A million vinyl albums will be sold in the UK this month, predicts BPI
It's got rather cold in the UK this week, so for those of you who are UK-based, how about we spend a couple of minutes together bathing in the warmth of the vinyl revival. Yes, that's right, the vinyl revival. The vinyl fucking rival.

Record industry trade body BPI has predicted that a million vinyl albums will be sold this month. That prediction is partly based on the customary boost in record sales - and especially physical product sales - that you see in the run up to Christmas, and also specific trends in the UK vinyl market, both this year and around the festive period in recent years.

If the BPI is correct, and a million vinyl albums are indeed sold this month, that would be a 26.1% increase on the same period last year and would constitute the highest December volume of vinyl sales since the UK industry started tracking such things in 1994. It would also take vinyl LP sales for the year to around four million. Good fucking times.

Now here's BPI boss Geoff Taylor with some words: "More and more of us have been rediscovering the joys of vinyl as artists and labels release more of their new titles and classic albums in the format. The aesthetic appeal of vinyl albums also make them a highly desirable Christmas gift item that friends and family will love to receive. Vinyl is aspirational, collectible and has a high perceived value despite being generally affordable, and this December we're expecting more than one million [vinyl] LPs to be purchased".

Now that this bold prediction has been made, what if everyone suddenly goes off vinyl en masse this weekend? I mean, the vinyl revival is one thing, but who doesn't hark back to that magnificent month in the magical musical heyday that was 2006 when they sold music on USB sticks. Surely we're overdue the USB stick revival any day now?

Just to ensure that doesn't happen this side of the new year - so to help the BPI's prediction come true - here's the owner of record shop Sister Ray with a quick reminder of why vinyl is so fucking good.

"Vinyl makes a great gift, especially as it's perceived as a premium purchase", says Phil Barton. "Not only does the recipient get a great present but the buyer knows their gift will be appreciated and won't be forgotten by Boxing Day. We see a lot of customers intent on buying 'the right gift' - buying vinyl means everyone wins".

So, to conclude: vinyl revival, fuck yeah!

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Dubset signs deal with Merlin
Mix licensing platform Dubset Media has signed a deal with indie label digital rights group Merlin to begin tracking its members' catalogues.

As previously reported, Dubset's key focus is identifying tracks used in unofficial mixes and remixes - via its Mixbank service - and then ensuring that they are all properly cleared and any royalties due are collected. The benefit for rightsholders is that they can monetise these often popular uploads, and the creators behind the unofficial mixes can put them online without fear of them being subsequently taken down.

"Adding Merlin's members to the extraordinary list of labels - and publishers - now managing their catalogues in Mixbank is an important advancement for independent music and artists everywhere", says Dubset's Bob Barbiere. "A large percentage of the content Mixbank is scanning each day comes from Merlin member labels. This partnership will have a pronounced impact on the amount of content Dubset will now clear and distribute to music services for consumers".

Merlin boss Charles Caldas adds: "Mix culture has always accounted for a significant portion of online consumption, and Merlin's membership represents a wide range of artists at the core of this culture. Merlin's partnership with Dubset is important as it will unlock new revenues for our global membership, and ensure they can realize even greater value from their repertoire - wherever and however it is used online".

As previously reported, Dubset received $4 million of new funding earlier this year, and in August signed a deal with Sony Music. On the DSP side, it already has deals in place with Apple Music and Spotify, among others.

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Propeller Recordings opens Berlin office
Norwegian indie label Propeller Recordings has announced that it is opening a new office in Berlin, in addition to existing bases in London and Oslo. The new operation will supplement the radio plugging and PR divisions the company has been developing in recent years.

"As well as having great relationships with the UK media, we are planning to offer a service across print, online and radio that can enable labels [and] management to test which territories are worth investing in across Europe", explains Head Of Publicity Joly Checketts. "We believe this could be an invaluable tool for majors and indie artists alike".

Propeller MD Tom Rose adds: "As a small indie, our budgets are minuscule compared to most, however we had goals to be a truly international label. We looked at how much we were spending on radio and online coverage internationally - to effectively test each market - and the costs would often outweigh the results".

"We started to form relationships with public radio stations across Europe, in the hope that we could test the market ahead of allocating a bigger spend", he continues. "DSP's have sculpted the recorded music industry into an instantly global business - Rag N Bone Man and George Ezra achieved mainstream success in Europe ahead of the UK - [so that] it's nearly impossible to tell where a new artist will break first, so our services are focused on finding which markets will work for each artist".

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Karen Buse to leave PRS For Music after 28 years
UK song rights collecting society PRS For Music has announced that its Executive Director of Membership & International Karen Buse will step down from the organisation at the end of the year - 28 years after she joined on a six week temp contract.

Following her departure, current Commercial Director Paul Clements will take on her workload in the new role of Executive Director for Membership, International & Licensing. He's only been at PRS for 21 years, so they shouldn't have to jig people around again for a while yet.

"I've been lucky enough to combine all of the things I love into one role - international relations, commercial focus and a love of music", says Buse. "I am so proud of what my teams have achieved in the time I have been with them, and I know they will continue to do our members proud in the years to come under Paul's leadership. I would also like to thank our members for all of their support over the years. It has been an honour to serve you all".

Clements comments: "I would like to extend my warmest thanks to Karen and congratulate her on her incredible contribution to PRS For Music in all of the years that she has served the business. I am both delighted and honoured to be taking on this new role and look forward to the challenge of building upon Karen's sterling work".

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Spotify offering £99 annual subscription
Spotify has announced that - until the end of this fine month of December - you'll be able to buy a full year's subscription to its premium tier for £99. Bargain!

The offer provides a 20% discount to those willing to pay for twelve months of access to the service up front. It's not clear if this is a one-time offer or if the company is testing out discounted one-year packages with a view to rolling them out permanently in the future. As it stands, you have until 31 Dec to hand over your cash. More info on that here.

The announcement comes as Taylor Swift's new album 'Reputation' hits all the key streaming services. Although I don't think you should encourage Swift's windowing policy by going and listening to it straight away. There's a new Miguel album out today, listen to that instead.

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Visionist's new video uses 3D scanning techniques with amazing results
Ninja Tune-signed producer Visionist has just released a video for the title track of his second album 'Value'. Directed by Frederik Heyman, the clip uses 'photogrammetric' techniques in order to place the musician in numerous roles in a variety of static scenes.

"'Value' initially deals with the issue of self-struggle, and those actions internally but also externally that have caused this torment", says Visionist. "The overcoming of this is one of self-preservation and self-saviour. I wanted to work with Frederik as he deals with the perception of realness, something I deal with within my own anxieties, creating and believing in situations that haven't even happened yet".

Explaining a little more about the project, Heyman adds: "Visionist and I focused on historic press images of people in the need of rescue. Visionist then re-enacts these situations via numerous 3D scans that are processed into several digital installations, maintaining the original photographic stillness that is key to my work".

You can catch Visionist live at Ormside Projects in London on 7 Dec. Right now, though, you really need to watch this video, because I don't think either of those quotes have really got across how good it is.

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UK Festival Awards presented
It was the UK Festival Awards in London last night, and if you think that we're going to use that fact as an excuse to simply plonk a list of the winners right here and just leave it there to gather dust as you go about your daily business, you'd be spot on. So, winners...

Best Major Festival: Latitude Festival
Best Medium-Sized Festival: End Of The Road
Best Small Festival: Lost Village
Best New Festival: TRNSMT Festival
Best Metropolitan Festival: Slam Dunk Festival
Best Family Festival: Camp Bestival
Best Non-Music Festival: Bournemouth 7s
Best Overseas Festival: Outlook Festival
Best Festival For Emerging Talent: Dot to Dot Festival
The Grass Roots Festival Award: 2000trees
Line-Up Of The Year: Liverpool Music Week

Promoter of the Year: SJM Concerts
Agency Of The Year: Coda Agency
The Brand Activation Award: The JägerHaus
Best Festival Production: Lost Village
Marketing Campaign Of The Year: Kendal Calling with Tour.Media
The Innovation Award: The Loop
Concession Of The Year: Piecaramba!
Best Hospitality: British Summer Time

The Outstanding Contribution To Festivals Award: Freddie Fellowes

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Liam Gallagher named NME's latest Godlike Genius
Liam Gallagher will be handed the NME's Godlike Genius award at its annual prize giving bash in February. He takes the trophy six whole years after his brother Noel, the magazine having never thought it appropriate to award it to him during the Beady Eye wilderness years.

"I wanna thank the NME for their Godlike Genius Award", says Gallagher. "It's about fucking time as far as I'm concerned. Gonna be playing their awards show [on] 14 Feb. As you were, you fuckers!"

Genius. Although, what that quote in text form doesn't really get across, is that he said all that while climbing a steep hill. It works much better as a video. The video is 67% more genius than the quote alone.

NME Editor-In-Chief Mike Williams adds: "Every once in a while you're faced with a decision that you might call a total no-brainer. Giving Liam Gallagher the Godlike Genius Award 2018 falls into that category. Through his history, the tunes, the swagger and the sense of humour, Liam is one of the most iconic rock stars of all time. He's a frontman who knows the job description - look cool, belt it out, be totally Godlike - and I can't wait to see him take his rightful place on the throne in Brixton in February".

As Liam said outright and Mike only vaguely alluded to - even though it's really the latter's job to communicate the logistical data - the NME Awards 2018 will take place on 14 Feb. As Liam failed to mention entirely and Mike again only alluded to, it will take place at the Brixton Academy. It really shouldn't be my job to communicate the logistical data.

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Ed Sheeran & Beyonce, Florence Welch, Louis Tomlinson, more

Other notable announcements and developments today...

• Unlike Jay-Z, Ed Sheeran has released a collaboration with Beyonce.

• Florence Welch is to publish a book of lyrics, poetry and sketches from her own notebooks on 5 Jul, titled 'Useless Magic'. "I have long wanted to persuade Florence to write a book", says Penguin's Juliet Annan. "I am so THRILLED", adds Welch. The Machine could not be reached for comment.

• One Directioner Louis Tomlinson has released his latest solo single, 'Miss You'.

• The xx have released a short film about their Lollapalooza Berlin headline show earlier this year, titled 'We See You Berlin'.

•  The Go! Team have released a new Morse code-inspired song, 'Mayday'. “I’ve always wanted to do a song with Morse code in it and when I hit upon the idea of applying a mayday distress signal to love problems I was surprised it had never been done before", says the band's Ian Parton.

• Alela Diane has announced that she will release new album, 'Cusp', on 9 Feb. From it, this is 'Émigré'.

• Thomas Truax is back. He will release his ninth album, 'All That Heaven Allows', on 2 Feb. From it, this is new single 'Save Me', featuring Gemma Ray.

• Jon Boden, formerly of Bellowhead, will be touring the UK in April, performing songs from his solo album 'Afterglow'. Here's a video of him performing one of those songs, 'Fires Of Midnight'.

• Check out our weekly Spotify playlist of new music featured in the CMU Daily - updated every Friday.

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Beef Of The Week #383: The UK v Cliffmas
It's the first of December today, so it is officially the first day of the year that I will allow you to feel festive. Anything you've felt before now has been unacceptable. However, as of today, you are permitted to feel an absolute maximum of 20% seasonal.

To be honest though, I don't expect you to actually hit 20%. That figure's just to give you a margin of error, in case of a sudden - but brief - surge of merriness. Really, at this stage, I'd expect a fairly low level of peace and goodwill. More like 4.7%.

Think of it like this: You're going somewhere that's a 90 minute drive away. Then 40 minutes in, you suddenly worry that you've left the oven on. You're too far into the journey to go back and check, so you just trust your instinct that - although you don't actually remember turning any ovens off - you must have. But even though you're now pretty sure you did, in fact, turn it off, the lack of any clear memory of doing so still leaves a slight nagging doubt anxiously tugging at your thoughts for the rest of the drive.

Like that. Only Christmassy.

Anyway, talk of Christmas and the joy it brings to all of us - most of all me, clearly - leads me to start thinking about Christmas music.

People love Christmas music, but they only want to hear it for a few weeks of every year. Not because it's actually terrible. Just because in three weeks' time we will have heard twelve months worth of it. And anyway, if it was Christmas every day, like Roy Wood wants, there would be nothing special about it. So shut up, Roy.

The undisputed king of Christmas music - and Christmas generally - is Cliff Richard. Cliff, of course, had the Christmas number one in the UK charts every year between 1937 and 1998. Though, of course, his most famous Christmas song remains 'Mistletoe And Wine'.

Christmas time

BAAA BAAA

Mistletoe and wine

BAAA BAAA

You know it.

For British people, it's not just a Christmas song, it's the Christmas national anthem. And that's official. It's written into the constitution. Or it would be, if we had a written constitution. If we ever remember to get round to writing a constitution, I'd say there is little doubt that the first clause of said constitution would confirm 'Mistletoe And Wine' as the Christmas national anthem of this here United Kingdom of things.

Or so I thought. Until this morning Metro published a piece of research it found lying around somewhere that claimed that not only was 'Fairytale Of New York' by The Pogues and Kirsty MacColl actually the UK's favourite Christmas song, but 'Mistletoe And Wine' is all the way down at number thirteen.

How can this be, people of Britain? What has become of you? Has the Brexit shambles made us such a divided nation that Chris Rea's 'Driving Home For Christmas' can appear in a Christmas songs poll four positions higher than 'Mistletoe And Wine'? That song is no good, people. No good at all. It's just a cheery rewrite of 'Road To Hell'.

Sure, you might say, 'Road To Hell' came out three years after 'Driving Home For Christmas', but I say to you: why do you have such an encyclopaedic knowledge of Chris Rea's back catalogue? Huh? What are you, his biographer? Did you do a GSCE in Chris Rea Studies? Will you ever shut up about your hero Chris Rea?

No, 'Mistletoe And Wine' is and always will be the Christmas song to end all Christmas songs. It will, I am sure we can all agree, still be swimming around all our hearts long after both fairytales and New York have long been forgotten. Even though, like most Christmas songs these days, I can only really remember the Cassetteboy version.

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