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INTERN OPPORTUNITY AT LEYLINE JUDGE MAY ISSUE ARREST WARRANT TO FORCE JOURNALIST TO TESTIFY: R KELLY TRIAL UPDATE As previously reported, it was DeRogatis who originally handed over a copy of the sex tape at the heart of this trial to the authorities, after a copy was left in his mail box. He claims he doesn't know who sent him the video. Kelly's defence have asked to question him as part of their case, but he has so far resisted, with the legal rep for his employer – the Chicago Sun-Times newspaper – arguing that DeRogatis' testimony would be irrelevant to the case, and that he is protected by Illinois law and First Amendment rights that mean he doesn't have to reveal the identities of any sources. As also previously reported, Gaughan ruled last week that while DeRogatis is legally allowed to protect his sources, those laws don't mean he can avoid testifying altogether. When he failed to show up for that scheduled meeting at the court house yesterday, Gaughan again rejected the Sun-Times arguments regarding DeRogatis not having to testify, saying Kelly's lawyers wanted to know whether the journalist had tampered with the sex tape before handing it to police, and that that line of questioning would not involve the revealing of any sources. Although at one point Gaughan seemed to be close to issuing that arrest warrant, he eventually decided to give the journalist the benefit of the doubt – possibly because DeRogatis reportedly claimed by phone that the subpoena ordering him to the courthouse had been issued incorrectly. However he has ordered the reporter to be in court today, and, unless the Chicago-Sun legal team can win a quick appeal on Gaughan's earlier ruling on DeRogatis' requirement to testify, the judge expects the media man to face questioning in court later this week. -------------------------------------------------- OINK USERS ARRESTED Although music industry trade bodies like the BPI assisted the authorities in the anti-piracy attack on OiNK, the fact it was a police-led initiative put the whole thing on a different level to much previous anti-file sharing action. The six people targeted this week – seemingly for using rather than running the file sharing network – were the first individual UK users to actually be arrested for illegally sharing content online. Another man was arrested last October when the site was closed down in relation to operating OiNK. All seven people are now on bail pending further investigations on allegations of high level copyright infringement. Commenting on the police action in relation to OiNK, the BPI, who have often led previous anti-P2P action, told reporters: "The illegal online distribution of music, particularly pre-release, is hugely damaging, and as OiNK was the biggest source for pre-releases at the time we moved to shut it down. We provided the information to assist this investigation, but this is now a police matter and we are unable to comment further at this stage". -------------------------------------------------- RSS SAY ONLINE TICKETING JUST TOO DAMN CONFUSING The RRS is referring to the previously reported fact that secondary ticketing website Viagogo is an "official premium and secondary ticketing partner" for Madonna's 'Sweet & Sticky' tour. Basically they are the primary sellers (direct from promoter to consumer) for premium ticket packages (eg those that come with hospitality) and an approved secondary seller (where they enable consumers to resell tickets to other consumers) for all other tickets. The RRS says this is confusing, because consumers see the words "official partner" attached to Viagogo, and may go there first for standard tickets, even though the current resale price for Madonna tickets via the website is £196 while the primary seller of those level of tickets – Ticketmaster – still has tix available for £75. Meanwhile, all of Viagogo's secondary ticketing competitors are also reselling Madonna tickets (just without the official partner status) including the premium packages Viagogo is the official seller of – a £550 package from them is going for £999 on rival Seatwave. If you find all this a bit confusing, well, I think that is the RRS's point. RRS chairman-designate Marc Marot said yesterday: "This sorry mess shows that even an artist as powerful as Madonna is not able to control the chaos in the ticketing market. Viagogo cannot have it both ways. They are either an official legitimate partner of the artist or they are attempting to take fans for whatever they can get. If they are an official part of the Madonna tour they should not be selling tickets in the secondary market when primary tickets are available for less than half the price from Ticketmaster. The live music industry risks sleep-walking into disaster if this kind of abuse of fans' goodwill is not resolved. There is a very real danger that music fans will simply walk away if there is not some kind of regulation of the market". He concluded: "RRS is the best solution on the table and we call upon all artists, especially superstars like Madonna, and promoters to stand together to support what is clearly the most fan- and artist-friendly solution". As previously reported, the Resale Rights Society has proposed a voluntary (ie not government enforced) regulatory system where the music industry gives ticket auction sites like Viagogo and eBay official recognition in return for them signing up to a set code of conduct and committing to pass a cut of their profits back to the artist community. The live music sector has given those proposals its support, though the secondary ticket sellers – while admitting some kind of code of conduct to protect consumers is a good idea – haven't been too keen on allowing the RSS to set that code, and certainly aren't all that keen on paying the live sector a levy. As also previously reported, the government has called on the live sector to protect consumers over the confusing and arguably unfair nature of secondary ticketing sales, but some in the live sector say that is impossible because the secondary ticketing sites won't play ball, and it may require new laws to make them do so. -------------------------------------------------- KEVIN GREENING DIED OF DRUGS OVERDOSE A hearing at Westminster Coroner's Court this week heard that Greening died from "mixed drugs toxicity" after taking various illegal drugs prior to partaking in what the coroner described as "unorthodox sexual behaviour" - a bondage session with boyfriend Sean Griffin that involved cling film, gaffer tape and a leather sling. Griffin was cautioned on drugs charges at the time, but was quickly cleared of initial murder charges once the circumstances surrounding the DJ's death had been properly investigated. His death was put down to misadventure. Commenting on the events immediately prior to Greening's death, Griffin told reporters yesterday: "Kevin and I had a very happy and very vigorous sex life. It was not conventional by heterosexual norms perhaps but it was a sex life which was vigorous and imaginative and we enjoyed each other". -------------------------------------------------- LEVERT WIDOW SUES OVER NEGLIGENCE CLAIMS -------------------------------------------------- ONO PLANS TO APPEAL OVER IMAGINE RULING The makers of the film, called 'Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed', successfully claimed their use of the song was allowed under US copyright laws, which allow content to be used without the copyright owner's permission if done so in order to debate and criticise the work. We've been wondering on what grounds they were allowed that defence, but apparently it's because they use the line "nothing to kill or die for, and no religion too" as a way of criticising the viewpoint that the world is better off without religion. Ono confirmed she was looking into appealing the ruling yesterday, adding: "It is a pity that this decision weakens the rights of all copyright owners. One of the most basic rights I control by reviewing and choosing licences is the right to say 'no'. The filmmakers simply looted me of the ability to do so". --------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------- RADIOHEAD ARRIVE ON ITUNES Garth Brooks has also held out on iTunes for the same reason, and he is still against the track by track approach, telling the BBC: "We do albums, we have always done albums. [Brooks album] 'Friends In Low Places' is not 'Friends In Low Places' without 'Wolves Or Wild Horses'. And if people try to make it a money issue, I can get the full album to the consumer for much less than they can get it at 99 cents a song. There are a number of issues that need to be addressed in the digital downloading world before we introduce our music to it". Other bands still to make it to iTunes include AC/DC, Def Leppard (except for their most recent album) and, of course, The Beatles. -------------------------------------------------- GUITAR HERO NEWS The Metallica game will mainly feature tracks by the band, but music from other bands may be included too. On the upcoming new versions, the company said in a statement: "In fiscal 2009, we plan to publish Guitar Hero: On Tour for the NDS; and Guitar Hero: Aerosmith, Guitar Hero: Metallica, and Guitar Hero IV across multiple platforms". A whole series of band specific versions are now expected. And there's been talk of a similar Beatles game, though it is just talk, to be fair. -------------------------------------------------- MAKE MODEL FOUNDER QUITS BAND "This has come as a huge shock to us all and has forced us very quickly to decide what to do about our current commitments" they wrote, "we have decided to cancel all our current live commitments and take some time to regroup. We really apologise for these cancellations - it's not a decision we'd make lightly - but promise to be back out on the road soon". Keen to stress that it should not be regarded as a break-up, the band continue: "We are NOT splitting up - Make Model lives on. We'll emerge when the time is right and Make Model can begin a new chapter. We feel strongly that it is time to become more of a collective, to stand as equals and move forward with confidence. It has been a roller coaster of emotions over the past 18 months, during which we have recorded a debut album of which we are very proud... We are confident of a bright future with a fresh ambition to make exciting music. We believe that when you are knocked down you emerge stronger - that's exactly what we plan to do". -------------------------------------------------- MINT ROYALE REMIX COULD TOP CHART AFTER TALENT SHOW EXPOSURE -------------------------------------------------- SPICE GIRLS ARE BAND OF THE YEAR Anyway, enough cynicism from me. The Spice Girls have been named Band Of The Year at the magazine's award bash celebrating the wonderful world of women. Other music related winners included Lily Allen, who won the editor's Special Award, Kelly Osbourne, who got Theatre Actress Of The Year for her role in the West End production of 'Chicago', Jo Whiley was named Radio Personality Of The Year, Dannii Minogue was judged TV Personality Of The year, Annie Lennox was given an Inspiration Award, Leona Lewis got UK Solo Artist, and Beth Ditto won Best International Musician. The token male of the evening was Mark Ronson, who won Man Of The Year. -------------------------------------------------- KISS ROCKERS DISAGREE ON REALITY SHOW PLANS Stanley meanwhile says that Simmons is exaggerating a bit, and that nothing is as yet confirmed, though he does imply that the idea is in fact on the table. He is quoted by on Blabbermouth.net as saying, "These things are typical. Gene says something as if it was a fact, but there is no signed deal. The future has many possibilities. Will it happen next week? No! Am I opposed to the idea? Of course not". As previously reported, Stanley recently implied that he felt he would retire at some point, saying "I really, firmly believe there will come a time when the band will continue without me". -------------------------------------------------- FAMILY RECORDINGS MOVE ON TO THE NINETIES Disc 1 Disc 2 -------------------------------------------------- DEERHOOF ALBUM NEWS The album tracklisting is as follows: Act 1 Act 2 -------------------------------------------------- COCKER PLAYS BOOSH -------------------------------------------------- NEWSOM, CORAL ADDED TO LATITUDE LINE UP -------------------------------------------------- BETA BAND MAN ANNOUNCES LIVE DATES 21 Jun: Dalwhinnie Lochstock -------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------- JORDAN FESTIVAL BOOSTS MIDDLE EAST LIVE MUSIC AGENDA -------------------------------------------------- MARKETING BOSS TO TEMPORARILY TAKEOVER SONYBMG EUROPEAN PRESIDENT ROLE -------------------------------------------------- SONYBMG LAUNCH COLUMBIA INDIA -------------------------------------------------- COALITION OF MUSIC FIRMS CALL FOR ACTION AGAINST BAIDU As previously reported, the major record companies unsuccessfully sued Baidu over its MP3 search facilities – the net firm successfully argued they were not liable for copyright infringement because they did not host the illegal music files themselves. But a subsequent change in Chinese copyright laws meant the record companies won in a similar case against Yahoo! China, and they are now pursuing a new lawsuit against Baidu. In the meantime the coalition, which includes the Music Copyright Society Of China, the China Audio-Video Copyright Association and the International Federation Of The Phonographic Industry, and which is supported by a load of major and independent labels and music publishers, is calling on other sectors to not financially support Baidu – through advertising presumably – while they are, the in the music business' eyes, copyright infringers. Explaining the coalition, MCSC Director General Jing Ming told reporters: "Resolutely countering Baidu, which is the largest and most incorrigible purveyor of pirated music in China, has become a common goal". -------------------------------------------------- HMV LAUNCH BLOGGING SITE -------------------------------------------------- IPC APPOINT NEW SPONSORSHIP MANAGER IPC Ignite Sponsorship & Brand Solutions Director Peter Edwards says this: "Bandi is an excellent addition to an experienced team. Her previous career experience extends across a number of different media, which makes her ideally suited to tailor solutions across our portfolio of brands". -------------------------------------------------- TING TINGS SAY THEY USED TO BE CRAP Talking to the Daily Star, he went on to say that, having produced their album 'We Started Nothing' himself, the results aren't quite as professional as they might have been, had they got a man in to do the job. "What it takes some bands to do in six months we can do in a week. I'm not technically trained so I was doing everything wrong. I was sticking cheap microphones on the floor to record my drums". -------------------------------------------------- DOHERTY BUYS MOSS |
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