OFFICE MANAGER
Cooking Vinyl are looking for an Office Manager / PA to MD. The ideal candidate is organised, works well under pressure and has an impeccable phone manner. You will also have to be familiar with Word, Excel and Outlook. The role includes full reception responsibilities, and also assisting the marketing, international and production departments when needed, as well as ensuring the office is running smoothly. Cooking Vinyl's office is in Acton, West London. Please send CV and covering letter to [email protected]. Closing date 10th October.

FEATURED ARTISTS LAUNCH NEW COALITION
Over sixty artists have signed up to join an all-new Featured Artists' Coalition, a brand new music industry body which launched at In The City in Manchester yesterday. So called 'featured artists' are basically the artists albums are formally credited to, and are therefore the artists the general public will be aware of, as opposed to the session musicians whose involvement in a record will be credited in the small print. Among the featured artists signed up to the new body are Radiohead, The Verve, Kaiser Chiefs, David Gilmour, Billy Bragg, Klaxons and Kate Nash.

The body will lobby primarily on copyright issues, which will see it joining with the rest of the recorded music community in demanding an extension of the recorded copyright, but also taking on the record companies in a bid to increase the rights and controls artists have over their recordings, and to secure artists a cut of any upfront payments labels receive in deals that are done based on the value of their recording catalogues (eg the upfront payments - in cash or equity - labels often receive from new download services in a bid to secure their involvement). The Coalition will also advocate the 'use it or lose it' philosophy, whereby artists who find their labels are unwilling or unable to make their music commercially available could regain control of the recordings, so they can do so themselves.

It is in winning artists more rights over the record labels where the Coalition will have a very different remit to the also recently created music trade body UK Music. That body, launched last week through the reinvention of British Music Rights, also represents artists and their managers, but does so alongside the record companies so can't represent artists where their aims are in conflict to those of the labels.

The Coalition identified six aims for its lobbying activity at its launch yesterday, most of which will make more sense to a music lawyer than most of the artists the body represents, but here they are anyway. The Coalition would like to see...

1. An agreement by the music industry that artists should receive fair compensation whenever their business partners receive an economic return from the exploitation of the artists' work.

2. All transfers of copyright should be by license rather than by assignment, and limited to 35 years.

3. The 'making available' right should be monetized on behalf of featured artistes and all other performers.

4. Rights' owners to be obliged to follow a 'use it or lose it' approach to the copyrights they control.

5. The rights for performers should be the same as those for authors (songwriters, lyricists and composers).

6. A change to UK copyright law which will end the commercial exploitation of unlicensed music purporting to be used in conjunction with 'critical reviews'.

The new body has seemingly been masterminded, in the main, by the artist management community, and in that regard can be seen as part of the previously discussed shift in power in the music business between the record labels and the music managers.

The latter are arguably becoming more powerful because the internet enables artists and their managers to reach and sell direct to consumers without using the traditional label-controlled retail network, while managers have also often retained control over those parts of an artist's career that are increasingly profitable - merchandise and brand partnerships in particular.

While new artists still often rely on record companies for initial financial investment, and may be global marketing support, more established artists are starting to find other sources of funding and marketing expertise, which gives them more leverage with the major record companies who are keen to maintain relationships with top name artists. Many artists and managers have used that leverage to gain more rights over their back catalogues, ownership of which often lies with the labels. Those negotiations, though, have been on an artist-by-artist basis, whereas the Coalition will look to increase artist control over their own recordings on an industry-wide basis.

Commenting on the new organisation, Brian Message, co-manager of Radiohead and Kate Nash, told CMU: "It is time for artists to have a strong collective voice to stand up for their interests. The digital landscape is changing fast and new deals are being struck all the time, but all too often without reference to the people who actually make the music. Just look at the recent MoU on file-sharing between labels, government and the ISPs. Artists were not involved. The Featured Artists' Coalition will help all artists, young and old, well-known or not, drive overdue change through the industry in their interests and those of fans".

The Verve's manager, Jazz Summers, added: "The Featured Artists' Coalition is an organisation for artists, which will be run by artists. It will ensure that in future the voice of artists is properly heard in discussions with music and technology companies, trade organisations and most importantly, with government. It will also seek to improve the treatment of artists within the business and campaign to update laws and practices that better reflect the new music landscape. Digital technology gives artists the opportunity to control their future - this is the time to seize that opportunity".

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KID ROCK GOES DIGITAL VIA REAL
Kid Rock, who has been refusing to sell his music via the major US download stores, and talking up that decision quite a lot of late, has announced he will make his entire catalogue available via Real Networks' Rhapsody, which is quite a coup for the iTunes rival. Fans will only, however, be able to download full albums, and not individual album tracks. Rock is another artist who objects to Apple's insistence fans can pick and choose tracks from an album rather than having to buy a whole long player.

In a statement confirming the Kid Rock deal, Rhapsody's Lacy Kemp confirmed that Rock's music would only be available for full album download, adding: "Why is he choosing Rhapsody as his outlet? Because we're willing to sell his albums as a whole, rather than just the songs. And we're the only place to have them. It's the way he wants his music heard, and we're psyched to help him out".

It is thought the Kid Rock deal will also see Rhapsody make exclusive content from the US rocker available to customers of its subscription-based digital music service, while Real's partners in Rhapsody - MTV - are also set to co-promote the arrangement on their TV channels, which might have been another attraction to the Rock camp of the Real proposition.

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JACKSON CANCELS FOURTH SHOW
Janet Jackson cancelled a fourth show this weekend as she recovers from that previously reported undisclosed illness, which forced a gig in Montreal to be cancelled right at the last minute last week. Jackson's people won't comment on the singer's condition, except to say she is now "recuperating".

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NATALIE COLE OUT OF HOSPITAL
Also recuperating is Natalie Cole who, as previously reported, was recently hospitalised as a result of illness brought on by hepatitis C, the liver disease which she discovered she was suffering from during a routine health check earlier this year. Cole had been in hospital since 12 Sep for treatment, but was released from the facility last week and is now, according to her spokeswoman, "feeling a lot better". The spokeswomen also revealed Cole had been receiving kidney dialysis while in hospital, though that is not related to the hepatitis. She couldn't comment on if and when Cole would return to the stage to promote new album 'Still Unforgettable'.

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DJ VADIM DIAGNOSED WITH RARE CANCER
Prolific DJ and producer DJ Vadim, real name Vadim Peare, was diagnosed last week with Ocular Melanoma, or cancer of the eye.

He was treated immediately for the rare form of cancer at the Liverpool Royal Hospital, by an eye specialist who used a groundbreaking keyhole surgery to preserve the eye. Vadim's PA Ben Dawson told CMU that the DJ had been discharged and is making "a good recovery".

This sudden turn of events means that all Vadim gigs have been cancelled for the next month, with more cancellations possible, depending on the speed of his recovery.

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KANYE WEST TOO HOT FOR TV
A new improvised comedy show fronted by Kanye West has been deemed "too hardcore" by execs at US TV station HBO. Bosses at the company were left shocked at the pilot episode of the programme, which is influenced by HBO's 'Curb Your Enthusiasm'.

Director Larry Charles said: "HBO doesn't have a good track record when it comes to black shows, and I felt like that may have had something to do with it also. People gave it a very good response, and it seems to be on the shelf right now. The management has shifted at HBO so we're waiting to see".

Of Kanye, Charles said: "He's so much funnier than people realise. Even the whole being-full-of-himself stuff is a joke to him, and he likes to play that of being like, you know, Kanye. And he's kind of a brilliant guy actually".

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GROOVERIDER DISCUSSES PRISON STAY
Radio 1 DJ Grooverider has been talking about his stay in a Dubai prison for cannabis possession. As previously reported, he was released ten months into his four year sentence last month as one of the 700 pardons granted each year by the Dubai Royal Family during the Muslim festival of Ramadan.

He told BBC Newsbeat: "I got on a plane to go to Dubai to play a gig. I was picking up my luggage and the customs inspector came over to me and he said, 'Can I check on your bags', and I said, 'Yeah, of course', because I didn't think nothing was wrong. He checked through my bags and found nothing. Then he found a bit of dust in the trouser pocket. It was marijuana but it was a very, very small piece. It was just under a joint that was loose in the pocket that had been washed out. So they just arrested me at that point on suspicion of having marijuana. The mad thing was he told me that this, 'Was not a problem, we'll arrest you now but we'll send you home'. I thought well fair enough that's normal. At the end of the day they don't like what's in my bag and they've got every right to send me home".

Of his sentence, he said: "I didn't even go in the court, I just know I got four years for nothing. But there's nothing you can do. It is frustrating but you've just got to take it".

He described hearing the news that he was to be released as a "relief just knowing it was coming to an end".

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MDMA RECLASSIFICTION DISCUSSIONS TAKE PLACE IN LONDON
As expected, experts met in London last week to discuss the case for the reclassification of MDMA, the active ingredient in ecstasy, from a Class A to a Class B drug.

Professor Val Curran of UCL said that studies linking ecstasy to depression and memory loss were "meaningless". She said: "We have not found [one] person who was dependent on ecstasy. The people who used it were actually a bit less depressed. There's no robust evidence of long-term effects. Further research is needed".

All this debate may be fruitless, though. As the British government has already refused to consider the reclassification of MDMA "whatever the evidence".

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SINGLE REVIEW: A Place To Bury Strangers - I Know I'll See You (Rocket Girl)
Brooklyn based noise-mongers A Place To Bury Strangers have already been touted as New York City's loudest band, a mighty feat to live up to considering the city has already dealt us folks like Liars and Interpol. A preview for the November release of their eponymous album, 'I Know I'll See You' sounds like a cross between Bauhaus and classic New Order; psychedelic and fuzzy, an echoing drone of sharp guitar effects and dark, monotonous vocals. It's a great ball of electric wire tangled up in rough, old-school production; a guarantee to set hipster tongues a-wagging. All hail the new kings of loud. TW
Release Date: 20 Oct
Press Contact: Impressive [all]

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BEYONCE FILLS FANS IN ON NEW ALBUM
Beyonce has confirmed that she will release her new album in the US on 18 Nov, in a message to fans published on her MySpace page.

She said: "I want to talk to my fans about my upcoming album. I have worked on this album for close to one year. I have taken the time so I can create my sound, something that says who I am at this stage in my life. I have poured my heart and soul into it. It is my baby. It is the most time I have spent on any project since my first records as a member of Destiny's Child when I was 15 years old. I have recorded over 70 songs and have created a sound that reveals all of me. I am in a different place right now and I wanted people to see the many sides of me. The music is upbeat for the dance, fun side and it is reflective, passionate and serious for the personal side. I have taken risks here. I am not afraid and my music will explain it all. There is no label or tag on my sound. It's me and I am so excited to share it with the world on 18 Nov".

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NEW GILBERT & SULLIVAN ALBUM TO BE RELEASED
Sony Music are set to release an album of music by Gilbert & Sullivan, what is set to be the first major release of songs by the comic opera creators in 25 years. The new album, to be called 'The Best of Gilbert & Sullivan', follows recent more populist productions of shows by the duo featuring celebrities like Jo Brand and Alistair McGowan.

For the new album, which will including songs from the likes of 'Pirates Of Penzance', 'The Mikado' and 'HMS Pinafore', a new quintet group has been put together called Gala Ensemble, which features Sally Johnson (soprano), Elinor Moran (soprano), Hannah Pedley (mezzo soprano), Jonathan Prentice (baritone) and Richard Sidaway (tenor).

Confirming the project, Sony Music's Richard Hinkley told reporters: "For music that's been loved and performed for over 100 years, there's something incredibly refreshing about Gilbert & Sullivan. It stands so distinctly apart from conventional classical music, opera and pop and I think that explains not just its enduring popularity, but its recent resurgence. We feel the time is now right to restore this music to its rightful place - thrilling large numbers of people".

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BRAND NEW MISTY'S
The brand new Misty's Big Adventure album is out today which is, I reckon, cause for celebration. It's called 'Television's People' and it's great. And it has Gruff from Super Furry Animals guesting on it too. Do track it down, and then check Misty's out at one of the following live dates...

9 Oct: Barden's Boudoir, London
11 Oct: Boardwalk, Sheffield
13 Oct: Yorkshire House, Lancaster
18 Oct: Churchill Tavern, Ramsgate
29 Oct: Talking Heads, Southampton
13 Nov: Cockpit ,Leeds
14 Nov: Academy 2, Oxford
15 Nov: Academy 2, Newcastle
16 Nov: Barfly, Glasgow
19 Nov: Norwich Arts, Centre Norwich
20 Nov: The Charlotte, Leicester
22 Nov: Academy, Manchester
23 Nov: Bar Academy, Birmingham
26 Nov: Rescue Rooms, Nottingham
27 Nov: Fibbers, York
28 Nov: Concorde 2, Brighton
29 Nov: Islington Bar Academy, London
30 Nov: Thekla, Bristol

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ALBUM REVIEW: Deerhunter - Microcastle (Kranky)
This album builds on the palette of sounds found in frontman Bradford James Cox's Atlas Sound side-project. A mellow shoegaze fuzz, with shards of treble above and the persistent fug of effects pedals. The overall feel is a slightly opiated haze (or more aptly super-caned haze); at some points merging the subdued periods of the Velvet Underground's 'Loaded' with peaks of tired overdriven experimentalism. It is quite a relaxing listen in all, unlike its nausea-inducing antecedent, the brilliant 'Cryptograms'. Throughout, Cox's introvert vocals fit with the periods in which he samples and manipulates his voice; notably, the album finale 'Twilight At Carbon Lake'. At other points he is a vocal tick away from Animal Collective's Avey Tare ('Spirit They've Vanished' period) which is a little derivative, but not a major quarrel. Other notable moments are the title track 'Microcastle', which is quite like a Pulp song re-imagined through Deerhunter's lexicon. Which makes me think a Deerhunter/Jarvis hook up would be an unlikely gem. Whilst 'Microcastle' does not hit the spot completely as an album, the cut and paste approach to influences that Deerhunter compile is much more compelling than many of their contemporaries. If you are a Deerhunter fan it is a good listen. If not, it is a great introduction to the band at what to most people will be the more palatable end of their music. It may not be a hit in the making, but why should they care? Another nugget of goodness from Deerhunter. PG
Release Date: 27 Oct
Press Contact: 4AD IH [all]

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RAPIDSHARE ORDERED TO REMOVE ILLEGAL CONTENT
One of the less talked about, but still highly popular methods of illegal filesharing may be about to be closed off.

Although designed to allow users to legitimately send large files across the internet, German website RapidShare is often used to illegally share music. Because links to large files being shared via the service can be publicly displayed, audio files distributed this way are easily searchable via your favourite search engine, meaning the content can be accessed without having to dip into those pesky P2P networks.

But now Hamburg District Court has ruled that the site does not use sufficient measures to protect copyright owners' interest, and must now not only remove all infringing files on its servers but also proactively check all content before it goes online, at least in the case of users who are known copyright infringers.

The court rejected RapidShare's claims that providing better filtering and employing more staff to make the necessary changes would be to expensive, saying: "A business model that doesn't use common methods of prevention cannot claim the protection of the law".

So, does this mean an end to this method of filesharing? Well, no. RapidShare is one of many sites of it's type and, like when P2P networks get closed down, those who use it will quickly switch to a competing service if and when the German service obeys the court ruling and starts to crack down on illegal file sharing.

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SONY FORM 360 RELATIONSHIP WITH HIP HOP INDIE HITZ
The Zomba bit of Sony Music US has entered into a joint venture arrangement with Mickey 'MeMpHiTz' Wright which will see the major take a stake in his Hitz Committee Entertainment company, which in turn aims to become a 360 degree operation working in recordings, music production, publishing, artist and producer management and TV/film projects.

Wright is already an A&R VP for Zomba's Jive label, and the two companies have collaborated on certain artists in the past, though the new deal sees Zomba take a much bigger interest in the Hitz company - offering investment in return for a 50% cut of profits.

Ivan Gavin of Sony's BMG Label Group, of which Zomba is part, told reporters last week: "It was one of the easier decisions to make. Wright is very talented. He wants to build a brand in a broad entertainment sense and didn't want to be pigeonholed. It came down to, 'Do we believe in him and back him or do we let him go elsewhere?' So, we went back to him with a 360 type deal".

Confirming the new deal, Wright added: "This is like a Jay-Z/Live Nation type of deal. Last time, I had to let Jive hear any artist I found first, but now I can sign them to Jive or to Hitz. This is a full partnership with Jive".

Wright has worked with a number of mainly Southern US hip hop artists, both for Hitz and Jive, enjoying most success of late with T-Pain.

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SONY DIGITAL GM MOVES TO NOKIA
Elsewhere at Sony, the major's VP and GM of US Digital Sales, one Adam Mirabella, is leaving the label to go and work for Nokia where he will be Director Of Global Digital Music Retail, which may or may not include responsibility for the only slightly flawed Comes With Music all-you-can-eat music service the phone maker launched last week. According to Billboard, Mirabella will join Nokia later this month where he will report to Liz Schimel, their Head Of Global Music.

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TIXDAQ CONFIRM NEW COMMERCIAL VP
Live industry monitoring firm Tixdaq have confirmed the appointment of Steve Machin, formerly of Live Nation's Ultra-Star Entertainment and prior to that Ticketmaster, to the job of Exec VP Commercial Strategy, and he spoke in that capacity on a panel on the festivals industry at In The City yesterday.

Confirming the appointment, Tixdaq founder Will Muirhead told CMU: "Steve's appointment is a significant development in Tixdaq's mission to become a trusted supplier of information to the business and consumer markets. Steve has an unrivalled network of relationships and understanding of the ticketing industry".

Steve himself added: "Tixdaq's business intelligence has the potential to transform the live industry in the same way that the advent of the Official Charts transformed the recorded music business. By continuing our dialogue with event stakeholders we are developing a robust market view across the music, sport and theatre categories that combined with sector specific insight will benefit everyone involved in the live space. I believe that Tixdaq intelligence will help to shape the future of live entertainment - arguably one of the most dynamic sectors in the entertainment business".

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PETITION PUBLISHED TO WIND UP LASER RADIO GROUP
According to Radio Today, a petition has been submitted to wind up Laser Broadcasting Limited, which owns a number of UK local radio stations including QuayWest in Bridgwater, Fresh Radio in Skipton and Bath FM. The winding up notice follows reports the group is in financial trouble, and that landlords and some presenters were suing for unpaid rent and fees. Laser are yet to comment on the notice.

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CHART UPDATE
So, the big race in the charts this week was between Pink and Oasis. Pink was outselling Oasis midweek, and continued to do so through the weekend, bringing her up from 38 to number one in one easy step. No major surprise there then. However, what no one seemed to bank on was the fact that Oasis might not get to number two. But they haven't. Kings Of Leon may have slipped off the top spot, but they've only slipped one place, holding Oasis down at number three. There's just one other new entry in the singles top ten this week, which is Boyzone's 'I Love You Anyway' at number five.

And there's just one proper new entry elsewhere in the chart also, the often under-rated N-Dubz who slip in at 37. But there are some movers who have made their way up from the depths of the singles countdown and into the top 40, though. Platnum moves from 158 to 20 with 'Love Shy (Thinking About You)', Keane sidestep back in from 54 to 36 with 'Spiralling', as does Gabriella Cilmi with 'Sweet About Me', which moves from 65 to 38, and MGMT, who move from 60 to 39 with 'Kids'.

The album chart is far more fun, with new entries galore. Kings Of Leon hold fast at number one, but Will Young, James Morrison, Andrew Johnston and Seasick Steve are all new entries at two, three, four and eight, respectively.

As we move out of the top ten, Blake enters at 14, Trivium go in at 17, The Jonas Brothers, Travis and Ironik take 19, 20 and 21, and Val Doonican's best of goes in at 33, while Iglu & Hartly score a satisfyingly low 36, just ahead of Jennifer Hudson at 37.

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. Metallica - Death Magnetic (Universal/Mercury)
2. Kid Rock - Rock - N Roll Jesus (Warner/Atlantic)
3. Slipknot - All Hope Is Gone (Warner/Roadrunner)
4. Disturbed - Indestructible (Warner/Reprise)
5. Avenged Sevenfold - Live In The LBC/Diamonds In The Rough (Warner Bros)*
6. Buckcherry - Black Butterfly (Warner/Eleven Seven Music)
7. Linkin Park - Minutes To Midnight (Warner Bros)
8. Metallica - Metallica (Universal/Mercury)
9. Staind - The Illusion Of Progress (Warner/Roadrunner)
10. Nickelback - All The Right Reasons (Warner/Roadrunner)
11. Queen - Greatest Hits 1,2,3 (EMI)
12. Dragonforce - Ultra Beatdown (Warner/Roadrunner)
13. Underoath - Lost In The Sound Of Separation (Solid State)
14. The Offspring - Rise And Fall, Rage And Grace (Sony Music)
15. Daughtry - Daughtry (Sony Music)
16. Led Zeppelin - Mothership (Warner/Atlantic)
17. Queen + Paul Rodgers - The Cosmos Rocks (EMI)*
18. Motorhead - Motorizer (SPV)
19. 3 Doors Down - 3 Doors Down (Republic)
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
Keane - The Lovers Are Losing
The Kooks - Sway
The Last Shadow Puppets - My Mistakes Were Made For You
M.I.A - Paper Planes
Ne-Yo - Miss Independent
Noah and The Whale - Shape Of My Heart
Oasis - The Shock Of The Lightning
Red Light Company - Scheme Eugene
Rihanna - Disturbia
The View - 5 Rebbecca's

B-List
The All New Adventures Of Us - Firetruck (doki doki)
Ben Folds feat. Regina Spektor - You Don't Know Me
Crystal Castles - Crimewave
Emiliana Torrini - Big Jumps
Funeral For A Friend - Kicking & Screaming
Jordin Sparks - Tattoo
London Elektricity - All Hell Is Breaking Loose
Luigi Masi - Strobelight
Pendulum - Granite
The Pigeon Detectives - Say It Like You Mean It
Raghav feat. Redman - My Kinda Girl
Sky Larkin - Fossil, I
To The Bones - Rex
Underground Railroad - Kill Me Now (Or You Never Will)
The Vines - He's A Rocker
Wild Beasts - Brave Bulging Buoyant Clairvoyants

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JUSTIN POSSIBLY ENGAGED
Justin Timberlake is reportedly set to marry girlfriend Jessica Biel, having proposed to her in Rome last week. A source told the Sunday People: "He is besotted with Jessica and wants to make an honest woman of her. He planned to propose in Rome because it is such a romantic city. Jessica is over the moon and looking forward to a huge wedding. She can't wait".

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NOEL SAYS NICE THINGS
More comments from the very busy (in the making comments department) Noel Gallagher, who has been bigging up both Coldplay and U2. Must be the pain killers messing with his head.

On Coldplay, he told the Belfast Telegraph: "I listen to 'Violet Hill' and it's like The Beatles. I just think Chris Martin is a great songwriter. Liam fucking hates them - thinks their stuff sounds like Annie Lennox, but Liam can be a fucking idiot sometimes".

On U2, and Bono in particular, he continued: "I fucking love U2 and I always have done - I love the size of that band. Whether you like them or not, you cannot deny that U2 have written some great fucking songs. People will not accept that Bono is sincere - in this cynical age, they think he's really just a cunt. But he's not".

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ALEX JAMES RELEASES 'BLUE MONDAY'
One that will please all the Alex James fans here at CMU HQ. And the cheese fans. Of which there are many, honest. Former Blur bassist (or current Blur bassist, depending who you believe) Alex James has announced that he is releasing a new cheese, called Blue Monday. He describes the cheese as "very moist, very gooey, spicy with quite a mellow flavour with sweet notes".

James told The Gloucestershire Echo: "Our first goats cheeses Little Wallop and Farleigh Wallop are niche cheeses, not a big hit single as we hope Blue Monday will be. We were playing around with a couple of blue cheeses, which take six to eight weeks to develop, and we were working on a triple cream cheese. Most people would take 18 months to two years to release a new cheese but Blue Monday came through".

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