Themes announced for CMU Insights @ The Great Escape 2017: Export, royalties, media and drugs
Today we announce the themes of the four conferences that will make up the CMU Insights @ The Great Escape programme in Brighton this May.

Once again CMU@TGE sits at the heart of the TGE Convention programme aimed at the 3500 industry delegates who attend Brighton's marvelous festival for new music each May.

The CMU@TGE conference is basically four conferences in one, taking place over two days in two spaces at the Dukes @ Komedia cinema. Each conference puts the focus on one particular theme, with a mix of insight presentations, case studies, one-on-one interviews and panel debates.

This year's CMU@TGE programme includes...

The Export Conference
In an increasingly connected world, is it easier than ever for new artists to go global, or is access to investment and on-the-ground support still key? We provide a user-friendly guide to taking new artists global, learning from past recipients of the Music Export Growth Scheme. Plus how to get the most out of showcase festivals and what, exactly, does Brexit mean for the music industry in the UK and beyond?

The Royalties Conference
We track all the money as it goes from sale, sync and stream to artist and songwriter, via labels, distributors, publishers and collecting societies. How are your music rights really making money and where do all the royalties go? Including global collective licensing explained; the shift to direct licensing in live; and digital's big transparency problem.

The Media Conference
We explore the challenge of making money out of music media in the digital age. Great music journalism may get the clicks, but can it generate revenue in an era where so much advertising spend goes to social and search? Is the future of music media a combination of branded content, unpaid writers and click-bait headlines? Plus is music radio really ready for its impending collision with the streaming platforms?

The Drugs Conference
Following the battle for Fabric, we ask what clubs, promoters, law enforcement and licensing officials should really be doing to save lives. What practical measures can be taken to ensure the safety of our customers? And what about drug culture within the music community? How can artists embrace the sex, drugs and rock n roll lifestyle without damaging their health and that of those around them?

The CMU@TGE conferences sit alongside a series of Courtroom Conversations presented by The Great Escape's industry partners, plus an assortment of parties and showcases, the aim being to help the industry contingent at The Great Escape to truly learn, network and discover while they are in Brighton.

The CMU@TGE programme taps into the year-round reportage that you find in this here CMU Daily - and the research and training courses of CMU Insights - to offer a unique conference experience. And for those delegates keen to use their TGE experience to further their own personal professional development, this year they will be able to tap extra pre and-post event resources and a pre-event seminar by opting into CMU@TGE Industry Extra.

Confirming the themes due to be explored at The Great Escape this year, Event Manager Kevin Moore said: "The CMU conference programme at The Great Escape has repeatedly led the way in recent years by putting the most current music industry talking points under the spotlight, often for the first time, whether that be the power of playlists and the YouTuber, the evolving label/manager relationship, the industry's myriad data challenges, or the need to address mental health in the music community. This year's topics look set to continue that trend".

"Plus, since we launched the 'four-conferences-in-one' format", he continues, "our conference programme has really stood out by delving much deeper than your average music industry event, so to better enlighten, education and inspire our delegates".

To find out more about the thinking behind this year's themes check out this Insights Blog by CMU Business Editor Chris Cooke. And don't forget, all the TGE Convention activity is in addition to the Great Escape festival programme, which is shaping up to be extra special this year.

Details of key speakers for each of the four CMU@TGE conferences will be announced next month. Meanwhile, get a delegate pass for full access to the TGE convention and festival HERE, or a convention-only pass to access just the conference HERE.

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CMU and The Great Escape launch new scheme for first time speakers
As we announce the themes to be explored in the CMU@TGE conferences this year, we are also launching a new scheme encouraging industry execs who have never spoken at a music conference before to put themselves forward for consideration, with the promise of free public speaking training and coaching for those who are selected to take part in the proceedings.

Says CMU Business Editor Chris Cooke: "In an ever evolving industry, it's important to get as wide a range of voices on stage at events like our CMU@TGE conferences. We've always tried to encourage some first time speakers onto our conference stage, but this year we wanted to formalise that process, in a bid to discover budding new speakers who we're not aware of, but who have some fascinating new insights to share".

He goes on: "Speaking at a big music conference for the first time can be a nerve wracking experience, and that can be what stops certain important voices from getting heard at events like ours. That's why we have decided to offer free public speaking training and coaching to our first time speakers".

"It's amazing how beneficial a practice run can be, while a simple pre-event conversation can help a new speaker organise their thoughts and hone the story they have to tell", he continues. "I'm really excited to be able to offer that little bit of support to new speakers this year, and hope we'll get some people on stage this May who'll then be appearing at other conferences in the coming years".

As the CMU@TGE conferences focus on four specific themes, obviously the new speaker programme is geared towards those working in relevant areas of the music industry. Though first time speakers equipped to talk about other topics are also invited to put themselves forward, as there are opportunities to speak at other CMU Insights and CMU:DIY events that take place throughout the year.

For more information on the programme and to sign up, click here.

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Notting Hill Carnival at risk of a "Hillsborough scale tragedy", police warn
Police have warned that the Notting Hill Carnival is at risk of a "Hillsborough scale tragedy" if steps are not taken to improve safety. An increase in violent crime and overcrowding at the annual event are key areas of concern, says a new report by the London Assembly Police And Crime Committee.

As one of Europe's biggest carnivals, the event is a major operation, with over 50,000 performers and a million visitors over two days policed by up to 7000 police officers each day.

The new report says that there were 450 arrests at the 2016 event, up from 300 in 2015 and the highest number since 2008. Though more than the rise in arrests, it was a rise in violent crime which police said was worrying, with four near-fatal stabbings last year.

"Public concern about the level of crime at Carnival is nothing new", says the report. "But we are now seeing a rise in more serious and violent crimes: this year four stabbings almost became murders. Traditionally, the vast majority of offences have been related to theft and drugs. The number of violent crimes, however, is rising. Several of those violent incidents were serious and nearly resulted in loss of life: something that has not happened at Carnival in over a decade".

The report also noted points of overcrowding that put the public in danger. In particular, it singled out an area of Ladbroke Grove where people have to push together to allow carnival floats and support vehicles through. Also, in an area of All Saints Road, safety barriers collapsed three times in 2016, due to the number of people attempting to get close to the soundsystems.

Chair of the London Assembly Police And Crime Committee Steve O'Connell says in the report that "alarm bells are ringing" over the event, adding: "We want Carnival to succeed, but it has reached a tipping point where the status quo is not an option. The previous mayor got a grip on London's New Year's Eve fireworks; the current mayor now needs to do the same with Notting Hill Carnival".

"The police warn of the risk of a 'Hillsborough' scale tragedy; it would be foolish to ignore these voices", adds Met Police Public Order Commander David Musker. "Each year, and last year was no exception, we came exceptionally close to a major catastrophic failure of public safety where members of the public would face serious injury".

The report concludes: "We have heard of a number of possible changes to Carnival which could both help return it to its roots as a celebration of Caribbean culture and enhance public safety. Organisers need to give serious consideration to any changes, big or small, that will improve both safety and the overall Carnival experience".

In its recommendations, it adds that the mayor's office should provide "advice and guidance" to help find a "more formal and financially sustainable footing" - the cost of policing last year's event having come in at £7 million.

Speaking to The Guardian, race relations activist Lee Jasper, who authored a report into the Carnival in 2004, while working for then London Mayor Ken Livingstone, said that he was "underwhelmed" by the new report, saying that it largely raised concerns he had identified thirteen years ago. However, he said that he agreed that the event has grown too big to be organised by a volunteer group.

"It's tokenistic, I think it lacks insight", he said of the report. "I think they haven't done their homework, I think they don't understand Notting Hill Carnival. And if you meddle with Notting Hill Carnival and you don't understand it, trust me, there'll be huge repercussions. It's not something which you can get wrong".

Sadiq Khan is yet to comment.

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Hip hop podcast host Taxstone arrested over TI show shooting
The host of the Tax Season hip hop podcast Daryl Campbell, aka Taxstone, has been charged in relation to that fatal shooting at New York's Irving Plaza, ahead of a performance by TI, last May.

As previously reported, one person was killed and three injured in the shooting, which took place backstage at the show. The dead man was named as Ronald McPhatter, bodyguard of rapper Troy Ave, aka Roland Collins, who was later arrested and charged with attempted murder and possession of an illegal weapon. CCTV footage shows Collins, who was also injured during the incident, entering the backstage bar and opening fire.

Initial reports alleged that Collins was targeting fellow rapper Maino, who had just left that stage, and with whom he had been feuding. However, it now seems that police believe the incident related to another of Collins' feuds, with Campbell.

He was arrested on Monday, after several months of investigation, say prosecutors. A federal complaint states that his DNA was discovered on the murder weapon, which was found hidden in a van used to take Collins to hospital after he was shot. In particular, it says, DNA on the base of the gun's magazine indicates that Campbell was the person who loaded it.

Neither man has actually been charged with McPhatter's death. However, at an arraignment yesterday Assistant District Attorney Hagan Scotten repeatedly told the court that Campbell fired first, according to DNAinfo. "He had a gun in his hand and he murdered someone", he said at one point, arguing that Campbell should not be granted bail.

Prosecutors pointed to a number of statements Campbell had made on his podcast, several mocking Collins, as indications of guilt. In particular, one comment made shortly before the shooting was held up, in which he questioned Collins' use of bodyguards, suggesting this was a sign of weakness.

"I can protect myself as a man, so I'm not thinking about rolling with six goons", he said on the podcast. "When I see you walking up with six dudes, bang-ba-ba-ba-ba-ba-ba-ba - I want to embarrass somebody, and that's why I started bullying Troy Ave, you know what I mean?"

The prosecution's request to deny bail was not granted, with the judge setting it at $500,000 - the same as that granted to Collins. However, Campbell will be kept under house arrest, allowed only to leave, wearing an electronic tag, to record his podcast and to meet with his legal team.

He will appear in court again on 16 Feb.

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UK Music boss Jo Dipple to step down
Chief exec of the music industry's trade body of trade bodies, UK Music - Jo Dipple - has announced that she will step down from the role later this year. In June, in fact, which gives her the opportunity to take the whole summer off. I assume that's why she's doing it. Shit, let's all resign in June.

"Jo has led the organisation to robust health", whispered UK Music Chair Andy Heath, giving out the news. "Under her leadership, UK Music successfully challenged [he Department For Business, Innovation and Skills] in the courts over new copyright legislation, helped introduce a Live Music Act, amended [Department For Communities And Local Government] planning law, launched an anti-piracy education campaign, published 'Measuring Music' and 'Wish You Were Here' and prevented the g overnment from cutting BBC music services".

"Her work in launching the UK Music Skills Academy led to a sea-change in training strategy for the sector", he continued slightly louder. "Seventy new apprenticeship jobs were created and there exists now a structured approach to improving entry-level access, ensuring open recruitment and driving diversity policies".

And then finally, he boomed: "Jo has built an outstanding team full of talent and ambition and has made UK Music into a highly visible presence. I have really enjoyed working with her over the course of more than eight years".

Dipple has been boss of UK Music for five years, after three years spent as its head of government relations. She said of her departure: "I am privileged to have worked with successful industry bosses and supremely talented musicians and creators. Music is part emotion and part business and the UK gets both right over and over again. The founders of UK Music were determined to secure the very best regulatory landscape for this outstanding industry. Its members will continue to bring a practical and business-like approach to opportunities and challenges ahead".

She's not worried that there'll be any bother about finding a replacement for her either, despite giving five months notice. "UK Music will attract the very highest candidate to take this role", she said. "It is a unique body with an exceptional membership".

Maybe - well, as a trade body of trade bodies that counts a trade body of trade bodies as one of its members, it's certainly unique.

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T In The Park ordered to repay £50,000 to Scottish government
Live Nation subsidiary DF Concerts has been ordered to return one third of a £150,000 grant from the Scottish government that it received for T In The Park in 2015.

As previously reported, the grant was provided to aid T In The Park's now, I think it's fair to say, pretty disastrous move from Balado in Kinross to Strathallan Castle. The funding proved controversial, and Scottish Culture Secretary Fiona Hyslop was called before the Scottish Parliament to justify handing it over.

Criticisms included suggestions of "cronyism", after it emerged that the grant was organised by a one-time aide of former SNP leader Alex Salmond who was working for the festival firm at the time. Others also questioned why DF Concerts, a profitable business majority owed by Live Nation, needed the money.

Hyslop was cleared of any wrongdoing, and in March last year Audit Scotland reported following a review that there had been a "clear rationale for the grant", and that Hyslop's department had attached clear and appropriate conditions to the financial award.

It is one of those conditions that has now come into play. The grant was meant to cover the three year agreement that DF Concerts had with Perth & Kinross Council to stage T In The Park at Strathallan Castle. However, it was announced in November, after two tricky years at the new site, which let to a slip in DF's profits, that the festival would not go ahead in 2017.

With the decision not to put on the event this year, the Scottish government has said it now requires the return of the £50,000 that was supposed to cover year three of that deal.

A Scottish government spokesperson told reporters yesterday: "We have advised DF Concerts of the repayment that is due and expect repayment to be completed shortly".

A rep for DF Concerts confirmed: "DF Concerts will be paying back the Scottish government grant as per the contract".

Although the official line is that T In The Park is taking "a year out", some in the Scottish music community are questioning whether it will actually return in 2018. DF Concerts is meanwhile planning to put on a new, non-camping event in Glasgow over what would have been the T In The Park weekend this year.

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Apple announces App Store price increase driven by Brexit
Theresa May yesterday confirmed that the UK is blindly stumbling towards a disastrous exit from the European Union, with politicians ill-equipped to deal with the task ahead. But let's all take our minds off that with some lovely digital content. Oh no, we can't, because all the prices are going up due to Brexit and now we can't afford to be entertained anymore.

Over the top? Perhaps. But Apple is putting up prices on the iOS and Mac app stores by almost 25% and blaming it on Brexit and its impact on the value of the pound. So that's a thing that has happened. Also, the whole thing about politicians being idiots is true too. Bunch of fucking idiots.

The price hikes mean that apps which used to cost 79p will now cost 99p, and so on. In an email to developers yesterday, according to The Guardian, the company explained: "When foreign exchange rates or taxation changes, we sometimes need to update prices on the App Store".

Last year, Apple also implemented a 20% price rise on its computers, blaming the fall in the value of the pound to the dollar then too. Further currency fluctations ahead could result in further price rises, particularly if we've got at least two more years - and more likely a decade - of uncertainty to look forward to.

Still, we could all stop this if everyone in the UK who doesn't want what Theresa May is proposing runs down the channel tunnel, sits down in Brussels and refuses to leave. Possibly metaphorically.

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Youth Music launches Give A Gig Week
Youth Music has confirmed details about its Give A Gig Week fundraising campaign. The charity, which supports disadvantaged young people and children through music making, is calling on musicians, promoters and venues to hold a fundraising show between 24-31 Mar this year.

"We're really excited about Give A Gig Week", says Youth Music CEO Matt Griffiths. "The money raised from the 100 gigs across the country will ensure that young people experiencing challenges in their lives can regularly make music. Musicians, bands and those making music for fun know first-hand the personal and social benefits of music-making and how it can help overcome really difficult situations. I urge you to get involved and put on a gig so that many more young people have that opportunity too".

Youth Music ambassador Laura Mvula adds: "Give A Gig is a really good idea because it allows singers, musicians and venues to do what they're already doing for the benefit of a young person".

Meanwhile, Rizzle Kicks, who started making music with the charity, say: "Without Youth Music we wouldn't have got to where we are today, honestly! We're supporting Give A Gig cos we want others to have the same opportunities for making music that we did".

For more info, and to sign up to put on a show, click here.

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Kelis, Ministry Of Sound, Green Day, more

Other notable announcements and developments today...

• Kelis has signed a new deal with talent agency UTA in the US, according to The Hollywood Reporter. She will continue to be repped in the UK by Coda for live work.

• Ministry Of Sound has appointed Andrew Akuffo as its new Director Of Events And Brand. "Andrew is a vital addition to the Ministry Of Sound team", says Ministry Of Sound Group CEO Jonathan Bevan. Lucky he agreed to join then.

• Green Day: Not fans of Donald Trump.

• TI: Not a fan of Donald Trump.

• Jamiroquai are back. They're going to play a load of festivals around the world, and it seems there'll be some new music. Here's a short video.

• David Rodigan is going to publish his autobiography, 'My Life In Music', on 2 Mar. "I was reluctant to publish an autobiography but I was frequently told by artists that I needed to 'write it down'", he says. So he has.

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We'd have the new Ed Sheeran album already, if it weren't for Donald Trump
Donald Trump's not even president yet, but it's already looking like his stint in the White House is going to make it very hard to plan an album release campaign. U2 have already said they've cancelled the release of their new album because it no longer seems relevant in the wake of Trump's election win. Now it turns out that Ed Sheeran's new album 'Divide', set for release in March, was supposed to come out last November.

"The plan was to come [back] in September and then the album was meant to come in November", Sheeran told Zane Lowe on Beats 1. "But the week the album was coming out was the week of the presidential elections [and] that was just a shitstorm of media. I was like, obviously if I come out with a record then no one's gonna care. Then the week after [the election] Bruno [Mars] came out, the week after [that] The Weeknd came out and I was like..."

Yeah, those albums did do alright in the end, didn't they? But what fun is it releasing an obviously Q4 album in Q4? No, Q1 is the quarter for our Ed. And he agrees. "It feels like a clean start this year though. Any time I've come out there's always been another person".

You hear that, all other artists releasing new music in Q1? Ed Sheeran just said you're shit. To be fair, I think Ed Sheeran's allowed to do that.

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