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Friday 24 March 2017, 09:50 | By Andy Malt
PRS For Music and PPL pilot linked database search tool
Business News Labels & Publishers
The UK music industry’s two performing rights organisations – PRS For Music on the songs side and PPL on the recordings side – have announced that they are piloting a new system to link their respective databases, a move that will help meet one of the music industry’s key data challenges: reliably identifying which song is contained within each recording. The next stage of the project will see Australian collecting society APRA-AMCOS also involved.
The data initiative comes as PRS and PPL prepare to launch their joint venture providing those seeking licences for the public performance of sound recordings in the UK with a one-stop-shop licence. The new joint data platform lets users identify both track and song information, including label, publisher, writers and performers. So far, about 2.5 million recordings have been linked to about 1.2 million compositions.
At this stage the data link tool is more a proof of concept, aimed at instigating discussions with other music rights organisations. There are already plenty of data-sharing initiatives between collecting societies around the world, but they tend to focus on either recordings data or songs data, rather than linking the two key sets of music data together.
“One of the biggest challenges we all face is how we create industry-wide access to authoritative data”, says PRS Director Of Operations Paul Dilorito. “Effective linking of works to recordings is the first step and this prototype has enabled us to deliver a successful proof of concept that we are delighted to have brought to fruition in partnership with PPL. Collaboration is key to the successful resolution of the data challenge across the industry, and as industry-leading authoritative sources of metadata we are both very well placed to facilitate a solution”.
PPL’s CTO Mark Douglas adds: “For an initiative like this to have value to the industry, it has to be based on authoritative data about sound recordings and musical works. PPL invests significant effort and resources into managing its repertoire database and is rightly recognised as a world-leader, making PPL a natural partner to work with PRS For Music. We are excited about extending beyond this pilot to draw in other collective management organisations to progress the initiative even further”.
Meanwhile, Alan Balchin, Head Of Business Systems & Development at APRA-AMCOS says: “The need for an authoritative link between a work and its many recordings is a ‘no brainer’ from our perspective, to ensure rightsholders get acknowledged, recognised and paid in a timely fashion. We look forward to engaging with our colleagues in the UK on this exciting initiative as it develops”.
READ MORE ABOUT: APRA/AMCOS | PPL | PRS For Music
Friday 24 March 2017, 09:48 | By Chris Cooke
Geffen Records to be ramped up again
Business News Labels & Publishers
Universal Music in the US has had a good old rummage around its box of under-used label brands and has picked out Geffen Records for a full-on spit and polish. Neil Jacobson, a long-term exec with the mega-major, will be the chief spitter and polisher. By which we mean he has been appointed President of the resurrected label.
Founded by David Geffen in the 1980s, Geffen Records enjoyed considerable success in the subsequent two decades, first with pop, then with harder rock, and then with some key alternative rock acts. It allied with Universal in 1990, with Geffen himself remaining involved until 1995. At the end of the 1990s, Geffen Records was absorbed by the Interscope label, though at various points since then it has been pushed forward as a frontline label brand, albeit usually mainly managed by Interscope staff.
Jacobson will still report into Interscope chief John Janick in his new role, who said yesterday: “Geffen Records has always represented the true entrepreneurial spirit of the music business. Neil’s commitment to artistry, his drive, and his ability to see and create new opportunities for our business make him the perfect choice to take the helm at Geffen, a label that is such an important part of the collective legacy of our company”.
Name-checking both the label’s founder and some of its most famous signings back in the day, Jacobson told Billboard: “I’ve been telling people for fifteen years that one day I wanted to run Geffen. I always thought Geffen is a special label and David Geffen is a special person. And with Nirvana and Guns N Roses you’re talking about my favourite artists of all time”.
READ MORE ABOUT: Geffen US | Universal Music
Friday 24 March 2017, 09:45 | By Paul Vig
Vigsy’s Club Tip: Jimpster at Basing House & The 2 Bears at XOYO
Club Tip CMU Approved
Two tips this week, because I’m celebrating my birthday this weekend and you all have to humour me.
First up, Jamie Odell, aka the Jimpster, by which I mean the head honcho of Freerange Records, steps in to give us a three hour house-inspired set alongside Jamma and Max. He’ll be rocking this venue, once known as On The Rocks, to its very core, celebrating nine years of Jamma and Max’s Bread And Butter night.
Saturday 25 Mar, Basing House, 25 Kingsland Road, London E2, 9pm-2am, £10. Info here.
Over on the other side of Shoreditch, Raf Rundell and Joe Goddard will be hitting XOYO hard with their double act The 2 Bears taking us to pastures house. Frenchman Marc Cerrone also makes an appearance, with Seven Davis Jr taking us leftfield too. Should be a goodun!
Saturday 11 Mar, XOYO, 32-37 Cowper Street, Shoreditch, London, EC2A 4AP, 9pm-4am, £20. Info here.
READ MORE ABOUT: Jimpster | The 2 Bears
Friday 24 March 2017, 09:43 | By Andy Malt
Gorillaz announce new album, Humanz
Artist News Gigs & Festivals Releases
Gorillaz have announced their new album, ‘Humanz’, will be out on 28 Apr. The record is their first since 2011’s ‘The Fall’.
Announcing the new record, the band yesterday unveiled a video, which features new track ‘Saturnz Barz’, featuring Popcaan, in full, plus clips of three others, ‘Ascension’ featuring Vince Staples, ‘Andromeda’ featuring DRAM and ‘We Got The Power’ featuring Savages’ Jehnny Beth – all of which are also separately available in full on YouTube.
But, yeah, here’s the ‘Saturnz Barz’ video, because who has time to listen to four whole songs in this day and age? You can also watch it in a 360° version too, if you want. You probably don’t.
Speaking on Radio X last night, Damon Albarn revealed that his ‘arch nemesis’ Noel Gallagher sang backing vocals on ‘We Got The Power’.
Now that I’ve told you that, I have to do a bit of housekeeping. As per the demands of Radio X owner Global Radio, I am obliged to inform you of some stuff, but I will weave it into my reporting so seamlessly that you won’t even notice. Gorillaz’ Damon Albarn was speaking on the ‘Radio X Evening Show’ with Gordon Smart, weekdays 7pm-10pm on Radio X. Tune in to ‘Smart On Sunday’ with Gordon Smart this Sunday from 2pm on Radio X to hear more from Damon Albarn.
Right, where were we? Oh yeah, Gorillaz. As well as announcing the album, they’ve also revealed that they will play a show at a secret location in London tonight. You won’t get into that though, so just get tickets for their festival in Margate in June, because that will be better anyway.
Oh, and if you were wondering, yes, that tracklist that appeared on PPL’s database last week does match up with the one just published officially. But what you wouldn’t have known from the PPL listings is that five of those songs will appear on the deluxe edition of the album only. Also, the various interludes will be narrated by actor Ben Mendelsohn.
READ MORE ABOUT: Gorillaz
Friday 24 March 2017, 09:39 | By Andy Malt
Zayn releases new single
Artist News Releases
Zayn Malik has released the first single from his forthcoming second album. ‘Still Got Time’ features rapper PartyNextDoor and was co-produced by Frank Dukes and Murda Beatz.
The album is yet to be properly announced, though it is expected to be released in the summer.
Malik told The Sunday Times last weekend: “They always say the second album is difficult, but so far I’m really happy with this one. There are real signs of growth and development. Hopefully, as a human being, I’m growing too, in my knowledge and perception”.
Check out the video for ‘Still Got Time’ here:
READ MORE ABOUT: Partynextdoor | Zayn Malik
Friday 24 March 2017, 09:37 | By Andy Malt
Ride announce new album, Weather Diaries
Artist News Gigs & Festivals Releases
Ride have announced details of their first album for more than two decades, coming three years after they reformed in 2014. Titled ‘Weather Diaries’, it will be released on 16 Jun through Wichita.
The band have already released two tracks from the album, ‘Charm Assault’ and ‘Home Is Feeling’. “When we started writing together again we tried to imagine we’d kept on making music all this time”, said frontman Andy Bell of the new material earlier this year.
They’ll be pumping out some of that new material, no doubt, when they play Glasgow’s Barrowland as part of the BBC Radio 6 Music Festival tonight.
Here’s the video for ‘Charm Assault’:
READ MORE ABOUT: Ride
Friday 24 March 2017, 09:35 | By Andy Malt
Chris T-T announces 20th anniversary best of compilation
Artist News Gigs & Festivals Releases
This year marks the 20th anniversary of Chris T-T’s debut solo single. A lot has happened since then. For one thing, Chris has released a load more music, some of which is included on a new ‘best of’ compilation. That’ll be released on 19 May through Xtra Mile.
“From the very start it’s been an absolute pleasure to work with Chris both in a business and social sense”, says Xtra Mile MD Charlie Caplowe. “We’re really proud to have been along for the ride for at least half of his amazing 20 year career. Here’s to another 20!”
What good would an anniversary-marking best of be without an anniversary and best of release-marking tour though? No good at all, I tell you. So it’s lucky that these dates have been booked:
28 Apr: Trowbridge, Town Hall Arts
29 Apr: Warwick, Wild Boar
5 May: Leeds, All Hallows Church
6 May: Manchester, The Engine Room
12 May: Aberdeen, The Lemon Tree
19 May: Cambridge, Unitarian Church
20 May: Bristol, Café Kino
23 May: Brighton, Komedia
But is there a new lyric video for an old song that appears on the compilation? What, you thought he’d forget? Well don’t you look silly, because here’s one for ‘The English Earth’, off 2001 album ‘The 253’:
READ MORE ABOUT: Chris T-T
Friday 24 March 2017, 09:28 | By Andy Malt
Weezer announce UK tour
Artist News Gigs & Festivals Releases
Weezer are going to release a new album soon, which I assume you’re not interested in. They haven’t said much about it anyway. They’re going to be touring the UK though, and I think that’s probably still something worth noting. I don’t know, it’s a good decade since I last saw them live, but they were really good then.
Anyway, here are the dates:
23 Oct: Leeds, Academy
25 Oct: Manchester, Apollo
27 Oct: Birmingham, Academy
28 Oct: London, Wembley Arena
Now’s probably a good time to listen to the episode of ‘Song Exploder’ in which Rivers Cuomo explains how he writes songs with spreadsheets. Marvel at the intricacy of it all, and then wonder if you might have hit upon the reason for the downturn in the quality of the band’s songs.
Speaking of which, here’s the video for new single ‘Feels Like Summer’:
READ MORE ABOUT: Weezer
Friday 24 March 2017, 09:26 | By Andy Malt
One Liners: Tool, Kendrick Lamar, Iggy Azalea, more
Artist News Digital One Liners Releases
Other notable announcements and developments today…
• Tool are reportedly planning to end their policy of holding their music off streaming services when they eventually release their new album.
• Kendrick Lamar has released a new track, ‘The Heart Part 4’, which is part four of his ‘The Heart’ series (in case you hadn’t already guessed). On it, he references 7 Apr, which may or may not be a significant date for Lamar fans hoping for a new album.
• Iggy Azalea’s got a new single out, ‘Mo Bounce’.
• Michael Kiwanuka’s put out the video for ‘Cold Little Heart’.
• Migos have released the video for ‘What The Price’.
• Goldfrapp have released a new song, ‘Moon In Your Mouth’.
• Here’s the video for Ängie’s latest single, ‘Spun’.
• Rina Sawayama has released a new single, ‘Cyber Stockholm Syndrome’. “‘Cyber Stockholm Syndrome’ is happy and sad, honest and autobiographical, and I feel like I’ve truly written from the heart from the first time”, she says of the song.
READ MORE ABOUT: Ängie | Goldfrapp | Iggy Azalea | Kendrick Lamar | Michael Kiwanuka | Migos | Rina Sawayama | Tool
Friday 24 March 2017, 09:20 | By Andy Malt
Beef Of The Week #348: Russia v Ukraine
And Finally Artist News Awards Beef Of The Week Media
You’d think Russia and Ukraine would have more important things to be talking about, in the wake of the apparent assassination of former Russian MP Denis Voronenkov, a vocal critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin, in Kiev yesterday. But still, the growing diplomatic incident around this year’s Eurovision Song Contest continues to grab headlines.
The case of Voronenkov quickly reached something of a deadlock, with Ukraine’s President, Petro Poroshenko, claiming that the killing was an act of “state terrorism” on Russia’s part, while Putin’s spokesman Dmitry Peskov has denied that the country had any involvement. Meanwhile, Eurovision organisers continue with their futile attempts to avoid this year’s competition becoming political.
If anything, it’s becoming more and more apparent that everything that involves the two countries (allegedly or otherwise) is political. As Skunk Anansie once sang, “Yes, it’s fucking political”. Maybe we should scrap our current Eurovision entry and put that forward instead, just to make a point. It would double up as a good Brexit reference too.
In the event you’ve missed all this, let’s have a recap. When Ukraine won Eurovision last year, Russia threatened to boycott this year’s event. The Russians were already angry about the song Ukraine had put forward in 2016, which they argued broke Eurovision’s ‘no politics’ rule. Organisers disagreed, despite the song being about Ukrainian territory of Crimea, which has been occupied by Russian forces since 2014.
It looked increasingly like Russia might go through with that boycott, but then earlier this month – with just a day to go before the deadline for entries – it was announced that Julia Samoilova would represent the country with the song ‘Flame Is Burning’.
Already well known in Russia and beyond, Samoilova was the runner up in the 2013 series of the country’s version of ‘X-Factor’, and she sang at the opening ceremony of the 2014 Sochi Winter Paralympics. A perfect Eurovision entrant, you might say.
However, there was a snag. Ukraine holds a blacklist of artists who have performed in Crimea since it was annexed. Samoilova was not on that list, but it quickly emerged that she had played there in 2015. Ukraine security forces then said that they were considering banning her from entering the country, or they would let her in but then arrest her. Neither of which are good options for someone just hoping to come and sing a song.
After some deliberation, it was announced that Samoilova would be banned from entering Ukraine for three years. The Eurovision Song Contest is due to take place in May, so that’s really not going to work with her diary. On the plus side, she’s avoided jail time. So that’s a silver lining. It was also unclear whether Ukraine intended to actually enforce the ban.
Russian officials immediately spoke out against the ban though. One put forward the slightly peculiar defence that “practically everyone has been to Crimea”. They demanded that Eurovision overseer the European Broadcast Union do something about the situation, threatening that Russia would not only boycott this year’s competition, but as many future competitions as it took for it to calm down. Broadcaster Channel One Russia also said that it would not show the competition if Samoilova was not in it.
A cynic might suggest that this is exactly what Russia wanted. And many cynics have. It can’t have escaped Russia’s notice that Ukraine has been blocking musicians who perform in Crimea. Presumably someone would have checked it Samoilova had done so before putting her forward. Some particularly cynical cynics have also suggested that she was selected because she is a wheelchair user, because then any backlash against her in Ukraine could be spun as disablist, though this doesn’t seem to have been the case so far.
Yesterday, the EBU put out a statement to say that it was working hard to ensure that this extremely political situation does not become political. It had, it said, come up with a solution that should work for everyone.
It said: “Taking into consideration that this ban might be upheld by the Ukrainian authorities, and in order to maintain the non-political nature of the Eurovision Song Contest, the EBU has been working hard to find a solution to this situation and has taken the unprecedented move to offer Channel One Russia the opportunity for Julia to still participate in this year’s Contest by performing live in the second semi final via satellite”.
“Should the Russian entry qualify for the Grand Final the same solution would apply”, it continued. “This is something that has never been done before in the Contest’s 60 year history but, in the spirit of Eurovision’s values of inclusivity, and this year’s theme of ‘Celebrate Diversity’, the decision has been taken to ensure that all 43 entrants are given the opportunity to participate”.
Emphasising how non-political all of this was, Eurovision Song Contest Executive Supervisor, Jon Ola Sand, added: “We are continuing our dialogue with the Ukrainian authorities with the ambition to have all artists present to perform in host city, Kiev, which is, of course, our preferred option. It is imperative that the Eurovision Song Contest remains free from politics and as such, due to the circumstances surrounding Julia’s travel ban, we have felt it important to propose a solution that transcends such issues”.
Well, it’s lucky the EBU is still talking to Ukraine to try to ensure that Samoilova is allowed to appear in the country in person, because – guess what! – Russia’s not really down with the contingency plan.
In a statement last night, Channel One said that it just wasn’t into the idea. “We find the offer of remote participation odd and refuse it”, it said firmly. “It is going absolutely against the very essence of the event, one of the rules of which reads that the song should be performed live on the stage”.
Yeah, you wouldn’t want to go breaking any of the Eurovision rules. Imagine if that happened.
For her part, Samoilova has remained calm and dignified, while at the centre of a bizarre international incident. She has said that she is “not upset” about Ukraine’s decision, but can’t quite see why they would see “some kind of threat in a little girl like me”.
She also remains confident that some kind of resolution will be found. “I will keep going”, she has said. “I somehow think that everything will change”.
Of course, her being all nice and totally unthreatening might be part of a strategy to make Ukraine look bad. That’s probably what you cynics think. Although, it does also seem like she is genuinely nice and unthreatening, as I think you would generally expect a singer in the Eurovision Song Contest to be. It being both nice and unthreatening.
Samoilova is currently scheduled to perform in the second semi-final of the event on 11 May, and then in the final if she gets through. Though really, who knows what will happen in the next seven weeks leading up to event? If this turns out to be World War Three’s ‘Archduke Ferdinand moment’, I think that would be very embarrassing for all of us.
READ MORE ABOUT: Eurovision Song Contest | Julia Samoilova
Thursday 23 March 2017, 10:40 | By Chris Cooke
Australian government takes safe harbour reform out of copyright bill
Business News Digital Labels & Publishers Legal Top Stories
The Australian government has dropped plans to extend safe harbours from a new piece of legislation that will amend the country’s copyright laws.
As previously reported, the Australian record industry was among those who hit out at plans to extend the country’s copyright safe harbour. Unlike in the US and Europe, the existing safe harbour under Australian law is pretty narrowly defined, so that it only really protects internet service providers.
Companies protected by the safe harbour cannot be held liable if their customers use the internet services they provide to infringe copyright, providing they offer copyright owners some sort of takedown system via which they can demand infringing content be removed. In the US and Europe search engines, digital lockers, social media and user-upload platforms can also claim safe harbour protection.
The Australian government had planned to bring the country’s safe harbour rules more in line with those in the US and Europe. However, the local media and entertainment industries hit out at that proposal, pointing out that the wider safe harbour had proven controversial in America and the European Union, and that moves were afoot in the latter to limit safe harbour protection for user-upload platforms.
With all that in mind, lobbyists for the content owners argued, a rigorous review should be undertaken before any changes to Australian safe harbour rules are considered by lawmakers. Yet the safe harbour reform hadn’t been subject to a proper consultation like the other proposals in the Copyright Amendment Bill.
Making that point earlier this month, Dan Rosen of the Australian Recording Industry Association said: “The other schedules to the bill were subject to a proper consultation and review by the department and that would be the appropriate place for an evidence-based inquiry into the commercial and market impact of any reform to safe harbour”.
In something of a u-turn, the Australian government yesterday dropped the safe harbour element of its copyright bill before introducing it in the country’s parliament. Reps for the media and entertainment industries welcomed the decision – Rosen calling it a “positive development” – but, presumably aware that safe harbours are nevertheless likely to stay on the wider copyright agenda, those reps reiterated their call for a full review of the issue.
According to The Australia, Rosen said: “It is very important that the government now directs the Department Of Communications to have a full, independent and evidence-based review of the safe harbour scheme and its impact on Australia’s digital markets”.
Communications Minister Mitch Fifield said that the safe harbour proposal had been taken out of the copyright bill in response to “feedback” from the content industries, and that the government didn’t want the debate around that specific issue to unnecessarily delay other elements of the copyright reform legislation.
READ MORE ABOUT: Safe Harbours
Thursday 23 March 2017, 10:38 | By Chris Cooke
Alabama lawmakers consider law protecting right to resell tickets
Business News Legal Live Business
Lawmakers in Alabama could next month approve a new rule that would give consumers a statutory right to resell any tickets they have bought, which would limit the tactics artists and promoters can employ to try to cut back on ticket touting.
There are parallels between the proposals made by Alabama representative Paul Lee and the previously reported measures put forward in Virginia by delegate Dave Albo. The state-level laws would stop event organisers from cancelling tickets that have been resold or forcing customers to resell their tickets via a specific resale service.
As previously reported, defenders of the secondary ticketing market have, in the past, argued that a ticket is simply a product and people should be allowed to buy and resell products if they so wish.
Those who oppose touting often counter that, actually, a ticket is a contract between the promoter and the original buyer, and that contract usually includes a term that says the agreement is non-transferrable. Therefore the ticket becomes void if the buyer attempts a transfer, because they are in breach of contract.
The laws proposed by Lee and Albo would confirm a ticket as a piece of property that people can resell via a platform of their choosing. Both politicians position their proposals as attempts to protect consumers who buy tickets intending to attend an event but who then can’t go, rather than to help professional ticket resellers.
Lee, in particular, seems to be targeting the practice of promoters having an approved resale partner, so that customers can resell their tickets but only via one platform, which usually pays the event organiser a share of the resale commission. Tickets resold via other platforms may then be cancelled. Partnerships of this kind between promoters and secondary ticketing sites are particularly common in the sports sector.
According to WSFA, Lee said: “I think, personally, once you buy [a ticket], it’s yours to do with whatever you would like to do with it. Give it away, sell it, whatever the case may be, rather than have to turn it in back to the company, allow them to resell it and make more money on resale”.
The new laws in Virginia and Alabama will make it harder for those promoters who are trying to stop the touting of tickets to their shows by threatening to cancel tickets bought via the resale platforms and/or by locking tickets to a credit card.
Lee’s bill in Alabama has been passed by the state’s house of representatives and will go before its senate next month.
READ MORE ABOUT: Secondary Ticketing
Thursday 23 March 2017, 10:37 | By Andy Malt
Ukraine bans Russian Eurovision singer from entering the country
Awards Business News Legal Media
Ukraine has banned Russia’s Eurovision entrant Julia Samoilova from entering the country for three years, which is a bit of an issue as it’s less than two months until the competition, which is taking place in the Ukrainian capital of Kiev in May.
As previously reported, Russia threatened to boycott this year’s competition when Ukraine won it last year. It then waited until the last minute to put forward Samoilova as its contender for 2017, a contestant on the Russian version of ‘X-Factor’ who previously sang at the Sochi Winter Olympics.
Ukraine immediately threatened to bar her from entering the country after it emerged that she had performed in Crimea since Russia occupied the region in 2014, as it already has done to around 140 other artists. Alternatively, the Ukrainian security service, SBU, said that she may be allowed to enter the country but be arrested once she is across the border. Either way, that’s not great when she’s just trying to sing a song in a competition.
SBU has now confirmed that Samoilova has indeed been placed on its blacklist, meaning that she will not be able to attend the competition in May. A Russian foreign ministry source reportedly called the move “cynical and inhumane”; while another Russian politician, Frants Klintsevich, has called on Eurovision organisers to speak up for the singer, or face future boycotts by Russia.
There are some, however, who say that this is exactly what Russia wanted to happen and that’s why it put her forward as its entrant. It has also been suggested that had Samoilova been able to appear at the competition in Kiev in May, any animosity towards her within the local audience would then have been spun as disablist, she being a wheelchair user.
In a statement, Eurovision organiser EBU said: “It has been confirmed to the EBU that the Ukrainian authorities have issued a travel ban on the Russian artist chosen for the Eurovision Song Contest, Julia Samoylova, as she has been judged to have contravened Ukrainian law by entering Crimea in order to perform”.
It continued: “We have to respect the local laws of the host country, however we are deeply disappointed in this decision as we feel it goes against both the spirit of the contest, and the notion of inclusivity that lies at the heart of its values. We will continue a dialogue with the Ukrainian authorities with the aim of ensuring that all artists can perform at the 62nd Eurovision Song Contest in Kyiv in May”.
The final of the competition is due to take place on 13 May.
READ MORE ABOUT: Eurovision Song Contest | Julia Samoilova
Thursday 23 March 2017, 10:35 | By Chris Cooke
Live Nation fined over refunds for AC/DC show in Seville
Artist News Business News Legal Live Business
The Spanish city of Seville has fined Live Nation 15,000 euros over the way it handled refunds in relation to an AC/DC concert there last May.
As previously reported, AC/DC’s 2016 tour was substantially changed mid-way through after vocalist Brian Johnson was forced to pull out of live shows after being warned that he risked “total hearing loss” if he continued to perform. Axl Rose was subsequently signed up as a replacement.
People who already had bought tickets for the Seville show expecting Johnson on stage were given the option of getting a refund if they didn’t fancy watching Rose sing along to the band’s hits. However, according to Spanish consumer rights group Facua, the promoter of the show then instigated a deadline on refund applications with minimal notice, meaning many consumers wishing to cancel their tickets missed out.
In its formal complaint to Seville’s Economy And Commerce Department, Facua said that Live Nation didn’t initially set a deadline for refund applications, and then only gave three days notice of the deadline, which included a Sunday and a bank holiday.
According to Pollstar, the consumer rights body added that Live Nation was obliged to offer refunds under local laws that say promoters must provide the option to customers where a show is “substantially changed” after a ticket is sold. Facua reckoned the replacement of Johnson with Rose was a pretty substantial change.
READ MORE ABOUT: AC/DC | Axl Rose
Thursday 23 March 2017, 10:31 | By Andy Malt
Writers of TLC’s No Scrubs given credits on Ed Sheeran’s Shape Of You
Artist News Business News Deals Legal
Ed Sheeran’s new album ‘
Oh, perhaps you have. The writers of TLC’s 1999 hit have seemingly been awarded songwriting credits on Sheeran’s ‘Shape Of You’, one of the ‘
As previously reported, Sheeran was sued twice by songwriters who accused him of ripping off their work on his second album ‘x’. The writers of Matt Cardle track ‘Amazing’ – Martin Harrington and Thomas Leonard – claimed that he borrowed from their song for his hit ‘Photograph’. Meanwhile, the estate of songwriter Ed Townsend claim that Sheeran’s ‘Thinking Out Loud’ borrowed from Marvin Gaye’s ‘Let’s Get It On’, which Townsend co-wrote.
Both cases are still pending.
READ MORE ABOUT: Ed Sheeran | Kandi Burruss | Kevin Briggs | Tameka Cottle | TLC
Thursday 23 March 2017, 10:28 | By Andy Malt
Dice announces Girls Music Day 2017
Business News Education & Events
Ticketing service Dice has announced the return of its Girls Music Day event, aiming to inspire more young women to enter the music industry. The event will include workshops, a jobs fair and Q&As with women who work in various areas of music.
Fewer than 5% of recognised record producers are female, only 13% of PRS’s 95,000 members are women, and men occupy 68% of music industry jobs. Hoping to shift these statistics in a more positive direction, speakers at the event will include singer-songwriters Rae Morris and Rosie Lowe, 1Xtra’s Sian Anderson and Latitude’s Lucy Wood.
“It’s always very inspiring to me when I get to talk in depth to other women in the music industry”, says Morris. “The only problem is that these conversations are few and far between. You can learn so much from other people’s experiences. I look forward to meeting and talking to the next generation of girls in music!”
The event takes place on 8-9 Apr. Places are free to women aged 16-24, click here for more info.
READ MORE ABOUT: Dice | Girls Music Day
Thursday 23 March 2017, 10:26 | By Andy Malt
Sweet Baboo announces anti-2016 album
Artist News Gigs & Festivals Releases
Sweet Baboo has announced that he will release a new album, ‘Wild Imagination’, on 2 Jun. The record aims to be an antidote to these troubled times.
“I think everyone agrees 2016 was a pretty shitty year”, says the musician, real name Stephen Black. “I kept thinking about my son – he’s nearly three – and wanting to protect him from the world, so I decided to try and make an album full of positivity because that’s what I know I can do. And at the moment, I don’t know what else to suggest. As an aside, the album was originally going to be called ‘Positive Recordings'”.
He’ll also be touring in June. Here are the dates:
13 Jun: Ramsgate Music Hall
14 Jun: Brighton, The Prince Albert
15 Jun: London: The Lexington
16 Jun: Cardiff, Clwb Ifor Bach
17 Jun: Bristol, Thekla
18 Jun: Manchester, Soup Kitchen
Here’s the first single from the album, ‘Badminton’:
READ MORE ABOUT: Sweet Baboo
Thursday 23 March 2017, 10:22 | By Andy Malt
Eyedress announces new album
Artist News Gigs & Festivals Releases
Filipino musician Eyedress, real name Idris Vicuña, is back with a new album. ‘Manila Ice’ is set for release through Lex Records on 12 May.
“I think this album represents everybody in the Philippines”, says Vicuña. “My girlfriend really helped me finish this album. She just told me to keep going. So this album is for her and our baby girl”.
The title track from the album is available now:
He’ll also be touring in June. These are the dates:
8 Jun: Leeds, Headroom House
9 Jun: Manchester, Jimmy’s HQ
10 Jun: Birmingham, Sunflower Lounge
13 Jun: Bristol, The Louisiana
14 Jun: London, Birthdays
15 Jun: Brighton, Green Door Store
READ MORE ABOUT: Eyedress
Thursday 23 March 2017, 10:16 | By Andy Malt
One Liners: ASCAP, Stefflon Don, Run The Jewels, more
Artist News Business News Deals Gigs & Festivals Labels & Publishers One Liners Releases
Other notable announcements and developments today…
• US collecting society ASCAP has relaunched its administration services business as Songwize. The unit works for music publishers which directly license the performing rights in their songs to digital services in America, so don’t need the society to do the deal but still need someone to process the money.
• Stefflon Don has announced that she’s done a deal to make her V-IV London label an imprint of Universal Music. “Signed my label to Universal, then I signed myself”, she said on Instagram. Smart move.
• Run The Jewels have released the video for ‘Legend Has It’. “This video is a worst nightmare scenario”, say the duo. “High on acid and caught in the system. Pitted against icons of innocence in a police line up that doesn’t feel real. No bunnies were hurt on the making of this video”. So now you know.
• Ratking’s Wiki is back with a new solo single, ‘Icarus’.
• !!! will release their new album, ‘Shake The Shudder’, on 19 May. From it, this is ‘The One 2’.
• Thurston Moore will release a new album, ‘Rock N Roll Consciousness’, on 28 Apr. From it, this is ‘Smoke Of Dreams’.
• Black Lips will release their new Sean Lennon-produced album, ‘Satan’s Graffiti Or God’s Art?’ on 5 May.
• Punk weirdos The Garden have released the video for ‘Clay’ from their ‘U Want The Scoop?’ EP.
• Mogwai are playing some shows. One of them at Brixton Academy on 15 Dec. Another is at The Hydro in Glasgow on 16 Dec.
READ MORE ABOUT: !!! (Chk Chk Chk) | ASCAP | Black Lips | Mogwai | Run The Jewels | Songwize | Stefflon Don | The Garden | Thurston Moore | Wiki
Thursday 23 March 2017, 10:12 | By Andy Malt
Brixton’s David Bowie memorial fails to reach crowdfunding target
And Finally Artist News
In a result I’m sure none of us could have predicted, a crowdfunding campaign to build a David Bowie memorial in Brixton has failed to raise £990,000. In fact, it only managed to pull in £50,000 – half that managed by a similar campaign for a Bowie statue in Aylesbury.
As previously reported, the plan was to erect a three storey 3D rendering of the lightning bolt from Bowie’s ‘Aladdin Sane’ album next to artist Jimmy C’s ‘Aladdin Sane’ mural, to which many fans flocked immediately after the musician’s death last year.
A total of 689 people put in money for the project, though several paid the £1 minimum just to be able to leave a comment on the crowdfunding page saying what a terrible idea they thought it was. Many of those in favour of the project still questioned the massive cost.
The organisers of the campaign have not commented on what plans they have, if any, for the project now that it has failed to secure funding.
READ MORE ABOUT: David Bowie
Thursday 23 March 2017, 08:52 | By Andy Malt
Approved: Charisma.com
CMU Approved
Totally ignoring the New Music Friday rule, pop-rap duo Charisma.com returned earlier this week with ‘Not Not Me’, their first full album since signing to Warner Music Japan.
The record sees them team up with various songwriters and producers, including Shachou from Soil & ‘Pimp’ Sessions and Cibo Matto. This continues a deviation from the sound they’ve developed across earlier releases, which began with last year’s ‘Unpop’ EP.
The most notable change is the introduction of more live instruments. For the most part it’s a success (probably best to skip ‘Lunch Time Funk’), and the record features some of their best work to date, like ‘Miki Miki More’, ‘Chicken Boom’ and opening track ‘#hashdark’.
Explaining the lyrical inspiration for the album, MC Itsuka says: “Not not me. In other words, me. If I act like I don’t notice the things that inconvenience me or hit the nail on the head through my own instinct of self-defence and instead take a step forward, I feel like I can unveil about five layers”.
“But I can’t do that”, she adds. “Being human is difficult. But I’ve always thought that I’d like to be in that state of mind. Keeping the possibility of good and bad things to yourself I think is a wonderful thing. That’s the kind of album this is”.
Check out the dizzying video for the albums’ title track here:
Stay up to date with all of the artists featured in the CMU Approved column by subscribing to our Spotify playlist.
READ MORE ABOUT: Charisma.com
Wednesday 22 March 2017, 11:59 | By Chris Cooke
Viagogo no show at MPs’ touts debate
Business News Legal Live Business Top Stories
Viagogo grabbed the headlines at yesterday’s select committee hearing on secondary ticketing by not showing up, which was quite an achievement. An unnamed representative for the ticket resale platform had been billed as being among those due to answer MPs’ questions as Parliament’s Culture, Media & Sport Select Committee again put the spotlight on ticket touting, but in the end the company declined to attend.
It’s rare for companies with a UK base to refuse to attend select committee hearings. Viagogo apparently told MPs on the culture committee on Monday evening that it would not be attending yesterday’s session. Committee chair Damian Collins MP said that he felt “considerable disappointment that Viagogo have decided not to send a representative despite the fact that they have a substantial office on Cannon Street”. Meanwhile committee member Nigel Huddleston MP said Viagogo had shown “if not contempt for Parliament, a lack of respect to Parliament and by extension the British public”.
In the early days of secondary ticketing Viagogo was always on hand with a quote from its founder Eric Baker, but in more recent years – and especially since opposition to touting in the UK artist and political communities has risen once again – it has tended to employ a wall of silence strategy. Which possibly makes yesterday’s no-show unsurprising.
Maybe next time MPs could invite a rep from one Viagogo’s key financial backers, Index Ventures, which – somewhat ironically – is also an investor in passionately anti-touting ticketing business Songkick. Danny Rimer looks after the Viagogo investment at Index and he has an OBE, so surely wouldn’t decline a parliamentary invite.
He could explain what it’s like being in business with a bunch of shits like Team Viagogo, who were recently in the news for helping touts profit off Ed Sheeran’s Royal Albert Hall show in aid of the Teenage Cancer Trust.
Meanwhile, MPs at yesterday’s select committee heard from Claire Turnham, who set up the Victims Of Viagogo group on Facebook after struggling to get a refund from the company following a particularly confusing experience on its website that left her £1421 out of pocket – £1,150 more than she believed she was being charged for some Ed Sheeran tickets. She said that she had now been contacted by 425 people from 26 countries who had had similar experiences using the Viagogo service.
Sheeran’s manager Stuart Camp also took part in yesterday’s select committee hearing, saying that he was motivated to speak out because of that touting of vastly over-priced tickets to the Teenage Cancer Trust show. Speaking to the BBC, he said: “That’s a charity show, we put that show on to raise funds and people are just taking advantage, and it’s something that needs to be controlled. We’re looking for the enforcement of laws that already exist but we need to have greater transparency. At the moment [the touts] can hide behind certain things and it’s not great and that’s why there’s some confusion and anger”.
As previously reported, earlier this month the UK government said that it accepted the findings of last year’s Waterson Review of the secondary ticketing market. It will now seek to enable National Trading Standards to enforce existing regulations contained within the Consumer Rights Act, while putting pressure on Viagogo and its rivals StubHub, Seatwave and Get Me In to do more to identify industrial-level resellers on their platforms, who are likely subject to extra consumer rights rules.
Meanwhile, the anti-tout campaign FanFair has published a guide to help consumers navigate the slightly confusing ticketing market – primary and secondary – so that they can better identify official sources of tickets.
READ MORE ABOUT: Secondary Ticketing | Viagogo
Wednesday 22 March 2017, 11:55 | By Andy Malt
Kesha has amended lawsuit against Dr Luke rejected
Business News Labels & Publishers Legal
While Kesha has certainly won the PR war in her legal battle with Dr Luke, in court she has generally been less successful. That run continued yesterday when the judge overseeing the case rejected her amended lawsuit against the producer.
As much previously reported, this complex and multi-layered case centres on claims by Kesha Sebert that she was drugged and raped by producer Dr Luke, real name Lukasz Gottwald. She is seeking to be released from her various contracts with him and his companies, including his Sony Music imprint Kemosabe Records. He, meanwhile, says that the allegations against him have been fabricated and is suing for defamation.
Both sides asked for permission to amend their respective lawsuits last month, after negotiations to reach a settlement collapsed. Sebert’s updated suit re-introduced a previously rejected request to be released from her record deal. However, her new legal team, rather than asking for an injunction, attempted to invoke California’s ‘seven year rule’ in order to get their client out of her contracts with Gottwald.
Many artists have used this bit of employment law – which allows ‘personal services’ contracts entered into in California to be ended after seven years – to try to extract themselves from record deals, with varying success.
The contracts at the heart of this dispute were written under New York law, though Kemosabe Records is based in California, and Sebert and Gottwald’s collaborations were centred there, hence the claim that the courts should also consider the former’s rights under Californian state laws.
However, this argument has now been rejected by the New York court hearing the case. The judge said that if either side had wanted the contracts to defer to Californian employment law, this should have been stated explicitly when the contracts were written.
“The parties’ choice of New York law should be enforced, unless the public policy of another jurisdiction has an overriding concern so strong that it trumps New York’s strong public policy in maintaining and fostering its undisputed status as the pre-eminent commercial and financial nerve centre of the world”, says judge Shirley Kornreich, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
She continues: “Turning to the case at bar, the parties to the Gottwald agreements could have provided that they would terminate in seven years. The parties, represented by sophisticated counsel, chose not to put such an explicit provision into the agreements. Thus, their choice of law should be enforced. Moreover, the single 1944 case cited by Kesha that mentions California’s public policy in enacting [the seven year rule] does not demonstrate an overriding public interest that is materially greater than New York’s interest in enforcing the parties’ choice of New York law”.
The judge also rejected a number of other amendments put forward by Sebert’s team. On claims that Gottwald is withholding royalties from her, the judge says that Sebert has “made no showing that it would have been futile to send an appropriate notice or that she was prevented from doing so”. Therefore, the dispute over royalties cannot be included in this ongoing case. Gottwald has made similar claims that Serbert owes him money, which may be similarly rejected.
Meanwhile, on a claim that Gottwald’s deal with Sony Music is about to come to an end, and that if it is not renewed that would leave her without a go-between, thus worsening her situation, Kornreich said: “It is speculative, not justiciable, whether Sony’s contract is ending and whether it will be able to assist after this month”.
Sebert may as yet appeal this ruling.
READ MORE ABOUT: Dr Luke | Kesha
Wednesday 22 March 2017, 11:54 | By Andy Malt
Wyclef Jean detained by police in case of mistaken identity
Artist News Legal
Wyclef Jean was detained by police in LA yesterday after they apparently mistook him for a mugger. The LA County Sheriff’s office has since apologised to the musician.
Jean was stopped by police at a petrol station on Sunset Boulevard at around 1am, shortly after he had left a recording session, as they searched for an armed robber who had stolen a person’s wallet nearby. The suspect had been described as a black man wearing a red bandana, driving a car similar to Jean’s.
Posting a video of himself in handcuffs to Twitter, Jean says to the camera: “LA, right now, coming from the studio … Y’all see the police have handcuffs on me. They just took off my Haitian bandana. That’s what’s going on right now with Wyclef in LA right now. The LAPD have me in cuffs for absolutely nothing”. In a later video, he is also shown threatening to sue.
Tweeting about the incident, Jean wrote: “As someone who has law enforcers in my family, I was appalled by this behaviour of the LAPD. I am sure no father wants his sons or daughters to see him in handcuffs especially if he is innocent”.
He continued: “They proceeded to ignore me and I was treated like a criminal until other police showed up and pointed out they had wrong person. Nor was I told why I was being cuffed. In the process I said my name and told them they have wrong person. I was asked by the police to put my hands up. Then I was told do not move. I was instantly handcuffed before being asked to identify myself”.
In a statement, the LA Country Sheriff’s Department said: “It is unfortunate that Mr Jean was detained for six minutes during this investigation, as he had no involvement whatsoever in this violent crime. However, Los Angeles County Deputy Sheriffs are frequently required to make lawful detentions, under the strict parameters provided by law, in the interest of catching often dangerous and armed suspects in our communities and keeping the public safe”.
“The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department is apologetic for any inconvenience this process caused Mr Jean”, it continued. “We are grateful we were able to apprehend the robbery suspects and that no one was seriously injured”.
The statement also explained that police had been acting with caution due to the violent nature of the crime, and that Jean’s “furtive movements and demeanour” were what had led to him being placed in handcuffs.
READ MORE ABOUT: Wyclef Jean
Wednesday 22 March 2017, 11:49 | By Andy Malt
Proper hires ex-HMV man Jon Higgs to oversee warehouse move
Business News Industry People Labels & Publishers
Music distribution firm Proper Music Group has hired former HMV national fulfilment boss Jon Higgs as its new Head Of Operations. His first job will be to oversee the company’s move to its new warehouse in Dartford. After that, he will lead the firm’s distribution and warehouse staff.
Higgs previously managed the move of HMV’s warehouse from the Channel Islands back to the mainland, so this project should be a doddle. He also oversaw mail order and high street fulfilment during fifteen years at the retailer, before leaving in 2014.
“It’s great to begin my time at Proper as it enters its next phase of development and growth”, says Higgs. “As we move from the current Sydenham branch into our new premises, I’m particularly excited to embrace the new automation and system developments which our projected growth plans have allowed us to invest in. I can’t wait to get started”.
Proper MD Drew Hill adds: “I’m delighted that Jon is coming on board to employ his expertise as we settle into our new home. Going forward, Jon’s experience will prove invaluable as we continue to grow, and adapt to the challenges and opportunities thrown our way”.
The hiring of Higgs comes as Proper announces record gross profits of £283,000 for 2015 to 2016. The move to new premises sees the company double its warehouse space, while promising that new technology will improve capacity and efficiency.
READ MORE ABOUT: Jon Higgs | Proper Music
Wednesday 22 March 2017, 11:48 | By Chris Cooke
Global adds two more festivals to its portfolio
Business News Deals Gigs & Festivals Live Business
Continuing in its admirable mission to ensure that there are at least a few UK music festivals not owned by Live Nation, Global Entertainment has bought a majority stake in Portsmouth-based family event Victorious.
Meanwhile, aware it has Global in its name, the live entertainment division of Global Radio has also taken a majority stake in Croatian festival Hideout, it already having the various international Snowbombing events on its roster.
A relatively new player in the live entertainment business, Global now has quite the festival portfolio. Those with a ‘who has a stake in what festival’ blackboard in their offices (that’s not just us, right?) should make sure that in the Global column you now have Boardmasters, Electric Elephant, Festival No.6, Field Day, Hideout, Lost Village, Rewind, Snowbombing, South West Four, Standon Calling, Transition, Truck, Victorious Festival and Y Not.
Your list doesn’t have to be in alphabetical order, but we always rub the list off the blackboard and rewrite it A-Z whenever there is another festival takeover. We now have a full-time member of staff to do this.
“We are excited to welcome Victorious and Hideout Festival to the family”, Global COO Ian Hanson said yesterday. “Each of them is a renowned music festival with a strong and loyal following, and we look forward to working with the festivals’ management teams to grow them to the next level. We are continuing to grow our portfolio, with more to come”.
READ MORE ABOUT: Global | Hideout Festival | Victorious Festival
Wednesday 22 March 2017, 11:45 | By Andy Malt
Feargal Sharkey to unveil £50,000 battle of the bands competition
Business News Digital Education & Events Management & Funding
A new digital platform for DIY artists will formally launch at an event in London later today. Called Salute Music Makers, like around 7000 unused websites and apps that litter the internet, it’s based on the premise that unsigned bands have no platform for their music. However, this one is being run as a talent competition with the winner taking a £50,000 prize. And who doesn’t want £50,000? Also, some people you’ve heard of are backing it.
The face of the project is Feargal Sharkey, who returns to giving quotes about the music industry six years after standing down as chief exec of UK Music in 2011. It also has the backing of SBTV’s Jamal Edwards and sponsorship from Unilad.
Here’s how it works: Unsigned bands upload their music for it to be judged by a load of “respected curators”. All entries will be whittled down to a top 100. These will then be put to a public vote, after which the six with the biggest mailing lists will be awarded £10,000 each. They’ll then battle it out on a TV show (it’s not clear where this will be broadcast), creating new original material based on a different theme each week. The overall winner will receive another £40,000 to spend on whatever they like. Maybe they could use it as start-up finance and launch the next digital platform for DIY artists.
“British music can justifiably claim to conquer the world but that incredible success is built upon one thing, talent”, says Sharkey. “In an age of television static and bewildering musical consumer choice, it is now more important than ever that we give the right, focused support and opportunity to the next generation of great British talent. Salute is set to make that happen”.
The competition will open on 5 Apr, with the final 100 announced on 15 May. The ‘TV show’ will begin in September, with the winner announced in October. Here’s more information.
READ MORE ABOUT: Salute Music Makers
Wednesday 22 March 2017, 11:39 | By Andy Malt
Perfume Genius announces new album
Artist News Releases
Perfume Genius has announced that he will release a new album, ‘No Shape’, on 5 May through Matador Records.
Speaking about the new record, the musician says: “I pay my rent. I’m approaching health. The things that are bothering me personally now are less clear, more confusing. I don’t think I really figured them out with these songs”.
However, he continues: “There’s something freeing about how I don’t have it figured out. Unpacking little morsels, magnifying my discomfort, wading through buried harm, laughing at or digging in to the embarrassing drama of it all. I may never come out the other side but it’s invigorating to try and hopefully, ultimately, helpful. I think a lot of them are about trying to be happy in the face of whatever bullshit I created for myself or how horrible everything and everyone is”.
Here’s the video for first single, ‘Slip Away’:
READ MORE ABOUT: Perfume Genius
Wednesday 22 March 2017, 11:34 | By Andy Malt
Agnes Obel wins IMPALA European Independent Album Of The Year award
Artist News Awards Business News
Agnes Obel has taken this year’s IMPALA European Independent Album Of The Year award for her 2016 record ‘Citizen Of Glass’. So, we will never know what would have happened if Danny Brown had won it.
“The title comes from the German concept of the gläserner bürger, the human or glass citizen”, says Obel of her record. “It’s actually a legal term about the level of privacy the individual has in a state, and in health it’s become a term about how much we know about a person’s body or biology or history – if they’re completely made of glass we know everything”.
Commenting on the win, IMPALA Executive Chair Helen Smith adds: “This year’s shortlist was once again a set of great albums. This year’s deserved winner is a Danish artist, living in Germany and signed to a British label first launched in Belgium. That really sums up the European independent music sector today”.
Ah, collaboration throughout Europe, isn’t that a great thing? Something worth celebrating, maybe. Let’s all celebrate it by triggering Article 50.
READ MORE ABOUT: Agnes Obel | The Independent Music Companies Association (IMPALA)
Wednesday 22 March 2017, 11:33 | By Andy Malt
One Liners: Record Store Day, Mariah Carey, Chuck Berry, more
Artist News Business News Gigs & Festivals Labels & Publishers One Liners Releases Retail
Other notable announcements and developments today…
• US collecting society ASCAP has elected its board for the next to years, including new addition singer-songwriter Michelle Lewis. See the full list here.
• So, Record Store Day is still definitely a thing, and here are the exclusive releases that will be unleashed on that very day this year. By which we mean 22 Apr.
• Mariah Carey’s ‘All I Want For Christmas Is You’ is being turned into an animated movie for some reason.
• Following the confirmation that Chuck Berry’s new and final album, ‘Chuck’, would be released later this year, it has now been confirmed that it will be out on 16 Jun. Here’s first single ‘Big Boys’.
• Blondie have released another single from their upcoming new album ‘Pollinator’. This one, ‘Long Time’, was co-written with Dev Hynes.
• Nite Jewel has announced that she will release a new album, ‘Real High’, on 5 May. From it, this is ‘2 Good 2 Be True’.
• Kelly Lee Owens has released the video for ‘Anxi’, her single featuring Jenny Hval.
• Gallops have released new track ‘Crystal Trap’. They’re also touring in April and May in support of new album ‘Bronze Mystic’, out on 21 Apr.
READ MORE ABOUT: ASCAP | Blondie | Chuck Berry | Dev Hynes | Gallops | Kelly Lee Owens | Mariah Carey | Nite Jewel | Record Store Day
