ACS:LAW GOES OUT OF BUSINESS
ACS:Law, the London law firm that became synonymous with sue-the-fans style anti-file-sharing litigation, has gone out of business, after its first attempts to actually take accused file-sharers to court crumbled when the judge hearing the cases immediately discovered slack procedure and circumspect legal argument.

As previously reported, ACS founder Andrew Crossley told the Patents Court last month that he was withdrawing from the whole sue-the-fans game because of harassment from the pro-file-sharing community; though the formerly bullish Crossley only seemed to have a change of heart once his legal assumptions and professional conduct were called into question in court. Most assume the actual closure of ACS:Law was motivated mainly by fears some of the 27 accused file-sharers taken to court could now sue for costs or damages given the speed with which the case against them fell apart.

Crossley has been accused by some of entering the sue-the-fans domain not to uphold the principles of intellectual property law, but to make a quick buck, based on the assumption many accused file-sharers, if sent an intimidating letter from a law firm, will pay anything between a few hundred and a few thousand pounds to make the matter go away without a court hearing. More so if, as was the case with a number of Crossley's clients, the content they are accused of illegally sharing is pornographic.

Despite those claims, Crossley insisted he was willing to take those who failed to settle, or to respond to one of his letters, to court. But when he did just that with 27 no-response cases, the judge questioned the evidence that there had been no responses, raised doubts as to whether ACS:Law's client - MediaCAT - was eligible to sue for infringement anyway, and refused to accept Crossley's arguments regards whether claims a third party had used a defendant's unprotected wi-fi network would or would not constitute a solid defence.

The question as to whether MediaCAT could sue at all came about because the company itself was not actually a content owner, but was in fact an agent which worked for rights holders to monitor file-sharing. Judge Colin Birrs said that in copyright cases, the actual rights holders - and not an agent - must instigate infringement litigation. According to The Guardian, there are reports MediaCAT has gone out of business as well.

So, the end of an era. As previously reported, Crossley only represented a small number of small rights holders in the music space, and British record label trade body the BPI actively distanced itself from his approach to pursuing file-sharers last year. Nevertheless, the actions of often arrogant lawyers like Crossley harms all the content industries, in that they provide ammunition to the pro-file-sharing and anti-copyright lobbies who will say rights holders cannot be trusted and should not, therefore, be given more powers to protect their copyrights.

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150 UK SHOPS TO TAKE PART IN RECORD STORE DAY
About 150 British independent record shops are due to take part in Record Store Day this year, the annual global celebration of indie music retailers which takes place for 2011 on 16 Apr.

As well as in-store events, limited edition releases and other promotions on the day, there will also be another vote for the best independent shops in the UK, though this year rather than one award for the whole of the United Kingdom, there will be separate votes for the best stores in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Organiser Spencer Hickman of London's Rough Trade East told CMU: "Record Store Day is the perfect antidote to all the doom and gloom we hear about the music business. It's a day of celebration fuelled by the enthusiasm of artists and fans for record stores. Last year set a very high standard for what Record Store Day can achieve. We'll be releasing full details of RSD 2011 closer to 16 Apr, but already we have been knocked out by the great ideas coming from artists and labels. We're all going to make sure it's a day to remember".

There's more info about Record Store Day at www.recordstoreday.co.uk, while you can vote for your favourite record shop at www.indierecordshop.org.

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BRUNO MARS ACCEPTS PLEA DEAL OVER DRUG CHARGES
Seven times Grammy nominated R&B bloke Bruno Mars has made a plea deal after being found in possession of a nice little bag of cocaine in the Hard Rock Hotel in Las Vegas last September.

The singer-songwriter was originally charged with the felony of drug possession, which could have resulted in four years in jail and a fifty grand fine, but he has agreed to plead guilty to the lesser charge of possession of a controlled substance in return for a plea deal which means that providing he stays out of trouble for a year he'll avoid conviction over the drugs charge.

He made his guilty plea on Friday, and will now return to court on 14 Feb to be formally sentenced. He will also do 200 hours of community service as part of the deal.

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GARY MOORE DIES
Irish guitarist Gary Moore, possibly best known for his various stints with Thin Lizzy, has died aged 58.

Raised in Belfast, Moore moved to Dublin in 1969, aged sixteen, to join his first band, Skid Row (the Irish blues-rock outfit, not the American 80s metal band, obviously). At that time Phil Lynott fronted the band, and later in 1973 he subsequently asked Moore to join his next musical project, Thin Lizzy.

Also embarking on a solo career at the time, Moore's initial stint with Thin Lizzy was short lived, though he recorded three songs with the band in that time, and returned for a longer stint towards the end of the seventies, and for a couple of later reunion gigs. He also worked with Lynott on some of his solo projects and, therefore, despite only playing with Thin Lizzy for a relatively short period of the band's history, he is very much associated with the outfit.

Away from Thin Lizzy, Moore collaborated with many other musicians, and enjoyed a long and successful solo career, becoming more bluesy in sound in the last decade.

Thin Lizzy manager Adam Parsons confirmed yesterday that Moore had died in a hotel room while on holiday in Spain. One of his former Thin Lizzy bandmates, Scott Gorham, paid tribute last night, telling the BBC: "Playing with Gary during the 'Black Rose' era was a great experience, he was a great player and a great guy. I will miss him".

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POLLSTAR CONCERT INDUSTRY AWARD WINNERS
US live industry magazine Pollstar dished out some awards this weekend for live music achievements Stateside, and beyond (well, as far as Britain, we seemed to win most of the international prizes), the winners being as follows:

Major Tour Of The Year: Roger Waters
Most Creative Tour Package: James Taylor / Carole King
Most Creative Stage Production: Roger Waters
Best New Touring Artist: Lady Antebellum

Music Festival Of The Year (Non-Touring): Coachella Valley Music Festival (Indio, CA)
International Music Festival Of The Year: Glastonbury Festival (UK)

Nightclub Of The Year: Club Nokia (Los Angeles, CA)
Theatre Of The Year: Ryman Auditorium (Nashville, TN)
Red Rocks Award For Small Outdoor Venue: Greek Theatre (Los Angeles, CA)
Best Major Outdoor Concert Venue: Hollywood Bowl (Los Angeles, CA)
Arena Of The Year: Madison Square Garden Arena (New York, NY)
Best New Major Concert Venue: Consol Energy Center (Pittsburgh, PA)

International Theatre Of The Year: Royal Albert Hall (London, UK)
International Arena Of The Year: The O2 (London, UK)

Bill Graham Award For Promoter Of The Year: Debra Rathwell (AEG Live - Northeast)
Independent Promoter Of The Year: Arny Granat & Jerry Mickelson (Jam Productions)
Nightclub Talent Buyer Of The Year: Johnny Beach (Bowery Ballroom, NY)
Talent Buyer Of The Year: Don Sullivan (Jam Productions)
Independent Booking Agency Of The Year: Monterey International
Bobby Brooks Award For Agent Of The Year: Frank Riley (High Road Touring)
Third Coast Booking Agent Of The Year: John Huie (Creative Artists Agency)
Personal Manager Of The Year: Coran Capshaw (Dave Matthews Band, Phish, Tim Mcgraw)
Facility Executive Of The Year: Rena Wasserman (Greek Theatre, Los Angeles, CA)
Road Warrior Of The Year: Jake Berry (U2, Walking With Dinosaurs)

UK Booking Agent Of The Year: Emma Banks (Creative Artists Agency)
International Promoter Of The Year: Michael Chugg (Chugg Entertainment)

Lighting Company Of The Year: Upstaging
Sound Company Of The Year: Clair
Staging Or Equipment Company Of The Year: All Access Staging & Productions
Transportation Company Of The Year: Rock-It-Cargo
Video Company Of The Year: Mootv

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RADIO AWARDS TO INCLUDE AD PRIZES
Organisers of the Arqiva Commercial Radio Awards have announced that this year's bash will incorporate the Radio Advertising Awards, meaning gongs will also be dished out to those who create and produce radio ads. There'll also be a second artists award sponsored by PPL, who will now present a prize to a breakthrough artist of the year as well as the most played band on British radio.

Andrew Harrison, the boss of commercial radio trade body RadioCentre, told reporters: "Bringing together the Radio Advertising Awards with the Arqiva Awards recognises the strong relationship between programming and advertising in bringing to market a commercially successful, top quality product".

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MANIC PREACHER GUTTED THAT SINGLE MISSED OUT ON TOP 40
I didn't even notice that the last Manics single only reached number 44 in the charts, but the band's Nicky Wire certainly did.

Talking about the track, 'Some Kind Of Nothingness', to Absolute Radio, Wire said: "I was quite distraught that our single, missed the top 40. I was gutted".

He added: "My excitement always turns into a real dose of fear when I'm waiting for a chart position or to find out whether the radio's going to play our record. It's like waiting for that envelope to drop through the door and seeing you've got a D in geography".

The band's next single, 'Postcards From A Young Man', is out at the end of the month. Come on guys, think of poor old Nicky, get your pre-order in now.

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DEATH FROM ABOVE 1979 COMMENT ON REUNION
After their name appeared on the Coachella line-up without warning last month, Death From Above 1979 have finally plonked a statement about their upcoming reunion on their flippin website.

One half of the duo, Sebastien Grainger, speaks thus: "It's been five years since Death From Above 1979 played a show, ten years since Jesse played me the first demos and eleven years since we sat in his parent's basement and played so loud we knocked the china off the shelves upstairs. Eleven seems to be a YES number for me. Though I am usually a pretty rational guy, if I have something on my mind and I see an eleven somewhere, I know I'm on the right path. It's one of my last remaining superstitions. 2011 has a nice ring to it and if you're so inclined, it may be the last year ever!"

He continues: "So why not say YES? Why not say YES to Coachella? Why not say YES to playing the music we designed to be an undeniable source of power? Why not say YES to stirring up a writhing pit of sweaty humans? YES to riots! YES to heavy music! YES instead of maybe, and YES to make death your adviser and remind yourself always, that this is not a dress rehearsal. This is the big show. Jesse and I have decided that what we can do together should not be denied. Together again, as was always the intention, as a collaboration. The collision of two different worlds. As this all takes shape, we will reveal it to you. All of it happening, as it always has, in our own way. Thank you all for sharing in our excitement!"

So there you go.

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SLASH WOULD CONSIDER GNR REUNION, BUT AXL WOULD HAVE TO APOLOGISE
Slash says he would consider rejoining Guns N Roses if Axl Rose called him up and apologised for past whatevers, though the guitarist admitted himself that's not very likely to happen.

Asked whether he'd ever consider working with Axl again by the LA Daily News, Slash said: "All things considered, that would be a call I would be surprised to get. If that really happened, I would have to clean out my junk drawer, too, but I don't see it happening. But if it did happen, I would do whatever it takes to at least have a conversation about it".

Axl would probably also have to pledge to become a little bit more reliable on the showing up for gigs on time front. That's something Slash seems to rate highly and, he says, something even Ozzy Osbourne, who the guitarist is currently supporting on tour, can get right.

He added: "I guess you could say I've worked with some high maintenance singers, but Ozzy is one of the most professional people I've ever met. Even back in the day, when he was out of control, one thing you could always count on with Ozzy was he would do the gig. It was never an issue. I can deal with all the craziness in the world as long as you do your gig".

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NEW ALEX TURNER RECORD FEATURES SUBMARINE SONGS
Arctic Monkeys man Alex Turner will release a solo album next month featuring music from the new film from actor and director Richard Ayoade, 'Submarine'. The music has been produced by James Ford, who is also working with Turner and the rest of the Arctics on their next album.

'Submarine' premiered at the recent Sundance Film Festival and goes on general release on 18 Mar.

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MADISON SQUARE GARDEN GIG TO BE "FUNERAL" FOR LCD SOUNDSYSTEM
LCD Soundsystem have said that an upcoming concert at New York's Madison Square Garden will be a great "funeral", before the outfit "retire from the game, gettin out, movin on".

Telling fans to expect a special show in April, a statement on the LCD Soundsystem website promises: "For just one more night, we will be playing with friends and family for nearly three hours - playing stuff we've never played before and going out with a bang - and we'd like you to be there".

Main man James Murphy said he'd not make another LCD Soundsystem album last year, fearing that the whole venture had become just too darn popular. But, he added in an interview with Pitchfork: "Since we know we're not gonna do another record I feel freer to do the biggest shit I possibly can. Like, fuck it, we should play Madison Square Garden".

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KILLING JOKE GIGS
Long-serving post-punkers Killing Joke have announced three gigs for the spring to coincide with the release of a new single, 'European Super State'. Dates as follows:

30 Mar: Nottingham, Rock City
31 Mar: Manchester, Academy 2
1 Apr: London, Royal Festival Hall (Ether Festival)

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FESTIVAL LINE-UP UPDATE

EXIT, Novi Sad, Serbia, 7-10 Jul: Nick Cave's Grinderman, Fedde Le Grand, Joris Vorn and Joachim Garraud are to join previously announced acts such as Arcade Fire, Portishead and Hadouken! Hurrah! www.exitfest.org

FAIRPORT'S CROPEDRY CONVENTION, Cropedry, Oxfordshire, 11-13 Aug: Crate-stomping bluesman Seasick Steve is to headline the Friday of this venerable fest, with BBC Radio 2 Folk Award winners Lau added to the Saturday bill. They join UB40, Hayseed Dixie, and hosts Fairport Convention who will perform twice to open and close the festival, as per its tradition. www.fairportconvention.com

KENDAL CALLING, Lowther Estate, Hackthorpe, East Cumbria, 29-31 Jul: The first crop of acts revealed for this Lake District-based bash are 80s gloom-rock icons Echo & The Bunnymen, Beardyman, Mr. Scruff and The Levellers, who will commemorate the 20th anniversary of their album 'Levelling The Land'. Madchester men Mark Collins and Tim Burgess of The Charlatans will also play special acoustic sets of songs both classic and new. www.kendalcalling.co.uk

GLASTONBURY, Worthy Farm, Somerset, 22-26 Jun: So, Coldplay are to headline the Saturday night of Glasto this year, an announcement met with much derision on Twitter, so much so I found myself mumbling at my computer, "they're not that bad, you know", which long term readers will appreciate is quite a development. www.glastonburyfestivals.co.uk

LONDON BLUESFEST, Various Venues, London, 27 Jun - 3 Jul: Our nation's noble capital is to welcome such greats as BB King, Booker T, The Blind Boys Of Alabama, Dr John, Buddy Greco and Max Weinburg, with a host of other cool cats playing at citywide venues including Union Chapel and The Royal Albert Hall. Mayor Boris is already in full support of the festival, so it must be very good indeed. www.bluesfestlondon.com

SUNRISE CELEBRATION, Lilcombe Farm, South Somerset, 2-5 Jun: Organisers of non-profit eco-festival Sunrise have just unveiled the dance-tastic line-up for its Dance Stage, which includes Mirror System, Tristan, Laughing Buddha, Major Clanger, Liquid Ross and Pieman. No? Me neither. Johnny Flynn & The Sussex Wit are headlining the whole shebang though, so that redeems things somewhat. www.sunrisecelebration.com

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HMV SHARE PRICE RISES AMID TAKOVER TALK
Shares in HMV jumped up 17% last week following those reports Russian businessman Alexander Mamut, who currently owns just over 6% of the entertainment and retail firm, had consulted bankers Credit Suisse about possible options for the future of the company.

The news has led to speculation that Mamut is planning a bid to buy the whole HMV Group, possibly with the main aim of gaining control of booksellers Waterstones. If that was his aim, presumably the other parts of the HMV business - the HMV stores, the live and management group MAMA, and any digital assets - would be sold off, most likely in separate parts.

According to the FT, insiders say Mamut is capable of mounting a bid to buy all the shares in HMV, which would cost him £96 million at the current share price. Though any acquisition could actually cost quite a bit more given rumours at least one private equity group may also bid. The most likely bidder from that domain is Permira, who previously made an offer for the retailer back in 2006, though the FT cites sources as saying rumour of formal contact between HMV and the equity outfit is just idle speculation.

Either way, all this chatter about possible bids resulted in an 8.8% in the firm's recently flagging share price, so that it now stands at 24.75p

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TICKETMASTER BUYS SPANISH RIVAL
Ticketmaster has further expanded its European business by buying ServiCaixa, the largest ticket seller in Spain. The Live Nation-owned ticketing giant already has operations in the country, so if the deal gets the green light from competition regulators it will mean ServiCaixa merging with Ticketmaser Spain.

The current owners of ServiCaixa are banking group la Caixa, and as part of the takeover deal the all-new Ticketmaster Spain will enter into a marketing partnership with the bank which will see extra benefits offered to their customers, and the option to print tickets at the banking firm's ATMs.

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50 PARTIES INTERESTED IN BUYING MYSPACE
News Corp has hired investment bank Allen & Co to look into selling its flagging web firm MySpace, and according to Reuters it has been contacted by about 50 interested parties. It's thought no actual offers have been made as yet, though the boss of one company which is known to have bid, JNJ Mobile, told the news agency he'd expect to pay anything between $50 million and $200 million. News Corp paid $580 million when it bought MySpace in 2005.

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IPC CONSIDERING MORE TITLE SELL OFFS
It's thought that IPC Media could sell off more of its titles after last year offloading Loaded and some specialist magazines like Aeroplane and Ships Monthly.

The Time Warner owned publisher undertook a business review and restructure last year, and management are now reportedly looking at the whole IPC portfolio and considering their options. Individual titles, or families of titles, or whole divisions may be put up for sale, anonymous sources say, though they add that the option of Time Warner selling IPC outright seems unlikely.

On the music side, IPC are publishers of both NME and Uncut.

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BLUE BOY SNAPPED PISSING ON A POST OFFICE
Last weekend the Blue boys were in the news for being selected to take part in the Eurovision Song Contest. This weekend it was Anthony Costa pissing up a wall that won the group tabloid attention. Things are really on the up for these guys, you know. I wonder which of the other three is planning to be photographed dogging next weekend to maintain the momentum?

So yes, it turns out Tony Costa has more talents than you'd think - not only can he concurrently talk on a phone and take money out of a cash machine, but in the ultimate multi-task, he's also able to relieve himself up against a Post Office wall all the same time.

Costa's decision to forego the nearby public toilets, or even a hidden side street, and instead to piss on a post office just around the corner from Trafalgar Square was, alas, snapped by a passer by, with the photos being passed on to the Mirror. Which is all good publicity I suppose, though the paper passed the pics onto the police who now say the Blue boy could be fined a hundred quid.

But at least the whole thing gives advance warning to the lovely people of Eurovision host city Dusseldorf. When Blue are in town, make sure there's a urinal under every cash machine.

Here are the pics

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