New report champions economic importance of creative industries
A new report by EY, commissioned by the European Grouping Of Societies Of Authors And Composers (which really is a thing, people call it GESAC) and backed by pan-European indie label trade body IMPALA, amongst others, reckons that the cultural and creative industries (CCIs, if you like) are amongst the biggest employers in the European Union, and that they have experienced sustained growth even through the big bad recession of recent years.

According to EY's stats, the combined CCIs in Europe - which includes to the good old business of music of course - have annual revenues of 353.9 billion euros and employ more than seven million people, a fifth of whom are under the age of 30. That makes CCIs the third biggest employers in Europe, just behind construction and food/drink.

And the creative industries employ 2.5 times more people than car makers, with visual arts alone employing more people that the telecoms industry. Which is presumably why it takes so long to get through to their customer services, those phone firms should try to headhunt a few painters. Overall employment by the CCIs has risen in recent years, while employments levels at large in the EU have slipped a little.

Not only that, but the output of CCIs are "one of the main sources nourishing the digital economy" that everyone in European political circles is so obsessed by. So, basically, political overlords across the EU should all start paying a whole load more attention to the cultural and content industries. That's the main conclusion of the report. And its main objective presumably, so job done.

Michel Lambot, Co-President of independent music company [PIAS] and a board member of IMPALA said of the new EY paper: "The results underline the vital role of culture not just in terms of civilisation but also for Europe's economy and jobs. We are proud to be one of the biggest employers, with jobs that cannot be de-localised. The answer to building a new Europe is its creators".

Meanwhile IMPALA Executive Chair Helen Smith added: "If there is one message from this study, it is that Europe is, quite literally, creating its way out of the crisis. Leading the world's digital economy, Europe must make sure it is the best place in the world to be a creator".

Kobalt expands its tracking and reporting portal
Kobalt is continuing in its mission to make navigating the complexities of digital deals, royalties and revenues easier by expanding its online portal "to deliver ultimate transparency to all of its clients ... to track their music, royalties and more globally in real-time".

Kobalt has been developing its online tracking technology for publishers and songwriters for a number of years, aiming to make it easier for companies and individuals whose songs are administered by the music rights firm to monitor usage of their content, and work out how that translates into income.

The company has also been helping artists and labels do the same with their so called 'neighbouring rights' (mainly public performance income), and the latest revamp makes the tracking service also available to those who use Kobalt's label services business to handle the distribution of their recorded content.

Of course, in the sound recordings space there is probably more competition when it comes to usage and royalty tracking technology - many digital distributors have invested heavily in this area, and indeed many compete on the quality of their real time reporting - though with the super new Kobalt system, if you used the firm to rep all aspects of both your song and recording copyrights, you could have all the data in one place. Which is kind of nifty, even if Kobalt has called that "a 360 degree view".

Commenting on all this, Kobalt top dude Willard Ahdritz told reporters: "This is another giant step toward creating an industry platform that offers a more transparent future for artists, songwriters and publishers around the world. The incorporation of label services as a third strand of the Kobalt Portal completes its transition into the world's first fully comprehensive rights tool. With one hit song today creating billions of transactions, our Portal offers an unparalleled level of transparency, enabling Kobalt clients to understand what is happening with their music throughout the global market".

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Rose Green Music announces partnership with INgrooves
US music publisher Rose Green Music has signed a worldwide deal with INgrooves for publishing and rights services. Says RGM founder Chuck Wilson: "Rose Green Music is still a very young company and we are thrilled to partner with INgrooves to enhance our capabilities and to grow together".

INgrooves' Olivier Chastan adds: "We're thrilled to be working with RGM's catalogue of hit songs and writers which join our growing roster. Chuck's trust in INgrooves Music Publishing is a testament to our committed vision of being a modern publisher focused on providing value-added creative services".

Launched in 2010, RGM has a catalogue of around 1500 songs, including work by Wiz Khalifa, Hippie Sabotage and Jean Grae.

Jimmy Iovine joins Live Nation board
Presumably finding his new job at Apple just not enough to fill the working day, Beats co-founder and former Universal Music exec Jimmy Iovine - who joined the Apple company after its acquisition of Beats earlier this year - has accepted a seat on the board over at good old Live Nation towers.

"But why oh why oh why oh why oh why oh why would he do such a thing?", you might not be wondering. Well, because Live Nation "has put together the right management team and incredible assets to really be effective in the new music economy" of course! I bet you're kind of embarrassed for even asking now.

And as for why the world's biggest live music promoter, management powerhouse and ticketing towerblock would want a former major label man and overpriced headphone peddler offering counsel in its board room, well, obviously, "Jimmy is an extraordinarily gifted arbiter of culture who understands brands and creating compelling new products and services". Just like Live Nation Chairman Gregory B Maffei said yesterday. Before postulating that "he will add an important voice to our board of directors as we look to continue to accelerate Live Nation's growth plans".

But what does Live Nation CEO Michael Rapino think about the new addition to his board? Well, "Jimmy is a great addition" apparently, "and will be a tremendous asset for me and the rest of the management team. He has been at the forefront of innovation in the entertainment industry for decades, and as an entrepreneur, he has combined business inventiveness and marketing prowess with a deep understanding of the music fan to develop and deliver some of the most sought after artist-oriented consumer products and experiences".

It's true. I mean, you can try denying it if you want, but then you didn't think of gluing Dr Dre's name onto the side of some mediocre cans and then whamming a massive mark-up on them did you? And that, ladies and gentlemen, shows a very deep understanding of the mainstream music fan right there. Mainly a full understanding about them being idiots. And the idiot dollar is key when you've got all those mega-sized arenas to fill every night. So it's a dream appointment all round.

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Attitude Is Everything signs up 100th organisation to its charter
Music charity Attitude Is Everything, which aims to make live music - including venues and festivals - more accessible to deaf and disabled fans, has now signed up one hundred organisations to its Charter Of Best Practice. And the 100th signee is the 300 capacity Boileroom in Guildford, proving, says the charity, that smaller venues can also benefit by implementing simple and cost effective steps to make their spaces more accessible.

The Charter Of Best Practice calls on event producers and venue operators to go beyond their legal obligations under the Equality Act so to provide a fair and equal service to deaf and disabled customers. And in 2013, Attitude Is Everything says, some 70,000 disabled people attended venues and festivals signed up to the charter, generating £3.5 million worth of ticket and concessionary sales.

The simple but important measures introduced at The Boileroom to meet and achieve Attitude Is Everything's Charter include publishing clear and detailed access information on their website, ensuring staff are trained and aware of disabled customers' needs, and providing a stage side viewing area for customers that need to sit for a gig, ensuring a clear sightline of the stage.

The Boileroom founder Dominique Frazer told reporters: "We are delighted to be the recipient of Attitude Is Everything's Charter Of Best Practice. I definitely feel that more can be done to ensure deaf and disabled fans are made more welcome in their local venues. From a personal perspective, improving The Boileroom's access policy is simply good customer service. It's important that we are an accessible venue and by working with charities such as Attitude Is Everything we will continue to improve and evolve our practices and policies to maintain high standards".

Meanwhile Attitude Is Everything founder Suzanne Bull added: "For Attitude Is Everything to be awarding the 100th sign-up to the Charter is a real milestone, and I'm particularly excited that we've recognised a small venue like The Boileroom. The changes implemented by Dominique and her team may appear minor to some, but for deaf and disabled fans they will have a major impact. Small venues are the lifeblood of the UK's music community, and it is hugely important that disabled audiences are not excluded from their local scenes. Music should be without barriers".

Tulisa actually writes her own autobiography
Tulisa Contostavlos has talked a bit about her forthcoming autobiography 'My Year Of Enlightenment', which she is 'in talks' to release at some point in 2015. The "tell all book" will, the one-time N-Dubz star says, chart what hasn't been an ideal period for her by any means, heavily reported-on 'Fake Sheikh cocaine sting' considered.

Now officially cleared of charges relating to said sting, and back with a new single in 'Living Without You', Contostavlos has said via The Mirror's 3AM page that 'My Year Of Enlightenment' will be written entirely by herself, ie with no ghost writers, in a "novel style... every moment written as it happened".

"Think Carrie Bradshaw on a drugs charge", she tells 3AM (somewhat sensationalising what she's said in the past was an extremely bleak time in her life), adding: "There will be sceptics out there who'll say, 'She can't write a book, she hasn't even done her GCSEs', but I've got a genuine story to tell. I admit to things I'd never normally admit to. You read about me with a bottle of vodka on a Christmas Day in a darkened room, having crazy nights out with friends and the moment that I am found innocent. I've kept it juicy. I've cut out all the shit".

As previously reported, Tulisa hinted to the BBC's 'Panorama' last month that she is considering taking the so-called 'Fake Sheikh', aka disgraced/on-hiatus Sun On Sunday reporter Mazher Mahmood, to court over his alleged entrapment of her in the cocaine-dealing scandal. Mahmood has been suspended by The Sun pending an internal investigation, and may yet be charged in relation to the Tulisa trial over claims that he lied and tampered with evidence in order to incriminate her.

Paul McCartney to release videogame song as a single next week
Paul McCartney has announced that he will release a new single next week, called 'Hope For The Future'. Until now, the song has only been available in the videogame 'Destiny', so has only been heard by children*.

Of the song, the Macman says: "When you're writing something like 'Hope For The Future', which is custom made [for the game], it is like doing a portrait for someone. You have to use your imagination and work out what they need, what they're going to want and then what you want to give them. Then you've got to combine those three things into something that you still think maintains integrity".

Are you holding that in your mind? Good. He continues: "So in the game you're a Guardian of the last city on Earth, so that suggested to me the 'hope for the future' idea, and I went from there. Then I thought it is not just a game song, this will get played outside the game, so it has got to be stand alone too, you can't have references to aliens or people will think 'what's he talking about?' So it had to have its own stand alone meaning and integrity".

*Things I realise before you write in and complain:

1. Videogames aren't just for children.
2. Saying that they are isn't funny anymore.
3. 'Destiny' is one of the most successful videogame releases of 2014.
4. Seriously, it made over $325 million in its first five days on sale.
5. That's really quite impressive, isn't it?
6. That's down to the increasing number of adult men and women who choose to spend their disposable income on videogames.
7. Which in turn is what makes it harder for the music industry to get that money from people's wallets.
8. Those last two points are really quite old observations that probably didn't need to be made.
9. It's quite a slow news day.
10. Which is why I have time to be writing a pointless list like this.
11. Sometimes it is still funny to say that videogames are for children, actually.
12. Some videogames are still made specifically for children.
13. Point 12 wasn't one of the times alluded to in point 11.
14. This list is running out of steam.
15. It didn't really have a lot of steam to start with.
16. I'm amazed you're still reading this.
17. You're probably expecting some big pay off at the end, aren't you?
18. That isn't going to happen.
19. The only reason I've written a list this long is that I was hoping I'd accidentally come up with a clever punchline.
20. I probably should have stopped after five.
21. Oh come on, let's be honest, I should never have started this.
22. Number 22! What the hell am I doing?
23. I'm going to stop at 25.
24. I'm so sorry.
25. Paul McCartney's new single, 'Hope For The Future', will be released on 8 Dec.

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Quadrophenia goin classical
Pete Townshend has confirmed that he is going to release what The Guardian is calling a "symphonic reimagining" of orchestral arrangements of The Who's 1973 LP 'Quadrophenia'. Featuring himself on the electric gee-tar. Classic. Sorry, 'classical'.

Only thing is, the so-titled 'Classic Quadrophenia' will feature opera singer Alfie Boe on lead vocals instead of Roger Daltrey, who's more into crashing weddings than doing any real work at the moment, it looks like.

Anyway, it's all orchestrated by Townshend's composer partner Rachel Fuller, and was recorded in October with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, London Oriana Choir and conductor Robert Ziegler. All parties will reconvene for the record's live premiere, which takes place at the Royal Albert Hall on 5 Jul 2015.

Commenting on the project, Boe, who by eerie coincidence was born the year 'Quadrophenia' was released, has said the album is "in my blood", adding: "I wouldn't separate it from a symphony by Beethoven or Mozart".

Oh, totally. Meanwhile Townshend, who hopes the orchestral ploy will "reinvigorate" fans' interest in all-things classical, says of Boe: "Alfie gives every performance his all. He's a funny man too, and good looking. The girls like him. I can't wait to be on stage with him. I'm going to push him into the orchestra pit".

Classic rock n roll behaviour. Or classical. Whatever.

This is the 'Classic Quadrophenia' trailer.

Hookworms add UK shows, and share Radio Toyko video
Psych-rock dronelords (from Leeds) Hookworms have just listed four additional UK-based "public appearances" on their blog thing. So that's six additional chances for the band to take their latest LP 'The Hum' straight to the fans, and like, play it right in their faces.

So go and get tickets here, or check the listings first here:

28 Feb: Glasgow, Stereo
1 Mar: Manchester, Sound Control
21 Mar: London, Oval Space
22 Mar: Nottingham, Rescue Rooms

Hookworms also released the official video for star 'The Hum' track 'Radio Tokyo' this week, and this is it.

Nicki Minaj, The Saturdays, Gwen Stefani and some men too

Other notable announcements and developments today...

• Earlier this year, the release date of Nicki Minaj's new album, 'The Pinkprint' was pushed back, presumably because she was still trying to force closed the metaphorical suitcase containing all of the album's guests. You're all presuming, right? In that suitcase are Ariana Grande, Beyonce, Drake, Lil Wayne, Chris Brown, Jeremih, Meek Mill, Lunchmoney Lewis, and Skylar Grey. You can see why that zip just wouldn't pull shut. And how do I know all of this? Because of Instagram. The suitcase of Instagram. Jessie Ware also claims to be on a track, but I don't see her name anywhere.

• The Saturdays have put a cover of The Waitress's 'Christmas Wrapping' on YouTube. The track is taken from the film 'Get Santa'. Whatever that is. Anyway, here it is.

• Arca has recorded a cover Shakira's 'Hips Don't Lie'. I know this because I am listening to it as I write this. About 26 seconds in I got a stabbing pain in my right eye, and I think it's fair to assume that this track is the reason. Get a stabbing pain in your own eye by listening here.

• Gwen Stefani's got a new video out for her new single, 'Spark The Fire'. Avoid if you don't want to see unsubtle product placement for things like cars, software and... Pharrell. Capitalists click here.

• Fleetwood Mac are going to headline next year's Isle Of Wight festival, which is presumably why they were so confident in ruling themselves out of Glastonbury back in October.

• The very excellent ESG are playing shows at Bristol's Trinity Centre (22 May), and London's Oval Space (23 May), because they can. They'll be joined on both dates by the CMU approved Shopping, and also Golden Teacher. Get tickets here.

• The gods of Wales' Gottwood (11-14 Jun) have confirmed phase one of the festival's line-up, and what a line-up it is... so far. Motor City Drum Ensemble, Craig Richards b2b Ben UFO, FaltyDL and Marcellus Pittman are all on it, as are Andrew Ashong, Leon Vynehall. And lots of others. Tickets on sale now!

• A still-credible-despite-everything (possibly) Tinchy Stryder has confirmed he will headline a show at London's Islington Academy, on 6 Mar 2015. This will likely coincide with the release of his 'Misunderstood'-featuring fourth LP '360º', the release date of which is still TBC.

• The God darn Flaming Lips have only just been added as headliners for next year's Liverpool Sound City. They join Belle & Sebastian at the top of the city festival's bill, playing on Saturday 23 May.

• It's been revealed in advance that Dave Stewart will scoop the Outstanding Contribution To UK Music title at 2015's MPG Awards, which go down in London on 12 Feb 2015. "Dave Stewart embodies all the qualities of a modern music producer", says awe-inspired MPG Awards director Tony Platt.

Tracey Emin-designed BRIT Award unveiled, search party sent out for missing comma
The BRITs Critics' Choice Award winner will be announced tomorrow, and this morning the three potential recipients have been teased with images of the trophy they could be taking home with them.

As previously reported, the 2015 trophy has been designed by Tracey Emin. She seems to recognise that it's likely to end up in the toilets of the rich and famous, going for a palette of pastel colours, a parasol and some ribbons that say 'Grandma's bathroom'. And for that extra soft furnishings feel, she's covered it in a handwritten message.

Here is that message:
Congratulations on your talent on your life.
On Everything you Give to Others
Thank You

I think I can just about let the random capitalisation pass. And even the overall design doesn't bother me all that much. But only because the missing comma in the first line is currently drawing all of my seething rage. "Congratulations on your talent on your life"? Look, I know you're not supposed to go around messing with people's art, but couldn't someone have proofread this before signing off on the trophy?

But don't worry, people. CMU will be on hand at next year's BRITs ceremony with a Sharpie to fix this travesty for any winners similarly upset.