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A guide to upcoming events from and involving CMU, including seminars, masterclasses and conference sessions from CMU Insights and workshops from CMU:DIY, plus other events where CMU journalists are speaking or moderating. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Amazon unveils its new streaming service with mid-price options Amazon already offers limited catalogue on-demand streaming to members of its Prime scheme in some countries of course, but with Amazon Music UnLimited it will be offering a similar sized catalogue of tracks as competitors like Spotify and Apple Music. A standard subscription to the new set-up will cost the same as with those rivals, so $9.99 a month in the US, though there are other options too. For starters, Prime customers will be able to sign up for full catalogue streaming for just $7.99 a month. Meanwhile consumers happy to only stream via an Amazon Echo speaker can access the new streaming platform for just $3.99 a month. As much previously reported, the need to offer a better range of streaming services - rather than just ad-funded or $9.99 - has been a big talking point in the music community for some time now. Amazon isn't the first to dabble with lower prices contingent on less functionality, though with access to a mass mainstream audience through its mail-order business it could have more success. Though whether the cheaper Echo-tied subscription will find a new customer base not interested in spending $120 a year on streams - and happy to rely on radio or free streaming when on the move - remains to be seen. Amazon will be hoping that it can build on the surprise success of its proprietary 'smart speaker' device with the new music service. Steve Boom, VP of Amazon Music, is quoted by Reuters as saying: "The first phase of growth [in music streaming] was driven almost entirely by smartphones. We believe pretty strongly that the next phase of growth in streaming is going to come from the home". On the range of options Amazon will now offer potential streamers, he added: "We're moving music away from a one-size-fits-all approach. We are the ones who have been pushing this the hardest". The music industry knows that it needs to offer lower-price streaming to take that side of the business truly mainstream, but at the same time it doesn't want to stop full-on music fans signing up to the $10 a month services that have been behind recent growth in the recorded music market. Which is an interesting balancing act to perform, and Amazon is now going to test whether such a balance can be achieved. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Isle Of Wight Festival withdraws cost-cutting proposals, due to "incorrect media inferences" As previously reported, Solo put forward a request for the council to drop the £55,000 hire fee. Councillors in turn proposed reducing it to £13,000 if the festival itself took on a number of previously council-provided services - including traffic management and additional toilets at traffic hubs - which cost about£42,000. A council report prepared in order to inform the discussion noted the increased competitiveness in the festival market and the need to reduce costs. If this was not possible, it said, there was a risk that Solo, which operates the festival on behalf of the council, would pull out of the 2017 event, likely meaning that it would be cancelled entirely as the chances of a new operator being able to get the necessary licences in time was slim. The "incorrect media inferences" taken from this by some publications seems to have been that the festival has been struggling to sell tickets, which the report does not say. Although it does state that "most [festivals] are reporting significantly reduced ticket sales" in the face of increased competition. In a statement, a council spokesperson says: "The council would like to make it clear that it has not, as reported, said that ticket sales have decreased. In fact ticket sales have seen a significant increase in recent years. However, the report does make it clear that the costs of staging the festival are increasing and as such Solo incur many additional running costs each year beyond simply booking the acts". They continue: "The report sought to make it clear that Solo has two choices regarding the increasing costs - to reduce its running costs or to raise ticket prices. Solo has always been committed to offering their festival goers the best value for money and do not believe it's fair that the fans are the ones left to contribute to rising costs, hence its approach to the council to vary the terms of the current agreement". The report also noted that land hire was not the only cost that would need to be reduced in order to make the 2017 event viable. Councillors will now "work with [Solo] to look at other alternatives to help reduce the costs of staging the event". Although having clarified the event's current position, it's not immediately obvious why they can't just continue with the previously proposed cost-cutting measures. A request for clarification on this was not immediately returned. The council's report also states that "Solo have indicated that they need to resolve all their costs by the end of October 2016 in order to make a decision as to whether the 2017 event will go ahead". So we will no doubt discover the festival's fate soon enough. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Bruce Crolot joins Spotify Tweeting about his appointment, he said that he is "very excited to join the band". I hope there hasn't been a horrible misunderstanding. Spotify is not a band, Spotify is a company. Oh God, he's probably turning up at the door right now with his guitar. This is a disaster. Crolot oversaw music industry conference Midem from 2010 to 2015, more recently acting as an advisor the Spain's Sonar Festival. He has previously held roles at Universal Music, Sony Music and Orange. -------------------------------------------------- Facebook launches new app for 'event seekers' "Every day, more than 100 million people use Facebook Events to discover things they can do with their friends - from festivals and 5Ks to neighbourhood fairs and nightlife", says Facebook's Product Manager Aditya Koolwal. "With hundreds of millions of events shared on Facebook every year, the fear of missing out is becoming a thing of the past". Yeah, the fear of missing out is being replaced by annoyance at missing out. I've already been told about one thing this week that I really wanted to go to but can't because of a prior engagement. And AAMO's not as easy to say as FOMO either. Thanks Facebook. Thanks for nothing. Anyway, so, in Koolwal's words, Events is "a new app we designed for event seekers who are passionate about keeping up with nearby events and finding things to do with their friends. Whether you're looking for something to attend this weekend or just wondering what's happening in your area, Events will help get you there". "Event seekers"? Well, whatever, it's available for US iPhone users now, so knock yourself out if you happen to be one of those. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Boom Boom Satellites frontman Michiyuki Kawashima dies In a statement yesterday, his bandmate Masayuki Nakano said: "At 5:12am on 9 Oct, Boom Boom Satellites's vocalist Michiyuki Kawashima set off on the next stage of his journey. I imagine he is soaring around the world, finally freed from the restrictions of his body. His passing is not a tragedy, but the achievement of a lifetime goal and a happy ending. The love of our many fans supported Michiyuki Kawashima and Boom Boom Satellites on their journey, and we are truly happy and lucky because of you". Kawashima first publicly revealed his cancer diagnosis in 2012, after the duo were forced to cancel a tour to promote their eighth album 'Embrace'. He underwent numerous treatments, while continuing to write, record and tour. However, in June Nakano announced that their latest EP, 'Lay Your Hands On Me', would be their final release, as Kawashima's condition had worsened. Watch the video for the title track of 'Lay Your Hands On Me' here. -------------------------------------------------- New Order's Stephen Morris to publish autobiography "After dropping pretty big hints over the past few years that I was writing about my recollections of nearly four decades living a fantastic and, at times traumatic, life creating music in Joy Division and New Order, I am delighted that Little Brown has given my writing a home", says Morris. "I am really excited to be working with Andreas Campomar, whose enthusiasm for developing something more than a straight rock memoir is inspiring". The Andreas Campomar mentioned there adds: "Stephen's book won't be that typical music autobiography, which tends to be high on mischief and low on the music. Part memoir, part visual scrapbook, part aural history, it will be a hybrid memoir in Stephen's wry and witty voice. Stephen will weave a dual narrative of growing up in the North West during the 1970s with how the music actually works. It will also explore what it is to be part of a mythologised band and the idea of what you do becoming who you are". Sumner released his autobiography, 'Chapter & Verse', in 2014, while Hook's 'Substance: Inside New Order' came out last week. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Depeche Mode announce new album, London show "We're exceptionally proud of 'Spirit's sound and energy, and we're excited to get back on tour to share it with our fans around the world", says frontman Dave Gahan. That's nice. I was worried he was going to say that the album is shit and he hates touring. As I mentioned, there will be one UK date on the European tour, with the band playing the London Stadium on 3 Jun. The London Stadium is the former Olympic Stadium, if you were wondering. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Kylie Minogue announces Christmas shows in London "I can't wait to return to the Royal Albert Hall to share a night of joy and celebration with everyone", says Minogue. "Expect Christmas classics, plenty of sparkle and some very special surprises". RAH's Lucy Noble adds: "We're delighted to welcome Kylie back to the Hall for her only headline shows in the UK: two nights of fantastic music, festive fun and the razzle-dazzle that only she can bring. A Kylie Christmas is truly the most wonderful time of the year". So that's sparkle, razzle-dazzle, festive fun, music, classics of the Christmas variety, surprises, joy and celebration. These shows really have it all. They'll take place on 9-10 Dec. Tickets on sale on Friday via the Royal Albert Hall website. As previously reported, Minogue recently announced that she's updating her Christmas album too. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
MusicToday, Davy Jones, DNCE, more Other notable announcements and developments today... Â Creditors of MusicToday, the US-based direct-to-fan business that went into administration last month, have requested that parent company Delivery Agent slow down the process of auctioning off its assets, reports IQ. They believe plans to hold an auction this Friday don't leave enough time to get the best price. Â A former church earmarked to become a museum to late Monkees star Davy Jones has been destroyed by fire, local media in Beavertown, Pennsylvania reports. Â DNCE have released the video for new single 'Body Moves'. Â Future Of The Left's Julia Ruzicka has released another track form her upcoming solo album, this one, 'Undervalue Love', featuring former 80s Matchbox B-Line Disaster frontman Guy McKnight. Â Mitski has released the video for new single 'A Burning Hill'. She's also announced that she'll be playing UK shows next March. Â Sacred Paws have made a video for their new single 'Everyday' now. Â The Bug is launching a new club night in Berlin on 14 Nov, featuring a soundsystem built by the man himself. Â Sigala will be touring the UK in February next year. Tickets on sale on Friday. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Tom Delonge writes to Clinton adviser John Podesta about UFOs in leaked emails The musician's first email was sent in October last year, in which Delonge refers to himself as "the one who interviewed you for that special documentary not too long ago". "I would like to bring two very 'important' people out to meet you in DC", he writes. "I think you will find them very interesting, as they were principal leadership relating to our sensitive topic. Both were in charge of most fragile divisions, as it relates to Classified Science and DOD topics. Other words, these are A-Level officials. Worth our time, and as well the investment to bring all the way out to you. I just need two hours from you". It's not clear if he ever got those two hours, or even a response from Podesta. However, Delonge did write again in January this year to discuss Major General William McCasland, who was Commander of the Air Force Research Laboratory at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio until his retirement in 2013. "He mentioned he's a 'skeptic', he's not", says Delonge. "I've been working with him for four months. I just got done giving him a four hour presentation on the entire project a few weeks ago. Trust me, the advice is already been happening on how to do all this. He just has to say that out loud, but he is very, very aware - as he was in charge of all of the stuff". He goes on: "When Roswell crashed, they shipped it to the laboratory at Wright Patterson Air Force Base. General McCasland was in charge of that exact laboratory up to a couple years ago. He not only knows what I'm trying to achieve, he helped assemble my advisory team. He's a very important man". Delonge's interest in UFOs is well known, and he has been working on a number of projects around the subject since leaving Blink 182. Podesta also has a long fascination with the topic. Earlier this year he said that he had convinced Hillary Clinton to declassify files relating to UFO activity if she becomes president. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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