Kanye West sued by production firm over unpaid fees
Another day, another Kanye lawsuit. And yes, that is the second time we've said that this week. This time Kanye West is being sued by LA-based production company Phantom Labs which claims it is owed millions in unpaid fees for work it did on events involving the rapper.

Phantom Labs describes itself as a "creative technology firm" that "brings ideas to life", "crafts narratives", "produces captivating multimedia experiences" and "creates mind-bending content".

Projects it has worked on with West include his Sunday Service events, the 'Donda 2' listening party and last year's 'Free Larry Hoover' show with Drake. It was also working on the rapper's headline set at Coachella earlier this year, a headline set which West then bailed on.

The Coachella cancellation seemingly played a key role in the legal dispute, and not only because the production company allegedly incurred $1.1 million in Coachella-related cancellation fees.

According to TMZ, by the time work began on the festival set, Phantom was owed more than $6 million stemming from the past projects. But it was told those bills would be paid out of the $9 million West was reportedly going to make from his two Coachella 2022 performances.

After West bailed on Coachella just two weeks before his first performance was due to take place, it became clear to Phantom that their unpaid bills weren't going to get paid anytime soon. Hence the litigation.

The production company is now suing for breach of contract, seeking the $7 million plus it is owed and some damages.

A spokesperson for Phantom told Variety: "We are incredibly proud of the work that we did with Ye and are disappointed that such a fruitful relationship has come to this. A celebrity weaponising fame and reputation to take advantage of eager collaborators is simply unacceptable".

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RIAA objects to sale of Ethereum domains including major label brands and executives
The Recording Industry Association Of America has formally objected to NFT marketplace OpenSea about the sale of Ethereum Name Service domain names that use label brands owned by its members. And, it seems, that objection has resulted in said domain name sales being suspended.

OpenSea itself explains that ENS domains "are secure domain names for the decentralised world" and "provide a way for users to map human readable names to blockchain and non-blockchain resources, like Ethereum addresses, IPFS hashes, or website URLs".

So, basically, it's a Web3 version of the good old fashioned Domain Name Service, with ENS domains consisting of a word and then the .ETH extension. And the whole thing is run by one of those decentralised autonomous organisations, or a DAO if you prefer. Though, as OpenSea also notes, "ENS domains can be bought and sold on secondary markets". You know, like OpenSea.

Among the ENS domains being auctioned off via OpenSea that pissed off the RIAA were domains name-checking the three majors - so Universalmusic.eth, Sony-music.eth and Warnermusicgroup.eth. And domains featuring major record company owned label brands, like Republic-records.eth, Virginrecords.eth and Atlanticrecords.eth.

Plus domains naming major label bosses, so luciangrainge.eth and robstringer.eth. And, of course, the riaa.eth domain. Oh, and RIAA boss Mitch Glazier probably wasn't too impressed by mitchglazier.eth.

These domains "infringe RIAA's or our members' trademarks, as they cause dilution, confusion, and/or tarnishment of these trademarks", said the trade group in a letter to OpenSea that has been published by Torrentfreak.

Plus sale of the domains, the RIAA reckoned, raised issues under the US Lanham Act and AntiCybersquatting Consumer Protection Act, not to mention various state-level publicity right and unfair competition laws.

Acting on behalf of itself and its members, the RIAA's note continued: "For the reasons set forth above, I ask that these URLs, and related infringing products or services be removed from Opensea.io immediately".

Torrentfreak notes that listings for the sale of each of the ENS domains objected to by the RIAA have now been removed, presumably in response to the trade group's cease and desist letter and threats of legal action.

When it comes to good old fashioned domain names, generally speaking owning or selling a domain that includes someone else's name, brand or trademark does not necessarily infringe that person's intellectual property or publicity rights.

Liability for infringement of those rights would usually depend on how the domain is used, and whether that use causes consumer confusion and/or means the domain name owner is profiting from someone else's brand or reputation.

There's also the issue, of course, that domain names work on a global basis, whereas trademarks and publicity rights are territorial.

Still, whatever the ins and outs of the legalities, anyone looking to exploit or sell an ENS domain that uses a major label's brand or executive name can possibly expect to receive some kind of stern legal letter.

But hey, why not just turn that letter into an NFT and cash in? Or would that be copyright infringement? Probably. But why not go for the triple whammy and infringe trademark, copyright and publicity rights all in one go? Good times!

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Nation Broadcasting ends licensing deal with Bauer, cutting back Greatest Hits Radio network
The ever expanding Greatest Hits Radio network will be contracting a little in September as a brand licensing deal between its owner Bauer Media and rival radio firm Nation Broadcasting comes to an end.

Under its current deal with Bauer, Nation pumps out Greatest Hits Radio programming on a number of the local radio frequencies it controls, including in Hull and East Yorkshire, Ipswich and Suffolk, and on the South coast. But with that deal concluding, Nation will start airing one of its own brands - Nation Radio - on all of those frequencies.

Meanwhile, Nation also currently airs another Bauer service - Hits Radio - on frequencies it controls in Southampton, Portsmouth and Winchester. They will all switch to another Nation owned brand, Breezy Radio. Except at the same time Breezy Radio - which already broadcasts on FM in South Wales and on DAB digital radio in London, Wales and Birmingham - will rebrand as Easy Radio.

Announcing the changes, Nation said of the Breezy Radio rebrand as Easy Radio, "We'll still be playing relaxing favourites and nothing changes except the name".

Meanwhile, for GHR listeners who will soon be getting Nation Radio instead, it added: "We know you'll enjoy our great mix of music and shows from radio legends including Neil 'Doctor' Fox, Russ Williams and Greg Burns". Yeah, maybe.

Actually, GHR listeners in Bournemouth and Poole - currently accessing the South Coast version of the service operated by Nation - will still be able to tune into the station on FM, because Bauer will switch an FM frequency currently used by its Wave 105 station in those towns to GHR. Lucky Bournemouth and Poole.

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First Artists launches mentoring programme focused on composing for film and TV
The UK wing of First Artists Management - the talent agency that represents composers and music supervisors - has announced a new education and mentoring programme supported by charity Youth Music, which aims to offer opportunities for young people who aspire to make music for TV and film.

There will be two phases to the programme. In phase one, ten people will get access to online education and mentoring over five weeks, including one-to-one mentoring from the likes of David Arnold, Alex Baranowski, Anne Chmelewsky, Will Slater, Gazelle Twin and Joe Wilson. Following a pitching process, two of those people will then progress to a three-month full-time paid composer assistant placement.

Explains Hamish Duff, who heads up FAM's European office in London: "[This programme] is designed to be a platform to encourage new voices to enter into the music for screen industry by firstly demystifying this area of business as well as offering practical tips and opportunities for young composers to go on and create excellent work".

"The programme", he adds, "is also designed to be a resource for other composers, agencies and productions looking for rising young composers and assistants, with candidates joining our talent network for ongoing support".

The programme is open to aspiring music makers aged eighteen to 25, based in England, Scotland or Wales, with a particular focus on supporting underrepresented groups. Details on how to apply are here.

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Surviving members of Pantera to reunite for live shows next year
The surviving members of Pantera - vocalist Phil Anselmo and bassist Rex Brown - have announced that they are reforming to play shows in the US and Europe next year, marking the 40th anniversary of their debut album, 'Metal Magic'.

Ozzy Osbourne guitarist Zakk Wylde and Anthrax drummer Charlie Benante will take the places of the band's late founders, the Abbott brothers Dimebag Darrell and Vinnie Paul.

In the US, the band will be represented by Artist Group International for the reunion shows, with agent Peter Pappalardo saying: "We are THRILLED to be working with such an iconic band and bringing their music back to the fans".

Reception from those fans has been mixed, with many asking what the point is without the Abbott brothers. Dimebag Darrell was shot and killed on stage in 2004, while performing with his post-Pantera band Damageplan. Vinnie Abbott died from heart problems in 2018.

Anselmo, meanwhile, has proven a controversial figure, after sparking a racism row in 2016 when he was seen on stage giving a Nazi salute and shouting "white power". He later insisted that this was an in-joke about bands being served white wine backstage. This was disputed by others, however.

Dates for the reunion shows are yet to be announced.

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Pantha Du Prince announces new album, Garden Gaia
Pantha Du Prince has announced details of his fourth album, 'Garden Gaia', which is set for release next month through BMG's Modern Recordings label.

Like his previous release, 2020's 'Conference Of Trees', the album serves as an artistic exploration of nature, imagining Earth as a garden.

"There are scientists who say that we humans are ocean that's been folded together", he says. "My music is about raising consciousness, about describing the reality of life and the lost paradise through the means of music".

"It's about entering a free space and developing a maximum degree of openness and sensitivity to our bodies - to our mental states and the atmosphere that surrounds us", he goes on. "It's about mindfulness and a high level of awareness towards what's happening around and within us".

"I've poured all of these experiences into Garden Gaia as music", he continues. "And that's to be taken in the literal sense of 'pouring', since we belong to a flowing process on this planet. A tree also flows into the air, just as it's connected to other trees beneath the ground through currents of communication. Our lungs flow into our bodies. And as embryos, we were flowing beings. The question is: to what extent can we adult humans continue to flow?"

The album's first single is 'Golden Galactic', of which he says: "I recorded 'Golden Galactic' during a really special moment. I was awake and this golden shimmer slipped through my fingers and turned into sound. I kept playing and playing on a synthesiser while listening to myself play. Then I listened to this music with Friedrich Paravicini. Afterwards, he composed strings for it – it's like a musical dialogue".

'Garden Gaia' is set for release on 26 Aug. Watch the video for 'Golden Galactic' here.

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APPOINTMENTS

SoundCloud has hired Jessica Rivera as Global SVP and General Manager and Maurice Slade as Head Of Marketing, both working in the firm's artist partnerships division. Rivera joins from Nas's Mass Appeal company, while Slade moves over from Sony's Epic label. "We are so proud to welcome Jessica and Maurice to the SoundCloud family to lead our efforts in working more closely with artists at the highest level", says President Eliah Seton. "Each of them brings a sterling reputation as two of the most well-connected and well-respected creative leaders in music".

The Scottish Music Industry Association has appointed Ronnie Gurr as its new Chief Executive Officer. "I'm delighted and honoured to be asked to lead the Scottish Music Industry Association", he says, which is good news. "I look forward to helping shape our future activities and to working with both artists and colleagues across all of Scotland's music businesses to assist collective progress and growth in challenging times".

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RELEASES

Calvin Harris has released new single 'Stay With Me', featuring Justin Timberlake, Halsey and Pharrell.

Marcus Mumford has released that solo single he was banging on about the other day, 'Cannibal'.

Pink has released new single 'Irrelevant'. "As a woman with an opinion and the fearlessness to voice that opinion, it gets very tiring when the only retort is to tell me how irrelevant I am", she says. "I am relevant because I exist, and because I am a human being. No one is irrelevant. And no one can take away my voice".

Yungblud has released a 'sad version' of his new single 'Don't Feel Like Feeling Sad Today'.

Odesza have released new single 'Light Of Day', featuring Ólafur Arnalds, ahead of the release of new album 'The Last Goodbye' next week. "'Light Of Day' was one of the first songs off the record we finished", say the duo. "It served as a bookend for the record and really a guiding light for the project as a whole".

Ásgeir has announced that he will release his fourth album, 'Time On My Hands', on 28 Oct. Here's new single 'Snowblind'.

G Flip is back with new single 'Waste Of Space', a song for non-binary people like themself. "I'm releasing this song because I know that if I had this song as a kid, it would have changed my entire life", they say. "I feel like my purpose on this earth is to educate the world on gender identity and be the non-binary role-model that I never had growing up".

The Big Moon have released new single 'Wide Eyes'. Their new album, 'Here Is Everything', is out on 14 Oct.

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

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Kylie and Jason to reissue Especially For You to mark Neighbours finale
To celebrate their reunion for the final ever episode of soap opera 'Neighbours', Kylie Minogue and Jason Donovan have announced plans to reissue their 1988 single 'Especially For You'. The duet was originally released shortly after the UK broadcast of the episode of the soap in which their characters, Scott and Charlene, got married.

"Now we ARE back together on 'Neighbours', a limited run of 'Especially For You' with Jason Donovan will be available on vinyl and cassette on 5 Aug to bring back more 80s memories", tweeted Minogue. Donovan concurred, but didn't really add anything, if you're wondering why I'm not quoting him as well.

It was announced earlier this year that 'Neighbours' was set to come to an end after 37 years, because Channel 5 - which broadcasts the show in the UK - had confirmed that it would cut its funding of the programme. Production company Fremantle Media said that the decision was made after it failed to find alternative funding.

Minogue and Donovan both joined the show in 1986, with Minogue leaving in 1988 and Donovan following in 1989. Both then went on to have successful pop careers.

Earlier this week Donovan posted pictures of himself and Minogue on set for the final episode, which raised many questions. Mainly, why was Donovan posting pictures of himself taking selfies, rather than posting the selfies themselves? Maybe answering that big question will be a central theme of the final episode of 'Neighbours'.

That final episode, by the way, will air in the UK on Channel 5 on 29 Jul at 9pm. The penultimate episode will also be shown the same day, at 1.45pm and 6pm.

Despite all this 'Neighbours' inspired 1980s nostalgia, no word yet on whether the show's longest serving actor, Stefan Dennis, who played Paul Robinson, plans to re-release his 1980s hit.

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