Don't forget to vote for your track of the year. Just email us your favourite track released this year and a couple of sentences saying why you love it to [email protected].

UK MUSIC CALL FOR ONLINE COPYRIGHT REGULATOR
Cross-industry trade body UK Music has told the government that it supports proposals for a regulator to oversee copyright issues on the internet. In a submission to a government consultation on the issue of music and the net, UK Music say that, "in view of the historic differences between rights holders and ISPs, some form of regulatory control is required".

As much previously reported, some progress has been made this year regarding the long running dispute between the music industry and the internet service providers, in which the former said the latter had a duty to play a more proactive role in combating online piracy.

Earlier this year the government called on music companies and internet providers to reach a voluntary agreement regarding policing online piracy, threatening to legislate on the issue if they did not. That threat seemingly persuaded some ISPs to make some concessions, and earlier this year record label trade body BPI announced it had entered into a Memorandum Of Understanding with six net firms in which the ISPs pledged to send out warning letters to suspected file sharers, while both sides would collaborate on new legit digital music services and on copyright education programmes.

The MOU probably means the UK government will not need to take as much action as their French counterparts, who are in the process of pushing proposals through their parliament to launch a potentially powerful copyright regulator which will have the power to disconnect serial file sharers who do not heed warnings. However, some feel some kind of regulatory system is also required here to oversee the battle against online piracy, and to adjudicate when interested parties disagree. Media regulator OfCom has previously hinted it would be willing to take on that role, and that is what UK Music propose in their submission.

According to Billboard, the trade body's document says: "A third-party regulator [is] likely to help overcome the mutual caution that has been characteristic of many past discussions between rights holders and ISPs".

It's not clear how the signatories of the aforementioned MOU feel about some kind of government-back regulator in the online copyright protection domain.

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JACKSON CLAIMS TO BE TOO ILL TO TESTIFY
Is it just me, or does Michael Jackson seem to have a habit of getting ill whenever his legal disputes head to court? Perhaps it is just me. Either way, the lawyers of former Jacko friend and business partner Sheikh Abdulla Bin Hamad Bin Isa Al-Khalifa say they are "rightly sceptical" of claims by the singer's legal people that their client is not well enough to testify in the previously reported breach of contract dispute being heard in the London High Court.

As previously reported, Sheikh Abdulla, the son of the King of Bahrain, is suing Jackson over allegations of breach of contract and unpaid loans. Abdulla befriended Jackson after his high profile child abuse trial, and in the month's after Jacko's acquittal he lived in Bahrain. During that time Abdulla and Jackson set up a company which planned to release a new album from the singer (possibly with songwriting contributions by the Sheikh) as well as an autobiography and stage play.

The business venture, though, came to nothing. Abdulla claims Jackson reneged on contractual obligations when he returned to the US, and is also demanding the return of loans given to the singer to cover his living, travel and legal costs after the trial. Jacko claims he never agreed to any business deal, that a contract he signed was done so under false pretences, and that the loans were actually gifts.

The dispute reached the London courts this week, though the case came to a halt yesterday over the issue of whether Jackson could be forced to testify. Jacko's people presented a letter from his doctors saying he was not fit enough to travel to London and, pending test results, may not be fit enough to testify at all (ie not even by video link from the US). The specifics of the singer's ill health are not known, though Abdulla's people argued Jackson could travel to London if "suitable dressings" were applied.

Having read the doctor's note, the judge hearing the case said that Jackson "may or may not have a condition" and that his doctors were waiting test results. The case has been postponed until Thursday to allow said results to be delivered and analysed.

The Shiekh's people weren't impressed arguing that the results for the kind of medical tests Jackson had undergone should be available in 48 hours - he had the tests ten days ago. They said they were "rightly sceptical" about the reasons given for Jackson's unwillingness to testify.

When the case returns to court on Thursday Abdulla himself is expected to take to the witness stand, as is the Jacko's former nanny Grace Rwaramba, who is expected to speak in the singer's defence.

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SUGE KNIGHT CHARGED OVER AUGUST ALTERCATION
As Suge Knight starts those previously reported legal proceedings against Kanye West over injuries he suffered after a shoot out at a party hosted by the rapper back in 2005, the former Death Row Records mogul could be heading back to court as a defendant too.

He is facing criminal charges in Las Vegas after an incident back in August when he was seen hitting his girlfriend. Although the alleged assault took place three months ago, the charges were only filed with the Las Vegas court this week. As well as assault charges there are drug possession charges related to the incident.

Knight is due in court on 16 Dec where, according to his legal people, the former hip hop chief will plead not-guilty guvnor. His lawyer, Richard Schonfeld, told reporters yesterday: "We're going to vigorously defend him against these charges".

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BRANDY TALKS ABOUT CAR CRASH
US R&B star Brandy has been talking about that 2006 car accident she was involved in (and allegedly caused) in which a woman, Awatef Aboudihaj, was killed.

Talking about the incident to US TV show 'Access Hollywood', Brandy said: "It was a situation that changed my life forever. I will never be the same. It was pretty bad. There were parts flying and there was a bunch of smoke".

On the media reaction to the incident, and her role in causing the crash, she continued: "I just feel like a lot of people jumped on it because it was something to talk about. And instead of just waiting to see what really happened, they kind of make their own story about it and started pointing the finger and blaming".

Although Brandy was not charged with anything in relation to the crash, reportedly due to "insufficient evidence", she is facing a £33 million wrongful death lawsuit brought by Aboudihaj's family, which should go to court next April.

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WINEHOUSE MISSES BLAKE'S VISITING HOURS
Amy Winehouse missed her first chance to visit husband Blake Fielder-Civil because she arrived after visiting hours at the rehab facility where her thuggish justice-perverting other half is currently receiving treatment.

As previously reported, Fielder-Civil was let out of prison early two weeks ago - having been jailed for assaulting a pub owner and then trying to cover it up - on the condition he went straight into a strict rehab facility.

Winehouse, who was reportedly furious with her other half because he had failed to tell her about his pending release, has yet to visit Blake in rehab, but on Monday did make the trip to the Surrey clinic where he is staying. However, according to the Daily Mail she left so late that by the time she got there visiting hours were over.

She reportedly returned home and quickly went out to the pub, where she told photographers she planned to try to visit Blake the next day. Which, I think, would have been yesterday. It's not clear if she made it this time.

Sources say Blake is responding well to rehab, but has another five weeks of the programme to go. He reportedly told reporters he had spoken to Amy on the phone and looked forward to seeing her again very soon.

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LOVE: NOT SUICIDAL, AND NOT BLOGGING ANYMORE
Courtney Love has denied claims (well, suggestions I think) made by Perez Hilton that she is going loopy again, or could be "suicidal". The blogger remarked on the former Hole frontwoman's mental condition after she made ten entries on her always erratic blog all in the same day earlier this week - mostly discussing clothes. But Love has hit out, said she is fine, and demanded Hitlon apologise to her daughter Frances Bean for suggesting her mother might be suicidal.

Love wrote: "No I am not suicidal. Occasionally, very occasionally, like all of us I get depressed ... Over a year ago ... I had a mini little depression attack, well [a] big one. I don't know quite why it happened but I find that medication is not the answer to this. [Now] I'm off blogging because you've upset my kid and embarrassed her ,and so have I. So [I've] apologised to her. I hope you will, too".

What, no more mad Courtney blogs? Damn you Perez, Love's MySpace ramblings are the best entertainment the internet provides.

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BRITNEY FEELS LIKE A PRISONER
More quotes from that previously reported upcoming MTV documentary, 'Britney: For The Record', which will be broadcast in the UK on Sky One at 8pm on 1 Dec. In the snippet, Spears says she feels like she is being held prisoner by her situation, following her much-publicised breakdown, and that it is stifling her creativity.

She said: "I have really good days, and then I have bad days. Even when you go to jail you know there's the time when you're gonna get out. But in this situation, it's never ending. It's just like Groundhog Day every day. I think [my life is] too in control. If I wasn't under the restraints I'm under, I'd feel so liberated. When I tell them the way I feel, it's like they hear but they're really not listening".

She added: "If you do something wrong in your work, you can move on, but I'm having to pay for a long time. I never wanted to become one of those prisoner people. I always wanted to feel free. I think I've learnt my lesson now and enough is enough".

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ONE MORE YEAR OF COLDPLAY, THEN WE'RE IN THE CLEAR
Chris Martin has hinted that he will retire from making music, possibly as soon as next year. Coldplay aren't going to be the new U2 and just go on and on and on and on and on and on forever and ever and ever and ever and ever. Good.

Martin told the Daily Express: "I'm 31 now and I don't think that bands should keep going past 33. So, we're trying to pack in as much as possible. Up until the end of next year, we'll just go for it in every sense. I don't believe in time off. We've still got most of our hair, we can still fit into our musical trousers and we've got to make the most of that".

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ORANGE JUICE WILL REUNITE AT SCOTTISH MUSIC AWARDS
Glasgow band Orange Juice will reunite (though, not to perform, I don't think) at Scottish music awards the Tartan Clef Awards on Saturday, including frontman Edwyn Collins who, of course, has made a full return to his musical career despite suffering from a brain haemorrhage back in 2005

Talking about being reunited with his former bandmates this weekend, Collins told CMU: "I'm very flattered, it's all part of the renaissance of Orange Juice. I have fond memories of the band and am looking forward to seeing them all again".

Drummer Steven Daly added: "Orange Juice set rolling a multi-million pound industry and completely reshaped Glasgow's self-image. That wasn't easy... We were self aware enough to realise our records were making history".

The Tartan Clef Music Awards are staged in aid of Nordoff-Robbins Music Therapy. More info at www.tartanclef.org.

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SINGLE REVIEW: Hafdis Huld - Stop (Red Grape Records)
Iceland's economy may not be at its healthiest, but one thing that is thriving on that rocky outpost in the Atlantic is a creativity for music that seems resistant to any economic woes. Hafdis Huld is a blonde beauty with piercing eyes and a controlled bob, but it's her voice that matters on this Sam Brown cover, and it is a sweet pleasure. It may lack the unique quirky tones of Bjork that may be expected, but underlying is a subtle inflection that holds interest. That track too is pleasant enough, aiming for a more credible, Fiona Apple-influenced female folk route than the large-lunged original. Hopefully, it'll give some of her countrymen reason to smile. TM
Release Date: 24 Nov
Press Contact: Red Grape IH [all]

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LCD SOUNDSYSTEM NOT SPLITTING
LCD Soundsystem's James Murphy has told the NME that he is not putting an end to the project, despite claims made by the band's live guitarist Al Doyle, recently.

Murphy said: "I write all my music in my head, I never demo. I get to a point where there are too many songs and I have to get them recorded. I recently felt that. I've got eight in my head - that's critical mass. When I start recording I don't tell anyone, not even my manager. I'll go away for a month to a studio outside [New York] and do it".

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NEW SPRINGSTEEN ALBUM IN JANUARY
Bruce Springsteen will release a new album - 'Working On A Dream' - in January. Recorded with the good old E Street Band it will feature 12 new songs, and its release will conveniently coincide with his appearance at the half time show at the 2009 Super Bowl.

Writing on his website, Springsteen says: "We all had a blast making this record from beginning to end. I hope 'Working On A Dream' has caught the energy of the band fresh off the road from some of the most exciting shows we've ever done. All the songs were written quickly, we usually used one of our first few takes".

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SKREAM FOR SECOND NIKE+ TRACK
Following on from Simian Mobile Disco's 'Run', dubstepper Skream has come up with a bespoke 30 minute track especially for the Nike+ iPod Sport Kit.

As previously reported, Skream, Simian Mobile Disco and Jackson And His Computer Band have all composed special tracks for the system, which lets your iPod talk to Nike+ enabled running shoes through the wireless Nike+ Sport Kit. Data on time, distance, calories burned and pace is stored on your iPod and can then be downloaded through iTunes to the user's Nike+ account online. Each of the specially written tracks are written for a 30 minute warm up, running workout and warm down, setting the pace and BPM to match the runner's journey.

Skream's 'Gallasia', which the producer says is written for a dark, urban night run, is released on Monday. Says Skream: "Music makes you want to move - it is a natural inspiration for movement when combining different BPMs one can influence a person's energy both physically and mentally".

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HOLY ROAR ANNOUNCE CASSETTE COMPILATION
Holy Roar Records have announced details of their second annual Christmas tape compilation, 'Happy Holy Roar: Vol 2'. Following on from last year's excellent volume, the album will feature new and previously unreleased material from this year's top underground UK hardcore bands, and the new names that will be on your lips in 2009.

The compilation will be limited to 100 copies and will come in festive red, white and green cassettes, with artwork by James Burgess. Pre-order it here: holyroarrecords.bigcartel.com

Tracklisting:

Side A:
1. Pulled Apart By Horses - Universal Talk Box**
2. Holy State - Solid State Messiah (vs. The Valve Viking)**
3. Mirror! Mirror! - On Probation*
4. Tropics - Dead Lips**
5. Throats - Sometimes**
6. Brontide - Crunk Anansie*
7. Lone Wolves - Stonehill**
8. the_Network - Coke Head Queen*
9. Chronicles of Adam West - The Big Sleep*
10. Three Trapped Tigers - 5

Side B:
11. Algernon Cadwallader - Katies Conscience**
12. Cutting Pink With Knives - Cite*
13. Calories - Eat Rabbit**
14. Maths - Culpa (Demo)*
15. No Kilter - Fuck Me Tony*
16. Caves - Numbers**
17. Jailbait - On Reflection**
18. Ergon Carousel - Hindsight Is A Wonderful Thing When You Dont Mean It
19. Omes - Give blood*
20. Suffocate For Fucks Sake - I Got Worried I Was So Freaking Scared Of That Window, You Know

* = Previously unreleased
** = Only previously appeared on a demo / self-release

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FRATELLIS REFUTE TOUR CANCELLATION STATEMENT
The Fratellis have denied claims made in an official statement that they were forced to cancel European tour dates due to "unforeseen recording commitments".

Frontman Jon Fratelli told Bang Showbiz: "We weren't happy that they were cancelled but it wasn't to do with recording. Hopefully we'll do them again as part of a bigger European tour next year. To be honest the reason was that the tour was booked so late. I don't actually completely understand it. It wasn't to do with ticket sales or anything because they were all fine but it was some big thing between promoters and managers and that sort of thing which I tend to try and stay away from. All I know is I was disappointed".

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HERMAN DUNE TO HEADLINE GREEN MAN TOUR
Herman Dune will be in the UK next month to headline a six date tour, sponsored by the Green Man festival. The band's latest album, 'Next Year In Zion', was released in October, and their next single, 'Try To Think About Me' will be release on 23 Feb. Support comes from Baby Skins.

Tour dates:

13 Dec: Manchester, Deaf Institute
14 Dec: Glasgow, Stereo
15 Dec: Leeds, Brudnell Social Club
16 Dec: Bristol, Thekla
17 Dec: London, Scala
18 Dec: Brighton, Duke Of York

Next year's Green Man festival, by the way, is due to take place from 21-23 Aug.

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ALBUM REVIEW: The John Henrys - Sweet As The Grain (9LB Records)
Like the American folk hero The John Henry's have named themselves after, their debut album 'Sweet As The Grain' has songs on it that have huge ideas behind them. However, after twelve songs the concept of old school storytelling mixed with popular folk and country music seems to wear thin. The songs have brilliant melodies and the structure for each is quite simple giving the intricate lyrical detail, but there just isn't enough substance in lead vocalist, Rey Sabatin Jr's voice (although, he does have the coolest name I've heard in a while). Because of Sabatin Jr's sometimes weak vocals, some of the songs come off like bad pop songs, rather than brilliantly-written folk-country tunes, and sound like filler when compared to some of the truly great tracks on the album. Leaving this aside, there are some absolute gems here, with three highlights appearing from tracks four to six. 'Ain't Gonna Drink No More' is a typical country drinkin' song about the troubles experienced by a well versed drinker and is a perfect party song. 'Thought Yourself Lucky' is easily the stand out track on the album. The main riff is a heavy use electric guitar which complements the lyrics perfectly. Here, Sabatin Jr's vocals are anything but weak, sounding like a gruff Paul McCartney. A promising debut release from this Ontario-based band. Although, again like their namesake, the album seems to die later on after trying too hard. GM
Release Date: 1 Dec
Press Contact: G Promo [all]

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SHARKEY ASKS WHERE 696 DATA GOES
More from UK Music now, and the boss of the cross-industry trade body, Feargal Sharkey, has demanded that police reveal what they do with the information about musicians that is submitted on the 696 licensing application form.

As previously reported, Sharkey last week hit out at the new bureaucracy involved in applying for live music licences that has been introduced since the 2003 Licensing Act became law. The nature of this bureaucracy varies around the country, but in London involves filling out the Metropolitan Police's 696 form, which demands the full names, performing names and contact details of every artist performing, and the genre of the music they perform. It's that information Sharkey is interested in.

According to Music Week, Sharkey has written to the boss of the Metropolitan Police (which is still Ian Blair, for the time being) asking him to clarify the "use and purpose" of the form, and to confirm what happens to the information provided.

Sharkey argues that the information requested by the 696 form is not a legislative requirement - ie it is not mentioned in the 2003 Act. He also says that government guidelines say police intervention on the live music front should be "light touch". The Met's form, he argues, is anything but.

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TERM EXTENSION PETITION LAUNCHED AT PPL APM
'Performer members' of recordings royalty collecting society PPL (ie recording artists and musicians) have put their names to the latest petition calling on the government to extend the recorded music copyright term.

As much much much previously reported, in Europe the copyright term for recordings is fifty years, whereas the term enjoyed by songwriters (and writers and photographers etc) is life plus seventy years.

Record labels and those artists who rely primarily on a cut of recording royalties for a living (ie they didn't write their own songs) have been calling for an extension of recording royalties for some time, though the most recent government review on the matter, by Andrew Gowers, declared no such increase was justified. That said, there remains support for an extension in parliament, and there are moves at a European level to increase the recording copyright, probably to 95 years, which is currently the term in the US.

But with many of the famous early rock n roll recordings about to come out of copyright here in the UK, the label and artist communities need to keep up the pressure for extension sooner rather than later. To that end, a petition was written at the Annual Performer Meeting held by PPL in London yesterday, and 99 musicians quickly lined up to sign it. The petition calls on the UK government to reject Gowers' findings on the matter, and to work with their European counterparts to proactively push for term extension.

Commenting on the petition, PPL chairman and CEO Fran Nevrkla told reporters: "Over the last six years PPL, on behalf of all our performer and record company members, has worked quietly but resolutely on addressing this issue. We have organised petitions, we have taken national newspapers advertisements, we have lobbied, we have listened, we have debated - and we have done much, much more besides. However we have reached a point now where this government simply has to understand that musicians feel desperately angry at being treated in this contemptuous and dismissive way".

The Musicians' Union also support the petition, saying their members, too, are angry about the government's resistance to act on this issue. General Secretary John Smith told CMU: "To say that we are disappointed in the UK government's attitude towards British musicians is an understatement. At a time when the creative industries and music in particular, is the only growth area in the economy, how can they take this attitude towards the very people that provide the music industry with its raw material?"

Elsewhere at the APM, Gerald Newson, double bass player for the London Symphony Orchestra, was re-elected as chairman of PPL's Performer Board.

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WOOLIES TAKEOVER RUMOURED
A company called Hilco, who are "takeover specialists" apparently, are reportedly in talks to takeover Woolworths. The music-and-other-stuff retailer has been struggling for sometime, and has admitted they are in talks regarding a possible sale of their retail business. The Times reports that Hilco are the potential buyer, and that they could takeover the Woolworths retail chain and all its liabilities for a pound. It's not clear how Hilco would plan to turn around Woolies' fortunes or otherwise profit from the retail chain.

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PRESENT MEETS FUTURE AT BPI NETWORKING EVENT
Forty young people will meet 39 music business experts and one CMU Daily editor later today at the BPI's Backstage Pass event. The 40 students have been picked from various music and educational bodies around the UK and will get to meet with execs from the worlds of promotions, publishing, A&R, licensing, composing, artist management and digital later today to discuss how they can best break into the business.

It's the second year for the Backstage Pass event, organized by the BPI in association with Make Your Mark, the business world-supported body that encourages young people to be enterprising.

BPI boss Geoff Taylor told CMU: "The music business is one of the most exciting, fast-moving and fun businesses in the world, and it relies on innovative entrepreneurs, as well as artists and musicians, to push business models, technology and music forward. We're experiencing one of the most exciting periods of change the business has ever felt and fresh young entrepreneurs - like those here today - will play a key role in continuing to push the boundaries of innovation over the coming years. There is a huge amount of energy and excitement surrounding Backstage Pass - bringing some of the next generation of talent together with those already innovating is hugely valuable for everyone involved".

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THEME PARK CHIEF JOINS LIVE NATION BOARD
The CEO of US-based amusement park firm Six Flags Inc, Mark Shapiro, has joined the board of live music conglom Live Nation. The live entertainment firm's CEO Michael Rapino told reporters: "Mark's position at Six Flags gives him an unparalleled level of experience in consumer entertainment, brand building, sponsorship and marketing. He will be an important resource to us at Live Nation as we continue to shift into our role as a business-to-consumer operation".

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GAUNT FIRED BY TALKSPORT OVER NAZI REMARK
The way radio works, post-Sachsgate. TalkSport presenter Jon Gaunt who, as previously reported, was suspended for calling a councillor a "Nazi" during a heated on air debate, has been fired. Gaunt says he meant to call Redbridge councillor Michael Stark a "health Nazi" in a debate over whether smokers should be banned from fostering children, and he issued an apology to that effect on the same show where his outburst took place. When he was put on suspension pending investigation Gaunt's agent said the presenter welcomed the move and was confident he'd return to the air. But he was wrong, yesterday he was fired. What a bunch of Nazis. "Word Nazis" that is. Gaunt is yet to comment on his dismissal.

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INDEPENDENT CONFIRMS JOB CUTS
As expected, the Independent is to cut about 90 jobs from its daily and Sunday title. The broadsheet is known to be struggling, and the cuts follow albeit denied rumours the paper's owners were considering selling the title, possibly to the Daily Mail. The Inde could shed more jobs yet because it is known to be considering outsourcing some of its back office operations to other newspaper firms. Of the 90 jobs going now, 60 are thought to be editorial.

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GARETH GATES TO PLAY JOSEPH
Gareth Gates has reportedly signed up to play the title role in the ongoing West End version of 'Joseph And The Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat'. And without going through one of the BBC's "compete to appear in the West End" competitions either. Though to be fair, I suppose he did do his fair share when it comes to telly talent contesting. According to Heat, Gates will don the multi-coloured coat from January after completing his panto commitments at the Wimbledon Theatre. The life of an almost pop idol hey.

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KATY PERRY HAS REAL BOOBS AND SHE LIKES IT
Katy Perry has denied rumours that she has had breast implants, just in case you were in any doubt on the matter. Perry told The Sun: "How could people think these are fake? Look at them. Ask them! They are as real as real can be. One hundred per cent genuine and untouched... well sort of. I would never spend money on fake boobs. Shoes, maybe. A handbag, maybe. But plastic tits - no way! I am not against people who get things done. A tuck or a lift never hurt anyone. In 50 years time, I may look like a Siamese cat in a wind tunnel, but as of this moment I haven't and the rack is real".

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