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DISSECTING THE DIGITAL DOLLAR - STEP BY STEP As the UK's Music Managers Forum publishes two new guides as part of phase three of its 'Dissecting The Digital Dollar' programme, CMU Trends summarises what we've learned from the project so far in 30 points - ten from part one, ten from part two, and ten from the new guides. Along the way we cover digital licensing, all the key issues with the current streaming business model, and what you need to know about label deals and transparency in the streaming age. [READ MORE] |
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GLOBAL MUSIC DATA AND BLOCKCHAIN There has been lots of debate around the music rights data problem in recent years, and a number of initiatives are underway to tackle the issue. Though Spotify's mechanical royalties dispute and the lack of songwriter credits on the streaming platforms shows the problem persists. As Music 4.5 puts the spotlight back on all things data, CMU Trends reviews discussions to date, challenges to be met, and where progress is being made. [READ MORE] |
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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. CMU Trends considers what the law says about the rights of artists and songwriters after their copyrights have been assigned. [READ MORE] |
| TOP STORIES | Spotify and Tencent confirm equity deal READ IN THIS EMAIL | READ ON THE WEBSITE |
| DEALS | Kobalt buys some songs Warner/Chappell signs Simian Mobile Disco READ IN THIS EMAIL | READ ON THE WEBSITE |
| LIVE BUSINESS | Pub denies banning female-fronted rock bands READ IN THIS EMAIL | READ ON THE WEBSITE |
| DIGITAL & D2F SERVICES | Apple set to buy Shazam, say sources READ IN THIS EMAIL | READ ON THE WEBSITE |
| MEDIA | BBC orders more Friday night sounds READ IN THIS EMAIL | READ ON THE WEBSITE |
| ARTIST NEWS | QOTSA's Josh Homme apologises for kicking photographer during show READ IN THIS EMAIL | READ ON THE WEBSITE |
| RELEASES | Bloom Twins team up with mental health charities for new single READ IN THIS EMAIL | READ ON THE WEBSITE |
| ONE LINERS | Thom Yorke, Louis Tomlinson, Migos, more READ IN THIS EMAIL | READ ON THE WEBSITE |
| AND FINALLY... | Beyonce blocks sale of tribute beer READ IN THIS EMAIL | READ ON THE WEBSITE |
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SJM CONCERTS - VIP ASSISTANT (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. Working as an assistant to the VIP Manager within our VIP department, the VIP Assistant is responsible for the day to day administration of our exclusive VIP packages, as well as providing general office admin support. For more information and to apply click here. |
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ISOBEL GRIFFITHS LTD - TRAINEE ORCHESTRAL FIXER (LONDON) A Trainee Orchestral Contractor (aka Fixer) is required to join an office of six staff, based in the Chelsea Harbour area of SW10. The company books freelance orchestral and specialist musicians for feature films, video games, TV film scores, records and TV commercial recordings. For more information and to apply click here. |
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MAMA FESTIVALS - HEAD OF CREATIVE PRODUCTION (LONDON) MAMA Festivals is one of the UK's leading festival businesses. The Head Of Creative Production works alongside managers and consultants to deliver creative aspects of Lovebox, Citadel and Wilderness festivals. For more information and to apply click here. |
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KILIMANJARO LIVE - MARKETING ASSISTANT (LONDON) This role spans two areas within Kilimanjaro Live; working with the Promoters and the Head of Marketing to co-ordinate and implement marketing strategies and plans, and working across the company as a whole on office administration and support as well as providing support to all roles when required. For more information and to apply click here. |
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GARGANTUAN MUSIC - SENIOR MUSIC CONSULTANT UK (LONDON) Gargantuan Music is looking for a highly experienced Senior Music Consultant with an excellent proven track record in sales, marketing and music supervision within the music industry. For more information and to apply click here. |
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GARGANTUAN MUSIC - MUSIC PRODUCTION MANAGER (LONDON) This is an exciting opportunity to work at a world class production music company. Gargantuan Music is looking for an experienced Music Production Manager. For more information and to apply click here. |
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I AM POP - MARKETING & PARTNERSHIPS EXECUTIVE (LONDON) POP is the simplest way for musicians, labels, brands and others to launch a Facebook Messenger bot. The Marketing & Partnerships Executive will work closely with POP’s Head of Partnerships and our Marketing team to help POP connect with customers and grow our presence globally. For more information and to apply click here. |
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STONES THROW RECORDS - JUNIOR PRODUCT MANAGER (LONDON) Stones Throw is seeking a full-time Junior Product Manager at its European office in London. You'll work closely with the UK & Europe Label Manager to deliver marketing campaigns in these territories, and provide general support to assist in the day to day running of the label in the UK and Europe. For more information and to apply click here. |
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ATC LIVE - SENIOR BOOKING ASSISTANT (LONDON) ATC Live is a live booking agency based in Camden, London, and we are looking for a senior booking assistant to join our team. This is an exciting opportunity for a highly organised and motivated senior booking assistant to join a busy live booking agency. For more information and to apply click here. |
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KOBALT - SENIOR ONBOARD MANAGER (LONDON) The primary focus of the client Onboarding team is to work in conjunction with our Tech team to transition the new clients' data onto Kobalt's proprietary systems and into the ongoing day-to-day processes of the core Operational teams. For more information and to apply click here. |
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KOBALT - AWAL COMMUNITY SUPPORT ASSISTANT (LONDON) AWAL serves a growing roster of emerging talent and already established independent artists from all over the world. As our AWAL community continues to grow, we're now looking for someone to join our client management team to help support these labels and artists using the cutting-edge AWAL tools. For more information and to apply click here. |
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KOBALT - ASSISTANT, CLIENT RELATIONS (LONDON) Our growing Client Relations team in London is looking for a confident and detail oriented self-starter to support with crucial day-to-day tasks such as transitioning new clients into the Kobalt system and carrying out internal reviews and quality checks. For more information and to apply click here. |
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DOMINO - PRODUCT MANAGER (LONDON) Domino seeks a Product Manager to join its London team. Product Managers at Domino are in charge of running artist campaigns inside the company. For more information and to apply click here. |
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SONGULAR MUSIC - PLAYLIST PROMOTIONS (LONDON) Join the UK's top streaming promotions company and play a key role in helping some of the world's most exciting new artists get heard. For more information and to apply click here. |
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THE ORCHARD - INDIE SALES MANAGER (LONDON) The Orchard has a vacancy for an Indie Sales Manager servicing independent record shops and online accounts. Candidates should ideally have experience working with music retail, distribution or at a label. For more information and to apply click here. |
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KILIMANJARO LIVE - VENUE & BOX OFFICE MANAGEMENT ROLES (LONDON) Kilimanjaro Live is working with Dinosaurs In The Wild to bring its amazing adventure to London in 2018 for a long term run. We are recruiting a Venue Manager, Assistant Venue Manager and Box Office Managers to manage the venue operations. For more information and to apply click here. |
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VMS LIVE - PROMOTER (VARIOUS LOCATIONS) VMS Live is looking for an experienced promoter to work in our expanding events team. Based in one of our UK offices the successful candidate will be work alongside existing staff to book and promote artists/events into our existing partner venues estate around the UK, as well as delivering shows in our own right as VMS Live. For more information and to apply click here. |
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VMS LIVE - JUNIOR BOOKER (VARIOUS LOCATIONS) VMS Live is looking for a Junior Booker to work in our expanding events team. Based in one of our UK offices the position will be working alongside our existing staff to book and promote artists/events into our existing partner venues estate around the UK, as well as delivering shows in our own right as VMS Live. For more information and to apply click here. |
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13 ARTISTS - SENIOR BOOKING ASSISTANT (BRIGHTON) 13 Artists are looking to recruit a Senior Booking Assistant who, among other things, will liaise with agents, management and labels on touring periods, financial and logistic requirements; negotiate routing and arrange dates with promoters and venues; and analyse costings for shows to get the best deals for artists. For more information and to apply click here. |
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THE REST IS NOISE - MUSIC EVENTS PR, SENIOR CAMPAIGN MANAGER (LONDON) The Rest Is Noise is a music specialist communications agency that look after a range of PR campaigns. The role is for an experienced PR to join our tightknit team, delivering high impact PR campaigns within our events arm. For more information and to apply click here. |
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SOLD OUT - CAMPAIGN MANAGER (LONDON) As Campaign Manager at independent full service advertising agency Sold Out, you will be the lead person responsible for all elements of online marketing and be supporting the business through effective implementation of social media campaigns, campaign planning and buying, implementation and reporting for a variety of clients across the entertainment market. For more information and to apply click here. |
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CMU PRIMER: KEY MUSIC BUSINESS TRENDS 2018 These are sessions that we run in-house at music companies or companies working with music. As we head into 2018, CMU Insights is now offering music companies a special two-hour primer session reviewing five key areas of the music business, summarising important developments from the last twelve months and looking at the challenges that lie ahead in the next year. Including: the streaming business, piracy, safe harbour, ticketing and data. CLICK HERE to find out more about this CMU Insights primer. |
Spotify and Tencent confirm equity deal
So following all the recent chit chat speculating that Spotify and Tencent Music might soon be exchanging some equity, on Friday it was confirmed that Spotify and Tencent Music would soon be exchanging some equity. And just in time for Christmas! It's exactly what Jesus would have wanted.
Chinese internet firm Tencent is one of the companies busy trying to dominate the rapidly expanding streaming music market in China, via its standalone music subsidiary and services like QQ Music. Spotify, of course, is the dominate paid-for streaming service on a worldwide basis, but is yet to enter the tricky but potentially lucrative (eventually) Chinese market.
On Tencent's side, the deal involves both the parent company and its music subsidiary, the latter of which is expected to be separately floated on a stock exchange next year. In official speak, "Tencent Music Entertainment and Spotify will acquire new shares representing minority equity stakes in each other for cash", plus "Tencent will invest in Spotify through secondary purchases". The latter part of the deal should mean a cash boost for Spotify.
The outcome of the arrangement is that: "Spotify will hold a minority stake in TME, and both Tencent and TME will hold minority stakes in Spotify".
Confirming the tie up between the two companies, Spotify boss Daniel Ek said on Friday: "Spotify and Tencent Music Entertainment see significant opportunities in the global music streaming market for all our users, artists, music and business partners. This transaction will allow both companies to benefit from the global growth of music streaming".
Meanwhile over at Tencent, the CEO of TME, Cussion Pang, added: "We are excited to embark on this partnership with the largest music streaming platform in the world. TME and Spotify will work together to explore collaboration opportunities, with a common objective to foster a vibrant music ecosystem that benefits users, artists and content owners".
Kobalt buys some songs
Kobalt has bought some songs. Actually, it's bought Songs. Not all songs. Not every song. But all the songs of Songs. Confused? Good. I like to think that Matt Pincus named his independent music publishing firm Songs fourteen years ago just to enable me to write a satisfyingly confusing introduction to this story.
So, yes, Kobalt's investment fund has bought notable US indie music publisher Songs Music Publishing. And after quite the competitive bidding process, by all accounts. In addition, the core Kobalt Music business has won the rights to manage and administrate the Songs repertoire, on behalf of Kobalt Capital. I'm guessing that bidding process was somewhat less competitive.
"I was first introduced to Matt in 2004 when Songs was just starting", Kobalt boss Willard Ahdritz declared on Friday, as the Songs deal was confirmed. "Since then, first as a client and then as a friend, Matt has built a remarkable company with a combination of great creative vision and a deep business understanding. The results are an extraordinary music publishing company. I am honoured that Matt has trusted Kobalt to take care of his songwriters and songs. We are looking forward to delivering an outstanding service in their new home".
Pincus subsequently stepped up to confirm the chronology of all this, in case there was any doubt. "I met Willard when I first started Songs in 2004", said he. "He was one of the first people to believe in our vision of a music publishing company providing revolutionary creative service to contemporary songwriters".
Noting that he and his co-founders had, to date, run Songs as a "truly independent company" owned and operated by its founding team, Pincus added of his decision to sell: "After many years of hard work and personal investment in the company, we decided that it was time for us to look for new horizons".
Adding that Songs had always had "a fierce commitment to songwriters and their compensation", he said of the company he had sold the business too: "[They] have demonstrated a time-tested commitment to songwriters through their dedication to transparency, honesty and independence. It's because of these characteristics and our longstanding relationship that we are confident there is no better partner than Kobalt with which to continue our legacy".
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Warner/Chappell signs Simian Mobile Disco
Warner/Chappell has signed a global publishing deal with James Ford and Jas Shaw, aka Simian Mobile Disco.
If you don't believe me, prepare to be amazed by this quote from Warner/Chappell UK MD Mike Smith: "James and Jas are endlessly inventive, pushing at the boundaries of electronic music and techno. Their experimental approach means that the music they write is always fresh and I can't wait to see what they come up with next. It's a real pleasure to welcome them to the Warner/Chappell roster and I look forward to working with them".
For their part, Ford and Shaw said in almost perfect unison: "We're delighted to be working with Mike and the team at Warner/Chappell. We've got a lot of exciting projects in the pipeline and it's good to know they'll be supporting us as we take them forward".
Pub denies banning female-fronted rock bands
A pub and music venue in Middlesborough has denied that it has banned female-fronted bands from performing there. Although this denial comes after it was seemingly confirmed that - while there may be no outright ban - the venue is certainly wary of putting women on its stage for fear of annoying the people who drink there.
The controversy began after singer Hannah Sowerby said that one of two covers bands she fronts had found a planned show at Doctor Brown's cancelled when the pub's owners discovered her gender. Speaking to the Northern Echo, landlady Paula Rees then said that regulars in the pub don't like women singing songs originally performed by men. She added that, not being a rock music fan herself, she had taken her punters' advice on whether or not women can sing hard rock songs or not.
"It's nothing to do with me, it's the pub's regulars who come in every week, they won't come in if there's a female singer", Rees told the local paper. "We have got to keep our regulars happy. I'm not a rock fan so can't judge myself, but I've been told that some women can sing and some can't, but they can't sing heavy rock. If we put a poster up and our regulars know there's a woman in the band, they won't give them a chance - they're my bread and butter and we can't risk nobody coming in".
She apparently then added that the pub would relax its rule and allow one female-fronted band to perform there in 2018, while adding that they would relax the regulations further should such a band be able to prove that they can bring in their own audience.
However, Sowerby rejected the insinuation that her band can't pull a crowd, saying: "I haven't been allowed to play because I'm female, despite the fact my band can draw a crowd. You wouldn't get people saying they don't like male bands, because not all male singers are the same - just like not all female singers are the same. It is a sexist attitude from the regulars and there's no excuse for it in 2017, you'd think we'd be past this by now".
A ban of this kind is seemingly not technically illegal, but that doesn't matter anyway, because there is no ban, remember. Or so says Rees' husband Andy, who stepped in to correct his wife over the weekend.
According to the Middlesborough Gazette, Mr Rees said on Facebook: "For everyone who chooses to comment: there is no ban on female singers. Female fronted bands [have] been booked in for a while, if people do their homework. [I'm] probably wasting my time posting this, as everyone on the bandwagon will just contradict [me] ... but for your information, my wife and Browns is not sexist. If you ever met her you would know she is a very strong minded individual woman, as are the staff".
Paula Rees took over Doctor Brown's in 2015 - a few months after its previous owners went out of business somewhat suddenly - with plans to make live music one of the key attractions of the pub.
Apple set to buy Shazam, say sources
Try Shazam-ing the murmurings emanating from the Apple boardroom at the moment and the iconic audio recognition app will probably declare "ker-ching!" Because Apple is close to acquiring Shazam, according to various sources who have been chattering since TechCrunch first reported the takeover talks on Friday.
Shazam was a very early player in the audio identification technology game, and once smartphones took off it became the go to app for people trying to work out what the hell that bloody annoying song playing in the pub was. Initially it made money by trying to upsell you the recognised track which - despite being bloody annoying - was now stuck in your head. The original simple business model was that Shazam would take a cut on that track sale.
Though as the digital music domain shifted over to streaming, Shazam diversified, in terms of the kinds of audio it recognises and the various ways it monetises both its service and its data. That transformation initially saw revenues decline, though things did improve in 2016. That said, and despite the "ker-ching!" in the opening paragraph, it is thought that the Apple deal, while substantial, will be worth significantly less than the company's valuation during its last funding round in 2015.
There's been a tie-up between Shazam and Apple's Siri voice-activated assistant for a few years now. Apple likely reckons that it can make even better use of the audio ID technology to enhance its services and gadgets, such as Apple Music and the incoming HomePod. On the music streaming side, Spotify bought a much younger rival in the audio-recognition space - Sonalytic - back in March, so it too obviously reckons some added audio ID knowhow could come in useful.
Quite what Apple will actually do with Shazam's tech and app following any acquisition isn't clear. Currently the app sends users off to stream tracks on some of Apple Music's key competitors.
BBC orders more Friday night sounds
Possibly motivated by the official CMU critique "not quite as God awful as we expected", the BBC has announced it is ordering a second series of 'Sounds Like Friday Night', the broadcaster's new prime time telly show that puts the focus very much on music. Mainly talking about music it often seemed, but they did remember to let some pop stars sing their songs in amongst the waffle.
"'Sounds Like Friday Night' has brought an incredible range of artists to the heart of the BBC One schedule", declared the Corporation's music boss Bobby Shennan, sounding a bit like Friday night himself, in that he said it on Friday. "We are hugely excited to recommission it for a second series".
Meanwhile BBC Music's commissioning chief Jan Younghusband said: "We are so delighted to continue this great new music series in spring 2018, bringing exciting new and established talent to our audience".
'Sounds Like Friday Night' is a bought-in show for the BBC, of course, made by independent production company Fulwell 73. They are also delighted about the second series. "We're so delighted to be bringing the show back in April", said the company's Gabe Turner, confirming all the delight.
"As passionate music fans, the chance to put music back on prime time terrestrial television has been an honour", Turner added. "We've been blown away by the support of the industry and will continue to work as hard as we can to deliver a show that showcases some of the great music in the UK and the rest of the world".
Although a spring series of 'Sounds Like Friday Night' is now confirmed, there'll be no 'Sounds Like Christmas Day' special edition, with the BBC instead digging up the corpse of 'Top Of The Pops' for another festive outing. Though without Reggie Yates, of course.
Clara Amfo will be helping Fearne Cotton prop up the 'TOTP' cadaver on Christmas Day, instead of Yates. Providing she can go a whole fortnight without popping up on a podcast and uttering a racial slur. Which I'm sure she can. After all, Amfo's a pro! Though she's welcome to guest on next week's 'Setlist' if she wants a stab at it.
| Approved: Afrikan Boy It's more than ten years now since rapper Afrikan Boy released his homage to shoplifting in low budget supermarkets - 'One Day I Went To Lidl' - from which he quickly moved on to collaborating with MIA. His debut album 'The ABCD' - a genre-jumping LP examining his British and African ties - eventually followed in 2014. And now, following a series of single releases, he's announced that the long-awaited follow-up will be out in 2018. Along with news of the new album comes a new single, 'Wot It Do', which he describes as a "call to action, taking inspiration from recent travels abroad and meeting new people, to memories of my youth from old school songs my mum used to sing to us in Yoruba. Most of all, I wanted to create something for the dancefloor, something that had a real bounce about it". He's certainly achieved that goal in a track that finds him very much on top form. Watch the newly released video for 'Wot It Do' here. Stay up to date with all of the artists featured in the CMU Approved column by subscribing to our Spotify playlist. |
QOTSA's Josh Homme apologises for kicking photographer during show
Queens Of The Stone Age frontman Josh Homme has apologised (twice) after kicking a photographer in the face during a show at the weekend. Chelsea Lauren was taken to hospital to be treated for injuries she sustained as she photographed the band at the first night of KROQ's annual Almost Acoustic Christmas shows on Saturday.
Lauren later posted a video of the incident on Instagram, which shows Homme stretch his leg out and kick her while he's performing a guitar solo. She later told Variety that it was "obviously very intentional".
"He looked straight at me, swung his leg back pretty hard and full-blown kicked me in the face", she went on. "He continued performing, I was startled, I kind of stopped looking at him, I just got down and was holding my face because it hurt so badly".
She added that she intended to press charges, saying: "I feel like if I don't do anything, he gets to kick people in the face and not get in trouble because he's a musician. That's not right".
In an initial statement, Homme said that he hadn't realised that he'd kicked a person, saying: "Last night, while in a state of being lost in performance, I kicked over various lighting and equipment on our stage. Today it was brought to my attention that this included a camera held by photographer Chelsea Lauren. I did not mean for that to happen and I am very sorry. I would never intentionally cause harm to anyone working at or attending one of our shows and I hope Chelsea will accept my sincere apology".
According to reports, Homme's behaviour throughout the show had been somewhat erratic, at one point pulling out a knife and cutting his forehead. He also berated the audience and was disparaging of headliners Muse.
In a longer, videoed statement this morning, Homme said that he didn't have "any excuse or reason to justify" kicking Lauren, other that he "was a total dick". He again apologised, but accepted that she may want to press charges.
"I'd just like to apologise to Chelsea Lauren", he said. "I don't have any excuse or reason to justify what I did. I was a total dick and I'm truly sorry and I hope you're OK. I've made a lot of mistakes in my life and last night was definitely one of them. I apologise for that to you".
Adding that he'd "definitely failed" at being a good person, he also apologised to his bandmates, parents, wife, brother and children, saying: "I don't want them to ever be ashamed or embarrassed about being around me or knowing me".
Finally, he said: "I'm gonna have to figure out some stuff, I think. Because rock n roll's a wonderful thing, [but] it's supposed to save and help people, not mess them up. So, Chelsea Lauren I hope you're OK and I'm truly sorry and I understand that you have to do whatever you have to do, I just want you to know that I'm sorry".
Queens Of The Stone Age are due to begin their new round of tour dates in Canada in January.
Bloom Twins team up with mental health charities for new single
Pop duo Bloom Twins have released a new single, 'Talk To Me'. The release sees them team up with charities SANE, Samaritans and Crisis Text Line to promote mental health awareness.
"Suicide is the biggest killer of young people in the UK and less than 30% of mental health research is focused on young people, despite 75% of mental illness starting before the age of eighteen", say the duo, twin sisters Sofia and Anna Kuprienko.
"More than half of young people link mental illness with alienation and isolation", they go on. "Why are we so scared to talk about it? When and why did this become taboo? It's OK not to be OK. Music holds a special place for many, listening to our favourite songs provides an escape and allows us to make sense of feelings that often aren't articulated in daily conversations. Music has a power to change the conversation on mental health".
As previously reported, Peace also released a new single in partnership with a mental health charity last week. Their song, 'From Under Liquid Glass', aims to draw attention to MQ's campaign to increase funding for research into mental distress in young people.
Bloom Twins are encouraging people to share the hashtag #TalkToMe on social media to raise awareness of mental health issues. Watch the video for 'Talk To Me' here.
Thom Yorke, Louis Tomlinson, Migos, more
Other notable announcements and developments today...
• Thom Yorke has softened his anti-Spotify stance and put all of his solo albums back onto the service. Or onto it for first time in some cases. Anyway, Spotify's the place for all your Thom Yorke streaming needs. The Atoms For Peace album is back too.
• Louis Tomlinson has released a video for edgy (by which I mean it has guitars and swearing in it) new single 'Miss You'.
• Migos have released the video for 'MotorSport', featuring Nicki Minaj and Cardi B.
• Machine Head have released the video for latest single, 'Catharsis'.
• Wiley has released new track 'Bar', taken from his upcoming new album 'Godfather II', featuring Scratchy and D Double E.
• D Double E has released new track, 'Better Than The Rest', taken from his upcoming debut album 'Jackuum', featuring Wiley.
• Charli XCX will release a new mixtape, 'Pop2', this Friday. From it, this is 'Out Of My Head', featuring Tove Lo and Alma.
• Club 8 have released new single 'Swimming With The Tide'. The song is taken from their tenth album, 'Golden Island', which will be released on 26 Jan.
• Yizzy has released a new single, 'Radio Danger', which takes aim at others in the grime scene.
• Parker's new single 'Doubles' now has a video. The perfect excuse for us to mention the track again. It's very good.
• Stefflon Don has announced a five date tour of England in March. Along the way, she'll play The Forum in London on 8 Mar.
• Check out our weekly Spotify playlist of new music featured in the CMU Daily - updated every Friday.
Beyonce blocks sale of tribute beer
New York-based brewery Lineup Brewing has been forced to pull its latest beer, following a cease-and-desist notice from Beyonce. The 5% German pilsner Bieryonce - as well as being named after the singer - featured artwork similar to her 2013 'Beyonce' album.
Launched earlier this month, Bieryonce was the brewery's first canned beer. Head brewer Katarina Martinez explained that she named the beer after an industry event she had to attend clashed with a Beyonce show she'd wanted to go to.
"I was terribly sad about it, so I decided to name [the beer] in her honour", she said ahead of the beer's release. "I'm also a Hispanic, woman-owned and operated business, so I really look up to her and the strength and empowerment she promotes with women".
Speaking to Pitchfork after the lawyers got involved last week, Martinez again said that she's "very inspired" by Beyonce, before adding: "We're disappointed she didn't take it as a compliment, but oh well. It was fun while it lasted!"
The beer formerly known as Bieryonce is now awaiting a new name. Here are a few suggestions in the same vein: Bieruno Mars, Cardi Bier, Bierlink 182, Bierdy, Bieritney Spears, Bieruce Springsteen, Plan Bier, The Notorious BierIG and Bierwitched. Or they could just go with the classier sounding, Taylor Sips.
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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. Setlist is a weekly podcast dissecting 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.
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