iHeart launches Napster-powered subscription service
iHeartMedia has put its new subscription streaming service into beta in the US, and announced a tie-up with Napster for its fully on-demand element.

As previously reported, the American broadcast giant announced that it was expanding its existing iHeartRadio personalised radio set-up back in September. Like rival Pandora, as well as the existing free option, iHeart will now offer enhanced personalised radio for $4.99 a month (iHeartRadio Plus) and a fully on-demand streaming service at the standard $9.99 price point (iHeartRadio All Access).

Whereas Pandora bought the assets of the defunct Rdio to help with its plans to add fully on-demand streaming into the mix, iHeart is achieving that through a partnership with Napster. Though iHeart is keen to distinguish itself from Pandora - and Napster's existing subscription offer - by talking up how it will integrate its traditional radio stations and programmes into the on-demand streaming experience.

Doing just that, iHeartMedia boss Bob Pittman said yesterday: "Ten times more Americans listen to radio every month than use a subscription service - so the debut of iHeartRadio Plus and iHeartRadio All Access powered by Napster is a unique opportunity to capture these non-music subscribers with an on-demand service built around radio".

He went on: "Whereas the LP, CD and music downloads are the ancestors of all current on-demand services, the ancestor for our new on demand offerings is broadcast radio. By combining radio's popularity and reach with interactive on-demand functionality, we have created the first fully differentiated streaming music service for consumers".

The Napster tie-up is interesting. It's a long-term player in the digital music space that brings together the brand of the infamous one-time file-sharing network with one of the first streaming music platforms in the US, Rhapsody, and the global subscription streaming service that emerged from a failed attempt to launch a subscription-based download set-up just as the iTunes store was opening for business in 2003.

Despite being a long-term player in the digital music domain, Napster has struggled to grab a significant slice of the rapidly expanding streaming music market now dominated by Spotify and Apple Music. Though it has regained a little more momentum in recent years, mainly due to some mobile bundling deals.

However, if iHeart's move into subscription and on-demand streaming does prove to be successful, it could help to assure Napster's long-term future in the process, while also enabling iHeart to take its radio-meets-streaming platform beyond the US on the back of Napster's existing global reach.

Confirming the tie-up from his side, Napster CEO Mike Davis said: "iHeartMedia has a unique opportunity to shine a spotlight on the tremendous value premium streaming services bring to music fans, and to the music community at large. We're honoured that iHeartMedia selected the Napster platform and brand to power a great music experience for consumers, and we're excited to play a role in what will be a successful launch".

With its personalised radio service, iHeart has achieved a great deal in just a few years in terms of users, though mainly by relentlessly plugging the set-up via its AM and FM radio stations. But, like Pandora, what iHeartRadio really needs now is more revenue than more users, hence the move into subscriptions. It remains to be seen if the broadcaster can turn its freebie listeners into paying customers, whether on the five or ten dollar a month packages.

That mission is in no small part linked to the music industry's wider challenge of turning more mainstream consumers into paying subscribers of streaming tunes. Premium readers can check out our summary of that challenge in this CMU Trends article published after iHeart's initial announcement back in September.

U-God sues RZA over unpaid Wu-Tang royalties
Wu-Tang Clan member U-God has launched legal action against the group's founder RZA and his brother Mitchell Diggs. The rapper claims that he has not been paid his proper share of the hip hop outfit's royalties for more than five years.

According to TMZ, legal papers filed this week say that U-God has contributed to around 170 Wu-Tang tracks since 2003, including five on their latest publicly released album, 'A Better Tomorrow'. However, he claims, he has not received proper royalties for at least the last six years. He also claims not to have received anything from the $2 million sale of the group's single-copy, privately sold album, 'Once Upon A Time In Shaolin'.

The rapper is demanding a full audit of income from Wu-Tang's various revenue streams, saying that he believes he is owed at least $2.5 million.

Tomorrowland Brasil cancelled due to country's "economic situation"
The 2017 Brazil edition of the Tomorrowland festival franchise has been cancelled, it has been confirmed.

In a statement, organisers said: "It's with heavy hearts that we inform you that Tomorrowland Brasil will not take place in 2017. As always, Tomorrowland wants to give you, the people of tomorrow, the best and most unique experience. Unfortunately, due to external factors we can no longer create the right environment to host a Tomorrowland Festival in Brazil. We will do our utmost best to come back as soon as possible since the love and energy Brazil gave to Tomorrowland was amazing".

A source at the event's SFX-owned promoter Plus Talent reportedly told Brazilian newspaper El Nacional: "Brazil's economic situation, combined with other factors of instability, is too adverse to stage an event the size of Tomorrowland".

Tomorrowland became allied with SFX in 2013 after the company took a 75% stake in Dutch promoter ID&T, which in turn had a 50% stake in the festival brand. The founders of the original festival in Belgium bought back ID&T's stake in that event, but committed to collaborate with SFX on a US iteration, TomorrowWorld, and Tomorrowland Brasil.

In the wake of SFX's bankruptcy earlier this year, both of those international versions of the festival have suffered. The 2016 edition in Brazil went ahead as planned in April, but TomorrowWorld, which was scheduled for September, was cancelled.

Brighton radio station Platform B gets permanent studio at Green Door Store
Newish Brighton radio project Platform B is to get a permanent home with a new studio at the city's Green Door Store venue. The official launch of the studio will coincide with the venue's sixth birthday celebrations in January.

Launched online earlier this year, and due to begin broadcasting on FM next summer, Platform B's team is entirely made up of young adults.

"For many fifteen to 25 year olds, radio today can sound rather staid, lacking the vibrancy and interactivity of the online platforms they are used to, especially YouTube", Station Manager Nats Spada told CMU shortly after launching the project. "So I think it's time to re-imagine what radio can be, and only people in that age range can do that. Which is what Platform B is all about".

Commenting on the announcement of the new studio, Spada said yesterday: "Throughout 2016, Platform B has experimented with 'pop-up' broadcasts throughout the city, but we're THRILLED to finally have a permanent home at the Green Door Store. I don't know of any radio station based in a music venue, so it's an exciting venture that will create a space for Brighton's next generation of DJs, producers and presenters who want to reimagine and diversify the traditional sounds of radio".

Green Door Store Programme Manager Toni Coe added: "We are really excited to be able to house and support the opening of this new influential, local community radio station as a platform to showcase the great local music community we have in Brighton. This is the perfect collaboration for both Platform B and Green Door Store to better support international, national, and most importantly local bands in their development".

Platform B will officially launch its new studio at Green Door Store's sixth birthday party on 7 Jan. The free entry show will feature performances from Traams, Gang, Ditz and Spill, and will be live-streamed on the station, via its website.

Riot Fest co-founder Sean McKeough dies
Co-founder of the Chicago music festival Riot Fest, Sean McKeough, died on Tuesday, it has been confirmed by the event's organisers. He was 42.

In a statement, co-founder Michael Petryshyn said: "Sean was Riot Fest's pillar of strength. I loved him. I admired him. And to lose him is a lonely and barren feeling. I miss my friend immensely. Without Sean and his belief that a little fest could make a positive impact on people's lives by doing things differently and left of the dial, Riot Fest would have never become such an intimate family".

"His Herculean-sized heart and volition made that all possible", he continued. "Anyone lucky enough to have witnessed his kindness and compassion knows Sean's muddy work boots will never be filled. It's impossible... he cared when no one else did. He worked when no one else did. And, he believed in Riot Fest when no one else did".

Founded in Chicago in 2005, and specialising in punk, rock, metal and hip hop, Riot Fest has since expanded with a second event in Denver. The most recent edition took place in Chicago in September.

The cause of McKeough's death has not been made public.

Kanye West discharged from hospital
Kanye West has been discharged from hospital, having been admitted for exhaustion last month.

As previously reported, having abruptly cut short a show in Sacramento after launching into a ten minute rant after having only performed three songs, West then cancelled the remainder of his US tour, which was due to run until the end of this month.

Two days later, police reportedly responded to a "disturbance call" after West began behaving erratically at the home of his personal trainer in LA, as a result of which he was hospitalised. Various outlets have cited sources as saying that the rapper was suffering from exhaustion and sleep deprivation.

After a week and a half of treatment, he was discharged on Wednesday.

Low release new Christmas song as they kick off festive UK tour
The bosses of indie Christmas music, Low, have released a new Christmas song, ahead of their mostly sold out Christmas songs tour.

Low, of course, released their seminal 'Christmas' EP in 1999, which has become a staple of festive listening in many an indie-leaning home. Last night the band kicked off a UK tour performing songs from that EP in Norwich.

Releasing the new song, 'Some Hearts (At Christmas Time)', yesterday, the band said: "To friends who have moved away and friends who have passed on this year; to one and all, especially those who are alone, we wish you a merry Christmas and new hope for the new year. May we all find ways to lift each other".

Listen to the song here.

Dua Lipa, Rag N Bone Man and Anne-Marie up for BRITs Critics' Choice award
The BRITs Critics' Choice shortlist has been announced, with Dua Lipa, Rag N Bone Man and Anne-Marie tipped for big things in 2017. This particular BRITs prize is voted for by music media types and seeks to champion new talent set for big things in the next year.

"I actually can't believe I am nominated for this amazing award", says Rudimental collaborator Anne-Marie. "This is so sick. To everyone who voted for me I am so grateful and humbled, here's to 2017!"

Dua Lipa chips in: "I couldn't believe it when I got the news. So honoured and grateful to be nominated for the Critics' Choice Award. This is the highlight of my year. I've said so many times, that I've hit a lot of milestones this year from performing at Glastonbury, to doing my own European tour, never doing the same thing two days in a row and going to places I've never been before. Truly living my dream, this is the icing on the cake. A huge dream of mine! Thank you for all the love and support from the bottom of my heart this means the world to me! Thank you".

Meanwhile, Rag N Bone Man adds: "It's bonkers that I've been nominated for Critics' Choice. Absolutely bonkers. I've been grafting, I built a strong fanbase over the years with help from good people that put their faith in me. And now this! I'm very grateful".

So, it's safe to say that everyone's happy with their nomination. However, there can be but one winner. That person will be handed the keys to 2017 on 8 Dec.

In other BRITs news, the 2017 trophy, designed by Zaha Hadid, has been unveiled. And here it is.

Duran Duran, Beyonce, Nordoff Robbins, more

Other notable announcements and developments today...

• Duran Duran have just lost their High Court battle with Sony/ATV that was testing the reach of the US copyright reversion right, according to the Press Association. More on that on Monday, probably.

• Beyonce has released the video for 'All Night', aka the relevant section from her 'Lemonade' visual album.

• Justice have released the video for new single 'Fire'. It stars Susan Sarandon. Fancy.

• Run The Jewels have released another new track from their third album, 'RTJ3'. They've also announced that the LP will be out on 13 Jan digitally, and 20 Jan in physical form. Anyway, here's Legend Has It'.

• Rae Sremmurd have released the video for 'Shake It Fast', featuring Juicy J.

• Biffy Clyro have released the video for their latest single, 'Rearrange'.

• Mowglii and Novaa have released the video for 'Her', taken from their collaborative EP 'Down Under'.

• Sarah P has announced that she will release her debut album, 'Who Am I', on 12 May. The first single from it, 'Berlin During Winter', will be out on 6 Jan. For now, here's a short trailer.

• Jain has released the video for new single 'Makeba'. She will play The Garage in London on 5 Dec.

• GJan has released the video for her latest single, 'Wild'. "It was an unforgettable feeling to see all those actors connecting to the song that we wrote", says the singer. She's set to release her debut album next year.

• Japanese band The Gazette have furnished their new internationally available Vevo channel with the videos for 'Dogma' and 'Deux'. This is the first time the two videos have been available online.

• Drugdealer has released the video for the title track from his debut album, 'The End Of Comedy', featuring Mac DeMarco and Weyes Blood.

• Nordoff Robbins will host its annual carol service, this year supported by Apple Music, at St Luke's Church in Chelsea 13 Dec. Among various performances and celebrity readings, Tom Odell will do a turn. AA Gill will also be there, but try not to let that put you off. More details here.

• Tegan & Sara have announced UK dates for next year, kicking off with a performance at The Roundhouse in London on 13 Feb.

• Izzy Bizu has been announced as this year's BBC Music Introducing Artist Of The Year. As well as a big trophy, she gets the opportunity to perform at the otherwise entirely pointless BBC Music Awards later this month.

CMU Beef Of The Week: #334: Bob Dylan v Barack Obama
After Bob Dylan was named the winner of this year's Nobel Prize For Literature, only to be a right miserable grump about it, many suggested that organisers should have known he'd be a right miserable grump about it (on account of his long history of being a right miserable grump) and gone with someone else. But did anyone consider this: maybe they did know that, and that's exactly why they gave it to him. Because this story really is a gift that keeps on giving. It's like Dylan is writing another great piece of literature before our eyes.

I mean, just when you think the whole thing's over, in he comes with another twist. Having snubbed, unsnubbed, and then re-snubbed the award's organisers, he's now snubbed Barack Obama too. The outgoing US president this week hosted a party for this year's various Nobel winners. And guess who didn't turn up.

Shall we have a quick recap? Come on, let's. It'll be fun. So, as we know, Bobby D won the Nobel Prize for all that literature he wrote. Did he acknowledge this? Did he fuck. He said nothing. Rumours that he was refusing the award unless Red Hot Chili Peppers frontman Anthony Keidis won it next year were a lie I made up that still amuses me far more than it should.

After a while, organisers at The Swedish Academy started getting a bit shirty and muttering that they might not hand over the considerable prize money that comes with their Nobel awards to Dylan. But then a few days later, the musician said in an interview of course he was dead chuffed about winning the prize, and then he wrote a letter to the Academy telling them so. All was fine, no one was in a grump. Or so we thought.

The next stage was for Dylan to agree that he would travel to Sweden to collect his prize, but only on the condition he wouldn't have to talk to the bloody press about it. Then he looked up where Sweden actually was and decided that, actually, he had something more important to do that day.

So he won't be going to the prize ceremony later this month. However, there is still the question of whether or not he will head over to Stockholm to give a lecture at some point in the following six months - that being the condition of him receiving that prize money. Given everything that's happened so far, including this week's debacle, I'm going to say no.

Anyway, this week's debacle. On Wednesday, Obama invited the Nobel winners round to the White House for a cup of tea and a couple of biscuits. Winners of the physics prize Duncan Haldane and J Michael Kosterlitz were there. So was chemistry honouree J Fraser Stoddart. Even the winner of the economic sciences prize Oliver Hart was in attendance, despite the embarrassment of winning a prize for something that isn't even a real thing.

No Bob though. Two people so curmudgeonly that they refuse to use, but still insist on acknowledging their first names managed to show up. But there was no Bob Dylan.

White House press secretary Josh Earnest told reporters in his daily briefing on the morning of the event: "Unfortunately, Bob Dylan will not be at the White House today. So everyone can relax".

Earnest also noted that Dylan had given no reason for not attending. As you might expect. I mean, "can't be arsed, he's not even really president anymore" sounds a bit rude.