MMF BEGINS JOURNEY OF REINVENTION
Representatives from the Music Managers Forum yesterday outlined their plans to expand and reinvent the trade body, transforming it from an informal networking group into a fully fledged trade organisation that provides practical support for young managers looking for advice on how to monetise and raise investment for their artists, is a first port of call for any brand or business looking to utilise music, and which is better able to represent managers' interests within the business, to government and the media, and to the wider world.

The reinvention of the MMF began last year from two different quarters. First from within, where incoming chairman Brian Message felt the time had come for the body to reconsider its role in the music industry, and from outside where a group of managers, led by Keane manager Adam Tudhope, most of whom had never previously been connected with the Forum, started to meet to discuss how the management sector could better work together.

With both groups coming together in January and deciding a revamped MMF was the way forward, the trade body subsequently commissioned a survey of the management community, and met with 130 of those managers in London on Tuesday to discuss the findings and decide on a way forward. As a result of that meeting a number of areas were identified where the MMF could support its members moving forward, and Message, Tudhope et al are now mandated to investigate how those support services could work, and how they might be funded.

In reality, the whole trade body is still in a state of flux, and while a number of ideas have been prioritised for investigation, the actual role and structure of the trade body is still in the air. Those investigating are due to report back in September when it's hoped the new look organisation might gain a little more structure, or at least decide on a name - some feel Music Managers Forum is no longer appropriate.

Although some might worry about their sector's trade body being all but on hold while leaders get to grips with the organisation's future, Message and Tudhope seemed relaxed. In some ways, I suppose, the music business itself is in a state of flux, and you get the impression part of the task for those leading the MMF's reinvention is to try and ascertain what exactly the music industry of 2009 is, and what role the manager has in it, before confirming what services those managers' trade body should provide on a day to day basis. While the group's mission statement is similarly in flux, Message talked about how the ever changing business provided artists and their managers with a whole new set of "options and opportunities", and he sees the MMF's role as to help his members identify and capitalise on them.

A key issue for the management community is clearly start-up funding. You have to spend money to make money, and traditionally it was the record labels who provided that first cash injection in new talent. But with labels investing less money in brand new artists, and with some managers increasingly uneasy handing over too many rights to record companies in return for some quick cash, there is a growing interest in alternative sources of investment. Would traditional banks invest? Would brands invest? Many managers are convinced there are other investment options, even for new talent, but it remains unclear what those options are. To that end one of the mandates for the new look MMF is to investigate and, if possible, facilitate alternative start-up funding for managers looking to launch new artists.

Utilising the government's new 'enterprise finance guarantee', which reduces a bank's risk when it invests in a new creative business, and launching an MMF service that connects bands with brands - dubbed a "dating and translation" service by Message - are among the ways the MMF's reinventors reckon the trade body could help with investment, and are among the options being investigated between now and September.

Getting brand partnership know how was, perhaps unsurprisingly, high up on the agenda of those managers who took part in the MMF's survey, with 97% wanting to work with brands, and 86% admitting they needed help in that domain. 85% also said they wanted to raise funding for their business, and 88% that it would be useful if their trade body helped them to do so. Other things raised by the managers surveyed included the whole issue of ticket commissions and secondary ticketing, the fees charged on merchandise concessions at venues, and an interest in finding ways to monetise an artist's non-music based online activity, all of which are areas where the trade body hopes to get involved.

Explaining the motivation for a revamped MMF, Message told CMU: "Once more technology is driving significant and jaw dropping change within our industry. The speed of this paradigm shift is proving exceptionally challenging, especially for those that cling to out of date business models. The music industry is no longer about trading copyrights. Increasingly artists and their primary partners - managers - are having to, and wanting to, find new routes to strengthen and develop the artists/fan relationship".

Tudhope added: "As managers we see that everyone from consumers to ISPs, mobile phone operates to brands wants to engage with our artists; and as their closest business advisors we have an opportunity now to ease the flow of money through to them by collectively offering a friendly face to the world outside the music business itself. I haven't in the past been associated with any kind of managers' organisation, but I am an evangelist for this new group that has formed under Brian Message because I believe it will benefit our artists' businesses, and therefore our own businesses in turn".

Although in a state of flux in many ways, MMF CEO Jon Webster did stress that there are and will remain working committees concentrating on those areas that need short term action, such as government programmes on copyright terms, ticketing and online piracy.

back to top

--------------------------------------------------

EMINEM ROBBED DURING MTV AWARDS
It's a shame Sacha Baron Cohen rubbing his balls in Eminem's face at the MTV Movie Awards on Sunday turned out to be a pre-planned prank. Had the rapper actually stormed out of the event and gone straight back to his hotel room to cry he might have got there before the thieves did and not found it, as he did when he got back there later that night, ransacked and missing some valuables. According to reports, thieves forced their way into the hip hopper's room at some point during the ceremony and made off with various items, including an $60,000 necklace and a laptop.

back to top

CHER SUES UNIVERSAL OVER ROYALTIES DISPUTE
Cher has sued Universal Music for $5 million in a dispute over alleged unpaid royalties. The singer says that the major concealed revenues generated by two compilations of her music, one actually distributed by Warner Music, in a bid to avoid having to pay her the full cut of royalties she was due. The dodgy accounting, she claims, also means the fourth wife of her one time husband and collaborator Sonny Bono also lost out on royalties she was due for Sonny & Cher duets included on the hits albums.

Cher's lawsuit claims: "Instead of reporting to and paying plaintiffs their share of the revenues generated by Warner UK, UMG Recordings, in an egregious example of self-dealing, apparently inserted Universal International as a middleman in the transaction... for the sole purpose of diverting money that rightfully belonged to the plaintiffs to Universal International. UMG Recordings is underreporting and underpaying the royalties due to plaintiffs based on UMG Recordings' improperly accounting to plaintiffs based on a royalty rate instead of their respective shares of net receipts".

Cher's lawyer Mark Passin added: "Universal is playing a game of catch-me-if-you-can with one of the most popular and iconic artists of all time. Unfortunately, record companies have learned over the years that they can increase their bottom line by under-reporting royalties to artists".

But the major has denied the allegations, with spokesman Peter Lofrumento telling reporters: "The claims are meritless, and we are confident that we will prevail in court".

back to top

X'S CERVENKA HAS MS
Exene Cervenka, of influential punk band X, has revealed that she has been diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis, but says that it won't stop her from continuing with her group's current US tour, and that she is still planning to release a solo album.

The 53 year old singer said in a statement: "After some months of not feeling 100% healthy, I recently had some medical tests run and the prognosis is that I am suffering from Multiple Sclerosis. Apparently, it has been affecting me for quite some time. Although this is obviously unfortunate news, I am choosing to see the positive in it. I, and X as a band, have supported the charity since the mid-1990's; the irony of this is not lost on any of us. Sweet Relief was started as an aide to uninsured artists by musician Victoria Williams when she herself was diagnosed with MS in 1992".

She continued: "While this diagnosis will most certainly mean some changes for me, personally, it will not affect my commitments to the current X US tour, nor will it affect my solo album that is slated for release this fall on Bloodshot Records. My focus will certainly be on maintaining my health - many people remain strong and continue to live their lives as productively as they had before an MS diagnosis and I plan to be one of those people".

back to top

--------------------------------------------------

IS JACKSON FASTING TO BEAT SKIN CANCER?
More Jacko gossip for you all. The Sun claims that Michael Jackson has drastically cut down his food intake because be believes doing so will help him beat the skin cancer the tabloid is convinced the star is suffering from.

The Sun cites sources as saying that the singer, currently preparing for his big comeback at London's The O2, is only eating one meal a day. The source says: "Michael has a phobia about getting fat. He doesn't want to put on any weight at all. But he is insistent that he'll only eat once a day and is adamant that's enough food from him. He's very thin and frail".

Earlier this week the tabloid claimed Jackson had told fans he'd have to put on some weight if he was to make it through his fifty day residency at The O2 - at the same time he claimed he never agreed to such a long run, having expected to perform just ten shows at the Dome.

As previously reported, Jacko's people deny he has skin cancer, though gossipers have continued to claim he does, partly because he has been seen leaving an LA medical clinic a number of times in recent weeks.

back to top

GET BALLOT PAPER, FILL IT IN, FLY
So, it's polling day people, and while I've never met anyone who could give a toss about the European Parliament, Sam 'Get Cape Wear It And Fly' Duckworth wants you all to vote, not so you can given Gordon Brown a bloody nose by voting anything but Labour, but so that those pesky union-flag-piggy-bank-selling (they are very cute piggy banks) BNP types don't win any seats or, simply, get a big enough percentage of overall votes to give them a PR and morale boost.

In an email to his fans yesterday, Duckworth wrote: "Everywhere you turn it is impossible to escape the recession, from our newspapers, to the television, hell they're even commenting about it on 'Hollyoaks'. Fascists thrive on misery and depression, they have had a long history of capitalising on people's misfortunes and using it to grow their regimes. The most common example of this would be in post WW1 Germany. Although we have not experienced this level of fascism in the UK, we have seen many examples through the years of fascists capitalising on hard times, most recently the growth of the national front in the midst of the minors strikes".

He continues: "The BNP however, is a new beast. The same level of racism, homophobia and ignorance, but shined up in suits and disguised as politicians. The European elections are tomorrow and the BNP are using the leverage of the recession and the wave of political distrust to power their campaign. It is up to us as responsible citizens of this great country to make sure that we do not have any members of the far right representing us in the European Parliament. It's hard to feel the motivation to vote, especially when daily we are seeing abuse of our parliamentary system in the expenses scandal. However we must not lie idle and let the BNP creep into a European seat. The prestige and finances this will give them, will only add fuel to their fire, a fire that we MUST extinguish".

He concludes: "Democracy is difficult if we waste our votes (although I can sympathise with the reasons why). The BNP only need 9% of the vote to gain a seat and this looks like a very real possibility. This figure will be much harder to reach if we make sure we visit the polling stations tomorrow. Unfortunately in situations like this, a wasted vote works in favour of parties like the BNP, NF and UKIP. I'm not going to tell you who to vote for, it's certainly not my place. However I urge you to take 30 minutes out of your day tomorrow to visit the polling station. This is a percentage game and if we play the percentages by using our votes, we might just be able to keep fascists from representing us in Europe".

back to top

'QUEEN OF BLUES' TAYLOR DIES
Koko Taylor, popularly known as the 'Queen Of Blues' has died at the age of eighty in a hospital in Chicago. She had recently undergone surgery for a gastrointestinal bleed.

The singer, born Cora Walton, earned the nickname of Koko because of her love of chocolate. She was born in Tennessee, but moved to Chicago in 1952 with her truck-driver husband Robert Taylor, and began singing in blues clubs in the city. In the sixties, she was signed by Chess Records, and achieved a hit with the Willie Dixon penned track 'Wang Dang Doodle', which sold a million copies and reached number four in the r&b chart, becoming her signature song.

Her subsequent career saw her release a plethora of albums and receive a host of awards, including a 1985 Grammy for Best Traditional Blues Album, and a lifetime achievement honour from The Blues Foundation. She was a prolific live performer, playing as many as 200 gigs per year up until 2003, when she suffered a heart attack and was forced to cut back her commitments; even so, she continued to perform at a rate of around 90 shows per year until her death. She gave her last performance on 7 May at the Blues Music Awards in Memphis.

Taylor is survived by her husband Hays Harris and her daughter, as well as grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

back to top

VAN HALEN AND ANTHONY, ARGUING VIA THE MEDIA
Former Van Halen bassist Michael Anthony has responded to claims by Eddie van Halen that he quit the band of his own accord. Anthony has formed a new band, Chickenfoot, with Sammy Hagar, also of Van Halen, and Eddie, who has replaced the bassist with his own son Wolfgang, says that it was Anthony's own decision to walk. He recently told Rolling Stone: "Everyone who quits the band always claims they got fired by me. Hey, I'm not the bad guy here. When Hagar left the band, Mike went with him. Then, when we get back together... all of a sudden, he wants back in. It's like, 'No, dude, you quit the band'".

Anthony has responded to that by telling MusicRadar.com: "I never quit. I never once said, 'I'm out of here'. It never happened. That's the weird thing right now, for Eddie to be trying to paint himself as 'not the bad guy'... Why would I have quit Van Halen?"

back to top

KANYE WORKING ON NEW ALBUM
Kanye West has revealed that he is working on a new album, which will see him return to rapping after experimenting with singing and drenching his vocals in Auto-tune on last year's '808s & Heartbreaks'. He also compared himself to Michael Jackson and basketball player Michael Jordan and used the word "awes-mazing" at the same time.

Speaking to MTV, West said: "As far as rapping goes, how can I say this? Jordan, Michael Jackson - it's what I do. It's time for me to bust another rap album. [My] lyrics right now, they're awes-mazing. They're basically untouchable. I'm about to take it to a whole other level. I'd be scared if I was not me".

back to top

--------------------------------------------------

DIZZEE AND CALVIN TOGETHER AGAIN
Dizzee Rascal has confirmed that the follow-up to his current single, the Armand Van Helden-produced 'Bonkers', will be a second collaboration with Calvin Harris. The last time they worked together, on 'Dance Wiv Me', they produced a number one, of course.

The single, entitled 'Holiday', will feature on Dizzee's forthcoming new album, 'Tongue N Cheek', which the rapper says will be a fairly light-hearted affair. He told the BBC: "'Tongue N Cheek' is me being a bit cheeky. The theme of it is naughty but nice. Just celebrating the good things in life".

back to top

MONKEYS ANNOUNCE ALBUM RELEASE DATE AND SONGS
The third album from Arctic Monkeys will be released on 24 Aug. Look, it even has songs on it that have names:

My Propeller
Crying Lightning
Dangerous Animals
Secret Door
Potion Approaching
Fire And The Thud
Cornerstone
Dance Little Liar
Pretty Visitors
The Jeweller's Hands

back to top

WEILAND RESPONDS TO NEWS OF ESTRANGED WIFE'S TELL ALL
Scott Weiland has responded to the news that his estranged wife Mary Forsburg is to publish a tell-all book, 'Fall To Pieces', about her life with him. He hasn't read the book, and doesn't seem to be looking forward to its publication, but urges fans not to assume too much about what she's planning to reveal.

The Stone Temple Pilot said in a statement: "What I want everyone to know [is] that [the book] has nothing to do with infidelity. Neither the divorce nor the book. Please don't place the red letter upon my children's mother. My love for [Forsburg] will never end. We just forgot how to be friends. She has now chosen a public career and one that brings both accolades and public scrutiny. There will be more of this sort of thing to deal with as time goes by... both good and bad. Divorce is hell, I remember it well and we deal with it every day. And, if you think about it, we both have our 'what-ifs' and 'why-nots...' All I ask is to not see her cry".

The new book has been described as a "visceral rollercoaster ride inside bipolar disorder, rock 'n' roll, celebrity culture, and the competitive world of modelling from a rock star wife and recovering drug addict".

back to top

THE ENEMY ANNOUNCE TOUR
The Enemy have announced a new set of tour dates for the autumn. The band, who are, as previously reported, supporting on Oasis's stadium tour, are also to play Somerset House on 10 Jul.

Here are the new dates:

8 Nov: Liverpool University
10 Nov: Edinburgh Corn Exchange
11 Nov: Glasgow O2 Academy
12 Nov: Sheffield O2 Academy
15 Nov: Newcastle O2 Academy
16 Nov: Leeds O2 Academy
17 Nov: Lincoln Engine Shed
19 Nov: London HMV Forum
22 Nov: Folkestone Leas Cliff
24 Nov: Portsmouth Guildhall
26 Nov: Birmingham O2 Academy
27 Nov: Leamington Assembly
29 Nov: Manchester Apollo

back to top

FESTIVAL LINE UP UPDATE:

HARD ROCK CALLING, Hyde Park, London, 26-28 Jun: The Magic Numbers have been confirmed to play Hard Rock Calling this month, along with Johnny Flynn, Mumford And Sons and Priscilla Ahn. The Killers, Neil Young and Bruce Springsteen are all set to headline. www.hardrockcalling.co.uk

GUILFEST, Stoke Park, Guilford, Surrey, 10-12 Jul: Transglobal Underground, Florence Rawlings, Hundred Reasons, You Me At Six and Jersey Budd are the latest acts announced for this year's Guilfest, joining previously announced headliners Motorhead, Brian Wilson and The Happy Mondays. www.guilfest.co.uk

back to top

ALBUM REVIEW: Let's Wrestle - In The Court Of The Wrestling Let's (Stolen Recordings)
I suppose that being a bit ham-fisted and, well, weird, has always been part of the charm and attraction of punk-inspired indie mentalists Let's Wrestle. Coming at us full speed with their much anticipated debut LP, 'In The Court Of The Wrestling Let's', the London-based trio have gone for a wider approach in sound than what was originally anticipated. Rather than creating another run-of-the-mill punk-influenced indie record, they have drawn in inspiration from the romance of Buddy Holly and the innovation of Pink Floyd, mixing these sounds in with their roots to create something that floats somewhere between the pleasant tenderness of Noah And The Whale and the offbeat madness of Dananananaykroyd. Nevertheless, the classic punk sound can still be found on title track, 'We Are The Men You'll Grow To Love Soon' and 'Insects', where the band ultimately stay true to form and what they love, adopting and nurturing the classic Britishness of music created by their predecessors The Buzzcocks and The Jam. 'In The Court Of The Wrestling Let's' was never going to be a straight-forward record - and Let's Wrestle are certainly not a straight-forward band. It's messy, changeable and a bit odd - but that's what makes it so bloody good. TW
Release Date: 29 Jun
Press Contact: Stolen Recordings IH [all]

Buy from iTunes
Buy from Amazon

back to top

POSSIBLE FUTURE PM ADDRESSES PPL AGM
Possible future Prime Minister (who knows, maybe by next month) Alan Johnson yesterday told the Annual General Meeting of recording rights collecting society PPL that he thought "people now see the need for regulation" when it comes to internet issues, including protecting copyrights, though, like most of his government colleagues, he was rather vague on what that regulation might be.

With the government's 'Digital Britain' report, the final version of which is due out next week, expected to say very little on the issue of combating the illegal sharing of content online, except that something really ought to be done, some audience members asked Johnson how he would tackle the problem if he were, say, to suddenly become PM. In a light hearted exchange the current Health Minister dodged the question by saying a tea party at Number 10 to discuss the issue would be a first priority.

Away from the tricky issues of combating internet piracy, Johnson reaffirmed that the government see the creative industries as being key to the future success of the UK - in fact it seems at times like ministers expect the entire population to be employed making music or staging plays or constructing works of art out of milk bottles. According to Music Week, Johnson concluded: "If we are looking to emerge from the current economic problems, the creative industries are something the economy will depend on. [For this reason] you need a strong voice. You haven't historically had political influence, but you are getting it now. You have to be able to punch your weight with lobbying".

back to top

--------------------------------------------------

FORMER VIRGIN GM LATEST EMI EXEC TO JUMP SHIP
Former Virgin Records General Manger Mark Terry is the latest senior exec to jump the good ship EMI. Following the major restructuring at EMI post Terra Firma's acquisition of the record company, Terry moved from his role at the top of the Virgin UK division to become SVP Marketing for all of EMI Music UK and Ireland, and was also a member of the major's 'global marketing leadership team'. A spokesman for the major confirmed Terry was departing yesterday. The UK marketing team will now report directly into the major's European marketing boss Bart Cools.

back to top

--------------------------------------------------

EBAY WANT RIGHTS HOLDERS TO HELP IT BATTLE BOOTLEGGERS
eBay might not be so keen on working with the live sector to stop the use of the auction website by touts to resell gig tickets for significant profits, but they are keen to collaborate with the record industry to stop dodgy sellers from using the eBay platform to flog pirated CDs.

The web firm have launched a new campaign called 'Fighting Fakes With eBay', and hope to use it to promote their Verified Rights Owner (or VeRO) programme, which gives rights owners a platform through which to alert eBay bosses to any sales with infringe their copyrights.

On their mission to tackle the sale of bootlegged CDs and DVDs, Music Week quote eBay's European Senior VP Doug McCallum as follows: "Counterfeiters' sophistication keeps increasing, making it ever harder to differentiate a genuine item from a fake. We invest millions of dollars annually to prevent potential counterfeits from appearing and millions more removing from our sites the few that slip through. Clearly, as we do not have the expertise to assess the authenticity of every branded product, we are unable to tackle the problem alone".

He continues: "The fight against counterfeits requires a coordinated and global approach - with governments, rights owners, law enforcement and industry working together to combat the issue. We hope this latest anti-counterfeit initiative will raise awareness and put the VeRO programme and the support it offers, front of mind with rights owners".

back to top

BEATLES GAME TRAILER ONLINE
The GameTrailers website has put a trailer online for the increasingly hyped 'Rock Band: The Beatles' video game and if you want to watch an animated and slightly stretched Fab Four relive their career in three minutes, accompanied by a few of their hits and an elephant (but no walrus) then go to this URL. As previously reported, the Beatles edition of the pretend-to-play game will be released on 9 Sep.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ftej190O4U

back to top

--------------------------------------------------

ERICCSON LAUNCH OWN MOBILE MUSIC SHOW
Sony Ericsson is launching its own music-based entertainment programme which can be watched on your phone or online via a YouTube channel. The show, called Pocket TV, includes mini-sessions and band interviews, and week one includes an acoustic session from Hockey and interviews with N-Dubz and Florence and the Machine. The programme has been developed by JA Digital in collaboration with marketing agency Iris Experience.

back to top

--------------------------------------------------

YOUTUBE LAUNCH LARGE SCREEN SERVICE
YouTube has this week launched a new version of its website designed specifically for TV screens and larger computer monitors. 'YouTube XL' is essentially a cleaner-looking version of the standard YouTube site (although it may become less so if and when it starts carrying adverts) and will, apparently, work on almost any device that can run a web browser and connect to a TV, which includes games consoles like Sony's PS3 and Nintendo's Wii.

Check it out here: www.youtube.com/xl

back to top

MEDIA BUYING AGENCY PREDICTS MAGAZINE AND NEWSPAPER CLOSURES
So, if you thought the music business was in a state of disarray, sit back and relax and enjoy finding out the media is in a much worse position. Or at least that's what the media-buying operation of advertising industry giant WPP reckons. Group M says that ad spend with print media will decline even more than expected this year, leading to some smaller titles losing their share of the advertising pound completely. The result, the agency says, is that dozens of magazines and newspapers, some "household names", could fall of the proverbial cliff.

Group M's predictions differ from previous commentaries which predicted the advertising recession would reach its trough this summer, enabling the sector to recover a little in the latter half of the year. But the WPP division reckon national newspapers will see their ad revenues fall 18.6% for the whole of 2009, while regional newspapers will see ad monies fall a massive 32%. Consumer mag income with be 20% down.

Group M futures director Adam Smith told reporters: "No previous ad recession has put household media names at risk like this one has, from local newspapers to high-street magazines to national TV channels. Advertiser demand is set to remain weak this summer so it is possible mergers, restructures and closures will accelerate as we move into the fourth quarter".

It doesn't help, Group M add, that the ad slump has come as paper prices have risen, and as media companies need to continue to fund loss-leader online activity to ensure long term success. The result, they reckon, is that smaller and weaker media firms may hit the wall, meaning that the big boys who can better weather the storm, like Rupert Murdoch's News International, will become stronger long term. Which is a lovely thought.

Group M's report follows a recent survey by InPublishing which found magazine owners generally optimistic that business would start to pick up again later in the year, though that report did find that some of the publishers surveyed were optimistic partly because they expected some competitors to go out of business, giving them a bigger share of the market.

back to top

--------------------------------------------------

R&R CLOSES DOWN
Talking of magazines going to the wall, it seems that the US music industry trade mag that tracks and reports on US music radio - R&R, or Radio & Records - has ceased publishing. Originally launched in 1973, R&R became a sister magazine to the US industry's primary trade mag Billboard in 2006, when it was acquired by Billboard publishers VNU (now Neilsen Business Media) and merged with their existing competing title Billboard Radio Monitor.

Reports that the magazine and its accompanying online services would close, and its 40 strong staff be made redundant, first circulated earlier this week, and yesterday the R&R website went offline, with a message reading: "We'd like to thank you for supporting R&R, and hope that you will continue to follow the brand through Billboard". Readers are then forwarded to the Billboard website. It's not yet clear if Billboard will now incorporate aspects of R&R, in print or online.

back to top

--------------------------------------------------

SUBSCRIPTION BASED SUNDAY TIMES WEBSITE IN DEVELOPMENT
The Sunday Times is rumoured to be planning to launch its own website - ie separate from the main Times website - which would charge users for access to content. Details of how the subscription service would work, and what it would offer to entice users to pay, are not yet clear, though it's thought subscribers to the print edition would get free access. The rumours follow recent comments by Times owner Rupert Murdoch to the effect that the free-content internet is unsustainable and subscription models, similar to that relatively successfully developed by one of the media mogul's more recent acquisitions, the Wall Street Journal, just had to be developed to make the media business model viable. Bosses at the paper have refused to comment on the rumours.

back to top

--------------------------------------------------

PCC WARN PAPERS OFF BOYLE HEALTH STORIES
The Press Complaints Commission has warned newspaper editors to not breach the privacy of Susan Boyle by reporting details of any health problems. The newspaper industry's own regulatory body emailed editors at all major titles earlier this week reminding them of their code of practice on issues like this at the request of Simon Cowell's SyCo company, who are currently representing the 'Britain's Got Talent' runner up ahead of plans for her to release an album.

According to the Guardian, the email read: "We have been contacted by the media representative of Susan Boyle, who recently appeared on the programme 'Britain's Got Talent'. [They are] concerned about the publication of details about Ms Boyle's health and treatment. [They have] referred to clause 3 (privacy) of the code and asked the PCC to pass on [their] concerns so that editors can take them into consideration for the future".

Boyle, of course, is currently in The Priory rehab clinic after the media hype surrounding her participation in the TV talent show left her stressed and exhausted. The government's Culture Minister Andy Burnham earlier this week said he thought TV producers have a duty of care over members of the public that their shows catapult to overnight superstardom, in particular protecting them from excessive press intrustion.

In related news, media regulator OfCom said that while they had received 350 complaints about last weekend's editions of 'BGT', only 20 were concerned with the treatment of Boyle by the TV show. The rest were about ten year old Hollie Steel, who broke down in tears during Friday night's live semi-final. Though, before you think that means there are 330 very caring people out there, please note that while 50 questioned the ethics of having crying children on prime time TV shows, 280 were complaining that Cowell gave her a second chance to perform after the tears had been shed which, the complainers said, was just unfair. Yeah, Cowell, you're meant to be evil remember, less of this sympathising with crying children please.

back to top

--------------------------------------------------

BBC WASTES MORE CASH MAKING RADIO VISUAL
And they say the BBC is chronically over-funded. The BBC has announced another trial of its "radio visualisation" platform, which, erm, lets you watch radio shows being recorded. That's TV isn't it? Isn't the point of radio that you don't have to watch anything? See, give a techie money, and he'll find some stupid way to spend it.

To be fair, it's not just studio webcam footage that can be accessed via the "glanceable" content service - photos, now playing info and news headlines will also be available. Which is good news - I mean, how have we all managed to enjoy radio services previously without the photos? It's a wonder the medium ever took off.

Commenting on the latest trial, Mark Friend, head of the BBC's Quick, Spend That Licence Cash On Something, Anything Really, Before They Take It Away department, told reporters: "The visualisation console is about enriching the digital listening experience. More people are consuming radio on different platforms and on devices that have screens. Just as DAB listeners might glance at their screen to see what track is playing or what DJ is coming up next, the visualisation console experiments with putting all of our glanceable content in a single place in order to create a richer user experience. I look forward to what we can learn from this trial and being able to share findings with the wider radio industry".

back to top

THIS WEEK'S SUB.TV PLAYLIST
These, in case you wondered, are the videos being played on the Sub.tv network of screens in students' unions around the UK this week. New entries marked with a *. More info from DavidLloyd@sub.tv

A-List
Dizzee Rascal & Armand Van Helden - Bonkers
Eminem - We Made You
Enter Shikari - Juggernauts
The Fray - Never Say Never
Green Day - Know Your Enemy
Kasabian - Fire
Kings Of Leon - Notion
Lenka - The Show
Little Boots - New In Town
Noisettes - Never Forget You
Paloma Faith - Stone Cold Sober
The Prodigy - Warrior's Dance
The Veronicas - Untouched

B List
The Enemy - Sing When You're In Love
Florence And The Machine - Rabbit Heart (Raise It Up)
Freemasons feat Sophie Ellis-Bextor - Heartbreak (Make Me A Dancer)
Hockey - Learn To Lose
The Joy Formidable - Whirring
Kevin Rudolf - Welcome To The World
Kissy Sell Out - This Kiss
Lazee feat Neverstore - Hold On
Metric - Sick Muse
Nickelback - If Today Was Your Last Day
Passion Pit - The Reeling
The Rumble Strips - Not The Only Person
Steel Panther - Death To All But Metal
VV Brown - Shark In The Water
The Yeah You's - 15 Minutes

Tip List
The Chapman Family - Kids
Gallows - London Is The Reason
Grizzly Bear - Two Weeks
Kill It Kid - Send Me An Angel Down
Lethal Bizzle - Go Hard
Lissy Trullie - Boy Boy
Matt And Kim - Lessons Learned
Melanie Fiona - Give It To Me Right
N.A.S.A feat Kanye West, Santigold & Lykke Li - Gifted
The Phantom Band - The Howling
Placebo - For What It's Worth
Professor Green - Hard Night Out
Stevie Hoang - Addicted

back to top

TAKE THAT AND PISS OFF
Thousands of people will flock to see Take That when they head out on tour later this week. Presumably none of them will be travelling from the village of Cardington in Bedfordshire, though. The group have been rehearsing for their live shows in a nearby hanger and residents have apparently heard enough already.

One local told The Daily Star: "Take That might think that they sound fantastic but just try telling that to my seven-month-old daughter. We live in Cardington Village, and it's just too loud. Some days we have a real problem getting her to sleep because of the noise from the hanger. They seem to be practising constantly. Of course, they think most of the sound stays within the aircraft hanger but I can assure you it travels. You have to remember they are getting ready to play stadium gigs so you can just imagine the volume at which they are belting their songs out. Some days it has sounded like we are having our very own Take That gig. I'm just glad they seem to have moved on now".

back to top

--------------------------------------------------

DITTO TAKES SHOT AT PERRY, PERRY SHOOTS BACK
Gossip singer Beth Ditto has criticised Katy Perry for her pretend-lesbian single 'I Kissed A Girl', describing the track as a "boner dyke anthem for straight girls who like to turn guys on by making out or, like, faking gay", when speaking to Attitude magazine. She's also quoted as saying: "I hate Katy Perry! She's offensive to gay culture, I'm so offended. She's just riding on the backs of our culture without having to pay any of the dues and not being actually lesbian or anything at all".

Asked for a response by thelondonpaper, Perry commented: "I heard that she said something about me. I don't want to get into a slanging war with anybody so I don't want to say anything bad about her. But I'm not impressed. I've learnt in the past year that one artist should never insult another artist's music - it's tacky. And with me, it always comes back to bite me on the ass!"

I'm not sure that it was the music Ditto was complaining about, really. But whatever.

back to top

--------------------------------------------------

PHIL SPECTOR FAKER ADMITS TWITTER FEED NOT REAL DEAL
Well, it was fun while it lasted. Which wasn't very long. A Twitter user pretending to be Phil Spector admitted that he wasn't the real deal yesterday after some media reported that the convicted producer was somehow Tweeting from prison. Launching the Spector Twitter feed just as the legendary producer was sentenced to 19 years in jail for the murder of actress Lana Clarkson in 2003, the pretender posted a serious of rambling posts, some referencing Spector quotes from the past, and many focusing on his new friendship with a cockroach named Wilson. But yesterday the imposter posted: "I am NOT Phil Spector. I made this account as a joke. Befriending a cockroach? C'mon folks... even Phil's not that crazy". Concluding his week tweeting as Spector, the mysterious tweeter remarked: "I even fooled many media outlets. It was fun but I feel it has ran it's course". Unfortunately the faker has now deleted the account so you can't go and relive the glory of that week of made up Spectorisms.

back to top