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TUESDAY 3 SEPTEMBER 2019 | COMPLETEMUSICUPDATE.COM | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
TODAY'S TOP STORY: Prosecutors leading the criminal action against R Kelly in Chicago have brought up the musician's 1994 marriage to fellow music star Aaliyah as a reason why he should continue to be held in custody without bail as he fights an assortment of sexual abuse charges... [READ MORE] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Prosecutors cite Kelly's marriage to Aaliyah as a reason to continue to deny bail The new legal filing aims to counter ongoing efforts by Kelly's legal team to secure bail for their client as he awaits trials in both Chicago and New York. He has been held in custody since his arrest in July. Although the papers do not specifically name Aaliyah, they use the marriage to highlight Kelly's alleged "intentional and prolific" abuse of underage girls. Because, of course, although the criminal charges are new, Kelly has faced allegations of routine abuse against women, including young teenagers, for years. According to Page Six, in a plea to the judge overseeing the case, prosecutors state: "[Kelly] even married a fifteen year old girl when he was 27 years old. The government produced in discovery to the defendant the official marriage application, marriage certificate, and annulment records for this marriage. Far from being a one-time mistake, defendant's sexual abuse of minors was intentional and prolific". Kelly and Aaliyah married in secret in 1994, putting her age as eighteen on the marriage certificate, although she was actually only fifteen. The pair had begun a relationship after he produced her debut album, 'Age Ain't Nothing But A Number', which was released in 1994. The marriage was annulled by her parents six months later. Kelly has previously denied that they were married or that they were even in a relationship. Asked for comment on the latest filing by prosecutors, Kelly's attorney Steve Greenberg said that the marriage was "ancient" and "irrelevant" to the current criminal cases. The musician's legal team is expected to again request that he be granted bail at a hearing later this week. Last week, they filed to have him removed from solitary confinement - prosecutors countering that he isn't in solitary confinement because he has a cellmate. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Bucks to rep Australia's Gaga Music in the UK Gaga says that it "administers a wide array of independent music copyrights via a network of like-minded partners". Its roster includes the likes of Fazerdaze, Wolf & Cub, The Middle East, Holly Throsby, The Cat Empire, Hayden Calnin and Hockey Dad. Confirming the new tie-up with Bucks in the UK, the firm's founder Grant Gillies said: "Gaga Music is proud to be joining the iconic Bucks Music Group. We're humbled to be part of such a rich music heritage. Our intention has always been to offer our artists access to a worldwide network of quality partners and we're confident we've found our people here at Bucks". Meanwhile at Bucks itself, the firm's Head Of Creative Sync Jonathan Tester said: "I was introduced to Grant and [General Manager] Nadine [Riezouw] over at Gaga by a music supervisor who suggested we should connect. Having spoken to Grant it was clear that we share the same values as independents as well as a love of developing and supporting new talent. They have a phenomenal roster of bands and artists, and we are very excited to be able to work the catalogue for sync in the UK". | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Final new stations at Global are Smooth spin-offs One of those super new Smooths will be focused on all things country music, taking on the Country Hits station that rival Bauer launched back in March. The other is Smooth Chill, described as "the perfect antidote to our busy lives, featuring non-stop chill out music". The latter in essence takes over from an existing station in the Global portfolio known simply as Chill. It was one of two digital stations established in the 2000s that Global acquired along the way and which still operated on various channels even though they were not core brands for the media firm. The other was rock station The Arrow, which has been wound down entirely as the new Heart, Capital and Smooth spin-offs have gone live. Announcing all this, Smooth's Managing Editor Sam Jackson said: "To launch two new Smooth branded stations on one day is hugely exciting for us and confirms our vision to grow and develop the brand". Offering a few, though not many, more specifics, he added: "Smooth Country will celebrate the best country music hits, while Smooth Chill will play the best music to relax and unwind to, no matter what time of the day". Elsewhere in Global news, the media company has announced an alliance with Midlands-based radio group Quidem. The new deal will see core Global brands extend in the region, replacing Quidem's Touch FM, Banbury Sound and Rugby FM. The Midlands firm will remain independent, but will license Global-owned brands in a similar fashion to Irish broadcaster Communicorp Media, which operates Capital, Heart and Smooth outlets in the UK. Global will also provide ad sales and local news services to Quidem's network of stations. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
EMI Music Sound Foundation rebrands as Universal Music UK Sound Foundation The charity supports music-making children and schools by providing donations, grants and bursaries that allow beneficiaries to access musical instruments, equipment and training. As it changes its name to reflect "the substantial support the independent charity receives from Universal Music Group", the Foundation has confirmed it has now distributed more than £8 million to the schools, students and educational organisations it supports. Commenting on all this, Adam Barker, Universal Music UK's business affairs chief, who is also chair of the Foundation's trustees, said: "Since our inception in 1997, the Foundation has focused on ensuring that the significant benefits and the joy of studying music remain available to as many young people from all backgrounds across the UK as possible". He added: "Universal Music is proud that our support allows 100% of the charity's funding to be channelled to the vital work that the newly re-named and highly respected Universal Music UK Sound Foundation undertakes year after year". | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Numerous Avicii collaborators to perform at fundraising tribute concert Among the artists already confirmed to appear are Adam Lambert, Aloe Blacc and Rita Ora. They will each perform live versions of Avicci's music accompanied by a 30 piece band. His father Klas Bergling explains: "Tim had plans for his music to be performed together with a large live band, and now we are realising his dream and giving fans a chance to experience his music in this unique way". The show will also include opening sets from David Guetta, Kygo, Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike, Laidback Luke and Nicky Romero. Bergling continues: "We are grateful that his friends, producers, artists and colleagues are coming to Stockholm to help. They have all expressed a sincere interest and desire to engage in efforts to stem the tide of mental illness and lend their support to our work with the Tim Bergling Foundation. We are very much looking forward to this evening, which will be a starting point for the foundation's work going forward". The tribute concert will take place on 5 Dec with tickets going on sale this Thursday. -------------------------------------------------- Kano announces 2020 tour dates The announcement follows the release last week of the rapper's latest album, 'Hoodies All Summer', which you can see him discuss with Akala here. Tickets for the new dates go on general sale on Friday. Here they all are: 31 Jan: Bournemouth, Academy | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
MANAGEMENT & FUNDING Music charity Help Musicians UK has opened up applications for its Peter Whittingham Jazz Award, which provides a total of £10,000 in funding to up to four emerging artists in the jazz genre. The deadline for applicants is 14 Oct - info here. -------------------------------------------------- EDUCATION & EVENTS The full programme has been announced for this year's Festival Congress from the Association Of Independent Festivals, which takes place in Sheffield on 6-7 Nov. Sessions include legendary rock photographer Jill Furmanovsky in conversation, a live recording of Rob da Bank's 'A-Z Of Festivals' podcast, and a keynote from Bert Cole of performance art collective Arcadia Spectacular. Info here. -------------------------------------------------- ARTIST NEWS Matthew Herbert has composed an original score for 'The Cave', a new documentary film from Feras Fayyad. In it the director returns to his native war-torn Syria to follow a dedicated team of female doctors who treat casualties in an underground hospital while battling systemic sexism. The film premieres later this month at the Toronto Film Festival. -------------------------------------------------- RELEASES Benny Blanco has released the video for 'Graduation', featuring Juice Wrld. Avril Lavigne has released a new version of her song 'Head Above Water', featuring Travis Clarke of We The Kings. Wretch 32 has released the video for new single 'Mummy's Boy'. "In a Caribbean household, 'mummy's boy' is almost like the worst insult you can give a kid", says the rapper. "I was the mummy's boy, with two older sisters and two younger sisters. Me, I take power in it, because the mummy's boy became the man of the house; the head of the family. So it's just something that has a negative connotation can be flipped into a bigger positive". Gabrielle Aplin and JP Cooper have released new collaboration 'Losing Me'. Bat For Lashes has released new single 'Desert Man'. Her new album 'Lost Girls' is out this Friday. HXXS have announced that they will release their debut album, 'Year Of The Witch', on 18 Oct. Here's its first single, 'Learner'. Check out our weekly Spotify playlist of new music featured in the CMU Daily - updated every Friday. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Elton John stamps Anyway, none of this is really relevant to this news story, except that if John, Twain, any random actor or even Amneris herself wanted to send anyone a letter, they could now do so using one of twelve Elton-themed stamps. Look, I thought finding some lyrics to kick this off would be fun, but it's ended up just making the introduction really long-winded and confusing. Elton John's got some stamps. There, that's the story. Are you happy now? The Royal Mail has announced that it's issuing a set of twelve postage stamps featuring pictures of Elton John. Eight feature classic album covers, while a mini set of four show the musician plonking about with his piano on stage somewhere, marking the fact that he's planning to quit touring forever after one final 70,000 year tour. "To say I was surprised when Royal Mail got in touch, is an understatement", says John. "Never did I think I'd appear on a stamp! It's wonderful, a great honour". Can that be true? Surely everyone expects to appear on a stamp at some point. I know I do. But twelve! That's really the thing that marks him out. Not only that, he's only the second solo musician to get a whole set of stamps to himself. The first was David Bowie, and he had to die before the Royal Mail eventually caved in. The Beatles and Pink Floyd have had their own sets too, but they're bands remember, and let's not dilute this any further. This is Elton's day. "Elton is one of the most successful British solo artists of all time", says the Royal Mail's Head Of Stamp Strategy(!) Philip Parker, a little too eager to justify this decision. "He has recorded some of the best-known songs in pop history such as 'Candle In The Wind' and 'Rocket Man'. Our stamps issued today showcase some of his most iconic albums, and celebrate his fantastic musical contribution". You can buy each stamp at just the postage price it represents, or you can purchase a variety of presentation sets that range from 'almost reasonable' to 'a bit fucking pricey'. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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