Over 10,000 "unscrupulous applications" for free One Love Manchester tickets
Even Viagogo has pledged to stop people from trying to tout tickets to this weekend's One Love Manchester show, the Ariana Grande concert that will raise money to support those directly affected by the bomb attack on the Manchester Arena last month. Though ticket touting is still causing a few headaches for organisers of the benefit concert.

All four of the big UK ticket resale sites - Live Nation's Seatwave and Get Me In, eBay's StubHub and the often non-compliant Viagogo - have pledged to stop people from seeking to profit from the benefit event, which will also be broadcast on TV and radio.

With those pledges made, some touts resorted to trying to resell tickets to the concert - primary tickets for which sold in just minutes - via eBay itself, though the web company has pledged to remove those posts as well.

A spokesperson for eBay said: "All tickets for the One Love Manchester event will most certainly be removed by the team who are doing manual sweeps to pick up any that slip through. We also aren't allowing the sale of any item which profits in any way from the tragedy in Manchester. All of these items are being removed if they appear, and the sellers' accounts will be restricted".

But secondary ticketing is still causing some issues for organisers of One Love Manchester because of the commitment to offer free tickets to anyone who attended the Ariana Grande show where the bombing took place on 22 May. 14,200 people were at the 22 May concert, but over 25,000 people have applied for the free tickets to this weekend's show.

Ticketmaster, which is handling ticketing for Sunday's event, told reporters that "sadly, over 10,000 unscrupulous applications have been made", adding that it was "doing everything we can to ensure that tickets go to the actual fans and not the opportunists or touts who have also been applying for free tickets".

Part of the process designed to ensure that the free tickets go to the right people involves ticket holders to the original concert providing information about their original ticket purchases. Though those who bought their tickets to the 22 May show via a reseller on one of the secondary ticketing platforms may not have that information.

One such attendee to the original Grande show - who took her two daughters to the concert - told The Guardian: "My tickets were originally bought by a travel company specialising in music event travels. I then paid £100 for a £45 ticket on Viagogo. These companies [who originally purchased the tickets] can claim these [free] tickets they are not entitled to, and resell them all over again".

Though Ticketmaster says it is doing everything it can to ensure that the free tickets for One Love Manchester go to the right people, including attempting to verify tickets for the 22 May show that were bought by fans on the secondary market.

Acts now set to join Grande during One Love Manchester include Justin Bieber, Coldplay, Katy Perry, Miley Cyrus, Pharrell Williams, Take That, Niall Horan, Little Mix, Robbie Williams and Black Eyed Peas. BBC One's coverage will air from 6.55pm to 10pm, while BBC Radio 1, BBC Radio 2, BBC Radio 5 Live and BBC Radio Manchester will all broadcast the event from 6.30pm-10pm.

BACK TO THE TOP OF THE BULLETIN

Pirate Party MEP hits out at efforts to tighten up safe harbour article of European Copyright Directive
A member of The Pirate Party in the European Parliament has, perhaps unsurprisingly, hit out at efforts to beef up the safe harbour restricting provision of the draft European Copyright Directive, which is currently being bounced around Brussels.

As much previously reported, article thirteen of the directive that seeks to reform European copyright law for the digital age aims to limit the copyright safe harbour which says that internet companies cannot be held liable when their customers use their networks or servers to infringe copyright. In particular, the article sets out to limit the protection enjoyed by large-scale user-upload platforms like YouTube.

This, of course, is in response to loud complaints for the copyright industries, and especially the music business, that companies like YouTube are exploiting the safe harbour in order to force record companies and music publishers into much less favourable licensing deals. The result of which is that, while YouTube is the biggest streaming music platform in terms of users and streams, it pays much less into the music industry than the likes of Spotify and Apple Music. That fact has been dubbed, of course, the 'value gap'.

As article thirteen is currently written, arguably YouTube could claim to already be compliant, though some of the other larger platforms that allow users to upload content might be forced to introduce copyright measures similar to the Google video site, such as its Content ID system and the licensing deals it has negotiated with rights owners.

Either way, both sides in the debate are hoping to revise article thirteen to their advantage. From the music industry's side, that means tightening up the wording so that the restrictions more clearly apply to a wider range of platforms, and in particular platforms like YouTube, given it's at the heart of the value gap debate.

It's those efforts that German MEP Julia Reda of The Pirate Party has criticised. And she's accused some MEPs sympathetic to the music industry, and in particular Pascal Arimont from the European People's Party, of "resorting to dirty tactics" to defend and extend the measures set out in article thirteen.

In a blog post earlier this week, Reda wrote: "On June 8, the [European Parliament's] Internal Market And Consumer Protection Committee will decide its standpoint [on the Copyright Directive]. This is a crucial step in the copyright reform process, because the IMCO committee is jointly responsible for the Parliament position on one of the most controversial parts of the reform: the introduction of mandatory censorship filters on online services such as social media".

She goes on: "Today it was revealed that MEP Pascal Arimont from the European People's Party is trying to sabotage the Parliamentary process, going behind the negotiators of the political groups and pushing a text that would make the Commission's original bad proposal look tame in comparison. This is a tactic he recently already successfully applied to prevent the committee from adopting a progressive position on overcoming geoblocking. If he succeeds again, the result would once more do the opposite of what the Committee is tasked to do: protecting European consumers".

Many in the music community though - whether they are indies or majors, corporates or individual creators - will likely welcome Arimont's intervention, which seeks to ensure that the new obligations set out in article thirteen remain in the final version of the copyright directive, while clarifying what kinds of services will be affected by the new rules, both in terms of their size and what they do with any content users upload.

Arimont is seeking to remove get-outs for the kinds of platforms that the music industry reckons should be subject to the new obligations, but in Reda's mind this constitutes an expansion of European copyright "on behalf of big business with no regard to fundamental rights, contemporary internet culture or start-ups - and in a way that is likely to dangerously backfire".

The debates in Brussels continue. And the debate will continue at MIDEM in Cannes next week too, with a CMU-led discussion on all things value gap and safe harbour.

--------------------------------------------------

Bob Marley companies win $2.4 million damages in coffee trademark case
The Bob Marley estate has been awarded $2.4 million in damages as a result of a trademark dispute with a company called Jammin Java Corp.

Jammin Java - a business that originally involved Bob Marley's son Rhohan - had a licence from Fifty-Six Hope Road Music Ltd and Hope Road Merchandising LLC, two companies controlled by the Marley family, which allowed it to make and sell a coffee product that utilised the late musician's name and trademark.

But the two sides in that deal fell out last year, initially over unpaid royalties and allegations that Jammin Java was unlawfully sublicensing the Marley Coffee brand to third parties, and then when Jammin Java continued to sell the coffee brand even once its licences had expired. Fifty-Six Hope Road Music and Hope Road Merchandising ultimately went legal in August.

The Marley companies won their legal claim via a summary judgement, and then in April this year demanded damages of $2.4 million. The damages related to what the Marley family said Jammin Java had earned while selling Marley Coffee without licence from July 2016 through to January 2017.

For its part, Jammin Java didn't dispute its liability for trademark infringement, but it argued that it didn't make any profits from selling Marley Coffee after its licences expired. But the judge hearing the case said this week that the defendant had failed to prove that claim, partly because it had been developing a new competing brand during the latter half of last year, which possibly accounted for a chunk of its costs during that period.

According to Law360, judge Stephen V Wilson said that "although undoubtedly some of its expenses related to the sale and production of Marley Coffee ... the defendant's claim that all of its expenses were related to the production and sale of Marley Coffee had been refuted by reliable evidence, and it provides no additional evidence of costs or expenses exclusively related to Marley Coffee".

BACK TO THE TOP OF THE BULLETIN

Scandinavian Songs rebrands as Cosmos Music Publishing
Swedish independent record company Cosmos Music has announced that Scandinavian Songs, the indie music publisher it acquired in 2015, is now rebranding as Cosmos Music Publishing. Since the acquisition of Scandinavian Songs, the label and publisher have slowly integrated their back office operations and are now looking to collaborate more on creative and marketing projects too.

Cosmos has also been busy expanding its sub-publishing and administration business, allying with an assortment of other independent music publishers which it represents in the Nordic region, including Imagem, Budde Music, Bucks Music, Songs Music Publishing, Native Tongue, Mute Songs, Mushroom Music and Manners McDade.

Says the company's Hans Desmond: "Representing these great international indie publishers and their simply amazing repertoires makes us a serious force to be reckoned with. In the last twelve months we have seen a significant increase in licensing requests, partly thanks to the added resources from Cosmos Music, but also simply because of the combined wealth of fantastic copyrights that we now offer".

Although both sides of the business will now operate under the Cosmos name, the Scandinavian Songs brand will still be employed, now as an imprint of the label for one-off singles and other development projects.

--------------------------------------------------

eOne Music makes international hires, allies with Germany's SPV on distribution
Having recently ramped up its UK operations, the music side of US firm Entertainment One has formally announced new offices in Germany and Australia. The company has also entered into a partnership with German indie SPV which will provide physical product distribution and marketing services in Europe.

Says eOne's Global President Of Music, Chris Taylor: "Entertainment One is at the forefront of indie music companies; thinking globally, acting locally, and pushing digitally across all management, label and publishing divisions. With the combination of our worldwide digital footprint, our new on-the-ground marketing and promotion teams, and our new physical partner SPV, eOne now has the capabilities in Europe that are unmatched by any other North American-based independent".

There's nothing like a bold claim on Friday lunch time is there? The new offices are in Hamburg and Melbourne, with Achim Karstens and Zac Abroms hired as project managers in Germany and Australia respectively.

--------------------------------------------------

Warner/Chappell UK appoints new Finance Director
Warner Music's music publishing business in the UK, so that'll be Warner/Chappell Music UK, has appointed Kate Alderton as its new Finance Director. Having previously worked for accountancy firm Deloitte, Alderton joined Warner/Chappell in 2012, originally as Financial Controller, subsequently rising to Head Of Finance.

Confirming the latest promotion, the MD of Warner/Chappell UK Mike Smith said these exact words in more or less this order: "This is a thoroughly well-deserved promotion for Kate. She has a brilliant understanding of the changes the business is going through. Her good humour, hard work and creativity are invaluable when it comes to delivering the best possible solutions for our songwriters".

Alderton herself added: "Warner/Chappell Music is committed to ensuring that our songwriters are paid swiftly and accurately, especially at a time of such unprecedented change across the industry. It's a genuine privilege to work alongside Mike Smith and the extremely talented Warner/Chappell UK team, and I look forward to helping further develop our ability to service Britain's incredible songwriter community".

BACK TO THE TOP OF THE BULLETIN

Fergie no longer in Black Eyed Peas, Will.i.am waffle confirms
Fergie's not in Black Eyed Peas anymore, you know that right? I mean, she's just launched a new joint venture label with BMG to put out a new solo album and sign other artists, how could she possibly have any time for all that Black Eyed Peas nonsense?

And if you're still not convinced, her former bandmate Will.i.am has sort of confirmed that fact while waffling along like he does to UAE-based entertainment magazine Ahlan.

"Nobody is replacing Fergie", he told the magazine, "[but] she's working on her solo project at the moment, we're on this brand-new experience, celebrating 20 years of Black Eyed Peas putting out music. We worked on a bunch of songs on her solo record, we're proud that she has her label, but Black Eyed Peas are pushing it forward in terms of content, technology and experiences on our new project, 'Masters Of The Sun'".

'Masters Of The Sun' is a graphic novel project with Marvel Comics, by the way. In case you wondered.

In terms of music ventures, let's not forget that the Peas have worked with plenty of female vocalists over the years other than Fergie. Referencing 2003's 'Elephunk', the first BEP long player on which Fergie appeared, Will.i.am says "there were several females that appeared on that album. Obviously Fergie was the featured female, but on songs like 'Let's Get It Started', it's Noelle [Scaggs] ... and [on] 'Request Line,' it's Macy Gray. We'll always work with good females".

Ah, "good females", that's what your record needs. Apparently Nicole Scherzinger was once up for being the "featured female" on 'Elephunk', but that didn't come to be and Fergie stood in. Though, turns out, Scherzinger is now involved in new Black Eye Peas material, though Will.i.am says he doesn't "want to go into details about how she's involved yet". And please remember, "nobody is replacing Fergie".

BACK TO THE TOP OF THE BULLETIN

Isle Of Wight Festival supports inaugural Pride event on the island
The Isle Of Wight Festival has announced that it is supporting the first ever Pride event being staged on the island, and that some of the people behind it will be running a stand at the festival this year.

The IOW Festival is particularly keen to show its support for the island's LGBT community in the wake of a local Conservative MP telling students at Christ The King College in Newport that he wouldn't be supporting the inaugural Isle Of Wight Pride event because he thought homosexuality is "wrong" and "dangerous to society". Andrew Turner MP subsequently decided not to run to retain his seat in Parliament at this month's General Election.

Confirming the IOW Festival was backing the island's Pride event, festival boss John Giddings said: "When people make comments from a position of responsibility, it can reflect badly on our whole community on the island. My experiences on the island are different and I want to reverse the negative view and, through the festival, let the island community show the rest of the UK that we do embrace diversity here, everybody is welcome on the island irrespective of who they are or who they love and that LoveWins".

Isle Of Wight Pride will take place in Ryde a week after this year's IOW Festival, which runs from 8-11 Jun.

BACK TO THE TOP OF THE BULLETIN

Clay Walker, Arcade Fire, Radiohead

Other notable announcements and developments today...

• Country music star Clay Walker has signed with booking agency UTA on a worldwide basis. UTA's Nick Meinema is "THRILLED".

• US collecting society ASCAP has hired Tony Dunaif as EVP and Head Of International Affairs to oversee international business and society relations. He has previously worked at a number of digital firms.

• Ron Howard's Imagine Entertainment, now into music gubbins after making that 'The Beatles: Eight Days A Week' documentary, is on board to produce an authorised documentary about the life of Luciano Pavarotti. The project is a JV with Universal Music's film unit Polygram and the mega-major's sister company Studiocanal.

• After Variety reported that they'd signed a new record deal with Sony's Columbia, Arcade Fire used a surprise set at Primavera Sound (their non-surprise set is happening on Saturday) to announce that a new album called 'Everything Now' will be out on 29 Jul.

• Radiohead have posted online one of the previously unreleased tracks that will appear on the previously reported 'OK Computer' reissue. It's called 'I Promise'. You can listen to it on that Spotify thing Thom Yorke loves so much.

BACK TO THE TOP OF THE BULLETIN

Beef Of The Week #357: A Gallagher v Harry Styles
It can be hard work finding a pop beef worthy of writing up every single week of the year, though when the pop beef files are looking particularly sparse, you can usually rely on one of the Gallaghers to say something beefy and provide the required column inches.

So, Liam Gallagher, what with your all new solo career to push, what do you think about that there Harry Styles and his bid to become a solo music star? "I wouldn't dare get on the wrong side of One Direction fans", says Liam G. Hmm, yeah, that's not sounding good is it?

In fact, when asked about the former 1D boy's new solo material, Gallagher told the NME: "I don't mind it, man. There's some interesting bits in it. I mean, I don't know how it fucking goes, but fair play to him".

Yep, this is very much turning into a non-beef of the week. Gallagher even feels some empathy with Styles as he tries to break out as a solo star away from his former group. "I've got the weight of Oasis still hanging over me and I'm sure I'll always be 'that guy from Oasis', so I'm sure he's carrying an equal weight. If he wants to get out of that pop world and into something with a bit more substance I think that's a good thing".

But, Liam Gallagher, what about the line "You were sold the one direction / I believe the resurrection is on" in your debut solo single 'Wall Of Glass'? "It could be about One Direction, it could not be", he confusingly explained to NME. "I may look stupid but I wouldn't dare get on the wrong side of One Direction fans", he added to Pitchfork.

Right, that's it Liam Gallagher, you have only yourself to blame for this. Hey Noel Gallagher, say something about Harry Styles will you? "People of my age have let themselves go, they're fat, balding idiots with fading tattoos", Noel G told Absolute Radio. "They sit in their garage and write shite like 'Sign Of The Times' for Harry Styles. Which, quite frankly, my cat could have written in about ten minutes!"

"My wife was falling over herself" he continues, "'Have you heard Harry Styles' new song? It's like Prince'. I was like, 'Without even hearing it, I can assure you it's not like Prince!'"

Thanks Noel. Beef quota met.

BACK TO THE TOP OF THE BULLETIN