| 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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TOP FIVE STREAMING CHALLENGES It's been a while since we've put the spotlight on challenges in the streaming sector. CMU Insights presented a new speed briefing on that very topic at the Output conference in Belfast this week. Based on that, here is a CMU Trends overview of the top five streaming challenges. [READ MORE] |
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TOP THREE MUSIC BUSINESS TRENDS IN JANUARY For the super busy music business professional, CMU Trends helps you keep up to speed on the most important developments in the music industry in recent weeks with a concise summary of the top three trends of the last month: mechanical rights in the US; agent of change; YouTube and safe harbour. [READ MORE] |
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REVIEWING THE SALES V LICENCE DEBATE It's four years now since CMU Trends last looked in on the sales v licence debate. But a new lawsuit filed by Enrique Iglesias against Universal Music is set to pose the question anew, this time very much from a streaming perspective. With that in mind, CMU Trends reviews the debate to date and what might happen next. [READ MORE] |
| TOP STORIES | Songwriters Guild Of America backs amended Music Modernization Act READ IN THIS EMAIL | READ ON THE WEBSITE |
| LABELS & PUBLISHERS | Warner/Chappell UK appoints a new Creative Director READ IN THIS EMAIL | READ ON THE WEBSITE |
| LIVE BUSINESS | Madison Square Garden Company planning musical bubble in London READ IN THIS EMAIL | READ ON THE WEBSITE |
| MEDIA | Bauer seeks to cut AM reach of Absolute Radio READ IN THIS EMAIL | READ ON THE WEBSITE |
| ARTIST NEWS | Jóhann Jóhannsson dies Elton John writing new music for Lion King remake, hoping to get Beyonce involved READ IN THIS EMAIL | READ ON THE WEBSITE |
| ONE LINERS | Anne-Marie & Marshmello, Calum Scott & Leona Lewis, Nile Rodgers & Chic, more READ IN THIS EMAIL | READ ON THE WEBSITE |
| AND FINALLY... | Spice Girls not touring 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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INVOLVED GROUP - ROYALTY & ACCOUNTS ASSISTANT MANAGER (LONDON) Involved Group is looking for an experienced Royalty & Accounts Assistant Manager to join its busy and growing Finance Team. For more information and to apply click here. |
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O2 FORUM KENTISH TOWN - 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 Forum Kentish Town. For more information and to apply click here. |
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KOBALT MUSIC RECORDINGS - INTERNATIONAL LABEL & PRODUCT MANAGER (LONDON) Kobalt Music Recordings is looking for a flexible, confident and highly organised International Label & Product Manager, based out of our London office. For more information and to apply click here. |
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CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING - ROYALTY TRACKING MANAGER (LONDON) Concord Music Publishing's Royalty Tracking Manager role will focus on maximising client royalties through the tracking of missing revenue. A good understanding of UK, and potentially European, music collection societies and royalty processes is essential. For more information and to apply click here. |
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LISTEN UP - SENIOR PRESS OFFICER (LONDON) Listen Up is currently recruiting for a highly motivated Senior Press Manager with a passion for electronic music and industry relevant experience to join our rapidly growing team. For more information and to apply click here. |
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HOUSE OF BESTIVAL - NEW BUSINESS PROJECT MANAGER (LONDON) House of Bestival, the brand activation and creative prop house division of the Bestival group, is recruiting a New Business Project Manager. For more information and to apply click here. |
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KOBALT MUSIC GROUP - CLIENT ADMIN ASSISTANT (LONDON) Kobalt Music Recordings (KMR) is looking for a detail-oriented and organised individual to assist with our royalty and accounting responsibilities within our Artist and Label Services department, incorporating the AWAL distribution business. For more information and to apply click here. |
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THE ORCHARD - INTERNATIONAL ARTIST & LABEL MARKETING CO-ORDINATOR (LONDON) The Orchard is looking for a savvy, seasoned International Artist & Label Marketing Co-ordinator to promote The Orchard’s artists and labels in Europe and beyond. For more information and to apply click here. |
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THE ORCHARD - LABEL MANAGER (LONDON) The Orchard has an immediate opening for a label manager in our London office. Managing key relationships you will be the first point of contact for a number of labels, artists and managers. For more information and to apply click here. |
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FIRE RECORDS - PRODUCTION AND DISTRIBUTION ADMINISTRATOR (LONDON) Fire Records is seeking a Production And Distribution Administrator, experienced in all areas of record production and manufacturing. For more information and to apply click here. |
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SHOGUN AUDIO GROUP - PRODUCT AND DISTRIBUTION MANAGER (BRIGHTON) Shogun Audio Group is looking to hire an experienced, highly motivated, passionate Product and Distribution Manager to join our growing team. For more information and to apply click here. |
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ACADEMY EVENTS - TOUR MARKETING CO-ORDINATOR (LONDON) Academy Events is seeking a Tour Marketing Co-ordinator to co-ordinate the sales and marketing function for tours, liaising with promoters, agencies, marketing depts and PR, seeking creative marketing opportunities, maximising ticket sales and other such revenues by developing and managing key marketing campaigns. For more information and to apply click here. |
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WILDLIFE ENTERTAINMENT - FINANCE MANAGER (MATERNITY COVER) (LONDON) Finance Manager for a successful artist management company based in Parsons Green. Accounting for artists, in particular touring for multiple active acts. This is a part time role, three days a week, for a nine month maternity cover contract commencing April 2018. For more information and to apply click here. |
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THE MUSIC ROYALTY COMPANY - ROYALTIES ASSISTANT (LONDON) The Music Royalty Company provides financial and administrative services to many record labels, distributors, publishers and recording artists. We require a dedicated Royalties Assistant eager to progress their career alongside other talented people. 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 12, 19 Feb 2018 at 6.30pm in London These CMU Insights seminars together provide a user-friendly guide to how music copyright works and how music rights make money. Sessions still to come include one looking at music licensing and another at the music rights sector. Places at each seminar are £49.99. 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. |
Songwriters Guild Of America backs amended Music Modernization Act
The Songwriters Guild Of America has formally given its support to the Music Modernization Act. That support followed a number of amendments being made to deal with concerns raised by some songwriters in regards to the new law that would simplify the licensing of streaming services in the US.
The MMA attempts to deal with the mechanical rights mess Stateside which has resulted in a plethora of songwriters and music publishers not receiving all the mechanical royalties they are due from the streaming services, and numerous digital companies being sued.
The new legislation would set up for the first time in the US a mechanical rights collecting society empowered to offer a blanket licence, meaning that streaming services have a one-stop shop where they can secure rights and pay royalties for any songs they utilise that are not covered by a direct deal with a music publisher.
That will bring the US song licensing framework in line with that in most other countries, simplifying things hugely for the streaming services. As a kickback for the writers and publishers, the act will also change the way royalty rates are set where compulsory or collective licensing apply, in a way that will likely favour the music community.
The MMA has the backing of the streaming services and numerous organisations representing the music industry, including some that speak up for songwriters. Though the Songwriters Guild Of America was significant in its absence from the initial list of trade groups backing the legislation, especially as the National Music Publishers Association was keen to present a united front in Washington, in a bid to push the proposals through the law-making process as quickly as possible.
SGA raised a number of issues with the MMA, in particular expressing concerns over the governance of the new collecting society, which would have predominantly music publishers at the top. However, a number of changes have now been made to the proposals in order to allow SGA to come on board as a supporter.
As a result, the new society's board would consist of four songwriters and ten music publishers. But, crucially, the committee that oversees the distribution of unclaimed and unallocated royalties - always a controversial issue in any collecting society - would be made up of five songwriters and five music publishers. There is also a little more clarity on how royalties would be distributed by the new society.
Confirming that the changes meant that SGA would now support the MMA, the organisation's President, Rick Carnes, said: "The benefits of the pending modernization law, with the changes SGA has successfully sought, have made the current bill deserving of our support".
While Carnes said that the Guild would "continue to applaud the efforts of members of the music creator and publishing communities seeking further improvements that would make the proposed legislation even more advantageous to American songwriters, composers and independent publishers", he still felt that "the bill as it now stands would - on balance - benefit those creators we are sworn to protect significantly more than no bill at all".
He added: "Our two-word mission statement is to 'protect songwriters'. After more than six months of hard work alongside our colleagues at Music Creators North America, SGA feels, individually, that it succeeded insofar as possible in carrying out our mission".
Carnes said that the SGA would now follow the progress of the MMA through Congress closely and - if it is passed - continue to work to ensure songwriters properly benefit from the new licensing set-up.
He concluded: "Among SGA's important roles following the bill's enactment will be to assist the songwriter and composer community in making sure that every music creator receives the full benefits intended under the Act. That includes publication of materials designed to inform and remind creators, in consultation with their legal and financial representatives, how best to ensure the maximum receipt of all royalties to which they are entitled".
Warner/Chappell UK appoints a new Creative Director
Warner/Chappell UK has announced the promotion of Paul Smith to the all new role of Creative Director. He joined the Warner music publisher in 2016 as Senior International Creative Manager.
On his new role, he says: "I'm delighted to be stepping up to the new role of Creative Director. We're in a golden era for songwriter collaboration and the business is more global than ever. It's great to put together our writers from the UK with their peers from around the world and watch the alchemy happen as great hits emerge".
Confirming the promotion, Warner/Chappell UK MD Mike Smith adds: "Paul has been a real dynamo since he joined the Warner/Chappell team. His energy, enthusiasm, passion and talent have shone through and he's really delivered for our songwriters. I know that he'll achieve even more great things in his new role".
Madison Square Garden Company planning musical bubble in London
The Madison Square Garden Company is planning on launching a venue outside the US for the first time by plonking a big bubble alongside the Olympic Park in East London. Because, you know, rivals AEG have a dome three tube stops down, so why not a bubble?
Actually, technically it's a sphere. And the new MSG Sphere venue in London would be similar to one already planned in Las Vegas, promising super high-quality audio, lots of VR and AR gubbins, and funky imagery projected onto the big bubble itself, visible outside, and creating one of those "immersive experiences" for everyone on the inside.
Specifics about the London version of the concept venue are not yet clear as MSG is yet to apply for planning, though the live firm reckons it would create about 3200 new jobs and provide a £2.7 billion boost to the UK economy over its first 20 years in operation. In addition to concerts, the space would also host conferences and aim to be a key London base for the burgeoning e-sports scene.
Says MSG CEO James Dolan: "London is one of the world's greatest cities, and we are delighted to be taking this first step towards making it the location for MSG's first international venue. We believe that a large-scale, next-generation venue will not only become a premiere destination, but also drive growth in London's overall music and entertainment market - benefiting artists and fans, and serving as a long-term investment in the future of this incredible city".
Bauer seeks to cut AM reach of Absolute Radio
Bauer Media wants to cut back the AM reach of its Absolute Radio station, which continues to broadcast nationally on the old fashioned medium wave frequency, in addition to its DAB and online channels, and FM outputs in London and the West Midlands.
In fact, so much does the commercial radio company want to reduce its AM commitments, it's threatening to bail on medium wave entirely if media regulator OfCom doesn't approve its proposal to cutback AM coverage from 90% of the UK to 85%.
According to Radio Today, Bauer says maintaining transmitters to reach 90% of the UK population on AM is no longer 'reasonably practicable'. Noting that the BBC has closed some of its local AM transmitters, it says that the radio business has changed significantly since Absolute began broadcasting on AM - as the original Virgin Radio 25 - years ago.
OfCom has opened a consultation on the proposal.
| Approved: Æ Mak Having streamlined their line-up since the 2016 release of their debut EP 'I Can Feel It In My Bones', Æ Mak returned with a new single last year, 'I Walk'. As well as honing the creative core of the outfit, the track also saw them start to refine an already impressive sound. Now comes 'Glow', which further sets them up as an exciting new act. "Myself and Dan [McIntyre] have been working on music together since last summer", says vocalist Aoife McCann. "We are so excited and completely addicted to the new music we have been creating. Here is the first of many. We are very proud of it". 'Glow' is a dense electronic track with hints of folk, the two styles set against each other to create a perfect tension. With a strong visual side too, it's definitely time to start paying attention to Æ Mak. Listen to 'Glow' here. Stay up to date with all of the artists featured in the CMU Approved column by subscribing to our Spotify playlist. |
Jóhann Jóhannsson dies
Icelandic composer Jóhann Jóhannsson, best known for his work in film soundtracks, has died. He was 48.
In a statement on Saturday, his management company Redbird Music said on Facebook: "It is with profound sadness that we confirm the passing of our dear friend Jóhann Jóhannsson. We have lost one of the most talented and brilliant people who we had the privilege of knowing and working with. May his music continue to inspire us".
Starting his career as a guitarist in a number of rock bands, Jóhannsson released his debut solo album, 'Englabörn', in 2002, featuring music written for a play of the same name.
Critically acclaimed for his blending of electronic and classical sounds, he became an in demand film soundtrack composer. In 2014, he won a Golden Globe for Best Original Score for his work on Stephen Hawking biopic 'The Theory Of Everything', for which he also received an Oscar nomination.
His score for 2016's 'Arrival' was one of his best received works, although the soundtrack was ruled ineligible for the Oscars due to the prominence of a pre-existing piece of music by Max Richter used at the beginning and the end of the movie. The same year, he also released his final standalone album, 'Orphée', based on the Orpheus myth.
According to reports, Jóhannsson was found dead at his Berlin home on Friday. The cause of death has not yet been confirmed. He is survived by his parents, three sisters and a daughter.
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Elton John writing new music for Lion King remake, hoping to get Beyonce involved
Elton John has confirmed that he is writing new music for Disney's upcoming remake of 'The Lion King'. The new version of the film, starring Beyonce and Donald Glover, will also feature John's music from the original.
According to Metro, the musician said: "They need to have a new end credits song. There's going to be four of our songs in the film, from the original: 'Can You Feel The Love Tonight', 'Hakuna Matata', 'I Just Can't Wait To Be King' and 'Circle Of Life'. And then there will be an end, closing song. We've been speaking to Beyoncé's people and hopefully Tim [Rice] and I and her can cook up something".
He added that it would be "great to work with" Beyonce. Which I'm sure it would.
As well as trying to get Beyonce on the phone, John is also preparing for the farewell tour he will begin later this year.
Anne-Marie & Marshmello, Calum Scott & Leona Lewis, Nile Rodgers & Chic, more
Other notable announcements and developments today...
• Marshmello and Anne-Marie have released a song together, 'Friends'.
• Calum Scott has released a new single, 'You Are The Reason', featuring Leona Lewis. "Working with Leona was a dream come true", says Scott. So that's nice.
• Danny L Harle has released new single, 'Blue Angel', featuring Clairo. "I love snow! Snow is lovely", says Clairo.
• El Perro Del Mar has released a new single, 'Mirror'. It's taken from a new EP, out on 23 Feb. She'll also play St Pancras Old Church on 14 Mar.
• Fifi Rong has released new single, 'Awake', the title track of her upcoming new EP. "'Awake' is about waking up to the truth after you have hypnotised yourself and deconstructing the paradoxes of human nature: subordination and rebellion, pain and joy, self-limitation and liberation", she says.
• Keir has released new single 'Night And Day'. He's touring the UK in April, finishing up at Omeara in London on 26 Apr.
• Cosmo Sheldrake has released new single, 'Wriggle'. "Among other sounds, it incorporates Japanese koto drums, marching band percussion, a nightingale from Kent and a host of woodwind instruments including a contrabassoon - one of the lowest instruments in the orchestra", he says of the track.
• Jungle are back. They'll be touring the UK in May. Here they are doing a new song, 'House In LA'.
• Nile Rodgers and Chic will be playing UK tour dates this summer, taking in Scarborough, Alnwick, Belvoir and Lytham. Tickets go on sale on Friday.
• Boy Better Know will take the Innovation Award at this year's NME Awards on Wednesday. BBK founder Skepta and Stefflon Don will perform their track, 'Ding-A-Ling', despite it still seeming like a massive misstep in both their careers.
• Check out our weekly Spotify playlist of new music featured in the CMU Daily - updated every Friday.
Spice Girls not touring
The Spice Girls reunion tour is off. If it was ever on, which I'm not sure it was. Either way, Victoria Beckham says no.
It was announced earlier this month that the group were discussing getting back together for a variety of potential new projects. Following a meeting of all five members, plus former manager Simon Fuller, they were said to be considering a TV show, various endorsements and another greatest hits compilation. However, reports quickly began to circulate about a tour starting this summer.
Speaking to Vogue though, Beckham said: "I'm not going on tour. The girls aren't going on tour".
So that's that. However, Beckham is nevertheless sticking to the party line that the world is in need of the group's particular brand of feminism as a marketing gimmick, saying: "There's something so strong in the message of what the Spice Girls stood for. What is that in the future? What does that look like? We were just bouncing ideas around. Brainstorming".
The last time the Spice Girls all performed together was at the London Olympics in 2012. Plans for 20th anniversary reunion in 2016 were scuppered by Beckham and Mel C having absolutely no interest in it.
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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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