Friday 28 February 2014, 12:52 | By Paul Vig

Approved: Back To 95 Thirteenth Birthday at Club Colosseum

Club Tip CMU Approved

B295 returns to the soon-to-close Club Colosseum, the landmark 90s venue for house and UK garage, for a thirteenth birthday party. And the big draw is Matt ‘Jam’ Lamont (pictured), a true UKG stalwart and one half of the Tuff Jam project.

This Saturday he’ll be playing a two hour set, backed by Norris ‘The Boss’ Windross, Ramsey & Fen, Hermit, Creed and Buzzard in the main room. US vocalist Gerideau will also be playing his first live show in the UK for five years, with soulful aplomb on on classic anthems including ‘Masquerade’.

With four rooms of sounds covering jungle classics, deep house, 80s soul and R&B, Back To 95 will whip up some proper old skull party atmosphere for its birthday celebrations. And heading up the old skool jungle/DnB room are Jumping Jack Frost and Phantasy, while Rampage and the Firin Squad are let loose in the 80s R&B and classics room.

Sounds like a great night out, taking you back to the future of UKG.

Saturday 1 Mar, Club Colosseum, 1 Nine Elms Lane, Vauxhall, London SW8 5NQ, 10pm-5am, £17.50-£20, more info here.

Ministry Of Sound settles with Spotify

Business News Digital Legal Live Business Top Stories

So, this is absolutely no fun whatsoever. We love a bitter court battle here at CMU. And we were quite looking forward to getting some clarity on whether copyright exists in lists of records. So, any talk of sensible and “amicable” out-of-court settlements is not what we wanted to hear at all.

Though presumably the last thing Spotify needs during its sprint to IPO is a bitchy court battle with a high profile music brand, cos that won’t fit with the “we’re the future of music, and the labels think we’re FAB” mantra that will run through any initial public offering prospectus, if and when such a thing is released. And Ministry, presumably, knew that.

So yes, the Ministry Of Sound record label’s legal battle with Spotify is over, the two parties reaching this “amicable” settlement. As previously reported, Ministry objected to Spotify carrying user-generated playlists that replicate the tracklistings of its compilation albums. There were issues around the use of the Ministry trademark in the names of these playlists, but also a claim that copyright should exist in the actual tracklisting, and therefore nicking those track line-ups and plonking them on Spotify constituted copyright infringement.

When Ministry sued on the issue last September, the music group’s boss man Lohan Presencer said that Spotify had been unresponsive to his company’s concerns. He told The Guardian: “It’s been incredibly frustrating: we think it’s been very clear what we’re arguing, but there has been a brick wall from Spotify”.

Confirming that an agreement had now been reached, Presencer told reporters yesterday: “Ministry Of Sound welcomes Spotify’s willingness to work together to reach an agreement”.

Meanwhile Spotify’s James Duffett-Smith said: “Spotify and Ministry Of Sound are pleased to have reached a resolution on amicable terms”.

So, that’s suitably vague. Though sources have told The Guardian that under the deal Spotify has agreed to stop any offending playlists on its system from being searchable by others, and will prevent users from ‘following’ those lists if they find them through other means. However, they won’t actually delete user-created playlists old or new that replicate Ministry compilation tracklistings.

It’s thought that some kind of Ministry app within Spotify might also be under discussion, which would have some kickback for the music firm if people access tracks via its curated playlists (because Ministry itself often doesn’t own the songs or recordings on its complications, it wouldn’t receive royalties for the tracks themselves being played).

The settlement means that the issue of whether copyright exists in curated playlists will not now be considered in court. With some streaming services distinguishing themselves in a crowded market place by hiring curators to make thematic playlists especially for their subscribers, it will be interesting to see what happens if users nick those lists and replicate them as user-generated playlists on rival streaming platforms.

Trackitdown sold, following administration

Digital Top Stories

Dance music-focussed download store Trackitdown has been sold, after the company behind it went into administration last week.

Administrator Simon Rowe of Milsted Langdon confirmed to CMU that he was appointed administrator of the digital music firm on 20 Feb, adding that he had already completed an asset sale which will allow the service to continue to operate as normal.

Details of the new owner have not yet been confirmed.

As I Lay Dying frontman pleads guilty to hiring a hitman to kill his wife

Artist News Legal

Tim Lambesis, the lead singer of Christian metal group As I Lay Dying, has pleaded guilty to attempting to hire a hitman to murder his estranged wife.

Having originally pleaded not guilty to the crime, Lambesis has seemingly reached a plea deal with prosecutors which will likely result in a nine year prison term. The frontman remains free on $2 million bail for the time being, with formal sentencing due to take place on 2 May.

As previously reported, the man Lambesis thought was a hitman, and who he asked to kill his wife, was actually an undercover police officer. Court papers reveal that the rocker originally asked his personal trainer at his gym if he knew anyone who could murder his wife, with whom he was involved in a custody battle over their three adopted children. The trainer reported Lambesis to the police, who arranged for the undercover cop to meet with the singer.

Despite Lambesis originally pleading not guilty, his lawyer subsequently stated that his client had been using steroids at the time of the hitman query, and that the drugs had “dangerously altered his thinking”.

BMG UK signs top One Direction songwriter Wayne Hector

Business News Deals Labels & Publishers

Songwriter/producer Wayne Hector, creator of 1D’s ‘Best Song Ever’, has done an exclusive publishing deal with BMG Chrysalis UK. It’s applicable all over the world too. Fancy that.

The versatile hitmaker, who prior to his BMG contract was signed to Warner/Chappell, has written (or co-written) in excess of 30 number one singles, and his hits include Nicki Minaj’s ‘Starships’, Westlife’s ‘Flying Without Wings’, Dappy’s ironic smash ‘Good Intentions’, and in the past year, tracks by John Newman, Shane Filan and pop’s most popular Jameses; Mssrs Blunt and Arthur.

Quite the CV, isn’t it? BMG Chrysalis UK’s EVP Alexi Cory Smith sure thinks so, and says this of having Wayne on side: “Wayne Hector stands in the very first rank of pop writers in the world today, and we are extremely pleased to have the opportunity to work with him”.

BMG’s Senior Creative Director Kate Sweetsur adds: “Wayne’s track record speaks for itself, and we are very excited about working with him across BMG’s international network and particularly in the US”.

And Wayne Hector’s manager Jackie Davidson adds: “We are enthusiastic and looking forward to integrating with the BMG family, both here in the UK and abroad and am sure it will help enhance and build upon what has been achieved to date”.

Australian record industry reports revenue slide for 2013

Business News Labels & Publishers

Having the record industries in various European countries issuing upbeat end of year financial statements reporting increased revenues in 2013 has become a little trying, don’t you think? So good news, the Australian record industry saw income fall 11.6% last year. Yeah, obviously that’s not really good news.

CD sales continue to slump in the Australian market, down about a quarter year-on-year, and digital growth wasn’t sufficient to compensate for that. But digital is growing, up 4.3% overall, and accounting for nearly 55% of income, and the country’s record industry trade group ARIA remains optimistic that the 2013 figures are a blip (the Aussie industry having seen a 4% increase in revenues in 2012).

Says ARIA CEO Dan Rosen: “The way that music is discovered and enjoyed by fans continues to evolve, and as the industry continues to transform itself, the sales trajectory will not always be a straight line. We have seen in other territories around the world that as streaming services gain momentum, strong market growth has followed”.

New indie label seeks to release lost albums

Business News Labels & Publishers Releases

The people behind indie label Alcopop! Records and the 1p Album Club blog have announced the launch of a new venture called The Lost Music Club, which aims to dig out albums that were recorded but never released, and make them available to the public.

The first release will be from cult 1990s Sheffield band Speedy who, despite scoring a Radio 1 Single Of The Week and gigging relentlessly in the mid-90s, saw their debut album, originally scheduled for a 1997 release, permanently shelved. The band subsequently split up.

Seventeen years later, The Lost Music Club will release that album, ‘News From Nowhere’, on 7 Apr, with the reformed band playing in London (Birthdays) and Sheffield (The Leadmill) just ahead of that date, on 4 and 5 Apr respectively.

Explaining the motivation for the new label venture, the people behind it say: “It was pretty exciting growing up in the 90s and a number of us have undoubtedly left little bits of our hearts behind. So when Twitter conversations with friends led inexorably back to those mythical lost albums that disappeared before the promos were ever even pressed, Liam from 1p Album Club and Jack from Alcopop! Records conceived a niche concept label – and Lost Music Club was born. This is not about nostalgia. This is about hearing new music from artists that fans still love, and introducing lost classics to a modern era”.

More information about the new label and its first release at the The Lost Music Club site.

Acting CEO confirmed for STIM

Business News Industry People Labels & Publishers

Swedish collecting society STIM yesterday announced that its General Counsel, Helena Woodcock, was taking over as acting CEO following the previously reported departure of the group’s long-running chief Kenth Muldin.

Confirming the appointment, Woodcock told CMU: “I very much look forward to my assignment as STIM acting CEO. Kenth Muldin was the mastermind behind the strategic development that helped position STIM as one of the world’s leading collective management organisations. Now the STIM board and management will continue to follow the international business strategy that has been mapped out during the past years”.

London metal dive The Intrepid Fox to close

Business News Live Business

London pub The Intrepid Fox, host to a load of metal/rock shows in the capital, is due to be evicted from its current site on St Giles High Street on 1 Apr. The venue is the latest to close due to construction work on the new Crossrail line at Tottenham Court Road station, which also prompted the closures of neighbouring live music spots the Astoria, Astoria 2 and Metro.

Posting a note on Facebook, its owners, who were previously forced to move the business from its former site in Wardour Street in 2006, also by building work (that time on some flats), hinted at a “third chapter in the tumultuous history of The Intrepid Fox”, adding “the story is never finished, the future is still unwritten”.

The Fox is counting down to its closure with a month’s worth of shows, of which its owners write: “Come down and party with us to bid farewell to our home of the last seven years. We promise you that this area will never see the like again. Anyone who wants to be a part of rock n roll history: don’t miss it. Anyone who believes in individuality and creativity, opposed to grey tower blocks: don’t miss it. Anyone who’s passionate about the alternative community: don’t miss it”.

Click here for full listings.

Will.i.am inspires ‘ill’ i.wear line

Artist News Brands & Merch

Ocular poster-boy Will.i.am is creative directing, with all his aesthetic might, a line of “ill.i Optics”, which is a cool way to say “glasses”. Named ‘ill.i’, I deduce, because they make eyes appear super-ill. As ill as Will’s, even.

Whilst Mr i.am didn’t design the specs themselves, leaving that instead to a real designer (George Gorrow, one-time boss of now-liquidised Australian brand Ksubi), he did… well, erm… he inspired them via his “early career”, and via his admiration for hip hop artists from the 1980s.

Riffing heavily on the ‘eye’ and ‘seeing’ theme, Will says: “I see a gap in the world of eyewear and this is my installment of what I feel is missing. I want this to be an honest brand – it’s about dedication and passion”. And… vision. And magnification. And 2-4-1 frames. Will’s optics will hit all good optician shops later this year, in September. So look out for that.

Okay, enough. Bar this trailer which doesn’t actually show many glasses. It’s mostly just black squares.

Charmfactory announces promotion, appointment

Business News Industry People Marketing & PR

Now in its sixth year in the pop PR game, Charmfactory has confirmed the promotion of Lorraine Long, who’s worked for the London-based company since 2009, to the position of Director Of Communications.

Since joining the firm, Long has worked on campaigns for Paul Simon, Patti Smith, Tori Amos, new faces John Newman and Kodaline, the Barclaycard Music Prize, and festivals like Wireless and Wychwood.

Charmfactory MD Sarah Thompson has this to say about it all: “Lorraine is an invaluable member of my team and the promotion is well deserved”.

Thompson has also made a new addition to Charmfactory HQ in Senior PR & Brand Manager Heather Swaine, who moves to the company following a job as Head of Online PR at Warner Bros Records.

Dublin’s Phantom to become TXFM as Communicorp’s Global deal approved

Business News Media

Dublin’s alternative rock radio station Phantom 105.2 is to be rebranded TXFM it has been confirmed. It follows rumours earlier this month that the station might become an Irish offshoot of the similar UK radio outfit Xfm, after an alliance was struck between the British alternative station’s owner Global Radio and Communicorp, which owns a third of Phantom. But Global quickly denied that this was part of its Communicorp partnership.

Instead, the rebrand of Phantom aims to ally the alternative station with another of Communicorp’s radio brands, the Ireland-wide mainstream channel Today FM. Phantom’s owners – which also include Irish live music mogul Denis Desmond and a business associated with former U2 manager Paul McGuiness – told the Irish Times that the station, which recently laid off 20 employees, would retain its own targets, budgets and “market ambitions” but work in “greater unison with Today FM”.

In related news, the Irish Competition Authority has approved Communicorp’s aforementioned deal with Global Radio. As previously reported, the Irish firm will buy the UK FM licences Global was forced to sell by the British Competition Commission after it acquired GMG Radio. But, in a good deal for Global, Communicorp will then licence back the UK firm’s brands and syndicated programming for those FM outposts, so that Global’s quasi-national radio networks won’t be hugely reduced.

The Irish competition regulator has followed its UK counterpart in green lighting the deal, though the relevant minister in Ireland’s government must still rubber stamp the arrangement.

Albarn slurs about Blur

Artist News

So listen up, this is big. Blur have done lot of new songs. Over ten. In fact, they’ve written fifteen! And recorded them!

The caveat? They aren’t going to do anything with the songs, like release them, or share them, or anything. And how dare you assume they would. The audacity.

By all appearances battling a severe case of sleepiness at Wednesday night’s NME Awards, Damon Albarn said when asked if a new Blur LP was ‘in the works’: “Oh, for god’s sake. Why are you asking me that?”

Then he said: “All of us are doing other stuff at the moment. This year, and maybe next year, and maybe the next year after that, I’m doing other stuff. That doesn’t mean that in three years time we’re gonna make a record”.

“We recorded fifteen songs, but just because you record fifteen ideas doesn’t mean that you’ve got an album”.

So there you have it. Now go away. And take this video for Damon Albarn’s new solo single, ‘Lonely Press Play’ (from his forthcoming ‘Everyday Robots) LP with you.

Portishead’s Adrian Utley discusses fourth LP

Artist News

In line with the appearances they’re making at all the festivals later this year, Portishead have confirmed that their increased activity as a band also signals, at last, the coming of their fourth LP, and first since 2008’s ‘Third’.

The group have said all this before, though, all the way back in 2010. So don’t hold your breath for too long. Because you might die, and I’m sure Adrian Utley doesn’t want your blood on his hands. He is busy making an album, after all.

It’s exactly as he told the Quietus during a Q&A at this year’s by:Larm Festival in Oslo yesterday. When he was asked about the frankly huge gaps in time from one Portishead LP to the next, he said: “We’re clearing our schedules so we can get on with it, otherwise it will be another ten years”.

He also said that the shows Portishead are playing in 2014 will likely shape and affect the new LP, and that he doesn’t mind the band being unsigned currently, but rather sees it as a good thing. Have a chew on the discussion via the Quietus.

James Murphy discusses LCD Soundsystem live album, and ‘subway symphony’

Artist News Releases

A live album of LCD Soundsystem’s 2011 farewell concert in New York will be released this year, frontman James Murphy said in a live interview at the by:Larm festival in Oslo yesterday. The Madison Square Garden show was, of course, captured in the documentary, ‘Shut Up And Play The Hits’ in 2012, and it’s audio-only companion will finally see the light of day later this year, he confirmed.

Explaining the delay, he said: “The movie took a much longer time than I thought. I had to mix the film, then we had to mix the whole concert, then I thought, ‘I don’t want the concert audio to be the record’, so I had to mix it again. Then I think EMI got bought by Halliburton and they sold it to Warner/Chappell – I don’t know, some big thing ate another giant thing – and it took a minute to work out what I was allowed to do, cos there’s re-record things with contracts”.

While you ignore Murphy’s not entirely accurate summary of corporate movements in the music publishing sector, instead take note that the new live album will be available as a Record Store Day special on 19 Apr as the five-disc vinyl boxiest titled ‘The Long Goodbye’, with an unabridged recording of the four-hour gig. A digital and CD release will follow on 19 May.

Murphy also discussed a long-term ambition of his to change the sound of the New York subway. Explaining the idea, he said: “I love the subway, but it’s really unpleasant sounding – the sound made when people swipe their cards is this constant whining dissonance. I wanted to just make a nice sound. I want each station to have a series of notes, and they’ll be all related, so during rush hour it’ll be all crazy Brian Eno moments in stations. I don’t wanna make an art project, I just want a civic design that I don’t need to take credit for”.

He admitted that he’s been failing to get this idea off the ground with various New York officials since 1999, but says that after discussing the idea in a number of interviews he realised there was a different angle he could be taking – namely to ask members of the public to get behind him.

“I’ve decided to run it like a public campaign, because I’ve realised that appealing to the bureaucrats to agree with me about the subway needs is kind of insane”, he said. “But if I’m like, ‘There’s a whole bunch of people that vote who want this to happen’, then there will be some guy who’ll say, ‘I’m gonna make this my cause'”.

A website for this campaign, where you can sign a petition in favour of the idea, can be found at www.subwaysymphony.org

Festival line-up update: Glastonbury, Jabberwocky, WOMAD and more

Artist News Festival Line-Up Update Gigs & Festivals

The big news in festivals this week is this: Dolly Parton, Blondie and Disclosure’s introduction to the Glastonbury line-up. That’s on an individual basis – they’re not collaborating or anything. Although that would be quite good, wouldn’t it? No, it probably wouldn’t.

Anyway, with that shock revelation made, here’s a list of slightly less seismic shifts in the listings of the following festival-like events…

2000TREES, Upcote Farm, Withington, Cheltenham, 10-12 Jul: Dave McPherson, The Blackout, Cerebral Ballzy, Three Trapped Tigers, Darlia, Loom, Dancing Years. www.twothousandtreesfestival.co.uk

BLOODSTOCK, Catton Hall, Walton-on-Trent, Derbyshire, 7-10 Aug: Phil Campbell, Incinery, Diabolical, Winterfylleth, Cambion, Zerozonic. www.bloodstock.uk.com

DEER SHED FESTIVAL, Baldersby Park, Topcliffe, Yorkshire, 25-27 Jul: Toy, Wolf Alice, Cate Le Bon, Catfish & The Bottlemen, Bleech, Teleman, Cheatahs, Girls Names, Lyla Foy, Womans Hour, John Smith, Eliza And The Bear, Samantha Crain, Sam Airey, Post War Glamour Girls, Beccy Owen, Keston Cobblers Club. deershedfestival.com

JABBERWOCKY, ExCeL Centre, London, 15-16 Aug: James Blake, Darkside, Thee Oh Sees, Perfect Pussy, gthe Bug, Sun Kil Moon/Mark Kozelek, Forest Swords, Amen Dunes, patten, Paus, The Van Pelt, Yamantaka//Sonic Titan, Oso Leone, Joana Serrat, Fra Soler, Pitchfork DJs, DJ Coco, DJ Cherrystones, Spencer Hickman, Daevid Phillips. www.atpfestival.com/jabberwocky

THE ELECTRIC FROG & PRESSURE RIVERSIDE FESTIVAL, Riverside Museum, Glasgow, Scotland, 3-4 May: 2manydjs, Laurent Garnier, Lord Of The Isles. www.theelectricfrog.co.uk

GALTRES FESTIVAL, Duncombe Park, Helmsley, York, 22-24 Aug: The Human League, Public Service Broadcasting. www.galtresfestival.org.uk

GLASTONBURY, Worthy Farm, Pilton, Somerset, 25-29 Jun: Dolly Parton, Blondie, Disclosure. www.glastonburyfestivals.com

GOTTWOOD, Carreglwyd Estate, Holyhead, Wales, 19-22 Jun: Gerd Janson, Margaret Dygas, DJ Format, DJ Die & MC Inja, Appleblim, Calibre, Artwork, Jay Shepheard, Pedestrian, Zero 7 (DJ Set), Bodhi, Cassio Kohl, Caspa, Jackson Blumental, Lorcan Mak, My Panda Shall Fly, Pedestrian, Rekreation, Sophie Barker, The Scribes, Werkha, Angus Cowen, Arkane Society, Autophase, Bangor Uni DJ Society, Charles Jordan, Ed Mackie, Em Williams, Fuzzbuzz, Good Block, HiJinkx, Jim Elkington, K.A.G, Little Thoughts, Locked Soundsystem, Maff CMajor, Oddity, Ollywood, Phase 2, Side A, Souljam DJs, Thick As Thieves, Tom Saunders, Truthos Mufasa, Will Brockbank. www.gottwood.co.uk

GRILLSTOCK, Lloyds Amphitheatre, Bristol, 7-8 Jun: Fun Lovin Criminals, Hayseed Dixie. grillstock.co.uk

LARMER TREE FESTIVAL, Larmer Tree Gardens, Tollard Royal, Wiltshire, 16-20 Jul: Frank Turner, Tom Odell, Squeeze, Staff Benda Bilili, Stornoway, Public Service Broadcasting, Dreadzone, The Bad Shepherds, La Chiva Gantiva, Hudson Taylor, We Were Evergreen, La Pegatina, Chloe Charles, CoCo and the Butterfields, Belinda O’Hooley & Heidi Tidow, Marcus Bonfanti, The Intermission Project, Georgia Ruth, Boppin B, Will And The People, Beans on Toast, Blackbeard’s Tea Party, Miranda Sykes & Rex Preston, Rob Heron and the Tea Pad Orchestra, Hat Fitz and Cara Robinson, Tantz, Rusty Shackle, Samsara, Mike West & Truckstop Honeymoon, We Used To Make Things, The Dixie Strollers, Patch and The Giant, Ninebarrow, Pronghorn, Eyes for Gertrude, Yeti Love. larmertreefestival.co.uk

NOZSTOCK, Rowden Paddocks, Bromyard, Herefordshire, 1 – 3 Aug: Roots Manuva, The Skints, Mr B The Gentleman Rhymer. www.nozstock.com

SPOT FESTIVAL, Aarhus, Denmark, 2-3 May: Choir Of Young Believers, Iceage, Jaakko Eino Kalevi, Kellermensch, Psyched Up Janis, Bon Homme, Lydmor, Stine Bramsen, Lucy Love, The Eclectic Moniker, Farao. spotfestival.dk

WOMAD, Charlton Park, Malmesbury, Wiltshire, 24-27 Jul: Alice Russell, Nitin Sawhney, Mulatu Astatke, Fat Freddy’s Drop, Goran Bregovic Wedding And Funeral Band, Bassekou Kouyate & Ngoni Ba, Salim-Sulaiman, Oliver Mtukudzi & The Black Spirits, Mari Boine, The Gloaming, Roberto Fonseca, Fatoumata Diawara, Martin Simpson & Dom Flemons, Kobo Town, Mahsa & Marjan Vahdat, Anna Cinzia Villani & Macuran Orchestra, Ibibio Sound Machine, Magic Drum Orchestra, Nuru Kane, The Good Ones, Salim-Sulaiman feat Karsh Kale. womad.org

Music+Sound Awards presented

Awards Business News

The winner’s of this year’s UK Music+Sound Awards were presented at The Troxy in London last night, recognising hard work and magnificence in the sync and ad-commission domain.

Winners included Lily Allen’s weepy cover of Keane’s ‘Somewhere Only We Know’, which soundtracked the 2013 John Lewis Christmas advert (it’s still not a thing, stop trying to make the John Lewis Christmas advert a thing), and Underworld’s previously reported ‘Play The Road’ project for Volkswagon.

The awards’ co-founder Nick Payne told CMU: “It was months in the planning and The Music+Sound Awards 2014 was truly a night to remember. The work entered this year was of a very high standard and seeing the winners rewarded for their brilliance was a phenomenal thing to be part of. We congratulate them for their outstanding achievements and for inspiring the visual media industries with their exceptional work”.

The winners were:

Best Sync/Use Of Existing Music in…
Television Advertising: Three – Pony (Universal Music Publishing / Warner Music / Wieden + Kennedy)
Cinema Advertising: Mercedes – Sound With Power (Ithaca Audio / AMV BBDO)
Feature Film Soundtrack: Alan Partridge – Alpha Papa‚Äô (Ian Neil / Universal Music Publishing)
A Trailer Or Promo: Broadchurch‚Äô Launch Trailer (Warner Music / ITV)
Re-Records and Adaptations: John Lewis – The Bear & The Hare (Leland Music / Warner Music / adam&eveDDB)
Non Broadcast and Viral Advertising: Mercedes – Sound With Power (Ithaca Audio / AMV BBDO)

Best Original Composition in…
Televison Advertising: Marks and Spencer – Believe in Magic and Sparkle (RKCRY&R / Native / Guy Farley)
Cinema Advertising: Vodafone 4G – Lost in Content (The Works Music / RKCRY&R)
A Television Programme Score: The Paradise Series 2 (Maurizio Malagnini / Blaze Music)
A Short Film Score: Orbit Ever After (Graham Hadfield)
Gaming: Bioshock Infinite (Composer: Garry Schyman)
Non-Broadcast and Viral Advertising: Volkswagen – Play The Road (Underworld / Nick Ryan / Tribal DDB)
Trailers and Promos: The Condemned (Smith and Elms at Eclectic Music)
Branding and Title Sequences: Downton Abbey Series 4 (John Lunn / Carnival Film & Television)

Best Sound Design in…
Television Advertising: Honda – Hands (Anthony Moore at Factory / Weiden & Kennedy)
Cinema Advertising: London Short Film Festival Trailer (Phil Bolland at 750mph / Ben Campbell at Cut & Run)
A Television Programme: Misfits Series 4 (Tony Gibson / Molinare / Clerkenwell Films)
A Short Film: Post Personal (David Kamp)
Gaming: The Last of Us (Sony Computer Entertainment)
Non Broadcast + Viral Advertising: Audi R8 V10 Plus Evolution on the outside, Revolution on the inside (Will Cohen at String and Tins / BBH)
Trailers and Promos: Skins – Time Changes Everyone (Arge at Envy Post / 4Creative)

Best Use Of Production Music In Advertising: The Outnet Fall / Winter 2013 (De Wolfe Music / Atelier)

Best Audio Mix In A Commercial: Honda – Hands (Anthony Moore at Factory / Wieden + Kennedy)

Best Audio Production In Gaming: The Last of Us (Sony Computer Entertainment)

CMU Beef Of The Week #196: Katy Perry v Allah

And Finally Artist News Beef Of The Week

So, Ms Katy Perry is a blasphemer, that’s this week’s news. Or at least she is according to an online petition that called for the recently released video for her track ‘Dark Horse’ to be removed from YouTube (technically the Vevo bit of YouTube).

In the Ancient Egyptian-themed clip, there is a sequence where a Cleopatra-like Perry employs her Ancient-World-come-Pop-Promo powers to zap an admirer, resulting in him disintegrating into the sand. So far so OTT.

The problem, it seems, is that the disintegrated man is wearing a pendant which – if you freeze frame the video at the right moment – you can just about see carries the word ‘Allah’ in Arabic script. And that has offended a group of Muslims who believe that Perry zapping a man wearing such a pendant, and indeed destroying the pendant itself, is nothing less than pop blasphemy.

It’s Bradford-based Shazad Iqbal who brought the clip to wider attention, setting up the online petition calling for the video to be banned, and declaring: “At 01:15 into the video ‘Dark Horse’ a man is shown being burned, whilst wearing a pendant (also burned) forming the word Allah. Blasphemy is clearly conveyed in the video, since Katy Perry (who appears to be representing an opposition of God) engulfs the believer and the word God in flames”.

He went on: “Using the name of God in an irrelevant and distasteful manner would be considered inappropriate by any religion. My only request is to all artists in the music industry: You have wealth, fame and success – please do not use the foundations of other religions in a mockery to carry out your fame”.

So, there you go. Although the petition has not been without its critics, 60,000 people have now signed up to the campaign calling for the video to be removed. And yesterday Perry’s label and/or Vevo seemed to respond, re-posting the promo in edited form with the offending pendant smudged out. Vevo also seems to have plonked a little promotional message into the corner of the screen at the key moment so you can’t see the smudging.

Which makes this beef a bit one-sided really, doesn’t it? Where’s Perry standing up for the First Amendment of her home country? Where’s director Mathew Cullen publicly pondering on what exactly ‘Allah’ meant to the Ancient Egyptians, living as they did in a pre-Islamic age? What, they both decided that this was just the kind of debate they could really do without, so instead let Vevo try to kill the outrage with a simple smudge? Well, that’s understandable, I suppose.

Approved: Kill J

CMU Approved

Vocalist Julie Aargaard and producer Lennart Rasmussen, formerly known as Leap Over Light, released their debut track as Kill J, ‘Phoenix’, last year.

Since then, the alt-pop duo have toured with fellow Danes (and CMU approvees) Oh Land and Fallulah, but new recordings have not been forthcoming, despite considerable interest. Well, until this week, anyway. Because, just in time for their two performances at by:Larm in Norway this week, they’ve uploaded a new song called ‘Bullet’ to their SoundCloud profile.

Dedicated, so the pair say, “to the victims of other people’s bullshit convictions”, the track takes a more aggressive tone than ‘Phoenix’. Nonetheless, it maintains the atmospheric tone of that first song, though with a little more bounce in its step, and feeding a little more of classically trained Aargaard’s distinct and addictive vocal style.

Listen to ‘Bullet’ here:

Gatfield departs Sony Music

Business News Industry People Labels & Publishers Top Stories

Nick Gatfield

So the top man at Sony Music UK has gone rather suddenly. I mean, did you see it coming? I didn’t see it coming. CMU Editor Andy Malt did write on our office whiteboard the other day, “I bet Nick Gatfield makes a sudden exit from Sony Music this week”, but I got distracted by the much more important news, scribbled alongside it, that One Direction weren’t splitting – so anyway that’s a thing.

One time Island Records exec Gatfield, of course, earned the admiration of all in the record business as “the guy who had to explain A&R to the Terra Firma twonks who screwed up EMI”, him spending over two years with the British major during “the troubles”. He then popped up in a senior role at Sony Music UK in 2011, before becoming the British division’s CEO in July that year after the also sudden departure of his predecessor Ged Doherty.

Confirming Gatfield’s exit last night, a Sony spokesman told Music Week: “It was an amicable decision for Nick to leave the company at this time. We wish him the best in his future endeavours”. It’s thought that long-term Sony exec Nicola Tuer, basically Gatfield’s deputy, will step in to the top role on an interim basis until a full-time replacement is found.

Joey Essex signs with Warner, compiles ‘ultimate dance album’

Business News Deals Labels & Publishers Releases

‘I’m A Celebrity’ and ‘TOWIE’ tyke Joey Essex has signed a ‘reem’ new dream-deal with Warner Music, who’ll slap his face on the front of a compilation of ‘Essex Anthems’, aka party hits and remixes by the likes of Clean Bandit, Duke Dumont, Rudimental, Wiley and Daniel Bedingfield. It’s a triple-disc spread, and has practically every banger going on it. NOW! That’s what I call a compilation.

Essex himself is feeling especially inspired by the idea, and says: “I’m really excited about this record deal, it’s amazing to be making the ultimate dance album based on the tunes we play at Sugar Hut. Me and the label have spent loads of time choosing the tracks, mixing up new hits with classic dancefloor bangers”. And just in case you wondered, Sugar Hut is that club the ‘TOWIE’ cast are always at on the ITV show, having fights, dancing and snogging and that.

‘Joey Essex Presents Essex Anthems’ will descend on 17 Mar. Find its indescribably banging tracklisting via this link.

Scandinavian chief appointed for Caroline International

Business News Industry People Labels & Publishers

Universal Music’s newish label services business Caroline International – “The premier global partner for independent labels and artists”, says this press release, and we all know press releases never lie – has appointed a new boss man for its Scandinavian operations.

Aslak Klever joins the mega-major from Warner Music Norway (where he ended up via its acquisition of EMI’s Parlophone Label Group), and will report into Caroline International co-chiefs Michael Roe and Jim Chancellor. He’s the latest in a string of regional boss appointments for the new label services venture, which have also included Tina Adams (Germany), Emma Greengrass (UK), Tim Janes (Australia), Fred van Kruining (Benelux) and Thomas Lorain (France).

Say Roe and Chancellor in impressive perfect unison: “Aslak is a fantastic addition to the Caroline team and we’re thrilled that he’s going to lead our Nordic business. There are so many ambitious independent artists and entrepreneurs in the region and it’s such a dynamic and growing market that a strong and thriving Caroline business there is central to our goal of delivering the very best results for all our partners”.

BMG promotes Zach Katz

Business News Industry People Labels & Publishers

BMG yesterday announced that Zach Katz had been promoted to the role of Chief Creative Officer within its US division. Katz has been with the music rights firm since 2012.

Confirming the appointment, the company’s President of Marketing & Creative Laurent Hubert told CMU: “Zach has contributed significantly to the growth of BMG Chrysalis US and has helped cement our reputation as the preferred home for top talent. I look forward to working together further to build the company and reach new levels of global success”.

Katz himself said: “It is with great pride and gratitude that I embark on my next chapter with BMG. Our team has the vision and expertise to help our songwriters and artists reach their highest potential, and shape our industry going forward. This company has some of most dedicated and results driven people I have ever had the pleasure of working with”.

US firm set to acquire Koko

Business News Live Business

Now, you might have always thought of Koko as just being an albeit charming gig venue in Camden, but what you may not have realised as you stood outside the former Camden Palace is that you were looking at an “internationally renowned premiere multimedia and lifestyle brand”. So now you know. I suppose quite a lot of telly things have been filmed there in recent years, and MTV took some of them global.

Anyway, this is all relevant today because a US company called Loton Corp has announced its intent to buy Koko, venue and brand. Loton CEO Robert Ellin said earlier this week: “We are excited to announce this letter of intent to acquire Koko’s brand and venue. Our team will assist in the expansion of Koko’s brand across the globe and the creation of a 360-degree music platform. We are elated to partner with Olly Bengough, Founder and CEO of Koko. His track record of building exceptionally profitable lifestyle brands in London fits perfectly with our assembly of a world-class team of executives and board members”.

Ah, 360-degree music platforms. They’re my favourite kind of music platforms. Loton’s acquisition of the Koko business is expected to be completed in the next three months.

Sara Bareilles takes on Ronson/Mars manager

Business News Management & Funding

Middle American pop singer-songwriter Sara Bareilles has hired a new manager, Brandon Creed, a one-time A&R man at Epic Records (the label to which Bareilles is signed) who also ‘does’ for Mark Ronson and Bruno Mars.

Bareilles broke it off with her one-time management man Jordan Feldstein the day after last month’s Grammys, at which she was nominated for an Album Of The Year award for 2013’s ‘The Blessed Unrest’.

As E! Online reports here, Feldstein – manager to acts like Maroon 5 and Robin Thicke – was involved in an “explosive confrontation” with Kelly and Sharon Osbourne at a pre-Grammys gala in LA, which climaxed in Mrs O throwing a glass of water at him.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Bareilles, who was sat at Feldstein’s table at the time, “fired” Feldstein that same week. Ooh, so this is all a bit sensational, isn’t it?

IODA founder launches new visuals hub for the music community

Brands & Merch Business News

Kevin Arnold, founder of indie label distributor IODA (which subsequently merged with The Orchard), has an interesting new venture going on.

OpenAura aims to be a hub for official visuals generated by or associated with musical talent. The new venture will then provide access to all that visual content to companies wanting to use photos, artwork and images for new products or services, whether visuals are at the heart of those ventures, or a way to make for a more compelling audio-based platform.

Said ventures will pay for access to the image library, with income shared between OpenAura, featured artists and whoever owns the copyright in the visual material (likely to be photographer or label). Arnold has struck up alliances with a number of artist management companies to get things rolling.

Commenting on the venture, which has some backing from Sony Music, where Arnold ended up after it bought IODA in 2009, the OpenAura man told Billboard: “In today’s world where fans engage directly with artists in many ways across many networks and platforms, the 80s-bio-and-photo-press-kit version of identity isn’t good enough. With connected screens everywhere and fans consuming and creating content at breakneck pace, the industry needs a better visual content offering to move music user experiences forward”.

Music-specific virtual currency being planned

Business News Digital

You know what the music industry needs? Its own virtual currency, that’s what. A musical version of that awfully popular and not at all under pressure this week Bitcoin.

And now it has it. And no, I’m not talking about the trademark-litigation inducing Coinye project. I mean Songcoin, a new venture that aims to provide the music community with a global, transaction-fee-free alternative to real cash. Says Kasian Franks, co-founder of Pimovi, the company behind it: “We’re looking at providing people with a way to not pay transaction fees, not go through international wires, and a way for people to just kind of have something pretty much alternative to a dollar. The value of alternative currency has been proven by Bitcoin”.

Speaking to Evolver FM, Franks added: “If you use Songcoin to purchase a concert ticket, then we can work with ticket vendors to build in discounts so that if you use Songcoin, you’re going to get a cheaper rate, for example. We’re going to start by building a music recommendation system… and if people can use this system to discover music, we can put tip jars next to each artist, and let the artist know that we’ve set up these tip jars, and eventually, Songcoin will take on a nice valuation, so Songcoins will be worth more and more”.

Which sort of makes all this sound a bit like a cross between Bitcoin and Pirate Bay founder Peter Sunde’s Flattr venture I think. And if you think that plan has any chance of working, why not read Evolver FM’s full interview with Franks here? And if you like what you read, maybe leave a few Songcoins behind to show your appreciation.

Kids In Glass Houses confirm split, final shows

Artist News Gigs & Festivals

Welsh five-piece Kids In Glass Houses are celebrating their eleventh year as a band by… and there’s no easy way to say this… they’re splitting. It’s an amicable split, mind, and one that comes with a final lot of shows. If that’s any consolation. Which it probably is, a tiny bit.

Confirming said shows and the looming amicable split, KIGH said via FB yesterday: “We’re as unified in this decision as we have been with any that we’ve made together, and we’re excited by the prospect of ending things in the best possible spirit at the end of the year. We’ve known this day was coming for quite a while and have done our best to make sure that the next few months are as memorable as those years that have come before”.

The group’s last tour, which has 21 stops to it in all, starts at Plymouth’s White Rabbit on 5 Oct, and wraps inside Cardiff’s Great Hall on 31 Oct.

Find its listings, and the band’s lengthy farewell, in their entirety via this link.

Rihanna to release cartoon-based ‘concept’ LP

Artist News Releases

Variety says Rihanna is working on a cartoonish new LP, her most cartoonish so far. Which is saying something.

This one’s a “concept” piece based on an actual cartoon, forthcoming DreamWorks Animation film ‘Home’, in which Rihanna is voice-acting and doing some singing too. Of new songs, which will go on the LP, and so on.

The film, which is inspired by writer Adam Rex’s kids’ book ‘The True Meaning Of Smekday’ – a story of aliens invading earth – is due to hit cinemas in November. Which might give an idea of when we can expect the Rihanna LP to arrive.

The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart break news of new LP, Days Of Abandon

Artist News Releases

Noise-pop band The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart have created a new LP titled ‘Days Of Abandon’, which will follow-on from 2011’s ‘Belong’ on a still-undisclosed date this year.

Carrying the brilliantly-named first track ‘Art Smock’, which plays over the trailer underneath these lines, it features the guiding hand of MBV/Sigur Ros/The Kills’ producer-du-jour Andy Savours.

Tracklisting:

Art Smock
Simple and Sure
Kelly
Beautiful You
Coral and Gold
Eurydice
Masokissed
Until The Sun Explodes
Life After Life
The Asp at My Chest

Friday 28 February 2014, 12:52 | By Paul Vig

B295 returns to the soon-to-close Club Colosseum, the landmark 90s venue for house and UK garage, for a thirteenth birthday party. And the big draw is Matt ‘Jam’ Lamont (pictured), a true UKG stalwart and one half of the Tuff Jam project.

READ MORE ABOUT: Matt 'Jam' Lamont

Friday 28 February 2014, 12:51 | By Chris Cooke

So, this is absolutely no fun whatsoever. We love a bitter court battle here at CMU. And we were quite looking forward to getting some clarity on whether copyright exists in lists of records. So, any talk of sensible and “amicable” out-of-court settlements is not what we wanted to hear at all.

READ MORE ABOUT: James Duffett-Smith | Lohan Presencer | Ministry Of Sound | Spotify

Friday 28 February 2014, 12:50 | By Andy Malt

Dance music-focussed download store Trackitdown has been sold, after the company behind it went into administration last week.

READ MORE ABOUT: Trackitdown

Friday 28 February 2014, 12:49 | By Chris Cooke

Tim Lambesis, the lead singer of Christian metal group As I Lay Dying, has pleaded guilty to attempting to hire a hitman to murder his estranged wife.

READ MORE ABOUT: As I Lay Dying | Tim Lambesis

Friday 28 February 2014, 12:48 | By Aly Barchi

Songwriter/producer Wayne Hector, creator of 1D’s ‘Best Song Ever’, has done an exclusive publishing deal with BMG Chrysalis UK. It’s applicable all over the world too. Fancy that.

READ MORE ABOUT: BMG | Wayne Hector

Friday 28 February 2014, 12:47 | By Chris Cooke

READ MORE ABOUT: Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA)

Friday 28 February 2014, 12:46 | By Chris Cooke

The people behind indie label Alcopop! Records and the 1p Album Club blog have announced the launch of a new venture called The Lost Music Club, which aims to dig out albums that were recorded but never released, and make them available to the public.

READ MORE ABOUT: 1p Album Club | Alcopop! Records | Lost Music Club | Speedy

Friday 28 February 2014, 12:45 | By Chris Cooke

Swedish collecting society STIM yesterday announced that its General Counsel, Helena Woodcock, was taking over as acting CEO following the previously reported departure of the group’s long-running chief Kenth Muldin.

READ MORE ABOUT: Helena Woodcock | STIM

Friday 28 February 2014, 12:44 | By Aly Barchi

READ MORE ABOUT: The Intrepid Fox

Friday 28 February 2014, 12:43 | By Aly Barchi

Ocular poster-boy Will.i.am is creative directing, with all his aesthetic might, a line of “ill.i Optics”, which is a cool way to say “glasses”. Named ‘ill.i’, I deduce, because they make eyes appear super-ill. As ill as Will’s, even.

READ MORE ABOUT: Will.i.am

Friday 28 February 2014, 12:42 | By Aly Barchi

Now in its sixth year in the pop PR game, Charmfactory has confirmed the promotion of Lorraine Long, who’s worked for the London-based company since 2009, to the position of Director Of Communications.

READ MORE ABOUT: CharmFactory | Heather Swaine | Lorraine Long

Friday 28 February 2014, 12:41 | By Chris Cooke

READ MORE ABOUT: Communicorp | Global | Phantom 105.2 | TXFM

Friday 28 February 2014, 12:40 | By Aly Barchi

So listen up, this is big. Blur have done lot of new songs. Over ten. In fact, they’ve written fifteen! And recorded them!

READ MORE ABOUT: Blur | Damon Albarn

Friday 28 February 2014, 12:39 | By Aly Barchi

In line with the appearances they’re making at all the festivals later this year, Portishead have confirmed that their increased activity as a band also signals, at last, the coming of their fourth LP, and first since 2008’s ‘Third’.

READ MORE ABOUT: Adrian Utley | Portishead

Friday 28 February 2014, 12:37 | By Andy Malt

READ MORE ABOUT: James Murphy | LCD Soundsystem

Friday 28 February 2014, 12:36 | By Andy Malt

The big news in festivals this week is this: Dolly Parton, Blondie and Disclosure’s introduction to the Glastonbury line-up. That’s on an individual basis – they’re not collaborating or anything. Although that would be quite good, wouldn’t it? No, it probably wouldn’t.

READ MORE ABOUT: 2000Trees | Bloodstock | Deer Shed Festival | Electric Frog & Pressure Riverside Festival | Galtres Festival | Glastonbury Festival | Gottwood | Grillstock | Jabberwocky | Larmer Tree Festival | Nozstock | Spot Festival | Womad

Friday 28 February 2014, 12:35 | By Andy Malt

The winner’s of this year’s UK Music+Sound Awards were presented at The Troxy in London last night, recognising hard work and magnificence in the sync and ad-commission domain.

READ MORE ABOUT: Music+Sound Awards

Friday 28 February 2014, 12:34 | By Chris Cooke

So, Ms Katy Perry is a blasphemer, that’s this week’s news. Or at least she is according to an online petition that called for the recently released video for her track ‘Dark Horse’ to be removed from YouTube (technically the Vevo bit of YouTube).

READ MORE ABOUT: Katy Perry

Thursday 27 February 2014, 12:10 | By Andy Malt

Vocalist Julie Aargaard and producer Lennart Rasmussen, formerly known as Leap Over Light, released their debut track as Kill J, ‘Phoenix’, last year.

READ MORE ABOUT: Kill J

Thursday 27 February 2014, 12:09 | By Chris Cooke

READ MORE ABOUT: Nick Gatfield | Sony Music

Thursday 27 February 2014, 12:08 | By Aly Barchi

READ MORE ABOUT: Joey Essex | Warner Music

Thursday 27 February 2014, 12:07 | By Chris Cooke

Universal Music’s newish label services business Caroline International – “The premier global partner for independent labels and artists”, says this press release, and we all know press releases never lie – has appointed a new boss man for its Scandinavian operations.

READ MORE ABOUT: Caroline International | Universal Music

Thursday 27 February 2014, 12:06 | By Chris Cooke

BMG yesterday announced that Zach Katz had been promoted to the role of Chief Creative Officer within its US division. Katz has been with the music rights firm since 2012.

READ MORE ABOUT: BMG | Zach Katz

Thursday 27 February 2014, 12:05 | By Chris Cooke

READ MORE ABOUT: Koko | LiveXLive Media

Thursday 27 February 2014, 12:04 | By Aly Barchi

Middle American pop singer-songwriter Sara Bareilles has hired a new manager, Brandon Creed, a one-time A&R man at Epic Records (the label to which Bareilles is signed) who also ‘does’ for Mark Ronson and Bruno Mars.

READ MORE ABOUT: Brandon Creed | Jordan Feldstein | Sara Bareilles

Thursday 27 February 2014, 12:03 | By Chris Cooke

Kevin Arnold, founder of indie label distributor IODA (which subsequently merged with The Orchard), has an interesting new venture going on.

READ MORE ABOUT: Kevin Arnold | OpenAura

Thursday 27 February 2014, 12:02 | By Chris Cooke

You know what the music industry needs? Its own virtual currency, that’s what. A musical version of that awfully popular and not at all under pressure this week Bitcoin.

READ MORE ABOUT: Kasian Franks | Pimovi | Songcoin

Thursday 27 February 2014, 12:01 | By Aly Barchi

Welsh five-piece Kids In Glass Houses are celebrating their eleventh year as a band by… and there’s no easy way to say this… they’re splitting. It’s an amicable split, mind, and one that comes with a final lot of shows. If that’s any consolation. Which it probably is, a tiny bit.

READ MORE ABOUT: Kids In Glass Houses

Thursday 27 February 2014, 12:00 | By Aly Barchi

Variety says Rihanna is working on a cartoonish new LP, her most cartoonish so far. Which is saying something.

READ MORE ABOUT: Rihanna