AFACT TAKE IINET LAWSUIT TO FINAL APPEALS COURT
Aussie film and TV industry group AFACT - or the Australian Federation Against Copyright Theft - is going to have one more stab at proving that internet service provider iiNet is liable for 'authorising infringement' by failing to stop its customers from accessing and sharing unlicensed content over its servers.

As previously reported, AFACT claims that iiNet could monitor its networks for illegal file-sharing and put filters in place to stop, or at least hinder, the distribution of unlicensed content and, by failing to do so, the company is guilty of authorising infringement under Australian copyright law.

However, on two previous occasions Aussie judges have failed to concur. In early 2010, Sydney's Federal Court ruled in favour of iiNet, which argue it is not its job to monitor what content its customers access and share, and last month an appeals court backed that earlier judgment, saying iiNet was not obliged under copyright law to filter out any infringing content.

One more avenue of appeal is open to AFACT, and the trade body confirmed yesterday it was pursuing it, telling reporters that the fact the appeals court accepted iiNet had the power to prevent (or at least hinder) infringement means - according to the body's interpretation of authorising infringement, based in part on the earlier Kazaa ruling in Australia - that the net firm has an obligation to do so.

AFACT's Executive Director Neil Gane told reporters: "The Full Federal Court unanimously found that iiNet had the power to prevent the infringements of its users from occurring and that there were reasonable steps it could have taken, including issuing warnings. However two judges of the Full Court went on to find that iiNet had not authorized the infringements of its users and that is what we are appealing. We say they did not apply the legal test for authorization correctly".

Needless to say, iiNet criticised AFACT's decision to continue with this litigation, telling reporters: "It's time for the film industry and copyright holders to work with the [digital] industry to make their content legitimately available".

Although a movie industry case, the outcome of this lawsuit is relevant to the Australian music business, too. If AFACT was victorious it would potentially force ISPs in the country to introduce a three-strikes style anti-piracy system without there being a specific change in the law, as there has been here in the UK. It would also likely motivate the ISP sector to lobby for new laws akin to America's safe harbour provisions which specifically protect net companies from liability when their customers use their networks for illegal activities.

So, all content industries, net firms and law makers in Australia will be watching the final stage of the AFACT v iiNet case with interest.

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CHRIS BROWN APOLOGISES FOR GOOD MORNING AMERICA OUTBURST
Chris Brown has spoken about his previously reported outburst backstage at 'Good Morning America' on Tuesday, during which he smashed a window and tore off his shirt. As previously reported, Brown became angry after he was quizzed by the show's host Robin Roberts about the 2009 incident in which he attacked his then girlfriend Rihanna.

Appearing on BET show '106 & Park', Brown said that he was sorry about the incident, but that he became angry because he felt he was being exploited by 'GMA', whose team he felt had tricked him onto the show by promising to talk about his new album but then focusing on the Rihanna attack instead. This despite Roberts insisting she'd cleared discussing Rihanna with Brown's people before the interview

Brown told BET: "First of all, I want to apologise to anybody who was startled in the office, or anybody who was offended or really looked and [was] disappointed at my actions. Because I'm disappointed in the way I acted".

And on the pre-interview briefing, Brown insisted that all the questions he'd been shown in advance related to his new album 'FAME'. He continued: "I felt like they told us this just so they could get us on the show so they can exploit me. So I took it very, very hard, and I really kinda kept my composure throughout the whole interview ... And when I got back, I just let off steam. I didn't physically hurt anyone, I didn't try to hurt anyone, I just wanted to release the anger that I had inside me because I felt that I worked so hard for this music, and I felt like people kept just trying to take it away from me".

You can watch Brown's full '106 & Park' interview here.

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BLOC PARTY TO REFORM?
Speculation that Bloc Party are to return from their current hiatus has grown after Ash frontman Tim Wheeler revealed that guitarist Russell Lissack, who has been playing with the Irish outfit of late, may soon no longer be available for their shows.

Wheeler told The Sun: "Russell's been brilliant and we'll have him for our festivals, hopefully. Then we'll have to think. I do enjoy having the second guitarist so we've got our eyes peeled [for a replacement]".

In December last year Bloc Party posted a photograph of all four members together (plus a dog) to Twitter, which some took as a suggestion that a new album was on the cards: twitpic.com/3k64ak

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BON IVER DISCUSSES SECOND ALBUM
Justin Vernon has been discussing the second Bon Iver album, the follow-up to 2007's 'For Emma, Forever Ago'.

Much has happened to Vernon since he recorded the Bon Iver debut alone in a shack in the woods. Perhaps most notably (certainly most unusually) he appeared on six tracks on Kanye West's latest album, 'My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy'.

Whatever else happened, he found that writing a second album was difficult, telling Rolling Stone: "Somewhere along the line, I forgot how to write songs. I couldn't do it any more with a guitar. It wasn't happening".

To get himself back on track, he took a very different approach, hiring various session musicians to help him construct new music. He explained: "I brought in a lot of people to change my voice - not my singing voice, but my role as the author of this band, this project. I built the record myself, but I allowed those people to come in and change the scene".

Amongst the new tracks, he said, is a "chaotic, dense, jarring ... Civil War-sounding heavy metal song". Which suggests the as-yet-untitled album, tentatively scheduled for a June release, could be a bit different to the mopey folk of 'For Emma'.

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NOEL GALLAGHER RECORDING IN LA, SAYS YOU ME AT SIX FRONTMAN
You Me At Six frontman Josh Franceschi has claimed that Noel Gallagher is recording his debut solo album in the same LA studio in which his band is currently working.

Franceschi said via Twitter this week: "[I] can hear Noel from Oasis blasting his new tunes from the studio next door. Absolutely mental".

Gallagher recently claimed that he'd not yet started thinking about a solo album, in response to claims by his brother Liam that he'd stolen songs Oasis were working on prior to their split in 2009.

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SWEDISH HOUSE MAFIA RELEASE IPAD VERSION OF UNTIL ONE
Swedish House Mafia have release a new edition of their 2010 album 'Until One' designed specifically for the iPad. The app gives fans access to written and audio-visual content alongside the album's music and was built by EMI's in-house creative team.

EMI's Vice President Digital Business Development, Cosmo Lush, told CMU: "The Swedish House Mafia app is an example of EMI's investment in innovative ways to connect passionate fans with the music they love. We believe the arrival of the iPad and other tablet devices creates a host of new ways for consumers to enjoy our artists' content, be it audio, video or any other medium. We're excited for the launch of this app and the new experience it offers to Swedish House Mafia fans".

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THE FEELIES ANNOUNCE FIRST ALBUM FOR NINETEEN YEARS
Cult indie legends The Feelies have announced that they will release their first album for twenty years, entitled 'Here Before', on 16 May via Bar/None Records. Its predecessor, 'Time For A Witness', was released by the then Polygram-owned A&M in 1991.

The band's first two albums, 1980's 'Crazy Rhythms' and 1986's 'The Good Earth (which was produced by REM's Peter Buck), were re-released by Domino last year, after being out of print for many years.

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TENNIS ANNOUNCE DEBUT ALBUM
Indie duo Tennis have announced that they will release their debut album, 'Cape Dory', in the UK on 16 May via Carmen San Diego Records.

Here's the tracklist:

Take Me Somewhere
Long Board Pass
Cape Dory
Marathon
Bimini Bay
South Carolina
Pigeon
Seafarer
Baltimore
Waterbirds

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NIRVANA MUSEUM TO OPEN IN SEATTLE
A new exhibition displaying various items of Nirvana memorabilia, entitled 'Nirvana: Taking Punk To The Masses' is to open in the band's hometown of Seattle next month. Amongst the items will be the first of many guitars Kurt Cobain ever destroyed on stage.

Bassist Krist Novoselic said of the exhibition: "It's great that there will soon be a collection that celebrates [Cobain's] contribution to music and culture. There's a story with Nirvana at its centre, but it's a story that also includes the many people, bands and institutions that make up a music community".

It opens at the Experience Music project on 16 Apr and will run until 22 Apr.

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SPOTIFY TO STREAM LONDON GIG
Spotify is to stream performances by Delphic, The Naked And Famous and Pony Pony Run Run, plus a DJ set by La Roux's Elly Jackson, when they play London's Koko venue on 5 Apr.

The event is a co-promotion with Nissan, as part of its Nissan Juke 'Behind The Hit' campaign. As part of her DJ set, Jackson will be playing a La Roux-produced track by Ben Daniels, who won a competition run by the car firm.

Ben Langmaid of La Roux said: "We've loved working with Ben Daniels and think his track will get a great reaction from the crowd on the night."

Meanwhile, Spotify's General Manager, Jonathan Foster said of the event: "Giving our users access to great live music in their own home is the next step in the Spotify experience. We hope to see many more in the near future!"

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THE HORRORS ANNOUNCE SHOWS
The Horrors have announced three UK gigs in June, by which time they should have finished their third album, on which they are currently working.

Tour dates:

15 Jun: Glasgow, Oran Mor
16 Jun: Manchester, Academy
17 Jun: London, York Hall

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DEERHOOF ANNOUNCE UK SHOWS
Deerhoof are playing two UK shows in May, which is good news. I like Deerhoof. Have you heard their new album? It's good. Good old Deerhoof. They've done a Powers Of Ten playlist for us, too. You'll be able to hear that in a couple of weeks. So, that's nice.

Anyway, tour dates:

3 May: Manchester, Club Academy
4 May: London, The Garage

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FESTIVAL LINE-UP UPDATE

CHESTER ROCKS, Chester Racecourse, 2-3 Jul: Welcome additions to this new Chester-based fest are I Am Kloot, Shaun Ryder and tribute band Australian Pink Floyd, who will pay spectacular homage to their namesakes alongside such already announced Sunday rock acts as Echo & The Bunnyment and Iggy Pop & The Stooges. 80s favourites The Christians are the latest act set to appear on the Saturday bill which is largely dominated by poppier sorts like Eliza Doolittle, Taio Cruz, McFly and The Saturdays. Let's hope those last two acts don't bump into each other backstage, eh? www.chester-rocks.com

LOUNGE ON THE FARM, Merton Farm, Canterbury, Kent, 8-10 Jul: Organisers have summoned local prog legends Caravan back to their glorious hometown for a performance at this Kentish bash, with Katy B and Graham Coxon also occupying much-coveted spots on the line-up. The Joy Formidable, folk heartthrob Johnny Flynn, Egyptian Hip Hop and Slow Club are also amongst those newly set to augment the existing billing of The Streets, Ellie Goulding, Example and Echo & The Bunnymen. www.loungeonthefarm.co.uk

MELTDOWN, Southbank Centre, London, 10-19 Jun: Curator Ray Davies has hand-picked a host of acts for this culture-rich celebration, the first of which include Yo La Tengo, Madness, the London Sinfonietta and art-punks Wire. With opening and closing sets from the venerable Kinks frontman, the festival will also host a film programme, and a variety of comedy and poetry performance pieces involving the likes of Michael Palin, Terry Jones, and Roger McGough. How marvellous this all sounds. www.meltdown.southbankcentre.co.uk

WE THE PEOPLE, Bristol Harbour, Bristol, 4-5 Jun: Sub Focus, Tensnake, DJ Derek and MJ Cole are at the forefront of the latest wave of acts set to hit Bristol's harbour for the inaugural We The People two-dayer. Also just introduced to the line-up is a collaboration between Krafty Kuts and Featurecast, who join previous announcees including The Streets, Roots Manuva and Chase & Status on the bill. www.wethepeoplefestival.co.uk

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ALBUM REVIEW: Port Royal - The Golden Age Of Consumerism (n5MD)
Port Royal inhabit the surprisingly unexplored pastures of the electronica/post-rock interface and thankfully they do it brilliantly.

Whilst the dreamy ambience recalls Aphex Twin or Boards Of Canada at their most somnambulant, the washes of sound and occasional gossamer-thin guitars recall Ulrich Schnauss and other nu-gaze artists or even the more organic glacial experiments of Múm and Sigur Rós.

'The Golden Age Of Consumerism' collects together various rare tracks and remixes over two CDs but despite the length (nearly three hours of music) it never drags. Mood and texture are everything, with the Genoa duo creating effortlessly atmospheric (and occasionally melancholy) pieces that manage to sound impossibly futuristic yet pastoral and nostalgic at the same time.

The first CD collates EPs and unreleased tracks and is, frankly, like spending a blissful 80 minutes in a floatation tank, with the likes of 'Günther Anders' (a beautifully conceived stately epic redolent of early - ie melodic - Autechre) making for mesmerising listening.

CD2 compiles Port Royal's remixes for other acts, including Ladytron and Felix Da Housecat. The remixes are more varied in nature (some even being almost danceable), and whilst the quality occasionally dips, there are some intriguing reworks.

A fine compilation. MS

Physical release: 18 Apr

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PANELS ANNOUNCED FOR MUSIC CONNECTED
AIM has announced some more details about speakers and panels due to appear at this years Music Connected, the digitally-focused conference that takes place on 5 May in good old London town.

Panels include Good Lizard Media's David Riley and Sam McGregor discussing the 'Real Cost Of Direct-To-Fan'; Spotify's GM for Europe, Jonathan Forster, giving a presentation on consumer behaviour and the streaming service's future plans; and a panel debate on which digital marketing strategies are really delivering. More speakers and panels are still to be announced.

Tickets are almost sold out again, so you better get yourself to this here URL if you want to go: www.musicindie.com/events/aim/2011/05/05/1098

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SNOOP CRITICISED FOR PROMOTING ALCOPOP
Snoop Dogg has been criticised for promoting a new caffeine-rich alcopop range being launched in the US called Blast by Colt 45.

The new alcoholic fruit drinks range from the Pabst Brewing Company had already been criticised over allegations it was targeting young people, and those critics have now lashed out at Snoop, who is seen posing with a bunch of scantily clad young women in a promotional video for the new beverage line.

According to AllHipHop.com, one critic, writer and activist Paul Scott, noting that Pabst Brewing has named its drinks range after a gun, told reporters: "It's called Colt 45 Blast because they are trying to blast the minds of our young people. Snoop Dogg, of all people, you should know what alcohol has done to all oppressed communities ... when you put a Colt 45 to your mouth [to drink], you are really putting a Colt 45 to your brain".

Neither Pabst nor Snoop have responded to the criticism. The drinks launch next month.

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SPOTIFY HIRES DOMINO DIGITAL MAN FOR US TEAM
According to paidContent, Spotify have hired Steve Savoca, a longtime digital chief at Domino Records, to be its Head Of Content in the US.

When Savoca announced his departure from Domino on Facebook, writing "Goodnight Domino Records, you will be missed...", some feared there were problems at the label itself. He subsequently clarified that all was well at Domino, but that he had "moved on to a new opportunity".

Spotify is known to have been building its US team for a few weeks now as it gets ready for its much delayed launch Stateside. As previously reported, it is thought Spotify may have deals more or less in place to launch in the US with three of the majors, and could therefore launch this summer.

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BELIEVE APPOINTMENTS
Digital distributor Believe Digital announced three new appointments earlier this week.

First up, Alexis Hooper, who has worked with various independent labels as well as running his own management company, becomes Label Manager, tasked with building long-term
relationships with labels and distributors.

Second, an internal promotion, and Leigh Morgan has added the role of Trade Marketing Manager to his existing role as Label Manager, and will now also assume responsibility for the company's sales, promotion and marketing efforts.

And finally Shanni Elcock, formerly an intern with Believe, has become Social Media Manager for both Believe Digital UK and its incubator label Zimbalam.

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PETE TOWNSHEND: I'D HAVE BEEN BETTER OFF WITHOUT THE WHO
What better way to celebrate being interviewed for a special one-off magazine about your band than to claim that you'd have been much better off never joining said band? That is exactly what The Who's guitarist Pete Townshend has done in a publication put together by the folks behind Uncut magazine.

Asked what he would have done differently if he could do it all again, he said: "I would never have joined a band. Even though I am quite a good gang member and a good trooper on the road, I am bad at creative collaboration. I would have made a much more effective solo performer and producer working the way Brian Eno has worked".

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