Vocal Sony Corp investor sells stake
Noisy Sony Corp shareholder Daniel Loeb has divested his stock in the electronics and entertainment group, which will probably please the top guard at the Japanese conglom.

As previously reported, Loeb of investment vehicle Third Point was very vocal about the changes he felt were needed at the flagging Sony business. Most notably he proposed spinning off the US-headquartered Sony entertainment divisions and selling a slice of that company to third-party investors, forcing the firm's movie, TV and music companies to report their finances in more detail, and ultimately paving the way for Sony to sell its main entertainment assets entirely.

The Sony leadership in Tokyo didn't like that proposal at all, though were forced to consider Loeb's suggestions in some detail. Ultimately the entertainment spin-off plan was rejected, though some significant changes have been made elsewhere at the Corp, especially on the consumer electronics side where the firm has been struggling the most.

In a letter to investors, as reported by Deadline, in which he confirmed the divestment of the Sony shares, Loeb did give Sony Corp boss Kazuo Hirai some credit for making tough cutback decisions, but said "still, they have a long way to go and we continue to believe that more urgency will be necessary to definitively turn around the company's fortunes".

Nevertheless, Loeb says Third Point will "generate a return of nearly 20 percent on [the Sony] investment before exiting."

Recent case provides insight into the costs of web-blocking
Torrentfreak has published some information on the costs of instigating web-blocks based on information provided in a recent case by legal man Simon Baggs of Wiggin LLP.

Baggs represented luxury brand company Richemont in its successful bid to force internet service providers in the UK to block websites that sell trademark-infringing counterfeit goods. During the case Baggs, who has also worked for the movie studios in seeking web-block injunctions, revealed that the legal costs of seeking each web-blocking court order are about £14,000, assuming none of the target ISPs oppose the move.

However, once an injunction has been secured, someone needs to keep an eye on the alternative URLs that blocked sites will likely launch in a bid to help users circumvent the blockades. The alternative domains can usually be blocked under the terms of the original injunction, but there is a cost to monitoring said domains.

According to Torrentfreak, Baggs is also a director of a company that can do that monitoring, which charges a set-up and monthly fee for every blocked site it needs to monitor, and he indicated that on average it costs about £3600 per website to hire such monitoring services, and to file paperwork whenever new block-evading URLs are found.

Torrentfreak has also looked into the costs on the other side of the equation, as in the time it takes the ISPs to instigate the blockades. Each ISP's answer - which is outlined on the site - differs a little, though the consensus seems to be it can cost up to a £1000 in legal and admin time to put each blockade in place.

Web-blocking isn't uncontroversial, even though it has become pretty routine in some jurisdictions, not least the UK. And the recent Richemont case may well result in web-blocks being sought by a whole load more IP owners than just the music and movie firms, who have led in this domain to date.

Assuming the record companies are paying a similar sum per web-block (and scaling up the costs even when multiple sites are targeted in one injunction), Torrentfreak calculates that the 47 injunctions secured to date would have cost the rights owners about £658,000 before any ongoing monitoring costs are added into the mix.

Which some might say further questions the logic of the web-block frenzy, though others might note that - when split between the entire music and movie industries - that's peanuts compared to how much has been spent on the battle against online piracy over the last fifteen years.

And if only Google could be persuaded to de-list all and any web-blocked sites, then web-blocking might actually start working, in that it might redirect more casual online content consumers to primarily legit sources of music and film.

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Justin Timberlake settles with Heat
In not exactly earth-shakingly shocking news, the Irish Times reports that Justin Timberlake has reached a settlement with Heat magazine, having filed defamation claims against the celeb magazine's publishers Bauer Media earlier this month.

The Bauer Group has issued a comprehensive apology both to Timberlake and his wife of two years Jessica Biel, who lodged her own claims at the same time as JT. Bauer also officially retracted an article and photo spread, printed in a September edition of Heat, in which it was implied that JT was flirting with another woman at a party.

Following a short hearing at the high court in Dublin yesterday, the pair's lawyer Paul Tweed said that both Timberlake and Biel were "very satisfied with this categoric retraction of what was a false and unfounded story", adding: "The couple will not be making any further comment in relation to this matter, but will not hesitate to take similar legal action if false allegations regarding the state of their marriage are repeated".

He declined to share details of any finances involved in the settlement.

New Chair for PRS For Music Foundation
Music community funder the PRS For Music Foundation, the charity allied to the UK music publishing sector's collecting society PRS For Music, has a new chair sitting at the head of its board of trustees. Royce Bell has a background in management consultancy, but I think we should all agree to not hold that against him (I met a really nice management consultant once), and should perhaps note that he has also held non-executive roles at a number of arts organisations over the years.

Confirming his new board post with the PRS funding body, where he will "support and lead the Foundation through its next phase of development", Bell said: "Thanks to the vision and generous support of PRS For Music, its independent Foundation has become an example of best practice to collecting societies across the world. I'm looking forward to being Chair of this unique organisation and maximising the role it plays in supporting the next generation of songwriters and composers".

The Foundation's Executive Director Vanessa Reed added: "I'm delighted to welcome Royce to our Board of Trustees as our new Chair. Royce's knowledge of business and the arts and his experience of chairing other entrepreneurial organisations will be invaluable to PRS For Music Foundation's role as a catalyst for the development of artists and new music across the UK. I look forward to working with him, our board and our partners from across public and private sectors as we move in to our fifteenth year".

O2 hires FRUKT to lead next phase of its music sponsorship programme
Music/brand partnership specialist FRUKT has been appointed by often useless phone firm O2 to work on future "strategy, creative and delivery" for the brand's undeniably high profile music partnership programme. Which presumably means we can expect plenty more financial support for the music sector from the tel co in the coming years (if only FRUKT could do something about their woeful customer service we'd be sorted).

O2 will continue to glue their logo onto the side of venues across the country, not least The O2, but FRUKT will also look to evolve the phone company's customer benefits programme Priority, which includes the privileged ticket access scheme, as well as "forging stronger relationships with the music industry".

Confirming the new business, FRUKT Co-Founder Jack Horner told reporters: "O2 is dedicated and passionate about music and have gone above and beyond to treat their customers as fans. This is an incredible opportunity for us, as we believe FRUKT and O2 can do remarkable things in the years to come to make music experiences for fans even better, and to further integrate music across the innovative digital world of O2".

O2's Nuala Donnelly added: "We are delighted to confirm that FRUKT has won the pitch for O2's music sponsorship account and will be working very closely with us over the next three years to further develop our O2 music strategy, and activate our sponsorship rights across The O2 and O2 Academy venues".

Revamp of Google streaming service incorporates Songza curation
Google is stepping up the curated playlist functionality within its streaming platform this week, in a move that is seemingly the first integration of curation expertise from interactive radio service Songza, which the web firm bought back in July.

Most streaming services are still primarily competing on the "our discovery services are better than their discovery services" line, the assumption being that for more mainstream consumers being presented with thirty million tracks and the immediate demand of "choose" is actually a bit of a turn off.

By that philosophy, the interactive radio services like Songza, which offer less functionality (and are therefore cheaper to licence), arguably have an advantage as streaming hits the mainstream. The fully on-demand services (which are more expensive to licence), are therefore sticking something more like interactive radio on the front-end of their players, hoping to gain competitive advantage because, once mainstream consumers are on the inside, Spotify-type platforms can offer much more flexibility to the user.

And indeed, while Google's acquisition of Songza was designed to help it develop a decent interactive radio style front end, the web-giant's streaming set-up is then able to offer more functionality than the service it acquired, such as allowing users to edit playlists, and download tracks for offline listening.

The new curated listening service will go live on the Google streaming service in the US and Canada this week, while the home page of the platform will be revamped worldwide.

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TuneCore to offer YouTube's Content ID to artists
Digital distributor TuneCore has launched a new service called YouTube Money, which basically opens up the Google site's Content ID service to independent artists using the distribution company to get their content into digital platforms.

Content ID, of course, allows rights owners to monitor when their recordings are used by third parties, and to monetise usage of their music in user-generated content by taking a cut of any advertising money generated by the video. Content ID is only available to more sizable rights owners, which is one of the reasons for independent artists and smaller labels to ally with a distributor who has access to the system.

Confirming this would now be an option for TuneCore artists, the firm's CEO Scott Ackerman told reporters: "Musicians and songwriters today need to maximise their revenue across a growing number of touch points and platforms, and TuneCore is dedicated to making the process simple and efficient".

He went on: "As YouTube's importance as a point of distribution increases, we want to ensure artists are receiving the full benefits. With YouTube Money, we're confident TuneCore can help artists by collecting the YouTube revenue artists have earned while artists can focus on what's most important - making music and getting their music out to the world".

Gambaccini back on BBC
A now-in-the-clear Paul Gambaccini will pick up again as a BBC Radio host next month, the Corporation has confirmed, a year on from his arrest for alleged historic sex crimes.

As previously reported, Gambaccini was told last week that he will face no criminal action relating to the claims made back in November 2013, which surfaced as part of the high profile Operation Yewtree investigation. Gambaccini has always maintained his innocence, and recently confirmed that he'd be "back at work soon".

And so he will, on 15 Nov, when he'll resume presenting his regular series on BBC Radio 2, 'America's Greatest Hits'. He'll also front the semi finals and finals of BBC Radio 4's 'musical mastermind' 'Counterpoint', the first of which airs on 24 Nov.

Presumably he'll also resume his position as tribute-giver-in-chief for recently deceased musicians across the BBC news network, because pop deaths are no fun at all without a Gambaccini eulogy.

Baker Street sax player Raphael Ravenscroft dies
Saxophonist Raphael Ravenscroft, who famously plays the sax solo on Gerry Rafferty's 'Baker Street', has died aged 60 of a suspected heart attack.

As the story goes, Ravenscroft was only paid £27 (this via a cheque he was later unable to cash) for the 'Baker Street' session back in 1978, though is said to have earned £80,000 in royalties per year from the song since.

Made a big name practically overnight following the track's number-three-charting release, Ravenscroft later worked as a session musician with Pink Floyd, ABBA, Marvin Gaye and, more recently Daft Punk. A one-time music teacher at York College, he also published an instruction book, 'The Complete Saxophone Player', in 1990.

Speaking to the press about Ravenscroft's passing, his daughter, artist Scarlett Raven, said: You could tell from the way he played that he put his heart and soul into his music. He touched your soul and made you want to better yourself. I think he was very proud of 'Baker Street' and that it made people feel good. I'm sure a lot of people will put on 'Baker Street' and smile today".

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Orbital 'stops working', Paul Hartnoll goes on solo
Brit dance machine Orbital has "stopped working" for its co-creators Phil and Paul Hartnoll, who've decided to log off from the project (again) and move on to projects new. So basically, the Orbital bros have split. Again.

This is 'again' in light of the Hartnolls' first split back in 2004, after which they reconciled in 2012 in time to appear at the Paralympics Opening Ceremony, and to release an LP in 'Wonky'.

And whilst it's all over (for now) Orbital-wise, Paul Hartnoll is going to release a solo record titled '8:58', this via ACP Recordings on 16 Feb 2015, and is also going off on a solo tour (also in Feb 2015) of the UK, listings for which are on this page.

The video to '8:58' title track '8:58', which is downloadable at no cost via the same link as above, features actor Cillian Murphy speaking as his mind ticking over the notion of time, as seen/heard here.

Zane Lowe x Drive, Lorde x Mockinjay, Todd Terje and more...

Other notable announcements and developments today...

• High-end DJ Steve Angello has terminated his contract with Sony/Columbia, apparently dissatisfied with a lack of backing from the label, only a year since signing to it. He'll independently release his first post-Swedish House Mafia LP, 'Wild Youth', by the end of this year it looks like, via his own SIZE Records.

• Ex-Beatles Grinch Ringo Starr's grizzled, expressionless face will be all over the Spring 2015 ad campaign for Skechers, as in the boing-y pink-and-blue footwear worn by teens and... well, teens. Nah, me neither. "Ringo possesses the charm, cool charisma and instant global recognition that will elevate awareness for our popular Relaxed Fit footwear collection both in the United States and especially around the world", says Skechers president Michael Greenberg, optimistically.

• The BBC has made the slightly inexplicable move to give Zane Lowe the chance to 're-score' Nicolas Winding Refn's 2011 film 'Drive', and pick tracks by Banks, Baauer, Jon Hopkins, SBTRKT, CHVRCHES and also... Laura Mvula, The 1975 and Bastille. Lowe has tried to sooth angry fans of the original's nighttime synth score in a chain of tweets, read em here. Revelatory feat or car crash as it may be, it'll air on BBC3 at 10pm on 30 Oct. Here's a trailer.

• Talking of cars, Todd Terje has released a video for 'Delorean Dynamite', the latest single off his latest LP 'It's Album Time', that also acts as an advert for a real, for sale Delorian DMC-12 automobile. An email address to contact the seller flashes up at the end, if anyone's into this idea. SERIOUS ENQUIRIES ONLY, PLEASE.

• Lorde has released the tracklisting for the 'Hunger Games: Mockinjay - Part 1' compilation-type soundtrack she's been compiling. Kanye West, Charli XCX, Tove Lo, Raury, Bright Eyes, Tinashé, Haim, Pusha T, Chvrches and Q-Tip all feature on it in one capacity or another, as MTV confirms. The whole thing will be released, Tinashé and all, on 17 Nov.

• Approved pop-artist-of-a-Lana-Del-Rey-ilk Zella Day, who (it appears) is going to be quite big quite soon, has digitally released a new EP featuring this new track, 'Hypnotic', which is brilliant brilliant brilliant. That's three brilliants. Stream it here.

• Representing jazz/electronica on this year's Mercury Prize shortlist, Manchester band GoGo Penguin have confirmed a load of new headline shows kicking off on 7 Feb at the Mancs-based RNCM, and winding down with a date at London's Union Chapel on 27 Mar. Listings here.

• Gliding off the back of his acclaimed new LP 'You're Dead!', alt-hip-hop beatsmith Steven 'Flying Lotus' Ellison has confirmed a pair of additional British/Irish April 2015 dates on top of his already-at-capacity show at London's Roundhouse. He'll play at Manchester's Albert Hall on 18 Apr, and again at Dublin's Vicar Street the next day. Details via RA.

Serge Kasabian wants more carnage
Hey bands, stop being all laid back and clued up and sensible will you, let's cause some proper "carnage", yeah? Because Kasabian's Serge Pizzorno is really missing all the carnage.

As he told The Big Issue just recently: "I won't expose any bands but there's nothing more depressing than seeing a band come off stage at a festival, go back stage and just flip their laptop open, at online shopping. And have some chicken and broccoli. I'm thinking, 'Are you not gonna have a drink now? Cause some carnage?' And they're like 'Naw mate, gotta watch the weight'. Fuck that, you don't deserve to be doing this job!"

And there was you thinking this job was about making great music and entertaining your audience, but no, it's all about the carnage. But what kind of carnage Serge? "Tom [as in Kasabian frontman Tom Meighan]'s dad once said to me, 'I'll give you a tenner if you'll run on stage and bite Serge's arse', at the Isle of Wight Festival. I got on stage and bit his arse".

See, it's obvious isn't it, when you think about it? So we've decided, if every member of every band hasn't bitten at least one arse on stage by the end of the month, rock n roll will be officially cancelled. And all that will be left will be a half finished chicken and some cold broccoli.