| Available to premium subscribers, CMU Trends digs deeper into the inner workings of the music business, explaining how things work and reviewing all the recent trends. | |
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FIVE CONTENDERS FOR MUSIC'S ENEMY NUMBER ONE - UPDATE! A year ago, CMU Trends identified five contenders for enemy number one of the music industry. This week we review what has happened in the subsequent twelve months, and ask whether relations between the music community and its potential enemies improved or worsened in 2017. [READ MORE] |
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TOP FIVE MUSIC LAWSUITS TO WATCH IN 2018 As 2018 gets underway and we start to look at the music year ahead, let's not forget the stage that is the courtroom. What litigation and legal wrangling could have an impact on the music business this year? CMU Trends picks five big cases, reviews the story so far and considers the possible ramifications of each legal battle. [READ MORE] |
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ONLINE MUSIC PIRACY - PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE While the music industry has shouted a lot more about safe harbours than piracy in recent years, that could be about to change. But if the music community gets vocal about piracy once again, what kind of piracy will dominate the conversation? CMU Trends reviews developments in online piracy from the rise of Napster to the new services gaining momentum today. [READ MORE] |
| TOP STORIES | China, AI and music education in the spotlight as CMU Insights returns to The Great Escape READ IN THIS EMAIL | READ ON THE WEBSITE |
| LEGAL | MMF publishes Digital Dollar book and launches Transparency Index initiative READ IN THIS EMAIL | READ ON THE WEBSITE |
| DEALS | Downtown and Songtrust ally with ICE READ IN THIS EMAIL | READ ON THE WEBSITE |
| LABELS & PUBLISHERS | Concord Music acquires Razor & Tie, announces new publishing exec team READ IN THIS EMAIL | READ ON THE WEBSITE |
| LIVE BUSINESS | Cardiff venue Clwb Ifor Bach goes mobile-first on tickets READ IN THIS EMAIL | READ ON THE WEBSITE |
| RELEASES | Graham Coxon to release End Of The F***ing World soundtrack Eels announce new album and tour dates READ IN THIS EMAIL | READ ON THE WEBSITE |
| GIGS & FESTIVALS | headlines READ IN THIS EMAIL | READ ON THE WEBSITE |
| AWARDS | NME Awards nominations announced READ IN THIS EMAIL | READ ON THE WEBSITE |
| ONE LINERS | Derek Smalls, Wild Beasts, A Savage and Jack Cooper READ IN THIS EMAIL | READ ON THE WEBSITE |
| AND FINALLY... | S Club 7's Paul Cattermole discusses selling BRIT Award READ IN THIS EMAIL | READ ON THE WEBSITE |
| Check out all the latest job opportunities with CMU Jobs. To advertise your job opportunities here email [email protected] or call 020 7099 0906. | |
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MANCHESTER STUDENTS' UNION - TECHNICAL MANAGER (MANCHESTER) The University of Manchester Students’ Union and Manchester Academy are looking for an experienced technical manager, with knowledge of everything important to make our events shine. You will be expected to have a keen eye for detail to enable first class delivery that involves working with a wide range of stakeholders. For more information and to apply click here. |
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FIRE RECORDS - WAREHOUSE/SALES & DISTRIBUTION ASSISTANT (LONDON) Fire Records is seeking an enthusiastic and hard-working entry level warehouse and sales assistant to maintain the smooth running of the warehouse, maintain and build relationships with distributers and customers, prepare stock for tours and events and assist in the increasing of sales. For more information and to apply click here. |
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[PIAS] - SYNC & BRAND MANAGER (LONDON) [PIAS] is seeking someone to maximise sync and brand partnership income by optimising opportunities to place repertoire and artists in TV show, advertisements, games, film, live brand events, brand partnerships and offering creative input to campaigns. For more information and to apply click here. |
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BALLANTYNE COMMUNICATIONS - MUSIC PR & COMMUNICATIONS CO-ORDINATOR (LONDON) Here at BC HQ we are going through a period of growth and are looking to find a highly motivated and passionate person to join the team and to play a key role in our PR work. For more information and to apply click here. |
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SOLAR MANAGEMENT - ACCOUNTS MANAGER (LONDON) Busy London based artist and producer management company Solar requires an Accounts/Finance Manager. For more information and to apply click here. |
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KOBALT MUSIC GROUP - SENIOR CREATIVE SYNCHRONISATION MANAGER (LONDON) Kobalt has a unique opportunity to be an integral part of Kobalt’s quickly growing, London-based sync team, working with a diverse catalogue and a passionate team dedicated to our commitment to bring transparency and the highest possible level of service to our clients. For more information and to apply click here. |
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SNAPPER MUSIC - ACCOUNTS ASSISTANT AND ADMINISTRATION (LONDON) Snapper Music is an Accounts Assistant. This role is an ideal position for a school leaver looking for a career in the music industry. For more information and to apply click here. |
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LIVE NATION UK - SOCIAL AND CONTENT MANAGER (LONDON) Live Nation UK's Social and Content Manager is responsible for managing and building the LN UK social channels and LNTV publishing platform. You will also support the shared team goal to grow reach, engagement and first party data. For more information and to apply click here. |
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IDOL - HEAD OF DISTRIBUTION (PARIS) To keep abreast with the current business and technological expansion, IDOL is creating this position. The main purpose of this role is to manage, co-ordinate and optimise IDOL’s core activity. For more information and to apply click here. |
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ASSOCIATION OF INDEPENDENT FESTIVALS - MEMBERSHIP & PROJECTS CO-ORDINATOR (LONDON) The Association Of Independent Festivals is looking for a new Membership and Project Co-ordinator to assist the General Manager of AIF with the day-to-day organisation and administration of the association. For more information and to apply click here. |
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THRILL JOCKEY RECORDS - DIRECTOR OF MARKETING & PROMOTIONS, EUROPE (LONDON) Thrill Jockey Records is seeking an experienced person for Director of Marketing and Promotions for Europe to be based out of our East London office. For more information and to apply click here. |
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PROPER MUSIC - ROYALTY ADMINISTRATOR (DARTFORD) Working as part of the overall Finance and Business Affairs team, reporting to the Head of Department, the successful candidate will oversee royalty processes and reporting for all group companies. For more information and to apply click here. |
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WARP RECORDS - INTERNATIONAL MARKETING & PROMOTIONS CO-ORDINATOR (LONDON) Warp Records is looking for an energetic and enthusiastic individual to join its international team based in London. Your role will be to help us deliver great campaigns for our artists internationally. For more information and to apply click here. |
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INVOLVED GROUP - ROYALTY & ACCOUNTS ASSISTANT MANAGER (LONDON) Owned and managed by global DJ trio Above & Beyond and James Grant, Involved Group is looking for an experienced Royalty & Accounts Assistant Manager to join our busy and growing Finance Team. For more information and to apply click here. |
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O2 ACADEMY BRIXTON - ASSISTANT GENERAL MANAGER (LONDON) Academy Music Group is recruiting for an Assistant General Manager to assist in all aspects of the operation of the building in relation to events staged at O2 Academy Brixton. For more information and to apply click here. |
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THE ORCHARD - CLASSICAL LABEL MANAGER (LONDON) The Orchard has an immediate opening for a classics specialist to manage key classical label relationships across Europe and beyond. Essential to this role is an extensive knowledge of classical repertoire and a thorough understanding of classical metadata and the unique needs of classical labels and orchestras when it comes to digital operations and marketing. For more information and to apply click here. |
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MUSIC PUBLISHERS ASSOCIATION - MUSIC PUBLISHING EXECUTIVE (LONDON) The Music Publishers Association is seeking a highly organised, pro-active, efficient and positive team player to work as its Music Publishing Executive, taking responsibility for specific licensing related duties as well as offering admin support to its staff and assisting with the smooth running of its office. For more information and to apply click here. |
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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. |
| CMU Insights provides training and consultancy to music companies and companies working with music. Find out about our seminars, masterclasses and primers here... | |
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CMU SEMINARS: MAKING MONEY FROM MUSIC COPYRIGHT Mondays 5, 12, 19 Feb 2018 at 6.30pm in London These three CMU Insights seminars together provide a user-friendly guide to how music copyright works and how music rights make money. You can book into each individual session at £49.99 per seminar or you can book a place on all three at the special price of £125. CLICK HERE FOR INFO. |
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CMU SEMINARS: BUILDING A FANBASE AND FAN BUSINESS Mondays 26 Feb, 5, 12 Mar 2018 at 6.30pm in London These three CMU Insights seminars together provide an overview of how to build a fanbase for new artists and new music. They also look at how artists can use these channels to build a direct-fo-fan business. You can book into each individual session at £49.99 per seminar or you can book a place on all three at the special price of £125. CLICK HERE FOR INFO. |
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CMU PRIMER: KEY MUSIC BUSINESS TRENDS 2018 These are courses we can run in-house at your company 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 FOR INFO. |
China, AI and music education in the spotlight as CMU Insights returns to The Great Escape
Showcase festival The Great Escape has revealed information about this year's convention for music industry delegates, including that CMU Insights will return with three full-day conferences putting the spotlight on China, AI and music education.
There will also be a high profile in-conversation programme, with Kobalt Music founder Willard Ahdritz already confirmed for that, plus TGE:DIY for future talent and the Courtroom Sessions from TGE's industry partners.
CMU Insights has been presenting sessions at The Great Escape in Brighton each May since 2011, and introduced the unique full-day conference concept in 2015. By presenting a whole day of talks, interviews, case studies and discussions around a specific aspect of the music industry, these conferences can dig much deeper than other music business events, and also include aspects of CMU Insights' training programmes and research projects.
For the first time this year, the TGE:CONVENTION will also kick off the day before the festival, on Wednesday 16 May, with the first of the CMU Insights conferences. That innovation comes as TGE also partners with the Unsigned Music Awards, which will take place in Brighton on that Wednesday evening.
The Education Conference on Wednesday 16 May will bring together music educators and music industry employers to discuss how to better prepare aspiring musicians and future music executives and entrepreneurs for a career in music.
The AI Conference on Thursday 17 May will look at the new technologies set to impact on the music business in the next decade, including the latest developments in audio-recognition, platforms for connecting with fans through messaging apps, and the machines that write music.
The China Conference on Friday 18 May will provide a substantial beginners guide to this key emerging market - with experts from China itself and leading European music executives already working there. Along the way the conference will cover copyright, streaming, social media and live opportunities.
All three CMU Insights conferences will be hosted by CMU's Chris Cooke. Three speakers have already been announced for each conference, with many more to be confirmed soon. Organisations already taking part include Urban Development, Featured Artists Coalition, BIMM, Deviate, Mycelia, Reed Smith, IFPI, Outdustry and NetEase Cloud Music.
Commenting on all this, the boss of Great Escape owner MAMA, Rory Bett, says: "The programme we present for industry delegates at The Great Escape always breaks new ground, repeatedly putting the spotlight on the challenges and opportunities that will then dominate the conversation in the music industry in the year ahead".
Honing in on this year's conferences, he adds: "This year we'll consider the future of music education; demo and discuss the new technologies that will drive the next phase of the industry's development; and provide an insider's guide to China, the emerging market which is becoming increasingly key for all of us in the music business".
He concludes: "I'm also excited about the return of our TGE:IN-CONVERSATIONS programme, where we will be inviting some of the key players in the music industry to share both their journey so far and their thoughts for the future".
There is more information about the CMU Insights conferences here. For full info on the wider TGE:CONVENTION check the official website here. And click here to buy a delegates pass, that gets you into all this as well as priority access to the TGE festival.
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MMF publishes Digital Dollar book and launches Transparency Index initiative
The Music Managers Forum has launched the next phase of its 'Dissecting The Digital Dollar' project, putting the spotlight on transparency in the digital music space.
MMF has been working with CMU Insights for three years now to explain, analyse and debate the streaming market, helping artists, songwriters and managers navigate this complex new revenue stream. Two reports and two guides have been published in that time, and now MMF has compiled all that research into one book, 'Dissecting The Digital Dollar: Second Edition', which can be bought from Amazon for £15.
One of the guides published as part of the 'Digital Dollar' project last year was 'The Transparency Guide', which identified the 20 pieces of data and information artists and managers need from their labels and distributors to help them fully audit and understand the streaming music business. Those 20 data points make up the 'Transparency Index'.
MMF is now encouraging its members to assess each of the label and distributor partners they work with, identifying which of those 20 data points each business partner currently provides. The aim is to raise industry standards on label and distributor reporting to artists, and to celebrate those music companies who are most transparent.
MMF CEO Annabella Coldrick says: "The pace of change in the digital music market is incredible. Only weeks into 2018, and the industry is already buzzing with details of Spotify's 'direct public offering', and new licensing deals between Facebook and major record labels and publishers. These are seismic events that will define our sector for years to come, however it is absolutely crucial that artists, songwriters and their business representatives can understand how these new partnerships are structured and how their creative works are being exploited".
She goes on: "Unfortunately, these kind of details are often lacking, which is why the MMF launched our 'Dissecting The Digital Dollar' initiative in the first place. We hope that a 'Transparency Index' will provide yet more impetus for improved partnerships between artists and their labels, distributors and aggregators as we look to reforge the industry around fairer and more equitable structures".
You can access 'The Transparency Guide' on the MMF website here and buy the 'Dissecting The Digital Dollar: Second Edition' book here.
Downtown and Songtrust ally with ICE
Downtown Music Publishing has signed a deal with that pan-European music licensing hub that they call ICE. You know, the one set up by European collecting societies PRS For Music, GEMA and STIM. ICE will provide super fun digital licensing and royalty processing services under the deal, including for Songtrust, US-based Downtown's royalty collection service which recently expanded into Europe.
The music rights firm says that the deal will "afford Songtrust with a best-in-class technology and licensing partner, providing unparalleled speed, accuracy, and economies of scale to service its one-of-a-kind platform". And not only that! "The benefits of this collaboration will directly benefit the songwriters and music publishers who utilise the Songtrust platform to collectively manage over one million song copyrights" it goes on.
Referencing ICE's 'one-stop shop licensing solution' ICE Core, the MD of Downtown's London operation, Roberto Neri, says: "We've been looking at shaping the digital market from the outset. This direct relationship with the ICE Core allows us to eliminate parallel processing through other incompatible society works databases. This will result in quicker, more efficient and accurate digital royalty distribution across the Songtrust platform and extended to its fast-growing songwriter and publisher client base".
Speaking for ICE, Ben McEwen, Commercial Director of the ICE Services business, adds: "We are clearly delighted that an increasingly important, progressive, and technologically capable publisher such as Downtown and Songtrust has chosen to include its repertoire within ICE's Core licence and is willing to demonstrate their confidence and appreciation of our administration capabilities in this way. We are very excited about working together in this new collaboration".
Concord Music acquires Razor & Tie, announces new publishing exec team
US music rights firm Concord Music has fully acquired Razor & Tie, three years after taking a 50% stake in the record label.
According to Variety, Razor & Tie is expected to continue to operate as a standalone company, but some redundancies are expected. Meanwhile, the label's co-founders Cliff Chenfeld and Craig Balsam will stay on until the summer, confirmed Concord COO Glen Barros.
"It was always understood between Cliff Chenfeld, Craig Balsam, and the Concord team that Concord would eventually purchase the remainder of the company at some point after our initial investment in 2015", Barros added in a statement published by Billboard. "We mutually and amicably decided that the time was right to do this now".
As well as news of the Razor & Tie acquisition, Concord also yesterday announced a restructured leadership team to oversee its various music publishing companies. This includes The Rodgers & Hammerstein Organisation, Boosey & Hawkes, and a new group formed of The Bicycle Music Company, Imagem Music, and Razor & Tie Publishing.
Jake Wisely, who joined from Bicycle in 2015, has been appointed Chief Publishing Officer of Concord Music, and will work out of the company's new Nashville office.
"Jake is one of the founding members of Bicycle Music and has been a key factor in the growth of Concord Music", says Concord Music CEO Scott Pascucci. "He will continue to steer our publishing business in unique and successful directions in the years to come".
Meanwhile, Bill Gaden is now Concord's President for North America, John Minch is President for Europe, and Kent Hoskins is Chief Financial Officer across the group.
The aforementioned Wisely comments: "As principals of Concord Music's publishing executive committee, Bill, John, and Kent have proven themselves invaluable partners in the melding of a spectacular roster and catalogue, along with the systems, infrastructure, and best practices of the Bicycle and Imagem businesses. Their wealth of knowledge, experience, and resources, along with that of our entire staff, cements Concord's future as a dynamic, world-class music publisher".
Further announcements about the consolidation of Concord's publishing interests are expected shortly.
Cardiff venue Clwb Ifor Bach goes mobile-first on tickets
Cardiff venue Clwb Ifor Bach has announced that it is moving to a 'mobile first' ticketing strategy, in an attempt to reduce the number of tickets appearing on the secondary market.
The latest venue to partner with mobile-centric ticketing company Dice, Clwb Ifor Bach now enables music fans to get refunds on unwanted tickets until shortly before doors open and also transfer tickets to other people on their smartphones. Meanwhile, those without tickets to sold out shows are able to join waiting lists for returns. Both the venue and Dice reckon this makes the tickets tout proof.
"Working with Dice felt like a natural fit for us, our mutual belief in putting fans first made it an easy decision", says Clwb Ifor Bach boss Guto Brychan. "Digital ticketing is the future of the music industry and using Dice means we can provide tickets in a safe and easy to use format for our gig goers. We're excited to be working with Dice and look forward to building the partnership in the future".
| Approved: Moaning Moaning are a band who are very good at making a lasting first impression. The video for their debut single, 'The Same', was cut together from various performances of the song as the house they were in was demolished around them. Achieving this striking result was as easy as them asking if they could set up their equipment in a house they discovered was about to be torn down, and then inviting some friends around with sledgehammers. It's not something you forget quickly, and it started a chain of events that got their debut album into the hands of Sub Pop. That album is now set for release on 2 Mar. Good videos are great - and Moaning now have several - but without good songs there's not much scope for sticking in people's minds long term. However, any concerns of style over substance are brushed aside by their first two singles for Sub Pop, 'Don't Go' and the newly released 'Artificial'. Both heave with cathartic energy, with frontman Sean Solomon's vocal melodies grinding pleasingly up against his guitar riffs. Back to videos though, and Solomon says of the one they've made for 'Artificial': "The video mirrors the themes of insincerity and artificiality in the song. To shoot the video we used practical effects to warp the viewer's perception of what's happening. It was appropriately shot in Los Angeles on 35mm film, much like other disingenuous Hollywood productions". Watch the video for 'Artificial' here. Stay up to date with all of the artists featured in the CMU Approved column by subscribing to our Spotify playlist. |
Graham Coxon to release End Of The F***ing World soundtrack
Blur guitarist Graham Coxon has announced that he will release his soundtrack for the Channel 4 and Netflix co-production 'The End Of The F***ing World' later this month.
Coxon wrote over 40 pieces of new music to complement the already extensive list of mainly retro American records that soundtrack the programme. Sixteen of those original works feature on the soundtrack album.
Says the musician of his work on the project: "There were days where I wrote and finished three or four new songs in a single day. It was mental, I've never worked to that kind of schedule before. But the creative process around observation and interpretation is one that is very familiar to me. I feel very comfortable reacting to things and adding my bit. And this show particularly appealed to both my appreciation of dark music as well as my dark sense of humour. It felt like a good fit".
The programme's director Jonathan Entwhistle adds: "He is my all-time guitar idol. Watching Graham's music videos taught me how to play guitar as a kid. I bought a Fender Mustang just because he had one in the 'Coffee & TV' video".
The album will be released digitally on 26 Jan. A vinyl version will follow in March. Here's a track form it, 'Walking All Day'.
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Eels announce new album and tour dates
Eels have announced their new album, 'The Deconstruction', as well as a handful of shows in the UK and Ireland.
Says bandleader Mark Everett: "Here are fifteen new Eels tracks that may or may not inspire, rock, or not rock you. The world is going nuts. But if you look for it, there is still great beauty to be found. Sometimes you don't even have to look for it. Other times you have to try to make it yourself. And then there are times you have to tear something apart to find something beautiful inside".
The album is out on 6 Apr. You can listen to the title track here.
And those tour dates? Well, here are those:
2 Jul: London, Brixton Academy
3 Jul: Manchester, Academy
4 Jul: Glasgow, Academy
6 Jul: Dublin, Iveagh Gardens
NME Awards nominations announced
The nominees for this year's NME Awards have been announced, including the shortlist for the coveted Villain Of The Year prize. Not sure if Donald Trump and Kim Jong-un will be there in person on the night. It'd be a great opportunity to sort out that whole nuclear thing.
Says NME editor-in-chief Mike Williams: "Once again the NME readers have shown just how switched-on, diverse and exciting their tastes are in coming up with these shortlists, which themselves highlight what an amazing twelve months it's been for music. It's brilliant to see some old favourites mixing with a load of fresh new names, and it'll be interesting to see which of the big guns go home with awards, and where the major upsets might happen".
I think it'll be a pretty major upset if any one of the acts in the running for Best British Band actually wins, so it really is as exciting as Mike says.
And the nominees are...
Best British Band: Alt-J, Kasabian, Wolf Alice, The 1975, The xx, Bastille
Best International Band: Haim, The National, Foo Fighters, The Killers, Paramore, Migos
Best British Solo Artist: Dua Lipa, Liam Gallagher, Ed Sheeran, Stormzy, Loyle Carner, Charli XCX
Best International Solo Artist: Kendrick Lamar, Taylor Swift, Lorde, Lana Del Rey, St Vincent, Father John Misty
Best New Artist: Stefflon Don, J Hus, The Magic Gang, Sigrid, SZA, Shame
Best Live Artist: Kasabian, Stormzy, Lorde, Royal Blood, LCD Soundsystem, Liam Gallagher
Best Album: Lorde - Melodrama, J Hus - Common Sense, Wolf Alice - Visions Of A Life, Gorillaz - Humanz, Loyle Carner - Yesterday's Gone, The National - Sleep Well Beast
Best Track: Kasabian - Bless This House, Kendrick Lamar - Humble, Lorde - Green Light, The Horrors - Something To Remember Me By, Dua Lipa - New Rules, Charli XCX - Boys
Best Reissue: Radiohead - OKNOTOK, Prince - Purple Rain, The Beatles - Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, REM - Automatic For The People, The Smiths - the Queen Is Dead, Super Furry Animals - Radiator
Best Collaboration: Craig David & Bastille - I Know You, Stefflon Don & Skepta - Ding-A-Ling, Courtney Barnett & Kurt Vile - Continental Breakfast, Gorillaz & Jehnny Beth - We Got The Power, Lily Allen & Giggs - Trigger Bang, Yungen & Yxng Bane - Bestie
Best Mixtape: Carli XCX - Pop 2, Drake - More Life, Krept & Konan - 7 Nights/7 Days, Rex Orange County, Apricot Princess, Dave Game Over, Avelino - No Bullshit
Best Video: Big Moon - Sucker, Charli XCX - Boys, St Vincent - Los Ageless, Taylor Swift - Look What You Made Me Do, Dua Lipa - New Rules, Pale Waves - Television Romance
Best Film: T2 Trainspotting, Blade Runner 2049, Baby Driver, The Disaster Artist, Star Wars: The Last Jedi, It
Best Festival: Glastonbury, Reading & Leeds, Download, Parklife, TRNSMT, Bestival
Best Small Festival: Festival No 6, Boardmasters, Wilderness, Field Day, End Of The Road, Kendal Calling
Best Festival Headliner: Muse, Boy Better Know, Ed Sheeran, Noel Gallagher, Foo Fighters, The 1975
Music Moment Of The Year: One Love Manchester, The Killers play surprise set at Glastonbury, Grime4Corbyn, Noel Gallagher plays Don't Look Back In Anger at Manchester Arena, Lady Gaga at the Super Bowl, Linkin Park's Chester Bennington tribute concert
Best Music Book: Wiley - Eskiboy, Action Bronson - Fuck That's Delicious, Dylan Jones - David Bowie: A Life, Allan Jones - Can't Stand Up For Falling Down, Lizzy Goodman - Meet Me In The Bathroom, The KLF - 2023: A Trilogy
Best Music Film: Lady Gaga - Five Foot Two, L7 - Pretend We're Dead, Bunch Of Kunst, George Michael - Freedom, England Is Mine, Whitney - Can I Be Me
Best TV Show: Stranger Things 2, Game Of Thrones, Westworld, Rick & Morty, GLOW, Peaky Blinders
Villain Of The Year: Donald Trump, Theresa May, Katie Hopkins, Piers Morgan, Kim Jong-un, Jeremy Hunt
Hero Of The Year: Ariana Grande, Rose McGowan, Jeremy Corbyn, Ellie Rowsell, Big Shaq, David Attenborough
Derek Smalls, Wild Beasts, A Savage and Jack Cooper
Other notable announcements and developments today...
• Spinal Tap bassist Derek Smalls (aka comedian Harry Shearer) is set to release his debut solo album 'Smalls Change (Meditations On Ageing)'. Among the guests on the album are Peter Frampton, Donald Fagen, Dweezil Zappa, Rick Wakeman, Richard Thompson, Joe Satriani, Steve Vai and The Hungarian Studio Orchestra. Here's first single, 'Smalls Change'.
• Wild Beasts have released a video for their new 'live in the studio' version of 'All The King's Men'. The track is taken from their farewell 'live in the studio' album 'Last Night All My Dreams Came True'.
• Parquet Courts' A Savage and Ultimate Painting's Jack Cooper will be touring together later this month. As well as performing their own solo sets, they will also play in each other's backing bands. Dates finish at The Garage in London on 2 Feb.
• Check out our weekly Spotify playlist of new music featured in the CMU Daily - updated every Friday.
S Club 7's Paul Cattermole discusses selling BRIT Award
S Club 7's Paul Cattermole has spoken to the NME about his decision to sell his 2000 Best Newcomer BRIT Award on eBay. Listed earlier this month, it sold on Monday for just over £66,000.
Explaining the decision to sell the trophy, he explained that he'd struggled to find work after being injured during a production of 'The Rocky Horror Show', in which he appeared last year.
"There was an un-choreographed bit of dancing [that went wrong] and someone fell on me", he says. "I was out of the show for about two months. My back has gone - it hasn't been right since. Things just haven't gone well this year [in terms of finding work] with that injury".
Around £30,000 will go on clearing debts, says Cattermole. The rest, he adds, might go on recording an album of Motown covers. "I've always wanted to record a covers album", he admits. "I know it's a cliché to do it, but the reason people do it is that they sell" .
He adds: "Polydor bought the Motown back catalogue at the end of the 90s and they were our label, so I should ask if I can record some of them". Not that he'd need Polydor's permission, the Universal record company controlling the recordings not the songs. Maybe Cattermole should use some of that new found cash to come on a CMU Insights music rights seminar.
Prior to turning to eBay, the one time S Clubber adds that he'd hoped to be able to make some money by appearing on 'I'm A Celebrity, Get Me Out Of Here', but was rejected. "I have asked them many times if they will let me in and they won't have me", he says. "I'm not famous enough, apparently".
That's pretty harsh, given the level of fame of some of the people who do get put on the show. Something not lost on Cattermole, who now assumes that "they just don't want me".
But, hey, he's sold that BRIT Award now, so all is good. All he has to do in order to get his cash is go and personally hand it to the winning bidder, as promised in the eBay listing. Though therein also lies a problem.
"I know the guy - he's a fan", says Cattermole of the buyer. "I've seen his name on social media. The fact that it's gone to a fan is awesome. But he's well over a ten hour flight away, so the hand-delivery situation is a bit difficult".
Still, this hasn't dissuaded him. His 2002 Best Single BRIT is now up for sale. Apparently in better condition than the last one, this trophy has already reached bids just shy of the final sale price of the last. Although he does state this time that he will only personally deliver it within the UK.
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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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