INTERSCOPE OFFICES MAY HAVE BEEN USED BY DRUG RING
The New York offices of Universal's Interscope Records may have been used by a drug-trafficking ring, according to papers relating to the federal drugs case against Czar Entertainment chief James Rosemond who, as previously reported, was arrested back in June after a short time on the run from the authorities. The hip hop manager is accused of running a lucrative drug trafficking operation.

That Interscope's New York base was used as part of a network to get drugs out to sellers and money back to Rosemond is alleged in papers seen by the Smoking Gun website. They relate to paperwork from shipping company Rock-It Cargo, which has many music clients, and which, it's alleged, Rosemond used to get drugs and cash between LA and New York, and around NYC.

Rock-It papers show that Rosemond's contacts were sending and picking up flight cases from Interscope, and a New York studio. The Feds believe the flight cases contained drugs or cash. Rosemond's Czar Entertainment would have contacts at Universal because some of the artists it represents, most notably Game, are signed to the major.

Universal is yet to comment on the allegations. Rosemond is currently in jail waiting to face the allegations against him, and was indicted on eighteen felony charges this week. His legal reps previously stated that their client's arrest was "the result of witnesses who have been bribed and threatened by the government to implicate Jimmy in the crimes charged. It's been a long time coming, but the government wants a fight so we'll give them one". The hip hop man faces a life sentence if found guilty of running the drugs operation.

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TI'S LAWYER NOT ALLOWED INTO HEARINGS ABOUT RAPPER'S JAIL TIME
TI's lawyer has been told he's not allowed to attend prison hearings regarding the hip hop man's bid to get out of jail early.

As previously reported, the hip hopper, jailed for breaking probation conditions last year, was let out of prison a month early recently, and told to serve out the rest of his sentence in a half way house in his home town of Atlanta. But shortly after arriving in Atlanta he was taken back into full custody, seemingly because he conducted business meetings on a luxury bus while travelling to the city, and that had been forbidden.

TI's legal man had been trying to have that decision overturned, and requested to be present at any hearings on the matter, but according to TMZ the Federal Bureau Of Prisons has said the rapper is "not entitled to legal counsel" during this process, so his lawyer will not be allowed to participate. Given all the bother, TI might be better off just waiting until his full sentence is completed at the end of the month. Though he does have that VH1 reality show that needs filming ready for a December launch.

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BORIS RESPONDS TO KELIS AFTER AIRPORT RUN IN
London mayor Boris Johnson has apologised to Kelis after it was reported that she had been the victim of racial abuse at a London airport, and pledged to look into the incident. Which is all well and good, except it turns out the fracas actually occurred in Spain.

Kelis said earlier this week that a middle-aged English man called her a "slave" and "probably a disgusting Nigerian" after he incorrectly thought she had pushed in at passport control at an unnamed airport, and that no one else in the queue had spoken up. She added "the racial issues in the UK are disgusting, [the country is] racially decades behind progression because everything is swept under the rug".

Kelis sort of implied this had happened at a London airport, leading to Johnson to take to Twitter to say: "Heard about the treatment you received at a UK airport. Want you to know this is not typical. I'm appalled and I'm on the case".

But it's unlikely Boris can help, given that we now know this happened in Spain. While the London mayor could have taken a London airport to task for their staff not stepping in, he can't really do anything about one idiotic racist, other than, I suppose, dedicating the rest of his political career to fostering better racial harmony in Britain.

After Boris tweeted, Kelis clarified as follows: "Just to clarify, because apparently there's been some confusion, I was in the UK (as always) this time for Bestival (which was great). I took a flight from Gatwick back to Spain. I landed in Spain and that's when the fat pink faced British guy who was on the plane with me called me a slave and [told me] to call him sir. It was at passport control. I didn't think to make that clear at the time because I was shaken and furious. Now you know".

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Q AWARDS NOMINATIONS ANNOUNCED
How about some award noms this Friday morning? How about two lots?

First up, the Q Awards, which will be presented on 24 Oct in London. The mag's Editor In Chief Paul Rees had this to say about this year's reader voted shortlists: "I'm delighted that Q's audience has once again demonstrated - by voting in their thousands - both their enthusiasm to discover and embrace new music, and the sheer breadth of their musical tastes. The Q Awards 2011 will celebrate their ongoing passion for new and influential music".

And look people, here's a, erm, queue of Q noms:

Breakthrough Artist: Jessie J, Ed Sheeran, Katy B, James Blake, Miles Kane.

Best New Act: The Vaccines, WU LYF, Foster The People, Everything Everything, Nero.

Best Female Artist: Adele, Laura Marling, Beyoncé, Jessie J, PJ Harvey.

Best Male Artist: Cee Lo Green, Tinie Tempah, Wretch 32, Ed Sheeran, Example.

Best Track: Adele ­ Rolling In The Deep, Aloe Blacc - I Need A Dollar, Arctic Monkeys - Don't Sit Down Cause I've Moved Your Chair, Adele - Someone Like You, Foster The People - Pumped Up Kicks.

Best Album: Bon Iver - Bon Iver, Arctic Monkeys - Suck It And See, Elbow - Build A Rocket Boys!,
The Horrors - Skying, PJ Harvey - Let England Shake.

Best Live Act: Coldplay, Biffy Clyro, Elbow, Beyoncé, Chase And Status.

Best Video: Jessie J - Do It Like A Dude, Lady Gaga - Judas, Foo Fighters - Walk, Ed Sheeran - You Need Me, I Don't Need You, Katy Perry - Last Friday Night (TGIF), Hurts - Wonderful Life.

Best Act In The World Today: Muse, Coldplay, Arctic Monkeys, Kasabian, Arcade Fire, U2.

Greatest Act Of The Last 25 Years: U2, Damon Albarn, Radiohead, Oasis, Nirvana, Arcade Fire, Arctic Monkeys, Muse, Jack White, Paul Weller, Jay Z, Eminem, Madonna, The Strokes, REM, The Stone Roses, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Coldplay, Manic Street Preachers, Björk, Beastie Boys, Metallica, Prodigy, The Cure, Green Day.

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FESTIVAL AWARDS ANNOUNCES SHORTLISTS FOR PUBLIC VOTED GONGS
Organisers of the UK Festival Awards opened up voting on the five categories that will be chosen by punters last night: Headline Performances Of The Year, Anthem Of The Summer, Best Breakthrough Artist, plus Best Overseas Festival and Fan's Favourite Festival.

All five awards will be presented on 15 Nov, alongside a muddy backpack full of other gongs for categories chosen by a panel of judges. The various other best festival prizes have been judged by a panel of journalists and reviewers who have scored each event according to criteria set by festival industry experts, while other prizes - Agent Of The Year, Concession Of The Year, The Greener Award etc - will be judged by a panel of music and media types.

Commenting on this year's awards, the event's boss James Drury told CMU: "Over 200 UK festivals are taking part in the awards this year, which is the most we've ever had. It's testament to the vibrancy of the British market, despite some challenging economic conditions. I can't wait to find out who's won!"

Most of the shortlists announced last night are flippin huge, though you can check them out if you vote at www.festivalawards.com. But the list for Anthem Of The Summer is more manageable, and particularly interesting because it was created by reader's of Virtual Festivals, so look, we've included that right here:

Aloe Blacc - I Need A Dollar
Bombay Bicycle Club - Shuffle
Chase and Status - Blind Faith
Ed Sheeran - The A Team
Foo Fighters - Rope
Foster The People - Pumped Up Kicks
Friendly Fires - Hawaiian Air
Jessie J - Price Tag
Muse - Knights Of Cydonia
My Chemical Romance - Na Na Na
Noah And The Whale - LIFEGOESON
PJ Harvey - Let England Shake
Primal Scream - Movin On Up
Pulp - Common People
Viva Brother - Darling Buds Of May

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OF MONTREAL OUTLINE NEW ALBUM, RE-ISSUE OLD ONES ON CASSETTE
Of Montreal are to release a new album entitled 'Paralytic Stalks' next year. Speaking to Pitchfork about the LP, frontman Kevin Barnes cited "modern classical music" as a main influence, also describing the new oeuvre as "still very much a colourful pop record" with some "funky elements". Read the full interview here: pitchfork.com/news/43989-of-montreals-kevin-barnes-talks-new-album-cassette-box-set-his-career/

Elsewhere in Of Montreal release news, the long-time Polyvinyl signings have announced plans to reissue their first ten albums in good old cassette format. Limited to 500 hand-crafted boxsets, each coming with a full set of MP3 downloads too, the collection will be available to buy as of 25 Oct via Joyful Noise. More details here: www.joyfulnoiserecordings.com/catalog/jnr69

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BRIAN ENO REPRISES POET PARTNERSHIP ON NEW EP
Following the release of their collaborative album, 'Drums Between Bells', earlier this year, Brian Eno and poet Rick Holland have seen fit to compile an EP of offcuts from the lucrative decade-long spell they spent making the aforementioned LP.

Slated for release via Warp on 7 Nov, six-tracker 'Panic Of Looking' will feature readings of Holland's work set against a fully-Enoxified sonic backdrop.

As for how listeners should occupy themselves while listening, Rick has several good suggestions: "I'm doing a lot of driving at the moment and I find it works well with that. Brian thinks it's good to wash up to as well".

You heard the man, grab a Brillo Pad and get scrubbing as you stream the title track, here: soundcloud.com/warp-records/brian-eno-rick-holland-panic-of-looking

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SHE & HIM PREPARE CHRISTMAS LP
Merry little elf Justin Bieber isn't the only one releasing a Christmas album, you know. Folk-pop pairing She & Him, otherwise known as actress Zooey Deschanel and singer-songwriter M Ward, are plotting their very own Yuletide release. Set to serve up a sleigh-load of sugary festive treats (with a quirky indie twist, naturally), 'A Very She & Him Christmas' is due out on 21 Nov. Happy Christmas, everyone.

Tracklist:

The Christmas Waltz
Christmas Day
Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
I'll Be Home For Christmas
Christmas Wish
Sleigh Ride
Rockin Around The Christmas Tree
Silver Bells
Baby, It's Cold Outside
Blue Christmas
Little Saint Nick
The Christmas Song

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BILLY BRAGG PLOTS POLITICAL TOUR
So, Billy Bragg has hand-picked a musical hotchpotch of topical pop-politicians to accompany him on a Glastonbury-inspired tour. Taking its name from an area of the Worthy Farm festival Bragg curates, the Left Field live run will play host to grime MC Akala, punk outfit The King Blues, and rap-poets Sound Of Rum.

Says Bragg from atop his soapbox: "Music helped me to make connections when I was growing up - between the situation I found myself in and the powerful people who put me there. Artists need to start engaging in this debate again and The King Blues, Akala and Sound Of Rum are inspiring examples of those prepared to push against the power".

Here are the dates, not all of which will feature the full four-act line-up:

13 Nov: Edinburgh, Queens Hall
15 Nov: Sheffield, Leadmill
16 Nov: Teesside University
17 Nov: Leeds University
19 Nov: Cambridge, Junction
20 Nov: Keele University
21 Nov: Oxford, Academy
22 Nov: London, The Forum
24 Nov: Leicester, Academy
25 Nov: Liverpool, The Picket
26 Nov: Liverpool, The Picket
28 Nov: Bristol University

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WASHED OUT TO TOUR
Now flanked by a full live band, one-time solitary chillwaver Ernest Greene is preparing to take Washed Out on a forthcoming four-stop tour. Held in the name of the band's well-received debut album 'Within And Without', the tour will progress as follows:

12 Nov: Bristol, Motion
13 Nov: Manchester, Sound Control
14 Nov: Leeds, Brudenell Social Club
15 Nov: London, Heaven

And while you digest that chunk of date-studded detail, have a blast of Washed Out's new single 'Amor Fati', which, alongside remixes by Au Revoir Simone and Clams Casino, is due out via Domino on 7 Nov.

soundcloud.com/dominorecordco/washed-out-amor-fati

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SLEEP ∞ OVER PARTNER WITH PURE X ON TOUR
Comrades of Austin's thriving live scene, ambient trio Pure X and tipped dream-poppets Sleep ∞ Over have announced the itinerary for a twice-as-nice joint tour in November.

While Pure X will be touting their current LP, 'Pleasure', Sleep ∞ Over will promote their full-length debut, 'Forever', which is due for release via Hippos In Tanks next month. How nice.

The tour will run as follows:

1 Nov: London, The Shacklewell Arms
2 Nov: Brighton, Green Door Store
3 Nov: Leeds, A Nation of Shopkeepers
4 Nov: Glasgow, Captain's Rest
5 Nov: Manchester, The Deaf Institute
7 Nov: Bristol, Thekla

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FESTIVAL LINE-UP UPDATE

LIVERPOOL MUSIC WEEK, various venues, Liverpool, 28 Oct - 11 Nov: Organisers of Liverpool's fifteen day week of music have named Ghostpoet, Outfit, Beth Jeans Houghton, The Whip, D/R/U/G/S, Dutch Uncles, Hyde & Beast and Visions Of Trees as amongst those acts set to play at their closing day party, which will be held throughout the city's multi-roomed Contemporary Urban Centre. www.liverpoolmusicweek.com

LOWPASS WEEKENDER, Pontins Camber Sands Holiday Centre, East Sussex, 4-6 Nov: With stages hosted by cool labels like Digital Soundboy, Shogun Audio and RAM Records, this year's Lowpass beatfest will welcome the bass-heavy likes of Skream, Andy C, Caspa, Joker, Mista Jam, Scratch Perverts and David Rodigan. A DJ set from Sub Focus is also on the cards. www.lowpass.co.uk

NAIL THE CROSS IV, The Shacklewell Arms, Dalston, London, 21-22 Oct: Sure to be a huge happening on Dalston's rammed live calendar, this No Pain In Pop and Lanzarote co-curated minifest will see sets from the zeitgeisty likes of Pariah, Nite Jewel, Echo Lake and D/R/U/G/S. www.shacklewellarms.com/listings/gigdetails/22-oct-11-nail-the-cross-iv-the-shacklewell-arms/

TOGETHER WINTER MUSIC FESTIVAL, Alexandra Palace, London, 26 Nov: John Digweed, Simian Mobile Disco, Vitalic, Fake Blood and Fenech-Soler are amongst the dance-tastic types freshly added to this year's wintery Together bash, which will also play host to Eric Prydz presenting his live 'Epic' spectacle. www.together-club.co.uk

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SEAT'S MUSIC SHOW RETURNS TO CHANNEL 4
Universal Music's TV division Globe Productions is again teaming up with SEAT to make another series of 'On Track With SEAT' programmes for Channel 4, which sees artists filmed as they go into Metropolis Studios in London to record three of their own tracks and one cover version, which are then pressed on vinyl.

After the success of series one, the new version of the programme will be double the length (30 minutes), and will have a presenter, 6music's Tom Ravenscroft. He will chat to participating artists about their record collections, and the artists and music that influences them. Confirmed for the new series are Example, Friendly Fires, Kaiser Chiefs, James Morrison, Katy B and Rizzle Kicks.

Commenting on the show, Globe Productions' Iain Funnell told CMU: "We're looking forward to featuring some of the most exciting artists around and delving into their musical soul to see what makes them tick". Executive Producer Richard Cook added: "Recording straight to vinyl is one of the most honest and true forms of recording. We feel really privileged to be able to work with credible artists that appreciate the art and quality of a traditional record".

Channel 4's T4 and music man Neil McCallum added: "It's great news to be bringing 'On Track With SEAT' back to our screens following the success of the first series. We look forward to seeing some of 2011's most talked about artists performing intimately and exclusively in the new series, as well as sharing some of their influences and musical insight with Tom in this new and evolved, extended format".

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STUBHUB TO LAUNCH IN UK
eBay is planning on launching its US-based secondary ticketing website StubHub in the UK, according to the Financial Times.

It will put the American ticket resale business up against Viagogo, which is interesting mainly because the two firms have a founder in common in Eric Baker, who after co-founding StubHub in the US departed that company and subsequently set up the Viagogo venture over here.

StubHub UK will also compete with its parent company, eBay, which provides a secondary ticketing service via its general auction website. Whether the decision to launch StubHub over here is motivated by the fact the online auctions giant has fallen behind more specialist sites like Viagogo and Seatwave in the ticket resale market isn't clear. It's possible that StubHub, who still operate more or less autonomously from their owner's main business, simply have expansion ambitions.

According to the FT the UK launch will happen in quarter four, and will include some standalone high street retail outlets as well as its online operations. Commenting on the move, the aforementioned Baker from Viagogo told the FT: "My creation is now chasing me across the ocean. It has been very successful for eBay in the States so it's not surprising that they're starting to go international with it".

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ETHICAL TICKET EXCHANGE SCARLET MIST CLOSES DOWN
More secondary ticketing, and online ticket exchange Scarlet Mist, which was launched in 2003 to allow music fans to sell on unwanted gig and festival tickets at face value, has been forced to close down after it turned out that some of its users weren't as ethical as it was. Although the site's founders Richard and Olly Marks did not go into specific details, they said in a statement this morning that the decision to close was due to "unacceptably high levels of fraud carried out by a small number of criminals".

They said that although they had looked into ways of making the site more secure, there were no current options that would ensure they could continue to run it as a free service.

Commenting on the wider ticketing industry, the Marks said: "The close ties between the primary ticket market and the secondary tout market have got closer and closer over the years. The ticket market is a bizarre and strange world, where opaque pricing structures, compulsory handling charges and non-transferable non-refundable sales are all regarded as entirely routine practice".

They added: "Ticket touting is a mixed blessing; there are many music fans that are willing to pay the prices that they charge. Successive governments have looked at the issue - and Scarlet Mist has given evidence to various working parties and reviews. We do not think it is practical to make touts illegal, but we do think that they should pay tax on their earnings. We have lobbied for this, and we believe that the websites that act as front-ends for high-earning touts should be required to share information with the tax inspectors".

But Richard and Olly haven't completely given up, and are now seeking individuals or organisations that could help them get the site up and running again. More information at www.scarletmist.com/suspend.htm.

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LIVE NATION TO BUY ANOTHER MANAGEMENT FIRM
Live Nation continues to expand. According to Bloomberg, the live music giant is looking to expand its artist management interests through a significant acquisition of a rival management agency.

As well as its extensive interests in venue management, tour promotion and, through Ticketmaster, ticketing, Live Nation already owns major management player Front Line, which came to the live music conglom via its Ticketmaster merger.

Irving Azoff, who founded Front Line and is now Chairman of the wider Live Nation group, told an investor conference yesterday: "We are in the middle of an acquisition that we will announce Monday that is pretty major in the management area".

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ROCK'S BACKPAGES LAUNCHES EBOOKS DIVISION
Rock's Backpages, the online library of music journalism, has launched an eBooks division, to be headed up by former MOJO Editor Mat Snow. The new strand to the Rock Backpages business will publish both anthologies of key interviews and acts from different music media of old, as well as republishing some classic music books in full, including works by Simon Reynolds, Barney Hoskyns, Bud Scoppa and John Pidgeon.

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BEEF OF THE WEEK: MICK JAGGER V KEITH RICHARDS
Mick Jagger and Keith Richards have been the joint figureheads of The Rolling Stones for just shy of 50 years now, and the band continue to record and tour whether people like it or not (largely because a lot of them seem to be in the former category). But like any relationship that close and that long, time can take its toll.

When Richards published his autobiography last year, he said that he and Jagger had drifted apart long ago, calling the singer "unbearable" and claiming that he'd not "been to his dressing room in 20 years". Oh, and he said he had "a tiny todger".

Jagger in turn told the New York Times: "Personally, I think it's really quite tedious raking over the past [for an autobiography]. Mostly, people only do it for the money".

Nonetheless, Richards told BBC 6music last November that the band were all set to knock out another album, saying: "Everybody's ready to go out there again ... We're looking forward to working". And as new Stones albums are generally a promotional tool for some live activity, rumours of a tour started to circulate, one that would begin this year and stretch into 2012 and double up as a big celebration of the band's 50th anniversary year.

So certain did tour dates seem, in fact, that the band's former live promoter Michael Cohl launched a lawsuit against Live Nation (actually a countersuit to one the live conglom had already filed against him) in a dispute that was partly over who had the rights to work with the Stones on any new concerts. The band then issued a statement stressing that they had no contractual commitments to anyone in the live sector (so weren't committed to either Cohl or Live Nation) and they had no intention of touring in 2011 anyway.

But what about that 50th anniversary, surely something should happen to celebrate that? Well, yes, but unfortunately Jagger is still a bit upset about all those things that Richards said in his book. So upset, in fact, that it seems he's banning the guitarist from attending any Stones birthday party.

Speaking to Live Magazine about the upcoming anniversary, Jagger suggested that rather than a big expensive tour, perhaps getting his band together and having a blue plaque installed at the site of their first ever gig, at the Marquee Club in London, might be a nice touch. Except, of course, The Marquee no longer exists, having tried out various different locations before its most recent demise. And the original line-up of Jagger's band couldn't be there in its entirety for various reasons up to and including death. Not to mention the aforementioned more recent upset.

Jagger said: "Maybe we could go back to the Marquee to accept a plaque for 50 years of service instead of a tour. That could work - except Keith obviously can't come. Charlie Watts [who joined the band a few months after their first show] can come but he wouldn't get the plaque, obviously".

Keith hasn't yet commented on how much he'd like to see a circular tile glued to the side of a branch of Santander (which is what the former Marquee building now is), and Mick has gone off and formed a new band, SuperHeavy, anyway. Asked whether there was any likelihood that The Rolling Stones would perform together again by BBC Breakfast this morning, Jagger said it was possible, but admitted that there were "tensions" within the group.

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