Warner Music Sweden fires exec over sexual misconduct
Warner Music Sweden has reportedly fired the senior executive who was accused of sexual misconduct, with the label insisting that it will learn from this incident, initially by conducting a review of its code of conduct and internal reporting procedures.

As previously reported, Swedish newspaper AftonBladet first reported last month that a top record industry executive in the country had been suspended following multiple allegations of sexual misconduct.

The tabloid's report said that the suspended exec had been accused of making inappropriate sexual advances to young female employees and artists, and of promoting an unhealthy work culture at the major.

A spokesperson said at the time that the accused exec had been suspended pending the outcome of an independent investigation. Then, on Friday, the spokesperson told AftonBladet that, following said investigation, the exec in question has been dismissed.

The spokesperson added: "We are determined to learn from this incident and we are now conducting a review of our internal code of conduct, reporting procedures and education programmes. We are grateful to those who had the courage to come forward".

The suspension of the Warner Music exec last month coincided with nearly 2000 women working in the Swedish music industry putting their names to an open letter.

In it they called for a radical overhaul of the sector's corporate culture which currently allows sexism, sexual harassment and sexual abuse to be common place, and which makes victims afraid that speaking out will damage their career prospects.

Last week's statement from Warner in Sweden concluded by insisting that "there is now determination in our company - and our industry - to bring about meaningful and lasting change".

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Kobalt allies with NetEase in China
Bucking the trend of Western music companies allying with Tencent in the Chinese market, Kobalt has announced a partnership with another China-based web firm that also owns a streaming service, NetEase.

Under the deal, NetEase Cloud Music will get access to music controlled by Kobalt and its distribution platform AWAL, while also becoming a sub-licensor of that content in China.

There'll also be a tie-up with Kobalt's collecting society AMRA, which, the company says, "will work closely with NetEase operations to provide digital processing and reporting services to further uplift royalty earnings and maximise value for Kobalt clients".

Under the deal, Kobalt and NetEase say that they "will work closely to drive increased creative collaboration, development of artists, and enforced copyright protection for Kobalt writers and artists. This partnership will also improve transparency for creators and drive new access to data, reporting, and sustainable pay models".

Says Kobalt chief Willard Ahdritz: "As we continue on our journey to help bring the music industry into the digital age, monetising the huge Chinese music market has always been a priority for us. This partnership reinforces not only our commitment but also creates a world of new collaborative opportunities for our artists and songwriters".

Meanwhile NetEase Cloud Music CEO Zhu Yiwen added: "We are honoured to be the strategic partner of ... Kobalt Music in mainland China. It is also an endorsement of our pan-entertainment industry effort that will benefit music fans and artists. We will aim to use our deep industry knowledge and huge user-base to expand Kobalt Music's reach in the market".

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AEG's Goldenvoice allies with Dice
AEG's Goldenvoice UK division has allied with ticketing app Dice. Under the deal tickets will be available for all Goldenvoice-promoted shows - including its new London-based All Points East festival - via the mobile-centric ticketing service.

Confirming the deal last week, Dice's Head Of Music Russ Tannen said: "We have loved working with the whole AEG Presents team over the last three years on hundreds of incredible shows and to become one of Goldenvoice's primary ticket agents is a massive next step in our partnership".

The new deal follows Dice becoming a main seller of tickets for venues like Islington Hall in London and Soup Kitchen in Manchester. Tannen added: "Putting fans first and giving them access to the best gigs, club nights and festivals is at the heart of what we do, and this deal goes a long way in helping us achieve that".

Speaking for Goldenvoice UK, Laura Davidson said: "We are very excited to take a new step forward in our partnership. Everyone is looking forward to working even closer with Dice on some of the incredibly exciting shows, tours and festivals we have coming in 2018 and beyond".

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Spotify and Tencent discussing share swap
Spotify is in talks to do a share swap with the music subsidiary of Chinese web giant Tencent, according to sources who have been busy chit chatting to the Wall Street Journal.

According to the WSJ, the two digital music firms are considering taking up to a 10% stake in each other's companies through a share exchange. Tencent Music - which among other things operates Chinese streaming service QQ - would also hand over some cash under the deal, to account for the two companies' different valuations.

Spotify, of course, is expected to list on Wall Street next year, while Tencent is also expected to float its spun-off music business on a stock exchange towards the end of 2018.

This deal would provide Spotify with a useful cash injection, while the alliance would also provide a route into that Chinese music market that everyone is so very excited about. For its part, Tencent Music would get better access to the global music industry.

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Help Musicians launches Music Minds Matter helpline
Help Musicians UK has officially launched its new mental health service Music Minds Matter, which includes a 24/7 helpline for anyone in the music community seeking help or emotional support.

The charity announced it would be launching the new helpline and the wider Music Minds Matter initiative back in July. The new service follows the research work Help Musicians did with MusicTank and the University Of Westminster which looked at how a career in music - on-stage or behind the scenes - could impact on a person's mental health.

Help Musicians says that its new service combines "advice, signposting, clinical pathways and professional therapeutic services, including counselling and cognitive behavioural therapy", and that "uniquely, the service also provides access to the charity's grant funding, and individuals may also access advice on legal issues, debt and benefits".

Announcing the formal launch of Music Minds Matter, Help Musicians boss Richard Robinson said: "Music Minds Matter is a first for the British music industry and the biggest ever undertaking by HMUK. We are earmarking just under £1 million over the next four years and we fully expect the service to grow and evolve".

He added: "It is also important to underline that early intervention is key in this service. This is not just for individuals in crisis, it is so much more and provides comprehensive support on a range of issues. In time we will look to add additional regional capabilities and services, as well as global partnerships, to really make a difference to those that need it most and future proof our music industry to be as healthy and successful as it can be".

For more information on Music Minds Matter check musicmindsmatter.org.uk. Those seeking help and emotional support can call 0808 802 8008 free of charge, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

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Neil Young launches an Xstream archive site
Neil Young continues in his mission to bring higher quality digital audio to the masses by scoring a real coup for his new Xstream venture: he's only gone and secured access to the entire back catalogue of Neil Young.

As previously reported, Young confirmed earlier this year that he was moving on from his previous Pono high quality audio download venture to work on a new platform called Xstream, which will offer super high quality audio streams. The system is actually capable of playing both MP3 and 192kHz/24-bit quality audio, and can automatically switch between the two depending on available bandwidth.

That set up is now powering a new Neil Young archives website that offers access to much of his back catalogue. Aside from his push for higher quality audio, Young says that the website has also been developed "to provide fans and music historians with unprecedented access to all of my music and to my entire archives in one convenient location".

Access to the site is currently free, though a subscription system is set to kick in next summer. In addition to the music, there are plenty of other goodies for fans to consume including sheet music, press clippings and photos.

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BRITs Critics' Choice unveiled
Oh the suspense. The unrelenting suspense. Will it be Jorja Smith? Will it be Mabel? Will it be Stefflon Don? Who - please, tell me - will be the choice of all the critics at the 2018 BRIT Awards. It's been five whole days since the shortlist was announced, I can't wait a second longer, I simply have to know.

Oh, it's Jorja Smith. The other shortlisted acts for the ones-to-watch BRIT - Mabel and Stefflon Don - don't get very long at all to bask in the glory of nomination before being officially declared losers. The BRITs HQ having published the Critics' Choice shortlist last week, Jorja Smith was announced as the award's winner this morning.

Says she: "I cannot believe it, it's been an unforgettable 2017 during which I've fulfilled so many of my dreams and this is such a special way to end the year... and to be part of an all female shortlist alongside Mabel and Stefflon Don, who've both had incredible 2017s, makes it even better! There's lots more to come in 2018 from all of us and I will do my best to make it another memorable year!"

And now here's Sony Music chief and BRITs Chairman Jason Iley with a quote: "The Critics' Choice Award has an incredible track record of showcasing some of the most exciting up-and-coming artists over the last ten years. Jorja Smith has a huge future ahead of her and looks set to follow in the footsteps of the most successful past Critics' Choice winners".

And who are those previous Critics' Choice winners whose footsteps Smith will now follow in? Do you want to know? Do you really want to know? Well, look it up then. That's what the internet is for. What am I, some sort of BRITs slave?

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Robbie Williams put Geri Halliwell in a bag
It's actually very hard to be truly original in pop music. Even Taylor Swift's tactic for avoiding the paps is old hat. Or so it turns out.

Earlier this year it was speculated that Swift had avoided being snapped by the photographers amassed outside her house by climbing inside a large black suitcase and having two of her security team carry said suitcase to the boot of her car. Where she presumably stayed until the vehicle was safely away from the glare of any cameras.

We should add, it was never actually confirmed whether that did or did not happen. But if it did, then Swift was just copying good old Geri Halliwell.

Or so says Robbie Williams, who was busy promoting his book 'Reveal' on 'The Graham Norton Show' last week. Chatting about stories in the book, he talked about a time that he and Halliwell were at his flat in Notting Hill and the paps were all gathered outside, flashing the flashlights on their cameras in the hope the two pop stars would eventually come to the window to see what was going on.

Having consulted a not entirely sympathetic policeman about whether anything could be done to have the paps sent away, he decided they should just go and hang out somewhere else instead.

According to Digital Spy, Williams then said: "I'm like, 'Geri we can't do anything about the paparazzi ... we should get out of here'. I had a genius idea to put her in a hold-all, because she's a very small person. I literally put her in this duffle bag and put her over my shoulder. I had the paparazzi all taking pictures and I'm like, 'Hi, guys!' She had a car and I put her in the boot of her car, which is funny".

Well, mildly amusing maybe. But more importantly, Williams provides confirmation that, wherever Swift's pop career may take her, Halliwell's already been there.

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