| TOP STORIES | New series of CMU weekly webinars announced READ IN THIS EMAIL | READ ON THE WEBSITE |
| LIVE BUSINESS | Former Paradigm agents launch new agency TBA FKP Scorpio ramps up UK operations by recruiting DHP promoters READ IN THIS EMAIL | READ ON THE WEBSITE |
| DIGITAL & D2F SERVICES | Amazon Music incorporates Twitch livestreams READ IN THIS EMAIL | READ ON THE WEBSITE |
| MEDIA | Slits guitarist Viv Albertine's memoirs to be adapted for TV READ IN THIS EMAIL | READ ON THE WEBSITE |
| ARTIST NEWS | Erick Morillo dies READ IN THIS EMAIL | READ ON THE WEBSITE |
| ONE LINERS | Mariah Carey, Polydor, Arab Strap, more READ IN THIS EMAIL | READ ON THE WEBSITE |
| AND FINALLY... | Eddy Grant sues Donald Trump 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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RIGHTSAPP - IMPLEMENTATION PROJECT & ACCOUNT MANAGER (LIVERPOOL) RightsApp - part of the Sentric Music Group - is transforming the traditional models for royalty collection and accounting. This new role will be accountable for the creation and management of a high quality implementation programme for RightsApp as well as supporting clients thereafter. For more information and to apply click here. |
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ANJUNABEATS - A&R & RECORDINGS MANAGER (LONDON) Anjunabeats is seeking and A&R and Recordings Manager to work directly with key talent as they develop as artists, with an appreciation of what it takes to be a global act in 2020. For more information and to apply click here. |
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ANJUNABEATS - DIGITAL DELIVERIES & RIGHTS MANAGER (LONDON) Anjunabeats is seeking an experienced, meticulous and solutions-oriented individual to bolster our digital supply chain and rights management capabilities. For more information and to apply click here. |
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EMUBANDS - CONTENT ASSISTANT (GLASGOW) EmuBands currently has an opportunity for a detail-oriented, focussed individual to join the company as a Content Assistant. You'll perform a wide range of administrative tasks relating to digital music assets and metadata, helping to ensure that releases are delivered quickly and accurately to stores. For more information and to apply click here. |
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SSB - SOLICITOR (LONDON) Music and entertainment law firm SSB is is seeking a full-time solicitor admitted in England and Wales with two to five years PQE to join its dynamic team in West London. For more information and to apply click here. |
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BELIEVE - DIGITAL STRATEGIST CONTENT CREATOR (LONDON) The Believe-owned Nuclear Blast label is looking for maternity cover for a year, commencing in August 2020. The Digital Strategist's role will focus on all digital aspects of an artist and product release – balancing both creative and commercial objectives through the setting and achieving of campaign-specific objectives and results. For more information and to apply click here. |
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3TONE RECORDS - PUBLICIST (BRISTOL) 3tone Records is looking for an inhouse publicist to join us, working closely with our Marketing, A&R and Publishing departments to provide inventive and dynamic campaigns spanning online and print media, enhancing and furthering the aims of our artists and the label itself. For more information and to apply click here. |
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MATERIAL - MARKETING MANAGER (LONDON) To aid in the expansion of its growing roster of artists and brands, Material is seeking an exceptional, results-focused marketing individual to power the business forward and deliver for its artists. For more information and to apply click here. |
Taking place every Tuesday afternoon at 2.30pm London time, these one hour online training sessions are delivered by CMU's Chris Cooke.
Each webinar presents timely and easy-to-understand insights about a different music business topic, with plenty of opportunity to ask questions.
Attendees can also access online resources - including downloadable slides - and a recording of the webinar available for a month after the live session.
BOOK NOW at early bird rates - access to each individual webinar is just £25, plus you can book into four webinars for £75 and all nine for just £150.
| THE RIGHTS OF SONGWRITERS AND PERFORMERS Tuesday 22 Sep | 2.30pm | BOOK TICKETS Artists and songwriters often assign the copyrights they create to business partners: labels, publishers and collecting societies. But music-makers have rights over their music even when they no longer own the copyright. What are those and how do they work? Find out in this webinar. |
| DIGITAL MUSIC IN EMERGING MARKETS Tuesday 29 Sep | 2.30pm | BOOK TICKETS Markets like China, India, Russia, South Korea and Brazil have played a key role in the revival of the record industry's fortunes, while markets in Africa are set to become increasingly important in the years ahead. Which services and what models dominate in these countries? |
| STREAMING SERVICE PLAYLISTS Tuesday 6 Oct | 2.30pm | BOOK TICKETS We all know playlists drive a lot of plays on the streaming services, with playlister pitching now a key part of any music marketing campaign. But how do streaming service playlists work? And how is the evolution of playlist curation impacting on the future of music marketing? |
| BUILDING A FANBASE FOR NEW ARTISTS Tuesday 13 Oct | 2.30pm | BOOK TICKETS How do artists go about building a fanbase in 2020? In this webinar we'll talk through the fanbase building process, from when artists are working truly DIY, through the involvement of different music industry business partners like management, distributors, labels, promoters and specialist agencies. |
| UNDERSTANDING BRAND PARTNERSHIPS Tuesday 20 Oct | 2.30pm | BOOK TICKETS Brands see the value of music as part of their marketing activity. But how do brand partnerships work? What do brands want from these partnerships and how does that impact who they do the deal with? And what can artists expect in return when they ally with consumer brands? |
| BUILDING A DIRECT-TO-FAN BUSINESS Tuesday 27 Oct | 2.30pm | BOOK TICKETS The biggest impact digital has had on music is the direct-to-fan relationship – but are artists and their business partners truly realising the potential of D2F? This webinar explains how data and digital tools can be used to drive extra revenue for each artist business. |
| TOP FIVE MUSIC INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENTS IN 2020 Tuesday 3 Nov | 2.30pm | BOOK TICKETS In a year dominated by the impact of COVID-19, what have been the key developments in the wider music industry in 2020? As the live industry restarts, what will it look like? And what impact will the challenges of 2020 have long-term on all the other strands of the music industry? |
| TOP FIVE STREAMING DEVELOPMENTS IN 2020 Tuesday 10 Nov | 2.30pm | BOOK TICKETS While the streaming boom continues, led by Spotify-style services, the digital music market is diversifying again. New streaming products and business models present both challenges and opportunities, while lingering questions about Spotify-style streaming increasingly need to be answered. |
| TOP FIVE COPYRIGHT DEVELOPMENTS IN 2020 Tuesday 17 Nov | 2.30pm | BOOK TICKETS The music rights business has been more stable during the COVID-19 crisis, though certain revenue streams have taken a hit. Meanwhile, copyright law and the music industry's licensing systems continue to evolve. Get a speedy update on all the key developments in music rights with this webinar. |
| Navigate and understand the music business with guides and reports from CMU... |
| NEW! Music Rights Data In Ten Steps A ten step guide to music rights data, data standards and databases |
| Music Industry Basics In Ten Steps A ten step guide to all the different strands of the modern music industry |
| Streaming Challenges In Ten Steps A ten step guide to the challenges facing the streaming business in 2020 |
| Collective Licensing In Ten Steps A ten step guide to the collective licensing system |
| Brand Partnerships In Ten Steps A ten step guide to artist/brand partnerships |
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New series of CMU weekly webinars announced
CMU Insights will put the spotlight on the rights of songwriters and performers, streaming trends in key emerging markets and the ins and outs of brand partnerships as part of a new series of weekly webinars that will kick off later this month.
This new series of online training sessions follows the hugely popular CMU Lockdown Webinars that took place in April and May this year as the COVID-19 shutdown first took hold, and follow the same format. Hosted by CMU's Chris Cooke, each one-hour webinar will kick off with a quick summary of the biggest music business news story of the week, followed by a 40 minute lecture on the day's main topic, and then a live Q&A with attendees.
The topics covered also complement this spring's season of webinars. On the copyright front there is a session looking at the rights of songwriters and performers over songs and recordings they no longer own the copyright in. And in the digital domain there'll be fact-packed sessions on emerging markets and streaming service playlists.
Elsewhere there will be brand new webinars on topics like fanbase building, brand partnerships and direct-to-fan. Plus, in November, there will be three sessions summarising the key developments in the music business in the eventful year that has been 2020, first for the industry at large, then specifically streaming, and finally music rights.
Aware that the music industry is still facing many challenges as a result of COVID-19, CMU is also keeping the prices down for this series of webinars with special early-bird rates currently available. Access to each individual webinar is just £25, plus you can book into all nine for just £150.
CMU's Chris Cooke says: "With our Lockdown Webinars earlier this year we were able to take our training truly global, with music industry practitioners tuning in from all over the world. For our new series of weekly webinars this autumn we have picked some great topics that both stand alone, but also continue what we started during lockdown. Plus we'll be presenting our traditional year-in-view sessions online for the first time".
Bookings are now open at the special early bird rates - click here for more information or to sign up.
Former Paradigm agents launch new agency TBA
With the live music business very much still in flux, five former Paradigm agents have launched a new booking agency to be known - quite aptly given all the fluxing - as TBA. Initial clients include Chvrches, The War On Drugs, Courtney Barnett, Jose Gonzales, Guided By Voices, Jay Som and Yaeji.
All the talent and booking agencies have faced unprecedented challenges this year thanks to the COVID-19 shutdown, with many furloughing staff and downsizing their teams in a bid to weather the storm. The extent and nature of the layoffs has varied from agency to agency, and also from country to country depending on what government support was available. Though it's probably fair to say that the Paradigm cutbacks in the US grabbed the most headlines.
The five founders of TBA - Avery McTaggart, Amy Davidman, Devin Landau, Marshall Betts and Ryan Craven - came to Paradigm via The Windish Agency, which allied with Paradigm in 2015 and then started operating under that brand two years later. They were part of the significant round of early layoffs at Paradigm as COVID first struck.
Commenting on the new agency, which launches with offices in New York and LA, McTaggart told Variety: "TBA is only able to exist because of the incredible artists we work with, and it has been with them in mind that we have built every part of this company. For me that has been and will remain what I am most passionate about: Seeing our artists grow and succeed, knowing we are working tirelessly to support them in new and better ways".
Noting that the impact of COVID on the live industry is likely to be felt long after shutdown, he added: "The agency business is changing and we see TBA as part of the shift towards a better culture within the music business. We are focused solely on the future and how to ensure that integrity, accountability and transparency are standards at our company and others".
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FKP Scorpio ramps up UK operations by recruiting DHP promoters
German live music firm FKP Scorpio is planning to ramp up its UK operations by recruiting two promoters who previously worked with DHP Family.
Daniel Ealam and Scott O'Neill have been charged with the task of building up a UK arm for the FKP Scorpio business, which is already a prolific promoter in multiple other European markets, and is allied to the promoter network of German ticketing giant CTS Eventim.
Confirming his company's new UK focus, FKP Scorpio boss Folkert Koopmans says: "We are very much looking forward to working with Daniel and Scott, who have built up an excellent reputation and have excellent contacts. We are convinced that with their support we will be able to significantly expand FKP Scorpio's activities in the UK".
Ealam and O'Neill add in a joint statement: "We are so excited to build FKP Scorpio in the UK. We have long admired the company's ethos and ethics and we truly believe that it is a force for good within the industry [which is] expanding at a time when we need strong promoters with good values working across Europe".
"Folkert shares our vision for the business", they go on, "and we have big plans to make this a huge success and support our artists, agents and managers, and give fans the ultimate live experiences".
The new recruits and Koopmans will all sit on the board of FKP Scorpio UK, alongside Barry Campbell and James Cassidy, who - among other things - previously promoted the concert spin-offs of the BBC's 'Blue Planet' and 'Planet Earth' shows as part of a tie-up between the broadcaster and the FKP Scorpio business.
Amazon Music incorporates Twitch livestreams
Amazon Music and the Amazon-owned Twitch have announced a partnership to combine livestreaming with on-demand listening. What does that mean? It means you can be listening to a song by an artist one minute and then be watching them play it live the next, all in the same app. What a time to be alive!
Artists who are active on Twitch can connect their accounts to Amazon Music, thus getting access to fans already streaming their tracks on the more conventional streaming platform, as well as those who have bothered to download the Twitch app.
"The combination of live streaming, coupled with the on-demand playback of songs on Amazon Music is groundbreaking", reckons Ryan Redington, Director of Amazon Music. "We're providing artists with more tools to instantly engage with fans, and this new feature couldn't arrive at a more crucial time in the industry".
"More than 1000 artists have already connected their Amazon Music accounts to Twitch, and this is just day one", he goes on. "Together with Twitch, we're making it possible for artists across all genres, at all moments of their careers, to harness the social power of live streaming to create more engagement with their recorded catalogue".
Just in case you don't think Redington's enthusiasm was enough, Twitch's Head Of Music Tracy Chan adds: "Twitch has always been about connecting amazingly talented creators live with fans everywhere. That's why we're excited to announce the next phase of our ongoing partnership with Amazon Music that unlocks an entirely new world of live music experiences and engagement by connecting Twitch live streams and Amazon's catalogue of recorded music".
"Especially now, in a time when traditional venues are closed and tours have been cancelled, musicians are looking for new ways to continue creating, connect with fans, and build community", she continues. "Twitch has become the place to co-create shared live experiences, and it's now accessible in-app for Amazon Music's 55 million customers".
There are various ways that Amazon Music will now push Twitch streams. Fans of individual artists will get notifications on their mobile devices as artists go live. And there will also be a new 'Live' page on the main music app, where users can browse livestreams underway.
Artists wanting to connect their Twitch profile to Amazon Music can do so here.
Slits guitarist Viv Albertine's memoirs to be adapted for TV
Former Slits guitarist Viv Albertine's two memoirs are set to be turned into a TV series, it has been announced.
Albertine says in a statement that she is "so happy" about the TV project, adding: "Right from the start [the show's producers] were sensitive to the extremely personal nature of the work and I knew the books were in the hands of producers with integrity. Their vision is perfectly in tune with the work, they understand the subject and the times, I can't wait for the project to get started and to see all the characters in my story come to life".
Meanwhile, those producers - Elizabeth Karlsen, Stephen Woolley and Rachael Horovitz - state jointly: "What an exciting and exhilarating prospect to re-explore a time when music, fashion, political ideologies and sexuality were turned on their heads. So beautifully evoked alongside personal insights and frank reflections of an extraordinary woman's life in Albertine's two incredible memoirs".
"Nothing that has happened before or since can match the explosion that was 70s London punk, and Viv Albertine helped pack the dynamite, place the detonator and light the fuse", they go on.
"The Slits forged the soundtrack to a gender-bending, iconic cultural revolution and guitarist Viv Albertine was right in the thick of it. She helped create an uninhibited new attitude, a unique musical language and a DIY aesthetic that invaded and ingrained itself into the mainstream".
The two critically acclaimed books - 2014's 'Clothes, Clothes, Clothes. Music, Music, Music. Boys, Boys, Boys' and 2018's 'To Throw Away Unopened' - detail Albertine's upbringing, experiences in the late 70s and early 80s punk scene, and her return to music later in life.
| Team Training for music companies from CMU Insights CMU Insights provides training and education to thousands of music business people every year through our programmes of webinars, seminars, masterclasses and speed briefings. We also provide that expertise to music companies who are looking to provide in-house training for their own teams. This ensures that employees are fully up to speed on all the latest trends and developments, while also presenting an effective way for team members to come together and share their knowledge and experience, especially if they are primarily working remotely. To make things simple, we have a large menu of off-the-shelf webinars and seminars for music industry employers to choose from. Clients can pick the topics that are most relevant to them and their team. We can also create new sessions if there are topics not currently covered by the menu. We have delivered bespoke training sessions for numerous music companies and organisations in recent years, including Sony Music, Warner Music, SoundCloud, Emubands, ie:music, ATC Management, BPI, MMF, IMRO, the Musicians' Union, the British Council, Promus, Music Norway, Music Estonia and the Association Of Caribbean Copyright Societies. Click here to find out more about CMU's Team Training. |
Erick Morillo dies
DJ and producer Erick Morillo was found dead at his Florida home yesterday. He was 49.
Morillo was due to appear in court later this week on sexual battery charges. He was accused of assaulting another DJ at his home last December, after they both performed at a private party in Miami. He initially denied the accusation, but turned himself in to police after DNA evidence supported his accuser's allegations. He was formally charged early last month.
Born in New York in 1971, Morillo spent much of his early youth in Colombia, before returning to the US aged eleven - at which point he began DJing at family events. He started DJing in clubs in the early 1990s, while also moving into producing music at around the same time. A 1991 collaboration with Latin reggae star El General, 'Muevelo', subsequently became a hit.
Probably his best known track is 'I Like To Move It', which he released under the name Reel 2 Real in 1993. A hit in its own right at the time - reaching number five in the UK singles chart in 1994 - the much-synced track has reached new audiences in recent years through its inclusion in the 'Madagascar' animated movies.
Concerned that the massive success of 'I Like To Move It' and other hits had damaged his credibility, Morillo began to distance himself from Reel 2 Real and worked on other projects with a range of collaborators. He also launched the Double Platinum management company and Subliminal record label. As well as this, he became an increasingly prominent figure on the US and international club scenes.
He consistently continued to release new music and remixes throughout his career, up to last year.
No cause of death has yet been announced, but police have said that there were no signs of foul play.
DEALS
Bucks Music has signed an admin deal with live and management firm Talentbanq, which is launching a new label and publishing side to its business. Bucks will administrate the firm's song catalogue, which will include works by Georgia & The Vintage Youth, a Talentbanq management client who is also releasing her upcoming EP with the company's new label.
Music rights firm Reservoir has signed writer-producer Twysted Genius to a worldwide publishing deal. The agreement covers the producer's full catalogue, including his collaborations on Lil Baby's latest album 'My Turn'. "His much-celebrated work with Lil Baby cemented him as a sought-after collaborator and it's only the start of what is to come", reckons Reservoir's Faith Newman of the new signing.
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MEDIA
Mariah Carey will host a Christmas TV special on Apple TV+ this festive season, titled 'Mariah Carey's Magical Christmas Special'. It'll follow the publication of her memoir, 'The Meaning Of Mariah Carey', on 29 Sep.
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APPOINTMENTS
Universal UK's Polydor division has promoted Stephanie Duncan-Bosu to Head Of Press, and Ali Tant, Karen Dagg and Jade Bradshaw to Heads Of Marketing. "I'm absolutely THRILLED that Steph is stepping into the Head Of Press role", says the label's Director Of Press, Susie Ember. "In the eleven years we have worked together at Polydor, she has risen consistently to the challenges of the job, proving herself the consummate publicist".
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RELEASES
Arab Strap have released their first new song for fifteen years, 'The Turning Of Our Bones'. The song, says the duo's Aidan Moffat, "is an incantation, a voodoo spell to raise the dead. Inspired by the Famadihana ritual of the Malagasy people of Madagascar, in which they dance with the corpses of loved ones, it's all about resurrection and shagging".
Eels have released new single 'Who You Say You Are'. "Here's a way to forget your troubles for two minutes and 55 seconds", says frontman Mark Everett. "Listen to this song and think about my problems instead. You're welcome!"
Emmy The Great has released new single 'A Window/O'Keeffe'. "In many ways, this song is about colour, though it's also about the friendship between women, something I leaned on as I moved into the next phase of my life", she says. Her new album, 'April /月音', is out through Bella Union on 9 Oct.
Red Hot Chili Peppers guitarist John Frusciante will release a new solo album, titled 'Maya', consisting of early 90s influenced jungle and breakbeat, on 23 Oct through Aaron Funk's Timesig label. From it, this is 'Amethblowl'.
Daniel Avery has released two new tracks, 'Lone Swordsman' and 'Dusting For Smoke', in tribute to Andrew Weatherall, who died earlier this year. "I was in my studio the morning I heard about Andrew Weatherall's passing", says Avery. "The track 'Lone Swordsman' is what formed that day. Andrew was a hero, a friend and someone who regularly reminded us all how it should be done, not to mention the funniest fucker around". Proceeds from the release will be donated to Amnesty International.
Yemi Alade has released new single 'True Love'.
Actress has released new track 'Walking Flames', featuring Sampha. His new album, 'Karma & Desire', will be out on Ninja Tune on 23 Oct.
Lady Leshurr has released new track 'Unleshed 4'. It's her first new track since she released her 'Quaranqueen' album in June.
Vaccines keyboard player T Truman has released new solo single 'Loretta'. "I came up with the riff on a tiny keyboard in a hotel room in five minutes", he says. "It then took me over three months to come up with lyrics and a chorus that complemented it. 'Loretta' should be my entry to Urban Dictionary as a term used for somebody who doesn't reciprocate". His debut EP 'Born To Be Right' is out on 25 Sep.
Former Soul Coughing frontman Mike Doughty has launched new project Ghost Of Vroom with longtime collaborator Andrew 'Scrap' Livingston. Their debut EP 'Ghost Of Vroom 2' is out this week. From it, this is 'Rona Pallona'.
Kruder & Dorfmeister have released new track 'Johnson'. The track is the first taken from upcoming new album '1995'.
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GIGS & TOURS
Lamb Of God have announced two livestreamed shows this month. They will perform their new eponymous album in full on 18 Sep, followed by their 2004 LP 'Ashes Of The Wake' on 25 Sep. Info right here. The band have also announced the rescheduling of their 2020 UK tour to December 2021.
Check out our weekly Spotify playlist of new music featured in the CMU Daily - updated every Friday.
Eddy Grant sues Donald Trump
In part 4,000,876 of our regular series 'Musicians Fucked Off That Donald Trump Used Their Music' we have another lawsuit for you. Although this one is seemingly more straightforward. Eddy Grant has sued Trump over his use of 'Electric Avenue' in a campaign video posted to Twitter last month.
Countless artists and songwriters, of course, have hit out at Trump over him using their music without permission ever since he first started dabbling in politics five years ago. And as the US President's stint in power has become ever more controversial, an increasing number of those musicians have started talking about taking legal action.
When the music is used at an event, there are complications with any such litigation, as both the Trump campaign and most of the venues it makes use of will have licences from US collecting societies BMI and ASCAP.
While songwriters can opt out of the specific political licences provided by the US societies, and in that scenario licensees aren't meant to then rely on any venue licence instead, there are still some legal ambiguities over whether or not copyright has actually been infringed. Though Neil Young is testing all that out with his recent lawsuit.
However, when Team Trump use uncleared music in a video, things are more straightforward, as a direct licence is generally required for such things unless any sort of fair use defence can be mounted. So, providing the facts as described by Grant in his new lawsuit are sound, he probably has a much stronger case for copyright infringement against the President.
That lawsuit provides a description of the Trump video in which Grant's 1983 hit 'Electric Avenue' was used. "The infringing video contains a visual depiction of a high-speed red train bearing the words 'Trump Pence KAG 2020'", it notes, "in stark contrast to a slow-moving handcar bearing the words 'Biden President: Your Hair Smells Terrific'".
An animated likeness of Biden also features, while "out-of-context excerpts of Former Vice President Biden's speeches and interviews are played over plaintiffs' recording".
The lawsuit then states that none of the plaintiffs - which are Grant and two of his companies - "nor any agent on their respective behalves, has licensed any rights" in the 'Electric Avenue' song or recording "to either Mr Trump or [his campaign organisation], or otherwise consented to defendants' use of the [track] in connection with the infringing video".
When Grant spoke out against Trump's campaign video when it was first posted last month, his legal rep also noted that the nature of the President's use of 'Electric Avenue' - which was written by Grant in response to the 1981 Brixton Riot in London - "indicates a fundamental misunderstanding of the very meaning of the underlying work".
Twitter has now confirmed it has removed the offending video because of the legal action. We await to see how Trump responds to the lawsuit.
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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:DIY is our future talent programme: supporting new music talent. Pathways Into Music is our programme supporting music educators.
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