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

JURY SELECTION BEGINS, MEDIA CIRCUS NOT PRESENT: MURRAY TRIAL UPDATE
The trial of Conrad Murray, the doctor accused of causing the death of Michael Jackson through negligence, got off to a relatively low key start yesterday. The media circus predicted by Murray's defence team did not materialise, though the order of the day was the rather tedious process of jury selection, so the big media presence might show up when testimonies begin later this month. As it was, only a few TV cameras and a small gathering of Jackson's fans were to be found outside the LA court house.

According to reports, Murray, sitting with his attorneys, showed no real emotions as the jury selection process got underway. 160 potential jurors were in attendance, and Judge Michael Pastor started by asking if any of them were not already aware of this case. No one raised their hands. Questionnaires were then dished out to get more information about each potential juror. Similar questioning is expected to take place with up to 480 potential jury members, before a final pool of 100 is selected for questioning by prosecution and defence lawyers later this month.

Pastor told the 160 potential jurors in court yesterday that they must not blog, tweet or otherwise discuss the case on the internet while they were still being considered for a place on the jury. He also told them that, should they be selected, they will be banned from negotiating any financial deal with regards selling the story about their experience on the jury to a newspaper or publisher for 90 days after the trial finishes.

As much previously reported, the prosecution will say that Murray was negligent in the way he administered the drug propofol to Jackson, the surgical anaesthetic that led to the singer's death. Murray's defence are expected to claim Jackson self-administered the lethal shot.

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MADONNA NOISE LAWSUIT TO PROCEED TO COURT
Madonna's lawyers are going to have a busy few months after failing, again, to persuade a judge to dismiss a lawsuit against the singer.

Earlier in the week a judge refused to dismiss litigation launched by LA Triumph, who are suing the singer for launching a Material Girl fashion range, arguing they own that trademark in the fashion space. Now a lawsuit filed by a former neighbour of the singer, who claims Madonna played unreasonably loud music for hours at a time at her New York apartment, has also been allowed to proceed.

Karen George sued Madonna in 2009, claiming that the singer and guests at her Manhattan apartment would play loud music for up to three hours a day, resulting in a "pounding noise and vibration". The neighbour said she believe this breached noise level rules, and she sued for damages from the star.

Madonna's lawyers requested that the lawsuit be dismissed, but on Wednesday Judge Louis York gave the green light for the case to go to court, saying: "One of the most basic functions of a residence is to provide shelter from the outside world for its occupants to think, interact and relax in peace. If the noise caused by Madonna's activities prevented [the claimant] from being able to use her apartment for these purposes, then the warrant of habitability has been breached".

A rep for the singer told the New York Daily News that Madonna no longer lived in the New York building in question, but that while she did she was a "wonderful neighbour" who lived by all the building's rules.

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PRISON OFFICIALS SENT TI BACK TO JAIL OVER BUSINESS TALKS
Prison officials have clarified why they sent TI back to jail last week just days after releasing him early. As previously reported, the hip hopper, in prison for breaking terms of probation relating to earlier gun charges, was released a month early last week and told to see out the rest of his sentence in a 'half way house' in his home city of Atlanta. But shortly after returning to Atlanta he was taken back into full custody.

It was initially claimed that prison officials had taken exception to the form of transport TI had used to return to Atlanta - he charted a luxury tour bus which was accompanied by several SUVs. But the rapper's wife, Tiny, pointed out that prison officials saw the transport the rapper had booked when it arrived at the jail, adding that some officers had their photos taken with the rapper outside the bus, and therefore they had plenty of time to raise objections then.

According to TMZ, the authorities have now said that their objections are not related to type of vehicle TI used, but the fact he allowed business associates onto the bus and conducted business talks with them. They add that the rapper had been told he could only travel with his wife, and that he must not conduct business while in transit.

TI's people, who reckon prison officials have just changed their story because of the points raised by Tiny, also deny any business dealings took place on the bus, though it's known VH1 had been filming the rapper shortly after his release for a TV show, and a book deal was confirmed very soon after he left prison.

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RICHIE PULLS OUT OF RADIO 2 SHOW BECAUSE OF ILL HEALTH
Lionel Richie has put recording work on hold and had to pull out of this weekend's Radio 2 Live In Hyde Park concert because of ill-health.

The singer said in a statement: "The [Hyde Park] show has a fantastic line up and I was looking forward to joining the other artists on what promises to be a fabulous day of entertainment. To all the fans that bought tickets I promise to be back very soon and make up for it with something very special".

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MORE WINNERS ANNOUNCED FOR ARTIST AND MANAGER AWARDS
The Music Managers Forum and Featured Artists' Coalition have announced details of some of the artists and industry types they will be celebrating at the first ever Artist And Manager Awards next week, which are now being supported by American Express.

The first ever Artists' Artist Award, presented by FAC, will go to Massive Attack. The Coalition says they will recognise the dance group "for their incredible artistic vision, back catalogue, and legendary live performances". Meanwhile the MMF will present the Peter Grant Award For Service To Management to John Glover, who worked with the likes of Go West, ABC, Alison Limerick and Tony Hadley over the years.

Elsewhere, award organisers announced last month that Beggars Group boss Martin Mills will be presented with the Industry Champion Award, while the team at management agency Everbody's will get the Achievement Award prize. Winners of the other gongs, including Artist Of The Year, Breakthrough Artist Of The Year, First Rung Manager and Manager Of The Year will be revealed on the night - next Tuesday at the Roundhouse - though shortlists for the first two of those have been announced, as follows:

Breakthrough Artist: Ben Howard, Yuck, Ed Sheeran, Anna Calvi

Artist Of The Year: Tinie Tempah, Adele, PJ Harvey, Plan B

More info about the awards and tickets can be got from amawards.org

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WILLIAM HILL RELEASE ODDS FOR 2012 MERCURY PRIZE
It might be a whole year until the next Mercury Prize bash takes place, and most of the albums that will appear on the 2012 shortlist probably haven't been released yet, but that's no reason whatsoever to not have a bet right now on who might win next time round. William Hill will take that bet from you, thank you very much, and in case you wondered, these are the odds. I'm going to say Rizzle Kicks will win on the basis none of you will remember this time next year so I've nothing to lose. Well, unless I foolishly decide to back up that claim by handing over some cash to Mr Hill.

Kasabian - 7/1
Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds - 8/1
Radiohead - 8/1
Ed Sheeran - 10/1
Florence And The Machine - 10/1
Coldplay - 12/1
Mumford & Sons - 16/1
Rizzle Kicks - 20/1
Example - 20/1
Calvin Harris - 20/1
Wretch 32 - 25/1
Laura Marling - 25/1
Miles Kane - 25/1
Elbow - 33/1
All The Young - 33/1
Jessie J - 33/1
Professor Green - 50/1
Hard-Fi - 66/1
Charlie Simpson - 80/1

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AFI HAVEN'T SPLIT, IN CASE YOU THOUGHT THEY HAD
So, have American alt rockers AFI split up? Well, frontman Davey Havok seemed to say they have, via a post on the band's Despairfaction forum. But the band's management have said the statement was a hoax and they have no intent of calling it a day. But just to fill out this story, let's all read Havok's non-statement anyway. Who knows, perhaps management have got it wrong.

Havok: "This is the end. Sorry, but AFI is done. After more than 15 years of being together, we as a band have decided to disband AFI. There will be no more AFI albums or shows. We have matured and have other things in life that we would like to attend to. Please forgive us for the random statement but it was something we were thinking of for a while".

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MOS DEF TO USE NEW MONIKER
Rapper and actor Mos Def is splitting up with himself. That's to say, he's planning on dumping that moniker at the end of the year, Diddystyle. Though that doesn't mean he'll be performing under his real name of Dante Terrell Smith from now on. No, he's planning on using the name Yasiin, the name of chapter 26 of the Qu'ran.

Mos Def soon-to-be Yasiin told MTV: "I'm retiring the Mos Def name after 2011. I'm actually doing it. Yasiin. That's it. Mos Def is a name that I built and cultivated over the years, it's a name that the streets taught me, a figure of speech that was given to me by the culture and by my environment, and I feel I've done quite a bit with that name and it's time to expand and move on. Also, I didn't want to have to deal with having any moniker or separation between the self that I see and know myself as".

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RONAN PARKE DETAILS DEBUT LP
Remember Ronan Parke, the diminutive 'Britain's Got Talent' contestant who became the subject of those unfounded fixing allegations? The one with the floppy Justin Bieber fringe? Well, to the fevered delight of young fangirls everywhere, he's now in readiness to release his eponymous debut album on 24 Oct.

The LP will see the 13 year-old Norwich singer, who penned a deal with Simon Cowell's Syco label shortly after finishing second to Welsh belter Jai McDowall in this year's 'BGT' competition, taking on a real mixed bag of covers. Ronan's (presumably censored) version of Cee Lo's 'Forget You' is set to feature alongside renditions of Nina Simone's 'Feeling Good' and Coldplay's 'Fix You'. Head 'X-Factor' judge Gary Barlow has also contributed 'Stronger Than I Am', one of his own original compositions, to the cache of tracks.

Addressing those who would hail him as a British Bieber, Ronan has this to say: "It's an amazing compliment, but I think I'd rather be known as me than anyone else". Quite right.

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THE SPECIALS TO RELEASE LIVE ALBUMS
The Specials are set to release recordings from each date of their forthcoming 30th anniversary tour, the UK portion of which opens in Wolverhampton on 11 Oct and culminates with a sold-out show at London landmark Alexandra Palace on 3 Nov.

As organised in partnership with Abbey Road's Live Here Now initiative, fans will be able to purchase the band's full live set on CD directly after each performance. 4GB USB copies, download codes and a limited edition boxset are also set to become available. More details and full touring itinerary here.

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LOS CAMPESINOS! TOUR
Indie-pop clan Los Campesinos! have announced plans to tour in support of their latest album 'Hello Sadness', which is set for release via Wichita on 14 Nov. The band are giving away album-opening breakup ditty 'By Your Hand' as a free MP3. Bag it here.

Tour dates:
7 Nov: London, Kings College
8 Nov: Brighton, The Haunt
9 Nov: Cardiff, The Globe
10 Nov: Glasgow, Oran Mor
11 Nov: Leeds, Cockpit

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REAL ESTATE TO TOUR
New Jersey trio Real Estate will be making their brand of rosy guitar music available across a set of brand new UK shows, thus giving a thorough live airing to tracks from the band's new album 'Days' following its release via Domino on 17 Oct. If you haven't done so yet, download lead single 'It's Real' here.

Back to those tour dates:
23 Oct: Brighton, Hanbury Ballroom
24 Oct: Manchester, Islington Mill
25 Oct: London, The Garage (Co-headline show w/ Twin Sister)
26 Cct: Bristol, Start The Bus

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SUBMOTION ORCHESTRA ANNOUNCE HEADLINE TOUR
In honour of their recently-released debut album, 'Finest Hour', Leeds-based electro fusionists Submotion Orchestra are taking their seven-piece live show out on the road. Sample 'Always', the group's next single selection, here.

Here are the dates:

3 Oct: Manchester, The Ritz
5 Oct: Huddersfield, Bar 1:22
7 Oct: Coventry, Warwick Arts
11 Oct: Oxford, O2 Academy
12 Oct: Birmingham, O2 Academy
14 Oct: Leeds, The Wardrobe
15 Oct: Brighton, Coalition
18 Oct: Southampton, Joiners
20 Oct: Guildford, The Boileroom
21 Oct: Bristol, Thekla
22 Oct: Nottingham, Stealth
31 Oct: London, XOYO

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HMV HAS DIFFICULT SUMMER, BUT FOX STILL OPTIMISTIC ABOUT STORE REVAMP
HMV had another difficult quarter new financials published this morning have confirmed, with like for like sales down 15.1% in the firm's retail business, and 19.4% down across the wider group.

However, analysts say that the figures, although disappointing, are in line with expectations, while top man Simon Fox says that his plan to reinvigorate the company's retail business by increasing the amount of floor space given over to gadgets is still on track. He says that in the six pilot 'fast forward' stores where gadgets are already dominating like-for-like sales were up, in some cases double what they were in the same period last year.

Though some City types still worry that, while Fox is planning on using consumer electronics to rescue his business, both Dixons and Fox's former employer Comet, traditionally go-to stores for electronics in the UK, have had disappointing years so far.

In related news, the Financial Times has revealed that bidders considering buying EMI have been told that the music major is a guarantor on up to forty retail property leases held by HMV, stemming from when the retailer was part of the EMI Group way back in the 1990s.

That's only an issue if you think there is a risk the HMV retail business could go under, and if you believe the wider retail market is such that it would be very hard to rent out those properties to other businesses. But some more pessimistic analysts will likely believe both those things. If HMV was to collapse EMI, and whoever buys it off Citigroup, would be liable, according to the FT, for £150 million of property leases.

And finally in HMV news for today, the firm has announced the appointment of Mark Hodgkinson to its board as Marketing & eCommerce Director. It's the first time marketing and ecommerce has been combined, and will result in current eCommerce Director Steve Napleton leaving the company.

Says Fox: "I would very much like to welcome Mark to HMV, who will bring with him tremendous marketing experience and expertise gained across a number of industry sectors and market-leading companies, most notably in the area of loyalty, online and digital, which are key areas for HMV as we continue our transformation into a broad-based entertainment brand operating across a number of channels. I would also like to place on record my sincere thanks to Steve Napleton for his contribution to HMV, and to wish him well in his future endeavours".

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GOVERNMENT LAUNCHES YET ANOTHER CONSULTATION ON GIG LICENSING RULES
The government is having another consultation on the 2003 Licensing Act. You know, the one we all know has made it difficult for pubs and clubs to stage small-scale music events, thus depriving grass roots musicians of a platform for playing live, issues which Lord Tim Clement-Jones has already addressed in his Live Music Bill. His proposals would basically remove the need to fill out complicated licensing paperwork for those staging certain smaller gigs, paperwork which puts many pub owners off staging any music at all.

Tourism & Heritage Minister John Penrose has commissioned the latest consultation, which will no doubt prove vital in, erm, confirming what everybody already knows. Oh, and in devising solutions, erm, exactly like those Clement-Jones has already devised. Still, keeps civil servants in work.

Presumably as frustrated as the rest of us about the continued delays on this, but trying his best to remain upbeat, UK Music's Feargal Sharkey told The Guardian: "We're optimistic that this will be positive news for the industry, and especially for emerging talent. I'd wager that all of this week's Mercury Prize nominees started their careers playing in pubs or clubs. In the meantime, we'll have to wait for the actual detail of the consultation, and under what specific circumstances the requirement for a music licence would be removed".

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GOOGLE LOCKER NOW WORKS ON APPLE DEVICES
Although still in beta and only available in the US, Google has nevertheless managed to beat Apple in providing a music-based digital locker service that works with iPhones and iPads.

Google, of course, beat Apple to market with a music-specific digital locker, mainly by not bothering to do licensing deals with the music companies (arguing, like Amazon, that for the kind of service it is offering, no such licenses are required).

A new app for the iPhone and iPad means those using the beta service can now stream music stored in their Google lockers back to their Apple devices.

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WILL YOUNG IS OVER, SAYS EXAMPLE
OK people, it's official, Will Young's pop career is over. Example says so. Speaking to Chris Moyles on Radio 1, having heard Young's new single 'Jealousy', he said: "He's had his moment, hasn't he? That song's awful. That song should be on 'Songs Of Praise'. It's awful. He was good, he was one of the only credible people to come off that show, what was it called, 'Popstars'? [But] Will Young has had his moment".

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