| TOP STORIES | Miami's Ultra Music Festival postponed over coronavirus concerns READ IN THIS EMAIL | READ ON THE WEBSITE |
| LEGAL | Journey bust up results in $10 million lawsuit READ IN THIS EMAIL | READ ON THE WEBSITE |
| DEALS | Tim Minchin signs to BMG for debut studio album Reservoir allies with new Americana publisher One Riot, signs The Secret Sisters READ IN THIS EMAIL | READ ON THE WEBSITE |
| DIGITAL & D2F SERVICES | ByteDance's Resso goes properly live in India, but without Universal content READ IN THIS EMAIL | READ ON THE WEBSITE |
| RELEASES | Peter Kember to release first Sonic Boom album since 1990 READ IN THIS EMAIL | READ ON THE WEBSITE |
| ONE LINERS | Atlantic, Katy Perry, Dixie Chicks, more READ IN THIS EMAIL | READ ON THE WEBSITE |
| AND FINALLY... | Lady Gaga says coronavirus meeting interruption is "what I make music for" 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. | |
 |
RAYMOND GUBBAY - EVENT ADMINISTRATOR (LONDON) Raymond Gubbay Ltd, a division of Sony Music and the UK's leading commercial promoter of popular classical music, dance and light trail events, is seeking to appoint a full time, enthusiastic Event Administrator to join its busy Events Department. For more information and to apply click here. |
 |
THE COLUMBO GROUP - PROMOTIONS MANAGER, THE BLUES KITCHEN (MANCHESTER) The Columbo Group is seeking a Promotions Manager to work on our 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. |
 |
O2 ACADEMY BRIXTON - DEPUTY GENERAL MANAGER (LONDON) Academy Music Group is seeking a Deputy General Manager to assist in all aspects of the operation of the building in relation to events staged at O2 Academy Brixton. For more information and to apply click here. |
|
THE COLUMBO GROUP - PAID MARKETING INTERNSHIP (LONDON) The Columbo Group is looking for a paid marketing intern to join our events team. The scheme is focused around events/promotions. It is largely a marketing scheme, where you will learn how to market events effectively, and how the different venues Columbo owns operate. For more information and to apply click here. |
 |
RSL - BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT EXECUTIVE (LONDON) RSL is the UK's leading provider of music industry qualifications. The company is recruiting for a Business Development Executive to work on increasing its customer base both in the UK and overseas. Music education is changing and this is an opportunity to be at the forefront of promoting industry relevant skills to a wider audience. For more information and to apply click here. |
 |
HELP MUSICIANS UK - CREATIVE PROGRAMME OFFICER (LONDON) As Creative Programme Officer at Help Musicians UK, you will play a key role in the innovation and delivery of our impactful programmes for musicians, ensuring we can continue to make a meaningful difference to the lives and careers of musicians for the next 100 years and beyond. For more information and to apply click here. |
 |
NINJA TUNE & JUST ISN'T MUSIC - SYNC CREATIVE (LONDON) Ninja Tune and Just Isn't Music are hiring a Sync Creative. The applicant will have at least five years experience in actively procuring placements in UK for advertising, film and TV. For more information and to apply click here. |
 |
WIENERWORLD - MARKETING/ADMIN ASSISTANT (LONDON) Independent DVD and CD distributor Wienerworld is looking for a Marketing/Admin Assistant who will be responsible for increasing our artist, press, PR and social media presence, implementing and running digital and traditional marketing campaigns, as well as assisting in various administrative office duties. For more information and to apply click here. |
 |
ADELPHOI MUSIC - BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT (LONDON) Adelphoi Music works with brands and agencies to create music and sound concepts for moving images. They are on the lookout for a remarkable individual to join the team in generating new business opportunities for music composition, music licensing, recording projects and artist partnerships, and to lead new business for the UK and beyond. For more information and to apply click here. |
 |
3TONE RECORDS - MARKETING ASSISTANT (BRISTOL) Independent label 3tone Records is looking for an enthusiastic and adaptable Marketing Assistant to join their Bristol office. You'd be assisting the Marketing department in co-ordinating social media plans, researching, executing effective advertising, creating compelling assets and liaising with external teams to serve a growing roster of genre-spanning artists. For more information and to apply click here. |
 |
NAME PR - PUBLICIST (LONDON) Name PR is looking to hire an accomplished communications professional with demonstrable experience. You will help lead our growing consumer division, working on exciting projects like 51st State Festival, the AIM Independent Music Awards and Ninja Tune technology releases, and clients as diverse as Jean-Michel Jarre and VP/Greensleeves Records. For more information and to apply click here. |
 |
EDINBURGH INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL - MUSIC PUBLICIST (EDINBURGH) The Edinburgh International Festival is looking for an experienced, passionate and dedicated Music Publicist to join the marketing and communications team. We want you to help us deliver this unparalleled celebration of the performing arts, which brings some of the most exciting and creative artists working today to audiences from around the world. For more information and to apply click here. |
 |
WARP RECORDS - LEGAL AND BUSINESS AFFAIRS ASSISTANT (LONDON) Warp Records is seeking a legal and business affairs assistant to join its team in London. The role will also give the opportunity to work closely with other parts of the Warp Group, including Warp Publishing and its retail and technology businesses. For more information and to apply click here. |
 |
SNAPPER MUSIC - DIGITAL MARKETING COORDINATOR (LONDON) Experienced digital marketing person required to work within long established independent record company Snapper Music in central London. The label covers a broad section of music from alternative rock to metal. Knowledge of this music genre is not essential but a passion for digital marketing is. For more information and to apply click here. |
 |
CHERRY RED RECORDS - SYNC MANAGER (LONDON) Cherry Red Records is looking for a dynamic, self-motivated Sync Manager to join its existing team. Applicants must have a good level of experience and contacts in the world of synchronisation, and an interest in music's rich and varied past. For more information and to apply click here. |
Miami's Ultra Music Festival postponed over coronavirus concerns
The flagship edition of the Ultra Music Festival in Miami, due to take place later this month, has been indefinitely postponed as part of measures designed to reduce the spread of the coronavirus COVID-19. The postponement of the Miami festival, so far only reported by local media, follows the official cancellation of an Abu Dhabi edition of the dance music event - which was due to take place this week - on "health and safety grounds".
The global live events industry is following closely the spread of this highly infectious new coronavirus which - while only resulting in cold-like symptoms in the vast majority of cases - can be lethal. Different governments around the world are issuing different guidance to the events business, partly depending on the degree to which the disease has spread in any one country, and partly based on each government's public health policies.
In the UK, Deputy Chief Medical Officer Jonathan Van-Tam has told the country's live music industry that there is no need to cancel any upcoming events. However, in some countries governments have put restrictions or outright bans on events over a certain capacity as part of wider measures to limit the spread of the virus.
Some events, especially in the conference domain, have voluntarily cancelled or postponed as a precaution, even when national or local governments haven't insisted on it. Meanwhile some artists are pulling out of tour dates and festival slots that involve international travel, especially in Asia. Others are putting off committing to new gigs and festivals, choosing to wait and see how the spread and impact of the virus pans out.
Many companies - including many of the bigger music companies - have also cancelled internal events and meetings that bring together large numbers of employees or which involve staff members having to travel internationally. Reports also suggest that Warner Music has decided to postpone its planned initial public offering because panic and uncertainty about the spread of the virus has resulted in volatile investment markets.
The Miami edition of Ultra is due to take place on 20-22 Mar at the conclusion of Miami Music Week, which also includes the Winter Music Conference from 16-19 Mar. According to the Miami Herald, the decision to postpone the festival was made during a meeting yesterday between city officials and Ultra representatives.
Although the Herald reports that the event will be postponed rather than cancelled, it does then say that the postponement might be "for a full year", which is - of course - another way of saying the 2020 edition of the annual event has been called off entirely. The paper's sources say that an official statement form the city and the festival's promoters will follow as soon as certain legal technicalities around the postponement are dealt with.
Organisers of the Abu Dhabi edition of Ultra, that was due to kick off today, didn't specifically say that they had decided to cancel because of coronavirus concerns, but its widely believed that that was the main reason for calling the event off.
Elsewhere within the American music industry, there has been much speculation as to what impact the spread of and public concern about the virus will have on the mega showcase festival and music conference that is South By Southwest, certain elements of which are due to get underway on Friday 13 Mar, with the music stuff happening the following week.
Organisers insist everything will proceed as planned, even though some participating speakers and companies - especially on the tech side - have already pulled out.
An official statement on Monday read: "SXSW is working closely on a daily basis with local, state, and federal agencies to plan for a safe event. As a result of this dialogue and the recommendations of Austin Public Health, we are proceeding with the 2020 event with the health and safety of our attendees, staff, and volunteers as our top priority".
Back in Europe, another upcoming showcase festival - Estonia's Tallinn Music Week - has also issued a statement noting that "Estonia is not a risk area" and therefore "there is no need for restrictions on events and gatherings". However, organisers added, they have been liaising with their partners and the Health Board Of Estonia to "strengthen hygiene measures" across the festival and Tallinn's network of venues.
The Tallinn Music Week statement also said that organisers "would recommend that visitors who have spent time in risk areas - China, Northern Italy (including Lombardia, Veneto, Emilia-Romagna and Piemonte), Iran, Japan, Singapore, South-Korea - less than two weeks before the festival consider staying home this time around".
Obviously, for the live music and events industry, a key question is to what extent promoters will be covered by insurance policies if events are cancelled or downsized as a result of coronavirus concerns. Of course, the answer to that question may well be different if an event is forced to cancel under government-led preventative measures.
It also remains to be seen to what extent public concern about the virus will impact on ticket sales for those shows, events, conferences and festivals that do go ahead.
Journey bust up results in $10 million lawsuit
A bust up between members of the most recent incarnation of Journey has resulted in two members being kicked out of the group and a $10 million lawsuit.
The dispute sees bassist Ross Valory and drummer Steve Smith on one side, and guitarist Neal Schon and keyboardist Jonathan Cain on the other. Both Valory and Schon were original members of the band, and all four were part of the line-up for the outfit's biggest record of them all, 1981's 'Escape', which featured their best known song 'Don't Stop Believin'.
In a lawsuit filed in the Californian courts, Schon and Cain accuse Valory and Smith of trying to sneakily grab control of the band's company Nightmare Productions. The latter pair, the former allege, orchestrated a board meeting of said company in February designed to oust Schon and Cain as company secretary and company president respectively, and to add Valory and Smith's allies as new directors of the entity's board.
The takeover, the lawsuit alleges, was all part of a plan by Valory and Smith to take control of the Journey trademark. They wanted that control, Schon and Cain allege, because they have plans to step down from actively touring with the group. If they were in control of the band's brand, they could force their other bandmates to continue giving them a share of touring income even if they weren't actively involved in future shows.
However, say Schon and Cain, not only was the attempted boardroom coup "malicious", it was also "very ill-conceived". Why? Because, they claim, Nightmare Productions doesn't even own the Journey trademarks. The marks belong to a separate entity called Elmo Partners which is controlled by, you guessed it, Schon and Cain.
Elsewhere, the lawsuit bigs up Schon and Cain as being the core of the Journey enterprise. Alongside former frontman Steve Perry, the legal papers say, Schon and Cain "were responsible for the band's rise to prominence in the 1980s". To this day, the two men claim, they are "the key members of Journey, the songwriters and the vital core of the band".
It also notes that, while Valory was a founder member, and Smith was also on board during the 1980s hits era, both have not been consistent members of the outfit throughout. Not least because they were both fired ahead of the recording of 1986 album 'Raised On Radio'. They then returned nearly a decade later for a big band reunion in 1995.
But now they are out again. "Given Smith and Valory's greed, self-dealing and breaches of their fiduciary obligations", the lawsuit states, "Cain and Schon expelled Smith and Valory from Journey. On 3 Mar 2020, Cain and Schon provided written notice that Smith and Valory were no longer part of Journey and would no longer perform or tour with the band".
As for what Cain and Schon want from their litigation, well, first of all, they want court confirmation that their Elmo Partners company controls the band's trademarks and that the decisions made at the February board meeting of Nightmare Productions were invalid.
And, of course, they'd also like some lovely damages from their former bandmates. "Compensatory damages in excess of $10 million" for starters, and some "punitive damages" on top. Which sounds somewhat optimistic. But, I guess, anything is possible, and - whatever you do - don't stop believin.
Tim Minchin signs to BMG for debut studio album
Tim Minchin has announced that he has signed a new record deal with BMG to release his debut studio album later this year.
"I've been writing songs for 35 years and have never released a studio album", says Minchin. "Too many distractions. Signing with BMG has given me focus, and the confidence to aim for a record that isn't defined by anyone else's expectations. I'm loving the freedom, loving the process, and loving the team at BMG".
Managing Director of BMG Australia, Heath Johns, adds: "Tim Minchin is the rarest of talents - an incredible pianist, composer, playwright, actor and lyricist, amongst many other things. To have Tim sign his first ever record deal with BMG is a genuine honour for our entire team and a further indication that BMG is the destination for artists with international ambition and a demand to maintain creative control and ownership of their recordings".
He adds: "I know the world will fall in love with this absolute gem of a pop record and we can't wait to help Tim share these songs".
Minchin began his career as a singer-songwriter, as well as composing music for theatre and documentaries and attempting to establish himself as an actor. It was while struggling to find work as an actor or musician that he began performing comedy songs at clubs in Melbourne. He then found success with his first solo comedy show, 'Darkside', in 2005, subsequently gaining huge popularity as a musical comedian and then, back in the theatre space, composing songs for West End musicals 'Matilda' and 'Groundhog Day'.
Although various live albums of his comedy shows have been released, as we've already said, and I'm sure you all noted, he has never released a studio album. It's not yet clear if the BMG release will be a collection of his comedy songs or more 'serious' work. The first single is due out next week, which will give us some indication, I reckon.
--------------------------------------------------
Reservoir allies with new Americana publisher One Riot, signs The Secret Sisters
Music rights firm Reservoir has announced a partnership with a Nashville-based Americana-centric music publisher that launched last year called One Riot. Under the alliance, the two companies will look to sign and develop songwriting talent together.
The first such signing is the singer-songwriter duo The Secret Sisters, aka Laura and Lydia Rogers, who have just released their fourth album 'Saturn Return' via Nashville-based label New West Records.
Confirming the deal, the duo say in perfect unison: "We are very excited to have signed our very first publishing deal as songwriters and to be joining the One Riot family. It's been our desire to take our songwriting to the next level and we can't wait to see what this partnership will inspire in us. [We are] grateful for a team of good folks who believe in us!"
Meanwhile One Riot founder Amy Patton says that she has launched her publishing company "to focus on the music that we hold closest to our hearts; music that embodies honesty and authenticity". With that in mind, she goes on, "we couldn't think of a better way to launch than with The Secret Sisters, who embody everything we love about this genre, as the first signing along with Reservoir, who shared our vision right out of the gate".
Over at Reservoir, the firm's EVP Creative John Ozier adds: "Americana music spans a broad spectrum of styles including folk, country, blues, roots, gospel, soul, rock, and more, but one thing it all has in common is that it is song-driven music".
"The genre is often underserved", he goes on, "due to the ambiguity of its definition, but it is our privilege to work alongside One Riot to amplify and celebrate the amazing musicians in this space, starting with The Secret Sisters".
ByteDance's Resso goes properly live in India, but without Universal content
The new streaming service from TikTok owner ByteDance has officially launched in India. Said service, called Resso, began beta testing in both India and Indonesia last year.
India, of course, is a very crowded marketplace for music streaming, it being a priority market for Spotify, Apple and YouTube, all of which are competing with existing India-based platforms JioSaavn and Gaana. Resso is seeking to distinguish itself by offering more interactive and social features than its rivals, encouraging people to create and share visual content through the app with other users.
For the official Indian launch lots of local and most global music companies have licensing deals in place. Though one very big global player is missing, that being Universal Music.
Some have speculated that that might be linked to Bytedance's Chinese competitor Tencent's recent deal to take a stake in the mega-major. Although there are plenty of other reasons why Universal may not have yet signed on the dotted line - after all, Warner Music has held out on Spotify in India as it seeks better deal terms. Plus, Resso's interactive elements also require some extra rights to be bundled into its licences.
Both free and paid-for options of Resso are available.
| Approved: Minais B Electronic composer Minais B's upcoming second album 'Quiet Bloom' draws inspiration from a period of grief - although the focus is on coming out of it, rather than sitting in its midst. It's three years since his debut 'Deep Care' and, he says, he "threw away" a lot of music before he could get started on this record. "It took two years before it really made sense", he goes on. "I needed a music less conceptual, more direct and not afraid of emotion". Expanding on his theme, he adds: "This music grew from a place of great loss and emptiness. But instead of dwelling in those states it sparked a lightness. Like a single moment where a face turns from sadness into laughter, but holding on to the experience of that sadness". The record was written in isolation on the Danish island of Zealand, which also had a strong impact on how the it turned out. He explains: "It was my first time being totally alone for two weeks, and in the cold winter of Scandinavia. It was a period of extreme moods for me, but the music came out. Having the woods and the sea so close definitely found its way into the music". On the album's first single, 'Where We Meet', classical compositional elements creep into the electronic sound of the track. It also toys with expectations, leaving the listener in intense periods of anticipation, often simply stopping and resetting, rather than providing resolution. Eventually it builds to something bigger, before drawing to a close in a dissonant rush of choral voices. 'Quiet Bloom' is out on 24 Apr though Anyines. Watch the video for 'Where We Meet' here.Stay up to date with all of the artists featured in the CMU Approved column by subscribing to our Spotify playlist. |
Peter Kember to release first Sonic Boom album since 1990
Peter Kember has announced that he will release his first album as Sonic Boom for 30 years this summer. First single, 'Just Imagine', is out now.
Kember previously released one album under the pseudonym he originally adopted as one half of Spacemen 3 - 'Spectrum' back in 1990. Subsequently he released albums as both Spectrum and EAR, and has also produced records for various other artists, including MGMT, Panda Bear and Beach House.
Work on what became the new Sonic Boom album began in 2015, with friend and somtime collaborator Tim Gane from Stereolab encouraging Kember to release his initial tracks as instrumentals. "I nearly did", he says. "But the vibe in them was so strong that I couldn't resist trying to ice the cake".
That icing didn't happen immediately though. It was only after a more recent move to Portugal that Kember began working on them again, adding vocals for the finished album.
Titled 'All Things Being Equal', the LP will be released on 5 Jun. Watch the video for 'Just Imagine' here.
APPOINTMENTS
Warner's Atlantic Records has promoted three US A&R execs. Brandon Davis and Jeff Levin in LA both now hold the title SVP A&R. Meanwhile, Riggs Morales in New York is now SVP A&R & Artist Development.
--------------------------------------------------
ARTIST NEWS
Because everything is a marketing opportunity, Katy Perry has used the video for new single 'Never Worn White' to reveal that she is pregnant. "So glad I don't have to suck it in anymore", she said in a tweet.
--------------------------------------------------
RELEASES
The Dixie Chicks have released their first new song for fourteen years, 'Gaslighter'. Their new Jack Antonoff produced album of the same name will be released later this year.
BTS have released the video for recent single 'Black Swan'.
The Weeknd has released a new short film, titled 'After Hours'. His new album of the same name is out on 20 Mar.
Little Dragon have released new Kali Uchis collaboration 'Are You Feeling Sad?' "We are super excited Kali features on this track", say the band. "All of a sudden at the end of last year, this version appeared in our emails like a beautiful Christmas gift. She put her twist on it and gave the track an amazing energy. Did we mention we also love her?!"
The Rapture's Luke Jenner has announced that he will release his debut solo album, '1', on 15 May. Here's first single 'You're Not Alone'.
Bush have announced that they will release new album 'The Kingdom' in May. First single, 'Flowers On A Grave', is out now. "We are really proud of 'The Kingdom'", says frontman Gavin Rossdale. "It's as if all roads travelled over the last few years have gotten us to this point". The band will also play this year's Download festival in June.
Roisin Murphy has released new single 'Murphy's Law'. It's "our crack at a straight up, straightforward, no-frills, disco standard", she says. "Oh and it's the story of my life".
Myrkur has released new song 'Gudernes Vilje', from her soon to be released 'Folksange' album.
Asking Alexandria have announced that they will release their new album, 'Like A House On Fire', on 15 May. Here's new single 'Antisocialist'.
Soccer96 - aka The Comet Is Coming's Danalogue and Betamax - have released new single 'I Was Gonna Fight Fascism', featuring Alabaster dePlume.
Check out our weekly Spotify playlist of new music featured in the CMU Daily - updated every Friday.
Lady Gaga says coronavirus meeting interruption is "what I make music for"
Lady Gaga has responded to her new single 'Stupid Love' interrupting an Italian council press conference discussing the local government's response to the coronavirus.
Council officials livestreamed the event on Facebook on Sunday discussing ongoing actions to limit the spread of the coronavirus COVID-19 in the region. There have now been 24 confirmed cases in that region, fourteen of which have required hospitalisation.
About 20 minutes into the meeting a few seconds of Lady Gaga's new single blasted out of someone's phone, before being shut off. There was a brief ripple of amusement from the council members, before they got back to the serious business of explaining how they are trying to limit the spread of the virus.
After a fan posted a clip of the interruption on Twitter, Gaga herself responded yesterday, saying: "And this is why I make music".
But what exactly does Gaga mean by this? That's the big question here. Let's have a look at some of the options, then you can decide for yourself:
1. Lady Gaga makes music in order to make serious looking people smirk for up to two seconds.
2. Lady Gaga makes music to remind us that concerns like coronavirus are temporary and life goes on.
3. Lady Gaga makes music that she wants to spread like a virus.
4. Lady Gaga makes music that she believes is best heard in unexpected five second bursts.
5. Lady Gaga makes music for people in suits.
6. Lady Gaga makes music for people largely dressed in black.
7. Lady Gaga makes music for people sitting in front of red backdrops.
8. Lady Gaga makes music for videos filmed at awkward angles that are also obscured by other devices filming the same footage from roughly the same angle.
9. Lady Gaga makes music in order to be everywhere.
10. Lady Gaga makes music she believes is best heard as a ringtone.
It's almost certainly one of those, but please feel free to come up with your own ideas. Send them in to, well, not us, but maybe 'Blue Peter' or something.
|
 |
CMU helps people to navigate and understand the music business. We do this through our media, our training and our research, and at a range of music industry events. CMU Daily covers all the latest news and developments direct by email. Setlist is a weekly podcast dissecting the biggest music business stories. CMU Premium gives you access to the CMU Digest and CMU Trends. CMU Insights is our music business consultancy: supporting the industry. CMU Pathways is our music education consultancy: supporting educators. CMU:DIY is our future talent programme: supporting new music talent.
You can read our Privacy & Data Policy here |