OASIS RENEW PARTNERSHIP WITH SONYBMG
Oasis have confirmed they are renewing their relationship with SonyBMG, which will see the major distribute and market the band's next three albums, as well as working on catalogue projects.

Oasis have had a long relationship with Sony Music, originally via the major's stake in their original label Creation Records, and more recently through a partnership between the major and Oasis' own indie label Big Brother Recordings. The new deal expands that partnership, though the specifics are not known.

Confirming the new deal, SonyBMG UK top man Ged Doherty told CMU: "Oasis are in complete control of their destiny and could have chosen to sign with anyone - or even go it alone - so I am delighted that they have chosen to continue to work with us. In addition this new arrangement will empower Big Brother to market and release not only the new albums but also the historic catalogue in many other countries of the world so that they can replicate the unparalleled sales and marketing record they have in the UK".

Alec McKinlay from the band's management reps Ignition added: "This is an imaginative and exciting arrangement which will allow Big Brother to team up with the creme of both the independent and major sectors worldwide to build on Oasis' already considerable international success. This allows the band to take advantage of all the opportunities presented by the new business models available today as well as remaining totally in control of their own destiny. We are really pleased that SonyBMG have demonstrated the foresight and courage to engage with the band in this way".

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MORE COHL TO GO REPORTS
There have been more reports in the US media that live music veteran Michael Cohl is about to resign his two positions at live music conglom Live Nation - Chairman of the board and CEO of Live Nation Artists, the division of the company set up to manage the multi-dimensional deals recently done with Madonna and Jay-Z.

As previously reported, Cohl's departure reportedly follows disagreements between him and the live music firm's overall CEO Michael Rapino about how to pursue future so called 360 degree deals with both new and established artists. The Wall Street Journal has reported Cohl could go as early as next week.

It's not clear what Cohl's departure would mean for him or Rapino. Given Cohl is Live Nation's biggest single shareholder he could continue to make life tricky for Rapino even once he's not working for the firm. Meanwhile Cohl will also be constrained because he is tied to a non-compete agreement with Live Nation that stems from their acquisition of his company CPI and which reportedly has eight years still to run.

Live Nation is yet to comment on the matter.

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WINEHOUSE HOPES TO PLAY GLASTO, BUT AWAITS DOCTORS' ADVICE
A spokesman for Amy Winehouse has said the singer hopes to honour her bookings to play the Nelson Mandela concert in London and the Glastonbury Festival next week, despite her receiving ongoing hospital treatment after that previously reported fainting incident on Monday. The spokesman told the BBC: "At present she still intends to perform at her two scheduled dates next week. However the decision will be made entirely on the advice of her doctors and in her best interests. Amy has undergone more scans and tests today and we are awaiting the verdict of her doctors".

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POISON SUE EMI OVER ROYALTY DISPUTE
Rock types Poison are suing EMI over allegations the major has consistently underpaid them royalties throughout their career. They say the major's Capitol division has swindled them out of money by wrongly categorising some releases and miscalculating all sorts of payments. Their lawsuit also alleges the record company has failed to comply with the band in their attempts to audit monies generated by their recordings, so they want the court to force the major to hand over its books in order to calculate how much they reckon they are owed. EMI are yet to respond.

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INDEPENDENT FESTIVAL BODY LAUNCHES
You know what we need? A new music industry trade association, that's what. I love trade associations. And frankly, I think we need at least another nine. Actually, this new trade body has been set up by the man behind CMU's favourite festival, Mr Rob da Bank, so now I'm felling a bit bad about the faint sarcasm in my opening remarks there. And this one looks quite good, so let's give it lots of Daily space shall we?

Yes, da Bank announced yesterday that he was setting up an Association Of Independent Festivals. The announcement was made during the AGM of the Association Of Independent Music, held at music convention London Calling, which explains why AIM's big meet featured a Q&A with key players from the independent live music sector. AIM, which is, let's not forget, the association of independent recorded music, will assist in the establishment of the AIF, and AIM's chair Alison Wenham will also head up the new body.

The festival sector has, of course, expanded hugely in the last few years, with many of the new boutique festivals that have sprung up all over the place being promoted by independent individuals or companies (ie not owned by or affiliated to the likes of Live Nation, AEG or MAMA). That said, the festival sector is clearly struggling this year, partly due to market saturation, partly as a result of last year's terrible weather putting music fans off, and some smaller independent festivals, which often operate on tiny profit margins, are suffering. Da Bank hopes the new trade body will help.

He told CMU: "In the current very competitive, very intense climate, it's more crucial than ever to be able to bond together as like-minded independently spirited festivals to ride out the problems and make them all better for the paying customer".

The boss off another long running independent festival, Creamfields' James Barton, who also took part in the Q&A session at AIM's AGM, added: "There is a real opportunity to combine our spending power to deliver exciting business ideas. The smaller festivals are also often overlooked, and it's important we now have a voice to influence decisions being made that impact on our business".

Confirming her role, AIM and now AIF chair Alison Wenham told us: "AIM has come a very long way since it opened its doors nine years ago, and no greater compliment could be paid to us than to work with the newly formed AIF. AIM is a broad church of interests. AIM's and AIF's members are all independent entrepreneurs working in music. AIF will represent independent British Festivals, another great example of indie culture at work, requiring imagination and hard work. The synergies are undoubtedly there and we hope to provide AIF with a supportive and experienced environment in which they can develop the collective platform for the UK independent festival industry".

And finally Ben Turner, Rob da Bank's manager and a co-founder of the new association, said: "It was clear that working with somebody as strong and visionary as Alison and the AIM board was a clear route to market, a powerful message of our intention and an indication of where this concept can be taken for the benefit of festival owners, and subsequently the festival-going public. The AIM Board has been open, constructive and nothing but encouraging. At the same time, having our own identity is important. We have our own issues and agendas".

Membership of AIF will be by invitation only, and those who have accepted invites to join at launch are Chris Greenwood (Big Chill), Chris Smith (Womad), Dave Farrow (Beautiful Days), Franc Gooding (Bloom Festival), Freddie Fellowes (Secret Garden Party), James Barton (Creamfields), Jim King (Loud Sound), John Reynolds (Electric Picnic), Nick Ladd (Glade), Rob Challice (Summer Sundae Weekender) and Tom Baker (Field Day).

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TWO MEN ARRESTED IN TI ASSOCIATE MURDER CASE
Two men have been arrested on murder charges relating to the killing of Philant Johnson, the friend and assistant of rapper TI, who was shot dead as the rapper and his entourage sped away after an altercation outside a Cincinnati nightclub in May 2006.

According to local TV station WLWT Channel 5, police have arrested Pardon Thomas and Hosea Thomas in relation to the fatal shooting. Reports suggest the Thomas brothers had a run in with TI and his people after they were refused admission to the rapper's VIP area at the club. They allegedly confronted TI as he left the venue, and fired shots at his car as it sped away, fatally injuring Johnson.

Johnson was a childhood friend of TI, and had played a key role throughout his hip hop career, even helping him with creative and album concepts.

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SPECTOR SUED OVER UNPAID HOTEL BILLS
An LA hotel is suing legendary producer Phil Spector, his wife and his agent, over unpaid bills relating to his high profile murder trial last year. The Westin Bonaventure Hotel say that the producer reserved rooms at their complex to accommodate lawyers and expert witnesses during the trial, but that he hasn't paid the $104,000 he owes for them. Spectors' people have not responded. He is due back in court later this year to face the murder allegations against him for a second time after the first court hearing was declared a mistrial after the jury could not reach a unanimous decision as to whether or not the producer shot dead actress Lana Clarkson at his Beverly Hills home in 2003 as the prosecution claimed.

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50 CENT HITS OUT AT TACO BELL PUBLICITY STUNT PROPOSAL
50 Cent has hit out at US fast food chain Taco Bell after they seemingly tried to blackmail him into taking part in a cheap publicity stunt by offering to give ten grand to charity if he did so.

The fast food company wanted the rapper to change his name for a day to 79, 89 or 99 Cent to coincide with a value meal promotion which is making food available at those prices. They also wanted him to go to one of their stores and order some food using his temporary name. Fiddy, rightly probably, aint impressed with the proposal, or, more so, the fact it was leaked into the press before his agent had been contacted. He says he's handing the matter to his lawyers - though on what grounds exactly I'm not sure, given the stunt was cheeky but not, as far as I can see, illegal.

Anyway, a spokesman for Fiddy told okmagazine.com that the offer was "a sleazy and ill-conceived publicity stunt by Taco Bell's president, Greg Creed, whose disingenuous offer was leaked to the press before it was even presented to 50 Cent's agent yesterday", while the rapper himself said: "When my legal team is finished with them, Taco Bell is going to have a new corporate slogan: 'We messed with the bull and got the horns!'"

Surely it would have been easier for Taco Bell to just make something available for fifty cents?

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EMI ENJOY SOME US CHART SUCCESS
Hurrah, some US chart success for EMI, who have been especially struggling in the American market of late. First up, Coldplay have scored their first US number one single with the title track off new album 'Viva La Vida', which is atop the Billboard Hot 100 Singles chart today. It's also the best selling download of the week in the US, having been downloaded a massive 246,000 times. Secondly, the band's album is also shifting big units since its release Stateside yesterday, an estimated 316,000 on day one, and could well knock Lil Wayne off the top spot of next week's Billboard album chart. Hurrah. And as if all that Coldplay nonsense wasn't enough, one of the major's newest American signings, Kate Perry, is at number two in the Billboad singles countdown. So, lots of reasons for smiles at EMI HQ this morning. As good a time as any to fire everyone, no?

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IS MERCK BACK WITH MORRISSEY?
Gossipers say that Morrissey has already asked his long time manager Merck Mercuriadis to start working for him again, just weeks after the two parted company ahead of Mozza's new management agreement with ie:music's US outpost.

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YOU HAVE TO CHECK THIS OUT, OK? POP LEVI DOUBLE VID THINGY
Now this kind of thing, I reckon, is why the internet was invented. Ninja Tune are promoting the new single from that rather fine Pop Levi fella - 'Semi Babe' - with not one but two, yes, two pop promo videos, though watching either one in isolation probably won't make much sense. Because yes, they've been designed to watch simultaneously, one alongside the other. It's brill, take my word for it. Click on this link, click on the link you'll find there, make the effort to get the two YouTube windows in sync and enjoy. The song's pretty damn too, in case you wondered. Both channels of it, in fact.

www.counterrecords.com/semi_babe

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MERCURY REV TO RELEASE TWO ALBUMS - ONE FREE
Talking of things that come in twos, the brilliant Mercury Rev will release two new studio albums in September, one of which will be free. The main album is called 'Snowflake Midnight' and will be released on 29 Sep, but it will also be accompanied by eleven tracker 'Strange Attractor' which will be made available for free download to members of the band's mailing list. The band, who will tour the UK this November to promote the new material, say both long players are "new, unpredictable and spontaneous".

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CHINESE DEMOCRACY LEAKS
From bands who give us two albums to bands who give us none. Though reports say that Guns N Roses' long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long awaited new long player 'Chinese Democracy' is not only complete, but that it has leaked onto the world wide web. Nine reportedly completed tracks were posted by website Antiquiet.com yesterday, resulting in one of rock's quickest cease and desist letters (yeah, agonisingly slow at making music, pretty damn quick at penning legal notes). The tracks were promptly removed, though will presumably now surface in P2Pdom. Six of the nine songs have leaked before, but reports suggest these tracks sounded much more mastered and mixed that previous leaks. The cease and desist would suggest these tracks were the real deal. If that means a proper release is now finally on its way remains to be seen.

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LOTS OF XFM ALL DAY BREAKFAST NONSENSE
So, it's the longest day of the year this weekend, and to mark the occasion Xfm is staging its longest ever breakfast show. The Xfm All Day Breakfast will see breakfast show hosts from Xfm in London, Manchester and Scotland - Alex Zane, Mike McClean and Julyan Sinclair respectively - each presenting a 24 hour edition of their show from 6am tomorrow, during which they will air live sets from one of eight special gigs taking place in London.

Among the guests due to join Zane on the London All Day Breakfast are Jimmy Saville, Debbie McGee, Trevor & Simon, Pat Sharp, Timmy Mallett, Chesney Hawkes, a paranormal investigator, a death metal vocal coach, a hide and seek specialist, a chef, an author and "a man who crossed the channel in a bath" (which I'm assuming is our good friend Tim FitzHigham, unless someone else has crossed the English channel in a bath recently).

There'll be themes too, with Zane planning a costume change each hour, while McClean will have a theme and record breaking attempt for each hour of his show, which I'm told will include Manchester Hour, New Year's Eve Hour, Naked Hour and attempts for the Most Eggs Held In One Hand, Most Snails On The Face, Most Star Jumps In A Minute records.

Anyway, enough blatant Xfm plugging - you can tune in on 104.9FM in London, 97.7FM in Manchester, 105.7 and 106.1 FM in Central Scotland - or via your telly or the web. The special London gigs are as follows...

One Night Only @ The Barfly
doors 6am, onstage 8am

Mystery Jets @ The Borderline:
doors 9am, onstage 11am

Get Cape, Wear Cape, Fly & Sam Isaac @ The Fly:
doors 10am, Sam Isaac on 11.30, Get Cape on 12.30

Paul Weller &The Rifles @ Koko:
doors 1 pm, Rifles 2pm, Weller 3pm

Feeder & Brandon Steep @ ULU
doors 4pm, BS 5pm, Feeder 6pm

Guillemots & Wild Beasts @ Union Chapel
doors 7pm

Primal Scream + Eddy TM DJing @229
doors 10pm, PS on midnight

The Young Knives, + John Kennedy and Jon Hillcock DJing @ 100 Club
TYK on 3am

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SHAKY SAYS TO EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED AT GLASTO
Shakin Stevens has told festival goers to "expected the unexpected" when he plays Glastonbury next week. Hmm. Perhaps he's going to spontaneously combust. That would be pretty unexpected. If a bit messy. Ahead of his Pyramid stage appearance next weekend, Shaky told reporters this week: "As for Glastonbury, it's the biggest festival there is in Britain, and I'm very pleased to be asked to do it. People have got a preconceived idea of what I look like, what I perform and what my shows are all about. I can understand that, because all they can refer to is 'Top Of The Pops'. But those who come to my shows know better".

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CMU FESTIVAL WEATHER REPORT (SOME SHOWERS I'M AFRAID)
Yes, here it is, your weather report for this weekend's festivals.

Blues On The Farm, Chichester (Thu-Sun)
Rain today, but the good news is it should stop tomorrow. The sun will even come out on Sunday. Though it may bring some more showers with it.
Clothing tip: Something waterproof, but easy to pack away.
www.bluesonthefarm.co.uk

Alcester Folk Festival, Warwickshire (Fri-Sun)
Oh, dry with sunny spells today - hurrah - and nice and mild too. Will get a little warmer over the weekend, though it's gonna rain too, which is no good. Some sunny spells again on Sunday.
Clothing tip: Today, no coat required, but pack a cagoule for tomorrow.
www.alcesterfolkfestival.org

Beverley Folk Festival, East Yorkshire (Fri-Sun)
Oh, nice and sunny today everybody, quick get down there. Before those clouds roll in tomorrow and it starts raining on Sunday. Though top temperature on Sunday is 21 degrees, so it'll be nice when the sun comes out, which is should on occasion.
Clothing tip: dress to enjoy the sunshine today, but with a jumper for tomorrow and a hat for rainy Sunday.
www.beverleyfestival.com

Global Fusion, Hailsham (Fri-Sun)
Not as good as Yorkshire I'm afraid. Cloudy with showers today, no rain tomorrow, but no sunshine either. Bit of everything on Sunday - cloudy, sunny, rain.
Clothing tip: Dress for showers.
www.global-fusion.co.uk

Oceanfest, North Devon (Fri-Sun)
Hmm, no fun for this seaside festival today and tomorrow given it's gonna be cloudy and rainy. Still, I expect the surfers won't let it put them off. Should be dry with sunny spells Sunday though, and top temperature 18 degrees, that's when to hit the beach.
Clothing tip: waterproofs, unless you're surfing, in which case you're presumably ready to get wet anyway
www.goldcoastoceanfest.co.uk

Linton Music Festival (Fri-Sun)
Cloud but dry today, rain will come tomorrow, and stay on Sunday, though with some sunny spells also.
Clothing tip: usual waterproof requirement
www.lintonfestival.org

Access Festival, Southampton (Sat)
Well, lots of cloud for you, but no rain expected. 16 degree high. Rain expected today so may be a little damp underfoot.
Clothing tip: Go on, risk it, leave the cagoule at home.
www.accessfest.org

Gunthorpe Festival, Gunthorpe (Sat)
Really quite rainy for this tribute band headlined festival, so you may need to keep nipping inside the pub that hosts it.
Clothing tip: A coat.
www.fakefestivals.co.uk/festival-details.html?festival_id=28

Africa Oye Festival, Liverpool (Sat-Sun)
Really quite rainy tomorrow I'm afraid, but generally dry with sunny spells on Sunday.
Clothing tip: Definitely wrap up tomorrow, but perhaps leave the rain hat at home Sunday, may be even take a sun hat with you.
www.africaoye.com

Charlbury Riverside Festival (Sat-Sun)
Recent heavy rainfall had threatened to cancel this one when its site got pretty waterlogged, but organisers say things are drying up and all should be fine, though it will be showery this weekend again, so a pair of wellies may be in order. Some sunny spells expected Sunday, with a top temperature of 20 degrees.
www.riversidefestival.charlbury.com

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AIM LOSSES UP THANKS TO WARNER SPAT
Back to London Calling, and the Association Of Independent Music AGM, and the trade body's boss said that that much previously reported spat in the indie community over the IMPALA deal with Warner Music over a then possible Warner EMI merger was in part responsible for the industry organisation making at £41,518 loss in 2007, compared to a £2000 loss in 2006.

As previously reported, some key indies, most prominently Ministry Of Sound, last year objected to a deal between pan-European indie label trade body IMPALA and Warner Music chief Edgar Bronfman Jr.

At the time Warner was hoping to merge with EMI, something which would need European Commission approval. With the EC having been forced to reconsider the approval it gave to the 2004 Sony BMG merger after IMPALA successfully appealed that approval in the European courts, Warner were keen to reassure EMI shareholders any merger would not fall foul of competition regulations. To do that Bronfman did a deal with IMPALA as a result of which the trade body said it would not oppose an EMI Warner merger. The details of that deal were never revealed, though it was thought it involved commitments by the major to help support the fledgling globally focused indie digital rights body Merlin.

Ministry and some others strongly objected to the deal, saying certain IMPALA and AIM members were jeopardising the independent sector by turning a blind eye to further major label consolidation in return for help getting their own digital rights venture off the ground. Ministry and Gut promptly resigned AIM, which, as an affiliate of IMPALA, had approved the deal.

In the end it was all irrelevant because Guy Hands' Terra Firma bought EMI and talk of an EMI Warner merger went off the agenda. But those resignations did hit AIM's revenues. According to Music Week, Wenham told her AGM yesterday: "As you know we had a fairly big fallout over the Warner debacle so we lost about £30,000 there, but we recovered as best we could. We've always come in slightly above or slightly below each year". On the Warner deal row, she added: "I think we came out of it with dignity and with some lessons learned. And we are still here". Ministry et al might disagree, though not with that last point you'd assume.

Back on the safer territory that is expressing concern about the majors rather than doing deals with them, Wenham raised the issue of Universal Music, the biggest record company in the world which, as Wenham pointed out, is doing very well market share wise at the moment. That is good news for Universal Music parent company Vivendi, but, the AIM boss reckons, possibly something of concern for the wider record industry. Calling Universal's current sales stats "unsettling", she added, according to Music Week: "If you own over half the music release market you will have a significant catalogue in years to come and that's where the pain will come".

Other announcements at the AIM AGM included the news that Wenham plans to step down as President of the globally focused Worldwide Independent Network this Autumn, that next year's AGM may take place during a weekend of events to celebrate the trade body's tenth birthday, and that the following people have been elected to the body's board:

Kerry Harvey-Piper, Co-Founder & Director, Red Grape Records
Julie Weir, A&R Director, Visible Noise
Simon Raymonde, Director, Bella Union
Ben Watt, Buzzin' Fly

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ITUNES PASS FIVE BILLION DOWNLOADS
iTunes has reportedly passed the five billion tracks downloaded milestone, which is the point at which you surely stop counting. I think the five billion downloads may include videos and TV shows downloaded, but still, that's a lot.

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ORCHARD BUY TVT ASSETS?
HitsDailyDouble are reporting that independent digital rights aggregator The Orchard have bought many of the assets from US indie label TVT which, as previously reported, recently went into liquidation. Details of the deal are few. More if and when we get it. (Actually, this has just been confirmed by the New York Post - more on it on Monday).

We do know that The Orchard have just promoted VP Of Operations Brad Navin to a General Manager role, and that VP Of Operations & Technology Dan Pifer is now Exec VP of that division. Meanwhile Alexis Shaprio has been recruited as Senior Counsel and Deana Graffeo as Director Of Corporate Marketing & Communications. We know this because they said so.

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DJ ARRESTED FOR SELLING BOOTLEG MIX ALBUMS
A British born DJ has been arrested in Spain for selling unlicensed mix albums. He will now be shot. No, that's not right, not shot, charged with copyright infringement. He is accused of selling "large numbers" of illegal CDs to some 200 bars and clubs on the Spanish island of Mallorca.

Len Hynds, Head Of Enforcement at the International Federation Of The Phonographic Industry welcomed the arrest, which followed joint action by Spanish and British police, and Interpol (the police organisation, not the band, obviously). He said this: "This illicit enterprise aimed to corner the market on the holiday island, taking several thousand euros per month which by rights should have gone to the independent record label that actually produced the albums".

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VODAFONE PULL OUT OF TISCALI BID
Vodafone, who were favourite to buy internet service provider Tiscali, has withdrawn its bid, meaning Sky, Carphone Warehouse, Italian tel co Wind and Swisscom are now in the bidding. It is unlikely any of those companies will want both Tiscali Italy and Tiscali UK, meaning the company now seems likely to be split up by the sale.

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OAKENFOLD RETURNS TO KISS FOR DANCE MUSIC SPECIALS
Paul Oakenfold is returning to Bauer's Kiss Radio (he worked on the station back in its eighties pirate radio days) to present some shows charting the history of modern dance music over an Ibiza themed weekend from 27-29 Jun. Kiss Group Programme Director Andy Roberts says this: "We're delighted to have Paul back on the station - from the original Kiss line up on Kiss 100 in 1985 to becoming one of the original superstar DJs - it's great to get his take on where dance music is now".

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PETE WENTZ TO CAMEO ON CALIFORNICATION
Fall Out Boy Pete Wentz will reportedly make a cameo appearance in the David Duchovny fronted TV show 'Californication'. Yeah, that really is the whole story. Blogging type Perez Hilton wrote this week: "Duchovny's character, the troubled writer Hank, will see Pete at a pool party hanging out with the show's resident teen, Mia. Pete will tell Hank how much he enjoyed his book". Wentz, presumably, isn't a Red Hot Chili Peppers fan. As far as I'm aware they're still suing the makers of 'Californication' claiming the show infringes their trademark that stems from the album of the same name.

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SPEARS SISTER HAS BABY
How big a pop star do you need to be so that your sister having a baby is music news? Quite big I reckon. Britney Spears' sister Jamie Lynn has given birth to a baby girl, who has been named Maddie Briann. The 17 year old was admitted to hospital early yesterday and reportedly had labour induced after some minor problems. Britney was among the family members to visit Jamie Lynn yesterday.

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