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The ten most-read news stories on theCMUwebsite.com in February 2013

By | Published on Monday 4 March 2013

Peter Hook

February’s most-read news story actually dates back to December, when Peter Hook spoke to Xfm about him and Joy Division drummer Stephen Morris being questioned as potential suspects in the Yorkshire Ripper case way back in 1979, due to the band’s touring schedule being similar to the serial killers’ movements.

The sudden resurgence of the story related to an online discussion which was fairly equally split between people speculating about who the killer might actually have been (probably a fan of the band, most guessed) and people pointing out that Peter Sutcliffe confessed and was convicted of being behind the series of murders in 1981. Oh, the internet.

Legal stories also take up the number two and three slots in the top ten. Interest in Lostprophets frontman Ian Watkins’ charges for various sexual offences, including child abuse, remained high, with two CMU stories on the case appearing in the top ten again – the second at number five. At number three is The Pirate Bay’s threat to sue Finnish anti-piracy organisation CIAPC for copyright infringement.

Completing the top five, at number four, is our report from last September confirming long-time EMI Music Publishing man Jon Platt’s move to Warner/Chappell. Following that appointment, in February his long time associates Jay-Z and Beyonce followed him over to Warner’s publishing company, generating much fan interest into who exactly this Platt man was.

Positions six and seven are taken up by the returns of some high profile artists. First, Radiohead with the news that they had begun work on new material at Jack White’s studio, and at seven Prince with some actual new music.

At number eight is a story dating back to last November and Harry Styles’ description of his perfect girl (it’s a constant favourite with the 1D faithful), which comes just ahead of a report which pre-empted the first announcements of store closures by administrators attempting to keep HMV alive. Later that week 66 stores were earmarked for being shut down, with a further 37 announced two weeks later.

Finally, coming in at number ten, is the news of a very exciting new service launched by Ninja Tune, helping music fans to get hold of out of print vinyl without breaking the bank. With various indie labels on board already, Beat Delete collects pre-orders for records, only taking payments once interest has passed a pre-set threshold making it worth the label’s while to do the repress.

February’s five most popular features were interviews with live music consultant Andy Inglis and indie labels Flying Nun and Captured Tracks about the latter’s new reissues programme for the former’s back catalogue, the Festival Line-Up Update column featuring the first announcements for this year’s Wireless, Eddy Temple-Morris on this year’s Tinnitus Awareness Week, and the Beef Of The Week column on the live-tweeting of a round of sackings at HMV HQ through the company’s official Twitter feed.

The top ten most-read news stories in full:

01 Peter Hook discusses being questioned during Yorkshire Ripper hunt
02 Police in Ian Watkins child abuse case investigated
03 CIAPC says ‘bring it on’ in legal squabble over Pirate Bay-aping anti-piracy site
04 Warner confirms recruitment of former EMI man Jon Platt
05 Lostprophets’ Ian Watkins denied bail
06 Radiohead start new LP in Jack White’s studio
07 Prince releases single
08 Harry Styles describes his perfect girl
09 HMV store closures expected this week
10 Ninja Tune launches crowdfunding site for out of print vinyl

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