MPs to review BBC's local radio cuts as concerns mount about the future of BBC Introducing
The UK Parliament's Digital, Culture, Media & Sport Select Committee has announced a session next month that will put the spotlight on the cuts being made at the BBC to its local radio output in England. It comes as concerns mount in the music community regarding the impact those cuts could have on the BBC Music Introducing initiative.

Needing to find significant savings as a result of the UK government's decision to freeze the licence fee, BBC bosses recently announced plans to reduce the amount of content made by its network of local radio stations. Basically, for chunks of the day, local stations in each region of the country will broadcast the same programmes, while at 10pm each weekday the same late night show will air across the whole network.

The cutbacks at the BBC's local radio stations will be accompanied by an expansion of the broadcaster's local news content online, which BBC bosses say demonstrates that they remain committed to providing good local services around England. However, the cutbacks are likely to result in around 48 jobs being lost.

Confirming that the DCMS committee will be reviewing the changes to the BBC's local output, its chair Julian Knight MP says: "The planned cuts to programming have provoked genuine disquiet in communities up and down the country, where BBC local radio stations play a key role in providing local information that is increasingly unavailable elsewhere".

"As a public service broadcaster", he added, "the BBC must always have an eye on its duty to offer a distinct service and the committee will be questioning corporation bosses to make sure they have properly thought through the implications of moving towards a more regional model and concentrating on digital services. Any changes must be in the best interests of listeners and licence payers".

Within the music community, particular concerns have been expressed regarding what the cuts will mean for the BBC Music Introducing initiative which, of course, is centred on the various BBC Introducing shows that air on the Beeb's local stations, each one championing a local music scene and new artists emerging within it.

The host of BBC Introducing in Sussex and Surrey, Melita Dennett, this week confirmed on Twitter that all BBC Introducing presenters and producers are now on redundancy notice. She also expressed concern that the proposed changes will result in BBC Music losing the local connections that have been key to the success of the BBC Introducing scheme.

She wrote: "You may have heard about proposed cuts to BBC local radio which will seriously impact BBC Introducing and our connection to grassroots emerging artists, local venues, promoters and audiences. BBC Introducing is a valuable platform where artists can get their music directly heard at the BBC, with no agents or middlemen involved".

"The proposed cuts are savage, merging existing broadcast areas into incoherent blobs", she added. "It's the localness of what we do that's its strength. BBC Introducing builds relationships not only with artists, but venues, promoters, audiences. And regionalising shows will massively dilute those connections about which we're so passionate".

She continued: "In each area we have built up a relationship between all the elements of our local music scenes. This would be pulled apart if shows were subsumed into a vast regional area. But you can help! We have all received deep expressions of concern from our local musicians, venues, listeners, record labels, promoters, and we share your concerns. So please make your voice heard before it's too late!"

She urged those concerned about the future of BBC Introducing to communicate that concern via the BBC's online complaints page.

BACK TO THE TOP OF THE BULLETIN

Warner Music launches new label to highlight music from different emerging markets
Warner Music's Emerging Markets division has launched a brand new label called Out Of Order which will "highlight artists, music, cultures and communities from regions including Africa, India, the Middle East, Southeastern Europe and the Eastern Mediterranean".

It will mainly do that highlighting via a series of albums each of which will feature ten "original, unreleased, dance-leaning" tracks from a specific region. Those releases will also come with artwork created by a designer based in the region that is in the spotlight. In addition to the albums, there will also be weekly DJ mixes available via Audiomack, SoundCloud and YouTube.

The new venture will be supported by Warner's existing teams and affiliates in those markets, as well the Atlantic Records team in the US and the Parlophone team in the UK. It will be headed up by Selina Chowdhury, the major's Head of Marketing For Emerging Markets.

Says she: "I'm incredibly passionate about this initiative. There's so much unique and inspired international music that often doesn't have a global platform. We hope that Out Of Order will take music fans on an adventure and introduce them to sounds and artists they might not otherwise have had the chance to hear".

The first Out Of Order release is called 'OOO: AFRO' and has been put together in partnership with Warner Music Africa. It features a mix of afrobeats, amapiano and jouse tracks from the likes of Da Capo, Makhadzi, Moelogo, Oscar Mbo, P-Priime and Rouge. The artwork comes from rising Ghanaian designer Nyahan Tachie-Menson.

BACK TO THE TOP OF THE BULLETIN

Spotify starts testing User Choice Billing on Android devices
Spotify has begun piloting Google's new User Choice Billing system within its app on Android devices, giving users the option to sign up for a premium subscription within the app via the streaming service's own payments system.

In recent years, Spotify has been very critical of both Apple and Google regarding in-app payments on mobile devices running one of the two companies' respective operating systems - iOS or Android.

Those transactions have to be taken via the Apple or Google payment systems, both of which charge a 15-30% commission. Given that Spotify's own profit margin is only around 30%, it has to pass on those transaction fees to the subscriber. But that then makes the Spotify streaming service look more expensive than Apple and Google's own rival music services.

The other option - which is what Spotify ultimately decided to do - is to just not take in-app payments, so that users go to the Spotify website to sign up for a premium account. However, that makes upselling premium - and adding other monetisation tools like podcast memberships or direct-to-fan sales - all the more tricky. Especially as Apple also has rules regarding how you sign-post payment options outside the app.

Plenty of other app makers have likewise hit out at the Apple and Google app store rules, which they argue are anti-competitive, especially when the tech giants have their own competing products. Responding to that criticism, regulators and law-makers around the world have started to put pressure on both Apple and Google to change some of their rules regarding in-app payments.

Presumably keen to show those regulators and law-makers that it is making some concessions, earlier this year Google announced a pilot project to allow some app makers to integrate their own payments systems into their Android apps, providing paying via the Google system also remains an option.

Google will still receive a fee even when the app maker's own payments system is used and the specifics of that are not known. Nevertheless, many app makers see this scheme as a step in the right direction.

Spotify was the first company to sign up to the pilot and is now the first app maker to start actually using what is being dubbed User Choice Billing. It confirmed this week that it had started rolling out the "first test implementation" of this new approach.

It said in a blog post: "In March, we announced plans with Google to introduce a first-of-its-kind in-app purchase experience on Android devices called User Choice Billing. This experience would give Spotify users the freedom to subscribe and make purchases using the payment option of their choice".

"We've been hard at work building it ever since", it added. "Earlier this week, we began rolling out the first test implementation of UCB to Spotify subscribers in select markets around the world. Going forward, Android users will soon be able to choose how to pay for their Spotify subscription in the way that best suits them. In the coming weeks, we'll expand our test to even more markets".

"Spotify has been publicly advocating for platform fairness and expanded payment options for years", it went on. "We believe that fair and open platforms enable better, frictionless consumer experiences that also empower developers to imagine, innovate and thrive. We're excited to be the first to pilot UCB with Google and we're especially pleased that our partnership opens up new opportunities for other developers as well".

"Google has taken a bold step to help level the playing field, but this is just the beginning", it concluded. "We're looking forward to testing, learning and iterating a perpetually improving experience for our users in markets all around the world".

BACK TO THE TOP OF THE BULLETIN

BBC extends call for evidence in Tim Westwood inquiry
The BBC has announced that Gemma White - the lawyer who was appointed in August to examine what was known regarding concerns about Tim Westwood's conduct during his time working for the broadcaster - has extended her call for evidence. Jahnine Davis, a safeguarding expert, has also been appointed to assist with the review.

White was appointed to undertake an independent review into Westwood's time at the BBC following an internal investigation which was in turn launched in response to reports published by BBC News and The Guardian earlier this year - and a BBC Three documentary - in which a number of women accused the DJ of sexual misconduct.

Some of those women said that, after they agreed to meet with the DJ to discuss their careers in music, he had pressured them into sex. Others claimed that he had groped them as they posed for photographs at events. Many of those alleged incidents occurred between 1994 to 2013, when Westwood worked for the BBC.

BBC management initially said that they were not aware of any formal complaints having been made against Westwood that pre-dated this year's documentary. However, they subsequently admitted that they had found some old complaints in the files. The independent review is looking into those and other complaints about Westwood's conduct, the extent to which BBC management were aware of the allegations, and how they dealt with them at the time.

Commenting on her work so far, White said yesterday: "It has been just over a month since the BBC published my call for evidence for the review and I want to thank everyone who has come forward with information. Some of you have told me how difficult it has been for you to take the decision to contact me. I understand that speaking about sensitive matters can be painful and there are many things that you have needed to consider before doing so".

"Others who have written or spoken to me have wondered whether the information they have to contribute is relevant, or sufficiently important - and my answer to that is, simply, yes", she added. "I have been, and remain, keen to hear from everyone who has anything to say to me. It is important to me that I hear from everyone who wishes to speak and I have therefore decided to extend the period for people to get in touch".

Confirming the involvement of Davis in the review moving forward, White went on: "I am pleased to say the BBC has appointed an independent safeguarding expert at my request, to assist me with aspects of the review. Jahnine Davis is a respected and experienced expert in her field and she is available to join me for conversations or meetings".

White then concluded: "To anyone who sees this who may have something to share, please feel free to contact me directly and if you would like Jahnine to be involved, please just let me know. If you have any questions, please ask them. And if you have any concerns about providing information, please let me know what they are. I understand that revisiting experiences can be very difficult and want to do all I can to make the process as comfortable for you as possible".

The call for evidence will now stay open until 2 Dec - more information here.

Westwood has previously denied all the claims made against him, with a representative earlier this year stating: "Tim Westwood strongly denies all allegations of inappropriate behaviour. In a career that has spanned 40 years, there have never been any complaints made against him officially or unofficially. Tim Westwood strongly rejects all allegations of wrongdoing".

--------------------------------------------------

Bauer buys another Irish radio station
Bauer Media is further expanding its radio operations in Ireland by buying Cork-based Red FM.

The media firm became a significant player in Ireland's radio industry last year by acquiring the Irish side of the Communicorp business, and with it national stations Today FM and Newstalk and some local stations too, including Spin stations in both Dublin and the south west of the country.

Confirming that it is now adding Red FM to its Irish network, Bauer said yesterday: "Bauer Media Audio is committed to ensuring that Red FM continues to grow and develop, providing investment and innovation to create an even better listener experience for the people of Cork, and allowing Red FM to continue providing the music, entertainment and great local news and information that listeners value".

Then bragging about its impact on the Irish radio industry since the Communicorp acquisition, it added: "Under Bauer Media Audio leadership, Irish radio brands Today FM, Newstalk and Spin have all increased their audience listenership, in addition to being recognised at the annual IMRO Radio Awards for their successes. The business has also invested to launch the GoLoud podcast network - home to some of Ireland's most listened to podcasts - and invested in audioXi - Ireland's largest digital audio advertising exchange".

Commenting on the Red FM deal - which is still subject to regulator approval - Bauer's President Of Audio Richard Dawkins says: "Cork's Red FM is an important contributor to Cork's media and cultural landscape, providing local audiences with much loved entertainment and essential local news and information. Red FM is a fantastic addition to the Bauer Media Audio Ireland portfolio, and we are excited to support its future development".

Meanwhile, Red FM CEO Diarmuid O'Leary adds: "Over the past two decades, Cork's Red FM has grown to become one of the region's most popular radio stations, informing and entertaining listeners across the city and county".

"I'd like to thank everyone who have been a part of this journey for their contribution, in particular the staff at the radio station, who have been central to our success over the last 20 years", he goes on. "Red FM is now ready to embark on a new chapter, and I'm sure that as a valued part of Bauer Media Audio, the station will continue to soar to even greater heights".

BACK TO THE TOP OF THE BULLETIN

Lorde is the latest artist to discuss the challenges of touring in 2022
Lorde is the latest artist to go public about the challenges facing the live music sector at the moment, explaining how for an increasing number of artists the economics of touring currently don't add up.

Surging costs and increased competition caused by the COVID shutdowns of 2020 and 2021 have had a big impact on the live music industry this year, hitting the grassroots and middle-level shows the hardest, because they already operated on pretty tight profit margins.

Ticket prices need to increase on those kinds of shows to make things viable again, but everyone is nervous about price rises given the current cost of living crisis.

Santigold and Animal Collective are among the artists who have previously spoken about the challenges of touring at the moment, confirming that the economics just don't add up for an increasing number of shows. Lorde says that she is lucky to be operating at the level where shows are still generally financially viable, but even at that level there is increased risk which results in increased stress.

Outlining the challenges faced by the wider artist community in her latest bulletin to fans, she writes: "For artists, promoters and crews, things are at an almost unprecedented level of difficulty. It's a storm of factors. Let's start with three years' worth of shows happening in one. Add global economic downturn and then add the totally understandable wariness for concertgoers around health risks".

"On the logistical side there's things like immense crew shortages, extremely overbooked trucks and tour buses and venues, inflated flight and accommodation costs, ongoing general COVID costs, and truly mind boggling freight costs", she goes on. "To freight a stage set across the world can cost up to three times the pre-pandemic price right now. I don't know shit about money, but I know enough to understand that no industry has a profit margin that high".

"Ticket prices would have to increase to start accommodating even a little of this", she notes, "but absolutely no one wants to charge their harried and extremely-compassionate-and-flexible audience any more fucking money. Nearly every tour has been besieged with cancellations and postponements and promises and letdowns, and audiences have shown such understanding and such faith, that between that and the post-COVID wariness about getting out there at all, scaring people away by charging the true cost ain't an option. All we want to do is play for you".

Confirming that artists like her, who are playing the bigger shows, can still more or less make it work, Lorde then explains: "For pretty much every artist selling less tickets than I am, touring has become a demented struggle to break even or face debt. For some, touring is completely out of the question, even if they were to sell the whole thing out! The math doesn't make sense".

"Understandably, all of this takes a toll - on crews, on promoters and on artists", she adds. "You'll notice a ton of artists cancelling shows citing mental health concerns in the past year, and I really think the stress of this stuff is a factor - we're a collection of the world's most sensitive flowers who also spent the last two years inside, and maybe the task of creating a space where people's pain and grief and jubilation can be held night after night with a razor thin profit margin and dozens of people to pay is feeling like a teeny bit much".

"Me personally? I'm doing pretty good", she confirms. "You guys have come to the shows in such mammoth numbers - we sold almost 20,000 tickets in London, like what the hell - and not having crippling stage fright hanging over me for the first time is such a fucking blessing that you could tell me I had to cycle from city to city and I'd still be loving it. But I'm not immune to the stress - just a month ago I was looking at a show that was pretty undersold and panicking, only for it to sell the remaining 2000 tickets in ten days. Wild stuff".

Some concludes by writing: "I wanted to put all of this in your minds to illustrate that nothing's simple when it comes to touring at the moment, and if your faves are confusing you with their erratic moves, some of this could be playing a part".

BACK TO THE TOP OF THE BULLETIN

RELEASES

Rihanna has released another new single, 'Born Again' - once again taken from the soundtrack of 'Black Panther: Wakanda Forever', but not originally included on the soundtrack album when it was released last week.

Stormzy has released new single 'Firebabe', featuring his 0207 Def Jam label mate Debbie plus Sampha and Jacob Collier. "It was a session I'll never forget, for the rest of my life", he says of recording the track. "It was extremely special and everyone in the room understood that. We were making something that hopefully, God willing, lives forever. Something that has soul and feeling and it came from a really pure place. We took a truth and made some art from it".

RM from BTS has announced that he will release his debut solo album, 'Indigo', on 2 Dec.

Becky Hill has released new single 'Only You', which also soundtracks this year's McDonald's Christmas advert. "I am so pleased to be working with McDonald's once again for this year's Christmas campaign", she says. "This year in particular so many families and young people are struggling with the cost of living and I'm so glad that 10p from every download is donated directly to BBC Children In Need - it's humbling to see the work that this fantastic charity does and I'm proud to play my part in supporting the young people it helps".

Kim Petras has released new single 'If Jesus Was A Rock Star'.

Stefflon Don is back with new single 'The One'. "I can't wait for you all to hear this track", she says. "It's been a long time coming! 'The One' is a switch up from [previous single] 'Clockwork' with a more singing vibe. This should give you a feel for the different vibes, sounds and influences to come on [upcoming debut album] 'Island 54'".

Patrick Wolf has shared his first new single for ten years, 'Enter The Day'. He's also announced that he will release a new EP, titled 'The Night Safari', next year.

The Blessed Madonna has released new single 'Serotonin Moonbeams'. "It's gotten an incredible response since I tested it the first time in Brazil on tour", she says of the track. "It was written on one of those days where I was running from the production console to the sofa to bang out lyrics with Uffie and Jin Jin. I remember being so embarrassed to suggest, 'Bet I hit you with that bad bitch, thunder lightning, super frightening yeah!' But when I did, they just howled and we knew we were onto something".

Don Letts has released 'Outta Sync', the title track of his debut solo album, which is set for release on 28 Apr. "For better or worse this is me, although I ain't saying I've got it down, as the lyrics in the single's chorus readily acknowledges", he says. "Ultimately the album's a soundtrack to my mind with some cool bass lines, mirroring the sum total of my cultural journey and reflecting the duality of my existence, which is black and British".

Yunè Pinku has released new single 'Fai Fighter'. The song, she says, "is a sort of homage to the chaos of vulnerability. I imagined it existing in a metaverse arena or a futuristic realm of some sorts. I think for me I struggle to articulate the meaning of this track because it's much more of a feeling than a specific word. But it's sort of a phoenix rising, an embrace of femininity".

FaltyDL has released the video for 'One Way Or Another', featuring Mykki Blanco. The track is taken from his new album, 'A Nurse To My Patience', which is out today.

--------------------------------------------------

GIGS & TOURS

Razorlight have announced UK tour dates in April, concluding with a show at Brixton Academy on 29 Apr. Commenting on the reunion of the band's classic line-up, drummer Andy Burrows says: "I had to go and chat with Johnny [Borrell] and make things good. If I didn't, I'd have gone on thinking about it for the rest of my life, that we should've met up, we should've played together again, it was too special to leave behind". A best of compilation called 'Razorwhat?' is also set for release on 9 Dec.

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

BACK TO THE TOP OF THE BULLETIN

Doja Cat is no longer known as Christmas on Twitter, after Elon Musk saves the day
Doja Cat is no longer called Christmas. That's the big news today.

The rapper changed her name on Twitter earlier this week to the prematurely festive moniker. It was meant to be a temporary change, but a glitch in the system - seemingly as a result of the social media platform's switch to a subscription set-up for verified accounts - left her (and others) unable to subsequently change her Twitter name to anything else.

There's been an awful lot going down at Twitter since its acquisition by Elon Musk, of course. That has resulted in various changes going on behind the scenes, in particular around verified accounts and the subscription package that Musk sees as being key to to the social media firm's future existence.

Stuck with Christmas as her Twitter name, Doja Cat tweeted yesterday: "How do I change it, also fuck you Elon". Then, slightly more diplomatically, she tagged the new Twitter owner into another tweet, pleading: "I don't wanna be Christmas forever @elonmusk. Please help, I've made a mistake".

Having fired most of Twitter's employees, Musk did actually take on the roll of tech support himself, responding: "Working on it! Pretty funny though".

Last night he informed her: "You should be able to change your name now".

Musk was indeed true to his word, and Doja Cat is now no longer known as Christmas on her Twitter profile. She gratefully responded: "Thank you Elon".

And so, that is why, if you're checking out Doja Cat on Twitter today, she is currently going by the name Fart.

BACK TO THE TOP OF THE BULLETIN