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THE RIGHTS OF ARTISTS AND SONGWRITERS POST-ASSIGNMENT - PERFORMER AND MORAL RIGHTS Copyright provides creators with control over that which they create, but what happens when the creators themselves don't own the copyright in their work? Artists and songwriters who are no longer in control of their copyrights do still have some rights, sometimes by contract, and via performer and moral rights. With the latter in the news this week, CMU Trends considers what the law says about the rights of artists and songwriters after their copyrights have been assigned. [READ MORE] |
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THE VALUE OF MUSIC Rarely a week goes by in the music business news these days without at least one catalogue acquisition. But who - other than labels and publishers - is buying music rights, and why? Are there opportunities for individual artists and songwriters to do deals with professional investors? And how do you even value music rights? CMU Trends reviews the music rights market - past, present and future. [READ MORE] |
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MAKING MONEY FROM MUSIC MEDIA IN THE DIGITAL AGE While the challenges faced by the music industry since the mainstream adoption of the internet in the early 2000s have been widely documented, the music media has faced many of the same challenges too. CMU Trends reviews recent developments and trends in the music media business, and the ongoing challenges faced by media owners. [READ MORE] |
| TOP STORIES | Warner signs new Spotify deal - at last! READ IN THIS EMAIL | READ ON THE WEBSITE |
| LEGAL | ASCAP formally supports BMI in 100% licensing appeal IP-focused policing unit secures more funding READ IN THIS EMAIL | READ ON THE WEBSITE |
| BRANDS & MERCH | Merch from Justin Bieber's abandoned tour to land in H&M READ IN THIS EMAIL | READ ON THE WEBSITE |
| INDUSTRY PEOPLE | Primary Talent pays tribute to Dave Chumbley READ IN THIS EMAIL | READ ON THE WEBSITE |
| RELEASES | Beck confirms new album release date, shares new track READ IN THIS EMAIL | READ ON THE WEBSITE |
| AWARDS | First ever Heavy Music Awards presented READ IN THIS EMAIL | READ ON THE WEBSITE |
| AND FINALLY... | Beef Of The Week #369: Danish law enforcement v bad busking READ IN THIS EMAIL | READ ON THE WEBSITE |
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KILIMANJARO LIVE - BOX OFFICE MANAGERS (MANCHESTER) Kilimanjaro Live are looking for two experienced box office managers to work on a brand new family adventure in Manchester for a fixed term period, starting 25 Sep. There is the potential for the roles to be extended to include the London run following this period. For more information and to apply click here. |
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SJM CONCERTS - VIP MANAGER/CO-ORDINATOR (MANCHESTER) SJM offer exclusive VIP ticket packages across many of our major tours for artists such as Take That, One Direction, Little Mix and Coldplay which over the last year has amounted to over 60,000 packages. We are seeking a dynamic, self-motivated individual to successfully manage and develop our VIP department. For more information and to apply click here. |
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THE ORCHARD - SENIOR LABEL MANAGER (LONDON) The Orchard needs a Senior Label Manager who will be the first point of contact for a number of labels, artists and managers. Working with internal and external teams, you will craft, create and coordinate effective and bespoke campaigns, over a number of different projects and across different musical genres. For more information and to apply click here. |
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LEX RECORDS - DIGITAL MARKETING MANAGER (LONDON) Lex Records are looking for a full-time Digital Marketing Manager to work from our North London office. You would be working as part of the team to present our music to the public and helping to join up promo with sales. For more information and to apply click here. |
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THE DELTIC GROUP - SOCIAL MEDIA DEPARTMENT MANAGER (MILTON KEYNES) The Deltic Group are looking for a Social Media Department Manager to develop and shape the company's social media and marketing activity, working across 58 bars and clubs including well-known brands such as PRYZM, ATIK and Bar & Beyond. This is a newly created role and the successful candidate will have the opportunity to build a social media team. For more information and to apply click here. |
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THE DELTIC GROUP - SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER (MILTON KEYNES) The Deltic Group are looking for Social Media Managers to manage, maintain and grow the company's social communities of circa 1.5 million 18-25-year olds. This is a new team of five that is being formed in order to deliver great content to inspire our social communities and deliver our social strategy. For more information and to apply click here. |
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NAME PR - PRESS ASSISTANT/ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE (LONDON) Name PR is looking to hire a Press Assistant/Account Executive. This is a fantastic opportunity for a bright individual with exceptional writing ability and a good grasp of the music business to work on some of the most interesting music issues and developments across the globe. For more information and to apply click here. |
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SUNDAY BEST RECORDINGS - PRODUCT MANAGER (LONDON) Sunday Best seeks a Product Manager with a minimum of one to two years record label experience. The role involves running a creative campaign from album delivery through to release. The candidate should have a passion for music and a good knowledge of digital marketing. For more information and to apply click here. |
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MAXIMUM BOOST MANAGEMENT - MANAGEMENT ASSISTANT (LONDON) Maximum Boost Management and its associated group of companies are looking for an exceptional and motivated addition to their team. As a direct assistant to a lead artist manager within the business you will be entrusted to support, plan and execute a number of processes on behalf of the manager and their artists. For more information and to apply click here. |
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NINJA TUNE - BUSINESS AFFAIR ASSISTANT (LONDON) Ninja Tune are hiring for a full-time business affairs position within the record label and publishing company, based in its London office. The role will include producing, negotiating and finalising various contracts. For more information and to apply click here. |
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SECRETLY GROUP - LABEL ASSISTANT/OFFICE MANAGER (LONDON) Secretly Group is seeking a Label Assistant/Office Manager for its London office, this is the perfect position for anyone with passion and talent to find their first job in the music industry. For more information and to apply click here. |
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NINJA TUNE - COPYRIGHT ADMIN ASSISTANT (LONDON) Ninja Tune are hiring for a full-time copyright administration position within the record label and publishing company, based in its London office. The role will include registering works with societies, maintaining internal databases, compiling credits and supporting the licensing team. For more information and to apply click here. |
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Digital Deals, Dollars And Trends - Explained! MASTERCLASS | Monday 18 September 2017, London | INFO This half day masterclass, presented by CMU MD and Business Editor Chris Cooke, will explain how digital music platforms are licensed and royalties distributed, as well as reviewing the digital market in 2017 and which services are leading in terms of users and revenue. |
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How The Music Business Works SEMINARS | from Monday 25 September 2017, London | INFO Our 'How The Music Business Works' programme consists of eight two-hour seminars which together cover: the various ways the music industry generates revenue, building and engaging a fanbase, the business partnerships artists form with music companies, and how the artist/label relationship is changing. |
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Enforcing Music Rights - Safe Harbours And Piracy MASTERCLASS | Monday 20 November 2017, London | INFO In this half day masterclass, CMU MD and Business Editor Chris Cooke will look at how the music industry enforces its copyrights, at the long-running battle with online music piracy, and at the controversy around the copyright safe harbour. |
Warner signs new Spotify deal - at last!
Warner Music has finally got its big fat fountain pen out and put its mark on a new multi-year licensing deal with Spotify. It means the market-leading premium streaming service now has new licences from all three majors and the indie label-repping Merlin.
As much previously reported, Spotify required the new multi-year deals to be in place before it could list itself on the New York Stock Exchange. Meanwhile, the digital company needed to get listed sooner rather than later, because loan agreements it had entered into got more expensive to service the longer it took for the business to become a public company.
This strengthened the negotiating hand of the record companies a little. Though Spotify nevertheless insisted that it needed to reduce its revenue share commitments to the labels slightly, in order for its business plan to remain viable, not least because the big music publishers have successfully pushed their revenue share arrangements up a little in recent years.
It was never in the interest of the labels to scupper Spotify's entire business model, given just how much of the record industry's revenues now come from this one single service, and - of course - they all have equity in the Spotify company so will benefit from it staging a successful launch on Wall Street.
But Spotify's need to list on a stock exchange as soon as possible meant the labels had leverage, and to that end secured things like windowing of new releases, data and marketing kickbacks and target-based royalty rates in the new deals.
Confirming that Warner had now reached a new agreement with Spotify, the mini-major's Chief Digital Officer, Ole Obermann, took to the Instagrams yesterday (for some reason) and declared that: "It's taken us a while to get here, but it's been worth it, as we've arrived at a balanced set of future-focused deal terms. Together with Spotify, we've found inventive ways to reinforce the value of music, create additional benefits for artists, and excite their fans all over the world. Even with the current pace of growth, there's still so much potential for music subscription to reach new audiences and territories".
Artists signed to the majors are now looking forward to receiving detailed memos from their label partners setting out all the key terms of the new Spotify deals, so they can assess how it will impact on their own businesses. I mean, they won't get any such memo, and instead artists will have to continue to navigate the new streaming business blinded by NDA, but you can always look forward with hope, right?
ASCAP formally supports BMI in 100% licensing appeal
US collecting society ASCAP has filed one of those amicus briefs in support of its rival BMI as the legal shenanigans relating to the 100% licensing debate continue to go through the motions.
As much previously reported, last year the US Department Of Justice declared that - by its reading of the so called consent decrees that regulate both ASCAP and BMI - the two societies are obliged to offer licensees so called 100% licences.
That would mean a licensee with a BMI licence could make use of a song even if BMI only controlled 15% of said song. Under the current 'fractional licensing' system the licensee would also need licences from whichever societies or publishers control the other 85%.
BMI, ASCAP and the US songwriting community hit out at that DoJ declaration, which would require a major change in how collective licensing works and performing right royalties flow Stateside. BMI took the matter to the court that oversees its consent decree, where judge Louis L Stanton immediately sided with the society.
The DoJ then appealed that ruling, and earlier this month the BMI submitted its response to that appeal. ASCAP's submission followed this week, supporting the arguments set out by its fellow society as to why the fractional licensing system should remain in place.
ASCAP also noted that, although judge Stanton is specifically considering the BMI consent decree, his ruling on this matter could and should impact on the ASCAP consent decree too.
ASCAP said yesterday that it had "filed a brief because ... the government's arguments concerning the BMI decree also apply to ASCAP's. That is why ASCAP has requested that any decision issued by the Second Circuit [appeals court] apply equally to ASCAP".
It goes on: "As the government has previously acknowledged, it is important that ASCAP and BMI operate under the same set of rules and that the industry have a 'common understanding' of both decrees".
Confirming the submission of an amicus brief on the BMI case, ASCAP chief Elizabeth Matthews told reporters: "ASCAP, and its more than 625,000 members, stands shoulder to shoulder with BMI in our unified fight for the rights of songwriters".
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IP-focused policing unit secures more funding
The City Of London Police's unit focused on intellectual property, which goes by the name of PIPCU, has secured funding through to at least 2019.
The government's Intellectual Property Office confirmed to the Law Gazette earlier this week that it had agreed to continue funding the IP Crime Unit to the tune of £3.32 million, which will keep the department operating until at least July 2019.
As previously reported, PIPCU was set up in 2013 to specifically focus on intellectual property issues, including specific IP infringement cases, and wider anti-piracy campaigns, such as its 'follow the money' initiative, which has involved encouraging brands to ensure their ads don't appear on piracy websites.
After PIPCU's initial launch, the IPO previously committed funding to the policing unit in 2014, a package that bank-rolled the operation until earlier this summer.
Merch from Justin Bieber's abandoned tour to land in H&M
Justin Bieber has announced that merch from his most recent tour will be available in at least some H&M stores as of next month. Or at least we assume that's what he was announcing when he said on Twitter "#stadiummerch at @hm September 7th"
Bieber presumably has a few spare boxes of the t-shirts, hoodies and sweatpants he was flogging on his recent live trek, given he cut the tour short due to "unforeseen circumstances" and a new found desire to be "sustainable".
Those who desperately want Bieber-branding emblazoned on their clothing, but who can't face the thought of shopping with H&M, can also buy the tour merch via a bespoke website at purposetourmerch.com.
Primary Talent pays tribute to Dave Chumbley
Booking agency Primary Talent has paid tribute to Dave Chumbley - a director and agent at the company - who died earlier this week after a short illness. Chumbley was a founding team member at Primary Talent, having previously worked for a number of other booking agencies, including World Service and The Agency Group.
The statement from Primary Talent stated: "Dave was a great man, a world-class agent, esteemed director and colleague whose dedication to his artists was unmatched. We are extremely lucky to have been touched by his unique humour, exceptional kindness and infectious joie de vivre".
Meanwhile Primary Talent co-founder and former MD Martin Hopewell told IQ: "I'm in a state of complete shock - as hundreds of people around the world who knew Dave must be at the moment. He was such a larger-than-life character, and had such a massive impact on the live business, that this just doesn't seem possible".
"I worked with Dave since the 1980s when he joined the team at our old agency, World Service. Most people will know him as a tenacious and skilled representative for his clients, but those who were lucky enough to be among his many friends and colleagues will know that that big, booming voice of his was matched by an equally big heart".
Hopewell concluded: "He was a generous, funny and intelligent man, but - most of all - for many of us he was a loyal and trusted friend. The live business is quite literally not going to be the same without him".
| Vigsy's Club Tip: Notting Hill Carnival 2017 Yep, it's that time of year again. Time for the massive West London street party that is the Notting Hill Carnival, taking place this Sunday and Bank Holiday Monday. As always, there are multiple elements to London's big Carnival. There's the traditional procession of floats playing calypso, soca and reggae from the Caribbean. And alongside the music, you will find lots of hugely detailed costumes, all of it months in the making. The taste of the Caribbean is all round too, with jerk chicken and curried goat on the menu, or saltfish and ackee with rice and peas. But Carnival also forays into jungle, ragga, hip hop, house and broken beat - giving it a real UK slant - via the numerous soundsystems erected around Notting Hill over the weekend. They're certainly worth hunting down, though planning ahead as to which sound systems you're going to sample is definitely worthwhile. This year my picks of the 37 officially listed soundsystems are as follows... 1. Latin Rave Street Jam for Latin flavours from DJ Sylvester. To get the most from Carnival, have Time Out's map with you. Remember, it can get very crowded, even more so on the Monday - so keep an eye on friends and maybe have a plan for regrouping, because phone networks can slow down and/or fall over once Carnival is at its peak. And the cash machines run out of cash too - be prepared! There are also the pre and post Carnival parties this weekend that are worth checking out. CMU's tips in that regard are as follows... • Friday: the Garage Carnival Warm Up at Egg with Luck and Neat et al. • Saturday: Mala, Jamie Rodigan and Lady Leshurr at KOKO for a pre-Carnival bash. • Saturday and Sunday: Big Chill Bar on Brick Lane focusing on reggae, with free entry on both nights. • Sunday: Metalheadz Carnival After Party at Phonox, with Goldie, Storm and Randall so far confirmed, but more promised. • Sunday: CoOp heads down to Hoxton for a welcome return with IG Culture and Alex Phountzi (though it only runs 7pm-12pm). • Sunday: Boiler Room takes on Deviation and heads down to The Loft for their post-Carnival bash. • Sunday: Norman Jay takes his Good Times party east to Mick's Garage, with Femi Fem and Manasseh. • Sunday: Jungle Mania pays homage to Carnival at The Coronet with a huge line up of big hitters including JJ Frost, Dillinja and Kenny Ken . All in all, it's a great line up for this too often underrated London event. Let's just cross fingers that the sun shines in West London this weekend. And if you're one of those Londoners who has never quite made it to this big bash, then do it, trust me, you'll love it. Viva Carnival! |
Beck confirms new album release date, shares new track
That Beck fella has confirmed that his new album 'Colors' - the follow up to 2014's Grammy-winning long player 'Morning Phase' - will be released by Universal's Capitol Records on 13 Oct. The release date confirmation comes as he shares another track from the new record called 'Dear Life'.
In a recent interview with Rolling Stone, Beck said of his new material: "These are complex songs all trying to do two or three things at once. It's not retro and not modern. To get everything to sit together so it doesn't sound like a huge mess was quite an undertaking".
Beck's other big undertaking is a tour with U2, as he supports the band on their September dates, ahead of the release of his new record.
First ever Heavy Music Awards presented
It was the first ever Heavy Music Awards last night. What are they? Awards. For music. That's heavy. Obviously! Architects, Black Sabbath and Enter Shikari were among the winners at the public-voted awards bash.
For fans of full lists of award winners, here's your special treat for today:
Best Album: Architects - All Our Gods Have Abandoned Us
Best UK Band: Black Sabbath
Best International Band: Gojira
Best Live Band: Enter Shikari
Best Breakthrough Band: I Prevail
Best Producer: Fredrik Nordström & Henrik Udd
Best Album Artwork: Ghost - Popestar (Zbigniew M Bielak)
Best Photographer: Ben Gibson
The H: Ashley Maile
Best Festival: Download Festival
Best Venue: Brixton Academy
Beef Of The Week #369: Danish law enforcement v bad busking
Some pop beefs are complex. They are involved. They consist of multiple chapters, a series of developments, lots of back and forth between the participating beefers and/or their publicity representatives and/or their attorneys.
And when we summarise them here in the all-important Beef Of The Week column, we have to employ all our skills to explain the many developments and the various statements in a suitably concise fashion. Though a substantial word court may still be required.
But this week's Beef Of The Week is a nice simple one. It's almost a one liner. In fact, we could have placed it in the One Liners slot. Except there isn't a One Liners slot today. But there is a Beef Of The Week slot. Hence its inclusion here. This waffley over-long introduction, by the way, also explains the need for a waffley over-long introduction.
Anyway - the beef goes as follows: shit busker sings shit version of Oasis song 'Wonderwall'; police tell him to fuck off and do some rehearsing; police issue damning statement. It's possible I should throw an 'allegedly' into the mix here somewhere.
Though the damning statement bit is definitely true. It was police in Denmark who decided that a busker in the Danish city of Aalborg was delivering such a terrible rendition of the Oasis song that they should move him on to protect the sanity of all those within earshot.
"Just because you can play 'Wonderwall' does not mean you should", the local police force subsequently posted on their website. Nice. According to NME, the police authority added: "The guitarist [was] loud, bad and noisy. He did not sound like Liam Gallagher. A patrol talked to the singer and sent him home to practice".
We don't know if the busker took the police remarks as constructive criticism, or if he still reckons his version of 'Wonderwall' is actually pretty good. Meaning this could be a one-way beef or a two-way beef, which is an important distinction to make when you've explained the whole Beef Of The Week story in three paragraphs but want to make your weekly Beef column look longer.
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