PART TIME MARKETING CO-ORDINATOR/PA for RECORD COMPANY - BRISTOL
An independent dance music label are looking for an enthusiastic person to help out in their office in Bristol. You will be involved in all online promotion, the upkeep of the company website and general marketing co-ordination. In addition to this you will be looking after all three managers, sorting out all travel arrangements and helping to maintain a smooth running office. Experience of working within the industry is essential. Contact Gerard for more details: [email protected]

BABYSHAMBLES MAN CAUGHT WITH CRACK
Babyshambles guitarist Mick Whitnall was arrested on Sunday on suspicion of carrying Class A drugs. He was released on bail yesterday and will have to meet with police again in November after further investigation of the substances found.

A spokesman for the Metropolitan Police confirmed to NME that a 39 year old man was arrested on Sunday afternoon at a bar in Blackheath in London on suspicion of possession of crack cocaine. The police then went to his home, where they recovered what appeared to be more rocks of crack.

back to top

--------------------------------------------------

WINEHOUSE SPIKES HER CANDYFLOSS, SAYS TABLOID
And that's not all that naughty Mick Whitnall has been up to. He's apparently encouraged one Amy Whitehouse to use the power of her candyfloss machine for bad.

The News Of The World claims that the singer has been holding 'Coke and Candy' parties, at which she hands out candyfloss, spiked, as you might have inferred, with cocaine. And it's the aforementioned Babyshambles man who came up with the notion.

One of those gossiping 'insiders' is quoted as saying: "It was Mick's idea. The candyfloss machine was Amy's pride and joy and he thought it would be funny to give it a boost. He and some pals sprinkled a wrap of coke into the mixture and Amy started eating it before she realised what they'd done. She now thinks it's a hoot to do the same."

back to top

--------------------------------------------------

LED ZEP TO REPLACE PLANT
Can there ever be enough rumours about Led Zeppelin tours? I'm certainly not painfully, painfully bored of them yet. The latest news is that following Robert Plant's announcement that he would not be taking part in any future reunion tours with the band, they have recruited Alter Bridge frontman Myles Kennedy to replace him. According to The Sun, Kennedy is already in rehearsals with original band members Jimmy Page and John Paul Jones and drummer Jason Bonham, son of deceased drummer John Bonham.

back to top

--------------------------------------------------

BOY GEORGE CANCELS GIG AFTER POOR SALES
Boy George has cancelled a show on his 'The Boy Is Back In Town' tour after poor sales. The singer was due to play the 2200-capacity Guildhall in Portsmouth on Tuesday but managed to sell just 89 tickets in advance.

back to top

--------------------------------------------------

BON JOVI SUED FOR $400 BILLION
A songwriter from Boston, MA is suing Jon Bon Jovi and various other defendants for around $400 billion, after he claimed the band stole some of his lyrics for a song that was used in an advert and on the band's 'Lost Highway' album.

Samuel Bartley Steele wrote a song called '(Man I Really) Love This Team' in honour of his favourite baseball team, The Boston Red Sox, in 2004, which became popular with baseball fans in the town. He then began working on versions of the song for teams around the US. He claims that Bon Jovi used portions of his song for a song called 'I Love This Town', which was used on a TV advert for the Major League Baseball playoffs and appeared on Bon Jovi's 'Lost Highway' album.

Bart is now seeking $100,000 damages for each copy of the album sold, and with just under 4 million units shifted, that's a pretty hefty bill. What's more, unlike many lawsuits like this, Steele's case actually looks fairly strong. Though presumably success in court would result in damages somewhat lower than the desired $400 billion, because not even Bush and Brown could help Jon Bon Jovi find that kind of money.

Full document here

back to top

--------------------------------------------------

SINGLE REVIEW: The UH OHs - Cheat Cheater (NR One Records)
The UH OHs are frustrated with the current batch of indie bands apparently. And they spell the name of their band with capital letters so you know they're serious. The three piece's ballsy, screaming frontwoman Naomi has a very likeable voice, and a similar style to Robots In Disguise. But whereas RID's voices inhabit original electro songs, the UH OHs are selling the kind of pop-punk music you can find supporting any decent pub band. The band's debut single, 'Cheat Cheater', is a poor song that really doesn't give the band anywhere to go except into the realm of everything you've ever heard before. This isn't to say that the band is completely without charm, whilst 'Cheat Cheater' leaves no impression whatsoever, the chorus of B-Side 'Your Body & Oh' uses Naomi's voice to perfection - mixing between gruff screams and falsetto melody. But overall the single is very underwhelming - though I get the feeling that they would have the potential to be quite fun at a live gig. GM
Release Date: 20 Oct
Press Contact: Clear Talent Media [all]

back to top

--------------------------------------------------

RECORD STORE DAY MAN HITS OUT AT BEATLES BEST BUY DEAL
It was only relatively recently that whenever an artist did an exclusivity deal with one or another retailer - normally one of the big chains in the US - that there was outrage from across the music retail sector. For a time, HMV had a habit of completely boycotting any artist who agreed to some kind of exclusivity arrangement on a new release with one of their competitors. But such exclusivity deals have become so common in the US in the last year or so no one seems to make any comment any more.

But comment has been made on the decision by Beatles company Apple Corp to strike a US exclusivity deal with American retailer Best Buy for the upcoming release of 'All Together Now', a new DVD documentary about the making of Cirque du Soleil's 'LOVE', the stage show that used Beatles songs as its soundtrack and which led to the release of the 'LOVE' album. Michael Kurtz, who founded the previously reported Record Store Day that champions independent record shops, thinks it's a rotten deal for the Fab Four to strike, and he has written to Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, Olivia Harrison and Yoko Ono to say so.

In his open letter, Kurtz says: "There was once a young band called The Beatles who were discovered by a record store owner by the name of Brian Epstein. We all know the history of how the boys changed the world. But less is known about how this record store owner believed in a young band and helped them when they needed it most. It is a sad day for mom and pop record stores and Beatles fans who chose to shop with record stores. Where once Apple releases would be made available to all music stores, The Beatles legacy is now cheapened by your decision to select Best Buy as the exclusive retailer".

Record companies who do do exclusivity deals with major retailers point to the big budget marketing support those retailers can offer, always significantly higher than the labels can afford themselves, but for specialist music sellers the deals mean they lose out on the bankable major releases which provides important revenues that make their wider businesses viable.

We look forward to Ringo Starr's loving and peaceful video response to Mike's letter. Because, as you'll find out below, Ringo can be amusing when he gets in front of a camera.

back to top

--------------------------------------------------

SIGUR ROS ANOUNCE DELUXE ALBUM RELEASE
Sigur Ros are to release a deluxe version of their June 2008 album, 'Med Sud I Eyrum Vid Spilum Endalaust'. The special edition will include a 200 page hardback book featuring photos of the band by Eva Vermandel as well as a DVD of a making-of film shot in Super-8 by Nick Abrahams. It also includes a strip of original 16mm film from the 'Gobbledigook' video, and will be released in the US next month.

back to top

--------------------------------------------------

NEW LAMONTAGNE OUT TOMORROW
Ray LaMontagne's third album, 'Gossip In The Grain', is out tomorrow, released via 14th Floor Records. This outing marks a change in direction in the sense that the musician is joined on the recording by his touring band, whereas his previous two albums were essentially more 'solo', as he was really only assisted by producer and instrumentalist Ethan Johns.

LaMontagne has also announced a number of UK tour dates for next year:

7 Feb: York Opera House
8 Feb: Manchester Lowry
9 Feb: Glasgow Royal Concert Hall
11 Feb: Nottingham Royal Concert Hall
12 Feb: Birmingham Symphony Hall
13 Feb: Gateshead The Sage
15 Feb: London Barbican
16 Feb: London Barbican
17 Feb: Southampton Guildhall
19 Feb: Cambridge Corn Exchange
20 Feb: Brighton Dome
21 Feb: Bristol Colson Hall

back to top

--------------------------------------------------

SOKO ANNOUNCES LONDON SHOW
Incredibly buzzy French singer Soko has announced her first headline show in London on 21 Nov at The Borderline, which you can expect to be packed to the rafters because she is bloomin fantastic. Support at the show will come from Jay Jay Pistolet, Melodica Melody and Me & Planet Earth.

Tickets go on sale on Friday and will cost £10.

back to top

--------------------------------------------------

MIXMAG NIGHT VENUE CHANGE
Mixmag have announced that they have been forced to move this Friday's launch of the magazine's new club from Pacha to Egg, while Pacha sorts out some licensing problems with Westminster Council.

The line-up - Friendly Fires, Herve, Riton, Little Boots, Appleblim and Hatcha - remains the same and all tickets will be valid at the new venue. Tickets cost £12 in advance or £15 on the door and it all takes place between 10pm and 5am this Friday.

Full Mixmag tour dates:
17 Oct: London, Egg - Friendly Fires, Herve, Riton, Little Boots, Appleblim, Hatcha
18 Oct: Leicester, Restless - Darren Emerson, Meat Katie
7 Nov: 2020, Bournemouth - Kissy Sell Out
14 Nov: Manchester, Warehouse Project - Sven Vath, Extrawelt, Tobi Neumann, Raresh, Rhadoo, Pedro
28 Nov: Glasgow, The Arches - Slam, Carl Craig, Boys Noize
5 Dec: London, Pacha - Mixmag Xmas Party
12 Dec: Bristol, Motion - Kissy Sell Out

back to top

--------------------------------------------------

ALBUM REVIEW: Various Artists - Catskills First XI (Catskills Records)
Well done Catskills Records for reaching your eleventh birthday. Catskills are an independent record label with a rather eclectic approach to signing artists which is, of course, extremely commendable. Having said that, a lot of the music on this compilation is house dominated, though said house is usually infused with breaks, hip-hop and mellow electronica. There is also a smattering of indie rock. Bushy, an adult, sophisticated and tuneful house/breaks artist seems to be the idiomatic Catskills signing, with down-tempo Mr Scruff-like sounds that are charming, if not revolutionary. However, the label's mission statement of "it's all about the head nod factor" is amply justified. Pepe Deluxe's 'Before You Leave' was on some advert I can't remember and is a memorable track that wouldn't offend your Gran. By this you might get a feel for the ethos of the compilation. The only artist who I took exception with was The Ripps, a 1960s-pop meets The Jam kind of band. Although, on the 1960s rock influence front Pepe Deluxe's 'Pussy Cat Rock' makes up for it, even though this moves away from the album's central theme of mild house and breaks. It is a summery concoction that does not offend in any way. Belle & Sebastian fans who like a bit of dance once in a while would really like this. It has a coffee bar, Sunday morning breaks-fast time kind of feeling. PG
Release Date: 27 Oct
Press Contact: Trailer Media [all]

back to top

--------------------------------------------------

SOME RANDOM RECORD SALE STATS
How about some Tuesday lunchtime record sale stats?

More compilation albums have been sold this year than last year - the compo market being helped by the fact the 'Mamma Mia' soundtrack fell into this category, plus Now That's What I Call Music 70 (yes, 70, the first Now album I bought was 8, I am so old) proved to be the fastest selling Now album ever.

Five albums sold over a quarter of a million copies in the third quarter of 2008, compared with just three in the same period last year. CDs still dominate the albums market, though the sales of digital albums are very much growing, up 61% in the last quarter compared to 2007.

The albums market has been doing alright, helped by the major releases from Kings Of Leon, The Script, Metallica and The Verve, though the lack of a new album from an X-Factor style pop star had an impact on overall album sales for the third quarter, which is [a] a reminder as to why Simon Cowell is still one of the most important men in British music and [b] a somewhat distressing insight into the buying habits of the mainstream music fan.

But record label chiefs are hopeful that the album market will enjoy a particularly strong period in the run up to Christmas thanks to new albums from Take That, Dido, Snow Patrol, Enya, U2, Will Young, Pink, Seal, Beyonce, Keane, Wiley, Kaiser Chiefs, Killers, Razorlight and Oasis.

We know all this because of a stats-filled email that reached us via record label trade body the BPI, the boss of which, Geoff Taylor, said this: "The ongoing success of the Now albums may surprise some in a digital age of abundant choice, but it's become a well-loved brand. Digital music promises huge potential, but music fans still love the quality, convenience and added value in CDs. Retail conditions are challenging in the credit crunch, but music is great value for money and with one of the strongest album release schedules we've had for years, labels are optimistic about the market leading up to Christmas".

But I know what you're all saying. Stat reports are all well and good, but where are the lists, we want lists. Well, here are some lists courtesy of the BPI and the Official Chart Company.

Top Ten Selling Albums Of Quarter 3 of 2008
1. Various - Now That's What I Call Music 70 (EMI TV/UMTV)
2. Original Soundtrack - Mamma Mia (Universal/Polydor)
3. Duffy - Rockferry (Universal/Polydor)
4. Coldplay - Viva La Vida Or Death And All His Friends (EMI/Parlophone)
5. Abba - Gold Greatest Hits (Universal/Polydor)
6. Rihanna - Good Girl Gone Bad (Universal/Mercury)
7. Kings Of Leon - Only By The Night (Sony/Columbia)
8. The Script - Script (Sony/RCA)
9. Metallica - Death Magnetic (Universal/Mercury)
10. The Verve - Forth (EMI/Parlophone)

Top Ten Best Selling Albums (Artist & Compilation) So Far This Year
1. Duffy - Rockferry (Universal/Polydor)
2. Coldplay - Viva La Vida Or Death And All His (EMI/Parlophone)
3. Various - Now That's What I Call Music 69 (EMI TV/UMTV)
4. Various - Now That's What I Call Music 70 (EMI TV/UMTV)
5. Original Soundtrack - Mamma Mia (Universal/Polydor)
6. Nickelback - All The Right Reasons (Warner/Roadrunner)
7. Rihanna - Good Girl Gone Bad (Universal/Mercury)
8. Amy Winehouse - Back To Black The Deluxe Edition (Universal/Island)
9. Scouting For Girls - Scouting For Girls (Sony/Epic)
10. Leona Lewis - Spirit (Sony/RCA)

back to top

--------------------------------------------------

NEW ANTI-PIRACY LAWS SIGNED OFF IN US
George Bush yesterday signed a new federal law that will heighten the penalties for movie and music piracy in the US. The new act includes the creation of a new intellectual property czar who will report directly to the President and advise on copyright issues within the US and on a global level. Perhaps more importantly, the Act expands the criminal laws against piracy and counterfeiting, which is good or bad depending on who you listen to.

Needless to say, record companies, movie studios and TV firms are positive about the new laws, because they hope it will overcome grey areas in existing laws that sometimes offer copyright infringers with useful defences. It may also mean the authorities step in more on infringement cases, saving them the hassle of pursuing expensive civil action. That said, proposals that the Justice Department also coordinate civil actions against alleged infringers were rejected.

Others reckon the new laws go too far though, with US internet user rights body Public Knowledge arguing they give the authorities too wide-a-reaching powers, for example enabling them to cease devices used in even minor cases of piracy. Their spokesman, Art Brodsky, told reporters: "Let's suppose that there's one computer in the house, and one person uses it for downloads and one for homework. The whole computer goes". Brodsky also reckons content owners exaggerated the need for the new laws, saying: "There's already lots and lots of penalties for copyright violations. They've got all the tools they need".

back to top

--------------------------------------------------

MORE ON SISTER RAY SALE
Music Week has revealed that it is Sister Ray co-founder Phil Barton who has bought the independent record shop after it was put up from sale by administrators after going into liquidation. So rumours the buyer had a music retail background were definitely true. Barton was co-founder of the Berwick Street shop, and co-owner with Neil Brown. He will buy the shop back through a new company, Sister Ray 08 Ltd. The purchase means the shop should continue to operate as normal.

back to top

--------------------------------------------------

NEW PD AT MAGIC
Bauer Radio have announced the appointment of former Capital and Chrysalis Radio exec Pete Simmons to the role of Programme Director for their Magic London station. He replaces Adrian Stewart, who quit Magic last month to go and work for rival station Heart 106.2. Confirming his new appointment, Simmons told reporters: "I believe the core of good radio is in the detail of the music, presentation, and production and am looking forward to evolving the broadcast sound for Magic and continuing to grow the audience reach and hours".

back to top

--------------------------------------------------

GLOBAL MOVE GALAXY IN WITH XFM AND GOLD
Global Radio have confirmed they will move the Manchester base of their Galaxy network in with the stations they have acquired in the city as part of their purchase of GCap - Xfm and Gold - meaning the youth station will move out of the city centre and over to good old Salford Quays. With GMG Radio's Smooth Radio, Century Radio and Rock Radio already based in the Quays, and the BBC due to move BBC Radio Manchester and 5 Live there as part of the Beeb's big move North in 2010, Salford is set to become something of a radio haven.

back to top

--------------------------------------------------

MADONNA DISSES PALIN AGAIN
Madonna's obviously really got it in for Sarah Palin. To be fair, she's not alone, is she? But one wonders why she isn't quite as keen to diss John McCain as well?

Anyway, you'll remember, because we reported on it, that Madonna had dissed the US vice-presidential nominee at a gig, saying that the Republican was barred from her concerts. Well, she's done it again, at her recent set at Madison Square Garden, saying after a rendition of 'Express Yourself' that she'd "like to express myself to Sarah Palin right now", and then throwing condoms with images of Palin on them into the audience. The singer also described a screechy guitar as "the sound of Sarah Palin thinking".

Apparently, she placed an image of McCain alongside photographs of Adolf Hitler and Robert Mugabe at the start of the tour. But she seems much more anti-Palin, doesn't she? I'm actually really interested in why.

back to top

--------------------------------------------------

SPEARS TO GO NAKED
According to reports, Britney Spears is to appear naked in the video for her new single 'Womanizer'. It's claimed that she will take it all off for a sauna scene (lots of steam covering the important bits, then?) in the promo for the release, which is, of course, taken from the singer's upcoming comeback album 'Circus', out on 2 Dec.

back to top

--------------------------------------------------

PINK ON LOVE AND LESBOS
Pink has been talking about love and romance and all that stuff, and implied that she has experimented with lady-loving, so that's big news. Or not. Surely practically everyone does that these days? She said: "I'm not gay so I guess I would not try a relationship with a woman. I didn't say I haven't experimented but I love men too much to make it a permanent thing".

On the subject of dating, or not, she continued: "I meet boys all over the place. It's just that I don't ever go on dates. I have never been on a date. I don't believe in that, it has to be organic. A barbecue, a show or whatever. I have never met anybody in a bar. Lately I have been hearing from a lot of people, like married couples, who have met in a bar. I'm always amazed. So maybe that is where I am going wrong".

back to top

--------------------------------------------------

DR PEPPER GET SET TO QUENCH AMERICA'S THIRST
Way back in April, Dr Pepper announced that it would give a can of the drink to everyone in America if Guns N' Roses released their long-awaited album, 'Chinese Democracy' by the end of the year. Well, now that it's looking likely that the album is going to hit the shelves next month, the company says it's not going to back out of that promise.

A spokesman for the company told The New York Post: "If the rumours are true, we're putting the Dr Pepper on ice".

back to top

--------------------------------------------------

M.I.A ANNOUNCES PREGNANCY
M.I.A has revealed that she is pregnant, just in case the pictures of her performing live on Saturday night at the Diesel xXx party in New York on Saturday night, looking very pregnant indeed weren't enough to convince you.

The singer told Pitchfork: "When I found out I was pregnant and 'Paper Planes' was in the iTunes top 10, it seemed like the whole world was reshuffled in one week, and all my plans went out the window. And that's the lesson... you can't make plans, and you can't say shit".

And just in case you were wondering how to look cool while dancing when pregnant, here is M.I.A giving a demonstration.

back to top

--------------------------------------------------

STARR SAYS 'NO MORE FAN-MAIL'
If you're planning on posting any fanmail to Ringo Starr, you'd better hurry up and send it, because from the 20 Oct the former Beatles drummer will throw away anything he receives.

In a video message on his website, Starr said: "This is a serious message to everyone watching my update. Peace and love. Peace and love. I want to tell you after the 20 Oct please do not send fan mail to any address you have. Nothing will be signed after the 20 Oct. If that is the date on the envelope, it's going to be tossed. I'm warning you with peace and love. I have too much to do. So no more fan mail. Thank you, thank you. And no objects to be signed. Nothing. Anyway, peace and love, peace and love".

It's even funnier to watch - click here

So, there you go, peace and love. Oh, and fuck off, too.

back to top

--------------------------------------------------

DAVE GROHL IMMORTALISED IN ALLEY
Dave Grohl has had an alley named after him in his hometown of Warren, Ohio, which I'm sure he must be thrilled about. Following a campaign led by local radio DJ Fast Eddie and police sergeant Joe O'Grady, Market Alley has now been renamed Dave Grohl Alley. According to local paper The Tribune Chronicle, some residents were concerned about how much the move would cost the city, but the name change was passed unanimously at a vote by the local council. A dedication ceremony is now planned, to which Grohl will be invited.

If anyone from the parish council in the village where I grew up is reading this, I would like one of the horse chestnut trees on the green named after me. But only after all the branches have grown back.

back to top