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MINISTRY OF SOUND SUE TRINITY STREET BACKERS As previously reported, David Robson and Andy Murray, who acquired Trinity Street back in 2004 and who formed an alliance with music investment firm Ingenious in 2007, were fired from the company and pushed off its board at the end of last year. They announced in January that they planned to sue the e-commerce firm's parent company, Trinity Universal Holdings, claiming they were unlawfully removed as directors in what they describe as a "boardroom coup". When Ingenious announced they were putting Trinity Street into administration last month, Robson and Murray issued a statement saying their former company had been allowed to collapse after new managers put in place by the investment firm "failed to secure new business and allowed loyal, long-term clients to take their business elsewhere". They extended their litigation to name Ingenious as defendants, and subsequently denied claims from Ingenious insiders that the company had been under-performing long before they were removed as directors, adding that the investment outfit's own lawyers had indicated the company was solvent right up until the point they put it into administration. Ministry Of Sound were one of Trinity Street's major clients, with the e-commerce firm providing the back end to the dance music brand's online sales operations, including its download, mail-order and ticket sales. Ministry's parent company MSHK claims that they had little warning about the pending closure of Trinity Street, which crippled their etail operations. Not only that but, they allege, after they had expressed concerns about the departures of Robson and Murray they received assurances from the company's new management, and Ingenious, that Trinity Street was "solvent and stable". MSHK's writ demands a return of monies owed to Ministry from past ticket, download and mail-order sales, as well as damages for the lost business and reputation damage they claim they suffered as a result of the sudden closure of their etail operations. As well as Ingenious itself, the lawsuit also names as defendants Ingenious director Sanjay Wadhwani, who was also named in Robson and Murray's lawsuit, and former Universal and EMI exec Barney Wragg, who headed up Trinity Street between the two directors' dismissal and its closure. Confirming their litigation, Lohan Presencer, CEO of MSHK told CMU: "Online sales form a significant part of our business and www.ministryofsound.com is an important commercial platform for us, servicing over 250,000 visitors per week. To suddenly find that we had no website was a terrible blow, especially as we had received repeated assurances from senior directors at Trinity Street and management from Ingenious that the company remained solvent and stable". Ingenious continue to deny Robson and Murray's version of events, saying it was the company's poor performance that led to their removal, and adding that it was only after their departure that they realised how bad Trinity Street was doing, a discovery which led to their decision to put the company into administration. The investment company is yet to comment on Ministry's lawsuit. -------------------------------------------------- FIELDER CIVIL PLANS DIVORCE FROM WINEHOUSE Fielder-Civil's mother Georgette is quoted as saying: "Amy has behaved like a trollop. Since his release there has been no contact. Blake realised the marriage was doomed some time ago and I don't believe Amy will get round him now. I never want him to go back to her. It would be bad news. He's divorcing her because she cheated on him and the sooner the marriage is over the better". Georgette also refuted claims that her son had been involved with model Sophie Schandorff, sparked by her appearances at a number of Fielder-Civil's court hearings last year. "Blake's been a bad lad when it comes to drugs but he hasn't once cheated on Amy", she said. "He has a close circle of friends, including Sophie, who have helped him through prison. They've been there for Blake when his own wife hasn't". Winehouse is still on holiday in St Lucia but, according to reports, has been planning a return to the UK for a reunion with Blake. -------------------------------------------------- LUTFI CLAIMS GHALIB BROKE BRITNEY RESTRAINING ORDER As previously reported, the restraining orders issued against Lutfi and Ghalib by the Spears family have both been extended until 18 Mar. In a hearing held to decide whether the orders should continue, hairstylist Roberta Romero told an LA court last week that Lutfi had pestered her for information about Britney over a sustained three week period in December. Denying those claims in his court declaration, Lutfi asserts: "I did not initiate any direct communication with Britney Spears. Although I did receive text messages from her. All responses to those messages were conveyed to Britney through others, including... Adnan Ghalib". -------------------------------------------------- BROWN AND RIHANNA BACK TOGETHER? Anyway, the investigation into the incident is apparently still ongoing, with the LAPD as yet undecided as to whether to press charges or not. -------------------------------------------------- MIXMAG AUCTION OFF LOST (AND FOUND) BANNER FOR COMIC RELIEF A message on their website explains: "While having our annual tidy up we stumbled upon this old Mixmag banner. It's 2m X 2m and is signed by Tiesto, Eddie Halliwell, Lisa Lashes, Anne Savage, Erick Morillo, Judge Jules, Lab 4, Fergie and a few we can't make out! We got it autographed at our 'signing tent' at Global Gathering in 2005 and were supposed to give it away as a comp prize but must have forgotten all about it. Anyway, one comp winner's loss is now Comic Relief's gain as we've put it up for auction on eBay with all the profits going to the charity". To bid follow the link at www.mixmag.net LOPEZ AND ANTHONY BRING SUIT AGAINST SILVER CROSS U2 ACCUSED OF ROBBING THE POOR It was nice to see the BBC, who, let's not forget, are not giving U2 overly excessive amounts of free air time to promote their new album (because they said so last week), bring central London to a stand still on Friday night by getting Bono et al to play on the roof of Broadcasting House. And even after Bono had called Coldplay's Chris Martin a "wanker" on prime time Radio 1. But let's ignore all the airtime U2 have been stealing off British licence-fee payers and dwell instead on all the money they've been stealing off the Irish tax payer. Well, denying them really. Yes, U2's much previously reported tax arrangements have been under the spotlight in Ireland again, with a number of aid organisations again pointing out the hypocrisy of millionaire popstars telling the public to hand over cash to make poverty history while employing accountants to reduce their own tax burden, and in doing so reducing the money available to the Irish government to tackle poverty at home and abroad. As previously reported, the band moved their company, U2 Ltd, which deals with their royalty payments, to a finance house in the Netherlands in 2006 after Ireland changed its tax laws, capping the artist income tax exemption at €250,000 per year. In 2007, it is claimed, the company paid out £19 million in wages without paying any tax. The Debt And Development Coalition Of Ireland, which includes the backing of 70 aid organisations including Oxfam and Concern Worldwide, raised the U2 tax situation at a demo last week, accusing the band of "robbing the world's poor". The DDCI's Nessa Ni Chasaide told ITN: "We wanted to raise our concern that while Bono has championed the cause of fighting poverty and injustice in the impoverished world, the fact is that his band has moved part of its business to a tax shelter. Tax avoidance and tax evasion costs the impoverished world at least $160 million every year. This is money urgently required to bring people out of poverty". She added: "U2 is just one part of the problem. This is a much wider and systemic problem in our global financial system. Every company and individual has the responsibility to pay the right amount of tax. There is nothing illegal about what they have done in taking advantage of more favourable tax laws, but given Bono has invested so much in promoting an end to poverty, we see a contradiction there". The band's manager Paul McGuinness rejected the accusations, telling the Belfast Telegraph: "U2 is a global business and it pays taxes globally. At least 95% of U2's business ... takes place outside of Ireland and as a result the band pays many different kinds of taxes all over the world. [U2 are] personal investors and employers. Like any other business, U2 operates in a tax-efficient manner". -------------------------------------------------- SNOOP DOGG APPEARS AT NATION OF ISLAM CONVENTION -------------------------------------------------- RATM PROTESTS AGAINST TOUGH SHERIFF Rocha says of the Maricopa County lawman: "Without the proper warrants, he raids the homes and workplaces of janitors and gardeners. At routine traffic stops he detains and deports mothers, violently separating them from their children, who are left abandoned". HEART STARS GET ASCAP AWARD ASCAP president Marilyn Bergman said their "success and influence helped pave the way for other female artists", adding that "they continue to build their musical legacy with an artistic energy that remains as strong today as when they first started out over 35 years ago". The pair recently took legal action against Republican vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin over her use of their song 'Barracuda' in her campaign. -------------------------------------------------- BREAKSPOLL WINNERS Best Album: Plump DJs - Headthrash Best Producer: NAPT Best Label: Finger Lickin' Best Large Club/Event: FABRICLIVE Best Radio Station: NSB Radio Outstanding Contribution To Breaks: Annie Nightingale -------------------------------------------------- BRITISH PRESS AWARDS NOMINATIONS ANNOUNCED Perhaps most interesting are the nominees for 'scoop of the year' which includes the Sun's reporting of Ashley Cole's infidelities behind the back of Girl Aloud wife Cheryl, the Mirror's breaking of the Madonna/Guy divorce, and the Mail On Sunday's Sachsgate story. Away from the scandal, CMU favourite Charlie Brooker is up for Best Columnist, while The Sun's Gordon Smart, The Mirror's Tom Bryant and The Mail's Baz Bamgiboye all fight it out for Best Showbiz Reporter. What, no Neil Sean from the Metro? Surely he and his Green Room are number one when it comes to showbiz revelations? Announcing this year's shortlists, Society Of Editors director Bob Satchwell, who heads up the award event's judging panel, told reporters: "These may be tough times for Fleet Street but class will always shine through. New readers are being won over from around the world, getting the news from all the different platforms newspapers are providing. This is because of the amazing talents, skill and dedication of displayed by the British journalists shortlisted for these awards. Despite the recession there's been no decline in the quality of entries for these awards and the judges had a hugely difficult time choosing the best of the best to make the shortlists". The shortlists are included at the bottom of today's Daily. AXL ROSE REMOVES SLASH'S CANCER In an interview with Spinner.com, Rose said: "[It's] highly doubtful for us to have more than one of the alumni up with us at any given time. I suppose Duff [McKagan] could play guitar on something somewhere but there's zero possibility of me having anything to do with Slash". You might have missed that bit about having nothing to do with Slash. Luckily, Axl clarified his feelings further: "In a nutshell, personally I consider him a cancer and better removed, avoided. And the less anyone heard of him or his supporters the better". He says that, but so far no one has offered free drinks to everyone in America in exchange for a GNR reunion. TWISTA LABEL FORMS PARTNERSHIP WITH EMI Confirming the tie up with EMI, Twista told reporters: "We are very pleased to be in business with EMI. I am excited about being independent again but having the resources of a major". -------------------------------------------------- SHOCK TO DISTRIBUTE PLACEBO DOWN UNDER Confirming the deal, Shock General Manager Tim Janes told reporters: "We are absolutely delighted to have done a deal with the good folk at Riverman for the next album. Everyone here at Shock is super excited at the prospect of working on what will no doubt be one of Shock's biggest albums in recent years". UNIVERSAL MAY SEND WAYNE BACK TO THE STUDIO -------------------------------------------------- LIAM ON NEXT OASIS ALBUM I'm not sure six months off equates to either "a couple of months off" or "not too long", but then I don't live in the world of Oasis, so what do I know? JONAS BROTHERS WEMBLEY GIG SELLS OUT QUICK -------------------------------------------------- EXTRA BOMBAY BICYCLE DATE 23 Mar: Borderline, London DA BANK ON BESTIVAL LINE UP He told reporters: "I keep having to look at the scruffy piece of paper I keep the line up on in my diary to convince myself that we are indeed bringing Kraftwerk to the Isle of Wight. Haha! I'm so bloody happy I could cry but then I realise we've also got Massive Attack, MGMT, Seasick Steve, Klaxons, Bat For Lashes ... All my favourite live acts and DJs in a field in seven months time in what I can humbly proclaim is our best line-up yet and when you find out who the third headliner is and then the very special guest too you'll join me wetting ourselves with excitement. It's gonna be out of the world - out of space in fact!" As previously reported, Kraftwerk, Massive Attack and MGMT will all headline Bestival 2009, which takes place at Robin Hill Park on Isle Of Wight from 11-13 Sep, with the likes of Fleet Foxes, Seasick Steve, Bat For Lashes, Klaxons, Friendly Fires, Florence & The Machine also on the bill. One more headliner is still to be announced. The theme for this year's fancy dress is Outer Space. -------------------------------------------------- T DEMAND CAUSES CHAOS ON EDINBURGH'S SOUTH BRIDGE -------------------------------------------------- INDIETRACKS FESTIVAL, Ripley, Derbyshire, 24-26 Jul: Camera Obscura to join BMX Bandits, Lucky Soul, The Frank And Walters and The School. www.indietracks.co.uk OPEN'ER FESTIVAL, Gdynia, Poland, 2-5 Jul : Arctic Monkeys to headline, alongside previously announced headliners Kings Of Leon plus Placebo, The Kooks, The Ting Tings, Madness, Moby, Duffy and Basement Jaxx. www.opener.pl SINGLE REVIEW: Emiliana Torrini - Jungle Drum (Rough Trade) Buy from iTunes FRENCH INDIE DISTRIBUTOR COULD GO UNDER -------------------------------------------------- SELECTADISC IN NOTTINGHAM TO GO As previously reported, a recent Entertainment Retailers Association report said that there were now just 300 odd independent record stores left in the UK, compared to 408 at the start of last year, and 1064 ten years ago. -------------------------------------------------- SONY RESTRUCTURE ELECTRONICS DIVISIONS Most of the changes will affect the company's consumer electronics businesses, where the revenue slump has been highest. That part of Sony, which includes the firm's PlayStation, Walkmans, Vaio, Bravia operations, will be split into two divisions, Networked Products and New Consumer Products. The aim of the restructure is to ensure more integration between Sony products. The restructure will also see Chairman and CEO Howard Stringer add President to his string of job titles, meaning a more hands-on role in the electronics side of the business. It's unclear what the restructure plans will mean for Sony's entertainment businesses, including Sony Music. -------------------------------------------------- ARE AEG QUIETLY HOPING LIVE MASTER DEAL WILL GO THROUGH? -------------------------------------------------- HUGHES PROMOTED AT POLYDOR WARNER CONSULTANT TALKS SOME MORE ABOUT CHORUSS As previously reported, under the new service, to be called Choruss, the universities would pay a licence fee to the record companies and music publishers. The motivation for universities to get involved is that they would avoid liability for copyright infringement claims against any of their students who use their college net connections to file share. Students using college internet services were frequently among those sued by the Record Industry Association Of America when they were pursuing all those lawsuits against individual file sharers. If successful, Choruss could be a good pilot for the much talked about general blanket-licence system whereby all web users would be licenced to access and share music from any source online in return for a levy charged to their ISP fees. A similar system is being considered in the Isle Of Man as we speak. Anyway, Jim Griffin, who is currently consulting for Warner on digital matters, told a US digital music conference last week that Choruss was still in development but could start to pilot later this year, that it was very much aimed at the college market, and that the way the system works when it goes live may vary from college to college, so to test various possible business models that could be rolled out to the mainstream ISP market. -------------------------------------------------- WARNER SUE SONGBEAT Songbeat tapped into various other music search services to find MP3s online, and then provided an app to let users more easily stream and download those audio files. The free app restricted how many songs could be downloaded, but for 20 euros you could download an unlimited number of tracks. As EMI joined Warner in suing Seeqpod last week, Warner kick started the expected litigation spree against Songbeat by filing its legal papers. Songbeat went offline, but posted a message that read: "So we have sent Songbeat away to enter the 36 Shaolin Chambers of Software Kung Fu. Once it has finished its training it will be back and better than ever". According to TechCrunch, Songbeat's creators say they will appeal any judgement against them should the courts side with Warner when they consider their case later this week. If that fails they say they will relocate the service to another jurisdiction and restart from there. Which sounds like fun. -------------------------------------------------- YAHOO REVAMP Confirming the revamp, which is likely to result in more job losses, Bartz wrote on the company's blog: "Today I'm rolling out a new management structure that I believe will make Yahoo a lot faster on its feet. We'll be able to make speedier decisions, the notorious 'silos' are gone, and we have a renewed focus on the customer". SMOOOOOTH NOT SO HAPPY WITH PHILLIPS SHOW -------------------------------------------------- BRAND TO RETURN TO RADIO WITH GALLAGHER CHART UPDATE In the singles chart, it's the turn of Kelly Clarkson to go top with her new single 'My Life Would Suck Without You', while at number two is Taylor Swift, who rises all the way up from 22. As expected, Lady GaGa has two songs in the top 10 this week, despite both of them featuring her horrible voice. 'Poker Face' rises from 15 to three, and 'Just Dance' drops from two to six. Also falling this week is Lily Allen, who drops from number one to number five. KEATING ON HIS NO-COKE CAREER Anyway, back to Keating on the lack of drugs. Speaking to Glamour he said: "Do you want to know something? I've never, ever been offered cocaine. Fifteen years in the music industry, watching people walking out of the toilet saying: 'That guy just offered me coke', and it's never happened to me. I'd just be interested to see how someone would come up and say it to you. I'd like to see how the whole thing happens". -------------------------------------------------- BRITISH PRESS AWARDS NOMINATIONS IN FULL Columnist Of The Year Reporter Of The Year Foreign Reporter Of The Year: Andrew Malone, Daily Mail; Colin Freeman, Sunday Telegraph; Dan Mcdougall, Freelance (News Of The World, Observer, Mail On Sunday Live Magazine); Peter Hitchens, The Mail On Sunday; Rupert Cornwell, The Independent; Tracey Mcveigh, The Observer. Business & Finance Journalist Of The Year Critic Of The Year: Sports Journalist Of The Year Showbiz Reporter Of The Year Digital Journalist Of The Year Feature Writer Of The Year Supplement Of The Year Political Journalist Of The Year Website Of The Year Cartoonist Of The Year Sports Photographer Of The Year Specialist Journalist Of The Year Interviewer Of The Year Photographer Of The Year Young Journalist Of The Year Scoop Of The Year Campaign Of The Year The Cudlipp Award |
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