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Monday 22 February 2016, 11:15 | By Chris Cooke
Spotify spokesperson talks down artist exclusives
Business News Digital Labels & Publishers
As Sony Entertainment chief Michael Lynton was bigging up a windowed future for the record industry last week, Spotify’s Jonathan Prince was talking down a streaming music future full of artist exclusives.
As previously reported, Lynton – who runs the division of Sony Corp that includes the conglom’s global music companies Sony Music Entertainment and Sony/ATV Music Publishing – said at last week’s Code/Media conference that he thought we’d see more windowing in the record industry in the coming years, with music following the lead of the industry he is more closely associated with, ie Hollywood.
Though, of course, there are a number of different ways labels can stagger – or ‘window’ – the release of new albums, especially from big artists. You can go the physical/download-first, streams-later route of Adele; or the premium-platforms-first, free-services-later route advocated by Taylor Swift; or you can initially give your new tunes to just one streaming music platform for a set period of time, before rolling out across the net.
Tidal talked up artist exclusives following its relaunch as a Jay-Z-led vehicle last year, of course, while Apple also has a record of pushing for exclusivity from big name artists with new content to share, both before and since it launched the Apple Music streaming service. And it seems that, in recent months, the practice of high profile new records appearing first on one or another platform is becoming more of a norm, though at the same time, you sense both streaming services and artists are still experimenting and may conclude it’s not a strategy to employ in the long term.
Either way, Prince says Spotify isn’t keen to get into a bidding war for exclusive first dibs on new records. He told The Verge: “We’re not really in the business of paying for exclusives, because we think they’re bad for artists and they’re bad for fans. Artists want as many fans as possible to hear their music, and fans want to be able to hear whatever they’re excited about or interested in – exclusives get in the way of that for both sides”.
Not that Prince wants to start a war with those artists who have done exclusivity deals with his rivals (unlike the high street retailers, who occasionally boycotted artists who did CD exclusives with rival record sellers, especially in North America). He added: “Of course, we understand that short promotional exclusives are common and we don’t have an absolute policy against them, but we definitely think the best practice for everybody is wide release”.
READ MORE ABOUT: Spotify
Monday 22 February 2016, 11:14 | By Andy Malt
Damon Albarn named ‘local king’ of Malian village
Artist News Awards
Damon Albarn has been named ‘local king’ of the village of Kirina in Mali, in recognition of his work with musicians in the country.
BBC Radio 4’s ‘The World Tonight’ reports that Albarn was recently presented with the honour at a ceremony at music and dance school L’Ecole de Musique de Kirina. Given a new Malian name, Makenjan Kanisoko, a classroom in the school was also named after him.
The brother of the school’s founder Mahamadou Diabaté, musician Toumani Diabaté, explains: “Damon is not from Africa, but he needs to be like a king of these Griot people”.
Albarn added: “I’m not used to this sort of thing, but it’s fantastic to see this schoolroom. It’s a school dedicated to music and dance, [and] that’s where’s my heart is. So my heart is here”.
Opened in 2009, L’Ecole de Musique de Kirina offers classes in a range of traditional instruments and dance. It’s location, about 25 miles outside the capital city Bamako, was chosen because Kirina has been a centre for the preservation of Malian traditional culture for more than 700 years.
READ MORE ABOUT: Damon Albarn
Monday 22 February 2016, 11:10 | By Andy Malt
Pantha Du Prince announces new album
Artist News Releases
Pantha Du Prince has announced his first solo album since 2010’s ‘Black Noise’. ‘The Triad’ will be released on 20 May through Rough Trade.
Says the producer: “‘Black Noise’ was very much about me being alone in a small room in Berlin and composing. ‘The Triad’ opens the structure to more human ways of interacting, not digitised ways of interacting. It’s not about Facebook; it’s about meeting up and jamming. I wanted to cut through the digital dust that surrounds us”.
Here’s first single ‘The Winter Hymn’, featuring Queens:
READ MORE ABOUT: Pantha Du Prince
Monday 22 February 2016, 11:00 | By Andy Malt
Rihanna cancels two UK shows
Artist News Gigs & Festivals
Having last week postponed the start of her US tour, Rihanna has now cancelled two shows on the UK leg of her world trek, due to “logistical difficulties”.
Performances at Sunderland’s Stadium Of Light on 16 Jun and Cardiff’s Principality Stadium on 18 Jun will now not take place. And a show at the Ricoh Arena in Coventry has been moved from 14 Jun to 25 Jun.
In a statement, Sunderland AFC Commercial Director Gary Hutchinson said: “Unfortunately this is something that can happen with major tours and naturally we are sorry for those concert-goers who were looking forward to the show. We still have an exciting summer of events planned at the Stadium Of Light however, including the sell
out Beyonce concert, which everyone is looking forward to”.
Oh, burn. Refunds are available at the point of purchase. Cardiff’s Principality Stadium has also offered to swap tickets for Rihanna shows in other cities, where possible.
READ MORE ABOUT: Rihanna
Monday 22 February 2016, 10:59 | By Chris Cooke
CMU’s One Liners: Nick Grimshaw, UTV, Radio Festival, more
And Finally Artist News Awards Business News Deals Gigs & Festivals Media One Liners Releases
Other notable announcements and developments today…
• Nick Grimshaw has confirmed he will not return to sinking ship ‘The X-Factor’ in a judging capacity. He insisted he “loved” the show and his decision not to stay with it for a second series was “not a diss”. Presumably it’s because he’s not that confident a swimmer.
• The sale of the UTV television business in both Ireland and Northern Ireland to ITV plc should complete next Monday, the deal having received regulator approval. The remaining UTV radio business will then announce a new name. Belfast’s business card printers excitedly await the day.
• The Radio Academy’s recently revamped Radio Festival will return to the British Library in London town on 27 Sep, it has been confirmed.
• Azealia Banks has released a new single, called ‘The Big Big Beat’. Listen here.
• Bat For Lashes has released a new track, ‘I Do’. Attached is a note that reads: “Save the date, 1 Jul 2016. Til death do us part”.
• Protomartyr have shared the video for ‘Dope Cloud’ and announced that they’ll be touring the UK in April.
• Vaults have released a new single ‘Midnight River’. They’ve also got UK live shows coming up in April.
• Ant & Dec have confirmed that this week’s BRIT Awards will be their last as hosts. Which presumably means in 2017 it’ll be Sam & Mark’s turn?
• Oh, for fuck’s sake. We’re entering this tedious cycle again, are we?
READ MORE ABOUT: Ant & Dec | Azealia Banks | Bat For Lashes | Blur | BRIT Awards | ITV | Nick Grimshaw | Protomartyr | Radio Academy | Radio Festival | UTV Media | Vaults | X-Factor
Monday 22 February 2016, 10:53 | By Andy Malt
Iron Maiden unveil new 747 tour jet
And Finally Artist News Live Business
In these post-rockstar, more frugal times for the music industry it can be easy to find yourself lamenting the loss of the overblown excesses of yesteryear. But then Iron Maiden rock up in a fully branded, massive Boeing 747 jumbo jet and all is well again.
As the band head off on tour, the new ‘Ed Force One’ was revealed last week in Cardiff. Though there are some cost savings to be had, of course. Unlike most bands, Iron Maiden have a pilot in their midst. Bruce Dickinson will captain the plane, and he trained specifically to be able to fly the new jet, which is twice the size of the last one he flew the band around in (a 757) in 2011. There was another cost saving there too, because he was able to do the training at his own aviation company. Quids in.
Announcing that the band would be leasing the larger jet from Air Atlanta Icelandic last year, Dickinson said: “The greatest benefit of travelling in a 747 is that because of its colossal size and freight capacity we can carry our stage production and all our stage equipment and desks in the cargo hold without having to make any of the immense structural modifications needed to do this on the previous 757”.
And here’s Dickinson getting a look at his new ride for the first time:
READ MORE ABOUT: Bruce Dickinson | Iron Maiden
Monday 22 February 2016, 10:13 | By Andy Malt
Approved: Orka
CMU Approved
Formed over a decade ago, what always made Orka stand out initially was their use of homemade instruments built out of old agricultural equipment, making for an interesting juxtaposition between rural life and electronic music. Though what makes them stand out once you’ve heard them play is how brilliantly versatile they are; a unique force in music.
Following on from 2014’s ‘Leipzig’ album, which took their sound more downbeat, new LP ‘Vað’ – out on 16 May – ups the pace again. Written by project mainstay Jen L Thomsen and former Dälek member Oktopus, two tracks so far released from the new record – ‘Dimmalætting’ and ‘Grind’ – see the Orka sound twisted into hardened, cathartic techno. Still based on those homemade instruments, the sounds are largely broken up into samples. The music remains distinctively Orka, while ushering in an exciting new twist in their sound.
“I think that after several albums and tours I felt the need to make a record which had fewer elements which I could focus on and explore”, Thomsen tells CMU. “‘Vað’ has been all about getting to the core of an idea or tune and stripping it down to its essentials. A few tracks on this album are made up from three parts only”.
“Also, only five people, including mastering engineer Matt Colton, have worked on the material compared to the seemingly endless credits list on Orka’s last album ‘Leipzig'”, he adds. “We wanted to avoid overproducing and rather stay true to the roughness and immediacy of the core ideas. This approach has given it an almost Neanderthal sense of texture and pace”.
Watch a new studio-based performance of ‘Grind’ by Thomsen and Francine Perry (aka La Leif) here:
Stay up to date with all of the artists featured in the CMU Approved column in 2016 by subscribing to our Spotify playlist.
READ MORE ABOUT: Orka
Friday 19 February 2016, 11:42 | By Chris Cooke
Sony chief reckons windowing will become the norm in music
Business News Digital Industry People Labels & Publishers Top Stories
The boss of Sony’s US-based entertainment business – under which the conglom’s global music companies sit – has predicted that the record industry will move to a windowing approach with its new releases. To an extent this will mean adopting the approach of Hollywood, Michael Lynton being much more hands on with Sony’s movie operations.
There has been much talk about so called windowing in music circles of late, of course, partly because of Adele’s decision to hold her new album off the streaming platforms, forcing fans to buy it on CD or download. Though Lynton was arguably proposing a system more like that advocated by Taylor Swift than Adele, in that the windowing isn’t downloads-first-streams-later, but paid-for-platforms-first-freebie-platforms-later.
Speaking at the Code/Media conference in California yesterday, Re/code reports that Lynton said of the recorded music sector: “We all see the business is moving downhill; the download business is declining quarterly. The kind of a service that we would like to see, going forward, is a subscription service”. And to help make that happen, “going forward, you will see some version of windowing in the music industry”.
It’s no secret that some label execs have been putting pressure on those on-demand streaming services that have a freemium level – so, in particular Spotify – to allow at least bigger name artists to only provide their new content to the company’s paying subscribers for a set period, of maybe weeks or months, with said new releases then rolling onto the freemium level in due course.
Aside from possibly providing a little boost in CD and download sales in the week of release, said label execs reckon that big new releases being reserved for paying subscribers on Spotify-type services would provide a compelling reason why consumers should start paying, beyond the no-ads and more mobile functionality currently offered.
To date Spotify has been resistant to that plan, although there have been some indications it may reconsider in the near future. However, the streaming service remains hesitant about limiting its freemium offer too much, as the freemium-to-premium upsell approach is the company’s main marketing strategy.
Bosses there will always express concern that if too much new content is kept off Spotify Free, people who could be upsold the premium package down the line will never sign on, opting instead for YouTube or the file-sharing platforms that have been particularly buzzy this week following Kanye West’s decision to lock his new album exclusively to Tidal.
Though, despite all that, Lynton is probably right to say that – for big name artists at least – some premium-to-freemium windowing could well become the norm.
READ MORE ABOUT: Michael Lynton | Sony Music
Friday 19 February 2016, 11:40 | By Andy Malt
Kesha and Dr Luke due in court today
Artist News Business News Labels & Publishers Legal
The latest hearing in Kesha and Dr Luke’s long running legal battle is set to take place at the New York State Supreme Court later today, in relation to the singer’s attempt to get an injunction to record an album with a label other than his Sony imprint Kemosabe, to which she is still contracted.
As previously reported, Kesha sued the producer, real name Lukasz Gottwald, in 2014 alleging sexual assault and battery, accusing him of plying her with drugs and alcohol and raping her as a teenager. He in turn sued her, claiming that she had invented these accusations as a means to get out of her record contract.
Gottwald also sued the singer’s manager Jack Rovner and her mother Pebe Sebert, though both of those suits were dismissed earlier this month (in New York State at least). Today’s ruling is one postponed last month, at which fans were planning to stage a protest aimed at Sony Music boss Doug Morris, calling on him to release Kesha from her current contract with Kemosabe so that she can record a new album, possibly with another Sony label.
In an Instagram post yesterday, Kesha said: “I have nothing left to hide. I did this because the truth was eating away my soul and killing me from the inside. This is not just for me. This is for every woman, every human who has ever been abused. Sexually. Emotionally. Mentally. I had to tell the truth. So the outcome will be what it will be. There’s nothing left I can do. It’s just so scary to have zero control in your fate. But this is my path this life for whatever reason”.
READ MORE ABOUT: Dr Luke | Kesha
Friday 19 February 2016, 11:37 | By Chris Cooke
New boss at Universal France, as streaming overcomes CD/download declines at mega-major
Business News Industry People Labels & Publishers
Universal Music France has a brand new chief in the form of Olivier Nusse, who takes over from the long-time boss of the major in the country (like, since 1998, which is a damn long-time), Pascal Nègre. Nusse moves up to the CEO role from his current post of MD for the Mercury Music Group and Universal Classics & Jazz in France.
Confirming the changes, overall Universal Music top man big cheese boss bloke Lucian Grainge adopted his best French accent to declare: “On behalf of everyone at UMG, I would like to thank Pascal for his many significant achievements and commitment to our company over many years of profound transformation in the music industry. We wish him the very best for the future”.
Then, starting to sound a little bit like a character in ‘Allo Allo’, he went on: “We are very pleased to have an executive of Mr Nusse’s talents and stature take the lead for Universal Music France. Having worked with Olivier over many years, I am impressed by his capabilities and track record. He has demonstrated strong team leadership and an ability to drive results”.
The change at the top of Universal Music France follows a not insignificant rejig of the mega-major’s international operations, which in turn followed the stepping down of the company’s former international chief Max Hole due to ill-health last October. That rejig has basically removed a layer of management from Universal’s non-US operations, with regional divisions now reporting into the firm’s overall HQ in California. It’s a restructure that has resulted in some job-switching and downsizing in the company’s international division.
Elsewhere in Universal news, latest financials from the major via an earnings update from parent company Vivendi revealed that 52% of the Universal record company’s digital income now comes from the streams. And the subscription service boom is actually offsetting continued declines in CD sales and downloads. Slightly.
Which is super news. Let’s make the most of that half billion in extra cash Spotify is reportedly raising, which should assure more good news in terms of recorded music revenues later this year. You know, before the venture capital and debt financing runs out and everything turns to shit.
Or to merde, if you want to retain the French theme with which this story began.
READ MORE ABOUT: Olivier Nusse | Pascal Nègre | Universal Music
Friday 19 February 2016, 11:28 | By Chris Cooke
Initial line-up announced for next Music Cities Convention
Business News Education & Events
The third edition of the Music Cities Convention, which launched last year just ahead of The Great Escape, will once again return to Brighton the day before the big new music festival this year with another programme looking at “the relationship between city planning, strategy, development, policy and the music industry”. Basically, the role a thriving local music community can play in the cultural, social and economic development of a city or region, and what those cities and regions can do to facilitate that process.
Taking place at Brighton’s Sallis Benney Theatre on 18 May, already confirmed to speak at the internationally-focused event are Amsterdam’s Night Mayor Mirik Milan, Busk In London’s Dr Julia Jones, New York University’s Carlos Chirinos, Sydney Fringe Executive Director Kerri Glassock, Sheffield Tramlines organiser Kate Hewitt, South Australian Government advisor Joe Hay, and Jocelyn Kane, Executive Director of the San Francisco Entertainment Commission.
Also involved this time is Julie’s Bicycle, which campaigns for the cultural industries to be more eco-friendly, and BIMM Brighton who will discuss the role music has had in the host city’s economy. And CMU Business Editor Chris Cooke might just pop up as a moderator, alongside the founders of Music Cities, Glastonbury booker and Great Escape co-founder Martin Elbourne and Sound Diplomacy chief Shain Shapiro.
Info, tickets and all that jazz at www.musiccitiesconvention.com
READ MORE ABOUT: Music Cities
Friday 19 February 2016, 11:24 | By Andy Malt
David Bowie said “fuck off” to Dave Grohl collaboration
Artist News
So, Coldplay and the Red Hot Chili Peppers aren’t the only people who were snubbed by David Bowie. They’re all coming out of the woodwork now. Turns out he once told Dave Grohl to “fuck off”. If only we still ran the Ringo Says Fuck Off column (something very long-term CMU readers may just about remember), this would be perfect.
I think it was a playful, friendly “fuck off”, but a “fuck off” all the same. Grohl explains in a new video for Playboy, in which he and Pat Smear tour some of Bowie’s favourite LA haunts: “We played at his 50th birthday party at Madison Square Garden, and that was the last time I saw him. About two years ago, I got approached by this movie to do a song for the movie, so I thought, ‘Maybe I’ll have someone else sing. I’ll do the music and then have another vocalist’. And then I thought, ‘Maybe I’ll ask and see if David would do it'”.
Wheels were set in moment, contacts were made, videos were sent, and then quickly an email from one David to another landed in Grohl’s inbox. “It said, ‘David, I watched the movie and I got to be honest, it’s not my thing'”, he recalls. “He said, ‘I’m not made for these times. So thanks, but I think I’m gonna sit this one out'”.
So that’s nice. And being a nice sort himself, Grohl wrote back saying thanks for the email and for giving the project his consideration. Another email then came back from Bowie saying: “Alright, well that’s settled then. Now, fuck off”.
It was all in good fun, says Grohl. Now, fuck off.
READ MORE ABOUT: Dave Grohl | David Bowie
Friday 19 February 2016, 11:21 | By Andy Malt
Rihanna postpones start of tour due to “production delays”
Artist News Gigs & Festivals
Following the cancellation of her performance at the Grammy Awards earlier this week, Rihanna has now postponed the first eight dates of her upcoming US tour.
As previously reported, Rihanna’s performance at Monday’s Grammy ceremony was cancelled at the last minute. In a statement, a spokesperson said that the singer had not fully recovered from a bout of bronchitis and doctors were concerned that she may damage her vocal cords if she sang.
However, the cause of the postponement of these dates has been confirmed to be “production delays”, rather than ill health. The tour will now begin on 12 Mar in Jacksonville, Florida. The postponed dates have been rescheduled.
READ MORE ABOUT: Rihanna
Friday 19 February 2016, 11:20 | By Andy Malt
Poliça announce UK tour dates
Artist News Gigs & Festivals
Poliça have announced some UK tour dates, riding on the wave soon to be generated by their new album ‘United Crushers’, which is out on 4 Mar. Waves were probably not the right metaphor there, given the title. Ah well.
Anyway, this news comes accompanied by a new single, which is called ‘Lately’. Here’s what vocalist Channy Leaneagh has to say about it: “Don’t let love become a distraction. I want to be moved by my lover but not put in a lethargic state of apathy for doing anything else but be with another person. Love is a place where we make each other better and inspire each other to make cool shit”.
What does that all mean? No idea. Does it matter? Probably not. Here’s the song:
And here, friendo, are the tour dates:
14 Oct: Leeds, Stylus
16 Oct: Glasgow, SWG3
18 Oct: Bristol, Anson Rooms
19 Oct: London, The Roundhouse
20 Oct: Birmingham, Institute Library
21 Oct: Manchester, The Ritz
23 Oct: Brighton, Concorde 2
READ MORE ABOUT: Poliça
Friday 19 February 2016, 11:17 | By Andy Malt
Eurovision voting changes aim to make competition more exciting
Awards Business News Media
The Eurovision Song Contest has announced some changes aimed at “creating TV magic”. The big idea is to make everybody’s favourite part of the show, the long and tedious vote-counting stage, even longer. Woo!
Actually, the aim is to change things so that we don’t have to sit through 30 minutes of vote-counting when it’s already blatantly apparent who has won. This will be done by splitting the announcement of the jury and the public votes. Previously they were combined on a country by country basis before any votes were added to the score board, which also meant a song that rated highly amongst viewers in any one country could still get a modest score from that nation because of how the local judging panel scored each song.
The jury votes will now be announced country by country in the usual way. Then the total combined public votes for each song will be announced in reverse order at the end. In theory this means that the overall winner won’t be clear until the closing moments. The change also means it’s less likely for anyone to score “nul points”.
“This new way of presenting the votes is a big step forward, both to make a better television show as well as a more exciting competition”, says Eurovision’s Executive Supervisor Jon Ola Sand. “There is more reason than ever to vote in the Eurovision Song Contest. The new voting format guarantees that the song which is most popular among the public will receive twelve points regardless of how the juries voted. It is fitting that this change to the Contest’s iconic scoring sequence will be debuted in Stockholm, where the famous douze points system was introduced in 1975”.
What a system. Eurovision Producer Christer Björkman adds: “All competitions are enhanced by creating a dramatic finish. This was a unanimous decision taken by the Eurovision Song Contest Reference Group. It’s about creating TV magic”.
Here’s a quick explanatory video in case you didn’t understand any of that:
READ MORE ABOUT: Eurovision Song Contest
Friday 19 February 2016, 11:13 | By Andy Malt
CMU’s One Liners: Tidal, Zayn Malik, Metallica, more
Artist News Business News Digital Gigs & Festivals One Liners Releases
Other notable announcements and developments today…
• Tidal has seen a 155% boost in its UK Android users since it bagged the exclusive on Kanye West’s ‘The Life Of Pablo’ album. According to The Drum, 0.1% of Android users in the UK are now using the app. A threefold uplift, don’t you know.
• I made a derogatory comment about the artwork of Gwen Stefani’s album recently, which some people felt was uncalled for. And now that I’ve seen the cover for Zayn Malik’s debut LP I’m starting to think they might have been right.
• Tired of waiting around for a new Metallica album? Well they’ve just announced that they’re re-issuing their first two LPs – ‘Kill Em All’ and ‘Ride The Lightning’ – on 15 Apr. Which is probably a better use of your money anyway.
• Here’s the video for Miguel’s new single ‘Waves’. And here’s a reminder that Miguel’s ‘Wildheart’ album is very good.
• Mayer Hawthorne is releasing a new album, ‘Man About Town’, on 8 Apr. Listen to first single ‘Love Like That’ here.
• Shura has finished her debut album. It is called ‘Nothing’s Real’. Here’s ‘Touch’ featuring Talib Kweli.
• The 21st Century Symphony Orchestra And Chorus will premiere a new show at the Royal Albert Hall on 11 Mar. Western Music In Concert will provide a live score to some of the most iconic visual and musical moments in the western genre. More info right here.
READ MORE ABOUT: 21st Century Symphony Orchestra And Chorus | Kanye West | Mayer Hawthorne | Metallica | Miguel | Shura | Tidal | Zayn Malik
Friday 19 February 2016, 11:09 | By Andy Malt
CMU Beef Of The Week #294: Bring Me The Horizon v Coldplay
And Finally Artist News Awards Beef Of The Week
A man stood on a table.
READ MORE ABOUT: Bring Me The Horizon | Coldplay | NME Awards
Friday 19 February 2016, 10:41 | By Paul Vig
Vigsy’s Club Tip: Broken Dub House at Prince Of Wales
Club Tip CMU Approved
Currently gearing up to the release of his third album, James Blake will turn in a DJ set at the Prince Of Wales in Brixton tonight, alongside his 1-800 Dinosaur crew.
Promoted by Deep Medi, the Broken House Dub night will also have Mala & Coki and Sir Spiro on hand.
And all of this will be pumped through the RC1 Soundsystem, so get ready for your bones to be rumbled.
Friday 19 Feb, Prince Of Wales, 467-469 Brixton Road, London, SW9 8HH, 10pm-4am, £12+. More info here.
READ MORE ABOUT: 1-800 Dinosaur | James Blake
Friday 19 February 2016, 09:04 | By Andy Malt
CMU Podcast: Spotify, Bandpage, In-car listening, Morrissey
Artist News Brands & Merch Business News Digital Media Setlist
CMU’s Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review the week in music and the music business, including Daniel Ek’s claims that streaming is turning around the record business’s fortunes and Spotify’s attempt to stop David Lowery’s lawsuit from becoming a class action, YouTube’s acquisition of Bandpage, new research on the popularity of in-car radio listening, plus Morrissey’s ill-fated move into modelling. The CMU Podcast is sponsored by 7digital.
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Stories discussed this week
• Daniel Ek says Spotify is enabling a record industry revival
• Spotify responds to David Lowery’s mechanicals lawsuit
• YouTube buys BandPage
• Radio still dominates in-car listening, for now at least
• Morrissey takes up modelling, decides it’s not for him
CMU Approved
• Jorja Smith
• Nevermen
• Berger
• Teleman
What we didn’t have time to talk about
• Kanye West fends off Martin Shkreli to release new album
• The Grammys! It was the Grammys! The Grammys happened!
• Zara Larsson tops first Official Trending Chart
• Pandora boss plays down reports his firm is up for sale
• Shift to free secures NME its highest ever ABC
Please subscribe, like and share after you’ve listened!
READ MORE ABOUT: BandPage | Berger | Daniel Ek | David Lowery | Jorja Smith | Morrissey | Nevermen | Radioplayer | Spotify | Supreme | Teleman | YouTube
Thursday 18 February 2016, 12:28 | By CMU Editorial
PledgeMusic’s Benji Rogers and Vevo’s Tom Connaughton among those set to speak at CMU Insights @ The Great Escape this May
Business News Digital Education & Events Gigs & Festivals The Great Escape 2016 Top Stories
With May insisting on getting ever closer by the day, today we announce more details about CMU Insights @ The Great Escape, the conference that sits at the heart of the new music festival that takes over Brighton for three days from 19-21 May.
After revamping the TGE conference last year, the team from CMU Insights will return to put the spotlight on four key themes: the debates around data and transparency; the CD and merch markets; the role of YouTube and video; and diversity and health in the music industry. Each topic will be dissected over a full day of sessions, with a mixture of talks, interviews, training elements, original research, case studies and lively debate.
Today’s announcements kick off with the first speakers for the strand ‘Transparency! Data! Blockchain! Let’s make buzzwords happen!’ ‘Transparency’ has been the big buzzword in the music community this year of course, while that other buzzy term – the ‘blockchain’ – has been increasingly held up as the technology that could make digital music more transparent and more efficient. Leading the debate around the blockchain in recent months has been PledgeMusic founder Benji Rogers, who got lots of people talking with a blog post on the topic last year, and has been busy sharing his vision with the industry ever since.
Rogers will keynote at CMU@TGE to once again outline that vision, and delve a little deeper into what is possible. CMU’s Chris Cooke will be on hand to provide a beginners guide to the blockchain – so no techie knowledge is needed in advance – and then digital music experts Sammy Andrews and Andy Edwards, both also vocal proponents of the need for more transparency and the role technology can play, will provide their perspectives.
Earlier in the day Cooke will be joined by music lawyer Nigel Dewar-Gibb of Lewis Silkin to explain how revenue currently works its way through the system, identifying where the blockages lie, and identifying what questions need to be asked of digital services, labels, publishers and the collecting societies. After all that, CMU will put on its well worn cynic hat and ask the really tricky questions, to overcome all of these challenges, what hurdles must the industry cross first, and who needs to play ball? And why would they?
Meanwhile, next door, Tracks2 co-founder Brittney Bean will be busy putting the spotlight on YouTube. How is the damn thing licensed exactly? Where precisely does Vevo fit in? What’s the ‘safe harbour’ and ‘value gap’ thing all about? And is the music industry missing a few tricks with YouTube? Spoiler alert: it almost certainly is.
As part of the discussion on how the music community can get the most out of YouTube, Rebecca Lammers of Laika Network will talk Content-ID, Claire Mas of Communion Music Group will discuss YouTube’s role as a marketing channel, while Chloé Julien of BandSquare will run you through the data and analytics the platform offers.
But what about the content? None of this is any use unless you’re creating great video content. And there’s now more to music video than the music video. Delving into how artists, labels and promoters can create video content that really engages and excites fans online will be SVP Content And Programming at Vevo, Tom Connaughton.
This is just the start of the proceedings, and we’ll have more updates on these two strands – and those focused on physical products and music people – in the coming weeks. To get into all this you need to make yourself a TGE delegate, which is something you do by clicking here and spending £185. Though don’t forget, that also gets you into everything else too – priority access to the hundreds of bands playing over the three days, plus networking meetings, parties and a whole load more. See you there!
For more information about the data and transparency strand click here, and for the YouTube and video strand click here.
READ MORE ABOUT: CMU Insights | The Great Escape
Thursday 18 February 2016, 12:25 | By Chris Cooke
Dutch group targets Kickasser with potential €2000 a day fine
Business News Digital Labels & Publishers Legal
Dutch anti-piracy organisation BREIN is taking a short breather from targeting the people who operate file-sharing hubs, or distribute file-sharing software, and is instead targeting some file-sharers direct. Though at this stage only really prolific file-sharers.
Now, legal proceedings against individual file-sharers generally achieved little in the early days of the fight against online piracy, apart from running up legal costs and giving everyone more reasons to hate major record companies and big movie studios. The damages won were limited, record numbers of files continued to be shared without licence, and the high profile litigation didn’t seem to create much of a deterrent to discourage other file-sharers.
But BREIN reckons that by targeting a small number of prolific uploaders – who pump large quantities of music and movies onto the file-sharing networks – the direct litigation approach is worthwhile. Though it remains to be seen if the latest legal action proves to be much of a deterrent, because even if it stops prolific uploaders from uploading, there’s normally others willing to take their place the as feeders-in-chief of the file-sharing world.
Either way, the legal approach BREIN has taken is interesting. According to Torrentfreak, rather than simply suing the suspected uploader for copyright infringement, and seeking damages, the anti-piracy group got itself an injunction from the Dutch courts which says that, if the targeted file-sharer – a Kickass uploader who goes by the online ID Reinrox – continues to upload, they’ll face a daily fine of €2000, up to €50,000.
This was enough to persuade the uploader, whose real identity BREIN ascertained, to sign a cease and desist agreement, delete their Kickass account, and promise to not start file-sharing again on another site or under a different identity. The court agreed to grant such an injunction based on BREIN’s claims regarding the scale of Reinrox’s uploading and the negative impact that has on the content owners the group represents.
Explaining that this injunction process has proven more effective than other forms of file-sharer litigation, BREIN told the court: “An ex-parte court order re-inforced with a penalty gives those whose rights have been violated the greatest possible assurance that this will not happen again”.
Which is probably true. And it probably won’t happen again. In that Reinrox may well stop file-sharing. Though what impact such action has in the wider scheme of things remains to be seen, and may depend on how many uploaders BREIN can identify and how readily the courts will issue orders of this kind.
READ MORE ABOUT: BREIN | KickassTorrents
Thursday 18 February 2016, 12:24 | By Andy Malt
Sony Music issues takedown notice on copyright lecture
Business News Digital Labels & Publishers Legal
A YouTube video of a lecture on music copyright by Harvard Law professor William Fisher briefly went offline this week, due to a takedown notice issued by Sony Music. So that’s either ironic or appropriate, depending on how you look at it. I guess you could see it as a practical demonstration.
The takedown was triggered due to clips of music – various covers of ‘Little Wing’ by Jimi Hendrix – appearing in the video. Although this would be covered under the US’s fair use rules, the automated bots scouting around for videos to knock off the internet wouldn’t have known this.
This could be an interesting test of a ruling made in the US Ninth Circuit Court Of Appeals last year. In the long-running ‘dancing baby’ case, a dispute over a takedown notice issued by Universal Music Publishing on a video which featured a baby dancing to Prince’s ‘Let’s Go Crazy’, the court said that rights holders “must consider fair use before sending a takedown notification”.
To what extent fair use should be considered was left in some doubt though, with the court also saying that the consideration “need not be searching or intensive” and “does not require investigation of the allegedly infringing content”.
Whether there would be a case for saying that Sony Music had not done enough before taking down the lecture by Fisher – an advocate of major copyright reform – isn’t clear. Retracting the notice after 24 hours may be enough. But it does show that the system is still far from perfect.
READ MORE ABOUT: Sony Music | William Fisher | YouTube
Thursday 18 February 2016, 12:22 | By Andy Malt
Universal Publishing Production Music provides music for ScreenHits Pilot Showcase
Business News Deals Labels & Publishers Media
Universal Publishing Production Music has partnered with ScreenHits for the TV and film streaming platform’s second annual Pilot Showcase initiative.
The event will showcase 50 TV pilots from over 500 entries later this year, with the winner funded to create a full series. Through the UPPM partnership, entrants will have access to the company’s library of music for use in their shows.
“The state of television production and distribution is changing at an incredible speed”, says ScreenHits CEO Rose Adkins. “There is content out in the world that has value and we believe, along with UPPM, that giving a pilot a home and pickup is important in our untethered viewing worlds. We partnered with UPPM because of their great music catalogue crafted specifically for media use as well as their dedication in providing quality music by working with hugely talented artists and composers around the globe”.
UPPM UK GM John Clifford adds: “It is our intent to support the great composers we work with, all of whom are the backbone of our exceptional music catalogue and with how ScreenHits support our great composers by promoting their music via the pilot showcase. By working so closely with them, we have a great opportunity to match the best music with the TV content that is being created”.
For more information on the Pilot Showcase, click here.
READ MORE ABOUT: ScreenHits | Universal Music | Universal Music Publishing
Thursday 18 February 2016, 12:18 | By Chris Cooke
Work on the Shempire roof now set to run into April
Business News Live Business
Good news for fans of music venues closing and then not opening again as quickly as first hoped! Which in itself is good news. Because I suspect fans of music venues closing and then not opening again as quickly as first hoped don’t get much news of any kind to satisfy their fanaticism. But unless you’re one of those oddballs, then this probably isn’t good news.
The Academy Music Group has confirmed that maintenance on the wobbly roof over at the Shepherd’s Bush Empire will now run into April, meaning another bunch of shows that had been due to take place there will be affected by ongoing building work. Said shows will either move to venues with less wobbly roofs, or shift to a new future slot at the Shempire.
AMG said in a statement: “Following the closure of Shepherd’s Bush Empire on Friday 4 Dec 2015 and further inspections, structural engineers have advised that works to the roof structure will extend into April 2016. We are sorry that these extended restoration works mean that further shows will either be moved to other venues in London or rescheduled as necessary. Once again, we thank artists, promoters and fans for cooperation and patience and wish to reassure everyone that safety is our priority”.
As previously reported, the West London venue was initially closed late last year, just before a Courteeners gig was due to start, after certain “structural issues” were discovered. All shows for the rest of the month were quickly cancelled, but AMG initially hoped to have the venue back in operation within a few weeks.
Details of the newly affected shows are listed here.
READ MORE ABOUT: Academy Music Group | Shepherd's Bush Empire
Thursday 18 February 2016, 12:10 | By Chris Cooke
Vevo boss says adding a premium offer is on his agenda
Business News Digital
There has been speculation for a while that newish Vevo boss Erik Huggers might look into taking the music video platform into paid-for subscription territory, rather than just existing as an ad-funded video service available through YouTube channels and other proprietary apps. The acquisition last December of Showyou, a video curation platform that had dabbled with a subscription offer, only added to that speculating.
Well, now Huggers has told the Code/Media conference in California that he has been mulling adding some sort of premium offer to the Vevo mix since joining the company last April, and that he has reached the conclusion “just having an ad-supported model is not sustainable in the long run”.
Though, according to Billboard, he wouldn’t be drawn on a model or timeline for a Vevo premium service, and was keen to add that there would always be a free-to-access option alongside any paid-for set-up.
Huggers also discussed his other plans for the business, including ramping up and enhancing original content, boosting the profile of Vevo’s channels beyond YouTube, and distinguishing his service from other video sites by stressing its focus on music.
Vevo is “a specialty store that only focuses on music” he said, and which “does justice to music, caters to the audience, offers curation and offers a better experience than what I would call the lowest common denominator of content. Is it right that amazing content from our artists sits right next to a cat video?”
Depends on the artist I reckon. And the cat.
READ MORE ABOUT: VEVO
Thursday 18 February 2016, 12:04 | By Andy Malt
Cür Music reduces shares for Nasdaq Capital Market listing
Business News Digital
OK everyone, the day has come. Another streaming service is planning to hit the stock market. Did you guess that Cür Music would be next? Please come to the front to collect your prize, if so.
The streaming service’s parent company Cür Media yesterday announced a reverse stock split, in order to obtain a listing on the Nasdaq Capital Market. The 1-for-13 ratio reduces the company’s outstanding common stock shares from over 31.5 million to just under 2.5 million. The move shouldn’t affect the value of the company in any great way, but will allow it to fit the criteria for appearing on the Nasdaq equity market.
The Nasdaq Capital Market is aimed at companies with smaller market cap valuations that are aiming to raise more capital. The listing requirements for this market are less stringent than other larger exchanges. Though what’s interesting is that Cür has gone this route to raise more finance, rather than continuing with the tried and tested venture capital route usually favoured by digital start-ups.
As previously reported, after a long period in development, Cür Music finally went live in the US last month. The service is aiming to take the currently underserved mid-market in streaming, with two price points – $2.99 a month and $6.99 a month – for different levels of functionality. Its core offer is personalised radio and playlists, but users can save eight tracks for on-demand listening. The challenge, of course, is competing with the free services that offer very similar functionality.
READ MORE ABOUT: Cür Music
Thursday 18 February 2016, 11:49 | By CMU Editorial
CMU:DIY x The Great Escape to put the spotlight on ‘going live’
Artist News Business News Education & Events Gigs & Festivals Live Business
Hey, if you thought we were done with the Great Escape plugging today, think again. Because while CMU Insights will be taking over Dukes @ Komedia on the Thursday and Friday of the new music festival, CMU:DIY will be in the house (aka Brighton) on the Saturday, when the convention side of TGE turns its attention to new talent.
The CMU:DIY programme is expanding at TGE this year, with a special mission to bring together young artists and future industry talent making and managing music from all genres, including indie, rock, pop, urban and dance. Meanwhile, the focus of the day will be ‘going live’.
Why? Well, because the CMU:DIY team are always telling new artists that to build a fanbase they need to gig. “But how do I get a gig?” said artists wisely respond. Well, truth be told, at the outset going live probably means staging your own gigs, club nights and events.
So the big question is: how do you stage a gig? And then: how do you sell tickets, what happens on the night, what makes a great show, and how can you use digital channels to take your audience with you beyond the venue?
This is what CMU:DIY x The Great Escape will set out to answer with a packed programme of talks, interviews, case studies, advice sessions, demos and debates, all hosted by CMU’s Chris Cooke, Dice’s Jen long and DJ/producer John ’00’ Fleming.
CMU:DIY x The Great Escape is open to TGE delegates and standalone DIY ticket-holders. Those standalone tickets for the DIY programme are now on sale at £25, click here to book yours.
READ MORE ABOUT: CMU:DIY | The Great Escape
Thursday 18 February 2016, 11:34 | By Andy Malt
The NME Awards With Austin, Texas happened, sources confirm
Artist News Awards
It was the NME Awards With Austin, Texas last night. And what a night it was. Oh my. The ups. The downs. The inappropriate comment by that person. The person who won over the audience when no one expected it. Oh, it was such a night.
And there were awards! Lots of them! People were celebrated from across music and beyond. It was all very exciting. There’s a full list of winners below, but let’s just cover the important ones here. Villain Of The Year went to Donald Trump, Best Fan Community went to The Libertines, Worst Band went to 5 Seconds Of Summer and, most exciting of all, it was decided that the best vlogger of the last year was KSI.
Always on hand with a quote, NME Editor-In-Chief Mike Williams said of the night (what a night it was!): “The last twelve months have been massive for NME, so I’m delighted that we’ve been able to celebrate with such an amazing knees-up. Once again we lived up to our reputation as the most rock n roll awards ceremony on the planet, and it’s great to see so many brilliant artists being crowned NME Award winners. Roll on another year of brilliant music”.
We’ve covered the key categories, but if you’re interesting, here’s the full list of winners:
Best British Band: The Maccabees
Best British Solo Artist: Charli XCX
Best International Band: Run The Jewels
Best International Solo Artist: Taylor Swift
Best Live Band: Wolf Alice
Best New Artist: Rat Boy
Best Album: Foals – What Went Down
Best Track: Wolf Alice – Giant Peach
Best Music Film: Blur – New World Towers
Best Music Video: Slaves – Cheer Up London
Best Reissue: David Bowie – Five Years
Best Book: Patti Smith – M Train
Best TV Show: This Is England 90
Best Film: Beasts Of No Nation
Best Actor: Idris Elba
Best Actress: Vicky McClure
Best Festival: Glastonbury
Best Small Festival: End Of The Road
Music Moment Of The Year: The Libertines secret Glastonbury set
Best Fan Community: The Libertines
Worst Band: 5 Seconds Of Summer
Villain Of The Year: Donald Trump
Hero Of The Year: Dave Grohl
Vlogger Of The Year: KSI
Inspiration Award: Yoko Ono
Innovation Award: Bring Me The Horizon
Godlike Genius: Coldplay
READ MORE ABOUT: NME Awards
Thursday 18 February 2016, 11:31 | By Andy Malt
Kylie Minogue also features on Coldplay’s failed collaborations list
And Finally Artist News
If this trend continues, we’re going to have a pretty long list of people who have been asked but then haven’t recorded songs with Coldplay. The latest is Kylie Minogue, though she at least doesn’t seem to have refused. Rather she was another victim of David Bowie’s previously reported Coldplay snub.
As you will all surely remember, the band recently revealed that Bowie turned down the chance to record with Coldplay on the grounds that the song they presented him with was “not very good”. And it now seems that Minogue was also destined to appear on that recording, had the song been better.
Discussing the fact that Minogue would be presenting the band with their Godlike Genius prize at the NME Awards last night, guitarist Jonny Buckland said: “We love Kylie and have done ever since ‘Neighbours’ in 1985. We covered her once at Glastonbury when she couldn’t come and once tried to make a song with her in the studio and David Bowie, which didn’t come off so well”.
Maybe there’s still hope for Coldplay and Minogue to hook up then. After all, they eventually got to work with Beyonce, both in the studio and at the Super Bowl. And she once refused to work with the band because the song they’d written for her was “awful”.
READ MORE ABOUT: Coldplay | Kylie Minogue
Thursday 18 February 2016, 10:43 | By Andy Malt
Approved: Teleman
CMU Approved
Teleman are set to release their second album, ‘Brilliant Sanity’, on 8 Apr, which is news you should be well excited about. Oh, want convincing do you? You drive a hard bargain. OK, how about this? They’ve released two singles from the album so far and both are excellent examples of guitar pop that put other bands to shame.
They’re going to be touring too, which is yet more good news. That’ll all kick off on 25 Mar with a Moshi Moshi Easter showcase at the Westcoast Bar in Margate, which will also feature former Let’s Wrestle man Wesley Gonzalez and the brilliant Anna Meredith.
Listen to ‘Fall In Time’ and ‘Dusseldorf’ here:
Stay up to date with all of the artists featured in the CMU Approved column in 2016 by subscribing to our Spotify playlist.
READ MORE ABOUT: Teleman
