Woodstock 50 will still go ahead insist organisers, but artists say their contracts are void
Woodstock co-founder Michael Lang has insisted that he will still put on the 50th anniversary edition of the event later this year. This follows a key investor announcing the cancellation of the event earlier this week. However, as well as its financial backing, it has now emerged that the event may also be lacking artists to perform.

Amplifi Live, a division of marketing group the Dentsu Aegis Network, was one of the festival's backers, and it announced on Monday that "despite our tremendous investment of time, effort and commitment, we don't believe the production of the festival can be executed as an event worthy of the Woodstock brand name while also ensuring the health and safety of the artists, partners and attendees. As a result and after careful consideration, Dentsu Aegis Network's Amplifi Live, a partner of Woodstock 50, has decided to cancel the festival".

But Lang's Woodstock company then put out a statement saying that Dentsu had no right to cancel the event and that it would all still go ahead as planned. "Although our financial partner is withdrawing, we will of course be continuing with the planning of the festival and intend to bring on new partners", it said. It also emerged that Live Nation and AEG had been approached as possible alternative backers, but had seemingly declined to get involved.

"Woodstock never belonged to Dentsu, so they don't have a right to cancel it", Lang then insisted. "Woodstock belongs to the people and it always will".

Before you start looking around for the Woodstock shares you forgot you had, the name is actually owned by Woodstock Ventures, ie the company headed by Lang. However, who controls the 50th anniversary event is a matter of some confusion.

According to Billboard, booking agents for two of the festival's headliners have said that Dentsu withdrawing its involvement voids their contracts. Another agent with a number of artists booked to play the event then explained: "The artist contracts are with Dentsu, not with Michael Lang or Woodstock 50".

It is now not clear if those artist contracts will be honoured anyway, or if Woodstock Ventures has held any discussions with agents on the matter. But having some artists booked would probably make for a better celebration of the event's 50th anniversary. And having some money to pay said artists would be even better.

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MegaUpload lawsuits postponed yet again
The civil lawsuits filed against MegaUpload by the US music and movie industries have been put on hold for six months. Yes, again!

The next edition of Setlist celebrating CMU's 20th birthday will retell the long drawn out saga of MegaUpload, the one-time file-transfer and video sharing platform shut down by the American authorities in 2012 on copyright infringement grounds.

Since then an awful lot has happened. Although really nothing at all as happened, as US prosecutors have worked their way through the tediously slow process of trying to extradite MegaUpload founder Kim Dotcom, and some of his former colleagues, from New Zealand to an American courtroom to face charges of criminal copyright infringement.

Although the NZ courts have generally ruled that there are grounds to extradite Dotcom et al, the MegaUpload team have employed every possible technicality and pursued every possible route of appeal. Which means the extradition case is ongoing.

The music and movie industries sued in the wake of the shutdown and criminal action, hoping to access some of the MegaUpload cash that was seized by the authorities. But most people agree that it doesn't make any sense going through with the civil litigation until the criminal action is complete.

To that end, at various points over the last few years the lawsuits filed by the Recording Industry Association Of America and the Motion Picture Association Of America have been postponed. And the latest postponement has just been confirmed, meaning nothing will happen in relation to these lawsuits until at least 1 Oct this year.

And probably not for some years after that.

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Key Production acquires Disc Solutions
Physical music product specialists Key Production have acquired Disc Solutions, which has particular expertise in vinyl pressing. Although the latter will join the former at its London base at Tileyard Studios, the deal won't affect the day-to-day running of either company.

Confirming the acquisition, Key chief Karen Emanuel said: "I am delighted to welcome Disc Solutions into the Key family. Disc Solutions, like Key, have built strong relationships with their clients and suppliers and we both share a passion for delivering high quality products that people cherish and value. We look forward to building on those relationships and bringing together our expertise. It's an exciting time for Key Production as we look towards celebrating our 30th year next year".

Meanwhile Disc Solutions owner David de la Bruyere added: "Having spent time with Karen Emanuel and her team at Key it is clear to me that we share the same ethos in providing a quality product to the highest standard achievable and I welcome working within an organisation with mutual aims and mindset. I have no doubt the partnership will provide longevity in maintaining our historic bespoke service along with a new dynamic that will enhance our customers' experience".

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Jónsi and Carl Michael Von Hausswolff to release oceanic album as Dark Morph
Sigur Rós frontman Jónsi and composer Carl Michael Von Hausswolff have formed a new group, Dark Morph, and will release their debut this month, they have announced.

The music on the album was developed as part of a fellowship programme at ocean-focussed arts organisation the TBA21-Academy. It was recorded on a boat off the coast of Fiji and features the sounds of humpback whales, bats and (perhaps most importantly) dark morph herons, among other creatures.

Von Hausswolff (father of Anna, if you were wondering) explains: "While we were on the boat, I started to take the recordings, manipulate them and mutate them into drones or other types of musical functions - so we could use the sounds as instruments for building compositions".

"We decided", he goes on, "'let's try not to have them sounding too much like real sounds, let's turn them into something else'. When I had done some drones, some long tones out of a bird or something, I gave it to Jónsi and he started to peel off certain types of melodious things, and then play it to me. And then we started to just throw the ball back and forth".

The duo will play a launch show at the Ocean Space museum in Venice on 10 May, with the recordings appearing in the museum as an audio installation form 7 May to 30 Jun. The album itself is out on 17 May. From it, this is 'Beka Yalo'.

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K Flay announces new album and UK tour dates
K Flay has announced that she will release her third studio album, 'Solutions', in July.

The album, she explains, started as a way to write her way out of a depression that hit after three years of solid work on releases and performing. "When I got home from tour, I was in a dark place", she says. "Eventually, I made a decision to focus on the things that actually make me happy: walking around my neighbourhood, drawing in notebooks with markers, talking to my mom on the phone. I thought, 'What did I do as a kid to be happy?'"

"As a child, you don't have access to alcohol, drugs, sex, caffeine", she goes on. "I looked back, when I had fun just by making music. I remembered the first time I wrote a song, burned a CD, and played it in my car. It's the closest thing I've ever had to a religious experience. I reconnected with that spirit and stopped taking shit so seriously".

"The title 'Solutions' came to me really early in the process", she continues. "The solution to almost every problem is usually really simple. For me, it's so basic: staying connected to the people I love, taking care of myself the way I'd want my friends to take care of themselves, and doing things I know are going to make me happy - not what social media or strangers or society tells me. So many of my past records were about problems. Right now, I'm in a place where I'm looking for some light. Balance is important. Life doesn't have to be chaotic in order to be meaningful".

New single, 'This Baby Don't Cry', is out now. The album is set for release on 12 Jul.

Later in the year, K Flay will be in the UK for a short run of shows. Here are the dates:

18 Oct: Birmingham, Academy 2
19 Oct: Bristol, Thekla
21 Oct: Glasgow, St Luke's
22 Oct: Manchester, Gorilla
23 Oct: London, Heaven

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Rodrigo y Gabriella announce UK tour
With new album 'Mettavolution' out last week, Rodrigo y Gabriella have announced UK tour dates in September and October. The run includes a performance at the Hammersmith Apollo.

The duo have also released a performance video of new track, 'Terracentric', of which they say: "Sometimes we need to be self-centred in order to be the best version of ourselves for us and for others. Meditation is a good example of an individual practice that in fact is the most compassionate action we can do for everyone".

"Clearing the mind", they go on, "is not only for your own benefit but for the benefit of all living beings. 'Terracentric' is an invitation to look inward, to be a little bit 'selfish' for a minute and do what you can for your own sake. If we all did the same this world would be a very different one. 'Terracentric' is the connection with this earth. Reconnecting with the so-called reality of our human existence".

Anyway, here are the dates:

22 Sep: Liverpool, Academy
24 Sep: Bath, Forum
25 Sep: Gateshead, Sage
26 Sep: Glasgow, Academy
28 Sep: Leeds Academy
29 Sep: Manchester, Albert Hall
30 Sep: Birmingham, Institute
4 Oct: London, Hammersmith Apollo

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Warner Music, Yes Please, Noel Gallagher, more

Other notable announcements and developments today...

• Warner Music has promoted Kinga Siennicka, previously Vice Chair Of Marketing & Promotion for Eastern Europe, to the role of MD for Warner Music Poland. So, make sure you all update your rolodexes.

• Music publicity firm Yes Please has hired former RCA plugger Alex Dobson to do some top plugging for its various music clients. So, make sure you all update your Filofaxes. And then maybe page someone about it.

• Noel Gallagher and those High Flying Birds of his have released new single 'Black Star Dancing'. "It manages to combine the influences of David Bowie, INXS, U2, Queen, Indeep AND ZZ Top, FFS", says Gallagher. "I might have been watching too much 'Top Of The Pops' recently. Anyway, it's dope - not my words, but the words of Nile Rodgers who literally danced in the studio when he heard it!" Careful, that namedrop nearly landed on my toe.

• The National have released new single 'Hairpin Turns', featuring Gail Ann Dorsey and Lisa Hannigan.

• Lee 'Scratch' Perry has released the video for new single 'Let It Rain'.

• The Futureheads have released new single 'Jekyll'. It's the first track released from a new album due out at the end of August.

• Frank Carter And The Rattlesnakes have released new single 'Kitty Sucker'. Their new album 'End Of Everything' is out this week.

• Singer-songwriter Remi has released new single 'Just Kids'.

• Composer Ellen Arkbro will play a UK show at St Giles Cripplegate Church on 22 Jun. Her new album, 'Chords', is out on 7 Jun.

• The Lighthouse Family have delayed the release of their comeback album 'Blue Sky In Your Head' due to "unforeseen production issues". It'll now be out on 5 Jul. They've also announced new tour dates for February and March next year. Apparently people did miss them during the eighteen years they were out of action.

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

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Hymns drop out of top ten funeral songs, as the dead turn to pop
Frank Sinatra is a non-mover at number one in the top ten most popular funeral songs in the UK. In fact, the whole top four is the same as last time Co-op Funeralcare published its chart in 2016. What has changed, though, is that there are now no hymns in the list, with people turning to pop as they're shoved into the afterlife.

Three years ago, there were three hymns in the top ten: 'The Lord Is My Shepard', 'All Things Bright And Beautiful' and 'Abide With Me'. But now none are anywhere to be seen, with Robbie Williams' 'Angels' returning to the top ten at number five and Ed Sheeran a new entry at six. I think that means Ed Sheeran is now officially bigger than God. Westlife make up the other hymn-busting new entry at number eight.

The news follows stats released by the Church Of England last year, which showed a decline in the number of people holding funerals in churches. Now, it seems, people are also more likely to want more contemporary music to see them off. Although the songs chosen are generally on the old side - with artists including Bette Midler, Nat King Cole and Vera Lynn represented.

"We all live such unique lives and funerals should completely reflect that", says David Collingwood, Director Of Funerals at the Co-op. "Each element of a funeral is a very personal decision which is why the music choice plays such an important and impactful role".

He goes on: "We're always encouraging people to be more open about their funeral wishes, making it clear to their loved ones what they would want for themselves when the time comes. Even knowing what song someone would have wanted can bring such comfort at an incredibly hard time".

Right, OK, I guess we need to think about this. What song would I like played as I'm rolled through those little doors? Actually, you know what, I'm a modern person in tune with what's going on in the world right now. I think I'd like a podcast.

Anyway, here is the top ten end credits songs in the UK:

1. Frank Sinatra - My Way
2. Andrea Bocelli and Sarah Brightman - Time To Say Goodbye
3. Eva Cassidy - Over The Rainbow
4. Bette Midler - Wind Beneath My Wings
5. Robbie Williams - Angels
6. Ed Sheeran - Supermarket Flowers
7. Nat King Cole - Unforgettable
8. Westlife - You Raise Me Up
9. Vera Lynn - We'll Meet Again
10. Eric Idle - Always Look On The Bright Side Of Life

There is, of course, an official streaming playlist to go along with this, just in case you want to know what it's like to attend ten funerals in 40 minutes.

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