UNIVERSAL MERGES VIRGIN AND MERCURY, CONFIRMS CAPITOL UK LAUNCH
Universal has announced that it is to merge the British side of its newly acquired (from EMI) Virgin Records label with its longstanding UK unit Mercury to create a new division, Virgin EMI Records.

The new company will maintain two A&R and marketing strands under the Virgin and EMI brands - ensuring that the EMI name remains active following the former major's sale to the Universal Music Group. The Mercury name will also continue to be used in some cases, though presumably in a reduced form, as its team will focus on the all-new Virgin EMI.

Combining the current Virgin and Mercury UK recording catalogues, as well as representing the rosters of the US-based Island Def Jam and Virgin labels, Virgin EMI launches with a roster including Justin Bieber, Rihanna, Kanye West, Elton John, Taylor Swift and Arcade Fire, as well as newer artists like Emeli Sandé, Jake Bugg, Bastille and Chvrches.

Virgin EMI will be overseen by Ted Cockle, who was made president of Virgin UK in January. Mercury boss Jason Illey will leave Universal, having worked at a number of the major's imprints, to launch his own international marketing and management company, though will continue to work with a number of Universal-signed artists.

Universal Music UK CEO David Joseph told CMU: "Virgin EMI will be a creative powerhouse for the UK music industry. It has an exceptionally strong A&R line-up, with sensational domestic and international artists, combined with the ethos which has served the company so well over the past 40 years".

Ted Cockle added: "Having filled the top two positions in the albums chart this month for the first time since the Spice Girls and The Verve did it in 1998, Virgin is already feeling ready to compete at the very highest level. In the label's 40th year, to have this incredible line-up of British artists and US repertoire of such pedigree it feels like Virgin EMI will have everything in place to help the very best talent flourish fully".

In addition to the launch of Virgin EMI, Universal also confirmed yesterday that it will bring its Capitol brand (also acquired from EMI) to the UK later this year. Full details of this will be unveiled in April, though, as previously reported, it's rumoured that its headquarters will be within the Abbey Road Studios complex in London.

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EMUSIC MERGES WITH EBOOK COMPANY
One of the longest established digital music companies, eMusic, has merged with an ebook firm called K-NFB Reading Inc to create a combined digital content platform, seemingly with ambitions to become a service provider to technology companies and other retailers.

eMusic was one of the very first digital music services to launch, and one of few digital music set-ups founded in the late 1990s to still be operating today.

When Apple subsequently launched the iTunes Music Store and quickly became a market leader, eMusic distinguished itself by retaining its subscription-based business model, where users received a set number of downloads in return for a monthly membership fee, and pursuing an MP3s-only policy when most other services were still providing music in DRMed formats.

It's alternative business model and pricing structure, coupled with the DRM-free thing, meant that in the early days none of the majors would licence eMusic. The company tried to turn that to its advantage, positioning itself as the real music fans' download service, and putting a lot of effort into editorialising its independent label-based catalogue.

Eventually the major labels started to play ball (especially once they overcame their DRM obsessions in 2007/8), but eMusic was forced to tweak its business model to secure that content, a little at first, but ultimately turning the service into a more straight-up iTunes competitor. And that bid to appeal to more mainstream consumers with major label content arguably alienated eMusic's core muso consumer base, many of whom were prime targets for premium streaming services like Spotify.

The future of eMusic has looked a bit rocky for a while now, and what this merger will mean isn't very clear. K-NFB is a joint venture between technology entrepreneur and Google employee Ray Kurzweil and the US National Federation Of The Blind, and specialises in developing handheld electronic reading devices for the visually impaired. It also operates Blio, an ebook technology and store.

The combined business will be called Media Arc Inc, with eMusic and K-NFB/Blio as operating units, which possibly means that initially the two businesses will continue as normal, though there is clearly an ambition to combine the respective company's digital music and ebook credentials into one service.

In a statement to 'partners', published by the Wall Street Journal, eMusic says: "Media Arc Inc will offer a comprehensive source of more than seventeen million songs, 40,000 audiobooks and 600,000 eBooks. As a new company, eMusic and K-NFB will leverage their combined technologies and expertise to create a consumer-centric interface that makes discovering, interacting with, and purchasing all kinds of media content more accessible and seamless for consumers".

The statement continues: "The goal is to be able to sell more content for our partners by providing electronics manufacturers, retailers, MVPD/wireless companies, and others with a multimedia content solution to better compete in today's market. Media Arc's mission is to provide the best digital media discovery experience possible by leveraging cross-content insights to recommend new music and books to avid readers and music collectors alike".

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JASON MOLINA DIES
Jason Molina, frontman of both Magnolia Electric Co and Songs: Ohia, died on Saturday, his label Secretly Canadian confirmed via Twitter yesterday. He was 39. A statement on the Magnolia Electric Co website stated that Molina died of natural causes, though noted the detrimental effects alcoholism had had on him in recent years.

A prolific musician throughout the late 90s and early 2000s particularly, Molina released fourteen studio albums with his various projects, the most recent being last year's solo album, 'Autumn Bird Songs'. That, however, had been his first release since 2009, when he released the final Magnolia Electric Co album, 'Josephine' and a collaboration with Will Johnson, 'Molina & Johnson'.

Later that year he cancelled planned tour dates with Johnson, and it was not until 2011 that it was revealed by Secretly Canadian that Molina had spent time in various rehab facilities in the intervening time, asking for donations to his medical fund as the musician had no health insurance.

In a statement yesterday, Secretly Canadian said: "This is especially hard for us to share. Jason is the cornerstone of Secretly Canadian. Without him there would be no us - plain and simple. His singular, stirring body of work is the foundation upon which all else has been constructed".

It continued: "After hearing and falling in love with the mysterious voice on his debut single 'Soul' in early 1996, we approached him about releasing a single on our newly formed label. For some reason he said yes. We drove from Indiana to New York to meet him in person, and he handed us what would become the first of many JMo master tapes. And with the Songs: Ohia 'One Pronunciation Of Glory' seven-inch we were given a voice as a label".

It concluded: "We're going to miss Jason. He was generous. He was a one of a kind. And he had a voice unlike any other".

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VEOH RULING UPHELD ON SECOND APPEAL
America's Ninth Circuit Court Of Appeal last week upheld a 2011 ruling that said that one-time YouTube competitor Veoh did not infringe copyright by hosting unlicensed material uploaded by its users, reports Forbes. Judges ruled again that Veoh's takedown-system was sufficient to ensure the digital company protection from liability under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act.

One of the first legal tests in the American courts as to how efficient a video-sharing site's takedown procedures must be to ensure DMCA protection, it was Universal Music which sued Veoh. The major has now lost in court three times, a first instance, on original appeal, and in the latest ruling. Though the big fat legal squabble nevertheless helped cause Veoh's financial collapse and subsequent bankruptcy.

The Universal v Veoh case has run concurrent to the Viacom v YouTube litigation, which also centres on if and when DMCA safe harbour clauses can be used by video-sharing sites to avoid liability for any copyright infringing content their services host. An initial conclusion in the higher profile Viacom/YouTube case echoed the Veoh ruling, but that time an appeals court subsequently questioned the first instance judgement, and the dispute is now working its way back through the courts.

The latest ruling regards the Veoh case seemingly distinguishes the two lawsuits to allow for the different judgements on appeal. The Veoh case says that providing a video-sharing site has measures in place to remove infringing content when made aware of it, and maybe also some more proactive measures to spot infringing content itself (as Veoh did), then that is sufficient for DMCA protection to apply, even if the combined takedown efforts are only partly effective.

The difference with the YouTube case, say the Veoh judges, is that the issue there is "wilful blindness" on the part of the video-sharing site to ignore infringement, in the knowledge that doing so will enhance the profits or value of the video-sharing company. Viacom's lawsuit accuses YouTube of such wilful blindness in its early (especially pre-Google ownership) days, whereas, said the Ninth Circuit judges, there was no evidence of such activity on the part of Veoh.

Of course many American rights owners would argue that video-sharing sites should be obliged to be much more proactive in policing unlicensed content than Veoh ever was, though their lawyers would recognise that such obligations will require a change in American law.

As for the "wilful blindness" thing, it's still a vague notion to be tested as Viacom v YouTube goes through the motions. Though music and movie companies would probably say that both the MegaUpload that was and the Grooveshark that is - both services that plead or pleaded legitimacy via DMCA safe harbours - should be deprived such legal protection on those grounds.

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ALLEGED JOSS STONE ATTACKERS IN COURT
A sword, a lock knife, a hammer, a section of hosepipe, a spike, black bags and gaffer tape made up the kit put together by Junior Bradshaw and Kevin Liverpool as they headed to the home of Joss Stone to kill the pop star in June 2011, or so said the prosecution as they set out their evidence against the two men in Exeter Crown Court yesterday.

The two men are accused of planning to murder Stone in a gruesome plot, elements of which were contained in notes also found in the accused men's car after they were stopped by police. Bradshaw and Liverpool, it seems, got lost looking for Stone's Devon home, causing local residents to become suspicious enough to call the police. Prosecutors said yesterday that the singer was at her house as the two men tried to locate it.

Bradshaw and Liverpool deny the charges of conspiracy to murder, rob and cause grievous bodily harm. But the two men's notes, prosecutors said, revealed plans to decapitate Stone before dumping her body into a nearby river. The motive for the plot isn't entirely clear - nor relevant, said the prosecution yesterday - though it's thought that Stone's social connections with royalty might have motivated the alleged planned attack.

Bradshaw and Liverpool's trial is expected to last for up to three weeks, though Stone is not expected to formally appear as part of the proceedings.

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BOW WOW ORDERED TO PAY $80,000 TO FRENCH PORNSTAR
Rapper Bow Wow has been ordered to pay out $80,000 in damages to French porn star Celine 'Katsuni' Tran after he used footage of her dancing in a music video without permission.

As previously reported, Tran appeared as a dancer in a video for French band Electronic Conspiracy, but Bow Wow then used some of that footage for the pop promo for his track 'Drank In My Cup' last year. Recognising that Bow Wow and his label Universal may have sought permission from whoever filmed the original footage, Tran sued for publicity right violations, rather than copyright infringement.

In the end, though, that distinction didn't matter because, according to TMZ, Bow Wow failed to respond to the lawsuit, so the judge overseeing the case automatically ruled in Tran's favour, ordering the rapper to pay damages and legal fees totalling $79,346.07.

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TULISA NOT SUING WILL.I.AM, SAYS WILL.I.AM
Tulisa Contostavlos is not suing Will.i.am over her possible contribution to his recent hit with Britney Spears, 'Scream & Shout', according to the producer himself.

As previously reported, Contostavlos originally recorded a track called 'I Don't Give A Fuck' with 'Scream & Shout' songwriters Jean Baptiste and Jef Martens for her 2012 solo album, 'The Female Boss', which at least bears some similarities to the subsequent Will.i.am and Spears song.

However, the track didn't appear on 'The Female Boss' when it was released. Depending on who you talk to, Tulisa either decided not to use it (despite it being on the tracklist originally announced for the album), or Baptiste and Martens decided they didn't want her to have it, or Will.i.am simply demanded that he be given it, so that he could twiddle with it and record the reworked song with Britney instead.

Will.i.am's version of events is the middle explanation, that it was Baptiste and Martens who took their backing track back and passed it on to him. He then worked his Will.i.am magic on the track, meaning 'Scream & Shout' was a very different song, just using the same beat as 'I Don't Give A Fuck'.

But last month The Sun reported that Tulisa was livid that she hadn't been given a songwriting credit on the Will.i.am/Britney hit, claiming that she had contributed some lyrics to it. The tab added that Contostavlos was preparing to sue for a cut of the royalties, but this, Will.i.am has now said, is not the case.

The producer told The Daily Star: "There is no suing. That's just silly. That needs to be cleared up because that's just silly. It's not real, the suing, it's all just silly".

So, there you go. Perhaps it is silly. It certainly seems quite silly. Though there we were thinking we'd finally come to a satisfactory conclusion as to why Britney puts on a bizarre Briddish accent on 'Scream & Shout' - "she was singing Tulisa's words" we thought. Now we have to go back to the explanation Will.i.am gave KIIS FM back in December, in which he claimed that he asked her to sing it like that because he is quite famous in the UK.

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GIT AWARD SHORTLIST ANNOUNCED
The shortlist for this year's GIT Award, aka the 'Scouse Mercury', which celebrates the best new music from Liverpool, has been announced. Now in its second year, the final twelve acts vying for the overall winning position in 2013 include Stealing Sheep, Wave Machine and Baltic Fleet.

Says the award's founder, Peter Guy: "This year's shortlist represents a city at the height of its musical powers few could hope to match. Finalising this year's twelve artists was a colossal task as new Liverpool music is at a creative zenith, however, the judges feel the nominees provide a definitive picture of the diversity, profound musicianship and rich talent emanating out of Merseyside".

The winner will be announced at a ceremony at Leaf in Liverpool on 19 Apr. But for now, here are the twelve finalists:

Baltic Fleet
Barberos
By The Sea
Nadine Carina
Clinic
Conan
Dan Croll
John Heckle
Jetta
Tyler Mensah
Stealing Sheep
Wave Machines

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THE SATURDAYS COMPLETE THIRD ALBUM
The Saturdays have completed work on their third album, tentatively titled 'The Chase', the band's Una Healy has told Digital Spy.

Healty told the website: "['The Chase' is] the working title, it's not the actual one. I think with the whole 'Chasing The Saturdays' [TV show] and chasing success, we'll call it that for now. But it's not the definite title. We'll have another single and then the album. We've finished it though. What we do is pop, so it's quite dancey. We worked with Diane Warren, so we've got a couple of ballads. We worked with Darkchild too - the tracks we did with him are kind of R&B-pop - so there's a bit of everything in there".

Expanding on the experience of working with Warren and Darkchild, she continued: "We were very star-struck when we walked in with him and Diane. Especially when we walked through their hall of fame with all the CDs on the wall and who they've worked with. It was overwhelming to think that we were in there working with them too".

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TIMBERLAKE TO EXPAND 20/20 EXPERIENCE
Right, so everyone listened to the new Justin Timberlake album, 'The 20/20 Experience', last week and then moaned about how long and boring it is, right? So I'd imagine the thing you all want most in the world right now is for that album to be twice as long. Well, lucky for you, that's exactly what's going to happen. Apparently.

Writing on Okayplayer, The Roots' Questlove (and friend of both Timberlake and '20/20' producer Timbaland) said: "I will say the album is overly ambitious. Like a lot of ideas crammed into one. Spoiler alert: '20/20 Vol 2' comes out in Nov (10 songs now, 10 songs later = 20 vision) ... [Timbaland] played me songs out of order and off both records, so I don't know what made the final cut".

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DAFT PUNK LP TO FEATURE THIRTEEN TRACKS
So, having given various hints (not least by signing to Sony/Columbia) that they may be releasing a new LP this year, Daft Punk have at last - inadvertently - confirmed that that is, in fact, what they're going to do by unknowingly revealing its tracklisting. Well, that it has tracks at least.

Thirteen new tracks credited to the be-helmeted French DJs were yesterday registered by Columbia with sound recordings collecting society PPL. And this is a photo of the tracklisting, sans titles but with timings and ISRC codes, to prove it.

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THE WEEKND PLANTS KISSABLE NEW LP TITLE
The Weekend's first post-'Trilogy' LP will, he tweets, bear the title 'Kiss Land', so that's nice.

And... erm, that's all we have on that for now.

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EMIKA DETAILS LP, GIVES AWAY TRACK
Since earning a CMU Artist Of The Year title back in 2011 via her eponymous first LP, Ninja Tune's Emika has made another one titled 'Dva'. In press-speak, it is "an exploration of self-expression and sound" that takes in Emika's classical sensibility, "dark dub pop" and "sound design inspirations".

In advance of its 10 Jun release date, she's giving away one of its fifteen featured tracks, a take on Chris Isaak's 'Wicked Game', as a free primer.

Hear that first, and then gaze endlessly at the official 'Dva' tracklisting:

Hush (Interlude)
Young Minds
She Beats
Filters
After The Fall
Sing To Me
Dem Worlds
Primary Colours
Sleep With My Enemies
Wicked Game
Fight For Your Love
Mouth To Mouth
Searching
Centuries
Criminal Gift

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KATY PERRY NOT WRITING AUTOBIOG
It looks like Katy Perry won't, after all, be spilling details of her private pop doings in a new autobiography. Which is a shame, but still... life has to go on.

An official K-Pez rep has ended fans' dreams of a candid 'tell-all' via the Huffington Post, saying: "No book, no deal". And that's final.

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VILLAGERS, PHILIP GLASS PLAYING NICO MUHLY MINI-FEST
NYC-based composer Nico Muhly is curating a programme of six classical/contemporary live recitals entitled 'A Scream And An Outrage'. Taking place between 10-12 May at the Barbican and LSO St Luke's in London, it'll feature, amongst other things, Villagers' Conor O'Brien and Irish musician Glen Hansard playing an electric guitar concerto scored by The National's Bryce Dessner.

Philip Glass will also make an appearance (to premiere his 20 'Etudes For Piano') as will the BBC Symphony Orchestra, Britten Sinfonia, violinist Pekka Kuusisto, the Calder string quartet, and Arcade Fire man Richard Reed Parry, who'll perform his previously noted 'Music For Heart And Breath'. Oh, and Muhly himself, who'll be making cameos all over the shop.

Tickets and info via this link.

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MODEST MOUSE TOURING IN JULY
American man-band Modest Mouse are playing a Britain-based live stint in July, and I bet you'd like to look at its dates.

Well, here they are:

8 Jul: Brighton, Concorde 2
9 Jul: Bristol, Trinity Centre
11 Jul: London, Koko
12 Jul: Leeds, The Cockpit
14 Jul: Gateshead, The Sage 2
16 Jul: Manchester, Academy 2
17 Jul: Nottingham, Rescue Rooms
18 Jul: Birmingham, The Institute

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NAPALM DEATH V&A SHOW CANCELLED
Hey, remember that show Napalm Death were meant to be playing at London's V&A? The one with the porcelain speakers designed by artist Keith Harrison. Well, it's been cancelled over fears that the noise generated by the band will "damage the historic fabric" of the V&A's various... well, historic fabrics. And, more to the point, the building that contains them.

V&A staff say "with regret": "This was due to take place in the Europe Galleries which are currently being refurbished, and a further safety inspection has revealed concerns that the high level of decibels generated by the performance would damage the historic fabric of the building. The V&A is committed to an exciting programme of exhibitions and events but the safety of our visitors and building remains our priority at all times".

Safety first.

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FESTIVAL LINE-UP UPDATE: KISSBEACH, PUKKELPOP AND SPOT
So, after you've all had another go at Glastonbury registration, what else is new on the festival-ian horizon?

In answer to that, take, if you care, to Live Nation's new pop party, KissBeach. Presented in collaboration with KISS Radio (and Tic Tac) in home of kissing Great Yarmouth, this year's minty-kissable beach fest will feature headlining stars Tinie Tempah and Dizzee Rascal, and the likes of Katy B, Iggy Azalea, Rizzle Kicks and Conor Maynard. Nice.

Since all the above artists were unavailable to say vacant things about KissBeach's general greatness, here instead is Great Yarmouth Borough Council's Trevor Wainwright with the black-and-white facts: "This is fantastic news for Great Yarmouth. Great Yarmouth Borough Council has been keen to ensure that Live Nation host the event here as it presents a huge opportunity for local businesses and profiles our borough on a national stage. Subject to the respective licences being approved, nearly 50,000 people will enjoy the event over the course of two days. In addition to the many residents that I'm sure will be keen to be there, we will also see a huge number of visitors coming to the area over the course of both days. Their spending will bring a further summertime boost to our local economy".

Hurrah! We love a monetary boost. And talking of boosts, the Belgium-based Pukkelpop has given an initial one (a boost, that is) to its artist reserves, adding supreme line-up beings Eminem, Neil Young and The xx, and such 'supporting acts' as Slayer, Franz Ferdinand, Bat For Lashes, Nine Inch Nails, The Knife and The Prodigy. What a list.

And now, that list again, only unedited, and alongside other lists attached to KissBeach and Danish city-fest SPOT:

KISSBEACH, Great Yarmouth Beach, Norfolk, 29-30 Jun: Dizzee Rascal, Tinie Tempah, Katy B, Rizzle Kicks, Lawson, Conor Maynard, Iggy Azalea, Angel, K-Koke. www.kissbeachfestival.co.uk

PUKKELPOP, Kempische Steenweg, Belgium, 15-17 Aug: Eminem, Neil Young & Crazy Horse, The xx, Nine Inch Nails, Fall Out Boy, Slayer, The Prodigy, Boys Noize, Franz Ferdinand, The Knife, Triggerfinger, Alabama Shakes, Bat For Lashes, Foals, Skunk Anansie, Fun., Local Natives, Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs, TC, Maya Jane Coles, Frank Turner, Unknown Mortal Orchestra, Girls In Hawaii, Polica, SBTRKT, Zed's Dead, Opeth, Midlake, Lamb of God, Julio Bashmore, Friction Daughter, Mount Kimbie, Deftones, Mac Miller, TNGHT, Baauer, Imagine Dragons, Proxy, As I Lay Dying, Architects, Matt Corby, Chvrches, We Came As Romans, Duke Dumont, The Toddla T Sound, xxyyxx, Chuck Ragan, Hazard, Skaters, Cloud Boat, Lord Huron, , Kodaline, Foreign Beggars, Ben Pearce, Cult of Luna, Redlight, Your Demise, While She Sleeps, Bosnian Rainbows, SOHN, Pokey LaFarge, The Family RainSolange, Parov Stelar, Villagers, Quicksand, Fucked Up, Danny Brown, Wilkinson, The Menzingers, Hawk Eyes, Allah-Las. www.pukkelpop.be/en

SPOT, various venues, Aarhus, Denmark, 3-4 May: Christian Hjelm, Vinnie Who, Orgi-E, Natalia Lafourcade, Ginger Ninja, Kirstine Stubbe Teglbjærg, Slowolf. spotfestival.dk

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WPP BUYS INTO SFX
The all-new(ish) SFX Entertainment has taken investment for advertising and communications group WPP, which seemingly sees the EDM-based network of websites and events that the v2 SFX company is building as a valuable platform for the brands its agencies represent.

As previously reported, media entrepreneur Robert FX Sillerman has focused on the recently buoyant American EDM scene since relaunching his SFX company last year. The original SFX business of the 1990s provided the original core of what is now Live Nation, and Sillerman's more recent venture, CKX, with its control of the Elvis Presley estate and ownership of the 'Idol' brand, now operates as the CORE Media Group under the ownership of Apollo Management.

Since launching the new SFX, Sillerman has acquired various EDM businesses, mainly club and festival promoters such as Dayglow Productions and Disco Donnie Presents, as well as taking ownership of more eclectic events like Voodoo Experience and striking up a joint venture with Dutch dance promoter ID&T. Last month he also acquired dance music download store Beatport.

Confirming WPP's investment in his new business, Sillerman said this week: "Investment from WPP is an exciting step for us, as it underlines what we have believed from the start. There is a huge, global, fragmented audience of sixteen to 34 year old dance music consumers that is very difficult to reach. In developing our global platform, we will be able to offer brands the opportunity to connect directly through events, festivals, online and mobile media".

Meanwhile WPP boss man Martin Sorrell said: "We recognise the value in what SFX is creating and believe we can help bring this valuable audience to our agencies' global clients. The challenge of navigating through digital and social media is daunting for clients and we believe this partnership can further develop WPP's content capabilities, particularly in new media in the youth consumer segment".

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UNIVERSAL SWEDEN CHIEF PROMOTED
The boss of Universal Music in Sweden, Per Sundin, was promoted yesterday to the role of SVP Nordic Region, meaning that as well as running the mega-major's Swedish operations he will also have a coordinating role over the firm's labels in Denmark, Finland and Norway.

Confirming the appointment, Universal Music International's President for Central Europe, Frank Briegmann, told CMU: "I'm delighted that Per is taking on this newly expanded role and I'm sure that he and his team of great MDs in the Nordic region will successfully grow Universal's business. He has had a front row seat for the streaming revolution over the last few years and, together with his instinctive feel for artists and creativity, has the ideal combination of skills and experience for this crucial role".

Sundin himself added: "The Nordic countries today are frontrunners in the incredible changes taking place in the music industry. It's a true honour to lead Universal Music's amazing Nordic businesses, sharing great music and strategies for the future as part of Frank's team, the biggest and most dynamic in continental Europe".

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LYOR COHEN SOUNDING OUT INVESTORS ABOUT NEW COMPANY
Conflicting rumours that former Warner Music recorded music chief Lyor Cohen was planning to launch a record label or a management company could both be true, with the New York Post reporting that the record industry veteran is planning to launch a new business that would incorporate both a label and talent development wing.

The paper says that Cohen is in talks with various possible financial backers about launching a new music-focused company, that would operate as both a label and management business, while also possibly investing in other music ventures, including digital set ups. Specifics are vague just now, expect that Cohen is reportedly in talks with "strategic investors" rather than existing music firms regards financial backing for any new company.

As previously reported, Cohen departed Warner Music somewhat suddenly last September, having been a key player at the major under the company's previous top man Edgar Bronfman Jr.

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SHARON OSBOURNE SET FOR X-FACTOR RETURN
Despite Tulisa insisting last week that no decisions had been made about whether or not she will return as a judge on the next series of 'The X-Factor', The Sun is still convinced that the one-time N-Dubber has definitely been axed. And, says the tab, it is now almost certain that Sharon Osborne will return to the talent show mediocrity in Tulisa's place as Syco and ITV bosses try to overcome the slip in ratings that has occurred in recent years.

Claiming 'X' chief Simon Cowell was now "not looking at anyone else" for the judging role, the tabloid cites sources as saying "Simon is a huge fan of Sharon, things are looking good for her. She is in pole position". Another contender for the vacant judging panel spot was Mel B, who has worked on other Cowell shows around the world and who previously guested as a judge on 'X Factor UK', but she is now committed to the 'Got Talent' franchise in both the US and Australia, making an 'X UK' stint impossible schedule wise.

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DID PARIS HOTEL ASK BIEBER TO LEAVE?
Just so you don't think our Bieber coverage is totally London-centric, how about a bit of gossip regarding the pop boy's stay in Paris?

Well, right, listen to this, word has it the Biebster has been chucked out of his luxury hotel in the French capital for leading on his loony fans, whose screaming and antics outside and in the lobby at Le Meurice disturbed other guests. Staff at the hotel also didn't appreciate Bieber's "attitude", he having graduated up to the role of "full on celebrity wanker" earlier this year.

Or so says The Sun, whose insider at the hotel said: "The kids [ie the Beliebers] were screaming everywhere [and] he clearly encouraged them". Though the paper admits that an official spokesman for the posh hotel insisted that the teen star departed Le Meurice of his own accord, having suddenly decided he'd rather sleep in a bed somewhere else in town.

Perhaps Will.i.am told him about a 'two nights for the price of one' offer on at the Ibis on Montmartre, which is possibly the news that caused Bieber to topple over in the Black Eyed Pea's company the other night.

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