| CMU Daily - on the inside Thursday 31st January |
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In today's CMU Daily:
- Britney news, including some just in
- Campbell's lawyers release long statement on UB40 management issues
- The kids are still filesharing
- New isn't always best you know
- Crowd get restless at Big Day Out
- Kooks bassist quits
- Lil Wayne denies drug use
- West's arrogance justified, says Rowland
- Winehouse won't play Grammys
- Sugababe forced to leave home
- The Enemy not impressed with Arctic Monkeys two
- Bauhaus to release new album
- Hype Machine album top ten
- Queen musical sequel planned
- Madonna richest woman in music
- Utah Saints are back
- New Camden night with more power
- Tindersticks MySpace
- Single review: Alice & The Majesty - I Could Love You
- Paul Young involved in latest new download store
- MIDEM attendance down slightly
- Warner Chappell announce pan-Euro licences
- V2/Coop announce Japanese partners
- NME and MSN partner
- Girl Aloud leaves marital home
- Russell Brand pees in cup, throws nuts
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TOP BIT
Happy birthday to you. Happy birthday to you. Happy birthday to Caro CMU. Happy birthday to you. What, that's it for the Top Bit today? Yes, we're very very busy. I mean, there's that birthday cake to eat for starters.
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JOBS N STUFF
PART-TIME MUSIC VACANCY
We are looking for a dynamic, self motivated individual with previous sales experience to generate advertising sales on our music website http://www.3barfire.com. Relevant experience is essential and you will need to have a proven track record. You must also have an excellent and confident telephone manner. This is an ideal job for that sparkly individual who loves new media and/or music. A large part of the role is developing relationships with brand managers and media buyers to develop advertising business. The ideal candidate will be able to demonstrate a successful track record with knowledge of our key target sectors. This is a part time vacancy. Salary dependent on experience with generous commission. Think you fit the bill? Then email [email protected] and tell us why we should take you on!
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SNAP OF THE DAY: IN CASE OF FIRE
In Case Of Fire won MTV's Spanking New 2008 Award on Tuesday, which surely merits the general public (who vote for the award) a great big hurrah for realising that there are further hopes in music this year than the droves of (albeit often excellent) female singer-songwriters heading up the charts. Anyway, more to the point, the unsigned Northern Irish three piece garnered a third of the 50,000 votes cast, clearly charming enough fans with their At The Drive In-style noise mongering. 'This Time We Stand' is perhaps their signature track, a brilliant burst of melodic post-hardcore that has already set many tongues wagging within the industry, as well as metal bible Kerrang!, who have been gushing in their praise of the band. Look out for our review of their London gig supporting Queens Of The Stone Age on the 11th of Feb, or head out to see them yourself one of the few February dates. Here's your starting point...
http://www.myspace.com/incaseoffireuk
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BRITNEY NEWS, INCLUDING SOME JUST IN
According to breaking news reports, Britney Spears has been taken to hospital in an ambulance from her LA home. No details have been officially disclosed, but according to the BBC, a police officer explained that Spears was being taken to a facility to "get help", which certainly implies that she's been sectioned.
According to celebrity news site TMZ, she was taken to the UCLA Medical Center, and "placed on a 5150 hold", which apparently means she is considered to constitute a danger to herself and to others. An update explains that the plot to have her removed to the hospital was actually hatched some days ago, but only finally executed early this morning. The story goes on to say that the singer went quietly, and was accompanied by her mother Lynne and boyfriend Adnan Ghalib.
After that dramatic breaking news, all else seems a bit tame, but Britney's legal battles continue, of course, and the latest episode apparently concerns a motion filed by Mark Kaplan, Kevin Federline's lawyer, asking that the singer pays his attorney fees. A hearing has been set for 10 Mar to deal with the motion, which, if granted, could force Britney to pay $500,000. Don't, myself, understand why the singer would have to be responsible for these costs. Perhaps someone could enlighten me.
Finally, on the Spears front, Kylie Minogue has made some comments about the troubled pop princess, and explaining how difficult it can be to deal with fame at an early age. Comparing her own experiences with Britney's, Minogue says: "I wish someone would write a manual about fame because it's not easy. I'm always loath to say that because there are a lot more difficulties out there that people deal with every day - but when fame is handed to you, it is unique. It's not to the same extreme, but I can remember having a mini-meltdown myself - and unless you've got good people around to support you, you've got a problem".
She continued: "Who knows what is going on in her life? Britney isn't that young any more. I think she will still come back but it's like she's taken an extended holiday. Whatever help she needs, she should reach out and get it".
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CAMPBELL'S LAWYERS RELEASE LONG STATEMENT ON UB40 MANAGEMENT ISSUES
Now, let's get this clear shall we? UB40 frontman Ali Campbell is not interested in participating in a game of "media tennis" with the management of the band he is about to quit. But here's one last volley.
Legal firm Hextalls has issued a statement on behalf of the UB40 singer in response to all those various reports on their client's relationship with the band. As previously reported, the band announced last week that Campbell was quitting to pursue a solo career. Campbell then issued a statement saying he was actually quitting because of various problems he had with the way the band were being managed. The band's management then issued a statement denying there were any issues or that they had given a false reason for Campbell's decision to quit. The band's drummer, James Brown, was then also quoted as saying he was disappointed the frontman had decided to primarily communicate through his lawyers about this whole thing. Possibly in response to that, Campbell has denied that he's been primarily communicating through his lawyers, in a statement issued by, erm, his lawyers.
The legal types said this: "[We] represent Ali Campbell and have been investigating for some time the financial and other issues that have arisen regarding the business managers of UB40. Hextalls have been asked to make it clear that Ali Campbell does not intend to enter into media tennis arising out of recent media statements that have been released by others. Hextalls have been asked by Ali Campbell to confirm and clarify his position. We can confirm that Ali Campbell did not inform UB40 via Hextalls of the possibility of his departure from the band. He notified each band member personally, in November 2007, that he could no longer work with UB40's business and financial management team. Subsequently Hextalls have confirmed the position".
On the management issues, they continue: "Hextalls confirm that Ali Campbell is seeking a resolution to numerous on-going long term issues that have arisen with the business managers of UB40 and he wishes to emphasise that these issues are the real reasons which have caused Ali Campbell's departure from UB40. References to Ali Campbell leaving UB40 to pursue a solo career are erroneous and misleading. Ali Campbell's solo career has been on-going for more than 13 years. Ali Campbell has been requesting financial and other information from the business managers of UB40 for a number of years through appointed representatives and now through Hextalls. There has been a complete failure to supply any adequate financial information causing Ali Campbell to question why it is being withheld particularly when so much time has passed. It is this failure that has led to the breakdown between Ali Campbell and the business managers of UB40 and ultimately to Ali Campbell's departure".
As previously reported, Campbell is meant to be doing one last tour with the band before he quits, but the Hextalls quote has now thrown doubt on that going ahead, concluding: "Hextalls have advised Ali Campbell that the failure to supply the financial and other information is placing the forthcoming Ragamuffin Tour (of New Zealand, Australia, and the separate date in Uganda) at risk. This is particularly so in circumstances where there are still unresolved financial issues relating to the previous 2007 tours of Holland and the UK".
Finally, the statement again tries to stress that Campbell's problems are with the band's management and not his bandmates. It says: "UB40 has no creative manager and Ali Campbell's and Hextalls' requests for financial and other information have been made repeatedly to the business managers of UB40 - these business managers are not band members".
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THE KIDS ARE STILL FILESHARING
New research from NPD Group in the US says that while the kids are using paid music services quite a bit, they are also still accessing pirate sources of music at a high rate. The research reckons that 70% of US kids aged 9-14 download music at least once a month. 49% use iTunes and 16% use MySpace, but 26% also use the flagship illegal file sharing network LimeWire. NPD says parents are to blame for letting their kids to use the internet unsupervised.
NPD's Russ Crupnick told reporters: "The music industry hoped that litigation and education might encourage parents to keep better tabs on their kids' digital music activities but the truth is many kids continue to share music via P2P".
Asked for what advice he'd give the record industry based on the report, he said: "Findings in this report suggest that the industry can still do more to promote specific ways children can obtain digital music legally, through pre-paid accounts and gift cards. Another potential way to reach kids is through industry-sanctioned, ad-supported Web destinations where kids can obtain digital music safely and legally".
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NEW ISN'T ALWAYS BEST YOU KNOW
Domino Records chief Laurence Bell and AEG UK's MD Jessica Koravos have both urged the music industry to resist the lure of the new, because we're in danger of having loads of brand new bands and loads of ageing rockers, but no middle career bands. Speaking at MIDEM, Bell said that labels should be more willing to make a sustained investment in their artists, helping them develop their own careers past albums one and two, rather than always spending their cash trying to sign the next big thing. And he's right you know. Koravos observed that the big live music arenas of the world that are doing so well are mainly being filled by artists in their 40s, 50s and 60s, and that not enough mid-career artists are being developed to take their place. Admitting that the live sector shouldn't solely rely on the recorded music sector to do that developing, she said AEG is considering ways to get more involved in artists' career development, either through an artist relations division like that being set up by their competitors Live Nation, or by forging closer relationships with existing record labels.
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CROWD GET RESTLESS AT BIG DAY OUT
A little too much raging perhaps. Rage Against The Machine had their set at the Big Day Out festival in Melbourne cut short after the crowd watching them got a bit restless. Reports suggest that audience members had to be pulled out of the mosh pit after the crowd surged forward, and also that at least two festival-goers were injured after falling off marquees that they had climbed on top of to get a better view. Needless to say questions have been asked about security at the event, which was being staged at a new venue this year. But Big Day Out bosses insisted "everything went well" telling reporters: "Like any first-time event, we'll take stock and improvements will be made for the following year."
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KOOKS BASSIST QUITS
The Kooks have lost their bassist, Max Rafferty, which seems rather careless. There's the potential to say something bitchy about Luke Pritchard here I'm sure, but we're above all that.
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LIL WAYNE DENIES DRUG USE
Rapper Lil Wayne, arrested on drugs charges last week in Arizona, as previously reported, has said that he isn't addicted to drugs, because being a rap star is his natural high. The hip-hopper was apparently responding to internet rumours about his allegedly extravagant drug use, and told his audience at a gig in Richmond, Virginia on Saturday: "A junkie can't do what the fuck I do. I try to tell them. I am the ultimate high, understand? I am my drug, you understand me?"
Perhaps he can tell it to the judge. For, despite the fact that Lil Wayne - real name Dwayne Michael Carter - is on this permanent high, the fact is, he was found in possession of narcotics and drug paraphernalia and is scheduled to appear in court in Wellton, Arizona on 12 Feb for his preliminary hearing. It's not the first time he's faced drugs charges, and is also currently due to answer charges of illegal gun possession in a New York court on 25 Feb.
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WEST'S ARROGANCE JUSTIFIED, SAYS ROWLAND
Kelly Rowland thinks that there's nothing wrong with being arrogant like Kanye West is, if you've got the talent to back it up, and says that she wishes she had some of his chutzpah. The former Child of Destiny says: "People may see him go on stage and act cocky and arrogant but he's just honest, like: 'I'm good and I know I'm good'. What's wrong with that? I wouldn't have 'Stronger' as my ringtone if he wasn't. In fact more artists should have a bit more of Kanye's self-belief. I know I'd like to have a piece of that".
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WINEHOUSE WON'T PLAY GRAMMYS
Amy Winehouse's dad Mitch has said she won't be performing at this year's Grammy Awards ceremony, even though when she pulled out of the NRJ Awards last week the official statement said the Grammy appearance was still on. Mr Amy is clear that he doesn't want her to go, despite being nominated in six categories, saying: "I'm not sure the Grammys are going to happen. I don't want her to go - I think it might be a bit too soon for her. She's not well - that's why she's in rehab. But she's doing OK. She is getting good treatment".
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SUGABABE FORCED TO LEAVE HOME
Sugababe Amelle Berrabah says she's leaving her home town of Aldershot to move to London because of rows and feuds over her relationship with boyfriend Freddie Fuller. It's hard to know exactly what's gone on here, but reports suggest that rows with family and friends are at the heart of her decision to leave, but other incidents have occurred. On Christmas Eve Fuller nearly lost his arm after being the subject of a brutal machete attack, whilst Berrabah herself was arrested ten days later, as previously reported, accused of causing damage to a neighbour's car following a disagreement.
Berrabah says: "I can't take this anymore. I've been so down about it. Freddie and I are leaving Aldershot for good. I can't trust some people who I thought were my friends. It's taken me two years to realise this. But I don't want to get into trouble anymore. I love being in the band and if people are jealous, I don't want anything to do with them".
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THE ENEMY NOT IMPRESSED WITH ARCTIC MONKEYS TWO
They know how to win friends, The Enemy, don't they? Now they've been dissing Arctic Monkeys. Here's what frontman Tom Clarke had to say about their second album when interviewed by BBC 6Music: "That first video was out - 'I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor' - y'know, I looked at that and I thought: 'There's a bunch of working class lads from a proper town playing a tune like they mean it'. It was quality and I went out and bought the first album and I thought it was top - some really good songs on there. [But] I was bitterly disappointed when I got the second - it was just dull. Certain aspects of their music on the second album, and certain aspects of their personas in the press, are just dull".
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BAUHAUS TO RELEASE NEW ALBUM
Bauhaus are set to release their first album for twenty-four years, an LP which they say will also be the group's final work together. 'Go Away White', recorded by the original line up of David J, Peter Murphy, Kevin Haskins and Daniel Ash, will be out on 10 Mar. David J says: "Our chemistry was so volatile we actually split up. The record definitely feels like a final statement".
Explaining that it was their 2005 set at Coachella that got them going on the new material, he continued: "After Coachella we put in on the back burner and worked on new songs whenever the opportunity presented itself. We snatched time between tours and then we spent 18 days in the studio doing rough mixes".
David J's other band Love And Rockets are playing at this year's Coachella Festival in April.
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HYPE MACHINE ALBUM TOP TEN
Online musical jukebox The Hype Machine has published a top ten of 2007 albums based on the votes of the site's regular music bloggers, and Radiohead came top with 'In Rainbows'. Here's the full list:
1. Radiohead - In Rainbows
2. Arcade Fire - Neon Bible
3. The National - Boxer
4. LCD Soundsystem - Sound of Silver
5. Spoon - Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga
6. M.I.A. - Kala
7. Panda Bear - Person Pitch
8. Feist - The Reminder
9. Of Montreal - Hissing Fauna, Are You The Destroyer?
10. Okkervil River - The Stage Names
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QUEEN MUSICAL SEQUEL PLANNED
Brian May has revealed the joyous news that a second Queen musical is in the pipeline, telling fans in a message via his website that the band members are set to work with Ben Elton, who wrote the book for 'We Will Rock You', on a sequel to the sell-out West End show. "We have been talking about it for a long time", he wrote, "now Ben has supplied us with a fabulous script the train is rolling! Watch out!"
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MADONNA RICHEST WOMAN IN MUSIC
According to Forbes.com's list of the top twenty 'cash queens of music', Madonna is number one, which is no great surprise. The singer earned $72million between June 2006 and June 2007 through her Confessions tour, album sales, her H&M fashion line and other merchandising. Barbra Streisand is second with $60million, largely due to her recent comeback tour in the US, and third place goes to Celine Dion, who made $40 million partly thanks no doubt to her five year run in Vegas.
The rest of the list goes like this: Shakira ($38 million), Beyonce ($27 million), Gwen Stefani ($26 million), Christina Aguilera ($20 million), Faith Hill ($19 million), the Dixie Chicks ($18 million). Mariah Carey ($13 million), Hilary Duff, Avril Lavigne and Martina McBride ($12 million each), Britney Spears ($8 million), Carrie Underwood and Nelly Furtado ($7 million each); Fergie, Jennifer Lopez and Sheryl Crow ($6 million each) and Norah Jones ($5.5 million).
The list includes money earned from all kinds of merchandising and perfume selling shenanigans, which is why people who don't seem to have done much music-ing of late are on there.
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UTAH SAINTS ARE BACK
Utah saints, Utah Saints, Utah Saints, U-U-U-Utah Saints! Oh, you know, I woke up this morning and I just knew that something good was going to happen, and I thought it must be because it's my birthday, but actually, my birthday's been a bit non so far, so this must be it. Utah Saints are back with 'Something Good 08', out 17 Mar and it's already on the Radio 1 playlist and being played by all of the big radio DJ types.
So, good news, they're back from oblivion. Actually, not really. Tim Garbutt and Jez Willis have been very, very busy producing and remixing as Beatvandals, DJing and running club night Sugarbeat during the last few years. But now they're working on new Utah Saints material and playing gigs across the UK. For more info, see http://www.myspace.com/utahsaints or contact Alchemy PR for press stuff.
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NEW CAMDEN NIGHT WITH MORE POWER
You might think I'm plugging this because the person who sent the press release mentioned how they were a long-term CMU Daily reader. But no, that's not it. It was the mention of T'Pau in the press release - and as I may have mentioned the other day, I'm seriously back into Carol Decker et al after downloading 'China In Your Hand' and 'Heart & Soul' off iTunes the other day. This is Ultimate Power, a club night from the Stash DJs dedicated to the power ballad, due to take place at The Monarch in Camden tomorrow, 1 Feb, from 8pm to 1am. Bonnie Tyler, Cher, Meatloaf, T'Pau and all their ilk are on the agenda. And it's just four quid to get in.
The aforementioned press release says this: "There used to be a time when big choruses, big hair and big emotions used to be a pre-requisite in any chart bothering smash on the hit parade. This was the time of the Power Ballad. And this is what tonight is all about. In a time when any idiot with a guitar, trilby hat, barely two chords and a massive dose of mediocrity can get on the cover of NME, this night is what you need in your life right now!"
For more info email [email protected]
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TINDERSTICKS MYSPACE
A quick one this - those looking for official Tindersticks news (remember we mentioned they have a new album yesterday?) should go to http://www.myspace.com/tindersticksofficial and not whatever MySpace address we published yesterday.
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SINGLE REVIEW: Alice & The Majesty - I Could Love You (Sunday Best)
For a woman with folk credibility, Alice McLaughlin manages to sound surprisingly modern. The electric overtures she achieves using layered guitars and bass provide the true climax and emotional centre for her second track with Sunday Best, and they contrast her grainy, wizened voice with youthful exuberance. 'I Could Love You' is a bittersweet love song almost child-like in its naivete. Yet, despite its ultimate vulnerability, it leaves an upbeat impression on listeners. Reminiscent of singer-songstresses like Regina Spektor and Tori Amos, the main attraction of Alice's track isn't the lyrics, which undoubtedly form the safe foundations on which her song is built, but her instruments, which evoke mellow tension and authentic emotion. This type of music never strives for commercial success for the sake of success, but it will find receptive audiences as deconstructed pop-rock and country-folk come into their own as legitimate crossbred genres. EO
Release Date: 4 February 2008
Press Contact: Stone Immaculate [CP, RP, NP] Get Involved [CR, RR, NR]
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PAUL YOUNG INVOLVED IN LATEST NEW DOWNLOAD STORE
Paul Young has announced he is making a new download store called Etopia Music his online home, I'm guessing he left his hat there. As far as I can make out, this new digital music operation works a bit like TuneTribe or 7Digital's IndieStore in that it will enable unsigned acts to sell their digital music alongside established artists. The main difference is that Etopia Music can put quotes from co-founder Young on their press releases.
Here's what he says: "The music business is all about getting your talent noticed, so Etopia Music sells new and unsigned acts alongside the biggest names. We are using the power of the internet to make it easier for bands to connect with new fans and hopefully earn some money from their music. Acts from anywhere on the planet can upload their music and have it for sale within minutes, profiled alongside major artists. Etopia Music can help fill the gap between the record industry's narrow commercial focus and the vastness of the web and social networking sites because we are dedicated to giving new or unsigned talent a break on their own terms".
Etopia will be selling all sorts of music in a DRM free format - meaning that while the 'supporting new talent' component of the service is admirable, of more interest is probably which of the major labels are supplying them with content. While all four majors have now announced they will be selling music DRM-free this year, in the case of Warner and SonyBMG that pledge has so far been limited to Amazon's US based download store.
For a brief moment you might think Etopia is also stocking SonyBMG tracks as MP3 - with Leona Lewis and Elvis Presley on the home page - but it seems the Elvis tracks are from a small independent release, and the Leona Lewis tracks are from her 'alternative' debut album 'Best Kept Secret', which consists of early tracks recorded before the chart topper's X-Factor win, and which were recently put on sale by the management company she dumped after her involvement on the TV talent show - UEG - the release of which has reportedly pissed off Simon Cowell big time (lawyers at Cowell's SonyBMG imprint are rumoured to be on the case).
Other things of note about Etopia are that it will be selling higher quality 320kbps MP3s, that a variable pricing system will let artists set rates from 50p upwards, and that artists will get 80% of revenues. Oh, and Young will be listening to tracks uploaded by unsigned artists and compliling a regular 'talent chart'. And for those who like to know the corporate set up - Etopia has a number of backers other than Young, including dance music download set up Audiojelly.
Etopia's MD Ricky Simmonds adds: "We believe most consumers want access to high-quality legal downloads and in return they can play their music on any device they like, without complicated and discouraging restrictions. Both established and unsigned acts can sell their music on Etopia Music free of copyright protection and hopefully increase revenues and their audience at the same time".
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MIDEM ATTENDANCE DOWN SLIGHTLY
Organisers of this week's MIDEM music business junket have admitted delegate numbers were down 200, despite a growing number of people from the live, digital and management sectors now flocking to the traditionally more record industry focused event. However, Music Week quote MIDEM director Dominique Leguern as saying the the fall is to be expected "considering what is happening in the industry". Still, 9100 delegates did attend, with some 4550 companies from 91 countries represented, which is quite a lot.
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WARNER CHAPPELL ANNOUNCE PAN-EURO LICENCES
Talking of MIDEM, another story from there for you. Publishing major Warner/Chappell is the latest to announce the launch of pan-European licences. It has said it has signed deals with three separate collecting societies all of which will now offer the pan-European licences. The societies chosen are Sweden's STIM, Germany's GEMA and the good old MCPS-PRS here in the UK. EMI Music Publishing already offer pan-European licences, while both Universal Music Publishing and independent publishers Peermusic announced similar arrangements at MIDEM this week. The aim of the pan-European arrangements is to make things easier for digital music services looking to launch Europe wide music services, and also to create a more competitive market place in the collecting society sector.
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V2/COOP ANNOUNCE JAPANESE PARTNERS
V2 and their indie label network Cooperative Music, both now owned by Universal Music of course, have announced a long-term licensing agreement with Japan's Hostess Entertainment which will see the Japanese outfit market and distribute music from V2 and Coop affiliated labels like Wichita Recordings, Bella Union, City Slang and Dance To The Radio in the country. The new deal replaces a previous arrangement between V2 Japan and Japanese music firm Columbia Music Entertainment (never to be confused with SonyBMG's Columbia Records). Hostess exists to help other labels get a foot in the Japanese market, with Domino and PIAS being among their existing clients.
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NME AND MSN PARTNER
NME and MSN have announced a partnership which will see the former provide the latter with content for its online music channel. Basically that means MSN carrying NME.com news and reviews, though the Microsoft web platform says they hope to develop the partnership in other ways too.
Confirming the partnership, MSN music manager Mike Lok told CMU: "Our new partnership with NME.COM will mean there's even richer content on MSN Music and ensure it's a key destination for all serious music fans everywhere. Linking up with a world famous music website like NME.COM is another way for us to broaden our content as well as our reach and make MSN an even more informed home on the web for our audience".
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GIRL ALOUD LEAVES MARITAL HOME
Cheryl Cole out of Girls Aloud has moved out of her marital home because of the kiss-and-tell stories about her husband, footballer Ashley Cole, that hit the tabloids last week. The Mirror claims that the singer needs time alone to consider whether she wants to stay with her husband following those apparent revelations. Despite initially vowing to stand by her man, Cheryl apparently said: "I can't take any more. This is a public humiliation".
A 'friend' explained: "She is finding it harder and harder to look him in the eye. Cheryl needs some time apart from Ashley. She is going away for a few days so she can decide what to do".
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RUSSELL BRAND PEES IN CUP, THROWS NUTS
According to reports, Russell Brand peed in a paper cup during the course of his Radio 2 show last week, claiming that he had forgotten where the toilets were. A source revealed to The Sun that "he just whipped out his Johnson and took a whaz into this beaker," before reportedly throwing pistachio nuts at the no-doubt traumatised technical staff.
A spokesperson for Radio 2 confirmed: "Russell did urinate in a cup in the studio. Someone has shown him where the toilet is".