NO CMU DAILY NEXT MONDAY OR TUESDAY
Next week will be a quiet week for CMU. There will obviously be no CMU Daily (or Eddy Says) on Monday, due to the bank holiday, but CMU will also be out of action the following day, it being our traditional random day off. Thus, you'll only find CMU Daily in your inbox from Wednesday to Friday next week. There will also be no CMU Weekly on Friday. However, everything will return to normal from 5 Sep.

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ESTHER GORDY EDWARDS DIES
Esther Gordy Edwards, a former executive of her younger brother Berry Gordy Jr's Motown Records, died on Wednesday, aged 91.

The second oldest of eight children, Gordy Edwards was born in Georgia in 1920 to Berry Gordy Sr and Bertha Fuller Gordy. While she was a toddler, the family moved to Detroit, where she lived for the rest of her life. She married Detroit policeman George Edwards in 1951, and had one son, Robert Bullock, from a previous relationship.

She formed the Gordy Printing Company with two of her brothers in the mid-40s, and in the 50s founded the Ber-Berry Co-Op with her husband, a family bank into with each member of the Gordy clan paid $10 a month in order to provide loans to their fellow family members.

In 1959, the company provided an $800 loan to Berry Gordy Jr to help him set up Motown. Esther also joined the company, managing artists in its early days. Later she became Director Of International Operations and was instrumental in taking Motown out of the US and making it the globally recognised brand it became.

Later she served as Senior Vice President and CEO, though stepped down when the company moved to LA in 1972, and was succeeded by then Vice President Smokey Robinson. Staying in Detroit, she served on the board for Detroit Bank Of Commonwealth and the Greater Detroit Chamber Of Commerce, as well as working with various other groups and charities, including the Gordy Foundation, which she set up in 1965 following her sister Loucye's death. The charity, which was launched to help students from poor urban backgrounds, still funds scholarships to this day.

In 1985, she became involved with Motown again when she turned the company's original headquarters into the Motown Historical Museum. As well as preserving the studio where many of the label's hits were recorded, the museum is filled with numerous photos and memorabilia that she herself had collected throughout the company's history. Berry Gordy Jr said in a statement following her death: "She preserved Motown memorabilia before it was memorabilia, collecting our history long before we knew we were making it. She nurtured and held it together through the years, protecting the Motown legacy for generations to come - which is only one of the reasons people all over the world will remember and celebrate Esther Gordy Edwards".

He added: "Whatever she did, it was with the highest standards, professionalism and an attention to detail that was legendary. She always came out a hero. Esther wasn't concerned with being popular. She was dedicated to making us all better - the Gordy family and the Motown family".

One of the numerous artists she worked with through the label's history, Stevie Wonder, said in his own statement: "She believed in me. When I was fourteen years old and many other people didn't or could only see what they could at the time, she championed me being in Motown. I shared with her many of my songs first before anyone else. She was like another mother to me; she was an extension of that same kind of motherly love".

She is survived by her son, stepson, a sister and two brothers, three granddaughters and six great grandchildren.

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BOBBY G WINS BUCKS FIZZ NAME SQUABBLE
Three of the original members of Bucks Fizz have failed to take ownership of their band's name from the fourth member, Bobby G.

As previously reported, there are currently two outfits using variations of the Bucks Fizz name, a group led by Bobby G, and another involving the other members of the original line up, most notably Mike Nolan and Cheryl Baker. It's G who owns the Bucks Fizz trademark, meaning the other former members of the group tour as the Original Bucks Fizz.

The latest legal squabble over the name - this isn't the first - began when Nolan and Baker tried to trademark 'Original Bucks Fizz'. G objected to that application, and in return Nolan and Baker objected to G's continued use of the Bucks Fizz name, arguing that as their group had more original members they should have the rights to it.

But an Intellectual Property Office official has sided with G. He ruled that given Buck Fizz has existed in all sorts of incarnations over the years, how many original members any one outfit involves is not relevant. And as G was the original trademark registrant, he has the right to use the name.

The IPO man said: "The public would have no reason to expect the group performing as Bucks Fizz to consist of the original line-up [that] had not performed together for 24 years".

Nolan, Baker et al told reporters they were "bitterly disappointed" with the ruling, and planned to appeal. Good times.

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SUGABABES COMMENT ON BUENA'S TRADEMARK APPLICATION
More trademark nonsense now, and a spokesman for the Sugababes has issued a statement relating to one of the group's former members, Mutya Buena, announcing earlier this week that she had secured ownership of the Sugababes trademark.

As previously reported, having announced her intent to register the Sugababes trademark in 2009, four years after leaving the group, Buena this week said on Facebook that her application had been successful. This despite representatives of the current incarnation of the girl group - who had previously failed to register the name themselves - filing an objection.

But, as previously noted, when you register a trademark you have to state the areas in which you want to own the mark, and Buena's successful application related only to paper products, which, I think it's fair to say, aren't that central to a pop band's operations. And as such the widely reported claim that Buena's successful trademark application would require the current Babes to change their name isn't true.

The group's statement reads: "Further to ongoing media speculation and mis-reporting of the facts by various sources, we would like to clarify the following. Over four months ago (21 Apr 2011) it was officially confirmed by the European Trade Marks Department that Sugababes were successful in claiming their ongoing right to use the name 'Sugababes' for all areas of commercial activity that the band requires, namely within the music, sound recording and entertainment industry, as well as being granted extensive rights to produce a wide range of merchandise".

"The trade mark rights for Class 16 (excluding those items which are already covered by Sugababes merchandise, eg posters, stickers, etc.) include certain paper and cardboard goods, such as stationery, paper gift wrap and paper gift wrapping ribbons. This is a category that currently holds no commercial interest for the band and, accordingly, the band has no immediate plans to challenge Ms Buena for these rights".

So there you go. Still looking forward to Mutya's Sugababes wrapping paper line.

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STEPHEN MALKMUS ANNOUNCES BLOWJOB WINNER
Stephen Malkmus has announced the winner of a competition to replace the word "blowjob" in the radio edit of his forthcoming new single, 'Senator'.

As previously reported, the line in which the word features is "I know what the senator wants - what the senator wants is a blowjob". But for the purposes of radio, the senator will now require a corndog, instead.

According to Pitchfork, Malkmus announced the winning word at a performance at Amoeba Records in LA on Tuesday. He explained that corndog had been chosen as the winning word in tribute to 80s hardcore band Minutemen, who sometimes referred to themselves as corndogs.

The winner will receive a one-off seven-inch pressing of their version of the song once it has been edited. But we can all hear the original version in all its fellatial glory right now on the new Stephen Malkmus And The Jicks album, 'Mirror Traffic', which is out this week.

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LADY GAGA NAMED ENTERTAINMENT'S MOST INFLUENTIAL WOMAN
Lady Gaga is the most influential woman in the entertainment industry, and the eleventh most influential woman in the world today. So says Forbes, anyway. She's also the youngest woman to make the magazine's list of the top 100 most influential females in the world. Gaga has previously topped both Forbes and Time Magazine's lists of the most influential celebs.

Also from the music world and on the powerful women list is Beyonce, who comes in at eighteen. The rankings were decided based on how much money each person has in their bank account, their media presence (both traditional and online), and how widely their influence is felt worldwide.

See the full list here: www.forbes.com/wealth/power-women/list

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AMY WINEHOUSE BECOMES 21ST CENTURY'S BEST SELLER
Amy Winehouse's second album, 'Back To Black', has become the biggest seller of the 21st century in the UK so far. Already popular, the album received a sales boost when the singer died last month. Now, according to the Official Charts Company, it has racked up 3.26 million sales in the UK since its original release in 2006, putting it just ahead of the previous record holder, James Blunt's 'Back To Bedlam', which has so far shifted 3.25 million.

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BIOHAZARD TO HOLD OPEN AUDITIONS FOR NEW SINGER
Biohazard are to hold open auditions to find a new vocalist to replace Evan Seinfeld.

As previously reported, bassist and founder member Seinfeld quit the band just days before their performance at this year's Download Festival. Scott Roberts, who played on the band's last album, 2005's 'Means To An End', stood in as a temporary replacement.

In a statement published this week, the band said: "Experience is a must, as is the ability to commit 100% to the life of a full-time touring musician, as the band is booked solid for 2012 and 2013".

Interested parties should email [email protected] with evidence of their skills.

Prior to Seinfeld's departure, the band completed their latest album, the first to feature the original line-up since 1994's 'State Of The World Address'. Entitled 'Reborn In Defiance', the record is due for release on 26 Sep.

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CHARLOTTE GAINSBOURG ANNOUNCES NEW ALBUM
Charlotte Gainsbourg's brilliant, isn't she? Yes, she is, and I won't have any of you saying any different. I just won't listen. Go on, try to say she's not. Lalalalalalalalalalalala see? I told you I wo... lalalalalalalalalalala no, it's no goo lalalalalalalala okay, stop it now. Thanks. I know you didn't mean it, anyway.

Right, so, you'll be pleased to hear that Chazza has a new EP coming out next month. Like her 2009 album 'IRM', the EP was produced by Beck. Unlike her 2009 album 'IRM', it will be called 'Terrible Angels'. And it's an EP, which isn't like her 2009 album 'IRM' either.

'Terrible Angels' will be released by Because Music on 5 Sep, and will feature three new songs, as well as a cover of Bob Dylan's 'Just Like A Woman', and a live version of the title track. Speaking of the title track, which is way more electro than anything she's done before, you can watch the video for it below. It features Gainsbourg and a load of lookalikes dancing in a carpark.

As well as this, on 8 Nov Gainsbourg will release a two disc collection of live and unreleased material entitled 'Stage Whisper'.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=bs1BNBstU1c

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ED SHEERAN ANNOUNCES DEBUT ALBUM
Sofa-surfing indie phenom Ed Sheeran is all set to release his debut album '+' via Asylum Records on 12 Aug.

"I'd like to say it's all about positivity", muses Ed on the album's title. "But really it's just a cool sign that I love". Cool beans.

Though you'll find his current tour dates completely sold-out, the '+' tracklist is free to browse indefinitely:

The A Team
Drunk
UNI
Grade 8
Wake Me Up
Small Bump
This
The City
Lego House
You Need Me, I Don't Need You
Kiss Me
Give Me Love

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BRADFORD COX TO RELEASE NEW ATLAS SOUND LP
Deerhunter mastermind Bradford Cox is to release his latest album as Atlas Sound, the solo moniker he has carried around since childhood, via 4AD on 7 Nov.

Mark the occasion by nabbing a free copy of woozy acoustic lilt, 'Terra Incognita', here: www.4ad.com/parallax

There's also a tracklist to browse, should you feel like it. Wonder if 'Te Amo' will turn out to be a Rihanna cover. It could happen.

The Shakes
Amplifiers
Te Amo
Parallax
Modern Aquatic Nightsongs
Mona Lisa
Praying Man
Doldrums
My Angel Is Broken
Terra Incognita
Flagstaff
Nightworks

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KAREN O ANNOUNCES OPERA
Yeah Yeah Yeahs frontwoman Karen O will premiere her debut opera at St Ann's Warehouse in New York on 12 Oct. Entitled 'Stop The Virgens', the show will run for eight performances at the venue.

Created by Karen O and design director KK Barrett, the show is part of The Creator's Project, which is producing various events in NY in October. O's opera will feature performances from members of The Raconteurs, Money Mark, Yeah Yeah Yeahs drummer Brian Chase, and actress Lili Taylor. Musical direction was handled by O's other YYYs bandmate Nick Zinner and producer Squeak E Clean.

O says of the show: "I have a pretty good idea of what the psycho opera is about but I wouldn't dare try and put it into my clumsy words. I'm hoping to create an original live experience, it should feel like a psychedelic ride laced with catharsis. There is emotional cost to our narrative so we're aiming to engage the audience, this piece isn't aiming to be all about spectacle or abstraction though there is good helping of both in the production. It's aiming to have all the good stuff of escapist entertainment with a few sucker punches to the gut along the way. I'm in the camp that needs to discover and take risks, sometimes it's with the promise of something special and new, sometimes it's to stay awake, either way it's much more stressful with all the uncertainty but worth the pain in the end".

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NEW KASABIAN TOUR DATES
Following the release of their new LP 'Velociraptor' on 19 Sep, Kasabian will be dragging their gigantic egos around an arena tour of similarly gargantuan proportions. Hurrah!

Tour dates:

28 Nov: Brighton, Centre
30 Nov: Cardiff, Motorpoint Arena
2 Dec: Nottingham, Capital FM Arena
4 Dec: Liverpool, Echo Arena
6 Dec: Birmingham, NIA
7 Dec: Manchester, Evening News Arena
8 Dec: Newcastle, Metro Radio Arena
10 Dec: Sheffield, Motorpoint Arena
11 Dec: Glasgow, SECC Arena
14 Dec: London, O2 Arena

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FORD & LOPATIN ANNOUNCE LONDON DATE
Kaleidoscopic synth-pop types Ford & Lopatin will be airing tunes from their rather good new album 'Channel Pressure' on the evening of 17 Sep at London's Rhythm Factory. That is all.

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GOTYE TO PLAY LONDON SHOW
Australian cult sensation Gotye has announced he's to bring an ambitious new live set-up to a show at London's St Stephen's Church on 31 Oct.

"I have a ten-piece band, in which everyone sings and plays multiple instruments", he says. "It's exciting because it's dangerous. It could go wrong on every song. I've never been one to make my life easy".

Watch the video for 'Somebody I Used To Know', the much-discussed lead single from Gotye's latest album 'Making Mirrors', here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=8UVNT4wvIGY

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NAME GARY BARLOW'S NEW BAND
As previously reported, Gary Barlow has been putting together a new group to record this year's Children In Need charity single. Featuring Ed Sheeran, Rizzle Kicks, N-Dubz, Miss Dynamite, Wretch 32, Tinchy Stryder, Mz Bratt and Dot Rotton, they recorded a cover of Massive Attack's 'Teardrop', produced by Labrinth earlier this week.

Barlow told The Sun: "I think this is a brilliant project. Children In Need has a history of doing upbeat singles with comedians but it's a serious charity doing a lot of hard work for serious causes. It's time to do something with artists who young people actually listen to. I've done these things before, I'm used to doing group situations, I like it - it's a challenge. It hasn't been easy. But bless him, Labrinth and his manager have been the key to the whole thing".

The single is due out on 13 Nov, but the band doesn't yet have a name and, frankly, they can't be bothered even trying. So, if you've got any ideas, you should email them over to [email protected] by midnight and they'll make the least sweary one the winner.

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