| CMU Daily - on the inside Wednesday 1st March |
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In today's CMU Daily:
- Doherty arrested over car theft
- NEC stewards shot at Kanye West concert
- Channel Island make more moves against tax dodging music sellers
- Hip Hop brothers to stand trial
- Julie Feeney wins first Choice Music Prize
- Apple, speakers, new Mini
- More Amazon download chatter
- More RIAA P2P litigation
- London studios escape prosecution over unlicensed Coldplay gig
- Thomas Koppel dies
- Tsakani Mhinga dies
- Gorillaz take on Chinese classic
- Single review: The Automatic - Raoul
- Rolling Stones play China
- Paddingtons on board for one off
- White Rose Movement album, single, tour
- Marley extends UK tour
- Dirty Pretty Things single, etc
- The Organ announce UK tour
- Latest Oxygen additions
- Chico Time set for number one
- Evans favourite to succeed Walker at Radio 2
- EMAP radio exec stands down
- CBS radio sues Stern over Sirius plugging
- Kylie's mum helped her through cancer
- Arctic Monkeys fear over-exposure
- NME Awards CD news
- Britney not having baby, okay?
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TOP BIT>>
OK, it's a new month, and boy is it going to be a good month music wise. And here's why. First, Delays' new album 'You See Colours' is out on Rough Trade next Monday. This is a fantastic second album from the CMU favourites - and glorious single 'Valentine', which charted last weekend, is just one of eleven brilliant tracks. They're on tour at the moment, and hit London next week. These guys tend to generate either embarrassingly-over-the-top passion or subdued-indifference - but if you haven't formed an opinion one way or another, then make sure you get a copy of this album, I'm hoping that, like me, you'll be very much in the former camp. Second, the Freelance Hellraiser's brilliant double a-side single is out this week, creating a real sense of anticipation for the up coming longer player. Track one, 'Pound For Pound', is a great thumping number, while flipside 'Want You To Know' is without doubt my favourite new record so far this year. I say favourite 'new' record because - third - Adam Freeland's remix of The Doors' 'Hello I Love You'. Adam Freeland is the unsung hero of dance music. Well, I say unsung, actually lots of people sing his praises a lot of the time - but mainly in the breaks community. When dance music inevitably swings back in favour in a years time, Adam Freeland will surely be in the driving seat. But while we wait for that to happen, track down his remix of this Doors track - released on 12" via his Marine Parade label this week. We're not particularly big Doors fans here, but this is just brilliant - check out the screeching. Fourth, the new album from Bell X1 is out on 20 Mar, and is our 'choice' for the Choice Music Prize, even if not the Choice Music Prize's choice. I'll admit it - we've been a bit slow to pick up on these guys - but this second album is brilliant. Fifth, the two (yes, two) The Trip compilations that are coming out on 13 Mar, one compiled by Joey Negro, the other by Pulp's Jarvis Cocker and Steve Mackey. Even by the high standards you'd expect from The Trip series, these are something special. Actually, this was a foolish thing to ever try and do - March 2006 is going to be such a good month for music we can't even begin to list all the reasons why here in the Top Bit - there's Roots Manuva's great new album 'Alternately Deep' (out 18 Mar), more great UK hip hop from Eighteen:18 (album out 6 Mar), The Crimea's new single 'White Russian Galaxy' (out 20 Mar), the new Big Strides single 'Let's Get Nice' (out 27 Mar), the new Placebo album (out 13 Mar) - frankly five Dailys and two hours of web-radio a week is unlikely to be enough to cover it all. Just put it this way - we should all be very very happy this month.
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PRESS ROOM>>
KILL ALL HIPPIES, MAR 2006
The next edition of Kill All Hippies takes place this Friday, 3 Mar, at the 333 Club in Shoreditch. Live music wise, Carina Round headline this time round, with support from Adzuki. Jeff Automatic and Julian (Whitey) will be on the decks in the basement, while the ground bar will be hosted by Fully Comprehensive with resident Gavin Nugent plus guest DJs Mark Beaumont (NME),Tim Holmes (Death In Vegas) and Syrinx. Tickets are £10, or a fiver if you guest list in advance at http://www.leylinepromotions.com
Press info from Leyline, full press release at: http://www.cmumusicnetwork.co.uk/pressroom/killallhippies
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DOHERTY ARRESTED OVER CAR THEFT
We've already once suggested that Pete Doherty be sectioned for his own good. And the fact that he has been arrested - yet again - this time on suspicion of car theft and possessing Class A drugs, can only strengthen such suggestions - Doherty is surely a danger to himself.
Anyway, the Babyshambles frontman was detained by Birmingham police on Monday night, along with two other men - aged 18 and 19 - from Dundee. A spokesman for West Midlands Police said that the three individuals had been released on bail, pending further enquiries.
Not sure this bodes altogether well for Mr Doherty who, of course, recently received a 12 month community sentence over similar charges, and was warned that he could face prison if he broke that service order. As you will remember, following sentencing, Doherty vowed to start a "drug-free life". If the Class A charge stands, it would seem his new drug free lifestyle has not lasted very long.
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NEC STEWARDS SHOT AT KANYE WEST CONCERT
Two stewards have been shot at a Kanye West concert at the NEC near Birmingham. Police say the shootings took place after staff turned away fans without tickets. The stewards are now being treated for their injuries, which are not thought to be life threatening. Detectives are appealing for any witnesses to the incident to come forward.
A police spokesman said this morning: "This incident involved individuals who had been ejected from the venue for attempting to try to gain entrance to a pop concert without tickets. Firearms were discharged and two stewards were taken to hospital with gunshot wounds. Their injuries are not believed to be life-threatening."
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CHANNEL ISLAND MAKE MORE MOVES AGAINST TAX DODGING MUSIC SELLERS
The government in Jersey has taken steps to stop UK retailers from selling cut price mail-order CDs and DVDs from the Channel Island. Well, I say its taken steps - really it's just released a statement (and not for the first time) - but it might be a move in the right direction.
As previously reported, retailers base their mail order CD operations on the Channel Island because doing so allows them to avoid paying VAT because Jersey is outside the EU, and EU law allows the import of VAT-exempt products under £18. By using this loophole, independent retailers have argued, the supermarket and online retailers who base their mail order operations in Jersey have an unfair advantage over traditional music sellers. The scam also costs the UK Treasury an estimated £80 million a year in lost tax revenues.
Responding to criticism of the tax loophole, the Jersey government last November said they would not issue any further licences to companies looking to base mail-order departments on the island to benefit from the tax saving. Yesterday they went further, saying that as companies already taking advantage of the loophole reapply for licences the island will look to "gradually reduce and eventually discontinue their activities".
Economic Development Minister Philip Ozouf said: "We welcome and we want to see a continuing online retailing business which is properly established in Jersey. What we don't want to see is a UK business serving its UK customers by simply using Jersey as a post-box. It is not economically beneficial to Jersey to any great extent and also undermines its business reputation."
However, critics of the loophole say that yesterday's statement is too vague, and adds little to the island's November commitment. What's more, the new rules would only affect UK based companies who locate mail-order operations on the island. Companies like Play.com, who base all their operations in Jersey, but who also trade in the UK, would not be affected and could continue to benefit from the tax loophole.
Nick Goulding of the Forum Of Private Business, who have been most vocal against the loophole, said yesterday: "To a certain extent we have been here before. Jersey put out a similar statement in November and they didn't follow through with it, so there's a lot of rehashing here. If the UK companies are pushed out, others will step into that space and we shall see a continuation of the problems, so we are concerned that the UK Government plugs it at this end. It's a question of whether you want a sustainable market space with local stores and knowledgeable staff that you can talk to. Consumers value that. This kind of unfair competition means you are much less likely to have that. We are not objecting to competition from the internet, but consumers will recognise that if only one side has to pay tax, that just isn't fair."
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HIP HOP BROTHERS TO STAND TRIAL
Hip-Hopper Master P, aka Percy Miller, and his brother Silkk The Shocker, aka Vysshonn Miller, have been ordered to stand trial on weapons charges by a Superior Court judge in LA. As previously reported, the pair were arrested in Jan of 2005 after being pulled over by University of California police officers. Officers stopped the vehicle because it had no licence plates, and a subsequent search of the car revealed two unlicensed guns. The brothers pleaded not guilty to the charges back in Mar.
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JULIE FEENEY WINS FIRST CHOICE MUSIC PRIZE
Julie Feeney last night won the first ever Choice Music Prize, an Irish version of the Mercury Music Prize. Her album '13 Songs' was picked out from a shortlist of ten by a panel of twelve Irish music media types at an event in Dublin last night.
Feeney wins 10,000 euros, a prize provided by the Irish Music Rights Organisation and the Irish Recorded Music Association. Her album will also benefit from a full advertising campaign on national Irish radio station Today FM.
As previously reported, other albums shortlisted in the first ever Choice Music Prize included Bell X1's 'Flock', Cane 141's 'Moonpool', The Chalets' 'Check-In', Duke Special's 'Adventures In Gramophone' and Hal's 'Hal'.
More info on the award at: http://www.choicemusicprize.com
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APPLE, SPEAKERS, NEW MINI
OK, so no major excitement at Apple's press conference in San Francisco yesterday - frankly I'm glad I didn't make the effort of going. As previously reported, the computer firm had said it would be making a "fun" announcement at the invite only press event, but the two main products launched were more "routine".
First up Apple showed off the iPod HiFi, which is basically a set of speakers you can plug your iPod into in order to enjoy your MP3 collection without making use of headphones. Of course other electronics firms already sell iPod compatible speaker systems, but presumably Apple are hoping consumers will be attracted to a sound system that comes from within the official iPod family.
The other major announcement at the press event was a new Mac Mini computer which has even more media consumption based functionality - including more output channels so that it can better feed sound or video into speaker systems or large screens, a remote control, and an updated version of Apple's Front Row software.
All eyes are now on Microsoft - will their launch of the 'Origami Project' later this week prove to be any more exciting?
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MORE AMAZON DOWNLOAD CHATTER
Much back room chatter at the Annual Digital Music Forum that kicked off in New York yesterday was regarding Amazon's ambitions in the digital music space. As previously reported, the e-tailer is rumoured to be close to launching its own download platform and, possibly, an Amazon branded MP3 player.
One executive at the Forum told Digital Music News that we could expect some exciting things from the Amazon digital music platform when it finally arrives - with the e-tailer using the clout it has in the music industry to force the labels into some more interesting services. DMN quote the exec as saying: "They sell a lot of music, and that could affect advances. They will probably negotiate lower advances for the right to use catalog, and gain more favorable terms overall."
Meanwhile one music industry attorney has told DMN that Amazon will need to link download and hardware sales to make any digital music venture a success: "The only success that people have had selling digital music are those that are using it to sell hardware or broadband. If Amazon can get a chunk of the portable music player revenues, they may have a chance to succeed, just as Steve Jobs made billions selling iPods, and almost no money from digital music".
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MORE RIAA P2P LITIGATION
Another month, another round of RIAA litigation. Yep, the Recording Industry Association Of America have issued another 750 lawsuits against individuals accused of illegally sharing copyrighted music via P2P networks like LimeWire and Kazaa. As always these are 'John Doe' lawsuits - targeted against IP addresses where file sharing activity has been identified. The RIAA will use the first round of legal action to force ISPs to hand over the names and addresses of the individuals using the IP addresses.
Given that the industry association has now issued thousands of these lawsuits, but P2P usage seems to continue to grow in the US, you have to wonder if RIAA chiefs now see regular litigation against music fans as part of its day to day operations, or if they will ever admit that such legal action achieves little except, in the early days, a bit of good PR for their side of the ongoing P2P debate.
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LONDON STUDIOS ESCAPE PROSECUTION OVER UNLICENSED COLDPLAY GIG
London's Abbey Road Studios have escaped prosecution over a small Coldplay gig they hosted for the BBC last month - apparently it isn't actually against the law to stage Coldplay gigs. Ministers are apparently meeting later today to close this loophole in common decency legislation.
No, not really, the recording studios faced a fine under those new UK licensing laws which mean that anyone hosting a music event open to the public must first apply for a licence, even if admission is by invite only. Despite telling the BBC that all legal requirements had been met ahead of the gig, the studios had not applied for such a licence, making the event illegal.
However, Westminster Council have said they will not prosecute the studios over the event, having accepted that the failure to apply for a licence was a genuine oversight caused by a confusion over the new laws.
BBC 6Music quote Audrey Lewis, Westminster City Council Cabinet Member For Licensing, as saying yesterday: "The new licensing laws have ensured there is confusion about the status of many premises and what they now have a licence for. Abbey Road studios were not licensed for the Coldplay concert but, after talking to the premises, this appears to have been a genuine oversight." She said that local authorities needed to be flexible as they and venues learn how the new laws work, and added that the council would be working with the studios to ensure all future events are fully licenced.
A spokesman for the studios said: "There was certainly no intention of holding an illegal event and if our licence is not what is required for this type of event, then it is a genuine mistake. We have a close relationship with Westminster Council on this and other matters, which we value. In recent days we have received different advice from different departments within Westminster Council as to which licence is appropriate for our business. Once we have a definitive answer from Westminster Council, if there is a need to vary the licence, then of course we shall do so."
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THOMAS KOPPEL DIES
Savage Rose founder Thomas Koppel died suddenly at the weekend, whilst on holiday in Puerto Rico. The son of famed classical composer Hermann D. Koppel, Thomas formed his band in 1968 with future wife Annisette, his brother Anders Koppel and Alex Riel, Jens Rugsted and Flemming Osterman. Savage Rose, possibly the best known 'progressive' Danish rock outfit outside of Denmark, produced a huge variety of music, with a wide range of influences including classical, folk, pop and jazz.
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TSAKANI MHINGA DIES
South African R&B star Tsakani Mhinga, aka TK, has died at the age of 27. The award-winning singer was, according to a police spokesperson, found lying in bed by staff at a hotel in Johannesburg. Police captain Schalk Bornman told reporters: "There were no marks on her body and no signs of forced entry into the room or a struggle."
Her death was announced by her record company Electromode Music, who described it as "a devastating loss to the music world," adding "TK will be sorely missed. TK lived a full life as a talented performer, a mother, a sister, a daughter and a friend to many."
It is unclear exactly what caused Mhinga's death, but fellow musicians who were in her company the night before she died say that she seemed depressed. She is survived by a young son.
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GORILLAZ TAKE ON CHINESE CLASSIC
Gorillaz' Damon Albarn and Jamie Hewlett are planning an adaptation of a Chinese literary classic for next year's Manchester International Festival.
The pair have been commissioned to collaborate with a group of martial artists, singers and acrobats for the circus production, 'Monkey: Journey to the West', which will premiere on 28 Jun 2007. Shaolin monks and Peking opera singers are set to appear in the collaboration, which will feature a musical score from Albarn and set design from Hewlett. It is to be written and directed by Chinese director Chen Shi-Zheng.
And if you're wondering why the title 'Monkey: Journey To The West' sounds vaguely familiar, yes, the Albarn/Hewlett show is to be adapted from the same source as cult TV show 'Monkey' (Pig was my favourite), which, it transpires, is to return to its rightful place on our TV screens later this year.
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SINGLE REVIEW: The Automatic - Raoul (B-Unique)
More indie music? Oh, go on then. Actually, this is quite good, in fairness, and certainly better than... no, I won't mention them, just this once. Managing to be both stiff and angular yet slightly muscular too, there's a subtle US rock influence here, which could be misleading, not least since this young four piece are from Wales (as were the Manics, of course, and it didn't stop them wanting to sound American in their early days). With its new wavey keyboards, thunderous, hyperactive disco drumming, impassioned vocals and jagged, punk guitars, it conveys the same level of urgency and charm as label-mates Kaiser Chiefs. Becoming increasingly frenetic, 'Raoul' gets better and better as it progresses until, thrillingly, it stops rather suddenly. Come this time next year we'll all be sick to death of bands like this, tons of which are doubtlessly being signed as we speak by unimaginative record companies desperate for the next Kaisers to foist upon us. For the time being though, The Automatic could be one of the bands to watch in 2006. MS
Release date: 20 Mar
Press contact: B Unique IH [all]
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ROLLING STONES PLAY CHINA
The Rolling Stones are to play their first concert in China this Spring, three years after previously scheduled gigs in Shanghai and Beijing were cancelled due to the SARS outbreak. As yet the gig is not listed on the band's website, but according to Chinese gig promoters Emma Entertainment, the group will appear at an 8,000 seat stadium in Shanghai on 8 Apr, with tickets priced between £21.50 and £215. The company says on its website "The Rolling Stones' first-ever concert in China, do not miss it."
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PADDINGTONS ON BOARD FOR ONE OFF
The Paddingtons are to perform a special one off concert on a boat on the Thames next month. The band appear on 9 Mar, supported by Eddy Temple Morris and the winners of a new band contest run by http://www.caughtinthecrossfire.com/. Tickets to the event are limited, and are to be distributed via a competition on the same website.
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WHITE ROSE MOVEMENT ALBUM, SINGLE, TOUR
White Rose Movement have announced details of a headlining UK tour in advance of the release of debut album, 'Kick' on 17 Apr (note the new release date), preceded by a new single 'Girls In The Back' on 3 Apr. The band call at the following locations:
1 Mar: Liverpool Barfly
2 Mar: Loughborough University
4 Mar: Cambridge APU
5 Mar: Southampton Joiners Arms
6 Mar: Nottingham Rescue Rooms
8 Mar: Glasgow Barfly
9 Mar: Sheffield Leadmill
10 Mar: Birmingham Barfly
12 Mar: Manchester Night & Day
13 Mar: London Kings College
Press info from Darling.
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MARLEY EXTENDS UK TOUR
Damian Marley has added to extra dates to his series of 2006 UK gigs. The singer, who recently released his rather good album 'Welcome To Jamrock' will now play two dates in Jun in addition to previously announced March gigs. Junior Gong releases a new single, 'Beautiful', on 10 Apr.
The full set of tour dates is as follows:
1 Mar: Birmingham Academy
2 Mar: Manchester Academy
4 Mar: Brixton Academy
5 Mar: Bristol Academy
25 Jun: Nottingham Rock City
26 Jun: Leeds University
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DIRTY PRETTY THINGS SINGLE, ETC
Carl Barat's band Dirty Pretty Things have confirmed that they will release a debut single 'Bang Bang You're Dead', on 24 Apr. A yet-to-be titled album produced by Dave Sardy is expected to be out on 8 May. The band, currently on a UK tour, have also just announced a new London show in May. Full tour details, FYI:
2 Mar: Northumbria University
3 Mar: Leeds Cockpit
4 Mar: Liverpool Stanley Theatre
5 Mar: Glasgow ABC
7 Mar: Portsmouth Wedgewood Rooms
8 Mar: London Kings College
10 Mar: Sheffield Leadmill
11 Mar: Stoke Sugarmill
12 Mar: Manchester Academy 3
13 Mar: Nottingham Rescue Rooms
21 Mar: Oxford Brookes
22 Mar: Bristol Anson Rooms
26 Mar: Preston 53 Degrees
28 Mar: Leicester University
29 Mar: Liverpool Academy
3 May: Brighton Concorde
5 May: Southampton University
6 May: Coventry Colosseum
7 May: Cambridge Junction
10 May: Nottingham Rock City
12 May: Wolverhampton Wulfrun Hall
14 May: London Astoria
17 May: Leeds Metropolitan University
18 May: Middlesborough Town Hall
19 May: Edinburgh Liquid Rooms
20 May: Glasgow Barrowlands
24 May: London Forum
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THE ORGAN ANNOUNCE UK TOUR
Canadian band The Organ have announced a UK tour, following the release of new single 'Brother' on 20 Mar, and to coincide with the release of their debut album 'Grab That Gun' on 3 Apr. Dates are as follows:
28 Mar: Sheffield Leadmill
29 Mar: Brighton Freebutt
31 Mar: Cardiff Barfly
1 Apr: Oldham Castle
2 Apr: Glasgow King Tuts
3 Apr: Leeds Joseph Wells
4 Apr: Nottingham Social
5 Apr: Manchester Academy
6 Apr: Middlesbrough Empire
8 Apr: Coventry Coliseum
9 Apr: Bristol Louisiana
10 Apr: Southampton Lennons
11 Apr: Bournemouth Opera House
12 Apr: London Garage
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LATEST OXYGEN ADDITIONS
Paul Weller, Pharrell Williams, Editors and The Charlatans have all been added to the bill for this year's Oxegen festival. Other acts confirmed in the latest announcement include Eels, The Kooks, The Go! Team, and Clap Your Hands Say Yeah.
The new additions join a line up that already features The Who, The Strokes, James Brown, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Bell X1, Manu Chao and the aforementioned Damian Marley. Tickets for the event, which takes place from 8-9 Jul at Punchestown Racecourse, go on sale on 3 Mar at 8am.
Here's the full line up thus far, FYI.
8 Jul: The Who, The Strokes, Arctic Monkeys, James Brown, Richard Ashcroft, Primal Scream, Editors, Eels, The Magic Numbers, The Go! Team, David Morales, Timo Maas
9 Jul: Red Hot Chilli Peppers, Kaiser Chiefs, Paul Weller, Franz Ferdinand, Bell X1, Pharrell Williams, Sigur Ros, Manu Chao, Placebo, Damian Marley, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, The Kooks, Felix Da Housecat, Errol Alkan
Elsewhere in festival news, Belle & Sebastian have been added to the T In The Park line-up.
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CHICO TIME SET FOR NUMBER ONE
There is a very high chance that 'It's Chico Time' will be number one this Sunday. The former X-Factor contestant is reportedly outselling current number one, Madonna's 'Sorry', by two to one. Happy times.
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EVANS FAVOURITE TO SUCCEED WALKER AT RADIO 2
Johnnie Walker is stepping down from BBC Radio 2's drive time show at the end of the month after seven years hosting the show. Walker, who added two million listeners to the afternoon slot, will stay with the station to host a Sunday afternoon show and regular rock interviews.
Walker said yesterday: "I've had a wonderful time presenting drivetime and enjoyed it enormously. After seven years on one show I feel it's time for a change. The new Sunday show will be give me the opportunity to present a programme with a spiritual angle, something I've been talking to Radio 2 about for over a year. And after getting such positive feedback for my Eric Clapton special last summer, I'm keen to do more interviews with the major names in rock."
Speculation has now begun as to who will replace Walker. Stuart Maconie is among those being tipped for the role, though the favourite for the job is Chris Evans. Radio 2 have known for a while that Walker wanted to leave the daily show, and Evans' current contract with the station conveniently comes up for renewal at the end of the month. The presenter also implied a new job was on the horizon during his Saturday show last weekend. Evans is also a favourite with Radio 2 boss Lesley Douglas, who fought a considerable fight to bring Evans to the station in the first place.
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EMAP RADIO EXEC STANDS DOWN
One of EMAP's most senior radio executives, Shaun Gregory, is leaving the company. Gregory, who rose up the media company from the role of Sales Manager at Liverpool's Radio City to be MD for the group's national radio brands, apparently wants to step back from the radio industry. It is unlikely he will be replaced, with his team reporting directly to EMAP Head Of Radio Dee Ford instead.
Ford said yesterday: "We often refer to the growth opportunities offered to those people within EMAP who can demonstrate ability and delivery - Shaun is a living example of this in practice. Shaun leaves with my personal thanks for all the passion, drive and delivery that he has brought to EMAP radio over the past 10 years."
Elsewhere in EMAP news, the media group has announced it will sell its struggling French magazine business - an announcement which helped boost the company's share price by 5%.
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CBS RADIO SUES STERN OVER SIRIUS PLUGGING
CBS Radio, the new name for US radio group Infinity, is suing Howard Stern over allegations that the legendary shock jock was guilty of fraud, unjust enrichment, misappropriation and multiple breaches of contract during the time that he continued to work for the Infinity network while preparing to launch his own channels with the Sirius satellite radio network. The radio company is seeking both compensatory and punitive damages.
Most of the charges relate to Stern's well documented use of his syndicated daily radio show on the Infinity network to promote the Sirius network. Stern decided to switch to the satellite network not because of any major falling our with Infinity bosses, but because the regulations governing satellite radio aren't so strict. Nevertheless, once signed to Sirius, Stern had to complete his contract with the Infinity network which meant the radio host had over a year with the terrestrial station when he knew that he was eventually taking his show to the satellite betwork.
Although that was in theory for Infinity's benefit, this put the radio company in a tricky position. Stern used a lot of his Infinity show to encourage his listeners to sign up to their satellite rivals - something that pleased neither Infinity's top execs, or the other terrestrial stations that syndicated the show. The problem was that while Infinity could complain about this, if they fired Stern they would free him from his contract - allowing him to go over to Sirius quicker, and in a blaze of publicity, and without a replacement confirmed for Infinity. This situation continued for over a year, although in the end - despite some minor falling outs - both parties seemingly left on good terms, publicly at least.
But having learned that Stern and his people received an equity bonus for helping boost Sirius subscriptions in 2005, Infinity, now CBS Radio, is hoping to get the last laugh through the courts. Because Stern arguably had an unstated personal financial interest in boosting Sirius subscriptions, his use of Infinity air time to promote the satellite broadcaster was arguably fraudulent, arguably a misappropriation of Infinity air time, and certainly a breach of contract.
Stern quickly responded to many of the charges at a pre-emptive press conference yesterday. As you'd expect, he is trying to position CBS Radio as the "bullies" in this piece, telling his listeners: "I did everything in this world that they never could have accomplished on their own... But me they obsess on. And me they go after... So when somebody tells you that it's not personal, it's personal."
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KYLIE'S MUM HELPED HER THROUGH CANCER
Kylie Minogue has said that her mother has helped her to get through her recent illness. According to reports, the singer, who was, of course, diagnosed with breast cancer last year, apparently said: "There is a singular and extraordinary love between my mother and I. During an unexpected and prolonged stay together in Paris we waded through trials, tribulations and tears, but we also laughed a lot. We discovered unexpected humour and glamour in the most contradictory situations."
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ARCTIC MONKEYS FEAR OVER-EXPOSURE
Arctic Monkey Matt Helders has said that his band are worried that they're getting over-exposed at home in the UK. He didn't, however, say he was worried that the group's planned Saturday Night Live appearance this month would over-expose them to US audiences. Helders apparently told The Star: "We're going to be spending summer playing the European festival circuit as we're worried about over-exposure at home. Don't get me wrong it's real good that people like what we're doing. But you know you have to be careful. We're trying to get our heads around the attention. It's mad."
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NME AWARDS CD NEWS
NME will be giving away an NME Awards 2006 CD with today's issue. To help you decide whether you want to spend £1.95 for the pleasure, I thought we'd reveal just what tracks you can expect to find on the cover-mount. The CD features tracks from bands who won stuff at last week's awards, obviously, and includes a rare live version of Oasis' 'Rock n Roll Star', and a similarly rare live recording of Kaiser Chiefs' 'Saturday Night'.
Here's the tracklisting:
Franz Ferdinand - You Could Have It So Much Better
Editors - Bullets
The Long Blondes - Once And Never Again
We Are Scientists - The Scene Is Dead
Oasis - Rock n Roll Star (live)
The Cribs - Mirror Kissers (live)
Maximo Park - Now I'm All Over The Shop
The Strokes - On The Other Side
Kaiser Chiefs - Saturday Night (live)
Ian Brown - My Star (album version)
Mystery Jets - The Tale
Babyshambles - Albion
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BRITNEY NOT HAVING BABY, OKAY?
Britney Spears has responded to ongoing media and gossip-blog speculation that she is expecting a second child with a resounding no. The most recent reports were sparked by Spears' trip to hospital last week with baby Sean Preston. Official reports said it was the baby who was sick, but rumour began to suggest that it was Spears herself who was ill, suffering from severe morning sickness. Now the popstrel's representative has denied those rumours, insisting "It's not true. She's not pregnant."