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BUTLER, ENO AND HARRIS HONOURED AT FIRST EVER PRODUCER AWARDS Bernard Butler took that prize, or, rather, those prizes. Having being handed his MPG trophy by BPI chair Tony Wadsworth, there to represent the Brit Awards, Duffy was wheeled on to present the former Suede guitarist with his Brit - he having produced a number of tracks on her debut album 'Rockferry'. Butler beat the legend that is Brian Eno to that prize, though the somewhat inspirational former Roxy Music man didn't go away empty handed, him being awarded the Joe Meek Award For Innovation In Production. He used his acceptance speech to discuss the mystery behind the role of the music producer, observing that too few people appreciate the difference between performing music on stage and the art of the recording studio, and of the producer's role in the latter. Interesting food for thought, given part of the reason for the MPG Awards existing is to boost the profile of the producer community. The other lifetime achievement type award went to the late Chris Blair, who won the MPG Special Award for his long career as a mastering engineer at the Abbey Road studios. In his 35 years at the London studio he worked with everyone from Queen and Pink Floyd to The Manic Street Preachers, Oasis and Radiohead, as well as mastering the majority of the Now compiation series. Blair died, aged 55, in 2005, and his award last night was collecting by his widow and son Catherine and Oliver. But, I hear you ask, what about the CMU sponsored Best Remixer Award? Well, we're very pleased to say it went to CMU favourite Calvin Harris, and not because of any dodgy vote fixing on our part, but because his remixing skills most impressed the MPG members who voted, and rightly so. Other featured artists getting nods from the MPG voters were Elbow, who won Best Single for 'One Day Like This' and Best Album for 'The Seldom Seen Kid', both produced by the band's keyboardist Craig Potter. Commenting on the first ever MPG awards, the body's chair Mike Howlett told reporters: "We hope this event will become an integral part of the music industry calendar for many years to come. Audio professionals are positioned at the very heart of the music industry - we make the content that is the industry's product - and it is important that we are acknowledged as vital and key contributors". The full list of winners is as follows... Producer of The Year: Bernard Butler -------------------------------------------------- EURO LEGAL COMMITTEE OKS COPYRIGHT EXTENSION As much, much, much previously reported, the UK record industry and recording artist community has been lobbying for sometime to have the copyright on recordings extended to bring it in line with the US, where the recording copyright term is already 95 years. The argument is that it is unfair that songwriters and their publishers (as well as the artist who designs the record sleeve and the writer who writes the sleeve notes) enjoy a copyright term of life plus seventy years, while record labels and their artists and session musicians enjoy only a fifty year term, meaning many musicians who recorded seminal works in their early twenties lose royalty revenues in their early seventies. It's a pressing issue because a number of lucrative early rock n roll recordings are about to come out of copyright. The campaign for extension was set back when, despite some support among MPs, the government's 2006 Gowers Report said there was no case for more than fifty years of copyright on recordings. But extension campaigners then got a boost when the EU's Internal Market Commissioner Charlie McCreevy tabled proposals for a Europe-wide extension. Governments across the EU have subsequently been discussing McCreevy's proposals at length, and the UK government late last year confirmed that, despite Gowers' conclusion, they did now back an extension in principle, though not necessarily to as much as 95 years. The latest draft of McCreevy's proposals went before the influential Legal Affairs Committee yesterday, where they were given the nod. As previously reported, key to McCreevy's proposal is that it is recording artists, and session musicians in particular, who benefit most from any extension in the term. It's widely known that many even successful artists earn modest sums from their early recordings, with their labels taking the lion's share of monies generated through record sales, broadcast royalties and licensing deals. Meanwhile, session musicians are unlikely to be due, by contract, any cut of revenues, though all artists involved in a recording are automatically due a share of broadcast royalties, oblivious of their contracts with the record company who released the recording. It's as a result of the latter often overlooked copyright law that ageing musicians could still be earning albeit modest royalties from fifty year old recordings. McCreevy wants those musicians to benefit most from an extension in the recording copyright term, by increasing the automatic share of monies they receive after the fifty year cut off - ie so the extension isn't just about boosting the profits of large record companies. And while giving the proposals their approval yesterday, the Legal Affairs committee also stressed that it too wanted musicians not record companies to be the biggest beneficiaries of the extension. To that end they added an amendment to ensure musicians couldn't lose the new royalties they would receive as a result of an extension because of previous contractual agreements with the labels they'd worked with. The committee also focused in on the proposed fund for session musicians, which would get 20% of revenues generated as a result of the extension. The vote of confidence in the proposals from the Legal Affairs Committee is the first of three steps to getting the extension proposals into European law. Next the European Parliament will vote on the proposals next month, and then they will go before the Council Of Ministers, where representatives from the governments of each country in the EU will have to approve the proposals. While most people seem to think the proposals will now be passed by both the Parliament and the Council, there could be delays at the latter stage. Because of the various measures to ensure performers over labels benefit from the copyright extension, the proposals are much more complicated than just reaching a compromise on the actual length of the term. UK IP Minister David Lammy said at a recent meeting at the Houses Of Parliament that while he and his colleagues had now accepted the case for extension, that "opinions on this vary across Europe - so there needs to be some canny footwork to make this happen". Still, yesterday's decision is still an important step for the pro-extension lobby. Responding to the news, Feargal Sharkey's UK Music told reporters: "In recommending that the current term of copyright protection for sound recordings is extended to 95 years, the Committee has recognised the value of music and the importance of the work of artists, musicians and entrepreneurs, both now and in the future, and that parity with other creators is fair and just". Globally focused trade body the IFPI added: "Europe is a source of some of the most exciting and innovative music in the world and this initiative will end the discrimination in the term of protection for sound recordings in EU member states compared to many other countries around the world". -------------------------------------------------- ANYONE FANCY A PINT OF MARLEY? Bob Marley lager and coffee will be among the first products to hit the market, followed by headphones, shoes, musical instruments, electronics and, yep, snowboards. Other products currently being considered apparently include luggage, stationery, videogames and hotels. And there are plans to open a global chain of One Love cafes where people "come, eat good Jamaican food, talk about the music, listen to the music, live bands". Speaking about the new deal with private equity firm Hilco, who will develop and manage merchandise in partnership with Marley's father, his daughter Cedella said: "We're open to licensing just about anything. [But] if it is not right, we will not do it. [The One Love cafes] are something that we've always wanted to explore. We're talking [about] all over the world - one in London, one in Asia, one in Amsterdam". She added that the deal was not simply about cashing in on her father's name, but a bid to curb the $600m bootleg industry that has built up around Marley. She said: "This is a big business for bootleggers. We want to stop some of the nonsense, and make sure the great stuff upholds our standards. We're in control". They should definitely do doughnuts - wi' jam in (sorry). -------------------------------------------------- SONY TO RELEASE BUSH FIRE AID ALBUM The tracklisting is as follows: Bruce Springsteen - The Rising The Living End - White Noise NO CHRIS BROWN CHARGES EXPECTED THIS WEEK As previously reported, earlier this week the LA County District Attorney's Office requested that police provide more information about the incident, but a spokeswoman for the DA office said yesterday that they are not expecting detectives to return to present their case until later this month. Police are allowed several weeks to build their case and a court date for 5 Mar has been scheduled. Although that, of course, only applies if Brown is charged with a crime. EMINEM SINGLE BREAKS DOWNLOAD RECORD MORRISSEY BAFFLED BY SMITHS REUNION TALK NO JACKSON 360 DEAL WITH LIVE NATION Given that Live Nation always said that they would only do four of these deals initially, and none of those deals have yet gone into full effect (on account of the artists still being under recording contracts with other companies), it didn't seem that likely that they were about to bring Jackson on board too. Now the company has confirmed this to be the case. Senior VP Of Communications at Live Nation, John Vlautin told reporters: "We have not signed a deal with Janet, nor are we currently in discussions with the artist". Jackson's deal with Island Def Jam came to an end after just over a year after her debut album for the label, 'Discipline', performed disappointingly. The singer expressed disappointment at the label's promotion of the album shortly before the split. YEAH YEAH YEAHS ALBUM NEWS The tracklisting is as follows: Zero -------------------------------------------------- SONIC YOUTH REVEAL ALBUM DETAILS Of 'The Eternal', Matador's Gerard Cosloy says: "We've not had a record in our recent history that's been the subject of nearly as much speculation and anticipation. Suffice to say we're pretty amazed at the way the band delivered something this neoteric while still sounding like, well, themselves. Less of a reinvention and perhaps more to do with a particularly awesome dozen songs". Tracklisting: -------------------------------------------------- STONE ROSES DEBUT RE-RELEASE CATHERINE AD TO PLAY ANTI-VALENTINE'S GIG 'Carry Your Heart' is released Monday 16 Feb via Outsiderhood and will be limited to 500 ribbon-wrapped copies and includes a guide to making an origami peace dove. -------------------------------------------------- MC HAMMER AND VANILLA ICE BACK TOGETHER FOR ONE NIGHT ONLY OZZFEST OFF BECAUSE OF TIME, NOT MONEY, RIGHT? A statement published on the festival's website reads: "Ozzy Osbourne is currently in the studio in Los Angeles co-producing his 10th studio album with Kevin Churko. ... The two-time Grammy Award winner has decided that he will not be touring until he has a new album in-stores (currently projected to be Thanksgiving 2009). Thus, Ozzy has decided to put his namesake festival Ozzfest on hold this year". Despite these claims, it's not a secret that Ozzfest has struggled a little in recent years. Formerly a travelling festival that wound its way around the US (and occasionally the UK, although not since 2002) over several months, it gave away free tickets via sponsors and pre-orders of Ozzy's 'Black Rain' album in 2007, and was scaled back to a one-day event last year. In recent years, bands such as Iron Maiden and Queens Of The Stone Age have complained about their treatment on the tour (Sharon Osbourne responded by calling Bruce Dickinson a dick and saying that she hoped Josh Homme got syphilis) and problems with the free ticketing system left some fans unable to gain entry to the 2007 shows. -------------------------------------------------- DOHERTY, ELBOW, ETC ANNOUNCED FOR T IN THE PARK -------------------------------------------------- TOM JONES WOULD LIKE TO PLAY GLASTO AGAIN -------------------------------------------------- FRANKLIN CANCELS JAZZ FEST APPEARANCE The festival, now in its fortieth year, also announced that Neil Young will make his first appearance at the 2009 event, joining other first time acts such as Bon Jovi and Kings Of Leon. ALBUM REVIEW - Floored Memory... Fading Location (FatCat/130701) AEG BOSS "CONCERNED" ABOUT LIVE MASTER DEAL Speaking to Billboard about the big live music merger announced earlier this week, AEG boss Tim Leiweke confirmed his legal people will be looking into the two merging firms' proposals very closely. Asked by the trade mag if he thought there were any regulatory pitfalls that could scupper the merger, he said: "I'm not a lawyer, I'll let the lawyers figure that one out. But I can tell you that as we look at it we have deep concern on whether or not this is in the best interest of the consumer". Leiweke also referenced Bruce Springsteen's recent public moan about Ticketmaster linking his fans through to their secondary ticketing website TicketsNow when they couldn't sell them primary tickets. As previously reported, Springsteen complained about the fact his fans were being directed by his official ticket seller to a resale website where ticket prices are often hiked up. An increasing number of artists reckon Ticketmaster trading in both the primary and secondary ticketing market already amounts to a conflict of interest, and that's before they join forces with Live Nation. Leiweke: "I would completely agree with Bruce Springsteen. I think he has it 100% right. We're very supportive and we appreciate him stepping out there and taking a leadership role. We share his concerns". As previously reported, the consensus is that the Live Nation Ticketmaster deal will get the go ahead from US competition regulators, but not before much public dissing of the two companies. -------------------------------------------------- POLICE CLOSE POLISH PIRACY ENTERPRISE Confirming the raids, the head of the enforcement unit at global record label trade body the IFPI, Len Hynds, told reporters: "This was a lucrative criminal enterprise that was based in Poland but exported pirate music and film to other EU countries. The decisive action shown by Polish police shows the country is no safe haven for such criminal enterprises. Organised criminal gangs often regard counterfeit entertainment products as a low-risk revenue stream. These raids send a clear message that such a calculation is a serious mistake". In other anti-piracy news, a team of nine have been arrested in Glasgow in connection to a pirated DVD operation. Thousands of DVDs and hundreds of DVD burners were seized by local police. -------------------------------------------------- FORMER EMI MAN JOINS PRODUCTION FACILITY Confirming his new role, Music Week quote Armorgie thus: "What I am most looking forward to is developing a truly unique business and resource for the music industry. I was instantly impressed at both the range and the quality of the services offered here. Although the company already has an impressive list of clients, it is still one of the best kept secrets in the business. This is something we intend to change and I am ready for the challenge to help them grow their business". APPLE CONSIDERING STREAMING ADD-ON FOR ITUNES COULD LIBERTY MEDIA COME TO XM'S RESCUE Sirius chief Mel Karmazin is reportedly in favour of some kind of Liberty deal, mainly because it would scupper attempts by another satellite company, EchoStar, to claim ownership of the company. EchoStar has been buying up Sirius' debts since its takeover approach was knocked back last year, presumably in a bid to force the radio firm into some kind of takeover deal when it defaults on its loan repayments. Some reckon Karmazin is applying for Chapter 11 protection to stop EchoStar pursuing its hostile takeover, mainly by providing him with the time to negotiate a deal with Liberty. Meanwhile Howard Stern, Sirius' biggest and most expensive star, has dismissed the radio firm's financial problems as "growing pains" telling reporters he still believes the satellite radio enterprise can be a success. Speaking on his show on the network, he said: "Everybody's wondering about this whole bankruptcy thing with Sirius. I'm not concerned. I think satellite radio is great and will be a successful business and it will survive". -------------------------------------------------- ABC ROUND UP Let's get those out of the way first shall we? Bauer's music division saw all three of its titles lose readers. Q was down 9% from the previous set of ABCs last summer, and down 21.5% from this time last year, with an average circulation of 103,017. Mojo's fall was more modest, 5.3% on this time last year at 100,507. Kerrang!, though, topped the poll in terms of music mag sales declines, down 13.3% on last summer and a massive 32% on this time last year, to 52,272. If it's any consolation, rivals IPC didn't fair much better. Well, OK, they faired a bit better, but both NME and Uncut were down year on year. NME's sales were down 13.9% on last summer and 24.3% year on year, while Uncut was down 4.3% year on year, though was up by a fraction of a percent compared to last August. Elsewhere free title The Fly was up 2.1% to 105,212, and fellow freebie RWD was up a massive 145.9% to 77,050. Another indie title, Word mag, was also up, with its circulation rising 3.2% year on year to 34,280. Not all indies were up though, Word's sister title Mixmag was down 11.5% compared to last summer, while Rocksound fell 11.2% over six months, and 13% year on year. Both IPC and Bauer will tell you that, while the sales of their print music mags are down, their music brands are now multi-dimensional and enjoying new successes off the news-stand, and therefore there is reason to be happy despite the disappointing ABCs. They're probably right. But it was Future Publishing who had the right to be happiest yesterday, with both their music mags, Metal Hammer and Classic Rock, seeing their ABCs rise. Metal Hammer was up 3.6% from last summer and 9.7% from last February, while Classic Rock was up 5.3% from last August, or 4.1% from this time last year. So, well done them. -------------------------------------------------- GMG CHIEF TO HEAD UP LOCAL RADIO REVIEW Confirming his involvement in the review, Myers told reporters: "We know that consumers value local content, particularly on local radio, and that successive governments and regulators have sought to secure this through localness rules. It is only right that as we move towards a predominantly digital landscape for radio we consider the appropriateness of the current rules and how local content should be preserved in the future". U2 TAKE HOUSE BAND JOB No, just kidding, U2 are minted. However, they will perform as the house band on David Letterman's 'Late Show' on US TV network CBS for a full week to promote their new album, 'No Line On The Horizon'. They will perform every night on the show from 2-6 Mar - the same week that the album is released. -------------------------------------------------- ALESHA ANNOYED ABOUT LEONA'S LACK OF NODS Dixon said: "Well, I'm a bit annoyed by that actually, that Leona's not in there. I don't understand why Leona Lewis is not in the Best Solo Female. She's probably sold, no I'm not going to say... No I was going to say something quite controversial. She's sold a lot of records, put it that way, and she's broken America". Elswhere in Brit-chat, Adele has predicted that Duffy will beat her in the Best Female Artist category, and also says that Leona Lewis has a chance of winning Best Female, despite not even being nominated for it. Adele told the BBC: "I think Duffy will win Best Female. I'd like to win Best Breakthrough. That would be nice. But then it might be Leona wins Best Female, Duffy wins Best Breakthrough. Or maybe The Ting Tings and Scouting For Girls will win them. But I think I've got as good a chance as anyone else. I'd like to think I do". One thing's for sure; she's got a better chance than Leona Lewis. -------------------------------------------------- NUDIE MADONNA PIC BOUGHT FOR 37.5K |
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