Survey warns of "astronomical" levels of stress in the live music industry
Over 80% of people working in the UK's live music industry experience stress, while 65% regularly feel an "intense and unmanageable level of pressure", according to a new survey.

Ticketing service Skiddle asked 520 promoters, venue owners and event organisers about their experiences of working in the live industry. Of them, 82% complained of stress, 67% said they have anxiety, and 40% said that they have experienced depression - far higher than the national average. A total of 10% said that they have OCD as a direct result of their work in the music industry.

More than a third added that their work negatively affected their relationship with their partner or spouse. A similar number also reported regularly having financial problems, which in turn contributed to issues with their mental wellbeing.

"The results of this survey do not make for an easy read, and it's troubling to see that so many promoters are struggling with their mental health and wellbeing", says Skiddle's Ben Sebborn. "Skiddle have been working alongside independent and large scale promoters for nearly two decades and fully appreciate how difficult the job can be".

He adds: "As well as organising a series of panel sessions to discuss the issues raised in the survey, we will also be working with the British Association for Performing Arts Medicine and the Campaign Against Living Miserably to ensure we are industry leaders in supporting promoters and offering them the assistance they need to work happily and effectively".

Director of the there mentioned BAPAM, Claire Cordeaux, adds: "It's well evidenced that mental health problems are considerably higher in the performing artist community than in the general population and the industry is increasingly recognising the need for support. Skiddle's survey of promoters, one of the first of its kind, is a timely reminder that it is not just performers that need help".

The findings of the survey will be discussed at two panel events next week. The first will take place at the Queen Of Hoxton in London on 2 Oct, the second at Joshua Brookes in Manchester on 3 Oct. Free tickets to both are available here.

You can see Skiddle's findings presented in an infographic here.

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Sexual assault case against Nelly dropped
A sexual assault lawsuit against Nelly has been dismissed after both parties agreed to drop their respective litigation.

In a statement to The Blast, Nelly's lawyer, Scott Rosenblum, said: "The lawsuit with Nelly and accuser has been dropped. Both parties have mutually agreed to drop the lawsuit. No settlement or money changed hands".

However, Karen Koehler, the attorney for the rapper's accuser Monique Greene, says that that latter claim - ie that no money has changed hands - is "false".

Nelly was arrested in connection to rape allegations in October 2017. He strongly denied the allegations from the off, while Koehler subsequently told reporters that Greene no longer wished to participate in the criminal investigation because "she believes the system is going to fail her".

Once the criminal case was dropped, Nelly sued Greene for defamation. She responded to that with her own lawsuit, accusing him of defamation and demanding damages relating to the alleged assault itself.

The litigation has been dismissed with prejudice, meaning that Greene cannot re-file at a later date.

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Spotify announces new education events for musicians
Spotify has announced a series of educational events for artists Stateside under the banner Co.Lab. Set to take place in New York and LA, the events will see various industry experts come together to impart wisdom. Well, hopefully wisdom. Not just gripes.

"Here at Spotify, we're well aware that a whole lot more goes into building your career than meets the eye", the company tells its Spotify For Artists community.

"As a modern artist", it goes on, "you, your team or your label basically have to be experts in everything - from finding collaborators and building out release strategies, to planning tours and designing your merch".

All of those things and more will be covered in the upcoming sessions, with Capitol's Head Of Creative Sync Licensing Jenny Swiatowy, tour director Christian Coffey, studio engineer Jeff Ellis, music supervisor Morgan Rhodes and DJ Loric Sih all among those set to speak.

Details of the events and how to attend here.

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Paul McCartney to publish new children's book
Because all celebrities are now obliged to put out several children's books, Paul McCartney has announced that he is publishing another bit of literature for the kids.

It's called 'Hey Grandude'. And if that title doesn't fill you with a sinking sense of despair and dread, I don't think you're ready to be a parent. Oh, but it gets worse. I'll just warn you now, I'm going to share a quote from McCartney in a moment that's going to make you involuntarily kick something.

The story follows a magical old man called Grandude who has four grandchildren. "He calls them 'Chillers'", explains McCartney, with no regard for anyone's well-being. "They love him and they go on adventures with him and he's kind of magical, so you'll see that in the book. I wanted to write it for grandparents everywhere - and the kids - so it gives you something to read to the grandkids at bedtime".

It turns out, by the way, that it's one of McCartney's own grandchildren who's responsible for this shit.

"I've got eight grandchildren and they're all beautiful", he says, adding some unnecessary detail. "One day one of them said to me 'Hey Grandude!'. I said 'What?' and I thought, I kind of like that, so from then on I was kind of known as Grandude".

He doesn't even remember which one it was. Either that or he's protecting their identity. Whatever, this fucking plunge into the lowest level of hell will be published in September next year, unless someone does something about it. Here's a video of McCartney goading you all with it.

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Michael Buble announces loved up new album
That Michael Buble's going to release a new album. It's called '❤'. Which apparently is pronounced 'love'. So why not just say that, Micky? Why make us jump through all these fucking hoops. Jesus. Do you know how busy I am without having to work out how to type '❤' on my computer? And I bet it will screw up on half the devices reading this story.

This is Buble's eighth album and it comes after he took a two year break from public life to spend more time with his family. This, of course, followed his then three year old son Noah's diagnosis with cancer in 2016.

"I didn't anticipate returning to recording or performing and I was fine with that", says Buble. "My entire world view has changed completely these last few years. I wanted to spend all my time with my wife and kids. That was my focus".

He goes on: "During that time, I also learned how much love and humanity is out in the world from the prayers and good wishes we received. But slowly, along with understanding what my priorities in life are, I began to feel a new commitment to express the emotions and lessons I've embraced".

"Whether I am the narrator, the observer, the main character, the dreamer, the broken hearted guy at a bar or having the night of a lifetime", he muses on, "I have stories to tell on this record. It's all there in the songs. I have had so many blessings in life and one of them is that I hold the torch to keep these songs alive for generations to come".

He concludes: "I take the responsibility very seriously. My end game for the new record was to create a series of short cinematic stories for each song I chose and have it stand on its own. I'm so proud of what we accomplished".

The album features new versions of well-known songs including 'When I Fall In Love', My Funny Valentine', 'When You're Smiling', and 'Unforgettable'. It's out on 16 Nov. Here's the video for 'When I Fall In Love'.

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Clean Bandit announce loved up new album
Clean Bandit have announced that they will release their new album, 'What Is Love?', in November. It will feature loads of guests including Zara Larsson, Ellie Goulding, Rita Ora, Stefflon Don, Tove Styrke and more.

"The album looks at many different kinds and stages of love", says cellist Grace Chatto. "We've been making it over three years, during which time we've all experienced love in our lives in different ways and, some of us, heartbreak too".

"Somehow this is all expressed in the music", she adds. "Brotherly love; family love; romantic love; crazy all-consuming love; the pain of love turning into something different or dishonest; and, of course, in 'Rockabye', unconditional motherly love".

Oh yes, 'Rockabye', despite being released as a single nearly two years ago, also features on this album. As do other previous single releases 'Tears', 'Symphony', 'I Miss You' and 'Solo'.

Still musing on the record at large, she concludes: "It explores the sacrifices we all go through for love and for each other, even when it is difficult. It's been such an honour to write and record with all of the amazing singers and musicians involved in the record".

As mentioned, there are certainly plenty of guests on the record, some of whom may indeed be "amazing". Here's the full tracklist and guestlist. The album's out on 30 Nov.

Symphony (feat Zara Larsson)
Baby (feat Marina & Luis Fonsi)
Solo (feat Demi Lovato)
Rockabye (feat Sean Paul & Anne-Marie)
Mama (feat Ellie Goulding)
Should've Known Better (feat Anne-Marie)
Out at Night (feat Kyle & Big Boi)
Last Goodbye (feat Tove Styrke & Stefflon Don)
We Were Just Kids (feat Craig David & Kirsten Joy)
Nowhere (feat Rita Ora & Kyle)
I Miss You (feat Julia Michaels)
In Us I Believe (feat Alma)
24 Hours (feat Yasmin Green)
Playboy Style (feat Charli XCX & Bhad Bhabie)
Beautiful (feat DaVido & Love Ssega)
Tears (feat Louisa Johnson)

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UK Music, Vevo, Lil Wayne, more

Other notable announcements and developments today...

• UK Music has announced ILMC MD Greg Parmley as the new chair of its UK Live Music Group, the trade body of trade bodies that was formed so that the live music trade bodies that make up said trade body of trade bodies could then participate in UK Music, the wider trade body of trade bodies. He replaces Live Nation's Paul Latham in the role, who recently announced his retirement from the live music giant.

• Vevo has announced Bryon Schafer as its new SVP of Research. "He is a highly respected and analytical executive, with extensive digital media experience, whose insight and analysis will help drive the value of the music video", screeches Vevo CEO Alan Price.

• After a really very long time, Lil Wayne has finally released 'Tha Carter V'. It's running time is roughly the same as the amount of time you've been waiting for it, the rapper apparently having not spent all those years in legal limbo editing his work.

• Lady Gaga and that Bradley Cooper have released 'Shallow' from the 'A Star Is Born' soundtrack.

• Lady Gaga and Chic have released a new version of the latter's 'I Want Your Love'. It features on new Chic album 'It's About Time'.

• Avril Lavigne has released the video for new single 'Head Above Water'.

• Having released the 'Fast Slow Disco' rework of her song 'Slow Disco' earlier this year, St Vincent has now released another version, 'Slow Slow Disco'. It's slower.

• The Chemical Brothers have released new track 'Free Yourself'.

• Muse have released the video for new single 'Pressure'. So now you have been made aware of that.

• Now, would you like to hear REM performing their song 'E-Bow The Letter' with Radiohead's Thom Yorke from the year 2004. Yeah? And you want it to have been recorded in St James Church in London? Welcome to the greatest day of your life.

• The Prodigy have released new single 'Light Up The Sky'. New album, 'No Tourists', is out on 2 Nov.

• Fleet Foxes have announced a new compilation, 'First Collection 2006-2009', to mark the tenth anniversary of their debut album. That'll be out on 9 Nov. Here's a track that'll appear on it, 'Isles'.

• Ahead of UK tour dates next month, Coheed And Cambria have released new track 'Old Flames'.

• Fucked Up have released new track 'Accelerate'. They've also announced UK tour dates in January.

• 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 #423: Sharon Osbourne v Daddy Big Bucks
When Ozzy Osbourne dropped an antitrust lawsuit against AEG earlier this month, the live firm was quick to claim victory. But this week Sharon Osbourne hit back with her own statement. Very much expressed in her inimitable style, you sense that the lawyers just gave up trying to stop her. Although lawyers should take note, the phrase "hubbildy, bubbuldy BULLSHIT" could be useful in many different situations.

This all stems from a long-running dispute that first bubbled to the surface last year when it emerged that AEG had started linking bookings at venues it operates in London and LA, namely The O2 and the Staples Center. It was alleged that artists who wanted to play the former were being pressured to also play the latter when in LA, as opposed to rival Los Angeles venue the Forum, which is run by MSG.

When criticised over this linking of venue bookings, AEG countered that MSG had started it by linking bookings at its flagship New York venue Madison Square Garden with the Forum. Live Nation then chipped in to moan about AEG's venue linking practices, prompting AEG to question why it hadn't likewise criticised MSG. Before noting that maybe it was because the MSG venues were allied with Live Nation's Ticketmaster.

All that squabbling led to talk about venue operators being in breach of certain competition laws, which in turn led to Ozzy Osbourne filing an antitrust action against AEG in the US in March. The lawsuit related to a Live Nation promoted tour and efforts by AEG to link bookings at The O2 and the Staples Center.

Earlier this month, AEG dropped its venue linking policy, with boss Jay Marciano saying he was satisfied that artists were no longer "being pressured to play the Forum to gain access to the Garden". After that, Osbourne dropped his lawsuit, with his attorney telling Variety that as it had been instigated in a bid "to remove this block booking requirement" there was now "no further need for litigation".

Which was a decent excuse for bailing on the lawsuit. But AEG quickly put out a gloating statement, banging on about how it had emerged victorious from a battle with a bunch of bullies. It then repeated past claims that Osbourne's whole legal action had been very much backed by its main rival Live Nation and veteran artist manager - and former Live Nation exec and now MSG business partner - Irving Azoff.

"We were fully prepared to see the case through to vindicate our policy, but now that Osbourne has decided to dismiss with prejudice, the case is over", said the statement. "Our policy was an appropriate, lawful and effective competitive response to Irving Azoff's pressure tactics seeking to force artists into the Forum. If those tactics resurface, we will redeploy our policy as needed".

It went on to say that Osbourne's lawsuit was "a transparent public relations ploy" that had been "instigated by Azoff and paid for by MSG and Live Nation". It concluded by adding that the case was "hatched on the back of an artist who we believe had no idea what he was biting off".

It's always nice to have a little joke in a press statement, isn't it? Osbourne is famous for biting the heads off things, you see? That's what that was a joke about. I think it was a joke.

Anyway, Sharon Osbourne, who as Ozzy's manager was really leading on this lawsuit, took exception to that whole statement. And since AEG started specifically naming Azoff in its response, she's now working under the assumption that the statement was penned personally by AEG owner Philip Anschutz. Well, why not? Especially if you've gone to the trouble of thinking up a nickname for him.

"We know Mr Anschutz (aka 'Daddy Big Bucks') is living in his billionaire bubble", she began. "But the fact is that Ozzy sued AEG for the right to perform at The O2 in London. We won the case and Ozzy's show at The O2 went on sale on 5 Sep for a show next year (11 Feb 2019) - so in my world that means we won the case".

I think if the case is voluntarily dropped before it gets to court, the best you can claim is a draw. I'm pretty sure that's the rule. So if we're not letting AEG claim victory, I don't think we can give it to Ozzy either. But I guess Ozzy is playing the venue he wanted, and Sharon managed to plug a show three sentences into a statement about a legal dispute, so she's certainly got some things going in her favour.

"Ozzy is playing The O2 without having to play the Staples Center, which is all that mattered to us. From the start of this dialogue in February, this has been a battle about respect for the artists and their personal preferences. It wasn't then and isn't now a battle between promoters, which is how this is being portrayed by the recent statement from AEG claiming this as a 'victory'".

She then turned to the specifics of the AEG statement, seeming angry at any suggestion that she or Ozzy had been a puppet in all this.

She went on: "To say that this 'suit was instigated by Azoff and paid for by MSG and Live Nation', and that 'it was hatched on the back of an artist who we believe had no idea what he was biting off', is untrue and disrespectful to Ozzy, myself and the entire team working on this tour".

"Whatever differences you have with Irving Azoff", she said, "don't presume you know who instigated the lawsuit or you know anything about Ozzy Osbourne, because you obviously don't know anything about Ozzy's history or mine. So stop with your hubbildy, bubbuldy BULLSHIT and your little pissing contest with Live Nation and MSG".

She then continued: "Regarding the allegations in the AEG statement that this 'suit was a transparent public relations ploy', if that was indeed the case, why then did AEG rush out a statement of victory? While we, throughout this process, until now have only made one statement around the initial filing".

Hmm? Hmm? She's got your there, huh? I mean, it's tricky accusing the other side of seeking easy PR wins while also looking rather like you're trying to score such a thing for yourself. And that's definitely not what the Osbournes were out for anyway, Sharon would like you to know. There was no hubbildy, bubbuldy bullshit on their side, they were simply pursuing a serious legal action in a bid to protect artist rights.

"Ozzy's preference was to perform at The Forum, a venue that has been a part of his music history for more than 46 years", she said. "From the start, this was not a battle solely for Ozzy, [it was as much about the] other artists who were being forced to abide by these rules and regulations. Let's not all forget why you're here - the artists".

But what about the 'biting things' gag? Does Sharon have something to say about that? Oh yes. In fact, she reckons it's the only thing really worth commenting on.

"The only thing remotely interesting in your statement", she concluded, "was your pitiful attempt at humour with your quote that Ozzy 'had no idea what he was biting off'. If you're interested, Ozzy and I have got something nice for you bite on... our assholes... see ya, loser!"

Now, I realise that "hubbildy, bubbuldy bullshit" might be too idiosyncratic a phrase to be included in every formal statement regarding a music industry legal dispute moving forward. But please, oh please, if only one thing comes out of all of this, please let it be that everyone starts signing off their legal statements "see ya, loser!"

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