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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MATHEW KNOWLES DENIES STEALING FROM BEYONCE
A new lawsuit filed by Beyonce's father Mathew Knowles has shed some light on why the singer stopped using his management services earlier this year. When it was announced that Ms Knowles' father would no longer manage her career in March no real reasons were given for the decision.

Speaking to Associated Press at the time, Beyonce said simply: "I am grateful for everything he has taught me. I grew up watching both he and my mother manage and own their own businesses. They were hardworking entrepreneurs and I will continue to follow in their footsteps".

However, it seems the father and daughter's professional relationship may have collapsed after the former was accused of stealing money from the latter, seemingly out of tour revenues. According to legal papers filed by Knowles Snr, seen by TMZ, it is revealed that it was Beyonce's tour promoter Live Nation which claimed that he "had stolen money from Beyonce on her most recent tour or otherwise taken funds that [he] was not entitled to".

Knowles Snr denies the claims and in his lawsuit is calling for a judge to take depositions from Live Nation employees to discover how they arrived at their conclusion that theft had taken place. He argues that the company gave his daughter false information in order to be able to take a larger cut of her touring revenues for themselves.

But, according to Billboard, when Live Nation first made the allegations against Knowles Snr, Beyonce's lawyers conducted their own audit of the singer's finances and also determined that her father had taken money not entitled to him.

Neither Live Nation nor Beyonce have as yet responded to the new lawsuit.

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TICKET SCAMMERS JAILED
Three men were jailed yesterday, one for eight years, for running a ticket scam believed to have taken over £5 million for tickets that didn't exist.

Terence Shepherd, Alan Scott and Allan Schaverien ran various companies under the Xclusive banner, which operated websites that claimed to be able to provide hard-to-get tickets for sold out sports and music events, in particular the 2008 Beijing Olympics and various music festivals. In 2008, it is thought that over 5000 people bought tickets via Xclusive websites, none of which were provided, and none of whom received refunds. As customers and the authorities started to become wise to the three defendant's activities, some of the fraudulent operations were transferred to a different company.

During a seven week trial, the court heard how Xclusive's activities not only ripped off their customers financially, but in some cases caused other distress, particularly as some family members of Olympic competitors had bought tickets for the Beijing games via their website. The mother of gold medal winning Rebecca Adlington told the court of her "devastation" after she realised she would not be able to see her daughter compete, having thought she'd booked tickets via Xclusive.

Having been found guilty last week, on Monday Shephard was sentenced to eight years in jail while Scott got seven years. Both were banned from being company directors for fifteen and ten years respectively. Schaverien, who pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting fraudulent trading prior to the trial, was sentenced for two years and eight months.

Passing sentence, Judge Martin Beddoe described the fraud as "a massive, cynical and utterly dishonest confidence trick which was motivated by greed". Meanwhile Richard Alderman of the Serious Fraud Office told reporters: "Xclusive was a sham that not only cost a lot of people their hard-earned money, but dashed their dreams. I am very pleased that justice has been done. Now we shall do our best to get the money back for the victims".

Warning ticket buyers of other possible scammers, Sergeant Torsten Mansson, who worked with the SFO on the case, added: "With the summer music festival season upon us and Olympics fast approaching it is important to highlight the need to use only official ticket sites".

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DMX CAUGHT WITH DRUGS IN PRISON
The release of troubled rapper DMX from prison has been delayed after he was caught with drugs and failed a drugs test in jail, according to AllHipHop.com.

The rapper had been due to be released today, just over six months into a year long sentence for failing to report to his probation officer and refusing to seek drug rehabilitation.

According to reports, DMX will now spend at least another week in prison.

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R KELLY'S HOME COULD BE REPOSSESSED
R Kelly could lose his multi-million dollar Chicago home after failing to make mortgage payments for over a year, according to court papers filed last month. The foreclosure action by JP Morgan Chase says the R&B star hasn't paid them any money since June 2010 on the $2.9 million loan he still has with the bank. The bankers now want to foreclose and seize the property. Kelly is yet to respond to the action.

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MORRISSEY BITTEN BY DOG
Morrissey has been bitten by a dog.

According to semi-official Morrissey website True To You, the singer suffered hand and arm injuries, including a fractured finger, during the incident. However, what happened afterwards is more perplexing.

The fansite claims that the attack happened in England, seemingly some time since the singer's headline performance at Hop Farm on 2 Jul, but that he then received treatment in Sweden. However, he's not due to play in Sweden until Thursday and his most recent gig was in Denmark on Monday. So, make of that what you will.

Meanwhile, I don't have time to craft a joke about the dog flouting Morrissey's strict 'no meat' rules. Just pretend I did.

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SHARON VAN ETTEN SIGNS TO JAGJAGUWAR
Singer-songwriter Sharon Van Etten has been announced as the latest edition to the Jagjaguwar roster. The label will release her third album next year, which will be produced by The National's Aaron Dessner.

Van Etten's second long player, 'Epic' (which featured the recently CMU approved Cat Martino), was released last October by Ba Da Bing. You can hear three tracks from that album right here: soundcloud.com/goldstarpr/sets/sharon-van-etten-epic/

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NEW SUGABABES TO BE "DARKER" AND "QUITE EDGY"
The next album by the current Sugababes will be "a bit darker, tougher and quite edgy", presumably bringing out that hitherto only very slight Bauhaus influence.

Jade Ewen told Digital Spy: "We still haven't signed off on [the new album] completely yet, because it's always good to keep recording and we just want to pick the very best. Because we're still recording a lot, we haven't said... 'this is the sound'. [New single] 'Freedom' is a good idea of the sort of template that we're going with. It's a bit darker, tougher and quite edgy".

As previously reported, the group recently left Universal/Island and joined Sony/RCA. 'Freedom' will be released on 5 Sep.

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L-VIS 1990 ANNOUNCES DEBUT ALBUM
DJ and producer James Connolly, aka L-Vis 1990, has announced that he will release his debut album, entitled 'Neon Dreams', on 26 Sep via PMR Records.

Says Connolly: "In the late 90s, the likes of Daft Punk, Chemical Brothers and Basement Jaxx defined the art of the dance music album. Their albums transcended time and any musical fads, but most of all they took you on a journey. Creating 'Neon Dreams', for me, was about recapturing these elements that made me fall in love with dance music all those years ago".

Here's the tracklist, complete with collaborator info:

Vague Flashes (feat Corey Black)
Forever You (feat Javeon McCarthy)
The Beach
I Feel It
Play It Cool (feat Samantha Lim)
Shy Light (feat Para One & Teki Latex)
Cruisin'
Feel The Void (feat Para One & Teki Latex)
Illusions
Tonight
Here With You (feat Para One & Teki Latex)
Lost In Love (feat Javeon McCarthy)
True Romance
One More Day (feat Javeon McCarthy & Julio Bashmore)
Neon Dreams

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WILEY RELEASES ANOTHER NEW ALBUM
Wiley has released the follow-up to his latest album, '100% Publishing'. Which is pretty good going, as '100% Publishing' only came out last month. Entitled 'Chill Out Zone', the new album is also available for free. In between the two albums, the rapper also found time to put out a free mixtape with DJ Whoo Kid. He's a busy guy, that Wiley.

Download 'Chill Out Zone' here. And watch the video for Ed Sheeran collaboration, 'If I Could', here.

Tracklist:
Music Is Calling Me (feat Meleka)
If I Could (feat Ed Sheeran)
Seduction (feat Alexa Goddard)
Walk Away (feat Sinead Harnett)
But I Did
Don't Throw It Away
Romeo (feat Cherri V)
She Might Holla
Out The Box
Random Thoughts
New Discovery
Piano Cry
Pengting (feat Opium)
Born Into A Lie

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WILL MACCA PLAY THE OLYMPICS?
Speculation is growing that Paul McCartney will appear at the opening, closing or another shebang at the London Olympics next summer, maybe even alongside Ringo Starr, and maybe even with Julian Lennon and Dhani Harrison in some sort of Beatles genes fest.

I think these rumours mainly stem from Macca being a bit coy when asked about a possible Olympics appearance on US TV show 'Access Hollywood'. He nodded and said he'd heard a "rumour" he might be involved. So, there you go.

The Sun has consulted one of its sources about this though, which may or may not mean they've checked McCartney's voicemail account (what do you mean that was a different paper?), and says: "Macca was just being coy about the details. The organisers want The Beatles legend to appear alongside other big British acts, and they want Ringo on stage as well to make it extra special".

Film director Danny Boyle is set to direct the opening ceremony of the Games, and music is expected to be a big part of the show. Though my proposal for a cast of Ewan McGregor look-alikes injecting heroin in sync to a Leftfield soundtrack has apparently been rejected. Even though we know those sporty types love their drugs.

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BELLADRUM TARTAN HEART, Belladrum Estate, Beauly, 5-6 Aug: A quintet of fresh acts are newly primed to perform at this year's sold-out Belladrum bash, as comprised of Edinburgh indie types We Were Promised Jetpacks, The Phantom Band, Sound Of Guns, Nathaniel Rateliff and Polarsets. Bon Iver-covering waif Birdy has unfortunately had to withdraw for her planned appearance, but there's still a stellar bill of remaining players including Texas, Echo & The Bunnymen, Guillemots, Frank Turner, Anna Calvi, Ed Sheeran, Newton Faulkner and Little Comets. www.tartanheartfestival.co.uk

KENDAL CALLING, Lowther Estate, Hackthorpe, East Cumbria, 29-31 Jul: Electro-pop outfit Fenech-Soler are just confirmed to headline at the Calling Out stage on the closing day of this eclectic weekend bash, with Balkan gypsy band Slamboree and Skamel of Fat Freddy's Drop rounding off the recent additions. Carrying a strict fancy dress theme of 'Beasts & Machines', the festival is set to host the likes of Blondie, Chase & Status, The Cribs, Echo & The Bunnymen, Mr Scruff and The Whip. www.kendalcalling.co.uk

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ELBOW TO LAUNCH THEIR OWN BEER
Elbow are set to release their own beer, which is nice. Named after their recent fifth album 'Build A Rocket Boys!', the beer has been made, in consultation with the band's members, by Robinsons Ales, and will be officially launched at the Manchester Food & Drink Festival in October. Selected Robinsons pubs will also stock the beer in September and October.

Says the band's website: "The new beer is brewed to Elbow's own specifications after a series of tastings at the brewery. Band members sampled a range of Robinsons' ales to shortlist their preferred style of beer, taste and colour before deciding on a golden ale with a rich rounded body, smooth bitterness, subtle tang of malt and fruity aroma".

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INVESTMENTS IN IP WORTH £65 BILLION A YEAR
Investments made by UK businesses in products and services that are protected by intellectual property rights are worth £65 billion a year. Yeah, get your head around that. We know this because of two reports commissioned by the Intellectual Property Office, the results of which were revealed last week. The figure covers investments in all kinds of IP, including trademarks, designs and patents, though copyright accounted for the biggest chunk.

The stats mean that the value of the IP industry has more than doubled since 1990, and that in the last ten years investment in intellectual property has been bigger than business investment in fixed capital. The report also shows that £3 billion of copyright investment has not previously been accounted for in government figures, and the IPO now plans to work with the Office of National Statistics to rectify that.

IP Minister Baroness Wilcox told reporters: "These reports show that business investment in intellectual property rights has more than doubled since 1990 and were worth at least £65 billion in 2008, a figure which is expected to continue to grow. This is a significant amount of growth and it's important that this investment continues to build over the coming years".

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CHINESE SAY IP CRACKDOWN A HUGE SUCCESS
China says its recent crackdown on piracy has been a big fat success, though as Reuters point out, that's a claim "borne out by government statistics but not necessarily by a trip to one of Beijing's many shops where pirated software, movies and clothes are readily available".

As previously reported, China - a country where intellectual property rights have always been more or less impossible to enforce, leading to rampant physical and online piracy - stepped up its IP laws last year amid pressure the West. The country's Vice Minister Of Commerce Jiang Zengwei said yesterday that that had led to police shutting down 12,584 operations across the nation that made pirated or counterfeit goods, and 9031 arrests. He added that national government was now only using fully licensed software itself, and was insisting local government follow their lead.

At a press conference Jiang told reporters: "You could say that there still exists some problems with China's intellectual property rights, but I don't endorse the idea that it is extremely serious".

It's true there have been some improvements since the Chinese government clamped down on piracy. In the music space, file-sharing network VeryCD started filtering out unlicensed content, and search engine Baidu, long criticised for its MP3 search service which linked mainly to illegal music, announced it was launching a licensed service. Though, while copyright owners in the West will recognise even small steps towards nominal revenues from a market that previously delivered nothing is good news, I think few would share Jiang's optimism regarding just how far China's new IP rules have gone.

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SPANISH COLLECTING SOCIETY PRESIDENT RESIGNS
The President of Spain's main collecting society, the Society Of Authors & Editors, or SGAE, has resigned following that previously reported raid of the organisation's offices amid allegations of misappropriation of funds. As previously reported, most of the allegations of dodgy dealings seem to relate to a subsidiary of the society that specialises in digital rights.

According to Spanish newspaper El Pais, Eduardo 'Teddy' Bautista announced his resignation alongside his board at a press conference yesterday afternoon. The board said it had accepted Bautista's resignation, and that he would be relieved of all his duties with immediate effect, and that they had no further comment at this time.

The paper adds that the Spanish authorities' ongoing investigations are uncovering "a complicated web of financial wrongdoings that include embezzlement". Although it represents creators from various art forms, the majority of SGAE's operations are related to music. Some fear that the growing scandal around the powerful rights body will hinder attempts by the content industries to get stronger laws against online piracy through the Spanish parliament.

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RHAPSODY BOASTS 800,000 SUBSCRIBERS
US-based subscription music platform Rhapsody announced it had passed the 800,000 subscriber mark at the start of the week, having added 150,000 subscribers since the service was spun off from RealNetworks to become a stand-alone company last year. Many have noted the timing of Rhapsody's announcement of record user figures, coming, as it does, in the week many expect Europe's Spotify to finally enter the US market providing a high profile competitor to one of America's longest standing digital music services.

Given Rhapsody's ten years in business, and all the free promotion the service gets from shareholder MTV, while the 800,000 figure is impressive, it does put into perspective those bold ambitions it was recently claimed Spotify have for their American service. One albeit unverified rumour said a Spotify exec had predicted a user base of up to 50 million. Of course, Spotify will offer an albeit limited-play free version of its service, which Rhapdosy does not, and is presumably hoping its rumoured tie up with Facebook will help deliver big audiences. Though time will tell, I guess.

In related news, that other big American streaming music service - the more limited in terms of functionality, Pandora - is also about to get a new competitor. US radio giant Clear Channel is reportedly planning a revamp of its iHeartRadio website and will add a Pandora-style personalised radio service into the mix, utilising technology it acquired in March by buying digital firm Thumbplay. The stepped up iHeartRadio is expected to go live in September.

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NEW RADIO CAREERS SITE LAUNCHES
Wanna work in radio? Well, do you? I mean, do you really? Well, Skillset has teamed up with the Radio Academy to launch a new website for people considering a career in broadcasting, whether on air or behind the scenes.

Tip, go work for Radio 1, with 700,404 people just working on the lunchtime show, it can't be that demanding. Though you would have to be in the same room as Fearne five days a week. Scrap that, go work for a commercial FM outlet, where not only will you get to present an eight hour overnight show, you'll also be put in charge of opening the mail, managing the website and cleaning the studio every Wednesday night. Sorted.

In related news, did you know we occasionally publish real advice for aspiring radio DJs? Look, here were some tips Eddy TM and Marsha Shandur offered way back in 2009.

Anyway, this new website. You'll find lots of tips there too, including more from Shandur, plus BBC Surrey's Danny Pike, 5Live's Aasmah Mir, Radio 1's Scott Mills, and on behind the scenes stuff Radio City's Euan McMorrow, All Out Productions' Jo Meek and Folder Media's Matt Deegan. Check all this out: www.routeintoradio.org

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BRUCE DICKINSON REFUSES JUDGING ROLE ON THE VOICE
According the The Sun, Iron Maiden frontman Bruce Dickinson has reportedly turned down a place on the judging panel of new telly talent show 'The Voice'. Why anyone thought he would be up for that, I'm not sure.

According to the tabloid, Dickinson said: "That show sounds so crap and demeaning to everyone involved, I took great delight in turning the BBC down. 'The X-Factor' is appalling enough, it's no better than 'Opportunity Knocks'".

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