SECOND ROUND OF BIDDING FOR EMI DUE NEXT WEEK
The next round of bidding for EMI is expected to take place next week. According to the Dow Jones Newswire, current owner Citigroup has invited a number of parties to submit second bids after the Labor Day Weekend in the US, initial bids having been made at the start of last month.

While it's not clear which of the initial bidders have been invited to submit more detailed proposals, it is thought that existing music companies Warner Music, Universal Music and BMG are all still in the running. It's also thought that bids for both EMI in its entirety and the major's constituent parts are both being considered and, while Citigroup has previously indicated it would prefer to sell the music company to one buyer as a going concern, the bank is ultimately likely to go for which ever option would bring in the most money.

Meanwhile, Digital Music News has been wondering if the final price paid for EMI could be affected by a pending squabble in the US over a clause in the country's 1976 Copyright Act. The Act included a termination clause that basically says American creators can take back ownership of their works after 35 years (56 years for pre-1978 works) oblivious of contractual agreements with commercial organisations like record companies or music publishers.

The termination clause is due to go into affect for music created in the late 70s in 2013, with artists planning on using the clause obligated to file the paperwork this year. As the deadline approaches some have been referring to the termination clause as a "copyright timebomb".

The actual impact of the clause on the American copyright industries remains to be seen, though for the record industry it depends mainly on whether or not you believe sound recordings, as opposed to musical compositions, are affected at all. Needless to say, the record companies argue sound recordings are exempt from the clause, while some key artists and their managers argue that is not the case. With the labels having failed to get Congressional clarification on this point two years ago, now everyone expects there to be a big landmark court case, probably involving a big heritage act, that will decide whether the 35 year opt out applies to recording artists.

So, it's all a bit confusing, and certainly throws a spanner in the works if you're charged with the task of working out how much EMI's catalogues of songs and recordings will be worth in the next ten years. But could it, as Digital Music News seems to imply, result in millions being shaved off the offer price for EMI? Possibly not. After all, Warner Music faces the same issues, and yet it fetched more than most expected when sold earlier this year. And arguably a lot of EMI's really valuable catalogue is mid-60s which, under the 56 year rule, still has a decade to go before the termination clause kicks in, even if it is deemed to apply to sound recordings.

But still, if Citigroup find offers are not exceeding the $3 billion they are looking to raise through this sale, it might be one explanation as to why.

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MURRAY CASE JUDGE REJECTS A LOAD OF DEFENCE WITNESSES
The judge hearing the involuntary manslaughter case against Michael Jackson's personal medic Dr Conrad Murray has rejected over a dozen of the defence's proposed witnesses. Judge Michael Pastor says plans by the Murray defence to question former associates about the late singer's financial affairs, personal life and more general aspects of his medical history were "distractions" that would detract from the important facts.

As previously reported, Murray's defence team are expected to claim that Jackson himself administered the fatal shot of Propofol, and that the singer's death was not, therefore, due to the medic's negligence, as the prosecution will claim. It seems increasingly likely that the defence's argument will also suggest that Jackson didn't inject the drug in a misjudged attempt to send himself to sleep, but that he actually committed suicide. It's because of that claim that the defence reckon revelations about the late singer's financial affairs and other medical problems should be up for discussion during the trial.

Rejected witnesses include Jackson's long-serving dermatologist Arnold Klein, the one-time nanny of the singer's children Grace Rwaramba and his friend Susan Etok. Any references to the 2005 trial when Jackson was acquitted of child abuse allegations will also be banned from the Murray hearing, which is due to begin later this month.

Needless to say, the prosecution in the Murray case welcomed Judge Pastor's decision regarding who will and won't be allowed to testify, telling reporters that the public had been "concerned about this trial deteriorating into an attack on Michael Jackson". The defence, while disappointed by the decision, said they would still fight their corner relying on the testimonies several approved doctors and nurses. Attorney Edward Chernoff told reporters: "If we have to go to a tank battle with a switchblade, that is exactly what we'll do".

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TI OUT OF PRISON, FILMING REALITY SHOW
TI is out of prison, according to TMZ, and is already being filmed for a new TV show that will follow the rapper as he "re-adjusts to life as a free man after being incarcerated for nearly a year in a Federal prison in Arkansas".

There were reports that the rap man would be released early at the start of the week, though his lawyer initially played down the claims saying no decision had been made. But it seems TI was moved to a less confined "half-way house" yesterday, and that filming of the new reality show was allowed to begin immediately.

TI, real name Clifford Harris Jr, was in prison after violating the terms of his probation relating to an earlier gun conviction.

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MOBO NOMINATIONS
So, the noms are out for this year's MOBO Awards, and look, here they are, in a list and everything. I like Rizzle Kicks. Have I ever mentioned that? They played The Great Escape launch party in May and were FAB, as the kids are all saying, I'm sure. Yeah, I'm down with the trumpets. The Kicks are up for three prizes and they should win them all, official. Adele has more noms, but frankly I'm bored of Adele. And be fair, surely Adele's getting a bit bored of Adele by now. Anyway, noms...

Best UK Act: Adele, Chase & Status, Chipmunk, Example, Jessie J, Katy B, N-Dubz, Wretch 32, The Streets, Tinie Tempah

Best Newcomer: Alex Clare, Ed Sheeran, Emeli Sande, Jamie Woon, Jessie J, Loick Essien, Maverick Sabre, Rizzle Kicks, Yasmin, Wretch 32

Best UK Hip Hop/Grime Act: Giggs, Rizzle Kicks, Tinie Tempah, Wiley, Wretch 32

Best Video: Chipmunk feat Chris Brown - Champion, Jessie J - Do It Like A Dude, Rizzle Kicks - Down With The Trumpets, Tinchy Stryder feat Dappy - Spaceship, Wiley - Numbers In Action

Best International Act: Alexis Jordan, Aloe Blacc, Beyonce, Bruno Mars, Cee Lo Green, Jason Derulo, Nicki Minaj, Rihanna, Snoop Dogg, Wiz Khalifa

Best Song: Adele - Someone Like You, Chase & Status feat Tinie Tempah - Hitz, Jessie J - Do It Like A Dude, Tinie Tempah - Wonderman, Wretch 32 - Traktor

Best Album: Adele - 21, Chase & Status - No More Idols, Jessie J - Who You Are, Katy B - On A Mission, Tinie Tempah - Disc-Overy

Best UK R&B/Soul Act: Adele, Dionne Bromfield, Marsha Ambrosious, Mike Hough, Omar

The 2011 MOBOs take place on 5 Oct in Glasgow. That's in Scotland. I was there recently. Scotland, not Glasgow. Though I did see a road sign to Glasgow. It didn't mention the MOBOs though.

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BT DMA NOMINATIONS
What's this, more noms? Well, you can never have too many noms can you? I once thought I had, but it turned out I was wrong. And then a lorry load more noms arrived, and I had a party.

Yes, the nominations have been announced for the BT DMAs, and just to prove we're not racist we're providing them in list form too, even though there's flippin hundreds of them. Well, eighteen, but I've lost the ability to count, being high on all these noms.

Adele's up for lots of these too. If only there was an 'Artist I'm Most Bored With' prize, she'd be a shoe in for that. I'm rooting for The Wanted in the Best Group category, because I was once a student of the English language and it always fascinates me when words change their meanings over time.

Anyway, here's your digital noms...

Best Male Artist: Example, Matt Cardle, Olly Murs, Plan B, Professor Green, Tinie Tempah

Best Female Artist: Adele, Cheryl Cole, Eliza Doolittle, Ellie Goulding, Jessie J, Katy B

Best Group: Chase & Status, JLS, Take That, The Saturdays, The Script, The Wanted

Best International Artist/Group: Black Eyed Peas, Bruno Mars, Eminem, Katy Perry, Lady Gaga, Rihanna

Best Independent Artist/Group: Adele, Arctic Monkeys, DJ Fresh, Example, Tiesto, Wretch 32

Best Newcomer: Jessie J, Katy B, Matt Cardle, Olly Murs, The Wanted, Wretch 32

Best Song: Adele - Make You Feel My Love, Adele - Rolling In The Deep, Adele - Someone Like You, Ellie Goulding - Your Song, Jessie J ft BOB - Price Tag, Taio Cruz - Dynamite

Best Video: Adele - Rolling in the Deep, Jessie J ft BOB - Price Tag, JLS with Tinie Tempah - Eyes Wide Shut, Matt Cardle - When We Collide, The Wanted - All Time Low, Tinie Tempah with Eric Turner - Written in the Stars

Best Place To Discover Music: Last.fm, Mixcloud, Radio 1 Online, Resident Advisor, SBTV, Shazam

Best Place To Hear Music: iPlayer, Last.fm, Mixcloud, Spotify, YouTube, VEVO

Best Place To Buy Music: Amazon, Bleep, Boomkat, iTunes, Spotify, We7

Best Music App: BBC Radio 1/1Xtra Mobile Mobile Web App, iElectribe: Gorillaz 'The Fall' edition, Orange Glastonbury 2011 app, Radio Soulwax iOS, The xx iPhone app, Songkick Concerts

Best Event: British Sea Power Blackbox webcast, Capital FM Summertime Ball, Coca-Cola Music - 24 Hour Session with Maroon 5, Metallic Spheres Launch in Ibiza, Noah and the Whale: Last Night on Earth Cinema, YouTube Symphony Orchestra 2011

Best Artist Promotion: Gil Scott-Heron & Jamie xx: Album Transmitter, Hurts - Don't Let Go: An Interactive Novel on Spotify, Kaiser Chiefs - The Future is Medievil Album launch, Lykke Li - Wounded Rhymes Google Earth Moon gig, Talay Riley - Talay Robot, Tinie Tempah - Disc-Overy: The Game

Best Radio Show or Podcast: Domino Radio - Liquid Lunch with Jack Shankly, Pick n Mix Live from the Red Bull Studio, Radio Soulwax, The Adam & Joe Show, The Ronnie Wood Show, The Selector

Breakthrough Artist Of The Year: Ed Sheeran, Frankie & The Heartstrings, Swedish House Mafia, Wonderland

Artist Of The Year: Chase & Status, Flying Lotus, Katy Perry, Professor Green, The Streets, Tinie Tempah

Best Innovation or Gadget: Gibson Firebird X, Mobile Roadie, PledgeMusic, SoundOut, SoundCloud, The Widget

The 2011 BT DMAs take place on 29 Sep at The Roundhouse. Why would you have a round house? You'd have to get special bookcases made, and that's an expense I think we can all do without.

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THOSE DANCING DAYS TO GO ON HIATUS
Swedish indie-poppers Those Dancing Days have announced they are going on an indefinite hiatus. Having formed as teenagers, the band's five members will spend some time trying out other things, like going to university and having jobs. The group released their second album, 'Daydreams & Nightmares', via Wichita earlier this year and have just completed their current touring commitments.

In a statement, they said: "We have decided that we will be putting Those Dancing Days to bed for a while. We have been together as a band for almost six years now and have had such an amazing time - we have grown up together, created together, seen the world together. We have been so incredibly lucky and feel so honoured that so many have appreciated our music. As a young band we have had the pleasure of being role models for other young musicians - something we have found incredibly fulfilling and important - and especially to young female musicians like ourselves. Go girls - never doubt yourselves and never stop dreaming!"

They continued: "After we played the Popaganda festival this last weekend we felt it was the perfect ending to the summer and a good time for us to say goodbye for a while. We want to explore things on our own for a change; some of us will go back to school, some of us will be taking jobs - and without a doubt all of us will explore new musical settings".

The band will release a final single from 'Daydreams & Nightmares', 'Help Me Close My Eyes', later this year.

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INSPIRAL CARPETS REFORM WITH ORIGINAL SINGER
Inspiral Carpets have announced that they are reforming with original singer Stephen Holt for live shows and recording. Holt was a founder member of the band and appeared on two early EPs, but left in 1989 to be replaced by Tom Hingley.

Keyboard player Clint Boon told Xfm: "We've not actually started writing new material yet, but we are getting in the studio with the intention of doing just that. We're also going to be re-recording some of the songs we did back in the mid to late 80s, which we never actually recorded properly, just demoed on cassettes and stuff like that. But we're very much looking at the now and the future, while celebrating the birth of the band and going back to the garagy roots".

Boon also revealed that after Holt's original departure from the band in 1989, British rock history came close to being very different. Boon explained: "When Steve left the band, very amicably, that's when Noel Gallagher auditioned to take his place as a singer for the Inspirals. We ended up with Tom Hingley, who's a great singer and still is. Imagine if we'd taken on Noel? That's another chapter of the Inspirals' history that we should maybe one day investigate".

Hmm, is Clint suggesting Noel should quit his solo career plans and reprise his role as the Inspirals' roadie on the off chance they one day make him frontman? He'd have to lug their equipment quite a way, though. No UK shows have yet been booked, but it seems the band have got at least one date supporting Interpol in Argentina lined up.

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NEW NOEL GALLAGHER TRACK APPEARS ONLINE
Noel Gallagher said recently that he'd be giving away no free previews of his upcoming Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds project. That doesn't mean other people won't, though, because they have. Well, US radio station KROQ has uploaded a track from the forthcoming album, entitled 'If I Had A Gun', to SoundCloud. Listen here:

soundcloud.com/kroq/noel-gallagher-if-i-had-a-gun/s-5oGBc

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JACK WHITE PRODUCES INSANE CLOWN POSSE
Jack White has produced a single for Insane Clown Posse, which will be released through his Third Man record label. I'll give you a moment to take all that in. Jack White. Insane Clown Posse. Mozart.

Oh yeah, they're claiming to have collaborated with Mozart as well. Though I'm not convinced that the classical composer did actually write a piece of music called 'Leck Mich Im Arsch' ('Lick Me In The Arse' in English) in 1782. I don't know though, I'm sure ICP wouldn't lie about something like that. Not on Jack White's watch.

Anyway, the single, featuring an 'original' track called 'Mountain Girl' on the b-side, will be released through iTunes and as a limited edition seven-inch on 13 Sep. But I know you just can't wait, so here is a very brief taste of "the music collaboration you've all been waiting for - 230 years in the making" right now:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=OyzjVL5tFn0

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THE DØ HERALD NEW LP WITH FREE TRACK
Buzzworthy French/Finnish duo The Dø are to release their self-produced new album 'Both Ways Open Jaws' via Village Green Records on 14 Nov.

Speaking for both himself and frontlady Olivia Merilahti, presumably, on this very topic, the duo's multi-instrumentalist Dan Levy said: "We're looking for the diversity and richness of sound, surprises in the details, orchestral colours. It certainly comes from our culture of classical music, our love of contemporary music. The types of music that follow no map".

Watch the video for album track 'Slippery Slope' below. You can also claim a free copy of the song here: thedomusic.com/slippery-slope-free-download

www.youtube.com/watch?v=OYXUVSC--Fs

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TOM VEK ANNOUNCES TOUR DATES
Tom Vek is going to tour in November. So that's good, isn't it? People like Tom Vek. He'll also be releasing a new single, 'Someone Loves You', at the end of October. The track is taken from his 'Leisure Seizure' album.

Tour dates:

10 Nov: Glasgow, Arches
11 Nov: Liverpool, Masque
13 Nov: Nottingham, Rescue Rooms
14 Nov: Bristol, Thekla
16 Nov: London, Shepherds Bush Empire

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FALLULAH TO TOUR
Danish avant-pop progeny Fallulah will be visiting London this month for a few live dates, which is exciting news. Kicking off tonight at The Bowery, the trio of London-based shows should serve nicely in stirring up further anticipation over her debut LP, 'The Black Cat Neighbourhood', which is due out in early 2012.

They are thus:

1 Sep: London, The Bowery
5 Sep: London, The Water Rats
8 Sep: London, Notting Hill Arts Club

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GILLIAN WELCH PLOTS UK TOUR
Folk veteran Gillian Welch has announced that she is to mark her critically-acclaimed current album 'The Harrow & The Harvest' with a series of UK tour dates, her first since 2004.

Accompanied by her longstanding collaborative partner David Rawlings, she will appear as follows:

12 Nov: Brighton, Dome
13 Nov: Warwick, Arts Centre
18 Nov: Belfast, Waterfront Auditorium
20 Nov: Glasgow, Clyde Auditorium
21 Nov: Manchester
23 Nov: London, Hammersmith Apollo

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SINGLE REVIEW: Martyn - Masks/Viper (Brainfeeder)
Dutchman Martijn Deijkers has been bolting techno to dubstep for a while, but he defies to be pigeonholed and now moves more house-ward. He gives us a taste of his new album with this single, released on Flying Lotus's LA-based label Brainfeeder.

It's a three tracker (well, a two tracker really, but track two appears in two guises). Lead track 'Waves' is on a 4/4 platform, and thumps along nicely with a solid, hard beat. It feels like it's a little influenced by early UKG at times, though maintains a Detroit tech aspect nevertheless. A solid production.

It's 'Viper' that appears twice. The Ghost People edit is a beatless affair. Using a dark deep synth chord as its bassline, it's pretty experimental. The London Arches edit, meanwhile, is more dancefloor orientated, With a broken beat, it builds on the dark feel with its mechanoid synths and precision programming, much akin to Colin Lindo's beatsy Nubian Mindz futurescapes.

Going by these tracks, I have to say I'm really rather looking forward to the full album now. Martyn is definitely one to watch. PV

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50 CENT TO LAUNCH HEADPHONES
You're not anyone in hip hop these days unless you have your own range of headphones. Which means that only Dr Dre and Ludacris are anyone in hip hop. Oh, and 50 Cent, who has announced that he will be launching a new line of headphones through his SMS Audio company, thanks to the recent purchase of headphone manufacturer KonoAudio.

Fiddy said in a statement: "I'm eager for my fans to hear my music the way it was intended - the way it was mastered in the studio. The acquisition of KonoAudio will enhance our ability to bring the absolute, highest-calibre audio products to the market".

KonoAudio founder Brian Nohe added: "I am excited to be part of the SMS Audio brand and believe in the forward-thinking nature and quality commitment of the company. KonoAudio has made significant investments in the areas of product development and branding resources and I am proud to bring that experience to SMS Audio. The businesses make a great combination".

The headphones are due to launch later this year.

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UNIVERSAL PROFITS DOWN BUT BETTER
Universal Music had a better second quarter in its current financial year, though its cut of the LimeWire settlement did help a bit. See, and you claimed there was nothing good to be said about illegal file-sharing. Revenues were still down 2.9% (or basically flat if you take currency fluctuations into account) while profits were down 5.5%, but performance was better both quarter on quarter and year on year.

Parent company Vivendi saw revenues for the first half of the current financial year rise 1.9% (compared to the same period in 2010) to 14.24 billion euros, with profits up 3.7% to 3.36 billion euros. The conglom's video games business, Activision Blizzard, was a stand-out contributor to the group's improved performance overall.

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DEEZER TO LAUNCH IN UK
French streaming music service Deezer is launching in the UK, people. Hold on to your hats and everything. Deezer UK will launch later this month, boasting a catalogue of thirteen million tracks plus a bunch of curated genre and artist-based radio channels. The curation, and other editorial whatnots, are what Deezer hope will distinguish its service from other players in the streaming music marketplace.

Says Deezer UK MD Mark Foster: "We're extremely excited to be launching Deezer here in the UK. With easy access everywhere music fans will be able to enjoy music anywhere they like, at any time, and be able to share their music with their friends, easily and legally. Our team of experts will help users make musical discoveries that matter to them. Deezer is set to make music more accessible than ever before in the UK".

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ICLOUD WON'T HAVE STREAMING
Oh. So after those online reports that developers who had been given access to a beta version of iTunes Match had said it looks like Apple's iCloud digital locker would have streaming functionality, now other people are saying it won't.

As previously noted, when announcing its licensed digital locker offer earlier this year, Apple was a bit vague as to whether users who uploaded their digital music collections to the iTunes server (or who magic-ed them there via the wonders if the Match service) would then be able to stream it back to any net-connected Apple device, or whether tracks would have to be properly downloaded to be enjoyed.

Information circulated earlier this week by Apple seemed to suggest streaming would be an option. Some wondered why, if this was so, Apple reps had glossed over that bit of functionality when first announcing iCloud. But then some wondered if there had been licensing issues - remember, Apple's digital locker is label sanctioned - that had delayed confirmation of the streaming bit.

But it seems that Apple probably didn't mention streaming first time round, because it won't be part of the service. Or at least that is what a rep for the IT giant has told AllThingsD. Of course, tracks can play while being downloaded, albeit with a little buffering, and it seems that's where the confusion came from, developers were shown a track playing after being clicked on and assumed it was streaming, when, in fact, it was a progressive download.

I bet you're glad you got up this morning so you can partake in all this tedious speculation about a service that won't launch in the UK until next year, aren't you?

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THIS JUST-IN: BIEBER CRASHES FERRARI
Justin Bieber has moved on from walking into doors and is now crashing Ferraris. They grow up so fast, don't they? The minor collision with another car in LA on Tuesday apparently resulted in no injuries and no charges. So, that's all fine. Or it is? Hecklerspray makes a fairly convincing case for Bieber having been killed by the Illuminati and replaced by a tearaway lookalike. It's happening, people: www.hecklerspray.com/justin-bieber-killed-by-illuminati-in-car-crash-and-replaced-by-lookalike/201163428.php

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