WEDNESDAY 9 JANUARY 2019 COMPLETEMUSICUPDATE.COM
TODAY'S TOP STORY: The State Attorney of Cook County, Illinois has urged alleged victims of abuse by R Kelly to come forward in order to build a criminal case against the musician. The county contains Kelly's hometown of Chicago, where many of the allegations against him are said to have taken place... [READ MORE]
CMU Insights is our training and consultancy business providing training courses, conference sessions and research reports for music companies.
   
MAKING MONEY FROM MUSIC COPYRIGHT SEMINARS
Monday evenings in Feb 2019
These three seminars together provide a user-friendly guide to how music copyright works and how music rights make money, including ownership, licensing and key revenue streams. [READ MORE]
   
MUSIC MARKETING & FAN ENGAGEMENT SEMINARS
Monday evenings in Mar 2019
These three seminars provide an overview of how to build a fanbase for new artists and new music, reviewing key tools and tactics, and explaining how music marketing is evolving. [READ MORE]
TOP STORIES State Attorney calls for alleged R Kelly victims to come forward
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LIVE BUSINESS Synergy Concerts promoter launches new Scottish live music firm
READ IN THIS EMAIL | READ ON THE WEBSITE
MEDIA Channel 4 takes complete ownership of The Box Plus Network
READ IN THIS EMAIL | READ ON THE WEBSITE
EDUCATION & EVENTS Expanded Wide Days programme planned for 2019
READ IN THIS EMAIL | READ ON THE WEBSITE
RELEASES Oh Land announces new album, Family Tree
READ IN THIS EMAIL | READ ON THE WEBSITE
GIGS & FESTIVALS Guided By Voices announce first UK show for over fifteen years
READ IN THIS EMAIL | READ ON THE WEBSITE
ONE LINERS Au/Ra, DJ White Shadow, Scott Storch, more
READ IN THIS EMAIL | READ ON THE WEBSITE
AND FINALLY... Kate Bush: Not a Tory
READ IN THIS EMAIL | READ ON THE WEBSITE
Check out all the latest job opportunities with CMU Jobs. To advertise your job opportunities here email advertising@unlimitedmedia.co.uk or call 020 7099 9060.
   
THE WIRE - ADVERTISING SALES & MARKETING (LONDON)
The Wire is looking to recruit a full time advertising sales & marketing person. The job will involve working as part of a three strong team selling advertising space in the monthly print edition of The Wire, and on thewire.co.uk, and in its editorial newsletters. The job will be based at The Wire office in Hackney Central, London E9.

For more information and to apply click here.
   
NETTWERK MUSIC GROUP - JUNIOR PRODUCT MANAGER (LONDON)
Nettwerk Music Group is seeking a Junior Product Manager. The role supports all aspects of marketing and the work of the Director, from the creation of the artist’s marketing plans and budgets through to the roll out of artist releases.

For more information and to apply click here.
   
LONDON RECORDS - PRODUCTION & MARKETING CO-ORDINATOR (LONDON)
This is an exciting opportunity for a Production & Marketing Co-ordinator to join London Records as part of the expanding team for this relaunched, legendary label (now part of Because Music).

For more information and to apply click here.
   
ARCHANGEL MANAGEMENT / PACE RIGHTS MANAGEMENT - ASSISTANT (LONDON)
A dual role at an artist management company with booking agency and global promo delivery roles (Archangel Management), and the global leader in assisting rightsholders to direct license their live pubic performance rights (PACE Rights Management).

For more information and to apply click here.
   
WARP RECORDS - LABELS CO-ORDINATOR (LONDON)
Warp are looking for a capable, enthusiastic, music-lover to assist with the day-to-day support we provide to a growing roster of labels such as Duophonic, LuckyMe, Black Focus, On-U Sound, All Saints Records and Fade To Mind, as well as our own imprints.

For more information and to apply click here.
   
!K7 - ARTIST MANAGER (LONDON/BERLIN/NYC)
!K7 Music is seeking an experienced Artist Manager to join its growing management department. The successful candidate will have at least three years’ experience in artist management, with demonstrated successes from their rosters past or present.

For more information and to apply click here.
   
THE REST IS NOISE - SENIOR EVENTS PR (LONDON)
Music specialist communications agency The Rest Is Noise is looking for an experienced Events PR to join our tight knit events team in London, delivering high impact PR campaigns with some management responsibilities.

For more information and to apply click here.
   
GRECO-ROMAN & RANSOM NOTE - LABEL ASSISTANT (LONDON)
Two left of centre record labels seek an assistant to co-ordinate all aspects of the record release cycle across five sub labels. Training will be provided but twelve months' prior experience in a music company necessary.

For more information and to apply click here.
   
ROYAL ALBERT HALL - HEAD OF PROGRAMMING (LONDON)
The Royal Albert Hall is seeking an experienced and motivated Head Of Programming to strategically develop and produce the diverse range of programming at the Hall.

For more information and to apply click here.
   
OUTPOST - MUSIC PR ACCOUNT DIRECTOR (LONDON)
Outpost is looking for an exceptional Music PR Account Director with a minimum of three years music PR experience. This role will position you at a senior level at Outpost and give you the opportunity to contribute to the overall business in a significant way.

For more information and to apply click here.
   
KOBALT MUSIC GROUP - DIGITAL MARKETING MANAGER (LONDON)
Kobalt is looking for a Digital Marketing Manager to join its recordings division AWAL and work with its growing roster of emerging and already established talent from all over the world.

For more information and to apply click here.
   
BOUTIQUE MUSIC PUBLISHING COMPANY - NEW BUSINESS ROLE (LONDON)
This boutique music publishing company is looking for a motivated and energetic new business person to join on a two/three day a week basis.

For more information and to apply click here.
   
NINJA TUNE - SENIOR PRODUCT MANAGER (LONDON)
Ninja Tune is looking for an experienced product manager working across our main imprints Ninja Tune and Counter Records. You will manage record release campaigns from beginning to end working closely with the A&R, production, marketing, digital, social media and international teams.

For more information and to apply click here.

State Attorney calls for alleged R Kelly victims to come forward
The State Attorney of Cook County, Illinois has urged alleged victims of abuse by R Kelly to come forward in order to build a criminal case against the musician. The county contains Kelly's hometown of Chicago, where many of the allegations against him are said to have taken place.

The call by State Attorney Kim Foxx follows the recently aired six-part documentary series 'Surviving R Kelly', which was broadcast on US TV last week.

The programme featured a number of women who claim to have been abused by Kelly, and the family of another woman who, they allege, is currently being held in a 'sex cult' by the star. Friends of Kelly as well as family members, former business partners and celebrities - including John Legend and Chance The Rapper - also contributed to the series.

Despite the recent swell in the number of new allegations made against the singer, only one has resulted in legal action, and so far no new criminal proceedings have been brought against him. Allegations of physical and mental abuse have followed Kelly throughout his career and he has settled many civil cases out of court. Though the one time he was put on trial to face criminal charges relating to abuse allegations he was acquitted.

It has been reported that, following the show's broadcast, there was a spike in people contacting law enforcement authorities demanding that something be done.

"We cannot do anything related to these allegations without the co-operation of these victims", said Foxx in a press conference yesterday. "I am here today to encourage victims of sexual assault or domestic violence related to these allegations to please get in touch with our office. Please come forward".

Saying that her team is currently "in the process of trying to get information", Foxx said that they have already spoken to Chicago police and a number of families, adding: "I was sickened by the allegations. I was sickened as a survivor, I was sickened as a mother, I was sickened as a prosecutor".

Kelly's stance on the increasing number of new allegations being made against him over the last year has always been that certain people have a vendetta against him and that the women who have made the allegations are all hoping to become famous. In a new interview with NBC5 yesterday, his attorney, Steven Greenburg, held to that line.

Greenberg said that Foxx's call for possible victims to come forward was "unprecedented", and that he was sure that his client would be exonerated.

"There's not gonna be any physical evidence, no confirmatory evidence", he said. "[Kelly's accusers] want fifteen minutes of fame and [Foxx is] encouraging that. People know how to call the cops. People call 911. Nobody's done that because nothing has happened".

Sources who spoke to TMZ following the airing of 'Surviving R Kelly' said that the singer was "disgusted" by the show and planned to "sue everybody" involved in it. Meanwhile, the family of the woman still involved with Kelly also reported that they had been threatened by his manager prior to the first episode of the programme being broadcast.

While Spotify reported a spike in streams of Kelly's music after the first episode of the series went out, some US radio stations are now banning his music from their programming. Morning show presenter on Dallas station KRNB, Claudia Jordan, said - according to Complex - that "in good conscience, we just can't continue to support this guy".

Meanwhile her counterpart on another Dallas station, K104, DeDe McGuire, said: "I'm glad that radio is taking that stance. Radio has always played a major role in the black community... That goes back to the civil rights movement. We have to take care of our own. If the courts won't take care of him in terms of punishing him, then we'll stop playing his music as punishment".

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Synergy Concerts promoter launches new Scottish live music firm
Scottish concert promoter Brian Reynolds has launched a new Glasgow-based live music firm called 432 Presents. The new venture follows Reynold's decision to part company with Synergy Concerts, where he has worked for six years with that firm's founder Grainne Braithwaite-Vedamanikam.

Braithwaite-Vedamanikam will continue to run Synergy, though many of its people and projects will move over to Reynold's new business.

Through 432 Presents, Reynolds will continue to operate Glasgow venues The Hug And Pint and Blue Arrow Jazz Club, and will also still promote The National Whisky Festival Of Scotland. Among other projects, collaborations will also continue with Glasgow's Celtic Connections festival and with the Edinburgh International Festival each August.

Reynolds and Braithwaite-Vedamanikam say that the decision to part ways is "entirely amicable" and "presents an exciting opportunity for the strategic development of both companies".

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Channel 4 takes complete ownership of The Box Plus Network
Channel 4 has taken complete ownership of The Box Plus Network, buying Bauer Media out of the music television venture.

The UK division of Bauer, then called EMAP, bought into independent jukebox TV channel The Box all the way back in 1997. One of the early UK music telly channels, it made most of its money through the premium phone numbers people had to call to request a video be played, some idiots being willing to do such a thing in the pre-YouTube age.

EMAP built a wider TV business around The Box as cable and satellite television boomed, often launching channels to accompany the music-centric brands owned by its magazine and radio divisions. It then sold 50% of that telly business to Channel 4 in 2007, a few months before German media group Bauer bought much of the EMAP company. The following year this new Bauer/Channel 4 joint venture rebranded one of its channels as 4Music.

It's no secret that music television channels have been heavily hit by the rise of YouTube and other online music services. Most broadcasters have tried to adapt by launching websites, apps and even their own channels on YouTube, though it's still a challenge to stay relevant, especially with younger consumers who have only ever known a world where music videos are always available on demand on any device for free.

In some cases, music TV makers have shifted more to long-form programming and general entertainment content to stand out, while also pushing into the brand partnerships game to boost revenues.

What became known as The Box Plus Network currently operates seven TV channels: 4Music, The Box, Box Upfront, Box Hits, Kiss, Kerrang! and Magic. Channel 4 yesterday said that, by taking complete control of the business, it will be able to increase value across the Box network itself and the wider Channel 4 portfolio. Meanwhile Bauer confirmed it will continue to license its Kiss, Magic and Kerrang! brands to the telly firm.

Announcing the deal, Channel 4's COO Keith Underwood said: "This transaction brings the UK's largest and most-watched music television network fully into the Channel 4 family. As part of a broader channel portfolio, we will work with the management team of the Box Plus Network to amplify the value of the assets acquired. This acquisition forms part of our wider strategy to enhance engagement with youth audiences".

Meanwhile Bauer UK CEO Paul Keenan said: "Channel 4 are best placed to realise the full potential of the Box Plus Network as 4Music increasingly moves towards broader, entertainment and long form programming".

Namechecking the MD of The Box Plus Network, Matt Rennie, Keenan added that he'd like to "thank Matt and his talented team at Box for great work and give our best wishes for the future".

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Expanded Wide Days programme planned for 2019
Scottish music convention Wide Days has announced some details about its 2019 programme, a tenth edition that will see additional and new strands added to the proceedings.

Innovations include a new event on the Saturday aimed at artists and extra live music showcases in which three Scottish festivals will each curate a venue. The core conference will take place on the Friday, which will again include some practical workshops presented by CMU:DIY. There will also be a spotlight on music publishing and a session in which music journalists and music PRs will be invited to, well, 'constructively criticise' each other.

Confirming the innovations and expanded programme, Wide Days founder Olaf Furniss says: "Over the past two years there has been a huge rise in interest in Wide Days from the international music community and our colleagues in the rest of the UK. The expanded programme is a great way to highlight what is happening in Scotland, while at the same time developing opportunities internationally for our artists, festivals and music businesses".

Wide Days 2019 takes place from 11-13 Apr in Edinburgh. Early bird tickets are now on sale at widedays.com.

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Dissecting The Digital Dollar Masterclass
The first CMU Insights training event of 2019 is the latest edition of our popular 'Dissecting The Digital Dollar' masterclass, hosted by Lewis Silkin on Monday 4 Feb at 2pm.

With high street music retail back in the news over the Christmas break - and the latest average per-stream royalty chart doing the rounds online - there has been yet more debate of late about the pros and cons of the streaming business for artists and songwriters. Though to properly take part in that debate, you need to know the ins and outs of the streaming business model.

The deals between the music industry and the streaming services, and the way digital royalties are calculated each month, is complex. Which is why the Music Managers Forum has been working with CMU Insights for four years now to help artists and managers navigate and understand how everything works.

Last year we compiled all of that work into the 'Digital Dollar' book, which you can BUY for just £15 from Amazon. To get you started, we've also put together a concise ten step guide to digital licensing HERE. And MMF has also published a series of free 'Digital Dollar' guides which you can access HERE - with two brand new guides set to be published this year.

If you join us at Lewis Silkin on Monday 4 Feb we will talk you through the whole 'Digital Dollar' process in a really user-friendly way, including what you need to know about copyright law, record and publishing contracts and collective licensing for everything to make sense. Tickets are currently just £79 and are available HERE.

Oh Land announces new album, Family Tree
Oh Land has announced that she will release her fifth studio album, 'Family Tree', later this year. The first single from it, 'Human Error', is out now.

"Since the release of my last album, I've experienced the biggest ups and downs of my private life", she says. "Everything I'd been working on musically suddenly seemed unimportant and irrelevant to the new life I had to slowly piece together. So I ditched all the songs and recordings I had done and started writing from the uncertainty of where I was".

"Music has, for me, always been the friend who listens and never judges", she goes on. "As I have often found it, music is the best listener when you pour your heart out. In melody and music I've found some healing and the songs that have come out of it are deeply personal. I never planned to make this album, and yet the songs I've written couldn't have been anything other than what's here".

'Family Tree' is scheduled for release on 3 May. You can watch Oh Land performing a live acoustic version of 'Human Error' here.

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Guided By Voices announce first UK show for over fifteen years
Guided By Voices have announced that they will play their first UK show for more than fifteen years this summer. The band will play London's Village Underground on 5 Jun.

A new GBV album, titled 'Zeppelin Over China', is set for release on 1 Feb. You can listen to new track, 'The Rally Boys' here.

Tickets for the London show will go on sale at 10am this Friday.

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Au/Ra, DJ White Shadow, Scott Storch, more

Other notable announcements and developments today...

• Warner/Chappell has signed a publishing deal with that there Au/Ra, aka Jamie Aura Stenzel. Warner's Mike Smith reckons his new signing is "infectious". Well, her melodies are "infectious". No need to vaccinate.

• Primary Wave Music has signed an administration and co-publishing deal with Lady Gaga collaborator and W Hotels music director Paul Blair, aka DJ White Shadow. "He is an innovator", insists Primary Wave's Sarah McCann.

• CTM has extended its worldwide publishing deal with veteran writer/producer Scott Storch, who has worked with the likes of Dr Dre, Justin Timberlake, Beyonce and, most recently, the still surprisingly CV-friendly 6ix9ine and Chris Brown.

• The Association Of Independent Music has announced more speakers for its AIM Sync event, which takes place in London on 28 Jan. They include Charlotte von Kotze from Vice, David McGinnis from Mute Song, Harriet Moss from Manners McDade, 'Breaking Bad' music supervisor Thomas Golubic and artists Sebastian Plano, Paul Wolinski and Imogen Heap. Info here.

• The Chemical Brothers have released new track 'MAH', with a video filmed at their recent Alexandra Palace shows.

• Karen O has released new track 'Anti-Lullaby', which features in new Amazon Prime series 'Hanna'.

• Janelle Monáe has released the video for 'Screwed' from her 'Dirty Computer' album. She's also be confirmed to headline the West Holts stage at Glastonbury this year.

• Sharon Van Etten has released 'Seventeen' from her upcoming new album 'Remind Me Tomorrow'. She is also set to play live dates in the UK and Ireland in March.

• Fat White Family have released a new video to announce that they will release an album called 'Serfs Up!' this year.

• Girlpool have released the title track from their upcoming new album 'What Chaos Is Imaginary'.

• Anna Von Hausswolf has released a 20 minute live version of 'Ugly And Vengeful' from her 'Dead Magic' album.

• Check out our weekly Spotify playlist of new music featured in the CMU Daily - updated every Friday.

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Kate Bush: Not a Tory
Kate Bush is not a supporter of the Conservative Party and she'd really rather like it if you'd all stop saying that she is. Because that's something some people have been saying for more than two years now, ever since she said in an interview that she thought then and somehow still UK Prime Minister Theresa May was "wonderful".

The interview with Canadian magazine Macleans came shortly after the election defeat of Hillary Clinton by then and somehow still US President Donald Trump. In it, she was asked about a comment that her 1985 song 'Waking The Witch' was about "the fear of women's power" and if that fear was "stronger than ever" in the wake of the presidential election.

Bush responded by saying: "We have a female prime minister here in the UK. I actually really like her and think she's wonderful. I think it's the best thing that's happened to us in a long time. She's a very intelligent woman but I don't see much to fear. I will say it is great to have a woman in charge of the country. She's very sensible and I think that's a good thing at this point in time".

You could have taken issue with that statement on a number of levels at the time, based on May's past political record and more recent actions as PM - and even more so now as the Brexit shambles drags on. Though most people's response to that statement, then and since, has been something along the lines of: "Oh my God, as if the world wasn't already bad enough, now I've discovered that Kate Bush is a massive Tory".

Now, more than two years later, Bush has said that she's given up hoping that that comment will go away on its own accord and so has decided to give it a kick. Actually, I think the problem is more that the comment itself did go away quickly, but the received wisdom that Kate Bush is a massive Tory remained. Either way, she would like you to know that this is not the case.

In a new update on her website, Bush says that her comment was "not meant to be political but rather was in the defence of women in power".

She explains: "I felt [the interviewer] was putting a really negative slant on powerful women, referring to a witch hunt involving Hillary Clinton. In response, I said that we had a woman in charge of our country, and that I felt it was a good thing to have women in power. I should have been clearer when I then said it was the best thing that had happened to us for a long time - because I greatly disliked the behaviour of the previous PM, who at that point I felt had abandoned us and everybody felt angry and let down".

Referencing the continued life of her original quote, she notes that "it could make it seem like I am a Tory supporter which I want to make clear I am not".

So, hey, maybe 2019's going to be alright after all.

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ANDY MALT | Editor
Andy heads up the team, overseeing the CMU bulletins and website, coordinating features and interviews, reporting on artist and business stories, and contributing to the CMU Approved column.
Email andy@unlimitedmedia.co.uk (except press releases, see below)
   
CHRIS COOKE | MD & Business Editor
Chris provides music business coverage and analysis. Chris also leads the CMU Insights training and consultancy business and education programme CMU:DIY, and heads up CMU publisher 3CM UnLimited.
Email chris@unlimitedmedia.co.uk (except press releases, see below)
   
SAM TAYLOR | Commercial Manager & Insights Associate
Sam oversees the commercial side of the CMU media, leading on sales and sponsorship, and advising on CMU Insights training courses and events.
Email sam@unlimitedmedia.co.uk or call 020 7099 9060
   
CARO MOSES | Co-Publisher
Caro helps oversee the CMU media, while as a Director of 3CM UnLimited she heads up the company's other two titles ThisWeek London and ThreeWeeks Edinburgh, and supports other parts of the business.
Email caro@unlimitedmedia.co.uk
 
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