| CMU Daily - on the inside Friday 1st October |
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In today's CMU Daily:
- Black music supporters protest at MOBOs
- FBI may release Lennon papers
- FBI may review Cat Stevens listing
- Courtney Love sued by travel agency
- Town House Studios celebrate 25 years
- Smash Hits Poll Winners Party returns
- Album Review: French Kicks - The Trial Of The Century
- Fatboy not right here with Labour
- Real launch security update
- MP3 creator reckons download world too damn confusing
- Jagger says watts is doing fine
- Timberlake signs up for second film
- ISC deadline
- DJ poll deadline
- Doherty apologises for no show
- But why the Busta no show?
- Madonna moving to Sanctuary
- Avril to sing Spongebob song
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BLATANT PLUGGING
*** PREVEW GREAT NEW MUSIC ONLINE: To preview tracks from CMU favourites !!!, Chikinki, Felix Da Housecat, Grand National and Riton online at your leisure - check www.bigtime.tv/lmn
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CMU FRIDAY TIPS
VIGSY'S CLUB TIP: Heat at Cafe Royal
You probably don't associate the Café Royal with a good hip hop night, but this one might be worth checking. It's hosted by Richard Blackwood (yeah, Richard Blackwood, last seen fronting Enfield Council's anti-truancy campaign), but don't let that put you off. There are live PA's from Royalty, Jermaine (X-Factor) and Lorraine Cato, plus DJ sets from Sweet P, Mr Ish and Steve Austin (I don't think from WWE fame) spinning the best in a diverse blend of R&B Hip Hop, US House and Old School to the over 21's. Luvly.
Tues 5th Oct 2004, 9.30pm- 3am, Elysium Cafe' Royal, Regent St, W1B 5EL, £10 on the door Ladies free B4 11pm, press info from Lisa Lindahl at the Play Centre
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BLACK MUSIC SUPPORTERS PROTEST AT MOBOS
Jamelia and Kanye West were the big winners at the MOBO Awards bash last night. Jamelia received awards for best song, best video and UK act of the year at the awards event designed to award 'music of black origin'. Kanye West was named best hip-hop artist and best producer, and received the award for best album for 'College Dropout'.
Jamelia's UK act of the year award was shared with Dizzee Rascal. Other winners on the night included Usher, who won best R&B act, and Jamie Cullum who took the title of best jazz artist. Meanwhile Janet Jackson presented a lifetime achievement award to Anita Baker.
Organisers of the MOBOs had originally feared that the awards would witness protests from gay rights groups over their support of two reggae artists accused of inciting violence against gay people in their lyrics. To combat those protests the MOBOs withdrew Elephant Man and Vybz Kartel's nominations. So, in the end, it was a protest by the Black Music Council that took centre stage outside the awards. Protestors waved banners in support of the two ousted artists, reading "Defend Reggae Music" and "Enraged by OutRage!"
Although not at the event himself, Peter Tatchell of gay rights group OutRage! said he was "appalled" at the actions of the Black Music Council, telling reporters last night: "OutRage! defends the right of artists to criticise homosexuality, but free speech does not include the right to commit the criminal offence of incitement to murder. The MOBOs are to be congratulated for dropping Elephant Man and Vybz Kartel."
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FBI MAY RELEASE LENNON PAPERS
An American professor has scored a legal victory in an LA court that could force the FBI to hand over their files on John Lennon. Professor Jonathan Wiener has being trying to secure the release of intelligence papers on the former Beatle since shortly after his death in 1980. The papers were mainly gathered in the seventies when Lennon was vocal in his opposition to the Vietnam War.
Wiener, working with the American Civil Liberties Union, previously secured the release of 200 pages of the Lennon file, and they provided the source to his 2000 book 'Gimme Some Truth: The John Lennon FBI File'. The agency held back on the rest of the file on the basis that it included intelligence shared with the US by another country in confidence. That is likely to be information passed to the FBI by MI5 in the UK. But the courts this week rejected that excuse and demanded the full file be released. The US government now has 60 days to appeal.
Commenting on the case Weiner told reporters this week: "The issue has become government secrecy and the absurdity that, today, when the FBI should have better things to do they are still trying to keep secret 34-year-old documents about the anti-war activities of a dead rock star."
Among the revelations in the previously released FBI files on Lennon were President Nixon's attempts to have the singer deported because of his anti-war activities. Weiner says: "Lennon was planning a national concert tour through the United States to urge young people to vote. Nixon got wind of this and ordered Lennon to be deported so he couldn't do this concert tour."
Of course, if the FBI is still building files on anti-war pop stars who are urging young people to vote out the current president - well, they must be very busy.
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FBI MAY REVIEW CAT STEVENS LISTING
Talking of the FBI's pop star division, US Secretary of State Colin Powell has admitted he has asked his intelligence people to investigate the decision to put Yusuf Islam, aka Cat Stevens, on their terrorist "watch list". Islam's inclusion on the list came to public attention, of course, when US officials dramatically refused the singer entry into their country last week.
Powell admitted this week: "I think we have an obligation to review these matters to see if we are right," but said the review was not as a result of the publicity surrounding Islam's run in with the FBI - "not only with celebrities such as Mr Stevens [he means Mr Islam of course, get with times Mr Powell], but for the average citizen coming across who gets stopped. We want to secure our borders but we want also to make sure that we remain an open nation".
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COURTNEY LOVE SUED BY TRAVEL AGENCY
And talking of pop stars who seem to enjoy having run-ins with the law - Courtney Love has been sued a travel agency who claim the singer booked nearly $50,000 of airline tickets and then never paid up. They say she originally booked the tickets for herself, her agents and her family last year on a credit card. But, they allege, the singer then stopped the card payment, instead supplying two cheques, one from a redundant bank account, the other later also stopped. The agency, LA based New Act Travel, is suing for the outstanding money, interest, legal costs and $1000 in excess baggage charges. Love's legal man Howard Weitzman said he was as yet unaware of the action.
Elsewhere in Love news, the court hearing into those now very dull outstanding felony charges for illegal possession of painkillers has been postponed again, this time until 3 Nov.
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TOWN HOUSE STUDIOS CELEBRATE 25 YEARS
Sanctuary Music Group's London based studio, Sanctuary Town House, is celebrating its 25th anniversary. Originally founded by Richard Branson in 1979, sold to EMI as part of the Virgin purchase in 1992, and sold to Sanctuary in 2002, the Town House has played host to hundreds of artists over the years including Elton John, Pulp, Travis, Coldplay and even McFly. Commenting on the anniversary, Elton John told reporters: "Congratulations to Sanctuary Town House on making it 25 years in the business. Our association has been long and really productive. It's a great, professionally run studio with fantastic equipment and an excellent team of people. It's always a pleasure to work there."
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SMASH HITS POLL WINNERS PARTY RETURNS
Talking of McFly - which we haven't much recently -they are one of the artists due to play at this year's Smash Hits T4 Poll Winners Party on 21 Nov at Wembley Arena. Last year Smash Hits announced the results of its reader poll through a press release, but this year the full party set-up is back, and Blue, Girls Aloud, the Sugababes, Natasha Bedingfield and Goldie Lookin Chain will all join the McFly boys on stage. Given that T4 is in the name the show will be presumably broadcast by Channel 4 - certainly it means that June Sarpong will be hosting, but you can't have everything can you?
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ALBUM REVIEW: French Kicks - The Trial Of The Century (Eat Sleep Records)
The last time I heard French Kicks (on their 2001 mini album 'Young Lawyer') their sound was both dancey and raw edged which is very de rigeur just now. And coming from New York the quartet fit in with the city's funk/punk movement. There's still a funky element to their music but they now sound a lot smoother and more poppy. I like how they sounded before but I think they're even better now, and their new direction should set them apart from their NYC contemporaries. 'One More Time' is a lovely, breezy, summery tune with endearingly laidback vocals from Nick Stumpf. 'Following Waves' is filled with a variety of sweet, mellow sounds; gentle percussive beats and tinkly piano, topped off with dreamy vocals. The album generally has a romantic vibe which is echoed by lyrics which whisper 'I miss you in the morning' and talk about 'walking in the rain'. But it still has a rhythmic edge, with subtle traces of angular guitar and stuttering beats. So it's an album hopeless romantics can dance to but even cynics should find it a rewarding listen. JW
Release date: 4 Oct
Press contact: Ian Cheek [CP, RP] Darling [NP] Fore [CR, RR, NR]
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FATBOY NOT RIGHT HERE WITH LABOUR
Fatboy Slim and Skint Records would just like to point out that they can't do anything about the Labour Party getting all cool and trendy at their annual back-slapping conference by pumping 'Right Here Right Now' through their sound system. In fact it seems the Labour posse may have adopted the track - they were using it on their election bus in Hartlepool yesterday too. Norman and Skint would like to stress that political parties are free to use any music they like as long as they pay their PPL and PRS. Fatboy told reporters today: "With Blair in charge, I reckon my remix of Wildchild's 'Renegade Master' would have been more suitable in the circumstances."
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REAL LAUNCH SECURITY UPDATE
Real Networks have released an update for its RealOne Player, RealPlayer and Helix Player, which they say overcomes a major security issue. The updates follow the discovery of a critical flaw that meant an attacker could create a Real Media file that would corrupt the media player when run from a local drive, and possibly use the player to download viruses to a user's machine. So you'd better update your players then.
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MP3 CREATOR RECKONS DOWNLOAD WORLD TOO DAMN CONFUSING
Talking of digital music technology, one of the key creators of MP3 playback technology has told reporters the way the big commercial players are working in the download space is not good for the long term development of the digital music sector.
Dr. Karlheinz Brandenburg, director of electronic media technologies at the Fraunhofer Institut in Ilemenau, Germany, told Reuters at the Popkomm music conference this week that the plethora of non-compatible digital music players and download platforms would put off many consumers, and slow down the development of the download sector. He said: "It has slowed the download business for sure, and it's doing the same for the gadget makers. They [the big companies working in the space] didn't listen. Maybe they thought it made commercial sense not to have a standard. It's very strange.
As one of the creators of the MP3 Brandenburg and his company earn a royalty on every MP3 player sold. He added: "Now blank MP3s is the only standard. It is supported by all. This has been good news for Fraunhofer. And, I consider myself a wealthy man as well."
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JAGGER SAYS WATTS IS DOING FINE
Mick Jagger has told reporters that Rolling Stones' drummer Charlie Watts is in good health after winning his battle with throat cancer. Jagger: "He's had all these treatments and he was pronounced free and clear. So we're very glad about that."
He also revealed he and Keith Richards are writing songs for a new Stones album, adding: "The thrill is the same. You never really know what's going to happen."
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TIMBERLAKE SIGNS UP FOR SECOND FILM
With his debut film 'Edison' now in post-production, Justin Timberlake has signed up for another movie - the Nick Cassavetes-directed 'Alpha Dog'. The singer will appear alongside Emile Hirsch and Sharon Stone and is loosely based on the real-life story of Jesse James Hollywood, a drug dealer (Hirsch) who became one of the youngest men ever on the FBI's most wanted list.
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ISC DEADLINE
The 15 Oct deadline for the third annual International Songwriting Competition is just two weeks away. For budding songwriters it is a good way to get noticed by key industry people. Aside from the $100,000 prize fund, the ISC also boasts an impressive panel of judges including Michael Gudinski (Chairman, Mushroom Group of Companies), Monte Lipman (President, Universal Records), Alan Meltzer (CEO, Wind-Up Records), Peter Asher (Co-President, Sanctuary
Artist Management), Kim Stephens (VP A&R, Lava Records), Aaron Lewis (Staind), Darryl McDaniels (Run DMC), Scott Kirkland (The Crystal Method) and even P Diddy. Full details about the award is at http://www.songwritingcompetition.com
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DJ POLL DEADLINE
Talking of awards and deadlines, the deadline for voting in DJ Mag's DJ Poll is tonight at midnight. So if you haven't voted for all our favourite DJs yet (Rennie Pilgrem, Meat Katie, Lee Coombs, Loose Cannons, Norman Jay, Tom Middleton, Mr Scruff, Gilles Peterson, Eddy TM - oh alright then, you can pick your own favourites), then get down to http://www.djmag.com/vote.asp
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DOHERTY APOLOGISES FOR NO SHOW
Pete Doherty has apologised to fans for cancelling that Aberdeen Babyshambles gig at the last minute - a cancellation that led to a mini-riot and seven arrests. A posting put on the band's website yesterday reads: "Peter and the band would like to apologise for the last minute cancellation of yesterday's gig in Aberdeen, following Peter falling down stairs. Peter is extremely upset that this accident resulted in the gig not being able to go ahead and has promised that the band will re-schedule a show in Aberdeen asap. Tonight's show in Dundee will go ahead as planned."
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BUT WHY THE BUSTA NO SHOW?
Talking of last minute gig cancellations, a Busta Rhymes gig in Sydney was cancelled earlier this week as the rapper was expected on stage - fans heard he would not be showing up at 11.45pm. The initial reason given for the last minute no show was that there were problems getting some of Busta Rhymes' entourage past immigration when they entered Australia. But while immigration officials confirmed two of Rhymes' posse were questioned by immigration officials they stressed Rhymes and the rest of his team were not obligated to wait for the men being questioned, and anyway everyone was through customs by 5pm, well before their performance time. Busta's Melbourne gig the next day went ahead as planned and disappointed fans in Sydney have been offered a refund on their tickets.
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MADONNA MOVING TO SANCTUARY?
Maverick may have reached a deal with Warner Music - but is Madonna still on talking terms with the major who she is both signed to as an artist, and with whom she used to share a business as a shareholder in the imprint? Rumour has it Madonna is thinking of moving over to Sanctuary. That might be simply a management move - her manager Caresse Henry is reportedly in talks to join the Sanctuary Group. But some reckon Madonna may be looking to sign a recording contract with one of Sanctuary's labels.
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AVRIL TO SING SPONGEBOB SONG
Avril Lavigne is going to sing the SpongeBob SquarePants theme song on the soundtrack for a film version of the Nickelodeon show. The track will feature on a soundtrack which will also include the Flaming Lips, Wilco, The Shins, Ween and Motorhead - all artists picked by the show's creator Stephen Hillenburg.
Commenting on Hillenberg's choice of artists, the Flaming Lips' Wayne Coyne revealed: "I actually suggested that maybe I could try to get Justin Timberlake to do a duet with us, as an off-the-cuff idea. But Hillenburg said: 'I don't want any of those sort of commercial weirdos on there. I don't like those commercial people. I like you guys, and Wilco and Ween'. Hillenburg wanted people who liked SpongeBob, who felt some kinship with the characters, and the absurdness and surreal-ness of it, and I truly think the show is clever and funny and sick".