| CMU Daily - on the inside Tuesday 26th October |
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In today's CMU Daily:
- Pete Doherty banned from Groucho
- Employee downloading costing Australian companies millions
- 4AD night at Vapour fest
- Jay Z Def Jam announcement due
- Dave Matthews band apologise for toilet spill
- Republic Of Loose tour
- Ninja Getaway tracks to be released
- Fatboy still angry at Labour use of track
- New etail site hopes to attract record labels
- MEN staff plan to strike
- Mexican singer songwriter dominates at MTV Latin awards
- EP Review: Hood - The Lost You EP (Domino)
- Robbie to take part in Band Aid by satellite
- New Napster additions
- Franz Ferdinand to perform new track on Skinner's show
- EMI respond to Spitzer investigations
- New anti-bush Eminem video online
- Ashlee responds to mime ordeal
- Muse add extra London date
- The Zutons cancel gigs
- The Bees cancel gigs
- GLC followers march through London
- Usher sex video doing the rounds
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BLATANT PLUGGING
*** JOIN US AT THE VERY FIRST LMN ALBUM OF THE MONTH PLAYBACK PARTY: Next Thursday the London Music Network launches a new monthly showcase party to celebrate the albums that the LMN, Evening Standard and CMU music teams are most excited about. This month we will officially launch the excellent new album from Freeform Five - Strangest Things. The LMN Playback Party is by invite only - but as CMU Daily reader consider yourself invited. Tickets are strictly limited, so respond now to [email protected]. It all takes place at the new Marquee club on Leicester Square on 28 Oct. See you there.
*** WORKING IN COLLEGE RADIO, COLLEGE PRESS, UNION ENTS OR COMMUNICATIONS? Join the College Media Network and receive the latest college and media news, tips and interviews and great showcasing opportunities. Membership is free - send an email to [email protected] and we will send you an application form.
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SAME SIX QUESTIONS: COPENHAGEN
How did you start out making music for a living?
...only wish we actually were...
What inspired your latest album?
Initially it was the urge to write some songs incorporating guitars, harp and woodwind instruments. Thereafter the actual mood was set by an illustration by Hans Henrik Lerfeldt which also inspired the artwork for the sleeve.
What process do you go through in creating an album?
The winter months seem to work best for us - God knows why! So we lock ourselves away somewhere where there's a piano, and if luck's with us the songs, arrangements etc come together. (We've just come back from a log cabin in Norway where we've been writing new material - a truly wonderful experience.) Blessed with being surrounded by talented musicians (friends and family) we take the whole thing into the studio. So far, so good.
What artists influence your work?
It's probably whatever records we're listening to at the time. For instance, at the moment we're listening to Tom Waits, Nick Cave, Benjamin Biolay...
What would you say to someone experiencing your music for the first time?
"Dance to it (if you can)" - if not, get comfortable, turn the lights low, close your eyes - and listen. Sweet dreams...
What are your ambitions for this album, and for the future?
The ambition WAS to make a BIG sounding album that would hopefully reach a broader audience. For the future: To continuously better ourselves, which is a drive in itself! It's still early days for us and we feel there is much more to come...
Copenhagen release 'Sweet Dreams' on Flower Shop Recordings on 8 Nov – more at http://www.copenhagen-uk.co.uk – press info from No 9
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PETE DOHERTY BANNED FROM GROUCHO
You know, I like Pete Doherty more and more with every story that fills a tabloid page. Now the Libertine-in-exile has been banned from the Groucho Club after he accidentally trashed a piece of modern art worth an estimated £100,000.
According to the Sun, the incident happened during a Babyshambles gig in the club's restaurant last Saturday. During a typically raucous performance Doherty leapt off the small stage and grabbed what he presumably assumed was a cheap decoration stuck to the ceiling - bringing it clattering down onto the floor. Said cheap decoration was the £100,000 sculpture.
One onlooker told the paper: "It's not a big room but Babyshambles launched into a very lively set. Pete was spinning around all over the place. Then he jumped into the crowd and grabbed this sculpture - it fell to the floor in pieces. Pete left straight after the show. Staff made it clear they never want to see him in their club again."
Personally I think Pete should make trashing modern art his new 'thing' - better than your 'thing' being never showing up for gigs.
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EMPLOYEE DOWNLOADING COSTING AUSTRALIAN COMPANIES MILLIONS
Just two years ago the music industry would have welcomed a report warning employers that their employees are draining their computer networks by downloading music files from work computers. However, now that there is all likelihood that a decent proportion of these downloads are coming from legitimate sources like iTunes and Napster, it will be interesting to see how the record labels respond.
Either way, a new survey in Australia reckons employees using their work computer systems to download music and video is costing businesses there in excess of $60 million a year. The survey, compiled by Melbourne-based Exinda Networks and based on data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics, reaches that figure based on the increased cost of network capacity they reckon companies have to cover because existing networks are drained by employees downloading rich media files. The figure does not include the cost of loss in productivity - ie what should the employee be doing when they are, instead, downloading music?
Commenting on the report, Exinda Networks director Con Nikolouzakis warned employers: "Beware of the employee who comes to work with an MP3 player. They can store up to 40 gigabytes of music, movies and programs and kill your network performance."
Of course Exinda are not unbiased in this area - they sell systems that help employers stop their workforce from abusing their internet connections. But nevertheless, such research is bound to get employers worried as music downloading becomes more popular and companies' computer systems start to slow down.
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4AD NIGHT AT VAPOUR FEST
This here Vapour Festival - which is celebrating the best in independent labels - continues on Thursday with a night dedicated to Beggars imprint 4AD. Taking place at the ICA in London, Neil Halstead from the Mojave 3 and Magnetophone will be making rare performances, with support from Cass McCombs and Tunng. Should be a good one - more info at http://www.vapour.co.uk.
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JAY Z DEF JAM ANNOUNCEMENT DUE
With everyone talking about Jay Z being given the top job at Def Jam (OK, it's mainly been us talking about it), word is the Universal Music Group should be formally announcing the rapper's appointment as President of the imprint early next week.
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DAVE MATTHEWS BAND APOLOGISE FOR TOILET SPILL
The Dave Matthews Band have responded to that previously reported story regarding their tour bus, a septic tank full of human waste and one hundred tourists on a boat. As you may recall, said tourists were covered in the contents of the septic tank on the Dave Matthews Band's tour bus when the driver of the bus hit the 'empty' button as he drove over a bridge above the Chicago River.
Although the band were not on the bus at the time, and while the driver has been suspended, the story won't go away because the band is being sued by the Illinois Attorney General office. In a bid to find closure, the band have offered to make donations to organisations who work to keep the river clean and to get in touch with all 100 passengers on the boat to make personal amends.
On their website the band write: "We know we cannot erase what happened that day, but we hope by reaching out and helping now this will help demonstrate our commitment to step up if we are found to be the responsible party. As a first step, if we were the responsible party, we offer our deepest apologies to the passengers on the boat, the City of Chicago, our fans and those who have worked so hard to clean up the Chicago River."
Melissa Merz, a spokeswoman for the attorney general's office, told reporters that all parties were currently trying to negotiate a settlement, but added that the band's intention to donate money to relevant environmental groups would not affect those talks. "We certainly ... appreciate the gesture of goodwill, but legal negotiations are based on evidence and legal procedures and we have not yet reached a resolution in this case".
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REPUBLIC OF LOOSE TOUR
With the long-awaited single 'Tell More Lies' out on 6 Dec on Big Cat Records, Republic Of Loose are about to embark on a UK tour, kicking off tomorrow in London. Dates as follows:
27 Oct: Metro London
28 Oct: Louisiana Bristol
29 Oct: Little Civic Wolverhampton
31 Oct: Roadhouse Manchester
1 Nov: University Cardiff
3 Nov: King Tuts Glasgow
4 Nov: Venue Edinburgh
5 Nov: Barfly Liverpool
6 Nov: University Newcastle
7 Nov: Zodiac Oxford
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NINJA GETAWAY TRACKS TO BE RELEASED
Ninja Tune are planning on releasing three limited edition 12"s featuring music from the reworked version of the computer game The Getaway (you know, the one in which you got to drive a getaway car round a pretty accurate recreation of central London).
For the release of The Getaway: Black Monday - out next Monday - the game's creators - London Studios - asked four artists from Ninja Tune and sister label Big Dada to remix and rework the game's original score, which was created by renowned games music writers Nimrod. The artists chosen were Amon Tobin - who provides the music for the opening and closing credits of the game - and Blockhead, Diplo and Wayne 'Lotek' Bennett (of Lotek HiFi) who provide loops and musical pieces for in-game play.
The tracks that will feature on the 12"s, set for Jan 2005 release, are as follows:
12" One
Mitch Theme remix - Diplo
Black Monday Theme remix - Amon Tobin
12" Two
2 Sides (Russian Theme remix no. 2) - Lotek HiFi
Shoreditch Theme remix - Blockhead
12" Three
Flash Forward (End Theme remix) - Amon Tobin
Russian Theme remix - Lotek HiFi
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FATBOY STILL ANGRY AT LABOUR USE OF TRACK
Fatboy Slim has been talking some more at his annoyance that the Labour Party used his track 'Right Here, Right Now' at their recent party conference, and on the election trail during the Hartlepool by-election.
Talking to the Sunday Times he said: "It was a surreal experience. I felt upset and, unusually for me, almost angry. I hated the idea that my mates might think I had sanctioned Labour's use of the song, that on the sly I had been using a private hotline to Blair to cook up this plan and make a bit of cash. The use of the song implies that I support Blair. Nothing could be further from the truth. The political voices I support are Tony Benn, Glenda Jackson and Ken Livingstone. People who are clearly left wing. I have a very specific opposition to the war in Iraq. It is an unnecessary conflict and Blair is primarily responsible for getting us into it. I hope the public, and especially my mates, will realise that I have not sanctioned the use of 'Right Here..' and that I do not sanction the war on terror. I do not secretly hang out at Downing Street of an evening with my mate Tony Blair. I am also hoping a spin doctor might register my annoyance and put a word in Blair's ear...he should be told it is best not to choose an anthem written by someone who openly opposes you - it doesn't look too good when you're electioneering."
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NEW ETAIL SITE HOPES TO ATTRACT RECORD LABELS
This is an interesting one - possibly. A new website has launched that is in some ways similar to eBay, but which aims to provide an easy to use forum for anyone with things to sell - from multinational companies to individuals. Punters looking to buy things can search for relevant products and see what all registered sellers have to offer. Needless to say, the site's owners see record labels as possible clients.
Mark Tuppen, the man behind the site, called http://www.thepeoplesweb.com, told CMU: "The music industry can now enjoy low-cost, instant access to consumers who are actively seeking their products. The People's Web not only provides a forum for buyers and sellers, it actively matches them. We are matchmakers, not middlemen, we don't profit from any sales made through our site. We simply provide a website where buyers and sellers can meet and arrange their own transactions."
Consumers can register to use the service for £5 a year. Sellers pay a £25 or £100 fee depending on the size of their operations.
Account holders have control over every aspect of their transactions, including the items they offer, who contacts them, and how they're contacted. All postings and listings are vetted to avoid offensive materials, making The People's Web a family-friendly service. Members and visitors can also enjoy a completely "ad-free" experience, without the distraction of pop-ups or scrolling advertising.
More info at http://www.thepeoplesweb.com - press info from Rooster PR - [email protected]
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MEN STAFF PLAN TO STRIKE
Well, those previously reported stresses at the Manchester Evening News are likely to result in a two-day strike from Sunday. The stresses stem from the proposal that the MEN should start publishing an additional edition, which would come out in the morning. It is not the concept of an extra edition that staff at the paper object to, more the fact that there doesn't seem to be any budget to increase manpower to cope with the added workload.
The strike, which will be followed by an indefinite work to rule, is timed to disrupt the launch of the new morning edition on Monday. The paper's editor Paul Horrocks said yesterday that he was "disappointed" at the National Union Of Journalists decision to strike, telling the Guardian: "We are continuing with our plans to start the early edition of the Manchester Evening News on 1 Nov, as planned. A lot of effort has gone into trying to avoid this industrial action and the management has already made a number of concessions to the chapel journalists." Horrocks said he was still willing to speak to the unions, implying he hoped the strike could still be averted.
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MEXICAN SINGER SONGWRITER DOMINATES AT MTV LATIN AWARDS
Mexican singer songwriter Julieta Venegas walked away with the most awards at last week's MTV Latin American Awards, which were held in Miami. Venegas took the awards for Solo Act Of The Year, Best Video and Best Mexican Artist.
Other multiple winners on the night included Maroon 5 and Mexican rock act Cafe Tacuba who both won two awards - the former for Best New and Best Rock International Act, the latter for Video Of The Year and Best Alternative Act.
Elsewhere the Black Eyed Peas won the inaugural international Hip Hop/R&B Award, Chilean rock trio La Ley were named Best Rock Artist, and Alejandro Sanz won the title of Best Pop Artist.
Among the entertainments on the night were performances from Diego Torres (who was named best Argentine act), Paulina Rubino and Cartel De Santa, plus Spanish language renditions of hip-hop hits including the Black Eyed Peas' 'Oh Mama', OutKast's 'Hey Ya' and Usher's 'Yeah'. U2's Bono kicked off the proceedings by addressing the audience in Spanish.
The awards will be broadcast across the MTV network on 30 Oct.
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EP REVIEW: Hood - The Lost You EP (Domino)
Imagine you're on a bus going through London at night. Suddenly, the bus goes over Waterloo Bridge and you're hit with the city in its full gaudy glory, lights reflected in the windows and the Thames. Hood are the kind of band that provide the perfect accompaniment to these kinds of moments - when you're caught in something so insular yet at the same time so beautiful it catches in your throat. Although they have changed a lot from their early paint-by-numbers desolate post-rock sound, Hood have still managed to retain a sound that is instantly identifiable, combining skittering, disjointed beats with a thriving love of dislocation and disorientation primed from the Yorkshire landscape which created them. Following on from a recent seven-inch only collaboration with Anticon hip-hoppers Themselves and a work-in-progress version of 'The Negatives' that was recently featured on the NME/Domino record sampler 'Declaration of Independence', 'The Lost You' EP stutters and stammers, combining samples taken from Robert Wyatt and Dose One along with pauses for fragments of dialogue from what appears to be an aborted live show. "Lying to myself - the same problem as usual" muses a disjointed female voice. Engaging, touching and with an absorbing sense of the melancholic, this is a band that make music that sounds like it could be the soundtrack to your life. Hood are back. Thank goodness. CMD
Release date: 8 Nov
Press contact: Hermana [CP, RP, NP] Domino IH [CR, RR, NR]
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ROBBIE TO TAKE PART IN BAND AID BY SATELLITE
Developments continue for the re-recording of 'Do They Know It's Christmas?', which aims to raise more money to tackle the latest famine crisis in Africa.
The latest addition to the line up of artists taking part is Robbie Williams. Existing commitments in the US means Robbie will be unable to be in London for the recording. However, keen to take part, he has arranged to record a segment at a studio in LA which will be sent by satellite to London for inclusion in the track.
One of the team managing the Band Aid III project told The Sun: "He's arranging to sing his sections from a studio in Los Angeles. He has too many commitments to fly over just for the day. But he didn't want to miss out."
Robbie joins an ever growing list of artists, which now includes Coldplay, The Darkness, Keane, Travis, Damon Albarn and Noel Gallagher, who will all take part in the charity recording on 14 Nov.
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NEW NAPSTER ADDITIONS
Two bits of exclusive content are being added to Napster this week. Firstly Paul Heaton of the Beautiful South chooses his favourite tracks, secondly there's a NapsterLive session from Sons & Daughters. Full subscribers to Napster can access both for free - Napster Light users can pay to download the specific programmes.
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FRANZ FERDINAND TO PERFORM NEW TRACK ON SKINNER'S SHOW
Talking of, erm, Domino signed artists from Scotland, Franz Ferdinand will premiere a brand new song on the Frank Skinner show this Thursday at 10pm - the song is called I'm Your Villain. So don't go saying we didn't tell you.
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EMI RESPOND TO SPITZER INVESTIGATIONS
EMI have confirmed that they have been subpoenaed by New York Attorney General Eliot Spitzer to supply contracts and account information to aid his investigation into allegations that record labels are paying to get their artists played on American radio stations in deals engineered by certain radio pluggers over there. As previously reported, Spitzer has requested similar information from all four major labels.
In a statement, EMI told the Guardian: "We are cooperating fully with this inquiry, which is at a preliminary stage. EMI has a long-standing, strict written policy prohibiting unlawful radio promotion practices, and that policy was reaffirmed internally earlier this year. EMI has no reason to believe that there will be any material financial impact on the company."
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NEW ANTI-BUSH EMINEM VIDEO ONLINE
Following his anti-Bush rant in a Rolling Stone interview, Eminem is taking another stab at persuading young America to vote against the President in the upcoming elections with the online release of a video to the anti-Bush track that features on his new album 'Encore'.
The video to the track 'Mosh' begins with an aeroplane flying over a school and exploding offscreen. It then cuts to a classroom in the school where Eminem is reading to school children - a reference to what George Bush was doing as news broke of the 9/11 attacks on New York of course - the book Slim Shady is reading is upside down. Next up we see Eminem rapping in a room decorated with anti-Bush news articles, inter-cut with scenes of the domestic problems the US currently faces, including continued racism and poverty. Eminem is then shown organising a rally of supporters who seem to be marching on to the White House, except in the end the crowds of hooded Shady supporters actually register to vote.
Directed by Ian Inaba of the Guerrilla News Network you can see the video at GNN's website - http://www.GNN.tv.
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ASHLEE RESPONDS TO MIME ORDEAL
Ashlee Simpson has responded to that embarrassing performance on Saturday Night Live when a computer error meant the vocals she was performing (ie miming to) didn't match the song her band were playing. It was embarrassing because it revealed she was miming on the show.
Speaking to MTV yesterday, Simpson explained that she suffered from a chronic condition of "severe" acid reflux disease - a condition in which the stomach's liquid content regurgitates into the oesophagus (lovely) - and that it was that which caused her to lose her voice on Saturday. After her doctor advised her not to sing, Ashlee and her manager/father Joe Simpson decided to go ahead with her Saturday Night Live performance but with a lip sync track.
Ashlee continued: "It's so embarrassing because it sucks. The total situation was a bummer. I made a complete fool of myself."
Her father, meanwhile, told LA radio station KIIS-FM: "Just like any artist in America, she has a backing track that she pushes so you don't have to hear her croak through a song on national television. No one wants to hear that. Every artist that I know in this business has had vocal problems at some time, from Celine [Dion] on down. So you've got to do what you've got to do."
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MUSE ADD EXTRA LONDON DATE
Muse have added a second London Earls Court date to their up coming tour due to high demand for tickets. They will now play at the venue on both Sun 19 and Mon 20 Dec. Support will come from The Zutons, assuming Sean is feeling better...
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THE ZUTONS CANCEL GIGS
That is to say - The Zutons have had to cancel tonight's show at the Shepherds Bush Empire, and their up-coming Irish dates (Derry, Belfast, Dublin) - because drummer Sean Payne has been struck down with a severe viral infection.
Frontman Dave McCabe told reporters: " We're really gutted and distraught about it. The tour has been going so well and we've really been enjoying every night. There's nothing we can do about it.
There wasn't enough time to get a stand-in for Sean. We promise we'll try and reschedule them for as soon as is humanly possible."
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THE BEES CANCEL GIGS
Talking of gig cancellations, The Bees have also had to cancel three Ireland dates, this time because front man Paul Butler has lost his voice. They pulled out of their Belfast gig on Sunday night, a Dublin gig last night, and won't be playing their Galway tonight either. They hope Butler will be well enough to play the band's London gigs on Wednesday and Thursday. Really, these pop stars should eat more vitamin C.
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GLC FOLLOWERS MARCH THROUGH LONDON
Goldie Lookin Chain managed to cause disruption in central London yesterday, even though the hip hop crew themselves were on their way back to Newport. To celebrate the launch of new single 'Your Mother's Got A Penis' a parade of hundreds of Burberry-clad GLC followers marched through town holding placards featuring GLC slogans like 'Will breakdance for money' and 'Golf Sale' - accompanied by Burberry dressed roller-girls and a fleet of 'chavaliers'. Although peaceful, police did look on bemused as the crowds chanted 'Safe as fuck' and 'Your mother's got a penis' as they approached the final destination of the march - the Burberry store on Regent Street.
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USHER SEX VIDEO DOING THE ROUNDS
It's what all the cool people are doing these days - having an embarrassing sex video released on the internet. Word is that there is a video doing the rounds showing Usher having sex with two women after a gig. Filmed when he was 19, a source has told reporters: "There is no doubt it's him. You can see him hamming it up for the camera".