| CMU Daily - on the inside Monday 20th November |
|
In today's CMU Daily:
- Universal sue MySpace
- Baidu win latest label lawsuit
- Another Doherty arrest, shocker
- The Game is not an undercover cop, shocker
- Banda daddy remarries
- Stewart on daughter's liver, daughter's response
- Ruth Brown dies
- Eminem/D12 release stuff
- Kanye West to keep quiet for a while
- White Stripes go ballet
- !!! release new album
- Shortwave Set update, sort of
- ATP let the fans curate
- Rizla night reaches Bournemouth
- Bono appears at MPH concert, yada, yada
- Jay-Z plays a lot of gigs in a short period of time
- Sugarcubes reunion
- Fox appoint new Euro-mobile chief
- BPI welcome guilty verdicts for English counterfeiters
- Branson makes official complaint over Sky's ITV share purchase
- Chart update
- This Week's Student Radio Chart
- Subshot playlist
- Total Rock world album chart
- Gahan wants more recognition for worldwide success
- Walsh neglecting Girls Aloud
- Mills says she has no lover
- Sharon not impressed by Tarrant's Ozzy remark
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VOTE FOR YOUR FAVOURITE TRACK OF THE YEAR
Email in song title, artist and a sentence on why it's your favourite to [email protected]
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TOP BIT >>
So, Universal Music are suing MySpace for copyright violation, mainly because of the high number of MySpace users who post copyright music or videos on their pages without permission from any content owners, often by setting up unofficial 'fan pages' within the MySpace music channel.
MySpace, the major label argues, deliberately allows and encourages fans to upload copyright material because doing so helps drive traffic to the site, traffic which earns the Murdoch owned social networking platform advertising revenues. Like Billy Bragg, Universal chief Doug Morris has a problem with MySpace making money out of the artists that appear on the site. Bragg might argue Morris' motives are more self-serving, but both basically have the same problem with MySpace - Murdoch is profiting from content without investing in it or the people who made it.
MySpace might argue that the investment they have made is in developing the technology behind the social networking site, in hosting the content that can be consumed there and in recruiting a huge global audience. Content owners already benefit from the free technology and hosting MySpace offers - because artists and labels large and small now have a ready made online platform to promote their music, without the need to invest in their own websites and servers. And as MySpace establishes its download sell-through functionality the labels, Murdoch is sure to argue, will directly benefit from the large membership MySpace has - because they will be able to sell products to them.
To a certain extent MySpace are right in arguing that the record companies are receiving tangible promotional benefits from the social networking service, and many labels' marketing departments have been quick to capitalize on the promotional potential of the platform. Then again, Morris is also right to be concerned - we all know record sales will become just one of many revenue streams for record labels in the future, and it might just be that the profits to be made from the banner ads at the top of the MySpace page are worth more than the profits to be made from any additional record sales achieved by the promotional boost a MySpace page may or may not provide. And Morris is right to be wary of the long term benefits MySpace offers - despite its meteoric rise, MySpace's long term success is far from assured (how many people are starting to visit their own MySpace less and less?)
But if the record labels want to ensure they capitalize on all the new growing revenue streams available to content owners in the digital age then they need to consider how they do that. Do they launch innovative online ventures themselves (it wouldn't be difficult for the majors to launch their own MySpace style network, with ad sales brought in house)? Do they do deals with smaller independent players, like Murdoch did with the original MySpace? Or do they go into business with the big guys of the internet?
Universal, I suspect, have every intention of collaborating with MySpace in the same way they are collaborating with YouTube, they just want more favourable terms than Murdoch is currently willing to offer - hence the litigation. But hopefully they'll be looking at in house and alternative options too - so their success in developing new revenue streams does not depend entirely on the outcome of one or another copyright lawsuit.
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CLASSIFIEDS>>
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CMU RECOMMENDS>>
INSOMNIACS BALL - IT'S NEXT WEEKEND, OK?
The second Insomniacs Ball is this coming weekend - 25 Nov. And just look at the line up - The Young Knives, Art Brut, The Rumble Strips Pink Grease, Friendly Fires, Blood Red Shoes, The Sunshine Underground, Digitalism, Foals, Goose and Lo Fi Fink. They'll all be taking to one of the stages underneath London Bridge station in the seOne complex. Between the bands, on the decks you'll find Silverlink, Matthew WoWoW, Jagz Kooner, The Cooper Temple Clause, Gavin Nugent, Eddy Temple-Morris, The Freelance Hellraiser and Jeff Automatic. Plus the Fish Seeks Bicycle people will be hosting a brilliant chill out area. It all takes place on 25 Nov from 7.30pm all the way through to 6am the next day. This is going to be the big pre-Christmas event, so if you want to go you really ought to be booking your tickets now. You'll find info at http://www.insomniacsball.co.uk and you can buy your tickets at http://www.ticketweb.co.uk. Press info from Scruffy Bird.
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 - 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: RHYTHMS DEL MUNDO
We've mentioned this before, but the album is out today, and I've only just stumbled across its MySpace, so let's mention it now. This is the brilliant new album which sees a stack of artists and bands, including U2, Coldplay, Arctic Monkeys, Sting, Franz Ferdinand and Maroon 5, reinterpreting one of their songs courtesy of the members of the legendary Buena Vista Social Club, meaning everything has a wonderful Latin edge. Released in aid of Artists Project Earth, this is a great album for all sorts of reasons - musical and otherwise. For the musical reasons, check out the MySpace where you'll find the Coldplay, Arctic Monkeys, Jack Johnson and Sting tracks streaming. There's also the TV ad, a making of video and loads of information about the project. All in all, a definite go see.
http://www.myspace.com/rhythmsdelmundo
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UNIVERSAL SUE MYSPACE
Following that previously reported tough talking earlier this year from their top man Doug Morris, the Universal Music Group began legal proceedings against MySpace and its parent company News Corp on Friday. Morris has previously raised concerns about the distribution of music via websites like MySpace and YouTube, though he subsequently reached a licensing deal with the latter. No such deal with the former though, instead legal papers claiming that the social networking site makes copyright infringement "free and easy, turning MySpace ... into a vast virtual warehouse for pirated copies of music videos and songs". MySpace, the lawsuit alleges, use "extensive efforts to encourage members to upload pirated videos to [their] servers".
A spokesman for Universal told reporters on Friday: "Businesses that seek to trade off on our content, and the hard work of our artists and songwriters, shouldn't be free to do so without permission and without fairly compensating the content creators. Our music and videos play a key role in building the communities that have created hundreds of millions of dollars of value for the owners of MySpace. Our goal is not to inhibit the creation of these communities, but to ensure that our rights and those of our artists are recognised".
The major also criticises the way it polices or, rather, the way it fails to police its music section, meaning that anyone can set up pages in their artists' names, and then upload audio and video content without permission. The lawsuit says MySpace "has enabled countless members to set up and maintain phony artist profiles that hijack the names of famous artists so that MySpace can provide its users with free pirated sound recordings".
MySpace, who have just announced the development of new software to speed up the recognition and removal of unapproved copyright content on its servers, were quick to hit back at the lawsuit, calling Universal's litigation "unnecessary and meritless".
A spokesman for the Murdoch owned company said this weekend: "MySpace provides an extraordinary promotion platform for artists - from major labels to independent acts - while respecting their copyright. We have been keeping UMG closely appraised of our industry leading efforts to protect creators' rights, and it's unfortunate they decided to file this unnecessary and meritless litigation. We provide users with tools to share their own work - we do not induce, encourage or condone copyright violation in any way. We are in full compliance with the Digital Millennium Copyright Act and have no doubt we will prevail in court. Moreover, we proactively take steps to filter unauthorized music sound recordings and have implemented audio fingerprinting technology. We will continue working to be the gold standard in protecting creators' rights as well as the world's leading lifestyle portal".
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BAIDU WIN LATEST LABEL LAWSUIT
China's leading search engine, Baidu.com, has won the latest stage of its legal fight with the major record companies.
As previously reported, the majors accused the search engine of copyright violation because of a service which enabled users to specifically search for MP3 content. Such searches would provide links to both legit and non-legit music sources online, and it was the latter that worried the record labels. They said that, through the service, Baidu.com was aiding the illegal distribution of music over the net, and was therefore guilty of copyright infringement.
Despite an earlier ruling in which Baidu was ordered to pay EMI 68,000 yuan (£8,400) in compensation for enabling such infringement, the latest court hearing sided with the search engine, which claimed that because it does not host any MP3 content itself it could not be guilty of infringement. Baidu bosses also argued that its MP3 search facility was no different than other content specific searches, such as photo or news story searches, that are offered by Baidu and many other search engines.
Baidu welcomed the latest court decision, which overturns the EMI ruling. A spokesman told the Xinhua news agency: "If the music companies had won, the whole search engine sector would have ground to a halt". Nevertheless, the record companies are expected to appeal.
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ANOTHER DOHERTY ARREST, SHOCKER
Doherty, crack, erratic driving, arrest, bail. Presumably you can write your own story. Yep, the Babyshambler in chief and two other men were arrested this weekend after police saw Pete driving his Jaguar erratically. All three have been bailed while police analyse the "substances recovered" - they are due to return to face any charges next month. Christmas in jail anybody?
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THE GAME IS NOT AN UNDERCOVER COP, SHOCKER
You see, at least The Game thinks of something original to be arrested for - not the increasingly tedious erratic driving / drugs possession thing that Doherty persists with. Actually, this one is almost up there with DMX and his whole "I'm a secret agent, I'm going to drive through your barrier" thing.
The Game, real name Jayceon Taylor, was arrested last week for allegedly telling a taxi driver that he was an undercover police officer and that he should run through a series of red lights. The taxi driver reportedly sped through 13 blocs of New York after the rapper flagged him down, shortly after appearing on the Late Show With David Letterman. NYPD say Taylor is facing charges for impersonating a police officer.
The Game's lawyer disputes the charges however, claiming that the New York police had been following his client throughout his stay in the city desperate to arrest him for something - the specific incident, he says, was the fault of a terrible taxi driver. Lawyer Jeffrey Lichtman told reporters: "This is really a new low even for the NYPD. It's a big joke to harass him and other members of the hip-hop community, and ultimately arresting him. Let's see how funny they think it is during the cross-examinations of this trial".
Those cross-examinations should kick off on 12 Dec.
In unrelated yet related news, a business partner of The Game, who is involved in the recording studios founded by the rapper, the Black Wall Street East studios in Atlantic City, has been arrested over allegations he laundered money for the 9 Tre Gangsters, a faction of the Bloods street gang which police say deal drugs and guns across New Jersey. John 'Johnny' Hooks was also charged on Friday. No word as yet whether the authorities suspect The Game of any involvement in, or knowledge of the laundering Hooks is accused of.
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BANDA DADDY REMARRIES
Yohane Banda, the father of David Banda, the little Malawian boy Madonna is adopting, has remarried and has fathered a new child. According to a relative, Banda, who is 32, married one Flora Kamanga on Friday, and Kamanga, who has a two year old child from a previous relationship, is three months pregnant by her new husband.
As previously reported, Banda's first wife Marita died in October 2005, a week after giving birth to son David. In earlier interviews, Banda explained that he met Kamanga in April this year, saying: "I was still mourning my wife but I thought it was high time I found a partner".
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STEWART ON DAUGHTER'S LIVER, DAUGHTER'S RESPONSE
Rod Stewart has told Rolling Stone magazine that his daughter Kimberly has a long term liver disease caused by her boozy lifestyle. Kimberly, however, says that it's not as bad as he's making out.
Here's what he said: "She just discovered that she had a very serious liver illness from drinking too much. So she hasn't had a drink or cigarette in three months and she feels great. She said to me, 'Dad, I'm half Scottish - I thought I was allowed to drink a lot'. I said, 'No, darling, it doesn't work like that'."
Here's what she said: "I love my dad but sometimes he has a big mouth - and not just when he's singing. I don't have a liver disease. I was exhausted and feeling sick from burning the candle at both ends, and my doctor told me to cut back on drinking and smoking, which I have, and I feel so much better."
And here's what a statement from the singer's people, who aver that Stewart's words were taken out of context, said: "Kimberley had an inflamed liver and she's perfectly fine now."
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RUTH BROWN DIES
R&B pioneer Ruth Brown has died at the age of 78 following a stroke and a heart attack. The singer, who passed away in a Las Vegas hospital on Friday, was known as 'the girl with a tear in her voice' due to her emotional style of delivery. Brown's heyday was during the 1950s, when she became a bestselling female artist, releasing songs including the likes of 'So Long', and 'Mambo Lips'. Her hits for Atlantic Records were so huge that the company became known during that period as "the house that Ruth built".
Her career slumped and her work with Atlantic ended with the onset of the 1960s. She didn't return to music until the 1970s, when her career revival garnered her a Grammy Award and a Tony Award for Best Leading Actress in a musical, and included a series of acting roles in TV and film. Subsequently, Brown led in the fight to achieve proper musicians' rights and royalties, campaigning which led to the setting up of the Rhythm And Blues Foundation. She was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1993.
Singer Bonnie Raitt says of Brown: "Ruth was one of the most important and beloved figures in modern music. You can hear her influence in everyone from Little Richard to Etta [James], Aretha [Franklin], Janis [Joplin] and divas like Christina Aguilera today."
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EMINEM/D12 RELEASE STUFF
Eminem has confirmed that a new D12 album is set for release, and will include material recorded by late collective member Proof, who, as previously reported, died in April this year. However, Eminem's next release will be that previously reported compilation, 'The Re-Up', which features a variety of new and upcoming artists. The rapper, speaking to MTV, has said of that album: "Instead of putting it out there rough and unfinished, I thought we should add some other new tracks, make it a real album and put it in the record stores to give these new artists a real boost."
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KANYE WEST TO KEEP QUIET FOR A WHILE
And won't that be a blessed relief? To be fair, I don't mind his material so much, just his endless going on about how great he is. Anyway, the rap star has said that he won't release a new album for at least another year. No doubt it's because we can only take so much of his greatness. Actually, that almost is what he's saying.
He told MTV: "I'm not dropping till another year at least. Y'all don't need it right now. There's only so much room in the CD changer. I'm on Game's album, I'm on Nas' album - it's like Eminem says, mugs be used to it."
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WHITE STRIPES GO BALLET
Reworked songs by The White Stripes are appearing in a new ballet, 'Chroma', at London's Royal Opera house. The piece, which appears to have opened to relatively good reviews, was composed by former Divine Comedy arranger, Joby Talbot, who told the BBC that the music : "was not a gimmick in an attempt to draw in non-ballet fans, but [choreographer] Wayne McGregorhad simply decided it was the perfect music for his piece."
Talbot added that the band like it: "I met Jack and he was incredibly nice about it. He said he and Meg both loved it".
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!!! RELEASE NEW ALBUM
!!! are set to release a new album. 'Myth Takes', the follow up to 2004's 'Louden Up Now', will be out on 3 Mar, and here's the tracklisting for you. We spoil you people.
Myth Takes
All My Heroes Are Weirdos
Must Be The Moon
A New Name
Heart Of Hearts
Sweet Life
Yadnus
Bend Over Beethoven
Break In Case Anything
Infinifold
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SHORTWAVE SET UPDATE, SORT OF
Mmmm, an "update" on The Shortwave Set and plans that their "legendary manager" Roger Dunwoody has for the band. Probably just best to run this verbatim, which is rather generous, but the Dunwoody MySpace (http://www.myspace.com/rogerdunwoody) is mildly amusing, so I'm feeling generous.
"Roger Dunwoody, The Shortwave Set's legendary manager, has unveiled his latest plans for the band as recording commences on their eagerly awaited second album. Whilst many consider the band's debut LP, 'The Debt Collection', to have been criminally ignored by this year's Mercury Music Prize judges, this is not a view shared by Dunwoody himself: mainly because he has never actually heard of the award. Instead Roger prefers to cast his eye towards the prestige and glamour of music's premier prize, the Eurovision song contest".
"Bringing to bear all the managerial skills which led to his acts virtually dominating the Tattenham corner live scene (between 1969 and 1973), Dunwoody is considering an audacious plan to team his South London upstarts with the pride of North London (no, not the mighty Arsenal) in an 'assault' on the 2007 event. Details are sketchy, but Roger has assured us he has 'had words' and talks are ongoing. Meanwhile at their South London HQ the band remain blissfully unaware, preferring to concentrate on their recording schedule, and the limited edition 7", 'Casual Use'/'Billy' which is available on Monday 20 Nov in reputable establishments while stocks last. 'Billy' is also available now from Rough Trade Shops' new digital empire".
End of update. Except to say the band will play the Montague Arms in New Cross on 1 Dec, tickets are four quid. Info at http://www.myspace.com/theshortwaveset
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ATP LET THE FANS CURATE
Now this is fun. The All Tomorrow's Parties people - famous for staging festivals where guest artists get to curate - are staging an event where ticket holders will have a say on who gets to play. Everyone who buys a ticket for ATP Vs The Fans, due to take place at the Minehead Butlins next May, will be invited to provide their personal top ten choice of bands, from which organisers will programme the festival. The ATP team recommend that ticket holders choose bands that are [a] still alive and [b] still talking to each other. They also caution that bands that will charge exorbitant fees - such as The Rolling Stones - are also no go. And presumably, given ATP's proud reputation for championing the alternative, McFly and the Sugababes won't be playing, however many people request them. Groups already confirmed to play the event include Sparklehorse and Echo & The Bunnymen.
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RIZLA NIGHT REACHES BOURNEMOUTH
Rizla's 'inspired-by' Silver Tour will reach Bournemouth on 25 Nov with a night at the town's Old Fire Station venue. On the bill this time will be Tom Findlay (Groove Armada), Sugardaddy (live), Jon Carter, Phat Phil Cooper, Cliff Lay and Tosh Ohta. Tickets are on sale now for a tenner from http://www.rizla.co.uk. Press info from Exposure.
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BONO APPEARS AT MPH CONCERT, YADA, YADA
I'm not mocking Make Poverty History, by the way. It's a worthy aim, that. I'm just bored of talking about Bono mouthing off about shit like this, especially when he could probably make poverty perfectly historical for more than just a few people with one week's interest from his savings account.
Anyway, this is the news that he's appeared unexpectedly at a Make Poverty History concert being held in Melbourne and timed to coincide with a G20 meeting in the city over the weekend. The singer, joined by bandmate The Edge, teamed up with Pearl Jam for a performance of Neil Young's 'Rockin' In The Free World'. The Irish singer told the crowd: "Politicians all have to do what you tell them to do, scream it from the mountains".
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JAY-Z PLAYS A LOT OF GIGS IN A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME
Formerly 'retired' rapper Jay-Z has been getting busy with a whistle stop tour of the US marking the release of his new album. The urban star performed seven thirty-minute concerts during the course of a twenty four hours period - in Atlanta, Philadelphia, Washington, New York, Chicago, Los Angeles and Las Vegas
His new album, 'Kingdom Come', is out 21 Nov.
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SUGARCUBES REUNION
The Sugarcubes did that previously reported reunion gig on Friday night in Reykjavik. The band, fronted by the ever-annoying Bjork, played their first gig in fourteen years at a benefit marking the twentieth anniversary of the release of their first single 'Birthday', and of their record label Smekkleysa SM.
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FOX APPOINT NEW EURO-MOBILE CHIEF
Fox Interactive has announced the appointment of Jean-Paul Sanchez, formerly at Vodafone, to the new role of VP Mobile in Europe. He will spearhead the development of Fox's digital brands in the mobile space, including video games site IGN and, of course, MySpace.
The development of the latter in the mobile space is apparently Sanchez' first priority - and he'll most likely be looking to enter into a European deal along the same lines as that struck between MySpace and US cellphone operator Cingular earlier this year. A 'lite' mobile version is expected to launch in the UK first, with O2 reportedly confirming it has had "very early, exploratory" discussions about getting involved in a mobile version of the social networking site.
Which is all very exciting - though given that the web version of the service fails as much as it works for me these days (especially the music player, which has become incredibly temperamental) perhaps MySpace's techy types should concentrate on getting that working before branching off into mobile.
Though bosses there are possibly too busy planning a 2007 expansion into China and, of course, dealing with the tedious business of that Universal Music lawsuit.
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BPI WELCOME GUILTY VERDICTS FOR ENGLISH COUNTERFEITERS
The BPI has welcomed two success stories in the ongoing battle against counterfeit CD piracy in the UK. First up, there was the guilty verdicts which were last week handed to three people accused of running a prolific counterfeit CD operation in North East England. The trade body launched a rare private prosecution against James Cowan, his wife Ann Cowan and Andrew Wood, all from County Durham, after a routine anti-piracy operation unveiled a sophisticated bootleg CD enterprise.
The three defendants made pirate of copies of CDs and DVDs at a property above a video rental store, and are thought to have made £10,000s a week by selling the pirated material at markets, pubs and industrial units all over the North East. Following the BPI's action James Cowan was last week found guilty on counts of conspiracy to defraud the music and film industries, tax evasion and benefit fraud. Ann Cowan was found guilty of defrauding the music and film industries, benefit fraud and attempting to pervert the course of justice. Wood, who was allegedly in charge of the pirating operation, had earlier pleaded guilty to counts of conspiracy to defraud the music and film industries and tax evasion. All three will be sentenced in the New Year.
Welcoming the guilty verdicts, BPI General Counsel Roz Groome told CMU on Friday: "These verdicts provide further evidence that intellectual property crime is often linked with other areas of crime, in this case benefit fraud and tax evasion. We have urged the government to place intellectual property crime higher on the agenda and provide Trading Standards with the power, duty and resource to tackle this rapidly growing area of crime".
Meanwhile, some 200,000 Bollywood CDs and DVDs have been seized following a raid in West London last week. With a value of just under £1 million, even at bootleg prices, this is the biggest ever haul of pirated Bollywood content in the UK. The pirated CDs were found alongside a load of counterfeit clothing which, police reckon, could take the value of all the goods seized to over £5 million. On this one, Groome told CMU: "We understand that this is the biggest seizure of Bollywood counterfeits ever seen in the UK. Our members will be pleased to hear that this operation has disrupted what we believe to be a hugely significant piracy operation extending throughout west London and beyond. With intellectual property crime often linked to other areas of crime and benefit fraud, we also urge consumers not to support counterfeiters by buying their goods."
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BRANSON MAKES OFFICIAL COMPLAINT OVER SKY'S ITV SHARE PURCHASE
More legal shenanigans for a Murdoch owned company. Richard Branson has called on the Office Of Fair Trading to intervene after BSkyB bought a stake in ITV. And to be honest, he's probably right to, because it's widely thought that Sky bosses bought a 17.9% stake in ITV on Friday principally to put themselves in a position where they could block any attempt by cable operator NTL to stage a merger with the UK's biggest commercial terrestrial broadcaster. NTL, of course, expressed an interest in merging with ITV earlier this month.
Branson is involved in all this, of course, because NTL recently merged with Virgin Mobile, and will rebrand as Virgin Media in the new year. Following that deal Branson is NTL's biggest single shareholder. He said this weekend that BSkyB's share trading was "a blatant attempt to distort competition ... by blocking any attempt to create a strong and meaningful competitor", and that he was considering complaining to the European Commission and UK media regulator OfCom as well as the OFT. He continued: "BSkyB is positioned to strongly influence ITV's operations in a manner that favours BSkyB's long-term plans rather than the interests of the other 82% percent of ITV shareholders who weren't offered a sweetheart deal on Friday".
Branson's spokesman, Will Whitehorn, added that Sky's share purchase was "a blatant breach, if not of the broadcasting legislation, then of the Enterprise Act", adding that Sky had made it clear that it "did not intend to be a passive investor" in ITV.
But BSkyB hit back at Branson, pointing out that current media ownership regulations allow the satellite broadcaster to buy up to 20% of ITV if it should so wish - meaning its share purchase was entirely legit. In a statement issued this weekend, BSkyB said: "Sir Richard seems to believe that he and his partners in NTL-Telewest have a unique right to acquire ITV".
Meanwhile the Mail On Sunday quoted a Sky insider who said that his company had taken considerable legal advice before acquiring ITV shares, and that they were confident the purchase would be approved should it go before a regulator.
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CHART UPDATE
So, Take That are once again the biggest band in Britain. Well, they're not as big as Eminem and Akon. Or Justin Timberlake. Or Westlife. But after that, they are the biggest, scoring the highest new entry on this week's singles chart, with 'Patience' going straight in at number four. And that was on download sales alone - so well done them. Whether or not they are happier about having the highest new entry, or about the fact they are four spots ahead of Robbie Williams, I don't know. Robbie's new single 'Lovelight' - out on physical CD last week - is at eight. Though what really matters, of course, is album sales, on which Robbie is still doing rather well thank you very much - it remains to be seen how Take That's comeback long player 'Beautiful World' does when it's released at the end of the month.
Anyway, enough of that, the other new entries on this week's rather quiet singles chart came from Emma Bunton with this year's Children In Need song, 'Downtown', at 24, Little Man Tate with 'Man I Hate Your Band' at 26 and Maccabees with 'First Love' at 40.
Albums wise, and it's greatest hits albums galore at the top of the chart. George Michael's new hits collection goes straight in at number one, followed by Jamiroquai's hits at 2, Sugababes hits going in at 3 and Girls Aloud's hits at 4. The first original album new entry is at 10, Tenacious D's 'The Pick Of Destiny', then the new entries go Simon Webbe with 'Grace' at 11, Depeche Mode with another best of at 18, Andy Abraham with 'Soul Man' at 19, Yusuf Islam with 'An Other Cup' at 20, The Game with 'Doctor's Advocate' at 21, Jarvis Cocker with 'Jarvis' at 37 and All Saints with 'Studio 1' at 40.
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THIS WEEK'S STUDENT RADIO CHART
The most played music on UK college radio this week, compiled by the Student Radio Association.
1. [2] Muse - Knights of Cydonia
2. [1] Kasabian - Shoot the Runner
3. [7] Red Hot Chili Peppers - Snow (Hey Oh)
4. [4] The Fratellis - Whistle for the Choir
5. [15] U2 & Green Day - The Saints are Coming
6. [21] Jamelia - Beware of the Dog
7. [RE] Brakes - Hold Me in the River
8. [11] The Rapture - W.A.Y.U.H
9. [NE] The Noisettes - Don't Give Up
10. [9] The Feeling - Love It When You Call
11. [23] Orson - Already Over
12. [NE] The Killers - Bones
13. [NE] Jeremy Warmsley - Dirty Blue Jeans
14. [6] Juliette And The Licks - Sticky Honey
15. [NE] Albert Hammond Jr - Back to 101
16. [NE] Jet - Bring It On Back
17. [RE] All Saints - Rock Steady
18. [NE] Love Is All - Ageing had Never Been a Friend
19. [RE] The Long Blondes - Once and Never Again
20. [17] Goo Goo Dolls - Stay With You
21. [8] Panic! At The Disco - I Write Sins Not Tragedies
22. [NE] Maccabees - First Love
23. [NE] Mcfly - Star Girl
24. [10] My Chemical Romance - Welcome to the Black Parade
25. [NE] The Enemy - 40 Days and 40 Nights
26. [NE] Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly - War of the Worlds
27. [26] Oasis - Acquiesce
28. [RE] Hot Chip - Over and Over
29. [NE] Six Nation State - Fire
30. [NE] Cherry Blackstone - Kushti
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SUBSHOT PLAYLIST
The videos appearing on the SUBtv screens network in students' unions around the UK this week. New entries marked with a *.
A List
BootyLuv - Boogie 2Nite
Duke Special - Last Night I Nearly Died
Faithless -Bombs
The Feeling -Love It When You Call
The Fratellis -Whistle For The Choir
Jet - Bring It On Back
Muse - Knights of Cydonia
Nelly Furtado - All Good Things*
Red Hot Chili Peppers - Snow (Eh Oh) *
The Rumble Strips - Oh Creole
Wolfmother - Joker and the Thief
The Zutons - It's The Little Things We Do*
B List
Babyshambles - The Blinding*
Chris Cornell -You Know My Namer*
Cold War Kids - We Used To Vacation*
Eskimo Disco - 7-11
Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly - War of the Worlds
Gwen Stefani - Wind It Up*
Jamelia - Beware Of The Dog
John Legend - Heaven*
Lily Allen - Littlest Things
Lupe Fiasco - I Gotcha*
Paolo Nutini - Rewind
Pink - Nobody Knows
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TOTAL ROCK WORLD ALBUM CHART
As counted down on Total Rock over the weekend - http://www.totalrock.com. New and re-entries marked with a *
1. Evanescence - The Open Door (SonyBMG)
2. My Chemical Romance - The Black Parade (Warner Bros)
3. Red Hot Chili Peppers - Stadium Arcadium (Warner Bros)
4. Meat Loaf - Bat Out Of Hell III (Universal/Mercury)
5. Aerosmith - Devil's Got A New Disguise (SonyBMG/Columbia)
6. Deftones - Saturday Night Wrist (Warner/Maverick)
7. Nickelback - All The Right Reasons (Roadrunner)
8. Billy Talent - Billy Talent II (Warner/Atlantic)
9. Audioslave - Revelations (SonyBMG/Epic)
10. Iron Maiden - A Matter Of Life And Death (EMI)
11. Razorlight - Razorlight (Universal/Mercury)
12. Muse - Black Holes & Revelations (Warner Bros)
13. Guns n Roses - Greatest Hits (Universal/Geffen)
14. Trivium - The Crusade (Roadrunner)
15. Stone Sour - Come What(ever) May (Roadrunner)
16. Blue October - Foiled (Universal)
17. AFI - Decemberunderground (Universal/Polydor)
18. Tool - 10,000 Days (Volcano)*
19. Paul Stanley - Live To Win (New Door)
20. Jet - Shine On (Warner/Atlantic)
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GAHAN WANTS MORE RECOGNITION FOR WORLDWIDE SUCCESS
Poor old Dave Gahan is feeling undervalued. He reckons that Depeche Mode, whose best of album was released last week, rarely get the credit they deserve for their worldwide success, especially in the US.
The Sun quote the band's frontman thus: "I don't get it. We're a band that has come out of England, lasted and done well. But no one seems to notice and it does hurt. It's a struggle here to get recognition for what we've achieved. We're that oddball band that people don't know how to categorise. We don't fit the rock category and are not pop."
If it's any consolidation Dave - your Wireless Festival set in Hyde Park back in June is still my favourite gig of the year. There, recognition, problem solved.
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WALSH NEGLECTING GIRLS ALOUD
According to reports, Louis Walsh is neglecting Girls Aloud because he's too busy doing X-Factor. Band member Sarah Harding is quoted by New magazine as saying: "Louis is still our manager, but he's very busy doing what he does - being a celebrity! We have brought in Hilary Shaw to be more hands on with the group. Louis is more used to dealing with boy bands!"
The singer added that Walsh's spats with Simon Cowell were all "pantomime". Which is why I always think "I'm never going to report on one of their spats again". But then I do. Because I am a sucker.
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MILLS SAYS SHE HAS NO LOVER
Heather Mills has said that she is not seeing anyone, despite those rumours that she is involved in a new relationship with her personal trainer. She insists that she's not interested in getting involved with anyone, and says she doesn't want to be married again. I'll bet she doesn't. I mean, she'll not want them getting half of whatever she manages to get out of ex-husband Paul McCartney, will she?
Here's what she told some TV show called 'Extra': "I haven't got a lover. At the moment, I'm focusing on my daughter. It's totally made up."
She added that she was surprised by how much support she's received lately: "I didn't know that many people cared. You get to know who your friends are and I haven't lost any friends."
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SHARON NOT IMPRESSED BY TARRANT'S OZZY REMARK
Sharon Osbourne wasn't too impressed when Chris Tarrant made a joke about her husband's famously slurred speech. Actually, I think she called him a cunt. Tarrant, a guest on the X Factor, was chatting to Osbourne during an off-air break on the show. He joked of Ozzy Osbourne "Your husband's very articulate, isn't he?" To which Sharon responded: "Don't you dare diss my fucking family. How dare you say those fucking things - at least I'm in a fucking marriage".
An insider on the show told the Sunday Mirror: "Chris was clearly being rude about Ozzy and made a sarcastic comment. Sharon is notoriously protective of all her family and couldn't ignore a comment like that. Tensions are running very high on the show. It seems Chris just said the wrong thing at the wrong time and had to face Sharon's wrath."