Que Sera Sera writer's daughter seeks dismissal of termination rights case filed by her daughter
The daughter of the late Jay Livingston - a prolific songwriter perhaps best known from co-writing 'Que Sera Sera' - has submitted a motion to the courts in Nashville seeking to dismiss a lawsuit filed against her by her own daughter relating to Livingston's copyrights and royalties.

This dispute is somewhat complicated and centres on the termination right in US copyright law which allows creators to terminate agreements where they assigned their copyrights to a third party after 35 years.

Livingston had his own music publishing company called, simply, Jay Livingston Music, to which he assigned many of his copyrights. Prior to his death in 2001, he also set up a complex series of trusts, the key beneficiaries of which are his daughter Travilyn and granddaughter Tammy.

Travilyn and her husband Randy Talmadge now also own and run Jay Livingston Music - or JLM for short - while both Travilyn and Tammy earn a share of the royalties generated by Jay's work via the trusts.

However, Travilyn has been busy filing termination notices against JLM in relation to Jay's copyrights. Tammy is concerned that that process will impact on the royalties she receives through the trusts, and to that end went legal earlier this year claiming that the termination notices filed by her mother are invalid for various reasons.

Tammy also argued that, even if the court does not agree regarding the validity of the termination notices, her mother shouldn't be able to restructure Jay's rights and royalties in a way that impacts on the monies she receives through the trusts, because her grandfather went to great lengths to ensure both his daughter and granddaughter received a share of his music rights income, and his wishes should be respected.

"The trusts were specifically designed", Tammy's lawsuit stated, "[based on] more than fifteen years of estate planning legal advice with competent estate planning counsel to hold the songwriter's royalties Jay Livingston, plaintiff's grandfather, retained at his death, and to assure his daughter and granddaughter received their respective shares".

Travilyn is, perhaps unsurprisingly, keen to get her daughter's lawsuit dismissed. She filed an initial motion to dismiss last month, but Tammy then submitted an amended version of her lawsuit to the court. So Travilyn filed another motion to dismiss last week.

In it, she rejects each of the issues Tammy has raised with the termination notices, concluding that "each of plaintiff's asserted bases for seeking to invalidate the copyright terminations fails as a matter of law". Therefore, the new legal filing concludes, those termination notices are valid, and as each termination goes into effect copyrights previously controlled by JLM will be owned by Travilyn in her own right.

As for the impact of that shift in copyright ownership, the new legal filing confirms: "The notices would have the effect of terminating plaintiff's right to receive royalties from the exploitation of the musical compositions as a beneficiary of her grandfather's trusts".

"Plaintiff would not be entitled to the payment of royalties after termination because only Travilyn would own the copyrights", it adds. "JLM would no longer own the copyrights, so no royalties would flow into Jay's trusts pursuant to [the previous songwriter] contracts".

It remains to be seen how the judge overseeing the case rules. If he decides that the termination notices are valid, then the dispute will presumably cease to centre on copyright law technicalities, and instead focus on the question as to whether Tammy can prove and legally enforce the intentions of her grandfather prior to his death regarding the future allocation of his music rights income.

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New managers and clients at ATC Management
London-based management firm ATC has announced that two new managers have joined its team: Dan McEvoy and Bertie Gibbon.

McEvoy manages the band Black Country, New Road, and will now do so via ATC, while also taking on new management clients. Gibbon already works on the booking agency side of ATC, but will now also undertake his artist management work via the company as well, managing Sorry, The Goa Express and Miss Tiny.

Alongside the new team members, ATC has also announced a new artist client in the form of The Hives, who will now be managed by Matt Greer alongside ATC co-founder Brian Message and Courtyard Management's Chris Hufford.

Commenting on all this, ATC Management MD Sumit Bothra says: "ATC has a reputation for attracting and developing forward-thinking music entrepreneurs who can benefit from the very inter-connected and supportive culture of our company. Dan and Bertie have been in our orbit for some time, and we're delighted to welcome them as formal members of the team".

"As a company", he adds, "we're also honoured to be working with The Hives who will be gearing up to release new music in 2023 after a ten year hiatus. In addition to developing new talent, ATC is committed to helping our artists and managers to tailor inspiring creative and commercial journeys - and that's precisely our plan here with Dan, Bertie, Matt and their artists".

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Tommas Arnby and Mike Malak announce new management venture
Artist managers Tommas Arnby and Mike Malak have announced a new joint venture called Special Projects which, they say, will be "a company dedicated to artist and producer/songwriter development".

Arnby has been running management firm Locomotion - which also has label and publishing operations - for more than a decade, with Yungblud among his current roster of management clients. Malak, meanwhile, as well as being a booking agent at Wasserman, also manages artists via his company Coldpress Music.

The two managers have been collaborating on several projects for a while now and say that they "have decided now is the time to cement that relationship and look to the future with their current crop of talent and wider industry goals".

Confirming the new partnership, Arnby says: "Artist development has been my biggest focus and passion throughout most of my career. Mike has the same fire as well as the ambition to build global careers. I'm THRILLED to take our partnership to the next level and together help our roster of artists and songwriters truly capitalise on their talent and to build audiences around the world!"

Malak adds: "The goal is to create a space for artists and producers to feel nurtured and supported so they can do what they do best. The roster will remain boutique in size to ensure all get full time from our team. As we look to expand and join forces with strategic partners in the industry, Special Projects will release music and make further key hires in order to build a truly self-sufficient entity".

Talking of hires, the new venture has confirmed two team members, with Sam Cantlon focusing on the firm's producer roster and the day-to-day management of Nieve Ella, while Sophia Gee has joined from Prolifica Management to oversee the day-to-day management of Hannah Grae.

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New A-Z book for kids inspired by AC/DC
Australia-based Love Police Books will next month publish a new children's picture book titled 'The AC/DC AB/CD High-Voltage Alphabet', basically teaching kids the alphabet though AC/DC themed rhymes.

The company published a number of similar books based around music genres in the 2000s, with the metal-themed version - 'M Is For Metal' - opening with A for Angus, ie Angus Young from AC/DC. It rhymes thus: "A is for Angus whose riffs are a hit / He's a grown man in a schoolboy outfit".

According to MusicFeeds, Young discovered 'M Is For Metal' during lockdown and subsequently approached the book publisher with the idea of doing a whole AC/DC based A-Z. Liking that proposal, Love Police Books got Paul McNeil - who co-designed 'M Is For Metal' - to put together the new alphabet book.

"What an honour it is to work on this book, and to have had a connection to Angus for the real deal stuff makes it even more wild and special", says Love Police's Brian 'BT' Taranto. "Yeah, it's a kids book, but any AC/DC or music fan will find something on every page. [McNeil] has done a sweet and rockin job. We are looking forward to educating another generation of rock and rollers!"

According to NME, in the new book "A is for Angus, who thinks it's good luck, to wear a school uniform, and walk like a duck".

'The AC/DC AB/CD High-Voltage Alphabet' is out on 11 Nov and you can order copies here.

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BBC podcast series looks at the K-pop phenomenon from a fan perspective
The BBC has posted a new podcast series exploring the evolution and global rise of K-pop from the perspective of six super fans. Hosted by journalist Lucy Ford, the Beeb says that the series "traces the evolution of the South Korean music genre from its beginnings in South Korea to its rise up the music charts to catapulting into mainstream global culture".

Ford adds: "I'm so excited to be hosting this series which looks at the history of K-pop, its place on the global stage and the real-life experiences of the people who love it - the stans! A lot of conversations about K-pop mischaracterise or leave fans out of the equation altogether, so I'm really THRILLED to be centring them in this conversation and letting them be the ones to tell their stories!"

"Having been a huge K-pop stan for so long", she goes on, "it's amazing to be a part of sharing with the world why it's so meaningful and fun for fans, and maybe - just maybe! - convert a few more newbies in the process".

As well as the fans, the series also features people involved in the K-pop business, plus Radio 1's Adele Roberts, who appears because she was the first person to play a track by BTS on the BBC pop station.

Roberts says: "In 2017, I gave BTS its first play on Radio 1, marking the beginning of my journey of discovering K-pop, meeting stans and icons and even travelling to South Korea. Of all aspects of K-pop, for me it's the fans that make this movement so special; the feeling of togetherness, kindness and inclusion that they embody is just incredible".

So yeah, basically, it's all about the fans, which is why they are the focus on this podcast. You can access 'K-Pop: A Stan Story' here.

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Blink 182 reunite with Tom DeLonge for new music and tour dates
Blink 182 have announced that they have reunited with guitarist Tom DeLonge, with tour dates and new music on the way.

DeLonge left the band in 2015 to focus on "non-musical activities", five years after the band reunited following a previous split in 2005. During his time away he became famous for his work on UFOs, although he did continue to make music too, recording a solo album as well as new material with his other band Angels & Airwaves.

Blink 182 continued on, and began talking to DeLonge again last year after bassist Mark Hoppus revealed that he had been diagnosed with cancer. Recently, DeLonge updated his Instagram bio to list Blink 182 as one of the bands he plays with - a fairly large hint that a reunion was on the horizon.

Now back together, the band's classic line-up will release their first new single together since 2011, 'Edging', this Friday.

Tickets for the new tour dates go on sale on Monday. Here's where and when you'll be able to see them in the UK and Ireland:

2 Sep: Glasgow, Hydro 4 Sep: Belfast, SSE Arena 5 Sep: Dublin, I3Arena 11 Oct: London, The O2 14 Oct: Birmingham, Utilita Arena 15 Oct: Manchester, AO Arena

Here's a little tour announcement video, featuring the kind of humour you've come to expect from Blink 182.

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DEALS

Sony Music Publishing has signed songwriter LostBoy - real name Pete Rycroft - best known for his work with Ava Max and Tom Greenan. "I'm so happy to be part of the Sony Music Publishing roster", he says. "The support from the whole team over the last couple of months has been amazing. A massive thank you to SMP's US and UK teams for making me feel so welcome. This next chapter looks so exciting thanks to you all".

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LIVE BUSINESS

Ticketmaster has launched its Ticketmaster Request tool, already available in North America, in the UK. It allows fans to register their interest in high demand shows as soon as they are announced. The first UK shows to use the tool will be Four Tet's three gigs at London's Alexandra Palace in May, via a partnership with promoter Eat Your Own Ears.

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APPOINTMENTS

Radiohead drummer Phil Selway has been announced as Ambassador for next year's Independent Venue Week. "I'm honoured to be an Ambassador for IVW in their tenth anniversary year", he says. "This past decade has seen IVW do incredible work in supporting and nurturing this vital musical community of independent venues. For me, these venues are the lifeblood of music in the UK, and after the great challenges they've faced these past few years, I'm excited to represent them in this way".

Venue operator ASM Global has hired former Live Nation exec Liam Thornton as EVP Strategy & Development. "This will drive tremendous value for private and municipal partners and ultimately guests", says CEO Ron Bension. "We're going to leverage the coming years for a period of unprecedented growth in our business space. Liam's extensive experience, particularly in creating new developments and enhancing existing assets, will provide far and away the most diverse and enriching opportunities the industry has ever seen".

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RELEASES

Babymetal have announced that they will release new album 'The Other One' on 24 Mar next year. There's no music out yet, but we know that it will be a concept album and there's a little teaser video here.

Redcar - aka Christine And The Queens - has released new single 'La Chanson Du Chevalier'. New album, 'Redcar Les Adorables Étoiles (Prologue)', is out on 11 Nov.

Serj Tankian has released new single 'I Spoke Up', taken from his upcoming EP 'Perplex Cities', which is out next week.

Dry Cleaning have released 'No Decent Shoes For Rain', the latest single from their second album 'Stumpwork', which is out next week. "'No Decent Shoes For Rain' is inspired by grief. Grief over past relationships, grief for loved ones who have died, and all the things that come with that; loneliness, numbness, yearning, ruminating about the past", says vocalist Florence Shaw

Leila Moss has released new single 'Vanishing Lands', featuring Gary Numan. "Numan's vocals fly in on the chorus like an alien archangel offering a last chance to consider the state of play", she says. The track is the first single from the Duke Spirit frontwoman's third solo album, 'Internal Working Model', which is out on 13 Jan.

DJ Yoda has teamed up with actor Lily James for new single 'Breath'. His new album, 'Prom Nite', is out on 18 Nov. "Lily used to live downstairs from me, and we always talked about making some music together", he says. "It wasn't easy with her insane schedule, but we eventually made it happen. We talked about our music tastes, found common ground, and tried to make something interesting. I'm super happy with the results!"

JFDR has signed to Houndstooth and released new single 'The Orchid'. "I call all my songs orchids", she says. "I am obsessed with the flower. It's a very cunning flower, its beauty has led it to become the most popular plant or flower in the world. It symbolises - among other things - fertility, and I was thinking a lot about rebirth and a new beginning. Fertility, creativity, beauty and mystery are all embodied by the orchid".

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AWARDS

GRM Daily has announced that its Rated Awards will be broadcast on E4 on 25 Oct, with performances from ArrDee, Clavish, Ms Banks, K-Trap, Knucks, Blade Brown, SL, Dreya Mac and Ivorian Doll.

The Jazz FM Awards have announced the winners of three of its prizes this year. Jools Holland will receive the Impact Award, Marcus Miller the Gold Award, and Norma Winstone the Lifetime Achievement Award. The ceremony will take place on 20 Oct at Shoreditch Town Hall.

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

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Mike Batt destroyed the Wombles master tapes so that they can't be remixed after he dies
I know you've all been sitting there, jittery and sweating, waiting for the big Wombles remasters. I don't think there's a person among us who doesn't wish we could listen to those records with a new, digitally beefed up bottom end.

Well, the bad news is, the one person who doesn't want that to happen is songwriter and producer Mike Batt. And he's now revealed that he's destroyed the original recordings in a bid to stop that from ever happening.

"I've destroyed many of the original multi-track tapes for The Wombles and my solo albums so people can't fuck around with them after I'm gone", he tells i. "I mixed them as I wanted them, not how some corporation or great-grandchild might like to remix them when I'm not around".

Batt was apparently inspired to get rid of the Wombles master tapes after learning that Giles Martin, son of producer George, had created an all-new mix of the Beatles 1966 album 'Revolver' - due for release on 28 Oct - from the original master tape.

This follows similar remasters for 'Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band', 'The White Album', 'Abbey Road' and 'Let It Be'.

"The Wombles aren't the Beatles", Batt acknowledges, just in case you were wondering. "I might look back and say I could've done with a clearer bass guitar on that track or I could've mixed it differently. But if I wanted to go back and change it I would. They aren't perfection but they are a faithful representation of what I offered to the world in 1974 and 1975".

Warming to his theme, he goes on: "Do you think the Eagles would want 'Hotel California' remixed when they're dead and gone? What's wrong with it as it is? What if the next generation came along and said John Constable was a great painter but these days we like to use a different colour for water, so let's just paint over that?"

Just to clarify, not all of the Beatles are dead yet. And presumably they're on board with the production and sale of the 407th versions of each of their albums. But if you think The Wombles are going to join them, you've got another thing coming.

That said, there's now AI technology that can split out tracks individually where master tapes aren't available, so maybe we'll get those Wombles remasters eventually anyway.

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