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INTERNSHIP AT UNLIMITED MEDIA
UnLimited Media is seeking an intern to begin working with us this Spring/Summer. The successful candidate will work primarily on CMU projects, helping process and manage review CDs, update databases, expand the CMU Directory and assist on upcoming marketing programmes. These are unpaid positions, but interns will get an unrivalled introduction to the music and media businesses, editorial, administration and marketing experience, and the opportunity to make great contacts.
To apply send a CV and a short note telling us what you'd like to get out of an internship to recruitment@unlimitedmedia.co.uk.
INTRODUCING LEYLINE PUBLICITY
Leyline Promotions - better known as one of the capital’s leading independent promoters (The Remix, Kill All Hippies, Insomniacs Ball, Twisted Licks, Breaking Ground) - have created a new publicity department headed up by Nick Bateson and Adrian Leigh. The pair have worked on major campaigns including a-ha, Glade Festival, Fat Freddy’s Drop, Standon Calling Festival and Hervé amongst others.
In addition to their wealth of experience in the live arena, Leyline Publicity now specialise in bespoke PR services including online and offline music and lifestyle press, radio plugging, brand development, digital marketing and blogging. For further information please contact: nick@leylinepromotions.com or adrian@leylinepromotions.com t: 020 7575 3285
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ADVERTISE WITH CMU - classifieds £120 per week, job ads £100 per week, banner ads £150 per week, leader box £200 per week - call 020 7099 9050 or email ads@unlimitedmedia.co.uk for information or to book.
TAIWAN INTRODUCE THREE-STRIKE
Well, if you happen to believe that the three-strike method of dealing with internet piracy is the future, we might all be following Taiwan when it comes to developing our copyright laws.
Taiwan has just passed a revision to its copyright rules that introduces a form of the much talked about three-strike system, whereby web users who continue to access unlicensed sources of content after receiving two warnings that doing so is illegal could lose their internet connections. As much previously reported, such a system has been proposed by content owners in a number of territories, though the system has only been seriously considered in New Zealand and France.
In the former it is actually already law, but politicians, content owners and ISPs are still trying to figure out how to make it work. In France the proposals are still working their way through the French parliament after a temporary set back when the government, who support the proposals, failed to get enough of their supporters in the French Assembly along to the big vote just before Easter.
The Taiwanese government has introduced the system in order to achieve its twin aims of cracking down on internet piracy without flooding the courts with lawsuits from content owners against the providers of file-sharing services or individual file-sharers. From what I can gather the Taiwanese three-strike system is slightly less draconian than that proposed in France and New Zealand, in particular because it proposes offenders have their internet access "restricted" rather than automatically cut off. That could mean temporary suspensions.
Media coverage of the new rules also says that Taiwanese ISPs "can" restrict the services of copyright infringers - but I'm not sure whether than means the net firms have to when asked to act by a content owner, or whether it's up to them. As much previously reported, ISPs generally don't like getting involved in piracy policing and, given a choice, would rather not cut off any paying customers, even if they are accessing all sorts of infringing content.
Then again, Taiwanese authorities have given the ISPs something in this legal rewrite - a 'safe harbour' provision similar to that in US copyright law which explicitly exempts them from liability for any copyright infringement committed by their customers via their servers. ISPs like explicit exemptions from liability, so may be up for playing their part in the three-strike system to keep this provision.
The whole thing has, as in New Zealand and France, not been without controversy. Those who oppose the new laws say that people who unknowingly download unlicensed content may lose their net access as a result of the three-strike rules. But Margaret Chen, Deputy Director General of Taiwan's Intellectual Property Office, told reporters: "That's not really the point. These people are doing something they shouldn't be doing in the first place. Besides, there are lots of ways to restrict Internet access besides cutting it off entirely".
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ALL SNOW PATROL MUSIC IS NOW FREE
Sending the four men behind The Pirate Bay to jail was "way over the top", Snow Patrol frontman Gary Lightbody reckons in an interview with the Scottish edition of The Big Issue. As previously reported many, many times, The Pirate Bay Four were sentenced to a year in prison each and a fine of £2.4 million earlier this month for enabling users of their site to infringe copyright.
Lighbody said: "They shouldn't have been jailed. A year in jail for someone doing that is crazy. The punishment doesn't fit the crime. This is what we've brought on ourselves and you have to live in the society you created. Music is available to everyone if they know how to get it and I say fucking go for it".
He added that although you're welcome to his music, he won't be joining you: "I don't [illegally download music], I buy all my music but then I don't spend money on anything else except going to the pub. I love getting an album back and looking through the booklet and the artwork, and that's lost when you download it".
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DMX DENIES REALITY SHOW APPEARANCE
A representative for DMX has denied reports that he will star in the third series of US reality TV show 'Celebrity Rehab with Dr Drew'.
The rap star is, of course, currently in prison after pleading guilty to a number of previously reported charges, namely theft, animal cruelty and drugs possession. He has also been subject to further charges during his incarceration, in relation to that also previously reported incident in which the hip hopper, real name Earl Simmons, is alleged to have thrown a dinner tray at a member of staff. He was scheduled to be freed on 30 Apr, but his release date has been postponed.
Publicist Pam Pinnock said in a statement: "Several media outlets have reported that my client Earl Simmons, aka DMX has signed on to appear in VH1's 'Celebrity Rehab' reality show. These reports are false and Mr Simmons has not greed to appear in any reality show. Mr. Simmons is currently serving a 90 day jail sentence at Tent City Jail in Arizona".
She continued: "He has expressed great appreciation to the overwhelming amount of support he has received from his fans during this difficult time. He would like his fans to know that he is taking this time to focus on his personal as well as spiritual growth, and is looking forward to being released soon".
SNOOP DOGG TAKES STAND IN CIVIL ASSAULT CASE
Snoop Dogg took to the stand for nearly two hours yesterday in that previously reported civil assault suit brought by fan (or former fan?) Richard Monroe Jr, who claims that Snoop hit him with a mic when he got up on stage at a gig in Seattle, and that the rap star's entourage seriously injured him in a beating that allegedly took place backstage. Mr Dogg, real name Calvin Broadus, testified to the effect that he did not hit Monroe with a microphone, as alleged, and added that Monroe should not have got up on stage, and therefore only had himself to blame for the events that followed, saying: "The best way for the injuries not to have occurred [was] for him to stay in his seat and enjoy the show like the rest of the fans".
Monroe, who is seeking $22million in damages, says he went up on stage in response to what he thought was a call to fans to do so.
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MGMT SETTLE WITH UMP OVER KIDS USE
MGMT say they've reached a settlement with France's UMP, the political party of French president Nicolas Sarkozy, who the band claimed were infringing copyright by using their track 'Kids' at political events and on the party's website. The duo pointed out the alleged infringement was ironic given that it's the UMP party who are in the process of pushing through stricter copyright laws in France.
A UMP spokesman initially responded by saying that the party's use of the song was covered by a licence from French collecting society SACEM, though added that they'd be double checking to see if the band were fairly compensated for the use of the song. Though for MGMT it wasn't so much a money thing, they just didn't want the French political types using their music.
Anyway, I'm not sure what went on behind the scenes, but it seems the UMP have decided to make a payment of some sort to the band for their use of 'Kids', which suggests the use of the track wasn't fully covered by their SACEM licence. The band have said they'll donate the payment to artist rights organisations.
In a posting on their website last week, the duo wrote: "About two months ago it was brought to our attention (through the MGMT message board) that the UMP French political party was using our song 'Kids' at rallies and posting videos of these rallies on their official website. Normally MGMT steers clear of mixing music and politics, but the fact that the UMP used our song without permission while simultaneously pushing anti-piracy legislation seemed a little wack".
They continued: "We believe that access to music benefits both the musicians and the fans, and has undoubtedly helped spread our music around the globe, while also expanding our personal musical collections. We didn't want to be 'typical Americans' and sue, despite the amazing monetary benefit and chinchilla coats and Navigators it would bring. Instead we're using the settlement fee the UMP presented and donating it to artists rights organizations. Thank you France for the wonderful food. C'est bon. MGMT".
MILKE WIN INDIE IDLE
Gigwise's Indie Idle competition reached its final stages at the Camden Crawl at the weekend, and the band who emerged victorious, following several rounds, were the rather buzzy Milke. The group, who are from East London, beat competition from hundreds of bands, coming through public-voted rounds, assessment by a panel of industry judges, and the live final on Saturday.
The band, who release their new single, 'Maybe I'm Crazy', on 29 Jun, have already received support from the likes of Pop Justice, The Fly, Mixmag, Xfm and 6Music. Their MySpace page is here, if you fancy a look: www.myspace.com/milketheband.
RHCP DENY SPLIT
Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer Chad Smith has denied that the band are splitting up, even though it would be better for everyone if they did. As previously reported, the band announced that they were taking a year off last year, but have now decided to extend their hiatus by a further six months.
Smith told Q: "We're not playing right now, but we played a lot before. It was time to take a little break and live your life".
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CREED REUNITE
After much speculation and one or two denials, nineties rockers Creed have confirmed they will reunite for a US tour, their first live shows since 2002. The band originally formally disbanded in 2004, though their last studio album was 2001's 'Weathered'. All four members of the band - Scott Stapp, Mark Tremonti, Scott Phillips and Brian Marshall - will take part in the reunion tour, which will begin in Pittsburgh in August.
Confirming the reunion tour, Ken Fermaglich at the Agency Group, who represent the band, told Billboard: "I think there is a lot of demand out there for this band, they've been away for seven years. The last show they played was December 31, 2002".
ALICE IN CHAINS SIGN TO EMI
More nineties American rockers, and Alice In Chains have signed a deal with EMI's Virgin US division for the release of their comeback album, their first since their 1995 eponymous long player, and the first since the death of original frontman Layne Stanley. Vocals will be provided on the new album by William DuVall, who has been fronting the band since they started touring again in 2005. The new long player is due out in September.
EMPIRE OF THE SUN LAUNCH INTERACTIVE VIDEO
Empire Of The Sun have released an interactive video for their next single, 'We Are The People', which is due out on 1 Jun. Clicking on certain parts of the video takes viewers off to other content, including free downloads, more videos and a competition.
Virgin Records' digital media manager Justin Cross says: "The ability to make any pixel within a video the gateway to other destinations or content opens up plenty of potential for the traditional promotional video".
Watch and click here: www.empireofthesunsound.com/wearethepeople
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OH, HELLO ROLO TOMASSI VIDEO
Hassle Records have released a new video for, 'Oh, Hello Ghost', the opening track from Rolo Tomassi's marvellous debut album, 'Hysterics'. It's got mannequins and fairy lights in it. What more do you want?
www.youtube.com/watch?v=iGHSg9_VDmY
GREEN DAY ANNOUNCE UK TOUR
Green Day have announced their first UK tour for over four years. The band will be over on these shores in October to promote their eighth studio album, '21st Century Breakdown', which is due for release on 15 May via Reprise.
Tour dates:
19 Oct: Glasgow, SECC
23 Oct: London, O2
24 Oct: London, O2
26 Oct: Sheffield, Arena
27 Oct: Birmingham, LG Arena
28 Oct: Birmingham, LG Arena
30 Oct: Manchester, MEN Arena
31 Oct: Manchester, MEN Arena
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MASTODON ANNOUNCE UK CLUB SHOWS
Mastodon have announced a string of intimate club shows before heading off around Europe with Metallica. I can't bloody wait.
Tour dates:
5 Jun: Sheffield, Corporation
6 Jun: Manchester, Academy 2
7 Jun: Glasgow, ABC
9 Jun: London, Islington Academy
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TOPLEY BIRD, PRINCESS SUPERSTAR LINE UP FOR ACTIONAID
Martina Topley Bird and Princess Superstar are amongst the artists set to appear at 6 Degrees Live at the ICA tomorrow, an event organised by ActionAid in support of women around the world campaigning for equal rights and an end to discrimination against women.
The night will be hosted by journalist Miranda Sawyer, and will feature appearances from headliner Martina Topley Bird, Micachu & The Shapes, thecockandbullkid and Alessi's Ark, plus DJ sets from Queens of Noize, The Voguettes, the aforementioned Princess Superstar and Zezi Ifore. It all kicks off at 7.30pm, and costs a tenner, with all proceeds raised set to be donated to ActionAid.
NAKED GERMAN RAVERS WILL BE AT GLADE
The organisers of the Glade Festival have said that they will be allowing a bunch of naked Germans to attend this year's event.
As previously reported, Glade organisers recently revealed that the nudist group wanted to come to their event this year, but explained that they wanted to check that there would be no legal objections before letting them in. They originally announced: "Awaiting feedback from their lawyers regarding the 30 nudist German ravers who have confirmed attendance. We want to cover our backs. This is real, they sent us an email the other day, I think we should let them come regardless but [Glade boss] Nick [Ladd] is talking to lawyers. They've been to another festival before apparently. Loads of them".
But, having spoken to their legal people, the Glade team have now confirmed that it will all be fine, saying: "We spoke to our lawyers, the German nudist ravers can come! We'll be seeing (all of them) there!"
Glade takes place at the Matterley Bowl in Winchester from 16 - 19 Jul, and will this year feature acts such as Underworld, Squarepusher and Booka Shade.
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ISLE OF WIGHT FESTIVAL, Seaclose Park, Newport, Isle Of Wight, 12-14 Jun: McFly and Will Young are the latest acts to be announced for this year's Isle Of Wight festival, and are both set to play the Big Top on the Saturday. Iglu & Hartly and Sneaky Sound System will join Prodigy on the main stage on the Friday. www.isleofwightfestival.com
WIRELESS FESTIVAL, Hyde Park, London, 4-5 July: Tinchy Stryder has been confirmed to play this year's Wireless, with N Dubz, Lady Sovereign, Zarif, Chipmunk, Black And White Years and Steve Appleton all set to perform on the same day. Metric, Skint And Demoralised, Master Shortie, The Japanese Popstars and Phenomenal Handclap Band have also been added to Saturday's line up. www.wirelessfestival.co.uk
T IN THE PARK, Balado, Kinross-shire, 10-12 Jul: Doves, Idlewild and Iglu & Hartley are amongst the latest acts to be announced for this year's T In The Park. Patrick Wolf, Dinosaur Pile Up and Vagabond have also been added to the bill and are set to join Passion Pit and M83 for the Futures Stage. www.tinthepark.com
LATITUDE, Southwold, Suffolk, 16-19 Jul: White Lies, Pretenders, Flashguns and The Chakras have been added to the Latitude line up. Pet Shop Boys, Grace Jones and Nick Cave And The Bad Seeds are set to headline the four day event. www.latitudefestival.co.uk
WICKERMAN FESTIVAL, East Kirkcarswell Farm, Nr Kirkcudbright, Scotland, 24-25 Jul: The Magic Numbers are the latest addition to the Scottish festival and are set to perform on the Main Stage, joining The Human League, The Zutons, Idlewild, Candi Staton and Billy Bragg. www.thewickermanfestival.co.uk
BIG GREEN GATHERING, Mendip Hill, Somerset, 29 Jul - 2 Aug: 3 Daft Monkeys, Seize The Day, King Porter Stomp, The Nik Turner Band, Dubblehead and Rapskallion have all been confirmed to play the musical side of Big Green Gathering, along with Islam Sound System, MC Exentral Tempest and Dragonsfly. www.big-green-gathering.com
SOUTH WEST FOUR, Clapham Common, 29 Aug: Armin Van Buurnen has been confirmed to play The Gallery Stage, which will also include Markus Schulz, BT, Tall Paul and 16 Bit Lolitas. www.southwestfour.com
CREAMFIELDS, Daresbury Estate, Cheshire, 29-30 Aug: Laidback Luke has been confirmed for this year's Creamfields festival, joining previously announced Calvin Harris, Dizzee Rascal, 2 Many DJs and Toddla T. www.creamfields.com
ALBUM REVIEW: Manuel Tur - 0201 (Freerange Records)
I'm not sure this was intentional, but the fact that 22 year old producer Manuel Tur chose to name his debut album after the postcode of his home town of Essen in Germany is a slightly cryptic indication of the music contained within - it being more of a home listening experience than a dancefloor killer. A montage of samples he's been collecting for a over a decade, you can tell his influences include Ian Pooley and Pepe Braddock. The highlight is 'Rubicond', which has a slow house backdrop, with sweeping, undulating synths thrown in, plus a real Balearic sensibility - it's truly excellent. Elsewhere tracks like 'Stay', which features Melissa Kap on vocals, is very in keeping with the downtempo Freerange ethic. Sometimes he takes it a little too far down, though. Blakkat's slow, precisely delivered, moody vocals on 'Golden Complexion' end up just being a little dull, and 'Will Be Mine' is a little too introverted to really hit home. Unfortunately, these two tracks have been selected as singles and apparently showcase the direction Tur wants to take with his solo work. Things work better on 'Pastelise', which passes the baton housewards, but not full in your face, and has a nice, slightly chilled breakdown, and 'A40', which meanders along pastures chill, although the sampled chant overlay does grate a bit. As an electronic artist debut album, '0201' is good, and there are no major troughs, but it's perhaps overly cerebral; for me, some more of the crème de la crème dancefloor tracks that he excels in wouldn't have gone amiss. PV
Release Date: 22 Jun
Press contact: Freerange IH [all]
Buy from iTunes
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ERICSSON PROVIDE MULTIMEDIA GUIDE TO THREE SONGWRITERS' LONDON
Sony Ericsson have teamed up with three singer songwriters to create an audio tour of London to mark the launch of their latest Walkman phone, the Sony Ericsson W715.
Amy Studt, Zarif and Eliza Doolittle have been asked to pick the things they most like in London, and then plot a tour around the capital that takes them in. Via a special Ericsson website you can check out the things they picked, and then download a PDF map of their tour and an MP3 audio guide narrated by each songstress themselves. If you do the tour yourself, the Ericsson phone, when used with Vodafone's 'Find & Go' personal satellite system, will even guide you.
The website was launched earlier in the month and can be accessed at www.sonyericsson.com/insidetracks
WILLIAM MORRIS AND ENDEAVOUR MERGER
As expected, talent agencies William Morris and Endeavour yesterday merged. The combined WME Entertainment will be the second biggest talent agency after CAA. William Morris's Jim Wiatt will be Chairman of the new agency, while the merged company will have no less than three CEOs, David Wirtschafter from William Morris and Ariel Emanuel and Patrick Whitesell from Endeacour. Yeah, that'll work.
While the merger has been expected for a while, it is interesting in that William Morris is one of the longest established names in the business, having been founded in 1898, while Endeavour is a relative upstart, having been established just fourteen years ago by four former ICM agents. Insiders say the corporate cultures of the two companies are very different, which could lead to stresses once their operations are brought together.
It is thought about 100 of the merged agency's 380 agents may be cut as a result of the merger. With 300 of those agents coming from William Morris, it's thought they will take the brunt of the job cuts.
As previously reported, while Endeavour mainly represent actors and movie producers, William Morris boasts a substantial music roster too, representing the likes of Diddy, Eminem, 50 Cent, The Killers, Weezer, The Flaming Lips, Britney, Prince, Lil Wayne, Ne-Yo, MIA, Duffy, Rihanna and Estelle.
MORE MYSPACE APPOINTMENTS
More MySpace appointments for you. Mike Jones, founder of technology firm Userplane (who make a range of social networking technologies), will become COO, while former MTV exec Jason Hirchhorn will become Chief Product Officer.
Jones and Hirchhorn join former Facebook exec Owen Van Natta - MySpace's new CEO - on what looks likely to be a totally new top team at the struggling social networking firm. The management team overhaul has been led by Jonathan Miller, the former AOL exec who became Chief Digital Officer for MySpace's parent company, Rupert Murdoch's News Corp, just a month ago. MySpace falls under his remit, and Van Natta will report directly to him.
Possibly seeing the cull on the horizon, three senior execs, including COO Amit Kapur, quit MySpace earlier last month before Miller's arrival at News Corp. Founders Chris De Wolf and Tom Anderson were pushed out of their top jobs last week, though Tom will remain on the firm's board for the time being, possibly to continue as the service's public face with its users.
It's not clear what any of this means for MySpace Music, the social networking firm's attempt to expand its dominance in the artist profile domain into a Pandora/Spotify style streaming music service.
That service is now headed up by Courtney Holt, another former MTV man. He joined the company after the lacklustre US launch of MySpace Music and recently said he was reviewing the whole operation before rolling it out globally, a review which has delayed launch of the music offer outside North America.
With such a widespread management change at the top of MySpace, it's not clear if Holt is seen as the first of the new guard or the last of the old guard at the company. His recent criticisms of the music platform he inherited might suggest the former, in which case he's probably safe in his job for the time being.
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SEEQPOD BOSS SAYS SITE CLOSURE TEMPORARY
MP3 search and play engine Seeqpod is still down this morning. As previously reported, the music service went down on Friday leading to speculation the company behind it was closing down. The Seeqpod company recently applied for bankruptcy protection as it prepares to defend itself against lawsuits from Warner and EMI who accuse them of contributory infringement, because a lot of the music its searches and plays is unlicensed. However, the firm's CEO, Kasian Franks, has told MP3 Newswire that the site being down is a temporary measure brought about because the company has new owners. They quote him thus: "SeeqPod is in the process of moving a few servers due to an acquisition by a media company. We'll be back up shortly". No word on who the buyer might be, though Franks apparently claims it is a big player. Which big media firm would want to buy into the legal quagmire of Seeqpod, however good their technology, I'm not sure.
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PEOPLE'S MUSIC STORE ADDS UNIVERSAL TRACKS TO ITS CATALOGUE
People's Music Store, which, as you probably remember, lets fans set up their own download stores and select, review and sell tracks, earning points for sales they secure, has announced a licensing deal with Universal Music which means tracks from the major's catalogue will now be available to those who operate personal stores via the platform. Universal are the first major to join the service, which already has numerous indies on board.
Confirming the deal, People's Music Store boss Ged Day told CMU: "We are excited to have the Universal Music catalogue on People's Music Store because it shows that forward-thinking labels are willing to try new ways of connecting artists with fans. This addition doubles our catalogue to 600,000 tracks and means that our storekeepers have even more options to choose from when stocking their stores. We look forward to seeing well known artists like Jay-Z next to less known musicians like Doom. In this way, people can discover new music in an authentic context, recommended to them by peers whose opinion they trust".
BEEB AND COMMERCIAL BROADCASTERS FORM RADIO COUNCIL
The BBC and commercial radio sector yesterday confirmed they were forming a joint trade body, the Radio Council, to see if there's anyway the Beeb's big pot of licence-fee cash could help stem the terminal decline of the commercial radio sector, who's shitty lowest common denominator zero personality automated radio services are struggling to compete for both listeners and advertisers. I'm paraphrasing slightly, that's not actually their mission statement.
The Radio Council aims to enable collaboration between the BBC and most major commercial radio firms - including Global, Bauer and GMG Radio - in a bid to develop and enhance digital services.
This will include initiatives that enable commercial radio firms to offer more compelling online on-demand services, possibly using BBC technology, as well as projects to prop up the flagging digital audio broadcasting system, the terrestrial digital radio network into which both the Beeb and commercial radio firms, Global in particular, have invested dearly, so far without any major commercial returns (although DAB radio sets are selling, few commercially funded digital-only services have been a success).
The Council will also represent the industry to the Digital Radio Delivery Group, the government body recently proposed by Comms Minister Stephen Carter, which will also be involved in persuading the UK's radio listeners to go fully digital.
Chairmanship of the new Council will rotate between the BBC and the commercial sector, and it will initially be headed up by BBC radio chief Tim Davie, who first proposed the Council last month. Confirming the quick establishment of the Council, he told reporters: "The partnership between the BBC and commercial radio is crucial to the future of the medium. Radio is unique and much-loved, but the media environment is changing and we have to work together to make sure it remains as popular and relevant as ever".
The commercial radio sector also welcomed the new body. Global Radio boss Ashley Tabor said: "It is absolutely right that the BBC recognises, as it did with TV, the need to work collaboratively and in partnership with the commercial sector. We appreciate the significant contribution the BBC has the capacity to make to facilitate 'digital Britain' from a radio perspective, and Global Radio is prepared to play a leading role alongside the BBC, GMG, Bauer and all our other colleagues in commercial radio, to make it happen".
Andrew Harrison, the boss of the commercial radio sector's own trade body, RadioCentre, also welcomed the new joint organisation, though, obviously keen that no one would ever think the Radio Council would make his body redundant, he added that commercial radio stations would "remain competitors for listeners with the BBC, and RadioCentre will continue to lobby for the commercial and regulatory freedom to compete on level terms".
The Radio Council is one of a number of measures that the BBC is spearheading in which the licence-fee funded Beeb will help its commercial rivals, especially in the continued development of digital broadcasting. The Beeb, of course, is keen to put down any suggestions it should share its licence-fee income with any commercial broadcasters who also have some public service aims or obligations, and would prefer to make its resources and technology available to those companies than have to share its cash with them.
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GMG RADIO CHIEF WANTS SPONSORSHIP RULES CHANGED
Elsewhere in the file marked 'commercial radio is doomed', the boss of GMG Radio yesterday told a conference in London, optimistically called Radio Reborn, that there should be an overhaul of advertising and sponsorship rules in the commercial radio sector to help struggling radio stations beat the advertising recession. Overly strict rules governing the integration of sponsorship into programming was costing the commercial radio sector tens of millions in lost revenue, GMG's Stuart Taylor argued. He called on OfCom to review their sponsorship guidelines, adding that the current rules belong to a "bygone age".
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RADIO 1 DEPUTY CONTROLLER DEFENDS MOYLES
Following those tabloid reports that Chris Moyles was about to be axed from the breakfast slot on Radio 1, and subsequent rumours that the BBC were actually in the middle of renegotiating his contract to keep him on the prime time show, the nation's favourite's Deputy Controller Ben Cooper has told the aforementioned Radio Reborn conference that, as far as he's concerned, the Corporation's top egotist's job is safe as long as he continues to "connect with young listeners".
The Guardian reports that, when asked about Moyles status at Radio 1, Cooper said that: "We have got contracts to negotiate ... [but] I think he is a very good broadcaster and I want him to stay on breakfast so long as he keeps connecting with the young audience we want him to". Responding to comments made by Radio 2 DJ Paul Gambaccini, who said Moyles should have been fired after the whole Will Young spoof song routine, which some said was homophobic, Cooper added that his breakfast show host was: "An excellent broadcaster who has made a couple of mistakes in five-and-a-half years on breakfast".
On the possibility of a schedule overhaul at the BBC's youth station, which has been criticised for the relatively high average age of its presenters, Cooper continued: "I am always looking at changes. Over the last five years pretty much every year we have had tweaks and changes. I am always going to be looking at the schedule and how it can be improved. I am passionate about Radio 1 and I want it to sound its best for a young audience".
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KISS LAUNCH AD-FREE HOME PAGE ON WEBSITE
Bauer's Kiss radio network has relaunched its website, and the big development is that its home page is now ad free. The radio station hopes to sell 'commercial takeovers' on its landing pages, or 'integrated advertising', rather than conventional banner ads. The radio firm follows in the footsteps of both Channel 4 and Five in removing blatant banner ads from its home page.
Confirming the new approach to commercial messages on the website, Kiss's Head Of Digital, Bruce Mitchell, told CMU: "Homepage advertising should be about providing something unexpected and creative rather than predictable. Users should feel our commercial partners are brands we value working with, and their message should be presented in a way our users will react well too".
The first brand to participate in a "commercial takeover" is Lynx in a campaign organised by ad agency Mindshare. Their Business Director Cate Murden told CMU: "We are delighted to have the opportunity to be involved with this important launch from Kiss. Lynx has had great success with the radio brand and this a fantastic next step for the product".
TOTAL ROCK WORLD ALBUM CHART
It's this week's Total Rock World Album Chart, as counted down on Total Rock last weekend - www.totalrock.com. New entries and re-entries marked with a *.
1. Nickelback - Dark Horse (Warner/Roadrunner)
2. Mastodon - Crack The Skye (Warner Bros)
3. Papa Roach - Metamorphisis (Universal/Interscope)
4. AC/DC - Black Ice (Sony/Columbia)
5. Pearl Jam - Ten (Sony Music)
6. Bruce Springsteen - Working On A Dream (Sony/Columbia)
7. Metallica - Death Magnetic (Universal/Mercury)
8. Lamb Of God - Wrath (Warner/Roadrunner)
9. Theory Of A Deadman - Scars & Souvenirs (Warner/Roadrunner)
10. Kid Rock - Rock - N Roll Jesus (Warner/Atlantic)
11. Nickelback - All The Right Reasons (Warner/Roadrunner)
12. Queensryche - American Soldier (Warner/Rhino)
13. Static-X - Cult Of Static (Warner Bros)
14. Rise Against - Appeal To Reason (Universal/Geffen)
15. Linkin Park - Minutes To Midnight (Warner Bros)
16. The Grateful Dead - To Terrapin: Hartford - 77 (Universal)*
17. Shinedown - The Sound Of Madness (Warner/Atlantic)
18. Guns n Roses - Greatest Hits (Universal/Geffen)
19. Disturbed - Indestructible (Warner/Reprise)
20. Blue October - Approaching Normal (Universal/Island)
COCKER AND WIFE HAVE SPLIT
Jarvis Cocker and his wife, Camille Bidault-Waddington, have brought an end to their six year marriage. The former Pulp man says that he is still on good terms with the French fashion stylist, saying "yes, it's true, we split, but we're still on amicable terms". He adds that he plans to stay in Paris, despite the split, because he wants to stay close to his six year old son Albert.
A source is quoted as saying: "Jarvis is sad his marriage has ended. He fought to keep it alive but they had drifted apart. But he won t be coming back to Britain, he wants to be involved in every aspect of Albert's upbringing. His own father moved to Australia when he was just seven and they have had no contact since. That's not something he wants to be repeated with his own son".
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MILEY CYRUS SPEAKS OUT ABOUT TRASHY GOSSIP SITES
Miley Cyrus has said that she thinks gossip sites are horrid and a bad influence on young readers. Speaking at a UK press conference for the Hannah Montana movie, the sixteen year old star said she wished that the sites would "go away".
She continued: "I think they're so hard, not only on the celebrities but the kids as well... I mean, I am normal, if I was any smaller I would be too skinny, if I was any bigger I'd be too fat. There's never perfect. If they see that, or me on the red carpet and think, 'That's what I'm supposed to look like'. I think it all gets people mixed up. I think it's all kind of trash".
Which isn't especially clear, but I think we all understand what she means. And that wasn't meant to sound quite so patronising.
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