WANTED: SENIOR PRESS OFFICER / ACCOUNT MANAGER
Get Involved are seeking an experienced Senior Press Officer / Account Manager with solid print and online contacts. Must have at least 2 years experience in house or within an agency with a proven track record of working diverse music campaigns. Experience of working events would be good but not a deal breaker...We are looking for someone special to join our vibrant West London offices. Must be hard working and results driven with a keen eye for a story and the ability to write engaging press releases. CVS to [email protected]

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OUTPOST OPPORTUNITIES

ONLINE ACCOUNT MANAGER
Our online department has handled campaigns as far reaching as Madlib, Red Stripe, Bomb The Bass and The Big Chill. We're looking for an online genius to take it to the next level. We'd expect you to live your life on the web in addition to displaying an excellent knowledge of music and consumer websites, social networking, video sites, seeding, viral campaigns and forums. A minimum two years proven online experience and a trainspotter's knowledge of music is required for this role. Web design skills and consumer PR experience a distinct advantage. £17k-£21k + bonuses.

RADIO PLUGGER
Looking after our key radio projects, you will have an outstanding knowledge of cutting edge music as well as possessing excellent radio contacts. You will be hardworking, motivated and intelligent with first-class writing skills and a good standard of computer literacy. With a flexible attitude and an eye for detail, you will be a confident team-player with a strong understanding of the inner workings of a radio station. A minimum of one years experience is required. The role will also include some TV plugging and press work.
£15k-£18k + bonuses

Both roles require event attendance outside normal working hours as well as a strong desire to search out new and exciting music/projects! Please apply in writing, including CV, to [email protected] clearly stating which role you are applying for.

FIND OUT HOW TO ADVERTISE HERE

NEW INDUSTRY-WIDE TRADE BODY LAUNCHES - UKMUSIC
So, presumably those of you working in the music business felt a seismic shift in the force on Friday as British Music Rights ceased to exist and in its place rose UKMusic, yes? Oh. "No", you say. Ah well, let me tell you all about it. There were lasers and smoke and everything.

UKMusic is a new organisation that will support and represent the wider music industry, or at least those companies and people involved in recordings, music publishing, performing, songwriting and artist management. It is the result of Feargal Sharkey's widely known ambition to expand the remit of British Music Rights, and to form a body that can speak for the whole music business rather than just one part of it. And, as a Derry boy, possibly also to ensure that the trade body he works for doesn't exclude Northern Ireland in its name.

British Music Rights, for those not paying attention, was set up in 1996 by the three organisations that exist to support those involved in writing, publishing and licensing songs - the British Academy, MCPS-PRS and the Music Publishers Association. It didn't replace those organisations, which each have somewhat different and sometimes conflicting remits, but existed to represent their common interests to government, the media and society at large.

If we're being honest, for their first decade in existence British Music Rights was a pretty rubbish organisation, with possibly the lowest profile of all the trade bodies and something of a phobia for returning phone calls. But all that changed when former Undertones man Feargal Sharkey was appointed as CEO last year. He promptly became something of a rent-a-quote for the music industry, and his team suddenly learned how to use phones.

From the word go Sharkey let it be known that he believed that what the British music industry needed most was a central organisation who could speak on its behalf, especially to government and the media, and that in his mind British Music Rights was best positioned to become that organisation.

And he is probably right to hold that belief. It's true that quite often neither government nor the media have the time or the inclination to get their heads around what the various sectors within the music business do, let alone which of the various music business trade bodies is most relevant to their enquiry. Although the Music Business Forum, set up in 2002, encouraged communication between the twenty trade bodies that operate in the music space, and occasionally spoke on their behalf to government, the MBF was never positioned as a first-port-of-call spokesperson for the UK music industry, and in reality when most people wanted a generic quote from the music business they'd head to the most high profile trade body - the BPI - who, of course, only actually represent those music companies involved in the recordings business.

All of which brings us to UKMusic, created last week via a memorandum of understanding between eight of those trade bodies - the aforementioned BPI plus the Association Of Independent Music and collecting society PPL on the recordings side, the Music Managers Forum and Musicians' Union on the management and performer side, and BMR's original sponsors from the songwriting and publishing domain, the British Academy, the Music Publisher Association and their collecting society MCPS-PRS.

The new body will be headed up by BMR's CEO and Chairman, Feargal Sharkey and Andy Heath respectively, and will be based at BMR's London HQ, a complex which is also already the home of some of those other trade bodies like the MMF and MCPS-PRS. As with BMR, UKMusic will not aim to replicate the work done by the trade bodies who signed the MOA, but will represent their common interests to government and the media, and will also stage various research and education initiatives.

Confirming the launch of the new body, Sharkey told CMU: "From the talent and creativity of songwriters, composers, artists and musicians to the vital role played by publishers, management, record labels and collecting societies, all of us within the UK's commercial music sector are bound by strong, interconnected relationships. Through UKMusic, we now have a collective vehicle to reflect and express this common ground".

Andy Heath added: "Today is a true landmark. UKMusic's broad and dynamic membership will meet 21st century challenges and expectations, and promote our fantastic industry with a clear and coherent voice".

Of course the only weakness of a body like UKMusic is that sometimes the interests of different parts of the music industry conflict - such as with the relatively recent run in between the record industry and the music publishing sector over online royalties, which was ultimately resolved without going to Copyright Tribunal, but which was pretty heated for a time. UKMusic will presumably look to stay neutral in such disputes, and maybe even mediate between the music firms and trade bodies involved - which it no doubt could do, though any such conflict will result in some tricky and tedious politics for Sharkey et al to negotiate.

The one big bit of the music business missing from the UKMusic equation is, of course, the live sector - venues, promoters and ticketing agents - which is ironic given that, prior to joining British Music Rights, Sharkey gained much of his experience in dealing with government by heading up the Live Music Forum, a body set up to investigate the impact of new entertainment licensing rules on the live sector. Presumably UKMusic will look to bring trade bodies from this sector on board in due course. Come to think of it, until he does, there probably won't be many lasers or much smoke. Unless you count the laser in your CD player. And the smoke that will surely appear if and when any dispute between the signed up trade bodies arises.

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FRANCE STANDS BY THREE STRIKES PROPOSAL DESPITE NEW EURO-RULES
The French government says it stands by its proposals to introduce that slightly controversial 'three strikes' rule in relation to illegal file sharing, despite a new European rule which may make it difficult to enforce.

As much previously reported, French President Nicolas Sarkozy last year threw his support behind proposals to force French internet service providers to send official warnings to individuals that the record industry believe are illegally sharing music online and, if said warnings are not heeded, to cut said individual's internet connections off.

A similar proposal has been discussed here in the UK, where the British government has made similar noises to the effect that it would force the ISPs to act if they do not voluntarily take appropriate action to curb online piracy - though they have not been quite so explicit with regards making the three strikes proposal law, and with the UK net firms seemingly starting to take a more proactive role of sorts without new legislation, there's a chance we'll never find out whether that was actually being considered by political types.

But back to France, where the proposed 'internet and creation' law, which includes the three strikes proposal, is still on the agenda. The plans are yet to go before the French parliament, and some commentators questioned whether it ever would after an amendment to internet privacy rules in the European Parliament last week.

The amendment, part of the European body's telecoms regulations, says: "No restriction may be imposed on the fundamental rights and freedoms of end-users without a prior ruling of the judicial authorities... save when public security is threatened, in which case the ruling may be subsequent". That might mean a system where net users suspected of file sharing are cut off without any court ruling on their guilt would be unlawful in the eyes of the European Parliament. And the MEP behind the amendment, Guy Bono, explicitly said so on his own blog, writing last week: "European Parliament said no to the 'riposte graduee' [three-strike scheme] as advocated in France".

However, French Culture Minister Christine Albanel pointed out that [a] the amendment had only been adopted by the European Parliament at "first reading" and may as yet not become European law, but moreover that [b] in her government's mind the new European measures wouldn't hinder the 'internet and creation' law because the three strike system would not "have an impact on the rights and freedoms of end-users". That is to say, as always, it's not the words that count, but the interpretation of them.

French publishing rights society Sacem promptly issued a statement saying it had been reassured that the 'internet and creation' laws were safe, despite the new European rules. It said: "Sacem is satisfied with this statement that once again expresses the government's firm will to defend creators' rights and see the law on 'creation and the internet' adopted as soon as possible. The stakes are decisive both for creation and for the remuneration of authors, composers and music publishers. This is also true for the entire music business, in a context that is particularly difficult and threatening for the future of culture in our country".

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EMA NOMINATIONS OUT
The nominations are out for MTV's European Music Awards, which take place in Liverpool this year, on 6 Nov. And Coldplay, Duffy and Britney Spears lead the proceedings with three nominations each, while Rihanna, Miley Cyrus and Jonas Brothers also appear on the shortlists. MTV have also confirmed Beyonce will play at the European awards bash - the first act to be revealed.

Anyway, here's your full list of nominations...

Album Of The Year: Alicia Keys - As I Am, Britney Spears - Blackout, Coldplay - Viva La Vida or Death And All His Friends, Duffy - Rockferry, Leona Lewis - Spirit.

Headliner: Foo Fighters, Linkin' Park, Metallica, The Cure, Tokio Hotel.

Most Addictive Track: Coldplay - Viva La Vida, Duffy - Mercy, Katy Perry - I Kissed A Girl, Kid Rock - All Summer Long, Pink - So What.

New Act: Duffy, Jonas Brothers, Katy Perry, Miley Cyrus, One Republic.

Act of 2008: Amy Winehouse, Britney Spears, Coldplay, Leona Lewis, Rihanna

Ultimate Urban: Alicia Keys, Beyonce, Chris Brown, Kanye West, Lil Wayne

Rock Out: 30 Seconds to Mars, Linkin Park, Metallica, Paramore, Slipknot.

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CONNIE HAINES DIES
Big band singer Connie Haines has died from a neuromuscular disease at the age of 87.

Haines, born Yvonne Marie Antoinette JaMais in Savannah, Georgia, began singing at the age of five, and at the age of nine had her own radio show. By the time she was a 18, she was working with Frank Sinatra and the Tommy Dorsey Band, establishing herself as one of the top female singers of the big band era. Once the fashion for big band waned, she became a solo artist, and, during the course of her career, released more than 200 recordings and became the first white artist to record on the Motown label. She also had something of an acting career, appearing in a number of films in the forties and fifties, and also touring with comedians Bud Abbott and Lou Costello.

She is survived by her mother Mildred, who is 109, a son, a daughter, and three grandchildren.

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DJ AM OUT OF HOSPITAL
DJ AM has been released from a specialist hospital in Georgia. As you will undoubtedly remember, he and Travis Barker were both admitted to the facility following their escape from the burning wreckage of a crashed Learjet last weekend. Both suffered third degree burns in the incident, which claimed the lives of the jet's pilots, as well as two other passengers.

A spokeswoman for DJ AM, aka Adam Goldstein, has said that he was "deeply saddened" by what happened and added that he is "thankful for all of the love and support he has been receiving from fans and friends". A spokesperson for the hospital was unable to say when Barker would be released.

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BUSTA MAKES IT TO ORANGE GIG
Busta Rhymes made it to the Orange RockCorps gig on time. As previously reported, the rap star, aka Trevor Smith was detained at City Airport on Thursday after arriving in the UK to play the concert, and authorities had been going to send him back to Amsterdam, which is where he arrived in the UK from, all because of "unresolved convictions" in the US. A high court judge subsequently ruled that he should be released pending a full hearing, but he was still being held on Friday, and concert organisers had lined up Ludacris to take the rapper's place if he couldn't show. Another hearing was held on Friday morning, and Mr Justice Stadlen ruled that he be allowed to perform because of the fans. He said: "What weighs in the balance is not just what effect that would have on Mr Smith [Rhymes], to which I pay considerably less regard than the effect on the 4,000 volunteers who would be disappointed if he didn't perform this evening".

So, he made it to the event, a concert for 5,000 young people who have taken part in volunteer projects, at London's Royal Albert Hall. Spokesman for Orange RockCorps called his performance "absolutely incredible after everything Busta had been through".

Rhymes told the BBC that he'd had no idea that it would happen, explaining: "Lady took my passport, she said you have been red flagged, so I said for what? And she said didn't anybody notify you and tell you that you was going to have a possible problem getting into the country? So I said no. So she said well have a seat, I need to go into the back room and investigate what this red flag is about".

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KANYE ESCAPES FELONY CHARGES OVER CAMERA INCIDENT
LA county prosecutors have said that they won't be pressing felony charges against Kanye West in relation to that previously reported incident in which West went for a member of the paparazzi, and in which a camera got broken. He may, however, face misdemeanour charges, but a decision about that isn't expected until next week.

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LED ZEP TOUR ON, SAY REPORTS
The Sun claims that a Led Zeppelin reunion tour is on for next year, after Robert Plant agreed to join in. As previously reported, Plant had been resistant to the idea, but remaining members John Paul Jones, Jimmy Page and Jason [son of John] Bonham apparently had been keen enough to decide that they'd do it without Plant and draft in a replacement if necessary. Now, though, claims the tabloid, Plant says he'll do it. They quote a source as saying: "They were all over the moon when he them the news. They are now forging ahead with tour plans and can't wait to get on the road".

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SPIES UNCOVER KYLIE TERROR PLOT
More tabloid claims, now, and these are from The Daily Star. The paper reports that spies have uncovered a terrorist plot involving Kylie Minogue's previously reported upcoming performance at the Atlantis Hotel in Dubai. They quote a British Embassy spokesperson as saying "We believe terrorists may be planning to carry out attacks in the United Arab Emirates. Attacks could be indiscriminate and could happen at any time, including in places frequented by expatriates and foreign travellers".

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EMINEM ALBUM STUFF
Eminem's new studio album, out in December via Intercope, will reportedly be entitled 'King Mathers'. And that's all really.

Unless you'd like to hear what this "source close to the rapper" apparently told the News Of The World: "[He] is out to realise his full potential. It's exciting times and, of course, there's massive expectation surrounding this new record. But the fans need not worry about its quality. Most of the music's being mastered at the moment. There's a real belief the album will go stellar".

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JOY DIVISION MANAGER'S NOTEBOOKS PUBLISHED
A book of notes written by late Joy Division manager Rob Gretton will be published on 7 Oct. The book, published by Gretton's widow, Lesley Gilbert, will also include a foreword by Jon Savage.

The notes within will cover such subjects as the making of Joy Division's 'Unknown Pleasures' album, the US tour that was cancelled following Ian Curtis' suicide and various ideas for the name of the band that eventually became New Order.

Just 1500 copies of '1 Top Class Manager: The Notebooks of Joy Division's Manager 1978-1980' will be published and made available via www.1topclassmanager.co.uk.

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SINGLE REVIEW: Wild Beasts - Brave Bulging Buoyant Clairvoyants (Domino)
Wild Beasts, on this evidence, are not a band I will be rushing to see in the near future. True, they are definitely an interesting prospect. They combine high camp with complex and eclectic music, perhaps mixed with a bit of Vaudeville music hall. But this amalgamation, within the rather dull confines of the current chart indie music scene, makes one wonder if Wild Beasts are indulging in a pseudo-intellectual joke. The vocal delivery is highly irritating - if proficient - ranging from growl to strained falsetto. And it is hideously overproduced with the aural undulations of superfluous knob-twiddling and corny delay effects on the guitars, which go down well in indie clubs but are fundamentally The Edge from U2's crappy legacy. Its multiple rhythms and slightly tropical (in the way Kia Ora is) musical affectations have to fight for space with the less endearing aspects of the song. And they lose. PG
Release Date: 13 Oct
Press Contact: Domino IH [all]

Buy from iTunes
Buy from Amazon

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SMITHS COLLECTION TO BE RELEASED
A collection of The Smiths' singles, rarities and suchlike, entitled 'The Sound Of The Smiths' is to be released in November, which sounds like the ideal Christmas present for me, actually. Morrissey apparently came up with the name, and Johnny Marr has supervised the remastering of the LP, which will be available as one of two versions: a one disc version containing singles and songs originally intended to be singles, and a two disc version, the second disc of which will feature rare B-sides and live recordings. Both will also be available as a download. I think I'd like the version with the extra disc, by the way.

Here's your tracklisting:

Disc One:

Hand In Glove
This Charming Man
What Difference Does It Make? (John Peel Session)
Still Ill
Heaven Knows I'm Miserable Now
William, It Was Really Nothing
How Soon Is Now? (12-inch vinyl version)
Nowhere Fast
Shakespeare's Sister
Barbarism Begins At Home (seven-inch vinyl version)
That Joke Isn't Funny Anymore
The Headmaster Ritual
The Boy With The Thorn In His Side
Bigmouth Strikes Again
There Is A Light That Never Goes Out
Panic
Ask
You Just Haven't Earned It Yet, Baby'
Shoplifters of the World Unite
Sheila Take a Bow
Girlfriend in a Coma
I Started Something I Couldn't Finish
Last Night I Dreamt That Somebody Loved Me

Disc Two:

Jeane
Handsome Devil (Live)
This Charming Man (New York Vocal)
Wonderful Woman
Back To The Old House
These Things Take Time
Girl Afraid
Please, Please, Please Let Me Get What I Want
Stretch Out And Wait
Oscillate Wildly
Meat Is Murder (Live)
Asleep
Money Changes Everything
The Queen Is Dead
Vicar In A Tutu
Cemetry Gates
Half A Person
Sweet And Tender Hooligan
Pretty Girls Make Graves (Troy Tate Demo)
Stop me If You Think You've Heard This One Before
What's The World? (Live)
London (Live)

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BLAH BLAH CHINESE DEMOCRACY BLAH BLAH RELEASE DATE BLAH
So, apparently Guns N' Roses' near-mythical new album 'The Chinese Democracy' is going to be released in the US on 25 Nov and, as expected, will be sold exclusively by Best Buy. According to reports, the band's manager, Andy Gould, informed 900 employees of the retail chain of the release date and played them a selection of songs from the album last week.

Of course, if this is true, Dr Pepper will then have to follow-up on their offer to give every person in America a free drink. Don't think we've forgotten, Dr Pepper. And we're not even American.

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SNEAKY SOUND SYSTEM 'UFO' VIDEO
Sneaky Sound System's rather good new single 'UFO' is out on 27 Oct. Check out the pretty cool video for the track, which is a mix of Kylie Minogue and '2001: A Space Odyssey', here.

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MADONNA PROMOTERS WILL BE FINED OVER WEMBLEY LATE RUN
So, it seems promoters of that recent Madonna Wembley show have been fined £135,000 after a late start meant the concert broke the venue's 10.30pm curfew.

It was originally thought the late finish, which breaks Wembley rules, would result in a fine - similar to that given to promoters of a George Michael concert last year - but the day after the gig Madge's people denied the finishing time was contractual. But new reports suggest that in fact it was, and that the singer's promoters will now have to cover the cost of the fine.

It's not clear why Madonna went on stage so late. The curfew rule exists so that the local tube network has time to cope with the 90,000 concert-goers rushing out of the venue before it shuts down for the night just after midnight.

As previously reported, some gig-goers said their biggest gripe on the night wasn't the late start but the poor sound quality, although Madge's people denied there were any technical problems. Then again, they did also deny there'd be a fine.

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RAZORLIGHT ANNOUNCE UK TOUR
Johnny Borrell has arranged several viewing parties for his new tattoo. Well, assuming he actually got the line "She lives on Disillusion Row" from the band's new single 'Wire To Wire' inked on his skin as he promised. If not, you'll just have to make do with hearing the band play some of their songs. The band's new album, 'Slipway Fires' is released on 3 Nov.

Tour dates:

10 Nov: Exeter, University
11 Nov: Bristol, Academy
13 Nov: London, Brixton Academy
14 Nov: Portsmouth, Guildhall
16 Nov: Edinburgh, Corn Exchange
17 Nov: Leeds, Academy
18 Nov: Glasgow, Barrowlands
20 Nov: Manchester, Apollo
21 Nov: Cambridge, Corn Exchange
23 Nov: Lincoln, Engine Shed
24 Nov: Wolverhampton, Civic

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THE DUDES LIVE DATES
Canada's The Dudes, who are currently all over the airwaves, with support from NME Radio - Dermot O'Leary, Colin Murray, Huw Stephens and that Steve Lamaq bloke - will be over in the UK this week for some gigs, the first of which will be with Ladyhawk. That's Ladyhawk the rock band signed to Jagjaguwar, rather than Modular's Ladyhawke, by the way.

Tour dates:

29 Sep: Bristol, St Bonaventures (with Ladyhawk)
30 Sep: Cardiff, Clwb Ifor Bach (with Ladyhawk)
1 Oct: London, The Borderline (with Ladyhawk)
2 Oct: London, Bloombury Bowling Lanes
3 Oct: London, Brixton Windmill

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ALBUM REVIEW: The Vines - Melodia (Cooking Vinyl)
Many people, me included, were not sure that The Vines would make it to their fourth album. However, after the Australian band's troubled singer Craig Nicholls was diagnosed with Aspergers Syndrome a couple of years ago they re-emerged with their fine 'Vision Valley' album and also returned to the UK for some exceptional live performances. Now they continue to do what they do very well with this fourth album. Very few artists are genuine innovators, and The Vines aren't either; like their garage rock contemporaries The Hives, their sound has evolved very little over time. But it's a good sound nevertheless. 'Melodia' follows the pattern set by their previous album, short, sharp bursts of spontaneous raucous energy, punctuated by mellow ballads. Opening track 'Get Out' is a good example of the former, while 'Kara Jayne' is a lovely representation of the latter. Although the fast and furious rock 'n' roll is one of the band's trademarks, on this album it is the slow songs that impress the most: 'As III' with its slow woozy guitar and sweet harmonies along with the simple but heart wrenching 'A Girl I Knew' are gorgeous, exquisite songs. It's a good album, but assuming The Vines make it to their fifth album, they might be pushing their luck if they continue in exactly the same vein; a little bit of a change would be good, though for now it's good to have them back and continuing to make great music. JW
Release date: 6 Oct
Press contact: Cooking Vinyl IH [all]

Buy from iTunes
Buy from Amazon

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KID ROCK SWITCHES PUBLISHERS
Kid Rock has signed a new publishing deal with Kobalt Music Group, which means the independent music publishers will administrate the worldwide publishing rights of his 'Rock N Roll Jesus' album, including synchronization rights for film, TV, advertising, games and other media.

The company's CEO and founder Willard Ahdritz, told CMU: "We are thrilled to have formed this new relationship with Kid Rock and Vector Management. He's a tremendous talent and we look forward to a long, fruitful relationship".

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MUXTAPE TO RELAUNCH
Muxtape, the online mixtape service which was shut down after legal action by the Recording Industry Association Of America earlier this year, is to relaunch as a service exclusively for bands. As far as I can see, it'll be much like MySpace Music, except that it'll probably work properly, which can be no bad thing. Though it won't boast MySpace's massive existing membership, which will obviously hinder it a little.

The man behind the site, which allowed users to upload their own MP3 playlists with a view to introducing new music to those who surfed the site, has also published a lengthy account of his dealings with the US record industry, claiming that he had been in talks with the major record companies about getting his service properly licenced just as the US record industry's trade body was taking legal action to have them closed down.

Founder Justin Ouellette writes: "There was a popular misconception that Muxtape only survived because it was 'flying under the radar', and the moment the major labels found out about it it'd be shut down. In actuality, the labels and the RIAA read websites like everyone else, and I heard from them both within a week or so [of launch - in March 2008]. The first red flag came in August. Up until then all the discussion had been about numbers, but as we closed in on an agreement the talk shifted to things like guaranteed placement and 'marketing opportunities'. I was denied the possibility of releasing a mobile version of Muxtape. My flexibility was being constricted. I had been worried about Muxtape getting a fair deal, but my biggest concern all along was maintaining the integrity and experience of the site (one of the reasons I wanted to license in the first place). Now it wasn't so simple; I had agreed to a variety of encroachments into Muxtape's financials because I wanted to play ball, but giving up any kind of editorial or creative control was something I had a much harder time swallowing".

He continues: "I was wrestling with this when, on 15 Aug, I received notice from Amazon Web Services that they had received a complaint from the RIAA. Per Amazon's terms, I had one business day to remove an incredibly long list of songs or face having my servers shut down and data deleted. I moved the domain name to a new server with a short message and the very real expectation that I could get it sorted out. I still thought it was all just a big mistake. I was wrong. Over the next week I learned a little more, mainly that the RIAA moves quite autonomously from their label parents and that the understanding I had with them didn't necessarily carry over. I also learned that none of the labels were especially interested in helping me out, and from their perspective it had no bearing on the negotiations. And so I made one of the hardest decisions I've ever faced: I walked away from the licensing deals. They had become too complex for a site founded on simplicity, too restrictive and hostile to continue to innovate the way I wanted to".

Read the full account at www.muxtape.com

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PANDORA MAN ASKS USERS TO LOBBY ON HIS BEHALF
Also writing directly to music fans about his dealings with the music business is Pandora founder Tim Westergren, though his problem isn't with the record industry but with the US radio sector.

As much previously reported, there has been much negotiating going on in the US between online music services and the record labels and their online collecting society SoundExchange regarding the royalties both online-only radio stations and more interactive services like Pandora have to pay to music owners.

Westergren reports that negotiations between Pandora, SoundExchange and the Recording Industry Association Of America are now gaining momentum, but they need more time than was originally allowed by the US Congress, who set a deadline for the voluntary resolution of the latest royalty dispute.

Several Congressmen have proposed to give the required extra time but, according to Westergren, the National Association Of Broadcasters, which represents traditional terrestrial radio stations, is lobbying other Congressmen to block that proposal. The Pandora man says the big traditional radio firms see this as an opportunity to halt positive discussions between the web services and the content owners, something they'd like to do because they don't want services like Pandora to get more favourable royalty deals, because, if they do, they'll be better able to compete with the big boys of old school radio.

Westergren emailed his US subscription base on Friday urging them to lobby their local Congress representatives to ensure the proposed postponement of the deadline on the royalty negotiations was approved. He wrote in his email: "The National Association of Broadcasters, which represents radio broadcasters such as Clear Channel, has begun intensively pressuring lawmakers to kill the bill. We have just days to keep this from collapsing. This is a blatant attempt by large radio companies to suffocate the webcasting industry that is just beginning to offer an alternative to their monopoly of the airwaves. Please call your Congressperson right now and ask them to support HR 7084, the Webcaster Settlement Act of 2008 - and to not capitulate to pressure from the NAB. Congress is currently working extended hours, so even calls this evening and over the weekend should get answered".

As previously reported, Pandora is no longer available in the UK because the service has not yet managed to negotiate a royalty deal with UK content owners.

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HONG KONG IPHONE NOT TIED TO NETWORK
The first iPhone which is not locked to a specific network has launched. So far the Apple iPod-mobile hybrid has been brought to market via exclusivity deals with one or another of the mobile networks, meaning that in any one territory consumers half to switch to Apple's chosen tel co if they want one of the devices - in the UK it's O2.

However in Hong Kong no such exclusivity deal exists on the latest iPhone, meaning that, in the words of the Apple Store there, you "simply insert the SIM from your current phone into iPhone 3G and connect to iTunes 8 to complete activation".

It's not clear if the phones will only work with SIM cards from a Hong Kong mobile network, or if they will work with SIM cards from tel cos in other territories also. Then again, even if they do, with the iPhone retailing for over £100 more in Hong Kong than the UK, I'm not sure it would be worth the while of non-O2 customers heading over there to get one.

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EMI LAUNCHES OWN DOWNLOAD STORE IN AUSTRALIA
EMI has launched its own download platform in Australia called Musicheadmp3.com. It will sell around half a million tracks from across the EMI catalogue as MP3. EMI Australia chief Mark Poston told reporters: "Our goal is always to offer consumers the best possible digital music experience - in all senses of the word. EMI was the first of the majors to provide DRM-free downloads and I see this as a further extension of our commitment to making the music from our extraordinary artists readily available (and legally) - to Australian consumers whenever and wherever they want it".

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Q LOOKS BEYOND MUSIC IN REVAMP
Q magazine has revealed more information about its upcoming redesign, which will be seen for the first time in its November edition, and perhaps most interesting isn't the new look but the new content, which reportedly sees the Bauer-owned title expand beyond its traditional music remit to include more features on films, books, gadgets and travel.

Some media commentators say the new-look Q will be more like it's IPC-owned rival Uncut, which has always included coverage of entertainment other than music, and that the editorial shift is an attempt by the market-leader music monthly to combat the industry wide decline in music magazine sales. All that said, AC/DC's Angus Young will appear on the cover of the first new-look edition with his band giving its first interview in eight years, and many of the new features will often have a music bias.

Confirming the revamp, the magazine's Editor In Chief Paul Rees told reporters: "I believe Q now offers a genuinely different take on music and entertainment in general, befitting its status as a market leading magazine".

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COMPETITION TRIBUNAL TO RULE ON BSKYB'S ITV STAKE
The long awaited Competition Appeal Tribunal decision on BSkyB's controversial stake in ITV is expected today. As previously reported, Sky has appealed a ruling made by the Competition Commission last year that it is anti-competitive for it to have a 17.9% stake in one of its main competitors, and that it should reduce its shareholding to less than 7.5%.

If Sky is forced to sell some of its stake in ITV, a number of other media firms are said to be interested into buying into the UK's original commercial broadcaster, including German conglom and BMG owner Bertelsmann, who are said to be interested in investing some of the money it is making from selling its half of SonyBMG to Sony Corp into the British TV sector, where it already has an interest through its RTL division, which owns Channel Five. However, other bidders are said to be interested too, which is good news for Sky who feared that a forced share sale would reduce the value of their stake in ITV.

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CHART UPDATE
It's all change in the singles chart this week. Well, it's not, but there has been more change than there's been in other weeks recently. Kings Of Leon and Katy Perry are still holding on to the two top spots, Rhianna slides up to three, from five, Pussycat Dolls slide down to four, from three, and Iglu & Hartley move all the way from 14 to five, despite being awful. Gym Class Heroes and Ne-Yo effuse to move from their positions at six and nine, but the rest of the top ten is made up of brand new entries, with James Morrison at seven, Sugababes at eight and Faith Hill at ten.

Elsewhere in the singles chart, Kanye West moves from 84 to 16 with 'Love Lockdown', Jack White and Alicia Keys go straight in at 26 with their Bond theme, 'Another Way To Die', Kings Of Leon make their second entry in the chart, with 'Use Somebody', which goes in at 29, and The Jonas Brothers follow them at 30. There are a couple more big movers in the top 30, with Demi Lovato and Joe Jonas moving from 91 to 33 with 'This Is Me' and Ironik moving from 128 to 35 with 'I Wanna Be Your Man'. And last up is Pink, who enters the chart at 38 with 'So What'.

Over to the album charts now, where Kings Of Leon continue to dominate, with their new album, 'Only By The Night', going straight in at number one, as well as 'Because Of The Times' holding at number 12, 'Aha Shake Heartbreak' staying in the top 30 at 36, and 'Youth & Young Manhood' at 45. The Pussycat Dolls go straight in at number four with 'Doll Domination', Bette Midler's 'The Best Of Bette' enters at number six, McFly prove that giving away your album for free doesn’t necessarily hurt sales, going straight in at eight, and Dave Gilmour's 'Live In Gdansk' brings up the rear at number 10. Also notable are last week's number one, Metallica's 'Death magnetic', which slips to number seven, and Katy Perry's 'One Of The Boys', which moves from 153 to 11.

Moving away from the top of the album chart, new entries become more sporadic. Will Martin is the highest outside the top ten, going in at 21, TV On The Radio go in at 33, Mogwai reach 35, and Dave Edmunds' greatest hits album slips in at 38. Despite a strong TV campaign, Armand Van Helden's best of just misses the top 40, going in at 41.

The chart comes from the Official Chart Company - www.theofficialcharts.com

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TOTAL ROCK WORLD ALBUM CHART
It's the Total Rock World Album Chart, as counted down on Total Rock over the weekend - www.totalrock.com. New entries and re-entries marked with a *.

1. Slipknot - All Hope Is Gone (Warner/Roadrunner)
2. Kid Rock - Rock - N Roll Jesus (Warner/Atlantic)
3. Metallica - Death Magnetic (Universal/Mercury)*
4. Linkin Park - Minutes To Midnight (Warner Bros)
5. Disturbed - Indestructible (Warner/Reprise)
6. Dragonforce - Ultra Beatdown (Warner/Roadrunner)
7. Underoath - Lost In The Sound Of Separation (Solid State)
8. Metallica - Metallica (Universal/Mercury)*
9. Nickelback - All The Right Reasons (Warner/Roadrunner)
10. Queen - Greatest Hits 1,2,3 (EMI)
11. Motorhead - Motorizer (SPV)
12. Daughtry - Daughtry (SonyBMG)
13. The Offspring - Rise And Fall, Rage And Grace (SonyBMG)
14. Staind - The Illusion Of Progress (Warner/Roadrunner)
15. 3 Doors Down - 3 Doors Down (Republic)
16. Led Zeppelin - Mothership (Warner/Atlantic)
17. Lynyrd Skynyrd - Greatest Hits (Universal/MCA)
18. Buckcherry - Black Butterfly (Warner/Eleven Seven Music)*
19. Weezer - Weezer (Universal/Interscope)
20. Journey - Revelation (Frontiers)

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SUB.TV PLAYLIST
Yes, it's the return for the Sub.tv playlist, the videos played on the Sub.tv network of screens in students' unions around the UK this coming week. Hurrah. More info from [email protected]

A-List
Bloc Party - Talons
Cage The Elephant - In One Ear
Glasvegas - Daddy's Gone
Iglu & Hartly - In This City
John Legend feat Andre 3000 - Green Light
Kaiser Chiefs - Never Miss A Beat
Katy Perry - I Kissed A Girl
The Kooks - Sway
The Last Shadow Puppets - My Mistakes Were Made For You
MIA - Paper Planes
Ne-Yo - Miss Independent
Nickelback - Far Away
Oasis - The Shock Of The Lightning
Rihanna - Disturbia
Sway feat. Lemar - Saturday Night Hustle
Those Dancing Days - Home Sweet Home

B-List
The All New Adventures Of Us - Firetruck (doki doki)
Ben Folds feat. Regina Spektor - You Don't Know Me
Crystal Castles - Crimewave
The Dodos - Fools
Fighting With Wire - All For Nothing
Ivyrise - Disguise
Jordin Sparks - Tattoo
London Elektricity - All Hell Is Breaking Loose
Noah and The Whale - Shape Of My Heart
Olympus Mons - Let The First Time Be The Last
Pendulum - Granite
Raghav feat. Redman - My Kinda Girl
Sky Larkin - Fossil, I
To The Bones - Rex
The Vines - He's A Rocker
Wild Beasts - Brave Bulging Buoyant Clairvoyants

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BOY GEORGE WALKS OUT OF INTERVIEW
Boy George walked out of an interview for Smooth Radio recently, after the chat got onto the subject of his split from Culture Club. Questioned about drugs and his arrest in New York by presenter Tony Lyman, he apparently seemed jovial and happy enough to answer questions, but then suddenly disappeared when asked if there was a connection between his drug taking and his departure from the band. He left the studio saying "I really don't want to do this interview... I'm sorry but I'm just not doing it".

Interviewer Lyman said: "We were doing the interview via a studio link and I thought we'd got off to a good start. Boy George was giving some very honest answers. But then the air went dead, never a good thing in radio, and I realised he'd gone".

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MINOGUE THREATENS TO QUIT X-FACTOR
X-Factor judge Dannii Minogue has threatened to quit, it's claimed, because she doesn't feel she's getting enough screen time lately, and that new judge Cheryl Cole's been getting all the attention. As previously reported, the pair have apparently been rubbing each other up the wrong way. A source told The Mirror: "Simon somehow wants to keep the peace between Cheryl and Dannii and avoid the feud turning into a full-blown crisis. He wants Dannii to stay and is desperate for the show and the judges to remain as they are. He's been absolutely thrilled with the impact that Cheryl has had though. It's been nothing short of sensational. She has the perfect face for TV and is loved by the camera, the viewers and the contestants".

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RONSON GIVES THUMBS UP TO BOND THEME
Mark Ronson has revealed that there are no hard feelings after he and Amy Winehouse were beaten in the competition to record the new Bond theme song by Jack White and Alicia Keyes.

Ronson told Metro: "I've listened to it and it's great. I love everything Jack White does and I can't wait to see the new Bond film".

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PRINCE TALKS DOOR-TO-DOOR PREACHING
You might think it would be weird if Prince came and knocked on your door and tried to convert you to the Bible. And it would be. But that's exactly what happens to people in America on a fairly regular basis. The singer became a Jehovah's Witness in 2001 and has since then been doing his share of the required door-to-door preaching.

Prince told USA Today: "Sometimes fans freak out. It might be a shock to see me, but that's no reason for people to act crazy, and it doesn't give them licence to chase me down the street".

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THE TING TINGS ON SLOVAKIAN RECORD SALES
The Ting Tings were amused to discover, on viewing their recent European album sales figures, that they sold a grand total of one album in Slovakia. Singer Katie White says they'd quite like to meet that person: "We found that we had sold one record in Slovakia. One lonesome album... now that to us is very funny and we would love to know who bought it because they deserve a drink on us for making us giggle with confusion".

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