| CMU Daily - on the inside 17 Jun 2004 |
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In today's CMU Daily:
- EMI second biggest music player
- Bronfman airs concerns re Sony BMG merger
- Sony upbeat on merger
- Scottish university honours Dylan
- RIAA make demands of FCC on digital radio copyright protection
- Court TV reveals details of the Jacko/Jordy settlement
- Bobby Brown gets suspended sentence over maintenance payments
- Do Me Bad Things in Notting Hill
- Scott Lee blocks Steps reunion
- Sony enter mobile music partnership
- Single Review: The Loose Cannons - I Like It When Ya
- Community radio plans go to parliament
- Remote Control add distribution to services list
- Johnny Ramone not dying
- Lennox up for a Eurythmics reunion
- Second 46664 AIDS benefit planned
- Prince counter sues fan
- Beeb boss talks up the new BBC 4 controller
- Campbell gets ten (rather easy) days
- Album Review: Umod - Enter The Umod
- Rockers celebrate the Fender Stratocaster's fiftieth
- Durst doesn't want sex with Avril, ok?
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EMI SECOND BIGGEST MUSIC PLAYER
According to sales figures from the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry, 2003 was a good year for both EMI and the independent sector.
Good overall global sales figures helped increase EMI's market share last year, making them the second biggest record company behind the mighty Universal Music Group - a position formerly held by Sony.
EMI made gains in all but the African music market, enabling them to sneak 0.2% ahead of Sony in market share, Sony Music seeing their market share drop in the same period.
The other two major labels - Warner and BMG - both saw their market share rise slightly, though they remain fourth and fifth biggest players respectively.
While Universal Music remains by far the biggest record company with a 23.5% market share, their sales fell in 2003 meaning that the collective independent sector now has the biggest market share - 25.3%
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BRONFMAN AIRS CONCERNS RE SONY BMG MERGER
While none of the three other major record companies appeared at this week's European Commission hearing on Sony and BMG's merger proposals - perhaps to avoid the tricky questions an EC report on the merger asked about the level of market control already enjoyed by the major labels - Warner Music boss Edgar Bronfman Jr has told the London Financial Times about his fears regarding the merger.
He told the paper this week: "There remains the danger in a Sony-BMG merger that the industry does not go from five to four [majors] but from five to two by making two companies dominant, which would be quite problematic. Two companies that come together controlling 60 per cent of the market in various territories has the potential for creating a duopoly."
Bronfman does have a point in this regard of course - the aforementioned IFPI figures show that if BMG and Sony merged their combined market share would make them bigger than even Universal Music, the two together would dwarf both EMI and Warners. Therefore it could be argued that the music industry would, in fact, be more stable if EMI and Warners were also to merge resulting in three major majors of equal size. Given the rumour that such a merger is somewhere on Bronfman's future wish list a more cynical publication might suggest that's exactly why the Warner boss is talking up the dangers of a duopoly right now.
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SONY UPBEAT ON MERGER
Talking of that BMG Sony merger - one half of the merging parties has given its verdict on that EC hearing in Brussels. And despite vocal opposition to the merger from Apple, retail and management organisations and the independent sector, Sony Music remain confident their merger with BMG will get the green light.
A spokesman for the major told reporters yesterday: "The hearings provided both companies with an important opportunity to further address the EC's concerns, as well as to underscore the fact that the Sony BMG joint venture is a pro-competitive response to extremely challenging market conditions. We felt that the hearings were highly productive, and we remain confident that the commission will approve the transaction. We also believe that the resulting company will help to create a healthier environment within the music industry, offer greater value to music lovers around the world, and provide local and international artists with the resources necessary to realise their creative goals."
Insiders now think the key issue is whether or not the major labels are guilty of "colluding" in order to control CD prices. If EC officials decide there is evidence that collusion goes on then it is likely the merger will be blocked. If, however, they decide there is no formal price fixing then it is likely the merger will be given the green light with only minor obligations on the two merging majors.
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SCOTTISH UNIVERSITY HONOURS DYLAN
Bob Dylan will be awarded an honorary degree by St Andrew's University later this month. It is the second such degree Dylan has received - Princeton University made a similar gesture way back in 1970.
Commenting on the decision St Andrew's University's Principal and Vice-Chancellor Dr Brian Lang told reporters: "Bob Dylan is an iconic figure for the 20th Century, particularly for those of us whose formative years were the 1960s and 70s. His songs, and in particular his lyrics, are still part of our consciousness. We are very pleased to take this opportunity of honouring such a major artist."
And, of course, the whole thing will give an otherwise dull graduation ceremony a bit of pizzazz, which is always nice.
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RIAA MAKE DEMANDS OF FCC ON DIGITAL RADIO COPYRIGHT PROTECTION
More on the moves by the Recording Industry Association of America to crack down on the taping of music off the radio.
As reported last week, the ever paranoid RIAA fear that, as digital radio takes off in the US, music fans will be able to make better recordings via their radio sets. That, they reckon, could affect record sales as much as illegal downloading.
The RIAA says that one of the key players in US digital radio - Ibiquity Digital - has said it is quite easy to incorporate some kind of copyright protection on digital radio signals that somehow stop people recording tracks. To that end the RIAA was yesterday expected to ask US media regulator the FCC to force all US digital radio operators to use such copyright protection on their digital broadcasts.
The RIAA's opponents point out that digital radio has been growing in the UK for the best part of five years now and there has been no obvious impact on record sales. For his part RIAA boss Mitch Bainwol says he is very supportive of digital radio, but adds that "enthusiasm is not blind", whatever that means.
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COURT TV REVEALS DETAILS OF THE JACKO/JORDY SETTLEMENT
Reports in the US suggest that the last time Michael Jackson faced child abuse allegations he paid the accuser $15.3 million to put the matter to rest. The case involving teenager Jordan Chandler is, of course, well documented - the accusations made by Chandler against Jackson never went to court because a multi-million dollar settlement was reached between the singer and the boy's family. However the exact details of that settlement were never revealed.
According to documents obtained by Court TV in the US, Jackson paid $15.3 million into a trust fund for Chandler. In the settlement contract Jackson did not admit any misconduct. Both sides vowed to keep details of the settlement secret.
No comment as yet from Chandler's legal people regarding Court TV's revelations. However a spokesman for Jackson, while making no comment on the authenticity or not of the documents, said: "Whoever leaked this document did it with a willful intent to influence potential jurors [in the current case]. It's outrageous, and I see it as an act of desperation."
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BOBBY BROWN GETS SUSPENDED SENTENCE OVER MAINTENANCE PAYMENTS
Elsewhere in pop legal news, Bobby Brown was back in court yesterday for once again failing to make child support payments to the mother of his two children - one Kim Ward. The court sentenced him to 90 days in prison for failing to fulfil a previous commitment to the courts to make the payments - however he was given a suspended sentence because all payments had been made last Monday. That means he can be jailed if he fails to meet future payments.
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DO ME BAD THINGS IN NOTTING HILL
Do Me Bad Things, one the latest signings to the increasingly prolific Must Destroy label, will be celebrating the release of debut single 'The Song Rides' at the Notting Hill Arts Club on 21 Jun. Kicks off at 9pm (after the football) - more info at http://www.domewebthings.com
Press info from Impressive.
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SCOTT LEE BLOCKS STEPS REUNION
Lisa Scott Lee wins today's 'Sporty Spice Award For Never Going Back' following reports she is standing in the way of a Steps reunion.
According to the Daily Star, Faye Tozer has been attempting to set up a reunion of the top popsters but Scott Lee aint up for it.
The Star quotes Faye as saying: "I really think Steps have more to achieve and I'd love the group to do more songs together. But Lisa isn't keen as she's enjoying being a solo artist. We just need to convince her."
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SONY ENTER MOBILE MUSIC PARTNERSHIP
Sony Network Services Europe and techy firm PacketVideo have announced a new partnership called StreamMan which will offer various music services - including radio streams and download services - to your mobile. As with most things mobile, it will be launched initially in Finland before being rolled out via different mobile operators around the world.
Announcing the partnership Sony Network Services Europe director Andreas Spechtler told reporters: "PacketVideo has provided a world-class mobile media technology platform that allows StreamMan to address the maximum number of devices with a high-quality, personalised, continuous listening experience."
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SINGLE REVIEW: The Loose Cannons - I Like It When Ya (Universal/Island)
It might just be me, but I'm sure the release of this single has been pushed back on numerous occasions. It seems months ago that this track first came into circulation. But while such release date delays must be frustrating for the LC boys, it does prove something about this track. Normally when release dates start to slip after a track is already doing the promo cycle by the time it is actually released you're sick to the back teeth of hearing it (The Strokes' 'Reptilia' is surely a case in point). But despite the fact this has been playing in the CMU offices for months its funky grooves are still well received each time we throw it back into the stereo. Summer 2004 surely has to be the start of something big for these guys and this track, complete with the remixes from the Jungle Brothers and Mark Ronson, is a perfect sample of their suitably funky sound. If you're not yet familiar with the Loose Cannons check out the interview on http://www.cmuonline.co.uk, blag yourself a copy of the single and join us on the LC bandwagon. CC
Release date: 28 Jun
Press contact: Wild [CP, CR] Island IH [RP, RR, NP, NR]
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COMMUNITY RADIO PLANS GO TO PARLIAMENT
There was perhaps a little hyperbole in play when the people behind a new initiative to kick start community radio in the UK described their proposals as "the most important new cultural development in the United Kingdom", but after decades of work trying to get a community radio system going over here, any move that makes 'by the people for the people' radio stations a reality has to be a good thing.
The new proposals, which utilise features of last year's Communications Act, aim to make it easier for community radio stations to get on air, plus to make albeit limited government funds available to help get the not-for-profit radio stations off the air. If parliament pass the proposals OfCom could start advertising community radio licences as soon as this summer.
In related news the government has said it is now committed to ensuring student radio get decent licences and proper funding so all the college radio talent can get the exposure it deserves. Oh hang on, that was a dream I had once.
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REMOTE CONTROL ADD DISTRIBUTION TO SERVICES LIST
Music marketing consultancy Remote Control - who specialise in promoting independent labels from overseas to UK music fans - has announced a partnership with Pinnacle distribution which will offer independents and unsigned artists a wide ranging facility to help them get their releases to market - incorporating both marketing and distribution.
Announcing the new partnership Remote Control's Pat Carr told CMU: "Since we were established three years ago, we have been able to expand the label management and marketing side of the business but we were repeatedly being asked by independent labels about distribution as many wanted an umbrella company who could handle everything, like the majors, but which was able to offer the day to day attention to detail and time that a smaller operator could give. The new deal with Pinnacle will allow independents the perfect platform to germinate and nurture new and upcoming talent."
Susan Rush from Pinnacle added: "It's an ideal arrangement for us. Remote Control's experience and management of a label's marketing and distribution is very attractive to us because it's not always possible for labels to give sufficient focus to the UK market. Remote Control knows how the UK market works and that will help us and the label enormously."
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JOHNNY RAMONE NOT DYING
The wife of Johnny Ramone has denied reports that the former Ramones guitarist was dying from prostate cancer. Although Johnny has been living with the cancer for several years now, media reports in the US yesterday suggested the musician was "losing his fight" against the disease.
But his wife Lydia told reporters yesterday: "He's not dying. He was okay for years, and he's fine now. He's in the hospital, but he's not in ICU. And I think he may be leaving by tomorrow."
At Lydia's request, Johnny's doctor David Agus gave MTV more details about his condition. He explained the musicians had been admitted to hospital because of a "complication from the cancer. But he got through it, and he's now on a new, experimental therapy. He's fighting courageously, and I think he will be going home in the near term."
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LENNOX UP FOR A EURYTHMICS REUNION
Annie Lennox has said she would like to collaborate with former Eurythmics partner Dave Stewart - which has to be good news surely. Lennox has told reporters: "I think it's time. The trouble with being solo is I'm so bloody anal that I tend to look up my own backside. I sit there in the same awful space."
BMG are planning to release both Annie and the Eurythmics' greatest hits later this year. Whether any new Eurythmics tracks would be included on that best of album is not yet clear.
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SECOND 46664 AIDS BENEFIT PLANNED
Talking of the Eurythmics, Dave Stewart is on the bill for a fundraising gig due to take place in Benidorm on 21 Aug in aid of charities combating the AIDS epidemic in Africa.
The concert, which will also feature Queen, Montserrat Caballe and a number of leading Latino acts, is essentially a repeat of the benefit concert organised by Nelson Mandela's charity in Cape Town last year and will be called 46664 Latino.
More details at http://46664.tiscali.com
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PRINCE COUNTER SUES FAN
Prince has filed a countersuit against a fan who is suing him over an alleged incident back in Dec. Anthony Fitzgerald claims Prince ordered his bodyguards to attack him as he attempted to take a photo of the singer. He is looking for damages over the incident, during which Fitzgerald also claims his digital camera was taken.
According to Associated Press, in the counter suit Prince denies Fitzgerald's claims and alleges that Fitzgerald invaded the artist's privacy and violated trademark and copyright law. The singer is looking for least $50,000 in damages. No comment from Fitgerald's people as yet.
Elsewhere in Prince news an early recording of the singer dating from 1975 has failed to reach its reserve price of £347,000 at a rock memorabilia auction.
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BEEB BOSS TALKS UP THE NEW BBC 4 CONTROLLER
The BBC's Director of Television, Jana Bennett, has been waxing lyrical about the new BBC 4 boss - current Head of Specialist Factual at Channel 4 Janice Hadlow was appointed to the top job at the BBC digital channel on Tuesday.
Bennett told reporters yesterday: "Janice's exceptional experience, gained from her Channel 4 post and previous BBC roles, make her the perfect candidate to take the channel into the next phase of its development and growth. Her passion for factual programming is evident from the breadth of hugely ambitious and successful programmes that she has commissioned as Head of Channel 4's Specialist Factual department - including David Starkey's Six Wives, The 1940s House, Operatunity and Emmy award-winning The Death Of Klinghoffer. Janice has the ability to spot trends and programmes that can reach new audiences, and which challenge, question and surprise - exactly the right qualities needed for BBC Four."
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CAMPBELL GETS TEN (RATHER EASY) DAYS
Country singer Glen Campbell has, as expected, been sentenced to ten days in jail and 75 hours of community service after pleading guilty to that drunken hit-and-run accident last year. His ten day sentence will begin on 1 Jul, although he will be able to work during the day, which doesn't sound much like a prison sentence to me, but there you go.
Speaking to the judge in court Campbell said: "Believe you me, I think that's the last you've seen of Glen Campbell putting alcohol in his veins."
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ALBUM REVIEW: Umod - Enter the Umod (Sonar Kollektiv)
Umod is Domu backwards, which the Bedfordshire-based Dominic Stanton states 'is about going backwards to go forwards'. Whatever that means. Anway, recording as Rima (with Volcov)and solo as Sonar Circle and Zoltar, Domu has always been one to watch - ripping the boundaries of beats and breaks. And 'Enter The Umod' gives us a really good taste: 'Rest With You' drags us into his world with solid relaxed future funk in a nu-trip style. 'Still Afraid' is some trippy funk business while 'On the Down Low' is sparse yet deep. 'Tromboline' starts slowly with its broken beat but soon develops a jazzy house feel making for a real downtempo treat. There are some weaker tracks: 'All In My Mind' doesn't cut the mustard with its warped bluesy samples, 'Cowboy Lovin' is overly experimental, and 'Just4thefunksake' is a tad bland. But don't let that put you off - all in all 'Under The Umod' is well worth checking for some alternative cutting edge downtempo. PV
Release date: 12 Jul
Press contact: Rocketscience PR
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ROCKERS CELEBRATE THE FENDER STRATOCASTER'S FIFTIETH
Many of the world's greatest guitarists will be in London on 24 Sep to celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of the iconic Fender Stratocaster electric guitar.
David Gilmour (Pink Floyd), Joe Walsh (The Eagles), Hank Marvin (The Shadows), Phil Manzanera (Roxy Music), Paul Rodgers (Free / Bad Co), Johnny Marr (The Smiths), Mike Rutherford/Paul Carrick (Mike & the Mechanics) and Gary Moore are among the names lined up to take part in the celebration, which will be held at Wembley Arena in aid of British music industry charity Nordoff-Robbins Music Therapy.
Confirming the event Martin Brady, MD of Fender Europe, told reporters yesterday: "This is an historic occasion for Fender and the Stratocaster guitar. Never before have so many legendary names come together on one stage to celebrate an icon in rock music. Nordoff-Robbins Music Therapy is a charity that is close to our hearts and the work they carry out is inspirational. We are incredibly excited about the possibility of helping such a worthy cause through funds raised by the concert".
Among the festivities on the night, David Gilmour will be playing his serial-numbered 001 Stratocaster, the very first of its kind made by Leo Fender back in July 1954.
Tickets for the event go on sale on Saturday.
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DURST DOESN'T WANT SEX WITH AVRIL, OK?
Fred Durst has told reporters he never wanted to have sex with Avril Lavigne. He was responding to comments made by the Canadian punky-popstress last week in which she said the Limp Bizkit frontman had hired a private plane to go to one of her concerts "expecting me to bang him."
Durst told Illinois radio station WWCT Rock 96.5 FM: "Maybe she's in denial. I don't really know her, but I guess she's cooler than I thought since she can just get on and make up some shit and talk shit. So maybe she's as cool as everyone else out there. It's kind of weird. I'm sure I'll bump into her somewhere sometime. Some skate-punk party".