| CMU Daily - on the inside Friday 8th September |
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In today's CMU Daily:
- Recording Academy president calls for collaboration
- Arab Strap call it a day, apparently
- Black Crowes lose another member
- The Modern become Matinee Club
- Bunnyman McCulloch accused of attacking two fans
- Single Review: James Yorkston - Steady As She Goes
- Diddy and Fiddy make up
- Back to the studio for Radiohead
- Beyonce signs to EMI Publishing
- EMI and Universal will be pretty equal in publishing share
- Iceland Airwaves preview coming to London
- Delays big in Mexico
- Lily Allen remix competition thingy
- Live Review: The Vines At The Forum, London
- Beeb to celebrate Tchaikovsky
- LA arena sues AEG
- Blackberry makers plan music player phone
- Bam Bam launches podcast
- George on the big sweep
- Monkeys refused admission to post-Mercury party
- New London paper apologises after Diddy Doherty mix up
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TOP BIT>>
Now, Vigsy's tips slot returns today, and he's about to tip Bestival, so I shouldn't dedicate my Top Bit to it, but I'm going to anyway. I don't get out much (actually that's not true, I was out and about at the storming Infadels gig at ULU last night - remind me to review that on Monday), so I'm now getting rather excited about my trip down to the Isle Of Wight tomorrow to take in the wonderful thing that is Sunday Best's end-of-summer weekender.
The good news is that the South West Trains strike that was going to hinder some peoples getting down to Portsmouth is off (though I was going to use the wonderful Southern Trains any way, they being the best train company in the world, and they're travel sponsors of ThreeWeeks in Brighton too, so I'm not at all biased on that one) and Mary here at CMU assures me the forecast is looking good, so roll on the party.
Vigsy is about to tell you his tip list for those looking for the dancier side of things, but you can expect to see me looking on at Max Sedgley, Justice, Kish Mauve, Kitty Daisy & Lewis (remind me to review their single on Monday too), Jim Noir, Good Shoes, The Boy Least Likely To and the Dub Pistols Sound System. If you're planning on looking on at those very things too, do come and say hello (I'll be looking a bit like my MySpace picture, in the friends bit at http://www.myspace.com/cmubeats).
And, transport traumas permitting, see you all back here for the CMU Daily on Monday morning. Remind me to tell you my Bestival best bits won't you.
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JOBS N STUFF>>
HEAD OF LABEL MANAGEMENT
Digital music store TuneTribe.com is looking to recruit a senior member of staff to take responsibility for managing TuneTribe's label team and music catalogue. The role incorporates managing the delivery of all music products; maintaining and building relationships with record labels, distributors and aggregators; and helping to exploit the content commercially. You should be a fast learner as well as meticulously well-organised and able to deal effectively with numerous systems and simultaneous projects. You will be adept at signing up new labels and aggregators, whilst handling enquiries from existing content suppliers. You will work closely with labels to help implement on-site marketing initiatives for their artists. You will also regularly devise and manage off-site commercial opportunities maximising the exploitation of our digital catalogue. It goes without saying that you will be at ease with online content management systems and financial reporting. You should be used to dealing with major labels as well as independents. Applicants need to demonstrate a good understanding of the digital music market and the commercial and technological issues associated with it. You will have a minimum of 5 years experience in the music industry with emphasis on the retail, label and digital end of the business. A passion for music and all things digital will certainly help.
Please send a covering letter detailing how your experience is relevant to this position alongside a current CV to [email protected]
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ADVERTISE YOUR JOBS, SERVICES AND PRODUCTS here for just £50 a week, or £150 for two weeks in the Daily and four weeks on the web. Email [email protected] for details.
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BLATANT PLUGGING>>
CMU IN PRINT! - ADVERTISE RELEASES TO STUDENTS EVERYWHERE
As we mentioned back in July, we will be publishing a special edition of a CMU newspaper which will be distributed around campuses all over the UK as the student population returns for the new academic year later this month - offering a guide to all the great new music coming out this Autumn. This is a brilliant way to engage and excite 100,000s of students and young record buyers at the most important time in the college and music year. A full page costs £1000, a half page £600, a sixth page £260, a 12th page £160. Book your ad spots now - email [email protected]
JOIN THE TEAM - CMU STUDENT INTERNSHIPS FOR AUTUMN 2006
We are currently recruiting students to join the CMU/UnLimited team in a voluntary intern role, joining us one day a week during the Autumn term. This is a great way to pick up skills, experience and contacts in the media and music space - as well as getting involved in some frankly damn exciting new projects. If you're interested, email your details and a CV type thing to [email protected]
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CMU FRIDAY TIPS
VIGSY'S FESTIVAL TIP: Bestival 2006
Deep breath: Breakbeatster Ali B, Ballistic bro Ashley Beedle, long timer Annie Nightingale, Asian breaksters Bobby Friction & Nihal, Manc's Bugged Out Chilled Out, the three deck wizard Carl Cox (Old Skool Set), peckerheads Crazy P, the always good Cosmic Fury (Tom Middleton & Fred Deakin), DnB-ers DJ Marky and DJ Zinc, Ninja's Fink, Heavenly Jukebox DJs, Lionrocker Justin Robertson, the superb ubermen Jazzanova, tech-soul stalwart Kirk Degiorgiou, the dutch duo Kraak En Smaak, Attica Blues' Nwachuku, the legendary ambient techno mouse potato Mixmaster Morris, the still pretty much untouchable Pet Shop Boys, Aussie's d&b arsonists Planet Pendulum, Pete Reilly's Soul Jazz, the ever game for a grin Cuban Brothers, Simon Richmond's Palmskin Productions, electro punk pioneers The Black Dog, the breaksman Tayo, the off kilter Subway, the gargantuan DJ Sasha, TM Juke with the excellent vocalist Alice Russell, Simple Records boss Will Saul D and, finally making waves at last, Brighton's Krafty Kuts. Freerange Records presents my man of the hour Jimpster, Future Sound Of London presents Amorphous Androgynous (which wasn't the best project they've done, but hey its still FSOL...), The Bays will play live (as ever - Andy Gungadeen on drums is the bomb), Yoda will do some tricks on the ones and twos and househead Yousef will rock you, and who knows what Herbert'll be up to. Then there's Phil Mison, Ulrich Schnauss, the Plumps (they'll rock it), T Kolai's Rachid Taha with band and special guest Brian Eno (whoa!). Oh yes, and don't forget the maker of the event, Mr Rob da Bank. And there's a lot more too - I've only picked the best of the dancier acts! Don't forget there is a facial hair compo and a tree climbing expo too. And in the Bestivalley are willow domes and tunnels, and there's a stall selling Bestival Cardigans. Wild. The only bad news is that it's completely sold out and it's on some Isle called Wight, which involves a boat. But if you're going, and assuming you don't get sea sick, have a ball.
8-10 Sep, Robin Hill Country Park, Newport, http://www.bestival.net.
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RECORDING ACADEMY PRESIDENT CALLS FOR COLLABORATION
Neil Portnow, President of the US's Recording Academy (they're the Grammy people), has called on leading record producers and record engineers to take a frontline role in improving relations between the music and technology industries.
Portnow, speaking at the Academy's rather swish Grammys On The Hill event in Washington, said that too often the music and technology sectors worked against each other in the development of digital music - the music sector accusing technology firms of enabling copyright violation, the tech companies accusing the music companies of stifling innovation. He concluded: "The technology and music industries can continue the 'war', with each playing a zero-sum game in which one side must win and one must lose. Or we can work together toward an environment in which we all can win".
Portnow reckons that the two sectors should stop briefing against each other, and that they should look to collaborate on more projects, citing the involvement of the US recording and publishing industry trade bodies in the Consumer Electronics Association's Consumer Electronics Show, where the RIAA and NMPA sponsored a legal downloading area, as an example of good collaboration.
He also urged record labels and publishers to involve their artists and creators more in their negotiations with the technology sector, saying: "We all understand that copyright owners have the ultimate authority to negotiate on behalf of the music creators they represent but it will serve all our interests to ensure that artists and songwriters are informed of and included in those discussions".
It was on that point that he added that members of the Recording Academy's Producers & Engineers Wing could play a key role, because many of their members were creators, copyright owners and technology people, and were therefore in a perfect position to bridge the gap between the music and technology worlds.
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ARAB STRAP CALL IT A DAY, APPARENTLY
Ah damn, word has it the Arab Strap guys have decided to call it a day, or at least that's what French website magicrpm.com is reporting. However, that doesn't mean there's not going to be an opportunity to get a bit more from Messrs Moffat and Middleton, because a compilation called 'Ten Years Of Tears' will be released on Chemikal Underground on 23 Oct featuring a series of demos, b-sides, rarities and unreleased tracks as well as some better know Arab Strap work. Both Adrian Moffat and Malcolm Middleton will presumably continue to release solo projects, the former under his L'Pierre guise.
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BLACK CROWES LOSE ANOTHER MEMBER
Elsewhere in 'splits and departing band members' news, a second member of the Black Crowes has departed within the space of week. As previously reported, keyboardist Eddie Hawrysch was "released" (fired?) from the band last week because of "personal issues" (he's not talking to the rest of the band?). Now Black Crowes manager Pete Angelus has said that guitarist Marc Ford, who rejoined the band after a seven year break just last year, has also quit.
Given the statement Angelus issued, I think we can assume Ford's departure is pretty acrimonious too. The manager said: "I am not going to comment on the timing of this notification or the way Marc has elected to handle his personal and business affairs with the Black Crowes, however I will state as a matter of fact, that this is not the first time that Marc Ford has breached his agreement with the Black Crowes".
With the band about to embark on a US tour quick replacements have been made. Rob Clores was announced as Hawrysch's replacement last week, and Angelus said yesterday that Paul Stacey would take over guitar duties for the upcoming dates, though he implied he might not be a permanent replacement for Ford.
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THE MODERN BECOME MATINEE CLUB
Do you remember The Modern? They were quite buzzy this time last year, and grabbed some headlines earlier this year when their single 'Industry' was disqualified from the UK charts after a family member ordered multiple digital copies causing speculation that some kind of dodgy digital buy-back was going on. You liked them remember? You thought they were cool and destined for big things. Well, you were wrong, because they are no more. But, oh, hang on, three of the five members have launched a new band called Matinee Club. Phew, that was close.
Here's what remaining members - Nathan Cooper, Chi Tudor-Hart and Emma Cooke - have to say: "Since our departure from Mercury Records and our management, we felt it was time for The Modern to grow into another form that would best represent our music in it's purest essence. So we are proud to introduce our brand new guise, Matinee Club. All these changes put us completely in control of our future and we do hope you join us for the ride!"
If you're gonna, you should look out for their new single 'Discotheque Francais' due out next month on Planet Clique Records.
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BUNNYMAN MCCULLOCH ACCUSED OF ATTACKING TWO FANS
Echo & The Bunnymen frontman Ian McCulloch has been in court in Scotland this week charged with assaulting two fans backstage at the Glasgow Barrowlands venue. Gary Duncan claims McCulloch attacked him and his girlfriend, Julient Selbey, after they went backstage after the band's gig there last October.
Quite why they were backstage I can't quite figure out (alas I couldn't make it to the Glasgow District Court myself, what with me living in London and all, so I'm going on the somewhat sketchy court reports here), but the couple went to use the toilet facilities there, and that's where their run in with McCulloch took place.
Duncan "[We heard] a fierce roaring and threatening language. Then he [McCulloch] was threatening to kick the doors in of the toilets if we didn't get out". Having left the toilet, McCulloch then allegedly grabbed Duncan's jacket and "pushed and pulled me in a threatening manner".
After a member of the band's entourage intervened Duncan said he then looked for his girlfriend and, when asking said entourage member as to her whereabouts, was told "Don't worry, she'll be all right with Mac". His girlfriend then reappeared seemingly in a state of shock - "she was in a state of stress and in fear and was clutching her head at her right temple" - Duncan then says he realised his girlfriend's head was bleeding because the door McCulloch kicked in had fallen on her.
Said girlfriend explained to the court: "This person was shouting through the cubicle door. I said 'Please just give me a moment', because I was in a vulnerable situation and hadn't finished. I just remember the door hitting in the side of my head because when it came in I was still sitting on the toilet".
McCulloch's defence claim that the couple were in the same toilet cubicle prior to the incident (make of that what you will), that McCulloch was, in fact, just trying to escort them out of the dressing room area, and that Selbey was hit by an unlocked toilet door as it swung open, not as it was kicked in.
The case was adjourned yesterday until 18 Sep when the interview police undertook with McCulloch after the incident will be presented to court.
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SINGLE REVIEW: James Yorkston - Steady As She Goes (Domino)
This single is taken from Yorkston's third album 'The Year Of The Leopard' - out later this month. I reckon Yorkston deserves an automatic listen simply for having been part of the brilliant Fence Collective, alongside the likes of King Creosote and the Lone Pigeon. His music comes more from the 'traditional' end of the folk spectrum, with the use of instrumentation like guitar, banjo, accordion and strings. This produces a lovely warm sound on the track here, which immediately invites you in and makes you feel like you're already old friends with Yorkston and his music. The second track here is a Dolphin Boy remix of 'Summer Song'. At face value the backing drums feel a little incongruous given the song that came before, but actually they make sense if you remember Yorkston's team up with Reporter on Sunday Best's excellent 'Folk Off' compilation, which featured Yorkston's spoken word vocals over an electronic soundscape. It actually all fits together rather well. So, we have here two different aspects of an accomplished folk artist, who doesn't seem to be afraid of really exploring his music and finding out the different places it can go. TH
Release Date: 11 Sep
Press Contact: Hermana [NP, RP, CP] Anglo [NR, RR, CR]
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DIDDY AND FIDDY MAKE UP
Following our report yesterday that Sean 'Diddy' Combs was resisting the temptation to enter a full on feud with 50 Cent after Fiddy dissed him big time in a mix tape rap, AllHipHop.com now reports that a formal truce has been reached between the two rappers.
It seems Fiddy was in a mood with Diddy because he wouldn't release rapper Mase from his commitments to Bad Boy Entertainment when 50 Cent wanted to sign him to his G-Unit label. But Fiddy and Diddy apparently spoke about the emerging feud, and the mix tape, yesterday, and now everything is good between the two hip hop stars.
Chris Lighty, the boss of Fiddy's management company Violator Management, told AllHipHop.com: "We are definitely doing a 'cease fire".
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BACK TO THE STUDIO FOR RADIOHEAD
Thom Yorke has confirmed that Radiohead won't be doing any more live dates for a while, giving the band a chance to work on a new album. Speaking to the Beeb at the Mercury Music Prize bash this week (where he was nominated for his solo album 'The Eraser' of course), Yorke said: "We're in quite a good space really, because we've just done the festivals like V, so we are going off for the rest of the year basically, until it's done - we're not let out till it's done".
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BEYONCE SIGNS TO EMI PUBLISHING
Beyonce has signed a long-term worldwide co-publishing deal with EMI Music Publishing, which will see the publishing firm represent her new album 'B'Day' and all future music projects.
EMI Publishing co-CEO Martin Bandier confirmed the deal, telling reporters: "It is very rare that one has an opportunity to sign an artist of Beyonce's caliber. She is a multi-dimensional star whose writing is as prolific as her performing. I look forward to working on this and future projects with one of the world's truly great musical talents".
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EMI AND UNIVERSAL WILL BE PRETTY EQUAL IN PUBLISHING SHARE
Talking of publishing companies, HitsDailyDouble have been doing some sums and have concluded that it is not a forgone conclusion that the combined Universal/BMG publishing company will be the biggest in the world. Recent market share figures show Universal and BMG have a 12-13% share of the global music publishing market, while EMI Music Publishing has a 25% share, so they'll be pretty even in size after the Universal/BMG merger.
Universal will want to be able to say that their publishing entity is the biggest, because that means they are the biggest in both the publishing and recording sectors, though it might be to their advantage to play up EMI's claim to the 'biggest publishing firm' title while Universal try to convince EU regulators that them acquiring BMG's publishing company doesn't raise competition concerns.
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ICELAND AIRWAVES PREVIEW COMING TO LONDON
The really rather wonderful Iceland Airwaves Festival takes place in Rekjavik from 18-22 Oct, but for those unable to make the trip North there'll be a little taster at a special preview night taking place at Kings College in London on 12 Sep. Playing on the night will be Tilly And The Wall, Love Is All and Jackobinarina, all of whom will join The Go! Team, Metric, We Are Scientists, Wolf Parade and Kaiser Chiefs at the main event in Iceland next month.
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DELAYS BIG IN MEXICO
You have to love the Mexicans. No, really you do. And if you need a specific reason to do so, use this. Delays have been telling the NME just how popular they have become over there. See, they've got great music tastes those Mexicans.
Here's what the band's Greg Gilbert told NME: "We knew we were big there but the passion and energy of the fans blew us away, it was totally like Beatlemania but in a Mexican wrestling arena which is even cooler than it sounds. Knowing what big wrestling fans we are we were given countless Mexican wrestling figures and masks by the fans, and the venue gave us lifetime passes. It was a great taster of proper stardom and we fucking loved it!"
Whether they'll receive such high levels of adoration at their upcoming UK dates I don't know, but they really should. These will be great gigs, and Mr Eddy TM is DJing at some of them, so do go if you can.
15 Sep: Stoke Sugarmill
16 Sep: Middlesbrough Empire
18 Sep: Norwich Waterfront
19 Sep: Warwick University
20 Sep: Bournemouth Opera House
21 Sep: Reading Fez
22 Sep: Sheffield Leadmill
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LILY ALLEN REMIX COMPETITION THINGY
Talking of Eddy TM, host of the Remix (this is a very tenuous link, I know), here's news of another one of those remix competitions. Lily Allen is giving fans the opportunity to remix one of her tracks and win a pair of trainers in the process (yes, trainers, though I think they're some kind of limited edition trainers). To take part download the separates of track 'LDN' from her website - www.lilyallenmusic.com - and remix away.
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LIVE REVIEW: The Vines at The Forum, London on 29 Aug
It seems that the drugs do work. When The Vines front man Craig Nicholls was diagnosed with Aspergers syndrome during the band's last ill-fated tour it seemed likely that the band would never play live again. But tonight Nicholls is a transformed character; he appears relaxed and calm and very happy to be here. As are we. The Vines were always one of the most exciting of the definitive article bands who cropped up a few years ago. Craig may not be the guitar destroying wild child that he was back then but he knows how to put on an entertaining show. To some extent the songs from the band's three albums could sound interchangeable. The short, sharp grungy garage rock of 'Anysound' from current album 'Vision Valley' isn't a huge leap of progression from the debut album's 'Get Free'. But perhaps this is because with their first album The Vines created the perfect template. And these are great songs which the mosh-pit enthusiasts and the crowd surfers lap up. Much of the show is loud and frantic and enjoyably so. But it is perhaps during the slower numbers that Nicholls really shines. The title tracks from both 'Vision Valley' and the previous album's 'Winning Days' are startling beautiful songs, and an acoustic 'Autumn Shade' is gorgeous. Also there are hints on the latest album that the band have moved on. Probably the evening's highlight is the sublime, psychedelic marvel 'Spaceship'. Nicholls isn't a totally reformed character though, for raucous final song 'Fuck The World', he decides to trash the drums with his guitar. But with or without any on stage destruction The Vines are still superb. JW
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BEEB TO CELEBRATE TCHAIKOVSKY
Me old mate Tchaikovsky will be getting some widespread attention this Autumn thanks to the BBC, who will be broadcasting a series of concerts of and programmes about his work on both TV and radio. Included in the programme of events are TV screenings of his ballets 'Swan Lake' and 'Sleeping Beauty', a two part documentary about his life and music, and a whole week dedicated to him (and fellow Russian composer Stravinsky) on Radio 3.
Confirming the season, Radio 3 controller Roger Wright told reporters: "Listeners have responded to BBC Radio 3's unique Beethoven and Bach seasons with great enthusiasm. We hope that by presenting the complete works of Tchaikovsky and Stravinsky alongside each other, it will enable a more comprehensive exploration of both composers' outputs, providing both insight and unexpected delights".
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LA ARENA SUES AEG
The owners of one of the LA region's large indoor venues is suing a subsidiary of AEG over allegations that the live entertainments conglom used an exclusivity deal to essentially damage their business.
Owners of the Forum arena in Inglewood entered into a deal with AEG owned LA Arena Co in 2000 which made the AEG company the exclusive booking agent for the their venue. However, Forum Enterprises Inc claim that LA Arena Co have consistently failed to book a sufficient number of shows into the venue, instead diverting bankable events to downtown LA's Staples Center, which is wholly owned by AEG.
They say that despite securing a contract revision that meant AEG guaranteed annual revenue of $500,000 for the Forum, that in itself is insufficient to cover their operating costs. Meanwhile, they claim, LA Arena Co has continued to give the Staples Center priority over the Forum, with ten of the twelve major events held at the Forum in the last year actually booked internally rather than by the AEG firm.
The lawsuit concludes "AEG has paid $500,000 per year to put the Forum out of business as an entertainment venue".
AEG are yet to comment on the lawsuit.
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BLACKBERRY MAKERS PLAN MUSIC PLAYER PHONE
The company behind those nifty Blackberry mobile PDA devices you all seem to email me from these days (remind me why I haven't got one - oh yes, no one's given me one), Research In Motion, has announced it will be moving more into the consumer market with the launch of Pearl, its first phone to come with a camera and music player.
The move recognises how important music and video download services are to the long term strategies of the mobile firms, and RIM hope it will help them move out of the business market they have come to dominate, offering a more mainstream audience the kind of email and personal organiser services offered by the Blackberry, but also the more consumer friendly media download and consumption facilities.
The Pearl device, which will be launched initially by T Mobile in the US, but which RIM say will be taken up by a number of mobile networks around the world, comes with a 1.3 megapixel camera, a video and music player and a slot to add extra storage space.
Confirming that the new product would launch next month, RIM COO Larry Conlee told reporters this week: "It really is our attempt to take Blackberry out of the boardroom. That's a big opportunity for Blackberry".
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BAM BAM LAUNCHES PODCAST
Former Kiss FM presenter Bam Bam, the DJ who received the UK radio industry's biggest ever OfCom fine (well, Kiss received it on his behalf), has launched his own podcasts, and he says he looks forward to the independence online broadcasting will allow him.
Launching the new subscription show, which will be available each morning from http://www.theshow.com, Mr Bam (Pete to his mother, of course) said: "Radio and television are struggling to engage a young audience against the appeal of pirate stations, the internet and computer games. There are 12-year-olds all over London using the c-word yet Kiss are fined £8,000 because I said 'muff' on the radio - what a joke. I truly feel sorry for traditional youth broadcasters who are trying to create programmes for the next generation with their hands strapped behind their backs. That's why podcasting is such a breath of fresh air for young people."
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GEORGE ON THE BIG SWEEP
Boy George has said his mum wanted to come and help him clean up New York after hearing that her son was going to have to clean the streets as his community service for wasting police time.
He told reporters this week: "My mum wanted to come out and help me. She gets worried about things and on the first day I called her and I just said, 'Am I bothered?'. She asked, 'Who is it?' and I just said, just ask if I'm bothered. She hears things in the news and people ring her up and tell her, 'Boy George is doing this or that'."
Commenting on his stint cleaning New York, he continued: "At first I thought I would have to wear an orange boiler suit. I don't look good in orange or a boiler suit with my short legs. [But] I was treated really nicely, it was worth it. I quite enjoyed it really. I was pissed off to start with but people were jumping out of manholes to see me and being really nice. So many people came to see me."
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MONKEYS REFUSED ADMISSION TO POST-MERCURY PARTY
The Arctic Monkeys were apparently nearly turned away from London's Met Bar after the Mercury Music Prize event earlier in the week. Bouncers at the bar initially refused to let Alex Turner et al in when they couldn't prove their ages. But eventually someone realized who they were and ushered them into the post-Mercury party. It's their own fault for not carrying around those fake IDs they admitted to using while touring the US (which 'proved' they were over 21, of course).
Elsewhere in Monkeys news, the band have confirmed that they will donate their £20,000 winnings from the MMP to an unnamed charity. On winning the prize, the band said in a statement: "We had a fantastic night and we're really chuffed with winning the award. It was unexpected but it means a lot to us as the competition was from other musicians we really respect. We strongly believe in the ethos of the Nationwide Mercury Prize in that it is about the music and not everything else that goes with it and are therefore really flattered by the decision. Regarding the £20,000 cheque, we are going to donate it to a worthy charity which we would prefer to keep private. We have discussed it with [former bassist] Andy [Nicholson] who played an equal part in the making of the album and he is happy with our choice. As for the near future, we are really looking forward to taking a break to continue writing our new album."
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NEW LONDON PAPER APOLOGISES AFTER DIDDY DOHERTY MIX UP
Back to Diddy news, and new London paper, erm, The London Paper, has had to apologise to Mr Combs within days of launching after they ran his picture and name at the top of a comedy column about Pete Doherty. Commenting on Doherty's recent ability to avoid jail despite his many run ins with the police, the column asked: "Just what does he have to do to get banged up? He's only been done for possessing crack cocaine, heroin and cannabis". But given the picture and name at the top of the feature it kind of implied Diddy was guilty of the drugs crimes.
The cock up led to the following apology being published: "P Diddy is entirely unconnected with the allegations in the article which were intended to relate to an entirely different person and his name and picture were used entirely in error. We emphasise P Diddy was not connected to the text and we apologise to him for the embarrassment he has been caused."
It's a bit of an embarrassing mistake to make in your first few days of existence, but if its any consolation to the London Paper team, I didn't actually notice - I think the design of their paper is lovely, and have been admiring that much more than reading the articles thus far.