| TOP STORIES | UK Music outlines live sector's key no-deal Brexit concerns READ IN THIS EMAIL | READ ON THE WEBSITE |
| LEGAL | Ariana Grande sues fashion firm for using lookalike model in social media marketing READ IN THIS EMAIL | READ ON THE WEBSITE |
| LABELS & PUBLISHERS | Sony's Arista launches new dance music focused imprint READ IN THIS EMAIL | READ ON THE WEBSITE |
| ARTIST NEWS | Dua Lipa says social media breaks help her mental health READ IN THIS EMAIL | READ ON THE WEBSITE |
| RELEASES | Bombay Bicycle Club announce first album since 2014 READ IN THIS EMAIL | READ ON THE WEBSITE |
| AWARDS | Idles and Dave are both double winners at AIM Awards READ IN THIS EMAIL | READ ON THE WEBSITE |
| ONE LINERS | R Kelly, Nordoff Robbins, SMG Europe, more READ IN THIS EMAIL | READ ON THE WEBSITE |
| AND FINALLY... | Tinder and Live Nation hook up for cheap gig tickets READ IN THIS EMAIL | READ ON THE WEBSITE |
| Check out all the latest job opportunities with CMU Jobs. To advertise your job opportunities here email [email protected] or call 020 7099 9060. | |
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SECRETLY DISTRIBUTION - DIGITAL MARKETING CO-ORDINATOR (LONDON) Secretly Distribution seeks a full time Digital Marketing Co-ordinator based in its London office. This position will work closely with our existing digital team in a wide reaching role that will focus on sales and marketing in multiple territories including the UK, EU, Asia, and Australia. For more information and to apply click here. |
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TICKETMASTER - CLIENT SERVICES MANAGER, MUSIC (LONDON) The Client Services Manager, Music, will be responsible for the management of all aspects of Ticketmaster's client relationships (Music) whilst working closely with directorial and regional 'stakeholders' in the development, and execution, of current and future business strategies. For more information and to apply click here. |
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MANNERS MCDADE - JUNIOR MUSIC PRODUCER (LONDON) We are looking for a creative Junior Producer, supporting our Head Of Deptartment and working closely with our composers and artistson bespoke composition projects. For more information and to apply click here. |
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HOSPITAL RECORDS - PROMOTIONS MANAGER (LONDON) Hospital Records is hiring a full-time Promotions Manager to join the Hospital Records team in its south London office, to manage all promotional activity for the label’s releases, event brands, and festivals Hospitality In The Park (UK) and Hospitality On The Beach (Croatia). For more information and to apply click here. |
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HOSPITAL RECORDS - COPYRIGHT ASSISTANT (LONDON) Hospital Records is hiring a full-time Copyright Assistant to assist in the day to day running of both the publishing, legal and finance departments. The successful candidate will need to have attention to detail and research skills as well as excellent communication skills when dealing with internal and with external sources. For more information and to apply click here. |
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X-RAY TOURING - ASSISTANT TO LIVE MUSIC AGENT (LONDON) This is a fantastic opportunity at X-Ray Touring for an exceptionally organised administrative assistant with previous office experience in the creative industries. The ideal candidate will be flexible, self-motivated, impeccable attention to detail, the ability to prioritise and remain calm under pressure. For more information and to apply click here. |
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DHP FAMILY - PROGRAMMING & MARKETING MANAGER, OSLO (LONDON) DHP Family currently has an exciting opportunity for a Programming and Marketing Manager to join the Oslo venue team. Along with a competitive annual salary and benefits, you would be responsible for the creation and curation of events within the venue. For more information and to apply click here. |
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ULTRA MUSIC - MARKETING MANAGER CONSULTANT (LONDON) Ultra Music is seeking someone to support our marketing initiatives out of London. The position calls for a dynamic, detail-oriented individual with music industry experience and connections. For more information and to apply click here. |
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!K7 - JUNIOR LABEL MANAGER (BERLIN) !K7 has been offering artist and label services since 2002 in order to provide a worldwide sales, distributions, and marketing team. We are looking for a Junior Label Manager in our Berlin office to assist in the day-to-day operations of the label service team. For more information and to apply click here. |
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DOMINO - BUSINESS AFFAIRS MANAGER (LONDON) Domino are seeking a Business Affairs Manager to join our London office. They will be involved in drafting producer or artwork agreements, negotiating broadcast licences, managing publishing deals and advising the creative or digital teams on copyright issues - among other tasks. For more information and to apply click here. |
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BNDR - LIVE STREAM OPERATOR & VIDEOGRAPHER (LAS VEGAS/LOS ANGELES) BNDR Live is a part of a new mobile music streaming app dedicated to showcasing live music concerts and events. It is seeking to appoint a Live Stream Operator & Videographer who will undertake fulfilling work that will be showcased to music fans globally in real time. For more information and to apply click here. |
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THE IVORS ACADEMY - MEMBERSHIP MANAGER (LONDON) The Ivors Academy is looking for a Membership Manager who will be responsible for the effective management of its membership offering, membership administration and member relations. For more information and to apply click here. |
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STRUT RECORDS - PRODUCT MANAGER (LONDON) Strut Records - one of the UK's leading record labels dedicated to unearthing the lost gems of dance music past - has an immediate opening for a product manager to help manage the day-to-day operations of the label and its releases. 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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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. |
UK Music outlines live sector's key no-deal Brexit concerns
As further dramas unfolded in Westminster yesterday - with those MPs who oppose a so called no-deal Brexit seeking to constrain Britain's Bullshitter In Chief and no-deal fan 'Boris' Johnson - the boss of UK Music, Michael Dugher, outlined some key concerns for the music industry regarding the UK exiting the European Union with no deal in place.
Those concerns were set out in a letter sent by the cross-sector trade group to new Home Secretary Priti Patel. It mainly focused on the impact new immigration and export rules could have on the UK's live music industry.
Of particular concern is the fact that, since Johnson's new minority government was installed, there has been mixed messaging about what will happen to the free movement of people between the UK and the rest of the EU if a no-deal Brexit does occur on 31 Oct.
Dugher writes: "UK Music is deeply concerned about conflicting reports from the Home Office in recent weeks regarding the possibility of the immediate ending of freedom of movement in the event of a 'no-deal' Brexit this autumn. Such a policy would cause considerable disruption to the international live music touring industry, in terms of UK artists travelling to the EU for concerts and vice versa".
Noting that an immediate end to freedom of movement on 31 Oct is actually contrary to current government guidance on a no-deal Brexit, Dugher then states that if that policy was implemented "it could result in retaliation from EU member states, requiring UK musicians to apply for expensive and bureaucratic visas and work permits in order to continue to tour the EU, severely harming our ability to enhance our export potential following recent year-to-year growth of 7%".
Recent media reports suggest that the new regime at the Home Office has already backtracked on its plan to immediately end freedom of movement on the day a no-deal Brexit occurs. But, Dugher goes on, "without a clear and unambiguous commitment from ministers [on this point] this only adds to the uncertainty that the music industry is currently experiencing".
The government has been pushing out advice on what might happen in the event of a no-deal Brexit for quite some time now, and UK Music recently aggregated all the advisory documents relevant to the music industry. But, while the total word count of all that advice is now pretty impressive, the substance of many of those documents is less so.
"The current information provided by the government to companies for 'no-deal' is worringly inadequate when preparing the industry for the possible changes ahead", Dugher writes.
He then focuses on one particular potential negative impact of a no-deal Brexit which has become a talking point of late especially in the grassroots music community - those artists whose profit-margins when touring are incredibly tight and who usually rely on merchandise sales as well as ticket money to break even.
Writes Dugher: "We are also concerned about the impact that a 'no-deal' Brexit could have on the ability of the UK music industry to sell merchandising and move equipment when they are touring in mainland Europe. According to government guidance, in the event of a 'no-deal' Brexit anyone bringing goods into or taking goods out of the UK in baggage or a small motor vehicle which they intend to use for business will be forced to 'declare your goods and pay import duty and VAT before you move them across the border'".
This, he points out, "could have a drastic impact on our members to sell merchandise and transport equipment on European tours and result in a loss of income of up to 40%, threatening the viability of future tours and damaging Britain's export earnings".
Concluding, the UK Music letter states: "We ask you for urgent clarity over the government's advice to industry concerning a 'no-deal' Brexit in relation to live music and to establish a policy framework in relation to immigration that will enable our sector's growth to continue to thrive".
Of course, in the current political climate in the UK, the problem with writing to ministers is you're never sure they'll still be in the job by the time you get your reply. And while there is now a little more unity in government around the kind of Brexit that should be pursued, that has resulted in even less unity in Parliament.
Plus, even in government, when it comes to proper detail, there is still plenty of mixed-messaging from ministers and officials. And where the messaging is more consistent, when you pull that message apart, it's often just a waffley way of saying "we don't really know".
So fun times for everyone! Maybe now's the moment for artists to shift over to having holograms tour on their behalf.
Ariana Grande sues fashion firm for using lookalike model in social media marketing
Ariana Grande has sued American clothing chain Forever 21 alleging that, after the fashion firm failed to negotiate a brand partnership deal with the pop star, it instead used a "strikingly similar" model to promote its brand on social media.
The multi-million dollar lawsuit primarily accuses Forever 21 of infringing Grande's publicity rights, a principle that exists in the US - but not the UK - which allows people to stop the commercial use of their name or likeness by other parties. Though the lawsuit also includes some claims under trademark and copyright law too, just for fun. It also reckons that a single post on Grande's Instagram feed can be valued at "well into the six figures".
Noting that Forever 21 had approached Grande about a possible brand partnership deal around the release of her recent album 'Thank U, Next', the legal filing says that, when she chose not to do that deal, "defendants did not simply use a model with a similar look and hairstyle; they used a model who looks strikingly similar to Ms Grande, wearing a similar hairstyle to the one Ms Grande wore in [the video for a recent single], dressed in a top designed to look like a top worn by Ms Grande in numerous well-known photographs".
It then goes on to talk up the value of social media for brands like Forever 21, it being the forum of the alleged publicity right violations. "The importance and influence derived from social media marketing to consumers in today's market cannot be overstated", it says. "Indeed, platforms such as Instagram and Twitter are premiere forms of marketing for most companies today, and paying influential celebrities with large social media followings such as Ms Grande is the modern-day equivalent of buying television ads 20 years ago".
With all that in mind, Grande would like $10 million to compensate her for the all damage she suffered when a lookalike flogged some shitty clothes on Facebook.
For its part, Forever 21 was pretty diplomatic in its response to the lawsuit, it having worked with the pop star's licensing company in the past and seemingly hoping it can still secure new partnership deals with her in the years ahead. A spokesperson told Law360: "We are hopeful that we will find a mutually agreeable resolution and can continue to work together in the future".
Sony's Arista launches new dance music focused imprint
Having revived Arista Records as a frontline label last year, Sony Music in the US is now launching a new dance music focused imprint for the division to be called Last Nite.
The new imprint will be headed up by Arista's SVP of A&R Matt D'Arduini and will launch with Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike, Dom Dolla, Dynamo and Sigala on its roster.
Overall Arista boss David Massey says: "I am very excited that Arista is expanding with a new label whose roster represents a diverse and unique array of artists within the electronic space. Similar to our distinctive approach at Arista, Last Nite is laser-focused on artist relations and development".
So that's nice. For his part, D'Arduini is "thankful" for the new gig and the "opportunity to establish an innovative new electronic label".
| CMU Insights: Get to grips with all things music rights The CMU Insights seminars kick off again later this month with our popular Making Money From Music Copyright series. If you work in the music industry, there is a very high chance you are creating, managing, administrating, utilising, exploiting and/or benefiting from some kind of copyright. Therefore it's important for everyone to have a basic understanding of how it all works. Copyright can seem very complicated at times, and when you start to dig more deeply there are plenty of complexities and ambiguities to navigate. But the basic principles are quite straight forward when explained well. And that's where the CMU Insights seminars come in! There are three sessions. The first explains the basics of copyright law and how it applies to songs and recordings. The second runs through the ins and outs of music licensing, and when and why collective licensing is employed. And the third looks at how the music industry exploits those copyrights to make money, running through each of the key strands of the music rights business, including streams, CDs, sync and public performance. The seminars run on Monday evenings from 16 Sep at the London HQ of Lewis Silkin on Chancery Lane. You can book into each session separately or get a single ticket for all three. The latter costs just £125 plus VAT. Click here for full info. |
Dua Lipa says social media breaks help her mental health
Dua Lipa has said that she's taught herself to "do social media in bite sizes" as a way of looking after her mental health. Although, she adds in a new interview with Vogue, she's still working to find a balance between privacy and promotion online.
She told the magazine: "I've learnt to do social media in bite sizes. Social media has always been around for my generation, so for me it's really fun to post pictures, tweet and update. But I've also received a lot of backlash for talking about political things close to my heart. I'm not one to say sorry, I like to stand by things I believe in, so sometimes I delete the app so I don't start second guessing myself. Trolls can very easily give you anxiety".
"The thing that keeps me on social media - and this is more Twitter than Instagram - is my connection with my fans", she adds. "They're the reason why I download the app again, so I can talk to them. It's the foundation that we've built everything on".
She adds that those fans are supportive when she does take a step back from all things social, saying: "My fans know me so well now that I get messages saying, 'we know you need some time out from Twitter, we just wanted to tell you we missed you'. It's like everything in life; it's about finding and maintaining a healthy balance. You can't always get it right, but you have to try".
Currently working on her second album, she promises the new songs are happier than those on her first. "For the first record all I could do really was a lot of dance-crying", she says. "It was so much easier for me to write things that made me unhappy because they were things that stuck in my mind the longest".
The new album is "like a dancercise class - it's just fun", she goes on, adding that its sound is more "mature" and "conceptual".
Bombay Bicycle Club announce first album since 2014
Having announced their return at the beginning of the year, Bombay Bicycle Club have revealed that they will release their fifth studio album, 'Everything Else Has Gone Wrong', in January.
Referencing the record's doom-laden title, the band say: "This is an album for anyone who's ever turned to music in a time of crisis, whether personal or political. It's about the solace one can get from listening to music or playing music when everything else has gone wrong. It's about finding kernels of hope and renewal in dire situations".
The album, produced by John Congleton, is the band's first since 2014's 'So Long, See You Tomorrow'. The LP announcement comes accompanied by the video for new single 'Eat, Sleep, Wake (Nothing But You)'. They have also announced new UK tour dates, in addition to those they're about to embark upon later this month.
"Playing together again is such an unexpected surprise for the four of us", says frontman Jack Steadman of recent shows. "And yet from the first moment we started rehearsing it felt as natural as if we'd played a show the night before. We feel a freshness playing live and in the studio that I think can only come from having taken a step back and now we just want to play these new songs to as many people in as many countries as we can".
Here are the new UK dates:
20 Jan: Cambridge, Corn Exchange
21 Jan: Bournemouth, Academy
23 Jan: Leicester, De Montfort Hall
24 Jan: Cardiff, Students Union Great Hall
25 Jan: Leeds, Academy
27 Jan: Newcastle, Academy
28 Jan: Glasgow, Barrowland
31 Jan: Birmingham, Academy
1 Feb: Brighton Centre
3 Feb: Manchester, Victoria Warehouse
7 Feb: London, Alexandra Palace
10 Feb: Dublin, Vicar Street
12 Feb: Belfast, Ulster Hall
Idles and Dave are both double winners at AIM Awards
The Association Of Independent Music presented its Independent Music Awards in London last night. I know this because AIM boss Paul Pacifico told me: 'The list of winners tonight reflects the boldness of the independent community".
And by that he means "artists and labels who are unafraid to push the boundaries and take risks to produce some of the UK's most cutting-edge cultural output". He then added: "As we celebrate AIM's 20th year championing independence, it's amazing to see that creative spirit celebrated in this way at a venue like the Roundhouse".
Oh yes, the awards were at The Roundhouse by the way, this year being followed up by a live show headlined by Johnny Marr, who was also handed the Pioneer Award.
Other career achievement prizes went to Blondie and, on the industry side, veteran artist manager and Eleven Seven Records boss Allen Kovac and outgoing Merlin chief Charles Caldas. In the more conventional categories, both Idles and Dave were double winners.
But enough of all this waffle, you want a full list of the honoured don't you? I couldn't make it myself this year because I had to attend an important meeting with a magician. But we had seventeen spies on the ground who all confirmed the following as the prize recipients...
Best Independent Label: Partisan Records
Best Small Label: Scruff Of The Neck
UK Independent Breakthrough: Idles
International Breakthrough: Jade Bird
Most Played New Independent Artist: Freya Ridings
Best Live Act: Gerry Cinnamon
One To Watch: Georgia
Best Independent Album: Dave - Psychodrama
Best [Difficult] Second Album: Idles - Joy As An Act Of Resistance
Best Independent Track: Dave feat Fredo - Funky Friday
Best Independent Video: Hot Chip - Hungry Child
Best Creative Packaging: Various Artists - Confessin The Blues
Pioneer Award: Johnny Marr
Outstanding Contribution To Music: Debbie Harry
Innovator Award: Allen Kovac
Indie Champion: Charles Caldas
LEGAL
R Kelly has been released from what may or may not have been solitary confinement, depending on who you speak to. The incarcerated pop star is now among the general population of the federal jail in Chicago. His legal team now hope to secure his release from jail entirely by seeking bail at a hearing this Friday. The musician has been held in custody since his latest arrest in July.
https://completemusicupdate.com/article/r-kelly-requests-to-be-allowed-out-of-solitary-confinement-prosecutors-say-hes-not-in-solitary-confinement/
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APPOINTMENTS
Music therapy charity Nordoff Robbins has named Sandra Schembri as its new CEO. She takes over from Julie Whelan, who retires later this year, officially starting on 7 Oct. "As someone who's always had a love of music, I'm really excited by the prospect of leading a charity that champions the positive impact it has on people's health and wellbeing", says Schembri.
Arena owner SMG Europe has hired Ade Dovey to join its event programming team. He was previously Head Of Programming at Mission Mars Group. "We're delighted", says EVP European Operations John Sharkey.
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RELEASES
Hot Chip have released the video for the title track of their recent 'Bath Full Of Ecstasy' album. The promo invents a late 80s video game with the same title. "The video consists of a YouTube-style review and demonstration of the game, which features each band member on their path to save the cursed kingdom, aiming to return melody and colour, and bringing back joy, with the help of the Bubblebath Fairy, a microphone and some friendly strangers", say the band.
Metronomy have released new single 'Wedding Bells'. New album 'Metronomy Forever' is out on 13 Sep.
One True Pairing - aka Tom Fleming, formerly of Wild Beasts - has released new single 'Dawn At The Factory'. His debut album in this guise is out on 20 Sep, which he describes as "the angry northern Springsteen record that I'd always wanted to make".
Denzel Himself has announced that he will release new EP, 'Gotha', on 27 Sep. From it, this is new single 'Birdie'.
Broen have released new single 'Strings', taken from upcoming album 'Do You See The Falling Leaves?' They've also announced that they will play the Shacklewell Arms in London on 6 Nov.
Tennin has released new track 'Heal You'. The track is a collaboration with Tricky for new compilation 'Test Of Time', on his False Idols label.
Church & AP have released the video for recent single 'Roulette'.
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GIGS & TOURS
AJ Tracey has announced that he will play his biggest headline show to date at Alexandra Palace in London on 9 Nov. Tickets go on general sale on Friday.
Lamb Of God have announced their first UK headline tour since 2014. They'll kick things off at Bristol Academy on 21 Apr, finishing at London's Brixton Academy on 25 Apr. Tickets go on general sale on Friday.
Check out our weekly Spotify playlist of new music featured in the CMU Daily - updated every Friday.
Tinder and Live Nation hook up for cheap gig tickets
You've matched with your perfect partner on Tinder, now you probably want to wow them by giving them an experience that's dark, smelly, loud and best of all cheap. Or an "epic first date", as the dating app and Live Nation are calling it. The two companies have expanded their partnership to flog off cheap tickets to a selection of concerts in the US.
Tinder and Live Nation first collaborated on the app's 'festival mode' earlier this year, which helped users meet others at various festivals. Now they're teaming up to offer $30 tickets to twelves shows in selected cities in the States, headlined by artists including The Chainsmokers, A$AP Ferg, Logic, Future, Young Thug and Gesaffelstein.
To access the promotion, Tinder users just need to swipe right on the featured tour profiles when they pop up, as if they actually wanted to date the concert. Once you've bought tickets, you don't even have to take a date. You could take a friend who doesn't use Tinder and doesn't know what a cheapskate you are.
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