MUSIC RIGHTS – INSIDE & OUT
A beginner's guide to music copyright – everything you need to know about copyright law, licensing, monetising copyright, the fight against piracy and the future of the music rights industry. Wed 18 May 2011

PROMOTING MUSIC - MEDIA, SOCIAL MEDIA AND MORE
How to build a profile for your artists - the state of the music media, traditional and new publicity techniques, social media and the future of music PR. Wed 1 Jun 2011

For more information or to book visit www.theCMUwebsite.com/training

BLAVATNICK'S WARNER TAKEOVER APPROVED BY THE BOARD
So, as was widely expected, Russian billionaire Len Blavatnik's bid to buy Warner Music was approved by the major label's board on Friday, bringing to an end a four month search for a new owner. In the end the successful bidder was an existing shareholder, a former board member, a friend of CEO Edgar Bronfman Jr and the favourite to win from the start. You have to wonder why they bothered with all that expensive flim flam of sounding out other bidders. Still, it kept the bankers in new hats.

Under the deal agreed by the board and the bankers, Blavatnik's Access Industries will acquire the whole Warner Music Group in an all-cash transaction valued at $3.3 billion. That means shareholders will get $8.25 per share. A statement from the Warner board said that it expected the deal to be completed by the autumn, assuming there are no issues with existing stockholders or competition regulators. Such issues are not anticipated.

Confirming the deal, the aforementioned Edgar, who has led Warner Music since leading the consortium that bought the music company from Time Warner in 2004, said: "We believe this transaction is an exceptional value-maximizing opportunity that serves the best interests of stockholders as well as the best interests of music fans, our recording artists and songwriters, and the wonderful people of this company".

He added: "We are delighted that Access will be the new steward of this outstanding business. They are supportive of the company's vision, growth strategy and artists, while bringing a fresh entrepreneurial perspective and expertise in technology and media. Most importantly, Access supports Warner Music's commitment to our recording artists and songwriters who are the foundation of our current and future success".

Blavatnik himself added: "I am excited to extend my longstanding involvement with Warner Music. It is a great company with a strong heritage and home to many exceptional artists. I look forward to working closely with the many talented people within the company".

There was much speculation on Friday as to what Blavatnik's ownership will mean for the future of the Warner Music Group. In reality, the answer is probably very little, in the short term at least, except that once the takeover is complete the music firm's balance sheet will look a lot healthier.

As previously reported, it is thought that Blavatnik's bid had the support of Bronfman Jr throughout, mainly because it was the one bid that would ensure that the Warner Music Group remained as one entity led by its existing CEO. There's also wide speculation that, with an improved balance sheet and access to bigger cash reserves, Bronfman Jr will now mount a Blavatnik-endorsed bid to buy EMI, which current owner Citigroup is expected to put up for sale soon-ish. If that were to be successful, Bronfman Jr would have the combined EMI/Warner he has long desired to lead.

Of course, any EMI/Warner merger would be subject to the approval of competition regulators in the US and Europe, and IMPALA, the pan-European trade body which represents the indie label sector, has already implied it would fight any such major label consolidation unless significant 'remedies' were offered.

Although cautiously welcoming the new investment in Warner Music as being good for the wider music industry, IMPALA Exec Chair Helen Smith told CMU: "As many commentators have recognised, if one of the market leaders Sony or Universal were to make a move [for EMI], they would meet a regulatory brick wall. Any attempt to combine EMI with Warner would similarly be blocked unless there are substantial remedies to solve the competition problems of going from four to three majors".

Actually, that an EMI/Warner merger would be blocked by European regulators is not a foregone conclusion, though any regulatory investigation into such a deal would be painful for both companies, and might make Citigroup more prone to sell to a non-music entity. The keyword, of course, is remedies.

Prior to Terra Firma's 2007 acquisition of EMI, when a merger with Warner was last a strong possibility, Bronfman successfully negotiated a secret deal with the European indie community offering various remedies - thought to include major label support for indie digital rights body Merlin - in return for a commitment from IMPALA not to fight an EMI/Warner merger. Presumably Smith is looking for similar offers from Bronfman if he does indeed plan another EMI takeover bid.

Finally in Warner takeover news, some business commentators have observed that the Blavatnik deal puts the only publicly trading music major into private hands. With both Warner and EMI now privately owned, and Sony and Universal subsidiaries of much bigger congloms, none of the music majors are now directly trading on a stock exchange, making it harder to assess City feelings towards the music business. Which is a downer, assuming anyone cares about such feelings.

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LIVE SECTOR JOINS UK MUSIC
Although UK Music - the trade body of trade bodies - in theory represents the interests of the whole music business, where those interests are allied, it does not actually represent the live music sector. Until now that is, because as of today Paul Latham of Live Nation UK is on the UK Music board.

There are no less than eight trade bodies representing different parts of the live sector, and there's a prize for anyone who can name all of them. Go on, have a go. No? Well, you've got the Agents Association, Association Of Festival Organisers, Association Of Independent Festivals, Concert Promoters Association, National Arenas Association, Production Services Association, we:Live and the International Live Music Conference. What do you mean you thought that last one was an event and not a trade body?

Anyway, it was unrealistic that all eight of those trade bodies could affiliate with UK Music, partly because Feargal's board table just isn't big enough, and partly because none of them would ever want to pay to fully join the uber-trade-organisation, this being the famously tight live sector (only joking live sector. Now, who wants to buy me dinner at The Great Escape this week?).

However, all eight have formed their own little sub-committee called the UK Live Music Group, which will meet every six weeks, and which will in turn have a seat around the UK Music table. That's right, the live sector has formed a trade body of trade bodies in order to join the trade body of trade bodies. God I love the music business.

Confirming all this, UK Music big cheese man Feargal Sharkey told CMU: "This is a fantastic development for UK Music. The coming together of the UK Live Music Group is hugely significant in itself - establishing a unique and powerful voice for the sector. Having their input at board level will be a huge asset for this organisation and we hit the ground running next week, with the publication of some groundbreaking research on music tourism".

Latham added: "I think it is long overdue that live music was represented within a wider sphere and UK Music is the most appropriate forum. Too many times decisions are made at a parochial level that have far-reaching consequences for our industry. Through the voice that is UK Music we would hope to become a force for pro-active change".

The affiliation of the live music sector with UK Music now is perfect timing - it means Feargal can referee the upcoming fist fight between the music publishing sector and the live industry regards what royalties promoters should pay to PRS.

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MUSIC THAT IS FREE IS HERE TO STAY: LIMEWIRE TRIAL UPDATE
OK, so LimeWire may be liable for the copyright infringement it enabled its users to commit, but forcing the Lime Group and its founder Mark Gorton to pay the US record industry $1.4 billion in damages would be "unjust" and "wouldn't change a thing". Not my words, people, but the words of Joseph Baio, who, it might not surprise you to hear, is the attorney representing LimeWire in the final stage of their copyright infringement battle with the Recording Industry Association Of America.

As previously reported, LimeWire shut up shop late last year after US judge Kimba Wood ruled that the technology company was liable for the copyright infringement its P2P file-sharing software enabled. The record industry is now suing for $1.4 billion in damages, which is rather a lot less than some initially expected (partly due to restrictions put in place by Wood), but still a phenomenal sum of money. As also previously reported, Wood has also said Gorton is personally liable for any damages awarded if LimeWire itself isn't able to pay (which it won't be).

Kicking things off last week, reps for the US record industry said that file-sharing, and in particular LimeWire, was "largely to blame" for the 52% decline in music sales that have occurred in the last ten years. But according to CNET, Baio argued that that statement was very misleading. A multitude of things had contributed to the slump in record sales, he argued, citing emails and public statements from record industry execs that admitted the late nineties CD ripping phenomenon and the music companies' own failure to capitalise on the opportunities presented by the internet at the start of the last decade were also to blame.

The legal man added that record sales had begun to slump before LimeWire really took off, and noted that if and when any one P2P service was shut down users found new ways to get free music online, presumably implying it was unfair to blame any one P2P provider for the desire among consumers to get their music for free. Reading from a memo from Warner Music chief Edgar Bronfman Jr, Baio concluded by saying "music that is free is here to stay", adding that Bronfman himself had said, when observing that fact, "the consumer has won". Consumers are to blame, presumably, not the tech men who provide them with tools that aid piracy.

The Recording Industry Association Of America's legal rep, Glenn Pomerantz, focused in the main on Gorton's apparent millions, telling the court the LimeWire man had deliberately set out to fill his bank accounts by enabling and encouraging others to infringe copyright. Gorton pretended to be ignorant of copyright law, Pomerantz said, and would refuse to comment on his service's legality, but he knew exactly what he was doing, the law man claimed.

The case continues. Wood said she thought the trial could take up to four weeks.

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OLD BAILEY RULING DUE IN DOHERTY PARTY DEATH CASE
The family of actor Mark Blanco will hear today at the Old Bailey if any incriminating evidence against Pete Doherty or two of his associates has been found in the investigation into the actor's death at a party in 2006.

As previously reported, Blanco fell to his death from a balcony in the building where said party was taking place. Some eyewitnesses said Blanco had previously had a run in with Doherty and his minder Johnny Jeannevol, though the host of the party, Paul Roundhill, denied this. What is pretty certain, though, is that Roundhill twice forcefully evicted Blanco from his flat, the first time punching him several times in the process. It was shortly after Blanco's second eviction that he fell to his death and shortly afterwards CCTV captured Doherty stepping over his body.

At the time, police investigations focused on the theory Blanco's death was either suicide or an accident, perhaps as Blanco attempted to make his exit by jumping to a lamppost. But the coroner rejected the suicide theory, and, on declaring an open verdict, encouraged police to reopen their investigations. They announced plans to do so late last year, and Doherty was re-interviewed in February.

Blanco's family have said that they will consider bringing a private prosecution against Doherty if police fail to bring charges. Their lawyer, Michael Wolking QC, told The Observer: "[The police originally] suffered an allergy to finding crime even though it is clear Mark was unlawfully killed. This week we will find out if they have overcome their shyness to prosecute".

Mr Blanco's mother, Sheila added that she would not go away and said the family had spend thousands of pounds investigating the death independently.

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FLAVOR FLAV ACCUSED OF SWINDLING INVESTOR
Having just taken his name off one chicken restaurant following accusations of business irregularities and poor hygiene at the establishment, Public Enemy rapper Flavor Flav has been accused of cutting a former business partner out of his new restaurant, Flavor Flav's House Of Flavor in Las Vegas.

According to TMZ, Tommy Karas filed a police report last week saying that he brought in investors for the new project, and even invested $30,000 of his own money, but was then cut out of the deal altogether.

However, a law enforcement source told the website that police would be unlikely to prosecute, saying: "The allegations did not meet the elements of a crime. It's a civil matter".

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BIEBER TO CAMPAIGN AGAINST CYBERBULLYING TO HAVE CHARGES DROPPED
Justin Bieber has agreed to make a public service announcement against cyberbullying in exchange for having 2009 charges against his manager Scooter Braun and Def Jam's Jame Roppo dropped.

The charges relate to an incident which brought Bieber to the attention of many outside the US for the first time. As previously reported, 3000 fans turned up to see the pop star in person at a New York shopping mall and went a bit crazy while waiting for him. So crazy, in fact, that police shut the event down and told them all to go away before Bieber had arrived.

Fans refused to leave on the grounds that many of them had seen a tweet from Bieber announcing "on my way to Roosevelt Field Mall in Long Island, NY to sign and meet fans! I'm pumped, see you there". Police then demanded that either Bieber or someone from his team send out a new tweet confirming the cancellation, initially asking Roppo to send it, who said he didn't have access to the account, and then Braun, who said he couldn't because he didn't have access to a computer.

The police claimed that neither Roppo nor Braun took the issue seriously. When Roppo was arrested, Braun did eventually manage to send out a tweet informing fans of the cancellation. Roppo was later charged with a series of misdemeanours, including endangering the welfare of children and obstructing governmental administration. Braun was formally charged also, and reportedly faced a year in jail if convicted.

On Friday, prosecutors informed a judge that they were dropping these charges after Bieber agreed to tell kids to stop bullying each other on the internet (presumably that includes not publishing the mobile numbers of your adversaries for your millions of fans to hassle).

Although an unusual move legally speaking, a district attorney told QMI that getting Bieber to speak out against cyberbullying was "invaluable". Meanwhile, Braun's lawyer actually said these words: "We started the week by bringing bin Laden to justice and we're ending on a happy musical note".

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JOHN WALKER DIES
John Walker, one of the Walker Brothers, has died aged 67 after losing his battle with liver cancer.

Walker, born John Maus, formed the Walker Brothers with Scott Engel and Gary Leeds in 1964. Maus had already adopted the surname Walker, and the three unrelated musicians decided on the Walker Brothers moniker because they thought it sounded good.

Although harking from California, and having a US record deal with Mercury, it was when the trio relocated to the UK that they enjoyed real success, quickly scoring chart hits and garnering considerable press interest, and building a considerable mainly teenage fanbase as a result. The Walker Brothers split in 1968, through reformed for three more albums in the mid-seventies. In between the two stints Walker also enjoyed some success as a solo artist.

In the mid-eighties Maus relocated back to the US and took an electronics course and became a technical consultant to various companies. But he kept his hand in music, initially combining his two careers and building a recording studio. He started to write songs for others and set up his own publishing company to manage his works. A record company followed in 2000, and in the last decade of his life he began releasing records and touring again, enjoying some success, mainly on the UK nostalgia circuit.

Confirming his death this weekend, a spokesman for the musician said: "Sadly John passed away yesterday morning Californian time, after a six-month battle with liver cancer".

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BIG GEORGE WEBLEY DIES
George 'Big George' Webley, the weeknight presenter on BBC London, has died.

Webley had worked as a presenter for various TV and radio stations over the years, and previously presented the breakfast show on the BBC's Three Counties Radio station before moving to his most recent presenting job at BBC London. He was also a former EMI musical director, and an accomplished band leader and composer, writing mainly themes for TV and radio, including the theme for 'Have I Got News For You'.

Confirming his passing, a statement from the Webley family said: "It is with great sadness that we announce the death of Big George Webley. Cause of death cannot be confirmed as we are awaiting the coroner's report. Our hearts go out to all those who share our loss".

Meanwhile, David Robey, Editor at BBC London 94.9, said: "Big George lived up to his name in every sense, a larger than life character with a radio personality to match. He was a truly distinctive broadcaster who will be terribly missed by his many devoted listeners and his colleagues".

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CORGAN SAYS ORIGINAL SMASHING PUMPKINS LINE-UP COULD NEVER REFORM
Billy Corgan has said that there's too much bad blood between him and his former Smashing Pumpkins bandmates D'arcy Wretzky and James Iha for them ever to perform together again. He might do something with drummer Jimmy Chamberlain, though.

Asked by Rolling Stone if he could ever see the band's original line-up getting back together, Corgan said: "No. That's just one of those things that are never going to happen. If you don't see somebody for a while, there's the old thing, 'Absence makes the heart grow fonder'. Well, we haven't had absence. The things that have happened between us in the interim haven't been good. There's been lawsuits and lots of stupid stuff. It's only made it worse. If it was bad before, it's really bad now".

He continued: "Jimmy and I aren't enemies - he's just off doing what he wants to do, as he should. There's not super bad blood between me and Jimmy that we'd never get on stage again. But I cannot in any way, shape, or form ever envision standing on a stage, playing music again with James and D'arcy. I just don't see any situation where that would be possible".

Elsewhere in the same interview, Corgan discussed the previously reported upcoming series of re-issues of the band's material, spanning everything from their debut album 'Gish' to the final release by the original line-up 'Machina II: The Friends & Enemies Of Modern Music'.

Explaining the bonus materials he was planning for each release, he said: "EMI would like a bonus disc of material. I think what it's going to have to be is a balance between some of the better B-sides that somebody who bought 'Gish' back in the day wouldn't be familiar with. I want it to be a document about the materials that surrounded the records, so if you're a fan of that record, you kind of get more of that record. But I want to be really selective and not just put out anything. I want it to be almost like a nice mix tape - if you're a fan of 'Gish', then the 'Gish' bonus disc would have some really cool stuff to listen to that's in that period".

He added that some albums have more previously unreleased material associated with them than others, saying: "For the first album, there are something like 30 demos from even before the album was made. So a lot of that stuff needs to be remixed, and there's a lot of good versions of things and unheard stuff. The second album, not as much, so I'm probably going to have to dig more in my home demos. I've gone on some message boards to see what fans are saying, and they think they've heard everything and they haven't. There's a lot of stuff we have that no one's ever heard".

The programme of re-issues will begin later this year, and will be completed in 2013, at which point a new greatest hits compilation will also be released.

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VESSELS' LEE J MALCOLM ANNOUNCES DEBUT SOLO ALBUM
Guitarist with CMU favourites Vessels, Lee J Malcolm has announced that he will release his debut solo album, 'Folded Spaces', next month via EPM Music. The record sees him move from the post-rock sound of Vessels to techno. Amongst the tracks on the album is a cover of Yello's 'Oh Yeah', which will be released as a single on 13 Jun.

Here's the full tracklist:

Massive Slab
One Star
Oh Yeah
Maximum Plank
Applicant
Rhodes Home
Stand By Your Eyes
Autobus Die Tek
Octonicity
Start Of Something
The Kracken Awakes

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BEASTIE BOYS WON'T TOUR UNTIL YAUCH ENDS CANCER TREATMENT
Adam Horovitz has said that Beastie Boys will not tour to promote their new album, 'Hot Sauce Committee Part Two', until the group's Adam Yauch has fully recovered from the cancer he was diagnosed with in 2009.

Horovitz told WENN: "He's doing OK. He's still in treatment, so it's not 100%, but things are looking good. We're not touring, we're just getting the record out - and we're not making any plans until he is better. Which is definitely going to happen".

He added that Yauch's illness and recovery would likely have a strong impact on their next album: "I have a feeling the next record is going to be the most insane party record you ever heard. Because if you go through something like what Yauch's going through, I mean, shit. After that, you must feel pretty good".

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TORI AMOS ANNOUNCES NEW ALBUM AND TOUR
Tori Amos has announced that she will release a new album, entitled 'Night Of Hunters', in September via classical label Deutsche Grammophon.

Amos said of the new album: "It's a 21st century song cycle inspired by classical music themes spanning over 400 years. I have used the structure of a song cycle to tell an ongoing, modern story. The protagonist is a woman who finds herself in the dying embers of a relationship. In the course of one night she goes through an initiation of sorts that leads her to reinvent herself allowing the listener to follow her on a journey to explore complex musical and emotional subject matter. One of the main themes explored on this album is the hunter and the hunted and how both exist within us".

Following the release of the album, Amos will also tour, playing a number of shows in the UK and Ireland in November. In addition to this, Amos' previously reported first musical 'The Light Princess' is due to open at the National Theatre in London in April next year.

Tour dates:

2 Nov: London, Royal Albert Hall
4 Nov: Manchester, Apollo
6 Nov: Glasgow, Royal Concert Hall
8 Nov: Belfast, Waterfront
9 Nov: Dublin, Grand Canal Theatre

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TAKING BACK SUNDAY POSTPONE UK TOUR
Some dates on Taking Back Sunday's upcoming UK tour, which was due to begin this week, have been pushed back to later in the year due to a scheduling conflict. The shows will see their original line-up back together for the first time since 2003.

The band will play The Roundhouse in London 20 May as planned, while their Nottingham Rock City show will move from 14 May to 19 May. The show at Liverpool's Academy venue will not be rescheduled, though fans with tickets to that show can transfer them to the Manchester date, if they wish.

Front man Adam Lazzara said: "We are terribly sorry to have to reschedule some of these dates as we are always so thankful for the support over in the UK. We promise to give you the best shows we have in us when we are there".

23 Aug: Glasgow, ABC
24 Aug: Manchester, Academy
26 Aug: Leeds Festival
28 Aug: Reading Festival
29 Aug: Bath, Pavilion
30 Aug: Norwich, UEA
1 Sep: Birmingham, Institute
2 Sep: Southampton, Guildhall

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FESTIVAL LINE-UP UPDATE

THE APPLE CART, Victoria Park, London, 7 Aug: Comedian and musician Tim Minchin joins an already bustling line-up, which includes Badly Drawn Boy, Chilly Gonzales, James Yorkston and 90s R&B throwbacks Soul II Soul. www.theapplecartfestival.com

THE BIG MIX, various venues, Shoreditch, London, 18 Jun: Ginger haired Rasta Newton Faulkner has been announced as the headline act for this year's Big Mix festival, which is put together by the Macmillan cancer charity. Joining him is Charlatans front man Tim Burgess and Treetop Flyers, and there will also be a DJ set from the Guilty Pleasures gang. www.thebigmix.org.uk

HARD ROCK CALLING, Hyde Park, London, 24-26 Jun: As well as hosting Meltdown this summer, Kinks veteran Ray Davies is newly confirmed to appear alongside Rod Stewart, Bon Jovi and The Killers at this London rock riot. www.hardrockcalling.co.uk

LOUNGE ON THE FARM, Merton Farm, Canterbury, Kent, 8-10 Jul: Joining in with the fun down on the farm will be DJ Format, Justin Robertson, Dub Pistols founder Barry Ashworth and afro-pop collective Fools Gold. Jack White-tipped folk duo Smoke Fairies also feature amongst this last batch of acts, with aforementioned co-headliners The Streets, Ellie Goulding and Echo & The Bunnymen set to dominate a bill that also includes Graham Coxon, Katy B, Annie Mac and The Vaccines. www.loungeonthefarm.co.uk

ONE LOVE FESTIVAL, Hainault Forest Country Park, London, 19-21 Aug: Taking place in the capital's leafy suburbs, the nation's foremost 'dub camping festival' will welcome Finlay Quaye, Scientist, Tosh 1, Christopher Ellis, and Dubatak. They join a score of other acts including Ken Boothe OD, Wailing Souls, Dennis Alcopone and David Rodigan. www.onelovefestival.co.uk

OXEGEN, Punchestown Racecourse, County Kildare, 8-10 Jul: N-Dubz, Brother, Big Country and Saw Doctors round off the line-up announcements for Oxegen's Irish bash, which boasts a rollicking good roster of big names including Beyonce, Coldplay, Arctic Monkeys, My Chemical Romance, The Strokes, Foo Fighters and The National. www.oxegen.ie

SOUNDWAVE, Petrcane, Croatia, 22-24 Jul: Billed as 'Croatia's best kept secret', organisers of this beachside boutique fest have revealed their programme of boat parties, with nautical hosts confirmed as, amongst others, Riot Jazz, Hyponik, Heducation and Mindonfire. As it stands, the eclectic electro-based bill also stars Bonobo, Little Dragon and Roots Manuva. www.soundwavecroatia.com

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SINGLE REVIEW: Chapel Club - Blind (Universal/Polydor)
For all their gothic posturing and faux smoke-and-mirrors obscurity, 'Blind' proves that Chapel Club are, for want of a better word, pretty ruddy boring. While their layers of reverb and grappling at elusive, epic sonic horizons is valiant; they fall short of the My Bloody Valentine et al references they clearly yearn to match, instead limply lilting into dull, well-trodden indie drear. Their lyrical obtuseness is more irritating than mesmerising, using allusion and obscurity perhaps in an attempt to befuddle us into thinking they're actually half way interesting. EG

Physical release: 16 May

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ERICSSON AND ORANGE DO DEAL WITH GUETTA
Sony Ericsson and Orange have confirmed they will collaborate on music-based promotions for another twelve months, and their latest partnership will launch with a venture with that David Guetta chap. The deal will mean Orange customers using Sony Ericsson Xperia phones will be able to download an app to access special Guetta type content, like videos and tracks and shit.

Look, here's the G man confirming all this: "We already have an important and really active community on the web, and I believe that thanks to the application developed with Sony Ericsson, I will be able to interact with a lot of new fans. They will be able to access my music more easily and I will be able to share how passionate I am about my life as a DJ!"

Meanwhile, here are some other quotes from other people.

Sony Ericsson's Pieter Pierle: "At Sony Ericsson, we are always looking for ways to reward consumers with exclusive experiences they can enjoy on their Xperia smartphones. David Guetta is a natural partner for us; he is a truly global star and understands the importance of communicating via social media. We are looking forward to delivering some amazing exclusives to Orange customers this year with this initiative".

Orange's Yves Maitre: "At Orange we are very excited about this latest step in our long-standing partnership with Sony Ericsson. Together, we have a shared philosophy for delivering music excellence. With this latest agreement with David Guetta we are bringing our customers closer than ever to the music they love, delivering a truly exclusive and interactive experience".

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SPOTIFY/VIRGIN PARTNERSHIP DUE TO LAUNCH IMMINENTLY
The Telegraph last week quoted a source as saying Spotify had done a deal with Virgin Media and that the two companies will launch a new digital music offer shortly. Look, here's the source saying that: "The service will be launching imminently - definitely within the next three months. Virgin is very keen to roll out the service but only when it's right".

As previously reported, Virgin is keen to add a 'comes-with-unlimited-music' option to its internet packages, and had hoped to launch its own all-you-can-eat MP3 download service. But when most of the majors expressed concerns about such a thing, the company started looking into offering some kind of unlimited streaming package, and has reportedly been in talks with Spotify about it powering such a service since last year.

The Telegraph's source continued: "It looks really good. Virgin is meeting with music label executives at the moment to discuss the finer details. The company feel like it has lost a bit of face having failed to get all four music labels on board with its original unlimited subscription plan - and so wants to be double sure that it gets its music offering right first time around".

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X-FACTOR JUDGING LATEST
Paula Abdul is the fourth judge on 'X-Factor USA' she has confirmed, while Gary Barlow is being hotly tipped to replace Simon Cowell as a judge on the UK version. That is all.

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PAUL MCCARTNEY ENGAGED TO NANCY SHEVELL
Paul McCartney is to marry his girlfriend of four years, New York businesswoman Nancy Shevell. The marriage will, of course, be McCartney's third, while Shevell was previously married to lawyer Bruce Blakeman.

McCartney's publicist, Stuart Bell, told reporters: "We're all thrilled for him".

With little actual information about the engagement being released, much of the media has focused on the fact that the couple have no pre-nuptial agreement. Although McCartney's lawyers have reportedly drawn up a one-page document stating that she will not claim upon any of the former Beatle's children's trust funds in the event of a divorce. How romantic.

A source told the Daily Mail that there was no need for concern: "Nancy's father is richer than God. She really doesn't need his cash".

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