ‘post-EDM rebrand’ and ‘millennials’, I think that’s “bingo!” Well done me.
McCarthy also confirmed that the Beatport brand is a priority for the wider SFX business, and given his editorial background, his mere appointment suggests that the EDM festival promoter’s main online platform is going to be ever more editorial-led. Oh, and he is promising to “keep the bullshit out of it and cut straight to the things that people are really passionate about”. Which, in this post-EDM rebrand world, is what the millennials expect from a disruptor.
READ MORE ABOUT: Beatport | SFX Entertainment | Thump | Vice
Friday 24 July 2015, 11:44 | By Chris Cooke
Japanese media firm buys the Financial Times
Business News Deals Media
Following rumours earlier this week that the latest rumours that media firm Pearson was selling the Financial Times weren’t just like all the previous rumours that media firm Pearson was selling the Financial Times and in fact this time media firm Pearson was selling the Financial Times, yesterday media firm Pearson announced it was selling the Financial Times.
Leading to all sorts of rumours as to who might be buying it. Newswires Reuters and Bloomberg had long been tipped as possible buyers for the UK-based business newspaper, the logic being they’d be attracted by the prestige that comes with owning the FT. And after Pearson confirmed it was close to selling the broadsheet yesterday morning, Reuters quickly reported that Reuters was again a rumoured bidder, though that Reuters had refused to comment on the speculation. This despite most people in the know being certain German media company Axel Springer was the main bidder.
Except by the end of the day Pearson had announced that, actually, Japanese business media group Nikkei was the lucky new owner of the Financial Times via an £844 million deal. For its part, Pearson, which has owned the FT since 1957, confirmed that it wanted to focus on its core education business, while Nikkei CEO Tsuneo Kita said that the British business newspaper would be at home in his company’s portfolio of media because: “Our motto of providing high-quality reporting on economic and other news, while maintaining fairness and impartiality, is very close to that of the FT”.
Pearson boss John Fallon implied there had been a bidding war for the newspaper, while adding that he was confident the FT’s new owners would respect its reputation for editorial independence unhindered by its corporate bosses. Certainly the paper’s current editorial regime is expected to stay in place after the acquisition.
The deal with Nikkei did not include the FT’s 50% stake in The Economist Group, publisher of The Economist, obviously. It is thought negotiations may be underway for a separate sale of that asset.
READ MORE ABOUT: Financial Times | Nikkei | Pearson
Friday 24 July 2015, 11:41 | By Chris Cooke
City of Austin returns as NME awards sponsor
Business News Deals Media
NME publisher Time Inc has confirmed that the city of Austin in Texas – probably best known in music circles as home to South By Southwest, of course – will again sponsor its annual awards bash next year. The “unique alliance” is, of course, “built on the shared belief in the power of live music”, as I’m sure you all remember.
Confirming the sponsorship deal, Time Inc UK’s Group Advertising Director Romano Sidoli employed these words: “I am thrilled to welcome back Austin, Texas for next year’s awards. Having a commercial partner return for a third year as headline sponsor is indicative of the value of the relationship and NME’s ability to leverage its platforms to offer authentic delivery of its partners’ messaging. This partnership demonstrates the brand’s international influence and the support we have from commercial partners for the brand transformation, which brings new potential for our clients”.
Meanwhile the boss of Austin (well, of the city’s Convention And Visitors Bureau), Bob Lander, added: “Following the huge success of both the 2014 and 2015 awards partnership and positive feedback, we are delighted to be able to continue to build on the momentum and awareness achieved and bring even more exposure to our Live Music Capital Of The World(r)”. Do note the registered trademark symbol there. Yep, it’s that official.
Both Time Inc and its sponsor will presumably be hoping for an even higher profile awards show next year, with the NME due to go free and massively ramp up its circulation to 300,000 copies a week as of September.
READ MORE ABOUT: NME
Friday 24 July 2015, 11:39 | By Andy Malt
Meek Mill apologises to Drake over ghostwriting accusations
Artist News
Rapper Meek Mill has apologised for accusing Drake of using ghostwriters to write his lyrics. Earlier this week, Mill tweeted that Drake “don’t write his own raps”, claiming that the rapper hadn’t tweeted about Mill’s new album, on which he features, because “we found out”.
“He ain’t even write that verse on my album”, Mill added. “If I woulda knew I woulda took it off my album… I don’t trick my fans!”
Drake’s response came via a screengrab of a private conversation on Instagram, posted by Hitman Holla, in which Drake wrote (possibly himself, this has not been confirmed), “I signed up for greatness. This comes with it”. So, that clears all that up.
But it’s alright, because Meek Mill has apologised. He said he lashed out because he was “upset as a fan” when he learned that Drake might have had help with his writing. But it’s all fine now. All water under the bridge. You can all calm down.
READ MORE ABOUT: Drake | Meek Mill
Friday 24 July 2015, 11:37 | By Andy Malt
CMU’s One Liners: SoundCloud subscription update, DJ Derek missing, new Lianne La Havas, and more
And Finally Artist News Business News Digital Gigs & Festivals One Liners Releases
Other notable announcements and developments today…
• SoundCloud CTO Eric Wahlforss has said, well, not a lot really, in this Wall Street Journal piece about the firm’s much mooted planned subscription service, which will back up its move into ad-funded content as a way to make money for the music industry and itself. But it’s still happening and will be launching soon. Woo!
• Bristol reggae spinner DJ Derek, real name Derek Morris, has been missing for three weeks, his family say. Police are calling on the public to report any sightings in that time.
• Lianne La Havas has released a new track, called ‘Green & Gold’.
• Health have released a new track, called ‘Men Today’.
• LCMDF have released a new track, called ‘Procrastination 365’.
• Jenny Hval has announced UK tour dates for November, which will finish up at the Hoxton Square Bar & Kitchen on 11 Nov. Here’s the new video for ‘Sabbath’.
• One Direction’s Niall Horan can touch his bum with his foot.
READ MORE ABOUT: DJ Derek | Health | Jenny Hval | LCMDF | Lianne La Havas | Niall Horan | One Direction | SoundCloud
Friday 24 July 2015, 11:34 | By Andy Malt
CMU Beef Of The Week #266: Nicki Minaj v Taylor Swift
And Finally Artist News Beef Of The Week
Taylor Swift might have thought she was going to make it out of this week ahead on brownie points. After much criticism in recent weeks for the contract she had been asking photographers to sign before being granted access to her live shows, she created a new agreement that is less restrictive.
In fact, she went so far as to draw up the contract with the help of the US National Press Photographers Association. Swift, the organisation’s general legal counsel Mickey H Osterreicher said, “should be commended” for her reaction to accusations that she – and many other artists – were making it difficult for photographers to make a living from their work. See? Total brownie point overload. Then she ruined everything with a single tweet.
But, hey, that’s not where the story starts. It starts with the nominations for this year’s MTV Video Music Awards, the arbiter of all artistry in short form video making. Nicki Minaj came out of the announcement with three nominations in all, for Best Female Video, Best Collaboration and Best Hip Hop Video.
A pretty good haul, but notably missing was a nod in the overall Video Of The Year category. Instead, all the nodding went to Beyonce, Ed Sheeran, Mark Ronson and Bruno Mars, Kendrick Lamar and that Taylor Swift.
Noting that neither her ‘Anaconda’ or ‘Feeling Myself’ videos had made it to this category, or the Best Choreography list for that matter, Minaj tweeted “Hey MTV, thank you for my nominations. Did ‘Feeling Myself’ miss the deadline or…?”
No need to fill in that ‘or’, because she continued: “If I was a different ‘kind’ of artist, ‘Anaconda’ would be nominated for Best Choreo and Vid Of The Year as well. When the ‘other’ girls drop a video that breaks records and impacts culture they get that nomination”.
Summing up her thoughts, she added: “If your video celebrates women with very slim bodies, you will be nominated for Vid Of The Year”.
All five nominated videos could be said to celebrate women with slim bodies to some degree, but Swift seemed to think it was a dig at her in particular, and fired a response back to that specific tweet, saying: “I’ve done nothing but love and support you. It’s unlike you to pit women against each other. Maybe one of the men took your slot”.
Minaj wrote back: “Huh? You must not be reading my tweets. Didn’t say a word about you. I love you just as much. But you should speak on this”.
Speak? Hey, why don’t you do it yourself, said Swift: “If I win, please come up with me! You’re invited to any stage I’m ever on”.
And therein lies the basis of about four billion column inches in the space of a mere few hours. And those column inches then generated yet more about the previous column inches. And then these 30 column inches, for good measure.
In many initial reports, the story was entirely framed as Minaj attacking Swift – or making “jabs” at her in one case – to which Minaj wrote: “Nothing I said had to do with Taylor. So what jabs? White media and their tactics. So sad. That’s what they want”.
She added in response to a fan saying that these media organisations were missing the point: “They’re not missing the point, they’re just attempting to overshadow the point. Oldest trick in the book”.
Particularly singled out for criticism was a piece by Glamour, which portrayed Minaj as some sort of crazed loon and Swift as a calm and reasoned bringer of peace to the land, and an accompanying tweet from the mag linking to the piece saying, “Taylor Swift shut down Nicki Minaj on Twitter and it was WONDERFUL”; thus proving the point Minaj was making about the media’s portrayal of women who don’t fit into a very specific, preferably white and thin, mould.
Minaj herself commented on this article, while praising another by Guardian writer Nosheen Iqbal, who wrote: “The broader point Minaj is making is clear: throughout music history, black women aren’t recognised in the popular music canon in the same way their white counterparts are”.
That seems like a perfectly valid point simply expressed. And while Minaj was acting presumptuously in thinking that the Video Of The Year title was hers to have in the first place, given the attention the ‘Anaconda’ video got upon its release, it’s possible that who she is might have worked against her somewhat.
But, hey, why discuss a broader topic when you can make something about yourself? Enter Katy Perry. “Finding it ironic to parade the ‘pit-women-against-other-women argument’ about as one unmeasurably capitalises on the take down of a woman”, wrote Perry, seemingly noting that ‘Bad Blood’ – the video for which Swift is nominated – is a song about a feud between the two musicians.
Perry then threw a further cat amongst the pigeons by announcing that the real slight in the VMA nominations for Video Of The Year was the omission of Rihanna’s ‘Bitch Better Have My Money’, which, while only recently released, noted Perry, was in fact put out within the eligibility period.
It’s hard to know if that’s Perry bringing things round to Minaj’s original point or not. To be honest, at this stage it’s hard to keep up with anything in this whole saga, so I think bringing it around to the original point is a good idea, even if that wasn’t Perry’s aim.
Awards nominations shouldn’t be something that anyone gets upset about. In fact the world would be a much better place if there were no awards at all. Awards are stupid. And what about the very concept of gendered awards – how is it relevant to have separate best male and female videos? Gender isn’t a musical genre. Stop doing that, awards ceremonies.
Though all that said, while the MTV VMAs continue to exist and continue to stir up controversy, they do serve to highlight issues like this. And MTV often seems to revel in all that (did I mention that Miley Cyrus is being rewarded for her contribution to the ceremony’s reputation by being made host this year?), even though it could be making waves just as big by challenging them.
Meanwhile, a day later Swift returned to Twitter to apologise, saying: “I thought I was being called out. I missed the point, I misunderstood, then misspoke. I’m sorry, Nicki”.
“That means so much Taylor, thank you” Minaj replied. In another tweet she added: “I’ve always loved her. Everyone makes mistakes. She gained so much more respect from me. Let’s move on”. So I guess it’s all sorted. But did Taylor Swift lose all her brownie points or not?
READ MORE ABOUT: Katy Perry | MTV VMAs | Nicki Minaj | Taylor Swift
Friday 24 July 2015, 11:24 | By Andy Malt
CMU Podcast: Apple, Universal, Spotify, One Direction
And Finally Business News Digital Legal Live Business Marketing & PR Setlist
CMU’s Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review the week in music and the music business, including the FTC’s investigation into Apple’s ‘tax’ on in-app purchases, the race to improve songwriting royalty reporting, Spotify’s new Discover Weekly playlists, and the pains of trying to get your One Direction remix competition entry heard on SoundCloud. The CMU Podcast is sponsored by 7digital.
Subscribe: iTunes | audioBoom | SoundCloud | Stitcher | Spreaker | MixCloud | RSS
Stories discussed this week:
FTC investigates Apple
• FTC now properly investigating Apple tax on music apps
• FTC investigation into Apple heats up, music streaming services hit with subpoenas (The Verge)
Universal, PRS, GEMA and STIM
• Universal Music Publishing further ramps up its royalty portal
• European societies formally launch their speedy digital rights hub
• PRS for Music, STIM and GEMA establish the world’s first integrated licensing and processing hub (PRS press release)
Spotify Discover Weekly
• Spotify to provide every user with a personalised weekly playlist
• Spotify launches Discover Weekly personalised ‘mixtape’ playlist (Music Ally)
• Introducing Discover Weekly: your ultimate personalised playlist (Spotify press release)
The saga of the One Direction remix competition
• Remixer can’t stop the 1D remix takedowns, after entering a 1D remix contest
• One Direction remix comp entry is copyright infringing, Sony says (TorrentFreak)
• Simon Cowell happy with 1D hiatus
Listen to this week’s CMU Approved artists:
• Frida Sundemo
• Foals
• Kurt Vile
• Broen
What we didn’t have time to talk about:
• Rhapsody/Napster confirms three million paying users
• Deezer announces IFTTT alliance
• Private copying illegal again in ongoing battle for a levy
• Government announces fundamental review of the BBC
• Alibaba launches music unit to oversee streaming services
• musicFIRST welcomes global support for Fair Play Fair Pay Act
• Nuns say selling convent to Katy Perry would break their vows to God
Please subscribe, rate and review the show once you’ve listened!
READ MORE ABOUT: Apple | FTC | GEMA | One Direction | PRS For Music | Spotify | STIM | Universal Music Publishing
Thursday 23 July 2015, 10:36 | By Andy Malt
Approved: Broen
CMU Approved
By blending a variety of styles – from Swedish guitar-pop to hip hop – Broen have gained a good reputation as a live band back in their native Norway. They also released their debut album, ‘Yoga’, there back in February. All of this is yet to come for us in the UK though, where we’ve only just received their debut single ‘Iris’.
An examination of jealousy and paranoia, ‘Iris’ fittingly sounds both intimate and distant. Echoey cries of “you and me, you and me” might seem like a joyous ‘us against the world’ call to arms on their own, but become increasingly desperate within the context of the rest of the lyrics.
Listen to ‘Iris’ here:
READ MORE ABOUT: Broen
Thursday 23 July 2015, 10:35 | By Chris Cooke
10% more consumers tapping legit content online, though one in five still pirate
Business News Digital Legal Top Stories
The number of UK consumers accessing digital content through legal download or streaming platforms has risen 10% since 2013 according to new research published by the government’s Intellectual Property Office yesterday, though one in five consumers continues to access music, movie, TV or gaming goodies from unlicensed sources online.
The IPO survey reckons that 15.6 million UK internet users now access music online, with twelve million streaming and 10.5 million downloading, again confirming the rise of the streams in recent years. Though while Spotify is amongst the most use streaming music platforms in the UK, 54% of online music was consumed via YouTube.
And while it’s a licensed service, the music industry has, of course, got something of a fractured relationship with the Google video site, which generates less revenue for labels and publishers despite its massive userbase (though, as we discuss in the latest CMU Trends Report, that’s something rights owners might just have to get used to).
Although legit digital services, especially streams, are booming, plenty of users are still tapping illegal sources of content too. And while overall that’s 20% of users, for music it’s 26%, 1% more than for film, and 5% more than those seeking bootleg telly shows, according to the IPO data. The most common excuses given for continuing to infringe are that piracy services are free and more convenient, with a quarter of the pirates surveyed saying they’d go legit if legal services were cheaper. Though how they can be cheaper than freemium YouTube and Spotify isn’t clear.
With the new IPO report coming ahead of the previously reported Creative Content UK education campaign which will try and encourage consumers to only use licensed content services, IP Minister Lucy Neville Rolfe said: “It’s great news that a huge proportion of UK consumers are going online to enjoy music, TV shows, video games and e-books legally, supporting our creative industries to grow and showing the benefits of making legal content widely available. By building a clear picture of online streaming and downloading trends we can work with industry and international partners to tackle the problems of internet piracy and increase public awareness of the ways people can download and stream legally”.
READ MORE ABOUT: Intellectual Property Office (IPO)
Thursday 23 July 2015, 10:34 | By Chris Cooke
Flavor Flav charged for coke-fuelled drive
Artist News Legal
Not letting the new Public Enemy album get in the way of his regular schedule of legal wranglings, Flavor Flav has picked up charges for speeding and driving under the influence of cocaine, all stemming from an incident back in May.
According to TMZ, Flav was stopped by police in Las Vegas on 21 May after travelling at 73mph in a 45mph zone. Officers quickly spotted an open beer bottle in the centre console of his vehicle, and then the rapper admitted to smoking marijuana “not too long ago”. A subsequent blood test then showed the cocaine in his system.
The various charges were made by prosecutors last week but came to light yesterday. Flav is yet to comment.
READ MORE ABOUT: Flavor Flav
Thursday 23 July 2015, 10:33 | By Chris Cooke
MU General Secretary John Smith to chair PPL
Business News Industry People Labels & Publishers
John Smith, General Secretary of the Musicians’ Union, will take over from Fran Nevrkla as Chairman of the UK record industry’s performing rights society PPL at the start of next year when Nevrkla, a former CEO of the rights body, steps down.
Already a director on the PPL board, Smith’s appointment to the part time Chairman role should be popular, not least because it communicates the society’s commitment to its artist members. PPL not only represents the performing rights of UK record companies, but also manages the equitable remuneration featured artists and session musicians are due on that income under copyright law. In most other countries performers have their own societies to handle Performer ER, making PPL unusual in representing both labels and artists in the so called ‘neighbouring rights’ domain.
Confirming the appointment, PPL CEO Peter Leathem told reporters: “John has an excellent knowledge of PPL and the wider music industry and his appointment is unanimously supported by the board. John’s appointment provides stability and continuity to the organisation which is key to ensuring future success”.
Smith himself added: “I am delighted to be given the opportunity to become Chairman of PPL. It is a great honour to follow in the footsteps of Fran Nevrkla who has presided over such a successful chapter in PPL’s history. Working for many years with PPL, the MU has given me a firm grounding in the practical application of performers’ rights and the role of effective collective management – knowledge that I will continue to apply on behalf of all PPL’s performer and record company members”.
The appointment was welcomed by Jo Dipple, boss of cross-sector trade group UK Music, which counts both the MU and PPL amongst its membership. She said: “The appointment of John Smith as incoming Chairman of PPL is brilliant. John brings with him the knowledge of a musician and the skill of a negotiator. Like Fran, John has offered me and UK Music support and guidance from the off. He is never more than a phone call away when I need to ask his advice. He will serve PPL in the manner he has served the Musicians’ Union – with passion, knowledge and diplomacy”.
READ MORE ABOUT: John Smith | Musicians Union (MU) | PPL
Thursday 23 July 2015, 10:31 | By Chris Cooke
SFX’s Beatport gets into bed with competitor Spotify
Business News Deals Digital
EDM huckster SFX yesterday announced an alliance between its Beatport platform and Spotify which will see unique audio and video content secured and created by the former pumped out through the latter’s streaming service.
Which is interesting mainly because Beatport, originally a download store of course, moved into streaming music itself earlier this year, making the two firms competitors who really should be busy briefing against each other on the sly. And then wishing for the other’s imminent demise and a whisking off to that place in the digital sky where Peoplesound and Wippet and Puremix and MyCokeMusic and Sony Connect and Imeem and Lala and Bloom and Sony Music Unlimited hang out.
But no, it’s a positive love-in. Beatport is “thrilled” obviously, to be “providing our unique content around all things EMC to the Spotify audience”, said Greg Consiglio in his highly anticipated first quote in the job of CEO of Beatport. EMC, in case you’ve forgotten, is “electronic music cultcha”. Spotify users, he added, will “be the first to access the latest need-to-know exclusive electronic music from Beatport and will also be able to watch to a mix of original festival and event video content”.
That video content will come from SFX’s portfolio of dance music festivals, while the exclusive music will be tracks previously only available on Beatport. The team behind the SFX online platform will also curate playlists for Spotify users who are bored with the indie durge the streaming service’s own new Discover Weekly service has recommended and who fancy something with a few more bleeps instead.
The deal, and the promise of other similar alliances, suggests that SFX increasingly sees Beatport as a media brand through which to promote its festivals and brand partnerships, rather than just another streaming service, which is probably a sound plan. For Spotify the deal fits into that recent strategy to secure more exclusive and video content, basically anything to distinguish its service from that other download store busy moving itself into the streaming space.
Says Spotify’s Chief Content Officer Ken Parks: “Millions of Spotify users are going to love this unique music and video content that only Beatport can bring. Two billion times every month, our listeners discover an artist they’ve never heard of through a Spotify playlist. I’m really pleased that we can include Beatport’s new music exclusives to our deep catalogue of both rising and established artists”.
READ MORE ABOUT: SFX Entertainment | Spotify
Thursday 23 July 2015, 10:28 | By Chris Cooke
Rhapsody/Napster confirms three million paying users
Business News Digital
Hey you, don’t be getting all distracted by the Spotifys and the Beatports and all that jazz, it’s time to give some brain space to Napsody, which confirmed yesterday that it now has three million paying subscribers worldwide.
Which, as we noted the last time the Rhapsody/Napster company had a stats brag – announcing 2.5 million users back in February – isn’t so impressive on one level, given Spotify’s 20 million premium subscribers, and the fact that both the Rhapsody brand (in the US) and the legit Napster service (worldwide) have both been in the digital music marketplace for a long time. But then three million paying subscribers does still put Napsody in the top five premium streaming services, and as the company itself was keen to point out, that’s a 50% increase on a year ago.
Other nuggets of trivia shared by Napsody yesterday included that mobile users are up actually 60% on last year, and in the UK 72% also tune in via Sonos. Also, emerging markets have played a key role in the service’s recent growth, with Colombia and Brazil the fastest growing, even though Germany and France have the largest number of Napster users. So, now you know.
READ MORE ABOUT: Napster | Rhapsody
Thursday 23 July 2015, 10:27 | By Chris Cooke
Deezer announces IFTTT alliance
Business News Digital
Hey you, don’t be getting all distracted by the Napsters and the Rhaposdys and all that jazz, it’s time to give some brain space to the Deezer geezers, who would like you all to know that they are the first – that’s first – not third, not ninth – but the first streaming service to integrate with IFTTT. You know, If This Then That. And if you don’t know what that is, well, get with the moment granddad. Actually, ask your granddad, I bet he knows.
IFTTT allows users to integrate different social media and online services, kickstarting an action on one platform based on activity on another. Each action on the service is called a ‘recipe’, and under this new alliance a bunch of pre-prepared Deezer-related recipes are now available so, for example, if you favourite a track on Deezer it posts to Facebook. And there’s some other less pedestrian uses of the IFTTT platform too.
And if you like that, then this. As in go check it out.
READ MORE ABOUT: Deezer | IFTTT
Thursday 23 July 2015, 10:25 | By Andy Malt
Deadmau5 plans “winter hibernation” to record new album
Artist News
Deadmau5 has said he plans to go into “winter hibernation” later this year. By which he means he’s going to work on a new album, rather than sleeping for three months. You can make up your own joke here.
Asked by a fan on Twitter if he actually still makes music, the producer explained: “Well honestly, haven’t done anything since November. Been taking a production break while they build the new studio”.
He continued: “The plan is, when the studio’s done in the fall, I’m going into winter studio hibernation. Should have a new album done by January, I think”.
His last album was ‘While (1<2)' in 2014. If you're interested, here are the plans for the studio.
READ MORE ABOUT: Deadmau5
Thursday 23 July 2015, 10:21 | By Andy Malt
Aphex Twin promises 150 more unreleased tracks
Artist News Releases
Aphex Twin has said that he will soon add yet more unreleased tracks to the 200 odd already placed on his SoundCloud profile this year.
The producer has updated the biog on the profile to say: “I’m VERY happy to report that I’ve found loads more old tapes I never encoded or gave to anybody. Been looking a lot on/off last few months and found around seven tapes, most of which have 20+ tracks. Will upload/release soonish”.
Fans are currently voting for their favourite tracks on the account, which may make up a future compilation.
Aphex Twin, of course, released his first album for over a decade, ‘Syro’, last September, followed by the ‘Computer Controlled Acoustic Instruments Part 2’ EP at the beginning of this year.
READ MORE ABOUT: Aphex Twin
Thursday 23 July 2015, 10:20 | By Chris Cooke
More NWA reunions? Maybe, but forget about Dre
Artist News Gigs & Festivals
The movie studio behind the previously reported NWA biopic ‘Straight Outta Compton’ is trying to get the legendary hip hop outfit back on stage, having managed to get Ice Cube, MC Ren and DJ Yella together at the recent BET Experience event in LA.
Speaking about promotional activity around the movie, Universal Pictures chief Donna Langley told The Hollywood Reporter: “We don’t have anything settled yet with everyone’s schedules, but we think it can create a lot of buzz”.
But would that reunion include everyone’s favourite Apple Inc suit and former NWAer Doc Dre? Well, that was the implication. And possibly his old pal Eminem too, who could possibly fill in for late NWA member Eazy E.
Though don’t be getting too excited, according to Rolling Stone reps for Dre and Slim Shady have denied that they have any plans to tour together, at all, let alone as part of some NWA reunion party.
READ MORE ABOUT: NWA
Thursday 23 July 2015, 10:16 | By Andy Malt
CMU’s One Liners: James Franco’s Lana Del Rey book, Matthew E White’s new video, Lion Babe’s Heaven show, and more
Artist News Gigs & Festivals One Liners Releases
Other notable announcements and developments today…
• Actor James Franco has written a book about Lana Del Rey, titled ‘Flip-Side: Real And Imaginary Conversations With Lana Del Rey’, following on from an essay he wrote about the singer for V Magazine earlier this year. Sadly, it will take until March next year to get this weighty 100 page tome out into the world, but you can look at the cover and pre-order it here.
• That Matthew E White has released a new video for his song ‘Visions’. You can have visions of it (ie watch it) here.
• Ty Segall’s approved Fuzz side project will release their second album, ‘II’, on 23 Oct. Here’s a track from it, ‘Pollinate’.
• Emika will play Electrowerkz in Islington on 15 Aug, following on from the recent release of her third album, ‘Drei’.
• Lion Babe will headline Heaven in London on 24 Nov. Their new single, ‘Impossible’, will be released on 28 Aug. But it’s okay for you to listen to it here now.
READ MORE ABOUT: Emika | Fuzz | James Franco | Lana Del Rey | Lion Babe | Matthew E White | Ty Segall
Thursday 23 July 2015, 10:14 | By Chris Cooke
Slaves won’t beef with the Mods
And Finally Artist News
Anti-beef of the week goes to punk outfit Slaves, who have refused to rise to the bait after rival band Sleaford Mods called them “fucking appalling”.
Though the Mods then said Slaves had ripped them off, which I think is them admitting that the fucking appalling-ness of the rival duo’s music originates in their own sound? Actually, one of the things Sleaford Mods frontman Jason Williamson accused Slaves of ripping off his “pose” in photos. Which may or may not be fucking appalling.
Anyway, asked about the remarks by the NME, Isaac Holman off of Slaves said: “I’ve got nothing to say about that”. Though he did then say something, that Sleaford Mods are “just trying to stir up shit” and that entering into a public war of words “is hardly sending out a positive message to people”. Which is true, but it might get you into CMU’s ‘and finally’ slot. Though, to be fair, so did saying some tedious consolatory nonsense. So, well done Slaves
READ MORE ABOUT: Sleaford Mods | Soft Play
Wednesday 22 July 2015, 10:48 | By Andy Malt
Approved: Kurt Vile – Pretty Pimpin
CMU Approved
Kurt Vile has announced that he will release his new album, ‘B’lieve I’m Goin Down’, on 25 Sep through Matador. And for that I think we can all breath a sigh of relief. Because when it comes to psych-rock songwriters, there are few who come close to Vile.
Speaking to Rolling Stone earlier this year, Vile said of the new album: “I wanted to get back into the habit of writing a sad song on my couch, with nobody waiting on me. I really wanted it to sound like it’s on my couch – not in a lo-fi way, just more unguarded and vulnerable”.
And maybe that’s the key – while many of his contemporaries are spending hours trying to make their tracks sound like they were recorded on a 1960s tape recorder, he’s concentrating on the songs and how they feel. And the success of that is shown perfectly on the first track released from ‘B’lieve I’m Goin Down’ – ‘Pretty Pimpin’ – which you can listen to here:
READ MORE ABOUT: Kurt Vile
Wednesday 22 July 2015, 10:42 | By Chris Cooke
FTC now properly investigating Apple tax on music apps
Business News Digital Legal Top Stories
The Federal Trade Commission in the US has now reportedly launched a proper investigation into the Apple tax, having previously been looking into the cut the tech giant takes from app-based subscriptions on a more informal basis.
As previously reported, with mobile-based subscription services, if a user signs up to a premium package through said platform’s iOS app, Apple takes a 30% cut of the money, as it would for paid-for apps sold through its store. Which is a problem for streaming music services already operating on very tight profit margins, because they can’t afford to swallow Apple’s 30% commission.
Users can always pay to subscribe via the streaming set-up’s own website, where Apple has no right to a commission, and then use their logins to use the service via the iPhone app. But Apple’s rules firstly say that in-app purchase has to be offered, and then also restrict the app maker’s ability to communicate the benefits of paying via its website instead.
Because of the tight profit margins, services like Spotify have had to add Apple’s 30% commission onto its subscription rates, so it is more expensive to subscribe through the app. Which was always irritating, but has become more of an issue for streaming music firms since Apple Music went live, because it means that consumers signing up to stream tunes via their iPhone will see Apple’s own service is three dollars a month cheaper than most of its competitors, but won’t necessarily realise that is only the case when you sign up via the phone.
Apple’s rivals argue that this is unfair competition, ie the tech firm exploits its control of the iPhone ecosystem to give it an unfair advantage over its streaming music competitors. According to The Verge, FTC inquiries into this issue, likely encouraged by Spotify et al, have started to gain momentum, so that a proper investigation is now underway. The tech site says that the FTC has already issued subpoenas to various services in a bid to gather more information.
The investigation will likely focus less on the basic 30% commission Apple charges and more on the various rules that surround in-app purchases, and also other limitations the tech giant applies that restrict the offers app makers can offer.
None of these rules are specific to music, applying across the board to all apps, but Apple’s dominance in the digital music space, and its much hyped move into streaming, makes the anti-competitive allegations particularly strong in this space. It remains to be seen if the FTC moves to force a change in some of Apple’s app regulations.
Meanwhile Apple overlord Tim Cook has told investors “millions and millions of customers are already experiencing” the Apple Music streaming service, though of course they are all currently doing so on the three month free trial.
In an earnings call he added that 15,000 artists are now connected to Connect within the Apple Music platform, and that the Beats1 radio station has millions of listeners worldwide. So, that all good to know, isn’t it? But will Apple convert tens – and preferably hundreds – of millions of customers into paying streamers come October? Oh, now there’s a question.
READ MORE ABOUT: Apple | Apple Music | FTC | Spotify
Wednesday 22 July 2015, 10:41 | By Chris Cooke
musicFIRST welcomes global support for Fair Play Fair Pay Act
Business News Legal
American music community lobbying group musicFIRST has thanked artists from across the world for lending their support to the previously reported Fair Play Fair Pay Act that is currently under consideration in the US.
Artists were encouraged to publicly back the proposed legislation via social media last week. The act would introduce a general performing right within the sound recording copyright in the US. Currently sound recording copyright owners in America only have a digital performing right, meaning that while satellite and online radio services need permission to use recorded music, clubs, public spaces and AM/FM radio do not. This means US artists and labels are deprived a revenue stream enjoyed by their counterparts in more or less every other country.
There have been numerous attempts over the years to bring US copyright law in line with the rest of the world on this point, but the broadcast lobby in particular is very influential in Washington, and it argues that having to pay record companies as well as music publishers for the rights to use music is unviable, and anyway artists and labels get free promotion when their tracks are played on air.
Elton John, REM, Chuck D, Annie Lennox and Imogen Heap were amongst those who took to the social networks last week to express their support for the Fair Play Fair Pay Act. And while record labels obviously want a general performing right too, this is a proposal from which artists would likely benefit directly as well, as usually ‘performer equitable remuneration’ is due on performing rights income, meaning 50% of revenue is shared with featured artists and session musicians oblivious of their label contracts.
musicFIRST is one of the bodies lobbying hard for the proposed act, and after last week’s online campaign its Executive Dirctor, Ted Kalo, told reporters: “This movement is built on a simple principle that grabs the imagination of everyone we touch – fair play for all music on all platforms. The basic justice and fairness of this demand explains why so many are moved to speak out. The fact that the United States has aligned its system for compensating artists with regimes like Iran and North Korea is shameful. It is destructive to the future of American music and threatens the art of a new generation of artists”.
Noting that last week’s social campaign was global, Kalo added: “Some of the musicians supporting this bill are from countries where radio already pays a performance right and radio is still alive and well in those countries – contradicting the ‘sky is falling’ claims of big corporate radio in the United States. America’s failure to recognise AM/FM performance rights costs our artists dearly. They receive nothing for US airplay, so the royalties they earn overseas are withheld because the United States refuses to reciprocate – over $100 million owed to US artists is stranded overseas as a result”.
He concluded: “musicFIRST is grateful for the support of so many artists, musicians, managers and fans worldwide. Big corporate radio is on notice: we have our own megaphone driven by people, not money”.
READ MORE ABOUT: Fair Play Fair Pay Act | musicFirst
Wednesday 22 July 2015, 10:37 | By Chris Cooke
Kobalt signs deal with Ealing-based studio
Business News Deals Labels & Publishers
Kobalt has entered into a publishing administration agreement with Ealing-based F Block Music Studios, which will see the music rights firm work with studio owner Hank Hughes to support up-and-coming songwriters who come through the studio complex.
Explains Miller Williams, Senior VP of Creative at Kobalt: “Hank Hughes has a fantastic track record of spotting and mentoring young songwriters and artists – many of whom are now among the top tier of writers and producers in the UK and beyond. We’re excited and pleased Hank has chosen the Kobalt family as a partner in his new publishing venture”.
Songwriters Hughes has previously worked with at the start of their careers include Naughty Boy, Emeli Sandé and Mojam, among others. He told reporters: “It’s important to capture and nurture writing talent early on. Most have at least one hit record in them, but a few are constantly hitting the mark as in the case with Shahid Khan [aka Naughty Boy]. It’s those writers I would like to find and publish through Kobalt”.
On his tie up with the buzzy, buzzy music rights company, he went on: “It was a no-brainer doing this admin deal with Kobalt. The company’s track record speaks for itself, but it was the totally innovative portal system that sealed the deal for me. I have already targeted a couple of new producers and top liners I’d like to engage”.
READ MORE ABOUT: F Block Music | Kobalt
Wednesday 22 July 2015, 10:35 | By Chris Cooke
Skip Marley signs to Blue Mountain Music
Business News Deals Labels & Publishers
Skip Marley has signed to Blue Mountain Music, the music publishing outfit created by Island Records founder Chris Blackwell, famous of course for signing Skip’s grandfather, the late great Bob Marley, and bringing him to worldwide attention back in the day.
The worldwide deal will cover publishing rights in all of Skip Marley’s upcoming releases for Tuff Gong International, including debut single ‘Cry To Me’. A second single is also planned for later this summer before Skip joins his uncles Stephen and Damian Marley on a US tour.
Confirming the deal, Blackwell said: “I am really excited to be working with Bob’s grandson, Skip. He has so much to offer”.
READ MORE ABOUT: Blue Mountain Music | Skip Marley
Wednesday 22 July 2015, 10:29 | By Chris Cooke
Boosey & Hawkes signs composer Thom Willems
Business News Deals Labels & Publishers
Classical music publisher Boosey & Hawkes, part of Imagem of course (pronounced Eeee-marrr-kkkkem remember, it’s important your internal monologue is fully accurate on these things), has signed up composer Thom Willems, best known for his collaborations with noted choreographer William Forsythe.
The deal covers Willems’ scores for over 60 of Forsythe’s ballets including – for those of you knowledgeable of such things – ‘In The Middle’, ‘Somewhat Elevated’, ‘The Loss Of Small Detail’ and ‘Herman Schmerman’. As well as looking after the administration of Willems’ works, Imagem’s creative services department will also look for sync opportunities.
Confirming the deal, Willems told reporters: “When I began to look for the right long-term home for my music, I was impressed by Boosey & Hawkes for its active engagement with the world of ballet and dance and its catalogue of iconic works. I know that my music is in good hands”.
Meanwhile B&H MD Janis Susskind added: “With ‘The Rite Of Spring’ as the foundation stone of our catalogue, we have ballet music in our DNA, and it is a pleasure to add Thom Willem’s innovative scores to our offering”.
READ MORE ABOUT: Boosey & Hawkes | Thom Willem
Wednesday 22 July 2015, 10:24 | By Chris Cooke
Alibaba launches music unit to oversee streaming services
Business News Digital
Chinese web giant Alibaba has launched a music division called the Ali Music Group which, amongst other things, will take over the running of the tech company’s two streaming apps Xiami and Tiantian.
Described as “a crucial pillar of Alibaba Group’s digital entertainment strategy”, the new division suggests ambitions in the music space beyond the firm’s current services, and the launch announcement made much of the data the company has to mine from across its portfolio of services, and how that might be used in music.
The new music unit will be headed by singer-songwriter and ‘China’s Got Talent’ judge Gao Xiaosong and former Warner Music exec Song Ke, who will be Chairman and CEO of the Ali Music Group respectively. They previously worked together at Taihe Rye Music, the Chinese pop label Song Ke co-founded, originally as a Warner subsidiary.
READ MORE ABOUT: Ali Music Group | Alibaba | Tiantian | Xiami
Wednesday 22 July 2015, 10:19 | By Chris Cooke
7digital announces pan-African songs licence via CAPASSO
Business News Deals Digital Labels & Publishers
7digital has announced a licensing deal with South African collecting society CAPASSO that covers song rights in 40 African countries, enabling the digital music provider to power download and streaming services utilising CAPASSO members’ repertoire across a big chunk of the continent. 7digital already powers a service called MiTracks in South Africa itself.
Confirming the new licence was now in place, 7digital CEO Simon Cole told reporters: “This licence agreement is a world-class deal that secures 7digital’s place among the pacesetters in digital musical licensing. It’s a full repertoire blanket licence for 40 countries, with a single point for reporting and invoicing – which ensures a simple procedure for managing rights. Securing this type of agreement with licensing agencies is vital to our business and our collaboration with CAPASSO is extremely valuable for our presence in Africa”.
CAPASSO CEO Nothando Migogo added: “We support 7digital’s mission to reduce the complexity around managing legally licensed music services. There is a huge opportunity for user engagement with music on connected devices in the African region. 7digital entering the market will allow better opportunities for local and international brands to bring music to users efficiently and legally”.
READ MORE ABOUT: 7digital | CAPASSO
Wednesday 22 July 2015, 10:18 | By Chris Cooke
OfCom consulting on Bauer plans to rejig City brands in Liverpool
Business News Media
Media regulator OfCom has begun a consultation on proposals by Bauer Media that it rejig its radio output in Merseyside, where it operates under the Radio City brand.
As previously reported, earlier this year Bauer dismantled its quasi-national Magic network on AM and Hits radio network on the regional DAB platforms, using those channels to create version two and three services around its regional FM radio brands instead.
So that means in Liverpool you get Radio City 1, 2 and 3, in addition to a fourth existing service called City Talk, also on FM. With that all now up and running, Bauer wants to meddle some more, basically giving Radio City 2 the FM frequency currently used by City Talk, and switching the music and news service to AM.
Once switched over, the services would also change in terms of music policy, speech-to-music split, and the amount of locally produced content aired versus programmes taken from Bauer’s national network.
Ofcom’s consultation on the proposals is set to run until 2 Sep.
READ MORE ABOUT: Bauer Media | City Talk | OfCom | Radio City
Wednesday 22 July 2015, 10:13 | By Andy Malt
CMU’s One Liners: Azealia Banks, Hinds, Syco, Globe and more
Artist News Brands & Merch Business News Deals Gigs & Festivals Industry People Labels & Publishers Marketing & PR One Liners Releases
Other notable announcements and developments today…
• Azealia Banks has left Prospect Park as a management client, though will remain signed to the company’s record label for the time being.
• Hinds – they formerly known as Deers – have signed to Lucky Number, and will play the label’s tenth anniversary party at Village Underground in Shoreditch tomorrow. Here’s a new track, ‘Chili Town’.
• Syco Music has appointed Michelle Marks as its new Marketing Director. She previously worked at media services provider Red Bee. “Thrilled”, says Marks.
• Universal’s partnerships division Globe has rolled out an alliance with online fashion peddler ASOS which will see the e-commerce firm get video exclusives and bespoke artist content for its online channels. Like footage from a Years & Years album launch party. “Longer”, says Globe’s Jennifer Hills. What, longer than years and years? Big time.
• Def Leppard guitarist Vivian Campbell is not happy that Donald Trump is apparently due to introduce the band at the Iowa State Fair next month. “I really, really, really hope that there’s no truth to this rumour. Def Leppard have never been a political band, and if we were, I for one wouldn’t be associating my name with this clown”, he wrote on Facebook.
• Bring Me The Horizon will release their fifth album, ‘That’s The Spirit’, on 11 Sep. Here’s a song from it, ‘Happy Song’. Next single ‘The Throne’ will be premiered on Radio 1 tomorrow evening.
• Laura Marling has announced that she will play The Forum in London on 5 Sep. Tickets on sale here now.
• Songhoy Blues will be touring the UK this autumn, finishing up with a show at Koko in London on 4 Nov.
• Recently approved Russian shoegazers Pinkshinyultrablast will be touring the UK in September and October. This will include a date at London’s XOYO on 6 Oct. They’ll release a new single, ‘Kiddy Pool Dreams’ on 2 Oct.
READ MORE ABOUT: Azealia Banks | Bring Me The Horizon | Deff Leppard | Donald Trump | Globe | Hinds | Laura Marling | Lucky Number | Michelle Marks | Pinkshinyultrablast | Prospect Park | Songhoy Blues | Syco | Universal Music | Vivian Campbell
Wednesday 22 July 2015, 10:08 | By Andy Malt
Nuns say selling convent to Katy Perry would break their vows to God
And Finally Artist News
The battle over whether or not to sell a former convent to Katy Perry rages on, with new documents now showing that the nuns who were its previous occupants believe that selling up to the singer would break their holy vows.
As previously reported, The Sisters Of The Immaculate Heart Of Mary are currently in dispute with the Los Angeles Archdiocese of the Roman Catholic Church over who should be sold an old hilltop convent that overlooks Hollywood, and who has the right to decide. The nuns prefer local restaurateur Dana Hollister while the archdiocese wants to sell to Perry.
Documents obtained by the New York Times show that the battle has raged on for some time, and that Sister Catherine Rose Holzman wrote in an email to the archdiocese in May: “In selling to Katy Perry, we feel we are being forced to violate our canonical vows to the Catholic Church”.
Further correspondence shows that the nuns feel they are being bullied into approving Perry’s offer, and accuse the archdiocese of being “obsessed with their misconception of their sovereign, ecclesiastical canonical importance”.
Oh, burn.
READ MORE ABOUT: Katy Perry
