THURSDAY 18 JANUARY 2018 | COMPLETEMUSICUPDATE.COM | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
TODAY'S TOP STORY: Showcase festival The Great Escape has revealed information about this year's convention for music industry delegates, including that CMU Insights will return with three full-day conferences putting the spotlight on China, AI and music education... [READ MORE] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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China, AI and music education in the spotlight as CMU Insights returns to The Great Escape There will also be a high profile in-conversation programme, with Kobalt Music founder Willard Ahdritz already confirmed for that, plus TGE:DIY for future talent and the Courtroom Sessions from TGE's industry partners. CMU Insights has been presenting sessions at The Great Escape in Brighton each May since 2011, and introduced the unique full-day conference concept in 2015. By presenting a whole day of talks, interviews, case studies and discussions around a specific aspect of the music industry, these conferences can dig much deeper than other music business events, and also include aspects of CMU Insights' training programmes and research projects. For the first time this year, the TGE:CONVENTION will also kick off the day before the festival, on Wednesday 16 May, with the first of the CMU Insights conferences. That innovation comes as TGE also partners with the Unsigned Music Awards, which will take place in Brighton on that Wednesday evening. The Education Conference on Wednesday 16 May will bring together music educators and music industry employers to discuss how to better prepare aspiring musicians and future music executives and entrepreneurs for a career in music. The AI Conference on Thursday 17 May will look at the new technologies set to impact on the music business in the next decade, including the latest developments in audio-recognition, platforms for connecting with fans through messaging apps, and the machines that write music. The China Conference on Friday 18 May will provide a substantial beginners guide to this key emerging market - with experts from China itself and leading European music executives already working there. Along the way the conference will cover copyright, streaming, social media and live opportunities. All three CMU Insights conferences will be hosted by CMU's Chris Cooke. Three speakers have already been announced for each conference, with many more to be confirmed soon. Organisations already taking part include Urban Development, Featured Artists Coalition, BIMM, Deviate, Mycelia, Reed Smith, IFPI, Outdustry and NetEase Cloud Music. Commenting on all this, the boss of Great Escape owner MAMA, Rory Bett, says: "The programme we present for industry delegates at The Great Escape always breaks new ground, repeatedly putting the spotlight on the challenges and opportunities that will then dominate the conversation in the music industry in the year ahead". Honing in on this year's conferences, he adds: "This year we'll consider the future of music education; demo and discuss the new technologies that will drive the next phase of the industry's development; and provide an insider's guide to China, the emerging market which is becoming increasingly key for all of us in the music business". He concludes: "I'm also excited about the return of our TGE:IN-CONVERSATIONS programme, where we will be inviting some of the key players in the music industry to share both their journey so far and their thoughts for the future". There is more information about the CMU Insights conferences here. For full info on the wider TGE:CONVENTION check the official website here. And click here to buy a delegates pass, that gets you into all this as well as priority access to the TGE festival. -------------------------------------------------- MMF publishes Digital Dollar book and launches Transparency Index initiative MMF has been working with CMU Insights for three years now to explain, analyse and debate the streaming market, helping artists, songwriters and managers navigate this complex new revenue stream. Two reports and two guides have been published in that time, and now MMF has compiled all that research into one book, 'Dissecting The Digital Dollar: Second Edition', which can be bought from Amazon for £15. One of the guides published as part of the 'Digital Dollar' project last year was 'The Transparency Guide', which identified the 20 pieces of data and information artists and managers need from their labels and distributors to help them fully audit and understand the streaming music business. Those 20 data points make up the 'Transparency Index'. MMF is now encouraging its members to assess each of the label and distributor partners they work with, identifying which of those 20 data points each business partner currently provides. The aim is to raise industry standards on label and distributor reporting to artists, and to celebrate those music companies who are most transparent. MMF CEO Annabella Coldrick says: "The pace of change in the digital music market is incredible. Only weeks into 2018, and the industry is already buzzing with details of Spotify's 'direct public offering', and new licensing deals between Facebook and major record labels and publishers. These are seismic events that will define our sector for years to come, however it is absolutely crucial that artists, songwriters and their business representatives can understand how these new partnerships are structured and how their creative works are being exploited". She goes on: "Unfortunately, these kind of details are often lacking, which is why the MMF launched our 'Dissecting The Digital Dollar' initiative in the first place. We hope that a 'Transparency Index' will provide yet more impetus for improved partnerships between artists and their labels, distributors and aggregators as we look to reforge the industry around fairer and more equitable structures". You can access 'The Transparency Guide' on the MMF website here and buy the 'Dissecting The Digital Dollar: Second Edition' book here. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Downtown and Songtrust ally with ICE The music rights firm says that the deal will "afford Songtrust with a best-in-class technology and licensing partner, providing unparalleled speed, accuracy, and economies of scale to service its one-of-a-kind platform". And not only that! "The benefits of this collaboration will directly benefit the songwriters and music publishers who utilise the Songtrust platform to collectively manage over one million song copyrights" it goes on. Referencing ICE's 'one-stop shop licensing solution' ICE Core, the MD of Downtown's London operation, Roberto Neri, says: "We've been looking at shaping the digital market from the outset. This direct relationship with the ICE Core allows us to eliminate parallel processing through other incompatible society works databases. This will result in quicker, more efficient and accurate digital royalty distribution across the Songtrust platform and extended to its fast-growing songwriter and publisher client base". Speaking for ICE, Ben McEwen, Commercial Director of the ICE Services business, adds: "We are clearly delighted that an increasingly important, progressive, and technologically capable publisher such as Downtown and Songtrust has chosen to include its repertoire within ICE's Core licence and is willing to demonstrate their confidence and appreciation of our administration capabilities in this way. We are very excited about working together in this new collaboration". | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Concord Music acquires Razor & Tie, announces new publishing exec team According to Variety, Razor & Tie is expected to continue to operate as a standalone company, but some redundancies are expected. Meanwhile, the label's co-founders Cliff Chenfeld and Craig Balsam will stay on until the summer, confirmed Concord COO Glen Barros. "It was always understood between Cliff Chenfeld, Craig Balsam, and the Concord team that Concord would eventually purchase the remainder of the company at some point after our initial investment in 2015", Barros added in a statement published by Billboard. "We mutually and amicably decided that the time was right to do this now". As well as news of the Razor & Tie acquisition, Concord also yesterday announced a restructured leadership team to oversee its various music publishing companies. This includes The Rodgers & Hammerstein Organisation, Boosey & Hawkes, and a new group formed of The Bicycle Music Company, Imagem Music, and Razor & Tie Publishing. Jake Wisely, who joined from Bicycle in 2015, has been appointed Chief Publishing Officer of Concord Music, and will work out of the company's new Nashville office. "Jake is one of the founding members of Bicycle Music and has been a key factor in the growth of Concord Music", says Concord Music CEO Scott Pascucci. "He will continue to steer our publishing business in unique and successful directions in the years to come". Meanwhile, Bill Gaden is now Concord's President for North America, John Minch is President for Europe, and Kent Hoskins is Chief Financial Officer across the group. The aforementioned Wisely comments: "As principals of Concord Music's publishing executive committee, Bill, John, and Kent have proven themselves invaluable partners in the melding of a spectacular roster and catalogue, along with the systems, infrastructure, and best practices of the Bicycle and Imagem businesses. Their wealth of knowledge, experience, and resources, along with that of our entire staff, cements Concord's future as a dynamic, world-class music publisher". Further announcements about the consolidation of Concord's publishing interests are expected shortly. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Cardiff venue Clwb Ifor Bach goes mobile-first on tickets The latest venue to partner with mobile-centric ticketing company Dice, Clwb Ifor Bach now enables music fans to get refunds on unwanted tickets until shortly before doors open and also transfer tickets to other people on their smartphones. Meanwhile, those without tickets to sold out shows are able to join waiting lists for returns. Both the venue and Dice reckon this makes the tickets tout proof. "Working with Dice felt like a natural fit for us, our mutual belief in putting fans first made it an easy decision", says Clwb Ifor Bach boss Guto Brychan. "Digital ticketing is the future of the music industry and using Dice means we can provide tickets in a safe and easy to use format for our gig goers. We're excited to be working with Dice and look forward to building the partnership in the future". | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Graham Coxon to release End Of The F***ing World soundtrack Coxon wrote over 40 pieces of new music to complement the already extensive list of mainly retro American records that soundtrack the programme. Sixteen of those original works feature on the soundtrack album. Says the musician of his work on the project: "There were days where I wrote and finished three or four new songs in a single day. It was mental, I've never worked to that kind of schedule before. But the creative process around observation and interpretation is one that is very familiar to me. I feel very comfortable reacting to things and adding my bit. And this show particularly appealed to both my appreciation of dark music as well as my dark sense of humour. It felt like a good fit". The album will be released digitally on 26 Jan. A vinyl version will follow in March. Here's a track form it, 'Walking All Day'. -------------------------------------------------- Eels announce new album and tour dates Says bandleader Mark Everett: "Here are fifteen new Eels tracks that may or may not inspire, rock, or not rock you. The world is going nuts. But if you look for it, there is still great beauty to be found. Sometimes you don't even have to look for it. Other times you have to try to make it yourself. And then there are times you have to tear something apart to find something beautiful inside". The album is out on 6 Apr. You can listen to the title track here. And those tour dates? Well, here are those: 2 Jul: London, Brixton Academy | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
NME Awards nominations announced Says NME editor-in-chief Mike Williams: "Once again the NME readers have shown just how switched-on, diverse and exciting their tastes are in coming up with these shortlists, which themselves highlight what an amazing twelve months it's been for music. It's brilliant to see some old favourites mixing with a load of fresh new names, and it'll be interesting to see which of the big guns go home with awards, and where the major upsets might happen". I think it'll be a pretty major upset if any one of the acts in the running for Best British Band actually wins, so it really is as exciting as Mike says. And the nominees are... Best British Band: Alt-J, Kasabian, Wolf Alice, The 1975, The xx, Bastille Best International Band: Haim, The National, Foo Fighters, The Killers, Paramore, Migos Best British Solo Artist: Dua Lipa, Liam Gallagher, Ed Sheeran, Stormzy, Loyle Carner, Charli XCX Best New Artist: Stefflon Don, J Hus, The Magic Gang, Sigrid, SZA, Shame Best Live Artist: Kasabian, Stormzy, Lorde, Royal Blood, LCD Soundsystem, Liam Gallagher Best Album: Lorde - Melodrama, J Hus - Common Sense, Wolf Alice - Visions Of A Life, Gorillaz - Humanz, Loyle Carner - Yesterday's Gone, The National - Sleep Well Beast Best Track: Kasabian - Bless This House, Kendrick Lamar - Humble, Lorde - Green Light, The Horrors - Something To Remember Me By, Dua Lipa - New Rules, Charli XCX - Boys Best Reissue: Radiohead - OKNOTOK, Prince - Purple Rain, The Beatles - Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, REM - Automatic For The People, The Smiths - the Queen Is Dead, Super Furry Animals - Radiator Best Collaboration: Craig David & Bastille - I Know You, Stefflon Don & Skepta - Ding-A-Ling, Courtney Barnett & Kurt Vile - Continental Breakfast, Gorillaz & Jehnny Beth - We Got The Power, Lily Allen & Giggs - Trigger Bang, Yungen & Yxng Bane - Bestie Best Mixtape: Carli XCX - Pop 2, Drake - More Life, Krept & Konan - 7 Nights/7 Days, Rex Orange County, Apricot Princess, Dave Game Over, Avelino - No Bullshit Best Video: Big Moon - Sucker, Charli XCX - Boys, St Vincent - Los Ageless, Taylor Swift - Look What You Made Me Do, Dua Lipa - New Rules, Pale Waves - Television Romance Best Festival: Glastonbury, Reading & Leeds, Download, Parklife, TRNSMT, Bestival Best Small Festival: Festival No 6, Boardmasters, Wilderness, Field Day, End Of The Road, Kendal Calling Best Festival Headliner: Muse, Boy Better Know, Ed Sheeran, Noel Gallagher, Foo Fighters, The 1975 Music Moment Of The Year: One Love Manchester, The Killers play surprise set at Glastonbury, Grime4Corbyn, Noel Gallagher plays Don't Look Back In Anger at Manchester Arena, Lady Gaga at the Super Bowl, Linkin Park's Chester Bennington tribute concert Best Music Book: Wiley - Eskiboy, Action Bronson - Fuck That's Delicious, Dylan Jones - David Bowie: A Life, Allan Jones - Can't Stand Up For Falling Down, Lizzy Goodman - Meet Me In The Bathroom, The KLF - 2023: A Trilogy Best Music Film: Lady Gaga - Five Foot Two, L7 - Pretend We're Dead, Bunch Of Kunst, George Michael - Freedom, England Is Mine, Whitney - Can I Be Me Best TV Show: Stranger Things 2, Game Of Thrones, Westworld, Rick & Morty, GLOW, Peaky Blinders Villain Of The Year: Donald Trump, Theresa May, Katie Hopkins, Piers Morgan, Kim Jong-un, Jeremy Hunt Hero Of The Year: Ariana Grande, Rose McGowan, Jeremy Corbyn, Ellie Rowsell, Big Shaq, David Attenborough | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Derek Smalls, Wild Beasts, A Savage and Jack Cooper Other notable announcements and developments today... Â Spinal Tap bassist Derek Smalls (aka comedian Harry Shearer) is set to release his debut solo album 'Smalls Change (Meditations On Ageing)'. Among the guests on the album are Peter Frampton, Donald Fagen, Dweezil Zappa, Rick Wakeman, Richard Thompson, Joe Satriani, Steve Vai and The Hungarian Studio Orchestra. Here's first single, 'Smalls Change'. Â Wild Beasts have released a video for their new 'live in the studio' version of 'All The King's Men'. The track is taken from their farewell 'live in the studio' album 'Last Night All My Dreams Came True'. Â Parquet Courts' A Savage and Ultimate Painting's Jack Cooper will be touring together later this month. As well as performing their own solo sets, they will also play in each other's backing bands. Dates finish at The Garage in London on 2 Feb. Â Check out our weekly Spotify playlist of new music featured in the CMU Daily - updated every Friday. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
S Club 7's Paul Cattermole discusses selling BRIT Award Explaining the decision to sell the trophy, he explained that he'd struggled to find work after being injured during a production of 'The Rocky Horror Show', in which he appeared last year. "There was an un-choreographed bit of dancing [that went wrong] and someone fell on me", he says. "I was out of the show for about two months. My back has gone - it hasn't been right since. Things just haven't gone well this year [in terms of finding work] with that injury". Around £30,000 will go on clearing debts, says Cattermole. The rest, he adds, might go on recording an album of Motown covers. "I've always wanted to record a covers album", he admits. "I know it's a cliché to do it, but the reason people do it is that they sell" . He adds: "Polydor bought the Motown back catalogue at the end of the 90s and they were our label, so I should ask if I can record some of them". Not that he'd need Polydor's permission, the Universal record company controlling the recordings not the songs. Maybe Cattermole should use some of that new found cash to come on a CMU Insights music rights seminar. Prior to turning to eBay, the one time S Clubber adds that he'd hoped to be able to make some money by appearing on 'I'm A Celebrity, Get Me Out Of Here', but was rejected. "I have asked them many times if they will let me in and they won't have me", he says. "I'm not famous enough, apparently". That's pretty harsh, given the level of fame of some of the people who do get put on the show. Something not lost on Cattermole, who now assumes that "they just don't want me". But, hey, he's sold that BRIT Award now, so all is good. All he has to do in order to get his cash is go and personally hand it to the winning bidder, as promised in the eBay listing. Though therein also lies a problem. "I know the guy - he's a fan", says Cattermole of the buyer. "I've seen his name on social media. The fact that it's gone to a fan is awesome. But he's well over a ten hour flight away, so the hand-delivery situation is a bit difficult". Still, this hasn't dissuaded him. His 2002 Best Single BRIT is now up for sale. Apparently in better condition than the last one, this trophy has already reached bids just shy of the final sale price of the last. Although he does state this time that he will only personally deliver it within the UK. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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