MORE INDIE TRACKS APPEAR ON MYSPACE MUSIC FOLLOWING IODA DEAL
MySpace Music, which, as you may remember, was highly criticised by the indie label community for offering them what they considered to be an inferior deal compared to that given to the majors, and for launching their new service without the indies on board, has secured music from thousands of indies via a deal with independent digital distributor IODA.

Despite key independent labels, and their global digital rights body Merlin, being very vocal about their disappointment with the MySpace Music deal when the social networking firm launched its revamped music service in the US last month, there were some indie tracks available via MySpace's new streaming jukebox via a licensing deal with independent digital aggregator The Orchard.

The deal with IODA, details of which have not been revealed, will bring thousands more, including music from labels like Arts & Crafts, Ace Records, Bonnier Amigo, Cherry Red Records, Cooking Vinyl, Demon Music Group, Fat Cat Records, Kanine Records, Light In The Attic, Paper Bag Records, Naive, Premium Latin Music, Relapse, Rounder Records and Six Degrees.

Merlin, who say they represent 9% of the US music market, and certainly speak for some of the bigger independent labels, are still holding out. As previously reported, they object to the fact that MySpace gave the four major record companies an equity stake in MySpace Music to secure their involvement, but have offered no such deal to the independents even though, the indies argue, it was they who were quick to embrace the original MySpace Music platform and helped the social networking company establish it.

Confirming the IODA deal to Billboard, MySpace Music's Strategy And Business Development Director, Frank Hajdu, said talks with Merlin were ongoing, telling the trade magazine: "Content aggregation is a marathon, not a race. We're still in the process of talking with Merlin and welcome all Merlin members to the site".

The all new MySpace Music service, which offers an expanded jukebox, more playlisting and sharing functionality, and one button click through to Amazon MP3 sell-through, has so far only launched in the US, though it is expected to be rolled out elsewhere in due course.

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KATY PERRY KNIFE PHOTO CRITICISED
Katy Perry has been criticised for posing with a three inch flick knife in a photo shoot. The picture, taken by acclaimed fashion photographer Terry Richardson, was shot for potential use in the promotion of Perry's album, 'One Of The Boys', but later rejected. However, it has subsequently shown up online, causing some to denounce the singer for setting a bad example at a time when knife crime is a hot topic in the press.

Richard Taylor, whose son Damilola was stabbed with a broken bottle in 2000, told The Sun: "This woman's behaviour is unacceptable. She must be out of her mind to pose for a picture like this. There is nothing glamorous about knives - they wreck families. Any youngsters seeing her will think it is okay to carry a blade".

Which is a valid point, I guess. Though any youngster who learns all of their values from pictures of Katy Perry has probably been failed somewhere else along the line, too.

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DR PEPPER ANNOUNCE CHINESE DEMOCRACY PROMOTION DETAILS
So, American readers, get ready to log on to www.drpepper.com on 23 Nov, the day Guns N Roses' long awaited new album 'Chinese Democracy' finally arrives in record stores (which I've just realised is a Sunday, which is strange), because there, as promised, they'll provide you with a free can of their fizzy drink.

As previously reported, Dr Pepper announced earlier this year they'd give a free can of Dr Pepper to every American if Axl Rose managed to get his new album out this year. With the 23 Nov release date now confirmed, a massive Dr Pepper coupon offer is now being prepared.

Americans wanting to take up the offer will have to log on at some point on 23 Nov, and may have to wait up to six weeks for their coupon. They have until the end of February to get their free can. If the whole of America did log on to register for a coupon, I'm not sure Dr Pepper's servers could cope with the demand in a 24 hour period, but we'll see I guess.

Confirming the offer, Dr Pepper marketing chief Tony Jacobs told reporters: "We never thought this day would come. But now that it's here all we can say is: The Dr Pepper's on us".

HMV have announced 'Chinese Democracy' will be released here in the UK the next day on 24 Nov, though they'll be no free fizzy drinks for us, which doesn't seem fair. Radio 1 aired the title track off the new long player yesterday, and have now added it to their C list. We, meanwhile, will have some more Guns N Roses news in a minute.

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INDUSTRY THROWS SUPPORT BEHIND PRODUCER FOR LORD PROPOSAL
According to Music Week, promoter Harvey Goldsmith, artist manager Peter Jenner and 6Music presenter Tom Robinson, have all added their name to a list supporting moves to make music producer and former Chairman of the Music Producer's Guild, Robin Millar, a cross-bench peer in the House Of Lords.

He already had the support of a whole host of music industry types, including Sony Music's Rob Stringer, the IFPI's John Kennedy, PPL boss Fran Nevrkla and former EMI chief Eric Nicoli, not to mention musicians and artists like John Deacon and George Michael. Plus support from various charitable bodies which Millar has supported over the years, not least the Royal National Institute of Blind People - Millar himself has been registered blind since the age of 16 and has supported the RNIB a lot over the years.

The Music Producer's Guild asked for any other supporters to make their support public earlier this week via their website. Current MPG chair Mike Howlett writes: "There is no doubt that having an articulate, fair and fiercely independent man such as Robin in the House of Lords will benefit far more people than simply those involved in the music industry. However, for our industry it would be a major advantage to know that there is one voice in the chamber that understands our concerns and has not only fought on behalf of the industry for many years, but will continue to do so for many years to come".

For more details about the campaign to make Millar a Lord, check www.mpg.org.uk/news_stories/88. To formally offer your support simply send an email to [email protected].

While we're talking about the MPG, the association for music producers have opened nominations for their first ever awards event, which will take place in London on 12 Feb. Details of categories and how to nominate are online at www.mpgawards.co.uk. Nominations close on 28 Nov.

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PEPSI ANNOUNCE CURATORS FOR MYSPACE VENTURE
Pepsi Max have announced the line up of curators for the launch of its new music project Pepsi Maxcast, an initiative which basically involves these aforementioned curators helping people to navigate MySpace Music by giving recommendations of which acts to check out.

There will be seven curators to begin with, and their number includes Carl Barat, Sam Sparro, and CMU favourites The Loose Cannons, with more guest curators to appear in the coming months. In addition to their music picks, there will be video profiles about each curator, and a gossip and news section. Sam Sparro comments: "All the best music is on MySpace, but finding it is like a needle in a haystack. It's great to be part of Pepsi Maxcast because it's going to be the place to discover great music".

And here's what Bruno Gruwez, Pepsi UK Marketing Director, has to say: "Pepsi Maxcast is there to help people discover new and live music. It's a fully-fledged interactive platform that opens up the world of leading artists and tastemakers to the public. It's a unique platform where people can engage with the best live music presented by our celebrity curators, and for bands to get their music featured".

See www.myspace.com/pepsimaxcast

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SINGLE REVIEW: She & Him - Why Do You Let Me Stay Here? (Double Six Records)
She & Him are the endearingly kitsch union of Zooey Deschanel and M Ward, the former a quirky fashion icon and Hollywood actress, the latter a highly underrated singer-songwriter from Portland with a talent for guitar playing that could make Neil Young weep. 'Why Do You Let Me Stay Here?' is the second single to be taken from their appropriately-titled debut album 'Volume One', and is a tuneful commingle of clinky-clonky pianos and cutesy, layered harmonies. Taken from the sunnier side of the album (though it barely gets dark - Isobel Campbell & Mark Lanegan they ain't), 'Why Do You Let Me Stay Here?' is a clear throwback to the swinging, soulful pop of 1960s Americana: think The Supremes and The Ronettes, rounded off with a polished, folkier sound that is closer to Ward's heart. As expected, a playful and sweet dose of nostalgic retro pop. TW
Release Date: 3 Nov
Press Contact: Double Six Records IH

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MORRISSEY TO SET RECORD STRAIGHT WITH AUTOBIOGRAPHY
There are very many lies that are told about Morrissey on a daily basis. Lies, lies, lies, morning, noon and night. But you never get to hear his view, do you? No. If only he had some platform to air his views on things, then we'd know what the normally media-shy singer really thought.

Well, thankfully, Morrissey has decided to write his autobiography to set the record straight. Speaking on BBC Radio 2, he said: "So much crap is written about you, me, and it's quite hard to live with sometimes because it all gets burned down in history and becomes part of your legacy ... with every printed interview there's lots of misquotes and lots of them are really silly and really extreme and you have to live with them for the rest of your life. So it's setting the record straight".

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BLACK KEYS TO WORK WITH ZZ TOP
Ohioan blues-rock duo The Black Keys are to work with Billy Gibbons on songs for his next ZZ Top album. According to reports, this is because the new ZZ Top album is to be produced by Rick Rubin, and he wants to get back to the band's blues rock sound (I didn't know they'd left it behind, to be honest). Black Keys man Dan Auerbach told Billboard: "Billy came to our show in Columbus, Ohio, and played us some new songs, but this will be the first time we've gotten together in a musical way".

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GREEN DAY RELEASE STUDIO FOOTAGE
Green Day have released more footage of them in the studio, at work on their new album. The video appears on the band's official YouTube page and sees band members Tres Cool and Mike Dirnt working with producer Butch Vig. The band earlier confirmed rumours about Vig's involvement after leaking a video showing he and Billie Joe Armstrong in the studio together.

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M WARD ALBUM
The aforementioned US folky singer-songwriter M Ward has announced details of a new album. 'Hold Time' is due out in the States on 17 Feb next year, and features guest appearances from She & Him partner in crime Zooey Deschanel as well as Tom Hagerman of DeVotchka and former Grandaddy star Jason Lytle.

The tracklisting is as follows:

For Beginners
Never Had Nobody Like You
Jailbird
Hold Time
Rave On
To Save Me
One Hundred Million Years
Stars of Leo
Fisher of Men
Oh Lonesome Me
Epistemology
Blake's View
Shangri-La
Outro

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GALLAGHER ON OASIS PROMS SHOW
Noel Gallagher has been speaking to 6Music about plans to perform The Rolling Stones' track 'We Love You', supported by a fifty voice choir, at Oasis' Electric Proms show this weekend. The musician explained that the band planned to use the Crouch End Festival Chorus tracks for their recent album, 'Dig Out Your Soul', but that it didn't work out.

Noel said: "Out of the all the songs on the album, there's two that didn't make it that have got a 50 piece choir. The original idea for this album was to record it with this choir in Abbey Road and for whatever reason, their availability and that, it didn't happen. So when we got offered the Proms, we called them up and said: 'I know we let you down last time but do you fancy getting up and doing a few tunes?' So I think they're going to sing on maybe a third of the set and we're hoping to do 'We Love You'".

Oasis appear at The Roundhouse on Sunday, supported by Glasvegas.

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PLANS & APOLOGIES FAREWELL SHOW THIS WEEKEND
This Saturday is going to be a bitter sweet one. It's the launch show for Plans & Apologies' second album, 'The Bassett Hound & The Icy Ground', which is one of the best albums to be released this year (and is also the most played album in the CMU office this year). It's also the band's last show before they split up, which is much less of a good thing.

So, if you're in the Derby area this weekend (and even if you're not), head down to The Royal and enjoy your very last chance to see the band in action. Copies of the new album will be available for the first time on the night, after which it will be made available via iTunes.

Check them out online at www.plansandapologies.com

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HEXSTATIC ANNOUNCE BEST OF AND IMAX SHOW
Hexstatic will celebrate over ten years of audio-visual magic next month with the release of a special CD and DVD set featuring some of their finest work. But oh so much more exciting than even that, is the launch party for the compilation, which will be held at the IMAX in London on 15 Nov, with support from Light Surgeons and D-Fuse.

More info from www.ninjatune.net

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FUTUREHEADS ANNOUNCE TOUR DATES AND SINGLE
The Futureheads will release a brand new download-only single, 'I Wouldn't Be Like This If You Were Here' on 1 Dec, which will coincide nicely with some UK and Ireland tour dates. It's almost as if they planned it.

Tour dates:

29 Nov: London, Astoria
30 Nov: Whitehaven, Civic Hall
2 Dec: Glasgow, ABC 2
3 Dec: Glasgow, ABC 2
5 Dec: Birmingham, Academy
6 Dec: Oxford, Academy
7 Dec: Norwich, The Waterfront
8 Dec: Cardiff, Dub 29
9 Dec: Cheltenham, Dakota Club
12 Dec: Sheffield, Academy
13 Dec: Leeds, Academy
15 Dec: Cork, Cyprus Avenue
16 Dec: Limerick, Dolan's Warehouse
17 Dec: Dublin, Academy
19 Dec: Gateshead, The Sage
20 Dec: York, The Duchess

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EVERYTHING EVERYTHING ANNOUNCE TOUR AND SINGLE
The very very good Everything Everything have announced tour dates to coincide with their very very good debut single 'Suffragette Suffragette', which is release on 1 Dec 1 Dec.

Here they are:

3 Dec: Brighton, Coalition
4 Dec: Bristol, The Cooler
5 Dec: London, Last Days of Decadence (Twisted Licks)
6 Dec: Liverpool, Korova
8 Dec: Newcastle Upon Tyne, Head of Steam
9 Dec: Leeds, The Cockpit
10 Dec: Glasgow, Captain's Rest
11 Dec: Nottingham, The Bodega Social Club
13 Dec: Manchester, Dry Bar

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ALBUM REVIEW: A Place To Bury Strangers - A Place to Bury Strangers (Rocket Girl)
The UK release of the debut album from strangely fashionable New York pedal-geeks A Place To Bury Strangers is a work of intense aural savagery. My ears may never recover - and earlier this year the band's tendency to push everything into the red broke one of the last 10" vinyl pressing machines in the UK. It's a strong statement of intent and, whilst nodding to an often Anglo-centric language of the late 80s/early 90s alternative guitar heroes, they retain an individual charm. Their simple, uncompromising, boldness of approach to a pain-inducing level of ferocity in mixing is admirable. Yet, below this fetish of simple volume are unfolding levels of complexity. Never-heard-before guitar sounds (an advantage of being the maker of boutique Death By Audio effects pedals), well written songs and a general feeling of apocalyptic terror pervades the album. Search beneath the wildly oscillating frequencies of delay, analogue feedback and digital face-punching hiss and you'll find that it's also very melodic, borrowing many a New Order hook (or should that be Hooky). 'She Dies', 'Breathe', 'Run Around' and 'Don't Think Lover' are simply brilliant songs. It is not a feel good album and could well have come from 1980s Manchester, Glasgow, Berlin (jarring simple electronic beats) or Detroit, as its bleak, transcendental and alien guitar filth of hurricane strength has the psychological hallmarks of a decaying urban setting. Despite this unsettling theft of the sound of other cities you cannot help but be dragged into enjoying this album, an utterly inspired first offering. PG
Release Date: 3 Nov
Press Contact: Impressive PR [all]

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CD INCOME SLIPS INTO THIRD PLACE AT MCPS-PRS
Not much of a surprise really, but the MCPS-PRS Alliance has revealed that the wider songwriter community is set to make more from broadcast royalties and public performance royalties this year than from physical record sales.

Alongside its third quarter financial report, the Alliance made projections for its full year revenues this year, predicting that money earned from radio and TV airplay and online streaming and downloads would bring in £173 million, while public performance royalties, from music played at gigs and in public spaces, would top £143 million.

By comparison, songwriter royalties paid on physical album sales are expected to slump from £152 million last year to £131 million this year. It will be the first time both broadcast and performance royalty income is higher than that generated by the mechanical royalties paid on physical record sales.

Given the widely reported slump in CD sales, this is not especially surprising. The rapid growth in broadcast royalty income is a sign of both the expansion of music radio and TV services in recent years, the increasing number of online streaming services and the fact monies from downloads sold by services like iTunes are lumped into this section by the songwriters' collecting society.

The growth in public performance royalties is probably mainly down to PRS becoming more hardline in collecting this income from venues, shops and public places that have previously been unlicensed for the music they pump out of their sound systems. With income from CD sales declining, and new revenues from legit download services not yet completely compensating for this decline, the Alliance says that ensuring all public performance royalties that are due are paid is an ever increasing priority for them.

MCPS-PRS top man Steve Porter told reporters: "CD sales have been falling steadily since 2006 and this is no longer the number one income source for songwriters. Online revenues are growing but not by the same amount. Our job is to ensure the songwriters, composers and music publishers still get the money they're owed, wherever it's used".

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APPLE REVENUES UP THANKS TO IPHONE
More financials for you, and Apple announced a 26% increase in earnings in the most recent quarter, a recession beating boost helped in no small part by sales of the second-gen 3G version of the iPod/mobile combo the iPhone, which went on sale in July. An increase in Mac computer sales also helped.

Despite the rosy report, money types in US remained cautious as to what impact growing economic uncertainty will have on the IT sector. With that in mind, Apple issued a conservative forecast for sales in the usually busy Christmas period, presumably so as to seem sensibly cautious to the investment community, and also to allow a 'good news' story in January if and when sales exceed expectations.

Apple boss Steve Jobs concluded: "We don't yet know how this economic downturn will affect Apple. But we're armed with the strongest product line in our history, the most talented employees and the best customers in our industry. And $25 billion of cash safely in the bank with zero debt".

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UNDERAGE FESTIVAL MAY EXPAND OUT OF UK
Plans are afoot to take the Underage Festival, the annual London festival for 14-18 year olds, into other territories.

The plans were revealed in an interview between Billboard and the Commercial Director of previously reported music investment outfit Ingenious Media. Duncan Reid, talking about investment in music start ups in the current economic climate, made reference to the Underage Festival, in which it has invested since 2007.

He told the trade magazine the company behind the festival, Waxarch Limited, was looking for more funding to help expansion of the brand, adding that he expected Ingenious to provide some or all of that funding. Reid: "Things like the Underage Festival in London, which is proving to be a big success and we think we'll be exporting, requires more finance and we hope we'll be backing that".

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TICKETMASTER JOB CUTS
Staying with tricky economic times, back to the job cuts file I'm afraid. Ticketmaster have announced they are cutting 300 jobs as part of a restructuring programme designed to save a reported $35 million in operating costs.

A spokesman for the company stressed that the cuts, which will affect about 5% of the company's workforce, are more the result of consolidation after a number of recent acquisitions, in particular of TicketsNow and Paciolan, rather than as a response to either the credit crunch or the fact the company will next year lose its Live Nation contract.

As previously reported, Live Nation has not renewed its ticketing relationship with Ticketmaster, instead setting up its own ticketing company.

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IMEEM JOB CUTS
More job cuts, and streaming-music-come-social-networking service Imeem has announced it is cutting about 20 jobs, which is about a quarter of their overall workforce. The company said the cuts were required to ensure success in the current economic climate. Or I think that's what they meant - the words they used were more like this: "Making these cuts now will help Imeem maintain our growth trajectory and reach the business' full potential". There are also reports that Imeem is looking for a new owner and paidcontent.org has reported that they have hired investment bankers Montgomery and Co to look for a possible buyer.

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WOOLIES HIRE NEW CFO
Struggling retailer Woolworths has appointed a new CFO, presumably to try and win the support of the City following that £99.7 million loss made in the half year up to the start of August. The new appointment is Robert McDonald, formerly Group Finance Director for Punch Taverns, who will take over from Stephen East. Other senior execs are expected to be replaced at the sometime music seller as they attempt to turn round their financial fortunes.

Confirming McDonald's appointment, Woolies top man Steve Johnson told reporters: "Robert's appointment is very important for the Group, and I am delighted to welcome him to the team. He has great experience in finance, strategy and operational business development and is an experienced FTSE 100 CFO. His experience will be invaluable in driving through the operational changes within Woolworths and in helping the Group move to the next stage of its development".

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HMV OPEN NEXT GEN STORE IN LONDON
More music retail, and HMV has announced it will bring one of its 'next generation' stores to the capital. The new look shop will be in the new Westfield Centre which is opening in White City, West London at the end of the month. The store will be opened by an interesting line up of stars, including new girl group The Saturdays, the unstoppable Leona Lewis and rock god, erm, Boris Johnson. Being a 'next gen' store you can expect lots of digital whatnots, with preview kiosks that allow content to be bought and downloaded straight to USB stick. Lovely.

HMV MD Simon Fox told reporters: "We're very excited to bring our next-generation store concept to London, and to the Westfield Centre in particular, which I'm sure will prove a wonderful showcase for it. The store will feature many elements of our retail blueprint going forward... which, combined with a fantastic range of 'physical' product, will serve to further underline HMV's growing credentials as the UK's leading multi-channel retail specialist".

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ADELE SCORES SALES AFTER GUESTING WITH PALIN ON SNL
It's a funny old world. Adele has topped the iTunes download chart in the US with the help of Vice-Presidential hopeful Sarah Palin.

Adele guested on US TV show 'Saturday Night Live' last weekend which, conveniently, was the most watched edition of the programme in years thanks to a guest appearance by Palin, who cameoed on the comedy show in response to regular SNL sketches at her expense featuring impressions by comedian Tina Fey.

With an estimated 17 million Americans tuning in to see their rather scary VP hopeful do a comedy turn, Adele couldn't have hoped for more exposure, and sales this week of '19' seem to show the SNL gig is really paying off.

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BRAND ON VMA DEATH THREATS
Talking of US TV, Russell Brand has revealed that he received death threats after calling George W Bush a "retard" while hosting the MTV Video Music Awards last month. It's not clear who was actually offended by the comparison, Bush supporters or retards. Talking about hosting the MTV awards bash, Brand told Radio 1: "[Hosting the awards] was a lot of fun, especially the death threat. If you are going to kill someone, don't give them advance notice, that gives you a chance to prepare. How can you, while watching the telly, think 'Oh, I don't enjoy this. No, I'm not enjoying this at all. Right, I'm going to kill him'. That's a huge jump".

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KATONA INTERVIEW CAUSES CONCERN
I don't know who exactly is worrying, or how many there are of them, but according to reports, a TV interview with Kerry Katona, aired on daytime TV this week, has sparked concern amongst viewers, a number of whom phoned ITV because the former Atomic Kitten star slurred her words.

Interviewers Phillip Schofield and Fern Britton asked Katona about her health and addictions, but the former pop star insisted that she's fine. Britton asked about her alcohol usage, and Schofield said: "You don't seem right to me, you've got the body sorted but your speech is a bit slurred. How are you feeling?" to which Katona replied: "Is it? That's because I'm on medication at night-time. I had some last night".

You know, there is medication that could make you slur your speech in the morning. But if it is that, and not some other drug, then it's still indicative of the fact that she's not alright, but then, she's never hidden the fact that she's bi-polar.

Anyway, not that we'd ever suggest the personal problems of minor celebrities should be treated as entertainment, but you can watch the slur-ry interview here:

www.digitalspy.co.uk/showbiz/a133416/video-katona-slurs-through-interview.html

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CLIVE DAVIS' NEW OFFICE SOUNDPROOFED
There were reports earlier in the year that US record industry veteran Clive Davis was being pushed out when he was moved from of the hands-on CEO job at SonyBMG's BMG Label Group and given the title of Chief Creative Officer for SonyBMG in general, which is sort of an 'executive without portfolio' type role.

But new reports suggest that the major are actually as keen as ever to get him involved in their big pop projects, possibly because of the continued success of his most recent hands-on projects, the recording careers of Dreamgirls star Jennifer Hudson and X-Factor winner Leona Lewis.

But more interesting in the Clive Davis news department is gossip from Fox News' Roger Friedman. He reports that, in his new SonyBMG-wide post, Davis is being moved into a new office at Sony Corp's New York HQ just above the offices of Sony Corp big cheeses Howard Stringer and Rob Wiesenthal. Freidman reports: "Knowing that the 76-year-old Davis likes to play music loud in his office, the pair made noises about trying to put him somewhere else. It didn't work. Instead, Davis's floor is being soundproofed so he can rock out 24-7 without disturbing the adults below".

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AXL ROSE REMEMBERED THROUGH POETRY
So, we draw ever closer to that moment no man, woman or child ever believed could happen - the release of Guns N' Roses' 'Chinese Democracy'. But how did this momentous occasion come about? Well, I'm not quite sure, but I have been very much enjoying former CMU columnist Ben Myers' re-imagining of the life of Axl Rose from smalltown boy to world famous rock star via the medium of poetry, entitled 'I Axl: An American Dream'.

Read it online at www.iaxl.blogspot.com

Elsewhere, Guns N' Roses manager Andy Gould has been comparing the band's new album to the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. He told EW.com: "Art and commerce have always made strange bedfellows. When they asked Michelangelo to paint the Sistine Chapel, they didn't say, 'Can you do it in the fourth quarter?' so they can make their numbers. Great art sometimes takes time".

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