Big Hit Entertainment goes legal over "malicious" BTS posts
BTS's label Big Hit Entertainment has confirmed that it has begun legal action in its home country in relation to "malicious" online posts about the K-pop superstars.

The Korean music firm's statement on that legal action doesn't go into any detail about the nature of these "malicious" posts, but confirms that the legal proceedings include formal complaints to the authorities of criminal conduct on the part of the "malicious" posters.

That statement reads: "We have filed complaints with the Seoul Namdaemun Police Station on charges of defamation (Article 70 of the Act On Promotion Of Information And Communications Network Utilization And Information Protection, Etc) and criminal insult (Article 311 of the Criminal Act) against netizens who have repeatedly uploaded malicious comments and postings in online communities, portals and social media".

Some of the posts over which Big Hit is taking action are seemingly defamatory and therefore could also fall foul of libel laws under European or North American legal systems. Though the law in South Korea provides additional sanctions against statements that, in the words of Big Hit, "exceed the reasonable and accepted boundaries of expression and personal commentary".

Earlier in its statement Big Hit explains that it routinely monitors the net for posts about the artists it represents that amount to "ill-intentioned criticism, the spreading of groundless information and personal attacks", as well as defamatory statements that are both damaging and untrue. We pretty much knew this already because this isn't the first time Big Hit has taken action of this kind in South Korea to protect the reputation of BTS.

The new statement goes on: "Materials for evidence were collected via our own monitoring initiatives as well as through the Big Hit hotline and submitted to the police".

Confirming that "law enforcement agencies have launched investigations ... based on this evidence", it concluded: "We have responded with zero tolerance against insults and defamation against our artists, and our stance will remain unchanged as long as these acts occur. We emphasise that there is, and will be, no leniency or settlement with the perpetrators of these acts".

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Incubus announce distribution deal with ADA
Incubus have signed a global distribution deal with Warner Music's services division ADA for the release of their upcoming new album, which will be their first release on their own label.

"We're very excited to partner with Incubus on the next steps of their illustrious career", says ADA President Of A&R And Label Services, Kenny Weagly. "A direct relationship with ADA via their own label seems like a natural progression in the evolution of the band, and it is a privilege to provide them with access to global distribution and label services as they take this next step".

Incubus guitarist Mike Einziger, adds: "Incubus is beyond excited to be part of the ADA family, and we look forward to releasing new music with our new partners!"

At the same time as announcing the deal, the band also released new single, 'Into The Summer'. You can watch the video for that here.

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Distrokid adds TikTok distribution to the mix
As pretty much the entire music industry tries to get deals sorted with the phenomenon that is TikTok - you know, to try to get some TikTok dollars in the bank before the whole fad fades - Distrokid has confirmed that it is one of the first DIY distributors to be pushing music through to the video sharing platform.

The DIY distribution firm's founder Philip Kaplan said in a short blog post "artists have been asking us to add TikTok on a daily basis. Done! We hope you love it".

The video sharing app will now be an option when Distrokid users upload new music and they can add it on existing tracks and albums too. Other DIY distributors are sure to add TikTok to their list of streaming services soon, so that self-releasing artists can access the same royalties on offer to the record labels whenever music is used in TikTok uploads.

What those royalties are and quite how the whole thing works is still being worked out by those at the end of the digital royalty chain. Because the continued growth of user-generated content platforms as a music revenue stream has created yet more complexities regarding how the music industry's digital dollars are collected and shared out. Good times!

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MJR acquired by Australian live firm TEG
Bristol-based venue operator and concert promoter MJR has been acquired by Australian live entertainment firm TEG. As a result of the deal MJR will be rebranded TEG UK, as part of the Australian outfit's bid to grow its global presence beyond Asia Pacific.

Confirming the transaction, TEG boss Geoff Jones says: "TEG is already Asia Pacific's leading ticketing, live entertainment and technology business and this acquisition marks a significant step towards TEG becoming a global live entertainment powerhouse".

MJR, he said, was "a great fit for TEG" with its "strong management talent and a clever live entertainment model to which TEG can add ticketing, analytics and digital capability. [It] also brings significant additions to our venue portfolio".

Although headquartered in the UK, MJR has promoted shows in multiple countries and has a formal presence itself in Australia. Its CEO, Richard Buck, says of the new deal: "We are very excited by this venture and the enhanced business opportunities brought by TEG".

He added: "We've worked hard to scale the business over the last five years and this next step in our evolution will further strengthen our position in the market. Both companies are digitally-focused and this synergy allows both parties even more leverage by combining each other's tech expertise and insights to best connect with live entertainment fans".

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Peter Murphy makes "full recovery" following heart surgery
Former Bauhaus frontman Peter Murphy has made a "full recovery" after spending time in intensive care following a heart attack earlier this month.

Murphy cancelled the remaining dates of a New York residency two weeks ago, having been rushed to hospital for emergency surgery before one of those shows.

In a new statement posted on Instagram, Murphy says: "Following my recent episode in New York City with my heart attack and being admitted into Lenox Hill Hospital and seeing myself go through the rigors of intensive care, I am very happy to say that I have made a full recovery. Thanks to the superb team of doctors, specialists, nurses and care staff. I am so glad to say I am up and running again".

"My tour manager Brian Lowe and my assistant Chantal Thomas were directly instrumental in saving my life", he revealed, before adding: "I cannot thank [them] enough. I also want to thank every single friend and fan who has been supporting me throughout this ordeal. I remain grateful especially to my Bauhaus bandmates".

It is not yet known if and when the cancelled dates of the residency will be rescheduled. In the meantime, Murphy has encouraged fans to donate to the American Heart Association.

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Frank Carter And The Rattlesnakes announce February tour dates
Frank Carter And The Rattlesnakes have announced a short UK tour in February to mark their fifth anniversary as a band. And also to continue promoting their latest album 'End Of Suffering'.

"Five years", says Carter. "Five years is how long Rattlesnakes has been a band. Five years of travelling the world, growing our shows from the basement of a tattoo shop, to Brixton Academy, all the way up to the main stage at Reading and Leeds festivals. We are going back on tour, to celebrate all the music we have made over the past five years, playing a setlist that fully explores the diversity and dynamic of Rattlesnakes as a band".

"We are keeping it short and sweet, three shows", he adds. "Glasgow, Manchester and London. The biggest headline shows we have ever played".

Tickets go on sale this Friday. Here are the dates:

12 Feb: Manchester Academy
13 Feb: Glasgow, Barrowlands
15 Feb: London, Alexandra Palace

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DIGITAL

Apple Music has launched new playlist 'New Music Daily', which will give you a new selection of new music to listen to every new day. I said 'new' too much in that sentence, didn't I? Also, it not really new, it's actually a re-titling of the 'Best Of The Week' playlist to take into account the dailiness of it all now.

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RELEASES

Pusha T has released new single 'Sociopath', featuring Kash Doll.

Charli XCX continues her summer of new music with new track 'Miss U', taken from the soundtrack of the new series of 'Thirteen Reasons Why'.

Craig David has released new single 'Do You Miss Me Much'. "This is for every one of my fans that asked me to drop a straight up UK garage banger like I used to", he says.

Moddi has released new song 'New Dawn' from upcoming new album 'Like In 1968'. I said 'new' too much in that sentence, didn't I?

Spinning Coin have released new track 'Not A Dream', taken from a seven-inch release their putting out this Friday.

Roch is back with new single 'I Love To You'. "I am interested in relationships, and what language we use to portray the everyday", she says. "Sometimes you need to reinvent language to capture the essence of the relationship".

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GIGS & TOURS

Krept & Konan have announced that they will be heading out on a tour of the UK and Ireland, starting in November. They'll end up at The O2 Arena in London on 5 Dec. Tickets go on sale on Thursday.

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

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Harry Styles bit off part of his tongue for his art
Two years ago the world was wowed by Harry Styles' attempts to re-invent himself as a 70s rock star. Now, with his second solo album in the works, it's time to get ready for the next phase of that process: the drug-fuelled experimental period.

In a new interview with Rolling Stone, Styles reveals that during recording sessions at Rick Rubin's Shangri-La studio in Malibu, he "did a lot of mushrooms". Also, occasionally "you'd hear the blender going, and think, 'so we're all having frozen margaritas at 10am this morning'".

It was all a pretty relaxed atmosphere, he goes on: "We'd do mushrooms, lie down on the grass, and listen to Paul McCartney's 'Ram' in the sunshine. We'd just turn the speakers into the yard".

"We were doing mushrooms and I bit off the tip of my tongue", he recalls of one session back in the studio. "So I was trying to sing with all this blood gushing out of my mouth. So [I have] many fond memories [of] this place".

Yes, it all sounds very chilled. Even when he bit a piece of his tongue off and bled everywhere. That'll be a fun thing to listen out for on the record. But what to call it? "'Mushrooms And Blood' - now there's an album title", he says, incorrectly.

All of this sounds a long way from One Direction. Which possibly makes the prospect of a reunion of the old team all the more difficult to imagine.

"I don't think it should be about anything else other than the fact that we're all like, 'hey, this was really fun. We should do this again'", he says of the prospect of such a reunion

"But until that time", he then adds, "I feel like I'm really enjoying making music and experimenting. I enjoy making music this way too much to see myself doing a full switch, to go back and do that again".

It's probably also worth noting that the Rolling Stone article suggests that Styles is definitely not in need of any of that money that could also motivate a 1D revival. But maybe one day, after he's spent all the cash he's accrued to date on expensive tongue reconstruction surgery, the time will definitely be right.

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