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JOIN IN THE DISCUSSION: CAN FREE ONLINE MUSIC SURVIVE AND THRIVE? |
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ONLINE MARKETING MANAGER AT ROUGH TRADE RECORDS Overseeing & creating original content such as video and other bespoke assets to promote our music. Ensuring the Rough Trade website and our audience is kept up to date with all the latest news about signings, releases, tours, interesting goings on, music, videos, sales messages. CVs + covering letters should be sent to [email protected]. Please note this position is based in our London, UK office and the deadline for submissions is 15th July. -- HEAD OF DIGITAL AT COOKING VINYL The role requires a candidate with strong experience in all facets of digital including retail, marketing, mobile, advertising and promotion. Taking the leading role in developing and expanding the department, the candidate is expected to deliver exciting and targeted campaigns for the labels growing roster of artists as well as pushing the company forward as a whole with new digital initiatives. |
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![]() POLICE CHIEF HASN'T RULED OUT FOUL PLAY IN JACKO INVESTIGATION Bratton told the news channel: "We are still awaiting corroboration from the coroner's office as to cause of death. That is going to be very dependent on the toxicology reports that are due to come back. And based on those, we will have an idea of what it is we are dealing [with]. So as we are standing here speaking, I can tell you I don't have that information". A spokesman for the coroner's office repeated that there was no sign of foul play when they did the main autopsy on the singer shortly after his death, though they have admitted that there was "some prescription medication" in the singer's system. In his CNN interview, Bratton confirmed that Jackson's use of prescription drugs, and the people who supplied him with such medication, was at the heart of their investigation into the singer's death. Therefore if there was foul play, as Bratton is still willing to believe, it is most likely it would have taken the form of deliberately supplying Jackson with the wrong kind or an excessive dose of some sort of prescription medication. The police chief confirmed reports that a search of Jackson's home shortly after his death had resulted in various prescription drugs being found. Bratton: "At the time of the death, with search warrants, we were able to seize a number of items from the residence where the death occurred and those will assist in the investigation". Police have since been talking to various doctors who worked with or treated Jackson over the years to get an idea of what medications he was taking, and on what frequency. Other people who had close access to the singer will also be questioned as part of that investigation, to get a picture of how drugs played a role in Jackson's life day to day, and an idea of who it was who supplied and administered medication to the singer. Among those set to be interviewed are his former head of British security Matt Fiddes and one of his most high profile celebrity friends, UK-based Uri Geller. Confirming he'd been approached by the police, Fiddes told the People newspaper: "Uri and I have been told we will be quizzed by detectives. We saw a lot of things and regularly met Michael's circle of doctors. We don't have anything to hide and will co-operate as best we can". Geller added: "I didn't live with Michael, but like Matt, the things I did witness were horrifying - and destroyed my hope for his future". -------------------------------------------------- LA TOYA: MICHAEL WAS MURDERED The British tab quote La Toya as saying: "Michael was murdered. And we don't think just one person was involved. Rather, it was a conspiracy of people. I feel it was all about money". La Toya claims there were sinister characters involved in Jackson's affair, who were, she alleges, trying to get access to the singer's personal fortune which, she says, despite all the debts, were worth up to a billion dollars. She adds that it was those people who got Jacko hooked on prescription drugs and those medications, she reckons, were putting her brother in great danger. She told the paper: "Michael was being inappropriately treated by people who got him hooked on drugs. I can't say who I believe is responsible as I don't want to jeopardise the police investigation. But not everybody had Michael's best interests at heart". She confirmed the family had had a second autopsy done on Michael's body, claiming she personally instigated the independent examination. Although vague about the results of the second autopsy, she said people would be "surprised" by them. She continued: "I can say newspaper reports that there was methadone in his body are inaccurate. [But] he had many needle marks on his neck and on his arms, and more about those will emerge in the next few weeks. But nothing has changed my mind that this was murder and I won't give up until I find out what killed my brother". Some reports suggest Michael was closer to La Toya than most of his other siblings, though she says the aforementioned shady characters tried to cut the singer off from his family in recent years. She also reckons they took stuff from his rented home in LA shortly after his death. "So many people had been through that house before I got there" she said. "Someone went in there and did a good job. It was very strange". -------------------------------------------------- CUSTODY HEARING FOR JACKO'S KIDS PUSHED BACK Although there have been widespread reports that Rowe, who was cut off from her children when she divorced Jackson, is keen to get custody of Prince Michael and Paris, the nurse's lawyer has been very diplomatic when talking to the press. While a court battle over custody may be in the offing, it seems both sides would rather hammer out an agreement out of court, and today's scheduled hearing was postponed at the request of both parties. Katherine Jackson's legal rep L Londell McMillan told the Associated Press: "We are pleased that the child custody hearing has been continued over until July 20th to further our progress and allow us to privately and amicably resolve this most important matter in a dignified manner for the benefit of the children first and all involved". As previously reported, while Rowe definitely gave birth to Prince Michael and Paris, TMZ have claimed neither Jackson nor Rowe were actually the two children's biological parents. Whether those claims, or the confidential agreement between Jacko and Rowe which formally gave the singer full custody, will have an impact on Rowe's case, should she push for full custody, remains to be seen. -------------------------------------------------- LA COUNCILLOR CALLS FOR REVIEW OF JACKO MEMORIAL COSTS With LA already in something of a financial crisis, all sorts of local politicians and journalists are kicking up a fuss about the cost of the big memorial bash. Presumably in a bid to placate the critics, the LA mayor's office set up a website where Jacko fans could make donations towards the city's costs related to the memorial, but most critics really want either AEG or the Jackson family to foot the bill, so they're still stressing. Now one of the city's Councilmen, Dennis Zine, has called for a review of the city's costs associated with the event, requesting a full report on policing and traffic control expenditure. He told a city meeting on Thursday that he would be suggesting to the memorial's organsiers - so AEG and the family - that they might like to "reimburse the city to replenish the public safety and other critical funds". AEG have basically said that they feel covering the costs of the event itself was a suitably grand gesture on their part, while the Jackson family have not as yet commented on the costs of the memorial event at all. There has been speculation that a DVD of the Staples Center show may be released. AEG top man Randy Phillips has admitted that that has been considered, though says any DVD release is not at the top of the music firm's agenda just at the moment, while adding that any such release would only happen with the Jackson family's agreement. But such a DVD release would presumably bring in some big bucks, so perhaps cutting the city into that project might be a way to placate those demanding LA tax payers. -------------------------------------------------- AMY WINEHOUSE BACK TO UK If it's all true about the drunkenness, and the also reported lack of productivity, it's possible that it's the singer's label who've demanded she return, given that they're reportedly the ones footing the bill for the supposedly 'working holiday', on which she was meant to be recording her new album. The aforementioned source adds: "She's lonely and wants to get back to what she knows. But she has to knuckle down. She's on a very fine line with the label and has pushed them almost as far as they will go". JANI LANE CHARGED WITH DUI FAC WIN ISP AWARD The big current issue, of course, is three-strikes, the system that would force ISPs to cut off customers who continue to illegally access music online despite receiving two written warnings. Although three-strikes is not on the British government's agenda, it is - in one form or another - still supported by many in the record label domain. FAC are one of the few music business trade body's to have openly opposed the proposals. The ISPA said they had given the award to the FAC "for recognising publicly that the focus of music companies should be the development of new business models for distributing content online rather than attempting to pass responsibility to ISPs to take action against users". FAC Chairman and Blur drummer Dave Rowntree thanked the trade body for the award, noting: "What a surprise and honour! Winning this award is fantastic. I hope this shows that artists are willing to talk with ISPs about the challenges of adapting music industry business models to the digital age. We have to work together - the status quo is not good enough". Many artists and some artist managers see internet firms - whether they be ISPs or online portals - as possible business partners, that can help them connect with fans and monetise their work. Those web companies who have struggled to reach or only reluctantly accepted deals with record companies to licence their music, which is most web companies, in turn are interested in forming direct relationships with the artist community. All of which is genuinely exciting - there are certainly lots of opportunities for artists and their managers to consider, many of which cut out the traditional record companies and in doing so shift the balance of power in the wider music industry. Though, for those artists and managers hoping deals with net firms - or brands and advertising agencies for that matter - will solve all their problems, and enable them to cut out those pesky record labels, well, as Kylie wisely said, sometimes better the devil you know. -------------------------------------------------- DJ AWARDS NOMINATIONS OUT And the nominees are... House: Laidback Luke, Erick Morillo, David Guetta, Steve Angello, Sebastian Ingrosso, Axwell, Fedde Le Grand, Bob Sinclar. Techno: Richie Hawtin, Pig & Dan, Carl Cox, Ricardo Villalobos, Cristian Varela, Umek, Sven Vath, Luciano. Trance: Ferry Corsten, Paul Oakenfold, Armin Van Buuren, Tiësto, Above & Beyond, Markus Schulz, Paul Van Dyk, Atb. Progressive House: Nick Warren, Sasha, John Digweed, John Dahlback, Hernan Cattaneo, Lee Burridge, Danny Howells, Eddie Halliwell. Electro House: Deadmau5, Benny Benassi, Sander Van Doorn, Sebastien Leger, Eric Prydz, Mark Knight, James Zabiela, Layo And Bushwack. Tech House: M.A.N.D.Y, Laurent Garnier, Funkagenda, Dubfire, Steve Lawler, Marco Carola, Radio Slave, Marco V. Minimal: Michael Mayer, Steve Bug, Matthias Tanzmann, Adam Beyer, Loco Dice, Guy Gerber, Magda, Anja Schneider. Deep House: Vincenzo, Phonique, Milton Jackson, Efdemin, Ben Watt, Charles Webster, Jimpster, Dennis Ferrer. Downtempo & Eclectic: Mixmaster Morris, Jose Padilla, Nightmares On Wax, Gilles Peterson, Jazzanova, Theivery Corporation, Rob Da Bank, DJ Ravin. Psytrance: Astrixm, Ace Ventura, Liquid Soul, GMS, Perfect Stranger, Infected Mushroom, Yahel, Skazi. Best Newcomer: Anderson Noise, Minilogue, Riktam & Bansi, Popof, Gabe, Andy Moor, Ellen Allien, Hervé. Breakthrough: Joris Voorn, Marcel Dettmann, Valentino Kanzyani, Dixon, Jamie Jones, Matthew Dear, Kaskade, Nick Curly. International DJ: Armin Van Buuren, Sander Kleinenberg, Sasha, Tiësto, David Guetta, Carl Cox, Sven Vath, Erick Morillo. Awards will also be give for outstanding and lifetime achievement, for best dance fest, and for the best night, resident, set and track of Ibiza season 2009. LIBERTINES PLOT REUNION Barat said this to The Sun last week: "Lots of people have come up to me saying a reunion would be a good idea. And I do think so too. I'd love to do it. It was a good band. I don't want to just do gigs. I want to make new material. We haven't got a date yet but it will happen if Pete stays on his current trajectory. Pete's very keen and persuasive. He rings me up and tells me he going to keep on the straight and narrow". -------------------------------------------------- WHEN IS A HOLE NOT A HOLE? He told Spin: "We have a contract. She signed a contract with me when we decided to break up the band, which was like 2002 or something, so I really don't have comment on it except that I know my part in that band. The way I look at it, there is no Hole without me. To put it blunt. Just on a business level". He's not taking any thing Love says too seriously, though. He continued: "Somebody told me and it just sounds like something... it just sounds like the usual. I love her a lot and I wish her the best, and I'm open to discussions regarding the real Hole, and if she has a solo album together, I think that's great. I think she should finish it and put it out and do that". SOUTHBANK CENTRE ANNOUNCE SUMMER HIGHLIGHTS Full details can be found at www.southbankcentre.co.uk, but here are the headliners for all the shows: 18 Jul: Queen Elizabeth Hall - United Underground -------------------------------------------------- J TILLMAN ANNOUNCES TOUR 12 Sep: End Of The Road Festival LITTLE BOOTS ADDED TO UNDERAGE LINE-UP MISTABISHI PLAYS AN HP PRINTER Check out the new HP-enabled version of the track, renamed 'Print Job', on YouTube here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=NE6331GTlEI PEREZ HILTON CONFIRMS WARNER MUSIC IMPRINT -------------------------------------------------- US APPEAL COURT REFUSES TO RULE ON CRB CONSTITUTIONALITY CLAIM Royalty Logic, a rights management agency, filed the motion as part of its appeal against the Board's aforementioned web radio royalty rates decision. Royalty Logic are opposed to a side ruling made by the Board in its consideration of the web radio royalties debate - a ruling which said that the US record industry's online collecting society, SoundExchange, should be the exclusive agency for collecting such royalties. Royalty Logic say that no one organisation should have a monopoly in this domain, and that if private companies like themselves were able to operate in the web royalty space there'd be more competition, which would most likely mean more favourable rates for web radio stations, rather than those proposed by SoundExchange and rubber stamped by the CRB (though, as previously reported, SoundExchange itself last week agreed to lower rates than those set by the Board). It was in its appeal against CRB's ruling favouring SoundExchange that Royalty Logic decided to question the constitutional status of the CRB itself. In a motion the rights agency argued that CRB judges should be appointed by the President, or the head of a department of the Federal Administration, or at least in a court of law. Because that is not currently the way it works, Royalty Logic said the Board was unconstitutional and its rulings should not, therefore, be binding. But the Appeals Court refused to rule on the motion, partly, I think, because Royalty Logic didn't file the motion as part of their original appeal but three months later. The court said in a statement: "We need not resolve the dispute. As appellees point out, Royalty Logic has forfeited its argument by failing to raise it in its opening brief". The US's National Music Publishers Association, while having its own concerns about the CRB, welcomed the Appeals Court's ruling on this matter, telling reporters: "Today's decision is a sigh of relief for the music industry, preventing what would have certainly been chaos in an already tenuous marketplace. While we are hopeful Congress will address any long term concerns regarding the Copyright Royalty Board, songwriters and music publishers are pleased the Board's recent rate decisions will remain as law". ASCAP DOUBLE-DIP WITH A BIT OF MAHALO LITIGATION It's an interesting case, though, because all the videos on the Maholo.com site are embedded YouTube videos, and as YouTube has an ASCAP licence, surely the search engine doesn't need a licence too. If they did, wouldn't that mean pretty much every blog in the world would need a licence as well? The collecting society has been keen to distinguish Maholo.com from your average blogger embedding YouTube pop videos onto their website though, telling reporters: "ASCAP does not offer licenses to - or require licenses from - those who simply make their personal blogs available on purely noncommercial websites. Mahalo.com is a larger venture than simply a personal blog, and therefore ASCAP is engaged in discussions with [owner Jason] Calacanis concerning the use of ASCAP members' music on the site". But YouTube say they don't believe any site that embeds their videos - however big, however commercial - should need an ASCAP licence, because the content is licenced on the source site. They are accusing ASCAP of 'double dipping'. A YouTube spokeswoman blogged on the issue this weekend: "We have become aware of yet another misguided effort on the part of ASCAP to double-dip - this time by pressuring third-party websites which embed YouTube videos to pay royalties to ASCAP. We believe there is no legal basis for ASCAP's position because YouTube itself is currently licensed by ASCAP pursuant to its application made under the antitrust consent decree that governs ASCAP's operations". -------------------------------------------------- EU TELCO COMMISSIONER SAYS PIRACY IS A WAKE UP CALL Speaking at an event organised by think tank The Lisbon Council, she said: "Growing internet piracy is a vote of no-confidence in existing business models and legal solutions. It should be a wake-up call for policy makers. Are there really enough attractive and consumer-friendly legal offers on the market?" She continued: "Does our present legal system for intellectual property rights really live up to the expectations of the internet generation? Have we considered all alternative options to repression? Have we really looked at the issue through the eyes of a 16 year old? Or only from the perspective of law professors who grew up in the Gutenberg Age?" Of course Reding's opinions are basically those of the industry she represents - the internet service providers - and while it is true that the content industries do need to re-evaluate their business models, and to be fair most now are, widespread internet piracy is also proof that many people will steal something rather than pay for it if they genuinely believe they can get away with it. -------------------------------------------------- CD BABY REVAMP ETAIL SITE Because of the transaction costs associated with single track downloads, the service has had to alter its commission rate on tracks sold that way via the CD Baby website, so that it will now charge 25%, though the old 9% commission will apply to sales it facilitates via other online music services like iTunes and Amazon MP3. Confirming this, an email from the CD Baby people to their customers reads: "The credit card fee we pay to our bank whenever a customer makes a purchase on cdbaby.com ranges from 27 cents (for a single) to over 50 cents (for an album or CD sale) per transaction. Clearly, at our old rate of 9% of 99 cents, we'd actually be losing money on every single download transaction. That's not a good business model. We've been praying daily that the banks would choose the philanthropic path and waive all their credit card processing fees, but alas, reality persists. And that's why the new retail fee structure is necessary". FORMER GCAP BOSS ON ITV TOP JOB SHORTLIST Hazlitt, who was at Virgin Radio before taking over at GCap, where she instigated quite a bit of restructuring before being pushed out by the Global Radio takeover, reportedly sits on an ITV shortlist alongside former BSkyB chief Tony Ball, the former boss of German media giant ProSiebenSat Guillaume de Posch, and an existing ITV exec John Cresswell. CHART UPDATE FATBOY AND ZOE PREGNANT AGAIN -------------------------------------------------- DUNCAN JAMES SAYS HE'S BISEXUAL So, that's nice. -------------------------------------------------- KINGS OF LEON DRUMMER CRITICISES AMERICA'S TASTE IN MUSIC The musician says this: "Most music gets ignored in the States unless it's hip-hop or Hannah Montana or Disney music like the Jonas Brothers. Kiddy pop or hip-hop, that's pretty much what America is. You may turn on the radio and you hear maybe one out of 10 songs that you'd consider decent. The UK is more open to all kinds of music. The fans are just insane in the UK - they are music lovers. You have kids going to shows to see the bands, not going to a show to be seen there". -------------------------------------------------- STOP IT WITH THE HALLELUJAHS, PLEASE, SAYS COHEN Cohen told The Guardian: "I was reading a review of a movie called Watchmen that uses it, and the reviewer said, 'Can we please have a moratorium on Hallelujah in movies and television shows?' and I kind of feel the same way. I think it's a good song, but too many people sing it." So, come on. Honour the man's request, singing types. |
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SUBSCRIPTIONS>> CMU Daily is a free daily e-bulletin for people working in the music industry and music media, delivered direct to your PC each morning. If you want to stop receiving this e-bulletin click the 'unsubscribe' button below and follow the instructions. If any of your colleagues want to receive the CMU Daily tell them to email their name, company, job title and email to [email protected]. If you would like to recieve the CMU Daily as a text email, send a blank email from the email address you are registered at to [email protected]. MEDIA PEOPLE>> If you are looking for an independent quote on anything to do with the music business, or you need someone to come on your TV or radio show and talk music business, then we can help. There's nothing we don't know about. Email requests to [email protected] or call 020 7099 9050. CMU is published by and (c) UnLimited Media - www.unlimitedmedia.co.uk Send news stories to [email protected]. If we don't respond directly, we do apologise, only we get sent hundreds of emails a day and don't have time to respond to every one of them. However we do check every email sent to the musicnews email address, and do pull out stories that we feel are relevant to our readers. Send CDs for review to CMU, UnLimited Media, 221-222 Shoreditch High Street, London, E1 6PJ. |
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