CABLE TO BACK HARGREAVES' KEY FINDINGS
Business Secretary Vince Cable will today give his formal support to the Hargreaves Review, which presumably means his Tory colleagues on the cabinet all plan to shred the copyright-reinventing report as soon as it lands on their desks and never talk of it ever again.

As previously reported, Professor Ian Hargreaves' review of intellectual property law is out today (actually, it's already out, more on what is inside and how people are responding tomorrow), and while it's generally more friendly to traditional copyright owners than many initially feared, it still proposes a number of reforms, including the introduction of parody and private copy rights, and the creation of a central agency that will simplify the licensing process.

The report says that such an agency would also overcome the issue of orphan works, where commercial organisations choose not to make archive content available because one or more stakeholders are unknown, and they fear publication could result in a future copyright claim.

However, Hargreaves will not go as far as some expected him to with his proposals for reform. For example, it is thought he will not recommend safe harbour provisions such as those found in America's Digital Millennium Copyright Act, which specifically protect internet service providers and web firms like Google from liability for copyright infringement committed by their customers.

According to The Guardian, Cable will tell an event organised by the Alliance Against IP Theft later today that he agrees with Hargreaves' principle conclusion (and starting point, really): that the current copyright system has failed to "keep pace" with the fast moving digital economy, and that as a result it is too often an "obstacle" to research and innovation, and that it "impinges" on the day-to-day lives of too many consumers.

It remains to be seen how much of the Hargreaves Review becomes law, and how quickly. Some of the key recommendations of the 2006 Gowers Review of copyright have still not been implemented, and some key IP elements of the 2009 Digital Britain report were completely contradicted in the subsequent Digital Economy Act.

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FIRST 2011 GREENER FESTIVAL AWARDS PRESENTED DOWN UNDER
Organisers of the A Greener Festival Awards have presented their first certificates for 2011, for the Aussie festivals that have fulfilled the organisation's aims for making large-scale music events more eco-friendly. The seven festivals getting one of the eco-awards this time round are:

Bluesfest - Commended
Falls Festival - Outstanding
Peats Ridge Festival - Outstanding
Woodford Folk Festival - Outstanding
Splendour In The Grass - Commended
Island Vibe - Highly Commended
WomAdelaide - Commended

Says the initiative's Australia Co-ordinator Amie Green: "Our many and varied festivals have put in immense hard work, often excelling in creating initiatives which are slowly becoming the standard for festivals which care about the environment, such as on-site composting and pro-active land protection. These standards often have long-term benefits, particularly to events which own their sites. Standards are generally rising with some exciting trends becoming apparent, such as patrons reacting positively to voluntarily offsetting the carbon produced from their travel when purchasing tickets as well as the use of sustainably sourced bio-diesel becoming commonplace as an energy source".

She continues: "In a global recession we are proud of every festival who took part in the 2010/2011 awards scheme. Its not unusual to see a backslide when money becomes tight or locations are changed. Every single festival that gains this award has made a massive effort to green their event, and having worked for many years in the event industry I can say wholeheartedly that anything implemented over and above council or local regulatory requirements takes real determination and passion. Every award winner has shown themselves to be a leader in their field".

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KATY PERRY SPENDS A YEAR IN THE BILLBOARD HOT 100'S TOP TEN
Oh, that Katy Perry, she just won't stop breaking records, will she? Last week it was the highest number of plays on US radio in a week, now it's been announced that she's become the first artist in the history of the entire universe to spend 52 consecutive weeks in the top ten of the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart.

How did she do it? You really want to know? Well, read on. It all began on 29 May 2010, when 'California Gurls' went to number two. It was still in the top ten, having by then also spent six weeks at number one, when 'Teenage Dream' forced its way into the chart in August, slowly working its way up to number one a month later. After that came 'Firework', which hit number ten in November, the same week that 'Teenage Dream' left the top ten. With 'California Gurls' also falling down the chart by that point, that was the closest she got to losing her chart reign. Lastly, 'ET' joined 'Firework' in the top ten for its last two weeks in March.

As of right now, 'ET' is still there, and Perry can dance around singing: "52 weeks in the chart, I am like a very bad fart" to the tune of 'Firework'.

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CIBO MATTO REFORM FOR ALBUM AND TOUR
New York-based Japanese indie duo Cibo Matto have announced that they are properly reforming, having performed together for the first time in a decade two months ago in aid of the Japan disaster relief programme.

Other than the dates of a US tour and a preview video you can watch below, little information has been released, but according to reports they are working on a new album for release next year.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=uZs_BPg2xqM

For more details, keep checking www.yeahbasicallycibomatto.com

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NICKI MINAJ DROPS DIDDY
Rapper Nicki Minaj has dropped Sean 'Diddy' Combs and James Cruz as her co-managers, according to XXL. The hip hop magazine's website reports that she has now hired Gee Roberson and Kyambo 'Hip Hop' Joshua from the Hip-Hop Since 1978 management company.

A source told XXL that Minaj was unhappy that Combs was not as hands-on in the development of her career as she had been led to believe he would be.

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RODNEY P SIGNS TO TRU THOUGHTS
Well, here's some exciting news. Influential British rapper and former member of London Posse, Rodney P, has signed a new multi-album deal with Tru Thoughts, the Brighton-based label has announced.

Tru Thoughts co-owner and A&R man Robert Luis told CMU: "I'm a really big fan, and I own all of Rodney's records. He's been so massively influential, and what's interesting to me now, on top of all that, is how he's still pushing things forward with his new music and the people he's working with - one of whom is Zed Bias, incidentally another recent Tru Thoughts signing who also fits that mould of pioneering artists who have influenced a whole generation and are still innovative, still driven and coming out with incredible new music".

Rodney P himself added: "You could say it's a match made in heaven. I'm really happy to have signed to Tru Thoughts and I know I'll be in good company. I respect the label because it's got a bit of a different sound, and it's the kind of music that I get - that I really feel. So yeah, you can look forward to some really good new music!"

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POLAR PATROL PUBLISHING SIGNS HERE WE GO MAGIC
US indie collective Here We Go Magic have announced that they have signed a new deal with Snow Patrol-owned publishing firm Polar Patrol, which is administered worldwide by Kobalt Music.

Here We Go Magic's co-manager James Sandom of Supervision told CMU: "Here We Go Magic are delighted to add to their creative team by signing to Polar Patrol Publishing. The band's third album will come early 2012 [and] we're relishing getting to work with our new publishers with the new material".

As well as the new album, the deal will cover their eponymous debut and last year's 'Pigeons', plus the recently released 'January' EP.

Polar Patrol MD Steve Farris said: "We are all very excited to be working with Here We Go Magic. The band are currently recording a new album which, we believe, will take them up to the next level of their career. 'Pigeons' was my favourite album of last year so for me personally this is something of a coup".

Also on Polar Patrol are songwriter Johnny McDaid, who has written for the likes of Example, Lena and Snow Patrol, and Brighton-based electronic musician Kidda. For more information, go to
www.polarpatrolpublishing.com.

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DIZZEE RASCAL NOT IN THE STUDIO
Dizzee Rascal is not in the studio recording a new album, he's at home drinking tea and there's nothing you can do about it.

The rapper told The Daily Star: "There won't be a new album from me for a while, until at least next year. I hope that doesn't upset fans who wanted to hear something from me by the end of 2011. But it feels like I've released albums almost back-to-back since 'Boy In Da Corner'. I want to live life for a bit, kick back, see things, do other things and recharge my batteries. I'm always writing lyrics but as for recording it, that's on the back burner for now".

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FALLULAH ANNOUNCES UK LAUNCH
We've been banging on about Danish singer Fallulah for a while now, lamenting the fact that neither she nor her debut album 'The Black Cat Neighbourhood' ever made it over to the UK last year. Possibly because she's quite a big star back in her homeland and hasn't had time. But lo, a press release has landed in our inbox informing us that this will shortly be remedied.

She will play her first ever UK show at the Hoxton Bar & Kitchen on 15 Jun. Hopefully the first of many, because I can't make it. She'll also release her debut UK single, 'I Lay My Head', on 29 Aug, followed by the aforementioned album in early 2012.

Listen to 'I Lay My Head' here: soundcloud.com/purplepr/fallulah-i-lay-my-head

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FM BELFAST ANNOUNCE SECOND ALBUM
CMU favourites FM Belfast, who feature múm co-founder Örvar Þóreyjarson Smárason amongst their number, have announced that they will release their second album, 'Don't Want To Sleep', through Moor Music on 6 Jun. They'll also play a UK show at Cargo in London on 1 Jun.

The band originally caught our attention with a downbeat lo-fi cover of Rage Against The Machine's 'Killing In The Name' several years ago, but since then we've caught their high energy live show, which is almost at odds with that first album. After two years of touring, 'Don't Want To Sleep' apparently better reflects their live performances.

The first taste of the album comes with single 'I Don't Want To Go To Sleep Either', the video for which can be viewed here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=fponKJWY9fM

The album's tracklist is as follows:

Stripes
American
Believe
Mondays
We Fall
Noise
I Don't Want To Go To Sleep Either
Vertigo
In Line
New Year
Happy Winter

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FOOL'S GOLD ANNOUNCE SECOND ALBUM
New York-based afrobeat-influenced band Fool's Gold have announced that they will release their second album, 'Leave No Trace', on 15 Aug.

Having swelled to as many as fifteen members while touring their debut long player, the band have now shrunk back down to a five-piece, recording the new record in LA with Best Coast producer Presacov.

As well as playing several festivals in the UK over the summer, the band will support Ghanaian musician Ebo Taylor, one of their key influences, at the Hackney Empire on 14 Jul.

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DEFTONES ANNOUNCE READING AND LEEDS WARM-UP SHOW
Ahead of their performances at the Reading and Leeds festivals in August, Deftones have announced that they will play a one-off headline show at the Shepherd's Bush Empire on 24 Aug. That's the second must-go gig in today's CMU Daily that I can't go to. Who books these things? And why don't they consult me first?

Anyway, if you can attend, tickets went on sale this morning

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BON IVER ANNOUNCE UK SHOWS
Bon Iver have announce their first UK shows since 2009 in support of their eponymous second album, which is due for release via 4AD on 20 Jun.

You can download the first single from the album, 'Cagary', from www.boniver.org right now. It'll be released, along with a cover of Bonnie Raitt's 'I Can't Make You Love Me', on 4 Jul.

Now, the tour dates, tickets for which go on sale on Friday:

19 Oct: Manchester Apollo
22 Oct: Edinburgh, Usher Hall
24 Oct: London, Hammersmith Apollo
9 Nov: Birmingham Academy
10 Nov: Leeds Academy
11 Nov: Bristol, Colston Hall

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FESTIVAL LINE-UP UPDATE

DOT TO DOT, various venues, 29-31 May: Late announcements for this year's Dot To Dot are headed up by everyone's favourite comedic foil Mat Horne, who will be spinning tracks across both Nottingham and Bristol legs of the festival. Hurts, We Are Scientists, The Joy Formidable, The Phoenix Foundation, The Naked And Famous and Braids feature amongst the existing bookings. www.dottodotfestival.co.uk

EXIT, Novi Sad, Serbia, 7-10 Jul: Those attending this Serbian weekender can now expect performances from Editors, Santigold, Breakage and Danny Byrd & MC Dynamite, who have all just been added to the EXIT billing. Stars of the eclectic line-up so far include Arcade Fire, Pulp, MIA, Portishead and Beirut. www.eng.exitfest.org

GUILFEST, Stoke Park, Guilford, 15-17 July: Organisers have enhanced the Guilfest bill by adding Chipmunk, The Rifles, The Blow Monkeys and Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel to their weekend programme, with Lloyd Grossman's band The New Forbidden also set to join in the fun. To avoid making a disparaging remark about that last revelation, let's instead focus on the extensive list of prior announcees, which boasts the likes of James Blunt, Razorlight, N-Dubz, Adam Ant and Gallows. www.guilfest.co.uk

HOP FARM MUSIC FESTIVAL, Hop Farm Country Park, Kent, 1-3 Jul: Prince, yes, that Prince, has been added as a headliner. Whoop. They've added a whole third day, on 3 Jul, to accommodate him - existing ticket holders will be able to add the third day to their ticket for a £40 premium. www.hopfarmfestival.com

LATITUDE, Henham Park Estate, Suffolk, 14-17 Jul: The Walkmen, Adam Ant, Carl Barat, Cloud Control and Grouplove are all fresh features of Latitude's thriving bill, with performances also slated from previously-confirmed co-headliners The National, Paolo Nutini and Suede. www.latitudefestival.co.uk

MUSIC CROWNS FESTIVAL, Weald Country Park, Brentwood, Essex, 6-7 Aug: Headliners The Rifles, The Milk, Skepta and Stacey Solomon will be joined by acts including Toploader, Mutya Buena and DJ Brandon Block in the sumptuous surroundings of Essex's premier beauty spot Weald Country Park. Also an opportunity for unsigned bands to prove themselves in front of the attendant crowds, an expert panel of judges present at the festival will include Skunk Anansie's Skin, Samantha Mumba and former Babyshambler Adam Ficek. www.musiccrownsfestival.co.uk

SUPERSONIC, Custard Factory, Manchester, Birmingham, 21-23 Oct: Hosting an array of experimental acts including Zombi, Electric Wizard, Wolves In The Throne Room, LA-based art collective Lucky Dragons and the Pitchfork-tipped Secret Chiefs 3, this Capsule-curated festival will see in its ninth year in style, presenting a fusion of multi-arts events and performances. www.supersonicfestival.com

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ALBUM REVIEW: Battles - Gloss Drop (Warp)
Despite featuring an intriguing and eclectic collaboration list including Gary Numan and Matias Aguayo, this new album is essentially business as usual for Battles, ie form over content, wherein the experimentalism takes precedence over conventional musical tenets of melody and rhythm.

You could forgive the cardinal sin of trying too hard if it resulted in some forward-looking music, but sadly this dissonant math-rock is both musically conservative and largely bereft of memorable tunes. Wilfully making 'challenging' listening is not in itself big or clever, and whilst some might see Battles as kindred spirits of labelmates Autechre or other sonic adventurers, in truth this reactionary music has ultimately more in common with the likes of Beady Eye.

Like prog rock but without the endearingly silly costumes, the tracks on 'Gloss Drop' were effectively made redundant by the sort of stuff Warp was releasing twenty years ago. And as the group flail about, desperately searching for even a shard of a hook, it's hard not to feel that this is simply a case of tune-shy students jamming to no end other than impressing readers of The Wire. MS

Physical release: 6 Jun

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SOUNDRAIN BRINGS SELL-THROUGH TO SOUNDCLOUD
A San Francisco company called Minno has launched a new tool that enables artists to sell downloads via the SoundCloud player, meaning that artists or labels streaming via the ever popular online audio platform can now add a 'buy' button. Tracks sold via the new system, called SoundRain, will cost 99 cents, and artists will be paid via PayPal.

The new tool is the output of the recent Music Hack Day event in San Francisco, when Minno's founders teamed up with former Google employees Noah Ready-Campbell and Calvin Young to integrate their micro-payment system with SoundCloud's API.

Says Ready-Campbell: "Minno is like spare change for the web. It's fast and easy, and is great for small digital purchases you want to make on the fly. We could see how perfect this would be for any artist wanting to sell individual tracks at a low cost, and hassle-free for fans wanting to buy when and where they choose. SoundCloud¹s API has made it possible to do this and we couldn¹t be happier with the result".

SoundCloud founder and CEO Alexander Ljung added: "The fact that SoundRain was born at Music Hack Day just over a week ago is testament to how quickly these integrations with SoundCloud's API can come to life. By collaborating and connecting the services of two platforms, Minno has created a simple new way to help artists sell their tracks anywhere across the web".

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GLEE TO AIR ON SKY IN UK
The next series of musical telly show 'Glee' will appear in the UK on Sky rather than free-to-air E4, after the satellite giant reportedly offered the US programme's distributor, its own sister company Twentieth Century Fox Distribution, twice as much as the state-owned Channel 4 previously paid. According to the Daily Star, Sky will pay half a million per episode.

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DOMINO RECORDS TO LAUNCH RADIO STATION
Domino Records has announced that it is launching its own radio station, featuring shows 24 hours a day presented by the label's impressive roster of artists, including Animal Collective, Four Tet, Alexis Taylor and Wild Beasts, and other friends, such as Bobby Gillespie, Faris Badwan, Angular Records, and more. The only bad thing about this is that it'll only last for a week, but from 6 Jun, you'll be able to tune your radio to 87.7FM in London, or point your computer at dominorad.io anywhere, to listen in.

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WEILAND JOINED VELVET REVOLVER FOR THE CASH
Scott Weiland has admitted that the main motivation to join Velvet Revolver in 2003 was the money he was told he could make.

In a new autobiography Weiland admits he wasn't 100% convinced by the initial tracks he was sent by the former members of Guns N Roses who formed the band, but that he warmed to the project when one of them, Duff McKagan, indicated the project could be quite an earner.

In the new book Weiland writes: "They put some songs on a CD and my wife said: 'They think you'll like what they're doing'. I didn't it sounded like Bad Company and I never liked Bad Company. A week or so later another CD arrived with songs custom-designed for me. I wasn't sure whether I wanted to hook up with these guys".

He continued: "[But] Duff said: 'There's soundtrack stuff we've been asked to do, and the money's great'. The money attracted me. I can't call it the music of my soul. There was a certain commercial calculation behind it".

Velvet Revolver has, of course, been on hiatus ever since Weiland's acrimonious departure from the band in 2009.

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