Loading...
TUESDAY 19 SEPTEMBER 2017 | COMPLETEMUSICUPDATE.COM | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
TODAY'S TOP STORY: The US entertainment industry has urged the American government to not allow any of that safe harbour nonsense to find its way into any new version of the North American Free Trade Agreement... [READ MORE] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
RECRUIT YOUR TEAM RIGHT HERE: 020 7099 9060 or ads@unlimitedmedia.co.uk | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
More safe harbour sparring as tech and entertainment sectors make NAFTA submissions As previously reported, your good mate Donnie Trump is having a good go at reforming NAFTA - the long-established free trade deal between the US, Canada and Mexico - and to that end interested parties have been invited to make submissions to his government on what issues should be prioritised as the three countries head to the negotiating table. Cue more safe harbour sparring between the tech and entertainment industries. In its contribution to the NAFTA debate back in July, the Recording Industry Association Of America said that safe harbours should be on the agenda of any trade deal talks. But any subsequent discussions should focus on how shitty the safe harbour in America's Digital Millennium Copyright Act has turned out to be, with it putting way to much onus on copyright owners to monitor the servers of super-rich tech firms for copyright infringing content, while also allowing fucking YouTube to exist. I mean, I'm paraphrasing slightly, but that's basically what the major record companies were saying. Well, what the RIAA actually said was that any NAFTA talks should seek to construct "a concise, high-level and high-standard service provider liability provision with respect to copyright infringement", ensuring that "the safe harbours are only available to passive intermediaries without requisite knowledge of the infringement on their platforms, and inapplicable to services actively engaged in communicating to the public". Needless to say, the American tech sector does not concur. Last month various organisations representing the tech giants sent their own letter to US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer insisting that the lovely DMCA safe harbour should be including in any NAFTA deal pretty much word for word, alongside other copyright limitations and exceptions that can currently be found in US law. The letter said: "If we seek to create an international obligation in a modernised NAFTA that embodies only one part of the US copyright framework, but leave out other portions that the US technology sector depends on, we will cause serious harm to the most innovative and fastest growing segments of our economy, and put at risk vital jobs. This is why it is essential to ensure the balance at the heart of the US copyright system, including DMCA safe harbours and other copyright limitations and exceptions, is embraced by our key trading partners in North America". "Fuck off" counters CreativeFuture - a coalition of entertainment and media companies and associations - in its submission to US trade negotiators. You do know that everyone - including my Aunt Mavis - has concluded that the current American copyright safe harbour isn't fit for purpose, and only fills the pockets of those Google shits with yet more money? Yeah, I'm paraphrasing again a little, but that's the gist of a new letter from CreativeFuture CEO Ruth Vitale to the aforementioned Lighthizer. "It's irrefutable that the outdated, overly broad safe harbour proposals that currently exist in US law and prevent effective enforcement of rights under copyright have had a negative impact on American creative works themselves", she writes, and by creative works she means "the movies, music, television shows, books, photographs, video games, and more that make our creative economy the envy of the world". So why oh why oh why oh why "should these provisions be in an updated NAFTA - undermining protections for American creatives overseas? Our communities rely on strong intellectual property protections - protections that must be strengthened and improved, not undermined by these outdated 'safe harbours'. Please don't export a system that does nothing but shelter the most powerful internet companies, rather than the start-ups that these tech trade associations often claim are the beneficiaries of safe harbour. In short, we should not try to export laws that are subject of serious dispute at home". Yeah, Granddad, get with the moment. Those safe harbours are so old school, so yesterday, they have no place in your all new, super swish, America First NAFTA deal. As a fun aside, in its letter to Lighthizer, the tech sector claimed that it was speaking for the "new faces of the American content industry". That's because the trade bodies which signed the letter count both Amazon and Netflix as members, while the tech lobby was also keen to claim ownership of that self-releasing, mainly-streaming Chance The Rapper too. "We are the new faces of the American content industry", the tech lobby stated in their NAFTA correspondence, "winning Emmys and Oscars, providing distribution for streaming-only Grammy winners, while creating services that address the challenge of piracy by allowing consumers to legally access content globally". Not so, reckons Vitale in her latest Creative Future missive. "While I would take issue with anyone claiming to represent all 'the new faces of the American content industry'", she writes in her letter, "I can comfortably tell you that CreativeFuture represents many of the true faces. On behalf of our large community of creatives, we respectfully disagree with the views expressed by those tech trade associations". Given both sides in this debate are keen to include Chance The Rapper within their constituency, perhaps we could just all agree to let him decide on if and how safe harbours be integrated into the all new NAFTA. Mexico and Canada can then elect their own entrepreneurial rappers to represent their interests. Make NAFTA great again, I say. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Harry Styles sues potential merch bootleggers ahead of Nashville show Think about it. It's a massive untapped market. Would you like to buy a theoretical Harry Styles t-shirt? Ten dollars please. How about a conceptual Harry Styles beanie hat? Twenty dollars thank you very much. We've also got a limited supply of notional Harry Styles posters that only exist in a speculative parallel university. Thirty dollars. What a business! It's a 100% profit margin. If you can convince the government to accept theoretical VAT. Anyway, according to TMZ, Live Nation has filed a lawsuit against unnamed and unknown individuals who may or may not be planning to sell bootleg Harry Styles merch outside the Nashville venue he's due to play next week. It's similar to the legal action recently taken by Live Nation's merch division in Boston ahead of some Coldplay shows there. The live giant wants a court order that will empower police to confiscate any counterfeit merch that they find people trying to sell outside Styles' Nashville show. Though you just try confiscating my theoretical merch. You can seize my bootleg Harry Styles branded tote bag, but you can't take away the idea of my bootleg Harry Styles branded tote bag. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
LAB Records allies with Warner's ADA Confirming the deal, Mark Orr, who founded LAB Records a decade ago, told reporters: "We're delighted to partner with ADA. We've had a great relationship with Warner labels and executives over many years now, so this feels like a very natural fit. It's a really exciting time for our company". ADA UK GM Howard Corner added: "LAB are one of the best new independent labels in the UK, Mark and his team share our passion for working with new artists and we're THRILLED to partner with them". -------------------------------------------------- SRD allies with IDOL on digital distribution Confirming the deal, IDOL chief Pascal Bittard said: "The fact both companies are truly independent makes us kindred spirits. We have always been very selective in the choice of partners that we work with, so representing some of the UK's finest labels is a natural fit for us. There are many similarities between IDOL and SRD, and this will allow us to work cohesively and, most importantly, give the artists unique campaigns that are tailored to their individual needs". Explaining why he had decided to strike up a new partnership on digital distribution now, SRD boss Andy Slocombe added: "In the digital realm, arguably more than any other, we feel a duty to review our options at every contract renewal stage, such is the constant evolution in that world. As such, IDOL have been on our radar for some time now, and we committed the necessary energy to ensuring they fulfilled all of our needs in the period prior to finalising a deal. Having done so, we're looking forward to working with them as we step up our digital presence further". | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Assets of sync platform Ricall up for sale following liquidation The sale of Ricall's "unique e-commerce software and music synchronisation licensing brand" is being handled by a company called Metis Partners, which reckons the assets will be of "notable interest to the music licensing and digital music download sectors, as well as e-commerce retailers and software developers". Noting that the sync sector continues to grow, Metis Partners state that: "The software behind Ricall's innovative music licensing cost circa £6 million to develop, and was created internally, using the agile development approach". Techie fans are also informed that "the platform was designed with a high degree of configurability, and can be reconfigured for a variety of different purposes. All development was written in Java, and recorded using Jira, with comprehensive bug documents". Says Morven Fraser at Metis Partners: "This sale is certain to attract a high degree of interest from those with a foothold, or looking to establish a foothold, in the music licensing industry. The software developed by Ricall allows a significant degree of flexibility in the user and right-holder online experience. It will be an excellent asset for any market players considering e-commerce development as part of their online profile". | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Andrew WK announces first new album since 2009 Describing the as-yet-untitled record, WK says: "I'm going for the sound of pure, unadulterated power; every emotion, every thought, every experience, every sensation, every fear, every joy, every clarity, every confusion, every up, every down... all extruded and concentrated into one thick syrup of super life-force feeling, and then psychically amplified by the celebratory spirit of glorious partying". The record is scheduled for release on 2 Mar. It will precede a series of UK tour dates which were originally planned for November. Here are those dates as they stand now: 13 Apr: Cardiff, Great Hall | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Linkin Park announce Chester Bennington tribute show and video For the one-off performance at the Hollywood Bowl on 27 Oct, the band will be joined by a variety of guests. Each member of the group has said that they will donate their fees for the performance to Music For Relief's One More Light Fund in memory of Bennington. In addition to announcing the show, the band have also released a new single and video, for 'One More Light' from their recent album of the same name. Not originally earmarked as a single release, the song has become particularly resonant with fans since Bennington's death. The video, co-directed by Linkin Park's Joe Hahn and long-time band videographer Mark Fiore, compiles various on stage and behind the scene footage of Bennington. "It has been incredibly emotional to work on this, and especially to watch it", says Hahn. "I feel that by doing it, we not only faced some of our biggest fears, but it enabled us to use our talents to bring some light to people who need it. As we move forward to the Hollywood Bowl show and beyond, I think about the people who connect with the band, outside and inside our circle. This video is a gesture of goodwill to the people who want that connection". Watch the video for 'One More Light' here. -------------------------------------------------- Lady Gaga postpones European tour for chronic pain treatment The six week run of dates in Europe was due to begin in Barcelona later this week, before reaching the UK in October. The dates will now be rescheduled for early 2018, said Live Nation in a statement. The promoter explained: "Lady Gaga is suffering from severe physical pain that has impacted her ability to perform. She remains under the care of expert medical professionals who recommended the postponement earlier today. Lady Gaga is devastated that she has to wait to perform for her European fans". "She plans to spend the next seven weeks proactively working with her doctors to heal from this and past traumas that still affect her daily life, and result in severe physical pain in her body", it continued. "She wants to give her fans the best version of the show she built for them when the tour resumes". In an Instagram post, Gaga herself said: "I have always been honest about my physical and mental health struggles. Searching for years to get to the bottom of them. It is complicated and difficult to explain, and we are trying to figure it out. As I get stronger and when I feel ready, I will tell my story in more depth, and plan to take this on strongly so I can not only raise awareness, but expand research for others who suffer as I do, so I can help make a difference". She continued: "I use the word 'suffer' not for pity, or attention, and have been disappointed to see people online suggest that I'm being dramatic, making this up, or playing the victim to get out of touring. If you knew me, you would know this couldn't be further from the truth. I'm a fighter. I use the word suffer not only because trauma and chronic pain have changed my life, but because they are keeping me from living a normal life. They are also keeping me from what I love the most in the world: performing for my fans. I am looking forward to touring again soon, but I have to be with my doctors right now so I can be strong and perform for you all for the next 60 years or more". The next run of US shows on the tour, scheduled for November, are currently expected to go ahead as planned. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
IFPI, Morrissey, Craig David, more Other notable announcements and developments today... Â Adriana Restrepo has been appointed Chair of the IFPI's Latin America & Caribbean Regional Board. "Latin music and Colombian artists are exploding", warns Restropo. Â The first tweets have appeared on the new official, verified Morrissey Twitter account, announcing that he "spent the day in bed" along with what appears to be a tour schedule. Expect a statement from Morrissey saying it's not him later today. In other news, his new single, 'Spent The Day In Bed', was premiered this morning. Â Criminals think Craig David fans are thicker than other music fans. Â Avicii has released the video for 'Lonely Together', featuring that Rita Ora. Â Sam Smith's plopped out the video for new single 'Too Good At Goodbyes'. Â Juicy J has released a new mixtape, 'Highly Intoxicated', featuring Rick Ross, Wiz Khalifa, A$AP Rocky, Rae Sremmurd's Slim Jxmmi, Cardi B and more. Â Lil Yachty has released the video for 'Better', featuring Stefflon Don, from his 'Teenage Emotion' album. Â Tove Styrke has released new track 'Mistakes'. To not listen would be an error. Â Lapalux has released the video for 'Petty Passion', from new album 'Ruinism'. Â Yungblud has released new single, 'I Love You, Will You Marry'. Handy if you were thinking of proposing to anyone today. Â Bdy_Prts will released their debut album, 'Fly Invisible Hero', on 24 Nov. Here's new single, 'Warrior'. Â At The Drive-In have announced UK tour dates next March, kicking off at Brixton Academy on 9 Mar. Â 6lack will be playing four shows in the UK and Ireland in January, finishing up at Electric Brixton in London on 18 Jan. Â Check out our weekly Spotify playlist of new music featured in the CMU Daily - updated every Friday. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Punk tracks accidentally pressed onto Beyonce's Lemonade vinyl The vinyl release of Beyonce's most recent album came out last week, but due to a pressing error some stock featured the incorrect tracks on Side A. In a statement, Sony Music said: "Due to human error at the Celebrate Records plant in Germany, which Sony uses to manufacture vinyl, a small amount of the European run of the Beyonce 'Lemonade' vinyl included music from Canadian punk band, Zex, on Side A". And before you start claiming that this was a ruse to promote Beyonce's favourite Canadian punk band, the statement continued: "Beyonce and Zex were not aware of or responsible for the mispress. Fans who purchased the vinyl will be refunded and given a replacement copy. We apologise for the inconvenience this has caused". Of course, that assumes two things. One, that people will want to send back what has immediately become a collectors' item. And two, that anyone will notice. A study published last year found that as many as 48% of vinyl buyers never actually play their records. One distributor recently told CMU that vinyl will almost always be returned if there is damage to the cover, but that records pretty much never come back to them because of complaints about the quality of the record itself. Partly this is because, in the digital age, music fans will often opt to actually listen to tracks via their streaming platform of choice, but buy the vinyl release because they want a physical representation of their tastes. Mainly though, it's because people are awful. Beyonce has not commented on any of this, though Zex have been gleefully posting coverage of the error in publications like Vanity Fair and Variety to their Facebook page. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Loading...
Loading...