| CMU Daily - on the inside 20 Jul 2004 |
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In today's CMU Daily:
- Sony BMG merger is go
- GWR and Capital in rumoured merger talks
- Clear Channel plan to launch record label
- Run Hit Wonder moves on to New York
- Jay-z to set up new imprint with Warners
- CBS fight Nipplegate fine
- Live Review: The Futureheads At Hammersmith Working Men's Club
- Kelis added to V Fest bill
- Mac launch new iPod
- Yourcodenameis:milo release online track
- Streets deny nicking Counterfeit Beatles' strings
- Cuban police prevent elbow's collaboration with locals
- New REM album darker and more political
- DMC world final line up
- Wanadoo toy with video on demand
- Morrissey pulls out of Fuji festival
- Britney threatens to sue over street drinking pic
- Single Review: Tom Baxter - This Boy
- Love trial postponed
- Mcfly tour announced
- Busted boy launches t-shirt range
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SONY BMG MERGER IS GO
Yep, more merger news, you lucky people. Well, as expected (though 24 hours ahead of schedule), officials at the European Commission yesterday gave the go-ahead to the merger of Sony and BMG - the second and fifth biggest record companies in the world. Both majors confirmed they had been given the green light last night - an official announcement is expected from the EC later today.
Despite strong objections to the merger from the independent sector, in the end the deal was passed without conditions. Those against the merger said the merger would make Sony BMG too dominant a player in the music space, leading to an increase in CD prices and a decline in consumer choice. But European officials did not agree with those claims, instead supporting the major record companies who claimed the merger was essential for them to survive in an increasingly competitive industry.
Announcing they had won EC approval for their merger, Sony boss Andrew Lack told reporters last night: "We're pleased that [EC officials] have recognized that the creation of Sony BMG is an appropriate and necessary response to current market conditions".
Lack will now head up the new company - to be called Sony BMG - from an HQ in New York. BMG boss Rolf Schmidt-Holtz will be chairman of the new company. The merger will now go before US competition officials who are expected to quickly approve the deal. How the merger will then impact on the music industry remains to be seen, though a cull of both jobs and roster at the newly formed Sony BMG is sure to be the first tangible affect.
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GWR AND CAPITAL IN RUMOURED MERGER TALKS
Elsewhere in merger news, speculation is mounting the radio companies Capital and GWR have entered into merger talks. Analysts reckon the two companies could make £20 million in annual cost savings if they made the most of recent changes in media ownership regulation and combined their operations.
Both sides were tight lipped when questioned by the Media Guardian yesterday, though neither side denied anything. Capital said: "We do talk to everyone all the time. There have been exciting changes in the law affecting us. GWR said: "We've never said categorically yes or no to specific talks. We refuse to comment on the coverage. Any speculation would be unhelpful."
The lack of denial is, apparently, in itself interesting. Media analyst Richard Hitchcock told the Media Guardian: "In the past they [GWR and Capital] have come out and said 'no, we're not in talks'. So it's quite interesting that they haven't denied it this time. We would not be at all surprised if they are negotiating now, finalising valuations or management structure."
Those who know about these things say that Capital and GWR are the most likely radio companies to take advantage of the relaxation in media regulation that followed last year's Communications Act. Their regional operations don't generally overlap, meaning a combined operation wouldn't hit on the problem of being too dominant in any one region. Plus they have little operations outside the radio world, so they won't be dogged by cross-media ownership restrictions.
In fact any potential blockages to a merger deal are likely to come from within the two radio companies. Some question whether GWR boss Ralph Bernard and Capital chief David Mansfield would be able to work together. If, however, any deal was done, the combined Capital GWR empire would be quite a force to be reckoned with in British radio.
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CLEAR CHANNEL PLAN TO LAUNCH RECORD LABEL
Talking of forces to be reckoned with in radio, according to the New York Post US radio giant Clear Channel is considering setting up its own record label. The paper said yesterday that the media conglom had been investigating a move into recorded music for months. While a rumoured takeover bid for London based EMI is unlikely, the US company may look to acquire some smaller labels in a bid to enter the recorded sector.
Clear Channel's move into recorded music began, in many ways, with the introduction of its Instant Live service in which gigs staged at some of its 100 American venues are recorded and then sold to gig-goers as they leave the venue. Although still in its early stages, Clear Channel have great hopes for Instant Live and are currently threatening legal action against other companies who are setting up similar services, claiming that they own the patent on the idea.
Of course if Clear Channel did begin a proactive move into recorded music they would face considerable opposition from the music business who already argue a company who owns 100 concert venues and 1182 radio stations in the US alone is already unhealthily powerful in the music space. One music industry insider told the Post: "I think it raises significant antitrust issues when you're controlling the whole vertical stack, from distribution to content. Also, how would they establish credibility with their own radio stations and their own artists?"
Clear Channel is already due in court in Aug to face allegations they unfairly used their dominance in the radio industry to help their concert business. However, if they win that case, Clear Channel might have the renewed confidence necessary to move into recorded music.
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RUN HIT WONDER MOVES ON TO NEW YORK
A rather wonderful project from Nike will hit New York later this week following two successful outings in LA back in Apr - the Run Hit Wonder. Basically, this is a fun run type event where the running course features a number of stages hosting sets from - you guessed it - one hit wonders. Genius. That said, the artists involved aren't all strictly one hit wonders, though most are characterised by one-hit-album-then-oblivion careers - on the bill for the New York race are A Flock Of Seagulls, Dramarama, Kajagoogoo, General Public, Tommy Tutone and Tone Loc.
The New York race takes place on 22 Jul, with events planned for Portland on 1 Aug and Chicago on 23 Sep. More info at http://www.nikerunhitwonder.com
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JAY-Z TO SET UP NEW IMPRINT WITH WARNERS
Following rumours last summer that Jay Z would split with long term business partner Damon Dash and leave his Roc-A-Fella record label finally seem to be coming a reality.
Last summer reports suggested that then Island Def Jam boss Lyor Cohen was planning on setting up two separate labels, one for each of the Roc-A-Fella founders, but both within the Universal family. However rumour had it Damon Dash was considering going into business with a different major label.
In the end it looks more likely that it will be Jay-Z who ends his relationship with Universal, though not with Cohen. The former IDJ boss is now running Warner Music's US operations, of course, and, according to the New York Daily News, Jay-Z is now considering setting up a new label, to be called Shawn Carter (his real name), within the Warner Music fold.
It is not yet clear if Dash will continue to run Roc-A-Fella within Universal, or whether he will also split to set up a new business elsewhere.
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CBS FIGHT NIPPLEGATE FINE
Good news for sanity in the US. TV network CBS has said it will fight any attempts by American media regulator, the FCC, to fine them $550,000 over the now legendary 'Nipplegate' incident which occurred when Janet Jackson's breast was revealed for a few seconds during the Superbowl half time show, produced by CBS's sister company MTV and aired across America by the TV company. An outraged FCC has said it will fine CBS the maximum $27,500 for each CBS owned TV station that aired the show - which would take the total fine over half a million. But CBS chief Les Moonves has told Associated Press: "the idea of a fine for that is patently ridiculous and we're not going to stand for it. We're going to take that to the courts if it happens. It's perilously dangerous."
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LIVE REVIEW: The Futureheads at Hammersmith Working Men's Club on 15 Jul
OK, so this was a secret gig, but I didn't expect it to be quite so hard to find. Although I have to admit it's a good choice of venue and not just because of the gold spangly stage back drop. Too often bands who have reached the same stage in their career as the Futureheads feel compelled to pack out the tiniest of venues whilst the 'Heads have not only gone for originality in their choice of a tour of working men's clubs but there is also plenty of space to move and even a decent view of the band to have. Needless to say there is an odd mix of salt of the earth old timers and young scenesters at the bar. The Futureheads have been much compared to Franz Ferdinand with some critics implying that the former have been merely unlucky not to have the success of the latter. Although both bands have a comparable rhythmic angular sound, I don't think the Futureheads will storm the charts in quite the same way as Franz. There's nothing wrong with their sound, you really can't go wrong with that jerky post punk sound and they have a definite poppy dimension, but their tunes are less immediate. Like Dogs Die In Hot Cars, the Sunderland band have been influenced by XTC and Dexy's Midnight Runners. The exaggerated vocals on songs like 'Robot' implausibly remind me of the Proclaimers, whilst the acapella singing on several numbers has me recalling the Flying Pickets. They even throw in a cover of Kate Bush's 'Hounds of Love'. Unfortunately, due to technical difficulties earlier in the evening, their set was cut short because there was a curfew. There's no denying the band's energy or the audience's enthusiasm but I have to say that the buzz around this particular band has left me bemused. JW
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KELIS ADDED TO V FEST BILL
Kelis has been added to an already packed line up for this year's V Festival. She joins Scissor Sisters, Keane, Pink, Jamelia, The Charlatans and Amy Winehouse, among others, on the bill for the August festival.
Announcing the addition of Kelis to the bill the Festival's director, Simon Moran, told reporters: "We're thrilled to be able to welcome Kelis back to V as the kind of global superstar we always knew she'd end up being. 2004 has been a phenomenal year for Kelis in which she's quite rightly earned her crown as queen of urban music."
The V Festival takes place from 21 - 22 Aug in in Hylands Park, Chelmsford and Weston Park, Staffordshire.
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MAC LAUNCH NEW IPOD
With everyone and their mother launching download platforms and digital music players (we'll be launching the CMU download platform very soon, just as soon as my Mum gets those MP3 player prototypes finished) Apple responded to increased competition yesterday by launching the next gen iPod. The main change in the new model is battery power - always the key gripe among the iPod faithful. The batteries in the new player will provide 12 hours of playing time - up from 8 hours. Another new feature is the incorporation of the 'click wheel' from the iPod Mini into the main model.
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YOURCODENAMEIS:MILO RELEASE ONLINE TRACK
Recently appointed CMU Favourites Yourcodenameis:milo will make an exclusive track available via iTunes on 3 Aug. The track - called 'I-shoes' - did not appear on the band's recent mini-album, and won't be featured on their forthcoming full album. The only way to get a copy of the track, other than via Apple's download service, is to be one of the first 100 people through the door at the band's 5 Aug gig at 93 Feet East in London where vinyl copies will be distributed.
The band told CMU: "We will release a new song on the interweb with computers. The new song is not on the recently released mini album. Nor will it be on the forthcoming full album. Consumers can find this song on the digital music delivery system i-Tunes from Tue 3 Aug. This is two days before we play our first headline show in the capital city of London. This performance will take place at 93ft east on Aug 5. The first 100 people through the door at this performance will receive a free 7 inch vinyl record of 'I Shoes'. This will be black."
So now you know. More at http://www.yourcodenameismilo.com - press info from Hermana.
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STREETS DENY NICKING COUNTERFEIT BEATLES' STRINGS
The Streets have denied any wrong doing after songwriter Michael Gagliano, a member of tribute band the Counterfeit Beatles, accused Mike Skinner of stealing the music from one of his original songs for the latest Streets track 'Dry Your Eyes', which was released yesterday.
After Gagliano made his claims in the Sun newspaper, a spokesman for The Streets told reporters yesterday: "The strings in The Streets single 'Dry Your Eyes' were taken from a sample CD which provides royalty free samples for artists. This is standard practice nowadays. Obviously, Mike has never heard the other song in question. Apparently it was released towards the end of 2003, and 'Dry Your Eyes' was recorded as early as March 2003 and CDs of the track have been kicking around the label and people involved ever since. We have no idea how the other artist thinks Mike heard his music before recording it and find it all a bit strange."
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CUBAN POLICE PREVENT ELBOW'S COLLABORATION WITH LOCALS
Elbow's drummer Richard Jupp has been writing about the band's unsuccessful attempts to collaborate with two local rappers while touring Cuba.
Writing on the Steal-Life.com website Jupp said: "During the day our guy doing the documentary, Irshad, had wandered around Havana and stumbled on a sound system down a back street where people were jamming, singing, doing whatever and he met two rappers who did a bit on camera, it was amazing. These guys were so fucking good yet they had an almost too stark a perspective. They had saved for almost a year to record a CD, which they carried with them. We arranged to meet them the next day to get them on camera, which they were a bit apprehensive about, but as we were walking through old Havana they were picked up by the police who thought they were hustling us. We tried to explain but it didn't make a difference, a stark reminder that although Cuba was an incredible place to visit it was still a police state."
You can read Elbow's full tour diary at http://www.steal-life.com/features/56elbow.html
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NEW REM ALBUM DARKER AND MORE POLITICAL
REM's Michael Stipe has been talking to Rolling Stone magazine about the forthcoming REM album which, due be released just ahead of November's US presidential election, is set to be quite political and a slightly darker affair - including the band's anti-war track 'Final Straw' which, as we reported yesterday, will also appear on this summer's pro-democracy album 'Future Soundtrack For America'.
Stipe: "At this time, as an American, I feel like the angriest pacifist in the world, and I don't think I'm alone in that. It's not an easy time to live through. For better or worse, the current state of the world has had a profound impact on the way I'm writing. There's some stuff on here that's pretty hard-core, and fairly political. But this isn't a downer of a record. Even the most depressing REM song is going to have a glimmer of hope in it. That's just me, I can't help myself. In fact it may be the most chaotic bunch of songs we've ever thrown together. They're going to surprise our fans and shock others."
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DMC WORLD FINAL LINE UP
The Jungle Brothers and The X-Ecutioners have been confirmed to play at the DMC/Technics World Mixing Championships in Sep. The former will play at the Battle for World Supremacy and Team Championships on 4 Sep, while the latter will headline at the Individual World DJ Championships on 5 Sep. Both events take place at the Carling Hammersmith Apollo in London. More info at http://www.dmcworld.com, press info from Zzonked.
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WANADOO TOY WITH VIDEO ON DEMAND
Internet Service Provider Wanadoo (the new name for Freeserve) is planning on launching a video-on-demand service which would make a range of films and TV programmes available to watch on demand via broadband internet. Word is the ISP are talking to both BSkyB and cable company NTL about a possible content deal.
Wanadoo see any deal of this nature as a joint venture - giving them a USP over their competitors, and giving a broadcaster wider reach. The company's UK MD Eric Abensur told the Guardian: "We are not trying to start a competition with Sky or NTL. I have too much respect for Sky, they are doing an amazing job and have a fantastic customer base. But I can give them the chance to expand their territory and their performance."
Any video on demand service would probably tie in with Wanadoo's Livebox service, which launched yesterday, and which provides the potential for consumers to link their PC, TV, hifi and games consoles via WiFi. Although a bit ahead of its time, those in the know reckon 'wireless home networking' like this is the future - such a system would give ISPs the facility to deliver content to your telly.
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MORRISSEY PULLS OUT OF FUJI FESTIVAL
Organisers of Japan's largest rock festival - the Fuji Festival - have announced that Morrissey has pulled out of the event because of a "sudden disagreement" over his performance. In a statement the festival's promoters told reporters yesterday: "While we had received official agreement regarding the artist's performance from both Morrissey's management and agent, a sudden disagreement arose between the two parties regarding the terms of the performance, upon which we were notified that Morrissey would not be appearing. A further attempt was made between the parties to reach a contractual agreement, but as of now the situation remains unchanged." No comment as yet from Morrissey or his label.
Morrissey has been commenting, however, on the sad death of New York Dolls' bass player Arthur Kane, who died last week, just weeks after a Morrissey organised reunion for the band. Paying tribute to the guitarist Mozza said: "He has left us with some great musical memories - especially 'Private World' and 'It's Too Late'. He was a very gentle soul and I know he lived for many years with the hope of a Dolls reunion. When this happened - at the Royal Festival Hall in June - I know Arthur was thrilled to be back with David and Sylvain playing the music of the Dolls to such enthusiastic crowds over two nights. I will always remember the look of bashful happiness on Arthur's face as people in the audience constantly called out his name. He was finally back where he belonged."
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BRITNEY THREATENS TO SUE OVER STREET DRINKING PIC
Conflict in the US between Britney Spears and the New York Post after the latter published a paparazzo picture of the former drinking out of a miniature bottle in the street with the headline "Boozer Britney: Daylight Bottle Blonde". However Ms Spears claims the bottle in question contained the herbal supplement ginseng, which she chased with a can of Red Bull, and the liquor store clerk who sold the bottle to the singer has backed up her story. To that end Spears is now threatening to sue the paper if they don't print a full retraction and apology.
Describing the story as "totally fabricated, fictional and defamatory", Spears' lawyer Martin Singer told reporters yesterday: "Prior to publishing the article, the New York Post could have easily ascertained the truth that Ms. Spears did not purchase any alcohol, but instead purchased ginseng from the store".
However the Post has hit back, in part blaming the agency who supplied the photos, but also shifting responsibility onto Spears' PR people who, they claim, implied the pictures did indeed show the singer drinking alcohol. In a statement the paper said: "We called Spears' rep twice to ask if the story was accurate, and she declined to comment each time. Later Spears' rep said, off the record, that she had seen the pictures and 'they are what they are'. She was given every opportunity to deny it but did not".
No response from Britney's people as yet regarding the Sun, who also ran the pictures with the headline "Britney on the Rocks".
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SINGLE REVIEW: Tom Baxter - This Boy (Sony)
Like many singer-songwriters before him, Tom Baxter has the mixed blessing of being compared to Jeff Buckley. But it's a comparison which Baxter does rather well out of, his vocals have a similar sound and range to Buckley, and going on this song at least, he's no slouch at writing tunes. 'This Boy' is a gentle piano led song, the first proper release from Baxter's 'Feather and Stone' album, due for release at the beginning of Aug. This follows a limited edition EP earlier this year and some well received live dates last year. The likes of Xfm and Virgin who seem to be playing Damien Rice to death of late should certainly put this on their playlists. And don't let the fact that Baxter will be supporting Jamie Callum on tour put you off, he has a fine voice and this is a great single. JW
Release date: 19 Jul
Press contact: Sony IH [all]
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LOVE TRIAL POSTPONED
More from the filing cabinet marked 'Courtney Love'. A US judge has agreed to postpone a court hearing into those long running drugs charges that relate to an incident outside Love's ex-boyfriend's house in LA last Oct. The postponement follows confirmation from Love's lawyer that the singer will remain in hospital until 5 Aug. It is still unclear exactly what treatment Love is currently receiving, although her lawyer last week said a legal guardian had been appointed suggesting she is in some kind of mental health facility. With all that in mind, Judge Patricia M Schnegg agreed to postpone the drugs charge hearing until 6 Aug, with the condition that should Love leave hospital she should to report to the court within 24 hours of release.
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MCFLY TOUR ANNOUNCED
Hot on the success of their number one (and still top three) album, McFly have announced a UK tour for the Autumn, dates as follows:
22 Sep: Wolverhampton Civic Hall
24 Sep: Doncaster Dome
26 Sep: Nottingham Royal Concert Hall
27 Sep: Glasgow Clyde Auditorium
28 Sep: Glasgow Clyde Auditorium
30 Sep: Newcastle City Hall
1 Oct: Manchester Apollo
4 Oct: Bristol Colston Hall
5 Oct: Plymouth Pavilions
7 Oct: Newport Centre
8 Oct: Portsmouth Guildhall
9 Oct: Ipswich Regent
12 Oct: Hammersmith Apollo
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BUSTED BOY LAUNCHES T-SHIRT RANGE
Just so the Busted fans in the office don't think there's a McFly bias to today's Daily, news just in that Busted boy James Bourne has bought the UK licence to sell t-shirts bearing the Sic Puppy logo (a charming picture of a vomiting dog). Word is Bourne is such a fan of the skate brand that he approached the t-shirt's makers about selling them over here - and they jumped at the chance. An 'insider' told the Sun: "The US company that owns it wasn't doing well so he has taken the reins. James is considering ways to make a living outside music and Sic Puppy is a brand he's always been keen on."