Artists rally behind American Music Fairness Act ahead of Congressional meeting
40 more artists have added their names to an open letter calling on lawmakers in the US to support the American Music Fairness Act, which would force AM/FM radio stations in the country to pay royalties to artists and labels for the first time. The additional signatories were revealed ahead of a session of the Judiciary Committee of the US House Of Representatives later today which will discuss those proposed copyright reforms.

US copyright law is unusual in that it does not provide full performing rights for sound recordings, meaning AM/FM radio stations do not need to get a licence from or pay royalties to artists and labels. The record industry has been campaigning for years to get that changed, but so far with out success. The latest proposals for a radio royalty are in the American Music Fairness Act.

The radio industry strongly opposes the proposals, and continues to argue that artists and labels get free promo when their recordings are broadcast, and that they should be happy with that. And the US radio sector's trade body has said that the American Music Fairness Act would introduce an "onerous performance fee that would irrevocably damage local radio".

However, the proposals are widely support by the music community, in the US and around the world. An open letter organised by the musicFIRST Coalition last month - which is what these 40 artists have just signed - states: "The United States continues to be the only democratic nation in the world where artists like us are not compensated when our music is played on AM/FM radio".

Specifically addressing the judiciary committee over in the US Senate, the letter continues: "Thankfully, legislation was just introduced to right this injustice that has robbed artists of their fair compensation for decades. We urge you to join us in the fight for fair compensation for music creators by supporting the American Music Fairness Act".

"For decades now", it goes on, "corporate broadcasters have used an antiquated loophole to play unlimited music for free. We have watched as giant radio corporations have continued to grow, raking in billions in advertising dollars while refusing to pay a single cent to us, the artists behind the music that attracts their advertisers in the first place and makes their entire business model possible".

The letter also notes that, because there is no radio royalty for artists and labels in the US, American artists often miss out on radio royalties in some other countries too, even when their music is played there. That's because the music industries in those other countries have set up their radio licensing systems so that monies don't flow out to artists and/or labels in markets where no radio royalty exists, ie countries from which no money flows back.

"This unjust status quo not only harms American artists at home, but also hurts us abroad", the letter goes on. "The vast majority of foreign nations - those who do already pay artists for radio airplay - currently withhold royalties from American music creators when our songs get played in their countries, simply because the United States does not reciprocate by paying their artists here".

The impact of this particular US copyright law quirk on international income is also discussed in a new op-ed piece in Billboard from Michael Huppe, the CEO of SoundExchange, the collecting society that collects royalties for American artists and labels from online and satellite radio services, which do have to pay royalties under the US system.

The missing radio royalty in the US, he writes, "is used as an excuse by many countries around the world to withhold payments to US artists when their music is played overseas".

"European countries typically pay royalties to foreign artists, but some use US broadcasters' refusal to pay for AM/FM radio plays as an excuse for denying those royalties to American artists. Given that American music is the most popular in the world, this amounts to hundreds of millions of dollars in lost income for American creators - every year".

"Think that's bad?", he continues. "It gets even worse. Some countries (such as France) do collect royalties on behalf of Americans, but that money never gets to the rightful recipients in the United States. Instead, they divert it towards their local artists or to fund local 'cultural' programmes".

SoundExchange has actually been busy of late trying to fight the music industries in Europe that don't allow radio royalties to flow to US artists and/or labels. Though some music organisations and collecting societies in Europe have been fighting back, arguing that it's not fair to allow radio royalties to be sent over to the US record industry when nothing flows in the other direction.

Both SoundExchange and its counterparts in Europe do agree on one thing though - that the best solution would be the passing of the American Music Fairness Act, which would render any dispute over the flow of international radio royalties between Europe and the US redundant.

"This battle to protect American interests in Europe has been fought for a while", Huppe says, "but the problem could be solved instantly if Congress passed the American Music Fairness Act, legislation to finally grant recording artists a performance right for AM/FM".

Although the US radio lobby continues to campaign fiercely against any new royalty obligation, the music community hopes that the House Judiciary Committee considering the proposals in the American Music Fairness Act later today is a sign that their position on all this is gaining some momentum in Washington. We shall see.

The artists who have just signed the musicFIRST Coalition open letter are as follows: Harry Belafonte, Common, The Roots, Dionne Warwick, Jack White, Elvis Costello, David Byrne, Four Tops, Temptations, the estate of Mary Wilson of The Supremes, Randy Travis, Roseanne Cash, Becky G, Julia Michaels, Nile Rodgers, They Might Be Giants, OK Go, Aimee Mann, Matthew Montfort, Maggie Vail, Willie Nile, David Pack, Lizz Wright, The Stone Foxes, The RTs, Satellite Mode, Mark Charles, Blake Morgan, Aleks Syntek, Los Rabanes, El Gran Silencio, Inspector, Jenny & The Mexicats, Kemo The Blaxican, Mac McCaughan of Superchunk, Jimi Haha of Jimmie's Chicken Shack), Samuray, Suzanne Vega, The Whites and Ricky Skaggs.

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AIM names Silvia Montello as new CEO
The UK's Association Of Independent Music has appointed Silvia Montello as its new CEO. She replaces Paul Pacifico, who is controversially leaving to join The Saudi Music Commission.

"I am really excited to be joining the team in the new year and honoured to continue spearheading the great work AIM has done since its inception to support and champion the UK's independent music community", says Montello.

"Our industry is evolving at an ever-increasing pace, that evolution bringing with it both fresh opportunities around music consumption and creation, audience development, new technology solutions, alongside existing and future challenges for our community to work together to overcome".

"AIM will continue its commitment to ensuring our independent creators and rightsholders can reap the maximum benefits, striving towards a truly diverse and inclusive industry that nurtures great talent from every genre, background and identity", she adds.

AIM Chair Nadia Khan - who oversaw the recruitment process - comments: "On behalf of my colleagues on the AIM board, I'm delighted to welcome Silvia Montello to the team. Silvia is well-known to many of our members, she has been an active participant and engaged member of the independent community for many years and will be a fantastic leader for AIM".

"Her extensive industry background, contact base, business development skills, passion for diversity and inclusion, and vision for the future bring renewed leadership to AIM", she adds.

On the process of hiring Montello, Khan goes on: "It was an honour to lead the recruitment process and a huge thank you to Kate Reilly for all her invaluable support. It was important to me that we ran a fair and transparent process, and that we engaged with a diverse and broad range of candidates".

"From the outset, I set diversity targets and personally encouraged a wide range of candidates to apply, including Silvia, as I admired her work in the industry. I'm very excited about this new chapter for AIM and look forward to working with Silvia in her new role as CEO".

Montello will take up her new role in January, moving over from her current job as CEO of the Association For Electronic Music. She has previously held senior roles at Universal Music, BMG and AWAL. She is also co-founder of #remarQabl, a label services and publishing company supporting new talent from under-represented backgrounds, and is a trustee of Help Musicians.

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Dipesh Parmar and Amy Wheatley promoted to Columbia leadership roles
Sony Music UK has made two new appointments at its Columbia Records division. Dipesh Parmar becomes President, while Amy Wheatley is now Managing Director.

Parmar came to Sony Music in 2016 via its acquisition of the Ministry Of Sound record label. Wheatley was previously Marketing Manager at Columbia, before moving over to the Ministry Of Sound label in 2017 as General Manager, and then becoming its Managing Director in 2021.

"Dipesh and Amy are two of the most talented, respected, and well-liked executives in the business", says Sony Music UK & Ireland CEO Jason Illey. "Dipesh is a true A&R man who immerses himself in music and continually drives artists to achieve success. Amy is passionate and ambitious and has played an integral role in the evolution of Ministry Of Sound".

"They both think differently and are committed to cultivating a vibrant and talented team of executives and an incredible roster of artists", he goes on. "I am inspired by what they have achieved at Ministry Of Sound, and I am confident that they will drive Columbia into the future".

Parmar adds: "To be appointed President of one of the world's most iconic labels is truly humbling, an absolute honour and one the proudest moments of my career".

"I would like to thank Jason Iley and [overall Sony Music CEO] Rob Stringer for this opportunity and for their support", he goes on. "I would also like to congratulate Amy, with whom I'm hugely excited to build on the label's culture and success. I'm very much looking forward to working with the greatly experienced and talented teams and to continue the legacy of Columbia Records".

Meanwhile, Wheatley comments: "What an incredible opportunity to contribute to one of the greatest labels in world. I am excited to get started and collaborate with the legendary artists, amazing managers and the brilliant team who power Columbia Records. Leading this iconic label alongside Dipesh is monumental, and I want to thank Jason and Rob for putting their trust in us".

The new appointments at Sony follow the recent departure of previous Columbia President Ferdy Unger-Hamilton. They also mean that the Ministry Of Sound label will now sit under Columbia.

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Radio 3 announces plans to move at least 50% of programme making to Salford
The BBC has announced that production for eight programmes that air on Radio 3 will relocate to Salford over the next two years, part of wider efforts by the broadcaster to better spread its operations around the country and become less London-centric.

Shifting Radio 3 programmes in particular is part of a specific plan to "create a UK-wide classical music hub in the North, maximising new partnerships and opportunities, reaching out to new audiences and diversifying voices heard on the station". Fun stuff!

The programmes moving up north for some radio making good times include 'Music Matters', 'Jazz Record Requests', 'Essential Classics', 'Through The Night' and 'Sunday Breakfast'. The programmes 'The Listening Service' and 'Afternoon Concert' are both already partly made out of the BBC's north west base, but will eventually move all their production there. And 'Words And Music' will also increase its Salford production.

"As a result", the Beeb said yesterday, "by 2024/25 at least 50% of production hours for BBC Radio 3 will be from Salford. In addition to this Radio 3 move, Simon Webb - recently announced as the BBC's first Head of Orchestras And Choirs - will be based there from January 2023, and the incoming new Controller of Radio 3 and BBC Proms, to be announced, will spend their time across both London and Salford bases".

Current Radio 3 Controller Alan Davey adds: "Strengthening Radio 3's roots in the north of England, with a continued and important presence in London, will ensure the station holds its place at the forefront of leading and developing classical music and culture for the whole of the country. We hope to support and develop a wider pool of established and emerging talent, and build new partnerships with different communities in the north as well as with the wider classical music industry".

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St Vincent to host rock history podcast
St Vincent is to host a new podcast on the history of rock music. 'History Listen: Rock' will be available via Amazon's Audible platform in January.

"It's been so fun going back through rock history and revisiting some of my favourite artists and songs, including a bunch that don't get the recognition they should", says St Vincent. "When you put it all together, you can see how history repeats and echoes through generations, how music links the past to the present, artist-to-artist. And some of these stories are absolutely wild".

The series will look at Big Mama Thornton recording the original version of 'Hound Dog', the Sex Pistols' doomed US tour, Bad Brains going to prison, and more.

Co-founder of the production company leading on the project, Brady Sadler from Double Elvis, says: "At Double Elvis, we tell stories about music to entertain and provoke audiences to think differently. 'History Listen' will do both of these things by taking listeners on a journey through the historical and cultural progression of music, and we couldn't be more excited to collaborate with Audible on this groundbreaking series given their history as a true pioneer in spoken-word audio".

The show will be available on Audible from 12 Jan.

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Caitlin LM releases new single, Root
Caitlin LM has released her latest single 'Root', a stirring track driven by entwined electronic and classical instruments underneath her beautiful, tension-filled vocals.

"Sometimes we are faced with choices where the right decision seems obvious, yet deep down we know something isn't quite right", she says. "'Root' is about listening to your gut instinct and staying true to what you believe in. It's a reminder to keep your values close and remember your inherent worth, honouring your inner voice when things feel difficult".

Having turned to music as a way of processing her grief after losing both of her parents in 2019 and 2020, she emerged from lockdown with a collection of powerful songs. 'Root' follows two previous singles, 'I Know You Know' and 'When Was The Last Time'.

Before the year is out, Caitlin has two Sofar Sounds shows, in London on 11 Dec and Bristol on 17 Dec. More live dates are lined up for early 2023.

Listen to 'Root' here.

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DEALS

BMG has acquired various music rights from Chris Rea, just as his song 'Driving Home For Christmas' starts its annual rise up the charts. "Chris Rea's integrity as a musician and his commitment to his art is legendary", says BMG's UK President Repertoire & Marketing, Alistair Norbury. "BMG is proud to become custodian of his music interests".

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RELEASES

Little Simz has announced that she will release a new album called 'No Thank You' at some point in the future. "Emotion is energy in motion", she says. "Honour your truth and feelings. eradicate fear. Boundaries are important". And that's all the information we have about that.

A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie has teamed up with Kodak Black for new track 'Water (Drowning Part 2)'. "After I made this [track], everyone I played it for said it felt like the sequel to [2017 track] 'Drowning'", says the producer. "So it was only right that I had Kodak jump on this to make another classic record". His new album 'Me Vs Myself' is out on Friday.

Orbital have released new single 'Ringa Ringa (The Old Pandemic Folk Song)', featuring The Mediaeval Baebes. "It was a track made in the pandemic and I felt a real pull to use the vocal from 'Ring O'Roses', the original pandemic song from the Middle Ages", says Paul Hartnoll. "It made me feel a connection with all those who suffered before without the help of our modern technology. The music reflects the modern world while The Mediaeval Baebes vocals take us back to the times it has happened before, an old song becomes relevant again".

Young Fathers have released new single 'Tell Someone'. Their new album, 'Heavy Heavy', is out on 3 Feb.

Hamish Hawk has released new single 'Money'. "Who buys a jacket from a gunmaker? That is the question", he says. "'Money' is a polemical song, and it's me at my most cynical. It's a list of cheap shots and petty grievances I had banging around my head at the time of writing. Small talk, rat races and lengthy weddings all come under fire. It's really no surprise that it turns out I'm the stick in the mud. What's more, I'm interminably short on cash". His new album, 'Angel Numbers', is out on 3 Feb.

Mumdance has released new track 'Artificial Intelligence'.

Kate NV has released new single 'Oni (They)' and announced that she will release new album 'Wow' on 3 Mar.

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GIGS & TOURS

Kasabian have announced that they will play Leeds Millennium Square on 7 Jul. Tickets go on sale tomorrow.

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

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Apple Music unveils new karaoke service
Apple Music is getting "an exciting new feature that allows users to sing along to their favourite songs with adjustable vocals and real-time lyrics".

Those are Apple's words obviously, but I left them unedited just in case you want to, I don't know, sing-a-long. You can pick your own tune. I went with 'Bohemian Rhapsody'.

"Adjustable vocals", in case you wondered, give "users control over a song's vocal levels - they can sing with the original artist vocals, take the lead, or mix it up on millions of songs in the Apple Music catalogue".

As for "real-time lyrics", that basically means "users can sing along to their favourite songs with animated lyrics that dance to the rhythm of the vocals".

And if you're thinking that's all you're getting with Apple's big new karaoke feature - known as Apple Music Sing - you'd be well wrong. You're forgetting the "background vocals" feature where "vocal lines sung simultaneously can animate independently from the main vocals to make it easier for users to follow".

Not to mention "duet view", where "multiple vocalists show on opposite sides of the screen to make duets or multi-singer tracks easy to sing along to".

Lovely stuff. "Apple Music's lyrics experience is consistently one of the most popular features on our service", reckons Oliver Schusser, Apple's VP of Apple Music and Beats.

"We already know our users all over the world love to follow along to their favourite songs", he reckons onwards, "so we wanted to evolve this offering even further to enable even more engagement around music through singing. It's really a lot of fun, our customers are going to love it".

The Apple customers doing the singing might love it. The Apple customers living with those doing the singing, possibly less so. Apple Music Sing will be available to the streaming service's subscribers worldwide from later this month.

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