Recording Academy begins mediation process with its ousted CEO
The US Recording Academy has formally begun a mediation process with its ousted CEO Deborah Dugan, according to multiple sources who have spoken to Billboard and Variety. To what extent that will result in any public scrutiny of the allegations raised by both sides remains to be seen. It seems unlikely the Academy will want too strong a spotlight focused on its inner workings, though a closed doors deal is unlikely to repair the reputation damage already done.

Dugan, of course, was hired by the American music industry organisation last year with a mandate to shake up the Academy and its annual Grammy Awards, and especially to address the various diversity issues that had been raised in recent years. But just before this year's Grammys she was put on "administrative leave", supposedly because of a complaint filed by an executive assistant who accused the CEO of bullying.

Once pushed out, Dugan hit back big time. In an explosive legal filing with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission she set out a long list of allegations against the Academy, its board, its committees and its legal advisors, who were variously accused of corruption, misogyny, financial self-serving, sexual harassment and vote fixing.

There was then a side-dispute over whether Dugan could take her grievances to court or if she'd be forced to accept private arbitration instead, as her employment contract insisted. The Academy declined to free its former CEO from the arbitration commitment, but said it had nothing to hide, and that it would be happy to relax the contract terms relating to confidentiality, providing both sides would be equally free to present their arguments in public.

Dugan's legal reps questioned the independence of any arbitration process, given the Academy would choose and pay the arbitrator. They also said that arbitration was particularly inappropriate when sexual discrimination had been alleged, as in this case. But the Academy refused to budge, hence the arbitration route being pursued, and the mediation process now being underway.

At the heart of that mediation process is the termination of Dugan's employment contract and the accompanying financial settlement. Gossipers say that both parties had actually got close to reaching a deal on all that before she was put on administrative leave and the very public war of words began. But the Academy then backtracked on the negotiations and offered a much lower financial settlement at the last minute, resulting in the dispute going public.

That said, so wide-ranging and damning were Dugan's allegations, even if a deal can be done this time on contract termination and financial settlement, neither side looks great if they then immediately part company and carry on regardless with no further mention of Dugan's criticisms.

The Academy has gone on a PR offensive in recent weeks, of course, disputing its former CEO's claims and generally disparaging her approach to running the organisation. They've also started talking up once again the diversity task force that was set up by Dugan's predecessor.

But - assuming the Academy's current board and legal advisors aren't willing to get out of the way and allow a new generation of leaders and advisors to take over - it seems likely that the organisation will have to do a whole lot more than a few open letters and some off-the-record briefings to repair the damage that has been done to both the organisation and its annual awards.

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Cloudflare forced to disconnect piracy site following Universal legal action
Internet services company Cloudflare took the rare step of disconnecting one of its clients on copyright grounds this week, seemingly after legal action by Universal Music in Germany.

The disconnected website was Germany-focused piracy outfit DDL-Music.to. Earlier this week people heading to that site started to see an 'error 451' message from Cloudflare, which provided so called reverse proxy services to the piracy site. As all fans of error numbers will tell you, that means a website has been rendered unavailable for legal reasons.

Cloudflare has long resisted efforts by copyright owners to have it police its client base and cut off websites that exist primarily to facilitate infringement. The tech firm argues that that's not its role; that it can't simply accept the say so of copyright owners as proof of infringement; and that content companies who want it to disconnect clients should get themselves a court order.

According to German website Tarnkappe, that's exactly what Universal Music did, via the courts in Cologne. The major's legal action related to the unlicensed distribution of tracks by German musician Sarah Connor. DDL-Music didn't actually host the unlicensed files, but facilitated access to them. Universal argued that DDL-Music could still be held liable for contributory infringement, and likewise Cloudflare, as a service provider to the piracy site.

Although Cloudflare tried to push back, seemingly the court in Cologne decided that the tech firm could ultimately be held liable for infringement if it failed to respond to Universal's demand that the infringing files - or any links to said files - be removed. According to Torrentfreak, an injunction then followed at the end of last month demanding Cloudflare act, with the threat of a 250,000 euro fine or jail time for its Managing Director if it didn't comply.

Faced with those sanctions Cloudflare did comply. So, a solid result for Universal Music. Except, of course, DDL-Music is now moving its site over to a Cloudflare rival in order to get back online. Good times.

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Eventim announces JV with live industry veteran Michael Cohl
German ticketing and live music firm CTS Eventim has announced a new joint venture with veteran North American concert promoter Michael Cohl, who for a stint in the 2000s was Chair of the Live Nation board. Under the new deal, Eventim and Cohl will "actively acquire world-class content for global touring". What fun!

Eventim says that the new partnership marks the "next milestone" in the development of its Eventim Live promoter network. "Both partners will contribute to the partnership", it adds. "While Michael Cohl will add his concert business and comprehensive network, CTS Eventim will provide full access to the Eventim Live network, ticketing platform and its full portfolio of products and services around live events".

Each party will have a 50% stake in the new joint venture, which will be run by Cohl and Glenn Orsher from their New York base.

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Lucy Wood joins The Roundhouse
The Roundhouse has announced the appointment of a new Head Of Music in the form of Lucy Wood, who joins the London venue from Live Nation's Festival Republic business, where she led the music programme for the Latitude Festival. Prior to that she worked with London promoter Eat Your Own Ears.

In her new role, Wood will head up the team that deliver a wide-ranging programme of gigs each year and the Roundhouse's own In The Round and Rising festivals, as well as supporting early-career artists via the venue's prolific education programme.

Confirming the hire, Roundhouse Programmes Director Delia Barker says: "We are really looking forward to welcoming Lucy to the team at such an exciting time for the Roundhouse. She has a great track record and is well respected across the industry and will bring an incredible energy to support our emerging artists. All whilst programming some of the biggest names in the world on our iconic stage".

Wood herself adds: "I've had a brilliant three years working with amazing music from across the spectrum of genres at Latitude, as part of Festival Republic - building on my time promoting at London's cherished Eat Your Own Ears. I'm THRILLED to be joining the team at the Roundhouse, a world-class arts institution with incredible history, and to be supporting its exceptional work with young people".

Wood takes over from Jane Beese, who is leaving the Roundhouse to become Head Of Music at the Manchester International Festival.

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Spotify partners with Resident Advisor to expand gig recommendations
Spotify is further expanding its partnerships in the live space via a new alliance with electronic music website and ticket seller Resident Advisor. The tie-up will see Spotify users connected to shows on the Resident Advisor platform based on their music tastes and location.

Announcing the partnership, the two companies say that "by harnessing Spotify's global platform to signpost Resident Advisor's global event listings, fans will be able to more easily discover electronic music events featuring artists they love".

Resident Advisor hopes the alliance with Spotify will help it further champion local music scenes in cities across the world. Says co-founder Nick Sabine: "The vitality of local scenes is essential for the sustainability and creativity of the global electronic music community".

He goes on: "Our collaboration with Spotify is a brilliant evolution of the work we have been doing for almost two decades to support the work of the independent artists, venues and promoters which act as the pillars of those scenes".

Spotify has partnerships with various live music and ticketing services, partly in order to inform its users of relevant shows in their local area, and partly so that it can be seen to be supporting artists beyond any royalties it pays for their streams.

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Bauer to launch 2020s version of Absolute Radio
Ah, you remember the days right? They were golden days. A classic era full of classic music made by classic artists. Proper artists. Making proper music. Not like all that shitty nonsense those shitty artists put out in these shitty days. No, I'm talking about Lewis Capaldi. Sam Fender. Blossoms. Billie Eilish. Foals. Circa Waves. Haim. What an era!

Well, worry not people, Bauer Media are also feeling nostalgic for those times and have decided to set up an entire radio station celebrating them. Ladies and gentlemen, get ready to hear some classic pop and rock on the all new Absolute Radio 20s.

"Absolute Radio 20s is born out of insight and an understanding of our audiences, which has identified an opportunity for a distinctive new radio station currently not on offer", says Absolute Radio's Content Director Paul Sylvester. "Set to be a haven for tastemakers who love to be the first to know about new music, this new launch offers something different for both new and existing listeners of the Absolute Radio family".

The new digital channel brings the total number of Absolute-branded stations up to nine, the portfolio already including outlets focused on the 60s, 70s, 80s, 90s, 00s and 10s. Which is impressive. Though I'll be properly impressed when they launch Absolute Radio 30s. Playing only the very best music that hasn't been made yet. That I'd tune in for.

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Lana Del Rey cancels European shows due to illness
Lana Del Rey has been forced to cancel upcoming European tour dates due to ill-health. That includes shows in London, Manchester, Glasgow and Birmingham.

In a short statement, she told fans that she had lost her singing voice as a result of recent illness, and that doctors had recommended she take four weeks off to recover.

Said statement read: "Sorry to let everyone down so last minute but this illness has taken me by surprise and have totally lost my singing voice. Doctor has advised four weeks off for the moment. I hate to let everyone down but I need to get well. Love Lana".

The European tour was due to kick off in Amsterdam tonight and would have concluded in Cologne on 3 Mar.

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Grimes wants her baby to rave
Grimes would like for her first child to get into raving as early as possible - in fact that child is getting conditioned to some quality techno in the womb - though she's not sure mother and child should necessarily rave together.

We know all this thanks to an interview with The Face where the musician was actually talking about her new album 'Miss Anthropocene'. However, she having revealed last month that she was pregnant, the interviewer also asked: "What kind of a mum do you think you'll be? Would you go raving with your kid?"

"Children need to get into raving", Grimes responded, "but I don't think I'll rave with my kid... I don't think kids and adults need to rave together. But I wish I had discovered dance music at an earlier age. I don't have a problem with late bedtimes/nocturnalism. Unless there's some health risk I should know about".

Confirming that her unborn child was already being educating in all things electronic music, she added: "The baby has already been exposed to a lot of techno in the womb".

But if you think that - with all the raving and late nights - this child is going to have it too easy, don't worry, Grimes has thought of that too. "I'll probably have to send them to live in the woods with my grandpa periodically", she added, "so they aren't too spoiled. He's very intense. Lots of physical labour in the cold and whatnot, haha!"

You can read the full interview here.

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