| CMU Daily - on the inside Tuesday 14th March |
|
In today's CMU Daily:
- SonyBMG UK launch TV venture
- Schur sets up new imprint as Interscope reshuffles
- HMV knock back takeover offer again
- Investment analysts reckon EMI Warner merger inevitable
- C-Murder conviction overturned
- Young Jeezy charged over unpermitted guns
- Hip hop curator on exhibition
- Courtney may sell off Nirvana share
- Jacksons attend drummer's funeral
- Album review: Lostep - Because We Can
- Pixies documentary to premiere at SXSW
- More T In The Park additions
- Monkeys for Roskilde
- Teenage Fanclub added to Don't Look Back line-up
- Levellers tour
- Ivories announce tour
- Fightstar to support FFAF
- The Rakes launch global download service
- EFF encourage CD buyers to utilise SonyBMG rootkit offer
- Over a thousand bands join the Road To V
- Kaiser Chiefs steal Franz Ferdinand's words
- The Modern's single disqualified from charts
- Just a preview
- Towers Of London release debut
- Forward Russia! release debut on own label
- Kylie visits Sri Lankan theatre group
- U2 reschedule Australian tour dates
- Wyman says Stones should quit
- K-fed gets pocket money
--------------------------------------------------
TOP BIT>>
Radio stations across the land will have to apply for a new copyright licence at the end of the month when recording royalties body PPL change the rules slightly regarding so called simulcasting - the live webcasting of your terrestrial or digital output via your website. Basically any station who simulcasts outside the UK (which is any station whose website doesn't identify and block non-UK users) will need to apply for a separate licence that has been put together by the International Federation Of The Phonographic Industry (though that licence will still be available via PPL in the UK). Up until now global simulcasts were covered by the same licence that allowed stations to simulcast within the UK. The revamp recognises the growing number of people listening to radio on the net, and more importantly the growing number of people opting to listen to radio stations in other countries. It also demonstrates that things get very complicated in the mad world of copyright when you start to go global. In fact lots of things get complicated when you go global, which is interesting given that, language differences permitting, it is now really easy to communicate to a worldwide audience via the net. Major global corporations generally welcome this innovation - the global economy, the global audience, the smaller world and all that. But what people often gloss over is that in commercial terms it is actually very hard to operate a truly global online operation. Trading, copyright and e-commerce laws and agreements vary the world over, making any truly global enterprise a bureaucratic and legal nightmare. And then there's the fact that most, possibly all global companies are actually a collection of businesses that happen to belong to the same people and trade under the same name - and those individual businesses often don't talk to each other, often don't like each other and sometimes compete with each other. Which means that if I wanted to set up a truly global internet music radio station, the copyright and trading implications, coupled with the fact that few of the global brands would actually be able to enter into a global advertising deal, would probably make the venture untenable. All of this is inevitable of course, and not really anyone's fault, and I'm not sure there's any kind of solution. Which means, despite the potential of the net, I'm not sure the world is really any smaller a place.
--------------------------------------------------
PRESS ROOM>>
CARLING LIVE 24... give 24 hours of your life to live music! ... Carling Live 24 is back with another incredible line-up, which we can reveal includes Kaiser Chiefs, Razorlight, Ordinary Boys, Ian Brown, Dirty Pretty Things and Goldie Lookin Chain, plus many more artists still to be announced... Carling Live 24 marks the start of the summer for music lovers, bringing the festival vibe to the heart of the city, with great music and cold beer. Carling Live 24 will kick off at 7pm on Friday 28th April and fans with enough stamina can rock continuously through to 7pm the following day. Tickets will go on sale at 10am on Tuesday 14th March exclusively at http://www.carling.com.
Press info: http://www.cmumusicnetwork.co.uk/pressroom/carling24
--------------------------------------------------
RIGHT NOW IN THE CMU BEATS BAR>>
MySpace Of The Day: Big Strides
I've been talking about Big Strides a lot lately, but it's only because they're good, and the sooner you are all aware of this, the better. I've said it before and I'll say it again, I find it hard to really describe the Big Strides sound; because their bluesy, jazzy, yet indie-ish rock sounds very little like anything else I'm hearing at the moment, so I've nothing to compare it with. Tell you what, instead of listening to me painfully trying to describe it, why don't you go listen?
http://www.myspace.com/bigstrides
More on our MySpace Of The Day, plus 3 Student Music Awards finalists Reism, Stoyic and Miss Al Brown Blues answer the Same Six Questions right now at http://www.thebeatsbar.co.uk
--------------------------------------------------
SONYBMG UK LAUNCH TV VENTURE
The UK division of SonyBMG have announced the creation of a new joint venture TV production company. The Senior VP of the group's Futures Division, Clive Rich, confirmed the major was going into business with former BBC executives David Mortimer and Richard Hopkins (who between them have been involved in Dragons' Den, Strictly Come Dancing, Strictly Dance Fever, Bank Of Mum And Dad, Britain's Best Sitcom and It Takes Two) to form the TV business, which will be called Fever Media. Apparently it's going to be '360 degree business initiative' which is great news, because I love 360 degree business initiatives. In fact, I'd go as far as to say they are my very favourite kind of business initiatives.
Rich told reporters: "I'm delighted that David and Richard have chosen to bring their new venture to SonyBMG. We have been looking to deepen our interests in the global TV business, both in relation to the creation of programming and format ideas, and the development of production capacity. Fever will be a perfect partner for this, as David and Richard have a proven track record at the highest levels, across a wide range of programming, with access to every senior broadcaster in the UK. They are also highly entrepreneurial and share our ambition to develop 360 degree business initiatives around our creative assets."
David Mortimer added: "I've had a great time working at the BBC, and in particular the three years working in BBC Entertainment have been fantastically creative times. I'm now ready for the challenge of building a new enterprise in the independent world and can think of no better partner than Richard Hopkins. I'm sure with the amazing backing that Clive Rich and Rob Stringer at SonyBMG have given us we will make a great team"
SonyBMG UK boss Rob Stringer added: "We are continuing to build our successful TV production strategy with this joint venture. David and Richard are highly experienced and talented entrepreneurial TV executives and our deal will be creatively beneficial for both parties. Fever will be part of our ongoing vision to create a completely multi dimensional entertainment company at SonyBMG."
Of course SonyBMG aren't complete strangers to the TV business, given their partnership with Simon Cowell's SyCo company which, of course, has proven the business potential of music telly through the X-Factor franchise. Meanwhile in the US former SonyBMG chief executive Andy Lack, a former TV exec, is developing a film unit for the major in his new role as chairman.
--------------------------------------------------
SCHUR SETS UP NEW IMPRINT AS INTERSCOPE RESHUFFLES
And there are TV ambitions elsewhere in the music business, with a television operation in the pipeline over at Universal US division Interscope/A&M/Geffen, which is going through a bit of an executive revamp at the moment.
As part of that revamp, the president of Geffen Records has announced he is stepping down from that job and instead launching a new joint venture with the label's parent company. Jordan Schur and the Universal Music Group will launch Suretone Records which will sign new artists as well as coordinating new projects from certain existing Geffen acts including Weezer and The Cure.
Reports suggest that Schur will own 50% of all recordings by new artists signed to the label, but will also earn a royalty on new releases from those existing Geffen artists. Confirming his plans, Schur told reporters yesterday: "I decided to return to myself and the natural territory I'm most comfortable in - a company that has my name on it, where my artists and I move as one".
Schur's co-president at Geffen, Polly Anthony, is also reportedly standing down, to go and work on that aforementioned Interscope TV venture. Meanwhile Ron Fair, the president of the Interscope/A&M bit of the Universal division is expected to take on responsibility for the Geffen bit too - all of which means I'm going to have to re-edit the CMU Guide To The Major Record Companies on the website yet again.
--------------------------------------------------
INVESTMENT ANALYSTS RECKON EMI WARNER MERGER INEVITABLE
Talking of rewriting the CMU Guide To The Major Record Companies, Enders Analysis, who know about these things, apparently, reckon that an EMI Warner merger is now inevitable.
As previously reported, talk of a merger between the two major record companies has been around for years now - in fact most eyes were on a possible EMI Warner deal when Sony and BMG suddenly announced their merger intentions a couple of years back. Arguably the SonyBMG merger made an EMI Warner partnership more inevitable, because both Universal Music and SonyBMG are now so much bigger than either EMI or Warner, the two smaller majors may need to join forces to compete long term. However, an EMI Warner deal would need backing from EU competition authorities. The controversies surrounding the EU's decision to allow the SonyBMG merger to go ahead, a decision still being fought by the independent sector, coupled with the fact that the EU has blocked an EMI Warner merger before, might put off bosses at EMI and Warner from even trying.
Except that Enders believe that the EU would have approve the merger to ensure the stability of the music business. They reckon a merger would save EMI and Warners $300 million, enabling the new company to better compete with Universal and SonyBMG in a three horse race.
Should that merger go ahead Enders reckon the deal would need to be a takeover from one side rather than a true joint venture - an opinion possibly based on the much reported executive tensions that have come about over at SonyBMG, where parent companies Sony Corp and Bertelsmann have an equal share of the merged company. Enders also reckon that such a deal would give Warner boss Edgar Bronfman Jnr and his investment backers a good opportunity to bail out, having made a suitable profit from their latest dabblings in the music business. Should that happen - ie EMI buys out Warner - you might end up with the interesting situation whereby, despite the fact that the top level operations of most of the major record companies are based in America, none of the majors are actually owned by US companies.
--------------------------------------------------
HMV KNOCK BACK TAKEOVER OFFER AGAIN
UK music retailer HMV has rejected the latest takeover proposals from venture capital firm Permira. Despite the investment firm returning to the table with an offer of 210p per share, HMV bosses say the potential buyers are still undervaluing the retail company, which owns both the HMV stores and leading UK bookseller Waterstones.
In a statement issued to the London Stock Exchange, the HMV board said yesterday: "The board unanimously believes that the revised proposal from Permira continues to undervalue the group. As such, HMV Group will not be entering into discussions with Permira with regard to the revised conditional proposal."
When previous offers have been knocked back on price, Permira have returned with a higher bid. Whether they will do so again remains to be seen, though insiders at Permira suggest 210p was their final offer, while insiders at HMV say the retailer wants to put talk of a takeover behind it, and rather return its efforts to its own attempts to take over smaller UK bookshop chain Ottakers.
--------------------------------------------------
C-MURDER CONVICTION OVERTURNED
The Louisiana Supreme Court has overturned the second degree murder conviction of US hip hop star C-Murder, real name Corey Miller. As previously reported, the rapper was imprisoned for the 2002 shooting of sixteen year old Steven Thomas outside the Platinum Club in Harvey, Louisiana, after several witnesses came forward to identify Miller as the shooter.
Convicted in September 2003 after entering a plea of not guilty, Miller appealed the verdict, and at a subsequent hearing, a woman testified to the effect that she did not see Miller shoot the victim. She also confirmed that she had witnessed another man, known as Calliope Slim, brandishing a firearm moments before the shooting, information which she claims she told investigating officers before the original case came to court, but which was never mentioned during the trial. It was also revealed that detectives had cleared parking tickets and a felony theft arrest warrant in exchange for a testimony.
A retrial was ordered in 2004, a decision subsequently successfully appealed by the case's prosecutors. Last month Miller filed a request to the Louisiana Supreme Court and a new trial has been granted. Whether the prosecution will in fact attempt to retry the rapper on that charge of second degree murder remains to be seen.
--------------------------------------------------
YOUNG JEEZY CHARGED OVER UNPERMITTED GUNS
More guns in hip hop news, and US rapper Young Jeezy, who has collaborated with the likes of Jay-Z and Mariah Carey, has been charged with carrying a concealed gun without a permit.
Police found the gun after a slightly bizarre shooting incident in Miami. The incident began with a fracas involving fists rather than guns. But a passer-by filmed the fight, and when that passer-by refused to hand over the tape, one of the people involved started shooting. It's all a bit like a scene out of The OC. But with rappers.
Anyway, the group fled, but were later pulled over by police, who allegedly found two semi-automatic guns. Presumably the guns were being held by Young Jeezy, real name Jay Jenkins, because it was him who got charged on two counts of carrying a concealed weapon (or it's possible the police men just fancied charging a rapper I suppose).
--------------------------------------------------
HIP HOP CURATOR ON EXHIBITION
Whilst we're on the subject of hip hop, The Smithsonian's National Museum of American History recently announced that it was creating a new permanent hip hop exhibit, 'Hip-Hop Won't Stop: The Beat, The Rhymes, The Life', launched with funding donated by Def Dam mogul Russell Simmons' Hip-Hop Summit Action Network and Universal Music.
The project's curator, Marvette Perez, has been speaking to AllHipHop.com about it: "We want to do it the right. We want to go and start with the South Bronx with the people who were there in the beginning doing itv - breakdancers, graffiti artists, MCs, DJs. We want to collect the technology of it, the posters, the photographs, oral histories and take it globally. [Hip hop] will be around forever so we need to get with it."
Perez continued: "There [are] a lot of misconceptions about what hip hop is, among people who are not connected to the music itself. I think the Smithsonian is a great place to dismiss those misconceptions, to educate people and to create a space where we can look at this truly wonderful American cultural phenomenon."
--------------------------------------------------
COURTNEY MAY SELL OFF NIRVANA SHARE
Courtney Love has said that she is thinking of selling her quarter share in the Nirvana franchise. Love, rumoured in recent years to have been suffering from financial difficulties says: "I have decided that I need some co-management and a strategic partner as it's such a huge responsibility. This is the right thing to do for my family...whoever I do this deal with, I really have to like."
Meanwhile, according to reports, the singer has confusingly said that she still has some kind of relationship with Steve Coogan, despite all those previously reported denials. Is it that someone is, in fact, in denial? Or is it not actor Steve Coogan that's been involved with Love at all, but a plumber, perhaps, of the same name? From Redditch, maybe?
Either way, she apparently claims: "We are still really close. I mean, fuck, he's not that great at calling back sometimes, but he calls a lot. I also have a few other irons in the fire. After all, I'm not in love with Steve. But he is a great friend - and so cool. It's amazing we're still together. I'm so proud."
--------------------------------------------------
JACKSONS ATTEND DRUMMER'S FUNERAL
Michael Jackson, as might be expected, given that he's on the other side of the world at the moment, has stayed away from the funeral of former Jackson Five drummer Johnny Jackson, who was stabbed to death at the start of the month. Janet Jackson also didn't attend - she was on the right continent at the time, but then wasn't actually one of the Five, so I think she should be excused.
Five other members of the Jackson clan were in attendance, however, Randy, Tito, Marlon, Jermaine and Jackie. Randy Jackson said of the musician, who spent fifteen years as a drummer for the Jackson Five, that he had "made touring fun," adding that "there was never a dull moment, with jokes and a lot of laughs."
As previously reported, Jackson was found dead at his home in Gary, Indiana, on 1 Mar. A forty four year old woman, Yolanda Davis, has since been charged with his murder.
--------------------------------------------------
ALBUM REVIEW: LoStep - 'Because We Can' (Global Underground)
'Because We Can' is the first long-player from Melbourne collaborators Luke Chable and Phil K; two big-hitters in the world of dance-music who are taking the road less travelled: the full length artist album. 'Because We Can' is opened and interspersed with charming, if not a little conventional, Sasha-esque ambient synth ditties - all perfectly pleasant but really nothing new. They range from the placid Airdrawndagger intro of '6am Sedna', to the sparse and meaningless audio ping-pong of 'Family Tennis'. Moving up from these are tracks such as 'Theme From A Fairy Tale', a downtempo and fluid break-beat, with a tight, progressive style, and 'Naughty', whose lilting, whistling pads melt into a menace of dark, roaring bass and half-time rocky beat. The latter suitably sets the pace for its successor 'Because We Can', the albums' self-assured little stormer, and a current single. Heavy on the bass and bleepy acid notes (straight out of Superpitcher's 'Happiness'), 'Because...' is destined for peak-time club mayhem, further ensured as its potent 4/4 kick cuts to an accelerated full-on break-beat, three quarters through. After a short respite with the erratic 'Computer Crash', 'Little Peaking' heads back into the night music with its noisy, hi-energy loops and razor-sharp beats. 'Dr King's Surgery' follows with a bouncing tribal-house sound, before it too cuts to a rabid break-beat half way. Drawing to a close comes the enduring LoStep classic, 'Burma', one of the duos first collaborations and indeed triumphs; treated here to a subtle update with some revitalising tweaks, ensuring it fits sonically into its new home. And finally 'Villain', nothing historic here but my personal fave - it's simply a characteristic Luke Chable stunner; his immaculate production style is abundantly obvious in this flawless, summertime breaks beauty. Unfortunately 'Because We Can' still feels a little like a compilation of singles, but that's not to say it's not an admirable and enjoyable body of work, and undeniably better than many other artist albums out there in dance land. OG
Release date: 24 Apr
Press contact: Get Involved [all]
--------------------------------------------------
PIXIES DOCUMENTARY TO PREMIERE AT SXSW
With SXSW now fully underway, some news on a new film documenting the 2004 Pixies reunion, which is to premiere there this week. 'loudQuietloud: A Film About the Pixies' consists of footage from a series of live shows as well as backstage interviews with the band, and features an original score from Dylan collaborator Daniel Lanois.
Co-director Steven Cantor says: "It was surprising to see how utterly human this band was, particularly in comparison to their idolised image. They were all coping with pretty standard mid-life issues, and meanwhile all these sold-out crowds were going crazy over them."
"They are just not the types of people who talk a lot," he added. "They would barely talk to each other in the van, get to the venue and go to their dressing rooms and warm up on their own, read or listen to music. And then when they got on stage, there was this electric energy and connection with each other and the audience."
He continued: "I feel like 75 per cent of the reason for the reunion was for money, but the other 25 per cent was because of the fact that they're legends."
--------------------------------------------------
MORE T IN THE PARK ADDITIONS
More names have been added to the lineup for this year's T In The Park. The latest additions, Pharrell Williams, Laurent Garnier, Rob da Bank and My Robot Friend join previously announced acts such as The Strokes, The Who, Goldfrapp, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Primal Scream, The Ordinary Boys, The Charlatans, Damian Marley, Kaiser Chiefs and Manu Chao.
You will remember, of course, that event, which takes place at Balado, near Kinross from 8 - 9 Jul, is completely sold out.
--------------------------------------------------
MONKEYS FOR ROSKILDE
Arctic Monkeys have joined the Roskilde Festival line-up, joining the likes of Bob Dylan, Franz Ferdinand, The Streets and Sigur Ros. The event, as previously reported, takes place in Denmark from 29 Jun - 2 Jul.
--------------------------------------------------
TEENAGE FANCLUB ADDED TO DON'T LOOK BACK LINEUP
Teenage Fanclub are the latest act to be added to the line up for this years Don't Look Back concerts. In case you missed the last report, and all the many reports we ran on last year's events, each of the gigs features a band playing one of their seminal albums in its entirety. Teenage Fanclub play 'Bandwagonesque' on 24 Jul at the London Forum.
--------------------------------------------------
LEVELLERS TOUR
Have we mentioned The Leveller's upcoming UK tour? Actually, perhaps we have, but we haven't mentioned that Irish singer songwriter Damien Dempsey, whose third album 'Shots' has just been released, is supporting, I know that much. Anyway, here are the dates...
21 Mar: Frome, Cheese and Grain
22 Mar: Cleethorpes, Beachcomber
23 Mar: The Met, Leeds
24 Mar: Wolverhampton, Wulfrun
25 Mar: Preston, 53 Degrees
26 Mar: Cambridge, The Junction
28 Mar: Ipswich, Corn Exchange
29 Mar: Cardiff, Coal Exchange
30 Mar: Dorking, Dorking Halls
31 Mar: Reading, Hexagon
1 Apr: Sunderland, Manor Quay
2 Apr: Cheltenham, Town Hall
--------------------------------------------------
IVORIES ANNOUNCE TOUR
The Ivories are to tour next month to coincide with the release of their new single 'Heartstrings on 10 Apr. The live dates are as follows:
4 Apr: Doncaster, Boiler Rooms
8 Apr: Peterborough, Corn Exchange
10 Apr: Aberdeen, Tunnels
12 Apr: Glasgow, King Tuts
13 Apr: Scarborough, Vivaz
17 Apr: Coventry, Coliseum
18 Apr: Liverpool, Barfly
22 Apr: Exeter, Cavern
25 Apr: London, Camden Barfly
26 Apr: Bournemouth, Old Fire Station
29 Apr: Cardiff, Barfly
--------------------------------------------------
FIGHTSTAR TO SUPPORT FFAF
It's been announced that Fightstar, whose debut 'Grand Unification' was released yesterday, will be supporting Funeral For A Friend on their UK tour this summer. They'll also appear at Welsh music fest The Full Ponty, as previously reported. Look, I reported on this without mentioning Charlie or Busted. Go me.
Here's where the band are calling this summer:
15 May: Exeter University
16 May: London Shepherd's Bush Empire
24 May: Bristol Carling Academy
25 May: Liverpool University Academy
27 May: Southampton Guildhall
28 May: Pontypridd The Full Ponty
29 May: Reading Hexagon
31 May: Edinburgh Corn Exchange
1 Jun: Newcastle Carling Academy
2 Jun: Birmingham Academy
3 Jun: Manchester Academy
4 Jun: London Hammersmith Palais
--------------------------------------------------
THE RAKES LAUNCH GLOBAL DOWNLOAD SERVICE
V2 signed The Rakes have launched their own download store, and in doing so are the first band to take advantage of new global services offered by London based download backend provider 7 Digital. As previously reported, 7 Digital announced at MIDEM earlier this year that they had added new functionality that enables them to accept multiple currencies, and to provide information in multiple languages. The Rakes' global download store utilizes those facilities.
Commenting on the service, 7 Digital boss Ben Drury told CMU (in several languages, though we'll go with the English): "The Rakes site is a great example of a band responding to demand from fans, both in the UK and internationally, enabling them to access their music immediately. Today, all bands need to consider their online presence. Digital sales channels are rapidly changing the way albums and singles are bought and sold, enabling bands to break online and make a massive chart impact, as well as reach a wider international audience. Artists are now reaping the benefits of having their own digital store. 7 Digital is currently powering over 220 successful download stores and I expect this number will increase dramatically over the next 12 months."
Beth Appleton, V2's Head of New Media And Business Development added: "We are really proud that we have enabled The Rakes store to include audio and video content internationally in formats to suit all devices. We recognise that fans want to enjoy and consume music in many different ways and we're proud to be working with 7Digital to provide this choice."
The Rakes download store is at http://www.therakes.co.uk or http://www.7digital.com/rakes.
--------------------------------------------------
EFF ENCOURAGE CD BUYERS TO UTILISE SONYBMG ROOTKIT OFFER
With SonyBMG midway through making its amends to North American customers who bought CDs that contained that much previously reported dodgy 'rootkit' copy-protection technology, the Electronic Frontier Foundation have announced they will be staging a promotional campaign to make sure that as many people as possible affected by the contaminated CDs claim their compensation - which includes some combination of a replacement CD, $7.50 cash or some free album downloads. EFF are worried some people will be unaware that the compensation is available, or that they bought a rootkit infected CD in the first place. Writing "it's time for music fans who bought SonyBMG CDs loaded with harmful XCP or MediaMax copy protection to claim their settlement benefits," EFF activist Derek Slater is encouraging blog and website owners to display EFF ads that tell music fans how to tell if they were affected and, if so, how to claim their compensation.
--------------------------------------------------
OVER A THOUSAND BANDS JOIN THE ROAD TO V
Some 1064 bands have uploaded their tracks for this year's Virgin Mobile Road To V unsigned band competition thingy. Punters are now being encouraged to vote for their favourite at http://www.roadtov.com . The top 14 will all play at gigs at the Carling Academies in Islington or Liverpool, with the overall winner getting a set at the V Festival (like those Young Knives did last year when they won the same competition). So, assuming you've got time to sample tracks from 1064 aspiring music types, go and get voting. Press info from Henry's House.
--------------------------------------------------
KAISER CHIEFS STEAL FRANZ FERDINANDS WORD'S
Kaiser Chiefs may have stolen Franz Ferdinand's crown as the kings of indie in 2005, but now it seems they've stolen their words too. One regular Fly magazine reader on the CMU team is pretty sure that the Kaiser Chiefs interview published in the latest issue is rather similar to the Franz Ferdinand interview published in the last edition (that is to say, it is the interview with Franz Ferdinand, despite the pictures of Ricky et al). Still, it was a good interview, so probably deserves to be read twice. Of course, tradition dictates that whenever we report on a mistake in another media, we then making a crushingly embarrassing mistake within the next 24 hours. So don't be surprised if you get today's Daily again tomorrow.
--------------------------------------------------
THE MODERN'S SINGLE DISQUALIFIED FROM CHARTS
There's been much talk in certain music industry circles following the news that Mercury signed The Modern have been essentially banned from the chart over concerns that a number of individuals have been downloading strangely large quantities of their new single 'Industry'.
As you may have read, 'Industry' made it to number 13 in the chart last week but was subsequently removed when the Official UK Charts Company discovered the multiple purchases. Some gossipers are suggesting that someone involved with the band (though not the label) might have been involved in a kind of digital buyback campaign - but we should stress that that is entirely gossip, the official line is that a number of fans, friends and family members of the band have been independently buying multiple copies hence the irregularities.
A statement from the band reads thus: "Due to over-enthusiastic members of the band's fans and family, an unacceptable number of records were digitally ordered per person online. The band are keen to stress they thank their fans for their loyalty and support and are saddened by the OCC's decision but understand the integrity of the charts must be upheld. The Modern ask that, when their album 'Life In The Modern World' is released in May, everyone contains themselves and buys no more than two copies so there can be no dispute over sales."
--------------------------------------------------
JUST A PREVIEW
If you haven't heard the funky Mark Ronson featuring Alex Greenwald cover version or Radiohead's 'Just', from that upcoming Radiohead covers album, then we're pretty sure you can preview it here...
http://www.rapsterrecords.com/exitmusic/
--------------------------------------------------
TOWERS OF LONDON RELEASE DEBUT
It seems a very very long time to me since I first heard of Towers Of London. So it came as a bit of a surprise to me, before I started to think about it, that the band are to release a debut album this summer. A long player entitled 'Blood, Sweat & Towers' will be out on 22 May, preceded by the release of a single 'Air Guitar' on 1 May.
--------------------------------------------------
FORWARD RUSSIA RELEASE DEBUT ON OWN LABEL
More debut release news? Leeds lovelies Forward Russia! are to release their debut album on their own label. 'Give Me A Wall' will come out on 15 May preceded by the single 'Nine' on 24 Apr. The band apparently ditched plans to go with a major after waiting too long to see something happen, telling Drowned In Sound: "We're sick of waiting around for labels to sort themselves out, so we're doing it ourselves."
--------------------------------------------------
KYLIE VISITS SRI LANKAN THEATRE GROUP
Kylie Minogue has made a surprise visit to a Sri Lankan theatre troupe. Minogue is patron and sponsor to the group, Children Of The Sea, formed in the aftermath of 2004's devastating tsunami, but until now has been unable to attend any of their performances due to her recent struggle with breast cancer. The singer was en route from Australia back to Paris when she arrived unannounced for a performance by the company, and joined four members of the troupe atop an elephant featuring in the show.
Children Of The Sea, the brainchild of British Director Toby Gough, is comprised of 27 Sri Lankans, mostly children orphaned as a result of the tsunami and civil war. Kylie, who has been exchanging letters with the children involved, said: "I was so happy to finally meet the children and see the results of Toby's energy and vision; their triumph through adversity is inspiring. My visit was all too short. Everyone has been so welcoming; I do hope to return one day soon."
--------------------------------------------------
U2 RESCHEDULE AUSTRALIAN TOUR DATES
Bono has said that U2 will reschedule their postponed world tour dates for November, although he has not, as yet, revealed any specific dates. As previously reported, the band were forced to cancel the last ten dates of their current world tour due to the illness of a relative of the band. Still reluctant to divulge the specific reasons for the postponements, Bono said: "I can't really get into details why. There was a lot of distress and angst and the good news is ... I can announce tonight we are coming back, looks like November and that's a great relief for me."
--------------------------------------------------
WYMAN SAYS STONES SHOULD QUIT
Former Rolling Stone Bill Wyman thinks it's time the rest of his old band quit. Wyman, who left the band fifteen years ago, told the Guardian: "I can't see them going on too much longer, I really can't. It's getting a bit ridiculous, innit? It's their lives. But I don't know if they've got anything else that's important to 'em outside that apart from families."
On frontman Jagger, Wyman says: "Mick will never answer a question properly. He doesn't like to talk about the past. He can't stay in one place for more than a couple of weeks, and then he has to be off somewhere else. I don't think he's happy."
--------------------------------------------------
K-FED GETS POCKET MONEY
Britney Spears has apparently put her husband Kevin Federline on a set monthly allowance for his personal use. Which is probably fair enough, as it's her money, but I can't imagine a situation like that contributes much to domestic harmony.
According to The New York Post, a source says: "Any big items - cars, or trips that go over allowance - need to be approved by Brit herself. She acknowledges she has made a great deal of money. However, she is trying to show Kevin that he needs to be responsible and curb his out-of-control spending habits."