 |
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. CMU Trends considers what the law says about the rights of artists and songwriters after their copyrights have been assigned. [READ MORE] |
 |
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] |
 |
MAKING MONEY FROM MUSIC MEDIA IN THE DIGITAL AGE While the challenges faced by the music industry - and especially the record industry - since the mainstream adoption of the internet in the early 2000s have been widely documented, the music media - and especially the music press - 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 | Radiohead "appalled" after trial over drum tech's death called off READ IN THIS EMAIL | READ ON THE WEBSITE |
| LEGAL | Thriller actress goes legal again as 3D version of the video premieres Billy McFarland propped up another company with his Fyre credit card, says Vice READ IN THIS EMAIL | READ ON THE WEBSITE |
| DEALS | Modest! backs new publishing business led by former Nettwerk exec READ IN THIS EMAIL | READ ON THE WEBSITE |
| LIVE BUSINESS | Sky shuts down ticketing site Larmer Tree announces new programming and marketing staff READ IN THIS EMAIL | READ ON THE WEBSITE |
| MEDIA | Pop music makes classical better, confirms Classic FM READ IN THIS EMAIL | READ ON THE WEBSITE |
| RELEASES | New single from Richard Russell's Everything Is Recorded READ IN THIS EMAIL | READ ON THE WEBSITE |
| ONE LINERS | Spotify, Dream Wife, Wesley Gonzalez, more READ IN THIS EMAIL | READ ON THE WEBSITE |
| AND FINALLY... | Katy Perry advertises Japanese fabric softener READ IN THIS EMAIL | READ ON THE WEBSITE |
 |
DOMINO RECORDS - SENIOR INTERNATIONAL MARKETING MANAGER (LONDON) Domino Recording Co is looking for a Senior International Marketing Manager with five years+ proven experience in international marketing and promotions, including the running of global campaigns. The International Marketing Manager’s core responsibility is to oversee international campaigns for our artists from the inception of the campaign strategy to rollout. For more information and to apply click here. |
 |
CLAPHAM GRAND - SALES & MARKETING CHAMPION (LONDON) We are looking for a sales driven marketing expert to join our growing promotions team at The Grand, continuing our 117 years record of putting on world class entertainment; ensuring not only that our events are seen and heard by as many people as possible, but that those people are converted to loyal customers through your excellent marketing. For more information and to apply click here. |
 |
NUCLEAR BLAST - PRESS OFFICER (LONDON) London office for well-established rock/metal label is looking for a dynamic and creative Press Officer to handle PR for it’s rapidly diversifying roster. The ideal candidate should have at least two years experience in a similar role with existing contacts within the rock/metal media. For more information and to apply click here. |
 |
9PR - JUNIOR ACCOUNT MANAGER (LONDON) 9PR are looking for a Junior Account Manager to work across print and online. Suitable candidates must have a demonstrable understanding of PR and ideally some music industry experience. This is an excellent opportunity within one of the UK’s leading music PR companies. For more information and to apply click here. |
 |
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. |
 |
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. |
 |
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. |
 |
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. |
 |
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. |
|
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. |
 |
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. |
 |
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. |
 |
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. |
 |
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. |
Radiohead "appalled" after trial over drum tech's death called off
Radiohead have said they are "appalled" that the trial relating to the death of their drum tech Scott Johnson - who died after staging collapsed ahead of a show in Toronto in 2012 - has been called off simply because the case took too long to work its way through the court system.
As previously reported, Johnson was killed and three others injured after a scaffolding structure collapsed onto the open-air stage on which Radiohead were due to perform. The show was promoted by Live Nation, and the live music giant was subsequently charged under Ontario's Occupational Health And Safety Act, alongside provider Optex Staging & Services Inc and an individual engineer working on the show, Domenic Cugliari.
The criminal case reached court in 2015, but quickly started to drag. Then earlier this year the judge overseeing the trial was promoted and no longer had jurisdiction. As a result a mistrial was declared, and the whole case was set to begin anew.
However, the defendants argued that the entire case should instead be abandoned, citing a relatively new precedent in Canadian law designed to stop criminal cases from dragging on indefinitely. The new judge considering the proceedings agreed that, under the new precedent, the charges against Live Nation, Optex and Cugliari should indeed be permanently stayed.
Speaking to the Toronto Star last week, Johnson's father said that while he wasn't surprised that the judge had complied with the defendants' request to call off the trial, it was nevertheless "absolutely staggering" that the whole case was being cancelled because of a precedent which came into effect after the court hearing into his son's death had started.
As the news of last week's decision to permanently stay the charges broke, Radiohead's Thom Yorke stated on Twitter that "words utterly fail me". Meanwhile, on Friday, Yorke and his bandmates issued a short joint statement over the Canadian judge's decision.
The band said in their statement: "We are appalled by the decision to stay the charges against Live Nation, Optex Staging and Domenic Cugliari. This is an insult to the memory of Scott Johnson, his parents and our crew. It offers no consolation, closure or assurance that this kind of accident will not happen again".
Thriller actress goes legal again as 3D version of the video premieres
If you were worried that the recent conclusion of the Quincy Jones lawsuit against the Michael Jackson Estate meant we were no longer up to the required quota of litigation relating to the late king of pop, worry not. The actor who played the singer's girlfriend in the 'Thriller' video has gone legal again. Thank fuck for that.
Ola Ray previously sued Jackson just before his untimely death in 2009, claiming that she had been promised a cut of the royalties generated by the iconic music-video-come-short-film, and that said cut of the cash had never materialised. A settlement with the Jackson Estate then followed in 2012, reportedly worth $75,000
Ray seemingly claims that she was promised a 2.5% cut of any royalties earned by the 'Thriller' video, but to date she has only been paid $200,000. In a recent interview with the Daily Mail, Ray said she was so excited about appearing in the 'Thriller' short that "I probably would have done it for nothing", but that nevertheless: "Michael gave me a contract".
It seems Ray is going legal again, despite the 2012 settlement, because the long mooted 3D version of 'Thriller' has now been premiered at the Venice Film Festival. Director John Landis revealed he was planning the rework back in 2014, after settling his own legal action with the Jackson Estate in relation to royalties generated by the video.
Ray says she wasn't consulted about the 3D version of the 'Thriller' short. She told reporters: "I'm outraged, upset and in shock. When I heard rumours about a possible 3D version, I contacted the director and said 'we need to talk about this'. But he never responded to my email. They haven't tried to contact me or negotiate anything. How do they think they can just do this without paying me?"
The actor's lawyer Scott Cole added: "Ms Ray had a central role in this iconic production. Shutting her out of her full royalties all these years hardly honours the memory of Michael or the spirit of the relevant contracts".
--------------------------------------------------
Billy McFarland propped up another company with his Fyre credit card, says Vice
The founder of the shambolic Fyre Festival might have used a corporate credit card associated with the Fyre business to buy up to a million dollars of tickets on behalf of another company he set up called Magnises, according to Vice News.
Fyre Festival, of course, was the music event due to take place on an island in the Bahamas in April and May this year. Marketed as a super luxurious experience, the festival collapsed just as people were arriving, as it became clear management hadn't put in place the infrastructure for even a basic event, let alone the luxury set-up that had been promised.
The festival was founded by Ja Rule and Billy McFarland, who were also collaborating on a talent-booking app under the Fyre brand, which the abandoned island adventure was designed to promote. Since the event's collapse, the Fyre companies and their founders have been on the receiving end of a stack of lawsuits from disgruntled ticket-buyers, suppliers and investors, while McFarland also faces criminal charges of fraud.
As previously reported, Fyre Festival LLC - the company that was actually promoting the failed event - was recently forced into bankruptcy by three financial backers. A legal rep for the investors conceded that his clients may never get their money back, but said that the bankruptcy proceedings should nevertheless mean "at least we'll know where it went".
The new Vice report, meanwhile, focuses on how monies were spent at the parent company Fyre Media, which was also developing the aforementioned app. It claims that paperwork shows that McFarland used one of that company's American Express cards to buy a million dollars of concert tickets. Those tickets, it seems, were required by a separate business McFarland was involved in called Magnises.
Magnises was a members-only concierge service which, among other things, promised to help subscribers get access to tickets to in-demand shows. Making good on those promises, it is alleged, often involved McFarland buying last minute tickets via resale sites like StubHub and Vivid Tickets, and then selling them onto Magnises members at a loss.
Vice reports that "most of the StubHub, Ticketmaster, Vivid Seats and Fan Exchange charges on McFarland's Fyre American Express card correspond with events advertised by Magnises", adding that the credit card records suggest "he was purchasing most, if not all, of [the tickets] on the same day the events were scheduled to take place".
It's thought that Fyre and Magnises had some investors in common, though they were separate businesses, which means credit facilities offered to one shouldn't have been used to prop up the other. Though a lawyer interviewed by Vice says that McFarland's use of his Fyre credit card to buy tickets for Magnises would only add to the fraud charges he already faces if it could be shown his motives were to specifically defraud investors.
Lawyer Jack Sharman says: "If he had fraudulent intent, that is to say, to rip off his investors, that could be a state or maybe a federal securities claim. On the other hand, if what you're talking about is essentially gross mismanagement - somebody bad at running the company, who had a bad idea how to finance it, and used his investors' funds improperly - that might be grounds for a lawsuit by those investors".
Modest! backs new publishing business led by former Nettwerk exec
UK artist management firm Modest! - still probably best known for managing One Direction - is backing a new music publishing venture called AMLOR.
Modest! partners Richard Griffiths, Harry Magee and Will Blomfield are launching the new venture with music publishing veteran Blair McDonald, who recently departed the Nettwerk Music Group after more than a decade growing that firm's publishing interests.
McDonald will be MD of AMLOR Music Publishing which, the new company says, "will provide focused creative services and support for songwriters, producers and artists through publishing and neighbouring rights agreements". And why not, say I.
Says McDonald: "I couldn't be more excited to be launching this new venture with Richard, Harry and Will. The music publishing business is rapidly evolving - along with every other area of our business - and the insight into that changing world through the Modest! team is second to none".
Speaking for the Modest! company, Griffiths said: "Over the years we've had countless offers to start a publishing business alongside our other businesses, but never felt we had right team to add value. Blair brings that last important piece of the puzzle".
Sky shuts down ticketing site
Sky has seemingly shut down its ticketing operation, reports IQ. The news comes just a year after the company acquired ticketing start-up Una Tickets.
As previously reported, Sky Tickets launched four years ago, mainly working with sporting events. However, last year it began moving more into the music domain. As well as gaining its technology, the acquisition of Una Tickets seemed to be a further step in that direction.
Shortly after that acquisition, Sky Tickets announced that it would be the exclusive ticketing partner of Omeara, the new London venue founded by Mumford & Sons' Ben Lovett. However, according to IQ, that deal collapsed fairly soon afterwards.
As yet, Sky has not commented on the reasons for its ticketing service going offline, or its future plans - both for its ticketing ambitions and the Una Tickets platform.
--------------------------------------------------
Larmer Tree announces new programming and marketing staff
Having taken 2017 off - in order "to fully refresh both creatively and personally" - Larmer Tree Festival has confirmed it will return next year, with two new team members taking over the programming and marketing of the event.
As previously reported, the festival took its first break since it launched in 1990 this year. The original announcement of the hiatus was made just after the 2016 edition of the event. Dates for 2018 were also announced at the same time, to placate any fears that the hiatus meant the festival's demise was on the cards.
The event has been independent since its launch and has never carried any corporate sponsorship - a position that has become ever more challenging in an increasingly competitive festival market, where many promoters now rely on brand money to go into profit. Those challenges, of course, have led to a number of independent festivals selling out to the likes of Live Nation and Global, partly to gain cash flow and access to sponsors.
Larmer Tree intends to remain proudly independent and brand-free. The new team members recruited to help achieve that ambition are Sarah Dennehy, who becomes the event's Creative Director, and Rachel Kinchin, who takes on its marketing and communications.
Dennehy has previously worked on events such as the Hay Festival, Brecon Jazz Festival and Australia's Perth Festival. Kinchin, meanwhile, has worked with a range of events, venues and artists, and previously collaborated with Dennehy on the Festival Of Voice in Cardiff.
Next year's Larmer Tree Festival will take place on 20-22 Jul, taking it back from a five day to a three day event.
Pop music makes classical better, confirms Classic FM
Classic FM is marking its 25th birthday by publishing a list of the top pop hits that have sampled classical pieces over the last quarter century. In doing so it hopes to prove that violins and stuff can still be worth listening to, even if you weren't born in the eighteenth century or whatever.
"This list of hits from the past 25 years is fantastic, because it confirms just how relevant classical music is to our lives", says Classic FM presenter John Suchet. "These 25 hits reinforce how inspiring and important classical music is to music today".
Yeah, that's right, classical music is super relevant, and this list proves it. Or maybe it just shows that, even though classical music is totally boring and pointless, when put in the right hands - like those of Zayn Malik, for example - something can be salvaged from it.
Taking his own view, rapper Professor Green - whose 'Upper Clapton Dance' from 2006 features on the list - says: "The world of rap has huge respect for classical music. Myself, along with lots of contemporary artists, recognise the value and the importance classical music has on our music making, and it has often played a big part in my song writing. It's a real shame when people say that it's outdated and not relevant to today's music scene".
He continues: "The ability [of classical music] to evoke emotion and take a listener on a journey - to effectively tell a story without narration - should speak enough about its importance. I'm a huge fan of TV and film scores which classical music has a huge influence over - Eric Serra's work on 'Leon' helped make a good script into a great film".
I'm not sure film soundtracks count when you're trying to talk up classical music. It's cheating when the music is accompanied by cool visuals of people getting shot up and kicked in the mouth and stuff to take your mind off it. I mean, come on, some of those classical songs are like an hour long. Who has the time? Even the titles are so long they send you to sleep. 'Prelude in C# minor, Opus 3, Number 2' blah blah blah and a side order of chips and coleslaw. Shut up, Sergei.
Of course, a short snippet of that hour long classical track with no mention of its stupidly long title, now that makes sense. And with that in mind, here - in reverse chronological order - is Classic FM's list of reasons why you were right to get your classical fix in short sharp shots via pop radio over the last 25 years...
2017: G-Eazy, Carnage and Thirty Rack - Guala (Erik Satie - Gnossienne No 1)
2016: Zayn Malik - Blue (Johann Sebastian Bach - Prelude No 1 in C major from The Well-Tempered Clavier)
2015: Muse - Drones (Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina - Benedictus from Missa Papae Marcelli)
2014: David Guetta - Dangerous (Ezio Bosso - Symphony No 2 Under The Trees - 4th movement)
2013: Little Mix - Little Me (Gabriel Fauré - Pavane in F# Minor)
2012: Alicia Keys - Piano Mash Up (Ludwig Van Beethoven - Piano Sonata No 14 in C# minor Moonlight, 1st Movement)
2011: Dizzee Rascal - Nutcrackerz feat Giggs (Pyotr IlyichTchaikovsky - Dance Of The Sugar Plum Fairy from The Nutcracker)
2010: NDubbs and BodyRox - We Dance On (Johann Pachelbel - Canon in D major)
2009: Lady Gaga Alejandro (Vittorio Monti - Csárdás)
2008: Beyonce - Ave Maria (Franz Schubert - Ave Maria)
2007: Alicia Keys -As I Am (Frédéric Chopin - Nocturne No 20 in C# minor)
2006: Professor Green - Upper Clapton Dance feat CORE and Chynaman (Brahms Hungarian Dance No. 5 in F♯ minor)
2005: Bright Eyes - Road To Joy (Ludwig Van Beethoven - Symphony No 9 in D minor, 4th movement Ode To Joy)
2004: The Farm - All Together Now (Johann Pachelbel - Canon in D major)
2003: Nas - I Can (Ludwig van Beethoven - Bagatelle No 25 in A minor Für Elise)
2002: The Streets - Same Old Thing (Antonín Dvorák - Symphony No 9 in E minor, From The New World' 1st movement)
2001: Ludacris - Coming 2 America (Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart - Dies Irae from The Requiem in D minor)
2000: S Club 7 - Natural (Gabriel Fauré - Pavane in F# minor)
1999: Puff Daddy - Hate Me Now (Carl Orff - O Fortuna from Carmina Burana)
1998: Sweetbox - Everything's Gonna Be Alright (Johann Sebastian Bach - Air On The G String)
1997: Puff Daddy - I'll Be Missing You (Samuel Barber - Agnus Dei)
1996: Celine Dion - All By Myself (Sergei Rachmaninov - Piano Concerto No 2 in C minor, 2nd movement)
1995: Take That - Never Forget' (Giuseppe Verdi - Tuba Mirum from the Requiem Mass)
1994: 2 Unlimited - The Real Thing (Johann Sebastian Bach - Toccata and Fugue in D minor)
1993: UB40 - I Can't Help Falling In Love With You' (Jean-Paul-Égide Martini - Plaisir d'Amour)
1992: Madonna - In This Life (George Gershwin - Prelude No 2 in C# minor)
| Approved: Leah Kardos Hey, the Approved column is back from its summer break? Did you miss it? No need to answer, I know you did. Let's kick off with something that came out during that break, the latest material from Leah Kardos. For her new album - 'Ricocochet' - Kardos was keen to shake off some of the seriousness that can dominate in the classical and electronica fields she inhabits. Given that her last album - 2013's 'Machines' - was a collection of operatic pieces with lyrics drawn from spam emails, she already seemed to be applying a healthy sense of playfulness and humour to her music making. However, listening to 'Ricocochet', it quickly becomes clear that she's found a new freedom in her writing this time round. "I was feeling personally a bit bogged down in the 'ambient' piano-triads-with-lots-of-reverb-plus-chopped-beats world", she writes on her website. "So I thought of the Rococo artists with their humour, wit, eye for leftfield detail and general lightness of being, and tried to adopt some of that into what I was doing". She continues: "I read over and over again that Bowie's process regularly involved a risk, making oneself uncomfortable, going out into the water to the point where your feet no longer touch the bottom. So that's inspiring and comforting. I don't really make music for any other reason than the sheer love and absolute delight of the creative process, so why stick to the well-trodden path?" Listen to 'Open' from the new album here. Stay up to date with all of the artists featured in the CMU Approved column by subscribing to our Spotify playlist. |
New single from Richard Russell's Everything Is Recorded
XL Recordings boss Richard Russell has launched his own new musical project, Everything Is Recorded, which sees him collaborating with a variety of different artists.
Following on from first single 'Close But Not Quite', new track 'Mountains Of Gold' features Sampha, Ibeyi, Wiki and Kamasi Washington.
"'Mountains of Gold' is sound system inspired. You can hear a lot of strong and different personalities and voices in the one song, but the feeling is consistent", says Russell. "Everyone has plenty of space".
Spotify, Dream Wife, Wesley Gonzalez, more
Other notable announcements and developments today...
• If you use Spotify through Safari on your Mac, well now you don't. For some reason Spotify has withdrawn support for Apple's web browser.
• Dream Wife have released the video for their recent (and brilliant) single 'Fire'. Their new EP of the same name is due for release on 29 Sep.
• Wesley Gonzalez has released a new video for 'In Amsterdam', shot on location in Ibiza. "We originally planned an entire video set in the countryside", he explains. "Just as we decided to call it a night we put on an episode of 'Sun, Sex & Suspicious Parents' and within ten minutes of it starting we had booked two flights to Ibiza".
• Club 8 have released new single 'Breathe'. Their tenth album, 'Golden Island', will be out early next year.
• Josephine Oniyama has released a new single, 'Til You'. Details of her first album for five years are due to be announced soon.
• Jaga Jazzist will play a headline show at London's Royal Festival Hall on 19 Nov.
• Check out our weekly Spotify playlist of new music featured in the CMU Daily - updated every Friday.
Katy Perry advertises Japanese fabric softener
Katy Perry has appeared in two new TV commercials for Japanese "fabric and air care brand" Laundrin.
In two fifteen second clips, the singer promotes the company's new lines of reed diffusers and fabric softeners. In both she arrives home to enjoy the smell of one or the other.
Each ad finishes with Perry announcing "I love Laundrin", which makes it sound a bit like she's just got back from a hard day covering the tracks of all the bags of money she gained through some sort of criminal empire.
If that is the case, she's not doing a great job of it. While the videos would suggest that Perry can afford a driver and a someone to carry her bags, once inside her house she's still having to wash her own clothes. She also has to subsist on a diet of pancakes. All of which makes it look like that money laundering enterprise is failing and using up all the cash generated by Perry's legitimate pop career and tedious brand ambassador deals.
With that in mind, I think what we can take from all this is that it's high time Katy Perry stopped trying to make it as a criminal.
|
 |
CMU supports the music community by providing news, business intelligence, training and education. CMU Daily covers all the latest news and developments direct by email. CMU Podcast is a weekly dissection of the biggest music business stories. CMU Premium gives you access to the weekly CMU Digest and CMU Trends. CMU Insights provides training and consultancy for music companies. CMU:DIY provides workshops and resources for future music talent.
|