| CMU Daily - on the inside Wednesday 19th March |
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In today's CMU Daily:
- McCartney/Mills - full judgement published
- Japanese ISPs not about to announce new policy on P2P, though talks with music firms remain positive
- More Britney
- Four hour Radiohead remix to go on sale
- Carey catches up with the king
- Supergrass to busk in Covent Garden
- Lightspeed Champion single
- New Raconteurs out next week
- Gnarls Barkley bring forward release
- Murray responds to Juno maths slip
- Beatles song game being considered
- Kurt Cobain trainer set for release
- Groove Armada sign to Bacardi
- Nutini signed up by Puma
- Van Halen reschedules dates
- Jay-Z headlines Hove Festival
- Metallica do US in-store
- Bertelsmann CFO denies plans to sell SonyBMG stake
- Nokia appoint new global music chief
- Vodafone do Madonna deal with Warner
- New zavvi head of music
- MPs support call for local channel on Freeview
- Armani would like to woo Winehouse
- Kate Nash thinks she's better than Leona
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TOP BIT
So, I am writing my bits for the CMU Daily today in a coffee shop in Edinburgh. Hurrah for WiFi. And for us stingy types, hurrah for free WiFi. You know, I love Blur and all, but modern life isn't rubbish. It's brilliant.
Do you know how many times in the olden days I was doing business in Edinburgh and had to bully my way into friends' homes under the guise of really wanting to see them just so I could plug my laptop into their phone lines and hope they didn't notice that I was dialling-in for hours on end while I tried to put the Daily together using tedious old dial up? Many times, that's how many. But no more - now I arrive in Edinburgh, grab a booth in Black Medicine, buy a cappuccino and bam, it's as if I'm back at CMU central in Shoreditch. Hurrah.
As you can tell, I'm in a good mood this morning. I don't know why because I have about 82 million things to do before 1pm, when CMU's sister title unicornjobs.com is staging some careers workshops at Edinburgh University, but the sun is well and truly out and sunny mornings in Edinburgh remind me just why I love this slightly crazy Scottish capital.
Anyway, there's another reason for the good mood - the fact that we're just a day away from the next Remix AllNighter (back in London I should add - at the seOne Club in London Bridge) which is going to be brilliant, and not just because CMU is hosting the VIP room, though that is the cherry on top of an already delicious cake. There are more details about the Remix AllNighter below. I have four spots left on my VIP room guest list which I am going to offer, for free, to two lucky Daily readers (ie two plus ones). To win them just email [email protected] and explain why you're as lovely as a sunny morning in Edinburgh. We'll pick the winners when I get back to sunny Shoreditch in the morning.
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JOBS N STUFF
CHERRY RED RECORDS
Cherry Red Records - a West London based independent record label - have a vacancy for a role which includes running the publishing division, helping with business affairs, and putting together new catalogue release projects. Previous publishing experience is essential as is a good knowledge of the 80s, 90s, and contemporary music scene. Candidates should also have a good initiative and be able to come up with projects ideas. Please send CV and covering letter to [email protected]
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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 later this week 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 and Busy P (Ed Banger) 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. And on top of all that CMU is hosting the VIP room, with the all new CMU:DJs on the decks.
It all takes place this Thursday, 20 Mar, book your tickets here:
http://www.ticketweb.co.uk/user/?region=gb_london&
query=detail&event=252490&interface=
SPREAD THE WORD! SPECIAL STUDENT DISCOUNT FROM CMU
CMU and Remix All-nighter promoters 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: BROKEN RECORDS
Despite having only played their first London show last week at the Soho Revue Bar, there's an unbridled sense of anticipation around the potential of Edinburgh's Broken Records. Indeed, at the Soho venue there were cries from the crowd for an encore despite their support band status, an infrequent occurrence for unsigned outfits usually. The Arcade Fire would be the easiest point of reference as the 7 piece not only look like kinsmen of the Montreal noise mongerers, but also lean towards the same orchestral cacophony, complete with accordion, mandolin and glockenspiel, of course. It's brilliant, inspiring stuff, despite not being wholly original, and as lead singer Jamie bursts into Brandon Flowers-esque vocals on 'If The News Makes You Sad' there's a definite feeling that there's something special afoot. Playing London, Dublin, Edinburgh and Brighton's Great Escape Festival in the near future, make it your duty to see them live, or visit the link below today for an early taster.
http://www.myspace.com/brokenrecordsedinburgh
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MCCARTNEY/MILLS - FULL JUDGEMENT PUBLISHED
So, what did the judge overseeing the Paul McCartney/Heather Mills divorce think of the not so happy couple?
Well, Mr Justice Bennett said he thought that Macca "expressed himself moderately though at times with justifiable irritation, if not anger. He was consistent, accurate and honest".
Meanwhile, he thought the former Mrs Macca was "strong-willed and determined", that she was a "kindly person and devoted to her charitable causes", adding that "she has conducted her own case before me with a steely, yet courteous, determination". However, he went on to say that, while he had made "every allowance for the enormous strain she must have been under", that "much of her evidence, both written and oral, was not just inconsistent and inaccurate but also less than candid. Overall she was a less than impressive witness". Mills, needless to say, was not impressed with Bennett's summary.
We know all this because Mills' attempts to have Bennett's full judgement relating to the divorce case kept private were unsuccessful. As reported yesterday, all parties agreed to a summary statement regarding the divorce settlement being released on Monday but, while McCartney had requested the full ruling to be made public, Mills objected, claiming there were facts in it regarding the couple's daughter Beatrice and that publishing it would invade her privacy. However, two appeal judges disagreed and the full document was promptly issued to the press.
Among the claims made by Mills during the divorce trial which Bennett said he found it hard to accept were her statements regarding her financial situation prior to meeting McCartney. She told the court that in 1999 she owned two properties, a London penthouse worth approximately £500,000 and a Brighton property worth £250,000 - presumably a bid to show that Mills had a successful career before her marriage, which she had given up, to a certain degree, for Macca. But Bennett disputed the valuation of the London property, saying it had sold for just £385,000 in 2001, despite considerable property price rises since 1999. The Brighton property, meanwhile, had been bought by Mills after meeting McCartney in 1999.
Claims regarding Mills' savings and annual income were also disputed, with Bennett saying there was no evidence of her having, as she claimed, £2-3 million in the bank, while her tax returns did not show big earnings. He concluded: "I have to say I cannot accept the wife's case that she was wealthy and independent by the time she met the husband in the middle of 1999". Bennett also noted that, despite Mills claiming that she gave 80% of her earnings to charity even before meeting Macca, that her tax returns did not show that that was the case. He remarked: "The tax returns disclose no charitable giving at all".
As we already knew from Monday's summary judgement, Bennett also disputed Mills' calculations of McCartney's wealth, which Mills put at £800 million while Bennett reckons the real figure is closer to £400 million. The court papers show that while investments in property and art have helped Macca achieve considerable wealth and security, and his touring activity can bring in millions at a time, his income from the Beatles legacy is probably somewhat less than some have in the past assumed, which is probably not surprising given the famously bad deals done on the Beatles behalf back in the early days, and the loss of the Lennon/McCartney song catalogue to ATV in 1969, which was in turn subsequently sold to Michael Jackson in the mid-eighties. In his submission to the courts, McCartney admitted that his 2002 and 2006 solo albums were "not profitable" and that his primary source of income was live music, where fans would primarily pay to hear him play songs from his Beatles and Wings days.
As well as playing down his personal fortune, McCartney's submission to the divorce proceedings also suggested that, despite the wealth (still vast, of course, even if less than some assumed) he preferred to live a relatively modest life. The suggestion is that it was money issues that Mills and Macca first started to fall out over. One area in particular was security - something Mills stepped up considerably once married to McCartney and certainly after daughter Beatrice was born.
McCartney, it seems, didn't like excessive security arrangements, and not just because of the cost. He told the judge: "Unless on tour, my older children had very little security. They all attended local state schools. It is not healthy for a child to have security 24/7. It sets them apart from their peers and makes them an object of curiosity and ridicule. Such children live in gilded cages". Adding that he never had any security guards when living with Linda McCartney and their children because "the general farm employees kept a lookout for anything suspicious," he added: "Since the summer, I have, to my great relief, been able to revert to the security arrangements which were in force for most of my 'celebrity' life before late 2003, when Beatrice was born and when Heather began her campaign to increase security".
As previously reported, McCartney was ordered to pay Mills £24.3 million, a fifth of what she'd asked for but £10 million more than he had offered. The settlement splits up into a £14 million lump sum, an additional £2.5 million to buy a London property and £7.8 million in assets.
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JAPANESE ISPS NOT ABOUT TO ANNOUNCE NEW POLICY ON P2P, THOUGH TALKS WITH MUSIC FIRMS REMAIN POSITIVE
Those reports yesterday that four Japanese internet service providers were close to launching a system whereby they would monitor the internet use of their customers, and issue warnings to and ultimately cut off individuals who illegally share content, have been played down, though it seems that talks between the internet firms and music companies on the P2P issue are going better in Japan than elsewhere.
As previously reported, the music companies are putting increasing pressure on the ISPs to take a proactive role in policing the illegal distribution of content by their customers. That would involve introducing technology that monitors net use, and possibly introducing a 'two warnings then you're cut off' system.
The ISPs generally (especially in the US and Europe) aren't too keen on taking on such a role, although reports earlier in the week suggested that the Japanese ISPs had said they would. However, a spokesman for Japan's Telecommunications Carriers Association, which represents many of the country's internet providers, yesterday denied any such commitment had been made by their members. That said, reports continue to say that the ISPs in Japan will discuss the issue next month, and that they are planning on discussing how such monitoring could be achieved rather than ways to avoid having to do it. And according to Billboard, Yoshoio Kojima of the country's songwriter society JASRAC has confirmed that the music firms will also be take part in talks with the ISPs next month, and that the music and net players hope to form a joint committee tasked with "resolving this P2P problem".
As previously reported, although talks between the music and net firms continue in the UK, the ISPs remain resistant towards taking on any P2P policing role. The government has said that if no voluntary agreement is in place by this time next year they will legislate on the matter, forcing the ISPs to take some action, though some - most vocally British Music Rights chief Feargal Sharkey - still advocate a voluntary solution over a legislative one, and would rather see the music and net companies follow their Japanese counterparts in forming a joint committee, rather than waiting for politicians to sort it all out.
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MORE BRITNEY
More Britney, and Spears' friend and sometime manager Sam Lutfi has asked for a judge to consider the restraining order currently in place against him should Spears' family want it extended when it is next up for renewal in mid-April.
The restraining order against Lutfi, which prevents him from contacting or going near Spears, was put in place after allegations were made by Brit's family, in particular her mother, against the self-proclaimed manager, including claims he had drugged the popstress to get her to comply with his wishes. The order has stayed in place since its original issue at the instruction of Superior Court Commissioner Reve Goetz.
However, Goetz is not actually a judge and Lutfi has now issued a request to court that says that the next time the order is reviewed he wants to be able to put his case for having access to Britney to a judge. The one-sentence filing reportedly reads: "Please take notice that Osama "Sam" Lutfi will not stipulate to the above-referenced case being heard by Reva Goetz, commissioner presiding, to whom the above-entitled case has been assigned".
A spokesman for Lutfi told E! News: "There's nothing out of the ordinary that Sam is doing. No person has to agree to a commissioner hearing the case. A commissioner is not a judge. If need be, and if this is going to go on, unfortunately, then [Lutfi wants it] heard in front of a judge".
Elsewhere in Britney news another court commissioner, this time Scott Gordon, has told Britney's people that they need to pay the bulk of Kevin Federline's legal fees in the ongoing custody dispute between the former couple. Spears' lawyers had claimed that the Fed's attorney, Mark Kaplan, had overcharged for his services and that Federline now had is own sources of income and should pay his legal fees himself. However, Gordon ruled that Britney had to pay her ex's legal costs, adding that the main reason they had escalated so much was because of Spears' repeated slackness in relation to the case.
That said, the court only ordered Britney to pay Federline £375,000 towards is legal bills, even though Kaplan has reportedly invoiced for closer to half a million.
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FOUR HOUR RADIOHEAD REMIX TO GO ON SALE
Here's one for a devoted Radiohead fan. Oh, or someone who'd like to support the Missing People charity. A four hour James Rutledge remix of the band's new album track 'Videotape' has been recorded on VHS accompanied by visual images designed by Phillip M Lane and packaging designed by Jacob Blandy. Only one copy has been made, the intention being to sell it on eBay to raise money for the aforementioned Missing People charity. The cause is important to Rutledge, as former Dakota Oak colleague Dave Tyack was declared missing in Corsica before his body was found two years later in 2002.
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CAREY CATCHES UP WITH THE KING
Mariah Carey is reportedly about to get her eighteenth number one single in the US, bringing her equal on that score with Elvis Presley. The track, 'Touch My Body', from her new album 'E=MC2' is expected to take the top spot this weekend and will confirm her status as the best-selling female singer of all time. She still needs two more to beat The Beatles total of twenty US number ones, however.
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SUPERGRASS TO BUSK IN COVENT GARDEN
Supergrass's Gaz Coombes and Danny Goffey are going to busk in London's Covent Garden this afternoon at 1pm in aid of homeless charity Crisis. Their new album 'Diamond Hoo Ha' is out on Monday.
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LIGHTSPEED CHAMPION SINGLE
Lightspeed Champion, or Dev Hynes, as he used to be more usually known, has announced that his next single, taken from debut album 'Falling Off The Lavender Bridge', will be 'Galaxy Of The Lost', and it's set for release on 5 May.
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NEW RACONTEURS OUT NEXT WEEK
Jack White's 'other band' The Raconteurs have announced they will release their new album 'Consolers Of The Lonely' in every format all over the world next week. The band's second long player will come out on CD, vinyl and digitally on 25 Mar. Press types will not get pre-release copies in a bid to stop any tracks leaking online before next week. On the band's website White explains the somewhat sudden announcement of the release, and the plans to release online and physically simultaneously, and without any reviews, saying: "We would rather the release not be defined by its first week sales, pre-release promotion or by someone defining it for you before you get to hear it".
He also encourages fans to buy the whole album rather than individual tracks off it, even though iTunes and other digital stores will be offering it on a track by track basis. He's another artists who doesn't seem to happy about iTunes' insistence that fans should buy albums as individual tracks. Writing that the band "prefer fans buy the album as a whole rather than breaking up the tracks", he adds: "Until iTunes and other digital services allow bands to release their albums with the option of not breaking it up, it will be sold in that fashion on those sites".
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GNARLS BARKLEY BRING FORWARD RELEASE
Talking about unexpected releases, Gnarls Barkley have brought forward the release of their second album 'The Odd Couple', which had been scheduled to be released next month, but which went on iTunes yesterday and will now arrive in record shops in the US next Tuesday. I am a bit hazy on whether this means it will now be released in the UK on Monday, though the formal release schedule seems to be saying 31 Mar for UK release. I'll let you know if I find out different.
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MURRAY RESPONDS TO JUNO MATHS SLIP
Canadian singer Anne Murray has questioned the integrity of her home country's big awards bash - the Juno Awards - after she was originally left off the shortlist for Best Album by mistake.
The nominations for the Best Album prize are based on sales figures, and an error made by awards organisers in adding up the sales stats for last year meant that Murray missed out on a shortlisting even though she had one of the top five best selling albums of 2007. The mistake has been rectified and Murray is now a contender for the prize, though she is competing against five other albums not four, because awards bosses haven't admitted which of the other nominees shouldn't have been on the list.
It's not the first time the Juno Best Album shortlist has been bungled. In 2004 Nickelback's 'The Long Road' was made a sixth nominee for the prize after a similar maths mistake had deprived them of a nomination that should have been theirs. Juno bosses admitted that the Murray mistake came to their attention after her label - EMI - questioned why she wasn't on the shortlist when their sales stats suggested she should be. To that end awards bosses have said that in the future they will share nomination lists with label reps ahead of their release in case there are any errors that label people might spot.
Speaking about the fact that a sixth nominee has been let through because of the maths mistake, Murray told reporters this week: "The person who is not supposed to be in there [the shortlist] could conceivably win. It was strange because I knew what my [sales] numbers were and I saw some of the other numbers and I thought, 'Well, how did they figure that?' Because it is strictly numbers with the album of the year, and so I was surprised. You wonder how seriously they take it, the counting and all of that".
Juno spokesman Stephen Stohn told reporters: "Next year this type of discussion, rather than happening after the nominations are announced, will happen with a very closed and very confidential group of people who are in the know, to just look and say, 'Listen, does this all make sense? Does this jive with what we know?'".
The Juno Awards take place on 6 Apr in Calgary.
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BEATLES SONG GAME BEING CONSIDERED
Talking of the Beatles catalogue, which we were, a while back, Sony/ATV chief Marty Bandier has indicated that the company may be willing to licence Lennon/McCartney songs to the guitar playing karaoke video game Guitar Hero. He told the LA Times: "It's something we have talked about and something I'd like to pursue". That announcement follows a seeming increasing willingness to licence the Beatles publishing catalogue to mainstream ventures. Commenting on an edition of 'American Idol' which was dedicated to Beatles songs, he observed: "That's a wonderful way to get this legendary music in front of an audience of 30 million people in an exciting way".
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KURT COBAIN TRAINER SET FOR RELEASE
According to reports, a Converse trainer 'inspired' by Kurt Cobain is to go on sale later this year. The limited edition shoe will feature his name, his lyrics and his signature and has apparently been approved by his widow Courtney Love. It's all part of Converse's 2008 one hundredth anniversary celebrations, in which they're featuring a few other dead celebrities on their trainers (Ian Curtis, Sid Vicious, Hunter S Thompson) and a few live ones (Common, Joan Jett, Karen O).
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GROOVE ARMADA SIGN TO BACARDI
Well, if it seemed odd that stars were getting signed up by Starbucks, this is probably going to seem odder. Groove Armada have signed up to record and release their new music via Bacardi and Bacardi events, following the recent conclusion of their long-term deal with SonyBMG imprint Jive Records.
The duo's Andy Cato says this: "After Groove Armada's tenth anniversary year of huge gigs, we were looking for ways to take things to another level. Working alongside Bacardi we have the chance to take the GA travelling show to new people and places, find innovative ways of getting our music out there, and keep the stories flowing for the GA Road Movie with Bacardi B-Live".
Bacardi brand director Jeff MacDonald adds: "Bacardi is known for its innovation and creativity. What makes this deal ground-breaking is the depth of the relationship. Groove Armada and Bacardi will creatively work together in all areas from the planning right through to the delivery phases - we'll see them performing live at our events, laying down tracks for our advertising and promotions and filming the experience along the way. This collaboration is particularly topical as artists and the music industry look for new business models and partners. This is an evolution of the standard artist endorsement model".
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NUTINI SIGNED UP BY PUMA
More musicians and brands type nonsense. Paolo Nutini has been signed up by Puma to be the face of the brand's new international 'Sportlifestyle' campaign, which will feature the Scottish singer-songwriter's track 'New Shoes', from his debut album 'These Streets'. The multimedia campaign will see thirty second ads on TV, radio, mobile and online platforms, plus, Nutini will make live appearances and perform in-store promotions.
The deal was forged by Warner Music UK's new (and previously reported, I reckon) Brand Partnerships division. John Reid, President of Warner Music Europe says this: "As part of the dynamic transformation of our business we continue to expand the menu of services we offer our artists and seek to establish new ways for them to connect with fans. This is an impressive example of how Warner Music Group can offer a comprehensive synch, licensing and brand partnership package that brings brands and bands together in exciting ways".
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VAN HALEN RESCHEDULES DATES
Van Halen have rescheduled a load of US tour dates, following those previously reported cancellations due to Eddie Van Halen's having to have medical tests. Not sure whether this will affect any of our readers, but here are the rescheduled tour dates just in case. I heard we had a big readership in Duluth for example.
19 Apr: Las Vegas Mandalay Bay Events Center
22 Apr: Cincinnati U.S. Bank Arena
24 Apr: Dallas American Airlines Center
26 Apr: St Louis Scottrade Center
28 Apr: Milwaukee Bradley Center
30 Apr: Pittsburgh Mellon Arena
2 May: Charlottesville, Va. John Paul Jones Arena
5 May: Raleigh, N.C. RBC Center
7 May: Columbus, Ohio Schottenstein Center
9 May: Atlantic City, N.J. Boardwalk Hall
11 May: Duluth, Ga. Gwinnett Arena
13 May: East Rutherford, N.J. Izod Center
15 May: Baltimore, Md. 1st Mariner Arena
18 May: Hershey, Pa. Giant Center
20 May: Uncasville, Conn. Mohegan Sun Arena
23 May: New York Madison Square Garden
25 May: Providence, R.I. Dunkin Donuts Center
28 May: Manchester, N.H. Verizon Wireless Arena
30 May: Chicago Allstate Arena
2 Jun: Grand Rapids, Mich. Van Andel Arena
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JAY-Z HEADLINES HOVE FESTIVAL
Jay-Z seems to be getting in the festival swing. The rap star is set to headline this year's Hove Festival alongside The Raconteurs. Also appearing at the Norwegian event are the likes of The Kooks, Babyshambles and Simian Mobile Disco, whilst more acts are expected to be announced in the coming weeks. Returning for a second year, the environmentally friendly festival takes place from 13-27 Jun.
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METALLICA DO US IN-STORE
Metallica are to do an in-store at Rasputin Music's Mountain View shop near San Francisco on 19 Apr, to mark a US initiative called 'Record Store Day', intended to raise the profile of old-fashioned independent record shops. The band, who are promoting vinyl re-releases of 'Kill 'Em All' and 'Ride The Lightning', will meet and greet fans and sign autographs. It's news because they haven't done an in-store in yonks.
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BERTELSMANN CFO DENIES PLANS TO SELL SONYBMG STAKE
So, Thomas Rabe, the Chief Financial Officer of SonyBMG co-parent Bertelsmann yesterday told Billboard "there are no specific plans to sell our share in SonyBMG", leading to some, well, me mainly, to ask "ah yes, but want about non-specific plans?"
As previously reported, there have been various rumours since Sony Corp and Bertelsmann merged their record companies in 2004 that the latter would sell their share of the JV, to Sony or to a third party. Such rumours resumed recently when FT Deutschland reported that Rabe had met with two private equity concerns to discuss selling their share of the major - something that may be easier to do when the current Sony Bertelsmann JV agreement comes up for review next year.
Although he wouldn't rule out an eventual sale, Rabe said we shouldn't think that next year's JV review means any sort of sale is inevitable, adding that they were very happy with their current joint venture with Sony on all things recorded music. He said: "[The JV agreement review] doesn't mean that we then have to really do anything. Instead, it has to be decided by a partner. In the meantime, we will continue to develop our business jointly. We have good relations with our partner Sony and consensus on the strategy, and we see in our business a significant option value, particularly in the development of new digital business models".
Bertelsmann CEO Hartmuth Ostrowski also made comment at the meeting, which was actually to discuss the media group's current financials, and he seemed to suggest that selling their half of SonyBMG to a third party wasn't a preferred solution, observing: "We might take over 100%, or sell our 50% to Sony so that they have 100% or we might continue the joint venture. All three outcomes are possible".
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NOKIA APPOINT NEW GLOBAL MUSIC CHIEF
Nokia has announced the appointment of Elizabeth Schimel, formerly VP Content Development at US internet firm Comcast, to the rather grand sounding job of Head Of Global Music. No idea what that means. But we'll try and find out.
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VODAFONE DO MADONNA DEAL WITH WARNER
Vodafone have done a deal with Warner Music which will give the mobile firm's customers access to music and other content related to Madonna's new album 'Hard Candy' ahead of the long player's release. Lucky them.
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NEW ZAVVI HEAD OF MUSIC
zavvi news now, and because you're all on the ball, on brand music retail experts I don't need to say anything like "you know, the record shop chain that used to be called Virgin Megastore". The music retailer has announced the promotion of Gary Williamson to the job of Head Of Music, a role he takes over from Rob Campkin who is leaving the company. Williamson will do the Head Of Music job in addition to his very fun sounding existing role of Head Of Related Product.
Confirming the appointment, zavvi Commercial Director Mark Noonan told CMU: "Since his appointment as Head Of Related Product last year Gary has done exceptionally well in leading our strategy in new product areas. We're delighted to be giving him the opportunity to lend his expertise and passion to zavvi's music offering".
For fans of having up to date address books, zavvi have also confirmed they have relocated offices to Horatio House, 77-85 Fulham Palace Road, Hammersmith, London W6 8JA. If anyone ever says we'd didn't tell them there'll be trouble.
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MPS SUPPORT CALL FOR LOCAL CHANNEL ON FREEVIEW
More than 120 of those there MPs have backed a call for local television to be given a channel on Freeview, and not just 'Granada-land' style local, but really local. You know, community media local. A group calling themselves United For Local Television want Channel 6 on Freeview to be set aside for local channels around the country, which would slot their programmes into the Freeview system at local transmitters.
The campaigners say this: "This would become a local TV channel with local programming inserted at all major transmitter points using 'add/drop' technology. No matter where you live in the UK, Channel 6 would be a local channel offering local news, local programming and local advertising. Channel 6 would also carry 'networked' public service content".
Ian Stewart, chair of the All Party Parliamentary Community Media Group has put forward the Early Day Motion urging media regulator OfCom to consider the local channel plans, telling reporters: "UK citizens are amongst the least well served in the entire democratic world for access to local news and information from television. It is vital that at least one channel (out of a potential 30+ channels on Freeview) is protected as a local channel providing a forum to debate and discuss local issues".
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ARMANI WOULD LIKE TO WOO WINEHOUSE
According to reports, designer Giorgio Armani has asked George Clooney and Julia Roberts, in their capacity of co-chairs at the Metropolitan Museum of Art Costume Institute, to ask Amy Winehouse to appear at an exclusive event to be staged at the museum, and they're reportedly going to offer her £500k to perform.
A source told The Sun, "Giorgio has made it no secret to his friends that he would love to work with Amy. He sees this party as an ideal opportunity to sound her out about future projects together".
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KATE NASH THINKS SHE'S BETTER THAN LEONA
Kate Nash has said that she deserved to beat Leona Lewis to that Brit Award, because she isn't manufactured and Lewis is. She says: "Leona seems like a really nice girl. But I think it was really good I won it because I started this myself. I'm not a manufactured, size-zero pop artist who is going to bring out her own perfume and clothes range".
She also blamed fellow pop stars for looking too pretty all of the time, saying: "There are teenage girls who grow up wanting to kill themselves because they can't be as pretty as the girls in the magazines. But I'm quite normal, so it's great".
So that's lovely. Well done, Kate Nash. For being so normal and un-manufactured.