EU Council gives European Copyright Directive the final nod
The EU Council - which is made up of a representative from each EU country - has given final approval to the European Copyright Directive, the very final stage of a process that seems to have had quite a few final stages already. All that remains now is for each EU member state to implement the new copyright laws. Which you could argue means that there are still at least another 27 final stages.

"It was a long road and we would like to thank everyone who contributed to the discussion", says Helen Smith, head of pan-European independent label trade body IMPALA. "As a result, we now have a balanced text that sets a precedent for the rest of the world to follow, by putting citizens and creators at the heart of the reform and introducing clear rules for online platforms".

Years in development, the new legislation includes a number of controversial elements. For the music industry, the controversial bit was article thirteen (actually article seventeen in the final version). That seeks to increase the liabilities of user-upload platforms like YouTube so to strengthen the negotiating hand of music companies when agreeing licensing deals with such sites.

Google argued that the new liabilities would force it to dramatically alter the YouTube business to the detriment of grassroots creators. Other critics argued that this and other parts of the directive would kill the internet entirely. But the music industry says it's just about ensuring that copyright holders are properly compensated for their work, and the internet will be just fine.

"By adopting this landmark text, the EU has proved itself a leader in terms of delivering a fair, open and sustainable internet", Smith goes on. "This text clarifies the position of platforms, building on European case law. It is a first of its kind, and sets an example for other countries across the globe".

General Manager of European collecting society grouping GESAC, Véronique Desbrosses, adds: "This is a major achievement for European creators and their future in the digital environment. It is also a strong and encouraging message from the EU institutions, showing that they will not give in to the aggressive and irresponsible behaviour undertaken by the tech giants to intimidate politicians and to manipulate public opinion with scaremongering, astroturfing and misinformation spread on their own platforms".

"The new Copyright Directive is a win-win policy achievement", she goes on. "It ensures fair payment for creators, provides broader protection for consumers, favours start-ups and brings about a level playing field for small businesses. We thank all member states that have worked fiercely to adopt this legislation from the very beginning and also all those who adopted it today. European creators are proud of you for securing their future!"

EU member countries have two years to implement the new laws. France recently indicated that it could be the first to do so, via new anti-piracy legislation currently working its way through its parliament. The UK has previously suggested that it will adopt the new rules, whether or not it leaves the EU before the two year deadline is up.

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Curve Royalty Systems launches new music accounting software
Former executives of Cooking Vinyl, Essential and ADA have launched a new music accounting system, Curve Royalty Systems. The software aims to better process the massive amounts of data generated by streaming services, as well as providing greater transparency for artists and songwriters.

General Manager of the company Richard Leach, who until recently was ADA's Digital Sales & Strategy Director, says: "Over the fifteen years I have worked in global distribution of independent labels and artists I have seen time and again how the task of royalty processing can hamstring businesses, damage client relations and burn out staff members. The Curve platform is a best-in-class tool that I believe sets a new bar for clear reporting to labels and artists and alleviate the pressures of timely statements and payments".

Other execs at the company are Technology Director Tom Allen, formerly of Essential, and Financial Director Ray Bush, founder of The Music Royalty Co, who also holds the same role at Cooking Vinyl and Fat Cat.

Curve's software has been tested since last year by Hospital Records and its publishing arm, Songs In The Key Of Knife. "We were immediately impressed with the usability and transparency of the platform", says the label's Craig Dawson. "The switch and onboarding process was seamless thanks to Tom and the team's prompt help. The speed of reports and sales uploads have improved the efficiency of our royalty department".

Artists and songwriters signed to labels and publishers using Curve will be given their own logins so that they can check their royalty statements at any time. Other clients at launch include Sky TV, Cooking Vinyl and The Music Royalty Co.

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BTS break Blackpink's short-lived YouTube record
BTS have broken the record for the biggest music video debut on YouTube with new Halsey collaboration 'Boy With Luv'. They take the title less than two weeks after fellow K-pop group Blackpink achieved it with their new single, 'Kill This Love'.

"Yes, we're still running the numbers", said YouTube Music on Twitter on Saturday. "But we can confirm that 'Boy With Luv' feat Halsey is now officially the most viewed 24 hour debut in YouTube history".

Fans of BTS are already reporting that the 24 hour tally was over 78 million, which is considerably higher than Blackpink's 56.7 million views. However, another YouTube Twitter account said that the publicly displayed number was not necessarily the final total, and that it may fall once any bot instigated plays are removed from the stats.

"Our systems will continue to validate views and remove any views that aren't legitimate", it said. "We're still working through it, so stay tuned for the final view count numbers ... When views are really high, the public view count that you see doesn't often keep up with our backend systems. As a result, the public view count may adjust at a later time once the two catch up with each other. That's what happened in this case!"

On Friday, it was also confirmed that BTS were the first Asian act to have more than five billion streams on Spotify. The band released new EP, 'Map Of The Soul: Persona', last week.

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At last! Mark Ronson has kicked off the minidisc revival
Mark Ronson has announced that his "melancholy" new album, titled 'Late Night Feelings', will be released in June. He's also released the album's title track, a collaboration with Lykke Li.

As well as Li, and Miley Cyrus, who appeared on last single 'Nothing Breaks Like A Heart', other vocalists on the album include Camila Cabello, Alicia Keys, Yebba, Angel Olson, King Princess, The Last Artful Dodgr, Diana Gordon and Ilsey.

More exciting than all of that, though, is the news that the album will be the first ever to be released on five physical formats at once. What formats are those? CD. Vinyl. Cassette. 8 track. And... minidisc.

That's right, minidisc. It's happening. It's finally fucking happening, guys. I've sat through all these other bullshit revivals just waiting for the day the minidisc revival would begin. They told me it never would, but they were wrong. It's happening right now. I'm registering minidiscstoreday.com as we speak. This is a greatest day of my life.

Anyway, the album is out on all formats (as if you're going to buy anything other than the minidisc) on 21 Jun. Listen to 'Late Night Feelings' featuring Lykke Li here.

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Emeli Sandé announces life affirming new album
Emeli Sandé has announced that she will release her third album, 'Real Life', in June.

The aim of the album, says Sandé, is to cut through all the distressing things about the current state of the world and give people hope and confidence. "Especially people who have been marginalised, forgotten or kicked down by this invisible oppression that's always there. I just want to give people this incredible superpower every time they play the album. Like a battery pack - by the end of the album they're going to feel restored".

A bold claim. However, she adds: "I feel grounded. With this album, I knew exactly what I wanted to say and do. I've came out the other side more confident, happier with more self-love".

Well, if it can work for her... The album is out on 7 Jun. Before that, she will be play a show at Sadler's Wells in London on 20 May.

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Morrissey postpones start of Canadian tour due to "medical emergency"
Morrissey has cancelled the opening shows of his first Canadian tour for fifteen years due to a "medical emergency". The tour was due to begin in Vancouver last night.

In a statement, Ticketmaster said: "Due to a medical emergency stemming from an accident incurred while traveling in Europe, Morrissey will be forced to postpone his performances in Vancouver to 14-15 Oct 2019. Spirits are high and the artist is on the path to a swift recovery. All tickets will be valid for the new dates and exchanges will not be necessary. Thank you for your understanding. Morrissey looks forward to making his long-awaited return to the city and wishes to deeply thank everyone for their patience".

The company said that the rest of the tour will "resume as planned". However, according to Morrissey's Facebook page, another show in Edmonton has also been pushed back to October.

Morrissey announced the Canadian tour in February, after lifting a boycott of the country. He had previously refused to tour there in protest at the seal clubbing which still takes place. However, he said last year that this had been "ultimately of no use and helped no one".

Ahead of the trip - before the Vancouver shows were postponed - the musician joined up with PETA to protest another animal rights issue in Canada. He penned an open letter to Dani Reiss, CEO of Canadian clothing company Canada Goose, saying: "I'm writing to urge Canada Goose to act more like its namesake (eg smart, brave, and willing to fly off in a new direction) by making the bold ethical choice to remove coyote fur and down feathers from its parkas".

"Canada Goose has almost singlehandedly revived the cruel trapping industry, in which animals can suffer for days and try to gnaw off their ensnared limbs before the trapper eventually returns to bludgeon them to death", he goes on. "No hood adornment is worth that. And geese are confined to cramped cages and trucked hundreds of miles to slaughter in all weather conditions before they're hung upside down and their throats are slit - often while they're still conscious - so that their feathers can be stuffed into (and poke out of) jackets".

PETA will be asking Morrissey fans to sign a petition at his shows (when they eventually go ahead), which will be delivered to Canada Goose at the end of the tour (when that eventually comes).

As well as the Canadian shows, Morrissey is set to play a residency at the Lunt-Fontanne Theater in New York next month. He also recently announced a US tour with Interpol in September.

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Madonna, Ellie Goulding, Armin Van Buuren, more

Other notable announcements and developments today...

• Madonna has announced that her new album will be called 'Madame X'.

• Ellie Goulding has released new single 'Sixteen'.

• Armin Van Buuren has released new Shapov collaboration, 'La Résistance De L'Amour'. It's the third of three tracks by the two producers for a new EP. "Shapov and I obviously hit it off in the studio and I really think it shows", says Van Buuren.

• Five Finger Death Punch have teamed up with Brian May, Brantley Gilbert and Kenny Wayne Shepherd for new single 'Blue On Black'. All proceeds from the track will be donated to the Gary Sinise Foundation in support of US emergency services staff.

• As I Lay Dying have released new single 'Redefined'.

• Ezra Collective have announced UK tour dates in November, culminating in a show at The Roundhouse in London on 30 Nov.

• Check out our weekly Spotify playlist of new music featured in the CMU Daily - updated every Friday.

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Robbie Williams making plans for Christmas
Robbie Williams and his wife Ayda Field announced last week that they are quitting as judges on 'X Factor' after just one series. It's now rumoured that one reason for that decision is that Williams is planning to release a Christmas single to go head to head with this year's 'X Factor' winner for Christmas number one.

"We're in the studio working on Christmas stuff", The Mirror quotes Williams as saying, which apparently confirms all of the above.

That all assumes that the 'X Factor' winner is a contender for the Christmas number one spot. The last time a winner of the TV talent show achieved that accolade was 2014 and in more recent years the winner's record has come out before the week of the Christmas chart, making it much less likely to get the festive top spot. Last year's 'X' winner Dalton Harris didn't even feature in the running for the position - which was eventually taken by novelty act LadBaby.

Of course, the other rumour going around regarding their quitting the show is that Simon Cowell refused to up Williams' and Field's fee to £10 million for the next series. That might also have done it. It's also rumoured that Louis Tomlinson is planning to quit as well, although there's no word on his intentions in relation to the Christmas chart.

In a statement on Instagram last week Williams and Field said: "It's impossible to do everything and we're gutted to tell you we won't be able to return to 'The X Factor' this year. We will, however, be working on projects with Simon going forward - and as huge fans of the show, we will still be tuning into 'The X Factor', voting and winding Simon up".

Louis Walsh has indicated that he'd return to the show. He has been appearing as a judge on Ireland's Got Talent', but says that TV in his home country doesn't pay enough.

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