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 27 Jul

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NEW MYSPACE OWNERS SPEAK
The boss of the advertising company that this week bought MySpace for the bargain basement price of $35 million (bargain compared to what News Corp paid for it in 2005) has been speaking to Billboard about why exactly he has shelled out for a flagging website most people have already written off. As expected, it is audience and content that Specific Media CEO Tim Vanderhook is interested in, rather than the technology that powers the MySpace platform.

He told the US trade mag that his company decided last year that it wanted to expand from being a successful advertising agency into the content business, and that MySpace brings with it great content partnerships - including licensing deals with most of the music companies (which will stay in tact despite the change of ownership, he added) - as well as a sizable user base.

Vanderhook reckons MySpace still gets 70 million unique users visiting it each month, while his colleague, International MD Colin Petrie Norris, told New Media Age the site still had four million "faithful subscribers" in the UK alone. Music will still be key to MySpace, though Vanderhook said the site wouldn't become an exclusively music-based service. What exactly will happen should be made clear in a couple of months, Norris added.

But what about this Justin Timberlake being the creative lead thing? I think we all assumed the owners of Specific were long-term friends of the pop-star-come-actor and that's how he came to be a backer of and advisor to their business. But no, it seems that once Specific decided it was going to buy MySpace the team there had a brainstorm about which c'leb they wanted to front the business, and Justin Timberlake topped their list. And then they managed to get a meeting with him. And he signed up. It's a crazy, crazy world.

Vanderhook told Billboard: "When we got in front of him and told him what our vision was and strategy was going to be, he got really excited. I think we touched on one of his passion points; to be able to drive a community where artists could be discovered and share their talent. He's got a big passion for that and I think we struck a chord".

As for the Timberlake's role, Vanderhook added: "Justin is going to be the creative force behind MySpace and will help us drive the strategy of what the tools need to be for artists and what the community should look like. I think any time you put the development of the product in someone's hands as talented as he is, I think it's a pretty good bet. Justin will have an office at the MySpace headquarters. He'll have a staff of about a half dozen people working on his behalf executing his ideas. Of course he's a busy guy with multiple careers, but when his time is open he'll be there to do things himself".

When Justin does go into work, he won't be going into an overly crowded office. According to the Wall Street Journal, MySpace laid off about half of its remaining 450 employees this week alongside the sale announcement, and further cuts could still follow. Just two years ago the web firm somehow employed 1400 people around the world.

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JESSIE J CANCELS FESTIVAL DATES
Jessie J has cancelled all of her forthcoming festival performances, after undergoing emergency surgery on her left foot, which she has broken in two places. At the weekend, the singer played on the Pyramid stage at Glastonbury sat on a throne and with her leg in a cast.

In a statement, she said: "Sorry doesn't feel enough to say, I am devastated for my fans that I know have been waiting to see me and working hard for tickets. I was so excited about the summer and I'm as upset as you all are. But unfortunately these things happen. I have to remain positive and I promise I will make it up later in the year".

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FORMER AUSTRALIAN IDOL JUDGE DIES
A Sony exec who rose to fame in Australia when he joined the judging panel of the country's 'Idol' show in 2009 has died, aged 36.

British born Jay Dee Springbett began his music business career in the UK, becoming an A&R for Sony Music. He moved to Australia in 2004, and became Senior Director of A&R for the major's Australian division.

In 2009, on what became the last ever series of 'Australian Idol', Springbett stepped in after existing judge Kyle Sandilands ran into controversy over a segment on his radio show, and was axed from the talent contest. Arriving amid such controversy made it hard for Springbett to initially settle in - and some criticised his judging style - though he told reporters he really enjoyed the job.

'Australian Idol' was subsequently axed, though Springbett continued with his day job at Sony, working with artists like Rogue Traders, Jessica Mauboy, Karnivool and Cassie Davis. And it was Sony Music Australia CEO Dennis Handlin who confirmed Springbett's passing this week.

Speaking to an Aussie radio show, Handlin said he became concerned for his colleague's welfare after he failed to return phone calls. He continued: "We thought we better let the police know because it's really not like him and you know they went to his residence and found him. It's just so difficult coming to terms with it".

Some media reports in Australia speculated yesterday that Springbett had been having issues at both home and work of late - that he had separated from his partner earlier this year, and faced redundancy from Sony - with the country's Sunday Telegraph claiming the music exec had been suffering from depression. The cause of Springbett's death is not yet known, though police have said there are no suspicious circumstances.

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LOU REED TALKS METALLICA COLLABORATION
Lou Reed has revealed more information about the previously reported news that he has recorded an album with Metallica, which he has modestly said is "maybe the best thing done by anyone, ever".

Speaking to New York Magazine, the former Velvet Underground frontman confirmed that the collaboration was to make recordings of songs he has written for a Berlin stage adaptation of Frank Wedekind's turn-of-the-20th-century 'Lulu' plays, 'Earth Spirit' and 'Pandora's Box'. The stage show, simply called 'Lulu', and directed by Robert Wilson, opened earlier this year.

Explaining the structure of the recordings, Reed said: "There are two stories [the stage show] 'Lulu' is based on. I rewrote 'Lulu' from the get-go, taking the original plot - mostly 'Earth Spirit', not 'Pandora's Box' - and followed it essentially from the point of view of Lulu and the various people who love her, until she gets involved with Jack the Ripper. The basics. So the Metallica version will have absolutely all of that and more".

He added: "The version of the 'Lulu' music I did with Metallica is awe-inspiring. It's maybe the best thing done by anyone, ever. It could create another planetary system. I'm not joking, and I'm not being egotistical".

The album's release is currently scheduled for November, at which point you can judge the size of Lou Reed's ego for yourself.

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SOULWAX RELAUNCH RADIO SOULWAX AS APP
Soulwax's David and Stephan Dewaele have announced that they will launch a new app on 4 Jul, which will relaunch their 'Radio Soulwax' project.

The app, which will be made available for free, has been two and a half years in the making with artistic director Fergus Purcell. Over a period of eighteen weeks, the brothers will release 24 themed one-hour mixes, which will feature exclusive audio and visual content.

To give a taste of what is to come, the first mix is available at www.radiosoulwax.com now, ahead of the full launch next week.

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DUM DUM GIRLS ANNOUNCE NEW ALBUM
Dum Dum Girls have announced that they will release their second album, 'Only In Dreams', on 26 Sep via Sub Pop. Two months later in November, they'll also hit the UK for some tour dates, culminating in a show at London's ULU on 17 Nov.

Says frontwoman Dee Dee of the new album: I've always wanted to be in a loud rock n roll band and still maintain some feminine sound. So even though this album is much poppier and a lot more polished, it's still tough".

Tracklist:

Always Looking
Bedroom Eyes
Just a Creep
In My Head
Heartbeat
Caught in One
Coming Down
Wasted Away
Teardrops On My Pillow
Hold Your Hand

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JARVIS COCKER TO RELEASE BOOK OF LYRICS
Jarvis Cocker will publish a collection of his lyrics, entitled 'Mother, Brother, Lover: Selected Lyrics', via Faber in October, it has been announced. The title apparently comes from the "embarrassing" number of times the three words are made to rhyme with each other in Cocker's songs.

In a video interview with Faber Publishing Director Lee Brackstone, Cocker discusses being "forced" into writing lyrics, the development of his writing, and the very first lyrics he ever wrote. Watch that here.

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VIVIAN GIRLS ANNOUNCE TOUR DATES
Vivian Girls have announced UK tour dates for this very month, and to celebrate they're giving away a free download of a track from their latest album 'Share The Joy'. Entitled 'Take It As It Comes', you can stream and download said track here.

Talking of streaming tracks, while you're here you should definitely also listen to the playlist frontwoman Cassie Ramone put together for us, because it is amazing.

Now, tour dates:

16 Jul: Brighton, Coalition
17 Jul: Manchester, Ruby Lounge
18 Jul: Glasgow, Captain Rest
19 Jul: Leeds, Brudenell
20 Jul: Bristol, Fleece & Firkin
21 Jul: London, XOYO

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UNKNOWN MORTAL ORCHESTRA IN THE UK NEXT WEEK
Indie rock trio Unknown Mortal Orchestra, who release their eponymous debut album through Matador/True Panther Sounds on 18 Jul, will be in the UK next week for some gigs around their appearance at the Lounge On The Farm festival.

Check out a track form the album, 'Little Blu House', here:
soundcloud.com/fatpossum/unknown-mortal-orchestra-1

Tour dates:

5 Jul: London, The Lexington
9 Jul: London, Royal Albert Hall (Elgar Room)
10 Jul: Lounge On The Farm
11 Jul: London, Rough Trade East (in-store)

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LOVE INKS ANNOUNCE UK TOUR
CMU Approved lo-fi trio Love Inks, who released their debut album through Hell, Yes! earlier this year, have announced their first ever UK tour. What fun.

The shows aren't until September, so until then amuse yourself by watching this fan-made video for their track, 'Too Wild': youtu.be/Vx82lWOjRis

Tour dates:

21 Sep: Bristol, The Thelka
22 Sep: London, CAMP Basement
23 Sep: Nottingham, Red Room
24 Sep: Liverpool, The Williamson Tunnels
25 Sep: Glasgow, The Captain's Rest
26 Sep: Manchester, The Castle
27 Sep: Brighton, Sticky Mike's

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NEW ABERDEEN FESTIVAL CANCELLED
A new music festival due to launch in Aberdeen this month has been axed just four weeks before show time because of poor ticket sales.

Promoter of the Northern Lights Festival, Jim Sandison, said in a statement: "We're so sorry to announce that the Northern Lights Music Festival has been cancelled. This has been a heartbreaking decision to make, which has simply been taken out of our hands due to poor ticket sales. To those that have supported the festival from the beginning by buying tickets, we can only thank you and apologise".

It is thought complications booking a Saturday headliner also played a part, with some responding to the cancellation on the festival's Facebook page by saying they were waiting for confirmation of the 'mystery guest' headline act before deciding whether to buy tickets. According to STV, promoters were in talks with Faithless about being headliners, but said talks fell through.

Sandison added that everyone who bought tickets for the cancelled event will be able to get a refund from point of purchase, concluding: "We can't even begin to explain how we're feeling right now and we're so sorry - we just tried to something for the good of all but, alas, it wasn't to be".

Some locals have now launched an online petition calling for the festival to be saved.

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FESTIVAL LINE-UP UPDATE

THE APPLE CART, Victoria Park, London, 7 Aug: Cheeky indie cherub Patrick Wolf finds himself in 'The Magic Position' of being the lone latest addition to this East London-based bespoke bash, which thus far is also set to welcome the likes of Tim Minchin, Chilly Gonzalez, James Yorkston, Badly Drawn Boy and The Magic Numbers. www.theapplecartfestival.com

BESTIVAL, Robin Hill Country Park, Isle Of Wight, 8-11 Sept: Hurrah! Icelandic kook Björk has been unveiled as Bestival's closing headliner, bringing her new 'Biophilia' project and some classic alt-hits to what will be her only outdoor festival appearance this year. An impressive array of fellow late bookings includes Brian Wilson, Robyn, Crystal Castles, Diplo, DJ Shadow, Katy B and Grandmaster Flash. They join the likes of The Cure, Pendulum, PJ Harvey, Public Enemy, OFWGKTA, Primal Scream and The Macabees on the overall line-up. Again, hurrah! www.bestival.net

THE GREEN MAN FESTIVAL, Glanusk Park, Powys, Wales, 19-21 Aug: A raft of acts fresh on the bill at Green Man stalwart and giant Bedouin marquee, the Chai Wallahs, features such eclectic names as The Boxettes, Afrik Bawantu, Alternative Dubstep Orchestra and Cocos Lovers. Also partaking in the homespun hedonism of Wales' worldly fest are the previous mentioned likes of Explosions In The Sky, Fleet Foxes, Laura Marling, Villagers, Holy Fuck, Lia Ices and Dry The River. www.greenman.net

LATITUDE, Henham Park Estate, Suffolk, 14-17 Jul: Ex-Beta Band man Steve Mason and dubstep-soul-jazz-dub-electronica fusionists Submotion Orchestra comprise the music-related supplements to Latitude's heavily-populated roster, joining the close-packed ranks of acts including The National, Suede, Paolo Nutini, Lykke Li, Cat's Eyes, The Walkmen, Bombay Bicycle Club and Foals. www.latitudefestival.co.uk

MELT!, Gräfenhainichen, Dessau, Germany, 15-17 Jul: Editors lead those acts newly primed to head to Gräfenhainichen for a grand old time at this year's swelteringly-good Melt! bash, trailed closely by Architecture In Helsinki, Kitsune-signed Londoners Is Tropical, Australian duo Bag Raiders, and Icelandic combo Retro Stefson. They join such stars of the rather good existing bill as Pulp, Calvin Harris, Little Dragon, Crystal Castles, Les Savy Fav and Crocodiles. www.meltfestival.de/en

RHYTHM FESTIVAL, Old Warden Park, Bedfordshire, 26-28 Aug: Showcasing the best in emerging indie talent, Rhythm Festival organisers have added local bands Pearl Handle Revolver and Kilto Take to their final bill, with The Metarons, The Brays and Aside From Rod, a supergroup made up of guitar heroes Robin Le Mesurier, Jim Creggan and Gary Grainger also joining the line-up. Already-announced acts include Toots & The Maytals, Imelda May, Buzzcocks, Dodgy, Sandi Thom and The Blockheads. www.rhythmfestival.com

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SINGLE REVIEW: Vato Gonzalez feat Foreign Beggars - Badman Riddim (Ministry Of Sound)
Dutch House DJ Vato Gonzalez produced the instrumental that forms the backing of this track last year, gaining favourable reviews from the likes of Zane Lowe and Annie Mac for doing so.

But what can you do to make an existing track bigger? I know, get UK hip hop and grime outfit Foreign Beggars to add lyrics on top and turn it into summer smash hit! This musical cocktail just epitomises what Gonzalez's so called dirty house genre is about.

With its gritty bass line, and samples of Pharoahe Monch's 'Simon Say's', 'Badman Riddim' is vibrant, bouncy and just darn right funky, True, it isn't a complex piece of music, but it's this simplicity which will have this pumping from every twentysomething's stereo.

With Chipmunk, Lethal Bizzle, Wiley, Skepta, Tinchy Stryder, Kano and others harking from the same scene having had such a great couple of years, this song should slip into the public's consciousness nicely. As the summer slowly reaches our shores, be sure to be hearing this everywhere! SD

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MORE NAMES ADDED TO MUSICTANK EVENT
More names have been added to the bill for the previously mentioned MusicTank conference that will take place later this month to follow up that recent report by former EMI UK chief Tony Wadsworth on the future of the record company, which was launched at this year's Great Escape.

Called 'Remake, Remodel: Challenging The Dinosaur Myth', the half day event will take place at the PRS For Music HQ on 14 Jul from 2.30pm. Already confirmed to join Tony for the debate was former Sony UK President Muff Winwood, Universal digital man Paul Smernicki, [PIAS] UK MD Peter Thompson, Cooking Vinyl founder Martin Goldschmidt, and Robert Horsfall from Sound Advice.

The new additions to the line up of speakers come from the media side of things: Radio 1 music chief George Ergatoudis, WhizzKid Entertainment CEO Malcolm Gerrie and media analyst Alice Enders.

For info and to book and all that gubbins, get yourself to www.musictank.co.uk

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ELTON JOHN OUTLINES NEW BUSINESS VENTURE
Elton John has announced details about his new music company - the Rocket Music Entertainment Group - which he set up after recently parting ways with Twenty-First Artists, the management firm he founded way back in the day, but which he sold to Sanctuary in 2005, and which subsequently became part of Universal Music.

The new venture, apparently, is "an all-encompassing music company with the core of the business being focused in artist management". On the launch roster, other than Elton himself, are the likes of James Blunt, Lilly Allen, Just Jack, Dirty Vegas, Pnau and Marina & The Diamonds.

Yesterday's announcement confirmed the executives who have been recruited to run the enterprise, most of whom have worked for Elton and/or Twenty First Artists in the past. They include Frank Presland as Chairman, Todd Interland as CEO, John Barbis as Chairman North America, Mike Tierney as GM, and Will Ashurst as COO.

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THE HUT PLANNING IPO
Internet retailer The Hut Group, which operates various online mail-order operations, and which bought the Zavvi name after the high street store's collapse, is planning an IPO in a bid to raise about £100 million, according to the Financial Times.

The Hut Group is best known for its offshore entertainment retail operations, and has benefited greatly from the much previously reported VAT loophole, that allows such operations that are based on the Channel Islands to sell CDs and DVDs without charging sales tax, giving them a 20% advantage over mainland operators.

As previously reported, after years of lobbying by some current and former mainland music sellers, there are moves to close that loophole, possibly by banning CDs and DVDs from enjoying the tax relief, a move which would definitely hit The Hut. Which is possibly why the company is keen to stress that entertainment products now account for a tiny portion of its overall sales and revenues.

The FT have quoted one analyst who reckons The Hut is hoping to cash in on recent City interest in digital businesses with their part flotation. Said analyst says: "The retail environment is tough, but The Hut will try and compare themselves to online clothing retailer Asos, and successful tech IPOs from the likes of LinkedIn and Groupon. They have some quite punchy shareholders, but whether they can achieve an Asos-style valuation multiple remains to be seen".

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NME LAUNCHES VIDEO SITE
IPC Media yesterday announced the launch of a new standalone video website under the NME banner, which will combine selected music videos with video-based interview content. Universal Music will be the exclusive advertiser during the first month of operation.

NME's web editor Luke Lewis told CMU: "Quite simply, we found we were producing so much fantastic video content each week, we'd run out of room for it all. We wanted to give our videos room to breathe. Thus, NME Video is designed to be a luxurious backdrop for the best music, and a place users will want to linger. It's also a more social space, where users can rate videos, leave comments and share with their friends".

IPC's Group Digital Editor Anthony Thornton, who has overseen the launch of the new service, added: "With online video becoming the de facto digital entertainment experience for a growing number of internet users, it is only right that NME.com has developed an innovative product for an audience which consumes videos in a markedly different way to even their elder siblings".

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FAT MIKE SPEAKS OUT FOR EUTHANASIA, RECALLS KILLING MOTHER
NOFX frontman Fat Mike has revealed that one of his latest songs is an ode to his mother, which he wrote following her death from cancer. What's perhaps unusual about this is that Mike himself brought her life to an end.

He explained to Spinner: "It's a song about how I killed my mom. She was dying of ovarian cancer and she asked me to kill her. I felt like she brought me into this world, so fair enough that I take her out. If you're not backing euthanasia, you're a fucking idiot or some religious freak. How could you say no? This person is suffering and they want to die, they have incurable cancer and you are going say: 'No, do it the natural way'. Fuck you. It's what you do for your fucking mom, if you're a man. It's what she wanted. If I didn't do it, I'd feel terrible. I'd feel cowardly".

Hear a bootleg recording of one of Fat Mike's few performances of the currently unreleased song here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=KzHATYpVZeE

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AARON CARTER CLAIMS JACKSON GAVE HIM DRUGS
This seems a bit suspect, but one time teen pop star Aaron Carter has apparently claimed that Michael Jackson gave him alcohol and cocaine as a teenager.

Speaking to OK! Magazine in Australia, he said: "I never talked about it, this is the first time. I do ... miss Michael. I spent such incredible times with him. I did things with him that nobody else did... But I was also troubled about what he did to me".

He continued: "He gave me wine. I mean, I could have refused, but I was fifteen. He gave me cocaine. I felt weird about that and other stuff... We spoke afterwards, hours and hours, on the phone. I admired Michael, but his behaviour bothered me a lot. Then my mother called the police..."

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FORMER MTV CHIEF WHO FAILED TO BUY MYSPACE SAYS HE'S "SMILING"
It's widely accepted that when MTV co-founder Tom Freston stepped down as CEO of Viacom, the media conglom which by then owned the music TV network, in 2006, it was because of disagreements with the media firm's Chairman and majority shareholder Sumner Redstone.

Legend has it that the biggest squabble between the two execs came about because of Freston's failure to buy MySpace the previous year, which rivals New Corp had snapped up for a mere $580 million. Redstone, the story goes, believed acquiring MySpace was MTV's chance to get a head start in the then emerging social media space, which threatened to steal the music network's core audience.

As News Corp sold MySpace yesterday, for over half a billion less than it paid for it, the New York Times gave Freston a call. He didn't say much, but did confirm he was "smiling at the news of an impending MySpace sale" for such a relatively small amount. According to Billboard, Freston told CNBC earlier this year: "I'm still waiting for a thank-you note [from Redstone]".

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