CMU
Daily - on the inside Thursday
20th January
In
today's CMU Daily:
- IFPI report confirms digital explosion
- US anti-download campaign secures first convictions
- Californian senator renews bid to write law against P2Ps
- Jacko update
- More Mondays gigs
- Rowetta to appear at Harlem Nights party
- Single Review: Bugz In The Attic - Booty La La
- Super Furry's album complete
- Osbournes plan tsunami benefit single
- Hatherley's all star vid
- Electric Six return
- Aim rebrand digital division
- Tokyo Dragons tour
- Single Review: Tokyo Dragons - What The Hell
- New singles on Basement Jaxx best of
- Guy Chambers launches new production company
- Electronics giants partner on anti-piracy solutions
- Paxo lays into Thompson at BBC conference
- Dave Matthews driver charged over bus toilet incident
- Online petition requests an Ashlee Simpson ban
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IFPI
REPORT CONFIRMS DIGITAL EXPLOSION
In a new report entitled 'Stating The Bloody Obvious', the International
Federation of the Phonographic Industry yesterday revealed that
2004 was the year digital music really took off. The worldwide
industry association reported that 200 million tracks were bought
from legitimate download platforms in the US and Europe last
year, adding that the 230 online music stores that now exist
generated in the region of $330 for the music industry.
Looking
ahead to 2005, the IFPI expect similar growth in the sector
- estimating that overall income from digital music sales will
double. The industry organisation also expects the mobile music
sector to grow in the next twelve months.
Commenting
on the report, IFPI boss John Kennedy told reporters: "At
last the threat has become the opportunity". That said,
he stressed the threats still existed and that legal action
by his and other industry organisations against illegal downloading
remained key: "We don't underestimate the challenge that
free is still a very attractive concept. The biggest challenge
for the digital music business has always been to make music
easier to buy than to steal. In addition, legal action is necessary
and while it's not always popular we know we have to carry on
and we believe that it's having an impact".
No
comment, however, on that report published by Shelley Taylor
& Associates earlier this week that said most of the legitimate
download sites are rubbish, and the many competing codecs too
damn confusing, all of which encourages kids to carry on sharing
simple MP3s via the P2P networks.
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US
ANTI-DOWNLOAD CAMPAIGN SECURES FIRST CONVICTIONS
Talking of the legal fight against illegal file sharing, the
US Department Of Justice has announced it had secured its first
two guilty pleas in their 'Operation Digital Gridlock' campaign
against illegal content distribution online.
The
Department Of Justice's campaign is targeted primarily at people
running websites that proactively enable the illegal sharing
of copyright content, contravening US copyright law as it currently
stands (ie not the Kazaa style companies who still claim that,
because their technology has legitimate uses, they are not guilty
of copyright violation in the eyes of the law, unless a civil
action by the record labels can prove otherwise).
The
first guilty pleas came from William R Trowbridge and Michael
Chicoine who were accused of running a file-sharing community
called the Underground Network, which made copyrighted games,
movies and music available to members. The two men will now
be sentenced on 29 Apr and face up to five years in prison and
a $250,000 fine.
Announcing
the prosecutions US Attorney General John Ashcroft told reporters:
"Those who steal copyrighted material will be caught, even
when they use the tools of technology to commit their crimes.
The theft of intellectual property victimizes not only its owners
and their employees, but also the American people, who shoulder
the burden of increased costs for goods and services."
US
Attorney Kenneth Wainstein added: "These prosecutions -
the first federal enforcement actions ever taken against criminal
copyright theft over peer-to-peer networks - send a powerful
message to cyber-criminals."
--------------------------------------------------
CALIFORNIAN
SENATOR RENEWS BID TO WRITE LAW AGAINST P2PS
And from the same 'death to the illegal downloaders' file, news
that Californian Democrat Senator Kevin Murray is back on the
case to force a change in the law that would make P2P networks
indisputably illegal (in the State of California anyway). Murray
wants to get a change in the law which would stop Kazaa et al
using that 'Betamax plea' which the courts have generally accepted
when the record companies have tried to close the P2P networks
down through litigation (you know, the "we just make the
technology, not our fault if the kids misuse it" plea).
Murray's latest attempt to get a change in the law would make
it illegal to sell, advertise or distribute file-sharing software.
--------------------------------------------------
JACKO
UPDATE
Dreadful TV presenter Martin Bashir is trying to resist moves
to make him give evidence at the forthcoming Michael Jackson
child abuse trial. As previously reported, prosecutors in the
case have requested Bashir as a witness - they want to question
him about the time he spent with Jacko while filming that legendary
behind the scenes ITV documentary. But Bashir, who now works
for US network ABC, has said his work "speaks for itself",
adding that under California's shield law, journalists could
not be forced to testify about things they observed while doing
their job. He has asked the judge overseeing the case to turn
down the prosecution's request to have him appear in court.
Judge Rodney Melville will consider Bashir's request on 28 Jan.
Elsewhere
in Jacko court case news, and Jackson's lawyers have requested
that the young accuser making the child abuse allegations against
the singer should not be referred to as the "victim".
They feel that the use of the "v" word would prejudice
the case against their client, adding that it was the jury's
job to decide whether the complainant and his family were "victims".
In
a statement Jacko's lawyers said: "The prosecution, court
personnel and the state's witnesses should not be allowed to
characterize the complaining witnesses as 'victims' before the
jury has had a chance to decide the ultimate question of whether
they are victims."
Last
bit of Jacko news - and Judge Melville has given approval to
a recorded statement made by Jackson responding to evidence
given by his victim - sorry, I mean accuser - which was leaked
by US TV network ABC last week despite the strict media coverage
ban that surrounds this case (and reported on by other unscrupulous
media outlets like, erm, the CMU Daily). The statement has been
recorded for Fox TV, although Fox says it is yet to view the
recording and doesn't know if or when it will screen it.
--------------------------------------------------
MORE
MONDAYS GIGS
Following on from last year's Get Loaded In The Park, and with
Bez very much in the public eye at the moment, the Happy Mondays
have confirmed they will play two more gigs - this time at the
Brixton Academy. This time they will co-headline with The Farm,
with DJ sets coming from Primal Scream's Mani and Inspiral Carpets'
Clint Boon. The two shows, under the banner of '48 Hour Party
People', will take place on 25 and 26 Mar.
--------------------------------------------------
ROWETTA
TO APPEAR AT HARLEM NIGHTS PARTY
Talking of the Happy Mondays, X-Factor contestant and former
Monday Rowetta is making a live PA appearance at Steve Lawler's
Harlem Nights third anniversary party at the End on 28 Jan.
Among other things, she will be singing 'Souls On Ice', the
track produced by Steve Lawler vs King Unique which, we hear,
has had considerable A&R interest since being championed
by the likes of Pete Tong on the Essential Selection.
--------------------------------------------------
SINGLE
REVIEW: Bugz In The Attic - Booty La La (V2)
Bugz In The Attic are made up of nine, yes nine, West London
producers, musicians and DJs. Their new single 'Booty La La'
is already doing some serious damage on both the dance floors
and radio waves across the UK. Anyone smart enough to catch
them at Fabric will know what this collective are all about,
but 'BLL' is your invite to the Bugz' punk-funk shindig. A very
heavy bass-line and a sunny, housey drum pattern that would
animate my Gran, form the base of this sexy, funk-fuelled, electro-disco
cut. The fantastically catchy and energetic vocal supplied by
the hilariously named M'pho is sassy and classic, a real gem.
This is pure fun in a crystal case, and the Bugz will no doubt
be bringing life to the most comatose of parties and become
the short-lived darlings of London's superficial, fashionable
types over the coming months (see Chk Chk Chk). OG
Release date: 10 Jan
Press contact: Renegade [CP, CR] V2 IH [RP, RR, NP] Sainted
PR [NP]
--------------------------------------------------
SUPER
FURRY'S ALBUM COMPLETE
The next album from Super Furry Animals is more or less ready
to go after the band spent 20 days in Rio De Janeiro completing
the project with Brazilian producer Mario Caldato.
On
the trip to Rio to finish mixing the album (the actual recording
took place in Cataluna, Spain), the band's Gruff Rhys told NME:
"We loved the idea of returning to Rio. Last time we went
there [to play with The Rapture and The White Stripes], our
schedule was too tight, and we didn't have time to see the city".
This time, guided by Caldato, they saw some local gigs and also
a football game at Maracana stadium.
On the album, Rhys says the new material has an "orchestral"
flavour". As yet untitled, it is due for release in May.
Meanwhile,
Rhys is about to start promotion on his debut solo album, 'Yr
Atal Genhedlaeth', which he is releasing through the band's
own label Placid Casual. That includes a tour of Wales (with
a stop off in Dublin) dates for which go like this:
8
Feb: Bethesda Ogwen Hall
9 Feb: Dublin Whelans
10 Feb: Colwyn Bay Theatr Colwyn
11 Feb: Harlech Theatr Ardudwy
12 Feb: Penarth Paget Rooms
13 Feb: Cardiff Sherman Theatre
14 Feb: Aberystwyth Theatr Y Weri
--------------------------------------------------
OSBOURNES
PLAN TSUNAMI BENEFIT SINGLE
Not to be outdone by the Mike Read organised tsunami-aid single
which is out on Monday, Sharon Osbourne is now doing a Geldof
and getting together her celebrity mates to record a charity
record in aid of the post-tsunami relief effort. The single
will be a cover version of Eric Clapton's 'Tears In Heaven'
and names set to appear on the recording include: Elton John,
Pink, Rod Stewart, Robert Downey Jr, Gwen Stefani, Gavin Rossdale,
Steve Tyler, Phil Collins, Josh Groban, Andrea Bocelli and,
of course, Ozzy and Kelly Osbourne.
--------------------------------------------------
HATHERLEY'S
ALL STAR VID
Today's tip for avoiding work - checking out the video to Charlotte
Hatherley's new single 'Bastardo' complete with special guest
appearances from David Walliams, Simon Pegg, Alice Lowe, Julia
Davis, Lucy Davies and Lauren Laverne. Directed by Edgar Wright
(of 'Shaun of the Dead') it's an epic homage to the golden age
of those classic girls' publications 'Jackie' and 'My Guy',
and you can check it out at the following links:
Dial up: http://www.vitaminic.co.uk/vita/wmv/BASTARDOwindows56k.wmv
Broadband:
http://www.vitaminic.co.uk/vita/wmv/BASTARDOwindowsbband.wmv
--------------------------------------------------
ELECTRIC
SIX RETURN
Electric Six will next month release their second album, their
first for new label, Warner imprint Rushmore Recordings. Although
lacking the production talents of producer Soul Child which,
in our very humble opinion, was what made debut 'Fire' so special,
the new long player promises to be full of the raw energy and
fun you'd expect from Dick Valentine, with a few darker more
leftfield tracks. The album will hit stores on 14 Feb, just
ahead of a UK tour which kicks off in Glasgow on 20 Feb and
climaxes at the Astoria on 10 Mar. Press info from Warners IH.
--------------------------------------------------
AIM
REBRAND DIGITAL DIVISION
The Association of Independent Music's new media bit, known
until you started reading this story as Musicindie, has been
re-launched as AIM Digital. Like Musicindie, AIM Digital will
negotiate and administer collective licensing deals on behalf
of AIM member labels. It will also provide training and support
for labels new to the digital domain.
Announcing
the re-launch, AIM Digital General Manager told CMU: "AIM
pioneered collective licensing for new media, and the launch
of AIM Digital underlines our commitment to level the playing
field for Indies by actively licensing to new digital services
across the world."
AIM
boss Alison Wenham added: "Musicindie was created by AIM
in 1999, to enable the independent sector to take advantage
of new media business development. It has become a vital part
of AIM member labels' digital business and knowledge base. The
renaming of Musicindie reflects our desire to cement the direct
relationship between AIM, AIM Digital and AIM members."
--------------------------------------------------
TOKYO
DRAGONS TOUR
A favourite of CMU's increasingly scary 'ROCK department', the
Tokyo Dragons, have announced they will be supporting Do Me
Bad Things (another CMU favourite) on their forthcoming tour.
Given they are already due to head out on tour with The Quireboys
next month, that means a lot of gigs are coming up for the Dragons,
which will tie in nicely with the release of new single 'What
The Hell' on 21 Feb and debut album 'Give Me The Fear', which
is due out in Apr. All
those dates as follows:
Supporting
The Quireboys...
4
Feb: Gloucester Guildhall
7 Feb: Norwich, The Brickmakers
9 Feb: Belfast, The Limelight
10 Feb: Manchester Academy 3
11 Feb: Milton Keynes, Woughton Centre
12 Feb: Sheffield Corporation
13 Feb: Newcastle Foundation
15 Feb: Cambridge, The Junction
16 Feb: Bilston Robin 2
17 Feb: Bristol, The Fleece
18 Feb: London, Mean Fiddler
20 Feb: Cardiff, Clwb Ifor Bach
23 Feb: Nottingham, Rock City Basement
24 Feb: Crewe Limelight
25 Feb: Glasgow, Cat House
26 Feb: Bradfor, Club Rio
27 Feb: Clee Thorpes, The Beachcomber
Supporting
DMBT...
30
Mar: Exeter, Cavern
31 Mar: Cardiff, Barfly
1 Apr: Birmingham, Academy
2 Apr: Leeds, Cockpit
4 Apr: Glasgow, King Tuts
5 Apr: Edinburgh, Venue
7 Apr: Sheffield, Fez Club
8 Apr: Leicester, Princess Charlotte
9 Apr: Nottingham, Rock City
11 Apr: Norwich, Arts Centre
12 Apr: Oxford, Zodiac
13 Apr: Aldershot, West End Centre
14 Apr: London, Mean Fiddler
15 Apr: Preston, 53 Degrees
16 Apr: Dublin, Crawdaddy
18 Apr: Manchester, Hop & Grape
19 Apr: Liverpool, Academy
And
talking of our ROCK department, and their (his?) love for the
Toyko Dragons...
--------------------------------------------------
SINGLE
REVIEW: Tokyo Dragons - What The Hell (Universal/Island)
My reviews of the Tokyo Dragons (that date from 2003) read like
the diary of a frustrated clairvoyant, who can see the future,
knows it's coming, but gets rather annoyed when it all seems
to take longer than expected. So much so your confidence may
well be waning in my predictions. But trust me, it IS coming
back. That big rock sound, that melodic hard rock, that stadium
epicness, those wind-tunnel solos, the hair, the leather, the
denim, the whole fucking lot. Just be patient. It will be here
to replace the earnest emo, the boy bandits and the polished
pop rock of nameless Scandinavian feather twats. If my humble
opinions don't speak loud to you... Read. My. Stats. After the
success of 'Get 'Em Off' - which cultivated both a growing fanbase
and some blinding reviews - Tokyo Dragons have penned a deal
with Island Records for an album - due soon(ish). New single,
'What The Hell' has melodic similarities to Aerosmith's 'Dude
(Looks Like A Lady)', but carries a more feral and untamed punch
with all the slides, vibrato and crunchy guitar noises left
in - and to fantastic effect. While this single would have been
stylistically unremarkable 20 years ago, its raw energy, solid
tune and shameless musicianship stand so tall in 2005 - surrounded
by immovable 'The' bands and their shockingly dull music/live
shows/members. My crystal ball may be a little ahead of itself,
but it's never wrong on subjects like the future of rock 'n'
roll. JG
Release date: 21 Feb
Press contact: Triad [CP, RP, NP] Island IH [CR, RR, NR]
--------------------------------------------------
NEW
SINGLES ON BASEMENT JAXX BEST OF
Basement Jaxx's greatest hits album, which is due out in Mar,
will include, as is compulsory these days, two new tracks, at
least one of which will get a single release. The new tracks
are called 'U Don't Know Me' and 'Oh My Gosh', the former featuring
Lisa Kekaula of The Bellrays, the latter Vula Malinga.
'Oh
My Gosh' will be released as a single on 14 Mar, with the best
of released on 28 Mar.
--------------------------------------------------
GUY
CHAMBERS LAUNCHES NEW PRODUCTION COMPANY
Guy Chambers, the songwriter best known for working with Robbie
Williams on most of his best stuff, has launched a new production
company with music management duo Johnny and David Crawford.
The new company, called Helix Music, has been created primarily
as an outlet to work with new teen rock outfit Linchpin which
are being managed by the Crawfords' management firm Bloodmusic.
Chambers will now work with Linchpin to develop their sound
and put some tracks on tape.
The
four members of Linchpin are just 14 years old and formed their
band because, they say: "it cost too much money to go see
bands, so we thought we'd take matters in to our own hands and
start a band for our mates to come see." Which seems fair
enough to me.
Commenting
on the Linchpin project, and his new company, Chambers told
CMU: "This project came across my radar completely by chance
but the quality and the potential of the band was obvious from
the first listen and I knew instantly that I wanted to be involved.
Bloodmusic have done a great job getting Linchpin to the level
they are at now and we are delighted to have teamed up with
them. It's enormously exciting to be working with such a young,
enthusiastic and creative band that has set their sights extremely
high. I can't wait to start recording the record!"
Press
info on the venture from Velocity Communications.
--------------------------------------------------
ELECTRONICS
GIANTS PARTNER ON ANTI-PIRACY SOLUTIONS
Electronics giants Sony, Samsung, Philips and Matsushita (Panasonic)
are getting together to develop standard specifications for
piracy-proofing software. The new consortium, to be called the
Marlin Joint Development Association, will also included Philips-owned
digital rights management developer Intertrust Technologies,
which has been specializing in the area of making things piracy
proof for sometime.
It
is the first big effort by the consumer electronics industry
to tackle the piracy problem together since the Secure Digital
Music Initiative, a similar consortium which also involved the
record labels, and which kinda collapsed back in 2001. Confirming
the new consortium in the Wall Street Journal, Intertrust boss
Talal Shamoon said: "The CE industry has been pretty quiet,
but now they are getting ready to detonate their DRM".
It is not clear what relationship the CE firms intend to have
with Apple and Microsoft who, of course, have their own DRM
solutions.
--------------------------------------------------
PAXO
LAYS INTO THOMPSON AT BBC CONFERENCE
A Jeremy Paxman performance that sounded on par with the legendary
Michael Howard gig took place earlier this week, although, alas,
we won't get to see it. Paxo interviewed BBC DG Mark Thompson
at an internal BBC event and took the opportunity to lay into
his new boss, who is behind the plans for major job cuts at
the Corporation.
According
to the Guardian, Paxman kicked off with what he referred to
as his "Gordon Brown question" - "Why should
we believe a word you say when you said last year [while still
running Channel 4] that you weren't interested in being director
general?" The Guardian report Thompson "looked sheepish"
and stumbled over his answers, frequently sipping from a glass
of water while Paxman rounded on him again.
At
one point Paxman asked: "Were you ignoring the facts when
you said the BBC was basking in jacuzzis of cash?", referring
to something Thompson said while still at Channel 4 which seems,
of course, at conflict with his cost cutting agenda since arriving
at the Corporation. The poor DG had to admit that comment had
been "a bit of a joke".
But
Thompson stuck to defending his proposed changes at the Beeb.
When asked about moving whole departments from TV Centre in
London to new premises in Manchester he said the move was necessary
because the Beeb's London HQ was "creaking at the seams",
adding, "To use a technical term, it's completely fucked."
--------------------------------------------------
DAVE
MATTHEWS DRIVER CHARGED OVER BUS TOILET INCIDENT
An update for those of you following the events that followed
that incident when the chemical toilet on The Dave Matthews
Band's tour bus was emptied while on a bridge above a busy river
cruiser, drenching the passengers on board the boat. The driver
of the bus, Stefan Wohl, has now been charged with reckless
conduct and will face the charges in court in Mar. Investigators
have confirmed Wohl was alone on the bus at the time of the
incident, distancing the band from any responsibility. As previously
reported, at least one of the passengers on the boat is suing
both the band and the driver. The band, while distancing themselves
from the incident, did apologise for their driver's actions,
participating in police investigations and offered to donate
$100,000 to environmental groups involved in keeping the river
in question clean.
--------------------------------------------------
ONLINE
PETITION REQUESTS AN ASHLEE SIMPSON BAN
Here's an interesting one! Following that embarrassing
incident on TV show Saturday Night Live, where a technical error
revealed she was miming, pop star Ashlee Simpson is facing more
criticism for her singing abilities outside of the studio after
65,000 people added their names to an online petition calling
for her to be banned from singing live.
The
website, www.stopashlee.com, was set up as a joke by New Yorker
Bethany Decker after she saw Simpson's performance at
a recent half-time football show in Miami at which the singer's
audience booed her off stage. The online petition called on
Simpson's label, Geffen, and her father's management
company JT Entertainment to stop Ashlee from singing live, saying:
"We, the undersigned, are disgusted with Ashlee Simpson's
horrible singing and hereby ask her to stop. She cannot match
the sound of her voice that can be found on her CDs when she
sings live. She simply yells the words (sometimes the wrong
ones) into the mic."
As
word spread about the site and the number of people signing
the petition passed the 65,000 mark, Decker told the New York
Daily News: "It's been really surprising. With word of
mouth and people mentioning it on the radio, it's gotten insane."
It
remains to be seen if the joke petition helps or hinders Simpson's
first US tour which is due to kick off next month.