Come and share our lovely office in Camden NW1, which is available from the beginning of July 2013

Situated in a 620 sq ft former photographic studio, up to four of you will be sharing with us - a music PR company. One third of the office is available in a friendly, spacious, airy, media environment. The space offered is partially separated from the main room and currently acts as our meeting / ping pong room! Individual desk spaces may also be considered.

The office is tastefully designed, has ample storage and is based in Camden close to all the amenities. The space would suit music professionals, designers or architects or a small company involved in the creative arts.

The studio has excellent security and is situated in a private yard off the street. It is 5 mins walk from Chalk Farm tube and Kentish Town West Overground stations. It is equally close to Camden Lock and Market with its numerous shops, restaurants, bars, cafes and a short journey on bus or tube will take you into the west end quickly.

There's a kitchenette, with sink for tea/coffee, microwave and fridge. The studio is situated on the lower ground floor of the building with its own locked door, with 24 hours access.

The rental cost is for the space and includes all utilities but not telephone. Wireless high speed broadband (reasonable use) could also be shared.

A one month deposit would be required with a three-month minimum agreement, with one month written notice and rent to be paid monthly in advance by standing order.

J COLE AND DRAKE APOLOGISE FOR AUTISM LYRIC
American hip hopper J Cole has apologised for a line he rapped on Drake's recent track 'Jodeci Freestyle', after a protest led by a UK charity. He and Drake have also made the decision to remove the offending lyric from the song.

Both Cole and Drake came under fire earlier this month for the line "I'm artistic, you niggas is autistic, retarded". A petition set up by British charity Anti-Bullying Alliance saw over 4500 people add their name to the protest, forcing the to artists to respond.

For his part, Cole said that he felt that rappers were too readily pressured to apologise for controversial lyrics these days, but that in this case he was very much in the wrong and an apology was definitely needed.

In a post on Sunday, he wrote: "This apology IS necessary. In a recent verse on the song 'Jodeci Freestyle', I said something highly offensive to people with autism. Last week, when I first saw a comment from someone outraged about the lyric, I realised right away that what I said was wrong. I was instantly embarrassed that I would be ignorant enough say something so hurtful. What makes the crime worse is that I should have known better".

He added: "I want to educate myself more on autism, and I'll gladly own my mistake and serve as an example to today's generation that there's nothing cool about mean-spirited comments about someone with autism. People with this disorder and their loved ones have to go through so much already, the last thing they need is to hear something as ignorant as what I said. I understand".

Drake, meanwhile, also apologised yesterday, noting on his blog: "J Cole wrote a beautiful and moving apology to individuals and families affected by autism who were understandably hurt by a verse in 'Jodeci Freestyle'. I share responsibility and offer my sincerest apologies for the pain this has caused. Individuals with autism have brilliant and creative minds, and their gifts should not be disparaged or discounted".

He concluded: "This was a learning lesson for both of us, and I'm grateful for the opportunity to try to right this wrong. J Cole and I believe that it is the right, responsible, and respectful decision to remove the lyric from the song".

It is estimated that one in every 100 children in the UK displays symptoms somewhere on the autism spectrum, such as difficulties with social and language skills, as well as repetitive behaviours, affecting the way they relate to people and the world around them.

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ANASTACIA 'CANCER FREE' AGAIN
Anastacia has said she is "cancer free". The singer - who first received treatment for breast cancer in 2003 and again earlier this year, this leading her to cancel a series of live dates - tweeted last week: "John Fields, Jamie Hartman in studio being silly. Been so great to be back writing. By the way, I'm Cancer Free Forever".

It appears she may be making a new LP, her first since 2012's 'It's A Man's World', with Fields and Hartman (aka Ben's Brother), but this is still TBA.

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US ALBUMS SALES DOWN IN FIRST SIX MONTHS OF 2013
Sales of albums in the US are down year-on-year for the first half of 2013, according to data from Nielsen Soundscan.

CD albums were responsible for much of the decline, with sales slipping 14.2% to 78.2 million. Digital album sales, meanwhile, were up 6.3% (to 60.8 million) and vinyl album sales rose 33.5% to 2.9 million, meaning the overall decline in the number of albums being shifted was 5.6% (to 142 million). Digital single track sales also saw a slight fall by 2.3% to 682.2 million, while streaming stats rose 24%, with 50.9 billion tracks being played on reporting services.

However, there is no need to get all gloomy about the dip in sales, says Nielsen Entertainment's Senior Vice President David Bakula.

Reporting the figures, he told reporters: "Overall sales are down slightly in the first half of 2013, but there continues to be encouraging growth in digital album sales. Digital albums now comprise 43% of all album sales, up from 38% at this time last year. Also, while a small percentage of the overall album sales, vinyl LPs continue to be an amazing growth story with sales up over 33% over last year's record-selling pace".

He continued: "Streaming continues to be a tremendous growth story with over 50 billion audio and video streams in the first six months of 2013. Not only are we seeing massive volume of streams, but we continue to see growth on a comparable provider basis, with stream volume up 24% over the same period last year".

The figures also showed how each major label's market share in the albums domain has shifted since the sale of EMI, which in 2012 had 10% of the market. Unsurprisingly, Universal, having swallowed much of its former rival, has seen a marked jump, now accounting for 37.7% of US album sales, up from 28.9% this time last year. Sony Music has seen a very slight fall, from 30.41% to 38.38%, while Warner Music is up from 18.3% to 20.8%.

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CHLÖE HOWL WRITES WITH TEAM LANA DEL REY
CMU approved artist Chlöe Howl says Lana Del Rey/Adele affiliates Eg White and Justin Parker have co-written tracks on her first LP, so that's auspicious.

Speaking to the Daily Star, Howl said: "I hadn't properly written with anyone before. I've finished the album and I don't have to worry about anything, I suppose, as we've got all the songs done. This year is about making a presence and next year will be when it all kicks off".

Pending release details, here instead is Chlöe's new single 'No Strings', which retails 5 Aug.

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THE WANTED TALK "STRONGEST" LP, WORD OF MOUTH
Hey, The Wanted were Twitter-trending yesterday. This because their third LP gained a title ('Word Of Mouth') and a release date (16 Sep). The band say it's their best ever, and will be preceded by a single titled 'We Own The Night', they apparently having taken back 'the night' from Justin Timberlake.

Wanted man Tom Parker says: "It's taken us two years to make this album and now that it's finally finished we are all really proud of the time and effort, not just that we put in to it but all the writers and the label too. We think it's our strongest album to date. We can't wait for our fans to hear it. They've been really patient but hopefully they'll think it's worth the wait!"

'We Own The Night' will have its initial play on 5 Aug at 5pm. I can't wait.

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THE WEEKND MAPS KISS LAND DETAILS
Even in the face of a disagreement with Portishead's Geoff Barrow, who last week challenged him re a possible uncleared Portishead sample featuring on his new track 'Belong To The World', Abel Tesfaye - aka The Weeknd - is pressing ahead with his new LP trail, adding a 9 Sep release date to its rap sheet. And this sleeve art. And erm... that's it.

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STUDIO GHIBLI SOUNDTRACK COMPILATION TO BE RELEASED ON VINYL
Ah, this is nice, and for once that's a real 'nice', not a sarcastic one. A Texas-based film memorabilia co called Mondo is releasing a vinyl compilation of themes from five films by Studio Ghibli.

Featuring selections from the Japanese anime-makers' 'Howl's Moving Castle', 'Princess Mononoke', 'Spirited Away', 'The Cat Returns', and 'My Neighbours The Yamadas', all performed by the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, 'Studio Ghibli Kokyo Kyokushu' will go on sale on 26 Jul via mondotees.com

Click here to see details of the various limited editions available, not least coloured vinyl and a pressing of 'Howl's Moving Castle' with traditional Japanese obi (aka a sash) and all-Japanese sleeve text.

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COMMUNION PARTNERS WITH XFM TO RELEASE LIVE EPS
Communion Records is to release a series of live, digital-only 'New Faces' EPs in partnership with Xfm, all featuring artists with links to the station, the label, Communion's weekly Xfm show - which began airing earlier this year - and/or all three.

The first EP, featuring four tracks by Communion-signed band Story Books taped live at Xfm HQ, had a digital release yesterday via iTunes. They'll also play live alongside fellow Communion acts Nick Mulvey, Catfish And The Bottlemen and Joe Banfi, with Xfm DJ John Kennedy as MC, at London's Barfly on 23 Jul.

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KATONA TO PLAY MARILYN MONROE
One-time pop loanshark Kerry Katona has been cast as Marilyn Monroe in a stage show titled 'Norma Jeane: The Musical'. Scripted by Belvedere Pashun (creator of 'WAG! The Musical', 'Shag! The Musical' and 'SSAGG - Still Single And Going Grey') and backed by an original score, it is based on "little known facts" from Monroe's life.

Pashun says: "Marilyn's life was one of extremes - poverty, abandonment, abuse followed by a flowering beauty which brought attention. Fame, wealth and power and then the well documented tragic fall. I needed an actor of huge talent, personality and experience - Kerry was at the top of my list. This show will change the shape of people's perceptions of Marilyn Monroe and we expect to announce a new star of drama on stage and screen with Kerry's performance".

Katona adds: "I'm thrilled to have been given this opportunity to play one of the world's biggest female icons and can't wait to get to work. A successful career in drama has always been a main goal of mine and this role is a challenge but one I'm going to grab with both hands".

Critics will be invited to a private 'rehearsal reading' in London on 22 Sep, after which 'Norma Jeane: The Musical' may/may not be cast into to the fires of hell.

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FESTIVAL LINE-UP UPDATE: PITCHFORK FESTIVAL PARIS, CAMP BESTIVAL, BROWNSTOCK AND MORE
Italian dance fest Vertigo has cancelled what was to be its first ever event, this because - says this statement - of unanticipated paperwork, and a "personal lack of knowledge of the Italian licensing systems" on its organisers part.

One of those organisers, Rick Frost, says: "Our vision for Vertigo Festival was being placed in jeopardy and we were not willing to compromise our ticket holders' experience. We would like to apologise to our ticket holders for the change in plans, we can promise however that we will be back in 2014 with the most spectacular event with more artists and the best entertainment you can imagine".

This year's Rewind Scotland, whilst still alive and kicking, has had a change in its headlining acts, as The Human League replace a departing OMD after the latter's Malcolm Holmes was hospitalised last Friday with heat exhaustion, causing the band to withdraw.

Confirmation of that, and information on additions to Camp Bestival, Brownstock, Pitchfork Festival Paris and Solfest, to follow:

CAMP BESTIVAL, Lulworth Castle, Dorset, 1-4 Aug: Tip Tony Tunes, Gregs Greats, DJs Flutter & Wow, Benoit & His Orchestra, DJ78, The Vagaband, It's A Wind Up With Matt & Annabel, The Original Rabbit Foot Spasm Band, Auntie Maureen, The Severed Limb, DJ GG, Ragged String Band, The Kipper The Cat Show, The Men That Will Not Be Blamed For Nothing, Natty Bo, Black Kat Boppers, CC Smugglers, DJ Darren Harte, The Untouchables Unplugged, Ethan Ash, The Shellac Collective, The Fabulous Lounge Swingers, Mix It Up DJs, Valerie June, Frank Tope, Bulawayo, Will Joseph Cook, The Ohmz, Reverend Hutchinson. www.campbestival.net

BROWNSTOCK, Morris Farm, Chelmsford, Essex, 30 Aug - 1 Sep: Tom Odell, Rudimental. www.brownstock.co.uk

PITCHFORK FESTIVAL PARIS, Grand Halle De La Villette, Paris, France, 31 Oct - 2 Nov: Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti, A-Trak, Youth Lagoon, Savages, Majical Cloudz, Empress Of. pitchforkmusicfestival.fr

REWIND SCOTLAND, Scone Palace, Perth, Scotland, 26-28 Jul: The Human League. www.rewindfestival.com/scotland‎

SOLFEST, Tarnside Farm, Cumbria, 23-25 Aug: DJ Templehead, Afriquoi, Eat Static, Syd Arthur, United Vibrations, Polaroid 85, Marley Chingus, The Templebys, Dub Jazz Sound System, Axis, Andy P, John Tree, Red Tin Dave, Ben Invasion, Varda, Michael Dog, Mr Hovis, Sanscrypt, The Wise Goldfish, Tim Hamblin, Twisted Wheel, Neck, Birds Vs. Planes, Emma and the Professor, and Boomin. www.solfest.org.uk

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MUSICIANS' UNION CELEBRATES 120TH ANNIVERSARY, MAKES STATEMENT ON STREAMING ROYALTIES
The Musicians' Union is today celebrating the 120th anniversary of its foundation with a conference and birthday bash in Manchester, where it was formed by Joe Williams back in 1893. Amongst those speaking at the two day event are TUC General Secretary Frances O Grady, UK Music CEO Jo Dipple and Shadow Arts Minister Dan Jarvis.

The organisation's General Secretary John Smith told CMU: "The challenges that have faced musicians since Joe Williams' inaugural meeting in Manchester have been many. The arrival of 'talkies' at the turn of the century, two World Wars, the use of gramophone recordings on radio, developing technology and online piracy all threatened the livelihoods of musicians. Through every twist and turn, the MU has stood strong, fighting the fight for those who make a living from music. Long may that continue".

Elsewhere in MU news, and speaking of challenges, Smith has spoken about the royalties paid to artists by streaming services. This, of course, follows Nigel Godrich and Thom Yorke's much discussed decision to pull music by their side projects off many streaming services, in protest at the royalties new artists are paid.

Smith told The Observer: "The argument that has kicked off this week is absolutely right and it really is hard, particularly for emerging artists, to make a decent amount of money. The streaming model should be able to work to the benefit of performers. We'd like to see a realignment of the intellectual property rights that govern all this in order to be fairer to artists".

By that latter line, Smith is basically proposing the idea that a 'neighbouring right' royalty be applied to streaming income, similar to that which exists on public performance and broadcast revenue, that is paid directly to any artists involved in a recording, oblivious of their contracts with the label which released and probably owns the record. Such rights do not apply to record sales money and, by extension, streaming income.

He continued: "In the world of BBC radio and commercial radio, licensed [the collecting societes], there is a division of that licence between record companies and performers that includes everyone from the famous artists right down to the triangle player, and we'd like to see something similar for this kind of thing".

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UNIVERSAL RELAUNCHES PRIORITY AS DANCE LABEL
Priority Records, the American urban label that was bought by EMI in 1998, is being relaunched by Universal Music, which acquired the label brand when it bought the EMI record company last year.

The all-new Priority will be a joint venture between the relaunched Universal (and former EMI) division Capitol Records and artist management group Insurgency Music, with a focus on electronic and dance music, and the producer artist. It will be led by Insurgency Music co-founder Michael Cohen.

Confirming the joint venture, Capitol Music CEO Steve Barnett told reporters: "Priority has played an important role in the history of Capitol Records, and I wanted an executive on the cutting edge of music to helm and reinvigorate the label. Michael Cohen is an expert in electronic and progressive music, and is passionate about its artists and culture. I have no doubt that he and his team will make Priority a successful and important label within the Capitol Music Group".

Meanwhile Cohen added: "With Priority Records, we are looking to re-establish a label that has meant so much to so many people over the years. We are looking to establish the new Priority as a home for producers. The emergence of the producer as an artist and brand within the global electronic music scene and beyond has heralded a paradigm shift in the way music is created, discovered and spread. We are firm believers in nurturing artists and scenes that develop in the underground, and we intend to infuse the label with the most progressive artists we can find, wherever they may be".

Although the new Priority Records will look to sign US-based talent directly, Cohen also indicated that the new label might look to represent European dance producers in the American market.

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NEARLY HALF OF RHAPSODY'S AMERICAN USERS LISTENING EXCLUSIVELY VIA MOBILE, SAYS DIGITAL FIRM
US-based streaming music company Rhapsody has revealed that nearly half of its users access its service exclusively via smartphone.

The stat was unleashed by the firm's GM for the Americas, Brendan Benzing, as the company upgraded its iOS app in the States, adding in more of those 'discovery' services everyone is obsessed with these days, including editorial content and curated playlists.

Benzing said: "Our members are increasingly using their smartphones as the primary way they listen to Rhapsody. Over half of our members regularly use Rhapsody on their phone and 47% listen to Rhapsody on their smartphone exclusively".

The increased importance of mobile listening in the digital music space is no secret of course, though the 47% stat proves just how important phone-based listening has become, through a combination of better mobile internet access and the development of offline listening functionally by most of the streaming firms.

On the new functions to his company's iOS app, Benzing added: "Curation and editorial content has been the cornerstone of Rhapsody since its inception, and we've brought it forward in an intuitive and engaging way for our iOS devices".

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DAVID JACOBS TO DEPART RADIO 2 SHOW
Veteran radio DJ David Jacobs will step down from his weekly Radio 2 show next month, it was announced yesterday. The presenter, who has hosted 'The David Jacobs Collection' for the BBC station since 1998, is departing for health reasons, though says he will return for occasional special programmes. His final show will air on 4 Aug.

87 year old Jacobs, who has hosted numerous radio shows over the years, and was the original host of classic music TV programme 'Jukebox Jury' in the 1960s, told reporters: "Over the past two years Radio 2 has given me time to be treated for liver cancer and Parkinson's Disease. My producer, Alan Boyd, has been a tower of strength in so many ways and I thank him profusely. We shared a love of so many records and wonderful music. I will not stop collecting but my sadness will be that I cannot share them with all my loyal listeners. But rest assured, I will be back from time to time".

Meanwhile Radio 2 boss Bob Shennan said: "It's a word that is overused, but David Jacobs is truly a unique broadcaster. He has been an integral part of the BBC for so many years and is loved by his listeners and Radio 2 colleagues alike. Since 1998 he has embodied the sound of Sunday evenings and I am already looking forward to his special programmes later in the year".

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GERI HALLIWELL TO STAR IN SITCOM
Ex-Spice Girl Geri Halliwell has announced that her next project will see her move into comedy, as she stars in a new sitcom about her life. Currently in development with 'Peep Show' maker Objective Productions, it will, according to the company, "see Geri try to balance the everyday pressures of being a mother and an international pop sensation".

I'm not sure how much pressure she experiences as an "international pop sensation" these days, but maybe that's one of the sources of comedy. Where we'll be able to see the show is not entirely clear, a clip on YouTube simply says that the show is "coming soon". There had been rumours that it would be screened on Channel 4, though a report in the Radio Times says that the broadcaster decided that "the project is not a viable proposition - and never was".

So, that bodes well. From the aforementioned clip it looks like Halliwell is trying to do some sort of 'Curb Your Enthusiasm'-style semi-improvised show. It's not as easy as Larry David makes it look.

Here's the aforementioned clip, which I'm sure you'll all agree is definitely trying to be funny.

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CYRUS OFFERS SOME ADVICE TO "DUMB" BIEBER
Don't worry everybody, Miley and Britney are having a word, and we're expecting the clean-cut righteous-living Justin Bieber to be back by next Tuesday. Bieber pal Cyrus has advised the pop teen to take some time out, according to The People, after a string of tabloid stories documenting the Biebster's increasingly reckless and feckless behaviour over the last six months.

Bieber is just being a "dumb teenager" says Cyrus, which wouldn't matter so much if the world wasn't watching his every move. According to the tabloid, she revealed: "I told Justin to take a bit of time out, so people aren't so obsessed with you. When you're not around, all they want is your music. They want to see what the next thing is. But when your music is out they just want to talk shit about you".

Cyrus added: "When you're a worldwide star, everyone sees everything. Lots of people make a video and put it on Instagram, some people might think it's funny but because it's Justin Bieber, it's like really bad. I always tell him just to be cool and not talk about it, because when you talk it fuels the fire. He's still stupid though. But everyone does dumb stuff when they are messed up".

Gossipers also say that Bieber reps, concerned about the impact the singer's recent tabloid adventures are having on his brand, have turned to a former pop-burn-out-made-good, Britney Spears, asking her to have a word with the singer about the potential dangers of the party lifestyle.

Though if the singer's people are really worried, perhaps they could try to arrange a face-to-face (that new fangled 'hologram' technology could help) between the Bieber of July 2013 and the Bieber of January 2012, ie the Bieber who told V Magazine about his then approaching eighteenth birthday: "I'm not going to try to conform to what people want me to be or go out there and start partying, have people see me with alcohol... I'm never going to make myself so the kids and the parents don't respect me".

I mean, if Justin's going through a self-centred wanker stage, who better to step in than Justin himself?

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