| TOP STORIES | Cox Communications begins process of appealing "shockingly excessive and unlawfully punitive" billion dollar damages bill READ IN THIS EMAIL | READ ON THE WEBSITE |
| LABELS & PUBLISHERS | Universal hires former Global exec for new global classical role READ IN THIS EMAIL | READ ON THE WEBSITE |
| MANAGEMENT & FUNDING | MMF unveils participants in second year of its Accelerator Programme READ IN THIS EMAIL | READ ON THE WEBSITE |
| MEDIA | BBC's James Purnell discusses classical output in the streaming age READ IN THIS EMAIL | READ ON THE WEBSITE |
| ARTIST NEWS | Gang Of Four's Andy Gill dies MIA to release exclusive content through Patreon READ IN THIS EMAIL | READ ON THE WEBSITE |
| GIGS & FESTIVALS | Madonna cancels two more London shows READ IN THIS EMAIL | READ ON THE WEBSITE |
| AND FINALLY... | After a few drinks, Louis Tomlinson likes to listen to One Direction READ IN THIS EMAIL | READ ON THE WEBSITE |
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SIXTYSIX PRODUCTIONS - HEAD OF ARTWORK & REPROGRAPHICS (BRIGHTON) Vinyl, CD and cassette manufacturer SixtySix Productions is seeking a Head Of Artwork & Reprographics to project manage all customer supplied artwork. In addition, you will liaise with with record labels, artists and bands when the company is designing their album artwork. For more information and to apply click here. |
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THE COLUMBO GROUP - LIVE MUSIC PROMOTIONS MANAGER (MANCHESTER) The Columbo Group is seeking a Promotions Manager to work on its newest venue, The Blues Kitchen in Manchester. With responsibilities ranging from marketing and social media management, to artist booking and diary management. For more information and to apply click here. |
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ERASED TAPES - DIGITAL CONTENT & COMMUNITY MANAGER (LONDON) Erased Tapes is seeking a dynamic and highly organised digital creative to develop engaging content for strategic social media campaigns around our artist releases, tours and label events across all platforms, working 2-3 days per week. For more information and to apply click here. |
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MINDS ON FIRE - PUBLISHING ASSISTANT (LONDON) Minds On Fire is looking for an aspiring professional with outstanding administration skills to join our team based out of its new office in Kings Cross, London. The ideal candidate will have had some music publishing experience in a relevant role either as an employee or as an intern. For more information and to apply click here. |
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YOUR ARMY - INFLUENCER PROMOTIONS MANAGER (LONDON) This role is to launch a new exciting service at Your Army, creating moments in the real world that will impact on the digital space. The ideal candidate will have a comprehensive understanding of Influencer and DJ culture and a love of pop, dance and urban music. For more information and to apply click here. |
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AUDIO NETWORK - COPYRIGHT ADMINISTRATOR (LONDON) Audio Network is looking for an experienced and highly organised Copyright Administrator to join its publishing team, responsible for the end-to-end copyright and royalty payment processes through registering and managing PRO works data (via CWR), to running royalty distributions to our composers/artists. For more information and to apply click here. |
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STAY LOOSE - SENIOR PRESS OFFICER (UK - FLEXIBLE) Stay Loose is hiring for a full-time publicist with at least two years of PR experience. The ideal candidate will be driven, highly-organised and with proven experience in managing campaigns for returning names and helping break new artists. For more information and to apply click here. |
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UNION CHAPEL - HEAD OF EVENTS & COMMERCIAL ACTIVITIES (LONDON) Union Chapel looking for an experienced Head of Events and Commercial Activities with a keen interest in events management, programming and income generation for the benefit of the arts, culture, social justice and heritage. For more information and to apply click here. |
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ADELPHOI MUSIC - PRODUCER/MUSIC SUPERVISOR (LONDON) Adelphoi Music is seeking a Producer/Music Supervisor to join its London team. You will manage production and music supervision ensuring high-quality output in order to increase conversion rate. For more information and to apply click here. |
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BEGGARS - METADATA COORDINATOR (LONDON) Beggars is for a Metadata Coordinator to join the team based at its offices in Wandsworth, London. You will be the specialist metadata resource within the group, bringing an obsessive attention to detail and accuracy and at least two years experience working in a fast paced, deadline driven digital music supply chain environment. For more information and to apply click here. |
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HELP MUSICIANS - EVENT MANAGER (LONDON) Help Musicians is seeking someone to fill the newly-created role of Event Manager. Securing and delivering key events for the charity, you will also be responsible for identifying new partners to collaborate with on commercial events, managing these relationships through curation, negotiation, artistic delivery to provide a truly fantastic event experience. For more information and to apply click here. |
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HELP MUSICIANS - EVENT OFFICER, MATERNITY COVER (LONDON) Help Musicians has an opportunity to join its Events team in London in the role of Event Officer. This is a fixed term maternity cover contract of up to twelve months. For more information and to apply click here. |
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CD BABY - ACCOUNT MANAGER (LONDON) CD Baby (part of AVL Digital, a Downtown Music Holdings company) is now searching for an Account Manager in the Creator Services department based in London, UK. This role help manage music release campaigns and add value to CD Baby's most important artists, managers and labels. For more information and to apply click here. |
Cox Communications begins process of appealing "shockingly excessive and unlawfully punitive" billion dollar damages bill
Cox Communications went to the district court in Virginia on Friday to formally begin the process of appealing last year's billion dollar ruling in which the record companies successfully argued that the US internet service provider should be held liable for its users' copyright infringement. In legal papers filed with the court that oversaw the original case, the ISP argues that liability wasn't proven, that statutory damages were miscalculated and that the total damages figure is "shockingly excessive and unlawfully punitive".
The major labels sued Cox after BMG successfully argued in court that the ISP had deliberately shoddy systems for dealing with infringement and infringers on its networks, and therefore shouldn't enjoy protection under the copyright safe harbour. Which means that the net firm can be held liable for the infringement of its customers.
The majors also prevailed in their Cox lawsuit by presenting more or less the same arguments as BMG had in the earlier case.
In December, a jury ruled that Cox should not get safe harbour protection, and should therefore be held liable for contributory and vicarious copyright infringement. The jury then awarded the major labels statutory damages of $99,830.29 for each of the 10,017 copyright works listed in the lawsuit, which comes to a billion dollars.
In its new legal papers last week, Cox urged the judge to intervene in various ways in relation to last year's ruling. Among other things, it argues that the labels failed to present enough evidence to prove liability for either vicarious or contributory infringement, urging the judge to make a judgement as a matter of law on that point. Though that's a request the ISP also made during the court hearing in December, and the judge declined.
Elsewhere it takes issue with the way statutory damages were calculated. Under US law, a court can pick a damages figure anywhere up to $150,000 - oblivious of the actual financial harm caused by the infringement - and then multiply that by the number of works infringed. But that rule was incorrectly implemented by the jury in this case, Cox argues, in part because, it reckons, albums should be treated as a single work, rather than each track on the album being counted separately.
Even if the judge doesn't want to intervene on those specific points, he should nevertheless slash the total damages bill, Cox claims. The judge has the power to do that via a process called 'remittitur', and judges have exercised that power before in copyright cases where juries have got carried away in how many zeroes they place on the total damages bill. And, Cox adds, never before has a copyright case jury been quite so excessive in its use of zeroes.
Having done some maths, Cox writes: "The award of $1 billion appears to be the largest award of statutory copyright damages in history. This is not by a matter of degree. It is the largest such award by a factor of eight. It is the largest such award for secondary copyright infringement by a factor of 40. It is the largest jury verdict in the history of this district by a factor of more than 30. It is by any measure a shocking verdict, wholly divorced from any possible injury to plaintiffs, any benefit to Cox, or any conceivable deterrent purpose".
Allowing the billion dollar figure to stand would be a "shocking miscarriage of justice", Cox then argues, adding that the jury didn't properly follow the judge's instructions when calculating damages. Cox's legal filing states: "Because the extraordinary $1 billion verdict cannot be supported by the factors the jury was instructed to consider or the evidence informing those factors, Cox is entitled to a substantial remittitur".
If the judge doesn't wish to meddle with either the jury's conclusions or their damages sums, then - Cox finally states - he should instigate a retrial.
It remains to be seen how the judge responds. If he knocks back all of the requests Cox made last week, the ISP could then take the matter to the appeals court. Meanwhile, the majors are also pursuing similar lawsuits against three other American ISPs, all of whom will be hoping that Cox has some success as it navigates the various routes of appeal. The labels' legal battle with Grande Communications is due in court later this month.
Universal hires former Global exec for new global classical role
Universal Music has created a new role within its classical division called EVP Global Classics And Jazz. And it's hired an exec from media firm Global to take on the job. Though, in case you think they got all confused when recruiting for the new post and only went with CVs that had "Global" written on them, it's possibly worth noting that - while at Global Radio - among the station's that were part of new hire Sam Jackson's remit was Classic FM.
The major says that the creation of the new globally focused classical role "reflects the ongoing evolution of the genre, focusing on innovation in listening and a greater awareness of audience and consumption habits to drive global growth for UMG artists".
And as for what Jackson will be doing, well, he will "bring his knowledge of audience access, touchpoints and discovery to international marketing, content creation, brand expansion, digital innovation and strategic communication". Which sounds like a whole load of fun, doesn't it? It's all about touchpoints and brand expansion in the classical world these days.
Confirming the hire, Dickon Stainer, who is CEO of Universal Global Classics And Jazz, told reporters: "I'm delighted that such an experienced and forward-thinking executive has joined the Global Classics And Jazz division at this pivotal moment in the era of fan engagement. Sam has a broad and pioneering track record of success in attracting diverse audience sectors to different types of music and his experience will help us provide expertise and insight for our world-renowned and developing artists".
Jackson himself added: "Over the last fifteen years, I have been extremely fortunate to work closely with the team at Universal Music - a fantastic group of people who are so clearly committed to serving audiences with the finest recordings. In this digital age, there has never been a better opportunity for classics and jazz to be enjoyed by an even broader audience, and I cannot wait to work with the team and their outstanding artists".
MMF unveils participants in second year of its Accelerator Programme
The UK's Music Managers Forum has announced the managers who are taking part in the second edition of is YouTube-backed Accelerator Programme.
The professional development initiative, also supported by Arts Council England, Creative Scotland and the Scottish Music Industry Association, provides early-career artist managers with financial support, training, mentoring and networking opportunities. The aim is to help participants to grow their individual management businesses so that they can start to make a sustainable full-time living as a manager.
Welcoming the new round of managers set to benefit from the programme, MMF's Accelerator Programme Manager Paul Bonham says: "I am delighted to welcome another 20 managers onto the Accelerator Programme".
He goes on: "The quality of applications was, yet again, ridiculously strong, but after a tough and competitive selection process we have another seriously high calibre group onboard. It's especially pleasing to have more female managers involved, more managers from BAME backgrounds and more managers from outside of London".
"These people are already playing a linchpin role in British music", Bonham then adds. "They're supporting 66 of our most impressive and progressive music makers, and going forward we want them to add to these rosters and empower their clients to the greatest possible success".
The 2020 Accelerator participants - and the artists they manage - are as follows:
Ameena Badley, The Ko-Lab (Birmingham) - Smuggzy Ace, Mowgli, A Class
Andrew Ellis, Samizdat (Liverpool) - Immix Ensemble, Vessel, Rakhi Singh
Ashley Perry, Ozone Music (Luton) - Nafe Smallz, Jibsta
Bobby Brown (Brighton) - Frankie Stew & Harvey Gunn, Karl Benjamin
Charlie Owen (London) - Joy Crookes
Christopher Grey, Problem Child (London) - Nyge, Gibbo, Clonez, Paige Lihya
Clare Wright, (London) - JFDR, ESYA, Sons of Raphael, Okandi
Conor Ferris, Narrative Management (Newcastle-Upon-Tyne) - InVisions, Captives, Immerse
Denise Allan, 677 Management (Glasgow) - Glasvegas, Freakwave, Steph Johnston
Earl Bailey, Frontlinzz (Coventry) - Pa Salieu, Mugun, Andrwea, Flava, Jam
Gaius Mavila (London) - House Of Pharaohs, DamnShaq
Jade Richardson, Jade-Inc (Birmingham) - Khloe Anna, DameDame, Madara Beatz, Digital Mozart
Jasmine Srih, Obscura Artists (London) - KEYAH/BLU, BBZ, Martha, Sippin T, Azadi.mp3
Jazz Rocket, 67 Artists (London) - Yo Preston, Tinx, Tylr Rydr, Hakon, Xandr Fox, OXX
Kaiya Milan, Off Balance, (London) - Afronaut Zu, Steam Down, Ahnansé
Louis Curran, From Concentrate Music (London) - Quiet Man, Joy Anonymous, Mei
Lyle Scougall, Mañana Music Management (Glasgow) - Joesef, Testpress
Megan Burns, Tone Management (Liverpool) - Palm Reader, TARLD
Pip Newby, Friends Vs Music (London) - Honeyvale, Cherry Cherry, Al Groves, Ben Mclusky, Darren Lawson, Henry Brill, Rocky O'Reilly, Owen Lewis, Sean Oakley, Simon Byrt, St£fan, Steven A Griffiths
Tim Hampson, Cannibal Management (London) - Dream Wife, Out Girl, Willie J Healey, Dry Cleaning
BBC's James Purnell discusses classical output in the streaming age
The BBC's Director Of Radio And Education, James Purnell, used a speech at the Association Of British Orchestras Conference in Manchester last week to set out his vision for the future of the Corporation's radio and education output. And, in particular, what that means for the creation, commissioning and broadcasting of classical music.
Along the way, he bigged up the BBC's primary classical music service, Radio 3, and its current boss Alan Davey, who was, he said, "raising the ambition of the station even higher, and redefining what Radio 3 can mean in a world with so much music, so much art, so much culture fighting for our attention. That means working even harder to get audiences to choose Radio 3, by creating a place away from the frenzy of everyday life, to revel in classical and cultural content".
However, he added, in the digital world individual channels and stations are becoming less important, and therefore the BBC needed to think how else it can deliver and champion classical music content, including via that there BBC Sounds app.
"The critical shift for everyone in BBC radio", he said, "has been to stop thinking of ourselves as a series of isolated stations and instead as part of a wider portfolio: A place where a listener can find audio that suits their tastes, regardless of the moment, whether it's live or on demand, something on air or something only on Sounds".
"We're looking at ways we can provide more specialist radio options on BBC Sounds for classical music", he then confirmed, "whether adding classical streams or further complementing Radio 3 and the Proms on the app. These plans are all being developed, but I can say that we are looking at how we can bring the best of classical music to all our audiences, however and whenever they like to listen. We want to help new audiences develop a lifelong love of classical music".
Alongside all that new-fangled digital, online and app-based listening, Purnell also unveiled two specific new classical music projects from the Beeb. The first is part of the Corporation's programme of activity marking the 250th anniversary of Beethoven's birth. It's a tie-up with Sport Relief that will see people try to run five kilometres in the time it takes to listen to Beethoven's 'Fifth Symphony'. The second is a seven composer commission for International Women's Day 2020 titled 'Seven Ages Of Woman'.
| Setlist: European Copyright Directive, German digital pie, tax cuts for music venues CMU's Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last week, including the UK government's confirmation that it currently has no plans to implement the European Copyright Directive, German artist managers' moves to change how digital royalties are divided up, and cuts to business rates for grassroots music venues. Setlist is sponsored by 7digital. Listen to this episode of Setlist here, and sign up to receive new episodes for free automatically each week through any of these services... Acast | Apple Podcasts | audioBoom | CastBox | Deezer | Google Play | iHeart | Mixcloud | RSS | Spotify | Spreaker | Stitcher | TuneIn |
Gang Of Four's Andy Gill dies
Gang Of Four guitarist Andy Gill has died, aged 64, having fallen ill after the band completed a tour of Australia, New Zealand and China in November.
"Andy's final tour ... was the only way he was ever really going to bow out; with a Stratocaster around his neck, screaming with feedback and deafening the front row", said the band's current line-up in a statement. "His uncompromising artistic vision and commitment to the cause meant that he was still listening to mixes for the upcoming record, whilst planning the next tour from his hospital bed".
Formed in the late 70s, Gang Of Four became highly influential in the post-punk scene - particularly due to Gill's distinctive guitar playing style - and well beyond too, although they never reached the levels of commercial success of some of their contemporaries.
Following the successful independent release of their debut single 'Damaged Goods' in 1978, the band signed to EMI. Their first single for the label, 'At Home He's A Tourist', scored them an invitation to perform on 'Top Of The Pops'. However, they walked out when asked to censor the word 'rubbers', a reference to condoms. The song was then banned across the BBC, due to the word being considered too risqué.
Dropped by EMI after one album, they then signed to Warner Bros, where they put out three more album releases. The band split in 1984, but reformed a number of times, most recently with Gill as the only original member.
As well as many of Gang Of Four's own albums, Gill also produced records for a number of other artists during his career. That included, in 1984, the debut Red Hot Chili Peppers album. That famously became an antagonistic collaboration, as the band fell out with Gill over the sound of the record - relations not helped by them noticing in his notes about their songs that he'd just written "shit" next to one of them.
Nevertheless, Flea from Red Hot Chili Peppers was among the artists paying tribute to Gill this weekend. Revealing that "after not being in touch for many years, Andy and I had spoken recently, and communicated a lot of over the last several months", Flea wrote on Instagram that Gill "was one of my heroes" who "inspired the shit out of [his band]". He added: "May his beautiful soul be in bliss with the divine, I love you Andy."
Other acts Gill produced over his career included The Jesus Lizard, The Stranglers, Killing Joke, Bis, The Young Knives and The Futureheads.
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MIA to release exclusive content through Patreon
MIA has launched a profile on fan subscription site Patreon. Anyone willing to pay a minimum of $5 a month is promised various bits of content, including behind the scenes studio videos, unreleased documentary footage and artwork.
"I'm doing a Patreon, because I make so much stuff and record so many things that aren't music and don't fit on other platforms", she explains. "I've tried all the other platforms and it's like: this one is too mean and hateful, this one is too fake and self-obsessed, and this one just sells all your data to Cambridge Analytica. Hopefully, this one is going to be just right".
She adds that those who hand over $10 a month for her top tier will receive much more content, saying: "It might be a song, a recipe, a manifesto, maybe I could help you with your homework, you guys could be my manager for a day, tell me what to do with my career, therapy sessions, dating advice, we'll see what happens".
Patreon's Kerri Pollard says: "We're proud to provide MIA a platform to engage freely and independently with the community she's been building for decades. When artists invite their fans to become active participants in their creative process, they're able to create more meaningful connections and place creativity over everything".
"For an artist like MIA to be able to leverage technology to foster unique experiences with her community, that's what Patreon is all about", Pollard adds.
MIA will also be releasing her sixth album later this year through more traditional channels. But if you want more than that, you can check out her Patreon page here.
Madonna cancels two more London shows
Madonna has cancelled two more dates of her London Palladium residency due to ongoing health concerns. It means that she will be able to take every third day off.
The star has now cancelled a total of eleven dates on her current Madame X tour as she deals with a number of injuries. Official statements have not gone into any detail as to what those injuries are, but on stage she told fans they included a "torn ligament" and "bad knee".
The first night of her run of shows at London's Palladium theatre was called off last week. Performances that were due to take place on 4 and 11 Feb will now also not happen. That means that, with the existing off-days already in the schedule, she can take every third day of the London run off to recover. Doctors had apparently told her she should, in fact, only perform every other day while she is still contending with the injuries.
In a statement to fans, Madonna said on Friday: "As you all know I have multiple injuries and have had to cancel shows to give me time to recover. So, as not to surprise you, I want to let you know ahead of time that I will be cancelling two shows - on 4 Feb and 11 Feb".
"Doing three shows in a row is too much on my body", she confirmed, adding, "in fact my doctors insist I take a day off after every show but I believe [I] can manage if I do two shows then I rest".
Discussing how she is coping with the injuries while on tour, she went on: "It's a miracle I have gotten this far, but a lot has to do with the fact that I do six hours of rehab every day. Three hours before show and three after with multiple therapies. I have also switched to flat shoes and modified difficult parts of the show. This has helped enormously but I still need to be careful and, of course, rest is the best medicine".
Fans with tickets to the cancelled shows will be automatically refunded. She concluded: "I appreciate your understanding and sincerely apologise for any inconvenience".
After a few drinks, Louis Tomlinson likes to listen to One Direction
We've all got music we like to specifically put on when we're drunk. Sometimes it's music that meant something to you when you were younger. Sometimes it's just because you have lower standards when you've had a few. For Louis Tomlinson, it's apparently both - his drunken favourites being One Direction.
"I probably have two or three moments a year, and it'll just happen - normally after being drunk", he tells Billboard. "We'll get back to the house and have bit of a One Direction marathon. I have to be a bit drunk, because otherwise I think it's a bit naff. But if I've had a few drinks, I love reminiscing on the songs, thinking about when they were written and stuff like that".
He adds that a particular favourite is 'Clouds' from the band's 'Four' album, saying: "We opened the tour with it and - I've got goosebumps now - every time I hear that song, it takes me back to that stadium tour".
Tomlinson released his debut solo album 'Walls' last week. Maybe one day he'll listen to that drunk too.
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