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THURSDAY 26 OCTOBER 2017 | COMPLETEMUSICUPDATE.COM | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
TODAY'S TOP STORY: While most of the music industry's value gap ranting has, of late, been focused on Europe - where the European Union is actively considering a new law increasing the liabilities of user-upload platforms like YouTube - the American music community still has ambitions to reform safe harbour laws there too. And to that end lobbying group the Content Creators Coalition - aka C3 - has launched two new ads laying into the YouTubes... [READ MORE] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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RECRUIT YOUR TEAM RIGHT HERE: 020 7099 9060 or ads@unlimitedmedia.co.uk | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Artist group piles pressure on YouTube with ads on YouTube As much previously reported, the music industry argues that websites like YouTube are exploiting the copyright safe harbour in order to secure much more preferential deals from the music industry than the audio streaming services, with which they directly compete. But, say the music companies, the safe harbour - which reduces the liabilities of internet companies whose users infringe copyright - was never intended for services like YouTube, which basically build streaming platforms out of the content their users upload. In Europe, proposals to increase the liabilities of user-upload sites are contained within the draft copyright directive that is slowly going through the motions in Brussels. Reforming the safe harbour Stateside would require amending the Digital Millennium Copyright Act. C3 is one of various organisations attempting to get DMCA reform onto the agenda in US Congress, which means both behind-the-scenes lobbying in Washington and more above-the-line activity to try and rally public support for increasing YouTube's obligations. Which meant that, when the US Copyright Office was inviting submissions for its review of safe harbour, C3 produced this video message from singer-songwriter and record producer T Bone Burnett, intended as both a formal submission and a public facing rally call. The lobbying group is now planning more videos in a bid to increase public support for its cause, and has just put live two new digital ads that it will be pushing around the internet in the coming months. Somewhat ironically, the videos will appear on YouTube itself, though official communications from C3 point to the videos on Vimeo, a rival platform that had its own run-ins with the music industry back in the day. One of the videos is focused on the disparity between the royalties paid by audio streaming platforms and by YouTube - ie what the music industry has dubbed the 'value gap'. While the monies paid to the artist in the video by the character representing Spotify et al aren't massive, at least they are in paper money, while the suited corporate type meant to represent the Google video site only has a few coins to share. "See, it's just that she's paid seven times as much", the artist character moans to the unapologetic YouTube character. The second video considers the more general issue many copyright owners have with the safe harbour, beyond the value gap it arguably creates in the streaming market. And that's the fact that, under the principle, it is the copyright owner's responsibility to monitor safe harbour dwelling platforms for users uploading their content without permission. Though YouTube is sure to immediately counter that that video makes no mention of its Content ID system, which does help with the monitoring process. Even if Content ID isn't as effective as many in the music industry would like it to be - and it still constitutes an opt-out rather than opt-in system - Google will likely argue that the C3 video's suggestion that artists need to hire a lawyer to keep their content off the video site is somewhat misleading. Nevertheless, the lobbying group hopes its upcoming ad campaign will have an impact, with lawmakers, the public and maybe even Google itself. Referencing the location of the web giant's Californian HQ, C3 President Melvin Gibbs says: "Our ads send a message to the executives in Mountain View that artists are fighting back and mobilising fans to push Congress to update the DMCA and end the legal neglect that has given big tech too much power over our work and society". He adds: "YouTube has short-changed artists while earning billions of dollars off our music. Artists know YouTube can do better. So, rather than hiding behind outdated laws, YouTube and Google should work to give artists more control over our music and pay music creators fairly when our songs are played on their platform". You can watch the value gap video here and the takedowns video here. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Eric Mackay promoted at Warner/Chappell Eric Mackay has been promoted to the role of EVP Global Digital Strategy at Warner/Chappell. He joined Warner's music publisher in 2015 and became its VP of all things digital for Europe, Middle East, Africa and Asia-Pacific just over a year ago. He will continue to report into Warner/Chappell CEO Jon Platt in his new gig. Says Platt: "Our mission is to grow, reward and sustain a thriving creative community of songwriters, whose songs power an entire global entertainment ecosystem. That's what makes this such an important appointment; Eric's strong relationships in the digital world and deep understanding of technology will help us open new opportunities that properly recognise the value of songwriting and music". Adds Mackay: "I'm delighted to be working with Jon Platt and the fantastic digital team at Warner/Chappell and I'm incredibly excited about developing our truly global digital strategy. There are a vast number of innovative services who are inventing different ways for fans to enjoy music and our goal is to partner with them to help drive more revenues and exposure for our stellar roster of songwriters". | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
RAJAR Round Up: Good quarter for 6 Music and Virgin Radio, not Radio 1 1. It was Radio 1's 50th birthday last month, of course, so that was exciting. To celebrate the station's breakfast show scored its lowest listening figures since RAJAR began in 1992, with Nicky Grimmy Shaw talking to about 4.9 million listeners a week. "Oh, but the kids are all big Radio 1 fans online, big fans!" counters the BBC, or thereabouts. 2. Elsewhere at the Beeb, 6 Music continues to grow, rising 3.8% in the last quarter and reaching another audience high, 2.34 million listeners. 3. Capital FM retained its position as the biggest commercial station in London for the summer quarter in terms of reach. While its sister station Radio X now has 1.5 million listeners across the UK, a record high. 4. In terms of commercial radio breakfast shows in London, Capital leads there too with its Roman Kemp-fronted programme increasing its audience size. Kiss has the second biggest breakfast show, while the prime time shows on both Heart and Magic lost listeners year-on-year this time round. 5. The newish incarnation of Virgin Radio, launched on the digital radio platform in March last year, is starting to gain momentum, with a 61% year-on-year rise for the summer quarter meaning it now reaches over half a million listeners (556,000 in case you wondered). | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Fats Domino dies Born in 1928, real name Antoine Dominique Domino Jr, Fats began his career as a teenager, performing in New Orleans bars. He signed his first record deal with Imperial Records in 1949. By 1951 his debut single 'The Fat Man' had sold over a million copies, firmly establishing him as one of the biggest names in the then burgeoning rock n roll genre. Over his career, he sold over 65 million albums. Although stopped recording in the early 80s, after it was falsely reported that he had been killed when Hurricane Katrina destroyed his home in 2005, he returned to the studio to record his final album, 'Alive And Kickin'. Released in 2006, he donated proceeds from the record to local charity the Tipitina's Foundation. Domino ceased touring in the mid-90s, following an illness while in the UK. He still occasionally performed live over the next decade though, with his final performance taking place at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival in 2007. In a statement, the musician's children said: "We are all touched by the outpouring of love and tribute for our father. He passed away peacefully at home surrounded by those he loved and those who loved him. His music reached across all boundaries and carried him to all corners of the world". Speaking to Billboard, one of Domino's contemporaries, Little Richard, said: "He's the greatest entertainer that I ever known. Black, white, red, brown or yellow, he's a just good guy and I thank God for giving me the opportunity to know him. I love him". Domino is survived by thirteen children. His wife Rosemary died in 2008. -------------------------------------------------- One Little Indian boss backs up Björk's harassment claims against Lars Von Trier As previously reported, Björk worked with Von Trier on 2000 film 'Dancer In The Dark', but fell out so badly with the filmmaker that she vowed never to make another movie. Stories were then circulated about her being "difficult" on set, which she says were the result of her rejecting the director's advances. However, speaking to Danish newspaper Jyllands Posten, Von Trier and his producer Peter Aalbaek Jensen both denied the claims made against the director. Jensen went so far as to say that he and Von Trier "were the victims", claiming that "she dictated everything" and put the whole production in jeopardy with her demands. In a new statement, the founder of Björk's record label, One Little Indian, Derek Birkett says: "I have worked with Björk for over 30 years and have never made a single statement or interview regarding our work together. This time is different. I have read the lies written by Lars and his producer Peter about Björk - and feel compelled to speak out and put the record straight. Over the last 30 years the 'Dancer In The Dark' project is the one and only time she has fallen out with a collaborator". He continues: "This was a result of the director's on going, disrespectful verbal and physical abuse which continued after both Björk and myself demanded that he stop behaving this way. Björk completed the film out of respect for the cast and everyone involved. I feel compelled to publicly speak out in fierce support of Björk in regards to her terrible experiences working with Lars Von Trier, and I back what she has said 110%". -------------------------------------------------- Marilyn Manson "parts ways" with bassist Twiggy Ramirez following rape allegation Last week, Addams published a long statement on her Facebook page, detailing the abusive relationship she had with White in the early 90s. That relationship ended, she says, after White raped her following an argument. Responding to those comments in a statement to Highsnobiety, Manson said: "I knew Jessicka and Jeordie had a romantic relationship many years ago and I considered and still consider Jessicka to be a friend. I knew nothing about these allegations until very recently and am saddened by Jessicka's obvious distress". On Twitter yesterday, he added: "I have decided to part ways with Jeordie White as a member of Marilyn Manson. He will be replaced for the upcoming tour. I wish him well". Addams responded to Manson, saying: "Thank you. I am truly at a loss for words". Quizzed further, she added: "Discussions were had [with Manson]. Apologies made. That's all the fans need to know!" In his own statement this morning, White said: "I have only recently been made aware of these allegations from over 20 years ago. I do not condone non-consensual sex of any kind. I will be taking some time to spend with my family and focus on maintaining my several years of sobriety. If I have caused anyone pain I apologise and truly regret it". As for why Addams did not speak out about her relationship with White until now, she had some sobering words for the music industry in her initial Facebook post. "In 1997, I was warned by my band's record company that if I revealed my story publically, there would be a very good chance that my band Jack Off Jill would be blackballed by concert promoters, radio programmers, and other bands and their managers", she said. "Jack Off Jill was also warned of running the risk of losing our coveted record deal (which they gave us!) as they were certain no one would ever take a rape victim in this male dominated music business seriously, never mind a ferocious, disenfranchised, outspoken, overweight frontwoman such as myself!" She continued: "The label blatantly feared the big machine behind Marilyn Manson would use their power to destroy not only Jack Off Jill, but my name, Jessicka, as well. The pressure and guilt of the inevitable repercussions of my rape story affecting my band's livelihood, happiness and success kept me silent for years". -------------------------------------------------- Julia Holter speaks out about "emotionally abusive" Matt Mondanile As previously reported, following an exposé by Spin earlier this month, Real Estate revealed that Mondanile was fired from the band last year when they became aware of "allegations of unacceptable treatment of women". Following a second article by Spin, detailing further accusations, Mondanile, now working on his solo project Ducktails, last week issued a statement acknowledging that he had engaged in "inappropriate behaviour" and had been an "insensitive creep". Commenting on the allegations that have now come to light, Holter said yesterday: "Their allegations are in line with each other and they are in line with what I have come to know about Matt in the past, which is that he does not have boundaries. In my experience, he was emotionally abusive to the point where I had to have a lawyer intervene and was afraid for my life". "This subject has been complicated for me to address because I've spent over two years now alone [and] confused about his behaviour in my experience, and wondering if there was missing information", she concluded. "So these other accounts have helped me understand. When you're in it, you question your own reality and you wonder if you are making things up or are you making a big deal out of nothing. It helps when others come forward to validate the fact that you weren't wrong". | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Franz Ferdinand announce new album and tour dates With the band's Alex Kapranos describing the record as "simultaneously futuristic and naturalistic", they've released the first taste of that in the form of the album's title track. Listen to 'Always Ascending' here. 10 Feb: Galway, Leisureland | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
XXXTentacion, Auddly, Selena Gomez, more Other notable announcements and developments today... Â XXXTentacion has said that he is terminating his reported $6 million deal with Universal's Capitol, which was only signed last week. "I am not a signed artist, and I will not be releasing music for a very long time, I'm tired of this shit", he wrote in an Instagram story. The mega-bucks deal proved controversial, as the rapper is currently awaiting trial on charges of aggravated battery of a pregnant woman, domestic battery by strangulation, false imprisonment and witness tampering. He denies the charges. Â Auddly, the project management platform for music makers that also aims to ensure artists and songwriters pump good music rights data into the industry whenever they create new material, has added new tools for artist managers. The aim is to ensure artists, songwriters, publishers and now managers are all in sync on music data matters. Â Radio station and podcast aggregator TuneIn has nabbed SoundCloud's CFO Holly Lim to head up its finance, legal and HR functions. The ex-Google exec joined SoundCloud last year, CFOing the company through its near-oblivion stage. As previously reported, there was a revamp of senior management at SoundCloud in August after it was rescued by a new $169.5 million investment. Â Liam Gallagher has recorded one of those Spotify Singles things. As is tradition, he has performed a cover as the b-side. Reaching out deep into his influences, he's chosen to record a version of 'Wonderwall' by Oasis. Â Selena Gomez and Marshmello have released a new track together, 'Wolves'. Â Steve Angello has released the video for recent single 'Freedom', featuring Pusha T. Â Morrissey's gone and released himself a new single, 'I Wish You Lonely'. Â Chloe Howl has released new single, 'Do It Alone'. "Knowingly being the other woman is the ultimate crime against girl code for me", she says of the song. "So when I could see things were getting closer between me and a man who was taken I wrote 'Do It Alone' as an ode to all the reasons why I would never ever take that role, even if I wanted to". Â Crossfaith have made their new single, 'Diavolos', available online. However, in order to listen to it, you have to headbang in front of your webcam. If you stop, the music stops. Or, if your neck's not up to that sort of thing anymore, you can lightly shake your laptop up and down. Â The Body and Full Of Hell have recorded another album together, 'Ascending A Mountain Of Heavy Light', out on 17 Nov. From it, this is 'Farewell, Man'. Â Crystal Castles' US and Canadian tour dates, due to begin this week, have been cancelled following abuse claims made against the duo's Ethan Kath by former bandmate Alice Glass. Â Marmozets has postponed the remainder of their UK tour, after vocalist Becca MacIntyre developed bronchitis and a respiratory infection. Shows will recommence next month. Â GRM Daily's (mainly) fan-voted Rated Awards took place earlier this week, with J HUS winning both best album and best track, while Stormzy also got two gongs, best video for 'Big For Your Boots' and Artist Of The Year. Watch the show here. Â Check out our weekly Spotify playlist of new music featured in the CMU Daily - updated every Friday. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Buzzfeed claims Kate Nash doesn't exist, Kate Nash puts them straight Nash was featured on a list titled '33 Singers That Only Exist In The Memories Of British Millennials'. The work involved in thinking up such a long list apparently left no time for the Buzzfeeders to google the likes of Estelle, Little Boots and Ms Dynamite to find out if they're up to much these days. Listed at number seven, Nash, who released a new EP in April and recently starred in Netflix hit 'GLOW', was described thus: "She was the cute vintage-dress-wearing girl we all wanted to be back in 2007. Presumably these days she's wearing baggy jumpers and DMs but who knows?" Hitting back, Nash wrote in a lengthy string of tweets: "The media have talked about me this way my entire career, since I was 20 years old. I think this media tone needs to end. It says a lot about what people are being told to value. But it's very old fashioned. Plus it is not a real reflection of how millennials think. Nor my career. I just think this media tone is actually very dangerous. The media keep telling us what the facts are. Not only is it rude, it doesn't reflect the truth and seems irrelevant and out of touch. The media really need to get a grip". She continues: "Even if I was just wearing baggy jumpers and DMs, what is wrong with that? What do these people value? I have no idea. With all the talk of mental health recently and the amount of mental health issues within the artist community I don't think this contribution from BuzzFeed or from any other media outlet is helpful or interesting. It could hurt unstable people and with what is going on in the world - politically and environmentally - you should really get a grip and hold yourselves accountable for the positive change we all want to see". "Also I have huge problems with how the [music] industry disposes of artists. It's a difficult career to maintain so this is actually a discussion I think is important. But not to just take the piss out of artists that got dropped or aren't in the charts anymore. Most artists I know are struggling to be able to continue and many do have to give up and 'wear baggy jumpers and DMs' and that is sad because art fucking matters. So fuck you for making fun of independent artists BuzzFeed. Sorry but it's not a joke to me. I still exist you twat, alongside all the other artists in this list". "The reason I can't let this slide is because I happen to be in a great, happy place in my life. Which is difficult for anyone to achieve but I am and there have been many times over the past ten years when I haven't been OK. Mentally, financially, emotionally, physically. And during a shitty time something like this could have seriously crushed me. And maybe someone else on that list is having a shitty time". "There's all this stigma that we're not allowed to talk about struggling or failure because it's so embarrassing. But fuck that. I don't know why this really affected me this morning because I see shit like this all the time and genuinely don't care. But it needs to be addressed how unsupported and screwed over so many musicians are. I've seen people's careers destroyed by shady business. I'm very lucky and I don't take this subject lightly as I've come so close to giving up on art before, which would have destroyed me". A spokesperson for Buzzfeed told NME: "We love Kate Nash and really did want to be her! Many BuzzFeed posts reference nostalgia for things we love and this list is one of those, definitely not intended to be taken literally. We wish nothing but the best for Kate". So that's alright then. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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