The Great Escape adds 125 more bands, reveals more about this year's CMU Insights conferences
As The Great Escape added another 125 artists to the bill this morning, we today reveal more about the conversations due to take place during the four conferences that CMU Insights will present for the festival's industry delegation this year.

As previously reported, CMU Insights @ The Great Escape - which sits at the heart of TGE's industry-focused convention programme - is basically four conferences in one. Over two days in the two screens at Brighton's Dukes @ Komedia cinema, CMU Insights will present The Media Conference, The Drugs Conference, The Export Conference and The Royalties Conference.

Full details about what topics each of these conferences will explore are now available online, while specifics about five of those sessions have also been revealed today...

1. The battle for digital transparency. As artists and songwriters call on government to put pressure on the big music corporations to be more transparent about their digital deals, we will reveal what information music creatives and their managers want access to and why they need it, based on the findings of the Music Managers Forum's 'Dissecting The Digital Dollar' research. CMU's Chris Cooke - who wrote that report - will discuss its findings with MMF CEO Annabella Coldrick.

2. Will it be streams that actually kill the radio star? As streaming services ramp up their curation services and original programming, are they becoming the new radio? And if so, what does that mean for traditional broadcasters? We plot the future of radio with Folder Media, 7digital and Brighton's own youth radio venture Platform B.

3. Want to go global? Artist managers who have benefited from the Music Export Growth Scheme will present a series of case studies which together provide a guide to launching new artists in new markets. Including David Manders from Testcard discussing his work with Public Service Broadcasting and Julie Weir from Goremount on exporting Fearless Vampire Killers.

4. Why are some artists shunning collective licensing in live? Adam Elfin from PACE Rights Management will outline why artists like Deftones, Dire Straits' Mark Knopfler and Mr Big's Paul Gilbert have adopted a direct licensing approach in the live space, while CMU's Chris Cooke will explain what the hell that means.

5. We need to talk about Brexit. BPI's Director Of Public Affairs Ian Moss will walk you through the mechanics of Brexit - what's happened so far and what's still to come? - informing our discussion on how the UK exiting the European Union will impact the wider music industry.

CMU Insights @ The Great Escape is a unique music business conference, combining the training and research we provide to music industry professionals all year round, with input, viewpoints and case studies from over 100 of the delegates attending TGE this year.

Part of the Great Escape's Learn programme, in amongst the lively debate, the aim of all four conference is to aid the personal professional development of those attending. A pre-event seminar and other online materials will also be available.

The CMU Insights conferences site alongside all of the other Great Escape festivities that take place in Brighton from 18-20 May. 125 bands have just been added to the festival line-up, including the likes of Abra Cadabra, Raye, Ibibio Sound Machine, Overcoat, Jay Som, Mystic Braves, Douglas Dare and Isaac Gracie.

Delegate passes for TGE - which get you into all four of the CMU Insights conferences plus other convention events and priority access into the festival - are still available at the saver rate of £195. Click here to buy yours.

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Access out-performing ownership in entertainment retail
To think, there was once a time when we debated whether 'access' or 'ownership' platforms would come to dominate the online entertainment market. The fact we don't have that debate any more pretty much confirms that everyone has conceded that the access model is the future, though if you wanted further confirmation of that, then the UK's Entertainment Retailers Association has just confirmed it. So, that's the confirmation confirmed.

According to the latest stats pack from the trade group that represents music, film and gaming retailers in the UK, 51.3% of entertainment retail revenues in 2016 were generated by subscription services rather than the selling of downloads or discs, ie services that provide subscribers with access to content, rather than selling the customer digital files or physical product that they then own for life. In terms of actual money, that's £3.24 billion generated by access services and £3.07 billion by ownership.

In the early days of digital, ownership platforms dominated in most key markets, which really meant iTunes in the music space. But the rise of Spotify, Netflix et al is changing all that - though, of course, the ERA stats also confirm the shift is still ongoing, with physical product and downloads combined still nearly half the wider entertainment retail market, for now.

Elsewhere, the ERA figures reveal that less than a quarter of entertainment retail now takes place on the high street, with streaming services, download platforms and online mail-order operations now together accounting for 77.7% of home music, movie and gaming sales.

Commenting on all this, ERA boss Kim Bayley says: "We are seeing the rise of a pay monthly generation in entertainment. Rather than buying music, video or games outright, the British public is being won over by rental or all-you-can eat services which are available 24/7. If downloads represented the first digital revolution in entertainment, we are now at digital 2.0, the subscription age".

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London College of Creative Media to open new music venue
A new grassroots music venue is set to open in Southwark as part of a newly built complex to be opened by the London College Of Creative Media. As well as shows by students, the venue will host gigs by new acts, as well as masterclasses by established artists.

The new building, dubbed The Music Box, will also host a classroom, and recording and rehearsal spaces for students.

"In 2012 higher education in the UK saw profound changes to how it was funded", explains LCCM Principal Darius Khwaja. "This was felt most acutely by undergraduates looking to study arts, social sciences and humanities. As a result, students and parents are right to ask what they are getting for their money".

He goes on: "At LCCM we make sure our students get an industry-relevant, academic education that retains its value throughout every stage of their careers".

The building and venue are set to open in September.

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Vevo teams up with Jorja Smith to fund a music video for the first time
Vevo has further ramped up its original content operation by funding the creation of a music video for the first time. You'd think that would have been the first thing they'd have thought of really. The video in question is for Jorja Smith's new single 'Beautiful Little Fools'.

"It was clear from the outset of meeting Jorja that she has an amazing talent", says Vevo's Senior Manager Of Music & Talent James Moodie. "It's been a privilege to be part of her journey since, lending a hand to support her vision. It's a great way to culminate everything we've achieved to date, including Dscvr Ones To Watch and Dscvr Live In New York by supporting her not only with production, but also on a creative level to shoot the 'Beautiful Little Fools' video'".

The video features Smith playing three separate roles of three women whose stories eventually meet. With a message about empowering women, the video is due to be premiered by Vevo to coincide with International Women's Day tomorrow.

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TuneCore announces series of workshops for new talent
Digital distributor TuneCore has announced a European Indie Tour, which will basically see the firm stage a number of workshops for DIY artists in cities around Europe, including Manchester and Birmingham in the UK.

The company says the events will see TuneCore execs and other industry experts "exchange tips and best practices about recording, distributing, promotion and marketing" alongside performances from local talent.

Says TuneCore CEO Scott Ackerman: "Understanding and answering local artists' needs are essential as we continue upholding our mission of supporting independent artists, as well as providing equal access to an affordable and transparent music distribution service. The TuneCore European Indie Tour allows us to meet with artists face-to-face and provide them with the local tools and resources they need to be successful".

The workshops programme follows TuneCore launching local sites and operations in various markets beyond the US in recent years, including Germany, France, Italy and the UK in Europe. Info of the UK events are posted on the company's UK blog.

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Steps announce new album, 20th anniversary tour
Steps are back. Yes, again. And this time they have a reason - it being the 20th anniversary of their formation and debut single, '5, 6, 7, 8'. And bloody hell, if they haven't gone and recorded a new album.

The band did actually release a new record in 2012, but I think the less said about that the better. This one they apparently spent two years working on. Two years! On a Steps album. Will it be some sort of massive rock opera concept album? Thankfully no. It's just your standard non-political solution to the current political situation.

"We're marking our 20th anniversary, but also a lot's happened within the world in those 20 years, hasn't it?" Lisa Scott-Lee tells Popjustice. "It's a tough place out there. We're not here to get into the politics of the world but what we can offer is escapism and a bit of positivity in people's lives. Everyone's dealing with lots of different things but music's universal, and it takes you to another place and time, and this album - I feel - is where Steps should be 20 years on".

Titled 'Tears On The Dancefloor', the album will be released through the band's own label, Steps Music, via a label services deal with Absolute, on 21 Apr. The first single, 'Scared Of The Dark', will be out this Friday.

"When it came time to choosing a label services partner for Steps' 'Tears On The Dancefloor' album, Absolute was the natural choice because of their successful track record with other pop artists", says Fascination Management's Adam Klein. Who manages the group, in case you wondered. "Their enthusiasm about this project and their attention to detail has made our experience leading up to release a very positive one".

Songwriters on the album include Ina Wroldsen, Steve Mac, TMS, Carl Ryden, Fiona Bevan and Metrophonic. And staying true to Steps' roots, there'll be a song written by Abba's Björn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson - a cover of the Benny Andersson Band's 'Story Of A Heart'.

Steps will also be touring the UK and Ireland in November and December. These are the dates:

13 Nov: Dublin, 3Arena
14 Nov: Belfast, SSE Arena
16 Nov: Glasgow, Hydro
17 Nov: Aberdeen, AECC
18 Nov: Liverpool Echo Arena
20 Nov: Newcastle, Metro Radio Arena
21 Nov: Leeds, First Direct Arena
23 Nov: Brighton Centre
24 Nov: London, O2 Arena
25 Nov: London, Wembley Arena
27 Nov: Bournemouth, BIC
28 Nov: Nottingham, Motorpoint Arena
29 Nov: Cardiff, Motorpoint Arena
1 Dec: Birmingham, Barclaycard Arena
2 Dec: Manchester Arena

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Nick Cave And The Bad Seeds announce best of compilation
Nick Cave And The Bad Seeds will release a best of compilation, titled 'Lovely Creatures: The Best Of Nick Cave And The Bad Seeds 1984-2014', on 5 May. Cave and bandmate Mick Harvey together set about the task of distilling the band's first fifteen albums into one 21 track collection.

"There are some people out there who just don't know where to start with The Bad Seeds", says Cave. "Others know the catalogue better than I do! This release is designed to be a way into three decades of music making. That's a lot of songs".

"The songs we have chosen are the ones that have stuck around, for whatever reason", he continues. "Some songs are those that demand to be played live. Others are lesser songs that are personal favourites of ours. Others are just too big and have too much history to leave out. And there are those that didn't make it, poor things. They are the ones you must discover by yourselves".

Watch a trailer for the release here.

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Youth Music hits 100 show target for Give A Gig Week
Music charity Youth Music has met its target of 100 shows for its upcoming Give A Gig Week initiative. Shows spanning multiple genres and sizes will be held in aid of the charity between 24-31 Mar.

As previously reported, Youth Music announced the inaugural Give A Gig Week back in January, asking artists and the industry at large to get involved. Each show will raise money by donating a portion of ticket sales revenue to the charity and/or via other fundraising activities. Or indeed both.

Having surpassed the target of 100 shows, Youth Music CEO Matt Griffiths says: "It's the first time we've held Give A Gig Week and we're very excited to see it all coming together. We're incredibly grateful to all those taking part in what's set to be a week-long extravaganza of great live music".

Find out more about Give A Gig Week here.

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BMG, Ariana Grande, Girlpool, more

Other notable announcements and developments today...

• BMG has moved the distribution of a number of its catalogues to Warner's ADA, including the Sanctuary, Mute and Chrysalis catalogues. The firm already uses ADA for some of its distribution requirements, but now it will do more so. "We will be monitoring the situation carefully", says BMG's EVP Global Rights Administration Ben Katovsky.

• Ariana Grande and John Legend have released the video for their new version of 'Beauty And The Beast', originally performed by Celine Dion and Peabo Bryson. The track is taken from Disney's new live action version of the film of the same name.

• Girlpool have signed to Anti- and announced that they will release their new album, 'Powerplant', on 12 May. Here's first single '123'.

• The Mark Lanegan Band have released new single, 'Beehive'. New album 'Gargoyle' is due out on 28 Apr.

• Senseless Things have released their first new single for 22 years, 'Lost Honey'. The release coincides with the band's first show since 1995 at the Shepherds Bush Empire on 25 Mar.

• Pearl Jam frontman Eddie Vedder will play two solo shows at London's Hammersmith Apollo on 6-7 Jun. Tickets on sale this Friday.

• Gorillaz are launching their own festival, Demon Dayz, at Dreamland in Margate. They've already managed to bag Gorillaz to headline, which is pretty good going. Further line-up is still to be announced. It'll all take place on 10 Jun.

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Zayn takes iHeartRadio Award meant for Fifth Harmony
Fifth Harmony used to be a five piece pop group, but one member left. Zayn Malik used to be in a five piece pop group, but he left. You can see how the two might get confused, can't you? Which must be how Malik came to receive an award meant for Fifth Harmony on Sunday.

Both acts were up for the public-voted Best Music Video prize at the iHeartRadio Music Awards, with Malik announced as the winner on the night for 'Pillowtalk'. Not actually at the ceremony, he tweeted a video acknowledging the apparent win, saying: "Hello to everyone at iHeart. I'm currently in Paris, sorry I can't be there. A little birdie told me that I've actually won an award, so thank you very much. I'm very honoured".

The thing is though, birds can't actually talk, so Zayn is silly to go around pretending that they're telling him he's won awards. Because yesterday iHeart tweeted congratulations to Fifth Harmony for winning the prize. Perhaps a simple mistake, but then the official list of winners published on the iHeart site also has the group's 'Work From Home' video marked as the Best Music Video winner.

What exactly happened still isn't clear. Rather than an Oscars-style fessing up moment, it appears that iHeart is just pretending everything went to plan and hoping that no one will notice. Seems like they're getting away with it so far, huh?

The good news is, awards are stupid and in a few days no one will even remember that any of this happened.

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