Spotify launches new tool for pitching tracks to playlisters
A frequently asked question at CMU:DIY events for new talent and self-releasing artists is "how do I get my music in front of the Spotify playlisters?" The answer to that question just changed from "you probably can't" to "you definitely can". Assuming Spotify's playlist curators can cope with the flood of music that will likely come their way now that they've opened up a new tool for putting tracks forward for consideration.

Playlists drive a significant amount of listening on the streaming platforms, of course, which is why most of the key digital services now have teams of in-house curators putting together lists of tracks for subscribers to play. It's also why pitching music to those curators - and the owners of any third-party playlists that still have traction - has become a key part of any music marketing campaign. And, just like with radio, successfully pitching music to streaming service playlists requires access to the people doing the playlisting.

It took Spotify some time before it got into the playlisting business itself, it initially promoting third-party playlists within its platform. But since the streaming firm decided that curation was something it should do too, Spotify's own playlists have been pushed to the fore. As a result a placement on them has become a key target for any artist or label with new music to promote, or for that matter with some catalogue tracks they feel are ripe for rediscovery.

Both the labels and the services have been honing the playlist pitching process as streaming has continued to boom. Though, with a relatively small number of people in control of the biggest playlists and thousands of new tracks being promoted each week, generally those labels, distributors and agencies able build personal relationships with the playlisters have had an advantage to date.

In a bid to level the playing field a little, Spotify has now put into beta a new platform via which artists, managers and labels can put forward unreleased music for playlist consideration. The new tool will be accessible to artists and managers via Spotify For Artists and labels via Spotify Analytics.

Formally announcing the new service yesterday, Spotify explained: "Everyone, whether you're an artist, label, manager or part of an artist's team, can try out this feature. Simply log into your Spotify For Artists account or, if you work at a label, head over to Spotify Analytics. There, you'll have the option of selecting one unreleased song for playlist consideration and submitting it to our team".

Those pitching tracks will need to provide various bits of information about the music, including genre, mood, scenes, instruments and whether it's a cover. At the other end of the pitching process, playlisters will also be able to see other data already in the Spotify system about the artist being pitched.

Spotify goes on: "Editors will be searching through submissions based on the information you share to find unreleased music to consider for their playlists. The song and all the info you add about it will also impact our personalised recommendations. For example, as long as you tag and submit your track seven days in advance, the song you select will automatically appear in every one of your followers' Release Radar playlists. This way you have control over which single you're promoting to your fans".

Stressing this is an editorial rather than commercial service, Spotify was also keen to add that the playlist pitching tool is currently in beta and will be evolved as it is used. The streaming firm's statement went on: "Beta means this is the first step. With more than 75,000 artists featured on editorial playlists each week, and another 150,000 on Discover Weekly, we know how important it is to get this right".

It concluded: "We'll continue evolving this feature based on your feedback, so artists, labels, managers and partners can all help us create better playlists for Spotify listeners".

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Festival No.6 to go on hiatus
Organisers of the Global Entertainment-owned Festival No.6 have announced that after this year's edition in September the event will go on hiatus. The seventh outing of the music and arts festival staged in the quirky surroundings of the Portmeirion village in North Wales takes place from 6-9 Sep.

In a statement, the event's promoters said yesterday: "When we started Festival No.6 we had one aim - to create a completely new type of festival in a location unlike any other, catering for a different type of audience. Over the past six years, we've done everything we can to bring you an unrivalled festival experience in a truly unique setting, driven by a desire to do things differently".

They went on: "In six short years the profile of the festival has far outgrown its intimate capacity, picking up numerous awards, gaining international recognition and becoming one of the world's most unique festivals. We always knew we had something special but we never quite expected it to capture people's imagination the way it has".

However, they add, "running Festival No.6 hasn't been without its challenges. Portmeirion is a complex site and we've had fun adapting and reinventing the festival every year, but unfortunately No.6 is just not sustainable in its current format and so we've made the difficult decision to take a breather - 2018 will be the last Festival No.6 for now".

Thanking the artists, suppliers and local organisations that have helped make the festival happen, the promoters conclude: "Taking a break is the right decision but not all is lost, we're already thinking about the future... As [Portmerion architect] Sir Clough Williams-Ellis said, 'cherish the past, adorn the present and construct for the future'".

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Muse tour director launches new charity to support next generation of backstage crew
Muse tour director Glen Rowe has announced that he is stepping down from the role after 25 years in order to concentrate on his recently launch charity, the Neko Trust.

Building on the work of his previous charitable organisation the Cato Trust and the Cato Academy "roadie school" he founded, the Neko Trust aims to open a network of five small venues in part staffed by people training to work in the live industry. It will also offer various resources and opportunities to early-career artists and other young people.

"I've had an amazing career on the road with some of the best bands in the world like Muse", says Rowe. "And I did it because people gave me the opportunity to learn and succeed. It's my time to do the same, for both young people whose eyes need to be opened to the wealth of roles available in the live events industry, and for the live music venues that need to be supported".

He continues: "The live events industry is in peril if we do not look after the ecosystem. If we do not nurture it, it will not grow. This is an industry that's powered by youth and we need to protect it. Britain is great at exporting our musical talent, but where will the next generation come from if they don't have venues to grow into greatness?"

Find out more at www.nekotrust.org

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Cat Power announces new album, Wanderer
Chan Marshall, aka Cat Power, has announced that she will release her tenth studio album, 'Wanderer', in October. Produced entirely by Marshall herself, she says that the record represents her "journey so far".

It's about "the course my life has taken in this journey - going from town to town, with my guitar, telling my tale; with reverence to the people who did this generations before me", she explains. "Folk singers, blues singers, and everything in between. They were all wanderers, and I am lucky to be among them".

Along the way a number of guests join her on the record, including Lana Del Rey, who provides vocals on a track called 'Woman'.

The album is set for release on 5 Oct. Here's a trailer.

Marshall will also play a headline show in London at the Roundhouse on 23 Oct.

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Bernard Butler curates Bert Jansch best of compilation
A new Bert Jansch best of compilation is set to be released this autumn. Curated by Suede's Bernard Butler and the Bert Jansch estate, 'Just A Simple Soul' spans the folk musician's five decade career.

"Bert lived and breathed the sound of the guitar and its endless possibilities for communication, storytelling, conversation [and] emotional dialogue", Butler said earlier this week. "We have a life's work here and what a life Bert Jansch has given us".

The compilation is out on 26 Oct. Find out more and pre-order here.

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Oram Awards to celebrate female innovators in music and sound
Recognising talented female creators innovating in music, sound and related technologies, this year's Oram Awards will be formally handed out later today. And this year's winners are: AJA, Georgia Rogers, Hannah Catherine Jones (aka Foxy Moron), La Leif and Loraine James.

The five chosen artists will each receive an £800 bursary from the PRS Foundation. The ceremony to formally hand out the prizes takes place at the Blue Dot festival in Cheshire this afternoon, presented by Ana Matronic.

"Standing at the intersection of visual art, music, production and broadcast technology is the great Daphne Oram", says Matronic of the composer, musician and BBC Radiophonic Workshop co-founder the award is named for.

"There is no figure more fitting to invoke while honouring the work of emerging female artists and engineers, and it's a true honour to be a part of the second Oram Awards", the one time Scissor Sister and now Radio 2 presenter adds. "May her genius live through the work of these incredible women - congratulations to all the recipients!"

PRS Foundation chief exec Vanessa Reed chips in: "We're delighted to be celebrating the second Oram Awards at Bluedot Festival this year with Matthew Herbert and the New BBC Radiophonic Workshop. There are many talented and exciting female music and sound innovators in the UK and the Oram Awards is a brilliant way of recognising and supporting their work and promoting role models for the next generation".

Find out more about the awards and the winning artists here.

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Cat Stevens, The Vamps, Rag N Bone Man, more

Other notable announcements and developments today...

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• Yusuf - aka Cat Stevens - has celebrated his 70th birthday by signing a new deal with BMG to represent his entire recordings catalogue. I probably would have just gone to the pub or something. "I feel very at home [at BMG] and lots of new creative ventures will soon come to light through the ethical vision we share", he says.

• The Vamps have signed a new publishing deal with Warner/Chappell. "We've always written songs for our albums", say the band. No need to justify yourself to us, lads.

• Red Bull has made a short film about Rag N Bone Man being an all round good egg and mentoring some new musicians.

• The 1975 have a new single out called 'Love It If We Made It'. It's got swearing in it and everything.

• Muuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuse have released a new single called 'Something Human'.

• Zedd's released a new single. Happy now? Yes, that is what it's called. Good guess. It features Elley Duhé. Here it is.

• Were you hoping for a new Rod Stewart album? Well, hope no more. Wait, does that sound right? What I'm saying is that Rod Stewart is going to release a new album - his 30th. It's called 'Blood Red Roses', it's out on 28 Sep, and here's first single 'Didn't I'.

• Blood Orange will release a new album, 'Negro Swan', on 24 Aug. "My newest album is an exploration into my own and many types of black depression, an honest look at the corners of black existence, and the ongoing anxieties of queer/people of colour", he says. He'll play the Shepherds Bush Empire in London on 29 Oct.

• Billie Eilish has released new single 'You Should See Me In A Crown'.

• Tirzah has released a new single called 'Devotion'. Her new album of the same name is out on 10 Aug. And she's just announced that she'll play Village Underground in London on 19 Nov.

• Haiku Salut have released the video for new single 'The More And Moreness'. Watch it you berks.

• Tallsaint has released the video for new single, 'Touch'.

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

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Beef Of The Week #413: Alex James v Reunions
Roughly every three years Alex James does something that makes him eligible for inclusion in the Beef Of The Week column. It is always a delight when it happens.

There was that time he wished that a Greggs would replace the independent bakery in his village. And more recently his claim that 'independence' in music was dead and had instead transferred to independent food makers (a claim he made while promoting a major supermarket chain).

Now he's turned his attention to band reunions, which he reckons are "grotesque". Unless someone in the reunited band can knock together a good meal. Then it might be OK. Basically, Alex James never strays too far away from talking about food these days. Anyone would think he had a festival to promote that combines music and foodie nonsense.

To be fair - which I always am - I do agree with him somewhat on the reunions thing. I'm not a fan of band reunions myself and would rather they were banned outright if I'm being honest. Yes, even if that means we miss out on the very occasional good one. But I'm not sure I agree with all the food stuff. Then again, I'm not sure I entirely understand what he's banging on about, so who knows? Anyway, I'm getting ahead of myself.

Speaking to The Mirror ahead of that music and foodie nonsense combining Big Feastival thing he has to promote each year, James said: "There are rumours of Led Zeppelin getting back together again and nobody really wants to hear their fucking new record, do they? They want to listen to 'Stairway To Heaven'. How old were they when they did 'Stairway To Heaven'? Like 20 or something? And how old are they now, they are fucking 70. It's insane".

Yes, insane. Imagine people aging that much over the course of 50 years. James may not have aged quite that much since he was 20 years old but - you might remember - he was a member of a band called Blur and that very Blur has reunited on a number of occasions. And on one of those occasions they even recorded a new album.

So isn't James's Led Zep dissing just a bit hypocritical? No. What you forgetting is that James has more to offer his audience when his band gets back together. Because as well as all the old hits from the past, he's got lots of cheese from the present day. "At least people want to come in and try my cheese as well as listen to 'Parklife'", he says. "That is really important. I think it's really good that I've got something else to talk about".

So musicians can reform their old bands and perform their old hits, but only providing they know how to make cheese. Or they are at least able to talk about some cheese. I don't know, perhaps other non-musical interests are also permissible. Especially if food related.

"You have to do it", James explains, still insisting that old pop stars need another string to their bow in order to credibly milk the nostalgia circuit. "Otherwise you become this weird, grotesque caricature of yourself by the time you get old" he adds, "like Mick Jagger. I've been listening to the Rolling Stones recently, but I wouldn't fucking go and listen to them live, fucking hell. You can't be Jumping Jack when you are 70 fucking eight".

Oh hang on there. Not only do aging artists need something non-musical to chat about between playing the old hits, they should also be wary of playing said old hits. Right.

Oh, except James then recalls booking Kelis to play the Big Feastival. "Kelis retrained as a cordon bleu chef and released a cookery book", he notes. "So great, we'll have her. [But] she didn't do fucking 'Milkshake'. She's like, 'Oh, I don't do that anymore'".

James's response? "It's like, for fuck's sake, it's not like you've got that many hits, darling, you need to do that one. So I wouldn't have her back".

So you should only get back on stage with your old hits if you've got cheese to sell or a cookery book to flog, but you shouldn't insist on singing all your old hits once you're there, except make sure you perform all your old hits, because that's why he booked you. Simple.

Asked last month about the possibility of a new Blur album, guitarist Graham Coxon said: "I really don't see why not". Although in April he then said: "I really don't know why there would be". So it's not clear whether James will need to hone his 'reunions are OK providing there is cheese' argument anytime soon in order to avoid new accusations of hypocrisy.

Anyway, the Big Feastival takes place next month. Among the acts performing are The Sugarhill Gang. I look forward to finding out more about their food-based exploits - something very sweet I'd imagine - which I assume is how they got booked.

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