Sony merges its label services division with Cooking Vinyl's Essential
So, if you want a TL;DR: distribution is essentially red, by which we mean a major record company kind of thing, but the vinyl will continue to be cooked independently. I never said the TL;DR would make sense out of context.

Sony Music has acquired Cooking Vinyl's label services business Essential Music And Marketing and is merging it with its own indie label distribution division Red, to create a new company called Red Essential.

The merged entity will be jointly led by Essential chief Mike Chadwick and Red UK MD Ian Dutt, operating out of the Cooking Vinyl Group's Acton, West London HQ. No personnel changes are planned at the merged company, beyond Red staffers having a different commute and fewer shopping options during their lunch break.

Independent distributor Proper Music, which has handled UK physical distribution for Essential for over two years now, will continue to do so for Red Essential, meanwhile the Cooking Vinyl record company - although using the services of the all-new Sony label services unit - will remain wholly independent.

However, the deal does mean more indie labels tapping the infrastructure of a major music company, which is something some in the indie community are a bit sensitive about, not least because it boosts the perceived market share of the majors, who usually include the catalogue they distribute and service as well as that which they own when bragging about their market dominance.

Market share bragging is more than a mere ego exercise these days, because market share stats often influence a major's negotiating power with digital start-ups, especially when it comes to demanding equity on a first licensing deal. More indie label distribution means more market share which means more equity. So much so that since Warner and Sony have committed to share the profits of any such equity with their artists, some indie labels distributed by those majors have wondered why they aren't getting a share too.

Then again, there has always been a sound logic to indie labels locking into the infrastructure of a major record company, so that the independent can say to its artists "you get the culture and A&R support of an indie, but with access to the marketing and distribution network of a global player if and when we need such a thing".

Indies using a major's infrastructure isn't new. We just now call the major label divisions that work with indies 'label services' instead of 'independent distribution'. And those rebranded divisions do generally offer more services and often enjoy more prestige within the major, partly because of the market share/streaming equity thing.

Explaining the logic of the Essential/Red alliance from his perspective, Cooking Vinyl Group chief Martin Goldschmidt told reporters: "Eighteen months ago Cooking Vinyl Group undertook a complete audit of the sales and distribution sector and saw increasing market congestion, which was not providing real value to independent labels. Our conclusion was that our company needed to make a strategic move to offer independent labels global market access and a compelling alternative to what already existed".

The deal with Red was that strategic move. "After discussions with a number of key players it was clear the team at Red shared our vision", Goldschmidt added. "And that an alliance with them would be the best fit for our business, the labels we represent and our staff. This new agreement is good for Cooking Vinyl, good for Red, good for Essential and good for the independent community".

The boss of Red in the UK, Ian Dutt, who previously worked at independent music firm [PIAS], said: "We view this deal as an alliance, as a marriage of equals with both parties bringing a lot to the table. Essential has been a trailblazing company in the independent sector and our combined experience and resource mean that we can offer artists and labels a really fantastic combination of hands-on expertise and global reach alongside market-leading tech solutions".

And Essential's Mike Chadwick added: "I have known Ian for many years and have always admired his achievements both in the independent sector, where he worked for many years, and latterly at Sony Music. When he suggested joining forces it took very little convincing to buy into that vision. I truly believe Red Essential offers a compelling alternative for labels and artists who up until now have lacked real choice in this sector".

SFX's TomorrowWorld cancelled for 2016
Bad news for fans of EDM, rain, traffic chaos and sleeping in bushes, US dance music festival TomorrowWorld is not happening this year. Which possibly puts the kibosh on my plan to launch a UK version that mainly consisted of wearing 1980s-style leather jackets, talking about science, and discussing how CDs definitely can't be scratched.

TomorrowWorld was the US version of European EDM festival Tomorrowland, and was set up by SFX after it took a stake in Dutch promoter ID&T, which at the time had a 50% stake in the Belgian event. Last year's edition of TomorrowWorld was plagued by bad weather, which resulted in all sorts of logistical problems, earning parent company SFX, then well on its way to bankruptcy, yet more bad press.

After SFX applied for bankruptcy protection last month, the owners of Tomorrowland - who took back complete control of their event after SFX bought into ID&T, but which continued to work with its former business partners on the international spin-offs of their festival - raised doubts about whether TomorrowWorld would return this year.

Tomorrowland bosses confirmed that their main Belgian festival, being wholly independent of SFX, would be unaffected by the bankruptcy, and that the Brazil version of the event - which is SFX-led - would also go ahead. As for the US edition, they said at the time, "in light of the present situation, no concrete plans have yet been made for TomorrowWorld 2016".

Concrete plans have now been made, however, they being concrete plans to have no plans. A post on the festival's Facebook page yesterday confirmed that "it's with a heavy heart that we inform you TomorrowWorld will not take place in 2016".

The post went on: "Unfortunately in the current environment, it is not possible to give you the best and unique experience you deserve. We will miss seeing each other in September and experiencing the magic of TomorrowWorld as one. You, the people of tomorrow, the foundation of TomorrowWorld, are our inspiration. Let's lock and cherish all the magnificent memories in our hearts, this is not farewell".

Which I think is them promising that TomorrowWorld will return in a future year. We'll see I guess. But do enjoy locking those cherished memories, won't you?

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ATP says payment to Pontins will confirm events going ahead
Definitely not cancelled are the upcoming ATP festivals, despite everyone rampantly speculating about their cancellation, just because the holiday park hosting the events insisted they were cancelled. And then, you know, the bloody internet.

As previously reported, speculation about whether or not the latest two ATP events would go ahead began when people noticed that Pontins was taking normal bookings for its Prestatyn holiday park on the weekends the music festivals are due to take place. The holiday park firm then said ATP had cancelled its festivals, before clarifying that the events were on hold because the promoter hadn't made a payment that was due.

Yesterday Team ATP announced that that payment would be made today, and then everything should be fine, and people can shut up about cancellations. The bloody internet.

Said ATP on Facebook: "The rumour which circulated online regarding our April festivals stems from a delayed payment from ATP to Pontins. This is something which we take full responsibility for, and are now resolving. The payment will be sent through to them tomorrow, which Pontins will confirm when they receive. We apologise wholeheartedly for the concern and worry this has caused our customers, artists and curators".

Of course, a big chunk of that concern and worry stems from ATP having cancelled past events at short notice. And, of course, the bloody internet. "ATP customers were given incorrect information by Pontins staff, which was shared online at a rate which we were unprepared for", the Facebook post went on. "The festival was never cancelled, which Pontins have now confirmed. Our delay in responding publicly regarding this is due to our wish to be as clear as possible as we are still in the process of negotiating some smaller organisational details, which we did not expect to be sharing with you at this point. These will be resolved in the next few days, of which we will keep you updated".

And let's not forget the role the bloody internet played in all this. "Unfortunately with the speed at which the internet moves these days, inevitable problems that can always arise in the course of delivering an event can be magnified and speculated about before they get a chance to be worked through calmly behind the scenes. While discussion between parties involved can take weeks to be resolved, the internet demands minute by minute updates on everything and in turn that can end up causing more confusion by people answering based on a sense of urgency and not completion. This is something we want to avoid".

Yeah, bloody internet. Still, press the button on that online BACS payment, get confirmation by email, update your ticket-holders via Facebook, and the problem's solved for everyone. Yay the internet!

Spotify expands Fresh Finds into six new music finding playlists
Spotify has announced the expansion of its Fresh Finds playlist with several new genre-specific lists that will also update weekly.

Another curation tool offered by Spotify, in addition to its popular personalised Discover Weekly service, Fresh Finds presents a selection of new music to all users. The existing multi-genre Fresh Finds playlist will continue, but now there will also be separate playlists championing new hip hop, vocal pop, guitar driven, experimental and electronic music, updated each and every Wednesday.

"Spotify has always focused on artists and listeners, and with Fresh Finds we're specifically looking at new creators, digging deeper to understand how undiscovered artists can attract a huge fanbase", says Spotify's 'Principal Scientist' Brian Whitman. "By analysing the listening behaviour of our top tastemaker users, we're able to predict new breakout artists and filter their hits-to-be into playlists with the most promising new music out there".

So unless you want to look like an idiot who knows nothing about anything, I suggest you start studying these playlists thoroughly each week. Or wait for someone else to do it and tell you which of the "breakout artists" and "hits-to-be" Spotify is predicting are actually any good.

Brian McFadden and Keith Duffy form 'super' group Boyzlife
Westlife's Brian McFadden and Boyzone's Keith Duffy have announced that they have formed a new duo, Boyzlife. They'll travel to Hilton hotels around the UK this October to sing some of their old songs and chat about their lives and careers. Yes, it all sounds a bit Alan Partridge, but it will not be. There are two of them.

Anyway, you can spend the night with the boys and book a room in your chosen Hilton for as little as £55. Please note, though, that those are two separate things, in that you won't actually spend the night with the one time boyband stars in your room. Though you can enter a competition to have dinner with Brian and Keith.

McFadden told The Sun that the idea of a Boyzone/Westlife version of McBusted came up when they were all at Ronan Keating's wedding last year. "We all had a chat, the lads. We said it would be amazing. Not even just performing together, but can you imagine the craic? Nine of us Irish lads on a tour bus together, going round the world together. It would be absolutely carnage".

Though, as previously noted, this venture is actually just the two of them going round the UK. But, adds Brian, "We all get on so well, so you never know. We could have so much fun on tour. We could end up adding more people to the next one. Right now this is about me and Keith but the door is always open".

"It might end up on TV and we'll record a documentary of it", added Duffy, if you didn't think the duo's ambitions were already a bit too optimistic. "We might end up writing some songs together. There's no limit to this".

Yes, limitless. Speaking of which, all the information you could ever want about this is here.

The Kills announce new album
The Kills have announced that they will release their fifth album, 'Ash & Ice', on 3 Jun through Domino. Try to deny it if you like, but it's true.

What about that title though, huh? Well, says Alison Mosshart: "One of the first songs that Jamie brought for the record was called 'Ash & Ice', and we loved the title. He does that all the time - he just starts with the title and he hasn't written a word for the actual song. I guess he was sitting at some bar or some party or someone's house, and it was just like people ashing into a glass of ice, in that disgusting thing that you just see all the time".

You "guess"? I need more clarity, Mosshart. Guess I'll just have to get the story from the horse's mouth. Here's Jamie Hince: "I had a drink, and I just threw my cigarette in this glass of ice, and it was just as simple as that. It was like ash and ice, and I said I'll just call it that. Which is kind of dull. I wish I'd come up with a better story, but that's the truth of it. And I just like the connotation. It just sort of sounded right, and I liked the idea of it being these two opposite souls. I liked it being the idea of someone with a joint in one hand and a drink in the other".

Yeah, it was better when we just had Alison Mosshart's version. Oh well. Let me distract you with the news that the duo will play Village Underground in London on 4 May, and also the video for new single 'Doing It To Death'.

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Frightened Rabbit announce new single, tour dates
Frightened Rabbit have released a new track from their upcoming fifth album, 'Painting Of A Panic Attack', which is due out on 8 Apr. 'Get Out' follows 'Death Dream', which was released earlier this year.

"'Get Out' is about that person to whom you are completely addicted", frontman Scott Hutchinson tells NME of the track. "They are a drug, and the one that you don't feel like quitting. They live in your blood and will not leave. It's wonderful, yet terribly unhealthy. I think Greg's video reflects this sentiment beautifully, the literal push and pull of an intense but destructive love".

Greg's video? Oh yeah, here's Greg Davenport's video for 'Get Out'.

You can also catch the band live at these exact dates:

12 Apr: Manchester, Academy 2
13 Apr: Dunfermline, Alhambra
14 Apr: London, St John At Hackney

Barack and Michelle Obama to address SXSW
The First Lady of the United States Of America will give the opening keynote at this year's SXSW Music conference. But what will her husband be doing? Well, he will be having a nice rest after giving the opening keynote at SXSW Interactive five days earlier.

Michelle Obama will be speaking about her Let Girls Learn initiative, which aims to help the 62 million girls around the world not in school to access education. The aim is to get the music industry to support this. The talk will take place on 16 Mar.

On 11 Mar, Barack Obama will sit down with The Texas Tribune Editor-in-chief Evan Smith to chat about civic engagement in the 21st century. He'll apparently focus in particular on how tech makers could be addressing challenges like increasing participation in the political process and fighting climate change.

"I can't imagine a better way to celebrate our event's 30th year than to welcome both the President and First Lady to SXSW", says the event's co-founder Roland Swenson. "As each new generation comes up at SXSW they look for ways they can be of service, and it's important to reflect and support that message. President and Mrs Obama's visit here will inspire attendees to that purpose".

Meanwhile, at SXSW 2017, I look forward to President Donald Trump in conversation with Lady Gaga.

Jennifer Lopez, Soho Music, Word Entertainment, more

Other notable announcements and developments today...

• Jennifer Lopez has signed a new deal with Sony's Epic. Current Epic boss LA Reid tempted Lopez away from the Sony label in 2010 when he was at Universal, so is obviously now "THRILLED" to have secured a brand new partnership between the singer and his current employer.

• Soho Music, which works out of, erm, Clerkenwell, and provides sound and audio for brands and film companies, has launched a music publishing division and announced a partnership with Imagem. The latter will provide administration services to the former. The deal also covers any future works by MJ Cole, who is published by Soho Music.

• Curb Records has bought out Warner Music's stake in Nashville-based Christian music company Word Entertainment, which Warner acquired in 2002 before selling a slice to Curb. Warner will continue to distribute Word releases to the general market, while Word will distribute Warner records to the "Christian market". Whatever that means.

• Beth Orton will release a new album, 'Kidsticks', on 27 May, co-produced by Orton and Fuck Buttons' Andrew Hung. Here's first single 'Moon'.

• Corinne Bailey Rae will release her new album, 'The Heart Speaks In Whispers', on 13 May. She'll headline The Tabernacle in London on 7 Apr, and this is first single 'Been To The Moon'.

• Vessels have released the video for new track '4am', taken from the upcoming re-issue of their 'Dilate' album.

• Susanna has released another new track from her upcoming 'Triangle' album. Here's 'Ebb & Flow'.

• Rufus Wainwright will play St John At Hackney church in London on 27 Apr. Tickets go on sale on Monday.

• Field Music have announced their biggest headline shows to date. They play The Sage in Gateshead on 22 Oct, Shepherds Bush Empire in London on 26 Oct, and The Ritz in Manchester on 29 Oct.

• Sam Smith, who I am pretty sure I read somewhere was the first openly gay man to use social media, has signed off social media, for now at least, following the furore caused by his Oscars speech at the weekend. Which I think Ian McKellan said makes Smith the first openly gay man to sign off social media, for now at least.

Dave Grohl goes solo, Foo Fighters hire new vocalist
Dave Grohl has left Foo Fighters to go solo, but the band will continue with former boyband star Nick Lachey as their new vocalist. This is all the information I need to share with you in order to spoil the joke contained within a new video released by the band mocking those rumours that they are splitting. Therefore, I recommend that you do not read the first sentence of this article.

As previously reported, rumours of the band's imminent split began circulating this week. The spark for this was seemingly that Grohl had performed solo at the Oscars on Sunday, soundtracking the 'In Memoriam' section of the evening with an acoustic cover of The Beatles' 'Blackbird'. And apparently an imminent split of Foo Fighters seemed like a more likely explanation for Grohl doing this performance on his lonesome, rather than it just not being appropriate to have big riffs and booming drums playing under a montage of dead people.

Anyway, fans feared the worst when a blunt social media update went out promising an "official band announcement" within 24 hours. What arrived this morning was a video mocking the rumours, in which Grohl begins recording an electro solo album with Butch Vig and the Foo Fighters add some sweet pop vocals to their sound. All of which now seems like quite a good idea.

But don't read that last paragraph if you want to enjoy the surprise of the big reveal. Here's the video.