| CMU Daily - on the inside Thursday 21st February |
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In today's CMU Daily:
- Lots of Brits nonsense
- More on News Corp's download ambitions
- New Thriller not eligible for US album chart
- 50 Cent settles over snapper fracas
- Britney hit and run case postponed
- Eminem's book - in the pipeline but no release date
- Freebass announce frontman
- Lanois on new U2
- Turner's side project readies album
- We Are Scientists on stuff
- Cheap Hotel single, launch, free download
- Music exhibition looks to involve new bands
- Hall & Oates to get BMI icon award
- Line up out for Teenage Cancer Trust shows
- Delays added to Wireless bill
- Single Review: Cut Off Your Hands - Oh Girl
- Hendrix company wins covermount lawsuit
- Disney renegotiate EMI distribution deal
- Townhouse assets for sale
- Muller leaves GCap
- The Hits to become 4music
- Reznor on TVT fate
- Is Brits no-show a sign of Girl Aloud on her way out?
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TOP BIT - WIN AN AIM SYNC GUIDE
As you know, the Association Of Independent Music recently launched a brand new 'e-guide' to all things to do with Synchronisation Licensing - ie the licensing of music by labels for use in adverts, games, films, TV shows or other such what not. It's an increasingly important part of the music industry, of course - with AIM reckoning that the licensing of music to TV and film alone generate £25 million of revenues for the record labels. And that's before you consider the role synchronisation has had in recent years in launching new talent into the mainstream, especially indie talent. The guide offers anyone in music - label owner, song publisher, artist manager, independent artist - all the essential info on the synchronisation licensing business plus a directory of over 100 key contacts.
The e-guide is free to AIM members, and it's available to everyone else for £40 via this link: http://www.musicindie.com/306.asp?sub=General%20Resources. However, we here at CMU have five copies to give away to Daily readers - one each day this week. Each day we are asking a sync related question, and the first person out of the hat with the right answer gets a free copy. And well done to Guillaume from Kayak Music who gets a copy of the guide for telling us the Les Rythmes Digitales track used in the Citroen ad was 'Jacques Your Body (Make Me Sweat)'.
Here is today's question. To enter all you have to do is email the answer to this question to [email protected] by 4pm today - we'll pick out a winner and tell you the answer tomorrow. Easy.
QUESTION: Gaming giant Electronic Arts (or EA) joined together with which Vancouver based independent label and management company to form the music company Artwerk?
Email your answer to [email protected] by 4pm today to be in with a chance of winning the e-guide.
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JOBS N STUFF
OUTPOST PLUGGER
Outpost is a successful music and events PR agency based in London. We currently have a vacancy for a radio plugger with a minimum of 1 year's experience. A varied role, the successful candidate will be looking after key radio projects, while assisting in the area of TV plugging.
You will be hardworking, motivated and intelligent with first-class writing skills and computer literate. An outstanding knowledge of cutting edge music is fundamental to this role, and you will have a bulging book of contacts. With a flexible attitude in terms of out of normal hours work, and an eye for detail, you will be a confident, team-player who would relish an opportunity to grow and develop with a young, dynamic and fast moving company.
Please apply via e-mail with CV and cover letter to [email protected] explaining why we're right for each other. Salary dependent on experience. Please put 'Outpost Job Vacancy' in the subject line.
DIGITAL MARKETING INTERN
Live Nation is looking for a Digital Marketing intern to assist the Digital Marketing Manager in the promotion of all of Live Nation's tours and festivals including O2 Wireless Festival, Download Festival and Hard Rock Calling. This post will look to start late March/early April 2008 for around 9 months.
We're looking for someone with a real interest in the digital arena who knows their way around MySpace, Facebook and Bebo etc and keen to learn about online PR and marketing. You'll be taking direction from the Digital Marketing Manager, helping to maximise as much online coverage and exposure as possible.
We're looking for a team player with a passion for music and all things digital, with great organisational and communication skills and attention to detail. This role has the possibility to lead to further opportunities at the end of the placement period.
Please send cv and covering letter to [email protected] Only successful applicants will be contacted. Closing date for applications is Friday 29 Feb 08.
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GO ONLINE WITH CMU...
Mystery Jet William Rees on the inspiration for their new single 'Young Love': "It's a very simple tune about the ever common topic of love. Well perhaps more lust".
William answers CMU's Same Six Questions online this week - www.cmumusicnetwork.co.uk
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CMU RECOMMENDED
REMIX ALL-NIGHTER - PLUS SPECIAL OFFER FOR STUDENTS
The next CMU recommended Remix All-Nighter takes over the seOne Club at London Bridge next month for a brilliant pre-Easter party.
There'll be three rooms of fun. In the Remix room you'll get live sets from The Whip and Vitalic, plus Remix chief Eddy TM on the decks and VJ Fay Buzzard doing visual stuff. Next up will be a room hosted by Orbital co-founder and general dance music pioneer Phil Hartnoll, named for and showcasing his new venture Long Range. And then, to top off all that, there will be a whole room of all things Ninja Tune, featuring no less than DJ Food & DK, Coldcut (Jon Moore DJ Set), Bonobo, Daedelus, The Qemists and VJ Mox. Oh, and they've just added Busy P (Ed Banger) to the bill too. This night is going to be storming.
It all takes place on 20 Mar. Full info from: http://www.myspace.com/theremix
SPREAD THE WORD! SPECIAL STUDENT DISCOUNT FROM CMU
CMU and Remix All-nighter promoters Leyline have teamed up to offer students a special price for the night of just £7. To get the discount you need a special code for when you order your tickets, and you can get the code by emailing your name and university name to [email protected] But do it quick - there are a limited number of discounted tickets available.
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SNAP OF THE DAY: MEAT FOR A DARK DAY
With the focus having moved away from the Sheffield indie machine for the moment, there seems no better time to revisit the Steel City's vast musical offerings, which is exactly what we're doing with today's SNAP, with the macabre-sounding Meat For A Dark Day. Pitched somewhere between a smoother-voiced Nick Cave and defunct noise mongerers Mclusky, the two songs on their MySpace reflect their ability to easily switch from foot-stomping blues rock ('Vanity Unfair') to balladic, duck referencing acoustic ditties ('Three Mallards'). With such talent to hand, I hope they return with some new material soon, particularly given that their MySpace doesn't seem to have been updated since their single release in July last year.
http://www.myspace.com/meatforadarkday
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LOTS OF BRITS NONSENSE
I think there should be some kind of new rule at the Brits that Lifetime Achievement winners always finale their sets with a song that primarily consists of "na, na, na, na", it means even the most corporate junket of the guests can join in for a rousing sing song at the end. It would also have the happy side effect of making every artist to ensure they have at least one "na, na, na, na" song in their oeuvre, which wouldn't be a bad thing.
Consummate professional Paul McCartney has the classic "na, na, na, na" song of course, and brought last night's Brits bash to a rousing close with crowd pleaser 'Hey Jude'. The lifetime achievement finale was the highlight of the show for me - and as it reached its peak you couldn't help thinking that, given the unmentioned divorce proceedings that preceded the awards show, everyone in the enthusiastic Brits audience were thinking "go for it Macca, fuck the whiny bitch". Or perhaps that was just me.
Other than Macca, ownership of the night, in the sense of "the night belonged to", could probably be split between Take That, who rounded off their sensational comeback with two prizes, including one for Best Live Act; the Arctic Monkeys, who proved they are still kinds of all things indie by taking the Best Group and Best Album prizes; and Amy Winehouse who didn't win anything but managed to stand out simply by showing up.
For those that like there awards coverage in the form of a list, here's the winners...
British Live Act: Take That
Critics' Choice Award: Adele.
British Breakthrough Act: Mika
International Male Solo Artist: Kanye West
British Male Solo Artist: Mark Ronson
International Female Solo Artist: Kylie Minogue
International Group: Foo Fighters
British Female Solo Artist: Kate Nash
International Album: Foo Fighters - Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace
British Group: Arctic Monkeys
British Single: Take That - Shine
British Album: Arctic Monkeys - Favourite Worst Nightmare
Outstanding Contribution To Music: Paul McCartney
Make of all that what you will. Quote of the night comes from British born, New York raised, LA based Mark Ronson, who said after winning Best Male: "I've never felt so British or male in my entire life".
PS: Beth Ditto's collab with Mika was rather good also - how can 'Standing In The Way Of Control', one of the most overexposed indie hits of 2007, still sound so flippen marvellous?
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MORE ON NEWS CORP'S DOWNLOAD AMBITIONS
More on News Corp's plans to enter the download market. Well, not much more. But some more. As previously reported, the Rupert Murdoch owned media firm is reportedly in talks with the major record companies about launching their own download platform, most likely under the MySpace banner. The new store would replace the existing low key download service within the social networking monolith, and would aim to follow Amazon in selling digital rights management free music from all four major record companies and the indies.
A report on Digital Music News confirms the new service would have an advertising funded component, revenues from which would be shared with the majors over and above their income from actual download sales. It is thought the service would expand the existing facility whereby MySpace users can stream songs from MySpace Music through their own pages. The streaming widget would carry advertising, plus link users to the download store where they could buy the tracks. A stand alone version of the store is also anticipated.
All that said, DMN reckons all planning is at an early stage, and that there is still a lot to play for - and some are talking about some collaboration between News Corp and Amazon regarding a MySpace download service. Meanwhile others are questioning whether that previously reported ongoing legal stand off between MySpace and Universal Music (over the ease with which punters can post unlicensed music on MySpace pages) could hamper News Corp's plans to enter the download market with DRM-free content from all four majors, though others say an out of court settlement on that dispute could be part of any deal in relation to the store.
So, like I say, more news, but not much more.
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NEW THRILLER NOT ELIGIBLE FOR US ALBUM CHART
US chart bosses have said that the re-release of Michael Jackson's 'Thriller', which was the highest new entry in the UK album chart last weekend, won't be eligible for the main Billboard album countdown because they consider it to be a 'catalogue album', despite the additional remix tracks.
Billboards Director Of Charts Geoff Mayfield admitted that there had been much chatter between his organisation and SonyBMG about the status of the 25th anniversary re-release, which would go in at number two in the Billboard chart based on its current US sales, but that execs at the chart enterprise have decided to stick by their rule that reissues do not count in the main chart.
Undercover quote Mayfield thus: "SonyBMG stated a strong case and we did consider it. I took to heart their comments and then I took it to retail. The response I got overwhelmingly is that it is a catalogue album and belongs on the catalogue chart. It is being worked in Sony through Legacy which is their catalogue division. The core of the album is a 25 year old recording. The addition of new material doesn't make it different".
He added that it would be unfair to make an exception for the Jacko album when similar reissues in the past have not been eligible for the main album chart - eg a recent reissue of Beck's 'Odelay' which also featured new remixes.
Undercover point out that last year's Traveling Wilburys reissue package was deemed eligible for the album chart, but Mayfield says that that was totally different. He told the website: "Wilburys was the entire Wilburys output in one package which had never been done before. If 'Thriller' and 'Off The Wall' were combined into one package then that would qualify and would have been charted".
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50 CENT SETTLES OVER SNAPPER FRACAS
50 Cent has reportedly reached an out of court settlement over allegations he assaulted a photographer back in 2003. The New York Post's Deputy Photo Assignment editor Jim Alcorn said he sustained neck and jaw injuries after Fiddy lashed out at him after he tried to take a picture of the hip hopper as he left a jewellery shop. Alcorn sued the star, but his lawyer confirmed to the Post this week: "A settlement was reached and all parties are satisfied". A spokesman for Fiddy added: "It's a legal issue that's been settled".
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BRITNEY HIT AND RUN CASE POSTPONED
Britney Spears' ongoing court case regarding that hit and run incident in LA last August, when Brit hit a parked car and drove off without notifying the owner, has been put on hold because the judge overseeing it doesn't think Spears is capable of facing the charges. Los Angeles Superior Court Judge TK Herman says he does not believe Spears could provide a deposition or signed declaration in relation to the incident because he doesn't think she is "qualified or capable of entering into a binding agreement". According to the Associated Press, the matter will be reassessed on 20 Mar.
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EMINEM'S BOOK - IN THE PIPELINE BUT NOT RELEASE DATE
Eminem's PR has commented on the reports earlier in the week that the hip hopper is working on a sort of autobiography. Publishers Orion had indicated the book, which is set to feature photos, sketches and journal entries, would be published in October, but publicist Dennis Dennehy has disputed that.
Speaking to AllHipHop.com, he said: "While there is a book in the works from Eminem in which he details certain aspects of his personal and professional life, the book is still in the process of being written and edited. There is no firm release date scheduled, although it is anticipated to arrive in the latter part of this year."
On the Orion announcement regarding an October publication date, he continued: "It's unfortunate that someone who does not have intimate knowledge of the book felt compelled to jump the gun on announcing it by delivering partial and inaccurate information".
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FREEBASS ANNOUNCE FRONTMAN
Ah, Haven, remember them? No? Well, the frontman of the Cornwall-via-Manchester indie band has been announced as the singer for Freebass, that much previously reported new bass heavy project from The Smiths' Andy Rourke, New Order's Peter Hook and The Stone Roses/Primal Scream's Mani.
It wasn't clear if the band would have a permanent frontman after Ian Brown, Billy Corgan, Happy Mondays' Rowetta, Tim Burgess and Liam Gallagher were all said to be providing guest vocals on Freebass recordings. But Hookie has confirmed that Haven's Gary Briggs will be taking on the main singer role.
Speaking to BBC 6Music he said: "We have had trouble getting it together and I have had a lot of trouble finding a vocalist and we now have another one. This is about our 15th one".
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LANOIS ON NEW U2
Producer Daniel Lanois, who has been sharing production duties on the new U2 longplayer with Brian Eno, has been telling reporters how brilliant the new album from Bono et al is sounding He told Billboard: "We're going to try and break new sonic ground and deliver a masterpiece. The sleeves are rolled up. Bono is all charged up with a lyrical angle. There's so much material. When you get Eno and I and those guys in the room, before lunch there's like eight things". Work is continuing on the album in Dublin.
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TURNER'S SIDE PROJECT READIES ALBUM
The first single from chief Arctic Monkey Alex Turner's side project, The Last Shadow Puppets, will be released in April. It will be the title track of an album to be called 'The Age Of The Understatement', which will feature songs classified by names like these:
The Age Of The Understatement
Standing Next To Me
Calm Like You
Separate And Ever Deadly
The Chamber
Only The Truth
My Mistakes Were Made For You
Black Plant
I Don't Like You Any More
In My Room
Meeting Place
The Time Has Come Again
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WE ARE SCIENTISTS ON STUFF
We Are Scientists' Keith Murray has told Gigwise that he thought Radiohead's pay what you want promotion for the digital release of 'In Rainbows' was brill, but that he's not sure it would work for his band. Participating in one of the website's 'Tuborg webchats', he said: "I like Radiohead's new system, but it pretty much would only work for a band that was big enough to not need any financial or promotional assistance, like them".
Asked about the current presidential primaries in the US he suggest himself as a candidate for the big job, observing: "I want to be president because I've heard the breakfast in bed service is spectacular", while on the current American pres he said: "Bush should have been put in a box and thrown into a river".
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CHEAP HOTEL SINGLE, LAUNCH, FREE DOWNLOAD
You know, I'm quite liking Cheap Hotel's stuff, even though I don't think I've ever got round to mentioning them before. They list their genres on MySpace as being 'classical' and 'punk', which poses more questions than it answers, but they are well worth checking out. And you can do so for free, either by checking their MySpace, or by visiting the URL below where you will find a free download of their song 'The 54th' remixed by Mr Hudson of 'And The Library', who this trio have toured with in the past. New Cheap Hotel single 'New York' is out on 3 Mar, and the band will have a launch party at the Hoxton Bar And Kitchen on the same day.
http://www.myspace.com/wearecheaphotel
http://www.cheaphotelmusic.com/freedownload.html
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MUSIC EXHIBITION LOOKS TO INVOLVE NEW BANDS
Organisers of a music exhibition in Liverpool are offering local new bands the chance to get involved. The Beat Goes On exhibition will take place at the World Museum in Liverppol from 12 Jul, and will chart the city's music heritage. New bands are being encouraged to become friends of the project on a special MySpace page. All signed up bands will by listened to be the event organisers, who will publish a list of their favourite ten artists each month, on which music fans can vote for an overall favourite. All bands shortlisted will get a mention in the exhibition, while the monthly winners will feature on a digital jukebox at the museum. Bands interested in signing up should go to:
http://www.myspace.com/thebeatgoesonliverpool
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HALL & OATES TO GET BMI ICON AWARD
US royalty collecting types BMI will honour Hall And Oates at their annual Pop Awards in May by giving them the BMI Icon Award. Which is nice. For them.
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LINE UP OUT FOR TEENAGE CANCER TRUST SHOWS
While not actively touring this year, Muse have announced they will do a couple of one off gigs in 2008, and one of those will include a performance as part of Roger Daltrey's Teenage Cancer Trust concerts at the Albert Hall in April. They will play the fundraiser on Saturday 12 Apr. The Fratellis will headine on 11 Apr, while Paul Weller will do a special acoustic show with occasional collaborator and Ocean Colour Scene man Steve Craddock on 10 April. As has become the tradition, the first of the shows will be comedy focused, hosted by Mr Noel Fielding.
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DELAYS ADDED TO WIRELESS BILL
Some people think that if you slot Delays into a press release you automatically get a mention in the CMU Daily. But that's not why we're including this Wireless Festival update here. The fact it's The Hold Steady and Delays that have been added to the line up for day four of the Hyde Park festival is just a coincidence. Though it's definitely made the Sunday bit of Wireless, which is headlined by The Counting Crows, the most attractive to me. Hurrah for Delays, that's what I say.
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SINGLE REVIEW: Cut Off Your Hands - Oh Girl (Sixsevenine)
I've no idea what Radio One plays nowadays but this is the kind of stuff they should be playing. 'Oh Girl' is almost ridiculously poppy with a great big chorus which announces itself very loudly indeed and matched with some nifty power chords. It's also unashamedly romantic, talking in the archetypal language of pop, "It's been days since I held your hand you know, it feels like years if you understand." This is the New Zealand band's second single and is one of several tracks produced impeccably by Bernard Butler (someone else who knows a thing or two about choruses). This is glorious stuff; cute fresh guitar pop and I can't wait to hear some more. They should be worth catching on their current tour which they've just begun and which continues into next month. JW
Release date: 18 Feb
Press contact: Scruffybird [all]
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HENDRIX COMPANY WINS COVERMOUNT LAWSUIT
More Hendrix litigation, and the Experience Hendrix company has won its legal action against the Sunday Times in relation to a 2006 covermount. As previously reported, the Hendrix company claimed that the paper infringed its copyrights by giving away a CD of a recording of a performance by the guitar legend at the Royal Albert Hall in 1969 without their permission. The paper argued they had licensed the recording off Charly Records, and that therefore the CD was legit.
But the High Court this week found in favour of the Hendrix company, confirming the copyright in the recording did indeed belong to them, and holding the Times liable for infringement for releasing the CD - the fact Experience Hendrix raised concerns about the covermount before it was actually given away presumably prevented the Times from sidestepping liability and laying all the blame with Charly Records
The Court ruled that the Times must not profit in anyway in the future from the recording (which presumably they wouldn't anyway, it having been a one off one day promotion) and, according to Experience Hendrix's lawyers Eversheds, were told to pay the music company "substantial costs".
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DISNEY RENEGOTIATE EMI DISTRIBUTION DEAL
There has been speculation in the New York Post and FT that Disney is looking to get out of its international distribution deal with EMI, though word now has it that that is only true in the US - ie Disney will distribute future releases in the US elsewhere, but continue to use EMI outside America.
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TOWNHOUSE ASSETS FOR SALE
The TownHouse recording studios over there in Shepherd's Bush is up for sale. TownHouse, of course, was the studio operation owned by the Sanctuary Group. It had already streamlined its operation during that Sanctuary-wide era of streamlining, but relaunched at the start of last year led by producer Al Stone. But the future of the complex has been unsure since Universal's acquisition of Sanctuary, the major not seemingly having much interest in owning a studio. Music Week report that auctioneer mjQ has been hired to sell off the studio's assets.
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MULLER LEAVES GCAP
GCap have confirmed that Scott Muller, Programme Director of Capital Radio until recently, has left the radio firm and will return to Australia.
He was recruited from Australian radio station Nova two years ago by the old GCap management with a remit to revitalise the flagging London station, but was moved to a new job in the parent company after former Virgin Radio chief Paul Jackson became MD of Capital and took on a direct role in programming. It was never clear what Muller's new remit was to be, which may well be behind his decision to leave.
Muller is the latest in a series of senior execs to leave GCap since the depature of former CEO Ralph Bernard last year. As previously reported, new CEO Fru Hazlitt has just announced a radical shake up at the radio firm, which includes bailing out of the digital audio broadcasting space.
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THE HITS TO BECOME 4MUSIC
Music telly channel The Hits, formerly an EMAP station, then a JV between EMAP and Channel 4, and now a JV between Bauer and Channel 4, is likely to be rebranded as 4Music later this year. As previously reported, the music channel has started airing music programming from Channel 4 on Sundays in a 4Music strand, and word has it the channel will be rebranded under that name full time later this year. 4Music is already used for the music strands on C4's digital channel E4.
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REZNOR ON TVT FATE
So, what does former TVT signing Trent Reznor, he of Nine Inch Nails, think of the news his former label is filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection? Reznor, it should be noted, fell out big time with the US label and its founder Steve Gottlieb, going legal with the label when he tried to leave them for Interscope. On the Chapter 11 news he posted on his website: "Not all news about the music industry is bad these days".
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IS BRITS NO-SHOW A SIGN OF GIRL ALOUD ON HER WAY OUT?
Speculation is rife that the reason Girl Aloud Nadine Coyle did not join her bandmates at the Brits last night is because she is on the verge of leaving the group. The official reason for her absence was that she realised she had forgotten her passport when she got to the airport in LA. But The Sun quote a source thus: "They think she's walked out on the band... Nadine has told the girls she doesn't want to walk the red carpet or be a part of the Brits tonight so she didn't fly back. She's thrown tonight's appearance into a complete spin. It was supposed to be Cheryl Cole's big first night out since the Ashley scandal - but instead it's all about Nadine. Everyone's in panic mode - Nadine was due to be there". Of course Girls Aloud splitting stories are pretty common, so who knows if there is any truth in this one?