| CMU Daily - on the inside Tuesday 24th October |
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In today's CMU Daily:
- Ono keeping options open with EMI lawsuit
- Leeson attacker given eight months
- Foxy Brown misses court date
- Madonna to go public re adoption
- Snoop may face weapons charges over 'prop'
- Mobb Deep not dead
- Lebo Mathosa dies
- Sandy West dies
- Single review: Mumm-Ra - Out Of The Question
- Henley to win Person Of The Year prize
- NXNE submissions open
- Pumpkins drummer on new material
- Horrors get Yeah help
- Arctic Monkeys biography for Christmas?
- Datsuns do T Rex
- The Feeling announce tour
- The Like support Razorlight
- Flavor Flav UK release
- Rhymefest in UK to record a Rhyme4respect
- T9 to create song from random words from infinite monkeys
- Film and music groups take case for keeping iPod tax to Brussels
- FRUKT launch music licensing division
- Lionsgate hire The Orchard
- AEG begin marketing rebranded dome
- Single review: Joan As Police Woman - Christobel
- Supernova lacking a bassist
- More 4Sure, for sure
- Brian May launches astronomy book
- Townshend on old rockers, like, erm...
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TOP BIT>>
Don't forget that we are currently expanding our team of CMU college correspondents. As we mentioned last week, this is a chance for students all over the UK to hone their skills, showcase their work and expand their contacts in the music and media world.
CMU College Correspondents are part of the CMU review team, getting access to upcoming releases from all key music genres, and sharing their opinions with thousands of music fans and key music business people via CMU's media. Correspondents also have the chance to interview their favourite artists for CMU Beats and give their opinions to the music business through a regular survey on recent signings, releases, events and innovations in the music world. These positions are voluntary, but all correspondents receive free training and coaching from CMU's team of professional journalists and editors, plus have special access to key album releases and gigs in their town.
We are currently looking to expand our correspondent teams in Glasgow, Manchester, Liverpool, Newcastle, Durham, Leeds, Sheffield, York, Leicester, Nottingham, Birmingham, Cardiff, Bristol, Brighton, Southampton, Norwich, Oxford and Cambridge. But if you're not in one of those cities you can apply anyway - we might consider branching into new college towns.
If you want to be considered for a correspondent role simply download the below application form and follow the instructions. We'll be interviewing in the next three weeks, so the sooner you respond the better!
http://www.cmumusicnetwork.co.uk/cmuappform.doc
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CLASSIFIEDS>>
OFFICE SPACE TO LET
Space to let in bright open plan office on top floor of building in London's famous Denmark Street area (West End/Soho), sharing with office of internet radio station with approx 4 staff. Suitable for 1 or 2 people max. Rent £135 per week (or nearest offer), incl insurance, bills & all office facilities (internet/own phone line/fax/printer/desk etc). Available now. Call 020 7240 6665
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OFFICE SPACE/ DESK SPACE REQUIRED.
We are a small Music PR company looking for space in either the Shoreditch or Soho areas (for 4-6 persons) immediately. It would be an advantage if there was a meeting area. Please contact Serena on 07931 791 186 [email protected]
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INTERESTED IN SELLING YOUR RECORD LABEL?
Music Gain is acquiring record labels and catalogue. If you are thinking of selling, or are interested
in a long term capital partner, please contact us. Introduction and spotters fees also paid. Please visit us - http://www.musicgain.com
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ADVERTISE YOUR SERVICES & 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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JOBS N STUFF>>
LABEL MANAGER
!K7 label group is an independent record company operating worldwide since 1985 whose labels include !K7, Rapster/BBE and Ever Records. We also offer a press and distribution service to partner labels Ghostly/Spectral, BBE/R2, Bubbles (Whitest Boy Alive) and Rush Hour/Kindred Spirits.
TO EXPAND OUR TEAM IN BERLIN WE ARE LOOKING FOR A P&D LABEL MANAGER
Responsibilities include development of all releases on P&D labels, communication to distributors and overseeing marketing/promotion. A good, varied working knowledge of music and minimum two years relevant label management experience required. German language skills are helpful, but not essential.
Email applications to [email protected] or post to: !K7 Records, attn. Marie Clausen, Heidestr. 52, 10557 Berlin, Germany
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CMU RECOMMENDS>>
BREAKING GROUND
Another storming night for your diaries - the second edition of breaks fest Breaking Ground. All the big names are going to be on the bill - Planet Pendulum (Live), Stanton Warriors, Rennie Pilgrem with MC Chickaboo, Splitloop (Live), Precision Cuts, Janette Slack, Breakfastaz, Deekline & Wizard with MC Ivory, Cltr-Z, Freshold, Si Begg, General Midi, Soto, Merka, Symmetrik, Dirtpop, Mr Sushi and Fyoog. Phew. It will all take place at London's seOne Club on Saturday 2 Dec, from 9.30pm to 6am. Tickets are £18.50 in advance - from http://www.ticketweb.co.uk - press info from Leyline.
Full info>> http://www.leylinepromotions.com/breakingground
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MYSPACE OF THE DAY: SOUTH CENTRAL
People sometimes say "how do we become MySpace Of The Day in that awesome CMU Daily" (those are the actual words they use, honest) and I always say "make great music, get yourself booked on the Superchunk slot on Eddy TM's Remix Show, come into the studio while I'm there, be lovely". It really is that simple. OK, that's not the usual way, but it is essentially the reason why South Central boys are today's MySpace Of The Day. Direct from Malta via Brighton, South Central are not altogether unlike the TooManyDJs, in that they are both in a band but are also brilliant producers and remixers. And you wouldn't be too far off having a sense for the South Central sound if you were thinking of Soulwax either - filthy, bleep filled floor shakers. It is through their remixes that I first became aware of their work - their recent unofficial rework of Klaxons' 'The Bouncer' is just brilliant (although we hear Klaxons themselves don't think so). You can check out three of these guys' remixes here (though, alas, not the Klaxons one), but while you're there you also need to check out 'Nothing Can Go Wrong', the duo's debut original single, which is coming out on Leeds based Art Goes Pop next month. These guys are definitely remixers/producers to watch - so I suggest you go listen now.
http://www.myspace.com/southcentralmusic
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ONO KEEPING OPTIONS OPEN WITH EMI LAWSUIT
Although Yoko Ono last week filed that lawsuit against EMI regarding outstanding royalties she believes are owed to the John Lennon estate, it seems unlikely the case will go to court because out of court discussions between Ono's people and the major are ongoing. Or at least that's what the latest reports suggest.
Word has it Ono only filed legal papers last week because she was in danger of losing the right to fight the case in court because the time period allowed by the US's statute of limitations, within which disputing parties are expected to launch legal proceedings, should they wish to, was about to run out.
The lawsuit filed at the New York Supreme Court last week was a short three page document that did not include a full-length legal complaint. However, the submission is enough to ensure that Ono will be able to proceed with action through the courts should ongoing negotiations with EMI in the US not result in a settlement. So, now you know.
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LEESON ATTACKER GIVEN EIGHT MONTHS
Christiaan Briggs, the peace activist whose attack on Les Incompetents frontman Billy Leeson left the singer critically ill, has been sentenced to eight months in prison, after appearing at Snaresbrook Crown Court. As previously reported, Leeson was left in a coma when he fell and hit his head after Briggs punched him following a dispute aboard a bus in north London back in June. The singer subsequently fell into a coma and required surgery to relieve pressure on his brain. He was in hospital for a period of six weeks, and had to learn to walk again.
Briggs, whose recent peace activities included being a human shield in Iraq in 2003, pleaded guilty to causing grievous bodily harm. The court heard that Leeson had been on the bus with his girlfriend and she had complained that Briggs was staring at her, so the singer asked Briggs to "look elsewhere", and that an exchange of words followed; when Leeson got off the bus in Camden, Briggs followed and punched him on the cheek, causing the fall that would lead to the singer's life threatening injuries.
Judge Peter Birts acknowledged that Briggs had shown "genuine remorse" but said that a prison sentence was inevitable.
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FOXY BROWN MISSES COURT DATE
More on the ongoing saga that is the court life of Foxy Brown. The US rap star missed a court appearance yesterday, relating to those much reported assault charges brought by two nail salon workers who allege that Brown, real name Inga Marchand, attacked them over the price of a manicure back in August 2004 in Manhattan.
The case is still ongoing because Marchand, who originally entered a guilty plea in exchange for the promise of a three year probation, asked to withdraw the guilty plea on hearing that as part of the probation she would have to undergo regular drugs tests and attend anger management classes.
Now she has failed to appear at the latest court date, telling the judge, Melissa Jackson, that she was unable to attend the hearing due to the fact that she was undergoing oral surgery. Jackson responded by threatening to issue a warrant for her arrest if she doesn't turn up the next time. In Brown's absence, she denied the motion to withdraw the guilty plea, and said that she was considering changing the promised probation time to jail time. It's not really surprising that Jackson is losing patience with the hip hop star - it's not the first time she's failed to show, she's delayed the case further by firing three lawyers, and on one occasion stuck her tongue out at the judge and was handcuffed to her seat in court until she apologised.
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MADONNA TO GO PUBLIC RE ADOPTION
Madonna is to appear on the Oprah Winfrey show to talk about her planned adoption of one year old Malawian boy David Banda. A spokeswoman for the programme said that the singer will explain her side of the saga. News of the appearance, which will take place on Wednesday, follows claims from the baby's father that he didn't realise he was giving the child away for good.
As previously reported, Yahane Banda, who was previously very happy that the pop star was to adopt his son, on the basis that he was unable to care for him himself, now says that he had no idea what was written on the court papers he had signed, and was only just realising what the procedure really means.
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SNOOP MAY FACE WEAPONS CHARGES OVER 'PROP'
Snoop Dogg may be facing weapons charges after attempting to take a police baton onto a flight from Long Beach in California to New York at the end of last month. The rap star, real name Calvin Broadus, was discovered in possession of a collapsible nightstick, which expands from eight inches to twenty one inches, and is classified as a dangerous weapon.
Snoop said he didn't know the object was illegal, apparently, and explained that he was planning to use it as a prop on a video he was set to shoot in New York. Of course, it's not his first air-travel-related brush with the law in recent months. You'll remember he and his entourage caused a bit of a fracas at Heathrow earlier in the year.
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MOBB DEEP NOT DEAD
Mobb Deep aren't dead. But they came pretty close to it at the weekend after a plane they were flying in lost an engine. The hip hop duo were flying from Atlanta to Chile, accompanied by fellow rappers 40 Glocc and Sam Scarfo, on Saturday morning when the aircraft was forced to make an emergency landing in Tampa, Florida, after an engine blew up. The plane landed safely, and was met by fire trucks and ambulances.
A statement to the press explained: "Almost an hour into the flight, the plane began dropping and rising and dropping again, soon after which passengers noticed flames and smoke pouring out of one of the engines".
Mobb Deep's Havoc, meanwhile, told allhiphop.com: "All I can say is God was on our side. It could (have) turned out the opposite way! It makes you look at many things in perspective."
Amen to that. I might say, if I weren't an atheist.
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LEBO MATHOSA DIES
South African Kwaito singer Lebo Mathosa has died in a car crash at the age of 29. According to reports, the driver of her car seemed to lose control of the vehicle, which overturned and hit a tree on a motorway near Johannesburg.
Mathosa first came to notice with the group Boom Shaka, before beginning a solo career, and was well known for her energetic live performances and dyed blonde hair. Her album, 'Drama Queen' topped the charts in 2004, and she was this year nominated for a MOBO. Leslie Sedibe from Mathosa's record label EMI said: "I don't think that there is any artist after Brenda Fassie [who also died two years ago], who could match her talent and energy on stage".
Mathosa herself once told reporters, after the death of the aforementioned Fassie in 2004: "You can't deny death, you can't fear it. I'm sure God has a better place for us, if you're a believer."
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SANDY WEST DIES
Sandy West, co-founder of all female seventies rock band The Runaways has died at the age of 47 from lung cancer.
Colleague Joan Jett said: "I started the Runaways with Sandy West. We shared the dream of girls playing rock & roll. Sandy was an exuberant and powerful drummer. So underrated, she was the caliber of John Bonham. I am overcome from the loss of my friend. I always told her, we changed the world."
Fellow bandmate Cherie Currie added, "Sandy West was by far, the greatest female drummer in the history of rock & roll. No one could compete or even come close to her, but the most important was her heart. Sandy West loved her fans, her friends and family almost to a fault. She would do absolutely anything for the people she loved. It will never be the same for me again to step on a stage, because Sandy West was the best and I will miss her forever."
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SINGLE REVIEW: Mumm-ra - Out of the Question (SonyBMG/Columbia Records)
These boys might be named after the baddie in Thundercats, but they definitely don't sound like they have any evil in them. Lead singer James's altogether posh vocals beautifully complement the melodic guitar pop that this latest offering brings. Softer than previous 'Song B' and more in line with 'There She Is' from the same debut EP, this is an upbeat, easy listen that inspires thoughts of hope and smiles borne of blind optimism, catchy and fresh, with daydreamy keyboards and pick me up guitar that will have you bopping your head in time to the music. Mumm-ra have just finished supporting The Automatic, and with their own headline tour kicking off in November, they'll be getting a lot more attention than just that of The Thundercats. KN
Release Date: 23 Oct
Press contact: Columbia IH [all]
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HENLEY TO WIN PERSON OF THE YEAR PRIZE
America's MusiCares Foundation have announced that Eagles man Don Henley will win their Person Of The Year Award next year. As normal, the award will be presented at a big fundraising dinner just ahead of the Grammy Awards next February. Announcing the award, Neil Portnow of the US Recording Academy told reporters: "Don is one of the most relevant and respected musical voices of our time, and it is a fitting testament to his extraordinary talents and charitable work that he will be honored as the MusiCares Person of the Year".
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NXNE SUBMISSIONS OPEN
Organisers of the North By North East festival, Canada's answer to SXSW, have confirmed that next year's event will take place, as normal, in June in thirty plus venues all over Toronto. I'm telling you this now because submissions open on 1 Nov, which means any bands interested in putting themselves forward to play at the event need to check http://www.nxne.com where demos can be submitted over the net. For any budding film makers out there, you'll also find out details of how to make submissions for the film festival bit of the proceedings.
And more important than all of that, NXNE are staging a London launch party at The Bedford in Balham this Thursday (26 Oct) featuring past NXNE artists including The Vibrants, Buck Brothers, Eskimo Brit and Jon Bilbrough. For more details email NXNE UK rep Angelee Harris at [email protected]
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PUMPKINS DRUMMER ON NEW MATERIAL
Smashing Pumpkins' drummer Jimmy Chamberlain has been speaking via the band's MySpace blog about how well work on new material is going, revealing that the group have been working with producers Roy Thomas Barker and Terry Date.
He wrote: "Great things are on track for the future. As some of you know we are indeed creating music again. Music that comes from a place so pure it will burn the lies off the very souls of those who try to discount it. We have arrived at a place in our lives where truth and honesty prevail and we are creating from that place. The universe has a way of letting you know that things are right by introducing people like RTB and Terry into the fold. It's all part of one big cosmic journey, in so that everyone reading this is hitching their silver chord to the Great Pumpkin Space Train! Hope this helps clear some things up for you."
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HORRORS GET YEAH HELP
Buzz band (it's mostly NME creating the buzz, I suspect) The Horrors are recording their debut album, and Yeah Yeah Yeah Nick Zinner has helped them out with the production. Zinner explains why: "I liked their music and image - both trashy, macabre, loud and a little bit camp. Also, after meeting them, I was happy to learn they were all secret brainiacs. The boys were very well behaved in the studio - I would reward each of them upon completion of their final takes with a pint of virgin blood. I would love to work together again, if my schedule allowed it."
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ARCTIC MONKEYS BIOGRAPHY FOR CHRISTMAS?
Shit, you know you want one. I mean, they're, what, all about twenty? So you know it must be all about the last year in excruciating detail. Why in God's name would you miss it? Yes, according to reports, Arctic Monkeys are to release a biography in time for Christmas. They were allegedly unhappy that an unofficial biography was released earlier this year, and that, my friends, is the reason why they're doing it, and not to make piles of filthy festive cash.
It's also expected to explain why Andy Nicholson left the band.
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DATSUNS DO T REX
The Datsuns have made a cover of T Rex's 'Life's A Gas' for the B side of upcoming download only single 'Waiting For Your Time To Come', out 6 Nov. The band are on tour over the next couple of weeks - here's a reminder of the dates:
25 Oct: Manchester Academy 3
26 Oct: Edinburgh Cabaret Voltaire
27 Oct: Hull University
28 Oct: Carlisle Brickyard
29 Oct: Glasgow ABC2
1 Nov: Nottingham Social
2 Nov: Peterborough Park
3 Nov: Wolverhampton Wulfrun Hall
4 Nov: Sheffield Leadmill
5 Nov: Norwich Waterfront
6 Nov: Southampton University
7 Nov: London Electric Ballroom
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THE FEELING ANNOUNCE TOUR
The headline kind of sums it up. The Feeling have announced a UK tour. And the dates are as follows:
16 Feb: Norwich UEA
18 Feb: Wolverhampton Civic Theatre
19 Feb: Bournemouth BIC
20 Feb: Plymouth Pavilions
22 Feb: Liverpool University
23 Feb: Edinburgh Corn Exchange
24 Feb: Doncaster Dome
26 Feb: Derby Assembly Rooms
27 Feb: Manchester Apollo
02 Mar: London Hammersmith Apollo
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THE LIKE SUPPORT RAZORLIGHT
The Like, who are currently on tour supporting Razorlight, will play a headline show at the 100 Club in London on 2 Nov. Razorlight support dates as follows. Info from [email protected]
24 Oct: Nottingham Arena
25 Oct: Swindon Oasis Leisure Centre
26 Oct: Plymouth Pavilions
28 Oct: Cardiff International Arena
31 Oct: Brighton Centre
1 Nov: London Wembley Arena
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FLAVOR FLAV UK RELEASE
The previously reported debut solo album from Public Enemy's Flavor Flav will be released over here in the UK via Draytown Records on 27 Nov. So don't go saying we didn't tell you - press info from Smash Press.
As also previously reported, Flav has indicated this will be his one and only solo project, telling reporters: "This is my first and only album ever because I want it to be a collector's item. I always wanted to do a solo album but coming up through the years there's been a lot of obstacles in my way that have stopped me from being able to do so".
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RHYMEFEST IN UK TO RECORD A RHYME4RESPECT
By the way, you know how Rhymefest was in the news last week after his confab with that David Cameron bloke? Well, what we didn't tell you was that the US rapper was in the UK to record his contribution for the previously reported Rhyme4respect competition.
This was the competition for aspiring urban song/rapwriters which encouraged said aspirers to submit a song or rap that "encourages self respect and respect for others on the theme of relationships and sex". Entrants' work was posted online over the summer, and a public vote has helped choose the overall winners, whose work has now been recorded by Estelle, Terri Walker, Akala, Kano and the aforementioned Rhymefest. Apparently there's also going to be a recording by the 'grime allstars' relating to the competition.
We'll have more details for you once we know more about where those recordings are going to surface, and who's behind the winning lyrics. Meantime, more info on it all at http://www.rhyme4respect.com
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T9 TO CREATE SONG FROM RANDOM WORDS FROM INFINITE MONKEYS
I think it was Borel-Cantelli who said that "due to the nature of infinity, a monkey hitting keys at random on a typewriter keyboard will almost surely eventually type every book in the Bibliotheque Nationale de France". Actually, I know it was, it says so at the top of this press release.
The press release is promoting what is being called the Infinite Monkey Project, a new initiative from the T9 predicative text software people that aims to prove that if an infinite number of phone owners (well, a lot anyway) text in random words, eventually you'll have the lyrics for a releasable song.
To that end people are being encouraged to text in a random word and their name to 07797 801 003. Anytime something nearing a grammatical sentence is created by the texting, it will be set aside. The collected sentences will then be handed over to music producer and Foreign Beggars collaborator Sparo who will use them to create a song, which will get a proper release here in the UK. Anyone whose random word appears in the song will be credited as a songwriter on it and will therefore get a share of any royalties it makes (which will probably work out at 9p each, but still, you'll be a published songwriter).
Similar projects are being held in other countries across Europe, and an album of all the mini-songs will be released on completion. For more info check http://www.infinitemonkeyproject.com/uk, email [email protected] or phone an infinite number of phone numbers - because I think it was Borel-Cantelli who said "if you phone an infinite number of phone numbers eventually a relevant PR will answer the phone" (though obviously he'd never tried calling the PR department at a major record company).
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FILM AND MUSIC GROUPS TAKE CASE FOR KEEPING IPOD TAX TO BRUSSELS
European filmmakers and musicians were in Brussels last week to lobby European Commission officials regarding copyright levies charged on electronic equipment that can be used for making copies of films or music. They fear the EC will look to bring to an end the so called iPod tax which currently operates in 18 of the 25 EU countries (no such levy exists in the UK of course).
The levies are similar to those charged in many European countries on blank cassettes, videos and CDRs which recognise that many people use those media to make additional copies of copyrighted content they have bought. The levy system legitimises the making of copies in this way (for personal use), but charges an extra tax on the sale of the blank media which is passed on to the copyright bodies as compensation for the copying. The iPod tax charges similar levies on portable media devices like iPods, because in the digital age it is those devices that people use for making personal copies of movies and albums.
EC officials are reviewing the levy system in the face of opposition from the electronics sector, who argue the system unfairly raises the prices of their products, and that digital rights management technology exists that could be controlling the making of personal copies. They have formed the Copyright Levies Reform Alliance which is calling for the system to be phased out.
While officials are yet to really comment on those demands, film and music makers have formed their own lobbying group, Culture First, and they held a press conference last week to present the case in favour of the levy. Speaking for the content makers, Spanish film director Pedro Almodovar told reporters: "Compensation for private copying is an important source of remuneration for artists. For small companies, struggling to pay for their productions, every source of finance counts".
Also from our Brussels correspondent, news that Spanish singer David Bisbal will this week join IFPI boss John Kennedy and Antonio Guisasola, director of Spanish music industry federation Promusicae, to call on the European Parliament to extend the length of recording copyrights across the EU. They will meet with Parliament President Josep Borrell as part of the previously reported Europe wide campaign to secure an extension for recording copyrights, which currently last for just 50 years in the EU (45 years less than in the US, and, in theory, over 100 years less than the copyright enjoyed by songwriters). The race is on, of course, to secure an extension before too many rock n roll recordings from the late 50s and early 60s start to come out of copyright.
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FRUKT LAUNCH MUSIC LICENSING DIVISION
Music strategy and communications agency FRUKT has launched a new music licensing division, and has announced that Jeremy Paterson, formerly of Sound Performance, will run it. FRUKT say the new division has been created "in response to an increasing demand from existing brand and technology clients for innovative, multi-channel music usage to support creative strategies", and one of the brands to use the service from the outset will be Nokia, who will utilise it for that previously reported music recommenders platform (the one involving David Bowie).
Announcing the new division, FRUKT MD Anthony Ackenhoff told CMU: "Innovative use of music is becoming an increasingly important element of our clients' creative positioning. FRUKT prides itself on being able to create platforms that are both supported by music from a brand perspective and that can also function, when required, as commercially viable services. Our dedicated licensing team is a core part of us offering delivery of marketing-leading music and communication platforms".
Paterson added: "The opportunity to join a highly creative team that not only shares my own values, but one that constantly questions convention makes this a very exciting prospect. I am looking forward to the challenge of building a new business that sources and licenses content for music-based brand experiences and brand-funded services. Working in unison with the new commercial and delivery models of the music industry, we will offer a service that provides creative and economic value to both our clients and rights owners."
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LIONSGATE HIRE THE ORCHARD
Canadian film and TV producers Lionsgate have signed a deal with The Orchard which will see the independent music aggregator distributing Lionsgate's catalogue of soundtracks through various digital platforms. Confirming the new relationship, Lionsgate's President Of Music & Publishing, Jay Faires, told reporters: "Lionsgate's soundtracks will sell well digitally, and The Orchard is the most capable and forward-looking marketing company in this space, making them the logical partner for us".
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AEG BEGIN MARKETING REBRANDED DOME
I wonder if anyone will actually stop calling it the Millennium Dome and start calling it The O2? I mean, does anyone actually call the Brixton Academy the Carling Academy Brixton? I don't think so. Then again, those Mancunians quickly stopped calling the Nynex Arena the Nynex Arena and fully embraced the Manchester Evening News Arena, so who knows? Rest assured, we here at CMU are always fully up to speed with the latest developments in the world of consumer brands and their title sponsorship.
Marketing of the all new look Cellnet Dome began yesterday, with the launch of a new website supported by an outdoor marketing campaign. The actually slightly sinister Dome site, now under the control of live entertainment giants AEG, will relaunch as a leisure complex next year, and a new large scale arena will be at its heart (super-casino permitting). One of the first artists to play the venue will be Justin Timberlake, and tickets for his gigs next July are now on sale via the new website.
Confirming the launch of their marketing for the new look Dome site, AEG Live Senior VP Rob Hallett told CMU yesterday: "We are excited to be able to present Justin's London concerts at Europe's only true 21st century building. With his centre stage in the round show, The O2 is ideally suited to give his fans the night of their lives!"
AEG Europe marketing chief Lesley Saville added: "We are ecstatic to welcome Justin as our first act to go on sale at The O2. We have been working hard to realise our vision for The O2, and so it's great to now for promoters to be able to tell consumers about the quality of artists they will be able to enjoy at our state of the art arena."
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SINGLE REVIEW: Joan As Police Woman - Christobel (Reveal Records)
This is more like it - a nice throwback to the bad skin days of old school indie (well, the early 90s, pre Britpop), when bands were thought to have hit the big time if they garnered a support slot with The Cure or Jesus And Mary Chain or breached the lower regions of the Top 40. 'Christobel' is a black-clad, brooding pop song with menacing switchblade guitars, soft pianos that delicately caress, and the intoxicating vocals of Joan Wasser, which manage to sound both achingly fragile and belligerently rock and roll (usually over the course of different songs, mind, but the two styles coalesce magically on 'Christobel'). This is smoky, noir-ish indie, redolent of a slightly out of control Mazzy Star, driving through the desert at night in a state of lovelorn obsession. Which can only be a good thing, really. MS
Release date: 23 Oct
Press contact: Triad Publicity [all]
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SUPERNOVA LACKING A BASSIST
Rock Star Supernova, the supergroup created by the second series of the Rock Star reality show on US TV, are looking for a temporary bassist after Jason Newsted, the former Metallica member involved in the TV search for a supergroup frontman, tore anterior labrum in his left shoulder and rotator cuff, as well as suffering a bicep tear, after trying to catch a 90 pound bass head that fell off his amp (an incident that sounds incredibly painful - if only the cameras had still been following him). The injury means Newsted will be out of action for nine months - and a crucial nine months at that, given that the supergroup, which also includes Tommy Lee, Gilby Clarke and TV winner Lukas Rossi, are due to launch a debut album and tour the US. No word on how they plan to recruit a new bassist, though Bass Idol is surely a TV show long overdue.
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MORE 4SURE, FOR SURE
More pop reality TV nonsense. And boy band 4Sure, voted off X-Factor this weekend, have said the public have not seen the last of them. I have to say, this particular member of the public hasn't seen the first of them either, but apparently the X-Factor losers are planning on releasing three albums in the next five years.
After being voted off the show, 4Sure member Donovan Bailey told reporters: "We were gutted, very shocked and very surprised. We did not expect to be in the bottom two. We are proud of getting this far in the X Factor - it is not the last you have seen of us. I think everyone has delivered in the first rehearsals - the finalists are better then previous years. Our dream is to record albums - three albums in five years as well as write and produce for others."
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BRIAN MAY LAUNCHES ASTRONOMY BOOK
Brian May has just launched a book about the origins of the universe. Yep, the origins of the universe. Remember, May abandoned doctoral studies in astronomy to embark on his career with Queen. The book has been co-written by The Sky At Night presenters Patrick Moore and Chris Lintott and explains the formation of the universe 13 billion years (you know, when God said 'let there be light'), through to today and looking forward to the future and the universe's ultimate demise in several billion years time.
Asked by the Guardian how his loves for astronomy and music relate, May recently said: "I think there's a sort of purity about both of them. Because you can immerse yourself in thoughts of the universe, or in music, and you're really abstracted. You're a million miles away from all your worries and personal problems and the dust and smoke of where you are."
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TOWNSHEND ON OLD ROCKERS, LIKE, ERM...
Pete Townshend, slightly tongue in cheek me thinks, when asked by Rolling Stone magazine about the number of classic artists currently touring, says: "I don't want to go out and see Bob Dylan. I don't want to go out and see the Stones. I wouldn't pay money to go see The Who, not even with new songs". They, he said, are all "old guys in their self-congratulatory mode".