Wednesday 30 September 2015, 10:36 | By

Approved: Boots

CMU Approved

Boots

Boots is set to release his debut album ‘Aquaria’ on 13 Nov. I guarantee you’ve heard his work before though: in recent times he’s played guitar for Run The Jewels, produced FKA Twigs, and was a songwriter and producer on a sizeable chunk of Beyonce’s last album.

Listening to ‘Aquaria’, you can see how he’s adapted his style to suit all of those different artists. On the album your brain will quickly identify rock, hip hop, R&B, and pop, but further listening never gives enough purchase to hold on to any one of them, leaving your perceptions spinning and drawing you deeper inside.

Check out the latest track to be released from the album, ‘Bombs Away’, here:

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Wednesday 30 September 2015, 10:33 | By

French government launches code promoting “clarity and fairness” in digital music

Business News Digital Labels & Publishers Top Stories

France

France’s Minister Of Culture And Communication Fleur Pellerin yesterday formally announced an Agreement For A Fair Development Of Online Music, a snappily titled government-led initiative that puts pressure on record companies to be more transparent with artists over their digital deals, and to play fair in sharing any kickbacks like advances and equity stakes.

The French government, for its part, pledges to work to ensure a strong copyright framework domestically, in Europe and worldwide, while “seeking clarification to rules applicable to online content distribution platforms”, aka reviewing safe harbours.

The agreement has been put together by Marc Schwartz, who was asked by the French government to facilitate talks between corporate rights owners, performers and digital platforms back in May.

According to the International Artist Organisation, which backs the initiative, “the new code sees the major labels and the digital platforms agreeing to play fair with artists in areas that have up until now been highly contentious, such as the lack of clarity over the sharing of multi-million dollar advances, as well as the equity stakes taken by the majors from the platforms”.

Meanwhile, speaking for those pesky majors, the International Federation Of The Phonographic Industry said that the voluntary agreement would see the wider music community “work together to help foster a sustainable music industry, diversity and innovation, clarity on revenue distribution and a fair value for music recordings”.

Quite how different parties will now interpret the commitments to “clarity” and “fairness” at the heart of this new code remains to be seen, though a committee chaired by Pellerin will oversee the implementation of the agreement and ensure discussions continue for the foreseeable future, as the digital music sector further evolves.

In the meantime, both the labels and the artists are positive about the development. IFPI boss Frances Moore says: “The recording industry has succeeded in the digital world by embracing change, licensing music wherever it can and adapting its business to new models. Today’s announcement in France is the latest step along that path and is a positive initiative, which we welcome”.

She went on: “Record companies in France have agreed to work with performers’ groups and digital services on important objectives: to enhance the value of music for all rights holders, further develop a successful and sustainable music landscape, and bring greater clarity and understanding on the distribution of revenues to different parties. They will also work to secure and improve the already diverse range of digital offerings among the hundreds of legal online services that are available to consumers”.

Meanwhile IAO President Paul Pacifico said: “The music industry must pull together and work as one to get real value from the legal digital opportunities in front of us. This code represents a genuine opportunity for the industry to move forward together and agree not to repeat the sins of the past where artists have not benefitted equitably from the massive growth in the digital market”.

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Wednesday 30 September 2015, 10:32 | By

Fake Sheikh to stand trial after collapse of Tulisa drugs case

Business News Legal Media

Tulisa

Former undercover reporter for The Sun and News Of The World, Mazher Mahmood, better known as The Fake Sheikh, has been charged with conspiracy to pervert the course of justice. This relates to claims that he misled the court during the trial of Tulisa Contostavlos on drugs charges.

As previously reported, Contostavlos was put on trial accused of doing a deal to supply cocaine during a sting operation led by Mahmood as part of a Sun On Sunday investigation. However, the trial collapsed when the judge presiding accused Mahmood, who had given evidence against the one time N-Dubz member, of “serious misconduct to the point that the integrity of the court would be compromised by allowing the trial to go ahead”.

It was claimed that there were inconsistencies in statements Mahmood had made to the court between a pre-trial hearing and the main trial. These related specifically to statements made by Contostavlos and overheard by the journalist’s driver Alan Smith, which led the judge to believe that Mahmood had been “manipulating the evidence”.

Both Mahmood and Smith are now due to appear at Westminster Magistrates Court on 30 Oct to answer charges of conspiring to pervert the course of justice.

In a statement, Nick Vamos, Deputy Head of Special Crime at the Crown Prosecution Service, said: “After carefully considering all of the evidence the CPS has decided that there is sufficient evidence for a realistic prospect of conviction and it is in the public interest to charge both men. This decision comes after it was alleged that Mr Smith agreed with Mr Mahmood to change his statement to police as part of a trial in July 2014, and that Mr Mahmood then misled the court”.

Mahmood was suspended by The Sun following the collapse of Contostavlos’s trial last year. And he remains so, a spokesperson for the tabloid’s publisher News UK confirmed yesterday.

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Wednesday 30 September 2015, 10:31 | By

Sony Music signs global deal with in-flight entertainment firm

Business News Deals Labels & Publishers

Sony Music

After going legal against one provider of in-flight entertainment to the airline industry, Sony Music has now announced a worldwide deal with another in-flight distraction peddler, Global Eagle Entertainment.

The Californian firm claims that this is the Sony record company’s “first licensing pact with an in-flight entertainment content service provider and gives Global Eagle access to hit songs from leading recording labels, including Columbia, Epic, RCA, Masterworks, Legacy and Sony Music Nashville, for use in its airline inflight entertainment systems around the globe”.

GEE says that ten airlines have already signed up to offer their customers Sony Music playlists via the firm’s platform. Its CEO Dave Davis adds: “Sony Music is such a part of everyday life for millions of people around the world, and GEE is very pleased to strike an agreement that will offer unprecedented music choices and opportunities to airlines and airline passengers everywhere”.

Meanwhile Sony Music’s Exec VP Global Business Development & Digital Strategy Mark Piibe told reporters: “We are happy to be partnering with Global Eagle to make our catalogue available to its leading global network of airline passengers. This agreement gives millions of airline travellers who want more music as part of their passenger experience access to many of the most popular and beloved songs of today and of all time”.

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Wednesday 30 September 2015, 10:26 | By

Harry Fox Agency downsizes after SESAC acquisition

Business News Labels & Publishers

Harry Fox Agency

Up to 30% of staff at US mechanical rights firm the Harry Fox Agency will go, according to Billboard’s sources, following the company’s acquisition by performing rights body SESAC. The downsizing is as a result of overlapping roles at the two music rights agencies, according to management at the merged entity. It is thought 20 employees departed last week, and ten more will go after a transition period.

SESAC CEO John Josephson told Billboard: “Following SESAC’s recent acquisition of the Harry Fox Agency, several positions at HFA were identified as overlapping with existing resources at SESAC resulting in a determination that a reduction in staff was necessary. This staff adjustment will in no way affect the level of service delivered by HFA as we are committed to providing the same or higher service levels than our publisher clientele expect and which they have received in the past”.

He added that a combined SESAC/HFA would be able to offer “a broader base of services in order to deliver the most efficient, multi-right, multi-territory licensing model possible”, while adding that “HFA is fortunate to have an outstanding staff and we are grateful for the contributions of all HFA employees in making it the leading company it is today”.

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Wednesday 30 September 2015, 10:25 | By

Randy Phillips steps down as Global Entertainment CEO

Business News Industry People Live Business Media

Global Entertainment

Randy Phillips is stepping down as boss man at Global Entertainment, the expanded music and live entertainment division of Capital Radio owner Global, which the former AEG Live CEO has been leading ever since its formal launch way back in, erm, February this year.

Global Entertainment built on the media firm’s existing artist management and music publishing interests, with particular ambitions in the live music space. Phillips appointment as CEO also saw the company expand into the US market for the first time. But his stint in the top role was relatively short-lived.

According to reports, Phillips is stepping down as CEO to focus on a specific project, seemingly within the Global group, while the media company’s overall chief Ashley Tabor will become interim CEO of its entertainment business.

Music Week quotes Phillips as saying: “I’ve had a superb start at Global and assembled a first class team for Global Entertainment – I’m looking forward to continuing to work with Global going forward in this new role”. Meanwhile Tabor adds: “We want to thank Randy for the fantastic start he’s brought to Global Entertainment and we look forward to working with him in his new role”.

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Wednesday 30 September 2015, 10:23 | By

Amazon signs up Universal to Prime

Business News Deals Digital Labels & Publishers

Amazon Prime

So, Amazon may have started rolling out Prime Music beyond the US earlier this summer, but Universal still isn’t signed up to the streaming music service. Well, it wasn’t at the start of that sentence. It will be by the end of this sentence. Big things are happening as I type these words.

Yes, Universal Music has followed Sony Music and Warner Music in signing up to Amazon’s streaming music play, the other two majors have been there from US launch in June 2014.

As previously reported, Amazon’s streaming music service, which is made available as part of the online retailer’s wider Prime set-up, offers a much smaller library of tracks than the likes of Spotify et al, with mainly catalogue releases, though there’s still a million odd songs to choose from. But by not promising “all the music all the time”, it was easier for Amazon to get away with not having any content from the world’s biggest record company.

Universal is, now, however on board, though the major seemed keen to stress it was only making “a selection” of its catalogue available, and that won’t include brand new releases. Even though we already know that’s the deal with Amazon Prime Music.

With music being just one of many services Amazon Prime users have access to, and with Prime subscriptions actually costing less than a Spotify subscription, there is a lot less money for the labels with this particular streaming set-up. Though Amazon argues that its limited catalogue platform attracts consumers who would never sign up to a standalone $10 a month streaming service.

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Wednesday 30 September 2015, 10:21 | By

Zane Lowe “not sure” if Apple Music needs Beats 1

Business News Digital Industry People

Zane Lowe

Zane Lowe said yesterday that he “hopes there’s a future” for Beats 1 within Apple Music, but right now he’s “not sure” that it’s needed.

Lowe was being interviewed at the Radio Festival in London by his former boss, Radio 1 controller Ben Cooper. Asked why the Apple Music streaming service even needed a more conventional radio station like Beats 1, the presenter responded: “I’m not sure it does”.

Admitting that they’re currently “making it up as we go along”, he added that he feels it’s “absolutely working right now … and over time we’ll find out why [it’s necessary]”.

Answers may come sooner rather than later though, as Apple Music’s free trial period comes to an end for day-one-adopters today. Yesterday the company sent out emails and push notifications to those users who have already switched off automatic payments for the service, urging them to commit to the £10 monthly subscription.

Beats 1 has been by far the most hyped and discussed part of Apple Music, and will remain available to non-paying users. If the radio station can hold onto and grow a userbase bigger than the on-demand element of Apple Music, but then persuade some of those people to upgrade to the premium service, well, then it would be serving a function for Apple, being a much cheaper to run freemium up-sell platform than that operated by Spotify.

If the radio service is too disconnected from the on-demand streams to achieve up-sell, well, then Lowe will be right to question whether the venture is actually needed long term.

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Wednesday 30 September 2015, 10:20 | By

Guy Garvey to release solo album

Artist News Gigs & Festivals Releases

Guy Garvey

Elbow frontman Guy Garvey will release his debut solo album, ‘Courting The Squall’, on 30 Oct. Leading up to this, he has released the video for lead track, ‘Angela’s Eyes’.

Explains the musician: “Elbow graciously gave me some time to write a solo album. I’ve wanted to try for years and I’m really proud of it. [I say] ‘solo’ because I wrote everything, but I was far from alone. I invited my favourite players outside of Elbow (many of them also my favourite people) and we moved fast, drank a lot and had what can only be described as a massive laugh along the way”.

Following the release of the album, Garvey will also head out on a short tour of the British Isles in December, kicking off with two nights at London’s Shepherds Bush Empire.

Here are the full dates:

1 Dec: London, Shepherds Bush Empire
2 Dec: London, Shepherds Bush Empire
4 Dec: Manchester, Albert Hall
5 Dec: Manchester, Albert Hall
7 Dec: Dublin, Olympia
8 Dec: Glasgow, ABC

And now, here’s the video for ‘Angela’s Eyes’:

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Wednesday 30 September 2015, 10:16 | By

World Sight Day show to take place in London

Artist News Gigs & Festivals

Sound For Sight

To mark World Sight Day on 8 Oct, a live show featuring a variety of performers will ask its audience to all pay for a restricted view. Raising money for the Royal National Institute For Blind People, Sound For Sight will provide attendees special glasses to simulate reduced vision.

Commenting on the show, which takes place for the second time this year, Laura Westcott of organiser Soundcheque says: “I accidentally created something incredibly special for a cause that’s really important to me. I am delighted that the London event in 2015 looks set to be even bigger and better than last year”.

RNIB Music Officer James Risdon adds: “As a blind musician I’m really excited about how Sound For Sight will challenge the way we listen to music. I hope the audience enjoys the chance to experience live music from a new perspective, even if it is just for a few minutes with the glasses on”.

The bill so far includes Westlife’s Markus Feehily, Babyshambles’ Drew McConnell, ‘Britain’s Got Talent’ winner Paul Potts, ‘X-Factor’ finalist Luke Friend and comedian Mark Watson.

It will all take place at The Tabernacle in Notting Hill on 8 Oct. You can find out more and book tickets here.

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Wednesday 30 September 2015, 10:13 | By

CMU’s One Liners: Nonesuch Records, Una Tickets, Disclosure, Deerhunter, more

Artist News Business News Gigs & Festivals Industry People Labels & Publishers Live Business One Liners Releases

Lorde

Other notable announcements and developments today…

• Bob Hurwitz is to step down as President of Nonesuch Records, the Warner Music label he has headed up for three decades. However, his departure will be gradual, and he will retain an A&R and producer role at the label.

• 7digital yesterday announced the promotion of Paul Langworthy to the role of COO. Previously VP Operations at the digital music and radio services provider, prior to joining 7digital Langworthy previously worked with YouView and Universal Music.

• Una Tickets will stage the second of its monthly Twitter debates on live industry issues tomorrow, 1 Oct, at midday, this time discussing the dominance of male artists on many festival line-ups this year. Follow @UnaTickets and #UnaAsks to join the debate.

• A video has been released for the Lorde-featuring ‘Magnets’ from Disclosures new album, ‘Caracal’. She’s in the video and everything.

• Deerhunter have uploaded a ‘concept map’ for new album ‘Fading Frontier’, which is out on 16 Oct.

• Sophie is selling an album, which you can procure via the purchase of various physical products. Have a look at them all here.

• Elle Exxe has released a new track called ‘Home With You’. It’s taken from a new EP called ‘Love To Hate You’, which is out on 20 Nov. She’ll also headline Koko in London on 16 Oct.

• John Grant has announced new tour dates in the UK and Ireland in January and February next year.

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Wednesday 30 September 2015, 10:08 | By

British Eurovision song choice to go back to public vote

Artist News Media

Eurovision Song Contest

It is definitely true that the selection process for the British entry to the Eurovision Song Contest has been lacking somewhat in recent years. But there’s a plan to turn it all around. I’m not sure it’s a good plan, but that’s just the way with plans, isn’t it? Anyway, it’s all going back to a public vote.

You can see why the BBC might think a public vote is a good thing. After all, the Great British public selected our last winner, Katrina And The Waves’ ‘Love Shine A Light’, in 1997. But then the last time they were allowed to select the song, in 2008, they went for ‘Even If’ by Andy Abraham, which went on to come last. The year before that they chose ‘Flying The Flag (For You)’ by Scooch, which came second to last.

Basically what I’m saying is, the public can’t be trusted. They are idiots. Awful, awful idiots who should never be asked for an opinion on anything. Even if they’re given a selection of nothing but A-grade, world-beating songs, they’ll still almost certainly manage to choose something awful that no one realised was there.

And anyway, it seems unlikely that the public will be choosing from such a prime line of new music. Especially if the people doing the behind-the-scenes shortlisting are the same people who have picked such awful songs as British entrants in recent years. What will probably happen is that the public will end up choosing the absolute worst song from a box someone pulled out of a bin.

Graham Norton’s excited though. “I think it really shows that they take the competition seriously and the fact that the public will get the final say on who is sent to represent the UK in Stockholm next year is the icing on the cake!”

Well, that’s fine for him to say, isn’t it? Of course, the return to a public vote means more telly time for Eurovision, so more too for Norton, and therefore more fees for him. So he might be biased. Meanwhile, the rest of us will have to tolerate the inevitable embarrassment all this will result in without payment. Actually, it’ll cost us money through the licence fee. Won’t someone think of the children?

Anyway, Morrissey said he’ll do it. Why haven’t we just asked Morrissey?

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Tuesday 29 September 2015, 11:15 | By

Approved: Emmecosta

CMU Approved

Emmecosta

Describing their sound as “post-club”, Emmecosta released their debut single, ‘Brontos’ in July. The track welcomes you into a hazy, just out of reach world that straddles the point where it’s no longer clear if it’s late at night or early in the morning.

That slightly out of focus sound is developed further on new single ‘Snowboy’, lulling you with slow plucked guitars, bass that sounds like a memory and reverb-heavy vocals. The band work hard to fill their recordings with a particular atmosphere, and it pays off in droves.

You can catch the trio live in London at the Hoxton Square Bar & Kitchen on 9 Oct, followed by a performance at the Rockaway Beach festival in Bognor.

Listen to ‘Snowboy’ here:

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Tuesday 29 September 2015, 11:11 | By

SFX share price slips further after problems at TomorrowWorld

Business News Gigs & Festivals Live Business Top Stories

SFX

Shares in flagging EDM powerhouse SFX slipped another 12.5% at one point yesterday, and while it wasn’t a great day for stocks in general, that was in no small part because of problems at one of the firm’s big events Stateside this weekend, the third edition of TomorrowWorld, the American spin off of European dance festival Tomorrowland.

Described as an “epic disaster of near-riots and looming lawsuits” by Vice site Thump, the problems at TomorrowWorld were caused by inclement weather, though at least some festival-goers are blaming the event’s promoters for how they responded to the infrastructure issues the rainfall caused.

The biggest problems came on Saturday night after transportation off the boggy site was cut back, making it hard to exit the festival and resulting in some having to give up trying to get home and sleep on the roadside instead. Uber drivers that could get through were, unsurprisingly, operating at a considerable premium. Keen to avoid repeat issues on Sunday, SFX announced that only those already onsite would have access to the final day’s festivities, with non-campers offered refunds on their tickets.

Announcing that decision, organisers said in a statement: “We take the safety of all of our visitors very seriously. The rainfall since Thursday resulted in limited capacity of festival parking fields, drop-off locations, and the shuttle system. Festivalgoers with day tickets, guest list tickets, and anyone not already camping at DreamVille will unfortunately not be able to access today’s events”.

It’s not quite clear how big a financial impact the refunds TomorrowWorld will now have to pay will have on the SFX business, but it will likely affect the company’s third quarter performance. Wash out festivals are nothing new, of course, and live music firms usually prepare for and insure against the extra costs bad weather can cause, but investors are already particularly interested in SFX’s finances, so will be watching these events all the more closely.

The EDM company’s share price has tanked this year, of course, amidst shareholder concerns over founder Robert FX Sillerman’s aborted attempt to take the company back into private ownership, and other concerns about the festival promoter and Beatport owner’s finances. The firm recently secured an extra $90 million in financing while the board continues to consider options for the company’s future.

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Tuesday 29 September 2015, 11:10 | By

vKontakte ordered to beef up its takedown system

Business News Digital Labels & Publishers Legal

vKontakte

A Russian court yesterday ordered social network vKontakte to improve its takedown system, to prevent music from Universal Music and Warner Music being shared on its servers.

As previously reported, all three majors launched separate legal actions against vKontakte through the Saint Petersburg & Leningradsky Region Arbitration Court last year. The record labels asked the court to order the social media firm to remove some specific content from its networks, to put in place more robust anti-piracy measures, and to pay damages for past infringement.

In July, Sony Music reached a ‘goodwill agreement’ with the social network, resulting in its lawsuit being withdrawn. But the other two major labels forged ahead and are now celebrating a win in their legal proceedings.

According to a statement from the IFPI, a judge yesterday gave an “oral decision” that vKontakte must implement “effective technology” to takedown infringing content owned by the companies and prevent it from being re-uploaded. Full written judgements are expected in due course.

IFPI CEO Frances Moore said of the ruling: “This is a very important and positive decision for the Russian music market and for music creators in Russia. VK’s infringing music service has been a huge obstacle to the development of a licensed business in Russia, making available hundreds of thousands of copyright infringing tracks to more than 70 million daily users. Now, the Russian court has ordered VK to use technology to stop infringements. This is good news for rights holders in Russia. We now look to VK to implement the court’s decision and stop these on going infringements”.

vKontakte has in the past indicated plans to more effectively police infringing material on its site, and to license a legit music service, though most labels would likely say that the firm has, to date, only paid lip service to its copyright commitments. It remains to be seen if this court ruling changes anything.

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Tuesday 29 September 2015, 11:08 | By

T In The Park funding to be challenged in Scottish Parliament

Business News Gigs & Festivals Live Business

T In The Park

Scotland’s Culture Secretary Fiona Hyslop is set to appear before a committee of the Scottish parliament in Holyrood to justify a government grant of £150,000 given to music festival T In The Park. The funding was provided as the popular music event moved to a new home at Strathallan Castle.

While some of Hyslop’s political rivals are questioning why such a popular commercial event needed state funding at all, others are accusing the SNP minister of “cronyism”, because an initial meeting between the Scottish government and T In The Park promoter DF Concerts – which is majority owned by live music major Live Nation – was set up by a one-time aide of former SNP leader Alex Salmond who was working for the festival firm at the time.

Ahead of a meeting of the Scottish Parliament’s education and culture committee, reps from other political parties have been busy saying that “serious questions” remain about the funding T received, with Labour MSP John Pentland telling the BBC: “We need some honesty from the SNP government about this £150,000 payment and the extent of the involvement of a former SNP adviser. At a time when the SNP government is slashing the budget for local services, people will find it difficult to understand how such a successful company needs an extra £150,000 from the taxpayer”.

A spokesperson for Hyslop says that the funding was justified, and in line with grants given to other major events in Scotland. As for the allegations of “cronyism”, the minister insists that “the awarding of this funding followed normal procedures and was based solely on the merits of the case following an objective assessment by Scottish government officials. I look forward to answering any questions the committee has”.

The move of T In The Park to Strathallan Castle was not without controversy, of course, with some opposing such a large music event taking place on the site. Although the all clear was given for the festival to take place there, some have called for an infrastructure review ahead of future editions after reported transport issues around the site this year.

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Tuesday 29 September 2015, 11:04 | By

Dave Kaplan joins Paradigm

Business News Industry People Live Business

Paradigm Talent Agency

US live industry veteran Dave Kaplan has departed the recently acquired Agency Group to take up a new role at the Paradigm Talent Agency’s music division. As previously reported, the Paradigm Music Division is a partnership between Paradigm, AM Only, Coda and the Windish Agency which launched earlier this year.

Says Kaplan: “I’ve known [PMD’s] Marty Diamond and Tom Windish for many years and admired what they’ve accomplished as agents. Paradigm should be a great home for me and for the artists I represent and I’m really looking forward to this next phase of my career”.

Head of the Paradigm Music Division, Chip Hooper adds: “We’re delighted to have an agent of Dave’s calibre join our family. Whenever we consider the addition of an agent or a partner, we’re very conscious of the character and quality of the people involved. We think Dave fits perfectly”.

Kaplan brings with him artists including The Black Keys, Father John Misty, Bombay Bicycle Club and The Kills.

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Tuesday 29 September 2015, 10:58 | By

Resilient Music puts the spotlight on advertising sync

Business News Labels & Publishers

Resilient Music

Music rights procurement consultancy Resilient Music recently put the spotlight on the advertising side of sync, surveying brands, ad agencies, rights owners and artist managers about the way licensees and licensors work together, how each side views the sync sector, and where the opportunities to do better business lie.

The results of that survey are being published through a series of blogs on Resilient’s own website, but CMU got a sneak preview, and in the latest CMU Trends Report we provide our five key take-aways from the research. Premium subscribers can get the full lowdown here using the premium content password from this week’s CMU Digest.

But for now, here is each key point in a sentence or two…

1. Music remains a key tool for consumer engagement
With over 60% of agency respondents choosing eight or higher when asked to rank the importance of music to their clients on a scale of one to ten. As Resilient noted, this will only add to the calls from labels and publishers for brands to increase the budgets of the music components of their campaigns.

2. Brands and rights owners could be involved earlier in the creative process
Many brands would like to be involved in final music selections, while ad agencies providing one-track choices at the last minute makes it harder to negotiate a good deal from the rights holders. Labels also said that they’d like to be involved earlier in the creative process, especially when brands are working with new talent.

3. Re-records are a fact of life and can be good for publishers
This is where a brand commissions a re-record of a track, so that it only has to license the song rights from a publisher, and not the master rights from a label. The record companies Resilient spoke to were divided on whether the threat of a re-record would make them negotiate downwards on price. Meanwhile publishers noted that re-records can free up budget to pay higher rates to the song rights owners, and make the licensing of more expensive songs more realistic.

4. Fees are going up for online video
Although TV ads will still usually command a premium from labels and publishers, the rates rights owners are looking for from online branded content are also going up. Though rates will vary depending on whether content is going into paid-for ad slots or simply on YouTube – and depending on the territories where the ad will be seen – so brands should be clear on those things when negotiating deals.

5. Brands want simpler licensing, obviously
Everyone wants simpler licensing, and they probably won’t get it, even though the music rights sector is aware of the issues. Though some brands said that some rights owners could simply go further in customer service, at least acknowledging that brands are customers when it comes to sync! Basically labels and publishers that put more effort into client relations may score more sync deals down the line.

The latest CMU Trends Report is fully focused on the sync industry, explaining how sync licensing works, surveying leading supervisors on how they choose tracks, and exploring differences between the UK and US market. You can buy a copy here for £9.99, or go premium with CMU today and access this and all archive copies of the Trends Report right away.

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Tuesday 29 September 2015, 10:53 | By

7digital adds high quality audio to Google Cast

Business News Digital

7digital

7digital has become the first music provider to offer high quality audio on Google Cast, the tech giant’s smart phone remote control thingy. The integration will allow users to stream music from the 7digital Android App to any Google Cast-enabled speaker or Chromecast-connected TV.

Talking all this up, 7digital CEO Simon Cole said: “This upgrade to include Cast to our platform as well as enhancements on the Music Store app for Android marks a significant update. It leads the way in providing users with both high quality audio and a truly modern music-listening experience. Our diverse partners will also benefit from improvements made across Android, iOS and web platforms, as 7digital enables new features and functionality for the services we power around the world”.

Playback on the app is available in various formats up to 24-bit studio quality FLAC. Whether this type of high quality audio can find a significant market remains to be seen, of course. Although innovations such as this are a lot more likely to succeed than Neil Young’s ten-years-too-late Pono Player.

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Tuesday 29 September 2015, 10:51 | By

BBC Radio and Jazz FM collaborate on ‘pop-up’ station

Business News Media

BBC Radio

BBC Radio and Jazz FM have announced a collaboration on a temporary radio station to coincide with this year’s London Jazz Festival in November. Called BBC Music Jazz, it will air content from both broadcasters.

Available on digital radio, online and mobile, the three-day project will feature shows from presenters including Jamie Cullum, Clare Teal, Craig Charles, Helen Mayhew, Jez Nelson, and Claire Martin. As well as simulcasting BBC Radio 3’s Jazz Festival coverage, it will broadcast Jazz FM’s archive coverage of Ella Fitzgerald in concert from the 1990s.

And if you like voting for stuff, you’ll be pleased to know that there’ll be a poll to decide the 50 Greatest Jazz Figures.

BBC Music Editor James Stirling said in a statement: “I’m really pleased that we’re able to showcase the wide range of Jazz content available across the BBC and through working with Jazz FM, some rare archive. BBC Music Jazz will offer jazz fans and beginners alike something truly unique this autumn and demonstrates the power of BBC Music to bring audiences closer to the music they love”.

Jazz FM CEO Jonathan Arendt added: “It’s fantastic that jazz is bringing the BBC and commercial radio together in this unique collaboration. We know that the pop-up will introduce new audiences across the country to the wonders of jazz and the EFG London Jazz Festival. In our 25th anniversary year, we’re delighted to be working with the extraordinary teams from BBC Radio and Serious on this ground breaking digital station”.

BBC Music Jazz will be on air from 12-15 Nov.

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Tuesday 29 September 2015, 10:48 | By

Fetty Wap hospitalised after traffic accident, tour in question

Artist News Gigs & Festivals

Fetty Wap

Rising rapper Fetty Wap was involved in a motorbike accident at the weekend, colliding with a car. As well as breaking his leg in three places, he is also facing three criminal charges as a result of the smash.

After news of the crash broke, the rapper posted a video on Instagram, assuring fans that he was OK, saying: “I appreciate all my fans praying for me, man. I had a little accident, but I’m straight. I broke my leg in three places, but I’m gonna be alright”.

The driver of the car involved in the accident was also injured and taken to hospital for treatment. Afterwards, New Jersey police issued three summons for the rapper’s arrest, for driving without a licence, driving without insurance, and failing to produce a vehicle registration card.

Fetty Wap released his debut album, ‘Fetty Wap’, on Friday. He is due to begin a US tour in support of the record in New York tonight. It seems that show has been cancelled, though there has not yet been any official statement on this or any other dates.

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Tuesday 29 September 2015, 10:38 | By

No Devotion cancel German show after Geoff Rickly “poisoned and robbed”

Artist News Gigs & Festivals

No Devotion

No Devotion were forced to cancel their show at last week’s Reeperbahn festival in Germany after frontman Geoff Rickly was “poisoned and robbed”.

Rickly explained to fans in an Instagram post: “Just a little note to say that I was poisoned and robbed (outside our Reeperbahn Festival venue on Friday) and spent the night in the hospital in Hamburg”.

He added that he is “recovering” and was well enough to play Sunday night’s show in Paris. The band began the UK leg of their European tour in Cambridge last night.

As previously reported, in something of a rough week last week, Rickly was also forced to dump his record label Collect’s financial backer, after it turned out he was a bit of an arse.

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Tuesday 29 September 2015, 10:36 | By

CMU’s One Liners: [PIAS], Warner, Universal, more

Artist News Business News Deals Gigs & Festivals Industry People Labels & Publishers Media One Liners Releases

PIAS

Other notable announcements and developments today…

• [PIAS] yesterday announced it is acquiring the music side of Harmonia Mundi, the classical, jazz and world music specialists. The deal includes the firm’s label, music publishing and distribution divisions, though not its book publishing and retail assets.

• Warner Music yesterday announced two appointments in its label services division ADA Worldwide, with David Orleans being promoted to President Of Sales & Label Management and Kenny Weakly to the role of President Of A&R & Label Services. “Core”, said their boss Eliah Seton. As in “core strengths”. Just in case you wondered.

• Universal Music Publishing announced not one but three promotions in its UK wing yesterday, with Caroline Elleray becoming VP of A&R; Frank Tope becoming Senior Director of A&R; and Mark Gale becoming Director of UK A&R / Director of International A&R, which sounds to me a little like becoming Director Of A&R.

• Elsewhere in the Universal Music Group, Nicola Levy has just become Global Head Of Business Affairs, Digital, a promotion that will see her relocate from London to Santa Monica. Good times.

• US collecting society BMI yesterday announced the appointment of Jodie Thomas to the role of Executive Director, Corporate Communications And Media Relations, reporting into VP Of Corporate Comms Liz Fischer who says “tremendous”.

• BBC London 94.9 is rebranding as BBC Radio London. Fact fans will note that that’s what the station was originally called when it launched 45 years ago, and the rebrand will coincide with the 45th anniversary. Over the years the station has also gone by names like GLR, BBC LDN and BBC London.

• Ninja Tune founders Coldcut and one of their newest signings Seven Davis Jr took over Radio 1’s ‘Essential Mix’ slot at the weekend to mark the label’s 25th anniversary. You could and probably should listen here.

• Run The Jewels have finally released their ‘Meow The Jewels’ remix album. Sadly, it is dreadful.

• Lush are reforming to play their first show in 20 years at the Roundhouse on 6 May next year. “Finally”, says frontwoman Miki Berenyi.

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Tuesday 29 September 2015, 10:30 | By

Justin Bieber was always the greatest living human. May be the messiah.

And Finally Artist News

Justin Bieber

We all know that now – with his wild days behind him – Justin Bieber is the greatest living human. Perhaps the greatest who has ever lived. I mean, what a guy. What a great guy. But it’s a little known fact that, back in those days when it looked like he was being a monumental arsehole, it was all just a big misunderstanding.

Partly, he says in a new interview with Complex, the trouble was his perception of the people around him. “There are awesome people who are the lovely, amazing, joyful kind”, he explains. “But I only saw people who are shitty and were taking advantage of me. When you have that perspective, the way you act changes. I was basically like, ‘fuck everybody’. Then I started doing my own thing. I got into a little bit of trouble – nothing that other 20 year olds don’t get into – just rebelling a little bit. Now, being 21, I’m coming into my own and [am] around some pretty cool people who are not afraid to tell me what’s real”.

“Nothing that other 20 year olds don’t get into?” you might scoff. What about the drug-fuelled drag racing? Never happened. “The police, they just wanted press; they wanted attention. I never was speeding; I never was drag racing”, he insists. “The cop supposedly wanted to be famous for arresting celebrities, and someone had heard him say that prior to that. I wasn’t drinking … I was just like, ‘Oh they’re trying to get me right now at any cost'”.

Well, that’s that cleared up then. Of course, Bieber was convicted of various charges levelled at him that night. But he reached a plea deal, which I think is like when you just say you did something for an easy life and a less damaging criminal record.

Anyway, that’s one thing he didn’t do. What about that thing where he pissed in a bucket? Well, he did that, but it wasn’t because he was being naughty. “Honestly, I think the pissing in the bucket wasn’t as big as people made it seem. Just because, dude, think about it. Imagine, you hear that fucking Ozzy Osbourne pisses backstage. Immediately, ‘Oh, he’s a freaking rock star!’ As soon as I do it, ‘He’s being a brat'”.

And if you still insist on saying that pissing in a cleaner’s bucket seems a bit bratty, well Bieber says this: “Dude, what is bratty about pissing in a bucket? I had to go piss – we all have to pee. The bathroom was like on the other side, and the dude in the club was like, ‘Just pee here’. He told me I could and it wasn’t like I was being disrespectful. I feel like that was pretty ostracising – bigger than it should’ve been”.

He was told to pee in that bucket. What was he supposed to do? Not pee in the bucket? Come on. Live in the real world for a second.

For the latter part of the interview, and pretty much apropos of nothing, talk turns to Bieber’s faith in God and how that has helped him to better present himself as the great guy he really is. He’s not saying he is Jesus, I should add. “I just wanna honestly live like Jesus”, he said. “Not be Jesus”.

However, he notes some glaring parallels between their lives: “Sometimes when I don’t feel like doing something, but I know it’s right, I remember, I’m pretty sure Jesus didn’t feel like going to the cross and dying so that we don’t have to feel what we should have to feel”.

“I feel invincible like, nothing is bigger than God”, he enthuses further. “If God’s for me, who can be against me? That’s helped me in a lot of situations where I feel judged. It gives you confidence and you can carry yourself in a cool way, but it’s not cocky. It’s a confidence that’s a godly confidence. That’s what I always want. I wanna be loved for being a good dude and for being confident in myself because I know who I am and what I carry and what I sacrifice”.

Bieber then lays down some insight into his views on Christianity. Not that he is Jesus, remember. He’s just a guy with some views. Like, on how science might seem convincing with its big bang theory of the creation of the universe, but did you ever think of it like this? “Imagine putting a bunch of gold into a box, shaking up the box, and out comes a Rolex. It’s so preposterous once people start saying it”.

Preposterous. Of course, scientists might tell you that – with all the time and space possessed by this universe – anything, including both that and the creation of human life, is possible. But what do scientists know?

Beyond creation, other divine revelations provided by the Biebster include that “You don’t need to go to church to be a Christian … If you go to Taco Bell, that doesn’t make you a taco”. Truly, this interview is a sermon on the mount for our times. Go forth and read it in full here.

In other Jesus Bieber news, the singer recently told fans that they should do unto him as they would have other people do unto them.

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Monday 28 September 2015, 10:55 | By

Approved: Harleighblu

CMU Approved

Harleighblu

Harleighblu has been making some steady ripples in recent times with various interesting projects and her really quite distinctive vocals. She released her debut album in 2013, which was championed by the likes of Craig Charles and Trevor Nelson, and along the way she has been touted as the “new queen of UK soul”.

Here with her latest project, the ‘Futurespective’ EP series on the Tru Thoughts label, she takes things slightly more towards the club and electronic scene, and with considerable aplomb.

‘Futurespective Part 2’ was released last week, and features collaborations with SpectraSoul from Shogun Audio, LA producer Captain Supernova and Audio Sparks, aka Bugz In The Attic’s Daz-I-Kue. Check out the Captain Supernova track ‘Forget’ here.

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Monday 28 September 2015, 10:53 | By

Music Key may be part of wider YouTube subscription service

Business News Digital Labels & Publishers Top Stories

YouTube Music Key

Could YouTube’s long-in-development subscription music service go properly live not as a standalone proposition, but as part of a wider subscription package offered by the video site? Rumours to that effect have been doing the rounds for a while now, and tech site Re/code added fuel to that fire with a report this weekend.

As previously reported, YouTube’s move into paid-for music streaming has been a very long time coming, the company finally putting what it calls Music Key into beta last November, after a run in with the indies over how the service would be licensed.

It’s widely thought that the Music Key project was, in part, a bid to placate the labels and publishers, which have become increasingly tetchy about the preferential royalty rates the Google video site enjoys. Rights owners insisted that the freemium YouTube site, a low earner for the music business, should be upselling to something more in line with the other music streaming services that have become decent earners for the industry at large.

Though YouTube has been dabbling with going the subscription rather than ad-funded route elsewhere on its network. And now Re/code reckons that new terms for content owners, being instigated by the video site, are the Google service getting ready to offer its viewers the option to go ad-free in return for a $10 a month subscription. Content owners have been told they must sign up to the new terms by 22 Oct to continue monetising their videos, in the US at least.

That timeline suggests that YouTube could be offering ad-free viewing from late October or early November, which would fit in with the latest implied dates for Music Key properly going live. And Re/code’s sources are saying that that’s because these are now the same proposition, ie that there will be just one YouTube subscription product that will give users ad-free videos and the Music Key audio-streaming platform.

Though if that whole package is just $10 a month, which insiders seem to say it will be, that raises new questions about how the music side of the proposition will be licensed. The labels wanted YouTube to launch something akin to Spotify et al, so $10 a month, with about 70% of the revenue going to music rights owners.

Presumably under the wider YouTube subscription offer, the Google site would have to share royalties with other content owners whose videos are consumed without ads. Though YouTube might argue that this way there’ll be many more users, and therefore much more revenue to share.

For its part, YouTube remains non-committal as to what it has planned subscriptions-wise, and as to when Music Key and any wider subscription offer will actually go live. A spokesman merely told Re/code that “we are progressing according to plan to provide fans more options in how they enjoy content on YouTube”.

Though with the 22 Oct deadline on the new terms for content owners, maybe we’ll hear more about what is launching in the weeks that follow.

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Monday 28 September 2015, 10:52 | By

MegaUpload rewarded top infringers, says prosecutor in extradition case

Business News Digital Legal MegaUpload Timeline

MegaUpload

The extradition hearing of Kim Dotcom and three other former managers of the long defunct but often controversial file-transfer service MegaUpload continues in New Zealand. The US wants to extradite the four men to its courts to face charges of racketeering, money laundering and rampant copyright infringement.

As previously reported, core to the case against the company that was forced offline in early 2012 is the allegation that it financially rewarded users who uploaded large quantities of copyright infringing material to its servers, because that content ensured a steady flow of traffic and therefore advertising and subscription income. It also meant, prosecutors allege, that as MegaUpload removed infringing material to comply with US copyright law, it knew that same content would be re-uploaded elsewhere on its networks.

That MegaUpload operated a takedown system for copyright owners, in line with US law, will be key to Dotcom et al’s defence. The prosecution want to show that MegaUpload only ever paid lip service to US copyright law, allowing users to continue uploading, and rewarding them for those uploads, even after multiple takedown notices had been issued against the uploading individual’s account.

Speaking on behalf of the US government in the extradition case, lawyer Christine Gordon said that one MegaUpload user was paid more than $50,000 for his uploading efforts between 2006 and 2011. Payments were made to the user, Gordon alleged, despite over 1200 takedown requests being issued against his account. No efforts were taken to restrict that user’s infringing activities, she added, and instead his server space was expanded to accommodate new unlicensed uploads.

However, the lawyer added, that particular uploader eventually fell out with MegaUpload, complaining that he wasn’t being paid enough for his ‘work’ for the company. According to the New Zealand Herald, Dotcom allegedly responded by writing in an email: “You and your friends are at most 1% of our traffic so please don’t overestimate your importance to us. We’re thankful of your support of MegaUpload in the past and I think we have been fair to you”.

MegaUpload’s rewards scheme was axed in June 2011, Gordon said, and Dotcom then became a critic of other file-transfer sites rewarding infringing uploaders, going as far as to report those rival services to Paypal. At that point the company described such payments as being “illegal” she claimed, “but Megaupload had done that [itself] for six years”.

The case continues.

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Monday 28 September 2015, 10:50 | By

Live Nation UK management rejig rumoured

Business News Live Business

Live Nation

There was much chitter chatter last week about a rejig of the management team at Live Nation’s UK and Ireland division, with veteran promoter Denis Desmond tipped for a top role, according to IQ magazine.

The rejig follows the recent departure of long-stranding Live Nation UK COO John Probyn, who left the live music major to work on a new sports event in Birmingham. It is thought that Melvin Benn, boss of Live Nation UK subsidiary Festival Republic, will also have an extended role overseeing other festivals owned by the firm, an expansion in remit that has been rumoured for a few months now.

Irish promoter Desmond has a long-standing joint venture with Live Nation through which the UK wing of the firm owns a number of its key assets, including the aforementioned Festival Republic, the Academy Music Group and the recently acquired MAMA & Company. It’s still not clear whether MAMA will remain a standalone entity within the group, or if its key assets will be merged in with Live Nation’s other venue and festival divisions, though there has been talk of the venues becoming part of the AMG network.

Live Nation is yet to formally comment on any rejigging plans.

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Monday 28 September 2015, 10:49 | By

Former Vodafone boss Arun Sarin joins Saavn as investor and advisor

Business News Deals Digital

Saavn

Former Vodafone CEO Arun Sarin has taken a minority stake in Saavn, and will also act as a strategic advisor to the Indian streaming service.

Announcing the news, Saavn CEO Rishi Malhotra told reporters: “As CEO of the global telecom giant Vodafone plc, Sarin was one of the first to predict the mass adoption of mobile phones in emerging markets. His support for Saavn underscores a similar trend underway in the music industry”.

“With over 90% of our usage driven by smartphones, Saavn users are moving data plan transactions and driving data engagement at an incredible pace”, he added. “In the coming months, you’ll see us work more deeply with carriers in India and additional territories”.

The company, which is based in New York but remains focussed on the Indian market, also announced that it has seen its user numbers boom in the last twelve months, reaching eighteen million active daily users. It reported fourteen million as recently as July, when new investment of $100 million was announced.

“Music streaming is a core app on today’s smartphones, and Saavn is superbly positioned to grow rapidly in the fast expanding smartphone market in India”, said Sarin. “As an innovative and nimble music streaming company, at the heart of one of the world’s most valuable markets, Saavn hits all the right notes. I look forward to working with the Saavn team on the company’s continued progress”.

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Monday 28 September 2015, 10:47 | By

Aldi launches streaming service in Germany

Business News Digital

Aldi Life

Supermarket chain Aldi has launched its own streaming service in Germany, called Aldi Life Musik. Powered by Napster, it will cost €7.99 per month, undercutting competitors like Spotify, Apple Music and, er, Napster.

Launched last week, the service has no freemium tier. Presumably the hope it that discounted access to what appears to be pretty much Napster’s full offering (just rebadged) will be enough to attract a more mainstream userbase than other offerings.

Although Germany’s physical music market has been one of the more stable in recent years, with digital generally lagging behind other European countries, streaming income has nevertheless been on the increase. The first half of 2015 saw a rise of 87% year-on-year.

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