LIVE NATION INTERESTED IN WARNER LABELS
So this is interesting, according to the Wall Street Journal a new bidder has entered into the Warner Music race - a certain Live Nation. Little is known about the company's bid, but it is thought its offer is one of seven currently being reviewed by Goldman Sachs, the bankers hired by Warner's current owners to advise on a full or partial sale of the music major.

A few years back when all talk was of a potential EMI/Warner merger, we noted how Live Nation merging with one or the other of the music rights majors would possibly make more sense, given the future of the music industry is clearly big companies having interests in multiple strands of the business.

Plus a Live Nation-owned Warner Music would have caused fewer regulatory concerns amongst the competition authorities than a Warner/EMI merger, though that was before Live Nation merged with Ticketmaster, bringing dominance in the ticketing sector and a major stake in the artist management domain. So much so, if Live Nation bids for even some of Warner - some reckon it's the record labels it wants - was to be successful some sort of anti-trust investigation would surely follow.

Still, a combined Live Nation/Warner Records would still be an interesting company, even if it would cause concern to competition regulators and the independent companies which would surely lobby them. So much so, it's definitely worth keeping an eye on this bid.

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SMILEY CULTURE'S FAMILY DEMAND FULL INVESTIGATION INTO DEATH
Family and friends of Smiley Culture demanded answers over the death of the reggae MC during a meeting of the Metropolitan Police Authority earlier this week.

As previously reported, Smiley Culture, real name David Emmanuel, died during a police raid on his Surrey home last month. While under arrest he was apparently allowed to go to his kitchen alone to make a cup of tea, where he died of a single stab wound to the heart. An inquest was told that the wound was self-inflicted.

The meeting at City Hall this week grew tense as Emmanuel's death was discussed, the Guardian reports, particularly when Met Acting Commissioner Tim Godwin attempted to move the discussion on to other topics, saying: "It is wrong to jump to judgment either way until we see the evidence that is produced. And my sympathies are extended to the family and friends. I hope the investigation will be thorough and speedy and open to scrutiny at the end".

Former adviser to Ken Livingstone during his time as London mayor, Lee Jasper shouted from the gallery: "Is there a letter of condolence? It would be nice, if you died in custody, would it not?"

A close friend of the rapper then cried "murderers" and "you're killing us" before being removed by friends. The meeting was then adjourned after attendees in the public gallery began to chant: "no justice, no peace" and others in the room walked out in protest, one such person, MPA member Cindy Butts, saying: "It has been 30 years since the Brixton riots and so much has changed but we have so much [still] to do".

Speaking in the lobby, Jasper said: "Smiley Culture was a friend of mine. We've had a suspicious death in custody and we want answers and we want them quick. So, whatever process or investigation that they have, they better fast track. Because I tell you what, you've got a black community here that are on boiling point and everybody needs to know that we're not simply going to lay back and wait for the long road of justice to deliver fifteen years later. We want answers and we want them now".

The Independent Police Commission's investigation into Emmanuel's death is ongoing. His family are organising a march through London on 16 Apr from south London to New Scotland Yard.

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AC/DC DRUMMER HAS DRUGS CONVICTION OVERTURNED
AC/DC drummer Phil Rudd has had a conviction for marijuana possession in New Zealand overturned on the grounds that it would stop him from being able to tour with the band.

As previously reported, Rudd was convicted in December last year after police found 25 grams of the drug on his boat back in October. Rudd pleaded guilty to the charge and requested that, in return, the court not give him a criminal record in relation to the incident because of the effect it would have on his career. It was an ambitious plea really, and the judge at the time was having none of it.

However, at an appeal hearing this week, Rudd's lawyer Craig Tuck argued that the consequences of the conviction were far greater than the gravity of the crime. The drugs conviction would mean that he would be unable to tour in Japan, Canada or the US. According to the New Zealand Herald News, Tuck said: "My client may be 56 but he is as motivated to be involved in the industry as he ever was ... I ask you to allow him to continue his stellar career".

The judge on this occasion agreed, granting the appeal but ordering Rudd to pay NZ$1500 to cover the prosecution's costs.

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PARLIAMENTARY JAZZ AWARDS NOMINATIONS ANNOUNCED
The nominations for this year's Parliamentary Jazz Awards have been announced. Now in their seventh year, the awards are organised by the All Party Parliamentary Jazz Appreciation Group and sponsored by PPL and Jazz Services.

PPL's CEO and Chairman Fran Nevrkla told CMU: "We at PPL are delighted to continue our long standing relationship with APPJAG and to be the main sponsor of these Awards. I would like to extend my personal thanks and appreciation to Michael Connarty MP and to Lord Colwyn for doing such a fantastic job in co-chairing and running APPJAG. I would also like to thank all the judges for their time and Paul Gambaccini for being such a unique and virtuoso host of the event. These Jazz Awards remain a special night for Parliament, the jazz community and award recipients as well as for PPL and the music industry generally".

The winners will be announced at the House Of Commons Terrace Pavilion on 17 May. Here are the nominations in full:

Jazz Musician Of The Year: Brian Kellock, Django Bates, Jim Hart

Jazz Album Of The Year: Django Bates - Beloved Bird, John Turville - Midas, Norma Winstone - Stories Yet To Tell, Tim Whitehead - Colour Beginnings

Jazz Ensemble Of The Year: Brass Jaw, Jason Yarde/Andrew McCormack, Scottish National Jazz Orchestra

Jazz Promoter/Venue Of The Year: 606 Club, Birmingham Jazz, Hideaway, London Jazz Festival, Scarborough Jazz Festival, Vortex Jazz Club

Jazz Journalist Of The Year: Alyn Shipton, John Fordham, Kevin Le Gendre

Jazz Broadcaster Of The Year: Alan Steadman, Helen Mayhew, Jez Nelson, Mike Chadwick, Paul Barnes

Jazz Publication Of The Year: Jazz UK, LondonJazz.blogspot.com, 'Goin' Home: The Uncompromising Life and Music Of Ken Colyer' by Mike Pointon, Ray Smith, Martin Colyer

Jazz Education Award: Dr Ian Darrington MBE, Nick Smart, Professor Tommy Smith

Services To Jazz Award: Coleridge Goode, Dr Ian Darrington MBE, Peter Ind

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AWARDS FOR UNSIGNED BANDS LAUNCHED
A new online awards thing cunningly calling itself the Online Music Awards has been launched. Sponsored by St Helier's Cider it has been set up to honour the best unsigned artists in the UK (the descriptive name nonetheless fails to get this across).

Awards will go to artists working in the fields of urban, rock, pop and dance, as well as one international act, plus best music video and best music website.

The organisers say this: "St Helier Cider Online Music Awards have been created to fill a void in today's music industry. Unsigned artists who have previously been ignored can now showcase their talents to a global audience, gaining much needed exposure and recognition. St Helier Cider Online Music Awards give musicians who are currently unsigned to a major label the opportunity to be rewarded for their work by the people who matter - the fans".

More info at www.onlinemusicawards.org

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HOLE NOT REFORMING (YOU KNOW, THE ACTUAL HOLE)
Yes, yes, Courtney Love will tell you that Hole already returned. But if you remember, it was just that she rebadged her last solo album as a Hole one. Classic line-up members guitarist Erik Erlandson, drummer Patty Schemel, and bassist Melissa Auf Der Maur were not involved.

But this week the four former bandmates did get back together for the first time in thirteen years at a screening of new documentary 'Hit So Hard', of which Schemel is the subject.

Ahead of the film's screening, the quartet took part in a Q&A with fans. Asked about a reunion, Schemel told the audience: "We haven't really discussed that between each other much. I'm not against it ... There's been little rumblings".

Quickly, Love shot back: "Rumblings! There's no rumblings. You're making a rumbling. If something's not relevant, I don't want to do it. As much as I love Patty, and I would play with her in five seconds..."

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RADIOHEAD BACK IN THE STUDIO
Radiohead are already recording new music, despite only just releasing their eighth album, 'The King Of Limbs'. And they were handing out newspapers the other day, you have to wonder how they find the time.

Jonny Greenwood told Q: "We're recording at the moment. We're just playing and making music and trying to work out what to do, really. We've stopped planning ahead very far and we're just making music and wondering where to go next and what to do".

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KORN GO DUBSTEP
Well, I suppose it was inevitable that something like this would happen eventually. And it's very easy to completely write it off without giving it a proper chance. So that's what I'm going to do. Korn are working on incorporating dubstep into their new album, which will almost certainly be completely contrived and awful.

I am basing this all on a 24 second clip posted to SoundCloud by frontman Jonathan Davies yesterday. He begins the clip by eloquently announcing: "What's up, everybody? It's JD. We're getting ready to fuck some shit up again. Check this shit out. It's new shit..."

He then treats fans to a brief burst of heavy dubstep, before shouting "YEAH!" and signing off.

But, hey, while it may not bode well for the new Korn album, it is a cool use of SoundCloud's recently-launched record function on its iPhone app. More of this please.

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INCUBUS TO CHALLENGE FANS
Incubus frontman Brandon Boyd says that the band will "challenge" fans with their new album. I'm not sure if this involves some kind of assault course. Maybe you'll have to do something like the bit at the end of 'The Krypton Factor' before you can listen to it. That would be cool.

Anyway, here's what he said: "This new record is different from anything that we've done. We're gonna kind of challenge our fans with this one, but I'm excited about that".

The as-yet-untitled album is due out in September.

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BURIAL ANNOUNCES THIRD ALBUM
Burial has announced that he will release his third album, entitled 'Home Counties', in June. Thom Yorke and Spaceape both guest on tracks on the album, which will also include all three tracks from the producer's recently released 'Street Halo' EP.

Here's the tracklist:

Stolen Dog
Mothercare
Home Counties (feat Thom Yorke)
NYC
Down The Kennel
Street Halo
Wimpy's Carpark
Lampost
DLR (feat Spaceape)
Knackered

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COMMUNION LAUNCHES FAMILY TREE FOR COMPILATION RELEASE
Communion, the label owned by Mumford & Sons' Ben Lovett, Cherbourg's Kevin Jones and producer Ian Grimble, has launched a new website to promote a compilation made up of tracks recorded during its takeover of the now defunct Flowerpot venue in London.

The week-long event saw a host of artists - including Mt Desolation, Lissie, Angus & Julia Stone, Kill It Kid, Matthew & The Atlas and members of Mumford & Sons - working alongside Communion signings such as Marcus Foster, Kyla La Grange and The Staves, writing and recording tracks during the day and performing gigs at night.

The album is due for release via Island/Communion on 23 May, and to help you get to grips with all the artists involved, the label has launched a very cool online family tree, which allows you to see how everyone connects and hear some of the music they recorded together.

The project was built by Airborne Digital Media, whose Director, Robert Giles, told CMU: "We loved the sound and feel of this project from the off. The overall presentation had to stay faithful to Communion's visually organic brand, so the technology and approach to the design had to compliment this if not make full use of its creative potential. The idea of a family tree being central to the concept was immediately obvious and with a 'Jack and The Beanstalk' approach firmly planted in our minds, we managed to unite tree and The Flowerpot venue very effectively".

You can view the website at www.flowerpot.communionmusic.co.uk. And if you want more Communion-related stuff, here's the Powers Of Ten playlist Ben Lovett put together for us ahead of the Flowerpot takeover last year.

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BILLY JOEL AXES AUTOBIOGRAPHY
Billy Joel will not now publish his autobiography in June this year. Joel told Associated Press that writing the book had made him realise that he didn't actually want to share secrets about his past with the world.

HarperCollins, which had been due to publish 'The Book Of Joel', has confirmed that its deal with Joel has been cancelled.

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GLASVEGAS STREAM NEW ALBUM, TOURING THIS MONTH
Glasvegas are streaming their second album, 'EUPHORIC /// HEARTBREAK \\\' ahead of its release on Monday. You can hear it right now via their website here: www.glasvegas.net/euphoric-heartbreak-preview

Having toured small venues to warm themselves up last month, the band will be taking in bigger rooms from later in April and on into May. Here are the dates:

23 Apr: Aberdeen, Music Hall
24 Apr: Edinburgh, Picture House
25 Apr: Glasgow, Academy
27 Apr: Belfast, Mandela Hall
28 Apr: Dublin, Academy
29 Apr: Liverpool, Academy
1 May: Leeds, Metropolitan University
2 May: Newcastle, Academy
3 May: Manchester, Academy
4 May: Cardiff, University
6 May: Bournemouth, Academy
7 May: Birmingham, Institute
8 May: Nottingham, Rock City
10 May: London, The Forum
11 May: London, The Forum

Once you've finished listening to the album, why not check out guitarist Rab Allan's Powers Of Ten playlist, which takes in everything from Britney to The Cocteau Twins.

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SEASICK STEVE TO PLAY GIG IN AID OF HOMELESS CHARITY
Seasick Steve has been announced as the headliner of the second annual Streets Of London Concert For Homelessness, which will take place at the Electric Ballroom in Camden on 26 May. All proceeds from the night will go to The Connection at St Martin's, a day centre near Trafalgar Square that provides specialist support to more than 200 homeless people each day.

Having himself experienced homelessness, Steve said of the show: "I hope you all come, I believe this is for a real good thing. At least, I'm gonna be there".

Seasick Steve's new album, 'You Can't Teach An Old Dog New Tricks', will be released on 30 May.

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FESTIVAL LINE-UP UPDATE

ATP CURATED BY JEFF MAGNUM, Butlins Holiday Centre, Minehead, 2-4 Dec: Bearded folk wonders Fleet Foxes are new to the Neutral Milk Hotel frontman's festival roster, with Robyn Hitchcock, Yann Tiersen and Scratch Acid also amongst the latest line-up additions. A collective of musicians from NMH's label Elephant 6 are also set to perform under the moniker 'Holiday Surprise', which sounds like it might be surprising. Tinariwen, Superchunk, The Raincoats and A Hawk & A Hacksaw are some of the acts already on the bill. www.atpfestival.com/events/jeffmangum.php

ATP NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS, Butlin's Resort, Minehead, Somerset, 9-11 Dec: Co-curators Battles, Caribou and Les Savy Fav have secured legend and all-round nice bloke Gary Numan for their wintery ATP incarnation, with Bitch Magnet, Holy Fuck, Factory Floor and The Dodos also just added. An existing bill includes performances from the three host bands, as well as Marnie Stern, Archers Of Loaf and Flying Lotus. www.atpfestival.com/events/nightmare2011.php

EXIT, Novi Sad, Serbia, 7-10 Jul: EXIT festival gets a boost with the revelation that Jamiroquai, House Of Pain and thrash metallers Kreator are all set to head to Serbia for its four-day course. In the unlikely event that this trio doesn't tickle your fancy, fear not, because an existing line-up topped by Arcade Fire, Pulp, Portishead and Deadmau5 cannot fail to please even the most discerning of festival fans. www.exitfest.org

GLOBAL GATHERING, Long Marston Airfield, Warwickshire, 29-30 Jul: Taking the helm at the heavyweight dance-a-thon this summer are Main Stage headliners Tinie Tempah and Pendulum, with Underworld and Chase & Status also featuring highly on the bill alongside Labrinth, YasmIn, Professor Green and Sub Focus. Spinning tunes in the Wax:On arena are Annie Mac, Boys Noize, Rusko, Jack Beats and more. www.globalgathering.com

IMS GRAND FINALE FESTIVAL, Dalt Vila, Ibiza, 27 May: With panoramic views across the Baltic sea, this year's edition of IMS will welcome DJ sets from co-founder Pete Tong, with 2manydjs, Soulwax and Dubfire scheduled to shake the foundations of Ibiza's Old Town. Let's hope they are sturdy enough to withstand live performances from Hercules & Love Affair and The Japanese Pornstars, who are also booked to appear. www.internationalmusicsummit.com

INTERNATIONAL SKA FESTIVAL, The Clapham Grand Theatre, London, 21-24 Apr: Organisers have assembled an impressive array of grass-roots ska bands and international DJs to play at the colourful culturefest, with Jamaican reggae stalwarts Bob Andy & Marcia Griffiths joined by Ken Boothe, reuniting 70s duo Dave & Ansel Collins, James Hunter and Dub Pistols just some of the acts set to grace the stage at Clapham's Grand Theatre. Festival goers will also be treated to DJ sets from Lynval Golding of The Specials, Mark Lamarr, and Gaz Mayall. www.londoninternationalskafestival.co.uk

MAGIC LOUNGEABOUT, Broughton Hall, Yorkshire, 29-31 Jul: The family-friendly boutique bash is poised to welcome Crazy P, Ed Sheeran, Mr B The Gentleman Rhymer, Misty Miller and DJs Justin Unabomber and Mixmaster Morris to a line-up that already boasts headliners Badly Drawn Boy and The Human League, with worthy support from a raft of acts including New Young Pony Club and Fenech-Soler. www.themagicloungeabout.net

PARKLIFE WEEKENDER, Platts Field Park, Manchester, 11-12 Jun: Dance fans at this year's Parklife Weekender can expect performances from latest line-up announcees Two Door Cinema Club and Everything Everything, who join acts like Simian Mobile Disco, Mark Ronson, Kelis and headliners Chase & Status. www.parklife.uk.com

SUMMER SUNDAE WEEKENDER, De Montfort Hall, Leicester, 12-14 Aug: I Am Kloot, McFly, Chapel Club and Example are a few of the acts recently thrown into an eclectic mix of Summer Sundae performers, with The Agitator, Born Ruffians and 70s pop icons Showaddywaddy also fresh on the bill. Already confirmed to preside over the proceedings are co-headliners The Maccabees and Graham Coxon. www.summersundae.com

SUMMERTYNE AMERICANA FESTIVAL, The Sage, Gateshead, 22-24 Jul: Country legend Lyle Lovett, and New Orleans soul queen Irma Thomas are at the forefront of the finalised Summertyne billing. Also spurring on the celebration of all things American will be acts including Raul Malo & the Northern Sinfonia, John Grant, The Secret Sisters and Abigail Washburn. www.thesagegateshead.org

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BRAND ADVOCACY COMPANY YOUTH ARMY LAUNCHES
A new 'brand advocacy' firm called Youth Army has been launched by 21 year old entrepreneur Callum Negus-Fancey, also known for his events company Let's Go Crazy. The company will provide a social networking service to brands and products to help expand their presence. At launch, it is representing record labels Universal and Asylum, plus musicians Clare Maguire and Chase & Status, amongst others. Board members also include Saatchi & Saatchi Fallon Group's Worldwide Director, Chris Palengat.

Pendulum and Chase & Status, Jho Oakley said that he had signed up to Youth Army based on his experience of working with Negus-Fancey's previous start-up: "Let's Go Crazy's online presence and understanding of how young people use social media has really helped Chase & Status to reach out to the youth market, and promote their music to a wider audience".

Ed Howard of Asylum Records added: "Youth Army offers a clever and quick way of directing an act's potential online audience towards it, generating buzz in the short term but crucially also creating long-lasting, engaged fans".

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MCFADDEN AND GOODREM SPLIT
Brian McFadden and Delta Goodrem have announced that they have split. Despite that lovely song he wrote for her.

In a statement, a spokesperson for the couple told reporters: "Delta Goodrem and Brian McFadden regretfully announce that they are no longer engaged, and after much consideration, have mutually decided to end their relationship. This decision has been made with a lot of soul searching from both parties with the realisation that they have grown apart. They leave the partnership with respect for one and other, wishing each other success and happiness for the future".

McFadden added via Twitter: "I love Delta and always will. She is one of God's living angels. I thank her for giving me the best years of my life. Please give us time".

Which is an improvement from "I like you just the way you are, drunk as shit dancing at the bar", if still cringe-inducing.

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ARK MUSIC FACTORY FOUNDER DISCUSSES WRITING FRIDAY
Ark Music Factory founder Patrice Wilson has been discussing how he came up with the masterpiece that is 'Friday', made famous, of course, by Rebecca Black.

He told the LA Times: "I remember writing 'Friday'. It was on a Thursday night, but I finished it on Friday morning. And I knew it was silly, you know? 'Tomorrow is Saturday, and Sunday comes afterwards'. I mean, everybody knows that, obviously, but I wanted the song to be simple and kind of sweet. People talk so much about how silly or stupid the lyrics are, but pop songs, they're meant to be catchy and to tell things in a simple kind of way".

He added that he is sorry that the poor quality of the song brought such a torrent of abuse down on Black when it went viral earlier this month: "I feel bad that Rebecca has been getting so many people criticising the song because it was me that wrote it".

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