Music industry wants right to intervene in Canadian web-blocking court case
The Canadian music industry has asked for permission to intervene in an ongoing legal battle between some internet companies which is testing whether web-blocking should be available as an anti-piracy tool in the country. The record companies and music publishers think that it definitely should be and are therefore keen that Canada's Federal Court Of Appeal doesn't overturn an earlier court ruling that led to piracy site GoldTV.ca being blocked.

Web-blocking, of course, is where courts or government agencies issue orders that force internet service providers to block their customers from accessing websites that prolifically infringe other people's copyrights. Such blockades aren't yet available in every country but, where they are, they have become a preferred anti-piracy tactic of the music and movie industries.

Web-blocks weren't available in Canada, and when various groups lobbied the country's tel-co regulator - the CRTC - to set up a web-blocking agency in 2018, it ultimately decided it didn't have the power to do so. However, last year the Canadian Federal Court issued a web-blocking order against GoldTV.ca, an unlicensed video service.

Whenever web-blocking is first proposed in a country there are usually plenty of opponents to the principle, especially among internet companies, which generally don't like being forced to police the net. That said, those internet companies that are also cable TV companies - and who therefore have a vested interest in stopping movie piracy in particular - can be among the biggest supporters of the web-blocking approach.

And that was the case in Canada, where some of the big cable companies were among those calling on the CRTC to instigate some web-blocks. And when that didn't work, it was those companies that went to court to get a web-block injunction against GoldTV.ca.

But there are still some ISPs in Canada opposed to web-blocking, they mainly relying on the classic arguments against the anti-piracy tactic: ie that it's open to abuse and doesn't really work.

Shortly after last year's web-block against GoldTV.ca was issued, one of those ISPs, TekSavvy, appealed the ruling. Allowing web-blocks would violate network neutrality and undermine the open internet, it claimed.

That appeal is now going through the motions, and a plethora of copyright owners not part of the actual litigation now want to get involved in the case, to ensure the strongest possible argument is presented in favour of web-blocking.

And that includes the International Confederation Of Music Publishers and the International Federation Of The Phonographic Industry. As noted by Torrentfreak, both the music industry trade bodies have requested to become so called intervenors in the appeals court case.

The ICMP and IFPI tell the Canadian appeals court that they have "significant international experience" when it comes to what anti-piracy practices actually work.

And, "as representatives of the music industry, which has long been at the forefront of the battle against online copyright piracy, [we] seek to assist the court in understanding the broader impacts of its decision across the cultural industries".

An international perspective is relevant in the case, given the lower court considered the implications and effectiveness of web-blocking in other countries, especially the UK that has a similar copyright system to Canada.

But whether ICMP, IFPI and other copyright groups who have likewise requested involvement are allowed to do a little in-court web-block-championing remains to be seen.

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Downtown Music buys Good Soldier Songs
Downtown Music is still in an acquisitive mood, yesterday announcing it has bought London-based music publisher Good Soldier Songs, the company set up by the former Warner Music UK CEO Christian Tattersfield back in 2003.

The deal brings works from a plethora of songwriters to Downtown's catalogue, though the official announcement of the acquisition particularly honed in on The 1975's repertoire, including the publishing in upcoming album 'Notes on A Conditional Form'.

Announcing the deal, Downtown's Head Of European Business Development, Roberto Neri, said: "With an ethos not unlike Downtown's, Christian has built an incredible, diverse roster at Good Soldier Songs and we're ecstatic to add its music to our catalogue. We're also excited for The 1975's highly-anticipated new album and are THRILLED to work with the band and their manager, Jamie Oborne".

For his part, Tattersfield said of the deal: "Downtown is one of the most thoughtful publishers in the business, with an exceptional, well-curated roster and catalogue. I couldn't think of a more fitting new home for our writers and their music, and am happy they're in good hands".

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Island Records announces COVID-19 charity auction
Island Records has announced a charity auction - dubbed the One Love COVID-19 Relief Auction - which will raise money for NHS Charities Together and Feeding America. A whole load of artists and businesses, from far beyond the Island stable, have donated items.

Items on offer include: Jon Bon Jovi's handwritten lyrics to 'Livin' On A Prayer' and 'Wanted Dead Or Alive'; Annie Lennox's handwritten lyrics to the Eurythmics' 'Sweet Dreams'; a signed banjo and online banjo lesson from Mumford & Sons; a VIP tour of Abbey Road Studios, followed by breakfast; a pair of jeans worn by Dizzee Rascal on 'Top Of The Pops'; and a collection of 'Dummy' era stuff from Portishead, including handwritten lyrics, the turntable Geoff Barrow used on the album and a gold disc.

Being handled by the UK-based Omega Auctions, bids are now being taken for the items on offer. The live auction will take place on the Omega website and Island's YouTube channel at 6pm on 21 May, hosted by Broadway star Billy Porter.

Find out more at oneloveauction.com

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RAJAR round-up: Commercial up, except when it's down
The RAJARs came out this week, and everyone's like, 'Hey, what's up with the RAJARs?' Well, I'll tell you what's up with the RAJARS. Commercial radio. But we'll get to that.

These are the UK radio listening figures for the first three months of this year. As such, they only catch a little bit of lockdown, right at the end. So, the next set of RAJARs are going to be the really interesting ones this year. But right now, let's look at five things that stand out in this first set of 2020 figures.

1. Overall radio listening is continuing to hold up well, according to RAJAR, with 90% of adults in the UK tuning in to some radio station or other every week. That's 48.9 million people enjoying the warming tones of a good radio voice. Or, indeed, the grating tones of a bad one. Quality is not relevant here, only the fact that listening happened. On average though - grating voices or not - people were listening to an average of three hours a day and 22.2 hours a week.

2. Commercial radio had its best listening figures, like, evs. Those RAJAR bods reckon that 36.3 million were tuning in to non-BBC stations every week. Average listening time was up to thirteen hours a week, giving the commercial sector a 47.8% of all listening. Looking at listening just through digital means - DAB, online, apps - that was 61.6%.

3. Despite this, the two biggest UK commercial radio networks - Capital and Heart - saw their listening figures fall significantly over the last year. Heart lost 787,000, while Capital saw its listeners fall by 815,000. They still have over 7.5 million and 6 million listeners respectively (slightly more if you add in their spin-off stations), but that's not a fun drop.

4. Those big commercial stations can take solace in the fact that the big bad BBC also had a tricky time. Overall listening to its stations fell 3.2% year-on-year, while commercial radio was up 3.6%. BBC Radio 6 Music did hit a record number of listeners though, so it's not all bad. But it is mainly bad.

5. Going local, XS Manchester is doing quite well. This despite the fact that owner Communicorp has been quite keen to get rid of it. Last year, the media firm put in a request to OfCom to replace it with a new Manchester outpost for Capital Xtra, but the regulator refused at the beginning of last month. Prior to that decision, XS Manchester saw its listener figures jump by 40% to 131,000, compared to the same period in 2019. That doesn't mean it'll be saved 6 Music-style, but it does at least give it a better chance of survival.

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Young Guns Network launches 'commission mission' for freelance music writers on lockdown
Music industry networking organisation Young Guns Network and music magazine London In Stereo have teamed up to launch what they are calling a 'Commission Mission' to help freelance music writers during the COVID-19 lockdown.

"Those at the earliest stages of their music career have been hit hardest by current events, including the freelancers in our network", says YGN's Remi Harris. "We want to support this group as much as we can - giving people paid work and hope - which is why we've launched this Commission Mission".

Both established and upcoming writers are asked to pitch 100 word feature ideas that will "inspire, educate and interest young people aged 18-30 in music".

Those accepted will be commissioned to write a 1000-2000 word article, which will be published by London In Stereo and YGN, as well as some partner websites, receiving a fee of £200 for their efforts.

The deadline for pitches is 22 May. More details here.

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John Legend announces new album, releases video for title track
John Legend has announced that he will release his new album, 'Bigger Love', on 19 Jun. He's also released the video for the title track, directed by Mishka Kornai.

The video stitches together clips sent in my fans showing how they are connecting with loved ones online throughout lockdown and dancing to the song.

"This video was made to celebrate our shared love, hope and resilience", says Legend. "We're all using technology to stay in touch and finding creative ways to cope and we wanted the video to be a big musical hug for people around the world who are finding ways to stay connected to family, help their neighbours, and make time for a needed dance break despite the crazy circumstances we find ourselves in".

This Saturday, John Legend will also play the first in a new series of virtual reality shows hosted by MelodyVR. Taking place in a specially built, socially distanced studio, the 'Live In LA' series will also have performances by Machine Gun Kelly, Katelyn Tarver and The Score.

Right now though, watch the video for 'Bigger Love' here.

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COVID-19 SUPPORT INTIATIVES

Queen will screen the 1992 Freddie Mercury tribute concert at Wembley Stadium this weekend. Going online on YouTube at 7pm UK time tonight, it will be available for 48 hours, raising money for the World Health Organisation's COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund.

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RELEASES

Katy Perry's new single? 'Daisies', yeah? Out now mate.

Charli XCX's quickly turned around lockdown album, 'How I'm Feeling Now', came out this morning. She's previously said that recording in this way turned out to be good for her creativity, and on first listen I'd say she's right.

Chester Bennington's Grey Daze have released another posthumous single, featuring vocals from their late former frontman. Here's 'Soul Song'.

Aurora has released new single 'Exist For Love', a collaboration with composer Isobel Waller-Bridge.

Pearl Jam have released the video for 'Retrograde', from their latest album 'Gigaton', featuring a cameo by Greta Thunberg.

Caribou has released a Four Tet remix of his track 'Never Come Back'. "I love that when people think of us as musical allies that they are seeing something real and genuine, not music industry artifice", he says. "We are the closest friends - so much so that I feel like we are family - and I love that people who listen to our music can feel that".

Everything Everything have released new single 'Arch Enemy'. They've also announced that they will release their new album, 'Re-Animator', on 21 Aug.

Saint Saviour has announced that she will release her new album, 'Tomorrow Again', on 4 Sep. From it, this is 'For My Love'.

Au/Ra has released new single 'Ideas'. "I very often build up these fantasies of how I'd like things to happen - and inevitably end up being disappointed when things don't turn out that way", she says. "So really, this song is a warning to myself, haha! I'm really looking forward to seeing and hearing how listeners interpret the song".

Izzy Bizu has released new single 'Faded'. She says of the song: "It's one of those weird feelings; when you're with them you feel faded but when you're without them you feel faded in another way; and you can't decide if you want them in or out of your life".

Helen Love will put out a new two track cassette release called 'Now That's What I Call Songs From My Teens' on 28 May. From it, this is '1234 Dee Dee Ramone'.

The Keep has released new single 'Through Portals'. His new EP, 'Andra', is out on 15 May.

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GIGS & TOURS

Laura Marling will be playing live at Union Chapel in London on 6 Jun. You can't be there, but you can buy tickets to watch a livestream. More info here.

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

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These New Puritans selling jigsaws to get you through lockdown tedium
In these unusual times, filling your day can be a regular quandary. How can your favourite band help? Traditional methods are not quite cutting it. How many times can you play an album, take a t-shirt on and off, and stare at a useless gig ticket before boredom overwhelms you? Thankfully, These New Puritans have got your back. Their latest merch item is jigsaws.

The band have produced two puzzles, using artwork from their latest album 'Inside The Rose'. Each has over 500 pieces, so should keep you busy for a while. And one of them has a bare lady on it too. Nipples have been sorely lacking from puzzles since peanut companies stopped providing those peepshow snackboards to pubs in the 90s. Although, I'm sure the band would like me to point out that this is much more tasteful.

They'd probably also like me to point out that they aren't just doing this to better occupy your time during lockdown, but also to raise money for the NHS. Because, let's not forget, our publicly funded health service is also a collection of charities for some reason. All profits from the puzzle sales will be donated to NHS Charities Together to help prop things up until 'Boris' turns up with that £350 million a week he promised.

"The plague is here, the world's upside down, so this is our own small way to help the NHS and relieve the tedium for the tedious amongst us", says the band's George Barnett.

But what happens when you've completed both puzzles? What then, huh? Well, then you turn your attention back to music. Specifically the four track These New Puritans EP of previously unreleased music that you will be able to access with a code hidden in the jigsaws.

Find out more at the band's website.

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