Austrian court says YouTube shouldn't have safe harbour protection
As the safe harbour reforming article thirteen of the European Copyright Directive continues to work its way slowly through the law-making process, a provisional court ruling in Austria has backed up the music industry's long stated argument that services like YouTube shouldn't have safe harbour protection to start with.

YouTube, of course, claims protection under the so called copyright safe harbour, which says that it can't be held liable for copyright infringing content uploaded by its users, providing it provides a system via which rights owners can have the infringing videos removed, which it does.

The music and wider entertainment industry is trying to have European copyright law reformed to increase the liabilities of user-upload sites like YouTube which claim safe harbour protection.

One argument that has been put forward in Brussels is that safe harbour protection was only ever intended for online 'intermediaries' that provide servers and networks over which content is distributed. But, the music industry's argument goes, YouTube does a lot more than that, and therefore shouldn't be considered a safe harbour eligible service.

That was pretty much the same argument presented in court in Austria by local TV network Puls4 when it sued YouTube for copyright infringement. And it seems a provisional ruling in that case basically concurs.

According to Torrentfreak, the court's provisional ruling concludes: "Through the connections, sorting, filtering and linking, in particular by creating tables of contents according to predefined categories, determining the surfing behaviour of users and creating a tailor-made surfing proposal, offering help etc, YouTube [is more than] a neutral intermediary and therefore cannot claim the host provider privilege".

The current ruling is not binding, and is likely to be appealed by YouTube if it is approved. But it is a timely endorsement of one of the key arguments presented by the music industry in the safe harbour debate, and one that could set a precedent in Austria that does what article thirteen is trying to do, or maybe even more.

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Ed Sheeran aids British music to continued popularity worldwide
Following the shock revelation from collecting society PPL earlier this week that Ed Sheeran was popular in 2017, the BPI has now confirmed it, just to put all your doubters in your place. According to the record industry trade body, he helped UK artists to account for almost 13% of all music consumption worldwide last year.

Sheeran's 'Divide' album was the most purchased and streamed British album of 2017 worldwide - its predecessor 'Multiply' coming in at number six. Other popular acts included Rag N Bone Man, Sam Smith, Harry Styles, The Beatles and Liam Gallagher.

Last year, one in eight of all albums purchased around the world was by a British artist. So that's 12.9% of purchases. That was up from 12.5% in 2016, although still down from the heady days of Adele's last album in 2015, which boosted consumption of British albums around the world that year to 17.1%. Aside from that Adele blip though, this is British music's highest market share since 2011. The value of all the sales and streams last year, reckons the BPI, was worth $2.2 billion.

British music is most popular in Europe, where the market share of UK acts is highest, at 22.1%. This is almost double that of the second biggest market for UK tunes, that being the US, where market share is 11.9%.

"British artists and their music continue to inspire fans all around the world", says BPI boss Geoff Taylor. "This country has innovative, risk-taking labels that invest heavily in the best of British talent, promoting home-grown artists to global audiences on fast-growing streaming platforms such as Spotify and Apple Music".

He continues: "In 2017, we maintained our exceptional share of the world's listening, consolidating our position as the second most successful music nation on earth, exporting more music than any country after the US. As Britain begins to chart its new course in international trade, it's not idle hyperbole to claim that music has truly become Britain's international calling card".

Talking up UK music's role in promoting the country worldwide is more important than ever, of course. Because while it's always nice to know you're popular, stats of this kind are also increasingly used as pleading cry for UK politicians to make life easier for British music to maintain its standing internationally.

The politicians generally take this on board, enjoying standing up and waffling on about what a great job our musicians do for us and our economy. But as the government meanders into Brexit disaster, concern that recorded and live music may take a substantial financial hit are growing. Still, on the bright side, when all of our imported food is arriving in the country rotten due to being held up at the border, we probably won't be quite so worried about how much money Ed Sheeran is making.

Anyway, here are the top ten best selling British albums of 2017 around the world:

1. Ed Sheeran - Divide
2. Rag N Bone Man - Human
3. Sam Smith - The Thrill Of It All
4. Harry Styles - Harry Styles
5. Depeche Mode - Spirit
6. Ed Sheeran - Multiply
7. The Beatles - Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band
8. Gorillaz - Humanz
9. Roger Waters - Is This The Life We Really Want?
10. Liam Gallagher - As You Were

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Virginia Hanlon Grohl's book on rock n roll mothers being turned into TV series
You may remember that last year Dave Grohl's mum - Virginia Hanlon Grohl - published a book in which she interviewed other rock n roll mothers. But now she's realised that no one reads books anymore, so she's turning it into a TV show.

The show, which, like the book, will be called 'From Cradle To Stage', is being made by Live Nation Productions. It's the first telly project for the company as Live Nation, like all other major music companies, dabbles with the much more exciting world of movies and TV.

"At Live Nation Productions, we are proud to help artist's share their stories in the most authentic way possible", the company's President Of Production, Film & Television, Heather Parry, tells Variety. "Virginia's book aligns perfectly with that vision, highlighting an array of incredibly strong women, sharing true and unique perspectives of the mothers who raised some of our most celebrated rock stars".

Grohl Sr says: "I'm excited to introduce the viewing public to the strong, loving women who have supported the insistent dreams of their musical sons and daughters. To Sandi Clark, who learned the music business from a book and launched her son's career. And Mary Weinrib, who had to cancel her own dreams of an education to allow her son to thrive with Rush. To Janis Winehouse, who recognised her daughter's extreme talent, but was helpless to control the demons that brought that brilliant career to a tragic end".

She goes on: "Their backgrounds vary greatly, but they have so much in common. Viewers will join all the mothers around a table when they meet for the first time at a celebratory dinner where secrets and stories will be shared and compared. It's possible that a toast will involve a wine from the Lambert family winery - and a glass of milk for Mary Morello!"

Grohl Jr adds: "I'm beyond excited to join in on the next step of my mother's project to explore the stories of other musicians who were as fortunate as me, having been raised by such amazing women. Plus... I owe her one".

No TV companies are as yet on board to air the show. But you can all come round my house and watch it on DVD if you like. Except you, Damon Albarn.

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Morrissey loves baked beans
Morrissey famously doesn't eat meat. He wrote a song about it and everything. "Oh, I don't eat meat", it goes. Something like that, anyway. But it turns out he doesn't really eat anything much at all.

"I don't eat animals, birds or fish", he says in a new interview published this week. "I don't consider myself to be vegan, vegetarian or carnivorous. I'm just me. I refuse to eat anything that had a mother, that's obvious. I've always found food to be very difficult because I only eat bread, potatoes, pasta and nuts... all stodge. I can't eat anything that has any flavour. I've never had a curry, or coffee, or garlic".

He goes on: "I'm absolutely hopeless when I'm handed a menu in a restaurant. I go directly to the kiddie's meals. If I find baked beans then the night is a huge success. If you ever bring me out to dinner it's important that you also bring a toaster".

So, a fun Morrissey interview, like they used to have in the olden days. Oh, except in the same interview he also says some objectionable shit you've probably already read about. But who has the energy for Morrissey's political views anymore? Not on an empty stomach, anyway. And I've not had my daily beans on toast as yet.

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New Prince album coming in September
The Prince estate marked what would have been the musician's 60th birthday yesterday by announcing a new album, to be released later this year.

Titled 'Prince & A Microphone: 1983', the nine track record is a recording of a rehearsal at Prince's home, featuring the musician performing solo on piano. It features a cover of Joni Mitchell's 'A Case Of You' and a version of 'Purple Rain', which at the time was unreleased.

The album is set for release on 21 Sep, and a track from it, 'Mary Don't You Weep', was also made available yesterday.

Here's the full tracklist:

1. 17 Days
2. Purple Rain
3. A Case Of You
4. Mary Don't You Weep
5. Strange Relationship
6. International Lover
7. Wednesday
8. Cold Coffee & Cocaine
9. Why The Butterflies

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Interpol announce marauding new album
Interpol announced at a press conference in Mexico City yesterday that they will release their new album, 'Marauder', on 24 Aug.

"'Marauder' is a facet of myself", said the band's Paul Banks. "That's the guy that fucks up friendships and does crazy shit. He taught me a lot, but it's representative of a persona that's best left in song. In a way, this album is like giving him a name and putting him to bed".

"This record is where I feel touching on real things that have happened to me are exciting and evocative to write about", he continued. "I think in the past, I always felt autobiography was too small a thing for me to reference. I feel like now, I'm able to romanticise parts of my own life".

The first track from the album, 'The Rover', is out now. And you can watch the full press conference here, if you like that sort of thing.

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Kanye West & Kid Cudi, Gorillaz, Lily Allen, more

Other notable announcements and developments today...

• Get a daily news summary, our latest job ads and more via our Messenger bot. Click here to get started.

• Kanye West and Kid Cudi gave their 'Kids See Ghosts' album its first airing last night. It's expected to hit streaming services later today.

• Gorillaz have released another new track from their upcoming new album, 'The Now Now'. This is 'Sorcererz'.

• Lily Allen has, it is undeniably true, released the video for 'Lost My Mind'. The track is taken from her new album 'No Shame', which is out this very day (ie Friday, ie today, ie right now).

• Smashing Pumpkins have released new track 'Solara', the first new song featuring Billy Borgan, James Iha and Jimmy Chamberlain for nearly two decades. It wasn't worth the wait.

• Goldfrapp have released a video for 'Ocean', featuring Dave Gahan off of Depeche Mode.

• If you're struggling to think what you fancy listening to today, Daniel Avery has just put together a 110 hour playlist on Spotify. There's probably something in there you'll like. It features, he says, "some music that has affected my head from both inside the strobe light and away from it".

• Sticking with Daniel Avery for a moment, he's also just put out an outtake from his latest album 'Song For Alpha', called 'AQPAN6102'.

• Girli is back with new single 'Day Month Second'. "'Day Month Second' is my breakup anthem", she says. "It's about wanting to get over someone so bad but not being able to shake the memory of them and how they messed you around. It's an angry, sad, but also liberating tune".

• Ha ha ha, Death Grips have a new track out.

• Maribou State have released new single 'Feel Good', featuring Khruangbin. The track is taken from Maribou State's new album 'Kingdoms In Colour', out on 7 Sep.

• 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 #407: Damon Albarn v Michael Gove
With a new Gorillaz album on the horizon, Damon Albarn is back on the media circuit telling stories from his long and eventful career. Like the one about the time he didn't work with Prince, and the one about that time he shouted at Michael Gove in the street.

I don't know about you, but I'm not really one for shouting at people in the street. I like to maintain a low profile. Still, if I saw Michael Gove just walking around out and about like that was all OK, I'd probably be unable to fight the urge to shout something at him.

And, if I am being honest, I suspect that whatever words fell out of my mouth in that moment would probably be as weak and uninspired as "Gove, you're a xenophobe!" Those being the words that dribbled out of Albarn's mouth when he spied the rubbery politician while out jogging one day.

Recalling the anecdote for the Times, Albarn said: "I called over, 'Gove, you're a xenophobe!' Now, I had no real qualification for saying that, but he came over, which showed he had some steel. I wasn't expecting that. I thought he'd run off".

I thought it was Damon who was out running. Whatever. I'd imagine Gove is quite used to being shouted at, if Albarn's actual actions and my assumed ones are anything to go by. And he's probably learned over time that walking head on at detractors will put the wind right up em.

Now forced to come up with some slightly more substantial words, Albarn said: "I told him the EU had nothing to do with the dark agenda of the referendum, which was the last gasp of a naive aspect of English culture that presumes our way of life is superior".

He rambled on: "I was proud of the progressive nature of the country and so was disappointed. Anyway, that is what I said, and he admitted - but if this got relayed to him, he'd deny it - that he could have done things better".

Asked if Gove realised he was talking to a celeb, rather than just a sweaty man, Albarn replied: "No, I don't think he did, actually".

Of course, Gove was immediately asked on Twitter to comment on all of this, and not being the sort to run away he did. "I remember it well", he repied. "Enjoyed the chat - and wish Damon well for the future".

That certainly has the tone of someone who doesn't have any recollection of this conversation ever happening or any awareness of who Damon Albarn is. He also failed to reference Albarn's allegation that he'd probably deny the incident, suggesting he didn't actually read the interview excerpt either.

But I guess Gove would never want to have too much information to process about real world events. Doing so would put him at risk of becoming an expert.

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