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

THE GREAT ESCAPE KICKS OFF IN BRIGHTON
So, The Great Escape is go, people. Europe's leading festival for new music and the UK's biggest music business convention is up and running as you read this. Taking over Brighton for three days, hundreds of bands from across the world will play, while on the convention side over 100 industry leaders and innovators will speak.

As much previously plugged, Team CMU have programmed the TGE convention this year. Speaking ahead of the convention's kick off this morning, CMU Business Editor Chris Cooke said this...

"As Business Editor of CMU Daily I am frequently asked for comments by other media on the music business. Usually it's when more gloom has crossed over into the mainstream news agenda - piracy is up, record sales are down, revenues are falling, music businesses are struggling, major record companies are being repossessed.

And yet, probably to the annoyance of a doom-hungry news media, I remain stubbornly optimistic about the future of the music business. Artists continue to innovate while fans continue to be thrilled by musical innovation, and, despite what you hear, most of them are still willing to pay to be part of our party. It's just that they want to spend their money via different routes, and we, as the business that exists to enable musicians to develop their sound, reach an audience and live off their art, have to get better at identifying where the money is, and how to link that income to new talent investment.

It's sounds complicated, I know, but people are already doing it, and it's this 'new music business' that we are here to discuss, discover and celebrate at The Great Escape. We have over 100 leaders and innovators speaking, and we hope that by listening to them our delegates will be inspired, informed and motivated to continue scouting, developing, funding, distributing, promoting, producing, making, marketing and enjoying great new music".

So, there you have it. The Great Escape runs until Saturday. You'll find more information at www.escapegreat.com, and you can check out the full convention programme and all our coverage of the event as it unfolds at www.theCMUwebsite.com/thegreatescape

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KATY PERRY BREAKS US RADIOPLAY RECORD
Katy Perry's new single 'ET', which features that Kanye West fella, has broken the record for the highest number of plays on US radio in a week, a record she already held. Previously, her song 'California Gurls', which features that Snoop Dogg bloke, scored 12,159 plays in seven days, according to Nielsen. But last week 'ET' just topped it with 12,330 total plays. So, that's nice.

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KILLERS TO BEGIN WORK ON FOURTH ALBUM
The Killers will begin work on their fourth album next week, drummer Ronnie Vannucci has revealed. Vannucci is preparing to release his debut solo album, 'Big Talk', on 11 Jul.

He told Xfm: "Tuesday I think we start doing some writing again. We have piles of songs we want to show each other. We're going to get back in that room and start working".

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LADY GAGA TO PREVIEW ALBUM ON FARMVILLE
Lady Gaga has announced that she will premiere her new album, 'Born This Way', through a specially made version of gaming company Zynga's inexplicably popular FarmVille title, entitled GagaVille. Users will unlock tracks by completing tasks.

Gaga explained: "I want to celebrate and share 'Born This Way' with my little monsters in a special way that's never been done before. Zynga has created a magical place in FarmVille where my fans can come play, and be the first to listen to the album".

Zynga's director of entertainment and media Raquel DiSabatino added: "Lady Gaga is as passionate about her fans as we are about our players. This really was a great meeting of the minds to create an innovative and playful experience for those folks".

The game will launch at www.zynga.com/ladygaga/ on 17 May, ahead of the album's release on 23 May.

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SNOOP DOGG AND CHARLIE SHEEN COMPLETE SONG
Back in March, Charlie Sheen announced that he and Snoop Dogg were working on a track together. Oh how we laughed. Well, now they've completed said track and put it up on the internet for all to hear. It's called, perhaps unsurprisingly, 'Winning'.

It's not exactly clear what, if anything Sheen actually does on the track, but he had some ideas, which he articulates thus: "Well, the genesis of the song is about, you know, winning. It's just everything in life. I think Snoop did a really good job at encapsulating the whole vibe of, you know, the movement".

Movement? Well, here's the video: www.youtube.com/watch?v=GtqY2Z5AJFE

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DJ SHADOW ANNOUNCES FOURTH ALBUM
Not being one to rush things, DJ Shadow has announced that he will release his first album for five years this autumn. Entitled 'The Less You Know The Better', it will be released via Universal/Island on 5 Sep.

Shadow's new single, 'I Gotta Rokk', was played by Zane Lowe on Radio 1 on Tuesday, and the track was released to download stores in the UK yesterday. As well as 'I Gotta Rokk', the EP also features 'Def Surrounds Us' and 'I've Been Trying', which were released last year, and remixes of each track.

DJ Shadow will be headlining the first day of The Great Escape festival in Brighton tonight, then tomorrow he will appear at the CMU-programmed convention to speak about his impressive career to date.

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YOUNG LEGIONNAIRE ANNOUNCE TOUR DATES
With their debut album, 'Crisis Works', out this week, Young Legionnaire - aka Bloc Party's Gordon Moakes and yourcodenameis:milo's Paul Mullen - have announced a series of live dates.

You can watch the video for the duo's latest single, 'Numbers', here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=j_DMfPOjfoU

Tour dates:

21 May: Liverpool Sound City
1 Jun: London, Hoxton Bar & Kitchen (supporting Dananananaykroyd)
2 Jun: Leeds, Brudenell Social Club (supporting Dananananaykroyd)
3 Jun: Glasgow, Ivy (supporting Dananananaykroyd)
8 Jul: Sonisphere
23 Jul: Tramlines Festival
24 Sep: Jam, Brighton
25 Sep: Underground Festival
26 Sep: Bristol, The Fleece
27 Sep: Birmingham, The Rainbow
28 Sep: Southampton, The Joiners
29 Sep: London, The Borderline
30 Sep: Guildford, Boiler Room
1 Oct: Jericho, Oxford
3 Oct: Sheffield, The Plug
4 Oct: Newcastle, The Cluny
5 Oct: Glasgow, King Tut's
6 Oct: Manchster, The Ruby Lounge
7 Oct: Liverpool, The Shipping Forecast

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ANR ANNOUNCE TOUR DATES
Miami dance duo ANR have announced that they will be in the UK later this month to promote their 'Stay Kids' album, which is released via Something In Construction next week.

Asked what inspired the album, the duo told CMU earlier this year: "A lot of the major events of 2010 (the oil spill, the earthquake in Haiti, continuing social uneasiness), and the overall vibe amongst people lately. Also, the general environment and culture of our locale, both the beautiful and the not so much".

You can watch the very NSFW video for their track 'Big Problem' here: vimeo.com/21777575

If you are in the office, you'd probably best just download the MP3 here.

Tour dates:

16 May: London, Bush Hall (supporting Perfume Genius)
17 May: Bristol, Thekla (supporting Ariel Pink)
18 May: Manchester, Academy (supporting Ariel Pink)
19 May: Nottingham, Rescue Rooms
21 May: Liverpool Sound City
23 May: London, Heaven
24 May: London, Victory
25 May: Glasgow, King Tut's (supporting The Duke Spirit)
26 May: Leeds, Cockpit
27 May: London, Barfly

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SONISPHERE ANNOUNCES BALLOT FOR DAY TICKETS
The Sonisphere festival's organisers have announced that "in response to an overwhelming number of requests" they will be releasing a limited number of one day tickets. Presumably most of these requests have come from people who want to see Slayer, Metallica, Megadeth and Anthrax - aka The Big Four - perform on the Friday, but a limited number of one day tickets will be made available for each day. To avoid these going straight into the hands of touts, they will be allotted via a ballot system.

Announcing this news, the festival said: "In response to an overwhelming number of requests, we have been able to secure permission to put a strictly limited number of day tickets on sale via THE POWER BALLOT scheme. Due to the huge demand for day tickets anticipated, and the limited number that can be made available, we have decided to use a ballot system as we believe it is the fairest way to ensure that everyone has an equal opportunity to obtain tickets".

I think THE POWER BALLOT is written in capitals because you have to shout it when you say it. I certainly am, though the people I just shouted it at looked more scared than impressed, to be honest. Anyway, you have until 23 May to sign up for THE POWER BALLOT, with successful applicants informed on 25 May.

To put in your request, go here: kililive.wufoo.com/forms/sonisphere-day-ticket-power-ballot/

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FESTIVAL LINE-UP UPDATE

FUTUREEVERYTHING, various venues, Manchester, 11-14 May: Probably going on right now at this very moment, this Council-funded music and arts fest will host over the next few days a rather good programme of acts including Fucked Up, Dark Dark Dark, Das Racist, Scout Niblett, EMA and Suuns. Warpaint and 65daysofstatic lead the line-up on the closing day of the event, which is held across an array of novel venues including churches and warehouses. www.futureeverything.org

LIVERPOOL SOUND CITY, various venues, Liverpool, 19-21 May: Late additions to the Sound City bill are indie warblers The Kooks, who have just been confirmed for a special show at the Bombed Out Church. They join a finalised line-up that stars US indie heroes Black Lips plus Miles Kane, Frank Turner, Young Knives, Jamie XX and The View. www.liverpoolsoundcity.co.uk

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ALBUM REVIEW: Jessica 6 - See The Light (Peacefrog)
With the clear nods to the dance music of twenty years ago made by the (inevitably) New York-based trio on this sprightly debut album, it proves a surprise to see that it's not released on DFA, as it almost feels like it should be. Indeed, kindred spirits Hercules And Love Affair are an obvious but valid reference point (and not least since Antony Hegarty contributes guest vocals here, on 'Prisoner Of Love'), and fans of their two albums will find much to enjoy here.

Opening track 'White Horse' instantly reveals itself to be a modern disco anthem - effortlessly simple mid-tempo melancholy pop, like some fantasy modern day collaboration between Ewan Pearson and still-good Madonna. And whilst NY disco is clearly a key influence, the material is far from one-dimensional; the title track tries the kind of cross-genre pollination Santigold had some success with, whilst elsewhere there's sultry balladry (including a gorgeous torch song in 'Not Anymore'), Prince-style P-funk and, on 'In The Heat', the kind of euphoric, melodic house that you might hear Frankie Knuckles or Marshall Jefferson playing in the late 80s.

Named after a Logan's Run character, the music here is all shot through with a cinematic moodiness that, along with Nomi Ruiz's compelling voice, helps elevate the whole thing from potentially mediocre to genuinely memorable. MS

Physical release: 6 Jun

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DAVID LYNCH ADDED TO IMS LINE-UP
Organisers of the International Music Summit, which takes place in Ibiza later this month, have added a last minute keynote to their programme - legendary film director David Lynch will speak via satellite about his recent and previously reported musical projects. The legendary film producer's sound engineer 'Big' Dean Hurley will also take part.

IMS co-founder Ben Turner told CMU: "This is a true honour. It was at the IMS twelve months ago that I heard 'Good Day Today' for the first time, sat in the hills of Santa Agnes in Ibiza, trying to recover from the summit! I played this record and I was astonished it was produced by my favourite film director of all-time. Lynch didn't make it for the dancefloors - he just made the music he felt inspired to make. One year on, its an incredible moment to have him beamed into the Ibiza delegation at the IMS so everybody can hear his musical story, his vision, and his future plans in music..."

IMS takes place from 24-29 May - more at www.internationalmusicsummit.com

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THE HYPE MACHINE LAUNCHES IPHONE APP
It's about time The Hype Machine had an iPhone app. Thankfully, the blog-fuelled streaming website launched one yesterday, so it's all fine now.

The website boasts that the app "turns music blogs into radio stations", splitting your choices for streaming music channels into the latest music posted on Hype Machine affiliated blogs, the most popular tracks on the site, genres, what your friends are listening to and more. You cannot, however, search for specific artists or songs.

The app costs £1.79 from the UK iTunes App Store. More info here: hypem.com/#!/iphone

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AMAZING MEDIA LAUNCH D2F SALES PLATFORM
Amazing Media, the company behind the unsigned bands digital radio station Amazing Radio, is entering the direct-to-fan space by offering artists a platform to host their music, which they can then either sell or giveaway. If they go for the former, they get 100% of the revenue, which, Team Amazing point out, isn't the case with most of the existing players in the D2F space (getting a cut of download sales generally an important revenue stream for other providers of fan engagement platforms).

Says Team Amazing: "If you think you have skillz on the mic, your garage band is the new Killers or you have a voice that could sing the birds out of the trees, simply create a new artist account on amazingtunes, upload your tunes, tell all your friends via Facebook, Twitter et al, listen to your songs on Amazing Radio and watch the royalties roll in!"

More at www.amazingmusic.co.uk

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WHITNEY HOUSTON BANNED FROM ALL FUTURE PRINCE SHOWS
Having recently checked into a rehab facility to seek further treatment for drug and alcohol problems, Whitney Houston has now also been banned from all future Prince shows. All of them. Ever.

According to TMZ, Houston attended several recent Prince shows, appearing intoxicated at all of them and annoying his staff. As well as behaving "erratically" and making "excessive ticket demands", a source told the website that she also asked several times to be allowed up on stage to perform with the musician, though was told she could not because Prince's people "didn't want her to embarrass herself".

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JUSTIN BIEBER VOMITS HIS WAY THROUGH SHOW
Justin Bieber was apparently called a "trooper" for making it through a whole show in Manila in the Philippines despite having to leave the stage several times to be sick.

Prior to the show earlier this week, Bieber tweeted: "Sick as a dog, but the show must go on. Got called a trooper".

Afterwards he announced: "Sick or not that show went hard! That show was great but tough. Real sick. Time to rest".

Poor old Justin. It almost seems a shame to finish this story by linking to a video of him getting hit in the face: www.youtube.com/watch?v=0e50vqY7Szo

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