MORRIS UNLIKELY TO ARRIVE AT SONY BEFORE THE SUMMER
There was more speculation yesterday about if and when Universal Music Chairman Doug Morris will move over to rivals Sony Music to take over the CEO role there. 

As previously reportedly, Morris, who stepped back from the Chief Executive job at Universal last year, has become the frontrunner to take over from current Sony Music top man Rolf Schmidt Holtz, who is due to leave at the end of the month. 

However, Morris - who Universal originally expected to stay on in the backseat Chairman's role for at least a couple of years - is still in contract with the major until at least the end of 2011, so will need parent company Vivendi's permission if he wants to join Sony sooner than next year. 

Negotiations between Morris, Vivendi and Sony have been ongoing for some time. The consensus seems to be that Universal will let Morris go earlier than his current contract allows, though both the New York Post and the Daily Telegraph reckon that the earliest he could expect to be joining Sony Music is early summer. 

With Schmidt-Holtz due to leave in a few weeks time, that would leave Sony Music without a CEO for at least three months. Insiders reckon that, assuming Sony is confident Morris will be coming to them within the year, Sony USA's CFO Rob Wiesenthal would be put in place as an interim CEO for the short term. 

Some have already questioned whether the 72 year old Morris is actually that desirable a hire for Sony Music, especially given the contractual issues in getting him on board. He is very much part of the record industry old guard, and was one of the major label bosses who totally screwed up the industry's response to the internet when it first arrived on the scene, costing the wider industry years worth of opportunities. 

That said, others point to Morris's recent success stories in the digital space, most notably the Universal-initiated music video site VEVO, and his sensible strategy to diversify the music major into the live, management, merchandising and television sectors, something Sony has been rather slow to do (with the exception of Syco in the TV space, of course). 

Arguably Morris failed to effectively integrate those different businesses at Universal, which were in the main obtained through acquisition, though perhaps he could better achieve the holy grail of a fully integrated music rights and artist services company second time round if given a blank page for diversification at Sony. 

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HMV MAY BE CONSIDERING MAMUT'S WATERSTONES BID
Despite previously rejecting proposals they sell off some key assets to help combat declining revenues and deal with loan covenant issues, HMV bosses are reportedly now considering selling their Waterstones business to Russian billionaire Alexander Mamut. 

As previously reported, Mamut has been quietly increasing his stake in the wider HMV Group for a while and now owns 6.1%, however it became clear last month that his real interest was in the retailer's books chain. 

It is thought that he has now teamed up with the book selling brand's founder Tim Waterstone, who made an offer to buy his company back from HMV once before, and together they are now engaged in talks with HMV bosses about making a Waterstones bid. 

Waterstones has been performing better than the main HMV stores in the last year or so, although that's not to say the bookseller hasn't been facing its own challenges, mainly competition from supermarkets and mail-order websites. And that's before you consider the threat of the emerging e-book market, which is only really gaining any momentum now. 

Therefore, offloading Waterstones might be a good move for HMV, despite the firm's recent strategy of diversification, especially if it brings in some quick cash. 

Although having a second high street brand does extend the markets in which the HMV Group trades, to a point, the HMV stores already sell books, plus for CEO Simon Fox's diversification strategy to really work the company needs to diversify off the high street, a process it has already begun. If a Waterstones sale gave the firm a little more security to allow that process to continue, that could make a lot of sense for HMV. 

Certainly the firm's share price was on the up yesterday as talk of a Waterstones bid by Mamut gained momentum. 

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BLUES MAN KIRKLAND DIES
Blues man Eddie Kirkland, known as the Gypsy Of The Blues because of his relentless touring, has died after being involved in a car crash in Florida. According to reports, the 88 year old's car flipped over after he attempted a u-turn in front of an approaching bus. 

Born in Jamaica and raised in Alabama, Kirkland dabbled with music at various points in his early years, though his professional career really began when he met John Lee Hooker while playing guitar at a house party in the late 1940s. He went on to work with Hooker throughout the 1950s, both as his road manager, and appearing on numerous recordings with his fellow blues performer as second guitarist. 

He also recorded a number of albums of his own for various labels during this period, and continued to release new material throughout much of his life, with particular flurries of activity in the 1970s and 1990s. As well as his recording career, he became known for his prolific touring around the US and in Europe. 

Kirkland is survived by his wife Mary and nine children.

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INTERPOL LOSE ANOTHER BASSIST
To lose one bassist is unfortunate, but to lose two... Interpol have lost their second bass player in under a year. 

Dave Pajo, who took over from long-time member Carlos Dengler when he quit last May, has also decided to step down to spend more time with his family. According to a post on Interpolnyc.com, Pajo will be replaced by Brad Truax, who has previously played with Home and Jah Division (that's right, a band who play dub versions of Joy Division songs), with immediate effect. 

The rest of the band insist Pajo's departure is amicable, saying in a statement: "We're all friends. It's just an out-of-the-hotel, into-the-home sorta thing. He's going to be missed to be sure. Aside from being an exceptional musician, Pajo is a wonderful person to be around". 

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REZNOR TALKS NEW HOW TO DESTROY ANGELS
Trent Reznor has revealed that he, his Oscar co-winner Atticus Ross and wife Mariqueen Maandig, have completed their second release as How To Destroy Angels. 

Speaking ahead of the Oscars last week, Reznor told Billboard: "I just finished recording a How To Destroy Angels project with my wife. We have to mix it. [It will be out in the] early fall, most likely".

How To Destroy Angels' eponymous debut EP was released last summer. As previously reported, Reznor and Ross are also currently working on the soundtrack for David Fincher's film adaptation of 'The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo'.

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TIM WHEELER CONFIRMS COLDPLAY COLLABORATION
Ash frontman Tim Wheeler has confirmed those previously reported rumours that he spent some time in the studio with Coldplay recently. However, he's not sure his contribution will make it to the band's new album, so his credibility could still remain in tact.

Wheeler told BBC 6music: "I showed up one day at the studio and they were starting to work on a song that, actually, I think had a bit of an influence from one of our recent singles. So, they said 'here take up the guitar' and the next thing I know I'm jamming along with them and Brian Eno. I was really buzzed cos I'm such a big Eno fan as well".

He continued: "I don't know if it's going to be on the record. It's almost like a pre-rehearsal. They were figuring out the arrangement and I was jamming along. They were actually recording it but I think they were going to go start from scratch again. There was one little guitar lick I was playing that I think Chris was quite excited about. I think they can slot that in. There's got to be a chance!"

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LADY GAGA RELEASES VIDEO
Lady Gaga premiered the video for new single 'Born This Way' on YouTube yesterday. I'm sure you were glued to your computer at 4pm yesterday watching it. 

If not, here's a quick synopsis: Spacey stuff, bra, dancing, dancing, weird face, bra, suggestive hand movements, dancing, spacey stuff, bra. Oh, and you have to sit through a two and a half minute badly written monologue before you get to the five minute badly written song. 

Don't take my word for it, though. Watch it for yourself if you like. Now, let me see, I think I've got this link right: youtu.be/GsVcUzP_O_8

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GREEN DAY TO RELEASE LIVE ALBUM AND DVD
Green Day will document their 2009/2010 world tour that supported the '21st Century Breakdown' album with a new live CD and DVD set, entitled 'Awesome As Fuck', which will be released through Warner/Reprise on 21 Mar.

A trailer for the album is online at www.greenday.com. The band will release new single 'Cigarettes and Valentines' on the same day as the live album.
 
Here's what you get:
 
CD
21st Century Breakdown (London, England)
Know Your Enemy (Manchester, England)
East Jesus Nowhere (Glasgow, Scotland)
Holiday (Dublin, Ireland)
Gloria (Dallas, Texas)
Cigarettes And Valentines (Phoenix, Arizona)
Burnout (Irvine, California)
Pasalaqua (Chula Vista, California)
JAR (Detroit, Michigan)
Holden Caulfield (New York, New York)
Geek Stink Breath (Saitama-shi, Japan)
When I Come Around (Berlin, Germany)
She (Brisbane, Australia)
21 Guns (Mountain View, California)
American Idiot (Montreal, QUE)
Wake Me Up (Nickelsdorf, Austria)
Good Riddance (Nickelsdorf, Austria)
Letterbomb (Chula Vista, California) (deluxe version bonus track)
Christie Road (Hartford, Connecticut) (deluxe version bonus track)
 
DVD
21st Century Breakdown
Know Your Enemy
East Jesus Nowhere
Holiday
Static Age
Gloria
Blvd Of Broken Dreams
Burnout
Geek Stink Breath
Welcome To Paradise
When I Come Around
She
21 Guns
American Eulogy
Jesus Of Suburbia
Good Riddance

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QUEEN EXHIBITION OPENS
Roger Taylor and Brian May have opened a new exhibition in east London to mark the 40th anniversary of Queen. 

The exhibition, called 'Stormtroopers In Stilettos', is only running until 12 Mar, at the Truman Brewery. There are all sorts of photographs and memorabilia on show documenting the band's rise to fame, plus video footage and a recreation of the studio where 'Bohemian Rhapsody' was recorded. 

Commenting on the exhibition, May told reporters: "Once you come into this exhibition you realise that we were just boys and we got together with a dream. We worked night and day for many years and we were very lucky".

A new single package has also been released to mark the launch of the anniversary exhibition, also called 'Stormtroopers In Stilettos'. It contains previously unreleased versions of early Queen tracks 'Keep Yourself Alive' and 'Stone Cold Crazy'.

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LYKKE LI TOUR
With her striking second album 'Wounded Rhymes' out yesterday via Atlantic/LL Recordings, Lykke Li has announced an upcoming run of UK tour dates. See the kooky Swedish songstress perform live on the following occasions:

12 Apr: Bristol, Trinity
14 Apr: London, Shepherds Bush Empire (sold out)
15 Apr: Leeds, Cockpit
16 Apr: Dublin, Tripod (sold out)
18 Apr: Glasgow, Arches
19 Apr: Manchester, Academy 2

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JOSH T PEARSON ANNOUNCES SOLO ALBUM AND TOUR DATES
Texan troubadour Josh T Pearson, formerly of cult trio Lift To Experience, has announced details of his debut solo album 'Last Of The Country Gentleman', which is set for release on 14 Mar via Mute.  

Pearson says of his poignant new LP: "It's funny, after all this time, to come back and release such a sad, sad record. I wanted it to be a record that, if I don't put out another one for ten years, then it's a good enough record to end on. It's absolutely honest, full of despair. You really have to sit down and listen to it, and it takes something out of you, but it's worth it".

Pearson is due to make a number of appearances at this month's SxSW, and also has a number of UK gigs in his diary...

4 Mar: Sheffield, Queens Social Club
25 Mar: Glasgow, Stereo
27 Mar: Manchester, Deaf Institute
29 Mar: Brighton, Brighton Ballroom
30 Mar: Nottingham, Bodega
1 Apr: London, Purcell Rooms (sold out)
11 May: London, Union Chapel 

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FESTIVAL LINE-UP UPDATE

2000TREES, Upcote Farm, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, 14-16 Jul: New to the 2000Trees line-up are Scottish rockers Sucioperro, who are confirmed as first day headliners. Camden grunge kids Tribes are also set to play, as are a host of acts including Chickenhawk, Danny & The Champs, Bo Ningen, Invasion and The Echoes. Meanwhile, taking to the Greenhouse Stage at the ultra-green ecofest will be DJ Primer, Side Step DJs, Charlie Barnes, Ben Marwood, Tatterattles, B-Sydes, Esse.B, The YuYa, Midnight Mile, Dan Heaver and Gaz Brookfield. www.twothousandtreesfestival.co.uk

CAMP BESTIVAL, Lulworth Castle, Dorset, 29-31 Jul: Folkstrel Laura Marling is newly scheduled to headline the Big Top Stage at this lighthearted family fest, with Labrinth, YasmIn, Yaaks, Modestep, Gentleman's Dub Club and Jaguar Skills also just added to the bill. Already set to headline an eclectic roster of acts are Mark Ronson & The Business Intl and Blondie. www.campbestival.net

ROSKILDE, Denmark, 30 Jun - 3 Jul: The latest act revealed to appear at this Danish bash is pop provocateur MIA, who will bring the genre-busting sounds of her recent Vicki Leekx mixtape and three album catalogue to the Roskilde stage. She will perform alongside a diverse mix of acts including Big Boi, PJ Harvey, Kings Of Leon and Iron Maiden. www.roskilde-festival.dk/uk/

RELENTLESS BOARDMASTERS, Watergate Bay, Cornwall, 10-14 Aug: Norman Cook aka Fatboy Slim is the first confirmed act on the bill for this cliffside surf celebration. www.relentlessboardmasters.com

ROCK WERCHTER, Rotselaar, Belgium, 30 Jun-3 Jul: The Black Eyed Peas have just been revealed as the closing night headline act at this year's Rock Werchter, bringing the festival to a timely end with a set of crowd-pleasing hits. They will round off a four day programme set to feature performances from the likes of Kings Of Leon, Arctic Monkeys, Coldplay and Iron Maiden. www.rockwerchter.be/en/home/

SONISPHERE, Knebworth Park,8-10 August: Sonisphere goes all pop-punk with a host of recent announcements, which include You Me At Six, Sum 41 and All Time Low. House Of Pain are also confirmed to play a comeback show at the festival, while metallers Arch Enemy and Periphery also join the line-up. Aussie alt-rockers Grinspoon are set to appear, as are Fozzy, the joint project of wrestler Chris Jericho and Mojo guitarist Rich War. They join, amongst others, thrash metal's 'big four' of Metallica, Anthrax, Slayer and Megadeth. uk.sonispherefestivals.com

T IN THE PARK, Balado, Scotland, 8-10 Jul: Mercury-nominated Villagers and Welsh rockers Kids In Glass Houses are new on the T bill, which is headed up by Arctic Monkeys, Coldplay and Foo Fighters. www.tinthepark.com

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ALBUM REVIEW: Yuck - Yuck (Fat Possum Records)
Yuck used to be Cajun Dance Party, a band so mundane that I was able to successfully wipe any trace of them, minus their name, from my memory. 

They now play the kind of slacker fuzzpop that Dinosaur Jr churned out in the 90s. You know the drill: twiddly lead guitar melodies subsiding into a wash of half-hearted vocals and lo-fi Guided By Voices-style chord progressions. That's not to say that 'Yuck' is a bad record, it's far from it, but anyone versed in the group's obvious influences will tick the influential bands off the list track by track. 

'Shoot Down' is a major/minor slice of Teenage Fanclub powerpop, 'Rose Giver A Lily' comes on like a re-edit of Weezer's 'Only in Dreams', and 'Suicide Policeman' is a Broken Social Scene-esque serving of xylaphonic pastoral indie rock. The rest of it tends to sound like a pretty decent Pavement rip-off. 

Yuck wallows in the ennui of a wasted morning in the summer holidays. It's a perfectly serviceable entry level indie-rock record, and hopefully one that will lead its less-versed listeners onto better things. JAB
 
Physical release: 14 Feb

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TEN BIDDERS INTERESTED IN WARNER
According to Bloomberg, management at Warner Music have now received over ten bids to buy some or all of the music major. Warner's current owners announced they would accept possible bids earlier this year, and bankers Goldman Sachs have been managing the process. 

Bloomberg reports that both Sony and BMG have put in bids for Warner's music publishing business Warner/Chappell, while Len Blavatnik, already a significant shareholder in Warner Music, has expressed an interested in multiple parts of the group, with some reports suggesting he is interested in buying the entire company outright. 

It is thought Universal hasn't bid as yet. Some reckon that is because of concerns any attempt to acquire a sizable chunk of Warner might result in anti-competition regulations kicking in and causing problems. Though others say Universal is interested in bidding for some bits of Warner - probably on the recordings side - but its offer has been delayed because of issues with the non-disclosure terms insisted on by Goldman Sachs. 

The other bids are from private equity groups and similar. Although a couple are reportedly for Warner's record labels, most bidders are going after Warner/Chappell. That is possibly because, as a stand alone acquisition for a non-music company, the publishing catalogue is probably a more secure asset. Though some may have been motivated to bid for the publishing set up because they know Warner chief Edgar Bronfman Jr prefers the option of selling that to generate funds with which to bid for EMI's record labels later this year. 

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PRS TO FOREGO LICENCE REVENUE FOR ROYAL WEDDING STREET PARTIES
So, you know that Royal Wedding street party you're organising? You know, the big celebration of the happy day you're planning with all your friends and families and neighbours, due to take place out there on the street? Probably in the rain. Anyone? 

Well, anyway, if you do stage such an event you won't need a licence from the PRS for the music you play, even though street parties count as a public performance so technically speaking a licence is needed. 

The collecting society has announced that for non-commercial street parties, organised between 22 Apr and 6 May by unpaid volunteers, with less than 300 people in attendance, licences won't be needed. What a grand treat. 

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VINYL FACTORY SETS UP SHOP IN LONDON HOTEL
Vinyl presser and seller The Vinyl Factory has announced its first ever 'concept store', which I think is the new name for 'pop-up store', which was the old new name for 'temporary store'. Basically, the company will be selling records, including a string of limited edition packages, plus artwork and other such treats from the front room in the St Martins Lane hotel from 10 Mar. Which is all rather exciting. 

More information at www.thevinylfactory.com

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MOYLES PLANS MAMMOUTH RADIO SHOW FOR COMIC RELIEF
Radio 1's Chris Moyles will present a one and a half day radio show in the run up to this year's Comic Relief Red Nose Day, presumably so we here in Britain can better empathise with those peoples around the world who suffer day and night. 

Moyles will try to break Simon Mayo's record for the longest show on Radio 1. Mayo presented for 37 hours in one go in 1999, again for Comic Relief. According to the station's self-inflicted rules, there must be a link between every song, and Moyles and his co-presenter 'Comedy' Dave must appear in all of them. 

Says Moyles: "In 2009, I broke the record for being the longest-serving breakfast DJ on Radio 1, so I thought, why not go for broadcasting the longest radio show on Radio 1 too! Of course I'm worried about what the lack of sleep will do to me, but the pain will be worth it if we can raise a fortune for Comic Relief". 

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JASON ORANGE: "TAKE THAT ROBBED ME OF MY VOICE"
Jason Orange has said that Take That's first run of success, before their split in 1996, took its toll on him. It's alright now, though. Probably.

Speaking to The Sunday Times, he said: "I think every person's job either feeds them or takes from them. Take That, for me, the first time, took from me. It gave me money, it gave me a standard of living, but it robbed me of my voice. To come back as an older adult, on my guard a bit and wiser, I know it sounds melodramatic, but it's like there's this thing up there, and we can all give to it and get back from it, and it shines into us, and we can all grow from it. Or it will just rob us again, and we'll leave, with all this shit that we didn't say or didn't do".

Make of that what you will. Though Orange adds that his band is a lot less likely to fall apart now than in the 1990s: "You see how many bands can't reunite after a falling out and then still do it. The when-hell-freezes-over sort of thing with the Eagles etc. Basically, we were all grown-ups about our shit, and owned it. If you own your own shit, you can move on. And we all did. From me and Gary having a proper chat, to then instantly falling into each other's arms and rolling about in my kitchen, laughing, was a moment in my life I will never forget".

So, that's nice.

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LIAM GALLAGHER OPINION ROUND-UP
Say what you like about the Gallagher brothers' music, but they're both good for a quote. And with Beady Eye's debut album out this week, Liam has been chatting about stuff. Best of all is his interview with The Quietus, from which I will now quote liberally.

Liam on Mumford & Sons winning the Best Album award at the BRITs: "I think it's alright but they were fucking ashamed about winning and that's the fucking sad bit. 'Oh, we shouldn't be here!' Then what did you join a fucking band for then? They bow their heads down going, 'Oh, we don't deserve it' like a fucking dick. What's that about? You must have seen it before so don't pretend like you've just come out of a cider apple factory".

Liam on Radiohead's 'The King Of Limbs': "I heard that fucking Radiohead record and I just go, 'What?!' I like to think that what we do, we do fucking well. Them writing a song about a fucking tree? Give me a fucking break! A thousand year old tree? Go fuck yourself! You'd have thought he'd have written a song about a modern tree or one that was planted last week. You know what I mean?"

Liam on coping with potential future baldness: "There's hair transplants these days. Look at that little fucker from Ant and Dec! He was fucking bald in that jungle thing and now he's got a thick fucking head of hair like Warren Beatty in 'Shampoo'. I turned over to watch the fucking 'News At Nine' and I turn it back on and he's got hair! But it's a fucking terrible thing, isn't it?"

Read the interview in full here: thequietus.com/articles/05763-beady-eye-liam-gallagher-interview

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