LABEL MANAGER: Music Industry all rounder to look after the day to day running of two small but expanding independent labels - one rock and metal based and the other electronica. Duties would include liasing with Uk and European distributors, production, handling the 2 label online stores and other various duties involved with the running of small labels.

NEW TECHNOLOGY, WEB AND ONLINE SPECIALIST: An experienced individual looking to expand their responsibilities in the mobile, digital and new technology sphere with an aim to setting up their own department, working across film, music and fashion. Experience of licensing and synchronisation an advantage.

WORK EXPERIENCE: We are looking for young and enthusiastic people to help out at Visible Noise across press, promo, online. Please note these positions are unpaid and would require availability of at least 3 days a week.

PLEASE SEND CVS AND COVERING EMAIL TO: [email protected] by 13 Oct.

--

Advertise your jobs here: £100 for five editions - [email protected]

--

FILM PRODUCTION STUDIO TO RENT IN SHOREDITCH
A fully equipped film production studio in the heart of Shoreditch. An ideal temporary studio to meet all your freelance and overspill needs, with access to 2 cameras (Z1E and HC1E) with 2 sound kits, an HD edit suite with FCP Studio 2, HD deck, HD monitor and sound station. Full specs available on request. Includes a working space for up to four people. The space with production and post-production equipment is £200 per day, minimum hire of three days; 7 days is charged at 5 days. Discounts available for hire of 4 weeks plus. Please contact [email protected] or 07809601366.

--

Advertise your stuff here: £120 for five editions - [email protected]

MOS COVERMOUNT ROBBIE
Although the Mail On Sunday recently said it was moving away from covermounts, presumably when someone comes knocking with a Robbie Williams hits CD you don't say no.

This weekend the Sunday paper will include a special free CD which will include twelve Robbie hits ('Angels', 'Rock DJ', 'Let Me Entertain You' etc) and a multi-media element designed to plug the Robster's new long player, 'Reality Killed the Video Star', which is out next month I do believe.

The multi-media player has been created by a company called Music Technology, and uses a platform they call completemyartist. As well as some 30-second clips of tracks off 'Reality Killed...', and the video to the first single off the long player, 'Bodies', there will be this little widget thing that provides playlists compiled by Robbie including both his own music and music by artists he admires. Somehow the widget checks what music is already on a user's computer and recommends which tracks they might want to play, and other tracks they might want to buy. Or something like that, I don't really get it. I'm sure it will be lovely.

Confirming the tie up, the top marketing bod at MoS publishers Associated Newspapers said this: "The Mail On Sunday has been breaking new ground in the music industry for a long time and our latest project with Robbie Williams this weekend is another world exclusive. Our previous activity has broken new acts, rejuvenated interest in existing bands and driven retail transactions by showcasing great content to Mail On Sunday customers. Our latest project with Robbie Williams and completemyartist is embracing the capability of the digital environment and passing that benefit onto our customers".

Music Technology man Andy Dean added: "This is about music specialists; people who can act as your trusted guide and help you navigate through your existing music collection to help you discover what other music would appeal to you. We all ask our friends what they are listening to, but wouldn't we love to know what our favourite artists would listen to or choose from our own collection? Now we can".

Robbie manager Tim Clark concluded thus: "There is no better way of exploring a great catalogue of songs written and performed by the brilliant master Robbie Williams himself".

Elsewhere in Robbie news, it's been announced that Williams' first live show in the UK for three years - that's his Electric Proms gig in London later this month - will simultaneously be broadcast in high definition in around 200 cinemas around Europe. Audiences in South Africa and Australia are also expected to be able to watch the show later this year.

Announcing the cinema screenings, Williams said: "It's very exciting to think that a one-off performance I play in London can be seen simultaneously by people all across the world".

back to top

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

PUBLIC ENEMY SIGN UP TO SELLABAND
Our old friend, former CMU columnist Chuck D has become the latest advocate of the fan-funding model, announcing that the next Public Enemy album will be funded via the SellaBand.com website.

SellaBand.com is, of course, in the same territory as SliceThePie and Bandstocks, all of which provide a platform whereby fans can contribute cash towards an artist's album project at the outset. Depending on the artists, and the fan-funding platform they use, those fans who contribute receive various things in return for their investment, including some sort of priority access to the music created, either in download or physical form. Public Enemy is the first established act to use SellaBand to raise funds.

The idea of SellaBand et al is, of course, that they provide an alternative route to funding for artists who need upfront cash to pay for an album project. Such funding would traditionally come from a record label. The theory is that by raising monies through the fan community artists have more creative freedom, and retain some or complete ownership of the copyrights they create.

Bigging up SellaBand, Chuck told reporters: "SellaBand's financial engine model goes about restructuring the music business in reverse. It starts with fans first, then the artists create from there. The music business is built on searching for fans and this is a brand new way for acts to create a new album with fans first, already on board".

As well as being by far their biggest artist to date, the Public Enemy project also marks SellaBand's real arrival in the US music scene. The company's CEO, Johan Vosmeijer, told CMU: "Our goal is to empower the artist and their fans, both creatively and commercially. Working with Public Enemy is an incredibly exciting way to take the European success we've built over the past three years and offer it to stateside bands".

Chuck D has, of course, been something of an innovator in the music business for years now, and was one of the first advocates of web-based music ventures, and of making music available in DRM-free MP3. Basically, Chuck D is great.

back to top

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

POTENTIALLY LANDMARK FILE-SHARING CASE REACHES AUSSIE COURT
This, I reckon, is quite interesting - despite the fact it comes from CMU's copyright litigation file. A court case has kicked off in Australia in which a coalition of film and TV companies are suing an internet service provider for failing to stop their customers from file-sharing. It's an interesting new approach in trying to force net firms to take on a more proactive role in policing online piracy. Rather than lobbying politicians to introduce new laws to make ISPs liable, in some way, for file-sharing, the Australian film industry is arguing that net companies are already liable under existing Aussie copyright rules.

The coalition of content owners, under the Australian Federation Against Copyright Theft banner, allege that Perth-based iiNet is basically guilty of so called authorising (or contributory) copyright infringement for knowingly ignoring mass amounts of illegal file-sharing undertaken by its customers on its servers.

AFACT say they hired investigators who set up iiNet internet accounts and used them to share film content online. The claimants say they let iiNet know monthly about the infringement being conducted by the two investigators, but that the net firm failed to do anything about it. Even though their own terms and conditions say customers must not access illegal content, and therefore said customers could be disconnected as a result of being in breach of contract.

It's an interesting case, because it potentially expands the concept of authorising infringement to internet service providers. It was that legal concept - or variations thereof - that were successfully used in litigation against Napster and Grokster in the US, Kazaa back in Australia, and The Pirate Bay in Sweden.

However, authorising infringement as a concept generally relies on case law for precedent - ie actual copyright law says very little about it - and courts have generally been nervous about extending liability to any technology companies whose products or services have and are primarily marketed for their legitimate uses, even if some or many people use said products and services to infringe.

Most legal experts doubt ISPs could or would be held liable for their customers' copyright infringement under most current copyright systems, which is why European movie and music companies are lobbying for laws that specifically oblige ISPs to play a role in policing piracy.

But it remains to be seen what the Australian courts make of AFACT's claims. iiNet are expected to say there are all sorts of privacy issues which prevent the net firm from tracking a user's file-sharing activity, which is a common defence used by ISPs when they are accused of doing too little to combat piracy. I suspect they will also talk about "flood gates" - if you make ISPs liable for file-sharing where does it stop?

The net firm's MD says he is confident his company will win the court case. He told reporters: "I am proud of iiNet's long and strong record of being a good corporate citizen and an even better 'copyright citizen'. I welcome the commencement of the court proceedings and look forward to clearing our name".

Even if the Australian courts do find in favour of the film companies, it is debatable whether that would set any precedent elsewhere in the world. It wouldn't in America, where the Digital Millennium Copyright Act specifically provides protection for ISPs in this regard. In Europe, where copyright legislation isn't very web compliant, it could be an option - though lobbying politicians for the addition of a clear three-strikes system on the statute book is probably a stronger option, despite the controversies surrounding the proposals.

Of course whether any of this will actually have a major impact on file-sharing - ie even if ISPs are forced to suspend or disconnect file-sharers through new laws or court victories, will that actually stop serial file-shares from file-sharing? - well, that's another debate entirely.

back to top

GUNS N ROSES SUED BY INDIE LABELS
British label Independiente and the US arm of Domino have launched a lawsuit against Universal's Interscope-Geffen-A&M division, claiming that one of their artists, Guns N Roses, used samples taken from two songs by rather fine German musician Ulrich Schnauss, who is represented by the two indies, without permission.

Portions of Schnauss' 'Wherever You Are' and 'A Strangely Isolate Place' reportedly appear on GNR's 'Riad N The Bedouins', a track on last year's 'Chinese Democracy' album.

Independiente and Domino are seeking $1 million in damages in relation to the infringements, which, unlike most lawsuits of this type, would not significant raise the overall cost of the entire album.

In what could be seen as an admission of albeit unknowing guilt, GNR manager and Ticketmaster boss Irving Azoff responded to the lawsuit thus: "The band believed when the record came out and still believes that there are no unauthorised samples on the track. The snippets of 'ambient noise' in question were provided by a member of the album's production team who has assured us that these few seconds of sound were obtained legitimately. Artists these days can't read the minds of those they collaborate with and therefore are unfortunately vulnerable to claims like this one. While the band resents the implication that they would ever use another artist's work improperly and are assessing possible counterclaims, they are confident this situation will be satisfactorily resolved".

However, the plaintiffs' lawyer was keen to stress that even if Azoff, Axl and co were unaware of the infringement, that's no excuse. He told Rolling Stone: "The band and the record company are ultimately responsible for copyright infringement. I can tell you that there is no paper trail authorising the use of these songs and nobody from the plaintiff's side authorised the use of this song".

As previously reported, 'Chinese Democracy' took seventeen years to make and is rumoured to have cost over $13 million to record. However, despite a great deal of hype around its eventual release, including a pre-release stream on MySpace which saw the website serving 25 track plays per second at its peak, the album received poor reviews and suffered from relatively low sales worldwide.

back to top

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

MAIL SETTLES WITH MADONNA OVER WEDDING SHOTS
Back to the Mail On Sunday, and the Sunday paper has done a deal with Madonna too, though this one isn't about any new fangled covermount promotion. Rather the newspaper has settled its dispute with Madge in relation to those photos of her wedding to Guy Ritchie which it published last October.

As previously reported, the MoS published the photos of Madonna and Guy's 2000 wedding last Autumn, after the couple had divorced. At the time of their marriage the pop star and her film director other half went to great lengths to keep the ceremony out of the public eye. The photos the MoS published were the couple's private shots, which had been sneakily copied in 2003 by an interior designer who was working at the couple's home.

Madonna sued, accusing the paper of breaching the couple's privacy and infringing their copyrights. Her legal rep stressed the lengths the couple had gone to in order to keep the wedding private, the dodgy circumstances that had led to the paper acquiring the photos, and the fact the tabloid waited until the couple were in the news as a result of their divorce before printing them. All in all, the Mail didn't really have much of a case for defending themselves.

Which is presumably why they settled yesterday. The settlement was confirmed in the High Court, without Madonna herself being present. The damages payment the Mail will pay was not disclosed but is said to be "substantial". She will donate the cash to her Raising Malawi charity.

back to top

EVILE BASSIST DIES
Earache-signed thrash metallers Evile have announced that their bassist Mike Alexander has died after suffering a brain hemorrhage while on tour in Sweden.

Paying tribute to their bandmate, the rest of the band said in a statement: "This is so hard to find the words to express fully how we feel. We can't believe or accept what's happened. One minute we're talking to our buddy, Mike, the next minute we can never speak to him again. There's so many things rushing through our heads that we want to say, do and feel. We half expect him to come round the corner and call us 'dickheads'. We can't get our heads around it".

They continued: "It upsets us so much that he was away from his family when this happened, although knowing Mike, we're at least glad he was on tour doing what he loves. We're lost for words. We all miss him so much already. He was such a headstrong, genuinely nice guy who loved music and his family. We've got so many brilliant memories with him. Our hearts go out to his daughter, family and friends at this tragic, difficult time. Mike is much loved and is sorely missed. Rest in peace, brother".

London-born Alexander started collaborating with Evile bandmates Matt Drake and Ben Carter in 2000. They formed Evile in 2004, self-releasing their debut EP the same year. They signed to Earache in 2006, and released their second album for the label just last month. It seems that Alexander had been in good health before being taken ill suddenly while on tour in Sweden.

back to top

JAY REATARD'S BAND QUITS
US indie rocker Jay Reatard's live band, bassist Stephen Pope and drummer Billy Hayes, have handed in their notice ahead of US and European live dates due to begin later this month. Reatard is now attempting to recruit new musicians in order to play the shows.

Announcing Pope and Hayes' departure via Twitter, Reatard said: "Band quit! Fuck them! They are boring rich kids who can't play for shit anyways. Say hello to your ugly and boring wives, oops, I mean lives, guys. Suck it".

back to top

LADYHAWKE ANNOUNCES NEW SINGLE
Can Ladyhawke really be releasing another single from her debut album? Yes. Yes she can. And she is. Even though that album came out so long ago that there is now a whole generation of children who are too young to remember it.

But anyway, she'll be releasing 'Magic' on 26 Oct via Modular. It'll be a download-only affair, with remixes of the track from Donnie Sloan, Classixx, The Swiss and Burns.

Check out the Shelly Love-directed video for the track here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=9fIDmPFd95o

back to top

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

CONVERGE OUT LEAKER
CMU favourites Converge have outed the person they reckon leaked their new album, 'Axe To Fall', ahead of its release later this month. On Monday, the band posted on their Twitter and Facebook profiles the message, "Special thanks to SHAUN HAND at Metal Sucks for leaking our album", and then urged fans to repost it on their own accounts.

The metal website in question quickly offered its own statement via Twitter, which read: "We are HORRIFIED and are investigating right now. If Shaun is really responsible, he will be dealt with swiftly".

back to top

DAFT PUNK TO GUEST IN TRON REMAKE
Daft Punk are reportedly set to make a guest appearance in Disney's remake of sci-fi movie 'Tron', a rather questionable movie rework to which the French duo will also provide the soundtrack. The film is due out for Christmas 2010. Look at the bright side, the world might have ended by then.

back to top

NEW SUGABABES PULL OUT OF FIRST GIG
The Sugababes have pulled out of what would have been their first performance with their new line-up, blaming "legal issues". The group had been due to headline the Scottish Royal Variety Performance at Glasgow's Royal Concert Hall tomorrow.

A statement on the band's website reads: "Following the recent and well documented change of line-up to Sugababes, there are a number of legal issues to be finalised by all parties in order that the band can move forward. [The band would like to] extend their most sincere and personal apologies for the inevitable inconvenience and disappointment that this decision will bring to the organisers and producers of the show".

Their manager, Mark Hargreaves told the BBC: "This was indeed an unavoidable decision of a contractual nature but I am delighted to confirm that all other band engagements are due to resume next week when it will be business as usual for Sugababes".

back to top

STONES TIPPED FOR GLASTO
The Rolling Stones are currently the bookies' favourite to headline next year's Glastonbury. The band currently have odds of 4/1 from William Hill to play the Sunday night at the festival's 40th anniversary. Coldplay and David Bowie follow with odds of 8/1, while Muse are at 10/1. Oasis and Take That are currently bringing up the rear with odds of 33/1, which is pretty good going considering one of them has split up.

A spokesman for William Hill told reporters: "We have lost a few quid on the headline act for two years running and it will be interesting to see if punters get it right again".

back to top

MMF HOST CREATIVE SERVICES SEMINAR
The Music Managers' Forum will next week stage a seminar and networking session on all things creative - so videos and graphic design. Three creative services suppliers will present, then there will be a discussion involving creatives and managers as to how and when management companies might want to directly hire the services of creative agencies, and the costs involved in doing so.

It all takes place on 15 Oct at the Heaven club in London at 6.30pm. It's for MMF members, though non-members may be allowed to attend if they can come up with a very good reason as to why they should. If you're interested in going drop an email to [email protected].

back to top

ALBUM REVIEW: Alix Perez - 1984 (Shogun Audio)
Belgian producer Alix Perez has been making drum n bass since 2005 and, as seems to be the fashion at the moment, draws on a wide range of other genres to complete his sound. While I'm not always a fan of this diluted (or enhanced, depending on your view) dnb sound, the title track that opens this album instantly took me in with its lush synths, beatsy but ambient, slightly aping work by Reload and friends, which is no bad thing. Elsewhere, 'I'm Free' and 'Suffer In Silence' are both highlights, with menacing, dark beats that get things down to the dancefloor, while 'Contradictions' also works well, adding a pinch of soul to the mix. However, other efforts fail to hit home, with smatterings of rap casually tossed in on tracks like 'The Cut Deepens' and 'Calm Of Cast' falling a bit flat, and downbeat numbers like 'No Grudge' not really going anywhere. The final track, 'Hemlines', starts chilled and aquatic before pacey drum n bass and moody strings take over to end the album well, but by then it's too late. All in all, '1984' is a little disappointing after such an awesome intro. There are some different moves and grooves in there, and the drum n bass, sparse as it is, is actually of a good standard. But dnb producers all seem to be aligning with hip hop, rather than house, these days, and I'm not so sure that's a good thing. PV
Physical release: 12 Oct
Press contact: Backdrop Promotions [all]

Buy from iTunes
Buy from Amazon

back to top

COKE DO BIG DEAL WITH LIVE NATION IN US
Coca-Cola is now the official drink of Live Nation-owned venues in the USA which is great news for, well, erm, no one really. Well, it's good news for Live Nation presumably, as they will surely receive one of those lovely big cheque things, which are always fun. Coke will get branding on Live Nation's buildings and websites, and exclusive pouring rights in the soft drinks space in the live music conglom's venues. The drinks brand will also give away a load of Live Nation stuff - tickets, merchandise etc - via its own My Coke Rewards marketing platform. Lovely.

back to top

EARACHE TAP INTO EMI'S DISTRIBUTION
Another metal label has confirmed a distribution deal with EMI's Label Services division. Following the news yesterday that Century Media were expanding their distribution relationship with the major, today Nottingham-based Earache have announced that EMI will be doing their distribution in Finland, Norway, Denmark and Greece. The indie already works with EMI in the US, but it's the first time they've used their services in Europe.

Confirming the new distribution deal, Earache Label Manager Dan Tobin said this: "We view the deal with EMI as a hugely positive step in making our releases available in these territories. Earache is looking to tap in to EMI's power in the marketplace to help our roster of bands achieve a greater level of success and to push the label forward generally. It's an exciting deal and one that we are very much committed to".

Michael Roe, EMI Music's Vice President of Label Services in Europe, added: "EMI and Earache Records already have a successful partnership in the US so we're very pleased to now extend this relationship into Europe. They're such an important label in metal and hard rock; with the multi-territory infrastructure and reach of EMI Label Services we can bring their music to more fans in more countries".

back to top

7DIGITAL LAUNCH IN AMERICA
Download types 7Digital yesterday announced they were expanding into the big bad United States Of America, and also launching a new download app for the BlackBerry.

The boss of the London-based digital music firm, half owned by HMV now of course, said he'd been holding off launching in the US because he wanted to arrive there with the BlackBerry partnership in place. Providing MP3 downloads to BlackBerry devices, he reckons, gives his service a USP over market leader Apple, who, of course, have no interest in servicing downloads to one of the main competitors to their own iPhone.

Speaking to Billboard, 7Digital's Ben Drury said: "We could have launched in the US earlier. But we wanted to wait for BlackBerry - launching with them on board gives us an angle, because you'll never see iTunes on a BlackBerry".

The Blackberry app will be compatible at launch with three of the firm's handsets, and will work in the US, UK, Germany and Spain.

In another move to compete with iTunes in the US market, 7Digital have also chosen to undercut the Apple service on price. It will sell MP3s for 77 cents each, and albums for $7.77, which is nice on a branding level, and also provides a USP over iTunes where, although some tracks retail at 69 cents, most are at least 99 cents.

back to top

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

KIDS ON DSP RELEASE IPHONE-ONLY ALBUM
London dance act Kids On DSP have released the world's first iPhone-only album. Released as an add-on for the RjDj app, it apparently contains "reactive music" which changes every time you listen to it. Excited? No, me neither.

There are eight tracks on the album, which they insist on calling "scenes", that are influenced to change the way they sound by external noise and movement picked up by the phone. DJs Carl Craig and Acid Paul also collaborated on the project.

back to top

NEW SALES CHIEF AT UTV RADIO
Radio company UTV Radio has announced the appointment of Julian Carter to the role of Commercial Director for local and regional advertising sales. He will head up the sales operations for UTV's local radio stations, and the regional ad sales for the company's one national station, talkSPORT.

Carter replaces Mark Wright, who has left UTV for family reasons. The new guy was previously Group Sales Director at GMG Radio, though has been working in publishing since leaving their last year.

Confirming the new appointment, UTV Director Of Local Radio Calum Macaulay said this: "Julian is highly driven and ambitious and will make an immediate and positive impact on our business. He's got a stack of media sales experience and a proven track record in driving revenue at a local, regional, and national level".

back to top

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

BRMB PLANNING A REVAMP
Birmingham pop station BRMB is about to undergo an overhaul under its new management, the result of which is that breakfast show host of nine years Elliott Webb has been let go, with his co-host Caroline Martin handed a late night talk show.

Until earlier this year BRMB was owned by GCap and its successor Global Radio, and was increasingly modeled over the years on GCap's flagship pop station, Capital Radio in London. But, as previously reported, it and several other Midlands station in the GCap portfolio had to be sold by Global as part of the Competition Commission conditions for its acquisition of its former rival.

Radio start up Orion Media, headed up by former Chrysalis Radio chief Phil Riley, acquired the mini-network of Midlands stations this summer. Bosses at Orion say they have done some research and think it is time to reinvent the Birmingham FM station. Their Director Of Programming & Marketing, David Lloyd, told reporters: "BRMB made history as the first commercial radio station in England, outside of London, with a unique and rich heritage. Having commissioned extensive research, we have begun the task of restoring it to its former glory - a station which truly belongs to Birmingham and plays its part".

Confirming his contract wasn't being renewed, Elliot told the Birmingham Mail: "It's always a shame when this sort of thing happens in the radio industry. But if you don't like the way that it works then I suppose you have to do something else. Hopefully I'll be back on the air again in this area before too long".

Elliot was axed by BRMB once before, in early 2007, but was quickly reinstated after a listener backlash - though some have speculated that, given the speed with which Elliot returned to breakfast on that occasion, his original axing may have been part of an elaborate publicity stunt to get the station some press coverage.

back to top

THIS WEEK'S SUB.TV PLAYLIST
Hey look people, it's the music videos that are playing this week on the Sub.tv network of video screens in students' unions all around the god darn United Kingdom of Great Britain and whatnot. New additions marked with a *. More info on all things Sub.tv from [email protected].

A List
Biffy Clyro - The Captain
Chipmunk - Oopsy Daisy
Cobra Starship- Good Girls Go Bad
Deadmaus - Ghosts and Stuff
Editors - Papillon
Example - Watch The Sun Come Up
Filthy Dukes - Tupac Robot Club Rock
La Roux - I'm Not Your Toy
Lady Gaga - LoveGame
Mumford And Sons - Little Lion Man
Muse - Uprising
Newton Faulkner - If This Is It
Tiesto feat Sneaky Sound System - I Will Be Here
Veronicas - 4Ever
Wild Beasts - All The Kings Men

B List
Alexandra Burke - Bad Boys*
The All-American Rejects - The Wind Blows
Asher Roth feat Keri Hilson - She Don't Wanna Man
Funeral For A Friend - Wrench
Green Day - East Jesus Nowhere
Jay Sean feat Little Wayne - Down*
JLS - Everybody In Love*
Kasabian - Underdog
Little Comets - Adultery
Lostprophets - It's Not The End of The World...*
Miike Snow - Black and Blue
Mr Hudson - White Lies*
Ou Est Le Swimming Pool - Dance The Way I Feel
The Saturdays - Forever Is Over
Snow Patrol - Just Say Yes*
Young Soul Rebels - I Got Soul

Tip List
Graham Coxon - Dead Bees*
Hollywood Undead - Everywhere I Go
In Case Of Fire - The Cleansing*
Karnivool - Set Fire To The Hive
Kids In Glass Houses - Youngblood (Let It Out)*
Kings Of Convenience - Boat Behind
Lisa Mitchell - Coin Laundry
Reverend And The Makers - No Soap (In A Dirty War)*
Saving Aimee - Fresh Since 88*
Sharam feat. Kid Cudi - She Came Along
them:youth - Halo

back to top

JAY-Z UP FOR WORKING WITH LIAM G
Jay-Z has told the Sun he'd quite like to work with Liam Gallagher, though mainly because Snoop Dogg recently expressed an interest in working with Noel.

Snoop recently told the NME that he'd quite like to sign Noel G to Priority Records, the EMI division the hip hopper is now heading up. Responding, Jay told The Sun: "I hear Snoop Dogg might be teaming up with Noel. If that's the case then I would love to work with Liam. Their music is tight and I think we could blend our styles well".

Jay-Z has sort of mocked Oasis in his live shows in recent times ever since Noel Gallagher criticised the rapper's booking for the 2008 Glastonbury Festival. Though given it was Noel G who dissed Mr Z, and given Noel/Liam relations seem to be at an all time low, Liam would probably jump at the chance of working with the hip hop man.

Calling on Liam to get in touch, Jay said he thought a collaboration between him and the Oasis frontman could result in something similar to 'Collision Course', Jay's joint album with Linkin Park.

Z: "When I teamed up with Linkin Park nobody expected that to work but we made a massive success of it. The same could happen with Liam. When you have two artists like us in a room just throwing about ideas you come up with something brilliant fairly easily. I don't know what he is up to now but he can give me a call".

Neither Liam G or Noel G have commented on Jay or Snoops calls for collaboration. Warren G has apparently called for the government to regulate such tie-ups, or something. I wasn't really listening. I'm not even sure he really is related to the Gallaghers anyway.

back to top

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

BRAND "IN LOVE" WITH PERRY
Now, I'm not saying I'm cynical about this at all, but Russell Brand recently hosted the MTV Video Music Awards and Katy Perry is hosting the MTV European Music Awards next month. It's probably got nothing to do with it, though. I don't know why I mentioned it. Sorry.

Anyway, here's the news. Russell Brand and Katy Perry are 100% in love with each other. We know this because The Sun badgered Brand as he tried to leave his house, and convinced him to say, "I think I'm in love". However, he wouldn't say anything else, instead leaving it to an unnamed source to fill in the rest of the details.

The source explained: "Russell has fancied Katy for ages and was like an excited schoolboy after they got together. He really sees her as an ideal catch and is prepared to stop seeing other girls. She knows about Russell's reputation but finds him really charming and funny. She's keen to make a go of it".

back to top