CMU
Daily - on the inside Friday
11th March
In
today's CMU Daily:
- Get your PJs out for the big testimony: Jacko trial update
- Lil Kim sticks by her story
- Lifeson court date set
- Madonna's film company sued over sexual harassment
- Homelands update
- Album Review: Out Hud - Let Us Never Speak Of It Again
- McCartney gives painting to firemen
- Karma promote US service at SxSW
- Combined singles chart not so friendly to digital-only independents
- Rare early Morrison film to be aired
- The Ravonettes tour
- What state the college gig circuit?
- Live Review: The Camden Crawl, 10 Mar
- System Of A Down update
- English National Opera play down Glastonbury festival-goer
remark
- Oliveri offers his services to QOTSA again
- SMG man says Virgin Radio will stay with him
- Go! Team tour
- Doherty will go solo on Streets support slot
- Mega-profits at Universal Music Group
- Sanctuary looking for major label investment?
- BBC job cuts begin
- Single Review: Kylie Minogue - Giving You Up (EMI/Parlophone)
- Australian anti-piracy body turns its attention to BitTorrent
downloading
- Owner of Ozzy's childhood home sells his door
--------------------------------------------------
CMU
PRESS ROOM>>
KILL
ALL HIPPIES RETURNS
After a short break, legendary rock night Kill All Hippies returns
in 2005 with a special music alliance with TuneTribe.com, fabulous
new artwork and two new rooms!! In 2004 Kill All Hippies introduced
some of the bands of 2005: Kasabian, The Duke Spirit, The Others,
The Rakes, 80's Matchbox B-line Disaster and Little Barrie,
to name a few. Watch out again because this year Kill All Hippies
will be the nurturing ground for another clutch of fabulous
British talent, destined for great things. This month the live
line up includes Planet Of Women, Youth Of Britain, Riff Random
and Elviss, with DJ sets from residents Eddy Temple Morris,
Jeff Automatic and Syrinx, plus the NME DJs. All take place
on Friday March 25th at Canvas, York Way, London, N1; 8.30pm
- late; tickets £5 (£3 in advance). Full press release
at:
http://www.cmumusicnetwork.co.uk/pressroom/killallhippies
Advertise
your releases and events to CMU Daily's 6500+ readership - classified
ad and online press release package just £50 a year. Email
sales@cmumusicnetwork.co.uk for details, or check:
http://www.cmumusicnetwork.co.uk/pressroom/info.pdf
-------------------------------------------------
CMU
FRIDAY TIPS
VIGSY'S
CLUB TIP: One Starry Night Third Birthday Party
As some of you may have noticed, the unlimitedmedia.co.uk domain
has been down much of the week because we are moving mail-servers
and, as is always the case with anything involving IT, it's
taken several days longer than we would have liked. It's back
up now, but that was no use to Vigsy who couldn't send his Club
Tip in yesterday. Which means this week's Club Tip comes via
the voicemail on my mobile rather than email. So, here we go:
"Hello
Chris, it's Vigs here, erm, I can't believe you've left the
office, I don't know what to do about the Club Tip. Erm, here
you go, it's One Starry Night's third birthday party at Neighbourhood
W10, and it's, Ian Pooley's down there with Ben Watts, and its
going to be sort of Afro soul beat hip hop Latin, no, no hip
hop, erm, Latino edge kinda housey shit. So erm. Yeah, I think
it goes from 8 till 2, it's about seven pound in, and then nine,
so yeah, so if you can big that up for me tomorrow, I don't
know the website address, I'm sure you'll find it, it's at Neighbourhood,
W10." Sorted.
Saturday
12 Mar, Neighbourhood, 12 Acklam Road, London, W10, 8pm-2am,
£9 (£7 b4 11pm, free b4 10pm), info 020 7524 7979
--------------------------------------------------
GET
YOUR PJS OUT FOR THE BIG TESTIMONY: JACKO TRIAL UDPATE
A very special day in the Michael Jackson trial yesterday -
so special that Jacko chose to wear pyjamas. It was special
because the singer's accuser, Gavin Arvizo, was back in the
witness stand to give his testimony on the actual child abuse
allegations around which the whole case kinda revolves.
So
here we go. Before the sexual abuse - the alcohol (the latter
often precedes the former after all). Gavin again confirmed
that Jackson had given him a variety of alcoholic drinks while
he stayed at the singer's Neverland ranch including vodka, wine
and brandy, often in fizzy drink cans. Confirming one of Popbitch's
favourite Jacko rumours, he described how Jacko introduced him
to wine by calling it 'Jesus Juice'. Gavin: "He said, 'You
know how Jesus drank wine, well, we call it Jesus Juice'. He
said not to tell anyone about the Jesus Juice and said this
is like a testimony that we'll be friends forever".
Moving
on, Arvizo went on to recall the day when he and Jackson were
in bed together and Jacko, after asking him lots of questions
about sex, put his hand down Gavin Arvizo's pyjama bottoms and
touched him. Gavin told the court that the experience "felt
weird" and the he "felt bad about it". Jackson,
he said, comforted him after the incident.
Jackson
wore pyjamas to yesterday's instalment of the court proceedings
not because he thought he might be asked to act out Arivzo's
story, but because he had been to hospital on his way to court
for treatment for a severe back problem suffered after the singer
fell over while undertaking the never easy task of, erm, getting
dressed. That injury meant he was an hour late for court, which
pissed off Judge Rodney Melville something rotten. He was close
to issuing an arrest warrant and seizing Jacko's $3 million
bail when the singer finally showed up. However, he later told
the jury not to allow his anger towards Jackson's lateness to
effect their judgement on the case in hand.
--------------------------------------------------
LIL
KIM STICKS BY HER STORY
Elsewhere in the very busy pop courts, Lil Kim took to the witness
stand to again plead her innocence over allegations she lied
to a grand jury. As previously reported, Kim stands accused
of lying to a grand jury investigation into a shooting that
took place outside New York radio station Hot 97 back in 2001
(that's the same radio station where posses of 50 Cent and The
Game had a little shoot out last week - bosses are reportedly
banning artists from bringing their entourages to the station).
Kim told the grand jury that she did not know who was actually
involved in the shoot out. However her former manager and a
long term friend have subsequently admitted firing guns during
the incident, and prosecutors say it is impossible Kim didn't
know that.
In
yesterday's testimony Kim tried to distance herself from those
two men, calling them "greedy thieves", presumably
to convince the court she would have had no reason to protect
them when giving her original evidence to the grand jury. She
claims that she had broken off her relationships with both of
the men in question two years before the shooting took place:
"They were taking advantage of me, they were stealing from
me. It was having a major effect on my career. I just didn't
want a bunch of negativity around me."
As
expected, Kim's defence is trying to convince the court that
the shooting kicked off so quickly, and the rapper was whisked
away from the scene so rapidly, there is no way she could have
seen exactly who it was that was shooting. Kim told the court:
"It was definitely very traumatic. I was shaken by it.
I couldn't believe it was happening at that very moment."
If
found guilty Kim faces 30 years in jail, 9 years more than Jacko.
--------------------------------------------------
LIFESON
COURT DATE SET
More from the pop courts. A trial date has been set for Alex
Lifeson of Canadian rock band Rush who is charged with assaulting
a police deputy during an altercation at a Florida hotel on
New Years 2004. As previously reported, Lifeson had the run
in with police at the Ritz-Carlton hotel in Naples, Florida
after he was involved in a fracas that seemingly followed attempts
to force his son Justin off the stage at a New Years party.
Police say Lifeson was violent when they tried to break up the
fracas, throwing one female deputy down a flight of stairs.
But Lifeson says it was the police who mistreated him. It remains
to be seen if the police and defense can agree on a plea - if
they can Lifeson could avoid the trial, which is set to start
on 16 May.
--------------------------------------------------
MADONNA'S
FILM COMPANY SUED OVER SEXUAL HARASSMENT
Even more from the legal department. A former employee of Madonna's
film company, Maverick Films, is suing the singer and her fellow
execs over allegations she was sexually harassed and unfairly
dismissed. Yael Oestreich's particular issues are with the company's
CEO Mark Morgan, although she is naming Madonna and Maverick
co-founder Guy Oseary in the lawsuit because they "failed
to conduct a reasonable investigation into defendant Morgan's
background before hiring him and knew or should have known of
his propensity for sexual harassment and discrimination."
--------------------------------------------------
HOMELANDS
UPDATE
More from the wonderful world of Homelands. Added to an already
bulging line up are The Human League, The Bravery and Australian
style flexing break beat trio, Infusion. Once again Homelands
is introducing more live and non-traditional dance elements
into the mix. The festival's Darren Hughes explains: "The
old formula of dance festivals doesn't work any more. Homelands
came from the superclubbing phenomena, but we made changes to
project in 2003. Since then Homelands has grown organically.
We're rolling now, and the festival is a true representation
of what's going on in clubland. Everyone loves good music -
that doesn't change. What's exciting is the extremes between
the acts we're bringing and the addition of The Bravery and
The Human League only goes to prove this point'. This isn't
solely a dance music event anymore - it's a real Festival."
--------------------------------------------------
ALBUM
REVIEW: Out Hud - Let Us Never Speak Of It Again (K7)
The second album from this hip New York band is in the same
vein as their 2002 debut; a combination of post-punk and disco
inspired sounds, similar to the likes of !!! and LCD Soundsystem;
bands which feature members of Out Hud in fact, though you could
say that Out Hud have more of an eye on the dance floor. Their
sound, which they self-describe as 'mutant disco' has more diverse
influences that you'd think, incorporating dub and hip-hop,
and proves that dance music can be more relevant and cutting
edge. Whereas !!! featured the sneering and sardonic vocals
of Nic Offers (who plays keyboards here), Out Hud are fronted
by Phyllis Forbes, who brings a more subtle and settled approach.
Her vocals are reminiscent of Sarah Nixey of Black Box Recorder,
perhaps; quite nonchalant, you could say. The preceding single
from the album, 'One Life To Leave' is an extensive funk work-out,
led by an infectious bass line, and is one of the most immediately
arresting tracks on the album. 'Old Nude' demonstrates the band's
more dub and reggae influenced side, and the following track,
'The Song So Good They Named It Thrice' is a perfect example
of electro-punk. Perhaps this album's more impressive track
is 'How Long', which after a protracted introduction, really
gets going, and showcases a terrific use of synths and a catchy-as-hell
chorus. Much like !!! though, their integration of politics
into their music seems a little cringe worthy. You have to wince
at a track called 'Mr Bush, There Are Over 100 Words For Shit
And Only One For Music. Fuck You, Mr Bush', even if you admire
their confidence. Thankfully this track remains an instrumental;
the lyrics on the !!! equivalent were incredibly embarrassing.
Overall, I would describe this record as a successful and impressive
amalgamation of genres, bridging the space between post-punk
and dance culture, very much in the tradition of their predecessors,
Liquid Liquid and ESG. KW
Release date: 14 Mar
Press contact: Outpost [CP, RP, NP] K7 IH [CR, RR, NR]
--------------------------------------------------
MCCARTNEY
GIVES PAINTING TO FIREMEN
Paul McCartney and wife Heather Mills have donated a painting
from their private collection to members of the Fire Department
of New York, which should come in helpful next time they've
got a tricky fire to put out. It's a 1974 painting by Ron Kleinman
featuring a Mack truck once operated by the members of the FDNY's
Engine Co. 33 on Great Jones Street. The gift came with a message
from McCartney, whose father was a fireman in Liverpool: "A
heartfelt thanks, and I hope that all of the firefighters will
be able to enjoy its beauty once it finds its resting place."
McCartney, of course, was one of the headline performers at
the benefit concert for New York's firefighters that followed
the 9/11 attacks on the city.
--------------------------------------------------
KARMA
PROMOTE US SERVICE AT SXSW
I seem to remember promising you news on Karmadownload.com's
expansion into the US, which we have so far failed to deliver
on. Well, consider that fact rectified. The London based independent
download platform launched a US version of the site at the end
of last month selling tracks for $0.99 each. The platform's
bosses hope the American version will provide a great platform
for UK independent labels and artists to get their music to
US music fans who are eager for it. While the US site has already
been promoted via a press campaign, bosses aim to grab more
attention through their activity at SxSW, which kicks off today
of course.
Karmadownload
boss Jamie Estrin told CMU: "We already know there is a
strong demand for British independent music across North America
but the physical product is often hard to find and expensive.
This is why the KarmaDownload service has become so popular
with American music lovers and now, with all our great music
available at US domestic prices, customers get value for money
as well."
Press
info on Karma from Arrested.
--------------------------------------------------
COMBINED
SINGLES CHART NOT SO FRIENDLY TO DIGITAL ONLY INDEPENDENTS
Talking of independent download type things, there is likely
to be much disappointment among those artists currently making
their music available exclusively by download following the
news that only download sales for singles with a corresponding
physical release will be counted when the main charts include
digital music stats for the first time next month. The Official
Chart Company confirm that download sales will only be counted
once a single is in the shops. They argue that because some
record labels release download versions of tracks earlier than
they release the physical CD, if the chart counted download
stats independently of CD stats then songs would start to have
two peaks, one for each release - therefore download sales will
only count in weeks where a physical CD is available in the
shops.
Some
in the independent sector reckon that that rule has come from
the high street music retailers who are keen to protect their
own interests, and don't want artists to be able to get high
chart ratings without selling their records through their stores.
Those suspicions seem to be pretty well founded, though you
might argue that given that the record retailers own the chart
(well, half of it) you can hardly blame them for ensuring it
represents their own commercial interests.
Chart
bosses stress that this is an evolutionary period for the music
charts and that the addition of any download stats into the
main singles chart so soon is a real achievement, and a considerable
concession from the major record retail groups who, as yet,
have made little in-roads into securing a share of the download
market. Nothing, chart compilers say, is set in stone and further
development of the chart in the near future is very likely.
Meanwhile,
they say, record labels should make better use of the Download
Chart, which will continue to be published even after digital
stats are incorporated into the main countdown. Independents
(or unsigned artists selling music via chart returning download
platforms) with dedicated fanbases should be aiming to secure
high positions in the Download Chart. That, the argument goes,
might help those artists get the major label funding and / or
media support required to enter the physical CD sales domain.
Steve
Redmond, Communications Director for the BPI and a director
of the Official Chart Company, told CMU: "The inclusion
of downloads in the singles chart from April 10 will, we believe,
be a huge boost both to the legal download business, but also
to the notion of a single. We clearly had to ensure that High
Street retailers weren't disadvantaged by being forced to use
a chart that included download-only product they couldn't possibly
stock. But it's also important to realise that this is a very
fluid market, so we need to be prepared to review the situation
constantly to ensure the chart remains as relevant as possible."
--------------------------------------------------
RARE
EARLY MORRISON FILM TO BE AIRED
The State of Florida has found and restored what they believe
is the earliest film of the late Jim Morrison. It is an early
sixties promotional film made by the Florida State University
in which Morrison, then a student at FSA, plays a prospective
student who is denied enrolment at the school - seemingly because
society at large haven't been investing enough in higher education.
The digitally converted version of the film is being posted
on the state's film archive website, and will be aired on VH1
in the US tonight.
--------------------------------------------------
THE
RAVONETTES TOUR
Have we mentioned that The Ravonettes are in the UK for a headline
tour ahead of the 18 Apr release of next single 'Ode To LA',
the first single to come from forthcoming album 'Pretty In Black',
which is currently scheduled for a 25 Jul release? I can't remember.
Oh well, here's the remaining gig dates:
11
Mar: Leeds Cockpit
13 Mar: Manchester Hop& Grape
14 Mar: Norwich Arts Centre
15 Mar: London Islington Academy
21 Mar: Bristol Fleece
22 Mar: Stoke Sugarmill
24 Mar: Liverpool University
25 Mar: Newcastle Uni Global
26 Mar: Dundee Reading Rooms
28 Mar: Edinburgh Venue
29 Mar: Glasgow King Tut's
--------------------------------------------------
WHAT
STATE THE COLLEGE GIG CIRCUIT?
It is the International Live Music Conference in London today,
tomorrow and Sunday and surely tomorrow everyone will be discussing
the state of the college gig circuit. Well, I know for certain
we will be. We've been surveying key plays in the college scene
and will be presenting the results as part of a MusicTank organised
session called All Tomorrow's Student Circuits. If you're at
the conference, look us up. Otherwise, look out for a summary
of that particular debate in Monday's Daily.
--------------------------------------------------
LIVE
REVIEW: The Camden Crawl on 10 Mar
What a wicked idea. Get ten venues to put on more than forty
bands in one postcode in one night. Make one wristband that
gets you into any venue you want - like an urban festival. CMU,
whose news department have given this thing criminally little
coverage, went down to catch a few of the gigs. We were feeling
a little too excitable and got mostly silly and nearly ejected
from one venue, and definitely ejected from another. Here's
the lowdown.
Hard
Fi @ Lock 17
Everyone's a bit busy lavishing praise on the soon to be dead
and forgotten, The Bravery, which gives Hard Fi a bit of breathing
space to be good and gather a fan base of music fans, as opposed
to NME readers. The Staines outfit were here to impress and
with some solid tunes, including current single, 'Cash Machine'
they made the most of the crowd and the stage, albeit in a fairly
dour manner (remember, there's nothing wrong with being a studio
band, Belle & Sebastian are happy enough). I look forward
to the album.
Towers
of London @ Electric Ballroom
I only have one new thing to say about the Towers. Never be
the band who follow them on stage. You could be Howlin' Pelle
Almqvist, Chris Patton, Marilyn Manson, Casey Chaos or Freddie
Mercury, but you'd still have a hard act to follow if you succeeded
the Towers Of London at a gig. If I was a band I wouldn't invite
the Towers to support. Fuck that. I'd get someone shit. So I
looked great. It's like having someone with big hands hold your
willy: it looks pathetic.
Rev
and Dirk informed me beforehand that they had been given their
orders by Meanfiddler: no spitting, no swearing, no trashing
gear, no throwing cans / fags / abuse. The threat was extended
to never playing a Meanfiddler venue again if these rules were
broken. Thank fuck they ignored that. Which reminded me of when
Nirvana promised to play Lithium unplugged on The Johnathan
Ross Show in '91, they came on and roared through 'Territorial
Pissings' and trashed the set when they were done. Some incensed
producer emphatically swore he would see they never play on
BritishTV ever again. Right.
One
of the best things about seeing the Towers is getting close
up and frightening: being there for an eyeful of spit, sweat
or a having a broken e-string whip you in the cheek. Being there
for the spontaneousness of a band like none other in the year
of our lord 2005. Which is why the Electric Ballroom made me
shudder as I looked around the empty space like a puppy in a
park, 'but, it's so huge... How can anyone get an intimate feel
in somewhere like this... there's a huge iron fence that keeps
the crowd six feet from the stage. I'll never get up there now...'
I should have more faith.
The
Towers filled the space like Vanessa Feltz fills a Nissan Micra:
Donnie baiting the crowd; Snel standing - sticks in hand - on
top of the kit like Dolf Lundgren in He Man; and Rev leaping
from the drum rise, running around, spraying plumes of beer,
and ripping though solos like Hellraiser's box through flesh.
Is there nothing this band can't conquer?
Black
Velvets @ Purple Turtle
I liked the CD, but having just seen the Towers and been asked
to leave for refusing to calm down, it was going to be hard
to be good. The Lead singer looks like Bombhead from Hollyoaks,
and the others look like fat versions of Badly Drawn Boy and
Captain Beefheart. The music was limp and lifeless and so were
the band. One tune was a bit more invigorating, but it was over
fairly quickly. Even making fun of the crowd couldn't keep me
interested. But then it wouldn't take an ADD kid to get bored
of these faux rockers. Yawn.
The
Magic Numbers @ Koko
Why did Warner sign these guys for £350,000. I wouldn't
give them 10p if they played East Ham tube station.
GLC
@ Koko
Ruined by too many Billy Webb wannabes in the crowd. I hate
it when everyone gets the joke. I'm a cunt, what can I say?
Nine
Black Alps @ Bullet
While I hate jangly indie, especially the uber-derivative shite
that passes for good music at the moment, there's nothing quite
like being pleasantly surprised. Sure, Nine Black Alps aren't
the Stone Temple Pilots or Jane's Addiction but there is an
edginess that makes them stand out from bands like Bombhead
And The Velvets. There are tunes and presence, and some nice
wailing solos. Their game is tight, and there's a strong chance
we may be hearing from these guys soon. JG
--------------------------------------------------
SYSTEM
OF A DOWN UPDATE
System Of A Down news galore. First of all the first single
from new double album project 'Mezmerize/Hypnotize' will be
'BYOB' on 2 May. The first part of the album - 'Mezmerise' -
will be released on 16 May. Disk two, 'Hypnotize', will follow
later this year. The band's website, meanwhile, is being relaunched
- http://www.systemofadown.com. They will tour the UK and headline
the Download Festival in Jun - and have just announced a special
pre-tour gig at the London Astoria on 4 Apr. Glorious.
--------------------------------------------------
ENGLISH
NATIONAL OPERA PLAY DOWN GLASTONBURY FESTIVAL-GOER REMARK
The English National Opera has played down comments made by
their chairman, Martin Smith, in relation to the company's acclaimed
performance at last year's Glastonbury Festival.
Smith
was talking at a closed seminar on increasing accessibility
to opera. He made reference to ENO's performance of Wagner's
'Ride Of The Valkyries' at the music festival last summer, joking
that this was a performance for people who "hardly knew
how to spell opera". Some in the media have suggested those
comments are patronising to the Glastonbury festival goer.
However
a spokesman for ENO said the comments had been taken out of
context. "The chairman was speaking with regard to the
impact the ENO had going to Glastonbury. The seminar was about
reaching new audiences, which is what the ENO is trying to do
in different and unexpected ways."
They
say Smith's full comment ran thus: "We put [The Ride of
the Valkyries] on in front of 50,000 people who had never heard
or hardly knew how to spell opera, and they were completely
and utterly riveted by it. The audience were enraptured by what
was going on. There was absolute silence."
--------------------------------------------------
OLIVERI
OFFERS HIS SERVICES TO QOTSA AGAIN
More news on the renewed peace between Queens Of The Stone Age's
Josh Homme and his former band mate Nick Oliveri. Apparently
the latter has offered to rejoin the group he was sacked from
last year when Homme said he had become just too damn erratic
to be bothered working with.
Oliveri
has told Billboard: "I told him last time I was hanging
out with him, 'If anything falls through and you need somebody,
you know where your bass player is, dude -- you know where the
bass player for that band is. So pick up the phone.' It ain't
about a money gig thing for me - I know which band I play bass
in."
Oliveri
also revealed he has had a preview listen of his former band's
new album. He continued: "It's a good record. I was hoping
for more of the first record with this one. I know there's growth,
change and experimenting with music, so obviously I was caught
off-guard a little bit. But I was hoping for something a little
more guitar-heavy."
--------------------------------------------------
SMG
MAN SAYS VIRGIN RADIO WILL STAY WITH HIM
The boss of the Scottish Media Group has been dissing attempts
for Lord Alli and the 3i investment people to force his company
to sell them Virgin Radio. SMG chief Andrew Flanagan says the
future of the rock station is with his company, adding that
Virgin had "huge potential" under current management
despite recent disappointments in revenues.
As
previously reported, Alli had hoped to do a clever aggressive
acquisition of Virgin Radio after SMG turned down his original
takeover offer - but that would require the support of SMG's
biggest shareholder - ITV - and they weren't interested in the
deal.
On
Alli's original offer to buy the station, Flanagan told the
Guardian: "From our point of view, unless he has something
to say or is more realistic about the value, there's nothing
more to be said. There has been mudslinging but there's nothing
further to say. The balance sheet valuation for Virgin Radio
is supported, because it has to be to satisfy our auditors,
by a detailed valuation of future revenue streams, and it's
supported by the opinions of investment banks. It's a very robust
calculation. What may or may not be offered to you is a different
discussion. This business has huge potential and it's up to
us to deliver that and demonstrate the paucity of the offer
by Waheed Alli."
--------------------------------------------------
GO!
TEAM TOUR
CMU favourites The Go! Team are going on tour. Hurrah. Dates
as follows:
7 May: Manchester Academy 2
8 May: Birmingham Academy 2
9 May: Edinburgh Liquid Room
11 May: Norwich Waterfront
12 May: London Electric Ballroom
--------------------------------------------------
DOHERTY
WILL GO SOLO ON STREETS SUPPORT SLOT
Pete Doherty will be supporting The Streets tonight, even though
his band Babyshambles had to pull out because of a bereavement
in drummer Adam Ficek's family. Apparently Doherty doesn't want
to disappoint his fans, which is a first. In a statement Doherty
told reporters: "After a lot of consideration I have decided
that I don't want to let the fans down and so will go ahead
with the show on my own."
--------------------------------------------------
MEGA-PROFITS
AT UNIVERSAL MUSIC GROUP
As predicted by CMU yesterday (OK, so anyone who can count was
predicting it too), the Universal Music Group have announced
mega profits for last year. The company yesterday reported a
2004 income of $461 million on a revenue of $6.695 billion,
with the company's annual EBITDA (earnings before interest,
taxes, depreciation and amortisation) exceeding a billion dollars,
the first music company to ever achieve this.
That news has helped boost the fortunes of Universal's parent
company Vivendi, which has been suffering ever since it went
into near financial meltdown back in 2002. The group achieved
a net income of $1 billion, which is quite a turnaround given
that they made a loss of $1.5 billion in 2003. The group's CEO,
Jean-Rene Fourtou, said yesterday: "For the first time
in four years, the company announces positive net income. Vivendi
Universal has seen a turnaround and is in a solid and profitable
position in its development."
Some
in the US are wondering what impact Universal's financials will
have on rival label Warner Music with regard their plans to
plough ahead with a flotation. On one level Universal is so
outshining its competitors in the music industry that some say
it makes investing in Warners less attractive. However others
say Universal's good fortune suggests the music business is
in a period of recovery, and that that would make buying shares
in a company like Warner Music a more attractive opportunity.
--------------------------------------------------
SANCTUARY
LOOKING FOR MAJOR LABEL INVESTMENT?
No confirmation on this one at all, but US industry website
HitsDailyDouble reports gossip that the Sanctuary Music Group
are looking to sell some equity to a major record label, and
have so far approach EMI, Warners and SonyBMG about a possible
deal. More when we get it.
--------------------------------------------------
BBC
JOB CUTS BEGIN
The big job axe at the Beeb is under way following an announcement
by Director General Mark Thompson that 1730 jobs will go in
the Corporation's Professional Services unit. Of those jobs,
980 will be cut and 750 outsourced. Announcing the job cut Thompson
said: "In December I talked about the creative prize for
the BBC and our audiences - but the cost is nothing short of
transformation. We have made a strong start, showing we are
serious about change and ensuring we are maximising the value
of our income for audiences' benefit. We need to make the BBC
a simpler, more agile operation, ready to take the creative
lead in a very different, very challenging digital future. Now
clear you desk and get out."
--------------------------------------------------
SINGLE
REVIEW: Kylie Minogue - Giving You Up (Parlophone/EMI)
'Giving You Up' is the second new track to be taken from Kylie's
recent Greatest Hits compilation, the first was that superb
Scissor Sisters' collaboration, 'I Believe In You'. One issue
with recent Kylie albums is that the lead-off single is usually
nothing short of spectacular ('Can't Get You Out Of My Head',
'Slow'), yet the following singles are progressively less impressive
and interesting. So why should this be any different? Well,
for one, Xenomania, the writing/production team behind Girl's
Aloud's hits, are responsible for creating this single, which
is clearly going to be a big hit. 'Giving You Up' is an impressive
piece of electro-pop, with Kylie's trademark high-pitched vocals
supported by an 80s inspired synthesizer sound. It's a sufficiently
successful partnership between Kylie and Xenomania, even if
it doesn't quite reach the standards of the likes of 'The Show',
which is their peak. Kylie's more or less impervious to criticism
in any case; even the serious music press speak of her with
deep reverence, impressed no doubt with the endurance of her
career; some 17 years and counting now, and it's set to continue
for years to come. KW
Release date: 28 Mar
Press contact: EMI IH [all]
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AUSTRALIAN
ANTI-PIRACY BODY TURNS ITS ATTENTION TO BITTORRENT DOWNLOADING
The clampdown on illegal file sharing in Australia continues.
With the Australian Recording Industry Association still in
court in a bid to make Sharman Networks liable for the copyright
violation committed using their Kazaa software, the industry
organisation's Music Industry Piracy Investigations unit has
confirmed it raided a Perth based internet service provider
called Swiftel Communications who were accused of enabling BitTorrent
downloading.
Reports
suggest the ISP, keen to avoid liability, handed over details
of BitTorrent downloads that had been transferred via their
networks. BitTorrent downloading, of course, transfers files
in a special way, allowing the quicker transfer of large files.
It is particularly useful when transferring movies, hence why
in the US it has been the film industry who have been most proactive
in their attempts to stop BitTorrent file share systems on the
net. However, in Australia, the MIPI says there may be further
raids on companies seen to be supplying or enabling BitTorrent
downloading.
Not
that everyone in the music industry is against BitTorrent downloading.
Organisers of the aforementioned South By Southwest music convention
in Texas are making a huge 2.6GB file featuring MP3s from some
750 bands who are performing at SxSW this year available as
a BitTorrent download. The mega-file provides delegates with
a 'soundtrack to the convention' which they can download onto
their iPod before the event begins.
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OWNER
OF OZZY'S CHILDHOOD HOME SELLS HIS DOOR
The front door of Ozzy Osbourne's childhood home in Birmingham
is up for sale on eBay because the current owner is fed up with
fans defacing it. Ali Mubarrat, told reporters that his home
is something of a pilgrimage destination for Black Sabbath fans,
and some of them scratch messages into his front door. He explains:
"I need to change it on the wife's orders. But I don't
know what to do with it. Maybe someone who is a great fan, I
could pass it on to them, or I might put it on eBay and auction
it and give the money to charity." Presumably by replacing
the door he is just providing Ozzy fans with a fresh sheet on
which to scratch new messages, though if he makes any decent
money on the eBay auction perhaps he won't mind fans starting
work on a second future collector's item.