Chrysalis Records becomes part of Reservoir
US-based music rights firm Reservoir is further expanding its interests in recorded music by acquiring the most recent incarnation of Chrysalis Records via an alliance with London-based Blue Raincoat Music.

With management and publishing units as well as the label, Blue Raincoat was co-founded in 2014 by record producer Robin Millar and music industry veteran Jeremy Lascelles. The latter had previously been CEO of the old Chrysalis music publishing firm and, in 2016, he was reconnected with that brand when his company bought the Chrysalis Records label and catalogue from Warner Music.

That catalogue had been on quite a journey before arriving at Blue Raincoat. The original indie label version of Chrysalis had become part of EMI in the early 1990s and was then run as a division of the British major well into the 2000s.

After EMI's collapse in 2011, Universal acquired its recordings business, but was forced to sell off a chunk of its new acquisition's European assets by the competition regulator. Which is how Warner ended up with Chrysalis. It then sold the label, and some other masters, to Blue Raincoat as part of a commitment it had made - when buying all those bits of EMI off Universal - to return some of those recordings to the indie sector.

Blue Raincoat then allied with Kobalt's AWAL on distribution, for both that catalogue and the new releases the recordings side of its business was working on.

Confirming that a deal had now been done to bring Chrysalis Records into his company's "portfolio of offerings", Reservoir boss Golnar Khosrowshahi said yesterday that the move was part of his firm's commitment to be "a full-service music company". He added: "From the first meeting with Robin and Jeremy, it was evident that we had found the right partners to expand into the independent label business".

Millar and Lascelles will continue to head up Chrysalis Records, as well as the Blue Raincoat management and publishing businesses which are not affected by this deal. AWAL will also still handle distribution.

Confirming the alliance from his side, Millar said: "The shared dedication to supporting independent music with a global reach made the joining up the businesses ideal, with like-minded individuals and two companies respectively looking to expand their platforms and service offerings".

Reservoir's COO Rell Lafargue said he was "THRILLED" about the tie-up with Chrysalis which, he added, would now benefit from its new parent company's expertise in areas like sync and YouTube channel management.

Although, he also stressed, that knowledge exchange will cut both ways. "As we manage this integration process", he said, "we will all look to take advantage of the diverse expertise that each company brings to the table to enhance value for all of our talent, songwriters and artists alike".

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YouTuber sues YouTube over missing alerts and closed channels
A YouTuber is suing YouTube over allegations that it failed to alert his subscribers to new content and then, after he threatened to go legal over that failure, used copyright notices as an excuse to shut down his channels.

It's an interesting case in that it could test the obligations of YouTube to the creators who use its platform to distribute their videos and grow a business around their content. And also how it should deal with complaints filed against videos by other copyright owners, and any counter-claims the creators of said videos then submit.

DJ Short-E, real name Erik Mishiyev, says that he made a decent income from his two YouTube channels, where he posted a mix of original music, DJ mixes and celebrity interviews. Having become a content partner of the Google video site, Mishiyev was able to share in any ad income generated on his two channels.

In a lawsuit filed this week, Mishiyev says he made $310,000 in ad income from his YouTube content over a five year period. But, despite continuing to add thousands of new subscribers each month, he started to notice that his videos were not getting the same level of views as on channels with similar sign-up rates.

Then one new subscriber contacted him to say that, despite having subscribed to Mishiyev's channel and requested notifications of new content, they were not receiving alerts as new videos were posted. Fearing that this was one of the reasons his video views were lower than expected, Mishiyev started to contact the YouTube support team about the potential issue.

The lawsuit states: "Plaintiff was concerned about this suspicious activity and sought confirmation numerous times from YouTube that they were truly distributing his new videos to his fans and subscribers, but YouTube failed to provide such confirmation, stating 'they could not share this information' with him".

Having not got to the bottom of the missing alerts issue, late last year Mishiyev threatened legal action against the video site. At that point, he alleges, a flurry of copyright complaints appeared against his content and, whereas in the past he had successfully dealt with such complaints by filing counter-notices, this time that didn't work.

He says he was initially told by YouTube that some of his counter-claims were ineligible. That statement was then retracted and YouTube said it would process said claims. But Mishiyev says that never happened. As a result of the copyright claims his channels were blocked, depriving him of the ad income his videos would have generated, and also impacting on his business beyond the video site.

The lawsuit adds: "Although YouTube stated they removed his channels and videos for copyright claims, the removals appeared to plaintiff to be in retaliation for his placing them on notice that he would be filing a lawsuit".

Mishiyev is suing YouTube for $720,000 in damages. It's a potentially optimistic lawsuit that probably won't go the distance. But if it did, as we said, it would be very interesting to see how things progressed. Because beyond the allegations of YouTube's bad conduct, there is the bigger issue of what obligations, exactly, the video site really has to the people who distribute content through its platform.

Warner Chappell signs Tones And I
Warner Chappell has announced that it has signed a deal to represent the publishing catalogue of Australian big news singer-songwriter Tones And I - aka Toni Watson. The deal arrives just as she releases her debut EP, 'The Kids Are Coming'.

"It means the world that the Warner Chappell team believe so much in me as a songwriter", she says excitedly. "They've worked with some seriously amazing talent and have incredible instincts about fostering creativity and collaborations. It's a dream to have their support".

Senior Director Of A&R, David Goldsen, adds with gusto: "Her electrifying voice and charismatic lyrics are like nothing else out there. The world is catching on quickly, and she's going to be an important artist for years to come".

Alright everyone, let's just calm down a minute.

FYI - Tones And I will be playing two UK shows later this month. She'll be at The Lexington in North London on 15 Nov, with another date at Oslo in East London the next night, added because everyone is just losing their shit about her and refusing to follow my sensible suggestion that they just calm down a minute.

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Shawn Mendes launches new charitable foundation
Shawn Mendes has launched a new foundation which seeks to "inspire and empower his fans and today's youth to bring about positive change in the world and advocate for issues they care most about". The new charity will support a range of youth-related initiatives, including schemes focused on healthcare, sustainability, mental health and wellness, human rights, anti-bullying, education and more.

The first two programmes to be supported by the foundation will see it work with the SickKids hospital, based in the musician's hometown of Toronto, and Reverb, a US-based organisation that collaborates with the music community on environmental campaigns.

Launching all this, Mendes says: "I'm so excited to launch The Shawn Mendes Foundation. For a long time, I've wanted to find a way to amplify the causes that my fans and I care deeply about, and to help make the voices of our generation heard. My goal in launching the Foundation is to work alongside my fans, and do everything I can to help provide them with a platform that inspires positive change, and empowers young change-makers".

Most of Mendes' business partners in music - including management firm AG Artists, booking agency Paradigm and various Universal companies - will also support the new charity, more information about which is available at ShawnMendesFoundation.org.

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James Blunt announces new album Once Upon A Mind
Your absolute favourite pop star James Blunt has announced that he will release his sixth album, titled 'Once Upon A Mind', this autumn. After dabbling in electronic music on his last record, he's now back to banging about on a guitar.

"I think this is the most honest album I have ever made", he says. "'Back To Bedlam' [his first LP in 2004] was similar in that I had been writing those songs for a while about my life experiences at that time, and they came together on my debut".

"And every song on this album", he adds, "represents something that I'm currently going through or have recently experienced. It's a very personal record, and I'm proud I can share it".

The album is out on 25 Oct, with new single 'Cold' out now. It sounds a bit like U2, if you were wondering.

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Wheels & Fins festival cancels
The Wheels And Fins Festival in Broadstairs has announced that is cancelling with just over two weeks to go. Organisers blame "financial constraints" for the decision.

Launched seven years ago, the festival expanded dramatically last year, with a final day curated and headlined by The Libertines. This year was to be headlined by Friendly Fires and Slaves, with stages curated by Hospital Records, Ministry Of Sound and more.

In a statement, organisers say: "It is with absolute heart-breaking agony that due to financial constraints on our small growing independent festival we have been forced into the devastating decision that Wheels And Fins festival 2019 has been cancelled".

"To the artists, traders and suppliers who we have worked tirelessly with all year, we apologise for the huge inconvenience this causes", they add. "To our loyal ticket holders we are truly devastated to disappoint you and thank you for your continued support".

They then promise "a more detailed statement ... in the coming days", adding that they are talking to "ticketing partners and legal representatives to prepare the next steps".

Speaking of The Libertines, which we kind of were, their Albion Rooms hotel in nearby Margate is finally flinging open its doors this weekend. Kind of. After many, many delays, they've announced the 'first phase' of the opening - letting people into the venue's two bars and recording studio from 1pm this Saturday.

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MEDIA

As expected, the second of five new radio stations being launched by Global is another Heart spin-off. Having launched Heart 90s yesterday, Heart 70s goes live today. Three more new Global stations are due to launch online and on DAB next week.

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APPOINTMENTS

Proper Music Group has hired Joshua Hart as a new Press Officer in the distributor's relatively new press and promotions department. "In just one year we have achieved so much and, with Josh now on board, we'll continue to go from strength to strength", says department head Jo Donnelly.

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RELEASES

Lana Del Rey has released the video for 'Doin Time', taken from her new album 'Norman Fucking Rockwell', which is out... TODAY! She's going to play UK shows in February. So that's nice.

Skrillex has released his first proper single since 2017, 'Midnight Hour'. It features Ty Dolla $ign and Boys Noize.

Post Malone has released new single 'Circles'. The track is taken from his new album, 'Hollywood's Bleeding', which is out next week.

Pusha T Has released his second new single of the week, 'Coming Home', featuring Lauryn Hill.

Sean Paul has released new single 'When It Comes To You'.

Jax Jones and Tove Lo have released a single together, 'Jacques'. It'll feature on Jones' new album 'Snacks (Supersize)', out 6 Sep. "It's one of my favourite new tracks from my album 'Snacks (Supersize)', he says. Or, if you prefer, it'll feature on Tove Lo's new album, 'Sunshine Kitty', out 20 Sep. "This is the club banger on my new album 'Sunshine Kitty'", she says.

Birdman and Juvenile have released new single 'Ride Dat', featuring Lil Wayne. They're releasing an album called 'I'm On My Shit', which I've just learned conjures up a different subconscious image to the one they probably intended when you have small children.

Sasami has released new song 'Take Care', the A-side on her new "digital seven-inch" - a term I have never heard before and do not care for. She's on tour in the UK now, and you should go and see her perform, despite her making up a non-thing.

A posthumous single by rapper Cadet, who died in a car crash earlier this year, has been released. It's called 'Gang Gang'.

Daphne & Celeste have released a Japanese version of their single 'Sunny Day'. "Recording 'Sunny Day' in Japanese was some of the most fun I've ever had in the recording studio", says Celeste.

Squid have released new single 'Match Bet', taken from their new EP 'Town Centre', which is out next week. "The song is told from the perspective of a Sonic Youth super fan living with mental illness, whom was a regular at a shop I used to work in", says frontman Ollie Judge. "His harmless demeanour and manic, long conversations about gambling, his relationship with Her Majesty The Queen and love for Sonic Youth was extremely helpful for me in that period of my life".

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AWARDS

Joy Division and New Order managers Rebecca Boulton and Andy Robinson are to receive the Managers' Manager prize at this year's Artist & Manager Awards. "In 1999 after the untimely death of Joy Division and New Order's mercurial manager Rob Gretton, the opportunity arose to manage two of the greatest bands ever", they say in a statement. "Fortunately, they let us do it and 20 years later we're still here. It's been an amazing journey". The AMA ceremony will take place in London on 14 Nov.

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

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Gathering Of The Juggalos attendee sues after being run down by baseball bat-driven golf cart
A filmmaker has launched legal action against the organisers of the Gathering Of The Juggalos festival in the US. In it, he claims that he was injured when run down by a man who was using a baseball bat to drive a golf cart.

Adam Batton says that he attended the 20th anniversary edition of the annual event for Insane Clown Posse fans (aka 'juggalos') - which took place earlier this month - to make a documentary. Which means he is not specifically classing himself as a juggalo.

He is suing the company behind the festival, Ninjas In Action Inc, and the venue that hosted the event, Lawrence County Recreational Park in Indiana, claiming that they failed to enforce rules around motorised vehicles on the festival site.

Batton says that upon arriving, he noticed numerous attendees driving golf carts around said site, despite this being prohibited in the terms and conditions on the ticket. Seeing this, he left the site and purchased a small motorised bike to get around the festival on himself.

It was at about 1am on the final night of the event, his lawsuit says, that he was knocked off his bike by a golf cart being driven erratically. As a result, he claims, he sustained serious and permanent bodily injuries.

The golf cart was being driven by well known juggalo Alexander 'Less Legs' Perkins. Says the lawsuit, according to Billboard: "Perkins was operating the golf cart peddles with a baseball bat, and after the collision it was apparent he was intoxicated on drugs and/or alcohol".

Perkins, however, provides a different version of events. He says that he had permission to use the cart and was using a baseball bat to press the pedals due to his disability. As his nickname suggests, he has 'less legs' than the majority of other attendees. Specifically, two less.

Anyway, he also denies that he was under the influence of drink or drugs, telling TMZ that he was entirely sober. Rather, he says, it was Batton who ran into him while riding on the wrong side of the road. He also says that he was thrown out of the golf cart and sustained injuries himself.

Batton is not, however, suing Perkins directly - presumably because he feels he has a better chance of securing damages from the promoter and venue. Whether or not he is correct remains to be seen.

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