This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.
Wednesday 27 April 2016, 10:31 | By Andy Malt
Florence Welch and Jess Glynne announced as first Nordoff Robbins Silver Clef winners
Artist News Awards
Nordoff Robbins has announced the first winners of this year’s Silver Clef Awards, with Florence Welch taking Best Female and Jess Glynne named Best Newcomer.
“I am THRILLED to be receiving the Jack Daniel’s Best Newcomer award at the O2 Silver Clef Awards”, says Glynne, because she is far more on brand than me. “Music is such a healer, and what Nordoff Robbins are doing is really inspiring”.
Welch adds of her win: “It is a real honour to be receiving the Best Female award at the O2 Silver Clef Awards. It is really special to be recognised by Nordoff Robbins, a charity who use the power of music to change lives”.
All the prizes will be handed out at a ceremony held at Grosvenor House in London on 1 Jul.
READ MORE ABOUT: Florence And The Machine | Florence Welch | Jess Glynne | Nordoff Robbins
Wednesday 27 April 2016, 10:30 | By Andy Malt
CMU’s One Liners: Pandora, Twin Peaks, Stormzy, more
Artist News Business News Digital Gigs & Festivals Media One Liners Releases
Other notable announcements and developments today…
• Having streamed the second series of its sister show ‘Serial’, Pandora has now done a deal to exclusively offer US podcast ‘This American Life’.
• The full cast list for the new series of ‘Twin Peaks’ is out, and it features Trent Reznor, his wife Mariqueen Reznor and Nine Inch Nails bandmate Robin Finck, Pearl Jam’s Eddie Vedder, Sky Ferreira, Sharon Van Etten, all three members of Au Revoir Simone, Ruth Radelet from Chromatics and The Veils’ Finn Andrews.
• Stormzy has shared the video for new track ‘Scary’, which will apparently not featuring on his upcoming debut album. Answering questions about that album though, the video opens with the words “The album is coming. When? Look behind you”. Not sure that did answer any questions actually.
• Alesso wants to know something. He would like you know if you want to watch his new video. I assume so, anyway. I’m only really saying all this as a lead into his new single being called ‘I Wanna Know’. It’s got Nico & Vinz on it.
• Megadeth have released a 360° live video for ‘Poisonous Shadows’ from their latest album ‘Dystopia’, allowing you to swing around checking out different bits of the stage.
• The rumours are true. Gold Panda has released another track from his forthcoming album. This is it, it is called ‘Pink & Green’.
• Hanni El Khatib has premiered a new track, ‘Gonna Die Alone’.
• Nite Jewel has released another track from her upcoming new album, ‘Liquid Cool’. Here’s ‘Kiss The Screen’.
• Tegan & Sara will headline Koko on 22 Jun. I was thinking I’d seen them there once before, but it was actually Brixton Academy. Do let me know if you want more anecdotes.
• Band Of Horses will release a new album called ‘Why Are You OK?’ at some point in June. Here’s first single ‘Casual Party’. They’ll also play two London shows on 5-6 Jul at Shepherds Bush Empire.
READ MORE ABOUT: Alesso | Au Revoir Simone | Band Of Horses | Chromatics | Eddie Vedder | Finn Andrews | Gold Panda | Hanni El Khatib | Mariqueen Reznor | Megadeth | Nice & Vinz | Nine Inch Nails | Nite Jewel | Pandora | Pearl Jam | Robin Finck | Ruth Radelet | Sharon Van Etten | Sky Ferreira | Stormzy | Tegan & Sara | The Veils | This American Life | Trent Reznor
Wednesday 27 April 2016, 10:19 | By Andy Malt
Axl Rose glides through LAX on a scooter
And Finally Artist News
Axl Rose was followed around Los Angeles International Airport by the paparazzi as he arrived to catch a plane this week. He pleasantly but briefly answered questions about Coachella, AC/DC, Prince and more as he did.
“Oh, but Axl Rose broke his foot recently”, you are correctly thinking. “That must have been a right pain in the arse, trying to get all the way through an airport on crutches with photographers hounding you all the way”.
See, it’s thoughts like that which really show up your lack of imagination. Axl Rose has no need for crutches. Axl Rose is currently propelling himself around on a scooter specially designed for someone with one foot out of action.
And, yes, I have written all of this because apparently I’m not allowed to just write, “Look at Axl Rose riding around on a scooter” and then post the video.
But look at Axl Rose riding around on a scooter:
READ MORE ABOUT: AC/DC | Axl Rose | Guns N Roses
Wednesday 27 April 2016, 09:17 | By Andy Malt
Approved: The Bridport Dagger
CMU Approved
Last year The Bridport Dagger released their score for theatre production ‘The Shells – Ausflug Nach Neu-Friedenwald’ as an album. Now they’re back weaving their own tales with a new EP, ‘Knife Through Water’, which is due out on 12 May.
Their tendency towards the tense and dramatic runs as strong as ever on the new record – particularly on the previously released ‘The Butcher Of Rome’. Insistent stabs of piano drive the song forward as guitars jump from left to right with jittery energy, as Jason Idnani-Powdrill’s vocals tear through the middle.
This week the band release the video for another track ‘Harry Dean Stanton’, which sees them working again with ‘The Shells’ director Kirsten Brandt. The song finds The Bridport Dagger at their closest to laid back, though a slightly threatening air still looms, and the song is all the better for it.
Watch the video for ‘Harry Dean Stanton’ 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: The Bridport Dagger
Tuesday 26 April 2016, 10:28 | By Chris Cooke
MP seeks to get gig flare ban into Policing And Crime Act
Business News Legal Live Business Top Stories
Well, this has all happened rather quickly for the political community. Following his speech in Parliament earlier this month proposing a ban on flares and fireworks at music events, Nigel Adams MP is now having a go at making that law by sneaking it in as an amendment to the Policing And Crime Bill that is currently working its way through Westminster.
This has nothing to do with on-stage pyro shows, but is all about gig-goers setting off flares, fireworks and/or smoke bombs at concerts and festivals. Amazingly this is [a] an increasingly common occurrence and [b] not currently against the law, unless you can prove the flare-setter-offer actively intended to injure.
Such activities are already illegal at football matches, and as such, in 2014 there were 255 incidents of flares and such like being set off at music events, but only three at football grounds. Under the MP’s proposals, people setting off flares and fireworks at a gig or festival could be prosecuted and face fines or a prison sentence of up to three months.
Adams will formally propose an amendment to the Policing And Crime Bill to include the gig flare ban in the House Of Commons this afternoon. His proposal seemingly has cross-party support, so the amendment should make it into the new legislation.
Says Adams: “I am very pleased the amendment has been accepted and that we are able to make tangible progress towards providing a safer environment for music fans so quickly. Music audiences deserve the same protection under the law as sports fans”.
He goes on: “This measure has support across the board: from fans wanting to focus on the music, performers wanting to put on a good uninterrupted show, and organisers wanting to provide a safe event – as well as from MPs right across the House. It’s time we make the law on these dangerous articles consistent at both music and sporting events”.
READ MORE ABOUT: Nigel Adams | Policing And Crime Bill
Tuesday 26 April 2016, 10:26 | By Andy Malt
Grimes appears in Stella McCartney perfume ad
Artist News Brands & Merch
Grimes has appeared in an advert for Stella McCartney’s new perfume Pop, which, other than probably smelling alright, it being sold on the fact that its boxes are made from trees grown in sustainable forests.
“Sustainability in fashion stuff is something I really care about; that’s one of the reasons I like Stella so much. Not something that sort of exists for the sake of aesthetics but something that exists because someone cares about it”, says Grimes in the ad. “I actually feel like my friends are the best cos they always tell me when my shit sucks. I take what they say into consideration more than anyone else probably. I mean, I think friendship is important to all non-sociopaths. I guess humans need friendship to live”.
Indeed. Though I’m not sure what that really has to do with the perfume or its boxes. Try to work it out for yourself by watching the ad here:
READ MORE ABOUT: Grimes
Tuesday 26 April 2016, 10:25 | By Andy Malt
Spotify denies that it has been hacked
Business News Digital
Spotify has denied that it has been hacked, after user data from the streaming service was seemingly published online. However, TechCrunch reports that a number of those users listed in the supposed leak have had their accounts breached recently.
The data, which has since been removed from Pastebin, where it appeared at the weekend, apparently listed details of hundreds of Spotify accounts, including email addresses, usernames, renewal dates and account type.
In a statement, Spotify denied any breach, saying: “Spotify has not been hacked and our user records are secure. We monitor Pastebin and other sites regularly. When we find Spotify credentials, we first verify that they are authentic, and if they are, we immediately notify affected users to change their passwords”.
However, TechCrunch says that when it contacted a random sample of users listed in the Pastebin document, some had noticed unusual activity on their Spotify accounts recently. Meanwhile others reported that accounts on other websites had been compromised, as they had used the same username and password across multiple sites.
Other purported hacks of information from Spotify accounts have appeared on Pastebin in recent weeks, though with smaller amounts of data, none of which have been verified as legitimate breaches.
READ MORE ABOUT: Spotify
Tuesday 26 April 2016, 10:23 | By Andy Malt
BBC Three launches random sounding new music show
Artist News Media
BBC Three – which is still definitely a thing remember – has commissioned a new music show presented by comedian James Acaster.
‘Sounds Random’ will initially run for fifteen episodes, and will see a different musician each week discuss a song that is important to them, intercut with choreographed routines based on that conversation. So the title is fairly apt, given ‘Sounds Fucking Odd’ presumably wasn’t allowed.
“This is a fascinating series to film as our guests have nowhere to hide”, says Acaster. “They can’t ignore their guilty pleasures if that’s what the device selects and the emotions that individual songs evoke are evident in their initial reactions as soon as they hear the opening chords!”
Musicians roped into the first series are: The Mystery Jets, Raleigh Ritchie, Scroobius Pip, Izzy Bizu, Oh Wonder, Wolf Alice, Big Narstie, Shura, Tom Parker formerly of The Wanted, Billy Bragg and Vanessa White from the Saturdays.
You can watch the first episode here.
READ MORE ABOUT: BBC | BBC Three | James Acaster | Sounds Random
Tuesday 26 April 2016, 10:19 | By Chris Cooke
CMU@TGE Previews: The emerging YouTube industry
Business News Digital Education & Events The Great Escape 2016
We are now less than a month away from this year’s edition of new music festival The Great Escape which, once again, will feature the CMU Insights @ The Great Escape conference at the heart of its convention programme. Each day in the CMU Daily, CMU Business Editor Chris Cooke is currently previewing the sessions we will present this year, initially looking at the line-up to the full-day strand ‘What if YouTube actually is the future?’
We all know why YouTube has been ever present in the music business news this last year, but there’s another fascinating story in relation to Google’s video platform, and that’s the emergence of a brand new entertainment industry around the talent that has successfully built on audience via a YouTube channel.
When internet usage first went mainstream in the late 1990s, a buzzword used to describe anything published online was ‘new media’. But there wasn’t really that much ‘new’ about it, in that media on the internet were really just online versions of newspapers and magazines or, subsequently, online versions of TV or radio. New titles came to market because of digital, but attempts to create a third media industry (beyond ‘the press’ and ‘broadcast’) basically failed.
However, in more recent years, as the YouTuber phenomenon has gained pace, it seems that we are seeing the emergence of a new kind of media or entertainment industry. No one can quite agree on what to call it yet – social talent, digital talent, digital native talent – but we are starting to see an increasing number of people and companies specialising in working with individuals whose primary output is their YouTube channel.
This industry is an interesting mash-up of the TV and the music sectors. TV because the core product is video, but music because the individual rather than the format is the brand, which is something the music industry has always specialised in. This is possibly why a number of people with a music industry background are now operating in this space, even when the talent isn’t making music.
It’s this new entertainment industry which we will put the spotlight on in the latter sessions of our ‘What if YouTube actually is the future?’ strand at CMU Insights @ The Great Escape. Stuart Dredge from Music Ally and The Guardian will talk to two very different artists who have built their fanbases through YouTube – Hannah Trigwell and Noodlerella – alongside their respective management teams, Bob James of Intune Addicts and Mark Walker and James Hancock of Free Focus.
Brittney Bean from Tracks2 will then lead a discussion with a number of executives known for their work in music who are now also working with YouTube talent. Lawyers Cliff Fluet from Lewis Silkin and Tahir Basheer from Sheridans will provide a legal perspective, while Mark Walker from Kilimanjaro and Free Focus, Conrad Withey from Instrumental and Alex Bewley from WME Entertainment will all discuss their recent adventures in the world of the YouTuber. Because maybe – just maybe – this actually is the future.
The YouTube strand at CMU Insights @ The Great Escape takes place on Thursday 19 May. ‘Meet the YouTubers’ kicks off at 3.15pm, followed by ‘The emerging YouTube industry’ at 4pm. Click here for an outline of the full YouTube and video strand.
TGE delegates get access to all of CMU Insights @ The Great Escape and all the other festivities that take place over the three days of the festival – passes are £230 and available here. This year tickets are also available for just the convention side of the proceedings for £100 and those can be bought here.
READ MORE ABOUT: The Great Escape | YouTube
Tuesday 26 April 2016, 10:17 | By Andy Malt
NoLay in critical condition following car crash
Artist News
Grime MC NoLay, real name Isabella Gotti, is in a critical condition after being involved in a car accident in the early hours of Monday morning.
“It saddens me to have to bring this news to light, but currently NoLay isn’t in a stable condition and remains unconscious from a car crash abroad”, said her manager Tyler Jones in a statement. “I ask that you all respect NoLay and NoLay’s family’s right to privacy. The prayers and love are much appreciated”.
In an update to the rapper’s Twitter profile yesterday, Jones added: “We do not anticipate much of a change in NoLay’s condition at present. But will further update you once more info becomes available”.
READ MORE ABOUT: NoLay
Tuesday 26 April 2016, 10:07 | By Andy Malt
Florence And The Machine release short film
Artist News Releases
Florence And The Machine have collected together nine videos created for 2015 album ‘How Big How Blue How Beautiful’ to make one whole short film. ‘The Odyssey’, directed by Vincent Haycock, was completed by its final chapter, ‘Third Eye’, which premiered yesterday.
“This is the finale of a very personal project that came from a conversation me and Vince had in the Chateau Marmont about a year and a half ago while I was writing ‘How Big How Blue How Beautiful'”, says Florence Welch.
“I was talking to him about the record and the car crash of a relationship break up I was going through”, she continues. “The highs and the lows of love and performance, how out of control I felt, the purgatory of heartbreak, and how I was trying to change and trying to be free. And we decided we would re-tell this story in full. We would re-claim this experience, re-imagine it and in some way perhaps I would come to understand it, to exorcise it. And so the Big Blue Odyssey began…”
If you think that was all overdoing it a bit, Haycock adds: “‘The Odyssey’, like the epic poem by Homer, is a journey. It’s Florence’s personal journey to find herself again after the emotional storm of a heartbreak. Like the layers of Dante’s purgatory, each song or chapter represents a battle that Florence traversed and physical landscape that embodied each song or story. It’s a metaphorical journey about escaping your demons, confronting yourself and returning to the original Florence, the dancer, the performer, the lover”.
Let’s hope they haven’t built this up too much now. Watch the film here.
READ MORE ABOUT: Florence And The Machine | Vincent Haycock
Tuesday 26 April 2016, 10:02 | By Andy Malt
John Otway launching Kickstarter campaign to rebuild Air Studios in Montserrat
Artist News Releases
John Otway has announced that he is launching a Kickstarter campaign next week to fund the recording of his next album. Though it’s slightly more ambitious than that first sounds. Plan A is to raise enough money to rebuild the old Air Studios outpost on the Caribbean Island of Montserrat.
The studio was opened by George Martin in 1979, but was put out of action by a hurricane in 1989. In the ten years it was operational, artists including Paul McCartney, Elton John, Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder, Lou Reed, Black Sabbath and Eric Clapton recorded there, the last to use it being The Rolling Stones.
If his campaign is successful, Otway will travel to Montserrat and restore the studio to active use. If not, he’ll record the album in his garage in Essex.
“Obviously I would prefer it to be Montserrat”, says Otway. “I wondered why, after all those great albums were recorded there, no one had been back for years. Then I discovered that the island had been hit first by a hurricane and then by a volcano. Having written some songs, though, I went out to the Island earlier this year to find out if it was still possible to record there. Although the old Air Studios are now derelict the studio in the basement of Sir George Martin’s house is sound – it just needs rebuilding”.
The campaign is set to launch on 1 May.
READ MORE ABOUT: John Otway
Tuesday 26 April 2016, 09:58 | By Andy Malt
Loyle Carner announces tour dates
Artist News Gigs & Festivals Releases
Rapper Loyle Carner has announced that he will go out on a UK tour this autumn, including a show at Koko in London on 5 Oct.
As well as the tour announcement, he also premiered new single, ‘Stars & Shards’, which you can listen to here:
Away from music, Carner recently announced that he is setting up a cookery school for children aged 14-16 who have ADHD. More information on that here.
Tour dates:
28 Sep: Oxford, The Bullingdon
29 Sep: Glasgow, King Tut’s
30 Sep: Newcastle, Academy 2
1 Oct: Sheffield, The Plug
2 Oct: Birmingham, Institute
4 Oct: Norwich Arts Centre
5 Oct: London, Koko
6 Oct: Brighton, Concorde 2
8 Oct: Birmingham, Marble Factory
9 Oct: Manchester, Gorilla
READ MORE ABOUT: Loyle Carner
Tuesday 26 April 2016, 09:55 | By Chris Cooke
CMU’s One Liners: World IP Day, Universal, All Def Digital, more
Artist News Business News Digital Education & Events Gigs & Festivals Industry People Labels & Publishers Management & Funding One Liners Releases
Other notable announcements and developments today…
• Happy World Intellectual Property Day everybody! Even though, according to a new survey from collecting society PPL, 47% of Brits don’t really understand what IP is or the role it plays in the music business. They should all come on one of our training courses. They’re fun, honest. One joke per seminar guaranteed!
• Following the recent dismantlement of Universal’s international division, Universal UK is now getting its own Head Of International to push UK-signed acts to the mega-major’s subsidiaries worldwide. Want to know who it is? Brian Celler, that’s who.
• The latest company from Def Jam co-founder Russell Simmons – All Def Digital – has launched a new division called ADHD to “create brand-focused content aimed at urban millennials”. Lucky urban millennials.
• Management firm Three Six Zero has launched a new “contemporary pop venture” called Twenty Four Artist Management, which will be headed up by new recruit Stirling McIlwaine, who is also becoming SVP of US Artist Management for the wider business.
• 7digital has got itself a brand new Chief Commercial Officer in the form of Edward Kershaw, who has previously worked in labels, digital and mobile. He takes the COO title off Pete Downtown, who becomes 7digital’s Deputy CEO.
• Beyonce’s new album ‘Lemonade’ is on iTunes now, so that answers that question.
• Mumford & Sons have released a live video for ‘There Will Be Time’, featuring Baaba Maal. The song is taken from their previously reported ‘Johannesburg’ mini-album.
• Colour have announced that they will release their debut EP, ‘Kafé’, on 28 Jun. Here’s opening track ‘Fiction’. They’ll also play Birthdays in Dalston on 4 Jul.
• Teleman have announced that they will headline The Forum in London on 1 Nov. Tickets available now.
• Lyra will play her debut London show at The Waiting Room in Stoke Newington on 16 May. Check out her debut single, ‘Rabbit In The Headlights’ here.
• Former Inspiral Carpets frontman Tom Hingley has (slightly confusingly) formed an Inspiral Carpets tribute band called The Kar-Pets. You can catch them live at the 100 Club on 28 Jul. “The songs are the stars, come along and hear them sung by the singer who originally sang them. This is a chance to truly indulge in nostalgia and to make it new for another generation!”
READ MORE ABOUT: 7digital | ADHD | All Def Digital | Beyonce | Brian Celler | Colour | Edward Kershaw | Inspiral Carpets | Lyra | Mumford & Sons | PPL | Russell Simmons | Teleman | The Kar-pets | Three Six Zero | Tom Hingley | Twenty Four Artist Management | Universal Music | World Intellectual Property Day
Tuesday 26 April 2016, 09:49 | By Andy Malt
Bernie Clifton “fuming and furious” after death metal mix up
And Finally Artist News Releases
End-of-the-pier comedian Bernie Clifton was left “fuming and furious” after the tracklist printed on the back of his new CD was switched for that of death metal band Abhorrent Decimation.
Clifton released an album of covers titled ‘The Impossible Dream’ last week, but has forced to recall the CDs after the tracklist included was for the death metal band’s latest release ‘Miasmic Mutation’. Clifton had not, it turned out, recorded songs with titles like ‘Eternal Repulsion’ and ‘For the Desperately Lost’.
“I’m fuming and furious”, Clifton told BBC News. Though he did see the funny side, adding: “We could go on the road, me and the lads. We could do ‘To Dream The Impossible Miasmic Mutation'”.
No, not a great joke, but who needs to come up with great jokes when this news story already exists? Also, Abhorrent Decimation frontman Ashley Scott is up for the idea, saying: “I definitely want to talk to Bernie about working together on something… it would be amazing”.
Scott also speculated that the mix up was due to both releases having similar catalogue numbers – CDB003 and CB003, if you’re interested.
Meanwhile, because I’m sure you’re all wondering, Clifton was apparently inspired to record his album after a positive reaction to his audition on ‘The Voice’, itself an error after he tripped and fell into a taxi meant for someone else. Sightings of a wannabe popstar riding an ostrich have since been reported at seaside towns around the country.
READ MORE ABOUT: Abhorrent Decimation | Bernie Clifton
Tuesday 26 April 2016, 09:41 | By Andy Malt
Approved: Parc en Ciel
CMU Approved
Multi-instrumentalist and producer Mathieu Thomas releases his debut album as Parc en Ciel – ‘Path Integral’ – this week through LuckyMe.
The listed influences for the record are scientific discovery, the natural world and harmony, while the album’s title is a reference to theoretical physicist Dr Richard Feynman, whose work apparently inspired the album as a whole. And I can confirm that, even if none of that really means anything to you, the music is still enjoyable. Good job.
The lead single from the album is ‘pH’, which takes a relaxed tour through guitar noodling and wobbly electronics, tying itself together with a regimented beat and firm synth melodies that dive-bomb the more ethereal elements into submission.
Listen to ‘pH’ 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: Parc en Ciel
Monday 25 April 2016, 10:54 | By Andy Malt
Questions remain over the circumstances surrounding Prince’s death
Artist News Top Stories
More details about the circumstances surrounding the death of Prince on Thursday began to emerge over the weekend. However, the question of how he came to die remains unanswered, with the results of a post-mortem that was conducted on Friday still possibly weeks away.
Speaking about the ongoing investigation, Carver County Sheriff Jim Olson told reporters that his team wanted to avoid disclosing any information too early, saying: “To you, Prince was a celebrity. To us, he’s a community member and a good neighbour”.
Olson did give some details about the case though, saying that police were not considering the death to be foul play or suicide. Though he would not answer questions about speculation that Prince had suffered a drug overdose.
The last time the musician was seen alive, Olson told reporters, was around 8pm on Wednesday evening, when he was dropped off at his Paisley Park home. He was then found slumped in a lift in the building the next morning at around 9.40am. An emergency call was made and there were attempts to revive him, which were unsuccessful. He was pronounced dead at 10.07am.
The musician had cancelled shows in St Louis shortly before his death. He also cancelled performances in Atlanta earlier this month, citing flu. Though these were quickly rescheduled, and it was these shows that he was returning from when his private jet made an emergency landing in order for him to receive hospital treatment on 15 Apr.
Flight records show that the plane descended 45,000 feet in seventeen minutes in order to land at Quad City international airport in Moline, Illinois, despite only being 48 minutes away from its destination in Minnesota. Prince was taken to hospital, with a spokesperson saying later that he was only admitted for three hours. The plane took off again for its destination ten hours after landing.
Two days later he held a party at Paisley Park, seemingly to show that he was in good health. However, it has been suggested that he was actually aware that he was gravely ill but had refused hospital treatment.
Following the post-mortem on Friday, Prince’s remains were released to his family, and cremated on Saturday, with a private memorial service taking place at Paisley Park.
“A few hours ago, Prince was celebrated by a small group of his most beloved: family, friends and his musicians, in a private, beautiful ceremony to say a loving goodbye”, a spokesperson said in a statement. “Prince’s remains have been cremated and their final storage will remain private. We ask for your blessings and prayers of comfort for his family and close friends at this time”.
The spokesperson added: “The cause of death remains unknown and it will be at least four weeks before we receive the results of the autopsy. An announcement will be made at a future date for a musical celebration”.
READ MORE ABOUT: Prince
Monday 25 April 2016, 10:53 | By Chris Cooke
Universal secures summary judgement for in-flight listening case
Business News Labels & Publishers Legal
Universal Music secured a summary judgement in its favour last week in a dispute with a company that provides in-flight entertainment for American Airlines and US Airways.
It’s not the first dispute over the licensing of music made available to customers on planes. These disputes often have a jurisdiction element, as to whether licences from an airline or in-flight entertainment provider’s home country – possibly from a collecting society rather than a label direct – can apply when the music is then consumed in the air all over the world.
Sony Music went legal against United Airlines and its entertainment provider InFlight Productions in 2014, but then did a deal with another in-flight content distributor called Global Eagle Entertainment. In Universal’s case, it’s Global Eagle and its IFP subsidiary that is being sued.
IFP has seemingly been talking to the majors about licensing deals since about 2008, from which the Sony agreement presumably stemmed. No such deal has been struck with Universal, yet IFP has been making music controlled by the mega-major available via its in-flight entertainment platform. After legal action began, IFP cited the “we do the copying in another jurisdiction” line before claiming that, via its past negotiations with Universal, the major had provided an implied temporary licence.
However, according to The Hollywood Reporter, the judge hearing the case rejected both the jurisdiction and the implied licence arguments in summary judgement last week. The judge said: “There is ample evidence that IFP knew it had no licences from plaintiffs and that it could be sued for copyright infringement, and no evidence that plaintiffs ever indicated to IFP that any such licenses were forthcoming or misrepresented any existing fact”.
A hearing before a jury to decide damages has now been set for next month. A crucial factor of last week’s ruling with regards damages is that the judge concurred with Universal that IFP was liable for ‘wilful’ infringement, something that can greatly increase the damages awarded. “As plaintiffs aptly state, if IFP’s infringements were not wilful, no infringements could ever be”, said the judge.
READ MORE ABOUT: Global Eagle | Inflight Productions | Universal Music
Monday 25 April 2016, 10:49 | By Andy Malt
Beyonce releases another surprise album
Artist News Digital Releases
Beyonce has gone and Beyonced another album on us. Like her 2013 ‘Beyonce’ album, ‘Lemonade’ is described as an audio/visual record, with videos to accompany each track. These were premiered on HBO in the US on Saturday evening, after which it was announced that the album was available to stream on Tidal, but only Tidal. It was also briefly made available for sale as a download yesterday.
The exclusivity deal is, of course, not a surprise, given that Tidal is owned by Beyonce’s husband Jay-Z, and the streaming service has been particularly keen to differentiate itself with its album exclusives. Such deals with Rihanna and Kanye West have drawn much attention, of course. Though it’s often not clear how long any Tidal exclusivity period will run for.
As for ‘Lemonade’, a Tidal rep has told Billboard that it will be the only streaming service to ever carry the album, though that presumably relies on the platform’s long term survival and/or Jay-Z’s desire to remain its owner. That wording also suggests more widely available download and physical releases of the new record.
Still, this is another boost for Tidal, which while still a relatively small player in streaming, has quickly grown its subscriber base of late, thanks to its increasingly high profile exclusives. Last week it also benefitted from being the only legal service to carry the Prince catalogue.
Though the handling of its exclusivity deals also came under scrutiny last week, when Tidal and Kanye West were sued over claims by the rapper that his latest album, ‘The Life Of Pablo’, would only ever be available on Jay-Z’s streaming service. It subsequently streamed elsewhere. The perhaps slightly optimistic class action accuses the plaintiffs of misleading West’s fans into signing up for the service in order to farm their personal data.
READ MORE ABOUT: Beyonce | Tidal
Monday 25 April 2016, 10:44 | By Chris Cooke
CMU@TGE Previews: Making video that succeeds online
Business News Digital Education & Events The Great Escape 2016
We are now less than a month away from this year’s edition of new music festival The Great Escape which, once again, will feature the CMU Insights @ The Great Escape conference at the heart of its convention programme. Each day in the CMU Daily, CMU Business Editor Chris Cooke is currently previewing the sessions we will present this year, initially looking at the line-up to the full-day strand ‘What if YouTube actually is the future?’
Having dealt with licensing issues and platform specifics in the morning, in the afternoon we will put the spotlight on the creative side, and how to make online video content that really engages with fans, both on YouTube and far beyond. In the digital domain, there is more to music video than the music video, but are artists and labels capitalising on all the potential?
Leading the proceedings will be Vevo’s SVP Content And Programming, Tom Connaughton, who will talk delegates through what he has learned about online video, whether that be traditional pop promos, or editorial and promotional content. What kind of output enjoys the most traction via the various Vevo channels, and what are his priorities when commissioning original Vevo programming?
Elsewhere in the session ‘Making video that succeeds online’, we will hear from Nic Yeeles, who previously worked on the Syco YouTube channel at Sony Music, and is now leading the start-up business Peg, which connects YouTube talent with brands. He’ll be looking at those YouTubers – musical or otherwise – who have enjoyed particular success on the platform, identifying what artists and labels can learn from them in terms of how to utilise video online, and how to employ YouTube as a fan engagement platform.
The ‘Making video that succeeds online’ session kicks off at 2.15pm on Thursday 19 May in Dukes@Komedia 2. It is part of the full-day strand looking at YouTube and video, which is outlined hour-by-hour here.
TGE delegates get access to all of CMU Insights @ The Great Escape and all the other festivities that take place over the three days of the festival – passes are £230 and available here. This year tickets are also available for just the convention side of the proceedings for £100 and those can be bought here.
READ MORE ABOUT: The Great Escape | YouTube
Monday 25 April 2016, 10:42 | By Chris Cooke
Papa Wemba dies
Artist News
Influential Congolese musician Papa Wemba died this weekend after collapsing while performing at a music festival in Ivory Coast. In footage of the show, Wemba is seen slumped on stage behind a group of dancers, who then rush to his aid. Local officials told Reuters that the musician, aged 66, died before he could be taken to hospital.
By pioneering a popular blend of African, Cuban and Western sounds, Wemba – who toured internationally – had a huge influence on music in his home continent, with BBC 1Xtra’s DJ Edu saying this weekend: “I would put him in the same bracket as Fela Kuti when it comes to influence on African music”.
The Congolese Culture Minister Baudouin Banza Mukalay paid tribute to Wemba yesterday, calling the musician’s death a “great loss for the country and all of Africa”. Meanwhile the country’s president, Joseph Kabila, also expressed his condolences, indicating that a number of large events paying tribute to Wemba in his home nation were now being planned.
READ MORE ABOUT: Papa Wemba
Monday 25 April 2016, 10:38 | By Andy Malt
Peter Frampton to play North Carolina and Mississippi shows, but will not return
Artist News Gigs & Festivals
Peter Frampton has defended his decision to go ahead with shows in Mississippi and North Carolina, though has said he will not now return to either state until controversial new laws have been overturned. As previously reported, various artists, including Bruce Springsteen and Pearl Jam, have pulled shows at short notice in protest against new anti-LGBT laws in both states.
In a statement to Rolling Stone, Frampton said: “Performing live has been one of the most important opportunities I’ve been given and I am lucky to share my music with so many of my amazing, loyal and diverse fans. In light of recent legislation in North Carolina and Mississippi, I stand aside my fellow musicians Gregg Allman, Cyndi Lauper, Jimmy Buffett and many others to help overturn these absurd new laws”.
“My band and I will uphold our commitment to play our scheduled shows there this summer and honour fans who have already purchased tickets and/or made travel plans”, he said of his decision to play the upcoming gigs. “However, we will not play again until these laws are changed. I will be making a donation in support of the rights and protections of the LGBTQ community”.
READ MORE ABOUT: Peter Frampton
Monday 25 April 2016, 10:34 | By Andy Malt
Mumford & Sons announce South African mini-album
Artist News Releases
Mumford & Sons have announced a new mini-album, ‘Johannesburg’, recorded with Baaba Maal, Beatenberg and The Very Best in the South African city from which it takes its name. The songs were recorded in February during a tour of the country.
“We first met The Very Best in 2010 on the Laneway tour of Australia”, says the band’s Winston Marshall. “We weren’t just mind-blown by their music but [also] by their ability to get absolutely smashed beyond belief, every night, and yet still make the plane to the next show every morning. It is a great pleasure – and an eye-opener into human endurance – to be out with them again and it was an equally great pleasure to work with Johan Hugo from the band”.
Marcus Mumford adds: “The whole thing came together because of Johan really – and actually they had acted like sonic trailblazers in a lot of ways – marrying afrobeat rhythms, [The Very Best singer] Esau and Baaba’s voices and languages, over Western songwriting”.
All four acts teamed up to write and record the songs, which will be released on 17 Jun. Watch a trailer for the release here:
READ MORE ABOUT: Baaba Maal | Beatenberg | Mumford & Sons | The Very Best
Monday 25 April 2016, 10:30 | By Chris Cooke
RNIB to stage unusual concert experience with ‘sim specs’
Artist News Gigs & Festivals
The Royal National Institute Of Blind People last week launched a new music event called See Through Sound, which is due to take place in London on 14 Oct.
The concert will feature a combination of established and new acts – with newcomer Andy Jordan already confirmed – plus audience members will be encourage to wear ‘sim specs’, glasses which simulate reduced vision, to experience the show in a unique way while gaining a brief insight into living with sight loss. The specs were demoed at a launch event last week.
Says RNIB’s fundraising boss Wanda Hamilton: “We’re delighted to launch the See Through Sound music event which aims to both entertain and educate music fans and provide them with the opportunity to experience live music in a whole new way. We’re excited about the main event coming up in October which will support us in achieving our goal of making every day better for the two million people living with sight loss across the UK”.
More info and tickets at rnib.org.uk/see-through-sound
READ MORE ABOUT: RNIB
Monday 25 April 2016, 10:27 | By Andy Malt
CMU’s One Liners: Universal, Iggy Azalea, Beck, more
Artist News Business News Deals Digital Gigs & Festivals Industry People Labels & Publishers Live Business One Liners Releases
Other notable announcements and developments today…
• Universal Music Group in the US has promoted Barak Moffitt to the newly created role Executive Vice President Of Content Strategy And Operations. His work will be jointly overseen by Boyd Muir and Michele Anthony. “Universal Music”, said Muir. “Universal Music”, added Anthony. “Universal Music”, confirmed Moffitt himself.
• Bon Jovi keyboard player and award-winning Broadway composer David Bryan has individually signed to booking agency CAA, reports Billboard. The band are already collectively represented by the company.
• Iggy Azalea has signed a new deal with booking agency William Morris Endeavor for her worldwide live activity, reports Billboard.
• Australian Armin Van Buuren shows have been cancelled, after SFX-owned promoter Totem One Love was hit by its parent company’s bankruptcy. The company has also reportedly put its Windsor, Victoria HQ up for sale.
• Turns out streaming firm Rhapsody (aka Napster) has never had a full-time CEO. Now that somebody’s noticed, the firm has decided to appoint one pronto, in the form of Mike Davis, a former Universal Music exec who most recently worked in private equity. He’s “THRILLED” about his new gig.
• Hot Chip’s Alexis Taylor will release a solo piano album, titled ‘Piano’, on 10 Jun. Are you ready for its first single, ‘I’m Ready’?
• Let’s Eat Grandma will release their debut album, ‘I Gemini’, on 17 Jun. Have a listen to new single ‘Eat Shiitake Mushrooms’ now. And catch them live at Electrowerks in London 1 Jun.
• Beck has announced two post-Glastonbury UK shows. He’ll play Brixton Academy on 28 Jun and Albert Hall in Manchester on 29 Jun.
READ MORE ABOUT: Alexis Taylor | Armin van Buuren | Barak Moffitt | Beck | Bon Jovi | CAA | David Bryan | Hot Chip | Iggy Azalea | Let's Eat Grandma | Mike Davis | Rhapsody | SFX Entertainment | Totem One Love | Universal Music | WMA
Monday 25 April 2016, 10:23 | By Andy Malt
Roger Daltrey on AC/DC tour: “Go and see karaoke with Axl Rose? Give me a break”
And Finally Artist News Gigs & Festivals
Roger Daltrey reckons that AC/DC are nothing more than an amateurish karaoke band, and that Brian Johnson was the only member with any talent. He also believes that Australians in general are untrustworthy. These are just a few of the things you could possibly (but for legal reasons probably shouldn’t) infer from recent comments made by the Who frontman.
“I really feel badly for Brian”, Daltrey told the London Free Press, when asked about Johnson’s recent departure from AC/DC’s world tour in order to avoid permanent hearing loss. “It must be heartbreaking for him after all the service he’s given that band over the years. I thought their farewell statement to the press and to Brian was fairly curt to say the least. I felt for him. That must have hurt. I’ve spoken to Brian. He’s got loads of other things he wants to do in his life”.
On the band’s decision to continue touring with Axl Rose as a replacement vocalist, he added: “I think AC/DC will miss Brian much more than Brian will miss AC/DC. There you go. What do you expect from Australians? And he’s such a lovely guy, Brian. I’ve known him for 40 odd years, more. I mean, go and see karaoke with Axl Rose? Give me a break”.
“My hearing’s dreadful”, he added. “We’re all going deaf. We’re all wearing hearing aids. No it’s true. I suggest to everybody over the age of 50 that have been going to loud concerts for years and years and years, go and have your hearing tested. You’d be surprised what you’re missing. It’s unbelievable. Most people over the age of 60 are lip-reading. And it’s all our fault!”
READ MORE ABOUT: AC/DC | Axl Rose | Roger Daltrey
Monday 25 April 2016, 09:52 | By Andy Malt
Approved: Colder
CMU Approved
Colder, aka producer Marc Nguyen Tan, ties together post-punk, krautrock and dub with French lounge cool. Which, now I’ve written it down, sounds like all kinds of a disaster. Thankfully, he pulls it off with far more skill in practice than I’ve managed in describing it. Colder’s fourth album, with appears in two halves – ‘Goodbye’ and ‘The Rain’ – is due for release on 24 Jun through Bataille.
On ‘Goodbye’, he seems to soundtrack an experimental 70s road movie that doesn’t exist. But if it did, I would watch the shit out of it. ‘The Rain’ is perhaps a darker sequel, where everything quickly goes wrong and repeated attempts by our protagonists to escape their fate only pushes them further away from reality. You will enthusiastically tell people how great this film is but never have any desire to actually watch it again. The soundtrack is a keeper though.
Check out ‘Inside’ from ‘Goodbye’ 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: Colder
Monday 25 April 2016, 09:44 | By Andy Malt
CMU Podcast: Sony/ATV, ATP, YouTube, Kanye West
Artist News Business News Digital Gigs & Festivals Labels & Publishers Legal Live Business Setlist
CMU’s Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review the week in music and the music business, including Warner Music and the indie labels’ opposition to Sony/ATV becoming wholly owned by Sony Corp, ATP’s latest cancellation, the continued question over YouTube’s position in hell, and the man taking Kanye West to court over a tweet. The CMU Podcast is sponsored by 7digital.
Subscribe to the CMU Podcast
Listen to the CMU Podcast and sign up to receive new episodes automatically each week through any of these services…
iTunes | audioBoom | SoundCloud | Stitcher | Spreaker | TuneIn | Mixcloud | RSS
Stories discussed this week
• Warner and the indies set to object to Sony taking complete control of Sony/ATV
• Drive Like Jehu’s ATP festival cancelled
• “YouTube is the devil”, says Metallica manager
• YouTube’s new talent Foundry fuels speculation on its music ambitions beyond safe harbour lobbying
• Tidal and Kanye West sued over ‘never never never’ tweet
CMU Approved
• William Tyler
• Sh?m
• Annabel Jones
• Lyra
What we didn’t have time to talk about
• “I am not a quitter”, says AC/DC’s Brian Johnson
• David Lowery’s lawyers demand access to correspondence about Spotify’s mechanical settlement
• Rich people remain rich, annual study of rich people finds
Please subscribe, like and share after you’ve listened!
READ MORE ABOUT: ATP | Drive Like Jehu | Kanye West | Sony Music Publishing | The Independent Music Companies Association (IMPALA) | Tidal | Warner Music | YouTube
Friday 22 April 2016, 10:58 | By Andy Malt
Prince dies
Artist News Top Stories
Tributes filled the internet overnight for Prince, following his sudden death yesterday. The legendary musician’s passing was confirmed by a publicist yesterday afternoon UK time, after an initial report by TMZ. His body was reportedly found in a lift at his Minnesota home. No cause of death has yet been announced, with an investigation ongoing and post-mortem due to take place later today.
“It is with profound sadness that I am confirming that the legendary, iconic performer, Prince Rogers Nelson, has died at his Paisley Park residence this morning at the age of 57”, his publicist said yesterday. “There are no further details as to the cause of death at this time”.
Last Friday, an aeroplane on which Prince was travelling home after a show in Atlanta made an emergency landing in Moline, Illinois, where he was taken to hospital. A rep for the musician later told TMZ that he had been suffering with flu for a number of days, but was treated and discharged within three hours. Days later, the musician held an impromptu public performance at his home, seemingly to show that he was in good health.
There were, of course, countless tributes paid by fans, collaborators, musicians, celebrities, journalists, music industry execs and other public figures in the wake of the news yesterday, including one from US president Barrack Obama.
Obama said in a statement: “Today, the world lost a creative icon. Michelle and I join millions of fans from around the world in mourning the sudden death of Prince. Few artists have influenced the sound and trajectory of popular music more distinctly, or touched quite so many people with their talent”.
He added: “As one of the most gifted and prolific musicians of our time, Prince did it all. Funk. R&B. Rock and roll. He was a virtuoso instrumentalist, a brilliant bandleader, and an electrifying performer. ‘A strong spirit transcends rules’, Prince once said – and nobody’s spirit was stronger, bolder, or more creative. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family, his band, and all who loved him”.
As well as his prolific musical creativity, Prince’s navigation of the music business was also varied and idiosyncratic. He had a long but tumultuous relationship with Warner Bros Records – leading to the musician changing his name to an unpronounceable symbol in protest against his record deal in the 90s – though more recently he repaired his relationship with the label for a campaign of reissues.
The label’s CEO Cameron Strang said in a statement last night: “Today, we lost one of the most revolutionary talents of our time. Prince’s untimely passing is deeply shocking, reminding us that unique artists who chart their own course and move culture are precious few and irreplaceable”.
“He leapt onto the scene in 1978 and it didn’t take the world long to realise that pop music had changed forever”, Strang continued. “He played the studio like an instrument and shattered the definition of live performance. He defined a new kind of superstardom, with a transformative impact not just on music, but on video, film, and style”.
“Prince was the epitome of cool and mystery – an inspirational soul who created his own universe by bringing together different genres, races and cultures with a purity of sound and spirit unlike any other. His visionary gifts as a songwriter, vocalist, musician, performer and producer placed him in a league all his own”.
He concluded: “We are honoured to have had Prince as a member of the Warner Bros Records family during two eras of his astonishing career. We express our deepest condolences to everyone who loved him and join his family, friends and legion of fans in mourning his loss”.
It is not yet clear who will now take on the musician’s estate, and therefore manage the very particular controls Prince placed upon his music. He was famously strict about keeping much of his work off much of the internet – his publisher’s case against a woman who uploaded a video of her baby dancing to one of his songs in 2007 is still ongoing, and he went so far as to have six second clips of his performances removed from Vine. Last year he then pulled all of his music off streaming services other than Tidal (before releasing one single on Spotify).
In 2010, he stated: “The internet’s completely over. I don’t see why I should give my new music to iTunes or anyone else. They won’t pay me an advance for it and then they get angry when they can’t get it. The internet’s like MTV. At one time MTV was hip and suddenly it became outdated. Anyway, all these computers and digital gadgets are no good. They just fill your head with numbers and that can’t be good for you”.
More recently Prince did begin using social media, perhaps returning slightly more to the view of his 1996 internet-focussed song ‘My Computer’. However, what processes he put in place, if any, to ensure that his views on how is music is distributed online are upheld after his death will no doubt become clear in the relatively near future.
Creatively, Prince had been in the midst of a very active period in the last two years. In 2014, he played a series of low-key shows, announced at short notice, with his new band 3rdeyegirl. He released one album with the band, and three other solo records in 2014 and 2015, coming after a gap of three years, the longest period without an album release of his nearly 40 year career.
This year Prince had been touring solo for the first time, under the banner One Man And A Piano. At one such show last month he announced that he was writing his autobiography, due for publication next year. It’s not clear how much of that was written at the time of his death, though he previously suggested the book was in its early stages.
READ MORE ABOUT: Prince
Friday 22 April 2016, 10:54 | By Chris Cooke
Indie publishers add to criticism of Sony/ATV deal
Business News Labels & Publishers Legal
Following the news that both Warner Music and indie labels trade group IMPALA have expressed concern over Sony’s plan to take complete ownership of its Sony/ATV music publishing business, yesterday a group representing independent music publishers also criticised the move which will give Sony Corp outright ownership of the world’s biggest music publishing company.
As previously reported, Sony is buying the Michael Jackson Estate out of the Sony/ATV joint venture that began in the 1990s. Sony/ATV also controls the catalogue of EMI Music Publishing, which a Sony-led consortium bought in 2012. With Sony also owning the second biggest record company in the world, rivals are now saying that the Sony/ATV deal will give the entertainment conglom too much dominance in the music rights sector.
According to Bloomberg, Warner Music reps have already spoken to competition regulators within the European Commission about the deal, while IMPALA said that – given concerns already expressed by the EC when Sony led the EMI Music Publishing purchase a few years back – officials there will surely have to demand some remedies this time – most likely the forced sale of some of its repertoire – in order to green light the Sony/Jackson Estate deal.
Now the International Music Publishers Forum is also criticising the transaction. Its President, Pierre Mossiat, said yesterday: “IMPF intends to complain to the European Commission over the acquisition which needs to be carefully considered not only on the grounds of the distortion of the market it will cause, and in particular to independent music publishers, but also in the long run, the risk of reduced consumer choice and increased prices”.
READ MORE ABOUT: International Music Publishers Forum | Sony Music Publishing
