JACKSON SETTLES SHEIKH CASE OUT OF COURT
Serves me right for being prepared and writing some CMU stories yesterday. I had my piece on how Michael Jackson was due in London to appear in the High Court in the previously reported Sheikh trial all written yesterday afternoon, referencing all the fans that were expected to gather outside the court and commenting, very amusingly, how the court would be wishing they had taken my suggestion of opening a memorabilia store. And then we hear the whole dispute has been settled out of court.

Yes, Michael Jackson has reached an out of court settlement, in principle, with Sheikh Abdulla Bin Hamad Bin Isa Al-Khalifa, who accused the singer of being in breach of contract for pulling out of a joint venture business that was to release Jacko's longtime-in-development new album. The Sheikh also says he is owed money from loans he made to Jackson shortly after he was acquitted of those child abuse charges. Jackson claimed there was no business contract, and that the loans had been gifts.

As previously reported, when the case opened last week Jacko initially tried to avoid giving testimony in the London court on grounds of ill-health, but after medical reports were submitted last week his lawyers said he would, in fact, testify, and in person. However, last night, with Jackson reportedly already on his way to the UK, it was confirmed an out of court deal had been done, so no such testimony will be required.

Details of the deal are not known, and given it's a deal "in principle" presumably it could, as yet, collapse, forcing the dispute back into court.

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FCC GO TO SUPREME COURT OVER NIPPLEGATE
More legal shenanigans involving the Jackson family now, though from a distance I suppose. US media regulator the FCC will go to the country's Supreme Court to try and enforce its much previously reported and rather OTT fine against TV network CBS in relation to the Nipplegate fiasco, when Janet Jackson exposed more of her person than Middle America could cope with during the half-time show at the 2004 Superbowl back in 2004.

As previously reported, the outraged FCC fined CBS - who had produced and aired the half-time show - the maximum penalty it could. Because the penalty could be charged against each local CBS channel that carried the Superbowl, that worked out at $550,000. Quite a lot for half a boob.

CBS appealed the ruling, and earlier this year the US Circuit Court Of Appeals ruled that CBS were not responsible for the incident and had responded as best they could (by getting the cameras off Jackson as fast as possible). As a result of that ruling a Philadelphia court ruled CBS did not have to pay the fine.

The FCC argue that the appeals court incorrectly applied the rule regarding responsibility for such cases of on air indecency, applying rules intended for verbal indecency (like swearing) to a case of visual indecency (like Justin Timberlake revealing Janet Jackson's breast). They have asked the Supreme Court to overrule the appeal court's ruling and reinstate the fine.

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BOY GEORGE IN COURT THIS WEEK
Back to the British courts, and if you prefer your court cases involving 80s pop stars to centre on home-grown artists, then you need to get down to London's fashionable Snaresbrook Crown Court where Boy George is this week due to face those much previously reported charges that he assaulted and falsely imprisoned a male escort at his flat here in never-dull Shoreditch. George denies the charges, which relate to an incident in April last year. The trial could last up to five days.

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TI TESTIFIES IN MURDER CASE
US rap star TI testified at the end of last week at the trial relating to the previously reported murder of his friend Philant Johnson, who was fatally shot back in 2006. One Hosea Thomas stands accused of the shooting, which took place in Ohio on 3 May that year, when an altercation at a club led to a gun battle on Interstate 75, in which TI's tour buses were sprayed with bullets.

The rapper, real name Clifford Harris, took to the stand for thirty minutes, during the course of which he averred that Johnson was his "best and oldest friend" and expressed his devastation on finding him lying dead from a gunshot wound to the head.

He also explained how the shooting came about, telling the courtroom that the gunfire was the result of an argument that began at an after show party at the Club Ritz venue in Cincinnati. Harris alleges that the fight broke out after a group of men tried to enter a VIP area reserved for the rap star and his entourage, and that the accused, Hosea Thomas, became enraged after being hit on the head with a bottle during the fracas. Thomas then seemingly followed TI and his group, driven in a Jeep by his brother Padron.

TI told the jury: "I noticed headlights and traffic trying to pull along the side of his, getting in the wrong lane of traffic, to pull up along side of us. So, I made Ron aware. 'I got it. It got it'. Before I knew it, shots rang out. At that point, we're calling everybody's name to see if everybody is alright. I called Phil's name. Phil didn't respond. At that point, everybody is trying to get out of the car. Picking Phil up and trying to get Phil out".

Thomas is charged with murder, felonious assault and various weapons charges. His aforementioned brother Padron is testifying against him - though Thomas' defence say he is only doing so to get a reduced sentence for himself. A verdict in the case is expected this week.

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MADONNA AND GUY DIVORCED, OFFICIAL
That seemed very quick. And it was, in fact.

As expected, Madonna and Guy Ritchie have been granted a divorce by London's High Court, just a month after the couple announced their intention to split. A statement released by the court indicated that Madonna petitioned for the divorce, citing Ritchie's unreasonable behaviour as her grounds. Well, I expect it was all his fault, there's no way I can imagine Madonna ever being unreasonable herself.

Neither Madonna nor Guy were present at court. The pair have not made any financial settlements, and have reportedly now agreed to share custody of their son Rocco and their adopted son David Banda. Madonna's daughter Lourdes will, of course, stay with her.

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TRAVIS BARKER SUES OVER PLANE CRASH
Travis Barker is suing the company who owned the Lear Jet that crashed in Columbia, South Carolina back in September, and from which he and DJ AM, aka Adam Goldstein, had a very fortunate escape.

The former Blink 182 man has brought his action against the owners Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co and an aeroplane maintenance company for $25k in damages for pain and suffering, disfigurement, loss of earnings plus medical and legal expenses. Thelma Martin Still, mother of Barker's late bodyguard Charles Still, who was killed in the crash, has joined the suit.

The suit claims that the pilots were at fault, saying that they "negligently decided to abort" take-off, and adding: "The pilots were either poorly trained and/or failed to follow their training. The pilots' decision was a breach of their duty owed to the passengers on board and was a substantial factor in causing the crash and resultant injuries and deaths." It also alleges that at least one tyre on the plane failed, and that they, as well as the craft's wheels, landing gear, breaks, reverse thrust system and squat switches "were not airworthy".

As previously reported, the aforementioned Still and Barker's assistant Chris Baker were killed in the incident, along with pilot Sarah Lemmon and co-pilot James Bland. The jet got into difficulty on take-off, crashing onto a nearby road.

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SPEARS IN COURT FOR CONSERVATORSHIP HEARING
One last bit from the pop courts, and Britney Spears was back in court last week for another hearing on the conservatorship that gives her father legal authority over her affairs which has, of course, been in place since she went a bit loopy at the start of the year. The conservatorship was made permanent last month - until, that is, Britney asks for it to be removed. But I don't think that's what was happening on Friday, so it's not clear why the conservatorship was subject to more court debate.

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MC BREED DIES
Veteran Michigan-born rapper MC Breed, aka Eric Breed, has died at the age of thirty-six. He had suffered kidney failure back in September, and ended up on life support at that time, but was taken off it after a few days and seemed to be recovering. He reportedly died in his sleep on 22 Nov, so presumably it was another kidney failure that brought about his demise.

Breed was known for being the first commercially successful rap artist to emerge from America's midwest, and during the course of his career collaborated with a number of high profile hip hop types, including Tupac Shakur and Too $hort. He released his first album, 'MC Breed & DFC', back in 1991, and during a fifteen year career produced thirteen long players. His highest charting record, 'Funkafied', made it to number 9 in the US hip hop chart.

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AMY SAYS MARRIAGE IS OVER
Amy Winehouse says her marriage is over. She's allegedly said it before of course, most notably on her husband Blake Fielder-Civil's recent release from prison. Now the News Of The World have quoted the singer as saying this: "It's over. There's no way back for us now. It was never going to last. We were only together for sex. I fancied him like mad, like no-one else I've ever known. But it's not enough, is it?"

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VELVET REVOLVER SPLIT FROM RCA
Velvet Revolver should try not splitting from things for a moment, they might find they like it. First it was frontman Scott Weiland, now it's their record label, Sony's RCA.

It's rumoured that the split is down to poor sales of the band's second album, 'Libertad', which has shifted just 300,000 units in the US since its July 2007 release, compared to the 1.98 million their debut, 'Contraband' sold in the States.

However, this is apparently not the case, according to guitarist Slash. His official fansite, snakepit.org reports: "Slash says that while it is true that VR is no longer with RCA, the truth is not as negative as the rumor. The band owed RCA money for a third album, which at this time they are unable to produce (no singer). The band and RCA parted amicably. When they are recording the new album, it most likely will be for a new label".

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GUNS N ROSES BREAK MYSPACE LISTENING RECORD
As you must know by now, Guns N Roses long awaited 'Chinese Democracy' album is out in the UK today. But that's by the by, really, because you've almost certainly already listened to it on MySpace. The band made the album available to stream in full on their page on the site last Thursday and promptly broke all records for the number of people listening to one band. At its peak, the page was racking up an astonishing 25 listens per second, making it the most successful music page on the site ever. Which I think means everyone in the world has listened to it twice. If by some miracle you haven't checked it out yet, go to www.myspace.com/gunsnroses

Elsewhere in Guns N Roses news, the band issued a statement this weekend regarding the previously reported Dr Pepper promotion tied to their album. As previously reported, Dr Pepper promised to give everyone in America a free can of their drink if 'Chinese Democracy' was released by the end of the year. With the album out in the US yesterday, Americans could go online and register for a free can. Some have said the fact people need to register is a con, because it means the drinks firm get a valuable database of email addresses on the back of the Guns N Roses album release.

The band issued a slightly confusing statement which distanced themselves from the drinks firm's giveaway, but then told fans to go get their free can. The statement read: "For those who heard about Dr. Pepper's offer to give each and every American a free can of soda if Chinese Democracy is released in 2008, Guns N' Roses wants to make sure every Guns N' Roses fan, and every other American, gets what was promised. The band is not involved in this promotion, but understood that every American (with a couple of exceptions) would get a free can of Dr Pepper. Apparently, only those who go to the soda company's Web site on Sunday, November 23 and sign up for a free 20 ounce soda coupon will get the free can. Guns N' Roses encourages all those interested to sign up for their coupon on Sunday, collect their drink and celebrate the release of Chinese Democracy!"

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SINGLE REVIEW: The Hours - See The Light (Is Good)
With a Pulp and Elastica session musician at the helm of the Damien Hirst approved Hours, and a successful album in the bag, the bar was always going to be set high for the next release. So, which direction to take? Should they attempt for chart success and get in Fearne and Reggie's good books? Or continue down the same path ad infinitum in some sick tribute to Oasis? It seems they chose neither. Instead, 'See The Light' is a seven minute single. No, there's no "radio edit", that's seven minutes. And no wonder, because not a single second is wasted. As soon as the mesmeric piano kicks in, sounding like it's been recorded in the Vatican, you're captivated. The ethereal ambience sways and builds over the minutes towards an unforgiving climax you couldn't want any sooner. Then it's over. Seven minutes. How time flies when you're having fun. GB
Release Date: 8 Dec
Press Contact: Charm Factory [All]

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WYCLEF PROPERTY NIGHTMARE STUFF
According to reports, Wyclef Jean is owing the bank $2.4million because of an ill-fated property project he undertook in Miami. The star's Miami Beach mansion was recently foreclosed on, after the property, valued at $1.4m, was left unfinished for more than two years, after he and his partners failed to raise monies required to finish the project. In addition to those problems, Jean's company was fined by Miami Beach city when the building work was stalled, plus the architects have put a lien (security interest) on the property in an attempt to collect $75k, owed to them since 2004. The building will be sold by Miami Dade county on 12 Dec. Puts you off property development a bit, doesn't it?

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KYLIE, LOTS OF DOSH, TWO UPCOMING RELEASES
Perhaps Kylie could help Wyclef out. As you may have seen, she earned a reported $3.5 million for a 45 minute performance in Dubai on Thursday night. Which is nice. For her. Ms Minogue played at the opening of the rather grand Atlantis hotel on that reclaimed from the sea The Palm thing.

Elsewhere in Kylie news, we hear a live DVD and remix album are in the pipeline. The latter should include the following...

Can't Get Blue Monday Out Of My Head (Bootleg with New Order)
Spinning Around (7th District Club Mental Mix)
Wow (Death Metal Disco Scene Remix)
Love At First Sight (Kid Creme Vocal Dub)
Slow (Chemical Brothers Mix)
Come Into My World (Fischerspooner Mix)
Red Blooded Woman (Whitey Mix)
I Believe In You (Mylo Mix)
In Your Eyes (Knuckleheadz Mix)
2 Hearts (Mark Brown's Pacha Ibiza Upper Terrace Mix)
On A Night Like This (Bini & Martini Mix)
Giving You Up (Ritron Re-Rub Vocal Mix)
In My Arms (Sebastien Leger Vocal Mix)
The One (Britrocka Remix)
Your Disco Needs You (Casino Mix)
Boombox (LA Riots Remix)

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SLOW CLUB ANNOUNCE CHRISTMAS SINGLE AND GIG
Joyous anti-folk duo Slow Club have announced that they will release a special download-only single for the impending festive season, entitled 'Christmas TV', on 8 Dec via Moshi Moshi. The band will also play a headline show at Union Chapel on 1 Dec. Support will come from Jay Jay Pistolet and Milberg (aka Lisa Milberg of The Concretes), which sounds brilliant.

Says Slow Club's Charles Watson: "Union Chapel is an amazing venue, we are very excited to be playing there. It's going to be a bit of a different show for us. We are going to be having a few friends with us on stage and playing a bunch of new songs. Plus we have some really great supports lined up".

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ORBITAL TO HEADLINE BIG CHILL
Orbital will headline The Big Chill 2009 with their first live show in five years. Which sounds rather exciting to me. The appearance will mark the electronica pioneers' 20th anniversary, which makes me feel very old. One half of the duo, Phil Hartnoll, told CMU: "It's not an exercise in nostalgia, the time just seems right. Everything just seemed to fall into place. I've played at the Big Chill before, I DJed there and had a really good time - it's an amazing festival. The timing is also good: 20 years of being together".

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MEMORABILIA LINES UP FOR BRITISH MUSIC EXPERIENCE
The Rolling Stones, David Bowie and Amy Winehouse have all loaned memorabilia to the previously reported British Music Experience, which will open at London's O2 dome next March. In case you wondered, Mick Jagger has donated an Ossie Clark-designed 1970s jumpsuit, Bowie his Ashes To Ashes clown suit and a classic Ziggy Stardust costume, and Winehouse is promising them a copy of her decree nisi. No, only joking, she's giving them a vintage dress worn in the video to 'Tears Dry On Their Own'.

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LIVE REVIEW: Ryan Adams & The Cardinals at Brixton Academy on 20 Nov
It's almost exactly a year ago that I last saw Ryan Adams perform in London, and as he makes an unobtrusive entrance onto the dimly lit stage decorated with blue neon roses, there is a certain sense of déjà vu. But Adams is as famously unpredictable live as he is famously prolific on record and this turns out to be a very different evening to last time. For someone still so relatively young Adams has recorded a lot of albums, and to his credit he tries his darnedest to get through as many songs as possible by performing sets twice as long as the average performer. That said, he does have a tendency to play the more obscure album tracks rather than old favourites, to the frustration of many fans. Tonight, however, he surprises the audience by including some gems from his diamond studded back catalogue. Not unnaturally, he performs much of brand new and rather good album 'Cardinology' and considerable amounts from last year's 'Easy Tiger', but also there are rare live outings for classic tracks 'Come Pick Me Up' (from 'Heartbreaker') as well as 'Rescue Blues' and 'La Cienega Just Smiled' (from 'Gold'), to whoops of delight from the crowd. Adams is in an unusually good mood and peppers the set with quips and jokes mostly in the form of self-deprecating comments about himself, his romantic failures, how well-adjusted he is (or not) and his penchant for writing "super depressing songs". On that last point, presumably said in jest, I don't agree. Adams' songs - full of regret and longing and yearning for what might have been - are beautifully and sweetly sad, but not actually depressing. Though, whatever you think of Adam's own songs, it has to be noted that one of the evening's highlights is a cover. A sublime 'Wonderwall' is beefed up considerably but still retains the fragility of his studio version. Adams is clearly delighted by the crowd's reception and tells us we are a "badass" audience and that he loves what we've done to our hair. In every way this was a very special gig by an exceptionally talented singer and it feels like a privilege to have been there. JW

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LOTS OF MP3 PLAYERS SOLD - MOST ON PHONES
Music playing phones are the UK's favourite kind of music device according to a release by the Entertainment Retailers Association based on research by GfK. They report that 32 million MP3 players are now sold every year, three quarters of which are MP3-player-mobile-phone combos like the iPhone. MP3 player sales now outsell CD players five to one.

All of which suggests that the digital music revolution is reaching maturity and, as the mobile firms keep telling us, mobile music is the future of digital. That said, it's perhaps worth wondering how many of the 44 million MP3-playing phones sold in the last two years were bought because of their music playing capabilities, and how many are used as a primary music playing device. I've had my MP3-playing phone for two years now and have never used it to play music. I did put five MP3s on it once, but by that point had lost the headphones that came with it (why do mobile phones have to have totally different headphone sockets to every other device?) so have never actually got round to playing them.

Still, that's no reason to not run a quote from ERA Digital chief Russel Coultart is it? He told CMU: "Never in the history of the music business have we seen a format take off like this before. There is now no doubt that MP3 is the fastest-growing music format of all time, faster than vinyl, cassette or CD. MP3's ability to compress lots of music into a small amount of memory makes it ideal for portable devices like mobile phones and MP3 players. The MP3 is the CD of the download world. The beauty of the MP3 is that it plays on everything".

As previously reported, ERA has become a big supporter of the MP3 as the digital music format of choice, and has launched a new logo to be carried by download platforms who sell tracks in that format, as opposed to less compatible and/or proprietary formats.

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VIVENDI CHIEF NOT SURE WHAT IMPACT THE RECESSION WILL HAVE
Because people have this daft idea I know some stuff about the music business, people keep asking me what impact the recession will have on the music industry. I tell you, if I had a pound for every person who'd asked, I'd certainly be better equipped to deal with the down-turn myself.

Except the askers wouldn't get a pound's worth of insight, because to be honest I can't quite decide what effect the recession will have on either the music industry at large, or more specifically the already struggling record industry. I'm willing to admit this because the boss of Universal Music parent company Vivendi said the same thing at a conference in London last week.

Asked about how he thought his company - which has gaming, TV and phone businesses as well as owning the biggest record company on the planet - would fare in the oncoming recession, Jean-Bernard Levy said: "I have no clue how to answer your question". Yeah, bet you're glad you didn't give him a pound.

According to Billboard, he continued: "Some people tell me this will generate consumer spending. Some people show me market surveys explaining that entertainment as a whole has become as essential as food or health. Some people say that [is] especially [true of] the kind of digital entertainment which we are in, [because it] is quite cheap. But because I don't know we have to be very cautious. We are going to control the cost within the company and hopefully because the products [and] the content will be good we will be rewarded and not hit too much by this recession. But I would be very bold to tell you we are immune".

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EMI CHIEF SUPPORTS ISP FILE SHARING ACTION
Speaking at the same conference, the CEO of EMI Music, that's Elio Leoni-Sceti in case you've forgotten, vocalised his support for moves by the ISPs to better tackle illegal file sharing. He also welcomed moves by government and media regulators, like conference hosts OfCom, to become more proactive in the fight against online piracy.

As much previously reported, six internet service providers entered into a memorandum of understanding with record label trade body the BPI earlier this year which, among other things, will see them sending out warning letters to suspected file sharers telling them they're evil and should seek forgiveness from God himself. Or something like that. The MoU followed indications by government that they would legislate to force ISPs to act against piracy if they didn't act voluntarily. The government may as yet introduce some new laws in this area, and some reckon OfCom will be given a remit to coordinate anti-piracy efforts in the online domain.

Speaking on a panel about the internet age, according to Billboard, he told the conference: "We, the content providers have clear responsibilities. We have to find ways to innovate and to make sure we are adding value for the price we ask consumers and business partners to pay. ISPs have responsibilities too, and they are beginning to act. EMI supports the efforts by a growing number of governments to help the content industry work with ISPs to reduce illegal file-sharing. The UK government has initiated a process, led by OfCom, which should result in new codes of practice for ISPs, backed by legislation".

As has become the norm for those new EMI executives who came to the new look company from outside the record industry, he then criticised the old guard at the major, and other majors, for not adapting fast enough to consumer demand for digital. He did defend those who went before him a little, pointing out that the record industry was the "first content businesses to have to grapple with a business model that suddenly wasn't a business model at all", but Leoni-Sceti seemingly feels record companies have suffered more than was necessary by simply responding too slowly to a changing market and society.

And he's right, of course. Though, by linking his "we need to adapt" point to his "ISPs should crack down on piracy" point he did sound a little like an old school record label exec himself, over egging the role of file sharing as the primary cause of the record industry's woes. He told the conference: "Paying for music seems to have become almost voluntary, and it's illegal consumption at times is considered 'acceptable'. That's a disturbing development in our society".

A new development hey? Am I the only person who remembers just how much tape-to-tape piracy went on among the teenagers of the 80s and 90s? Because we couldn't track it, and because legal efforts to stop it were generally unsuccessful, it seems everyone has forgotten. That's not to say ISPs shouldn't do what they can to stop file sharing, nor that record companies shouldn't pressure them to act, but file-sharing is and always has been just part of the problem. Even if you could stop all file-sharing tomorrow, the record companies will still need to reinvent themselves to survive. Which, to be fair, EMI is trying to do.

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EMUSIC PASSES 250 MILLIONTH DOWNLOAD
More digital, and independent download provider eMusic last week announced it had sold its 250 millionth MP3 download since establishing its current subscription model in 2004. So well done them. The 250th millionth download, in case you wondered, was Department Of Eagles 'In Ear Park'.

eMusic also announced last week the addition of music from Righteous Babe Records, Barsuk Records and Domino Records to its catalogue. I thought they already had Domino - so that either means the London indie had at some point pulled out, or that their deal with the Artic Monkeys label was Europe only-previously. One or the other I'm guessing.

Here's what eMusic chairman Danny Stein says: "A quarter of a billion downloads sold is an incredible benchmark for a company that was selling less than one million downloads a month when it was re-launched in 2004. It shows that eMusic's combination of value, discovery and compatibility attracts customers who want to purchase music. eMusic plays an essential part of our labels' and artists' retail strategy as they seek effective ways to reach fans, build communities and sell more music".

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RADIOHEAD MANAGER TO SPEAK AT MIDEM
One of Radiohead's managers, Courtyard Management's Brian Message, will give a keynote speech at MIDEM next January. And if anyone dares say we didn't tell you - well, there'll be trouble. The head of Nokia's Entertainment & Communities business Tero Ojanpera will also speak, at the digital-focused MidemNet bit of the proceedings. You can say we didn't tell you that if you want.

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FORMER WILDLIFE MAN LAUNCHES NEW AGENCY
More management related stuff, and Colin Lester, formerly of Wildlife Entertainment, has announced details of his new management company, CLM. Lester parted company with his Wildlife business partner Ian McAndrew earlier this year. At the new company he'll be joined by former Warner Bros exec Adam Hollywood. Lester will continue to manage Craig David through the new venture.

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WOOLIES SHARES SLUMP AMID TAKEOVER SPECULATION
Shares in Woolworths plunged 29% last week following those reports the struggling retailer was planning on selling its high street stores business for a pound to restructuring specialist Hilco, and further reports that the company's key money lenders, the Bank Of Ireland, were refusing to back the sale. I'm not sure which worried investment types more, but Woolies shares slumped to 1.5 pence each. Or two cola bottles per share. As previously reported, there were reports Hilco would take on the estimated £250 million of debts run up by the music-and-other-stuff retail chain as part of its one pound purchase. It's not clear how Hilco planned to profit from Woolworth's assets. It's also not clear how all of this will effect Woolies' entertainment distribution firm eUK, which wouldn't have been part of the Hilco deal.

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ANOTHER MASTERING STUDIO FACES CLOSURE
More doom and gloom, and another London mastering studio is facing closure. Following the news earlier in the year that Alchemy was going into administration, Music Week is now reporting that West London based Heathmans will go into liquidation next month. Music Week reports that accountants David Rubin And Partners have been brought in to advise on the company's financial situation, and they may well manage the liquidation should it go ahead. It's not clear how badly creditors will be affected by the closure of the company. Either way, it's another sign that mastering studios, like physical distribution, are a shrinking part of the music business - presumably because that, given it's easier to fix levels and all that jazz in this here digital age, the services of specialist mastering engineers are not always required (or at least cash strapped labels can get away without hiring them).

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FORMER RIAA CHIEF GOES TO CITY PR FIRM
The former boss of the Recording Industry Association Of America, Hilary Rosen, who led the trade body's legal assault against P2P file sharing and then, having quit the role, wrote quite a bit about how the trade body was misguided in pursuing its, erm, legal assault against P2P file sharing, has joined financial PR agency Brunswick. It's not clear if she'll work on music or entertainment accounts for the PR firm, who do count MTV owner Viacom among their clients.

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BBC TRUST CRITICAL OF ALL INVOLVED IN SACHSGATE
The BBC Trust has published its report on the whole Sachs-gate affair, and as previously suggested, at the core of the whole episode is a confusion which stemmed from a conversation between the producer of the Russell Brand show, Nic Philps, and Andrew Sachs, after Brand and Jonathan Ross had left those lewd messages on the latter's answer phone.

Philps thought Sachs had OKed the airing of the messages in a conversation which also saw the producer book the Fawlty Towers actor to reappear for a proper interview on the next week's show. Sachs says he did no such thing, though concedes it is possible Philps did genuinely believe he had his consent from the conversation, albeit with some 'wishful thinking' on the producer's part.

An email correspondence has been published between Philps and Radio 2 head of compliance Dave Barber in which he raises the nature of the phone calls to Sachs, but argues that they should be allowed to air because they are "very funny". He adds that Sachs is "aware of it and happy". Another email sees Barber updating a holidaying Radio 2 controller Lesley Douglas on his discussions with Philps, again stressing Sachs was OK with the programme. She gives the final go ahead for the pre-recorded show to be broadcast.

That decision was, the BBC Trust said on Friday, wrong, wrong, wrong. Whether nor not Sachs had approved the sequence it was, anyway, an "unacceptable and deplorable intrusion" into the life of Sachs' grand-daughter Georgina Baillie, whose fling with Brand was the subject of the lewd messages. What was aired was "grossly offensive". The Trust also criticised the way the affair was handled once it was clear the Mail On Sunday planned to splash with the messages, and the fact Sachs had not, in fact, OKed them. A complaint from Sachs' agent had gone unnoticed because it was in the holidaying Douglas' email. This left the BBC incorrectly telling reporters, including its own news teams, that they were "unaware of any complaint" having been submitted.

Despite the Trust being highly critical of Ross, Brand and various BBC execs - and in particular the now gone Barber and Douglas - the Beeb's regulator said it supported the Corporation's decision to suspend rather than fire Jonathan Ross. As previously reported, Ross will return to the BBC in February. Trust chairman Michael Lyons said: "We are very clear that the director-general [Mark Thompson] has taken the right action with respect to Jonathan Ross".

In related news, Coronation Street bosses have denied they are cashing in on Sachs-gate following reports the aging actor is about to be hired by the soap opera. They insist that the actor was being sounded out about a role in the programme prior to the Brand/Ross affair.

In also slightly related news, Angus Deayton - himself once involved in a bit of a scandal that forced him to quit the BBC - has been announced as the host of this year's ITV-screened British Comedy Awards, which Ross normally hosts. Ross announced he would not be involved in his only non-BBC TV project shortly after Sachs-gate erupted.

Although the Trust's report, published on Friday, completes the BBC's internal investigation of the affair, media regulator OfCom is still investigating the complaints it received.

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KERRANG! RADIO MAY REBRAND
Bauer Radio is considering rebranding its Kerrang! station in the West Midlands as part of a plan to expand its audience. The station shares its brand with the famous pop-rock magazine of course, though some have pointed out for a while that the music policy of the Kerrang! radio outlet is quite different than that of the rock weekly - sitting much more in Xfm territory than the print product. Some at Bauer think the Kerrang! magazine's traditional link with heavy metal (which may or may not still apply to the print title) is putting off potential new listeners from tuning in.

Travis Baxter, MD of Bauer's Big City network of stations, confirmed that was a concern for the radio company and that a name change was being considered as a result. However, he stressed no decision had been made, and that he realises the Kerrang! brand brings plus points too. He told the Guardian: "People think it is heavy metal. There are risks and opportunities with the name but we don't want to throw away what we have got".

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CHART UPDATE
And so it ends. The X Factor Finalists are no longer at number one. Instead, Beyonce now stands in their place, telling us what a great guy she would be, if she happened to be one. Although, all that stuff she says about understanding how to love a girl and listen to her must surely be marred slightly by her admission that she'd start drinking beer in the morning at the beginning of the song.

Sorry, I appear to have digressed. What else in new in the top ten this week?

Well, absolutely nothing, actually. The tracks in this week's top ten are exactly the same ones as last week in a slightly different order. In fact, you have to go all the way to 28 before you get to a new entry. And even then it's a re-entry - 'Run' by Snow Patrol, which rises up from number 122. Presumably its success in the chart this week comes down to SonyBMG forgetting to release Leona Lewis' cover version of the song after her performance of it on last week's 'X-Factor'.

Immediately following it are Christian Falk and Robyn with 'Dream On' and N-Dubz with 'Papa Can You Hear Me?' And that's it. What a boring singles chart we have this week. Even Guns N Roses are rushing to get out of it, dropping from 27 to 37 with 'Chinese Democracy'. Let's hope the album, out this week, does better.

Thankfully, the album chart is a little more interesting. And Leona Lewis can breath a sigh of relief for the fact that her album is already out, because single or no single, 'Spirit' has risen from 137 to number 1 on account of her aforementioned 'X-Factor' guest appearance. Say what you like about the show, but there's no denying that X Factor has been very good to her.

Dido's new album, 'Safe Trip Home' goes straight in at number 2, Nickleback go straight in at 4 with 'Dark Horse', and Simply Red complete this trilogy of banality with their greatest hits album at number 9. Then Beyonce brings up the rear at 10, with 'I Am Sasha Fierce' and N-Dubz just miss out on the top ten (I'd go and give Mick Hucknall a stern talking to, if I were them) with 'Uncle B'.

As we move away from the top, there are far fewer new entries. Rod Stewart and Russell Watson sit at numbers 19 and 20 respectively, and Tom Jones only manages to make 32 with his new album, '24 Hours'. That album really should be higher. I'm not normally one to get Tom Jones' back, but check out the title track of that album and be amazed.

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

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IT'S THE CMU/MUZU MOST WATCHED INDIE CHART
Here it is, our weekly guide to the most watched and most highly rated videos from independent artists as watched on MUZU. Click the artist name to check out their MUZU channel for yourself, or watch all the videos for yourself in the Indie Chart playlist on the CMU-Tube at www.cmumusicnetwork.co.uk/tube

1. [1] Basshunter - Angel In The Night (Live) (Ministry/Hard2beat)
2. [3] Axwel And Bob Sinclar - What A Wonderful World (Defected)
3. [2] Platnum - Love Shy (Ministry/Hard2beat)
4. [5] The Cake Sale - Some Suprise (Oxjam Records)
5. [4] September - Cry For You (Ministry/Hard2beat)
6. [6] Blackout Crew - Put A Donk On It (All Around The World)
7. [12] The Futureheads - Radio Heart (Live) (Nul Records)
8. [NEW] Rodrigo Y Gabriela – A Mexico To Dublin (Rubyworks)
9. [NEW] Emmanuel Jal - Warchild (Sonic 360)
10. [8] Heathers - Remember When (MUZU Session) (Hide Away Records)
11. [11] Rodrigo Y Gabriela - Diablo Rojo (Defected)
12. [7] Guru Josh Project - Infinity 2008 (Maelstrom Records)
13. [16] Fedde Le Grand - Put Your Hands Up For Detroit (Ministry/Flamingo)
14. [10] N-Dubz - Ouch (All Around The World)
15. [15] Roses Kings Castles - Entroubled (360 Degree)
16. [NEW] Cascada - Because The Night (All Around The World)
17. [18] Sheffield Jumpers - Jump With Me (All Around The World)
18. [NEW] Delorentos - Umbrella (Cottage Records)
19. [NEW] Mr Scruff - Donkey Ride (MTV Edit) (Ninja Tune)
20. [NEW] Deekline And Wizard - All Your Love (Botchit & Scarper)

YOU'VE GOT TO BE IN IT TO WIN IT: Every video from artists signed to independent labels, or who is unsigned or self-releasing, are counted in the CMU/MUZU Most Watched Indie Chart. All you need to do to be in with a chance of charting is make sure your tunes are available on the MUZU network. Full details of how this works are available at www.cmumusicnetwork.co.uk/tube, click the 'Get Playlisted' button.

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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. AC/DC - Black Ice (Sony/Columbia)
2. Metallica - Death Magnetic (Universal/Mercury)
3. Kid Rock - Rock - N Roll Jesus (Warner/Atlantic)
4. Slipknot - All Hope Is Gone (Warner/Roadrunner)
5. Rise Against - Appeal To Reason (Universal/Geffen)
6. Cradle Of Filth - Godspeed On The Devil's Thunder (Warner/Roadrunner)
7. AC/DC - Back In Black (Sony/Columbia)
8. Disturbed - Indestructible (Warner/Reprise)
9. Linkin Park - Minutes To Midnight (Warner Bros)
10. Queen + Paul Rodgers - The Cosmos Rocks (EMI)
11. Buckcherry - Black Butterfly (Warner/Eleven Seven Music)
12. David Gilmour - Live In Gdansk (EMI)
13. Queen - Greatest Hits 1,2,3 (EMI)
14. Status Quo - Pictures 40 Years Of Hits (Universal)*
15. Nickelback - All The Right Reasons (Warner/Roadrunner)
16. Hinder - Take It To The Limit (Universal)*
17. Guns n Roses - Appetite For Destruction (Universal/Geffen)*
18. Led Zeppelin - Mothership (Warner/Atlantic)
19. Metallica - Metallica (Universal/Mercury)
20. 3 Doors Down - 3 Doors Down (Republic)*

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SUB.TV PLAYLIST
Yes, it's the Sub.tv playlist, the videos played on the Sub.tv network of screens in students' unions around the UK this coming week. New entries marked with a *. More info from [email protected].

A-List
Alphabeat - What Is Happening
Britney Spears - Womanizer
Christian Falk feat Robyn - Dream On
Coldplay - Lost!
Friendly Fires - Paris
Florence and the Machine - Dog Days
Kanye West - Love Lockdown
Katy Perry - Hot N Cold
The Killers - Human
Kings Of Leon - Use Somebody
Oasis - I'm Outta Time
The Streets - Heaven For The Weather
Take That - Greatest Day
TI feat Rihanna - Live Your Life
The Verve - Rather Be
Wiley feat Daniel Merriweather - Cash In My Pocket

B-List
The Airborne Toxic Event - Gasoline
Akon - Right Now (Na Na Na)
Dan Black - Yours
Death Cab For Cutie - No Sunlight
Estelle feat Sean Paul - Come Over
Flobots - Rise
Frankmusik - 3 Little Words
Gym Class Heroes feat Estelle - Guilty As Charged
Ladyhawke - My Delirium
Lil Wayne feat Bobby Valentino - Mrs Officer / Comfortable
Mongrel - The Menace
Outsiders feat Amanda Wilson - Keep This Fire Burning
Slipknot - Dead Memories
Snow Patrol - Crack The Shutters
The Tunics - Cost Of Living
The Week That Was - Learn To Learn

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MTV2/MYSPACE CHART
Yes, new to the Daily, the MTV2/MySpace chart, based on votes by MTV2 viewers on MySpace. The top ten this week is as follows...

1. [7] Baddies - Battleships
2. [1] The Killers - Human
3. [2] Fightstar - The English Way
4. [NEW] The Asteroids - Galaxy Tour Around The Bend
5. [3] Grammatics - The Vague Archive
6. [4] Fall Out Boy - I Don't Care
7. [7] The Airborne - Toxic Event Gasoline
8. [NEW] Glasvegas - Please Come Back Home
9. [6] Kings Of Leon - Use Somebody
10. [NEW] Apocalyptica - I Don't Care

Meanwhile, added to list for viewer voting this week are...

Iglu & Hartley - Violent & Young
Kaiser Chiefs - Good Days Bad Days
The Gaslight - Anthem Old White Lincoln
The Wombats - Is This Christmas?
Wiley - Cash In My Pocket

Voting takes place at www.myspace.com/mtv2.

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VATICAN OK WITH BEATLES BEING BIGGER THAN JESUS (WELL, WITH LENNON SAYING SO)
The Vatican's official newspaper, L'Osservatore Romano, which has apparently taken to featuring entertainment news of late (if they want to syndicate some CMU news, you know where we are), has officially forgiven John Lennon for saying the Beatles were bigger than Jesus. The famous Lennon remark was made during an interview at the peak of Beatlemania. The paper said the remark was simply "the bragging of a young man wrestling with unexpected success", and shouldn't anger good Catholics. The newspaper also talked up the Fab Four's 'White Album', which celebrated its 40th anniversary this weekend, saying it was a good example of the Beatles "creativity", and was streets ahead of the "standardised, stereotypical" songs being produced today.

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ALLEN STRIP SEARCHED IN DUBAI
So, Lily Allen was at that vulgar and disgraceful display of wealth and extravagance in Dubai last week (the aforementioned launch of the Atlantis Palms Hotel) alongside the likes of Lindsay Lohan and Robert de Niro, although I hear there was something of a heirarchy when it came to the allocation of rooms. Anyway, according to The Sun, Allen and her friend Nick Frew were strip searched at the airport on their way to the bash. The tabloid claims that she told fellow party guest Rhys Ifans: "I was strip searched at the airport. It wasn't that bad. But Nick got the full works".

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COURTNEY BREAKS BLOG BAN, REVEALS BJELLAND'S DESTITUTION
Man, I thought giving up smoking was difficult, but it seems giving up blogging is even more difficult. Well, if you're Courtney Love, that is. She's twice pronounced (via her blog) that she is giving up writing illiterate messages on her MySpace page in order to stop embarrassing her daughter. So bad new for Frances Bean, but good news for us, because within a matter of days, she has given in to the addictive power of writing letters to millions of people you don't know.

On Friday, Love broke her silence of four days to reveal that Babes In Toyland and Katastrophy Wife frontwoman Kat Bjelland is about to have her house repossessed, which I'm sure she's really happy for all of you to know about. Courtney wrote: "Kat Bjelland is about to have her home repossessed, and I think all you grrrls that, you know, have always loved Babes in Toyland... Well, Ladyfest this year should be a benefit so she's not homeless, which she's about to be".

She added: "Kathleen Hanna is Adam Horovitz's wife".

Thanks, Courtney.

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