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| UNIVERSAL COMPLETES ITS EMI DIVESTMENTS WITH NOW! AND CO-OP DEALS The mega-major confirmed last night that EMI's European stake in the Now That's What I Call Music! compilation series had been sold to Sony Music. Meanwhile sources close to the asset sale have told CMU that a deal has also now been completed regarding Co-Operative Music, the label services business Universal acquired when it bought the European side of the Virgin Group-founded V2 record company in 2007, which has gone to [PIAS]. Universal agreed to sell off in the region of two-thirds of EMI's European assets in order to get the all clear for its controversial takeover, as well as some of its own periphery units in Europe. The majority of the assets for sale went in one big deal with Warner Music, while BMG picked up the Mute and Sanctuary catalogues. As for the final two deals, London-based independent [PIAS] was an early favourite to acquire Co-op, and Sony Music had been linked to the Now! stake since earlier this month. Commenting on the latter deal, Sony Music's CEO of International Edgar Berger, told CMU: "Now! is one of the most famous and successful brands in music. We are delighted to have acquired EMI's interests in the Now! brand in Europe and will work with Universal Music and our other partners across the industry to build the next chapter in Now's history". All the deals are still subject to the approval of European regulators. But while Sony getting the Now! stake may ruffle some feathers - the Sony publishing company Sony/ATV having already won control of EMI Music Publishing as part of the sale of the former British major - insiders expect the deals to be cleared, not least because the biggest, with Warner, has the formal support of the indie label community, who are most vocal on these matters. Assuming all deals are approved, and that could happen within a month, Universal will net in the region of £600 million from the asset sale, not far off half what it paid for the EMI record company outright, despite keeping nearly two-thirds of the business worldwide, including the all-important Beatles catalogue. Commenting on the Now! deal with Sony and the various EMI divestments, Max Hole, CEO of Universal Music International, told CMU: "This sale, along with our previous transactions, not only satisfies our agreement with the European Commission, but further demonstrates the value we have been able to unlock through the targeted divestment of quality assets. Moreover, we are pleased to partner with Sony [on Now], a company that recognises the cultural importance of this long-standing British institution". -------------------------------------------------- HIGH COURT ORDERS BLOCKING OF THREE MORE BITTORRENT SITES The ruling follows legal action by record label trade body the BPI, and follows earlier rulings that forced net firms to block access to file-sharing services Newzbin and The Pirate Bay after a court had deemed both sites to be liable for the copyright infringement they enabled. Welcoming today's injunctions, which will be served against Sky, BT, Everything Everywhere, TalkTalk, O2 and Virgin Media, BPI boss Geoff Taylor told CMU: "UK music labels have innovated to build one of the most vibrant digital music sectors in the world. But the growth of digital music in the UK is held back by a raft of illegal businesses commercially exploiting music online without permission. Music fans shouldn't have to worry that sites distributing music online are illegal and unethical. Blocking illegal sites helps ensure that the legal digital market can grow and labels can continue to sign and develop new talent". Web-block injunctions are not without controversy, with some arguing that they are too extreme a sanction, and anyway don't work because anyone who wants to can easily circumvent the blockades. The Pirate Bay claims its traffic goes up whenever blocks are instigated because of the publicity surrounding such moves, though the Newzbin site went offline last year due to the challenges and personal legal risks of operating a blocked site. RECORD CONTRACTS SHOULD COME WITH COUNSELLING, SAYS B*WITCHED SINGER She said: "A record deal should come with counselling. [One Direction are] so young. Boys hold a lot more in. You do hope that they get more personal time than we did. Every waking moment, someone wanted a piece of you in one way or another. It just got too much in the end. I had a breakdown because of it. It was too much. I want to get youngsters like One Direction and go, 'Please, just get some professional help. I promise you you'll need it. Just start now'". NME AWARDS PRESENTED The Rolling Stones were double winners, with the NME-reading kids seemingly impressed that the granddads of pop rock could both play a few gigs and release a rather good film in the same year. Meanwhile Biffy Clyro were declared Britain's best band and Florence Welch the very best person who sings on her own (or, occasionally, with a machine). In the two customary 'diss' categories, Harry Styles this time received a metaphorical shoe to the balls, his group being declared Worst Band, and he himself Villain Of The Year. Though as these are basically code for 'Most Successful Pop Act Of The Moment', maybe not as painful as that actual shoe. Anyway, winners... Best British Band: Biffy Clyro Best Track: Foals - Inhaler Best Music Film: The Rolling Stones - Crossfire Hurricane Best Festival: Reading & Leeds Festivals Best Fan Community: Muse Hero Of The Year: Barack Obama Philip Hall Radar Award: Child Of Lov STONE TEMPLE PILOTS "TERMINATE" SCOTT WEILAND The news that Weiland had been fired was first broken by Slash, also a former bandmate of Weiland's in Velvet Revolver, during a radio interview back in December. Weiland, however, denies any prior knowledge of the news, and disputes that the rest of the band are even able to fire him. The band's statement simply reads: "Stone Temple Pilots have announced they have officially terminated Scott Weiland - no further information is available at this time". In response, Weiland told CMU: "I learned of my supposed 'termination' from Stone Temple Pilots this morning by reading about it in the press. Not sure how I can be 'terminated' from a band that I founded, fronted and co-wrote many of its biggest hits, but that's something for the lawyers to figure out. In the meantime, I'm looking forward to seeing all of my fans on my solo tour which starts this Friday". Weiland, of course, had a rocky tenure with the band from the mid-90s, thanks to his much-publicised drug problems. The band split in 2002, after which Weiland joined Velvet Revolver, only to be fired from that outfit in 2008 (though he has since performed a one-off charity with show them). STP reformed the same year and released their first album since 2001 in 2010. MAJOR LAZER SIGN TO SECRETLY CANADIAN, SET LP RELEASE DATE And to prove it, the ensemble's principal producer, the aforementioned Diplo, will release his plural-times-postponed new LP 'Free The Universe', as features Shaggy, Bruno Mars and Vampire Weekend's Ezra Koenig, on 15 Apr. Diplo, SC and co are giving away one of its featured tracks, 'Watch Out For This (Bumaye)' as consolation for 'Free The Universe' arriving so late, but only if you pay for the LP in advance. So do that, or just play 'Bumaye' via SoundCloud, whilst you browse the dates of Major Lazer's May-jor tour. -------------------------------------------------- WOLF GANG SIGN TO CHERRYTREE Confirming the new deal, Cherrytree boss Martin Kierszenbaum told CMU: "Wolf Gang's music feels to me like a modern rock amalgam of melody, fantasy and dreams. Their unique and compelling sound is a perfect fit with the progressive musical approach at Cherrytree. It's an honour to have them on our roster". Meanwhile Angus Murray, who manages the band via Everybody's Management, added: ''We're delighted to have joined the Cherrytree family. Martin's passion for the songs and vision for Wolf Gang, alongside his varied and internationally successful roster, is an exciting proposition for us and we are all looking forward to working together". -------------------------------------------------- RSK LAUNCHES NEW MANAGEMENT VENTURE, SIGN IDIOM Commenting on the new JV with Goggin, RSK Co-MD Simon Carver told CMU: "We have been talking for ages about collaborating together. We dovetail well, I think, and experience has long taught us that more heads are always better than one both creatively and in business". Meanwhile Goggin said of the new venture's first signings: "We have a great band in Idiom and the team that is fast assembling around them is testament to their talent and creative potential". The band will self-release a forthcoming single and mini-album utilising distribution services from Universal/EMI. The next single, called 'In The Fall', will be released on 7 Apr. -------------------------------------------------- REACH MUSIC SIGNS TWO NEW SONGWRITERS Confirming both deals, Reach Music President Michael Closter told CMU: "We are actively looking to sign and invest in songwriters where we can engage all of our global services including creative sync, royalty and licensing back-office and direct international collections. Both Marcus Killian and Micah Otano are examples of internationally successful songwriters that we can support with our hands-on services". LANA DEL REY TALKS "CINEMATIC" NEW LP "I've been writing in Santa Monica and I know what the record sounds like. Now I just have to finish it", she sighs in this tête-à-tête with Radio 1 Newsbeat. Going on to compare the tba new 'suite' to her last one, 'Born To Die', Lana adds: "It's a little more stripped down but still cinematic and dark. It's moved on to a more spiritual place lyrically". See, a naked ghost. She should talk to Ke$ha. Lana also says she's "talked to people about making" a new track titled 'Black Beauty', whatever that means. Though it's nice that she's going for a 'topical' tone this time I suppose. -------------------------------------------------- CLUB 8 ANNOUNCE NEW ALBUM The follow-up to 2011's 'The People's Record', it apparently features field recordings from building sites and Russia, children's choirs, samples from erotic movies, and building materials used as percussion. Don't worry though, it's still pop, as you can hear in the album's first single, 'Kill Kill Kill' (honest). The next single, 'Stop Taking Time', will be released on 26 Mar. The full tracklist for the album looks like this: Kill Kill Kill MELVINS TO PLAY 1990S GLORY LPS LIVE IN LONDON Before all that, on 29 Apr, the band will release a new LP, 'Everybody Loves Sausages', featuring - not sausages - but just-as-meaty renditions of tracks like Queen's 'Best Friend', The Kinks' 'Attitude' and Roxy Music's 'In Every Dream Home'. Say they: "This record will give people a peak into the kind of things that influence us musically. We REALLY like all of these songs along with the bands who actually wrote this stuff, because first and foremost we are HUGE music fans". -------------------------------------------------- HAIM TO GRACE LONDON'S HEAVEN And that's all really, bar a look at the Haim clan's new 'Falling' vid, whose track is taken off an EP of the same name that the band are releasing on 1 Apr. FESTIVAL LINE-UP UPDATE: IBIZA ROCKS, WOMAD, FIELD DAY AND MORE Ah, isn't that nice? And carrying that same niceness over to the realm of obligatory artist speeches, nice pop-ette Ellie Goulding shares this pleasantry on playing Rocks: "I'm really excited to be in Ibiza this summer. Ibiza Rocks is something I've always wanted to play and the crowds have a reputation of really bringing it! Performing to people is my favourite thing and being able to do it somewhere I absolutely love is a bonus. See you there!" And as if in answer, Dizzee adds: "I can't wait to get back to Ibiza Rocks this year, I'm looking forward to a big party! It always goes off on that island, I love vibing off the crowd - those guys know how to rock it!" And hey, talking of rocking things, music and arts hoopla WOMAD has just rocked up with its initial list of guest artists, as names Alice Russell, Gilberto Gil, Rokia Traore and many, many worldly others. Having also announced a number of additions to it convention this morning, Liverpool Sound City has unveiled the latest run of bands playing its shwocases section. They including Noah And The Whale, who will perform in the city's Anglican Cathedral, Everything Everything, Darwin Deez and Drenge. Those are the 'main' ones, so now it's time to recap all of the above, and additional additions to exceptional fests like Field Day, Iceland Airwaves, Sound Island, Stop Making Sense, Lancashire's all-organic Methusala, V Festival, the Gary Numan-starring Playground Festival and first-rate mini fest Maverick - which is inviting ticket-buyers to take a 60 mile bicycle ride, from London, to reach its Suffolk site "at a leisurely pace". FIELD DAY, Victoria Park, London, 25 May: Bobby Tank, Charanjit Singh, Daniel Avery, Dark Bells, Duologue, East India Youth, Gabriel Bruce, Guards, Happa, J Marinetti, Jagwar Ma, King Krule, Koreless, Kwes, Lee Gamble, Metz, Mt Warning, Objekt, Rainy Milo, Rudi Zygadlo, Stealing Sheep, Throwing Snow, TOY. www.fielddayfestivals.com IBIZA/MALLORCA ROCKS, Rocks Hotels, Ibiza/Mallorca, Spain, 4 Jun - 18 Sep: Ellie Goulding, Dizzee Rascal, The Vaccines, Rizzle Kicks, Palma Violets, Jagwar Ma, Redlight. www.ibizarocks.com / www.mallorcarocks.com ICELAND AIRWAVES, various venues, Reykjavik, Iceland, 30 Oct - 3 Nov: Metz, Sin Fang, MØ, Múm, Young Dreams, Oyama, Sumie Nagano. icelandairwaves.is MAVERICK, Easton Farm Park, Woodbridge, Suffolk, 5-7 Jul: Anna Coogan, Carrivick Sisters, Case Hardin, Cherry Lee Mewis, Curtis Elle's American Circus, Danni Nicholls, Danny George Wilson, David Latto, Dennis Ellsworth, Eileen Rose And The Holy Wreck, Feral Mouth, Grace & Tony, Hallelujah Trails, Hatful Of Rain, I See Hawks In La, Jack Day, Jason Serious, Kris Dollimore, Leeroy Stagger, Little Embers, Mad Staring Eyes, Neil Innes, Oliver Daldry, Ruth Moody, Paul Mcclure, Phil Lee, Police Dog Hogan, Porchlight Smoker, Richie Lawrence, The Black Feathers, The Henry Brothers, The Rainbow Girls, The Redlands Palomino Company, The Vagaband, Trevor Moss & Hannah Lou, Troubadour Rose. www.maverickfestival.co.uk LIVERPOOL SOUND CITY, various venues, Liverpool, 2-4 May: Noah & The Whale, Everything Everything, Darwin Deez, Oneohtrix Point Never, Dutch Uncles, Delphic, Pins, Savages, Drenge, Wave Machines, Jetta, Bipolar Sunshine, Loom, Deep Sea Arcade, Blackeye, Skaters, Melody's Echo Chamber, Wolf People, Splashh, Charlie Boyer & The Voyeurs, Lulu James, Arcane Roots, Still Corners, Luls, Hands, Wild Smiles, Ian Prowse & Amsterdam, Mikill Pane, Bebe Black, Jacob Banks, Bo Ningen, Big Deal, Night Engine, Mind Enterprises, Golden Fable, Likely Lads. www.liverpoolsoundcity.co.uk METHUSALA, Cliffs Farm Activity Centre, Mawdesley, Lancashire, 23-25 Aug: Boomin, Shoogrenifty, Danny Bee. www.methusala.co.uk THE PLAYGROUND FESTIVAL, O2 Academy Brixton, London, 7-8 Jun: Gary Numan, James Lavelle, Booka Shade, James Zabiela, DJ Hell, Model 500, Richard Dorfmeister feat Earl Zinger, Derrick May, Kevin Saunderson, John Foxx & The Maths, Pantha Du Prince, Wolfgang Flur, X-Press 2, Boddika, Deadboy, Krystal Klear, TOKiMONSTA, Nathan Fake, Luke Vibert, OM Unit, Mickey Pearce, No Artificial Colours, Wildkats, Whyte Noize. www.theplaygroundfestival.com SOUND ISLAND, Quex Park, Margate, 27-28 Jul: Bebe Black, Giggs, Little Nikki. www.soundfestivalsuk.com STOP MAKING SENSE, The Garden, Tisco, Croatia, 1-4 Aug: Âme & Dixon, Steve Bug, Lindstrøm, John Talabot, Radio Slave, T Williams, Prins Thomas, Will Saul, Midland, San Soda, Mano Le Tough, Appleblim, Braiden, Harri & Domenic, A&A, Ali Tillett, Brighton, Dolan Bergin, Examine, Jan Kinčl Zero, Kiwi, Labud, Luka K, Madera Verde, Mimi, Mr Solid Gold, Nikola, Pardon My French, Park Ranger, Rob Summerhayes, Your Name. stopmakingsense.eu V FESTIVAL, Hylands Park, Chelmsford, Essex/Weston Park, Staffordshire, 17-18 Aug: Tom Odell. www.vfestival.com WOMAD, Charlton Park, Malmesbury,Wiltshire, 25-28 Jul: Rokia Traore, Gilberto Gil, Alice Russell, David Rodigan, Sam Lee, Mala In Cuba, Asif Ali Khan, Bwani Junction, Canzoniere Grencanico Salentino, David Wax Museum, Debapriya & Samanwaya, Dub Inc, Emel Mathlouthi, Fanfare Ciocarlia, Fredy Massamba, Gocoo, Huun Huur Tu, Jagwa Music, Kissmet, Le Vent du Nord, Levon Minassian, Malawi Mouse Boys, Mokoomba, Nano Stern, Ondatropica, Osibisa, Schlachthofbronx, Syd Arthur, Tamikrest, Urna & Kroke. womad.org LIVERPOOL SOUND CITY ANNOUNCES CONFERENCE ADDITIONS Leading the way conference wise is music industry legend Andrew Loog Oldham, the producer, manager and publicity man probably best known for his work with the Rolling Stones in the early days of their career, who will be keynoting. Meanwhile another session will focus on the very interesting career to date of Enter Shikari, who are also playing LSC this year. The band's manager Ian Johnsen, agent Adam Saunders and distributor Peter Thompson, plus Mark Meharry of MusicGlue, which powers the band's D2C operations, will all contribute. These two events join a conference programme that already includes sessions involving Tracey Thorn and The Wombats. This year's LSC takes place from 2-4 May - more at www.liverpoolsoundcity.co.uk. Loog Oldham will also speak at LSC's sister event in New York - New York Sound City (obviously) - which this year takes place on 11 Mar. UNIVERSAL APPOINTS NEW CATALOGUE DIGITAL MARKETING MAN Smith himself added: "Strategic marketing is a respected and successful operation within Universal Music so I'm thrilled to be part of it. I'm looking forward to bringing all my career experience to this exciting role and working with UMG's incredible roster of artists and their catalogues". -------------------------------------------------- BASCA ANNOUNCES NEW CHAIRMAN Former head chorister of Chichester Cathedral, Darlow is also responsible for 'Slave To The Rhythm' by Grace Jones and 'Pass The Dutchie' by Musical Youth. He's also written for artists such as Toyah, Dollar, Shirley Bassey, Martine McCutcheon and Cliff Richard, as well as over 100 TV Themes, including 'Supermarket Sweep'. Darlow told CMU: "I look forward to helping BASCA adapt to the digital age, welcome new friends, harmonise the voices that strive to protect the value of copyright and continue to celebrate excellence through our prestigious awards The Ivors and The British Composer awards". -------------------------------------------------- BBC PERFORMAING ARTS FUND ANNOUNCES WINNERS OF MUSIC FELLOWSHIP SCHEME The successful organisations and fellows are as follows: OFCOM FINDS SKY ARTS IN BREACH FOR FAILURE TO WARN ABOUT THE PRODIGY AT DOWNLOAD The media regulator noted that at the beginning of the programme the channel had warned viewers to "expect strong language and flashing images throughout", but also that it had not repeated the warning when coming out of the ad break that preceded the Prodigy spot. Sky protested, saying that it had given enough warning, and anyway that flashing lights would be expected by most people watching a live performance such as the one shown, "as flashing images are an inherent part of these events". However, in ruling, OfCom said: "In this case, OfCom's technical assessment of this material found that it significantly exceeded the maximum limits set out in OfCom guidance to broadcasters on flashing images and therefore posed a significant risk of harm to viewers in the audience with PSE [photosensitive epilepsy]". It concluded: "OfCom's view was that in this case it was reasonably practicable to follow OfCom's PSE guidance because the material was pre-recorded and edited. We therefore went on to consider whether there was sufficient editorial justification in this case for the broadcast of this material. In Ofcom's view there was insufficient editorial justification for including in this pre-recorded general entertainment programme flashing images that so clearly exceeded in intensity and duration the appropriate PSE standards". "We noted the warning that was given at the start of the whole programme, but considered that this one warning alone was clearly insufficient taking into account the intensity and extended duration of the flashing images in this case".  CRADLE OF FILTH BANNED FROM CHINA In a statement the band said: "Unfortunately at this time the cultural section of the Chinese government have decided that Cradle Of Filth are unsuitable to play in Mainland China and so we are currently banned from playing there. Therefore the show on Tue 30 Apr in Shang Hai, China has had to be moved to Hong Kong. The new venue is Kowloonbay International Trade & Exhibition Centre (KITEC) in Hong Kong on 30 Apr 2013". | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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