PROMOTING MUSIC - MEDIA, SOCIAL MEDIA & MORE
How to build a profile for your artists - the state of the music media, traditional and new publicity techniques, social media and the future of music PR. Wed 21 Sep

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 5 Oct

For more information or to book visit www.theCMUwebsite.com/training

DEEZER WIN FRENCH COURT BATTLE WITH UNIVERSAL
French streaming music service Deezer has won a court battle against Universal Music over the major's efforts to renegotiate its licensing terms with the digital company.

Universal Music France wanted the courts to force Deezer to stop making its music available for streaming after the digital firm and record company failed to agree new licensing terms earlier this year. However, Deezer successfully argued that the new terms Universal was trying to force on them, mainly reducing the amount of music non-paying subscribers could access, were contrary to commitments made by the wider record industry, including Universal, in January as part of a government-supported agreement between the music and digital industries, designed to foster the development of legal digital music services in France.

Deezer reluctantly cut the amount of free listening any one user could get via their service to five hours a month earlier this summer at the insistence of the record companies who licence the digital platform. However Universal, who began renegotiating their deal with Deezer, originally struck in 2008, earlier this year, wanted even more limitations applied to the freemium version of the service.

Welcoming the ruling, Deezer chief Axel Dauchez told AFP: "I'm particularly happy that the judge found that the new conditions imposed by Universal did not conform to the charter of thirteen commitments agreed by music companies and online music providers in January". Universal have said they will appeal the ruling.

Deezer, of course, is launching in the UK this month, providing a new competitor to both Spotify and We7. According to The Independent, the French firm is close to inking a deal with Orange to bundle the streaming music service in with internet packages, in much the same way Spotify has done a deal with Virgin Media.

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MURRAY DEFENCE WANT POSTPONEMENT PENDING SEQUESTERING APPEAL
There could be yet another delay to the start of Conrad Murray's manslaughter trial over the 2009 death of Michael Jackson, as the doc's lawyers call for jury selection to be postponed until an appeal over whether or not jurors should be sequestered is heard.

As much previously reported, Murray is the medic accused of causing Jackson's death by negligently administering the drug propofol to the singer. His trial, already postponed from earlier this year, is due to get going this week, with a new round of jury selection due to begin on Thursday. But Murray's legal reps want jury selection to be put on hold until the issue of whether or not jurors should be sequestered is resolved.

Team Murray originally requested that jurors to be sequestered, so kept away from the public between hearings, back in July. Noting the strain sequestering would put on jurors, not to mention the costs of housing jurors in hotels throughout the case, Judge Michael Pastor declined the request, saying he was confident members of a jury would be able to ignore the news coverage and public comment likely to surround this trial without the authorities physically keeping such content away from them.

But Murray's people say they still fear that if jurors are exposed to media coverage of the case their opinions may be skewed. According to the Associated Press, in a petition filed to the Californian appeals court just before America's Labor Day Weekend, the doctor's lawyers noted that "news organisations have planned sets overlooking the courthouse as if they were preparing for the Rose Bowl [and there] is sincere danger that a well-meaning juror will be more impressed with an 'expert' on television than one presented by the parties at trial".

The defence now want Pastor to delay the start of Murray's trial until appeal judges have had chance to rule on their request re sequestering.

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NEW ORDER REFORM, SANS HOOK, FOR CHARITY SHOWS
New Order will reform to play two benefit shows in aid of film-maker Michael Shamberg next month, but without Peter Hook.

If and when New Order actually split is debatable, of course. Hook first insisted the band were no more in 2007, though his bandmates Stephen Morris and Bernard Sumner said otherwise. The latter, however, did then say in 2009 that there would be no more New Order records.

For the benefit shows Sumner and Morris will be joined by long-term keyboardist Gillian Gilbert, who stepped back from the band to look after her and Morris's children in 2001. Phil Cunningham, who replaced Gilbert, will also take part, on guitar, while Tom Chapman from Sumner and Morris's new band Bad Lieutenant will fill in for Hook on bass.

Confirming the fund-raising shows, which will take place in Brussels and Paris next month, Sumner told 6music: "Michael has been with us from the very start, initially he was in charge of Factory New York, then became creative producer for all our early videos. He brought our attention to the early works of directors such as Kathryn Bigelow, Gina Birch, Robert Breer, Peter Care and Phillipe Decouflé. Michael is very ill and needs constant medical attention. We want to help him, and these shows will contribute financial support towards his ongoing care".

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MADONNA IS WORKING ON NEW ALBUM
Madonna has done a "little bit of work" on a new album, which she hopes will be ready for release next spring. Speaking at the premiere of her new film 'WE' in Venice, she told a Swedish TV network that a first single from what will be her twelfth studio album should be out in February or March 2012. The new record will be the first released under her partnership with Live Nation, since completing her commitments to long-term record label partners Warner.

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FLAMING LIPS WILL NAME-CHECK YOU THEIR SIX HOUR SONG FOR $100
The Flaming Lips are working on a six-hour song, and are giving you the chance to have a name-check in it. Inclusion in the epic song will cost you $100, all the money going to the OK Humane Society and the Academy Of Contemporary Music at the University Of Central Oklahoma. If you want and can afford inclusion, go to flaminglipssixhoursong.com/

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NORTH EAST MUSICIANS UNITE FOR EAST AFRICA CHARITY LP
The Futureheads, Field Music and Spokes are amongst the North Eastern rock sorts to feature on a compilation in aid of the Disaster Emergency Committee's East Africa Crisis Appeal.

Proceeds from sales of the 'NExEA' LP will go directly to help those caught up in Africa's present drought crisis, which is currently affecting over 10 million people across Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia and the Republic of South Sudan.

Maximo Park man Paul Smith, who donated a solo track to the album, said this: "I saw the shocking footage from Eastern Africa on the news like many others will have done and I felt pretty helpless. I'm glad I was approached to contribute something because it's an amazing cause. I hope my slightly dodgy demo might have enough charm to sit alongside the strong line-up of other North Eastern musicians and encourage people to buy a copy".

If you're feeling encouraged, buy a CD copy or the digital version at the links below. Or perhaps you'd like to ponder the track listing below first.

CD: www.nexea.bigcartel.com

Digital: nexea.bandcamp.com/album/nexea-north-east-by-east-africa-digital-download

The Futureheads - Robot (A Capella Version)
Field Music - Repetition
Shields - Spires (Adrian Bushby Mix)
Age of Consent - Columns
Let's Buy Happiness - Woodrings
Willy Mason & Spokes - Bossman
O'Messy Life - Cancellation Of The Constellation Programme 11.10.10
Mammal Club - Put Your Fears In Order (Alternative Version)
Here Comes Good Sailing - Johnathon The Obscure
The Lake Poets - Edinburgh
Lanterns on The Lake - You're Almost There
Young Liar - Rosé Banter Bruise
Waskerley Way - Hark, 'tis th' Beaste Coaste
Warm Digits - Weapons Destruction
We Are Knuckle Dragger - Get The Horizon Yourself
Vinyl Jacket - Got The Badge
Paul Smith - A Perfect Foil
Symphonic Pictures - We All Come From Fire

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MODULAR ANNOUNCE SINGLES LABEL
Modular Recordings is launching its own singles club imprint called Club Mod, which will take the form of "roughly monthly" digital and 12-inch releases. Due out in October, the first of these will be 'Osaka', the latest track from Norwegian four-piece 120 Days.

To get you in the mood, you can download a free Modcast mix from the same band, which features the rather fetching likes of Keep Shelly In Athens, Black Devil, Spacemen 3, and various other acts I'm hardly cool enough to have heard of.

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DAEDELUS PLOTS EURO PREMIERE FOR MIRROR SHOW
Dance-pop philosopher Daedelus plans to present the European premiere of his new live spectacle, 'Archimedes', at a show at London venue Koko on 17 Sep.

In essence, the central stage piece is a moving wall of mirrors, which catch lights and images projected from its base in time with whatsoever music Daedelus happens to be playing. That's the plan, anyway. Here's a trippy little glimpse of how it all should work.

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ESMERINE TO TOUR
Chamber music duo Esmerine have announced a trio of rare dates in support of their recently-released third album 'La Lechuza'. Co-founding members Bruce Cawdron and Beckie Foon (formerly of Godspeed You! Black Emperor and Silver Mt Zion, respectively) will be joined by harp-player Sarah Pagé and percussionist Jamie Thompson on the following occasions:

19 Sep: Glasgow, Stereo
20 Sep: Leeds, Brudenell Social Club
21 Sep: London, Union Chapel

If you so wish, you can refer to this here tour promo, and see those dates presented in a far more elegant fashion.

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BMG EXTENDS SPANISH CATALOGUE
Music rights company BMG has acquired the Spanish copyrights owned by one of Spain's leading music publishers, Ediciones Musicales Clipper's. The deal was actually done earlier this year, but is only being announced now, and relates to Spanish catalogue owned by Clippers as of October last year.

BMG Spain MD Javier Sanz told reporters: "We are particularly proud to be adding this highly-regarded rights catalogue to our portfolio. The copyrights Clipper's has created over the years include iconic artists for the Spanish market, who are really successful abroad as well".

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IMAGEM TAKE PART IN AD AGENCY'S GROOVY MUSIC DAY
Independent music publishers Imagem will join advertising giants the Ogilvy Group later this week to take part in a 'lab day' event they are organising in London, where ad industry creatives and execs will get to experience music from artists they may wish to work with in the future, including a bunch of artists and songwriters represented by the Imagem team. There will also be some music industry experts talking bits, all of which will be streamed to Ogilvy offices around the world.

The day is operating under the snappy title of "making music matter as much to brands as it does to consumers", and is part of an Ogilvy initiative called - wait for it, you'll like this - it's called Ogroovy. Yes, Ogroovy. Let's take a minute to think about that.

Thought about it? Good. Here's Imagem's sync chief Natasha Baldwin with a quote: "This is an incredible opportunity for Imagem to showcase some our key writers in front of a global audience of senior advertising creatives and their major clients. To be invited to curate a stage at this amazing event is a real honour and we feel sure that our acts Alexis Ffrench, Delays and Sophie Ellis-Bextor will add real value to the day".

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RADIO 2 ANNOUNCE AUTUMN HIGHLIGHTS
Noel Gallagher will fill in for Dermot O'Leary on Radio 2 this weekend. Let's hope he can get through a whole show without libelling any family members. Noel is one of a number of celebs who will be filling in when Radio 2 weekend presenters take holidays this Autumn, others including Charlotte Church and Justin Lee Collins.

Elsewhere in Radio 2's autumn schedule, announced yesterday, Moira Stuart will front a four-part series about women in jazz, Gloria Estefan will present a programme tracing the history of Latin music, Charles Hazlewood will host a show looking at the links between seemingly unconnected pieces of music (ABBA and Mozart anyone?), plus there'll be a programme where Jamie Cullum chats to Metallica drummer Lars Ulrich about their shared love of jazz.

Says Radio 2 chief Bob Shennan: "The Radio 2 autumn schedule is incredibly distinctive this season, with something for everyone. It's jam packed with some of the best loved names in entertainment coupled with an eclectic programme of celebrations and documentaries".

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THE GUARDIAN CONSIDERING SPEECH RADIO STATION
The Guardian is planning on launching a speech-only digital radio station that would bring together its existing podcasts with other speech programming from around the world. It's thought the station might be available via DAB, and also as a low-cost subscription service online. According to Broadcast, another plan being considered is a service called 'My Guardian Pod' which collates podcasts based on a user's interests.

A spokesman for the broadsheet told the broadcasting industry trade mag: "We are looking at a number of ways of building on the success of our award-winning podcasts - including the possibility of creating a streaming version of our service. It's very early days, and as an open publisher we are discussing a wide range of options with our listeners".

It should be noted this is being driven by The Guardian newspaper and not the Guardian's radio company, GMG Radio. If the media firm's radio division do get involved, expect Guardian Radio to become Real Smooth Guardian XL More Pop Less Talk FM within a year.

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RADIO 1 REJIG RUMOURS CIRCULATE
Vernon Kay and Sara Cox are facing the axe at Radio 1, or at least that's what the Sunday Mirror reckons. Of course "Radio 1 DJ faces the axe" rumours come round all the time, though said rumours have a little more currency at the moment because the long-time boss of the station, Andy Parfitt, has left the building.

Quite how dramatic the post-Parfitt shake up at the nation's favourite will be depends to an extent on whether the former chief's long-term deputy Ben Cooper gets the top job, or whether someone from outside the organisation is put in charge. Though the Mirror reckons it's Cooper who has told Kay and Cox they could be axed to make way for younger talent on the peripheries of the Radio 1 schedules. Trevor Nelson and Edith Bowman could likewise be cut free.

A Radio 1 spokesman insists that any gossip regarding changes at the station is "pure speculation".

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LADY GAGA IS NEW ME, SAYS ALICE COOPER
Alice Cooper reckons Lady Gaga is a modern female version of him. By which he means, she too has created a crazy persona for on record and on stage which is nothing like her real self.

Cooper told the Washington Post: "Lady Gaga is the female Alice Cooper. She created a character named Lady Gaga. She wrote songs for Lady Gaga, not for herself, for Lady Gaga. I write for 'Alice', I don't write for me. And she produced those songs on stage for Lady Gaga. Now there's a Lady Gaga nation out there, and if you meet her off stage, she's nothing like that person on stage. It's like, 'me either'. I'm nothing like Alice. But we created a character that belongs to rock and roll. So, she's the closest [to me] out of everybody".

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GAME NOT KEEN ON GAYS IN THE CLOSET
So, Game doesn't have any beef with the gays people, it's official. So that's nice. Though, we should add, he's no time for gay people - and particularly gay rappers - who keep their sexuality a secret. Why's that Game? Do you think homosexual hip hop stars should go public about their sexuality so to provide young gay people with role models, and to help eradicate homophobia among the young hip hop fanbase? Erm, no. Game worries that closeted gays are giving their faux girlfriends AIDS. Yes, of course he does.

Admittedly VLAD TV asked hip hopper Game some pretty leading questions when discussing whether or not there were any high profile gay rappers keeping their sexuality a secret, presumably hoping he'd say something offensive or ridiculous. So job done.

"I think that there are several rappers who are in the closet and gay" he mused. "I don't have a problem with gay people. Beyonce should have said, 'Who Run The World? Gays', because they're everywhere man! Game has a problem with people who are pretending not to be gay but are gay. The number one issue with that is that you can be fooling somebody, and you can give them AIDS, and they can die, so that 'in the closet' shit is real scary."

Yeah, something about that quote is definitely scary, I'll give him that.

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