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Friday 21 April 2017, 10:29 | By Chris Cooke
Apple Music launches scheme for championing ‘developing artists’
Business News Digital Marketing & PR
Apple Music has announced a new scheme to big up some of those new artists you all like. Called Up Next, developing acts selected to participate will get a whole load of marketing, content and playlist support from the tech firm’s streaming platform.
The special content created around Up Next acts includes a documentary, an EP, a live session, some Beats 1 gubbins, and an appearance on ‘The Late Late Show With James Corden’, which is a partner on the programme. Apple says that once the content is in the bag it will use “all of its resources to give [the artist’s] music visibility to new audiences”.
Quite how you define ‘developing act’ is, of course, debatable, and first Up Next artist 6lack is already signed to Universal’s Interscope and scoring impressive streams for current single ‘PRBLMS’. Though Apple says that its music team have been backing 6lack for sometime already, including before Interscope’s involvement.
READ MORE ABOUT: 6lack | Apple Music
Friday 21 April 2017, 10:27 | By CMU Editorial
CMU:DIY teams up with Wide Days to create ticketing mini-guide
Business News Education & Events
Scotland’s music convention Wide Days kicks off in Edinburgh today, and in amongst the conference events taking place is a practical session focused on the ticketing business. And based on that session, CMU:DIY will be publishing a mini-guide to selling tickets online.
Says CMU Business Editor Chris Cooke: “So many great practical tips and insights come out of the various music industry events we are partners with, and while we may report on those discussions in the CMU Daily, we’ve always thought it would be good to distill that advice into short user-friendly guides that are accessible to all on a long term basis”.
He goes on: “It’s great to partner with Wide Days on producing the first of these mini-guides, based around the ticketing-focused session taking place at this year’s event. In the post-panel guide we’ll provide our advice on the business of selling tickets to gigs, plus tips galore from the panel taking place today”.
CMU:DIY plans to produce further mini-guides based on both past and future CMU events, and conferences like Wide days, all of which will be available for free at cmudiy.com.
The ticketing session at Wide Days takes place this afternoon, with Gillian Henderson from Ticketmaster and Katie McPhee from Eventbrite outlining different approaches to ticketing, before discussing tips on marketing shows with Lauren Down from the End Of The Road Festival. More info here.
READ MORE ABOUT: Wide Days
Friday 21 April 2017, 10:24 | By Andy Malt
Cabbage vocalist denies accusations of sexual assault at Kasabian show
Artist News
The band Cabbage have denied accusations that vocalist Lee Broadbent sexually assaulted a girl during a performance supporting Kasabian in London earlier this week.
The allegation came from Twitter user Nicole Rushworth, who said that Broadbent had “stood on the barrier [and] proceeded to put his hand down his trousers, fondle himself, then rub his hand over the girl, ragging on her hair, basically forcing her face first into his crotch”.
The father of the unidentified girl referenced in Rushworth’s tweet, who was accompanying his daughter to the show, reportedly complained to security staff who “then brought out the singer to apologise to the girl and all he did was start an argument with her dad. He flat out refused to apologise and got aggressive with him, stating that it was all part of the act”.
The band has refuted this version of events, saying in a statement on Facebook: “We completely deny the accusations put against Lee this morning. His hands were never down his trousers, although he did go down to the barrier to interact with the crowd, as he does at all Cabbage shows. After a complaint was made Lee took it on himself to apologise, which is what any decent person would do if he learns that someone has been offended. Lee met with them, discussed the situation and hands were shaken before father and daughter left and then they stayed for the rest of the show”.
They continued: “Security guards and everyone who saw the show know that these complaints are completely unfounded. We’re very shocked and deeply troubled by these fabrications. Anyone who’s listened to our music, been to one of our gigs or read one of our interviews knows that we would never engage in any of the actions that this tweet accuses us of”.
Since the initial allegation was made on Twitter, there has subsequently been much discussion on the social networks over whether or not putting his hands down his pants is a thing that Broadbent commonly does on stage.
Meanwhile, speaking to The Quietus about the alleged incident, the Safe Gigs For Women organisation said: “We have had multiple reports from different people about the incident at the Kasabian/Cabbage show. We’re planning to reach out to Kasabian and Cabbage/Lee Broadbent … to see if they’d like to discuss it with us. We want to understand what they have to say about it, in hopes we can hear their side and discuss issues of consent in the context of the artist/fan relationship during a gig. We’d also be happy to provide referrals to the girl and her father if they feel the need for them, as we do all victims of sexual assault at gigs who come to us”.
Find more information on SGFW click here.
READ MORE ABOUT: Cabbage
Friday 21 April 2017, 10:20 | By Andy Malt
Classic FM refuses to play operatic punk
Artist News Releases
The Sex Pistols’ Glen Matlock is set to release a new album of operatic versions of classic punk songs, titled ‘The Anarchy Arias’, with performers from the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and English National Opera. Though not without a bit of appropriate controversy.
First off, the artwork for the record apparently had to be changed, after its parody of the classic HMV ‘his master’s voice’ logo was objected to by the original artwork’s current owner, Warner. And now Classic FM is reportedly refusing to play tracks from the record.
A spokesperson for Universal Music, which is releasing the record, said: “It’s like 1977 all over again. Not only is there political unrest, but punk is once again dividing opinion and crossing boundaries. We are shocked that an album recorded by a symphony orchestra and such respected singers won’t be played by the UK’s leading commercial classical station. It seems that the punk rebellion is still alive and kicking”.
I think that might be overstating it a little, but – either way – the album’s out on 2 Jun.
UPDATE 21 Apr, 4.30pm: Amended to clarify source of statement.
READ MORE ABOUT: Classic FM | English National Opera | Glen Matlock | Royal Philharmonic Orchestra | Universal Music
Friday 21 April 2017, 10:13 | By Andy Malt
EMA announces new album, releases This Is England-inspired single
Artist News Releases
EMA has now properly announced her new album, ‘Exile In The Outer Ring’, after her recent claim that she’d had to change labels in order to put it out, because it was deemed too political. It’ll be out on 25 Aug, through City Slang.
Commenting on the record, she says: “This is for my people in the middle country. I don’t look down on, or laugh at, serious issues such as poverty or drug problems. I believe your situations are real, your pain is real. I’m not here to ridicule or dismiss you. But as a person who came from heartland America, I also believe that there is another way than directing your anger at those who often have less power than you. Don’t let your discontent or your patriotism be exploited. Don’t look down, look up”.
Of the first single, ‘Aryan Nation’, she adds: “I actually wrote this song about three years ago. It was partially inspired by people I’ve known in the past and also the British film ‘This Is England’, which most people in the UK are familiar with but hardly any Americans have seen. In the movie a group of non-racist UK skinheads in the 80s are radicalised through prison, poverty, and needless war. The results are violent and tragic. When I watched it I felt like I recognised a glimmer of their hopelessness and confusion in parts of America, but I had no clue how much that would explode in 2017”.
Watch the lyric video for ‘Aryan Nation’ here.
READ MORE ABOUT: EMA
Friday 21 April 2017, 10:12 | By Andy Malt
Tei Shi announces UK shows
Artist News Gigs & Festivals
Tei Shi has announced that she will embark on a UK tour in June, following the recent release of her debut album ‘Crawl Space’.
Describing her ethos as an artist, she says: “Earlier in my career, I hid because I wanted first and foremost to be seen as a creative person making music. I thought that if I presented myself as a singer people wouldn’t get that I write, that I produce too”.
“People have this idea that you can only check some of the proverbial boxes as a creative woman”, she continues. “That you can’t be attractive and sexual and a great singer and a solid performer and a great writer and be in control of your creative space, as if some of those are mutually exclusive for a human woman. My ambition is to represent all of those without having to sacrifice one for the other”.
Here are those tour dates:
17 Jun: Brighton, Patterns
18 Jun: Leeds, Brudenell Social Club
19 Jun: Manchester, The Deaf Institute
20 Jun: London, Islington Assembly Hall
READ MORE ABOUT: Tei Shi
Friday 21 April 2017, 10:10 | By Andy Malt
CMU’s One Liners: Spinal Tap, Gorillaz, Big Boi, more
Artist News Business News Legal Releases
Other notable announcements and developments today…
• Here’s an interesting long read about Spinal Tap’s $400 million lawsuit against Vivendi.
• Gorillaz members 2D and Murdoch have done their first ever ‘live’ interview, speaking to MistaJam on the YouTube channel of Electronic Beats. You can have a watch here.
• Outkast’s Big Boi will release a new solo album, ‘Boomiverse’, in the near future. It’ll feature guests including Maroon 5’s Adam Levine, Jeezy and Killer Mike. First single ‘Mic Jack’, featuring Levine, is out now.
• Pink Floyd’s Roger Waters has announced that he will release a new solo album – the long-awaited follow-up to 1992’s ‘Amused To Death’ – later this year. ‘Is This The Life We Really Want?’ will be out on 2 Jun.
• Mark Lanegan and his band have shared the video for new single ‘Beehive’.
• Poliça have shared new song ‘Lipstick Stains’ from their Record Store Day double A-side seven-inch.
• Tricot have released ‘Melon Soda’ from their upcoming new album ‘3’.
• Want more new music? Check out our weekly Spotify playlist here.
READ MORE ABOUT: Big Boi | Gorillaz | Mark Lanegan | Poliça | Roger Waters | Spinal Tap | Tricot | Vivendi
Friday 21 April 2017, 10:07 | By Andy Malt
Beef Of The Week #351: Russia v Ukraine (Continued)
And Finally Artist News Beef Of The Week
Russia is not unknown for threatening to boycott Eurovision, but this year it looks like it’s actually going to happen. As ongoing political tensions between host country Ukraine and neighbouring Russia seem to have certainly put the latter’s entry out of the competition, it’s now been announced that Russian TV stations won’t even broadcast the show.
As previously reported, Russia was already angry about Ukraine’s 2016 Eurovision winning song ‘1944’. Russia complained before last year’s event that Ukraine was breaking the rules by putting forward a politically-charged work, which it felt was clearly targeting Russia’s occupation of Crimea. Ukraine countered that it was about a totally different event in Crimea’s history and completely unrelated to the current situation.
Allowed to go through to the competition unchallenged, singer Jamala went on to win, which upset Russia even more. It was at that point – with Ukraine now set to host Eurovision 2017 – that the country’s officials started talking boycotts. And right up until the last minute it looked like that’s what would happen. Then, a day before the deadline, Russia decided it would put forward an entry after all.
Former contestant in the Russian version of ‘X-Factor’ Julia Samoilova, who also gained international recognition when she performed at the opening ceremony of the 2014 Socchi Winter Paralympics, was put forward with slightly rubbish song ‘Flame Is Burning’. So that was all fine.
Except that it wasn’t, because she has performed live in Crimea since the occupation. There’s a special blacklist reserved for artists who have done that, banning them from performing in Ukraine. She was not on that blacklist at the time, but Ukrainian officials said that they were now considering either banning her from entering the country, or letting her in and then arresting her. Great stuff.
This, said Russia, was an outrage and they demanded that Eurovision overseer the EBU do something about it. With Ukraine refusing to back down, the idea that Samoilova could perform via satellite was put forward. That seemed like an almost reasonable compromise. Except to Russia, which believed that idea to also be an outrage.
That’s roughly where we were up to last time we spoke about this a month ago. Since then, the EBU has seemingly continued to try and find a resolution that would suit everyone, but none has come. The last ditch effort was seemingly to try to convince Russia to enter a different artist instead. No dice. So that’s it; Russia is out.
In a statement, the EBU said: “These proposals were to either take part via satellite or to change their chosen artist to one who could legally travel to Ukraine for the duration of the contest. Sadly both proposals have been rejected by [Russian broadcaster] Channel One and they have now announced they do not intend to broadcast the Eurovision Song Contest 2017. Unfortunately this means Russia will no longer be able to take part in this year’s competition. We very much wanted all 43 countries to be able to participate and did all we could to achieve this”.
Frank Dieter Freiling, Chairman of the Eurovision Song Contest Reference Group, the event’s steering committee, added: “We strongly condemn the Ukrainian authorities’ decision to impose a travel ban on Julia Samoilova as we believe it thoroughly undermines the integrity and non-political nature of the Eurovision Song Contest and its mission to bring all nations together in friendly competition. However, preparations continue apace for the Eurovision Song Contest in the host city Kiev. Our top priority remains to produce a spectacular Eurovision Song Contest with our member [Ukraine broadcaster] UA:PBC in May”.
So that’s a shame. Eurovision’s supposed to be a bit of fun that everyone can get involved in, regardless of their differences and political events, and that’s not happening. Still, maybe it’s for the best. Given the short notice provided by Theresa May this week, Russia probably needs the extra time to spend on rigging the UK General Election in June.
READ MORE ABOUT: Eurovision Song Contest
Friday 21 April 2017, 08:41 | By Paul Vig
Vigsy’s Club Tip: Simbad & Seiji + Warren Xclnce – Record Store Day After Party @ Junction House
Club Tip CMU Approved
I am trusting that you have all remembered that tomorrow is Record Store Day? Good. Well, here is a special party designed to celebrate all that high street record buying, with two masters of cool beats coming together – Simbad and Paul Dolby aka Seiji.
Groovester Simbad has worked with Gilles Peterson on his Brownswood label, has a fair few remixes to his name on Defected, Raw Fusion and Freerange, to name a few, and is also known for his critically acclaimed 2008 album ‘Supersonic Revelation’.
Tonight he’ll be joined by Bugz In The Attic main player, DJ and remixer extraordinaire, the accomplished cellist Seiji. All in all, this should be a great lesson in quality beats and soulful grooves.
Pattern Sounds – who are the trio of Selassie, Yomi and Wardo – play host to room two with special guest Warren Xclnce joining them. A fine way to end off this year’s Record Store Day.
Saturday 22 Apr, Junction House, 578 Kingsland Road, London, E8 4AH, 10pm-2am, £8 adv, more info here.
READ MORE ABOUT: Seiji | Simbad | Warren Xclnce
Thursday 20 April 2017, 04:25 | By Chris Cooke
Prince estate seeks to stop unofficial EP release
Business News Digital Labels & Publishers Legal
The Prince estate has gone legal over the planned release of six previously unheard tracks by the late musician, which are set to be released this Friday by the producer of the recordings.
Producer Ian Boxill plans to put out the six track EP via a company called Rogue Music Alliance, a label services set-up that says it operates a “hub of label-esque services”, while “partnering with artists to form their own micro label” in a bid to “inspire other artists to step outside the status quo”.
Boxill, who seemingly worked with Prince between 2006 and 2008, reckons that putting out the tracks – which the producer has completed since the musician’s untimely death a year ago – via an independent label services operation is what his one-time collaborator would have wanted.
While announcing the planned release of the ‘Deliverance’ EP, the producer said: “Prince once told me that he would go to bed every night thinking of ways to bypass major labels and get his music directly to the public. When considering how to release this important work, we decided to go independent because that’s what Prince would have wanted”.
Not so, reckons the Prince estate. What Prince would have wanted, it counters, is for Boxill to honour his contract with the musician. And that contract, the estate claims, said that ownership of any content and copyrights created via the two men’s collaborations would sit with Prince.
But, reps for the estate added in a statement to Billboard: “Mr Boxill did not comply with his agreement. Instead, Mr Boxill maintained copies of certain tracks, waited until after Prince’s tragic death, and is now attempting to release tracks without the authorisation of the estate and in violation of the agreement and applicable law”.
The estate also confirmed that it is now pursuing action through the federal courts to halt the release and distribution of the ‘Deliverance’ EP, which was set to hit Apple platforms this Friday, with a subsequent physical release also promised.
So that’s all fun, isn’t it? The legal disputes have been slowly building around Prince’s legacy in the year since his death. One potential legal battle that has been garnering much attention this week is the potential falling out between the estate and Universal Music over the latter’s $30 million deal to distribute a whole stack of Prince recordings, including some of his most famous albums in the US.
As previously reported, quite which Prince albums Universal can distribute when is dependent on the complicated deal Warner Music agreed with the musician in 2014. And last week the Wall Street Journal reported that Universal execs were now saying that the extent of the limitations the Warner contract places on their distribution deal is much more significant than expected. In a letter to the bank now administrating the estate the major said it believed the music industry experts who negotiated the deal for the Prince side misrepresented what recordings were available when.
Not so, says the entertainment lawyer who was until recently advising the Prince estate, L Londell McMillan. Responding to reports about Universal’s letter to Comercia Bank, McMillan has told Billboard: “I was a friend, attorney and manager for Prince for over a decade. Recently, I’ve been asked by the estate’s court approved representative to allow them the freedom to handle this matter; please note, however, there were no misrepresentations on this or any matter”.
He went on: “I’ve been practicing law and advising leading artists, athletes and businesses in entertainment and sports for over 27 years and my record with and outside of Prince speaks for itself. Any suggestion that there was any misrepresentation is false and without merit. There are many motives surrounding my friend Prince’s estate. We are proud of the work done with the Prince estate to protect it and monetise the assets in a manner he would approve”.
To think, if only McMillan had thought to secure a distribution partner “outside the status quo” which could provide “label-esque services” to Prince’s own “micro-label”, all this bother might have been avoided.
READ MORE ABOUT: Ian Boxill | Prince | Rogue Music Alliance
Thursday 20 April 2017, 04:23 | By Chris Cooke
Defamation case against former Kesha lawyer allowed to proceed
Business News Legal
A New York judge has knocked back efforts by celebrity lawyer Mark Geragos to have a defamation lawsuit filed by producer Dr Luke dismissed.
For a time Geragos was representing Kesha in her long-running legal battle with the producer, and it was during that time that the attorney himself ended up on the receiving end of legal action from Luke’s lawyers. The defamation case relates to comments Geragos made on Twitter and to TMZ following an interview Lady Gaga gave to Howard Stern in which she discussed being sexually assaulted.
Allegations of sexual assault are, of course, part of the ongoing legal battle between Kesha and Luke. Linking to a report on the Lady Gaga interview, the lawyer tweeted “Guess who the rapist was?”, subsequently tweeting “#bingo” when someone asked if he meant Dr Luke. He later repeated the allegation to TMZ.
Seeking to have the defamation case thrown out of court, Geragos’s legal firm put forward various arguments, including that neither his tweets nor TMZ should be taken seriously.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, the legal man’s request for dismissal argued that: “Posting the provocative comment ‘guess the rapist’ on Twitter clearly implies the poster’s intent to engage in a non-serious, gossipy and hyperbolic interaction. Additionally, the use of the term ‘bingo’ in and of itself suggests a lack of seriousness”.
Discussing TMZ, the motion to dismiss added: “TMZ is not CNN, the New York Times, or the Associated Press. Instead it is a website that admits its meteoric rise to popularity followed its coverage of actor Mel Gibson’s DUI arrest, comedian Michael Richards’ racist and profanity-laced tirade at the Laugh Factor in Los Angeles, and the news of Britney Spears and Kevin Federline’s divorce. This is not news, it is entertainment”.
But the judge overseeing the case didn’t think that any of Geragos’s arguments were sufficient to dismiss the action, instead ruling that Luke’s case was sufficiently strong for the matter to be properly heard in court.
READ MORE ABOUT: Dr Luke | Kesha | Lady Gaga | Mark Geragos
Thursday 20 April 2017, 04:21 | By Andy Malt
Steel Banglez signs to Warner/Chappell
Artist News Business News Deals Labels & Publishers
British record producer Steel Banglez has signed a new worldwide publishing deal with Warner/Chappell. Having previously worked on tracks for Wiley, Birdman, Krept & Konan, Mist and D Double E, among others, he recently released his debut solo single.
“I feel proud to be signed to Warner/Chappell”, says Steel Banglez. “I love the energy in the building and the A&R team have a great vision of how we can work together to further my songwriting career. I know that the next few years will be successful”.
Warner/Chappel MD Mike Smith adds: “UK urban music has never been as vibrant as it is right now and I am delighted that we are working with Steel Banglez, who is one of the central songwriter/producers to have emerged from the scene. His music embraces a world of influences and we can’t wait to help him expand his career with sync opportunities in films and games, as well as encouraging a thriving solo career”.
Now, let’s talk about that debut solo single I mentioned. It’s called ‘Money’ and features MoStack, Mist, Haile and Abra Cadabra. Here’s the video:
READ MORE ABOUT: Steel Banglez | Warner Chappell
Thursday 20 April 2017, 04:17 | By Andy Malt
Mysteryland US cancels
Business News Live Business
Those of you who’ve been missing the stories about SFX-owned festivals being cancelled can dry your tiny eyes, because the US edition of SFX-owned Mysteryland has just been cancelled. Although you shouldn’t forget that SFX – post-bankruptcy – is now called LiveStyle, which may or may not spoil your enjoyment.
“Dear Nomads”, reads a statement on the American festival’s website. “Due to unforeseen circumstances, Mysteryland USA will no longer take place in 2017. Since 2014, we have strived to produce the best possible experience for our festival attendees, and are truly humbled by all of the love and support that you, the artists, the beautiful venue of Bethel Woods Center For The Arts and the town of Bethel have shown us as we celebrated life through music, culture and art”.
Due to take place in July, the 2017 event was to be headlined by LCD Soundsystem, Major Lazer and G-Eazy. The original version of Mysteryland has been running in the Netherlands since the 1990s. The brand came under SFX control via its 2013 takeover of Dutch promoter ID&T, leading to the launch of a US edition in 2014.
Refunds for the cancelled Mysteryland have already begun to be issued.
READ MORE ABOUT: LiveStyle | Mysteryland
Thursday 20 April 2017, 04:12 | By Andy Malt
Chris T-T announces departure from music
Artist News Gigs & Festivals Releases
Chris T-T has announced that he is splitting up. Or whatever the term is for when a solo artist decides to throw in the towel. He’s set to release a now more poignant 20th anniversary compilation next month, and will be playing shows up until a big finale this autumn.
Writing on his website, the musician said: “I’ve decided to give up making and touring music as Chris T-T for the foreseeable future. The UK concerts I’m doing in the next few weeks will be the last T-T tour dates, which is cool because they’re 20th Anniversary ‘Best Of’ shows anyway. After that I’m booked for three summer festivals, including Cambridge Folk. Finally, if we can organise it, I’ll do one-off ‘farewell’ night in London, which will be in autumn”.
Of his plans, he adds: “From 1 Jun, I’m hoping to try some new projects. I like audio editing and podcasting, so I’m developing ideas there. Maybe I’ll write a book, I don’t know. I’ll always compose and play piano – but if I return to making music publicly at any point, I feel as if I need to start from scratch and create in an entirely fresh way”.
Crikey, we’d best give you those upcoming tour dates again then. Here they are:
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
READ MORE ABOUT: Chris T-T
Thursday 20 April 2017, 04:10 | By Andy Malt
Paramore announce new album
Artist News Gigs & Festivals Releases
Paramore have announced that they will release their new album, ‘After Laughter’, on 12 May. Pre-ordering it right this very minute will get you an instant grat download of first single ‘Hard Times’. Make a note of that. Yes, instant grat’s still a thing.
The album makes official the return of former drummer Zac Farro, who announced that he was back recording with the band last year. He and his guitarist brother Josh previously left Paramore somewhat acrimoniously in 2010.
It is completely possible for you to watch the video for ‘Hard Times’ here. Instant grat be damned.
There are tour dates too. Who doesn’t like tour dates? I fucking love tour dates. Tour dates:
15 Jun: Dublin, Olympia
16 Jun: Belfast, Waterfront
18 Jun: Manchester, Apollo
19 Jun: London, Royal Albert Hall
21 Jun: Bristol, Colston Hall
22 Jun: Edinburgh, Usher Hall
READ MORE ABOUT: Paramore
Thursday 20 April 2017, 04:08 | By Andy Malt
Ghostpoet releases new single, announces tour dates
Artist News Gigs & Festivals Releases
Ghostpoet has released new track ‘Immigrant Boogie’, as well as announcing tour dates for this autumn.
“It’s a first person account of a difficult journey across borders, partly intended to ask those who have questioned the arrival of refugees in recent times what they would do in the same situation”, says the musician of the new song. “It is written in two halves – the first hopeful for a brighter future, while the second sees hope snatched away by forces beyond the control of the storyteller”.
He continues: “There is an important story to be told there, but I wrote the song in a way that aims to capture a broader human truth: that while we are all working for a better life for ourselves, we have to accept that we are not in control of the outcome”.
Listen to ‘Immigrant Boogie’ here:
And here are those live dates:
24 Oct: Dublin, Button Factory
25 Oct: Liverpool, Invisible Wind Factory
26 Oct: Newcastle, Riverside
28 Oct: Glasgow, Stereo
29 Oct: Sheffield, Plug
30 Oct: Leeds, Brudenell Social Club
31 Oct: Birmingham, Mama Rouxs
2 Nov: Cambridge, The Junction
3 Nov: Oxford, Academy 2
4 Nov: Dover, The Booking Hall
6 Nov: Leicester, Academy 3
7 Nov: London, Printworks
11 Nov: Manchester, Academy 2
12 Nov: Norwich, Arts Centre
13 Nov: Portsmouth, Wedgewood Rooms
14 Nov: Bristol, Marble Factory
READ MORE ABOUT: Ghostpoet
Thursday 20 April 2017, 04:04 | By Andy Malt
Royal Blood announce May tour dates
Artist News Gigs & Festivals
Having just announced the June release of their second album, ‘How Did We Get So Dark?’, Royal Blood have now announced some tour dates for May. They’ll also be playing loads of festivals this summer, obvs.
Tour dates:
17 May: Cambridge, Corn Exchange
18 May: Newcastle, Academy
19 May: Southampton, Guildhall
20 May: Leicester, Academy
Tickets go on sale on 28 Apr, so probably set a reminder on your phone or something.
READ MORE ABOUT: Royal Blood
Thursday 20 April 2017, 03:58 | By Andy Malt
One Liners: Kobalt, Nicki Minaj, Lana Del Rey, more
Artist News Business News Gigs & Festivals Industry People Labels & Publishers Live Business Management & Funding One Liners Releases
Other notable announcements and developments today…
• Kobalt has hired former Three Six Zero General Manager and General Counsel Arif Mahmud to lead business affairs for the company’s music recordings division outside the US. “I had always been envious”, says Mahmud. Kobalt’s Paul Hitchman adds: “We have a lot of great things”.
• US agent David Klein has left CAA for UTA, it has been announced. “Dave has many amazing qualities”, says UTA CEO Jeremy Zimmer. “I am THRILLED”, adds Klein.
• The PRS Foundation and BASCA Trust have announced a new programme of grants of up to £10,000 for songwriters and writer-producers: The Writer Producer Fund. “Talented music creators who work behind the scenes rather than on stage and in the limelight tend to be overlooked when it comes to funding”, says PRS Foundation CEO Vanessa Reed. “Our new initiative responds to that gap”.
• Nicki Minaj has released a video for her recent Drake and Lil Wayne featuring single, ‘No Frauds’.
• Lana Del Rey has released ‘Lust For Life’, featuring The Weeknd. Listen, if you want.
• Omar Souleyman will release his new album, ‘To Syria, With Love’, on 2 Jun.
• Vessels have released new single ‘Radiart’, the first track from their upcoming new album. They’ve also announced that they’ll headline Village Underground on 4 Oct. Get tickets, they’re great.
READ MORE ABOUT: Arif Mahmud | British Academy of Songwriters Composers & Authors (BASCA) | David Klein | Drake | Kobalt | Lana Del Rey | Lil Wayne | Nicki Minaj | Omar Souleyman | PRS Foundation | UTA | Vessels
Thursday 20 April 2017, 03:55 | By Andy Malt
Ed Sheeran gets meaty tattoo to celebrate new single
And Finally Artist News
Ed Sheeran’s comedy Irish rap ‘Galway Girl’ now has a comedy tattoo to go with it. He recently got the name of the song inked on his arm, only realising afterwards that the tattoo had a typo in it.
Speaking at a show in Glasgow, Sheeran explained that the error (or perhaps not) was the work of actor Saoirse Ronan, with whom he recently filmed the video for the song.
“When we were filming it, I meant to get a tattoo of her handwriting saying ‘Galway Girl'”, he said. “It actually says Galway Grill. Like, full on, she really took the piss out of me with this one. It actually says Galway Grill. G-r-i-l-l”.
He’s not angry though. “I’m actually kind of proud of her”, he went on. “It’s the kind of thing that I would do”.
If there isn’t a Kebab shop in Galway called Galway Grill by Tuesday, everyone is letting themselves down. Do remember to proof read the sign though. Proof reading is important.
READ MORE ABOUT: Ed Sheeran
Thursday 20 April 2017, 03:14 | By Andy Malt
Approved: PassCode
CMU Approved
Despite Babymetal’s success, it still remains mildly astonishing the number of acts that also follow the same extreme/pop musical mash up path. Just the existence of Babymetal remains joyously perplexing, but there are a load more acts doing a similar thing waiting in the wings.
Just now I was listening to the new single from hardcore punk girl group Guso Drop, wondering what set of circumstances led it to contain the words “fuckathon me”. But my attention was quickly drawn away by the new single from PassCode, whose frenetic electro-metal became a new favourite when they released their debut single, ‘Miss Unlimited’, last year.
Second single ‘Bite The Bullet’ follows the same mould – bone crushing riffs, roaring vocals tearing through over-autotuned melodies, and synth lines that knock you sideways. It also has a brief ambient section, which is fun. It’s all fun. Fun and a little confusing. I wish more music drew that reaction.
Here’s the video for ‘Bite The Bullet’:
Stay up to date with all of the artists featured in the CMU Approved column by subscribing to our Spotify playlist.
READ MORE ABOUT: Guso Drop | PassCode
Wednesday 19 April 2017, 21:15 | By Andy Malt
Approved: Erik Luebs
CMU Approved
Erik Luebs has appeared in this column in his better known Magical Mistakes guise several times, but he’s just released his second EP under his own name, which also deserves attention. The three track release, ‘Wasteland’, sees him pursue longer explorations into techno production than on Magical Mistakes releases.
Opener ‘Red C’ is the EP at its hardest, coming on like a shipping container lost at sea, beats and synths tossed around on pulsing waves for nine exhilarating minutes. ‘Crashed’, meanwhile, moves into more ambient realms, a journey less rough but no less enjoyable.
A bonus not on the EP itself, but well worth seeking out, is a remix of ‘Red C’ from other CMU faves, Vessels.
Check out the original ‘Red C’ 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: Erik Luebs | Magical Mistakes
Wednesday 19 April 2017, 21:10 | By Andy Malt
Police hunt fiancé of ex-TOWIE star over Hackney acid attack
Business News Legal Live Business
Police are attempting to locate the fiancé of former ‘The Only Way Is Essex’ star Ferne McCann in relation to the suspected acid attack at Hackney’s Mangle nightclub earlier this week.
As previously reported, several people were injured, two seriously, when a noxious substance was thrown inside the club in the early hours of Monday morning. It is believed that the incident occurred following a dispute between two groups of men. Around 600 people were evacuated from the venue.
Police have now issued an arrest warrant for Hertfordshire businessman Arthur Collins, who is currently missing. A raid was carried out on an address in Hertfordshire on Monday night, police have confirmed. People have been warned not to approach Collins if they spot him.
A spokesperson for McCann said: “Ferne is aware that the police wish to speak to Arthur Collins and the nature of the accusations against him. Obviously these are highly shocking and Ferne has co-operated with the police in their inquiries”.
They added: “She was not with Arthur on Sunday night, was not at Mangle and has no direct knowledge of the events that unfolded. As much as anybody she wants to know the truth and urges Arthur to co-operate fully with the police and attend a police station immediately”.
McCann had announced the couple’s engagement on Sunday, and they are on the cover of this week’s OK Magazine discussing their plans.
The number of people injured in the attack has now risen to 20, with a police spokesperson saying in an update on the investigation: “We now have 20 people suffering from the effects of an acidic substance being sprayed in a confined space in a busy nightclub. All have burn related injuries. The noxious substance used has not yet been confirmed but samples retrieved from the scene have been sent for analysis. If you were there and saw anyone involved inside or leaving the nightclub, please get in touch”.
READ MORE ABOUT: Mangle E8
Wednesday 19 April 2017, 21:07 | By Andy Malt
Spotify updates artist analytics platform, launches Facebook Messenger extension
Business News Digital
Spotify has announced an overhaul of its Fan Insights service, renaming it Spotify For Artists and pumping a whole load of new functionality into the dashboard that is accessible to artists and managers, even when a label or distributor actually supplies their content to the streaming service. Verified artists and their managers will now have greater control over the look of their Spotify profile as well as having access to all kinds of fancy data.
Data wise, some of the info available via Spotify For Aritsts was already in Fan Insights, though some of it is new. The dashboard includes demographic and location information about an artist’s listeners, including a real-time feed of said listeners. It will also provide data on the performance of individual tracks and how they are performing in playlists.
“What we’re seeing is that artists of all sizes need the help”, former Lady Gaga manager turned Spotify artist liaison guy Troy Carter tells Billboard. “Someone who is one of the top 50 artists in the world, they’re still trying to figure out a lot of things about their fans as it relates to specific demographics, how to reach them, how to sell more tickets, how to appeal to audiences that you may not necessarily appeal to on typical radio. But what we’re seeing as you go down the stream, artists who more typically self-serve, they also need more tools. We feel like Spotify For Artists is providing them”.
While he was in chatting mode, Carter also denied the long-running rumours that Spotify plans to move into label territory by signing artists itself, saying: “There’s a lot of speculation that we’re going into the label business, and I think we couldn’t be further from it. Our thing is, how do we support our partners on every end and allow them to use Spotify as a distribution platform, a place where they can reach more fans, and just be the most value-added partner that they’re gonna find”.
Speaking of chatting, Facebook has just announced a bunch of new extensions for its Messenger app, including for Spotify and Apple Music to allow easier sharing of music.
Facebook already did this for Spotify just over a year ago, but seemingly this time it’s going to do it in a less half-arsed way. It’ll allow you to search for songs to share without leaving the Messenger app, and to get a recommended playlist based on your mood (or the person you’re chatting with). No, you are not dreaming, all of your wildest dreams really have come true.
READ MORE ABOUT: Apple Music | Facebook | Spotify
Wednesday 19 April 2017, 21:05 | By Andy Malt
BBC Proms to stream in lossless audio format
Business News Media
To mark the 90th anniversary of the Proms, BBC Radio 3 has announced that it will stream the whole event in lossless audio. This will be the highest audio quality in which the Beeb has ever broadcast.
Says BBC Radio 3 controller Alan Davey: “BBC Radio 3 listeners are the most discerning music fans in the world – the quality of the sound is almost as important as the quality of the music itself. We’ve always innovated around the Proms, and this new lossless audio stream will let our audience experience the whole season in spectacular, unprecedented quality. The Proms are the biggest event in the classical music calendar, and this year listeners will feel as if they were standing in the arena of the Royal Albert Hall”.
They won’t, but it’s a nice idea. I mean the Royal Albert Hall is quite different to most people’s living rooms. But I’m sure it’ll sound just lovely. Unless you all play it through your laptop speakers, in which case the whole thing is probably a pointless endeavour.
If you happen to be interested in the technology behind all this, the BBC R&D unit has published a detailed blog post on it all.
READ MORE ABOUT: BBC | BBC Proms | BBC Radio 3
Wednesday 19 April 2017, 20:12 | By Andy Malt
Lady Gaga releases new single, talks mental health with Prince Harry
Artist News Releases
Lady Gaga did a new song at Coachella last weekend. She’ll probably do it again this weekend. But this time you’ll be able to sing along, because she’s made a studio recording of it available for all to hear:
Elsewhere in Gaga news, she recently Facetimed Prince Harry to kick off Heads Together, a new mental health focussed campaign from The Royal Foundation Of The Duke And Duchess Of Cambridge And Prince Harry.
The series of Heads Together #oktosay videos show a variety of people discussing the conversation where they first opened up about their own mental health issues and how that changed their lives.
Watch Gaga and Harry’s film here:
READ MORE ABOUT: Lady Gaga
Wednesday 19 April 2017, 20:06 | By Andy Malt
Queen + Adam Lambert announce tour dates
Artist News Gigs & Festivals
Queen are going to be heading out on tour at the end of this year, back with Adam Lambert standing in for Freddie Mercury. And this time they’re refusing to only play songs you want to hear.
“The general public knows the hits, so you’ve got to cater for that”, sighs Brian May. “But we can chuck in a few things that people really don’t expect. We’ll do quite a bit more of that this time around. There are so many dimensions to Adam, which of course fits with our music. He can get down and do the rock stuff really dirty, and you have all those dimensions, and we can explore that even more”.
Lambert adds: “What people should know if they came to the shows a couple of years back, is obviously we will still be playing the big hit songs you know and love from Queen, but we thought it would be good to challenge ourselves a bit. Change it up a little bit, change the visuals, change all the technology, change the set list to some degree. We will probably be pulling some other songs out of the Queen catalogue which we haven’t done before, which I am very excited about”.
Tickets go on sale on Friday, but when are the dates? Thence:
25 Nov: Dublin, 3 Arena
26 Nov: Belfast, SSE Arena
28 Nov: Liverpool, Echo Arena
30 Nov: Birmingham, Barclaycard Arena
1 Dec: Newcastle, Metro Radio Arena
3 Dec: Glasgow, Hydro
5 Dec: Nottingham Motorpoint Arena
6 Nov: Leeds, First Direct Arena
8 Dec: Sheffield, Motorpoint Arena
9 Dec: Manchester, Arena
12 Dec: London, O2 Arena
15 Dec: London, Wembley Arena
READ MORE ABOUT: Adam Lambert | Queen
Wednesday 19 April 2017, 20:04 | By Andy Malt
One Liners: Ed Sheehan, Kendrick Lamar, Alessia Cara, more
Artist News Gigs & Festivals Media One Liners Releases
Other notable announcements and developments today…
• Ed Sheeran’s going to be on Radio 4’s ‘Desert Island Discs’ on 7 May. That boy gets everywhere.
• Kendrick Lamar has released the video for ‘DNA’ from new album ‘Damn’. It’s got Don Cheadle in it.
• Zedd and Alessia Cara have released the video for ‘Stay’, even though that song’s been out for ages.
• Noah ‘Sister Of Miley’ Cyrus has released new single ‘Stay Together’.
• The Comet Is Coming have released a new single, which is exciting. Here’s ‘Start Running’.
• Denai Moore has announced a show at The Courtyard in East London on 9 May. Tickets are via ballot, so you’d best apply here.
• Babymetal have just announced their own festival in Japan. It will run over nine dates, but – as well as getting yourself to Japan – you will have to jump through some hoops to get in.
READ MORE ABOUT: Alessia Cara | Babymetal | Denai Moore | Ed Sheeran | Kendrick Lamar | Noah Cyrus | The Comet Is Coming | Zedd
Wednesday 19 April 2017, 20:01 | By Andy Malt
Slayer’s Tom Araya thinks you’re a crybaby (assuming you’re American, but probably otherwise too)
And Finally Artist News Media
They say that more right-leaning political debate can often lack nuance, but Slayer’s Tom Araya just said that “America has become a nation of crybabies”, so that’s that debunked. I’m joking, Tom Araya is a bit cagey about whether he leans right or left.
Speaking to Chilean radio station Futuro 88.9fm, Araya commented on a recent mild controversy when he posted a Photoshopped image of Slayer featuring Donald Trump on the band’s social media pages. Some people don’t like Donald Trump, it turns out. Sad.
“That’s what America has become”, said Araya. “It’s become a bunch of people that, because they didn’t get their way, they’re mad. I shared a picture that I thought was funny. They can’t even joke. They can’t even laugh at themselves. They can’t even have fun. And that just is amazing that it’s come to that. We’re a nation of crybabies”.
He added: “I knew that some people wouldn’t like it. You have to do that, though, you know what I mean? I’m in Slayer, and being in Slayer, sometimes you do stuff like that just to piss people off”.
He’s right, and you totally took that bait. That’s just like you. If you get that angry about a picture of Donald Trump, just imagine how you’ll feel when you find out he’s a real person.
READ MORE ABOUT: Slayer | Tom Araya
Wednesday 19 April 2017, 10:29 | By Chris Cooke
UK Music sets out demands to Westminster as General Election called
Business News Top Stories
So, yesterday Theresa Mayhem decided to call a snap General Election, because – you know – there haven’t been enough political distractions in the last eighteen months. So it now seems likely that on 8 Jun the Great British public will be forced back to the polls to decide which team of twonks will negotiate this Brexit nonsense. Good times.
Somewhat aptly, yesterday cross-sector trade group UK Music also put out its response to the industrial strategy green paper recently published by the British government, calling on political types to introduce various measures to ensure that the creative industries can succeed both post-Brexit and in this here digital age.
That response – based on three months of consultation with different groups within the music community – now doubles up as something of a manifesto for music types lobbying politicians while they are eager for votes.
Says UK Music: “[We are] urging all parties to ensure the UK is in the best possible position to develop and grow the creative sector. The music industry contributes £4.1 billion in GVA to the economy, accounts for £2.2 billion in exports and employs almost 120,000 people”.
It goes on: “Five key priorities are set out in UK Music’s response to the government’s industrial strategy green paper which was published today following a three-month consultation period”. Those priority areas cover intellectual property, skills and education, finance and investment, international action and regional development.
In its lengthy response paper, UK Music insists that these priorities “need to be addressed to ensure the UK remains an attractive place for a talented and creative music industry”. It concludes: “Supporting these priorities will in turn enable the government’s overarching objectives for industrial strategy to be realised”.
You can download UK Music’s response paper here.
READ MORE ABOUT: UK Music
Wednesday 19 April 2017, 07:24 | By CMU Editorial
Insights Blog: Five more CMU@TGE updates, new speakers galore!
Insights Blog The Great Escape 2017
The Great Escape is now less than a month away, and in amongst all the festivities in Brighton you will once again find the four CMU Insights @ The Great Escape conferences. That’s The Media Conference and The Drugs Conference on Thursday 18 May, and The Export Conference and The Royalties Conference on Friday 19 May.
The schedules for each of these conferences are now very nearly complete, and we’ve just added speakers to five of the sessions taking place across the programme. Here are the latest updates – in five handy steps…
1. Promoting best practice music export support. Numerous countries now have government or industry funded organisations that exist to help new artists export into new markets – most of which have an official presence at The Great Escape. Sound Diplomacy has surveyed many of these export offices to produce a Global Music Export Pledge, a best practice guide for those countries with existing music export initiatives, and those thinking of setting one up for the first time. Sound Diplomacy’s Danny Keir will formally launch the report and present its findings at our Export Conference.
2. So, where’s all the money? All five guest speakers have now been confirmed for the Royalties Conference session ‘How The Cash Flows’. Also joining CMU’s Chris Cooke will be PPL’s Amanda Carmichael, who will explain how artists get paid whenever their tracks are broadcast or performed around the world; Lewis Silkin’s Nigel Dewar Gibb, who will look at how sorting the formalities of rights is crucial if you want to get your royalties; and Catlotta De Ninni from Mycelia, who will introduce an exciting new project that will help music creatives understand how their songs reach the world and generate revenue. IP experts Becky Brook and Sophie Goossens were already confirmed to present.
3. Export tips galore for new acts in the UK. Don’t forget the ‘MEGS Guide To Exporting New Talent’ in the Export Conference, four case studies providing practical tips on launching new artists in new markets courtesy of past recipients of the UK’s Music Export Growth Scheme funding, which is provided by the Department For International Trade and administered by BPI. Added to this session is Phil Middleton from ATC, discussing his work with Temperance Movement, and Samantha Smith from Fairsound Management, on exporting Lonelady.
4. Where next for radio? Is the radio industry ready to compete with the ever-more-radio-like streaming services? Is it at risk of losing a generation who are more likely to tune in to YouTube and Instagram than the FM dial? Joining Folder Media’s Matt Deegan and Platform B’s Nats Spada for the radio session in our Media Conference are 7digital’s Deputy CEO Pete Downton and BBC Radio 1 producer Kate Holder.
5. When music gets synced. Back in the Royalties Conference, the session focused on working with the TV, film, gaming and advertising sectors – talking all things sync, production music and original commissions – is looking even better. Joining Simon Pursehouse from Sentric and Stacey Mitsopulos from The Box Plus Network are the BBC’s Head Of Music Licensing Nicky Bignell and PRS For Music’s Director Of Broadcast & Online Andy Harrower. With another guest still to be announced!
CMU Insights @ The Great Escape takes place on 18 and 19 May at the heart of the TGE Convention programme. Get a delegates pass to get access to all of the CMU conferences, other convention sessions and parties, and priority access to the TGE festival.
READ MORE ABOUT: The Great Escape
