IT'S LIVERPOOL SOUNDCITY 2009!
Today the music business turns to Merseyside where Liverpool SoundCity kicks off, promising no less than four days of talks, debates, panels and networking opportunities for music people, alongside a whole barrage of brilliant music showcases, featuring no end of great bands. You can check the full line up at www.liverpoolsoundcity.co.uk (check out CMU's sessions in the 'Special Events' section), meanwhile we'll be picking out some of our favourite bands who are playing SoundCity here in the Daily each day, throwing our same six questions at five of them, and digging into the SSQ archives to get a little insight from some more.

PATRICK WOLF
If you need me to introduce Mr Patrick Wolf then I really don't think you've been paying attention. As previously reported, this CMU favourite, who released his previous albums via Loog, has gone the complete DIY route and raised cash via Bandstocks.com in order to fund his new long player. The original plan was to release a double disc album, though now there will be two separate albums instead. The first is 'The Bachelor' which is released next month. I'm pretty sure Patrick will sing you some songs off it when he plays the Stanley Theatre as part of Liverpool SoundCity on Friday night.

Q1 How did you start out making music?
I started making music when I became conscious. I started recording when I got a stolen four track tape recorder from my sister's school aged 12. I was so excited, that four track tape recorder saved my life. It was my best friend and confidante throughout my teenage years. My dad told me that the Beatles had recorded an album on a four track tape recorder so I tried to make my own album. It took me seven years to finish.

Q2 What inspired your latest album?
My misery and tendency to want to delve into the most dark and dangerous places externally and internally inspired me most, I have only just begun on that journey... there is a lot more pain to come. I made no contact with the outside world for months while making this album, I was dead internally. There is a tradition in singer songwriters to kill themselves. I decided I would write an album.

Q3 What process do you go through in creating a track?
I write and produce most of my work myself... internally. Then I give birth to it in public - with all the touring and promoting, it feels like giving birth. I have no womb so I make albums instead.

Q4 Which artists influence your work?
Joni Mitchell, Diamanda Galas, Tracey Emin, Salvador Dali, Bob Dylan, Jayne Country and the electric chairs, Genesis p-orridge, Kate Bush, Bjork, Nomi, Britney, Bowie, PJ Harvey, The Raincoats, The Breeders, The Amps, The Rentals, Madonna, Thin Lizzy, Henry Purcell, Nic Endo, Gavin Bryars, Leonard Cohen, Buffy St Marie, Judy Collins, Buffy St Marie, Elvis Presley.

Q5 What would you say to someone experiencing your music for the first time?
Make sure you are not listening on MP3 format because it cuts half the bass out of a mix. Be alone at first, somewhere comfortable, with a strong drink beside you and your phone turned off. Headphones must be expensive and you should maybe be half undressed. Be prepared to move and feel or be uncomfortable at first. Be unprepared for what happens next. Don't tell anyone the secrets you might have discovered over the last forty minutes about yourself or me.

Q6 What are your ambitions for your latest album, and for the future?
Always the goal of my albums is to be make them with zero compromise to artistic integrity, and one thousand percent ambition, strength and success to deliver my music and messages across the world. I never know what's going to happen... I have no crystal ball, but I have a lot of songs and stages ahead of me.

PATRICK WOLF AT LIVERPOOL SOUNDCITY>> 22 May at Stanley Theatre, doors 8pm.
MORE>>www.patrickwolf.com and www.myspace.com/officialpatrickwolf

Phantom Band: "Hiya" Korova, 20 May.

Red Light Company: "I don't like preconceptions, it's better if people can make their own minds up" Academy 2, 21 May.

Post War Years: "Definitely don't judge us on the basis of one song because our music varies in styles and moods more than most bands. This is largely due to having three songwriters. Sometimes we want people to dance and sometimes we want people to contemplate and get soaked up in ambience. Be prepared to do both" Barfly, 22 May.

You Me At Six: "See, I told you it wasn't that bad!" Academy 1, 23 May

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RAPPER SHOT DEAD IN LOS ANGELES
US hip hop artist and Akon protégé Dolla was shot dead outside a shopping mall in Los Angeles on Monday. The rapper, real name Roderick Burton, had been working on his debut studio album, reportedly called 'A Dolla & A Dream', after being signed to Akon's Konvict Musik label.

He began his music career in an Elektra-signed act called Da Razkalz Cru, but the group was unsuccessful and were dropped soon after the release of their debut single. Dolla subsequently met Diddy, who hired him as a model for his Sean John label of clothes, and Akon, who gave him a record deal. He had released a number of singles, and was set for a promising career, according to his publicist, who added: "He was being hyped as the next Tupac. He chose music to get off the streets".

Dolla was shot whilst waiting at the mall's valet service with a friend and fellow rapper DJ Shabbazz following a shopping trip. 23 year old Aubrey Louis Berry, who, like Burton, comes from the Atlanta area, has been arrested and charged with the killing. He was apprehended at Los Angeles International Airport as he was on his way to board a flight, and is being held on a $1million bond. Airport Police spokesman Sgt. Jim Holcomb told reporters: "As the officers approached the suspect, they asked him 'Do you know why we're here?' He put his [hands] up in the air and said, 'Yes, I've got a gun in my waistband. Don't shoot me".

According to a police spokeswoman two other individuals, who were attempting to board a flight alongside Berry, have been questioned but not charged with anything. Police believe that the shooting followed a spontaneous altercation between the two men.

Sean Combs has paid tribute to the rapper via Twitter, saying: "R I P Dolla! God bless his family! He was a good kid! You will be missed player. Don't take life for granted people!"

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YOUTUBE ORDERED TO MAKE INTERIM PAYMENTS TO ASCAP
While three of the four major record companies and many independent labels have deals in place with YouTube, the Google-owned video service really is struggling to get deals done with the songwriter collecting societies. Following their very public falling out with PRS For Music here in the UK, and with PRS counterparts GEMA in Germany, squabbles that have led to YouTube pulling all premium music video content in those territories, news today of ongoing legal wranglings between the video service and one of the US's songwriter royalty bodies, ASCAP.

A US judge has reportedly ordered YouTube to pay $1.61 million in back royalties to ASCAP, and a further $70,000 per month moving forward, to pay songwriters allied to the collecting society whose work appears on the video website in the US. It's a temporary settlement because the web firm and collecting society have failed to reach a blanket licensing agreement over the use of ASCAP's members' music on the video site, and the matter is now working its way through the courts, with a full hearing yet to take place. The ruling means ASCAP will receive some monies while legal action is ongoing. $1.61 million for back royalties is a lot more than what YouTube had proposed they pay, though is about 13% of what the collecting society suggested they were due.

As much previously reported, YouTube argue that the music publishers and songwriting collecting societies - some of whom are now renegotiating their deals with Google, having given what they considered extra favourable start-up rates first time round - are asking for way too much money from the video service. Google say the proposed rates could never be covered by advertising revenues.

But some commentators argue that's because of Google's business model, which is based around providing relatively cheap to run services that generate large amounts of traffic, which can be monetised through the sale of relatively low-cost advertising. Music videos, some say, should be considered premium content and therefore demand premium ad rates, but Google's current set up doesn't really allow for such premium services or advertising.

While YouTube are yet to withdraw music videos from their US service because of their ASCAP dispute, some reckon the company has long since abandoned its original idea of being the "world's biggest video jukebox", preferring instead to power other people's services - like Universal Music's in development video service Vevo - and letting other people worry about premium ad sales.

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THE KILLS' MOSSHART DENIES JACK WHITE FIST FIGHT
Alison Mosshart of The Kills has issued a statement denying tabloid rumours that suggested that she recently got into a fist fight with Jack White in a New York bar.

Mosshart says: "I don't usually bother responding to ridiculous fabricated tabloid rumours, but this one is particularly grotesque. The stories circulating from a UK tabloid of a 'fist fight', or Jack punching me, or the two of us 'being at each others throats' are untrue. I'm just wrapping up a tour with The Kills and then I'll be back with The Dead Weather for the release of the album and a tour. It's a really great group of people to work with and I can't wait for everyone to hear the album".

The Dead Weather, if you're not aware of it, is the 'supergroup' formed of Mosshart, White, Dean Fertita of Queens Of The Stone Age, and Jack Lawrence of The Greenhornes and The Raconteurs.

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TI WON'T, IN FACT, SPEND A YEAR IN PRISON
Despite many recent reports to the effect that TI, aka Clifford Harris, was set to spend a year and a day in prison after being convicted on weapons possession charges, it's emerged that he will only be spending two months in the klink, having apparently served 305 days of home detention. Sounds harsh.

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KANYE WEST PLEADS NOT GUILTY TO ASSAULTING PHOTOGRAPHER
Kanye West has pleaded not guilty to those previously reported allegations that he assaulted a photographer as he arrived at the LA International Airport in September last year. As you may remember, West was charged with misdemeanour battery, grand theft and vandalism after apparently attacking a member of the paparazzi and breaking a camera. His road manager Dan Crawley was also charged, with two counts of assault, two counts of theft and two counts of vandalism. It's said that both could face up to five years in prison if convicted, though these celebrity criminals rarely seem to serve anything like the maximum sentence these days, so they'll probably be alright.

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EMINEM TO TOP ALBUMS CHART
Eminem is set to top the UK album chart this Sunday as the biggest first-week seller of 2009. Slim Shady is expected to shift over 175,000 units of his comeback album 'Relapse' here in the UK by the time the chart is compiled on Sunday, having sold some 64,000 copies on Monday alone. Assuming he does reach the 175K point, that will put Marshall Mathers ahead of U2, who sold 168,000 copies of their latest album in first week of sales back in March. Slim Shady, though, while guesting on the Jonathan Ross TV show last week, has not received the blanket licence-fee funded free promotion Bono and co enjoyed earlier in the year.

For those that are counting, home grown rapper Dizzee Rascal is most likely to top this weekend's singles chart with his Armand Van Helden collaboration 'Bonkers (Dirtee Stank)'.

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LIONEL RICHIE TO GET BACK WITH COMMODORES
I'm pretty sure there have been rumours about this before, and near-confirmations in fact, but now Lionel Richie has confirmed almost absolutely that he is planning to tour with The Commodores, who have continued as a trio since the singer's departure in the early eighties. He says: "Before the end of the year, for sure, you'll hear a rumble. I think now might be the proper time".

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PETER ANDRE HAS NEW RECORD DEAL, APPARENTLY
Peter Andre may have lost his ITV2 co-star, having split up with wife Katie Price, but, maybe or maybe not aided by the renewed media interest in the reality show couple since their less than amicable split, the Aussie singer has announced he has secured a new record deal. His reps said yesterday that a contract had been signed after a month of negotiations, though no details were given as to which label had secured his, erm, talents. Australia's Mushroom Records, now part of Warner, released his post 'I'm A Celebrity' comeback album 'The Long Road Back', while Sony unleashed the Andre/Price duet album 'A Whole New World' on us in 2006.

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NEXT FREELAND SINGLE CONFIRMED
Marine Parade Records have confirmed that the next single from Freeland, the new band from DJ producer Adam Freeland, will be 'Do You', a track that features a certain Tommy Lee guesting on drums. Describing the track himself, Freeland told CMU's sister bulletin the Remix Update: "The remit on this one was, if Led Zeppelin were making electronic music what would it sound like? And this is what we came up with. It helped quite a bit by having Tommy Lee on drums, creating that big John Bonham style drum sound".

'Do You' is the second single from the new Freeland album 'COPE(tm)', which is released on 8 Jun, and which can be previewed and pre-ordered right now at www.freeland.fm. To celebrate the new album Adam Freeland is also giving away a free mixtape, which can be accessed at www.marineparade.net/adamfreelandmixtape/

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ABBA PENNED MUSICAL TO GET ENGLISH PREMIERE
A musical penned by ABBA duo Benny Andersson and Bjorn Ulvaeus will be performed in English for the first time ever in New York this Autumn. The show, called 'Kristina', and based on a series of novels by Vilhelm Moberg, was first performed in Sweden in 1995. There was a US performance in 1996, but that was in Swedish. The English language version will be premiered in New York.

Talking of the ABBA duo, you know how last week we reported that a brand new song written by them, 'Story Of A Heart', was about to be released? Well, we sort of suggested, as did a number of other news sites, that the song would first appear on the new album from Swedish singer Helen Sjoholm, and then on a new album by the Benny Andersson Band.

Well, there's some truth in all of that, but what is actually happening is that Sjoholm is a guest vocalist on the new Benny Andersson Band album, also called 'Story Of A Heart', and she sings on four songs on the long player, including the title track, Ulvaeus and Andersson's first pop collaboration in fifteen years. The album features fourteen tracks in total, some taken from Andersson's band's three previous Swedish albums. It's out on 6 Jul.

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CARL BARAT ON LIBERTINES REUNION
Carl Barat has commented on that previously reported three-members-of-the-Libertines reunion that took place at London's Rhythm Factory last weekend, and says that he wouldn't rule out performing with Pete Doherty et al again, but is more interested in concentrating on his solo work. He told NME.com: "I can't rule it out, but I'd rather save it. That's not to say I won't get on stage with Pete at some point soon".

He added that he is currently busy with his solo plans, but apparently hinted that a Libertines reunion wasn't out of the question in 2010, saying "Next year is a new year. We'll see what happens".

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STAG AND DAGGER THIS WEEK
The Stag And Dagger festival takes place this week, and following its London-only launch last year, this year there are S&D dates in Leeds and Glasgow too. Each event takes place at a number of different venues in each city, operating a wristband-for-entry-to-all ticketing system.

The London event is the biggest, taking place tomorrow at twenty different venues in the Shoreditch area, and featuring performances from the likes of Danananaykroyd, Evan Dando, Jack Penate, and Dan Black. The Leeds leg takes place on Friday, and will feature acts such as Danananaykroyd, again, Micachu & The Shapes, King Creosote and Cold War Kids, appearing at five of the city's music venues. The Glasgow event will round off the Stag And Dagger week, with Danananaykroyd, yet again, and Cold War Kids, again, amongst the acts lining up to appear at six venues.

See www.staganddagger.com for more info.

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MANUMISSION TAKES A HOLIDAY, BUT IBIZA ROCKS RETURNS
The big news from Ibiza last week was that one of the White Isle's biggest institutions, the circus of a club night that is Manumission, will not return for this year's clubbing season. The quite late in the day announcement was issued in a slightly rambling and somewhat cryptic statement that said the two Mancunians behind the mega-club night - Andy and Mike McKay - were taking a year off to "tend to their chickens". The door remains open, of course, for Manumission Ibiza to return in 2010, though insiders say both brothers have other projects they want to pursue.

For Andy McKay, those projects are already up and running really - the Minimission club nights that he already has planned for London, Paris, New York and Bali and, back on the White Isle, the continuation of this other summer project there, Ibiza Rocks, the alternative club night noted for bring some indie cool to the clubbing island. The line up for this year's Ibiza Rocks programme, which will run from 16 Jun to 8 Sep, was announced yesterday, and on the bill already are many of the dancey indie crossover types you'd expect like The Ting Tings, Friendly Fires, Soulwax, Frankmusik, MGMT, Pendulum, Klaxons and South Central plus DJs Kissy Sell Out and Zane Lowe. There will also be a weekly aftershow party on a more straight clubbing theme called Reclaim The Dancefloor!

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FESTIVAL LINE UP UPDATE

GLASTONBURY, Worthy Farm, Pilton, Somerset, 24-28 Jun: Stereo MCs are to headline the Glade Stage at this year's Glastonbury. As you know, Bruce Springsteen, Neil Young and Blur will headline the Pyramid Stage. www.glastonburyfestivals.co.uk

HOP FARM, Paddock Wood, Kent, 4-5 Jul: 2 Many DJs, Etienne De Crecy and Scratch Perverts have all been announced to play the Hop Farm Festival dance stage this summer, along with Kissy Sell Out, Dr Lektroluv and Datarock. www.thehopfarm.co.uk

OXEGEN, Punchestown Racecourse, County Kildare, 10-12 Jul: Fun Lovin' Criminals and The Gaslight Anthem are the latest acts confirmed to play Oxegen this year, joining headliners Blur, Snow Patrol, Kings Of Leon and The Killers. www.oxegen.ie

T IN THE PARK, Balado, Kinross-shire, 10-12 Jul: Jack Penate and Delphic are amongst the latest acts announced for T In The Park and are both set to play the Futures Stage. That Petrol Emotion and In Case Of Fire have also been added to the bill. www.tinthepark.com

STANDON CALLING, Hertfordshire, 31 Jul-2 Aug: Friendly Fires have been confirmed as headliners for Standon Calling this summer. Golden Silvers, Mumford And Sons and The Invisible have also been confirmed, along with The Aliens, Tommy Sparks, N.A.S.A and Freeland. www.standon-calling.com

CREAMFIELDS, Daresbury Estate, Cheshire, 29-30 Aug: Detroit DJ Claude Von Stroke has been confirmed to play the Chibuka Arena at this year's Creamfields, joining previously announced Kissy Sell Out, Basement Jaxx, Paul van Dyk, Dizzee Rascal and Calvin Harris. www.creamfields.com

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CMU TO PROVIDE AN INSIDE GUIDE AT LIVERPOOL SOUNDCITY
Liverpool SoundCity kicks off today, with a two day conference at the city's Hard Days Night Hotel, and a whole stack of great gig showcases each night through to Saturday. In addition to all that, focus will move to the city's old law courts, the St George's Hall, on Friday, where the music business will be put on trial, plus some great events will be run by the likes of the Musicians Union, PPL and, oh look, CMU.

We'll be doing two events on Friday, the first being another chance to check out our all new beginners guide to the music business - 'The Music Business in 2009: An Inside Guide' - premiered in Brighton at The Great Escape last week. As previously reported this session, run by CMU Co-Editor Chris Cooke, provides an introduction to how the music business works in 2009, looking at the different ways artists, entrepreneurs and companies can make money from music in the ever diverse digital age, and at the decisions and deals that need to be made to capitalise on the opportunities that exist in the modern music world.

The session is in some ways a beginners guide to the modern music industry, specifically aimed at any artist, band, songwriter, producer or entrepreneur wanting to make it big in music, or anyone considering a career in the music industry. Though with the business in a total state of flux, it should also provide food for thought for anyone currently working in the industry wanting a catch up on current issues, or an insight into areas of the business other than their own.

Commenting on the session ahead of last week's Great Escape, Chris said this: "We've run beginners guides to the music business for years, though this one is quite different. We'll provide newcomers with all the basics, but we also hope to present a summary of all the ongoing music industry stories we write about every day in the CMU Daily, and look at what those developments mean for people working in music, whether they be embarking on their career as an artist or music industry exec, or even if they've been working in the business for much longer than I have. It should be fun".

The Liverpool SoundCity edition of the Inside Guide takes place on Friday, 22 May, at St Georges Hall at midday. Everyone's welcome - see you there!

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THURSDAY AT THE GREAT ESCAPE
Setting out for the first night of a festival always has a 'little kid in a sweet shop' feeling to it, and I was certainly aiming to cram as many musical picks into my paper bag as possible on day one of The Great Escape 2009. I was eased into a drizzly first night in company of Emmy The Great down at Digital. I'm not sure about 'great', but Emmy the 'alright-but-a-bit-dull' doesn't quite have the same ring to it I suppose. Nonetheless, her sugary folk made facing the rain outside a little more bearable, although I didn't have far to go for the sweetest of sweet treats, the soaring electronica of Maps at the Honey Club. Not content with the electronic offerings on the seafront, I headed to Latest Music Bar for unsigned Londoners Fanzine, who with only a few MySpace plays and a recent NME appearance had serious next-big-thing potential. After half an hour of power pop, first night eagerness sent me spinning off to We Are The Ocean at the suitably dark and dingy Volks. Then, a failed attempt to see Dananananakroyd at Audio saw me back at Latest Music Bar where I added a couple of beautiful numbers to my evening courtesy of Barcelona band Cuchillo, before it was time for the wind down at Red Roaster with the hotly tipped Blue Roses and a headline set by Iain Archer. From acoustic to electronica, to indie to screamo to folk again: this was premium musical pic 'n' mix. [cs]

Some Great Escape reviews from CMU's sister publication ThreeWeeks...

We Are The Ocean
Rock Sound
When you walk into a venue and are almost pushed back out again by a crowd of people, it can mean two things. Either the band playing are so horrendous that everyone's doing a mass runner, or else, the band are in the process of well and truly rocking out. We Are The Ocean were definitely doing the latter at Volks on Thursday, but the odd runaway wouldn't be blamed; musically, the band were tight, and they had some heavy guitar riffs up their sleeves, but the two vocalists complicated what would have been a dynamic sound with just one. While the band tried to get involved, the crowd never seemed to be too bothered, and just moshed away regardless.
The Volks, 14 May, tw rating 2/5, [cs]

Iain Archer
On paper, Iain Archer is a surprising headliner. But amid the evening calm of the intimate Redroaster, his sleepy guitar picking was quite simply perfect. Each marvellous song in his short set had an accompanying anecdote about frozen lakes, campfires and pine forests, which the humble, mop-haired Irishman no more than whispered into the microphone. Expressing a wish to "get closer" to his audience, he performed one track without even a microphone and for his finale, he produced his "secret weapon", a sleek electric and a repeat pedal to build up a glorious rendition of radio hit, 'Summer Jets'. Half an hour had never been over so quickly, and the best part was that Iain seemed to feel the same.
Redroaster, 14 May, 10.30pm (11.00pm), tw rating 5/5, [cs]

Fanzine
Artrocker
Power-popsters in fantastic t-shirts, Fanzine are the type of band that would be top of the bookings list if the producers of 'Skins' ever decided to make a musical. Theirs is happy-go-lucky indie music with clever little rhymes and a distinctly electro feel courtesy of a small keyboard and a laptop balanced on a chair. While the beats weren't quite big enough or fast enough to "dance into their arms", as one song demanded, it was mellow indie, perfect for accompanying long lazy days of summer sunshine. The unsigned Londoners looked a little shy, and their music probably would have been lost in any venue larger than Latest Music Bar. But young, fresh faced and talented, Fanzine reek potential, so watch this space._
Latest Music Bar Downstairs, 14 May, tw rating 3/5, [cs]

Maps
Drowned In Sound
Maps make serious soundscapes. Performing his first live show of 2009, James Chapman, the brains behind Maps, was joined by August and Sefa who together made a visually rather uninspiring three-piece. But what they lacked in stage presence, they make up for the millisecond they get started with the music. Maps' heaving electronica sounded like ten thousand 'haunted house' arcade games doing a round, and the bass lines were probably strong enough to resuscitate the dead. Via the sultry and unashamedly late-eighties style vocals which were sometimes purred, sometimes spoken, their set was entirely electronic, and its ambient effect made for an utterly transporting thirty minutes. When the music is this good, Maps can wear whatever the hell they like.
The Honey Club, 14 May, tw rating 4/5, [cs]

Emmy The Great
Topman CTRL
When I arrived at Digital moments before Emmy The Great took to the stage, the first thing that struck me was the disproportionately large number of males in the club. It didn't take me long to realise why that might be. Emma Lee's voice was as effortlessly pretty as the singer herself. But whether it was pure shallowness on the crowd's part, or perhaps the outsized venue, Emmy the Great's neat shanties failed to get the crowd's attention until the penultimate song. It was a forgettable performance, but the band gave the impression they might have worked magic with a longer set. Is Emmy just a pretty face? Well, probably not, but the gig certainly left a lot to be desired.
Digital, 14 May, tw rating 2/5, [cs]

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ALBUM REVIEW: Kitsuné Maison 7 - Various Artists (Kitsuné Records)
Kitsuné, the ultra-hip French record label, and a subsidiary of the fashion label of the same name, has released a series of compilations showcasing the best of contemporary electronica. Their previous compilation spotted the potential of La Roux, currently blazing a trail in the UK singles charts with 'In For The Kill'. For this compilation, the track is remixed by the Strasbourg-based LIFELIKE, reinventing it as more simple and minimal, with Ellie Jackson's vocals supplemented with echo effects. French pop-rockers Phoenix make an appearance too, with the CLASSIXX version of their new single 'Lisztomania', taking an immaculate piece of Strokes-aping and relocating it to a sun-drenched Balearic beach of the late 1980s. But Kitsuné aren't just about promoting artists who've already achieved a modicum of success. Their compilations are about endorsing the unseen and unheard. Take the Northern Irish trio, Two Door Cinema, whose 'Something Good Can Work' hints at Afrobeat influences, or the New York based The Golden Filter, whose 'Favourite Things' is a fine slice of Italo Disco that would sit nicely amongst any of the artists on the Italians Do It Better label. Norwegian producer Prins Thomas reworks 'This Sweet Love' by laptop troubador James Yuill into something much more ethereal and hypnotic than the already impressive original. There's a rich and diverse selection here from every corner of the globe, from already successful artists to fresh, new discoveries. The Kitsuné Party at Scala on 20 Jun will feature some of the artists on this compilation and should be well worth catching. KW
Release Date: 1 Jun
Press Contact: Kitsuné IH [all]

Buy from Amazon

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NEW YORK MUSIC FIRM MERGES WITH CMJ
New York based music company Metropolitan Talent, which boasts gig promotion, artist management and label divisions, last week announced it was merging with CMJ, the publishers of the US magazine that links college radio with the music business, and which stages the big CMJ Music Marathon in NYC each Autumn. The move is expected to see Metropolitan Talent become more active in the US student market, especially in the gig promotion and artist development domains.

Explaining the arguably quite surprising merger, John Scher, one of Metropolitan's co-CEOs, told Billboard: "[CMJ] have a direct relationship with over 600 college radio stations, and in having that relationship they're also an approved vendor at every single campus. We plan on being able to take that relationship further, to be able to put together national college-themed tours and bring them to campuses in association with [local college] radio stations. We believe there are other events, perhaps not quite as big as Marathon, themed with college radio and college kids. We also think that's the one place right now that the discovery of new music is really in an active form".

What a great idea. Anyone out there thinking about similar activity in the UK student market, let's not forget who has the closest relationship with the British college music network. CMJ, CMU, yeah, you get it.

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IP OFFICE BRING CONSUMERS INTO COPYRIGHT DEBATE
The government's Intellectual Property Office is launching a new website with the aim of encouraging consumers and other stakeholders to participate in the debate about the future of copyright in the digital age. The new website is part of the Office's ongoing review of copyright, and some past evidence collected by them regarding the role and nature of copyright on the net will be made available on the site. Readers will then be encouraged to participate in the debate.

Confirming the new website, IP Minister David Lammy told reporters: "Copyright affects everyone. The technological changes we have seen over recent years have fundamentally altered the way we distribute and share works, bringing new opportunities for us all and new challenges as well. We need to work together to identify how the system needs to evolve. Consumers and everyday users are as much a part of that debate as large creative businesses and famous artists".

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INGROOVE GO PHYSICAL WITH CRYSTAL METHOD
Digital music distributor INgrooves has gone all physical on us. The company, who provide digital distribution and marketing services to independent artists and labels, have been looking after the physical as well as digital distribution for the new album by Californian electro duo The Crystal Method, which was released last week.

With the new long player, 'Divided By Night', topping dance and electronic charts on both Amazon and iTunes, the release seems to have been a success. Commenting on their decision to utilise the distribution services of INgrooves for the release, the duo, Ken Jordan and Scott Kirkland, told CMU: "We've always done our own thing, making music that we love and we know our fans love. Having INgrooves handle both physical and digital distribution was an extension of our independence as artists and we're really happy with the outcome".

INgrooves chief Robb McDaniels added: "The Crystal Method continues to be one of the most influential bands in music today. INgrooves is thrilled to work with the duo to distribute their latest release both digitally and physically in order to maximize all marketing, promotion and sales opportunities".

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PROJECT PLAYLIST BUY TOTAL MUSIC
Project Playlist, the online music service that ran into trouble because it allowed users to 'playlist' music from unlicensed sources, but which is busy trying to do the deals required to go fully legit, has bought the remnants of Total Music, one of Universal Music's various efforts to launch itself as a digital music provider.

Total Music was one of Universal's grand plans to gain some control of the digital music market off the then dominant iTunes (iTunes is still dominant of course, but not as much as it was since the launch of Amazon MP3, Spotify etc). The Total Music plan was to get the other three majors on board too (Sony was JV partner), and then to provide some sort of streaming and/or download music service, possibly subscription based and/or ad-funded, via other existing online portals - Facebook being the most likely for a while.

But disagreements between Universal and the other majors - Warner in particular - hindered the project, and those interested in carrying a badged version of the Total Music service lost interest. The whole thing was closed down earlier this year.

It's not clear what Total Music assets Project Playlist have bought, nor whether the acquisition means the online service has any ongoing partnership with Universal regarding the biggest major helping them legitimise their business copyright wise. Project Playlist already have deals with EMI and Sony's record companies and publishing firms in place.

Total Music did acquire the US college-based subscription download service Ruckus before closing down, and that technology may be of some use to Project Playlist, though it's a digital rights management based system and the future of DRMed subscription services, basically a variation on the long-standing Napster subscription model, is still a bit unclear now that DRM-free is the norm in the a-la-carte download space. Though it has to be said that services where access to music is blocked, by DRM, if a subscription lapses, which have never really caught on over here, have had more success in the US, where Real and, more recently, Microsoft are still pushing it. The Ruckus system may help Project Playlist operate in that space.

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CERYS FILLS IN FOR NEMONE
Former Catatonia singer Cerys Matthews will fill in for Nemone on 6Music when the DJ goes on maternity leave this summer. Cerys will present the digital station's lunchtime show. Cerys has previously presented fill-in and occasional slots on 6Music, but this will be her first daily show.

Confirming the appointment, 6Music Controller Bob Shennan told reporters: "Cerys's amazing passion for music delivered in a charmingly engaging way is a welcome addition to 6Music and will provide the perfect lunchtime cover whilst Nemone is away".

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BAUER CUTS
Q and Kerrang! publishers Bauer are to cut 30 staff from their London operations. The cuts will be in the media firm's advertising and magazine divisions. The company's CEO said yesterday: "In such an unprecedented commercial environment, we are seeking to reshape our business further and as a result have entered consultation with a number of staff across our London-based publishing and advertising business. We will not be making any further comment until these consultations are concluded". The cuts in Bauer's magazine business follows fifteen redundancies at the company's London-based radio operation back in March.

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ORANGE PULL OUT OF KANGAROO PURCHASE
Orange has pulled out of talks to buy technology created by the so called Project Kangaroo, the now defunct venture which planned to launch an on-demand TV service taking programmes from ITV, Channel 4 and the BBC. As previously reported, the joint venture between the three broadcasters collapsed after the Competition Commission ruled their collaboration in the on-demand space was anti-competitive. Orange had talked about buying the technology the Kangaroo team had developed in order to bolster its own ambitions in the on-demand TV space, but a spokesman has now told the Guardian: "We can confirm that we are not pursuing our interest in the catchup TV service Kangaroo. After in-depth due diligence, we concluded that it was unlikely that an outcome which benefited Orange's operations would be met".

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BOARD REJIGGED AT TLRC FOLLOWING UKRD'S SHARE PURCHASES
So, as expected, lots of rejiggery going on at the top of The Local Radio Company following the news last week that rivals UKRD had successfully bought a majority stake of the firm, with TLRC's previous biggest shareholder, Hallwood, who initially tried to fight off the UKRD acquisition by bidding higher, throwing in the towel - though they still refuse to sell their TLRC shares.

As a result of the dealings, Hallwood's Tony Gubminer, who had been Chairman of TLRC, will stand down to be replaced by UKRD Chairman Trevor Smallwood. Though, with the investment firm still having a 28% stake in the radio company, Gubminer will stay on the board as a Non-Executive Director. A number of UKRD execs will now take on the same titles at TLRC as they have at their existing company, including CEO William Rogers and Finance Director Roger Humm.

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MTV2/MYSPACE CHART
It's the MTV2/MySpace chart, based on votes by MTV2 viewers on MySpace. The top ten this week is as follows...

1. [NE] The Joy Formidable - Whirring
2. [NE] N.A.S.A ft Kanye West & Santigold & Lykke Li - Gifted
3. [1] The Chapman Family - The Kids Are Not Alright
4. [1] The Blackout - Children Of The Night
5. [4] Baddies - Holler For My Holiday
6. [3] Placebo - For What It's Worth
7. [NE] Everything Everything - Photoshop Handsome
8. [2] Enter Shikari - Juggernauts
9. [NE] Papa Roach - Lifeline
10. [9] You Me At Six - Finders Keepers

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

All American Rejects - I Wanna
Incubus - Black Heart Inertia
Lacuna Coil - Spellbound
Lissy Trullie - Boy Boy
Taking Back Sunday - Sink Into Me

More at www.myspace.com/mtvtwo

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BABYSHAMBLES STUFF TO BE GIVEN AWAY TO CHARITY
How kind of Babyshambles, you may think, to give away their music equipment to a children's charity. Well, it's not quite like that, I'm afraid. Two guitars belonging to the band, a bass, three amps, a drum kit, a harmonica, a melodica, and a speaker were seized by authorities during a 2005 concert at the Duke Of Clarence following complaints about the noise, and it's now been decided that they should be donated to Islington council's EMI Music Project. Islington Council's Jan Hart says: "It was the only way of stopping the nuisance to our neighbours, which is our top priority. Now it's going to a good home and will help young people just starting out with music".

Though, just to prove the EMI-signed Babyshambles can be nice in their own right, the group's guitarist Patrick Walden has agreed to hold a workshop for the project, which is aimed at 8-19 year olds.

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CILMI DENIES PERRY JIBES
Aussie singing star Gabriella Cilmi has said she didn't diss Katy Perry back in February, despite reports to that effect. In that month, Perry claimed the Best International Female Brit Award that they were both nominated for alongside Beyonce, Pink and Santigold, and it was claimed that Cilmi had said that Perry didn't deserve to win.

Speaking to Take 5 magazine, Cilmi said: "I never actually said that. I can cope with Katy winning an award. I won six ARIA awards in Australia and all these people were saying I didn't deserve it, so I wouldn't do that to anyone else. I hope she doesn't try to get me. I'm not worried though. I wear a lot of rings on my fingers - you don't want to mess with me!"

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EUROVISION WINNER BROKE TROPHY
According to The Sun, Norwegian Eurovision winner Alexander Rybak has admitted to breaking his trophy moments after receiving it.

The singer, who triumphed at the Contest with his folk-pop track 'Fairytale', apparently set the crystal gong down too firmly on the stage, causing it to fracture. A representative told the tabloid: "Yes it broke but it was a matter of some weak glue to begin with, I think. It's easy to fix".

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BEYONCE SURPRISED BY X-FACTOR RESPONSE
Beyonce has said that she was surprised by the impact of her performance on last year's 'X-Factor' final, at which she sang with winner Alexandra Burke.

Speaking to Celebs On Sunday magazine, the singer said: "I watched the show because I knew I was going to sing with one of the contestants, but because I don't live in the UK I didn't know the impact it was going to have. The day after I performed, I've literally never had so many people say they watched me. Every single person I met said, 'I saw you on X Factor', and I was like, 'This is weird!'"

Speaking about Burke, she added: "She's so talented and beautiful and her voice is so soulful. Actually, I wanted her to open my tour for me, but she hadn't finished her album so she couldn't do it."

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