| TOP STORIES | Boardmasters festival cancelled due to weather warnings READ IN THIS EMAIL | READ ON THE WEBSITE |
| DEALS | Hipgnosis acquires Benny Blanco catalogue READ IN THIS EMAIL | READ ON THE WEBSITE |
| LIVE BUSINESS | Sony Music buys into UK live firm Senbla READ IN THIS EMAIL | READ ON THE WEBSITE |
| BRANDS & MERCH | Sony expands its merchandise business via deal with theatre firm READ IN THIS EMAIL | READ ON THE WEBSITE |
| RELEASES | Mystery Jets announce protest-influenced new album and tour dates Factory Records 40th anniversary boxsets and exhibition announced READ IN THIS EMAIL | READ ON THE WEBSITE |
| ONE LINERS | Slipknot, Pixies, Björk, more READ IN THIS EMAIL | READ ON THE WEBSITE |
| AND FINALLY... | Charli XCX loves Taylor Swift and her fans (even the five year olds) READ IN THIS EMAIL | READ ON THE WEBSITE |
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HART MEDIA - PROMOTIONS ASSISTANT (LONDON) Hart Media is looking for a dynamic and an outgoing music loving individual to work within a five-strong radio and online music promotions team. For more information and to apply click here. |
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FIRE RECORDS - PART-TIME WAREHOUSE ASSISTANT (LONDON) The Fire Records Group is seeking an enthusiastic and hard-working warehouse/mail order assistant to maintain the smooth running of the warehouse, organise the archive and look after all shipping logistics (direct to customers, distribution and artists). For more information and to apply click here. |
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GREEN HOUSE GROUP - FREELANCE JUNIOR SOCIAL MEDIA EXEC (LONDON) Green House Group is looking for a junior social media account executive with one to two years experience to join us initially on a freelance basis. For more information and to apply click here. |
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UNION CHAPEL - PROGRAMME MANAGER, INTERIM ROLE (LONDON) The Programme Manager is a key member of UCD’s Events Team. This role will require a professional and motivated individual who will work in a team environment to deliver a strong and culturally diverse programme in line with the aims and visions of Union Chapel. For more information and to apply click here. |
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LEX RECORDS - DIGITAL CONTENT CO-ORDINATOR (LONDON) Lex Records is looking for a Digital Content Coordinator to manage day-to-day artist and label social media strategy and assist with digital marketing campaigns for Lex artist releases and key label moments such as anniversaries. For more information and to apply click here. |
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NTSU - TECHNICAL SUPERVISOR, TRI-CAMPUS (NOTTINGHAM) The NTSU Entertainments Department is looking to recruit a Technical Supervisor to assist with the management of sound, lighting and visuals for events and other activity. For more information and to apply click here. |
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NUCLEAR BLAST - RADIO/TV PROMOTIONS (LONDON) This well-established rock/metal label is looking for a dynamic and creative Radio/TV Promoter to handle it's rapidly diversifying roster. The ideal candidate should have at least two years experience in a similar role. For more information and to apply click here. |
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SJM CONCERTS - DIGITAL MARKETING COORDINATOR (MANCHESTER) SJM Concerts are at the forefront of the UK live music market. We are looking for a Digital Marketing Coordinator to maximise online exposure of festivals and events promoted by SJM Concerts by coordinating numerous social media channels and leading on digital-led marketing tour campaigns. For more information and to apply click here. |
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SJM CONCERTS - CUSTOMER SERVICES MANAGER (MANCHESTER) SJM Concerts are at the forefront of the UK live music market. We are looking for a Customer Services Manager to be responsible for all customer services correspondence relating to SJM promoted events. For more information and to apply click here. |
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THE ORCHARD - LABEL MANAGER, CLASSICS (LONDON) The role will involve working with labels and Orchard marketing teams across the globe to create compelling retail and interactive campaigns and liaising with labels on general digital strategy. For more information and to apply click here. |
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SOLD OUT - SOCIAL MEDIA EXECUTIVE (LONDON) Sold Out is seeking a Social Media Executive. The successful candidate will need to be client-facing, a natural communicator, thorough, reliable, be able to work at a very fast pace and with a gift for organisation, attention to details and effective time management. For more information and to apply click here. |
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VMS LIVE - TECHNICAL MANAGER, WILLIAM ASTON HALL (WREXHAM) We are recruiting for a full time Technical Manager for our busy Wrexham venue. You will oversee all aspects of production in the venue, from advancing shows to stage managing / operation of sound and lights for the shows. For more information and to apply click here. |
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FIRE RECORDS - LABEL ASSISTANT (LONDON) The Fire Records Group is seeking an enthusiastic and hard-working Label Assistant to join their growing team. The successful candidate will work across all areas of the business and will directly assist the directors, business affairs and label manager to ensure the smooth running of campaigns and other label activities. For more information and to apply click here. |
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LEX RECORDS - DIGITAL MARKETING MANAGER (LONDON) Lex is a record label, music publisher, and film production company based in London. It is looking for a Digital Marketing Manger to plan and execute digital marketing campaigns for both artist releases and the label itself. For more information and to apply click here. |
Boardmasters festival cancelled due to weather warnings
Organisers of this weekend's Boardmasters festival have cancelled the event - which was due to be headlined by Wu-Tang Clan, Florence And The Machine and Foals - because of the severe weather conditions expected in the days ahead.
The Newquay-based music and surfing festival - promoted by Vision Nine - was due to kick off today, with the music side getting underway on Friday. But storms and strong winds are expected in the next few days, with the Met Office issuing a yellow weather warning for much of England and Wales.
In a statement on the event's website, organisers said: "Due to forecasted severe weather conditions, specifically high winds, Boardmasters 2019 has been cancelled. Following full consultation with all of the relevant authorities - including independent safety advisors, Devon And Cornwall Police, emergency services and the Met Office - a final decision was made yesterday evening".
"The safety of you, the fans and attendees, as well as performers and crew, comes first", they added. "The potential risk is too severe for the event to go ahead at this time. We sincerely regret the disappointment to fans, and apologise for any disruption caused to local businesses, performers and crew who were looking forward to Boardmasters as much as we were".
Refund information will follow and ticket-buyers have been encouraged to follow the festival's social media for updates.
According to the BBC, some of the surfing events that were due to begin today will still go ahead, with the stormy weather not expected until tomorrow.
It remains to be seen if the anticipated storms and strong winds affect any other festivals due to take place this weekend. The Met Office's weather warning currently relates to Friday and Saturday.
Hipgnosis acquires Benny Blanco catalogue
Always acquisitive song-focussed investment outfit the Hipgnosis Songs Fund has acquired the publishing rights to everything songwriter and producer Benny Blanco has released since 2015. This includes songs written for and with Justin Bieber, Maroon 5 and Ed Sheeran.
"In a week when Benny is at number one with Shawn Mendes and Camilla Cabello, it's fortuitous to have closed our deal and welcome him to the Hipgnosis family", says the firm's founder Merck Mercuriadis. "Benny's been having number one songs for the last twelve years now, ten of them since 2015 alone".
He goes on: "That longevity, to be able to write number one songs consistently for more than a decade, and to have made incomparable contributions to establishing the most important artists of our time, is an almost impossible feat. He has literally defined the modern pop era in a way that very few others can lay claim to".
Hipgnosis aims to persuade investors to put their money into song rights, rather than more traditional investment portfolios. The company reckons that it can provide reliable and significant returns, while bringing in a new source of revenue to the music industry. In the last year financial year, Hipgnosis says it spent £120 million acquiring twelve catalogues.
Sony Music buys into UK live firm Senbla
Sony Music has further expanded its interests in live music in the UK by taking a majority stake in London-based concert promoter and production company Senbla. The deal has been done via the major's Masterworks division.
Sony UK already has interests in live music via the Raymond Gubbay company, which it took complete control of last year after previously collaborating on the venture with German live firm DEAG. Senbla will still be run by its founder Ollie Rosenblatt following the new deal, but he will now collaborate with the Sony Music Masterworks team on future projects, and in particular COO Mark Cavell and UK Label Head Sarah Thwaites.
Confirming the transaction, Cavell took a deep breath and declared that: "Building on our very successful live business following the 100% acquisition of Raymond Gubbay Ltd last year, the opportunity to acquire a majority stake in Senbla and to work with the creative and entrepreneurial skills of founder and CEO Ollie Rosenblatt was exactly the right move for Sony Music Masterworks as we further expand our footprint in the area of quality live entertainment".
Phew, that was a long sentence. "These acquisitions provide the perfect platform to grow this business exponentially both in UK and overseas", he then added, more succinctly.
For his part, the there mentioned Rosenblatt declared: "I'm delighted to now be in partnership with the Sony Music Masterworks team. Senbla is about enhancing value for artists and the value of content. The combination of Senbla with Sony Music Masterworks gives us a broader platform to grow opportunities in live performance, not only for artists and content owners but also for consumers".
Sony expands its merchandise business via deal with theatre firm
Sony Music in the US is further expanding its interests in merch by acquiring the music merchandising division of theatre company The Araca Group.
The deal is being done via Sony's own merch business The Thread Shop, which already provides merch production, e-commerce, retail partnership and trademark licensing services to a range of artists.
The Araca Group first got into merchandise via its theatre productions, and by then working on merch products with other theatre producers too. It then moved into music merchandise working with the likes of Led Zeppelin, P!nk, Shania Twain, Sugarland and Zayn. That roster and some of the Araca team will move over to The Thread Shop as part of the new deal.
Confirming the purchase, the President of Sony's Commercial Music Group, Richard Story, said: "As artists continue to seek out merchandising opportunities to complement their music revenues, branding and marketing, Sony Music is significantly expanding its presence in this growing area of the business. The acquisition of The Araca Group's music merchandise division will further strengthen The Thread Shop's artist roster and infrastructure and the competitive capabilities we offer to the music community".
Speaking for the theatre firm, Araca's CEO Michael Rego added: "We are THRILLED at the opportunity this acquisition provides for our music merchandise division. The team at The Thread Shop is artist-focused, passionate and well positioned to build upon the merchandising programmes that Araca has created for our music clients".
Mystery Jets announce protest-influenced new album and tour dates
Mystery Jets have announced that they will release their sixth album, 'A Billion Heartbeats', on 27 Sep. Accompanying the news, they've put out the second single from the LP, 'Screwdriver'.
"'Screwdriver' is about the mechanics of intolerance", says frontman Blaine Harrison. "Looking back at times of economic instability in history, we see how easily deep chasms grow in society and the population seeks change wherever it is most convincingly promised".
He goes on: "Conflict arises as cultures and belief systems clash, unwilling to accept one another's place in society, because we are fed the rhetoric that our neighbours are those responsible for our problems: then inevitably nationalism once more raises its ugly head above the parapet. But whereas political agendas fuel divisiveness, music unites and reminds us of all that we have in common".
However, he concludes, "the message of 'Screwdriver' is not a pessimistic one - because perhaps faced with confrontation we can find understanding, and even maybe learn how to listen to, and love, one another".
Along with this and NHS-supporting previous single 'Hospital Radio', the whole album is inspired by a year of protests that Harrison witnessed while living as a property guardian in a building off Trafalgar Square.
"In the space of six months it was Black Lives Matter, the huge 'Our NHS' march, Unite For Europe", he recalls. "Then the solidarity sleep-out organised by Help Refugees, where we slept in Whitehall for the night. The protestors would wake me up in the morning [and] I'd just walk down and join in".
Despite this influence, Harrison says: "This album wasn't about making pointed opinions. It was about being a mirror for what's going on, reflecting back the way people are feeling".
The band will also be touring later this year. Here are all the dates:
5 Nov: Cambridge, The Junction
6 Nov: Birmingham, The Mill
7 Nov: Norwich, The Waterfront
10 Nov: Newcastle, The Riverside
11 Nov: Edinburgh, The Caves
12 Nov: Glasgow, Oran Mor
14 Nov: Manchester, Academy 2
15 Nov: Leeds, The Wardrobe
16 Nov: Hull, The Welly
18 Nov: Brighton, Concorde 2
19 Nov: Bristol, Trinity
20 Nov: London, Shepherd's Bush Empire
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Factory Records 40th anniversary boxsets and exhibition announced
Warner Music has announced two boxsets and an art exhibition to mark the 40th anniversary of the iconic label Factory Records.
'Use Hearing Protection: Factory Records 1978-1979' - out on 11 Oct - will collect the first ten records and other objects to receive a famous FAC catalogue number. Which means buying the boxset will get you posters, stationery, a short film and an egg timer design, as well as some music.
Meanwhile, 'Factory: Communications 1978-92' - out on 8 Nov - will gather together rare, unheard and classic material from the label across eight bits of vinyl.
The exhibition - titled 'Use Hearing Protection FAC 1 - 50 / 40' - will take place at Chelsea Space in West London. Curated by Jon Savage and Mat Bancroft, it charts the design history of the label through 50 items produced between 1978 and 1982, including work by Peter Saville, Joy Division, New Order, A Certain Ratio, Durutti Column and Linder Sterling.
Running from 13 Sep to 25 Oct, it will be listed as part of the London Design Festival. "It is rewarding to see that the legacy endures and that there is such appreciation of the artefacts", reckons the there mentioned Peter Saville.
Find out more about the exhibition here, and the boxsets here.
APPOINTMENTS
Music PR and promotions agency Listen Up has promoted Dujon Fairweather to Account Director. He joined the company in 2014.
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RELEASES
Slipknot have released a video for their new single 'Birth Of The Cruel' for you to watch on your mobile telephone.
Pixies have released new single 'Catfish Kate'. Their new album, 'Beneath The Eyrie', is out on 13 Sep.
Kasabian's Serge Pizzorno has released new solo single 'The Youngest Gary'.
Anna and Kittin have announced new collaborative single 'Forever Ravers' as part of Kompakt's Speicher series. It'll be out on 30 Aug.
The Darkness have released new single 'Rock N Roll Deserves To Die'. Their new album, 'Easter Is Cancelled', is out on 4 Oct. A month long UK tour begins at the end of November.
Spector are back with new single 'Half Life'. They've also announced tour dates through October and November, finishing up at London's Oval Space on 13 Nov.
Oh Sees have released new track 'Captain Loosely'. It's accompanying video was filmed on the US/Mexico border, and the band have dedicated it to those who lost their lives in the recent shooting in El Paso, Texas and their families.
The Big Moon are back with new single 'It's Easy Then', their first new material for two years.
Broen have released new single 'Lines'. It's the first track taken from their second album, 'Do You See The Falling Leaves?', which is out on 18 Oct. They'll play The Shacklewell Arms in London on 6 Nov.
Scandal have released new single 'Fuzzy'. The band will be livestreaming a performance at Red Bull Music Studios Tokyo this Friday at midday UK time. Tune in to watch that here.
Kelley Stoltz has announced that his new album, 'My Regime', will be out on 27 Sep. Here's first single 'Turning Into You'. He'll play three UK tour dates starting at the end of this month, hitting The Lexington in London on 2 Sep.
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GIGS & TOURS
Björk has announced that she will bring her 'Cornucopia' live show to the UK and Ireland later this year. She'll play London's O2 Arena on 19 Nov, Glasgow's Hydro on 25 Nov, and Dublin's 3Arena on 28 Nov. She's also released a video for 'Losss', from her 2017 album, 'Utopia'.
Check out our weekly Spotify playlist of new music featured in the CMU Daily - updated every Friday.
Charli XCX loves Taylor Swift and her fans (even the five year olds)
Taylor Swift fans have been proving their maturity by getting in a strop after Charli XCX referred to them as "five year olds" in a new interview. The British pop star, meanwhile, has said her comments were taken out of context.
In the interview with Pitchfork, Charli XCX was discussing being the opening act on Swift's US tour last year, which saw her getting on stage at 6pm, as opposed to the late night club shows she'd become accustomed to. The article presents this as something she sees as a negative, leading her to decide never to be a support act for a pop star again.
"I'm really grateful that [Taylor] asked me on that tour", she's quoted as saying. "But as an artist, it kind of felt like I was getting up on stage and waving to five year olds. I've done so much of it [opening for other people], and it really cemented my status as this underdog character, which I like now. But I need to just own my own fucking shit finally".
Swift fans quickly rallied online, declaring Charli XCX's career to be over, and berating her for being so ungrateful for what they believe to be the highlight of said career. Basically, they largely took the Charli XCX quote to mean that she felt opening for Swift was beneath her. Being a Taylor Swift fan seems really exhausting. Unless you have the energy of a five year old, of course.
In a long response on Twitter, Charli XCX said that she wanted "to clarify that there is absolutely no shade and only love here".
"As I say in the article and have said many times before, I am extremely grateful to Taylor for inviting me to open for her", she went on. "She's one of the biggest artists of my generation and the 'Reputation' tour was one of the biggest tours in history".
Explaining her comments about the tour's audience, she said: "In the printed conversation of this much wider conversation, my answers about this tour were boiled down into one kind of weird sentence. Leading up to that tour I'd been playing a tonne of eighteen plus club shows and so, to be on stage in front of all ages, was new to me and made me approach my performances with a whole new kind of energy".
But, she adds, "More so I talked about how it was brilliant opening for Taylor, I am extremely grateful for the opportunity I was given and how much fun it was to perform to a new audience!"
"Any tour I've been on with any other artist as an opening act has always taught me so much", she concluded. "It's always wonderful to watch other artists do their thing, own their stage, and speak their language to their dedicated fanbases - and this was especially true for the 'Reputation' tour".
Five year olds really do love Taylor Swift though. That is undeniable.
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